Disclosed is a machine for stirring, cutting, cooking or processing food under modified atmosphere. A drive shaft is provided in the mixing machine, for putting the product into rotary motion in the processing bowl, said drive shaft having a lower power take-off and being vertically supported by a liner which is integral with the base of the bowl, whereas the opposite end of said shaft is integral with a hub having at least one radial arm, with a liner fitted thereto for supporting and guiding a secondary vertical arm, which may be used for cutting or emulsifying food product, which shaft is integral with a pinion meshing with a crown wheel, said crown wheel being fitted to a sleeve which is coaxial and integral with supporting and guiding liner for the shaft, whereas each secondary shaft may be equipped with at least one epicyclically driven, high-speed mixing or processing tool.

Industrial mixing, emulsifying, fine cutting processes, particularly for food preparation but also in other industrial fields, are generally aimed at producing stable emulsions of liquid and powder materials, or materials having different viscosities, possibly by crushing of components in solid or lump form and sometimes operating at water or other liquid evaporation temperatures, as well as under modified and controlled atmosphere, to obtain a mix that maintains its organoleptic and physical properties unaltered with time.
A number of product mixing and processing systems are known which are designed for food preparation, ranging from the traditional blender to large stirrers, as also used in the confectionery industry, e.g. for chocolate production. All these mixers are substantially based on the concept of stirring and rotating the material to be processed in a cylindrical container, thereby causing it to hit or at least abut against at least one tool for cutting or mixing it, and thus provide a homogeneously mixed product.
In a long-known prior art technique, a dispersion mixer is provided, which has a cylindrical container, with an axial drive shaft mounted to its upper opening and equipped with axial mixing tools, as well as a secondary drive shaft having a different rotation speed, for rotating other mixing tools cooperating with a lateral scraper, as disclosed in EP 0 048 134, by Burgess, dated 1981.
This solution has proved to involve high power consumption, due to the requirement of supplying power to two separate motors, and to not allow the use of a hermetic sealing lid for modified atmosphere processing.
A first known variation of this solution provides a fixed-container mixer having no central shaft, but a series of peripheral shafts which are rotated by a central sleeve with a crown wheel through appropriate pinions which can impart a high rotation speed to the tools of each shaft, as disclosed in EP 0 096 136 by Couvroit, dated 1982. In this solution, each mixing shaft also has the task of dragging the product into circular motion within the bowl, which requires a great driving force, and no hermetic lid sealing is allowed, for controlled temperature and atmosphere processing.
A more recent technique turned back to the use of a central shaft driving a number of radial mixing tools, as disclosed in EP 0 829 891 by Deboffles, dated 1998 or in EP 0 925 891 by Schneider, dated 1998, which all have a single motor disposed on the outer surface of the bottom of the bowl, ensuring a more balanced power consumption relative to the low number of revolutions of the drive shaft and to the multiplied number of revolutions of each mixing tool. Nevertheless, also in this more recent technique, there is the drawback that the bottom of the bowl cannot be heated, which involves the difficulty of reaching a uniform temperature of the product being processed, and that complex machines are required, having high maintenance requirements.
Yet in another newer technique the control of the central shaft and the mixing shafts is disposed on the lid, with the planetary drive being provided by a single motor, as disclosed in EP 1 719 552 by Tonelli dated 2006, or with two motors acting on container rotation and on tool rotation respectively, as disclosed in EP 2 219 770, by Stahl, dated 2008. While this technique improves the previous one in terms of power consumption, it still suffers from the above mentioned drawbacks, particularly due to the lid-mounted control, which makes it unusable for modified atmosphere processing.
In almost all the above prior art solutions, the provision of two motors involves the problem of a considerable bulk, as well as considerable power requirements, particularly for the mixing tool driving motor, whereby considerable power losses are involved for matching the speeds of the two shafts with the various processes or treatments.
Finally, even in the solutions that use a single driving motor, the complexity of current rotary drive systems causes serious drawbacks in terms of wear and difficult maintenance.

Mixing or cutting machine, particularly for food processing, operating with planetary shaft


A network component has a signal processing device having a processor, at least one voltage source that can be connected to a supply network of the vehicle, and at least one coupling device connected to the signal processing device and the voltage source. Lines of at least one network segment of the vehicle network can be connected to the coupling device for the simultaneous signal connection of the network segment to the signal processing device and for the voltage supply of the network segment by the voltage source. The voltage source is configured such that a voltage ratio between at least one supply voltage provided by the voltage source and the voltage provided by the supply network can be selected from a selection of several predetermined voltage ratios.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a network component, in particular a network-capable vehicle component, of a vehicle network. The invention also relates to a corresponding vehicle network having the one network component and at least one further network component.
2. Related Art
Such a network component of a vehicle network is, for example, a network-capable vehicle component. The corresponding vehicle network is a network for transmitting digital signals between network components, at least one component of which is in the form of a network-capable vehicle component. Vehicle networks are currently usually based on serial bus systems. In addition to the corresponding bus topology, other network topologies are also already envisaged for use in vehicles. One example of a bus system for networking the various network-capable vehicle components in order to achieve cross-system functions of a vehicle is an asynchronous, serial bus system based on the CAN (Controller Area Network) bus. Another example is an LIN: Local Interconnect Network bus system. Such a vehicle network is used, for example, to connect components of a driver assistance system for signaling purposes. Corresponding network-capable vehicle components are, for example, control devices for the engine, transmission, etc., operating and display units typical of a vehicle and monitoring units of vehicle sensors.
The network-capable vehicle components of the vehicle network are vehicle components which, in different embodiments, are directly operated from a supply network (vehicle electrical system) of the vehicle which is independent of the respective vehicle network.
In the case of direct energy supply from the vehicle electrical system, a complicated power supply unit with filter and protective components is needed in each of the vehicle components in order to withstand voltage pulses occurring in the vehicle.
Networks in which individual network components are supplied with energy via the signal lines of the network or the signal lines of individual network segments of the network are also known. One example of such a network is a Power Over Ethernet (PoE) network. In this case, Power Over Ethernet (PoE) denotes a method which can be used to supply network-capable devices in the Ethernet network with power via the 8-core Ethernet cable.
EP 2 073 435 A1 describes the use of Power Over Ethernet for a video and audio system installed in a vehicle. The network components of the network shown are only the loudspeakers, displays, etc., which are conventional for such systems.

Network component for a vehicle network and corresponding vehicle network


Methods and apparatus are described for forming a window of optimum dimensions in casing wall. A window of maximum width is cut when the center line of the mill tool is located inside of the inner diameter of the casing where a maximum amount of casing is drilled away by the mill tool. A whipstock is described which deviates the mill tool outwardly so that the center line of the mill tool is in approximately this position. The whipstock then maintains the mill tool at this approximate location until a window of desired length is cut having a substantially maximum width.

Not applicable.
Not applicable.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for cutting or milling a window in a cased borehole so that a secondary or deviated borehole can be drilled. More particularly, the invention relates to methods and apparatus for forming a window of optimal dimensions.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is common practice to use a whipstock and mill arrangement to help drill a deviated borehole from an existing earth borehole. The whipstock is set on the bottom of the existing earth borehole or anchored within the borehole. The whipstock has a ramped surface that is set in a predetermined position to guide a mill in a deviated manner so as to mill away a portion of the wellbore casing, thus forming a window in the steel casing of the borehole.
The typical whipstock presents a ramped surface which has a substantially uniform slope such as three degrees from the vertical. Thus, the mill tool is normally urged outwardly at a constant rate until it is fully outside of the casing. As the mill moves downward within the borehole, the ramped surface of the whipstock urges the mill radially outwardly so that the cutting surface of the mill engages the inner surface of the casing. As this engagement begins to cut into the casing, the casing is worn away and then cut through, thus beginning the upper end of the window. The ramp of the whipstock then causes further deviation of the mill, causing the mill to move downwardly and radially outward through the casing itself. Thus, a longitudinal window is cut through the casing. Ultimately, the whipstock""s ramped surface urges the mill radially outwardly to the extent that it is located entirely outside of the wellbore bore casing. Once this occurs, the mill ceases cutting the window. This traditional cutting technique results in an upside-down xe2x80x9cteardropxe2x80x9d shaped window which has a section of maximum width located close to the top of the window. From this section of maximum width, the width of the window decreases and the window tapers as the lower portion of the window is approached. An example of such a window is shown in prior art FIG. 1.
Once the window is cut in the manner described above, a deviated borehole is then cut using a point of entry that is proximate the teardrop-shaped window. Unfortunately, the teardrop shape of the window can impede the ability to drill the deviated borehole. Specifically, as the window narrows, the metal portion of the casing interferes with the ability to drill, place liners and so forth.
Thus, a need exists for methods and devices that can be employed to form a window in a easing wall that has optimum or near optimum dimensions so that subsequent directional drilling efforts are not hindered.
The invention provides methods and apparatus for forming a window of optimum dimensions in casing wall. The inventor has recognized that a window of maximum width is cut when the center line of the mill tool is located a distance inside of the inner diameter of the casing where a maximum amount of casing is drilled away by the mill tool. A whipstock is described which deviates the mill tool outwardly so that the center line of the mill tool is in approximately this position. The whipstock then maintains the mill tool at this approximate location until a window of desired length is cut having a substantially maximum width. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following description.

