In a secondary air injection system, MOSFETs control supply of electric current to an air pump and to a motor for driving an electromagnetic valve and to an electromagnetic coil to introduce secondary air into an exhaust gas passage upstream of a catalyst for purifying the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine. Gate drive circuits control the MOSFETs based on an instruction from an ECU via input signal processing circuits. Abnormal conditions in the operation for controlling the air pump and the electromagnetic valve are detected, and, when an abnormal condition is detected, forcibly turn the MOSFETs off to interrupt the current to the motor and to the electromagnetic coil. A diagnosing circuit sends to the ECU diagnosis signals representing the state of controlling the load.

An internal combustion engine includes a catalyst disposed in its exhaust gas passage for purifying exhaust gas. However, the catalysts may not be capable of sufficiently purifying the exhaust gas when the temperature in the exhaust gas is not sufficiently high during, for example, the cold start of the internal combustion engine. Therefore, a secondary air injection system has been proposed in which secondary air is introduced into the exhaust gas passage upstream of the catalyst by using a motor-driven air pump and an air switching valve to increase the concentration of oxygen in the exhaust gas and the air-fuel ratio thereof. Accordingly, the system promotes secondary combustion such as of HC and CO in the exhaust gas to thereby purify the exhaust gas and activate the catalyst at an earlier time by raising the temperature of the exhaust gas. This system is disclosed in, for example, JP-A-2003-138929 and JP-A-2003-201834, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. In the systems disclosed in these patent documents, an O2 sensor or an exhaust gas sensor is arranged in the exhaust gas passage of an internal combustion engine, and an electronic control unit (ECU) diagnoses an abnormal condition of the system upon receiving output signals from the sensors. In the system disclosed in JP-A-2003-201834, in particular, an output signal from a pressure sensor arranged between an air pump and an air switching valve is sent to the ECU to specify in which of the air pump or the air switching valve the fault has occurred.
For example, if an air pump becomes faulty and an over-current continues to flow into a drive motor thereof, it is probable that the system as a whole may be damaged. Therefore, it becomes necessary to take measures to readily discontinue operation of the drive motor. In the conventional systems, however, it is necessary to operate the entire system inclusive of the ECU for diagnosing abnormal condition. That is, a certain period of time is required until the function for diagnosing the abnormal condition is operated by the ECU, thereby making it difficult to cope with the trouble in a short period of time and causing damage to the system.
Further, the conventional system utilizes the negative pressure on the intake side of the internal combustion engine to operate the air switching valve. Therefore, in a region of a high altitude where the atmospheric pressure is low, the air switching valve may not work to a sufficient degree. Moreover, an electromagnetic valve operatively controlled by the ECU is separately needed for introducing the negative pressure to the air switching valve, thereby resulting in a complex system constitution. An electromagnetic valve instead of the air switching valve may be used to deal with the problem associated with use of the air switching valve, and means may be provided to control the electromagnetic valve together with the air pump relying upon the ECU as taught in, for example, JP-A-7-11939 entitled "Device for Purifying Exhaust Gas of Diesel Engines", the contents of which are also incorporated herein by reference. According to this means, a semiconductor switching element for driving the electromagnetic valve, which is driven by a small current, can be incorporated on the side of the ECU. However, the switching element for driving the air pump requires a capability of permitting a rush current of about 100 to about 200 A. If its heat-radiating structure and the handling of the wire harness inclusive of the connectors are taken into consideration, the semiconductor switching element for driving the air pump must be constructed separately from the ECU. Therefore, there inevitably occur duplicated portions in the power source circuit unit and in the protection circuit unit in their respective drive circuit blocks, thereby leading to higher production costs.

Drive device for a secondary air injection system


Audio components such as headsets or earbuds can include a control module that stores an identifying code. When an audio component is connected to an electronic device, the device determines the code and can set certain parameters (e.g., audio playback volume) and/or provide at least some level of access to functionality and data. The control module also includes one or more buttons that enable a user to provide an input sequence that can act as a personal code. When the electronic device receives the personal code and verifies that the code is associated with the identifying code of the audio component, the electronic device can provide access to additional and/or all functionality on the device, and any or all data stored for the user or device. The sequence can correspond to a beat pattern or musical sequence entered using the buttons.

Portable electronic devices have become extremely popular for activities such as listening to music, watching movies, and playing games. Many of these activities include sound or audio portions. When a user is in a location such as a plane or a library, the user might not want the sound or audio to be heard by others. Accordingly, a user often uses headphones, earbuds, or other such audio components to listen to audio from various devices in at least some situations. In many cases, a user must frequently adjust the volume when the user wants to listen to audio using one of these audio components. Further, when a user is listening to the audio through a device such as a smart phone or tablet that might have sensitive data or protected functionality, the user must enter a lock code or other authorization mechanism on the device to access that data or functionality. When the device is in the user's pocket or another such location, having to continually pull out the device and enter a code to access data or functionality can be frustrating for the user. The user has the option of not locking the device, but such an approach risks exposure of the sensitive data and/or functionality.


The display rack includes a plurality of separate and distinct longitudinally elongate channels. Each channel has a front, a track and a pair of laterally spaced, longitudinally extending sides. Additionally, each channel has on one side thereof a plurality of widely longitudinally spaced apart male engaging means (lugs) projecting laterally outwardly from the channel side; and, for each one of the male engaging means, the other channel side has an associated set of at least three relatively narrowly longitudinally spaced apart female engaging means (slots). The associated slot sets are widely longitudinally spaced apart, and each female engaging means of the associated slot sets is configured and dimensioned to receive one of the male engaging means. The male and female engaging means are configured and dimensioned to releasably retain an adjacent pair of the channels in a side-by-side, longitudinally parallel relationship in a common horizontal plane, with the fronts of the adjacent pair of channels in horizontal alignment or horizontal non-alignment depending on which female engaging means of the associated sets the male engaging means are disposed in.

The present invention relates to display channels which may be assembled together in a longitudinally parallel, side-by-side relationship in a common horizontal plane by a retailer to form a display rack, and more particularly to such a display rack having an unusual configuration.
It is well known to form a display rack by securing together two or more separate and distinct, longitudinally elongate channels disposed side-by-side in a common horizontal plane, thereby to form a display rack having a plurality of channels. U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,176, issued Jul. 8, 1997, is incorporated herein by reference as fully as if set forth herein. Typical securing means include a plurality of widely longitudinally spaced apart sets of male engaging means projecting laterally outwardly from one of the channel sides and a like plurality of widely longitudinally spaced apart sets of female engaging means defined by the other of the channel sides (for example, the other side of the adjacent channel). Each widely spaced apart set of male engaging means (including a front set and a rear set) typically includes at least three relatively narrowly longitudinally spaced apart male engaging means, and each widely spaced apart set of female engaging means (including a front set and a rear set) typically includes a like number of relatively narrowly longitudinally spaced apart female engaging means. Thus, each set of male engaging means on one channel cooperates with an associated set of female engaging means on an adjacent channel to hold the two adjacent channels in a predetermined transversely aligned relationship. In other words, when the three lugs of each male engaging means set are received in the three slots of each female engaging means sets of an adjacent channel, the adjacent channels are transversely aligned--i.e., the fronts and backs of the channels are typically horizontally transversely aligned. The male engaging means are typically lugs which serve as keys, while the female engaging means are typically slots which serve as keyways.
Preferably the sets on each channel side are widely spaced apart in the longitudinal direction so that the engagement between the adjacent channels occurs adjacent to the front end thereof and adjacent to the rear end thereof (although the rear set is typically forward of any breakaway or removable portion of a channel.) So, for example, where the channel length is about 24 inches and the breakaway back portions occupy about 7 inches longitudinally, the center-to-center longitudinal spacing between the two sets may be 6 inches. By way of comparison, the center-to-center longitudinal spacing of the male or female engaging means of a given set may be only 0.75 inch.
The known display racks are functionally acceptable for use on store shelves and on support trays having a front defining a straight (i.e., linear) line. However, where the store shelves or support trays present a non-linear front (for example, a curvilinear front), all of the joined channels must still be disposed with their channel fronts defining a straight line intersecting the bottoms of the curves of the curvilinear store shelves or support trays. This results in wasted space on the store shelves or tray supports since none of the channels extend forwardly to the forwardmost aspect or front of the curvilinear store shelves or tray supports. Wasted space is a cardinal sin of merchandising.
From an aesthetic point of view, the conventional display rack, wherein the various channels fronts form a straight line, appears to be boring and monolithic--in other words, dull and uninteresting. As retailers are well aware, an interesting display is more likely to be successful in enticing potential customers than a dull and uninteresting display.
According, it is an object of the present invention to provide a display rack formed by adjacent channels having engaging means for releasably retaining an adjacent channel in a side-by-side, longitudinally parallel relationship in a common horizontal plane, with the channels fronts either in horizontal alignment or horizontal nonalignment, as decided by the retailer.
Another object is to provide such a display rack which can utilize more of the available space on store shelves or tray supports having a non-linear (i.e., curvilinear) front.
A further object is to provide such a display rack which can be assembled from separate and distinct channels with the assembled channel fronts defining a curvilinear front formed as either a stepped convex curve or a stepped concave curve.

