A compact, portable warmer which is insertable into a bottle for the purpose of warming and stirring contents of the bottle. The warmer has a projecting heating element having a stainless steel sheath configured similarly to a paddle, and a cap for protecting the heating element from contamination and for protecting external objects from heat from the heating element. The portable warmer includes a battery for powering the heating element, an on-off switch, and an electrical cable for recharging the battery from a socket of a cigarette lighter of a motor vehicle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to portable warmers, and more specifically, to a warmer which is insertable into a container for the purpose of warming and stirring contents of the container. The warmer has a projecting heating element and a cap for protecting the heating element from contamination and for protecting external objects from heat from the heating element.
2. Description of the Prior Art
When a person is travelling with an infant and wishes to feed the infant, heating food can be an impractical proposition. While adults are relatively able to adjust their eating practices to constraints imposed by travel, infants and small children are not so able. It is therefore desirable to have at hand heating equipment for heating food for infants and small children.
Generally, heating equipment is both relatively bulky and to a certain extent, dependent upon cooperation with objects in its immediate environmental for fuel, disposition of exhaust, or for an electric supply. A need exists for compact heating equipment for heating bottled food which is independent of external connection or ventilation for successful operation.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,445,501, issued to Harold F. Dwinall on Feb. 18, 1923, describes a hot water bag having an internal heater the projecting heating element of which is configured similarly to that of the present invention. However, the heater of Dwinall does not accommodate battery and controls, as seen in the present invention, nor can it be employed to stir the contents of the bottle, as can the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,512,284, issued to Manly S. Mumford on Jun. 20, 1950, addresses this need by providing a bottle warmer heated by chemical action, with suitable chemicals being provided in consumable cartridge form. By contrast, the present invention employs electricity for energy, and is partially immersed in a bottle being warmed, rather than surrounding the bottle.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,065,660, issued to Jean Claude Berard on Dec. 27, 1977, describes a bottle warmer having a heating element embedded in a blanket which is fastened around the bottle. In alternative embodiments, the blanket is either exposed or enclosed. Berard's device has a base enabling the device to stand upright on a horizontal surface. By contrast, the present invention has an integral battery, an electrical cable for recharging the battery, and is partially disposed within a bottle being warmed, rather than surrounding the bottle.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,408,068, issued to Wai-Man Ng on Apr. 18, 1995, and 5,436,429, issued to Mitchell T. Cline on Jul. 25, 1995, both illustrate electric warmers comprising essentially only blankets incorporating a heating element and an electrical feed conductor. The feed conductor in both cases is adapted to connect to the socket of a cigarette lighter in a motor vehicle. These devices lack the integral battery of the present invention, and also surround the subject bottle rather than being inserted thereinto, as is practiced with the present invention.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.


The invention provides assay methods for the detection and quantitation of gastrin hormones, including total and free gastrin hormone in a sample. ELISA-type heterogeneous phase assays suitable for use with biological fluid samples such as blood, plasma or other bodily fluids of a mammal, particularly a human subject are provided. The method provides a precise assay for the amounts of free and total G17 and G34 in biological fluid samples, as well as the amounts of free and total Gly-extended G17, and Gly-extended G34. Also provided are methods of determining suitable treatment for patient suffering from a gastrin hormone-mediated disease or condition employing gastrin hormone immunoassays.

Although gastrin hormone was first identified one hundred years ago, and was purified in the 1960's, its effects on different tissues in normal and disease tissues is still incompletely understood. One major reason for this gap in knowledge of the gastrin system has been the difficulty in separately detecting and quantifying each of the several forms of gastrin hormone.
In mammals the peptide hormone, gastrin exists in several forms, grouped into two major size classes, "little" gastrin and "big" gastrin, on the basis of the number of amino acid residues in the peptide chain. The "little" gastrin form includes mature gastrin-17 (G17) and glycine-extended G17 (G17-Gly); and "big" gastrin includes gastrin-34 (G34) and glycine-extended G34 (G34-Gly). The mature form of G17 is a major effector of stomach acid secretion and is estimated to be about six times more effective in this role than is G34. The various forms of gastrin are produced in vivo from a precursor peptide, progastrin, by cleavage and in some cases, modification of the cleaved form. Human G34 has the entire seventeen amino acid sequence of G17 at its C-terminal, and, predictably, cross-reacts immunologically with G17.
Mature G17 is modified at both amino- and carboxy-terminal residues: the N-terminal glutamic acid is cyclized to form pyroglutamic acid (pGlu) and the free carboxyl group of the C-terminal phenylalanine residue is amidated by the enzyme, peptidyl α-amidating mono-oxygenase (PAM) to form a C-terminal Phe-NH2. (See Dockray et al., Ann. Rev. Physiol. (2001)63: 119–139).
Mature G17, the predominant form of "little" gastrin in humans, has the amino acid sequence: pEGPWLEEEEEAYGWMDF-NH2 (SEQ ID NO: 1). G17-Gly is an incompletely processed form of gastrin found as a minor component of "little" gastrin in healthy human subjects and has the amino acid sequence: pEGPWLEEEEEAYGWMDFG (SEQ ID NO: 2).
Gastrin-34, the predominant form of "big" gastrin in humans, has the amino acid sequence: pELGPQGPPHLVADPSKKEGPWLEEEEEAYGWMDF-NH2 (SEQ ID NO: 3), and glycine-extended gastrin 34 (G34-Gly), has an extra C-terminal glycine residue, having the amino acid sequence: pELGPQGPPHLVADPSKKEGPWLEEEEEAYGWMDFG (SEQ ID NO: 4).
Gastrin is secreted by the pyloric antral-G cells of the stomach in response to gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP). Gastrin secretion is suppressed by gastric acid and the paracrine action of several peptide hormones, most notably, somatostatin. It has long been recognized that gastrin peptides function to stimulate acid secretion in the stomach of healthy individuals, however, it has only recently been shown that these peptides also control proliferation, differentiation and maturation of different cell types in the gastrointestinal (GI) system.
In addition to their local activity in the GI system, G17 and, to a lesser extent, G17-Gly are released into the bloodstream and have been found to increase in the serum of patients afflicted with gastrointestinal disorders and diseases, such as gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, and pancreatic cancer. These gastrin species have more recently also been found to be associated with other diseases not associated with the gastrointestinal tract, including small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and liver metastasized tumors. See for example "Gastrin and Colon Cancer: a unifying hypothesis" S. N. Joshi et al., Digestive Diseases (1996) 14: 334–344; and "Gastrin and colorectal cancer" Smith, A. M. and Watson, S. A. Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics (2000) 14(10): 1231–1247.
Antibodies are key reagents in numerous assay techniques used in medical, veterinary and other fields. Such tests include many routinely used immunoassay techniques, such as for example, enzyme-linked immunosorbant assays (ELISA), radioimmunoassays (RIA), immunohistochemistry (IHC), and immunofluorescence (IF) assays.
Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) have unique characteristics that render them superior in many respects to polyclonal antisera and to antibodies purified from polyclonal antisera when used in many of these assays. These attributes include monodeterminant specificity for the target antigen (i.e. specificity for a single epitope), unchanging specificity among different antibody preparations, as well as unchanging affinity and chemical composition over time. Furthermore, MAbs can be produced indefinitely and in unlimited amounts by in vitro methods. These properties are in sharp contrast to those of polyclonal antibodies, which require in vivo immunization methods with the unavoidable associated biological variability and limited antibody production capacity over the lifespan of the immunized animal.
Despite these advantages, differences exist between individual MAbs even though they may be specific for the same epitope. For example, differences between MAbs induced by immunization with a single antigenic epitope region can arise with respect to any or all of the following characteristics: 1) the fine specificity for the molecular composition and tertiary structure of the epitope; 2) the antibody idiotype; 3) the antibody affinity; 4) the antibody allotype; and 5) the antibody isotype. These characteristic differences can affect the behavior of MAbs in a particular immunoassay, such that different MAb isolates raised against the same antigenic region can behave differently in a given assay. Consequently, some MAbs will be superior to others that bind the same epitope when used as reagents in a particular immunoassay.
The immunoassay may be an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or a radioimmunoassay (RIA), an immuno-detection assay, such as an ELISPOT, slot-blot, and western blot. As a general guide to such techniques, see for instance, Ausubel et al. (eds) (1987) in "Current Protocols in Molecular Biology" John Wiley and Sons, New York, N.Y. Alternatively, the immunoassay may be an immunohistochemical (IHC) staining or immunofluorescence (IF) procedure for visualization of a gastrin hormone in a tissue sample. See for example "Principles and Practice of Immunoassay" (1991) Christopher P. Price and David J. Neoman (eds), Stockton Press, New York, N.Y.
Monoclonal antibodies specific for the N-terminal region and the C-terminal region of G17 have been described. See for example, Azuma et al., Gastroenterologica Japonica (1986) 21(4): 319–324; Ohning et al., Peptides (1994) 15(3):417–423; Fuerle et al., Pancreas (1995) 10(3):281–286; Kovacs et al., Peptides (1996) 17 (4): 583–587; Ohning et al., Am. J. Physiol. (1996) 271(3 Pt 1):G470–476; Sipponen et al., (2002) Scand. J. Gastroenterol. 37(7): 785–791. However, none of these antibodies were shown, either alone or in combination, to be capable of distinguishing and quantifying each of the forms of gastrin hormone found in biological fluids in normal and disease states.
Anti-gastrin polyclonal antibodies have been shown to be effective in inhibiting gastrin activity ("Inhibition of gastrin activity by incubation with antibodies to the C-terminal tetrapeptide of gastrin" Jaffe et al., Surgery (1969) 65(4):633–639); and non-human anti-gastrin polyclonal antibodies have been applied to therapy in a patient suffering from Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, a pathological condition in which excessive gastrin is produced without stimulation by feeding. See Hughes et al., "Therapy with Gastrin Antibody in the Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome" Hughes et al., Digestive Diseases (1976) 21(3):201–204. However, these rabbit anti-gastrin antibodies had "at best a short term effect in this patient." (Hughes at p. 204).
Recently, the ratio of amidated to non-amidated gastrin hormone in serum has been suggested as providing an indication of an individual's risk profile for developing duodenal ulcer disease or gastric atrophy. See published U.S. patent application 2003/0049689 entitled "Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Disease" of T. C. Wang.
Until now, MAbs capable of sensitively detecting, and accurately distinguishing each of the G17, G17-Gly, G34, and G34-Gly forms of gastrin hormone have not been available. Furthermore, until the present invention, it was not possible to accurately measure the amounts of each of these forms of gastrin hormone in a sample of biological fluid. Use of the Mabs of the invention in assays for clinical testing more precisely defines the biology of gastrin hormone in normal and disease states and to provides MAb compositions for pharmaceutical use and methods for the prevention and treatment of gastrin-associated diseases and conditions.


