An apparatus comprising a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to perform a method comprising determining a first and second set of coordinates, associated with a first and second feature, respectively, in one or more first and second images, respectively, the first and second images are captured from a first and second position and/or orientation relative to the physical environment, respectively, re-projecting the first set of coordinates to one or more 2D spaces associated with the second images, comparing the re-projected first set of coordinates with the second set of coordinates in at least one of position closeness, feature closeness, or stereo constraints to determine a correspondence between the first and second features and determining a change between the first and second orientations and/or positions with respect to the physical environment based on the determined correspondence.

Immersive multimedia typically includes providing multimedia data (in the form of audio and video) related to an environment that enables a person who receive the multimedia data to have the experience of being physically present in that environment. The generation of immersive multimedia is typically interactive, such that the multimedia data provided to the person can be automatically updated based on, for example, a physical location of the person, an activity performed by the person, etc. Interactive immersive multimedia can improve the user experience by, for example, making the experience more life-like.
There are two main types of interactive immersive multimedia. The first type is virtual reality (VR), in which the multimedia data replicates an environment that simulates physical presences in places in, for example, in the real world or imaged world. The rendering of the environment also reflects an action performed by the user, thereby enabling the user to interact with the environment. The action (e.g., a body movement) of the user can typically be detected by a motion sensor. Virtual reality artificially creates sensory experiences which can include sight, hearing, touch, etc.
The second type of interactive immersive multimedia is augmented reality (AR), in which the multimedia data includes real-time graphical images of the physical environment in which the person is located, as well as additional digital information. The additional digital information typically is laid on top of the real-time graphical images, but does not alter or enhance the rendering of the real-time graphical images of the physical environment. The additional digital information can also be images of an virtual object, however, typically the image of the virtual object is just laid on top of the real-time graphical images, instead of being blended into the physical environment to create a realistic rendering. The rendering of the physical environment can also reflect an action performed by the user and/or a location of the person to enable interaction. The action (e.g., a body movement) of the user can typically be detected by a motion sensor, while the location of the person can be determined by detecting and tracking features of the physical environment from the graphical images. Augmented reality can replicate some of the sensory experiences of a person while being present in the physical environment, while simultaneously providing the person additional digital information.
Currently there is no system that can provide a combination of virtual reality and augmented reality that creates a realistic blending of images of virtual objects and images of physical environment. Moreover, while current augmented reality systems can replicate a sensory experience of a user, such systems typically cannot enhance the sensing capability of the user.

System and method for immersive and interactive multimedia generation


A method includes sensing two successive positional inputs input via a sensor display; determining a time difference between the two successive positional inputs; and rendering, to the sensor display, a graphic between the two successive positional inputs if the time difference does not exceed a time difference threshold. Various other apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.

Various devices include a display with one or more sensors configured to receive user input. For example, many smart phones, tablet PCs and other devices include a sensor display (e.g., touch screen or other technology) that allows a user to draw directly on the display for purposes of text recognition, graphics, photo editing, etc. In such devices, one or more sensors generate signals to locate a user's finger or a stylus manipulated by a user. The signals generated by one or more sensors are usually in the form of coordinates (e.g., x and y; x, y and pressure; etc.). Once received, the device decides what should be rendered to the display, often referred to as "ink". As described herein, various technologies provide for enhanced control of ink.


A method for automatically determining models signals of an FPGA program which are readable from the FPGA with the aid of a readback following an FPGA build, including the following steps: generating an FPGA model and generating an FPGA code from the FPGA model, the method comprising the additional step of an automatic analysis for the purpose of identifying signals which are readable from the FPGA with the aid of a readback, prior to the completion of the step of generating the FPGA code from the FPGA model, and the method comprises the step of outputting signals which are readable from the FPGA with the aid of a readback. A data processing device is also provided for carrying out the method.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for automatically determining model signals of an FPGA (field-programmable gate array) program, which are readable from the FPGA with the aid of a readback following an FPGA build. The invention also relates to a data processing device, the data processing device being designed to carry out the above method. The invention furthermore relates to a computer program product having computer-implemented instructions, which executes the steps of the above method after being loaded to and run in a suitable data processing device. The invention also relates to a digital storage medium having electronically readable control signals, the control signals being able to interact with a programmable data processing device in such a way that the above method is carried out.
Description of the Background Art
The real-time simulation of complex, dynamic models places strict demands even on modern compute nodes, due the to the tight time constraints. In automotive hardware-in-the-loop (HiL) simulations, models of this type are used primarily where fast control loops need to be closed. This is the case, for example, when simulating in-cylinder pressure sensors, which play an ever greater role in reducing fuel consumption or exhaust gases. However, short cycle times and low latencies are also essential in controlled systems which demonstrate a high level of dynamics, such as electric motors. It is practically no longer possible to implement them using CPU-based simulations.
Field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) are able to support computer nodes in the real-time simulation by handling the computation of dynamic parts of a model. Due to the high flexibility and ability to process signals in parallel, the use of FPGAs makes it possible to easily meet even strict real-time requirements. The FPGAs may be used as hardware accelerators for CPUs in compute nodes. One enhancement of this type for an HiL simulator is, for example, the DS5203-FPGA Board from dSPACE. For example, highly dynamic parts of the environment model may be transferred accordingly to the FPGA, so that sufficiently precise and fast response times for the control unit remain ensured. An FPGA hardware configuration, which, borrowing from the creation of general programs, is also referred to as FPGA code, is usually generated in a hardware description language during a build process, based on an FPGA model.
The models of a controlled system are becoming increasingly more complex, due to growing precision requirements, and are thus also difficult to handle. In the automotive HiL environment, models of this type are generally created with the aid of the Matlab/Simulink tool set from The MathWorks Inc. Simulink offers a block-based view of such models in the form of a block diagram. Model parts may be combined into subsystems in a block diagram and linked to each other with the aid of signals. The data flow between these blocks is represented by signal lines.
In a CPU-based real-time simulation, the block diagram of a model is first translated into C/C++ source files with the aid of the Simulink coder. These files are subsequently translated by a compiler into an executable application, which is able to run on a compute node having a real-time-capable operating system. In the CPU build, a trace file is additionally generated, which represents a topology file, including its graphical modeling, for example in Simulink.
As a result of the translation of a model into a CPU application, the computations of the simulation are executed sequentially in a fixed increment. A consistent map of all model states or model variables, such as data on the signal lines or input/output values of the blocks, is thus always present in the main memory of the compute node. Due to the direct access to the main memory, the model variables may be analyzed and/or manipulated in an experiment tool, such as ControlDesk. An optional read/write access to variables of the HiL simulation is possible. Based on the trace files, signal values such as engine speed may be selected and output or manipulated by a display. In the HiL environment, this procedure is summarized under the terms "measure" and "adjust."
An FPGA-based simulation may be modeled in a block diagram using Simulink, for example with the aid of the Xilinx System Generator (XSG) and the FPGA programming block set from dSPACE, similarly to the CPU-based simulation.
In contrast to the CPU simulation, however, this model is not translated into an iterative programming language but rather into a hardware description language which describes a customer-specific digital circuit. The description of the customer-specific circuit is translated into an FPGA configuration data stream by a synthesis process during the generation of the FPGA code. Accordingly, each model variable which the user wishes to measure or adjust must be guided to the interface of the FPGA over signal lines by means of explicit modeling. Following this adaptation, the model must be retranslated, which can take several hours. This circumstance may result in very long development cycles of FPGA-based real-time simulations.
For some FPGAs, it is possible to freeze and read out the entire status of the FPGA for debugging purposes. Due to the closed input/output behavior of the FPGA, however, it is not possible to randomly access model states, similarly to the main memory of a compute node, i.e., to read out the signals from the FPGA during operation and possibly modify them. A readout of signals from the FPGA may take place, for example, with the aid of a readback, which copies the data from the working level of the FPGA to the configuration level and reads it out from there. Correspondingly, arbitrary register data may, in principle, be read out from the FPGA. Conversely, data may be copied from the configuration level of the FPGA to its working level by means of partial reconfiguration for the purpose of modifying register data. However, not all signals are accessible via registers.
An existing problem in connection with readback is the fact that the signals which may be read back are apparent only at the end of the build process. However, this is problematic, since the process of modeling and building the FPGA program is time-intensive. To make relevant, non-readbackable signals readbackable, and to be able to access all relevant data during operation of the FPGA, an explicit modeling, for example of registers, is required to read out these signals.

Determination of signals for readback from FPGA

dSPACE digital signal processing and control engineering GmbH


A method for facilitating diagnosis of problems experienced in a wireless network includes receiving a plurality of time-ordered events occurring in the wireless network. Each of the plurality of events is associated with at least one subscriber and has one or more attributes. The received time-ordered events are grouped into a plurality of categories based on time and based on the event attributes. A plurality of records associated with the plurality of categories is generated. Each record uniquely characterizes a corresponding category and has a uniform event density. An interactive graphical representation of the plurality of records is rendered to a user via a graphical user interface (GUI).

