A galvannealed steel sheet suited for use in automobiles, and a manufacturing method thereof. The steel sheet has tensile strength of 340 MPa or higher and paint bake hardenability of 10 MPa or higher, and excellent resistance to powdering when press formed, and excellent resistance to chipping in cold regions. The base metal of the galvannealed steel sheet consists essentially of C: 0.004-0.008%, Si: 2.5.times.P (%)-0.20%, Mn: 0.10-0.40%, P: 0.017-0.045%, sol. Al: 0.003-0.08%, Ti: 0.002-0.015%, Nb: 0.010-0.030 %, wherein Ti (%)+Nb (%): 0.012-0.035%. A steel sheet of the chemical composition described above is hot-dip galvanized, heated up to a Fe--Zn alloying temperature at a heating velocity of 20.degree. C./sec or higher, and upon completion of the Fe--Zn alloying process, cooled down from the Fe--Zn alloying temperature at a cooling velocity of 10.degree. C./sec or higher.

1. (Field of the Invention)
The present invention relates to a galvannealed steel sheet suitable for use in automobiles as high strength steel sheet, plated with a coating having excellent powdering resistance, low temperature chipping resistance, and paint bake hardenability,as well as to a manufacturing method thereof.
2. (Description of the Related Art)
The galvannealed steel sheet has been in extensive use in recent years as steel sheet suitable for manufacturing automobile bodies. The galvannealed steel sheet is manufactured by applying a Fe--Zn alloying process to a hot-dip galvanized steel sheet, wherein the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet is heated up to a temperatures in the range from 500 to 600.degree. C. for a retention time of 3 to 60 minutes. By means of Fe--Zn alloying, a Zn layer is turned into a Fe--Zn alloy layer containing 8 to 15 wt. % of Fe normally. In the case of a plated coating being composed of the Fe--Zn alloy layer, coating adhesion between the plated coating and paint is superior to an ordinary hot-dip galvanized steel sheet. Spot weldability is also improved in addition to markedly enhanced corrosion resistance after painting. Powdering resistance is degraded if the amount of Zn coating on the galvannealed steel sheet is excessive. Accordingly, the amount of the Zn coating is normally 20 to 70 g/m.sup.2 of the surface of the steel sheet on one side.
In application of the galvannealed steel sheet described above for manufacturing automobile bodies, the following properties are required of the steel sheet with respect to formability thereof and corrosion resistance of a galvannealed coating:
(a) exfoliation of the galvannealed coating does not occur during plastic working of the steel sheet (powdering resistance), PA1 (b) excellent adhesion property of the galvannealed coating is maintained even in low temperature environments (low temperature chipping resistance), PA1 (c) a base metal has sufficient strength to be able to cope with requirement for higher strength, maintaining good formability, and PA1 (d) the steel sheet has adequate paint bake hardenability. PA1 C: 0.004-0.008%; Si: 2.5.times.P(%)-0.20%; PA1 Mn: 0.10-0.40%; P: 0.017-0.045%; PA1 sol. Al: 0.003-0.08%; S: 0.015% or less; PA1 Ti: 0.002-0.015%; Nb: 0.010-0.030; PA1 Ti (%)+Nb(%): 0.012-0.035%; N: 0.004% or less; PA1 balance: Fe and inevitable impurities.
Powdering is a phenomenon wherein the plated coating is broken into fine pieces and exfoliated in a region where the steel sheet is subjected to compressive deformation during press working, generating powdery broken pieces of the plated coating. Fe--Zn alloy, being harder than ordinary Zn metal, the galvannealed coating is susceptible to pulverization when subjected to compressive deformation. Not only corrosion resistance is degraded at sites where powdering occurs, but also powdery pieces of the exfoliated galvannealed coating, adhered to a press die, give rise to a cause for defects on the surface of a formed product.
Low temperature chipping is a phenomenon wherein the galvannealed coating exfoliates from the interface between a base metal and the coating when deformation due to impact is caused to occur to a painted galvannealed steel sheet in low temperature environments. The low temperature chipping some times occurs when gravel, and the like collides with the painted surface of the body of an automobile being driven in a cold region, and the like, and it is highly desired to overcome this problem.
Enhanced strength is called for in order to reduce the weight of an automobile body from the viewpoint of improving fuel efficiency, and also to enhance dent resistance of exterior components of an automobile, such as door, and the like. The steel sheet for use in automobile bodies, having excellent formability, normally calls for tensile strength on the order of 300 MPa. However, the steel sheet having tensile strength in the range of 340 to around 400 MPa is in great demand nowadays to lighten the weight of an automobile body.
Paint bake hardenability (hereinafter referred to simply as "BH property") is a property of a metal for age hardening in a range of temperatures for baking paint although unsusceptible to age hardening at room temperature (a steel sheet having BH property is referred to hereinafter simply as "BH type steel sheet"). When press forming is performed on a BH type steel sheet, it maintains a yield strength as low as that of a steel sheet at the time of production thereof Accordingly, accurate shapes of automobile components are obtainable by press forming of the BH type steel sheet. The yield strength of the BH steel sheet goes up due to the effect of age hardening by paint baking after press forming thereof, thus increasing strength of a product after painting.
In other words, by press working of the BH type steel sheet, accurate shapes of components are obtainable with ease, and after painting, high strength of components is obtained. These are highly necessary properties of steel sheets used for manufacturing exterior components of an automobile, requiring both accurate shapes and dent-defect- resistance property (hereinafter referred to as dent resistance).
It means that the galvannealed steel sheet used for an automobile body calls for not only press formability, high strength, and BH property but also excellent adhesion property of the galvannealed coating, that is, powdering resistance, and low temperature chipping resistance.
Various measures for improving powdering resistance are proposed including optimization of an amount of Zn coating, an amount of Al added to a plating bath, and Fe content of the galvannealed coating, and further, restriction on such amounts of alloying elements added to the base metal as may adversely affect the adhesive property of the plated coating.
Both powdering and chipping are phenomena wherein the plated coating exfoliates. Therefore, it was believed in the past that improvement in powdering resistance would be accompanied by improvement in low temperature chipping resistance. In fact, however, improved powdering resistance does not necessarily result in improvement in low temperature chipping resistance. It has since been found that low temperature chipping resistance is primarily dependent on adhesion property at the interface between the plated coating and the surface of the base metal. Accordingly, a method is proposed whereby adhesion property of the plated coating on the surface of the base metal is enhanced.
A galvannealed steel sheet having excellent formability and a manufacturing method thereof are disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open (Kokai) No. 2-97653 (1990). The steel sheet described above is characterized in that when same is cut after painted, a plated coating is not susceptible to exfoliation readily from the surface of a cut end thereof. It is said that the steel sheet has a structure formed by intrusion and diffusion of Zn into grain boundaries of the surface of a base metal thereof with Zn each substantially in the shape of a wedge residing on the grain boundaries, preventing the plated coating from exfoliating from the surface of the base metal easily.
The steel sheet as described above can be manufactured by plating the base metal in a plating bath containing Al in a concentration higher than that for normal cases, and by applying the Fe--Zn alloying process thereto at higher temperatures than in normal cases for an extended period of time. However, the Fe--Zn alloying process applied at high temperatures tends to impair powdering resistance, and a longer process time of the Fe--Zn alloying lowers productivity. Furthermore, such a method of processing as described above is regarded effective in prevention of exfoliation of the plated coating from the surface of the cut end of the steel sheet, however, its relationship with chemical composition of the base metal, and its effect on low-temperature chipping resistance are yet to be made clear.
Elements such as Si and P have an effect of increasing strength of the steel sheet without sacrificing much formability thereof, and besides, are inexpensive alloying elements. Therefore, Si and P are alloying elements suited for increasing the strength of the steel sheet. However, Si and P hinder amenability of the base metal to plating. It is known that addition of excessive Si to the base metal results in non-plating, and slowing-down of the alloying velocity. It is also known that P is an alloying element responsible for slowing down the alloying velocity. This is believed to be due to a tendency of P being segregated around the grain boundaries of the base metal, restraining reaction between the grain boundaries of the base metal containing P in high concentration and Zn. Accordingly, it is not easy to achieve both higher strength of the steel sheet and amenability thereof to plating by use of these elements.
A galvannealed steel sheet having excellent adhesion between a plated coating and a base metal, suitable for use as painted steel sheet for application to home appliances, and as steel sheet for automobiles, is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open (Kokai) No. 6-81099 (1994). According to the aforesaid invention, an ultra-low carbon steel containing Si with decreased amount of P is used as the base metal for improving adhesion property thereof, and the surface of the steel, at the interface between the plated coating and the base metal after the Fe--Zn alloying process, is rendered rough with intense asperities so that coating adhesion is improved, enhancing chipping resistance after painting. P content in the base metal is controlled at a level as low as possible, and C content, regarded detrimental for improving coating adhesion, is also held at an ultra-low level, being kept stable with addition of Ti.
It is reported (by W. van. Koesveld et al: GALVATEC '95 Conference Proceedings, p. 343-353) that intrusion of Zn into the grain boundaries of a base metal is promoted by addition of Si to an ultra-low carbon steel with Ti added thereto, enhancing coating adhesion at the interface between a plated coating and said steel as the base metal. However, the technology disclosed in the above report is intended for application to IF steel of low strength, of which the base metal contains no solute C, and no mention is made to P-bearing steel of high strength.
A galvannealed steel sheet with BH property, having excellent powdering resistance, and a manufacturing method thereof are disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open (Kokai) No. 4-80349 (1992), for example. According to the aforesaid invention, P content of the steel sheet is controlled at 0.03 percent or lower for enhancing adhesion property of a plated coating while B is added for holding powdering in check. Further, the steel sheet contains Nb 2 to 7.5 times as much as C content therein for obtaining BH property. According to description of the invention, powdering resistance is improved, however, no mention is made of low temperature chipping resistance. In the case of the steel sheet, P content held down at a low level and there is also a risk of its formability being impaired with addition of B.
A cold rolled steel sheet and a hot-dipped galvanized steel sheet, having excellent BH property and secondary workability, and a manufacturing method thereof are disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open (Kokai) No. 5-195148 (1993). In the case of the steel sheets according to the invention, an ultra low carbon steel containing Si and P is used as the base metal. Its BH property and secondary workability are said to be obtained by keeping a ratio of Ti content to S content in an optimum range so that species of precipitates are controlled. However, neither Si nor P is added to the galvanized steel sheet described in an embodiment of the invention. Further, neither any evaluation is made on adhesion property of a plated coating nor any mention is made on low temperature chipping resistance.
Thus, a number of proposals have been made for various steel sheets excelling in respective properties, for example, a galvannealed steel sheet having BH property, same having excellent powdering resistance, or same having excellent low temperature chipping resistance, and the like. However, a steel sheet having all the properties including strength, BH property, powdering resistance, and low temperature chipping resistance, all of which are above predetermined levels, has not been developed as yet.