A baseball game board includes: a top plate; a pitching section including a ball container section and a discharge hole; a batting section; a pitching operation section; and a pitching lever extending from the pitching operation section to the pitching section and movable in forward and rearward directions. The pitching lever is disposed below the top plate, is rotatable in a left-right direction around a position between the pitching operation section and the pitching section, and includes a ball holding section provided at a front end of the pitching lever for receiving a ball dropping from the ball container section. When the pitching lever is moved forward, the ball held in the ball holding section and positioned below the top plate is delivered from the discharge hole to an upper surface of the top plate, thereby being discharged toward the batting section.

1. Technical Field
Aspects of the present invention relates to a baseball game board on which a baseball games is played, more particularly, to a baseball game board on which pitching and batting are performed by operating tabs.
2. Description of Related Art
There are various kinds of baseball game boards which are configured such that baseball games can be played while pitching, batting, catching, etc. are performed on a board simulating a baseball stadium. This kind of baseball game board is equipped with various kinds of mechanisms, such as a pitching section, a batting section and catching sections, so as to allow figurines representing a pitcher, a batter, runners, fielders, etc. to be placed thereon, whereby the players can enjoy games while applying rules simulating the actual baseball rules.
In JP-A-2012-152292, the applicant has proposed a baseball game board in which a ball can be discharged from the pitching section to the catching section and the discharged ball can be batted at the batting section by operating tabs, and the applicant has provided the baseball game board.
This baseball game board has functions, for example, for causing the discharged ball to curve by operating a magnet provided below the board surface at an intermediate portion between the pitching section and the batting section and for dropping the ball below the board surface by lowering a plate provided immediately in front of the batting section, thereby dropping the ball downward. With these functions, the enjoyment of playing games is increased by changing the path of the pitched ball.


The Content Delivery Handoff System enables a passenger's wireless device, operating in an airborne wireless cellular network, to receive selected content and to ensure continuity and/or completion of the content delivery when the aircraft reaches its destination before the entirety of the selected content is delivered to the passenger. This completion of content delivery can occur in a spatially and temporally disjunct manner where the delivery of the remainder of the selected content occurs at a terrestrial location or on a subsequent flight and at a later time.

It is a problem in the field of wireless communications to manage the wireless services provided to passengers who are located in an aircraft as they roam among cell sites in the non-terrestrial cellular communication network, as well as to provide continuity and/or completion of these services when the passenger transitions to the terrestrial cellular communication network.
In the field of wireless communications, it is common for a wireless subscriber to move throughout the area served by the network of their home cellular service provider and maintain their desired subscriber feature set. Feature set availability throughout the home network is managed by the home cellular service provider's database, often termed a Home Location Register (HLR), with data connections to one or more switches (packet or circuit), and various ancillary equipment, such as voicemail and short message servers, to enable this seamless feature set management.
If the wireless subscriber were to transition inter-network, from the coverage area of their home cellular network to a network of the same or another cellular service provider (termed "roaming cellular service provider" herein), the wireless subscriber should have the ability to originate and receive calls in a unified manner, regardless of their location. In addition, it should be possible for a given wireless subscriber's feature set to move transparently with them. However, for this feature set transportability to occur, there needs to be database file sharing wherein the home cellular service Home Location Register (HLR) transfers the subscriber's authorized feature set profile to the roaming cellular service provider's database, often called a Visitor Location Register, or VLR. The VLR then recognizes that a given roaming wireless subscriber is authorized for a certain feature set and enables the roaming cellular service provider network to transparently offer these features to the wireless subscriber. In this manner, the roaming wireless subscriber retains the same authorized feature set, or "subscriber class", as they had on their home cellular service provider network.
When wireless subscribers enter the non-terrestrial cellular communication network (that is, they fly in an aircraft as passengers), they encounter a unique environment that traditionally has been disconnected from the terrestrial cellular network, where the wireless network of the aircraft interfaces the wireless subscriber (also termed "passenger" herein) to various services and content. The aircraft wireless network, therefore, can function as a content filter or can create unique types of content that are directed to the passengers who are onboard the aircraft. The continuity and/or completion of these content delivery services when the aircraft reaches its destination before the entirety of the selected content is delivered to the passenger has yet to be addressed in existing terrestrial cellular communication networks. One such content delivery service is the provision of what is termed in the field as "in-flight movies" as well as other multi-media or data content. Once the aircraft lands at the destination, the delivery of this content is terminated and the passenger is unable to retrieve the remainder of this content.

System for handoff of aircraft-based content delivery to enable passengers to receive the remainder of a selected content from a terrestrial location


Disclosed is a fastener container to provide fasteners to a fastener feeder for use in fastener driving operations. The fastener container may comprise a fastener housing and a rotating fastener mechanism. The fastener housing may include a plurality of fastener chambers, wherein each of the fastener chambers is configured to hold a plurality of fasteners. The rotating fastener mechanism may be located within the fastener housing and may include a plurality of bins. Each bin may be configured to receive fasteners from an adjacent fastener chamber of the fastener housing. The rotating fastener mechanism may be rotatable, such that, when a rotation occurs, a first bin drops fasteners to the fastener feeder and a second bin receives fasteners from an adjacent fastener chamber of the fastener housing.

During the manufacturing of devices (e.g., mechanical, electromechanical, and electrical devices), a fastener container is often utilized to provide fasteners to a fastener feeder for use in fastener driver operations. The fasteners are typically provided by the fastener feeder to a driver that drives the fastener (e.g., a screw, plug, bolt, rivet, etc.) to connect together components of the device being manufactured. As an example, fastener drivers are often used in large volume manufacturing for high-tech devices.
One example of a high-tech device that is often manufactured utilizing a fastener driver is a hard disk drive (HDD). A HDD typically includes a head disk assembly (HDA) including at least one magnetic disk, a disk clamp and a disk fastener to mount the disk to a spindle motor that rapidly rotates the disk, and a head stack assembly (HSA) that includes a moveable actuator arm and a head gimbal assembly (HGA) with a moveable transducer head for reading and writing data from and to the disk. During the manufacturing of a disk drive, a fastener driver may be utilized to attach components together of the disk drive being manufactured, such as, latches, ramps, disks, spindle motors, disk clamps, and various other HDA, HSA, and HGA components.
Due to the cost competiveness of the high-tech industry, and as an example of this, the disk drive industry, the components of a disk drive need to be assembled in a very precise and cost effective manner. In order to be cost effective, complex components of the disk drive, such as disk clamps, disks, spindle motors, HDAs, HGAs, etc., need to be assembled, with fasteners, such as screws, in a very time effective manner with a very low error rate—even though many of the components require highly precise assembly. Also, many of these types of components often need to be assembled in a clean room environment in which debris and contamination particles are kept to a minimum.
In high-tech manufacturing operations, such as, for disk drives, where cost and quality are crucial measurements, the refilling of fasteners to the fastener feeder for fastener driving operations is one of the main operational points at which large amounts of fasteners may be lost and at which contamination may occur. It has been observed that when fasteners are dropped onto the clean room of the manufacturing facility that many of the fasteners are damaged and have to be discarded. This significantly increases manufacturing costs. Further, these dropped fasteners also increase the amount of contamination in the manufacturing process. This is especially problematic for the manufacturing of high-tech devices, such as disk drives, in which both costs and the reduction of contamination is important. Unfortunately, when a fastener is dropped to the floor, contaminated particles often flow into the device being manufactured reducing device quality.
Accordingly, more efficient techniques for providing fasteners to a fastener feeder for use in fastener driving operations in the manufacturing of devices are sought after to reduce both manufacturing costs and to reduce debris and contamination.

Fastener container to provide fasteners to a fastener feeder


Cleaning apparatus for an imaging cylinder in an ion deposition printer includes a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion, separated by an internal plate. The lower portion includes a plenum chamber having an opening at one end and a vacuum port at an opposite end, and a scraper blade mounted in the plenum chamber and having an edge engaging the imaging cylinder. A continuous cleaning web is mounted in the upper portion engaging the imaging cylinder downstream of the scraper blade. The cleaning web is impregnated with silicone oil. A related method includes the steps of a) engaging the peripheral surface of the imaging cylinder with a scraper blade to remove toner particles therefrom; and b) engaging the peripheral surface of the imaging cylinder downstream of the scraper blade with a continuous web impregnated with oil to remove residual toner particles and conductive powder deposits.