Cellular wireless communication networks provide nearly ubiquitous connectivity for mobile devices such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants, and wireless enabled laptop computers. To provide radio links to mobile devices, cellular network operators build and maintain a large number of cell towers or cell sites. For example, a large wireless network providing national coverage may comprise more than 50,000 cell sites. The quality of cellular communication service provided by cell sites depends on a number of different factors such as the number of subscribers in a coverage area of the cell site, the radio signal strength of the cell site, and the local environment including foliage. Because these factors change over time as seasons change and as population distributions change, it is a challenge for cellular network operators to evaluate the performance of their network and the quality of service provided to their customers.
Typically, in the cellular subscriber troubleshooting paradigm where analyzing the event listing and call trace and looking for various procedures, failures for durations ranging in hours is a primary method of troubleshooting, the network operators are facing a challenge of sifting through the captured event listings which can be quite extensive and separated into hundreds of pages. The navigation through the listing is somewhat "blind" and network operators may need multiple attempts to reach a particular problem area of interest. Various filtering methods or intelligent ways to search data (including, for example, based on procedure/failure/time) to reach areas of interest always come with at least partial loss of data (due to filtering) and loss of continuity of information or result in viewing only a subset of information. It would be advantageous for the network operators to view the events in a chronological order and yet have an ability to reach their problem area of interest in quickest possible ways. Since the problem area of interest varies depending on a particular network operator and also the nature of troubleshooting, providing an ability to define a particular user-defined area of interest and highlighting it during troubleshooting network issues would be useful.

Method of troubleshooting using customizable troubleshooting indicators over buckets of variable time


Polyfluorene polymers and copolymers having substantial amounts (10-100%) of fluorenes coupled at the 2 and 5 positions of fluorene are useful as active layers in OLED devices where triplet energies >2.10 eV are required.

The invention relates generally to 2,5-disubstituted fluorene monomers, oligomers and polymers derived from them and optoelectronic devices containing the oligomers and polymers.
Polyfluorene homopolymers and copolymers have emerged as preferred materials for active layers in polymer organic light emitting devices. The term "polyfluorene" commonly refers to polymers formed by linking fluorene monomer units at the 2 and 7-positions of the molecule. This linking pattern provides linear conjugation through the aryl groups, giving rise to polymers with attainable band gaps, good charge transport properties and excellent film forming properties. Moreover, functionalization of fluorene at the 2 and 7-positions is readily accomplished since these positions are the most reactive toward electrophilic reagents. Copolymerization of a 2,7-difunctional fluorene with suitable difunctional arylene monomers provides copolymers with tunable band gaps depending on the structure of the comonomers employed.
The successive accumulation of 2,7-linked fluorene segments derived from aryl coupling reactions produces conjugated arylene chains having singlet (S1) and triplet (T1) energies that vary with oligomer length up to about 7 fluorene units (Table 1). Triplet energy data of the 2,5- and 2,7-fluorene materials is partially based on "Comparison of the chain length dependence of the singlet- and triplet-excited states of oligofluorenes" in Chemical Physics Letters, vol. 411, pg. 273, Jul. 1, 2005. It can be seen that for fluorene-based material, the relative energies of the single and triplet are correlated, so that materials that exhibit higher singlet energies also exhibit higher triplet energies as well.
TABLE 1Singlet (S1) and triplet (T1) energies for 2,7-linked fluorenesas a function of number of fluorene segments.# of Fluorene segmentsS1 (eV)T1 (eV)12.8523.352.3033.192.2553.052.1873.022.16polymer2.972.11
In an OLED device, electrons and holes injected from the cathode and anode respectively combine in an emissive layer producing singlet and triplet excitons that can decay radiatively producing light or non-radiatively producing heat. For polyfluorenes and other conjugated polymers, light emission from the triplet state is a spin-forbidden process that does not compete well with non-radiative modes of decay, so triplet excitons are not very emissive. In devices based on these materials it is highly desirable to extract light from triplet excitons produced in the active layer, since there are statistically three such excitons produced for every singlet exciton. Transition metal complexes, by virtue of spin-orbit coupling, can radiatively decay with an efficiency that competes with non-radiative pathways. When these complexes are incorporated into polymeric OLED devices it is possible to achieve nearly 100% internal quantum efficiency since both singlet and triplet excitons produced in the device can emit light.
The relatively low triplet energies (Table 1) of 2,7-linked polyfluorene materials limits the transition metal complexes that can be incorporated in these devices to those that emit red or orange light from the triplet state. In order to take advantage of desirable features of polyfluorene polymers and copolymers as layers in OLED devices while expanding the color range of the phosphorescent emitters that can be used with these materials, analogues of 2,7-linked polyfluorenes having higher triplet energies are desired.

2,5-linked polyfluorenes for optoelectronic devices


The present disclosure provides a control method for a camera module. The camera module comprises an imaging module, a sleeve module, a lens module which is mounted in the sleeve module and can move along an optical axis direction relative to the sleeve module, at least one coil, at least one magnetic component, and elastic components disposed between the lens module and the sleeve module. The method comprises: pressing the elastic components against the lens module, wherein a deformation of the elastic components perpendicular to the optical axis direction applies a radial positive pressure to the lens module, a frictional force in the optical axis direction is generated by the positive pressure on a contact surface of the elastic components and the lens module so that the frictional force can keep the lens module in a static state in the optical axis direction relative to the elastic components; and supplying current to the at least one coil, wherein the at least one coil or the at least one magnetic component optionally matches the lens module, and the lens module is subject to an electromagnetic force in the optical axis direction, the electromagnetic force acting as a driving force for the lens module to do rectilinear motion along the optical axis direction so as to drive the lens module to move.

The camera module consists of a light-sensitive chip and an imaging lens group, wherein the imaging lens group is disposed in the lens cone of the module and only an active coordination of positions of the lens cone and the light-sensitive chip can obtain a high-quality image or video. As for the modern handheld device, on one hand, it is designed to be thinner and thinner for aesthetic needs, and the height of the camera module becomes lower and lower, and correspondingly the total height of the lens group is reduced; on the other hand, in order to meet the demand of image quality, diagonal dimension of the light-sensitive surface of the light-sensitive chip is growing. Therefore, it is always a problem in the handheld device design industry how to ensure keeping the viewing angle of the lens group constant, increasing the light-sensitive chip size, and meeting the appearance design requirement of the handheld device of a thinner body. The digital camera, especially the ultra-thin digital camera employs a stretchable lens group to solve this problem, for example, a mechanical transmission structure such as a thread/nut structure, a gear structure, or a turbine vortex stem, but such a structure is relatively large and cannot be placed in a thinner device such as a mobile phone, a laptop, a Pad, etc. Regarding the voice coil motor commonly used in the existing thin and light devices, its lens cone cannot stretch out the camera module, and can only be used for automatic focusing; since it cannot realize the stretching function of the lens group at work, it cannot solve the problem caused by the height of the camera module becoming lower and lower. In addition, as for the existing camera module, in order to keep the lens cone in a certain position, it is necessary to continuously apply current to the coil to balance the elasticity of an elastomer, and thus the power consumption of the module is relatively large, and when the lens cone makes linear motions along the optical axis direction, since the optical axis direction lacks a guide structure, it is easy to shake and cause eccentricity of the optical path, thereby affecting the image quality.
Apparently, a thin and light electronic device needs a new kind of miniature camera module to solve the above contradiction between thickness and image quality of the existing module, and solve the problems in the existing module. Such a new kind of camera module can stretch the lens cone out of the module and ensure increasing the size of the light-sensitive chip on the condition of a constant viewing angle to improve the image quality, and meanwhile it is required that the structure is simple and can be applied to the thin and light electronic device such as a mobile phone, a pad, etc.

Method for controlling a camera module, and associated camera module


A method and computer program product for dynamic program integration is described. The method may comprise allowing, with at least one of a client electronic device and a server computer, selection of content in an original program. The method may further comprise applying a command sequence to the content. The method may also comprise copying the content on to a clipboard. Moreover, the method may activate a new program configured to handle the content. Additionally, the method may transfer the content from the clipboard to the new program and receive the content in the new program.

This disclosure relates to dynamic program integration and, more particularly, to dynamic program integration in a desktop.
The same content may be displayed or used by different programs. For example, a person's name may be displayed in a simple text rendering program (e.g., Notepad™) and also used in a live instant message program. Similarly, an address may be displayed in a simple text rendering program and also used in a map application (e.g., Google Maps™). Accordingly, there may be a need for a dynamic program integration application which may allow the user to use the content in another application.

