The present invention provides a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, comprising a nonaqueous electrolyte, a positive electrode, and a negative electrode containing a negative electrode active material, wherein the negative electrode active material contains a composite material having a microstructure containing a carbon-containing phase and a crystal phase having an average size falling within a range of between 0.01 xcexcm and 10 xcexcm.

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Applications No. 11-225489, filed Aug. 9, 1999; and No. 11-374989, filed Dec. 28, 1999, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, particularly, to a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery with an improved negative electrode active material.
A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery using a lithium metal, a lithium alloy, a lithium compound or a carbonaceous material as a negative electrode active material is expected to provide a battery having a high energy density, and vigorous researches are being made on such a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery.
Among the various nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries noted above, a lithium ion battery comprising a positive electrode containing LiCoO2 or LiMn2O4 as a positive electrode active material and a negative electrode containing a carbonaceous material capable of absorbing-desorbing lithium is widely put to practical use because the negative electrode is unlikely to be finely pulverized and it is possible to obtain a long life and a high safety.
On the other hand, a secondary battery comprising a negative electrode consisting of lithium metal, which is expected to have a high capacity, has not yet been put to practical use. It should be noted in this connection that, if lithium metal is used as the negative electrode, the negative electrode is deteriorated by the reaction between the nonaqueous electrolyte and lithium metal. Also, a lithium dendrite is generated by the repetition of the charge-discharge operations so as to cause lithium to drop from the negative electrode and, thus, to bring about an internal short circuiting. As a result, the cycle life is shortened.
In order to overcome the above-noted problems inherent in the secondary battery using a negative electrode made of lithium metal, vigorous researches are being made on the use of a lithium alloy or a lithium compound for forming the negative electrode. However, in the secondary battery comprising a negative electrode containing a lithium alloy such as lithium-aluminum alloy, it is certainly possible to suppress the reaction between the nonaqueous electrolyte and the negative electrode so as to improve the charge-discharge efficiency. However, if a deep charge-discharge is repeated, the negative electrode is finely pulverized, resulting in failure to obtain a long life. On the other hand, the discharge capacity is very small in the secondary battery comprising a negative electrode containing a lithium compound such as Li4/3Ti5/3O4.
It is also proposed to use a chalcogen compound such as an oxide or a nitride as the negative electrode active material in an attempt to further increase the capacity of the negative electrode. For example, a secondary battery comprising a negative electrode containing SnO or SnO2 as the negative electrode active material is disclosed in Japanese Patent Disclosure (Kokai) No. 7-122274 and Japanese Patent Disclosure No. 7-235293. On the other hand, a secondary battery comprising a negative electrode containing an amorphous oxide such as SnSiO3 or SnSi1-xPxO3 is disclosed in Japanese Patent Disclosure No. 7-288123. However, these secondary batteries are not sufficiently satisfactory in capacity and cycle life.
Also, a negative electrode containing an intermetallic compound such as Sn2Fe or Sn2FeC0.3 to 1.2 is disclosed on pages 405 to 427 of xe2x80x9cJ. Electrochem. Soc., Vol. 146, No. 2, 1999xe2x80x9d. It is taught that the cycle life characteristics can be improved in the presence of a mixed phase having a stoichiometric composition and consisting of Sn2Fe as a Li absorbing phase and SnFe3C as a phase that does not absorb Li. However, the discharge capacity is about 200 mAh/g, which is smaller than that of a carbonaceous material.
On the other hand, a lithium secondary battery comprising a negative electrode containing a carbonaceous material having a high crystallinity and containing at least one element M selected from the group consisting of Mg, Al, Si, Ca, Sn and Pb is disclosed in Japanese Patent Disclosure No. 9-213335 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,753,387, said carbonaceous material having a peak corresponding to the case where the interplanar spacing d002 derived from (002) reflection is 0.34 nm or less in the powder X-ray diffraction. It is taught that graphite crystallite having a sufficiently developed graphite structure is contained in the carbonaceous material. According to these documents, it is desirable for the content of the element M in the carbonaceous material to fall within a range of between 0.1 and 10 atomic %. It is described that, if the content of the element M exceeds 10 atomic %, a metal carbide is formed in an unduly large amount, resulting in failure to obtain a long life.
An object of the present invention is to provide a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery having a high capacity and a long life.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, comprising a nonaqueous electrolyte, a positive electrode, a negative electrode containing a negative electrode active material, wherein the negative electrode active material contains a composite material having a microstructure containing a phase containing carbon and a crystal phase having an average size falling within a range of between 0.01 xcexcm and 10 xcexcm.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, comprising a nonaqueous electrolyte, a positive electrode, a negative electrode containing a negative electrode active material, wherein the negative electrode active material contains a composite material having a microstructure containing a carbon-containing phase having an interplanar spacing d002 derived from (002) reflection of more than 0.34 nm and a crystal phase having an average size falling within a range of between 0.01 xcexcm and 10 xcexcm.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, comprising a nonaqueous electrolyte, a positive electrode, a negative electrode containing a negative electrode active material containing a composite material of the composition represented by formula (1);
M1xM2yC1-x-yxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(1)
where M1 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Si, Ge, Sn, Pb, B, Al, Ga, In, Sb and Zn, M2 is at least one element having an electronegativity larger than that of Li and excluding M1 and Fe, and the atomic ratios x and y are:
0.01xe2x89xa6xxe2x89xa60.7 and 0 less than y less than 0.3.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, comprising a nonaqueous electrolyte, a positive electrode, a negative electrode containing a negative electrode active material, wherein the negative electrode active material contains a composite material having a composition represented by formula (1) and the composite material has a microstructure containing a carbon-containing phase and a crystal phase having an average size falling within a range of between 0.01 xcexcm and 10 xcexcm;
M1XM2yC1-x-yxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(1)
where M1 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Si, Ge, Sn, Pb, B, Al, Ga, In, Sb and Zn, M2 is at least one element having an electronegativity larger than that of Li and excluding M1 and Fe, and the atomic ratios x and y are:
0.01xe2x89xa6xxe2x89xa60.7 and 0 less than y less than 0.3.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, comprising a nonaqueous electrolyte, a positive electrode, a negative electrode containing a negative electrode active material, wherein the negative electrode active material contains a composite material having a composition represented by formula (1) and the composite material has a microstructure containing a carbon-containing phase having an interplanar spacing d002 derived from (002) reflection of more than 0.34 nm and a crystal phase having an average size falling within a range of between 0.01 xcexcm and 10 xcexcm;
M1xM2yC1-x-yxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(1)
where M1 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Si, Ge, Sn, Pb, B, Al, Ga, In, Sb and Zn, M2 is at least one element having an electronegativity larger than that of Li and excluding M1 and Fe, and the atomic ratios x and y are:
0.01xe2x89xa6xxe2x89xa60.7 and 0  less than y less than 0.3.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter.

Nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery


A method of path gain estimation for a downlink WCDMA system. The present invention further provides a system for realizing the path gain estimation method. A transmitting device of the system comprises a first and a second antenna to transmit signals with the space time transmit diversity (STTD) scheme. The first and second antennas transmit common pilot channel (CPICH) symbols that are orthogonal to each other, and the CPICH symbols are received by a single antenna of a receiving device. The receiving device then determines the path gain by a STTD filter coefficient determination process, which includes a block selection process for selecting a combination of the CPICH symbol and a tap gain determination process for determining equations for estimating the path gain of the system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to downlink communication systems operating in the presence of multi-path fading, and more particularly, to a method of path gain estimation in a WCDMA system.
2. Description of the Related Art
In mobile communication, the multi-path phenomena of propagated media results in serious fading when transmitted signals are de-constructively added or interfered by other electromagnetic waves transmitted at the same time. Serious signal fading causes the receivers unable to recover the signals properly.
The efficiency of a mobile communication is highly influenced by the channel condition and the transmission environment. Direct-sequence spread spectrum mobile communication systems, such as IS-95, CDMA2000, and WCDMA communication systems often use a RAKE receiver to cope with the multi-path propagation channel, and to cooperate with the handover (hand-off) mechanism of the communication between the mobile station and the base stations. FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a conventional RAKE receiver used in a spread spectrum system.
The receiving scheme must first confirm the existence of the transmission paths. The receiver then detects the strong and stable signals within the transmission paths, and assigns the signals to corresponding fingers for demodulation. The receiver estimates and tracks the relative delay time of the corresponding transmission paths by a path searching and delay tracking block 102 as shown in FIG. 1. The delay compensation 108 of each finger in the RAKE receiver compensates the propagation delay of the corresponding path. The signal of each finger is despreaded in a dispreading gain compensation block 104, and rotated by a phase angle corresponding to a negative amount of phase rotation introduced by the channel. Subsequent to rotation, signals of each finger are in phase and can be added together. Finally, the path gains and the rotation angles of each finger are estimated by the path gain estimation algorithm in the coder & gain estimation blocks 106 and RAKE combining & SINR estimation block 110.
Generally speaking, there is at least one designated pilot channel in a downlink channel of a mobile communication system in order to reduce the hardware complexity of mobile terminals. The pilot channel provides a phase reference to the mobile terminals within the service area. The base station assigns and sends a phase reference via the pilot channel when a connection is made, thus the mobile terminal does not have to determine the phase reference independently. This is the hypothesis for the path gain estimation algorithm.
The STTD (Space time transmit diversity) scheme has been proposed in the 3GPP specification for use as a next generation mobile system standard. In the STTD scheme, a transmitting device, such as a base station, comprises at least two antennas located apart from each other in a space diversity arrangement.
A signal as shown in FIG. 2(a) originally comprises four bits b0, b1, b2 and b3 in a block, and the signal is encoded into two mutually orthogonal sequences after STTD encoding. For example, the STTD encoder encodes the block (b0, b1, b2, b3) into a first block (b0, b1, b2, b3) for antenna #0, and a second block (−b2, b3, b0, −b1) for antenna #1 as shown in FIG. 2(a). The two STTD encoded blocks transmit through antenna #0 and antenna #1 respectively at the same time. The WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) system uses QPSK (Quadrature Phase Shift Keying) modulation, where two bits are modulated into one symbol. In FIG. 2(b), there are two complex symbols S1 and S2 in a block, which is identical to the input block in FIG. 2(a), as S1 corresponds to bits b0 and b1 and S2 corresponds to bits b2 and b3. FIG. 2(b) shows the STTD encoded process symbolically, wherein the input block of the STTD encoder is (S1, S2), and the output blocks are (S1, S2) and (−S2*, S1*). The notation * represents the complex conjugate of a complex number. If a channel is STTD encoded, the primary common pilot channel (P-CPICH) is specified as the phase reference. The two mutual orthogonal sequences transmitted by two different antennas will both be picked up by the corresponding mobile terminal.
Furthermore, if the complex path gains of antenna #0 and antenna #1 are assumed to be h0, and h1 respectively, the following equations may be derived:
                              r          0                =                                            s              0                                                  h              0                                -                                    s              1              *                                                  h              1                                                          (        1        )                                                      r            1                    =                                                                      s                  1                                                                  h                  0                                            +                                                s                  0                  *                                                                                h                    1                                                                                (                                                                                r                          0                                                                                r                          1                                                                                )                                                      =                                          (                                                                                s                        0                                                                                -                                                  s                          1                          *                                                                                s                        1                                                                                s                        0                        *                                                                                )                                                          (                                                                                h                        0                                                                                h                        1                                                                                )                                                                                (                                                                                r                    0                    *                                                                                r                    1                                                                        )                    =                                    (                                                                                h                      0                      *                                                                                -                                              h                        1                        *                                                                                h                      1                                                                                h                      0                                                                                )                                                  (                                                                                s                      0                      *                                                                                s                      1                                                                                )                                                          (        2        )
The complex symbols S0 and S1 transmitted in the pilot sequence are known by both the transmitter and the receivers before transmission. The received values r0 and r1 are obtained by despreading the signal transmitted in the pilot channel. The path gains h0 and h1 are thus estimated by solving the simultaneous equations (1) and (2).
Once the path gains h0 and h1 are obtained from the information sent by the pilot channel, simultaneous equations for estimating symbols carried in the data channel can be derived. The symbols transmitted in the data channel can be obtained by substituting the corresponding received values r0 and r1 into the simultaneous equations. The RAKE receiver then combines the symbols acquired from each receiving path, and outputs the combined data to a channel decoder.
The arrangement of transmitted bits in the primary-CPICH (P-CPICH) and secondary-CPICH(S-CPICH) of the WCDMA system is shown in FIG. 4. This design treats the two QPSK symbols s0 and s1 in a data block as the same symbol, i.e. s0=s1, thus further simplifying the path gain estimation calculation.
As shown in FIG. 3(a), each radio frame contains 15 time slots, and each time slot carries 10 symbols. FIG. 3(b) illustrates the modulation pattern of the symbols transmitted through antenna 1 and antenna 2, where A=1+j. As shown in FIG. 5, a block type STTD path gain estimation process first divides the data blocks into two different block types. Each data block contains two QPSK symbols, equivalent to 4 bits of data. The patterns of block type #0 and block type #1 are shown in FIG. 5, and these two block types are transmitted alternatively. The example in FIG. 5 is identical to the example in FIGS. 3 and 4 as symbol A in FIG. 3 represents binary bits (00) and symbol −A represents binary bits (11).
According to the gray-encoding rule, the bit pair (11) corresponds to a QPSK symbol −s0 if the bit pair (00) corresponds to a QPSK symbol S0. Furthermore, if the path gains of the two antennas are assumed to be constant during the transmission of each data block, the relationship between the received values (r0, r1) and the path gains (h0, h1) of the two antennas within the time interval of transmitting block type #0 is expressed in Equations (3) and (4).r0=h0·s0+h1·s0  (3)r1=h0·s0−h1·s0  (4)
Similarly, the relationship between the received values (r0, r1) and the path gains (h0 , h1) of the two antennas within the time interval of transmitting block type #1 is expressed in Equations (5) and (6).r0=h0·s0−h1·s0  (5)r1=h0·s0=h1·s0  (6)
According to the above equations (3), (4), (5) and (6), the path gains h0 and h1 of antenna #0 and antenna #1 respectively can be determined after receiving the pilot symbol. Then the STTD encoded data transmitted in the data channel can hence be decoded according to equations (1) and (2).
In order to reduce the noise of the transmitted signals, each of the pass gain sequences h0 and h1 of the two antennas passes into a low pass filter respectively. The cutoff frequency of the low pass filters is higher than the sum of the maximum carrier frequency offset and the maximum Doppler frequency.
The previously described path gain estimation method however has several shortcomings when implemented in mobile terminal.
The path gain estimation method of the related art is not suitable for mobile terminals as they are not constant, but vary with time due to rapid movement, thus the assumption of constant path gains in the related art introduces enormous errors.
The path gain estimation method of the related art is unfavorable when a mismatch occurs between the carrier frequency of the transmitter (ie. base station) and the carrier frequency of the receiver (ie. mobile terminal). The block type STTD path gain estimation method produces serious jitters when the carrier frequency is shifted beyond an acceptable level (for example, 0.1 ppm).
Another drawback of the related art is the high cost of hardware implementation, since low pass filters are required in the path gain estimation to reduce noise.
As a result of the shortcomings found in the related art, an improved method of time-variant path gain estimation and a system thereof are provided in the present invention.

Method and system of path gain estimation in a WCDMA system


A heat sink includes a heat pipe and a base adapted to allow the heat pipe to directly contact a component. By directly contacting the component, thermal efficiency is increased. Furthermore, increasing the surface area of the heat pipe that is in direct contact with the component also increases thermal efficiency.

It is well known that an electronic component generates heat as it operates. As the generated heat increases above a critical temperature, a failure can occur in the operation of the electronic component. Therefore, the excess heat must be dissipated to prevent such failures.
One type of heat sink used to dissipate heat includes a heat pipe. A heat pipe is a vacuum-sealed pipe that is filled with a heat-transfer liquid, such as water, and has the interior wall of the heat pipe covered with a wicking material. As the electronic component heats up, the "hot" end of the heat pipe closest to the electronic component also heats up. The liquid near the hot end of the heat pipe eventually evaporates and the resultant vapor collects at the "cool" end of the heat pipe where the vapor then condenses. The condensed liquid flows back to the hot end of the heat pipe via the wicking. Evaporating liquid again migrates to the cool end of the heat pipe. This evaporating/condensing cycle repeats as the heat pipe transfers heat so efficiently that the hot end of the heat pipe is kept at or near the same temperature as the cool end. Furthermore, because the boiling point of the fluid changes with the pressure, the vacuum within the heat pipe can be set such that boiling occurs at a desired temperature.
A heat pipe is typically designed for a specific electronic component. For example, the base of the heat pipe is typically the same or approximately the same shape and area as the surface area of the component to be cooled. Therefore, components having different surface areas and/or shapes typically need heat pipes that are specifically designed for those particular areas and shapes. Most prior-art heat pipes used in component cooling have a relatively large diameter (greater than ¼ of an inch). Furthermore, sometimes the bases of these heat pipes are rectangular and the heat pipe itself is round so the base-pipe interface may have a complex design. For example, the rectangular base may have a hollow interior that joins the interior of the cylindrical heat pipe. Alternatively, the base is solid with the heat pipe mounted to the base. This, however, is less efficient due to the added thermal resistance of the base and the material (e.g. adhesive) used to attach the heat pipe to the base.
The diameter of the heat pipe affects the amount of heat transfer through the heat sink assembly. As the projected planar surface area of a heat pipe increases with its diameter, the increase in diameter increases the air resistance, as the air is forced to flow around the pipe, thus reducing the air cooling effects.
Yet another problem with a heat pipe is that it can fail by forming a leak such that the vacuum pressure decreases, possibly by corrosion of the wicking material, contamination of the fluid, etc. As a result, when a heat pipe fails, it becomes less effective at transferring heat from the electronic component to the ambient environment and thus becomes less effective in cooling the component. If the failure of the heat pipe is severe enough, the component can overheat and fail.

