Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods and apparatuses for transmitting control information. In example embodiments, a method implemented in a network device is provided. According to the method, a configuration for PDCCH transmission is determined at least based on a periodicity of a plurality of symbol-based control resource sets (CORESETs) within one slot. The configuration indicates an allocation of a first number of PDCCH candidates to the plurality of symbol-based CORESETs. The first number of PDCCH candidates is less than a second number of PDCCH candidates preconfigured for a slot-based CORESET. The configuration is transmitted to a terminal device served by the network device. Downlink control information (DCI) is transmitted based on the configuration to the terminal device in the plurality of symbol-based CORESETs.

With the development of communication technologies, multiple types of services or traffic have been proposed, for example, enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) generally requiring high data rate, massive machine type communication (mMTC) typically requiring long battery lifetime, and ultra-reliable and low latency communication (URLLC). Meanwhile, multi-antenna schemes, such as multi-Transmission and Reception Point (multi-TRP) transmission and/or multi-panel transmission, are studied for new radio access.
Conventionally, a network device (for example, an eNB, a gNB or a TRP) may transmit Downlink Control Information (DCI) via a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) to a terminal device (for example, a user equipment (UE)) in the system. A PDCCH may be transmitted on one or more consecutive control channel elements (CCEs). The DCI may indicate resource allocation for uplink and/or downlink data transmission for example. Since the terminal device has no knowledge of its aggregation level (AL), DCI format, and resources allocated in PDCCH, blind decoding for the DCI may be necessary for the terminal device. The terminal device may attempt to blindly decode the DCI in a set of resources (also referred to as a "search space"). In response to decoding the DCI successfully, the terminal device may perform the uplink and/or downlink data transmission accordingly.
In new radio access, the search space for blind decoding the DCI may be referred to as a "CORESET", which may be mapped to a group of consecutive CCEs logically. Moreover, slot-based scheduling and non-slot-based scheduling have been designed and agreed in 3GPP specification works. In case that a CORESET for slot-based scheduling (also referred to as a slot-based CORESET) is configured for the terminal device, the terminal device may monitor the CORESET during one slot and attempt to blindly decode the DCI in the CORESET. However, in non-slot-based scheduling, a plurality of CORESETs with a periodicity within one slot (also referred to as symbol-based CORESETs) may be configured for the terminal device. That is, the terminal device may need to monitor different CORESETs within one slot. The number of CORESET monitoring occasions, determined by the periodicity, may be significantly increased as compared with slot-based scheduling. This may result in high complexity, high latency and/or high power consumption for the terminal device to blindly decode the DCI.

Methods and apparatuses for transmitting control information


A method for producing a water absorbent resin comprises the steps of: (i) polymerizing a monomer including an unsaturated monomer containing a carboxyl group, in the presence of an internal cross-linking agent (A) having two or more radical polymerizable unsaturated groups in its single molecule and in the presence of a non-polymeric internal cross-linking agent (B) having in its single molecule two or more functional groups each of which allows formation of an ester bond or an amide bond by reacting with a carboxyl group so as to obtain a cross-linked polymer hydrogel; (ii) crushing the cross-linked polymer hydrogel obtained in the step (i); and (iii) drying crushed cross-linked polymer hydrogel products obtained in the step (ii), wherein: an amount of the internal cross-linking agent (A) is 0.01 mol % or more and 0.2 mol % or less relative to an amount of the unsaturated monomer containing a carboxyl group, and a molar ratio (B)/(A) of the internal cross-linking agent (A) and the non-polymeric internal cross-linking agent (B) is 0.01 or more and 1.8 or less.

A water absorbent resin obtained by polymerizing an unsaturated monomer containing a carboxyl group is widely used for various applications such as application as sanitary materials, e.g., disposable diapers for babies, sanitary napkins, and incontinent pads, application as a cable waterproofing agent, application in agriculture/horticulture, application in civil engineering and construction, and food related application. The water absorbent resin is typically obtained as a result of processes including a step of drying a cross-linked polymer hydrogel crushed to a size easy to dry, a pulverization step, a classification step, a surface cross-linking step, and the like. The cross-linked polymer hydrogel is obtained by polymerizing an unsaturated monomer containing a carboxyl group in the presence of an internal cross-linking agent.
In the production of the water absorbent resin, a method used as a method of crushing the cross-linked polymer hydrogel to a size with which the cross-linked polymer hydrogel is easily dried is one or a combination of a method of concurrently polymerizing and crushing in a reaction container including crushing means and a method of crushing the cross-linked polymer hydrogel by a crusher or the like after polymerization without crushing.
In particular, the method of crushing the cross-linked polymer hydrogel by a crusher or the like after polymerization is superior in that the method makes it possible to crush the cross-linked polymer hydrogel to a size with which the cross-linked polymer hydrogel obtained can be efficiently dried reliably and uniformly.
For example, FIG. 1a shows one example of a method in which the cross-linked polymer hydrogel is crushed by a crusher after a monomer is polymerized without crushing. As illustrated in FIG. 1a, a band shaped cross-linked polymer hydrogel 3 obtained by polymerization in a polymerization apparatus 1 is crushed by a crusher 2, thereby providing a crushed cross-linked polymer hydrogel that is a jelly-like crushed articles of the cross-linked polymer hydrogel.
For production of a water absorbent resin obtained by polymerizing an unsaturated monomer containing a carboxyl group, some reports deal with a method of using, as an internal cross-linking agent, a combination, in a predetermined proportion, of (i) an internal cross-linking agent having at least two radical polymerizable unsaturated groups in its molecule and (ii) an internal cross-linking agent having in its molecule at least two functional groups that can react with a carboxylic group (Refer to, for example, Patent Documents 1 through 6).
For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique in which (i) a compound having at least two unsaturated groups in its molecule and (ii) a compound having at least two epoxy groups in its single molecule as functional groups that can react with a carboxylic group are used in a specific proportion in polymerization, for the purpose of producing a water absorbent resin that has excellent absorbency under pressure and low extractable polymer content.
Moreover, Patent Document 2 discloses a technique in which a cross-linking agent containing a polyvinyl first cross-linking agent and a hydroxyl-containing second cross-linking agent are used in polymerization for the purpose of producing a water absorbent resin having a high gel bed permeability (i.e. liquid permeability) and a low absorption capacity.
Further, Patent Document 3 discloses a technique in which a compound containing at least two unsaturated groups in its single molecule and alkylene carbonate are used in polymerization for the purpose of providing a water absorbent resin generating sound in water-absorption.
In addition, Patent Documents 4 through 6 disclose a technique in which an acrylic ammonium salt, an internal cross-linking agent having at least two unsaturated groups in its single molecule, and a condensation-type cross-linking agent such as glycerin are used for the purpose of improving absorbing performance.    [Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 188602/1996 (Tokukaihei 8-188602) (published on Jul. 23, 1996)    [Patent Document 2] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 518150/2003 (Tokukai 2003-518150) (published on Jun. 3, 2003)    [Patent Document 3] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 200168/1994 (Tokukaihei 6-200168) (published on Jul. 19, 1994)    [Patent Document 4] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 200630/2005 (Tokukai 2005-200630) (published on Jul. 28, 2005)    [Patent Document 5] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 199805/2006 (Tokukai 2006-199805) (published on Aug. 3, 2006)    [Patent Document 6] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 225455/2006 (Tokukai 2006-225455) (published on Aug. 31, 2006)

Water absorbent resin production method and usage thereof


When an elevated road and a usual fly-under road are located in a stacked state, two roads are shown in overlapped lines on a display unit of a car navigation system in a subject vehicle. When the subject vehicle travels the fly-under road, the elevated road is shown in a translucent state. Thus, a user of the subject vehicle can recognize a state of the fly-under road the subject vehicle is traveling. In contrast, when the subject vehicle travels the elevated road, the elevated road is shown in a non-translucent state. The elevated road thereby becomes easy to see, so its advancing direction can be easily seen.

A car navigation system mounted in a subject vehicle detects a current position of the subject vehicle to thereby show a map surrounding the current position on a display unit of the system. Here, this map is shown in two-dimensional expression, three-dimensional expression, or the like. In the three-dimensional expression that indicates both roads and buildings three-dimensionally, a road is sometimes hidden by a building or by an over-crossing overpass road. In this case, the hiding building or overpass road is shown in a transmission technique, so that the hidden road or portions can become visible, as described in Patent Document 1.
Patent Document 1: JP-2001-108458 A
In urban areas, an expressway is sometimes built as an elevated road over a usual city road, so the expressway as the elevated road and the usual road as a fly-under road, i.e., two parallel roads, run in vertically parallel with each other, in a vertical two-layered state.
On the map shown by the car navigation system, the two parallel roads are shown as two overlapped lines that indicate the two roads. This makes it difficult to determine which road of the parallel roads the subject vehicle travels, even though the current position of the subject vehicle is shown on the map. Further, typically, one line of the overlapped two lines indicating the expressway hides the other indicating the usual road. States of the fly-under usual road hidden by the elevated expressway cannot be thereby easily recognized, so the user feels inconvenient.
This problem can be experienced similarly in the following cases. First is that a wide bypass road adjoins, in parallel, a narrow usual road such as a service road. Second is that an underground road including half-underground road runs, in vertically parallel, under an aboveground or ground-level road.


