In a simple decoder which decodes convolutional codes of constraint length K and coding rate n/m, encoded data which is supplied thereto in steps of m bits are distributed, bit by bit, to m shift registers each having x=[(K-1)/(m-n)] series-connected shift stages. Here, [p] means the minimum integer equal to or larger than a real number p. The connection of n modulo-2 addition circuits to all the shift stages of all the shift registers is defined by n decoding generative vectors which define n decoding generative polynomials. The modulo-2 addition circuits perform modulo-2 additions of the outputs of the shift stages connected thereto and output n results of additions as decoded results of n bits. The n decoding generative vectors are selected from decoding generative vectors of N rows which are obtained as an inverse matrix of a square matrix whose elements are N.times.N coefficients which define N=mx convolutional code generating polynomials.

The present invention relates to a simple decoding method and a simple decoder circuit therefor which permit easy decoding of convolutional codes, but do not have error correcting capability by themselves, and which will hereinafter be called a simple decoding method and simple decoder, respectively.
Of presently known convolutional code decoding methods, a decoding algorithm proposed by A. J. Viterbi is regarded as a highly reliable decoding method with the highest error-correction capability and it has already been put into practical use as a Viterbi decoder in a limited field of satellite communications, proving its superiority over the prior art. The Viterbi decoder has excellent properties as mentioned above, but it is defective in that the circuit scale becomes very large to enhance the error correcting rate, resulting in an increase in power dissipation.
On the other hand, threshold decoding and sequential decoding have been proposed as error-correcting-and-decoding methods for convolutional codes. These decoding methods also call for large-scale circuitry, not as large as in the case of the Viterbi decoder, but still power dissipation is inevitably large. In view of such disadvantages of the prior art, an SST (Scarce State Transition) scheme has been proposed and put into practical use as a system which permits reduction of the power dissipation and circuit scale of the Viterbi decoder (Ishitani et al, "A Scarce-State-Transition Viterbi-Decoder VLSI for Error Correction", IEEE JOURNAL OF SOLID-STATE CIRCUITS, VOL. SC-22, No. 4, AUGUST 1987, pp 575-581).
FIG. 1 shows an example of an SST Viterbi decoder with a constraint length K=7 and a coding rate R=1/2, constructed through application of the SST scheme to a conventional Viterbi decoding circuit in a narrow sense which comprises branch metric circuits, ACS (Add-Compare-Select) circuits and path memory circuits as shown in the above-mentioned literature. In the SST Viterbi decoder, received convolutional codes X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 provided to terminals 11.sub.1 and 11.sub.2, which may include errors in the transmission channel, are decoded by a simple decoder 2 having no error-correcting capability to obtain estimated decoded data D' of original data D. The simple decoder shown in the literature and referred to as a pre-decoder is one that decodes one bit of the original data by a modulo-2 addition of code data from seven shift stages which are specified by a coupling vector (1110111010) and selected from 10-bit code data held in 10 shift stages. Then, the estimated decoded data D' is re-encoded by an encoder 3 of the same construction as that of a convolutional encoder at the transmitting side, and the re-encoded convolutional codes X.sub.1 ' and X.sub.2 ' are compared by comparators (exclusive-OR circuits) 13.sub.1 and 13.sub.2 with the received convolutional code data (soft decision data) X.sub.1 and X.sub.2, respectively.
If there are no errors in the transmission channel, the received code data X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 and the re-encoded data X.sub.1 ' and X.sub.2 ' match each other and the outputs from the comparators 13.sub.1 and 13.sub.2 both go to "0's." The convolutional code data X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 normally influence each other over a plurality of bits preceding and following them as the result of convolution of the original data, and therefore, when a channel error occurs, an abnormal bit pattern is produced which would be impossible with correct convolutional codes. On the other hand, regarding the output re-encoded data from the convolutional encoder 3, even if the input data D' includes an estimation error, no abnormal bit pattern will be introduced into the encoded data as the convolutional codes. Hence, when a channel error occurs, the comparators 13.sub.1 and 13.sub.2 provide "1's" continuously or discontinuously over a plurality of bits. The compared outputs representative of such an estimation error are provided to a conventional (i.e., narrow sense) Viterbi decoder 14 for decoding the estimation error. The decoded output from the narrow sense Viterbi decoder 14 and the decoded output D' from the simple decoder 2 are subjected to a modulo-2 addition by a modulo-2 addition circuit 15, thereby correcting the estimation error in the decoded output D' to obtain the original data D. Delay circuits 12.sub.1, 12.sub.2 and 16 are provided to time the data.
With such an SST Viterbi decoder, when no error is induced in the convolutionally encoded data in the transmission channel, the input to the narrow-sense Viterbi decoder 14 is always a "0." Therefore, the Viterbi decoder 14 processes only a code error. That is, data that is stored in the path memory circuits in the narrow-sense Viterbi decoder 14 is all "0" except when an error is induced in the transmitted signal, and the ON-OFF switching operation of gates rarely occurs in the path memory circuits. Since a CMOS circuit usually dissipates power by the ON-OFF switching of signals, power dissipation of the SST Viterbi decoder is far less than that of the conventional Viterbi decoder (about 40% when the bit error rate after Viterbi decoding, Pe, is 10). Moreover, the conventional Viterbi decoder employs a maximum likelihood decision circuit to reduce a required path memory length, but the Viterbi decoder utilizing the SST scheme permits reduction of the path memory length, and hence enables the omission of the maximum likelihood decision circuit. For these reasons, the SST Viterbi decoder affords reduction of the power dissipation and circuit scale or hardware size of the conventional Viterbi decoder 14.
FIG. 2 shows an example of the simplest construction of a convolutional encoder with coding rate R=1/2 and constraint length K=4 which is used at the transmission side in the prior art. In this example, the encoder is composed of a three-stage shift register 4 and modulo-2 addition circuits 5.sub.1 and 5.sub.2. The original data D (D.sub.1, D.sub.2, . . . ) are sequentially input into the shift register 4 via an input terminal 6 and the modulo-2 addition circuit 5.sub.1 performs modulo-2 addition of the outputs from all shift stages of the shift register 4, whereas the modulo-2 addition circuit 5.sub.2 performs modulo-2 addition of the outputs from first and third shift stages of the shift register 4. The modulo-2 addition circuits 5.sub.1 and 5.sub.2 output convolutionally encoded data X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 to terminals 7.sub.1 and 7.sub.2. The SST Viterbi decoder at the reception side, shown in FIG. 1, receives and decodes the encoded data X.sub.1 and X.sub.2. In the encoder of FIG. 2, since the outputs from the first and third stages of the shift register 4 are always provided to both modulo-2 addition circuits 5.sub.1 and 5.sub.2, the logical relationship of the data X.sub.1 relative to the data X.sub.2 is equivalent to that in the case where the data X.sub.2 is set to a "0" and the output from the second shift stage is assumed to be the data X.sub.1. It can readily be understood, therefore, that the simple decoder 2 in FIG. 1, which is the counterpart of the encoder in FIG. 2, can be formed by one modulo-2 addition circuit as depicted in FIG. 3. In this instance, the coupling vector which couples the input code data to the modulo-2 addition circuit is represented by (11).
It is desired, in general, that the coding rate R=n/m (where n is the number of input information bits and m is the number of output bits) be raised, that is, made closer to 1 so as to enhance the code transmission efficiency, and that the constraint length K be increased to improve the error-correcting capability. The simple decoder 2 that is needed in the SST Viterbi decoder can be implemented relatively easily when the coding rate R is 1/2 and the constraint length K is 7 or below, as referred to in the above-mentioned literature, but no logic design algorithm has been proposed for a simple decoder with an arbitrary coding rate R which is usually expressed by n/m. In fact, there are not available any simple decoders with coding rates R other than 1/2, except that the inventors of this application happened to succeed in implementing only a simple decoder with a coding rate R=3/4 and constraint length K=7 after repeated trial and error (Kawazoe et al, "SST Type Viterbi Decoder for High Rate Convolutional Codes", Institute of Electronics and Communication Engineers of Japan, 1991 Autumn Convention, B-156). Thus it is difficult, with the prior art, to construct simple decoders for convolutional codes of arbitrary coding rates R other than those whose constraint lengths are 7 or shorter and whose coding rates are 1/2 and, therefore, it is difficult, in general, to construct the SST type Viterbi decoder which involves the use of such a simple decoder. On this account, decoding of codes with a coding rate R=n/m inevitably calls for the conventional Viterbi decoder which is not the SST type, and hence still suffers the aforementioned defect of large power dissipation.

Method and circuit for decoding convolutional codes

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation


A device for adjusting the position of the angle of rotation of the camshaft of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine relative to the crankshaft in a motor vehicle is provided, which includes an adjusting gear mechanism in the form of a triple shaft gear mechanism having a drive shaft fixed to the crankshaft, an output shaft fixed to the camshaft and an adjustment shaft which is drivingly connected to an electric motor which can be positioned using an electric control device. The ignition of the internal combustion engine is connected to the motor vehicle battery via an ignition switch. The motor vehicle also includes at least one device which can be adjusted by a user of the vehicle. A monitoring circuit provided with at least one sensor for detecting a change of state of the at least one device. The monitoring circuit is connected to the control device when the latter is switched off, such that the control device is switched on when a change in state is detected.

