Compounds, compositions and methods are provided for modulating the expression of STAT5. The compositions comprise oligonucleotides, targeted to nucleic acid encoding STAT5. Methods of using these compounds for modulation of STAT5 expression and for diagnosis and treatment of diseases and conditions associated with expression of STAT5 are provided.

Many important cellular processes are regulated by cytokines, hormones and growth factors which interact with cell-surface receptors. Signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) proteins play a crucial role in coordinating the response of cells to cytokine receptor stimulation by acting as cytosolic messengers and nuclear transcription factors. Upon cytokine stimulation, STATs are phosphorylated on a conserved tyrosine residue. This phosphorylation can be catalyzed by the Janus (JAK) family kinases, intrinsic cellular receptor kinases or other cellular tyrosine kinases. Activated, phosphorylated STATs then dimerize and translocate to the nucleus, where they bind to DNA or act with other DNA binding proteins in multiprotein complexes. These complexes regulate gene transcription in a cascade of intracellular signaling events that ultimately affects a wide range of biological processes, including cell growth and differentiation, the immune response, antiviral activity, and homeostasis (Grimley et al., Cytokine Growth Factor Rev., 1999, 10, 131-157; Lin et al., Oncogene, 2000, 19, 2496-2504).
The STATs were originally discovered as critical players in interferon signaling mediated by cytokine receptors lacking intrinsic tyrosine kinase domains and employing the JAK kinases. To date, seven STAT family members have been described: STAT1, STAT2, STAT3, STAT4, STAT5A, STAT5B and STAT6 (Bromberg, J. Clin. Invest., 2002, 109, 1139-1142). STAT5A (also known as mammary gland factor, MGF) and STAT5B are two distinctly encoded proteins. STAT5A was originally identified as the prolactin-stimulated ovine gland mammary gland factor MGF (Wakao et al., Embo J., 1994, 13, 2182-2191), but was subsequently characterized as member of the STAT family when it was identified as an interleukin-2 induced STAT protein (Hou et al., Immunity, 1995, 2, 321-329). STAT5B was identified as an additional member of the STAT family that is similarly induced by interleukin-2 (Lin et al., J. Biol. Chem., 1996, 271, 10738-10744). Human STAT5A and STAT5B are both localized to chromosome 17 in the band 17q11.2 and have a very similar genomic organization (Ambrosio et al., Gene, 2002, 285, 311-318; Lin et al., J. Biol. Chem., 1996, 271, 10738-10744). Human STAT5A and STAT5B share 91% identity at the amino acid level (Lin et al., J. Biol. Chem., 1996, 271, 10738-10744).
STAT5A and STAT5B transcripts are ubiquitously expressed in human tissues, including spleen, stomach, brain, skeletal muscle, liver, kidney, lung, placenta, pancreas, heart and small intestine (Ambrosio et al., Gene, 2002, 285, 311-318). STAT5 is activated in response to a variety of cytokines, hormones and growth factors, including prolactin, various interleukins, erythropoietin and granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor. STAT5 has been implicated in transducing signals that affect cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis, particularly in the processes of hematopoiesis and immunoregulation, reproduction and lipid metabolism (Grimley et al., Cytokine Growth Factor Rev., 1999, 10, 131-157).
While STAT5A and STAT5B share a high degree of sequence homology, each STAT5 has distinct biological functions. STAT5A-deficient mice develop normally, but mammary lobuloalveolar outgrowth during pregnancy is reduced, and female mice fail to lactate after parturition due to defects in mammary gland differentiation (Liu et al., Genes Dev., 1997, 11, 179-186). These results demonstrate that STAT5A is essential for adult mammary gland development and lactogenesis. Targeted disruption of the murine STAT5B gene leads to a striking loss of multiple, sexually differentiated responses associated with the sexually dimorphic pattern of pituitary growth hormone secretion. Male STAT5B-deficient mice exhibit body growth rates and male-specific liver gene expression levels that are decreased relative to wild-type female levels, suggesting that STAT5B is necessary for the physiological effects of male growth hormone on body growth rate and liver gene expression. Only a modest decrease in growth rate is seen in STAT5B-deficient females (Udy et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 1997, 94, 7239-7244). The phenotypes of the gene disrupted mice correlate with the patterns of expression, with STAT5A highly abundant in mouse mammary tissue during lactation and STAT5B highly abundant in muscle tissue of virgin and lactating female mice and in male mice (Liu et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 1995, 92, 8831-8835).
Disruption of both STAT5A and STAT5B results in the phenotypes associated with disruption of each individual gene and also reveals that the STAT5 proteins have redundant functions in response to growth hormone and prolactin. Mice deficient in both STAT5A and STAT5B are smaller than their wild-type littermates, and the females are infertile. Peripheral T cells from these mice are unable to proliferate in response to T cell receptor engagement and interleukin-2, suggesting that STAT5 plays a role in T cell regulation (Teglund et al., Cell, 1998, 93, 841-850).
Each STAT5 gene gives rise to both long and short isoforms. These functionally distinct isoforms, which are activated in distinct populations of cells, are generated not by RNA processing but by STAT5-cleaving protease activity, also limited to distinct populations of cells. Interleukin-3 activates full-length STAT5A and STAT5B in mature myeloid cell lines and the c-terminally truncated forms in more immature myeloid cell lines (Azam et al., Immunity, 1997, 6, 691-701). These naturally occurring truncated variants can inhibit full-length STAT5 function in cultured mammalian cells but do not affect cell growth rate (Moriggl et al., Mol. Cell. Biol., 1996, 16, 5691-5700; Wang et al., Mol. Cell. Biol., 1996, 16, 6141-6148). Additionally, an alternatively spliced form of human STAT5B exists, which uses an alternative promoter and 5′ exon within the STAT5B gene. This STAT5B transcript is found only in placenta tissue (Ambrosio et al., Gene, 2002, 285, 311-318). Alternatively spliced forms of rat STAT5A have been isolated from rat mammary gland, and are designated STAT5A1 and STAT5A2 (Kazansky et al., Mol. Endocrinol., 1995, 9, 1598-1609). A STAT5B isoform that lacks the COOH-terminal 40 amino acids has been isolated from rat liver and designated STAT5BA40C (Ripperger et al., J. Biol. Chem., 1995, 270, 29998-30006).
The STAT proteins are not known to contribute directly to cell cycle checkpoint regulation or DNA repair. However, they contribute to tumorigenesis through their involvement in growth factor signaling, apoptosis and angiogenesis. Additionally, because this transcription factor family participates in the immune response, defective STAT activity can compromise immune surveillance and thus promote cancer cell survival. STAT5 is commonly found constitutively activated in several cancers. To date, the most common mechanism for constitutive phosphorylation and activation of STAT proteins is excessive JAK kinase activity (Bromberg, J. Clin. Invest., 2002, 109, 1139-1142).
A role for STAT5 in the process of tumor initiation and progression is demonstrated by the link between constitutive STAT5 activity and cultured cell transformation. STAT5 activation is sufficient for transformation of hematopoietic precursor cells (Spiekermann et al., Exp. Hematol., 2002, 30, 262-271). Both STAT5A and STAT5B are constitutively phosphorylated and are transcriptionally active in K562 leukemia cells (Carlesso et al., J. Exp. Med., 1996, 183, 811-820; de Groot et al., Blood, 1999, 94, 1108-1112; Weber-Nordt et al., Blood, 1996, 88, 809-816). Additionally, increased constitutive activation of STAT5 was detected in transformed human squamous epithelial cells derived from squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck. Targeting of STAT5B, but not STAT5A, with antisense oligonucleotides inhibited the growth of these squamous epithelial cells (Leong et al., Oncogene, 2002, 21, 2846-2853).
Abnormal STAT5 activity is indeed found associated with many cancers, particularly hematopoietic malignancies. Constitutively activated STAT5 is found in cell samples taken from patients with T-cell and B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL), adult T-cell leukemia (ATL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML) and acute promyelocytic-like leukemia (APL-L) (Arnould et al., Hum. Mol. Genet., 1999, 8, 1741-1749; Carlesso et al., J. Exp. Med., 1996, 183, 811-820; Chai et al., J. Immunol., 1997, 159, 4720-4728; Gouilleux-Gruart et al., Blood, 1996, 87, 1692-1697; Spiekermann et al., Clin. Cancer Res., 2003, 9, 2140-2150; Takemoto et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 1997, 94, 13897-13902; Weber-Nordt et al., Blood, 1996, 88, 809-816). Collectively, these data demonstrate the involvement of activated STAT5 in hematopoietic cancers.
One mechanism by which constitutively activated STAT5 may promote cancer cell survival is through the inhibition of apoptosis. Introduction of a constitutively activated STAT5 protects murine T lymphoma cells against dexamethasone-induced apoptosis (Demoulin et al., J. Biol. Chem., 1999, 274, 25855-25861). Conversely, blocking of tyrosine kinase signaling using a small molecule inhibitor in cells which express BCR/ABL, a constitutively active tyrosine kinase, inhibited cell growth and induced apoptosis (Donato et al., Blood, 2001, 97, 2846-2853; Huang et al., Oncogene, 2002, 21, 8804-8816). Apoptosis was correlated with the inhibition of STAT5 activation. Viral delivery of a dominantly acting STAT5 mutant to CML primary cells, a CML cell line or prostate cancer cells induces cell death, consistent with a role of STAT5 signaling in growth and survival of cancer cells (Ahonen et al., J. Biol. Chem., 2003,; Huang et al., Oncogene, 2002, 21, 8804-8816).
Inappropriate activation of STAT proteins may also allow cancer cells to survive and proliferate in the absence of cytokines and growth factors. STAT5 activation is often observed in correlation with the presence the BCR/ABL chimeric oncogene that results from a chromosomal translocation. The BCR/ABL fusion is found in both CML and ALL (Coffer et al., Oncogene, 2000, 19, 2511-2522). STAT5 activation in cells derived from CML patients is strictly dependent on BCR/ABL kinase activity and strongly correlates with its ability to confer cytokine independent growth in hematopoietic cells (Carlesso et al., J. Exp. Med., 1996, 183, 811-820; Shuai et al., Oncogene, 1996, 13, 247-254). Constitutively activated STAT5 is also found in several CML-derived cell lines expressing BCR/ABL. Furthermore, BCR/ABL is expressed in peripheral blood cells from patients with AML, and constitutively activated STAT5 was found in one of these AML patients (Chai et al., J. Immunol., 1997, 159, 4720-4728). Both the alpha and beta isoforms of STAT5A and STAT5B are found expressed in cells from AML patients and are proposed to be due to alternative mRNA splicing rather than to proteolytic cleavage (Xia et al., Cancer Res., 1998, 58, 3173-3180). Additionally, STAT5 is a major target of other leukemic fusion proteins with protein tyrosine kinase activity, including the TEL-JAK2 and TEL-ABL fusion proteins, which act to inappropriately activate STAT5 (Spiekermann et al., Exp. Hematol., 2002, 30, 262-271).
A case of acute promyelocytic-like leukemia (APL-L) exhibits a structurally abnormal STAT gene that is the result of a fusion between the retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARA) gene and the STAT5B gene. Whereas STAT5B under normal circumstances is translocated to the nucleus only upon tyrosine kinase activation, the STAT5B/RARA fusion is mislocalized in the nucleus (Arnould et al., Hum. Mol. Genet., 1999, 8, 1741-1749). The fusion protein enhances STAT3 activity, which is a characteristic shared by other APL fusion proteins (Dong and Tweardy, Blood, 2002, 99, 2637-2646).
Phosphorothioate anti sense oligodeoxynucleotides, 24 nucleotides in length, complementary to the start codon of either STAT5A or STAT5B, were used to inhibit STAT5A and STAT5B expression for the purpose of investigating their role in normal hematopoiesis. Downregulation of STAT5A or STAT5B following antisense oligodeoxynucleotide treatment had no effect on the viability, clonogenecity and apoptosis of cord blood hematopoietic cells (Baskiewicz-Masiuk et al., Cell Mol. Biol. Lett., 2003, 8, 317-331).
The U.S. Pat. No. 5,534,409 discloses and claims an isolated DNA which has at least about 90% sequence identity to a nucleotide sequence encoding mammary gland growth factor (MGF), also known as STAT5. Also disclosed are oligonucleotides useful for hybridization for the purpose of isolating cDNA clones encoding MGF (Groner et al., 1996).
The U.S. Pat. No. 5,618,693 claims and discloses an isolated nucleic acid encoding a human STAT5 (hSTAT5). Generally disclosed are nucleic acids for use as hybridization probes, PCR primers and therapeutic nucleic acids, whereby hStat5 nucleic acids are used to modulate, usually reduce, cellular expression or intracellular concentration or availability of active hStat5 and whereby these therapeutic nucleic acids are typically antisense nucleic acids (McKnight et al., 1997).
Disclosed and claimed in the U.S. Pat. No. 6,160,092 is a crystal of the core protein of the STAT protein in dimeric form with an 18-mer duplex DNA that contains a binding site for the STAT dimer, as well as methods of using the structural information in drug discovery and drug development. Also disclosed are nucleic acid molecules encoding STAT5A, including RNA and DNA molecules and hybridizable nucleic acid molecules with minimum length of 12 nucleotides (Chen et al., 2000).
Disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 6,518,021 are nucleic acid molecules encoding a human STAT5A molecule, whereby a nucleic acid molecule is a DNA or RNA sequence or a PCR primer (Thastrup et al., 2003).
The PCT publication WO 02/46466 discloses and claims a method of inhibiting cellular proliferation mediated by a BRCA/STAT complex, comprising contacting a BRCA/STAT-containing cell with an effective amount of a BRCA/STAT complex modulating compound sufficient to modulate the amount or activity of a BRCA/STAT complex in said cell, wherein said BRCA/STAT complex modulating compound is selected from the group consisting of small molecule, polypeptide and nucleic acid. This application discloses that a BRCA/STAT complex modulating compound can be a nucleic acid, such as a DNA or RNA molecule, including antisense nucleic acids, that specifically binds to a BRCA or STAT nucleic acid (Valgeirsdottir, 2002).
The US Pre-grant publication 20030105057 claims and discloses a method wherein the amount of phosphorylated RECEPTOR/PTK-STAT pathway in a cell is altered by introducing into the cell nucleic acid molecules that encode RECEPTOR/PTK-STAT proteins, including STAT5A/B, to effect the increase or decrease of the expression and/or activation of a RECEPTOR or STAT, wherein the STAT can be STAT5A/B. This application further discloses methods whereby the amount of phosphorylated RECEPTOR/PTK-STAT protein is increased or decreased by introducing into the cell an antisense nucleic acid molecule that encodes a tyrosine kinase and/or a RECEPTOR/PTK-STAT protein (Fu et al., 2003).


