An end frame assembly includes an outer frame, a lower support attached to the outer frame, and a plurality of spindles attached between the outer frame and the lower support. Heat deformable connectors are disposed between the outer frame and the lower support subsequent to painting the outer frame, lower support, and spindles. A plurality of rivets are used to connect the outer frame to selected spindles.

The present invention relates to a crib frame assembly and, particularly, to a painted metal end frame assembly for use with such things as a bed, crib, and changing table. More particularly, the present invention relates to a painted end frame assembly, components of which are formed and painted prior to connection of the components together into an end frame assembly.
Metal end frame assemblies for use with such things as beds, cribs, and changing tables are known. These end frames provide structural support to the item to which the end frame is attached. In addition, the aesthetic qualities of beds, cribs, and changing tables can be enhanced by forming components of the end frames into decorative shapes and/or painting these components.
Conventional metal end frame assemblies are often welded together. This makes multi-colored painting of end frame assemblies difficult and expensive. Welding painted metal components of an end frame assembly together after they have been painted burns some of this paint off.
Trying to paint individual components of an end frame assembly different colors after they have been welded together is expensive and time consuming. End frame assembly components of one color must be masked before other components are painted a different color. This masking must then be removed which adds additional time and expense to the painting process. Further, removal of masking is a messy process that can sometimes leave masking and adhesive behind on components of an end frame. If this masking and adhesive cannot be removed, the end frame assembly must either be disposed of or disassembled with the destroyed component or components removed. The end frame assembly must then be subsequently reassembled and painted. A multi-colored metal end frame assembly that could be produced without the above-described difficulties associated with current production techniques would be a welcome improvement.
Accordingly, the present invention includes a metal end frame assembly formed from dissimilar materials. The metal end frame assembly includes a metal outer frame that is bent into a predetermined shape. The outer frame includes a top portion and a pair of downwardly extending legs.
The metal end frame assembly further includes a metal lower support for attachment between the downwardly extending legs of the outer frame. The lower support is attached to the outer frame by a pair of holes punched through the downwardly extending legs of the outer frame and connectors and fasteners. Each connector has a first end which is inserted into an opening formed in the lower support. A second end of each connector has a fish mouth formed on it that engages an outer periphery of a downwardly extending leg of the outer end frame. An insert such as a spider nut is disposed within the cavity of the lower supports behind each fish mouth connector. A fastener such as a threaded screw or bolt is inserted into the holes formed in the downwardly extending legs of the outer frame. The fastener threadingly engages both the fish mouth connector and the insert to connect the lower support to the outer frame. The connector is made from a heat deformable plastic such as polypropylene.
The end frame assembly further includes a plurality of metal spindles that are mounted to lie between the top portion of the outer frame and the lower support. The spindles are formed into such shapes as a trombone slide in addition to also being formed to be substantially straight. The trombone spindles have downwardly extending legs that are trapped in apertures or openings formed in lower support. These apertures or openings in lower support have a substantially identical shape to the outer periphery of the downwardly extending legs of the trombone spindles. The trombone spindles further include a top portion located between the downwardly extending legs of the trombone spindles.
The trombone spindles are attached to the outer frame by fasteners designed to reduce rotation of the spindles by, for example, a child. The fasteners include a shoulder rivet and a pop rivet for each of the trombone spindles. The shoulder rivet connecting a trombone spindle to the top portion of the outer frame extends through apertures formed in first wall portions of both the top portion of the outer frame and trombone spindle. The pop rivet extends through first and second walls of the trombone spindle at a different location than the aperture for the shoulder rivet. In addition, an aperture is formed through the first wall of the top portion of the outer frame for the pop rivet at a different location than the aperture for the shoulder rivet. Portions of the first wall of the trombone spindle adjacent the first wall of the top portion of the outer frame are flattened so that they make direct contact with the adjacent first wall of the top portion.
First and second ends of the substantially straight spindles are swaged so that they have generally flat sides. At least one end of the substantially straight spindles has a double-D cross-section. At least one of the apertures formed in both the lower support and top portion of the outer frame also has a double-D shape. This allows straight spindles to be connected between the lower support and the top portion of the outer frame such that it is difficult to rotate them.
The top portion of the outer frame may be formed so that it has a predefined radius of curvature in order to give the end frame assembly a more decorative appearance. In those cases where the top portion of the outer frame is formed with a predefined radius of curvature, the lower support is also formed so as to substantially match the radius of curvature of the top portion of the outer frame. This allows the trombone spindles and substantially straight spindles to be formed of substantially equal length. Thus, a trombone spindle or generally straight spindle can be used at any location of attachment for a like-type spindle between the top portion of the outer frame and the lower support.
The process or method for making the end frame assembly involves preforming of the metal outer frame, lower support, and spindles in the shapes described above. Subsequent to formation of the metal components of the end frame assembly, they are painted in a paint kitchen having paint booths as is known in the art. The painting involves electrostatically powder coating the outer frame, lower support, and spindles with one or more colors. Subsequent to electrostatic powder coating, the paint is cured onto the surfaces of the components of the end frame assembly in a heat chamber. The above process can be used to produce a wide variety of differently shaped outer end frames, lower supports, and spindles. In addition, these outer frames, lower supports, and spindles can be of differing colors. These various shaped and colored components can then be connected together in various combinations to produce a wide variety of end frame assemblies having various pleasing shapes and colors.
The problems encountered with current manufacturing of painted metal end frame assemblies are avoided by the present invention. Because the components of the end frame assembly are connected together subsequent to painting by mechanical fastening, there is no problem with paint burn-off as with painted metal end frame assemblies that are welded together. Furthermore, no masking is required to produce painted and multi-colored end frame assemblies. Elimination of masking saves both time and expense as described above. The present invention thus reduces the ultimate cost that might otherwise be charged for beds, cribs, and changing tables that have multi-colored end frame assemblies attached to them.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention as presently perceived.


Approaches presented herein can provide for end-to-end auditing of cross-account roles. A user associated with a first account might request some degree of access to resources associated with a second account. A role can be assumed by that user that delegates access to those resources, and the user can be issued temporary credentials to obtain the access. In order to provide for full auditing of these cross-account roles, calls that assume a role in one account can be linked to resource-related calls under a different account, which can include a third party account. Information can be obtained from both accounts that can be linked using an identifier provided to each environment as part of the role assumption. The linking can provide a full audit chain from end user to resource access across the separate accounts.

Users are increasingly performing tasks using remote computing resources, which may be offered through a shared-resource environment. This has many advantages, as users do not have to purchase and maintain dedicated hardware and software, and instead can pay for only those resources that are needed at any given time, where those resources typically will be managed by a resource provider. Users can perform tasks such as storing data to various types of resources offered by a resource provider. In some instances, a user having permissions under a first account might want to perform a task requiring permissions under a second account. Using conventional approaches, the user might obtain delegated access using temporary credentials issued for the second account. Unfortunately, the use of these temporary credentials is typically not directly tied back to the actual user for whom the cross-account role was granted, at least under the second account, such that the actual user responsible for an action being performed in the second account using these credentials cannot be verified.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An apparatus and method for device security, wherein a fingerprint image is acquired on a touchscreen, and an authentication process is performed based on the first fingerprint image. Thereafter, a second fingerprint image is acquired and a difference between a characteristic of the first and second fingerprint images is determined, and based upon whether this difference is greater than a threshold, a second authentication process is performed.

In a device with a fingerprint sensor, a fingerprint sensor may be used to authenticate a user. An authentication process may enable access to data or functions not otherwise available to an unauthorized user.
The fingerprint sensor may reside, for example, underneath a touchscreen and capable of sensing touch on the entire screen. The fingerprint sensor may also reside only under a portion of a touchscreen. The fingerprint sensor may also reside at the back, or sides, or on a button of a device. The fingerprint sensor may be operatively coupled to other components in a device, such as a processor or a touchscreen. The fingerprint sensor may also be integrated with, or function as, the touch screen of a device.
In conventional devices with fingerprint sensors, a user places their finger on the fingerprint sensor and their fingerprint is authenticated once and then is able to access certain data or functions of the device. Typically, the device provides a timeout function for disabling access once the device has not been interacted with for a period of time. After the device times out, a user must reauthenticate in order to access certain data or functions.
The timeout period may be adjustable by a user, and, for example, a user desiring to not frequently authenticate may set the timeout period to 10 minutes or more.
One disadvantage of this technique is that a user may be authenticated with a device, and a second, unauthorized user, may access the device as if they were the authorized user as long as they do so before the device times out.
One solution to the aforementioned disadvantage is to continually authenticate the fingerprint of the user as they use the device. However, the downside to continuous authentication is twofold—it consumes more power and, because a full fingerprint authentication process has an associated latency, it may negatively impact user experience.
Therefore there exists a need for a power efficient, low-latency authentication process which provides additional security over a process which relies on a timeout.

Apparatus and method for device security


This invention relates to a method of configuring a set of objects in a computer, each object having at least one possible value, each value being determined or undetermined, and at least one of said object values being accessible to a user for assigning at least one value to be determined or undetermined, said values being constrained by a rule base defining a number of relationships between the values. The undetermined object values are searched in order to find at least one first subset of values, said first subset and a subset of determined values defining at least one first possible configuration of object values satisfying the rule base if said first subset exists, said search being initiated when at least one value of an object is changed or said search being initiated upon a user request.

