An electrical connector (1) has an insulative housing (10) having a D-shaped mating portion (11), a number of first and second contacts (21, 22) received in the housing, and a metal shell (50) surrounds the mating portion of the housing. An inner printed circuit board (30) is assembled to the housing and connects the first and second contacts. The first and second contacts are electrical connecting with a complementary connector and an outer printed circuit board, respectively. The housing of the connector further has a pair of flanges (13) and a receiving space (16) defined between the flanges. The inner PCB defines a set of filter devices received in the receiving space.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to the art of electrical connectors, and particularly to a D-Sub electrical connector for mounting on a printed circuit board.
2. Description of Prior Arts
A conventional D-Sub electrical connector comprises an insulative housing having a D-shaped mating portion and a plurality of terminals received in the housing. A metal shell often surrounds a substantial portion of the housing to protect at least the mating portions of the contacts from RF (Radio Frequency) and EMI (Electro Magnetic Interference) as well as to protect the surrounding from interference radiating from the connector, itself.
A video graphics array (VGA) interface connector mounting on a motherboard or a graphic card is a typical kind of D-Sub electrical connector with fifteen terminals arranged in three rows. A common problem to the VGA connectors is their tendency to generate noise during transmission of electrical signals. Conventionally, noise suppressors, such as filters, are mounted on the motherboard or the graphic card on which the VGA connector is seated to suppress the noise. However, such noise suppressors consume board real estate, which could otherwise be used for other circuitry.
Hence, it is desirable to have an improved electrical connector to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art.

Electrical connector with a set-in printed circuit board


An instrument gauge includes a gauge face. A rotary portion is located on the gauge face. The rotary portion includes a rotary indicating element that is configured to rotate between a first rotary position and a second rotary position to indicate a first range of values of a vehicle parameter. A digital portion is located on the gauge face and includes a digital indicating element that is configured to move between a first digital position and a second digital position to indicate a second range of values of the vehicle parameter.

An instrument cluster assembly, also known as instrument panel, can include multiple gauges for displaying vehicle parameters relating to the operation of a vehicle. The vehicle parameters displayed can include at least one of speed, engine rotations per minute (RPM), engine temperature, fuel level, distance travelled or other information relating to the operation of the vehicle. A user of the vehicle must monitor the vehicle parameters to ensure safe operation of the vehicle and to identify possible vehicle maintenance or reliability issues.
Traditionally, each vehicle parameter has been communicated to a user through the use of an analog gauge with a rotating pointer. More recently, instrument clusters have incorporated digital numerical gauges for some vehicle parameters and analog gauges for other vehicle parameters. There is a need to effectively communicate a vehicle parameter to the user in order for the user to monitor operation of the vehicle.


A novel lymphocyte receptor protein, its DNA sequence, and its role in the calcium activation pathway is described. The protein, or genetically engineered constructs encoding it, are shown to increase lymphocyte response, and to identify ligands of the protein receptor. Antibodies to the proteins of the invention are generated for diagnostic therapeutics. The protein and DNA can also be used for diagnostic purposes and for identifying agents for modulating the calcium induced activation pathway. A particular advantage of the present invention is that it provides lymphocyte activation of receptor found on all B cells, but only on a subset of T cells. The receptor can thus be targeted to specifically regulate B cell responses without affecting mature T cell activity. Such targeting specificity is always advantageous, particularly where an increase or decrease of antibody production is desired, e.g., during an infection (increase) or to avoid immune complex deposition complications (rheumatoid arthritis, glomerulonephritis, and other auto immune conditions).

