A disc brake is provided, especially for utility vehicles, that comprises a caliper that overlaps a brake disc, a brake application device disposed in the caliper that applies the brake and at least one adjustment device comprising an electrical drive. The disc brake is further provided with a mechanical device that blocks the adjustment device driven by an electromotor against an augmentation of the release play that exceeds a threshold value caused by the electromotor drive.

The invention relates to a disc brake, particularly for commercial vehicles, having a caliper straddling a brake disc, an electromechanically or pneumatically operable application device arranged in the caliper for applying the brake, and at least one adjusting device with an electric-motor drive for compensating brake pad wear by adjusting the release play of the disc brake. In particular, the disc brake has at least one electric-motor-driven adjusting rotating device on each side of the brake disc, each of which act by way of at least one pressure piece upon a respective brake pad on each side of the brake disc.
Disc brakes with adjusting systems operated by an electric motor are known per se; such as, for example, from German Patent documents DE 197 56 519 A1 and DE 37 16 202 A1 or International Patent document WO 99/05428.
The use of an electric adjusting motor for driving the adjusting device of the disc brake has been successful per se. In comparison to normal mechanical wear adjusting systems, disc brakes with an electromechanical adjusting device have the advantage that an unacceptably reduced release play (for example, as a result of a thermal expansion of the brake pads) can be augmented again by rotating back the adjusting rotating devices.
In the event of a servicing, the adjusting rotating devices can advantageously be returned automatically into their initial position by means of the electronic control of the adjusting device, thus allowing for the replacement of the worn-out brake pads with new ones.
However, this basic advantage of the electromechanical wear adjusting systems has the problem that it must be designed to preclude the initiation of an unacceptably large resetting as a result of an error in the hardware or software of the electronic control system or by an external influence on the latter.
Although, because of a correspondingly error-tolerant construction of the electronic control system and of the pertaining software, the occurrence of this error can be considered to be virtually excluded, additional protection measures are required because of the serious consequences of this error in the event of any, however improbable, occurrence.
It is therefore an object of the invention to further develop the disc brake of the above-mentioned type such that an unacceptably large reversed rotation of the adjusting rotating devices is reliably prevented.
The invention achieves this task by providing a mechanical device for blocking the electric-motor-driven adjusting setting devices with respect to an augmentation of the release play by the electric-motor drive which exceeds a limit value.
Advantageous further developments are described and claimed herein.
According to the invention, the disc brake has a mechanically operating device that blocks the electric-motor-driven adjusting devices—for example, adjusting rotating devices or drives—with respect to a threshold-exceeding augmentation (increase) of the release play by the electric-motor drive. Completely independent of operations in the electronic system (such as an ABS or EBS control unit of the brake), it therefore becomes possible that, during the normal operation of the brake, a reversed rotation, for example, of the adjusting rotating devices beyond a certain permissible amount is prevented by a mechanical blocking of the adjusting devices.
This invention is particularly suitable for a disc brake, in which at least one adjusting device, respectively, is arranged on each side of the brake disc so that, for compensating brake pad wear, the brake pads on both sides of the brake disc can be adjusted. In this case, the adjusting device(s) can each have at least one or two adjusting rotating device(s).
The blocking forces of the blocking device are preferably proportioned to be at least large enough so that the electric motor drive, or the drives of the adjusting device, cannot overcome the blocking forces and are maintained immobile with respect to the maximal driving torque. As a result, an unintended augmentation of the release play is reliably avoided.
During servicing, the blocking of the adjusting devices is temporarily canceled in order to permit the setting-back of the screws to allow for the exchanging of the brake pads.
The mechanical blockage of the reversed rotation can occur at the driving motors themselves, in the adjusting gearing, or at the adjusting rotating devices.
The blocking by way of the adjusting rotating devices is particularly advantageously achieved in that the adjusting rotating devices are connected with the brake pads for transmitting pull-back forces, and the brake pads are mutually coupled such that, although they can be moved toward one another by the adjusting system in the event of the occurrence of wear, a mutual moving-apart of the brake pads is permitted only to a predefined extent.
In a supplementary fashion, an electronically acting device can be provided for blocking the electric-motor-driven adjusting setting device(s) with respect to an unintentional augmentation of the release play by the electric-motor drive—for example, designed as a corresponding controlling and/or regulating process for controlling the adjusting devices—so that the mechanical blocking device only represents a fall-back (fail-safe) device in the event of a failure of the electronic blocking device.
The mechanical blocking device can be implemented in an uncomplicated manner in various fashions.
The mechanical device for blocking the electric-motor-driven adjusting device is preferably implemented by a mechanical reversed-rotation blocking at the electric-motor drive, particularly at a driving motor, on a gearing, or on the adjusting rotating devices. In this case, it is particularly contemplated to construct the reversed-rotation blocking on the adjusting rotating devices.
In an embodiment, a free wheel is arranged on a shaft end of the respective driving motor, which free wheel permits a rotating movement of the driving motor in the application direction of the adjusting rotating device, but has a blocking effect in the reversed-rotation direction.
In order to permit a slight reversing of the adjusting rotating devices, according to a variant, the housing of the free wheel can be connected with an elastic element, such as a flat coil spring. In this manner, when the motor shaft is moved by a reversed rotation, the flat coil spring is first wound up by way of, optionally, several rotations before a further rotation of the motor shaft is prevented by means of the free wheel and the pretensioned flat coil spring acting upon the latter. The outer end of the flat coil spring is connected with the caliper and can be uncoupled therefrom. For changing the brake pads, the fixing of the outer end of the flat coil spring can be released by a manual operation, so that a reversed rotation of the adjusting rotating devices is permitted.
Instead of using the flat coil spring, a limited reversing can also be achieved by combining a free wheel with a screwing element. In this case, the housing of the free wheel is axially displaceably but non-rotatably accommodated in a sleeve which has an external thread on its outside diameter, with which external thread, it engages with an internal thread in the caliper.
When the free wheel now locks during a reversed-rotating movement of the engine shaft, the free wheel rotates the outer sleeve into the internal thread receiving it and, in the process, moves this sleeve in the axial direction by way of, optionally, several rotations against a stop. When the stop has been reached, a further rotating movement is prevented.
The two above-described reversed-rotation securing mechanisms, as well as contemplated equivalent embodiments thereof, in the same manner as on the motor shaft, can be arranged on each shaft of the adjusting gearing connected on the output side. Corresponding to the ratio to the shaft of the driving motor, a smaller angle of rotation is required while the adjusting forces are correspondingly larger.
In a further preferred manner, the pressure pieces are connected with pad holding plates.
This solution utilizes the fact that the adjusting pistons for achieving an active release of the brake pads after the braking operation are mechanically coupled with the respectively acted-upon brake pad in the sense of a transmission of a reversing movement. This mechanical coupling can take place in a form-locking manner (for example, mutually engaging profiles of the pressure element and of the back of the brake pad), in a material-locking manner (gluing, welding, etc.) or in a force-locking manner (for example, by way of clamp springs).
If the two brake pads are now mutually connected by way of a second coupling device such that, although they can be moved toward one another for the purpose of the wear adjustment, a moving-apart is prevented starting from a predefined amount in the second coupling device, the adjusting rotating devices of the internal as well as of the external adjusting device are thereby blocked.
As mentioned above, a blocking of the screws can be implemented by way of coupled brake pads. In a particularly preferred manner, the two brake pads are coupled with one another in a constructively simpler and more cost-effective fashion such that, for the purpose of the wear adjustment, they can be moved toward one another but can be moved away from one another only by not more than a small predefined amount. In this manner, the brake pads are mutually coupled such that, although in the event of an occurrence of wear, the brake pads can be moved toward one another by means of the adjusting device on both sides of the brake disc, a moving-apart of the brake pads is permitted only by way of a predefined path.
The brake pad holding device oftentimes consists of a brake pad holding clamp which extends at a right angle with respect to the friction surfaces of the brake disc beyond the latter and the brake pads and is supported at both ends on the caliper. The brake pad holding clamp presses the two brake pads by way of the brake pad holding springs placed upon these brake pads against the supporting surfaces in the brake pad guide of the caliper. The coupling device can therefore be constructed on a brake pad holding clamp, which extends at a right angle with respect to the friction surfaces of the brake disc beyond the latter and the brake pads and is supported at both ends on the caliper. The brake pad holding clamp presses the two brake pads by way of the brake pad holding spring placed upon the latter against the supporting surfaces in the brake pad guide of the caliper. In this manner, a particularly secure blocking device is implemented in a particularly cost-effective fashion.
The brake pad holding clamp is, preferably, axially moveably accommodated in abutments at the caliper, and/or, on its surface facing the brake pads is equipped with a profiling, particularly with a saw-toothed profile, in the areas in which the brake pad holding springs are supported against the brake pad holding clamp. The additional costs of the construction as a result of the construction of the blocking device are kept particularly low in this manner while the operating reliability is excellent.
The profiling preferably has two profiling sections oriented in opposite directions, so that a displacing of the brake pads in the direction of the brake disc can take place with relatively little force, whereas a moving-away of the brake pads from the brake disc can be implemented only by means of a greater force as a result of the profilings.
Projections engaging in the profiling are preferably constructed on the brake pad holding springs, and the brake pad holding springs are received with an axial play on the brake pads.
In another embodiment of the invention, the brake pad holding clamp is axially movably received in its abutments at the caliper; for example, with an axial displaceability of approximately 2 mm. By means of a controlling of the internal and external adjusting devices in opposite directions, it becomes possible in this manner to push the entire unit consisting of the brake disc and brake pad holding clamp/brake pad set back and forth in this area without changing the total release play and the claw-type connection between the brake pad holding clamp and the brake pad holding springs.
It is also contemplated that the profiled sections are arranged in a component that is itself arranged between the brake pad holding clamp and the brake pad holding springs. The component is displaceable relative to the brake pad holding clamp.
This function is important in the case of fixed-caliper brakes with an external wear adjustment and a micro-displaceable brake disc.
Embodiments of the invention are also contemplated in which the second coupling device is constructed to be separate, that is, not combined with the brake pad holding device. For example, the brake pads can be coupled by way of a cylinder-piston element, in which case the cylinder (or the two cylinders) is fastened to the first brake pad, and the piston (or the two pistons) is fastened to the brake pad which is, in each case, situated opposite the brake disc. Here, the piston end can be equipped with elastic projections which engage in corresponding profilings, such as circling sawtooth grooves in the internal cylinder surfaces.
However, preferably a continuously operating reversed-rotation securing mechanism can also be created by means of the cylinder-piston combination. This can be implemented by means of clamping mechanisms which, in principle, operate similarly to the described mechanical locking. However, preferably, a free wheel is arranged on the pin-shaped end of the piston, which free wheel carries a non-self-locking thread on its enveloping housing, which thread engages in a complementary internal thread in the cylinder. The free wheel is accommodated in a secured manner on the piston pin for transmitting axial forces. The locking direction of the free wheel is selected such that the brake pads can be moved toward one another at a relatively low expenditure of force. However, the free wheel locks when the brake pads are moving apart, so that no relative movement takes place in the thread. A slight reverse movement is permitted by a play in the thread or in the axial securing of the free wheel.
Advantageous further developments of the invention are described and claimed herein.
In the following, the invention will be explained in detail with reference to the attached figures.