Heat sink with heat pipe in direct contact with component

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


Seating arrangements are provided that combine standard fore- and aft-facing lie-flat seating assemblies with a center premium lie-flat seating assembly. A center suite can include a center support shell and at least one center seat. The center support shell can provide a plurality of legwells for association with a plurality of standard seats. A center seat can be disposed between legwells in a non-overlapping manner so that legwells straddle the center seat. Surface area can be provided over the legwells to provide generous living space for a seated passenger, and to cooperate with a center seat to provide a bed for a reclined passenger. The support shell can have parallel endwalls orthogonal to parallel sidewalls to provide a center bed that is generally uniform in length and width. Legwells can be disposed in parallel and mirrored configurations.

Optimizing an aircraft seating arrangement can include both maximizing seating as well as providing passenger comfort and convenience features. A tension between the two naturally exists, since increasing seating density can often result in provision of narrower seats and shorter leg space that can restrict movement and make a passenger feel cramped. Generally, the more spacious and comfortable a seat, the more an airline can charge for the seat, but the fewer the number of seats that can be provided.
A traditional aircraft seat can include a seat base on which a passenger sits and a seatback against which a passenger leans back. The seatback is typically adjustable to move between a generally upright "takeoff and landing position" and a slightly reclined "traveling" position. Aircraft seats are typically arranged side-by-side in rows transverse to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft with the seats facing forward in the direction of travel. The seat rows are typically spaced apart from one another so that in commercial aircraft, seats are usually arranged having a pitch between 27 and 82 inches to provide legroom between the rows. Longitudinal aisles may be provided that divide the seats into sections. For example, the seating arrangement may include two aisles that divide the seating arrangement into a center section and two side sections to provide improved ingress and egress to the rows and access to emergency exits.
To maximize profit, airlines charge higher fares for upgraded or premium seating. For example, a premium seat may be wider, and recline farther, and be arranged to provide more legroom than a standard seat. Some aircraft are divided into different class cabins, with each having a different seating arrangement. For example, an aircraft may have a higher fare "first class" cabin near the front of the plane and a lower fare "coach" class cabin at the rear of the plane. More recently, airlines have introduced "business class" seating, which can provide more comfort than coach class but remain less expensive than first class seating.
Seats that are convertible between a "takeoff and landing" generally upright position to a "lie-flat" sleeping position have been introduced to allow the seats to be used as "beds." These seats have proven popular on long haul and international flights during which a passenger may desire to sleep aboard the aircraft. While lie-flat seating can provide additional comfort to passengers, and higher revenue to airlines, lie-flat seating occupies additional space, limiting the number of seats that a fuselage can accommodate. For example, when seats are oriented at an angle relative to a vehicle floor, a lie-flat seating arrangement typically has a seat pitch of about 58 to 63 inches, significantly greater than the pitch of coach class seating which generally ranges from 27 to 34 inches. Angled lie-flat seating can place one passenger's head over the feet of the passenger directly behind him or her. Non-angled lie-flat seating typically has a pitch of 76 to 82 inches, and may rely on an alternative arrangement of seats to facilitate efficient utilization of space in the aircraft.
Some attempts to optimize a lie-flat seating arrangement have included angling the seats in a horizontal plane in a "chevron" style in an attempt to increase seating density while providing lie-flat seating. Other attempts have included overlapping portions of the seats vertically, placing a passenger's feet underneath the head of another passenger seated in front of him. For example, an arrangement can include seats that recline at an angle so that the feet of a passenger in a rearward seat extend below the head of a reclined passenger reclined in front. Other arrangements include seats that are placed back-to-back lengthwise, with alternate seats placed substantially above the passageway floor with the remaining seats below the passageway floor, so that the back of the upper seat reclines over the back of the adjacent lower seat.
More recently, a seating arrangement has been proposed that includes a raised seat that overlaps two lower seats when reclined a lie-flat position. By exploiting generally unused vertical space seating density can be increased to maximize passenger capacity while providing fully reclining seating.
While fit for their intended purposes, most prior art arrangements are plagued by several drawbacks and disadvantages. For example, some prior art seating arrangements configure the seat of a first passenger to cover the head of a second passenger, providing a generally undesirable configuration. However, attempts to avoid covering the head of a passenger often result in configurations with pitch distances that fail to achieve desired passenger density levels. In addition, higher density arrangements, even those in which a passenger's head is not covered, may fail to provide the desired degree of privacy to passengers, particularly when the seats are configured in a lie-flat position for a passenger to sleep. While exploiting vertical space may increase the amount of "personal space" in some arrangements, configurations with raised seating can impose additional loads during aircraft take-off, making it more difficult and costly to satisfy federal aviation regulations.


Avoiding failure repetition in data processing includes storing a sequence of circumstances leading up to a previous failure, monitoring circumstances in a current process, matching a sequence of circumstances in the current process to a stored sequence of circumstances, and applying rules to determine if the current process should proceed.

The present invention relates, in general, to the field of failure prevention in data processing, and, more particularly, to avoiding failure repetition.
Failures occur in many areas of data processing and can be time consuming and frustrating. Repeated failures can be caused by a set of circumstances that trigger a failure. Particular areas of data processing are susceptible to repeated errors. Some such errors result in invalid recursive calls which cause serious results. Conventionally, recursive checking may be managed by bespoke coding checks, and there is potential for recursive loops to take place.

Failure repetition avoidance in data processing

International Business Machines Corporation


An abnormality detecting apparatus for an air temperature sensor which can detect an abnormality of the air temperature sensor with high reliability. The determination of abnormality is performed based on a detected temperature of the air temperature sensor when it is determined that the engine is in a sufficiently warmed state and when it is determined that the vehicle is stopped. The determination may be performed based on a temperature detected by the air temperature sensor during a predetermined period after a start of the engine when the start of the engine is detected and when it is determined that the engine is in the sufficiently warmed state. Additionally, the determination may be performed based on a temperature detected by the air temperature sensor after detecting a start of a cooling fan.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an abnormality detecting apparatus for an air temperature sensor and, more particularly, to a abnormality detecting apparatus for an air temperature sensor which is suitable for detecting an abnormality of a temperature sensor for an intake air of an engine. It should be noted that the air temperature sensor, in addition to an intake air temperature sensor of an engine, could be any air temperature sensor detecting a temperature in an engine compartment such as an air temperature sensor for an automobile air conditioner.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an electronic controlled engine, intake air temperature of an engine is used as one of the parameters which controls the amount of fuel injection. Accordingly, if the detected value of the intake air temperature sensor is inaccurate, the amount of fuel injected is not appropriately controlled. As a result, proper operation of the engine may not be maintained. In order to prevent occurrence of such a condition, it is required to detect occurrence of an abnormality of the intake air sensor with high reliability. As an abnormality detecting method for such, conventionally, a method disclosed in Japanese Patent publication 3-56417 is known. The above-mentioned abnormality detecting method for an air temperature sensor detects an abnormality of the intake temperature sensor based on the detected value of the intake temperature sensor when the engine is completely warmed up.
Generally, in a condition where the engine is completely warmed up, the temperature in the engine compartment is increased, and the intake air temperature of the engine is also increased. Accordingly, if the detected value of the intake air temperature is not increased in the state where the engine is completely warmed up, it can be regarded that an abnormality exists in the intake air temperature sensor. Thus, in the above-mentioned conventional abnormality detecting method, it is determined that the intake air temperature sensor is abnormal if the detected value of the intake air temperature sensor does not exceed a predetermined temperature in the state where the engine is completely warmed up.
When the vehicle is moving, air in the engine compartment is cooled due to air flow entering the engine compartment. Thus, if the vehicle is subjected to against wind when the vehicle is moving, the temperature increase due to radiation of heat from the engine is canceled, and thereby an increase in the intake air temperature of the engine is suppressed. In this case, even when the intake air temperature sensor is normal, the amount of increase in the detected value of the sensor is suppressed by at least a minimal amount.
On the other hand, in the above-mentioned abnormality detecting method for an intake air temperature sensor, a determination of whether or not the vehicle is in a stopped state is not performed. Thus, according to the above-mentioned abnormality detecting method for an intake air temperature sensor, when the determination of an occurrence of an abnormality of the intake air temperature is performed during movement of the vehicle, the detected value of the sensor does not exceed the predetermined value due to the influence of the wind flow due to movement of the vehicle and the against wind even when the engine is in a completely warmed condition. As a result, it is possible that an erroneous determination is made that the intake air temperature sensor is abnormal. In this respect, the above-mentioned abnormality detecting method of the intake air temperature sensor is not always a reliable method.

