A method (system and computer program product) performs facet classification synthesis to relate concepts represented by concept definitions defined in accordance with a faceted data set comprising facets, facet attributes, and facet attributes hierarchies. Dimensional concept relationships are expressed between the concept definitions. Two concept definitions are determined to be related in a particular dimensional concept relationship by examining whether at least one of explicit relationships and implicit relationships exist in the faceted data set between the respective facet attributes of the two concept definitions.

Faceted classification is based on the principle that information has a multi-dimensional quality, and can be classified in many different ways. Subjects of an informational domain are subdivided into facets (or more simply, categories) to represent this dimensionality. The attributes of the domain are related in facet hierarchies. The materials within the domain are then described and classified based on these attributes.
FIG. 1 illustrates the general approach of faceted classification in the prior art, as it applies (for example) to the classification of wine.
Faceted classification is known as an analytico-synthetic method, as it involves processes of both analysis and synthesis. To devise a scheme for faceted classification, information domains are analyzed to determine their basic facets. The classification must then be synthesized (or built) by applying the attributes of these facets to the domain based on constructive rules.
Overwhelming, faceted classification is a manual activity, practiced by professional classificationists such as librarians and information architects. It is very labor-intensive and intellectually challenging. To ease this complexity, scholars have devised rules and guidelines for faceted classification. This body of scholarship dates back many decades, long before the advent of modern computing and data analysis.
More recently, technology has been enlisted in the service of faceted classification. For example, rule-based categorization tools (or classifiers) are often employed to automate the assignment of attributes to objects within an existing faceted classification scheme. Critically, however, technologies such as these have been applied within the traditional methods of faceted classification.
Modeled within these traditional methods, existing technologies bear some inherent limitations. Chief among these is in the very faceted nature of the resultant structures (illustrated in FIG. 1 as the three facet hierarchies of type, price, and region). Descriptions based on facet hierarchies are inherently fragmented.
Faceted classification schemes enable multiple perspectives, an oft-cited benefit. Unfortunately, when these perspectives are fragmented across multiple hierarchies, they are not intuitive. As the number of facets (or dimensions) in the structure increases, visualization becomes increasingly difficult. Consequently, visualizations of faceted classification schemes are often reduced to "flat", one-dimensional result sets; structures are navigated across only one facet at a time. This type of reduction obscures the rich complexity of the underlying structure.
Beyond these visualization problems, there are fundamental structural limitations. Again, in a fragmented state, there is no obvious connection between the facets of an information domain. For example, in FIG. 1, it is not clear how the facets of type, price, and region interact to describe wine. The facets provide descriptive value, but they must be connected to serve an explanatory framework.
Once selected, the facets themselves are static and difficult to revise. This represents a considerable risk in the development of a faceted scheme. Classificationists often lack complete knowledge of the information domain, and thus the selection of these organizing bases is prone to error. Under a dynamic system of classification, these risks would be mitigated by the ability to easily add or alter the underlying facets. Traditional methods of faceted classification and derivative technologies lack flexibility at this fundamental level.
Contrasting faceted hierarchies with simple (unitary) hierarchies illuminates these problems. Simple hierarchies are intuitive and easy to visualize. They often integrate many organizing bases (or facets) simultaneously, providing a more holistic perspective of all the relevant attributes. Attributes are coupled across facet boundaries and may be navigated concurrently. By integrating attributes, rather than fragmenting them, they offer a much more economical and robust explanatory framework.
Thus, there are many disadvantages with the current state of the art in automated faceted classification, specifically as they relate to faceted classification synthesis. Technologies are applied within or based on traditional methods. The resultant structures are inherently fragmented, posing problems of visualization, integration, and holistic perspective.
Methods and technologies are needed that combine the expressiveness and flexibility of faceted schemes within integrated and richly descriptive hierarchies. Moreover, this flexibility must extend down to the fundamental level of the classification scheme itself, in a dynamic construction of facets as organizing bases.

System, method and computer program for transforming an existing complex data structure to another complex data structure


An apparatus for engraving images has an engraving table driving apparatus for making a sliding table, on which table a card on which an image is to be engraved is fixedly mounted, reciprocate from side to side; and engraving machine for performing engraving on the card by making a cutter head, disposed oppositely facing the card on the sliding table, move vertically; a base, integrally mounted with the engraving machine, which reciprocates back and forth; a belt placed in such a manner as to be movable back and forth on the top surface of the base; and a lever, rotatably mounted in a vertical direction on the base, by means of which the belt is mounted in a fastened state in the end section of the base. The operation for feeding the card to the starting point and returning them can be accomplished rapidly, and therefore the time required to engrave the card can be shortened considerably.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for engraving images, such as photographs of faces, fingerprints, autographs, or the like, or information identifying one's identity, etc. (referred to as images in the present invention), on identification cards, such as licenses, company employee certificates, passports, or credit cards.
2. Description of the Related Art
As shown in FIG. 2, this type of image engraving apparatus is generally designed so that a cutter head G' of an engraving machine G is made to move vertically in a direction of the Z axis in three-dimensional coordinates via a control circuit J by a method in which an original image A and a card C are fixed on a sliding table D, light from a light source F is condensed and made to strike the original image A, and the light and shade thereof is detected by a photoreceptor I, images on a card C and other information as required are engraved by a method in which the sliding table D is moved from side to side in the direction of the X axis, and further the engraving machine G, the light source F, and the like are fed in the direction of the Y axis.
A cam or a hydraulic cylinder is used as a means for driving the sliding table D in the direction of the X axis. Since it is difficult to machine complex shapes of a cam with a high degree of accuracy, a disc-shaped eccentric cam with the center of the disc being dislocated is generally used.
A following method is used for driving the engraving machine G or the like in the direction of the Y axis: female screws are provided on a base on which the light source F, the photoreceptor I, etc. of the engraving machine G are integrally fixed; a feed operation is performed via the female screws by screwing a screw shaft and by rotating this screw shaft. When a return operation is performed, a method for rotating a screw shaft reversely is used.
However, when an eccentric cam is used in a method for driving the sliding table d, the radius of the rotation is large. Thus, a large space is required and therefore the apparatus has to be enlarged. Also, when dust or dirt is stuck on the surface of the eccentric cam, the sliding table D is fed nonuniformly. As a result, interference fringes occur in the image to be engraved and accurate engraving cannot be performed. When a hydraulic cylinder is used to drive the sliding table D, an extra attachment, such as an oil pressure generator, or the like, is required. Thus, the entire apparatus becomes enlarged and the cost thereof increases.
On the other hand, when the above-described conventional technique is used as a method for driving the engraving machine G or the like in the direction of the Y axis, a return operation takes the same amount of time to performs as a feed operation. Thus, when a large amount of cards have to be processed, a considerable time is needed to complete such a process. As a result, such a process is inefficient.
The present invention has been devised to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art. In the present invention, a sliding table is so driven that it is not necessary to enlarge the apparatus. In addition, defects, such as interference fringes or the like, do not occur due to the deviation of the driving section because of dust or dirt. An object of the present invention is to process a large amount of cards clearly and speedily by making it possible to perform a fast return operation of an engraving machine.
To this end, according to the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for engraving images, comprising an engraving table driving apparatus for making a sliding table, on which table a card on which an image is to be engraved is mounted and fixed, reciprocate from side to side, an engraving machine for performing engraving on the card by making a cutter head disposed facing the card on the sliding table move vertically, a base which reciprocates back and forth, on which the engraving machine is integrally mounted, a belt disposed in such a manner as to be capable of running back and forth on the top surface of the base, and a lever pivotally mounted in such a manner as to be capable of rotating vertically on the base.
In the present invention, it is preferable that the opening/closing end of a lever for mounting a belt in a fastened state, disposed on the base in such a manner as to be rotatable vertically and capable of running back and forth on the top surface of the base, be connected to an eccentric cam in such a manner as to be capable of moving in linkage therewith in order that the belt be mounted on the base by the downward movement of the lever and that the base be driven back and forth via the belt. Furthermore, it is preferable that the back end of an arm rotatably supported in a vertical direction by a pivoted pin with the engraving machine being mounted on the front end is connected through a connecting material to the lever for fastening a belt pivotally mounted on the base in such a manner as to be rotatable vertically, and capable of running back and forth on the top surface of the end of the base, in linkage with each other, in order that the engraving machine is moved vertically according to the upward and downward movement of the lever.
In addition, in the present invention, it is desirable that the following be provided on the bottom surface of the base integrally mounted with an engraving machine, in order that the engraving machine is moved back and forth via the base by absorbing the eccentricity of the screw shaft: an elastic connecting thin plate to which two elastic swing plates are vertically provided oppositely facing each other on the right and left by bending elastic thin plates in the form of the letter L on the bottom surface thereof; gear wheels disposed horizontally side by side by being pressed upward by a pressing spring with a friction plate being interposed between the connecting thin plates and it on the bottom part of the elastic swing plate; a spring energized toward the inside by being stretched mutually in the lower end thereof; and a screw shaft engaged by fastening and pressing it with the gear wheel.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become clear when reference is made to the following description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, together with reference to the accompanying drawings.