Method and apparatus for forming an optimized window


This invention concerns a multilayer film useful as release sheet for sheet molding compounds, comprising a first skin layer, a second skin layer, a barrier layer for monomeric resins wherein the barrier layer is between the first and second skin layers and the first and second skin layers comprise a mixture of polyolefin and adhesive resin. This invention also pertains to the multilayer films method of production, as well as an SMC sheet employing the multilayer film.

This invention concerns release sheets (films) useful in sheet molding compound applications, (SMC) thick (or "Takeda") molding compound (TMC) applications, or in bulk (or "dough") molding (BMC) applications. This invention also concerns sheet molding compounds made using the release sheets of this invention.
In various processes for producing sheet molding compounds, the process typically includes casting a layer of heat-curable thermosetting resin composition such as an unsaturated polyester composition containing styrene monomer, usually with chopped fiberglass and filler, onto a polymeric film as a release sheet and carrier sheet. Polymeric film is then also applied to the top surface of the heat-curable thermosetting resin composition to form a sandwich composition. The process includes passing the sandwich composition through a plurality of compaction rolls, and then winding the sandwich composition into a roll for partial curing and for later use, for example, in a compression molding system for pressure molded products. The polymeric release and carrier film is typically stripped off and disposed of prior to the compression molding step.
The polymeric carrier film provides a barrier for the particular monomer employed in the thermosetting resin, such as a styrene monomer, yet the film should be easily removable from the sandwich composite so produced. A polyamide polymeric film providing good barrier characteristics for the styrene monomer in the liquid resin is unsuitable for use, since the nylon tends to adhere to the styrene monomer heat-cured thermosetting resin, and is therefore difficult to remove.
A polymeric carrier film having release properties with low crystallinity has been proposed, with the polymeric film comprising a blend of a polyamide, such as nylon 6/66, together with an olefin of defined crystallinity, such as an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer. Employment of the modified nylon carrier film is described, for example, in European patent application 0 027 191, published Mar. 21, 1984, which is hereby incorporated by reference. Desirable characteristics of such nylon modified support films in the manufacture of sheet molding compounds products has also been described in the publication "Nylon Support Films for the Manufacture of SMC Products," by P. Stuart Bollen et al, at the 35.sup.th Annual Technical Conference 1990, Reinforced Plastics Companies Institute, The Society of Plastics Industry, Inc., also hereby incorporated by reference. This publication sets forth the distinct advantages of the modified nylon carrier film with the employment of polyethylene (PE) film to support the formation of the SMC compounds. However, it was reported that PE film, at a low cost and per unit area, relatively inert and with non-adhesive properties, has been exceptionally permeable to the common volatile liquid aromatic hydrocarbons, such as benzene, toluene and styrene monomers, as employed in the heat-curable thermostatic styrene modified resins.
In addition, it may be appreciated that monomer components such as styrene are frequently employed in the resins as crosslinking agents. Undue loss of styrene may lead to useless batch of compound. Previously, the edges of the SMC and TMC have been styrene deprived because styrene could escape through the unsealed film, at the edges of the compound during the process and during maturation, after removal from the maturation area, and prior to molding. Trimming of styrene deprived edges can be a costly loss of compound to the end user.
It should be further noted that while it was possible previously to seal the edges of the film, the force required to pull the film apart was too great to do so without cutting of the film. Molders thus found that separation of the film from the SMC or TMC was inefficient and too expensive since special equipment was required. A need therefore exists for a film which can be sealed at the edges and then peeled apart so that molding compound can be used.
It is therefore desirable to provide for a new and improved, low cost and efficient carrier support film product for the manufacture of SMC, TMC, and BMC products in the processes for production thereof.

Carrier release sheet for molding compound


The concentration of impurities contained in ultrapure water or press water can be efficiently analyzed with high precision. A portion of a liquid to be measured is introduced into an absorption spectrometric portion from a predetermined line. The liquid is irradiated with exciting light from an exciting light irradiation system, and a measurement object region in which a photothermal effect of the impurities in the liquid is produced by the irradiation is irradiated with measuring light from a measuring light irradiation system. A change in phase of the measuring light is detected by a predetermined optical system and a photodetector, and the impurity concentration in the liquid is determined on the basis of the change in phase.

There have been known analyzers each including a detection portion for detecting a specified component in a sample.
This type of detectors includes a detector for detecting absorbance of a specified component (for example, a liquid chromatographic detector of Patent Document 1).
However, the detector of Patent Document 1 directly detects absorbance for analyzing a component and thus has difficulty in improving analytical precision.
Namely, in order to directly detect absorbance, an intensity ratio (transmittance) before and after transmission through a sample is required, and thus it is necessary to set a long optical path for light transmitted through the sample so that an intensity ratio to be detected is increased for improving analytical precision.
In order to extend the optical path, it is necessary to increase the sectional area of a passage of the sample or change the irradiation direction of light with respect to the flow passage. However, such a change in design becomes a large scale and is restricted by limitations on the space in an apparatus and the like.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-149135

Analyzer for absorption spectrometry of impurity concentration contained in liquid using exciting light


A dual-rail memory includes, in part, a memory array that operates using a first supply voltage, and a periphery circuit that operates using a second supply voltage. The periphery circuit includes, in part, a clock generation circuit and a comparator. The dual-rail memory also includes a level shifter that varies the voltage level of a number of signals of the memory between the first and second supply voltages. The clock generation circuit is adapted, among other operations, to generate a read clock signal in response to a read request signal. The level shifter is adapted to supply a reference wordline read signal in response to the read clock signal. The comparator is adapted to select a delay between the read clock signal and the reference wordline read signal in response to a difference between the first and second supply voltages.

The increase in design complexity and number of devices integrated in a System-on-a-Chip (SOC) often leads to a significant increase in the power consumption of the SOC. Static Random Access Memories, which are often an important component of an SOC, consume a relatively large percentage of the power. Low power SRAMs have gained popularity due to their widespread adoption in hand-held devices. A known technique for reducing the dynamic power consumption of an SRAM is to lower the operating voltage. However, lowering the operating voltage degrades the performance and results in SRAM cell instability and poor writabiliy. To overcome such shortcomings, dual-rail SRAMs have been developed.
A conventional dual-rail SRAM uses two different supply voltages. One of the supply voltages powers the memory or cell array and is referred to as VDDA. The second supply voltage powers the periphery logic and is referred to as VDDP. The dual-rail (also referred to as dual-supply) technique enables independent modulation of VDDA and VDDP voltage levels based on the performance and power requirements. For example, to achieve a lower power consumption, the VDDP level may be reduced while keeping the VDDA level fixed. However, having two different supply voltages necessitates the use of two voltage regulators, one to regulate VDDA and another to regulate VDDP.
Mismatches and nonideality between the two voltage regulators may generate unexpected voltage levels. Further mismatches in the voltage supplies may also occur due to the ohmic drop within the memory. Therefore, even under conditions when VDDA is expected to be equal to VDDP, mismatches and non-deal behaviors in the voltage regulators may cause VDDP to be higher than VDDA thus causing performance degradations, such as narrowing of the read and write windows. To counter such effects, an extra margin on read and write windows may be used. Such an extra margin, however, affects the access time and cycle time of the memory and also increases the dynamic power consumption of the SRAM. Therefore, a need continues to exist for a dual-supply SRAM that avoids the above-described shortcomings.

Self-adjustable self-timed dual-rail SRAM


The signal processing apparatus inserts the header information in a frame to probably be the reproduction start point by including: the first and the second coding units that code an input signal per frame; the first header inserting unit that inserts the SBR header indicating management information of the coded signal represented by a sequence of frames, in each frame at a regular interval within the coded signal; the control unit that determines a frame in which the SBR header is inserted, independent of the frames in which the first header inserting unit inserts the SBR header; and the second header inserting unit that singly inserts the SBR header in the frame determined by the control unit.

