A data multiplexing apparatus including a packet number obtainment unit for obtaining the total number of packets included in one block of a private data packet stream inputted into a channel buffer and an address obtainment unit for obtaining the address of the starting packet in each private data block. The apparatus also includes a null packet detection unit for detecting null packets when a multiplexed packet stream of data other than the private data is outputted from the channel buffer, and includes a packet replacement unit for replacing the multiplexed null packets detected by the null packet detection unit with the private data packets and outputting the multiplexed packet stream.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data multiplexing apparatus, a data multiplexing method and the like for multiplexing digital data such as video, audio and others for their transmission, storage and the like.
(2) Description of the Related Art
With the recent advances of digital technology, various types of services, including satellite broadcasting, CATV and video-on-demand, which are realized using digital data such as video, audio and others, have been put to practical use.
It is an important to be able to multiplex these multiple types of digital data for their transmission. As a method for multiplexing multiple types of digital data, there are Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) 2 Systems that follow the international standard which is jointly developed by the International Organization for Standardization and the International Electrotechnical Commission (ISO/IEC).
The MPEG2 standard includes two kinds of multiplexing systems: an MPEG2 Program Stream (PS) system suitable for storage into a storage medium or the like; and an MPEG2 Transport Stream (TS) system suitable for transmission such as broadcasting. The MPEG2-TS has a structure which allows simultaneous multiplexing of a plurality of programs into a single multiplexed stream for transmission.
The following description focuses on the conventional data multiplexing method and data multiplexing apparatus for multiplexing digital data according to the MPEG2-TS system, referring to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the MPEG2-TS format. Digital data of video, audio and others are respectively coded and configured TS packets, each having a fixed length of 188 bytes.
The header of the TS packet includes a packet identifier (PID). One or more TS packets of video in the same program have the common PID. This is also true for the PIDs of the TS packets of audio and other digital data. In other words, one or more TS packets of audio in the same program have another common PID, and one or more TS packets of other data in the same program have still another common PID.
The header of the TS packet is followed by the data of video, audio or others, or an adaptation field. The adaptation field includes auxiliary information for multiplexing.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the relationship between PIDs of respective streams in a case where a plurality of programs are multiplexed simultaneously for transmission.
The PID of each stream such as a video stream and an audio stream is predetermined for each program and described in a table referred to as Program Map Table (PMT). Information on one program is described in the PMT, and a single TS includes PMTs of the number of programs.
A table in which the PIDs of the PMTs of respective programs are described is referred to as Program Association Table (PAT). A single TS includes only one PAT. The PID of the PAT is determined to be "0x0000" (a hexadecimal number).
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing steps for reproducing a stream of video, audio and the like of a desired program from among a plurality of programs, using these PAT and PMT on the receiving end.
First, TS packets in a PAT identified by the PID of 0x0000 is detected from the inputted TS (Step S1). In the PAT, the PIDs of the PMTs of a plurality of programs are described.
After the TS packets in the PAT are detected, the PID of the PMT corresponding to the desired program is extracted from the PAT (Step S2). After the TS packets in the PMT corresponding to the desired program are extracted (Step S3), the PIDs of the streams of video, audio and the like included in the desired program are extracted from the PMT (Step S4).
Using the extracted PIDs of the streams of video, audio and the like, the TS packets with the corresponding PIDs are detected from among the received data and transmitted to respective decoders in sequence (Step S5), decoded into data of video, audio and the like, and finally reproduced as the desired program.
As described above, the MPEG2-TS standard specifies a format for allowing multiplexing of a plurality of programs into a single stream for transmission (See ISO/IEC 13818-1, "Information Technology—Generic Coding of Moving Pictures and Associated Audio: Part 1—Systems", November 1994, for example).
Next, an MPEG2-TS multiplexing apparatus will be explained with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a conventional data multiplexing apparatus for MPEG2-TS. As shown in FIG. 4, this data multiplexing apparatus includes a channel buffer 801, a first address control unit 802, a local CPU 803, an output buffer 804 and a second address control unit 805.
In the channel buffer 801, inputted multi-channel MPEG2-TSs (packet streams of digital data) are stored. When receiving the packet streams, the first address control unit 802 generates, for each channel, the address in the memory of the channel buffer 801, and stores the packet streams into the memory of the channel buffer 801 by channel.
The local CPU 803 determines the order of multiplexing and outputting the packets by rewriting the time-base information and PIDs for multiplexing. The first address control unit 802 reads out, from the memory of the channel buffer 801, the inputted multi-channel packets according to the multiplexing and outputting order so as to make them into a single multiplexed MPEG2-TS, and transfers them to the output buffer 804. The first address control unit 802 reads out the packets from the channel buffer 801, and further transmits, to the second address control unit 805, a data enable signal (DATAEN) indicating the enabled section of the packets read out from the channel buffer 801.
As soon as receiving the data enable signal, the second address control unit 805 generates the memory address of the output buffer 804, and stores, into the memory of the output buffer 804, the packets transferred from the channel buffer 801. While the packets are being normally inputted into the output buffer 804, the second address control unit 805 sends, to the first address control unit 802, a ready signal (READY) indicating that the output buffer 804 is in the state of being ready for storing the inputted packets.
The first address control unit 802 is notified, upon receipt of the ready signal, that the packets are being normally transferred from the channel buffer 801 to the output buffer 804.
The second address control unit 805 outputs, at a fixed rate, the packets which are multiplexed into a single MPEG2-TS stored in the memory of the output buffer 804.
Usually, a single multiplexed MPEG2-TS needs to be outputted at a transmission rate which is compliant with the standard of a transmission line (a predetermined fixed rate). However, the operating frequency in the data multiplexing apparatus is never synchronized with the transmission rate for output, so jitter of a clock needs to be absorbed for synchronization. The output buffer 804 acts as an absorber of jitter between the operating frequency in the data multiplexing apparatus and the output transmission rate.
Since the above-mentioned memory for the channel buffer for receiving multi-channel MPEG2-TSs and for the output buffer have large storage capacity, they are required to allow high-speed transfer.
In a case where a static RAM (hereinafter referred to as SRAM) is used for this memory, it has a problem of its small storage capacity although it allows high-speed transfer. On the contrary, a dynamic RAM (hereinafter referred to as DRAM) has a problem of not allowing high-speed transfer although it has large storage capacity.
On the other hand, a synchronous dynamic RAM (hereinafter referred to as SDRAM) not only has large storage capacity but also allows high-speed transfer. Therefore, SDRAMs have been used recently as memory for various devices for high-speed writing and reading.
FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing the structure of an SDRAM. The operation of an SDRAM of 16 Mbits (512 kwords×16 bits×2 banks) will be explained below as one example.
This SDRAM has two banks, each having a word length of 512 Kwords and an input/output data bus of 16-bits wide. The row address is 11 bits (2,048 rows) and the column address is 8 bits (256 columns), and each bank has a word length of 512 Kwords.
In a case where the data bus is 32-bits wide, two SDRAMs of 16-bits wide are connected in parallel for use.
FIG. 6 is a timing chart of SDRAM reading. In FIG. 6, respective signals CS, RAS, CAS and WE are low active.
A clock signal (CLK) is a signal for a synchronous clock for writing and reading data into and from the SDRAM. During reading of the data from the SDRAM, a write enable signal (WE) is kept high.
For reading of the data, a chip select signal (CS) of the SDRAM is activated first.
Next, the active command is issued for designating the bank and the row address. Generally speaking, a plurality of address setting methods can be applied to an SDRAM, but particularly in a case of high-speed reading, the address setting method as shown in FIG. 6 is applied. To be more specific, in FIG. 6, after the bank and the row address is initialized, the column address is automatically incremented one by one on every clock cycle. As mentioned above, an SDRAM allows high-speed reading of column address data, which is a burst at the designated row address of the bank, continuously in synchronism with the clock. The burst length which can be read continuously is 256 words at most in a case of the column addresses of 8 bits (256 columns).
The row address is unchanged until the data of one row is completely read. This address setting method provides higher-speed reading than the method for setting the row and column addresses at random.
After activating the chip select signal (CS), the bank and row addresses are set. The bank and the row addresses are set in the address signal (ADD [11:0]) at the same time, the row address strobe signal (RAS) is activated, and then the bank and the row address are taken into the SDRAM. Next, the column address data is set in the address signal (ADD [11:0]), the column address strobe signal (CAS) is activated, and then the default values of the column addresses are taken into the SDRAM. Since there are only 256 columns as column addresses, the higher-order 4 bits are ignored.
The column address strobe signal (CAS) is maintained active during reading of data from the SDRAM. During the column address strobe signal (CAS) being active, the column address is incremented one by one on every clock cycle (in synchronism with the clock).
Under the address control as mentioned above, the data stored in the address designated by the bank, row address and column address is outputted from the data signal (DATA [31:0]) of the SDRAM.
However, the data is not outputted immediately after the column address is set, but outputted after a lapse of CAS latency. The CAS latency is usually 2 or 3 clock cycles. To be more specific, in a case where data is read out from an SDRAM, 4 clock cycles or so are required for a period of time from activation of a chip select signal (CS) up to output of the first data, because of the necessity to set an active command, and set a column address and CAS latency.
When the data of one row is completely read and the following row is read, it is necessary to reissue the active command for designating the bank and row address so as to repeat the above-mentioned processes.
FIG. 7 is a timing chart of SDRAM writing. In FIG. 7, respective signals CS, RAS, CAS and WE are low active.
A clock (CLK) signal is a signal for a synchronous clock for writing and reading data into and from the SDRAM.
For writing of the data, a chip select signal (CS) of the SDRAM is activated first.
Next, the active command is issued for designating the bank and row address. Generally speaking, a plurality of address setting methods can be applied to an SDRAM, but particularly in a case of high-speed writing, the address setting method as shown in FIG. 7 is applied. To be more specific, in FIG. 7, after the bank and the row address is initialized, the column address is automatically incremented one by one on every clock cycle. As mentioned above, an SDRAM allows high-speed writing of column address data, which is a burst at the designated row address of the bank, continuously in synchronism with the clock. The burst length which can be written continuously is 256 words at most in a case of the column addresses of 8 bits (256 columns).
The row address is maintained unchanged until the data of one row is completely written. This address setting method provides higher-speed writing than the method for setting the row and column addresses at random.
After activating the chip select signal (CS), the bank and row addresses are set. The bank and the row addresses are set in the address signal (ADD [11:0]) at the same time, the row address strobe signal (RAS) is activated, and then the bank and the row address are taken into the SDRAM. Next, the column address data is set in the address signal (ADD [11:0]), the column address strobe signal (CAS) is activated, and then the default values of the column addresses are taken into the SDRAM. Since there are only 256 columns as column addresses, the higher-order 4 bits are ignored.
The column address strobe signal (CAS) is maintained active during writing of data into the SDRAM. During the column address strobe signal (CAS) being active, the column address is incremented one by one on every clock cycle (in synchronism with the clock).
Simultaneously with activating of the column address strobe signal (CAS), the write enable signal (WE) is activated.
Under the address control as mentioned above, the data to be inputted into the data signal (DATA [31:0]) of the SDRAM is written into the address designated by the bank the row address, and the column address.
Different from reading, in a case of writing, the data is written simultaneously with the setting of the column address, regardless of CAS latency. To be more specific, in a case where the data is written into the SDRAM, 2 clock cycles are required for a period of time from activation of the chip select signal (CS) up to writing of the first data, because of the necessity to set the active command and set the column address.
When the data is written into the following row after the data of one row is completely written, it is necessary to reissue the active command for designating the bank and row addresses so as to repeat the above-mentioned processes.
Explanation will be back to FIG. 4.
The local CPU 803 usually determines the order of multiplexing in every predetermined time period (T). It is assumed here that multiplexing processing is performed in every T=100 ms. The packet streams which are multiplexed into a single MPEG2-TS are outputted at a transmission rate which is compliant with the standard of the transmission line (a predetermined fixed rate). It is assumed here that the output transmission rate is 38.1 Mbps and the operating frequency in the data multiplexing apparatus is 30 MHz.
When performing multiplexing processing at every 100 ms, the local CPU 803 rewrites the time-base information and the PIDs. At that time, the packet streams stored in the memory of the channel buffer 801 are read and written by the local CPU 803. Therefore, for 100 ms the packet streams, which are multiplexed by the local CPU 803, need to be previously stored in the channel buffer 801.
In other words, delay of at least 100 ms occurs during a time period from inputting of the packet streams into the channel buffer 801 until multiplexing processing thereof is performed by the local CPU 803.
The second address control unit 805 outputs, at a fixed rate (38.1 Mbps), a single multiplexed MPEG2-TS stored in the memory of the output buffer 804. Since the output rate compliant with the standard of this transmission line is not synchronized with the operating frequency (30 MHz) in the data multiplexing apparatus, the output buffer 804 is required for absorbing jitter of a clock.
Since the local CPU 803 performs multiplexing processing at the rate of 100 ms, the packets for at least 100 ms need to be stored in the output buffer 804 in order to avoid underflow or overflow of the output buffer 804. Usually, the output buffer 804 is controlled so as to store packets for 100 ms+α to 200 ms+α.
In other words, delay of more than 100 to 200 ms occurs in the output buffer 804.
As mentioned above, the delay of the packets in the data multiplexing apparatus is around 200 to 300 ms in total, namely, 100 ms for multiplexing processing in the local CPU 803 and 100 to 200 ms in the output buffer 804.
As described above, the conventional data multiplexing apparatus uses a channel buffer for data input and data multiplexing and further uses an output buffer for outputting a single multiplexed packet stream at a transmission rate compliant with the standard of the transmission line, so the delay of the packets in the data multiplexing apparatus is 300 ms or so.
Since there is no particular problem in a case of on-demand viewing of a video signal and an audio signal because delay of 300 ms or so occurs only when the viewing starts.
However, since the conventional data multiplexing apparatus also performs the data multiplexing processing on a private data signal as well as video and audio signals, delay of 300 ms occurs every time it transmits or receives the data.
Particularly in a case where private data is distributed by storing, into the private data signal, IP packets including the Internet information for interactive access to each page, it becomes a problem if delay of 300 ms occurs on every transmission or reception of data (i.e., on every interaction of a user). In other words, this type of delay may cause time consumption of dozens of seconds for displaying the user-requested page on the Internet. Therefore, it is preferable to restrain the delay of the private data signal in the data multiplexing apparatus within dozens of ms.

