An encoder according to the present invention is an encoder for encoding an optical wavelength-multiplexed signal compliant with optical CDMA into a code having a code pattern, including: L optical fibers 36 and 42 (where L is an integer equal to or greater than two) each having a plurality of gratings 37 to 47; and a circulator 52 for coupling the plurality of optical fibers 36 and 42. The code pattern contains time bins t1 to t3. A plurality of wavelengths λ1, λ4 and λ5 are assigned to the time bin t1. If a sum of an optical path difference in each optical fiber from the grating which reflects the optical signal of the wavelength λ1 to the grating which reflects the optical signal of the wavelength λ4 is calculated for all of the optical fibers 36 and 42, the sum equals zero.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus which performs, by optical CDMA (Optical Code Division Multiplex Access), at least one of encoding and decoding of wavelength-division-multiplexed light. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus which employs optical fiber gratings to perform encoding/decoding by optical CDMA.
2. Description of the Related Art
In optical CDMA, a technique similar to the CDMA technology which has been practically used in the field of mobile communications is employed to perform encoding of an optical signal at a transmitting end, and decoding of an optical signal at a receiving end. The encoding/decoding of an optical signal is performed by using optical devices such as diffraction gratings, optical waveguides, or optical fiber gratings.
In optical CDMA, even if a number of encoded optical signals exist in the same wavelength band, interferences therebetween are prevented because of code-by-code independence. Therefore, by assigning different codes to different users, it becomes possible for a large number of users to simultaneously share one optical signal propagating medium, even though optical signals in the same wavelength band are used.
Currently proposed encoding methods can be classified into, for example: Frequency-encoding techniques; Frequency-Hopping techniques; Fast-Frequency-Hopping techniques; and direct-sequence techniques. A Frequency-encoding technique is a method of encoding which varies the intensities of optical signals for different wavelengths. A Frequency-Hopping technique and a Fast-Frequency-Hopping technique are methods of encoding which vary wavelength and delay. A direct-sequence technique is a method of encoding which varies delay and phase for a single wavelength.
An apparatus which employs optical fiber gratings to perform encoding by applying delays of sizes which are in accordance with the respective wavelengths to a light pulse signal is disclosed in: "Passive Optical Fast Frequency-Hop CDMA Communications System" Habib Fathallah, Journal of Lightwave Technology, Vol. 17, No. 3, March 1999 (hereinafter "Non-patent Document 1"); and "Robust Optical FFH-CDMA Communications: Coding in Place of Frequency and Temperature Controls" Habib Fathallah, Journal of Lightwave Technology, Vol. 17, No. 8, August 1999 (hereinafter "Non-patent Document 2").
FIG. 1 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 1(b) of Non-patent Document 1, showing the structure of an encoder which encodes an incoming pulse. This apparatus comprises a plurality of optical fiber gratings of the same structure, each having a uniform grating. A piezoelectric device is attached to each optical fiber grating, so that different tensions can be applied to the respective optical fiber gratings.
The wavelength of reflection (hereinafter "reflection wavelength") by each optical fiber grating can be shifted by adjusting the magnitude of the tension applied thereto. As a result, light components of different wavelengths that compose the incoming pulse can be selectively reflected.
Since the optical fiber gratings are present at different positions within an optical fiber, the reflected light components will have various optical path differences, i.e., different delays. Therefore, the encoding code combination is reflected in the delay pattern.
Based on a specific combination of selected wavelengths and a combination of delays differing for each wavelength, a code pattern under the FFH-CDMA (Fast Frequency Hopping-Code Division Multiplexing Access) technique can be defined. Such a code pattern can be expressed in a matrix as shown in FIG. 2.
By controlling the magnitudes of the tensions applied to the optical fiber by means of e.g. piezoelectric devices, the reflection wavelengths can be varied, thus shifting the wavelengths which will receive specific delays. By setting the wavelengths to receive specific delays to arbitrary values, the code pattern of an encoder can be programmed. On the other hand, a decoder applies opposite delays to light of wavelengths that have been used for encoding. In other words, the order of the gratings used in the optical fiber of a decoder is a reverse of the order of the gratings used in the optical fiber of an encoder.
Hereinafter, with respect to FIGS. 2 to 5, the encoding/decoding principle used in optical CDMA will be described more specifically.
FIG. 2 shows a 3×3 matrix (Frequency-Hop pattern) corresponding to a certain code pattern. In this matrix, the horizontal axis represents time, whereas the vertical axis represents wavelength. The black blocks (elements) are time bins to which corresponding wavelengths are assigned. In the code pattern of FIG. 2, wavelengths λ1, λ2 and λ3 are assigned to time bins t1, t2 and t3, respectively.
FIG. 3 schematically shows: (left side of the arrow) a light pulse sequence expressing a code which has been encoded according to the code pattern of FIG. 2; and (right side of the arrow) a light pulse whose code has been decoded. In FIG. 3, "encoding" corresponds to a conversion from the right side to the left side, whereas "decoding" corresponds to a conversion from the left side to the right side.
FIG. 4 shows an encoder which performs the encoding as shown in FIG. 3.
In the encoder shown in FIG. 4, an optical fiber in which three gratings 3, 4 and 5 are formed at a predetermined interval is coupled to optical fibers 1 and 6 via a circulator 2. A light pulse which has propagated through the optical fiber 1 passes through the circulator 2, and thereafter enters one end of the optical fiber in which the gratings 3, 4 and 5 are formed.
A light component of the wavelength λ1 contained in this light pulse is reflected by the grating 3, and thereafter passes through the circulator 2 to enter the optical fiber 6. On the other hand, any light other than the wavelength λ1 that is contained in the light pulse is transmitted through the grating 3. Out of the light pulse having been transmitted through the grating 3, a light component of the wavelength λ2 is reflected by the grating 4, and thereafter passes through the circulator 2 to enter the optical fiber 6. Any light component other than the wavelength λ2 is transmitted through the grating 4. Out of this transmitted light, a light component of the wavelength λ3 is reflected by the grating 5, and thereafter passes through the circulator 2 to enter the optical fiber 6.
Thus, since an optical signal that has propagated through the optical fiber 1 in the form of a single light pulse is reflected by the gratings which are disposed at different positions corresponding to different wavelengths, the light pulse is separated into three light pulses on the time axis, which sequentially enter the optical fiber 6. In accordance with the structure of FIG. 4, light pulses of the wavelengths λ1, λ2 and λ3 will enter the optical fiber 6 in this order; however, by changing the order in which the gratings 3, 4 and 5 are arranged, the order of the light pulses entering the optical fiber 6 can be changed. By changing the order in which the gratings 3, 4 and 5 are arranged, it becomes possible to perform encoding by different code patterns.
Axes 7, 8 and 9 shown in FIG. 4 represent the center positions of the three gratings 3, 4 and 5, respectively. The interval between the centers of the gratings 3 and 4 is the distance between the axes 7 and 8. The interval between the centers of the gratings 4 and 5 is the distance between the axes 8 and 9.
The optical path difference which exists between the light of the wavelength λ1 and the light of the wavelength λ2 is twice the interval between the centers of the grating 3 and the grating 4. Similarly, the optical path difference which exists between the light of the wavelength λ2 and the light of the wavelength λ3 is twice the interval between the centers of the grating 4 and the grating 5. Thus, the relative positioning of the gratings 3, 4 and 5 defines the time differences between the three time bins for encoding.
As shown in FIG. 4, assuming that the time (delay) required for light to propagate between the gratings 3 and 4 or between the gratings 4 and 5 is always ΔT, the relative delay between light of the wavelength λ1 and light of the wavelength λ2 and the relative delay between light of the wavelength λ2 and light of the wavelength λ3 are both 2ΔT, as shown in FIG. 3. In other words, the axes 7, 8 and 9 shown in FIG. 4 correspond to the time bins t1, t2 and t3, respectively, the three time bins t1, t2 and t3 being respectively assigned to the wavelengths λ1, λ2 and λ3.
As shown in e.g. FIG. 3, "encoding" in optical CDMA corresponds to: separating a single light pulse into a plurality of smaller pulses of light having the wavelengths λ1, λ2 and λ3; and outputting these light pulses with predetermined relative delays. On the other hand, "decoding" corresponds to reassembling the plurality of light pulses which have been separated on the time axis into a single light pulse. In order to perform decoding, it is necessary to cause the light pulses (wavelengths λ1, λ2 and λ3) to have opposite delays of the delays which were applied at the time of encoding, thus canceling the delays which occurred during encoding. In other words, it is necessary to synchronize the three small pulses to the same point in time, thus combining them into the same time bin. When three light pulses (wavelengths λ1, λ2 and λ3) which have arrived at different points in time are synchronized to the same point in time, and detected by a detector as indicating a light intensity which is equal to or greater than a threshold value, the decoder will recognize this signal as 1 bit (the right side of FIG. 3).
When encoding data for transmission (e.g., a bit sequence which is expressed as "11001001 . . . "), the encoder sends out a light pulse sequence (wavelengths λ1, λ2 and λ3) indicating the "1" bit, and does not send out a light pulse sequence indicating the "0" bit, for example. In this case, only when the aforementioned light pulse sequence has entered a decoder which is reciprocal to (i.e., provides opposite delays of) the code pattern of the encoder, the decoder will detect a signal indicating the "1" bit.
FIG. 5 shows a decoder which performs the decoding illustrated in FIG. 3. The decoder structure of FIG. 5 differs from the encoder structure of FIG. 4 in terms of the order in which the reflection wavelengths of the gratings 10, 11 and 12 are arranged. Specifically, the reflection wavelengths of the gratings 10, 11 and 12 are set to be λ3, λ2 and λ1, respectively.
In an encoder having the above structure, if the reflection wavelengths of the gratings are changed due to changes in temperature or application of tension, a so-called "wavelength shift (wavelength drift)" may occur, which makes correct encoding impossible, or in the case of a decoder, makes correct decoding impossible.
A wavelength shift or wavelength drift refers to a deviation in the reflection wavelength band of a grating from its setting value, which may occur due to expansion of a grating in the encoder/decoder in response to a change in the ambient temperature, etc., or due to changes in the refractive index of the grating. In general, as the grating temperature increases, or as a greater tension is applied to the grating, the reflection wavelength band of the grating is more shifted toward the longer wavelength.
Since a code pattern is defined by a combination of a predetermined plurality of reflection wavelengths, a "wavelength shift" can cause a fatal error during encoding or decoding. For example, if a "wavelength shift" occurs in an encoder, the encoder will perform encoding by using wavelengths which are different from the wavelengths that define the intended code, thus making it impossible for the reciprocal decoder to perform decoding. Conversely, if a "wavelength shift" occurs in a decoder in the case where encoding has been performed correctly, it becomes impossible to correctly decode the code. These will induce data transmission errors or transmission failures. In order to prevent such a "wavelength shift", the gratings of an encoder/decoder are to be maintained at a constant temperature.
Non-patent Document 2 discloses a technique which prevents problems in encoding/decoding even in the presence of a slight "wavelength shift", this technique being based on the Fast-Frequency-Hopping technique. According to this technique, the number of chips in the code pattern is reduced to give a large margin to the band of each chip, whereby some immunity to non-wavelength-dependent shifts is obtained.
As used herein, a "non-wavelength-dependent shift" means a wavelength shift where the shift amount does not depend on the wavelength. On the other hand, a "wavelength-dependent shift" means a wavelength shift where the shift amount differs depending on the wavelength. A wavelength-dependent shift occurs in the case where different temperatures or different tensions are applied to the individual gratings.
Even when using the code pattern described in Non-patent Document 1, if the magnitude of the wavelength shift differs depending on the wavelength, most of the light components contained in the signal pulse light will suffer a loss and disappear. Moreover, as long as a single uniform grating is used for each chip of the code pattern, it will be difficult to provide each reflection wavelength band with a large width.
A non-wavelength-dependent shift represents a special case of a wavelength-dependent shift. That is, when the shift amounts for all wavelengths are equal in a wavelength-dependent shift, there exists a non-wavelength-dependent shift. Therefore, a non-wavelength-dependent shift is encompassed under the broad definition of a wavelength-dependent shift. This means that more stringent conditions will need to be satisfied to obtain immunity against wavelength-dependent shifts than to obtain immunity against non-wavelength-dependent shifts.
In order to overcome the problems described above, a main purpose of the present invention is to enhance immunity against wavelength-dependent shifts in an encoder and decoder compliant with optical CDMA.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


