An objective of the present invention is to provide a phosphorous-containing siliceous material having a specific permittivity of not more than 3.5. The phosphorus-containing silazane composition according to the present invention is characterized by comprising a polyalkylsilazane and at least one phosphorus compound in an organic solvent. A phosphorus-containing siliceous film may be formed by coating the composition onto a substrate to form a film which is then prebaked at a temperature of 50 to 300° C. and is then baked in an inert atmosphere at a temperature of 300 to 700° C. The phosphorus compound according to the present invention is preferably a pentavalent phosphoric ester or phosphazene compound.

The fabrication of electronic devices such as semiconductor devices involves the step of forming an insulating film called PMDs (premetal dielectrics) between transistor elements and bit lines, between transistor elements and capacitors, between bit lines and capacitors, or between capacitors and metallic wirings, the step of forming an insulating film called IMDs (intermetal dielectrics) between metallic wirings, or the step of embedding of isolation grooves. Siliceous materials are generally used in the formation or embedding of the insulating film. Methods for insulating film formation include CVD methods, sol-gel methods, and siloxane polymer solution coating methods.
An increase in integration density of electronic devices has led to an increasing tendency toward an increase in fineness of grooves on a substrate. For example, when fine grooves having a groove width of not more than 0.2 μm and a ratio of depth to width (hereinafter referred to also as "aspect ratio") of not less than 2 are embedded with a siliceous material by high-density plasma CVD which can form a good film quality at a relatively low temperature, due to conformal properties inherent in CVD, disadvantageously, voids are likely to be formed within the fine grooves. In order to avoid this unfavorable phenomenon, film formation by high-density plasma CVD and opening by etching should be repeated to form a void-free film. In this method, however, damage to the substrate is unavoidable such as a change in groove shape and material properties by high-density plasma atmosphere. Another method for insulating film formation is such that CVD is carried out under conditions of relatively high temperature and conventional plasma density and, if necessary, baking is carried out at a high temperature. This method, however, cannot meet a demand for a lowering in temperature of the process.
A method for solving such problems inherent in CVD is a sol-gel method or a siloxane polymer solution coating method in which a substrate having fine grooves is coated with a sol-gel liquid or a siloxane polymer solution, and the coating is dried to embed the fine grooves and is then heated for conversion to a siliceous material. In this method, for example, the solution of these materials generally has high viscosity, and, further, a dehydration-dealcohol reaction involved in silica conversion is indispensable. These make it difficult to fully embed the fine grooves with the solution and to embed the fine grooves in such a manner that the density is uniform from the film surface toward the bottom of the fine grooves.
In order to evenly embed the fine grooves, patent document 1 proposes a method in which a perhydropolysilazane solution having a weight average molecular weight of 3000 to 20000 in terms of polystyrene is coated onto a substrate having fine grooves, the coating is dried to embed the fine grooves with the perhydropolysilazane, and the perhydropolysilazane is then heated in a water vapor-containing atmosphere to convert the perhydropolysilazane to a siliceous material which has uniform density from the film surface toward the bottom of the fine grooves.
On the other hand, for the above-described PMDs and IMDs, an increase in speed of the electronic device and an increase in integration density have led to a demand for further lowered permittivity of the material. In particular, a permittivity of not more than 3.5 for PMD applications and a permittivity of not more than 2.5 for IMD applications are desired. The reason for this is that, for phosphoric acid-containing silica (PSG) or boric acid-phosphoric acid-containing silica (BPSG) PMDs formed by CVD, the permittivity is generally not less than 4.2 and in some cases not less than 5. In the perhydropolysilazane-derived siliceous film described in patent document 1, the permittivity is around 4, that is, a permittivity value of inorganic siliceous materials, and a low permittivity desired for PMD or IMD applications cannot be achieved.
Further, as described in nonpatent document 1, in PMDs, the presence of mobile ions, particularly Na+ and K+, even when the amount thereof is very small, results in unstable electrical characteristics and reliability. A conventional method for overcoming this drawback is to incorporate phosphoric acid for electrically trapping mobile ions. In general, however, the addition of phosphoric acid (pentavalent) to an inorganic polysilazane has a fear of producing monosilane (SiH4) which causes firing. For this reason, in the method described in patent document 1, phosphoric acid (pentavalent) cannot be added to the perhydropolysilazane. Even when phosphoric acid can be added safely, since phosphoric acid is highly hygroscopic, it has been generally considered that the addition of phosphoric acid is disadvantageous for lowering the permittivity. Doping of phosphorus after conversion to a siliceous film through the utilization of an ion implantation method as described in patent document 3 and patent document 4 is also considered. In this method, however, doping cannot be uniformly carried out over the whole siliceous film. Further, in this method, an additional process is necessary after film formation. This is disadvantageous in throughput.
Patent document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 308090/2000
Patent document 2: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 75982/2002
Patent document 3: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 319927/2001
Patent document 4: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 367980/2002
Nonpatent document 1: Tokuyama, "Erekutoronikusu Gijutsu Zensho (Complete Collection of Electronic Technology) [3] MOS devices" 5th edition, Kogyo Chosakai Publishing Co., Ltd., Aug. 10, 1979, pp 59-64

Phosphorus-containing silazane composition, phosphorus-containing siliceous film, phosphorus-containing siliceous filler, method for producing phosphorus-containing siliceous film, and semiconductor device


The present invention relates to methods for preparing a dough, comprising incorporating into the dough a composition comprising an effective amount of one or more lactonohydrolases which improve one or more properties of the dough or a baked product obtained from the dough. The present invention also relates to methods for preparing a baked product. The present invention also relates to compositions comprising an effective amount of one or more lactonohydrolases for improving one or more properties of a dough and/or a baked product obtained from the dough. The present invention further relates to doughs or baked products and to pre-mixes for a dough.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to methods for preparing a dough and/or baked product with a lactonohydrolase.
2. Description of the Related Art
The strength of a dough is an important aspect of baking for both small-scale and large-scale applications. A strong dough has a greater tolerance for mixing time, proofing time, and mechanical vibrations during dough transport, whereas a weak dough is less tolerant to these treatments. A strong dough with superior rheological and handling properties results from flour containing a strong gluten network. Flour with a low protein content or a poor gluten quality results in a weak dough.
Dough xe2x80x9cconditionersxe2x80x9d are well known in the baking industry. The addition of conditioners to bread dough has resulted in improved machinability of the dough and improved texture, volume, flavor, and freshness (anti-staling) of the bread. Nonspecific oxidants, such as iodates, peroxides, ascorbic acid, potassium bromate and azodicarbonamide have a gluten strengthening effect. It has been suggested that these conditioners induce the formation of interprotein bonds which strengthen the gluten, and thereby the dough. However, the use of several of the currently available chemical oxidizing agents has been met with consumer resistance or is not permitted by regulatory agencies.
The use of enzymes as dough conditioners has been considered as an alternative to the chemical conditioners. A number of enzymes have been used recently as dough and/or bread improving agents, in particular, enzymes that act on components present in large amounts in the dough. Examples of such enzymes are found within the groups of amylases, proteases, glucose oxidases, and (hemi)cellulases, including pentosanases.
Lactonohydrolases reversibly catalyze the hydrolysis of lactone compounds to hydroxy acids, i.e., they mediate the interconversion between the lactone and acid forms of hydroxy carboxylic acids.
Shimizu et al. (1992, European Journal of Biochemistry 209: 383-390) have disclosed a lactonohydrolase obtained from Fusarium oxysporum. This enzyme preparation stereospecifically hydrolyzes aldonate lactones such as D-galactono-xcex3-lactone and D-glucono-xcex4-lactone. In addition, the Fusarium oxysporum lactonohydrolase catalyzes the asymmetric hydrolysis of D-pantoyl lactone, which can be used as a chiral building block for the synthesis of D-pantothenate (Shimazu and Kataoka, 1996, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 799:650-658; Kataoka et al., 1995, Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 44: 333-338; Kataoka et al., 1996, Enzyme Microb. Technol. 19: 307-310). Furthermore, lactonohydrolase irreversibly hydrolyzes a number of aromatic lactones, such as dihydrocoumarin and homogentisic-acid lactone.
The cloning and expression of a Fusarium oxysporum lactonohydrolase gene has been disclosed (WO 97/10341).
It is the object of the present invention to improve the properties of dough and/or baked products by the use of a lactonohydrolase.
The present invention relates to methods for preparing a dough, comprising incorporating into the dough an effective amount of one or more lactonohydrolases.
The present invention also relates to methods for preparing a baked product.
The present invention also relates to compositions comprising an effective amount of one or more lactonohydrolases, for improving one or more properties of a dough and/or a baked product obtained from the dough, and a carrier and/or a baking ingredient.
The present invention also relates to doughs or baked products.
The present invention further relates to pre-mixes for a dough comprising an effective amount of one or more lactonohydrolases, for improving one or more properties of a dough and/or a baked product obtained from the dough, and a carrier and/or a baking ingredient.