A hybrid male coupler portion for a front-end loader mates selectively and interchangeably with first and second different female coupler portions. The coupler portion includes a frame. The frame includes: (i) first and second arm pin-on locations adapted for connection to associated first and second arms, respectively; (ii) at least one tilt member pin-on location adapted for connection to an associated tilt member; and (iii) first and second coupler halves. Each of the first and second coupler halves includes: a first hook-engaging mount; a first rib locking location aligned with the first hook-engaging mount; a second hook-engaging mount; a second rib locking location aligned with the second hook-engaging mount; and, a plunger pin slidably connected to the frame and movable between an extended position and a retracted position. The plunger pin, when extended, is adapted to engage and retain an associated female coupler portion rib ear located in one of the first and second rib locking locations.

Couplers and coupling systems for front-end loaders are well-known and widely used to provide for quick connect/disconnect of attachments, such as buckets, forks or the like, to the arms and tilt control linkage of a front-end loader or like machine. As used herein, the term "front-end loader" is intended to encompass front-end loaders and all other tractors and machines including two laterally spaced-apart arms and one or more tilt control cylinders, links, or the like that control the angular position of a male coupler portion and/or an attachment pivotally secured to the arms. Examples of known couplers and coupling systems of the general type disclosed herein can be found in commonly owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,708,579; 5,415,235; 5,529,419; and 5,692,850, the disclosures of which are hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein.
As is widely known in connection with loader coupling systems, a male coupler portion is operatively connected to the arms and control linkage of a front-end loader machine. The female coupler portion is defined by two parallel, spaced-apart ribs that are welded to otherwise fixedly secured to a bucket or other attachment such as forks or the like. Thus, the front-end loader is able to couple with any desired attachment by mating the male coupler portion to the female coupler portion of a desired attachment for use of the attachment.
FIG. 1A illustrates a first type of conventional female rib FR1. As is known in the art and as shown in FIG. 1C, two of the ribs FR1 are welded or otherwise fixedly secured vertically to a bucket or other attachment AT in parallel, spaced-apart relation to define a first type of female coupler portion B. Each rib FR1 comprises a hook portion FH1 and an ear portion FT1 spaced from the hook portion, but lying in the same plane therewith. The ear portion FT1 includes a lock aperture FA1 that extends transversely therethrough. In use, the hook portion FH1 is adapted to receive a mounting pin or other mounting member of a male coupler portion. The hook portion FH1 and mounting member of the male coupler portion typically comprise mating cylindrical surfaces. When the hook portion FH1 is seated on the mounting pin/member of the male coupler portion, the ear portion FT1 of the rib moves into a locking region of the male coupler portion where it is engaged by a lock mechanism to secure the rib FR1 to the male coupler portion in a releasable fashion. Typically, the lock mechanism comprises a plunger pin that is slidably received in the lock aperture FA1 of the ear FT1 so as to prevent withdrawal of the ear from the locking region of the male coupler portion which, in turn, prevents separation of the hook portion FH1 from the mounting pin/member that is seated therein. As noted, in practice, first and second ribs FR1 are used to define a female coupler portion B and, thus, the mating male coupler portion includes respective first and second mounting locations, and first and second lock mechanisms, to secure the ribs to the male coupler portion. The female rib FR1 shown in FIG. 1A is commonly referred to as a JRB-style rib in that two of the ribs FR1 arranged in an appropriate manner define a female coupler portion that is engageable by a male coupler portion available commercially from JRB Company, Inc., Akron, Ohio, U.S.A.
FIG. 1B partially illustrates a second type of conventional female rib FR2. As is known in the art, two vertical ribs FR2 are welded or otherwise fixedly secured to a bucket or other attachment in parallel, spaced-apart relation to define a second type of female coupler portion in the same arrangement as shown for the female coupler portion B in FIG. 1C. The rib FR2 functions similarly to the rib FR1 but is shaped, and dimensioned differently, and the ribs FR2 are spaced differently relative to each other laterally to define a female coupler portion as compared to the ribs FR1. Each rib FR2 comprises a hook portion FH2 and an ear portion FT2 spaced from the hook portion but in the same plane therewith. The ear portion FT2 includes a transverse lock aperture FA2 that extends therethrough. In use, the hook portion FH2 is adapted to receive a mounting pin or other mounting member of a male coupler portion. The hook portion FH2 and mounting member of the male coupler portion typically comprise mating cylindrical surfaces. When the hook portion FH2 is seated on the mounting pin/member of the male coupler portion, the ear portion FT2 moves into a locking region of the male coupler portion where it is engaged by a lock mechanism to secure the rib FR2 to the male coupler portion. Here, again, the lock mechanism of the male coupler portion typically comprises a plunger pin that is slidably received in the lock aperture FA2 of the tongue FT2 so as to prevent withdrawal of the ear FT2 from the locking region of the male coupler portion which, in turn, prevents separation of the hook portion FH2 from the mounting pin/member that is seated therein. As noted, in practice, first and second ribs FR2 are used to define a female coupler portion and, thus, the mating male coupler portion includes first and second mounting members, and first and second lock mechanisms, to secure the ribs to the male coupler portion. The female rib FR2 shown in FIG. 1B is commonly referred to as a CAT-style rib in that two of the ribs FR2 arranged in an appropriate manner define a female coupler portion that is engageable by a male coupler portion available commercially from Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, Ill., U.S.A.
A problem arises with known male coupler portions in that they have heretofore been dedicated to a particular type of female coupler portion. As such, known male coupler portions can only be used to pick-up attachments having the required female rib arrangement. In the field or as part of an equipment rental fleet operation, this limits the use of a particular front-end loader and/or requires the male coupler portion to be changed at the pin-on connection which is highly undesirable.
According to the present invention, a hybrid male coupler portion for a front-end loader is provided and operable to mate selectively and interchangeably with first and second different female coupler portions.