Galvannealed steel sheet and manufacturing method thereof


This invention selectively synthesizes a cycloparaphenylene compound having 10, 11, or 13 benzene rings. The invention also synthesizes a cycloparaphenylene compound in which a functional group is introduced into a desired portion. By reacting specific raw materials using a specific reaction, a cyclic compound having 10, 11, or 13 bivalent aromatic hydrocarbon groups, bivalent heterocyclic groups, or derivative groups thereof can be selectively obtained as a pure substance. Further, by a method comprising the step of reacting a specific organic compound containing no functional group with a specific organic compound containing a functional group, it is possible to obtain a cyclic compound containing a functional group in which one or more bivalent aromatic hydrocarbon groups, bivalent heterocyclic groups, or derivative groups thereof of a compound having 10 or more bivalent aromatic hydrocarbon groups, bivalent heterocyclic groups, or derivative groups thereof is substituted with a substituted 1,4-phenylene group.

Hitherto-known nanostructures containing carbon atoms include carbon nanotubes made of a cylindrically rolled two-dimensional graphene sheet, and cyclic carbon nanotubes made of such carbon nanotubes.
Carbon nanotubes have extremely high mechanical strength and high temperature resistance, and efficiently discharge electrons under voltage application. With these advantageous properties, carbon nanotubes are expected to be applied to various fields, including chemistry, electronics, and life science.
Known methods of manufacturing carbon nanotubes include arc discharge, laser furnaces, chemical vapor deposition, and the like. However, these methods have a disadvantage in that they can only produce mixtures of carbon nanotubes with various diameters and lengths.
As a replacement for tubular nanostructures such as carbon nanotubes having a certain length derived from a continuous linkage of carbon atoms, recent studies have focused attention on cyclic nanostructures. For example, cycloparaphenylene (CPP) is a simple and beautiful molecule in which benzenes are linked at the para-positions to form a circle. Recent studies have revealed that cycloparaphenylene has a significantly distinctive structure and nature. In particular, since CPP has various diameters depending on the number of benzene rings contained therein, and thereby has various natures, if CPP is selectively produced, it has the potential to produce carbon nanotubes having various diameters. Therefore, the thoroughly selective production of CPP having different numbers of benzene rings has been desired. However, although a method for obtaining CPP as a mixture is known, the selective synthesis of CPP was successful in only a few cases.
The present inventors succeeded in the synthesis of various cycloparaphenylene compounds through a method using a cyclic cycloparaphenylene precursor that contains a cyclohexane ring as a flexural portion (Patent Documents 1 and 2, Non-Patent Document

Cyclic compound containing functional group or containing no functional group, and method for producing same

National University Corporation Nagoya University


The invention is an apparatus for displaying collectibles and a kit for use with the apparatus. In its most basic form, the apparatus of the present invention includes a display dimensioned for receiving said at least one collectible, at least one light generating device for illuminating the collectible when received within the display, and a controller. The controller includes a sound generating device for generating at least one predetermined sound, a light control for activating a predetermined one of said at least one light generating device corresponding to the predetermined sound, and a control module having a user interface for sending a light control signal to the light control, and a sound control signal to the sound generating device, each corresponding to a collectible selected by a user. In operation, a user selects a desired collectible on the user interface causing the control module to send a control signal to the light control and to the sound generating device. In response to the control signals, a corresponding light generating illuminates the desired collectible and the sound generating device generates a sound or other audio clip corresponding to the desired collectible.

Over the past ten years, collectibles such as baseball cards, figurines, photographic and artistic likeness', models, plates, stamps and the like have increased in popularity and in value. People commonly display their collectibles in the home using display devices, such as cases, shelf-units, wall mounting brackets, and frames. However, to people who are not collectors, or are unaware of the significance of a particular person or thing that the collectible represents, these objects have little meaning. This problem can be solved by the owner explaining the significance, or through the use of written literature, such as would be found in an art gallery. However, these solutions are unsatisfactory as the owner may not always be present and, in many cases, there is insufficient space to provide written literature. Thus, there is a need for a way to provide information about displayed collectibles to inform both non-collectors and collectors of the significance of a given collectible, when an owner is not present, that does not involve the provision of written information.
Presently, there are a number of different display methods and a number of methods for relaying information about an image or likeness. Many of these methods feature lights and sound associated with video images, or feature one-piece audio-visual display units. However, none of the present methods are readily adapted for providing information about displayed collectibles.
One group of issued patents relating to display apparatus features sounds that correspond to video images or pictures. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,373,918, issued to Berman, on Feb. 15, 1983, U.S. Pat. No. 5,611,694, issued to Brumley, on Mar. 18, 1997, U.S. Pat. No. 5,671,555, issued to Fernandes, on Sep. 30, 1997, U.S. Pat. No. 5,209,665, issued to Billings, on May 11, 1993, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,359,374, issued to Schwartz, on Oct. 25, 1994. In each of these patents, the sound generating device is not separated from the likeness. Therefore, a particular likeness cannot intrinsically be displayed as a decoration. Also, none of these displays allow users to display likenesses in embodiments other than video images or pictures, preventing the use of these apparatus for display of collectibles such as figurines or other three dimensional objects.
Another group of issued patents disclose displays directed to a particular likeness, figurine, or other object. However, none of these patents describes an apparatus that is interactive. One example of these displays is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,758,777, issued to Dods, on Jun. 2, 1998. Dods discloses a package comprising a figurine and a model book or a model magazine bearing information relating to the figurine. The model book or the model magazine preferably comprises a small replica comic book featuring a character represented by the figurine, with the preferred embodiment including a display stand for the figurine. This type of arrangement succeeds in providing information about the figurine, but requires the inclusion of written materials. Thus, this system fails to solve the problem described above.
Finally, there is a group of prior display patents that feature sound generation and the option of interchanging likenesses. Examples of these include U.S. Pat. No. 5,277,588, issued to Lin, on Jan. 11, 1994 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,511,980, issued to Wood, on Apr. 30, 1996, U.S. Pat. No. 5,277,588, issued to Lin, on Jan. 11, 1994 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,511,980, issued to Wood, on Apr. 30, 1996. 1however, each of these requires that the sound generator be directly attached to the figurine and, accordingly do not provide any means for identifying a figurine that is remotely displayed. Another drawback of these devices is that the direct attachment of the sound generator to the figurine eliminates the ability to easily provide updated information about a figurine as time goes by.
An apparatus for providing information about displayed collectibles, to inform both non-collectors and collectors of the significance of the collectible, that does not require the provision of written information, that allows the collectibles to be remotely displayed, that may be utilized with both three dimensional and two dimensional collectibles, and that allows information about a collectible to be easily updated, is not known in the art.


A turbine bucket may include a platform, an airfoil extending radially from the platform, and a number of cooling passages defined within the airfoil and near an outer surface of the airfoil. Each of the cooling passages may include a radially inner portion having a first cross-sectional area and at least one radially outer portion having a second cross-sectional area, wherein the first cross-sectional area may be greater than the second cross-sectional area. A method of cooling a turbine bucket used in a gas turbine engine.

In a gas turbine engine, hot combustion gases generally flow from one or more combustors through a transition piece and along a hot gas path. A number of turbine stages typically are disposed in series along the hot gas path so that the combustion gases flow through first-stage nozzles and buckets and subsequently through nozzles and buckets of later stages of the turbine. In this manner, the turbine buckets are subjected to high temperatures resulting from the combustion gases flowing along the hot gas path. Because the efficiency of a gas turbine engine is dependent on its operating temperatures, there is an ongoing demand for components positioned along the hot gas path, such as turbine buckets, to be capable of withstanding increasingly higher temperatures without failure or decrease in useful life.
Certain turbine buckets, particularly those of later turbine stages, may include a number of cooling holes extending radially through the turbine bucket. In this manner, the cooling holes may transport a cooling fluid, such as air, through the turbine bucket for exchanging heat in order to maintain the temperature of the turbine bucket within an acceptable range. According to one known cooling hole configuration, the turbine bucket may include a number of long, straight cooling holes formed by shaped-tube electrolytic machining, otherwise known as "STEM drilling." Although such configuration may provide adequate cooling of the turbine bucket in certain applications, cooling holes formed by conventional STEM drilling are limited to a straight path through the turbine bucket. Accordingly, the three-dimensional shape of the turbine bucket also is limited due to the need to accommodate the straight cooling holes extending radially therethrough. Moreover, the straight cooling holes formed by STEM drilling have a constant diameter and thus fail to address the variation in cooling needs along the radial length of the turbine bucket. Specifically, as a result of the constant diameter, an undesirable amount of heat may be transferred to the cooling fluid before it reaches a tip region of the turbine bucket where cooling needs are greater.
There is thus a desire for an improved turbine bucket having a cooling configuration for withstanding high temperatures along the hot gas path of a gas turbine engine. Specifically, such a cooling configuration may allow the turbine bucket to have various complex three-dimensional shapes or twist for improved aerodynamics. Such a cooling configuration also may address the variation in cooling needs along the radial length of the turbine bucket for efficient cooling. Ultimately, such a cooling configuration may decrease the amount of air flow required to cool the turbine bucket while increasing overall efficiency of the gas turbine engine.