Compounds of formula I ##STR1## wherein X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 are C.dbd.O, C.dbd.NH or CH.sub.2, X.sub.3 is CH.sub.2, CO, CHOH, ##STR2## wherein n=2 or, 3 or C.dbd.N(R.sub.9) wherein R.sub.9 is hydroxy or amino-aryl, and each of R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5, R.sub.6, R.sub.7 and R.sub.8 are hydrogen, halogen or an organic residue, are useful in the treatment of amyloidosis. A process for their preparation and pharmaceutical compositions containing them are also described.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to novel aza-anthracyclinone derivatives, their use for the treatment of amyloidosis, methods for their preparation and pharmaceutical compositions containing them.
2. Description of the Background
The relationship between amyloidosis, cell death and loss of tissue function appears to be of relevance for different type of disorders including neurodegenerative disorders. Therefore, the prevention of amyloid formation and/or the induction of amyloid degradation can be an important therapeutic tool for all pathological disorders associated with amyloidosis including AL amyloidosis and neurodegenerative disorders of the Alzheimer's type.


Plant and process for the generation of hydrogen from a hydrocarbonaceous feed gas and steam by means of catalytic steam reformation, wherein the heat of the synthesis gas and the flue gas is utilized for generating export steam from boiler feed water and process steam from the condensate separated from the synthesis gas, and wherein the gases expelled from the boiler feed water during its degasification and the vapors obtained during the depressurization of the elutriation waters of the steam boilers for the generation of export and process steam are used for preheating the fuel gas for operation of the burners of the steam reformer.

Such processes and plants are known per se. The underlying process for the catalytic steam reformation of a hydrocarbonaceous feed gas is described for example in Ullmanns Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, Sixth Edition, Vol. 15, Gas Production, Chapter 2. The feed gases, a hydrocarbonaceous gas, such as e.g. natural gas and steam, are passed through externally heated reactor tubes filled with catalyst at elevated pressure, e.g. at 20 to 35 bar, and high temperature, e.g. 800 to 950° C. The feed gases are converted into synthesis gas rich in hydrogen and carbon monoxide. Such tubular reactor frequently is referred to as SMR, and the process is referred to as SMR process (abbreviation for Steam-Methane-Reformer), when natural gas is used as feed gas. For the separation of the hydrogen fraction from the synthesis gas the pressure swing adsorption (PSA) process frequently is employed, which is described in chapter 5.5.3 of the same Ullmann volume.
For the economy of the process it is very important to use the heating energy expended for heating the feed gases and for carrying out the, in total, endothermal reforming reactions as far as possible for steam generation. The steam used together with the hydrocarbonaceous feed gas is referred to as process steam. It is obtained by re-evaporating the condensate, the so-called process condensate, which is formed and deposited from the synthesis gas upon cooling thereof. The heat content of the synthesis gas and of the flue gas however exceeds the heat quantity required for generating the process steam. To make good use of this excess heat, the same is utilized for generating so-called export steam, which chiefly is used outside the SMR process. In order not to load the export steam with impurities from the SMR process, fresh boiler feed water is used for its generation. A part of the export steam is utilized to compensate elutriation losses during the generation of process steam.
Processes and plants for the optimization of this heat recovery are described e.g. in the following applications and patent specifications:
DE 10 2004 030 246 A1 describes a process and an apparatus for obtaining hydrogen by steam reformation, in which the boiler feed water stream supplied to the degassing boiler is heated by the stream discharged from the boiler, by means of a heat exchanger.
DE 10 2010 020 406 A1 describes a process for producing a synthesis gas, in which there is shown the heat recovery from the produced flue gas of the SMR reformer by heat exchange with the feed gases, natural gas and air, and by steam generation.
DE 10 2010 044 939 B3 describes a process for generating process steam and boiler feed water steam in a reforming reactor for the production of synthesis gas. There is shown the heat recovery by heat exchange between the process product streams synthesis gas and flue gas and the educt streams.
Before its evaporation, the boiler feed water used for the generation of export steam is liberated from gases contained therein. This is accomplished by thermal degasification. For this purpose, it is brought to boil in a boiler under slight excess pressure. The expelled gas mostly is discharged into the atmosphere. An alternative to discharging into the atmosphere is presented in the document US 2011/0239864 A1. In this document it is proposed to admix these gases to the hot flue gas, in order to thereby destroy harmful constituents of the gas. A secondary aspect of the present invention consists in offering an alternative thereto.
Another secondary aspect of the invention consists in increasing the utilization of the thermal energy expended for the steam reforming process. A small part of the water continuously is elutriated from the steam boilers, in order to avoid an accumulation of impurities. These elutriation waters are discharged from the boilers by pressure release. In the processes and plants of the prior art, the vapor obtained during the depressurization is discharged into the atmosphere.

Process and plant for producing hydrogen by means of catalytic steam reformation of a hydrocarbonaceous feed gas

L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude


A mill for grinding loose materials, which comprises a closed container provided with at least one opening for introducing and removing the materials and has, at its two poles, a first coupling shaft and a second coupling shaft articulated thereto, a fixed frame which has centering elements for said first shaft and supports a driving shaft which is actuated so that it can rotate continuously, a flange which is fixed to said driving shaft and has eccentric elements for supporting said second shaft with a rotary coupling element interposed, said eccentric elements being adapted to make said second shaft perform a substantially circular orbit.

The present invention relates to a mill for grinding loose materials.
It is known that mills of the gravity or centrifugal-grinding type are used to grind products such as enamels, grits and the like.
These mills contain a plurality of balls which act by gravity or by centrifugal force and break up the material between the balls and/or between the balls and the internal surface of the mill.
These mills suffer some drawbacks, among which the fact that they require disadvantageously long times for introducing, grinding and unloading the materials, require a considerable amount of balls or beads to effectively break up the product contained therein, and allow to grind only specific quantities of the material that is introduced, said quantities being closely linked to the quantity of balls and to the dimensions of said mills.
It can in fact be noted that in the case of conventional gravity mills grinding occurs mainly on the bottom of the mill, whereas in the case of centrifugal mills breakup occurs mainly along the material surface of the mill; accordingly, in both cases it is convenient for the amount of product to be ground to be directly proportional to the number of balls and to the size of the mill in which it is contained.
Furthermore, mills that work by centrifugal force must have very small dimensions, and therefore very small capacities, because they require very high power levels to move the masses.
The aim of the present invention is to eliminate the above drawbacks of conventional mills by providing a mill for grinding loose materials which allows to minimize the quantity of the grinding media for effective breakup, to limit the power level required and the actual time required for introduction, grinding and unloading, and to grind different quantities of material regardless of the dimensions of said mill.
Within the scope of this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a structure which is simple, relatively easy to be manufactured, safe in use, effective in operation and having a relatively low cost.
This aim, this object and others are achieved by the present mill for grinding loose materials, characterized in that it comprises a closed container which is provided with at least one opening for introducing and removing the materials and has, at its poles, a first coupling shaft and a second coupling shaft articulated thereto, a fixed frame which has centering means for said first shaft, said frame supporting a driving shaft which is actuated so that it can rotate continuously, and a flange which is fixed to said driving shaft and has eccentric means for supporting said second shaft with a rotary coupling element interposed, said eccentric means being adapted to make said second shaft perform a substantially circular orbit.