A battery assembly having a plurality of battery modules capable of powering a traction motor of a vehicle. First and second end frames are provided on the battery modules. A plurality of battery cells is disposed between the first and second end frames. The first end frame of one of the battery modules has a first pocket. The second end frame of an adjacent battery module has a second pocket. The first and second pockets are aligned when the battery assembly is assembled to define a receptacle. A thermistor is disposed in the receptacle. The thermistor extends through the first pocket of the first end frame and at least partially into the second pocket of the second end frame.

Traction batteries for hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) or battery-only electric vehicles (BEVs) generally include battery modules stacked adjacent to one another. Each battery module includes multiple battery cells typically stacked between relatively rigid end plates. The stacked modules are assembled to the vehicles, behind the rear row of seats.
The batteries may increase in temperature due to the electrical resistance within the battery cells. Temperature sensors, or thermistors, are placed on or around the batteries to measure the temperature of the batteries for safety and control purposes. Packaging constraints, weight considerations, and other factors lead to size reductions of many parts of the battery cells and modules. The size reduction of these parts must still accommodate thermistors. There exists a need for efficient packaging of a thermistor in battery modules.

Packaging of thermistor in a battery assembly


A stowable shelf assembly for use in a vehicle. The shelf assembly has a shelf and a bracket. The shelf has a first flange and a brace member each extending outwardly from the shelf. The shelf is also movable between use and stowed positions. The bracket has a second flange and a support, each extending outwardly from the bracket. The first flange of the shelf is located between the second flange and the support. The first flange abuts the second flange, the shelf is carried by the support and the brace member is adjacent the bracket while the shelf is in the use position. Conversely, the first flange is spaced apart from the second flange, the shelf is spaced apart from the support and the brace member is spaced apart from the bracket while the shelf is in the stowed position.

The present invention relates to storage shelf assemblies for use in vehicles of the type that carry parcels.
Wall mounted shelves being movable between lowered use and raised stowed positions for use in vehicles are known. These assemblies, however, often employ complicated brace and bracket assemblies. In addition, many shelves are not suitable to support substantial weight for use in commercial vehicles. Vehicles like mail trucks, for example, store substantial amounts of mail and parcels in a relatively confined amount of space. This mail can be quite heavy, and much of it, therefore, is stored on the flooring of the vehicle. Storing mail and parcels in such a way, however, is not always the most efficient use of the available space in the vehicle.
It would be desirable, therefore, to provide a shelf assembly for use in a vehicle that can hold the weight of pounds. In addition, the shelf should be usable in an uncomplicated manner, and be movable or even removable to allow further flexibility in the shelf""s functionality, and accommodate the particular needs of the vehicle operator.
Accordingly, an illustrative embodiment provides a stowable shelf assembly for use in a vehicle. The shelf assembly comprises a shelf and a bracket. The shelf has a first flange and a brace member each extending outwardly from the shelf. The shelf is also movable between use and stowed positions. The bracket has a second flange and a support, each extending outwardly from the bracket. The first flange of the shelf is located between the second flange and the support. The first flange abuts the second flange, the shelf is carried by the support, and the brace member is adjacent the bracket while the shelf is in the use position. Conversely, the first flange is spaced apart from the second flange, the shelf is spaced apart from the support, and the brace member is spaced apart from the bracket while the shelf is in the stowed position.
It is contemplated that the illustrated embodiment may include the shelf being movable to a removed position that is spaced apart from the bracket. The bracket may further comprise a channel extending between the second flange and the support, and configured to receive the first flange of the shelf. The shelf may further comprise a third flange extending outwardly from the shelf and positioned adjacent the support of the bracket when the shelf is in the use position, and spaced apart from the support of the bracket when the shelf is in the stowed position.
It is contemplated that the illustrated embodiment may include the shelf having a shelf extension. The shelf extension may foldably extend from the shelf between first and second use positions and a stowed position.
Another illustrative embodiment may provide a vehicle for carrying parcels having at least one side wall. The vehicle further comprising a shelf and a bracket as previously described.
Additional features and advantages of the stowable shelf assembly will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed descriptions exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the assembly as presently perceived.


A digital display device that implements a digital photo frame function. The digital display device includes a user input unit to receive control signals corresponding to a user operation, the control signals to control a plurality of images to be continuously displayed, a display controller including an image arrangement unit, the display controller to output display signals by storing image files or processing the stored image files according to the control signals, a storage unit having image files stored therein and a display unit to display the plurality of images on a screen according to the display signals, the image arrangement unit to arrange the plurality of images in an arrangement order for display based on comparison results that compare data for pairs of images selected from the plurality of images upon the control signals being input.

Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to a digital display device that implements a digital photo frame function and an image arrangement method using the same.
Discussion of Related Art
With the recent advent of the electronic information era, various digital display devices have been developed that implement a digital photo frame function and replace conventional photos or pictures with modern electronic expressions to enable the display of the photos on a screen.
As the digital display devices that implements the digital photo frame function as described above, a digital camera, a digital frame that focuses on the digital photo frame function, etc. have been released.
The digital display device such as the digital frame, etc. has a flat display panel such as a liquid crystal display panel or an organic light emitting display panel, thereby displaying an image on a screen. Among others, the digital display device having the organic light emitting display device is advantageous in that it can be implemented to be thin using organic light emitting diodes that are self-light emitting elements that can display a clearer image.
Meanwhile, the digital display device such as the digital frame, etc. is designed to implement a slide function to continuously display a plurality of image files as well as a function to fixingly display one image file.
However, when images having the similar color groups are sequentially displayed in a digital frame on an organic light emitting display device, an image sticking (or residual image) phenomenon occurs causing the image quality to be degraded.

Digital display device and image arrangement method using the same

Samsung-ro, Giheung-Gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-Do


A dustproof receptacle connector includes a dielectric housing having a cavity. A plurality of terminals and a dustproof means are received in the cavity. The back end of the dielectric housing is a closed end. A pair of guide grooves are defined in lateral sides of the cavity. The dustproof means includes a dustproof cover and a plurality of springs. The dustproof cover has a plate. A pair of arms extend from two opposite sides of the plate respectively. A pair of positioning pillars are defined in the inner side of the plate. The springs twine on the positioning pillars and the arms slide in the guide grooves. A block protrudes inwardly from the inner side of each arm respectively to increase the anti-stress intensity of the arms.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a receptacle connector, and in particular to a dustproof receptacle connector.
2. The Related Art
Electronic products are widely used more and more with the development of the technology of the electrons. Connectors are also widely used with the development of the technology of the electrons. However, terminals of the connectors are easily to be dirtied and degraded by the dust. So, a dustproof receptacle connector is needed urgently.
A conventional dustproof receptacle connector includes a dielectric housing, a plurality of terminals received in a cavity of the dielectric housing and a dustproof means assembled to a mouth of the cavity for preventing dust from entering into the cavity and degrading the terminals in the cavity. There is a guide groove in the two inner sides of the cavity respectively. The guide groove extends from the mouth of the cavity to the end of the cavity. The dustproof means includes a dustproof cover and a plurality of springs. The dustproof includes a plate. An arm extends from each side of the plate respectively. A plurality of positioning pillars are defined in the middle of the inner side of the plate. The dustproof means is received in the dielectric housing. The arms slide in the guide grooves. The end portion of the springs contact the rear wall of the cavity and the front portion of the springs twine on the positioning pillars.
In use, when the jack plugs into the dustproof receptacle connector at an angle, the dustproof cover will deviate from the guide groove for only one side of the jack receiving stress. And also one arm of the dustproof cover which receives more stress than the other arm of the dustproof cover will be easy to be deformed or broken. Furthermore, the unbalance stress which the dustproof cover received will lead the springs being compressed at a different degree. Therefore, the springs are easy to be over compressed so that the springs are deformed and result the dustproof cover out of use.
Furthermore, the bottom surfaces of the front terminals are lower than the bottom surfaces of the back terminals because the connectors exist positive and negative common difference during the procedure of making. When the connector welds with a printed circuit board, the front terminals contact the printed circuit board before the back terminals. Therefore, the front portion of the dustproof receptacle connector is easy to deviate from the printed circuit board for the back portion of the dustproof receptacle connector receiving a big force of the soldering. The assembling of the dustproof receptacle connector is influenced.


A damper for use in a hydraulic clutch actuator to attenuate vibrations transmitted from the crankshaft of the engine of the associated vehicle to the clutch pedal. The baffle includes an elongated cylindrical housing positioned in the conduit interconnecting the master and slave cylinders of the actuator coaxial with the axis of the conduit and including a spring biased piston mounted in the bore of the housing. The housing is open at its rear end and closed at its front end by an end wall defining an outlet port for the damper and the piston includes a central through passage defining the inlet port of the damper at the rear end of the through passage. A baffle is provided at the front end of the piston to provide a circuitous path between the central passage of the piston and the outlet port of the damper. The front face of the baffle includes a hemispherical surface which deflects attenuations entering the housing from the slave cylinder and routes the attenuations through the circuitous path defined by the baffle.