Cooling passages for turbine buckets of a gas turbine engine


The present invention relates to methods and compositions for treating human papilloma virus (HPV)-associated diseases using an inhibitor of CXCL12 signaling. The invention further relates to methods and compositions for treating immune checkpoint blockade resistant diseases using an inhibitor of CXCL12 signaling. The invention further relates to methods and compositions for enhancing the immune response against an HPV-associated disease using an inhibitor of CXCL12 signaling.

CXCL12, formerly known as stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1), is a cytokine that is the natural ligand for CXCR4 receptors as well as CXCR7 receptors. The CXCR4/CXCL12 and CXCR7/CXCL12 chemokine receptor/chemokine axis has been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of a number of hematological and solid malignancies. CXCR4/CXCL12 and CXCR7/CXCL12 signaling provides an immunosuppressive barrier that blocks the immune system from attacking cancer cells through immune evasion mechanisms including the recruitment of myeloid suppressor cells, tumor-infiltrating macrophages, and immunosuppressive regulatory T cells to the tumor and the repulsion of anti-tumor antigen specific CD8+ T cells from the intratumoral microenvironment.
HPV is associated with many diseases including common, plantar, flat, hand and anogenital warts as well as mouth, respiratory and laryngeal papillomas. HPV infection is also associated with cancer. HPV-induced cancer has multiple oncogenic features.
There is a need in the art for improved treatments for HPV-associated diseases that can overcome the immunosuppressive barrier provided by many tumors and lesions that are associated with HPV and enhance the ability of the immune system to recognize and attack the cells of such tumors and lesions.

CXCR4/CXCR7 blockade and treatment of human papilloma virus-associated disease


Techniques for searching for best matches in tables of information are provided. A first tree is traversed according to a first value for a first field and as information is encountered at each node, the information is written to a second tree. The second tree is traversed according to a second value for a second field to determine the best match for the first and second values. By utilizing the first and second trees, efficient searching for best matches can be achieved while allowing for dynamic modification of the data.

The present invention relates to retrieving desired information from a data structure that stores the information. More specifically, the invention relates to searching for best matches in tables of information utilizing at least one tree.
Computer systems are great tools for storing vast amounts of data. One way that the data is commonly stored is to utilize tables where each row represents a related subset of data. Oftentimes, the tables form the basic data structure of a relational database management system (RDBMS).
Some types of searches for data within a table are fairly straightforward. For example, if a table stores the names and addresses of customers and one wanted to determine the address of a customer named "John Smith," the user could specify that he or she is interested in the address fields of the row that included a name field of "John Smith." The computer system could search the rows in the table until the row with the desired name field was found and return the desired address fields. There are many known techniques that allow these simple searches to be performed very accurately and efficiently.
It should be obvious that not all user queries are as simple as described above. For example, a user could be searching for a row that is the best match for a first name field of "John" and a last name field "Smith." Furthermore, one of the fields may take precedence over the other field (or fields) in the case of a tie. Thus, if there is no row that has a first name field of "John" and last name field of "Smith," the computer system could return a best match of a customer named "Jack Smith."
One traditional approach to implementing a search as described above has been to utilize the construction of perfect hash functions. Although perfect hash functions can be fairly efficient, they are computationally expensive to compute. The expense of perfect hash functions is further increased when the system allows dynamic modification of the data because the dynamic modification of the data generally necessitates recomputation of the perfect hash functions.
What is needed, therefore, are innovative techniques for searching for best matches in tables of information. Additionally, it would be beneficial to provide the searching performance for perfect hash functions, while still allowing the dynamic modification of the data.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An organic light-emitting display device includes a substrate, a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix on the substrate, and an organic common layer covering the pixel electrodes. The pixel electrodes include a plurality of first pixel electrodes, a plurality of second pixel electrodes, and a plurality of third pixel electrodes. An n-th pixel column includes the second pixel electrodes and the third pixel electrodes arranged alternately, an (n+1)-th pixel column which is adjacent to the n-th pixel column includes the first pixel electrodes, and an (n+2)-th pixel column which is adjacent to the (n+1)-th pixel column includes the second pixel electrodes and the third pixel electrodes arranged alternately, wherein n is a natural number. One of the second and third pixel electrodes is disposed in the n-th pixel column in a row and the other one of the second and third pixel electrodes is disposed in the (n+2)-th pixel column in the same row.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an organic light-emitting display device and a method of manufacturing the same, and more particularly, to an organic light-emitting display device including an organic common layer and a method of manufacturing the organic light-emitting display device.
2. Description of the Related Art
The rapid development of the information technology (IT) industry is dramatically increasing the use of display devices. Recently, there have been demands for display devices that are lightweight and thin, consume low power and provide high resolution. To meet these demands, liquid crystal displays or organic light-emitting displays using organic light-emitting characteristics are being developed.
In particular, organic light-emitting displays have a wider viewing angle and operate at higher speed than liquid crystal displays, and rapid technological developments are being made to meet the market demands for flexible display devices.

Organic light-emitting display device and method of manufacturing the same


A composition for targeting low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 (LRP6)-overexpressed cells. The composition includes a peptide including at least one of SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 3.

Colorectal cancer is a major health problem with complex and varied pathogenesis in which the misregulation of different molecular pathways may be considered a significant factor involved in different phenotypes of colorectal cancer. One of the most common molecular pathways involved in various cancers including colon, stomach, and lung is the Wnt signaling pathway, which is highly active in about 85% of colon cancers, about 70% of recurrent colon cancers, more than 50% of breast cancers, and about 25% of melanoma cases. While regulation of the Wnt signaling pathway may occur at an extracellular level by expression and sequestration of antagonists, targeting specific receptors that show overexpression in tumors may be considered as an approach to inhibit the Wnt signaling pathway.
Genetic and biochemical studies have shown that low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 (LRP6) is an essential element in the Wnt signaling pathway and its overexpression in malignant cells causes tumorigenesis. Also, the presence of Dickkopf-related protein 1 (DKK1), as an antagonist ligand with a high affinity for the LRP6, is critical for inhibiting the Wnt signaling pathway. As a result, reduced expression of the DKK1 may lead to the progression of various cancers, such as colorectal, colon and rectal, melanoma, prostate, and breast cancer. Overactivation of the Wnt signaling pathway in cancer pathogenesis has led to a search for new DKK1-derived antagonists to inhibit the proliferation of LRP6-overexpressed cells and help cancer treatment.
Targeted therapeutic approaches have introduced inhibitors of the Wnt signaling pathway in human cancer, including natural compounds, small molecule inhibitors, virus-based inhibitors, and antibodies. However, peptide-based inhibitors have several advantages, such as small size, rapid synthesis, higher stability, and a simple and cost-effective production process over small molecules and antibodies. Moreover, the peptide-based inhibitors' chemical structure may be more consistent with their target proteins' chemical structure than proteins and small molecules.
Hence, there is a need for effective peptide-based inhibitors of the Wnt signaling pathway to target and kill cancerous cells that overexpress LRP6 on their surfaces. Also, there is a need for a method for detecting LRP6-overexpressed cells in biological samples. Moreover, there is a need for targeting the LRP6-overexpressed cells in a subject.

