The dichrograph and accompanying method are usable for parallel measurement of circular dichroism according to the first harmonic of photoelectric current of the detector, optical rotation according to the second harmonic and transparency according to the null harmonic. It contains the switch (3) of ray, from which alternatively exit two parallel rays--measurement ray (4) and reference ray (5), going through one mutual modulator of ellipticity (6), achromatic phase element (9) which is during calibration of circular unit situated in the reference ray (5). Moreover it contains two analyzers--the measurement analyzer (8) in the measurement ray (4) behind the couvette (7) and the reference analyzer (10) in the reference ray (5). The measurement analyzer (8) has the optical axis turned for 45.degree. same as the modulator (6). The reference analyzer (10) is during measurement turned for unit angle, e.g. for 1.degree., to the measurement analyzer (8).

Subject of this invention is the method for measurement of circular dichroism, optical rotation and absorption on spectra on optical active, gyrotropic, substances by way of spectropolarization and construction of an apparatus for performance of this measurement.
Presently circular dichroism spectra can be measured by spectropolarimetric apparatus, dichrographs, which after refitting of its optical system can be used for measurement of other optical properties such as optical rotation and/or absorption on a tested substance as well. For measurement of circular dichroism the apparatus has to contain at least a light source of known wavelength, linear polarizer, modulator of ellipticity, holder and/or couvette for tested substance and detector. For measurement of optical rotation by the same apparatus it is necessary to install before the detector an analyzer which transfers the polarization plane into a change in the ray amplitude. For measurement of absorption, it is advantageous to eliminate, from the optical system, polarization elements i.e. polarizer, ellipticity modulator and analyzer.
Practically it means that by presently used methods with utilization of known types of dichrographs all three above mentioned optical properties cannot be measured simultaneously i.e. in real time. It is not convenient mainly in cases when properties or compositions of tested substances are changing quickly during the chemical reaction or in the cases when non-stable organic substances as e.g. hyaluronidase are measured.
The other imperfection of present dichrographs is in fact that they do not enable utilization of a reference ray for determination of a corresponding unit of the circular dichroism, because in practice there are not available etalon substances showing constant circular dichroism in an acceptably wide spectral area for example in an interval from 300 to 600 nm. This fact limits precision of measurements preformed on presently known dichrographs.
The goal of the invention is to improve the measurement method which substantially reduces the above-mentioned disadvantages and enables, after modification of presently known dichrographs, simultaneous measurement of circular dichroism, optical rotation and absorption spectra in real time and an acceptably wide spectral interval.

Method and dichrograph for measurement of circular dichroism, optical rotation and absorption spectra


A method and apparatus for the treatment of fiber material by oxygen bleaching. Digested cellulosic fiber material is treated with oxygen to reduce the Kappa number thereof further to about 15 or below. The reaction products are removed immediately after formation, and during the oxygen bleaching process. The fiber material is at a first consistency of about 8 to 15% consistency, and treatment with oxygen is accomplished by mixing the pulp with O.sub.2, NaOH solution, and water to thereby form an integral mixture of pulp with oxygen at a second consistency, thickening the integral mixture to return it to generally its first consistency, and repeating the mixing and thickening until pulp of a desired Kappa number (15 or below) is reached. The pulp is then washed and may be subsequently treated to reduce the Kappa number thereof to any desired value. A thickener is used which can thicken pulp at superatomspheric pressures and at a temperature greater than 100.degree. C.

In a typical commercial mill for the treatment of cellulosic fiber material to form paper pulp, the fiber material would typically be digested to a Kappa number of about 35, and the fiber material would be bleached to reduce the Kappa number to any desired value. For instance oxygen bleaching could take place to reduce the Kappa number from 35 to 15, and then subsequently chlorine bleaching could be used to further reduce the Kappa number. Conventionally, bleaching takes place either with high equipment and energy penalties and, or with a relatively low pulp yield per ton of fiber material treated.
Existing equipment for effecting oxygen bleaching presently takes the form of one of a variety of oxygen reactors. A first type of oxygen reactor such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,660,225, utilizes equipment to increase the consistency of the digested pulp (normally about 8 to 15%) to about 20 to 30% before treatment, and then the pulp is fed to the reactor for treatment. A second type of oxygen reactor is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,832,276, which employs apparatus for thinning the pulp from the normal digester consistency to about 2 to 5% consistency, and then feeding the pulp to the oxygen reactor. A third approach, such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,963,561, employs a different type of oxygen reactor and can treat the pulp at the digester consistency of about 8 to 15%. While all such apparatus is effective for achieving the desired results, the capital investment is normally quite high, and the energy penalty associated with treatment--especially where separate dilution and thickening steps must be employed prior and/or subsequent to bleaching--is normally quite high, and the Kappa number often cannot be reduced low enough to avoid some chlorine bleaching.
In conventional systems, chlorine is used to reduce the Kappa number from 35 to about 6, with subsequent steps taken to whatever level of brightness is desired. Chemical cost is greater than for oxygen bleaching, however, and the pollution load increases significantly since the spent chemical solution cannot be returned to the system.
According to the present invention, a method and apparatus are provided which can effect oxygen bleaching at reduced capital cost and at reduced energy penalty compared to existing commercial insulations, with a reduced chemical use and pollution load compared to chlorine bleaching, and with increased yield compared to existing commercial installations.
According to one aspect of the method according to the present invention, digested pulp is treated by adding oxygen and sodium hydroxide solution thereto, to effect oxygen bleaching, reaction products being formed during oxygen bleaching, and removing the reaction products substantially immediately after formation thereof, and during oxygen bleaching, from the digested pulp. The adding and removing steps are consecutively repeated until pulp bleached to desired Kappa numbers produced. Preferably the pulp is at a consistency of about 8 to 15%, and the removal step is accomplished by thickening the pulp to about its original consistency of about 8 to 15%. In this way, digesting can be terminated at a Kappa number of about 70 (instead of 35 as conventionally) with oxygen bleaching effecting the reduction of the Kappa number from 70 to 15 or even below 15.
According to another aspect of the method according to the present invention, cellulosic fiber material is treated by digesting the fiber material to produce digested pulp having a first consistency of about 8 to 15%, and then the pulp is oxygen bleached by mixing the pulp with O.sub.2, NaOH solution, and water, thereby forming an integral mixture of pulp with O.sub.2 at a second consistency less than said first consistency, thickening the integral mixture to return it to a consistency generally the same as the first consistency, and subsequently mixing and thickening until a desired level of oxygen bleaching is achieved. The oxygen bleached pulp is subsequently washed. The temperature and pressure conditions at which the bleaching is accomplished may be continuous digester conditions--a temperature over 100.degree. C. and superatmospheric pressure.
The method, according to the present invention, may be accomplished with minimum capital expenditure by utilizing the apparatus according to the invention, the apparatus including a plurality of mixing means disposed in series in a line (i.e. digester discharging line) and including first and last mixing means, for mixing digested pulp with O.sub.2, NaOH solution, and water; a plurality of thickening means disposed in the line in series and including a first and last thickening means, each thickening means being disposed in the discharge from a mixing means, and means for adding O.sub.2, NaOH solution, and water to the mixing means. Means are also provided for washing the pulp discharge from the last thickening means of the series. Each thickening means preferably includes an in-line thickner capable of thickening pulp at superatmospheric pressures and at a temperature over 100.degree. C. such as the thickener shown in co-pending application Ser. No. 676,660, filed Apr. 13, 1976, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,041,560; and Ser. No. 676,659, filed Apr. 13, 1976, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,029,579. Means are provided for recycling back to a previous mixing means in the series, liquid withdrawn from a thickening means to provide the water for mixing in the previous mixing means, and the mixing water for the last mixing means in the series is provided from the washing means, while the separated liquid from the first thickening means in the series is circulated back to effect washing in a continuous digester. The mixing means may comprise fibrilizing means for effecting at least partial fibrilizing of the pulp, and means may be provided for separating shives from the pulp discharge from the fibrilizing mixing means and for returning the shives to the fibrilizing mixing means while passing the pulp to a subsequent thickening means.
It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for treating cellulosic fiber material to obtain a high pulp yield with minimum chemical use and energy penalty, and minimum capital expenditure, including oxygen bleaching of the pulp. This and other objects of the invention will become clear from an inspection of the detailed description of the invention and from the appended claims.

