The invention relates to a method for detecting undesired operating conditions of a driving device. A sensor (50) that is transformer-coupled between a stator side and a rotor side is triggered by a control circuit (40) for detecting a position value or a rotational speed value of the drive mechanism. An error signal (F) is emitted, if an undesired operating condition occurs. A test signal (ε) is supplied to a safety monitoring device (30) in order to determine and emit this error signal (F), said test signal being also supplied to the control circuit (40). There, the test signal (ε) acts as an unbalance and is checked as regards its presence in the safety monitoring device.

As regards the technical functional principle the synchro resolver is a rotating (magnetic) transformer whose output voltage is in an unequivocal relationship with the position of its shaft. For this reason, synchro resolvers are suited as absolute angle transmitters with an angular range of more than 360°, cf. in this connection e.g. DE-C-196 35 040 (Litton), column 1, lines 15 to 20 and column 2, lines 9 to 13. While the referenced publication relates to the merely mechanical construction of the synchro resolver, cf. FIG. 2 thereof, the determination of the desired system magnitudes is also possible with DE-C 38 34 384 (Lenze). The latter publication describes a process and a circuit arrangement for generating digitized rotational speeds and information on angles of rotation by means of a synchro resolver. In this connection reference is made to FIG. 1 thereof. It shows a control circuit as a servo controller, with which an operating signal of the rotor winding of the resolver is supplied to the circuit arrangement which controls the actuating variable to zero with a controller. Then, the output of the controller corresponds to the rotational speed in the stationary state and its integral corresponds to the position (called "angular output" there).
In particular, in the case of a rough environment, but also during long-term use, it must be ensured that the drives do not adopt any inadmissible operating conditions, i.e. that they do not experience any rotational speeds that are too high, if e.g. the measuring element for the measurement of the rotational speed fails such as due to an electrical or mechanical defect in the rotary encoder. Mostly, such problems are solved in the prior art by means of redundance, namely by the use of several rotary encoders, which, then, allow a safety monitoring within the framework of a comparative measurement or a voter-basis decision (at least in the case of three sensors).
Some embodiments allow non-redundant safety, and provide this safety for operating signals in drive technology. No additional sensors for said operating signals are to be added and, nevertheless, a safety-oriented limitation of the rotational speed of a drive is provided to obtain high levels of protection.

Non-redundant safety monitoring for an electric drive mechanism (with a sensor)


There is disclosed a folding device for a foldable stroller, comprising a switch button (10), a handle portion (12), a linkage portion (14), an engaging means (16) and a spring (18), and characterized in that the handle portion (12) has an opening (121) through which the protrusion portion (161) of the engaging means (16) passes, a hole (122) for accommodating and fixing the upper supporting member (11) of the stroller, two lugs (123, 124) for fixing the rear supporting member (15) of the stroller, and a spring receiving portion (125) for holding the spring (18); the linkage portion (14) has a hole (141) and is used for linking the upper supporting member (11) of the stroller and the lower supporting member (13) of the stroller together; the switch button (10) has a depressing portion (101) on the top and a recess (102) at the bottom for accommodating the protrusion portion (161) of the engaging means (16); the engaging means (16) has a protrusion portion (161) which is accommodated and secured in the recess (102) of the switch button (10), two fixing arms (162, 163) on which the upper supporting member (11) of the stroller is fixed, and a recess (164) for holding the spring (18); and the spring (18) is mounted between the protrusion portion (161) of the engaging means (16) and the spring receiving portion (125) of the handle portion (12), for biasing the protrusion portion (161) of the engaging means (16) forwards so that the engaging means (16) is engaged with the lower supporting member (13) of the stroller.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a folding device, more particular to a folding device for a foldable stroller, which can form a very secure structure when the foldable stroller is stretched in an extended position for use.
2. Description of the Related Art
For a variety of foldable strollers, there is provided a folding device which can be spread in an engaged state to form a supporting structure when the foldable stroller is stretched in an extended position for use. On the other hand, the folding device can be released from the engaged state when the foldable device is to be collapsed. Referring to FIG. 1, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,460,398, there is disclosed a folding device for a stroller, comprising a button (28), a sliding hook member (27), a positioning means (20), a spring (26) and a retainer means (30), wherein the hook of sliding hook member (27) is engaged with the opening of retainer means (30) in an engaged state to form a supporting structure for a stroller. For storage or carriage, a user may push down the button (28) to release the engaged state. However, the prior art folding device encounters a problem that the structure formed by engaging the hook of sliding hook member with the opening of retainer means is not secure enough. Also the hook of sliding hook member is apt to be broken and the lifetime of the folding device is not long. In addition, the whole structure of the folding device is too complicate for mass production and the assembly for the folding device is not easy.
In view of the above problems occurred in the prior arts, the object of the present invention is to provide a folding device for a foldable stroller, in which a very secure structure can be obtained when the foldable stroller is stretched in an extended position for use.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a folding device for a foldable stroller, in which the lifetime thereof is long.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a folding device for a foldable stroller, in which the assembly thereof is easy.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a folding device for a foldable stroller, comprising a switch button (10), a handle portion (12), a linkage portion (14), an engaging means (16) and a spring (18), and characterized in that the handle portion (12) has an opening (121) through which the protrusion portion (161) of the engaging means (16) passes, a hole (122) for accommodating and fixing the upper supporting member (11) of the stroller, two lugs (123, 124) for fixing the rear supporting member (15) of the stroller, and a spring receiving portion (125) for holding the spring (18); the linkage portion (14) has a hole (141) and is used for linking the upper supporting member (11) of the stroller and the lower supporting member (13) of the stroller together; the switch button (10) has a depressing portion (101) on the top and a recess (102) at the bottom for accommodating the protrusion portion (161) of the engaging means (16); the engaging means (16) has a protrusion portion (161) which is accommodated and secured in the recess (102) of the switch button (10), two fixing arms (162, 163) on which the upper supporting member (11) of the stroller is fixed, and a recess (164) for holding the spring (18); and the spring (18) is mounted between the protrusion portion (161) of the engaging means (16) and the spring receiving portion (125) of the handle portion (12), for biasing the protrusion portion (161) of the engaging means (16) forward so that the engaging means (16) is engaged with the lower supporting member (13) of the stroller.
Since the engaging means (16) is fixed on the upper supporting member (11) of the stroller on one hand and engaged with the lower supporting member (13) of the stroller on the other hand, a very secure structure can be obtained when the foldable stroller is stretched in an extended position for use.
Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


The filter of a compressor is located in the casing of the compressor. The fluid path includes passages in the casing such that brazed connections are not required between the filter and the parts requiring lubrication.

In refrigeration compressors the affinity between refrigerant and lubricant generally requires separation of oil from the discharged refrigerant and its return to the compressor. Additionally, the returned oil is normally filtered before being supplied to the oil distribution structure. Because the filter must be accessible for replacement as well as isolatable to minimize oil loss, it is located external to the compressor. This, however, requires brazed lines downstream of the filter and this can result in debris being carried to the bearings, etc.


A door handle assembly having a snap-in attachment apparatus for assembling a key cylinder to a door handle assembly without the use of separate fasteners and retainers. The door handle assembly has a bored tubular extension that utilizes slots to define tubular sections that yield radially outward upon inserting the key cylinder into the bore of the tubular extension. The tubular sections have openings that receive lugs extending from the periphery of the key cylinder and that prohibit inward axial movement and rotary movement of the key cylinder. A shoulder in the door handle assembly abuts an end of the key cylinder to prohibit outward axial movement of the key cylinder. The engaging surfaces of the lugs and tubular sections have drafted angles that pull the tubular sections radially inward toward the key cylinder upon a push-in force applied to the key cylinder from outside the vehicle and directed toward the center of the vehicle. The tubular extension and key cylinder also have alignment surfaces for orientating a key slot of the key cylinder in a conventional vertical position.

Generally, all vehicles have an attached door handle assembly comprising of a plastic shell, a key cylinder and a door handle. It is well known to use a threaded stud and nut assembly to attach the key cylinder to the plastic shell, but this requires a plurality of fastening parts as well as assembly time to assemble the fastening parts. It is also known to use a snap-in attachment apparatus in conjunction with conventional fasteners to attach the key cylinder to the plastic shell of the door handle assembly. Such designs are susceptible to having the key cylinder pushed in by forces applied to the key cylinder from outside the vehicle. It would be desirable to provide a snap-in attachment apparatus for connecting a key cylinder to a door handle assembly that reduces the number of parts, as well as assembly time, and that requires a substantial force to push in the key cylinder from outside the vehicle.