In recent years, audio players that use semiconductor memories as recording media have been developed. In many cases, encoders perform compression coding on music contents stored in advance in recording media, such as a CD, and the music contents are stored in semiconductor memories (CD ripping). Then, decoders reproduce the compressed audio contents stored in the semiconductor memories so that users of the audio players can enjoy music.
In these cases, the encoders need to have the following characteristics in view of the user's convenience, such as: (1) a lower bit rate in compression coding; and (2) faster processing speed in compression coding. The lower bit rate in compression coding allows even an inexpensive recording medium having a smaller recording capacity to record data for a long period of time. Furthermore, the faster processing speed in compression coding makes it possible to code many tunes within a shorter period of time.
In recent years, the MPEG AAC-SBR method (ISO/IEC14496-3) has been standardized as a coding method characterized by using a lower bit rate. FIG. 1 illustrates the basic principle of compression coding according to the AAC-SBR method. According to the AAC-SBR method, compression coding is performed on a signal in a lower frequency band, using the AAC method in a main layer (left side in FIG. 1), and compression coding is performed on a signal in a higher frequency band, using the SBR method in a sub-layer (right side in FIG. 1). Here, the SBR method is a method of replicating, modifying, and shaping a signal in a lower band. Thus, the SBR part in FIG. 1 can be coded at a very low bit rate.
FIG. 2 illustrates the basic structure of a bit stream according to the AAC-SBR method. An AAC part (AAC data) and an SBR part (SBR data) are stored in each of audio frames divided at predetermined time intervals, and header information (AAC header and SBR header) is placed at the head of each of the audio frames. Here, as long as an SBR header that is a header of the SBR part is inserted once every several frames, the SBR header does not necessarily have to be present in each audio frame in view of reduction in a bit rate. The MPEG standard suggests insertion of an SBR header 2 times per second. The reason of such regular insertion is as follows. When the aforementioned methods are used in broadcasting, for example, input in a decoder does not always start from the head of a bit stream. Under such a condition, when an SBR header is inserted only in a head of a bit stream but SBR headers are not inserted at regular intervals, the SBR part cannot be reproduced to the end of the bit stream. Similarly, reproduction of a bit stream stored in advance does not start from the head of the bit stream. For example, in the case of reproduction from a 40-second time point, the SBR part cannot be reproduced without regular insertion of the SBR headers.
In order to accelerate the compression coding, a great many techniques that cause encoders to perform faster processing have been developed. Since these techniques are out of the scope of the present invention, the description is omitted here. On the other hand, several processing methods have been devised in view of the acceleration of the compression coding in an encode system. FIG. 3 illustrates a system configuration for processing music signals in a CD at faster speed.
First, a music signal stored in a CD is transmitted to an input pulse code modulation (PCM) buffer. Next, a signal processor, that is a digital signal processor (DSP) obtains the music signal from the input PCM buffer, and performs compression coding on the music signal. The resulting bit stream obtained by the compression coding is stored through an output bit stream buffer in an external memory, such as a SD memory card. The series of operations are controlled by a microcomputer controller. For example, when music signals that are stored in the CD and that correspond to 10 tunes are coded, the music signals are sequentially inputted into the input PCM buffer without any interval between the tunes. Accordingly, the signal processor sequentially codes the music signals without detecting an interval between the tunes. Such processing is performed when the signal processor sequentially codes one long tune corresponding to 10 tunes in a length of time. The resulting output bit stream coded and stored in the output bit stream buffer is divided, according to the tune length information originally stored in the CD (minutes and seconds), into tunes, such as into the first track and the second track (See Patent Reference 1). Such processing is performed because coding several tunes at one time enables the signal processor to perform processing faster than coding tunes one-by-one.
Patent Reference 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-101638

Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.


An electronic circuit for generating error detection codes in digital sigs organized into serial data blocks, which derives the error code from the coefficients of a remainder polynomial obtained from the division of a dividend polynomial, whose coefficients are the bits of each serial block, and a convenient divisor polynomial. The circuit has a shift register wherein at the beginning of each serial data block the reset and the first datum load are performed in a single clock interval.

When transmission system quality is to be evaluated, it is usual to associate with a certain block of digital signals to be transmitted a digital code obtained by duly processing the signals themselves, and to check whether this code is equal to the code obtained from the block of the received digital signals, processed in the same way as at the transmission. When, however, the correct functioning of an apparatus or a circuit is to be evaluated, a circuit is added for extracting some digital signals from suitable points of the item to be tested and a digital code is computed which is compared with a known code. The comparison results allows the proper functioning or malfunctioning of the item under test to be checked.
A particular kind of such codes, referred to as cyclic redundancy codes or CRD, is obtained as follows. Each block of N digital signals, each of them being associated with a code, is considered as a polynomial of degree N, whose coefficients are the bits of the block itself. This polynomial is divided by a divisor polynomial, having a suitable degree and suitable coefficient values, and the division remainder polynomial coefficients, of degree lower by a unit than that of the divisor, form the cyclic redundancy code of CRC. The higher the remainder polynomial degree, the more accurate the check performed on the data to be tested. Of course, even the complexity of the circuits which perform the division between the polynomials is higher.
The polynomial division, effected by modulus-2 subtractions or additions, i.e. without carry or borrow, generally requires rather complex electronic circuits. However, by exploiting the fact that the data are generally organized into serial blocks and the divisor polynomial is constant and predetermined, the division circuit can be considerably simplified.
A few examples of division circuits, used for generating cyclic codes for error detection, are described in the paper entitled "Cyclic Codes for Error Detection", by W. W. Peterson and D. T. Brown, issued on Proceedings on the IRE, January 1961. They basically consist of a shift register, with a number of stages lower by a unity than the degree of the divisor polynomial, and of modulus-2 adders placed in between the register stages, corresponding to the divisor polynomial terms with coefficients different from zero. Each adder adds the bit coming from the preceding stage of the shift register to the bit entering the division circuit at that instant. The adders are implemented by exclusive-OR gates. As is easy to understand, the division operation is performed by successive shift operations, corresponding to the multiplication of the divisor by the single terms of the quotient, and by modulus-2 additions, corresponding to the successive subtractions of the products obtained from the updated dividend.
Another example of division circuitry wherein the divisor polynomial can be chosen time by time, is described in the paper entitled "Self-Testing by polynomila division" by D. K. Bhavsar and R. W. Heckelman, presented at the International Test Conference, Philadelphia, October 1981. IN this circuit, used for checking the functioning of complex circuits, there are adders at each shift register stage and the signal outgoing from the division circuit is brought to each adder only if the relevant coefficient of the divisor polynomial is different from zero. This higher flexibility of course entails higher circuit complexity.
Moreover, both the solutions examined require a previous operation of reset of the shift register contents whenever the cyclic redundancy code is calculated for a data block, operating in the time interval comprised between the last datum of a block and the first datum of the subsequent block. This operation, in case it is to be performed on the serial flow of data with the relevant clock signals, requires the generation of a reset signal with active phase placed between two successive blanks of the clock signal. It is clear that the generation of such a signal requires rather complex circuits and can cause malfunctionings, especially if the active phase above is not synchronous with the clock signal.

Electronic circuit for generating error detection codes for digital signals

Sip-Societa Italiana per l'Esercizio delle Telecommunicazioni P.A.


A plastic waste container is rotationally molded with a hollow material carrying or holding compartment having a bottom, rear, front and opposed side walls. A plastic pocket defining a prong receiving channel, located on each side wall, is integrally formed with the compartment, i.e., molded therewith or premolded and subsequently bonded thereto. Preferably a skirt, extending around each of the pockets, is integrally molded with the compartment and includes struts extending along the side walls of the compartment, above and below the pockets.