The invention relates generally to the regulation of transcription in lymphocytes, proteins involved therein, antibodies thereof, nucleic acids that encode the proteins and uses of the nucleic acids, antibodies and proteins.
Investigators are only beginning to unravel the mechanisms that control the cellular response to extrinsic factors. One basic feature of many of such mechanisms is the initial binding of an extrinsic factor, e.g., a ligand, to a cell surface membrane protein, i.e., a receptor. The binding of a ligand to its receptor usually effects a cellular change through a cascade of events. These events commonly involve other proteins, such as protein kinases, protein phosphatases, JAK proteins, Stat proteins, and/or G-proteins. In addition, there is generally a requirement for a transcription factor to bind to a specific DNA regulatory sequence in the nucleus of the cell, and thereby initiate the transcription of one or more particular genes.
Other factors are often involved. In antigen-stimulated lymphocyte activation, for example, calcium (Ca2+) influx is also necessary for the ultimate initiation of DNA transcription. The increased cytoplasmic calcium concentration may originate as an external influx or a release of internal stores. Increased calcium concentration which activates the calcium-dependent protein phosphatase calcineurin acts in conjunction with other agents to signal the initiation of transcription. It is clear that the pathway involving calcium influx is essential to a number of processes involved with activation and proliferation of cells.
Intracellular calcium levels play a major function in a number of different cell types involving a number of different activities. In addition to the induction or gene transcription by calcium influx, many other calcium-dependent events, such as those which occur during muscle contraction (both cardiac and skeletal), vesicle degranulation (such as in the response of neutrophils and macrophages to infection, or basophil response to antigen stimulation, or release of acetylcholine by neurons), and closure of intracellular gap junctions offer opportunities for cellular regulation. The cell cycle can also involve fluxes of calcium. Intracellular chelators which block changes in intracellular calcium concentration can block the cell cycle from progressing, thereby arresting cell division. [Rabinovich et al., J. of Immunol., 137:952-961 (1986)]. Therefore, regulation of calcium can be effective in modulating cell division in normal and diseased cells.
Lymphocytes are a primary component of the cellular arm of the immune system. Activation of one particular type of lymphocyte, a T-cell, can result through the stimulation of a T-cell receptor by e.g., the binding of a T-cell receptor (TCR) to an antigen presented by an antigen-presenting cell. This stimulation results in the activation a Ca2+-dependent phosphatase, calcineurin. Activated calcineurin, in turn, activates NF-AT, a lymphocyte specific transcription factor that together with a companion transcription factor, AP-1, effects the expression of the inducible T-cell growth factor, interleukin-2 (IL-2). Activation of AP-1 is a calcium-independent process that involves protein kinase C, and can be experimentally achieved with the addition of phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). The immunosuppressant drug cyclosporin A (CsA) binds to and inhibits the prolyl isomerase activity of cyclophilin and the resulting drug-isomerase complex inactivates calcineurin, by a direct interaction near the active site of the enzyme. [Liu et al., Cell, 66:807-15 (1991)]; [Clipstone and Crabtree, Nature, 357:695-7 (1992)]; [O""Keefe et al., Nature, 357:692-4 (1992)]. NF-KB is a third key transcription factor which is important in the activation of lymphocytes and which is activated following the stimulation of the T-cell or B-cell antigen receptor.
Another protein associated with the calcium signaling pathway in lymphocytes is the recently identified calcium-signal modulating cyclophilin ligand (CAML) [Bram, R. J. and Crabtree, G. R., DNA Encoding Calcium-Signal Modulating Cyclophilin Ligand, U.S. Pat. No. 5,523,227. Issued Jun. 4, 1996, hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety]. CAML binds cyclophilin B with reasonable specificity, i.e., CAML does not bind cyclophilin A or C. Unlike the cyclosporin A-cyclophilin complex, however, the CAML-cyclophilin B complex does not directly bind to calcineurin. Thus CAML appears to affect calcineurin through its regulation of Ca2+ influx. As expected, CsA can indirectly block the activating effect of CAML on transcription, by inhibiting calcineurin. In addition, CAML appears to have no effect on the activation of AP-1, and so the CAML-dependent activation of NF-AT experimentally requires the addition of PMA.
CAML acts downstream from an extrinsic signal but upstream from calcineurin. The location of CAML in cytoplasmic vesicles suggests that it can regulate Ca2+ influx by modulating intracellular Ca2+ release. However, there remains a need to determine the natural factor (or factors) that communicate the external signal to the cellular CAML. Further, there is a need to understand how CAML interacts with this factor in order to learn how to better control the important cellular processes that CAML helps to regulate. A different class of signaling molecule is the TNFR family of cell surface receptors [Smith et al., Cell 76:959-62 (1994)]. These receptors initiate intracellular signals leading to the onset of cell growth, death, or gain of effector function.
A novel lymphocyte receptor, its DNA sequence, and its role in the calcium activation pathway is described. The protein, or genetically engineered constructs encoding it, can be used to enhance lymphocyte response, or to identify ligands of the protein receptor. The soluble, extracellular domain can be used to inhibit cellular activation. Antibodies to the protein can be generated for diagnostic or therapeutic uses. The protein and DNA may also be used for diagnostic purposes and for identifying agents for modulating the calcium induced activation pathway. Knowledge of the coding sequence allows for manipulation of cells to elucidate the mechanism of which CAML is a part.
A particular advantage of the present invention is that it provides lymphocyte activation of a receptor found on all B cells, but only on a subset of T cells. The receptor can thus be targeted to specifically regulate B cell responses without affecting mature T cell activity. Such targeting specificity is always advantageous, particularly where an increase or decrease of antibody production independent of cellular immune responses is desired, e.g., during an infection (increase) or to avoid immune complex deposition complications (rheumatoid arthritis, glomerulonephritis, and other autoimmune conditions).
Crosslinking the novel cell surface receptor of the present invention activates B cells and some populations of T cells. Activation of these cells increases the immune system activity. On the other hand, blocking or inhibiting the novel cell surface receptor of the present invention can result in immunosuppression. Depending on the endogenous level of activation of the receptor, which can be evaluated using the antibodies or nucleic acids of the invention, receptor activity can be enhanced or suppressed to achieve a desired outcome. Either activating or inhibiting the function of the novel sell surface receptor of the present invention can be used to treat cancers of T and B cells.
The present invention includes an isolated Transmembrane Activator and CAML-Interactor (TACI) protein that functions as a cell surface signaling protein and comprises an extracellular domain, a membrane spanning segment, and a cytoplasmic domain. In one embodiment, the TACI protein is a plasma membrane receptor in which the extracellular domain resides at the N-terminal portion of the protein and the cytoplasmic domain resides at the C-terminal portion of the protein. The N-terminal portion of the TACI protein functions as a binding site for a ligand that stimulates the activation of the cell by inducing the binding of the C-terminal portion of the TACI protein to the N-terminal domain of CAML. Since CAML is an integral membrane protein that is localized to cytoplasmic vesicles, the TACI protein is a plasma membrane receptor that directly interacts with an intracellular organelle in lymphocytes.
In one embodiment, the monomeric form of the isolated TACI protein consists of about 295 amino acids. In a preferred embodiment the monomeric form of a Transmembrane Activator and CAML Interactor (TACI) protein contains 280 to 310 amino acids. In more preferred embodiments the monomeric form of a TACI protein contains 290 to 296 amino acids. In a specific embodiment exemplified infra, the monomeric form of a TACI protein contains 293 amino acids.
One embodiment of the isolated TACI protein contains two TNFR superfamily cysteine-rich repeats [Bairoch, Nucl. Acids Res., 21:3097-3103 (1993)]. In a preferred embodiment, a TACI protein that is appropriately stimulated, in situ. such as by a ligand or an anti-TACI antibody, initiates the activation of a transcription factor through the combination of a Ca2+-dependent pathway and a Ca2+-independent pathway.
The present invention includes an isolated nucleic acid that consists of at least 18 nucleotides of a nucleotide sequence that has at least 60% similarity with SEQ ID NO:1, or alternatively at least 60% similarity with the coding sequence of SEQ ID NO:1. The nucleotide sequence encodes a TACI protein which has a binding affinity for CAML. In one such embodiment the isolated nucleic acid encodes a TACI protein.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the nucleotide sequence has at least 75% similarity with SEQ ID NO:1, or has at least 75% similarity with the coding sequence of SEQ ID NO:1. In a more preferred embodiment, the nucleotide sequence has at least 90% similarity with SEQ ID NO:1, or has at least 90% similarity with the coding sequence of SEQ ID NO:1. In an even more preferred embodiment, the nucleotide sequence has between 95-98% similarity with SEQ ID NO:1, or has between 95-98% similarity with the coding sequence of SEQ ID NO:1. In a particular embodiment the nucleotide sequence is SEQ ID NO.1. In a related embodiment, the nucleotide sequence consists of the coding sequence of SEQ ID NO:1. In a specific embodiment, exemplified infra, the isolated nucleic acid has the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO.1. In a related embodiment, the isolated nucleic acid consists of the coding sequence of SEQ ID NO:1.
In another related embodiment the present invention includes an isolated nucleic acid which contains at least 18 nucleotides and hybridizes to SEQ ID NO:1, or more particularly hybridizes to the coding sequence of SEQ ID NO:1. In one such embodiment, the hybridization is performed under moderate stringency. In another embodiment, the hybridization is performed under standard hybridization conditions. In yet a third embodiment, the hybridization is performed under stringent hybridization conditions.
In still another related embodiment the present invention includes an isolated nucleic acid which contains at least 18 nucleotides of a nucleotide sequence that encodes a TACI protein having an amino acid sequence of either SEQ ID NO:2, or SEQ ID NO:2 with one or more conservative substitutions. In one such embodiments of this type, the isolated nucleic acid encodes an N-terminal fragment of the TACI protein corresponding to the extracellular domain. In another embodiment, the isolated nucleic acid encodes a C-terminal fragment of the TACI protein that is sufficient to bind to the N-terminal 146 amino acids of CAML. In yet another embodiment, the isolated nucleic acid encodes the transmembrane portion of the TACI protein. In still another embodiment, the isolated nucleic acid encodes the full-length TACI protein.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the isolated nucleic acid consists of at least 24 nucleotides. In a more preferred embodiment, the isolated nucleic acid consists of at least 30 nucleotides. In an even more preferred embodiment, the isolated nucleic acid consists of at least 36 nucleotides. Oligonucleotides of the invention can be used as nucleic acid probes, PCR primers, antisense nucleic acids, and the like, for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.
In one embodiment of the present invention, an isolated nucleic acid (SEQ ID NO.3) encodes a C-terminal fragment of the TACI protein that is sufficient to bind to the N-terminal 146 amino acids of CAML. In one particular embodiment of this type, the C-terminal fragment contains about 126 amino acids. In another embodiment of this type the C-terminal fragment has an amino acid sequence of either SEQ ID NO:4, or SEQ ED NO:4 with one or more conservative substitutions.
In another embodiment, an isolated nucleic acid of the invention encodes an N-terminal fragment (SEQ ID NO.5) of the CAML-binding protein corresponding to the extracellular domain. In a particular embodiment of this type the N-terminal fragment has an amino acid sequence of either SEQ ID NO:6, or SEQ ID NO:6 with one or more conservative substitutions.
In a preferred embodiment, the isolated nucleic acid encodes a TACI protein that has a binding affinity for CAML. When such a TACI protein is appropriately stimulated, in situ, it initiates activation of a transcription factor through the combination of a Ca2+-dependent pathway and a Ca2+-independent pathway. In a more preferred embodiment, the isolated nucleic acid encodes a TACI protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.
The present invention also includes a DNA construct comprising an isolated nucleic acid of the present invention that is a recombinant DNA operatively linked to an expression control sequence. The expression control sequence can be selected from the group consisting of the early or late promoters of SV40 or adenovirus, the lac system, the trp system, the TAC system, the TRC system, the major operator and promoter regions of phage xcex, the control regions of fd coat protein, the promoter for 3-phosphoglycerate kinase, the promoters of acid phosphatase and the promoters of the yeast xcex1-mating factors.