Methods for using lactonohydrolases in baking


A method and mobile device (UE) for enabling services in multi-RAT networks which support at least HSPA and LTE, comprising: identifying an initial radio technology on which a UE requesting service is camped, within a current cell; determining an indication of coverage of another radio technology available on the current cell which provides higher speed access than the initial one; deciding carrying the service, either through the initial radio technology or the other one of higher speed access, according to the previous indication. The indication of coverage can be based on any of the following criteria or a combination of them is met: 1) Terminal is camped on a HSDPA capable or LTE capable cell, 2) HSDPA signal strength is higher than a threshold, 3) LTE signal strength is higher than a threshold, 4) Measurements on the Peak Rate of the UE in a past time and in a location.

In UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) cell reselection, a user equipment (UE) typically stays in the 3G radio access technology as long as there is coverage. Only when the 3G coverage vanishes, does a User Equipment (UE) camp on the 2G radio access technology (GSM or GPRS). This means that a subscriber using a 3G phone will camp on 3G unless 3G coverage vanishes. Because cell reselection policies favour camping on the "newest" (i.e. implemented most recently) radio access technology, this causes camping loading and traffic loading tend to be accumulated in the newest Radio Technology.
With the introduction of 4th Generation (4G) radio technology, the mobile networks have to handle the co-existence of different Radio Technologies such as UMTS-UTRAN (Universal Mobile Telecommunication System-Radio Access Network), Higher Speed Packet Access technologies (HSPA, HSPA+, etc.) implemented in UMTS and Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology, among others, in addition to the existing 2G technologies: the coverage from each of these technologies may substantially overlap.
The multi-RAT mobile network operators have to select the most suitable RAT (Radio Access Technology) for delivering services to any given subscriber at any given time, taking account of such issues as whether the subscriber's mobile terminal or User Equipment (UE) is in the idle state or in a connected mode.
Therefore, a Mobile Network Operator (MNO) may decide to direct the subscriber first to 3G, even if the LTE coverage is good enough, for several reasons (e.g. CS call setup time, efficiency in resource management, network stability); when it does so, each UE is initially connected to 3G radio access. As a consequence, the UE supporting 3G and LTE shows a 3G indication in the display of the terminal. From the user's point of view, this displayed 3G indicator could lead to the impression that the LTE network is deficient or that the terminal is not capable of connecting to LTE. From the point of view of service provisioning, once the decision of connection to 3G, instead of 4G, is taken by the MNO, the UE cannot be aware of the 4G coverage and, hence, certain services such as those requiring high-speed access can be affected negatively. There can be scenarios in which the initial selected radio technology, which the UE is camped on, is not the optimal one for carrying the service.
Today it is possible to implement (in the display of the UE) an indication of the current radio technology (2G, 3G) upon which the UE is camped and whether this technology is able to offer GPRS and/or HSPA. This current capability of the UE is pretty obvious as the UE is already attached to the technology displayed. However, it is not possible to obtain information in one RAT about the signal or presence of other RATs, in order to receive indication and display it in the UE.
There is therefore a need to optimise service provision, especially provisioning of high-speed communication services, in wireless networks where multiple radio technologies (2G, 3G, 4G, . . . ) provide overlapping coverage to different subscribers, each technology providing their own coverage and Quality of Service (QoS) and subscribers having mobile terminals (User Equipments) which are capable of supporting every technology.

Method and device for enabling high-speed communication services in multi-technology wireless network


A portable flow meter for measuring the flush volume of a toilet by measuring the volume of water passing through the siphon of the toilet, and for measuring fluid flow through toilet openings of varying sizes. The flow meter has a flow tube with a fluid passageway provided therethrough, and a resilient compressible gasket is mounted on the flow tube to prevent fluid from circumventing the fluid passageway. A rotor is disposed within the fluid passageway for rotation by fluid passing therethrough, and means are provided for counting the rotations of the rotor and generating an output representative of the volume or flow rate of fluid passing through the fluid passageway. A handle extends upwardly from the flow tube, and a digital display is provided on the handle for displaying the output.

The invention relates to fluid flow meters and more particularly to portable flow meters that can be used to determine the volume of fluid passing through an opening with unknown dimensions, such as the discharge opening which leads to the siphon of an installed toilet bowl.
As a result of increasing conservational awareness and rising water costs, the efficiency of toilets has become of greater concern in recent years. This has resulted in various water saving innovations, such as the development of low flow toilets which use a reduced volume of water with each flush. Municipalities and publicly owned water authorities often provide subsidies for landlords and other building owners to replace inefficient high flush volume toilets with low flow toilets. Nonetheless, to date it has been inconvenient to accurately measure the flush volume of existing toilets installed in a building or other site in order to determine whether it was feasible (from the perspectives of the landlord or owner and the subsidizing authority) to replace the existing toilets with low flow toilets. It has also been difficult to accurately determine the flush volume of new toilets.
In the past, in order to determine the flush volume of an installed toilet it has generally been necessary to disconnect the water supply line going to the toilet and install an inline flow meter in the supply line. This procedure is quite time consuming, with the result that only a relatively small number of toilets could be tested during a water consumption audit of a building or site. Furthermore, as the supply line for flush valve toilets commonly found in commercial buildings are typically located behind finished walls and therefor difficult to access (when compared to flush tank toilets), measurement of the flush volume of installed flush valve toilets has heretofore been impractical with conventional measuring devices.
In the past, various flow meter designs have been proposed for a range of purposes. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,700,579 issued Oct. 20, 1987 to Hall discloses a digital flow meter for mounting in a flow delivery line. The meter housing is threaded at opposite ends for coupling to the delivery line. U.S. Pat. No. 3,053,087 issued Sep. 11, 1962 to Waugh also discloses a flow meter threaded at opposite ends for connection to a flow delivery line. Both these flow meters require that the flow delivery line be broken in order for the flow meter to be used, which is inconvenient and time consuming when several tests must be taken at different locations.
It is therefore desirable to provide a portable flow meter which can be efficiently used to measure the flush volume of a toilet by measuring the volume of water passing through the siphon of the toilet. It is also desirable to provide a portable flow meter that can be efficiently used to measure the volume of fluid passing through an opening of unknown diameter.


A cloud based system that constantly monitors the consumption of each medication by an individual, specifies medication regimes and schedules and provides a means of enforcing compliance based on both local and cloud based intelligence. Enforcing compliance to a medication schedule is achieved through complex logic that correlates events from the medication bottles; behavior learned from the individual, individual's schedules and geo-location. The system employs this complex logic per medication and generates a variety of email, phone call, SMS, MMS, voice messages, audio, visual and multimedia cues and alerts to enforce compliance. These same alerts are also used by multiple caregivers, who can further reinforce compliance by the patient via similar types of communications.

A common problem for medical patients and caregivers is monitoring the usage of medications and enforcing compliance for medications regimen and schedules. Timely consumption of the required dosage and types of medication are of critical importance, as evidenced by the fact that failing to take medications at the proper time in the proper dosage leads to 125,000 deaths per year, according to the World Health Organization. Some of the most critical and seemingly simple questions relating to compliance with medication regimens are: (1) did you take your medications today? (2) at the prescribed time? and (3) the prescribed number of times? The responses to these questions are dependent on age, language barriers, socio-economic status, and conditions such as dementia and depression.
While there are scores of medication reminder software applications (apps) and services available, many of them are just glorified alarm clocks and quickly go from utility to annoying, and with random snoozing and cancellations by patients, these solutions are full of false positives and remind you of the boy who cried wolf.
What is needed is an automated and efficient system and method for monitoring the actual usage of medications and for enforcing compliance with medication regimens and schedules.

Methods and systems for cloud based usage monitoring and adaptive enforcement for medications


A sealing arrangement for a pump includes a first member having a peripheral wedge-shaped pocket; a second member with a rim opposed to the pocket; and a diaphragm disposed between the two members. The diaphragm includes a central stem, a disk-shaped head attached to the stem, and an upstanding bead disposed around the periphery of the head. The bead includes a first angled surface and a second angled surface. The bead is received in the pocket so as to form two separate, spaced-apart sealing surfaces between the diaphragm and the first member. The sealing arrangement may also include a gasket made from a resilient material and having a flat web with a circular crosssection bead disposed in a gland between two members. The dimensions of the bead and the gland are selected such that the bead is diametrically compressed at least about 40% from its free state.