Systems, methods, and devices for communicating a compressed beacon are described herein. In some aspects, a method of receiving a long-range communication in a wireless network is provided. The method includes transmitting, at a first device, a first communication reserving a wireless medium for at least a first time period. The first communication has a first range. The method further includes receiving, at the first device, a second communication during the first time period. The second communication is unidirectional and has a second range longer than the first range.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates generally to wireless communication systems. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to systems and methods for reducing interference in long-range wireless communication.
2. Background
In many telecommunication systems, communications networks are used to exchange messages among several interacting spatially-separated devices. Networks can be classified according to geographic scope, which could be, for example, a metropolitan area, a local area, or a personal area. Such networks would be designated respectively as a wide area network (WAN), metropolitan area network (MAN), local area network (LAN), wireless local area network (WLAN), or personal area network (PAN). Networks also differ according to the switching/routing technique used to interconnect the various network nodes and devices (e.g., circuit switching vs. packet switching), the type of physical media employed for transmission (e.g., wired vs. wireless), and the set of communication protocols used (e.g., Internet protocol suite, SONET (Synchronous Optical Networking), Ethernet, etc.).
Wireless networks are often preferred when the network elements are mobile and thus have dynamic connectivity needs, or if the network architecture is formed in an ad hoc, rather than fixed, topology. Wireless networks employ intangible physical media in an unguided propagation mode using electromagnetic waves in the radio, microwave, infra-red, optical, etc. frequency bands. Wireless networks advantageously facilitate user mobility and rapid field deployment when compared to fixed wired networks.
In some embodiments, wireless devices can be configured to communicate in a long-range (LR) physical layer (PHY) mode. A PHY mode is a PHY mode that is used to transmit from one LR station to another LR station. Such LR PHY modes may not be visible for legacy devices, which can therefore interfere with the LR transmission. In some embodiments, LR transmissions can be longer than legacy transmissions. Accordingly, legacy transmission interference can be exacerbated. Systems and methods are desired for informing legacy nodes that a long range transmission is pending.

Systems and for reducing interference in long-range wireless communication


In a tape tension control device having a first base on which there are disposed a reel mount and a brake mechanism arranged to apply a braking force to the reel mount, a second base arranged to support the first base in such a way as to allow the first base to take a plurality of positions, and a tension detecting mechanism which is disposed on the second base and includes a guide member arranged to abut on a tape, the brake mechanism and the tension detecting mechanism are arranged to act in association with each other when the first base takes each of the plurality of positions relative to the second base.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a tape tension control device for a recording and/or reproducing apparatus which can be loaded selectively with a plurality of kinds of tape cassettes having different distances between reels by causing reel mounts to take a plurality of positions correspondingly with the plurality of kinds of tape cassettes.
2. Description of the Related Art
Some of video cassette recorders (hereinafter referred to as VCRs) or the like are arranged to be able to be loaded selectively with a plurality of kinds of tape cassettes having different distances between reels. Generally, in the VCR of such a type, a pair of reel mounts are arranged to be movable to a plurality of positions where the reel mounts can be matched with a pair of reels disposed within a tape cassette selected from among the plurality of kinds of tape cassettes, which are, for example, two kinds, i.e., large and small cassettes.
In electrically controlling the tension of the tape in the VCR of that type, the pair of reel mounts are driven by two respective direct reel motors. The tape tension is controlled by controlling the direct reel motors independently of each other.
The electrical control of the tape tension, however, necessitates use of many electrical component parts. The use of many parts has inevitably caused a cost increase.
For a mechanical control of the tape tension, on the other hand, it has been known to use a tape tension control device wherein a tension pin which detects the tape tension and a brake part which brakes the reel mounts are integrated. In a case where the reel mounts are arranged to be movable to a plurality of positions (two positions for a large cassette and a small cassettes, for example), the position of the brake part of the mechanical tape tension control device must also be arranged to be movable to a plurality of positions correspondingly with the plurality of positions of the reel mounts. Then, since the tension pin and the brake part are integrated with each other, the mechanical tape tension control device cannot be arranged to effectively operate for each of the plurality of positions of the reel mounts.

Recording and/or reproducing apparatus having a tape tension control device


A method has been discovered for purifying a specific desired DNA sequence, starting from RNA heterogeneous in length and sequence. The steps of the method include making complementary DNA transcripts of the RNA by means of an enzyme such as reverse transcriptase, subjecting the DNA transcripts to the action of one or more selected restriction endonuclease enzymes, and fractionating the fragments produced by endonuclease action according to their length. By this method it is possible to isolate homogeneous length DNA fragments complementary to RNA sequences present in the original preparation in as low a frequency as two percent. A method is also disclosed for further purifying the homogeneous length fragments and for determining their final purity. Using the disclosed methods, a DNA fragment approximately 550 nucleotides in length coding for a portion of the peptide hormone, human chorionic somatomammotropin, has been purified to greater than 99% purity.