In a preferred embodiment, the expression control sequence is either a standard tet inducible promoter, a metallothionein promoter, or an ecdysone promoter. In a more preferred embodiment, the expression control sequence is the SRxcex1 promoter.
The present invention also includes a unicellular host transformed with a recombinant DNA construct of the present invention. In one embodiment the unicellular host is a prokaryote. In another embodiment the unicellular host is a eukaryote. Preferably the eukaryotic host is a mammalian cell, for example, a COS, CHO or Jurkat T cell, which could be useful for evaluating activity of the TACI protein or to identify modulatory agents.
The present invention includes the isolated polypeptides encoded by the nucleic acids of the present invention, fragments thereof, and fusion proteins thereof. In one embodiment, the polypeptide fragment consists of an N-terminal fragment of the TACI protein corresponding to the regulatory extracellular domain. In a particular embodiment the N-terminal fragment has an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:6 or SEQ ID NO:6 with one or more conservative substitutions.
In another embodiment, the polypeptide fragment consists of a C-terminal fragment of the TACI protein that is sufficient to bind to the N-terminal 146 amino acids of CAML. In one such embodiment, the C-terminal fragment contains 95 to 130 amino acids. In a specific embodiment, the C-terminal fragment contains the C-terminal 126 amino acids of SEQ ID NO:2. In an alternative embodiment the C-terminal fragment of the TACI protein contains about 110 amino acids. In a preferred embodiment of this type, the C-terminal fragment contains 107 amino acids and has an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4.
The present invention also includes the preparation of a recombinant form of the extracellular portion of a TACI protein, thereby creating a dominant-negative or blocking reagent. This component intercepts the normal endogenous ligands which serve to crosslink and activate the TACI protein. Administration of such a polypeptide acts to suppress the immune system. Such administration is useful in the treatment or prevention of autoimmune disease or graft-rejection or graft-vs-host disease following transplantation.
A chimeric TACI protein of the invention may be a protein that is generated by joining the extracellular domain of another receptor molecule with a transmembrane domain and the intracellular domain of a TACI protein. In another embodiment, the extracellular domain of a TACI protein can be joined with a transmembrane domain and an intracellular domain of another receptor molecule. The transmembrane domain can be the transmembrane domain of a TACI protein, the transmembrane domain of the other receptor, or a different transmembrane domain. Preferably, the transmembrane domain is from the same protein component of the chimera as the extracellular domain.
In a preferred embodiment the polypeptide is a TACI protein encoded by a nucleic acid of the present invention that has a binding affinity for CAML and when appropriately stimulated, in situ, initiates activation of a transcription factor through the combination of a Ca2+-dependent pathway and a Ca2+-independent pathway.
The present invention also includes antisense nucleic acids that hybridize under physiological conditions to the mRNAs that encode the TACI proteins of the present invention. Such antisense nucleic acids may be RNA transcribed from an antisense gene, or RNA or DNA produced exogenously (whether by expression or chemical synthesis). Preferably, a synthetic antisense nucleic acid is prepared with non-naturally occurring bonds to prevent its rapid hydrolysis and thus increase its effective half-life.
A knockout animal is also part of the present invention. The knockout animal comprises a first and second allele which each naturally encode and express functional TACI protein but in which at least one of the two alleles is defective and thereby prevents the animal from expressing an adequate amount of the TACI protein. In one embodiment of this type, the first allele contains a defect that prevents the animal from expressing any functional TACI protein. In a preferred embodiment, a knockout animal contains both a defective first allele and a defective second allele. These defective alleles prevent the animal from expressing functional TACI protein. In a preferred embodiment, the knockout animal is a knockout mouse.
The present invention also includes antibodies to all of the nucleic acids and polypeptides of the present invention. In a specific embodiment, the antibody is prepared against the TACI protein having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, or an antigenic fragment thereof. The antibodies of the present invention can be either monoclonal antibodies or polyclonal antibodies. In one embodiment, the antibody is a monoclonal antibody that is a chimeric antibody.
An immortal cell line that produces a monoclonal antibody of the present invention is also part of the present invention. In a specific embodiment of this immortal cell line, the monoclonal antibody is prepared against the TACI protein having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 or an antigenic fragment thereof.
The present invention also includes an N-terminal fragment of CAML that is sufficient to bind to the C-terminal 126 amino acid fragment of TACI-1. In one such embodiment, the N-terminal fragment of CAML contains 146 amino acids. This N-terminal fragment of CAML can serve as an inhibitor of TACI-CAML binding.
The present invention includes methods of making TACI proteins, fragments thereof and fusion proteins thereof. In one embodiment the method comprises introducing an expression vector comprising a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide that is a TACI protein, or a fragment thereof, or a fusion protein thereof, into a host cell and expressing the encoded polypeptide. In a preferred embodiment the expressed polypeptide has a binding affinity for CAML. In a more preferred embodiment the polypeptide, when appropriately stimulated, in situ, initiates activation of a transcription factor through the combination of a Ca2+-dependent and a Ca2+-independent pathway. In the most preferred embodiment of this type the expressed polypeptide is a TACI protein having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.
Methods of purifying the expressed polypeptides encoding TACI proteins, fragments thereof and fusion proteins thereof, are also part of the present invention, as are the purified expressed polypeptides themselves.
The present invention also includes methods for identifying a ligand for a TACI protein. One embodiment of such a method comprises contacting the N-terminal extracellular polypeptide of a TACI protein with a candidate molecule and detecting the binding of the N-terminal extracellular polypeptide with the candidate molecule. The binding of the N-terminal extracellular polypeptide with the candidate molecule indicates that the candidate molecule is ligand.
In an alternative method for identifying a ligand for a TACI protein, a functional TACI protein is used. In preferred embodiments of this type the functional TACI protein is TACI-1. The binding of the functional TACI protein with the candidate molecule indicates that the candidate molecule is a ligand. In one such embodiment, binding of the candidate molecule to the functional TACI protein is determined by detecting cellular activation as a function of the level of activation of the AP-1 pathway. In another embodiment, binding of the candidate molecule to the functional TACI protein is determined by detecting cellular activation as a function of the level of activation of the CAML pathway.
In another embodiment, binding of the candidate molecule to the functional TACI protein is determined by detecting cellular activation as a function of the level of the concentration of the NF-AT transcription factor. In still another embodiment, binding of the candidate molecule to the functional TACI protein is determined by detecting cellular activation as a function of the level of activation of the NF-KB pathway. In yet another embodiment, binding of the candidate molecule to the functional TACI protein is determined by detecting cellular activation as a function of the level of the activation of NF-AT. In this case, the level of activation of NF-AT can be determined by methods including demonstrating cytoplasm to nuclear translocation of NF-AT; the relative dephosphorylation of NF-AT; and/or by NF-AT-dependent transcription.
In preferred embodiments, more than one of the above determinations of cellular activation is made, and the candidate molecule is identified as a ligand when all the determinations made indicate the binding of the candidate molecule to the TACI protein. In the most preferred embodiment, all of the above determinations of cellular activation are made and the candidate molecule is identified as a ligand when all of these determinations indicate that the candidate molecule binds to the TACI protein.
Methods for identifying a ligand for a TACI protein may be performed in a large number of expression systems in the TACI protein can be expressed. One embodiment employs the use of a yeast two-hybrid expression system using the TACI protein as xe2x80x9cbait.xe2x80x9d In another embodiment, interaction cloning from E. coli expression-libraries may be employed. In yet another embodiment, functional expression cloning in mammalian cells of the TACI protein can be utilized. In a preferred embodiment, the mammalian cells are B-cell derived lines such as Burkitt""s Lymphoma, EBV-immortalized cell lines, or multiple myeloma cell lines. In a more preferred embodiment of this type, the TACI protein is expressed in Jurkat T cells containing a reporter gene under control of an NF-AT promoter. In one such embodiment, the reporter gene encodes secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) as the marker.
The present invention also includes methods of screening for an immunosuppressant drug that inhibits the activation of B cells to a greater extent than it inhibits the activation of mature T cells. In preferred embodiments of this type, the immunosuppressant drug inhibits the activation of B cells, but does not inhibit the activation of mature T cells. Such methods may be performed in transformed T cells, such as a Jurkat T cell, which can be genetically manipulated to express the TACI protein; or in B cells that naturally express the TACI protein. The present invention also includes the immunosuppressant drugs identified which inhibit the activation of B cells, but not the activation of mature T cells.
The present invention includes methods of identifying an immunosuppressant drug that selectively blocks the action of B lymphocytes without effecting mature T lymphocytes. One such embodiment comprises contacting a first lymphocyte with a potential drug, wherein the first lymphocyte contains a TACI protein and a first marker protein. The first marker protein is transcribed when the TACI protein is stimulated in the absence of a candidate drug. The TACI protein is stimulated, and the first marker protein is detected under conditions in which if it is transcribed, it is detectable. A potential drug is selected as a candidate drug when the first marker protein cannot be detected. Next, a second lymphocyte is contacted with the candidate drug, wherein the second lymphocyte contains a T cell receptor, and a second marker protein that is transcribed when the T cell receptor is stimulated either in the absence or the presence of the immunosuppressant drug. The T cell receptor is stimulated and the second marker protein is detected under conditions in which if it is transcribed, it is detectable. A candidate drug is identified as an immunosuppressant drug when the second marker protein is detected, since the immunosuppressant drug interferes with the pathway (or aspect thereof) involving the TACI protein but not the pathway (or aspect thereof) involving the T cell receptor.
In one embodiment, the first and second lymphocytes are Jurkat T cells that have been modified to express a TACI protein. In one such particular embodiment the method comprises contacting a first Jurkat T cell with a potential drug, wherein the first Jurkat T cell has been genetically engineered to express a TACI protein and a first reporter gene. The first reporter gene is controlled by an NF-AT promoter, and encodes a first marker protein. The TACI protein is activated, and the amount of expression of the first marker protein is quantified. A potential drug is selected as a candidate drug when the amount of the first marker protein expressed in the presence of the candidate drug is decreased relative to the amount expressed in the absence of the candidate drug. The candidate drug is then contacted with a second Jurkat T cell that contains a T cell receptor and a second reporter gene. The second reporter gene is controlled by an NF-AT promoter, and encodes a second marker protein. The T cell receptor is activated and the amount of expression of the second marker protein is quantified and then compared to the amount of second marker protein expressed in the absence of the candidate drug. A candidate drug is identified as an immunosuppressant drug if either there is no decrease in the amount of expression of the second marker protein in the presence of the candidate drug, or the decrease in the expression of the second marker protein is measurably less than the corresponding decrease in expression of the first marker protein in the presence of the candidate drug.
Any of the marker proteins described herein may be used for this aspect of the invention including SEAP, LacZ or luciferase. The first and second marker protein can be the same protein or two different proteins. The TACI protein may be activated with an antibody raised against a TACI protein, or an active fragment thereof, or a fusion protein thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the TACI protein is TACI-1. Several promoters can be used to control the reporter gene including the NF-AT promoter mentioned above and the AP-1 promoter. Potential drugs can be obtained from any of the drug libraries currently available, and from the chemical and phage libraries described herein.
These and other aspects of the present invention will be better appreciated by reference to the following drawings and Detailed Description.

