A method for calibrating a non-pixelated gamma camera is provided, wherein the method includes determining a linearity map and a uniformity map of a reference isotope; and determining a linearity map and uniformity map of another isotope. Delta maps are calculated based on the maps of the reference isotope and the maps of the other isotope. During recalibration, new maps of the reference isotope are determined, thereby enabling new maps of the other isotope to be created based on the delta maps.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to gamma cameras, and more particularly to methods for calculating linearity and uniformity maps for non-pixelated gamma cameras.
Non-pixelated gamma cameras typically include a single crystal scintillator formed from Sodium Iodide (NaI). During a gamma event, light emissions from the crystal are detected by an array of photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) to create a signal that is integrated by a computer to determine a location and total energy of the event. However, the signal is typically non-linear due to a curvature response of the PMT array and gaps between the PMTs. As such, the detected location of the event will vary from the actual location of the event, thereby resulting in a poor image created from the signal if not corrected.
To correct the location of the event, calibration maps are applied to the image data. Different types of maps may be used. An energy map translates the energy as measured to the actual energy. A linearity map translates the location as measured to the actual location. A uniformity map corrects imperfections or non-uniformities in the detector by applying a correction factor to smooth or even the image. Typically, these maps are created for each of a plurality of isotopes during initial calibration and stored in a computer for subsequent calibrations of the cameras and are specific to the particular cameras or systems.
However, as the camera ages and is subject to repairs including replacing the PMTs, the maps become less accurate. For example, inaccuracies in the maps may result in straight lines being detected as curved lines or cause deviations in isotope emission peaks. Accordingly, a person in the field must recalibrate the camera for each isotope that is to be detected by the camera. Such recalibration takes a significant amount of time. Moreover, it is often difficult to acquire data for each of the isotopes that may be detected by the camera.

Systems and methods for generating calibration maps for non-pixelated gamma detectors


A coater head for applying coating to a size press roll of a size press coater, the coater head has a flow passage with a metering device at its outlet end and a metering chamber immediately adjacent to the metering end. A shear developing passage delivers coating to the metering chamber and a mixing passage leading into the metering chamber mixes fresh coating with return coating on the surface of the roll to carry the fresh coating to the outlet end of the metering chamber. The metering chamber is dimensioned to form a stable vortex within the chamber thereby to improve the uniformity of the coating wet film.

Size press coating of paper substrates generally involves the application of a coating via a coater head onto the surface of the size press application roll and then transferring the coating from the size press application roll surface to the paper web or the like in a size press application nip. The paper web does not pick up all of the coating available in the application nip of the size press and thus, some of the coating is carried on the application roll surface back to the coater head where it is mixed with and picks up fresh coating delivered to the head and carries same through a metering nip formed at the outlet end of the coater head.
To facilitate uniform pick-up, it is essential that the wet film of coating on the roll surface between the coater head and the application nip of the size press be relatively uniform, hence, the use of some form of metering device generally a smooth metering rod at the outlet end of the coater head is used to form a metering nip with the size press roll. This rod is intended to ensure that the wet film on the roll between the metering nip and the application nip is as uniform as possible and to meter the amount of coating in the wet film of the roll, i.e. the thickness of the wet film measured from the roll surface.
The speed of the equipment (peripheral speed of the size press rolls) is relatively fast, generally over a thousand meters a minute. Thus, the hydrodynamic conditions generated in the coater head influences the ability of the metering rod to properly meter the coating. Another significant factor is the properties of the coating fluid as it approaches the metering nip.
Many different coater head designs have been suggested. However, the problems associated with the hydraulic conditions generated and the properties of the coating fluid particularly at the metering nip have persisted.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,396,648 issued Aug. 2, 1983 to Holt et al. (Consolidated Papers Inc), 4,405,661 issued Sep. 20, 1983 to Alheid (Beloit Corporation), 4,688,516 issued Aug. 25, 1987 to Sommer (Jagenberg A G), 4,839,201 issued Jun. 13, 1989 to Rantanen et al. (Valmet Paper Machinery Inc) and 4,945,855 issued Aug. 7, 1990 to Eklund et al. (Valmet Paper Machinery Inc) illustrate various different types of coater heads for application of coatings either directly to the paper or onto a size press roll for application in a size press applicator.
It is apparent that the flow passage geometries in these devices are all quite different but all generally have in common (with the exception of U.S. Pat. No. 4,945,855), a fluid delivery system that delivers the coating fluid to a chamber immediately preceding the metering device and simply permits the fluid to flow through the metering device in the direction of movement of the surface to which the coating is being applied. No particular precautions are taken or instructions given with respect to generating stable conditions in the coating fluid approaching the metering nip i.e. controlling the hydraulic conditions to avoid undue metering problems at the metering nip nor is any reference made to or teachings provided for adjusting the rheology of the coating to present a coating with the desired properties to the metering nip to facilitate its application.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,945,855 uses a different technique in that the fluid is applied before a first metering device and then flows past the first metering device to the final metering device and a return flow passage is provided from adjacent final metering device for its recirculation or removal of excess coating. As with the other devices, no accommodation is made to control vortexes that are formed upstream of the metering device.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,780,336 issued Oct. 25, 1988 to Damrau (Consolidated Papers Inc) does discuss the formation of turbulence and flow patterns in a high speed machine immediately upstream of the metering device (in this case a metering blade). This patent deems the added turbulence generated upstream of the metering nip to be uncontrollable i.e. the hydraulic conditions in the coating fluid approaching the metering nip are uncontrollable and teaches reinforcing the metering blade to reduce flexure caused by these uncontrolled conditions to a minimum and thereby improve the uniformity of the coating in spite of the uncontrollable turbulence.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,078,081 issued Jan. 7, 1992 to Kustermann (J. M. Voith gmbH) discloses a coating applicator head having a throttle gap leading into or toward the metering nip of the applicator and a second throttling channel upstream of the throttle leading to the metering end of the flow chamber, the second throttling channel permitting escape of excess coating fluid being delivered to the metering device. Apparently, the two throttles co-operate to adjust the flow to the metering end of the flow passage.


A pop-up monitor is provided. A pop-up monitor with a double rack gear includes a driving unit, a rack gear set, and a monitor frame. The driving unit includes a spur gear set having first and second spur gears, and generates first and second rotational motions with the first and second spur gears. The rack gear set includes an outer gear with a rail groove in one surface thereof along, changing the first rotational motion to a first rectilinear motion, and an inner gear with a rail rail-coupled to the rail groove changing the second rotational motion to a second rectilinear motion. The monitor frame includes a support frame supporting a monitor. The monitor frame is fixed by the inner gear which vertically ascends by the second rectilinear motion without forward and rearward movement when the support frame has vertically ascended to a position according to the first rectilinear motion.

Recently, as the functions and quality of vehicles are highly enhanced, various monitors for controlling an air-conditioning apparatus, a navigator, a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) television (TV), etc. are installed in the vehicles. Such monitors are categorized into rear monitors and front monitors. The rear monitor is disposed in the rear of a driver's seat or a console and operated by a passenger of a back seat. The front monitor is installed on a display panel in front of a vehicle body and operated by a passenger of a front seat such as a driver's seat or a passenger seat.
The front monitor mounted on the display panel is configured such that a frame with a monitor mounted thereon is popped up in order for a driver to more easily look at the front monitor. As such pop-up types, there are a pop-up type where the monitor frame is vertically popped up, a pop-up type where the monitor frame is popped up while rotating, and a pop-up type where the monitor frame moves horizontally and then is popped up while rotating vertically.
Among such pop-up types, the pop-up type where the monitor frame is vertically popped up is illustrated in FIG. 1.
FIG. 1 is a partially cut rear view illustrating an operation of a related art electric pop-up monitor for a vehicle.
Referring to FIG. 1, a related art electric pop-up monitor 1 for a vehicle includes a body 3 mounted on one side of a crush pad of a vehicle, a monitor 4 disposed in the body 3, and a driver 5 that lifts and drops the monitor 4 with respect to the body 3.
That is, a guide protrusion 6 being a guide that allows the monitor 4 to ascend and descend with respect to a space portion formed inside the body 3 is lengthily formed upward and downward to protrude in an internal direction from one side of the body 3. Such a guide groove 7 coupled to the guide protrusion 6 is formed in one side of the monitor 4.
The driver 5 is disposed between the body 3 and a rear surface on the reverse of a portion forming a screen 8 in front of the monitor 4. Herein, the driver 5 includes a motor 9 generating a torque, and a plurality of gears such as a driven gear 10 transferring the torque of the motor 9. A worm gear 11 is disposed in a rotational axis of the motor 9, and a worm wheel gear 13 is disposed in a driven shaft 12 interlocking with the driven gear 10. A pinion gear 14 coupled to the driven gear 10 rotates about a pinion axis 15. In this case, the pinion axis 15 and the driven shaft 12 are supported in one side of the body 3. Furthermore, a rack gear 17 where a spur gear 16 is vertically formed is disposed in a rear surface of the monitor 4.
As described above, a related art pop-up monitor drives a monitor upward and downward by coupling with the spur gear that is formed in the pinion gear and the rack gear, and the monitor that has completely ascended in an upper direction with respect to the body is supported by gear engagement. In this case, since a portion supporting the ascended monitor is narrow, the monitor is easily shaken upward and downward or from side to side by vibration that occurs in driving a vehicle.
Moreover, in the related art, since the spur gear formed in the rack gear is exposed to the outside, there is much possibility that the driving of a vehicle is failed due to foreign substances.
As consumers demand various functions of vehicles, the number of electronic components mounted on the vehicles is increasing, and thus, there is inconvenience because a receiving space for an external device such as a smart phone is insufficient. Also, the number of ports for guaranteeing connectivity with an external device such as a smart phone is insufficient. Therefore, a new type of monitor for solving the limitations is required.