Plural stage mixing and thickening oxygen bleaching process


In one aspect of the present invention, camera electrical system is provided for use in a family of recyclable cameras each camera having a set of desired electronic functions. The camera electrical system has a first electronic circuit for performing a first set of electronic operations including charging a flash capacitor and discharging the flash capacitor through a flash tube to cause a flash of light during photography; said first electronic circuit having a first set of electrical contacts. More than one second electronic circuit is provided. Each second circuit has contacts to engage at least one of the first set of electrical contacts, wherein the first electronic circuit and each of said second electronic circuits are adapted to cooperate in a combined circuit comprising the first electronic circuit and more than one of said second circuits to perform the set of desired camera functions.

The present invention relates to the field of recyclable photographic cameras and more particularly to recyclable cameras that incorporate electronic circuits.
One time use cameras of the type that are pre-loaded with film, used once by a purchaser, and returned to a photofinisher for processing of the film are becoming increasingly popular with photographers. Principal reasons for this popularity include the low cost and high quality of the images captured using these cameras. One reason that one time use cameras can be sold at low cost is that many of the components used in one time use cameras are recycled by the manufacturer after a purchaser has completed exposing the pre-loaded film and turned the camera over to a photofinisher for development of the film. See for instance, Sakai, et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,329,330. Therefore, many components of the one time use cameras are designed to last through a suitable number of cycles of sale, use, reconstruction, and resale.
With the increasing popularity of recyclable cameras, consumers have indicated a desire for recyclable cameras having a wider variety of features. In particular, consumers have shown an interest in, for example, features such as camera flash and the ability to record metadata on the film or in association with the film. Such features, in turn, require that one time use cameras have camera electronic systems that execute a set of functions necessary to perform the features. As a result, different types of camera electronic systems have been developed, with each different type performing a different set of functions.
Camera electronic systems however are a relatively expensive component of one time use cameras. Thus, it is important that camera electronic systems are readily recyclable. However as the number of different types of camera electronic systems introduced by a manufacturer increases, the ability of the manufacturer to distribute the development costs for each type of camera electronic system proportionately decreases. This causes a net increase in the per unit cost of each type of camera electronic system. Further, different types of camera electronic systems are typically not compatible with the other types. This increases logistical problems during recycling making the recycling process more complex and expensive which, in turn, also causes a net increase in the cost of such cameras.
Thus, what is needed is a low cost camera electronic system that can be used in more than one different type of one time use camera.
In the electronics industry, it is known to provide circuit boards that contain all of the components necessary to cause the circuit board to perform at least two different functions. Such boards often provide jumper sites or selectable Dual In-line Package pins to allow a manufacturer, user, or other serviceperson to select the mode operation of the board by selectably positioning jumpers or selecting particular Dual In-line Package pins. Often, such circuit boards incorporate all of the componentry necessary to perform both functions. In such an embodiment, the base circuit board must also provide jumper sites with properly positioned jumpers and/or an additional selectable Dual In-line Package pin structure. This adds cost, size, weight and complexity to the circuit board. Further, this creates potential quality problems in that improper jumper alignment or improper DIP pin settings are easily overlooked during recycling.
Alternatively, it is known in the art to provide a circuit board having at least one frangible portion with circuit traces passing through the frangible portion. The operation of the circuit board is altered by breaking off the frangible portions so that selected circuit traces are interrupted causing the circuit board to operate in a different way. However, here too, the circuit board must provide all of the componentry necessary to perform more than one set of camera features. Further, it is time consuming and expensive to replace the frangible portion during recycling.
In the electronics industry, it is also known to mechanically rework printed circuit boards by removing conductive traces from the circuit board and soldering wires to remaining traces to form new circuit patterns. It will be appreciated that this is a costly and time-consuming way to perform recycling. U.S. Pat. No. 4,438,561 shows a method of reworking a circuit board by adhering a flexible circuit having a nonconductive substrate to the circuit board. The nonconductive substrate has a circuit trace which acts as a jumper and joins two portions of a circuit together. This alters the underlying circuit system of the printed circuit board permitting the combined circuit board to operate in an altered manner. However, this method is directed at the problem of performing a single rework or repair to the circuit board. This does not address the problem of removing the flexible circuit from the non-conductive substrate and does not provide a cost efficient mechanism to recycle the printed circuit board.
Thus, what is needed, is a low cost camera electronic system of a first type that is readily modifiable to perform functions that are associated with a second type.
One approach for meeting this need is used by circuit boards that have a first circuit having a basic functionality to which additional circuits can be joined in order to add functionality to the first circuit. Examples of this include Japanese Patent Application 2001-228412A entitled xe2x80x9cStrobe Unit and Its Manufacturing Methodxe2x80x9d and Japanese Patent Application 2001-209095A entitled xe2x80x9cStrobe Unit and Its Manufacturing Methodxe2x80x9d. Each of these patent applications show a camera flash circuit board having a first circuit with a power supply, a voltage step up circuit, and a flash circuit to start the flash of a flash tube. Each of these circuit boards is also adapted with mountings and appropriate electrical circuitry to permit the boards to be combined with a second circuit member to add additional functionality to the first circuit. In each of these patent applications, the second circuit member is joined to the circuit board and thereby combined with the first circuit board to perform additional functions such as detecting the brightness of a scene in order to disable a flash, to quench a flash and/or to enhance the brightness of a flash.
In each of the ""412 and ""095 references, the first circuit is defined to be joined to only one second circuit. Thus, each combination of first and second circuit boards can perform only a second set of camera functions. Where it is desired during recycling, to provide a camera that performs a third set of functions, an entirely different second circuit board must be provided. Thus where the combination of a first circuit board and second circuit board perform a set f n functions, a totally different second circuit board is required in order to perform the set of nxe2x88x921 functions. Similarly, where the combination of a first circuit board and second circuit board that performs the set of n functions requires a totally different second circuit board to perform n+1 functions. This, of course, requires a plurality of second circuit board with each second circuit board being specifically tailored to the desired functionality of the camera. As discussed above, providing individualized circuit boards to each type of camera type raises the difficulties and cost associated with camera manufacture and recycling. Thus, what is needed is a method for assembling and recycling a camera electronic circuit that combines multiple electronic circuits in a way that reduces costs associated with adding and removing electronic functions from the camera electronic circuit.
Finally what is desired is a method for assembling and recycling cameras that minimizes the cost of the camera and of assembling and recycling the camera.
In one aspect of the present invention, a camera electrical system is provided for use in a family of recyclable cameras each camera having a set of desired electronic functions. The camera electrical system has a first electronic circuit for performing a first set of electronic operations including charging a flash capacitor and discharging the flash capacitor though a flash bulb to cause a flash of artificial light during photography said first electronic circuit having a first set of electrical contacts. A plurality of second electronic circuits is provided. Each second circuit has contacts to engage at least one of the first set of electrical contacts, wherein the first electronic circuit and each of said plurality of second circuits are adapted to cooperate in a combined circuit comprising the first electronic circuit and more than one of said second circuits to perform the set of desired camera functions.
In another aspect of the present invention, a camera electronic circuit is provided. The camera electronic circuit having a first electronic circuit for performing a first set of electronic operations including charging a flash capacitor and discharging the flash capacitor through a flash tube to cause a flash of light during photography said first electronic circuit having a first set of electrical contacts. A second electronic circuit is provided having a second set of electrical contacts at least one of which engages the first set of electrical contacts, to cause first and second electronic circuits to cooperate to perform a second set of camera functions. At least one third electronic circuit is also provided each having a third set of electrical contacts, with at least one of the third set of electrical contacts engaging at least one of the first set or second set of contacts to combine the first, second and third electronic circuits so that the combined circuit can perform a third set of camera functions.