Door handle assembly with snap-in key cylinder


An adjustable transverse connector connects orthopedic stabilization rods that may be parallel or skewed in orientation relative to each other The connector may include two sections that are joined together by a fastener. The connector may be adjustable in many ways. The overall length of the connector may be adjustable. The rod openings of the connector may be partially rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the connector. The two sections of the connector may be angulated. The connector may include cam locks that securely attach the connector to the rods. Rotating a cam lock may extend a rod engager into a rod opening. The rod engager may be a portion of the cam lock. The extension of the rod engager into a rod opening may push a rod against a body of the transverse connector to form a frictional engagement between the connector, the rod, and the rod engager.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to bone stabilization systems, and more particularly to a transverse connector for connecting adjacent rods of orthopedic stabilization systems. The transverse connector, or cross-link, may connect together adjacent spinal rods of a spinal stabilization system.
2. Description of Related Art
Bone disorders, degenerative conditions, or trauma may result in a need to stabilize a bone or bones of a patient with an orthopedic stabilization system. For example, disease or trauma may result in the need to stabilize the spine of a patient. A variety of systems may be used to stabilize a spine. A spinal stabilization system may generally be classified as an anterior, lateral, or posterior system according to a position of the system relative to the spine. Posterior stabilization systems often include pairs of vertically aligned rods for stabilizing both short and long segments of a spine.
An orthopedic stabilization system may include a pair of rods that are coupled to a bone or bones. For example, a posterior spinal stabilization system may include a pair of bendable rods that are contoured and longitudinally disposed adjacent to vertebral bodies of a spine. A pair of rods of an orthopedic stabilization system may be coupled to a bone or bones by fixation elements. The fixation elements may include, but are not limited to, hooks and bone screw connectors.
Rods of an orthopedic stabilization system may be oriented so that the rods are substantially parallel to each other. Alternately, rods of an orthopedic stabilization system may be oriented so that the rods are skewed relative to each other. In a skewed orientation, the rods may be oriented towards each other so that a horizontal distance between the rods is not constant. In other words, the rods may not be horizontally parallel to each other. FIG. 1 shows a top view of a pair of rods 28 that are not horizontally parallel. Also, the rods 28 may be oriented so that a vertical distance between the rods is not constant. In other words, the rods 28 may not be vertically parallel to each other. FIG. 2 shows a pair of rods that are not vertically parallel.
Transverse connectors may be attached to connect adjacent rods of an orthopedic stabilization system together. Transverse connectors may provide rigidity to a stabilization system. Transverse connectors may also inhibit rod movement. Stresses may act to return a stabilized bone system to a deformed position. For example, stresses on a spine and on a spinal stabilization system often operate to return a corrected spine to a deformed position. Transverse connectors may inhibit rod movement of the spinal stabilization system during a post-operative period so that the spine remains in a corrected position.
Many transverse connectors have been developed that link adjacent rods together. U.S. patents and patent application Ser. No. 09/093,756 to Wagner et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,980,521 to Montague et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,947,966 to Drewry et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,752,955 to Errico et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,709,684 to Errico et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,667,507 to ERRico et al., describe transverse connectors. Each of these patents and patent applications are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. Many transverse connectors present one or more problems for a surgical team that installs the transverse connectors. Some of the problems associated with transverse connectors include the need to pre-load connectors on a rod, high profiles, wide profiles, separate component fasteners, and proper tightening of threaded fasteners. Also, the ability of a transverse connector to connect rods that are skewed relative to each other may be problematic.
Some transverse connectors have engaging members that must be preloaded onto a rod prior to the rod being placed within a patient. The use of preloaded connectors may require significant pre-operative planning. The use of preloaded connectors may inhibit a surgical team's ability to make changes that are needed to meet conditions presented during insertion of the stabilization system in the patient. Other transverse connectors include rod openings that allow the transverse connector to be placed on rods after the rods have been attached by fixation elements to a patient.
Some transverse connectors may have a high profile and/or a wide profile. These profiles may cause surgical complications to tissue and bone adjacent to the connector. A rod fastening system that attaches the transverse connector to the adjacent rods may cause a high or wide profile. For example, a connector that snaps onto a spinal rod may be attached to a transverse connector by a nut that engages a threaded shaft of the connector. The nut and shaft may cause the assembled transverse connector to have a high profile and a wide profile. A high profile transverse connector may result in abrasion of tissue adjacent to the transverse connector. A wide profile transverse connector may require the removal of a portion of bone to allow the transverse connector to be attached to stabilization rods. A slim profile may require less or no bone removal when the transverse connector is attached to stabilization rods.
Some transverse connector rod fastening systems may require separate component fastening members to securely attach the transverse connector to stabilization rods. A separate component fastener, such as a nut, may be difficult to properly position and secure during an installation procedure.
A transverse connector must be securely tightened to a stabilization rod. Some rod fastening systems of transverse connectors use threaded fasteners to attach the transverse connector to adjacent rods. The threaded fastener typically is a setscrew or a nut. Not tightening a threaded fastener enough may allow movement of the transverse connector. Over tightening a threaded fastener may result in damage to the fastening system that could cause failure of the transverse connector. Applying a proper amount of torque to a threaded fastener may require the use of a torque wrench. Using a torque wrench may be burdensome to a surgical team that installs a stabilization system. Also, a torque wrench may require frequent calibration to ensure that an indicated amount of torque is applied when the torque wrench is used.
A threaded fastener such as a setscrew may need to be angled within the body so that a contact portion engages a rod sufficiently to secure the rod to the transverse connector. One type of transverse connector that utilizes a setscrew operates by contacting the setscrew against a lower portion of a rod to drive a top portion of the rod against a body of the transverse connector. The angle of the setscrew may be less than about 45° with respect to a longitudinal axis of the transverse connector, The angle of the setscrew may require an insertion tool with a flexible shaft to fix the rod to the transverse connector. Alternately, a large opening may be made in the patient so that an insertion tool without a flexible shaft may be used to fix the rod to the transverse connector. Another type of transverse connector that utilizes a setscrew operates by contacting the setscrew against an upper portion of a rod to drive a lower portion of the rod against a body of the transverse connector. Positioning a pair of rods within such a transverse connector may be difficult during installation of the transverse connector in a patient.
A transverse connector may include a body, a pair of rod openings in the body, and rod engagers. The body of the transverse connector may span a distance between a pair of rods. The body may have a fixed length, or the length of the body may be adjustable. Bending the body may adjust the length of the body and the orientation of the rod openings relative to the rods. Alternately, the length of the body may be adjustable by adjusting a position of a first section of the body relative to a second section of the body. After the positions of the first section and the second section are adjusted, the first section and the second section may be fixed using a fastener. The fastener may be, but is not limited to, a setscrew or a nut and bolt. The pair of rod openings may hold rods of a bone stabilization system. The rod engagers may be used to attach rods that are positioned in the rod openings to the body of the transverse connector.
A pair of rods of a stabilization system may be skewed relative to each other in both a vertical plane and a horizontal plane. Some transverse connectors cannot be adjusted to accommodate rods that are horizontally and/or vertically skewed. Other transverse connectors require a portion of the transverse connector to be bent to accommodate the skew of the rods.
A distance between a pair of rods of an orthopedic stabilization system may determine positions of rod fastening systems within a transverse connector. For transverse connectors that are attached to a pair of closely spaced rods, the rod fastening systems may be located on outer sides of the rod openings. For transverse connectors that are attached to a pair of rods that are spaced a farther distance apart, one rod fastening system may be located on an outer side of a rod opening and the other rod fastening system may be located between the two rod openings. Alternately, both rod fastening systems may be located between the rod openings. Also, for transverse connectors that are attached to a pair of rods that are spaced a large distance apart, an adjustable length transverse connector may be used.

Transverse connector with cam activated engagers


The invention relates to a method and to a device for the representation of a predeterminable region (3) in multidimensional data sets (2). The data sets (2) are especially made of three or four dimensional image data of an object which is to be examined. The image data is produced by means of one or several receiving elements of the object and especially at least one two-dimensional cut (S) is located and displayed through the predeterminable region (3). The cut (S) is defined by at least one vector plane and/or indicator plane (E1, E2), which are arranged in the multi-dimensional data set (2), by means of a vector (4). Said vector or indicator is fixed by manipulation in the multidimensional data set (2) and/or on, particularly, the two-dimensional cut planes (S1, S2) of the multi-dimensional data sets (2) on at least one vector plane (E1, E2) and the vector and/or indicator (4). Advantageously, the vector (4) is a directional vector (or an arrow) provided with a predeterminable direction and length and extends along the predeterminable region (3).