Pop-up monitor with double rack gear structure


A monitoring device, system and method are provided for in-home/on-premises monitoring of usage of utilities, such as electricity and other services. The monitoring device receives information from a smart meter, and displays usage through a display, illuminating an area using a color indicative of the current cost of consumption, and varying the illuminated area at a rate indicative of a rate of consumption or other metric, the varying of the illuminated area simulating movement in the display. The display provides a consumer with “at a glance” visual information on current usage. Optionally a digital display screen provides detailed alphanumeric and graphical information, through a number of selectable display modes. One or more devices may be networked, and interface directly or indirectly with a transceiver of a smart metering system, or a retrofit transceiver for a conventional meter. Monitoring of other utilities and services may alternatively or additionally be provided.

Residential, commercial and industrial establishments are typically provided with meters for measuring consumption of commodities, including electricity, gas and water, and other services, supplied to a building by utilities. For example, an electricity provider typically provides each consumer's premises with a conventional electricity meter having a rotating disc and counter to measure and indicate cumulative usage in kilowatt hours (kWh), as a measure of usage or consumption of electrical energy for billing the consumer. Similar meters may be provided for gas, water or other services/supplies.
More recently, many utility companies and government agencies have been installing "smart meters" which can record cumulative or total energy usage and transmit the data to a central location, avoiding the need to employ a fleet of meter readers to take meter readings. Smart metering systems also facilitate data collection in terms of speed, accuracy and total cost of collection. Moreover, smart metering allows for more detailed monitoring of time of use, cost and other data. Most smart meters are configured to monitor usage and apply different rates or tariffs for energy usage based on a current rate period or time of use period. Typical resolution of time measurement is 15 minute or 60 minute intervals. A number of different rate periods and corresponding rates may be established based on time of day (e.g. peak rates and off-peak rates), day of the week, month, season, varying cost of supply or other factors. Other utilities set tiered rates based on consumption levels. Thus utilities and local distribution companies can set different tariffs for usage depending on a rate period. Consumers may regulate their consumption accordingly, for example by deferring use to a lower cost, off peak rate period.
Introduction of smart metering by utility companies and service providers is driven in part by the need to encourage reduced consumption during peak hours, and typically several tariffs are provided dependent on time of use (e.g. peak/off-peak) to provide a cost incentive for off peak use, or energy conservation during peak periods. For electricity generation, off-peak use spreads demand on the system for improved power management at peak demand, which is particularly important in climates placing extreme demands on provisioning for peak periods (heating during winter months and cooling during summer months).
Nevertheless, even with smart metering, the consumer may not receive information on consumption and cost from the utility provider until a billing is received. Furthermore, since conventional and smart meters are typically located on the outside of a building, consumers need more convenient ways to monitor current consumption and cost in real-time, for example from within the home.
Smart meter systems are typically networked, through wired or wireless networks, to provide for remote monitoring and meter reading by utility/service providers. Consequently there are a number of known systems for providing consumers with information on their usage, for example in-home or on-premises displays which may be linked to the smart meter using wireless or wired connections. Smart meters may communicate with other devices such as remote appliance controllers (RACs), programmable communicating thermostats (PCTs) and in-home displays (IHD) for energy management etc. These in-home or in-building displays typically have a digital display to indicate usage information, such as consumption, and may provide for simple graphical representations of information, indicator lights and audible warnings.
Wirelessly-enabled smart metering and monitoring systems may rely on a number of known wireless networking, or mesh and sensor networking protocols depending on range of transmission and security requirements (e.g. based on IEEE 802.15.4, ANSI C12.19, C12.22, Zigbee).
Where smart meters are not installed, several retrofit solutions may be offered for automatically reading data from conventional meters and transmitting data wirelessly or through wired network connections.
For example, the "Power cost" monitor by Blue Line Innovations, described in US published patent application No. 2005/0222784 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,174,260), provides a digital display capable of displaying several parameters and graphically representing data in real time relating to energy usage and cost, together with related information such as outside temperature. This monitor includes a numeric display, with a graphical display of a spinning wheel to indicate power consumption rate (disk emulator). In this example, in-home units may communicate with a sensor device attached to the exterior of a conventional electricity meter which senses the rotation of the wheel and communicates the information to the in-home monitor by way of a wireless link.
Where smart metering is available, there are a number of digital displays available to consumers for displaying numeric and simple graphical information. These may be wall-mounted like a wall thermostat, or plug-in to an electrical wall outlet, and may receive information from a meter system through wired or wireless connections.
Other examples of electrical power usage monitors are: the Ritetemp universal wireless thermostat by Golden Power Manufacturing, which includes coloured light utility rate indicators; Ambient digital graphical displays, which include the Energy Joule display which plugs into an electricity outlet and provides available displays coloured backlighting depending on rate; other displays also provide related weather and temperature information. Another plug-in unit marketed as Powerstat by TWACS by DCSI provides audible and visual alerts; Powerwatch provides secure wireless monitoring with data feed to a watch-type monitor worn on the wrist.
Another manufacturer, EcoMeter manufactures display units with digital graphical displays, for monitoring both energy and water usage; a set of LEDs along the bottom of the screen indicate tariff periods by colours: green for off-peak; yellow for shoulder tariff; orange for peak tariff; red for dynamic peak tariff/high demand. This device also translates energy usage to greenhouse gas emissions equivalents.
Although a number of in-home (in-building, on-premises) displays are available, existing products have some limitations, and may not be compatible with known smart metering systems. Some of the units require a consumer to be aware of any changes in status, and be close enough to read and interpret data on the display. Furthermore, where units plug into an electrical wall outlet, there are limitations on placement and the device may not be conveniently located for reading of a digital display.
Some users also want to know their current energy usage, either in terms of current cost (in a currency unit, such as dollars or cents) or in units of measurement of energy (such as kilowatt hours). Some smart meters may not provide information on rate period, and even when information is available, consumers may not be able to immediately interpret numeric data without analysis because there are several types of billing: e.g. single flat rate mode; tiered rate mode; time-of-use rate modes.
As mentioned above, some approaches exist to transmit energy usage data from a smart meter to a central station, or possibly even to a location within a building, for reading by a user. When smart meters are not installed, such approaches often require an electrician to install specialized equipment connected to a conventional meter, and the equipment generally requires a separate power supply or power source.
Increasing energy and fuel and other costs, and concern for the environmental impact of energy and resource demands, provide incentives for smart metering of utilities providing improved monitoring of usage, time of use dependent rates, and feedback to the both the utility company and consumers.
It is understood that the success of such smart meter initiatives largely depends on the extent to which energy consumers, such as electricity consumers, are able to use smart metering to take advantage of opportunities for conservation and better manage their consumption and, as a result, their energy costs.
It is, therefore, desirable to provide an apparatus that can provide an indication of current energy usage with respect to a provided service, such as electricity, in relation to an applicable rate period. To encourage reduced demand at peak periods, and conservation, there is a need for improved devices that are relatively inexpensive yet provide consumers with a convenient, visual indication of current (real-time) usage in terms of cost and consumption for electricity usage and usage of other services.

Utility monitoring device, system and method


A pattern producing unit performs arithmetic on values of pixels corresponding to a pattern and a basic pattern read from a data storing unit with an AND operation unit, and thereby produces a pattern having substantially the same shade level as the pattern. The latent-image-containing image producing unit produces the latent-image-containing image by selectively combining the pattern and the produced pattern according to the values of respective pixels of mask image data read from the data storing unit for producing a latent image.