Proteins and peptides are synthesized in almost endless variety by living organisms. Many have proven to have medical, agricultural or industrial utility. Some proteins are enzymes, useful as specific catalysts for complex chemical reactions. Others function as hormones, which act to affect the growth or development of an organism or to affect the function of specific tissues in medically significant ways. Specific binding proteins may have commercial significance for the isolation and purification of trace substances and for the removal of contaminating substances. Both proteins and peptides are composed of linear chains of amino acids, the latter term being applied to short, single-chain sequences, the former referring to long-chain and multi-chain substances. The principles of the present invention apply equally to both proteins and peptides.
Proteins and peptides are generally high molecular weight substances, each having a specific sequence of amino acids. Except for the smaller peptides, chemical synthesis of peptides and proteins is frequently impractical, costly and time consuming, if not impossible. In the majority of instances, in order to make practical use of a desired protein, it must first be isolated from the organism which makes it. Frequently, the desired protein is present only in minuscule amounts. Often, the source organism cannot be obtained in quantities sufficient to provide an adequate amount of the desired protein. Consequently, many potential agricultural, industrial and medical applications for specific proteins are known, but remain undeveloped simply because an adequate supply of the desired protein or peptide does not exist.
Recently developed techniques have made it possible to employ microorganisms, capable of rapid and abundant growth, for the synthesis of commercially useful proteins and peptides, regardless of their source in nature. These techniques make it possible to genetically endow a suitable microorganism with the ability to synthesize a protein or peptide normally made by another organism. The technique makes use of a fundamental relationship which exists in all living organisms between the genetic material, usually DNA, and the proteins synthesized by the organism. This relationship is such that the amino acid sequence of the protein is reflected in the nucleotide sequence of the DNA. There are one or more trinucleotide sequence groups specifically related to each of the twenty amino acids most commonly occuring in proteins. The specific relationship between each given trinucleotide sequence and its corresponding amino acid constitutes the genetic code. The genetic code is believed to be the same or similar for all living organisms. As a consequence, the amino acid sequence of every protein or peptide is reflected by a corresponding nucleotide sequence, according to a well understood relationship. Furthermore, this sequence of nucleotides can, in principle, be translated by any living organism.
In its basic outline, a method of endowing a microorganism with the ability to synthesize a new protein involves three general steps: (1) isolation and purification of the specific gene or nucleotide sequence containing the genetically coded information for the amino acid sequence of the desired protein, (2) recombination of the isolated nucleotide sequence with an appropriate transfer vector, typically the DNA of a bacteriophage or plasmid, and (3) transfer of the vector to the appropriate microorganism and selection of a strain of the recipient microorganism containing the desired genetic information.
A fundamental difficulty encountered in attempts to commercially exploit the above-described general process lies in the first step, the isolation and purification of the desired specific genetic information. DNA exists in all living cells in the form of extremely high molecular weight chains of nucleotides. A cell may contain more than 10,000 structural genes, coding for the amino acid sequences of over 10,000 specific proteins, each gene having a sequence many hundreds of nucleotides in length. For the most part, four different nucleotide bases make up all the existing sequences. These are adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T). The long sequences comprising the structural genes of specific proteins are consequently very similar in overall chemical composition and physical properties. The separation of one such sequence from the plethora of other sequences present in isolated DNA cannot ordinarily be accomplished by conventional physical and chemical preparative methods.
Two general methods have been used in the prior art to accomplish step (1) in the above-described general procedure. The first method is sometimes referred to as the shotgun technique. The DNA of an organism is fragmented into segments generally longer than the desired nucleotide sequence. Step (1) of the above-described process is essentially by-passed. The DNA fragments are immediately recombined with the desired vector, without prior purification of specific sequences. Optionally, a crude fractionation step may be interposed. The selection techniques of microbial genetics are relied upon to select, from among all the possibilities, a strain of microorganisms containing the desired genetic information. The shotgun procedure suffers from two major disadvantages. Most importantly, the procedure can result in the transfer of hundreds of unknown genes into recipient microorganisms, so that during the experiment, new strains are created, having unknown genetic capabilities. Therefore, the use of such a procedure could create a hazard for laboratory workers and for the environment. A second disadvantage of the shotgun method is that it is extremely inefficient for the production of the desired strain, and is dependent upon the use of a selection technique having sufficient resolution to compensate for the lack of fractionation in the first step.
The second general method takes advantage of the fact that the total genetic information in a cell is seldom, if ever, expressed at any given time. In particular, the differentiated tissues of higher organisms may be synthesizing only a minor proportion of the proteins which the organism is capable of making. In extreme cases, such cells may be synthesizing predominantly one protein. In such extreme cases, it has been possible to isolate the nucleotide sequence coding for the protein in question by isolating the corresponding messenger RNA from the appropriate cells.
Messenger RNA functions in the process of converting the nucleotide sequence information of DNA into the amino acid sequence structure of a protein. In the first step of this process, termed transcription, a local segment of DNA having a nucleotide sequence which specifies a protein to be made, is first copied into RNA. RNA is a polynucleotide similar to DNA except that ribose is substituted for deoxyribose and uracil is used in place of thymine. The nucleotide bases in RNA are capable of entering into the same kind of base pairing relationships that are known to exist between the complementary strains of DNA. A and U (T) are complementary, and G and C are complementary. The RNA transcript of a DNA nucleotide sequence will be complementary to the copied sequence. Such RNA is termed messenger RNA (mRNA) because of its status as intermediary between the genetic apparatus of the cell and its protein synthesizing apparatus. Generally, the only mRNA sequences present in the cell at any given time are those which correspond to proteins being actively synthesized at that time. Therefore, a differentiated cell whose function is devoted primarily to the synthesis of a single protein will contain primarily the RNA species corresponding to that protein. In those instances where it is feasible, the isolation and purification of the appropriate nucleotide sequence coding for a given protein can be accomplished by taking advantage of the specialized synthesis of such protein in differentiated cells.
A major disadvantage of the foregoing procedure is that it is applicable only in the relatively rare instances where cells can be found engaged in synthesizing primarily a single protein. The majority of proteins of commercial interest are not synthesized in such a specialized way. The desired proteins may be one of a hundred or so different proteins being produced by the cells of a tissue or organism at a given time. Nevertheless, the mRNA isolation technique is potentially useful since the set of RNA species present in the cell usually represents only a fraction of the total sequences existing in the DNA, and thus provides an initial purification. In order to take advantage of such purification, however, a method is needed whereby sequences present in low frequencies, such as a few percent, can be isolated in high purity.
The present invention provides a process whereby nucleotide sequences can be isolated and purified even when present at a frequency as low as 2% of a heterogeneous population of mRNA sequences. Furthermore, the method may be combined with known methods of fractionating mRNA to isolate and purify sequences present in even lower frequency in the total RNA population as initially isolated. The method is generally applicable to mRNA species extracted from virtually any organism and is therefore expected to provide a powerful basic tool for the ultimate production of proteins of commercial and research interest, in useful quantities.
The process of the present invention takes advantage of certain structural features of mRNA and DNA, and makes use of certain enzyme catalyzed reactions. The nature of these reactions and structural details as they are understood in the prior art are described herewith. The symbols and abbreviations used herein are set forth in the following table:
______________________________________ DNA-deoxyribonucleic acid A-Adenine RNA-ribonucleic acid T-Thymine cDNA-complementary DNA G-Guanine (enzymatically synthesized C-Cytosine from a mRNA sequence) U-Uracil mRNA-messenger RNA Tris-2-Amino-2- hydroxyethyl- dATP-deoxyadenosine 1,3-propanediol triphosphate dGTP-deoxyguanosine EDTA-ethylenediamine triphosphate dCTP-deoxycytidine tetraacetic acid triphosphate HCS-Human Chorionic ATP-adenosine Somatomammotropin triphosphate dTTP-thymidine TCA-Trichloroacetic acid triphosphate ______________________________________
In its native configuration, DNA exists in the form of paired linear polynucleotide strands. The complementary base pairing relationships described above exist between the paired strands such that each nucleotide base of one strand exists opposite its complement on the other strand. The entire sequence of one strand is mirrored by a complementary sequence on the other strand. If the strands are separated, it is possible to synthesize a new partner strand, starting from the appropriate precursor monomers. The sequence of addition of the monomers starting from one end is determined by, and complementary to, the sequence of the original intact polynucleotide strand, which thus serves as a template for the synthesis of its complementary partner. The synthesis of mRNA corresponding to a specific nucleotide sequence of DNA is understood to follow the same basic principle. Therefore a specific mRNA molecule will have a sequence complementary to one strand of DNA and identical to the sequence of the opposite DNA strand, in the region transcribed. Enzymic mechanisms exist within living cells which permit the selective transcription of a particular DNA segment containing the nucleotide sequence for a particular protein. Consequently, isolating the mRNA which contains the nucleotide sequence coding for the amino acid sequence of a particular protein is equivalent to the isolation of the same sequence, or gene, from the DNA itself. If the mRNA is retranscribed to form DNA complementary thereto (cDNA), the exact DNA sequence is thereby reconstituted and can, by appropriate techniques, be inserted into the genetic material of another organism. The two complementary versions of a given sequence are therefore inter-convertible, and functionally equivalent to each other.
The nucleotide subunits of DNA and RNA are linked together by phosphodiester bonds between the 5' position of one nucleotide sugar and the 3' position of its next neighbor. Reiteration of such linkages produces a linear polynucleotide which has polarity in the sense that one end can be distinguished from the other. The 3' end may have a free 3'-hydroxyl, or the hydroxyl may be substituted with a phosphate or a more complex structure. The same is true of the 5' end. In eucaryotic organisms, i.e., those having a defined nucleus and mitotic apparatus, the synthesis of functional mRNA usually includes the addition of polyadenylic acid to the 3' end of the mRNA. Messenger RNA can therefore be separated from other classes of RNA isolated from an eucaryotic organism by column chromatograpy on cellulose to which is attached polythymidylic acid. See Aviv, H., and Leder, P., Proc. Nat. Acad, Sci. USA 69, 1408 (1972) Other chromatiographic methods, exploiting the base-pairing affinity of poly A for chromatographic packing materials containing oligo, dT, poly U, or combinations of poly T and poly U, for example, poly U-Sepharose, are likewise suitable.
Reverse transcriptase catalyzes the synthesis of DNA complementary to an RNA template strand in the presence of the RNA template, a primer which may be any complementary oligo or polynucleotide having a 3'-hydroxyl, and the four deoxynucleotide triphosphates, dATP, dGTP, dCTP, and dTTP. The reaction is initiated by the non-covalent association of the oligodeoxynucleotide primer near the 3' end of mRNA followed by stepwise addition of the appropriate deoxynucleotides, as determined by base pairing relationships with the mRNA nucleotide sequence, to the 3' end of the growing chain. The product molecule may be described as a hairpin structure in which the original RNA is paired by hydrogen bonding with a complementary strand of DNA partly folded back upon itself at one end. The DNA and RNA strands are not covalently joined to each other. Reverse transcriptase is also capable of catalyzing a similar reaction using a single-stranded DNA template, in which case the resulting product is a double-stranded DNA hairpin having a loop of single-stranded DNA joining one set of ends. See Aviv, H. and Leder, P., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 69, 1408 (1972) and Efstratiadis, A., Kafatos, F. C., Maxam, A.M., and Maniatis, T., Cell 7, 279 (1976).
Restriction endonucleases are enzymes capable of hydrolyzing phosphodiester bonds in DNA, thereby creating a break in the continuity of the DNA strand. If the DNA is in the form of a closed loop, the loop is converted to a linear structure. The principal feature of a restriction enzyme is that its hydrolytic action is exerted only at a point where a specific nucleotide sequence occurs. Such a sequence is termed the restriction site for the restriction endonuclease. Restriction endonucleases from a variety of sources have been isolated and characterized in terms of the nucleotide sequence of their restriction sites. When acting on double-stranded DNA, some restriction endonucleases hydrolyze the phosphodiester bonds on both strands at the same point, producing blunt ends. Others catalyze hydrolysis of bonds separated by a few nucleotides from each other, producing free single-stranded regions at each end of the cleaved molecule. Such single-stranded ends are self-complementary, hence cohesive, and may be used to rejoin the hydrolyzed DNA. Since any DNA susceptible to cleavage by such an enzyme must contain the same recognition site, the same cohesive ends will be produced, so that it is possible to join heterogeneous sequences of DNA which have been treated with restriction endonuclease to other sequences similarly treated. See Roberts, R. J. Crit. Rev. Biochem. 4, 123 (1976).
It has been observed that restriction sites for a given enzyme are relatively rare and are nonuniformly distributed. Whether a specific restriction site exists within a given segment is a matter which must be empirically determined. However, there is a large nd growing number of restriction endonucleases, isolated from a variety of sources with varied site specificity, so that there is a reasonable probability that a given segment of a thousand nucleotides will contain one or more restriction sites.
For general background see Watson, J. D., The Molecular Biology of the Gene, 3d Ed., Benjamin, Menlo Park, California, (1976); Davidson, J. N., The Biochemistry of the Nucleic Acids, 8th Ed., Revised by Adams, R. L. P., Burdon, R. H., Campbell, A. M. and Smellie, R. M. S., Academic Press, New York, (1976); and Hayes, W., "The Genetics of Bacteria and Their Viruses", Studies in Basic Genetics and Molecular Biology, 2d Ed., Blackwell Scientific Publ., Oxford (1968).