This invention relates to a method of configuring a set of objects in a computer, each object having at least one possible value, each value being determined or undetermined, and at least: one of said object values being accessible to a user for assigning at least one value to be determined or undetermined, said values being constrained by a rule base defining a number of relationships between the values,
More particularly, this invention relates to the solving of configuration problems by means of a computer acting as a configuration aid for either a salesman or the customer himself. E.g. configuring a car, i.e. choosing a specific combination of engine, paint, accessories, etc. or e.g. configuring a computer system comprising different kinds of CPU's, ports, terminals, communications units, etc. will typically result in a huge and very complicated problem because of a great number of choices to be made and an overwhelming system of constraints between the different elements to be decided on.
A computer system intended to solve a configuration problem is a special application of artificial intelligence where the problem can be stated in terms of a set of selectable elements (e.g. engines, colors . . . ), or in other terms selectable values, and a number of relations (constraints) between these selectable elements (e.g. 4.0 1 engine is not possible together with the color of paint light blue).
In the following a selectable element is anything that can be included or excluded in a configuration. It can be a physical object (e.g. a car or a computer system as mentioned), an attribute (e.g. the color red or the texture pattern of a carpet) or something abstract (e.g. a specific number of trips between home and work or a particular type of contracts.
Typically, selections are constrained by previous choices of elements. If for instance a shopper in a supermarket wants only to buy ecological products, he may not be able to buy coffee. Thus, when selecting products, parts or features in a configuration system there should never be any available selections which are in fact invalid. This might seem very easy but is in fact one of the main difficulties in interactive configuration systems, as will be understood more fully from the following description.
The shopper from before could choose not to buy only ecological products. He may also choose not to buy coffee even if it is available. It is therefore desirable at any time to have a dynamic display of key figures, descriptions, graphics and video which change according to the customer's current focus and history.
An interactive computer configuration system is an aid for the salesman or the customer to make it just as easy to grasp and configure a huge problem as it is for a customer in the supermarket to know himself that he has bought exactly what he needs to treat his dinner guests according to his own decisions and the expectations of the guests.

Method of configuring a set of objects in a computer


The present invention relates to an inclination sensor which utilizes a liquid member having a free surface. A first optical system collimates light emitted from a light source, a dark field pattern allows the light from the first optical system to pass therethrough, a half mirror changes the direction of the light which has passed through the scale pattern, a first liquid member having a free surface reflects the pattern light thus changed its direction by the half mirror, a second optical system focuses the pattern light reflected by the first liquid member, a light receiving means receives a light image formed by the second optical system, and a processing means calculates an inclination on the basis of a reception signal provided from the light receiving means. The scale pattern is formed by a plurality of slits, and the half mirror is disposed on an optical path of both the liquid member and the second optical system.

The present invention relates to an inclination sensor which utilizes a liquid member having a free surface. In particular, the invention is concerned with an inclination sensor best suited for a surveying instrument and capable of being constituted in a compact form by disposing a half mirror on an optical path of both the liquid member and a light receiving optical system, as well as a surveying instrument using the inclination sensor.
Heretofore, as a device for detecting inclinations of a surveying instrument there has been used such a bubble tube 10000 as shown in FIG. 9. In the interior of the bubble tube 10000, bubbles 5000 are sealed and electrodes 6000 and 7000 are formed, to measure a capacitance electrically and thereby determine an inclination.
However, since the outer peripheral portion of the bubble tube 10000 is formed of glass, it is weak against impact and a high mechanical accuracy is required, thus giving rise to the problem that the cost is high.
Further, for measuring inclinations in both X- and Y-axis directions, it is necessary to use two bubble tubes 10000 in two-axis directions, thus causing an increase of cost.
Additionally, the bubble tube 10000 is also influenced by changes in ambient temperature and hence it has so far been required to make correction of temperature changes.

Inclination sensor and surveying instrument using the same


A sealant composition based on a mercaptan-terminated liquid polymer, fillers, plasticizer, and curing agent wherein the liquid mercaptan-terminated polymer employed is prepared from a mercapto acid or mercapto acid ester and a polyoxypropylene glycol, the polyoxypropylene glycol having been end-capped with ethylene oxide prior to esterification to give primary alcohol terminal groups. The cured sealant based on the ethylene oxide-end capped polymer exhibits a non-tacky surface, whereas a cured sealant based on a propylene oxide end-capped glycol exhibits a tacky surface.

This invention relates to non-tacky sealant compositions based on a mercaptan-terminated liquid polymer. In accordance with another aspect, this invention relates to sealant compositions comprising liquid mercaptan-terminated polymers prepared from at least one of a mercapto acid and a mercapto acid ester and a primary hydroxy-terminated polyol. In accordance with another aspect, this invention relates to liquid mercaptan-terminated polymers prepared from at least one of a mercapto acid and a mercapto acid ester and a polyoxypropylene glycol end-capped with ethylene oxide prior to esterification to give primary hydroxy-terminated groups. In accordance with a further aspect, this invention relates to a process of preparing said mercaptan-terminated polymer from a mercapto acid and/or a mercapto acid ester and an ethylene oxide end-capped polyoxypropylene glycol. In accordance with another aspect, this invention relates to non-tacky sealant compositions comprising said mercaptan-terminated liquid polymer, non-elastomeric materials and a curing agent.
Poly(oxyalkylene)-polyester-poly(sulfide)-polythiols are broadly known as shown by U.S. Pat. No. 3,817,936. In one embodiment, this reference prepares the polymer by esterifying a mixture of mercaptocarboxylic and thiodicarboxylic acids with a polyoxypropylene glycol having on the average 2.5 pendant hydroxyl groups per molecule. Another method of preparing said polythiols is reported in U.S. Pat. No. 4,113,707 wherein, in one specific embodiment, a mixture of an alkyl mercaptocarboxylate and a dithiobis(alkylcarboxylate), and polythiobis(alkylcarboxylate) is transesterified with a polyoxypropylene glycol having on the average 2.5 pendant hydroxyl groups per molecule. These materials are quite useful in applications such as sealants. The compositions are normally liquid and can be easily cured with conventional curing agents such as sulfur, or lead peroxide to give a weather resistant flexible cured sealant. However, the cured sealant compositions have an initial surface tack that increases dirt, dust and other foreign matter pick-up. Although this initial surface tack diminishes with time and exposure to water, ultraviolet light and other environmental conditions, it is still desirable to have an elastomeric mercaptan-based sealant composition without initial surface tack. This invention is, therefore, an improvement in the sealant composition described broadly in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,817,936, 4,113,707 and other poly(oxyalkylene)-polyester-poly(sulfide)-polythiols related inventions.
Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide sealants based on poly(oxyalkylene)-polyester-poly(sulfide)-polythiol polymers.
Another object of this invention is to provide poly(oxyalkylene)-polyester-poly(sulfide)-polythiols which are curable to sealants having improved properties.
Another object of this invention is to provide cured non-tacky sealant compositions.
Other aspects, objects and the several advantages of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon a study of this disclosure and the appended claims.


Described herein is a new assembly of components which comprise a support arm on the side of a bicycle or similar mobility device. The structure is capable of carrying long thin items such as a long surfboard, or it can be used to secure a pet such as a dog to allow them to walk or run safely alongside a bicycle. The invention is designed to fit a wide range of devices, and is optimized for maximum ease of installation and quick release removal without any tools.

As bicycling continues to grow in popularity and as a viable means of transportation, it is increasingly useful to have cost effect means of using standard bicycles to accomplish everyday tasks. Typical bicycles require the rider to keep both hands on the handle bars to safely steer the vehicle from destination to destination. It is, therefore, dangerous or impossible for the rider to hold carry objects while riding. Some bicycles are equipped with storage racks or baskets for safely holding small objects. However, there are many objects for which these current storage systems are woefully inadequate.


Each PV assembly of an array of PV assemblies comprises a base, a PV module and a support assembly securing the PV module to a position overlying the upper surface of the base. Vents are formed through the base. A pressure equalization path extends from the outer surface of the PV module, past the peripheral edge of the PV module, to and through at least one of the vents, and to the lower surface of the base to help reduce wind uplift forces on the PV assembly. The PV assemblies may be interengaged, such as by interengaging the bases of adjacent PV assemblies. The base may include a main portion and a cover and the bases of adjacent PV assemblies may be interengaged by securing the covers of adjacent bases together.