This invention relates generally to pumps and more particularly to a diaphragm pump. Diaphragm pumps are assembled with multiple components creating joints that must be sealed in order to insure a leak free condition. Current diaphragm pump sealing technology typically has not produced pumps that are leak free under all conditions.
There are two primary joints that must be considered in evaluating leaks in miniature diaphragm pumps. The first is the seal joint around the perimeter of the diaphragm created when the diaphragm is sandwiched between the pump head, generally an assembly of multiple components, and the pump body. This seal joint is both a seal and a clamping point to secure the diaphragm in place during operation of the pump. Therefore, if a good seal is present but the diaphragm is not properly clamped, a shift in the diaphragm due to the operation of the pump could likely cause a failure in the sealing. The second seal area is that between the components that house the pump valves. This is normally a split in the pump head creating an upper component typically referred to as the "head" and a lower component typically referred to as the "chamber". There are several methods currently used to create a seal at this joint ranging from gaskets that are integrated with the valve(s) to separate gaskets that surround the valve sections of the joint.
Current technologies used for these joints have historically not been successful in maintaining a leak free pump under all conditions the pump may be subjected to. These conditions include higher pressures, extremely viscous fluids, fluids with very low surface tension, and extreme thermal variations, among others. Accordingly, there is a need for a diaphragm pump having robust sealing.


A brake disc/hub assembly is provided consisting of a hub and a brake disc axially displaceable with respect thereto. A sliding sleeve is guided in such a way that it is axially displaceable on the hub and the brake disc is mounted on the sliding sleeve in such a way that it is fixed with respect thereto.

The invention relates to a brake disc/hub assembly wherein the brake disc is displaceable axially relative to the hub.
Disc brakes may be generally divided into two basic types according to the chosen principle of force application: force generation and adjustment for pad wear on both sides of the brake disc: e.g. a hydraulic fixed caliper disc brake with axially fixed brake disc and force generation on both sides of the brake disc; and force generation and adjustment for pad wear on one side of the brake disc and transmission of the actuation force to the opposite side according to the reaction force principle: e.g. a sliding caliper disc brake, hinged caliper disc brake, and fixed caliper disc brake with displaceable brake disc.
Compressed-air-actuated (pneumatic) disc brakes for heavy commercial vehicles with rim diameters of 15 inches and above utilize the reaction force principle mainly because the arrangement of a compressed air actuating cylinder is possible only on the side of the vehicle wheel open towards the interior of the vehicle, owing to the confined installation conditions around the vehicle wheel (the so-called wheel "envelope"). Such designs are disclosed, for example, in DE 36 10 569 A1, DE 37 16 202 A1, EP 0 531 321 A1 (cf, in particular, the design of the adjusters in the manner of rotary drives) and EP 0 688 404 A1.
Sliding or hinged caliper disc brakes require a component fixed to the axle generally called the "carrier" or "torque" plate which carries or guides the brake pads/linings, absorbs the circumferential forces thereof during brake application, and carries the brake caliper, which is mounted in a coaxially displaceable manner with respect to the vehicle axle. The relative movement executed by the brake caliper with respect to the component fixed to the axle can be divided into a working stroke and a wear stroke. The working stroke is executed with each application of the brake to overcome the release clearance of the brake and to compensate for the elasticities of the brake linings and the caliper arising as force is applied. Depending on the amount of the actuation force and the size of the release clearance, the working stroke is usually less than 4 mm.
By contrast, the wear stroke is the wear adjustment travel executed by the caliper over a large number of brake applications in order to compensate for the pad wear on the reaction side of the brake. The wear stroke is composed of the wear on the outside brake lining together with the wear on the outside disc friction surface, and usually is up to 25 mm.
In the case of a brake construction having a fixed caliper and a displaceable disc, by contrast, the working stroke and wear stroke are produced by displacement of the disc. A fixed caliper brake with electromechanical wear adjustment devices on both sides of a brake disc is known, for example, from EP-B-1 230 491 (having U.S. Pat. No. 6,899,204).
With the construction having a displaceable brake disc, a problem arises in trying to keep the brake disc easily slidable on the guide zone of the hub over its full service life. Because of the confined installation conditions and the harsh environmental stresses, effective sealing is hardly achievable.
Against this background, there is therefore needed a displaceable brake disc, which is suitable for use, in particular, with a pneumatically or electromechanically actuated disc brake having a fixed caliper, and which is well protected against seizure as a result of corrosion and the like.
This, and other needs are provided by a brake disc/hub assembly, including a hub and a brake disc axially displaceable relative to the hub. A sliding sleeve on which the brake disc is arranged non-displaceably relative thereto, is guided in an axially displaceable manner on the hub.
According to the invention, the sliding sleeve, on which the brake disc is arranged non-displaceably relative thereto, is guided in an axially displaceable manner on the hub. The sliding sleeve, together with the hub and/or further elements, may be configured so as to be well protected from corrosion, such that seizure of the brake disc caused by corrosion can be avoided in a constructionally simple manner.
It is especially preferred if, corresponding recesses (in particular semi-cylindrical) recesses are distributed around the internal periphery of the sliding sleeve and around the external periphery of the hub, in which recesses intermediate elements for transmitting torque between the hub and the sliding sleeve are distributed. These elements provide good guidance and secure torque transmission between the sliding sleeve and the hub in a constructionally simple manner.
It is especially preferred if the brake disc has internal toothing and the sliding sleeve has corresponding external toothing and/or receptacles to receive the internal toothing to ensure good torque transmission in this region also. In this manner, low thermal stress on the wheel bearing assembly is also achieved, because the brake disc is not connected directly to the hub, but rather only via the toothing and the sliding sleeve. The axial fixing of the brake disc may be effected, for example, by use of relatively small screws or the like on the sliding sleeve. The solution using receptacles for the internal toothing may, in principle, also be implemented directly on a hub and represents an invention in its own right, which can be used to fix a brake disc even without the sliding sleeve, but which is also advantageously used as a development of the sliding sleeve. In this way, excessive loads that might cause fractures can be largely avoided.
The tooth profile may be configured so that the ingress of cooling air into the brake disc is not prevented if the latter has a plurality of friction rings.
It is especially preferred if at least one wiping and cleaning element and/or a rubbing ring and/or a sealing bellows additionally prevent the penetration of dirt into the sliding sleeve.
Further advantageous embodiments are described and claimed herein.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Brake disc/hub assembly with displaceable brake discs

Knorr-Bremse Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH


The present invention provides a compact, low cost integrated continuous wave (CW) laser/electro-absorption (EA) modulator solution that supports the non-return to zero (NRZ) modulation format for long-haul optical transmission that results in high output extinction ratio of an integrated EA modulated laser (EML) and low modulator chirp. The methods and systems of the present invention treat the laser and EA modulator sections of the EML as separate components. An information signal is connected to two separate drivers: a laser driver that drives the laser section and a modulator driver that drives the EA modulator section.

Today, long-haul optical transmission systems typically utilize a continuous wave (CW) laser and a separately mounted lithium-niobate Mach-Zehnder modulator as a transmitter due to the desirable properties of high output extinction ratio of the CW laser and low modulator chirp of the lithium-niobate Mach-Zehnder modulator. Disadvantageously, the use of "separate" components increases board space usage and, therefore, cost. There is currently no adequate compact, low cost integrated CW laser/EA modulator solution that supports the non-return to zero (NRZ) modulation format for long-haul optical transmission. Such integrated CW laser/EA modulator solution that supports the NRZ modulation format for long-haul optical transmission disadvantageously results in low output extinction ratio of the EML and high modulator chirp.
Koch et al. ("Dispersion Compensation by Active Predistorted Signal Synthesis," Journal of Lightwave Technology, Vol. LT-3, No. 4, August 1985) partially address this EML long-haul optical transmission problem, by predistorting a signal to include the inverse function of the fiber transfer function and modulating the laser, as well as the modulator, to remove the dispersion effect from the transmitted signal. Specifically, Koch et al. present a technique for high bit rate time division multiplexed optical transmission utilizing the synthesis of a predistorted signal to compensate for the dispersion effect. By utilizing dispersion as an integral part of the signal processing, bit rates can be achieved in excess of those at which dispersion otherwise prevents optical transmission.
What is still needed, however, is a compact, low cost integrated CW laser/EA modulator solution that supports the NRZ modulation format for long-haul optical transmission that results in high output extinction ratio of the EML and low modulator chirp.