IDAX and MIDAX printing techniques are commercial electrographic imaging processes that utilize what is referred to as "silent electric discharge". In such systems, an ion cartridge is mounted adjacent an imaging drum. The drum then moves into contact with the transfer sheet (for example, paper). Conventional cartridges utilized in these printing systems include first and second electrodes, typically called the drive and control electrodes, separated by a solid dielectric member such as a sheet of mica. The control electrode, typically in the form of control fingers, defines an edge surface disposed opposite the driver electrode to define a discharge region at the junction of an edge surface in the solid dielectric member. An alternating potential is applied between the driver and control electrodes of sufficient magnitude to induce charged particle producing electrical discharges in the discharge region, and means are provided for applying a charged particle extraction potential between the control electrode and a further electrode, so that imaging occurs on the imaging drum, or paper or like dielectric moving past the ion cartridge. In most commercial installations, a screen electrode is also provided between the imaging drum and the control electrode, and separated by an insulating spacer from the control electrode. A commercial ion cartridge is typically constructed of a plurality of driver, control, and screen electrode units, in a matrix form. Conventional ion cartridges are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,155,093; 4,160,257; 4,267,556; and 4,381,327.
A toning station for supplying toner particles to the imaging cylinder is also provided to create a visible counterpart of the latent electrostatic image. Typically, a transfer roller is employed in rolling contact with the imaging cylinder under high pressure to transfer and simultaneously fuse the toner particles to a paper or other receptor sheet.
Laboratory and in-plant tests indicate the need for improved cleaning of the imaging cylinder and toner released to the paper within the print engine, particularly when color toners are employed. The primary problem relates to the presence of banded deposits around the imaging cylinder, the composition of which includes conductive powder that is attached to the toner particles to increase their electrical conductivity. This powder, a heavy metal tin/antimony oxide (known as T1), deposits itself in a very thin film on the surface of the imaging cylinder and is not removed by existing scraper and brush cleaning assemblies. The use of solvents has also proven ineffective against the deposited scum. It has been discovered that one effective way to clean the bands is by running hundreds of feet of plain paper through the machine to scour off the scum, but this is impractical in day-to-day operation.
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for solving the problem of scum deposits on the imaging cylinder. In the exemplary embodiment, the invention incorporates into an IDAX or MIDAX type machine the following components and/or manipulative steps: (1) A scraper blade with an improved swivel and spring mounting for better drum following and improved distribution of forces to assure a non-stressed flat loading on the scraper blade; (2) Direct air purging of the area around the scraper blade to assure removal of scraped powders; (3) A silicone impregnated, continuous cleaning web which is held tightly against the imaging cylinder (downstream of the scraper blade) with a resilient roller, spring loaded for better distribution of forces, driven at a slow rate in a direction counter to the direction of the imaging cylinder, and controlled in speed and tension with simple but effective mechanical controlling mechanisms; (4) A two-piece housing assembly, the bottom or lower portion of which serves as an assembly base and plenum chamber and carries the scraper and vacuum channels, while the top or upper portion carries the cleaning web, drive and tensioning assemblies.
In its broader aspects, therefore, the present invention provides cleaning apparatus for an imaging cylinder in an ion deposition printer comprising a scraper blade having an edge engaging the imaging cylinder; and a continuous cleaning web engaging the imaging cylinder downstream of the scraper blade, the cleaning web impregnated with silicone oil.
In another aspect, the present invention relates to a cleaning apparatus for an imaging cylinder in an ion deposition printer comprising a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion separated by an internal plate, the lower portion comprising a plenum chamber having an opening at one end and a vacuum port at an opposite end; a scraper blade mounted in the lower portion and having an edge engaging the imaging cylinder; and a continuous cleaning web mounted in said upper portion engaging the imaging cylinder downstream of the scraper blade, the cleaning web being impregnated with oil.
In still another aspect, the present invention relates to a method of cleaning toner and conductive powder deposits from an ion deposition printer imaging cylinder comprising the steps of:
a) engaging a peripheral surface of the imaging cylinder with a scraper blade to remove toner particles therefrom; and
b) engaging the peripheral surface of the imaging cylinder downstream of the scraper blade with a continuous web impregnated with oil to remove residual toner particles and conductive powder deposits.
It has been found that the scraping blade removes most of the toner from the imaging cylinder, and that the silicone impregnated web scours and entrains the residual toner as it engages the imaging cylinder, thereby giving a cleaner performance to the remainder of the machine components. The web also scours and entrains separated heavy metal oxides present from the color toner formulation and thereby prevents the buildup of the conductive scum on the imaging cylinder which otherwise may cause premature image fading. The silicone oil from the web has been found to form a thin release layer which may assist in toner transfer to the paper while decreasing the amount of residual toner which could otherwise foul the system. The deposited silicone oil can also transfer to intermediate transfer members thus helping the transfer efficiency of the toner to the paper.
Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description which follows.

Ion deposition printer cleaning apparatus and related method


A technique is provided for integrating human machine interfaces with control and monitoring systems. Control and monitoring systems may be integrated into a human machine interface to enable access to various systems including networked and programmable electrical components, such as components of motor control centers, and databases that including component, system designation data, configuration information, settings, and so forth. The database and components are accessed by execution of a program embedded in the human machine interface to provide desired information in response to selection of a particular physical component of the system. The information serves as the basis for an operator display through the human machine interface.

The present invention relates generally to the field of electrical control and monitoring systems, and more particularly to a system and method that integrates functions control and monitoring into a human machine interface.
A wide range of systems are known and are currently in use for controlling and monitoring processes, particularly in the industrial context. Such processes may generally include a large number of components, such as pumps, valves, conveyors, material handling and machining systems, and so forth. In most applications a significant number of the components are operated by prime movers such as electric motors. These may be manually operated and inspected, but are often more effectively controlled through programmed systems including protective components as well as activating and control components.
One type of industrial control center that has been developed over recent years in generally referred to as a motor control center. Such systems may provide for highly integrated control of a large number of devices and can be equipped for remote control and reporting functions. Moreover, such remote control, typically via industrial control networks, is often highly desirable because it permits locating the protective and power control components roughly in the vicinity of the controlled equipment, which may be quite distant from the more centralized control or monitoring facility or room where human operators are based.
Challenges faced in implementing and maintaining complex control systems include the configuration of the control system and the representation of the system in a manner that can be quickly and easily mastered by human operators. Moreover, during operation, the representations of the system provided to the human operators, and the meaning of the various controls at the operators' disposal are of considerable importance insomuch as they permit the operator to make efficient and timely decisions based upon accurate understanding of the current and future conditions of the system. Planning, programming and configuration of such systems and networks is, however, quite difficult.
In addition to the programming concerns, operating the modem industrial control and monitoring systems often involves different programs that are utilized by the system. These separate programs each require extensive programming to provide information that allows the operator to monitor and control various processes. For instance, one program may include detailed information relating to individual programmable devices, such as manuals and drawings, while another program may provide functionality that enables an operator to view more the complete system that is operating the processes.
There is a need, therefore, for an improved technique which may be employed to more effectively present and access information relating to an overall process or system in a human machine interface, while providing detailed and current information on specific components of interest upon demand by an operator. There is a particular need for a technique which will provide greater uniformity and consistency for the operation of the processes by integrating the information of various levels within the modern industrial control and monitoring systems, reducing development and programming time associated with the various programs, and enabling the operator to perform a greater level of diagnostics from a single interface.

Industrial control and monitoring method and system


An x-ray system for use with image-guided medical procedures is programmed to move in a first scan path to acquire cone beam attenuation data from which a three-dimensional digital subtraction angiogram of selected vasculature is reconstructed. The x-ray system is also programmed to move in a second scan path to acquire a series of tomosynthesis images during the inflow of a contrast agent into the selected vasculature. Parametric images are produced from information in the tomosynthesis images which indicate blood perfusion physiology of the tissues served by the vasculature.

