A four-quadrant analog signal multiplier circuit with a folded cascode differential input stage allows such circuit to be operated at lower power supply voltage potentials, while allowing the same transistor types to be used for both sets of input signals thereby providing for more closely matched input device characteristics and signal gains.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to analog signal multiplier circuits, and in particular, to four-quadrant analog signal multiplier circuits.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIG. 1, four-quadrant analog signal multiplier circuits, such as that shown, are well known in the art. The two differential analog input signals 11a, 11b are multiplied together with three interconnected differential amplifiers 12, 14, 16 to produce a differential analog output signal 13. One input signal 11b drives the lower differential amplifier 12 which, in turn, drives the upper differential amplifiers 14, 16. This type of amplifier structure is well known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,586,155 (a disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference) discloses a number of variations of such a circuit.
Referring to FIG. 2, this type of amplifier can also be implemented using metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) interconnected in a similar manner. As with the bipolar junction transistor circuit 10 of FIG. 1, in this MOSFET circuit 20 one input signal 21b drives the lower differential amplifier 22 which, in turn, drives the upper differential amplifiers 24, 26, and the output signal 23 is the product of the two input signals 21a, 21b. This MOSFET implementation is particularly useful for low power applications due to the lower power requirements of MOSFET devices. The overall circuit gain in terms of its transconductance, i.e., its differential output current (I.sub.O(diff) =I.sub.O1 -I.sub.O2 ) as a function of its differential input voltages (V.sub.a, V.sub.b), can be expressed by the following equations (with the various voltages and currents identified as indicated in FIG. 2 and .beta. as transconductance): ##EQU1## Substitute Equations (16)-(19) into (15): ##EQU2## Substitute Equations (10)-(11) into (20): ##EQU3##
This type of circuit, however, does have one characteristic which has become increasingly disadvantageous. Due to their stacked arrangement, i.e., where a pair of differential amplifiers 14/24, 16/26 is effectively stacked upon another differential amplifier 12/22 between the two power supply rails, the dynamic signal range becomes quite limited in a low power applications. In other words, as these types of circuits 10, 20 are required to operate at lower power supply voltages, saturation and/or cutoff of the transistors begins to occur at correspondingly lower signal magnitudes. This requires reduced input in output signal amplitudes, thereby decreasing signal-to-noise ratios.
Referring to FIG. 3, the stacked arrangement of differential amplifiers can be avoided by "folding" what used to be the "lower" differential amplifier 32 such that it is biased between the two power supply rails in a manner similar to what used to be the "upper" differential amplifiers 34, 36. However, while this circuit topography may allow for circuit operation at lower power supply voltages, it does require different types of input devices. Whereas in the stacked amplifier configuration 20 (FIG. 2) the lower differential amplifier 22 used the same types of transistors as the upper differential amplifiers 24, 26 (e.g., N-type MOSFETs), in the folded amplifier configuration 30 (FIG. 3) the folded differential amplifier 32 uses different types of transistors than the output amplifiers 34, 36 (e.g., P-type MOSFETs instead of N-type MOSFETs). This has the disadvantage of making it more difficult to maintain matched input device characteristics and signal gains since, for example, the device characteristics and signal gains of P-type MOSFETs and N-type MOSFETs do not track one another well over variations in device sizes and manufacturing processes.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to have a similarly simple multiplier circuit structure which does not sacrifice performance at reduced signal amplitudes and which provides for more closely matched device characteristics and signal gains.


The present disclosure describes systems and methods for the detection and positioning of a radioactive source. In an exemplary embodiment, a detector array is placed in a four-quadrant formation to allow for self-shielding of the individual detectors from the radiation emitted by a radiation source. A further embodiment utilizes a fuzzy logic system and method to analyze the gross count response of each individual detector with respect to the other three to thereby determine a generalized location and direction of a radioactive source.

With the wider use of nuclear materials in the present day, nuclear security has grown increasingly important given concerns about the potential availability of such materials to terrorist groups. To safeguard the public against the misuse of such radioactive materials, detection devices that are capable of thwarting such attacks must be further refined, developed, and implemented. Some current systems for detecting and positioning radioactive materials are inflexible in how they can be deployed and therefore are limited to portals, choke points, or other immobile uses. Other current systems suffer from a number of drawbacks, such as high expense, lack of positioning accuracy, slow responsiveness, are limited to a particular energy range, etc. Accordingly, there is a need for an approach that is mobile and more cost efficient than traditional portal monitors. Additionally, mobile detection systems would facilitate a more timely response to a potential threat.

System and method for detecting and positioning a radioactive source

University of Tennessee Research Foundation


The invention relates to support element (4) comprising a main body (6) having a front wall (25) and a peripheral wall (32) projecting away from the front wall. The front wall and the peripheral wall define a housing compartment (33) designed to receive a fluid distribution circuitry cooperating with a treatment unit for defining an integrated blood treatment module.

The present invention relates to a support element, to an integrated blood treatment module comprising said support element and to an extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus equipped with said integrated module.
As is known, in order to carry out extracorporeal blood treatments such as for instance haemodialysis, haemofiltration, haemodiafiltration, plasmapheresis, extracorporeal blood oxygenation, extracorporeal blood filtration or other treatments, it is necessary to provide for at least an extracorporeal circuit through which the blood flows and is conveyed towards a treatment unit; the treated blood is then carried back to the patient's cardiovascular system. Referring by way of example to a dialysis treatment, the extracorporeal circuit used comprises: a dialysis filter consisting of a housing body defining at least a first and a second chamber separated from each other by a semipermeable membrane, a blood withdrawal line leading to the first chamber of the dialysis filter and a blood return line designed to receive blood coming out of the first chamber and to carry it back to the patient. The second chamber of the dialysis filter is then connected to a circuit for the circulation of a dialysis liquid designed to receive the impurities that are present in the blood and the excess fluid that has to be removed from the patient's blood.
Currently, in apparatus for extracorporeal blood treatments all the lines designed for the circulation of the dialysis liquid are housed within the dialysis apparatus, whereas the lines constituting the extracorporeal blood circuit are replaced at every treatment and suitably connected to the dialysis filter, which can be replaced either at every treatment or from time to time, as required.
From a structural point of view the dialysis filter, the lines for the circulation of the dialysis liquid and the lines constituting the withdrawal and return branch carrying the blood back to the patient consist of separate parts that are connected and cooperate during operation after being suitably assembled.
There are also apparatuses that are available on the market at present, designed in particular for intensive treatment of kidney failure, which are advantageously equipped with integrated modules comprising a support structure, a dialysis filter engaged to the support structure by means of a suitable support projecting from said structure, as well as a hydraulic circuit comprising the tubes that are necessary to define the blood withdrawal and return lines leading to the patient, the possible lines for the infusion of anticoagulant or substitution liquids, the intake line for the dialysis liquid and the discharge line for the liquid coming out of the second chamber of the dialyser.
The integrated modules described above enable an easy and immediate association of the lines to the treatment apparatus and do not require any connection between the treatment unit, such as for instance a dialysis filter, and the various tubes or lines designed to convey blood and other fluids. Moreover, said integrated modules enable the removal both of the tubes conveying the blood and of the tubes conveying other fluids at the end of the treatment. In other words, thanks to a simple loading and connecting operation of the terminals and of the fluid conveyance lines to the corresponding sources such as bags or others, the user can install a dialysis apparatus. Analogously, once the treatment step is over, by simply disconnecting and disassembling the integrated module from the blood treatment apparatus in few operations, the operator can completely disassemble both the extracorporeal circuit and the blood treatment unit, as well as the tubes for the circulation of possible infusion liquids and of the dialysis liquid. The easy installation of said modules ensures an efficiency and a speed that are certainly advantageous for intensive treatments where the personnel, who might not be conversant with the use of blood treatment apparatuses, can thus operate rapidly and with a high reliability.
From a structural point of view treatment modules consist of a support element to which the fluid distribution circuitry and the blood treatment unit are suitably fastened.
The support element can have different shapes and geometries according to the type and model of integrated module; in particular, it is known about a first arrangement in which the support element is basically defined by a quadrangular plate to which respective tube lengths are fastened by means of suitable engagement connectors, and which also supports the filter directly in its central portion by means of an auxiliary support structure.
The tubes of the fluid circuitry engaged laterally with respect to the support element define suitable tube lengths basically shaped as a U and projecting away from the respective sides. Said U-shaped tube lengths are designed to be associated to respective peristaltic pumps for conveying fluids therein.
It is also known about a further embodiment of an integrated module, in which a support element is designed to keep basically U-shaped respective tube lengths in position and carries a filter suitably engaged thereto.
The support element is defined by a quadrangular frame completely open on two opposite sides and consisting of respective consecutive sides having the U-shaped tube lengths, which are housed within said frame.
However, the integrated modules that are present and widely spread today on the market have proved to be susceptible of several improvements.
In particular, it should be noted how the tube lengths that are designed to cooperate with the respective peristaltic pumps are generally easily accessible by the operator.
In other words, especially when the apparatus is working, the various parts that are moving (generally the peristaltic pumps) are placed in the front of the apparatus, thus enabling possible unwanted bodies to get near the moving parts by chance and to interfere with the good working of said pumps; also the operators can come into unintentional contact with the moving pumps.
Furthermore, said support elements have proved to be improvable as far as their constructive geometry is concerned, in order to improve the centering and the engagement to the front wall of the blood treatment apparatus; said element, have eventually proved to be susceptible of changes also as far as the particular relative arrangement of the various components and their overall dimensions and compactness are concerned.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Support element for an integrated blood treatment module, integrated blood treatment module and extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus equipped with said integrated module