Air moving across an array of photovoltaic (PV) assemblies mounted to the roof of a building, or other support surface, creates wind uplift forces on the PV assemblies. Much work has been done in the design and evaluation of arrays of PV assemblies to minimize wind uplift forces. See U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,316,592; 5,505,788; 5,746,839; 6,061,978; and 6,148,570. Reducing wind uplift forces provides several advantages. First, it reduces the necessary weight per unit area of the array. This reduces or eliminates the need for strengthening the support surface to support the weight of the array, thus making retrofit easier and reducing the cost for both retrofit and new construction. Second, it reduces or eliminates the need for the use of roof membrane- (or other support surface-) penetrating fasteners; this helps to maintain the integrity of the membrane. Third, the cost of transporting and installing the assembly is reduced because of its decreased weight. Fourth, lightweight PV assemblies are easier to install than assemblies that rely on ballast weight to counteract wind uplift forces. Fifth, when designed properly, the assembly can serve as a protective layer over the roof membrane or support surface, shielding from temperature extremes and ultraviolet radiation.
Various aspects of the invention are based upon the discovery and recognition that (1) wind uplift forces are spatially distributed, both dynamically and randomly, so that wind uplift forces on a particular PV assembly within an array of PV assemblies changes rapidly in magnitude; and (2) interengaging the various PV assemblies within an array of PV assemblies causes wind uplift forces acting on a single PV assembly to be transferred to other, typically adjacent, PV assemblies.
A first aspect of the invention is directed to an array of pressure-equalizing photovoltaic (PV) assemblies mountable to a support surface. Each PV assembly comprises a base, a PV module and a support assembly securing the PV module to a position overlying the upper surface of the base. Vents are formed through the base. A pressure equalization path extends from the outer surface of the PV module, past the peripheral edge of the PV module, to and through at least one of the vents, and to the lower surface of the base. This provides pressure equalization between the outer surface of the PV module and the lower surface of the base to help reduce wind uplift forces on the PV assembly. The vents may be generally aligned or coincident with the peripheral edge. At least a portion of the path extending from the peripheral edge to at least one of the vents may be an unobstructed path portion. At least one of the vents may be positioned between the outer edge of the base and the support assembly. The base may include an electrical conductor, typically in the form of a metal cover, and further may include electrical ground connectors between the electrical conductors. The PV assemblies may be interengaged, such as by interengaging the bases of adjacent PV assemblies. The base may include a main portion and a cover and the bases of adjacent PV assemblies may be interengaged by securing the covers of adjacent bases together. The PV module may be an inclined PV module and the support assembly may be a multi-position support assembly which secures the PV module at shipping and inclined-use angles. The array may also include a deflector and a multi-position deflector support securing the deflector to the base at shipping and inclined-use angles. At least one of the vents may be generally vertically aligned or coincident with a gap defined between opposed portions of the inclined PV module and deflector; a conduit may fluidly couple the gap and at least one of the vents. The array maybe circumscribed by a perimeter assembly; the perimeter assembly may include perimeter elements. The perimeter elements are typically secured to one another and to the adjacent PV assemblies. Cross strapping, extending above, below or through the array, or some combination of above, below and through the array, may be used to secure one perimeter element to a non-adjacent perimeter element.
A second aspect of the invention is directed to a PV system comprising a support surface and an array of pressure-equalizing photovoltaic (PV) assemblies mounted to the support surface. Each PV assembly comprises a base, a PV module and a support assembly securing the PV module to a position overlying the upper surface of the base. Vents are formed through the base. A pressure equalization path extends from the outer surface of the PV module, past the peripheral edge of the PV module, to and through at least one of the vents, and to the lower surface of the base. This provides pressure equalization between the outer surface of the PV module and the lower surface of the base to help reduce wind uplift forces on the PV assembly. The peripheral edges of adjacent PV assemblies are separated by an average distance of about d. The support surface may comprise a surface with alternating ridges and troughs. Filler elements may be used within the troughs beneath the array of PV assemblies.
A third aspect of the invention is directed to a PV assembly, for use on a support surface. Each PV assembly comprises a base, a PV module and a module support assembly securing the PV module to a position overlying the upper surface of the base. The PV module is oriented at a first angle to the base by the module support and a deflector is oriented at a second angle to the base by a deflector support. Portions of the PV module and deflector define a gap therebetween. Vents are formed through the base. A pressure equalization path extends from the outer surface of the PV module, through the gap, to through at least one of the vents and to the lower surface of the base. This provides pressure equalization between the outer surface of the PV module and the lower surface of the base to help reduce wind uplift forces on the PV assembly. The module support and the deflector support may be multi-position module and deflector supports to support the module and deflector at shipping and inclined-use angles relative to the base. At least one conduit may fluidly couple the gap and at least one of the vents. The portion of the pressure equalization path between the gap and vent is a direct, unobstructed path; the path portion may also be a constrained leakage path portion which may be at least partially defined by the module support assembly.
A fourth aspect of the invention is directed to a PV system comprising a support surface, comprising alternating ridges and troughs, and an array of pressure-equalizing photovoltaic (PV) assemblies mounted to the support surface. Each PV assembly comprises a base, a PV module and a support assembly securing the PV module to a position overlying the upper surface of the base. A vent is formed through the base between the center of the PV module and the support assembly. A pressure equalization path extends from the outer surface of the PV module, past the peripheral edge of the PV module, to through the vent and to the lower surface of the base. This provides pressure equalization between the outer surface of the PV module and the lower surface of the base to help reduce wind uplift forces on the PV assembly. Filler elements may be used within the troughs beneath the array of PV assemblies. A second vent may be formed through the base at a position generally aligned or coincident with the peripheral edge. Thermal insulation may be located within the troughs between the lower surface of the base and the support surface. A perimeter assembly may be used to circumscribe the array of PV modules.
A fifth aspect of the invention is directed to a method for reducing wind uplift forces on an array of pressure-equalizing photovoltaic (PV) assemblies mountable to a support surface. Each PV assembly comprises a base, a PV module and a support assembly securing the PV module to a position overlying the upper surface of the base. The method comprises forming vents through the base and creating a pressure equalization path extending from the outer surface of the PV module, past the peripheral edge, to and through at least one of the vents, and to the lower surface of the base. At least some of the vents may be positioned to be generally aligned or coincident with the peripheral edge. The pressure equalization path may be created so that the portion of the path extending from the peripheral edge to a vent is an unobstructed path portion. The PV module may be oriented at an angle to the base and a deflector may be mounted at an angle to the base, the module and deflector having portions defining a gap therebetween. At least one hollow conduit may be used to fluidly couple the gap and a vent.
A sixth aspect of the invention is directed to a method for reducing wind uplift forces on an array of pressure-equalizing photovoltaic (PV) assemblies mountable to a support surface comprising alternating ridges and troughs. Each PV assembly comprises a base, a PV module and a support assembly securing the PV module to a position overlying the upper surface of the base. The method comprises forming vents through the base and creating pressure equalization paths extending from the outer surface of the PV module, past the peripheral edges, to and through at least one of the vents, and to the lower surface of the base. The method may also comprise substantially filling the troughs beneath the array of PV assemblies, such as with insulation. At least one of the vents may be positioned at a location between the center of the PV module and the support assembly for each of a plurality of the PV modules.
The provision of the vents in the base of the PV assembly provides for pressure equalization to reduce or eliminate wind uplift forces. Appropriately positioning the array on the roof of a building also helps to reduce wind uplift forces. Reducing wind uplift forces provides several advantages. First, it reduces the necessary weight per unit area of the array. This reduces or eliminates the need for strengthening the support surface to support the weight of the array, thus making retrofit easier and reducing the cost for both retrofit and new construction. Second, it reduces or eliminates the need for the use of roof membrane- (or other support surface-) penetrating fasteners; this helps to maintain the integrity of the membrane. Third, the cost of transporting and installing the assembly is reduced because of its decreased weight. Fourth, lightweight PV assemblies are easier to install than assemblies that rely on ballast weight to counteract wind uplift forces. In addition, using a PV assembly comprising a base permits the PV assembly to help protect the support surface from the effects of sun, wind, rain, etc., and also, when the base comprises thermal insulation, increases the thermal insulation qualities of the support surface. Further, the interengagement of the PV assemblies, and the maintenance of the interengagement of the PV assemblies, helps to ensure that uplift forces on one PV assembly tends to get transferred to adjacent PV assemblies thereby helping to counteract wind uplift forces.
Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description in which the preferred embodiments have been set forth in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Pressure equalizing photovoltaic assembly and method


A golf ball having an outermost layer of a coating film formed from a polyurethane clear top coat comprising (A) a polyol component containing a polyurethane polyol having terminal hydroxyl groups and urethane bonds in the main chain thereof, said polyurethane polyol being formed from a diisocyanate compound and a hydroxyl group-containing compound and having a hydroxyl value of 20 to 100 mgKOH/g when the non-volatile content is 100% by weight, a concentration of urethane group of 1 to 5 millimoles/g and a weight average molecular weight of 10,000 to 50,000, and (B) a yellowing resistant polyisocyanate, wherein the NCO/OH equivalent ratio is from 0.7/1.0 to 2.0/1.0. The golf ball has excellent scratch resistance, weatherability and surface durability, and the golf ball which is hard to generate scratch, face cuts and cracks when struck with an iron club can be produced in good coating workability.