The field of the invention is medical imaging and particularly the acquisition of x-ray images for use in image-guided medical procedures.
Stroke afflicts more than 700,000 people yearly in the United States alone. Approximately 85 percent of strokes are caused by an ischemic mechanism, either from local thrombosis or clot embolism. The only FDA-approved method for clinical treatment of acute ischemic stroke is a thrombolytic agent, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), started intravenously within 3 hours of stroke onset. Patients are selected for tPA treatment based on clinical features and basic non-contrast CT (computed tomography) imaging criteria, with the exact site of clot not directly confirmed in most instances.
Following the clinical trials which lead to tPA approval, subsequent real-world use in many centers has confirmed improved outcomes in patients treated with tPA. However, initial enthusiasm for thrombolysis has declined to more cautious and limited deployment in most centers. Limitations of IV injected tPA include the short time window available to identify and treat patients, controversies on how to select candidates for treatment, the relatively modest effectiveness and outcome benefit perceived by clinicians, and the rare but often fatal hemorrhages which occur as a complication. More than five years after introduction of the drug, fewer than 2 percent of acute stroke patients are treated with tPA.
Recent trials have demonstrated that the 3 hour time window in which the benefits of tPA outweigh its risks can be lengthened. During a 2 hour period, pro-urokinase was infused and angiographic images were acquired to monitor clot lysis and assess blood flow. Even as late as 6 hours after stroke symptom onset, high rates of clot lysis can be achieved. Clinical outcome in these cases often is determined by the residual perfusion of affected tissues rather than the state of clot lysis as seen in conventional angiograms. Thus, the acquisition of perfusion images of the affected tissues is an important tool in assessing the advisability of using tPA treatment.
Contrast techniques can be used with multi-slice x-ray CT to provide perfusion parameter maps. Such perfusion images are acquired after the injection of a contrast agent using an x-ray CT system. The acquisition of such images and the assessment of brain perfusion and its relationship to infarcted areas has become central to advanced clinical techniques and the making of decisions regarding patient selection for acute treatments. Perfusion assessment brings an individual, patient-specific physiologic-based method (not just time or anatomy) to select candidates who are most likely to benefit, while simultaneously excluding patients who could be hurt by these potentially risky treatments.
While it has become evident that perfusion measurement is important in acute stroke, none of the current imaging methods can be performed directly in the angiographic suite where intra-arterial thrombolysis is conducted. MR and CT-based perfusion methods have shown value, but must be done before or after the interventional angiographic procedure itself. Other traditional perfusion techniques using PET, SPECT, or XeCT have also been used for acute stroke, but are more lengthy procedures, have not seen widespread practical utility, and cannot be performed during the angiographic procedure.
Some medical centers have combined angiography-MRI facilities ("XMR") to offer interventional angiography-perfusion/diffusion capability, but these facilities still require moving an acutely ill patient from one imaging room to another to conduct interventional angiography and perfusion assessment in an interleaved fashion. All these current approaches are inefficient and require moving a patient who may be at risk of bleeding due to drugs and indwelling intra-arterial catheters.

X-ray system for use in image guided procedures


Measuring module for the measurement of an object (6), having a measuring chamber (4), with a contact element (5a, 5b), wherein the object to be measured (6) is thermally connected to a first contact surface (9a) of the contact element (5a, 5b), and having a cold head (1b, 2b, 2c) that can be thermally connected to a second contact surface (9b) of the contact element (5a, 5b), wherein the contact element (5a, 5b) consists of material with high thermal conductivity, characterized in that the cryo-refrigerator (1a, 2a) together with the cold head is housed in a refrigerating chamber (3) that is physically separated from the measuring chamber (4) and can be evacuated separately from the latter, and the contact element (5a, 5b) is thermally insulated from the outside wall of the measuring module, is part of a separating wall between the measuring chamber (4) and the refrigerating chamber (3), and makes a local thermal connection between the measuring chamber (4) and the refrigerating chamber (3), and with a contacting mechanism to vary heat flow in the hermetically sealed condition of the measuring module. With such a measuring module, cooling times and heating times of the object to be measured can be greatly reduced.

The invention relates to a measuring module for the measurement and testing of an object, having a measuring chamber that can be evacuated that is to hold the object to be measured and having a contact element, wherein the object to be measured is thermally connected to a first contact surface of the contact element during the measurement and/or test operation, and having at least one cold head that can be thermally connected to a second contact surface of the contact element, wherein the cold head can be cooled down to cryogenic temperatures using a cryo-refrigerator comprising at least one cold stage, and wherein the contact element consists of material with high thermal conductivity, and the first and second contact surfaces are located on opposite sides of the contact element, wherein the cold head and the contact element are thermally conductively interconnected during the measurement and/or testing operation in an environment that can be evacuated.
Such a measurement device is known from [2].
The thermal noise of electronic components can be reduced by cooling. The thermal noise arises due to statistical movements of the charge carriers and due to irregular, temperature-dependent grid oscillations that are transferred to the charge carriers by pulses. It manifests itself as a noise voltage VR at the ends of electrical conductors. At an ohmic resistance R that is at temperature T, the noise voltage in the frequency range Δf is calculated as [3], [4]:|VR|=√{square root over (4kRT−Δf)} where k=1.38·10−23 Ws/K (=Boltzmann constant)
Reducing the temperature T of metal conductors also reduces their resistance R so that the product R·T and therefore the thermal noise voltage VR is especially greatly reduced. For this reason, this cooling method is used today for sensitive measuring instruments and sensors, such as are found, for example, in NMR spectroscopy [1]. A clear improvement in measurement sensitivity is achieved in such cases, i.e. the signal-to-noise ratio (=SINO).
For the development of such measuring instruments or sensors with cooled electrical or electronic components, suitable electronic or electrical components (e.g. cables, resistors, transistors, etc.) must be assessed in advance and undergo quality control testing (e.g. thermal cycling). For this purpose, test systems are required that enable the cooling of individual electronic components and whole electronic circuits down to their operating and test temperature with the aim of determining their properties and specifications and to conduct quality control tests on them.
The simplest and most widespread method of cooling to cryogenic temperatures is to use liquid nitrogen (LN2) or in rarer cases, liquid helium (LHe). The components to be measured (electronic components or circuits, mechanical components, or combinations thereof) are immersed in a Dewar vessel filled with LN2 or LHe. Quality control tests (e.g. thermal cycling tests) and/or determination of electrical and mechanical properties of components can be performed in this way.
The disadvantages of this method are that the lowest cryogenic temperature is dependent on the boiling temperature of the liquid gas 77K for LN2 and 4.2K for LHe), and the test samples are exposed to extreme thermal stress due to the high cooling rates. Moreover, water condensation and ice can form on the samples.
In a somewhat more advanced cooling method, the object to be cooled measured is attached to a contact element with high thermal conductivity that is cooled down to the desired temperature by a refrigerant (e.g. LN2 or LHe). To keep thermal losses low, the entire configuration is housed in an evacuated chamber, which avoids the formation of condensation and ice [2]. However, such systems are only efficient at temperatures just above the boiling point of the refrigerant. If test samples have to be tested far above the boiling point (but still far below room temperature), this must be performed by additional heating of the contact element, which in turn results in increased loss of refrigerant and increased costs (especially if the refrigerant is LHe). A further disadvantage in this case is that the user is always reliant on the refrigerant and must ensure that a sufficient stock of it is available. Such a set-up also has the disadvantage that the user must be versed in the handling of cryogenic liquids.
In addition to this, measuring modules are known in which the cooling is not performed by a cryogenic refrigerant but a cryo-refrigerator with a closed refrigerating circuit [2]. The disadvantage of this measuring module is that the cryo-refrigerator first has to be switched off, followed by a long waiting time before the cryo-refrigerator has warmed up sufficiently for the chamber in which the test sample is located to be opened.
Based on this prior art, the object of the invention is to propose a measuring module and a measuring device with which such long waiting times can be avoided to make cooling the objects to be measured more convenient.

Measuring module for rapid measurement of electrical, electronic and mechanical components at cryogenic temperatures and measuring device having such a module


A modulator of regulatory cellular events occurring intracellularly which are mediated by regulatory proteins containing a ‘death domain’ motif is provided. The ‘death domain’ is a regulatory portion of the regulatory proteins, and the modulator is capable of interacting with one or more ‘death domain’ motifs contained in the regulatory proteins and affecting the regulatory action of one or more of the regulatory proteins. The modulator preferably is capable of interacting with ‘death domain’ motifs within p55-TNF-R, FAS/APO1-R, NGF-R, MORT-1, RIP, TRADD, or ankyrin. A method for producing the modulators is also provided. The modulators are useful for modulating functions mediated in cells by proteins containing the ‘death domain’.