Purification of nucleotide sequences suitable for expression in bacteria

The Regents of the University of California


The present invention provides a charging control circuit for a rechargeable battery. The charging control circuit includes: a constant-current charging unit and a trickle charging unit. The charging control circuit further includes a branch switch, a detection switch, a control unit, and a detection unit. The branch switch is connected between a power source and the rechargeable battery for enabling or disabling the constant-current charging unit, the detection switch is turned on or off depending on the enable or disable state of the constant-current charging unit. The control unit is connected between the detection switch and the branch switch for controlling the branch switch to turn on or off depending on the off or on state of the detection switch.

1. Related Applications
This application is related to a co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/408,727 filed concurrently herewith and entitled "BATTERY CHARGING CONTROL CIRCUIT", which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
2. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to battery circuits and, particularly, to a battery charging circuit.
3. General Background
Generally, battery chargers either use a constant current (CC) mode or a constant voltage (CV) mode to charge a battery. However, in either the CC mode or the CV mode, battery charging is terminated once the battery's voltage reaches a peak value (e.g., 4.2 V), which may result in the battery not being fully charged.
Therefore, it is necessary to provide an apparatus and method to overcome the above-identified deficiencies.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd.


A method for manufacturing a work piece is provided. The method includes preparing fiberglass in a mold, preparing a closed mold cavity around the fiberglass, flushing the closed mold cavity with an oxygen-free gas, injecting resin in the closed mold cavity, and curing the casted work piece. Furthermore, a work piece manufactured by the above method is provided.

Numerous work pieces, especially work pieces which comprise laminated structures like for example wind turbine rotor blades, are usually manufactured by casting resin into a closed mould with fibreglass lay-ups. One kind of resin which can be used for manufacturing work pieces like wind turbine rotor blades is polyester resin. Polyester resin is a very castable resin which can be used in fibreglass lay-ups for wind turbine rotor blade production. The curing time of the resin can be controlled by adding amounts of a catalyst. One difficulty however related to the use of polyester resin is that this resin has a very bad odor, as do the newly casted pieces and the workspace used.

Casting method for manufacturing a work piece


A package of substantially identical containers, such as beverage cans, and a carrier and a method of making such packages are disclosed. The carrier has band segments defining container-receiving apertures and additional apertures. The carrier is applied so that the containers are received in the container-receiving apertures and so that the band segments engage cylindrical side walls of the containers. Among the band segments, terminal cross segments define opposite ends of the carrier and medial cross segments separate the container-receiving apertures in each longitudinal row. Each medial cross segment is severed partially, for a substantial distance along its transverse midline, from one of the opposite edges of the carrier, toward one of the additional apertures and has at least one secondary slit extending transversely between the transverse midline and one of the container-receiving apertures.

Typically, carrier stock having band segments defining container-receiving apertures for machine application to substantially identical containers is formed, as by die cutting, from a single sheet of resilient polymeric material. After the carrier stock has been applied so that the containers are received in the container-receiving apertures, individual packages may be then formed by severing such stock transversely along certain of its band segments.
Each package formed thereby has a given number of the containers, e.g. six, eight, or twelve containers, in two or three longitudinal rows, along with an individual carrier severed from the carrier stock. Commonly, the containers are beverage cans, such as soft drink or beer cans.
Apparatus useful in applying such stock to such containers and in severing such stock to form such packages are disclosed in Creed et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,204,386, Cunningham U.S. Pat. No. 3,383,828, Morgan U.S. Pat. No. 3,816,968,and Schlueter U.S. Pat. No. 3,991,640.
As disclosed in the Creed et al. patent (see FIG. 34) and in the Schlueter patent (see FIGS. 2 and 5), the band segments to be transversely severed to form individual packages are severed via knives mounted operatively in knife assemblies, on star wheels. The knives are arranged to be transversely reciprocated.
It is known to provide such stock with tear-open capability A recent example of such carrier stock formed with tear-open tabs is disclosed in Marco U.S. Pat. No. 5,020,661. An earlier example thereof is disclosed in Olsen U.S. Pat. No. 4,064,989.
As disclosed Klygis et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,115,910, such carrier stock has tear-open capability relying upon tear-open band segments, rather than upon tear-open tabs. Specifically, a cross segment of the carrier stock has primary and secondary slits and frangible bridges in an arrangement such that a tear propagates wholly within the cross segment having such slits and bridges, into one of the container-receiving apertures.
Other arrangements of slots provided in such carrier stock to facilitate separation of individual packages are exemplified in Cunningham U.S. Pat. No. 3,383,828, supra, Smith U.S. Pat. No. 3,778,096, and Klygis U.S. Pat. No. 3,830,361.
Other arrangements of slots provided in such carrier stock to facilitate removal of individual containers are exemplified in Poupitch U.S. Pat. No. 2,997,169, Poupitch U.S. Pat. No. 3,086,651, and Owen U.S. Pat. No. 3,504,790.
This invention is addressed to improvements in a package comprising substantially identical containers, such as beverage cans, and such a carrier.

Package comprising multiple containers, such as beverage cans, and method of forming packages


Various implementations include propulsion systems and related methods of operation. In one implementation, a system includes: an internal combustion engine, wherein the internal combustion engine has a combustion chamber for burning a fossil fuel, an electrolysis chamber for producing hydrogen gas and oxygen gas, a turbocharger, a supply line connecting a compressor of the turbocharger to the combustion chamber, the supply line designed to convey a gas mixture including at least a part of the hydrogen gas and the oxygen gas to the combustion chamber, a gasification tank with volatile organic compounds received therein, and an air supply for supplying compressed air into the gasification tank, wherein the gas mixture, which is guided via the supply line to the combustion chamber, also includes gasified organic compounds from the gasification tank.

Propulsion systems which are subject-matter of this disclosure may drive a basically arbitrarily designed vessel (e.g., a ship) alone or in conjunction with another propulsion system. Such a ship system may be an auxiliary diesel engine, for example, which may be provided in addition to a propulsion system that burns crude oil for driving the vessel.
In one example, a generic ship propulsion system comprises at least an internal combustion engine for propelling a ship, wherein the internal combustion engine has a combustion chamber for burning a fossil fuel, in particular a diesel fuel.
In another example, a generic method for operating a ship propulsion system comprises the steps of propelling a ship with at least one internal combustion engine. For this, a fossil fuel, for example a diesel fuel, is introduced into a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine.
Starting from known (e.g., ship) propulsion systems there is a need, in particular due to ever more stringent emission regulations, to design the combustion process of the internal combustion engine such that particularly low emission levels are reached. Simultaneously, the efficiency of the internal combustion engine should be particularly high.
KR 2011 0119055 A, US 2012/0067304 A1, EP 2 602 358 A1, US 2006/0179819 A1, and WO 2008/033107 A2 describe internal combustion engines with which hydrogen gas and oxygen gas are used for reducing pollutants in the exhaust. In US 2012/0067304 A1 and US 2006/0179819 A1, for example, the hydrogen gas and oxygen gas are produced in an electrolysis unit.

Propulsion system, and method for operating a propulsion system


Incoming light is spectrally analyzed by diffracting the incoming light with a grating. At least a part of the incoming light is split off so that this part contains mainly one polarization component of the incoming light. It is ensured that this split-off part and a remaining part of the incoming light reach the grating with their polarized component mainly parallel to a main direction of polarization which is diffracted with maximal efficiency by the grating. For this purpose, at least the split-off part is diffracted after being passed through a polarization rotating element.

A well-known type of optical spectrometer uses a grating to diffract light. A grating is, for example, an array of fine, substantially parallel, substantially equally spaced grooves ("lines" or "rulings") on a reflecting or transparent substrate. The grooves result in diffractive mutual interference effects that concentrate reflected or transmitted electromagnetic energy in discrete directions for which constructive interference occurs. These directions are wavelength dependent, except for the direction of straight transmission or reflection (angle of incidence=angle of reflection), which is not considered to be included in the definition of "diffraction" as used herein. In a spectrometer, the resulting wavelength-dependent dispersion is used to analyze the spectral properties of the light. An intensity-detection device (e.g., a photo-detector) measures the intensity of the light as a function of angle of diffraction.
For applications where a sensitive measurement of the spectral properties of weak incident light is required, it is desirable that such a spectrometer has a high-diffraction efficiency for the diffraction order or orders that are used. Such a desire exists, for example, for applications like Raman Spectroscopy, in which the spectrum has to be analyzed of generally low-intensity light that has been inelastically scattered by an object under investigation.
Unfortunately, under certain circumstances, the efficiency of diffraction from a grating is not very high, or only high for one polarization direction of the incident light, which can be the case, e.g., for gratings used under grazing incidence in which such effects already become noticeable when the angle between the direction of the incoming light and the normal of the plane of the grating surface increases to values above 60 degrees. Usually, different polarizations of light are also diffracted optimally in different wavelength regions.


A display unit for mounting in a vehicle is provided. The display unit includes an image generator. The display unit further includes a semi-reflective member. The semi-reflective member is configured to move from a non-operational position to an operation position. The semi-reflective member is positioned to reflect light from the image generator in an operational position.