Offset locking device for display channels


A method of compensating for differences of temperature, in a pressure sensor of the kind wherein a pressure is sensed by use of a diaphragm connected in a Wheatstone bridge circuit. First measurement points of offset output signals emanating from the bridge in the pressure sensor at a number of temperature levels are plotted in a first graph indicating the voltage as a function of the resulting resistance of the bridge, whereupon adjacent measurement points are interconnected by straight lines and calculation is effected through interpolation between the measurement points. The sensitivity of the pressure sensor such as voltage/pressure unit, is determined in a corresponding manner at different temperature levels by plotting second measurement points in a second graph indicating the sensitivity as a function of the resulting resistance in a similar way the last mentioned measurement points are interconnected by straight lines, and calculation is effected through interpolation between the measurement points. The resulting curves are processed in a computer, whereupon a signal from the pressure reading provides a directly temperature-compensated pressure value which may be read from a third graph indicative of an output signal that is proportional to the prevailing pressure.

The invention concerns a method for compensation of temperature in a pressure sensor of the kind designed to convert a detected pressure into an electric signal which is registered by a measuring device.
A prior-art method used for this purpose consists of applying a number of resistances on a pressure-sensitive diaphragm, which resistances change their resistance values in response to changes in the diaphragm configuration when the diaphragm is exposed to pressure changes. As a rule, the resistances are electrically connected in a bridge circuit, of the kind known as a Wheatstone bridge.
All transducers, independently of whether they comprise resistances manufactured from thin films or thick films on an insulating material or through ion implantation in silica materials (known as piezoresistive transducers), suffer from the disadvantage of being extremely temperature-dependent. This means that the transducer output signal which is representative of a pressure at a certain moment, changes as the temperature changes, also when the pressure remains constant. This temperature dependency could, in some cases, be extremely large.
When a pressure transducer is used in applications where the temperature variations are comparatively small, it may be calibrated once the environmental conditions have stabilized somewhat. Thereafter, the effects of temperature changes are essentially negligible.
Other prior-art methods of temperature compensation consist of connecting resistances having known temperature charactersistics in different diagonals of the bridge, or of actively compensating the output signal for temperature influence by means of electronics built into the transducer. However, in this case also, the electronics are exposed to the temperature variations and consequently these variations need again be considered. As long as the temperature variations remain small it is, however, possible to obtain acceptable measurement results by any one of the above methods.
In thermal sterilization by means of vapor in an autoclave the conditions are, on the other hand, very difficult to master because during one sequence the pressure varies from between approximately 30 mbar absolute pressure and approximately 5 bar absolute pressure, i.e. a pressure ratio of approximately 1:150. At the same time, the temperature varies between approximately 20.degree. C. and 140.degree. C. In addition, the changeovers between maximum and minimum values and vice versa, both respect to pressure and temperature, take place rapidly, and several times, over a comparitively short period, during one process.
However, the above-mentioned prior-art stabilizing methods are quite insufficient in this application to meet the requirements as to accuracy with respect to the precision of the measured values in sterilization. Particularly in the case of low pressures the percentage deviations of measured values are quite considerable, often several hundred percent. At the same time, low pressures are an important measuring range in this connection.
For such an extreme activity as vapor sterilization various measures therefore have been taken to prevent the effects of temperature on the pressure sensor. Examples of such measures are isolation of the pressure sensor from the autoclave enclosure where the pressure is measured, transfer of the pressure to the sensor by way of, for instance, an oil buffer, a water bag or the use of capillary tubes. Another way is to cool the pressure sensor to prevent the pressure sensor from following the temperature increase inside the autoclave enclosure.
However, all these various previously known methods of preventing a temperature rise in the pressure sensor cause cavities to form between the autoclave chamber and the sensor. Such cavities are not desired, and normally they are not accepted by established standard specifications, because inside them an environment is created that favors collection and growth of micro-organisms. Instead, a desired end is to be able to position the sensing diaphragm of the pressure sensor directly in the wall of the autoclave enclosure, without using any intermediary tubings or pipings.
Of course, it is always possible to position a separate temperature sensor on or adjacent the diaphragm for the purpose of measuring the existing temperature during the pressure sensing operation. However, this does not solve the problem, since the pressure sensor only provides information on the temperature at its place of mounting on the diaphragm and not on the actual effects to which the pressure-sensitive resistances are exposed.

Method for providing temperature compensation for a wheatstone bridge-type pressure sensor


A ventilated browbar fame and eyewear utilizing the same. The browbar frame is detachably secured to a lens and temples are detachably secured to the browbar frame. The browbar frame includes a plurality of openings to allow air to pass through the browbar frame thereby preventing fogging of the lens. The temples are pivotally attached to the browbar frame to allow for adjustment of the pantoscopic angle of the eyewear.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of conventional protective eyewear shown generally at 100. Eyewear 100 includes a browbar frame 102 which receives lens 104. Temples 106 are hingedly attached to the distal ends of browbar frame 102. Although the conventional protective eyewear 100 is well suited for its intended purpose, there are drawbacks to the conventional design. One potential problem with prior art protective eyewear 100 is that fogging of lens 104 can occur because of the close fit of the browbar frame 102 to the wearer's face thereby trapping warm, moist air. Another drawback is that the temples 106 cannot be adjusted to vary the pantoscopic angle of the eyewear.

Eyewear with browbar ventilation and detachable temples


A system that compares first information corresponding to an amount of a first type of resource used when a first virtual machine is executed in an idle state with second information corresponding to an amount of the first type of resource used when a second virtual machine is executed, and determines whether the second virtual machine is in the idle state based on the comparison.

In a cloud system which is built in a datacenter, a physical server executes processing, consuming power. Virtual machines which operate in a physical server do not execute processing all the time and some virtual machines do not execute processing (that is, some virtual machines are in the idle state). Even though virtual machines which operate in a physical server are in the idle state, the physical server consumes power. Therefore, it is favorable to stop virtual machines which are in the idle state to the extent possible from the viewpoint of energy saving.
However, in the cloud system, information related to virtual machines which is available to a manager is limited. Regarding a virtual machine, it is possible for a manager to know a central processing unit (CPU) load, a memory usage rate, an input/output (I/O) load or a data transfer amount in a network, and the like, for example, but it is difficult to know whether or not a virtual machine is in the idle state. This is because information of a virtual machine is information of a user of the virtual machine and therefore, it is a problem that information of a user is available to a manager.
The following technique is widespread regarding reduction of power consumption in a cloud system. Specifically, in a system in which a plurality of blade servers are arranged, power consumption of virtual machines which operate in the blade servers is measured and the virtual machines are aggregated (that is, put together into one group) so that the power consumption does not exceed the maximum power which is set in the blade servers. Then, a blade server in which a virtual machine is not activated due to the aggregation is stopped so as to reduce power consumption of the system.
However, in this technique, it is not assumed that a virtual machine in the idle state is specified. In this technique, even virtual machines which are in the idle state are aggregated in a blade server with virtual machines which are not in the idle state. Therefore, it is difficult to stop virtual machines which are in the idle state, thus limiting the reduction amount of power consumption.
Japanese Patent No. 4488072 (corresponding to Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2009-169858) is an example of related art.