Antibodies to a lymphocyte surface receptor that binds CAML and methods of use thereof


In case the digital broadcasting wave contains printable contents data, the invention multiplexes a message, a mark or an icon on the display screen of the currently viewed program or outputs an audio message to inform the user of the presence of such contents data. The invention prevents a situation where the contents data cannot be or are not printed even though the data are transmitted, and allows the user to correctly prepare the type or number of sheets in advance in the printer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data receiving apparatus, a method and a storage medium therefor, and more particularly to a data receiving apparatus, a method and a storage medium therefor adapted for use for data processing in television broadcasting receiver adaptable to data broadcasting reception, capable of receiving, displaying and reproducing data broadcasting contents in which for example characters, images, sound etc. are multiplexed.
2. Description of the Related Art
The data broadcasting has conventionally been operated in the ground wave television broadcasting, and is being broadened to the satellite-based digital broadcasting. In any of these data broadcastings, the data are broadcasted by superposing with a broadcast wave. In the receiving terminal, the broadcast wave is received and the accumulated data are read into a personal computer or an exclusive terminal and are displayed by a general WWW (world wide web) browser software or an exclusive browser software.
It is now anticipated to provide a new service by rendering the aforementioned data broadcasting service receivable not only by the personal computer but also by the television receiver. More specifically, by providing the television receiver with the receiving function for the data broadcasting and the browser software, even the user without the personal computer can easily browse various information and there can be provided a service for displaying information, linked with the television program, by characters or by images.
As an example, there is being proposed a new news service utilizing the data broadcasting. In this service, news images etc. are recorded in advance in the storage device of the television receiver and a data broadcasting image consisting of characters or images is provided as "news items" to the user, and the image of a news item selected by the user for example through the remote controller is reproduced. Such system allows to provide a conventionally unavailable new service enabling the user to view, at any time, the news program that has been observable only at predetermined times or enabling the user to only view the news item desired by the user.
However, in case of providing the television receiver with the receiving function for the aforementioned data broadcasting, a somewhat larger font is usually used in order to improve the visibility of the characters. As a result, the amount of character information that can be displayed at a time is naturally reduced, and, it is only possible to three to five news contents for example in the aforementioned news service and it is difficult to display many news items together with abstract and photographs.
Although it is conceivable to display the information that cannot be displayed within a single screen by scrolling or by page switching, but such method imposes the user to execute additional operation and cannot be considered adequate for the user who is not used to the operation environment of personal computer or television games.
Also the convenience to the user can be increased by printing the useful content of the broadcast program or the data broadcasting on paper through a printer, thereby enabling the user to watch such content afterwards. In such case, it is conceivable to connect the television receiver with a video printer for capturing and printing the image displayed on the television receiver, but, since a large font is generally employed in order to improve the visibility of the characters as explained in the foregoing, the printed characters inevitably become large and there can be exploited the advantage of paper which generally provide higher visibility of characters in comparison with the television screen.
In consideration of the foregoing, it is now conceived to broadcast, together with the program broadcasting or the display data in the data broadcasting, print data such as more detailed image data or character data related with such broadcasting in superposition, and to execute printing with such superposed data, but such system is associated with the following drawbacks.
Firstly, the user is unable to easily recognize when the print data are transmitted during the program viewing, so that the user is required to execute cumbersome operations in the course of the program viewing in order to confirm the presence of the print data. Also in case the print data are transmitted in the course of program viewing, the user may be unable to recognize the kind of the transmitted print data, so that the optimum preparation for printing may not be possible. Also the user may be unable to recognize the volume of the data to be printed, so that the optimum preparation for printing may not be possible.

Data receiving apparatus, method and storage medium therefor


A protective shipping and storage package for appliances, including a polymeric foam protective base cap for being fitted onto a base of the appliance and a polymeric foam protective top cap for being fitted onto a top of the appliance opposed to the base. A plurality of protective side panels are provided for being positioned on opposite side walls of the appliance and interconnecting the base and top caps. The side panels have opposite ends for respectively engaging and cooperating with the base cap and top cap to form a protective package around the appliance. A retaining shroud is positioned on and extends around the appliance and the assembled top cap, base cap and plurality of side panels for securing the protective package in its protective position around the appliance. The shroud may be a shrink-wrap type of plastic film.

