The present invention relates to a polymer composition comprising 100 parts by weight of an olefin-based polymer, and 0.01 to 100 parts by weight of a branched fatty acid and 0.01 to 200 parts by weight of a releasable active compound per 100 parts by weight of said olefin-based polymer.

Polymer compositions which contain active compounds such as insecticides in polymers, and molded articles shaped of the same polymer compositions hitherto have been known and have been used in a wide rage of fields, since molded articles in various shapes can be obtained at relatively low costs. These molded articles exhibit their actions by allowing the active compounds to transpire, or by oozing the active compounds to the surfaces of the molded articles to thereby release the active compounds, i.e., so-called bleeding (cf. Patent Publication 1).
When an active compound having a low transpiring property is used, such a compound hardly releases from a molded article by its transpiration, and thus releases therefrom mainly by bleeding. Bleeding arises when the active compound in an amount exceeding a saturated amount to the polymer (an oversaturated amount) is retained in the molded article, and this is a phenomenon that the oversaturated amount of the active compound (=the amount of the active compound added−the saturated amount of the active compound in the molded article) migrates to the surface of the molded article with time. When a molded article is shaped of a polymer composition which contains an active compound in an amount exceeding a saturated amount, the active compound bleeds out to the surface of the molded article with time. However, it is generally known that this bleeding rate varies significantly depending on the amount of the active compound initially added, and this bleeding rate tends to decrease with time. On the other hand, when an molded article exhibits its action by way of bleeding of an active compound, a period of time during which a desired bleeding rate is obtained becomes an index for an effective period of the molded article. Therefore, once an effective period of the molded article has been determined, the amount of the releasable active compound initially added is inevitably determined.
To obtain a molded article usable over a long period of time, it is needed to use a polymer composition which contains an active compound in an amount exceeding saturated amount to a polymer. However, a molded article shaped of a polymer composition which contains an oversaturated amount of an active compound in a polymer permits a large amount of the active compound to bleed out at an early stage of use thereof, and thus, it is impossible to maintain a bleeding rate during a desired period of time.
Patent Publication 1: JP-A-6-315332

Polymer composition and molded articles shaped of the same


Provided herein are methods and compositions to extract and enrich by, physical separation or amplification, relatively short nucleic acids from a nucleic acid composition containing a high background of longer nucleic acids (e.g., host or maternal nucleic acids; genomic nucleic acid and the like).

The isolation and subsequent amplification of nucleic acids play a central role in molecular biology. Isolated, purified nucleic acids may be used, inter alia, as a starting material for diagnosis and prognosis of diseases or disorders. Therefore, the isolation of nucleic acids, particularly by non-invasive means, is of particular importance for use in genetic analyses.
Current methods for the extraction of nucleic acids include the use of organic-based methods (e.g., phenol/chloroform/isoamyl alcohol), or capitalize upon ion interaction of nucleic acids in an aqueous solution (e.g., salting out in combination with alcohol, solution pH and temperature) alone or in combination with anion exchange chromatography or cation exchange chromatography. Organic-based methods employ the use of phenol/chloroform/isoamyl alcohol or variations thereof for isolating DNA, but have serious disadvantages, namely the processes are very time-consuming, require considerable experimental effort, and are associated with an acute risk of exposure to toxic substances to those carrying out the isolation. Chromatography-based methods increase flexibility and automation since these methods can be used in combination with multiple matrices (e.g., membranes, latex, magnetic beads, micro-titer plate, etc.) and in the presence or absence of ligands (e.g., DEAE, silica, acrylamide, etc.). However, these methods are better suited to extract larger strands of nucleic acids to ensure greater success in downstream analysis.
Previously, the recovery of smaller, fragmented nucleic acids from biological samples was considered unimportant, and extraction methods were designed to isolate large, undegraded nucleic acid molecules. Recently, however, it is shorter base pair nucleic acids (e.g., highly degraded RNA or mRNA and apoptotic DNA) that have been shown to be highly informative for a wide range of applications, including prenatal diagnostics and the study of apoptotic DNA from host or non-host sources.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Nucleic acid preparation compositions and methods


A latent image comprising a first substance formed on a substrate of a second substance having a surface tension different from a surface tension of the first substance, the first substance and the substrate having a difference of 0.1 to 100 nm in height from each other. The latent image is formed by a method comprising the-step of subjecting a substrate of a first substance to a chemical treatment or a physical treatment to form a surface of a second substance which has a surface tension different from a surface tension of the first substance and has a difference of 0.1 to 100 nm in height from the substrate on part of the substrate. The latent image is developed by a method comprising the steps of contacting a latent image comprising a first substance formed on a substrate of a second substance having a surface tension different from a surface tension of the first substance with a third substance different from the first substance and the second substance, and applying a developing ray to the latent image.

The term latent images refers to images that are not detectable to the naked eye and are visualized by development. Examples of the latent images include electrostatic images on a photoreceptor before toner is applied to the photoreceptor, latent images on a photographic film, and pictures drawn in invisible ink. The latent images are formed in several ways by using differences in the properties of the surface. Electrostatic images on a electronographic photoreceptor are formed due to differences in electrification. Latent images on a photographic film are formed by formation of a development center in a silver salt crystal. It is thought that similar latent images can be formed due to differences in surface tension.
However, the differences in surface tension were not used to form latent images because a film invisible to the naked eye which desirably generates difference in surface tension was not available. Further, a development procedure to permit detection of the difference in surface tension by the naked eye was not available.
Conventional latent images were deteriorated over time, or were not preserved well. Further, conventional latent images were not returned to the latent form once they were developed.

Latent image, preparation and development thereof and articles with the image

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A cylindrical battery with an electrode body in which a negative electrode plate and a positive electrode plate connected to a plurality of positive electrode leads are rolled with a separator interposed therebetween, a first insulating plate disposed on the electrode body, a current-collection plate disposed on the first insulating plate, a second insulating plate disposed in contact with an opposite surface of the current-collection plate that opposes the first insulating plate, a sealing body, and an outer jacket can, wherein the first insulating plate has at least one through hole, the first positive electrode lead passes through the through hole and between the first insulating plate and the second insulating plate, is bent from the outer-circumference portion of the current-collection plate onto the current-collection plate and the second insulating plate is provided with a recessed portion to house the first positive electrode lead.

In recent years, nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries having a high energy density have been widely used as drive power sources for high-power applications such as electric tools, power-assisted bicycles, and hybrid electric vehicles. Nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries are roughly classified into cylindrical batteries, square batteries, and pouch-type batteries in accordance with outer jacket members. Cylindrical batteries are resistant to impacts from the outside, and assembled batteries are readily produced by using a plurality of batteries. Therefore, cylindrical batteries are suitable for the above-described applications.
A cylindrical battery is produced by inserting an electrode body, in which a negative electrode plate and a positive electrode plate are rolled with a separator interposed therebetween, into an outer jacket can and sealing the opening portion by using a sealing body. In general, since the cylindrical battery uses a sealing body as a positive electrode outer terminal, the positive electrode plate in the electrode body has to be electrically connected to the sealing body. Regarding a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, a method in which the positive electrode plate is electrically connected to the sealing body by using a lead is mainly adopted as a measure therefor.
According to the above-described method, a current-collection portion of the positive electrode plate is limited to the connection portion of the positive electrode lead. Consequently, even in the case of an elongated positive electrode plate, obtained load characteristics may be insufficient. As a result, the current-collection structure of the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery has been optimized by connecting a plurality of leads to the positive electrode plate.
In the cylindrical batteries disclosed in PTL 1 and 2, a plurality of leads connected to a positive electrode plate are connected to a current-collection plate disposed on an electrode body. The current-collection plate has a lead portion, and electrical connection between the positive electrode plate and a sealing body is ensured by connecting the lead portion to the sealing body. Each lead is connected to the current-collection plate by being bent from the outer circumference of the current-collection plate toward the inner circumference and, therefore, even when variations occur in the relative positional relationship between the leads that extend from the electrode body, the leads can be readily connected to the current-collection plate.