Methods and apparatus of this type are known for example from WO 98/20360 of from PCT/EP03/01192. In this case, multidimensional data sets are generated in order to image multidimensional objects, such as for example the heart or liver of a human, the surface of a semiconductor or the weld seam of a packaging. Such multidimensional data sets are generated by recording the object by a suitable recording process, such as for example an x-ray image, an ultrasound image or nuclear spin tomography. To generate a three-dimensional image data set for example, the reconstruction and assembly of one- or two-dimensional image data which have been generated by suitable images is carried out. In the case of an ultrasound image, with the aid of an ultrasound recording apparatus, two-dimensional ultrasound images known as image subdomains are recorded and are so arranged in order in a three-dimensional image data set that the two-dimensional image subdomains supply the relative arrangement of the image data with the correct orientation for the individual three-dimensional image data cubes (known as voxels) of the volume data set.
Such image subdomains generated by two-dimensional recording processes normally correspond to a line-by-line scanning operation, which records the object line by line in a recording direction in which the x-ray machine or e.g. the ultrasound transmitter is moved. The image subdomains generated in the recording apparatus can be transferred digitally or via a video output into a reprocessing apparatus or into a data processing system. There, the two-dimensional images can be stored or directly reprocessed by stacking the individual layers or slices of the object one over another or lining them up next to one another, in order then to obtain for example a three-dimensional representation of the object on the display apparatus.
If the object is a moving object, the corresponding two-dimensional image subdomains can also be provided with an associated time datum, so that each image subdomain can be allocated to a specific state of motion of the object. By means of this time datum, three-dimensional image data sets can be generated which also have corresponding time data. This is known as a four-dimensional data set. A three-dimensional moving object (e.g. the heart of a human) can be shown moving on the screen of a data processing apparatus (i.e. in four dimensions) by showing the three-dimensional image data sets provided with the time data staggered in time sequence.
As soon as a three- or four-dimensional image data set is being dealt with, this can be shown for example on the screen of a data processing apparatus. In all probability, however, the observer of such an image would like to look more closely at certain interesting areas of the object, e.g. the valve of a heart, the solder point of a semiconductor structural element on the printed circuit board, or the point of adhesion of a packaging. In this case, it is known that the observer, by selecting usually two-dimensional planes of section through the three-dimensional data set, will analyse the predeterminable region by making various planes of section through the predeterminable region and will manipulate these successively until he obtains the desired section representation.
Such a procedure has the disadvantage, however, that "navigation" through the multidimensional data set by means of a usually two-dimensional plane of section is time-consuming, since the plane has to be adjusted by repeated manipulation until the section through the multidimensional data set, e.g. through the volume, offers the corresponding desired view. For example, such a procedure in the case of medical data is often very long-winded and involved, as plural stages (of manipulation) are necessary in order to "cut clear" the appropriate point of interest, i.e. the predeterminable region, and to make it visible.

Method and device for the representation of a predeterminable region in multidimensional data sets


To partition a distributed fabric system, at least one system port is allocated to each switching domain of multiple non-overlapping switching domains in a distributed fabric system. Multiple different look-up tables are produced, wherein each look-up table corresponds to a different switching domain of the multiple non-overlapping switching domains in the distributed fabric system. Each system port is associated with the look-up table of the multiple look-up tables that corresponds to the switching domain to which that system port is allocated. The look-up table associated with each system port has at least one table entry for each other system port allocated to the same switching domain as that system port.

Data centers are generally centralized facilities that provide Internet and intranet services in support of businesses and organizations. A typical data center can house various types of electronic equipment, such as computers, servers (e.g., email servers, proxy servers, and DNS servers), switches, routers, data storage devices, and other associated components. A given data center can be made of different types of switching domains. One type of switching domain can comprise a group of cell-based switches managed through a single traffic management domain. Depending on the kind of switches, the single switching domain can scale up to hundreds of thousands of Ethernet ports. Managed together, all of these switches form one virtual, large, flat (i.e., without hierarchy) switch. Managing such a large switch as a single traffic management domain can present difficulties.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Partitioning a network into multiple switching domains

International Business Machines Corporation


A carrier strip system includes a plurality of discrete carrier strips respectively receptive of fasteners of substantially different dimensions the strips having internal features configured to engage the fasteners, the strips further having substantially identical external dimensions said external dimensions being substantially symmetrical with respect to a virtual surface defined by inclusion of axes of the plurality of discrete fasteners, and the external dimensions being engagable with a single setting tool magazine such that fasteners with different dimensions have consistent alignment within a single setting tool magazine and method.

Fastener setting tools have become common tools in the construction industry. Their ability to drive a fastener fully with just the pull of a trigger is significantly more efficient than methods of hammering or screwing fasteners in. Traditionally, setting tools required their fasteners be loaded one at a time into the proper position in the setting tool before they could be driven into the work piece. More recently, setting tools have included a magazine that spring loads several fasteners, for auto loading, which significantly increases the speed at which large numbers of fasteners can be driven. Such magazines are augmented with respect to function by the advent of fastener holders in the form of carrier strips.
A wide variety of fasteners are now available for use with setting tools. This variety is required to meet the particular demands of the work pieces being joined together. One common variation in fasteners is their diameter. Different diameter fasteners are employed in distinct magazines or distinct setting tools. Distinct magazines at best are required in order to ensure proper feed of the fasteners. Such arrangements require a user employing fasteners of different diameters to have multiple magazines or multiple setting tools, and further may require additional time when magazines are replaced to accommodate different diameter fasteners. This leads to inefficiency and is therefore undesirable.

Carrier strip system and method for different diameter fasteners


The invention relates to a circuit comprising a voltage reference (R) and a low-pass filter (F) electrically connected to the voltage reference (R). The filter (F) comprises a stage formed by a stage resistance (Re) electrically connected at a midpoint (M) to a stage capacitor (Ce), the stage resistance (Re) and the stage capacitor (Ce) at least partially defining a time constant of the filter and the midpoint (M) carrying the filtered reference voltage (V′ref). The circuit also comprises a transistor (T) and a control circuit (Cde) of the gate of the transistor (T) configured to bias the transistor (T) in conduction when the circuit (1) is turned on, the on-state resistance of the transistor (T) combining with the stage capacitor (Ce) to raise the filtered reference voltage (V′ref) with a settling time constant lower than the filter time constant.

Documents EP3572818A and U.S. Pat. No. 8,179,121 propose an acceleration sensor having a two-wire interface in IEPE format, the accelerometer of the sensor possibly being a MEMS accelerometer. In these sensors, the supply voltage of the MEMS is drawn from the two-wire interface. For this purpose, to avoid possible variations in the voltage present at this two-wire interface, a voltage reference for example comprising a bandgap component ("bandgap" voltage reference according to the terminology generally used in the field) can be provided for. This voltage reference (which can be integrated into the MEMS circuit or arranged on an electrical routing support on which the MEMS component is also located) provides a stable reference voltage to the MEMS component, independent of the variations that the supply voltage of the sensor undergoes or of the temperature variations.
A MEMS accelerometer has the advantage of providing a static and low frequency measurement of an acceleration (for example less than 1 kHz) with a very favorable signal-to-noise ratio, independent of the frequency. The output signal from a MEMS accelerometer is typically the product of an internal reference voltage (typically the supply voltage) and the raw measurement of the acceleration. This signal is centered on half of its supply voltage (the voltage supplied by the voltage reference when it is present). Consequently, and by design, such a component exhibits low rejection of the supply voltage and half the noise contained in the voltage reference is found in its output signal. Now, a bandgap voltage reference generally exhibits a high noise level, for example 3 microvolts per square root of Hertz for a low consumption voltage reference for its white noise floor. A noise in 1/f is added to this floor, in the low frequency ranges, for example less than 1 kHz, these frequency ranges precisely forming the favored operating range of a MEMS accelerometer.
Of course, provision can be made to provide the voltage reference with a low-pass filter. However, this low-pass filtering can impose an extremely low cutoff frequency. For example, attenuating 30 dB of noise at 0.1 Hz requires developing a filter with a cutoff frequency of 0.003 Hz, and a time constant of approximately 50 seconds. Such a filter exhibits a transient state, when it is started up, leading to a settling time at 99% of the final value of 4 minutes, or even more. During this extremely long transient state, the acceleration sensor which has been fitted with the filter cannot be used with its full precision, which is very disadvantageous.
Document US20180275701 proposes a filter of a supply voltage, the filter being switched to limit the time it takes for the filtered voltage to settle when the device is switched on. However, this filter is in no way suitable for very low frequency filtering of 1/f noise, for example at a cutoff frequency of 1 Hz or less.