The present invention relates to a golf ball which has excellent scratch resistance and ultraviolet ray resistance, in addition to an excellent surface durability whereby generation of face marks by striking with an iron club is decreased, and which is prepared in good coating workability.
Wound golf balls and solid golf balls such as two piece balls are known, wherein a cover made of balata rubber or a thermoplastic resin such as ionomer resin is provided on a core. In both wound golf balls and solid golf balls, paints for golf balls are coated on the surface of the cover in plural layers. In general, such a coating film comprises a bottom layer of a white undercoat paint, one or more intermediate layers of a white intercoat and an outermost layer (surface layer) of a clear top coat.
The functions of the coating film constituting the outermost layer are to impart a gloss to balls to present a fine appearance and to protect the cover. Paints for golf balls used for forming such an outermost layer are required to have properties such as flexibility of coating film which can follow stretch and shrink resulting from deformation of golf balls by external force added when struck, impact resistance which is endurable an impact by a club head, and weatherability which is endurable the use in the outdoors. Also, a good coating workability is required. For example, a two component polyurethane paint is required to have such a coating workability that after mixing two components to form a coating liquid, it has generally a coatable time, namely a pot life, of about 5 hours, and after applying the coating liquid onto golf balls, a time until the coating liquid becomes the state that dust cannot stick, namely dust free drying time, is as short as possible.
Two component polyurethane paints have been conventionally used as paints satisfying such requirements to some extent, e.g., a two component polyurethane paint composed of a polyester polyol or polyether polyol and a polyisocyanate, a two component polyurethane paint composed of an acrylic polyol and a polyisocyanate, and a two component polyurethane paint composed of a polycarbonate diol and a polyisocyanate. However, no paint satisfying all the above-mentioned requirements has been proposed.
Two component polyurethane paints wherein a polyester polyol is used as the polyol component are excellent in film strength, but they have a high hardness and are also inferior in impact resistance and weatherability. Thus, it has also been attempted to use a polyester polyol having a low hydroxyl value or to decrease the amount of a polyisocyanate, thereby lowering the crosslinking density to soften the resulting coating film. These attempts improve the flexibility or softness of the coating film to some extent, but cause another problems that the scratch resistance is lowered and the drying velocity is decreased. A difficulty to improve the weatherability also arises.
In Japanese Patent Publication Kokoku No. 6-93930, it is proposed to use, as a paint for golf balls, a two component polyurethane paint comprising a diisocyanate of non-yellowing type and a hydroxyl group-containing polyester obtained by a reaction of a polycarboxylic acid and a polyhydric alcohol component containing a polyhydric alcohol having an isocyanurate ring. This paint has good surface durability such as scratch resistance and impact resistance, but has a problem that the weatherability is poor.
Two component polyurethane paints wherein a polyether polyol is used as the polyol component have the advantage that coating films having good flexibility and weatherability are easy to be obtained, but have the disadvantage that the scratch resistance is poor. Thus, it is proposed to introduce a rigid group such as aromatic group into the polyether polyol molecular chains, or to further use an active hydrogen compound in order to raise the crosslinking density. It is possible to contemplate an improvement of scratch resistance by these methods, but they cause a problem that the obtained coating films are difficult to follow the stretch and shrink caused by deformation of golf balls at the time of impact, thus being poor in impact resistance.
Two component polyurethane paints wherein an acrylic polyol is used as the polyol component are excellent in weatherability and film strength, but have the disadvantage that the hardness is high and the impact resistance is poor. Thus, it is proposed to use an acrylic polyol having a lower Tg and a low hydroxyl value, or to decrease the amount of a polyisocyanate, or to combine these manners, thereby lowering the crosslinking density to soften the resulting coating film. The flexibility of coating films is improved to some extent by these methods, but a problem of deterioration in scratch resistance arises.
In order to solve the problems as mentioned above of conventional paints for golf balls, Japanese Patent Publication Kokai No. 1-141677 proposes to use, as the golf ball paint, a two component polyurethane paint comprising a polycarbonate diol as the polyol component. This paint has good weatherability and film strength and has also good scratch resistance and impact resistance, and exhibits better properties than those of conventional paints for golf balls. However, it still has a slow drying problem that the dust free drying time is long. If a curing catalyst such as dibutyl tin dilaurate is used in order to shorten the dust free drying time, there arises a problem that the pot life becomes short.
Like this, known golf balls have the problems as mentioned above in the coating films formed on the surface of cover and cannot satisfy all the properties required such as impact resistance, scratch resistance and weatherability. Also, there is a problem of workability in coating golf balls with paints. Thus, it is demanded to develop a golf ball which can satisfy all the properties required for golf ball and can be produced in good coating workability.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a golf ball which can satisfy all properties required for golf balls such as flexibility, film strength and surface durability.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball having on the surface of a cover a coating film having excellent properties such as scratch resistance, impact resistance, weatherability, flexibility, film strength and elasticity and capable of being formed in good coating workability.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a two component polyurethane paint having excellent properties such as scratch resistance, impact resistance, weatherability, flexibility, elasticity and film strength and having a long pot life and a shortened tack-free or dust-free drying time, and being suitable as a paint for golf balls.
These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the description hereinafter.

Golf ball having coated surface layer of polyurethane


A trunked radio system range extender extends the range of a trunked radio system by having a second repeater station monitor the control channel for the trunked radio system detect and decode control information and rebroadcast it on to a second control resource. Communications resources from the first trunked radio system are similarly mapped into a second set of communications resources for subsequent broadcast throughout an extended geographic range. The extending repeater station uses the control resource from the first repeater station.

This invention relates to radio communications systems. In particular this invention relates to trunked radio systems and specifically to a method and apparatus for extending the geographic coverage area provided by a trunked radio system.
Trunked radio systems provide limited range two-way radio communications to subscriber radios that are within the geographic coverage area of a repeater station for the system. Subscriber radios of a trunked radio system time-share a limited number of radio communication frequencies with other radios, including other unrelated radios under the direction of a controller for the system. The central controller temporarily assigns and re-assigns available frequencies to certain radios based on a variety of factors, which are irrelevant to this invention.
When a subscriber radio requests a communication channel, it sends a request for a communication channel to the resource controller for the system via a control channel. (The control channel is a radio channel that carries trunked radio system commands and data. The resource controller continuously send outbound signalling words (OSW's) to the subscriber radios and the subscriber units send inbound signalling words (ISW's) to the resource controller on the control channel when they request service. The control channel, as well as the communication channels for the trunked radio system, are referred to hereafter as a control resource and communication resources respectively since the control channel and communication channels might include distinct frequency bands using distinct modulation techniques as well as a particular time slot in a TDM frame or other uniquely identifiable channel for example.) This controller, which is more properly called a communication resource controller and typically includes a computer, receives requests for communication resources from subscriber radios via ISW's on the control resource and, using OSW's, directs subscriber radios to shift to a particular frequency and monitor frequency for communications traffic.
Large trunked radio systems might include multiple repeaters distributed around a geographic region to expand the area over which communication can be maintained. The repeaters broadcast and receive the OSW's and ISW's as well as the communications information. To expand the geographic coverage area, a repeater is usually added in or near the region where extended communication is desired. If the new repeater is beyond the range of the existing system, it must be linked to the resource controller by either a dedicated microwave link, dedicated phone line or other communication path. Microwave links and phone lines can be expensive to install and maintain however, and a method and apparatus for expanding the geographic coverage area of a trunked radio system that reduces the cost of prior art range expansion techniques would be an improvement over the prior art.

Method and apparatus for extended coverage of a trunked radio communications system


The disclosure provides improved neutralizing anti-GDF-8 antibodies capable of substantially higher levels of expression in host cells compared to previous anti-GDF-8 antibodies. Also provided are methods of using compositions comprising such antibodies to increase muscle mass or strength, and to treat or prevent muscular disorders, neuromuscular disorders, metabolic disorders, adipose tissue disorders or bone disorders.