A chemicals mixing container (1), which allows two kinds of chemicals, a liquid material (2) and a powder material (4), to be stored therein in isolation from each other and which allows the liquid material (2) and the powder material (4) to be mixed together. The mixing container includes: a first cylinder (6); a first piston (7) which is fitted in the first cylinder (6) to define a first internal space (3); a second cylinder (8) which is connected to the first cylinder (6) or the first piston (7) so as to be rotationally slidable thereon; and a second piston (9) which is fitted in the second cylinder to define a second internal space (5). The second cylinder (8) and the first cylinder (6) or the first piston (7) to which the second cylinder (8) is connected have communicating holes (13, 14) formed in their mutual sliding surfaces at positions, respectively, eccentric relative to a rotation axis X. The first internal space (3) and the second internal space (5) are communicated with or isolated from each other depending on a rotational sliding angle between the second cylinder (8) and the first cylinder (6) or the first piston (7) to which the second cylinder (8) is connected.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a chemicals mixing container which contains two kinds of chemicals in isolation from each other and which, at a time of use, allows those chemicals to be mixed together inside the container before being discharged. For example, the invention relates to a chemicals mixing container such as a dental cement capsule which contains a powder material and a liquid material as the two kinds of chemicals in isolation from each other and which allows the powder material and the liquid material to be mixed together before being discharged.
2. Description of the Related Art
For chemicals mixing containers such as dental cement capsules, it is desired that with two kinds of chemicals (powder material and liquid material) stored in isolation from each other, the chemicals mixing container is enabled to, at the time of use, mix together the powder material and the liquid material inside the chemicals mixing container and to discharge the resulting mixture from the chemicals mixing container with the least possible residues of the mixture.
With the conventional chemicals mixing container, it is often the case that mixing of two kinds of chemicals is enabled by, for example, screwing a protrusion into a partition wall of the internal space for containing the two kinds of chemicals to break through the partition wall.
JP 2007-61633 A describes a chemicals mixing container which includes: a first cylinder; a second cylinder for sealing the first cylinder to contain a first chemical and for, upon supply of a second chemical, forming a mixing chamber to mix together the first chemical and the second chemical and serving a role as a piston; and a piston for sealing the second cylinder to contain the second chemical and define an auxiliary chamber. A side wall of the second cylinder has an opening for making the auxiliary chamber and an external space of the second cylinder communicate with each other. In an inner wall of the first cylinder is formed a groove which can be made to communicate with the opening of the second cylinder by pushing in the second cylinder, and which extends in an axial direction of the cylinder while one end of the groove reaches the mixing chamber.
With this chemicals mixing container, different chemicals are contained in the mixing chamber and the auxiliary chamber, respectively. The chemicals are held in an isolated manner. In use of the chemicals mixing container, the second cylinder is pushed into the first cylinder along with the piston, so that the opening of the second cylinder communicates with the groove of the inner wall of the first cylinder, placing the auxiliary chamber and the mixing chamber in communication with each other via the groove of the first cylinder. Then, pushing in the piston allows the chemical material within the auxiliary chamber to be fed into the mixing chamber. After the two kinds of chemicals are well mixed in the mixing chamber, the piston is further pushed in so that the second cylinder is pushed deep in the first cylinder. Then, the mixture of the two kinds of chemicals can be extruded out through a nozzle provided at an end of the first cylinder.

Chemicals mixing container with offset communicating holes


Compounds of Formula I are disclosed which inhibit hepatitis C NS5B RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and are useful for treating hepatitis C. Compositions and methods of using these compounds are also disclosed

This invention is directed to compounds which inhibit the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) encoded by Hepatitis C virus (HCV). The compounds, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, are useful for the treatment of HCV viral infections.
HCV is a major human pathogen, infecting an estimated 170 million people worldwide. A substantial fraction of these HCV infected individuals develop serious progressive liver disease, including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. (Lauer, G. M.; Walker, B. D. N. Engl. J. Med. (2001), 345, 41–52).
Presently, the most effective HCV therapy employs a combination of alpha-interferon and ribavirin, leading to sustained efficacy in 40% of patients. (Poynard, T. et al. Lancet (1998), 352, 1426–1432). Recent clinical results demonstrate that pegylated alpha-interferon is superior to unmodified alpha-interferon as monotherapy (Zeuzem, S. et al. N. Engl. J. Med. (2000), 343, 1666–1672). However, even with experimental therapeutic regimens involving combinations of pegylated alpha-interferon and ribavirin, a substantial fraction of patients do not have a sustained reduction in viral load. In addition, the prospects for development of a prophylactic or therapeutic vaccine appear dim, in spite of intensive research efforts. Thus, there is a clear need to develop effective therapeutics for treatment of HCV infection.
HCV is a positive-stranded RNA virus. Based on comparison of deduced amino acid sequence and the extensive similarity in the 5′ untranslated region, HCV has been classified as a separate genus in the Flaviviridae family. All members of the Flaviviridae family have enveloped virions that contain a positive stranded RNA genome encoding all known virus-specific proteins via translation of a single, uninterrupted, open reading frame.
Considerable heterogeneity is found within the nucleotide and encoded amino acid sequence throughout the HCV genome. At least six major genotypes have been characterized, and more than 50 subtypes have been described. The major genotypes of HCV differ in their distribution worldwide, and the clinical significance of the genetic heterogeneity of HCV remains elusive despite numerous studies of the possible effect of genotypes on pathogenesis and therapy.
The RNA genome is about 9.6 Kb in length, and encodes a single polypeptide of about 3000 amino acids. The 5′ untranslated region contains an internal ribosome entry site (IRES), which directs cellular ribosomes to the correct AUG for initiation of translation. The translated product contains the following proteins: core-E1-E2-p7-NS2-NS3-NS4A-NS4B-NS5A-NS5B. This precursor protein is cotranslationally and posttranslationally processed into at least 10 viral structural (core, E1, E2) and nonstructural (NS2-NS5B) proteins by the action of host cell signal peptidase and by two distinct viral proteinase activities (NS2/3 and NS3).
Although the functions of the NS proteins are not completely defined, it is known that NS3 is a serine protease/RNA helicase, NS4A is a protease cofactor, and NS5B is an RNA dependent RNA polymerase involved in viral replication. It has recently been demonstrated that functional NS5B is required for virus infectivity in chimpanzees (Kolykhalov, A. A. et al. J. Virol. (2000), 74, 2046–2051). Because HCV only infects chimpanzees and humans, this result strongly suggests that inhibition of the NS5B RdRp is a viable approach for the development of HCV therapeutic agents.

Cycloalkyl heterocycles for treating hepatitis C virus


A system guides self-propelled equipment through passageways, such as underground mine corridors. The vehicle contains a signal generator for bouncing signals off the walls of the passageways. A receiver collects the signals bounced off of the passageways to determine the distance to side walls of the passageways. A storage device contains a set of interlinking nodes that represent at least one path through the passageways. Each of the nodes contains steering information. A processor finds the distance to the side walls of the passageways in order to steer the vehicle through the passageways. The system's operational state and method of steering changes depending upon the location of the equipment in the interlinking nodes.

The increasing interest in mine safety and efficiency has produced self-guided vehicles. Remote operation of underground vehicles will increase worker safety and reduce the costs incurred from the infrastructure needed to support miners. In the future, miners will perform several tasks over a video link and will be able to send the vehicles to their destinations using maps on a computer screen.
The majority of robotic path planners developed to date deal with navigating in completely unknown two-dimensional environments, usually consisting of mostly empty space with a few obstacles. Work in this area has concentrated on a `universal` strategy to handle all situations, such as neural networks or inertial navigation.
One of the most reliable means of guiding vehicles is the global position satellite (GPS) system. For example, Caterpillar's U.S. Pat. No. 5,684,696 discloses a GPS guidance system for controlling the path of a vehicle. Unfortunately, the GPS system has insufficient strength to penetrate down to underground mines.
M. S. Collins, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,465,155, provides an early example of a system designed for underground operation. This system relies upon a gyroscope-controlling guidance system in combination with four transmitters mounted on a shuttle car. A plurality of sensors establish the shuttle car path and determine shuttle car functions. Baiden et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,530,330, disclose a self-guided scoop tram. This scoop tram relies upon a flexible lighting tube and cameras to guide it from fixed position to fixed position. Although this process has proven effective for remote control hauling of ore, disadvantages include blasting damage, dust covering the light guide and the cost of installing and updating light guides for each path. Chevrette et al.'s Canadian Pat. No. 2,049,773 discloses an optical guidance system for moving underground mine vehicles between locations. This system relies upon a vehicle following a reflector ribbon mounted on the ceiling of a mine drift. This system also requires the installation of a ribbon and periodic maintenance.
It is an object of this invention to provide a guidance system for an autonomous vehicle that requires no supporting infrastructure.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a guidance system to enable an autonomous vehicle to guide itself without any reference to the GPS or any other positioning signal.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a system capable of steering vehicles through intercepting drifts and around obstacles.