Hybrid male coupler portion for a front-end loader


A system and method for providing overflow on demand in a telecommunications network. The network includes at least one originating call location, at least one terminating call location that subscribes to an overflow on demand service, a data access point (DAP), and at least one switch. When a caller at the originating call location places a call to a chosen call terminating location, the call is routed to that location via the switch under DAP control. Under certain circumstances, the caller can cause overflow processing to occur by merely pressing the "*" key, on a telephone keypad. Overflow processing typically includes routing the call to an overflow call terminating location specified in the call processing plan for the chosen location.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to telephony, and more particularly to allowing a caller to initiate call overflow in a telecommunications network.
2. Related Art
The proliferation of virtual private networks, such as MCI VNET, has introduced many new functions for telecommunications networks. One such function is known as "call overflow." In a conventional implementation, call overflow causes a call to a particular terminating location to be redirected to a predetermined overflow location under certain conditions, referred to herein as "overflow conditions." Overflow conditions can include abnormal call termination, expiration of a timer, certain busy conditions, and the like.
FIG. 1 depicts a portion of a typical telecommunications network 100. Telecommunications network 100 includes a data access point (DAP) 102, a switch 104, originating call location O, terminating call locations T1 and T2, and trunk groups TG0, TG1, and TG2. FIG. 2 is a flowchart depicting the operation of a conventional call overflow system. In the following example, terminating location T1 subscribes to a conventional call overflow function provided by telecommunications network 100.
Referring to FIG. 2, a caller at call origination location O initiates a call to terminating location T1, as shown in step 202. When switch 104 receives the call, it queries DAP 102 for routing information for the call, as shown in a step 204. DAP 102 consults the call processing plan for terminating location T1. Because terminating location T1 subscribes to the call overflow function, the call processing plan indicates that call overflow is available. Therefore, as shown in step 206, DAP 102 determines that call overflow is available for terminating location T1. In addition, DAP 102 determines the call routing for the call to reach terminating location T1.
DAP 102 sends the call routing information, and a call overflow available indication, to switch 104, as shown in step 208. Switch 104 then routes the call to terminating location T1, as shown in step 210. If an overflow condition occurs, as shown in step 212, then call overflow is performed, as shown in step 220. Typically call overflow processing includes transferring the call to another terminating location. Assume in this example that the call processing plan for terminating location T1 specifies terminating location T2 as the overflow call terminating location. In this example, call overflow processing includes transferring the call from terminating location T1 to terminating location T2.
A primary disadvantage of such conventional implementations is that the caller has no control over the call overflow process. In such an implementation, the caller can only wait for an overflow condition to occur, thereby triggering call overflow processing. In many instances, this wait is considerable. Such long wait times result in increased telephone service costs, inconvenience to the caller, the perception by callers of poor service, and the loss of calls and the business associated with those calls.

System and method for overflow on demand in a telecommunications network


In a Y linear driving mechanism 6 for moving an X linear driving mechanism 8 in a direction Y by a linear motor comprising a stator 16 and a moving element 17, there is provided a drive transmission portion which is connected to the moving element 17 so as to transmit a driving force of the moving element 17, acting in the direction Y, through a moving plate 18 and a connecting member 25. A first air gap G1 is formed between the moving element 17 and the moving plate 18, and a second air gap G2 is formed between the moving plate 18 and the connecting member 25. With this construction, the transfer of heat from the moving element 17 is interrupted in an operating condition, so that troubles, caused by the thermal expansion and contraction due to heat generated by the linear motor, can be prevented.

This invention relates to a linear driving mechanism which is provided in an electronic components mounting apparatus such as an electronic component placement machine, and linearly drives a driven member such as a mounting head by a linear motor.
In electronic components mounting apparatuses such as an electronic components placement machine, a linear driving mechanism has been extensively used as an elemental mechanism forming a head-moving mechanism for moving an operating head such as a mounting head. In recent years, instead of a conventional linear driving mechanism of the type in which a rotational motion of a motor is converted into a linear motion by a ball screw, there has been used the type of linear driving mechanism in which a linear motion is directly effected by a linear motor (see, for example, JP-A-2002-299896). By adopting this type, there is achieved the linear driving mechanism capable of effecting a high-speed operation with high positional accuracy.
A linear motor is of such a type that a magnetic force is produced between a stator, mounted in a driving direction, and a moving element disposed in opposed relation to the stator, thereby obtaining a driving force. Therefore, the moving element is always kept in a heated condition by a drive current. Therefore, heat is transferred from the moving element to a drive transmission portion interconnecting a driven member and the moving element, and is further transferred to the driven member, so that the temperature of this driven member rises. When the driven member is subjected to thermal expansion and contraction because of this temperature rise, there has been encountered a problem that various troubles, such as lowered precision of positioning of the operating head mounted on the driven member, are incurred.

Linear driving mechanism of electronic components mounting apparatus

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A control module, in particular for a control circuit in a motor vehicle, is configured in such a way that it can be produced economically. The control module has a two-part housing which includes a lower part and an upper part. The lower part is configured as a plate, having a connector member for a downstream device, which can be joined flat to a circuit board. The circuit board is populated on a front side with components which can be soldered with the reflow method to connector parts of the circuit board. The upper part, which is configured as a cover, has an opening to receive a plug connector, and can be snap-locked onto the plate. The control module is preferably used in automobile engineering.

In the case of a known control module, a stamped grid is used as a component support in a two-part housing that contains on an upper part a receptacle for a plug connector, and on a lower part contact elements for electrical connection to a downstream device.
The lower part is configured in a box shape, such that the side walls, proceeding from an upper side of the lower part, are locally interrupted. The side walls serve as positioning means on the one hand for the upper part and on the other hand for the stamped grid with its surround.
The components mounted on the stamped grid are to be electrically connected to the connection points configured in the stamped grid. If circuit modifications are to be made to the control module, however, this is difficult to implement due to the predefinition of the connection points, and may possibly be achievable only by means of a redesigned punched grid. In addition, mounting of the components on the punched grid is limited, and it is difficult to link the terminals of the components to one another, so that production of the control module is complex and cost-intensive, especially if it comprises many functions.


The present invention provides a brakeable microapparatus comprising a substrate and a structure overlying the substrate and movable relative to the substrate. A frictional brake overlies the structure and is movable into frictional engagement with the structure for holding the structure relative to the substrate.

Micromechanical actuators have been disclosed for moving or adjusting elements such as mirrors for optical systems. In almost all cases it is necessary to continuously apply power to maintain the position of the actuator.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,998,906 to Jerman et al describes a linear actuator with large displacement that can be continuously adjusted over its range. U.S. Pat. No. 5,955,817 to Dhuler et al describes a thermal actuator system including a latch for reducing the power required by the actuator during use. Neither of these patents, however, disclose an actuator that can be moved to an arbitrary position and held in place.
In general, it is an object of the invention to provide a microactuator having a braking mechanism.
Another object of the invention is to provide a microactuator having a braking mechanism that allows moving the microactuator to a given location and holding the actuator in that location.
Another object of the invention is to provide a microactuator having a braking mechanism for holding the microactuator at arbitrary positions along the range of travel of the microactuator.

Micromechanical device having braking mechanism


An electronic device having a press-fit connection for connecting a connector and an electronic part mounted on a printed circuit board which is possible to enable high density mounting. Viewing the printed circuit board from an upper surface, between adjacent through holes on which a compressive force acts upon insertion of the press-fit terminal, among the large number of through holes, a land or a conductor film connected to the conductor film formed on the inner wall surface of the through hole or the conductor film not connected to the conductor film formed on the inner wall surface of the through hole, formed in the circuit board held between the top layer circuit board and the bottom layer circuit board, exists in a width equal to or wider than the diameter of the through hole.