Method and systems for optimizing laser and electro-absorption modulator performance for long-haul optical transmission


An apparatus for centrifuging and furthermore automatically handling a container (10) for separating a component, such as fibrin monomer, from plasma, where the container (10) comprises a cylindrical member (11) with a lower rim as well as a piston member (12) with a tubular piston rod (12) projecting upwardly from the upper end of the cylindrical member (11). The apparatus comprises a supporting turntable (1) with a first gripping member (27) releasably gripping the lower rim of the cylindrical member (11) when the container is placed thereon, the supporting turntable being connected to a first activator (5) for rotating the turntable (1) with the container (10) about the central axis thereof. Furthermore, the apparatus comprises a rotatably journalled piston activating mechanism adapted to activate the piston (12) by way of a second activator (21) and provided with a second gripping member (13) for releasably gripping the piston rod (12). The first gripping member (27) is adapted to automatically enter a locking engagement with the inner side of the cylindrical member (11) independent of the rotating position of the container (10) relative to the supporting turntable (1) and upon activation of a third activator (8) when the container (10) is placed on the supporting turntable (1). The second gripping member (13) is adapted to succeedingly and automatically enter a locking engagement with the piston rod (12) upon activation of a fourth activator (15).

PCT applications WO 96/16715, WO 96/16714 and WO 96/16713 disclose a method and a container for separating a component, such as fibrin 1, from blood, by centrifugation, whereby blood admixed an anticlotter is fed to a first annular chamber in a device, where the annular chamber is defined by a cylindrical outer wall and a cylindrical inner wall, both walls extending coaxially about a common axis, as well as by a top wall and a bottom wall. The top wall is formed by a piston body displaceable within the first chamber. This method involves a centrifugation of the device about the said common axis to substantially separate blood into a cell fraction and a plasma fraction followed by the resulting plasma fraction being transferred while influenced by the piston body to a second chamber defined by an outer cylindrical wall. The outer cylindrical wall extends coaxially with the said common axis, whereby a fraction with fibrin 1 is caused to be separated in the second chamber while a suitable enzyme is being added. The separation of fibrin 1 from the plasma fraction in the second chamber is carried out during continued centrifugation whereby said fibrin 1 is deposited on the cylindrical outer wall of said second chamber, whereafter the fluid fraction collected at the bottom of the second chamber is transferred while influenced by the piston body to the first chamber. The fraction with fibrin 1 deposited on the cylindrical wall in the second chamber is caused to be dissolved by addition of a solvent and by centrifugation, whereafter it is transferred to a receiving container placed within the piston rod by passing after addition of a binder to the enzyme through a filter removing said enzyme, whereby a fibrin-1-containing solution is provided. As the separation of the fraction containing fibrin 1 and the remaining plasma fraction are performed during a continued centrifugation in the device, the fraction containing fibrin 1 is so heavily influenced that said fibrin 1 is efficiently separated from the remaining plasma fraction.
European Application EP 654,699 discloses an apparatus for initiating such a centrifuging. This apparatus comprises a housing which is basically divided into three compartments, viz. an upper compartment, a central compartment, and a lower compartment. The container with the fluid to be separated is placed in the central compartment. It is placed on a rotatable turntable which is rotatably journalled on a journalling shaft, said shaft constituting an output shaft of a motor which is housed in the lower compartment. Accordingly, this motor constitutes a means for generating the high rotational speed at which the container is to be rotated about its central axis at a number of process steps. The latter process steps correspond to the separating process which the fluid is to be subjected to in order to be separated into the desired fluid components. The container is retained on the turntable by means of gripping means engaging openings shaped along the lower rim of the container. Two motors are arranged in the upper compartment. One of these two motors co-operates with a gripping means which is rotatably journalled and adapted to be vertically displaced so as to engage and co-operate with the piston rod of the container. The other motor is adapted to activate a bar, which in turn activates a receiving container provided inside the piston rod and in which the separated component is finally collected during the centrifugation. This centrifuge apparatus corresponds to the apparatus described in the introduction to the specification.

Centrifuge apparatus with container locking means


The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display for a vehicle and, particularly, to a liquid crystal display which adjusts liquid crystal drive voltage based on the temperature of a liquid crystal display panel so that the contrast of the liquid crystal display panel is optimum. The display includes a liquid crystal display panel, a circuit board for mounting circuit elements including a liquid crystal driver, a temperature sensor mounted on the circuit board, and a control circuit for controlling liquid crystal drive voltage based on temperature detected by the temperature sensor. The liquid crystal display panel and the circuit board are arranged parallel to each other in a meter housing with a predetermined space therebetween. The display also includes an exposed heat collection panel arranged to surround the screen of the liquid crystal display panel. This configuration provide a liquid crystal display for a vehicle capable of controlling liquid crystal drive voltage accurately without mounting a temperature sensor on the liquid crystal display panel.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display for a vehicle and, particularly, to a liquid crystal display which adjusts liquid crystal drive voltage based on the temperature of a liquid crystal display panel so that the contrast of the liquid crystal display panel becomes optimum.
2. Description of Background Art
In a liquid crystal display, the contrast of a liquid crystal display panel changes according to an ambient temperature environment even if liquid crystal drive voltage remains the same. Then, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 10-31204 proposes a liquid crystal display which automatically adjusts liquid crystal drive voltage based on the temperature of the liquid crystal panel detected by a temperature sensor such as a thermistor.
In other words, the contrast of the liquid crystal display is correlated with its temperature. In order for the liquid crystals keep a high contrast between the time when liquid crystals are on in a transparent state, and the time when the liquid crystals are off in a non-transparent state, the drive voltage must be reduced as the temperature of the liquid crystals becomes higher. Therefore, in the above prior art, the ambient temperature of the liquid crystals is detected by a temperature sensor, and a temperature compensation circuit is provided to increase drive voltage when the ambient temperature drops. Likewise, this temperature compensation circuit reduces drive voltage when the ambient temperature rises.
In the above prior art, the temperature of a liquid crystal display panel is represented by the detection temperature of a temperature sensor for detecting the inside temperature of a housing. However, in a liquid crystal display which is often exposed to direct rays of the sun as when it is employed as the meter panel of a motorcycle, a temperature difference occurs between the ambient temperature of the inside of the housing and the actual temperature of the liquid crystal display panel. This makes it difficult to apply the optimum liquid crystal drive voltage. To solve this technical problem, a technology for mounting a temperature sensor to a liquid crystal display panel is also proposed.
However, when the temperature sensor is mounted to the liquid crystal display panel, an electrode for connecting this temperature sensor to a circuit board are newly required, thereby causing technical problems such as an increase in the number of parts or a complicated production process.


An approach is provided for utilizing widgets compatible with multiple platforms. A request is received to transmit a widget associated with at first canvas to a second canvas. The first canvas and the second canvas include a respective runtime environment. A compatibility of the widget with the runtime environment of the second canvas is determined. Transmission of the widget is caused, at least in part, based, at least in part, on the determination.

Service providers and device manufacturers (e.g., wireless, cellular, etc.) are continually challenged to deliver value and convenience to consumers by, for example, providing compelling network services and advancing underlying technologies. Many of the services being offered by service providers are provided to users of devices via different platforms such as devices and/or operating systems. In general, service providers are required to code and/or compile different versions of applications or widgets used to provide the services on the devices of the users. As such, many service providers generate desktop widgets for desktop computers and additionally generate separate widgets for other devices such as mobile devices, tablets, etc. There is a need to generate separate widgets for each of these platforms because of incompatibilities of components of the devices such as user interfaces, processing power, software features, etc. As a result, service providers and device manufacturers face significant technical challenges in providing services via multiple platforms.

Method and apparatus for widget compatibility and transfer


Devices and methods for orthopedic support are disclosed. The device can have a first rigid section hingedly attached to a second rigid section. A tunnel through the bone near the implantation target site can be created. The device can be inserted into and pass through and out of the tunnel to the target site.