There is a very large group of regulatory proteins which exert their regulatory effects on cells by way of intracellular signaling processes, mediated by regulatory portions or motifs contained within these proteins. Members of this group of proteins include, receptors belonging to the TNF/NGF family of receptors, such as, for example, the p55 and p75 TNF receptors (p55 and p75 TNF-Rs), the NGF receptor (NGF-R) and the Fas/APO1 protein (also called the FAS-ligand receptor or FAS-R, and hereinafter will be called FAS-R); these receptors being characterized by having an extracellular ligand-binding domain, a transmembrane domain and an intracellular (IC) domain, which intracellular domain, or portions thereof, is involved in the mediation of the intracellular signaling events initiated by the binding of the ligand to the extracellular domain. Other members of this group include various intracellular proteins, for example, the cytoskeleton-associated structural proteins, the ankyrins, which have a regulatory domain that is possibly involved in the ability of these proteins to associate with or bind to other cytoskeletal proteins, e.g., spectrin, or to other transmembrane proteins. Yet another member of this group is the recently identified MORT-1 protein (also called HF1, see copending IL 112002 and IL 112692), which is capable of binding specifically to the intracellular domain of the FAS-P, and which is also capable of self-association and of mediating, in a ligand-independent manner, cytotoxic effects on cells. In MORT-1, a regulatory domain was also identified (see IL 112692).
Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF-α) and Lymphotoxin (TNF-β) (hereinafter, TNF refers to both TNF-α-and TNF-β) are multifunctional pro-inflammatory cytokines formed mainly by mononuclear phagocytes, which have many effects on cells (Wallach, 1986; and Beutler et al, 1987). Both TNF-α and TNF-β initiate their effects by binding to specific cell surface receptors. Some of the effects are likely to be beneficial to the organism: they may destroy, for example tumor cells or virus infected cells and augment antibacterial activities of granulocytes. In this way, TNF contributes to the defense of the organism against tumors and infectious agents and contributes to the recovery from injury. Thus, TNF can be used as an anti-tumor agent in which application it binds to its receptors on the surface of tumor cells and thereby initiates the events leading to the death of the tumor cells. TNF can also be used as an anti-infectious agent.
However, both TNF-α and TNF-β also have deleterious effects. There is evidence that over-production of TNF-α can play a major pathogenic role in several diseases. Thus, effects of TNF-α, primarily on the vasculature, are now known to be a major cause for symptoms of septic shock (Tracey et al, 1986). In some diseases, TNF may cause excessive loss of weight (cachexia) by suppressing activities of adipocytes and by causing anorexia, and TNF-α was thus called cachectin. It was also described as a mediator of the damage to tissues in rheumatic diseases (Beutler et al, 1987) and as a major mediator of the damage observed in graft-versus-host reactions (Piguet et al, 1987). In addition, TNF is known to be involved in the process of inflammation and in many other diseases.
Two distinct, independently expressed, receptors, the p55 and p75 TNF-Rs, which bind both TNF-α and TNF-β specifically, initiate and/or mediate the above noted biological effects of TNF. These two receptors have structurally dissimilar intracellular domains suggesting that they signal differently (see Hohmann et al, 1989; Engelmann et al, 1990; Brockhaus et al, 1990; Loetscher et al, 1990; Schall et al, 1990; Nophar et al, 1990; Smith et al, 1990; and Heller et al, 1990). However, the cellular mechanisms, for example, the various proteins and possibly other factors, which are involved in the intracellular signaling of the p55 an p75 TNF-Rs have yet to be elucidated. (In IL 109632 there are described for the first time, new proteins capable of binding to the intracellular domains of p55 and p75 TNF-Rs, these intracellular domains being called, respectively, p75 IC and p55 IC.) It is this intracellular signaling, which occurs usually after the binding of the ligand, i.e., TNF (α or β), to the receptor, that is responsible for the commencement of the cascade of reactions that ultimately result in the observed response of the cell to TNF.
As regards the above mentioned cytocidal effect of TNF, in most cells studied so far, this effect is triggered mainly by the p55 TNF-R. Antibodies against the extracellular domain (ligand binding domain) of the p55 TNF-R can themselves trigger the cytocidal effect (see EP 412486) which correlates with the effectivity of receptor cross-linking by the antibodies, believed to be the first step in the generation of the intracellular signaling process. Further, mutational studies (Brakebusch et al, 1992; Tartaglia et al, 1993) have shown that the biological function of the p55 TNF-R depends on the integrity of its intracellular domain, and accordingly it has been suggested that the initiation of intracellular signaling leading to the cytocidal effect of TNF occurs as a consequence of the association of two or more intracellular domains of the p55 TNF-R. Moreover, TNF (α and β) occurs as a homotrimer and as such has been suggested to induce intracellular signaling via the p55 TNF-R by way of its ability to bind to and to cross-link the receptor molecules, i.e., cause receptor aggregation. In co-pending IL 109632 and IL 111125, there is described how the p55 IC and p55 DD can self-associate and induce, in a ligand-independent fashion, TNF-associated effects in cells.
Another member of the TNF/NGF superfamily of receptors is the FAS receptor (FAS-R) which has also been called the Fas antigen, a cell-surface protein expressed in various tissues and sharing homology with a number of cell-surface receptors including TNF-R and NGF-R. The FAS-R mediates cell death in the form of apoptosis (Itoh et al, 1991), and appears to serve as a negative selector of autoreactive T cells, i.e., during maturation of T cells, FAS-R mediates the apoptotic death of T cells recognizing self-antigens. It has also been found that mutations in the FAS-R gene (lpr) cause a lymphoproliferation disorder in mice that resembles the human autoimmune disease systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (Watanabe-Fukunaga et al, 1992). The ligand for the FAS-R appears to be a cell-surface associated molecule carried by, amongst others, killer T cells (or cytotoxic T lymphocytes—CTLs), and hence when such CTLs contact cells carrying FAS-R, they are capable of inducing apoptotic cell death of the FAS-R-carrying cells. Further, a monoclonal antibody has been prepared that is specific for FAS-R, this monoclonal antibody being capable of inducing apoptotic cell death in cells carrying FAS-R, including mouse cells transformed by cDNA encoding human FAS-R (Itoh et al, 1991).
It has also been found that various other normal cells, besides T lymphocytes, express the FAS-R on their surface and can be killed by the triggering of this receptor. Uncontrolled induction of such a killing process is suspected to contribute to tissue damage in certain diseases, for example, the destruction of liver cells in acute hepatitis. Accordingly, finding ways to restrain the cytotoxic activity of FAS-R may have therapeutic potential.
Conversely, since it has also been found that certain malignant cells and HIV-infected cells carry the FAS-R on their surface, antibodies against FAS-R, or the FAS-R ligand, may be used to trigger the FAS-R mediated cytotoxic effects in these and thereby provide a means for combating such malignant cells or HIV-infected cells (see Itoh et al, 1991). Finding yet other ways for enhancing the c-cytotoxic activity of FAS-R may therefore also have therapeutic potential.
In co-pending IL 109632, IL 111125 and IL 112002 there is described that the intracellular domain of FAS-R, the so-called FAS-IC, is capable of self-association and contains within this intracellular domain a region called the 'death domain' (DD) which is primarily responsible for the self-association of the FAS-IC. This 'death domain' shares sequence homology with the p55 TNF-R, 'death domain' (p55 DD).
It has been a long felt need to provide a way for modulating the cellular response to TNF (α or β) and FAS-R ligand, for example, in pathological situations as mentioned above, where TNF or FAS-R ligand is over-expressed it is desirable to inhibit the TNF- or FAS-R ligand-induced cytocidal effects, while in other situations, e.g., wound healing applications, it is desirable to enhance the TNF effect, or in the case of FAS-R, in tumor cells or HIV-infected cells it is desirable to enhance the FAS-R mediated effect.
A number of approaches have been made by the present inventors (see for example, European Application Nos. EP 186833, EP 308378, EP 398327 and EP 412486) to regulate the deleterious effects of TNF by inhibiting the binding of TNF to its receptors using anti-TNF antibodies or by using soluble TNF receptors (being essentially the soluble extracellular domains of the receptors) to compete with the binding of TNF to the cell surface-bound TNF-Rs. Further, on the basis that TNF-binding to its receptors is required for the TNF-Induced cellular effects, approaches by the present inventors (see for example IL 101769 and its corresponding EP 568925) have been made to modulate the TNF effect by modulating the activity of the TNF-Rs. Briefly, EP 568925 (IL 101769) relates to a method of modulating signal transduction and/or cleavage in TNF-Rs whereby peptides or other molecules may interact either with the receptor itself or with effector proteins interacting with the receptor, thus modulating the normal functioning of the TNF-Rs. In EP 568925 there is described the construction and characterization of various mutant p55 TNF-Rs, having mutations in the extracellular, transmembranal, and intracellular domains of the p55 TNF-R. In this way regions within the above domains of the p55 TNF-R were identified as being essential to the functioning of the receptor, i.e., the binding of the ligand (TNF) and the subsequent signal transduction and intracellular signaling which ultimately results in the observed TNF-effect on the cells. Further, there is also described a number of approaches to isolate and identify proteins, peptides or other factors which are capable of binding to the various regions in the above domains of the TNF-R, which proteins, peptides and other factors may be involved in regulating or modulating the activity of the TNF-R. A number of approaches for isolating and cloning the DNA sequences encoding such proteins and peptides; for constructing expression vectors for the production of these proteins and peptides; and for the preparation of antibodies or fragments thereof which interact with the TNF-R or with the above proteins and peptides that bind various regions of the TNF-F, are also set forth in EP 568925. However, no description is made in EP 568925 of the actual proteins and peptides which bind to the intracellular domains of the TNF-Rs (e.g., p55 TNF-R), nor is any description made of the yeast two-hybrid approach to isolate and identify such proteins or peptides which bind to the intracellular domains of TNF-Rs. Similarly, heretofore there has been no disclosure of proteins or peptides capable of binding the intracellular domain of FAS-R.
Thus, when it is desired to inhibit the effect of TNF, or the FAS-R ligand, it would be desirable to decrease the amount or the activity of TNF-Rs or FAS-R at the cell surface, while an increase in the amount or the activity of TNF-Rs or FAS-R would be desired when an enhanced TNF or FAS-R ligand effect is sought. To this end the promoters of both the p55 TNF-R and the p75 TNF-R have been sequenced, analyzed and a number of key sequence motifs have been found that are specific to various transcription regulating factors, and as such the expression of these TNF-Rs can be controlled at their promoter level, i.e., inhibition of transcription from the promoters for a decrease in the number of receptors, and an enhancement of transcription from the promoters for an increase in the number of receptors (see IL 104355 and IL 109633). Corresponding studies concerning the control of FAS-R at the level of the promoter of the FAS-R gene have yet to be reported.
Further, it should also be mentioned that, while it is known that the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptors, and the structurally-related receptor FAS-F, trigger in cells, upon stimulation by leukocyte-produced ligands, destructive activities that lead to their own demise, the mechanisms of this triggering are still little understood. Mutational studies indicate that in FAS-R and the p55 TNF receptor (p55-R) signaling for cytotoxicity involve distinct regions within their intracellular domains (Brakebusch et al, 1992; Tartaglia et al, 1993; Itoh et al, 1993). These regions (the 'death domains') have sequence similarity. The 'death domains' of both FAS-R and p55-R tend to self-associate. Their self-association apparently promotes that receptor aggregation which is necessary for initiation of signaling (see IL 109632, IL 111125 and IL 112002, as well as Song et al, 1994; Wallach et al, 1994; Boldin et al, 1995) and at high levels of receptor expression can result in triggering of ligand-independent signaling (IL 109632, IL 111125 and Boldin et al, 1995).
The ankyrins constitute a family of proteins that control interactions between integral membrane components and cytoskeletal elements and are found in a wide range of tissues such as brain tissue and in erythrocytes, the erythrocyte ankyrin being the best characterized. The ankyrins are intracellular proteins associated with the cytoskeletal elements of the cell and have three domains: an upper domain involved in binding to the intracellular domains of transmembrane proteins, this upper domain containing the well-known repeats, the so-called ankyrin repeats; a middle domain which is involved in binding to spectrin, i.e., the binding of spectrin to transmembrane proteins via the ankyrins; and a C-terminal or lower (or third) domain, which is the regulatory domain that is capable of being phosphorylated, this domain regulating the activity of the other two domains when phosphorylated or dephosphorylated. This latter regulatory domain also has three parts: a middle part that can be deleted by alternative splicing naturally, and hence some ankyrins have this part and others do not; and two other parts, less well characterized (for a review on the ankyrins, see Lux et al, 1990 and Lambert et al, 1993).
It should be noted however, as is set forth hereinbelow, that in accordance with the present invention, it has been discovered that the upper part of the above noted regulatory (C-terminal) domain of ankyrin contains a so-called 'death domain' motif, which may function to mediate the binding of proteins together (activity of the first two ankyrin domains), or may function conformationally to regulate the ankyrin protein.
The NGF-R is a low affinity NGF receptor which is not well characterized. The NGF-R is considered to be involved in growth regulation, such as its possible involvement in signaling intracellularly for NGF-induced effects. However, a recent publication discloses that overexpression of NGF-R in the absence of NGF can cause cell death. Thus, NGF-R appears to have a regulatory role in cell viability (see Rabizadeh et al 1993).
It should be noted however, as is set forth hereinbelow, that in accordance with the present invention, it has been discovered that the NGF-R contains a 'death domain' motif in its intracellular domain, which may be involved in the mediation of the intracellular events associated with the regulatory role played by NGF-R with regards to cell viability.
MORT-1 is a recently discovered protein that binds to the intracellular domain of FAS-R, is capable of self-association and can activate cell cytotoxicity on its own. Hence, MORT-1 is also a regulatory protein involved in intracellular signaling processes. It was also discovered that MORT-1 has a 'death domain' motif that is associated with its observed biological activity (see co-pending IL 112002 and IL 112692).
Two further intracellular proteins, RIP (Stanger et al, 1995) and TRADD (Hsu et al, 1995), that bind to the intracellular domains of p55 TNF-R or FAS-R and apparently take part in the induction of their cytocidal effect, have recently been cloned. All three proteins, MORT-1, RIP and TRADD, were found to contain the sequence motif shared between the 'death domains' of the intracellular domains of p55-TNF-R and FAS-R. As in the receptors, the 'death domain' motifs (DD) in the three intracellular proteins seem to be sites of protein-protein interaction. The three proteins interact with the p55-TNF-R and FAS-R intracellular domains by the binding of their DDs to those in the receptors, and in both TRADD and RIP (though not in MORT-1) the DDs self-associate. It has now been found that MORT-1 and TRADD bind differentially to FAS-R and p55 TNF-R and also bind to each other. Moreover, both bind effectively to RIP.
Interference of the interaction between the above three intracellular proteins will result in modulation of the effects caused by this interaction. Thus, inhibition of TRADD binding to MORT-1 may modulate FAS-R—p55 TNF-R interaction. Inhibition of RIP in addition to the above inhibition of TRADD binding to MORT-1 may further modulate FAS-R—p55 TNF-R interaction.
Monoclonal antibodies raised against the 'death domain' of the p55 TNF-R, specifically against the binding site or sites of TRADD and RIP can also be used to inhibit or prevent binding of these proteins and thus cause modulation of the interaction between the FAS-R and the p55 TNF-R.
In a way analogous to that noted above in respect of TNF/TNF-R and FAS-ligand/FAS-R, there is also a need to provide a way for modulating the activity of the above noted proteins, i.e., ankyrin, NGF-R and MORT-1, namely, to inhibit their activity when it is associated with detrimental effects, e.g., disease/disorder-related cell cytotoxicity or conformational changes in cell-shape; or to enhance their activity when this is desired, e.g., for directed destruction of diseased cells, etc.
In the co-pending applications, IL 109632, IL 111125, IL 112002 and IL 112692, there are described proteins which are involved in the modulation of the activity of receptors belonging to the TNF/NGF receptor family, these proteins being characterized by being capable of binding/associating with the intracellular domains of one or more of these receptors.
The present invention concerns modulators, such as proteins, peptides, antibodies and organic compounds, which are capable of interacting/binding with one or more so-called 'death domain' motifs in the intracellular domains of proteins containing such motifs, these proteins being related, e.g., members of the TNF/NGF receptor family or proteins related thereto, e.g., MORT-1, or unrelated proteins, e.g., ankyrins. These modulators are characterized by recognizing general structural features common to the 'death domain' motifs of the 'death domain' motif-containing proteins, and by also recognizing specific structural features present in each of the different 'death domain' motifs of these proteins.
Accordingly, it is one aim of the invention to provide modulators, as noted above, capable of binding to or interacting with the 'death domain' motifs of one or more of the 'death domain' motif-containing proteins and thereby modulating the activity of these proteins.
Another aim of the invention is to provide antagonists (e.g., antibodies) to one class of these modulators, namely the naturally-occurring proteins or peptides which bind to 'death domain' motif-containing proteins, and which antagonists may be used to inhibit the signaling process, when desired, when such 'death domain' motif-binding proteins or peptides are positive signal effectors (i.e., induce signaling), or to enhance the signaling process, when desired, when such 'death domain' motif-binding proteins are negative signal effectors (i.e., inhibit signaling).
Yet another aim of the invention is to use such 'death domain' motif-binding proteins or peptides to isolate and characterize additional proteins or factors, which may, for example, be involved further downstream in the signaling process, and/or to isolate and identify other receptors further upstream in the signaling process to which these 'death domain' motif-binding proteins bind, and hence, in whose function they are also involved.
Moreover, it is an aim of the present invention to use the above-mentioned 'death domain' motif-binding proteins as antigens for the preparation of polyclonal and/or monoclonal antibodies thereto. The antibodies, in turn, may be used for the purification of the new 'death domain' motif-binding proteins from different sources, such as cell extracts or transformed cell lines.
Furthermore, these antibodies may be used for diagnostic purposes, e.g., for identifying disorders related to abnormal functioning of cellular effects mediated by the various proteins belonging to the group of 'death domain' motif-containing proteins.
A further aim of the invention is to provide pharmaceutical compositions comprising the above 'death domain' motif-binding modulators (proteins, peptides, organic molecules), and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the 'death domain' motif-binding protein or peptide antagonists, for the treatment or prophylaxis of conditions related to the activity of the 'death domain' motif-containing proteins, for example, such compositions can be used to enhance the TNF or FAS ligand effect or effects mediated by NGF-R, MORT-1, RIP, TRADD and ankyrin, or to inhibit the TNF or FAS ligand effect or effects mediated by depending on the above noted nature of the 'death domain' motif-binding modulators or antagonists thereof contained in the composition.
A still further aim of the invention is to use the various 'death domain' motifs of the proteins containing them for the design and synthesis of complementary peptides and organic molecules which will be modulators of these proteins.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An apparatus and a method for information processing that enable effective content management and retrieval are provided. Content attribute information is obtained via a recording medium such as a CD or the like, a network, or as user input data, an artist name is extracted from the obtained content attribute information, initial letter information is determined on a basis of the artist name, and the initial letter information is stored and registered as content management information in a data storage unit. Also, editing of the registered information is made possible. This constitution enables a data search process using the initial letter information as a search key and a sort process. Further, the artist name is automatically determined and registered regardless of a kind of the artist name such as the alphabet, kana, or katakana. Therefore a process is made possible which generates and registers the management data efficiently and quickly and hence reduces a burden on the user.