Circuit for providing a filtered reference voltage and power supply device using such a circuit


A predrive circuit, a drive circuit and a display device which are capable of driving output elements so as to transmit control signals stably even when reference potentials generated on the output elements side turn to high voltage. A first level shift circuit outputs a flow signal which is an input signal according to a first level shift potential. A second level shift circuit outputs a flow signal which is the flow signal output from the first level shift circuit, according to a second reference potential. A level shift power supply circuit supplies the level shift potential based on a prescribed power supply voltage and the second reference potential to the first level shift circuit and the second level shift circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a predrive circuit which drives output elements such as power MOS (Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) FET and IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor), and a display device using the predrive circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, "A New Driving Technology for PDPs with Cost Effective Sustain Circuit" has been disclosed in the "SID 01 DIGEST", page 1236–1239, as a method of reducing circuit cost of plasma display device, which is one of the flat panel display devices. As a similar reference, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2002-062844 (Patent No. 3201603) has disclosed substantially the same contents.
Furthermore, for example, one of the plasma display devices, AC-Plasma Display Panel (AC-PDP) is classified into a 2-electrode type which carries out selection (address) discharge and sustaining discharge by two electrode, and a 3-electrode type which carries out address discharge using a third electrode. Generally, there have been two structure types for the above 3-electrode type. The one type has the third electrode being formed on a same side of the substrate that includes a first electrode and a second electrode which carries out sustaining discharge. Another type has the third electrode being formed on the other side of the substrate.
Since both the PDP devices described above are based on a same principle of operation, the structure of the 3-electrode type with the first electrode and the second electrode being formed on a first substrate and with the third electrode being formed on a second substrate will be explained below.
FIG. 22 is a diagram showing an overall structure of an AC-PDP device. The AC-PDP device 1 in FIG. 22 comprises plural cells, each cell representing one pixel of a displayed image and being arranged in a matrix form. The respective cells are arranged in a matrix with m rows and n columns, as can be seen by cells Cmn in the drawing. Additionally, in the AC-PDP device 1, scan electrode Y1 to Yn and common electrodes X are installed in parallel to each other on the first substrate, and address electrodes A1 to Am are installed orthogonally to these electrodes Y1 to Yn and electrodes X on the second substrate oppose the first substrate. The common electrodes X are arranged adjacent to the respective scanning electrodes Y1 to Yn, and one ends of which are connected to each other.
A common terminal of the common electrodes X is connected to an output terminal of an X-side circuit 2, and the scanning electrodes Y1 to Yn are respectively connected to output terminals of a Y-side circuit 3. The address electrodes A1 to Am are connected to output terminals of an address-side circuit 4. The X-side circuit 2 comprises a circuit that conducts discharge continuously. The Y-side circuit 3 comprises a circuit that conducts line-sequential scanning and a circuit that discharges continuously. The address-side circuit 4 comprises a circuit that selects which column to display.
These X-side circuit 2, Y-side circuit 3, and address-side circuit 4 are controlled by control signals supplied from a drive control circuit 5. Namely, the address-side circuit 4 and the circuit which conducts line-sequential scanning in the Y-side circuit determine which cell to be lighted. Then the X-side circuit 2 and the Y-side circuit 3 conduct discharge continuously to carry out a display operation of the PDP device.
The drive control circuit 5 generates the control signals based on a display data D, a clock CLK which indicates a timing to read the display data D, a horizontal synchronization signal HS, and a vertical synchronization signal VS, all being supplied externally. Then these control signals will be supplied to the X-side circuit 2, the Y-side circuit 3, and the address-side circuit 4.
FIG. 23A is a diagram showing a cross sectional structure of a cell at row i and column j as one pixel. In FIG. 23A, a common electrode X and a scan electrode Yi are formed on a front glass substrate 11. Over them, a dielectric layer 12 is deposited as insulation against a discharge space 17. Further, an MgO (magnesium oxide) protective film 13 is deposited over the dielectric layer 12.
On the other hand, an address electrode Aj is formed on a rear glass substrate 14 which is placed oppose the front glass substrate 11. Over the electrode Aj, there is deposited a dielectric layer 15. Further, a phosphor 18 is deposited over the dielectric layer 15. Ne+Xe penning gas or the like is enclosed between the MgO protective film 13 and the dielectric layer 15.
FIG. 23B is a diagram for describing a capacity Cp of the AC-PDP device. As shown in FIG. 23B, there are capacitive components Ca, Cb, and Cc in the discharge space 17, between the common electrode X and the scan electrode Yi, and on the front glass substrate 11, respectively. By adding these capacitive components, a capacity Cpcell of a cell will be defined (Cpcell=Ca+Cb+Cc). A sum of the capacity Cpcell of every cell defines a panel capacity Cp.
FIG. 23C is a diagram for describing an emission of fluorescence of the AC-PDP device. As shown in FIG. 23C, red, blue, and green phosphors 18 are arranged in a stripe pattern and painted between ribs 16. The phosphor 18 emits fluorescence when it is excited by discharge between the common electrode X and the scan electrode Y.
As one method of driving such AC-PDP device, use of a driving system shown in FIG. 24 is suggested. This device conducts discharge between electrodes utilizing a potential difference produced by applying a positive voltage to one electrode and a negative voltage to the other electrode.
FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a circuitry example of the driving system of the AC-PDP device.
In FIG. 24, a capacitive load 20 (hereinafter, referred to as a "load 20") is a sum of capacity of every cell being formed between one common electrode X and one scan electrode Y. The common electrode X and the scan electrode Y are formed on the load 20. Here, scan electrode Y is any electrode of the scan electrodes Y1 to Yn.
First, on the common electrode X side, switches SW1 and SW2 are connected serially between a power supply line of voltage (Vs/2) supplied from a power supply not shown in the diagram and ground (GND). A point of interface between the two switches SW1 and SW2 is connected to one terminal of a capacitor C1, and a switch SW3 is connected between the other terminal of the capacitor C1 and the GND.
Switches SW4 and SW5 are connected serially to the both terminal of the capacitor C1. Then a point of interface between these switches SW4 and SW5 is connected to the common electrode X of the load 20 through an output line OUTC from its middle and further connected to a power recovery circuit 21. A switch SW6 with a resistor R1 is connected between a second signal line OUTB and a power supply line which generates a write voltage Vw.
The power recovery circuit 21 comprises two coils L1 and L2 which are both connected to the load 20, a diode D2 and a transistor Tr1 which are both connected serially to one coil L1, and a diode D3 and a transistor Tr2 which are both connected serially to the other coil L2. Furthermore, the power recovery circuit 21 comprises a capacitor C2 which is connected between a point of interface of the two transistors Tr1 and Tr2, and the second signal line OUTB.
Then there are configured two systems of serial resonance circuits by the capacitive load 20 and the coils L1 and L2 which are both connected to this load 20. In other words, this power recovery circuit 21 has two systems of L-C resonance circuit supplying an electric charge to the panel by resonance between the coil L1 and the load 20, and recovering the electric charge by resonance between the coil L2 and the load 20.
On the other hand, on the scan electrode Y side, switches SW1′ and SW2′ are connected serially between a power supply line of voltage (Vs/2) supplied from a power supply not shown in the diagram and the GND. A point of interface between these two switches SW1′ and SW2′ is connected to one terminal of a capacitor C4, and a switch SW3′ is connected between the other terminal of this capacitor C4 and the GND.
A switch SW4′ which is connected to the one terminal of the capacitor C4 is connected to a cathode of a diode D7. An anode of the diode D7 is connected to the other terminal of the capacitor C4. A switch SW5′ which is connected to the other terminal of the capacitor C4 is connected to an anode of a diode D6. A cathode of the diode D6 is connected to the one terminal of the capacitor C4.
Then, one end of the switch SW4′ which is connected to the cathode of the diode D7 and one end of the switch SW5′ which is connected to the anode of the diode D6 are both connected to the load 20 through a scan driver 22, and further connected to a power recovery circuit 21′. A switch SW6′ with a resistor R1′ is connected between a fourth signal line OUTB′ and a power supply line which generates a write voltage Vw.
The power recovery circuit 21′ comprises two coils L3 and L4 which are both connected from the load 20 through the scan driver 22, a diode D4 and a transistor Tr3 which are both connected serially to one coil L3, and a diode D5 and a transistor Tr4 which are both connected serially to the other coil L4. Furthermore, the power recovery circuit 21′ comprises a capacitor C3 which is connected between a common terminal of the transistors Tr3 and Tr4, and the fourth signal line OUTB′.
This power recovery circuit 21′ also has two systems of L-C resonance circuit, supplying an electric charge by resonance between the coil L4 and the load 20, and recovering this electric charge by resonance between the coil L3 and the load 20.
In addition to the above configuration, the scan electrode Y side also comprises three transistors Tr5, Tr6, and Tr7, and two diodes D6 and D7. When the transistor Tr5 is turned on, an effect of a resistor R2 connected to this transistor slacks a waveform of a pulse voltage which is applied to the scan electrode Y. The transistor Tr5 and resistor R2 are connected in parallel to the switch SW5′.
The transistors Tr6 and Tr7 also have a purpose of applying a potential difference of (Vs/2) to both ends of the scan driver 22 during an address period which will be described later. When the switch SW2′ and the transistor Tr6 are both turned on, a voltage of a topside of the scan driver 22 becomes ground level. When the transistor Tr7 is turned on, a negative voltage (−Vs/2) which is output to the fourth signal line OUTB′ according to an electric charge stored in the capacitor C4 will be applied to a downside of the scan driver 22. That enables the scan driver 22 to apply the negative voltage (−Vs/2) to the scan electrode Y when a scan pulse is output.
The above-mentioned switches SW1 to SW6, SW1′ to SW6′ and transistors Tr1 to Tr7 are controlled by control signals respectively supplied from a drive control circuit 31. The drive control circuit 31 is configured using a logic circuit, etc., and it generates the control signals based on a display data D, a clock CLK, a horizontal synchronization signal HS, and a vertical synchronization signal VS, all being supplied externally. Then these control signals will be supplied to the switches SW1 to SW6, SW1′ to SW6′, and the transistors Tr1 to Tr7.
FIG. 24 only shows control lines from the drive control circuit 31 which are connected to the switches SW4, SW5, SW4′, SW5′, and transistors Tr1 to Tr4. However, the other switches SW1 to SW6, SW1′ to SW6′, and transistors Tr1 to Tr7 are also connected to the drive control circuit 31 by control lines.
FIG. 25 is a time chart showing drive waveforms of the driving system of the AC-PDP device as configured in FIG. 24 and it shows one sub-field among plural sub-fields which compose one frame. One sub-field is divided into a reset period which includes a total write period and a total erase period, an address period, and a sustain discharge period.
In FIG. 25, during the reset period, the switches SW2 and SW5 are turned on, while the switches SW1, SW3, SW4, and SW6 are turned off on the common electrode X side. Accordingly, a voltage of the signal line OUTB decreases to the voltage (−Vs/2) according to an electric charge stored in the capacitor C1. Then the voltage (−Vs/2) is output to the output line OUTC through the switch SW5 and applied to the common electrode X.
On the other hand, on the scan electrode Y side, the switches SW1′, SW4′, and SW6′ are turned on, while the switches SW2′, SW3′, and SW5′ are turned off. Then a sum of the voltage Vw and a voltage (Vs/2) stored in the capacitor C4 is applied to the output line OUTC′. Accordingly, this voltage (Vs/2+Vw) is applied to the scan electrode Y of the load 20. At this time, by an effect of the resistor R1′ in the switch SW6′, the voltage gradually increases over time.