1. Field of the Invention
A device, such as a flexible spinal fusion cage, which can articulate or bend in such a way that it will be able to be implanted through bone (i.e., in a trans-osseous path, through bone, such as the Ilium and/or sacrum joint approach into L5-S1 is disclosed.
2. Description of the Related Art
Typical lateral approach fusion implants (e.g., Nuvasive XLIF, Medtronic DLIF) are not able to implant into some orthopedic target sites for a variety of reasons.
Boney obstacles can impair access. FIGS. 1a and 1b illustrates the challenge of gaining lateral access to L4-L5 and L5-S1. The lower spine is shown, including the L3, L4, L5 and S1 vertebra (or Sacrum) 10a, 10b, 10c and 10d, and the L4-L5 intervertebral disc space 12a, L5-S1 intervertebral disc space 12b, and the Ilium or Iliac bone 14, the Sacral ala 16, the Sacroiliac joint 18, and the Symphysis pubis 20. Note the position of the Ilium relative to the direct lateral access pathway to the intervertebral disc spaces 12a and 12b. The Ilium 14 obstructs the target site for typical approaches to the respective disc spaces 12a and 12b.
Some doctors create large windows through the Ilium 14 to gain direct line of site access. This is a highly invasive approach removing a significant portion of bone, and requires significant surgical skill. Because of the inflexibility of the typical implants, the windows must be large enough to fit the entire implant cross section.
FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate that the approach angle of a tissue retractor relative to the location of the fusion site is an issue. FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate typical L4-L5 and L5-S1 approach paths 22a and 22b, respectively, for delivering the support device to the L4-L5 and L5-S1 intervertebral disc spaces 12a and 12b. The L4-L5 and L5-S1 approach angles 24a and 24b, respectively, can be measured from the transverse plane. The tissue retractor used in lateral fusion surgery provide line of site access to the disc space requiring a fusion cage insertion, the retractor "holds" tissue out of the way. They also create a working channel to pass tools through, they protect neural tissue, and they anchor to the superior and inferior vertebral bodies relative the disk space requiring fusion. Anything below the dashed line is very hard if not impossible to reach with direct lateral approach due to the Ilium. Even if the retractors are tilted as shown by the dotted line, the ability to insert an implant that is the length of the end plates of the VB's L4-L5 would be very difficult.
Furthermore, with the retractor positioned in the plane/direction as shown by the purple arrows above, the angle formed between the arrow tip and the VB's end plates would make inserting a monolithic fusion cage virtually impossible. A close up of this is shown below. A typical lateral fusion cage (gold) is the width of the end plate (a shown by the dotted lines) by the height if the disk (as shown by the parallel horizontal lines). The stiff, monolithic implant can be difficult if not impossible to turn around the corner at the lateral and/or anterior edge of the L5-S1 intervertebral space, as shown (as the bold circular dot) in FIG. 5.
Typical treatments for L5-S1 include anterior approaches, through the belly, TLIF (transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion), and PLIF (Posterior lumbar interbody fusion). Anterior and TLIF approaches are the most used. Both approaches are typically invasive.


Push button arrangement for an elevator including a push button (7) with a mounting element (1), a mounting base (10), a cover plate (17) and a circuit card (3). The push button (7) is attached to the mounting element (1) using double-sided tape. The push button (7) is provided with an opening (8) for a call acknowledgement light. The mounting element (1) is fitted by its legs (2) in holes (19) provided in the circuit card (3). The circuit card (3) is provided with membrane switches (4) and attached to the mounting base (10) by gluing so that its lugs engage holes (11) in the mounting base (10). The cover plate (17) covers the push button panel.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a push button arrangement for an elevator.
2. Description of Related Art
As is known, an elevator has push buttons that are used to call the elevator to a given floor. There are two push buttons, one for the up direction and the other for the down direction. Push buttons have conventionally been implemented using a mounting element of a high-relief structure. The push button itself is mounted on this mounting element. The push buttons may use metal film switches or other switches which are relatively thick in structure. Such a push button arrangement must be installed by the flush-mounting principle and it is also expensive and requires a large number of different parts which render the construction quite complex. Neither do architects like push buttons having a thick high-relief structure.


A reclining chair having a seat, backrest and footrest movable from upright to TV and fully reclined positions and having a mechanism which includes a track and roller at the rear and a linkage mechanism at the front enabling the seat, backrest and footrest to move from one position to another. The mechanism is gravity operated by the weight of the chair occupant to move from upright to TV position, but is restrained by an over center latch which is manually actuated to release the mechanism.

At the present time, the mechanisms used in reclining chairs generally fall into two categories, namely, those that employ linkages to support the seat and afford the ability to move the seat relative to the base, and those that employ tracks and rollers for that purpose. While the track and roller mechanism may be somewhat less expensive than the mechanisms which rely upon linkage assemblies to provide the motion, the track and roller systems require that the frames be manufactured to much closer tolerances than those employing linkages and, consequently, the manufacturing costs of motion furniture employing mechanisms with wheels and tracks are the more expensive and require more frequent repair.
The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved recliner mechanism which is competitively priced with mechanisms employing track and roller systems and which reduces the manufacturing costs of motion furniture incorporating the improved mechanism.
In accordance with the present invention, the mechanism has a track and roller system at the rear and a linkage system at the front, supporting the seat mounting bracket of the mechanism on the base. This arrangement renders the frame dimensions of the chair less critical. This arrangement also makes the chair less susceptible to malfunction as a result of twisting of the mechanisms and frames, and reduces manufacturing costs.


A heat exchanger exchanges heat between first and second fluids. The heat exchanger includes a heat exchange core which includes first circulation channels of the first fluid and second circulation channels of the second fluid. The heat exchanger includes an inlet collector box for the first fluid and an outlet collector box for the first fluid, into which the ends of said first channels open out. The heat exchanger includes an inlet connection piece for the second fluid and an outlet connection piece for the second fluid. The inlet and outlet collector boxes for the first fluid are separated by a deflector. The heat exchanger includes an intermediate collector box communicating with the first channels to create a U-circulation of the first fluid in said first channels. The heat exchanger includes an intermediate compartment communicating with the second channels for a U-circulation of the second fluid in the second channels.

In fact, supercharged or turbocompressed heat engines, particularly diesel engines, are charged with pressurized air referred to as "charge air" which comes from a compressor or turbo-compressor. Following its compression, this air is at an excessively high temperature and it is advisable for it to be cooled before entering the engine, in order for the engine to run properly.
Traditionally, a charge air cooler is used for this purpose. The function of this cooler is to cool the charge air by heat exchange with another fluid, such as outdoor air, or also a liquid coolant such as glycol water.
A plurality of structures is known for exchangers or coolers of this kind. In particular, a heat exchanger is known which comprises a heat exchange core mounted in a housing or casing. The heat exchange core comprises, for example, a stack of parallel plates or tubes disposed in parallel to convey the first fluid, whereas a second fluid flows between the tubes. The casing receiving this heat exchange core is generally open at its two ends so that it can be connected to fluid distribution housings: an inlet housing and an outlet housing.
The circulation of the two fluids is important to the heat exchanger performance.
According to a known solution, one of the fluids or the two fluids is circulated through disruptors or turbulators, in order to increase the heat exchange surface between the two fluids.
Moreover, the current trend within the car sector is for the overall dimensions of heat exchangers of this kind to be reduced. However, the reduction in size of the exchanger can reduce the exchange surface between the two fluids and therefore alter the exchanger's performance.

Heat exchanger for exchanging heat between a first fluid and a second fluid, both having U-circulation


A shut-off valve for pressurized fluids in an air cooling/heating apparatus having a first duct receiving a first restrictor and a second restrictor. Both restrictors are coaxially formed with a capillary through which the pressurized fluid passes and which causes the rapid expansion of the fluid when the fluid exits from a distal end of the capillary. The outer surface of the restrictors is in direct contact with the interior surface of the first duct. The valve can further include a sampling instrument located between the restrictors.

It is known in the art of air conditioners and heat pumps that a condenser and an evaporator must be placed in communication with each other by means of shut-off valves and other devices designed to cause expansion of the refrigerant as the refrigerant flows from one component to another.
Specifically, in refrigerant systems operating in both the cooling and heating modes, two expansion devices may be incorporated into one system allowing for expansion of the fluid in either direction. A shut-off valve may also be incorporated into a system when there is a need to terminate refrigerant flow, such as for example, during servicing. The refrigerant system may also include a sampling port for detecting and measuring the pressure of the high-pressure refrigerant before the refrigerant enters the expansion device. Furthermore, the ability to easily interchange the expansion devices allows the degree of expansion to be selectively varied after installation of the shut-off valve.
Combining the shut-off valve, expansion devices and sampling device into one unit is desirable to reduce the complexity of a refrigerant system. However, known refrigerant systems lack a mechanism for sampling the liquid refrigerant before the liquid enters the expansion devices in both the cooling and heating modes. Therefore, a need exists for a shut-off valve that allows for sampling high-pressure liquid between two expansion devices.
Prior art dual restrictors utilize a labor intensive process of manually torch brazing the connecting tube to the shut-off valve body in order to protect expansion devices integrated within the body. It is desired to use a more cost efficient process of furnace brazing the tube onto the valve body. Therefore, a need exists for a shut-off valve having integrated expansion devices which will not be adversely affected by the furnace brazing process.