A computer system including a bus master performs a method for automatically assigning addresses to agents on a bus. Addresses are automatically assigned so that a computer system user does not set physical or logical switches, either manually or through software programming. The system and method also automatically assign unique addresses to new devices that are inserted on the bus while the bus is operating, thereby supporting "hot pluggable" devices. Slave agents are originally configured to operate at a class address. At the beginning of the method, a master determines whether any of the slaves reside at the class address. If so, then the master determines a new unique address and issues a Get Bitwise UID command to the slaves residing at the class address. Each of the slaves receives the Get Bitwise UID and responsively transmits a hardware identification (UID) in a loop of bitwise byte transmissions. One slave successfully transmits the hardware identification (UID) while the other individual slaves detect transmission errors during transmission of the hardware identification (UID) and terminate transmission upon the error detection. The unsuccessful slaves, if previously residing at a unique address, revert to the class address. The master receives the hardware identification (UID) of the successfully transmitting slave and issues a Set Address command in combination with the hardware identification (UID) and the new unique address to all slave agents at the class address. Only the slave agent with a hardware identification (UID) matching the UID of the Set Address command processes the Set Address command to completion and is assigned the address. The master uses the Get Bitwise UID command followed by the Set Address command in a loop to locate, identify and assign addresses to agents responding to a predetermined class address.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to computer systems which include a bus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for automatically assigning unique addresses to agents on a bus in a computer system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Computer systems generally include multiple devices interconnected by one or more various buses. For example, a typical computer system architecture includes a CPU connected to main memory through a host or memory bus. The host or memory bus is connected to an expansion bus. In modem computer architectures, the expansion bus is typically a local bus such as a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus. The local bus may then be connected to a more traditional expansion bus such as an AT bus or Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, an Extended ISA (EISA) bus or a microchannel architecture (MCA) bus.
A computer system often includes a bus referred to as a system management bus used for monitoring operations within the system without involvement of the host processor and/or without requiring host processor operability. The system management bus operates in the background and does not use CPU resources. Thus the system management bus operates independently of an operating system that controls the computer system. Therefore, the system management bus operates in parallel with and independently of other operations that are occurring on other buses within the computer system.
A system management bus is typically used to connect devices called "agents". Agents monitor operations of other devices in the system and made data accessible for display to a computer user. Examples of devices which can be connected to a system management bus include monitoring cards for monitoring disk drive functions, control panel consoles for displaying the status of the disk drives within a system, and power supply monitors for monitoring and reporting the status of the power supply in the system, and the like.
Devices connected to a system management bus generally perform control functions so the bus specification does not include high speed data transfer capabilities. Therefore a system management bus is typically implemented using a serial bus protocol. One popular serial bus protocol is an I.sup.2 C serial bus standard protocol developed by Phillips Corporation. In one implementation, the system management bus is implemented at the electrical level and the lowest protocol level using the I.sup.2 C serial bus protocol. An additional protocol may then be run "on top" of the I.sup.2 C bus to facilitate data transfers between the devices.
Each agent connected to a system management bus based on the I.sup.2 C protocol is assigned a dedicated I.sup.2 C address for proper operation of the bus. The conventional method for assigning addresses to agents on the bus involves a selection of hardwired interconnects, dip switches, or jumpers by a designer. The designer specifies dip switch or jumper connections and a computer system user either manually sets the dip switches or jumpers. Alternatively, the computer system user uses configuration software to operate logical switches. The manual setting of switches or manipulation of switches through software control is often tedious and error prone.
What is needed is a system and method for automatically assigning addresses to agents on a serial system management bus in a computer system without user intervention. What is also needed is a system and method for automatically assigning unique addresses to new "hot-pluggable" agents that are subsequently connected to the bus.

System and method for assigning unique addresses to agents on a system management bus