This invention relates to hydraulic clutch actuation systems and more particularly to hydraulic systems employing a damper mechanism.
Hydraulic actuation systems are known for operating a mechanism at a remote location by way of a master cylinder connected to a slave cylinder installed at a remote location. A conduit interconnects the master cylinder to the slave cylinder and the hydraulic apparatus is filled with hydraulic fluid such that, when the piston of the master cylinder is actuated the piston of the slave cylinder and consequently the piston rod or output member is simultaneously actuated by displacement of the hydraulic fluid from the master cylinder to the slave cylinder through the conduit.
More particularly, it is known to provide such a system for operating the clutch of a motor vehicle so that when the clutch pedal of the vehicle is depressed by the driver, the slave cylinder is actuated to operate the clutch in known manner. Whereas hydraulic clutch actuators have enjoyed significant commercial success they have the ability to transmit vibrations backwardly through the system from the clutch to the clutch pedal with the result that the operator may experience unpleasant vibrations at the clutch pedal.
Specifically, imbalances in the crankshaft of the vehicle engine or engine firing impulses are transmitted to the flywheel which undergoes a swashing movement, the flywheel swashing movement in turn leads to vibrations of the spring fingers of the clutch release mechanism, the vibrations of the spring fingers are transferred to the release bearing of the clutch, and the vibrations propagate backwardly through the hydraulic fluid in the slave cylinder, through the hydraulic fluid in the conduit interconnecting the slave cylinder and the master cylinder, through the hydraulic fluid in the master cylinder, and thence through the master cylinder push rod to the clutch pedal where they are experienced by the operator as vibrations of the clutch pedal. The propagated vibrations also generate fire wall buzz and pedal growl which is audible to the operator as well as a clutch roar which may also be audible to the operator.
Various devices have been proposed in an attempt to attenuate these vibrations. For example, tuned masses have been attached to various parts of the clutch system including the clutch release lever, the slave cylinder push rod, and the clutch pedal. Rubber dampers have also been employed in the master cylinder push rod, rubber hose sections have been employed in the conduit interconnecting the master cylinder and the slave cylinder, and various damper devices have been proposed for installation in the interconnecting conduit.
Whereas these prior art devices have been successful in varying degrees in attenuating the vibrations in the system, they have each suffered one or more shortcomings. Specifically, the prior art devices have been unduly expensive; or they have actually introduced vibrations into the system by virtue of a hysteresis effect; or they have required a package size that has complicated their installation and placement in the crowded under hood environment of a modern day motor vehicle; or they have been difficult to selectively adjust to accommodate varying vehicular applications.


The present invention provides a microphone stand mounted monitor which is closer to the performer, eliminates the use of precious floor space, uses less power, allows for a lower output volume on the stage and is adjustable in height. The microphone stand mounted monitor includes a cabinet, at least one speaker in the cabinet and a mounting system. The monitor mounts to a microphone stand by sliding the cabinet over a shaft with the microphone adapter removed, so that the shaft is inserted into holes of the cabinet. The holes are positioned so that the cabinet is about waist height of the performer and the speakers of the cabinet are pointed towards the head of a performer. An isolation tube is mounted inside the cabinet between the holes. The isolation tube provides a guide for the shaft and protects the internal parts of the cabinet from the shaft. The isolation tube also aids in sealing the cabinet and preventing leakage of sound from the cabinet. Sealant can be applied between the holes and the isolation tube.

The present invention relates sound monitors used by performers, mainly vocalists, on stage. The monitor is a speaker cabinet with at least one speaker inside the cabinet. The monitor allows an individual performer to monitor a mixture of instruments and voice on stage during the performance. On stage the mixture of instruments and voice are usually controlled by a sound person using a mixing console. The sound hear by the audience is know as the main mix. The mix of at least the vocal mix is amplified back on stage through the monitor. Usually, each performer has an individual monitor unit for their own use of monitoring their own performance. The typical monitor employed is a floor monitor. The floor monitor is a floor mounted speaker cabinet with at least on speaker inside. The floor monitor is usually placed angled slightly upward and in front of the performer and his microphone stand. The sound from the floor monitor usually must travel from seven (7) to fifteen (15) feet before reaching the performer. The stage is a very noisy place due to all of the instruments, so the performer usually wants the output volume of the monitor to be very loud in order to cut through all of the stage noise and the main mix. On smaller stages, such as night clubs, the main mix can be overpowered by the sound from the floor monitors. Also, the floor monitors take up limited floor space on the stage.
The present invention provides a sound monitor having a cabinet with A top, bottom and two sides. There is at least one speaker in the cabinet. The cabinet has a first hole in said top and a second hole in said bottom. The first and second holes aligned and are adapted to receive a shaft projecting thru said cabinet. The holes are positioned such that said cabinet is angled towards a user when placed on said shaft. The sound monitor also includes a collar which mounts to the shaft before said cabinet and supports said cabinet on said shaft. The cabinet can further include an isolation tube between said holes to act as a guide for said shaft and protect the internal parts of the cabinet from damage from said shaft.


A sewing machine includes a sewing machine motor configured to generate drive power to drive a needle bar up-and-down motion mechanism and a cutting unit. The cutting unit includes a cutting needle having a distal end with a blade, and a cutting needle up-and-down motion mechanism having a first motor separate from a sewing machine motor and configured to generate drive power to move the cutting needle independently of the needle bar up-and-down motion mechanism. A cut is formed by the blade as a result of up-and-down motion of the cutting needle while the cutting needle is held in a manner such that an extending direction of the cutting needle corresponds with an extending direction of the needle bar. The cutting unit further includes a cutting needle rotating mechanism configured to rotate the cutting needle about a central axis line of the cutting needle directed to the extending direction.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a sewing machine including a needle bar to which a needle is attached and a needle-bar up-and-down motion mechanism moving the needle bar up and down.
2. Related Art
A sewing machine such as a chain stitch sewing machine has conventionally been known which includes a needle-bar up-and-down motion mechanism and a looper. The needle-bar up-and-down motion mechanism moves up and down a needle bar to which a crochet needle is attached. The looper forms loop stitches in cooperation with the crochet needle. The above-described type of sewing machine includes a cutting device which is diverted to include a cutting needle protruding from a lower part of the needle bar, instead of the crochet needle and which cuts a workpiece cloth by the cutting needle.
More specifically, the chain stitch sewing machine has a head provided with a needle-bar rotating mechanism which rotates the needle bar about a central axis line of the needle bar. When the workpiece cloth is fed horizontally, the needle-bar rotating mechanism rotates the needle bar so that a blade edge of the cutting needle is oriented to a feed direction of the workpiece cloth. As a result, the chain stitch sewing machine moves the needle bar up and down to cause the blade edge oriented as described above to penetrate the workpiece cloth, thereby forming a cut. The chain stitch sewing machine repeats rotation and up-and-down motion of the needle bar while feeding the workpiece cloth to continuously form cuts in the workpiece cloth, thereby forming a desired shape. Thus, the chain stitch sewing machine can be diverted to a cutting machine which cuts out the workpiece cloth without changes in the basic construction to a large extent.


A semiconductor structure includes a source region, a drain region, a channel region located between the source region and the drain region, a gate stack structure including a gate dielectric and a gate electrode that overlies the gate dielectric, such that a first gap region is present between an area of the source region and an area of the gate electrode in a plan view and a second gap region is present between an area of the drain region and the area of the gate electrode in the plan view, a contact-level dielectric layer overlying the source region and the drain region and laterally surrounding the gate stack structure, and at least one assist-field metallic plate located vertically above a top surface of the gate electrode and having an areal overlap with at least one of the first gap region and the second gap region in the plan view.

The electric field that a gate electrode of a field effect transistor generates is significantly weaker over the end portions of a channel region that underlie gate sidewall spacers than over the middle portion of the channel region. High dopant concentration can be employed for source regions and drain regions in order to reduce electrical resistance and to reduce degradation of the on-current. However, low resistance of the source region and the drain region increases the electric field around the gate edges while the transistor is in an off state. Strong electric field at the gate edges can decrease the breakdown voltage and degrade the reliability of the field effect transistor.
Lightly doped extension regions (i.e., lightly-doped drain (LDD) regions) can reduce the channel region resistance under the gate sidewall spacers. However, formation of the lightly doped extension regions requires an additional ion implantation step, which increases production cost. Further, dopant profile within the lightly doped extension regions needs to be optimized in order to prevent adverse impact on the reliability of field effect transistors.

Field effect transistors containing electric field assist layers at gate corners and method of making the same


A system for detecting a direct current (DC) component of a pulse-width modulated (PWM) signal includes a modulator configured to provide at least one PWM signal to an input of an amplifier. A DC detector is configured to detect a DC component of a selected one of the at least one PWM signal as a function of a switching frequency of the selected PWM signal. The DC detector provides at least one report signal that indicates a level of the DC component of the selected PWM signal relative to a predetermined threshold.