Camera electronic system and method of assembling same


A network device operates as a node in a wireless mesh communication network. The device includes a wireless communication interface to couple the device to adjacent nodes via respective direct communication links in a phased repeating geometry. The device employs a phased synchronization within the wireless mesh communication network to transmit multiple packets and create overlapping network coverage of a geographic space. The device receives a first packet from a first node during a first phase, a second packet from a second node during a second phase, and applies an exclusive- or operation to the first packet and the second packet to generate a third packet, and sends the third packet to a first adjacent node and a second adjacent node during the third phase. In a second instance, the device applies an exclusive-or operation to a first phase packet and a second phase packet to retrieve a third phase packet.

Wireless telecommunication technology has become essential in modern society. People rely on wireless networks in order to communicate, conduct business, enjoy entertainment, and optimize various aspects of day-to-day life. Wireless networks enable people to exchange information with others, regardless of location, in a lightning-fast manner. It is estimated that today, over 70% of all mobile communication flows over wireless local area networks (WLANs) that implement IEEE 802.11 standards, commonly referred to as "Wi-Fi™." While wireless networks offer flexibility and efficiency for end users, the hardware that supports these networks often is more limited than the hardware that supports wired communication networks.
Existing wireless network hardware, such as routers, often must be hardwired to a power source. This creates a multitude of problems because, first, a wireless network provider must anticipate its potential demand in order to determine the type and quantity of routers to implement in a space. Second, the wireless network provider must allot physical space to house the hardware, and such space must be proximate and/or capable of being connected to the power grid. This can create difficulties for developing wireless networks outside of an urban area because labor-intensive and expensive efforts, such as trenching power and telecommunications lines, must be undertaken to connect to the power grid. Generally speaking, setting up the infrastructure and the requisite cabling for a wireless network access point (AP) is expensive. Additionally, in some instances wireless network hardware must be placed in non-aesthetically appealing locations in order to connect to a power source and/or provide sufficient coverage. Ultimately, this can limit where wireless networks technology, such as Wi-Fi™, is available.
However, even when the necessary infrastructure exists, it can still be difficult for wireless networks to satisfy demand and provide adequate service for users. As the demand for wireless networks, such as Wi-Fi™, increases, so does the traffic within networks. Heavy traffic and increased usage of a wireless networks can cause delays and an increase in the time it takes to transmit and/or receive data, thereby eliminating some of the benefits of the technology. Without modifying/replacing existing hardware and/or adding new hardware, which as previously discussed typically entails substantial cost and effort, a wireless network is limited in regards to coverage and serviceability.
Mesh/Ad-Hoc networks can sometimes provide a solution to the obstacles posed by wireless network infrastructure. Mesh networks do not require cabling between routers, and typically employ either reactive or proactive routing. Under reactive routing protocols, an optimal route is determined by flooding a network with "feeler" packets, or otherwise determining an optimal path for a packet with informational payload, just prior to transmitting the packet. This approach generally is well-suited for highly dynamic networks, where routes cannot be accurately predicted. However, this routing technique often requires significant amounts of data to be stored on and transmitted between routers. Conversely, proactive routing protocols determine an entire route before transmission. However, proactive routing relies on historical data, which requires storing significant amounts of data that often is outdated, and thus the optimal route is not always chosen, which causes inefficiencies in the network. Mesh networks employing both reactive and proactive techniques can require greater amounts of electrical power, as compared to hardwired networks, in order to support the increased processing associated with transmitting large amounts of data throughout the network. Further, the transmissions of large amounts of data over a network can lead to inefficient routing and sizable losses. For example, existing mesh networks typically experience 40-60% throughput loss-per hop. In turn, this can limit the size, speed, and reliability of a network.

Clustered synchronization within a distance-vector wireless network


A method for transmitting a synchronization signal in vehicle-to-something (V2X) communication is presented. A terminal according to the present invention can determine whether to transmit a synchronization signal on the basis of the power capacity of the terminal. The terminal can reduce power consumption by transmitting the synchronization signal only within a window according to the power capacity.

According to intelligent transportation systems (ITS), many ongoing efforts are made to research and develop methods for exchanging various informations such as real-time traffic information and/or safety warning between vehicles. For example, ongoing efforts are made to research and develop vehicle communications for a proximity service (ProSe) and a public warning system. A communication interface for a vehicle can be commonly called V2X (vehicle-to-x). V2X communication may be categorized into V2V (vehicle-to-vehicle) communication, V2P (vehicle-to-pedestrian) communication, and V2I (vehicle-to-infrastructure entity) communication. V2V communication may refer to communication between vehicles. V2P communication may refer to communication between a vehicle and a personally carried device (e.g., a handheld terminal of a pedestrian or a bicycle rider). And, V2I communication may refer to communication between a vehicle and a roadside unit (RSU). RSU may refer to a traffic infrastructure entity. For example, RSU may include an entity that transmits a speed notification. For V2X communication, a vehicle, an RSU and a handheld device may be equipped with a transceiver.
As describe above, V2X communication may be used to indicate warnings for various events such as safety and the like. For example, information on an event occurring on a vehicle or road may be notified to another vehicle or pedestrians through V2X communication. For example, information on a warning of a traffic accident, a road situation change, or an accident danger may be forwarded to another vehicle or pedestrian. For example, a pedestrian, who is adjacent to or crossing a road, can be informed of information on vehicle approach.
However, since a vehicle moves at higher speed than a pedestrian, the V2X communication may have relatively low reliability. For example, a phase may be sharply changed due to the Doppler effect. In addition, a channel state may also be changed rapidly due to vehicle movement. Hence, to cope with the rapidly changed channel state, a method capable of achieving high reliability of communication is required.
As mentioned in the foregoing description, it is important to synchronize devices with each other in consideration of high mobility in a V2X communication. In relation to this, it may be able to perform synchronization between devices based on a GPS (global positioning system). Yet, each of the devices can be synchronized based on a synchronization signal received from a base station or a different device at the same time. If UEs are not synchronized with each other, one UE may fail to receive a message transmitted/broadcasted by another UE.
The present invention is proposed to solve the above-described problems, and particularly, the invention discloses a method for ensuring stable communication in various types of communication including V2X communication.

Method and terminal for transmitting synchronization signal in V2X communication


A method for correcting measuring values when measuring liquid scintillation samples deposited on sample plates by a photodetector which will be affected by scintillation photons from other samples in the plate in addition to the sample being measured. Said correction is done by pre-determining affection of the other samples of the plate as a function of quench level and correcting observed measuring values using this function.