A method of driving a lamp of a liquid crystal display device includes generating a control signal; generating a first drive signal using the control signal; generating a second drive signal by shifting a voltage level of the first drive signal; selectively outputting one of a high potential supply voltage and a low potential supply voltage in response to the second drive signal; transforming the selectively outputted voltage; and supplying the transformed voltage to a lamp.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device, and more particularly to an apparatus and a method of driving a lamp of a liquid crystal display device
2. Description of the Related art
Generally, liquid crystal display devices ("LCD") are being widely used because they are light, thin, and consumes low power. For example, liquid crystal display devices are used in office automation equipment, and audio/video equipment. A liquid crystal display (LCD) controls the light transmittance of liquid crystal using an electric field in accordance with a video signal applied to a plurality of control switches which are arranged in a matrix, to thereby display a picture. To this end, the LCD includes a liquid crystal display panel having a pixel matrix, and a driving circuit for driving the liquid crystal display panel. The driving circuit drives the pixel matrix such that picture information can be displayed on the display panel.
Such a LCD is not a self-luminous display device, because it requires an additional light source like a backlight unit. A cold cathode fluorescent tube (hereinafter, referred to as "CCFT") is used as the light source in the backlight unit. The CCFL is a light source tube using a cold emission phenomenon. In the cold emission phenomenon, an electron emission is generated by a strong electric field applied to a cathode surface. The CCFL generates low heat, is very bright, and has a long life span and full color capability. The CCFL can be used in a light guide type light source, a direct light type light source, and a reflector type light source. An appropriate type of light source tube is selected according to the requirement of the liquid crystal display device. The CCFL uses an inverter circuit for obtaining a high voltage power from a DC power source of low voltage.
FIG. 1 a diagram representing a lamp driving apparatus of a liquid crystal display device according to the related art. Referring to FIG. 1, the related lamp driving apparatus includes a plurality of lamps 6 which generate light; a plurality of inverter parts 4 to drive the lamps 6 by supplying an AC waveform of high voltage to the lamps 6; and an inverter controller 2 to control the inverter parts 4. The lamps 6 receive a lamp output voltage from the inverter parts 4 and irradiate a visible light onto a liquid crystal display panel (not shown). Each of the lamps 6 is composed of a glass tube. The glass tube is filled with an inert gas, and a phosphorus is spread over the inner wall of the glass tube. A high AC voltage is applied by the inverter 4 to a high voltage electrode of each of the lamps 6. Electrons are emitted in each of the lamps 6 and collide with the inert gas, thereby increasing the number of electrons according to a geometric progression. The abundance of electrons causes an electrical current to flow in the glass tube. Thus, the inert gas, such as Ar and Ne, is excited by the electrons to generate energy. The generated energy excites mercury to emit an ultraviolet ray. The ultraviolet ray collides with the luminous phosphorus, which is spread over the inner wall of the glass tube, to emit a visible ray.
FIG. 2 is a diagram representing the related art inverter part shown in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 2, each of the inverter parts 4 is driven by an enable signal ENA from the inverter controller 2 (shown in FIG. 1), drives the lamps 6 using a clock signal CLK and a reference voltage Vref from the inverter controller 2, and transmits to the inverter controller 2 a state signal ACK generated when a malfunction occurs in the lamp 6. Accordingly, if the state signal ACK is supplied to the inverter controller 2, the inverter controller 2 stops driving the inverter part 4 corresponding to the lamp 6 where the malfunction occurs. Each of the inverter parts 4 includes an inverter 8, a switch device 16 and transformer 18. The transformer 18 supplies a high voltage to the lamps 6. The switch device part 16 supplies an externally provided DC power source VDD to the transformer 18 in accordance with the output value of the inverter 8. The inverter 8 drives the switch device part 16.
The transformer 18 includes a primary winding T1 of which both ends are connected to the switch device part 16, a first winding of secondary winding T2 to which a high voltage AC waveform having a first phase is induced by a winding ratio with the primary winding T1, and a second winding of secondary winding T3 to which a high voltage AC waveform having a second phase is induced by the winding ratio with the primary winding T1. One side of the first winding of secondary winding T2 is connected to one side of the lamp 6, and the other side is connected to a feedback circuit 14. One side of the second winding of secondary winding T3 is connected to the other side of the lamp 6, and the other side is connected to the feedback circuit 14. An AC waveform supplied from the switch device 16 is converted into the high voltage AC waveform induced in the first winding of secondary winding T2 of the transformer 18. The AC waveform supplied from the switch device 16 to the primary winding T1 is converted into the high voltage AC waveform induced in the second winding of secondary winding T3 of the transformer 18. The current supplied by the high voltage AC waveform induced in the first winding of secondary winding T2 and the second winding of secondary winding T3 of the transformer 18 is supplied to each of the lamps 6. Accordingly, the lamps 6 are discharged by the current supplied by the high voltage AC waveforms to generate the light.
The inverter 8 uses the clock signal CLK and the reference voltage Vref supplied from the inverter controller 2 to generate drive signals PDR1, NDR1, PDR2, and NDR2 to drive the switch device part 16. The inverter 8 includes a drive signal generator 10 to drive the switch device part 16, a feedback circuit 14 connected to the transformer 18 to detect the output voltage of the transformer 18, and a switch controller 12 to generate a control signal SCS for controlling the switch device part 16 based on a feedback signal FB from the feedback circuit 14 to the switch controller 12.
The feedback circuit 14 generates the feedback signal FB corresponding to the high voltage AC waveforms FB1 and FB2 from the first winding of secondary winding T2 and the second winding of secondary winding T3 of the transformer 18. The feedback circuit 14 supplies the generated feedback signal FB to the switch controller 12.
FIG. 3 is a diagram representing a method of calculating a pulse width of a dimming signal in accordance with the related art. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the switch controller 12 generates a switching control signal SCS using a triangular wave current LCT which is induced to the primary winding T1 of the transformer 18 and a dimming voltage Vdim of DC for controlling the brightness of the lamp 6, in accordance with the feedback signal FB from the feedback signal 14. The amplitude of the dimming voltage Vdim changes in accordance with the feedback signal FB. For example, the dimming voltage Vdim decreases to the lower part of the triangular wave current LCT which is induced to the primary winding T1 of the transformer 18 when the brightness of the light generated at the lamp 6 is low, and the dimming voltage Vdim increases to the upper part of the triangular wave current LCT when the brightness of the light generated at the lamp 6 is high. The generated switching control signal SCS is supplied to the drive signal generator 10.
FIG. 4 is a diagram representing drive signals supplied to the related art switch device part shown in FIG. 1. The drive signal generator 10 generates the drive signals PDR1, NDR1, PDR2, and NDR2 shown in FIG. 4 in accordance with the reference voltage Vref supplied from the inverter controller 2 and the switching control signal SCS supplied from the switch controller 12. The drive signal generator 10 supplies the drive signals PDR1, NDR1, PDR2, and NDR2 to the switch device part 16.
The switch device part 16 is driven in accordance with the drive signals PDR1, NDR1, PDR2, and PDR2 supplied from the drive signal generator 10 to supply the externally provided DC power VDD to the primary winding T1 of the transformer 18. The switch device part 16 includes a first switch part 16a for supplying a positive (+) DC voltage to the primary winding T1 of the transformer 18 and a second switch part 16b for supplying a negative (−) DC voltage to the primary winding T1 of the transformer 18. The first switch part 16a supplies the positive (+) DC voltage VDD to both terminals "a" and "b" of the primary winding T1 of the transformer 18. The first switch part 16a includes a first switch device Q1 installed between a first terminal of the primary winding T1 of the transformer 18 and the DC voltage source VDD to be driven by the first drive signal PDR1 supplied from the drive signal generator 10; and a second switch device Q2 installed between a ground voltage source GND and the first terminal of the primary winding T1 of the transformer 18 to be driven by the second drive signal NDR1 supplied from the drive signal generator 10. The first switch device Q1 is a P-type transistor (MOSFET or BJT) and the second switch device Q2 is an N-type transistor (MOSFET or BJT). If the first and second drive signals PDR1 and NDR1 shown in FIG. 4 are supplied, the first and second switching devices Q1, Q2 supply the DC voltage VDD to the first terminal of the primary winding T1 of the transformer 18 when the first and second drive signals PDR1, NDR1 are low.
The second switch part 16b supplies the negative (−) DC voltage VDD to both terminals "a" and "b" of the primary winding T1 of the transformer 18. The second switch part 16b includes a third switch device Q3 installed between a second terminal of the primary winding T1 of the transformer 18 and the DC voltage source VDD to be driven by the third drive signal PDR2 supplied from the drive signal generator 10; and a fourth switch device Q4 installed between a ground voltage source GND and the second terminal of the primary winding T1 of the transformer 18 to be driven by the fourth drive signal NDR2 supplied from the drive signal generator 10. The third switch device Q3 is a P-type transistor (MOSFET or BJT) and the second switch device Q4 is an N-type transistor (MOSFET or BJT). When the third and fourth drive signals PDR2 and NDR2 shown in FIG. 4 are supplied, the third and fourth switching devices Q3 and Q4 supply the DC voltage VDD to the second terminal of the primary winding T1 of the transformer 18 when the third and fourth drive signals PDR2 and NDR2 are low.
FIG. 5 is a diagram representing a voltage supplied to a primary winding of a transformer by the drive signals shown in FIG. 4. As shown in part of (a) of FIG. 5, a first DC voltage VoutH is supplied to one side of the primary winding T1 of the transformer 18. However, the DC voltage VoutH is not supplied to the first terminal of the primary winding T1 of the transformer 18 when the first and second drive signals PDR1 and NDR1 are high. As shown in part (b) of FIG. 5, a second DC voltage VoutL is supplied to the second terminal of the primary winding T1 of the transformer 18. However, the second DC voltage VoutL is not supplied to second terminal of the primary winding T1 of the transformer 18 when the third and fourth drive signals PDR2 and NDR2 are high. A tank voltage VL shown in part (c) of FIG. 5 is generated across terminals "a" and "b" of the primary winding T1 of the transformer 18 by the first and second switch parts 16a and 16b. As shown in FIG. 3, the tank voltage causes a triangular wave current LCT to be induced in the primary winding T1 of the transformer 18.
FIG. 6 is a diagram representing dimming signals generated by the related art inverter controller shown in FIG. 1. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 6, the inverter controller 2 receives a polarity control signal POL for controlling the polarity of a dimming signal and an inverter selection signal SEL from a system (not shown). The inverter controller 2 supplies to the inverter part 4 dimming signals L0 to L11 for controlling the brightness of light generated by the lamps 6, an enable signal ENA for driving the inverter part 4, and a clock signal CLK and the reference voltage Vref for generating the drive signals PDR1, NDR1, PDR2, and NDR2. When a state signal ACK indicating a malfunction in one of the lamps 6 is received from one of the inverters parts 4, the inverter controller 2 stops driving the inverter part 4 corresponding to the lamp 6 where a malfunction occurs. Further, the inverter controller 2 supplies to the inverter part 4 the dimming signals L0 to L11 generated by an external vertical synchronization signal Vsync having a period T2, as shown in FIG. 6. The inverter 4 controls the brightness of the light generated by the lamps 6. As shown in FIG. 3, the width of each of the dimming signals L0 to L11 is controlled by a signal having a period T1 which is formed by the triangular wave current LCT induced between the terminals "a" and "b" of the primary winding T1 of the transformer 18 and the dimming voltage Vdim of DC.
However, the related art lamp driving apparatus of the liquid crystal display device increases the cost of the liquid crystal display device because the lamps 6 are driven by the plurality of inverter parts 4.

Apparatus and method of driving lamp of liquid crystal display device


A method includes, in a host that stores data in a storage device, detecting an event that is indicative, statistically and not deterministically, of an imminent power shutdown in the host. A notification is sent to the storage device responsively to the detected event, so as to cause the storage device to initiate preparatory action for the imminent power shutdown.

Various techniques are known in the art for signaling and managing power events in memory devices. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,000,146, whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, describes a memory system that provides one or more control signals for configuring and controlling a memory sub-system during a power failure or system reset. A power delay circuit and a power fail controller cooperate to quickly place the memory system in a retention state in the event a power failure event is detected. The power delay circuit detects either a reset signal or power failure to initiate the memory retention state. The power delay circuit and power fail controller ensure the memory system is initialized prior to entering the retention state.
U.S. Patent Application Publication 2009/0249087, whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, describes a power event indicator for managed memory device. A host device coupled to a managed memory device generates a signal indicative of an expected power event. The signal is received by the managed memory device, which performs one or more operations in response to the signal. In some implementations, a pin is added to a power management chip that provides a signal to interrupt the managed memory device when a power event is expected to occur. The signal provides the managed memory device time to finish one or more operations and to place the managed memory device in a known and/or safe state prior to the occurrence of the power event.

Power shutdown prediction for non-volatile storage devices


According to a bottle of the present invention, grooves are formed at each of an upper and a lower end portions of a column; the grooves extend along a circumferential direction; both end portions of each of the grooves in the circumferential direction are in contact with each of both end edges of the column in the circumferential direction, whereby occurrence of local deformation in the column can be suppressed.

As this type of bottles, a bottle is well known in which a tube-like body part having a bottom, a shoulder part and an opening part are integrally formed of a synthetic resin, and panels recessed inwardly in a radial direction are provided to the body part at intervals in a circumferential direction of the bottle. These panels provided to the body part suppress the occurrence of appearance defects caused by swelling deformation when the bottle is filled with high temperature contents, or collapsing deformation when a temperature of the contents contained in the bottle is decreased (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2003-63516


A closed battery, according to the invention, comprises a substantially flat box-type outer case 60 having electrical conductivity, provided with an opening on one side in the longitudinal direction thereof and other peripheral sides that are closed, a spiral electrode body 21 housed in the outer case, comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator interposed therebetween, an electrode current collector tab 21a larger in thickness than a core body, welded to a cut and raised piece that is cut and raised from an exposed part of the core body of one of the electrodes of the spiral electrode body, and a sealing plate 50 for covering and sealing the opening of the outer case, wherein the outer case is sealed by laser-welding with the electrode current collector tab being clamped between the rim of the opening and the sealing plate when sealing the opening of the outer case.