Growth and differentiation factor-8 (GDF-8), also know as myostatin, is a secreted protein and member of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) superfamily of structurally related growth factors. Members of this superfamily possess growth-regulatory and morphogenetic properties (Kingsley et al. (1994) Genes Dev. 8:133-46; Hoodless et al. (1998) Curr. Topics Microbiol. Immunol. 228:235-72). Human GDF-8 is synthesized as a 375 amino acid precursor protein that forms a homodimer complex. During processing, the amino-terminal propeptide, known as the "latency-associated peptide" (LAP), is cleaved and may remain noncovalently bound to the homodimer, forming an inactive complex designated the "small latent complex" (Miyazono et al. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263:6407-15; Wakefield et al. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263:7646-54; Brown et al. (1999) Growth Factors 3:35-43; Thies et al. (2001) Growth Factors 18:251-59; Gentry et al. (1990) Biochemistry 29:6851-57; Derynck et al. (1995) Nature 316:701-05; Massague (1990) Ann. Rev. Cell Biol. 12:597-641). Proteins such as follistatin and its relatives also bind mature GDF-8 homodimers and inhibit GDF-8 biological activity (Gamer et al. (1999) Dev. Biol. 208:222-32).
An alignment of the deduced GDF-8 amino acid sequence from various species demonstrates that GDF-8 is highly conserved (McPherron et al. (1997) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 94:12457-61). The sequences of human, mouse, rat, porcine, and chicken GDF-8 are 100% identical in the C-terminal region, while baboon, bovine, and ovine GDF-8 differ by a mere 3 amino acids at the C-terminus. The high degree of GDF-8 conservation across species suggests that GDF-8 has an essential physiological function.
GDF-8 has been shown to play a major role in the regulation of muscle development and homeostasis by inhibiting both proliferation and differentiation of myoblasts and satellite cells (Lee and McPherron (1999) Curr. Opin. Genet. Dev. 9:604-07; McCroskery et al. (2003) J. Cell. Biol. 162:1135-47). It is expressed early in developing skeletal muscle, and continues to be expressed in adult skeletal muscle, preferentially in fast twitch types. Additionally, GDF-8 overexpressed in adult mice results in significant muscle loss (Zimmers et al. (2002) Science 296:1486-88). Also, natural mutations that render the GDF-8 gene inactive have been shown to cause both hypertrophy and hyperplasia in both animals and humans (Lee and McPherron (1997) supra). For example, GDF-8 knockout transgenic mice are characterized by a marked hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the skeletal muscle and altered cortical bone structure (McPherron et al. (1997) Nature 387:83-90; Hamrick et al. (2000) Bone 27:343-49). Similar increases in skeletal muscle mass are evident in natural GDF-8 mutations in cattle (Ashmore et al. (1974) Growth 38:501-07; Swatland et al. (1994) J. Anim. Sci. 38:752-57; McPherron et al., supra; Kambadur et al. (1997) Genome Res. 7:910-15). In addition, various studies indicate that increased GDF-8 expression is associated with HIV-induced muscle wasting (Gonzalez-Cadavid et al. (1998) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 95:14938-43). GDF-8 has also been implicated in the production of muscle-specific enzymes (e.g., creatine kinase) and myoblast proliferation (WO 00/43781).
In addition to its growth-regulatory and morphogenetic properties, GDF-8 is believed to participate in numerous other physiological processes, including glucose homeostasis during type 2 diabetes development, impaired glucose tolerance, metabolic syndromes (i.e., a syndrome such as, e.g., syndrome X, involving the simultaneous occurrence of a group of health conditions, which may include insulin resistance, abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, chronic inflammation, a prothrombotic state, etc., that places a person at high risk for type 2 diabetes and/or heart disease), insulin resistance (e.g., resistance induced by trauma such as bums or nitrogen imbalance), and adipose tissue disorders (e.g., obesity, dyslipidemia, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, etc.) (Kim et al. (2000) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 281:902-06).
A number of human and animal disorders are associated with functionally impaired muscle tissue, e.g., amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ("ALS"), muscular dystrophy ("MD"; including Duchenne's muscular dystrophy), muscle atrophy, organ atrophy, frailty, congestive obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), sarcopenia, cachexia, and muscle wasting syndromes caused by other diseases and conditions. Currently, few reliable or effective therapies exist to treat these disorders. The pathology of these diseases indicates a potential role for GDF-8 signaling as a target in the treatment of these diseases.
ALS is a late onset and fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by degeneration of the central nervous system and muscle atrophy. ALS typically initiates with abnormalities in gait and loss of dexterity, and then progresses to paralysis of limbs and diaphragm. While most cases of ALS are sporadic and are of unknown etiology, 5-10% of cases have been shown to result from dominant familial (FALS) inheritance. Approximately 10-20% of FALS cases are attributed to mutations in the Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) gene (reviewed in Bruijn et al. (2004) Ann. Rev. Neurosci. 27:723-49). SOD1 is a heterodimeric metallo-protein that catalyzes the reaction of superoxide into hydrogen peroxide and diatomic oxygen, and as loss of SOD1 does not result in motor neuron disease (Reaume et al. (1996) Nat. Genet. 13:43-47), it is believed to induce disease by toxic gain of function (reviewed in Bruijn et al., supra). The specific mechanisms of SOD1-induced neuronal cell death are unclear, and may involve alterations in axonal transport, cellular responses to misfolded protein, mitochondrial dysfunction, and excitotoxicity (Bruijn et al., supra).
The degeneration of motor neurons observed in ALS may occur via multiple mechanisms, including uptake or transport disruption of trophic factors by motor neurons (reviewed in Holzbaur (2004) Trends Cell Biol. 14:233-40). Thus, ALS might be treated by therapies that rejuvenate a degenerating neuron by providing an optimal survival environment. A nerve's environment includes normeuronal cells such as glia and the muscle cells innervated by the motor neuron. This environment provides trophic and growth factors that are endocytosed by the neuron and transported via retrograde axonal transport to the cell body (Chao (2003) Neuron 39:1-2; Holzbaur, supra).
FALS has been modeled in both mouse and rat by the overexpression of mutant SOD1 (Howland et al. (2002) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 99:1604-09). Transgenic mice overexpressing the G93A form of mutant SOD1 display muscle weakness and atrophy by 90 to 100 days of age, and typically die near 130 days of age (Gurney et al. (1994) Science 264:1772-75). However, the underlying SODG93A-induced pathology, which includes grip strength weakness and loss of neuromuscular junctions, is significant as early as 50 days of age (Frey et al. (2000) J. Neurosci. 20:2534-42; Fisher et al. (2004) Exp. Neuro. 185:232-40; Ligon et al. (2005) NeuroReport 16:533-36; Wooley et al. (2005) Muscle Nerve 32:43-50). Transgenic rats expressing the SODG93A mutation follow a similar time course of degeneration (Howland et al., supra). Recent work has suggested that the development of pathology is not cell autonomous, consistent with the hypothesis that the degeneration of motor neurons observed in ALS occurs via multiple mechanisms, including the disruption of uptake and transport of trophic factors by the motor neuron (see above). Clement and coworkers have used chimeric mice to show that wild type normeuronal cells can extend survival of motor neurons expressing mutant SOD1 (Clement et al. (2003) Science 302:113-17). These observations have led to the investigation of therapies that might slow neuronal degeneration by providing an optimal microenvironment for survival. For example, treatment of the SODG93A mouse via direct intramuscular injection of virally expressed growth factors (including IGF-1, GDNF and VEGF) prolongs animal survival (Kaspar et al. (2003) Science 301:839-42; Azzouz et al. (2004) Nature 429:413-17; Wang et al. (2002) J. Neurosci. 22:6920-28). In addition, muscle-specific expression of a local IGF-1-specific isoform (mIGF-1) stabilizes neuromuscular junctions, enhances motor neuron survival and delays onset and progression of disease in the SODG93A transgenic mouse model, indicating that direct effects on muscle can impact disease onset and progression in transgenic SOD1 animals (Dobrowolny et al. (2005) J. Cell Biol. 168:193-99). Links between muscle hypermetabolism and motor neuron vulnerability have also been reported in ALS mice, supporting the hypothesis that defects in muscle may contribute to the disease etiology (Dupois et al. (2004) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 101:11159-64). Thus, enhancing muscle growth should provide improved local support for motor neurons, and therefore result in therapeutic benefits.
Inhibition of myostatin expression leads to both muscle hypertrophy and hyperplasia (Lee and McPherron, supra; McPherron et al., supra). Myostatin negatively regulates muscle regeneration after injury, and lack of myostatin in GDF-8 null mice results in accelerated muscle regeneration (McCroskery et al., (2005) J. Cell. Sci. 118:3531-41). Myostatin-neutralizing antibodies increase body weight, skeletal muscle mass, and muscle size and strength in the skeletal muscle of wild type mice (Whittemore et al. (2003) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 300:965-71) and the mdx mouse, a model for muscular dystrophy (Bogdanovich et al. (2002) Nature 420:418-21; Wagner et al. (2002) Ann. Neurol. 52:832-36). Furthermore, myostatin antibody in these mice decreased the damage to the diaphragm, a muscle that is also targeted during ALS pathogenesis. It has been hypothesized that the action of growth factors, such as HGF, on muscle may be due to inhibition of myostatin expression (McCroskery et al. (2005), supra), thereby helping to shift the "push and pull," or balance, between regeneration and degeneration in a positive direction. Thus, GDF-8 inhibition presents as a potential pharmacological target for the treatment of ALS, muscular dystrophy (MD), and other GDF-8-associated disorders, e.g., neuromuscular disorders for which it is desirable to increase muscle mass, strength, size, etc. With the availability of animal models (mouse and rat) of ALS, it is possible to test therapeutics in two different species, thus increasing the confidence of therapeutic effects in humans in vivo.
In addition to neuromuscular disorders in humans, there are also growth factor-related conditions associated with a loss of bone, such as osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, which predominantly affect the elderly and/or postmenopausal women. In addition, metabolic bone diseases and disorders include low bone mass due to chronic glucocorticoid therapy, premature gonadal failure, androgen suppression, vitamin D deficiency, secondary hyperparathyroidism, nutritional deficiencies, and anorexia nervosa. Although many current therapies for these conditions function by inhibiting bone resorption, a therapy that promotes bone formation would be a useful alternative treatment. Because GDF-8 plays a role in bone development as well as muscular development, regulation of GDF-8 is also an excellent pharmacological target for the treatment of bone-degenerative disorders.
A murine monoclonal antibody that specifically antagonizes GDF-8 was previously described as increasing muscle mass and strength in a rodent model for ALS, among other biological effects. Holzbaur, E L, et al., Myostatin inhibition slows muscle atrophy in rodent models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Neurobiology of Disease (2006) 23(3):697-707. The mouse antibody and its humanized counterpart are therefore expected to be effective in increasing muscle mass and strength in ALS patients, as well as in patients affected by other diseases and disorders characterized or mediated by excess quantities of GDF-8, such as those described above.
The humanized version of the mouse anti-GDF-8 antibody mentioned above, like many monoclonal antibodies and other protein-based therapeutics, is challenging and expensive to manufacture because doing so typically requires production in living mammalian cells. Improving the yield of this antibody, or others with similar specificity, would therefore permit the production of the same amount of active drug with fewer inputs. This would have the dual benefit of reducing the cost of manufacturing while at the same time freeing up limited manufacturing facilities for the production of other biological drugs. Both benefits would further the goals of increasing the availability to patients of therapeutic anti-GDF-8 antibodies as well as other biologics. Accordingly, there exists a need in the art for improved versions of anti-GDF-8 antibodies having higher production yields in mammalian cells.

Antagonist antibodies against GDF-8 and uses therefor


A video signal scrambling system for use with a pay television system in which video signals are scrambled so that only specified subscribers can receive the program. Inversion of the video signal level for scrambling is performed only when the average gradation of the video signals varies relatively largely so that flickering is eliminated from the reproduced picture.