Peptides for targeting LRP6-overexpressed cells


Stable hemoglobin A.sub.lc (s-A.sub.lc) can be separated from other hemoglobin components and quantitated in a short time by means of a liquid-chromatographic apparatus comprising a separation column packed with a packing material consisting essentially of a porous substance having a carboxyalkyl group combined thereinto, as ion exchanger, a means for injecting a sample into the separation column, a means for passing one or more eluents through the separation column, and a means for detecting hemoglobin, hemoglobin derivatives or glycosylated hemoglobin, the average particle size of the packing material in dry state being 4 .mu.m or less.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for liquid chromatography of a biological or vital component, and an apparatus therefor.
Particularly, it relates to a method for liquid chromatography of glycosylated hemoglobin, and an apparatus therefor.
2. Related Art Statement
Glycosylated hemoglobins are produced by reaction of a sugar in blood to hemoglobin after the sugar enters erythrocytes, depending on the concentration of the sugar. The concentration of stable-A.sub.lc (s-A.sub.lc) among the glycosylated hemoglobins is said to reflect the average sugar concentration for the past 2 to 3 months. The concentration of s-A.sub.lc is hardly influenced by physiological factors, as compared with blood sugar level, urinary sugar level and the like, and hence is used for the diagnosis of diabetes and as an indication of the progress toward recovery of a diabetic.
A.sub.lc is formed by binding of glucose to the N-terminal of .beta.-chain of hemoglobins. A.sub.lc consists of labile-A.sub.lc (l-A.sub.lc) and stable A.sub.lc (s-A.sub.lc)
Hemoglobin is a conjugated protein having a molecular weight of about 64,000 produced by combination of heme (a pigment) with globin (a protein) and play an important role as an oxygen carrier in the bodies of animals.
When a sugar such as glucose reacts with hemoglobin, release of oxygen becomes difficult, so that supply of oxygen to peripheral blood vessels and tissues becomes difficult. In addition, the structure of the reaction product is fixed, resulting in deformation of blood vessels, etc.
As normal human hemoglobins, those listed in Table 1 are known. The hemoglobin (Hb) of a healthy adult consists of HbA.sub.0, HbA.sub.2 and HbF, and a product formed by reaction with a sugar and HbA.sub.0 is glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA.sub.1). GHb (HbA.sub.1) consists of A.sub.la, A.sub.lb, A.sub.lc and the like which are different in the amino acid structure of hemoglobin and the kind of sugar attached to hemoglobin. Of the glycosylated hemoglobins, A.sub.lc, and by binding of glucose to the N-terminal of .beta. chain, is found in the largest amount.
TABLE 1 __________________________________________________________________________ Hemoglobin Makeup of a Healthy Adult Classification Structure Sugar chain Content __________________________________________________________________________ Hb HbA.sub.0 .alpha..sub.2 .beta..sub.2 -- >90% HbA.sub.2 .alpha..sub.2 .delta..sub.2 -- 2% HbF .alpha..sub.2 .gamma..sub.2 -- <1% GHb HbA.sub.1 A.sub.1 a1 .alpha..sub.2 (.beta.-N-FDP).sub.2 fructose-1,6-diphosphate <1% A.sub.1a2 .alpha..sub.2 (.beta.-N-G6P).sub.2 glucose-6-phosphate <1% A.sub.1b .alpha..sub.2 (.beta.-N-CHO).sub.2 aldehyde <1% A.sub.1c .alpha..sub.2 (.beta.-N-G1c).sub.2 glucose 4.about.6% A.sub.1d ? ? Trace A.sub.1e ? ? Trace __________________________________________________________________________
A.sub.lc is produced non-enzymatically through two reaction steps. In the first reaction, a so-called labile A.sub.lc (l-A.sub.lc) is produced, a part of which reverts to glucose and hemoglobin by a reversible reaction. On the other hand, the second reaction is an irreversible reaction and yields stable-A.sub.lc (s-A.sub.lc).
HbA.sub.l, A.sub.lc, s-A.sub.lc and the like are used as indications of diabetes but it is preferable to measure stable-A.sub.lc (s-A.sub.lc) as a more accurate indication.
As methods for separating glycosylated hemoglobin, hemoglobin, and hemoglobin derivatives, there are many methods in which they are separated on the basis of the difference of their electrical properties. Such methods include electrophoretic methods, ion-exchange chromatographic methods, etc. There are also methods based on high-performance liquid chromatography.
As methods for separating s-A.sub.lc from l-A.sub.lc and measuring the same, there are two methods, i.e., (1) a method in which l-A.sub.lc is previously removed by pretreatment, and (2) a method in which s-A.sub.lc is separated from l-A.sub.lc and detected chromatographically by the use of a separating column.
As the method in which l-A.sub.lc is removed by pretreatment, there are methods in which erythrocytes are incubated with physiological saline or a buffer solution containing semicarbazide and aniline (P. A. Svendsen, et al., Diabetologia, 19, 130 (1980); and D. M. Nathan, et al., Claim. Chem., 28, 512 (1982)). These methods require a troublesome pretreatment or are so poor in rapidity that treatment requires 30 minutes to 4 hours. Commercially available instruments (or apparatus) for exclusive use have an on-line l-A.sub.lc removing mechanism. It has been reported that the treatment time is reduced by adding a commercially available l-A.sub.lc removing reagent to blood and heating the resulting mixture at 50.degree. C. for 1 to 2 minutes (Takahashi et al., Nippon Rinsho Kensa Jidoka Gakkai Kaishi, 12, 133 (1987)). Such a heating treatment is, however, disadvantageous in that it denatures protein to cause precipitation, so that piping or a filter is clogged.
On the other hand, as the method in which s-A.sub.lc is separated from l-A.sub.lc by the use of a separation column, there are, for example, a method using a packing material consisting of silica as base material and a carboxyl group as ion-exchange group, and a method using a packing material consisting of a polyvinyl alcohol type porous resin. Commercially available instruments for exclusive use also permit separation of s-A.sub.lc from l-A.sub.lc.
In the method using a packing material consisting of silica as base material and a carbonyl group as ion-exchange group, a long time of about 20 minutes is required for separating hemoglobin into components A.sub.la, A.sub.lb, HbF, l-A.sub.lc, s-A.sub.lc and HbA.sub.0 (Jap. Pat. Appln. Kokai (Laid-Open) No. 63-75558).
In the method using a packing material consisting of a polyvinyl alcohol type porous resin, a long time of about 60 minutes is required for separating hemoglobin into components A.sub.la, A.sub.lb, HbF, l-A.sub.lc, s-A.sub.lc and HbA.sub.0 (Hoshino et al., "Collection of the Substances of Lectures to the 31th Japan Liquid Chromatography Society", No. 29, 175 (1988)).
In another method which uses a vinyl alcohol type copolymer as a packing material, l-A.sub.lc, s-A.sub.lc and HbA.sub.0 are separated from each other in about 25 minutes. This method, however, has not shed light on components A.sub.la, A.sub.lb and HbF (Jap. Pat. Appln. Kokai (Laid-Open) No. 60-213863).
Details of such packing materials have not been clearly reported. It seems that since the particle size of the packing materials and their physical properties such as specific surface area, exchange capacity, etc. have not been made the most suitable, separation of components from each other is not complete or requires a long time.
In the case of a conventional glycosylated hemoglobin analyzer, it takes about 3.5 minutes to separate hemoglobin into five components A.sub.la, A.sub.lb, HbF, A.sub.lc and HbA.sub.0 and it takes 8 minutes to separate hemoglobin into six components A.sub.la, A.sub.lb, HbF, l-A.sub.lc, s-A.sub.lc and HbA.sub.0 (Takahashi et al., Japan Rinsho Kensa Jidoka Gakkai Kaishi, 12, 133 (1987)). Hemoglobin of all people is not separated into five or six components because A.sub.la, A.sub.lb, HbF or the like is not detected in blood of some people because of low content thereof, and other hemoglobin derivatives are contained in blood of other people. In the present specification, the terms "5-components analysis" and "6-components analysis" are used for convenience.
For separating hemoglobin into the above 5 components, there is used a separation column (.phi.4.6.times.35 mm) using a silica gel type material. On the other hand, for separating hemoglobin into the above 6 components, there is used a separation column having a different size (.phi.4.6.times.120 mm) and using the same material. In both 5-components analysis and 6-components analysis, elution is carried out by a stepwise gradient method in which three eluents are passed through a separating column stepwise. The 5-components analysis and the 6-components analysis are different from each other in a separating column used and the compositions of eluents used. Therefore, the 5-components analysis and the 6-components analysis cannot be carried out in succession. For example, when the 6-components analysis is carried out after the 5-components analysis, the column and eluents should be exchanged and hence troublesome operations are required. Furthermore, after the column exchange, an eluent should be passed through a relief column for about 10 minutes in order to stabilize the column, so that a long time is required for the measurement.
As a packing material packed into such a column, there is usually used a packing material obtained by introducing a carboxymethyl group as functional group into a silica gel with a particle size of about 5 .mu.m as base material.
A separation column prepared by packing a packing material having a particle size of about 5 .mu.m into a .phi.4.6.times.35 mm column permits separation of the above 5 components. However, a separation column having this size (length) does not have a sufficient ability to separate 6 components, and a longer separation column having a inside diameter of 4.6 and a length of 120 mm should be used for this separation.
The chromatographic performances (resolution Rs) are improved in proportion to the square root of the column length (the value of resolution Rs is increased). Thus, the larger the column length, the higher the chromatographic performances but the longer a time required for analysis. In addition, the increase of the column length results in a larger pressure drop and affects the life of column, the life of the seal of a pump, etc.
As described above, in the conventional methods, separation of hemoglobin into 6 components A.sub.la, A.sub.lb, HbF, l-A.sub.lc, s-A.sub.lc and HbA.sub.0 requires a long time of 8 to 60 minutes. Thus, the conventional methods are disadvantageous with respect to analysis time.
The conventional methods do not make it possible to carry out two analyses for components, i.e., 5-components analysis (separation of hemoglobin into A.sub.la, A.sub.lb, HbF, A.sub.lc and A.sub.0) and 6-components analysis (separation of hemoglobin into A.sub.la, A.sub.lb, HbF, l-A.sub.lc, s-A.sub.lc and HbA.sub.0) by using a single separation column. That is, they do not make it possible to carry out the 5-components analysis and the 6-components analysis in succession and are disadvantageous with respect to the simplicity of operations and rapidity.
The above prior arts involve a problem in that it takes a long time to separate stable-A.sub.lc (s-A.sub.lc) from other Hb components (A.sub.la, A.sub.lb, HbF, l-A.sub.lc, HbA.sub.0, etc.) and measure the same.
They also involve the following problems. Hemoglobin cannot be separated into 5 components A.sub.la, A.sub.lb, HbF, A.sub.lc and HbA.sub.0, and into 6 components A.sub.la, A.sub.lb, HbF, l-A.sub.lc, s-A.sub.lc and HbA.sub.0, by using a single separation column and eluents having the same individual compositions, and a separation column and eluents should be exchanged, so that troublesome operations are required. The exchange of the separation column and the eluents requires a long time. The prior arts are not economical.