Data multiplexing apparatus, data multiplexing method, and transmission apparatus


A data tape cartridge is formed on a baseplate of polymeric material which supports mounting pins and tape guides thereon for supporting tape components in rigid and dimensionally-stable manner using integrally formed bosses to support the mounting pins and guides. Additional stability against flexure is achieved using a matrix pattern of integrally-formed webs or ribs and sidewalls in the baseplate and by attaching a top plate substantially about the entire perimeter of the sidewalls. Lateral forces exerted against rotatable components on the mounting pins are transferred to the baseplate and top plate by the mounting pins that are supported in both plates. A midguide support is integrally formed in the baseplate to support a guide pin at critical location adjacent the location along the tape path in the cartridge at which a tape transducer interacts with tape. Methods of assembly include inserting mounting pins and tape guides into the baseplate while the material of the baseplate about the mounting pins is plasticized, and also include assembling the components of the cartridge in upside-down orientation for transfer to aligned pins and guides in the baseplate.

Reel-to-reel magnetic tapes and one-half inch and one-quarter inch magnetic tape data cartridges are commonly used for the storage of electronic data signals. A typical tape data cartridge comprises a metal base plate with pins extending upwardly from the plate to support corner rollers, reel hubs, a drive roller, and posts which extend upwardly to support tape guides. Typically, the walls and top of the cartridge are made of polymeric material and the top usually includes a spring to limit the vertical movement of the reel hubs. The tape alignment must be precise for the recording or the retrieving of the desired data signals on the tape. Therefore, it is very important that the pins and posts maintain their alignment during cartridge use.
With the metal base plate currently used, the pins are rigidly secured to the metal base plate and the metal base plate provides sufficient rigidity to support the various components received on the pins such that the tape does not become misaligned or dislodged during use. However, the metal base plate is a major contributing expense to the overall cost of the cartridge. The use of a polymeric material for the base plate typically does not achieve the equivalent structural strength required for successful use of the cartridge. If such polymeric material is too hard, inserting the pins into the material presents an additional problem of stress and fatigue cracks commonly occuring where the pins are inserted. Conversely, too soft a polymeric material imparts an elasticity to the pins received in the material which results in misalignment of the tape and associated components in use.

Method and apparatus for making tape cartridges


The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for dynamically loading and managing software services on a network device. A service environment ported to the network device includes a service environment kernel and a virtual machine. The service environment kernel continually operates on the network device and manages the downloading of services from a remote location onto the network device. In accordance with a request from a remote client such as a network manager, the service environment kernel causes instructions corresponding to the downloaded service to be provided to the virtual machine for execution on the network device. Associated with the service are service relationships. The service environment kernel manages these relationships by maintaining a registry of services and their dependencies on other services. The service environment kernel also controls the execution of services in accordance with the service relationships.

Computer networks continue to proliferate. As they do so, they become increasingly complex and difficult to manage. This problem is exacerbated when a variety of network devices, computers, and software are combined together to integrate large intranets with the Internet.
As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional network 100 includes one or more network devices 102 such as switches, routers, hubs, multiplexers and similar devices capable of processing fixed-length or variable-length packets in a network. Network devices 102 may further communicate with hosts 104 via a local area network, for example. Network manager 106 also communicates with network devices 102 via the network 100.
To manage the network 100, network manager 106 generally polls network devices 102 using protocols such as SNMP to access information in the device's management information base (MIB). The manager 106 thus needs to know all the MIBs supported by each device, which is especially problematic if the network includes devices of various different types or from various different manufacturers. Further, polling requires that the network manager send many messages of the same type to each device and continually over a period of time. This floods the network and can downgrade the network's performance, as well as burdening the network manager 106 with highly repetitive and duplicative tasks.
Moreover, the forwarding and control capabilities of conventional network device 102 are also statically constrained by the routing software and control software pre-loaded on the device 102. Although many conventional devices include means for effecting software updates (for example, by downloading software via FTP), such updates must be carefully performed and monitored for each device in the network, usually manually by the network manager 106. Such updates require much manager intervention, are risky to perform, require de-commissioning the device during updating, and require a period of verification after updating, thus making network management and performance even more problematic. Further, although some updates may only affect certain individual modules, generally the whole code has to be swapped out to install the updated modules, rather than just the updated modules themselves.