An assembly featuring a substrate and a plurality of components. The plurality of components are packaged to be connected in a vertical orientation to the substrate. These components include (i) a vertical chip-scale package (CSP), (ii) an integrated circuit die and (iii) an interconnect. Including a plurality of connection leads, the vertical CSP contains the die which is generally situated along a vertical plane. The interconnect, capable of transferring information between the plurality of connection leads and the integrated circuit die, includes a first segment generally perpendicular to the vertical plane and connected to at least one connection lead. The interconnect further includes a second segment generally in parallel to the vertical plane and connected to the integrated circuit die.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of packaging for electrical components. In particular, the present invention relates to an assembly of components that support high bandwidth data transfer rates.
2. Description of Art Related to the Invention
For many years, electronic systems have been designed to include one or more circuit boards. Each circuit board features one or more transmission lines either routed on its surface or integrated between selectively patterned insulation and metal layers of the circuit board. Electronic hardware is placed on the surface of the circuit board and is appropriately connected to various transmission lines which provide signal communications and power.
One standard technique used for packaging components, particularly conventional dynamic random access memory (DRAM), is the use of horizontal chip-scale packages (CSPs). Horizontal CSPs offer a number of architectural advantages due to their small physical dimensions. For example, horizontal CSPs possess a low package inductance and may be arranged to meet minimum spacing constraints between integrated circuit (IC) devices. The reduction in spacing between components causes a lower impedance to be realized over the signal transmission lines used to connect the components. This lower impedance enhances the integrity of signals transmitted across these transmission lines.
Unfortunately, horizontal CSP technology does not provide optimal memory density and operating frequency for Direct Rambus DRAM (RDRAM.RTM.) designed by Rambus, Inc. of Mountain View, Calif. RDRAM.RTM. includes an interface for a high-speed interconnect in order to achieve high bandwidth data transfer rates. For example, conventional horizontal CSP packages can be as wide as twelve (12) millimeters (mm). This maximum CSP package size, combined with a spacing requirement of 2.5 mm between components on the same side of the circuit board to allow clearance for manufacturing and assembly, would result in an effective component pitch of 7.25 mm when components are placed on opposite sides of a circuit board. This pitch is too large for placement of thirty-two (32) RDRAMs on a single communication channel to achieve maximum operating frequency within a standard computer chassis. An optimal pitch spacing of approximately 2.5 mm would be necessary for electrical considerations and to implement a thirty-two (32) device communication channel with maximal operating frequency within existing computer chassis designs.
In addition, it is common practice to develop new components using larger die size technology. Over time, as the ICs designs are refined and improved, they are placed on smaller die size technology. This is done to reduce the package size in order to minimize the amount of circuit board surface area occupied by that package. For a horizontal CSP, as the die size is adjusted, the electrical effects on the signal transmission lines would also need to be adjusted because the length of the transmission lines would increase. This may require the chip layout for the circuit board to be modified as smaller die size technology is used or to risk adverse effects caused by enhanced impedance on the longer transmission lines.
Therefore, it is desirable to develop an IC assembly that uses a different packaging solution to overcome the disadvantages described above.

Vertical connector based packaging solution for integrated circuits


Implement for removing parasitic ticks from the skin of animals or humans, characterized in that it is a one-piece device comprising a handle (3) ending in a grip portion (1,2) of circular cross-section, and a curved and flattened end with a forked tip (4) substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis of the grip (1,2), said forked tip (4) having two tines (5) defining an inter-tine (6) gap for gripping the tick, wherein the implement is capable of removing the tick by rotating about an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of the skin to which it is attached.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an instrument intended to remove parasitic ticks from the skin of animals or man, in particular from pets or live-stock.
2. Description of the Related Art
Ticks, whether in their larvae, pupa or adult state, adhere to the skin owing to a rostrum that penetrates the epidermis. Traditionally, these ticks are removed with ether and tweezers of various designs, but it frequently happens that the tick's head and rostrum remain embedded in the skin.
Certain tweezers enable the removal of ticks without first using ether, but their design is quite complex, while their manner of gripping the tick, by squeezing its body, contributes to the regurgitation of blood and saliva towards the skin of the animal and thus the transmission of certain diseases.

Implement and method for removing ticks from skin


The present invention relates to a sensing device with a surface having at least one individual sensing region, wherein each sensing region includes a plurality of binding elements anchored on the surface for binding different specific analytes of interest, at least one of the analyte of interest and its matching binding element having a label for detecting said binding. The present invention further relates to a method of manufacturing such a sensing device.

Single molecule detection has become a reality in application domains such as healthcare. For instance, the use of techniques such as tethered particle motion (TPM) has made it possible to detect the binding of a single biomolecule, from hereon referred to as the analyte of interest, to a receptor anchored on the surface of a sensing device. The binding event typically alters the molecular dynamics of the receptor, which can be detected using optical or electrical detection techniques.
For instance, in case of the receptor comprising a nucleotide sequence such as a DNA fragment, prior to a binding event with a complementary nucleotide sequence the receptor may adopt a coiled-up or U-shaped (looped) conformation, e.g. due to the presence of a (partial) palindrome in the nucleotide sequence, with the conformation becoming more stretched or linear when a binding event takes place. This change in conformation affects, i.e. increases the volume of Brownian motion that the receptor inhabits. This change in volume may be detected by attaching a label to the receptor or the analyte of interest and recording the motion of the label.
Several examples of recording the trajectory of such a label, i.e. a metal nanoparticle or bead, are disclosed in a paper by H. R. C. Dietrich et al. in Journal of Nanophotonics, Vol. 3 (2009), pages 1-17. These detection techniques are based on an optical detection of the motion of the particle, including darkfield microscopy and the whispering gallery mode detection method, the latter method being particularly suitable for integration in semiconductor devices such as integrated circuits (ICs).
It is also possible to detect such changes electrically, as the aforementioned conformation change alters the effective dielectric constant directly above the surface of the sensing device. This effect may be utilized by defining the volume directly above the surface of the sensing device in which the receptor resides as the dielectric layer of a capacitor, such that the changes in dielectric constant are translated in a change in capacitance of the capacitor. In addition, when using metal beads as labels, the distance of the bead to the sensing surface is also correlated to the effective potential of the sensing surface, which, for instance when using the surface as the gate electrode of a transistor formed in the substrate of the sensing device, can be used to influence the conductivity of the transistor. Other suitable detection techniques are known to the skilled person.
It is particularly attractive to have a sensing device that is capable of implementing a high degree of multiplexing, such that the device can detect a large number of different analytes of interest in a single measurement procedure. An example of such a device is given in WO 2009/060379 A2, which utilizes the whispering gallery mode detection method for detecting a binding event. Particular attention is drawn to FIG. 6 and its detailed description in which the whispering gallery mode detection method is explained in detail. The sensing device disclosed in this patent application comprises a plurality of sensor active structures that are each functionalized with a different biomolecule such that the sensing device is capable of detecting a different analyte of interest at each sensor active region.
It is desirable to increase the degree of multiplexing to the highest possible extent, as a higher degree of multiplexing allows for more analytes of interest to be simultaneously detected. Currently, a sensing region is functionalized with its receptor, e.g. a biomolecule for binding to an analyte of interest by depositing the biomolecule onto the sensor region dissolved in a droplet of liquid. The dimensions of the droplet thus govern how many sensor regions may be defined onto a surface of a sensing device such an IC comprising a sensing surface. Currently, advanced deposition tools allow for the deposition of droplets having a 5 μm diameter at a 10 μm distance from each other. As the size of an IC ideally is kept as small as possible, e.g. for cost reasons, it will be appreciated that it is far from trivial to produce a sensing device in a cost-effective manner that allows for a high level of multiplexing.

Sensing device and manufacturing method thereof


An automatically deployable, portable communications system includes an inflatable antenna stored in a case that also houses the antenna support assembly, drive mechanisms, inflation control modules, power supply modules and a control system. The case also includes a switch configured to close a circuit with the power supply module and initiate deployment and operation of the antenna when the case lid is opened.

1. Field
The present invention relates generally to communications systems, and, particularly, to communications systems including inflatable antennas, and, more particularly, to automatically deployable communications systems including inflatable antennas.
2. Description of the Problem and Related Art
Inflatable antennas have shown advantages over their more rigid counterparts in that inflatable version are light weight and more portable. One such inflatable antenna was disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,963,315, to Gierow, et al. These inflatable antennas have demonstrated particularly responsive to shortcomings found in the prior art relating to rapid deployment and ease of operation, especially in remote areas and emergency scenarios, for example, after a natural disaster occurs.
To improve upon the numerous benefits of inflatable antennas, the present disclosure provides a self-contained system, housed in a portable case, which allows automatic deployment of the antenna with little-to-no user action necessary.