The present application relates generally to the field of display units for vehicles. Specifically, the application relates to a system for providing a virtual image, the virtual image displaying information such as but not limited to vehicle operating information (e.g., vehicle speed, engine speed, fuel levels and/or warnings).
Vehicles have utilized a display unit, sometimes called a head-up display unit (HUD), to provide a virtual image in a driver's field of vision. Displays generally include a projector that provides an image onto a semi-reflective surface. The semi-reflective surface can be a windshield or a semi-reflective member (e.g., mirror, glass, etc.) disposed in front of the windshield. The reflection of the image is seen by a driver and is perceived as existing at some point beyond the semi-reflective surface, generally outside the vehicle. Displays that provide a virtual image are desirable because information is at a focal length more consistent within the driver's field of vision and the driver does not have to look down to access the information as with a conventional instrument cluster.
It would be desirable to provide a display unit with a semi-reflective surface that is configured to be retracted and generally hidden within the dashboard when not in use. It would also be desirable for the display unit to be a simple and robust system that is driven by a single motor. It would also be desirable to provide a display unit that is less susceptible to vibration, temperature changes, and/or heat dissipation.
What is needed is a system and/or method that satisfies one or more of these needs or provides other advantageous features. Other features and advantages will be made apparent from the present specification. The teachings disclosed extend to those embodiments that fall within the scope of the claims, regardless of whether they accomplish one or more of the aforementioned needs.

Apparatus and system for providing a virtual display for a vehicle


The present invention in one embodiment provides a distortion creation and reduction circuit comprising a distortion circuit, a correction circuit, and a final signal combiner. The distortion circuit receives a first carrier signal and forms a first distorted carrier signal comprised of a first carrier signal and a first distortion signal component. The correction circuit receives a second carrier signal and forms a second distorted carrier signal comprised of a second carrier signal and a second distortion signal component. The first and second distorted carrier signals are formed and combined so that the first and second distortion signal components destructively combine and the first and second carrier signal components constructively combine. The distortion circuit is preferably comprised of a power amplifier. The correction circuit preferably comprises a distortion correction portion, a carrier correction portion, a correction signal combiner, and a correction amplifier.

Electrical circuitry, such as power amplifiers, often add undesired distortion to an input signal, creating an output signal comprised of a distortion component and an input signal component. R. E. Myer, U.S. Pat. No. 4,580,105, issued Apr. 1, 1986, discloses a prior art technique in FIG. 1, for reducing the distortion component created by a power amplifier 14. This technique involves taking a portion of the output signal and combining it with an input signal which has been adjusted in phase and amplitude. This signal combination, isolates the distortion component of the output signal. The isolated distortion component is adjusted in phase and gain, and then added back to the output signal at a coupler 10, to eliminate the distortion component and obtain the desired input signal component. One of the disadvantages of the prior art technique disclosed in Myer, U.S. Pat. No. 4,580,105, is that a significant amount of power of the output signal is lost when the isolated distortion component signal is added in at the coupler 10. This loss of power can be offset by increasing the size of the power amplifier 14, however that is expensive.
R. E. Myer, U.S. Pat. No. 4,879,519, issued Nov. 7, 1989, discloses another technique for reducing distortion produced by a power amplifier. In that patent, a pre-distortion signal from a combiner 115 is applied to the inputs of amplifiers 135-1 through 135-N. The pre-distortion signal is opposite in phase and is designed to cancel the distortion component that is subsequently introduced by the amplifiers 135-1 through 135-N. (FIG. 1, col. 3, ln. 55-col. 4, ln. 8)

Distortion creation and reduction circuit


Applicant's invention includes an apparatus for playing a game. Applicant's apparatus includes an assembly of ball ports and rails which, when assembled and laid on a floor or ground surface, resembles a billiard table. A mat of indoor/outdoor carpet underlies the space defined by the assembly of rails and ball ports. Golf balls are used in similar fashion to billiard balls, with a golf putter being used to put the balls into play. The game can be played using Applicant's apparatus either indoors or outdoors, anywhere where a fairly flat and level surface can accommodate the assembled apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
Applicant's invention relates to game and recreational devices involving balls, golf clubs, and/or billiard table-like playing platforms.
2. Background Information
The amateur game and recreational equipment field is a multi-billion dollar industry in the United States. Games which involve multiple parties, are suitable for players of widely ranging age, agility, and sports skill enjoy particularly prolonged favor with the public. Croquet provides a classic example of one such game. Nevertheless, there seems to always be room for new additions to the group of games which are susceptible to wide appeal.
Particularly in light of today's heightened interest in certain sectors in fostering and preserving high-quality family environments, particularly for children, games which families can and are likely to play together in their yards or at nearby parks are particularly welcome additions to our marketplace. Especially if a new family game is one which involves active, physical involvement, rather than purely passive, verbal play, such games provide a welcome alternative to video games which tend to haunt many parents who are concerned about their childrens' development into introverted, passive "couch potatoes."
Another "virtue" of a desirable new family game is that of involving familiar and/or easily acquired skills. For example, a game which involves the rules, equipment, and/or physical action of previously-existing game(s), yet represents an improvement over those games in some respect, is one which is more likely to be tried, as compared with a game which involves complicated rules and/or difficult physical maneuvers.


The present invention is directed to a method of driving an in-cell touch screen. A common voltage (VCOM) layer of the in-cell touch screen is divided into transmit (TX) electrodes and receive (RX) electrodes, the TX electrodes forming TX electrode lines in a first direction and the RX electrodes forming RX electrode lines in a second direction. The TX electrode lines are arranged into a plurality of groups. The groups of TX electrode lines are concurrently scanned in touch sensing mode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an in-cell touch screen, and more particularly to an in-cell touch screen with reduced scan time.
2. Description of Related Art
A touch screen is an input/output device that combines touch technology and display technology to enable users to directly interact with what is displayed. A capacitor-based touch panel is a commonly used touch panel that utilizes capacitive coupling effect to detect touch position. Specifically, capacitance corresponding to the touch position changes and is thus detected, when a finger touches a surface of the touch panel.
In order to produce thinner touch screens, in-cell technology has been adopted that eliminates one or more layers by building capacitors inside the display. An in-cell touch screen sharing a common voltage layer should perform display and touch sensing in turn. As display resolution of the in-cell touch screen increases, more time need be allocated for performing display, and less time is left for performing touch sensing, thereby affecting signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of touch sensing and reducing touch accuracy.
A need has thus arisen to propose a novel in-cell touch screen and an associated method of driving the in-cell touch screen to overcome the drawbacks of the conventional in-cell touch screen.

In-cell touch screen having a driver for concurrently scanning a plurality of electrode lines and a method of driving the same


In order to be resisted by a force of given magnitude from the apparatus, the user must accelerate through the exercising stroke he makes on the machine. A rotor within the machine is spun when the user moves the operating lever through its stroke, and the inertia of the spinning rotor forces the user to constantly accelerate during the exercising stroke if the user is to obtain resistance that will match his input efforts. Weighted drag paddles on the rotor retard spinning thereof as a result of their weight and interaction with a fluid medium during such spinning and consequently provide a source of resistance to the user's effort to spin the rotor, the fluid medium preferably being ambient air. The magnitude of the resistance generated by the rotor at any given speed of rotation thereof can be adjustably increased or decreased prior to the exercising stroke by changing the radial position of the paddles. The paddles are mounted on carriages which may be shifted selectively along radial tracks by an external adjusting knob coupled with a tubular shaft that, when adjustably rotated relative to the internally received main shaft of the rotor, drives a chain connected to the carriages.

Presently available isokinetic equipment operates on the principle of so-called "accommodating resistance"; that is, the effort expended by the user in moving an operating lever or the like will be matched by the equipment throughout the full range of muscular contraction of the user. Consequently, even though changes in the locations of pivot points, the lengths of lever arms, etc. will vary in the user's arms and legs as he moves the operating lever through an exercising stroke so as to enable the user to obtain better leverage against the resistive force supplied by the equipment, nonetheless the isokinetic equipment "accommodates" the changing conditions and at all times matches the effort being expended by the user, thus assuring that the user's muscles are taxed throughout the full range of their contracting movement.
These prior devices have by and large utilized a pair of relatively rotatable members whose frictional interengagement during such rotation creates the resistance needed to match the user's input efforts, and as long as the user moves the operating lever or handle at the same speed throughout the exercising stroke, the resistance furnished by the machine would remain the same.


There is provided an improved exchangeable medicament dosing system and method which includes a reuseable integral patient dispensing frame which supports a plurality of reuseable cartridges. Replaceable blister packages having a plurality of individually sealed spaced pockets are slidably inserted into the reuseable cartridge and aligned with a predetermined number of dispensing openings therewithin. The blister packages are specifically designed to mechanically interact with the cartridge as they are slidably inserted to properly align the spaced pockets with corresponding dispensing openings of the cartridge. One or more cartridges are releasably locked at least partially within the dispensing frame, and a plurality of dispensing frames can be placed in a frame container for convenient exchange and use with medication carts. The resulting dosing system and method combines the advantages of punch card distribution with its excellent visual accountability and seal, with the benefits of a perpetual inventory exchange system.