The present invention relates to a wiring board (printed circuit board) for press-connection of circuit boards, modules and connectors, and an electronic device having the circuit board.
In recent years, as a connection method upon mounting parts and the like on a circuit board where electric wires are formed, press-fit connection attracts attention. Conventionally, the press-fit connection is used in a main frame computer or the like as solderless connection method to remove difficulty in soldering between circuit board. However, in recent years, the press-fit connection is more frequently applied to an on-vehicle electronic device such as ABS (Antilocked Braking System) since (1) the connection process is simple, (2) the equipment investment to establish the process is small, and (3) it is possible to realize higher density mounting in comparison with soldering.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-134302 discloses dispersing stress on a circuit board between through holes by changing a press-insertion direction of a press-fit terminal so as to improve the reliability of the circuit board. According to this method, when a part is arranged between the through holes, it is possible to reduce the stress applied on the part.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2008-294299 discloses inserting a press-fit terminal in a printed circuit board having a metal core so as to improve the reliability. According to this method, as the hard metal core receives the distortion of the terminal, it is possible to reduce the distortion of the printed circuit board.
In the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-134302, high stress is applied in a direction where the distortion is initially small. Accordingly, regarding the direction in which the spring force acts, it is necessary to arrange the part away. This cases wasteful space. Further, high density mounting is limited.
In the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application laid-Open Publication No. 2008-294299, the metal core board is not widely used since the cost of the metal core board is generally high.

Printed circuit board and electronic device using printed circuit board


A method and business architecture for providing vision correction to a patient involves obtaining wavefront aberration measurement information and, optionally, patient history data, ordering data, dispensing data, billing data, and other information, from the patient; transmitting the various data to respective appropriate platforms, e.g., transmitting the wavefront aberration information to a custom lens supply platform; producing a custom lens for the patient; and delivering a custom lens to the patient in a personalized manner. The method further involves fitting and measurement processes including in-situ lens shaping and custom manufacture of contact lenses, IOLs, inlays or onlays by laser ablation, lathing, casting/molding and machining. Business architectures according to the invention include segregating vision correction method steps into contractual, revenue generating business transactions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of vision correction and, more particularly, to methods and devices for providing customized vision correction, and business methods associated with providing such correction.
2. Description of Related Art
A large portion of the population is ametropic; i.e., their vision is less than optimum due at least in part to refractive abnormalities of the eye. For over 100 years, practitioners ranging from lens fitters to surgeons have engaged in the business of providing vision correction to the ametropic population, as technology permitted, through spectacles; more intimate devices such as contact lenses, intra-ocular lenses (IOLs), inlays and onlays; and via surgical procedures including cataract removal, keratoplasty (corneal replacement), variations of keratotomy such as RK (radial keratotomy), PRK (photorefractive keratotomy) and other refractive surgical procedures the most popular of which currently is LASIK (laser assisted in-situ keratomileusis). In general terms, LASIK involves sculpting the cornea of the eye with an excimer laser to give it a shape that results in better vision for the patient.
While spectacles, contact lenses, and the like generally help people see better, it is widely known that conventional vision correction devices and procedures still do not and cannot correct all refractive error. This is due in part because traditional vision correction only addresses a few of the many aberrations that cause less than perfect vision, and further in part because treatments such as LASIK tend to introduce certain aberrations at the same time that they greatly reduce some of the more gross refractive errors. Thus, after successful LASIK treatment, a person may no longer find it necessary to wake up in the morning with eyeglasses in hand to find their slippers, however, they may experience other visual annoyances associated, for example, with nighttime vision.
Relatively recent advances in ophthalmologic technology are being developed and refined to address the aforementioned issues. Sophisticated instruments such as the Orbscan(trademark) m ocular topography system by Orbtek, Inc. and wavefront sensing devices for measuring and correcting higher-order aberrations such as that disclosed in Williams et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,777,719, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, provide tools to evaluate residual refractive errors and, when used in conjunction with advanced laser systems like the 217C laser system manufactured by Technolas GmbH, and other eye care technology, have the potential to provide supernormal vision.
Concomitant efforts are directed to incorporate these technological advances into business architectures that can deliver enhanced value to practitioners, vendors, consumers, and patients be it in the form of economic, social, or personal enhancement.
A solution that addresses the issues and concerns identified above is set forth by the present invention. The term xe2x80x9cvision correctionxe2x80x9d as used in the description of the invention refers both to a measured improvement in vision over that provided by conventional refractive correction and to the subjective evaluation of xe2x80x9cseeing betterxe2x80x9d by the patient. The term xe2x80x9cpractitionerxe2x80x9d as used herein refers appropriately to anyone qualified to fit, prescribe, or dispense vision correction devices such as spectacles and the like, or medically attend to a patient particularly with respect to the patient""s eyes.
In accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a method for providing vision correction to a patient involves engaging the patient in a practitioner""s facility; obtaining an ocular wavefront aberration measurement from the patient in the practitioner""s facility; transmitting the wavefront aberration measurement and other associated data including patient and practitioner information in suitable form to a custom lens supply platform and other platforms as appropriate; manufacturing a custom lens at the supply platform; and providing the patient or the practitioner with the custom lens. In the instant embodiment, the custom lens may be a contact lens, an inlay, an onlay, or an IOL. In this and the embodiments to follow, the custom lens supply platform provides for manufacturing the appropriate custom lens preferably, but not necessarily, at a location remote from the practitioner""s facility by known manufacturing methods. These methods include, but are not limited to, laser ablation, lathing, cast-molding, or otherwise machining a lens surface. Moreover, in this and the embodiments to follow, the wavefront aberration measurement is preferably obtained with a wavefront sensor but may alternatively or complementarily be obtained by phase diversity techniques, ocular topography, pachymetry and other suitable means known to those skilled in the art for obtaining wavefront aberration information. The measured wavefront aberrations preferably refer to third and higher-order aberrations and, more preferably, to fifth to tenth order aberrations, but are not limited as such. In an aspect of this embodiment, the steps of obtaining an ocular wavefront aberration measurement from the patient in the practitioner""s facility; transmitting the wavefront aberration measurement and associated data to a custom lens supply platform; and manufacturing a custom lens at the supply platform are segregated into respective businesses, any or all of which may carry contractual rights for practice and, further, any or all of which may be the source of a royalty or other income. The contractual rights may be exclusive or non-exclusive and may be granted to any number of parties. In another aspect of this embodiment, practice of the invention will provide the patient with vision correction and resulting visual performance from the custom lens that is better than that which would be provided to the patient from a conventional refraction.
A related embodiment of the invention for providing vision correction involves engaging a patient in a practitioner""s facility where the patient is fitted with a trial contact lens having a non-customized anterior surface shape; identifying, by a mark or non-contact means, the geometric center of a surface of the trial lens; obtaining a wavefront aberration measurement from the patient""s eye along an eye axis passing through the geometric center of the lens; transmitting the aberration measurement in an appropriate form to a custom contact lens supply platform; and manufacturing a custom contact lens for the patient.
In another embodiment according to the invention for providing vision correction, a patient is engaged in a practitioner""s facility; the patient is fitted with a trial lens having a non-customized anterior surface shape; a wavefront aberration measurement is obtained from the patient""s eye with the trial lens in place; the aberration measurement information is transmitted in suitable form to a device adapted for custom-shaping the anterior lens surface; and the anterior lens surface is custom shaped in-situ by the device. In this embodiment, the lens may be a contact lens, an onlay, or an inlay. The in-situ custom shaping would preferably be by laser ablation. In an aspect of this embodiment, the aberration measurement information is also transmitted in suitable form to a custom lens supply platform where a custom lens is made for the patient. In another aspect of this embodiment, fitting the patient with the trial lens further involves identifying, by a mark or non-contact means, the geometric center of a surface of the trial lens and obtaining the wavefront aberration measurement along an eye axis passing through the geometric center of the lens. In some individual cases, it may be preferable to dilate the patient""s pupil to cover an appropriate portion of the optical zone of the trial lens.
Another embodiment of the invention provides a method for vision correction including engaging the patient in a practitioner""s facility; obtaining a wavefront aberration measurement of the patient""s eye; and providing a display of the wavefront aberration measurement in the form of either a picture, a computer simulation, a graphic display, and/or a mathematical representation of the wavefront. In a preferred aspect of this embodiment, the display is in a form that allows the patient to make a subjective evaluation of the wavefront aberration measurement which will lead to the subjective evaluation of better vision. A related aspect involves transmitting the wavefront measurement to a lens supply platform in a form readable by the lens supply platform for producing a custom lens.
In a related embodiment, obtaining the wavefront aberration measurement of the patient""s eye including presenting a display of the measurement to the patient may be accomplished automatically outside of a practitioner""s facility, in similar fashion, for example, to obtaining blood pressure readings from devices located in supermarkets, workplaces, etc. The desired information could then be transmitted automatically to a practitioner (e.g., for diagnostic purposes) or to a custom lens supply platform for making lenses for the patient if desired.
In another related embodiment, a method for providing vision correction to a patient involves measuring an ocular characteristic of the patient""s eye, either by a practitioner in the practitioner""s facility or remotely without practitioner intervention. The measurement includes topography data and/or wavefront aberration data. This measured data is evaluated and the evaluation produces an option matrix that compares, among other things, prospective vision correction as a function of a prospective eye treatment, cost of treatment options, etc. Based upon the evaluation, the patient can select her treatment option, and billing and lens manufacturing can occur automatically upon selection.
In an aspect suited to all of the embodiments described above, patient data may also be supplied to an appropriate location or platform to accommodate, e.g., record keeping, ordering, billing, and delivery information, building and maintaining patient databases, treatment surveys, for economic and productivity evaluations, etc. Any of the embodiments are also amenable to automated billing via, e.g., credit/debit card services. The interactive aspects of the invention provide for a xe2x80x9csemi-intelligentxe2x80x9d system in that it facilitates database feedback to interested parties. This kind of information allows real-time choice options to be evaluated by the patient, the practitioner, manufacturers and other interested parties.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any data transmission referred to above could be in the form of telecom or datacom, and could be sent via wire-based (optical fiber, cable, etc.) or wireless services. A preferable interface would be Internet based.