11496 - 41020 Montagnana di Serramazzoni


The device (1) according to the invention for metering and in particular compressing bulk material (2) comprises a conveyor for metering the bulk material. The device (1) further comprises a measuring device for measuring a measuring variable and a receiving device (20) for receiving a container, in particular a bag (22). The conveyor has an outlet (12) for the bulk material (2). The container has a filling opening (23). The receiving device (20) and the outlet (12) can be positioned relative to each other dependent on the measuring variable during the metering of the bulk material (2) into the filling opening (23). In particular, the outlet (12) and the receiving device (20) can be positioned in a manner that can be controlled and/or regulated.

DE 197 34 109 A1 discloses an apparatus for metering and discharging a quantity of filling material. The apparatus has a plurality of screw conveyors, which are connected to a through-passage chamber in each case by means of a flexible piece of hose. The through-passage chamber is of horizontally movable design, and therefore it can be moved along synchronously with a packaging container over a certain conveying distance. An outlet of the through-passage chamber is thus fixed in position relative to the packaging container over the certain conveying distance.
EP 0 90 153 A2 discloses an apparatus for compressing recyclable waste material. A housing contains a conveying screw which receives the waste material from a supply location, compresses it during a conveying operation and, following the compressing operation, discharges it to a collecting space.
These apparatuses have the disadvantage that, as bulk material is being metered into a container, the amount of dust generated is frequently pronounced, in particular in the case of flour-containing bulk materials, and also the degree of compacting achieved is often insufficient. Generation of dust may be disadvantageous since dust can contaminate the surroundings and, in addition, can adversely affect the functionality of technical equipment in the surroundings.
WO 2010/052325 A1 discloses a bulk-material-bagging apparatus with a shaking device for compacting metered bulk material.
This apparatus, however has the disadvantage that, as an in particular floury bulk material is being metered, a pronounced amount of dust can be generated. Added to this is the fact that the additionally necessary shaking device often renders the metering apparatus slower, since an additional method step is necessary, and also more complex, and therefore costly, to produce.
WO 2008/025175 discloses an apparatus for packaging of bulk materials in an evacuated environment.
This apparatus, however, has the disadvantage that the necessary evacuation renders the apparatus of complex design and, in addition, the method for metering a bulk material is more complicated to implement.

Device and method for metering a bulk material


Provided is an anti-backlash apparatus for a bait reel. The apparatus includes a brake shoe holder, a plurality of brake shoes, a stopper, a stopper holder, and locking parts. The brake shoe holder connects to a shaft of a spool. The plurality of brake shoes are radially fitted to the brake shoe holder, move outside, and get friction with a brake ring. The stopper is provided at one side of the brake shoe holder, and restricts movements of the brake shoes. The stopper holder connects to the stopper, and elastically reciprocates and moves left/right by a tension force of the spring. The locking parts are vertically bent at one-side ends of the brake shoes, and are locked at an inner circumference surface of the stopper, and restrict the movement of the brake shoe.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an anti-backlash apparatus for a bait reel, and more particularly, to an anti-backlash apparatus for a bait reel, for stepwise and delicately controlling a rotary force of a spool outside even with a side cover not disassembled.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a bait reel mainly used for lure fishing includes a reel frame; a spool rotatably installed at the reel frame and winding a fishing line; a handle provided at one side of the reel frame and rotating and driving the spool; and a side cover connecting to the other side of the reel frame.
An anti-backlash apparatus is provided within the side cover. The anti-backlash apparatus refers to an apparatus for controlling a rotation of the spool rotating at a high speed at the time of casting a lure or bait, thereby preventing a fishing line to be excessively unwound and entangled at the spool.
As a conventional art related with the anti-backlash apparatus, there is a method in which a brake shoe stands out of by a centrifugal force of a spool within a side cover, and contacts with a fixed brake ring, thereby causing a friction force and braking the spool. However, in this method, when a brake power against the spool changes, the side cover should be necessarily separated and then, the brake shoe should be controlled in position. Thus, much troublesomeness in use is caused.
As a prior art for solving the above drawback, there is Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20-0381861 filed on Feb. 11, 2005 by this inventor and registered on Apr. 6, 2005.
The earlier registered Utility Model has an advantage that a brake ring causing friction with a brake shoe is controlled in position depending on an operation of a dial mounted at a side cover, thereby controlling a rotary force of a spool such that, even though the side cover is not disassembled, the rotary force of the spool can be controlled.
However, the earlier registered Utility Model is expected to have a drawback in that, since an internal space of the side cover for installing the brake ring is limited, the brake ring is only restrictively changed in position and thus, a brake power against the spool cannot be controlled in several steps.
Further, the earlier registered Utility Model is expected to have a drawback in that, if a motion of the brake ring is not accurate, a noise is caused when the brake power against the spool is generated.


Disclosed is a nanocrystalline composite useful for hydrogen storage, which provides optimum hydrogenation conditions along with high hydrogen storage capacity. This composite is the combination of at least one high temperature metal hydride such as Mg or Mg.sub.2 Ni, which has a high hydrogen storage capacity by weight but requires high temperatures for hydrogen absorption and desorption, with at least one low temperature metal hydride such as FeTi, LaNi.sub.5, Nb, Mn or Pd, which has a low hydrogen storage capacity by weight but does not require high temperatures for hydrogen absorption and desorption. The high and low temperature metal hydrides are in direct contact with each other and each in the form of a nanocrystalline powder or layer. This composite is particularly useful as a hydrogen supply source for hydrogen-fueled vehicles.

a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a nanocrystalline composite for use to store hydrogen.
The invention also relates to methods of preparing such composite and to their use.
b) Brief Description of the Prior Art
The main reasons to develop and use a composite are essentially (1) to take advantage of the unique properties of each component of the composite and (2) to profit from its complex (multi-component) microstructure.
In the case of a composite for use to store hydrogen, the purpose of combining two or more hydrogen carriers is essentially to be able to modify the hydrogenation/dehydrogenation properties of the resulting composite in such a way as to provide a wider range of operational conditions.
Although a large variety of hydrogen carriers exists, which mainly consist of metal hydrides operating at temperatures ranging between -40.degree. C. and 500.degree. C. there is no suitable hydrogen carrier which provides optimum hydrogenation conditions along with a high hydrogen storage capacity. By way of examples, in the case of a hydrogen-fueled vehicle, such "optimum" hydrogenation conditions would be an ability to absorb/desorb hydrogen at a temperature of about 150.degree. C. while a "high" hydrogen storage capacity would be an ability for the carrier to store more than 3% by weight of hydrogen.
So far, there is no hydrogen carrier which can meet both of these requirements. Indeed, all the hydrogen carriers which can operate at temperatures lower than 100.degree. C. have a hydrogen storage capacity by weight that is too low to be effective in transportation. For example, FeTi has a storage capacity of 1.9 wt % while LaNi.sub.5 has a capacity of 1.3 wt %. On the other hand, all the hydrogen carriers which exhibit a high hydrogen storage capacity, such as, for example Mg.sub.2 Ni which has a capacity of 3.6 wt % or Mg which has a capacity of 7.65 wt %, require temperatures higher than 300.degree. C. for hydrogenation/dehydrogenation cycling. Of course, the need for high temperature (usually ranging from 300 to 400.degree. C. for absorption/desorption decreases the efficiency of such carriers and the potential development and use of vehicles using hydrogen as a fuel.
In copending U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 08/382,776 and 387,457 filed on Feb. 2 and 13, 1995, respectively in the name of the same assignees, a new generation of hydrogen carriers is disclosed, which consist of nanocrystalline metal hydride powders incorporating or not a catalyst.
More particularly, U.S. application Ser. No. 08/387,457 discloses a powder of an alloy of Ni and Mg, La, Be or Ti, consisting of crystallites having a grain size lower than 100 nm and preferably lower than 30 nm and a crystalline structure allowing hydrogen absorption. This powder is preferably obtained by mechanical grinding and may consist of crystallites of Mg.sub.2 Ni, LaNi.sub.5 or of Ni-based alloys of Be or Li. It is particularly useful for storing and transporting hydrogen, since it requires no or only one single activation treatment at low temperature to absorb hydrogen and its kinetic of absorption and diffusion of hydrogen is fast.
U.S. application Ser. No. 08/382,776 discloses a very light-weight, Mg and Be-based material which has the ability to reversibly store hydrogen with very good kinetics. This material is of the formula: EQU (M.sub.1-x A.sub.x)D.sub.y
wherein:
M is Mg, Be or a combination of them; PA1 A is an element selected from the group consisting of Li, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Al, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, In, Sn, O, Si, B, C and F PA1 D is a metal selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, Ni, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ir and Pt (preferably Pd); PA1 x is a number ranging from 0 to 0.3; and PA1 y is a number ranging from 0 to 0.15. PA1 the problems of poisoning by oxidation; PA1 the need for activation; and PA1 too slow kinetics of hydrogenation/dehydrogenation. PA1 a) at least one first hydrogen carrier hereinafter called "high temperature metal hydride", which has a high hydrogen storage capacity but requires high temperatures for hydrogen absorption and desorption; and PA1 b) at least one second hydrogen carrier hereinafter called "low temperature metal hydride", which has a low hydrogen storage capacity but does not require high temperatures for hydrogen absorption and desorption.
This material is in the form of a powder of particles of the formula M.sub.1-x A.sub.x as defined hereinabove, each particle consisting of nanocrystalline grains having an average size of 3 to 100 nm or having a nanolayered structure with a layer spacing of 3 to 100 nm. Some of these particles have clusters of metal D attached thereto, with an average size ranging from 2 to 200 nm.
The nanocrystalline powders disclosed in both of the above U.S. applications overcome most of the drawbacks of the conventional hydrides, including:
The latter point is essential since outstanding kinetics of hydrogen uptake permits to decrease significantly the effective operational temperature of, for example, the Mg-based hydrides, to a range inaccessible for conventional, polycrystalline materials (for example 200 to 250.degree. C.).
In spite of the above advantages, many potential applications for hydrogen carriers, especially, metal hydrides, require a cold star-up of the hydrogen-fueled devices, which means ambient temperature for the initiation of the process, with the possibility of gradually switching to higher temperatures as the device warms up.