Medication exchange systems, wherein a health care provider such as a long term care center or the like periodically receives prefilled medication dispensing containers in exchange for previously utilized similar containers, have been advantageously utilized in various forms. For example, as illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,384,649, which issued to L. Brodsky, unit doses of medication individually sealed within disposable blister-type packs have been contained within reuseable plastic dispensers, wherein medication can be dispensed from the blister pack using finger-strength pressure. In this two-piece dispensing package, the blister pack and its cover is held within a hinged outer shell, whereupon closing of the outer shell forces a cutting edge thereof into contact with the blister pack cover, thereby forming a seal around each blister pack pocket. Dispensing devices similar to those described in the Brodsky patent have been available in the industry, such as from Wayne-Ferrell, of Smithtown, N.Y. These devices have been marketed under the name "dispens-A-dose" for use in conjunction with interchangeable drawers or cassettes in medication delivery carts and the like.
Other exchangeable unit does systems have also been available in the industry, such as illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,084,695 and 4,253,572, which issued to F. Halbich, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,372,445, which issued to P. Keffeler. These patents generally describe plastic pill box designs which receive a plurality of unit dose tablets or the like. The pill box is sealed by a clear plastic cover having a plurality of frangible portions which enable individual compartments of the pill box to be separately opened for dispensing operations. The cover can be provided of a relatively clear or transparent material to provide visual access to the medication compartments. Similar box and frangible lid structures have been available in the industry, such as from Omni Medical Systems, Inc., of Marion, Iowa, (sold under the names "Omni 1"and "Omni 8"), and from Opus Unit Dose Systems, of Omaha, Nebr. These unit dose systems have also been marketed in conjunction with plastic dispensers which can be utilized in conjunction with medication carts.
Still other exchangeable systems have also been known, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,826,222, which issued to J. Romick. This unit-dose medication handling system comprises a medication tray having a plurality of dividers for defining compartments for receiving unit-dose dispensing boxes. The dispensing boxes are generally made of cardboard and are adapted to receive a plurality of unit-dose packs of medication. The unit doses may be in the form of separate viles, capsules, envelopes, or strip packs. A pressure sensitive label is adhered to the box for identification. A tray can be utilized for a single patient, wherein a plurality of prescription boxes can be placed in the adjacent compartments, with the pharmacist filling each box with a predetermined number of unit doses. The tray can also be disposed on a shelf of a mobile medication cart for use in dispensing procedures. While systems similar to the structure described in the `222 patent have been available, the cardboard dispensing boxes tend to be only marginally reusable, of only limited effectiveness for security of individual doses (vis-a-vis pilferage), cumbersome, and provide poor visual accountability of medication.
Other forms of reuseable medication dispensing devices have also been available in the industry. For example, blister-type medication cards have been available with reuseable punch frames, such as marketed by Artromick of Columbus, Ohio under the names "TimePak-7" and "PunchPak". These devices include reuseable punch frames similar to that described with regard to U.S. Pat. No. 4,384,649 above, and are used in conjunction with blister-type packages inserted therein. These frames can also be used with and stored loosely within medication cart drawers or the like.
While there have been a variety of exchangeable unit dosing systems, such as described above, each have their own shortcomings, some of which have been detailed above. Generally, heretofore, there has not been available a single system which combines the advantages of disposable punch card packages having excellent visual accountability, high integrity seals, and low cost packaging per dose, with the benefits of exchange systems which minimize inventory and reordering requirements, minimize packaging and product waste, and increase medication security. The exchangeable systems described above, while offering some of these advantages, could not offer all of the advantages in a single, relatively simple, and substantially modular format.
Moreover, most of the exchangeable systems previously available in the industry offered only a predetermined medication administration system, set up specifically for patient pass, time pass, or prescription pass only. In most cases, the same structure which provided for reuseability and exchange characteristics also imposed severe limitations on adaptability and applicability to the ever changing environment in modern health care facilities.

Exchangeable unit dose medicament dosing system and method


Compounds having both calcium antagonist and antioxidant activity are disclosed. The compounds are useful in preventing or alleviating damage to tissues at the cellular level. Methods of treatment which employ these properties of the compounds and corresponding pharmaceutical compositions are also disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to the provision of compounds having potent calcium antagonist and antioxidant activity, and to the use of those compounds as cellular protective agents. The invention is further directed to the provision of methods for synthesizing the compounds of the invention and to compounds formed as intermediates during the synthesis. The invention is particularly directed to the use of the compounds of the present invention to prevent or reduce cellular damage associated with ophthalmic diseases or injuries.
2. Discussion of Related Art
In a biological system under stress induced by trauma, ischemia-reperfusion, depletion of natural defenses, inflammation, light damage (especially laser or intense operating room light), or degenerative conditions, damage occurs which can result in an increase in cellular free calcium and/or an increase in oxidative damage. Both these changes are components of the common pathway of cell death. The result of these changes is the initiation of a cascade of cellular destruction, loss of cellular function and ultimately cell loss. The loss of critical cellular components can result in organ damage and loss of organ function. Loss of function can be caused by an acute insult or may be the result of the cumulative effects of chronic insult. The following texts may be referred to for further details concerning these phenomena:
Prog. Neuro-Psychopharmacol. and Biol. Pysch., volume 17, pages 21-70 (1993); PA1 Age, volume 16, pages 23-30 (1993); PA1 Chem. Res. Tox., volume 32, pages 2-18 ( 1993); and PA1 Ann. Neurol., volume 32, pages S33-42 (1992). PA1 Med. Res. Review, volume 9, pages 123-80 (1989); PA1 Pharmacol. Review, volume 38(4), pages 321-416 (1986); PA1 Cardiovasc. Drugs and Therapy, volume 6, pages 35-39 (1992); PA1 Science, volume 235, pages 46-52 (1987); PA1 Chem.-Biol. Interactions, pages 1-23 (1991); and PA1 Biochemical Pharmacol., volume 43(1), pages 39-46 (1992). PA1 Arch. Pharmacol., volume 325, pages 129-146 (1992); PA1 Free Rad. Biol. Med., volume 6, pages 209-224; PA1 Free Rad. Biol. Med., volume 11, pages 215-232 (1991); PA1 Eur. J. Pharmacol., volume 210, pages 85-90 (1992); PA1 J. Photochem., Photobiol. Biol., volume 8, pages 211-224 (1991); PA1 Pharmacol. and Tox., volume 70, pages 271-277 (1992); and PA1 Medicinal Res. Rev., volume 13(2), pages 161-182 (1993). PA1 EP 267 155A and WO 89/05803 A1. PA1 Arch. int. Pharmacodyn., volume 272, pages 283-295 (1984); PA1 Eur. J. Pharmacol., volume 204, pages 315-322 (1991); and PA1 Meth. and Find Exp. Clin. Pharmacol., volume 11(10), pages 607-612 (1989). PA1 Free Rad. Biol. and Med., volume 12, pages 183-187 (1992); PA1 Res. Commun. in Chem. Path. and Pharmacol., volume 76(3), pages 367-370 (1992); PA1 J. Mol. Cell Cardiol., volume 22, pages 1199-1208 (1990); PA1 Circulation Res., volume 66(5), pages 1449-1452 (1990); PA1 J. Cardiovas. Pharmacol., volume 18(Suppl. 1) pages S6-S10 (1991); PA1 Basic Res. in Cardiology, volume 87, pages 148-160 (1992); PA1 Free Rad. Res. Comms., volume 15(2), pages 91-100 (1991); and PA1 Biochem. Pharmacol., volume 37(21), page 4197 (1988).
Calcium flux is a necessary part of normal cell function. The level of intracellular free calcium is highly regulated. Both receptor-operated and voltage-sensitive channels control cell signaling and stimulus response. Multiple voltage-sensitive calcium channels have been identified. These include the N, T, P, and L channels. The following publications may be referred to for further background concerning the regulation of intracellular free calcium levels:
Over-stimulation of the cell or cellular system or the defective regulation of intracellular free calcium can result in increased intracellular free calcium levels. This can lead to the initiation of a chain of biochemical processes which can lead to cell death. Agents that modulate increases in intracellular free calcium concentration can moderate the deleterious effects of over-stimulation or defective regulation. See PNAS, volume 89, pages 435-39 (1992), and references cited above. In addition, a compound that acts as a calcium antagonist can provide an additional beneficial effect by improving blood flow, reducing ischemic insult and facilitating repair. See Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Acta Pharmacol., volume 335, pages 680-685 (1987). As utilized herein, the term "calcium antagonists" refers to organic molecules which inhibit increases in intracellular free calcium concentrations.
Agents that act as antioxidants can protect against oxidative damage associated with cellular stress. Such protection has been the subject of numerous scientific publications, including the following:
The combined use of two or more compounds having calcium antagonist and antioxidant activity, respectively, is discussed in Experimental Eye Research, volume 5, pages 71-78 (1993). The provision of compounds having both calcium antagonist and antioxidant activity is discussed in the following patent publications:
One compound known to have calcium antagonist activity, flunarizine, has also been reported to have free radical scavenging activity. See:
In addition, other classes of calcium antagonists have been reported to have antioxidant activity. See:
However, in most cases the antioxidant effect reported is weak and not clinically relevant. This is pointed out in Biochem. Pharmacol., volume 42(4), pages 735-743 (1991), and Biochem. Pharmacol., 38(20), pages 3601-3610 (1989). In addition, it is believed that a number of the effects attributed to the free radical scavenging effect of flunarizine might actually be an effect of its calcium antagonist activity since this activity was poorly understood in the early 1980's.
The present invention is directed to the provision of new compounds that have both potent calcium antagonist and potent antioxidant activity in a single molecule. The use of a single chemical entity with potent antioxidant and potent calcium antagonist activity provides increased protection relative to the use of a compound with singular activity. The advantage of a single agent with both activities over a combination of two components would be realized by the uniform delivery of an active molecule simplifying issues of drug metabolism and delivery.