Disc brake having an electrically driven adjusting device

Knorr-Bremse Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH


A process for manufacturing a cylindrical metal can having, on its side walls, projected portions and recessed portions. The projected portions are formed by forcing the side walls radially outwardly, and the recessed portions are formed by urging unprojected portions radially inwardly while the projected portions are being forced radially outwardly.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technique for manufacturing metal cans having can body walls with contoured configurations.
2. Related Art
Beverage cans are generally manufactured into two different forms i.e., a three-piece can and a two-piece can. Of these, the three-piece can is manufactured from sheet metal, such as a steel sheet treated electrically with chromic acid or subjected to other surface treatments, by rolling a rectangular piece of such sheet metal (or a blank), soldering, welding or bonding both sides of the blank to form a cylindrical can body, necking an upper portions in the vicinity of both open ends of the cylindrical can body into a reduced diameter, flanging edges at both open ends radially outwardly, double seaming a can end to one of the open ends and attaching another can end to the other open end by double seaming after filled with a beverage product. On the other hand, the two-piece can is typically manufactured from a tinplate sheet or an aluminum alloy sheet by blanking and deep drawing or blanking, drawing and ironing such sheet to form a cylindrical can body with an integral can bottom and open top end, necking an upper portion in the vicinity of the open top end into a reduced diameter, flanging an edge at the open top radially outwardly and attaching a can end to the open end of the can body by double seaming after filled with a beverage product.
In the industry, all these beverage cans are produced massively and relatively economically to substantially an identical shape. As the cans are produced substantially to an identical shape, they can not adequately be discriminated or differentiated from one another by their appearance. As the beverage cans are manufactured massively and relatively economically as above and no comparable beverage packaging in another form is readily available, there are strong desires among beverage manufacturers for economical beverage cans with unique configurations to help differentiate their products.
In their efforts for satisfying such desires of the beverage manufacturers, many can manufacturers have been trying to add improvements to their manufacturing technology and a number of processes for reshaping the can bodies have been proposed to date.
One example of such reshaping processes have been disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Application No. 28492/1974. This Japanese Patent Laid-Open Application discloses a reshaping process wherein a can body is expanded radially outwardly from its interior and provided with a contour of rigid patterns by a rubber cylinder having a plurality of recesses being disposed circumferentially and a plurality of split segments. As a three piece can body is not subjected to an intensive metal work such as the drawing and ironing operations, it retains sufficient ductility to permit adequate expansion to form a desired contour by the aforementioned reshaping process.
Although a three-piece can manufactured by a conventional method retains sufficient ductility to permit such adequate expansion, a drawn and ironed can having undergone intensive metal works, i.e., drawing and ironing operations, no longer retains adequate ductility so that a conspicuous contour to give desired effects are not attainable thereon.
More specifically, the drawn and ironed can has been ironed substantially to the limit of its formability capability so as to form a very thin can body wall, so that the can body essentially has extremely reduced ductility due to work hardening and residual stress. With the aforementioned reshaping process, therefore, a drawn and ironed can body may be ruptured before a desired contour is formed thereon. While the greater the expansion (or difference in diameter between expanded portions of the can body and an initial can body diameter before expanding operations), the more conspicuous the contour becomes, an expansion of the can body beyond the limit of its elongation may result in tear or rupture of the can body. In order to prevent rupture of the can body, the can body may be reshaped to a lesser extent within the limit of the elongation or the reshaping can take place after the can body is annealed to release the residual stress and restore its ductility, but following disadvantages still remain to be overcome.
Firstly, the reshaping to a lesser extent makes a contour on the can body less conspicuous and adequate effects for product differentiation are not attainable. Secondly, annealing of a drawn and ironed can body will result in reduced physical strength and internal pressure resistance to such extent that the can body may be crashed during necking or double seaming operation, or a bottom dome of the can body may be buckled by the internal pressure created when the can has been filled with a beverage product and sealed. If walls of the can body are made thicker to compensate for the reduced physical strength, there arises another disadvantage that increased mass of metal makes the can body less economical.
Although a three-piece can manufactured by a conventional method retains sufficient ductility to permit adequate expansion by the aforementioned reshaping process, such process causes a disadvantage also with the three-piece can in that the metal in the portions of the three-piece can body surrounded by the expanded portions are pulled by the expanding operation and expanded radially outwardly to an extent that the edges of the expanded portions can not clearly be configured to attain desired conspicuousness.
With the reshaping process disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Application No. 28492/1974, a can body is expanded radially outwardly from its interior and provided with rigid relief patterns by a rubber cylinder having a plurality of recesses being disposed circumferentially and a plurality of split segments. This process has a disadvantage in that the portions of the three-piece can body surrounded by adjacent relief patterns are forced to expand radially outwardly and adequately conspicuous relief patterns can not be attained on the can body. The closer the adjacent relief patterns are disposed one another, the less conspicuous boundaries of the patterns and the less rigid the patterns become.
Another reshaping process devised particularly for draw and ironed cans has been disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Application No. 75559/1985. According to this process, a drawn and ironed can body manufactured from an aluminum alloy sheet is subjected to a heat treatment for improvement of its mechanical elongation and expansion capability. However, this process has a disadvantage in that it essentially results in substantial increase of costs of manufacturing the drawn and ironed cans due to a heat treatment process to be added.
For the reasons thus far discussed, reshaping processes have not been used commercially for drawn and ironed cans and have found only a limited use in three piece cans of specific designs, such as a barrel shaped can, which do not need to stress highly conspicuous hill and valley configurations.

Process for manufacturing a deformed metal can having a reshaped can body wall


A paper supply device and an image forming apparatus, capable of always maintaining a constant pickup force regardless of the amount of loaded sheets of paper. The paper supply device includes a paper supply cassette, a pickup unit to pick up the paper, a paper supply plate and a press spring to bias the paper toward the pickup unit, a first restraining device to restrain the paper supply plate and to release the restraint of the paper supply plate, a second restraining device to permit the pickup unit to move vertically when the pickup unit picks up the paper and restricts the vertical movement of the pickup unit when the pickup unit does not pick up the paper, and an elastic member to bias the pickup unit toward the paper to provide the pickup unit with a pickup force when the pickup unit picks up the paper.