Apparatus for liquid chromatography for separating AIC components from hemoglobin in blood


A method and machine for manufacturing compression rings in which flat band material is fed to a stamping station from a feed station, a blank is stamped out with a mechanical connection having male and female configurations at opposite ends, the blank is then fed to a deformation machine where it is displaced into the several axial positions of the machine in which, in a first position, the blank is predeformed into configuration permitting closing of the mechanical connection in a second position in which the blank is also deformed into its circular configuration. Preferably the thus-deformed and closed compression ring is then subjected to a swaging action in a third position before it is ejected out of the machine.

Shrinkable compression rings are known in the art which, for the most part, have been made by cutting off rings from tubular stock of various materials. These rings were compressed or shrunk by various means, such as mechanical means, magnetic means, hydraulic means, etc.
The use of such compression rings has recently gained importance by the availability of so-called puzzle-lock clamping or compression rings made from band material, i.e., compression rings with a mechanical connection of the free ends thereof resembling a puzzle-lock as disclosed in my prior U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,001,816 and 5,185,908 which permitted the use of flat band material for the manufacture of such compression rings. However, to satisfy markets such as the automotive industry, it is necessary to provide machines capable of automatically mass-producing these so-called puzzle-lock compression rings.

Machine for automatically manufacturing puzzle-lock compression rings

Hans Oetiker AG Maschinen - und Apparatefabrik


A system for generating data for driving a manufacturing process is described. A symbiotic relationship is established between two Windows NT(copyright) system services, including a single instance of a xe2x80x9cSequencerxe2x80x9d service, which provides the command, control, and communication for all work in progress, and multiple instances of a xe2x80x9cQuantumxe2x80x9d service, which manages the execution of a unit of work on command from the Sequencer. All configuration information for the system is stored in a system registry as predefined structures. Registry key entries define the names of the installed Quantum services, as well as the configuration dynamic linked library (xe2x80x9cDLLxe2x80x9d) image to be loaded by and the sequence number for each Quantum. The Sequencer manages the start up of the installed Quantum services and synchronizes with the created message queues. The Sequencer manages all work in progress and maintains the state of each unit of work. The Sequencer passes work from one Quantum services message queue to the next, based on the Quantum""s registry key entry for sequence number. This sequencing is continued until all defined sequences, that is, all Quantum services, have been successfully executed in turn. One of the Quantum services provides commands to the Sequencer to create a work object associated with a machine to be assembled. If a single Quantum sequence process fails, the Sequencer will log the error and discard that work object, preventing any further processing on it.

One embodiment relates generally to manufacturing systems and, more particularly, to an automated system and method for generating data to drive a manufacturing process.
Most, if not all, manufacturers of computer systems produce more than one product line. In addition, many computer system manufactures offer xe2x80x9cmade-to-orderxe2x80x9d computers that include a combination of components, systems, and software selected by the purchaser. In any event, for each individual computer system, or machine, assembled by a manufacturer, there needs to be some representation throughout the factory of the particular configuration of the machine so that it can be assembled properly with the right components installed therein.
For example, in one manufacturing system, a unique barcode is assigned to each machine to be built. A bar file associated with the machine and identified by the bar code number is stored by an application and contains what is essentially a xe2x80x9cparts listxe2x80x9d specifying what is to be included in the machine. When a machine is selected, or xe2x80x9cpulled,xe2x80x9d for assembly, a xe2x80x9ctravelerxe2x80x9d comprising a human-readable printout of the pars list specified in the bar file is generated and broadcast to a line controller, which may be, for example, a Unix workstation. The line controller runs a script that calls various executables to generate various output files containing data for use by tools on the factory floor. In particular, once the output files are generated, they are made available to the factory tools on the line.
Examples of output files such as those described above include an SDR file, which is a resource allocation file comprising a text listing of what components are to be included in the machine, SJS and DJS files, which are jumper and option setting files and respectively indicate system jumper settings and device jumper settings for the machine, and a PNP file, which is a parts configuration file and contains a binary stream used to program devices such as a network card.
The foregoing system suffers from several deficiencies. In particular, a separate line controller must be maintained for each manufacturing line. For example, if a manufacturer has four separate lines, it must also maintain four separate line controllers, one for controlling each line. Moreover, the system is not sufficiently fault tolerant or flexible. Still further, the system does not allow for promotion to be easily performed without interrupting the manufacturing process, which is becoming more important as manufacturers move to full time (i.e., 24 hours/day, 7 days/week) production schedules.
Therefore, what is needed is a system for generating data for driving a computer manufacturing process that is flexible, fault tolerant, and easily upgradable.
One embodiment, accordingly, is a system for generating data for driving a manufacturing process involving a symbiotic relationship between two Windows NT(copyright) system services: a single instance of a xe2x80x9cSequencerxe2x80x9d service, which provides the command, control, and communication for all work in progress, and multiple instances of a xe2x80x9cQuantumxe2x80x9d service, which manages the execution of a unit of work on command from the Sequencer.
All configuration information for the system is stored in Windows NT(copyright) System Registry as predefined structures. This information controls the operation and functionality of the Sequencer and the many Quantums. Registry key entries under xe2x80x9cProcessing Stepsxe2x80x9d define the names of the installed Quantum services. The configuration dynamic linked library (xe2x80x9cDLLxe2x80x9d) image to be loaded by and the sequence number for each Quantum are also defined by registry entries.
The Sequencer is the main service and provides the management of starting the installed Quantums services and synchronizing with the created message queues. The Sequencer manages all work in progress and maintains the state of each unit of work. The Sequencer passes work from one Quantum services message queue to the next, based on the Quantum""s registry key entry for sequence number. The sequence numbers are ordered from 0 to n, with n being the last sequence to execute. This sequencing is continued until all defined sequences, that is, all Quantum services, have been successfully executed in turn.
One of the Quantum services, usually sequence 0, provides commands to the Sequencer to create a work object associated with a machine to be assembled. The Sequencer creates this work object with a unique identifier used throughout the system. If a single Quantum sequence process fails, the Sequencer will log the error and discard that work object, preventing any further processing on it.
The communication protocol between the Sequencer and each Quantum allows Sequencer to monitor the status of all Quantum services. If a Quantum service becomes unsynchronized or experiences a protection fault, the Sequencer will detect the fatal error. If the Quantum service is unable to resolve the error on its own, the Sequencer will stop the Quantum service, clean up any resources used by the failed service, and restart the service. No work object is lost during the recovery and processing will continue where it left off This capability will prevent most downtime caused by this processing. This restarting and synchronizing capability allows for the anytime promotion of data and executable files. By utilizing external communications ports, the Sequencer may be commanded to pause processing, thus allowing for services to be stopped and replaced or data files copied without the possibility of contention from other running processes. After the promotion completes, the Sequencer is commanded to resume and processing continues using the promoted files.
The Sequencer also provides facilities for communication with other applications in the manufacturing environment. The Sequencer listens on a known TCP/IP port and interprets messages adhering to a designated communications protocol. This facility is utilized in two steps. First, a request is made by an application via a Sequencer listening Port for notification of certain events. Then, when the Sequencer generates one of the requested events, a notification will be sent to the requesting application via a Sequencer Notify Port. This allows for automated notifications to service personnel of fatal errors before the failure is apparent on the factory floor. The notification facilities may also be used to monitor the health of a system and maintain a log of work processed.
The Quantum service provides an abstraction layer. The dynamic properties of Quantum allow for runtime definition of a user-specified DLL. This abstraction layer provides the versatility and scalability of the system. New functionality is provided by the uniqueness of the library loaded. Requirements for the library are simple. The library must provide two exported functions, Start( . . . ) and Stop( . . . ). The library must begin whatever processing it is designed to do on the Start command. The library must also immediately abort any processing on the Stop command. The library must communicate to the Quantum services, utilizing thread message queues, that the work requested has started processing, and that processing has completed successfully or has failed. This processing of the work initiated by the library must take place in a separate address space from the Quantum service containing the library image. This prevents any catastrophic process failure from adversely affecting the Quantum service or the operation of the Sequencer. The design of a library and its interface with an associated sequence process is limited only by the designer""s imagination. The only constraints are the exported functions and the required notifications needed by Quantum.
A technical advantage achieved is that, by creating a variety of Quantum library DLLs and associated sequence processes, the system is capable of remaining xe2x80x9coutput compatiblexe2x80x9d with existing manufacturing processes and will easily scale into new manufacturing technologies as they are delivered.
Another technical advantage achieved is that the system is highly scalable and allows for quick and easy process customization for each of a number of manufacturing facilities and lines of business.
Yet another technical advantage achieved is that the system provides xe2x80x9canytimexe2x80x9d promotion capabilities to allow upgrading of data and executable files during normal operation without impacting factory production.
Still another technical advantage achieved is that the system is extremely fault tolerant and makes significant technical advances in obtaining the objective of zero downtime.
Still another technical advantage achieved is that a single instance of the system supports the entire manufacturing facility for all lines of business, with a backup system for providing additional fault tolerance.

Automated system and method for generating data to drive a manufacturing process


A writing method for a resistive nonvolatile memory device includes writing data to a resistive nonvolatile memory cell using an up/down write pulse signal when the data is first data type, and writing data to the resistive nonvolatile memory cell using only one of an up write pulse signal and a down write pulse signal when the data is second data type.