Liquid scintillation counters are commonly used to measure the count rate or activity of samples containing low energy beta particles or corresponding particles emitting radionuclides such as tritium and carbon-14.
The range of the low energy beta particles in the sample is generally few tens of micrometers at the most. As a consequence, the sample to be measured has to be placed in direct contact with a scintillation medium, which comprises a solvent or solvents and a solute or solutes present in a few percent by weight of the solution. In this interaction process most of the kinetic energy of the interacted beta particle is absorbed by the solvent and then transferred to the solute which emits scintillation photons, whose amount is proportional to the energy of the interacted beta particle. These scintillation photons are detected usually by two, in coincidence operating, photomultiplier tubes producing electric pulses. The height of the pulses are proportional to the amount of emitted scintillation photons and thus proportional to the energy of the interacted beta particle.
When measuring sample activities with liquid scintillation counters, the basic problem is the reduction of the counting efficiency due to the quenching of the sample.
It is known in the liquid scintillation counting that the reduction of the counting efficiency due to the quenching of the sample can be corrected by a means of a quench curve which describes the relationship between the counting efficiency and the amount of the quench of the sample.
Normally liquid scintillation counters are provided with one detector and they are designed to measure samples in 7 ml or 20 ml glass or plastic vials.
1450 MicroBeta, which is manufactured by Wallac Oy, Finland, is a novel example of a multi-detector liquid scintillation counter, which measures samples in sample plates, which belong to a preselected assortment of different multi-well sample plate types, each having a characteristic two dimensional array of sample wells.
One group of the multi-well sample plates belonging to the preselected assortment consists of 96-well sample plates having eight rows of wells, which diameter is 7-8 millimeters arranged in twelve columns with 9 millimeters distance between the center points of the wells. The typical volumes of the sample wells of such 96-well sample plates are 200-400 microliters depending on the height of the plate.
When the wells of the sample plate are separate, it is placed before counting on a rigid sample plate holder made of photon attenuating material and having thru-holes for the wells of the sample plate. The walls of the holes are reflecting or scattering in order to guide the photons from the liquid scintillation sample to the detectors, built of two photomultiplier tubes situated on the opposite sides of the holes of the sample plate holder. As a consequence, an optically isolated compartment is formed around each sample well of the sample plate.
If the wells of the sample plates are not separate for example sample wells are joined together with ribs in order to stiffen said sample plate, then it is impossible to isolate the wells optically. As a consequence of this some amount of the scintillation photons produced by the absorption of the beta particle in a certain sample well may travel to the nearest sample wells and thus produce an increase in observed count rates in those wells. This affection is called here as crosstalk. This phenomenon is a problem particularly when higher energy isotopes are measured: the higher the kinetic energy of the beta particles, the higher amount photons are produced in the interaction process and the higher amount photons can travel to the other sample wells.
U.S. Pat. No. 4 348 588 (Yrjonen et al.) shows a crosstalk correction method applied in gamma counting. This method is not suitable for liquid scintillation counting, because it does not take into account the variation of the quench of the samples, and it is limited to correct only affection of samples, which are in pre-determined locations.

Method for correcting measuring values when measuring liquid scintillation samples deposited on sample plates


An engine monitor includes, in a self-contained preferably sealed unit, a spark sensor, inductively and capacitively coupled through the case to a spark pick up wire, a timer, and a running time detector, responsive to inputs from the spark pick up to provide total running time, job time, and service time metering. Preferably, storage means are included for storing maximum RPM and spark mode data, that is, data indicating the number of firings per RPM for the particular engine, as well as a preset service interval and one or more auxiliary timers.

While known devices satisfy, to a greater or lesser extent, the need for monitoring of engine parameters and operating time, they do so in systems that are closely integrated with the engine itself, and which, even when cost effective from a price performance standpoint, add considerable cost to the overall system.
There is a need for a low cost, after-market engine monitor to provide certain basic functions, such as RPM and timing functions. There is a large number of engine driven vehicles and apparatus in existence that have no built in monitoring functions. When these devices are routinely operated by a number of different people, especially in a rental environment, it is difficult to accurately monitor the operation of the engine so that preventive maintenance can be performed in a timely manner. In addition, especially in a rental environment, it is desirable to provide a means for monitoring the running time of an engine, so as to more fairly apportion rental charges based on running time, instead of time of possession. Still further, it is desirable to monitor maximum engine RPM to determine whether an engine has been operated beyond its safe operating range, redline.
An engine monitor that provides all of these characteristics is even more useful if it is small, self-contained, and easily fitted to an existing engine on an existing piece of equipment in a manner that can provide the foregoing functions in a cost effective, low maintenance, easy to install unit.

Self contained multi-function engine monitor and timer for providing engine running time, job time, service time and tachometer functions


A cellular mobile communications network includes a base station controller and an array of base transceiver stations. Each base transceiver station has a communications path connecting it to the base station controller such that when an uplink signal is received from a mobile station of the network by a plurality of the base transceiver stations of the array, each base transceiver station can transfer the received uplink signal via its communications path to the base station controller. The communications paths are assessed according to predetermined characteristics, and based on this assessment, at least one base transceiver station of the plurality is prevented from transferring the received uplink signal to the base station controller.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to cellular mobile % communication networks, for example Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) cellular networks.
2. Summary of the Related Art
FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings shows parts of a cellular mobile telecommunication network according to the Telecommunication Industries Association (TIA)/Electronic Industries Association (EIA) Standard TIA/EIA/IS-95 of October 1994 (hereinafter "IS95"). Each of three base transceiver stations (BTSs) 4 (BTS1, BTS2 and BTS3) is connected via a fixed network 5 to a base station controller (BSC) 6, which is in turn connected to a mobile switching centre (MSC) 7. The BSC 6 serves to manage the radio resources of its connected BTSs 4, for example by performing hand-off and allocating radio channels. The MSC 7 serves to provide switching functions and coordinates location registration and call delivery.
Each BTS 4 serves a cell 8. When a mobile station (MS) 10 is in a so-called "soft hand-off" (SHO) region 9 where two or more cells overlap, a mobile station can receive transmission signals (downlink signals) of comparable strength and quality from the respective BTSs of the overlapping cells. Transmission signals (uplink signals) produced by the mobile station (MS) can also be received at comparable strengths and qualities by these different BTSs when the mobile station is in the SHO region 9.
FIG. 2 of the accompanying drawings shows a situation where the MS 10 is located within the SHO region 9, and is transmitting such uplink signals that are being received by plural BTSs 4. According to the IS95 standard, a BTS 4 that receives such an uplink signal from the MS 10 relays the signal to the BSC 6 via a dedicated communications path of the fixed network 5. At the BSC 6, one of the relayed signals is selected based on a comparison of the quality of each of the received signals, and the selected signal is relayed to the MSC 7. This selection is referred to as Selection Diversity.
Similarly, FIG. 3 of the accompanying drawings shows a situation where the MS 10 is located within the SHO region 9 and is receiving downlink signals from plural BTSs 4. According to the IS95 standard, downlink signals received by the BSC 6 from the MSC 7 are relayed to all BTSs 4 involved in the soft hand-off via respective communication paths of the fixed network and subsequently transmitted by all the BTSs 4 to the MS 10. At the MS 10 the multiple signals may be combined, for example, by using maximum ratio combination (MRC), or one of them may be selected based on the signal strength or quality, i.e. using Selection Diversity as for the uplink case.
Incidentally, signals are transmitted as a succession of frames according to the IS95 standard.
As FIG. 4 of the accompanying drawings shows, each frame is of duration 20 ms, and comprises sixteen 1.25 ms time slots. In each time slot several bits of user data and/or control information can be transmitted.
The soft hand-off system described above is effective in improving signal transmission between the MS 10 and the network when the MS 10 is located in regions of cell overlap near the boundaries of the individual cells. Signal quality in these regions when using a single BTS 4 may be relatively poor, but by making use of more than one BTS 4 the quality may be substantially improved.
However, in IS95 it is necessary to transmit signals carrying the same data and/or control information between the BSC 6 and every BTS 4 involved in the soft hand-off for both the uplink and downlink cases described above, even when one or more of the communications paths (which may be of different type, e.g. electrical, fibre optic or microwave) in the fixed network may be experiencing adverse transmission conditions, for example heavy traffic congestion or poor transmission quality. In addition, the cost associated with the use of certain lines may fluctuate. In view of this, a soft hand-off system as described above may be expensive to operate both in terms of cost and traffic congestion.