1. Field of the Invention
Aspects of the present invention relate to a paper supply device to supply printable medium to a main body of an image forming apparatus, and an image forming apparatus having the same.
2. Related Art
An image forming apparatus, such as a copying machine, a fax machine or a printer, includes a paper supply device to supply paper into a main body. Typically, the paper supply device picks up the loaded paper sheet by sheet, and supplies the paper into a main body of the image forming apparatus. As used herein, "paper" refers to any medium onto which an image may be printed, including paper, thermal paper, and transparent film.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2006-8343 (published on Jan. 12, 2006) discloses an image forming apparatus with a paper supply device. The paper supply device of the disclosed image forming apparatus includes a pickup roller to pick up the paper loaded in a paper cassette, a paper supply roller, and a spring to push up a paper supply plate loaded with the paper toward the pickup roller. The paper supply device further includes a lifting device, which, if the amount of loaded paper decreases as the paper is supplied to the main body, moves the paper supply plate toward the pickup roller so that the uppermost paper contacts the pickup roller.
The lifting device includes a planetary gear coupled to the paper supply plate, an internal gear engaged with the planetary gear and coupled to a frame of the paper supply device, a sun gear engaged with the planetary gear, a ratchet rotating coaxially with the sun gear, and a restraining member restraining or releasing the ratchet. The restraining member includes a locking lever that is latched by the ratchet, a spring biasing the locking lever, and a solenoid device that releases the locking lever from the ratchet.
The pickup roller and the paper supply roller are rotatably supported by a pickup frame in the main body. The pickup frame moves up and down within a predetermined region so that a position of the pickup roller changes according to a height of the loaded sheets of paper. A height sensor is mounted near the pickup frame to sense a height of the pickup frame. The solenoid device of the restraining member is controlled based on a sensing signal from the height sensor for the position of the pickup frame. If the pickup roller moves down, the solenoid device operates the locking lever to be released from the ratchet, and the paper supply plate is biased upward by an elastic force of the spring mounted below. The planetary gear moves up by revolving around the sun gear by the rotation of the sun gear, thereby moving up the paper supply plate.
The loaded sheets of paper move up by the lifting force of the paper supply plate. If the uppermost paper pushes up the pickup roller, the pickup frame also moves up. If the pickup frame moves up, the height sensor senses the movement of the pickup frame, and the operation of the solenoid device is stopped, so that the locking lever restrains the ratchet. If the ratchet is restrained, the rising of the paper supply plate is stopped.
The above conventional paper supply device is configured such that when the paper is picked up, the rising force created by the spring pushing up the paper supply plate is applied to the pickup roller through the loaded sheets of paper. However, because the rising force changes according to the amount of loaded sheets of paper on the paper supply plate, a pickup force is not constant. Because the rising force of the spring changes according to the amount of loaded sheets of paper and the weight of the loaded sheets of paper, the pickup force is not constant.
Further, because the lifting device to push up the paper supply plate includes the internal gear, the planetary gear, the sun gear, the ratchet, the locking lever, the solenoid device, the height sensor, etc., the above conventional paper supply device has a great number of components and complicated constitution of the components.

Paper supply device and image forming apparatus having the same


The invention provides a process for preparing a 2,3,4,5-tetrahydro[1,4]benzothiazepine of formula:

2,3,4,5-tetrahydrobenzo[f][1,4]thiazepines are important compounds because of their biological activities, as disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,416,066 and 5,580,866 and published US Patent Applications Nos. 2005/0215540, 2007/0049572 and 2007/0173482.
Synthetic procedures exist for the preparation of 2-oxo-, 3-oxo-, 5-oxo- and 3,5-dioxo-1,4-benzothiazepines and for 2,3-dihydro-1,4-benzothiazepines. However, relatively few publications describe the preparation of 2,3,4,5-tetrahydrobenzo-1,4-thiazepines that contain no carbonyl groups, and most of these involve reduction of a carbonyl group or an imine. Many of the routes described in the literature proceed from an ortho-substituted arene and use the ortho substituents as "anchors" for the attachment of the seven-membered ring. Essentially all the preparatively useful syntheses in the literature that do not begin with an ortho-substituted arene employ a modification of the Bischler-Napieralski reaction in which the carbon of the acyl group on the γ-amide becomes the carbon adjacent the bridgehead and the acyl substituent becomes the 5-substituent. Like earlier mentioned syntheses, the Bischler-Napieralski synthesis requires reduction of an iminium intermediate.
It would be useful to have an intramolecular reaction for the direct construction of 2,3,4,5-tetrahydrobenzo[1,4]thiazepines that would allow more flexibility in the 4- and 5-substituents and that would avoid a separate reduction step. The Pictet Spengler reaction, in which a β-arylethylamine such as tryptamine undergoes 6-membered ring closure after condensation (cyclization) with an aldehyde, has been widely used in the synthesis of 6-membered ring systems over the past century and might be contemplated for this purpose. The Pictet Spengler reaction, however, has not been generally useful for 7-membered ring systems such as 1,4-benzothiazepines. A plausible explanation is that the failure of the reaction for typical arenes was due to the unfavorable conformation of the 7-membered ring. There are two isolated examples of an intramolecular Pictet-Spengler-type reaction producing a good yield of a benzothiazepine from the addition of formaldehyde. In one case, the starting material was a highly unusual activated arene (a catechol derivative) [Manini et al. J. Org. Chem. (2000), 65, 4269-4273]. In the other case, the starting material is a bis(benzotriazolylmethyl)amine that cyclizes to a mono(benzotriazolyl)benzothiazole [Katritzky et al. J. Chem. Soc. Pl (2002), 592-598].

Process for preparing benzothiazepines from gamma-aminoalkylbenzenes

Abstract: by reacting a [2-(acylaminoethyl)thio]arene of formula

Abstract: with an aldehyde or a multimer thereof, and with an acid. The invention also provides for first reacting the [2-(acylaminoethyl)thio]arene with the aldehyde or multimer thereof and a base to form an [N-hydroxymethyl-2-[acylaminoethyl)thio]arene of formula

Abstract: then treating the [N-hydroxymethyl-2-(acylaminoethyl)thio]arene with the acid to form the 2,3,4,5-tetrahydro[1,4]benzothiazepine.


An image encoding apparatus includes an input unit that receives image data; a prediction unit that calculates a predicted pixel value of a pixel of interest to be processed in the image data; a prediction error calculating unit that calculates a prediction error value by using an actual pixel value and the predicted pixel value of the pixel of interest; a main encoder that encodes the prediction error value with information including a number of bits and an error value, the main encoder encoding, as the error value, only one or more most significant bits corresponding to a number of effective bits when the number of bits exceeds the number of effective bits; and an additional encoder that encodes one or more least significant bits of the prediction error value, excluding the one or more most significant bits corresponding to the number of effective bits, as an additional error value.

(i) Technical Field
The present invention relates to an image encoding apparatus and method, an image decoding apparatus, and a non-transitory computer readable medium.
(ii) Related Art
Hitherto, various systems for encoding or compressing images have been proposed. Such systems include Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) and Block Truncation Coding (BTC). The former is a variable-length encoding system, which reduces the encoding amount while keeping image quality deterioration at a low level by combining frequency conversion and quantization. The latter is a fixed-length encoding system, which is capable of encoding an image to a certain fixed encoding amount by representing a block with information of a fixed length.
In the JPEG system, the upper limit of the encoding amount is not controlled, and the size of an apparatus tends to increase when multiple lines (such as eight lines) of an image are processed at the same time. Also, the BTC system produces a fixed encoding amount even in response to an input with a small information amount.
In some network environments, it may be assumable that, after a compressed image is sent, the image quality thereof is desired to be changed later. For example, it is desirable in a narrowband network environment to have a function of firstly sending a rough image and then sending the same image with an improved image quality again. This function demands securing of the upper limit without having an overhead of the amount of encoding, and compression in which the image quality is, for example, reversibly changeable.

Image encoding apparatus and method, image decoding apparatus, and non-transitory computer readable medium


The present invention involves the use of a small profile device for preparation and/or delivery of cold slurry into the human body. The cold slurry can be generated within the device itself or within a separate small chamber, both of which produce a cold slurry using a cooling source and an injectable fluid. The delivery device provides continued agitation to the fluid/slurry through rotation and/or vibration of blades within the device. The fluid/cold slurry is cooled/kept cool through the use of an external cooling device, such as a cooling sleeve, that at least partially surrounds the delivery device. The cooling sleeve can cool or maintain the temperature of the cold slurry through a number of mechanisms. The cold slurry can be delivered using a device in accordance with the present invention to any tissue inside the body, including subcutaneous fat, visceral fat, and brown fat.

The demand for procedures to reduce fat, often referred to as body contouring procedures, is large and continues to rise, especially with the increasing number of minimally and non-invasive therapies available. According to the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), in 2014, consumers spent approximately $12 billion on aesthetic procedures, including invasive, minimally-invasive, and non-invasive fat reduction procedures.
Invasive fat reduction procedures on the market include liposuction, abdominoplasty ("tummy tuck"), gluteoplasty (buttock lifts), brachioplasty (arm lift), thighplasty (thigh lift), lower rhytidectomy (neck lift), and mentoplasty (chin tightening). Invasive therapies carry risks associated with surgical procedures, some of which can be life threatening. These include infection, scarring, perforation of organs and vessels, and hemorrhage. Additionally, invasive therapies are often painful and typically require a lengthy recovery period.
Minimally-invasive fat reduction procedures include laser-assisted liposuction, laser lipolysis (i.e., the breakdown of lipids), radio frequency lipolysis, ultrasound lipolysis, and injection lipolysis (e.g. injection of deoxycholic acid; KYBELLA). These procedures may require a surgical incision and/or the delivery of chemicals into the body, which can carry risks to the patient, and are often painful and produce non-uniform results.
Noninvasive procedures currently on the market include the use of radio frequency, lasers, and ultrasound as well as the application of cold temperatures to the surface of the skin (e.g. COOLSCULPTING by Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc.). These therapies are often time consuming and painful, while delivering minimal results.
Recently, minimally and non-invasive procedures to delivery cold to fat tissue have been developed, with a non-invasive therapy known as CoolSculpting, as noted above, currently on the market. These procedures are based on the principle that fat cells (adipose tissue) are more sensitive to cold temperatures than the skin or other surrounding tissues, with the cold temperatures causing the fat cells to undergo apoptosis, a natural biological process through which fat cells are eliminated from the body.
Non-invasive delivery of cool temperatures to the skin can be painful, may produce unsatisfactory results, and is very time consuming, with the associated apparatus needing to be held on a patient's skin for a lengthy amount of time. In contrast, delivery of a cold liquid such as a slurry, to the fat cells subdermally (or deeper to visceral fat tissues) provide a safe, controlled means for effective and selective reduction of fat cells. Methods for preparing a cold slurry and for delivering a cold liquid to fat tissue through a cannula are disclosed in International Application Publication No. WO/2016/033380 and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0190744, each of which is incorporated herein in its entirety. However, there exists a need for a cold slurry point of care delivery device that is convenient, requires minimal maintenance and square footage, and is the least minimally invasive to the patient.