Abnormality detecting apparatus for an air temperature sensor


A tower structure with storing capacity for at least one medium is described. The tower structure comprising at least two substantially vertically oriented support structures for forming the tower structure, wherein at least one of the support structures comprises at least one constructive pressure vessel for forming the support structure. A method for building the tower structure also is disclosed. The pressure vessel based tower structure may have applications e.g. in wind mills and solar thermal towers.

The efficiency of a wind turbine is in direct relation to the height of the rotor. There are obstacles in building higher support structure, also called wind towers, due to the limitation in cranes heights and transportability of the tower parts or the cranes.
Current cranes can lift up to heights of about 100 meters, the bottom (ground) diameter of a higher wind tower will be substantially be wider, meaning that the prefabricated cylindrical tower segments also would be larger, causing a lot of difficulties in transport and handling.
The industry tried to solve these problems by using different methods. Tubular towers made from cylindrical or tapered tube sections of rolled steel, flanged or welded on top each other were suggested. Prefabricated longitudinal tube sections mounted together axially to form a tubular tower are also suggested.
Another issue with generation of energy is that the electricity demand during a 24 h day cycle is very fluctuating, studies show that the peak periods are between 10:00 to 13:00 and from 18:00 to 20:00. The low period is between 3:00 and 5:00.
This is reflected in the cost per kWh. In peak moments it can be the double or triple of the low peak periods. FIG. 2 illustrate the average electricity cost at different moments in time.
The industry is working on different storage systems to store the electricity in low periods and making it available again during peak periods. For this they utilize for example pumped storage hydropower (PSH) or the CAES systems (Compressed Air Energy Systems).
Wind power is also facing the problem that in remote area (islands, deserts) where wind harvest could be very efficient the connection to the power grid is too costly and therefore not economically option.
To cope with these problems, the industry has so far presented the following methods:
W02011/008325 describes storage of compressed air in a wind turbine support structure. It discloses a method that utilizes the support structure of a wind turbine to store compressed air. Nevertheless, the support structure implies an enormous construction resulting in high complexity. The latter is rendered even more complex in view of the high pressures that are used in the system, being indicated as up to 300 bar, as indicated in the document. The structure described is referred to as a structure made of a (one) hollow tube wherein a compressed air chamber is contained within the walls of this tube structure. The tower structures are provided such that each tower has its own compressor. The complex process of erecting the support structure with integrated storage is not discussed.
W02011/032559 and W02009/097858 shows methods for erecting a tower structure using longitudinal tube segments. Such a method facilitates the transport of the tower elements, but it is rather complex to assemble all the required parts at the tower's building location. It also shows a method to erect a tower by lifting the individual tube segments into position using an internal hoisting device.
W02007/136765 shows a system for harvesting energy from wind where in the nacelle a compressor unit is installed instead of a generator. The use and production of compressed air is explained and methods are described to store the compressed gasses in natural or man-made vessels. The function of removing the heat coming from the compressors (cooling the compressor) and the possible advantages of pre-heating the compressed gas before it is expanded also is explained.
There is still a need for a system and method for storing gasses and for methods and systems for installing such storing systems.


Methods and systems for sequencing a biological molecule or polymer, e.g., a nucleic acid, are provided. One or more donor labels, which are attached to a pore or nanopore, may be illuminated or otherwise excited. A polymer having a monomer labeled with one or more acceptor labels, may be translocated through the pore. Either before, after or while the labeled monomer of the polymer passes through, exits or enters the pore, energy may be transferred from the excited donor label to the acceptor label of the monomer. As a result of the energy transfer, the acceptor label emits energy, and the emitted energy is detected in order to identify the labeled monomer of the translocated polymer and to thereby sequence the polymer.

DNA is a long bio-polymer made from repeating units called nucleotides. DNA polymers can be enormous molecules containing millions of nucleotides e.g. the human genome contains a total of 3 billion nucleotides. In living organisms, DNA does not usually exist as a single molecule, but instead as a tightly-associated pair of molecules. These two long strands intertwine like vines, in the shape of a double helix. The nucleotide repeats contain both a phosphate backbone which holds the chain together, and a base, which interacts with the other DNA strand in the helix. This interaction between the bases of the two DNA strands is called hydrogen bonds and they hold the double helix together. There are four different types of bases: Adenine (A), Cytosine (C), Guanine (G) and Thymine (T). Each type of base in one strand forms a hydrogen bond with just one type of base in the complementary strand, with A bonding only to T, and C bonding only to G.
The sequence of the four bases determines the genetic information contained in DNA. Revealing the sequence of the four building blocks of polynucleic acid is called sequencing. Polynucleic acid comprises bases of nucleosides chemically bound in a linear fashion. "DNA" (De-oxyribonucleic acid) and "RNA" (Ribonucleic acid) are examples of such polynucleic acid molecules. The particular order or "sequence" of these bases in a given gene determines the structure of the protein encoded by the gene. Furthermore, the sequence of bases surrounding the gene typically contains information about how often the particular protein should be made, in which cell types etc.
The complete nucleotide sequence of all DNA polymers in a particular individual is known as that individual's "genome". In 2003 the human genome project was finished and a draft version of the human DNA sequence was presented. It took 13 years, 3 billion US $ and the joint power of multiple sequencing centers to achieve this scientific milestone which was compared in significance to the arrival of men on the moon. The method used for this giant project is called Sanger sequencing (Sanger, F. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1977) 74, 5463-5467 and Smith et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,821,058). Although major technical improvements were made during this time, the classical sequencing method has some key-disadvantages:                Laborious sample preparation, including subcloning of DNA fragments in bacteria        Expensive automation        Cost prohibitive molecular biology reagents        Limited throughput which results in years to finish sequencing whole genomes
Multiple diseases have a strong genetic component (Strittmatter, W. J. et al., Annual Review of Neuroscience 19 (1996): 53-77; Ogura, Y. et al., Nature 411, (2001): 603-606; Begovich, A. B. et al., American Journal of Human Genetics 75, (2004): 330-337). With the completion of the Human Genome Project and an ever deepening comprehension of the molecular basis of disease, medicine in the 21st century is poised for a revolution called "molecular diagnostics". Most commercial and academic approaches in molecular diagnostics assess single nucleotide variations (SNPs) or mutations to identify DNA aberrations. These technologies, although powerful, will analyze only a small portion of the entire genome. The inability to accurately and rapidly sequence large quantities of DNA remains an important bottleneck for research and drug development (Shaffer, C., Nat Biotech 25 (2007): 149). Clearly, there is a need for the development of improved sequencing technologies that are faster, easier to use, and less expensive.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Ultrafast sequencing of biological polymers using a labeled nanopore


A method and apparatus for reducing power consumption in a domino logic is provided. An input of the domino logic block has as an output of an upstream logic block. A first state, e.g. default or idle, of the output of the upstream logic block is determined. The an output of the domino logic block corresponding to the said first state is determined. A logic block is modified, such that the output of the domino logic block for the first state is the same as a precharge state of the output. This results in preventing the output of the domino logic block from toggling when the first state is the input to the domino logic block.