1. Field of the Technology
The technology presented herein relates to an image processing apparatus and a method, and particularly to an image forming apparatus and a method forming a latent image for embedding information in an image.
2. Background Art
Since copy machine technologies have been developed in recent years, it is now possible to copy or counterfeit documents without difficulty and this has become a significant social issue. Therefore, a latent image printing technique has been proposed as one of techniques that reveal a latent image when copied so that one can identify a reproduction at a first glance.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 54-074125 provides a printed matter in which a latent image is printed in fine dots (i.e., halftone dots), and a portion around the latent image is printed in coarse dots. Since fine dots are hard to copy, and one can easily recognize the latent image when the printed matter is copied. The technique in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 54-074125 utilizes a limit of a reproduction performance of a copying machine. For example, sheets of paper employing a similar technique are used for copies of certificates of residence so that letters of "COPY" or the like may appear when the certificate of residence is copied.
Description will now be given on a latent image with reference to FIGS. 23 and 24. FIG. 23 shows an example of the latent image. In FIG. 23, an image of a letter "A" serving as a latent image is formed of a coarse pattern 21, and a peripheral image is formed of a fine pattern 22 to exhibit the same shade level as the latent image. When a copying machine copies a sheet on which the image of FIG. 23 is printed, a copied matter in FIG. 24 is produced. On the copied matter in FIG. 24, fine pattern 22 is not present, or a shade difference is present between coarse and fine patterns 21 and 22 due to a performance limit of the copying machine so that a letter of "A" embedded as the latent image appears.
Referring to FIGS. 25A-25D, description will now be given on the case where the latent image technique is utilized on sheets for printing an original. An original image shown in FIG. 25A is printed on a sheet bearing a background image containing a latent image (i.e., an image of a letter "A") shown in FIG. 25B. FIG. 25C shows a result of such printing. On a printed matter in FIG. 25C, the latent image is integral with a background around it, and the background image exhibits a uniform pattern so that a person viewing the printed matter in FIG. 25C considers that the original is printed on a uniform pattern. When the printed matter in FIG. 25C is copied, the latent image appears on the copied matter as already described. Therefore, by employing an image of letters of "COPY" as the latent image, one can easily determine whether the printed matter was produced by copying or not.
However, according to the technique in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 54-074125, it is necessary to prepare sheets having a latent image effect before printing the documents in view of an estimated volume of required sheets. When a design of the latent image is changed, new sheets of paper must be prepared, which results in a waste of the printed sheets, and excessively increases a cost. Further, it is impossible to change the letters to be embedded in response to every printing of the document.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 07-231384 has disclosed a technique in which a digital copying machine records a background image containing a latent image in addition to an original image read by a CCD (Charge Coupled Device). The digital copying machine performs internal image processing to overlay the background image containing the latent image on the original image so that it is not necessary to prepare in advance the printed sheets bearing the background image containing the latent image.
Referring to FIGS. 25A-25D, description will now be given on overlaying of the original image and the background image containing the latent image. In the technique of Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 54-074125, it is necessary to print in advance the background image containing the latent image on sheets of paper. However, according to the technique of Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 07-231384, the image processing is performed to overlay the original image (see FIG. 25A) on the background image (see FIG. 25B) containing the latent image, and thereby the print output of the image in FIG. 25C is performed so that it is not necessary to prepare in advance the sheets bearing the background image containing the latent image.
The techniques disclosed in Japanese Patent Laying-Open Nos. 54-074125 and 07-231384 utilize the coarse and fine patterns that exhibit the same shade level to the eye. Therefore, the patterns are uniform at a distant view, but a boundary between the coarse and fine patterns becomes conspicuous in a close view, and such a problem occurs that the latent image is readily recognized with the naked eye even when it is not copied.
Accordingly, a technique has been disclosed in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 04-170569 for providing a camouflage pattern of an open or hollow form that is independent of a latent image pattern and extends through a background image and the latent image. Since the camouflage pattern is more conspicuous than the boundary between the coarse and fine patterns, it is difficult to recognize the latent image with the naked eye. Further, as compared with the technique of overprinting another pattern, this technique can camouflage the latent image with less cost and time.
Referring to FIGS. 23, 26 and 27, description will now be given on the camouflage pattern. Referring to FIG. 23, coarse pattern 21 and dense (fine) pattern 22 are printed to exhibit the same shade level, and therefore can be recognized as a uniform pattern in a distant view, but a boundary between the coarse and fine patterns becomes conspicuous in a close view due to a difference in density so that the latent image is recognized with the naked eye. In view of this, as shown in FIG. 26, a hollow camouflage pattern 23 is arranged over patterns 21 and 22. Since the camouflage pattern is more conspicuous than the pattern boundary, the latent image can be camouflaged. When the background image containing the latent image thus camouflaged with the pattern is copied, such an effect is ensured that the fine pattern is not copied similarly to the case where the camouflage pattern is not employed, and the latent image appears as shown in FIG. 27
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-101762 has disclosed a technique in which one symbol is assigned to one dot pattern, and dot patterns are arranged in combination for embedding information in an image. The dot patterns will now be described with reference to FIGS. 28A, 28B and 29. For example, the dot pattern in FIG. 28A is assigned a symbol of 0, and the dot pattern in FIG. 28B is assigned a symbol of 1. These symbols are combined, and the dot patterns in FIG. 28A or 28B are arranged according to the arrangement or alignment of the combined symbols so that a uniform background pattern 30 can be formed as shown in FIG. 29. Therefore, by combining it with the techniques in Japanese Patent Laying-Open Nos. 54-074125 and 07-231384, a part of the background pattern may be replaced with another pattern that exhibits the same shade level, and thereby it is possible to provide the background image containing the latent image that appears when copied.
However, one can easily recognize a boundary portion between the dot pattern bearing the symbols and the replaced pattern similarly to Japanese Patent Laying-Open Nos. 54-074125 and 07-231384, and a problem that the latent image is visible to the naked eye is not yet overcome. In particular, the pattern formed of arrangement of the dot patterns bearing the symbols exhibits a peculiar pattern, and thus the peculiar pattern becomes more conspicuous.
The camouflage pattern of the Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 04-170569 may be used for overcoming the problem that the latent image is visible to the naked eye. In this case, the latent image is not conspicuous to the eye, but such a problem arises that the camouflage pattern destroys the dot pattern, and information embedded in the image cannot be read.
As described above, when information is embedded in at least one of the plurality of patterns forming the latent image, a mere combination of the foregoing patent references cannot camouflage the latent image to make it inconspicuous without losing the embedded information.

Image forming apparatus and method forming a latent image for embedding information in an image


A thermal mass flow meter is disclosed for determining a material flow through a vessel. In this case, a sensor arrangement is mounted on a holder immersed into a vessel with a flowing medium. It is proposed that the sensor arrangement comprises a first and a second measuring element, with one of the respective measuring elements being heated while the other respective measuring element is not heated and that the two measuring elements can be heated alternately.

Such mass flow meters have long been known. The measuring principle of thermal mass flow meters is based on the cooling of a heating element mounted on a holder when immersed into a flowing fluid. The flow which flows over the surface of the heating element absorbs heat from the latter and thus cools the heating element. The construction and behavior are illustrated in principle in FIG. 1. In this case, the quantity of heat absorbed by the flow depends on the temperature difference between the surface and the fluid, and on the flow itself. It can be described by a function{dot over (q)}=α(TO−TF),where{dot over (q)} is the quantity of heat dissipated,(TO−TF) is the temperature difference, andα is a constant of proportionality.The constant of proportionality α is in this case directly dependent on the flow and is a function of the mass flow density over the heating element α=ƒ(ρν)˜√{square root over (ρν)}. Now, if the temperature difference between the surface and the fluid, and also the heating power required to generate this temperature difference, are known, the mass flow over the heating element can thus be determined from this.
Thus, for practical application of such a thermal mass flow measurement, two temperature sensors, one of which is heated and used for the flow measurement, are now put into the flow as illustrated in FIG. 2. The second temperature sensor serves to measure the fluid temperature TF.
In general, the measurement is in this case carried out only statically with a constant heating power or a constant temperature difference between the heater and the flow. However, a pulsed mode of operation, which is evaluated with slightly more effort, could also be carried out in this case.
However, for all these measurements here it is important that a very accurate measurement of the heating power and the temperature difference is carried out. The quantity of heat given off to the flow cannot be measured directly in this case but is rather determined by measuring the electrical heating power used. However, due to the construction, the electrical heating power introduced is not completely given off to the flow directly from the sensor head but a part of the heat flows into the holder of the sensor head and from there it is given off to the surroundings or to the flow at a greater distance from the measuring element. Since this heat flux is included in the measurement of the mass flow, it directly influences the measured result and presents a great source of error when using a thermal mass flow meter. It is partially taken into consideration during the calibration of the mass flow meter. However, since it is very variable, depending in particular on the flow and temperature conditions in the flow, it can be considered only to a limited extent during calibration and thus still presents a great source of error. It is thus attempted to keep this heat-loss flux as low as possible during the development of a thermal mass flow meter in order to achieve a flow measurement that is as accurate as possible.
In order to reduce this influence, it is generally attempted to set the ratio of the direct heat flux into the flow and the losses into the holder to be as great as possible during the development of a thermal mass flow meter. That is to say, a very good thermal contact between the heater and the flow is created and, at the same time, the heat outflow into the holder is reduced by appropriate insulation. A possible embodiment is presented in U.S. Pat. No. 5,880,365. In general, the insulation in this case comprises the entire holder of the sensor head in order to create the best insulation possible.
The quantity of heat given off to the flow is a measure of the flow. If the correlation of quantity of heat given off to the flow directly via the sensor and indirectly via the holder is constant, a unique relationship between the quantity of heat and the mass flow can be determined by calibration. In this case, it is assumed that the heat-loss flux given off by the sensor and holder only depends on the flow and the construction of the sensor itself.
However, in real process conditions, the assumption of a constant correlation between quantities of heat given off directly and indirectly to the flow, depending only on the flow, proves to be false. The main cause of this error is contamination of the flow medium, which is deposited on the surfaces of the sensor and holder and thus leads to a change in the heat transfers. By way of example, if the heat transfer between the sensor and the gas deteriorates, the supplied quantity of heat dissipated via the holder is increased. The correlation between quantities of heat given off by the sensor and the holder found during calibration is changed due to the contamination.
The contamination is thus an unwanted effect which falsifies the calibration data and hence the measurement. Since the contamination of the sensor head cannot be detected, this results in dangerous falsified measured values.
The contaminated mass meter will show a measured value that is too low due to the heat losses into the holder. There is the danger of overfilling in filling processes. In the case of billing, a value that is too low is calculated.
Although the problem can be countered by frequent recalibrations, which are often complex, the sensor must be removed for these. Disadvantageously, the process has to be suspended for this purpose. Since the time of de-calibration due to contamination cannot be anticipated, calibration must be performed, often unnecessarily, at short time intervals. Calibration "on demand" is not possible.
In addition, in situ monitoring with a second, independent sensor is known. However, since both sensors are subject to the same contamination, parallel drift occurs, so that once again the error cannot be detected. Furthermore, installation and service costs are considerably increased by redundant sensor systems.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Thermal mass flow meter and method for its operation