Dynamic use of data across multiple programs

International Business Machines Corporation


A process for the production of α-interferon comprising the steps: i) inducing of human leukocytes by means of a virus; ii) treating the leukocytes with an enhancing agent selected from: a) Xanthine, pyrimidinol and pyrimidinone or derivatives of anyone thereof, such as theophylline, 2-amino-5-bromo-6-methyl-4 pyriminidol or thymine; b) an organic solvent selected from the group consisting of non-aromatic ketones, aliphatic or cyclic amides, alkylated aliphatic or cyclic urea derivatives and aliphatic or cyclic sulfoxides, such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone, acetone, 2-butanone, 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone, dimethylsulfoxide, 4-methyl-2-pentanone-N-ethyl-2-pyrrolidinone, 2-pyrrolidinone, tetramethylene sulfoxide or N,N-dimethylacetamide; or a combination of the compounds from a) with an organic solvent from b).

The Interferons constitutes a family of proteins characterized by their non-specific antiviral and antiproliferative activity, a property that has made them useful as antiviral and anticancer drugs. Interferons are produced and released by animal cells upon exposure to a variety of inducing agents, the most potent of which are viruses. They are classified into three types: α-Interferon, β-Interferon, and γ-Interferon, based on serological and structural relations. The use of interferons as therapeutic drugs dates back to the 1970's. Although all three types of interferons have been subject to evaluation, α-interferon has become most widely used for therapeutic purposes. Among the interferons of human origin, the α-interferons are divided into several subtypes, which are either encoded by different gene loci or alleles of those, while there is only one subtype each of human β- and γ-interferon. The function of each subtype is still not clear, and the molecular or cellular targets of their antiviral and antineoplastic activities is thus not fully investigated. However, some in vitro studies have shown a larger biological effect when a mixture of different subtypes was used compared to using a single subtype only (Fan, S. X, Skillman, D. R, Liao, M-J, Testa, D. and Meltzer, M. S. (1993) AIDS Res. And Human Retrovir. 9, 1115–1122, Heim, A., Brehm, C., Stille-Siegener, M., Müller, G., Hake, S, Kandolf, R. and Figulla, H-R. (1995) J. Mol. Cell Cardiol. 27, 2199–2208).
There are presently three major methods for industry-scale production of α-interferon, all with fundamental differences in the cell system used. In the procaryotic systems, the gene coding for a single subtype, almost exclusively interferon α2, has been transferred to Escherichia coli, whereby this protein is expressed by the bacteria and subsequently harvested (Wessmann, C., Hagata, S., Boll, W., et al (1982) Phil. Trans. Royal Soc. London, Series B: Biol. Sci. 299 7–28). This process for the production of α-interferon is referred to herein as "recombinant interferon". The bacterial cultures can be used for producing α-interferon at high efficiency, leading to an economically advantageous alternative to cells of human origin. However, only one single subtype is produced and the proteins are not modified (e.g. glycosylated) in contrast to interferon α2 that is produced in eukaryotic cells. A clinical drawback encountered with the recombinant α-interferon products is their tendency to induce antibodies against α-interferon in some patients. These neutralising antibodies have in several publications been shown to negatively affect the therapeutic treatment with recombinant α-interferon (Antonelli, G., Simeoni, E., Currenti, M., DePisa, F., Colizzi, V., Pistello, M., and Dianzani, F., (1997) Biother 10, 7–14, Öberg, K. and Alm, G. (1997) Biother 10, 1–5).
Alternatively α-interferon can be produced in human cells, either from established cell lines which are grown in vitro, or from primary cells, e.g., from peripheral leukocytes obtained as by-products from donated blood. In these case a mixture of α-interferon subtypes is obtained, although different cell sources produce a different subtype pattern. (Goren, T., Fischer, D. G. and Rubinstein M. (1986) J. Interferon Res. 6, 323–329. Established cell lines are clones derived from human tumors or from cells that have been immortalised, e.g., by the treatment with Epstein-Barr virus. These cells divide and grow indefinitely, in suitable media and under appropriate conditions. In contrast, interferon-producing primary cells such as leukocytes do not divide and have a finite life span. Such cells are consequently in limited supply, and their availability is a limiting factor for large scale production of native leukocyte α-interferon. Means for increasing the yield in the production process are therefore necessary.
Eucaryotic cell systems produce very little or no α-interferon spontaneously. The use of an "inducer" is therefore needed to initiate the production of α-interferon by the cells. Consequently, a large number of factors have been reported to initiate the production of α-interferon in various in vitro cell systems or in vivo. The most common inducers are different viruses, but synthetic organic substances have also been shown to act as inducers for the production of α-interferon. Some examples are leu-enkephalin and naloxone in vivo in mice (Gabrilovac, J., Ikic-Sutlic, M., Knezevic, N. and Poljak, L. (1996) Res. Exp. Med. 196, 137–144), neovir in vivo in mice (Mezentseva M., Narovlyansky, A., Kondratieva, T and Ershov, F. (1997). J. Interferon Res. 17, Suppl. 2, S94. Abstract), dipyridamole in vivo in humans (Galabov A. S. and Mastikova M. (1984) Biomed. Pharmacoth. 38, 412–413), 2-amino-5-bromo-6-methyl-4-pyrimidinol (2-ABMP) and its derivatives in vivo in humans(U.S. Pat. No. 3,932,617, Stringfellow, D. A., Vanderberg, H. C. and Weed, S. D. (1980) J. Interferon Res. 1, 1–14) and antraquinone derivatives in vivo in a variety of species (U.S. Pat. No. 4,027,021). Ethanol is reported to induce β-interferon production in Madin-Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cells in the absence of other inducers (Chelbi-Alix, M. K. and Chousterman, S. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 1741–1745).
There are some examples where the production of α-interferon has been increased by ancillary reagents, termed herein as "enhancers", i.e., compound(s) which is/are capable of increasing the production of α-interferon in cells activated by an inducing agent, but does not itself induce production of a α-interferon. Characteristic of an enhancer is that it can be added either before the agent that induces α-interferon, or after the induction has taken place. Substances that are reported as enhancers of interferon production in human cells are, e.g., the calmodulin inhibitor trifluoperazine used on fibroblasts (Lin, H-Y. and Thacore, H. R. (1990) J. Interferon Res. 10, 375–378), dexamethasone used as a stimulator on a cell line of lymphoblastoid origin (U.S. Pat. No. 4,266,024) and sodium butyrate, also used as a stimulant in a lymphoblastoid cell line (EP 0097 353, EP 0000520). Furthermore, it has been reported that the purine derivative theophylline acts as an enhancer and increases the yield of α-interferon from mouse Lpa cells induced by poly I:C (Zahorska, R., Korbecki, M., and Barciszewski, J. (1995) Arch. Immunol. Ther. Exp. 43, 43–46), and the use of some synthetic organic compounds, preferably tetramethylurea (TMU) (European Patent No 0 097 353), or dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) (U.S. Pat. No. 4,266,024) has been shown to increase the α-interferon yield from a lymphoblastoid cell line treated with an inducer.
In the work leading to the present invention some of the substances which has been reported as inducers or enhancers when used in vivo or on fibroblasts and on a cell line of lymphoblastoid origin has been tested on human leukocytes, with the aim to increase the α-interferon production, both before or after induction with Sendai virus, but without any positive result on the yield of α-interferon. In some experiments even a decrease in α-interferon production from human leukocytes was observed when adding compounds known as enhancers in cell lines. For instance, pre-treatment with sodium butyrate has been described as a stimulant that leads to an increased yield of α-interferon in a lymphoblastoid cell line (European Patent No 0 097 353; European Patent No 0 000 520). In the present work it was found that pre-treatment of primary leukocytes with sodium butyrate according to a similar procedure led to a decrease in the yield of α-interferons, which points at fundamental differences between cell lines and primary cells as production systems for α-interferon proteins.
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an improved process for production of α-interferon in human leukocytes induced by virus.

Modification of interferon alpha production


Generally, this disclosure provides systems, devices, methods and computer readable media for state machine based pointing control. A method may include receiving a position estimate of a first location associated with a first portion of a pointing device and a position estimate of a second location associated with a second portion of the pointing device; calculating a vector from the estimated position of the first location to the estimated position of the second location; and resolving the vector into a first distance component (Dx) and a second distance component (Dy), the Dy component orthogonal to the Dx component. The method may further include tracking temporal changes of the Dx and Dy components; updating an interaction state based on a rate of change of the Dx and Dy components; and moving a cursor position on a display element screen based on the temporal change and the interaction state.