Digital techniques for audio signal processing extend to the driving of audio output amplifiers. A popular class of amplifier circuits in many audio applications are "class D" amplifiers. Class D amplifiers drive a complementary output signal that is digital in nature, with the output voltage swinging fully from "rail-to-rail" at a duty cycle that varies with the audio information. Complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) output drive transistors are thus suitable for class D amplifiers, as such devices are capable of high, full-rail, switching rates such as desired for digital applications. CMOS drivers conduct extremely low DC current, and their resulting efficiency is especially beneficial in portable and automotive audio applications. In addition, the ability to realize the audio output amplifier in CMOS enables integration of an audio output amplifier with other circuitry in the audio system, further improving efficiency and also reducing manufacturing cost of the system. This integration also provides performance benefits resulting from close device matching between the output devices and the upstream circuits, and from reduced signal attenuation.
As is known in the art, an undesirable effect of a direct current (DC) component can exist in the output of a class D amplifier. The DC component can cause audible artifacts, such as a "click/pop" noise, an audible "humming" noise or a crunching sound. Detection of such an undesirable DC component is thusly needed.

Methods and system for detecting DC output levels in an audio system


The present invention generally relates to a medical device including a movable instrument (MI) which is activated only when its movement is within an optimal range of acceleration. More particularly the invention relates to a fetal heart rate monitor (FHRM) having a movable Doppler transducer which transceives ultrasound energy only when found within a certain optimal range of acceleration.

Many proactive medical devices utilize functions that maybe hazardous if operating them while they are still in transit to their site of action. For example, a dental drill may injure the oral cavity if accidently activated while in motion towards the teeth. Other medical devices utilize different forms of energy (X-ray, IR, RF and ultrasound) for treatment or diagnostics that over a certain amount of energy transmittance may be harmful. In many applications, it is pointless and possibly even harmful to keep the energy transmission activated while moving the device towards the target.
For example, ultrasound (US) radiation is not harmful in small doses but over a certain amount may be accounted as unsafe. When US radiation penetrates the body, it causes certain elevation in temperature in the contact area and can also produce small pockets of gas in body fluids or tissues, which their effect has not yet been established. These two effects raise particular concern in the contest of pregnancy in which the fetus is exposed to US radiation and are the reason that national and international organizations have advocated prudent use of US Doppler and imaging for pregnancy monitoring. Furthermore, the use of diagnostic US for non-medical purposes such as fetal keepsake videos has been discouraged by these organizations. To date, when a physician uses a fetal heart rate monitor (FHRM) for acquiring a fetal heartbeat signal the Doppler transducer continues to transmit US energy all through the examination. However, when the physician is conducting a search for the location of fetal heartbeat, if the transducer is moving above a certain velocity there is no chance of acquiring a signal and therefore, keeping the Doppler transducer on is useless as well as adding to the accumulation of radiation in the body of the pregnant woman and her fetus. Furthermore, in relatively long monitoring procedures, such as NST, the US Doppler sensor unit is attached to the pregnant woman by means of a belt/harness and the monitoring process stretches up to 60 minutes. During this period it is common the pregnant woman moves, sometimes quite vigorously, and even stands-up and walk. In most cases fetal heart rate readings at these moments are not accurate or even do not exist, therefore there is no point continuing the monitoring process and the delivery of the energy transmission until these excessive movements are back to normal.
Thus, there is a long felt need for a function within a medical device that will enable its operation only when it reached its site of action in the purpose of reducing hazardous outcomes like injuries and introduction of unnecessary amounts of energy.

Moveable medical device configured to operate only within a specific range of acceleration


A film made of a fluorinated polymer of the polyvinylidene fluoride type having suitable properties for use as a lithium storage battery separator is produced using a phase inversion technique in which a solution containing the fluorinated polymer is brought into the presence of an atmosphere laden with water vapor to precipitate the fluorinated polymer. The fluorinated polymer can be precipitated by placing the support on which the solution is deposited, in which the fluorinated polymer has been previously dissolved, in an enclosure containing an atmosphere laden with water vapor and thermostatically regulated to a temperature comprised between 30° C. and 70° C. The relative humidity content during precipitation of the fluorinated polymer is advantageously between about 60% and about 98%.

The invention relates to a method of forming a film made of a fluoropolymer of the polyvinylidene fluoride type, comprising the following steps:                deposition on a support of a solution containing a solvent in which the fluorinated polymer is dissolved and        precipitation of the fluorinated polymer by phase inversion with water.

Method of forming a film made of a fluoropolymer of the polyvinylidene fluoride type that can be used as a separator for a lithium battery

COMMISSARIAT À L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES

CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE


According to an embodiment, a method of fabricating a thin film transistor comprises forming a gate electrode on a substrate; forming a gate insulating layer on the gate electrode; forming a semiconductor layer on the gate insulating layer, the semiconductor layer corresponding to the gate electrode; forming first and second barrier patterns on the semiconductor layer, the first and second barrier patterns including copper nitride; and forming source and drain electrodes on the first and second barrier patterns, respectively, the source and drain electrodes including pure copper.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display (LCD) device and more particularly to a method of fabricating a thin film transistor (TFT) and an array substrate for an LCD device including the TFT.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
As communication technology has developed, a need for compact display devices has developed. Plat panel display devices, such as an LCD device, a plasma display panel (PDP), a vacuum fluorescent display (VFD) device and an organic electroluminescent display (OELD) device, have been developed.
Among these display devices, since the LCD device has a smaller size, lower power consumption than a display device using cathode-ray tubes (CRT), the display device using CRT is replaced by the LCD device. Also, LCD devices are widely used for notebook computers, monitors, TV, and so on, because of their high contrast ratio and characteristics adequate to display moving images.
The LCD device uses optical anisotropy and polarization properties of liquid crystal molecules to display images. The LCD device includes an array substrate including a thin film transistor (TFT) as a switching element and a pixel electrode, a color filter substrate including a color filter layer and a common electrode, and a liquid crystal layer having the liquid crystal molecules. The liquid crystal layer is interposed between the array substrate and the color filter substrate so as to be driven by a vertical electric field induced between the pixel and common electrodes.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the array substrate is explained.
FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of an array substrate for an LCD device according to the related art, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG. 1.
In FIG. 1, a gate line 20, a gate electrode 25, an active layer 40, a source electrode 32 and a drain electrode 34, a data line 30, and a pixel electrode 70 are formed on a substrate 10 having a pixel region P. The gate and data lines 20 and 30 cross each other to define the pixel region P. The gate electrode 25 is connected to the gate line 20, and the active layer 40 is formed over the gate electrode 25. The source electrode 32 is connected to the data line 30 and spaced apart from the drain electrode 34. The gate electrode 25, the active layer 40, an ohmic contact layer (not shown), the source electrode 32 and the drain electrode 34 constitute a thin film transistor (TFT) T. Moreover, the pixel electrode 50 is formed in the pixel region "P" to be connected to the drain electrode 34 through a drain contact hole H1. Although not shown, a barrier metal pattern is formed on the ohmic contact layer (not shown) and under the source and drain electrodes 32 and 34.
A method of fabricating an array substrate is explained with FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, the gate electrode 25 is formed on the substrate 10 by depositing and patterning a first metal layer (not shown). At the same time, the gate line 20 (of FIG. 1) is formed from the first metal layer (not shown). Next, an inorganic insulating material, such as silicon nitride (SiNx) and silicon oxide (SiO2), is deposited on an entire surface of the substrate 10 including the gate electrode 25 and the gate line 20 (of FIG. 1) to form a gate insulating layer 45.
Next, the active layer 40 and the impurity-doped amorphous silicon layer (not shown) are sequentially formed on the gate insulating layer 45. The active layer 40 and the impurity-doped amorphous silicon layer (not shown) overlap the gate electrode 25. The active layer 40 and the impurity-doped amorphous silicon layer (not shown) may be formed by a plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). The active layer 40 is formed of intrinsic amorphous silicon, while the impurity-doped amorphous silicon layer (not shown) is formed of impurity-doped amorphous silicon. The ohmic contact layer 41
Next, a barrier metal layer (not shown) and a second metal layer (not shown) are sequentially formed on the ohmic contact layer 41. The barrier metal layer (not shown) is formed of one of titanium (Ti), molybdenum (Mo) and molybdenum-titanium (MoTi) alloy, and the second metal layer (not shown) is formed of copper (Cu). The second metal layer (not shown) is sequentially patterned to form the source and drain electrodes 32 and 34. At the same time, the data line 30 (of FIG. 1) is formed. Next, the barrier metal layer (not shown) and the impurity-doped amorphous silicon layer (not shown) are patterned using the source and drain electrodes 32 and 34 to form a barrier metal pattern 35 and the ohmic contact layer 41. A portion of the active layer 40 is exposed between the ohmic contact layer 41. The exposed portion of the active layer 40 is defined as a channel region. The gate electrode 25, the active layer 40, the ohmic contact layer 41, the source electrode 32 and the drain electrode 34 constitute the thin film transistor (TFT) T.
Next, an inorganic insulating material, such as silicon nitride (SiNx) and silicon oxide (SiO2), is deposited to form a passivation layer 55 is foiled on the source and drain electrodes 32 and 34. And then, the passivation layer 55 is patterned to form the drain contact hole H1 exposing a portion of the drain electrode 34.
Next, a pixel electrode 70 of a transparent conductive material is formed on the passivation layer 55 and in the pixel region P. The pixel electrode 70 is connected to the drain electrode 34 through the drain contact hole H1.
In the above-mentioned array substrate, the barrier metal pattern 35 is formed of one of Ti, Mo and MoTi alloy to prevent a Cu material in the source and drain electrodes 32 and 34 being diffused. Since the source and drain electrodes 32 and 34 and the barrier metal pattern 35 are formed of different material, two deposition processes are required. Moreover, since different type etchants should be used, fabricating process becomes complicated.
Furthermore, when a wet-etching process or a photolithography process is performed onto the metal layers, which are formed of dis-similar or different kinds metallic materials, respectively, a problem, such as galvanic corrosion, is caused.
In addition, when a MoTi alloy target is used in a sputtering device, a deposition layer includes a relatively high impurity concentration. Accordingly, the deposition layer has a low adhesive strength to lower or/and upper layers.