Method and apparatus for dynamically loading and managing software services on a network device


The cover and base of the enclosure of the assembly are releasably connected by latches and flanges integral with the cover and base. A mounting bracket facilitates mounting of the assembly upon a telephone pole or other exposed static structure. Vertically spaced upper and lower cable strain-relieving members underlie each cable passageway of the base of the enclosure. Each strain-relieving member is of generally u-shaped configuration. The open ends of the upper and lower strain-relieving members face in different directions. Each pair of the strain-relieving members collectively extends about the entire circumference of a cable engaged thereby.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,059,748, which is owned by the assignee of the present application, discloses an enclosure assembly for splice connections between telecommunication cables. The enclosure of the prior patent includes base and cover members that are releasably interconnected by an annular clamp that is separate from such members and has arcuate sections that undergo pivotal movement relative to each other. Connection of the cover and base members of the enclosure to each other requires that the telecommunication craftsperson first pivot the clamp sections away from each other, then move them and a separate sealing ring into encircling relationship with adjacent end portions of the base and cover members, and then tighten the clamp by rotating a threaded fastener extending through lugs of the clamp. Separation of the cover and base members from each other requires a reverse sequence of the foregoing steps. Retention of the cables within generally U-shaped strain relief members associated with the patented enclosure also requires that the craftsperson secure retainer strips over the open sides of the strain relief members.

Enclosure assembly for telecommunication cables


A method for controlling a single lens reflex camera having a preview function is provided in which a mirror drive mechanism, a diaphragm drive mechanism, and a shutter are driven in association with the rotation of a single-revolution cam gear which is driven by a motor. When the release switch is turned ON, the single-revolution cam gear is rotated by a single revolution in the forward direction, and when an external preview switch is turned ON, the preview operation is carried out by the reverse rotation of the single-revolution cam gear within a predetermined angle range in which the stop-down operation takes place without causing an upward movement of the mirror. When the release switch is turned ON during the preview operation, the motor is rotated in the forward direction until the single revolution cam gear is returned to the initial position, so that the photometering operation is carried out at the full-open aperture position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for controlling a single lens reflex camera having a preview function (to confirm the depth of field) and a single lens reflex camera.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a known preview apparatus having a preview switch which can be actuated independently of the release switch, an electrically driven motor is rotated in the forward direction, so that the preview operation and the release operation are effected sequentially during a single revolution of the single-revolution cam gears which are rotated in association with the motor (e.g., Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2-77045 or U.S. Pat. No. 5,257,052 corresponding thereto). In this preview apparatus, when the motor is rotated in the forward direction, the stop-down operation to close the aperture is first effected by the cam gears and thereafter, the upward movement of the mirror and the movement of the shutter are carried out upon completion of the stop-down operation.
With this structure, if the release switch is turned ON during the preview operation, the photographing operation begins. Consequently, the exposure is controlled in accordance with old or previous photometering data obtained when the preview switch has been turned ON or after the stop-down operation to reduce the aperture size has been effected. In particular, in a full-open (open aperture) photometering camera, no precise photometering data can be obtained. It is in theory possible to return the cam gears to the respective initial positions by reversing the motor from the preview position, so that the full-open photometering operation can be carried out. However, since it is necessary to reciprocally move the cam gears between the preview position and the initial positions prior to the release operation, the time lag between the release operation and the movement of the shutter is undesirably increased.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a control method of a single lens reflex camera having a preview function and a single lens reflex camera having a preview function in which the exposure can be precisely controlled if the release switch is depressed during the preview operation.

Control method of single lens reflex camera having preview function and single lens reflex camera


A waste water recovery system to filter and recirculate waste water to a wash system including a fluid recovery line, a fluid supply line and a fluid backwash line comprising a filter assembly including a water filtering section to receive waste water from the wash system and to recirculate filtered water to the wash system and a filter backwash section to selectively clean the water filtering section when a system condition exists, and a fluid control including a plurality of valve assemblies operatively coupled between the wash system, the water filtering section and the filter backwash section to selectively control the circulation of water through the water filtering section to recirculate the recovery water to the wash system and to periodically clean the water filtering section.

1. Field of the Invention
A waste water recovery system to filter and recirculate waste water from and to a wash system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Numerous efforts have been made to design an efficient system to recover and recirculate waste water from car washes and other industrial processes. Such designs typically incorporate self-cleaning capabilities to periodically clean filtering devices common to these systems. In order to provide essentially continuous or uninterrupted operation of such wash systems, a secondary supply or source of water is needed during the filter cleaning phase.
Filter devices often include a filter element and an air purge using the fluid in the filter device to dislodge the particulate contaminants adhering to the surface of the filter element and to force the particulate contaminates from the filter device.
However, a need remains to construct a reliable means to provide a virtually uninterrupted flow of recovered water to the car wash or other industrial process.
Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.


A battery unit is provided which includes a control board, a storage case, a water detector, and an electrical conductor. The storage case is made of an assembly of a first and a second casing member. The first casing member has an upright wall which extends from the bottom thereof and surrounds the battery. The second casing member also has an extension which extends toward the bottom of the first casing member. The water detector is located close to the lower end of the extension of the second casing member. The electric conductor extends upward from the upper end of the extension and are electrically joined to the water detector. The electric conductor is also mechanically and electrically joined to the control board. This structure facilitates the ease with which the water detector is installed electrically and mechanically in the battery unit.

1 Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a battery unit which includes a storage battery disposed in a storage casing mounted in vehicles such as automobiles.
2 Background Art
Battery units are known which include a storage battery (also called an assembled battery module) equipped with a plurality of electrochemical cells and assembled along with a control board in the form of a battery unit. For instance, Japanese Patent First Publication No. 2011-216401 teaches such a type of battery unit. The battery units are also proposed to be mounted in automobiles with a water damage sensor (which is also called a submergence detection sensor). The water damage sensor is installed in the battery unit and works to detect whether the battery unit has been submerged in water or not, for example, in the case where the automobile is put in water. A controller such as a CPU fabricated on the control board analyzes an output from the water damage sensor to deactivate a charging/discharging operation of the assembled battery module.
The water damage sensor is connected electrically to the control board through flexible wire. Such connection is, however, complicated.

Structure of battery unit suitable for installation of water damage sensor


A method for executing a workflow that requires input from a role is disclosed. A workflow is executed in a first process until an operation requiring input from a role is detected. Continuation information is stored indicating the workflow operation requiring input from the role. The request for input from the role is then communicated to a computer-user identified with the role. Later, after receiving input from the computer user, execution of the workflow is resumed in a second process based on the continuation information, starting at the operation that required input from the role. The operation that required input from the role is executed based on the response received from the computer-user identified with the role.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of computer science. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for executing a procedure that requires input from a person other than an immediate user.
(2) Art Background
Modem business procedures often require different types of information to be routed to different people according to a pre-defined set of rules. Computers are ideal for automating these procedures, referred to as "workflows", for a number of reasons. First, communication between computers via the Internet and enterprise intranets have made information exchange efficient and inexpensive, even for geographically distributed enterprises. Second, many common business functions such as account management and inventory management are already performed by computers. By networking the computers that perform such business functions with computers used to automate workflows, it becomes possible to perform common business functions as part of a workflow execution. Finally, a workflow is similar to a computer program in that, once defined, a single copy of the workflow definition can be copied or downloaded for execution on multiple machines. By using the same workflow definition throughout an enterprise, compatibility and consistency between enterprise business procedures can be significantly
Execution of a workflow generally takes place in the background without any user interaction until communication with a role is required. Herein, the term "role" refers to one or more persons that must be notified in order to complete a particular operation within a workflow. For example, one common workflow role is an approver role. In order to execute an approval operation, an individual identified with the corresponding approver role must be notified to either approve or reject a request. That is, input must be received from the approver role. Another role that appears in many workflow processes is a requester role. Any individual that initiates a workflow process seeking a response from another individual or from an automated function fulfills a requestor role. Most workflow processes include at least one operation in which a requestor role is notified.
Executing a procedure that requires input from a role presents certain difficulties. One difficulty arises from the fact that a role cannot be expected to be present to respond when prompted for input. This is in contrast to a typical foreground processing application in which an immediate user is assumed, i.e., a user is assumed to be present and ready to supply input in response to a pop-up message, dialog box or other prompt.
Since a role cannot be expected to respond timely to a request for input, an issue arises as to what the requesting process should do while the request is pending. Of course, the process could block until the role responds to the request for input. However, it could be days or even weeks before the role responds. Since even blocked processes require system resources (e.g., stack, code and data space), this type of long-term process blocking can be wasteful.
Another problem, also arising from the fact that the role is not an immediate user, is the logistical problem of communicating the request for input to the role and receiving a response from the role. The process requesting input from a role is unlikely to be executing on the role's computer so that foreground prompting is usually not an option. Also, while networked computers can be programmed to provide a remote user-interface, there can be no assurance that the role's computer is networked to the computer executing the requesting process at the time the request for input is issued.
The difficulties that arise when a process must receive input from a role extend to background processing generally. Consequently, in the traditional background processing model, background processes are executed without user input beyond the initial input parameters. When processing activities are completed or errors are encountered, these events are recorded in an execution log. The execution log can be inspected from time to time to determine whether events of interest have occurred.
There are several disadvantages to the traditional background processing model. First, instead of being automatically notified when background processing events occur, users are effectively required to poll the execution log. Second, when the background process encounters an error, it may have to terminate since it has no mechanism for asking a user what corrective action should be taken. This can be wasteful, particularly when the error is encountered toward the end of a long process. Finally, the traditional approach to background processing limits the types of programs that can be executed in the background to those which require no user-input.
It would be desirable to provide a generalized method for detecting a request for user input in a procedure being executed in a background process, communicating the request to a user identified in the request, and then completing the procedure when the user supplies the requested input. Such a method could also be applied to support execution of a procedure that requires input from a role.