An apparatus and method for transmission of a single-carrier waveform from multiple transmit antennas including both a reference signal and data in a discrete Fourier transform spread orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (DFT-s-OFDM) symbol.

Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to wireless communication networks, and more particularly, to space-time block coding (STBC) schemes for discrete Fourier transform spread orthogonal division multiplexing (DFT-s-OFDM or DFT-spread OFDM) in in new radio (NR) (also referred to as 5th generation (5G)) radio technologies.
Wireless communication networks are widely deployed to provide various types of communication content such as voice, video, packet data, messaging, broadcast, and so on. These systems may be multiple-access systems capable of supporting communication with multiple users by sharing the available system resources (e.g., time, frequency, and power). Examples of such multiple-access systems include code-division multiple access (CDMA) systems, time-division multiple access (TDMA) systems, frequency-division multiple access (FDMA) systems, orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) systems, single-carrier frequency division multiple access (or multiplexing) (SC-FDMA) systems, and discrete Fourier transform spread orthogonal division multiplexing (DFT-s-OFDM) systems. It should be understood that SC-FDM and DFT-s-OFDM are two names of essentially similar technologies, however, DFT-s-OFDM is the terminology used in 3GPP specifications.
These multiple access technologies have been adopted in various telecommunication standards to provide a common protocol that enables different wireless devices to communicate on a municipal, national, regional, and even global level. For example, a fifth generation (5G) wireless communications technology (which can be referred to as new radio (NR)) is envisaged to expand and support diverse usage scenarios and applications with respect to current mobile network generations. In an aspect, 5G communications technology can include: enhanced mobile broadband addressing human-centric use cases for access to multimedia content, services and data; ultra-reliable-low latency communications (URLLC) with certain specifications for latency and reliability; and massive machine type communications, which can allow a very large number of connected devices and transmission of a relatively low volume of non-delay-sensitive information. As the demand for mobile broadband access continues to increase, however, further improvements in NR communications technology and beyond may be desired.
For example, for NR communications technology, the NR physical layer includes physical channels encoded and transmitted on a single OFDM symbol. Examples of such physical channels include PDCCH on the downlink (DL), and short-PUCCH on the uplink (UL), and PDSCH/PUSCH in a 'mini-slot' transmission (where a mini-slot is a 1-symbol slot). SC-FDM and/or DFT-s-OFDM versions of the same transmissions are also desirable, such as in UL link-budget limited case, and also in the DL for high carrier frequency (e.g., >40 GHz) transmissions. Also, a transmit diversity scheme may be desired for such transmissions.
Thus, improvements in wireless communications for NR technology and beyond may be desired.

Space-time block coding schemes for DFT-s-OFDM


A computer system for modeling is disclosed, where the computer system has a storage device, first and second platforms, a portable persistent model, and first and second platform-dependent computerized modeling systems (CMS). Each platform is interfaced to the storage device and provides system-dependent services. The first platform has a first type of operating system and a first type of computer hardware including a first memory, and the second platform has a second type of operating system and a second type of computer hardware including a second memory. The model resides in the storage device in a platform-independent format and includes persistent component objects. The first CMS resides in the first platform memory and the second platform-dependent CMS resides in the second platform memory. Each CMS provides CMS services including retrieving the model from the storage device, manipulating the model, changing the model by adding and removing persistent objects, and persistently saving the model to the storage device. Each CMS includes a static kernel and a dynamic framework. The kernel executes on the platform and interfaces to the operating system and the computer hardware, and provides services necessary to load and execute CMS services and to interface to the platform services. The framework executes on the platform and interfaces to the kernel, provides a platform-independent visual interface between the CMS and a CMS user, and employs the services of the kernel.