As a result, a potential difference between the common electrode X and the scan electrode Y becomes (Vs+Vw), causing discharge on all cells of all display lines regardless of a prior display status, and there are formed wall charges (total write).
Next, the voltage of the common electrode X and the scan electrode Y are returned to the ground level by controlling each switches appropriately, to reverse the status of the common electrode Y side and the scan electrode X side. Namely, on the common electrode X side, the switches SW1, SW4, and SW6 are turned on while the switches SW2, SW3, and SW5 are turned off, and on the scan electrode Y side, the switches SW2′ and SW5′ are turned on while the switches SW1′, SW3′, SW4′, and SW6′ are turned off.
Then the applied voltage of the common electrode X increases gradually over time from the ground level to the voltage (VS/2+Vw), while the applied voltage of the scan electrode Y decreases to the voltage (−Vs/2). Accordingly, the voltages of their wall charges of all cells reach and exceed the firing potential to thereby start discharge. At this time, by gradually increasing the applied voltage to the common electrode X over time as mentioned above, weak discharge is conducted so as to erase the wall charges except some part (total erase).
Next, during the address period, line-sequential address discharge is conducted in order to turn on and/or off each cell according to the display data. At this time, on the common electrode X side, the switches SW1, SW3, and SW4 are turned on, and the switches SW2, SW5, and SW6 are turned off, thereby increasing a voltage of a first signal line OUTA to a voltage (Vs/2) which is supplied through the switch SW1. This voltage (Vs/2) is output to the output line OUTC through the switch SW4 and applied to the common electrode X on the load 20.
When applying a voltage to a scan electrode Y which corresponds to one display line, the switch SW2′ and the transistor Tr6 are turned on, so that the voltage of the topside of the scan driver 22 becomes ground level. Then the transistor Tr7 is turned on to apply the negative voltage (−Vs/2), which is output to the fourth signal line OUTB′ according to the electric charge stored in the capacitor C4, will be applied to the downside of the scan driver 22. Consequently, the negative voltage (−Vs/2) is applied to the scan electrodes Y on the load 20 which are line-sequentially selected, and the ground level voltage is applied to the scan electrodes Y on the load 20 which are not line-sequentially selected.
At this time, address pulses of voltage Va are selectively applied to address electrodes Aj between address electrodes A1 to Am, corresponding to cells which conduct sustaining discharge, i.e., cells to be lighted. Then discharges occur between the address electrodes Aj of the cells to be lighted and the line-sequentially selected scan electrodes Y. Using these discharges as priming, other discharges occur immediately between the common electrodes X and the scan electrodes Y. As a result, wall discharges needed for next sustaining discharges are stored in the MgO protective film above the common electrodes X and the scan electrodes Y of the selected cells.
Next, during the sustain discharge period, on the common electrode X side, the switches SW1 and SW3 are turned on first, while the other switches SW2 and SW4 to SW6 are turned off. The voltage of the first signal line OUTA becomes (+Vs/2), and the voltage of the second signal line OUTB becomes ground level. The transistor Tr1 in the power recovery circuit 21 is turned on to conduct L-C resonance between the coil L1 and the load 20, and then the electric charge stored in the capacitor C2 is supplied to the load 20 through the transistor Tr1, the diode D2, and the coil L1.
An electric current which is supplied from the capacitor C2 to the common electrode X through the switch SW3 on the common electrode X side is further supplied to the GND of the scan electrode Y side through a diode in the scan driver 22, the diode D6, a third signal line OUTA′, and the switch SW2′ by turning on the switch SW2′. This electric current flow causes the voltage of the common electrode X to increase gradually as shown in FIG. 25. At around a peak voltage which occurs during this resonance, the SW4 is turned on to clamp the voltage of the common electrode X on the voltage (Vs/2).
On the scan electrode Y side, the transistor Tr3 in the power recovery circuit 21′ is turned on. Then L-C resonance occurs between the coil L3 and the load 20, so that an electric current, which is supplied from the switch SW3 and the capacitor C1 to the electrode X through the first signal line OUTA and the switch SW4 on the common electrode X side, is supplied to the GND of the scan electrode Y side through the diode in the scan driver 22, the diode D4 in the power recovery circuit 21′, and further through the transistor Tr3, the capacitor C3, the capacitor C4, and the switch SW2′. This electric current flow causes the voltage of the scan electrode Y to decrease gradually as shown in FIG. 25. At this time, a part of the electric charge is recovered in the capacitor C3. At around a peak voltage which occurs during this resonance, the switch SW5′ is turned on to clamp the voltage of the scan electrode Y on the voltage (−Vs/2).
Similarly, when the applied voltage (−Vs/2) of the common electrode X and the scan electrode Y are increased to the ground level (0(zero) V), the applied voltage is increased gradually by supplying the electric charges recovered in the capacitor C2 and C3 in the power recovery circuit 21 and 21′.
On the other hand, when the applied voltage (Vs/2) of the common electrode X and the scan electrode Y are decreased to the ground level (0(zero) V), the applied voltage is decreased gradually by supplying the electric charge stored in the load 20 to the GND, and a part of the electric charge is recovered to each capacitor C2, C3 in the power recovery circuit 21 and 21′.
As described above, during the sustain discharge period, the sustaining discharge is conducted by alternatively applying the voltages with different polarity (+Vs/2, −Vs/2) to the common electrode X and the scan electrode Y of each display line, in order to display one sub-field of a picture.
Additionally, in the driving circuit of the AC-PDP device, the drive control circuit 31 which is configured by logic circuits, etc., has a reference potential of the GND level. This drive control circuit 31 supplies control signals to output elements, in other words, the switches SW4, SW5, SW4′ SW5′, and transistors Tr1 to Tr4 in the power recovery circuit 21 and 21′, so that they apply the voltages to the common electrode X and the scan electrode Y. However, reference potentials for these output elements will change according to the driving operation. Accordingly, there has been a problem such as, for example, when the drive control circuit 31 generates the control signals and supplies them to the output elements, there is a possibility of a back flow of a voltage variation from the output elements to the drive control circuit 31, thereby impressing a high voltage.
As a solution to solve this problem, conversion of the reference potentials by level shifting the control signals output from the control circuit using a level shift circuit is conceivable. For example, a method of using a predrive circuit between the drive control circuit 31 and the output elements will be explained. This predrive circuit outputs control signals with converted reference potentials to the output elements which apply voltage. In particular, this predrive circuit level shifts the reference potentials of the control signals according to the reference potentials of the output elements (−Vs/2 to Vs/2), thereby outputting these level-shifted control signals to the output elements.
FIG. 26 is a diagram showing an example of the predrive circuit which corresponds to a variation of the reference potential of the output elements side. This predrive circuit P1 shown in FIG. 26 is an integrated circuit (semiconductor circuit) which will be inserted between the drive control circuit 31 and the switch SW4 as an output element shown in FIG. 24. In FIG. 26, an amplification/level shift circuit P10 level shifts and amplifies a reference potential (GND) of a control signal CLT1 which is output from the drive control circuit 31 to the reference potential of the output elements side (−Vs/2 to Vs/2). The output circuit P11 drives the switch SW4 according to the signal output from the amplification/level shift circuit P10.
An input terminal of the amplification/level shift circuit P10 is connected to an input terminal VIN of the predrive circuit P1, in which the control signal CTL1 is input. A p-type substrate P13 is a semiconductor substrate to which a p-type impurity is added. The substrate P13 is connected to a reference potential terminal K1 of the predrive circuit P1, in which the reference potential (GND) of the control signal CTL1 is input.
The output circuit P11 is also configured by n-channel MOSFETs Tr11 and Tr12, and an inverter circuit INV13 as shown in FIG. 26. The Tr11 is a transistor which is turned on and/or off by control signals output from the amplification/level shift circuit P10, which controls whether or not to output a voltage Vcc supplied from a power supply terminal V1 to the output terminal Vo. The Tr12 is a transistor which is turned on and/or off by the control signals supplied from the amplification/level shift circuit P10 and inverted by the INV13, which controls whether or not to output a reference potential (−Vs/2 to Vs/2) supplied from a reference potential terminal K2.
A parasitic diode 12 visually represents a parasitic diode which is generated at a pn junction point formed by a part of the substrate P13 and a part of the Tr12. Through the parasitic diode 12, the substrate P13 is connected to the reference potential terminal K2 to which the reference potential (−Vs/2) of the control signal output from the predrive circuit P1 is applied. An anode terminal of the parasitic diode is connected to the substrate P13.
However, in the driving circuit of the AC-PDP device, the drive control circuit 31 which is configured by logic circuits, etc., has a reference potential of the GND level. This drive control circuit 31 supplies control signals to output elements, in other words, the switches SW4, SW5, SW4′ SW5′, and the transistors Tr1 to Tr4 in the power recovery circuit 21 and 21′, so that they apply the voltages to the common electrode X and the scan electrode Y. However, reference potentials for these output elements will change according to the driving operation. Accordingly, for example, when the drive control circuit 31 generates the control signals and supplies them to the output elements, there is a possibility of a back flow of a voltage variation from the output elements to the drive control circuit 31, thereby impressing a high voltage.
As a solution to solve this problem, conversion of the reference potentials by level shifting the control signals output from the control circuit using a level shift circuit is conceivable. However, there has been a problem of using generally available level shift circuits. By using these circuits, there is a possibility that the control signals would not be transmitted adequately when the reference potentials generated on the output elements side turn to high voltage.
In addition, as described above, when supplying the control signals generated by the drive control circuit 31 to the output elements, there is a possibility that a high voltage is impressed to the drive control circuit 31 due to the voltage variation of the output elements, so that the control signals would not be stably transmitted to the output elements.
To prevent the high voltage impression to the drive control circuit 31, the above described predrive circuit P1 can generate control signals, based on the control signals having reference potential of 0(zeoro) V, in order to drive the switch SW4 whose reference potential changes from −Vs/2 to Vs/2. However, there has been a problem when the GND is applied to the reference potential terminal K1, and the negative voltage −Vs/2 is applied to the reference potential terminal K2, it is possible that an abnormal current Ip, due to the parasitic diode 12, occurs and disturbs the normal operation of the predrive circuit P1.
The present invention has been made considering the problems described above, and its object is to provide a predrive circuit, a drive circuit, and a display device which are capable of driving the output elements so as to transmit the control signals stably even when the reference potentials generated on the output elements side turn to high voltage.
The present invention has been made considering the problems described above, and its object is to provide a predrive circuit and a display device which are capable of driving the output elements so as to transmit the control signals stably even when the reference potentials generated on the output elements side turn to high voltage.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a predrive circuit and a display device both of which are suitable for an integrated circuit which is capable to operate normally even when the reference potentials generated on the output elements side turn to negative voltages.