Diamine carbamates are prepared by spraying liquid diamine into carbon dioxide gas, in the optional presence of a propellant.

Polyamine carbamates have been produced in the past by adsorbing the polyamine on a particulate carrier and then reacting the polyamine with carbon dioxide. See Brodoway U.S. Pat. No. 4,102,801.
Another route to carbamate salts is to react an amine in solution with gaseous or dissolved carbon dioxide.
Hexamethylene diamine carbamate has been prepared by the known process of reacting hexamethylene diamine and carbon dioxide in chlorobenzene solvent.
Leon Segal in Applied Spectroscopy Vol. 17, No. 1, 1963 at pages 21-22, discloses the reaction of hexamethylene diamine in the solid state with atmospheric carbon dioxide.
Polyamine carbamates are useful as curing agents for elastomers. The primary diamine carbonates prepared by the process described herein are useful as intermediates for the preparation of polyamides.


A hysteresis detection method has two reference voltages Vref1, Vref2 relative to an input voltage Vin. It is determined whether the input voltage Vin becomes higher than or lower than the reference voltages Vref1, Vref2, and a judged result is outputted. In the initial stage in which the detection is started, regardless of the magnitude of the input voltage Vin, the reference voltage is fixed to any one of the reference voltages Vref1, Vref2. There are provided a hysteresis detecting method and a hysteresis detecting circuit in which, in the hysteresis detection having two reference voltages and which determines whether the input voltage is higher than or lower than the two reference voltages, one of the reference voltages can be judged and the judged result can be outputted regardless of the magnitude of the input voltage in the initial state in which the reference voltage is stabilized from the time in which the circuit is actuated. Also, there is provided a mobile device using this hysteresis detecting circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a hysteresis detecting method and a hysteresis detecting circuit applied to various kinds of electronic devices, and particularly to a hysteresis detecting method and a hysteresis detecting circuit suitable for detecting the intensity of illumination of mobile devices and to a mobile device including this hysteresis detecting circuit.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Recently, since various kinds of mobile devices, such as cell phones, are becoming smaller in size and lighter in weight and are driven by a battery power supply, it has been requested that they should be driven during a long duration with a small power consumption. A mobile device has a display unit (for example, a KEY display unit of a cell phone, etc.). This KEY display unit is energized by a backlight, customarily a light-emitting diode (LED), and becomes brighter. When the backlight of these mobile devices is energized, the backlight is kept brighter than the ambient illuminance necessitates, and it becomes a serious factor which deteriorates power consumption of the mobile device. For this reason, the mobile device uses an illuminance sensor to detect ambient illuminance and controls the KEY display unit to have the necessary intensity of illumination relative to ambient illuminance, thereby decreasing power consumption.
A circuit for detecting ambient illuminance to control a KEY display unit will be described below.
A circuit for controlling a KEY display unit is based upon a method in which an illuminance voltage, which results from converting a current flowing through an illuminance sensor in response to ambient illuminance by a resistor, and a reference voltage, set to the intensity of illumination to be detected, are compared with each other and in which a signal for energizing or de-energizing the KEY display unit based on a relationship between the magnitudes of the two voltages is used. That is, when the illuminance voltage is higher than the reference voltage, the ambient illuminance is higher than the intensity of illumination to be detected and hence the KEY display unit is de-energized. When the illuminance voltage is lower than the reference voltage, the ambient illuminance is lower than the intensity of illumination to be detected and hence the KEY display unit is energized. However, when the intensity of illumination is detected in actual practice, in order to prevent the KEY display unit from blinking in the state in which ambient illuminance near the intensity of illumination to be detected (that is, illuminance corresponding to a voltage close to the reference voltage) is inputted, a reference voltage is required to have hysteresis.
FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings is a schematic diagram showing an example of a detecting circuit having hysteresis (hereinafter referred to as a "hysteresis detecting circuit") according to the prior art. As shown in FIG. 1, this hysteresis detecting circuit 41 is of the low power consumption type and comprises a differential amplifier 40, a switch 48 and a comparator (hereinafter referred to as a "comparator circuit") 43 composed of voltage supplying means 44, 45 for selectively switching the switch 48 to supply two reference voltages Vref1, Vref2 to the reference input terminal (positive input terminal) of the differential amplifier 40. An input voltage Vin to be compared is inputted to an input terminal (corresponding to the negative input terminal of the differential amplifier 40) of the comparator circuit 43. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 42 denotes a power supply.
Operations of this hysteresis detecting circuit 41 will be described next. As shown in FIG. 1, in the hysteresis detecting circuit 41, an input voltage Vin to be compared is inputted to the negative input terminal 46 of the comparator circuit 43. When the compared input voltage Vin becomes higher than the voltage values of the reference voltages Vref1, Vref2, the output voltage Vout outputted from the output terminal 47 of the comparator circuit 43 goes to a low level (Low). Conversely, when the compared input voltage Vin becomes lower than the voltage values of the reference voltages Vref1, Vref2, the output voltage Vout of the comparator circuit 43 goes to a high level (High). Also, the switch 48 inputs the low reference voltage Vref1 to the positive input terminal of the comparator circuit 43 when the output voltage Vout of low level (Low) is outputted from the output terminal 47, and it inputs the high reference voltage Vref1 to the positive input terminal of the comparator circuit 43 when the output voltage Vout of high level (High) is outputted from the output terminal 47.
Since the hysteresis detecting circuit 41 is formed of the low power consumption circuit arrangement, the reference voltages Vref1, Vref2 are slow to rise when the hysteresis detecting circuit 41 is actuated, and hence these reference voltages Vref1, Vref2 are stabilized slowly. As a result, when the hysteresis detecting circuit 41 is actuated, the compared input voltage Vin is stabilized earlier than the reference voltages Vref1, Vref2 and inputted to the comparator circuit 43. Thus, the output from the comparator circuit 43 is determined based on a relationship between the magnitudes of the reference voltages Vref1, Vref2 in the transient state and the input voltage Vin that has already been stabilized, whereby the reference voltages Vref1, Vref2 obtained when the hysteresis detecting circuit 41 is actuated are determined.
FIG. 2 shows the initial state attained when the compared input voltage Vin is inputted to the hysteresis detecting circuit 41 (shown in FIG. 1) in the state in which its level is lower than the levels of the reference voltages Vref1, Vref2. The initial state shows a period T1 from the detection start time, that is, the time at which the detection trigger pulse is outputted to the time at which the reference voltages Vref1, Vref2 are stabilized. When the aforementioned voltage is inputted to the hysteresis detecting circuit 41, since the compared input voltage Vin is higher than the reference voltages Vref1, Vref2 during the time period in which the hysteresis detecting circuit 41 is actuated to the point A, the output voltage Vout goes to the low level (Low) and the selector switch 48 inputs the low reference voltage Vref1 to the comparator circuit 43. However, after the point A, the relationship between the magnitudes of the voltages is reversed so that the output voltage Vout goes to the high level (High), and the selector switch 48 is allowed to input the high reference voltage Vref2 to the comparator circuit 43. That is, during a period Ta ahead of the point A, the selector switch 48 selects the reference voltage Vref1, and during a period Tb behind the point A, the selector switch 48 selects the reference voltage Vref2.
FIG. 3 shows the initial state of the reference voltage obtained when the compared input voltage Vin is inputted to the hysteresis detecting circuit 41 in the state in which its voltage level is higher than the voltage levels of the reference voltages Vref1, Vref2. When the aforementioned voltage is inputted to the hysteresis detecting circuit 41, depending upon the relationship between the magnitudes of the voltage in the transient state from the time period in which the hysteresis detecting circuit 41 is actuated to the time period in which the reference voltages Vref1, Vref2 are stabilized and the voltage of the compared input voltage Vin, the output voltage Vout obtained upon actuation of the hysteresis detecting circuit 41 goes to the low level (Low) and the selector switch 48 inputs the low reference voltage Vref1 to the comparator circuit 43 in the initial state. In FIG. 3, during a time period Tc from the actuation of the hysteresis detecting circuit 41 to the time in which the reference voltage is stabilized, the selector switch 48 selects the reference voltage Vref1.