As three dimensional (3-D) cameras and visual tracking systems become less expensive and more commonly available, there is an increasing effort to employ this technology to improve user interaction with computer systems. For example, hand gestures may be detected to perform specific actions such as volume control or muting. Attempts to provide pointing control, however, (similar, for example, to that provided by mouse operation) present additional challenges using this technology.
One problem is that the resolution of the tracking camera is typically much less than the resolution of the screen. It is not generally possible therefore to map, say, a user's fingertip from the tracking image, to every pixel on the screen. This limits the pointing accuracy of such a system, making it difficult, for example, to select a small icon on the screen or perform other relatively fine motion operations. Another problem is related to ergonomics. It can become tiring and uncomfortable for a user to move his or her hand and arm throughout the entire image field of the camera in order to exercise pointing control over the computer system, especially over longer periods of time, thus making this approach impractical.
Although the following Detailed Description will proceed with reference being made to illustrative embodiments, many alternatives, modifications, and variations thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

State machine based tracking system for screen pointing control


DNA molecules and methods for the regulated expression of a gene in endothelial cells or megakaryocytes, are described, wherein the 5' flanking region of the P-selectin gene, or portions thereof, is ligated to the 5' end of a gene. The DNA molecules are also used as probes for screening individuals with abnormal levels of expression of P-selectin, or for production of pharmaceutical compositions to inhibit inflammation by inhibition of expression of P-selectin. These DNA molecules can also be used to identify and isolate previously unknown proteins which are involved in regulation of gene expression.

This invention is generally in the field of compositions and methods for the treatment and prevention of inflammatory responses involving P-selectin (formerly, GMP-140 or PADGEM) binding reactions, particularly adhesive interactions between platelets, leukocytes, and endothelial cells.
The adherence of leukocytes to vascular surfaces is a critical component of the inflammatory response, and is part of a complex series of reactions involving the simultaneous and interrelated activation of the complement, coagulation, and immune systems. Leukocyte adherence to vascular endothelium is a key initial step in migration of leukocytes to tissues in response to microbial invasion. The initial rolling contacts of leukocytes with the endothelium are mediated by the selectins, a family of receptors that interact with cell-surface carbohydrate ligands (reviewed in McEver, Curr. Opin Cell Biol., 4, pp 840-859 (1992); Lasky, Science, 258, pp. 964-969, (1992)). These transient adhesive interactions allow time for leukocytes to become activated by signaling molecules that are released from the endothelium or the underlying tissues. Upon activation, leukocytes functionally upregulate members of the integrin family of adhesion receptors. The integrins strengthen adhesion by binding to immunoglobulin-like counter-receptors on the endothelial cell (McEver, Curr. Opin Cell Biol., 4, pp 840-859 (1992)). Adhesion and signaling molecules function cooperatively to regulate leukocyte recruitment during the inflammatory response.
Leukocytes also adhere to activated platelets, through interactions of P-selectin on the activated platelet surface with carbohydrate ligands on the leukocyte surface (McEver, in Structure, Function, and Regulation of Molecules Involved in Leukocyte Adhesion, pp 135-150 (Lipsky et al., eds., Springer-Verlag, New York, 1993)). Platelet-leukocyte interactions may serve as important links between the hemostatic and inflammatory responses to tissue injury.
The coagulation and inflammatory pathways are regulated in a coordinated fashion in response to tissue damage. For example, in addition to becoming adhesive for leukocytes, activated endothelial cells express tissue factor on the cell surface and decrease their surface expression of thrombomodulin, leading to a net facilitation of coagulation reactions on the cell surface. In some cases, a single receptor can be involved in both inflammatory and coagulation processes. For example, the Mac-1 receptor on leukocytes, a member of the CD11-CD18 group, mediates phagocytosis and serves as a receptor for the degradation product of complement C3bi, is involved in one pathway of adherence of leukocytes to endothelium, mediates granulocyte aggregation, and binds coagulation Factor X.
Proteins involved in the hemostatic and inflammatory pathways are of interest for diagnostic purposes and treatment of human disorders. An example is P-selectin, formerly known as GMP-140 (granule membrane protein 140) or PADGEM, an integral membrane glycoprotein with an apparent molecular weight of 140,000 as assessed by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). P-selectin contains an N-terminal lectin-like domain, followed by an epidermal growth factor-like module, a series of consensus repeats related to those in complement-binding proteins, a transmembrane domain, and a cytoplasmic tail, as described in the parent application, U.S. Ser. No. 07/320,408, filed Mar. 8, 1989, the teachings of which are incorporated herein. P-selectin is a member of the selectin family of adhesion receptors that mediate leukocyte interactions with vascular endothelium or platelets (McEver, Curr. Opin. Cell Biol., 4, pp. 840-849 (1992); Lasky, Science, 258, pp. 964-969 (1992); Bevilacqua and Nelson, J. Clin. Invest., 91, pp. 379-387 (1993)). The human P-selectin gene spans over 50 kilobases (kb) and contains 17 exons, most of which encode structurally distinct domains (Johnston et al., J. Biol. Chem., 265, pp. 21381-21385 (1990)).
P-selectin was first purified (as GMP-140) from human platelets by McEver and Martin, J. Biol. Chem., 259, pp. 9799-9804 (1984). Monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies to P-selectin were also prepared, as reported by McEver and Martin (1984) and P. E. Stenberg, et al., J. Cell Biol., 101, pp. 80-886 (1985). The protein is present in alpha granules of resting platelets but is rapidly redistributed to the plasma membrane following platelet activation, as reported by Stenberg, et al., (1985). The presence of P-selectin in endothelial cells and its biosynthesis by these cells was reported by McEver, et al., Blood, 70(5) Suppl. 1:355a, Abstract No. 1274 (1987). In endothelial cells, P-selectin is found in storage granules known as the Weibel-Palade bodies. When platelet or endothelial cells are activated by mediators such as thrombin, the membranes of the storage granules fuse with the plasma membrane, the soluble contents of the granules are released to the external environment, and membrane bound P-selectin is presented within seconds on the cell surface, where it mediates adhesion of neutrophils, monocytes, and subsets of lymphocytes (McEver, in Structure, Function, and Regulation of Molecules Involved in Leukocyte Adhesion, pp. 135-150 (Lipsky et al., eds., Springer-Verlag, New York, 1993)).
The expression of P-selectin, as observed by immunohistochemistry (McEver et al., J. Clin. Invest., 84, pp. 92-99 (1989)) and Northern blot analysis (Johnston et al., Cell, 56, pp. 1033-1044 (1989)), is restricted to megakaryocytes and endothelial cells. Under certain circumstances, steady-state levels of mRNA and protein are increased by inflammatory mediators such as tumor necrosis factor and endotoxin (Sanders et al., Blood, 80, pp. 795-800 (1992); Weller et al., J. Biol. Chem., 267, pp. 15176-15183 (1992); Hahne et al., J. Cell Biol., 121, pp. 655-664 (1993)). Thus, an understanding of the molecular mechanisms that control transcription of the P-selectin gene may help clarify the mechanisms for gene expression in megakaryocytes and endothelial cells and for regulation of leukocyte adhesion in response to tissue injury.
The promoters of several genes whose expression is restricted to endothelial cells or megakaryocytes have been partially characterized (Lee et al., J. Biol. Chem., 265, pp. 10446-10450 (1990); Wilson et al., Mol. Cell Biol., 10, pp. 4854-4862 (1990); Ravid et al., Mol. Cell Biol., 11, pp. 6116-6127 (1991); Romeo et al., Nature, 344, pp. 447-449 (1990); Uzan et al., J. Biol. Chem., 266, pp. 8932-8939 (1991)). The GATA element, initially recognized in erythroid-specific promoters, plays an important role in expression of some of these genes (Wilson et al., (1990), Romeo et al., (1990)). However, this element is not sufficient to mediate tissue-specific expression, as expression of the GATA-binding proteins does not directly correlate with expression of the genes containing GATA elements (Yamamoto et al., Genes & Dev., 4, pp. 1650-1662 (1990)). A functional ETS element has been identified in the megakaryocyte-specific gene for glycoprotein IIb (Prandini et al., J. Biol. Chem., 267, pp. 10370-10374 (1992); Lemarchandel et al., Mol. Cell. Biol., 13, pp. 668-676 (1993)), but this element is also found in genes expressed in other tissues (see e.g., Macleod et al., Trends Biochem. Sci., 17, pp. 251-256 (1992)).
It is an object of the present invention to characterize and provide DNA and RNA sequences of the 5' flanking region of the human P-selectin gene and to provide methods of using these sequences to specifically express P-selectin and other genes in endothelial cells and megakaryocytes.
It is another object of this invention to provide nucleic acid probes for screening for individuals with abnormal levels of P-selectin.
It is a further object of this invention to provide compositions and methods including the DNA or RNA sequences of the 5' flanking region of the human P-selectin gene for inhibiting or regulating P-selectin expression to control the inflammatory and hemostatic processes involving endothelial or megakaryocytic cells.

Expression control sequences of the P-selectin gene

Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma


An image reading apparatus comprises a first reading section; a second reading section; a conveyance section which conveys the sheet sequentially to the first reading section and the second reading section; a control section which executes a first storage operation of storing image data read by the first reading section in a storage section and a second storage operation of storing image data read by the second reading section in the storage section, determines whether the reading operations of the first reading section and the second reading section, the first and the second storage operations are ended normally and deletes, if any one of the operations is not ended normally, the image data of the sheet not scanned normally stored in the storage section.