Uneven wear causes degradation of the individual parts of a syringe pump. Specifically, a seal piece composed of a soft material is easily damaged by uneven wear. To solve this problem, an automatic analysis device has a syringe pump that feeds and aspirates a liquid into and from a dispensing unit. The syringe pump has a syringe tube that stores a liquid, a plunger that moves up and down in the syringe tube, a plunger upper pressing component that contacts the plunger, a motive force transmitting part that transmits motive force to the plunger via the plunger upper pressing component, and a plunger lower pressing component that contacts the motive force transmitting part. The plunger upper pressing component and the motive force transmitting part make point contact with each other, and the motive force transmitting part and the plunger lower pressing component make point contact with each other.

In an automatic analysis device, in order to perform component analysis on biological samples such as serum and urine (hereinafter referred to as samples), a sample and a reagent are reacted, and a change in color tone or turbidity caused thereby is optically measured by a photometric unit such as a spectrophotometer.
In order to react the sample and the reagent, it is necessary to perform dispensation from a container in which the sample and the reagent are contained into a reaction container. Accordingly, the automatic analysis device includes a dispensing device configured to automatically aspirate and dispense the sample or the reagent (hereinafter, generally referred to as a liquid) from the container in which the sample and the reagent are contained into the reaction container.
In a liquid dispensing unit configured to aspirate and dispense the sample by a syringe pump, dispensing performance and life of each part are influenced by a number of components constituting the syringe pump. Particularly, the syringe pump includes a seal component for each part with a plunger as one of limited-life products.
The seal component is generally made of a soft material such as a resin, and seals the liquid in a syringe while receiving sliding resistance when the plunger is operated. When the seal component is damaged due to uneven wear, liquid leakage from the syringe and change in dispensed liquid volume due to pressure loss occur, which may be a factor in a failure of providing an accurate analysis result. In PTL 1, a plunger pump configured to prevent a contact surface of a plunger from hitting an edge of a cam by varying and sliding the contact surface of the plunger with respect to the cam, thereby preventing early wear of the members.

Automatic analysis device with syringe pump


An image capturing method and a terminal device are provided. The method includes entering a camera application to start a lens and display a viewfinder interface, converting an original image captured by the lens into a red-green-blue (RGB) image, and decreasing luminance of the RGB image to be less than first luminance or increasing the luminance of the RGB image to be greater than second luminance, to obtain a first image; converting the RGB image into N frames of high-dynamic-range (HDR) images, and fusing color information of pixels in any same location on the first image and the N frames of HDR images to obtain a final image.

With the advancement of terminal technologies, various functions of terminal devices are constantly improved. A mobile phone is used as an example, and an image capturing function is one of functions frequently used by a user. In addition, the user pays more attention to imaging quality of the mobile phone.
However, it is difficult to control exposure of an image captured by using an existing mobile phone, and a problem of overexposure or underexposure easily occurs. As a result, details on a bright part of an image are clear but details on a dark part of the image are lost, or details on a dark part are clear but details on a bright part are lost, finally leading to poor imaging quality of the image.

Image capturing method and terminal device


A portion or component of a metal container is provided with markings or indicia using laser light. High-speed laser steering is used to position laser light or laser light pulses across a lateral and longitudinal extent in a relatively short time period such as a time period selected so as to avoid slowing, stopping or otherwise interfering with other container or container component production processes. Preferably, tab stock for container-opening tabs can be provided with 6 to 9 or more visible characters within a time window of 50 to 100 milliseconds or less. Preferably, the size and resolution provided by the pulses are sufficient to permit legible, and preferably attractive, formation of any standard typewriter characters. In one embodiment, other logos, designs, textures, backgrounds and similar features can be provided.

The present invention relates to the use of a laser for marking containers including container body end tab portions and in particular to a process that can rapidly achieve the desired amount of marking within a predetermined time such as a manufacturing process dwell time.
As part of a container manufacturing, or in some cases, filling or sealing operation, markings may be placed on containers for a variety of purposes including identifying contents, identifying the location or date of manufacture or use, identifying the maker of the container or container component, the style or materials for the container, providing of trade names, advertising, promotion, or the like. In some situations, promotional information in the form of sweepstakes, contests, or other valuable tokens or indicia are placed or marked on container or container components.
A variety of devices and procedures have been used for marking containers. In some cases, embossing or incising processes have been used. Embossing or incising, e.g. via stamping, can require an undesirably large inventory of tools, e.g. for different kinds of lettering or symbols, and typically requires the need to shut down an assembly line and disassemble a press whenever it is desired to change tools (such as for changing the indicia being incised or embossed or for maintenance or repair purposes). Such shutdowns are particularly troublesome when it is desirable to change the symbols with relatively high frequency, such as when markings on containers are intended as part of a contest or sweepstakes in which there are preferably a relatively large number of different possible markings or indicia (e.g. when only some of which are xe2x80x9cgrand prizexe2x80x9d winners). Furthermore, it has been difficult to accurately control the depth of embossing or incising and, in some cases, embossing or incising that is too deep has led to leakage or container failure.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide for marking of containers or components in a fashion permitting markings or indicia to be changed with relatively high frequency but without the need to stop or slow down a production line for this purpose. It would also be useful to provide for marking containers while avoiding the need for maintaining relatively large inventories of tools or dies, and preferably while avoiding container quality problems such as may arise from markings which are excessively deep.
Another process which has been used for placing markings on containers or components thereof, has been one or more printing processes. Contact or press printing is sometimes useful for decorating or placing markings on containers where it is desired to place a relatively large number of identical markings on containers. However, contact printing is believed impractical for many components, because of their shape or position (such as container-opening tabs) or when it is desired to change indicia with relatively high frequency (e.g. for sweepstake or contest purposes) because of the need to stop a production line and partially disassemble the contact print device in order to change the configuration of the items being printed on the containers.
In some situations, components of containers may be printed using a non-contact printing process such as an inkjet process. Although inkjets can be controlled to provide relatively frequent changes in indicia, inkjet processes and equipment have been found, in the past, to be relatively unreliable such as requiring frequent maintenance and repair. Inkjet processes have also been found to be subject to unwanted placement or positioning of ink such as resulting in a mist of ink which can interfere with the printing process, cause undesired markings on cans, or cause equipment malfunction. In some cases, it has been found that up to 20% or more of potential production time has been lost to the need for cleaning up, maintenance and/or repair when an ink jet process is used. Additionally, it has been found difficult to achieve reliable adhesion of the ink to containers or container components. Furthermore, when inkjet or other printing processes are used in connection with contest sweepstakes or providing other valuable tokens or indicia, since the process provides only surface markings (without forming indentations e.g. in the container itself) there is an undesirably large potential for counterfeiting or altering the markings e.g. in an attempt to claim a contest or sweepstakes prize. Furthermore, inkjet processes have been difficult to provide at high speed while maintaining quality, so as to mark letters or other indicia without distortion or the like.
Accordingly, it would be useful to provide for high quality marking of containers or container components while avoiding the cleanup, maintenance and repair time associated with inkjet or other printing processes, preferably while permitting relatively rapid changes of indicia.
Some or all of the above difficulties in previous container marking procedures are particularly troublesome for metallic containers or container components such as a typical aluminum alloy beverage container (e.g. of the type available from Ball Corporation, Broomfield, Colo.) or tabs or other components thereof. As compared with, e.g., plastic containers or container components, metal containers can be relatively difficult to mark, at least because it can be difficult to adhere ink to metal surfaces, because of the harder surface of metal containers, higher melting or softening point, and the like. Accordingly, devices and processes used in connection with some container materials are not necessarily applicable to others. In most situations, the functions or purposes for container markings will rarely justify use of procedures which would involve expenses which are substantially in excess of those involved with current processes. Accordingly, it would be useful to provide for procedures and devices for marking containers which can be achieved economically, preferably without substantially exceeding costs or expenses associated with current container production, filling or sealing processes.
The present invention provides for using laser light for marking metal containers or container components (including, e.g., container bodies, container ends and container end tabs). In one embodiment, a laser is provided with rapid-acting beam-steering and control to permit the marking of a relatively large number of characters or symbols (such as 6 or more, preferably 9 or more) in a relatively short period of time (such as less than about 100 milliseconds, preferably less than a normal component production dwell time e.g. of about 50 milliseconds) so that the desired marking can be achieved without stopping or slowing current container or container component fabrication procedures or machines.
In one embodiment, steering of a laser beam is achieved with high rapidity by reducing the mass of one or more steering mirrors. The resultant device delivers sufficient power density to form visible marks in a metal (e.g. aluminum) container component despite the decreased beam size or aperture associated with the smaller mirror size.
Preferably, the laser light is delivered to the container region or component as a series of high intensity laser pulses. Each pulse forms a visible ablated area or dot and the pattern of dots together make up the desired symbol or image. Accordingly, to achieve a desired number of characters or symbols in less than a predetermined period of time, the device must be capable of delivering all of the pulses needed for forming all of the desired characters within the predetermined time period. In one embodiment, a laser device is provided which delivers pulses at a frequency of at least about 12 kiloHertz (kHz) while providing sufficient power that substantially all such pulses produce the desired spot ablation of the metal container component.