A typical computer-aided design ("CAD") system employed in engineering contexts uses a geometry-oriented approach to define and represent engineering information. The data is generally stored in a large set of geometrically organized files with links to external non-graphical data. The format and content of the files are predefined by the CAD system, with all of the data types known to the system compiled into the program.
Such an approach has the advantage of uniformity and predictability between system users from different engineering domains. In a system implemented with great attention to hardware and version compatibility, data files created with one version of the CAD system can be viewed by other versions of the same CAD system regardless of hardware platform. The approach works well for creating 2D drawings and 3D models of the physical properties of a design, but lacks the sophistication and flexibility to maintain the structure, topology, and additional attributes or descriptive information that accompany a complete engineering model. Furthermore, multi-platform and multi-version software support is a serious burden for both the original producer of the CAD system and for others that add customized extensions.
To properly model a complex design, engineering or otherwise, a computerized modeling system ("CMS") must represent not just the geometric properties of a model, but also the domain-specific relationships between components in the design and tacit information about the model that arises during the development of the model. However, the most efficient strategy for organizing and storing model information does not always correlate with the geometric properties of the information.
Further, since the data types expressed in an engineering model vary widely between engineering domains (electrical, mechanical, fluids, e.g.), it is not practical to express all of the possible combinations of data types within the program that operates the CMS. Moreover, since model data from differing domains may be simultaneously required in arbitrary combinations by a user, multiple, unrelated domain-specific tools cannot be employed.
CMS Requirements
A CMS must solve the problem described above by providing flexible programming tools that allow a software developer having engineering domain-specific expertise to develop programs and data structures ("schemas") relevant to any such domain. A user of the CMS employs one or more such schemas, whereby representations of domain-specific components ("objects") derived from the schemas can be combined and integrated in arbitrary combinations in connection with a single project.
To accomplish such a goal, the CMS must address the following concerns:
Data portability and longevity--In large organizations, engineering groups often work on multiple different types of mixed hardware and operating system configurations ("platforms"). Moreover, the life cycles of a larger project will often exceed the lifetime of one or more of such platforms. Accordingly, it is essential that CMS data that originates on one platform be useable on any other platform without translation. As a result, the CMS does not constrain an otherwise natural progression to the most cost effective computer systems. Furthermore, a project defined by such CMS data can be archived and reactivated years later on a new platform without any loss of fidelity.
Similarly, the type and meaning of the information in a project can change dramatically throughout the project life cycle. For example, data for a particular component may change several times during the project life cycle, usually because the manufacturer of the component modified the component or replaced the component with a similar or related component. It must therefore be possible to refine and revise the schemas that are used by the project (i.e. allow "schema evolution") without jeopardizing the integrity of the already-existing CMS data.
Data integrity--A CMS stores a tremendous amount of valuable information. However, the value of the information can only be secure if models created by the program are accurate, reliable, and accessible. To ensure the data in a CMS model maintains internal consistency, it is necessary that such data always be accessed and modified by the same schemas that defined and created such data. It is therefore essential that such schemas be easily accessed and ubiquitous with respect to the CMS model. Moreover a CMS must minimize the need to produce and distribute copies of CMS models. As should be evident, when multiple copies of the same model exist, any individual copy stands a greater chance of being rendered partially or wholly obsolete.
Large data sets--The size of a typical CMS model can be quite large, on the order of several hundred megabytes. The CMS must handle such large models efficiently. Further, the amount of information in a model cannot be limited in a preset manner.
Many simultaneous users--CMS models are typically shared simultaneously by many users within an organization. Some users require access for inspecting and querying only, but others need access to add to or modify the model. Accordingly, the CMS must ensure that changes to the model are properly coordinated and that the model is kept in a consistent state at all times.
Many simultaneous schemas--Engineering projects typically involve collaboration among several engineering disciplines, each being represented by one or more CMS schemas. A CMS is expected to facilitate the integration of the information created by each discipline to allow easy and consistent access by users in the other disciplines. Therefore, a CMS must store and manipulate information defined by multiple schemas simultaneously. Further, it must be possible for one schema to reference information defined in and maintained by another schema within the project and that reference must be kept consistent throughout the project life cycle.
Flexibility and Extensibility--A CMS is typically refined by a developer based on the domain that the developer is directed toward. Additionally, a CMS is refined by the end user to include user-defined restrictions and extensions. Since every user has different requirements, the ability to extend and customize the system "in the field" is essential.
Performance--Engineering models in particular are characterized by large data sets, yet users demand near-instantaneous response times. A CMS must therefore be able to organize and store data such that access time to the data is optimized.
Ease of Use--A CMS user is presumed to be an expert in his domain. However, he is not necessarily a sophisticated computer user and is likely not willing to invest valuable time in extensive training. Furthermore, since multiple users from different domains will employ the same CMS, the domain-specific expertise of the users will vary widely from session to session. Accordingly, use of a CMS must be simple, intuitive, and familiar, and the schemas employed by a CMS must be flexible enough to allow access to schema data at various levels of detail and complexity depending on the user.
CMS Implementation
Given the foregoing CMS requirements, a successful CMS must incorporate a robust environment for programmers to implement schemas, and an easy-to-use environment for users to employ those schemas on real world problems. To that end, the CMS implementation must include:
Schema Environment--Schemas must contain all necessary information to display, manipulate, query, revise, and interpret a model; there can not be any application-specific expertise built into the CMS itself. Schemas must be portable so that they can execute on any platform that the CMS can execute, be inseparable from the project model, be flexible and expandable without requiring the original schema source code for recompilation, and execute efficiently. Due to the large quantity of information modeled by a CMS, the routines that process such information must do so in an efficient manner. Schemas must also be able to evolve over time such that they can be revised and extended as new requirements arise.
Application Framework--The geometric tools (location, manipulation, creation, display, visualization, vector algebra, etc.) for manipulating schema objects must be presented to the user in a familiar and easy-to-use environment, or "application framework". The user interface programs must be portable across all platforms on which the CMS runs so that users can choose among appropriate platforms. However, the application framework itself must interact with the native Operating System or Graphical User environment on which the framework executes. Such interaction must be transparent to the user.
In certain cases, special support must be added to the application framework to take advantage of advanced capabilities of certain platforms. Wherever possible, the capabilities of these advanced systems should be emulated on lesser platforms.
Change Propagation--When an object in a model is modified, other objects in the model may change as a result. A CMS must express relationships between objects such that the need for effecting changes to objects "downstream" may be recognized, propagated, and executed. In addition, if such propagation results in an invalid or inconsistent state of the model, the entire change must be reversed.
Model Persistence--State information for objects in a model must be maintained across editing sessions. Accordingly, the objects must be dynamically reinstated each time the CMS is used to view or manipulate the model.
Project and Model Management--A CMS must maintain the integrity of a model. Accordingly, mechanisms are required to: lock portions of the model to regulate multi-user access; control revision access; create and manage parallel development to the same model; merge changes from multiple users on the same model; permanently identify specific versions of constituent models of a project as contributing to a particular state of the project; and regulate access to the database according to graduated security levels.
Distributed Components--To help prevent data obsolescence, a CMS must allow for having portions of the model distributed out to those parts of an organization (or remote vendor locations, subcontractors, etc.) where they are most easily maintained. At the same time, a "live connection" to the distributed portion must be maintained in each model where it is referenced.
The present invention comprises a computerized modeling system ("CMS") that electronically models engineering information for design, analysis, manipulation, simulation, visualization, integration, decomposition, storage and retrieval. The present invention is highly suited for engineering environments such as mechanical engineering; structural engineering; electrical engineering; civil and roadway engineering; plant design, layout, and operation; building engineering and construction; facilities planning and maintenance; mapping; and geo-engineering; among other things.
To address the requirements discussed above, the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes an object-oriented schema implementation programming language, a compiler, a linker, and a run-time system. The programming language is largely based on the C and C++ programming languages with certain CMS extensions as will be described below, and is employed to write schema programs that are compiled using the compiler. The output of the compiler is an object file. The linker combines a group of object files into an executable program that is portable across many platforms, where each platform has a run-time environment tailored to that platform. Each program may also be a shared library. If so, the program exports references to classes, functions, and variables. Other programs can have references to these classes, functions, and variables resolved at run-time. A program may both import and export references. That is, the program may use other shared libraries and may serve as a shared library for other clients. A schema may comprise a set of such programs. The present invention includes schemas for general-purpose geometric modeling as well as schema for interfacing to industry standard exchange formats such as "MicroStation DGN", "AutoCad DWG", and "STEP".
The schema programs model information relevant to a predetermined domain. Such domains include engineering domains and other domains. The "schemas" represented by the schema programs include multiple "classes", each of which defines a type of component that may be placed in a model. "Objects" or "instances" are created or "instantiated" from each class, where each object is placed in the model and represents the occurrence of a component for a specific purpose in the model. Each class includes a specification of the data ("variables") held by each instance of the class, plus the program code ("methods") that may be employed to manipulate such variables.
The objects in a model are stored in one or more repositories or "stores". Related stores are logically grouped into a "project" which generally corresponds to a physical project (engineering or otherwise) in the real world. Projects are managed as a single unit by the CMS and are stored in a "project database", generally on a networked server, so that concurrent access can be granted to multiple users of the project.
To initiate a user session, a user executes a query of the project database to extract a subset of the project (i.e. a number of related objects) from the project database into a local database. Since the format of the objects in the project database and in the local database is not necessarily the same, translation may be necessary. The extraction is considered a long-term transaction to the project database such that during the user session no further interaction with the project database is required. If changes or additions are made to the extracted model objects during an editing session, such changes and additions may be posted to the project database at the end of the user session, at which time conflicts that have occurred due to changes by other users are resolved.
Since objects in a project database are defined and interpreted by the combination of instance data and class methods, instance data cannot be interpreted without the corresponding schema. Accordingly, to maintain the integrity of the project data, it must never be possible to encounter an instance without the corresponding schema.
For this reason, the CMS of the present invention treats not just the geometry but also the programs that comprise a schema as components of the project database, as with the instance data. Accordingly, whenever an instance of a class is created in a project database, the schema of the created instance is also copied into the database. Thus, whenever instances of that class are encountered in future sessions, the schema is loaded into memory from the project database.
A benefit of an object-based CMS is that information may be shared with other object-based programs by publishing appropriate interfaces. There are several standards proposed for the mechanism by which objects make requests and receive responses from interfaces of other objects. Two such standards are the Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA) proposed by a vendor consortia including Hewlett-Packard Corporation, IBM Corporation, and others, and Component Object Model (COM) from Microsoft Corporation.

Object-oriented computerized modeling system


Color conversion apparatus and methods are provided for converting a first color value, such as an RGB, L*a*b* or XYZ color value, to a second color value, such as an RGB, CMY, CMKY, L*a*b*, L, C1C2, or XYZ color value, without saturation error.