Automatically deployable communications system


A sliding contact mechanism includes a sliding door contact, a spring having one end connected to the sliding door contact and another end connected to the sliding door of a mini-van, and a pillar contact attached to the stationary pillar of the mini-van. The pillar contact has a shape complementary to a shape of the sliding door contact. When the sliding door is in a closed position, the sliding door is adjacent the pillar and the sliding door contact engages and is in a closed electrical connection with the pillar contact. When the sliding door is in an open position, the sliding door is not adjacent the pillar and the sliding door contact is an open electrical connection with the sliding door contact.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to intermittent electrical contacting mechanisms used in automotive applications. The invention more particularly concerns the electrical connection between a sliding door of a vehicle and an adjacent stationary pillar of the vehicle so as to provide electrical current to devices mounted on the sliding door when the sliding door is closed, which is when the sliding door is adjacent the pillar.
2. Discussion of the Background
The present-day-consumer of automotive vehicles is conscious of quality and value. Consumers demand that amenities once reserved for luxury automobiles be included in vehicles as popular as so-called mini-vans. A mini-van is smaller than a full-sized van. The mini-van drives more like a car, but is larger than a car. Additionally, a mini-van can fit in a parking spot sized for a car. Thus, mini-vans have a large demographic appeal, especially, among parents having children. Typically, automotive manufacturers target the sale of mini-vans to such families that are thinking of replacing their car with a larger vehicle. However, this group of consumers does not want to forgo the amenities to which they became accustomed in their cars.
Most mini-vans have at least one large sliding door formed on a side of the vehicle. The sliding door slides in a direction along the length of the mini-van""s body. The large sliding door accounts for a large expanse of the vehicles body structure. In an effort to cater to the comforts that consumers are accustomed, the mini-van manufacturers needed to do something with the interior portion of the large, boring, sliding door. In a car, such a large surface area would be occupied with glass, ventilation outlets, speakers, lights, locks, or other devices. So, mini-van manufactures wired the large sliding door with electrical devices such as a lock, speakers, anti-theft alarms, air blower motors, and etc. to make the mini-van more car-like. Then the following problem developed, how to supply the sliding door with electrical current? The manufactures solved this problem by providing an interruptible electrical connection between the sliding door and a pillar of the mini-van. When the sliding door is closed, the sliding door is adjacent to and abuts the pillar. When the sliding door is closed, electrical current is supplied to the sliding door. When the sliding door is not adjacent to and abutting the pillar, the sliding door is open. In the open position, no electricity flows to the sliding door.
Manufacturers accomplished this feat by providing an electrically conductive contact plate on the pillar and electrically conductive, spring-loaded, plungers mounted on the sliding door. When the sliding door is closed, the plungers butt-up against and contact the plate thereby making an electrical connection. The spring attached to the plunger allowed the plunger to move in a direction parallel to the sliding direction of the sliding door. As such, the plunger is held in a state of compression against the contact plate so as to ensure the electrical connection while the sliding door is closed. To accommodate tolerances and manufacturing variations, the contact position for each plunger on the contact plate is made large by providing a large contact plate. The large contact plate ensures that the plunger and plate make appropriate electrical contact.
The plunger/plate device described above has one drawback while in use: it commonly fails to perform its function over an extended period of time. The failure mode is known as fretting corrosion. Fretting corrosion is an especially insidious failure mode since it is difficult to detect until it is too late. Fretting corrosion is a combination of two separate failure modes, fretting and corrosion, which when combined together form a failure mode which is much worse than the separate effects of the separate failure modes added together individually.
Fretting has been defined as two bodies in contact with each other under load forming an interface, where vibration or repeated relative motion between the two bodies occur, and the load and the relative motion of the interface must be sufficient to produce slip or deformation of the surfaces. The fretting action typically causes the formation of debris which leads to the failure of the device, since the two bodies of the device may seize and gall, or have a loss of dimensional tolerances causing a loosening of components. Typically, the amount of relative motion is imperceptible, it is very small and is often overlooked. Overtime, and generally imperceptibly, material transfer and wear occurs until at some point in time the failure occurs. In the case of the plate/plunger device, the relative motion of the sliding door jarring about relative to the pillar causes the plungers to rub against the contact plate. Over time, the plungers wear through the contact plate and thus loose electrical conductivity between the two parts; or the contact plate is not completely worn away, but the components have lost enough material so as to form loosely fitting parts which, at best, provide intermittent electrical connection when the sliding door is in a closed position.
The corrosion component of fretting corrosion is what makes this failure mode so sinister. Corrosion, on its own, has been defined as the destruction or deterioration of a material because of reaction with its environment. Corrosion typically is classified as either wet corrosion or dry corrosion. Wet corrosion occurs when a liquid having electrolytes is present with the material. Dry corrosion occurs when no liquid is present in the environment. During the corrosion process, at the atomic level, for metallic materials, the material is oxidized thus forming oxides of the material, such as iron oxide, aluminum oxide, etc. The oxides are formed and either remain on the parts, are trapped between the parts, transferred between the surfaces, or are ejected from between the parts. In this case, when the sliding door of the mini-van is opened, the surfaces of the plungers and the contact plate are exposed to environmental elements, fluids, salt, gases, and etc. When the sliding door is closed, the environmental elements are trapped between or near the metallic plunger and metallic contact plate. On its own, over time, the corrosion process can cause failure of the plunger/plate device. The failure of the device is characterized by the loss of the non-interrupted electrical connection between the plunger and the contact plate when the sliding door is in the closed position.
However, in combination, the corrosion and fretting can cause much more damage more quickly. In the corrosion process described above, when the sliding door is closed and the mini-van drives about town, the sliding door moves relative to the pillar as described above in regard to the fretting failure mode. As the plungers move relative to the contact plate, the plungers wipe away the corrosion products and leave a clean surface of material exposed so as to be introduced into the corrosion process anew. Thus, each failure mode feeds one another, the corrosion produces more material to be transferred, the fretting constantly prepares a clean uncorroded surface ready for the corrosion process.
Thus, there is a need for a device making an electrical connection between the sliding door and the pillar of the mini-van that is not susceptible to the failure mode known as fretting corrosion.
It is an object of the invention to provide a sliding contact mechanism that minimizes fretting corrosion.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a mechanism which protects the contact zones from dust and other environmental contaminants.
It is another object of the invention to provide a mechanism which compensates for door and frame tolerances.
It is still yet another object of the invention to provide a mechanism which eliminates electrical interruption during driving of the vehicle.
It is another object of the invention to provide a mechanism which reduces the size of the device to accomplish the desired function.
It is still further another object of the invention to provide a mechanism which provides for an increased number of function within the existing hardware envelope.
It is another object of the invention to provide a mechanism having a minimum number of parts, where the parts are easy to assemble to one another thus decreasing the manufacturing and assembly costs.
In one form of the invention the sliding contact mechanism includes a sliding door contact, a spring having one end connected to the sliding door contact and another end connected to the sliding door of a mini-van, and a pillar contact attached to the stationary pillar of the mini-van. The pillar contact has a shape complementary to a shape of the sliding door contact. When the sliding door is in a closed position, the sliding door is adjacent the pillar and the sliding door contact engages and is in a closed electrical connection with the pillar contact. When the sliding door is in an open position, the sliding door is not adjacent the pillar and the sliding door contact is an open electrical connection with the sliding door contact.
In yet another form the invention, the sliding contact mechanism is mounted on a mini-van. The mini-van having a chassis, a motor mounted on the chassis, a pillar attached to the chassis, a sliding door slidably attached to the chassis, a spring attached to the sliding door, a sliding door contact attached to the sliding door, and a pillar contact attached to the pillar. The pillar contact having a shape complementary to a shape of the sliding door contact. The sliding door is adjacent the pillar when the sliding door is in a closed position. In the closed position the sliding door contact engages and makes a closed electrical connection with the pillar contact. The sliding door is not adjacent the pillar when the sliding door is in an open position. In the open position, the sliding door contact makes an open electrical connection with the sliding door contact.
Thus, the invention achieves the objectives set forth above. The invention provides an interruptible electrical connection between the sliding door and the pillar which is not as susceptible to fretting corrosion as is the conventional design.


A method is presented for determining an amount of reductant stored in the catalyst by intrusively desorbing a portion of reductant and monitoring the response of a reductant sensor to the desorbed portion. The desorbtion can be performed at vehicle start-up to determine initial storage amount and to adjust reductant injection accordingly to achieve optimum storage. Additionally, a portion of reductant can be desorbed when NOx conversion efficiency of the catalyst is reduced in order to diagnose the component responsible for system degradation.

Current emission control regulations necessitate the use of catalysts in the exhaust systems of automotive vehicles in order to convert carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), and nitrogen oxides (NOx) produced during engine operation into unregulated exhaust gasses. Vehicles equipped with diesel or other lean burn engines offer the benefit of increased fuel economy. However, catalytic reduction of NOx emissions via conventional means in such systems is difficult due to the high content of oxygen in the exhaust gas.
In this regard, Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) catalysts, in which NOx is continuously removed through active injection of a reductant into the exhaust gas mixture entering the catalyst, are known to achieve high NOx conversion efficiency. Urea-based SCR catalysts use gaseous ammonia as the active NOx reducing agent. Typically, an aqueous solution of urea is carried on board of a vehicle, and an injection system is used to supply it into the exhaust gas stream entering the SCR catalyst. The aqueous urea decomposes to hydrocyanic acid (NHCO) and gaseous ammonia (NH3) in the exhaust gas stream. The hydrocyanic acid is catalytically converted to NH3 on the SCR. Ideally, most of the ammonia will be stored in the catalyst for reaction with the incoming NOx. NOx conversion efficiency of an SCR catalyst is improved in the presence of adsorbed ammonia. However, if the amount of ammonia stored in the catalyst is too high, some of it may desorb and slip from the catalyst. Additionally, in the presence of high temperatures, excessive ammonia storage will lead to excessive NOx via oxidation. All of this will lead to a reduction in the overall NOX conversion efficiency. Therefore, in order to achieve optimal NOx reduction and minimize ammonia slip in a urea-based SCR catalyst, it is important to control the amount of ammonia stored in the SCR catalyst.
A typical prior art system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,069,013, wherein a sensor is placed downstream of an SCR catalyst to detect NH3. The sensor is comprised of a low acidity zeolite material of low precious metal content. The a.c. impedance of the sensor is reduced in the presence of NH3.
The inventors herein have recognized a disadvantage with such an approach. In particular, an ammonia sensor placed downstream of the catalyst generates a signal only when there is ammonia slip over the catalyst. Ammonia slip is usually a result of temperature transients or excessive storage. Slip due to excessive storage will be impossible to rectify expediently via any control action. Hence, it is recognized that control action based solely on NH3 sensor feedback is, at best, a delayed corrective action.
Further, the inventors have recognized that the bulk of the ammonia introduced into the catalyst is stored or reduced on the upstream 20-30% of a typically sized catalyst brick on the order of 1 to 2 engine swept volumes. The remaining catalyst volume acts as a buffer to capture slip and allow some transient NOx reduction at high space velocities. Further, inventors have recognized that in order to achieve optimal NOx conversion in the SCR, it is not necessary that all of the catalyst storage capacity be utilized by ammonia. Therefore, it is desirable to either control the amount of ammonia stored in the catalyst to some optimal level below maximum (for a single brick configuration) or to store at higher levels only in the front brick/s for a multi-brick configuration.
The inventors herein have determined an improvement can be achieved by splitting the catalyst brick into at least two parts, wherein the volume of the first brick would be 20-30% of the overall single brick equivalent catalyst volume. The first brick would perform most of the ammonia storage/NOx conversion functions, and the second brick would serve to catch any of the ammonia slipping past the first brick. Thus, inventors have recognized that by controlling the amount of ammonia stored in the first brick, effective control of overall catalyst ammonia storage amounts can be achieved.
Further, inventors herein have devised a method to effectively measure and control the amount of ammonia stored in the catalyst prior to achieving catalyst saturation levels. Namely, the inventors herein have recognized that it is possible to intrusively desorb a portion of the ammonia stored in the catalyst, and to determine the overall amount of ammonia stored based on a reading of an NH3 sensor positioned in the vicinity of the desorbtion area.
Additionally, the inventors herein have recognized that it is possible to effectively diagnose system degradation in catalyst performance by monitoring and controlling the amount of ammonia stored in the catalyst. In particular, inventors have recognized that when NOx conversion efficiency of the catalyst is degraded, and the amount of ammonia storage is below optimal, injection of a predetermined amount of reductant will improve NOx conversion efficiency unless the catalyst is poisoned by hydrocarbons or thermally aged. In other words, the inventors herein have recognized that if NOx conversion efficiency of the catalyst does not improve following injection of ammonia, the catalyst performance may be degraded due to hydrocarbon poisoning and it should be regenerated.
Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, a method is presented for controlling a NOx-reducing catalyst, the method including: intrusively desorbing a portion of reductant stored in the catalyst; adjusting reductant injection into the catalyst based on an amount of reductant intrusively desorbed; and regenerating the catalyst when NOx conversion efficiency of the catalyst remains below a predetermined value for a predetermined amount of time following said reductant injection adjustment.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a diagnostic system, includes: an engine; a catalyst coupled downstream of said engine, including: a first catalyst brick, said brick having a heated portion; and a sensor coupled in close proximity to said heated portion; and a controller adjusting a temperature of said heated portion of said first catalyst brick to desorb reductant stored on said heated portion, said controller adjusting an amount of reductant in an exhaust gas mixture entering said catalyst based on a response of said sensor to said desorbed reductant; and providing an indication of catalyst degradation if an amount of an exhaust gas component downstream of said catalyst remains above a predetermined value for a predetermined time following said controller adjusting said amount of reductant entering said catalyst.
An advantage of the present invention is improved emission control. Another advantage of the present invention is improved vehicle diagnostic capabilities.
The above advantages and other advantages, and features of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and from the claims.