Method and apparatus for marking containers using laser light


The present invention relates to a vortex bubble removing and cooling system for the electromagnetic shock wave generator in the lithotripter. The vortex bubble-removing and cooling system comprises a water-full cushion (17), a metal diaphragm (14) installed inside the chamber body (27) of the water cushion (17) and a coil (13) which is installed at the backside of the metal diaphragm (14). There is at least one first water nozzle (22) on the side wall of the chamber body (27) and a water suction tube (23) at the center of the chamber body (27). The first water nozzle (22) and the water suction tube (23) form a vortex-generating device. The vortex generated inside the chamber body will scour the surface of the metal diaphragm continuously so as to cool the heat and remove the air bubble. This will make the metal diaphragm be in good working condition and greatly increase the working life of the metal diaphragm and the coil.

Conventionally, the electromagnetic shock wave lithotripter has types of shock wave sources: one is the incident focusing configuration, called self-focusing one, as shown in FIG. 4 and one of the others is the sound lens focusing configuration as shown in FIG. 5. The operation principle of the electromagnetic shock wave generator is as follows. When a strong pulse current passes through a coil, an induced current will be generated in a metal diaphragm. These two currents then form magnetic fields that repel each other, resulting in a sudden and short movement of the metal diaphragm. Consequently, a strong pressure pulse is generated in the nearby water. The pulse is gradually reinforced in propagation and thereby forms a shock wave.
With the incident focusing configuration shown in FIG. 4, the concave spherical coil will result in a concave spherical shock wave, which travels stably and keeps on focusing in propagation, therefore, without the need of the sound lens. With the sound lens-focusing configuration shown in FIG. 5, the planar coil will generate a planar shock wave. Therefore, the sound lens is required to focus the wave. In one stone fragmentation session, it is necessary to perform the high voltage pulse discharging for hundreds, or even thousands of times in order to disintegrate stone in the human body completely. Thus, a great amount of heat is produced in the coil. If the heat is not dissipated immediately, the metal diaphragm will be softened, destabilized and crumpled, thus the coil will be overheated and destroyed. Meanwhile, the interaction between the shock wave and the water will also result in cavitation and thus form bubbles in the water. The bubbles will adhere to the metal diaphragm, making the heat dissipation even worse. Further, when bubbles collapse under the interaction with the shock wave, micro-jets that can damage the metal diaphragm will be formed. Therefore, the conventional electromagnetic shock wave generator has a short working life, and it is necessary to replace the metal diaphragm very often. Accordingly, the configuration shown in FIG. 5 is often used in the prior art, wherein a metal diaphragm is placed over the coil, thereby the shock wave produced goes upward. In this way, the bubbles adhering to the metal diaphragm will moves upward under the action of the buoyancy force, and at the same time the heated water will also rise continuously, thus forming a fluid circulation in the chamber body. However, because the whole shock wave source is located in the lower part, it is inconvenient for physicians to move or locate it during treatment.
Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a vortex bubble-removing and cooling system for the electromagnetic shock wave generator for the lithotripter, which is capable of removing the bubbles adhering to a metal diaphragm automatically and dissipating the heat generated in the metal diaphragm immediately.

Vortex bubble-removing and cooling system for the electromagnetic shock wave generator for the lithotripter


A fuel injector comprising a valve needle for controlling fuel injection through an injector outlet, a control chamber for receiving fuel and a three-way control valve that controls fuel pressure within the control chamber to control opening and closing movement of the valve needle to control fuel injection through the outlet. The three-way control valve controls communication between (a) a first passage and a second passage and (b) a third passage and the second passage, and includes a first housing provided with a guide bore for a control valve member, whereby movement of the control valve member is guided within the guide bore and a first valve seat, defined by a second housing, with which an end of the control valve member is engageable to control communication between the first and second passages. The first housing is a control valve housing and the second housing is an injector housing, the injector housing being provided with a guide bore for the valve needle or a part carried by the valve needle. The control valve also defines a second valve seat defined by the first housing with which the control valve member is engageable to control communication between the second and third flow passages, and an intermediate housing located between the first and second housings, wherein the second passage is defined within the intermediate housing.

To optimise diesel engine combustion, it is necessary to have precise control over the quantities of fuel delivered by the fuel injectors. It is desirable to be able to inject small quantities of fuel across a wide range of fuel pressures. For heavy-duty applications in particular, the fuel injectors must be capable of delivering fuel in small quantities at very high fuel pressures.
Typically, a fuel injector includes an injection nozzle having a nozzle needle which is movable towards and away from a valve needle seating so as to control fuel injection into the engine. The nozzle needle is controlled by means of a nozzle control valve (NCV), including a control valve pin, which controls fuel pressure in a control chamber for the nozzle needle. This is especially desirable for the control of the quantity and timing of split injections, which may be required in order to satisfy proposed emissions legislation requirements.
It is recognised that for existing fuel injector designs, dilation effects in the guide bore for the valve needle and the guide bore for the control valve pin give unacceptably high levels of fuel leakage, particularly at the higher fuel pressures (e.g. of the order of 3000 bar) that are demanded of current fuel injection systems. In addition, the control volumes within the injectors are relatively large and result in the injector being less responsive than required for accurate control of multiple injection events.
One way to address these problems is to miniaturize the valve needle and the control valve pin and to reduce the guide bore dimensions accordingly. These have a marked effect on parasitic leakage losses and response times as the associated control volumes and the component masses are reduced in sympathy. In addition, such smaller components require less force to operate them as their masses and the relating hydraulic forces are significantly reduced, enabling faster performance and/or less actuator force requirements. However, miniaturization leads to manufacturing difficulties with existing injector designs.
It is an object of the invention to provide a three-way control valve, suitable for use in a fuel injector, which alleviates the aforementioned disadvantages.

Delphi International Operations Luxembourg S.A.R.L.


This invention provides methods of modifying feeding behavior, including increasing or decreasing food consumption, e.g., in connection with treating obesity, bulimia or anorexia. These methods involve administration of compounds are selective agonists or antagonists or the Y5 receptor. One such compound has the structure: ##STR1## In addition, this invention provides an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a Y5 receptor, an isolated Y5 receptor protein, vectors comprising an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a Y5 receptor, cells comprising such vectors, antibodies directed to the Y5 receptor, nucleic acid probes useful for detecting nucleic acid encoding Y5 receptors, antisense oligonucleotides complementary to any unique sequences of a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a Y5 receptor, and nonhuman transgenic animals which express DNA a normal or a mutant Y5 receptor.