The present invention relates to a television video signal scrambling system and, more particularly, to a video signal scrambling system for use in a wireless pay television broadcasting system in which a broadcasting station transmits television signals scrambled by inverting video signals by an encoder for providing sustaining programs at charge so that only specified subscribers reproduce the television signals on their television receivers by decoding the scrambled signals with their decoders.
The charged wireless television system generally referred to as a pay television system was developed in reply to a demand for more substantial and enriched programs even with charge in view of dull commercial messages indispensable to charge-free commercial broadcasting programs and deterioration in the quality of the programs due to various restrictions. The future of the pay television system is noteworthy because it has significant advantages such that cost and time for laying cable can be saved and that a system can theoretically accomodate a limitless number of subscribers because it is a wireless system.
In a wireless pay television system intended for specified subscribers only, television signals and audio signals are generally scrambled for foreclosing non-subscibers from receiving the program. A conventional video signal scrambling system is shown in FIG. 1, in which a video signal applied to an input terminal 1 is inverted in its polarity by a video signal polarity inverter 3 and applied thereby to an output terminal 2. The video polarity inverter 3 is controlled by a random number signal generator 4, that is, the video polarity inverter 3 provides the video signal with its polarity inverted or uninverted corresponding to a randomly changing logic value signal from the random number signal generator 4. A decoder can decode and restore the scrambled video signals according to the prearranged key code signal. Thus, the conventional wireless pay television system is so arranged that only the specified subscribers having the decoders, respectively, can satisfactorily receive the programs.
The conventional video signal scrambling system has a disadvantage that, when a subscriber restores with his decoder video signals transmitted by the broadcasting station in a form inverted by the encoder, if there is a lag between the original video signals and the restored video signals caused by the difference in characteristics (for example, linearity) between the component parts (such as diodes, transistors and the like) used in the encoder and in the decoder, flickering is caused in the picture due to the irregular brightness and the variation in the hue and the like. In order to avoid this disadvantage, it is necessary to equalize the characteristics of the component parts of the encoder and the decoders and to regulate and maintain them strictly. This, however, is not preferable in view of the difficulties in manufacture and economy.

Television video signal scrambling system


An antenna apparatus which can increase capacity in a cellular communication system. The antenna operates in conjunction with a mobile subscriber unit and provides a plurality of antenna elements. At least one active antenna element is active and essentially centrally located within multiple passive antenna elements. The passive antenna elements are coupled to selectable impedance components. Through proper control of the passive antenna elements, the cellular communication system directs an antenna beam pattern toward an antenna tower of a base station to maximize gain, and, consequently, signal-to-noise ratio. Thus, optimum reception is achieved during, for example, an idle mode which receives a pilot signal. The antenna array creates a beamformer for signals to be transmitted from the mobile subscriber unit, and a directional receiving array to more optimally detect and receive signals transmitted from the base station. By directionally receiving and transmitting signals, multipath fading is greatly reduced as well as intercell interference. Various techniques for determining the proper phase of each antenna element are accommodated.

This invention relates to cellular communication systems, and more particularly to an antenna apparatus for use by mobile subscriber units to provide beamforming transmission and reception capabilities.
Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) communication systems may be used to provide wireless communication between a base station and one or more mobile subscriber units. The base station is typically a computer controlled set of transceivers that are interconnected to a land-based public switched telephone network (PSTN). The base station includes an antenna apparatus for sending forward link radio frequency signals to the mobile subscriber units. The base station antenna is also responsible for receiving reverse link radio frequency signals transmitted from each mobile unit. Each mobile subscriber unit also contains an antenna apparatus for the reception of the forward link signals and for transmission of the reverse links signals. A typical mobile subscriber unit is a digital cellular telephone handset or a personal computer coupled to a cellular modem. In CDMA cellular systems, multiple mobile subscriber units may transmit and receive signals on the same frequency but with different codes, to permit detection of signals on a per unit basis.
The most common type of antenna used to transmit and receive signals at a mobile subscriber unit is a mono- or omni-pole antenna. This type of antenna consists of a single wire or antenna element that is coupled to a transceiver within the subscriber unit. The transceiver receives reverse link signals to be transmitted from circuitry within the subscriber unit and modulates the signals onto the antenna element at a specific frequency assigned to that subscriber unit. Forward link signals received by the antenna element at a specific frequency are demodulated by the transceiver and supplied to processing circuitry within the subscriber unit.
The signal transmitted from a monopole antenna is omnidirectional in nature. That is, the signal is sent with the same signal strength in all directions in a generally horizontal plane. Reception of a signal with a monopole antenna element is likewise omnidirectional. A monopole antenna does not differentiate in its ability to detect a signal in one direction versus detection of the same or a different signal coming from another direction.
A second type of antenna which may be used by mobile subscriber units is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,617,102. The system described therein provides a directional antenna comprising two antenna elements mounted on the outer case of a laptop computer. The system includes a phase shifter attached to the two elements. The phase shifter may be switched on or off in order to affect the phase of signals transmitted or received during communications to and from the computer. By switching the phase shifter on, the antenna transmit pattern may be adapted to a predetermined hemispherical pattern which provides transmit beam pattern areas having a concentrated signal strength or gain. The dual element antenna directs the signal into predetermined quadrants or hemispheres to allow for large changes in orientation relative to the base station while minimizing signal loss.
CDMA cellular systems are also recognized as being interference limited systems. That is, as more mobile subscriber units become active in a cell and in adjacent cells, frequency interference becomes greater and thus error rates increase. As error rates increase, maximum data rates decrease. Thus, another method by which data rate can be increased in a CDMA system is to decrease the number of active mobile subscriber units, thus clearing the airwaves of potential interference. For instance, to increase a current maximum available data rate by a factor of two, the number of active mobile subscriber units can be decreased by one half. However, this is rarely an effective mechanism to increase data rates due to a lack of priority amongst users.
Problems of the Prior Art
Various problems are inherent in prior art antennas used on mobile subscriber units in wireless communications systems. One such problem is called multipath fading. In multipath fading, a radio frequency signal transmitted from a sender (either base station or mobile subscriber unit) may encounter interference on route to an intended receiver. The signal may, for example, be reflected from objects such as buildings that are not in the direct path of transmission, but that redirect a reflected version of the original signal to the receiver. In such instances, the receiver receives two versions of the same radio signal; the original version and a reflected version. Since each received signal is at the same frequency but the reflected signal may be out of phase with the original due to reflection and a longer transmission path, the original and reflected signals may tend to cancel each other out. This results in fading or dropouts in the received signal, hence the term multipath fading.
Single element antennas are highly susceptible to multipath fading. A single element antenna has no way of determining the direction from which a transmitted signal is sent and cannot be tuned or attenuated to more accurately detect and receive a signal in any particular direction.
The dual element antenna described in the aforementioned reference is also susceptible to multipath fading, due to the symmetrical nature of the hemispherical lobes formed by the antenna pattern when the phase shifter is activated. Since the lobes created in the antenna pattern are more or less symmetrical and opposite from one another, a signal reflected in a reverse direction from its origin can be received with as much power as the original signal that is directly received. That is, if the original signal reflects from an object beyond or behind the intended receiver (with respect to the sender) and reflects back at the intended receiver from the opposite direction as the directly received signal, a phase difference in the two signals can create a multipath fading situation.
Another problem present in cellular communication systems is intercell interference. Most cellular systems are divided into individual cells, with each cell having a base station located at its center. The placement of each base station is arranged such that neighboring base stations are located at approximately sixty degree intervals from each other. In essence, each cell may be viewed as a six sided polygon with a base station at the center. The edges of each cell adjoin each other and many cells form a honeycomb like image if each cell edge were to be drawn as a line and all cells were viewed from above. The distance from the edge of a cell to its base station is typically driven by the maximum amount of power that is to be required to transmit an acceptable signal from a mobile subscriber unit located near the edge of a cell to that cell""s base station (i.e., the power required to transmit an acceptable signal a distance equal to the radius of one cell).
Intercell interference occurs when a mobile subscriber unit near the edge of one cell transmits a signal that crosses over the edge of a neighboring cell and interferes with communications taking place within the neighboring cell. Typically, intercell interference occurs when similar frequencies are used for communication in neighboring cells. The problem of intercell interference is compounded by the fact that subscriber units near the edges of a cell typically use higher transmit powers so that the signals they transmit can be effectively received by the intended base station located at the cell center. Consider that another mobile subscriber unit located beyond or behind the intended receiver may be presented at the same power level, representing additional interference.
The intercell interference problem is exacerbated in CDMA systems, since the subscriber units in adjacent cells may typically be transmitting on the same frequency. What is needed is a way to reduce the subscriber unit antenna""s apparent field of view, which can have a marked effect on the operation of the forward link (base to subscriber) by reducing the apparent number of interfering transmissions. A similar improvement is needed for the reverse link, so that the transmitted signal power needed to achieve a particular receive signal quality could be reduced.
The present invention provides an inexpensive antenna apparatus for use with a mobile subscriber unit in a wireless same frequency communication system, such as a CDMA cellular communication system.
The invention provides a precise mechanism for determining in which direction the base station assigned to that unit is located and provides a means for configuring the antenna apparatus to maximize the effective radiated and/or received energy. The antenna apparatus includes at least one active antenna element that transmits and receives RF energy, multiple passive antenna elements that re-radiate the RF energy, and a like number of selective impedance components, each respectively coupled to one of the passive antenna elements. The selectable impedance components are independently adjustable (i.e., programmable) to affect the direction of the beam produced by the directive antenna. Thus, forward and reverse links have improved gain.
The selectable impedance components are independently adjustable to make the associated antenna elements reflective or transmissive. Reflective antenna elements are, in effect, elongated, causing reflection of RF signals. Transmissive antenna elements are, in effect, shortened, allowing RF signals from the active antenna element(s) to propagate past them. Through proper coordination of the passive antenna elements, the subscriber unit uses the directive antenna to direct the beam to reduce multipath fading and intercell interference.
In one embodiment, the antenna apparatus is allowed to adapt to various orientations with respect to the base station. In this embodiment, the antenna apparatus also includes a controller coupled to the selectable impedance components. The controller determines an optimal impedance setting for each selectable impedance component. The proper phase, set by the associated impedance component, of each passive antenna element may, for example, be determined by monitoring an optimum response to a pilot signal transmitted from the base station. The antenna apparatus thus acts as a beamformer for transmission of signals from the subscriber unit and acts as a directive antenna for signals received by the subscriber unit.
Through the use of an array having at least one active antenna element and multiple passive antenna elements each having a programmable re-radiation phase, the antenna apparatus is estimated to increase the effective transmit power per bit transmitted by as much as 3 decibels (dB) for reverse link communications over classic phased array antenna configurations, which provide 4.5 dBi. Thus, the number of active subscriber units in a cell may remain the same while the antenna apparatus of this invention increases data rates for each subscriber unit beyond those achievable by prior art antennas. Alternatively, if data rates are maintained at a given rate, more subscriber units may become active in a single cell using the antenna apparatus described herein. In either case, the capacity of a cell is increased, as measured by the sum total of data being communicated at any moment in time.
Forward link communication capacity can be increased as well, due to the directional reception capabilities of the antenna apparatus. Since the antenna apparatus is less susceptible to interference from adjacent cells, the forward link capacity can be increased by adding more users or by increasing cell radius size.
With respect to the physical implementation of the antenna apparatus, one embodiment of the invention specifies that a central, active, antenna element is encircled by multiple passive antenna elements mounted on a planar surface having a single ground plane layer. Electrical coupling to the ground plane is implemented through switches coupling the associated antenna elements to respective, fixed, impedance components, such as a delay line, capacitor, inductor, or adjustable impedance component, such as a varactor. Other embodiments specify that more than one active antenna element is employed along with an associated feed network, forming an antenna array surrounded by multiple, passive, antenna elements.