This invention relates to a package designed to protect appliances, such as washing machines, clothes dryers, water heaters and similar products during shipment and storage. For purposes of illustration, a package intended for a conventional upright storage tank-type electric hot water heater is disclosed. A package of the type disclosed in this application is adaptable for use with virtually any type of appliance, particularly those which are relatively large and heavy, yet constructed of relatively thin sheet metal and thus susceptible to damage during shipment.
Appliances of this type are conventionally packaged in corrugated cardboard boxes which have top and bottom caps, a surrounding box with corrugated cardboard sleeves inserted into the box to wedge the appliance into a stationary position in the box.
Assembly takes place by placing the appliance on a base, placing sheets of cardboard around the appliance, putting a top on the appliance, and wedging sleeves of corrugated cardboard into the box. The boxes are typically held together by strapping, which must later be cut in order to disassemble the box and remove the appliance.
These cardboard boxes are sufficiently rigid that three at a time can be picked up by a lift truck, which squeezes the boxes together side-by-side and lifts them at the same time. These boxes are relatively expensive to produce. Aside from the fabrication of the corrugated cardboard itself, the box must be cut, folded, glued and otherwise formed into a fabricated shape customized for the unique size and shape of each particular appliance.
While the cardboard is recyclable, the recycling process is relatively expensive and often not economically feasible.
The present invention presents several advantages over prior art packaging and packaging processes. By using injection-molded polymeric foam, components can be easily made in large quantities with molded shapes which fit exactly to the shape of the appliance. The foam components are easily reusable or recyclable. The foam components of the packaging use a minimum of mass, and enclose only those parts of the appliance most susceptible to damage. Using shrink-wrap film to hold the other components together creates a tight, protective unit which is nevertheless quick and easy to disassemble.
In addition, the structure of the packaging permits appliance manufacturers to continue handling the appliances in a conventional manner during assembly, packaging, shipment and storage. The end result is a package which offers superior protection at a very low cost.

Product for protectively packaging appliances for storage and shipment


A torque converter having a fluid vibration damping arrangement (70) for damping torsional vibrations which lead to relative torsion between an input and an output side of the torsional vibration damper by means of fluid contained in the interior (24) of the casing (12). The fluid vibration damping arrangement is implemented by at least one first blade-like projection, which is coupled in a rotationally fixed manner to a turbine impeller shell (28) of the turbine impeller (26), and extends substantially axially away from said shell and toward the clutch element (44), and at least one second blade-like projection, which is coupled in a rotationally fixed manner to the clutch element (44), preferably attached to the latter, and extends substantially axially away from the latter and toward the turbine impeller (26). The at least one first blade-like projection (74) and the at least one second blade-like projection (72) overlapping in the axial direction in certain regions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to torque converters, and more particularly to a torque converter having a fluid damping function.
2. Description of the Related Art
DE 44 24 704 C2 discloses a torque converter in which a clutch piston is connected to a turbine impeller hub via a torsional vibration damper. In this case, a hub part of the torsional vibration damper is fixedly coupled to the turbine impeller hub, and two back-shroud parts extending on either side of the hub part are fixedly fitted onto the clutch piston. In the radially outer region, the two back-shroud parts form an annular space which extends around the axis of rotation of the converter and has an approximately square cross section. Arranged in this annular space are individual casing segments, which respectively form a virtually fluidtight inner space, which is open through an opening to the radially inner end. A projection protruding radially outward on the hub part engages in this opening. Coupled to this projection in the inner space is a displacement element, which is at a predetermined distance from the walls bounding the inner space. If torsional vibrations which lead to a relative torsion between the hub part and the two back-shroud parts occur, the hub part engaging in the inner space shifts, with the displacement element mounted on it, in the inner space. The fluid present in the inner space is thereby displaced resulting in a nozzling effect being produced between the displacement element and the walls bounding the inner space. Consequently, vibrational energy can be dissipated by the fluid which is arranged in the inner space and flows through between the wall and the displacement element.
In the case of this known torque converter, the fluid vibration damping arrangement leads to vibration damping proportional to the rate of relative torsion. However, the provision of the fully enclosed inner space with the displacement element movable therein leads to a complex construction with a correspondingly large axial extent.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,655,368 discloses a torque converter in which a plurality of displacement blades extending radially outward are provided on the turbine impeller shell. A plurality of corresponding projections, extending radially inward, are found on the casing. If rotational vibrations occur in the engaged state of the lockup clutch., the blades or projections shift in relation to one another, causing the fluid contained in the interior of the converter to be displaced, which leads to fluid vibration damping. However, there is a problem with this known torque converter in that the fluid damping effect also occurs in the disengaged state of the lockup clutch. The result is that the expected motion of the turbine impeller in the converter is disadvantageously affected.


A unitized receiver-housing bearing planar collar for a pet wherein the bottom end of the receiver housing is integrally formed with the collar, the bottom perimetrical edge of the receiver housing being oriented substantially parallel to the plane of the collar. The collar is overmolded, free of independent connectors or fasteners, on the receiver housing adjacent the bottom end of the receiver housing such that when the collar is affixed to the neck of a pet, for example, there is established and maintained a pre-selected orientation of the receiver housing relative to the pet.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to pet collars having electronic devices associated therewith.
2. Description of the Related Art
Collars for pets, particularly dogs and cats, commonly are of at least two types. A first type includes some type of electronic device useful in transferring a radio frequency signal from a remote transmitter to the pet in the form of a mild electrical shock. Such devices are useful in training pets and in electronic containment systems wherein a pet's physical roaming territory is defined by a buried conductor, remote transmitter or the like, carrying a signal which is transmitted to a pet upon the pet approaching the boundary of a containment area established by a transmitted signal. It is imperative for proper operation of the electronic device carried by the pet that it be positioned precisely on, and in good electrical communication with, the pet, usually on the pet's neck, for the effective receipt of a signal from a remote location, and proper transfer of the received signal to the pet in the form of a mild electronic shock. Effective receipt of a signal (shock) by the pet is commonly accomplished through the use of two electrodes which project from the receiver housing and which need to be in good continuous engagement with the outer skin of the pet.
Heretofore, the electronic device includes a receiver housing attached to the collar by conventional fastener hardware, i.e., screws, nuts and bolts, and the like. These fasteners tend to loosen over time, causing the electronic device to lose its desired position on the pet, or for the electronic device to completely fall away from the collar. Moreover, the use of mechanical fasteners commonly requires large size receiver housings, even though such large size is not needed for containing the electronics employed, thereby contributing to the problem of retention of the receiver housing in proper position on the pet, and the overall cost of the receiver.
In a second type of pet collar, there is provided some type of housing mounted on a collar designed to encircle the neck of the pet. The housing or some like member serves, among other things, as the mounting location for a dispenser of a fluid or gas which is obnoxious to the pet. The fluid most commonly is sprayed from a reservoir in the housing onto or in near proximity to some selected anatomical feature of the pet, such as the nose of the pet. In this type housing/collar combination, it is important that the orientation of the housing on the collar, hence the orientation of the dispenser member, to the selected anatomical feature of the pet, be initially established and thereafter maintained constant at all times so that the dispensed material will reach the desired anatomical feature of the pet. Thus, in this type housing/collar device, rigidity of the fixation of the housing to the collar as well as rigidity of fixation of the housing to the pet via the collar, is of importance in ensuring the desired directional delivery of the dispensed material. In this type device, selected times and time periods of dispensing of the material toward the pet are commonly controlled by radio frequency signals directed to electronics within the housing from a remote location, or electronics held within the housing which are sensitive to an external activating action, such as the barking of a dog, or the like.