Method of fabricating thin film transistor and array substrate for liquid crystal display device including the same


The invention provides antibodies against the A2 domain of tenascin-C and methods of using the same.

Tenascin C and Anti-Tenascin C Antibodies
Tenascins are a highly conserved family of large multimeric extracellular matrix (ECM) glycoproteins, which is found in vertebrates. Four tenascin paralogues have been identified in mammals, termed tenascin-C, tenascin-R, tenascin-X and tenascin-W. Tenascin family proteins have a common primary structure, comprising N-terminal heptad repeats, epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like repeats, fibronectin type III domain repeats and a C-terminal fibrinogen-like globular domain. Via an N-terminal oligomerization domain, individual subunits assemble into trimers or, as is the case for tenascin-C, even hexamers.
Mammalian tenascin-C monomers typically have 14.5 EGF-like repeats and 8 fibronectin type III domain repeats that are shared by all tenascin-C isoforms. However, up to 9 additional fibronectin type III domain repeats (domains A1 to D) can be independently included or excluded by alternative splicing, giving rise to a large number of tenascin-C isoforms (see e.g. Hsia and Schwarzbauer, J Biol Chem 280, 26641-26644 (2005)).
Tenascin-C is transiently expressed in the developing embryo, but virtually absent from adult tissues. It reappears, however, in tissues undergoing remodeling processes, including certain pathological conditions such as wound healing, inflammation and cancer (reviewed in Chiquet-Ehrismann & Chiquet, J Pathol 200, 488-499 (2003)).
Importantly, tenascin-C is highly expressed in the majority of malignant solid tumors, including tumors of the brain, breast, colon, lung, skin and other organs (reviewed in Orend and Chiquet-Ehrismann, Cancer Letters 244, 143-163 (2006)), where it may be expressed by transformed epithelial cells as well as stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment (Yoshida et al., J Pathol 182, 421-428 (1997), Hanamura et al., Int J Cancer 73, 10-15 (1997)). In particular, the "large isoform" of tenascin-C, containing the alternatively spliced domains A1 to D, is expressed in invasive carcinomas while being nearly undetectable in healthy adult tissues (Borsi et al., Int J Cancer 52, 688-692 (1992), Carnemolla et al., Eur J Biochem 205, 561-567 (1992)). Its expression pattern makes tenascin-C, in particular its alternatively spliced domains, a promising antigen for tumor targeting applications, and accordingly a number of antibodies against several domains of the protein have been developed (see e.g. Brack et al., Clin Cancer Res 12, 3200-3208 (2006) or EP 1 817 345, describing antibodies against the A1 domain of tenascin-C; Silacci et al., Prot Eng Des Sel 19, 471-478 (2006), or EP 1 173 766, describing antibodies against the C domain of tenascin-C; Wang et al., Hybridoma 29, 13-16 (2010), describing an antibody against the D domain of tenascin C; or Balza et al., FEBS 332, 39-43 (1993), describing several antibodies against different domains of human tenascin). Recently, also an antibody recognizing a specific epitope in the A2 domain of human tenascin-C has been described (WO 2009/089998).
Antibody Glycosylation
The oligosaccharide component can significantly affect properties relevant to the efficacy of a therapeutic glycoprotein, including physical stability, resistance to protease attack, interactions with the immune system, pharmacokinetics, and specific biological activity. Such properties may depend not only on the presence or absence, but also on the specific structures, of oligosaccharides. Some generalizations between oligosaccharide structure and glycoprotein function can be made. For example, certain oligosaccharide structures mediate rapid clearance of the glycoprotein from the bloodstream through interactions with specific carbohydrate binding proteins, while others can be bound by antibodies and trigger undesired immune reactions (Jenkins et al., Nature Biotechnol 14, 975-81 (1996)).
IgG1 type antibodies, the most commonly used antibodies in cancer immunotherapy, are glycoproteins that have a conserved N-linked glycosylation site at Asn 297 in each CH2 domain. The two complex biantennary oligosaccharides attached to Asn 297 are buried between the CH2 domains, forming extensive contacts with the polypeptide backbone, and their presence is essential for the antibody to mediate effector functions such as antibody dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) (Lifely et al., Glycobiology 5, 813-822 (1995); Jefferis et al., Immunol Rev 163, 59-76 (1998); Wright and Morrison, Trends Biotechnol 15, 26-32 (1997)). Protein engineering studies have shown that FcγRs interact with the lower hinge region of the IgG CH2 domain. Lund et al., J. Immunol. 157:4963-69 (1996). However, FcγR binding also requires the presence of the oligosaccharides in the CH2 region. Lund et al., J. Immunol. 157:4963-69 (1996); Wright and Morrison, Trends Biotech. 15:26-31 (1997), suggesting that either oligosaccharide and polypeptide both directly contribute to the interaction site or that the oligosaccharide is required to maintain an active CH2 polypeptide conformation. Modification of the oligosaccharide structure can therefore be explored as a means to increase the affinity of the interaction between IgG1 and FcγR, and to increase ADCC activity of IgG1s.
A way to obtain large increases in the potency of monoclonal antibodies, is to enhance their natural, cell-mediated effector functions by engineering their oligosaccharide component as described in Umaña et al., Nat Biotechnol 17, 176-180 (1999) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,602,684 (WO 99/54342), the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. Umaña et al. showed that overexpression of β(1,4)-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase III (GnTIII), a glycosyltransferase catalyzing the formation of bisected oligosaccharides, in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells significantly increases the in vitro ADCC activity of antibodies produced in those cells. Overexpression of GnTIII in production cell lines leads to antibodies enriched in bisected oligosaccharides, which are generally also non-fucosylated and of the hybrid type. If in addition to GnTIII, mannosidase II (ManII) is overexpressed in production cell lines, antibodies enriched in bisected, non-fucosylated oligosaccharides of the complex type are obtained (Ferrara et al., Biotechn Bioeng 93, 851-861 (2006)). Both types of antibodies show strongly enhanced ADCC, as compared to antibodies with unmodified glycans, but only antibodies in which the majority of the N-glycans are of the complex type are able to induce significant complement-dependent cytotoxicity (Ferrara et al., Biotechn Bioeng 93, 851-861 (2006)). Alterations in the composition of the Asn 297 carbohydrate or its elimination also affect binding of the antibody Fc-domain to Fcγ-receptor (FcγR) and complement C1q protein, which is important for ADCC and CDC, respectively (Umaña et al., Nat Biotechnol 17, 176-180 (1999); Davies et al., Biotechnol Bioeng 74, 288-294 (2001); Mimura et al., J Biol Chem 276, 45539-45547 (2001); Radaev et al., J Biol Chem 276, 16478-16483 (2001); Shields et al., J Biol Chem 276, 6591-6604 (2001); Shields et al., J Biol Chem 277, 26733-26740 (2002); Simmons et al., J Immunol Methods 263, 133-147 (2002)).