Customized vision correction method and business


A cooking device according to the present invention may comprise: a frame forming a cooking chamber; and a rack support mechanism detachably installed to the frame and supporting a rack such that height of the rack can be adjusted.

A cooking device is a device that cooks food using heat from a heating source. The cooking device may include a frame configured to form a cooking chamber. A rack for supporting the food may be installed on the frame.
An apparatus for automatically adjusting the position of a cooking shelf for a gas oven range is disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 10-0155499, which is a prior document.
In the gas oven range of the prior document, a cooking shelf containing food is mounted on one side surface of the cavity. An output shaft of the drive motor is coupled to both ends of the cooking shelf through a towing line, so when the drive motor rotates, the towing line is wound around the output shaft of the drive motor or released from the output shaft to lift and lower the cooking shelf.
According to the prior document, since the cooking shelf has to be moved up and down in a state where the cooking shelf is installed in the cavity, holes extending in the up and down direction has to be formed on both side surfaces of the cavity.
Due to such a hole, heat in the cavity escapes to the outside of the cavity, so that cooking efficiency decreases, and it is difficult to take out the cooking shelf outside the cavity.
In addition, there is a problem in that food leftovers passes through the hole in the cooking process of food, and there is a disadvantage that it is difficult to clean the cavity due to the hole.


Methods allowing precise directional drilling are provided. Such methods include use of directional drilling equipment which include a drill string with a hollow bottom rod connected to a boring tool by means of an obtuse-angle connection piece or “bent sub”. In order to restore the verticality of the drilling a vertical borehole section (F) is formed and then a probe equipped with an inclinometer is lowered inside the bottom rod. The string may be rotated into four angular positions and the inclination values of the probe in each angular position are detected at the depth reached. The string is rotated so as to bring it into an angular position corresponding to the maximum inclination value detected. The string is moved so as to move the boring tool further downwards and the inclination of the probe is detected again in order to check that verticality has been reached.

Higher precision equipment used hitherto for vertical drillings includes equipment which makes use of an inclinometer (typically a triaxial accelerometer) associated with a compass (triaxial magnetometer). Inclinometer and compass are usually contained in a special rod forming a so-called down-hole assembly (or unit). As is known, the inclinometer provides the value of the inclination with respect to the vertical, while the compass indicates the azimuthal angle of the direction containing this inclination.
In order to reposition drilling in its nominal direction, and therefore restore the verticality of the borehole, a deviation must be imparted to the tool in the opposite direction to that of the inclination detected. For this purpose, in order to correct the direction of the drilling, i.e. deviate it, the tool is connected to the drill string by means of a deviation connecting member in the form of an elbow sleeve, referred to in the sector as "bent sub". The bent sub is arranged between the tool and the string so that the axis of the tool is angularly offset by a few degrees (generally 1 to 3 degrees) with respect to the axis of the drill string.
Hitherto, in order to determine the azimuthal direction in which the so-called tool face must be oriented in order to restore the verticality of the excavation, the information made available by the compass is used. In order to orient correctly the directional tool, it is therefore indispensable for the compass to indicate the right direction. However, the compass does not always function correctly; this may be due to magnetic disturbances induced by metallic bodies or by electric currents flowing in the vicinity of the drilling.
Moreover, with the excavation equipment which is most widely used, the compass may not be permanently contained inside the special tool-holder rod (usually a nonmagnetic stainless-steel rod), but must be lowered to the bottom of the excavation whenever a measurement is performed and then removed in order to start the drilling again. Consequently, the correct orientation of the compass with respect to the bent sub and the boring tool is not always readily obtainable. In particular, on each occasion the compass must be removed and repositioned with great accuracy. The instrument must be locked angularly in a given fixed angular position with respect to the elbow of the bent sub. For this purpose it is necessary to use a guiding and connection device called a "mule shoe" which is lowered inside the down-hole assembly. The mule shoe guides the compass into the correct angular position and prevents it from rotating with respect to the tool bit.
It is indispensable to remove the instrument in particular if boring is performed by means of a hydraulic hammer. This type of tool, which is particularly effective, in fact produces impacts and vibrations which rapidly destroy the compass if it is not removed from the string. Moreover, the high pressures which are required for operation of the hammer may result in the infiltration of water into the data supply/transmission line of the instrument itself.
The orientation of the bent sub in the correct direction may therefore be difficult or, in some situations, even impossible. The precision of the drilling, and therefore the need to correct deviations from the vertical, is of fundamental importance in many applications, for example in the construction of partitions at a depth of more than 40 meters, consisting of posts which are arranged alongside one another and which must overlap by a few centimeters (2-3 cm) in order to ensure the continuity and the impermeability of construction work.
The abovementioned method moreover requires that the compass sensors should be arranged very close to the elbow in order to detect with a high degree of accuracy the inclination and orientation of the bent sub. Owing to this proximity, the compass is affected by the magnetic disturbances of the hammer body. The angular data made available by the compass (through a method known as "magnetic tool face orientation", MTFO) therefore may not be used during orientation of the tool face. Therefore, although in the calculation of the spatial position of the tool face, the compass error is within acceptable limits and may be corrected by means of several readings, for an evaluation of the orientation of the tool face it is necessary to resort to a method which is not subject to major errors so as to be able to correct the deviation in the shortest possible vertical space and with the maximum efficiency.


Provided is a transformer (1), which includes: a core (10) which forms a magnetic circuit and has a middle leg (10a) and a plurality of side legs (10b, 10c) branched from the middle leg (10a); primary windings (11) respectively wound around a first winding leg (10a) and a second winding leg (10b), which are selected from the middle leg (10a) and the side legs (10b, 10c); and a secondary winding (12) wound around either of the first winding leg (10a) or the second winding leg (10b), wherein a first magnetic flux generated by the primary windings (11) from the first winding leg (10a) and a second magnetic flux generated by the primary windings (11) from the second winding leg (10b) differ from each other by a predetermined value or more at a position at which the fluxes do not intersect with the secondary winding (12).

Conventionally, a resonant circuit realizes soft switching using the resonance of a resonant inductance Lr and a resonant capacitor Cr. A leakage inductance of a transformer can be used in the resonant inductance Lr. It is known that, with use of the leakage inductance, the number of parts is reduced, and noise can be reduced.
However, when a transformer is made smaller, there is a problem that it is difficult to maintain a sufficient interval between a primary winding and a secondary winding for making leakage inductance, and a leakage inductance required for resonance may not be obtained.
Thus, to obtain a high leakage inductance, a method using a bobbin that separates a primary winding from a secondary winding has been proposed (e.g., see Patent Literature 1).
However, to obtain a sufficient leakage inductance, it is necessary to increase a separation distance between the primary winding and the secondary winding, and the transformer is made larger.
To increase the leakage inductance of the transformer, a method of generating a leakage magnetic field to obtain a high leakage inductance by adding a magnet between the primary winding and the secondary winding has also been proposed (e.g., see Patent Literature 2).
However, the leakage magnetic field from the added magnet intersects with the surrounding windings, and thereby a loss is increased. Since the magnet is additionally required, there are more members.
A method for obtaining a leakage inductance by winding a secondary winding around a middle leg portion around which a primary winding is wound and side legs around which the primary winding is not wound has been proposed (e.g., see Patent Literature 3).
However, in the method in which the primary winding is wound around the middle leg portion alone, the number of layers of the primary winding is increased, and efficiency is reduced by a proximity effect.

Transformer and resonant circuit having same


A high-speed/high-slew-rate tri-modal all bipolar buffer/switch includes a unity-gain amplifier, a voltage source, and a maximum level detector and a minimum level detector adjusting a current source to sink or source current as required to quickly make the output voltage of the switch equal to the input voltage of the switch. The maximum level detector and the minimum level detector compare the output voltage to the input voltage. If the output voltage does not equal the input voltage, the current source acts as either a sink or source to make the output voltage equal the input voltage. In addition, the voltage switch holds a constant d.c. voltage at the output of the switch when the switch is powered down.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to bipolar switches, and specifically, to tri-modal bipolar switches.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an ideal switch, when the switch is closed, the same signal appearing at the input of the switch instantaneously appears at the output of the switch. Related art methods for implementing switches are shown in FIGS. 1(A), 1(B), and 1(C), explained herein below.
FIG. 1(A) shows a CMOS dual device switch 1. The CMOS dual device switch 1 is the closest switch to an ideal switch of the switches shown in FIGS. 1(A)-1(C). The CMOS dual device switch 1 acts like a passive switch, with the output drive capability thereof limited by stages which precede the switch 1.
A second method of implementing a switch is a diode bridge switch 2, shown in FIG. 1(B). The diode bridge switch 2 is opened when currents I.sub.1 and I.sub.2 are both turned off. A problem with the diode bridge switch 2, however, is that for proper distortion free operation, the sink or source current for a load should be much less than the current values of either I.sub.1 or I.sub.2. Therefore, during continuous operation of the diode bridge switch 2, current is wasted.
A third method of implementing a switch is a unity gain connected operational amplifier (op-amp) 3 with power down capability, shown in FIG. 1(C). A drawback, though, of the unity gain connected op-amp 3 is that trade-offs must be made between having low standby current, high current drive capability, and capacitive compensation requirements.
In switches of the related art, when an a.c. load is provided at the input of the switch and the switch is closed, the output voltage does not instantaneously equal the input voltage. If the output voltage is less than the input voltage, in the related art, a high amount of current is needed to be provided to the load to increase the output voltage to make the output voltage equal the input voltage.
Tri-modal buffer/switches implemented in CMOS or bi-CMOS are easy to realize because MOS devices act as very good switches. A typical MOS device provides a small resistance when the MOS device is turned on. Further, when the MOS device is turned off, a very small amount of leakage current is output by the MOS device. If MOS switches are used, the MOS switches should be preceded by an MOS or a bipolar buffer, for current drive capability. However, a bi-CMOS switch is more expensive to implement than is a bipolar switch. Further, a bipolar switch has a faster switching speed than does a CMOS switch.
What is needed is a high-speed/high-slew-rate tri-modal buffer/switch implemented using all bipolar devices.