Embodiments relate to systems and methods for predictive text entry for small touch-screen devices. A two-state input interface (116) of a device (102) can include a seek area (120), which displays a subset of letters representing the full range of available letters. The user can select a first letter in that subset. A prediction engine (160) can generate a next most-likely letter (162) based on the currently inputted letter, using look-up tables or other techniques based on letter sequence probabilities. The user can respond with a right or left-swipe gesture, causing the prediction engine (160) to seek the most-likely next letter upstream or downstream in the alphabet. The user can also respond by touching the seek area causing the prediction engine (160) to seek the next predicted letter closest to the touch point. The prediction engine (160) can also generate a predicted completed word, for convenient user selection.

In the field of portable communication services, manufacturers have built ever-more capable wireless devices into increasingly compact form factors. Some wireless devices include a liquid crystal display (LCD) touch screen or other interactive display components that occupy a comparatively small area. For example the MOTOACTV™ fitness tracker has a touch screen size of 1.6 inches (40.64 mm) with a resolution of 176×220 pixels. One of the challenges in bringing a high-function, small-screen electronic device, such as a watch or other wearable electronic device, to market is the fact that the limited screen area makes it difficult to display a full range of data entry characters in the available touch screen space.
Instead of using a touch screen, some devices use up/down buttons to scroll through an alphabet and select characters for text entry. When a desired letter is displayed, an enter button can be used to select that letter. Of course, a touch screen can be used to implement virtual scroll and select buttons in a similar fashion. This type of text entry mechanism, however, may be cumbersome and frustrating to the user, because it can potentially require very long scrolling actions to arrive at a letter or other symbol the user wishes to enter into a messaging, dialing, or other program.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of many of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments.

Systems and methods for predictive text entry for small-screen devices with touch-based two-stage text input


A system which, in at least one embodiment, obtains a photographic image of an individual attempting to disengage an ignition interlock device or the like to assist in determining whether the individual is the same as one for whom the device is intended.

Essentially, an ignition interlock is a device that includes a breathalyzer which prohibits a vehicle from starting if the breathalyzer returns a reading of "under the influence" (i.e., corresponding to a statutory level of impairment or even a lower level of impairment prescribed by the manufacturer). Several courts throughout the U.S. are now requiring that interlock devices be placed in vehicles operated by individuals convicted of DUI offenses. The "LIFESAFER"™ ignition interlock system of the LifeSafer Interlock company (Cincinnati, Ohio) is a well-known conventional example. In it, a buzz tone is emitted during a breathalyzer test to indicate when a deep breath sample containing alveolar air has been provided and, thus, is sufficient to be analyzed.
It has been found that a major drawback of conventional interlock devices is that they might not be effective in deterring DUI offenses if an individual other than the defendant (i.e., the person who has been assigned the interlock device) actually operates the interlock. For instance, a defendant who is once again "under the influence" still might be able to operate the vehicle by asking his/her friend or spouse to supply a "clean" breath sample that will unlock the ignition.
A general solution that has been sought to eradicate this "loophole" has been to require an original "breath pattern" from the defendant against which subsequent attempts to unlock the ignition are compared; this helps thwart the occurrence of non-genuine breath samples. Examples of such an arrangement is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,738,333, 4,912,458 and 4,901,058. However, this solution has been found to present numerous difficulties and drawbacks. For instance, accuracy in comparing "breath patterns" can be highly elusive.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,229,908 discloses an ignition interlock system in which an individual's fingerprint may be used to verify his/her identity and blood-alcohol content is determined using spectroscopic analysis of the finger from which the fingerprint is obtained. Aside from cost considerations, a major drawback to such a device is that for purposes of motor vehicle operation, state statutes specify the manner in which blood-alcohol content is to be determined and spectroscopic analysis is generally not so specified. Rather, the use of a breathalyzer is typically called for. It would not be sufficient to use fingerprint authentication for interlock devices, because as discussed above, the defendant may provide the authentication while someone else supplies a "clean" breath.
A need has therefore been recognized in connection with providing an effective, foolproof ignition interlock device that precludes loopholes of the type described above.

Substance testing devices with photo identification

Biometric Equipment & Safety Technology Labs, Inc.


According to the invention, there is provided an inbred corn line, designated PHHV4. This invention thus relates to the plants and seeds of inbred corn line PHHV4 and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing the inbred line PHHV4 with itself or with another corn plant. This invention further relates to hybrid corn seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line PHHV4 with another corn line or plant.