The invention relates to a device for adjusting the rotational angle position of the camshaft of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine relative to the crankshaft in a motor vehicle, wherein the device has an adjustment gear mechanism, which comprises a triple-shaft gear mechanism with a crankshaft-fixed drive shaft, a camshaft-fixed output shaft, and an adjustment shaft, which is drivingly connected to an electric motor that can be positioned by a control device, wherein the ignition of the internal combustion engine can be connected via an ignition switch to the battery of the motor vehicle, and wherein the motor vehicle also has at least one device that can be adjusted by a user of the motor vehicle.
Such a device is known in practice. It allows an adjustment of the phase position of the camshaft relative to the crankshaft that drives it during the operation of the internal combustion engine. In comparison with an internal combustion engine that is operated at a constant phase position, a better filling of the cylinders of the internal combustion engine can be achieved by this adjustment of the phase position, whereby fuel is saved, pollutant emissions are reduced, and/or the output power of the internal combustion engine can be increased. The control device is turned on together with the ignition of the internal combustion engine via an ignition switch with the help of an ignition key. After turning on the ignition, first a microcontroller integrated into the control device is started, wherein, among other things, various test routines are executed and memory locations in a volatile semiconductor memory of the control device are loaded with start values. In addition, the rotor of the electric motor is positioned in a given position relative to the stator. The period that the control device requires after turning on until it is ready to operate equals approximately 50 to 150 milliseconds. The driver of the motor vehicle senses this period as disruptive, because the internal combustion engine cannot start immediately after turning on the ignition, but instead must first wait until the boot process has completed. Of course, it would be conceivable to start the internal combustion engine before this time period has elapsed, but this has the disadvantage that during the startup phase, an increased pollutant load would be produced in the exhaust stream of the internal combustion engine.

Device for adjusting the position of the angle of rotation of the camshaft of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine in relation to the crankshaft


A charging apparatus for applying a uniform electrostatic charge to a charge retentive surface is provided. The charging apparatus is operably electrically connectable to a power supply for supplying an electrical bias to the charging apparatus. The apparatus includes a housing and an electrode mounted to the housing and positioned adjacent the surface in a non-contact relationship therewith. The apparatus also includes a shield connected to the housing and at least partially surrounding the electrode. The apparatus also includes an electrical connector, electrically connected to the shield and electrically connectable to the power supply for providing an electrical bias to the shield. The electrical connector extends from the shield and is integral therewith.

This invention relates to electrostatographic reproduction machines, and more particularly to an economical and capacity-extendible all-in-one process cartridge for easy adaptive use in a family of compact electrostatographic reproduction machines having different volume capacities and consumable life cycles. Specifically this invention relates to such a cartridge including a charging device having a shield with integral electrical connector.
Generally, the process of electrostatographic reproduction, as practiced in electrostatographic reproduction machines, includes charging a photoconductive member to a substantially uniform potential so as to sensitize the surface thereof. A charged portion of the photoconductive surface is exposed at an exposure station to a light image of an original document to be reproduced. Typically, an original document to be reproduced is placed in registration, either manually or by means of an automatic document handler, on a platen for such exposure.
Exposing an image of an original document as such at the exposure station, records an electrostatic latent image of the original image onto the photoconductive member. The recorded latent image is subsequently developed using a development apparatus by bringing a charged dry or liquid developer material into contact with the latent image. Two component and single component developer materials are commonly used. A typical two-component dry developer material has magnetic carrier granules with fusible toner particles adhering triobelectrically thereto. A single component dry developer material typically comprising toner particles only can also be used. The toner image formed by such development is subsequently transferred at a transfer station onto a copy sheet fed to such transfer station, and on which the toner particles image is then heated and permanently fused so as to form a "hardcopy" of the original image.
It is well known to provide a number of the elements and components, of an electrostatographic reproduction machine, in the form of a customer or user replaceable unit (CRU). Typically such units are each formed as a cartridge that can be inserted or removed from the machine frame by a customer or user. Reproduction machines such as copiers and printers ordinarily include consumable materials such as toner, volume limiting components such as a waste toner container, and life cycle limiting components such as a photoreceptor and a cleaning device. Because these elements of the copying machine or printer must be replaced frequently, they are more likely to be incorporated into a replaceable cartridge as above.
There are therefore various types and sizes of cartridges, varying from single machine element cartridges such as a toner cartridge, to all-in-one electrostatographic toner image forming and transfer process cartridges. The design, particularly of an all-in-one cartridge can be very costly and complicated by a need to optimize the life cycles of different elements, as well as to integrate all the included elements, while not undermining the image quality. This is particularly true for all-in-one process cartridges to be used in a family of compact electrostatographic reproduction machines having different volume capacities and elements having different life cycles.
There is therefore a need for a quality image producing, economical and capacity-extendible all-in-one process cartridge that is easily adapted for use in various machines in a family of compact electrostatographic reproduction machines having different volume capacities and elements with different life cycles.
Charging of a photoconductive surface in order to provide a charged surface from which a latent image is formed and later developed is an important step in the xerographic process. The charging process is typically accomplished by the use of an electrical device, either a contact or non-contact charged device. The contact charging device is typically in the form of a conformable roller which contacts the photoconductive surface. A non-contact charge device is typically in the form of an electrode which is spaced from the photoconductive surface and generates ions which form on the photoconductive surface. An electrical conductor is therefore necessary to transfer the power from a power source to the electrode.
Typically the electrical connectors are costly. Also, electrical conductors are fragile, difficult, expensive, and timely to assemble. Electrical connectors also may easily become faulty due to flaws in the durability of manufacturing processes. Further, quality problems in the components in manufacturing of electrical connectors cause the connectors to be a quality problem. Also, the electrical connectors are often inaccessible to the power supply requiring complicated and expensive wiring to transfer electricity from the power supply.
The following disclosures may be relevant to various aspects of the present invention:

Charging device having a shield with integral electrical connector


A method for dynamically controlling audio signal gain in a communication device starts with determining a level of an input audio signal. The level is then mapped against a table of predetermined corresponding gain targets to determine an appropriate gain target for that level. The gain targets are then applied to the audio signal, which is then output. The invention is particularly suited to speakerphone operation in a communication device, wherein the gain targets provide compression, expansion or limiting so that distant speakers can be heard clearly.

In both radio and landline telephone systems, a user typically communicates by means of a handset that includes a speaker at one end which is placed close to the user's ear and a microphone at the other end which is held close to the user's mouth. Thus, the user has only one free hand since the other must be used to hold the telephone handset. In order to provide a greater degree of freedom to the user, speakerphones have been developed for use in telephone systems.
A conventional speakerphone, when enabled, allows hands-free use of the telephone while still communicating with another party. However, when a speakerphone is used in a phone conversation there often heard a large disparity in volume between users who are talking close to the speakerphone and those that are distant from the speakerphone. In addition, there are often differences between different user voice levels, which can compound the disparity in volume. Moreover, when a speakerphone function is designed into portable electronic devices, such as radiotelephones, the disparity in user voice levels through the speakerphone is further compounded due to the power limitations of this type of device.
An important problem in the design of portable audio appliances, such as radiotelephones, is that of dealing with acoustic limitations and power limitations of the audio subsystem. This is inherent in the limited size of the acoustic devices used and the power limitations of the audio circuits, particularly in view of the limited power available from a battery. As a result, too much gain in the audio circuits will cause distortion in a device due to either power limitations or acoustic limitations.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved audio system in a communications device. In particular, it would be of benefit to provide improved audio quality such that low level voices or sounds could be heard as well as high level voices or sounds. It would also be advantageous if such improvement could be provided in a flexible and low cost implementation.

Dynamic gain control of audio in a communication device


A side impact cushion device of a motor vehicle contains at least one impact cushion which can be inflated by a gas generator. The impact cushion in an installation state has an upper portion, a central portion and a lower portion. In this case, the upper portion is arranged substantially horizontally in a deployed state, the central portion is formed in the form of a shell surface of a rotationally symmetrical, developable body, the lower portion can be supported on an upper side of an armrest and a rotational axis of the rotationally symmetrical body is oriented vertically in the deployed state.