Nanocrystalline composite for hydrogen storage


Compositions and methods for generating ClO2 gas are disclosed. A composition that includes a chlorite salt is activated by exposure to ultraviolet light. After an optional storage period, the composition is then exposed to moisture, resulting in the generation of ClO2 gas. Exemplary compositions include polymers in which the chlorite salt is dispersed. The polymers may be used to form films that can be used to package, e.g., food products, pharmaceutical products, medical devices, and/or laboratory devices. Upon exposure to ultraviolet light and moisture, the packaging releases controlled quantities of ClO2 gas, which may disinfect and/or deodorize the packaged device or product.

Chlorine dioxide (ClO2) is a powerful oxidizing agent and disinfectant. It is used today primarily in bleaching processes in the paper pulp industry and as a disinfectant for water treatment. It has also been shown to be useful as a broad spectrum biocide in various applications such as food processing, fungus and mold fumigation, biofilm treatment and even in the killing of bedbugs and hardy anthrax spores.
Accordingly, it may be desirable to produce compositions that can release chlorine dioxide to inhibit microbial growth. However, control of production of gaseous ClO2 can be difficult.
Wellinghoff et al. have devised polymer packaging films which release ClO2 when the films come in contact with moisture. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,360,609 and 5,360,528. In systems described in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,360,609, a mixture of an acid-releasing compound, such as an acid anhydride, and chlorite in different phases (hydrophobic and hydrophilic) can produce ClO2 when the acid releasing compound is hydrolyzed to produce an acid, which reacts with chlorite. Notably, this system produces ClO2 upon contact with moisture from any source, and thus the timing of ClO2 production can be difficult to control.
Wellinghoff et al. have also devised a polymeric composition containing chlorite anion and an energy-activated catalyst, such as a photo-activated catalyst, that triggers the production of ClO2 upon exposure to light, such as visible light. See, for example, U.S. Patent Publication No. 2008/0299066. The timing of ClO2 production in this system is difficult to control because ClO2 is produced whenever the polymer is exposed to light, including inadvertent exposure to ambient visible light.
It would be desirable to provide improved methods and compositions for more controlled release of ClO2 gas that can be practically applied to large scale commercial applications, such as in packaging for food and medical products, and other applications.

Methods and compositions for on-demand release of ClO


The present invention provides T helper cell epitopes and compositions for use in inducing an immune response comprising at least one of these epitopes. The epitopes are contained within a peptide sequence selected from the group consisting of EPINQALTLMTKNVKPL (SEQ ID NO: 12); FAGVVLAGVALGVATAA (SEQ ID NO: 13); NLNAQAIQSLRTSLEQS (SEQ ID NO: 17) and TELLSIFGPSLRDPISA (SEQ ID NO: 20).

For any peptide to be able to induce an effective antibody response it must contain particular sequences of amino acids known as epitopes that are recognised by the immune system. In particular, for antibody responses, epitopes need to be recognised by specific immunoglobulin (Ig) receptors present on the surface of B lymphocytes. It is these cells which ultimately differentiate into plasma cells capable of producing antibody specific for that epitope. In addition to these B cell epitopes, the immunogen must also contain epitopes that are presented by antigen presenting cells (APC) to specific receptors present on helper T lymphocytes, the cells which are necessary to provide the signals required for the B cells to differentiate into antibody producing cells.
In the case of viral infections and in many cases of cancer, antibody is of limited benefit in recovery and the immune system responds with cytotoxic T cells (CTL) which are able to kill the virus-infected or cancer cell. Like helper T cells, CTL are first activated by interaction with APC bearing their specific peptide epitope presented on the surface, this time in association with MHC class I rather than class II molecules. Once activated the CTL can engage a target cell bearing the same peptide/class I complex and cause its lysis. It is also becoming apparent that helper T cells play a role in this process; before the APC is capable of activating the CTL it must first receive signals from the helper T cell to upregulate the expression of the necessary costimulatory molecules.
Helper T cell epitopes are bound by molecules present on the surface of APCs that are coded by class II genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). The complex of the class II molecule and peptide epitope is then recognised by specific T-cell receptors (TCR) on the surface of T helper lymphocytes. In this way the T cell, presented with an antigenic epitope in the context of an MHC molecule, can be activated and provide the necessary signals for the B lymphocyte to differentiate. Traditionally the source of helper T cell epitopes for a peptide immunogen is a carrier protein to which peptides are covalently coupled but this coupling procedure can introduce other problems such as modification of the antigenic determinant during the coupling process and the induction of antibodies against the carrier at the expense of antibodies which are directed toward the peptide (Schutze, M. P., Leclerc, C. Jolivet, M. Audibert, F. Chedid, L. Carrier-induced epitopic suppression, a major issue for future synthetic vaccines. J. Immunol. 1985, 135, 2319–2322; DiJohn, D., Torrese, J. R. Murillo, J. Herrington, D. A. et al. Effect of priming with carrier on response to conjugate vaccine. The Lancet. 1989, 2, 1415–1416). Furthermore, the use of irrelevant proteins in the preparation introduces issues of quality control. The choice of appropriate carrier proteins is very important in designing peptide vaccines and their selection is limited by factors such as toxicity and feasibility of their large scale production. There are other limitations to this approach including the size of the peptide load that can be coupled and the dose of carrier that can be safely administered (Audibert, F. a. C., L. 1984. Modern approaches to vaccines. Molecular and chemical basis of virus virulence and immunogenicity., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York.). Although carrier molecules allow the induction of a strong immune response they are also associated with undesirable effects such as suppression of the anti-peptide antibody response (Herzenberg, L. A. and Tokuhisa, T. 1980. Carrier-priming leads to hapten-specific suppression. Nature 285:664; Schutze, M. P., Leclerc, C., Jolivet, M., Audibert, F., and Chedid, L. 1985. Carrier-induced epitopic suppression, a major issue for future synthetic vaccines. J Immunol 135:2319; Etlinger, H. M., Felix, A. M., Gillessen, D., Heimer, E. P., Just, M., Pink, J. R., Sinigaglia, F., Sturchler, D., Takacs, B., Trzeciak, A., and et, a. 1988. Assessment in humans of a synthetic peptide-based vaccine against the sporozoite stage of the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. J Immunol 140:626).
In general then, an immunogen must contain epitopes capable of being recognised by helper T cells in addition to the epitopes that will be recognised by surface Ig or by the receptors present on cytotoxic T cells. It should be realised that these types of epitopes may be very different. For B cell epitopes, conformation is important as the B cell receptor binds directly to the native immunogen. In contrast, epitopes recognised by T cells are not dependent on conformational integrity of the epitope and consist of short sequences of approximately nine amino acids for CTL and slightly longer sequences, with less restriction on length, for helper T cells. The only requirements for these epitopes are that they can be accommodated in the binding cleft of the class I or class II molecule respectively and that the complex is then able to engage the T-cell receptor. The class II molecule's binding site is open at both ends allowing a much greater variation in the length of the peptides bound (Brown, J. H., T. S. Jardetzky, J. C. Gorga, L. J. Stern, R. G. Urban, J. L. Strominger and D. C. Wiley. 1993. Three-dimensional structure of the human class II histocompatibility antigen HLA-DR1. Nature 364:33) with epitopes as short as 8 amino acid residues being reported (Fahrer, A. M., Geysen, H. M., White, D. O., Jackson, D. C. and Brown, L. E. Analysis of the requirements for class II-restricted T-cell recognition of a single determinant reveals considerable diversity in the T-cell response and degeneracy of peptide binding to I-Ed J. Immunol. 1995. 155: 2849–2857).
Canine distemper virus (CDV) belongs to the subgroup of morbillivirus of paramyxovirus family of negative-stranded RNA viruses. Other viruses which are members of this group are measles virus and rinderpest virus. Development of peptide based vaccines has aroused considerable interest in identification of B and T cell epitopes from sequences of proteins. The rationale for using T cell epitopes from proteins such as the F protein of CDV is that young dogs are inoculated against CDV in early life and will therefore possess helper T cells specific for helper T cell epitopes present on this protein. Subsequent exposure to a vaccine which contains one or more of the epitopes will therefore result in recruitment of existing helper T cells and consequently an enhanced immune response. Such helper T cell epitopes could, however, be administered to unprimed animals and still induce an immune response. The present inventors aimed to identify canine T cell epitopes from the sequence of CDV fusion protein so that these epitopes can then be used in the design of peptide based vaccines, in particular, for the canine and related species.
LHRH (Luteinising hormone releasing hormone) is a ten amino acids long peptide hormone whose sequence is conserved in mammals. It is secreted by the hypothalamus and controls the reproductive physiology of both males and females. The principle of development of LHRH-based immunocontraceptive vaccines is based on observations that antibodies to LHRH block the action of the hormone on pituitary secretion of luteinising hormone and follicle stimulating hormone, leading to gonadal atrophy and sterility in mammals.
Most LHRH vaccines that have been developed consist of LHRH chemically conjugated to protein carriers to provide T cell help for the generation of anti-LHRH antibodies. It has been shown that upon repeated inoculation of LHRH-protein carrier conjugates the anti-LHRH titre decreases due to the phenomenon known as "carrier induced epitope suppression". One aim of the present inventors is to replace protein carriers in the vaccines with defined T helper epitopes (TH-epitopes) so as to eliminate "carrier induced epitope suppression".