Unitized receiver-housing bearing collar for pet


A method of compressing one-dimensional time series data at uniform time intervals includes: a first process of inputting the one-dimensional time series data and an approximation accuracy thereof; a second process of calculating node candidates of an interpolation function approximating the one-dimensional time series data; a third process of optimizing positions of the node candidates; a fourth process of judging an error between one-dimensional time series data produced using the interpolation function, based on the node candidates at optimized positions, and the original one-dimensional time series data; a fifth process of judging an error between one-dimensional time series data produced using the interpolation function on the basis of the node candidates at optimized positions and the original one-dimensional time series data, and changing a node number and returning to the second process when the error exceeds a value based on the approximation accuracy; and a sixth process of outputting data of the node candidates and corresponding time data as compressed data when it is judged in the fifth process that the error does not exceed the value based on the approximation accuracy. Therefore, compression adapted to the properties of the given one-dimensional time series data is performed.

Recently, the internet has achieved a remarkable development. The internet can deal with two-dimensional image and sound signals using Hyper Text Makeup Language (HTML) and, therefore, it can be used as a communication medium for image information, sound information, or other multimedia information.
The HTML, however, cannot deal with three-dimensional CG images although treating two-dimensional images, proposed as an alternative to the HTML is Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) which enables three-dimensional image processing.
Nevertheless, VRML is hard to express three-dimensional CG images representing motions of human being. For expressing such images, it is necessary to treat the human being as a rigid body multi-joint object and to describe each joint's position or the like as time series data. This process, however, produces an enormous quantity of data.
Such problem about data amount can be solved by decomposing multi-dimensional time series data including joint positions into one-dimensional time series data and then performing compression to each one-dimensional time series data.
As such compression method for one-dimensional time series data, generally used is compression using orthogonal transform such as discrete Fourier transform and discrete cosine transformation. The orthogonal transform is described in several reference literatures including "Sound" by Kazuo Nakata, ed by Japan Acoustic Society, Colona, 1977. Time series data of joint angles of a rigid body multi-joint object is described in Unuma, M, et al., "Fourier Principles for Emotion-based Human Figure Animation", SIGGRAPH95 Proceedings, 1955, pp 91-95.
In the information compression method using orthogonal transform, given one-dimensional time series data is transformed into discrete Fourier series expansion expression and discrete cosine series expansion expression, using the data obtained at each time, and high-frequency component of the transformed series expansion expression, are eliminated to compress the information amount.
For the information compressed using such orthogonal transform, information decompression is performed by applying inverse Fourier transform and inverse cosine transformation. This produces, as decompressed data, not only data of the same number as the original data but data of arbitrary number which is different from the original data in number. However, the decompression of data is performed based on trigonometric function, and this may affect the decompressed data's properties.

One-dimensional time series data compression method, one-dimensional time series data decompression method

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A saw assembly includes a drive member, a motor, a housing, a foot, and a spring. The drive member is configured to be moved in a repeating pattern. The motor is configured to move said drive member in said repeating pattern. The housing defines an interior space in which said motor is positioned, and said housing includes a mount located in said interior space. The foot includes (i) a base defining a work piece contact surface, and (ii) an extension structure attached to said base and defining a spring arm contact surface. The spring includes (i) a spring arm positioned in contact with said spring arm contact surface, and (ii) a coiled portion supported by said mount. The housing is configured to pivot in relation to said foot about a pivot axis.

Power saws are a type of cutting tool, which are useful for quickly and easily cutting material, such as construction lumber and other building products. A common type of power saw is a portable circular saw, which includes a foot plate, and a circular saw blade that extends below the foot plate. Typically, a user cuts a workpiece with a circular saw by resting the foot plate on the workpiece, aligning the saw blade with a desired cut path, and then manually guiding the circular saw in the direction of the cut path, often following a marked line on the workpiece.
The foot plate is typically pivotally connected to a housing of the circular saw, and defines an opening through which the blade extends. The depth of cut made by the saw blade is controllable by adjusting the pivotal position of the foot plate. For example, the circular saw may be configured to make a shallow cut in or through a workpiece by pivoting the foot plate to a position in which only a small portion of the saw blade extends from the bottom of the foot plate. The circular saw may be configured to make to a deep cut in or through a workpiece by pivoting the foot plate to a position in which a greater portion of the saw extends from the bottom of the foot plate.
Most users desire that a circular saw, which has a housing that is robust and compact. However, the pivot hinge that connects the foot plate to the housing of the circular is often bulky and obtrusive.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a circular saw having a foot plate that is pivotally connected to the housing of a circular saw with a robust and compact hinge assembly.

Spring biased base with offset pivot point


Structures and methods are provided for fabricating a ring oscillator including a plurality of stages. An example multi-layer structure includes a first device layer, a second device layer, and an inter-level connection structure. The first device layer includes a first transistor structure associated with a first stage of a ring oscillator. The second device layer is formed on the first device layer and includes a second transistor structure associated with a second stage of the ring oscillator. Further, the first inter-level connection structure includes one or more first conductive materials and is configured to electrically connect to the first transistor structure and the second transistor structure.

Ring oscillators are widely used in high speed circuit applications, and usually include simple inverting logic circuits as stages. For example, each stage includes an N-channel transistor and a P-channel transistor. The stages are connected in series to form a cascade loop. The current output of each stage charges or discharges an input capacitance of a next stage to a threshold voltage. At a particular frequency, a certain phase shift (e.g., 180°) is imparted to signals passing around the loop. If the loop gain is large enough, the signals may become non-linear resulting in square-wave oscillations which can be used, for example, for signal processing.

Structures and methods for ring oscillator fabrication

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited


According to an embodiment of the invention, there is provided a micro integratable tunable laser assembly (m-ITLA) which includes an electrical interface for interfacing with a host, a tunable laser module for conducting optical communication, and a control unit, for at least controlling operation of the tunable laser module according to information received from the host via the electrical interface. The m-ITLA can have a length of about 37 mm or less and a width of about 20 mm or less.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to micro (small-size) integratable tunable laser assembly (micro-ITLA).
2. Description of the Related Art
Laser assembly is well known in the related art. Optical Internetworking Forum (OIF) has released an Integratable Tunable Laser Assembly (ITLA) Multi Source Agreement (OIF-ITLA-MSA-01.0, 2008, which can be available from http://www.oiforum.com/public/documents/OIF-ITLA-MSA-01.2.pdf) which defines numerous specifications for ITLA, including electric specifications, optical specifications, mechanical specifications, and the like.
As the developing and deploying of the optical internetworking technologies, there is a need to decrease the factor form of ITLA while still achieving the full functionality of the ITLA.

Micro-integratable tunable laser assembly


A frequency translating device (FTD) includes at least one mixer diode connected to down-convert a radio frequency (RF) to an intermediate frequency (IF) and to up-convert an IF to an RF and a source of direct current (DC) bias that is connected to the mixer diode. The source of DC bias provides DC bias to the mixer diode that moves the voltage applied to the mixer diode closer to the threshold voltage of the mixer diode. The mixer diode is turned on in response to the DC bias and a local oscillator (LO) drive. Because DC bias is applied to the mixer diode, the peak to peak voltage range of the LO drive can be reduced, thereby reducing the voltage-dependent capacitance of the mixer diode, causing the FTD to exhibit improved reciprocity. The FTD can be used in a three-pair measurement system to determine the conversion response of another FTD.