The disclosure relates to a side impact cushion device of a motor vehicle containing at least one impact cushion which can be inflated by a gas generator. The disclosure also relates to a motor vehicle component with such a side impact cushion device.
In the field of motor vehicle technology, the use of impact cushions which can be inflated suddenly by being filled with gas for the supplemental protection of vehicle occupants in certain impact conditions is known. Such supplemental restraints systems or airbags can be arranged both in a region in the straight ahead direction of travel in front of the vehicle occupants for protection in the case of a frontal impact event and in a lateral region (side impact airbag) transverse to the straight ahead direction of travel for protection in the case of a lateral impact event.
In the prior art, various solutions are known to raise an arm, which is facing the affected vehicle side, of a vehicle occupant in the case of a lateral impact event. These solutions can provide a time delay of an inflation process of different parts of a side impact cushion and/or an inflation of a side impact cushion in a direction from bottom to top.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 9,296,356 B2 proposes a side impact cushion (side airbag) of a vehicle side impact cushion device in which a front impact cushion portion and a rear impact cushion portion are sub-divided by a longitudinal separating wall portion. Moreover, an impact cushion portion which extends forward and which is provided in an upper part of the rear impact cushion portion in order to hold up a shoulder is separated from the front impact cushion portion by an upper separating wall portion region which extends from an upper end of the elongated longitudinal separating wall portion diagonally upward to a front side of a backrest. If an inflation device is activated, the rear impact cushion portion is expanded and deployed at an early stage so that gas in the rear impact cushion portion is supplied via a connection opening which is provided in the longitudinal separating wall portion into the front impact cushion portion. As a result of this, it is possible to push up an upper arm and hold up rear parts of a chest, a stomach and a shoulder by means of the front impact cushion portion.
Moreover, a vehicle side impact cushion device is known from US 2018/0265032 A1 which contains a shoulder protection part and a rib cage protection part and is able to protect the rib cage by means of the rib cage protection part which gently raises an arm, as necessary depending on the collision status, without it being turned around to a great extent, while a shoulder is protected by the shoulder protection part. If a side impact cushion is provided on a seat and is spread out flat in an uninflated state, the contour of the side impact cushion has on the front side in the vehicle body forward-backward direction a turning point with a change in curvature in the center between the shoulder protection part and the rib cage protection part, furthermore an upper edge line which is directed upward from the turning point and a lower edge line which is directed downward from the turning point. The turning point is arranged in front of the shoulder protection part and above a center line which extends in the longitudinal direction of an upper arm of the occupant and divides the upper arm into an upper and a lower portion. The lower edge line crosses the center line from an upper side to a lower side and is positioned in a lower end position of the upper arm of the occupant below the center line.
The turning point separates between the upper edge line and the lower edge line so that the function of protection of the occupant by the shoulder protection part at the side of the upper edge line and the function of the protection of the occupant by the rib cage protection part at the side of the lower edge line do not impair one another. As a result of this, rib cage protection by raising the upper arm depending on the collision status and shoulder protection by the shoulder protection part can be achieved simultaneously.
CN 109318851 A furthermore describes a side impact cushion device which has a gas generator, a specially shaped impact cushion and a metal support. An air-conducting pocket is provided inside the specially shaped impact cushion for the introduction of gas. The air outlet of the gas generator is located inside the air-conducting pocket and faces the upper end of the air-conducting pocket. The upper end of the air-conducting pocket is formed as a closed structure, and the lower end of the air-conducting pocket is formed as an open structure. A lateral dimension of the contour of the impact cushion is greater than a vertical dimension of the contour. If a side impact event arises, the gas is conducted through the air-conducting pocket and a gas flow from top to bottom is formed in the lower end of the air-conducting pocket, and the gas is quickly blown from below to the inside of the specially shaped impact cushion. The air-conducting pocket and a special folding structure are used to raise the arm of the vehicle occupant. The side impact cushion device not only meets the requirements in terms of lateral collisions, but also those in terms of rear-impact collisions, and protect the occupants more comprehensively, while the extent of chest deformation is reduced.
JP 6365188 B2 furthermore discloses a side impact cushion device which contains an impact cushion which should be deployed between an occupant and a side door. The impact cushion contains a main chamber, a first sub-chamber and a second sub-chamber. The main chamber is supplied directly with gas by an inflation device in order to deploy in the lateral direction toward the torso of the occupant. The first sub-chamber is attached to the main chamber in such a manner that it, after deployment, is located on an upper side of an inside of the main chamber as seen in the width direction of the vehicle. The first sub-chamber is supplied with gas which is fed to the main chamber to deploy in one direction toward the side of the occupant. The second sub-chamber is attached at least to the first sub-chamber in such a manner that it, after deployment, is located above the main chamber and the first sub-chamber, and is supplied with gas which is fed to the first sub-chamber in order to deploy in the lateral direction toward the shoulder portion of the occupant.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,873,400 B2 furthermore proposes a method and a device for the protection of a vehicle occupant in the case of a lateral impact. The method for inflating a side impact cushion for protecting a vehicle occupant in the case of a side impact contains the steps:
equipping the side impact cushion with an inflatable thorax portion and an inflatable arm raising portion, wherein the arm raising portion is configured such that it extends laterally in front of the occupant from a lower end of the thorax portion; inflating the arm raining portion for raising an arm of the occupant and inflating the thorax portion after inflating the arm raising portion and raising the arm of the occupant.
The object on which the disclosure is based is to provide a side impact cushion device of a motor vehicle which has a particularly simple structure and simultaneously effectively and reliably enables a raising of an arm of a vehicle occupant in the event of a lateral impact event.
According to the disclosure, the object is achieved by a side impact cushion device. The object is furthermore achieved by a vehicle door with an armrest and such a side impact cushion device.
It should be pointed out that the features and measures listed individually in the following description can be combined with one another in any desired, technically expedient manner and highlight further configurations of the disclosure. The description characterizes and specifies the disclosure additionally in particular in conjunction with the figures.
The side impact cushion device according to the disclosure of a motor vehicle contains at least one impact cushion which can be inflated by a gas generator. Here, the impact cushion in an installation state has an upper portion, a central portion and a lower portion. The upper portion is arranged substantially horizontally in a deployed state, the central portion is formed substantially in the form of a shell surface of a rotationally symmetrical, developable body, and the lower portion can be supported on an upper side of an armrest, in particular an armrest of a motor vehicle door. A rotational axis of the rotationally symmetrical, developable body is oriented substantially vertically in the deployed state.
The proposed side impact cushion device has a particularly simple structure. An effective and reliable raising of an arm of a vehicle occupant in the event of a lateral impact event can be achieved with the substantially horizontally arranged, upper portion. The lower portion which can be supported on an upper side of an armrest can provide a secure retention of the impact cushion from which a defined and reproducible upward movement of the upper portion can be enabled so that the arm of the vehicle occupant comes into mechanical bearing with a high level of reliability with the upper portion during its upward movement and can be raised by the impact cushion. This is in particular successful due to the fact that a slipping of the impact cushion into a lower sub-chamber between the vehicle occupant and a side region of the motor vehicle can be effectively prevented.
The term "motor vehicle" should be understood within the meaning of the disclosure in particular as a car, a heavy goods vehicle, a semitrailer or a bus. The term "arranged substantially horizontally" should within the meaning of the disclosure also include in particular arrangements which have a deviation from a horizontal direction of at most 20°, preferably at most 15° and, particularly preferably, at most 10°. The term "oriented substantially vertically" should within the meaning of the disclosure include in particular orientations which have a deviation from a vertical direction of at most 20°, preferably at most 15° and, particularly preferably, at most 10°.
The impact cushion is preferably in a manner known per se equipped with a ventilation opening which enables an adjustment of the rigidity of the impact cushion by a controlled air flow which escapes from the impact cushion.
In embodiments of the side impact cushion device, the upper portion and the central portion have at least one joint first edge and the central portion and the lower portion have at least one joint second edge. In this manner, an impact cushion of the side impact cushion device according to the disclosure with a particularly simple construction can be provided. The terms "first", "second", etc. used in this application only serve the purpose of differentiation. In particular, no sequence or priority of the objects named in conjunction with these terms should be implied by their use.
At least the joint first edge or at least the joint second edge preferably has a sewn seam. As a result of this, an impact cushion of the side impact cushion device according to the disclosure can be produced with particular ease.
In embodiments of the side impact cushion device, the central portion has a sewn seam which is oriented substantially perpendicular to the joint first edge. In this manner, the central portion of the impact cushion can be provided in a particularly simple manner.