Adaptive antenna for use in wireless communication systems


3-Azabicyclo(3.1.0)hexane-2-carboxylic acid, a plant gametocide, is prepared by effecting reaction between cis 2-aminomethylcyclopropyl-1,1-dimethyl acetal and a cyanide in the presence of a liquid lower-alkanecarboxylic acid; treating the resulting N-alkanoyl-3-azabicyclo(2.1.0)hexane-2-carbonitrile with a strong acid; treating the resulting 3-alkanoyl-3-azabicyclo(3.1.0)hexane-2-carboxylic acid with strong acid to form the desired 3-azabicyclo(3.1.0)hexane-2-carboxylic acid.

3-azabicyclo(3.1.0)hexane-2-carboxylic acid has been found to be an effective plant male gametocide: U.S. Pat. No. 4,047,930 (the compound is designated therein as 2-carboxy-3,4-methanopyrrolidine). The compound exists in the forms of two geometric (i.e., cis, trans) isomers. Each of these isomeric forms exists in the forms of optical isomers. The racemic mixtures of both of the geometric isomer forms are active as plant male gametocides. The naturally occurring L,cis isomer is active as a plant male gametocide; the relative activities of each of the other optical isomer forms have not been determined. The L,cis isomer occurs naturally in the seeds of the American horse chestnut.

Process for preparing 3-azabicyclo(3.1.0)hexane-2-carboxylic acid


A noise reducing apparatus which is particularly effective to reduce periodic noise with the construction simplified very much is disclosed. The noise reducing apparatus comprises a microphone, an adaptive filter for generating a signal to reduce noise inputted to the microphone, transfer characteristic compensation means for generating a signal to compensate for a transfer characteristic when the signal generated from the adaptive filter comes the microphone, a synchronizing pulse generation circuit for generating a pulse signal synchronized with the period of the noise, a pulse interval detection circuit for detecting the interval between pulses of the pulse signal, tap number changeover means for changing over the number of taps of the adaptive filter to a number with which the delay amount of a tapped delay line of the adaptive filter is equal to the interval detected by the pulse interval detection circuit, and a loudspeaker for generating sounds in response to the signal from the adaptive filter. Also a noise reducing apparatus suitable for with an automobile.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a noise reducing apparatus of the type which reduces noise by generating a signal which is equal in amplitude but reverse in phase to the noise to reduce the noise, and more particularly to a noise reducing apparatus of the type mentioned which is suitably used for reduction of periodical noise and also to a noise reducing apparatus which reduces noise in a room of an automobile.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a room of an automobile, noise is generated by rotation of an engine, and in an air conditioning system, noise is generated by rotation of a fan or a compressor. Such noise often causes people there to have a disagreeable feeling.
One of methods of reducing such noise is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Application No. Heisel 1-178846 wherein s signal which is equal In amplitude but reverse in phase to noise is generated using an adaptive filter to cancel the noise.
An exemplary one of conventional noise reducing apparatus of the type just described is shown in FIG. 9. Referring to FIG. 9, the noise reducing apparatus includes a pickup circuit 11 for picking up noise from a noise source 10, a pair of analog to digital converters (A/D) 12 and 16, a digital to analog converter (D/A) 13, a loudspeaker 14, an adaptive filter 7, a transfer characteristic compensation section 8, and a tap value updating section 9 for updating tap values of the adaptive filter 9.
A microphone 15 is installed at a location where it is desired to reduce noise.
The adaptive filter 7 corrects a signal picked up by the pickup circuit 11 for those portions which are different from noise which is generated from the noise source 10 and inputted to the microphone 15 so that a signal issued from the loudspeaker 14 and coming to the microphone 15 may be equal in amplitude but reverse in phase to the noise from the noise source 10.
The adaptive filter 7 is constituted from a digital filter formed from a tapped delay line as described in detail below with reference to FIG. 10. In particular, the adaptive filter 7 can transform a signal of any waveform by the Fourier transform to decompose the signal into a frequency spectrum. Further, if the frequency spectrum is the same, then a same waveform can be obtained by the Fourier transform. Accordingly, the adaptive filter 7 controls a passing spectrum so that the spectrum of a signal picked up by the pickup circuit 11 may be the same as the spectrum of a noise signal from the noise source 10 received by the microphone 15.
The tap value updating section 9 updates the tap values of the adaptive filter 7 to make a filter characteristic so that the passing spectrum may be the same as the spectrum of the noise signal.
The transfer characteristic compensation section generates a compensation signal to compensate, since a signal generated by the adaptive filter 7 is influenced by a time delay and a frequency band limitation before it comes to the microphone 15 by way of the digital to analog converter 13 and the loudspeaker 14, for the transfer characteristic so that the signal at the input to the microphone 15 may be equal in amplitude but reverse in phase to the signal from the noise source 10.
Also the transfer characteristic compensation section 8 may be constructed from a digital filter formed from a tapped delay line. A detailed construction of the transfer characteristic compensation section 8 is shown in FIG. 11. Referring to FIG. 11, the transfer characteristic compensation section 8 shown includes a plurality of delay elements 80-1 to 80-J each of which delays an input signal by a time equal to a sampling interval of sampling pulses inputted to the analog to digital converters 12 and 16. An output value of each of the delay elements 80-1 to 80-J is multiplied by a tap value by a corresponding one of tap value multipliers 81-0 to 81-J.
Thus, where the output value of the analog to digital converter 12 when t=t.sub.n tn is represented by x(n) and the output value subsequently when t=t.sub.n+1 is represented by x(n+1) and besides a sum ##EQU1## a compensation signal C(n) from the transfer characteristic compensation section 8 outputted from an adder 82 is given by ##EQU2##
Referring now to FIG. 10, the adaptive filter 7 includes delay elements 70-1 to 70-Z, tap value circuits 71-0 to 71-Z and an adder 72. The delay elements 70-1 to 70-Z successively delay an output signal of the analog to digital converter 12 each by a time equal to the production interval of sampling pulses.
Accordingly, the output y(n) of the adaptive filter 7 is given by ##EQU3## and the output (y) is converted into an analog signal by the digital to analog converter 13 (FIG. 7) and then sent out from the loudspeaker 14.
The tap values W.sub.0 (n) to W.sub.z (n) of the adaptive filter 7 are updated each time a sampling pulse is generated. Such updating of the tap values is performed by the tap value updating section 9.
The tap value updating section 9 includes three stages of multipliers 90. 91 and 92 and a stage of adders 93.
An output signal C(n) of the transfer characteristic compensation section 8 is successively inputted to the delay elements 90-1 to 90-Z. by each of which it is delayed by a time equal to the production interval of sampling pulses.
Meanwhile, the multiplier 91 multiplies, by .alpha., a signal e(n) obtained by conversion of an output e(t) of the microphone 15 into a digital value by the analog to digital converter 16. The value g is determined depending upon the loop characteristic of the adaptive control system.
The tap value updating section 9 then performs calculation of updated values W(n+1) of the tap values of the adaptive filter 7. In order to facilitate description, updating of the tap value W.sub.0 (n) of the tap 71-0 to Wo (n+1) will be described as an example.
At the multiplier 92-0, multiplication between an output of the multiplier 91 and an output value C(n) from the transfer characteristic compensation section 8 is performed. The adder 93-0 subtracts an output value of the multiplier 92-0 from the tap value W.sub.0 (n) at a sampling time of t=t.sub.n and updates the tap value with a result of the subtraction as a tap value W.sub.0 (n+1) at a next sampling time of t=t.sub.n+1. In particular, updating of the tap value given by EQU W.sub.0 (n+1)=W.sub.0 (n)-.alpha. C(n) e(n) . . . (3)
is performed. Further, also for any other tap W.sub.i, updating of the tap value given by EQU W.sub.1 (n+1)=W.sub.i (n)-.alpha. C(n-1) e(n) . . . (4)
is performed.
Since the tap values are updated in such a manner as described above, sound waves sent out from the loudspeaker 14 are equal in amplitude but reverse in phase to noise from the noise source 10 at the input of the microphone 15, and consequently, noise in the proximity of the microphone 15 is cancelled or reduced.
As described above, the conventional noise reducing apparatus is constructed such that a noise signal picked up from a noise source is passed through an adaptive filter to generate a signal which is equal in amplitude but reverse in phase to the noise to reduce the noise.
To this end, the adaptive filter must perform a number of multiplications equal to the number of taps, and a number of multiplications and additions equal to the number of taps are required for updating of the tap values.
If the multiplications and the additions are performed with individual multipliers and adders constructed therefor, the construction of the apparatus is complicated very much, and therefore, they are normally performed by processing by means of a processor. However, a high speed processor is required in order for processing of multiplications and additions corresponding to a very great number of taps as described above to be performed within a time of an interval between sampling pulses, and this makes the cost of the apparatus high.
FIG. 12 shows an exemplary one of conventional noise reducing apparatus of the type described above which is specifically applied to reduce noise in a room of an automobile. Referring to FIG. 12, the noise reducing apparatus shown includes a microphone 101 installed at a location where it is desired to reduce noise, a noise signal pickup 104 for picking up a noise signal, an adaptive filter 105, and a loudspeaker 108.
The adaptive filter 105 corrects a signal picked up by the noise signal pickup 104 for portions which are different from noise inputted to the microphone 101 so that a signal developed from the loudspeaker 108 in accordance with the corrected signal and coming to the microphone 101 may be equal in amplitude but reverse in phase to the noise.
When the signal corrected by the adaptive filter 105 and developed from the loudspeaker 108 is, at the location where the microphone 101 is disposed, not a signal which is equal in amplitude but reverse in phase to the noise, a signal corresponding to a difference between the signal and the noise appears in the output of the microphone 101 and fed back to the adaptive filter 105.
The adaptive filter 105 is constituted from a digital filter formed from a tapped delay line not shown, and a transfer characteristic compensation section not shown.
As described above, a signal of any waveform can be decomposed into a frequency spectrum by the Fourier transform of the same. Further, if the frequency spectrum is the same, then the same waveform can be obtained by the inverse Fourier transform. Accordingly, the tap values of the digital filter are varied in response to a feedback signal from the microphone 101 to make a filter characteristic so that the same spectrum as the spectrum of noise may be obtained.
Meanwhile, the transfer characteristic compensation section compensates for an influence of a time delay and a frequency band limitation while a signal generated by the digital filter comes to the microphone 101 so that a signal equal in amplitude but reverse in phase to the noise may be obtained at the input to the microphone 101.
In this manner, the conventional noise reducing apparatus for an automobile is constituted from the microphone 101, the noise pickup 104, the adaptive filter 105 and the loudspeaker 108.
The loudspeaker 108 develops a signal having the same spectrum as the noise. Since the frequency spectrum of such noise includes noise components from a low frequency component to a high frequency component, in order for low frequency components to be developed efficiently, the loudspeaker must be sufficiently large.
Therefore, the loudspeaker is installed, for example, below a seat of an automobile as seen in FIG. 12 also taking the good appearance of the room of the automobile into consideration.
On the other hand, the microphone 101 is installed at a location where noise is desired to be reduced. In particular, the microphone 101 is installed at a location near the ears of a driver or a passenger of the automobile such as, for example, on the ceiling above the seat as seen in FIG. 12.
Where the loudspeaker and the microphone are installed in a spaced relationship from each other in this manner, the noise reducing effect is high for noise of low frequencies, but is as low as zero for noise of high frequencies as seen from FIG. 13.
It is considered that this arises from the fact that, when sound waves propagate in a closed space of a room of a vehicle, the transfer characteristic is fluctuated by such a cause that sound waves of a high frequency propagate with a greater number of reflections than sound waves of a low frequency. In other words, it is considered that the transfer characteristic set to the adaptive filter and the actual transfer characteristic are made different from each other for a high frequency signal by the variation in ratio at which the driver and/or passenger or passengers occupy in the space (whether they are fat or slim) and the variation of the sitting positions of them.