Method for executing a procedure that requires input from a role


Apparatus and methods for thermally processing a substrate with scanned laser radiation are disclosed. The apparatus includes a continuous radiation source and an optical system that forms an image on a substrate. The image is scanned relative to the substrate surface so that each point in the process region receives a pulse of radiation sufficient to thermally process the region.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for thermally processing substrates, and in particular semiconductor substrates with integrated devices or circuits formed thereon.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The fabrication of integrated circuits (ICs) involves subjecting a semiconductor substrate to numerous processes, such as photoresist coating, photolithographic exposure, photoresist development, etching, polishing, and heating or "thermal processing." In certain applications, thermal processing is performed to activate dopants in doped regions (e.g., source and drain regions) of the substrate. Thermal processing includes various heating (and cooling) techniques, such as rapid thermal annealing (RTA) and laser thermal processing (LTP). Where a laser is used to perform thermal processing, the technique is sometimes called "laser processing" or "laser annealing."
Various techniques and systems for laser processing of semiconductor substrates have been known and used in the integrated circuit (IC) fabrication industry. Laser processing is preferably done in a single cycle that brings the temperature of the material being annealed up to the annealing temperature and then back down to the starting (e.g., ambient) temperature.
Substantial improvements in IC performance are possible if the thermal processing cycles required for activation, annealing, etc. can be kept to a millisecond or less. Thermal cycle times shorter than a microsecond are readily obtained using radiation from a pulsed laser uniformly spread over one or more circuits. An example system for performing laser thermal processing with a pulsed laser source is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,366,308 B1, entitled "Laser Thermal Processing Apparatus and Method." However the shorter the radiation pulse, the shallower the region that can be heat-treated, and the more likely that the circuit elements themselves will cause substantial temperature variations. For example, a polysilicon conductor residing on a thick, field-oxide isolator is heated much more quickly than a shallow junction at the surface of the silicon wafer.
A more uniform temperature distribution can be obtained with a longer radiation pulse since the depth of heating is greater and there is more time available during the pulse interval for lateral heat conduction to equalize temperatures across the circuit. However, it is impractical to extend laser pulse lengths over periods longer than a microsecond and over circuit areas of 5 cm2 or more because the energy per pulse becomes too high, and the laser and associated power supply needed to provide such high energy becomes too big and expensive.
An alternative approach to using pulsed radiation is to use continuous radiation. An example thermal processing apparatus that employs a continuous radiation source in the form of laser diodes is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/536,869, entitled "Apparatus Having Line Source of Radiant Energy for Exposing a Substrate," which application was filed on Mar. 27, 2000 and is assigned to the same assignee as this application. Laser diode bar arrays can be obtained with output powers in the 100 W/cm range and can be imaged to produce line images about a micron wide. They are also very efficient at converting electricity into radiation. Further, because there are many diodes in a bar each operating at a slightly different wavelength, they can be imaged to form a uniform line image.
However, using diodes as a continuous radiation source is optimally suited only for certain applications. For example, when annealing source and drain regions having a depth less than say one micron or so, it is preferred that the radiation not be absorbed in the silicon beyond this depth. Unfortunately, the absorption depth for a typical laser diode operating at wavelength of 0.8 micron is about 20 microns for room temperature silicon. Thus, in thermal processing applications that seek to treat the uppermost regions of the substrate (e.g., shallower than say one microns), most of the diode-based radiation penetrates into a silicon wafer much farther than required or desired. This increases the total power required. While a thin absorptive coating could be used to reduce this problem, it adds complexity to what is already a rather involved manufacturing process.

Method of thermal processing a substrate with direct and redirected reflected radiation


A light transmittance adjusting apparatus for adjusting a windowpane of an automobile or a building has a fixed member and a movable member arranged in parallel with each other and having a plurality of light interception sections and light transmission sections formed thereon alternately. The vertical position of the movable member are changed electrostatically relative to the fixed member to adjust the light transmittance of the windowpane. Each light interception section has a semi-interception region, the light transmittance of which decreases gradually from a center region thereof toward the adjacent light transmission section. The semi-interception region of the light interception section of a light interception plate of the fixed member overlap the semi-interception region of the light interception section of a light interception plate of the movable member, thus accomplishing an optical interception completely.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light transmittance adjusting apparatus to be installed on a rear window, a side window or a sunvisor of automobiles or buildings such as stores or the like.
2. Description of Related Art
In recent years, there is a tendency for decreasing the light transmittance of the rear window of automobiles or windows of buildings to reduce the rate of the power consumption of air-conditioners in summer in particular. There are also cases in which characters, diagrams, patterns or marks are printed on the windowpanes or transparent films.
According to the light transmittance adjusting apparatus disclosed in Laid-Open Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-8730, the light transmittance of a windowpane is adjusted by displacing a plurality of plates from each other, the plates having non-transparent or light interception sections and transparent light transmission sections formed thereon parallelly and alternately with each other in a vertical direction. According to the light transmittance adjusting apparatus disclosed in Laid-Open Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 58-25218, the light transmittance of a windowpane is adjusted by displacing a pair of transparent plates from each other, the plates having a nontransparent light interception section on which a checkered pattern is formed.
These light transmittance adjusting apparatuses have the following disadvantages: If the parallelism or the positioning accuracy of the plates having the light interception sections and transparent light transmission sections formed thereon vertically is low, a gap is formed between the light interception sections horizontally opposed to each other in a light interception state, thus preventing the light transmittance from being reduced to a desired degree; or vertical ends of the light interception sections horizontally opposed to each other overlap with each other, thus forming a dense stripe in the light interception sections.
The light transmittance adjusting apparatus disclosed in Laid-Open Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-59201 has a complicated construction because it comprises an electrostatic actuator provided with a movable member and a fixed member and a pair of polarizing plates.


Provided is a stator for a rotary electric machine which can suppress the mechanical effects of thermal expansion and contraction of a fixing member for fixing a temperature detector, on a temperature detection element. The stator for a rotary electric machine includes a stator coil, a temperature detection unit including a temperature detection element, a protection member extending in a longitudinal direction to cover the temperature detection unit, and a fixing member serving as a positioning mechanism for the temperature detection unit with respect to a stator coil. The fixing member includes a clamp portion for fixing the protection member, and the clamp portion clamps the protection member at a position where the clamp portion does not overlap the temperature detection element in a longitudinal direction of the protection member.

As a stator for a rotary electric machine which detects the temperature of stator windings with high precision and responsibility, the following structure is known. The stator for a rotary electric machine includes a stator core, stator windings, a neutral terminal for electrically connecting neutral points of respective phases of the stator windings, a temperature detection element, and a substantially cylindrical heat transfer unit made of metal and provided at the neutral terminal to cover a temperature detection element (e.g., see PTL 1).

Stator for rotary electric machine and rotary electric machine


The present invention relates to the targeted delivery of a delivery vehicle construct which specifically binds to and stimulates endocytosis into cells expressing the urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR), and particularly human airway epithelia. The delivery vehicle construct comprises a portion of uPA and a cargo linked thereto and is useful for the targeted delivery of the cargo to a cell. In one aspect of the invention, the uPA portion of the delivery vehicle construct comprises the wild-type uPA, a fragment of uPA which has the PAI-1 binding region deleted, or a uPA peptide comprising amino acids 13–19 and is useful for the targeted delivery of the cargo to cells, and in particular to airway epithelia. The present invention also provides a method for delivering the delivery vehicle construct to a cell. The method comprises the steps of (a) contacting a target cell with a delivery vehicle construct comprising a uPA portion and a cargo portion; and (b) obtaining a desired result in the target cell.

Urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) is expressed in all mammalian species. It is produced by many cultured cell types of neoplastic origin and has been found more abundantly in explants of tumor tissue than in the corresponding normal tissue. uPA and its receptor, urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR), have been identified in extracts from human lung, colon, endometrial, breast, prostate and renal carcinomas, human melanomas, murine mammary tumors, the murine Lewis lung tumor, in ascites from human peritoneal carcinomatosis and human fibroblasts (Stopelli et al, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 82:4939–43 (1985); Vassalli et al., J. Cell. Biol. 100:86–92(1985), Plow et al., J Cell. Biol. 103:2411–2420 (1986), Boyd et al, Cancer Res., 48:3112–6 (1988); Nielsen et al., J. Biol. Chem., 263:2358–2363 (1988); Bajpai and Baker, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 133:994–1000 (1985); Needham et al., Br. J. Cancer, 55:13–16 (1987)).
uPA has been identified as the initiator of a major amplified cascade of extracellular proteolysis and/or cell migration, presumably through a breakdown of the extracellular matrix, caused by plasmin together with other proteolytic enzymes. This cascade, when regulated, is vital to certain normal physiological processes but, when dysregulated, is strongly linked to pathological processes, such as cell invasion and metastasis in cancer. Dano et al., Adv. Cancer Res. 44:139–266 (1985). There have also been reports that uPA plays a role in (1) the degradative phase of inflammation, (2) the interference of lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity against a variety of cells, (3) angiogenesis, (4) endothelial cell migration which is important in tumor growth, and (5) in the cytotoxic effect of natural killer cells.
uPA is a multidomain serine protease comprising (1) an N-terminal epidermal growth factor-like domain, (2) a kringle domain, and (3) a C-terminal serine protease domain. The single chain pro-uPA is activated by plasmin, which cleaves the chain into the disulfide-linked two chain active form.
The cellular receptor for uPA is uPAR, which is a multi-domain protein that is anchored by a glycolipid to the cell membrane, thus ensuring that activation of uPA is a pericellular event. Behrendt et al., Biol. Chem., 376:269–79 (1995). uPAR binds the active uPA, as well as pro-uPA and uPA bound to an inhibitor molecule DFP which binds to uPA's active site. While the receptor binding domain of uPA has been localized to amino acids in the N-terminal growth factor-like domain region, there are varying studies which have yielded differing results regarding the span of the receptor binding domain.
For example, Stopelli et al. (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 82:4939–43 (1985)) first reported that the N-terminal fragment of uPA (amino acids 1–135) was sufficient for high affinity, sub-nanomolar binding to uPAR. Further work confined the uPAR binding domain to amino acids 1–48 (Robbiati et al., Fibrinolysis, 4:53–60 (1990)). Dano et al. showed that a region spanning amino acids 12–32 could block the binding of the full-length wild-type uPA to uPAR (published PCT application WO 90/12091). Other studies have shown that residues 20–30 confer the specificity of binding, but that residues 13–19 are also needed to attain the proper binding confirmation (Appella et al., J. Biol. Chem., 262:4437–40 (1987). Correspondingly, studies have shown that residues 20–30 can inhibit the binding of full-length uPA to uPAR but that a longer peptide comprising residues 17–34 is significantly more potent, requiring 10-fold less to achieve the same result. Kobayashi et al., J. Cancer, 57:727–33 (1994). Quax et al. (Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol, 18:693–701 (1998) have reported that the receptor binding domain of uPA is localized between amino acids 20–32. In addition, Jones et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,942,492 have shown that cyclic peptides comprising residues 20–30 are sufficient to bind uPAR and act as antagonists of binding of uPA to uPAR and that residues N-terminal to residue 20 and C-terminal to residue 30 are not essential for high affinity binding. In view of these studies, the precise location of the uPAR high specificity binding domain in uPA is unclear.
The activity of uPA, when bound to uPAR, is confined to the cell surface by plasminogen activator inhibitors (PAI-1 and PAI-2), which bind to and inactivate the uPAR bound uPA. This tight control of uPA activity is necessary because uPA acts upon a substrate, plasminogen, that is present at a high concentration in plasma. Robbins, Meth. Ensemble., 19:184–99 (1970). uPA's action on plasminogen produces plasmin which is a powerful broad spectrum protease that not only degrades extracellular matrix proteins directly, but also activates the latent forms of other proteases, including several metalloproteases. Werb et al., N. Eng. J. Med., 296:1017–1023 (1977); Mignatti et al., Cell, 47:487–98 (1986); He et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 86:2632–36 (1989); and Martrisian, Bioessays, 14:455–63 (1992).
In tumor biology, the link between extracellular proteolysis and angiogenesis is clearly evident. Break-up and dissolution of existing extracellular matrix is necessary in order to create new space for blood vessels to grow into. The processes of proteolysis and angiogenesis are highly coordinated. For example, two angiogenic growth factors, basic fibroblast growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor markedly up-regulate the production of uPA and the expression of uPAR by endothelial cells. Mignatti et al. J. Cell. Biol., 113:1193–1201 (1991); Mandriota et al, J. Biol. Chem., 270:9709–9716 (1995). Therefore, uPA and uPAR have emerged as a target for developing an anti-metastatic/anti-angiogenic therapy for cancer. Fazioli et al, Trends Pharmacological Sci., 15:25–29 (1994).
The uPA/uPAR interaction goes far beyond localizing proteolysis at the cell surface however. The mere occupation of uPAR by uPA induces, by indirect means, signal transduction events leading to one or more of the following effects: mitogenesis (Rabbani et al., J. Biol. Chem., 267:14151–56 (1992)); expression of the c-fos gene (Dumler et al., FEBS Lett., 322:37–40 (1994)); cysteine- and metalloprotease expression by macrophages (Rao et al, J. Clin. Invest., 96:465–74 (1995)); transfer of mechanical force leading to increased cytoskeletal stiffness (Wang et al., Am. J. Physiol., 268:C1062–66 (1995)); endothelial cell migration (Odekon et al., J. Cellul. Physiol., 150:258–63 (1992)); endothelial cell morphogenesis into tubular structures (Schnaper et al., J. Cellul. Physiol, 165:101–118 (1995)); and endothelial cell deformability and motility (Lu et al., FEBS Lett. 380:21–24 (1996). All of these phenomenon are blocked by blocking the access of uPA to uPAR.
In addition to binding uPA, uPAR serves as a cellular adhesion receptor for vitronectin and as a signaling receptor. Wei et al., J. Biol. Chem., 269:32380–88 (1994); Robinson, Signal transduction via GPI-anchored membrane proteins. ADP ribosylation in animal tissue. Plenum Press, NY (1997); Wei et al., J. Cell. Biol., 144:1285–1294 (1999). uPAR also interacts with several cell surface proteins including integrins, low-density lipoprotein receptor-related peptide, very-low-density lipoprotein receptor, megalin and the mannose-6-phosphate/insulin-like growth factor-II receptor. Moestrup et al., J. Biol. Chem., 268:16564–70 (1993); Heegaard et al, J. Biol. Chem., 270:20855–61 (1995); Czekay et al., Mol. Biol. Cell, 8:517–32 (1997).
uPAR is further involved in both clathrin-dependent and clathrin-independent endocytosis. Vilhardt et al., Mol. Biol. Cell, 10:179–195 (1999). Clathrin-dependent endocytosis of uPAR is believed to depend on binding of uPA:PAI-1 to uPAR and subsequent interaction with internalization receptors for the low-density lipoprotein receptor family, which are internalized through clathrin-coated pits. This interaction is inhibited by receptor-associated protein (RAP). In contrast, clathrin independent endocytosis of uPAR, which is also believed to occur when uPA:PAI-1 is bound, is not inhibited by RAP. See Vilhardt et al., Mol. Biol Cell, 10:179–195 (1999).
Rodenberg et al. (Biochem J., 329:55–63 (1998)) have shown that endocytosis of uPA requires both uPA and PAI-1. The complex of uPA and PAI-1 has been shown to be required for binding to the endocytosis receptors α2-macroglobulin receptor/low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (α2MR/LRP) and very-low-density lipoprotein receptor (VLDLR) while free uPA and PAI-1 are not able to bind to the endocytosis receptors. See Rodenberg et al., Biochem J., 329:55–63 (1998).
The region of uPA which appears to be responsible for its binding to PAI-1 has been localized to the C-terminal proteinase domain of uPA. Wei et al., J. Biol. Chem., 269:32380–8 (1994); Stoppelli et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 82:4939–43 (1985); Conese and Blasi, Biological and Chemical Hope-Seyler, 376:143–55 (1995). In addition, Rodenberg et al. have isolated a four residue region of PAI-1 which appears to be responsible for the high affinity binding of the uPA:PAI-1 complex to the endocytosis receptors. These references have suggested that endocytosis of uPA is dependent on PAI-1. Furthermore, the endocytosis of uPA has also been shown to be dependent upon uPAR. Goretzki and Mueller, J. Ce. Sci. 110:1395–402 (1997).
The effective treatment of inherited and acquired disorders through the delivery of a transgene which is capable of correcting the disorder is dependent upon the efficiency of delivery of the transgene. Various vector systems have been developed that are capable of delivering a transgene to a target cell. However, there remains a need to improve the efficiency of transgene delivery to achieve effective treatments. Improved efficiency is desirable to both increase the ability of the vector to correct the cellular defect and to decrease the toxic effects of the vector by decreasing the required amount of the vector to achieve effective treatments.