There has been widespread use of closed batteries in cylindrical or button-like shape as a power source of miniature electronic equipment, but there has been an increasing tendency in recent years towards mounting a closed battery in rectangular shape, which is deemed excellent in maximizing the use of space as compared with those closed batteries earlier described above, in various electronic equipment.
The closed batteries in rectangular shape include one fabricated by housing a spiral electrode in an outer case in the shape of a flat bottomed rectangle, having an opening on one side in the longitudinal direction thereof, and subsequently covering the opening with a sealing plate, thereby sealing the outer case by laser-welding the sealing plate to the outer case. In JP, H 10-162792, A, and JP, H 09-171809, A, a method of sealing the outer case has been disclosed whereby an electrode current collector tab is clamped between the rim of the opening and the sealing plate when welding the sealing plate to the opening such that the sealing plate is laser-welded to the rim of the opening and concurrently, the electrode current collector tab as well is welded to the outer case, thereby effecting electrical connection thereof with the outer case.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the essential parts of a closed battery disclosed in JP, H 10-162792, A, in which a spiral electrode body 1 comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator interposed therebetween is housed in an outer case 2 of the battery, made of aluminum, doubling as a positive electrode outer terminal, and subsequently, a sealing plate 3 is laser-welded to the rim of the opening of the outer case 2.
A positive electrode current collector tab 4, leading from the exposed part of the core body of the positive electrode is clamped between the rim face of the sealing plate 3 and the opening of the outer case 2 at the time of the laser-welding, such that the sealing plate 3 is laser-welded to the outer case 2, thereby sealing the opening of the outer case 2, and at the same time, the positive electrode current collector tab 4 as well is welded to the outer case 2 to implement electrical connection therebetween. An incised part of a shape substantially resembling the letter U is formed at the winding end of the exposed part of the core body of the positive electrode, and a slender piece of foil, cut and raised from the incised part, is used as the positive electrode current collector tab 4.
Further, a negative electrode current collector tab 11 is separately extended from the spiral electrode body 1, and is electrically connected with a current collector terminal plate 13 while an adhesive tape (not shown) is attached to the winding end portion of the spiral electrode body 1 so as to maintain the spiral electrode body 1 in its current state. An adhesive tape 12 is adhered to the positive electrode current collector tab 4 so as to securely hold the latter.
However, since the positive electrode current collector tab 4 is made of a slender piece of foil, cut and raised from a portion of the exposed part of the core body of the positive electrode, the characteristics of the foil piece, such as mechanical strength, and so forth, are dependent on the material characteristics of the core body of the positive electrode. Because a piece of aluminum foil about 15 μm thick is normally used for the exposed part of the core body of the positive electrode, the positive electrode current collector tab, cut and raised from the aluminum foil, consists of an extremely thin and slender piece of foil, so that the mechanical strength thereof is rendered extremely low.
The above-described method of sealing the opening of the outer case results in the breakage of the positive electrode current collector tab when press-fitting the sealing plate into the opening in the case where, for example, the fit between the sealing plate and the outer case of the battery is tight, or when the battery as fabricated is inadvertently dropped to the floor, or when strong vibration, etc. is applied to the battery, and so forth, such that the positive electrode current collector tab is broken, thus resulting in electrical contact continuity based only on the contact condition between the outer case of the battery and the exposed part of the core body of the positive electrode. Accordingly, therefore, problems have arisen in that such electrical contact continuity is very unstable because of changes in internal resistance arising from change in contact pressure between the exposed part of the core body of the positive electrode and the inner face of the outer case, and in addition, the internal resistance of the battery increases.

Abstract: Under the construction described above, since the mechanical strength of the electrode current collector tab is enhanced, improvements in the performance and reliability of the closed battery can be obtained.


The signals received by the three cameras of any color video system are determined by the reflectance properties of the objects in the scene and the spectral distribution function of the illuminant. Since the information of interest to the observer is determined by the scene and not by the illuminant i.e. what kind of objects, characterized by their reflectance properties, are in the scene, not how they are illuminated, it is desirable to correct the signals from the scene for the illuminant before the information is displayed on the CRT. According to the invention, a color video system employs the achromatic variable .xi., where .xi., 0.ltoreq..xi..ltoreq.1, and preferably also the chromatic variables .eta., .zeta., with the following characteristic properties: (1) they are illuminant-independent, (2) they have a representation invariant for a transformation of color matching functions, (3) they substantially optimize the system's power of discrimination under a reference illuminant, and (4) they can be chosen such that they are substantially perceptually meaningful.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to color video systems.
2. State of the Art
The signals received by the three cameras of any color video system are determined by the reflectance properties of the objects in the scene and the spectral distribution function of the illuminant. Since the information of interest to the observer is determined by the scene and not by the illuminant i.e. what kind of objects, characterized by their reflectance properties, are present in the scene, not how they are illuminated, it is desirable to correct the signals from the scene for the illuminant before the information is displayed on the CRT, illuminant-correction enables the signals, to be displayed by the CRT, to be in standardized form, determined by the scene, so that the color rendering problem at the CRT can be solved independently of the accidental and unknown light source that illuminates the scene to be rendered on the CRT. The correction must take place at camera level because only there information about the illuminant is available. Such a correction has also additional advantages. The signals from the cameras are contaminated by the properties of the accidental illuminant. In particular, different signals are produced when tungsten lighting or an illuminant like D.sub.65 is used for illuminating the same scene. Illuminant-correction enables a better definition of the signals to be transmitted so that e.g. less bandwidth is needed for their transmission.
It is generally accepted that the human visual system is able to discount the illuminant i.e. to correct the information from the outside world for the presence of the illuminant. It is observed that nature looks similarly at dawn and at sunset, though the spectral distribution function of the incident light is very different. For more than a century the contention is whether the effect, called color constancy, is to be explained on the basis of signal processing or that memory is the agent. In the latter case, implementation in an artificial system would require a large memory, probably not practical. The hypothesis in the former case is that, using information about the illuminant, it may be possible to obtain information about reflectance only i.e. to discount the illuminant. Illuminant-correction creates a more or less stable world with obvious advantages for detection purposes. Discounting the illuminant can be achieved if a transformation can be defined which transforms the illuminant-dependent signals from the cones to variables which would result if the illuminant were a given, fixed reference source. An the equal-energy spectral distribution E(.lambda.), see definition (1). The fact that E(.lambda.) will be taken as the reference source=1 below everywhere is not exploited so that any desirable reference source can be used instead, as long as it remains fixed. Any such transformation requires knowledge about the actual illuminant. Furthermore, since many different illuminants exist that are visually equivalent in the sense that their chromaticity coordinates are equal, the correction cannot be complete. At most, almost illuminant-independent variables can be produced. They correspond to certain, by definition illuminant-independent properties of reflectance, explaining color constancy. Information about these properties cannot be obtained exactly but can only be estimated in view of the fact that three signals do not contain sufficient information to recover the complete behavior of the reflectance as a function of wavelength, even if the illuminant were completely known. Since estimates are subject to uncertainty, we may associate an error bar with the estimate of the illuminant-independent property of reflectance, hence to the variable in question, due to the lack of knowledge of the visual system about both the illuminant and the reflectance as functions of wavelength. Suppose, in addition, that the illuminant varies over a set of well-behaved illuminants and that illuminant-correction is applied. Since the correction is necessarily incomplete, the error bar associated with the illuminant-independent property of reflectance is somewhat enlarged but that does not affect the face that such an error bar exists. If the variables correspond closely to perceptually meaningful variables, then it may be expected that the resulting problem is accounted for by the color metrics, employed by the human visual system. If the error bar is small, i.e. if all uncertainties the visual system has to cope with are small, then the just-noticeable differences of the signal employed by the human visual system can likewise be chosen to be small. On the other hand, if the error bar is not particularly small, then these just-noticeable differences must be chosen correspondingly larger. Thus, preferably, the almost illuminant-independent variables are to be chosen such they they correspond as much as possible with perceptually meaningful variables so that `errors` in illuminant-correction are ignored, due to the color metrics, leading to improved image quality. If the error bars of the variables could reasonably accurately be estimated, then the result could be exploited in the data transmission because it does not make sense to transmit variables with a greater precision than allowed by their definition, leading to a saving of bandwith. In present color video systems the normalization of the white point of the actual illuminant to that of a fixed illuminant e.g. D.sub.85 provides some illuminant-correction.

Color video system with illuminant-independent properties


The present invention relates to a process for making insoluble gas-filled, pressure-resistant microspheres containing a liquid or solid hydrophobic barrier within the microsphere shell, and products of this process. This barrier serves to decrease the rate of gas exchange between the microsphere and the aqueous environment surrounding the microsphere and thus enhances resistance to pressure due to gas exchange.