An image reading apparatus is known which scans the both sides of an original sheet at a time when the original sheet is conveyed so as to acquire electronic image data of the two sides of the original sheet. In a conventional image reading apparatus, there also is an apparatus in which the reading position of front surface of an original sheet is different from that of back surface of the original sheet according to convenience for design.
In the use of an image reading apparatus having two different reading positions for duplex scanning, due to the difference in the front surface reading position and the back surface reading position, the timing at which the scanning on the front surface of a sheet is ended is different from that at which the scanning on the back surface of the sheet is ended. When the image reading apparatus is used for scanning, if an error such as a paper jam occurs in a conveyance path during the conveyance process of an original sheet, then it happens that the scanning on the back surface of an original sheet is not completed even if the scanning on the front surface of the original sheet is completed.
If the error occurs, after eliminating the error, the user places the original sheet on a feed tray again to scan the original sheet again. On this occasion, if the front surface and the back surface of the original sheet are placed reversely for scan, then the arrangement of the content of the original sheet is changed. Thus, the user must be aware of which side of the original sheet should be scanned again as the front surface of the original sheet.

Image reading using a duplex scanning function


A vinyl monomer is copolymerized with a multifunctional monomer having one vinyl group and one or more allyl groups whereby the resulting copolymer has active pendant allyl groups. This copolymer is then crosslinked with a polyester. The resulting product has improved thermal dimensional stability and physical properties over those containing simple non reactive thermoplastic additives.

This invention relates to thermosetting resin compositions, in which shrinkage is reduced by the use of thermosetting polymeric additives.
It is well known that when monomers are polymerized, a volume reduction occurs. This shrinkage causes changes in dimensions, internal stresses in the cast article, cracking and/or separation from the mold wall yielding surfaces of inadequate smoothness. Thermoplastic additives are often incorporated into polyester resins in order to reduce shrinkage on curing of these resins. See for example (Fritz M. Wright--New "No Shrink" Polyester Resin for BMC, SMC and Wet Moulding--Paper 12A, 27th Annual Conference Proceedings. . . Reinforced Plastics/Composites Institute (1972)).
Thermosetting additives are also known; U.S. Pat. No. 4,104,241 teaches the use of 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate adducts of poly(styrene co maleic anhydride) as reactive polymeric additives. The preparation of the above additives is a two stage process, it is an object of the present invention to provide compositions for which the polymeric additive is prepared by a single stage process. Such unsaturated polymers as those used in the present composition have been prepared previously (U.S. Pat. No. 4,059,616). However anionic polymerization was employed rather than the free radical type polymerizations preferred here. U.S. Pat. No. 4,059,616 states that free radical polymerization does not yield useful polymers.

Polyester compositions containing crosslinkable copolymers


To add a function of detecting a temperature to an ultrasonic flow sensor without making the structure of the ultrasonic flow sensor complicated. A sensor portion of the ultrasonic flow sensor includes an acoustic coupling member. The sensor portion includes a heat transfer member having a heat detecting surface for detecting heat of piping. The temperature of heat transferred in the heat transfer member via the heat detecting surface is detected by a temperature detecting device. The heat transfer member restricts an amount of collapse of the acoustic coupling member in a radial direction of the piping when the sensor portion is fixed to the piping.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ultrasonic flow sensor and a temperature measuring method using the same.
2. Description of Related Art
Ultrasonic flow sensors are used for measuring a flow rate of a fluid flowing in piping. JP-A-2000-46607 discloses a clamp-on ultrasonic flow sensor which enables retrofitting on an outer peripheral surface of the piping, and a fitting thereof. The fitting enables the clamp-on ultrasonic flow sensor to be fixed to piping having various diameters.
JP-A-2000-46607 discloses embodiments in which first and second sensor units are arranged in a V-shape and in a Z-shape. In the V-shaped arrangement, the first and second sensor units are installed on a first mother line of piping at first and second positions apart from each other along a direction of longitudinal axis of the piping. In the V-shaped arrangement, the first sensor unit is disposed at the first position on the first mother line of the piping, and the second sensor unit is installed on the second mother line that opposes the first mother line in a diameter direction at the second position apart from the first position along the direction of the longitudinal axis of the piping.
The fitting disclosed in JP-A-2000-46607 is fixed to the piping with a band. The two sensor portions are accommodated in the fitting for the V-shaped arrangement. In other words, the fitting for the V-shaped arrangement disclosed in JP-A-2000-46607 is configured to position the first and second sensor units at positions apart from each other along the direction of the longitudinal axis of the piping with a single fitting. The fitting in which the two sensor portions are accommodated is fixed to the piping with the band, so that the first and second sensor units are arranged in the V-shape.
A single sensor unit is accommodated in the fitting for the Z-shaped arrangement. Two of such fittings are provided and each fitting is fixed to the piping with a band. The first fitting is then positioned at the first position on the first mother line of the piping, and the second fitting is positioned on the second mother line opposing the first mother line in the diameter direction at the second position apart from the first position along the direction of the longitudinal axis of the piping, so that the first and second sensor units are arranged in the Z-shape.

Ultrasonic flow sensor and temperature measuring method using the same


A structure is provided in which a load lock chamber (51) for carrying in an unprocessed wafer from outside and carrying out a processed wafer to outside, a first end conveyance chamber (54a) to be connected to the load lock chamber, at least one intermediate conveyance chamber (54b), a plurality of sets of a pair of process modules (52a, 52b) provided adjacent to each other and capable of independent processing, and a second end conveyance chamber (54c) disposed at the end part on the opposite side of the load lock chamber are connected in series. Each set of process modules (52a, 52b, 52c and 52d) is arranged one by one between the first end conveyance chamber and the intermediate conveyance chamber, between the intermediate conveyance chambers, and between the intermediate conveyance chamber and the second end conveyance chamber, respectively.

There are several types of conventional semiconductor wafer conveyance devices and each of them has a big drawback. A conventional cluster-type wafer conveyance device has a structure in which a plurality of process modules is arranged radially around a robot chamber located in the center. Such a cluster-type wafer conveyance device requires a large footprint for installation. Further, each time processing in each process module is completed, a wafer is temporarily placed in a buffer part etc. and waits for the next processing, and therefore, the processing speed of the device as a whole is relatively slow. Further, in most cases, the maximum number of process modules in a cluster-type wafer conveyance device is normally limited to five or six for design reasons.
An inline-type wafer conveyance device has a higher processing speed compared to that of a cluster-type device. However, because of its rectilinear structure, it is hard to adapt the inline-type wafer conveyance device to the structure of a most recent semiconductor manufacturing facility. Further, in a conventional inline-type wafer conveyance device, when a wafer is conveyed in a vacuum environment in a semiconductor manufacturing process, there may be a case where particles occur at an unacceptable level due to the friction between the components of the waver conveyance device.
A plan view of a conventional inline-type wafer conveyance device is shown in FIG. 1 (for example, refer to patent document 1). In a wafer conveyance device 10, each of process modules 13a to 13g is arranged adjacent to each other and connected in an inline manner. Each process module is separated by a gate valve (not shown schematically). A wafer is conveyed from a load chamber 14 to the first process module 13a by a robot 12 within a robot chamber 11 and is processed sequentially in each process module. The processed wafer is conveyed from the last process module 13g to an unload chamber 15 by the robot 12. Extra robots to convey a wafer or robot chambers are not necessary, and therefore, a footprint required in the wafer conveyance device 10 is comparatively small.
A partial section view of the inline-type wafer conveyance device 10 shown in FIG. 1 is shown in FIG. 2. A wafer 21 is mounted on a carrier 23 and conveyed from a certain process module to the next process module. In each process module, the wafer 21 is lifted from the carrier 23 by a lift base 26 and processed, and then is mounted on the carrier 23 again and conveyed to the next process module. The carrier 23 is moved by means of a transfer mechanism, such as a roller 25. When the wafer 21 is conveyed to the next neighboring process module, a gate valve 24 is opened and thus the neighboring process modules are brought into a state where they are not hermetically sealed from each other. The wafer 21 having been subjected to processing in a certain process module waits until the next process module becomes empty.
A plan view of another conventional inline-type wafer conveyance device 30 is shown in FIG. 3 (for example, refer to patent document 2). The wafer conveyance device 30 comprises two front opening unified pods (FOUP) 31a and 31b. For example, the FOUP 31a has two load chambers 32a and 32b each having a cassette for storing an unprocessed wafer and the FOUP 31b has two unload chambers 33a and 33b each having a cassette for storing a processed wafer. The wafer conveyance device 30 further comprises buffer chambers 36a to 36d for temporarily placing a wafer during its conveyance. At the time of processing, a wafer is conveyed from a cassette within the load chamber 32a or 32b to the first buffer chamber 36a by a robot 35a within a robot chamber 34a. As shown schematically, the wafer conveyance device 30 comprises robot chambers 38a to 38c between the buffer chambers. Between each buffer chamber and its neighboring robot chamber, and between each robot chamber and its neighboring process module, a gate valve 39 is provided as shown schematically. A wafer once placed in the buffer chamber 36a is conveyed to a first process module 37a by a robot within the robot chamber 38a and processed therein. Subsequently, the wafer is conveyed to a second process module 37b again by the robot within the robot chamber 38a and processed therein. The wafer having been subjected to the processing in the second process module 37b is placed in the second buffer chamber 36b by the robot within the robot chamber 38a. Further, the wafer is conveyed from the buffer chamber 36b to a third process module 37c by the robot within the second robot chamber 38b. After that, the wafer is similarly moved from the process module 37c to a process module 37f sequentially and processed therein. The wafer having been subjected to the processing in all of the process modules is once placed in the buffer chamber 36d and then stored in the cassette within the unload chamber 33a or 33b of the FOUP 31b by a robot 35b within a robot chamber 34b. The wafer conveyance device 30 has an advantage that the number of the process modules can be increased flexibly as needed.
A plan view of a conventional cluster-type wafer conveyance device is shown in FIG. 4 (for example, refer to patent document 3). A wafer conveyance device 40 comprises an inlet module 45a and an outlet module 45b through which a wafer 46 is carried in from and carried out to outside, conveyance chambers 42a and 42b for conveying a wafer to process modules 41b, 41c, 41f and 41g, and conveyance robots 43a and 43b provided within the conveyance chambers 42a and 42b. A main controller 47 is communicated with each process module controller P, the inlet module 45a and the outlet module 45b, and an operator control panel via a standard communication bus 48. The wafer 46 not processed yet within the inlet module 45a is once placed on an aligner 44 by the conveyance robot 43a within the conveyance chamber 42a and its orientation is adjusted on the aligner 44. Then, the wafer on the aligner 44 is conveyed to, for example, the process module 41b or 41c by the conveyance robot 43a or 43b and processed therein, and then returned onto the aligner 44 again. After such a task is repeated, the wafer having been subjected to the processing in the process modules 41b, 41c, 41f and 41g is returned to the outlet module 45b by the conveyance robot 43a.     [Patent document 1] United States Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0102078 Specification    [Patent document 2] U.S. Pat. No. 7,210,246 Specification    [Patent document 3] Japanese Publication of Patent Application No. HEI 1-500072