Predrive circuit, drive circuit and display device


Isolated and/or purified polypeptides and nucleic acid sequences encoding polypeptides from Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius are provided. Further provided are methods of modulating transcription or transcription or transcriptional control using isolated and/or purified polypeptides and nucleic acid sequences from Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius.

Bacterial DNA codes for information that regulates transcription of genes into mRNA which codes for proteins or enzymes used for control of growth and processing of energy, carbon and other compounds by the cell. Most of these transcriptional regulators/repressors function to turn on and off genes to minimize expenditure of cellular energy in response to their growth environment (i.e., presence of growth substrate, metals, temperature, etc.).


A method of modifying a gene encoding or processed into a non-coding RNA molecule having no RNA silencing activity in a plant cell is disclosed. The method comprising introducing into the plant cell a DNA editing agent conferring a silencing specificity of the non-coding RNA molecule towards a target RNA of interest. A method of modifying a gene encoding or processed into a RNA silencing molecule in a plant cell is also disclosed. The method comprising introducing into the plant cell a DNA editing agent which redirects the silencing specificity of the non-coding RNA molecule towards a target RNA of interest. Plant cells, plant seeds, plants, and methods of generating plants are also disclosed.

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to modifying genes that encode or are processed into non-coding RNA molecules, including RNA silencing molecules and, more particularly, but not exclusively, to the use of same for silencing endogenous or exogenous target gene-expression of interest in plants.
RNA silencing or RNA interference RNAi), the endogenous co- or post-transcriptional genetic regulatory mechanism in which RNA molecules inhibit gene expression or translation, is generally mediated by non-coding RNA molecules including microRNAs (miRNAs), small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), trans-acting siRNA (ta-siRNA), piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNA), antisense RNA, etc. Recently, additional non-coding RNAs have been implicated to harbour a RNA silencing activity including transfer RNA (tRNA), small nuclear RNA (snoRNA), small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA) and repeats-derived RNA. These canonical and non-canonical RNA silencing molecules differ in their substrates, biogenesis, effector proteins and modes of target down regulation.
Moreover, Argonaute proteins, in complex with small RNAs, form the core of the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC), the RNA-interference (RNAi) effector complex. The Argonaute superfamily segregates into two clades, termed Ago and Piwi. Ago proteins (e.g. Ago1 and Ago2) typically complex with miRNAs and siRNAs, while Piwi proteins (e.g. Piwi, Ago3 and Aubergine (Aub)) typically complex with piRNA.
Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are double-stranded RNA molecules of 20-25 nucleotides (nt) in length, which interfere with the expression of specific genes with complementary nucleotide sequences by degrading their transcript during or after transcription resulting in no translation.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small endogenous non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) of 20 to 24 nt in length, originating from long self-complementary precursors. Mature miRNAs regulate gene expression in two ways; (i) by inhibiting translation or (ii) by degrading coding mRNAs by perfect or near-perfect complement with the target transcript. The majority of plant target mRNAs contain a single miRNA-complementary site, which results in the target mRNAs being cleaved and degraded by the RNA silencing molecule and RNA decay machinery.
Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs which are the product of long single stranded precursor molecules, and which are generated without a dicing step. piRNAs are typically 26 to 31 nt in length and are mostly antisense. piRNAs form RNA-protein complexes through interactions with Piwi proteins. Antisense piRNAs are typically loaded into Piwi or Aub.
Transacting siRNA (tasiRNA) are a class of small interfering RNA (siRNA) that repress gene expression through post-transcriptional gene silencing. Their biogenesis is primed by association of miRNAs to tasiRNA precursors, which recruits RNA-dependent RNA-polymerases (RdRp) that synthesize dsRNA from the tasiRNA precursor template. Next, such dsRNA is processed by DICER-LIKE 4 (DCLA) into about 21-nucleotide "phased" intervals mature tasiRNAs.
Recent advances in genome editing techniques have made it possible to alter DNA sequences in living cells. By editing only a few of the billions of nucleotides in the cells of plants, these new techniques might be the most effective way to get crops to grow better in harsh climates (crop performance and abiotic stress) and enhance resistance to biotic stress (insects, viruses, bacteria, beetles, nematodes etc.). There are limited approaches to achieve resistance to pests using genome editing technologies such as CRISPR/Cas9: plant susceptible genes knock-out (such as the well-known MLO genes), by introduction of stop codons, frame shifts, insertions, deletions etc.; or up regulation of resistance genes, like R genes, by modification of regulatory elements like promoters, microRNA binding sites etc. Nevertheless, approaches that target specifically the pathogen are limited to transgenic CRISPR applications.
Previous work on genome editing of RNA molecules in various organisms (e.g. murine, human, shrimp, plants), focused on knocking-out miRNA activity or changing their binding site in target RNAs, for example:
Zhao et al., [Zhao et al., Scientific Reports (2014) 4:3943] provided a miRNA inhibition strategy employing the CRISPR system in murine cells. Zhao used a specifically designed gRNAs to cut a miRNA gene at a single site by Cas9, resulting in knockdown of the miRNA in murine cells.
Jiang et al. [Jiang et al., RNA Biology (2014) 11 (10): 1243-9] used CRISPR/Cas9 to deplete human miR-93 from a cluster by targeting its 5′ region in HeLa cells. Various small indels were induced in the targeted region containing the Drosha processing site (i.e. the position at which Drosha, a double-stranded RNA-specific RNase III enzyme, binds, cleaves and thereby processes primary miRNAs (pri-miRNAs) into pre-miRNA in the nucleus of a host cell) and seed sequences (i.e. the conserved heptametrical sequences which are essential for the binding of the miRNA to mRNA, typically situated at positions 2-7 from the miRNA 5′-end). According to Jiang et al. even a single nucleotide deletion led to complete knockout of the target miRNA with high specificity.
With regard to plant genome editing, Bortesi and Fischer [Bortesi and Fischer, Biotechnology Advances (2015) 33: 41-52] discussed the use of CRISPR-Cas9 technology in plants compared to ZFNs and TALENs, and Basak and Nithin [Basak and Nithin, Front Plant Sci, (2015) 6: 1001] demonstrated the use of CRISPR-Cas9 technology for knockdown of protein-coding genes in model plants such as Arabidopsis and tobacco and crops like wheat, maize, and rice.
In addition to disruption of miRNA activity or target binding sites, gene silencing using artificial microRNAs (amiRNAs)-mediated gene silencing of endogenous and exogenous target genes were used [Tiwari et al. Plant Mol Biol (2014) 86: 1]. Similar to microRNAs, amiRNAs are single-stranded, approximately 21 nt long, and designed by replacing the mature miRNA sequences of duplex within pre-miRNAs [Tiwari et al. (2014) supra]. These amiRNAs are introduced as a transgene within an artificial expression cassette (including a promoter, ten etc.) [Carbonell et al., Plant Physiology (2014) pp. 113.234989], are processed via small RNA biogenesis and silencing machinery and downregulate target expression. According to Schwab et al. [Schwab et al. The Plant cell (2006) Vol. 18, 1121-1133], amiRNAs are active when expressed under tissue-specific or inducible promoters and can be used for specific gene silencing in plants, especially when several related, but not identical, target genes need to be downregulated.
Senis et al. [Senis et al., Nucleic Acids Research (2017) Vol. 45(1): e3] disclose engineering of a promoterless anti-viral amiRNA into an endogenous miRNA locus. Specifically, Senis et al. insert a amiRNA precursor transgene (hairpin pri-amiRNA) adjacent to a naturally occurring miRNA gene (e.g. miR122) by homology-directed. DNA recombination that is induced by sequence-specific nuclease such as Cas9 or TALEN. This approach uses promoter- and terminator-free amiRNAs by utilizing transcriptionally active DNA that expresses natural miRNA (miR122), that is, the endogenous promoter and terminator drove and regulated the transcription of the inserted amiRNA transgene.
Various DNA-free methods of introducing RNA and/or proteins into cells have been previously described. For example, RNA transfection using electroporation and lipofection has been described in U.S. Patent Application No. 20160289675. Direct delivery of Cas9/gRNA ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes to cells by microinjection of Cas9 protein and gRNA complexes was described by Cho [Cho et al., "Heritable gene knockout in Caenorhabditis elegans by direct injection of Cas9-sgRNA ribonucleoproteins," Genetics (2013) 195:1177-1180]. Delivery of Cas9 protein/gRNA complexes via electroporation was described by Kim [Kim et al., "Highly efficient RNA-guided genome editing in human cells via delivery of purified Cas9 ribonucleoproteins" Genome Res. (2014) 24:1012-1019]. Delivery of Cas9 protein-associated gRNA complexes via liposomes was reported by Zuris [Zuris et al., "Cationic lipid-mediated delivery of proteins enables efficient protein-based genome editing in vitro and in vivo" Nat Biotechnol. (2014) doi: 10.1038/nbt.3081].