Adenovirus is a non-enveloped, nuclear DNA virus with a genome of about 36 kb. See generally, Horwitz, M. S., "Adenoviridae and Their Replication," in Virology, 2nd edition, Fields et al., eds., Raven Press, New York, 1990. Recombinant adenoviruses have advantages for use as delivery systems for nucleic acid molecules coding for, inter alia, proteins, ribozymes, RNAs, antisense RNA that are foreign to the adenovirus carrier (i.e. a transgene), including tropism for both dividing and non-dividing cells, minimal pathogenic potential, ability to replicate to high titer for preparation of vector stocks, and the potential to carry large inserts. See Berkner, K. L., 1992, Curr. Top. Micro Immunol, 158:39–66; Jolly D., 1994, Cancer Gene Therapy, 1:51–64.
Adenoviruses have a natural tropism for respiratory tract cells which has made them attractive vectors for use in delivery of genes to respiratory tract cells. For example, adenovirus vectors have been and are being designed for use in the treatment of certain diseases, such as cystic fibrosis (CF): the most common autosomal recessive disease in Caucasians. In CF, mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene disturb cAMP-regulated chloride channel function, resulting in pulmonary dysfunction. The gene mutations have been found to encode altered CFTR proteins which cannot be translocated to the cell membrane for proper functioning. The CFTR gene has been introduced into adenovirus vectors to treat CF in several animal models and human patients. Particularly, studies have shown that adenovirus vectors are fully capable of delivering CFTR to airway epithelia of CF patients, as well as airway epithelia of cotton rats and primates. See e.g., Zabner et al., Nature Genetics 6:75–83 (1994); Rich et al., Human Gene Therapy 4:461–476 (1993); Zabner et al., Cell 75:207–216 (1993); Crystal et al., Nature Genetics 8:42–51 (1994).
However, it would be useful to alter the tropism of a virus, such as adenovirus, to allow it to be used to deliver a nucleic acid molecule to a variety of cells for which the virus is normally non-tropic and to improve the uptake of the virus into cells.
Certain situations exist where it would be useful to modify the tropism of viruses (such as adenovirus, adeno-associated virus, retrovirus, etc.) to target the vector to cell surface molecules other than the virus' normal cell surface receptor. For example, certain cells are normally refractory to infection by certain viruses. It would be useful to have a method of overcoming the inability of these cells to be infected. Similarly, in cancer cells, many receptors are up-regulated, such as uPAR. Therefore, it would be useful to be able to specifically target vectors to these up-regulated receptors to increase the uptake of nucleic acids providing for antitumor agents for treatment of such cancers.
Furthermore, in practice, in order to achieve effective transfer of viral vectors into affected cells, repeated administration of the viral vector over a course of time may be required. Readministration of the viral vector can trigger an immune response within the subject to whom the vector is given, which requires subsequently higher doses of the viral vector to avoid immune elimination of the virus. If the efficiency of uptake of the viral vector is increased, a lower dose of the vector can be used, which, in turn, may help alleviate the immune response problems which are associated with the readministration of viral vectors. Similar problems may also be alleviated for other types of vectors as well, such as RNA, polynucleotides, small molecules, etc.
Administration of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) cDNA to airway epithelia could provide an important new treatment for cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease. However, despite the demonstrated ability of several vectors to deliver and express CFTR and correct the Cl− channel defect in airway epithelia in vitro and in vivo (see O'Neal and Beaudet. Hum Mo. Genet. 3:1497–1502 (1994); Crystal. Science 270:404–10 (1995); Wilson. New England J. Med. 334:1185–7 (1996); Middleton and Alton. Thorax 53:197–9 (1998); and Welsh. J. Clin. Invest. 105:589–596 (2000), for review)), a severe inefficiency in delivering a vector coding for CFTR has impeded the clinical development of the administration of CFTR to CF patients as a new treatment. The two most important factors for the inefficiency are limited binding of vector to the apical surface of differentiated human airway epithelia and limited endocytosis across the apical membrane. A paucity of apical receptors prevents binding of viral vectors, including adenovirus (Bergelson et al. Science 275:1320–23 (1997); Pickles et al. J. Virol. 72:6014–23 (1998); Walters et al. J. Biol. Chem. 274:10219–10226 (1999)), adenovirus-associated virus Teramato et al. J. Virol. 72:8904–8912 (1998); Summerford and Samulski. J. Virol. 72:1438–45 (1998); Duan et al. Hum. Gene Ther. 9:2761–76 (1998), and retroviral vectors (Wang et al. J. Virol. 72:9818–26 (1998), as well as nonviral vectors, including cationic lipids (Zabner et al. J. Biol. Chem. 270:18997–19007 (1995); Matsui et al. J. Biol. Chem. 272:1117–26 (1997); Fasbender et al. Gene Ther. 4:1173–80 (1997)). Compounding the limited vector binding, and in contrast to observations in cell lines, the rate of endocytosis across the apical membrane of differentiated airway epithelia is low and may limit administration of adenovirus, AAV, retrovirus and nonviral vectors. Pickles et al. J. Virol. 72:6014–23 (1998); Fasbender et al. Gene Ther. 4:1173–80 (1997); and Goldman and Wilson. J. Virol. 69:5951–8 (1995).
Hence, a method that increases vector binding and endocytosis may enhance both viral and non-viral vector administration to airway epithelia. One strategy to circumvent the lack of apical receptors is to non-specifically increase vector binding. For example, earlier work showed enhanced administration of adenovirus or AAV by incorporating virus in calcium phosphate (CaPi) coprecipitate. See Fasbender et al. J. Clin. Invest. 102:184–93 (1998); Lee et al. Hum. Gene Ther. 10:603–13 (1999); Walters et al. J. Virol. 74:535–540 (2000). However, this delivery method did not increase endocytosis across the apical surface. See Walters and Welsh, Gene Ther. 6:1845–1850 (1999); U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/082,510 (incorporated herein by reference).
Other vectors comprising cationic amphiphiles such as lipids, synthetic polyamino polymers (Goldman et al., 1997, Nat. Biotechnol. 15:462–466), and polylysine (Kollen et al., 1996, Hum. Gene. Ther. 7:1577–1586), which are used with nucleic acid molecules, such as a plasmid, to transfect a target cell, are useful for delivery of nucleic acids to cells. Most of these vectors suffer from nonspecificity and inefficiency of delivery. Therefore, a method for targeting these systems to cells and improving the uptake of such vectors into cells would also be useful.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,759,452 ('452 patent) discloses the use of an isolated portion of the A-chain of a urokinase-type plasminogen activator linked to a "drug", wherein the A-chain portion binds stably to an outer membrane of a platelet and delivers the drug to the platelet. The portion of the A-chain comprises amino acids 1 through 132 or can be the full-length urokinase-type plasminogen activator. The '452 patent disclosure is limited to the delivery of a "drug" via the urokinase-type plasminogen activator in platelets and does not provide teaching for the delivery to other cell-types, including airway epithelia, and does not provide teaching for the improved uptake of a vector (including a small molecule, protein, polynucleotide, RNA, DNA, virus, viral vector, plasmid, etc) to various cell types.
PCT Patent Application WO98/46632 discloses cyclic uPAR inhibitor peptides derived from uPA amino acids sequences 22–28 which bind to uPAR and block the binding of uPA. WO98/46632 describes the use of these peptides for the delivery of diagnostic markers or therapeutic agents to uPAR-expressing cells. WO98/46632 states that linear and cyclic peptides corresponding to amino acids 19–31 of uPA display a surprisingly higher affinity for uPAR than previously described peptides spanning amino acids 14–32 of uPA (Magdolen et al., Eur. J. Biochem. 237:743–751 (1996) and 13–19 of uPA (Appella et al., J. Biol. Chem. 262:4437–4440 (1987) which display a low affinity with uPAR. The low affinity of the peptides described by Magdolen et al. and Appella et al. are described as not being sufficient for therapeutic use creating a need for uPA peptides which feature higher affinity for the uPAR receptor.
The present invention is based in part on the unexpected finding that the seven residue peptide of uPA (corresponding to residues 13–19 described by Appella et al. as a low affinity uPAR binder) is capable of high affinity binding and facilitating the delivery and endocytosis of the peptide, including the peptide linked to virus (and other cargo) by a cell bearing uPAR, even though this region of uPA does not bind PAI-1 which has previously been shown a necessary factor for the endocytosis of uPA. In addition, the present invention is also based on the previously unknown finding that airway epithelial cells express uPAR and that uPA is capable of binding thereto and facilitating endocytosis therein.
These findings have allowed for the targeted and improved delivery of adenovirus vectors to airway epithelia and is also useful for the targeted and improved delivery of cargo in general to various cell types expressing uPAR.