Diagnostic ultrasonic imaging is based on the principle that waves of sound energy can be focused upon an area of interest and reflected in such a way as to produce an image thereof. The ultrasonic transducer is placed on a body surface overlying the area to be imaged, and ultrasonic energy in the form of sound waves is directed toward that area. As ultrasonic energy travels through the body, the velocity of the energy and acoustic properties of the body tissue and substances encountered by the energy determine the degree of absorption, scattering, transmission and reflection of the ultrasonic energy. The transducer then detects the amount and characteristics of the reflected ultrasonic energy and translates the data into images.
As ultrasound waves move through one substance to another there is some degree of reflection at the interface. The degree of reflection is related to the acoustic properties of the substances defining the interface. If these acoustic properties differ, such as with liquid-solid, liquid--liquid or liquid-gas interfaces, the degree of reflection is enhanced. For this reason, gas-containing contrast agents are particularly efficient at reflecting ultrasound waves. Thus, such contrast agents intensify the degree of reflectivity of substances encountered and enhance the definition of ultrasonic images.
Ophir and Parker describe two types of gas-containing imaging agents: (1) free gas bubbles; and (2) encapsulated gas bubbles (Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology 15(4):319-333 (1989)), the latter having been developed in an attempt to overcome instability and toxicity problems encountered using the former. Encapsulated gas bubbles, hereinafter referred to as "microspheres," are composed of a microbubble of gas surrounded by a shell of protein or other biocompatible material. One such imaging agent is ALBUNEX.RTM. (Molecular Biosystems, Inc., San Diego, Calif.) which consists of a suspension of air-filled albumin microspheres.
Generally, microspheres of a particular gas exhibit improved in vivo stability when compared to free bubbles of the same gas. However, most microspheres still have relatively short in vivo half lives which compromise their usefulness as contrast agents. This instability in vivo was thought to result from the collapse or breakdown of the shells under pressure resulting in rapid diffusion of the gas from the microspheres. Thus, many recent efforts have centered on improvements to the shell as a way of increasing in vivo stability. Known improvements relating to protein-shelled microspheres include coating the protein shell with surfactants (Giddy, WO 92/05806) and chemical cross-linking of the protein shell (Holmes et al., WO 92/17213).
Additional efforts directed toward improving microsphere stability include the use of non-proteinaceous shell-forming materials. Bichon et al. (European Patent Application 458,745A1) and Schneider et al. (Inv. Radiol. 27:134-139 (1992)) describe the production of polymeric "microballoons" made of interfacially deposited polymers encapsulating various gases such as carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, freon, helium and other rare gases. Klaveness (WO 92/17212) describes the use of chemically-linked, non-proteinaceous amphiphilic moieties encapsulating "air, nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide, helium, argon, sulfur hexafluoride and low molecular weight, optionally fluorinated, hydrocarbons such as methane, acetylene or carbon tetrafluoride." Erbel et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,190,982) describe the use of polyamino-dicarboxylic acid-co-imide derivatives.
More recently, Schneider et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,413,774) have demonstrated that microspheres containing gases with certain physical properties have improved stability. It is theorized that microsphere instability is caused by the increase in pressure to which microspheres are exposed once they are introduced into the circulatory system. Although Schneider et al. do not speculate as to the mechanism responsible for their observation of enhanced pressure resistance, we believe it is due to the effects of gas solubility on the rate of gas exchange with the aqueous environment.
According to Henry's law, the solubility of a given gas in solution increases as pressure increases. When a bubble of gas in solution is subjected to pressure, the rate of gas exchange between the gas in the bubble and the surrounding solution will increase in proportion to the amount of pressure, and the bubble of gas will eventually become completely solubilized. The more insoluble the gas is in the surrounding solution, the longer it will take for a bubble to become completely solubilized.
If the bubble of gas is surrounded by a shell, i.e., in the form of a microsphere, the effects of gas exchange are still observed, since microsphere shells do not completely eliminate contact between gas in the microsphere and the surrounding solution. Hence, when microspheres suspended in solution are subjected to pressure, the gas inside the microspheres eventually becomes solubilized in the surrounding solution which results in collapse of the microspheres.
In order to inhibit the exchange of gas in the microsphere center with the surrounding aqueous environment, the present invention describes a process for increasing the hydrophobicity of the microsphere shell by forming a solid or liquid hydrophobic barrier on the inner surface of the microsphere shell. Microspheres formed by this process will exhibit decreased water permeability and thus enhanced resistance to pressure instability due to gas exchange.
Disclosure of the Invention
The present invention provides insoluble gas-filled microspheres containing a liquid or solid hydrophobic barrier on the inner surface of the microsphere shell which increases the overall hydrophobicity of the microsphere. In particular, the present invention provides for a process of producing microspheres comprising a shell formed from amphiphilic, biocompatible material surrounding a microbubble of at least one biocompatible insoluble gas and a liquid or solid hydrophobic compound barrier formed at the inner surface of the microsphere shell, said barrier decreasing the permeability of the shell and the rate of gas exchange with the aqueous environment surrounding the microsphere. In the present invention, a biocompatible insoluble gas suitable for use with the present invention is saturated with a hydrophobic "sealer" compound with a boiling point above room temperature. Upon cooling to room temperature, the hydrophobic compound will condense on the hydrophobic inner shell surface of the microsphere thereby creating an additional hydrophobic barrier and increasing the overall hydrophobicity of the microsphere shell. The hydrophobic compound can be inert and includes, but is not limited to, members of the hydrocarbon, halogenated hydrocarbon or perfluorocarbon series. The hydrophobic compound can have a linear, branched or cyclic molecular structure.
Hydrophobic compounds within the present invention, when introduced by a water-insoluble gas, can be reactive and capable of covalently bonding to reactive amino acid side chains in the protein of the shell. If some of the reactive material undergoes hydrolysis before it has an opportunity to covalently bond with the proteinaceous shell, the resulting hydrolysis product would also form a hydrophobic deposit on the inner surface of the microsphere and act as a sealer.
Alternatively, a polymerizable, low-boiling monomer can be introduced with a water-insoluble gas. Hydrophobic monomers within the present invention polymerize inside the microsphere, optionally as a result of reaction with a chemical initiator or light, to form a polymer layer on the inner surface of the microsphere. The polymeric material formed includes, but is not limited to substituted polyethylenes, polystyrene and the like. Preferred polymeric materials include polyacrylate and polymethacrylate.
In the cases described above, a hydrophobic layer is formed which is chemically and/or physically attached to the inner surface of the proteinaceous shell. In another aspect of the invention, the hydrophobic compound forms a sponge-like structure within the proteinaceous shell occupying some or all of the space within the microsphere and contains biocompatible insoluble gases within the interstices.
The amount of hydrophobic compound introduced in the shell is an amount sufficient to decrease the permeability of the microsphere shell to the aqueous environment. The decrease in permeability of the shell results in slower rate of gas exchange with the aqueous environment and is evidenced by enhanced pressure resistance of the microsphere. The amount of hydrophobic compound introduced into the microsphere by the insoluble gas can be controlled by its partial vapor pressure. Raising or lowering the temperature of a bath containing the liquid hydrophobic compound will increase or decrease, respectively, the size of the hydrophobic layer. The partial vapor pressure is dependent on the temperature of the bath containing the hydrophobic compound. For example, insoluble gas can be saturated with perfluorodecalin (bp. 142.degree. C. at 760 mm Hg) by bubbling the gas through perfluorodecalin that is maintained at 75.degree. C. by standing in a temperature bath. The partial vapor pressure attained will be approximately 100 mm Hg. The saturated gas is then mixed with 1% human serum albumin to form microspheres by a cavitation process.
Microspheres formed by ultrasonication generally have a mean diameter of 3-5 microns and a shell thickness of approximately 20 nm. While the specific amount of hydrophobic compound necessary to decrease the permeability of the microsphere will vary with the hydrophobic compound and the gas, the gas generally should be saturated with the hydrophobic compound to give a partial pressure in the range of about 10 to about 650 mm Hg, preferably about 50 to about 250 mm Hg.
It is anticipated that with increasing boiling point, the sealer compounds become more efficient and therefore smaller amounts would be required to obtain the same stabilizing effect. The reason for this is that higher boiling compounds are adsorbed more strongly to the naturally hydrophobic inner surface of the microsphere.
Gases suitable for use within the present invention are pharmacologically acceptable and insoluble and include, but are not limited to, sulfur hexafluoride, perfluoromethane, perfluoroethane, perfluoropropane and perfluorobutane and the like.
Suitable microsphere shell material includes proteins and synthetic amino acid polymers. The material is preferably a protein, and more preferably human serum albumin.
The microspheres of the present invention may be made by known methods used to make conventional gas-filled microspheres such as sonication, mechanical cavitation using a milling apparatus, or emulsion techniques.
Modes of Carrying Out the Invention
Microspheres which contain insoluble gases are known to be more pressure resistant than equivalent microspheres containing soluble gases. This is because the rate of exchange of the gas with the surrounding aqueous environment is slower for an insoluble gas than a soluble gas. However, even insoluble gases eventually escape into the aqueous environment which diminishes the shelf life of insoluble gas-containing microspheres.