Rotational molding involves a process for producing generally hollow, seamless plastic products. Its greatest use has been for thermoplastic materials in which a powder or liquid polymer is placed in a mold with the mold being heated and rotated simultaneously about two perpendicular axes, i.e., biaxially. Polyethylene or polypropylene are the most common thermoplastic materials in use.
When using a powdered material, the powder, in coming into contact with the heated rotating mold surface, melts and adheres thereto. As the mold continues to rotate the material continuously coats the heated mold surface to form a homogenous layer of uniform thickness. The mold is then cooled by air or water and opened to allow the part to be removed.
An enclosed volume, such as a hollow ring or void, for example, forming a rim of a container, can be created during the molding process by forming a narrow opening(s) between the main compartment and the void in the mold. Plastic flows through the opening and coats the interior of the space forming the void. Layers of the material continue to form on the walls of the mold defining the void until the opening(s) is closed as a result of the thickness of the plastic layers exceeding the width of the opening(s). At this time the opening is bridged with material continuing to flow inside of the mold section forming the main compartment.
One method of forming a void, in a rotationally molded refuse container, to provide a rim for the container, is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,922,267 ("'267 patent"). In the '267 container the void is vented directly to atmosphere during the molding process via vent tubes extending from the enclosed void through the mold wall. These vents enable air to be expelled from the void during the later stages of the molding process to ensure the development of a uniform nonporous coating of material within the void. Alternatively, the air within the void may be vented to the interior of the mold via widened openings or gaps which are not bridged over. The air exiting the void as well as air within the main compartment is vented to the atmosphere via a vent tube extending through the mold wall. Such a venting gap(s) must have a width sufficiently large to avoid being bridged over by the layered material during the molding process.
The '267 patent is directed to a relatively small refuse container designed primarily for residential use. Larger waste containers for industrial and commercial use, e.g., having a capacity of several or more cubic yards, have traditionally been made of metal, i.e, steel. These waste containers, sometimes referred to as dumpsters, include side pockets or channels sized to receive the prongs or blades of a lifting mechanism, traditionally carried by waste transport trucks, which lift and empty the dumpster's contents into the truck's storage area for transport to a dump site. Such dumpsters conventionally have closure lids pivotally mounted to the back rim of the dumpster and many are equipped with a manual locking mechanism located at the front of the dumpster to prevent access to the dumpster's interior during certain times such as nights or weekends. In addition, casters are generally mounted to the bottoms of the dumpsters to facilitate their movement from a storage area to a location accessible by a waste transport truck. Such steel containers are not only heavy, but are subject to rusting, requiring considerable maintenance.
A prior art rotationally-molded plastic waste container, designed for industrial/commercial use, capable of holding several cubic yards of refuse is presently on the market. While the container is lighter and substantially maintenance free as compared to conventional steel dumpsters, it utilizes steel pockets for receiving the lifting mechanism prongs. The steel pockets which are bolted to the container side walls support the container and its contents on the lifting prongs. In addition, the lid is pivotally mounted to the back rim of the container by means of a steel bracket. The steel components are not only expensive as compared to the plastic material used to form the storage compartment, but must be manually attached to the plastic container during an assembly process and are subject to rusting. In addition, considerable noise is generated when the lifting prongs engage the steel pockets. In an effort to reduce this noise plastic sleeves have been inserted into the steel pockets increasing the costs. A brochure illustrating this prior art container, marketed by Nuwave Container, Inc., is attached to the Information Disclosure Statement ("IDS"). In addition, excerpts from the web sites of Cascade Engineering and Pacific Compactor Corp. Showing injection and rotationally molded trash containers in which steel pockets for receiving the lifting prongs are bolted to the container compartment are attached to the IDS.
There is a need for a molded plastic waste container which overcomes the above disadvantages.

Molded plastic waste container with integral side channels for receiving lifting prongs and method


A new life jacket with flexible life line for allowing a user to have a life line conveniently located on their life jacket so that the line can be easily accessed during a rescue. The inventive device includes a life jacket with a top, a bottom, and front and back floatation panels. The panels define a pair of side spaces between them which are each adapted for extending an arm therethrough. A flexible pouch having an interior compartment and an top opening into the interior compartment is coupled to the front and back floatation panels. A length of flexible line having opposite ends is disposable in the interior compartment of the pouch such that the ends of the flexible line are extended from the pouch. One of the ends of the flexible line has a fastening clip coupled thereto which is detachably attachable to a portion of the life jacket for securing the one end of the flexible line to the life jacket.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to life jackets and more particularly pertains to a new life jacket with flexible life line for allowing a user to have a life line conveniently located on their life jacket so that the line can be easily accessed during a rescue.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of life jackets is known in the prior art. More specifically, life jackets heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art life jackets include U.S. Pat. No. 5,326,297; U.S. Pat. No. 5,429,539; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 260,162; U.S. Pat. No. 4,721,487; U.S. Pat. No. 5,452,487; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,230,645.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new life jacket with flexible life line. The inventive device includes a life jacket with a top, a bottom, and front and back floatation panels. The panels define a pair of side spaces between them which are each adapted for extending an arm therethrough. A flexible pouch having an interior compartment and an top opening into the interior compartment is coupled to the front and back floatation panels. A length of flexible line having opposite ends is disposable in the interior compartment of the pouch such that the ends of the flexible line are extended from the pouch. One of the ends of the flexible line has a fastening clip coupled thereto which is detachably attachable to a portion of the life jacket for securing the one end of the flexible line to the life jacket.
In these respects, the life jacket with flexible life line according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of allowing a user to have a life line conveniently located on their life jacket so that the line can be easily accessed during a rescue.


A water current energy converter designed for and capable of converting the flow energy of a moving body of water into electric power comprises at least one water driven flow machine, especially a water driven turbine, an electric power generator (19) and a hydraulic energy transfer system arranged between the water turbine(s) and the power generator (19). According to the invention in at least one thoroughfare flow duct (8) of a floating buoyant body (2) at least one pumping unit (10) comprising a hydraulic rotary pump (11, 12) coupled to a shaft of the water driven turbine is provided. The buoyant body (2) is held by anchoring means in a predetermined orientation and in substantially stationary position on the surface of the water. The hydraulic rotary pumps (11, 12) form component parts and serve as hydraulic pressure sources in the hydraulic energy transfer system.

The present invention relates to a water current energy converter designed for and capable of converting the flow energy of a moving body of water into electric power, such converter comprising at least one water driven flow machine, especially a water turbine, an electric power generator, and a hydraulic energy transfer system arranged between said water turbine(s) and said power generator.
The known types of contemporary hydroelectric machines for generating electric power by making use of the flow energy of moving bodies of water embody the different types of water driven turbines that have been developed to highly sophisticated technical standard. With hitherto known such machines, maintaining a constant speed of revolution of the water driven turbines used for power generation is a primary requirement. The maintenance of constant speed can be effected by continuously adjusting, during operation, either the blade angle of the turbine propeller blades, or the wheel discharge of the turbine, the latter usually performed by turbine gate rigging, i.e. by continuously altering the position of baffle plates arranged within the inlet area of the turbine wheel passage. Both ways of speed control mentioned require elaborate and thus, expensive machinery with inherent tendency to operation failures, and also with losses of efficiency involved.
Another technical problem lies in the fact that an A.C. voltage of the frequency range between 50 to 54 Hz usually required for industrial purposes can only be generated by water driven turbines of a rated speed of 100 to 600 revolutions per minute if an electric power generator of considerable size, i.e. diameter, is coupled to the turbine shaft. Alternatively, a generator of reduced diameter should be driven by the water turbine via a speed reducing gear whereby mechanical efficiency is reduced by simultaneous increase of investment and maintenance expenditures. For the sake of example only, reference is made to an existing power plant situated at the mouth of the river Ronce in France where an electric power generator of the diameter of 4 meters is driven by an adjustable blade Kaplan-type turbine having an impeller of the diameter of 5.35 meters and operating at a rated speed of 93.75 revolutions per minute. Such and similar large size equipment can economically be used in connection with huge dams or weirs only. Such types of machinery are, however, completely excluded from possible use in all cases where the utilization of the energy of water flow, especially tidal currents of only 1 to 2 or even 4 to 5 meters in thickness of layer, and of up to 40 km per hour speed of advance is envisaged.
Water currents of such characteristics are occasionally several thousand meters wide and their estimated total energy content could be a multiple of that of the famous Niagara Falls. According to both, local observations and measured values, on the river Amasonas heavy break-ins of tidal current in the form of an advancing wall-like tidal surge speeding up to 40 km per hour against the river stream and having a height of 4.5 meters by a width of 12 km are quite common at times of sun-moon conjunction. Sources of literature refer to tidal surges observed at the mouth of the river Humber that occure twice a day with a flow speed up to 40 km per hour. In a distance of 10 km further upstream from the mouth, the height of the tidal wave could still be estimated to 2 meters. Similarly to this, the speed of the tidal current through the mouth of the river Seine has also been measured to 40 km per hour, and its height can also reach 2 meters. In certain areas between sea islands and in narrows tidal currents of higher speed than those mentioned above involving extremely huge masses of water have also been located. It is a well known experience to those familiar with navigation that in certain periods of flood tide, cargo vessels of minor or even average performance have their difficulty of passing the Straits of Gibraltar.


The present invention provides novel agents for specifically targeting and detecting or treating focal sites of infection or inflammation in a subject.