High-speed/high-slew-rate tri-modal all bipolar buffer/switch and method thereof

Philips Electronics North America Corporation


A method and apparatus for booting from a selection of multiple boot images. Control logic is coupled with a plurality of memory devices containing a plurality of boot images. The control logic employs a device select value to map device requests to memory devices. An event agent monitors the apparatus for various events including a corrupted primary boot image. The event agent notifies the control logic when an event occurs and the control logic changes the device select value responsive to the event. The mapping from device requests to memory devices changes when the device select value changes.

Booting (or the boot process) is the process of starting a computing device from a halted or powered-down condition. A computing device can be a mainframe computer, desktop computer, laptop computer, personal digital assistant, server, client, router, switch, or similar device. The term "system" is used as a shorthand for a computing device or part of a computing device.
When a computing device is first switched on (or reset), its volatile memory (e.g., main system memory) is empty. Computing devices, therefore, are typically designed to access a fixed range of addresses in non-volatile memory for instructions and data that assist the computing device in the boot process. Non-volatile memory includes read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory, and the like.
Flash memory is a type of EEPROM in which each flash memory device is divided into one or more memory banks. Flash memory functions more quickly than other types of EEPROM because data is written into or erased from flash memory devices bank-by-bank rather than one byte at a time. All of the data within a bank is erased when data is written into any region within that bank.
Bootable information is information that a computing device uses during the boot process and is specific to the operating system used by the computing device. Typically, bootable information includes one or more of a master boot record, a boot record, file allocation tables, a root directory, a table of descriptors, a boot catalog directory, system configuration files and the like. Bootable information can include both data and instructions. A boot image is a collection of bootable information that enables a computing system to complete the boot process. Computing devices sometimes store a primary boot image and an alternate boot image in the same bank of a flash memory device.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of conventional chip select system 100 that is suitable for use by a computing system during the boot process. Chip select system 100 includes memory devices 102–108, 2 to 4 decoder 110, and address lines A0–A3. Memory devices 102–108 are flash memory devices each having a single bank of memory. For illustrative purposes, memory devices 102–108 are each capable of containing four words of data or instructions. A person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the number of address lines and the size of the memory devices can be varied to suit the needs of different computing devices.
Since each memory device 102–108 only contains four words of data/instructions, each device only needs two address lines. Therefore, address lines A0 and A1 are connected to memory devices 102–108. The four words within memory devices 102–108 are selected by the addresses XX00, XX01, XX10, and XX11, wherein X stands for either 1 or zero. Address lines A2 and A3 are connected to 2 to 4 decoder 110 and are used to select one of the four memory devices. For example, memory device 102 can be selected with address 00XX and memory device 108 can be selected with address 11XX.
During the boot process, conventional computing devices decode fixed addresses to access bootable information in non-volatile memory. For example, a computing device may decode fixed addresses 0000 to 0011, range_A, to access bootable information. When range13A is decoded, chip select system 100 selects memory device 102. If the bootable information in memory device 102 is corrupted, then the computing device may not successfully boot.
Conventional computing devices typically store all bootable information within a single memory bank of a flash memory device. For example, a conventional computing device may store two boot images in the single memory bank of flash memory device 102. The computing device may use a software flag to select which boot image is accessed by inverting address lines A0 and A1. During an initial boot process, for example, 0001 may be accessed for bootable information. If an error occurs, the software flag is set and, during the subsequent boot process, 0010 is accessed for bootable information. Both boot images are vulnerable when, for example, flash memory device 102 is written to, because flash memory is written on a bank-by-bank basis.

Method and apparatus for booting from a selection of multiple boot images


Disclosed is a coating composition for preventing odor. The coating composition may include one or more types of odorless microorganisms selected from the group consisting of Caulobacter vibrioides, Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens, Bradyrhizobium daqingense and Methylobacterium brachiatum or a culture solution thereof. Further provided is a method for preventing odor, and the method may include applying the coating composition for preventing odor. When a biofilm is formed from the microorganisms in the coating composition by coating an object on which an odor-causing microorganism can live, the inflow and the inhabitation of external microorganisms generating odor may be significantly blocked, thereby enabling odor to be effectively prevented.

Clean air is recognized as essential to human health and well-being, and offensive odors or contaminated air may disturb the pleasant environment. For example, quality of unsatisfactory indoor air in closed conditions may be determined by the following factors: indoor air contamination that is generated directly from the material constituting the enclosed environment (building, vehicle, and the like), air pollution which is caused by human activity or a substance introduced from the outside.
Air conditioning systems are systems that reduce the indoor temperature and optimize the indoor environment, for air conditioning including conditioning the temperature, humidity, airflow and cleanliness of the air in buildings, vehicles, trains, ships, aircraft, and the like. These air conditioning systems have been used increasingly with improvement in standards of living. However, although the air conditioning systems has brought about a great development in basic functions, many environmental issues to improve the quality of indoor air remain unsolved.
Although the cause of odor of air conditioners among air conditioning systems is known to be metabolites of fungi and bacteria, there is no specific report regarding the types of fungi and bacteria and amounts of metabolites secreted by these microorganisms.
The air conditioning system may have a structure where all air passing through the blower passes through the evaporator core (eva core). When heat exchange is carried out between cold refrigerant and air, water may condense on the surface of the evaporator core due to temperature difference. The continuous condensation of condensate water provides the environment for the growth or proliferation of fungi and bacteria. When fungi and bacteria proliferate in the evaporator core exposed to outside air, volatile organic compounds (mVOCs) of microorganisms may be produced from metabolites of bacteria perforated on the surface of the evaporator core. When the air passing through the evaporator core is blown into the room, the room may be exposed to odor of fungi and bacteria upon use for a long time due to volatile organic compounds produced by microorganisms.
The surface of the evaporator core where odors are emitted may be covered with a biofilm as the air conditioning system is used for a long period of time. For example, the biofilms are composed of bacteria, cell clusters and extracellular polymeric substance (EPS). EPS contains a variety of ingredients including proteins, polysaccharides, polyuronic acids, nucleic acids, lipids and the like. On the surface of the evaporator core, a variety of bacteria and fungi proliferate using biofilms as nutrients to release organic compounds (mVOCs) as metabolites by microorganisms. At this time, the odor emitted from the organic compounds (mVOCs) may produce offensive odor of air conditioners.
Various types of fragrances may be used to remove offensive odor are commercially available, but they cannot fundamentally remove fungi and bacteria growing in the evaporator core, and merely serve to temporarily relieve unpleasant odor. Currently commercially available antimicrobial agents have been used against common pathogens, but specific antimicrobial agents have not been developed to target certain fungi or bacteria in the air conditioning system.
In the related arts, a method of manufacturing an evaporator core including coating the surface of the evaporator core with a biofilm made of a certain odorless or fragrant microorganism has been reported in order to prevent deposition or proliferation of bacteria or fungi emitting an odor on the surface of the evaporator core. However, because these bacteria are not odorless microorganisms, effects, for example, whether or not the bacteria can survive on the evaporator core when coating the evaporator core therewith, or whether or not growth of microorganisms inducing odors such as unpleasant odors or odors can be prevented, are not sufficiently demonstrated.
The above description of the background art is intended only to improve understanding of the background of the present disclosure and should not be construed as recognizing that the above-described technologies are known to those having ordinary skill in the technical field to which the present disclosure pertains.

Composition for preventing odor, containing odorless microorganisms


A touch input device capable of detecting a pressure of a touch on a touch surface may be provided. The touch input device includes: a display panel; a substrate disposed under the display panel; and a pressure sensing unit. The pressure sensing unit includes a pressure sensor and a reference pressure sensor. When a pressure is applied to the touch surface, the display panel is bent. Electrical characteristics detected at the pressure sensor change by the bending of the display panel. A magnitude of the pressure applied to the touch surface is calculated based on a difference between a reference electrical characteristic calculated from electrical characteristics detected at the reference pressure sensor and the detected electrical characteristic calculated from the electrical characteristics detected at the pressure sensor.

Various kinds of input devices are being used to operate a computing system. For example, the input device includes a button, key, joystick and touch screen. Since the touch screen is easy and simple to operate, the touch screen is increasingly being used to operate the computing system.
The touch screen including a transparent panel with a touch-sensitive surface and a touch sensor as a touch input means can constitute a touch surface of a touch input device. The touch sensor panel is attached to the front side of a display screen, and then the touch-sensitive surface may cover the visible side of the display screen. The touch screen allows a user to operate the computing system by simply touching the touch screen by a finger, etc. Generally, the computing system recognizes the touch and a position of the touch on the touch screen and analyzes the touch, and thus, performs operations in accordance with the analysis.
Here, there is a demand for a touch input device capable of detecting not only the touch position of the touch on the touch screen but an exact pressure magnitude of the touch.