The present invention relates to the discovery that the stability of insoluble gas-containing microspheres can be improved by rendering the microsphere shells more hydrophobic to diminish the ability of the aqueous environment to come in contact with the microsphere's gas core. This is accomplished by using a process of making microspheres which increases the hydrophobicity of microsphere shells by creating a liquid or solid hydrophobic barrier on the inner surface of a microsphere shell. Such a barrier is produced by saturating an insoluble gas suitable for use within the present invention with a hydrophobic compound, such as a hydrocarbon or perfluorocarbon or the like, at an elevated temperature. Microspheres are then prepared using conventional cavitation techniques and the hydrophobic compound saturated in the gas will condense and/or react with the shell material and form a liquid or solid hydrophobic barrier on the inner surface of the microsphere shell.
Suitable hydrophobic compounds within the present invention include, but are not limited to, hydrocarbons of the general formula, C.sub.n H.sub.2n+2, wherein n=6-12, such as octane (bp=126.degree. C.) or isooctane (bp=99.degree. C.), linear or branched perfluorocarbons of the general formula C.sub.n F.sub.2n+2, wherein n=5-12, such as perfluoropentane (bp=29.degree. C.), perfluorohexane (bp=60.degree. C.), perfluoroheptane (bp=80.degree. C.), perfluorooctane (bp=100.degree. C.) or 1-bromoperfluorooctane (bp=142.degree. C.) and cyclic perfluorocarbons such as perfluoromethylcyclohexane (bp=76.degree. C.), perfluorodecalin (bp=142.degree. C.), and octafluorotoluene (bp 105.degree. C.). Inert hydrophobic compounds within the present invention include, but are not limited to, perfluorinated alcohols such as 1H,1H-heptafluoro-1-butanol (bp=96.degree. C.), 1H,1H,7H-dodecafluoro-1-heptanol (bp=170.degree. C.), ethers such as 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluoroanisole and esters such as alkyl perfluoroalkanoates.
Reactive hydrophobic compounds include, but are not limited to, active esters such as linear alkyl trifluoracetates or acyl chlorides with the general formula C.sub.n H.sub.2n+1 COCl, wherein n=4-10, such as hexanoyl chloride (bp=152.degree. C.) or C.sub.n F.sub.2n+1 COCl, wherein n=2-10, such as perfluorooctanoyl chloride (bp=132.degree. C.) and cyclic compounds such as pentafluorobenzoyl chloride (bp=159.degree. C.). Acid chlorides of some perfluoro alkanedioic acids, such as tetrafluorosuccinyl chloride, hexafluoroglutaryl chloride and octafluoroadipoyl chloride, which are bifunctional and capable of crosslinking proteinaceous material can also serve as hydrophobic compounds. Polymerizable hydrophobic compounds within the present invention include, but are not limited to, styrenes such as pentafluorostyrene (bp=140.degree. C.), alkyl acrylate, CH.sub.2 =CHCOOR, wherein R=C.sub.n H.sub.2n+1 or C.sub.n F.sub.2n+1, wherein n=1-6 and the corresponding alkyl methacrylates and fluoroalkyl methacrylates. Also within the present invention are the alkyl-2-cyanoacrylates.
Suitable shell material must be amphiphilic, i.e., containing both hydrophobic and hydrophilic moieties. It must also be capable of forming a thin layer or skin around the encapsulated gas, which will generally result in hydrophilic groups oriented externally and hydrophobic groups oriented internally. When microspheres are produced to contain insoluble gas, this orientation is believed to be enhanced by the presence of the insoluble gas during microsphere formation.
Protein shells may also optionally incorporate proteins, amino acid polymers, carbohydrates, lipids, sterols or other substances useful for altering the rigidity, elasticity, biodegradability and/or biodistribution characteristics of the shell. The rigidity of the shell can also be enhanced by cross-linking, for example, with irradiation.
Protein shell material includes both naturally-occurring proteins and synthetic amino acid polymers which herein are both generally referred to as being in the class of shell materials described as "proteins". Examples of naturally-occurring proteins include gamma-globulin (human), apo-transferrin (human), beta-lactoglobulin, urease, lysozyme, and serum albumin. Synthetic amino acid polymers can optionally be in the form of block or random co-polymers combining both hydrophobic and hydrophilic amino acids in the same or different chains. Moreover, amino acid polymers can optionally be fluorinated.
The present invention also contemplates the attachment of target-specific moieties to the outer shell material of microspheres. Microspheres within the present invention provide a superior delivery vehicle for such target-specific moieties due to the increased stability of the microspheres. Such increased in vivo stability insures delivery of target-specific moieties to targeted organs or cells via lengthy routes of administration.
The introduction of the hydrophobic compound in the shell is accomplished by forming microspheres at elevated temperatures in the presence of an insoluble gas saturated with a hydrophobic compound having a boiling point above 20.degree. C. For example, perfluoropropane can be saturated with perfluoropentane (bp=30.degree. C.), perfluorohexane (bp=60.degree. C.), perfluoroheptane (bp=80.degree. C.), perfluorooctane (bp=100.degree. C.) or perfluorodecalin (bp=142.degree. C.). The saturated gas is maintained at a temperature above the bath temperature and mixed with 1-5% human serum albumin to form microspheres by a cavitation technique.
Microspheres containing the hydrocarbon barrier may be made by known methods used to make conventional gas-filled microspheres such as sonication, mechanical cavitation using a milling apparatus, or emulsion techniques. Such techniques are exemplified in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,957,656; 5,137,928; 5,190,982; 5,149,543: PCT Application Nos. WO 92/17212; WO 92/18164; WO 91/09629; WO 89/06978; WO 92/17213; GB 91/00247; and WO 93/02712: and EPA Nos. 458,745 and 534,213 which are incorporated herein by reference.
Gases suitable for use within the present invention are pharmacologically acceptable, i.e., biocompatible and minimally toxic to humans and insoluble. The term "insoluble gas" as used herein intends gases and mixtures of gases which are entirely insoluble, as well as mixtures of gases which contain minor amounts (less than 20% v/v) of soluble gas(es) such as air. Insoluble gases are necessary to achieve a desired slow rate of gas exchange with the aqueous environment. The term "biocompatible" means the ability of the gas to be exhaled or metabolized without the formation of toxic by-products. The term "gas" refers to any compound which is a gas or capable of forming gas at the temperature at which imaging is being performed (typically normal physiological temperature) or upon application of ultrasound energy. The gas may be composed of a single compound or a mixture of compounds. The gas is preferably a perfluorocarbon which is insoluble in water, which intends a solubility of less than 0.01 mL of gas per mL of water at atmospheric pressure and a temperature of 25.degree. C. Examples of perfluorocarbon gases suitable for use within the present invention are perfluoromethane, perfluoroethane, perfluoropropane, perfluorobutane and perfluoroisobutane. This degree of insolubility results in maximum stability in vitro and persistence in vivo. Solubility can be determined by any appropriate method. See, for example, Wen-Yang Wen et al. (1979) J Solubility Chem. 8(3):225-246.
Microspheres made by processes within the present invention are echogenic (i.e., capable of reflecting sound waves) being composed of material having acoustic properties which are significantly different from those of blood or tissue. The maximum size (mean diameter) of the microsphere is defined by that size which will pass through the pulmonary capillaries. In the case of humans, that size will typically be less than about 10 micrometers. Correspondingly, the minimum size is that which will provide efficient acoustic scattering at the ultrasonic frequencies typically used for ultrasonic imaging. (The frequency may vary with the mode of imaging, e.g., transthoracic, transesophageal, and will normally be in the range of 2-12 MHz.) The minimum size will typically be about 0.1 micrometers. The typical mean size of the microspheres used in the invention method will be about 2 to about 7 micrometers. This size will permit their passage through capillaries, if necessary, without being filtered out prior to reaching the area to be imaged (e.g., where a peripheral venous injection site is used). Thus, microspheres within the present invention will be capable of perfusing tissue and producing an enhanced image of the tissue, organs and any differentiation between well-perfused and poorly-perfused tissue, without being injected into the arteries or directly into the area to be imaged. Accordingly, they may be injected into a peripheral vein or other predetermined area of the body, resulting in considerably less invasion than the arterial injections required for an angiogram.
The microsphere suspensions may be stored in sterile glass vials after manufacturing, or they may be stored in syringes, which are ready for use in administering the microsphere suspensions.
Microspheres made by processes within the present invention may be used for imaging a wide variety of areas. These areas include, but are not limited to, myocardial tissue, liver, spleen, kidney, and other tissues and organs presently imaged by ultrasonic techniques. Use of microspheres within the present invention may result in an enhancement of such currently obtainable images.
In terms of method of operation, the use of the subject microspheres would be the same as that of conventional ultrasonic contrast agents. The amount of microspheres used would be dependent on a number of factors including the choice of liquid carriers (water, sugar solution, etc.), degree of opacity desired, areas of the body to be imaged, site of injection and number of injections. In all instances, however, sufficient microspheres would be used in the liquid carrier to achieve enhancement of discernible images by the use of ultrasonic scanning.
For use in conventional or harmonic ultrasound imaging, the suspension of microspheres is injected into a peripheral vein, either as a bolus or continuously infused over a period of time, such as one to ten minutes, at about 0.05 to 0.5 cc per kg body weight. Ultrasonic energy is applied either continuously or intermittently (i.e., pulsed) to the tissue/organ to be imaged, and reflected energy is collected and translated into an image using conventional, commercially available ultrasound imaging equipment.
Two dimensional (2-D) or multidimensional (e.g. three-dimensional (3-D)) echocardiography equipment and procedures may be used to acquire the image. Such procedures and equipment are conventional. Three techniques used to acquire 3-D images are as follows: In the first, a standard transducer is used to collect tomographic images. The transducer is mounted on a track and collects images as it moves along the track. The speed of motion along the track is defined, so that the spacing between tomographic images is known. The collection of slices are then melded together to obtain a 3-D image. In the second, a standard transducer is also used to collect tomographic images. Attached to the transducer is a sensor that is able to report the spatial position of the transducer, so that the relative orientation of various images are known and the images can be melded together to generate a 3-D image. In the third, the transducer consists of a two dimensional array of elements. A one dimensional array of elements is able to acquire a tomographic image; the added dimension allows scanning in the third dimension.
The invention is further illustrated by the following examples. These examples are not intended to limit the invention in any manner. The disclosures of the publications, patents, patent applications, and published patent specifications referenced in this application are hereby incorporated by reference into the present disclosure.