Backhaul in cellular mobile communications network


A transfer system for a carrier that features a flow supply tube in fluid communication with a flow supply generator and in fluid communication with a carrier transport tube network dimensioned for transfer reception of the carrier. The carrier transport tube network has a first carrier reception chamber provided with a first carrier stop point and a second carrier reception chamber with second carrier stop point. The flow supply tube has a single point contact with the carrier transport tube network to provide a single tube based flow connection with the carrier transport. Also, with the single point connection there can be positioned a brake valve in line with a first section of the carrier transport tube network and in line with a first section of said flow supply tube just a few feet above the stop point of one or both of the reception chambers to provide for rapid travel to the brake valve and efficient braking within just a few feet of the stop point.

There is known in the prior art bi-directional pneumatic transport network systems that employ different pressure levels in front of and behind a transported object to propel that object in the system. These include banking pneumatic transport network systems for shuttling documents (e.g., checks, money, deposit slips, etc.) between teller and customer stations of that system. Other examples of uses for pneumatic transportation or transmission systems include sending documents between floors in a building or from one office to another office located some distance apart. Pneumatic transportation systems are also utilized in the transportation of medical materials and other goods.
An example of a transport network system used for transporting documents in a banking pneumatic transport network is seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,562,367 to the present inventor Scott (the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference). The '367 system utilizes atmospheric pressure to help move the carrier within the network. In order to send the carrier from the station at which the pressure generation apparatus is connected to the network, there is provided a control means that controls the pumping element and pressure generation apparatus in order to create a vacuum in the tube network in front of the carrier. Thus, atmospheric pressure entering the station from beneath the carrier begins to move the carrier out of such station. Then when the door of that station is closed, the control means causes a pressurizing air stream to enter the tube network from that station in order to propel the carrier through the network to another station. The control means, responds to commands from an operator, as well as signals from the sensors in the network. In Scott '367, the pneumatic transport network is utilized as a conveyance system for a bank drive-through arrangement to convey "documentation" as in money between a teller and a customer.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,180,354 describes a "double tube system" pneumatic transmission system adapted to send a carrier from one terminal to a second terminal with apparatus to control the free delivery of the carrier to a terminal comprising a check valve to relieve pressure behind a carrier once it has passed a check valve and an adjustable air valve to control the negative pressure ahead of the carrier to control the free delivery of the carrier from the end of the transmission tube in a single tube reversing system with negligible amount of air being taken into or discharged from the open terminal. The "double-tube" system requires an extensive gas flow tubing network.
Another known pneumatic conveyance system is schematically shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B (Prior Art). This known system, intended for use by a drive up customer at a financial institution, is generally depicted by reference numeral 100. System 100 includes various components on a customer side 160, in an attic 180, above a ceiling 116 and on a teller side 190. Attic 180 is an enclosed, hidden compartment often provided within a car port extending from the main body of a bank and which car port covers over the teller station as shown in FIG. 1A.
A vertical tube section 102 provides transport carrier access to the customer. The customer places documents into a transport carrier 104 and places that carrier (typically a cylindrical canister with rotating end cap with opposite end annular "dissipating" flange seals) inside a customer station 106 to which the first vertical tube section 102 connects.
In operation, transport carrier or canister 104 is moved pneumatically upward through vertical tube section 102, along a customer side curved tube section 103 through a transverse tube section 108 (illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B but normally hidden from view in use as it extends above ceiling 116), to a second, teller side curved tube section 105 and then to vertical tube section 110, coming to rest at a teller station 112 having a canister reception chamber with a suitable permanent or releasable canister stop (not shown). Canister 104 is propelled by air flow caused by pressure drop across the container. Pressure on both sides of the container is controlled with pumps and valves. A turbine box 114 drives air into or exhausts air from tube section 118. A tube section 120 is connected to form a T-junction 122 relative to tube sections 118 and 119 extending to opposite sides of tube section 120. Relative to the gas flow tubing 109, valve 124 controls air flow between tube section 120 and tube section 126, which connects at a T-junction 128 to the carrier transport tube assembly 107. That is, pneumatic conveyance system 100 includes carrier transport tube assembly 107 in which both air and the transport carrier traverse and system 100 further includes gas flow tubing 109 comprised of tube sections in which air traverses but not the transport carrier.
Transverse tube section 108 has a first end 130 that is positioned at the border region between transverse tube section 108 and customer side curved tube section 103. Flap valve 132 is provided near a second end 134 of transverse tube section 108 on the teller side curved tube section as shown. As part of the gas flow tubing 109, tube section 118 connects, via tube section 119, to vertical gas flow tube section 140 that connects at its opposite end with customer station 106.
In order to land container 104 relatively softly at teller station 112, air is gradually vented from tube section 110 at the teller station (by passage around the partial seals of canister 104). Turbine box 1 14 can be operated to flow air into the system or draw air from the system so that canister 104 can be propelled either from customer station 106 to teller station 112 or from teller station 112 to customer station 106.
One problem of this type of known system is that when canister 104 is moving from the teller side 190 to the customer side 160, (during which movement it passes by the flap valve 132 and the porting for check valve 124 positioned in the attic 180) the transport carrier experiences a long slow glide against air pressure as it falls within tube section 102 toward the customer station 106. For a high ceiling 116, which is preferred to accommodate a wide variety of vehicles as in trucks, etc., this drop can be 20 feet or more and can take a considerable length of time.
The long slow glide of the transport carrier to the customer station represents a form of delay for a customer awaiting service. This delay creates the potential for service provider dissatisfaction, particularly customers who are waiting in a line of customers at a busy facility as in a drive-through banking facility. Accordingly, the delay associated with a long, slow glide of the carrier to the carrier reception terminal presents a problem in the art.
Furthermore, there is a need in the art for lessening the complexity of transport networks to lower manufacture, installation and service costs associated with a pneumatic carrier transportation system, particularly, with the extensiveness of the gas flow tubing and the complexity, size and weight of the turbine box needed to properly supply the flow tubing and carrier tubing networks. For example, prior art systems such as that shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, require an extra elbow 128 with the vacuum hose connection welded in the turn for the vacuum connection which increases cost from both a component cost and service installation standpoint.

Carrier transportation system with brake valve device proximate to a carrier receiver


A storage compartment for a wheelchair includes a lower tray for holding at least one item, the lower tray or a holding member for the lower tray, being bolted permanently to one arm of the wheelchair and the lower tray having an upper opening. A cover member is pivotally secured on the lower tray for covering the upper opening of the lower tray when the cover member is in a closed position, the cover member having an upper surface which provides an arm rest for a user of the wheelchair. Detachable storage compartments, and compartments for use with clothing guards, are also disclosed. The device is adaptable to all known wheelchairs, and can be used to replace existing arm rests.