FIG. 4 shows the initial state of a threshold voltage obtained when the compared input voltage Vin is inputted to the hysteresis detecting circuit 41 in the state in which its voltage level lies between the low reference voltage Vref1 and the high reference voltage Vref2. When the aforementioned voltage is inputted to the hysteresis detecting circuit 41, depending upon the relationship between the magnitudes of the voltage in the transient state obtained until the reference voltages Vref1, Vref2 are stabilized after the hysteresis detecting circuit 41 has been actuated and the voltage of the compared input voltage Vin, the output voltage Vout obtained upon actuation of the hysteresis detecting circuit 41 goes to the low level (Low) and the selector switch 48 inputs the low reference voltage Vref1 to the comparator circuit 43 in the initial state.
An illuminance detecting circuit using the above-mentioned hysteresis detecting circuit 41 shown in FIG. 1 will be described next in detail with reference to FIG. 5, in which case a flip-type cell phone is taken as an example.
A flip-type cell phone that is required to consume small power need not energize the KEY display unit in the state in which it is in the closed state (when it is not in use). Thus, when the flip-type cell phone is closed, a power supply voltage is not supplied to the hysteresis detecting circuit that uses the same voltage as that supplied to the KEY display unit. Therefore, in general, at the same time the flip-type cell phone is opened (when it is in use), the power source voltage is supplied to the cell phone to energize the KEY display unit and the hysteresis circuit 41 is actuated. For example, when the intensity of illumination of 100 lux and the intensity of illumination of 150 lux are detected by the hysteresis detecting circuit 41, the low reference voltage Vref1 is set to correspond to 100 lux and the high reference voltage Vref2 is set to correspond to 150 lux. Then, when the output signal from the hysteresis detecting circuit 41 is held at the high level (High), the KEY display unit is energized. When the output signal from the hysteresis detecting circuit 41 is held at the low level (Low), the KEY display unit is deenergized, and hence the KEY display unit can be controlled relative to the ambient illuminance under the circumstances in which the cell phone is in use. It is requested by users that the KEY display unit may be energized at an intensity of illumination lower than 100 lux and that it may be de-energized at an intensity of illumination higher than 150 lux. Also, it is requested that the KEY display unit should be energized only when the cell phone is actuated because the intensity of illumination from 100 to 150 lux changes in response to differences among individuals.
In an illuminance detecting circuit 51 shown in FIG. 5, an illuminance detecting means 56 for detecting ambient illuminance is connected to the input terminal 46 of the comparator circuit 43 in addition to the aforementioned hysteresis detecting circuit 41. The illuminance detecting means 56 is composed of an illuminance sensor 53 formed of a photo-diode, for example, a resistor (R1) 55 connected in series to the illuminance sensor 53 and a capacitance (C1) 54 connected in parallel to the resistor (R1) 55. A connection point between the illuminance sensor 53 and the resistor (R1) 55 is connected to the input terminal 46 of the comparator circuit 43. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 57 denotes a power source of the illuminance sensor 53.
In the illuminance detection and control operations of the illuminance detecting circuit 51 shown in FIG. 5, when the cell phone is opened (when the cell phone is in use) in a place where the ambient illuminance is less than 100 lux, a current corresponding to the ambient illuminance flows from the illuminance sensor 53 to the capacitance (C1) 54 and the resistor (R1) 55, and the voltage Vin corresponding to the intensity of illumination is inputted from the input terminal 46 to the comparator circuit 43. The initial state of the input voltage Vin becomes the high reference voltage Vref2 corresponding to 150 lux based upon the relationship between the magnitudes of the input voltage Vin and the reference voltages Vref1, Vref2 in the transient state. Thus, the illuminance detecting circuit 51 can judge that the ambient illuminance is lower than the intensity of illumination to be detected and can energize the KEY display unit in the way the user wants.
When the cell phone is opened (when the cell phone is in use) in a place where the ambient illuminance is higher than 150 lux, a current corresponding to the ambient illuminance flows from the illuminance sensor 53 to the capacitance (C1) 54 and the resistor (R1) 55, and the voltage Vin corresponding to the intensity of illumination is inputted from the input terminal 46 to the comparator circuit 43. The initial state of the reference voltage becomes the low reference voltage Vref1 corresponding to 100 lux based upon the relationship between the magnitudes of the input voltage Vin and the reference voltages Vref1, Vref2 in the transient state. Thus, the illuminance detecting circuit 51 can judge that the ambient illuminance is higher than the intensity of illumination detected and it can deenergize the KEY display unit in the way the user wants.
Next, when the cell phone is opened (when the cell phone is in use) in a place where the ambient illuminance lies in a range of from 100 to 150 lux, a current corresponding to the ambient illuminance flows from the illuminance sensor 53 to the capacitance (C1) 54 and the resistor (R1) 55, and the voltage corresponding to the intensity of illumination is inputted from the input terminal 46 to the comparator circuit 43. However, since the reference voltages Vref1, Vref2 are slow to rise upon actuation, based upon the relationship between the magnitudes of the input voltage Vin and the reference voltages Vref1, Vref2 in the transient state, the initial state of the reference voltage becomes the low reference voltage Vref1 corresponding to 100 lux. Consequently, the illuminance detecting circuit 51 can judge that the ambient illuminance is higher than the intensity of illumination to be detected. Thus, as shown in FIG. 6, a de-energizing signal P1 containing the initial state is outputted from the output terminal 47 to deenergize the KEY display unit so that the KEY display unit cannot be energized in the way the user wants.
Cited patent reference 1 has described an example of a mobile-device terminal apparatus including an illumination control mechanism.
[Cited patent reference 1]: Official gazette of Japanese laid-open patent application No: 2002-111864
The KEY display unit can be energized in the way the user wants under control of a central processing unit (CPU) as shown in FIG. 7. In FIG. 7, elements and parts identical to those of FIG. 5 are denoted by the identical reference numerals.
As shown in FIG. 7, an illuminance detecting circuit 61 includes the aforementioned hysteresis detecting circuit 41 and the aforementioned illuminance detecting means 56 in which the switch 48 for selecting the reference voltages is controlled by a central processing unit (CPU) 62 incorporated within the cell phone. More specifically, the CPU 62 incorporated within the cell phone can determine whether the cell phone is actuated or whether it is in use. When the cell phone is actuated, the reference voltage set by the switch 48 is constantly set to the high reference voltage Vref2 corresponding to 150 lux under control of the CPU 62. Next, it is determined by the CPU 62 that the output voltage Vout of the comparator circuit 43 is at the high level (High) (that is, when the input voltage Vin is lower than the reference voltages Vref1, Vref2) after a constant time in which the reference voltages Vref1, Vref2 are stabilized since they were actuated, as shown in FIG. 8 (when the input voltage Vin lies between the reference voltages Vref1 and Vref2), and the CPU 62 sets the input voltage to the high reference voltage Vref2 corresponding to 150 lux in the same way as the cell phone is actuated. If it is determined by the CPU 62 that the output voltage Vout of the comparator circuit 43 is held at the low level (Low), as shown in FIG. 10 (when the input voltage Vin is higher than the reference voltages Vref1, Vref2), the CPU 62 sets the switch 48 to the low reference voltage Vref1 corresponding to 100 lux. Also, before the aforementioned constant time t1 passes (that is, the period Td), the CPU 62 outputs the high level (High) voltage as the control signal for energizing or deenergizing the KEY input unit of the cell phone. After the constant time t1 passed (that is, the period Te), the CPU 62 outputs the outputted results of the comparator circuit 62 as the control signal for energizing or de-energizing the KEY display unit of the cell phone. After this, if it is determined by the CPU 62 that the cell phone is in use and then at the same time the output from the comparator circuit 43 is switched, the switch 48 is switched based on an output signal Hys from the CPU 62 to thereby switch the reference voltages Vref1, Vref2 inputted to the comparator circuit 43. When the control signal outputted from the CPU 62 is held at the low level (Low), the KEY display unit is deenergized. When, on the other hand, the above control signal is held at the high level (High), the KEY display unit is energized, whereby the KEY display unit is energized in the way the user wants even in a place where the ambient luminance obtained upon actuation falls within a range of from 100 to 150 lux.
As described above, in the hysteresis detecting circuit according to the prior art, when the compared input voltage is lower than the two reference voltages or when the compared input voltage lies between the two reference voltages, in the initial state from the actuation time to the time until the reference voltage is stabilized, a problem arises, in which the compared input voltage becomes higher than the reference voltage. In order to solve this problem, there is required a terminal for controlling a large-scaled system, such as a CPU, and a reference voltage from the outside. When the CPU or the like is used, it is natural that the circuit arrangement becomes more complex and that its power consumption increases.
In the hysteresis detecting circuit applied to electronic devices such as a mobile device, it can be assumed that the high level and the low level of the output from the comparator circuit will be inverted.