Touch input device for detecting pressure with display noise compensation


A system for and method of limiting and controlling the unintended subsurface release of an exploration or production riser system is provided including one or more means for anchoring the riser or casing stack at one or more pre-determined points upon the length of the riser, and/or on the housing of an associated buoyancy chamber or the like, and/or on a particular portion of the riser as dictated by the operational environment, and/or on an anchor portion secured in the sea floor; and a network of restraining members disposed on the anchoring means. A lower anchoring portion includes one or more anchors disposed in communication with a wellhead, or with the sea floor or below the sea floor mud line, or with a well casing portion. A network of restraining members forms an essentially continuous connection from the buoyancy member portion to said bottom anchor portion. In a particular, though, non-limiting embodiment of the invention, a means for anchoring the system using pairs of anchors disposed at one or more predetermined points along the riser portion of the system is provided. Also disclosed is a variety of means and devices by which a surface vessel or a rig, etc., servicing a subsea well equipped with the present system may absorb or deflect impact forces originating from portions of the system that unexpectedly break free and rush upwards toward the surface vessel or rig.

Innumerable systems and methods have been employed in efforts to find and recover hydrocarbon reserves around the world. At first, such efforts were limited to land operations involving simple but effective drilling methods that satisfactorily recovered reserves from large, productive fields. As the number of known producing fields dwindled, however, it became necessary to search in ever more remote locales, and to move offshore, in the search for new resources. Eventually, sophisticated drilling systems and advanced signal processing techniques enabled oil and gas companies to search virtually anywhere in the world for recoverable hydrocarbons.
Initially, deepwater exploration and production efforts consisted of expensive, large scale drilling operations supported by tanker storage and transportation systems, due primarily to the fact that most offshore drilling sites are associated with difficult and hazardous sea conditions, and thus large scale operations provided the most stable and cost-effective manner in which to search for and recover hydrocarbon reserves. A major drawback to the large-scale paradigm, however, is that explorers and producers have little financial incentive to work smaller reserves, since potential financial recovery is generally offset by the lengthy delay between exploration and production (approximately 3 to 7 years) and the large capital investment required for conventional platforms and related drilling and production equipment. Moreover, complex regulatory controls and industry-wide risk aversion have led to standardization, leaving operators with few opportunities to significantly alter the prevailing paradigm. As a result, offshore drilling operations have traditionally been burdened with long delays between investment and profit, excessive cost overruns, and slow, inflexible recovery strategies dictated by the operational environment.
More recently, deepwater sites have been found in which much of the danger and instability present in such operations is avoided. For example, off the coast of Brazil, West Africa and Indonesia, potential drilling sites have been identified where surrounding seas and weather conditions are relatively mild and calm in comparison to other, more volatile sites such as the Gulf of Mexico and the North Sea. These recently discovered sites tend to have favorable producing characteristics, yield positive exploration success rates, and admit to production using simple drilling techniques similar to those employed in dry land or near-shore operations.
However, since lognormal distributions of recoverable reserves tend to be spread over a large number of small fields, each of which yield less than would normally be required in order to justify the expense of a conventional large-scale operation, these regions have to date been underexplored and underproduced relative to its potential. Consequently, many potentially productive smaller fields have already been discovered, but remain undeveloped due to economic considerations. In response, explorers and producers have adapted their technologies in an attempt to achieve greater profitability by downsizing the scale of operations and otherwise reducing expense, so that recovery from smaller fields makes more financial sense, and the delay between investment and profitability is reduced.
For example, in published Patent Application No. US 2001/0047869 A1 and a number of related pending applications and patents issued to Hopper et al., various methods of drilling deepwater wells are provided in which adjustments to the drilling system can be made so as to ensure a better recovery rate than would otherwise be possible with traditional fixed-well technologies. However, the Hopper system cannot be adjusted during completion, testing and production of the well, and is especially ineffective in instances where the well bore starts at a mud line in a vertical position. The Hopper system also fails to support a variety of different surface loads, and is therefore self-limiting with respect to the flexibility drillers desire during actual operations. The Hopper system also fails to contemplate any significant safety measures to protect the welfare of operating crews or the capital expenditure of investors.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,223,737 to O'Reilly, a method is disclosed in which the problems associated with traditional, vertically oriented operations are addressed. The method of O'Reilly involves laying out a number of interconnected, horizontally disposed pipes in a string just above the sea floor (along with a blow out preventer and other necessary equipment), and then using a drive or a remote operated vehicle to force the string horizontally into the drilling medium. The O'Reilly system, however, is inflexible in that it fails to admit to practice while the well is being completed and tested. Moreover, the method fails to contemplate functionality during production and workover operations. As would therefore be expected, O'Reilly also fails to teach any systems or methods for improving crew safety or protecting operator investment during exploration and production. In short, the O'Reilly reference is helpful only during the initial stages of drilling a well, and would therefore not be looked to as a systemic solution for safely establishing and maintaining a deepwater exploration and production operation.
Other offshore operators have attempted to solve the problems associated with deepwater drilling by effectively "raising the floor" of an underwater well by disposing a submerged wellhead above a self-contained, rigid framework of pipe casing that is tensioned by means of a gas filled, buoyant chamber. Generally, this type of solution falls in the class of self-standing riser systems, since it typically includes a number of riser segments fixed in a rigid, cage-like structure likely to remain secure or else fail together as a integrated system. For example, as seen in prior U.S. Pat. No. 6,196,322 B1 to Magnussen, the Atlantis Deepwater Technology Holding Group has developed an artificial buoyant seabed (ABS) system, which is essentially a gas filled buoyancy chamber deployed in conjunction with one or more segments of pipe casing disposed at a depth of between 600 and 900 feet beneath the surface of a body of water. After the ABS wellhead is fitted with a blowout preventer during drilling, or with a production tree during production, buoyancy and tension are imparted by the ABS to a lower connecting member and all internal casings. The BOP and riser (during drilling) and production tree (during production), are supported by the lifting force of the buoyancy chamber. Offset of the wellhead is reasonably controlled by means of vertical tension resulting from the buoyancy of the ABS.
The Atlantis ABS system is relatively inefficient, however, in several practical respects. For example, the '322 Magnussen patent specifically limits deployment of the buoyancy chamber to environments where the influence of surface waves is effectively negligible, i.e., at a depth of more than about 500 feet beneath the surface. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that deployment at such depths can be an expensive and relatively risk-laden solution, given that installation and maintenance can only be carried out by deep sea divers or remotely operated vehicles, and the fact that a relatively extensive transport system must still be installed between the top of the buoyancy chamber and the bottom of an associated recovery vessel in order to initiate production from the well.
The Magnussen system also fails to contemplate multiple anchoring systems, even in instances where problematic drilling environments are likely to be encountered. Moreover, the system lacks any control means for controlling adjustment of either vertical tension or wellhead depth during production and workover operations, and expressly teaches away from the use of lateral stabilizers that could enable the wellhead to be deployed in shallower waters subject to stronger tidal and wave forces. The Magnussen disclosure also fails to contemplate any safety features that would protect the crew and equipment associated with an operation in the event of a sudden, unintended release of the fluid transport cage.
In published Patent Application US 2006/0042800 A1 to Millheim, et al., however, a system and method of establishing an offshore exploration and production system is disclosed in which a well casing is disposed in communication with an adjustable buoyancy chamber and a well hole bored into the floor of a body of water. A lower connecting member joins the well casing and the chamber, and an upper connecting member joins, the adjustable buoyancy chamber and a well terminal member. The chamber's adjustable buoyancy enables an operator to vary the height or depth of the well terminal member, and to vary the vertical tension imparted to drilling and production strings throughout exploration and production operations. Also disclosed is a system and method of adjusting the height or depth of a wellhead while associated vertical and lateral forces remain approximately constant. A variety of well isolation members, lateral stabilizers and anchoring means, as well as several methods of practicing the invention, are also disclosed. There is, however, little detailed discussion of safety features useful in the event of an unintended release of system components.
Thus, presently known offshore exploration and production systems, especially those relying on the so-called self-standing riser type configuration, can be susceptible to a variety of potentially catastrophic system failures that could lead to damage or destruction of the drilling platforms and surface vessels disposed overhead (e.g., a pontoon type drilling rig floating on the surface of the ocean and disposed in communication with the riser system).
For example, casing connections, wellhead connections, buoyancy chambers connected to the riser stack, etc., can all fail, thereby creating an unsafe condition in which buoyancy and tension forces are suddenly released from a submerged captured system toward the surface of the water. When such a release of forces occurs, the components of the system—for example, a buoyancy chamber disposed in communication with several thousand feet of casing riser—are released toward the surface and can impact the rig and/or associated surface vessels servicing an offshore well. For purposes of this disclosure, it should be noted that while many of the detailed embodiments described below relate specifically to a single riser system and its functional equivalents, those of ordinary skill in the art should appreciate that aspects of the present invention are applicable to virtually any type of subsurface exploration and production system insofar as they relate to features drawn to limiting and controlling the deleterious effects of system components suddenly and unexpectedly released from tension.