Devices and methods for slurry generation


A method for refrigeration through voltage-controlled entropy change includes applying a voltage signal to a piezoelectric material to generate strain in the piezoelectric material, generating strain in a magnetic material attached to the piezoelectric material, and generating a change in a temperature of the magnetic material in response to the strain in the magnetic material.

According to U.S. Energy Information Administration, heating, ventilation, and cooling (HVAC) accounted for 3,856 billion kWh, or 36 percent of the electricity consumed by U.S. households in 2011. Central air-conditioning and refrigeration alone accounted for 30 percent of the total electricity used in homes. Improved refrigeration technology is of major importance and, potentially, a big part of the solution to the energy crisis.
There are several refrigeration technologies, such as vapor-compression refrigeration and magnetic refrigeration. In some implementations, magnetic refrigeration uses the magnetocaloric effect in which an active magnetocaloric material is exposed to an external magnetic field. The isothermal entropy change and the adiabatic temperature change are two important parameters that characterize and quantify the magnetocaloric effect. An integrated Maxwell relation determines the isothermal entropy change, ΔS. The Maxwell relation that originates from the analytic properties of the Gibbs free energy can be expressed as follows:
                                          Δ                                                                          S                    =                                    μ              0                                    V                                                      ∫                                  H                  i                                                  H                  f                                                                                ∂                    M                                                        ∂                    T                                                                                ⅆ                  H                                                                    ,                            (                  Equ          .                                                    1                )
where Hi,f are the initial (typically zero) and final applied magnetic field, M is the magnetization, V is the volume of the active magnetocaloric material, and μ0 is the vacuum permeability. Equation 1 is valid in situations where the mixed second-order derivatives of the Gibbs free energy exist and the order of differentiation can be exchanged. This is the case in general, with the exception of first-order phase transitions, where the entropy change at the transition can be calculated with the help of the Clausius-Clapeyron equation.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Refrigeration through voltage-controlled entropy change


The new and distinctive plant of Pincushion Flower known as Scabiosa columbaria ‘Pink Lemonade’ and characterized by a golden margin on green leaves, with pink flowers and compact habit especially suitable for potted culture and landscape usage as either a specimen or in large masses.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Scabiosa columbaria plant named 'Pink Lemonade'. The plant was discovered as an uninduced whole plant mutation by Michael G. Kwantes during the summer of 2002 in a greenhouse-growth batch of Scabiosa 'Butterfly Blue' (not patented) at a wholesale perennial nursery in Zeeland, Mich., USA.
The plant has been asexually propagated by cuttings at the same wholesale perennial nursery in Zeeland, Mich., USA with the resulting plants maintaining the identical characteristics of the parent plant. The phenotype may vary with differences in the environment but without any deviation in the genotype. The plant has not been evaluated under all possible environmental conditions.

Scabiosa columbaria plant named ‘Pink Lemonade’


Embodiments include systems and methods of estimating at least one state of a modeled dynamic system. In particular, in one embodiment, an observer such as an extended Kalman filter is used to estimate the state of a modeled dynamic system. A covariance matrix associated with state variables of the observer is periodically checked for compliance with a specified condition, e.g., positive definiteness. If the matrix deviates from the specified condition, the matrix is set to a specified value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to systems and methods for estimating the state of a dynamic system, such as a flight control system.
2. Description of the Related Technology
Kalman filters and other similar techniques are used to provide an electronic "observer" that transforms sensor data, which is indicative of the state of a modeled dynamic system at an instant in time, but subject to measurement and other errors, into an estimate of the state of the system. Such observers are used by flight control or other control systems to generate control signals for controlling the subject system. Modeled dynamic systems may include aircraft, spacecraft, or any other point mass moving in an inertial space.
In many applications, processors implementing such observers have limited computational power. Hence, a need exists for improved electronic system observers.

System and method of improved kalman filtering for estimating the state of a dynamic system

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


Systems, methods, and software for hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) block error rate (BLER) control in wireless communications are provided herein. A wireless access system receives a media packet. The wireless access system also determines a first time difference between an allowable end-to-end delay for the media packet and a first consumed end-to-end delay for the media packet. The wireless access system also processes the first time difference to select a first HARQ BLER and transfers the media packet from the wireless access system using the first HARQ BLER.

Wireless access systems typically include equipment such as wireless access nodes along with various control and routing nodes which provide wireless access to communication services for wireless communication devices over wireless links. A typical wireless access system includes systems to receive media packets, schedule the transmission of the media packets, and transmit the media packets to a wireless communication device. The wireless access systems exchange user communications between wireless communication devices, service providers, and other end user devices. The user communications typically include voice calls or streaming video, among other communication services.
Utilizing hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ), the media packets sent to the wireless communication device include error detecting codes and/or forward error correcting codes. In some instances, media packets are not received at the wireless communication device successfully. In these instances, the wireless communication device sends a negative acknowledgement (NACK). The wireless access system will then resend the media packet until the wireless access system has received an ACK from the wireless communication device.
The wireless access system estimates the block error rate (BLER) by calculating the ratio of the number of erroneous blocks received versus the total number of blocks sent. Parameters of the channel can be adjusted to ensure that the calculated BLER is what is expected of the channel. Packets may also not be re-sent if the BLER is a high value and most of the other packets have been successfully received.
Overview
Systems, methods, and software for selecting a HARQ BLER are provided herein. In one example, a method of operating a wireless access system that includes receiving a media packet. The method also includes determining a first time difference between an allowable end-to-end delay for the media packet and a first consumed end-to-end delay for the media packet. The method also includes processing the first time difference to select a first HARQ BLER and transferring the media packet from the wireless access system using the first HARQ BLER.
In another example, a wireless access system is configured for selecting a HARQ BLER. The wireless access system includes a network receiver configured to receive a media packet. The wireless access system also includes a BLER control system configured to determine a first time difference between an allowable end-to-end delay for the media packet and a first consumed end-to-end delay for the media packet. The BLER control system is also configured to process the first time difference to select a first HARQ BLER. The wireless access system also includes a HARQ transceiver configured to transfer the media packet from the wireless access system using the first HARQ BLER.

Hybrid automatic repeat request block error rate control for wireless communications


A method of forming shallow junctions in a CMOS transistor is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: (a) forming a diffusion source layer on a N-well region, a P-well region, field oxide layer, and the gates of a CMOS transistor; (b) forming a photoresist layer over the P-well region; (c) carrying out p-type ion implantation to dope a part of the diffusion source layer on the P-well region; (d) removing the photoresist layer on the P-well region; (e) forming a photoresist layer over the N-well region; (f) carrying out n-type ion implantation to dope the other part of the diffusion source layer on the N-well region; (g) removing the photoresist layer on the N-well region; and (h) oxidizing the diffusion source layer and driving the ions therein into the P-well and N-well regions to form shallow junctions, respectively. The present invention has several advantages. First, it is compatible with the conventional CMOS process. Second, it does not require additional mask steps, therefore resulting in a simple process. Third, the CMOS transistors fabricated according to the present invention have shallow junctions, which can alleviate the short channel effect and the defects due to ion implantation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for forming a CMOS transistor, and more particularly, relates to a method for forming shallow junctions in a CMOS transistor.
2. Description of the Related Art
With advances in the semiconductor technology, the dimensions of the integrated circuit devices have shrunk to the deep sub-micron range. Some problems are incurred due to the process of scaling down. The most common problem is the short channel effect. In deep sub-micron CMOS technology, shallow junctions with low resistance values are required to alleviate or avoid the influences of short channel effect. However, based on experimental results, it is almost impossible to obtain a p-type junction of depth less than 500 .ANG. via ion implantation. Therefore, other methods, such as the, solid state diffusion method or gas diffusion method, are used instead. In the solid state diffusion method, borosilicate glass (BSG) is commonly used as a p-type diffusion source.
FIG. 1A to FIG. 1D illustrate a process of fabricating shallow junctions in a COMS transistor by using BSG as a diffusion source. A semiconductor substrate 1 having an n-well region 2, a p-well region 3, and field oxide layer 4 is provided. Polysilicon gates 5 and 6 are also formed over the n-well region 2 and p-well region 3 respectively. First, a photoresist layer 7 is formed over the n-well region 2, and then arsenic ion implantation 8 is carried out to form n-type shallow junctions 9 in the p-well region 3, as shown in FIG. 1A. After removing the photoresist layer 7, an oxide layer 10 is deposited over the n-well region 2, p-well region 3, field oxide layer 4, and gates 5 and 6. The oxide layer 10 is partially etched such that only the portion over the p-well region 3 is reversed, as shown in FIG. 1B. Next, a BSG layer 11 is deposited and etched back, and the result is depicted in FIG. 1C. Finally, p-type ion implantation and n-type ion implantation are carried out to the n-well region 2 and the p-well region 3 respectively. Then, a thermal process is carried out to form source/drain regions 12, 13 in the CMOS transistor, as shown in FIG. 1D. During the thermal process, boron ions are diffused from the BSG layer 11 and thus form the shallow junctions 14 in the n-well region. In p-well region 3, because oxide layers 10 are formed between BSG layer 11 and p-well region 3, the n-type shallow junction 9 can be kept intact.
Although the above method can fabricate shallow junctions in a CMOS transistor, some drawbacks are inevitable. The formation of the BSG layer is by global deposition, and the n-type transistor not requiring p-type shallow junction must be protected by an oxide layer. Consequently, an additional mask is required to form the oxide layer. Otherwise, the n-type transistors must be fabricated first, followed by forming the p-type shallow junctions in p-type transistors via the solid-state diffusion method. However, this process is more complicated and costly.