Process for making insoluble gas-filled microspheres containing a liquid hydrophobic barrier


A strapping apparatus (10) for packages (16) has a frame-like strapping channel which is composed of an upper and a lower channel section (19) which are connected by way of a first and a second vertical section (18, 20). A first diverting device connects (21) the first vertical section to the lower channel section, and a second diverting device (22) connects the lower channel section to the second vertical section. A bayonet (24) which can be inserted along a movement path alternative to the lower channel section (19) into the strapping channel, in which the insertion movement is directed from the first to the second diverting device. The first diverting device is mounted on a pivot axle (27) by means of which the first diverting device can be moved from a normal position, which connects the first vertical section and the lower channel section, into a deflected position, in which the connection is eliminated. A guide element is arranged on that end of the bayonet which is averted from the bayonet tip, which guide element connects the first vertical section to a channel section formed by the bayonet.

The disclosure relates to a strapping apparatus for packages,                having a frame-like strapping channel which is composed of an upper and a lower channel section which are connected by way of a first and a second vertical section,        having a first diverting device which connects the first vertical section to the lower channel section,        having a second diverting device which connects the lower channel section to the second vertical section,        having a bayonet which can be inserted along a movement path alternative to the lower channel section into the strapping channel, wherein the insertion movement is directed from the first to the second diverting device.
A strapping apparatus of said type is disclosed for example in the applicant's DE 10 2013 004 448 B3 and DE 10 2011 121 946 A1. Said strapping apparatuses serve generally for the strapping of large packages, which are commonly arranged on pallets. A packing table equipped with rollers serves for receiving the package and for moving the package through the apparatus. The apparatus then generally has, to the side of the packing table, in each case one vertical support on which there is arranged a horizontally oriented pressing plate. The pressing plate is movable along the vertical supports. A strapping means channel which is situated in sections in the pressing plate and in the packing table and which is arranged along the vertical supports, surrounds the package to be strapped.
During the strapping of packages which are mounted on pallets, fixing of the package to the pallet by way of the strapping band is desirable. For this purpose, a bayonet is inserted between pallet deck and pallet skid, which bayonet is utilized instead of the channel section arranged in the packing table for leading the strapping means through under the pallet deck.
During the strapping process, the strapping means is, proceeding from a feed and sealing apparatus that is generally arranged in the pressing plate, guided along the first vertical support through the lower channel section, which is situated in the packing table, or the bayonet, and via the channel section of the second vertical support back into the channel section in the pressing plate and to the feed and sealing apparatus. Here, the band end is held, and the strapping means is then retracted. Here, the strapping means emerges from the strapping channel, which for this purpose has different opening devices. The strapping means is stretched around the package. The band ends are fixedly connected to one another. The strapping process is thereafter complete.
To transfer the strapping means from one channel section into the next, diverting devices are provided in the corner regions. In particular, a first diverting device is situated between the first vertically directed channel section and the lower channel section, and a second diverting device is situated between the lower channel section and the second vertically directed channel section. The diverting devices have a base surface which describes a radius which effects a diversion of the band in the corner regions of adjacent channel sections.
However, in the prior art, which is not demonstrable by documentation, the diverting devices impede the insertion of the bayonet into the strapping channel, because said diverting devices are arranged at least partially in the movement path of the bayonet. In said prior art, which is not demonstrable by documentation, the diverting devices are divided vertically into two parts. If it is intended to utilize the bayonet alternatively to the lower channel section, said bayonet spreads the diverting devices apart.
The spreading-apart of the diverting devices for the purposes of making space for the bayonet has proven to be disadvantageous in the prior art. The mechanical components for this purpose are of relatively complex construction, such that malfunctions commonly occur. Furthermore, the diversion of the band during the feeding into the strapping channel at the transition of the vertical channel sections to the bayonet is not reliably ensured from every aspect.


An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a first processing device which processes in a normal mode for dynamically driving photoelectric detectors in groups so as to sequentially read detection signals from the photoelectric detectors in the groups, second processing device which process in a photoelectric detector check mode for driving a designated group of photoelectric detectors. Switching between processes by the processors is accomplished by a switching device. When the photoelectric detectors are checked, the photoelectric detector driving mode is switched from the normal mode to the photoelectric detector check mode by the switching device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to image forming apparatuses such as a copying machine.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a copying machine or the like, a lot of photointerruptors have been used so as to detect information required for control, for example, the size of recording paper, the position of recording paper, and the presence or absence of recording paper.
FIG. 4 shows a circuit for inputting detection signals of photointerruptors provided for paper feeding decks in a copying machine. In this example, the copying machine is provided with four paper feeding decks, and each of the paper feeding decks is provided with eight photointerruptors 1 to 32. Consequently, the total number of the photointerruptors provided for the four paper feeding decks is 32.
The 32 photointerruptors 1 to 32 are divided into four groups for each paper feeding deck. Output terminals of the eight photointerruptors for each of the groups are connected to eight input terminals I1 to I8 of a control section 300 of the copying machine through a three-state buffer 41, 42, 43 or 44 provided for the group. The control section 300 comprises a CPU (Control Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) for storing its program and the like, a RAM (Random Access Read Write Memory) storing necessary data, and the like. Selection signal input terminals E of the four three-state buffers 41 to 44 are respectively connected to four different selection signal output terminals S1 to S4 of the control section 300. Each of the photointerruptors 1 to 32 is statically driven.
The control section 300 divides the three-state buffers 41 to 44 for the respective groups in time and sequentially selects the three-state buffers by selection signals, thereby to read detection signals of the photointerruptors 1 to 32 with the groups divided in time for each group.
Such a circuit for inputting detection signals of photointerruptors is complicated and the cost thereof is high. Accordingly, the applicant of the present application develops a circuit for inputting detection signals of photointerruptors as shown in FIG. 1. In this circuit, output terminals of eight photointerruptors for each group are directly connected to eight input terminals I1 to I8 of a control section 100 of a copying machine without passing through three-state buffers. The control section 100 comprises a CPU, and a ROM for storing its program and the like, a RAM storing necessary data, and the like. Driving power is supplied to the photointerruptors for each group through a switching transistor 51, 52, 53 or 54 provided for the group. Bases of the four switching transistors 51 to 54 are respectively connected to four different selection signal output terminals S1 to S4 of the control section 100.
The control section 100 divides the four switching transistors 51 to 54 in time and sequentially turns the switching transistors on by selection signals, thereby to dynamically drive photointerruptors 1 to 32 in units of groups. Specifically, the control section 100 drives the photointerruptors 1 to 32 by groups, according to a particular time for each group, thereby to read detection signals of the photointerruptors 1 to 32 with the groups divided in time for each group.
The above described circuit for inputting detection signals of photointerruptors shown in FIG. 1 has the disadvantage in that the photointerruptors 1 to 32 are dynamically driven, thereby to make it impossible to check to see whether or not each of the photointerruptors 1 to 32 is normal by a tester.
An object of the present invention is to provide, in an image forming apparatus in which a plurality of photoelectric detectors are divided into a plurality of groups, and the photoelectric detectors are dynamically driven in units of groups, whereby detection signals of the photoelectric detectors are read with the groups divided in time for each group, the image forming apparatus capable of checking the photoelectric detectors.

Including a processing means for driving designated photoelectric detectors for the checking thereof


A laminated glass according to the present invention is a windshield for an automobile to which an information acquisition device for acquiring information from the outside of a vehicle by emitting and/or receiving light can be installed, the windshield including an outer glass plate that includes a first side and a second side that is opposite to the first side, an inner glass plate that is arranged opposite to the outer glass plate and has substantially the same shape as the outer glass plate, and an intermediate film that is arranged between the outer glass plate and the inner glass plate. The windshield includes an information acquisition region that is to be located opposite to the information acquisition device and through which the light passes.

In recent years, safety performance of automobiles has dramatically improved. For example, a safety system has been proposed that detects a distance to a preceding vehicle and its speed and automatically operates a brake when the preceding vehicle comes abnormally close in order to avoid collision with the preceding vehicle. Such a system measures the distance to the preceding vehicle or the like using a laser radar or a camera. The laser radar or camera is typically arranged on the inner side of a windshield and measurement is performed by emitting light such as infrared rays forward (Patent Literature 1, for example).
As described above, measurement devices such as the laser radar and the camera are arranged on the inner surface side of a glass plate that constitutes the windshield and light is emitted or received through the glass plate. However, the glass plate may fog up on cold days and in cold regions. If the glass plate fogs up, there is a risk that the measurement devices cannot accurately emit or receive light. This may result in a failure to accurately calculate a distance between vehicles or the like.
The above-described problem may arise not only in measurement devices that measure a distance between vehicles but also in general information acquisition devices that acquire information from the outside of a vehicle by receiving light such as a rain sensor, a light sensor, or an optical beacon, for example.