A polyamide composite resin composition for a fuel filler pipe includes 41 to 77% by weight of polyamide 6, 5 to 15% by weight of m-xylenediamine (MXD)-based modified nylon, 14 to 30% by weight of a maleic anhydride-grafted ethylene-octene copolymer, a maleic anhydride-grafted ethylene-propylene-diene monomer, or a mixture thereof, and 3 to 10% by weight of mixed clay.

Fuel filler pipes face many technical challenges such as tougher regulations on evaporative gas and satisfactory compatibility with a lightweight material and biofuel according to CO2 regulations. Plastic as a material of fuel filler pipes is suitable as a lightweight material, but barrier properties against alcoholic gas according to a change in a composition of gasoline fuel due to addition of bio-ethanol are problematic. Since component materials of conventional fuel tank injection parts include nylon and rubber, the materials have superior barrier properties against conventional gasoline, but weak barrier properties against alcohol.
In addition, there is a need for development of materials having superior barrier properties due to strengthening of laws and regulations on evaporative gas. The permissible level of evaporative gas is 10 mg or less (F/Neck Ass'y 30 mg) with respect to E0 in Korea, 100 mg (EURO IV) with respect to E10 in Europe, and 2.5 mg (EPA Regulation Level III) with respect to E10 in North America.
Meanwhile, since high density polyethylene (HDPE) conventionally used as a resin for blow molding has a fuel barrier property of 68 g·mm/m2/day which is not excellent, HDPE may be used as a part of a multilayered structure with an ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH). However, expensive multiple extruders should be used to form a multilayered structure, and a satisfactory design for blow extrudability is required.
Accordingly, nylon-based resins having superior barrier properties may be used. However, polyamide 6 among nylon-based resins has superior barrier properties against gasoline but unsatisfactory low-temperature impact properties.
Korean Patent No. 1002050 discloses a multilayered article having barrier properties including a nanoscale composite blend layer having barrier properties where a polyolefin resin is dispersed in a continuous phase of a nanoscale composite of a polyolefin layer and a resin having barrier properties/layered clay compound. However, a specific screw for forming a polyamide dispersion layer in a polyethylene resin is necessary and it is difficult to efficiently control morphology upon blow molding.
In addition, Korean Patent Application Pub. No. 2011-0012430 discloses a resin selected from the group consisting of polyamide resin, polyolefin resin, polyolefin-based thermoplastic elastic body resin, and the like, and a conductive polyamide complex composition including carbon black and carbon nanotubes. However, it is very difficult to control a polyamide dispersion layer in blow molding, and there are disadvantages such as decreased gas and gasoline blocking due to the addition of a large amount of a compatibilizer to a polyolefin resin and difficulty in morphology control.
In addition, US Patent Application Pub. No. 2011-0217495 discloses a thermoplastic molding material composed of polyamide-6, a nanofiller, a fibrous filler, an impact regulator and a blow-molding material including polyamide-66. However, impact resistance is decreased and elongation stress increases due to the addition of inorganic material (fibrous filler), and thus, elongation properties are decreased, whereby blow moldability becomes poor.
In addition, Korean Patent Application Pub. No. 2006-0120548 discloses an MXD-6 nano resin composition having superior gas barrier properties prepared by blending an immobilized inorganic layered clay compound and m-xylenediamine (MXD-6) as a crystalline polyamide resin. When an MXD-6 nano blend is prepared, preparation costs increase and heat stability of a layered clay compound is low, whereby molding is difficult due to gas generation, etc. upon blow molding. In addition, it is difficult to secure impact resistance required in components of an injection part of a fuel tank using only an MXD-6 or MXD-6 nano blend composition.
Therefore, there is a need for development of a material which may be easily blow-molded, may enhance impact resistance, tensile strength and gas barrier properties, and may be applied to components of an injection part of a fuel tank.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the disclosure and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Polyamide composite resin composition for fuel filler pipe


A metamaterial structure may include a first nanoparticle and a second nanoparticle containing a different material from the first nanoparticle. The first and second nanoparticles may be provided to be adjacent to each other and to be in an electrically-coupled state.

The present disclosure relates to a metamaterial structure and a method of fabricating the same, and in particular, to a metamaterial structure having an improved optical property and a method of fabricating the same.
A metamaterial structure has a new property that is not seen in nature. For example, the metamaterial structure has a negative refractive index. The metamaterial structure may be used to realize an invisible cloak, a high-performance lens, a highly-efficient small antenna, a highly-sensitive sensor, or the like. The metamaterial structure may be used in medicine, biophysics, spectroscopy, imaging and security applications.

Metamaterial structure and method of fabricating the same

ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE

KOREA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH AND BUSINESS FOUNDATION


A novel blood collection device is described to secure a needle in place in a placenta or umbilical cord to prevent needle stick before, during, and after cord blood collection procedure.

Placental and umbilical cord blood collection procedures currently utilize a 17 gauge needle attached to a collection bag. The placental and cord blood collection procedure is currently performed by a health care provider using hands to stabilize the needle and the placenta or umbilical cord because no other technique or methods have been successful. The current procedure poses a hazard of possible needle stick to the health care provider during insertion of the needle into the slippery cord.
Currently known devices include a two part collection container in which a portion of the umbilical cord is cut and placed within the container. The umbilical cord is then allowed to drip or empty its blood content into the collection container. Since the collection method is via a drip, there is also potential for contamination of the blood sample with the mother's blood. The device is primarily aimed at collection of blood from the umbilical cord in small amounts for testing as it does not collect blood via needle insertion into the umbilical vein.
Other safety devices employ safety features only during needle insertion and do not protect the user from needle stick injuries before and after use of the needle.
One device provides a needle impenetrable device to receive the cord and secure it in place during insertion. However, the device includes a needle on a "malleable arm" and does not include needle protection before insertion e.g. a retractable needle or following insertion and completion of collection. There is therefore still an opportunity for needle stick injury to the user after needle is removed from umbilical cord.
Therefore there is a need for a placental and cord blood collection device that secures a needle in place in an umbilical cord and provides safety during the entire collection process by having the needle protected before, during, and after use, to help solve the safety problem currently encountered during cord blood collection. The present invention solves the need by providing a blood collection safety device to prevent needle stick before, during, and after use, while also reducing the risk of contamination with the mother's blood during cord blood collection.

Placental and cord blood collection device with safety


A charge control device of one example of the present invention comprises a temperature detection unit, a storage unit, and an upper limit setting unit. The storage unit stores a reference current characteristic and at least one of a first current characteristic and a second current characteristic as a charging current characteristic, and stores a reference voltage characteristic and at least one of a first voltage characteristic and a second voltage characteristic as a charging voltage characteristic. The upper limit setting unit selects a characteristic used to set upper limits of a charging current and a charging voltage to the battery from among a plurality of the charging current characteristics and a plurality of the charging voltage characteristics stored in the storage unit.