The inventive concept relates to nonvolatile memory devices and writing methods for nonvolatile memory devices. More particularly, the inventive concept relates to resistive nonvolatile memory devices and writing methods for resistive nonvolatile memory devices.
Volatile memory cells, like those used in dynamic random access memory (DRAM), as well as certain nonvolatile memory cells, like those used in flash memory, store data in accordance with a characteristic electrical charge. In contrast, other nonvolatile memory cells store data in accordance with a characteristic resistance that may be varied and detected by applying certain control signals (e.g., voltage(s) and/or current(s)). Nonvolatile memory devices that incorporate resistance-variable nonvolatile memory cells include, at least; phase-change random access memory (PRAM), resistive random access memory (RRAM), and magnetic random access memory (MRAM).
PRAM typically uses one or more phase-changeable material(s), such as chalcogenide alloy, to indicate a stored data state. RRAM typically uses one or more resistance-changeable elements, such as a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) thin film, to indicate a stored data state, and MRAM typically uses the magnetization properties of a ferromagnetic material to indicate a stored data state.
More particularly, the phase-change material of a PRAM may be placed into a crystalline state or an amorphous state by the carefully timed application of heat inducing control signals, wherein the crystalline state of the phase-change material—commonly interpreted as a set (or "0" value) data state—exhibits a relatively low resistance, while the amorphous state of the phase-change material—commonly interpreted as a reset (or "1" value) data state—exhibits a relatively high resistance.
The sequence of operative steps generating and applying control signals to a selected group of one or more nonvolatile memory cells in order to define one or more data states to be stored by the nonvolatile memory cells may be termed a "writing" method. The typical object of a writing method directed to a resistance-variable, nonvolatile memory cell is one in which the characteristic resistance manifest by the memory cell is placed within a defined resistance distribution (e.g., a range of resistances extending from a lower limit to an upper limit). Effective writing methods must balance the accuracy with which nonvolatile memory cells are written with the time required to execute the writing method.

Nonvolatile resistive memory device and writing method


A shift register unit, a gate driving circuit, an array substrate and a display apparatus are disclosed to reduce noises generated at an output of a next stage shift register unit caused by an output of a pervious stage shift register unit. The shift register unit at each stage comprises at least a signal inputting terminal INPUT, a signal outputting terminal OUTPUT and a capacitor CAP connected with the outputting terminal OUTPUT so as to provide an output signal to the outputting terminal OUTPUT, wherein the shift register unit further comprises a switch located between the capacitor CAP and the outputting terminal OUTPUT, and the switch is in a turned-off state when the capacitor CAP is charged.

A flat panel display has developed rapidly because of its ultrathin and energy saving. Most of the flat panel displays use shift registers. Currently, the shift register realized by a GOA (Gate on Array) method not only can be integrated on a gate driving Integrated Circuit (IC) but also can cut down a manufacture procedure for a display panel, therefore it saves cost. As a result, the GOA technique has been applied widely to a manufacture process for the flat panel display recently.
FIG. 1 illustrates an existing design scheme of GOA comprising a plurality of shift registers S/R(1), S/R(2), S/R(3), . . . , S/R(N) layered and connected in cascade. Each shift register S/R(n) (1≦n≦N) outputs a scanning signal to a corresponding gate line G(n) through its own signal outputting terminal OUTPUT, and outputs the scanning signal to a resetting signal terminal RESTE of the S/R(n−1) and a signal inputting terminal INPUT of the S/R(n+1), the scanning signal performs a resetting function and a start function for the S/R(n−1) and the S/R(n+1), respectively, wherein the S/R(1) is inputted a frame start signal STV through its own signal inputting terminal, and the respective shift registers are input a reference voltage through the reference signal terminal VSS, so that an object of progressive scanning can be realized.
A schematic diagram of an inner structure of the above shift register unit S/R(n) is shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the shift register consists of 12 Thin Film field effect Transistors (TFT) (labeled as M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M6, M8, M9, M10, M11, M12 and M13 in FIG. 2, respectively) and one capacitor CAP (labeled as C1 in FIG. 2), and its corresponding control timing diagram is as illustrated in FIG. 3. For each shift register unit S/R(n), it may be in three control states as follows: (1) the inputting terminal INPUT and a clock signal CLKB are at a high level, a clock signal CLK is at a low level, and the M1, M13, M9, M8, M5, M6 and M12 are in a turned-on state and other TFTs are in a turned-off state at this time thereby the inputting terminal INPUT inputs a signal in this case and thus the outputting terminal OUTPUT outputs a low level signal since the CLK is at the low level; (2) the inputting terminal INPUT and the CLKB are at the low level, the CLK is at the high level, and the M3, M9, M5, M6 and M8 are in the turned-on state and other TFTs are in the turned-off state at this time thereby the outputting terminal OUTPUT outputs a high level signal in this case; (3) the CLKB is at the high level, the inputting terminal INPUT and the CLK are at the low level, and the M13, M12, M11, M10, M2, M4, M5 and M9 are in the turned-on state and other TFTs are in the turned-off stage at this time thereby a resetting operation is performed for a shift register unit at a previous stage in this case.
It can be seen from the description above that since the shift register unit at the Nth stage uses an output signal of the shift register unit at the (N−1)th stage as an input signal, the outputting terminal OUTPUT of the shift register unit at the Nth stage will output noise due to the existence of the capacitor C1 when the shift register unit at the Nth stage is in the first control state described above.

Shift register unit, gate driving circuit, array substrate and display apparatus


An image sealing device has an input multiplexer, a line buffer, a vertical scaling processor for performing a vertical scaling process, a horizontal scaling processor for performing a horizontal scaling process, and an output multiplexer. The image scaling device can perform both horizontal and vertical upsealing or downscaling to the input image, and after the input image is processed, the output image is outputted to the display device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image scaling device and method and, more particularly, to an image scaling device and method for scaling two-dimensional image.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, an analog image signal (analog signal) received by the television and personal computer needs to be converted by an analog/digital converter (changing to a digital signal) and then be processed by an image processor to generate a digital image signal for output to a display device of the television or personal computer. However, the resolution (such as 640×480) of the analog image signal may differ from the resolution (such as 800×600) of the digital image signal displayed on the display device, or the resolution of the digital image signal may need to be adjusted due to a size difference of the display device (for example, a aspect ratio is changed from 4:3 to 16:9).
As shown in FIG. 1, U.S. Pat. No. 5,739,867, entitled "Method and apparatus for upscaling an image in both horizontal and vertical directions" discloses an image upscaling device 10, which comprises: an input data synchronizer 11, a line buffer 12, a FIFO 13, an interpolation line buffer 14, a vertical interpolator 15 and a horizontal interpolator 16, wherein a working frequency of the input data synchronizer 11 is named I-CLK; a working frequency of the line buffer 12, the FIFO 13, the interpolation line buffer 14, the vertical interpolator 15 and the horizontal interpolator 16 is named S-CLK; and the line buffer 12 receives image with the working frequency I-CLK in order to communicate with the input data synchronizer 11, and outputs image with the working frequency S-CLK in order to communicate with the FIFO 13. However, the image upscaling device 10 can only provide upscale capability without downscale ability, which is unsatisfactory to the user.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide an image scaling device to mitigate and/or obviate the aforementioned problems.


An improved system and method for delivering messages is provided. A message (18) is created by a messaging system (10) and then sent to a second message mailbox (16). When the second message mailbox (16) is full, the message (18) is then sent to a first message mailbox (14) for storage. The message (18) is later automatically sent from the first message mailbox (14) to the second message mailbox (16) when the second message mailbox (16) is no longer full.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to delivering messages to a messaging system, and more particularly to automating the delivery of messages when a receiving message mailbox is full.
2. Description of the Related Art
Most multimedia messaging systems today set a limit on the number of messages which can be stored in a receiving message mailbox (e.g., 10 or 20 voice mail messages). This is done to prevent the system's storage resources from being filled by a few high-volume users. If a message is addressed to a message mailbox which is already full, the message is returned to the sending mailbox. The same result occurs if a message is recorded in the sending mailbox and later sent to the full receiving mailbox. After the message is returned to the sending mailbox, the sender can either delete the message or manually retry to deliver the message. This manual retrying may have to occur again and again until the receiving mailbox is no longer full. Thus, the burden is on the sender to continue retrying to deliver the message.
Some networked messaging systems are programmed to automatically attempt to retry sending a message after that message has been returned from a full message mailbox. In this arrangement, an inefficient retry algorithm is used. The retry may only occur once at a later time, or the retry algorithm may cause the retry to occur every, for example, two hours until the receiving mailbox is no longer full and the message is accepted. In this example, unnecessary retries occur, and the timing of the retries may miss an opportunity for delivery. For example, if a message is deleted from the receiving mailbox and shortly after that another message is sent to the receiving mailbox by a third party, only a short window of time is available for the delivery of the originally returned message. The automatic retry will likely miss this opportunity.
It is desirable to have a system for delivering messages which does not rely on the sender's intervention. Moreover, it is desirable to have a system which efficiently automates message delivery to a receiving mailbox which is full. Finally, it is desirable to have a system which utilizes the full mailbox feature as it was intended to be used to preserve the resources of the messaging system and not to complicate message delivery for the sender.

System and method for improving delivery of messages to a messaging system

Siemens Information and Communication Networks, Inc.


A computer-implemented method for determining focus of a user is provided. User input is received. An intention image of a scene including a plurality of interactive objects is generated. The intention image includes pixels encoded with intention values determined based on the user input. An intention value indicates a likelihood that the user intends to focus on the pixel. An intention score is determined for each interactive object based on the intention values of pixels that correspond to the interactive object. An interactive object of the plurality of interactive objects is determined to be a focused object that has the user's focus based on the intention scores of the plurality of interactive objects.

A computing device may use different types of sensors to measure properties of a surrounding environment to detect natural user input. Natural user input allows for a user to interact with the computing device in manner that feels intuitive and parallel to real-world, non-virtual interaction, such as through gestures, expressions, movements, and/or speech. Non-liming examples of natural user input modalities include eye gaze, hand gestures, brain signal sensing, and voice, among others.