This invention relates generally to wheelchairs, and more particularly, is directed to storage compartments for wheelchairs.
It is often desirable and necessary for individuals confined to a wheelchair to carry and/or store various items, such as eyeglasses, keys, money, pens, medicines, tissues, portable telephones and the like. However, conventional wheelchairs do not contain any permanently mounted storage device, located in a convenient place, to carry and/or store such items.
It is known to provide storage devices for various seats and/or chairs. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,174,866 to Rhyan, a wheelchair is provided with a "cup" or glass retaining device which clips onto one of the arms of the wheelchair. However, this device is extremely limited as to use, and could not be used to conveniently carry such items as eyeglasses, keys, money and the like. Further, it is doubtful that such device could be used to carry such items, or even a cup of liquid, when the wheelchair is moving.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,339,061 to Dunn, an accessory case is provided for a wheelchair. The accessory case is removably secured about one of the arms of the wheelchair by straps and hangs below the arm, and is separate from the arm rest. Although the case includes a main body and a pivoted cover member, connection of the case to the wheelchair by .intg.VELCRO"-type straps is not very secure. Also, the case occupies much space, and is therefore cumbersome. See also U.S. Pat. No. 3,586,276 to O'Mahoney with respect to an open basket that hooks onto a support such as a portable walker. This latter basket is also cumbersome. This device is for temporary attachment, contrary to the present invention.
The basket and tray attachment for wheelchairs, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,526,419 to Bowman et al, is also cumbersome and not practical for carrying the aforementioned items during movement of the wheelchair.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,522,887 discloses a support for a wheelchair, in which an open tray is supported just above one of the arms of the wheelchair. However, the tray is open so that it is not practical to carry many small items thereon. In any event, the tray is particularly adapted to carrying a bowling ball thereon and is arranged only for temporary attachment.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,759,569 to Bennet discloses a receptacle attachment for a wheelchair arm, in which the attachment is secured below the arm in a vertical position. The attachment pivots downwardly to a horizontal position to hold cups and the like. However, Bennet discloses that the attachment is only used for the temporary storage of items thereon.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,417,764 to Marcus et al. discloses an attachment type automobile arm rest assembly having a sliding tray therein which can be used to carry various items. However, in an automobile, there is a large amount of space to place such an arm rest, in comparison to the small, unstable confines of a wheelchair. In addition, the arm rest in an automobile is safe within the confines of the automobile, which is not the case with a wheelchair. Accordingly, such an automotive arm rest assembly, which is not an integral part of the surrounding structure, could not be readily adapted for use on a wheelchair.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,494,838 to Slaughter discloses a chair having arms which contain storage compartments therein. A cover member is pivotally secured on each arm and pivots to an open position, so as to function as a table or writing surface. However, since a chair of the type disclosed in Slaughter is very bulky as compared to a wheelchair, there is sufficient space to place such a storage compartment in the arm of the chair, which is not the case with a wheelchair. The same remarks apply when the compartment is formed in an automotive arm rest, as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 3,083,998 to Morris.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,363,939 to Gross discloses an invalid's chair having table supports which can be pivoted between a lower inoperative position and an upper, horizontal position. However, there is no disclosure of a storage compartment for a moving wheelchair.


A finger guide (2) comprises first and second orthogonally-oriented portions (4,12) each comprising a pair of opposed converging surfaces (6,8;14,16) into which the end and the shank, respectively, of a finger for examination fit. Because of the relative orientation of the surfaces, movement of the finger relative to an examination surface (22) is reproducibly constrained.

A. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a finger guide and has particular, although not exclusive, relevance to the employ of such guides in fingerprint recognition systems, access control systems and the like.
B. Description of the Related Art
The need to accurately position a finger in order to examine its fingerprint is well known. The reason for this is that in, say, an access control environment, where the fingerprint under examination will be compared with a library of known fingerprints, unless the fingerprint is accurately aligned with the apparatus providing the examination in strict accordance with the same alignment as used for supplying the initial fingerprint in the library, then a match may not be recognised by the access controller even though the same fingerprint is actually present.
Solutions to this problem do exist, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,053,228.
In this document a "fingerpress" is described. This fingerpress comes about when a finger whose print is to be imaged is pressed against the rear surface of a transparent glass plate and held in a predetermined position thereon. Problems exist with such an arrangement, however. Because the fingerprint is essentially a rectangular cavity providing little or no support to the finger, the onus of accurately positioning the finger against the plate lies firmly with the person whose fingerprint is to be obtained.
A finger guide which allows for automatic accurate and reproducible alignment of a given finger without the need to rely upon the manual dexterity of the person whose fingerprint is to be examined is an attractive proposition. Indeed, this is an object of the present invention.

Finger guide with orthogonal guide surfaces


A method and apparatus for receiving a television signal of one frequency and for transmitting the television signal at another frequency. The apparatus includes a first variable tuner capable of selecting television signals in a first frequency range and a second variable tuner, connected to the first variable tuner, which is capable of transmitting the selected television signal at any one of a plurality of television frequencies in a second frequency range. A reference output component is also used to provide a fixed output frequency or channel, in lieu of the second variable tuner while the first variable tuner is being operated to select a television signal.

The present invention relates to frequency conversion devices, particularly those devices for converting television signals from a first frequency or channel to a second frequency or channel.
Community antenna television systems (CATV), master antenna television systems (MATV) and cable TV systems have been in existence for several years. One of the features common to each of these systems is the construction of a central signal distribution station or "head-end" site. From this location, all of the signals to be viewed by system subscribers are selected, processed to remove unwanted interferences, and distributed. The distribution of these channels usually occurs at frequencies different from the frequencies at which such signals were selected or received. For example, television signals at frequencies associated with channels 3, 6 and 10 could be distributed to subscribers at frequencies associated with channels 20, 22 and 24.
Previously, these types of systems distributed selected television programming on the channels on which they were received by the master antenna. For example, Wallerstein U.S. Pat. No. 3,366,731 discloses an MATV system wherey channels 2, 4 and 7 are received and processed by dedicated signal channel amplifiers. Thereafter, the individual channel signals, still at the same frequency, were mixed and distributed to sets of receivers. Particular channels would thereafter be selected by the tuners associated with each receiver. A similar type of system is shown in Oestreicher et al U.S. Pat. No. 2,570,475.
In present CATV, MATV and Cable TV systems, the problem of multiple dedicated components has intensified due to the distribution of programming on channels different from the channels on which respective signals were received. Accordingly, system owners were obligated to keep two components for each channel in inventory for use as a spare part, one for reception and one for transmission. To alleviate this problem, a number of devices were developed which were capable of selecting a single channel from a plurality of channel signals and additional devices which were capable of transmitting a signal on any one channel selected from a plurality of channels.
Walding, U.S. Pat. No. 3,882,266, shows such a device, which is capable of selecting a single channel from a range of channels at the input and providing a fixed channel output. This feature is accomplished in Walding by the provision of a variable tuner, including a filter-mixer-variable oscillator combination, at the input for selecting the desired channel and a fixed oscillator-mixer combination at the output. Walding also suggests reversing the combination, whereby the oscillator at the input is fixed and the oscillator at the output is made variable.
Yamashita et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,315,333, discloses a VHF-UHF television superheterodyne receiver including first and second frequency conversion stages and an Intermediate frequency (I.F.) amplifying stage. Each of the first and second frequency conversion stages include a mixer, a local oscillator and an unbalanced/balanced conversion circuit interposed therebetween. The first local oscillator is said to be variable, i.e. variable tuner, while the second stage oscillator is fixed.
Ohta et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,322,856, discloses yet another device for receiving television aural signals, which incorporates a two-stage device having a variable tuner, i.e. mixer-variable oscillator combination at the input for selecting either a VHF or UHF television aural signal and a mixer-fixed oscillator combination outputting the selected signal at a fixed frequency or channel.
Ma, U.S. Pat. No. 4,352,209, shows still a further frequency converter circuit including a variable tuner, a filter-mixer-variable oscillator combination, at the input which selects a desired television channel and up converts the signal to an Intermediate Frequency which is thereafter down converted by a mixer-fixed oscillator combination to a fixed output channel.
None of the references cited above include a variable tuned input for selecting a desired channel from a range of channels and a variable tuned output for transmitting the desired channel on a further selected channel.
Conventional design of frequency conversion devices for television signals is in a direction away from combining a variable tuner input with a variable tuner output because of the generation of interfering beat frequencies. To that end, Ohta, processing aural signals, discloses that the frequencies of the first and second oscillators need to be designed so as not to interfere with each other. Ohta, therefore, fixes the output oscillators so that an output frequency of 10.7 MHz is provided and the beat frequency between both oscillation frequencies is prevented from becomming 10.7 MHz. This teaching is believed to be confirmed by Ma who indicates that an overriding aspect of such system designs is to provide for isolation between first and second local oscillator signal frequencies to avoid generation of undesired interfering signals and signal products. Further, the April, 1972 Edition of Broadcast Engineering C 1972 by Howard W. Sams & Co., Inc., specifically states that certain channel combinations cannot be used because of interfering spurious signals, for example, channel 14 and 9, channel 14 and 5, channel 22 and 7 or channel 65 and 10 cannot be combined.
Accordingly, CATV, MATV or Cable TV systems still maintain an inventory of variable input dedicated devices and variable output dedicated devices.