FTDs (e.g., mixers, converters, and tuners) are devices that convert radio frequencies (RF) to intermediate frequencies (IF) when used for down-conversion or IFs to RFs when used for up-conversion. In a three-port mixer, the down-conversion of an RF to an IF or the up-conversion of an IF to an RF involves mixing an input signal with a local oscillator (LO) signal. Mixing an input signal with an LO signal generates two primary output signals having frequencies that are the sum of the input signal frequency and the LO signal frequency and the difference between the input signal frequency and the LO signal frequency. In down-conversion, an RF signal is mixed with an LO signal to generate a lower frequency IF signal and in up-conversion an IF signal is mixed with an LO signal to generate a higher frequency RF signal.
As the demand for wireless communications services increases, more advanced FTDs with tighter operating tolerances are being developed. To support the development of new FTDs and the integration of FTDs into RF communications systems, the conversion responses of FTDs need to be characterized. Two conversion responses of FTDs that are typically characterized include conversion loss and phase shift. The conversion loss of an FTD is a measure of the difference in amplitude between the input signal (the RF in down-conversion and the IF in up-conversion) and the output signal (the IF in down-conversion and the RF in up-conversion). The phase shift of an FTD is a measure of the phase shift between the input signal and the output signal.
A technique for characterizing the conversion response of an FTD is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,937,006 issued to Clark et al. (hereinafter Clark). Clark discloses a measurement technique for characterizing an FTD that involves making at least three different measurements using three different pairs of FTDs, where the three different pairs of FTDs are put together from a set of three different FTDs. According to the three-pair measurement technique, one of the FTDs is the device under test (DUT) and the other two FTDs are test devices (referred to as test mixer 1, TM1, and test mixer 2, TM2) that support the characterization of the DUT. FIG. 1 depicts the basic structure of a three-pair measurement system 100 for characterizing the single side band conversion response of an FTD. The three-pair measurement system includes a vector network analyzer (VNA) 102, a controller 104, an up-conversion FTD 110, a down-conversion FTD 112, connections 106 and 108 between the VNA and the up-conversion and down-conversion FTDs, an optional phase shifter 114, an LO 116, and a splitter 118. Although FIG. 1 depicts the basic structure of a three-pair measurement system, an actual implementation may include additional components, such as filters, attenuators, and isolators, which are used to improve the measurement quality. Characterizing the single side band response of a DUT FTD using the three-pair measurement system involves three separate measurements with the DUT, TM1, and TM2 used in different combinations as the up-conversion FTD and the down-conversion FTD. The connections 106 and 108 couple the FTDs to the VNA and may include ports and connection cables as is known in the field.
FIG. 2 is a measurement flow diagram for characterizing the conversion response of a single side band DUT. The flow diagram indicates the different combinations of the DUT, TM1, and TM2 that are used to characterize the DUT. In measurement A (step 220), an IF is input into the up-conversion FTD (the DUT) for up-conversion to an RF and then into the down-conversion FTD (TM1) for down-conversion back to an IF. The result of measurement A is a measurement MA(f) that is used to determine a response RA(f). In measurement B (step 222), an IF is input into the up-conversion FTD (the DUT) for up-conversion to an RF and then into the down-conversion FTD (TM2) for down-conversion back to an IF. The result of measurement B is a measurement MB(f) that is used to determine a response RB(f). In measurement C (step 224), an IF is input into the up-conversion FTD (TM1) for up-conversion to an RF and then into the down-conversion FTD (TM2) for down-conversion back to an IF. The result of measurement C is a measurement MC(f) that is used to determine a response RC(f). The single side band response of the DUT is then calculated (step 226) as RDUT(f)=[RA(f)+RB(f)−RC(f)]/2.
One requirement of the three-pair measurement system is that one of the test FTDs (either TM1 or TM2) must have a reciprocal conversion response. That is, the conversion response of the reciprocal FTD must be the same whether the FTD is used as a down-conversion FTD 112 or as an up-conversion FTD 110. In the three-pair test system, the reciprocal FTD is the FTD that is used as the down-conversion FTD in one of the measurements and as the up-conversion FTD in another one of the measurements. Referring to the flow diagram of FIG. 2, TM1 is used as the down-conversion FTD in measurement A (step 220) and as the up-conversion FTD in measurement C (step 224). To accurately determine the conversion response of the DUT, TM1 must have a reciprocal conversion response.
Referring back to FIG. 1, the basic structure of a three-pair measurement system 100 for characterizing the double side band conversion response of a DUT is the same as the measurement system for characterizing a single side band response except that the measurement system includes the phase shifter 114. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the phase shifter is located between the LO 116 and the down-conversion FTD 112 so that the phase of the LO can be shifted before it is inserted into the down-conversion FTD.
FIG. 3 is a measurement flow diagram for characterizing a double side band response of a DUT. The flow diagram indicates the different combinations of the DUT, TM1, TM2, and the phase of the LO that are used to characterize the DUT. The double side band characterization involves initial measurements A, B, and C (steps 320, 322, and 324) that are similar to the A, B, and C measurements (steps 220, 222, and 224) described above with reference to FIG. 2. The double side band characterization includes additional measurements A′, B′, and C′ that are made with the same FTD configuration however the phase of the LO that is inserted into the down-conversion FTD is shifted by 90 degrees to obtain the A′, B′, and C′ measurements. This technique enables calculation of the upper side band (USB) and the lower side band (LSB) conversion responses of the DUT. As shown in FIG. 3 at step 326, the USB conversion response of the DUT is calculated as RDUT USB(f)=[RA USB(f)+RB USB(f)−RC USB(f)]/2 and the LSB conversion response of the DUT is calculated as RDUT LSB(f)=[RA LSB(f)+RB LSB(f)−RC LSB(f)]/2.
As with the single side band measurement technique, one of the test FTDs (either TM1 or TM2) must have a reciprocal conversion response. Referring to FIG. 3, TM1 is used as the down-conversion FTD in the A and A′ measurements (step 320) and is used as the up-conversion FTD in the C and C′ measurements (step 324). To determine the conversion response of the DUT, TM1 must have a reciprocal conversion response.
FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 depict examples of well-known three-port mixer FTDs that can be utilized as the test mixers in a three-pair measurement system. The mixers are passive diode-based mixers in which the mixer diode(s) 430, 530, and 630 is/are driven by the LO of the test system. The mixer of FIG. 4 is an example of a single diode mixer, the mixer of FIG. 5 is an example of a single balanced mixer, and the mixer of FIG. 6 is an example of a double balanced mixer (DBM). Typical solid state mixer diodes have a threshold voltage of 0.3 volts and are biased by an LO. FIG. 7 depicts the voltage modulation of an example LO, having an amplitude of 0.3 volts, that can be used to bias the mixers of FIGS. 4–6. The voltage modulation of the passive diode-based mixers causes the mixer diodes to be forward biased and reversed biased in an alternating fashion, thereby mixing an RF with the LO to generate an IF or mixing an IF with the LO to generate an RF.
Although the three-pair measurement system for characterizing an FTD requires at least one reciprocal FTD to provide quality measurement results, current passive diode-based mixers, such as the example mixers depicted in FIGS. 4–6, do not exhibit the required reciprocal conversion response. Typically, passive diode-based mixers exhibit greater conversion loss during down-conversion than during up-conversion. Clark discloses a calibration technique that involves adjusting multiple attenuators to reduce reflections and optimize conversion linearity as a way to ensure that at least one of the FTDs has a reciprocal conversion response. Many measurements of mixers show that linearity alone is insufficient to guarantee reciprocity, and reflections are irrelevant with respect to reciprocity.
In view of the need to characterize FTDs, especially three-port mixer FTDs and in view of the need to utilize an FTD with a reciprocal conversion response in a s three-pair measurement system and method, what is needed is a reciprocal FTD that can be incorporated into a three-pair measurement system and method.