Apparatus, and an associated method, for requesting initiation of generation of an interrupt at an I/O APIC (input/output advanced programmable interrupt controller) of a multi-processor computer system. Initiation of generation of the inter-processor interrupt is requested by a peripheral component device, such as a PCI bus controller, not directly connected to an APIC bus extending to interrupt controllers associated with each of the processors of the multi-processor computer system. The interrupt permitted to be initiated by the peripheral component device includes, inter alia, a remote read request.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the generation of inter-processor interrupts in a multi-processor computer system in which each of the processors of the computer system is coupled to a local APIC (advanced programmable interrupt controller). More particularly, the present invention relates to apparatus, and an associated method, for permitting generation of an inter-processor interrupt to be initiated by a peripheral component device, such as a PCI bus controller, not directly connected to any of the local APICs. The interrupt permitted to be initiated by the peripheral component device includes, inter alia, a remote read request.
The peripheral component device is coupled, instead, to an I/O APIC. The I/O APIC, in turn, is coupled via an APIC bus with the local APICs. The peripheral component device requests the I/O APIC to generate a selected inter-processor interrupt upon the APIC bus to effectuate the desired interrupt. Responses to the interrupt are provided to a register of the I/O APIC. The contents of the register are accessible by the peripheral component device.
Operation of an embodiment of the present invention increases the serviceability of a multi-processor computer system. Component devices, such as the PCI bus controller, which otherwise are unable to generate directly inter-processor interrupts, are able to initiate generation of the inter-processor interrupts. A remote read inter-processor interrupt is exemplary of an inter-processor interrupt, the initiation of which is provided through operation of an embodiment of the present invention. Data read from a selected processor responsive to the remote read interrupt is provided to a register of the I/O APIC which can be accessed by the peripheral component device.
2. Description of Related Art
Networks serve the purpose of connecting many different personal computers (PCS), workstations, or terminals to each other, and to one or more host computers, printers, file servers etc., so that expensive computing assets, programs, files and other data may be shared among many users.
In a network utilizing a client/server architecture, the client (personal computer or workstation) is the requesting machine and the server is the supplying machine, both of which may preferably be connected via the network, such as a local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN) or metropolitan area network (MAN). This is in contrast to early network systems that utilized a mainframe with dedicated terminals.
In a client/server network, the client typically contains a user interface and may perform some or all of the application processing and, as mentioned above, can include personal computers or workstations. The server in a client/server network can be a high-speed microcomputer or minicomputer and in the case of a high-end server can include multiple processors and mass data storage devices such as multiple CD-ROM drives and multiple hard drives, preferably with "redundant array of inexpensive disk" (RAID) protection. An exemplary server such as a database server maintains the databases and processes requests from the client to extract data from or to update the database. An application server provides additional business processing for the clients. The network operating system (NOS) together with the database management system (DBMS) and transaction monitor (TP monitor) are responsible for the integrity and security of the server.
Client/server networks are widely used throughout many different industries and business organizations, especially where mission-critical applications requiring high performance are routinely launched. The mass storage and multi-processing capabilities provided by current client/server network systems (for example, the high-end servers) that run such applications permit a wide range of essential services and functions to be provided through their use.
As can be appreciated, many of these businesses are highly dependent upon the availability of their client/server network systems to permit these essential network services and functions to be carried out. As these client/server network systems become increasingly essential to the everyday operations of these businesses, additional steps need to be taken in the design and construction of the server in the client/server network system to ensure its continuous availability to the clients. That is to say, in the design and construction of a server, steps need to be taken to ensure that the server can be operated with little or no downtime.
It can be appreciated by those skilled in the art that high availability, reliability and serviceability are valuable design aspects in ensuring that a server is a "zero downtime" system that will operate with little or no downtime. The modularity of components within a server has been recognized as an important design consideration in ensuring that the downtime of a server will be minimized. Modules can be removed and examined for operability or other purposes much easier than permanently mounted fixtures within a server chassis. When various components of a server can be provided in a modular form, they can also be readily replaced to maintain the operational status of the server with minimal downtime.
Removable modular components may include disc drives and power supplies. As described above, the removability of modular components allows for better overall serviceability of the computer system which is a distinct advantage. For example, a defective power supply in the server generally requires prompt replacement in order to limit downtime. Modular components and connectors facilitate prompt replacement and are thus popular in many computer designs.
Originally, a rule of practice in the maintenance of modular components or printed circuit boards of a server was that of turning the power to the server off before any modular components or printed circuit boards were removed from or added to the chassis or support frame of the server. Recent innovations have centered around a highly desirable design goal of "hot-pluggability" which addresses the benefits derived from inserting and removing modular components and printed cards from the chassis of the server when the server is electrically connected and operational. It can be readily appreciated that modularization and hot-pluggability can have a significant bearing on the high availability aspect of a high-end server.
Hot-pluggable components may include storage or disc drives, drive cages, fans, power supplies, system I/O boards, control boards, processor boards, and other sub-assemblies. The ability to remove these constituent components without having to power down the server allows for better overall serviceability of the system, which is a distinct advantage to both the user and the maintenance technician.
Component redundancy has also been recognized as an important design consideration in ensuring that a server will operate with little or no downtime. Essentially, component redundancy is typically provided in a system to better ensure that at least one of the redundant components is operable, thereby minimizing the system downtime. With component redundancy, at least two components are provided that can perform the same function, such that if one of the components becomes faulty for some reason, the operation fails over to the redundant component. When at least one of the redundant components is operable, continued operation of the computer system is possible even if others of the redundant components fail. To further enhance reliability and serviceability, redundant components have been made hot-pluggable.
Dynamic reconfiguration of a server system can also be accomplished by providing upgradable modular components therein. As can be readily appreciated, this objective can be accomplished by the addition or substitution of components having different circuits, preferably updated or upgraded, disposed therewithin. When components are redundant and hot-pluggable, reconfiguration of the server is often possible without taking the server offline.
Another important design aspect with respect to providing redundant and hot-pluggable components in a server system is to ensure and maintain a safe working environment while the server is operating and being repaired or upgraded. Accordingly, when the system components are swapped or upgraded, the exposure of hot connectors and contacts must be kept to a minimum. It can be appreciated by those skilled in the art that further developments in this area would significantly enhance the reliability and serviceability aspects of a high-end server system.
To further enhance the serviceability of server systems, additional innovations may be required in the design and construction of diagnostic sub-systems thereof. In existing client/server network systems it is often difficult to obtain in a timely manner important diagnostic data and information corresponding to a component failure in order to facilitate the quick serviceability of the server. Therefore, it can be appreciated that the more information that can be readily provided to locate a defective component or problem with the server, the better is the optimization of the amount of time the server is up and running.
Computer servers, as well as other types of computer systems, are sometimes formed of multiple numbers of processors connected in a manner to permit their operation in parallel. A computer system including such an arrangement is sometimes referred to as a multi-processor computer system. Use of a multi-processor computer system is advantageous as computations to be performed to execute one or more tasks can be performed in parallel. The speed at which a task can be completed can, therefore, generally be increased significantly in contrast to the speed at which the corresponding task can be completed by a single-processor system.
Many conventional computer systems permit the generation of interrupt messages to alert the processor of special conditions, typically those conditions which require priority attention. Generally, an interrupt is an event which indicates that a certain condition somewhere in the computer system requires the attention of the computer system processor to deal with the condition. The action taken by the processor responsive to the interrupt is referred to as "serving" the interrupt.
Provision for the servicing of interrupts becomes more complex in a multi-processor computer system as the interrupt must be directed towards an appropriate one of the processors.
APICs (advanced programmable interrupt controllers) are sometimes used to control the interrupt process. The APICs are coupled together by way of an APIC bus upon which inter-processor interrupts (IPIs) are generated. The Intel Pentium.TM. Pro Family Series includes exemplary APICs. APICs associated with the processors, according to at least one APIC manufacturer, are referred to as local APICs while APICs associated with other, such as input and output, devices are referred to as I/O APICs. The interrupts permitted to be generated by local APICs might include interrupts which are privileged to the local APICs. That is to say, some interrupts are conventionally generated only by local APICs and are not typically generated by I/O APICs.
Devices not coupled to the APIC bus conventionally are unable to generate interrupts or obtain information related to responses to such interrupts. A PCI (peripheral controller interface/interconnect) is exemplary of a device which typically is not directly associated with an APIC and is conventionally unable to cause the generation of interrupts or receive information related to responses thereto.
Even if such a device is able indirectly to cause the generation of inter-processor interrupts, interrupt messages conventionally reserved for local APICs cannot be indirectly initiated by such a device by way of an I/O APIC. A remote read interrupt is exemplary of an interrupt which is conventionally reserved for use by a local APIC, and, therefore, conventionally cannot be initiated, even indirectly, by a device even by way of an I/O APIC.
As information obtained from a remote read interrupt operation would be of advantage in ensuring a high level of serviceability of the computer system, a manner by which a remote read interrupt operation could be initiated would be advantageous.
It is in light of this background information related to the generation of interrupt messages in a multi-processor computer system that the significant improvements of the present invention have evolved.