Throughout this application, various references are referred to within parentheses. Disclosures of these publications in their entireties are hereby incorporated by reference into this application to more fully describe the state of the art to which this invention pertains. Full bibliographic citation for these references may be found at the end of this application, preceding the sequence listing and the claims.
Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a member of the pancreatic polypeptide family with widespread distribution throughout the mammalian nervous system. NPY and its relatives (peptide YY or PYY, and pancreatic polypeptide or PP) elicit a broad range of physiological effects through activation of at least five G protein-coupled receptor subtypes known as Y1, Y2, Y3, Y4 (or PP), and the "atypical Y1". The role of NPY as the most powerful stimulant of feeding behavior yet described is thought to occur primarily through activation of the hypothalamic "atypical Y1" receptor. This receptor is unique in that its classification was based solely on feeding behavior data, rather than radioligand binding data, unlike the Y1, Y2, Y3, and Y4 (or PP) receptors, each of which were described previously in both radioligand binding and functional assays. Applicants now report the use of a .sup.125 I-PYY-based expression cloning technique to isolate a rat hypothalamic cDNA encoding an "atypical Y1" receptor referred to herein as the Y5 subtype. Applicants also report the isolation and characterization of a Y5 homolog from human hippocampus. Protein sequence analysis reveals that the Y5 receptor belongs to the G protein-coupled receptor superfamily. Both the human and rat homolog display .ltoreq.42% identity in transmembrane domains with the previously cloned "Y-type" receptors. Rat brain localization studies using in situ hybridization techniques verified the existence of Y5 receptor mRNA in rat hypothalamus. Pharmacological evaluation revealed the following similarities between the Y5 and the "atypical Y1" receptor. 1) Peptides bound to the Y5 receptor with a rank order of potency identical to that described for the feeding response: NPY.gtoreq.NPY.sub.2-36 =PYY=[Leu.sup.31, Pro.sup.34 ]NPY>>NPY.sub.13-36. 2) The Y5 receptor was negatively coupled to cAMP accumulation, as had been proposed for the "atypical Y1" receptor. 3) Peptides activated the Y5 receptor with a rank order of potency identical to that described for the feeding response. 4) The reported feeding "modulator" [D-Trp.sup.32 ]NPY bound selectively to the Y5 receptor and subsequently activated the receptor. 5) Both the Y5 and the "atypical Y1" receptors were sensitive to deletions or modifications in the midregion of NPY and related peptide ligands. These data support the identity of the Y5 receptor as the previously described "atypical Y1", and furthermore indicate a role for the Y5 receptor as a potential target in the treatment of obesity, metabolism, and appetite disorders.
The peptide neurotransmitter neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a 36 amino acid member of the pancreatic polypeptide family with widespread distribution throughout the mammalian nervous system. NPY is considered to be the most powerful stimulant of feeding behavior yet described (Clark et al., 1984; Levine and Morley, 1984; Stanley and Leibowitz, 1984). Direct injection into the hypothalamus of satiated rats, for example, can increase food intake up to 10-fold over a 4-hour period (Stanley et al., 1992). The role of NPY in normal and abnormal eating behavior, and the ability to interfere with NPY-dependent pathways as a means to appetite and weight control, are areas of great interest in pharmacological and pharmaceutical research (Sahu and Kalra, 1993; Dryden et al., 1994). Any credible means of studying or controlling NPY-dependent feeding behavior, however, must necessarily be highly specific as NPY can act through at least 5 pharmacologically defined receptor subtypes to elicit a wide variety of physiological functions (Dumont et al., 1992). It is therefore vital that knowledge of the molecular biology and structural diversity of the individual receptor subtypes be understood as part of a rational drug design approach to develop subtype selective compounds. A brief review of NPY receptor pharmacology is summarized below and also in Table 1.
TABLE 1: Pharmacologically defined receptors for NPY and related pancreatic polypeptides.
Rank orders of affinity for key peptides (NPY, PYY, PP, [Leu.sup.31, Pro.sup.34 ]NPY, NPY.sub.2-36, and NPY.sub.13-36) are based on previously reported binding and functional data (Schwartz et al., 1990; Wahlestedt et al., 1991; Dumont et al., 1992; Wahlestedt and Reis, 1993). Data for the Y2 receptor were disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/192,288 filed on Feb. 3, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,545,549, the foregoing contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Data for the Y4 receptor were disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/176,412 filed on Dec. 28 1993, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,516,653, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Missing peptides in the series reflect a lack of published information.
TABLE 1 ______________________________________ Recep- Affinity (pK.sub.i or pEC.sub.50) tor 11 to 10 10 to 9 9 to 8 8 to 7 7 to 6 >6 ______________________________________ YI NPY NPY.sub.2-36 NPY.sub.13-36 PP PYY [Leu.sup.31, Pro.sup.34 ] NPY Y2 PYY NPY.sub.13-36 [Leu.sup.31, NPY Pro.sup.34 ] NPY.sub.2-36 NPY PP Y3 NPY [Pro.sup.34 ] NPY.sub.13-36 PP PYY Y4 PP PYY NPY NPY.sub.13-36 [Leu.sup.31, NPY.sub.2-36 Pro.sup.34 ] NPY atypical PYY NPY.sub.13-36 Y1 NPY (feed- NPY.sub.2-36 ing) [Leu.sup.31, Pro.sup.34 ] NPY ______________________________________
NPY Receptor Pharmacology
NPY receptor pharmacology has historically been based on structure/activity relationships within the pancreatic polypeptide family. The entire family includes the namesake pancreatic polypeptide (pp), synthesized primarily by endocrine cells in the pancreas; peptide YY (PYY), synthesized primarily by endocrine cells in the gut; and NPY, synthesized primarily in neurons (Michel, 1991; Dumont et al. , 1992; Wahlestedt and Reis, 1993). All pancreatic polypeptide family members share a compact structure involving a "PP-fold" and a conserved C-terminal hexapeptide ending in Tyr.sup.36 (or Y.sup.36 in the single letter code). The striking conservation of Y.sup.36 has prompted the reference to the pancreatic polypeptides' receptors as "Y-type" receptors (Wahlestedt et al., 1987), all of which are proposed to function as seven transmembrane-spanning G protein-coupled receptors (Dumont et al., 1992).
The Y1 receptor recognizes NPY.gtoreq.PYY>>PP (Grundemar et al., 1992). The receptor requires both the N- and the C-terminal regions of the peptides for optimal recognition. Exchange of Gln.sup.34 in NPY or PYY with the analogous residue from PP (Pro.sup.34), however, is well-tolerated. The Y1 receptor has been cloned from a variety of species including human, rat and mouse (Larhammar et al, 1992; Herzog et al, 1992; Eva et al, 1990; Eva et al, 1992). The Y2 receptor recognizes PYY.about.NPY>>PP and is relatively tolerant of N-terminal deletion (Grundemar et al., 1992). The receptor has a strict requirement for structure in the C-terminus (Arg.sup.33 -Gln.sup.34 -Arg.sup.35 -Tyr.sup.36 -NH.sub.2); exchange of Gln.sup.34 with Pro.sup.34, as in PP, is not well tolerated. The Y2 receptor has recently been cloned (disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/192,288, filed Feb. 3, 1994). The Y3 receptor is characterized by a strong preference for NPY over PYY and PP (Wahlestedt et al., 1991). [Pro.sup.34 ]NPY is reasonably well tolerated even though PP, which also contains Pro.sup.34, does not bind well to the Y3 receptor. The Y3 receptor (Y3) has not yet been cloned. The Y4 receptor (disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/176,412, filed Dec. 28, 1993, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,516,653) binds PP>PYY>NPY. Like the Y1, the Y4 requires both the N- and the C-terminal regions of the peptides for optimal recognition (U.S. Ser. No. 08/176,412, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,516,653). The "atypical Y1" or "feeding" receptor was defined exclusively by injection of several pancreatic polypeptide analogs into the paraventricular nucleus of the rat hypothalamus which stimulated feeding behavior with the following rank order: NPY.sub.2-36 .gtoreq.NPY.about.PYY.about.[Leu.sup.31,Pro.sup.34 ]NPY>NPY.sub.13-36 (Kalra et al., 1991; Stanley et al., 1992). The profile is similar to that of a Y1-like receptor except for the anomalous ability of NPY.sub.2-36 to stimulate food intake with potency equivalent or better than that of NPY. A subsequent report in J. Med. Chem. by Balasubramaniam et al. (1994) showed that feeding can be regulated by [D-Trp.sup.32 ]NPY. While this peptide was presented as an NPY antagonist, the published data at least in part support a stimulatory effect of [D-Trp.sup.32 ]NPY on feeding. [D-Trp.sup.32 ]NPY thereby represents another diagnostic tool for receptor identification. In contrast to other NPY receptor subtypes, the "feeding" receptor has never been characterized for peptide binding affinity in radioligand binding assays and the fact that a single receptor could be responsible for the feeding response has been impossible to validate in the absence of an isolated receptor protein; the possibility exists, for example, that the feeding response could be a composite profile of Y1 and Y2 subtypes.
Applicants now report the isolation by expression cloning of a novel Y-type receptor from a rat hypothalamic cDNA library, along with its pharmacological characterization, in situ localization, and human homologues. The data provided link this newly-cloned receptor subtype, from now on referred to as the Y5 subtype, to the "atypical Y1" feeding response. This discovery therefore provides a novel approach, through the use of heterologous expression systems, to develop a subtype selective antagonist for obesity and other indications.
Applicants further report the isolation of a canine Y5 receptor.
In addition, applicants report the discovery of chemical compounds which bind selectively to the Y5 receptor of the present invention and which act as antagonists of the Y5 receptor.
The treatment of disorders or diseases associated with the inhibition of the Y5 receptor subtype, especially diseases caused by eating disorders like obesity, bulimia nervosa, diabetes, dislipidimia, may be effected by administration of compounds which bind selectively to the Y5 receptor and inhibit the activation of the Y5 receptor. Furthermore, any disease states in which the Y5 receptor subtype is involved, for example, memory loss, epileptic seizures, migraine, sleep disturbance, and pain, may also be treated using compounds which bind selectively to the Y5 receptor.

DNA encoding a hypothalamic atypical neuropeptide Y/peptide YY receptor (Y5)


The user can respond to a media segment wherein the media segment may be associated with a schedulable event. Software on the device can then schedule the event into an electronic calendar system, and/or may use data associated with the media segment. At the appropriate time, the electronic calendar system may notify the user of the scheduled broadcast and/or event.