Hysteresis detecting method, hysteresis detecting circuit and mobile device


Data storage devices include storage circuitry configured to store data; a first substantially planar card portion comprising the storage circuitry; an electrical interface electrically connected to the storage circuitry and located on one side of the first card portion; and one or more additional substantially planar card portions positioned below the other side of the first card portion and positioned parallel to one another and parallel to the first card portion. The combined thickness of the first card portion and the one or more additional card portions is sufficient to make contact with both an electrical interface of an electrical communications receptacle and a shell portion of the receptacle when the first card portion and the one or more additional card portions are inserted into the communications receptacle.

Situations often arise in which it may be desirable to inexpensively distribute electronic data stored by a tangible object with the hope that the data stored by the tangible object will be uploaded to a computer, which may then present the data to a user. For example, when publishing an advertisement for an automobile in a magazine, it may be desirable to distribute a CD containing a electronic brochure for the automobile or a video featuring the automobile.
Unfortunately, known tangible objects used to distribute electronic data have limitations. CDs, for example, are expensive, bulky, and somewhat fragile. Conventional USB thumb drives are widely used to share data. However, these devices are expensive and have a bulky, three dimensional shape that makes them awkward to enclose with print media such as magazines.


A method of treating sour liquefied petroleum gas comprising removing hydrogen sulfide from the sour liquefied petroleum gas by:. (a) contacting the liquefied petroleum gas in an extraction column with a liquid and regenerable absorbent to obtain purified liquefied petroleum gas; PA0 (b) supplying the purified liquefied petroleum gas to a membrane unit comprising a membrane selected from a permselective membrane and a porous hydrophobic membrane, a permeate outlet and a retentate outlet; and PA0 (c) removing from the permeate outlet of the membrane unit treated liquefied petroleum gas and from the retentate outlet of the membrane unit contaminated liquefied petroleum gas.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of removing hydrogen sulfide from sour liquefied petroleum gas.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Liquefied petroleum gas mainly consists of a mixture of propane, normal-butane and iso-butane. As used herein, the term "butane" refers to normal-butane, iso-butane and mixtures of normal-butane and iso-butane. Sour liquefied petroleum gas is liquefied petroleum gas which contains hydrogen sulfide. Sweet liquefied petroleum gas is liquefied petroleum gas which is relatively free of hydrogen sulfide.
Gaseous streams containing butane and lighter hydrocarbons are obtained in a refinery as gaseous overhead, for example, from a crude distillation column, or from fractionating a hydrocarbon-containing stream obtained by converting a heavy hydrocarbon-containing feed. Such a conversion method can be catalytic cracking or hydrotreating.
There are several methods to obtain a liquefied stream from the gaseous overhead. The gaseous stream can be compressed to a pressure from 10 bar to 30 bar (gauge) or it can be mixed with gasoline. Still additional methods involve chilling the gaseous stream or absorbing it in lean oil.
Liquefied petroleum gas is also obtained as by-product from the production of natural gas or hydrocarbon oil from an underground formation.
The present invention is directed to the removal of hydrogen sulfide from sour liquefied petroleum gas. Hydrogen sulfide is normally removed from sour liquefied petroleum gas by contacting the sour liquefied petroleum gas in an extraction column with a liquid and regenerable absorbent. Suitable absorbents include aqueous solutions of di-isopropanol amine or diethanol amine. An example of such a process is described in European Patent Application Publication No. 21 479.
The liquefied petroleum gas obtained after the removal of hydrogen sulfide contains contaminants such as absorbent, water and iron compounds. Although the liquefied petroleum gas containing contaminants can be used at the refinery, the contaminants need to be removed.
The present invention provides a method of removing hydrogen sulfide from sour liquefied petroleum gas which yields a stream of sweet liquefied petroleum gas that is substantially free of contaminants.

Method of treating sour liquefied petroleum gas


A shoe type apparatus is disclosed comprising a roller skate assembly having at least four wheels coupled to a sole portion of the shoe type apparatus for roller skating, and an in-line skate assembly having another set of wheels coupled to the sole portion for in-line skating. The shoe type apparatus provides at least three distinct configurations of the roller skate and in-line skate assemblies, namely having the wheels of the roller skate assembly lower than, level with, or higher than the wheels of the in-line skate assembly. This flexible arrangement permits a user to roller skate, to roller blade, or to perform a new combination thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for skating and, more specifically, to an apparatus and method that may be selectively used for roller skating, in-line skating, or a combination thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Roller skates and in-line skates (commonly referred to as "roller blades") are popular for exercise and amusement. As commonly used, the term roller skate refers to a shoe type skate having four wheels along two longitudinal axes, with two wheels at the front and two at the back. The term in-line skate refers to a shoe type skate, typically of four wheels, in which all the wheels are arranged in tandem along a longitudinal axis.
Though both roller skates and in-line skates are forms of foot transportation devices using wheels, each provides a unique experience to the skater. Further, compared to in-line skates, roller skates are sometimes easy to learn and less strenuous to use. On the other hand, a skater can move faster on in-line skates. Since the experiences that a user gets from roller skating and in-line skating are varied, a skater is bound to be deprived of some enjoyment if he/she does not own both roller skates and in-line skates.
Some modified skates are presently known in the art. The Reiber et al. patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,295,701) shows an in-line skate assembly having training wheels. It shows an in-line skate assembly having longitudinally aligned front and rear rollers. A center roller, which is mounted between the front and rear rollers, is alternatively positionable in a longitudinally aligned position relative to the front and rear rollers or a transversely offset position relative thereto. However, the Reiber patent fails to disclose a skating apparatus that is a roller skate either in appearance or in experience. Stability, the key advantage of a roller skate, is absent in the Reiber patent. Indeed, a skating apparatus that provides both an in-line skating assembly and a roller skating assembly and which has both assemblies functional at the same time would provide maximum stability.
The Gertler patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,224,718) shows a foot transport device for fastening to a foot. The device has an in-line skate assembly and a removable stabilizer. The removable stabilizer, which protrudes laterally outward of the wheels, is arranged on either side of the in-line skate assembly to allow the unskilled to learn how to use the device. Though the Gertler patent suggests that wheels may be used as a stabilizer, such wheels are to be of a size smaller than those of the in-line skate assembly. Further, the Gertler patent does not disclose a roller skate assembly or how the device may be used as a roller skate.
Therefore, there existed a need to provide an apparatus with both a roller skate assembly and an in-line skate assembly such that the apparatus could be used either as a roller skate or as an in-line skate. A further need existed to provide an apparatus with both the roller skate assembly and the in-line skate assembly such that either the roller skate assembly or the in-line skate assembly could be retracted or extended.

Apparatus for roller skating and roller blading and method thereof


An integral pressure sensor for a pressurized vessel, including a housing, a core element, a seal and a spring. This combination is disposed on the interior of the pressurized vessel. The core element is preferably a magnetic element or a steel ball which moves in the housing under the effect of the vessel pressure, and the chamber or housing pressure. The spring and seal combination together with the core element, function to trap a specified volume of the pressurized medium in the chamber when the vessel is initially pressurized. When the pressurized vessel leaks, the trapped pressure within the chamber exceeds the vessel pressure thereby causing the core element to move. The position or presence of the core element is detected using a detecting device such as a Hall-effect device or another magnetic device.