Intention image analysis for determining user focus


There is disclosed a method and a system for a versatile in-situ approach to design the nanostructured transition metal selenide (TMS) materials for the high-energy solid-state hybrid supercapacitors (HSCs). Initially, the rose-nanopetals like NiSe@Cu2Se (NiCuSe) cathode and FeSe nanoparticles anode are directly anchored on 3D highly conducting Cu foam via purposefully in-situ conversion reactions. The different potential windows of the NiCuSe and FeSe in aqueous electrolytes associated with the excellent electrical conductivity and redox activity results in the superior electrochemical features for the half cell with maximum specific capacity of 534.2 mA h g−1 for NiCuSe and 573.8 mA h g−1 for FeSe at current density of 1 A g−1, respectively. The solid-state HSC cell with NiCuSe cathode and FeSe anode delivers a highest specific energy of 87.6 Wh kg−1 and excellent cycle lifetime with capacity retention of 91.3% over 10,000 cycles.

Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
Supercapacitors (SCs) are attracting considerable research interest as high-performance energy storage devices that can contribute to the rapid growth in many industries. The supercapacitors (SCs) will be playing a leading role in energy storing field anticipated to their valuable features of rapid charge-discharge rates, high power, prolonged cycle lifetime and safety tolerance. Among the different fabrication procedure of SCs, solid-state hybrid SCs (HSCs) are gaining much attention, as they avoid the electrolyte leakage problem which occur in traditional aqueous electrolyte based SCs. Yet, the real-life applications of the SCs are limited owing to their low energy density value resulted from the traditional surface capacitive charge storage mechanism. Massive research endeavors have been committed to developing narrative battery-type materials with faradaic charge storage for high energy SCs combining salient features of both batteries and SCs. Until now, inexpensive transition metal oxide/hydroxides with different structures and morphologies are developed as feasible battery-type electrode materials. Despite this, the major limitations associated with these p-type semiconductor electrode materials are their low electrical conductivity and poor cycling capability. Moreover, the polarization phenomenon of these materials hamper the electron transportation leading to inadequate rate capability, slow ion diffusion, sluggish electron transfer through the active material. Therefore, it is highly challenging, and yet enormously impactful to chase decent electrode materials having high electric conductivity and rate capability to tackle the inadequacy of transition metal oxide/hydroxide-based electrodes towards enhanced SCs performance.
One of the leading class of important functional materials is 2D transition metal chalcogenides (TMDs) which demonstrates unique electronic structures and physical properties because of their distinct geometric structures having weak interlayer van de Waals coupling. Different compositions and rich phase structure provides library of materials for potential applications in energy storage devices. The transition metal selenides (TMSs) are emerging class of typical TMDs and potential candidates for SCs owing to their lower band gap, excellent electric conductivity and superior electrochemical performance. Due to the presence of interstitial selenium, structure of TMSs can be properly modulated to enable rapid electron transport, which significantly lower the energy barrier for improving electrochemical performance Specifically, selenium belongs to the same group as oxygen and sulfur in a periodic table and shows excellent metal like and inherent electric properties than those of S with higher electric conductivity Se (Se, 1×10−3 S m−1) than S (S, 5×10−28 S m−1). In particular, Cu2Se nanoneedles, NiSe nanowires, and VSe2 nanosheets are reported as excellent electrodes for SCs. State-of-the-art, most extensive research on TMNs has compensate quiet interest to design binary compounds by regulating the electronic structure of single TMNs for achieving better electrochemical performance. For instance, different studies reported Cu0.5Co0.5Se2 nanosheets, which showed high specific capacitance of 1695 F g−1. Further, another study, owing to the synergy of different elements, the Cu2Se@Co3Se4 electrode demonstrated highest specific capacitance of 1005 F g−1 at 1 A g−1, with rate performance of 56%.
Despite this success, phase-controlled synthesis of TMNs remains challenge as the composition or phase of these materials changes frequently during synthesis. Thus, developing a proper approach for the fabrication of highly appropriate self-supported TMNs with good electrochemical performance is current prerequisite. Additionally, in comparison to the positive electrode materials, the latest negative electrode materials for SC are rarely explored. Usually, carbon-based materials are suitable choice and extensively explored as negative electrodes for most of the HSCs devices. However, the serious problem with carbon-based anode is that the fabricated device could not provide a high energy density because of their low capacitance (as, E=½ CV2), which restricted the application of SCs in many areas. Therefore, investigating innovative category of negative electrode materials with higher capacitance to boost the energy density limits of present SCs is necessary. Most recently, iron-based materials are discovered for HSCs as an intriguing negative electrode.

All transition metal selenide composed high-energy solid-state hybrid supercapacitor


A shaft assembly includes a fluid transfer insert located within a bore of a shaft. The fluid transfer insert seals to the shaft and includes at least one fluid channel that communicates between a plurality of fluid ports located in the shaft. The fluid channel is defined by an outer surface of the fluid transfer insert.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may or may not constitute prior art.
Automatic transmissions typically include a hydraulic circuit or system that uses a hydraulic fluid, such as oil, for various purposes throughout the transmission. For example, the hydraulic system may direct oil to various transmission components to act as lubrication between moving components, to act as a cooling system for dissipating waste heat, and to act as a hydraulic control system for actuating various devices.
In many applications it may be desirable to transmit fluid along the length of a shaft, such as a turbine shaft or input/output shaft. However, these shafts are preferably hollow to reduce weight and cost since most of the strength of the shaft is provided by the outer diameter of the shaft, thereby making interior material unnecessary. Various methods have been employed to transmit fluid along the length of a shaft, such as non-concentric bore holes and multiple sleeves. While useful for their intended purpose, there is a need for a device to transmit hydraulic fluid through a shaft that reduces weight, cost, and packaging size while remaining simple and effective.


In the data compression method and apparatus, difference value data each consisting of m bits that include an absolute value represented by m-1 bits and a 1-bit sign bit representing a sign are received, each of the difference value data having been obtained by calculating a difference between data to be coded and data immediately preceding it. N of the received difference value data are rearranged on a bit-by-bit basis, to generate a bit sequence in which bits at the same place of the n difference value data appear consecutively in predetermined order. A coded bit sequence is generated by compressing the generated bit sequence by a predetermined compression method. In the data expansion apparatus and method, a bit sequence of consecutive bits is generated by expanding a coded bit sequence by a decoding method corresponding to a predetermined compression method. Difference value data each consisting of m bits that include an absolute value represented by m-1 bits and a 1-bit sign bit representing a sign are restored from the expanded second bit sequence, and restored data is generated by performing, using the sign bit, an operation on data to be restored and data that has been restored immediately before it.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data compression apparatus and method, a recording medium, and a data expansion apparatus and method. In particular, the invention relates to a data compression apparatus and method, a recording medium, and a data expansion apparatus and method which compress consecutive data efficiently, i.e., at a high compression ratio, and store or expand compressed data.
2. Description of the Related Art
In storing a large amount of data such as graphics data on a recording medium such as an optical disc, it is a common procedure to compress the data and record compressed data. The compressed data are expanded in using the data.
For example, where data packets each consisting of data A to L occur consecutively as shown in FIG. 1, those data are sequentially compressed according to a predetermined compression scheme and compressed data are recorded on a recording medium or transferred via a predetermined transmission line.
However, in compressing, for instance, data (coordinate values, luminance values, etc.) corresponding to apices of polygons that are used in computer graphics, a sufficiently high compression ratio is not obtained if the run-length method is applied to the data themselves. Further, since data of this type is low in the degree of unevenness in a frequency profile, a sufficiently high compression ratio is not be obtained by a method that utilizes frequency-based classification such as DCT (discrete cosine transformation). Therefore, transfer or storage of data of this type requires high-speed transfer processing or a recording area of a large capacity, resulting in a difficulty in reducing the cost.
Where a low-speed transmission line or a recording area of a small capacity, the amount of data needs to be reduced by for instance, lowering image resolution, resulting in a difficulty in rendering graphic images with good image quality.

Data compression apparatus and method, data expansion apparatus and method, and recording medium


Provided is a thin film photovoltaic device and a method of manufacturing the device. The thin film photovoltaic device comprises a film layer having particles which are smaller than about 30 microns in size held in an electrically insulating matrix material to reduce the potential for electrical shorting through the film layer. The film layer may be provided by depositing preformed particles onto a surrogate substrate and binding the particles in a film-forming matrix material to form a flexible sheet with the film layer. The flexible sheet may be separated from the surrogate substrate and cut into flexible strips. A plurality of the flexible strips may be located adjacent to and supported by a common supporting substrate to form a photovoltaic module having a plurality of electrically interconnected photovoltaic cells.