Gallium-67 (67Ga), which binds in vivo to the plasma protein transferring, was the first true radionuclide infection imaging agent and still is the primary radiopharmaceutical used to detect infection. However, the target-to-background ratio of this agent is relatively low compared to more recently developed agents. In addition, normal physiological accumulation of gallium in the liver, spleen, gastrointestinal tract, and kidneys makes evaluation of the abdomen difficult. There is also significant bone uptake, which can make it difficult to diagnose osteomyelitis. Gallium scans frequently require 24 to 72 hours or more of delayed imaging to make a definite diagnosis. Further, 67Ga shows uptake in a significant number of tumors, making it less useful in detecting infection in cancer patients and less specific for injection in general.
Although exhibiting higher specificity, 111In and 99mTc labeled leukocytes (granulocytes) are relatively difficult to prepare since, to avoid an immune response, the subject""s own neutrophils must be harvested and labeled in vitro, prior to in vivo administration. In addition, relatively high levels of this agent has been found to accumulate in the liver, spleen and bone marrow.
Monoclonal antibodies, both whole and Fabxe2x80x2 fragments, have also been developed. Examples include: 123I-anti-nonspecific cross-reacting antigen (NCA)-95 immunoglobulin (Ig) G1 antibody (NCA) (Locher JTh et al., (1986) Nucl. Med Comm 7:659-670), a 99mTc-anti-NCA-90 Fabxe2x80x2 fragment (Becker, W et al., (1992) J. Nucl. Med 33: 1817-1825), and 99mTc-anti-stage-specific embryonic antigen-1 (SSEA-1) IgM antibody (Thakur, M L (1988) J. Nucl. Med. 29: 1817-1825). High contrast imaging can be achieved by allowing a nonradiolabeled antibody to localize and clear from the circulation prior to administration of a low molecular weight, radiolabeled moiety with high affinity for the pretargeted moiety. One such method utilizes the high affinity of avidin, a cationic glycoprotein found in egg whites, for biotin, a naturally occurring vitamin. Avidin (or streptavidin) is capable of binding four biotin molecules and forming an avidin-biotin complex with a very high affinity. (Kd=10xe2x88x9215M). However, this pretargeting, xe2x80x9ctwo-stepxe2x80x9d approach, requires that a subject be available to undergo multiple procedures over the course of a few days.
Despite the success of several agents for imaging infection, at least 24 hours is typically required before lesions can be visualized. From a clinical perspective, this is a serious deficiency. Safe and effective agents that rapidly localize at a site of infection or inflammation and produce a clear image are needed.
In one aspect, the invention features agents comprised of a colony stimulating factor (CSF), which specifically target sites of infection or inflammation in a subject in vivo. Preferred CSFs are selected from the group consisting of: granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), monocyte colony stimulating factor (M-CSF or CSF-1) and binding fragments thereof. For use in the invention, a CSF may be: i) purified or recombinant; ii) wildtype (natural) or a variant (mutant); iii) fully, partially or non-glycosylated; iv) a full-length protein, polypeptide or peptide; or v) human or non-human. Particularly preferred agents show a target to non-target ratio of at least about 5:1, are stable in vivo and substantially localize to target within about 18 hours after administration, more preferably within about 10 or 8 hours and optimally within about 4 hours after administration.
In one embodiment, the agent is a pharmaceutical composition comprised of a CSF and a therapeutic agent. Preferred therapeutic agents are capable of preventing the establishment of or treating a site of infection or inflammation. Examples include antimicrobial agents and antiinflammatory agents including non-steroidal and steroidal compounds. In another embodiment, the agent is an imaging agent comprised of a CSF and a label. Preferred labels are radionuclides. Particularly preferred radionuclides are selected from the group consisting of radioisotopes with physical decay characteristics ideal for xcex3-camera and/or PET camera imaging 123I, 99mTc, 18F, 68Ga, 62Cu, 64Cu, 55Co, 111In. The invention further features kits for use in treating or imaging a site of infection or inflammation in a subject.
In another aspect, the invention features methods for preventing or treating a site of infection or inflammation in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a colony stimulating factor and a therapeutic agent.
In a further aspect, the invention features methods for imaging a site of infection or inflammation in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a diagnostically effective amount of a composition comprising a colony stimulating factor and a therapeutic agent.
The diagnostic agents of the invention rapidly localize at sites of infection or inflammation. In addition, the agents exhibit a relatively high target-to-background ratio and rapid clearance from the background and the target, particularly when administered as a bolus intravenously. Further, clinical pharmacokinetic studies indicate that administration of colony stimulating factors in an amount effective for targeting would be relatively safe.
Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description and claims.

Compounds for targeting and imaging infection and inflammation


A data reading testing method of a microcomputer loaded with a PROM being conducted under a normal operation mode. Setting the operation mode of the microcomputer to a ROM-less mode. Setting the externally extended function under the ROM-less mode. Diverging addresses to an externally extended region. Setting the microcomputer to the normal operation mode, upon which a CPU is to fetch instructions being previously provided to applicable addresses of the externally extended region, and to read the data from the PROM. Reading the data from the PROM. Evaluating the read data and terminating the reading test.

The present invention relates to a single-chip microcomputer having a semiconductor substrate being loaded with peripheral equipment including a CPU (central processing unit), a ROM (read-only memory), a RAM (random-access memory), a timer, a serial input/output, an A/D converter and so forth. In particular, the present invention relates to a microcomputer loaded with a PROM (programmable non-volatile semiconductor memory), and to a method of testing a read-out operation of the data of the PROM.

Microcomputer loaded with PROM and data read-out testing method for same


A two-way interactive addressable entertainment terminal comprises a processor, a keyboard, a character generator responsive to the processor and memory for storage of an algorithm related to the installation of the terminal and to providing a verification indication at the terminal of acknowledged entry of the terminal into an entertainment system. The character generator, responsive to the passage of a predetermined period of time since the application of power to the terminal, causes a number of screens to be displayed on an associated television receiver. The display screens reinforce the algorithm and provide indications of programmed key functions despite labels of keys on the keyboard. Consequently, a user or installer is capable of installing a terminal according to the present invention without any communication with personnel at the location of a system manager. By requiring the practically simultaneous occurrence of two events the application of power and the actuation of a predetermined key, inadvertent entry into either an installation mode or a maintenance mode of terminal operation is prevented.

1. Technical Field
This invention primarily relates to the field of two way interactive entertainment systems typically provided over cable facilities to a user and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus enabling automatic configuration of a television terminal and of its association with a television receiver.
2. Description of the Relevant Art
Two way interactive cable television systems are known for transmitting entertainment, information and data signals over a cable facility toward a plurality of users. Data may be transmitted and addressed to a particular subscriber over a separate data channel or a so-called "in-band" data channel. In a downstream direction, addressed control data may represent services authorized to a particular terminal or control commands to that terminal. In an upstream direction from a terminal to the service provider or system manager location, control data may represent selections made by a user in response to a polling request or at the time of user selection.
Terminals are often manufactured with stored unique identification numbers which may be unknown to a user for security purposes. Nevertheless, the unique identification number is necessary for the system manager to enter a terminal into a system along with location related information and configuration information. When service is ordered, an installer may be dispatched to an installation location with a terminal but, in the past, has not been able to align a screen display of an associated television receiver without having to obtain access to the interior of the terminal. Further, the installer has not been able to actuate entry of the terminal into the entertainment system without the assistance of personnel at the system manager location. Further still, the installer has been unable to immediately and automatically verify entry of the terminal into the system.
In a hotel/hospital environment, considerable interaction between an installer and the system manager location may be required to accomplish terminal configuration. In fact, the installer may be required to travel between the locations of the terminal and of the system manager until terminal entry into the system is acknowledged.
No provision has been made in the past for the possibility that a user may purchase their own terminal and configure the terminal themselves. The user is dependent on installer installation processes.
The installer or user, then, to configure a terminal should be able to assure themselves that the individual components of the terminal are functioning properly. They should assure themselves that any software is handling tasks in a responsible, efficient manner. The association of the terminal with the terminal receiver should be verified in at least two ways. Firstly, each television receiver may react differently to commands to display a teletext screen of information. Consequently, there may be a requirement to align the display of a test screen on the television receiver. Secondly, the turning off of power to a television receiver may be inappropriate for a particular television receiver installation. Consequently, if power is supplied to the television receiver via the terminal, it may be appropriate to set a switched power outlet of the terminal to either a permanently ON or to a switched condition in which power is provided to the receiver only when the terminal is turned on. System entry is determined by, at least, the acceptance by a system manager of the unique terminal identification and, possibly, a secondary identification of the terminal and/or the user. Typically, a separate telephone communication is required for the user or installer to verify system entry.
Interactive terminals generally have been equipped without the capability of locally generating a display on an associated television receiver. Terminal-provided displays such as liquid crystal display of a selected channel number at a terminal are inadequate for providing an effective man/machine interface for accomplishing a complicated task such as terminal configuration. Supplementing any such display with an installation manual may still be inadequate and confuse the user or installer.
Keys normally provided at interactive terminals comprise a complement of numeric input keys, channel increment keys, volume control keys, a power button and a "buy" key. However, these keys are inappropriately labeled and may confuse the user if simultaneously employed for terminal configuration.
It is also known in the art of non-interactive cable television terminals having a programmable read only memory to enable a remote programming of the terminal via inputting a special code not provided with the standard remote control transmitter associated with the terminal. According to U.S. Pat. No. 4,792,972, which issued Dec. 20, 1988, entitled "Remote Programming of a CATV Channel Authorization Unit" and incorporated herein by reference, an installer employs a special programming unit equipped with, for example, an infrared transmitter to remotely program the read only memory of a so-called "plain Jane" converter, which is not addressable over a communication link by a system manager, nor is the converter capable of return transmissions. Via the special code, access is obtained to the read only memory into which memory is loaded premium channels and services authorization data. The converter is not equipped with a character generator and has so capability to locally generate character screens for display on an associated television receiver. All activities are controlled from the special code transmitting remote programming unit.
Consequently, there remains a requirement in the art for providing an interactive television terminal and method of enabling an automatic installation of the terminal comprising, for example, screen alignment, terminal configuration, or the acknowledgement of entry into an interactive entertainment system.