An apparatus employing radiation for measuring bone density in which the bone can be scanned from different angles. The multidirectional scanning is accomplished by rotating the radiation source and detector about the stationary object being irradiated.

This invention relates to radiologic measuring devices, and more particularly, to the use of radiation in measuring bone structure.
The diagnostic use of radiation in evaluating bone structure has recently been applied in assessing bone demineralization that occurs with advancing age. Bone mineral is lost from all parts of the skeleton, and at a linear rate from the lumbar spine, starting at about 35 years of age. The resultant demineralization results in a high risk of fractures with an increased associated mortality and morbidity. In evaluation of the spine, there is a very good correlation between dual photon densitometry measurements of bone density and fracture resistance in excised vertebrae subjected to compression testing. It is also important to evaluate mineral loss in the hip, as appendicular losses often match or exceed spine loss in patients over 70.
Dual photon absorptiometry enables non-invasive quantitative analysis of bone mineral in regions of the body that were previously inaccessible using single photon absorptiometry. The use of two photon energies minimizes errors that result from irregular body contour and soft tissue inhomogeneities. Essentially, two photon energies are necessary to allow discrimination of two substances of a given system. In this case between bone mineral and soft tissue. The most commonly used photon energies in dual photon scanning are 44 and 100 KeV. The measurements of the attenuation of this radiation as it passes through the body yields the bone mineral density.

System for radiologically scanning the spine for measuring bone density


A spring-pressurizing unit includes a pair of screw members which are respectively formed with male and female screws to be screwed to each other and in which after the male and female screws are fastened to each other, a shaft having a predetermined length is formed, a spring disposed as to be wound around the shaft, a pressing member which is disposed on one end of the spring and which is pressed toward the spring after the pair of screw member are fastened to each other, thereby compressing the spring, and a support member which supports the pressing member in a state where the pressing member compresses the spring.

Conventionally, there is used a spring-pressurizing unit in which a screw member having a shaft is allowed to stand like a pillar, and the member is pressed by a spring around the shaft.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a package unit having one example of such a spring-pressurizing unit.
The package unit 100 has such a structure that a semiconductor package 30 is mounted on a system board 10 by melting and fixing solder balls 20, and a cooling unit 50 is disposed on the semiconductor package 30 with a thermally bonding member 40 interposed therebetween. The cooling unit 50 includes a base body 51 and a large number of fins 52 standing on the base body 51. The base body 51 has a through hole 511 formed therein, which a columnar female screw member 61 passes through. A male screw member 62 stands on the system board 10. The female screw member 61 has a head 611 whose diameter is greater than that of the female screw member 61. The shaft of the female screw member 61 passes through a coil spring 63, and a shaft of the female screw member 61 passes through the through hole 511 of the base body 51 of the cooling unit 50. The coil spring 63 is sandwiched between the head 611 of the female screw member 61 and the base body 51 of the cooling unit 50, the coil spring 63 is screwed over the male screw member 62 and fastened. During this screwed state, the coil spring 63 is contracted between the head 611 and the base body 51, the cooling unit 50 is pressed toward the system board 10 by the coil spring 63, the cooling unit 50 comes into intimate contact with the semiconductor package 30 with the thermally bonding member 40 interposed therebetween, and heat of the semiconductor package 30 is efficiently radiated.
Here, the height of the male screw member 62, the length of the female screw member 61, the length of the coil spring 63 and the spring constant are previously determined, and the cooling unit 50 is pressed by the coil spring 63 with a predetermined constant pressing force.
FIG. 1 shows the conventional spring-pressurizing unit having the female screw member 61, the male screw member 62 and the coil spring 63.
Here, if the cooling unit 50 is mounted thereon and the female screw member 61 is screwed over the male screw member 62, the coil spring 63 gradually contracts in the screwing process, and the coil spring 63 presses the cooling unit 50.
Therefore, the female screw member 61 and the male screw member 62 are screwed with each other in a state where screw threads of the female screw member 61 and the male screw member 62 receive a strong force in a direction in which the coil spring 63 tries to extend, and the screw threads are shaved and metal powder is generated. If the female screw member 61 is rotated, the coil spring 63 is rotated due to the screwed state, an end of the coil spring 63 on the side of the base body 51 of the cooling unit 50 shaves the base body 51, and metal powder is generated. The metal powder may become a cause of accident of a short circuit of other circuit parts or wiring on the system board 10.
When the female screw member 61 is screwed over the male screw member 62 manually, since it is necessary to rotate the female screw member 61 against a force which is generated when the coil spring 63 contracts and which acts on the opposite direction, there is a problem that a burden on an arm of an operator is increased.
Here, patent document 1 relates to a direct-type valve gear in which a valve is directly pushed down and opened by rotation of a cam, and discloses a member for compressing a coil spring and a cam which pushes the member, but patent document 1 does not recognize the above problem and does not show solving means of the problem.    Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 11-148321

Spring-pressurizing unit and fitting-washer


Disclosed is a fuel cell system provided with a fuel cell (1), a water tank (2) which stores water to be supplied to the fuel cell, and a heating device (10) which defrosts the water inside the tank during activation of the fuel cell. The fuel cell system has a switch (19) which signals activation of the fuel cell; at least one temperature sensor (13, 14) which detects a temperature inside the water tank; a pump (3) which conveys water from the water tank to the fuel cell; a heater (12) which warms the pump; and a controller (15). The controller (15) is programmed to read a start temperature from said at least one temperature sensor (13, 14) upon reception of a signal from the switch (19); calculate on the basis of the read start temperature a first warm-up period (tw) required for the water inside the water tank (2) to reach a predetermined temperature (Tw) greater than zero degrees centigrade; calculate on the basis of the read start temperature a second warm-up period (tH) required to defrost ice inside the pump (3) using the heater; set a start time (t2) for warm-up of the pump (3) using the heater on the basis of a difference (Dt) between the first warm-up period (tw) and the second warm-up period (tH); and control the heater to begin generating heat at the start time (t2) for warm-up of the pump (3).

A fuel cell cooling device disclosed in Tokkai 2002-352835, published by the Japan Patent Office in 2002, controls the amount of water conveyed by a conveying pump and the amount of heat generated by a heater for preventing the freezing of cooling water on the basis of the temperature of the cooling water in the fuel cell and the differential pressure of the cooling water. The fuel cell cooling device comprises a water temperature sensor which detects the temperature of the cooling water and a differential pressure gauge which detects the differential pressure between the cooling water inlet and outlet of a fuel cell stack.


An electrically controlled liquid crystal zoom lens system for a camera or the like is set to a desired zoom by an operator. The desired zoom signal is provided to an image signal processor which also receives the output of an image sensor at the output of the lens. The process generates a control signal for a power supply which adjusts the voltage between electrodes sandwiching the liquid crystal module. By rapid, iterative adjustment the actual zoom is brought to the desired zoom level. The liquid crystal module is combined in series with conventional lenses which may be integrated with the liquid crystal.

Zoom lenses employed in conventional cameras employ multiple lenses which must be moved relative to one another to obtain variation and magnification and for focusing. Typically a small electric motor is used to drive the lenses. It would be desirable to incorporate zoom lenses on small portable cameras, such as the type used with cellular phones, but the physical limitations of the small devices make the provision of a conventional zoom lens impossible. A better solution to the problem would be to provide a tunable liquid crystal lens. These lenses comprise a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a pair of electrodes. By applying different voltages on the electrodes, the index of refraction of the lens may be varied to obtain different focal lengths.
Such liquid crystal lenses present attractive features for use with small portable cameras such as cell phone cameras. They have been under development for over 25 years and many advantageous structures have been proposed including nonhomogeneous nanoscale polymer dispersed LC droplets composing the LC layer. By exposing the LC layer to ultraviolet light, a selected lens pattern will be permanently created. The applied voltage on the electrodes will modify the refractive index profile of the lens. Ultraviolet treatment of the liquid crystal to form a desired pattern which may be varied by applying different voltage is also mentioned in "Cholesterol-oleate-doped polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal voltage-controlled ring projector", by Olivares-Pérez et al., Optics Letters Vol. 27, No. 12, pages 1022-1024, Jun. 15, 2002.


A device for an holding office utensil, such as an ink stamp, a self-inking stamp or other office utensil, includes a base plate including an arrangement of through holes and a spacer for supporting the base plate in a tilted position on a surface. An attachment is removably insertable in at least one of the through holes and is adapted for holding the office utensil.

The invention concerns a holding device for ink stamps and other office utensils.
Ink stamps and like items are as a rule held in rotating stamp holding devices. However, these are only suitable for stamps with a head. In recent times, self-inking stamps have increasingly come into use which have an essentially parallelepiped housing that does not offer the holding device a place of engagement.

Holding device for ink stamps and other office utensils

Trodat-Werke Walter Just, Gesellschaft m.b.H. & Co., KG