Targeting vector to the urokinase plasminogen activator receptor

The University of Iowa Research Foundation


A system for testing a portion of a cable network provides a pattern generator, Addresser, forward error corrector, and comparator. The system is particularly adapted to testing the upstream channel in a cable network. The pattern generator generates a test signal. The addresser addresses the signal to a known server and also instructs the known server to return the test signal to the test system. The forward error corrector corrects errors introduced in the test signal in transmission from the known server to the test system. The comparator then compares the returned test signal to the originally transmitted test signal to determine the performance of the back channel. Preferably, the comparator uses a bit error rate test to determine the performance of the back channel.

Originally cable networks were established to transmit television signals to homes and offices. Cable networks provide advantages over transmission television networks that include a clearer signal and a greater selection of channels. These cable networks originally were intended simply to provide customers with television signals. Therefore, they did not provide customers a means to transmit signals to the cable network operator, to other customers, or to any other party.
In early embodiments, cable networks transmitted analog signals. More recently, cable networks have been converted to transmit digital signals. With digital cable networks, customers may transmit signals back to the cable network operator. This facility has been called the upstream channel in contrast to the forward or downstream channel that delivers programming to the customer. Additionally, digital cable networks may now be coupled to the Internet thereby providing houses and offices access to the Internet. This access is generally faster than access provided by other technologies.
FIG. 1 shows a typical digital cable network. A cable modem termination system ("CMTS") 100 is the base component of the system. The CMTS 100 is a typical system well known in the art and typically includes facilities for forward error correction. The CMTS 100 is coupled to the Internet backbone 102. The Internet backbone 102 carries Internet traffic, is well known in the art, and typically comprises fiber optic communication lines. Alternatively, the Internet backbone 102 may comprise co-axial cables. CMTS 100 is also coupled to a combiner/splitter 116. Combiner/splitter 116 combines signals from CMTS 100 and from fiber optic lines 104. Fiber optic lines 104 carry television signals. Fiber optic lines 104 may alternatively be co-axial cables. Combiner/splitter 116 is well known in the art. Combiner/splitter 116 combines signals from the Internet backbone 102 and the incoming television signals from fiber optic lines 104 and outputs a resulting signal on a fiber optic transmission line 106. Combiner/splitter 116 also receives signals from fiber optic transmission line 106 and splits off the appropriate signals for transmission to the Internet backbone 102 or for use by the cable network operator. Fiber optic transmission line 106 is a standard cable network transmission line comprising fiber optics and related equipment.
Fiber optic transmission line 106 is coupled to one or more nodes 108. In an alternative embodiment, a co-axial cable couples combiner/splitter 116 to nodes 108. Nodes 108 serve as distribution points for the cable network receiving signals from the CMTS 100 transmitted on the fiber optic transmission line 106. Each node 108 is coupled to a local area cable loop ("LACL") 110. LACL 110 is typically a co-axial cable that carries signals from the node to homes and businesses within in a relatively close geographical area. Alternatively, LACL 110 may be a fiber optic cable. LACL 110 forms a loop with its beginning and end coupled to node 108. Node 108 retransmits signals received from combiner/splitter 116 on its associated LACL 110. In alternate embodiments, LACL 110 may be coupled directly to combiner/splitter 116. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that a network may have many different structures.
Coupled to each LACL 110 are one or more customer sites 112. A customer site may be either a home or office and is coupled to LACL 110 by a co-axial cable 114 that taps off of LACL 110.
FIG. 2 shows the coupling of LACL 110 to a plurality of customer sites 112 and to node 108. Node 108 has two couplings to LACL 110, 200 and 202 respectively. Couplings 200 and 202 are logical couplings; in actuality, a single fiber optic transmission line or co-axial cable couples node 108 to LACL 110. FIG. 2 also shows a customer site in more detail. Corresponding to couplings 200 and 202 are couplings 204 and 206. Couplings 204 and 206 are logical representations of the coupling between customer site 112 and LACL 110. In actuality, the coupling between customer site 112 and LACL 110 is a coaxial cable, twisted pair, wireless, or other coupling. Coupling 204 provides a forward or downstream channel signal path from LACL 110 to customer site 112. Correspondingly, coupling 206 provides an upstream signal path from customer site 112 to LACL 110 and then to node 108 and CMTS 100.
Customer site 112 comprises a combiner/splitter 214, a cable modem 208 and at least one computer 210 and at least one television 212. Computer 210 is well known in the art and is equipped with a browser for transmitting to and receiving information from the Internet. Computer 210 is coupled to cable modem 208. Cable modem 208 is a conventional cable modem. Cable modem 208 is coupled to combiner/splitter 214 which is a conventional device for combining and splitting digital signals. Combiner/splitter 214 is similar to combiner/splitter 116 but on a scale appropriate for a customer site. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize combiner/splitter 214. Television 212 is also coupled to combiner/splitter 214.
Coupling 200 provides a forward channel signal path from node 108, through LACL 110, through coupling 204, and to the customer site 112. In the forward channel, the node transmits digital signals at frequencies between 88 and 860 MHz. Typically, the forward channel provides forward error correction whereby cable modem 208 is capable of detecting errors in the signal it receives from node 108. Having detected errors in the signal, cable modem 208 then corrects the errors. The methods and means for correcting signals received by a cable modem are well known in the art.
Coupling 202 provides a signal path for customer sites 112 to communicate with the cable network operator. Cable modem 208 transmits through coupling 206, through LACL 110, and through coupling 202 in the reverse direction of the forward channel through coupling 202. This upstream channel is generally limited to frequencies between 5 and 50 MHz. Historically, the cable network operators used the upstream channel to provide a signal path from customer sites 112 to the cable network operator. For example, a customer site may request specific programming, sometimes known as pay per view. A customer site may also use the upstream channel to send other requests to the cable network operator such as billing inquiries, notices of service deficiencies, and other information.
FIG. 3A illustrates the form of a signal 300 in the forward channel from combiner/splitter 116 to a customer site. The forward channel signal is the result of time multiplexing more than one serial signal. FIG. 3A shows three exemplary signals 302 that are time multiplexed into a down stream signal 300. The forward channel signal is framed with each frame lead by a header 304. The header 304 indicates the beginning of the frame and the remaining bits of the frame are the payload. The signal to each customer site is time multiplexed with the signals intended for every other customer site on the LACL and loaded into the payload of the frame. The cable modem at each customer site monitors the forward channel signal and picks off the bits in the payload of each frame that are intended for the specific cable modem. The cable modem then reconstructs the signal intended for the customer site. There are many methods of time multiplexing signals; those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize these methods.
The upstream channel is typically not framed. FIG. 3B illustrates the form of an upstream channel signal 306 that comprises packets transmitted in a token ring type protocol. When a cable modem first couples to a LACL, it receives a schedule from the CMTS. This schedule designates when the cable modem may transmit in the upstream channel. When the schedule indicates that the cable modem may transmit in the upstream channel, the cable modem composes a packet and transmits it in the reverse direction of the forward stream to the CMTS.
A packet comprises a packed identifier ("PID") 308 and a payload 3 10. The PID 308 specifies the cable modem that transmitted the packet, specifies the destination of the packet, and may include other information. The payload 310 of the packet comprises entirely data from the transmitting cable modem. Unlike the forward channel signal, upstream channel packets are typically not multiplexed with signals from other cable modems; the entire packet payload comprises data from a single cable modem.
As mentioned above, the upstream channel was originally intended to be used for sending requests to the cable network operator and has generally not provided high transmission performance. A customer site, however, would typically transmit infrequently and then would transmit only small amounts of data. The upstream channel, therefore, was generally not crowded and performance was not a priority.
More recently, cable network operators have coupled CMTSs to the Internet backbone to provide customer sites with Internet access. Generally, such systems have offered advantages over other technologies for coupling customer sites to the Internet. The forward channel has a large bandwidth that allows for fast downloads of data to customer sites. Additionally, cable systems are already in place; removing the necessity of large capital investment. At first, the limited performance of the upstream channel was not an impediment to using cable systems for Internet access. Generally, Internet traffic from a customer site to the Internet backbone required much less bandwidth than the forward stream required. Customer sites would make requests to web sites for data. The requests, being small, would not require broad bandwidth. The requested data, however, would frequently be large and require the broad bandwidth of the forward channel. The poor performance of the upstream channel was not relevant to the use of cable systems for Internet access. If a signal from a customer site never reached its destination, the customer site simply sent the signal again. The size of signals and their number did not noticeably impede Internet access.
More recently, however, the limited performance of the upstream channel is impeding Internet access. Customer sites are transmitting more data in the upstream channel. Some customer sites now are themselves web sites or are uploading large amounts of information to the Internet. Thus, the amount of data transmitted in the upstream channel has increased. Additionally, there are more customer sites accessing the Internet; correspondingly there is more traffic in the upstream channel. The greater number of customer sites means fewer transmission slots for any one customer site; should a signal need to be retransmitted, there will be a delay until another transmission slot is available. Also, the increased size of the signals makes them more burdensome to resend. No longer is it acceptable simply to resend a signal that fails to reach its destination. In order to utilize fully the capabilities of a cable network, impairments that result in retransmission of packets in the upstream channel must be diagnosed and repaired.
It has become imperative to improve the performance of the upstream channel in cable networks. With the need to improve upstream channel performance, there is a corresponding need to test the upstream channel. Testers are needed to determine when and where the upstream channel is limiting network performance. The upstream channel is difficult to test. At this time, when a customer site is experiencing inadequate Internet access, a test set must be used at the customer site and simultaneously, a test set must be used at the CMTS, the node, or other location. The need to coordinate multiple test sets makes testing the upstream channel difficult. In addition, disabling the network while testing is not practical. There is a need for devices and methods to test accurately and efficiently the upstream channel of cable networks without disabling the network while testing.

System for testing the upstream channel of a cable network


A printing apparatus has a plurality of image forming sections that are removably attached to a body of the printing apparatus and form images of different colors. The apparatus includes a specifying unit such as an operation panel and a control unit. The specifying unit specifies an image forming section that performs printing. The control unit controls the image forming section specified by the specifying unit to form an image of a corresponding color. The apparatus further includes a plurality of detectors that detect the presence and absence of corresponding image forming sections in the body. When the detector detects that a specified image forming section is present, the control unit controls the specified image forming section to operate. When the detector detects that the specified image forming section specified is absent, the control unit does not control the specified image forming section to operate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to image forming apparatus such as color printers, color copying machines, and color facsimile machines. More particularly, the present invention relates to a printing apparatus of the tandem type in which a plurality of image-forming sections are aligned along the transport path of a print medium to sequentially form toner images of respective colors in registration with one another on the print medium.
The present invention also relates to a printer of an intermediate transfer method in which images are formed by a plurality of image forming sections and transferred onto an intermediate transfer material and then the images are further transferred from the intermediate transfer material to a print medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
Known image forming methods for color printers, color copying machines, and color facsimile machines are, for example, an intermediate transfer belt method and an intermediate transfer drum method including tandem type.
With a tandem type printer, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black images are formed by corresponding image forming sections and transferred onto a print medium in superposition. The prominent feature of a tandem type printer is that an image of four colors can be printed by a single passage of a print medium through the transport path.
A conventional printer is so designed that unless all of the image-forming sections are attached to the printer body properly, printing is not performed for any colors in combination, even a single color. If any one of the image-forming sections is not attached properly, an error handling operation is performed. Thus, even when a user wishes to print only black and red images, cyan and yellow image forming sections must be attached to the printer body. This is uneconomical.