Recently, information processing apparatuses such as PCs, portable devices, and the like having a high-capacity storage unit such as a high-capacity hard disk, a DVD, or the like have spread. Many users using contents retain and manage a large amount of contents such as music data, image data, and the like in storage means. These pieces of data are stored as digital data compressed by for example MP3, ATRAC, or the like, and are encrypted as required and managed.
In addition, a form of use of contents is becoming common in which musical contents are downloaded from a music distribution server connected to a network and stored on a recording medium in a PC, and then output (checked out) to a portable device of a user when necessary to enjoy the contents being reproduced.
In such a form of use of contents, a large amount of contents is integrated and stored on a hard disk in a PC. As an application for performing processes of managing and reproducing such stored contents, there is a jukebox application typified by SonicStage (trademark), for example. Generally, such a content managing application manages contents by constructing a database relating content files, content attribute information, and content use right information set as required to each other. The content managing application allows content retrieval based on various attribute information, and implements a configuration for content use under a predetermined copyright management.
Such a jukebox application allows data retrieval and access based on various content information in order to improve retrievability when a large amount of albums including a plurality of musical pieces is stored within a database.
There is for example a jukebox application that allows retrieval and access with the name of an artist of an album as a key. Specifically, the jukebox application performs a retrieval process based on an artist name set as attribute information of an album stored in a database when a user inputs the artist name as a retrieving keyword, and performs a process of for example presenting information matching the input artist name on a display of a PC.
When musical contents are downloaded from a music distribution server and stored on a recording medium of the PC, for example, various attribute information and right information such as the name of an album, the name of an artist, musical piece length information, content use right information, and the like are provided to the user. Also, a process is performed to obtain content information recorded within a recording medium such as a CD or the like when contents are input from the CD and stored on the recording medium of the PC, or content information from an external server, and then store the content information as content management information in a storage unit of the PC. The jukebox application typified by SonicStage, for example, manages contents on the basis of the obtained information. Incidentally, Patent Document 1, for example, as a conventional technique discloses a process of obtaining content information.
However, content attribute information set in correspondence with musical data as content entities is generally full names of artists. The user is requested to input information corresponding to there pieces of set attribute information, that is, full names of artists as search keywords. However, users often do not remember spellings of foreign artists correctly, and there are not a few cases where users cannot remember names of even Japanese artists. In such cases, the function of data retrieval based on artist names cannot play its role sufficiently.
There is a retrieval service providing site that provides the service of a retrieval process based on an initial letter of an artist as an object of retrieval. In this case, however, since retrieval using an initial letter prepared in advance by a content provider as a key is performed, the name of an artist may not match with the user's intention, and thus retrieval that satisfies the user is not performed as intended.
An application performing data processing on contents managed by an individual such as the jukebox application typified by SonicStage, for example, requires a user to input an initial letter of each artist in order to enable retrieval using an initial letter. There is a method of using a first character of an artist name without managing initial letters separately. In this case, however, when only alphabetic characters A to Z, for example, are set as initial letter data, no alphabetic character can be associated with an artist written in Chinese characters or the like.
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2003-59244

Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and computer program


An iterative test method which is operable in the presence of measurement noise uses the result of a particular measurement on a device to decide whether to pass or fail the-device or to take another measurement. The pass/fail decision is made by computing certain statistical values which "compare" the measurement result to a predefined pass/fail limit. Another test measurement is made if the result of the present measurement is too "close" to the pass/fail limit to make an accurate decision. If the result is not too "close" to the limit then a pass/fail decision is made based on whether the measurement is on the pass or fail side of the limit. The statistical values used to compare the measurement value to the limit can be Z-statistics or Student-t statistics depending on the test environment and the noise characteristics. Overall feedback can be added to dynamically adjust the statistical values in order to bring overall error rates into alignment with predetermined error rate targets.

In order to assure good quality control, many present day electronic assemblies are tested at one or more stages during the manufacturing process. Such measurements are generally conducted by measuring one or more electrical parameters of the electronic assembly by means of automated testing machines.
Such parametric measurements are usually associated with some amount of electrical "noise" due to contact resistance in the test probes, temperature variations, component variations and other factors. For each parameter, the noise manifests itself by causing repetitive measurements of the parameter to yield different results even if the same device is used for all of the tests.
The spread in the resulting values often results in difficulty and errors in determining whether a particular measured value of a parameter falls within predetermined acceptable ranges. For example, an actual parameter value may fall outside of the acceptable range, but, due to noise, the measured value of that parameter may be inside the acceptable range, thereby causing the tested device to be erroneously accepted. Alternatively, an actual parameter value may fall within the acceptable range, but, due to noise the measured value of that parameter may be outside of the acceptable range, thereby causing the tested device to be erroneously rejected.
Consequently, when noise is a problem, it is common practice to take a number of measurements of a particular parameter, average the results and compare the average to the acceptable range. However, if, as is often the case, the average is close to the acceptance or rejection limits, the number of measurements used to generate the average may be increased in order to insure that predetermined quality control limits are met. A great amount of time can be consumed by multiple measurements. As a result the test portion of the manufacturing process can seriously reduce the overall throughput of the process. In addition, the decision to increase or decrease the number of measurements used to generate the average or to accept or reject units with averages near the limits may be left to operator discretion causing unpredictable results.
An additional problem may arise because the "true" value of the measurement is not known due to the noise. Consequently, prior art methods have been developed to estimate a true parameter value from multiple measurements taken of that parameter.
One of the aforementioned prior art methods is simple averaging in which the results of a predetermined number of measurements of the test parameter are averaged to generate an estimate of the true parameter value. During subsequent testing, a fixed number of measurements is performed on a new device, the measurement values are averaged, the average value is compared to the pass/fail limit and a decision is made to accept or reject the device. The primary assumption with the averaging method is that the average of a large number of equally-weighted measurement values is an accurate approximation of the true test parameter value. The method is only efficient where parameter values are very tightly grouped near the pass/fail limit compared to the width of the measurement error; otherwise many more measurements are taken than are required to establish a good estimate of the measurement value. Unfortunately, in most parameter measurement situations, the parameter values do not meet the latter criteria and many more measurements are made than are necessary in most cases, consequently, the simple averaging method is inefficient and results in relatively high test costs to insure a predetermined accuracy.
Other prior art statistical methods have been developed which can be used to estimate the number of repetitive measurements that must be taken in order to insure, with a predetermined probability, that a particular quality control level is reached. A prior art method which can estimate the number of repetitive measurements that must be taken is called the "Bayes" method and is described in more detail in an article entitled "A Bayesian Approach to Improving Test Effectiveness and Evaluating Test Strategy", G. Larsen and R. M. Mahoney, Proceedings of the ATE West Conference, Anaheim, Calif. (January 1990). The Bayes method has significant advantages over simple averaging because it needs only pass/fail decision from each test. Consequently, in many cases, it is the only statistical method which can be used where only pass/fail information is available (such as certain pass/fail medical diagnostic tests).
As described in the aforementioned article, the Bayes method is an iterative process. Certain inputs relating to the measurement process must be known from either a theoretical analysis of the measurement process or from production history and these values are used to compute a statistical pass/fail limit number. During a subsequent actual measurement sequence, a measured value is used compute a new statistical number and this latter number is compared to the previously computed limit number to determine whether the particular device under test (DUT) passes or fails or whether another measurement should be taken. Repetitive measurements are taken until "resolution" is achieved: the DUT either passes or fails.
One problem with the Bayes method is that it requires three particular inputs: expected failure rate, false alarm rate, and missed fault rate in order to compute the required statistical numbers. If there has been a significant production history for a testable parameter and the production processes are stable, the expected failure rate can be easily calculated by well-known statistical methods (although for tests conducted at very "basic" levels, such as in-circuit tests conducted component-by-component, the actual measurement variations may far exceed that predicted by statistical computations).
The false alarm rate and the missed fault rate are typically not well-known even after significant production experience. In addition, the performance predicted by the Bayes method is only achievable if the aforementioned rates are specifically known for each particular device and parameter being tested, for example, for a particular voltage reading on a given unit. When just a historical average rate across multiple DUTs is used, the performance is drastically lower than that predicted. Since the historical average is generally the only parameter that is available, the Bayes algorithm is not as efficient as predicted.
Consequently, it is an object of the present invention to provide a statistical testing method which efficiently evaluates parameter measurements which are subject to noise.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a statistical testing method in which preset target error rates can be attained with fewer average test iterations than prior art methods.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a statistical testing method that provides explicit control over target error rates.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a statistical testing method which provides control over the maximum test iterations.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a statistical testing method which can be used with both a single pass/fail limit and dual pass/fail limits.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a statistical testing method in which a special "marginal" category can be defined which can be used to categorize certain DUTs and improve overall performance of the testing method.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a statistical testing method in which the statistical test which is used to control test procedure can be selected to optimize performance of the method on both production testing and tests performed on a single DUT.

Method for testing electronic assemblies in the presence of noise


A fuel injector is disclosed for use in an engine system. The fuel injector may have a body, a first piston slidingly disposed in the body and having a first pressure area, and a second piston slidingly disposed in the body and having a second pressure area. The fuel injector may also have a hydraulic coupling connecting the first and second pressure areas, and a piezo stack connected to move the first piston. The fuel injector may additionally have a valve needle configured to engage and be moved by the second piston. The first pressure area may be larger than the second pressure area.

Gaseous fuel powered engines are common in many applications. For example, the engine of a locomotive can be powered by natural gas (or another gaseous fuel) alone or by a mixture of natural gas and diesel fuel. Natural gas may be more abundant and, therefore, less expensive than diesel fuel. In addition, natural gas may burn cleaner in some applications.
Natural gas has traditionally been introduced into an engine's cylinders via a solenoid operated admission valve. Although effective in some applications, a solenoid operated admission valve may not have the speed and/or force required to open fast enough or against high boost pressures in other applications.
One attempt to improve gas injection is disclosed in W.O. Patent 2009/071392 of Patrick et al, that published on Jun. 11, 2009 ("the '392 patent"). Specifically, the '392 patent discloses a fuel injector having a piezo actuator connected to a first piston, and a second piston connected to a valve needle. The first and second pistons are separated by a hydraulic coupling (i.e., a space) that is filled with fuel, and both pistons are surrounded by fuel. The piezo actuator is selectively energized to move the first piston toward the second piston, thereby causing movement of the needle valve. When the needle valve is pushed downward against a valve seat, filet injection is blocked. When the needle valve is pulled upward away from the valve seat, fuel injection is initiated.
Although the fuel injector of the '392 patent may be responsive, it may still be less than optimal. In particular, it may still lack sufficient movement and/or force for some applications. In addition, the injector may lack broad applicability to different types of fuel system, for example to gaseous fuel systems where the fuel is compressible and cannot be used within a hydraulic coupling. Further, while closing of the needle valve to end injections may be responsive during expansion of the piezo actuator, opening of the needle valve may be somewhat slower and/or unpredictable during retraction of the piezo actuator, without any other means of opening the valve. Finally, because of the inward valve opening design of the '392 patent, it may be possible for the needle valve to be inadvertently opened by high pressures in an associated combustion chamber, thereby causing interruption and/or instability in the ensuing combustion event.
The engine system of the present disclosure solves one or more of the problems set forth above and/or other problems in the art.