Anti-tenascin-C A2 antibodies and methods of use


A coaxial cable connector includes tubular post, a coupler secured over an end of the tubular post for securing the connector to an appliance, and an outer body secured to the tubular post. An electrical grounding path is maintained between the coupler and the tubular post whether or not the coupler is tightly fastened to the appliance. The electrical grounding path is provided by a resilient, electrically-conductive grounding member disposed between the tubular post and the coupler. Alternatively, the connector includes conductive grease at a point where mating portions of the tubular post and coupler have closely matching dimensions.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to electrical connectors, and more particularly to coaxial cable connectors capable of being connected to a terminal.
2. Description of the Related Art
Coaxial cable connectors, such as type F connectors, are used to attach coaxial cable to another object or appliance, e.g., a television set or VCR having a terminal adapted to engage the connector. The terminal of the appliance includes an inner conductor and a surrounding outer conductor.
Coaxial cable includes a center conductor for transmitting a signal. The center conductor is surrounded by a dielectric material, and the dielectric material is surrounded by an outer conductor; this outer conductor may be in the form of a conductive foil and/or braided sheath. The outer conductor is typically maintained at ground potential to shield the signal transmitted by the center conductor from stray noise, and to maintain a continuous desired impedance over the signal path. The outer conductor is usually surrounded by a plastic cable jacket that electrically insulates, and mechanically protects, the outer conductor. Prior to installing a coaxial connector onto an end of the coaxial cable, the end of the coaxial cable is typically prepared by stripping off the end portion of the jacket to bare the end portion of the outer conductor. Similarly, it is common to strip off a portion of the dielectric to expose the end portion of the center conductor.
Coaxial cable connectors of the type known in the trade as "F connectors" often include a tubular post designed to slide over the dielectric material, and under the outer conductor of the coaxial cable, at the prepared end of the coaxial cable. If the outer conductor of the cable includes a braided sheath, then the exposed braided sheath is usually folded back over the cable jacket. The cable jacket and folded-back outer conductor extend generally around the outside of the tubular post and are typically received in an outer body of the connector; this outer body of the connector is usually fixedly secured to the tubular post. A coupler is rotatably secured around the tubular post and includes an internally-threaded region for engaging external threads formed on the outer conductor of the appliance terminal.
When connecting the end of a coaxial cable to a terminal of a television set, equipment box, or other appliance, it is important to achieve a reliable electrical connection between the outer conductor of the coaxial cable and the outer conductor of the appliance terminal. This goal is usually achieved by ensuring that the coupler of the connector is fully tightened over the connection port of the appliance. When fully tightened, the head of the tubular post of the connector directly engages the edge of the outer conductor of the appliance port, thereby making a direct electrical ground connection between the outer conductor of the appliance port and the tubular post; in turn, the tubular post is engaged with the outer conductor of the coaxial cable.
However, in many cases, it is difficult for an installer to reach the connection ports of the appliance with a wrench, and in some instances, it is even difficult for the installer to reach such connection ports with his or her fingers. As a result, it can often happen that type F connectors are not fully tightened to the appliance port. In such a loose connection system, wherein the coupler of the coaxial connector is not drawn tightly to the appliance port connector, a gap exists between the outer conductor of the appliance port and the tubular post of the connector. Unless an alternate ground path exists, poor signal quality, and RFI leakage, will result.
As mentioned above, the coupler is rotatably secured about the head of the tubular post. The head of the tubular post usually includes an enlarged shoulder, and the coupler typically includes an inwardly-directed flange for extending over and around the shoulder of the tubular post. In order not to interfere with free rotation of the coupler, manufacturers of such F-style connectors routinely make the outer diameter of the shoulder (at the head of the tubular post) of smaller dimension than the inner diameter of the central bore of the coupler. Likewise, manufacturers routinely make the inner diameter of the inwardly-directed flange of the coupler of larger dimension than the outer diameter of the non-shoulder portion of the tubular post, again to avoid interference with rotation of the coupler relative to the tubular post. In a loose connection system, wherein the coupler of the coaxial connector is not drawn tightly to the appliance port connector, an alternate ground path may fortuitously result from contact between the coupler and the tubular post, particularly if the coupler is not centered over, and axially aligned with, the tubular post. However, this alternate ground path is not stable, and can be disrupted as a result of vibrations, movement of the appliance, movement of the cable, or the like.
Alternatively, there are some cases in which such an alternate ground path is provided by fortuitous contact between the coupler and the outer body of the coaxial connector, provided that the outer body is formed from conductive material. This alternate ground path is similarly unstable, and may be interrupted by relative movement between the appliance and the cable, or by vibrations. Moreover, this alternate ground path does not exist at all if the outer body of the coaxial connector is constructed of non-conductive material. Such unstable ground paths can give rise to intermittent failures that are costly and time-consuming to diagnose.

Coaxial cable connector with grounding member


A medicine storing and dispensing apparatus includes: a cap container (501) storing a plurality of caps (2) for closing openings of vial bottles (3) and having a plurality of slits (508) formed on the bottom surface thereof; a plurality of cap stirring members (502) protruding from a rotating shaft (509) and extending inside a cap container (501) through the slits (508); and a cap pathway (503) which continues to the cap container (501), has a clearance allowing only one cap (2) to pass through, and which is inclined downward so as to align the passing caps (2).

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a medicine storing and dispensing apparatus having a function allowing automatic mounting of a cap on an upper opening of a vial bottle.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, vial bottles are closed by caps after medicine is stored therein (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,502,944 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,208,762).
Apparatuses for feeding caps to containers include those structured to be able to feed caps one by one while applying vibration by a vibrator so that all the caps are orientated in the same direction and to change the direction of the caps by a posture control means so that the caps face the same direction (see, e.g., Japanese unexamined patent application No. H07-251915) and those structured to rotate a scraping disc plate provided aslant so as to utilize a stepped shape formed in an outer circumferential section of a center wheel (see, e.g., Japanese unexamined patent application No. 2002-179004).

Medicine storing and dispensing apparatus


An apparatus for containing pressure associated with a well includes a ram fluid chamber, a ram piston, and an intensifier piston within a housing. The ram piston has ends associated with a ram and with the ram fluid chamber. The intensifier piston has ends associated with the ram fluid chamber and a fluid source. The end of the intensifier piston associated with the fluid source has a larger surface area than the end associated with the ram fluid chamber. Fluid from the fluid source applies a first pressure to the second end of the intensifier piston to move the intensifier piston. Movement of the intensifier piston applies a second pressure greater than the first pressure to fluid in the ram fluid chamber to move the ram piston and associated ram toward a closed position.

BOPs are commonly used for well control in oil and gas wells and other subterranean exploration and production activities, especially during drilling operations, completion operations, and production of hydrocarbons (or other matter) encountered under pressure from a well. The use of BOPs is required by law in most regions where oil and gas drilling operations are performed
BOPs have been used in the oil and gas industry for nearly a century, as illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 1,569,247, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Conventional BOPs utilize radially opposing hydraulic ram blocks. As hydraulic fluid is forced into a piston configured within the rams inside each ram module, the rams converge (e.g., move in an inward direction), typically to contact one another to seal a wellbore. While rams can be used to cut and/or displace a tubular, or seal around a tubular, various types of BOPs can be used to seal a well independent of whether the wellbore contains a tubular. Controlling unwanted or unexpected pressure in a wellbore is critical to maintaining a safe work environment and safe equipment, and preserves both the environment and the reservoir.
Different types of BOPs have evolved over the years to address different problems in various drilling scenarios. Standard practice in the offshore oil and gas industry is the use of tall "stacks" of multiple BOPs, which may vary in type, configuration, as well as redundancy of features.
Standard practice in the oil and gas industry involves use of ram-type blowout preventers. Ram-type blowout preventers are generally regarded as reliable in situations in which the highest, most dangerous pressures may be encountered. Since the development of the first BOPs in the 1920s, the design/configuration of ram-type BOPs has changed only slightly, at least in terms of mechanical function, and these changes are generally limited to the addition of hydraulic force and modern controls. Radially opposing ram blocks, that is, ram blocks positioned on opposite sides of the wellbore and contained in a BOP housing, are generally hydraulically actuated to "close", and make contact in the center of the wellbore, providing a seal against wellbore pressure. In this closing operation, a seal may be formed around any tubular in the wellbore, through contact between rams if using blind ram blocks (e.g. no tubulars), or through contact between rams when shear rams are used, e.g., to shear and seal tubular(s). The rams generally include ram block sealing surfaces formed from extendable, expandable, extrudable rubber, or rubber "packers" on the ends thereof, that are formed with the required shape and flexibility to form a seal around a tubular, or against an opposing ram in the case of shearing or in the absence of a tubular.
The BOP housing that contains the ram cavity and ram blocks has an open center for placement over the wellbore and allowing space for tubulars, such as a drill string, that may pass through the BOP housing and into or above the wellbore. Recently, in order to generate sufficient pressure during actuation to shear tubulars of significant strength, the movement of pistons in the rams requires a great deal of external room—significant external space sufficient for placement of large hydraulic cylinders and an accordingly large amount of hydraulic fluid. This required space is seen in the form of the lateral extension of roughly linear hydraulic cylinders away from, and transverse or perpendicular to, the main BOP housing, and opposite an opposing ram block. The introduction of hydraulic fluid under pressure into the cylinder actuates the ram(s) toward a closed position. Thus, large cylinders and external housings (extending in opposite directions from the ram block, laterally outward from the BOP housing) are critical to the function of conventional BOPs. These cylinders with their external housings require great amounts of space in both lateral directions and add great mass to the entire BOP in order to increase force necessary to execute a closing operation. As such, conventional BOPs possess a large and unwieldy footprint, requiring extensive planning as well as powerful equipment for placement over the wellbore.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,779,918, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, describes a compact wellbore control device that utilizes hydraulic pistons to actuate linkages that in turn force rams together in a "close" operation. This wellbore control device appears to provide a relatively compact, although mechanically complex, means of severing a small diameter tubular, such as the referenced workstring, within a riser pipe, but is primarily suitable only for operations performed on a relatively small diameter tubular.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,353,338, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, describes an alternate means of hydraulically moving a shear assembly outward with the trailing edge of a shear assembly, rather than the leading edge, moving slightly across the wellbore and executing the shear of a tubular. As noted, traditional ram BOPs utilize the leading edge of a shear assembly that is making an inward, or toward and then slightly across the wellbore movement, in a sealing and shearing operation.
It should be well noted that tubular shearing (and resultant sealing) operations require more force than other BOP closing operations. Typically, the increased energy required for shearing operations is generated by adding booster cylinders to the end of existing ram hydraulic cylinders. The added booster cylinders add mass and further increase the already-large BOP footprint.
A flanged, bolt-on "bonnet," or a hinged "door," with a contiguous (from the flange or door) extended hydraulic cylinder housing is the typical means by which a conventional BOP cylinder is attached the BOP housing. As described previously, this flanged or hinged housing extends perpendicularly or transversely outward from the main BOP housing. Such bonnets are typically bolted to the main BOP body with a number of large, heavy bolts, while hinged doors are joined to the main BOP body by large hinges. Removal of the bolts and/or hinges is a very time-intensive and laborious endeavor. In recent years, "boltless" doors have been developed, which utilize a different locking mechanism, though large hinges on the doors still consume significant space, which is compounded by the large swing-arc space required to open the door. Accommodations for large hinge doors may interfere with placement of other equipment and/or service efforts under certain circumstances.
Ram BOPs traditionally utilize "open" and "close" ports in the BOP body to channel hydraulic fluid to the rams and actuate them toward the open or close position, respectively. As fluid enters one end of a ram cylinder on one side of the piston-ram-shaft assembly, it will displace fluid contained in the cylinder on the other side of the piston. BOPs are designed with appropriate ports, passageways and accumulators to accommodate the fluid movement that actuates a BOP between open and close positions. A closing operation closes the rams when required, and the "open" operation retracts the rams to an open position when deemed appropriate and safe.
Conventional BOPs are relatively reliable, if cumbersome, having a significant number of moving parts and wear parts. The power of a conventional BOP to deliver sealing or shearing force remains closely correlated to the BOP's size, with an increase in deliverable force resulting in a significant increase in the footprint of the BOP. Due to the fact that modern wells are drilled to significant depths and encounter very significant pressures, both on land and in offshore subsea installations, BOPs and BOP stacks are becoming extremely heavy and occupy enormous footprints. Yet even with the size and power of conventional BOPs, serious pressure-related oilfield accidents and mishaps continue to plague the industry.