Field
The embodiments of the invention relate to the field of interactive media technologies, and in particular, to systems and methods for providing various notifications to user regarding the schedule of interactive media and/or events.
Description of the Related Art
With the development of modern times, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find and schedule time to review, listen, and/or watch broadcasts, and/or scheduled events (for example, sale events, concert events, or the like). Additionally, the development of new technologies and modalities has increased the availability, quantity, and quality of broadcasts and events. As a result, it has become more challenging for people to become aware of the available content and events, and/or where to locate the content. Moreover, technology advancements have resulted in further audience fragmentation, which has in turn made it more difficult for broadcasters and event organizers to garner audience viewership and event attendees, and to generate advertising revenues, product revenues, and/or event revenues.

Systems and methods for scheduling interactive media and events


A novel polypeptide derived from the leech Hirudo medicinalis was found to be able to inhibit Factor Xa thereby reducing the extent of blood coagulation. The polypeptide is useful in treating conditions of excessive blood coagulation. A recombinant organism containing cDNA encoding the polypeptide has been deposited in the ATCC under Accession No. 69134. Recombinant microorganisms able to produce the polypeptide have been deposited in the ATCC under Accession Nos. 69135, 69137 and 69269.

Haemostasis is the interaction of a complex series of processes aimed at ensuring the proper flow of blood through the closed, high-pressure circulatory system which comprises the mammalian vascular system. One aspect of haemostasis is the coagulation cascade which assists in maintaining the integrity of blood vessels following injury. The coagulation cascade is a complex series of processes which culminate in the formation of a fibrin clot at the site of blood vessel injury. Abnormal formation of blood clots is the cause of pathological conditions such as thrombi and embolisms.
The coagulation cascade may be initiated either through the intrinsic pathway, in which all the protein components are present in blood, or through the extrinsic pathway, in which tissue factor, a cell membrane protein, plays a critical role. The last two steps of the coagulation cascade leading to clot formation are common to both pathways. The first of these two steps comprises the formation of the "prothrombinase complex" composed of prothrombin (the zymogen of thrombin), Factor Xa (FXa), and Factor Va on the platelet's membrane surface. Fxa is the enzyme which catalyzes the conversion of prothrombin to thrombin. Thrombin subsequently catalyzes the conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin, an insoluble polymer which is a major component of blood clots.
Treatment with anticoagulants is indicated in a wide range of clinical situations such as thrombosis e.g. deep venous thrombosis (DVT), disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Other indications include pathophysiological conditions associated with post operative trauma, obesity, pregnancy, side effects of oral contraceptives, prolonged immobilization particularly in the aged, and other known clinical situations involving blood coagulation and thrombosis.
Various references are noted by Arabic numbers in parentheses. These references are listed in numerical order at the end of the specification before the claims and are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety to further explain the state of the art relevant to this application.
The use of anticoagulants can be beneficial in treatment of both venous thrombosis (14) such as occurs in DVT and DIC, and arterial thrombosis such as occurs during reocclusion following thrombolysis (15). The use of anticoagulants in acute coronary thrombosis is based on the established fact that the coagulation cascade is the primary cause of thrombogenicity also within platelet-rich arterial thrombi (16).
In pathological conditions of excessive clot formation, coagulation can be inhibited either by blocking the catalytic activity of thrombin by heparin--whose action is mediated by the plasmatic inhibitor antithrombin III--or hirudin, or alternatively by inhibiting an earlier step of the coagulation cascade. For example, heparinoids (low molecular weight derivatives of heparin) are known to be selective inhibitors of the step preceding thrombin, i.e., they preferentially enhance the binding of antithrombin III to FXa, thus inhibiting the FXa-catalyzed conversion of prothrombin to thrombin. Since the blood concentration of Factor X is approximately 10-fold lower than that of prothrombin, much smaller amounts of FXa inhibitors than thrombin inhibitors are required to inhibit coagulation. Furthermore, FXa usually resides in the prothrombinase complex and its activity would have to be inhibited in that complex. However, the inhibition by complexes of antithrombin with these heparin derivatives appears to be effective only upon free FXa in the plasma and inefficient when FXa is incorporated in the prothrombinase complex, which is the location of FXa during thrombus formation. This is similar to the disclosure that FXa in a prothrombinase complex is inaccessible to inhibition by the heparin-antithrombin III conjugate (6).
At present, heparin is the most widely used anticoagulant and anti-thrombotic drug, but it has two disadvantages: firstly, it acts at the level of thrombin inhibition, thus necessitating the administration of relatively large amounts of inhibitor; and secondly, it is likely to cause excessive bleeding due to the systemic inhibition of thrombin which is required for normal hemostasis (7). The use of hirudin and its low molecular weight analogs (hirulogs) probably entails similar disadvantages.
These disadvantages prompted the search for new anticoagulant and anti-thrombotic substances suitable for therapeutic use. The use of a selective inhibitor of FXa as an anticoagulant may reduce the problem of bleeding caused by the currently used anti-thrombotic drugs, such as heparin and hirudin and their analogs. This postulated advantage is due to the fact that a FXa inhibitor acts as a modulator of coagulation since it does not affect already existing thrombin and therefore does not completely neutralize normal hemostasis. This is because the existing thrombin is entrapped in active form in fibrin clots and is released during thrombolysis (17).
Two closely related factor Xa inhibitors have been isolated from the Mexican leech Haementeria officinalis (antistasin--references 1 and 2) and from the giant Amazonian leech Haementeria ghiliani (3, 4).
A third FXa inhibitor--termed tick anti-coagulant peptide (TAP) isolated from the tick Ornithodorous moubata (5,9) has been cloned, expressed, purified and characterized (10). A fourth potent FXa inhibitor, isolated from the black fly, Simulium vittatum, has also been characterized (11).
Both in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that inhibition of FXa-mediated coagulation with two of these inhibitors, antistasin and TAP, is as effective as heparin in preventing venous thrombosis (12).
Additionally, Rigbi et al. (13) disclose a factor Xa inhibitor isolated from the saliva of the European leech Hirudo medicinalis.
This application discloses the surprising and unexpected discovery of a novel Factor Xa inhibitor ("FXaI") having a sequence different from that of any known FXa inhibitor.

Polypeptide having Factor Xa inhibitory activity


Systems and methods for arranging parallel wires to reduce the capacitance variations. In one embodiment, multiple first components arranged as a linear array are coupled to a second component at the end of this linear array by corresponding signal wires. Each signal wire has a perpendicular portion extending perpendicular to the direction of the linear array, and a parallel portion which runs parallel to the direction of the linear array. The parallel portions are staggered so that longer ones of the parallel portions are adjacent to the shorter ones of the parallel portions, instead of simply being arranged from longest to shortest. In one embodiment, the longer half of the parallel portions decrease in length across the series of parallel portions, while the shorter half of the parallel portions increase in length. In another embodiment, successively longer/shorter parallel portions alternate sides of the series.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to electronic circuits, and more particularly to systems and methods for laying out wiring between a first set of circuit components and a second component.
2. Related Art
With advancements in electronics technology, there is constantly a demand for improved electronic devices. Aside from the demand for new features in these devices, there is a demand to make the same devices smaller and faster. In order to make electronic devices smaller and faster, it is normally necessary to make the components that form the devices physically smaller. Decreasing the size of these components, however, can result in problems that prevent the devices from operating more quickly, and may even cause the devices to malfunction.
As the size of electronic components decreases, the size and spacing (pitch) of the wires connecting these components also decreases. As the pitch of the wires in an electrical circuit decreases, the coupling capacitance of these wires increases. The increased coupling capacitance in turn results in increased interference between the wires. Additionally, as the complexity of the electronic circuits increases, longer wires (and more widely varying lengths of wires) may be necessary to connect individual components within the circuit. The increased length of the wires results in increased resistance on these wires.
The increased capacitance and resistance of wires in electrical circuits may lead to some signal paths being effectively longer than others. In other words, it may take longer for a signal to traverse a path over a wire with higher resistance and capacitance than a path over a wire with lower resistance and capacitance. This is problematic in circuits which couple signals from a large number of components into another component because it is difficult to keep the signal paths the same length. As a result, it may take different amounts of time for the signals to reach the end component, and the phases of the signals may consequently become skewed with respect to each other. Further, because the capacitance is greatest in the longest signal lines, the increased time necessary to traverse the longest signal lines forces the circuits to be operated at slower speeds.
Conventionally, the problems caused by the capacitance between the signal lines is addressed in either of two ways. First, the width of the wires may be increased in order to reduce their resistance. By reducing the resistance of the wires, the signal paths are effectively shortened and less skew results from the signals traversing the different signal paths. The second way the problem is addressed is by increasing the pitch of the wires. In other words, the spacing of the wires is increased. By increasing the pitch of the wires, the coupling capacitance between the wires is decreased. The decreased capacitance result in reduced interference and less skew between the signals.
The problem with these conventional solutions to the problem is that, by increasing the width of the wires or by increasing the spacing between the wires, the size of the circuit is increased. This goes against the desired reductions in size. It would therefore be desirable to provide systems and methods for reducing the skew between signal lines without increasing the size of the circuit in which the signal lines are used.