Photovoltaic cells have long been considered a possible alternative to nonrenewable energy sources. Most types of photovoltaic cells have a photoactive area (i.e., an area that generates electricity in response to light) that is composed of a semiconductor layer disposed between two electrode layers. The various layers are typically deposited on a flat, rigid supporting substrate, such as glass. A number of electrically interconnected photovoltaic cells may be supported on a common supporting substrate. The combination of the supporting substrate and the photovoltaic cell(s) is typically referred to as a photovoltaic module.
One process for making a photovoltaic module is to sequentially form layers on top of a supporting substrate to build a photoactive area on the supporting substrate. The photoactive area may then be divided into a number of individual photovoltaic cells which may be interconnected in series to boost the voltage output from the photovoltaic module. The photovoltaic cells may then be encapsulated to protect the cells from the external environment during operation of the module. The process of building a photovoltaic module by the sequential formation of layers on a supporting substrate is a common technique for making thin film photovoltaic devices, such as those using thin semiconductor films of cadmium telluride or copper indium diselenide in a power-producing semiconductor layer.
The sequential deposition of layers on a supporting substrate such as glass, however, is expensive. Some deposition steps may require a high temperature, which requires energy to heat the supporting substrate and induces thermal stresses into the supporting substrate which may cause breakage of some substrate materials, such as glass. Also, the processing of glass sheets is cumbersome and not well suited to a high speed operation.
Furthermore, for some thin film semiconductor materials, such as cadmium telluride, the semiconductor material is typically recrystallized following deposition of the semiconductor material to obtain crystals of a suitable size and morphology for use in a photovoltaic cell. Recrystallization tends to be, however, a very slow process and requires a significant amount of energy to heat not only the desired semiconductor film but also the supporting substrate, significantly adding to the expense of the manufacturing process. Additionally, during recrystallization, void spaces tend to form in the semiconductor film, making the semiconductor film more susceptible to electrical shorting through the film.
Another problem encountered with many thin film photovoltaic devices is control over the stoichiometry of the components of the semiconductor material during deposition of semiconductor thin films. For example, maintenance of the stoichiometry of copper indium diselenide during deposition of a thin film can be difficult to control, especially in a high volume industrial setting.
There is a need for an improved process for making photovoltaic devices, and especially for making thin film devices, which is more suitable for high volume production and which reduces the costs associated with processing the supporting substrate.

Thin film photovoltaic device and process of manufacture


A storage system for exchanging data with a host system, the storage system including a plurality of storage devices, each of the storage devices including: a non-volatile memory, wherein a fixed static-IP address resides in the non-volatile memory, the fixed static-IP address being common to two or more of the plurality of storage devices, and the fixed static-IP address providing enablement of a storage-device functionality of the storage device; a physical interface for operationally connecting the storage device with the host system; and a memory controller for: controlling the respective non-volatile memory; and exchanging data, using a communication protocol, via the respective fixed static-IP address. For at least one of the storage devices, the respective fixed static-IP address may be pre-loaded into the respective non-volatile memory during manufacture, or installed in the respective non-volatile memory after manufacture.

Example embodiments described herein relate to methods and systems for classifying storage devices using fixed static-IP addresses.
With the establishment of the Internet and web browsing as a central source of activity in the computing world, the use of transmission control protocol/internet protocol (better known simply as TCP/IP), the communication language of the Internet, has become prevalent in computing development for various device-communication applications as well. TCP/IP enables features that currently are not supported by logical block addressing (LBA) architecture.
However, TCP/IP (and other communication protocols based on OSI layers) is mostly suited to communication between applications executed from different systems (e.g. different operating system and hardware) to communicate with each other in a standard way. Furthermore, extensive modifications to LBA architecture and associated applications are necessary in order to employ LBA as a standard in security and communication applications between client and server applications, for example.
Storage devices that utilize LBA architecture (e.g. file system and block device driver) provide a standard command for retrieving information from the storage device (e.g. vendor ID/name). Such a configuration only partially solves the problem of obtaining the properties (e.g. security and compression properties) of the storage device, since the storage device is limited to export only standard capabilities, not proprietary ones. Implementation of TCP/IP in storage-device architectures has not been utilized in the art for such data-access applications.
It would be desirable to have methods and systems for enabling a standard web-server storage environment for local devices (e.g. flash-memory devices and SIM cards).

Methods and systems for classifying storage systems using fixed static-IP addresses


A method for operating a power electronic circuit having a first power convertor and at least one second power convertor is specified. The pulse duration-modulated driving of the switches of the circuit arrangement is effected according to a comparison of a reference oscillation with a carrier oscillation. According to the invention, a component of a third harmonic is admixed with the reference oscillation over virtually the entire drive-level range, in particular including low drive-level rates in the range from 20% to approximately 87%. It is also possible to admix a corresponding component of a ninth harmonic in the drive-level range from 20% to approximately 33%. This results in a low clock frequency for the first power convertor and the second power convertor need not have a feedback capability. (FIG. 1)

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is concerned with the field of power electronics. It is based on a method for operating a power electronic circuit arrangement according to the preamble of claim 1.
2. Discussion of Background
Such a method is disclosed in German Patent Application 196 15 855.9, which is not a prior publication. What is involved in that case is a power electronic circuit arrangement in which an improved approximation of the sinusoidal output voltage is intended to be achieved by providing at least two series-connected power converters which are driven in such a way that the intermediate circuit voltages of the power converters can be combined as desired.
If the intermediate circuit voltage of the first power converter is chosen to be greater than that of the second power converter, then the second power converters constitute so-called fine stages whose output voltage can be added to or subtracted from that of the first power converter. The switches of the power converters are driven by a pulse duration-modulated pulse train, which is generated for example by comparison of a reference oscillation with a carrier oscillation. In the event of a maximum drive level, that is to say maximum output voltage and maximum frequency, the majority of the output voltage is intended to be formed by the slowly pulsed first power converter. The latter is preferably also furnished with powerful GTOs, while the second power converter may be equipped e.g. with IGETs. The switching frequency of the first power converter should be as low as possible in order that the switching losses do not become too large. In the event of a low drive level, that is to say low frequency and low output voltage, it may thereby happen, however, that the power of the second power converter becomes negative, that is to say that said converter outputs power. This corresponds to energy feedback from the second power converter. However, this is undesirable; the circuit arrangement becomes less expensive when it does not have to be capable of taking up energy that has been fed back.

Operating a power electronic circuit arrangement having multiple power converters


An illuminating device includes an aluminum extrusion profile fixed on a back panel of a showcase, and a lamp device. A face panel of the showcase is secured to an end of the aluminum extrusion profile away from the back panel. In the middle of the aluminum extrusion profile defines a sliding slot extending horizontally. The face panel defines an elongated slot corresponding to the sliding slot. The lamp device includes a lamp and a conductive head. A conductive structure is secured to the sliding slot for allowing the conductive head to be plugged therein and conduct the conductive head. The conductive head can slide along the sliding slot to be located at any desired position to illuminate objects on the showcase. A ratchet connecting mechanism is arranged on the sliding slot and configured to mount and remove the conductive head.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to illuminating devices, and more particularly to an illuminating device for showcases.
2. Description of Related Art
Chinese patent (CN201977332U) filed on Jan. 18, 2011 by Applicant of this invention discloses an illuminating shelf for showcases. In this Chinese patent, how to supply power to a lamp in a showcase, and how to conceal wires to make the showcase look more discreet Furthermore, in the Chinese patent, a left support and a right support of the illuminating shelf can be adjusted upward and downward in relation to the floor. The structure of the illuminating shelf is simple, and easy to assemble. Thus, we were able to lower our cost and installation time.
However, in the Chinese patent, light cannot be emitted to different orientations, thus the illuminating shelf cannot be used in larger showcases or showcases to show different products. Furthermore, the Chinese patent does not disclose how to mount a number of lamps in a horizontal plane.
Therefore, there is a room for improvement in the design.

Dongguan Heng Long Fixture Manufacturing Company Limited


A system is provided for controlling the operation of powertrain, including an engine and a torque converter having a torque converter clutch. The system may include a torque governor for controlling a torque output of the engine and a speed governor for controlling a rotational speed of the engine. The system may further include a powertrain controller operable to receive a command selecting between first and second modes of operation. If the command indicates the first mode of operation, the powertrain controller may enable the torque governor and control the torque converter clutch to operate in accordance with a first clutch profile. If the command indicates the second mode of operation, the powertrain controller may enable the speed governor and control the torque converter clutch to operate in accordance with a second clutch profile that is different from the first clutch profile.

Vocational vehicles, such as cement trucks, dump trucks, and farm tractors, are difficult to operate. In order to reduce operator fatigue and to allow operation by less experienced operators, it is desirable to equip such vehicles with automatic or partially-automated transmissions. It is also frequently necessary for such vehicles to operate at low vehicle speeds for extended periods. For example, when a cement truck is pouring cement along a curb, or a dump truck is spreading gravel along a roadway, or a farm tractor is planting crops, it is desirable for the vehicle to maintain a constant low speed, e.g., two to twelve miles per hour, regardless of the slope or type of terrain.
However, at such low speeds, the torque converter of the automatic transmission transfers only a fraction of the torque produced by the engine to the drive wheels, thereby reducing fuel efficiency with respect to manual transmission vehicles. Also, the resulting slip produces excess heat in the torque converter. Consequently, operation of such vehicles at low speeds for extended periods may reduce the operational life of the torque converter.
In addition, the engine output at low speeds is conventionally controlled by a torque governor. In order to maintain a constant low speed in a torque governing mode, the operator must alternately increase the throttle input in order to maintain the desired speed up slopes and apply the brakes in order to avoid exceeding the desired speed down slopes. Consequently, the operator must manipulate two inputs in order to govern the vehicle speed, thus increasing operator fatigue and taking the operator's attention away from other important tasks. Further, use of the service brakes to limit vehicle speed down slopes reduces the service life of the brakes.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,371,081 describes an engine controller having both a torque governor and a speed governor that may be simultaneously or selectively operated, based on the operator's manipulation of a torque throttle and a speed throttle. However, because the operator is required to manipulate both the torque throttle and the speed throttle in order to control the vehicle, the system described in the '081 patent increases the operator's work load. Moreover, the '081 patent makes no attempt to optimize control of the vehicle transmission in the torque governing and speed governing modes.
The presently disclosed systems and methods for controlling a powertrain are directed to solving one or more of these shortcomings of the prior art control systems.

Systems and methods for controlling a powertrain