The present invention relates to pressure measurement techniques and specifically to pressure sensing devices such as pressure leak detectors. The present invention solves the problem of detecting pressure changes in a pressurized vessel without introducing additional leakage paths. There is a need for a highly reliable, relatively low cost pressure measurement technique that does not introduce additional leakage paths into a system. Pressure sensors often require some external energy source in order to monitor the sensor output. The present invention does not require an external or additional energy source in that the integral pressure sensor traps the medium when the vessel is pressurized and utilizes the trapped energy to activate the sensor.
The present invention also addresses the problem of verification of pneumatic system source pressure in containers used for various weapon systems. This present invention can also be applied to long and short term storage of hazardous waste, gaseous compounds, or chemicals where an inexpensive and reliable method for indicating the internal pressure change of a containment vessel is required. This new method of indicating the pressure status has numerous applications including use in automotive systems, actuation systems, fire extinguishers, pressure bladders, inflatable devices and many other areas involving pressurized vessels or storage tanks.
The related art can be separated into two general categories. The first category is pressure measurement techniques which broach the integrity of the pressurized vessel or system. The second category include those pressure measuring techniques which do not broach or otherwise introduce additional leakage paths to the pressurized vessel or system. The first category involves the most common methods of measuring the pressure of a sealed container. The use of pressure gauges and pressure transducers typically involves creating additional apertures or holes in the container. Alternatively, pressure gauges are often attached to existing orifices. In either situation these pressure sensing devices introduce at least one additional point from where the vessel or container can leak. The introduction of additional leakage points is a problem which the present invention solves.
Related techniques in the second category or for non-intrusive pressure indication techniques can involve the removal, isolation and subsequent weighing of the pressurized vessel. Frequently, this approach is not feasible given the size of the vessel, accessibility and other logistical constraints. Alternative techniques include measurement of vessel strain which often require sophisticated electronics to account for variables such as temperature. All of the related pressure measurement devices or techniques are not acceptable due to timeliness concerns, high complexity, low reliability, high cost, and other logistical considerations.


Methods to create hollow spheres and spheres produced according to such methods, such methods including suspending in a chamber at zero gravity a gas-generating pellet in a resin material which gas-generating pellet is caused to produce gas expanding the resin into a spherical mass; methods of coating sphere-forming material on a spherical liquid mass, hardening the coating and removing the liquid mass leaving the thus formed hollow sphere and methods of blowing bubbles of resin to form spheres.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to sphere production techniques at zero gravity and more particularly relates to a method of producing strong lightweight carbon or other material spheres for a variety of uses.
2. History of the Prior Art
The production of materials in space in a weightless environment including the manufacture of hollow metal spheres has been appreciated and discussed in the prior art in U.S. Pat. No. 3,534,926 to H. F. Wuenscher entitled Space Manufacturing, Machine. The production of hollow spheres in a normal environment has been disclosed such as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,303,603 to Torobin.

Sphere production process at zero gravity


Cytosolic extracts from a human lymphoblastoid B cell line, RPMI 8392, established from a patient with acute lymphocytic leukemia, contain two major forms of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE): Ca.sup.2+ --calmodulin dependent PDE (PDE1) and cAMP specific PDE4 subtypes. In contrast, normal quiescent human peripheral blood lymphocytes (HPBL) are devoid of PDE1 activity. Using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), the mRNA encoding the 63 kDa form of PDE1 (PDE1B1) is expressed in RPMI 8392 cells, but not in normal, resting HPBL. This mRNA is, however, induced in HPBL following mitogenic stimulation by phytohemagglutinin (PHA). Also using RT-PCR, the full open reading frame for human PDE1B1 cDNA was cloned from RPMI 8392 cells and it encodes a protein of 536 amino acids with 96% identity to bovine, rat and mouse species. RT-PCR also identifies the presence of PDE1B1 in other human lymphoblastoid and leukemic cell lines. The PHA induced increase in PDE1B1, PDE4A and PDE4D mRNA is mimicked by incubation of HPBL with dibutyryl cAMP (dbcAMP) and 1-methyl-3-isobutylxanthine (IBMX). Inhibition of PDE1 or PDE4 activity by selective inhibitors induced RPMI 8392 cells, as well as the other cell lines, to undergo apoptosis. Culture of RPMI 8392 cells with an 18 nucleotide phosphorothioate antisense oligodeoxynucleotide, targeted against the translation initiation region of the RPMI 8392 mRNA, led to a specific reduction in the amount of PDE1B1 mRNA after 1 day, and its disappearance after 2 days, and induced apoptosis in these cells in a sequence specific manner. This suggests that PDEs, particularly PDE1B1 and some of the subtypes of PDE4, may be useful therapeutic targets for inducing the death of leukemic cells and for treatment of immoproliferative disorders and immune dysfunction.

In many cell lines, cyclic adenosine monophosphate, cAMP, is known to have a regulatory effect on cell proliferation and cell function. Early studies by Tomkins and colleagues as reported in Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, Vol. 70, pp. 76-79 (1973) and Am. J. Pathol. Vol. 81, pp. 199-204 (1975), have shown that, using an S49 mouse lymphoma cell line, cAMP induces these cells to undergo reversible G1 arrest, followed by cytolysis. Mutants resistant to cAMP-induced death were deficient in cAMP-dependent protein kinase, indicating that this enzyme functions in cAMP-induced cytolysis. More recent studies culminating with Lomo et al, J. ImmunoL, Vol. 154, pp. 1634-1643 (1995), have shown that the death induced by cAMP is apoptotic cell death, and occurs in normal as well as transformed lymphoid cells.
Since the first report in 1958 of an enzymatic activity capable of hydrolyzing cAMP, it has become clear that this enzymatic activity, termed cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE), consists of a complex isozymic superfamily represented by different forms, of which more than thirty have been identified and cloned. These isozymic PDE forms have been grouped into seven broad gene families based upon similar structural and functional relationships: Ca.sup.2+ --calmodulin-dependent (PDE1), cyclic guanosine monophosphate, cGMP, stimulated (PDE2), cGMP inhibited (PDE3), cAMP specific (PDE4), cGMP specific (PDE5), photoreceptor (PDE6), and higher affinity drug-resistant cAMP specific (PDE7). A number of reviews have been written that describe the characteristics of these different PDE forms, their regulation, potential physiological function, and progress in development of pharmacological inhibitors of PDE as therapeutic agents. Gene family-specific inhibitors have been found for all but the PDE7 gene family, but no pharmacological inhibitor is yet capable of selectively inhibiting a specific PDE isoform within a given gene family. It is believed that selective elevation of cAMP levels in transformed lymphocytes could provide a means to selectively induce apoptosis in these cells. One means of elevating cAMP levels in cells is through the inhibition of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity. Early studies showed that PDE activity is greatly increased in actively growing and transformed lymphocytes, that PDE activity is induced in human peripheral blood lymphocytes (HPBL) following mitogenic stimulation, and that PDE inhibitors profoundly inhibit mitogenic stimulation of HPBL. Thus, while increased PDE activity is shown in growing, cultured lymphoblastoid and leukemic cells, relative to normal, resting HPBL and long term induction of PDE activity is shown to occur in HPBL following mitogenic stimulation, the specific PDE isozyme(s) induced in HBPL were not fully characterized. Initial characterizations of PDE in HPBL suggested it was comprised mainly of PDE4 activity, and recent cloning analysis shows expression of PDE4 mRNA in HPBL. More recent biochemical analysis of PDE in purified human T lymphocytes using ion exchange HPLC separation and in HPBL by sensitivity to selective PDE inhibitors gives evidence for the presence in these cells of PDE3 as well as PDE4. The presence of PDE1 activity in a human B lymphoblastoid cell line isolated from a patient with acute lymphocytic leukemia has been documented, and it has been shown that PDE 1 activity is absent in normal, resting HPBL. Using bovine peripheral blood lymphocytes, PBL, investigators have confirmed an absence of PDE 1 activity in resting PBL and showed its appearance in these cells following mitogenic stimulation. Characterization with monoclonal antibodies suggested that the induced PDE1 activity in bovine PBL belongs to the PDE1B, 63kDa Ca.sup.2+ --calmodulin-dependent PDE, gene family.
The cDNA for PDE1B1 has been cloned from bovine, rat and mouse brain cDNA libraries. The expression of the mRNA for PDE1B1 in different tissues as assessed by Northern analysis has shown it to be restricted largely to the brain, where it is enriched in the striatum. In brain, PDE1B1 mRNA is expressed as a single species of .sup..about. 3-4 kb, whereas in mouse S49 cells three transcripts are seen at 4.4, 7, and 12 kb.
In addition to the many negative regulatory effects of cAMP, there is evidence that cAMP may play a biphasic role, being both a positive and negative regulator of lymphocyte proliferation since both mouse and human lymphocytes exhibit a late (10-50 hr.) surge in intracellular cAMP concentration following stimulation of proliferation by mitogens, which decreases just prior to the onset of DNA synthesis. Interruption of either the increase of this cAMP surge or prevention of its decrease, leading to sustained elevated cAMP, prevents the commencement of DNA synthesis.
Since sustained elevations of cAMP prevent DNA synthesis, for proliferation to proceed it is necessary for the stimulated lymphocyte to decrease its cAMP levels, and one mechanism by which it may do this is through the activation of PDE activity. Indeed, a late induction of PDE activity following mitogenesis has been described, and PDE inhibitors have been shown to profoundly inhibit lymphocyte mitogenesis.
It is also known that the proliferation of breast and prostate cancer cells is inhibited by cAMP, giving promise to the possibility that cAMP analogs or agents that raise intracellular levels of cAMP might be used in the treatment of those cancers. However, due to adverse side effects and the absence of selectivity progress has been slow, cAMP has profound effects on the metabolic machinery, growth regulatory properties and regulation of gene transcription in most cells of the body. Indiscriminate application or elevation of cAMP throughout would be likely to produce a whole array of effects, some of which may be highly undesirable. The goal, then, for employing cAMP therapy in cancer treatment is to come up with a way to selectively raise cAMP levels in cancer tissue.
The level of cAMP in cells is controlled by its rate of synthesis by adenylyl cyclase (AC) and its rate of degradation by cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDEs). cAMP can readily be increased by agents in cancer cells by agents acting through stimulation of AC, such as catecholamines or prostaglandins acting through receptors coupled to AC, cholera toxin acting on Gs, or forskolin directly stimulating the AC catalytic unit, but none of these treatments is selective. If a specific form(s) of PDE can be shown to predominate in cancer cells, and not elsewhere, then selective inhibition of the PDE form should increase cAMP in cancer cells primarily, if not exclusively, and thereby avoid the adverse effects associated with earlier attempts at cAMP therapy.