The present invention relates to a drawn plastic product with high strength, high modulus and excellent thermal dimensional stability and a method for preparation thereof.. Practically, a drawn plastic product with high strength, high modulus and excellent thermal dimensional stability is obtained by drawing a plastic product, for example, a polyester or a polyamide product, in a low temperature plasma.

Up to the present time, for preparing a high strength plastic product, especially for preparing high strength fiber and film for industrial applications, increasing the degree of polymerization by means of solid state polymerization, a special drawing method, for example, a zone heat treatment and drawing and a method for drawing by means of induction heating have been used.
However, for example, in the zone heat treatment and drawing method, a complicated arrangement of installation such as high temperature heating, quenching, high temperature heat setting etc., is necessary and a little change in a balance between heating and cooling results in fluctuation of fiber characteristics. In addition, structural defects easily occur by both extreme treatments consisting of quick heating and quick cooling and it is difficult to satisfy both high strength and high modulus at the same time.
The present invention offers a plastic product with high strength, high modules and high thermal dimensional stability and a method for preparing conveniently and stably it.

Drawn plastic product and a method for drawing a plastic product


A method for identifying variations in aircraft operational parameters includes processing a four-dimensional (4D) aircraft trajectory for a flight along a defined route. The method also includes determining an aircraft intent corresponding to the flight along the defined route based at least in part on an aircraft performance model from a trajectory predictor. The aircraft intent includes multiple segments and corresponding intent parameters. In addition, the method includes adjusting the intent parameters such that a computed 4D trajectory substantially corresponds to the 4D aircraft trajectory. The method further includes determining a computed operational parameter based at least in part on the computed 4D trajectory and the aircraft performance model from the trajectory predictor. In addition, the method includes identifying variations between the computed operational parameter and a corresponding measured operational parameter.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a system and method for determining aircraft operational parameters and enhancing aircraft operation.
Aircraft may fly a variety of trajectories along one or more routes. However, inefficiencies associated with operation of the aircraft, such as improper trim, engine performance degradation, and excessive drag due to external surface wear, may reduce the performance of the aircraft. Accordingly, operational parameters, such as fuel usage, flight time, and flight cost, among others, may be degraded. Unfortunately, because the operational parameters may be influenced by external factors, such as variations in the trajectories, weather conditions, aircraft weight, and/or other factors, it is typically difficult to identify the actual performance inefficiencies by examining variations in the operational parameters. In addition, present systems lack techniques to determine the operational parameters with sufficient accuracy to identify the inefficiencies. For example, if an aircraft consumes more fuel than expected, it may be difficult to determine whether the cause of the extra fuel usage was an uncontrollable external factor (e.g., a strong headwind) or aircraft performance inefficiency (e.g., improper trim). As a result, aircraft may be operated for long periods with undetected inefficiencies, thereby increasing costs associated with aircraft operations.

System and method for determining aircraft operational parameters and enhancing aircraft operation


The present disclosure discloses a multimedia information sharing method performed by a first multimedia information sharing apparatus, including: receiving, via a VR display desktop, a multimedia information sharing instruction; determining to-be-transmitted target multimedia information according to the multimedia information sharing instruction; transmitting the target multimedia information to a VR server, and the VR server transmits the target multimedia information to a second multimedia information sharing apparatus that uses the multimedia information to generate VR target multimedia information corresponding to the target multimedia information and present the VR target multimedia information. In the present disclosure, multimedia information is processed into VR target multimedia information, so that both an information receiving party and an information transmitting party can view the VR target multimedia information in a VR environment, thereby improving interactivity during information sharing.

With rapid development of computer technologies, cases in which users perform remote communication become more common. To improve communication efficiency and enrich communication diversity, multimedia information can be shared in remote communication, and the multimedia information may include content such as an image, audio, a video, and a file.
Currently, users may receive/transmit multimedia information from/to each other by using an instant messaging application program. For example, a user A transmits an image and the like to a user B by using "WeChat", or the user A transmits audio and the like to a plurality of users in one group by using "WeChat", and then other users may receive multimedia information sent by the user by using "WeChat".
However, for an information receiving party, multimedia information that is received by using an instant messaging application program is relatively monotonous, and the multimedia information cannot be used for performing interaction with an information transmitting party. Only a function of browsing the multimedia information is implemented, and it would be difficult to satisfy flexibility and diversity of information exchange.

Multimedia information sharing method, related apparatus, and system

TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED


Disclosed are genetically modified nudiviruses capable of being sexually transmitted by an insect useful for controlling pest populations. The genetically modified nudiviruses are capable of causing sterility in a target population of insects. Also disclosed are insects infected with the disclosed genetically modified nudiviruses, methods of making the genetically modified nudiviruses, and methods of using the genetically modified nudiviruses to control an insect pest population.

Insect pests cause crop damage worldwide resulting in significant losses to food and fiber crops and increased production costs that target control of such pests. For example, the Heliothine complex of lepidopteran moths cause in excess of 2 B dollars in damage and cost of control in the United States annually. While all crops are susceptible to similar pest pressure, transgenic expression of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins was developed to control the lepidopteran pests and has become a major tool for control of these and other insect pests. Since the commercial introduction of Bt crops in 1996, they have been adopted around the world and have been grown on more than one billion acres worldwide. In the US, 81% of corn and 84% of cotton express one or more Bt toxins. (HyperTextTransferProtocol://WorldWideWeb.ers.usda.gov/data -products/adoption-of-genetically-engineered-crops-in-the-us/recent-trends-in-ge-adoption.aspx, 2015 report, wherein "HyperTextTransferProtocol" is "http", and "WorldWideWeb" is "www".) Unfortunately, due to the remarkable ability of insects to adapt to insecticides, resistance to Bt toxins was predicted and reports of field-evolved resistance and reduced efficacy are increasing. Such resistance is a threat to the sustainability of important Bt crops, in the US and elsewhere. Thus, there is a continuing need to develop new methods to control insect pests. For example, Helicoverpa zea (H. zea, commonly known as the corn earworm), is a major polyphagous moth pest in the Heliothine complex in the United States and causes millions of dollars of damage to corn and cotton plants each year.
A number of pests in the Heliothine complex of moths, notably H. zea H. armigera and Heliothis virescens are highly polyphagous and cause economically significant damage to many crops. Crops commonly damaged by H. zea include cotton, corn, soybean, sunflowers, tomato, sorghum, strawberry, peppers, beans, aubergine, okra, peas, millet, cucumber, melon, lettuce, cauliflower, and cabbage. Because H. zea attacks a wide variety of plants and, in many instances, is developing resistance to Bt crops, farmers rely heavily on pesticides to control this pest insect.
The need for pest management, such as in field, fruit and vegetable crops, is a need in the art, which will only become more critical as resistance to Bt expands. Further, there is a need for pest management that does not involve the use of conventional pesticides or transgenic technologies such as in organic cropping systems. The instant invention addresses one or more aforementioned needs in the art.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Compositions and methods for pest control management

UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY RESEARCH FOUNDATION


The invention includes new hull systems and watercraft. In particular, the invention provides a watercraft hull that has a pivot axis forward of the hull waterline fore-aft center line. That pivot axis will be the deep water point of the hull and provides a fulcrum point around which the hull turns during a direction change. The forward pivot axis surprisingly imparts high maneuverability (i.e. the ability to execute turns of reduced radius) relative to prior systems, even at low speeds.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to improved watercraft and hull systems and methods that comprise use of the same. In particular, the invention provides a novel watercraft that exhibits high maneuverability even at relatively low speeds such as provided by a pedal-operated propulsion system.
2. Background
A variety of pedal-operated boats and other watercraft having low-powered propulsion systems are currently produced, particularly for recreational use. See generally U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,427,554; 5,413,066; 5,381,752; 5,349,918; 5,313,908; 4,968,274; and 4,668,196.
However, such recreational watercraft exhibit some significant shortcomings despite their popularity. For example, limited maneuverability has been a persistent problem of many types of watercraft, especially crafts having low-powered propulsion systems. Poor maneuverability is a particular problem for pedal-operated watercraft because of their typically fixed propulsion systems as well as wide beam designs. It is also considered that pedal craft and other watercraft having low-powered propulsion systems would experience increased popularity if they could be operated at higher speeds.
Another challenge has been to render a pedal boat or other such small watercraft portable so that the craft can be readily transported, e.g. from a user's home to a waterfront site. While various attempts to provide portable watercraft have been reported, the need clearly still exists for improved designs, particularly watercraft that can be transported by a single person conveniently, including those that can be stored and transported at a compact size.
It thus would be desirable to have new watercraft that provide good maneuverability even at low operating speeds. It also would be desirable to have such watercraft that exhibit enhanced operating speeds with use of a low-powered propulsion system. It would be further desirable to have such watercraft that could be readily transported by a single person.


Disclosed is an optical information recording medium having a printable region on a label surface which is extended to a clamping area, and label information such as a name of a manufacturer is printed in the clamping area. The optical information recording medium includes a substrate having label information pits serving as non-recording and non-reproducing pits that are formed in the clamping area and a reflective layer laminated on the label information pits, and a dummy substrate to be attached to the substrate through an adhesive layer formed on the reflective layer. The multiple label information pits are formed substantially in an entire region of the clamping area to display the label information which emerges by linking portions where the label information pits are not formed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical information recording medium, or more specifically, to an optical information recording medium on which label information is recorded.
2. Description of the Related Art
A digital versatile disk (DVD) having a storage capacity several times as large as a compact disk (CD) such as CD-R or CD-RW has been widely used in recent years as an information recording medium for recording images and voices of a movie, for example. Conventionally, such a DVD includes a surface (a printable layer) on which desired information or an image is printable with a printer or the like on a surface (a label surface) provided on the opposite side to an incident side of recording and reproducing light on a dummy substrate (see Patent Document 1). Moreover, there is a proposal for enhancing a commercial value of a DVD with an extended printable region in recent years by extending a printable layer on a label surface to a clamping area that is located on an inner peripheral side of a recording area (a wide label).
(Patent Document 1)
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-199771 (see column 0017)
Incidentally, DVDs today include about 8 types of recordable DVDs depending on the standard and the recordable speed, which have pigment layers that contain organic coloring compounds. Moreover, including rewritable DVDs having phase change type recording layers, there are around 20 product types in aggregate.
However, a region for allowing image printing is extended to the clamping area close to a center hole in the case of the wide label DVD. Accordingly, a region for recording label information such as a manufacturer of the DVD or a product type previously recorded in the clamping area is substantially reduced. For this reason, DVD manufacturers try to record the label information as inconspicuously as possible for instance in a similar color to backgrounds of printable surfaces, so as not to affect images printed by users.
Under the circumstances, there is a problem that a user of a DVD can hardly distinguish the various types of DVD products and determine a proper DVD at the point of use.
Moreover, the clamping area around the center hole is known as a region on which stress is highly concentrated when fitting the DVD into a drive or detaching the DVD therefrom. For this reason, in the case of the DVD formed by attaching a substrate having a recording and reproducing region to a dummy substrate has a risk of breakage attributable to deterioration in adhesion of the clamping area.

Optical information recording medium and stamper


A receiver for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signals, including an A/D converter for converting received analog signals to a digital signal data stream and an OFDM demodulator for producing a first set of complex I and Q components of subcarriers from the digital signal data stream. The receiver includes a CSI estimator for estimating Channel State Information (CSI) from the sets of complex I and Q components and a TPS decoder for decoding TPS data from the sets of complex I and Q components using the CSI.

The present invention relates generally to communication receivers and, more specifically, to a Transmission Parameter Signaling (TPS) decoder in orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) receivers.
The following disclosure will describe a digital video broadcasting (DVB) receiver for digital terrestrial television (DTV). The concepts are equally applicable to any other channels of transmission of DTV receivers and to other receivers or standards using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM). These may include but not be limited to wireless standards worldwide, such as wireless LAN 802.11a and g, HIPERLAN/2, Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB), Digital Video Broadcasting Terrestrial (DVB-T), Digital Video Broadcasting for handheld (DVB-H), 802.16 Broadband Wireless Access, etc. The European terrestrial DTV standard DVB-T (ETS 300 744) is based on COFDM technologies to combat multipath fading. See ETSI EN 300 744 V.1.4.1 "Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB): Framing structures, channel coding, and modulation for digital terrestrial television."
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram for a typical DVBT receiver. The digital signal processing for a DVBT receiver can be partitioned into three portions. The first portion 10 includes an RF front end 12, and A/D converter 14, an OFDM demodulator 16, a demodulation 18 and a pilot and TPS decoder 19. This receiver front-end signal processing portion performs receiver training, including various synchronization and channel estimation and OFDM demodulation. The second portion 20 is the DVBT receiver back-end signal processing block. It performs DVBT inner channel decoding and outer channel decoding. The third portion 30 is a MPEG Decoder. An example is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,687,315.
The Transmission Parameter Signaling (TPS) is a signaling scheme used in DVB type systems, such as DVB-T and the coming DVB-H, to carry signaling information to the receiver the parameters related to the transmission scheme, i.e., channel coding and modulation. In DVB-T, the TPS signaling is transmitted in parallel on 17 TPS carriers for the 2K mode and on 68 carriers for the 8K mode. Every TPS carrier in the same symbol conveys the same differentially encoded information bit. The TPS is defined over 68 consecutive OFDM symbols (one OFDM frame), each OFDM symbol conveys 1 TPS bits, and each TPS block (transmitted over 68 OFDM symbols) contains 68 bits. Every TPS carrier in an OFDM symbol is DBPSK modulated and conveys the same message. The DBPSK is initialized at the beginning of each TPS block.
In the OFDM receiver front-end signal processing 10 of FIG. 1, each received OFDM symbol is extracted from the received data sequence at proper sampling timing and symbol timing instances. The extracted OFDM symbol I/Q in time domain will go through the OFDM demodulator 16 (an FFT operation) to generate the subcarriers in frequency domain. The OFDM symbol in frequency domain will go through channel correction to remove the channel effects. At the DVB receivers, the TPS DBPSK decoding/demodulation is performed on the subcarriers after the channel correction. Each received TPS block will go through BCH error decoding to get the error corrected TPS information bits. The TPS information bits are used to set up the receiver parameters to enable the receiver to function properly.
The TPS reception must be extremely reliable and robust in the presence of noise and fading. There are two levels of protection defined for the TPS transmission scheme. First, the TPS transmission is equipped with frequency diversity: 1 TPS bit is transmitted on 17 scattered subcarriers in an OFDM symbol for the 2K mode, so if selective frequency fading exists, there is a good chance that not all of the scattered 17 subcarriers are in deep fading, it is still possible to demodulate the correct TPS bits. The BCH(67,53,t=2) error correction coding provides the second layer of error protection for each TPS block. It is designed to correct up to two error bits in one encoded TPS block.
However, it is found in DVB system simulation that even with the above two levels of protection for TPS transmission as defined in DVB specification, TPS reception failures still occur intermittently in severe fading and high noise conditions. One example is that the conventional TPS reception algorithm fails sometimes at SNR=6 dB and Rayleigh fading channel.
Due to computational complexity and high MIPs required for the DVBT receiver, until recently, DVBT receivers have been implemented in hardware using ASICs. In the case of multi-protocol communication systems, the hardware implementation becomes less attractive due to extra chip cost and PC board area consumed. In this disclosure, an improved software implementation of a DVBT receiver is described. In this design, all functions associated with the DVBT receiver may be implemented in software in the Sandbridge Technologies Multithreaded SB9600 processor. The device may be used in hand-held devices, such as mobile phones and PDAs.
The present receiver includes an A/D converter for converting received analog signals to a digital signal data stream and an OFDM demodulator for producing a set of complex I and Q components of subcarriers from the digital signal data stream. A CSI estimator for estimating Channel State Information (CSI) from the sets of complex I and Q components and a TPS decoder for decoding TPS data from the sets of complex I and Q components using the CSI are provided. The receiver may also include a Viterbi decoder for decoding the sets of complex I and Q components using the CSI.
A method of decoding TPS data in a receiver includes estimating CSI from the sets of complex I and Q components of subcarriers of an OFDM signal demodulated in the receiver; and decoding TPS data in the sets of complex I and Q components of subcarriers using the CSI. The method may further include Viterbi decoding the sets of complex I and Q components using the CSI.
These and other aspects of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description of the disclosure, when considered in conjunction with accompanying drawings.

TPS decoder in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing receiver