Control of image forming sections of a printing apparatus with color registration


A vehicle includes a vehicle support member at an underside of the vehicle. A bumper assembly is at a front of the vehicle and includes a bumper fascia and a bumper reinforcement beam covered by the bumper fascia providing an upper projecting bumper portion. A lower reinforcement member is connected to the vehicle support member at a location below the bumper reinforcement beam in a vehicle vertical direction that is covered by the bumper fascia providing a lower projecting bumper portion. The lower reinforcement member includes a reinforcement body having a rear end connected to the vehicle support member and a front end opposite the rear end. The lower reinforcement member is connected to the bumper fascia and is configured to have a lowered configuration where the front end of the reinforcement body moves downward in the vehicle vertical direction upon impact to the bumper fascia at the lower projecting bumper portion and a raised configuration where the front end of the reinforcement body moves upward, after the bumper fascia contacts the front end of the reinforcement body during the impact.

Vehicles may be equipped with bumper assemblies and impact protection structures that elastically and plastically deform to absorb energy in the event of an impact. A number of standards and tests currently exist. Various organizations are introducing a number of pedestrian regulations and rating criteria for automotive vehicles. As one example, test methods have been developed to assess the protection of an adult pedestrian by simulating leg-impact conditions during a car-to-pedestrian impact. Generally, under such testing conditions, a bumper assembly that is closer to the ground will decrease a bending moment seen by lower parts of the leg. It may also be desirable to provide lower regions of the legs with a lifting motion, pushing up on the lower part of the leg during leg-impact conditions.

Bumper assemblies including lower reinforcement members

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.


A securement system for a measuring device for monitoring and/or determining a fill level of a medium in a container, with at least one device housing and at least one elongated unit. In the device housing, at least one cutting ring is provided, which cuts into the outer layer of the end of the elongated unit far from the process in such a manner that the elongated unit is connected with the device housing electrically, pressure tightly and/or resistantly against pull.

The assignee manufactures and sells various embodiments of measuring devices equipped with rope probes. These measuring devices usually include a device housing, in which a measuring device electronics is accommodated and on which a probe in rope, cable, tubular or rod form is mounted. These ropes, cables, tubes or rods are referred to herein generically as elongated units. Other common generic references include rope, or rope probes. Such elongated units are used e.g. in the capacitive measuring technology as an electrode, which is introduced into a container holding a medium. As a function of the fill level of the medium, the capacitance of the capacitor, of which one electrode is the elongated unit, changes, and, consequently, the fill level can be determined and/or monitored therefrom. In another method of measurement, e.g. electromagnetic pulses are sent along the elongated unit immersed in the medium. In this case, the elongated unit serves as a waveguide. From the signal reflected from the upper surface of the medium, the fill level can likewise be derived. Another application is represented e.g. by a conductive probe, in which case the electrical resistance of the medium is measured. Here, fill level is detected by the arrangement of multiple elongated units at different heights.
These measuring devices with an elongated unit are usually mounted to, or on, a container containing the medium to be measured, with the device housing frequently being secured in or on a container wall such that the elongated unit extends into the interior of the container and into the medium. The elongated units are either themselves conducting or else they at least have an electrical conductor inside. The elongated units are also, if necessary, coated externally with an electrically insulating layer. This layer provides protection against short-circuiting or e.g. also protection against aggressive media. Usually, the elongated units are connected with a measuring device electronics, in which the measurement signals are produced, or processed, as the case may be. The electronics, in turn, is usually connected with a measuring, or control, room, or with another superordinated unit, in which the fill level measured values are evaluated and processed.
A problem associated with these procedures is that the elongated units must be adapted to different conditions, i.e. they must be longer, or shorter, depending on the dimensions of the container. They must also, if necessary, be capable of being exchanged, when e.g. the medium attacks, or deteriorates, the elongated units. In such case, it should be possible that the elongated units can be replaced simply.

Fixing system for a measuring device for monitoring and/or determination of a filling level


A reference frequency generation method and apparatus for communication systems that transmit and receive data by use of an ultra wide band of at least two frequency groups having at least two reference frequencies. The method and apparatus generate the reference frequencies by generating generation frequencies by use of a frequency generated from the local oscillator, and generating adjustment frequencies for adjusting the generation frequency. One generation frequency and one adjustment frequency are selected from the generation frequencies and adjustment frequencies, and the reference frequencies are generated by use of the selected generation frequency and adjustment frequency.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to frequency bands for communication systems, and more particularly to a method for transmitting and receiving data by use of multiple bands.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, communication systems use a certain frequency band to transmit data. The data used for the communication systems is divided into circuit data and packet data. The circuit data is data such as voice signals that has to be transmitted and received in real time, whereas the packet data has a data amount of over a certain size such as packet information and does not have to be transmitted at real time. The frequency band used for transmission of the circuit data is narrow in general. However, a wider frequency band is required to transmit the packet data.
As stated above, the frequency band to be used also increases as an amount of data to be transmitted increases. Hereinafter, the wider frequency band is referred to as the ultra wide band (UWB). The UWB is divided into plural frequency sub-bands each having a certain size. The communication system transmits data using the plural frequency sub-bands in a specific period of time, so a lot of data can be transmitted for the specific period of time. The communication system selects one of the plural frequency sub-bands for the specific period of time, and transmits data using the selected frequency sub-band, to thereby enhance data security. That is, the communication system can enhance data security by sequentially using the plural frequency sub-bands.
FIG. 1 is a view for showing a structure of the UWB currently proposed. As shown in FIG. 1, the frequency band of the currently proposed UWB lies in a frequency range from 3432 MHz to 10032 MHz. The frequency band of the UWB largely consists of four groups denoted as group A to group D, with group D having four frequency sub-groups.
The reference frequencies of three frequency sub-bands of group A are 3432 MHz, 3960 MHz, and 4488 GHz, and the reference frequencies of two frequency sub-bands of group B are 5016 MHz and 5808 MHz. The four reference frequencies of group C are 6336 MHz, 6864 MHz, 7392 MHz, and 7920 MHz, and the four reference frequencies of group D are 8448 MHz, 8976 MHz, 9504 MHz, and 10032 MHz. The frequency sub-bands included in group B are overlapped with the frequency bands occupied by current wireless LANs, and it is impossible to use the frequency sub-bands included in the group D in view of the level of current technologies. Accordingly, methods are being currently discussed to use the frequency sub-bands of group A and the frequency sub-bands of group C.
Seven reference frequencies have to be produced to use the three frequency sub-bands of group A and the four frequency sub-bands of the group C. That is, a structure is needed to produce the seven reference frequencies in order to use the three frequency sub-bands of group A and the four frequency sub-bands of group C.
The communication system generates a radio frequency (RF) by use of an intermediate frequency (IF) and the reference frequencies of a local oscillator (LO) in order to transmit data, and transmits data by use of the generated radio frequency. The seven reference frequencies are generated in the local oscillator. Hereinafter, the local oscillator is described to generate the seven reference frequencies.
FIG. 2 is a view for showing local oscillators for generating the seven reference frequencies. As shown in FIG. 2, seven local oscillators are needed to generate the seven reference frequencies. That is, one local oscillator generates only one reference frequency. Phase locked loops (PLLs) work to stabilize the reference frequencies generated from the local oscillators. Thus, it is structured to have one local oscillator corresponding to one PLL. Hereinafter, a process for generating the seven reference frequencies is described by use of FIG. 2.
The local oscillator 200 generates a reference frequency 3432 MHz, and the local oscillator 201 generates a reference frequency 3960 MHz. The local oscillator 206 generates a reference frequency 7920 MHz. The PLL 210 stabilizes the reference frequency generated from the local oscillator 200, and then transmits the reference frequency to the selection unit 220. The PLL 211 stabilizes a reference frequency generated from the local oscillator 201, and then transmits the reference frequency to the selection unit 220. The PLL 216 stabilizes a reference frequency generated from the local oscillator 206, and then transmits the reference frequency to the selection unit 220. The selection unit 220 selects one of the stabilized reference frequencies transmitted according to a control signal, and outputs the selected reference frequency. The reference frequency outputted from the selection unit 220 is combined with the IF signal, and then converted to the RF signal.
Seven local oscillators require seven PLLs in order to generate the seven reference signals as shown in FIG. 2. However, the local oscillators and PLLs have a disadvantage of having a high power consumption. Furthermore, the local oscillators and PLLs have a disadvantage of increasing the size of a communication system.

Frequency generation apparatus and method for data transmission