Method and apparatus for converting television signals


Described are binding molecules, such as human monoclonal antibodies, that bind to hemagglutinin of influenza B viruses, and have a broad neutralizing activity against such influenza viruses. These binding molecules do not bind to hemagglutinin of influenza A viruses. Further provided are nucleic acid molecules encoding the binding molecules, and compositions comprising the binding molecules. The binding molecules can be used in the diagnosis of, prophylaxis against, and/or treatment of influenza B virus infections.

Influenza infection (also referred to as "influenza" or "the flu") is one of the most common diseases known to man causing between three and five million cases of severe illness and between 250,000 and 500,000 deaths every year around the world. Influenza rapidly spreads in seasonal epidemics affecting 5 to 15% of the population and the burden on health care costs and lost productivity are extensive (World Healthcare Organization (WHO)). There are three types of influenza flu virus (types A, B and C) responsible for infectious pathologies in humans and animals. Currently, the type A and type B viruses are the agents responsible for the influenza epidemics and pandemics observed in humans.
Current approaches to dealing with annual influenza epidemics include annual vaccination, preferably generating heterotypic cross-protection. However, circulating influenza viruses in humans are subject to permanent antigenic changes which require annual adaptation of the influenza vaccine formulation to ensure the closest possible match between the influenza vaccine strains and the circulating influenza strains. Alternatively, antiviral drugs, such as oseltamivir (TAMIFLU®) can be effective for prevention and treatment of influenza infection. The number of influenza virus strains showing resistance against antiviral drugs such as oseltamivir is, however, increasing.
An alternative approach is the development of antibody-based prophylactic or therapeutic means to neutralize various seasonal influenza viruses.
Broadly cross-neutralizing antibodies recognizing epitopes in the conserved stem-region of HA of influenza A viruses of phylogenetic group 1 (such as influenza viruses comprising HA of the H1 or H5 subtype) have recently been disclosed (e.g., CR6261, see WO2008/028946), as well as cross-neutralizing antibodies recognizing a highly conserved epitope in the stem-region of HA of influenza A viruses of phylogenetic group 2, such as influenza viruses comprising HA of the H3 and/or H7 subtypes (e.g., CR8020, CR8043; see WO 2010/130636). More recently, antibodies capable of binding to and neutralizing influenza A viruses of both phylogenetic group 1 and group 2, as well as influenza B viruses were discovered (e.g., CR9114, described in application no. EP11173953.8).
To date, less attention has been paid to influenza B viruses. This may be due to the fact that—primarily being restricted to humans as host—influenza B viruses lack the large animal reservoirs that key to the emergence of pandemic influenza A strains. However, the cumulative impact of annual epidemics during interpandemic periods exceeds that of pandemics and although the morbidity and mortality rates attributable to influenza B are lower than those of e.g., H3N2 viruses, they are higher than those of HIN1 viruses (Thompson (2003), Thompson (2004)).
The evolution of influenza B viruses is characterized by co-circulation of antigenically and genetically distinct lineages for extended periods of time. Two lineages, represented by the prototype viruses B/Victoria/2/87 (Victoria lineage) and B/Yamagata/16/88 (Yamagata lineage), are currently distinguished (Kanegae (1990), Rota (1990)). B/Yamagata was the major lineage circulating until the 1980s, when B/Victoria lineage viruses appeared. Since then, drift variants of both influenza B lineages have been co-circulating globally, with both lineages concurrently circulating in recent influenza seasons.

Human binding molecules capable of binding to and neutralizing influenza B viruses and uses thereof


A technique for encoding pixel color values for a full or partial digital video image frame has each different color within the image being assigned a color value. The most common one of the colors (0) within the frame or frame segment is identified, and runs of at least three successive pixels of that predominant color are encoded as a first code (00) indicating a run and a second code indicating the run length (LL). Runs of successive pixels having a color (1, 2, 3) other than the predominant color (0) are encoded as successive iterations of a code containing only the respective color value when the run length is less than or equal to a threshold value and as a first code indicating a run (00), a second code indicating a run length (LL), and a third code (CC) identifying the color value when the threshold value is exceeded.