The present invention relates to a charge control device that limits upper limits of a charging current and a charging voltage according to a battery temperature, a battery pack provided with this charge control device, and a charger.
As illustrated in FIGS. 12A and 12B, in a battery such as a lithium-ion battery, a temperature range of the battery is classified into a low temperature range (T1-T2), an ordinary temperature range (T2-T3), and a high temperature range (T3-T4), and upper limits of a charging current and a charging voltage are defined for each range (see, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-55729, etc.).
A reason for setting the upper limits is to ensure safety during charging, as well as to inhibit a life span of the battery from being shortened due to charging. During charging, the battery is charged with a charging current equal to or lower than the upper limit obtained from a charging current characteristic and a battery temperature shown in FIG. 12B. Then, when a battery voltage reaches the upper limit obtained from a charging voltage characteristic and a battery temperature shown in FIG. 12A, the charging of the battery is stopped.

Charge control device, battery pack, and charger capable of setting limits of charging characteristics


A multiple-ratio drive transmission comprises first and second spaced disc systems, each system of which is composed of three separate discs: (1) a retention disc located at an outermost side; a pin receiving disc located at an innermost side; and, (3) a pin holding disc sandwiched between. Each disc comprises concentric rings of proportionally spaced holes through which corresponding pins are maintained, inserted, retracted, or traversed. As the disc system rotates, each pin on a ring associated for a selected gear passes through a shifting zone in which a ramp mechanism is inserted. A plurality of selection cams rotates to urge a sequential outward deflection of cams. By rotating the selection cam, sequential deflection cams extend into the drive position; they urge a pivoting of a select deflection ramp. The ramp for the pre-selected gear ratio causes the ring to extend to the drive position. As the pins lift, the chain impinges and the gear ratio completely changes during one revolution. All other pins not engaged in the chain slot are held in a neutral or a retracted position by the retention disc.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to variable speed transmissions and, more particularly, to a novel pin configuration and shifting arrangement for variable speed transmissions that utilize rings of shifting pins to vary drive ratios.
2. Description of the Related Art
Roughly 100 million bicycles are produced each year worldwide, and a derailleur is a current means to move all of them. An alternative concept for a power-shifting transmission first appeared in the early 1980s, which used a number of magnets to shift between gears. A pin displacement system used the polarity of magnets to shuttle concentric rows of pins in and out of gear. Further developments steered systems away from magnets and towards plastic pins. In early models, a moveable displacement system engaged rows of concentric pins. When a rider shifted gears, a linear movement deflection cam slid into position to engage a specified row; however, this system fell short because it lacked the gear shifting speed necessary to prevent pin head decapitations. This shortfall is remedied in the present invention.
U.S. Ser. Nos. 10/301,901 and 09/620,184, to the present inventor, first introduced solutions to these problems. These applications are incorporated herein as if they are fully rewritten. Testing of the inventions practicing the foregoing applications revealed a number of practical problems associated with an impingement of head pins with the ramp mechanism. It was discovered that mechanical failures would occur if there was no smooth engagement with the rotating pins and the ramp mechanism.
The present invention consequently provides an improved apparatus and method having benefits and characteristics not previously disclosed. The present invention utilizes less complex technology, yet it is a more reliable mechanical mechanism for shift urging.


The present invention provides an apparatus for circulating a carrier gas containing a chemical deactivating vapor or gas in a chamber. The apparatus includes a housing defining a flow path therethrough. The housing has an inlet end and an outlet end. A blower is provided for conveying a carrier gas containing a chemical deactivating vapor or gas along the flow path. A filter that includes a filter element is provided. The filter is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein the filter element is fluidly isolated from the flow path when the filter is in the first position, and the filter element is disposed in the flow path when the filter is in the second position. An actuator is provided for moving the filter between the first position and the second position.

Medical, dental, pharmaceutical, veterinary or mortuary instruments and devices that are exposed to blood or other body fluids require thorough cleaning and microbial deactivation between each use. The instruments and devices typically are placed into a chamber of a conventional washer system where they are exposed to a washing fluid. The washing fluid is circulated throughout the chamber to remove large debris and other contamination from the instruments and device. Conventional washer systems typically have dedicated racks, shelves or carts that hold the instruments and devices being deactivated. The racks, shelves or carts are dimensioned to be received into a chamber within the system.
Following a washing cycle, the instruments and devices are placed into a decontamination or a sterilization system wherein they are exposed to a chemical deactivating vapor or gas. The chemical deactivating vapor or gas deactivates microbial organisms on the instruments and devices.
Combination washer/decontamination or washer/sterilization systems have recently been developed wherein the instruments and devices are exposed to a washing fluid and a chemical deactivating vapor or gas in the same chamber. In some instances, attempts have been made to make combination washer/decontaminators or washer/sterilizers from existing washer systems. Such combination systems may be formed by fluidly connecting a conventional chemical deactivating vapor or gas delivery system to the chamber of an existing washing system. Conventional delivery systems typically include external blowers, pumps or fans that are used to circulate a carrier gas containing a chemical deactivating vapor or gas through the chamber. The delivery system may also include means for generating and destroying the chemical deactivating vapor or gas.
After the instruments and devices are washed with the washing fluid, the combination washer/decontamination or washer/sterilization system initiates a decontamination or a sterilization cycle. During the cycle, a carrier gas containing a chemical deactivating vapor or gas is introduced into and circulated throughout the chamber. It is important that the chemical deactivating vapor or gas be properly distributed throughout the chamber to insure deactivation of the instruments and devices in the chamber.
After a predetermined period of time, the chemical deactivating vapor or gas is removed from the carrier gas by circulating the carrier gas and the chemical deactivating vapor or gas through a catalyst or filter external to the chamber. The catalyst or filter is comprised of a material that is chemically active with respect to molecules of the chemical deactivating vapor or gas as, by way of example and not limitation, by catalysis, physical forces, electrical forces, or chemical reaction. Adequate mixing of the carrier gas and the chemical deactivating vapor or gas in the chamber increases the likelihood that the chemical deactivating vapor or gas in the chamber will be conveyed through the catalyst or filter.
A problem with using existing washer systems to form a combination washer/decontamination or washer/sterilization system is that the washer systems are not designed for optimal mixing of a carrier gas and a chemical deactivating vapor or gas in the chamber. In addition external blowers, pumps, or fans are usually inadequate to effectively circulate the carrier gas and the chemical deactivating vapor or gas throughout the chamber of an existing washer system.
The present invention provides a portable device that may be placed into a chamber to facilitate circulation and disposal of a chemical deactivating vapor or gas in a carrier gas.

Circulation and disposal device for multi-purpose sterilization chambers and washing chambers


An improved electromechanical RF switch provides enhanced reliability and lifespan by incorporating a middle plate between the case and base elements for locating the guide pins, reed holders and reeds to increase accuracy in critical component alignment. The middle plate reduces required precision during assembly of the switch, thus increasing assembly accuracy while reducing labor cost. The guide pins are made of a hard insulator such as glass to generate less wear particles, and the reed holder has a groove filled with lubricant to trap any wear particles that result from sliding friction during switch operation. Optionally, a low-friction bushing is used within the case bore to further reduce sliding friction during reed holder travel. The reeds are made of thin, flexible metal and have ends shaped so that when the ends contact switching terminals, a wiping action removes any surface contamination from both the reed ends and the terminals.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to electromechanical relays for switching high-frequency signals with high reliability, long service life, stable insertion loss, stable return loss and high isolation.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Many different types of switches are known for the switching of radio frequency signals. Two main varieties of radio frequency switches are known as reflective switches and absorptive switches, wherein a reflective switch provides an open circuit termination at the output "off" port or terminal and an absorptive switch provides a 50-ohm termination at the output port or terminal. The ideal choice of switch type depends on the application. Radio frequency switches, as with other types of electrical switches, are made in configurations including but not limited to single pole double throw, single pole triple throw, single pole sextuple throw and matrix or transfer type switches. An example of a matrix or transfer type switch is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,908,588.
For actual switching function, the switch mechanisms include spring actuated contacts, electromagnetic actuators, plungers with permanent magnets, articulated joints and other movable elements. Examples of these types of switches and switching mechanisms are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,414,577, 6,340,923, 6,337,612, 6,211,756, 6,204,740, 6,124,771, 5,894,255, 5,815,049, 5,724,014, 5,699,030, 5,652,558, 5,499,006 and 5,272,458. Unfortunately, these switches suffer from poor reliability and low switch lifetime.
Other examples of radio frequency (RF) switches are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,133,812, 6,037,849, 4,908,588, 4,697,056 and 4,298,847. The RF switches shown in these patents use multiple cylindrical guide pins to guide the reed conductors in an up and down motion while preventing contact between the reed conductors and the walls of the surrounding RF channel.
Guide pin wear, resulting in debris generation and undesirable reed movement, is known to be a major source of performance degradation and operational failure in RF switches and limits the working cycle life of the switch. One method to reduce wear of the guide pins is to increase the contact area between the guide pins and the conductor reeds. This method is illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,815,057 and 5,642,086. Another RF switch with increased guide pin contact area is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,650,210. The guide element taught therein is generally U-shaped and made from a low-friction polymer material to increase the contact area without increasing sliding friction. However, in the construction of this switch the location of the conductor reeds is controlled by features formed in a case portion of the switch body, while the location of the guide elements is controlled by features formed in a base portion of the switch body. Having elements that need to work together precisely being dimensionally controlled from separate components of the switch decreases accuracy and is likely to result in uneven wear during use. Accurate assembly is thus made more difficult and time-consuming as well. Additionally, even if perfect alignment is achieved this configuration still generates wear debris that will limit the working life of the switch. Another limit on switch cycle life is a buildup of oxides and other contaminants on switch contact surfaces, preventing reliable conduction. There is a continuing need for an RF switch that combines a high lifetime and high reliability with precision movement and ease of assembly in order to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art.