The present invention relates to the use of a plant extract from the genus Galeopsis species tetrahit or a composition that contains it to stimulate hair growth or improve the appearance or hair fullness. The composition containing the plant extract is applied in both cosmetic and medical-trichological fields and can be applied topically on the scalp or administered orally.

The piliferous structures physiology of the human body and the hair tropism study is object of numerous scientific studies. Notoriously, in the hair bulb life cycle follow each other the anagen (growth), catagen (involution) and telogen (rest) phases. To the hair growth period follows the regression phase, during which the deepest part of the follicle goes towards programmed cell death. Cycle starts again at the end of this phase. At the base of the growth cycle there is the ability of the hair bulb stem cells to come out, alternately, from a quiescence state.
During the bulb growth phase and hair production, proliferation, differentiation and survival activities regulated by growth factors predominate. The regression phase, instead, is characterized by the molecular pathways activation that induce apoptosis in the bulb cells. The physiological hair growth mechanism, however, with a certain frequency is subject to imbalance. A significant portion of the population, especially male, is in fact affected by problems of thinning or even premature loss of hair. From the available studies, it has emerged that the phenomena of early hair loss are due to a plurality of causes including a lack of nutrients, vitamins and minerals, hormonal imbalances, unregulation of local enzymatic systems and organism stress conditions.
In an attempt to remedy and prevent conditions that accelerate hair loss, trichological preparations have been formulated which, by acting on the scalp, nourishment, oxygenation and microcirculation, tend to improve conditions that contribute to physiological hair growth.
Among the products currently marketed in the trichological field, some are based on active substances of natural origin that locally act contributing to stimulate the hair bulb tropism and skin annexes.
The Applicant, being active in the preparation of the hair loss prevention products, has recently formulated a preparation for trichological use based on a plant extract obtained from the Galeopsis segetum Necker plant. The preparation is the object of the European patent application EP3062636A0. This European patent application documents how a plant extract belonging to the species Galeopsis segetum Necker carries out a satisfactory stimulation action of the hair follicle cells and a normalization of the piliferous structures life cycle phases.
The trichological activity of this plant extract, would seem to be attributable, at least in part, to some biologically active substances present in the extract from Galeopsis segetum Necker including the flavonoids hypolaetin 4′-methyl ether 7-(2″-allosyl)-glucoside monoacetylated, hypolaetin 4′-methyl ether 7-(2″-allosyl)-acetylated glucoside, isoscutellarin 7-(2″-allosyl) monoacetylated glucoside, hypolaetin 4′-methyl ether 7-(2″-allosyl) glucoside, hypolaetin 7-(2″-allosyl) monoacetylated glucoside, isoscutellarin 7-(2″-allosyl) glucoside and hypolaetin 7-(2″-allosyl) glucoside diacetylated.
As part of its experimentation activity, the Applicant has now found, in a totally unexpected way, that some samples containing extracts from species different from Galeopsis segetum Necker while containing the flavonoids previously referred to in marginal quantities, however, possess a biological and cellular antioxidant activity unexpectedly higher than expected.
Therefore, the Applicant found that this increased biological activity and cellular antioxidant activity are present in a plant extract from an accidental plant not belonging to the species Galeopsis segetum Necker object of the previous European patent application.
One of the aims of the invention therefore consists in providing a plant extract, different from the already known extract of Galeopsis segetum Necker, which is provided of an increased stimulation activity of the hair bulb cells proliferation and which therefore finds specific use in the trichological field. Another purpose of the invention is to provide a composition for stimulating hair growth based on plant extracts from a plant alternative to the species Galeopsis segetum Necker, the use of which is substantially free of side effects. Another purpose of the invention consists in to provide a composition for trichological use which can be applied locally or administered orally, the active ingredients of which originate from a plant of an alternative species to Galeopsis segetum Necker.

Vegetable extract to prevent and treat hair loss


Described is a medicament delivery device comprising a case, a container slidably disposed in the case between a first position and a second position, a needle coupled to the container, and a needle alignment detection mechanism disposed on the case and adapted to receive the needle. The needle alignment detection mechanism determines whether the needle is aligned with a longitudinal axis (L) when the needle is in the first position, the second position or translating between the first position and the second position.

Conventional medicament delivery devices, e.g., pen injectors, autoinjectors, syringes, etc., typically utilize a syringe or cartridge containing a medicament, and the syringe or cartridge has an integral needle or removable needle assembly. The conventional medicament delivery devices typically do not check needle alignment prior to an injection. The needle can be bent prior to the injection when, for example, there is a manufacturing defect, there is bending during shipping, when a cap or needle boot is placed on the device during manufacture, when the cap or the needle boot is being removed prior to use, or during handling of the device prior to or during use.
A bent needle can be problematic for several reasons. For example, a bent needle may affect dosing (e.g., if a flow path for the medicament is disrupted). The bent needle may alter an intended injection depth. The bent needle may lead to a more painful injection due to a non-perpendicular insertion of the needle.
Thus, there remains a need for an improved medicament delivery device with a needle alignment detection mechanism.

Medicament delivery device with needle alignment detection mechanism