Forming CMOS transistor using diffusion source and wet/dry oxidation


A disc refiner for thermo-mechanical pulping of wood chips or other fiber source for papermaking has annular refiner discs with a plurality of axially protruding radially extending curved refiner bars. Curved bars in the refiner zone should resist erosion and corrosion. Each disc has a region of bars which curve in the direction of rotation, and a region which curves away from the direction of rotation. Two identical refiner discs are mounted to rotate with respect to one another. Because of the bar curvature, processed stock experiences different angles of bar intersection as the pulp progresses from the inside of the refiner plate to the outside of the refiner plate, yielding a reduced hit on the pulp where opposed refiner bars curve in opposite directions. Where refiner bars on opposed plates curve in a like direction as they pass over one another there is a hold back action on the stock in that region.

For papermaking purposes, fibers from wood chips or other raw fiber source are ground into chips or mechanically treated such that the chips may be broken down further and refined into individual fibers.
Disc refiners are used to break down clumps of fibers into individual fibers in high density stock containing eighteen to sixty percent fiber by weight. Disc refiners are also used with low density, low consistency pulp of two to five percent fiber dry weight to increase the freeness or bonding capability of the individual fibers.
A refiner disc is a disc-shaped steel or steel-alloy casting which has an array of generally radially extending bars formed on the surface thereof. The disc refiner typically utilizes pairs of opposed refiner discs. One disc is mounted on a rotor for rotation. Another disc is held opposed to the first refiner disc, either by rigid mounting or by mounting on a rotor which turns in an opposite direction. Wood pulp is refined as it passes between the rotating opposed discs.
A refiner for high density stock employs an auger which is axially mounted with respect to the rotor on which the refining disk is mounted. A flinger nut may be positioned adjacent to the end of the auger which feeds the stock into a breaker bar section. The breaker bar section feeds the stock to the refiner disks where wood chips and clumps of fiber are broken down into individual fibers. Conventional refiner bar sections employ essentially radially extending rectilinear refiner bars on the rotor opposed by stationary essentially radially extending rectilinear bars mounted to the refiner housing.
In paper manufacture, the cost of power (electricity) and the cost of stock or wood fibers are the single largest component of the paper product's total cost. The paper fiber or stock is manufactured from wood chips which are in many respects an industrial commodity whose price is governed by the market and not easily controlled. Thus, to improve the cost and efficiency of the papermaking process, it is important to focus on reducing the cost of processing the wood chips used to produce the stock or furnish from which the paper is made. High consistency refiners used principally with mechanical or semi-chemical pulps are relatively large consumers of power. Therefore, any improvement of through-put or power utilization in the refiner can lead to significant cost and efficiency savings.
Furthermore, the vast volumes of stock which flow between the refiner discs inevitably results in wear of the refiner bars, eventually necessitating replacement of the individual refiner discs. Not only is the substitution of new refiner discs costly in terms of replacement parts, but it requires that the refiner be downed and taken out of service while the discs are replaced.
What is needed is a disc refiner which requires less frequent replacement of refiner discs, and which efficiently achieves desired pulp quality.


A wireless communication apparatus includes: a channel setting portion that sets an working channel and an acquisition channel; a remainder obtaining portion that obtains a remaining time length that can be used to wirelessly communicate with the wireless communication apparatuses that form part of the same wireless network using the working channel; a remainder determination portion that determines if the remaining time length is equal to or less than a specified acquisition reference remaining number and equal to less than a specified change reference remaining number; and if the remainder determination portion determines that the remaining time length is equal to or less than the change reference remaining number, an acquisition portion acquires signals transmitted using the acquisition channel and the channel setting portion changes the working channel based on the signals that have been acquired by the acquisition portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wireless communication apparatus, a wireless communication system, a wireless communication method, and a program.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, in the WiMedia Alliance, as a specification for access control methods using ultra wide band (UWB), a standard related to distributed media access control for wireless networks has been drawn up.
In the standard related to distributed media access control for wireless networks, methods are defined such as a method in which a wireless communication apparatus transmits a beacon signal to notify its existence to wireless communication apparatuses in the vicinity, and a method in which beacon signals transmitted from wireless communication apparatuses in the vicinity are acquired. In addition, in the standard related to distributed media access control for wireless networks, another method is defined in which the wireless communication apparatuses pre-determine time slots (MAS) for transmitting and receiving data signals between each other, then reserve a specific MAS, and transmit/receive the data signals in the reserved MAS.
According to this type of standard related to distributed media access control for wireless networks, an autonomous distributed network can be configured in which each wireless communication apparatus includes various types of access control information in respective beacon signals which are then transmitted as necessary, and receives beacon signals including access control information from wireless communication apparatuses in the vicinity.
Examples of the access control information include a channel change information element (channel change IE) for notifying wireless communication apparatuses in the vicinity when an working channel used in wireless communication is changed, a beacon period switch information element (BP switch IE) for changing the start time of a super frame cycle or a slot position for transmitting a beacon signal, and the like. Note that, in order to ensure transmission efficiency, it is desirable that the channel change IE is used to change the working channel to a low traffic channel.
Alternatively, in International Publication No. WO00/16532, a channel switching method is disclosed for a server-client computer network. The channel switching method switches to a different channel in the case that continued use of a channel becomes problematic. More specifically, the channel switching method is a method in which, in the case that continued used of the channel presently being used in the computer network becomes problematic, the server waits to receive from a different channel, and switches from the present channel to a different channel that has less interference.

Wireless communication apparatus, wireless communication system, wireless communication method and program


A ophthalmic lens comprising a polymer composition composed of the reaction product of a hydrophilic monomer and an acyclic monomer is disclosed. The preferred hydrophilic monomer is hydroxyethyl methacrylamide (HMA), and the preferred acyclic monomer is hydroxyoctyl methacrylate (HOMA). The monomeric components can be polymerized in a polystyrene mold to make contact lenses, and when swollen with water, are suitable for use as soft hydrogel contact lenses.. The preferred compositions also include a zwitterionic monomer, such as a sulfobetaine, and a crosslinking agent, such as ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA).. Hydrogel contact lenses made from these polymers exhibit high water content and mechanical strength, and are compatible with polystyrene molds.

This invention relates to a polymer derived from the reaction of hydrophilic monomeric components. More specifically, it relates to such a polymer incorporating an acyclic monomeric component especially adapted for use in the preparation of ophthalmic lenses, particularly soft hydrogel contact lenses.
The fabrication of thin hydrogel contact lenses with high water contents is one of the driving forces behind new developments in the ophthalmic art. Lenses with high water contents provide the cornea of the wearer with the oxygen it needs to maintain normal metabolism. Thus, a high degree of patient comfort can be obtained even though the lens may remain intact on the cornea for extended periods of time.
Unfortunately, high water content hydrogels are generally characterized by poor mechanical properties. This means that thin contact lenses made from these high water content hydrogels have poor mechanical properties, and therefore are very difficult to handle. It has therefore been desirable to develop high water content hydrogels, which have good mechanical properties. Unfortunately, these two properties are often inconsistent with one another.
One known method for improving the mechanical toughness of hydrogel lenses is to add monomers with hydrophobic character to the polymerization reaction mixture from which the lens is derived. Such monomers include lauryl methacrylate. Hydrophobic monomers tend to reduce the equilibrium water content, and thus the oxygen permeability of hydrogel polymers. This in turn causes an associated increase in patient discomfort and corneal swelling when the lens is placed on the cornea for extended periods of time.
The water content of the lens can be increased by the addition of highly hydrophilic monomers; however, there are two drawbacks associated with this remedy. The use of anionic monomers such as methacrylic acid results in hydrogels with high affinities for certain proteins, e.g. lysozyme. Alternatively, the addition of non-ionic hydrophilic monomers such as N,N-dimethylacrylamide (DMA) or N-vinylpyrrolidinone (NVP) can cause the resulting monomer blend to dissolve polystyrene. This factor is significant because it is often desirable to use polystyrene molds to form lenses.
Accordingly, interesting attempts have been made to develop hydrogels with high water content, good mechanical properties, and acceptable compatibility with polystyrene molds. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,006,622 discloses soft hydrogel contact lenses prepared from the reaction product of a branched alkylhydroxy cycloalkyl acrylate, and a hydrophilic monomer, such as hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA). Further studies of these hydrogel systems can be found in J. Kunzler, G. Friends, R. Ozark and J. McGee, Polym. Mater. Sci. Eng. 1991, 239-240; and G. Friends and J. Kunzler, Polym. Mater. Sci. Eng. 1990, pp. 809-813. Although the water contents and physical properties of these lenses are reported to be promising, the complexity of steps necessary to synthesize the cycloalkyl acrylate is too unduly burdensome to be of any value.
Another attempt is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,983,083. This patent discloses a soft contact lens composed of an hydroxyalkyl methacrylate and another hydrophilic monomer. However, this lens composition fails to achieve the overall balance of properties desired for straightforward manufacture and acceptable wear characteristics.
In view of the deficiencies of the prior art, it would be beneficial to develop a polymer system for the manufacture of ophthalmic lenses, especially hydrogel contact lenses. More specifically, it would be especially advantageous to prepare soft hydrogel contact lenses from a hydrogel polymer system characterized by a high water content, good mechanical properties, and acceptable compatibility of the monomeric components with polystyrene.