The rotationally symmetrical body is formed substantially in the form of a straight elliptical cylinder, wherein the upper portion forms a covering surface, the central portion forms the shell surface and the lower portion forms a base surface of the cylinder form and the rotational axis is formed by a central axis of the cylinder form.
The term a "straight elliptical cylinder form" should be understood within the meaning of the disclosure in particular as the form of a cylinder, the straight central axis of which is arranged perpendicular to its base surface, wherein the base surface is formed to be elliptical and can be formed in particular to be circular. In particular, cylinder forms should also be included, the straight central axis of which forms an angle of up to 20° with a direction arranged perpendicular to the base surface.
The term "substantially in the form of a straight elliptical cylinders" should be understood within the meaning of this disclosure in particular such that a deviation of a magnitude of a volume of the impact cushion from a magnitude of a minimal straight elliptical cylinder enclosing the impact cushion is less than 30%, preferably less than 20%, and, particularly preferably, less than 15%.
If the impact cushion is formed in the form of a straight elliptical cylinder, a particularly expediently large horizontal bearing surface for raising an arm of a vehicle occupant in the case of a lateral impact event can be provided by the upper portion. Moreover, a particularly expediently large, horizontal supporting surface for secure support of the impact cushion on an upper side of an armrest can be provided by the lower portion, which enables a defined and reproducible upward movement of the upper portion.
In embodiments of the side impact cushion device, the rotationally symmetrical body is formed substantially in the form of a straight truncated cone. In this case, the upper portion forms a covering surface, the central portion forms a shell surface and the lower portion forms a base surface of the straight truncated cone. The rotational axis is formed by a central axis of the straight truncated cone. The size of a covering surface of the truncated cone is at least 70% of the size of a base surface of the truncated cone. As a result of this, greater flexibility can be achieved in the design of the impact cushion, in the case of which a particularly expediently large horizontal bearing surface for raising an arm of a vehicle occupant and an expediently large horizontal supporting surface for secure retention of the impact cushion can be achieved.
The term "substantially in the form of a straight truncated cone" should be understand within the meaning of this disclosure in particular such that a deviation of a magnitude of a volume of the impact cushion from a magnitude of a minimal straight truncated cone enclosing the impact cushion is less than 30%, preferably less than 20%, and, particularly preferably, less than 15%.
The form of the straight truncated cone has a base surface which is formed to be elliptical and can be formed in particular to be circular. In particular, such truncated cone forms should also be included, the straight central axis of which forms an angle of up to 20° with a direction arranged perpendicular to the base surface.
In the deployed state of the impact cushion a maximum horizontal dimension of the impact cushion is larger than a maximum vertical dimension of the impact cushion. As a result of this, particularly secure support and reliable upward movement of the upper portion can be achieved, in the case of which an arm of a vehicle occupant can come into mechanical bearing with the upper portion with a high degree of reliability and be raised by the impact cushion.
In embodiments of the side impact cushion device, in the deployed state at least one lateral dimension of the impact cushion, measured transverse to a straight ahead direction of travel of the motor vehicle, is adapted to a distance between a side region of the motor vehicle and a vehicle occupant in a predetermined seat position. As a result of this, in the event of a lateral impact event, in addition to the function of raising an arm of a vehicle occupant, for his or her further protection, a space between the vehicle occupant and a vehicle door affected by the lateral impact event can be filled out.
In embodiments of the side impact cushion device, in the deployed state at least one vertical dimension of the impact cushion is adapted to a predetermined distance between an upper side of an armrest of the motor vehicle and an armpit region of a vehicle occupant in a predetermined seat position. As a result of this, in the event of a lateral impact event, a raising of an arm of a vehicle occupant which is sufficient to increase safety can be achieved by the impact cushion, wherein an excessive loading or rotation of the corresponding shoulder joint of the vehicle occupant can be avoided.
In a further aspect of the present disclosure, a motor vehicle component is provided which is formed as a motor vehicle door with an armrest or as a vehicle seat with a backrest. The motor vehicle component is equipped with one embodiment of the side impact cushion device according to the disclosure which is received in the motor vehicle component in a deployed state. In the deployed state the lower portion of the impact cushion can be supported on an upper side of the armrest. The motor vehicle component furthermore contains at least one gas generator which is arranged within the impact cushion.
The advantages described in conjunction with the side impact cushion device also fully apply to the proposed motor vehicle component.
Identical parts are always provided with the same reference numbers in the various figures, which is why these are generally also only described once.
FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a possible embodiment of a side impact cushion device 10 according to the disclosure of a motor vehicle in a deployed state in a side view. FIGS. 2 and 3 show a schematic representation of side impact cushion device 10 according to FIG. 1 in the deployed state in a rear view (FIG. 2) or plan view (FIG. 3).
Side impact cushion device 10 contains an impact cushion 12 which can be inflated by means of a gas generator 62. Impact cushion 12 has, in an installation state, a lower portion 14, a central portion 16 and an upper portion 20. Impact cushion 12 can be produced from a plastic material, for example, from polyamide or another thermoplastic plastic.
In the deployed state, upper portion 20 is arranged horizontally. Central portion 16 is formed in the form of a shell surface of a rotationally symmetrical, developable body. In the represented embodiment, the rotationally symmetrical, developable body is formed in the form of a straight elliptic cylinder. Lower portion 14 forms a base surface 36, central portion 16 forms shell surface 38 and upper portion 20 forms a covering surface 40 of the cylinder form (FIG. 2). The axis of rotation is formed by a central axis 22 of the cylinder form.
Gas generator 62 is arranged in an interior of impact cushion 12 on central portion 16. Gas generator 62 can be a component part of side impact cushion device 10 or a different vehicle component.
Central portion 16 and upper portion 20 form a joint first edge 24 (FIG. 1) which runs along a circumferential line of elliptical covering surface 40 and has a sewn seam 26. Central portion 16 and lower portion 14 form a joint second edge 28 which runs along a circumferential line of elliptical base surface 36 and also has a sewn seam 30.
Central portion 16 furthermore has a sewn seam 18 which is oriented perpendicular to joint first edge 24. Central portion 16 can be produced from a rectangular fabric part composed of a plastic fiber, for example, from polyamide or another thermoplastic plastic.
As is apparent from FIGS. 1 to 3 in the represented, deployed state of impact cushion 12, a maximum horizontal dimension 32 of impact cushion 12, namely in the x-direction, is greater than a maximum vertical dimension 34 of impact cushion 12 in the z-direction.
In another embodiment, not represented, the rotationally symmetrical, developable body, as the shell surface of which the central portion of the impact cushion is formed, can also be formed in the form of a straight truncated cone. In this case, the upper portion forms a covering surface, the central portion forms a shell surface and the lower portion forms a base surface of the straight truncated cone. The axis of rotation is formed by a central axis of the straight truncated cone, and the size of a covering surface of the truncated cone is at least 70% of the size of a base surface of the truncated cone.
FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of side impact cushion device 10 installed in a motor vehicle 42 formed as a car according to FIGS. 1 to 3 in the deployed state in a plan view. A vehicle occupant 54 formed by the driver of motor vehicle 42 occupies vehicle seat 44 in a normal seat position. FIG. 4 shows a driving situation immediately after the occurrence of a lateral impact event, as a result of which a control device, not represented, of motor vehicle 42 has triggered a deployment of side impact cushion 12 by gas generator 62 (FIG. 1).
The motor vehicle component is equipped with side impact cushion device 10 according to FIGS. 1 to 3. The motor vehicle component can be formed as motor vehicle door 48 with an armrest 50, as a B-column or, as represented in FIG. 4, as vehicle seat 44 with a backrest 46. Side impact cushion device 10 is, in an undeployed state, installed and received in back rest 46. As is generally commonplace, a position of side impact cushion device 10 in the undeployed state can only be seen by means of an embossed marking in a cover.
As is apparent from FIG. 4, in the represented, deployed state, a lateral dimension of the impact cushion, measured transverse to a straight ahead direction of travel 64 of the motor vehicle, i.e. parallel to the y-direction, is adjusted to a distance between a side region, formed by motor vehicle door 48, of motor vehicle 42 and vehicle occupant 54 in a predetermined seat position so that impact cushion 12 entirely fills this distance in the y-direction.
FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of side impact cushion device 10 installed in motor vehicle 42 according to FIG. 4 in a front view.
As is apparent from FIG. 5, in the represented, deployed state, a vertical dimension of impact cushion 12, i.e. a dimension parallel to the z-direction, is adjusted to a predetermined distance between an upper side 52 of armrest 50 of vehicle door 48 and an armpit region 58 of vehicle occupant 54 in the predetermined seat position so that impact cushion 12 completely fills this distance in the z-direction. The vertical dimension of impact cushion 12 can correspond, for example, to the 95% percentile of an empirically determined distance between an armpit region of a vehicle occupant and a seat surface in a normal seat position.
Side impact cushion device 10 is installed in backrest 46 of vehicle seat 44 (driver's seat) in such a manner that, in the represented, deployed state, lower portion 14 of impact cushion 12 is supported on upper side 52 of armrest 50 (FIG. 5). The axis of rotation formed by central axis 22 of the cylinder form is oriented vertically.
A defined and reliably reproducible upward movement of upper portion 20 is performed from the supported position of lower portion 14 of impact cushion 12, as a result of which upper portion 20 comes into mechanical bearing with arm 56 of vehicle occupant 54 so that arm 56 is raised in such a manner that, as seen in the lateral direction, there is no overlap with a rib cage 60 of vehicle occupant 54 (FIG. 6).