Compounds having both potent calcium antagonist and antioxidant activity and use thereof as cytoprotective agents


A household humidifier comprising a closed water tank, a demineralizer, an air exchange pipe for introducing the outside air, a housing defining a chamber, and a coiled spring. The demineralizer has a container containing ion-exchange resin. The water tank has a water supply port through which the demineralizer and the air exchange pipe can be inserted into the tank. One hollow end of the container is rotatably connected to the chamber such that the container is in communication with the chamber. The container is biased downward by the spring so that the container always lies on its side.

Humidifiers of this kind have been well known and disclosed as in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 36976/1982 and Japanese Utility Model application No. 189621/1984 that was filed by the present applicant. In a conventional humidifier of this type, a demineralizer is mounted in a water tank, and therefore the whole structure is compact. Further, the air inside the water tank is smoothly exchanged with the outside air through an air exchange pipe. This makes it easy to drop the water inside the tank to a saucer. In addition, it is easy to mount and withdraw the demineralizer through the water supply port in the water tank. It is not necessary to form a further port to mount the demineralizer into the tank. This introduces the advantage that locations at which water leaks are few.
However, the conventional humidifier constructed as described above has disadvantages. Specifically, the container of the demineralizer or the portion to be connected to the housing of the demineralizer is made from a flexible synthetic resin. Further, the specific gravity of the ion-exchange resin is smaller than that of water. Therefore, when the demineralizer is introduced into the water tank, the container of the demineralizer may not certainly lie on its side in position on the bottom of the tank. Thus, the container may rock within the water or even float on the water. Since it is difficult to cause the container of the demineralizer to lie on its side in position, water cannot be stably supplied from the water tank through the demineralizer to the saucer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages with the prior art device, it is the object of the present invention to provide a humidifier which has the same advantages as the aforementioned prior art humidifier, yet allows the container of a demineralizer to be certainly and stably placed in position on the bottom of a water tank, whereby water can be supplied from the tank through the demineralizer to a saucer.
The above object is achieved by a humidifier comprising: a closed water tank detachably mounted on the body of the humidifier; a demineralizer having a container containing ion-exchange resin; an air exchange pipe for introducing the outside air; the water tank having a water supply port through which the demineralizer and the air exchange pipe can be inserted into the water tank; a housing disposed below the container of the demineralizer and defining a chamber, one hollow end of the container of the demineralizer being rotatably connected to the chamber such that the container is in communication with the chamber; and a resilient means for always causing the container of the demineralizer to lie on its side.