Ophthalmic lens polymer incorporating acyclic monomer


A needle-free injection device in which a gas cartridge or other source of pressurized gas is used to advance a piston and forcibly expel injectable fluid out through an injection orifice. When a gas cartridge is used, the gas cartridge may be moveable from an initial position to an actuating position in which gas is released to drive the injection, and a recoil inhibiter may be employed to prevent the gas cartridge from moving back to the initial position. A gas cartridge seal may be disposed on the gas cartridge and moveable with the gas cartridge to seal the gas cartridge against an interior wall of a gas cartridge housing. The needle-free injection device may also be configured so that sealing is compromised upon full advancement of the piston, so as to de-pressurize the device after delivery of an injection.

Needle-free injection devices provide an alternative to standard fluid delivery devices, which typically use a needle adapted to penetrate the outer surface of an injection site. Typically, needle-free injection devices are designed to eject the fluid from a fluid chamber with sufficient pressure to allow the fluid to penetrate the target to the desired degree. For example, common applications for needle-free injection devices include delivering intradermal, subcutaneous and intramuscular injections into or through a recipient's skin. For each of these applications, the fluid must be ejected from the system with sufficient pressure to allow the fluid to penetrate the tough exterior dermal layers of the recipient's skin.
Needle-free injection devices often employ pressurized gas to generate the force required to deliver injections. Various seals must be employed in such a device, so that as pressurized gas is applied, the resulting energy is captured and used effectively to deliver the injection. Inadequate sealing can result in waste of pressurized gas and/or an undesirable loss of control over the pressure at which the injection is delivered. In addition to sealing, various other design considerations are involved in providing injections with desired pressure characteristics.
Gas-powered and other needle-free injection devices may in some cases be pre-filled and/or configured to be used only once before disposal. With these devices, it will normally be desirable to reduce or eliminate the ability of an end user to disassemble or otherwise tamper with the device, or to use it other than as intended. Also, it will often be desirable to minimize manufacturing costs, accommodate different desired dosages with minimal modifications to the device and/or fabrication processes, and reduce contamination and other safety risks during and after use of the device.


In an ultrasonic imaging system, an ultrasonic angiographic image of a blood vessel, equivalent to an X-ray angiographic image, is produced in a real time by utilizing an IIR digital filter with a ROM and a frame memory. The ultrasonic imaging system comprises: a scanning unit for scanning a biological body under medical examination within a three-dimensional scanning plane involving the biological body by utilizing ultrasonic pulses to obtain echo signals produced from echo pulses reflected from the biological body; an ultrasonic image data producing unit for producing a plurality of ultrasonic scanned image data about the scanned biological body with regard to the respective scanning planes in response to the echo signals; a bloodflow-distribution image data producing unit for producing a plurality of bloodflow-distribution image data about the scanned biological body with regard to the respective scanning planes in response to the echo signals; a storage unit for temporarily storing the plurality of bloodflow-distribution image data, while sequentially updating and superimposing the plural bloodflow-distribution image data with each other during a predetermined scanning period.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an ultrasonic imaging system. More specifically, the present invention is directed to an ultrasonic imaging system capable of displaying an angiogram of a biological body under medical examination in a real time mode, in combination with an ultrasonic image, e.g., a B-mode image of this biological body.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various types of ultrasonic imaging systems or apparatuses have been proposed and/or marketed in the medical field. For instance, one conventional ultrasonic imaging apparatus has been proposed utilizing both the ultrasonic Doppler method and the pulse reflection method. In this ultrasonic imaging apparatus, each of a blood-flow distribution image and an ultrasonic image (for instance, a so-called "B-mode" image) of a biological body under medical examination are acquired by a single ultrasonic probe, and a color blood-flow distribution image is superimposed on a monochrome B-mode image, so that color blood-flow information is displayed in a real time mode together with such a superimposed image. This conventional apparatus is normally referred to an "ultrasonic blood-flow imaging apparatus". It should be noted that since the ultrasonic beam transmitted from the ultrasonic probe is scanned over only one plane within the biological body, the blood-flow distribution image and B-mode image indicate images of only this scanned plane. As a consequence, if a blood vessel is bent in a three-dimensional plane, the ultrasonic image as to only the scanned plane is displayed on the display monitor, so that blood-vessel images other than the above scanned blood-vessel image are not displayed at all. Even if either the scanning direction of the ultrasonic probe may be varied, or the scanning position thereof may be moved, only a portion of the blood flows for each scanning operation can be still monitored. Accordingly, it is very difficult to grasp conditions of the overall blood flow.
Conventionally, the X-ray fluoroscopic imaging apparatuses, instead of the above-described ultrasonic imaging apparatus, have been employed to investigate such an overall blood-flow condition, in which angiographic imaging operation is carried out for a biological body and then images of blood vessels (angiogram) containing 3-dimensional data are displayed.
However, there are many problems with employing such X-ray fluoroscopic imaging apparatuses instead of the ultrasonic imaging apparatuses so as to display angiograms of blood vessels. That is, firstly, the entire constructive arrangement of the X-ray imaging apparatus becomes complex and bulky, as compared with that of the ultrasonic imaging apparatus. Secondly, since X-ray beams are utilized to image the blood vessels, various restrictions are necessarily required in the X-ray imaging operation and also medical care. As a consequence, such an ultrasonic imaging system capable of performing blood-vessel imaging equivalent to X-ray fluoroscopic imaging has been strongly desired in the medical field.
To achieve such a strong demand, the Applicants have proposed in Japanese KOKAI (Disclosure) patent application No. 2-36851 (opened on Feb. 6, 1990), and Japanese patent application No. 2-401139 (filed on Dec. 10, 1990), the ultrasonic imaging apparatuses capable of displaying a 3-dimensional blood vessel image. In these ultrasonic imaging apparatuses, a plurality of ultrasonic image (bloodflow distribution image) data are stored in a plurality of frame memories, these ultrasonic image data are weighted with proper weighting values in accordance with the acquired position of the B-mode image during the data reading operation, and then all of these bloodflow distribution image data are added with each other, so that brightness of the bloodflow distribution image data is varied in accordance with the acquired positions of the image data in order to represent or express a perspective view.
Nevertheless, these conventional ultrasonic imaging apparatuses capable of displaying such a quasi-X-ray three-dimensional angiogram are not yet satisfactory in terms of a real-time display and a simple construction, which are strongly required by many operators in the medical field. Precisely speaking, since the 3-dimensional angiogram is produced by first storing the plural bloodflow distribution image data into the plural frame memories, and secondly reading these image data, and finally adding them with each other, a large memory capacity of these frame memories is required, and therefore a large-scaled circuit arrangement is needed. Moreover, there is no suggestion of a real-time display of 3-dimensional angiogram in these conventional ultrasonic imaging apparatus capable of displaying the 3-dimensional angiogram.

Ultrasonic imaging system capable of displaying 3-dimensional angiogram in real time mode


The present floor seat apparatus includes a base, a seat removably seatable in the base, and a tray engagable to the base. The base may be used as a seat by itself, with or without the seat and with or without the tray. The base includes a post. The seat includes a post through opening that engages the post and positions the seat in the seat receptacle of the base.

A floor seat is an apparatus that is an intermediate structure between the floor and a child. A floor is usually flat. A floor may be hard. A floor may be soft. A child may be restless on a floor, but less restless in a floor seat. A child may be served lunch on the floor, but may enjoy lunch more in a floor seat with or without a tray. A child may have difficulty sitting up straight while in a sitting position on a floor, but likely has less difficulty sitting up straight in a floor seat that has a back. A child may have a greater tendency to interact physically with others while on the floor, but will be somewhat spaced from other children when all children are in floor seats.
A floor seat is a support mechanism. Where the child is an infant and unable to hold himself or herself upright in a sitting position, the floor seat provides a means to hold the infant upright in a sitting position.
A floor seat offers protection. The child, especially an infant, is protected from being kicked or stepped upon, such as by a caregiving rushing to help another child.