The invention provides a POS system which employs a purchased commodity accommodating and transporting apparatus having a self scanning function and is improved in that the access time for data transfer processing is reduced to reduce the time required for settlement of accounts and complete transfer of data is assured to enhance the reliability. A two-dimensional bar code printing section is provided on the purchased commodity accommodating and transporting apparatus and prints commodity code information from a commodity code reading section as a two-dimensional bar code. A two-dimensional bar code reading section for reading the two-dimensional bar code printed by the two-dimensional bar code printing section, a price retrieval section for retrieving prices of commodities in the accommodation section in accordance with the two-dimensional bar code information, and a totalization section for performing final settlement of accounts for the purchased commodities accommodated in the accommodation section in accordance with a result of the retrieval by the price retrieval section are provided on a settlement POS terminal.

1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a POS system which employs a purchased commodity accommodating and transporting apparatus such as a shopping cart (hand cart) or a shopping basket for use in the distribution industry, particularly in a store such a mass sales store, a convenience store or a supermarket to allow a customer to accommodate and transport a purchased commodity, and more particularly to a POS system which employs a purchased commodity accommodating and transporting apparatus (scanning cart) having a self scanning function to allow a customer to purchase a commodity while the customer itself reads a commodity code such as a bar code applied to the commodity.
2) Description of the Related Art
Generally, a POS system is employed in various stores such as supermarkets and convenience stores. In the POS system, a customer walks around in a store pushing a shopping cart or carrying a shopping basket, places commodities to be purchased into the shopping cart or the shopping basket, and comes to a settlement POS terminal (POS register).
Then at the settlement POS terminal, an operator takes out the commodities one by one from the shopping cart or the shopping basket and reads the bar codes (commodity codes) applied to the commodities by means of a scanner to effect registration processing. In particular, in accordance with commodity code information read from each bar code, the price of the commodity corresponding to the commodity code is retrieved from a commodity price file (PLU (Price Look Up) file), and a total amount of money of the purchased commodities is calculated to settle the accounts.
With such POS system, however, since an operator must perform a reading operation of a commodity code of each commodity, much time is required for such reading operation and a settling operation, which causes the customer to wait for a long time. Accordingly, in a time band in which customers are crowded, a queue of customers is produced in front of a settlement POS terminal, and besides, the burden on the operator is heavy.
Thus, in recent years, a shopping cart (scanning cart) or a shopping basket having a scanner (commodity code reading section) for reading a bar code (commodity code) applied to a commodity has been developed and are disclosed in various publications including, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Applications No. Showa 63-145591, No. Heisei 2-277412 and No. Heisei 5-81559.
In a POS system which employs a shopping cart or a shopping basket of the type mentioned, a customer itself reads a bar code applied to a commodity to be purchased by means of the scanner to register the commodity code information and places or accommodates the commodity into an accommodating section of the shopping cart or the shopping basket, and then after selection of commodities to be purchased is completed, the commodities are placed into the shopping cart or the shopping basket and transported to a settlement POS terminal.
Then at the settlement POS terminal, the commodity code information (or commodity price information corresponding to the commodity code information) registered by the customer itself is loaded down by radio or some other suitable means, and a total amount of money of the purchased commodities is calculated based on the commodity code information (commodity price information) to effect settlement of the accounts.
With the POS system, an operator no more need read the commodity codes of commodities one by one, and the time (register operation time) required for reading processing and settling processing can be reduced significantly. Consequently, the customer need not wait for a long time any more and also the burden on the operator can be reduced remarkably.
With the conventional POS system described above, however, upon settlement of accounts at a settlement POS terminal, a customer must transfer information of commodity codes which have been registered by the customer itself or commodity price information corresponding to such commodity code information by wireless or by some other suitable means from a self scanning cart or a shopping basket or a like member having a self scanning function to the settlement POS terminal. Accordingly, the conventional POS system has a subject to be solved in that much time is required for accessing for such data transfer processing, which makes a factor of an increase of the settlement time, and the reliability is not satisfactory in that data may not possibly be transferred completely.


A method for estimating the phase in a digital communication system, comprising the steps of:                receiving and storing a block of observations Yk;        executing at least one phase locked loop (PLL) on a predetermined sequence of observations extracted from said block.

In a digital communication system comprising a transmitter and a receiver, a digital signal to be transmitted—usually a succession of symbols—is converted, before transmission, into a continuous-time analog signal, which is then transmitted through a physical propagation medium, air or any other physical propagation environment. When the signal is received by the receiver, it is then processed and converted into digital form by means of appropriate sampling, which is typically carried out at a frequency fe that should be synchronous to symbol emission frequency fs. Unfortunately, the clocks situated in the oscillating circuits equipping the transmitter and the receiver are never synchronous and it is then necessary to compensate for any frequency drift between these clocks, in order to be able to correctly process the received signal and to extract emitted symbols.
Such frequency shift affecting oscillators at transmission and reception generates a parasitic phase shift in the output signal of the complex demodulator located in the receiver. Other factors contribute to accentuate this parasitic phase shift. First, there is the time needed by digital signals to flow through a propagation medium. Secondly, any movement of the transmitter relative to the receiver generates Doppler beat and tends to introduce further disruptive phase shift.
Referring to a baseband model, observations Yk at the output of the complex demodulator located in the receiver can be expressed by the following formula:Yk=akeiξk+ηk
where ak corresponds to emitted symbols, ξk is the parasitic phase shift and ηK is additional noise.
Techniques are already known—based on phase estimator circuits—to estimate this parasitic phase shift ξK and correct it.
The most sophisticated phase estimators, which process simultaneously whole sets of received observations, are based on extremely cumbersome digital processing: particulate filtering, random-walk methods with Markov chain, etc. In practice, implementing such techniques proves to be unrealizable due to the considerable computing power required.
For this reason, the complexity of phase estimators is opposed to the simple implementation of phase-locked loops that sequentially process received observations one after the other instead of processing whole sets of received observations. Typically, a phase locked loop (PLL) is based on an iterative digital algorithm for estimating a phase estimate. Whereas traditionally, phase-locked loops were carried out by means of analog circuits, now such processing is purely digital. It should be noted that this digital processing depends closely on the type of modulation considered.
As an example, let us consider the case of a binary phase shift keying (BPSK) modulation. In such BPSK modulation, transmitted symbols ak are equal to −1 or +1. Because of the previously mentioned parasitic phase shift, one doesn't obtain −1 nor +1 at the output of the complex demodulator, but these values modified by a phase shift. A well-known PLL for correcting such phase shift is the one known as Costa's loop that relies on the use of a gradient algorithm, associated with a cost function J given by the following formula:J(φ)=E(|y2ke−i2φ−1|2)
where E is the Expectation operator.
Applying the gradient algorithm to variable φ makes it possible to make the algorithm converge towards a phase estimate:φk=φk−1−γ∂J(φ)/∂φ|φ=φk−1
A Costa's loop is finally obtained by removing the expectation: it is the stochastic gradient algorithm minimizing cost function J.
Other formulas are known for other types of modulation and in particular squaring modulation, also known as four-state Quadrature Amplitude Modulation or 4-QAM. Generally, whatever the type of modulation employed, phase-locked loops are built according to a general formula of the type:φk=φk−1−γF(Yk,φk−1)
where F is a function depending closely on the considered modulation.
Typically, as can be seen from the preceding formula, all loops consist in calculating a phase φk according to the preceding element φk−1 and a function F of both elements Yk and φk−1. It should be noted that, in this formula, according to the type of phase shift to be corrected, sophisticated correction of the parameter γ can be used, and in particular a corrective second-order filter (proportional integral), or even a higher order filter, could be used.
All known phase-locked loops—conventionally adopting the known analog model—present the same limitation. The evaluation of phase φK is primarily based on the preceding phase value φk−1 and on a function of one or more previous observations. Hence, an imperfect estimation of the phase and, consequently, correction thereof.
It is advisable to improve the phase locked loop (PLL) model in order to increase precision of the estimate and effectiveness of the correction process.

Phase estimation method in a digital and phase locked loop communication system

Abstract: Each PLL provides an intermediate value, combining both intermediate values makes it possible to provide a sharpened phase estimate. The method allows realization of an improved phase estimator based on the simplicity of phase locked loops.


According to some aspects of the present disclosure, transformers having a screen layer and corresponding methods of winding transformers and are disclosed. Example transformers include at least one transformer core, at least one primary winding layer wound about the transformer core, and at least one secondary winding layer wound about the transformer core. The secondary winding layer includes a secondary winding wire having a width and a number of turns per layer. The transformer also includes at least one screen layer wound about the transformer core and disposed between the primary winding layer and the secondary winding layer. The screen layer includes a screen wire having substantially the same width as the secondary winding wire and substantially the same number of turns per layer as the secondary winding wire, to reduce common mode noise in the secondary winding layer.

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
Common mode noise in switching power converters may include a high frequency current between primary and secondary circuits caused by capacitive coupling between transformer windings, and a voltage across that capacitance. Screens can be used to reduce common mode noise between primary and secondary windings of transformers. The screens typically include a single turn of copper, brass, aluminum, etc., that is grounded on a noise generating side of the transformer. Some transformers include two screens, with one screen adjacent a primary winding of the transformer and the other screen adjacent a secondary winding of the transformer.
Some approaches compensate for a common mode noise voltage in the transformer by connecting a winding of the transformer in an arrangement that causes the winding to produce a voltage opposite in phase to the common mode noise voltage generated in the transformer.
Another approach to reduce common mode noise includes winding a coaxial screen about a secondary winding. Alternatively, a screen can be split into two according to a ratio of primary winding and secondary winding voltages to cancel voltages between the primary winding and the screen, and between the secondary winding and the screen.

Transformers having screen layers to reduce common mode noise


A method for displaying RF coverage information includes providing formatting data for displaying the radio frequency coverage information on a client. The formatting data is executed on the client. First radio frequency coverage raw data is provided to the client. The first radio frequency coverage raw data is utilized by the formatting data to construct an overall radio frequency coverage representation of a site. Subject to a subsequent request from the client, second radio frequency coverage raw data representative of radio frequency coverage is provided for a portion of the site. The second radio frequency coverage raw data is utilized by the formatting data on a supplemental basis.

Radio frequency (RF) devices such as switches, access points, ports and radio frequency identification (RFID) systems are becoming more commonplace in today's society. An important criteria for the development and implementation of such devices is the determination of the respective RF coverage area for each of these devices so that each RF device facilitates the movement of information effectively. These coverage areas are affected by various physical and environmental factors. For example, the presence of dry walls, shelving, and metal doors are barriers to the RF signal. Various physical locations may be subject to noise (or use restrictions of the RF signal).
Because so many variables affect the RF coverage over a specified area, it can become difficult for a user to determine what the respective RF coverage for a specific location would be. Accordingly, it is desirable to implement a method and system for displaying RF coverage over a specified geographical area to a user, so the user might optimize particular RF coverage by, for example, positioning or configuring RF devices appropriately in the respective geographical area. It is desirable for such a system to make use of existing processing capabilities and system resources to reduce cost. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the invention and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background of the invention.

Optimized RF coverage using AJAX and SVG


The present invention relates to an exopolysaccharide derived from Pseudoalteromonas sp. strain CY01 (KCTC 12867BP) which is a novel strain living in the polar regions, and to a composition for cryoprotection of cells, which contains the exopolysaccharide. The exopolysaccharide of the present invention has an excellent ability to cryoprotect cells, and shows no cytotoxicity. Thus, the inventive exopolysaccharide can substitute for conventional cryoprotective agents that show cytotoxicity when used at high concentrations.