System for and method of restraining a subsurface exploration and production system


A fully reclinable pivotable airplane premium passenger seat. The seat can be translated and/or pivoted from a daytime position to a nighttime position. In the nighttime position, the seat can be fully extended into unused aisle space. In its fully extended position, the seat back may be placed in a horizontal mode and the leg rest fully extended to permit more restful sleep for passengers in a horizontal position.

As commercial airplanes gain greater range capability and airlines schedule more long duration non-stop flights, there is an increasing demand for premium-class seating that allows passengers to sleep fully reclined, i.e., in a more normal, relaxing, horizontal position. Providing conventional forward-facing seating that reclines to a fully reclined position has certain obvious disadvantages. For example, the seats must be installed at a pitch, i.e., distance between corresponding points on the seats, exceeding the length of the tallest passenger likely encountered plus enough space for window seat passengers to gain access to the aisle when the seat closest to the aisle, i.e., the aisle seat, is fully reclined. Seat pitches on the order of 80 inches are becoming common for this use. Such seat pitches dramatically reduce seating capacity or seat count of the airplane and therefore reduce the revenue that may be generated by the airplane.
The problem of such inefficient space utilization is exacerbated by the fact that passengers are only interested in sleeping on some flight phases or segments and not during all portions of these segments. As an example, eastbound transatlantic flights are typically flown at night and most passengers are interested in sleeping once the meal service is completed. Westbound transatlantic flights by contrast are typically flown during daylight hours with little demand for sleeping facilities. No workable concept has been seen to configure airplanes differently for such westbound and eastbound flights.
Several concepts have been described or are in use to minimize the seat count loss resulting from fully reclinable seating. For example, some airlines have arranged seats in a herringbone or echelon fashion in the forward zone of the Boeing Model 747 (ref. British Patent GB 2,295,962 awarded to Dryburgh, et al.) This arrangement has resulted in a modest reduction of the seat count loss resulting from the installation of fully reclinable seats.
Another example is the provision of alternate sleeping facilities in portions of the airplane not typically used for passenger seating, e.g., in the lower (cargo) hold or above the passenger cabin ceiling. However, these provisions have not proven popular for several reasons. Lower hold installations may displace revenue-generating cargo and thus, have not, generally speaking, proven attractive. In most commercial airplanes there is no usable space above the passenger ceiling. In those airplanes in which space is available, it is of limited size--particularly height. Access to over-ceiling, as well as lower-hold, areas is also difficult. Finally it is believed that passengers do not like to be physically separated from their assigned seat, and the belongings stowed there, while sleeping.
Wide aisles, considerably wider than those required for emergency evacuation, are typically provided in intercontinental first and business-class ("high-yield") passenger cabins. The wider aisles provide ease of boarding and passenger mobility within the cabin while the meal service is in progress. More particularly, the Federal Aviation Administration requires a minimum of 15 inch aisles for passenger emergency evacuation. In contrast, typical first-class aisles in the Boeing Model 747 are 34 inches wide. In both the Boeing Model 777 first-class and in the Boeing Model 747 upper-deck business-class, aisles are 29 inches wide. From the time the dinner service is concluded until breakfast is served, the time when sleeping facilities are most needed ("nighttime"), such wide aisles are unnecessary. This space utilization cycle thus provides a business opportunity for airline owners and operators to increase the revenue generating capacity, and thus value, of their commercial airplanes. The passenger seat assemblies of the present invention completely satisfy this need of airline owners and operators.
In addition, the unique upper deck of the Boeing Model 747 has sloping sidewalls which render the space adjacent to the sidewalls of the interior of the airplane unusable for upright seating. The passenger seat assemblies of the present invention utilize under sidewall space in addition to aisle space to provide sleeping accommodations.

Fully reclinable, pivotable airplane passenger sleeper seat assemblies


Provided is a heat-sensitive transfer recording medium having a base material, and an undercoating layer and a dye layer sequentially laminated and formed on the base material. The undercoating layer is formed by applying and then drying an undercoating layer-forming application liquid containing polyvinyl pyrrolidone and polyvinyl alcohol whose tensile strength measured based on JIS K 7113 is not lower than 8 kg/mm2. The dye layer is formed by applying and then drying a dye layer-forming application liquid containing an anthraquinone compound as a thermal migratory dye.

Generally, a heat-sensitive transfer recording medium is referred to as a thermal ribbon which is an ink ribbon used in heat-sensitive transfer type printers, and has a heat-sensitive transfer layer on one surface of a base material, and a heat-resistant slippage layer (back coat layer) on the other surface of the base material. Here, the heat-sensitive transfer layer is a layer of ink, and the ink is sublimed (sublimation transfer type) or melted (melt transfer type) by heat generated by a thermal head of a printer to be transferred to a transfer-target object side.
At present, since the sublimation transfer type, among the heat-sensitive transfer types, enables high performance printers to easily form various images in full color, the heat-sensitive transfer type is widely used for do-it-yourself printing for digital cameras, cards such as identification cards, output objects for amusement, etc. In addition to diversification of such use applications, the demands for reduction in size, faster speed, cost reduction, and durability of obtained printed objects have become large. As a result, there has been quite widespread use in recent years of heat-sensitive transfer recording media, having a plurality of heat-sensitive transfer layers with protective layers and the like disposed so as not to overlap, for providing durability to printed objects on the same side of a base material sheet.
Under such circumstances, associated with diversification of use applications and widespread use and as higher printing speed is achieved by printers, a problem arises where sufficient print density cannot be obtained with a conventional heat-sensitive transfer recording medium. Thus, in order to increase transfer sensitivity, attempts have been made for improving transfer sensitivity during printing by reducing the thickness of the heat-sensitive transfer recording medium. However, there are problems such as generation of wrinkles and in some cases generation of fractures due to heat, pressure, etc., when manufacturing the heat-sensitive transfer recording medium or when printing therewith.
In addition, there have been attempts to improve print density and transfer sensitivity during printing by increasing the ratio (dye/binder) of dye with respect to resin in a dye layer of a heat-sensitive transfer recording medium. However, increasing the amount of dye not only increases cost, but also results in so called scumming such as resulting in a hue different from a specified color when, during manufacturing, one part of the dye shifts (set-off) to a heat-resistant slippage layer of a heat-sensitive transfer recording medium in a wind-up state, the shifted dye is, during roll-back thereafter, retransferred (secondary set-off) to a dye layer of another color or to a protective layer, and the tainted layer is thermally transferred to a transfer-target object.
Furthermore, attempts have been made to increase energy on not only the heat-sensitive transfer recording medium side but also on a printer side when forming images. However, not only power consumption increases but the lifespan of a thermal head of the printer becomes shorter, and so-called abnormal transfer of fusing of a dye layer and transfer-target object occur easily. As a response, when a large amount of mold releasing agent is added to a transfer-target object or a dye layer for preventing abnormal transfer, blurring of an image and scumming occurs.
Several methods have been proposed to solve such problems. For example, Patent Literature 1 proposes a thermal transfer sheet including, between a base material and a dye layer, an adhesion layer containing a polyvinyl pyrrolidone resin and a modified polyvinyl pyrrolidone resin.
In addition, Patent Literature 2 proposes a thermal transfer sheet including, between a base material and a dye layer, an adhesion layer including colloidal inorganic pigment ultrafine particles, and a polyvinyl alcohol resin or a polyvinyl pyrrolidone resin which is a thermoplastic resin.
Furthermore, Patent Literature 3 proposes a thermal transfer sheet including, between a base material and a dye layer, a foundation layer including colloidal inorganic pigment ultrafine particles and a vinylpyrrolidone-vinyl acetate copolymer.
Disposing a layer including a specific material between a base material and a dye layer as described above improves transfer sensitivity. As the transfer sensitivity is improved, it becomes possible to reduce the thickness of the dye layer, resulting in reduction in the total amount of the dye and reduction in cost cut. However, there are problems such as generation of wrinkles and in some cases generation of fractures due to heat, pressure, etc., when printing with the heat-sensitive transfer recording medium.
Wrinkles when printing with the heat-sensitive transfer recording medium may occur due to adhesion of the base material and the thermal head when slippage of the heat-resistant slippage layer is insufficient. In addition, if slippage of the heat-resistant slippage layer is largely different between low-energy printing and high-energy printing, in cases such as, for example, when a printed part and an un-printed part coexist on the same image, wrinkles may occur due to a difference in friction between the thermal head and the heat-resistant slippage layer.
In order to solve such problems, for example, Patent Literature 4 proposes a thermal transfer sheet configured to prevent wrinkles to occur during printing by improving slippage during high-energy printing by adding, to the heat-resistant slippage layer, a silicone modified resin, a metallic soap, and a filler component.
Furthermore, an aqueous thermal transfer image-receiving sheet having formed thereon an aqueous-receiving layer tends to have strong adhesivity on a side of the image-receiving sheet, and it is confirmed that the required releasability is different depending on whether high energy is applied (high density) or intermediate energy is applied (intermediate density) during printing from a thermal head.
For a conventional oily image-receiving sheet, since it is sufficient when releasability for high density printing is ensured, the thermal transfer sheets disclosed in, for example, Patent Literature 1 to 3 can handle printing to a certain degree. However, when an aqueous image-receiving sheet is used, since adhesion tends to occur even for intermediate density printing, a thermal transfer sheet that can sufficiently handle intermediate density to high density printing is necessary.
Thus, Patent Literature 5 proposes a thermal transfer sheet having a dye layer that contains a dye, a resin binder, and a mold releasing agent at a specific amount with respect to the resin binder, and whose water content is adjusted to be 2.5% or lower.

Heat-sensitive transfer recording medium