The goal of plant breeding is to combine in a single variety or hybrid various desirable traits. For field crops, these traits may include resistance to diseases and insects, tolerance to heat and drought, reducing the time to crop maturity, greater yield, and better agronomic quality. With mechanical harvesting of many crops, uniformity of plant characteristics such as germination and stand establishment, growth rate, maturity, and plant and fruit height, is important.
Field crops are bred through techniques that take advantage of the plant's method of pollination. A plant is self-pollinated if pollen from one flower is transferred to the same or another flower of the same plant. A plant is cross-pollinated if the pollen comes from a flower on a different plant.
Plants that have been self-pollinated and selected for type for many generations become homozygous at almost all gene loci and produce a uniform population of true breeding progeny. A cross between two homozygous lines produces a uniform population of hybrid plants that may be heterozygous for many gene loci. A cross of two plants each heterozygous at a number of gene loci will produce a population of hybrid plants that differ genetically and will not be uniform.
Corn plants (Zea mays L.) can be bred by both self-pollination and cross-pollination techniques. Corn has separate male and female flowers on the same plant, located on the tassel and the ear, respectively. Natural pollination occurs in corn when wind blows pollen from the tassels to the silks that protrude from the tops of the incipient ears.
The development of corn hybrids requires the development of homozygous inbred lines, the crossing of these lines, and the evaluation of the crosses. Pedigree breeding and recurrent selection breeding methods are used to develop inbred lines from breeding populations. Breeding programs combine the genetic backgrounds from two or more inbred lines or various other broad-based sources into breeding pools from which new inbred lines are developed by selfing and selection of desired phenotypes. The new inbreds are crossed with other inbred lines and the hybrids from these crosses are evaluated to determine which of those have commercial potential.
Pedigree breeding starts with the crossing of two geno-types, each of which may have one or more desirable characteristics that is lacking in the other or which complement the other. If the two original parents do not provide all of the desired characteristics, other sources can be included in the breeding population. In the pedigree method, superior plants are selfed and selected in successive generations. In the succeeding generations the heterozygous condition gives way to homogeneous lines as a result of self-pollination and selection. Typically in the pedigree method of breeding five or more generations of selfing and selection is practiced: F.sub.1 .fwdarw.F.sub.2 ; F.sub.2 .fwdarw.F.sub.3 ; F.sub.3 .fwdarw.F.sub.4 ; F.sub.4 .fwdarw.F.sub.5, etc.
Backcrossing can be used to improve an inbred line. Backcrossing transfers a specific desirable trait from one inbred or source to an inbred that lacks that trait. This can be accomplished for example by first crossing a superior inbred (A) (recurrent parent) to a donor inbred (non-recurrent parent), which carries the appropriate gene(s) for the trait in question. The progeny of this cross is then mated back to the superior recurrent parent (A) followed by selection in the resultant progeny for the desired trait to be transferred from the non-recurrent parent. After five or more backcross generations with selection for the desired trait, the progeny will be heterozygous for loci controlling the characteristic being transferred, but will be like the superior parent for most or almost all other genes. The last backcross generation would be selfed to give pure breeding progeny for the gene(s) being transferred.
A single cross hybrid corn variety is the cross of two inbred lines, each of which has a genotype which complements the genotype of the other. The hybrid progeny of the first generation is designated F.sub.1. In the development of hybrids only the F.sub.1 hybrid plants are sought. Preferred F.sub.1 hybrids are more vigorous than their inbred parents. This hybrid vigor, or heterosis, can be manifested in many polygenic traits, including increased vegetative growth and increased yield.
The development of a hybrid corn variety involves three steps: (1) the selection of plants from various germplasm pools; (2) the selfing of the selected plants for several generations to produce a series of inbred lines, which, although different from each other, breed true and are highly uniform; and (3) crossing the selected inbred lines with unrelated inbred lines to produce the hybrid progeny (F.sub.1). During the inbreeding process in corn, the vigor of the lines decreases. Vigor is restored when two unrelated inbred lines are crossed to produce the hybrid progeny (F.sub.1). An important consequence of the homozygosity and homogeneity of the inbred lines is that the hybrid between any two inbreds will always be the same. Once the inbreds that give a superior hybrid have been identified, the hybrid seed can be reproduced indefinitely as long as the homogeneity of the inbred parents is maintained.
A single cross hybrid is produced when two inbred lines are crossed to produce the F.sub.1 progeny. A double cross hybrid is produced from four inbred lines crossed in pairs (A.times.B and C.times.D) and then the two F.sub.1 hybrids are crossed again (A.times.B).times.(C.times.D). Much of the hybrid vigor exhibited by F.sub.1 hybrids is lost in the next generation (F.sub.2). Consequently, seed from hybrid varieties is not used for planting stock.
Corn is an important and valuable field crop. Thus, a continuing goal of plant breeders is to develop high-yielding corn hybrids that are agronomically sound based on stable inbred lines. The reasons for this goal are obvious: to maximize the amount of grain produced with the inputs used and minimize susceptibility of the crop to environmental stresses. To accomplish this goal, the corn breeder must select and develop superior inbred parental lines for producing hybrids. This requires identification and selection of genetically unique individuals which in a segregating population occur as the result of a combination of crossover events plus the independent assortment of specific combinations of alleles at many gene loci which results in specific genotypes. Based on the number of segregating genes, the frequency of occurrence of an individual with a specific genotype is less than 1 in 10,000. Thus, even if the entire genotype of the parents has been characterized and the desired genotype is known, only a few if any individuals having the desired genotype may be found in a large F.sub.2 or S.sub.0 population. Typically, however, the genotype of neither the parents nor the desired genotype is known in any detail.
At Pioneer Hi-Bred International, a typical corn research station has a staff of four, and 20 acres of breeding nursery. Those researchers plant those 20 acres with 25,000 nursery rows, 15,000 yield test plots in 10-15 yield test sites, and one or two disease-screening nurseries. Employing a temporary crew of 20 to 30 pollinators, the station makes about 65,000 hand pollinations per growing season, and produces from three to ten new inbreds which are proposed for commercial use each year. Over the 32 Pioneer research stations in North America, this amounts to from about 100 to 300 new inbreds proposed each year from over 2,000,000 pollinations. Of those, less than 50 and more commonly less than 30 are actually selected for commercial use.


A gas flow regulator valve is provided with a metering valve and filter assembly including a drawn, generally cup shaped, or hat shaped filter element having a substantially flat end panel, a generally cylindrical sidewall and an open end opposite the end panel. An integrally formed flange, or rim, is formed around the open end and projects outwardly therefrom to provide means for mounting the filter, in a fluid-tight relation, in the metering valve assembly body. The filter is formed from a substantially planar disc-shaped blank of a multilayered screen material in which the respective layers are welded, or sintered, to one another to form a rigid, porous filter medium. The blank is shaped by a cup drawing operation of a filter mesh made of layers of woven smooth, corrosion resistant, fine gauge, high strength metal.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to regulator valves employing an improved metering valve and filter assembly, and to an improved filter assembly and method of manufacturing such an improved filter assembly for use in regulator valve.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The ever increasing requirements for higher purity gases delivered under precisely controlled conditions for use in the analytical, scientific and electronic industries places correspondingly more stringent demands on systems for delivering such gas. Flow regulator valves used in such systems which can initially accurately and dependably control the pressure of gases are known, but these valves may become less reliable with use due in part, to the erosive or abrasive effect on the valve member and valve seat of ultra fine particles in the gas stream. Efforts to remove such fine particles to provide ultra clean or ultra pure gas and to protect and prolong the life of the valves have included the use of a gas filter positioned immediately upstream of the metering valve element. One such filter which has been used commercially employs a cup-shaped, sintered powdered metal filter element having an elongated, generally cylindrical filter body, with the closed end of the cup providing a support or seat for the valve stem spring. Other systems have generally employed disc-shaped filters disposed in the gas stream.
While sintered powder metal filters have been used commercially, they have not been found entirely satisfactory for certain applications. For example, it is difficult to produce entirely uniform filters since the porosity of the filters varies not only with the size of the powdered metal particles, but also with the pressure employed to shape the element and the temperature and duration of heat applied in the sintering operation. Although uniform overall loads can be easily applied in the powdered metal compaction operation, distribution of the powdered material in the mold is not always entirely uniform so that variations in porosity can result. Further, the relatively thin sintered powdered metal filter is inherently relatively brittle, requiring great care in handling and assembly to prevent cracking, splintering or flaking of the material. Further, in use, such filters can "shed" or lose small powdered metal particles which are not completely sintered or which becomes dislodged during handling or use.
Filters formed from other materials have also been used, but they too have not been entirely satisfactory for various reasons in certain applications. For example, where the filter acts as a support for the valve closing spring, substantial strength and dimensional stability is required, but is not always provided by the known materials. For example, shaped metal screens have been used as filters, but the molding, shaping or drawing of woven metal screens results in relative movement of the screen elements or strands and can produce non-uniform screen openings. Further, the woven screen material frequently does not possess the dimensional stability and strength to serve as a valve spring support, thereby complicating the valve design. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved gas filter for use in a gas control valve, and to provide an improved gas control valve employing such a filter.
It is another object to provide an improved gas filter having high strength and dimensional stability and which is not subject to shedding or cracking as a result of handling.
Another object of the invention is to provide such a filter which is highly uniform in its filtering capacity and which is capable of filtering extremely small particles from the gas stream flowing therethrough.
Another object of the invention is to provide a novel method of producing a gas flow filter.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved gas regulator valve having an improved gas flow filter.

Gas filter for regulator valve, and improved regulator valve employing the filter


A circuit and method for varying the time of a write cycle. A variable timer circuit is provided coupled to a write simulation circuit. The write simulation circuit receives a signal from a start write sensing circuit indicating that data is being written to memory cells of the array. The write simulation circuit includes a memory cell replicate which replicates the time required for writing data to memory cells of the array. After the memory cell replicate has changed state, a signal is output via a switching circuit to the variable timer circuit for generation of a write termination signal. The memory cells are tested at various write cycle speeds by controlling the variable timer circuit. The variable timer circuit is set to terminate the write as quickly as possible after a successful write to the memory cells has been completed. The time interval for permitting a write can be selectively controlled over a large range to provide extremely fast devices or somewhat slower devices, all of which operate faster than standard devices on the market and thus are in high demand.

Computer processors are increasingly becoming more complex and capable of performing many tasks simultaneously. At the same time, computer processors are now operating at higher speeds and able to input and output greater amounts of data. At the same time, the voltage level of which computer processors and other devices has decreased. For example, many computer processors today use a full 32 bit bus for data input and output while operating at very high speeds. The voltage requirement is also reduced from 5 volts to lower voltages, such as 3.3 volts, are lower. There is therefore a need for memory devices which are capable of transferring 32 bits of data simultaneously while at the same time operating at very high speeds and at lower voltage levels. The high speed of operation is required not only for reading data from the memory devices but also for writing data to the memory devices under control of the microprocessor.
At low supply voltages, for example 3.3 V and lower, correctly writing data to a memory cell is subject to more sensitivity than at higher supply voltages, such as 5 V. In addition, writing to memory cells at a lower voltage may require more time than writing at a higher voltage and may also require more time than reading data from the same memory cell.
At lower voltages, the body effect of a transistor has a greater affect on the operation of the transistor itself. In addition, the threshold voltage becomes a higher percentage of the total supply voltage when operating on a lower supply voltage. Because of these, and many other factors, the voltage available for storing data using a lower supply voltage is much less than is available when operating at the higher supply voltages.
A further problem with operating at lower voltages is that the speed at which data can pass through a transistor while the transistor is being turned ON is reduced because both the gate voltage and the data voltage are reduced from that which would be available at a higher voltage.
Even minor variations from one memory device to another may affect the time required to store data in seemingly identical memory cells. For example, even using the same manufacturing process, the bit line resistance may vary from one lot to another. Further, the contact resistance, whether buried contact or via, may vary slightly from one lot to another. Variations in the properties of the active areas, such as the bird's beak, the threshold voltage and the body effect may also cause variations in the time required to write data to a memory cell. At lower voltages, even very slight changes in any one of these parameters will affect the speed at which data can be correctly written to the memory cell.
According to the prior art, the time permitted to perform a write to a memory cell was established according to the product specifications for a given product design. Enough time was provided to ensure that data was written to the properly manufactured memory cell. If data cannot be correctly written to the memory cell in the time established by the specifications, the entire memory chip is deemed defective and cannot be sold. By establishing the product specifications at a long write time, the number of defective chips is reduced. However, this results in a slower speed of the memory devices. As faster and faster computer processors become available, the speed at which memory can be accessed is an important parameter for the commercial success of the memory on the market. It is therefore desirable to provide a memory in which data can be written to as quickly as possible while at the same time providing a memory which meets product specifications so that the chips do not need to be discarded.