Many kinds of bacteria that live in the marine environment secrete viscous extracellular hydrocarbon polymers known as exopolysaccarides (EPSs). Most EPSs produced by marine bacteria are heteropolysaccarides consisting of 3 or 4 different monosaccharides that may be pentoses, hexoses, amino sugars or uronic acids and are arranged in groups of 10 or more to form repeating units. EPSs function to protect microorganisms from cold environments, and EPSs secreted by bacteria in polar cold environments have new structures and cryoprotective abilities in many cases.
It was found that the EPSs secreted from Pseudoalteromonas sp. SM20310 (Arctic bacteria) and Pseudoalteromonas arctica KOPRI 21653 (Antarctic bacteria) enhance the viability of E. coli (bacteria in non-polar regions) against freeze-thaw cycles. Thus, the usability of EPSs from these bacteria as cryoprotective agents (CPAs) has been proposed (Liu, S. B. et al. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 79:224, 2013; Kim, S J & Yim, J. H., J. Microbiology, 45:510, 2007).
The formation and growth of ice causes physical damage at cellular level, and also reduces the volume of water in solution to cause osmotic shock due to an increased concentration of extracellular solution. This becomes a problem when biological substances are stored at temperatures lower than the freezing temperatures.
As regenerative medicine and organ transplantation are growing rapidly, the need for cryopreservation of donor cells, tissues, organs and red blood cells (RBCs) is increasing. Generally, packed blood is stored in an additive solution such as ADSOL at 4° C. for 42 days without cryopreservation, and undergoes a high rate of hemolysis. This problem can be overcome by using glycerol as a cryoprotective agent. However, high ability to recover red blood cells can be retained, only when a high concentration (40% w/v or higher) of glycerol is added to the cells and the cells are cooled at a very slow cooling rate of 1° C./min and stored at −80° C.
However, cytotoxicity of glycerol is removed only when glycerol is diluted to 1% or less by washing after thawing. To overcome this disadvantage of glycerol, there have been continued attempts to use other cryoprotective agents including low molecular sugars such as trehalose, sucrose, glucose, raffinose, maltose and the like. However, this method may have an impact on the final freezing of red blood cells due to problems such as osmotic pressure or oxidation. In order to simplify a complex washing process after thawing, there have been attempts to use non-penetrating additives, such as HES (hydroxyethyl starch), polyvinyl pyrrolidone and dextran, in place of glycerol (Scott, K. L. et al., Transfus. Med. Rev., 19:127, 2005; Stolzing, A. et al., Transfusion Apheresis Sci., 46:137, 2012; E. P. Horn et al., Anesth. Analg., 85:739, 1997). Such polymers do not penetrate the cell membrane and are present only outside the cell membrane, and thus do not require a complex washing process during thawing after freezing of red blood cells. However, for cryopreservation of red blood cells, a high concentration (20% w/v or higher) of HES solution is required, and this high concentration results in high viscosity, making it difficult to handle a freezing process.
Accordingly, the present inventors have made extensive efforts to find a cryoprotective agent which is non-penetrating, is less cytotoxic, and has an excellent cryoprotective effect. As a result, the present inventors have found that when an exopolysaccharide (EPS) produced by Pseudoalteromonas sp. strain CY 01 (KCTC 12867BP) that is a novel strain living in the Antarctic Ocean is added during cryopreservation of red blood cells, it exhibits an excellent cryoprotective effect at a relatively low concentration compared to other cryoprotective agents (CPAs) and shows no cytotoxicity, thereby completing the present invention.

Cryoprotective agent containing exopolysaccharide from

Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology


The invention relates to a method for analysing ribonucleic acid (RNA) interactions comprising: a) cross-linking base-paired nucleotides of at least one RNA molecule and/or at least one pair of RNA molecules using a tagged, reversible cross-linking agent (preferably tagged-psoralen) under ultraviolet irradiation; b) fragmenting the said cross-linked RNA molecule(s); c) using said tag to extract said cross-linked RNA fragment(s); d) ligating the said cross-linked RNA fragment(s) to produce cross-linked ligated RNA chimera(s); e) reversing the cross-linking of the said agent to the said RNA molecule(s); f) preparing a sequence library by sequencing the ligated RNA chimera molecule(s) or pair(s); and g) analysing the sequence library to determine RNA interactions. Also disclosed is a method of studying a subject by analysing RNA interactions and attributing them to a clinical picture, or a drug discovery method by attributing an efficacy score to the drug based upon determined RNA interactions.

The ability of an RNA to base pair with itself and with others is crucial for its function in vivo. RNA carries information in both its linear sequence and its secondary and tertiary structure. While significant advances have been made to map RNA secondary structures genome-wide, understanding how different parts of an RNA interact to form higher order structures requires considerable pairwise structural information. RNA's ability to interact with other RNAs, such as miRNA-mRNA and IncRNA-mRNA interactions, plays an important role in post-transcriptional gene regulation. However, the global prevalence and dynamics of RNA interaction networks and their impact on gene regulation is still largely unknown. As such, mapping RNA structure and interactomes in different cellular states is crucial to expanding our understanding of RNA function.
To identify which two RNA regions are interacting with each other, we need spatial connectivity information to link nucleotides that are physically pairing. Numerous RNA cross-linkers, including methylene blue, UV and psoralen, have been used to connect far away interacting regions of RNAs to each other. However, the readout for these strategies has typically been slow and tedious. Alternative strategies for identifying pairwise interactions have utilized sequence mutations followed by structure probing to detect base pairing partners within an RNA. These approaches are higher throughput, but are not amenable to studying whole genomes. Recent strategies such as CLASH, Hi-CLIP and RAP have leveraged on high-throughput sequencing to identify subpopulations of RNA interactions that are associated with a specific RNA binding protein or RNA species. A recent proximity ligation based approach, RPL, has also been used to identify stems in the transcriptome in a non-selective manner. However, RPL does not utilize cross-linking to identify stable interactions and is mostly limited to mapping intramolecular RNA interactions.
We herein disclose a high-throughput methodology, termed Sequencing of Psoralen crosslinked, Ligated, and Selected Hybrids (SPLASH), that maps pairwise RNA interactions in-vivo with high sensitivity and specificity, genome-wide. Applying SPLASH to human and yeast transcriptomes permits the diversity and dynamics of thousands of long-range intra and intermolecular RNA-RNA interactions to be studied. This, for example, permitted analysis that highlighted key structural features of RNA classes, including the modular organization of mRNAs, its impact on translation and decay, and the enrichment of long-range interactions in non-coding RNAs. Additionally, intermolecular mRNA interactions were organized into network clusters and were remodelled during cellular differentiation. Also, it allowed identification of hundreds of known and new snoRNA-rRNA binding sites, expanding the knowledge base of rRNA biogenesis. These results highlight the under-explored complexity of RNA interactomes and paves the way to better understand how RNA organization impacts biology.

Agency for Science, Technology and Research


A structure frame made of arches is formed with a plurality of curved frame units in parallel arrangement, where the curved frame units having butt joints (6) are connected in length by several straight bars (16) and the butt joints (6). The straight bars are connected in line at right angles with the curved frame units in order to form a truss. The curved frame units include curved bars (14) and tie members (11) where the curved bars are connected to form the curved frame units by the tie members (11) and the butt joints (6). A tension member (9) is provided between the curved frame units and the trusses.

For constructing large-spanned and widely-covered buildings such as stadiums and gymnasiums, spatial lattice-framed structures have mostly been used, within existing techniques which require at least one of the following: more complicated design and construction; higher accuracy of manufacture for structural members; more consumption of raw materials; longer project time limit; higher cost of construction; and the necessity of employing scaffolds and large-scale sling equipment while under construction. In addition, the buildings made by those techniques can only be positioned permanently at one place, cannot be disassembled and then moved as desired. Furthermore, such techniques have narrow range of application, such as for houses and buildings.

Arched framework and its assembly method


An image processing apparatus includes a plurality of medium storage portions, a medium feeding unit that feeds a medium from any one of the medium storage portions, an image forming unit that performs image formation to thereby form an image on the medium fed by the medium feeding unit, a storage unit that stores an image formation waiting time after the medium feeding unit starts feeding the medium from the medium storage portion and before the image forming unit starts the image formation, and a control unit that causes the image forming unit to wait for a time interval based on the image formation waiting time, after the medium feeding unit starts feeding the medium.

The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus configured to separate and feed media (such as printing sheets) stacked on a tray, and to form images on the media.
Generally, an image processing apparatus includes a medium feeding unit that feeds a medium from a tray, and an image forming that forms an image on the medium. The medium feeding unit starts feeding the medium from the tray at the same time the image forming unit performs an image formation preparation, and then the image forming unit forms an image on the medium fed by the medium feeding unit (see, for example, Patent Document No. 1).
Patent Document No. 1: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication H10-39694 (paragraph 0008, FIG. 1)
In this regard, there is a demand for enhancement in lifetime of the image forming unit.