A color image often is composed of an array of pixels, with each pixel including multiple color components. For example, in a three-color system, an electronic scanner may be used to separate a color image into red, green and blue ("RGB") color components, with each color component represented numerically. Thus, in an 8-bit, three color system, each pixel may be represented by three color values, with each color value being a number in the range between 0 and 255. For example, the color values of a pixel in an 8-bit RGB system may be expressed as (20, 77, 201), where the numbers 20, 77 and 201 represent the values of the red, green and blue components, respectively, for that pixel.
Color output devices, such as color printers, typically produce output images using cyan, magenta, yellow, and sometimes black colorants. Accordingly, color output devices typically represent images using cyan, magenta and yellow ("CMY") color components (i.e., a three color system), or cyan, magenta, yellow and black ("CMYK") color components (i.e., a four-color system). To reproduce a color image on a color output device, therefore, the image data typically must be converted from one color component system (e.g., RGB) to another system (e.g., CMY). In particular, the input color values of each pixel must be converted to respective output color values to accurately reproduce the image on a print medium. For example, an input pixel having RGB values of (20, 77, 201) may correspond to an output pixel having CMY values of (100, 82, 0).
More generally, it is often desirable to convert color values from a first color system to a second color system. One known method for converting color values uses a lookup table that provides a corresponding set of second color values for each set of first color values. In an 8-bit system, each first color component may have any value between 0 and 255. Thus, in a three-color system, each pixel may be represented by any one of over 16 million different combinations of first color values (2563=16,777,216). Due to memory constraints, however, it is impractical for each of the possible combinations of first color values to be listed in the lookup table. Instead, a "sparse" lookup table is created that includes regularly spaced or intermittent combinations of first color values. For example, if a three-dimensional lookup table includes only thirty-three entries per dimension the lookup table will have 35,937 entries (333), which may be practically implemented in computer memory.
Referring to FIG. 1, each component of the first color value, for example, red, green or blue, can be visualized as corresponding to a respective axis in three dimensional space 10. A sparse lookup table can be visualized as including multiple points within three dimensional space 10. For example, point 20 may correspond to first color value (192, 168, 232), point 22 may correspond to first color value (200, 168, 232), point 24 may correspond to first color value (200, 168, 224), point 26 may correspond to first color value (192, 168, 224), point 28 may correspond to first color value (192, 160, 224), point 30 may correspond to first color value (192, 160, 232), point 32 may correspond to first color value (200, 160, 232) and point 34 may correspond to first color value (200, 160, 224).
For each point in the lookup table, there is also an associated second color value. Thus, point 20 may correspond to second color value (28, 36, 0), point 22 may correspond to second color value (25, 38, 0), point 24 may correspond to second color value (24, 37, 0), point 26 may correspond to second color value (27, 36, 0), point 28 may correspond to second color value (28, 41, 0), point 30 may correspond to second color value (29, 42, 0), point 32 may correspond to second color value (27, 42, 0) and point 34 may correspond to second color value (25, 42, 0).
Because a sparse lookup table includes only a subset of all possible first color combinations, many first color values will map to a point within this three dimensional space that does not correspond to one of the lookup table entries. For example, point 36 in FIG. 1 depicts a first color value that does not correspond to any entry in the lookup table. Instead, point 36 is surrounded by the eight entries corresponding to points 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32 and 34.
One conventional technique for assigning second color values to the set of first color values represented by point 36 is to interpolate between the known second color values associated with the surrounding lookup table entries. More particularly, interpolation is performed between the second color values that correspond to some or all of the eight first color values that define the surrounding cube. Examples of such commonly known interpolation techniques are trilinear (e.g., as described in Kasson et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,390,035), tetrahedral (e.g., as described in Sakamoto et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,275,413), cubic (e.g., as described in Murakami et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,930,388 ("Murakami")), prism (e.g., as described in Murakami), and other suitable interpolation techniques.
One problem with previously known interpolation techniques occurs when one of the second color values saturates at the low end (e.g., output value of 0) or high end (e.g., output value of 255) of the color value scale. An example of this "saturation error" is depicted in FIG. 2, which shows an array corresponding to a portion of a single dimension of the lookup table of FIG. 1. In particular, FIG. 2 illustrates an array having first color values at points 40, 42, 44, 46 and 48. In general, each point in the lookup table is associated with multiple second color components (e.g., three second color components such as in a CMY color space). For simplicity, only a single second color value is shown associated with each point in FIG. 2. Thus, points 40, 42, 44, 46 and 48 have associated second color values 25, 15, 5, 0 and 0, respectively.
Point 50 depicts a first color value that does not correspond to any entry in the lookup table, but instead is located halfway between points 44 and 46. Conventional linear interpolation techniques produce a second color value of ((5+0)÷2)=2.5 associated with point 50. However, this result is incorrect. In particular, assuming that the distance between second color components associated with points 42 and 44 (15−5=10 units) equals the distance between second color components associated with points 44 and 46, and assuming linearity in this region, the second color component associated with point 46 should have a value of −5. Because color component values are typically represented as unsigned numbers, however, the −5 value typically is clipped to 0. If the second color component value of point 46 were not so clipped, however, linear interpolation would produce a correct value of ((5+(−5))÷2)=0 for the second color component associated with point 50.
Although not shown in FIG. 2, the same saturation problem occurs at the other end of the color value scale. In particular, conventional linear interpolation techniques produce erroneous values when a second color component saturates at the high end of the color scale (e.g., 255 for an 8-bit color system). One consequence of the saturation-value interpolation error is that color components that should have 0 values actually contain non-zero values, and therefore look "dirty." This effect is most apparent with a light color component (e.g., light yellow) because any contamination of the color components is readily noticeable. The effect at the high end of the color scale also produces erroneous results.
The errors described above occur regardless of the type of linear interpolation used, the number of dimensions of the lookup table, or the number of bits used to represent color component values. Thus, in a 16-bit system used to covert RGB to CMYK data, in which color components may have any value between 0 and 65,535, the same type of interpolation error occurs when any of the four second color component values saturate at the low end (i.e., 0) or the high end (i.e., 65,535) of the color scale.
In view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to provide methods and apparatus for converting a first color value to a second color value without saturation error.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Methods and apparatus for converting color values


An electrochemical element having a metal case for accommodating an element unit in which a positive electrode and a negative electrode are disposed to face each other with a separator between them, and an electrolyte; a sealing body for sealing an opening of the metal case; and a sealant provided between the metal case and the sealing body, wherein the sealant comprises an elastomer as a main component and an organic pigment and is colored in a color different from the metal case and sealing body. The present invention also includes an electrochemical element which further has a gasket interposed between the sealing body and the metal case, and in which the sealant is provided between the gasket and the sealing body or the metal case.

Most of electrochemical elements comprise an element unit in which a pair of electrodes are disposed to face each other with a separator therebetween; an electrolyte; and a container for accommodating them. In general, this container is composed of a metal case having an opening, and a sealing body for sealing the opening. Moreover, in order to ensure electrical insulation between the metal case and the sealing body, a gasket is sometimes interposed between them. Further, a sealant is provided between the metal case and the sealing body, or between the gasket and the metal case or the sealing body. Note that the metal case is available in various shapes, such as a cylindrical shape with a bottom, a rectangular shape and a button shape.
The sealant is required to have the functions of preventing the electrolyte from leaking out or evaporating and preventing infiltration of moisture from the outside. In particular, in an electrochemical element using a nonaqueous electrolyte as the electrolyte, since moisture has an adverse effect on the nonaqueous electrolyte and the electrodes, a sealant is used with a view to prevent the infiltration of moisture into the element.
A variety of sealant has been conventionally proposed. Among them, asphalt pitch, coal tar or the like has been most widely used. Moreover, one obtained by mixing the pitch with a mineral oil (Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 61-36344) and one obtained by mixing the pitch with a silicone rubber (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 63-80471) were proposed as the sealants that hardly cause an electrolyte leakage under high temperature/low temperature.
An electrochemical element as described above is directly mounted on a circuit board with a decrease in the size of the element. The major mounting method is automatic soldering by a reflow method. In recent years, in view of various problems in the environmental aspect, there has been a worldwide tendency toward lead-free products. Accordingly, there is urgent necessity to develop parts that can correspond to high-temperature reflow automatic mounting using lead-free solder. However, while the parts to be mounted have been made resistant to high temperature one after another, it is difficult to make electrochemical elements correspond to the high-temperature reflow automatic mounting because they are parts for storing energy, and the realization of high-temperature resistant electrochemical elements as products is much behind as compared to other parts to be mounted. The major reason for this is that the electrochemical element is exposed to a high-temperature condition (under an environment of 250° C. at the peak for around several seconds) in passing through the inside of a reflow furnace, receives extremely high thermal stress and then bursts or causes performance degradation.
In order to solve such problems, the present inventors proposed in the past a sealant made of an elastomer, such as butyl rubber and styrene butadiene rubber, and having both the heat resistant and sealing properties (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2000-138042). This sealant achieved a significant reduction in the rate of occurrence of electrolyte leakage. However, the occurrence of electrolyte leakage was recognized during long-time storage though it was a very few.
As the result of studying in detail the cause of the occurrence of electrolyte leakage, the present inventors found that variations in the applied or coated position of the sealant and the uniformity of a film made of the sealant are the causes of the occurrence of electrolyte leakage. Moreover, since the sealant proposed by the present inventors previously is transparent and colorless, it is extremely difficult to confirm by visual observation or image recognition the applied position and the uniformity of the film in a state where the sealant is applied to the gasket. Therefore, it is considered that elements whose evaluation values about the applied position and the uniformity of the film are out of the specified values can not be removed as defective units on the production process, resulting in the occurrence of electrolyte leakage. In order to prevent the occurrence of such a defect, a prior example (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 3-37955) that judges the applied state of the sealant by image data discloses a structure for distinguishing the sealant from a background by adding a white powder or a luminescent material to the sealant as auxiliary means for performing image recognition. However, such a powder and luminescent material have substantially no function as the sealant, and they sometimes cause degradation of the sealing performance.
In order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electrochemical element having a structure capable of confirming simultaneously the applied position and the uniformity of the film thickness of a sealant applied to the case, sealing plate and gasket of the electrochemical element by visual observation or image recognition, without adversely affecting the characteristics of the sealant.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.