Circuit and method for setting the time duration of a write to a memory cell


A communication system, for providing services to a plurality of subscribers, comprises a network controller, a base station, and a wireless mobile subscriber unit. The network controller includes a memory for storing a plurality of memory templates. Each memory template contains information pertaining to a subscriber. A controller processes information in the memory templates. A transceiver transmits information from the memory templates to subscribers upon request by a subscriber and at times automatically determined by the network controller. A general services tank provides general services to the subscribers, and an individual services tank provides individual services to the subscribers. The base stations each include a radio transceiver that includes a memory, coupled to the radio transceiver, for storing a plurality of memory templates. The base stations also include a controller, coupled to the memory, for processing information in the memory templates and a transceiver for receiving the requests for processing of the information contained in the memory templates stored in the memory of the base station. Lastly, the wireless mobile subscriber units each contain a radio transceiver, apparatus, coupled to the radio transceiver for requesting access to information from the memory templates in the network controller, and alternatively from the base station. The wireless mobile subscriber units also contain apparatus for requesting processing of the information contained in the memory templates.

Present cordless telephone systems operate with private base stations at user's homes, offices or other locations which are connected to a public telephone system. Each base station is typically meant to be used by one subscriber. In the next generation of cordless telephones (called CT-2, for cordless telephone-2) there will be a plurality of public base stations (also called telepoints) that may be used by any subscribers within range. In the future such public base stations may become as common as public telephones are today. When in range, a subscriber will be able to access the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and place a call.

Cordless telephone communication system having base stations with memory for quick access to information


A thermoelectric refrigerator/warmer using no external power, and a refrigerating/warming method are disclosed. A natural energy such as the solar energy is utilized so as to make an external power needless. Thus a thermoelectric device is made to convert the natural energy into electric power based on the difference between the internal and external temperatures, and this electric energy is converted again into a thermal energy by means of a peltier device, thereby varying the internal temperature of the apparatus. An outer part 4 of a thermoelectric device 3 is attached on the side face of the refrigerator/warmer, and an inner part 5 of it is attached on a bottom plate 7 of the refrigerator/warmer. Thus a thermoelectromotive force is generated based on the temperature difference between outside and inside of the refrigerator/warmer. The voltage thus generated is supplied to a peltier device 6 to cool or heat the bottom plate 7. In this manner, the thermoelectric refrigerator/warmer can be operated even without using an external power.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a thermoelectric refrigerator/warmer using no external power, and a refrigerating/warming method. Particularly the present invention relates to a thermoelectric refrigerator/warmer using no external power, and a refrigerating/warming method, in which a natural energy is utilized so as to make an external power needless, and a peltier device and a thermoelectric device are coupled together so as to vary the internal temperature of the apparatus.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the conventional refrigerator/warmer, an external power such as an ac power or a dc power is supplied to carry out a cooling or heating.
The home thermoelectric cooler or refrigerator/warmer uses the external power by converting the home ac power to a dc power, while the automobile refrigerator/warmer uses the power of a storage battery.
In these conventional methods, large amounts of electric power is consumed, and the power efficiency is low. Further, the apparatus cannot be used except that a power source is available.
Further, in the case of the home refrigerator/warmer, an ac-to-dc power converting device and a control means for adjusting the level of the dc power are necessarily required. Therefore, the structural constitution of the refrigerator/warmer is complicated.

Thermoelectric refrigerator/warmer using no external power, and refrigerating/warming method

Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science


A screening tool for anti-inflammatory drug discovery and for the detection of the risk or presence of inflammatory conditions, comprising the sequence of the FPR2/ALX gene promoter, is disclosed.