A method for driving a semiconductor device capable of reducing an area of a multiplexer and reducing its power consumption is provided. In a method for operating a semiconductor device including a memory and a multiplexer, a first transistor is connected to a first capacitor, and a second transistor is connected to a second capacitor. In the multiplexer, in a third transistor, a source is connected to a first input terminal and a drain is connected to an output terminal and, in a fourth transistor, a source is connected to a second input terminal and a drain is connected to the output terminal. Further, a step of holding a first potential in a node to which the first transistor, the first capacitor, and a gate of the third transistor are connected and holding a second potential higher than the first potential in the node is included.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for driving a semiconductor device including a selection circuit and an electronic device including the semiconductor device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an integrated circuit, a multiplexer is used as a selection circuit for selecting an input signal, for example. The multiplexer is a circuit for outputting one output signal from a plurality of input signals. Here, a reconfigurable logic circuit is described as an example of a semiconductor device including multiplexers.
The reconfigurable logic circuit includes a plurality of logic blocks each including a plurality of logic elements, a plurality of wirings for connecting the logic blocks, a programmable switch, and an input/output block.
The reconfigurable logic circuit can have a logical structure with a high degree of flexibility by changing the function of each logic element or connecting the logic blocks between the wirings. For example, in general, an output of a look-up table in a logic element is selected by a multiplexer to change the logic of the logic element. In that case, the multiplexer has not only a system in which its operation depends on a signal input from the outside but also a system in which its operation depends on data stored in a memory in advance. A circuit including such a memory and a multiplexer is referred to as a programmable multiplexer (see Patent Document 1).
Here, a typical multiplexer structure as disclosed in Patent Document 2 will be described. FIG. 12A shows a two-input and one-output multiplexer including a static random access memory (SRAM), a transistor T11, and a transistor T12. Each of the transistors T11 and T12 controls conduction between an input terminal and an output terminal and is also referred to as a transfer gate. In the transistor T11, one of a source and a drain is connected to an input terminal IN_A, the other of the source and the drain is connected to an output terminal OUT, and a gate is connected to a terminal D of the SRAM. In the transistor T12, one of a source and a drain is connected to an input terminal IN_B, the other of the source and the drain is connected to the output terminal OUT, and a gate is connected to a terminal DB of the SRAM. One of a signal input into the input terminal IN_A and a signal input into the input terminal IN_B is output from the output terminal OUT in accordance with a combination of logic values of selection signals which are held in the SRAM and are output from the terminal D and the terminal DB.
However, in the case where the transistors T11 and T12 are n-channel transistors, a potential of a signal output from the transistor T11 or T12 to the output terminal OUT is lower than one of the potentials of the signals input into the input terminal IN_A and the input terminal IN_B by a threshold voltage of the transistor T11 or T12.
Therefore, it is necessary to make the potential of the terminal D or DB higher than maximum potentials of a signal input into the input terminal IN_A and a signal input into the input terminal IN_B by the threshold voltages or more. This means to increase the power source voltage of the SRAM.
For example, in the case where the maximum potentials of the signals input into the input terminal IN_A and the input terminal IN_B are each +1 V and the threshold voltages of the transistor T11 and the transistor T12 are each +0.5 V, it is necessary to make the potential of the terminal D or DB higher than or equal to +1.5 V. However, in the case where high-speed operation (here, a reduction in the resistance of the multiplexer) is necessary, the potential of the terminal D or DB needs to be higher than or equal to +1.6 V, preferably higher than or equal to +1.7 V. Therefore, the potential of a high-potential node of the SRAM needs to be higher than or equal to +1.6 V, preferably higher than or equal to +1.7 V.
Thus, as shown in FIG. 12B, a method for suppressing change in potential of an output signal from an input signal by using a transmission gate TG1 and a transmission gate TG2 instead of the transistors T11 and T12 is employed.

Electronic device comprising multiplexer and driving method thereof

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


Techniques are disclosed for providing retractable control fins on an underwater vehicle. The retractable control fins can be extended away from a main hull portion of the underwater vehicle and retracted inwards to a stowage region within the hull portion to protect the fins from damage and reduce an overall outer diameter (e.g., in the case of a cylindrical body) of the underwater vehicle. In some embodiments, the control fins are folded inwards to reduce the vehicle diameter. In other embodiments, the control fins are pulled inwards using a rotating structure designed to slide the control fins through an opening and into an inner portion of the hull to reduce the vehicle diameter. The retraction of the fins through the various retraction mechanisms reduces the envelope diameter of the underwater vehicle.

Unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) often navigate with the use of control surfaces or control fins, which extend outward from the vehicle body and may articulate to control movement. For a UUV to navigate tight enclosures while in transit or being launched, the full extent of the vehicle and control surfaces/fins impact whether a UUV can egress or ingress. For example, a submarine torpedo tube launch and recovery (TTLR) of a given UUV requires that vehicle to fit into cylindrical tube sections of a given diameter and length. This presents a problem for medium diameter vehicles (e.g., 12 to 21 inches in diameter) as it constrains both the height which control surfaces/fins can protrude from the vehicle (measured from the outside diameter of the UUV radially outward) as well as the vehicle length (measured from the furthest extents of UUV structure forward and aft). Accounting for the constraints on both control surfaces/fins and vehicle length, presents an arrangement challenge of the UUV internal volume and equipment that may limit the internal configuration of the UUV. Accordingly, complex and non-trivial issues associated with efficient UUV design remain.
Although the following Detailed Description will proceed with reference being made to illustrative embodiments, many alternatives, modifications, and variations thereof will be apparent in light of this disclosure.

Retractable control fins for underwater vehicles


A method maintains an environment within an interior of a sheet feeder during dead-cycling of an image forming device to which the sheet feeder is operatively connected. The method jets pulses of air into the interior of the sheet feeder that houses two or more pieces of media therein while the image forming device is dead-cycling. By the method, the attractive forces between two pieces of adjacent media. In a stack are reduced or minimized, and feeding of multiple sheets can be reduced or eliminated.

Paper feeding devices for transferring individual sheets of paper into an image forming device such as a copier or a printer from a tray of the paper feeder are known. Typically, a stack of paper is positioned on the tray to be individually transferred into the image forming device for imaging by the image forming device. Typically, the paper feeder has a shuttle vacuum feed-head located adjacent to a top side of the stack of paper to separate an uppermost piece of paper from the stack of paper. Additionally, the paper feeder has fluffer jets located adjacent to one or more exterior edges of the stack of paper for separating the sheets of paper within the stack on the tray of the paper feeder prior to feeding the paper into the image forming device.
U.S. Patent Publication No. US 2005/0110207 A1, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, describes a sheet curl correction method and a feeder apparatus for an electrophotographic printing machine and a vacuum corrugation shuttle feed head. The method for correcting sheet curl in a paper feeder having a tiltable tray comprises (a) detecting a first distance above a surface of a stack of sheets on the tiltable tray to be fed into the printing machine at a first location above the stack of sheets; (b) detecting a second distance above the surface of the stack of sheets on the tiltable tray to be fed into the printing machine at a second location above the stack; and (c) detecting a third distance above the surface of the stack of sheets to be fed into the printing machine at a third location above the stack. The method tilts the tiltable tray based upon the first, second, and third distances detected.
During operation of the image forming device, such as processing tasks, a first valve connected to the shuttle vacuum feed-head opens and reduces air pressure within the feeder adjacent to the uppermost piece of paper and the top side of the stack of paper. A second valve connected to the flutter jets opens to transfer air into the paper feeder adjacent to the exterior edges of the stack of paper. The air pushes or moves between the sheets of paper within the stack to separate one or more sheets of paper. As a result, upper sheets of paper from the stack are separated from each other and are pulled inwardly with respect to the shuttle vacuum feed-head. The shuttle vacuum feed-head may receive a top piece of paper from the stack and may feed the top piece of paper into the image forming device via a take away roll (hereinafter "TAR") connected to the paper feeder. As a result, the top sheet of paper from the stack is fed into the image forming device, by the TAR, separately with respect to other sheets of paper because the fluffer jets separated or fluffed the stack of paper.
Often, sheets of paper have exterior surfaces with a coating, such as for gloss, which may permit moisture to collect between the sheets of paper within the stack. Such moisture may cause two adjacent sheets to adhere together sufficiently that both sheets are sucked together onto the vacuum teed-head. Further, the coating of the paper may become sticky from heat and moisture, which may further strengthen the attractive forces causing the pieces of paper to adhere to each other. Similarly, either static forces or attractive forces may exist between exterior surfaces of two or more sheets of paper which prevent separation of the sheets of paper by the shuttle vacuum feed-head and/or the fluffer jets.
The static forces or the attractive forces between the sheets of paper may increase and/or may strengthen as the printing device is dead-cycling or is not processing images because of an environment within the paper feeder, for example, due to heat and/or moisture created by the device during dead-cycling. Traditionally, dead-cycling is a condition of the printing device in which one or more of the drive motors of the printing device are activated without producing output prints while an embedded control system performs print appearance adjustments. The environment within the paper feeder may contain moisture which may collected between one or more sheets of paper therein to increase the attractive forces between the sheets of paper. The environment within the paper feeder may also be a closed environment that includes heat generated from the paper feeder or the image forming device. This environment may encourage sticking of and attraction between sheets of paper within the paper feeder. The increased attractive forces prevent the sheets of paper in the stack from being readily separated after the imaging device has completed dead-cycling. Further, the pieces of paper may remain attached to each other because of the increased attractive forces therebetween when the vacuum feed-head picks up the top sheet of paper.
The shuttle vacuum feed-head may thus receive two or more sheets of paper from the stack instead of receiving only the top sheet of paper when the image forming device is activated after dead-cycling. As a result, the shuttle vacuum feed-head may receive more than one sheet of paper from the tray and may transfer more than one sheet of paper into the TAR. By transferring more than one piece of paper into the TAR, a multi-feed of paper occurs, which may cause a paper jam, a misprinted job, and can even damage inner mechanics of the imaging device. Additionally, the multi-feed of paper may result in the TAR not properly introducing additional sheets of paper into the image forming device. A multi-feed of paper is thus undesirable and/or costly in many potential ways, and should be avoided.
Traditionally, preventing multi-feeds of paper from entering the TAR or the image forming device after dead-cycling of the image forming device required that the stack of paper within the paper feeder be replaced with a new stack of paper. Static forces or attractive forces between sheets of paper within the new stack of paper may be weaker than the forces between the sheets of paper within the stack removed from the paper feeder. However, the closed environment may still contain moisture or heat from the image forming device or the paper feeder that encourages sticking and/or attraction between the sheets of the new stack of paper. Also, the constant use of new stacks of paper is impractically costly.
A need, therefore, exists for a method of controlling an environment within a media feeding device, particularly during dead-cycling, to minimize or prevent static and attractive force between adjacent sheets of stacked media for preventing or hindering separation of the individual sheets by the feeder. Further, a need exists for a method of controlling an environment within a media feeding device which reduces static forces or attractive forces between pieces of media in a stack during dead-cycling of an image forming apparatus. Still further, a need exists for a method of controlling an environment within a media feeding device which reduces a rate of multi-feeding of separate pieces (i.e., sheets) of the media into an image forming device. Moreover, a need exists for a method of controlling an environment within a media feeding device which fluffs, dries or separates pieces of media within a paper feeder to prevent damage to a take away roll or the image forming apparatus.