Performance goals of processors increase in every generation, and progressively more sophisticated architectures are required to implement their complex functions. Advanced architectures require long pipelines operating at very high frequencies. These higher frequencies demand increasing usage of sophisticated circuit design styles like domino.
Domino circuits increase the speed performance of logic circuits by reducing the capacitance associated with the use of P-type metal oxide semiconductors (MOS). Domino circuits accomplish this by precharging a series of logic gates during a first clock phase, or precharge phase, and evaluating the intended logic function during the next clock phase, or evaluation phase. However, domino logic consumes more power than static logic because the domino output precharges every precharge phase and discharges in every evaluation phase when the domino inputs evaluate the output to the discharge state. Thus, unlike static logic, domino logic outputs may toggle even if the inputs do not change.
FIG. 1A represents a prior art domino circuit with nothing to reduce power consumption. A domino logic block 110 is connected to the NMOS evaluation transistor 130, which only allows evaluation while CLK# signal is high. The domino logic block 110 is also connected to the PMOS precharge transistor 120, which pulls the OUT signal 170 high during the precharge phase, while CLK# signal 150 is low. One of the inputs to the domino logic block 110, the IN signal 160, is an output of an upstream logic block. The upstream logic block may be any logic block producing an output. The OUT signal 170 is coupled to a downstream logic block. The downstream logic block may be any logic block having an input.
FIG. 1B represents a timing diagram of the signals used in the circuit illustrated in FIG. 1A. The CLK signal 140 is high during Phase I and low during Phase II. The CLK# signal 150 is the complement of the CLK signal 140. The CLK# signal 150 clocks the domino logic block 110.
The IN signal 160 is an input to the domino logic block 110, and is constant in this example. In this example, the IN signal 160 is illustrated as high, however it may be a low. The OUT signal 170 is the output of the domino logic block 110. The OUT signal 170 is precharged during the precharge phase, while the CLK# signal 150 is low. The OUT signal 170 is evaluated during the evaluation phase, while the CLK# signal 150 is high. In this example, the evaluated output of the domino logic block 110 is low. However, during Phase I, the OUT signal 170 is precharged to a high state. Thus, because of the precharging, the OUT signal 170 toggles every clock cycle. This unnecessarily consumes power.
FIG. 2A represents one prior art method of lowering power consumption using clock gating. A domino logic block 200 has at least one input IN 260. The domino logic block 200 is coupled between an NMOS evaluation transistor 230 and a PMOS precharge transistor 220. Both the NMOS evaluation transistor 230 and the PMOS precharge transistor 220 are driven by the CLK' signal 290. An output LOut 255 of a gating logic block 250 and the CLK signal 140 are connected to the inputs of a NOR gate 240. The CLK' signal 290 is the output of the NOR gate 240. The output of the gating logic block 250 is high when the domino logic 200 does not need to operate.
Thus, when the domino logic block 200 operates, the CLK' signal 290 is the same as the complement of the CLK signal 140. Therefore, the circuit operates identically to the circuit in FIG. 1A. However, when the domino logic block 200 is not needed, the LOut signal 255 is high, thus forcing the CLK' signal 290 to zero. This maintains the domino logic block 200 in the precharged state.
FIG. 2B represents a timing diagram of the signals used in the circuit illustrated in FIG. 2A. The CLK signal 140 is the same as in FIG. 1B. The IN signal 260 is the input to the domino logic block 200. The IN signal 260 is constant, and illustrated as high, in this example. It may be either high or low. The OUT signal 270 is the output of the domino logic block 200. The LOut signal 255 is the output of the gating logic block 250. The LOut signal 255 is a zero when the domino logic block 200 is operating, and a one when the domino logic block 200 is idle. The CLK' signal 290 is the functional NOR of the CLK signal 140 and the LOut signal 255. Therefore, when the LOut signal 255 is low, the CLK' signal 290 is the same as the CLK# signal 150. However, when the LOut signal 255 is high, the CLK' signal 290 is held low or in the precharge state.
In this example, it is assumed that the correct output of the domino logic block 200 is low. Therefore, during normal operation, the domino logic block 200 is precharged during Phase I, and discharged to zero during Phase II. However, when the LOut signal 255 is high, the domino logic block 200 remains in a precharge state and is not discharged. Therefore, the OUT signal 270 remains high as long as the LOut signal 255 is also high. In this way, unnecessary toggling can be avoided while the downstream logic block 210 is busy and the domino logic block 200 is idle.
However, clock gating is difficult to implement. Clock gating may result in clock skew, because of the additional logic in the clocking path, and thereby shift the clock cycle slightly. This causes other logic driven by the clock signal to be shifted with respect to the domino logic block 200. This may cause problems in some timing critical circuits. Further, the turning off and turning on of the gating logic block 250 has to be synchronized with the precharge and discharge cycles. This requires an enable signal which is valid during certain phases of the clock, which requires complex gating logic. Also, in many cases determining when the downstream logic is idle is complicated or impossible, making this method of power conservation unavailable.
Therefore, what is needed is an improved method of lowering power consumption of a domino logic block.

Method and apparatus for reducing power consumption in a domino logic by reducing unnecessary toggles


Provided are a layered film defect detection device capable of performing defect detection considering irregularities of optical performance of a phase difference layer constituting the layered film without requiring insertion of a new part into an optical path; and a layered film defect detection method. A defect detection device used for a layered film (11) having a polarizing plate (1) and a phase difference layer (separator (2)) includes: a light source (12) arranged at one side of the film surfaces of the layered film (11), an imaging unit (13) arranged on the other side of the film surface; an inspection polarization filter (15) arranged between the light source (12) and the imaging unit (13); a defect detection unit (14b) for detecting a defect existing on the polarizing plate (1) according to the captured image; and an optical axis adjusting unit (16) for adjusting a relative angle position of the polarization axis (L2) of a polarizing filter (15) and a polarization axis (L1) of a polarizer (2). In the detection device, the relative angle position of the polarizing filter (15) is adjusted within a range of the polarization axis angle x of the polarizing filter satisfying the relationship 0 degrees<xf 15 degrees so as to minimize the visible light quantity inputted to the imaging unit.

A layered structure shown in FIG. 10 is known for such layered film. A layered film 11 is configured by a polarizing plate 1 including a protective film 1b layered on both sides of a polarizer 1a via an adhesive layer, and a separator 2 layered on one side of the polarizing plate 1 via an adhesive layer 2a. When inspecting defects such as foreign substances, scratches, nicks and the like existing on the polarizing plate 1, light is irradiated from an appropriate light source onto the polarizing plate 1, a reflected light image or a transmitted light image is acquired via an imaging unit such as a line sensor or a two-dimensional TV camera, and defect detection is performed based on the acquired image data. When inspecting the polarizing plate 1, the image data is acquired with an inspection polarization filter interposed in a light path between the light source and the imaging unit. Normally, a polarizing axis (e.g., polarized absorption axis) of an inspection polarization filter is arranged in a state (cross Nicol) orthogonal to a polarizing axis (e.g., polarized absorption axis) of the polarizing plate 1 to be inspected. According to the cross Nicol arrangement, an all-black image is input from the imaging unit if defect is absent, and the corresponding portion does not become black if the defect is present. Therefore, defect can be detected by setting an appropriate threshold value.
However, in the case of a layered film in which the polarizing plate 1 includes the separator 2, the linear polarized light is converted to an elliptical polarized light since the separator 2 has a birefringence (retardation), and the polarizing plate 1 and the inspection polarization filter substantially will not be in a cross Nicol state. As a result, the defect inspection of the polarizing plate 1 in the layered film 11 cannot be accurately performed.
A polarizing plate inspection device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known as a layered film defect detection device resolved with the above problem. The polarizing plate inspection device includes a light source and an inspection polarization filter for converting the light from the light source to a linear polarized light, wherein the linear polarized light is entered to a polarizing plate with protective film (corresponding to retardation layer), and defect detection is performed based on the transmitted light image. Furthermore, a retardation plate for compensating the birefringence of the light caused by the protective film is arranged on the light path transmitting through the polarizing plate with protective film from the light source. The phase change by the protective film is canceled and the birefringence of the light by the protective film is compensated by separately arranging the retardation plate. Moreover, a configuration example of arranging a variable polarization optical element in which the phase angle of light can be adjusted by voltage to compensate the birefringence by the protective film that slightly differs for every product is disclosed.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2005-9919

Layered film fabrication method, layered film defect detection method, layered film defect detection device, layered film, and image display device


The mummy bag including a blanket having an integral hood with a face opening and two opposing side edges. A zipper is provided for connecting the side edges together leaving an open bottom. Draw strings are provided for reducing the size of the face opening and the open bottom. The mummy back includes an opening on the back of the mummy bag for receiving an infant carrier harness latch. The blanket further includes a large opening on the back of the mummy bag sized to conform to the back of the infant within the mummy bag for freely receiving harness straps mounted to the carrier.

The present invention relates to an infant mummy bag which is constructed to allow an infant to be enclosed by the mummy bag and at the same time fitted into a car seat so that the infant is securely harnessed to the car seat.
The general concept of providing a covering for an infant positioned in an infant carrier is known such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,055,686 to Knight. Another textile article adapted to serve as a cover for a child in a car safety seat is shown in French Publication No. FR002650487 A1.
The present invention is an improvement over the known covers for infants harnessed into a car seat because the present invention can be used with both a three-point harness and a five-point harness. The present invention allows an infant to be covered by a mummy bag while harnessed in a car seat and allows the infant to be removed from the car seat by simply releasing the harness. The mummy bag does not have to be removed prior to removing the infant from the car seat. The present invention is convenient to use and is easily adaptable for use with the many different car seats on the market today.