Apparatus for initiating generation of an inter-processor interrupt by a peripheral device not directly connected to any of the multi-processor local interrupt controllers


Package delivery platform. An autonomous road vehicle is operative to receive destination information, and to drive to a destination based on the destination information. A package securing subsystem is attached to the autonomous road vehicle and comprises at least one securable compartment. Each securable compartment is operative to secure at least one package therein. Each securable compartment is associated with compartment access information. An access subsystem comprising at least one access information interface. The access subsystem is operative, upon receipt through the access information interface of compartment access information, to permit access to the compartment associated with the received compartment access information.

Delivery services (also known as courier services, mail services, and shipping services), such as those offered by the U.S. Postal Service and commercial carriers provide delivery and pickup of letters, packages, and parcels (hereinafter referred to as "packages") to and from residences and businesses across the country. Typically, such services operate in hub and spoke architecture.
A typical nationwide or international delivery service maintains a large fleet of vehicles. Such vehicles include airplanes and semi-trailer trucks to move packages between hubs and spokes, and smaller vehicles for the "last mile" from spoke endpoints to delivery destinations (for example a home or business). Between them, the two largest commercial delivery services in the U.S. operate over 100,000 last mile vehicles—each of which requires a human operator. In some situations, some interaction with a person at pickup or delivery is desired, for example for proof of delivery, for payment on delivery (also known as "cash on delivery" or "COD"), or payment of delivery costs on pickup. The growth of business-to-consumer e-commerce, online shopping for example, is expected to continue to increase the demand for delivery services, and hence the need for capacity and efficiency in the last mile.


A drawn and ironed container body is provided having a plurality of alternating inward and outward segments around the circumference of the stripper bulge and extending through at least a portion of the longitudinal extent of the bulge whereby the minimum column strength of a sampling of such containers is substantially increased. An apparatus for reforming a drawn and ironed container body is also provided, comprising inner and outer members positionable in opposing relation with each other, with at least a portion of the bulge positioned therebetween, the inner and outer members being capable of radial movement relative to each other to form alternating inward and outward segments around the circumference of the bulge and extending through at least a portion of the longitudinal extent thereof. In one embodiment, the inner member is a mandrel for supporting container body and secured to a circular turret and the outer member comprises an arcuate member having a rigid plate and a resilient layer for contacting a portion a container body on the mandrel. As the container simultaneously rotates about its longitudinal axis and revolves around the center axis of the turret, compressive force against the resilient layer forces metal to conform to inward and outward segments in the mandrel.

Two-piece drawn and ironed metal containers, such as those used to contain carbonated beverages, have an integrated body/bottom piece and a separate top piece. The body includes a cylindrical sidewall section and a bottom support section upon which the container rests when upright. A typical pressurized aluminum beverage container also has a transition or rework taper section which connects the sidewall section, having one diameter, with the bottom section, having a smaller diameter.
A drawn and ironed container body is formed on a body maker which typically comprises a reciprocating punch, a redraw sleeve, a redraw die, one or more ironing rings, a compound doming die, and an air stripper. The nose of the punch engages the open end of a shallow, cup-like container blank. The cup is forced linearly by the punch through the redraw die to reduce its diameter and elongate the sidewalls. The punch then forces the redrawn cup through the series of ironing rings to gradually thin and further elongate the sidewalls. The punch then forces the bottom of the container against the compound doming die to form an inward dome and an annular support in the bottom section of the container. The punch and the completed container body reverse direction and the container is separated from the punch by a burst of compressed air, sometimes with the assistance of stripping fingers. The container body is then transported to be necked and flanged.
As the nose of the punch forces a container cup through the redraw die and ironing rings to thin and elongate the sidewall, metal is pulled around the nose of the punch along the side of the punch, leaving a slight annular, outward bulge where the metal bends in the rework taper section between the sidewall and bottom sections. The bulge can expand after the doming operation when compressed air is injected into the container to facilitate its removal from the punch. As will be discussed below, the bulge (sometimes known as the "stripper bulge") is thought to introduce weakness in the container.
The nose of the punch has a slight taper, known as the rework taper, having dimensions which define the thickness of the container wall in the rework taper section. This thickness has a significant influence on the axial load capacity, or column strength, of the completed container. The column strength of a container is a measure of the container's ability to resist compressive forces applied between the top and bottom of the container in a direction substantially parallel to the sidewall. To determine the column strength of a container body and to determine where it first fails when an excessive axial load is applied, the container body (without the top) is placed in an axial load tester with one end against a base plate. When the machine is turned on, the base plate and a second, parallel plate move toward each other, thus compressing the container body longitudinally between the two plates. The compressive force is automatically increased until the container fails, such as by collapsing. The force on the container at the time of failure is the column strength of the container and is read from a display on the machine.
Fillers and distributors, to whom empty, necked containers are sold, currently require that the empty containers have a column strength of at least 250 pounds. A container with insufficient column strength may fail by collapsing when subjected to normal axial loads of up to about 250 pounds, as might occur when containers are necked, filled or seamed. In the past, gauges of metal, such as aluminum alloy with a thickness of 0.0120 inches (12.0 mils) or greater were employed and the strength requirements were readily attainable.
However, in order to reduce the amount of metal used in a container, and to thus reduce production costs and consumption of energy and raw materials, containers have been downgauged in recent years, such as to 11.8 mils and, more recently, to 11.6 mils. For the same reasons, still further downgauging is desired. Accompanying the downgauging has been a reduction in column strength and an increase in the number of container failures. Viewed statistically, both the average column strength and the minimum column strength of a sampling of aluminum alloy container bodies have declined to such an extent that, as set forth in Table 1, the minimum column strength is less than 250 pounds: not all containers in the sampling met the 250 pound requirement. A lack of uniformity in the containers in the sampling is demonstrated by the high standard deviation noted in Table 1.
TABLE 1 ______________________________________ NECKED COLUMN STRENGTH (11.6 mil gauge aluminum alloy) ______________________________________ AVERAGE 306 pounds MINIMUM 202 pounds MAXIMUM 338 pounds STANDARD DEVIATION 30 ______________________________________
It can be expected that further downgauging will result in further undesirable decreases in the minimum and average column strength and an increase in the standard deviation unless offsetting measures are taken.
In addressing this problem, the present inventors have now recognized a possible relationship between the column strength of a container and the presence of surface defects and the stripper bulge. It is believed that minor defects which can develop in the surface during container processing, handling and shipping, such as small bumps and dents in the sidewall and elsewhere, can reduce the column strength of a container. It is also believed that the presence of the stripper bulge in the rework taper section can also contribute to reduced column strength. The present inventors believe that the thicker gauges of containers produced in the past (such as 12 mils or greater) have enabled the containers to better able to resist the formation of defects and the stripper bulge than one with a thinner gauge, and to better resist the effects of any defects or the stripper bulge which occurred.
As a result of the foregoing factors, a significant number of containers with thinner gauges than previously employed may fail to meet minimum column strength requirements, even though the average column strength of the containers in a sampling exceeds the requirement. It is, therefore, desirable to increase the uniformity of the containers in a sampling and to increase the minimum column strength of containers by decreasing the effects of the stripper bulge and surface defects and thereby enable the column strength requirement to be met by substantially all of the containers. It is also desirable to be able to meet the column strength requirement when further downgauging of the container body thickness is undertaken.

Drawn and ironed container and apparatus and method for forming same


The invention relates to a legrest for a wheelchair, provided with a footrest and a calfrest. In a first, supporting position (ready for use), this footrest and calfrest are designed for supporting at least a part of a leg of a user seated during use in the wheelchair. The calfrest can be moved to a non-supporting, second position (ready for transfer), wherein the calfrest is located outside the space which is occupied by the legs of a wheelchair user upon sitting down in and/or rising from the wheelchair. The pivotal direction of the calfrest is then such that the path of travel between said first and second position is located substantially outside the space occupied by the legs of the wheelchair user in the first, supporting position.

1. Field of the invention
The invention relates to a wheelchair provided with a legrest, in particular a legrest provided with a calfrest. Such wheelchairs are known.
2. Description of the Prior Art
With the known wheelchairs, the legrest usually comprises a frame part which is connected centrally to the wheelchair or on two sides, and which is provided with a footrest and calfrest, reaching from the frame part as far as in front of a seat of the wheelchair. Such a legrest contributes to a comfortable support of the legs of the user seated in the wheelchair, but upon a transfer of this user in and from the wheelchair it forms an inconvenient obstacle.
It has already been proposed to design the or each legrest to be pivotable so that prior to a transfer, it can temporarily be pivoted sideways. The legs of the user seated in the wheelchair are then to be lifted from of the path of travel of the calfrest pivoting by. This leads to a very uncomfortable sitting posture that requires substantial physical effort from the user and/or his assistant.