Method of controlling environment within media feed stack


A spectral image measurement apparatus comprises: a spectral element array; a spectral element drive section for driving the elements; an inlet-side optical system for guiding a light to the element array; a detection-side optical system for forming an image with a diffracted light output from the element array; and an array sensor for detecting the diffracted light through the detection-side optical system. The element array includes: a substrate; and a plurality of micro-electrically-driven mechanical spectral elements arranged two-dimensionally on the substrate, wherein each of the elements comprises a diffraction grating having a diffraction surface, the diffraction grating being pivotably supported on the substrate; wherein each of the elements generates spectra from a light entering the diffraction surface by applying an electric field to the diffraction grating to tilt the diffraction grating; and wherein each of tilt angles of the diffraction gratings is capable of being set individually.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a spectral image measurement apparatus in which a plurality of spectral elements for actuating a microelectrically-driven mechanical diffraction grating are arranged two-dimensionally, as well as to a method using the spectral image measurement apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Light emitted from a substance is highly relevant to motion of electrons in the substance. Since spectra of the light are unique to the substance, the substance can be identified from the spectra.
JP-A-2001-99710 describes a "Method and system for estimating spectra of spectral reflectance" for a multiband image. Under this method, a conversion table has been prepared in advance for each of a plurality of channels of a multiband image consisting of a plurality of original images, wherein brightness values obtained by photographing a chart with known reflectivities are caused to correspond to the reflectivities. Brightness values of the original images of a multiband image obtained by photographing a subject are converted into reflectivities through use of the conversion table, thereby estimating spectra of spectral reflectance of the subject. According to this method, when a multiband image is photographed through use of a wavelength-variable filter and spectra of spectral reflectance of the photographed subject are estimated through use of the multiband image, a processing time required to determine estimated spectra is effectively shortened without involvement of a decrease in the estimation accuracy of spectra.
JP-T-10-511772 describes a "Fabry-Perot Filter Sensor" comprising: a first wafer; a sensor array formed on the first wafer; a ring which is formed on the first wafer and surrounds the sensor array; a second wafer; a first mirror formed on the second wafer; a bridge structure; a second mirror formed on the bridge structure; a Fabry-Perot cavity formed by means of attaching the bridge structure to the second wafer such that the first mirror opposes the second mirror; and an actuator which is formed on the bridge in close proximity to the second wafer and can change a distance between the first and second mirrors so as to tune the Fabry-Perot cavity. The Fabry-Perot Filter Sensor has a sealed, confined structure which is formed by placing the second wafer on a ring and housing an array formed from the Fabry-Perot cavity and the sensor and which enables monolithic microtuning. According to the Fabry-Perot filter sensor, a filtering wavelength is changed by means of controlling a distance between mirrors in the Fabry-Perot cavity.
JP-A-01-318929 describes a "Spectral Imaging Apparatus," wherein the center of a diffraction grating for scattering light (hereinafter called a "light-scattering diffraction grating") and the center of a diffraction grating for mixing light rays (hereinafter called a "light-mixing diffraction grating") are aligned with a single drive axis, and wherein a wavelength is selected by means of rotating the diffraction grating around the drive axis. In this spectral imaging apparatus, the light-scattering diffraction grating and the light-mixing diffraction grating are aligned with each other. Hence, so long as the light-scattering diffraction grating and the light-mixing diffraction grating are set in a single operation so as to achieve optical symmetry by way of an intermediate slit, there is yielded an effect of the diffraction gratings being driven in a one-to-one relationship without causing a displacement or the like.

Spectral image measurement apparatus and method using the same


An apparatus and a method for producing chemicals from a methane-containing gas are provided. More specifically, the method and an apparatus make use of heterogeneous catalysis, beginning with the partial oxidation of methane to produce synthesis gas followed by a reaction, such as a Fischer-Tropsch reaction, to produce the chemicals.

Wasted or stranded natural gas is often vented, flared or shut in due to poor economic conditions. Some natural gas is extracted together with conventional oil—also known as associated gas. Often this gas is in remote locations and it is uneconomical to build a pipeline to collect the gas or collect the gas (and/or waste) via truck. Therefore, this gas may be flared (flared gas) and under circumstances where environment regulations are strict, the production wells are shut in. Transforming the natural gas into useful products—methanol, diesel, gasoline, solvents, or any other hydrocarbon—is an attractive opportunity to reduce CO2 emissions due to flaring and producing an economically viable end-product.
As an example of an end-product, diesel is a petroleum-based fuel derived from conventional reserves, heavy oil bitumen as well as from natural gas at a very large scale. Producing diesel at small scale has been economically unattractive due to the large investment costs required. Commercial units are on the order of 100 000 barrels a day production and smaller units in the range of 5-10 000 barrels a day have been proposed. Reducing the investment and operating costs is critical to commercializing a process at production rates of less than 1000 barrels a day.
Converting natural gas to diesel or other end-products conventionally involves a multi-step process.
In a first step, the oil and gas are separated as they come out of the well and the natural gas is treated to remove impurities including sulphur compounds (H2S, COS, etc.).
In a second step, natural gas and an oxidant are compressed and then the natural gas is converted into synthesis gas (also called syngas, which is mostly a mixture of CO and H2). Many technologies have been proposed for this step.
Most common technologies are based on steam methane reforming (SMR) in which water vapour is fed together with methane over a Ni based catalyst. To use this technology, both sulphur impurities and higher hydrocarbons must be removed as they can poison the catalyst and cause carbon build up. Furthermore, the reaction is highly endothermic such that as much as 20% of the natural gas is required in order to maintain the reactor at about 900° C. The SMR reaction results in a H2:CO ratio of 3 to 4:1, that is an excess of hydrogen as will be discussed below.
Besides SMR, both Auto Thermal Reforming (ATR) and partial oxidation (POX) are used to produce synthesis gas. ATR uses oxygen and carbon dioxide or steam in a reaction with methane to form syngas. In this reaction, the methane is partially oxidized. The reaction is exothermic due to the oxidation. When the ATR uses carbon dioxide the H2:CO ratio produced is 1:1; when the ATR uses steam the H2:CO ratio produced is 2.5:1, which again is an excess of hydrogen. The main difference between SMR and ATR is that SMR uses no oxygen. The advantage of ATR is that the H2:CO can be varied. POX is a process in which natural gas or a heavy hydrocarbon fuel (heating oil) is mixed with a limited amount of oxygen in an exothermic process. The general reaction equation is:CnHm+n/2O2→nCO+m/2H2(with catalyst,CPOX).
The last step of one type of end-product is the actual production of diesel through a Fischer-Tropsch (FT) reaction. The Fischer-Tropsch process, converting synthesis gas to diesel, is conducted at low temperature—approximately 220° C. with a cobalt based catalyst or at a slightly higher temperature (300° C.) with an iron based catalyst. The reaction stoichiometry is:nCO+(2n+1)H2→CnH(2n+2)+nH2Owhere n varies from 2 to 40. The produced gases condense resulting two liquid phases. The bottom aqueous phase is predominantly water and the less dense top-organic phase is comprised of C4+ hydrocarbons.
This reaction optimally requires a ratio of 2.1-2.3:1 (H2:CO). Hydrogen beyond this ratio will react with CO in the diesel step (FT) to form methane. Therefore, prior to the FT step, excess hydrogen must be removed either through membrane technology, pressure swing absorption or through the Water Gas Shift Reaction.CO+H2O→CO2+H2(Water Gas Shift Reaction)
Current technologies for producing diesel from natural gas are capital intensive, require multiple steps, and reagents to achieve yields no better than 50%. Together with the extra vessels, piping, valves, flow meters, fittings, are also required. Furthermore, during start-up, provision must be made to heat the reactors up from ambient conditions to reaction conditions. This is accomplished with start-up burners (typically methane). The start-burner also requires investment including additional piping, valves, flowmeters and associated safety equipment and control measures.

Method and apparatus for producing chemicals from a methane-containing gas