Infant mummy bag for use with a car seat


A thin-film transistor, such as a top-gate thin-film transistor, is provided herein. The thin-film transistor has a performance-enhancing layer, such as a performance-enhancing bottom layer, comprising a polymer other than a polyimide. In specific embodiments, the polymer is selected from the group consisting of polysiloxane, polysilsesquioxane, and mixtures thereof. In other embodiments, it is a self-assembling polymeric monolayer of a silane agent and an organophosphonic acid. The performance-enhancing layer directly contacts the substrate. The layer improves the carrier mobility and current on/off ratio of the thin film transistor.

The present disclosure relates, in various embodiments, to compositions suitable for use in electronic devices, such as thin film transistors ("TFT"s). The present disclosure also relates to layers produced using such compositions and electronic devices containing such layers.
Thin film transistors (TFTs) are fundamental components in modern-age electronics, including, for example, sensors, image scanners, and electronic display devices. TFT circuits using current mainstream silicon technology may be too costly for some applications, particularly for large-area electronic devices such as backplane switching circuits for displays (e.g., active matrix liquid crystal monitors or televisions) where high switching speeds are not essential. The high costs of silicon-based TFT circuits are primarily due to the use of capital-intensive silicon manufacturing facilities as well as complex high-temperature, high-vacuum photolithographic fabrication processes under strictly controlled environments. It is generally desired to make TFTs which have not only much lower manufacturing costs, but also appealing mechanical properties such as being physically compact, lightweight, and flexible.
TFTs are generally composed of a supporting substrate, three electrically conductive electrodes (gate, source and drain electrodes), a channel semiconductor layer, and an electrically insulating gate dielectric layer separating the gate electrode from the semiconductor. The channel semiconductor is in turn in contact with the source and drain electrodes. The materials used to make the TFTs, and the interfacial properties between various layers of semiconductor, dielectric, and electrodes will affect the performance of the TFTs. Accordingly, a great deal of recent effort has been devoted to improving the TFT device performance through new materials design, optimization of interfaces, etc.
The interface between the dielectric layer and the organic semiconductor layer critically affects the performance of the TFT. The surface of the dielectric layer has been previously modified (forming a dielectric/semiconductor interfacial layer) to improve its compatibility with the semiconductor layer. Modifying the dielectric layer is difficult in a top-gate TFT structure where the semiconductor layer is deposited prior to the dielectric layer. However, a top-gate structure is preferred for many applications. Therefore, there is a need of layer, which is rather than the dielectric/semiconductor interfacial layer, to improve the device performance of a top-gate TFT.


A medical article is molded from a silane-grafted polyolefin copolymer and crosslinked to have improved compression set and sealability so that the crosslinked article can be sterilized with substantially no changes in size or shape.

Medical articles are conventionally made by thermoplastic processing of polyolefins or copolymers thereof. Typical plastics used are polyethylene, polypropylene or copolymers of these materials with one or more other monomers such as styrene, acrylic or butadiene. A variety of physical properties can be achieved according to the medical application envisioned for the plastic.
One important criterion to be considered when selecting a plastic for medical application is the morphological stability of the plastic when subjected to physical stress, such as conventional sterilization procedures. Thus, the plastic must not undergo any substantial change in size or shape during sterilization which would compromise the specifications required for proper end use. This is particularly true for multicomponent articles having contiguous parts of close tolerances where avoidance of size changes is very important if sealing contact between the parts must be maintained.
If the sealing components also have a sliding relationship, the phenomenon known as stick-slip is often a problem. Thus, it is well known that two plastic surfaces having a sliding relationship often exhibit sufficient resistance to initiation of sliding movement that gradually increased pressure applied to one of the surface does not cause movement until a threshold pressure is reached at which point a sudden sliding separation of the surfaces takes place. This situation is commonly referred to as stick-slip or sticktion. Stick-slip is exacerbated by prolonged stationary contact between the surfaces, such as occurs during shelf time. It is particularly troublesome in devices such as syringes, in particular syringes to be used with syringe pumps where ultra slow advancement of the stopper is required, and repeating sequential episodes of stick-slip occurs. The term tribology refers to the study of friction, lubrication and wear of surfaces in relative motion.
Natural rubber has been fabricated into articles of low stick-slip which resist morphological change because of low compression set. This material is, however, expensive, difficult to process and for this reason, SANTOPRENE.TM. (blend of polypropylene and EPDM (ethylene-propylenediene monomer) has become a material of choice for stoppers intended for medical use. This material, while of excellent compression set, is subject to substantial stick-slip.
It is toward provision of articles, particularly multicomponent medical articles of improved set and seal retention and minimal stick-slip that the present invention is directed.

Medical article of improved sterilizability


An on-vehicle display device mounted on a ceiling including an open and close mechanism, which secures the rearward visibility during the backward driving of the vehicle and also enables the user to continue to enjoy display images. The on-vehicle display device includes a control means which controls the display 1, when the display 1 is open at a best view-angle position, to move in even more widely open direction to a predetermined angle (an displacement-angle position 1b), upon detection of entering a backward driving state of the vehicle. The display 1 is controlled to return to the best view-angle position when the backward driving state of the vehicle is terminated.

In an on-vehicle display device that electrically performs an open and close control of a ceiling-mounted display in a vehicle, the display is viewed in an open state. The display in use, however, interferes with the rearward view of the driver in the case of backward driving of the vehicle.
For dealing therewith, there is an on-vehicle monitoring system in which a rear monitor is moved to a storage position in response to detecting the operation of backward driving by the driving user, and thereafter, is moved to its usable position when the transmission gear is shifted into park (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2004-90722).
In the on-vehicle monitoring system according to this Patent Document, when the vehicle is driven backward, the monitor is moved to the storage position, that is, the position where the rear monitor is closed so that the display surface of the rear monitor becomes parallel and in proximity to the ceiling plane, which results in a condition not interfering with the rearward view of the driver. However, continuous viewing for a user who has been enjoying images on the display screen is interrupted. Furthermore, displacing the rear monitor to the storage position needs some length of time.
With the conventional on-vehicle monitoring system, although the rearward view of the driver is secured during backward driving of the vehicle, there remains a problem that the user could not continue to enjoy display images because the monitor is fully shut away.
The present invention is accomplished to solve the above problem, and the purpose thereof is to make it possible for the user to continue to enjoy display images while securing the rearward view of the driver during backward driving of the vehicle.


Disclosed is a site specific microcapsule delivery system and microcapsules for delivering one or more active agents to a preselected site. The system includes a catheter and microcapsules. A preferred embodiment of the catheter includes an inner inflatable balloon having an outer perforated delivery balloon concentrically disposed thereon. The microcapsule preferably comprises a water dissolvable core, and at least one outer protective shell. In a preferred embodiment, the core comprises phosphorous 31 and the outer shell comprises PGLA or other water soluble material. Neutron beam activation of the core produces phosphorous 32, for emitting therapeutic radiation to the treatment site. The outer protective shell dissipates over time, and, following a predetermined delivery period, the outer shell is removed and the central core dissipates to leave only biologically compatible break down products.

The present invention relates to the treatment or prevention of vascular proliferative disorders, such as restenosis following angioplasty or other vascular trauma. The invention also relates to treatment or prevention of other disorders, such as benign or malignant cancers. Microcapsules containing an active inner core and a protective outer shell capable of delivering a therapeutic dosage of radiation or other active agent are delivered directly to a treatment site.
Vascular proliferative disorders are conditions within the walls of blood vessels, including arteries and veins, which result in occlusion or blockage of blood flow. These conditions may result from injuries or wall alterations incurred during surgical intervention, for example during angioplasty, atherectomy, graft or shunt implantation, or coronary by-pass surgery.
One common vascular proliferative disorder is stenosis of coronary arteries due to the build-up of atherosclerotic plaque on the arterial wall. Several minimally invasive procedures such as balloon angioplasty have been developed to allow the lumen of the vessel to be reopened or enlarged. One of the chief problems with treatment by mechanical dilatation is that restenosis of the vessel generally occurs due to smooth muscle cell proliferation or the occurrence of intimal hyperplasia.
Treatment of such sites with radiation is believed to be effective in decreasing restenosis. One such method of radiotherapy is implantation of a stent containing a radioisotope source at the site of the stenosis. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,059,166 to Fischell et al. discloses a stent where the radioisotope source is contained either in the surface coating of the stent or in the metal alloy that forms the stent. Two primary limitations on the use of such stents are that the dosage of the stent cannot be increased or decreased once it has been implanted, and that current stents are as a practical matter permanent implants that remain in place for the lifetime of the patient.
Another method of radiotherapy is the use of a radioactive catheter or wire. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,199,929 to Dake et al. discloses a catheter with a radioisotope source permanently attached to the distal end. The primary limitations on the use of such devices are that the source of radiation is not in uniform radiation delivery contact with all of the surfaces that require treatment and that treatment continues only as long as the catheter remains in the patient's body.
Thus, a need remains for an improved method and devices to effect a site-specific treatment for vascular proliferative disorders. There also remains a need for methods and devices to treat other conditions, such as cancer and cellular disorders, which are believed to benefit from localized radiation exposure.