Antisense oligodeoxynucleotide against phosphodiesterase


A bicycle rear derailleur includes a base member, a movable member, a chain cage, a first pulley, a second pulley and a chain guard member. The base member is configured to be mounted to a bicycle. The movable member is movably coupled to the base member. The chain cage is coupled to the movable member to move between at least a first orientation and a second orientation. The first pulley is rotatably mounted relative to the movable member. The second pulley is rotatably mounted to the chain cage to move with the chain cage relative. The chain guard member is movably coupled relative to the movable member. The chain cage includes an engagement portion arranged to move the chain guard member from a first position to a second position when the chain cage is moved from the first orientation to the second orientation.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to a bicycle rear derailleur. More specifically, the present invention relates to a bicycle rear derailleur having a movable chain guard member.
2. Background Information
Bicycling is becoming an increasingly more popular form of recreation as well as a means of transportation. Moreover, bicycling has become a very popular competitive sport for both amateurs and professionals. Whether the bicycle is used for recreation, transportation or competition, the bicycle industry is constantly improving the various components of the bicycle. One component that has been extensively redesigned is the bicycle rear derailleur.
Typically, a rear derailleur has a base member and a movable member with a chain guide movably coupled to the base member via a linkage assembly. The base member is attached to the frame of the bicycle. The chain guide is configured to move the chain laterally over a plurality of rear sprockets. A spring biases the chain guide to an innermost or outermost position relative to the rear sprockets. A bowden-type control cable is typically coupled to the rear derailleur and to a conventional shift control device in order to control movement of the chain guide. The chain guide can be moved laterally by moving the linkage assembly via the inner wire of the control cable. Pulling the inner wire moves the chain guide against the biasing force of the spring, while releasing the inner wire causes the chain guide to move due to the biasing force of the spring.
Usually, the base member of a typical rear derailleur is mounted in a stationary position during normal use. However, the base member can typically be rotated against the biasing force of an internal spring and/or against the force of chain tension in order to move the derailleur out of the way for removal of the rear wheel. While this base member arrangement works relatively well, an individual (rider, mechanic, etc.) must hold the rear derailleur out of the way during removal of the rear wheel. This can be difficult, cumbersome and/or inconvenient depending on the individual and the bicycle.
The most common chain guide includes a pair of pulleys mounted between a pair of parallel plates so that the pulleys are movable about a common pivot axis in response to changes in chain tension. However, in recent years, rear derailleurs have been provided in which the chain cage that supports the tension pulley may interfere with the guide pulley and/or the chain cage that supports the guide pulley in certain gear orientations. Also, interference between parts of the chain guide and the chain may occur in certain gear orientations. Furthermore, the chain cage that supports the guide pulley may interfere with the rear sprockets during removal of the rear wheel.
In view of the above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that there exists a need for an improved bicycle rear derailleur. This invention addresses this need in the art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.


A system and method are provided for detecting the frequency acquisition of a synthesized signal in a non-synchronous communications receiver. The method accepts a non-synchronous communication signal having an input data signaling frequency, and compares the input data signaling frequency to a synthesized signal frequency. In response to the comparing, a difference signal pulse is generated. More explicitly, the difference signal is generated at a rate responsive to the difference between the input data signaling frequency and the synthesized signal frequency. The method counts synthesized signal pulses occurring simultaneously with the difference signal pulse. If the counted synthesized signal pulses exceed a threshold (before the disappearance of the difference signal pulse), it is determined that the input data signaling frequency is about equal to the synthesized signal frequency, and a lock signal is generated.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to frequency/phase locked loops and, more particularly to a system and method for determining when a device receiving non-synchronous communication signals should switch from frequency acquisition to phase acquisition.
2. Description of the Related Art
Voltage controlled oscillators are commonly used in monolithic clock data recovery (CDR) units, as they're easy to fabricate and provide reliable results. Clock recovery PLLs generally don't use phase-frequency detectors (PFDs) in the data path since the incoming data signal isn't deterministic. PFDs are more typically used in frequency synthesizers with periodic (deterministic) signals. Clock recovery PLLs use exclusive-OR (XOR) based phase detectors to maintain quadrature phase alignment between the incoming data pattern and the re-timed pattern. XOR based phase detectors have limited frequency discrimination capability, generally restricting frequency offsets to less than the closed loop PLL bandwidth. This characteristic, coupled with the wide tuning range of the voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), requires CDR circuits to depend upon an auxiliary frequency acquisition system.
FIG. 1 depicts a PLL loop consisting of a phase frequency detector, a voltage controlled oscillator, a charge pump, and a low-pass filter placed into the forward path of a negative feedback closed loop configuration (prior art). A charge pump is used if the PFD is insufficient to charge (or discharge) reactances in the loops filter.
There are two basic PLL frequency acquisition techniques. The first is a VCO sweep method. During an out-of-lock condition, auxiliary circuits cause the VCO frequency to slowly sweep across its tuning range in search of an input signal. The sweeping action is halted when a zero-beat note is detected, causing the PLL to lock to the input signal. The VCO sweep method is generally used in microwave frequency synthesis applications. The second type of acquisition aid, commonly found in clock recovery circuits, uses a PFD in combination with an XOR phase detector. When the PLL is locked to a data stream (the REFCLK input), the PLL switches over to a PFD that is driven by a stable reference clock source. The reference clock frequency is proportional to the data stream rate. For example, if the data stream rate is D and the reference clock rate is R, then D α R.
In this manner, the VCO frequency is held very close to the data rate. Keeping the VCO frequency in the proper range of operation facilitates acquisition of the serial data and maintains a stable downstream clock, even if the serial data CDR input is lost. When serial data is again applied to the CDR, the XOR-based phase detector replaces the PFD when frequency is reacquired, and data re-timing resumes using the reference clock.
One difficulty in switching between frequency and phase detectors is in determining the switch point, the point at which the serial data signaling frequency has been acquired. Since the serial data is received as a non-synchronous pattern of random or pseudo-random binary bits, it is not always easy to "find" the carrier or signaling frequency. Further, a determination must be made as to when the VCO frequency is accurate enough to begin operation based upon the phase detection of the reference clock.
It would be advantageous if a method existed that permitted a CDR synthesized signal to switch from frequency acquisition of a non-synchronous communication signal to phase acquisition of a reference clock.