Electrochromic devices having buffer layer(s) that promote electron transfer between the second transparent electrode and second electrochromic layer while concurrently reducing or inhibiting deleterious chemical interaction between the second electrochromic layer and the second electrode and/or maintaining the conductive state of the second electrode and while the device changes the from a low transparency state of approximately 10-20% transmittance in the visible region to a high transparency state of approximately 75% to 95% transmittance in the visible region with at least a 70% difference in transmittance between the low and high transmittance states. In certain aspects, the electrochromic devices change from a low transparency state having a gray color to a high transparency state that is substantially colorless within 20 seconds of applying the selective electrical potential to the electrochromic device. Also disclosed are methods of making the electrochromic devices.

Conventional electrochromic devices change light transmission and/or light reflection upon the application of an external DC voltage. Typically, electrochromic devices include two active layers (or electrochromic layers) that are separated by an electrolyte layer. Electrodes are in electrical contact with each of the two active layers. One active layer of the electrochromic device is referred to an as ion storage layer that stores charge carriers in the form of mobile ions and associated electrons while the other active layer is referred to as an acceptor layer that accepts ions donated from the ion storage layer through the electrolyte and associated electrons transfer from one electrode to the other through external circuit.
Upon the application of a DC voltage between the electrodes, a charge is transferred between one of the active layers through the electrolyte to the other of the active layers and associated electrons through an external circuit, to change the light transmission and/or light reflection of one or both of the active layers.
Over the past several decades, many advances have been made in the art, and the below mentioned references are representative of the progress made during this time period.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,923,289 to Demiryont discloses electrochromic devices having a color intensity gradient. Specifically the electrochromic device comprises two substrates and there between: one electrode layer; an electrochromic layer; an ion conductive material; and another electrode layer in that order. At least one of the electrode layers is transparent and each electrode layer is in contact with a respective one of the substrates. The ion conductive layer is adapted to communicate ions to and from the electrochromic material upon the application of a voltage across the electrode layers. The electrochromic material has a continuously decreasing thickness gradient in at least one region when measured normal to the plane of an electrode layer.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,138,481 to Demiryont discloses a method of gradationally infusing a graded thickness permeable medium with a uniform concentration of a material. A method of gradationally infusing a uniform thickness permeable medium with a gradational concentration of material is also disclosed. The method includes placing the material in a container, and inserting and removing the permeable medium in the container so that the permeable medium includes either a gradational or uniform concentration of the material therein dependent upon the thickness of the medium. The method disclosed also allows uniform thickness or graded thickness electrochromic materials to be gradationally infused with an ion source to provide a color gradient within an electrochromic device. An electrochromic device made according to this method is also disclosed.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,253,101 to Demiryont discloses a reduced tungsten oxide electrochromic material, useful in an electrochromic device, having excellent electrochromic properties. The oxidation number of the tungsten of the material as deposited on a support of the device in a stable bleached condition is, on average, between +5.99 and +5.90. The material may be made by reducing fully oxidized tungsten oxide by a reducing agent. The reducing agent may be a metal or a metal oxide.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,724,177 to Frank B. Ellis, Jr. et al. discloses electrochromic devices which may be used for large surface area applications. These devices utilize optical tuning to minimize optical interference between layers of the structure and to maximize uniform optical transparency. Optical tuning also enables transparent conductive oxide layers to be replaced by thin conductive metal layers thereby reducing the overall thickness of these devices and facilitating the manufacturing process.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,094,292 to Goldner, et al. discloses a multi-layered, active, thin film, solid-state electrochromic device having a high reflectivity in the near infrared in a colored state, a high reflectivity and transmissivity modulation when switching between colored and bleached states, a low absorptivity in the near infrared, and fast switching times, and methods for its manufacture and switching. In one embodiment, a multi-layered device comprising a first indium tin oxide transparent electronic conductor, a transparent ion blocking layer, a tungsten oxide electrochromic anode, a lithium ion conducting-electrically resistive electrolyte, a complimentary lithium mixed metal oxide electrochromic cathode, a transparent ohmic contact layer, a second indium oxide transparent electronic conductor, and a silicon nitride encapsulant is provided. Through elimination of optional intermediate layers, simplified device designs are provided as alternative embodiments. Typical colored-state reflectivity of the multi-layered device is greater than 50% in the near infrared, bleached-state reflectivity is less than 40% in the visible, bleached-state transmissivity is greater than 60% in the near infrared and greater than 40% in the visible, and spectral absorbance is less than 50% in the range from 0.65-2.5 μm.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,791,737 to J. C. Giron discloses an electrochemical device comprising at least one substrate, at least one electroconductive layer at least one electrochemically active layer capable of reversibly injecting ions, and an electrolyte, wherein the electrolyte is a layer or a multilayer stack comprising at least one layer made of an ionically conductive material capable of reversibly injecting the ions but whose overall degree of oxidation is maintained essentially constant.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,822,778 to Westfall et al discloses an improved electrochromic device comprising a substrate and a first conductive layer located on the transparent substrate. An ion storage layer is located on the first conductive layer. An electrolyte layer is located on the ion storage layer with an active layer being located on the electrolyte layer. A second conductive layer is located on the active layer.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,265,891 to Demiryont discloses an electrochromic device prepared by forming multiple layers of selected materials on a substrate in a vacuum processing chamber. A first of these layers is an electrode layer deposited directly on the substrate and used for making contact to a subsequently deposited precursor film, preferably tungsten oxide, from which an electrochromic layer is formed by lithium loading in the presence of ionized nitrogen. This not only forms the electrochromic layer by diffusion of the lithium into the tungsten oxide, but also forms a thin lithium nitride ion transfer layer on the then exposed surface. Subsequently, a lithium fluoro-nitride electrolyte layer is formed on the ion transfer layer by evaporation from a lithium fluoride source in the presence of ionized nitrogen. An ion storage layer, which may be a vanadium oxide and a transparent second electrode layer are subsequently vacuum deposited.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,372,610 to Burdis, et al. discloses a heat treated electrochromic device comprising an anodic complementary counter electrode layer comprised of a mixed tungsten-nickel oxide and lithium, which provides a high transmission in the fully intercalated state and which is capable of long term stability. Methods of making an electrochromic device comprising an anodic complementary counter electrode comprised of a mixed tungsten-nickel oxide are also disclosed.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,428,090 to Fukazawa discloses the suppression of deterioration of characteristics due to repeated cycles of coloration and discoloration in an electrochromic element comprising an oxidative coloration layer composed of a nickel oxide and a electrolyte composed of a solid electrolyte.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,564,611 to Jang, et al. disclose a method for preparing an electrode containing lithium nickel oxide wherein nickel has a single oxidation number. The method comprises the following steps: a) preparing an electrode containing the lithium nickel oxide (LixNi1-yO, 0.4<x<1, 0<y<1) layer formed on the conductive substrate; and b) applying oxidative voltage to the electrode, and then applying reductive voltage thereto, an electrode prepared by the method and an electrochromic device containing the same. The electrode containing the lithium nickel oxide layer of the present invention exhibits wider optical electrochromic range and fast reaction speed, so that it can contribute to improving electrochromism and other optical properties of an electrochromic device.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,704,555 to Demiryont, discloses a method of preparing an electrochromic device involving forming multiple layers of selected materials on a substrate in a vacuum processing chamber. A first of these layers is an electrode layer deposited directly on the substrate and used for making contact to a subsequently deposited precursor film, preferably tungsten oxide, from which an electrochromic layer is formed by lithium loading in the presence of ionized nitrogen. This not only forms the electro chromic layer by diffusion of the lithium into the tungsten oxide, but also forms a thin lithium nitride ion transfer layer on the then exposed surface. Subsequently, a lithium fluoro-nitride electrolyte layer is formed on the ion transfer layer by evaporation from a lithium fluoride source in the presence of ionized nitrogen. An ion storage layer, which may be a vanadium oxide and a transparent second electrode layer are subsequently vacuum deposited.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,300,298 to Wang, et al. discloses that conventional electrochromic devices frequently suffer from poor reliability and poor performance. Improvements are made using entirely solid and inorganic materials. Electrochromic devices are fabricated by forming an ion conducting electronically insulating interfacial region that serves as an IC layer. In some methods, the interfacial region is formed after formation of an electrochromic and a counter electrode layer. The interfacial region contains an ion conducting electronically insulating material along with components of the electrochromic and/or the counter electrode layer. Materials and microstructure of the electrochromic devices provide improvements in performance and reliability over conventional devices.
Technical Paper "Improved electrochemical performance of NiO based thin films by lithium addition: from single layers to devices", Hakim Moulki, et al.; Electrochimica Acta, July 2013 (46-52).
Technical Paper "Electrochemical Lithium Nickel Oxide Thin Films by RF-Sputtering from LiNiO2 Target" F. Michalak, et al.; Third International Meeting on Electrochronics in London, England, Sep. 8, 1998 and accepted for publication in Electrochimica Acta.
Technical Paper "Solvent-Free Process to Fabricate High Contrast Electrochromic Device Based on Tungsten Oxide and Nickel Oxide"; Hyungsub Kim, et al.; IME-12, Delft, Netherlands 2016.
Although great improvements have been made in the field of electrochromic device(s) over the past few decades, there remains a need to improve the differential between the high light transmission state (commonly referred to as a "bleached state") and a low light transmission state (commonly referred to as a "colored state") and the speed at which the change between states occur, which concurrently maintaining optimal conductivity of the device.