Electromechanical radio frequency switch


Described herein is vehicle comprising a body. The vehicle also comprises a cargo door assembly, coupled to the body. The cargo door assembly comprises a first door, movable, relative to the body, between a first closed position and a first open position. The cargo door assembly also comprises a first aerodynamics control surface, coupled to the first door and selectively movable relative to the first door. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 1 of the present disclosure.

Some conventional aircraft include cargo doors to facilitate the loading and unloading of passengers and/or cargo into and out from the aircraft. Sometimes, the cargo doors are opened during flight to unload (e.g., drop) passengers and/or cargo from the aircraft. When opened, cargo doors may affect the aerodynamics of the aircraft and thus affect the flight characteristics of the aircraft. Furthermore, for some aircraft, cargo doors can occupy valuable space on the aircraft, which could otherwise be used for flight control surfaces. Accordingly, providing an aircraft with the functionality of cargo doors while promoting control of the flight of the aircraft can be difficult.


A brush wear indicator includes a first contactor and a second contractor movable relative to the first contactor from an open position to a closed position to connect an electrical circuit to an indicator. The second contactor is maintained in the open position against the resiliency of a leaf spring by a coil spring which urges a brush toward a commutator in response to wear to the brush. When the brush wears away to a preselected length the coil spring will have moved to a position at which the leaf spring is free to bias the second contactor to the closed position.

Electrical machinery, such as direct current motors for example, uses brushes for transferring power between an electric circuit and a commutator. The brushes are in contact with the rotating commutator and during use wear and erode from such contact thereby causing them to shorten in length. The brushes must be replaced when sufficiently worn to prevent damage to the commutator and insure efficient power transfer. Some current devices signal when the brushes are sufficiently worn to need replacing but usually interfere with the movement or usability of the brush. It is desirable to have a device which signals when the brushes have been worn away to a length at which replacement of the brush is desirable and does not interfere with the movement of the brush.


A method includes transmitting with a selected antenna of an access point, one or more first beacon frames over a primary channel within a beacon transmission interval, and transmitting with the selected antenna of the access point, one or more second beacon frames over a secondary channel within the beacon transmission interval.

Beacon frames are data packets periodically transmitted by an access point (AP) in an infrastructure basic service set (BSS) to announce the presence of a wireless LAN to nearby wireless devices. The beacon frame contains information about the network, including its capabilities and configuration. A wireless device may receive multiple beacon frames from different APs, from which it may determine the best AP to establish channel access based on criteria such as signal strength. Accordingly, systems and methods providing enhanced versatility in the transmission of beacon frames are desired.
This background information is provided to reveal information believed by the applicant to be of possible relevance to the present invention. No admission is necessarily intended, nor should be construed, that any of the preceding information constitutes prior art against the present invention.

Systems and methods for multi-channel beacon transmission in a wireless network


An automobile front-wheel orientation and turning-angle indicator is arranged at the center of the steering wheel to indicate the orientation and turning-angle of the front-wheel. The indicator comprises a rotating disk, a scale disk, an indicator disk, and a housing. Wherein the scale disk has a dead weight to maintain at all times a constant orientation. A rotating disk is located at the lower part of the whole indicator and is mounted on the steering wheel. The indicator is driven by the rotating disk through transmission means, so as to produce a rotation relative to the scale disk, and to achieve the purpose of indicating orientation and turning-angle of the front-wheel.

In an automobile reduction gearing is normally provided in the steering mechanism. Nowadays a power steering device is mostly equipped in an automobile to reduce force of wheel steering operation. In particular, the effectiveness of a power steering is more notable when an automobile is in a static status and tries to turn the steering wheel. Saving effort in steering by means of power steering makes the driver more comfortable, however, the turning angle is often made unconsciously too large or too small.
Such a situation may usually occur especially when making side parking or backing into the garage. Under Such circumstances , many trials have to be done sometimes for a young hand driver without experience. An experienced old hand driver may be able to park in position easily, but after positioning, he still has no idea about the turning angle of the front-wheels. Therefore, after parking or before driving out it is necessary to observe the position of the front wheels.
To overcome the above-mentioned defects, a great deal of creations and improvements have been made heretofore, such as Taiwanese Patent Application No. 77207046 entitled "Indicating Means for Turning Angle of Front-wheels of Automobile" and Application No. 83200296 for "Indicating Instrument for Turning Angle of Automobile Steering Wheel", etc. are the typical examples. However, these prior designs are not so ideal because, on the one hand, the constructions are too complicated to put in operation, and on the other hand, the costs are too high to be used. In consequence, they have not been generally used.

Automobile front-wheel orientation and turning-angle indicator

No. 200, Sec. 1, Ming-Sheng North Road, Kuei-San


A guiding mechanism for guiding flat cable connected between two traveling modules of an image scanning device is disclosed. Two traveling modules are movable along two guide rods within the housing of the image scanning device by a predetermined speed ratio. A flat cable fixing holder is disposed on a lower portion of the first traveling module for locating one end of the flat cable under the first traveling module. A roller is disposed under the second traveling module, corresponding to the flat cable fixing holder of the first traveling module. The other end of the flat cable is extended from the fixing holder of the first traveling module and then wound over the roller and wound back toward the first traveling module and finally located on the base plate of the housing, so as to keep the flat cable in order.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a guiding mechanism for flat cable, and more particularly to a guiding mechanism for keeping flat cable connected between two traveling modules of an image scanning device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In various kinds of optical devices or electric appliances (such as image scanner, photo copier, test instrument, etc.), two traveling modules are often equipped therein. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, it is a perspective view of a conventional optical image scanning device, showing that a focusing lens 2, a protective cover 3, a pair of corresponding guide rods 4a, 4b, and two movable traveling modules 5a, 5b are arranged in the housing 1 of the conventional optical image scanner.
The guide rods 4a, 4b serve as a guiding mechanism for guiding two traveling modules 5a, 5b. The first traveling module 5a carries a light tube as a light source for the image scanning device, while the second traveling module 5b carries a set of reflection mirrors for reflecting the light projected from the light source. During scanning, a document to be scanned is placed on a document positioning plate of the scanner. It is known that the document positioning plate is a plane surface made, for example, from glass or other light transmittable, substantially rigid material for supporting a document to be scanned. The light tube of the first traveling module 5a projects a light toward the document and then the light is reflected by the reflection mirror of the second traveling module 5b. The first and second traveling modules 5a, 5b are arranged to achieve a necessary scanning optical path during scanning. Typically, the first and second traveling modules 5a, 5b may be moved by a conventional driving motor via a transmission rope (not shown). In general, the ratio of the speed of the first traveling module 5a to the speed of the second traveling module 5b is 2:1.
Normally, a circuit board 7 is mounted on a side wall of the first traveling module 5a. One end of a flat cable 6 disposed with a connector 61 is electrically connected to the circuit board 7. The other end of the flat cable 6 extends to connect with a fixed position 11 of the base plate 12 of the housing or a protective cover 3 mounted on the housing 1. The protective cover 3 contains therein a circuit board and other relevant electronic components.
The flat cable 6 generally has a certain flexibility. However, the minimum curvature radius and the tolerable number of bending times of the flat cable 6 are limited. Since the traveling modules need to frequently move left and right, the flat cable 6 will be repeatedly bent. In the case of too large of a bending angle, the flat cable 6 may be broken or damaged.
Moreover, the width of the existing flat cable is narrower and narrower (the number of pins is reduced) with longer length (such as used in scanning of A3 size document). Therefore, during the movement of the traveling modules, the flat cable is likely to curve and touch other components arranged in the housing of the image scanning device or even be rolled into the traveling mechanism. In addition, the flat cable may swing left and right during movement of the traveling modules. These all lead to lowered reliability and shortened usable life of the scanner.

Guiding mechanism for guiding flat cable between two traveling modules