Automatic interactive television terminal configuration


A plastic film bag assembly includes a recloseable plastic film bag made up of a front wall and back wall joined together and having complementary detachably attachable zipper profiles at the bag opening. A lip extends from the front wall above the zipper profiles. A header extends above the back wall above the zipper profiles. A hole is provided through the header at a distance from the header perimeter edge and defining a severable header portion between the hole and the perimeter edge. A slit or perforation may be provided at the severable header portion for controlling the strength thereof. The bags are supported on a stop member which extends through the header holes. The bags are manually individually dispensed by gripping the lip and pulling for at least partially separating the zipper profiles and, thereafter, causing the severable header portion to be severed and thereby causing the bag to be ripped off of the stop member.

Recloseable plastic film bags of the type having complementary zipper profiles are today commonly and widely used in various applications for temporarily or semi-permanently storing many different goods such as, for example, foods, electronic equipment, mechanical components, specimens, etc. When recloseable bags are individually used manually for placing products or goods therein, it is desirable for such bags to be provided in packs of large quantities and to easily and readily be individually dispensable therefrom.
An example of recloseable individually dispensable plastic film bags are disclosed in Bruno, U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,586. There, recloseable plastic film bags are provided with a flap attached to the back wall of the bag and extending upwardly therefrom. Holes are formed on the flap for mounting or supporting the bags by receiving a peg therethrough. The bag front wall is provided with a finger flap to enable a user to insert his finger therein and remove an individual bag from the stack on the mounting pegs. Individual bags which are removed from the pegs in this fashion require that the user then first pull the zipper profiles apart and open the bag prior to use. In an alternate embodiment, the bags are provided in an initially open condition with the zipper profiles detached from one another thereby eliminating the cumbersome step of having to open the individual bags after pulling them off of the pegs. Pre-opened bags, however, are undesirable because they are not easily stacked and require substantially more storage space and, further, because prior to their use, the bags could inadvertently become contaminated by something entering or falling into the bag cavity.
Another example of prior recloseable plastic film bags which are supported and individually dispensable are disclosed in Huseman, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,309,698 and 5,419,437. There, recloseable plastic film bags having interlocking zipper profiles are provided having a header portion extending upwardly from the back wall. The bags are supported by the header. A perforation is provided on the header portion above the zipper profiles and the strength of the perforation is greater than the strength of the zipper profiles such that pulling on the front wall lip first causes the zipper profiles to separate and, thereafter, causes the bag to be separated from its header at the perforation. Typically, the header portions above the perforations are attached together by staples, hot needle/heat welding, or other suitable means. The header portions above the perforations essentially serve only to support the individual bags and, thus, after the bags are ripped or separated therefrom, are either discarded or preferably recycled. Accordingly, although this recloseable bag structure provides bags which are initially closed and which are dispensed in an open condition, the cost of material for manufacturing can be relatively higher in view of the header portion above the perforations which is discarded.


A portable wireless receiver is provided which has a position locating function through reception of GPS satellite radio waves. The portable wireless receiver has a speaker/microphone unit including a GPS antenna, a speaker, and a microphone built in the unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a portable wireless receiver capable of reliably receiving GPS (global positioning system) satellite radio waves.
2. Related Background Art
In communications by using a conventional portable wireless receiver having a speaker/microphone unit or head set, the wireless receiver main body itself is in many cases held by the belt of a user at the waist position.
The position of a GPS receiver can be measured by receiving radio waves from GPS (global positioning system) satellites, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 6-15022. The position of the antenna of this receiver is at the waist as shown in FIG. 5 of the Publication. Since the antenna is at the low position of the human body, the human body becomes a shade (obstacle) of satellite radio communications and good communications are sometimes difficult.
A portable receiver capable of GPS radio wave reception disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 6-230104 is not possible to communicate while it is carried by a user in motion because the GPS antenna is required to be picked up from a case and set properly.
A police or guard man carrying a portable wireless receiver can communicate with a police station or guard headquarter to inform the contents of an accident, the position of an accident site, or the like when the accident occurs during patrol.
However, in some cases, speech communications with a police station or guard headquarter to inform the contents of an accident or the position of an accident site were impossible in some cases if there is no sufficient time to inform in an urgent state. A portable wireless receiver capable of informing the position of a user even in such cases without speech communications has long been desired.


Methods and compositions are provided for repairing a polynucleotide so that it can be synthesized efficiently with improved fidelity and yield in, for example, an amplification reaction. This involves the use of a reaction mixture that includes a ligase and a cofactor selected from NAD+ or ATP and incubating the polynucleotide with the reaction mixture in the absence of Endonuclease VI.

Various approaches have been reported to repair DNA using base excision enzymes. Unfortunately, these approaches in different ways cause further damage to the DNA. Conventional PCR techniques have been modified to improve amplification in some aspects. U.S. Pat. No. 5,035,996 describes a process for controlling contamination of nucleic acid amplification reactions that uses the modified nucleotide, dUTP, in the amplification reaction. This process uses uracil glycosylase to eliminate those PCR products containing uracil to prevent contaminating subsequent PCR reactions. U.S. patent publication no. 2004-0067559 A1 also relies on modified bases in primer DNA prior to amplification and uses, for example, dUTP for incorporation into the amplicon. The amplicon can then be fragmented by adding, for example, Uracil-DNA Glycosylase (UDG) and Endonucleaese (Endo) IV.
Hot start nucleic acid amplification has been used to lower mis-priming during PCR. One type of hot start amplification relies on the presence of a PCR primer with a blocked 3′ terminus to prevent extension by the polymerase present in the PCR reaction (see for example US 2003-0119150). The primer is unblocked by a thermostable 3′-5′ exonuclease that is active at >37° C. Therefore, the polymerase will only extend the PCR primers once the exonuclease unblocks the 3′ end at >37° C. Alternatively the Taq polymerase is blocked and then activated at amplification temperatures.
Barnes, W. M. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91:2216-2220 (1994) describes the use of vent polymerase and Taq polymerase as an improvement over the use of Taq polymerase only in amplification. Ghadessy et al. reported a mutant Taq polymerase that is not halted by damaged or abasic sites (Ghadessy et al. Nature Biotechnol. 22(6):755-9 (2004)).
It has been reported that conventional amplification techniques are compromised if the DNA is substantially damaged (DiBernardo et al. Nucl. Acids Res. 30:e16 (2002)). Degradation and/or fragmentation of DNA resulting from exposure to the environment and microorganisms which contain DNA endonucleases is a frequent problem in forensics, diagnostic tests and routine amplification and affects fidelity and yield of the amplification product. In addition, the problem of degraded DNA is also faced by researchers who are analyzing the DNA obtained from frozen, extinct or extremely rare organisms.
Fromenty, B., et al. Nucl. Acids Res. 28(11):e50 (2000) and International Publication No. WO/0151656 reported that Exonuclease (Exo) III improved yields of long PCR. Fromenty also reported decreased yields of amplicon for DNA<500 bp. One of the problems associated with the use of Exo III is that it degrades template and primers.
Di Benardo et al. Nucl. Acids Res. 30(4):e16 (2002) described the use of T4 DNA ligase (T4 ligase) and an E. coli polymerase to amplify short regions of single-stranded DNA between cross-linked regions of double-stranded DNA.
Another approach to amplification of damaged DNA has been described in U.S. Publication No. 2003-0077581. Degraded nucleic acid was hybridized to undegraded nucleic acid having a sequence homologous to the degraded nucleic acid. Regions of the degraded nucleic acid were then filled in with nucleotide precursors. The fragmented strands were then covalently linked using a polymerizing and/or ligating enzyme.
Preparations for improving amplification of damaged DNA can be obtained commercially from Sigma, St. Louis, Mo. and Qbiogene, now MP Biomedicals, Irvine, Calif. Although the compositions of these preparations are not provided, it is assumed that Exo III is contained in the preparation. The preparations are not recommended for DNA templates less than 500 base pairs in length.
Others report the use of a combination of E. coli DNA PolI and T4 ligase for pre-amplification repair (Pusch, et al., Nucl. Acids Res. 26:857 (1998)). However, according to Pusch et al. the preamplification product is purified before initiation of amplification.