Electrochromic device with buffer layer(s)


Embodiments of the invention move objects throughout two-dimensional and three-dimensional space by using a movement line that is coupled with a plurality of opposing sides of the platform. The movement line is used to control the horizontal axis motion and Z-axis motion of the platform and is designated the horizontal movement line. Displacing a portion of the horizontal movement line allows vertical displacement of the platform to be traversed. There is no need for a complex computer control system since the Z-axis displacement is substantially independent of horizontal movement over a coverage area serviced by the platform. Nested embodiments utilizing one or more rope allow for three-dimensional movement of an object or angular displacement of an object with respect to the vertical axis. A mounting beam for positioning and supporting the Z-axis and horizontal axis motors and visual display element(s) and other optional multimedia devices may also be positioned independently of the platform. In addition, since the line may be commanded from one point, distantly located motors and electrical cables are not required. Many types of useful devices may then be attached to the platform including devices that require external power or devices that possess their own power and are operated via wireless signals.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the invention described herein pertain to the field of aerial cable rail systems. More particularly, these embodiments enable the movement of objects within two-dimensional and three-dimensional space.
2. Description of the Related Art
An aerial cable rail system is a system based on an elevated cable or line, along which objects are transported. Existing cable rail systems have relied on large fixed structures and/or complex control systems in order to facilitate the movement of objects. These systems fail to satisfactorily achieve the full spectrum of ease of control, compact storage, ease of transport, speed, load bearing, extensibility, maintainability and platform stability.
Any number of coordinate systems can be used in order to describe the path of an object as it moves through space. This document uses the terms Z-axis and Y-axis to denote vertical and horizontal directions respectively.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,199,829 a device is described that follows a line. There is no mechanism for altering the Z-axis displacement of the mechanism moving along the line. The device is self propelled and is heavy.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,113,768 a device for transporting a camera along a cable is described. The device must be secure enough to carry not only a camera but also a human photographer. The device is limited in the amount of Z-axis displacement that can be effected.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,864,937 a point A to point B cable rail is described. The device possesses no means to descend in the Z-axis other than by placement of poles. The poles supporting the structure are placed at fixed heights in order to avoid objects on the ground.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,145,679 a device is described that uses balloons to provide support for a highline. Items are transported along the highline. The balloons may be raised or lowered but are cumbersome in enclosed environments and stadiums where they would block the view of spectators. In addition, the speed at which items could be transported would be fairly slow since a balloon would have a large surface area and would not be capable of rapid horizontal movement.
In French Patent No. 992,069 a device is described which has no means for controlling the arc of travel of the supported object since all control is manual. In addition, no means for conveying messages or advertisements are contemplated and it appears that the device is intended for industrial operations where the stability of the supported object is of little concern.


A dynamic responsive acoustic tuning envelope system that includes a movably connected set of cells, each possessing sound reflecting, sound absorbing, and/or electro-acoustic properties, and which are assembled according to the principles of rigid origami. So configured, the system is capable of both localized surficial deformation to alter the material surface exposure, transform its textural profile, and alter the enclosed volume of space in a single material envelope, thereby tuning the acoustics of the environment in which the system resides.

Within the field of contemporary acoustic design, numerous products and systems have been developed that may be added to the interior of an existing space to modify the sound reflecting and sound absorbing characteristics of that space. Evidence of this work is ubiquitous and typically involves reflector panels, variable absorption curtains, and/or electro-acoustic systems often operating in tandem to produce the desired acoustic outcomes. Dynamic "sound clouds" offer a computationally-controlled set of sound reflecting surfaces that can be digitally actuated in response to changing acoustic demands by virtue of variations in their physical deployment and orientation.
"Responsive Envelopes" constitute an area of architectural research that pursues the design of multi-functional surfaces that adjust their formal configuration in response to varying environmental conditions in order to transform the envelope's impact upon its environment. While there have been few efforts to synthesize variable acoustic response into single geometric surface-based systems capable of producing modifications in aural characteristics, there has not been the development of a composite envelope-based system that possesses the capacity for predictive volumetric and surficial performance variation based on the alteration of its surface and/or volumetric characteristics while simultaneously configuring electro-acoustic amplification within the system.

Dynamically responsive acoustic tuning envelope system and method

THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN


The present invention provides methods and compositions for transferring large transgene polynucleotides and unlinked selectable marker polynucleotides into eukaryotic cells by a novel method designated co-lipofection. The methods and compositions of the invention are used to produce novel transgenic non-human animals harboring large transgenes, such as a transgene comprising a human APP gene or human immunoglobulin gene.

Transferring exogenous genetic material into cells is the basis for modern molecular biology. The continuing development of novel methods for improving the efficiency, specificity, and/or size limitations of the transfer process has broadened the scope of research and product development by enabling the production of polynucleotide clones and recombinant organisms that previously were impractical or impossible to construct. Calcium phosphate precipitation, electroporation, lipofection, ballistic transfer, DEAE-dextran transfection, microinjection, and viral-based transfer methods, among others, have been described for introducing foreign DNA fragments into mammalian cells.
The art also has developed yeast artificial chromosome ("YAC") cloning vectors which are capable of propagating large (50 to more than 1000 kilobases) cloned inserts (U.S. Pat. No. 4,889,806) of xenogenic DNA. YAC clone libraries have been used to identify, map, and propagate large fragments of mammalian genomic DNA. YAC cloning is especially useful for isolating intact genes, particularly large genes having exons spanning several tens of kilobases or more, and genes having distal regulatory elements located tens of kilobases or more upstream or downstream from the exonic sequences. YAC cloning is particularly advantageous for isolating large complex gene loci, such as unrearranged immunoglobulin gene loci, and genes which have been inexactly mapped to an approximate chromosomal region (e.g., a Huntington's chorea gene). YAC cloning is also well-suited for making vectors for performing targeted homologous recombination in mammalian cells, since YACs allow the cloning of large contiguous sequences useful as recombinogenic homology regions in homologous targeting vectors. Moreover, YACs afford a system for doing targeted homologous recombination in a yeast host cell to create novel, large transgenes (e.g., large minigenes, tandem gene arrays, etc.) in YAC constructs which could then be transferred to mammalian host cells.
Unfortunately, manipulation of large polynucleotides is problematic. Large polynucleotides are susceptible to breakage by shearing forces and form highly viscous solutions even at relatively dilute concentrations, making in vitro manipulation exceedingly difficult. For these reasons, and others, it is desirable to reduce the amount of manipulation that YAC clones and other large DNA fragments are subjected to in the process of constructing large transgene constructs or homologous recombination constructs.
More problematic is the fact that the transfer of large, intact polynucleotides into mammalian cells is typically inefficient or provides a restriction on the size of the polynucleotide transferred. For example, Schedl et al. (1992) Nucleic Acids Res. 20: 3073, describe transferring a 35 kilobase YAC clone into the mouse genome by pronuclear injection of murine embryos; however, the shear forces produced in the injection micropipette will almost certainly preclude the efficient transfer of significantly larger YAC clones in an intact form. Many large genes likely could not be transferred efficiently into mammalian cells by current microinjection methods.
Spheroplast fusion has been used to introduce YAC DNA into fibroblasts, embryonal carcinoma cells, and CHO cells (Pachnie et al. (1990) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (U.S.A.) 87: 5109; Payan et al. (1990) Mol. Cell. Biol. 10: 4163; Chirke et al. (1991) EMBO J. 10: 1629; Davies et al. (1992) Nucleic Acids Res. 20: 2693). Alternative transfection methods such as calcium phosphate precipitation and lipofection have been used to transfer YAC DNA into mammalian cells (Eticciri et al. (1991) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (U.S.A.) 88: 2179; Strauss W and Jaenisch R (1992) EMBO J. 11: 417).
Thus, there exists a need in the art for an efficient method for transferring large segments of DNA, such as large YAC clones, into mammalian cells, such as embryonic stem cells for making transgenic animals, with a minimum of manipulation and cloning procedures. In particular, it would be highly advantageous if it were possible to isolate a large cloned mammalian genomic fragment from a YAC library, either linked to YAC yeast sequences or purified away from YAC yeast sequences, and transfer it intact into a mammalian host cell (e.g., an ES cell) with a second polynucleotide sequence (e.g., a selectable marker such as a neo.sup.r expression cassette) without additional cloning or manipulation (e.g., ligation of the sequences to each other). Such a method would allow the efficient construction of transgenic cells, transgenic animals, and homologously targeted cells and animals. These transgenic/homologously targeted cells and animals could provide useful models of, for example, human genetic diseases such as Huntington's chorea and Alzheimer's disease, among others.

Methods for producing recombinant mammalian cells harboring a yeast artificial chromosome