Microcapsules for site-specific delivery


An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit having a developer accepting part accepting supplied developer and a developer supply unit having a developer supply part supplying the developer to the developer accepting part, wherein the developer accepting part is provided near one end in the longitudinal direction of the image forming unit, the developer supply unit is provided near one end in the longitudinal direction of the developer supply unit, and the image forming unit and the developer supply unit are arranged in a position where one end in the longitudinal direction of the developer supply unit is nearly orthogonal to the image forming unit near one end in the longitudinal direction of the image forming unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Such a technology has been known that: an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile device, a printer, or the like includes an image forming unit having a developer accepting part having a developer inlet, and a developer supply unit having a developer supply part having a developer supply port from which developer is supplied to the developer accepting part; and the image forming unit and the developer supply unit are arranged so that the longitudinal direction of the image forming unit is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the developer supply unit, for example, as shown in JP-A-2003-295562.
However, in the related art, the developer accepting part is provided for the image forming unit so as to protrude outward in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, in order to arrange the developer supply part in the opposed position to this developer accepting part, and make possible the supply of the developer from the developer supply part to the developer accepting part, it is necessary to arrange the developer supply unit on the outside in the longitudinal direction of the image forming unit. Hereby, there is a problem that the size of the image forming apparatus becomes large in the longitudinal direction of the image forming unit.

Image forming apparatus with image forming unit nearly orthogonal to developer supply unit


A brush card assembly 30 is provided for a permanent magnet brush motor 50. The motor includes a link wound, high speed side commutator 46 and an associated high speed side armature winding 44, and a link wound low speed side commutator 54 and an associated low speed side armature winding 52. The brush card assembly includes a brush card 31 including a high speed side having a positive brush 32 and a negative brush 32′ constructed and arranged to be operatively associated with the high speed side commutator 46, and a low speed side opposite the high speed side. The low speed side has a positive brush 33 and a negative brush 33′ constructed and arranged to be operatively associated with the low speed side commutator 54. The brushes are constructed and arranged with respect to the commutators to provide at least two different operating speeds of the motor.

Often, permanent magnet motors used in automotive applications require the use of more than one speed, usually a lower speed for general-purpose operation and a maximum speed for worst-case operation. Multiple speed operation of the cooling system module provides a more optimized engine temperature and operation, which consequently contributes to improved fuel economy.
For PMDC BM historically lower speeds (multiple speed operation) have been achieved by the following methods:                Adding a resistor in series with the motor        Switching out brushes        Dual armature winding with dual commutator        Adding an additional 3rd brush (short out coils)        External or internal electronic control comprised of but not limited to        SSR, (Solid State Relays)        Linear control        PWM, (Pulse Width Modulation)
The embodiment relates to a motor configuration with dual-armature windings and dual commutator configuration for a two-speed application. The DC motors having a dual-armature winding and two commutators are well known in the art. The following U.S. patents describe the art of dual-armature winding and dual commutators well: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,925,999 and 4,910,790, and are hereby incorporated into the present specification by reference.
The current two speed motor configuration with dual-armature winding and two commutators is not cost competitive on the market compared to a two speed solution such as adding a resistor in series with the motor. However, the dual-armature winding with the two-commutator configuration is a more elegant and efficient method for two-speed application than the series resistor solution. Furthermore, from system and energy conservation point of view, the dual-armature winding (with two commutators) motor configuration is more effective than the motor with a series resistor; considering the fact that during the second speed (low speed) operation there is approximately a 20 to 25% current saving with a motor having the dual-armature winding (with two commutators) compared to a motor (of same type and size) with series resistor for low speed.
A conventional brush card assembly is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. These two figures clearly illustrate the ingenuity and complexity of that configuration. FIG. 1 shows a Low Speed (LS) side of the brush card assembly, generally indicated at 10 and FIG. 2 shows a High Speed (HS) side of the same brush card assembly 10. There are total of eight brushes 12 and eight brush springs 14 and eight brush tubes 16 (4 sets for each side, LS and HS). Furthermore, there is a complex over molded terminal bar frame 18 which conveys power to the brushes 12 and interconnects the dual-armature windings (not shown).
Accordingly, there is a need to provide a brush card assembly for two-speed motor assembly that is more cost effective (lesser components) and of simpler configuration than conventional brush card assemblies, without compromising the functionality and integrity of the brush card assembly and motor assembly.

Brush card assembly with RFI suppression for two or three speed permanent magnet brush motor with link wound dual commutator and dual armature winding configuration


An interface plate for the slide-rail of a binding, especially but not exclusively an alpine binding. The slide-rail (2) comprises a base (3) shaped like an "inverted.OMEGA." with two lateral wings (7, 8) which are raised in relation to the upper surface of the ski. The slide-rail further comprises a mobile base plate (4) which incorporates two laterally-positioned return-shaped members (13, 14) delimiting two symmetrical C-shaped grooves whose openings face opposite each other. The central zone (21) of the plate is bounded laterally by two parallel shoulders (23, 24), each of which incorporates, extending outward, a vertical surface (25, 26) forming a guide and friction surface, against which the lower vertical edges of the return-shaped members (13, 14) are supported and rub during longitudinal movements of the base plate (4).

In alpine skiing, it is known that a boot is held on a ski by a front and a rear binding. To ensure that the ski is adapted to boots of different lengths, and also to allow unrestricted flection of the ski, one of the bindings, normally the rear binding, is longitudinally movable along a slide-rail.
Some bindings, in particular rental bindings, also incorporate a front binding that travels along a slide-rail fastened to the ski. This front binding can be placed in different longitudinal positions, thereby allowing adaptation to a wide range of boots of varying lengths.
Slide-rails allowing the longitudinal movement of a binding comprise a stationary part, or base, attached to the ski and a movable element which may, depending on the case, be a base plate on which the base of the binding is assembled, or else the base of the binding, which in this instance incorporates skids to provide for guidance of the body of the binding along the base.
Since the slide-rail comprises an element which moves in relation to a stationary element, the problem of the mechanical adjustment of these two components arises. If the component assembly is too tight, movement of the mobile element along the base proves difficult, thereby hindering adjustment of the longitudinal position of the bindings. In fact, the technician performing this adjustment must exert substantial force in order to move the binding. Furthermore, this movement will tend to occur jerkily and will require several successive back-and-forth motions to put the binding in its correct position. Adjustment procedures of this kind occur relatively frequently in rental skis. It will be easily understood that skiers will not appreciate a binding tightly adjusted in this manner. An excessively-tightened adjustment can also impair flection of the ski when this adjustment is localized between the rear binding and its slide-rail.
If, on the other hand, too much play is left between the two elements of the slide-rail when the boot is absent, the movable element can wobble in relation to the stationary part. This motion causes premature wear of the slide-rail, and, in the long run, deterioration of the binding operation. Moreover, it must be recognized that the skier does not find this motion pleasant, and that it impairs the accurate steering of the ski.
To solve this problem, the French Patent Application published under No. 2 646 093 proposes the insertion, between the two movable elements belonging to the slide-rail, of a layer of elastically-deformable and compressible material. However, the use of the device proves delicate.
Seen from another perspective, it may be recalled that some bindings are equipped with an interface plate located beneath the binding. The main role of this plate is to squeeze the threaded portion of the assembly screws in order to hold them in their holes ready to be screwed in place, until the binding is assembled to the ski. This plate is described, for example, in Japanese Patent Application No. 51-138 254, published under No. 53-65 130. However, there the role of the plate is limited to holding the screws in place, and the plate has no other function.

Interface plate for the slide-rail of a mobile ski binding, in particular of an alpine ski binding


A method and system for reducing and affixing two separated bone segments, the system having a bone plate with a pair of positioning slots, and a pair of elongated manipulating members with anchoring structures, the anchoring structures sized to pass through the positioning slots and for advancement into the bone segments. The bone plate is loosely mounted to the bone segments across the separation gap and a manipulating member is screwed into each bone segment through a positioning slot. The manipulating members are then used to reposition the bone segments by moving them together longitudinally within the slots. Fixation bone screws are inserted into the bone segments through screw receiving apertures to securely affix the bone plate to the repositioned bone segments. The manipulating members are then removed.