Systems and methods for wiring circuit components


A hoist is provided that aids in construction and/or maintenance tasks at elevated heights. The hoist is equipped with a centrally located stabilizer through which a steel cable connected to an electrically operated winch is routed. The hoist is raised and lowered through the use of a control station located within reach of the seat.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to lift apparatuses and, more particularly, to an personal mini-hoist to aid in construction and maintenance procedures at elevated locations.
2. Description of the Related Art
Construction and maintenance operations at elevated heights have been a source of problems for mankind since the beginning of time. The most common tool used to deal with heights has been the ladder. The ladder is a portable tool, which is easily setup and utilized by the common user. However, the ladder also poses many problems of its own. These problems include difficulty in carrying items while climbing or descending the ladder, user comfort while on the ladder, difficulty in using electrically powered tools while on the ladder and most importantly safety. The safety of conventional ladders is easily compromised by improper setup, leaning too far to one side by the user, or by trying to use both hands to perform a task which leaves the user with no means to secure themselves to the ladder.
The previous art consists of many examples of devices designed to overcome the shortcomings of conventional ladders. Examples of these devices include U.S. Pat. No. 5,595,265, issued in the name of Lebrocquy, U.S. Pat. No. 5,117,942, issued in the name of Tzavaras, U.S. Pat. No. 4,602,698, issued in the name of Grant, U.S. Pat. No. 4,593,789, issued in the name of Treants, U.S. Pat. No. 4,552,248, issued in the name of Payne, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,347,913, issued in the name of Cromer, Jr., in which all disclose apparatuses primarily intended for tree climbing to aid in the purposes of hunting. While these apparatuses overcome many problems associated with using ladders to climb trees, they do not address the difficulty of trying to carry and use tools to perform maintenance and construction tasks at elevated heights.
Devices primarily intended to aid in construction are defined in U.S. Pat. No. 5,423,398 issued in the name of Brown, U.S. Pat. No. 5,145,032, issued in the name of Puccinelli et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,997,062, issued in the name of Pizzo, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,921,070 issued in the name of Magill. These devices are associated with large scaffolding and scaffolding accessory items and are as such not intended for portable use by one person. Also these devices are not easily mobilized and are intended for long term construction processes such as bricklaying and the like.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,009,284, issued in the name of Authement, Sr., addresses the aforementioned problems, by the use of a chair like structure equipped with a winch. However, additional problems associated with a device constructed in accordance with this disclosure include the inability to stand off from the work surface, the inability to readily use electrically powered tools, large work or tool carrying containers, the lack of an integral safety harness, and the requirement to use hand power to raise or lower the device.
Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,650,035, issued in the name of Eubanks, discloses an elevatable work station for use by painters, carpenters, or the like when painting or repairing elevated building structures. While such a device is portable and easily set up and used by one person, it also has many of the disadvantages as listed with the Authement, Sr. disclosure listed above. These include the inability to readily use electrically powered tools, large work or tool carrying containers, the lack of an integral safety harness, and the requirement to use hand power to raise or lower the device.
A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention.
Consequently, a need has been felt for providing an apparatus and method which overcomes the problems cited above.


A method of supporting a wafer comprising the steps of: dividing a pressure space formed between the table plate and the wafer into a first pressure space and a second pressure space by means of a pressure setting wall, setting a supporting pressure of a compressed air supplied to the first pressure space, by a throttle function of a throttle passage formed between a pressure regulating wall and the wafer, and determining a further supporting pressure of the compressed air supplied from the first pressure space to the second pressure space through the throttle passage, by a throttle function of a throttle opening for connecting the second pressure space with the atmosphere. A wafer supporting apparatus for carrying out the method and a wafer mounter having the apparatus.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of supporting a wafer, a wafer supporting apparatus and a wafer mounter having the apparatus, which are used when a plastic tape is applied to the wafer.
(2) Prior Art
A number of semiconductor elements are sheared from a wafer in length and breadth. When the semiconductor elements are divided from the wafer, a plastic tape is applied to the reverse side of the wafer prior to division of the wafer in order to prevent the divided semiconductor elements from separating unnecessarily. The taping operation is carried out automatically by utilizing a so called table mounter.
Normally, the table mounter is constructed as follows. A wafer take-in device takes in wafers one by one from a wafer stock jig and after regulating a direction of the wafer by means of a wafer direction determining device, the wafer is transfer device in such a state that the wafer is rotated. On the other hand, an outer frame direction determining device takes in an outer frame one by one from an outer frame stock jig and regulates a direction of the outer frame and thereafter the outer frame is transferred to the tape applying stage by means of an outer frame transfer device. Thereafter, a tape applying device presses and applies a tape to the wafer which is supported by a wafer supporting device on the tape applying stage, and also to the outer frame which is supported by the outer frame supporting device on the tape applying stage. Then, unnecessary portions of the tape applied to the wafer and the outer frame are cut and removed by a cutting device, and the wafer, the outer frame and the tape, which are adhered to one another, are transferred by a conveying device from the tape applying stage into a predetermined jig such as the outer frame stock jig.
Transfer of the wafer and transfer of the outer frame to the tape applying stage may be carried out at the same time in order to shorten a cycle time. Further, the transfer may be carried out sequentially step by step in order to prevent crossing operations of the wafer transfer device and the outer frame transfer device.
For example, as shown in FIG. 8, a wafer supporting device 100 as mentioned above comprises a table plate 101, a receiver 102 in the shape of substantially a ring which projects from the upper surface of the table plate 101 to correspond to a peripheral edge of a wafer W, a vacuum opening 103 formed with the upper surface of the receiver 102 and connected to a vacuum source, a pressure space 104 formed between the table plate 101 and the wafer W which is set reversely on the receiver 102, and a compressed air supplying opening 105 formed with the upper surface of the table plate 101 and inside the receiver 102 and connected to a compressed air supplying source.
The peripheral portion of the wafer W is sucked to the receiver 102 immediately after the wafer is set reversely on the receiver 102 and immediately before removing it. When a tape applying device applies a tape to the wafer, a compressed air, the pressure of which is controlled by a micro-regulator, is supplied from the compressed air supplying source in order to support the wafer W.
In the prior art, where the supporting pressure acting on the wafer W from the pressure space 104 is set greater than the sucking pressure acting on the receiver 102 for sucking the peripheral portion of the wafer W, it becomes unstable to secure the wafer W onto the receiver 102, and as the result it is in danger of displacement of the wafer W. Therefore, the supporting pressure acting on the wafer W cannot be set greater than the sucking pressure for sucking the peripheral portion of the wafer W onto the receiver 102.
Further, the sucking force acting on the peripheral portion of the wafer W corresponds to an opening area of the sucking opening 103, but the opening area of the sucking opening 103 substantially corresponds to a size of the wafer W. Therefore, the sucking force acting on the peripheral portion of the wafer W is limited corresponding to a size of the wafer W and this means that the supporting pressure acting on the wafer W is also limited corresponding to a size of the wafer W. Further, a size of the opening area of the sucking opening 103 is in proportion to a diameter of the wafer W where the opening width of the sucking opening in a radial direction thereof is the same regardless of the size of the area of the sucking opening. On the other hand, the area of the pressure space 104 contacting the wafer W is in proportion to a diameter of the wafer W by self-multiplication and therefore the supporting pressure per area for the wafer becomes smaller as the diameter of the wafer becomes larger. As a the result, when the diameter of the wafer becomes large, the supporting pressure becomes insufficient so that the wafer W cannot be sufficiently pressed to the tape and bubbles may sometimes occur between the wafer W and the tape.
Particularly, according to the above conventional art, the tape cannot be applied to the wafer W having a diameter of 8 inches without occurring bubbles between the wafer W and the tape, and bubbles may sometimes occur in applying the tape to the wafer W having a diameter of 5 inches.
Where the bubble occurs between the wafer W and the tape, a problem may occur such that the semiconductor elements are blown out due to popping of the bubbles at the time of division into pieces, and that the semiconductor elements supported by the tape may be damaged by the semiconductor elements which are blown out.

Method of supporting wafer, wafer supporting apparatus and wafer mounter having the apparatus


A memory card and a memory storage device using the memory card may be provided. The memory card may include a host connector, a memory controller connected to the host connector and enabled or disabled in response to a capacity expansion signal, a non-volatile memory connected to the memory controller, a memory connector configured to connect to the memory controller and the non-volatile memory, and a capacity expansion switch configured to generate the capacity expansion signal. Accordingly, when the memory cards are connected to increase storage capacity, only a memory controller of one memory card may operate, thereby reducing power consumption.

1. Field
Example embodiments relate to a memory card and a memory storage device using the same, and more particularly, to a memory card whose storage capacity can be increased, and a memory storage device using the memory card.
2. Description of Related Art
In digital products or digital peripheral devices such as Personal Computers (PCs), Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) audio layer-3 (MP3) players, digital cameras and electronic dictionaries, a memory storage device may be frequently used to store and replay data. In general, a memory card may be used as a portable memory storage device, and there are various memory cards such as a memory stick, a Secure Digital (SD) card, a mini SD card and a Multimedia Card (MMC). To receive and store data from a host or to output data stored in the memory cards to the host, the memory cards may include a memory controller and a non-volatile memory packaged together.
A host may be able to manage continuously increasing amounts of data. However, the capacity of a non-volatile memory included in the memory card may be fixed when it is produced, and a user can not increase the capacity. Therefore, the user may have to purchase a high-capacity memory card again, which may be expensive.

Memory card and memory storage device using the same