Resolution of inflammation, an active process that prevents damage to the host and re-establishes homeostasis, is governed by specific mediators (Serhan, C. N., S. D. Brain, C. D. Buckley, D. W. Gilroy, C. Haslett, L. A. O'Neill, M. Perretti, A. G. Rossi, and J. L. Wallace. 2007. Resolution of inflammation: state of the art, definitions and terms. FASEB J 21:325-332). Among these, the arachidonic acid (AA)-derived lipoxins (LX), an acronym for lipoxygenase (LO)-interaction-products, were the first autacoids recognized to carry dual antiinflammatory and pro-resolution activities (Maderna, P., and C. Godson. 2009. Lipoxins: resolutionary road. Br J Pharmacol 158:947-959; Serhan, C. N., M. Hamberg, and B. Samuelsson. 1984a. Lipoxins: novel series of biologically active compounds formed from arachidonic acid in human leukocytes. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 81:5335-5339; Serhan, C. N., M. Hamberg, and B. Samuelsson. 1984b. Trihydroxytetraenes: a novel series of compounds formed from arachidonic acid in human leukocytes. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 118:943-949). LXA4 (5,6,155-trihydroxy-7,9,11,13-trans-1′-cis-eicosatetraenoic acid) is biosynthesized during cell-cell interactions by transcellular metabolic routes involving 5-LO and 12- or 15-LO (Maderna, P., and C. Godson. 2009. Lipoxins: resolutionary road. Br J Pharmacol 158:947-959; Romano, M. 2010. Lipoxin and aspirin-triggered lipoxins. ScientificWorldJournal 10:1048-1064). Within the vasculature, different pathways lead to the biosynthesis of LX. During platelet-leukocyte interactions, leukotriene (LT)A4 released from leukocytes is converted into LXA4 and B4 by platelet 12-LO (Romano, M., and C. N. Serhan. 1992. Lipoxin generation by permeabilized human platelets. Biochemistry 31:8269-8277; Romano, M., X. S. Chen, Y. Takahashi, S. Yamamoto, C. D. Funk, and C. N. Serhan. 1993. Lipoxin synthase activity of human platelet 12-lipoxygenase. Biochem J 296 (Pt 1):127-133). In addition, aspirin, a widely used anti-inflammatory and anti-thrombotic drug, promotes the biosynthesis of 015 epimers of LX (5,6,15R-trihydroxy-7,9,11,13-trans-11-cis-eicosatetraenoic acid), also termed "aspirin triggered" LX (ATL) via acetylation of endothelial cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) (Claria, J., and C. N. Serhan. 1995. Aspirin triggers previously undescribed bioactive eicosanoids by human endothelial cell-leukocyte interactions. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 92:9475-9479). ATL proved to mediate the anti-inflammatory actions of low-dose aspirin in humans, independently from inhibition of prostanoid biosynthesis (Morris, T., M. Stables, A. Hobbs, P. de Souza, P. Colville-Nash, T. Warner, J. Newson, G. Bellingan, and D. W. Gilroy. 2009. Effects of low-dose aspirin on acute inflammatory responses in humans. J Immunol 183:2089-2096). Importantly, statins, through the S-nitrosilation of COX-2, also trigger the generation of 15-epi-LXA4 (Birnbaum, Y., Y. Ye, Y. Lin, S. Y. Freeberg, S. P. Nishi, J. D. Martinez, M. H. Huang, B. F. Uretsky, and J. R. Perez-Polo. 2006. Augmentation of myocardial production of 15-epi-lipoxin-a4 by pioglitazone and atorvastatin in the rat. Circulation 114:929-935; Planaguma, A., M. A. Pfeffer, G. Rubin, R. Croze, M. Uddin, C. N. Serhan, and B. D. Levy. 2010. Lovastatin decreases acute mucosal inflammation via 15-epi-lipoxin A4. Mucosal Immunol 3:270-279). LXA4 and ATL modulate the immune-inflammatory response by inhibiting polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) infiltration in inflamed tissues and stimulating phagocytosis of apoptotic PMN and microbes (Maderna, P., and C. Godson. 2009. Lipoxins: resolutionary road. Br J Pharmacol 158:947-959) in vivo, thus promoting resolution. Moreover, they display potent protective actions in the cardiovascular district, by directly stimulating the production of prostacyclin and nitric oxide, upregulating heme oxygenase-1, and reducing oxidative stress in endothelial cells (Maderna, P., and C. Godson. 2009. Lipoxins: resolutionary road. Br J Pharmacol 158:947-959).
LXA4 and ATL exert their bioactions by activating a specific G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR). Initially reported as a structural homologue of the N-formyl peptide receptor and termed formyl peptide receptor like-1 (FPRL1) (Murphy, P. M., T. Ozcelik, R. T. Kenney, H. L. Tiffany, D. McDermott, and U. Francke. 1992. A structural homologue of the N-formyl peptide receptor. Characterization and chromosome mapping of a peptide chemoattractant receptor family. J Biol Chem 267:7637-7643; Perez, H. D., R. Holmes, E. Kelly, J. McClary, and W. H. Andrews. 1992. Cloning of a cDNA encoding a receptor related to the formyl peptide receptor of human neutrophils. Gene 118:303-304; Ye, R. D., S. L. Cavanagh, O. Quehenberger, E. R. Prossnitz, and C. G. Cochrane. 1992. Isolation of a cDNA that encodes a novel granulocyte N-formyl peptide receptor. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 184:582-589) it was later identified as the LXA4 receptor in human leukocytes (Fiore, S., J. F. Maddox, H. D. Perez, and C. N. Serhan. 1994. Identification of a human cDNA encoding a functional high affinity lipoxin A4 receptor. J Exp Med 180:253-260). The most recent nomenclature has renamed this receptor FPR2/ALX in light of its high affinity for LXA4 (Ye, R. D., F. Boulay, J. M. Wang, C. Dahlgren, C. Gerard, M. Parmentier, C. N. Serhan, and P. M. Murphy. 2009. International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. LXXIII. Nomenclature for the formyl peptide receptor (FPR) family. Pharmacol Rev 61:119-161). The FPR2/ALX gene (Bao, L., N. P. Gerard, R. L. Jr Eddy, T. B. Shows, and C. Gerard. 1992. Mapping of genes for the human C5a receptor (CSAR), human FMLP receptor (FPR), and two FMLP receptor homologue orphan receptors (FPRH1, FPRH2) to chromosome 19. Genomics 13:437-440) is located on chromosome 19. It spans 9.6 kb and encompasses two exons and two introns. Alternative splicing produces four different transcripts, which encode the same seven transmembrane domain protein of 351 aminoacids. Human FPR2/ALX is highly expressed in myeloid cells and at a lower extent in lymphocytes, endothelial and epithelial cells (Romano, M., I. Recchia, and A. Recchiuti. 2007. Lipoxin receptors. ScientificWorldJournal 7:1393-1412). Orthologues of the human FPR2/ALX have been identified in the mouse (Takano, T., S. Fiore, J. F. Maddox, H. R. Brady, N. A. Petasis, and C. N. Serhan. 1997. Aspirin-triggered 15-epi-lipoxin A4 (LXA4) and LXA4 stable analogues are potent inhibitors of acute inflammation: evidence for anti-inflammatory receptors. J Exp Med 185:1693-1704) and rat (Chiang, N., T. Takano, M. Arita, S. Watanabe, and C. N. Serhan. 2003. A novel rat lipoxin A4 receptor that is conserved in structure and function. Br J Pharmacol 139:89-98). In addition to LXA4, FPR2/ALX is activated by the glucocorticoid-induced protein annexin-1 and its N-terminal peptides (Ferretti, M., N. Chiang, M. La, I. M. Fierro, S. Marullo, S. J. Getting, E. Solito, and C. N. Serhan. 2002. Endogenous lipid- and peptide-derived anti-inflammatory pathways generated with glucocorticoid and aspirin treatment activate the lipoxin A4 receptor. Nat Med 8:1296-1302), representing the first identified GPCR able to mediate anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving actions of both lipid and peptide endogenous mediators. Recently, activation of FPR2/ALX by the omega 3-derived pro-resolution mediator, Resolvin D1 has been reported (Krishnamoorthy, S., A. Recchiuti, N. Chiang, S. Yacoubian, C. H. Lee, R. Yang, N. A. Petasis, and C. N. Serhan. 2010. Resolvin D1 binds human phagocytes with evidence for proresolving receptors. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 107:1660-1665) further supporting the relevance of this receptor in inflammation resolution. On the other hand, FPR2/ALX can trigger pro-inflammatory signaling when activated by some microbial and mitochondrial peptides (Romano, M., I. Recchia, and A. Recchiuti. 2007. Lipoxin receptors. ScientificWorldJournal 7:1393-1412) raising the question of its pathophysiological significance in vivo. This question has been addressed by gene manipulation studies. Overexpression of human FPR2/ALX in myeloid cells of transgenic mice reduced neutrophil infiltration in a model of zymosan-induced peritonitis in vivo in the absence of exogenously added agonists (Devchand, P. R., M. Arita, S. Hong, G. Bannenberg, R. L. Moussignac, K. Gronert, and C. N. Serhan. 2003. Human ALX receptor regulates neutrophil recruitment in transgenic mice: roles in inflammation and host defense. FASEB J 17:652-659). Moreover, genetic deletion of the murine orthologue of human FPR2/ALX resulted in a more pronounced inflammatory phenotype, with lack of resolution and no response to annexin 1 and LXA4 (Dutton, N., R. Hannon, V. Brancaleone, J. Dalli, H. B. Patel, M. Gray, F. D'Acquisto, J. C. Buckingham, M. Perretti, and R. J. Flower. 2010. Anti-inflammatory role of the murine formyl-peptide receptor 2: ligand-specific effects on leukocyte responses and experimental inflammation. J Immuno/184:2611-2619). Along these lines, 15-epi-LXA4 biosynthesis and FPR2/ALX expression determine the magnitude and duration of the inflammatory reaction in humans (Morris, T., M. Stables, P. Colville-Nash, J. Newson, G. Bellingan, P. M. de Souza, and D. W. Gilroy. 2010. Dichotomy in duration and severity of acute inflammatory responses in humans arising from differentially expressed proresolution pathways. Proc Natl Aced Sci USA 107:8842-8847). Furthermore, decreased LXA4 biosynthesis and FPR2/ALX expression have been observed in asthmatic patients (Levy, B. D., C. Bonnans, E. S. Silverman, L. J. Palmer, G. Marigowda, and E. Israel. 2005. Diminished lipoxin biosynthesis in severe asthma. Am J Respir Crit. Care Med 172:824-830; Planaguma, A., S. Kazani, G. Marigowda, O. Haworth, T. J. Mariani, E. Israel, E. R. Bleecker, D. Curran-Everett, S. C. Erzurum, W. J. Calhoun, M. Castro, K. F. Chung, B. Gaston, N, N. Jarjour, W. W. Busse, S. E. Wenzel, and B. D. Levy. 2008. Airway lipoxin A4 generation and lipoxin A4 receptor expression are decreased in severe asthma. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 178:574-582). These observations support the anti-inflammatory, pro-resolution function of the LXA4-FPR2/ALX axis, whose impairment may represent an underlying pathogenetic mechanism of inflammatory chronic diseases.
WO2005047899, Nash e al., in the name of ACADIA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC published on 26 May 2005 discloses selective agonists of FPRL1 receptor of general formula:

For the treatment of inflammatory conditions and their use for selecting anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs.
US2002052529 published on 16 May 2002 and the corresponding international application WO2001068839 in the name of BAYER AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT published on 20 Sep. 2001 disclose nucleotide sequences encoding for a lipoxin A4 receptor-like polypeptide.
Examples of drug screening methods are disclosed for example in WO2002020759 and WO2003102026.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,245,512 discloses the cloning and characterization of the VEGF receptor gene promoter (Flt-1).

Screening tool for anti-inflammatory drug discovery comprising the FPR2/ALX gene promoter