Frequency translating devices and frequency translating measurement systems with DC bias added to a mixer diode


A rectifying module is arranged on an upstream side of a flow passage containing a flow velocity sensor. The rectifying module includes mesh members each having a plurality of circular small holes and ring-shaped spacers, wherein the mesh members and the spacers are alternately stacked in an axial direction and integrally joined to one another by means of thermal diffusion bonding. The mesh members have identical structures, in which the plurality of small holes are arranged concentrically at angles of separation of 60 degrees in the circumferential direction about the center of a reference small hole. The small holes are formed over the entire surface of the mesh member continuous with adjoining other small holes. The small holes of one mesh member and another mesh member adjacent thereto in the axial direction are arranged so as to have a phase angle difference of 90 degrees in the circumferential direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a flow meter capable of detecting the flow rate of a fluid.
2. Description of the Related Art
A flow meter has been widely used, in which a flow velocity sensor is arranged within a fluid flow passage (piping) for a gas, for example, in order to measure the flow rate of the gas that flows through the flow passage using the flow velocity sensor.
The flow meter comprises, for example, a detecting section for rectifying and sensing the gas, a signal processing section for processing a signal derived from the detecting section, and a display section. A subminiature flow sensor is attached to an inner wall surface of a flow passage of the detecting section, which serves as the flow velocity sensor. The signal processing section calculates a cumulative flow rate and an instantaneous flow rate, on the basis of a detection signal fed from the flow sensor, wherein the obtained result is displayed on the display section.
In this arrangement, a plurality of wire meshes are arranged at constant intervals on an upstream side of the flow velocity sensor, which function as rectifying elements for suppressing uneven flow disturbances in the gas that flows through the flow passage. For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2004-93170 discloses an arrangement in which a fine metal mesh is arranged at an uppermost stream position of the flow velocity sensor, and a plurality of other metal meshes, having gradually coarser mesh sizes, are arranged with the finest mesh positioned at the downstream side, while the meshes are separated from each other by predetermined distances.
However, the technical concept disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2004-93170 requires that a plurality of spacers and metal meshes be alternately installed, respectively, along the inner wall surface of the flow passage in the fluid flow direction. Therefore, the assembly operation is complicated. Further, in the industrial field to which the invention pertains, an increase in the rectifying effect has been sought.

Flow meter with a rectifying module having a plurality of mesh members


An omniphobic emulsion comprising an aqueous continuous phase having dispersed therein a plurality of non-aqueous discontinuous phase droplets; wherein the non-aqueous discontinuous phase droplets are characterized by a droplet size of less than about 100 micrometers (μm); wherein each of the plurality of non-aqueous discontinuous phase droplets comprises a plurality of surfactant molecules and an omniphobic agent, wherein each surfactant molecule has a hydrophilic head portion and a hydrophobic tail portion; wherein each of the plurality of non-aqueous discontinuous phase droplets comprises the plurality surfactant molecules having the hydrophilic head portions disposed into a droplet outer layer with the hydrophobic tail portions extending inward from the droplet outer layer toward the omniphobic agent; and wherein the droplet outer layer encloses the omniphobic agent.

This disclosure relates to methods of servicing a wellbore. More specifically, it relates to methods of treating a wellbore with emulsions comprising omniphobic agents.
Natural resources (e.g., oil or gas) residing in the subterranean formation may be recovered by driving resources from the formation into a wellbore using, for example, a pressure gradient that exists between the formation and the wellbore, the force of gravity, displacement of the resources from the formation using a pump or the force of another fluid injected into the well or an adjacent well. The production of fluid in the formation may be increased by hydraulically fracturing the formation. That is, a treatment fluid (e.g., a fracturing fluid, a gravel packing fluid, etc.) may be pumped down the wellbore at a rate and a pressure sufficient to form or enhance fractures that extend into the formation, providing additional pathways through which the oil or gas can flow to the well. To maintain the fractures open when the fracturing pressures are removed, a particulate material such as a propping agent (i.e., a proppant) may be used.
During gas recovery processes, when the pressure in a gas condensate reservoir is reduced below the dew point, the fluid in the reservoir separates into a liquid phase and a vapor phase. In the region near the wellbore, the pressure gradient is generally steeper, resulting in a greater liquid/gas ratio. Depending on the critical liquid saturation and gas flow rate, the liquid saturation can build up quickly, thereby hindering the flow of gas and hindering gas recovery. This phenomenon (i.e., liquid accumulation) is referred to as "condensate banking." Under condensate banking conditions, high surface energy minerals in the subterranean formation promote spreading of condensate film on the rock surface, wetting out pore surfaces, thereby leading to condensate accumulation (i.e., the formation of a condensate bank). The accumulated condensate restricts open paths for flowing gas, thereby reducing well productivity.
The effect of condensate banking could be decreased by increasing the wettability by gas of the porous formation in the gas condensate reservoir relative to the wettability by liquid in the formation, thereby increasing production of gas from wells. Conventionally, the use of solvents and surfactants such as methanol has been suggested as a way to stimulate gas/condensate wells in which hydraulic fracturing is not the preferred option. The use of methanol could result in removal of the condensate and water banks around a wellbore, which could allow gas flow to be unimpeded through the near-wellbore region, and thus could result in smaller drawdown and slower accumulation of condensate. Within certain ranges of temperature and pressure, the presence of a residual methanol phase in the near-wellbore region can also result in the inhibition of condensate formation for a limited period of time. However, the use of methanol is only a temporary solution because methanol treatments have to be repeated.
When treatment fluids are used for hydraulic fracturing, one potential issue can be removal or recovery of fracturing fluid from the hydraulic fracture. Fracturing fluids which remain in the hydraulic fracture after completion of a fracturing job are detrimental to the performance of hydraulically fractured wells by reducing the conductivity of the hydraulic fracture. During the production stage of the well, liquid, water, or hydrocarbons may undesirably build up in the hydraulic fracture as a result of the presence of fracturing fluid downhole. Such fluid build-up can reduce permeability of gas and/or oil through the fracture (e.g., reduces conductivity) and negatively impact productivity. Thus, an ongoing need exists for compositions that can modify the wettability of downhole surfaces (e.g., surfaces in the wellbore and/or subterranean formation), and methods of making and using same.
The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the specific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Omniphobic emulsions for mitigating gas condensate banking and methods of making and using same


An impeller which is applied to a fan includes a hub, a plurality of first centrifugal blade and a plurality of second centrifugal blades. The hub is disposed in an accommodating space of the fan. The first centrifugal blades and the second centrifugal blades are connected to the hub. The first centrifugal blades have first ends away from the hub. The second centrifugal blades have second ends away from the hub. A distance between the second end and a center of the hub is larger than that between the first end and the hub center, and the first centrifugal blades and the second centrifugal blades are arranged periodically. Thus, an airflow noise in a constant frequency generated by the impeller can be avoided, and noises in inconstant frequency would not accumulate or generate annoying noise peak.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an impeller and a fan and, more particularly, to an impeller whose centrifugal blades are arranged periodically and a fan using the same.
Description of the Related Art
Electronic devices generate heat while operating, and if the heat is not dissipated efficiently, the electronic devices may easily crash, or electronic elements of the electronic device may be damaged, which results in property loss and may hurt the user. Therefore, a fan is usually disposed in the electronic device to solve the overheating problem. The fan blows wind to bring the heat generated, by the electronic device away via forced convection.
Since performance of an electronic chip is improved with more heat generated, the temperature in the electronic device grows higher, and thus the rotating speed of a motor in the fan increases continually. Though air velocity of the fan can be increased by improving the rotating speed of the motor, the fan with the high rotating, speed generates more noise, which annoys users.
The conventional fan includes an impeller and a casing. The impeller includes a plurality of blades, and the casing includes a tongue for increasing pressure. When the blades of the impeller pass the tongue, airflow noise in a constant frequency is generated due to the length of each of the blades being the same and a distance between each blades and the tongue being constant. Continuous noise in a constant frequency can accumulate and generate noise peak, which discomforts the user.