Repair of nucleic acids for improved amplification

Abstract: The reaction mixture may further contain an AP endonuclease and a polymerase. These enzymes are optionally selected according to their ability to withstand high temperatures so they can be included in an amplification mixture. The reaction mixture may be used prior to a polynucleotide synthesis reaction in which case enzymes that are not thermophilic may be used. The repair reaction is not time sensitive with respect to seconds, minutes or hours of incubation in the enzyme mixture.


A transmitting side relay device comprises additional information generation means for generating additional information about the characteristics of a data stream, packet generation means for generating a packet by attaching additional information to each transfer unit and transmitting means for transmitting the packet to the third network according to prescribed procedures. A receiving side relay device comprises separation means for breaking down the received packet into additional information and a transfer unit, analysis means for analyzing the additional information, reproduction means for locating information included in a corresponding transfer unit in an appropriate position and reproducing the data stream and output means for outputting the data stream reproduced by the reproduction means to the second network.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data communications system for implementing a service for communicating data with a prescribed cyclical structure, such as animation data, etc., in high quality via a communications network adopting a datagram type communications protocol, such as the Internet, etc.
As a standard for synchronously communicating animation data, such as digital video, etc., in a local bus, for example, IEEE1394 standard by IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering) is used.
Recently, with the spread of both equipment, such as a digital video camera, etc., and a high-performance personal computer to a general user, for example, a technology for connecting local networks configured according to the IEEE1394 standard to each other, for example, via the Internet and for relaying a data stream generated based on the standard of each local network is highly demanded.
The present invention is not limited to the Internet or IEEE1394 standard.
2. Description of the Related Art
One frame, which is the basic element of digital video data includes one frame of both video data and audio data and is composed of ten DIF sequences, as shown with serial numbers in FIG. 1A.
Each DIF sequence is composed of 150 DIF blocks and has a structure where a regular pattern consisting of 15 pieces of video data (v) continuing after one piece of audio data (a) following six frame header information (f), is repeated, as shown in FIG. 1B.
Each DIF block is composed of 77 bytes of data and three bytes of identification information, as shown in FIG. 1C.
The data structure shown in FIG. 1 indicates the logical format of digital video data, and when digital video data are transmitted in a real network, a format suitable for the characteristic of the network is adopted.
For example, if digital video data are transmitted via a local bus based on the IEEE1394 standard, an IEEE1394 packet is generated by attaching both a prescribed header (CIP (Common Isochronous Packet) header and synchronous (ISO) header) and CRC to six DIF blocks, as shown in FIG. 2A and digital video data are transmitted in transfer units of these IEEE1394 packets.
In this case, since each DIF sequence is divided into 25 IEEE1394 packets, as shown separated by vertical bars in FIG. 1B, one frame of digital video frame is transmitted as 250 IEEE1394 packets, as shown in FIG. 2B.
Therefore, the combination of DIF blocks included in each IEEE1394 packet has regularity, as shown in FIG. 2C. A repetition pattern shown with an arrow mark in FIG. 2C indicates the variation pattern of the combination of a DIF block (a) with audio data and a DIF block (v) with video data in eight IEEE1394 packets No. 1 through No. 8, and these IEEE1394 packets correspond to the shaded part of a DIF sequence shown in FIG. 1B.
As is clearly known from the regularity in the array of DIF blocks in the DIF sequence described above, the same repetition pattern appears in both IEEE1394 packets No. 9 though No. 16 and IEEE1394 packets No. 17 through No. 24 shown in FIG. 2.
According to the IEEE1394 standard, since it is stipulated that 8,000 IEEE1394 packets should be transmitted per second in a synchronous transfer mode, 30 frames of video and audio data can be reproduced per second via audio/visual equipment connected to a local bus, such as a display device, a speaker, etc.
Therefore, a first network and a second network which are connected by a local bus based on the IEEE1394 standard can also be connected via a third network of another type, and the IEEE1394 packets described above can also be theoretically transmitted/received between them.
A data communications system using such a gateway is also proposed.
For example, a data communications system is proposed by the Principle/Media Laboratory and Environmental Information Department of Keio University (Kazunori Sugiura et al., "Internet DV Transfer Technology Using Frame-Exclusive Technology", The Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers, Technical Report of IEICE, CPSY99-33, p.71–81 (May 1999).
As shown in FIG. 3, this data communications system comprises a gateway 10 for relaying data between a first network based on the IEEE1394 standard and the Internet, and a gateway 20 for relaying data between a second network based on the IEEE1394 standard and the Internet.
In FIG. 3, an IEEE1394 packet transmitted to the first network by a digital video camera 1 is transferred to a digital video transmitting unit (DV transmitting unit) 12 via an IEEE1394 adapter 11.
A frame thinning-out process is performed by this digital video transmitting unit 12. Simultaneously, as shown in FIG. 4, header information consisting of an IP header, UDP (User Datagram Protocol) and an application header is attached to an IEEE1394 packet to be transmitted, and a packet encapsulated in an IP packet is transmitted to the Internet via an Internet adapter 413.
In this way, the IP-encapsulated packet is transferred to a digital video receiving unit (DV receiving unit) 21 via an Internet adapter 13 and is decapsulated by this digital video receiving unit 21. Then, the packet is transmitted to the second network via an IEEE1394 adapter 11.
In this way, for example, pictures and voice that are taken by the digital video camera 1 connected to the first network can be transferred to the second network via the Internet and can be recorded/reproduced by a digital video deck 2 connected to the second network.
In this data communications system, an application header, including both an adjustment parameter for indicating information about frame thinning-out, etc., and a sequence number is attached in the encapsulation process by the digital video transmitting unit 12, and an IEEE1394 packet stream is reproduced according to information in this application header in the decapsulation process by the digital video receiving unit 21.
The data communications system shown in FIG. 3 simply encapsulate digital video data in a UDP packet and transmits the data, and information inserted in the application header when data are encapsulated is limited to a few items, such as a sequence number, etc.
For the details of both the frame thinning-out process and IEEE1394 packet stream reproduction process of this data communications system, see the reference described above.
In the data communications system described above, UDP is adopted as the communications protocol of the transport layer of the Internet, and each IEEE1394 packet composing the IEEE1394 packet stream in the first network is transferred to the second network via the Internet as datagram.
Since UDP is connectionless type communication protocol, broadcast type communications in which one sender can simultaneously transmit the same data to many receivers, can be conducted. Therefore, UDP is suited to transmit/receive data between the first and second networks via the Internet.
However, since UPS is provided only with an error detection mechanism as far as a mechanism for maintaining transfer quality is concerned, the loss and redundancy of an IP-encapsulated packet, the modification of an arrival order on the receiving side, etc., must be coped with by an application software program on both the transmitting and receiving sides.
In this way, sufficient information about the loss and redundancy of each packet, the modification of an arrival order, etc., cannot be obtained on the receiving side simply by encapsulating digital video data in an UDP capsule as in the data communications system shown in FIG. 3. Therefore, when the digital video data are reproduced, there is the possibility that there may be some failure and thereby sufficient communication quality cannot be expected.
For example, if a packet stream is synchronously communicated between a sender and a receiver in an IEEE1394 synchronous communications mode described above, transfer delay between the sender and receiver must also be kept constant.
However, in a "best-effort" type network, such as the Internet, both transfer rate and transfer delay vary depending on the traffic of a network and simultaneously, transfer delay on the receiving side greatly varies depending on the loss and redundancy of an IP-encapsulated packet.
Besides, the occurrence probability of the loss and redundancy of a packet, etc., varies depending on the traffic of a network.
Therefore, to implement the transmission of packet streams in an IEEE1394 synchronous communications mode via a network adopting a datagram type communications protocol, such as the Internet, etc., a technology for controlling transfer delay as well as a technology for improving transfer quality between a sender and a receiver are required.
For example, communications between local networks can be implemented via the Internet regardless of a physical distance between the local networks by providing each of a plurality of local area networks with a router or gateway and by connecting this router or gateway to the Internet.
FIG. 5 shows an example of the configuration of a data communications system configured by connecting a plurality of local area networks using gateways.
In the data communications system shown in FIG. 5, personal computers (PC) 21a, 21b and 21c connected to a first LAN, a second LAN and a third LAN, respectively, and gateways 22a, 22b and 22c are connected, for example, according to the communications protocol of a network layer, such as an IP protocol, etc.
If the communications protocols of the network layers between terminals in which data are relayed using both gateways and the Internet are unified, communications between personal computers 21a, 21b and 21c can be implemented regardless of the communications protocols of a data link layer adopted in the first, second and third LANs.
However, the IEEE1394 standard is focussed on as a high-speed interface for connecting audio/visual equipment, such as a digital video camera, etc., to a personal computer.
This IEEE1394 standard is a high-speed serial bus standard that is stipulated around both a physical layer and a data link layer, and stipulates a function to consecutively transfer a prescribed transfer unit in a specific cycle (synchronous transfer mode) and a function to transfer a control command from time to time to control equipment, such as a digital video camera, etc. (asynchronous transfer mode).
According to the IEEE1394 standard, n synchronous transfer channels and an asynchronous transfer packet transfer time coexist in one cycle (125 μs), as shown in FIG. 6A.
If data are transferred in asynchronous transfer mode, a node on the transmitting side requests a bus management node of an isochronous channel, and then a synchronous transfer channel depending on the transfer rate is assigned by the bus management node or a channel ID for identifying an aisochronous channel is provided.
If particularly, animation data with audio data are transferred in real time in a synchronous transfer mode, the transmitting side node attaches a CIP (Common Isochronous Packet) header to transfer data in addition to a synchronous header, including the channel ID described above, generates an aisochronous packet shown in FIG. 6B and transmits the assigned aisochronous channel. A receiving side node identifies a packet to be received based on the channel ID included in the aisochronous packet and receives the transfer data.
The CIP header is provided with 16 bits of a time stamp field, and when transferring digital video data, the transmitting side node writes a time stamp for indicating a transmission time in one of a series of packets composing one frame of video data. The receiving side node adjusts timing based on this time stamp.
In this way, in the synchronous transfer mode of the IEEE1394 standard, an individual communications is identified by the channel ID included in the synchronous header, and data can be transferred while being synchronized by adjusting timing based on the time stamp in the CIP header regardless of the number of receiving side nodes.
However, in asynchronous transfer mode, after obtaining a right to use a bus, a transmitting side node generates an asynchronous packet (see FIG. 6C) by attaching an asynchronous header, including respective node IDs for indicating a transmitting node and a receiving node to transfer data, and transmits the packet to a bus.
Then, a receiving side node receives the packet addressed to him/her based on a receiving ID included in the header and transmits a reply packet (shown by symbol "ack" to a bus within a prescribed time period in FIG. 6A).
In this way, in an IEEE1394 asynchronous transfer mode, an individual communications is identified by the combination of a source ID and a destination ID included in the asynchronous header, and the arrival of a packet with transfer data is confirmed by a prescribed reply packet returned by the receiving side node.
As a data communications system for implementing the transmission/reception of an IEEE1394 packet by connecting first and second networks that are connected to each local bus based on the IEEE1394 standard described above via a third network of another type, the data communications system described above that is proposed by the Principle/Media Laboratory and the Environmental Information department of Keio University is used.
Since the existing router is configured presuming that networks should be connected even in the case of the protocol of a data link layer or a layer lower in hierarchy than a data link layer of a relay network, information transmitted/received between functions of a data link layer or less in an individual network is not used.
However, the information of this data link layer cannot be used simply by encapsulating a packet transferred in an individual network, including information about the functions of a data link layer or less.
This is because the information of a data link layer is peculiar to an individual network, it is presumed that a transmitting node and a receiving node belong to one network and it is not presumed that each of the transmitting and receiving nodes belongs to a different network.
For example, according to the IEEE1394 standard, bus reset is caused by the addition of a new node, etc., and each time, a node ID is provided to each node belonging to the network according to prescribed procedures.
In this case, a node ID provided to each node is not always the same ID provided before the bus reset. There is the possibility that the aisochronous channel ID may also be modified.
If each of a transmitting node and a receiving node belongs to a different network, timing cannot be adjusted using a time stamp indicating a time in the network on the transmitting side without any modification on the receiving side even if the time stamp is written in the CIP header of a synchronous transfer mode and is transferred to the receiving node.
However, since the IEEE1394 standard presumes that a receiving node exists within a prescribed cable length, a time allowed until a reply packet is returned to an asynchronous packet is very short.
Therefore, if the reply packet is transmitted after an asynchronous packet is actually received, delivery confirmation cannot be normally completed in an asynchronous transfer mode.
In addition to the above, there are the following problems.    A) Essentially one communications must be divided into a plurality of communications depending on the usable band of a network and each of the divided communications must be transferred via a different route as a respective independent communications.    B) The delay of data transferred by one sender with a plurality of different communications delay must be adjusted and synchronized on the receiving side.    C) The delay of data transferred by a plurality of senders with a plurality of different communications delay must be adjusted and synchronized on the receiving side.