UNIVERSITÀ DEGLI STUDI “G. D'ANNUNZIO” CHIETI-PESCARA


In order to perform a stable key inputting operation even if the keyboard device is installed at an inclined surface, a rear surface of a main body is formed with a notch, and the notch is provided with an adjuster member. A turning centerline of the adjuster member is in an inclined angle in respect to the rear surface. The notch has a depth size from the rear surface at the rotatable supporting side of the adjuster member deeper and its depth size becomes smaller as it is farther from the rotatable supporting side. The adjuster member is turned to cause the adjuster member to be changed over between one attitude in which it is protruded out of the notch and the other attitude in which it is stored in the notch. In addition, the adjuster member is formed with a shaft, there is provided a resilient member for resiliently pressing the outer circumference of the shaft and the resilient member is fitted to a sliding notch formed at the outer circumference of the shaft.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a keyboard device capable of changing an inclination angle of a main body and optimizing the touch at a key when a key touch operation is performed.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 12 is a perspective view for showing a part at a rear side of a prior art keyboard device 50.
This keyboard device 50 is constituted of a main body 51 and an adjuster member 52. Rectangular box-shaped notches 53 are formed at both longitudinal ends (only one end is shown in the figure) of the rear surface of the main body 51, and the adjuster member 52 is stored in the notch 53. The adjuster member 52 is formed with a shaft 52a extending in a longitudinal direction of the main body 51 at one end thereof. The shaft 52a is further formed with supporting protrusions 52b, 52b axially protruded, wherein the supporting protrusions 52b, 52b are inserted into two bearing holes (not shown) at positions within the notch 53 to which the shaft 52a oppositely faces and pivotally supported there.
With the above arrangement, an inclination angle of the main body 51 can be adjusted. When it is not needed to increase the inclination angle of the main body 51, the adjuster member 52 is stored in the notch 53 so as not to be projected out of the bottom surface 51a. In addition, when the inclination angle of the main body 51 is increased, the adjuster member 52 is turned out of the notch 53 around a fulcrum point of the shaft 52a, thereby it is protruded out of the rear surface 51a and then the adjuster member 52 is raised as shown by a dotted line in FIG. 12.
However, this kind of keyboard device of the prior art indicated by the keyboard device 50 has the following drawbacks.
That is, in the case of the aforesaid keyboard device 50, the adjuster member 52 is turned from the bottom surface 51a of the main body 51 around the horizontal shaft 52a to its raised attitude, so that when the keyboard device 50 is mounted in slant form under a state in which the adjuster member 52 is protruded, there is a possibility that the adjuster member 52 is turned around the shaft 52a by own weight of the keyboard device 50 and by a manual pressing force and the state in which the adjuster member 52 is protruded is not stable.
Further, in the case where the adjuster member 52 is raised up from the bottom surface 51a at the main body 51, it is needed that the free end of the adjuster member 52 is held by fingers and the adjuster member 52 is turned in a direction moving away from the bottom surface 51a. However, in order to perform the aforesaid raising-up operation while bringing the fingers around the rear side of the keyboard device 50, its operation is quite hard to perform and it is quite difficult to set the keyboard device to its inclined attitude.
In addition, the aforesaid keyboard device 50 sometimes shows the case where its inclination angle cannot be changed in a stepwise manner and an operator cannot necessarily operate keys under the most suitable inclination angle.
The present invention has been invented to solve the aforesaid problems and it is an object of the present invention to provide a keyboard device in which an operator can perform a key operation positively even if a horizontal place cannot be secured, setting of the inclination attitude can be easily attained and the inclination angle can be changed stepwise.
The present invention provides a keyboard device in which an adjuster member arranged at a rear surface of a main body having operation keys at its front surface and installed to be freely protruded from the rear surface is installed and a mounting attitude of the main body is set to a predetermined angle when the adjuster member is protruded, wherein the rear surface of the main body is formed with a notch, the adjuster member is rotatably supported in the notch, the adjuster member can be turned between one attitude in which it is stored in the notch and another attitude in which it is protruded out of the rear surface.
In this case, it is preferable that a turning centerline of the adjuster member is extended from within the notch toward an opening side of the notch at an angle inclined against the rear surface of the main body, one end of the adjuster member in its longitudinal direction is a supporting side rotatably supported and the other end of the adjuster member in its longitudinal direction is a protruding end protruded out of the notch when it is turned, the turning centerline of the turning operation is positioned at the one end side and crossed with a direction extending from the one end to the other end.
Pivot supporting of only one end side composed of the turning centerline with the aforesaid means enables the adjuster member to be changed in two types of attitudes, i.e. one attitude in which the adjuster member is stored in the notch at the time of its turning and the other attitude in which the adjuster member is protruded out of the rear surface of the keyboard device.
In the present invention, it is preferable that the notch is made to have a large depth size measured from the rear surface at a portion where the supporting side of the adjuster member is rotatably supported and its depth size is made to be small as it is spaced apart from the portion where it is rotatably supported, and a thickness size of the adjuster member in a direction to which the turning centerline extends shows a thick size at the supporting side and shows a thin size as it is directed toward the protruding end.
With the aforesaid means, when the adjuster member is placed at an attitude in which it is turned and protruded out of the notch, the protruding end of the adjuster member always becomes the lower-most end and an inclination angle of the main body is changed.
In the present invention, it is preferable that the inner surface of the notch is a concave curved surface including arcs with a plurality of locations on the turning centerline being applied as centers, the side of the adjuster member opposing against the inner surface of the notch is of a shape in which it is slid on the concave curved surface with little clearance during its turning operation, and when the adjuster member is stored in the notch, the side of the adjuster member opposite to the opposing side is of a surface shape where it is positioned on the substantially same location as that of the rear surface.
With the above arrangement, even in the case where the key operation is carried out under an attitude in which the adjuster member is stored in the notch, its stability in operation is not damaged. In addition, it is possible to keep the shape of the notch to a minimum size by forming it into a shape in which the adjuster member slides at the concave curved surface with little clearance, resulting in an arrangement of other members installed inside the main body free from restriction.
In addition, it is preferable in the present invention that there is provided lock means for locking between the main body and the adjuster member under a state in which the protruding end is protruded out of the rear surface. With the above arrangement, it is possible to securely hold the inclination angle of the main body in and to prevent trouble of the key operation while the adjuster member is turned at the time of key operation.
In addition, it is preferable in the present invention that there is provided lock means for locking between the main body and the adjuster member under a state in which the adjuster member is stored in the notch. With the above arrangement, the adjuster member is prevented from freely flown out of the main body in the case where the main body is lifted up, for example.
In addition, the present invention may be provided with lock means for locking between the main body and the adjuster member under a state in which the protruding end is protruded out of the rear surface, a state in which the adjuster member is stored in the notch and an attitude at least in one of the states above.
With the above means, each of the operators performing a key operation can use the keyboard device while inclining it at the most suitable angle. In addition, in the case where two adjuster members are arranged at two locations, that is, both ends of the rear surface of the main body, for example, each of one attitude where one adjuster member protrudes and the other attitude where the other adjuster member protrudes is independently set to enable the main body to be stably mounted even if the space where the main body is installed is not necessarily a horizontal surface, and so a secure key operation becomes possible.
Further, it is preferable in the present invention that the adjuster member is provided with a shaft, bearing holes through which the shaft passes are opened in the notch, the main body is provided a resilient member for resiliently pressing itself against the outer circumference of the shaft under a state in which the shaft is inserted into the bearing holes, the shaft and the resilient member are fitted to each other to form the lock means.
The notch is formed at the outer circumferential surface of the shaft and the resilient member is fitted to the notch, for example, thereby the adjuster member is held at a predetermined position when the adjuster member is turned.
In addition, it is preferable in the present invention that the resilient member resiliently presses the shaft passed through the bearing holes and this resilient member prevents the shaft from being pulled out of the bearing holes.
Additionally, it is preferable in the present invention that the adjuster members are arranged at at least two locations in the rear surface of the main body. For example, in the case where two adjuster members are arranged at two locations, it is preferable that they are installed at both ends of the rear surface of the main body.

Keyboard device capable of changing inclination angle of keyboard main body


A disk drive unit for reproducing information recorded on a digital versatile disk (DVD). The disk drive unit has a copyright management information reading unit for reading copyright management information from a predetermined location on a DVD loaded into the disk drive unit, a first determining unit for determining whether or not protection exists for contents of the loaded DVD using the copyright management information read from the loaded DVD by the copyright management information reading unit, and a playback speed control unit for controlling a playback speed of the loaded DVD when it is determined that the contents of the loaded DVD are protected using the first determining unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a disk drive unit and disk drive method, and more particularly, to a disk drive unit and disk drive method for reproducing information recorded on a disk-like recording medium such as a digital versatile disk (DVD).
2. Description of the Related Art
A variety of DVDs exist, from the DVD-Video targeted for popular use in audio-visual entertainment to the DVD-R, DVD-ROM and DVD-RAM used for commercial and other data storage purposes.
The DVD-ROM drive units that read DVD-ROMs typically are able to read both DVD-Video and DVD-ROM. More recently, this type of DVD-ROM drive unit has seen advances in playback speed intended to increase the data transfer rate, until at present such devices have playback speeds up to 8 times faster than the standard speed at which DVD-Video disks are normally played.
With the conventional DVD-ROM drive unit, the loaded disk is read at maximum speed when a read command is received from an upstream device, without regard to whether the loaded disk is a DVD-ROM or a DVD-Video disk.
Such rapid read speeds pose no problem if the loaded disk is a DVD-ROM. However, if the loaded disk happens to be a DVD-Video disk, it can happen that the speed with which data is read from the disk takes place at a transfer rate exceeding that which is required by the upstream device for video and audio data reproduction, resulting in a needless increase in the consumption of electric current needed to rotate the disk.
Additionally, in general the playback time needed for DVD-Video disks is typically longer than that required for DVD-ROM, resulting in additional power consumption. If the above-described DVD-ROM drive unit is one that is installed in a laptop-type personal computer, excessive power consumption becomes a major disadvantage.
Additionally, high data transfer rates mean high disk rotation speeds, resulting in unacceptably heavy vibrations for the unit itself.

Disk DVD-ROM drive unit with a playback speed control and disk drive method


An access security system employs a non-duplicatable key made from an optically transmissive material having gradient refractive index and diffusive properties which provide the material with a non-duplicatable quality. The system provides a high level of security comparable to many biometric systems and is well suited for use in the prevention of unauthorized access to high security areas.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to access control systems, and more particularly pertains to a system utilizing optically readable key units.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Many of the shortcomings of existing access systems are related to the ease of duplication of keys or magnetic cards which provide access. Even elaborate systems utilizing fingerprint or retinal imaging can be circumvented by a clever hacker. Although no system can provide 100% security, all systems have various levels of security rated in estimated man hours to defeat the particular system. The higher the complexity of a system, the higher the access security as well as the cost. Electro-optical security systems represent one of the better known types having a high degree of complexity which thus results in a comparable degree of difficulty to circumvent. These systems are employed more frequently than fingerprint or retinal imaging, and cost substantially less to install and utilize. Accordingly, electro-optical security systems provide the most promise for improvement at minimal cost while increasing the level of difficulty associated with circumvention.
A typical example of an electro-optical lock system is to be found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,885,408 which issued to Charles Clark, Jr. on May 27, 1975. This patent discloses a finger operated electro-optical lock system in which an optical keyboard having at least one zone indicated thereon is illuminated by ambient energy until touched by the finger of a human hand, thereby blocking the radiant energy passing through the zone. A counter is then enabled to cycle a numeric display and when the first digit of the combination appears in the display, the finger is lifted and reapplied until the second digit of the combination is displayed. While being functional for its intended purpose, this system makes no use of a hand held key or magnetic card and thus requires the user to memorize the combination.
A more recent example of an optical key system is to be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,079,605 which issued to Vernon Bartels on Mar. 21, 1978. The Bartel's patent is directed to an optical key reader for door locks and employs an optical scanning means for detecting a code pattern on a key unit. The detected code is compared by a comparator having a predetermined code which is stored in a reader, and if a match is found in this comparison, the comparator generates an actuation signal to allow access through a door. This type of system is the most desirable for seeking improvement since such improvement could possibly be accomplished at a minimum cost and accordingly there exists a continuing need for such improvements to provide greater access security. In this respect, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.