Wheelchair provided with legrest and calfrest


A proxy apparatus acts as an intermediary between one or more bot apparatuses and one or more communication channels. The proxy apparatus connects a communication channel to a bot apparatus for the exchange of messages. A user can interact with the bot apparatus through the communication channel. The proxy apparatus is configured to perform one or more operations or services. Example operations include, but are not limited to, registration, authentication and authorization, the recordation of telemetry data, schema transformation, and identity transformation.

It is common for an entity, such as a company, to provide dedicated network communication channels for their customers, users, employees, and vendors. The customers, users, employees, and vendors can use the communication channels to access and interact with various applications on a network (e.g., the Internet). Some of these applications are bots that perform specific tasks, such as automated or repetitive tasks. Additionally, a bot can be an intelligent system that interacts with the users, employees, vendors, and customers over the network.
However, the number of bots that are available to the users, employees, and customers is increasing every day. It can be costly for a single entity to provide communication channels to the various bots. It can require a substantial amount of time to create and maintain a communication channel for each bot, which increases the cost of providing communication channels to the bots. Accordingly, many entities do not have a rich supply of bots to include in their dedicated communication channel. This is because their communication channel may not be compatible technically with the bots. Additionally, when a communication channel is technically compatible with a bot, the bot may not be included in a trusted marketplace, which can adversely impact the utilization of the bot.
It is with respect to these and other general considerations that embodiments have been described. Also, although relatively specific problems have been discussed, it should be understood that the embodiments should not be limited to solving the specific problems identified in the background.

Proxy system for bot connectivity to communication channels


A method and system for increasing regenerative energy available during deceleration by reducing engine pumping losses. The method includes a controller that reduces fuel delivery to the engine and closes an engine throttle during deceleration. The controller identifies the maximum kinetic energy available during deceleration and opens an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve and engine throttle as necessary to reduce a vacuum in an engine intake manifold, thus minimizing engine pumping losses and increasing regenerative energy available during deceleration while ensuring that a catalyst temperature is above a catalyst temperature threshold.

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure, which is not necessarily prior art.
Because of high fuel costs and government regulations, consumers increasingly require vehicles to be highly fuel-efficient. Hybrid-electric vehicles are considered to be an important system of increasing fuel efficiency. A typical hybrid-electric vehicle is equipped with an exhaust gas recirculation system that includes an engine operating in conjunction with a regenerative braking system to recharge a battery from the hybrid-electric vehicle's kinetic energy when the vehicle decelerates. Recharging the battery by the regenerative braking system increases fuel efficiency by converting kinetic energy to electricity. Therefore, the regenerative braking system increases the battery state of charge without requiring additional fuel and reduces the vehicle's speed without using a conventional brake, which also increases a vehicle's service life.
When the hybrid-electric vehicle decelerates, the regenerative braking system recharges the battery. When decelerating, the vehicle's wheels drive a motor generator so that kinetic energy of the vehicle is converted into electricity to recharge the battery. If the engine is rotated along with the motor generator, an energy recovery amount by the deceleration may be decreased due to an energy loss, in particular a pumping loss caused by a vacuum in the engine. A system that reduced the vacuum in the engine, while maintaining the vehicle's service life and catalyst temperature would thus be desirable.

Electric hybrid powertrain regeneration efficiency improvement


Flexible catheters adapted to be inserted into a body to deliver high-voltage, fast (e.g., microsecond, sub-microsecond, nanosecond, picosecond, etc.) electrical energy to target tissue may include a plurality of conductive layers, that may be coaxial. These catheters and method of using them to treat tissue are configured to reduce or avoid arcing.

Short, high-field strength electric pulses have been described for electroperturbation of biological cells. For example, electric pulses may be used in treatment of human cells and tissue including tumor cells, such as basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. The voltage induced across a cell membrane may depend on the pulse length and pulse amplitude. Pulses longer than about 1 microsecond may charge the outer cell membrane and lead to opening of pores. Permanent openings may result in instant or near instant cell death. Pulses shorter than about 1 microsecond may affect the cell interior without adversely or permanently affecting the outer cell membrane and result in a delayed cell death with intact cell membranes. Such shorter pulses with a field strength varying in the range of 10 kV/cm to 100 kV/cm may trigger apoptosis (i.e. programmed cell death) in some or all of the cells exposed to the described field strength and pulse duration. These higher electric field strengths and shorter electric pulses may be useful in manipulating intracellular structures, such as nuclei and mitochondria. For example, sub-microsecond (e.g., nanosecond) high voltage pulse generators have been proposed for biological and medical applications.
Because of the very high therapeutic voltages, as well as the very fast pulse times, applicators for delivery of such nanopulse energy devices must be configured so as to avoid damaging tissues or otherwise harming the patient. The risks of delivering high-voltage energy, such risks including electrical shock, arcing, burns, internal-organ damage, and cardiac arrhythmias, are even more acute when the high-voltage device is intended to be inserted into the body.
Thus, it would be beneficial to provide devices, such as catheters, endoscopes, laparoscopes, etc. that may apply high-voltage, short (also referred to as "fast") electrical pulses to treat patients while addressing the above-mentioned risks.

High-voltage catheters for sub-microsecond pulsing


A composite part program generator includes a computer-aided design (CAD) system interface, a path generator, a course head manager, a post-processor and a machine simulator. The composite part program generator produces composite part programs for use on a multihead composite material application machine, such as a composite tape lamination machine or an automated fiber placement (AFP) machine, to manufacture a complex composite parts, including relatively flat, contoured, or generally cylindrical composite parts. This programming method can reduce the labor and time required to produce a composite part program for a multihead composite material application machine by an order of magnitude with respect to manual or existing automated programming methods.

Composite materials have been used increasingly in a variety of industries, including the automotive, marine and aerospace industries. In some instances, composite parts can be formed using automated composite material application machines, such as composite tape lamination machines or composite fiber placement machines.
Some existing composite material application machines, for example, a flat tape lamination machine (FTLM) or a contoured tape lamination machine (CTLM), can be capable of producing flat or gently contoured composite parts by laying relatively wide strips of composite tape onto generally horizontal or vertical tooling surfaces, such as a mandrel. Other existing composite material application machines, for example, an automated fiber placement (AFP) machine, can be capable of producing generally cylindrical or tubular composite parts by wrapping relatively narrow strips of composite tape, or tows, around a rotating manufacturing tool, such as a mandrel.
Generally, existing automated composite material application machines have a single composite material application head. Correspondingly, existing composite material application machine programming systems generally are capable of producing a numerical control (NC) or computer numerical control (CNC) program designed to control a single composite material application machine having a single composite material application head.
In order to more efficiently produce relatively large composite parts, including aircraft fuselage sections, a high-rate, multihead, composite material application machine has been conceived. As conceived, the multihead composite material application machine should be capable of manufacturing a wide variety of composite parts, such as flat spars, stringer charges, wing skins and fuselage barrel sections, as well as composite parts in other industries, such as the automotive, marine, industrial vehicle and prefabricated architectural structure industries.
However, existing composite part programming systems do not have the capacity to efficiently program a composite material application machine with multiple composite material application heads to form a variety of composite parts. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a method and apparatus that can efficiently produce a composite part program for a high-rate composite material application machine with multiple composite material application heads to form a variety of composite parts without requiring excessive manual programming.

Multihead composite material application machine programming method and apparatus for manufacturing composite structures


A spatial light modulator may include a refraction layer including first and second regions with refractive indices different from each other; and/or a metal thin film on a lower face of the refraction layer configured to generate surface plasmons due to light incident on the metal thin film via the refraction layer. When first light is incident on the refraction layer, a phase difference between light reflected by the first and second regions may occur. A spatial light modulator may include a metal thin film and a refraction layer on the metal thin film. The refraction layer may include a first region with a first refractive index and a second region with a second refractive index different from the first refractive index. When first light is incident on the refraction layer, there may be a phase difference between light reflected from the first and second regions.

1. Field
Example embodiments relate to spatial light modulators using surface plasmons, holographic 3-dimensional display apparatuses including the spatial light modulators, and/or methods of modulating spatial light.
2. Description of Related Art
3-dimensional (3D) image display devices that realistically and effectively display an image are increasingly required in various fields, such as fields pertaining to medical images, games, advertisements, education, and the military. Accordingly, as a method of displaying a 3D image, a holographic method or a stereoscopic method is widely studied.
A holographic method uses a principle that a coherent signal obtained by overlapping incident light from an object and coherent reference light is recorded and reproduced. The holographic method is an ideal display method for realizing a 3D image. Since Dennis Gabor, an English scientist, developed the first hologram in the 1940s, research into holography has been conducted by many scientists. Recently, a variety of holographic techniques for displaying, for example, a pulsed laser hologram for capturing a dynamic image, a stereohologram having wide spatial scene display and wide viewing angle, an embossed hologram that can be mass produced, a natural color hologram displaying natural colors, and a digital hologram using a digital imaging device, and electronic holography for displaying an electronic hologram, have been developed. Electronic holography, used since 1990, is an imaging technique of the next generation. According to electronic holography, an image of an object is reproduced on a display device by scanning an image of the object in units of pixels to form a hologram, sampling and transmitting data contained in the hologram, and reproducing the hologram from the transmitted data.
However, an amount of data contained in a hologram is too large to be sampled and transmitted, and thus research into generating a hologram via a computer and displaying the hologram via an electro-optical method has been conducted. In addition, research into various hologram systems has been conducted to overcome the limits of a hologram. For example, in order to reduce an amount of calculation data of a hologram, research into displaying a hologram by eye-tracking, and research into improving performance of a hologram optical device including a spatial light modulator and a hologram recording method and applying the improvement to electronic holography, have been conducted.