This application relates generally to the field of methods and systems for the repair and fixation of bones that have been damaged, fractured or separated, and more particularly relates to such methods and systems facilitating movement of the bone segments for proper positioning and alignment prior to affixation with a bone plate.
The use of bone plates that are affixed with mechanical fasteners across junctions or gaps between bone segments is well known, the bone plates being sufficiently rigid to maintain the bone segments in the reduced, fixed relationship. The bone segments typically must be manipulated into the proper relationship, which often requires grasping and holding the bone segments with forceps or similar instruments. This grasping entails intrusion of the grasping instrument around and behind the bones to be repositioned or held, which can damage tissue. For example, when performing a reduction on a rib, the grasping instruments violate the pleural cavity behind the rib segments, and the force required to manipulate the rib segments may also damage the ribs themselves.
To address these problems, a method and system for bone reduction and fixation is provided that is accomplished anteriorly, both in terms of manipulation of the bone segments and affixation of the bone plate, such that the need for grasping or encircling the bone segments is not required, thereby minimizing damage to the bones or the tissue surrounding the bones.

Method and system for the reduction and fixation of bone segments


An excisional biopsy and delivery device may comprise one or more rotating, penetrating and cutting rod elements. The rod elements may be configured to advance from a stored and confined first position and rotate about an axis, while being simultaneously revolved about a central axis. The rod elements may then assume a second released and expanded configuration that is operative to cut around and surround target tissue. In this manner, the rod elements are operative to move through the surrounding tissue to create a volume of revolution and to sever and capture the target tissue contained within the volume of revolution from the surrounding tissue. The severed and captured volume of revolution containing the target issue may then be removed.

Embodiments are in the technical field of medical devices and methods. More particularly, embodiments are in the technical field of image guided soft tissue surgical diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, including devices for capture, immobilization, isolation, excision and retrieval of any tissue that is surrounded by soft tissue or foreign bodies surrounded by soft tissue, and corresponding methods for capturing, immobilizing, isolating, excision of, and retrieving any tissue or foreign bodies surrounded by soft tissue.

Automated, selectable, soft tissue excision biopsy devices and methods


An electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising an electrically conductive substrate having thereon a charge-generating layer and a charge-transporting layer, wherein the charge-transporting layer comprises: a nonuniform charge-transporting layer comprising an electrically inactive matrix and a charge-transporting domain dispersed in the matrix; and the uniform charge-transporting layer comprising a charge-transporting matrix.

In recent years, electrophotography has played a major role in the field of copying machines, printers, facsimiles, etc. because it advantageously provides a high printing speed and a high print quality.
Electrophotographic photoreceptors comprising an inorganic photoconductive material such as selenium, selenium-tellurium alloy and selenium-arsenic alloy are widely known as the electrophotographic photoreceptor for use in electrophotography. On the other hand, extensive studies have been made on electrophotographic photoreceptors comprising an organic photoconductive material which is advantageous in cost, productivity and disposability as compared to these inorganic photoreceptors. Up to the present, these organic electrophotographic photoreceptors have surpassed the inorganic photoreceptors. In particular, an electrophotographic photoreceptor having a function-separation type laminated structure in which the photo-induced generation of electric charge and the transportation of electric charge, which are elementary processes in the photoconduction, are carried out by separate layers have been developed. This type of an electrophotographic photoreceptor provides an increased degree of freedom in selecting materials to thereby exhibit a remarkable enhancement of properties. At present, this function-separation type laminated organic photoreceptor becomes the main current. A film obtained by vacuum-evaporating a pigment having charge-generating ability such as quinone pigments, perylene pigments, azo pigments, phthalocyanine pigments and selenium, or by dispersing the above described pigment into a binder resin in a high concentration, is practically used as the charge-generating layer in the function-separation type laminated organic photoreceptor. On the other hand, a layer comprising an insulating resin and a low molecular weight compound having charge-transporting ability such as hydrazone compounds, benzidine compounds, amine compounds and stilbene compounds molecularly dispersed therein is used as the charge-transporting layer.
A photoreceptor to be mounted on an analog electrophotographic copying machine which operates by optically forming an image of the original onto the photoreceptor followed by exposure of the image is required to have photo-induced potential decay characteristics shown in FIG. 1, that is, to undergo potential decay in proportion to exposure amount (Hereinafter, a photoreceptor of this type is referred to as a "J-character type photoreceptor") so as to provide a good reproduction of half tone in the density gradation. All of the above described inorganic photoreceptors and function-separation type laminated organic photoreceptors exhibit photo-induced potential decay characteristics falling within this category. On the other hand, digital electrophotographic apparatuses which have been extensively studied with the recent requirement for higher image quality, higher value added and development of network generally employ an area gradation system which provides gradation by percent area such as dot. Therefore, the digital electrophotographic apparatus preferably employs a photoreceptor having so-called S-character type photo-induced potential decay characteristics (hereinafter referred to as "S-character type photoreceptor") in which potential shows no decay until a predetermined exposure amount is reached but shows a rapid decay when exposure amount exceeds the predetermined value for enhancing pixel sharpness.
The S-character type photo-induced potential decay characteristics are known phenomena with a single-layer photoreceptor comprising an inorganic pigment such as ZnO or an organic pigment such as phthalocyanine dispersed in a resin as disclosed in R. M. Schaffert, "Electrophotography", Focal Press, page 344, 1975; and J. W. Weigl, J. Mammino, G. L. Whittaker, R. W. Radler, J. F. Byrne, "Current Problems in Electrophotography", Walter de Gruyter, page 287, 1972. In particular, many single-layer photoreceptors for laser exposure have been proposed which comprises a resin and a phthalocyanine pigment dispersed therein and is sensitive to near infrared range, which is the emission wavelength of semiconductor lasers which are often used (as disclosed, for example, in Guen Chan K., Aizawa, "Journal of Japan Society of Chemistry", page 393, 1986; JP-A-1-169454 (The term "JP-A" as used herein means an "unexamined published Japanese patent application"), JP-A-2-207258, JP-A-3-31847, and JP-A-5-313387). However, such a single-layer photoreceptor needs to necessitate a single material fulfill both the two functions, i.e., generation of electric charge and transportation of electric charge. Nevertheless, materials which can fulfill both the two functions are rare, and such materials which can be practically used have never been obtained. In particular, a particulate pigment generally has many trap levels and thus is disadvantageous in that it has a low charge-transporting ability or tends to keep residual charge therein. Thus, such a particulate pigment is not suitable for transportation of electric charge. Only one exceptional practical example is a single-layer photoreceptor comprising a resin and ZnO dispersed therein. This type of a single-layer photoreceptor makes the best use of the hydrophilicity of ZnO to find a good application to a master plate for offset printing process which comprises plate-making by an area gradation process in which an image is formed in accordance with the presence or absence of adhesion of a hydrophobic toner (as disclosed in Kawamura, "Base and Application of Electrophotography", Society of Electrophotography, Corona, page 424, 1988). However, the success of this type of a single-layer photoreceptor was achieved only because it is applied to a master plate in which requirements for high printing speed and press life are not so high. Thus, this type of a single-layer photoreceptor cannot be practically used as a photoreceptor for copying machines and printers, which is the technical field of the present invention. In view of the above, it is desired to introduce the function-separation type laminated structure into the S-character type photoreceptor to enhance the degree of freedom in selecting materials and hence to enhance the comprehensive properties of the photoreceptor.
In respect to this problem, D. M. Pai et al. reported that a laminated photoreceptor consisting of a charge-generating layer and a charge-transporting layer wherein the charge-transporting layer is a nonuniform charge-transporting layer comprising at least two charge-transporting regions and at least one electrically inactive region, the charge-transporting regions coming into mutual contact to form a contorted charge-transporting passage, can realize S-character photo-induced potential decay characteristics when combined with an arbitrary charge-generating layer (as disclosed in JP-A-6-83077 (U.S. Pat. No. 5,306,586)). However, even this type of a photoreceptor must necessitate the charge-transporting layer fulfill the function of exhibiting S-character type photo-induced potential decay characteristics and the function of transporting electric charge. As compared to the charge-transporting layer in the conventional laminated photo-induced photoreceptor having J-character type photo-induced potential decay characteristics, the charge-transporting layer in this type of a laminated photoreceptor must be imparted the additional function of exhibiting S-character photo-induced potential decay characteristics. Thus, this type of a laminated photoreceptor is still subjected to a restriction in degree of freedom with respect to the design of the charge-transporting layer. The present invention is to solve the above described problems.

Electrophotographic photoreceptor and electrophotographic apparatus