A method of manufacturing magnetic powder is disclosed. This method can provide magnetic powder from which a bonded magnet having excellent magnetic properties and reliability can be manufactured. A melt spinning apparatus 1 is provided with a tube 2 having a nozzle 3 at the bottom thereof, a coil 4 for heating the tube and a cooling roll 5. The cooling roll 5 is constructed from a roll base 51 and a circumferential surface 53 in which gas flow passages 54 for expelling gas are formed. A melt spun ribbon 8 is formed by injecting the molten alloy 6 from the nozzle 3 so as to be collided with the circumferential surface 53 of the cooling roll 5, so that the molten alloy 6 is cooled and then solidified. In this process, gas is likely to enter between a puddle 7 of the molten alloy 6 and the circumferential surface 53, but such gas is expelled by means of the gas flow passages 54. The magnetic powder is obtained by milling thus formed melt spun ribbon 8. In this method, when the average pitch of these gas flow passages 54 is defined as Pxcexcm and the average particle size of the magnetic powder is defined as Dxcexcm, the relationship represented by the formula P less than D is satisfied.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing magnetic powder, magnetic powder and bonded magnets. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method of manufacturing magnetic powder, magnetic powder manufactured by the method, and a bonded magnet manufactured using the magnetic powder.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Rare-earth magnetic materials formed from alloys containing rare-earth elements have high magnetic properties. Therefore, when they are used for magnetic materials for motors, for example, the motors can exhibit high performance.
Such magnetic materials are normally manufactured by the quenching method using a melt spinning apparatus, for example. Hereinbelow, a description will be made with regard to the manufacturing method using the melt spinning apparatus.
FIG. 21 is a sectional side view which shows the situation caused at or around a colliding section of a molten alloy with a cooling roll in the conventional melt spinning apparatus which manufactures a magnetic material by means of a single roll method.
As shown in this figure, in the conventional method, a magnetic material of a predetermined alloy composition (hereinafter, referred to as xe2x80x9calloyxe2x80x9d) is melt and such a molten alloy 60 is injected from a nozzle (not shown in the drawing) so as to be collided with a circumferential surface 530 of a cooling roll 500 which is rotating relative to the nozzle in the direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 21. The alloy which is collided with the circumferential surface 530 is rapidly cooled down (quenched) to be solidified, thereby producing a ribbon-shaped magnetic material (that is, a melt spun ribbon 80) in a continuous manner. In this regard, it is to be noted that the dotted line in FIG. 21 indicates a solidification interface 710 of the molten alloy 60.
In the method described above, since the rare-earth elements are liable to oxidize and when they are oxidized the magnetic properties thereof tend to be lowered, the manufacturing of the melt spun ribbon 80 is normally carried out under an inert gas atmosphere.
However, this causes the case that gas enters between the circumferential surface 530 and the puddle 70 of the molten alloy 60, which results in formation of dimples (depressions) 9 in the roll contact surface 810 of the melt spun ribbon 80 (that is, the surface of the melt spun ribbon which is in contact with the circumferential surface 530 of the cooling roll 500). This tendency becomes prominent as the peripheral velocity of the cooling roll 500 becomes large, and in such a case the area occupied by thus formed dimples also becomes larger.
In the case where such dimples 9 (especially, huge dimples) are formed, the molten alloy 60 can not sufficiently contact with the circumferential surface 530 of the cooling roll 500 at the locations of the dimples due to the existence of the entered gas, so that the cooling rate is lowered to prevent rapid solidification. As a result, at portions of the melt spun ribbon where such dimples are formed, the crystal grain size of the alloy becomes coarse, which results in lowered magnetic properties.
Magnetic powder obtained by milling such a melt spun ribbon having the portions of the lowered magnetic properties has larger dispersion or variation in its magnetic properties. Therefore, bonded magnets formed from such magnetic powder can have only poor magnetic properties, and corrosion resistance thereof is also lowered.
In view of the above problem involved in the prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method of manufacturing magnetic powder which can provide bonded magnets having excellent magnetic properties and reliability. Further, it is also an object of the present invention to provide magnetic powder and bonded magnets having excellent magnetic properties and reliability.
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is directed to a method of manufacturing magnetic powder in which the magnetic powder is manufactured by milling a ribbon-shaped magnetic material which has been obtained by colliding a molten alloy of a magnetic material to a circumferential surface of a rotating cooling roll so as to cool and then solidify it. This method is characterized in that the cooling roll is formed with gas flow passages as gas expelling means for expelling gas entered between the circumferential surface and a puddle of the molten alloy in the circumferential surface thereof, and, when the average pitch of these gas flow passages is defined as Pxcexcm and the average particle size of the magnetic powder is defined as Dxcexcm, the relationship represented by the formula P less than D is satisfied.
According to the above described manufacturing method, it is possible to provide magnetic powder from which bonded magnets having excellent magnetic properties and reliability can be manufactured.
In this method, it is preferred that the average particle size of the magnetic powder lies in the range of 5 to 300 xcexcm. This makes it possible to provide bonded magnets having especially excellent magnetic properties.
Further, it is also preferred that the average pitch P of the gas flow passages lies in the range of 0.5 xcexcm or more and less than 100 xcexcm. When such a cooling roll is used, dispersion in the cooling rates of the molten alloy can be made small irrespective of the contacting portions of molten alloy with the cooling roll, and, as a result thereof, it is possible to provide bonded magnets having especially excellent magnetic properties.
Furthermore, it is also preferred that the average width of the gas flow passages lies in the range of 0.5 to 90 xcexcm. When such a cooling roll is used, gas that entered between the puddle of the molten alloy and the circumferential surface of the cooling roll can be effectively expelled through the passages, and, as a result thereof, it is possible to provide bonded magnets having especially excellent magnetic properties.
Moreover, it is also preferred that the average depth of the gas flow passages lies in the range of 0.5 to 20 xcexcm. When such a cooling roll is used, it is also possible to expel gas that entered between the puddle of the molten alloy and the circumferential surface of the cooling roll effectively through the passages, and, as a result thereof, it is possible to provide bonded magnets having especially excellent magnetic properties.
Further, in a preferred form of this method, when the average width of the gas flow passages is defined as L1 and the average depth of the gas flow passages is defined as L2, the relationship represented by the formula of 0.5xe2x89xa6L1/L2xe2x89xa615 is satisfied. Use of such a cooling roll also makes it possible to expel gas that entered between the puddle of the molten alloy and the circumferential surface of the cooling roll effectively through the passages, so that it is possible to provide bonded magnets having especially excellent magnetic properties.
In this method, it is preferred that the cooling roll includes a roll base and an outer surface layer provided on an outer peripheral portion of the roll base, and the gas flow passages are provided in the outer surface layer. Use of such a cooling roll also makes it possible to provide bonded magnets having excellent magnetic properties and reliability.
In this case, it is preferred that the outer surface layer of the cooling roll is formed of a material having heat conductivity lower than the heat conductivity of the structural material of the roll base at or around a room temperature. This makes it possible to quench the molten alloy of the magnetic material with an appropriate cooling rate, thereby enabling to provide bonded magnets having especially excellent magnetic properties.
Further, it is also preferred that the heat conductivity of the outer surface layer of the cooling roll at or around a room temperature is equal to or less than 80 W mxe2x88x921 Kxe2x88x921. This also makes it possible to quench the molten alloy of the magnetic material with an appropriate cooling rate, so that it is possible to provide bonded magnets having especially excellent magnetic properties.
Preferably, the outer surface layer of the cooling roll is formed of a ceramics. This also makes it possible to quench the molten alloy of the magnetic material with an appropriate cooling rate, thereby enabling to provide bonded magnets having especially excellent magnetic properties. Further, the durability of the cooling roll is also improved.
Further, it is preferred that the thickness of the outer surface layer of the cooling roll is 0.5 to 50 xcexcm. This also makes it possible to quench the molten alloy of the magnetic material with an appropriate cooling rate, so that it is possible to provide bonded magnets having especially excellent magnetic properties.
In this method, it is also preferred that the outer surface layer of the cooling roll is manufactured without experience of machining process. Namely, according to the present invention, the surface roughness Ra of the circumferential surface of the cooling roll can be made small without machining process such as grinding or polishing.
Further, in this method, it is also preferred that the angle defined by the longitudinal direction of the gas flow passages and the rotational direction of the cooling roll is equal to or less than 30 degrees. This also makes it possible to effectively expel the gas that has entered between the puddle and the circumferential surf ace of the cooling roll, so that it becomes possible to manufacture bonded magnets having especially excellent magnetic properties.
Furthermore, it is also preferred that the gas flow passages are formed spirally with respect to the rotation axis of the cooling roll. According to such a structure, it is possible to form the cooling roll with the recesses relatively easily. Further, this also makes it possible to effectively expel the gas that has entered between the puddle and the circumferential surface of the cooling roll, so that it becomes possible to provide bonded magnets having especially excellent magnetic properties.
Moreover, it is also preferred that each gas flow passage has openings located at the peripheral edges of the circumferential surface. This makes it possible to effectively prevent the gas that has once expelled from reentering between the puddle and the circumferential surface again, so that it becomes possible to manufacture bonded magnets having especially excellent magnetic properties.
Further, in this method, it is preferred that the ratio of the projected area of the gas flow passages with respect to the projected area of the circumferential surface is in the range of 10-99.5%. This makes it possible to quench the molten alloy of the magnetic material with an appropriate cooling rate, so that it is possible to provide bonded magnets having especially excellent magnetic properties.
Furthermore, in this method, it is also preferred that the shape of the circumferential surface of the cooling roll is transferred to at least a part of the roll contact surface of the ribbon-shaped magnetic material. According to this method, it is possible to obtain magnetic powder which can provide good binding with the binding resin. Namely, it is possible to obtain magnetic powder which is suited for manufacturing bonded magnets having high mechanical strength and excellent magnetic properties and corrosion resistance.
Another aspect of the present invention is directed to magnetic powder which is manufactured according to the manufacturing method as described above. This magnetic powder can provide bonded magnets having excellent magnetic properties and reliability.
In the present invention, it is preferred that the magnetic powder contains particles each of which is formed with a plurality of recesses or ridges in at least a part of its surface. This makes it possible to provide magnetic powder having good binding force with the binding resin. As a result, this magnetic powder is suited for manufacturing bonded magnets having high mechanical strength and excellent magnetic properties and corrosion resistance.
In this case, it is preferred that the average diameter of the particles of the magnetic powder is defined as Dxcexcm, the average length of the ridges or recesses is equal to or greater than D/40 xcexcm. This also makes it possible to provide magnetic powder having good binding force with the binding resin. As a result, this magnetic powder is also suited for manufacturing bonded magnets having high mechanical strength and excellent magnetic properties and corrosion resistance.
Further, it is also preferred that the average height of the ridges or the average depth of the recesses is in the range of 0.1 to 10 xcexcm. This also makes it possible to provide magnetic powder having good binding force with the binding resin. As a result, this magnetic powder is also suited for manufacturing bonded magnets having high mechanical strength and especially excellent magnetic properties and corrosion resistance.
Furthermore, it is also preferred that the ridges or recesses are formed in parallel with each other, in which the average pitch of the adjacent ridges or recesses is in the range of 0.5 to 100 xcexcm. This also makes it possible to provide magnetic powder having good binding force with the binding resin. As a result, this magnetic powder is also suited for manufacturing bonded magnets having high mechanical strength and especially excellent magnetic properties and corrosion resistance.
Moreover, it is also preferred that the ratio of an area of a portion of the particle where the ridges or recesses are formed with respect to the total surface area of the particle is equal to or greater than 15%. This also makes it possible to provide magnetic powder having good binding force with the binding resin. As a result, this magnetic powder is also suited for manufacturing bonded magnets having high mechanical strength and especially excellent magnetic properties and corrosion resistance.
In the magnetic powder of the present invention, it is preferred that the average particle size of the magnetic powder is in the range of 5 to 300 xcexcm. Use of the magnetic powder containing such particles makes it possible to provide bonded magnets having more excellent magnetic properties.
Further, in the magnetic powder of the present invention, it is also preferred that the magnetic powder is subjected to at least one heat treatment during or after the manufacturing process thereof. This also makes it possible to provide bonded magnets having more excellent magnetic properties.
Preferably, the magnetic powder of the present invention has a composite structure composed of a hard magnetic phase and a soft magnetic phase. This makes it possible to provide magnets having especially excellent magnetic properties.
In this case, it is preferred that the average crystal grain size of each of the hard magnetic phase and the soft magnetic phase is in the range of 1-100 nm. This also makes it possible to provide magnets having excellent magnetic properties, especially excellent coercive force and rectangularity.
Other aspect of the present invention is directed to a bonded magnet which is manufactured by binding the magnetic powder as described above with a binding resin. These bonded magnets have excellent magnetic properties and reliability.
Further, yet other aspect of the present invention is also directed to a bonded magnet which is manufactured by binding the magnetic powder described above with a binding resin, wherein the binding resin enters between the ridges or into the recesses. These bonded magnets have more excellent magnetic properties and reliability.
Preferably, the bonded magnet is manufactured by a warm molding. By using this molding method, the magnetic powder can be bonded with the binding resin more reliably. As a result, it is possible to easily provide bonded magnets having low void ratio and having especially excellent mechanical strength, magnetic properties and corrosion resistance.
In the bonded magnet of the present invention, it is preferred that the intrinsic coercive force (HCJ) of the bonded magnet at a room temperature lies within the range of 320-1200 kA/m. This makes it possible to provide bonded magnets having excellent heat resistance and magnetizability as well as sufficient magnetic flux density.
Further, it is also preferred that the maximum magnetic energy product (BH)max of the bonded magnet is equal to or greater than 40 kJ/m3. By using such a bonded magnet, it is possible to provide high performance small size motors.
Furthermore, it is also preferred that the content of the magnetic powered contained in the bonded magnet is in the range of 75 to 99.5 wt %. The bonded magnets containing the magnetic powder of this amount can have especially excellent mechanical strength, magnetic properties and corrosion resistance.
Moreover, it is also preferred that the mechanical strength of the bonded magnet which is measured by the shear strength by punching-out test is equal to or greater than 50 MPa. This bonded magnet can have especially excellent mechanical strength.
These and other objects, structures and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the examples taken in conjunction with the appended drawings.

Method of manufacturing magnetic powder, magnetic powder and bonded magnets


A packaged RE power device includes a transistor having a control terminal and an output terminal and configured to operate at a fundamental operating frequency, an RF signal input lead coupled to the control terminal, and an RF signal output lead coupled to the output terminal. A harmonic reducer is coupled to the control terminal and/or the output terminal of the transistor and is configured to provide a short circuit or low impedance path from the control terminal and/or the output terminal to ground for signals at an Nth harmonic frequency of the fundamental operating frequency, where N>1. The device further includes a package that houses the transistor and the harmonic reducer, with the input lead and the output lead extending from the package. Multi-chip packages are also disclosed.

Improved linearity during high-frequency operation is a goal in RF power transistor technologies. Many factors can affect the linearity of a device in various RF power transistor technologies, including changing input and impedance with signal level, changing capacitances and their derivatives with signal levels, breakdown and substrate conduction effects, class of operation, and changing transconductance and its derivatives with bias and signal levels. In addition, in some applications, it may be desirable for an RF power transistor to achieve a desired level of linearity over a wide range of operating frequencies and/or output power levels.

RF power transistor packages with internal harmonic frequency reduction and methods of forming RF power transistor packages with internal harmonic frequency reduction