An apparatus, method, and program for customizing credit accounts and calculating an appropriate price for this customization. Customers with existing credit accounts and customers applying for new accounts can customize various parameters of their accounts, in exchange for a fee to be collected by the credit issuer. The fee may depend on the particular set of parameters selected by the customer.

The present invention relates generally to the field of credit accounts. More specifically, it relates to a method, apparatus, and program for modifying the terms of existing credit accounts and customizing the terms of new credit accounts to meet specific customer needs.
Credit accounts are widely used throughout the world for non-cash payments for goods and services. Typically, the authorized user of the account is issued a card and account number that can be used to charge purchases to his account. The credit card issuer (e.g., a bank) pays the merchant, and the card holder then pays the card issuer. The issuer's revenues are received by charging the merchant a fee for each transaction, and charging the card holder periodic fees and interest on unpaid balances.
From the card issuer's perspective, issuing credit cards can be a very profitable business. A good customer can generate hundreds of dollars of revenue per year. As a result, card issuers want to keep as many of their customers as they can. This is especially true for their best customers. Card issuers also want to attract new customers, in the hopes of generating additional revenue.
Credit card issuers have traditionally tried to attract new customers by advertising in banks and places of business, and by sending offers to potential customers by mail. The terms (or parameters) of these offers vary. For example, various credit card accounts offer different combinations of interest rates, credit limits, and annual fees. Many of these offers promise the customer a low introductory interest rate for a relatively short period of time, such as six months. Other offers promise rewards for card usage such as rebates on products (e.g., GENERAL MOTORS), cash rebates (e.g., DISCOVER), or frequent flyer miles (e.g., AMERICAN AIRLINES/CITIBANK). Until now, credit card issuers have typically relied on this relatively limited range of product differentiation in combination with traditional advertising to distinguish their accounts from competitor's offerings. To the best of our knowledge, credit card issuers have never tried to attract new customers by offering customizable accounts, in which the customer is free to choose the terms of the account, as a means to distinguish their product from the competition.
Perhaps more importantly, credit card issuers have never offered customizable accounts to retain existing customers that are about to switch to a competitor's card. In fact, until now, no effective way has been devised for a credit card issuer to retain an existing customer who is about to switch to a competitor's card.
The existing mechanisms for retaining customers are very limited. In certain cases, banks have been known to waive an annual fee at the request of a card holder, or even reduce the interest rate of an account. But these cases are relatively rare, and there are no automated mechanisms known to us for determining when and how to make an adjustment to the account terms in order to retain a customer.
In addition to the problems faced by the credit card issuers, customers (i.e., the card holders) face a separate set of problems. Customers with good credit histories often receive numerous offerings to sign up for new credit cards. But while customers are free to seek out an account with terms that they desire, customers have always been faced with a yes/no decision for each account--there is no way to specify the exact parameters desired. The customers' freedom to change the terms of existing accounts is even more severely limited, as described above. In fact, under the existing system, it is impossible for certain customers to obtain all of the account terms that they desire.
While a customer can obtain new terms by switching to a new account, this can cause inconvenience in a number of ways.
First, the customer is inconvenienced by applying for the new account and closing the old account. Second, the customer is inconvenienced because he must switch any automatic payments that he has authorized (e.g., payment of his utility bill) to the new account. Third, if the card holder neglects to switch an automatic payment, he may be inconvenienced or embarrassed by interrupted service or delivery of an item that he expects to receive. Further, because the terms of the new account are predetermined, the customer may not be happy even after he has switched to a new account. The new account may not have the type of credit terms that he wants.
For customers with bad credit, the situation is even worse. While customers with good credit histories are able to switch to new accounts, customers with poor credit histories may be unable to qualify for the standard terms of any credit card issuer. As a result, the customer is unable to open a new account, and is forced to continue with the terms of his existing accounts. Worse yet, customers with weak financial credentials may be unable to qualify for any credit card. This can have significant drawbacks when trying to obtain goods or services typically available only with the use of a credit card, such as renting a car. Not having a credit card can also preclude many forms of commerce now widely practiced, such as ordering merchandise by telephone. Indeed, the desirability of having credit cards will only increase with the growth of commerce over the Internet, a medium in which physical exchanges of currency are not possible.

Method, apparatus, and program for customizing credit accounts

Walker Asset Management Limited Partnership