Modifying the specificity of plant non-coding RNA molecules for silencing gene expression


Improved one-part concentrated color developing replenishers and methods of preparation thereof comprising a photographically inert single ring heterocyclic amide. The replenisher concentrates are packaged in a single unit which upon dilution provides ready-to-use replenishing solutions for photographic materials. The concentrated replenishers are characterized by a one-part multi-phase concentrate wherein developing agents are retained in an upper phase and protected from deterioration which normally occurs in the highly alkaline lower phase.

In the processing of color film or prints the maintenance of developer activity is necessary for uniform development. In recent years, it has become the practice to introduce a replenishing solution to the developing solution in order to replace depleted chemicals of the processing solution and the solution carried away. Unless this is done there will be a build-up of reaction by-products formed as development progresses. Also, the concentration of reaction by-products may in time exceed the concentration of developing agent. As the reaction by-products increase the probability of the developer agent being absorbed by the silver halide grain decreases, and the likelihood of uneven development increases. Hence, replenishment requires restoration of developing agents, preservatives and usually alkali, since their concentrations fall during the developing process.
A wide range of photographic replenishers are known in both ready-to-use solutions and compounded forms. The compounded forms include liquid concentrates, which have only to be diluted with water to obtain a working strength solution, and powder types which have to be dissolved in solution. Both the ready-to-use and compounded forms present some individual problems ranging from difficulty of uniform mixing of components in the compounded forms to the high cost of shipping the extra weight of water volume in a ready-to-use solution.
The ready-to-use replenishing solutions are convenient for the user, but their large size makes shipping more expensive, and the containers take up valuable storage space. To overcome these disadvantages, there has been a trend to reduce the size of the packaging, and thus, subsequently providing a savings on shipping costs. One way to achieve this goal is to make either an all-powder or a liquid concentrate replenishing composition.
Typically, powder mixes are dissolved and brought to working strength with the addition of water. However, powdered replenishing compositions can be difficult to dissolve, especially if caking of the powder components occurs. Furthermore, powder mixes contain many substances which react with each other by an oxidation-reduction reaction necessitating the packaging of the components separately. The mixing of the components must be deferred until the time a working solution is actually used.
Liquid concentrates are an alternative to the powder mixes, but the increased water volume makes them more expensive to ship, handle and store than the powder mixes. While a higher degree of concentration will reduce some of the volume of liquid it also presents several additional problems. Because of the high dilution required to obtain working strength solutions, the concentrates usually contain maximum levels of photographic processing ingredients. However, because most developing agents are less soluble in a solution with a high pH than in a solution with a neutral pH it can be difficult to increase the concentration of the included developing agent without compounds coming out of solution.
It is no less significant that with concentrated liquid replenishers there is a marked deterioration of developing agents. This is due to a number of reasons including: high alkalinity of most replenishing solutions, decomposition of sulfites in the replenishing composition to sulfur dioxide with the subsequent degradation of the developing agent and possible hydrolysis of the oxidation product of some developing agents. Heretofore, to overcome the forgoing problems, replenishers have been packaged and shipped as multi-part liquid systems, packaging incompatible ingredients into separate containers to protect the developing agent, for example, from deterioration. The separate parts are mixed together immediately prior to being used. Of course, this method may protect the developing agents, but also raises the level of possible mishaps in the preparation regime, lack of convenience, additional needs for storage space and increased shipping costs.
Accordingly, there is a need for improved one-part liquid concentrated replenishers which can be shipped economically, require minimal storage space, eliminate the need for mixing several different components, provide for high concentrations of developing agents, and prevent deterioration of developing agents in the concentrate.

Photographic color developer replenishing concentrates


An information handling system (“IHS”) includes a processor and a memory device for storing instructions processable by the processor for causing the IHS to determine whether configuration of a basic input output system (“BIOS”) has been modified. The instructions are also processable by the processor for causing the IHS to, in response to determining that the configuration has been modified, determine whether a previously stored configuration is likely a valid configuration. Moreover, the instructions are processable by the processor for causing the IHS to, in response to determining that the previously stored configuration is likely a valid configuration, store the configuration that has been modified in a new location of a storage device. Furthermore, the instructions are processable by the processor for causing the IHS to, in response to determining that the previously stored configuration is likely not a valid configuration, store the configuration that has been modified in a location of the storage device that stores the previously stored configuration.

The description herein relates generally to information handling systems ("IHSs") and more particularly to an IHS that stores basic input output system ("BIOS") configurations.
As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option is an information handling system ("IHS"). An IHS generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements may vary between different applications, IHSs may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in IHSs allow for IHSs to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, IHSs may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.
An IHS executes one or more instructions (e.g., instructions included in a software program) for performing its operations. For example, an IHS executes a basic input output system ("BIOS") in response to a boot event so that the IHS is capable of controlling its various devices such as an input device (e.g., a keyboard) and a storage device (e.g., a disk drive). A BIOS is configurable, and various configurations (e.g., settings) associated with the BIOS include information associated with devices included in an IHS. For example, a BIOS includes user modifiable configuration (e.g., configuration parameters) associated with devices such as a disk drive, a disk drive controller, and a processor.
A BIOS may cause various problems such as problems associated with the BIOS having an invalid (i.e., non-working) configuration. An invalid BIOS configuration may cause an IHS to become inoperable (e.g., the IHS will not "boot") or otherwise reduce such IHS′ operability.
What is needed is a method and an IHS for storing BIOS configurations, without the disadvantages discussed above.

Information handling system for storing basic input output system configurations


Methods, systems, and apparatuses for improved speech recognition and transcription of user utterances are described herein. User utterances may be processed by a speech recognition computing device as well as an acoustic model. The acoustic model may be trained using historical user utterance data and machine learning techniques. The acoustic model may be used to determine whether a transcription determined by the speech recognition computing device should be overridden with an updated transcription.