Engine system having piezo actuated gas injector


A system for interconnecting wired and wireless phone services in accordance with the present invention includes at least one of first wired terminals; public/private mobile communication terminals which are registered in public and private mobile communication networks; a private base station which constructs a wireless communication path with an arbitrary mobile communication terminal in its service area and manages wireless resources for the mobile communication; and a wired and wireless interconnecting apparatus which is connected to a public phone network and the private base station, constructs an internal network formed of the first wired terminals and the public/private mobile communication terminals to endow each of the terminals with a wired phone number, makes a call to a wired terminal in the case that there is a call to an arbitrary first wired terminal, and performs a switching function to simultaneously make a call to the public/private mobile communication terminal assigned to the first wired terminal. Therefore, a general wired subscriber is provided with the wired phone service and a service of portability through a wireless terminal, and the subscriber's accounting burden can be reduced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system for interconnecting services of wired and wireless phones, and more particularly, to a system for interconnecting services of wired and wireless phones wherein a subscriber using a wired phone service is provided with portability and a method for processing a call.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a conventional public communication network can be divided into a wired phone service network and a mobile communication phone service network. The wired phone service is provided with the aid of a public switched telephone network (PSTN), and a wired phone terminal is connected to a telephone station using a telephone line. In the case of the wired phone service as described above, portability cannot be provided since the wired phone terminal is connected to the telephone station using the telephone line. Of course, even though a wireless phone performing a wireless communication with a main body of the wired phone terminal using a 900 MHz (megahertz) wireless bandwidth is being used, there is a problem that its portability is largely limited compared with the mobile communication terminal using the mobile communication service.
On the other hand, the mobile communication service is provided with the mobility using a Public Land Mobile Network (referred to as 'PLMN', hereinafter). The PLMN includes a Mobile Switching Center (referred to as 'MSC', hereinafter) which takes charge of a mobile communication service in an arbitrary area, a Base Station Controller (referred to as 'BSC', hereinafter), a Base station Transceiver Subsystem (referred to as 'BTS', hereinafter), and a HLR/VLR (Home Location Register/Visitor Location Register). The CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) collectively indicates wireless environments which take charge of mobile communication services in another district.
The MSC performs connection and control of a plurality of BSCs connected to the MSC to other MSCs in the PSTN or PLMN.
The BSC performs functions of wireless link control and handoff, and the BTS performs functions of constructing a wireless communication path together with its communication service area, that is, a wireless terminal included in its cell area and managing a wireless resource.
In the HLR/VLR, the HLR performs functions of subscriber location registration and a database for storing subscriber information, and the VLR is a database which temporarily stores information of an MS existing in a cell area of which a corresponding MSC among a plurality of MSCs takes charge. When the MS moves to a cell area where other MSCs manage, information stored in the corresponding VLR is removed.
Even in the case of the mobile communication phone service using the PLMN, it does not interconnectively operate with a wired phone terminal using the public switching telephone network so that there occurs a problem that each service operates independently and does not have interrelationship.
On the other hand, even though the mobile communication service can be generally serviced everywhere without being restricted to an area such as premises, that service can be provided by only using the mobile communication service system and a wireless communication cannot be provided without special billing in an established area.
That is, in order that a wired phone service terminal using a wired phone service communicates with a mobile communication terminal of the mobile communication service subscriber, a method was used, where each terminal is connected to the PSTN through each exchange and connects a call to the other terminal.
Here, the PSTN includes the PLMN and PSTN. Accordingly, there was an inconvenience that an accounting was charged even when a wired communication subscriber and a mobile communication service subscriber were communicating in the same building or apartment complex.
Furthermore, in the case that a subscriber is simultaneously provided with wired phone and mobile communication services, there was a problem that the communication service fare was burdensome since the subscriber has to pay for in each of communication fares.
Furthermore, in the case that a subscriber is simultaneously provided with wired phone and mobile communication services, and other party knows one number of the two phone numbers and makes a call to the corresponding terminal, there was an inconvenience that a communication connection could not be achieved when the subscriber could not respond to the call with the corresponding terminal even though the subscriber had another terminal.
Of course, when a call for an arbitrary terminal is made, the call can be transferred to another terminal using a call terminating service. However, there was a problem that the service can be provided when it has been previously established, and only the terminal to which the call terminating service has been assigned is called when the service has been assigned.

System for interconnecting wired and wireless phone services and method for processing call


A vehicle spoiler is provided that has a stop lamp removably disposed in the lamp receiving aperture of the vehicle spoiler. The vehicle spoiler is coupled to a vehicle body panel (e.g., the trunk) such that the stop lamp can be easily removed without detaching the vehicle spoiler from the vehicle body panel. Preferably, the stop lamp is attached to the vehicle spoiler by a stop lamp mounting fastener that is also used to attach the vehicle to the vehicle body panel.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a vehicle spoiler with a stop lamp. More specifically, the present invention relates to a vehicle spoiler having an easily removable and easily re-installable stop lamp.
2. Background Information
Many vehicles are being provided with rear spoilers to enhance both appearance and performance of the vehicle. Depending on the vehicle, a stop lamp is sometimes provided in the spoiler. The stop lamp is typically integrated into the spoiler such that the wires are concealed. One problem with such spoilers with an integrated stop lamp is that removal and re-installation of the stop lamp is sometimes difficult and/or time consuming. Specifically, stop lamp bulbs routinely need to be replaced. Typically, fasteners retaining the stop lamp in the spoiler are difficult to access for stop lamp removal and difficult to re-install after bulb replacement. In some spoilers, the entire spoiler needs to be removed in order to replace the stop lamp bulb. Two examples of conventional vehicle spoilers with integrated stop lamps are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,736,279 (Toyota Motor Corp. and Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,845,600 (Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.). One example of a conventional mounting arrangement for a vehicle spoiler is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,652,036 (Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.).
In view of the above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that there exists a need for an improved vehicle spoiler with stop lamp that makes bulb replacement easier. This invention addresses this need in the art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.

Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.


A powered omni-directional security, patrol and surveillance vehicle that includes a circular frame and two drive wheels capable of independent powered forward and rearward rotation about a horizontal axis. The drive wheels are adapted to allow the vehicle to spin in place about a vertical axis which intersects the horizontal axis midway between the drive wheels and which is generally centered in the circular frame. An observation platform including an operators control station is mounted to the frame on a lift such that it is capable of selective elevation for superior vantage points. A cab preferably encloses the operator's station. A plurality of swivel casters disposed on distal ends of telescopic outrigger arms are circumpositioned about the circular frame.

(1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a wheeled vehicle designed to turn about a vertical axis. In particular, the invention relates to powered utility riding vehicles of the type useful for observation, patrol, surveillance and security operations.
(2) Description of Prior Art
Conventional security vehicles used for patrol and surveillance are typically configured with two axles, one in the rear, the other in the front. The rear axle has non-steerable wheels and provides motive force; two steerable wheels are located at the front end of the vehicle, each operating in concert to provide steering of the vehicle. As there is a distance between the axis of the rear drive wheels and the axis of the front steerable wheels, a turning radius is required that far exceeds the space actually occupied by the vehicle itself. The longer the distance between front and rear axles, the larger the turn radius becomes. A large turning radius makes maneuvering around crowded parking lots, plants, airports, city sidewalks, shopping centers, etc., difficult and often dangerous, particularly in congested areas. Often, operators are required to back up, necessitating that they look over their shoulders. A need exists for a security vehicle that requires less area for its footprint and has a smaller turn radius for tight maneuvering so that safety of the operator, bystanders, and surroundings is enhanced.
Furthermore, the elevation of the vantage point provided by prior art security and observation vehicles is limited to that provided by the frame of the vehicle. A vehicle which provides an observation platform that can be selectively raised may be advantageous for some uses.
(3) Identification of Objects of the Invention
A primary object of the invention is to provide a patrol, surveillance and security vehicle that has enhanced maneuverability to allow security personnel to maneuver in tight spaces.
Another object of the invention is to provide a patrol, surveillance and security vehicle that can turn on the spot and be of the smallest physical size relative to the space it occupies.
Another object of the invention is to provide a patrol, surveillance and security vehicle that reduces the risk of accidents which result in damage or injury to bystanders, equipment or operating personnel.
Another object of the invention is to provide a patrol, surveillance and security vehicle with an elevated seating height which allows security personnel to see over pedestrians and parked or moving vehicles resulting in expanded views and less driving.
Another object of the invention is to provide a patrol, surveillance and security vehicle with an operators cab or observation platform that can be raised so that the operator may easily see over fence lines and tall objects.

Omni-directional vehicle with elevatable observation platform