Spatial light modulators, holographic 3-dimensional display apparatuses including the spatial light modulators, and methods of modulating spatial light


Disclosed is a pantry pullout apparatus having side access and designed for simple, adjustable, and accurate installation within a pre-existing cabinet space. The apparatus, slidably mounted within the cabinet space, comprises a top slide assembly mounted to a cabinet carcass and a drawer box. The drawer box is automatically centered on a base slide box. The base slide box is comprised of a slotted template slidingly engaged with a frame, where the frame is mounted to the cabinet carcass. Slide rail assemblies connect the slotted template to the frame. A pin block on the underside of a fixed shelf of the drawer box automatically centers the drawer box on the slotted template. A face plate adjustment mechanism provides for three dimensional alignment of the face plate with surrounding cabinets.

Modern kitchens place a premium on sufficient usage of storage for utensils, dry goods, and can goods. In the past, the traditional pantry includes simple shelving to accommodate these items. However, simple shelving suffers from the drawback of unusable rear areas in corners where items are difficult to see and reach.
In an effort to overcome these difficulties, the prior has responded by various pantry pull out devices.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,832,816 to Compagnucci discloses a frame used to support racks that slide out from a cabinet and rotate around a vertical axis. The frame comprises a rectangular structure formed of two uprights connected by upper and lower cross-pieces. The cross-pieces are coupled to telescopic sliding assemblies mounted within the cabinet. The cross-pieces are pinned e sliding assemblies to allow the rack to rotate approximately 90° on a vertical axis such that the frame becomes parallel with the face of the cabinet only at a fully deployed position. Stops mounted to the cross-pieces prevent the frame from sliding to a stored position within the cabinet before the frame is rotated 90° such that the frame is parallel with the sliding assemblies. The device does not provide a self centering mounting base or an adjustable face plate.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,199,966 to Fulterer discloses a pullout device for a tall cupboard. The device comprises upper and lower sliding assemblies including telescopically sliding rails and running rollers. A vertically extending pullout frame, which is formed of vertical front and rear bars and horizontal upper and lower bars, is secured to the sliding assemblies. The front and rear bars and the upper and lower bars can be formed as telescopic members, permitting to adapt the device to the dimensions of the tall cupboard. A plurality of baskets can be hung between the vertical. A frontal screen is secured to the front vertical bar. The frontal screen is not easily adjustable.
U.S. Reissue Pat. No. RE41,725 to Walburn discloses a drawer slide system providing desired access and stability for a side access drawer. The system comprises a drawer having a front wall, a back wall, a base, and plurality of shelves connected between the front and back walls. The base includes a pair of vertical webs. The base is slidably mounted on a sliding assembly comprised of one horizontally oriented drawer slide and a pair of vertically oriented drawer slides mounted to vertical webs of the base. The drawer does not provide a self centering mounting base or an adjustable face plate.
Despite the advantages of the prior art, a major drawback has been that the pullout devices disclosed are not easily installed or adjusted. The prior art fails to disclose or suggest a pullout pantry device that is easily and accurately mounted and which is easily adjustable to accommodate alignment with adjacent cabinets. Therefore, there is a need for a slidable pantry pullout apparatus which is easily and accurately installed in a preexisting cabinet space where the apparatus is adjustable to ensure a coordinated and professional look which assimilates with cabinets already installed.

Slidable pantry pullout apparatus and method of use


A printable sheet assembly and method provide for feeding cardstock sheets through a printer. The printable sheet assembly may include a first fold region. The first fold region comprises a robust perforated line disposed horizontally across the sheet assembly. The printable sheet assembly may include a second fold region. The second fold region may comprise a second robust perforated line disposed horizontally across the sheet assembly. The sheet assembly may include a product such as a name tag, business card, label, or card formed into the sheet assembly and configured to be processed through a printer device to receive indicia thereon.

Sheets for printing are well known and various types have been proposed to meet the requirements of a wide variety of applications. Some applications include card products such as badge inserts, business cards, tent cards, and nametags. Card products may include perforations to allow such products to be folded, torn, or the like.
In another example, labels and nametags are used in businesses to provide information about a product, person, or the like. Labels and nametags generally include a facestock layer with an adhesive side and an exposed side. The exposed side includes a surface for receiving indicia thereon and is opposite from the adhesive side. A liner sheet is operably attached to the adhesive side and is configured to allow a user to peel the label portion of the facestock from the liner sheet to be placed on a substrate. A plurality of cut lines may separate the facestock layer into a plurality of labels in various arrangements.
Other card products or sheets may have a single layer without adhesives. These sheets are typically thicker than ordinary printer paper. The sheets may also be stiffer as the card products may be placed into a sleeve or display.
However, problems arise when a user processes label sheets or cardstock through a printer, such as an inkjet printer, desktop printer, or laser printer. Many printers are configured to receive a cardstock or other sheet and process it through at least one, but usually more than one, rotary mechanisms during the printing process. The thickness or stiffness of cardstock may cause the printer to print with gross off-registration. In some instances, the card products may bend or fold in certain areas as it goes through a printer feed path which may causes gross off-registration. This may cause ink to shift or other printing errors.
Therefore, there is a need for a printable sheet assembly for cardstock configured to reduce inconsistent processing through a printer device. There is also a need for an improved method of feeding a cardstock sheet through a printer to accurately apply ink or indicia thereon without unduly altering the alignment or registration of the print, while making perforations more robust and maintaining ability for separation and a smooth edge.


1-aryl-3,4-dihydro-1H-naphthalene-2-one is prepared by isomerizing an epoxy compound represented by the following general formula,

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a process for the preparation of a 1-aryl-3,4-dihydro-1H-naphthalene-2-one.
2. Description of the Related Art
Tetralones are compounds which are very important as intermediate products for synthesizing steroids and various medicinal starting materials. Among the tetralones, 1-tetralones are relatively inexpensive and are industrially and easily available. However, 2-tetralones such as 1-aryl-3,4-dihydro-1H-naphthalene-2-one are prepared through complex production processes and are not easily available. One of the problems involved in the production process thereof is that a special reaction catalyst is necessary for obtaining 2-tetralones from the epoxides which are the starting materials and, besides, a high yield is not attained.
The 1-aryl-3,4-dihydro-1H-naphthalene-2-one has heretofore been prepared by a method in which epoxides are refluxed in benzene in the presence of lithium perchlorate (Prior art 1), a method in which epoxides are refluxed in sulfuric acid solution (Prior art 2), and a method in which epoxides are refluxed in benzene at the presence of zinc iodide or epoxides are agitated in ether at the presence of boron trifluoride ether complex (Prior art 3).
Prior art 1: Australian Journal of Chemistry, 34(7), 1467 (1981)
Prior art 2: Journal of the Organic Chemistry, 15, 1197 (1950)
Prior art 3: Tetrahedron Letters, 41, 6029 (2000)

Process for the preparation of 1-aryl-3,4-dihydro-1H-naphthalene-2-one

Abstract: wherein a is an integer of 0 to 5, b is an integer of 0 to 4, and R1 to R6 are hydrogen atoms or substituents such as alkyl groups,in an organic solvent in the presence of magnesium sulfate. This process makes it possible to prepare the 1-aryl-3,4-dihydro-1H-naphthalene-2-one safely and in a high yield without using highly explosive compounds such as lithium perchlorate.


Disclosed is a multipurpose advertisement board having a film between glass plates of a double glazed window, wherein pieces of steel wire are provided to respective ends of the film and the pieces of steel wire can be wound around winding rollers, so that the multipurpose advertisement board can display a variety of patterns printed on the film, and also can act as a normal glass window. The multipurpose advertisement board includes a double glazed window that includes two or more glass plates, a film moving in the space of the double glazed window, an upper winding roller and a lower winding roller installed at the upper and lower portions of the double glazed window for winding the film, pieces of steel wire connected to the left and right ends of the film, and steel wire winding grooves provided to the upper and lower winding rollers.

Generally, typical buildings use double glazed windows in order to reduce heat loss through windows and doors. Such a double glazed window generally includes a vacuum space between two glass plates constituting the double glazed window in order to minimize heat loss.
The double glazed window effectively reduces heat loss, but the light transmittance thereof cannot be adjusted, and thus a user generally uses curtains, blinds or sun blocking films in order to adjust the amount of incident light entering an indoor space. Further, since the color and light transmittance of the double glazed window cannot be changed once it is installed, an additional object is needed. Still further, in the case in which an advertisement material is attached to glass plates of the double glazed window for advertising purposes, since windows and doors in buildings generally remain as they are for their entire life span, the design of the windows remains unchanged for the entire lifespan thereof. That is, the windows or doors of the buildings are monotonous.
Further, in the case in which there is an apparatus having a blind or a film interposed between glass plates, no matter how transparent the film is, the transparency of the apparatus is inferior to an apparatus not having a film.
Still further, in the case in which a film is completely wound onto a winding roller, the film combined with the winding roller can be damaged by the strong shock that occurs when the film is completely wound thereon, and the film may become wrinkled as time passes.