Automatic speech recognition ("ASR") engines use many technologies to determine transcriptions of user utterances (e.g., spoken words and phrases). These technologies include acoustic analysis, natural language processing, artificial intelligence, and so forth. Many ASR engines are designed to be generally applicable for all types of speech transcription without considering common error cases (e.g., incorrectly transcribed words or phrases). Other ASR engines maintain an override list of words or phrases for common error cases. The override list may be used by the ASR engine to override an incorrectly transcribed word or phrase with an alternative word or phrase corresponding to the incorrectly transcribed word or phrase within the override list (e.g., override "pause" to "pose"). Such an override list may be problematic, since it only presents a binary choice (e.g., override or do not override), and it is not tailored using historical user utterance data. These and other considerations are described herein.

Methods, systems and apparatuses for improved speech recognition and transcription


A new cultivar of hybrid Heuchera named ‘Van Gogh’, that is characterized by its compact plant habit with small leaves, its leaves that are yellow-green in color with red veins, its abundance of flowering stems extending straight up from the basal rosettes, and its deep pink flowers on dark red flowering stems.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Heuchera of hybrid origin, botanically known as a Heuchera and is hereinafter referred to by its cultivar name 'Van Gogh'.
The new cultivar was discovered as a chance seedling in a trial field by the Inventor in Hantay, France in April of 2011. The trial field contained hundreds of cultivars and proprietary seedlings of Heuchera from the Inventor's breeding program. The exact parentage of 'Van Gogh' is therefore unknown.
Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished under the direction of the Inventor by in vitro propagation initiated from meristem tissue in Rijswijk, The Netherlands in June of 2012. Asexual propagation of the new cultivar by in vitro propagation has determined that the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.


A sound pickup apparatus includes a plurality of microphones, and a controller that receives signals from the plurality of microphones. When the controller detects a failure in one of the plurality of microphones based on the signals received from the plurality of microphones, the controller restricts a signal from at least one remaining non-failure microphone.

The present invention relates to a sound pickup apparatus for picking up a user's voice and a conference telephone equipped with the sound pickup apparatus, to enable establishment of a voice conference between remote locations.
A recently-developed sound pickup apparatus of microphone array type has a plurality of microphones and obtains a desired directivity pattern by subjecting signals output from the microphones to digital signal processing, and is built in various products.
A problem of such a microphone array is that it breaks down with a higher probability when compared with a sound pickup apparatus equipped with single microphone. JP-A-2002-159086 has been proposed as a countermeasure to the problem.
A summary of JP-A-2002-159086 will be described by reference to FIG. 19. The sound pickup apparatus has microphone units 12a to 12d. A failure diagnosis processing section 13 individually diagnoses a failure in each of the microphone units 12a to 12d. In accordance with a signal output from the failure diagnosis processing section 13, a normal microphone selection processing section 14 outputs only sound signals detected by the microphone units 12a to 12d that have been diagnosed as being normal. Subsequently, the voice signals are delayed by delay processing sections 15a to 15d, and the thus-delayed signals are output after having undergone delay-and-sum processing performed by an addition processing section 16. Thereby, a processed, noise-eliminated signal is output from the addition processing section 16. From the above, the sound pickup apparatus is configured so as to stably operate as a sound detector.
In the meantime, a conference telephone is mentioned as an example product equipped with a sound pickup apparatus. As in JP-A-3-293846, a typical example product is a conference telephone includes a microphone that converts audible sound into an electric signal, a loud speaker that converts the electric signal into audible sound, and a sound communications network that electrically connects the microphone and the loud speaker to a telephone line. The microphone has a directivity pattern in which a sensitivity of a sound emitted from at least one direction is greater than that of sounds emitted from the other directions. The reason why the sound pickup apparatus built in the conference telephone is imparted with such a directivity pattern is to reduce an acoustic echo which will be caused as a result of received voice reproduced by a speaker re-entering the microphone and being transmitted to a party on the other end. The acoustic echo itself is unpleasant and impairs call quality. In addition, when the acoustic echo is extremely large, howling may occur, to thus disable the call.
However, when a conference telephone is equipped with a microphone array for the purpose of reducing the acoustic echo, individually disconnecting a signal output from a broken microphone under the technique described in JP-A-2002-159086 may lead to output of an insufficiently-canceled signal component of the acoustic echo, which may in turn result in an increase in the acoustic echo.

Sound pickup apparatus and conference telephone


A display order deciding unit decides the display order upon displaying a telephone directory on the basis of setting if the telephone directory is displayed in the display order in response to a usage frequency or in the alphabetical order by a learning function setting unit, the information about the number of callings stored in a count storing unit, setting of the display mode of the telephone directory (by a day of the week) by a display mode selecting unit, and the information of a day of the week that is recognized by a day recognizing unit, and manages it in a display order managing unit. Upon displaying the telephone directory, an information display unit displays the information that is managed by the display order managing unit.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a portable information terminal device such as a portable telephone, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) or the like and a telephone directory display method used by the device.
(2) Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, in a portable information terminal such as a portable telephone terminal or the like, the telephone directory is displayed in the alphabetical order, in the memory number order, in the dial order, and in the order in response to a usage frequency of the telecommunication (the number of calling and the number of called).
In recent years, a capacity of a storage device provided to the above-described portable information terminal has been increased, and some amounts of the information can be held in a telephone directory for accumulating a telephone number of a candidate of the party of the telecommunication and the other information. Thus, since the information held in the telephone directory becomes huge, when a user wants to display the information with respect to a specific party of the telecommunication in accordance to needs, there is a problem such that the handling operation for displaying the target information becomes complicated. In order to solve such a problem, various propositions are made.
In a technology that has been already proposed, simplification of a retrieving procedure is intended by automatically rearranging telephone numbers in an electronic telephone directory depending on a set condition of the electronic telephone directory such as a day of the week and a period of time when calling up the electronic telephone directory so as to call up the electronic telephone directory in the order of priorities along the user's desires (JP-A-2000-358094).
In addition, it is also proposed that, arranging the information held in the electronic telephone directory according to a mode that has been registered in advance, the arranged information is displayed in a set mode (JP-A-2002-125036).
Further, a portable information terminal device capable of setting a priority of the address information display in units of a day of the week is also proposed (JP-A-2002-300263).
Further, it is proposed that the electronic telephone directory recognizes the clock information by itself and in accordance to all of the year, the month, the day, the day of the week, the hour, and the minute, or any combination thereof, the data of the electronic telephone directory can be rearranged (JP-A-2002-354105).
However, if details are set and the information can be arranged in order to immediately display the information that accords with the desire of a user (an operator) as much as possible, this results in the complicated handling of a preparatory stage for this. On the other hand, if this operation is drastically simplified, the user should scroll a display screen in many times till the desired information is displayed. Therefore, according to the prior art, there are some difficulties to secure appropriate convenience.

Portable information terminal device and telephone directory display method used by the device


The server based graphics processing techniques, describer herein, include loading a given instance of a guest shim layer and loading a given instance of a guest display device interface that calls back into the given instance of the guest shim layer, in response to loading the given instance of the guest shim layer, wherein the guest shim layer and the guest display device interface are executing under control of a virtual machine guest operating system. The given instance of the shim layer requests a communication channel between the given instance of the guest shim layer and a host-guest communication manager (D3D HGCM) service module from a host-guest communication manager (HGCM). In response to the request for the communication channel loading, the D3D HGCM service module is loaded and a communication channel between the given instance of the shim layer and the D3D HGCM service module is created by the HGCM. The given instance of the shim layer maps the graphics buffer memory space of a host D3D DDI binary executing under control of a host operating system. Thereafter, function calls are sent from the given instance of the guest shim layer through the communication channel to the D3D HGCM service module utilizing the graphics buffer memory space mapping.

Computing systems have made significant contributions toward the advancement of modern society and are utilized in a number of applications to achieve advantageous results. Numerous devices, such as desktop personal computers (PCs), laptop PCs, tablet PCs, netbooks, smart phones, servers, and the like have facilitated increased productivity and reduced costs in communicating and analyzing data, increased consumption of electronic content, and the like in most areas of entertainment, education, business, and science. Developing aspects of computing systems include client-server computing platforms, virtual machine computing platforms, and cloud computing platforms, and graphics processing thereon.
For graphics intensive applications, such as multiplayer online computer games, the Windows® operating system runs each instance of the application in full screen mode. The full screen mode is an exclusive mode such that another instance of the running application cannot output display frames because the first instance is running full screen. Therefore, even on a server with multiple graphics processing units, multiple instances of an application cannot be run at the same time because the fast application will be running in full screen mode. Similarly, even on virtual machine implementations, the first application running on a guest operating system will run full screen and prevent other applications running on other guest devices from outputting display frames. However, with the proliferation of multi processor and/or multi core CPU and/or GPU server devices it would be beneficial to be able to run multiple graphics intensive applications or instances of the same application. Accordingly, there is a continued need for improved graphics processing techniques on client-server computing platforms, virtual machine computing platforms, and cloud computing platforms.

Memory space mapping techniques for server based graphics processing