The present invention relates to the encoding and decoding of whole or partial digital video image frames, where a partial frame may be in the form of a graphic overlay on a full motion video (FMV) image, and particularly to the coding of pixel color values.
A known technique for pixel color value encoding is run length coding. The technique allows sets of adjacent pixel values to be coded more compactly by specifying the color once and then the count of the number (n) of identical pixels instead of repeating the color code (n) times. Further information about run length coding may be found in, for example, xe2x80x9cPrinciples of Interactive Computer Graphicsxe2x80x9d by W M Newman and R F Sproul, International Student Edition, 1979, pp 287-289, pub McGraw-Hill, ISBN 0-07-066455-2.
An example of an encoding and decoding system making use of run length coding to reduce the necessary volume of data to code whole or partial image frames is given in International patent application WO 96/25010 commonly assigned with the present application. In the example, a method is described of encoding pixel color values for a digital video image frame in which each of up to 15 different colors within the image is assigned a color value. A predominant color (i.e. the most commonly occurring pixel color value) is identified for the image frame and, in a first embodiment, each pixel having one of the 14 colors other than the predominant color is separately coded simply identifying its respective color value (the codes 0010 to 1111 being used), with runs of three or more successive pixels of the predominant color being run-length encoded. A further code (00000011 followed by a four bit color code), similar in arrangement to that indicating a run, is provided to allow a change in the specified predominant color during the course of a frame. In a further embodiment, runs of all colors are run-length encoded but with a shorter coding scheme for runs of the predominant color or, in a still further embodiment, a small range of predominant colors.
A principle use for these coding schemes is to improve efficiency of coding for certain classes of image material, in particular subtitling or other text boxes to be displayed overlaid on a video image. For such applications, the particular aim is to achieve at least a reasonable degree of compression without incurring large overheads due to complexity. For the particular case of recorded video, where the subtitling or other data may be stored as, for example, a separate file on an optical disc, the requirement for compression increases due to the limitations of available storage space whilst efficiency must not be degraded to the point where decoding and regeneration of the data becomes a significant factor affecting playback performance.
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a coding methodology for pixel color values which provides good compression without causing undue delays in decoding.
It is a further object to provide a means for encoding and decoding according to such a methodology.
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a method of encoding pixel color values for a digital video image frame in which each different color within the image is assigned a color value, wherein a predominant color is identified for the image frame, and runs of at least three successive pixels of the predominant color are encoded as a first code indicating a run and a second code indicating the run length; characterised in that runs of successive pixels having a color other than the predominant color are encoded as successive iterations of a code containing only the respective color value when the run length is less than or equal to a threshold value and as a first code indicating a run, a second code indicating a run length, and a third code identifying the color value when the threshold value is exceeded.
As will become apparent hereinafter, the present invention is optimised for limited color schemes and especially for the coding of text blocks, although it is not limited to such. In an embodiment to be described, four different colors including the predominant color may be supported with each pixel having a color other than the predominant color being separately coded as a 2-bit code: the predominant color is likely but not certain to be a background color and the three remaining colors may be respectively assigned to foreground and to two intermediate levels between foreground and background for the purposes of anti-aliasing. By keeping the non-predominant color codes short, the repetitive iterations for short to medium length runs (i.e. below the thresholdxe2x80x94which threshold may differ for different colors) do not generate an excessive bit load.
For increased savings, one of the colors other than the predominant color may be selected, with a range of run lengths between minimum and maximum values being specified for that color, wherein: runs of the selected color below the minimum value are coded as separate iterations of the color code; runs of the selected color between the minimum and maximum values are coded as a first code indicating a run of that color and a second code indicating the length; and runs of the selected color above the maximum value are coded as a first code indicating a run, a second code indicating a run length, and a third code identifying the color value of the selected color. With this shortened code for short to medium runs (e.g. 4 to 11 pixels) in what may be the text color for subtitling applications for example, the present applicants have found that further bit-savings. of up to 5% in relation to the Digital Video Broadcast 2-bit coding standard may be achieved.
In a practical arrangement, all codes for a pixel or a run preferably comprise an integer number of bit-pairs for ease of decoder implementation. A further code may be provided, wherein subsequent to the placing of the further code in a stream of pixel color codes, the color specified for the immediately preceding pixel is applied to all further pixels to the end of a display line. This further code is suitably only used if run-length specification of the remainder of the line or repeated iterations of the color code per pixel do not require fewer bits to specify, that is to say if the further code is the most economical option.
A still further code may be provided in a stream of pixel color codes, with the code identifying to a host decoder a predetermined and stored pattern of pixel color values to be called up and applied to the following pixels.
Also in accordance with the present invention there is provided video image encoding apparatus arranged to encode pixel color values for a digital video image frame by assigning to each different color within the image a respective color value, wherein a predominant color is identified for the image frame; characterised in that the apparatus includes means arranged to identify runs of successive pixels having a color other than the predominant color and encode the same as successive iterations of a code containing only the respective color value when the run length is less than or equal to a threshold value and as a first code indicating a run, a second code indicating a run length, and a third code identifying the color value when the threshold value is exceeded.
Further in accordance with the present invention there is provided a video image signal comprising encoded frames of pixel color values, a storage medium carrying such a video image signal, and video image playback apparatus as defined in the attached claims, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein and to which reference should now be made.


A worm shaft (46) has a first end section (52) and a second end section (54) extending from a worm section (50). A first drive system (98) is in driving engagement with the first end section (52) of the worm shaft (46), and a second drive system (104) is in driving engagement with the second end section (54) of the worm shaft (46) for redundantly steering a vehicle. The worm section (50) of the worm shaft (46) is disposed between the first drive system (98) disposed on the first end section (52) of the worm shaft (46) and the second drive system (104) disposed on the second end section (54) of the worm shaft (46). A lost motion connection (82) is disposed between an input shaft (76) and said worm shaft (46).

1. Field of the Invention
An electrically-powered recirculating-ball steering gear assembly for steering a vehicle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Such electrically-powered recirculating-ball steering gear assemblies include a worm shaft extending along an axis and having a worm groove extending helically to establish a worm section. The worm shaft has a first end section and a second end section extending from opposite ends of the worm section. A first drive system is in driving engagement with the first end section of the worm shaft and a second drive system is included for providing a steering force in response to a secondary steering input. One such assembly is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,776,252, but the two drive systems in series upstream of the worm require complex engineering to provide two separate drives extending axially to the worm section.

Electrically-powered recirculating-ball steering gear assembly


An anti-dental plaque agent is composed primarily of a tea-leaf polyphenol or polyphenols selected from the group consisting of epigallocatechin gallate or its isomer, epicatechin gallate or its isomer, epigallocatechin or its isomer, epicatechin or its isomer, (+)catechin or its isomer, free type theaflavin, theaflavin monogallate A, theaflavin monogallate B and theaflavin digallate.

The present invention relates to an anti-dental plaque agent and, more particularly, to an anti-dental plaque agent which inhibits the formation of water-insoluble glucan by glucosyltransferase (hereinafter often abbreviated as GTF) which Streptococcus mutans produces extracellularly.
Dental caries is an infectious disease of the hard tissue of teeth which has afflicted mankind from ancient times up to now and is spread all over the world.
Of pathogenic bacteria causing dental caries, Streptococcus mutans is a primary important cariogenic bacterium. Glucan that is a polymer of glucose is synthesized from sucrose by the action of glucosyltransferase which is produced extracellularly by the above pathogenic bacteria Water-insoluble glucan has the property of adhering firmly to a smooth tooth surface. This water-insoluble glucan and Streptococcus mutans adhering to the tooth surface through it continue to grow and eventually overspread the tooth surface This is called "a dental plaque". Making use of various sugars, Streptococcus mutans generates some acids inclusive of lactic acid in the dental plaque, which in turn decalcify enamel. At this time, water-insoluble glucan is considered to play a role in preventing the diffusion of the acids.
Thus, the primary action of Streptococcus mutans in cariogenesis is to form water-insoluble glucan by GTF.
Heretofore, various pharmaceuticals for inhibiting cariogenesis have been proposed However, there is still a strong demand toward developing a pharmaceutical preparation which is so harmless to the human body that it can be safe in use.

Method of preventing the formation or aggrevation of dental plaque and method for reducing cariogenesis


In an embodiment, an agricultural implement includes at least a first row of ground engaging tools, each of the tools spaced a first distance apart from one another, and a second row of ground engaging tools disposed behind the first row of ground engaging tools, each of the second row of ground engaging tools spaced a second distance apart from one another. The implement also includes a row of soil shaping disks disposed behind the second row of ground engaging tools, wherein a spacing between each of the soil shaping disks is not uniform and corresponds to whether the spacing is behind the first row of ground engaging disks or behind the second row of ground engaging disks.

The present invention relates generally to the field of agricultural tillage implements, such as chisels, cultivators, and rippers towed behind a work vehicle, such as a tractor.
A wide range of agricultural implements have been developed and are presently in use for tilling, cultivating, harvesting, and so forth. Tillage implements, for example, are commonly towed behind tractors and may cover wide swaths of ground which may include soil residue. Soil residue may include materials left in an agricultural field or after the crop has been harvested. These residues typically include stalks and stubble, leaves and seed pods. Good management of field residues can increase efficiency of irrigation and control of erosion in the field.
Accordingly, chisels may include ground engaging tools, such as shanks and plows, configured to condition the soil to reduce soil compaction while improving moisture distribution. In some implements, the ground engaging tools may suffer from a buildup of residue on and around the ground engaging tools. This reduces the performance of the implement and may adversely affect the condition of the soil. Positioning the ground engaging tools further apart may reduce the accumulation of soil residue, but may also adversely affect the implement's ability to condition soil. For example, when the tools are spaced from one another a greater distance, large valleys or grooves may be formed in the soil due to the inability of the tools to access intermediate regions between the tools (e.g., to throw soil into such regions). Large valleys in the soil may reduce even moisture distribution and may increase work needed for preparation of soil for seeding.


An apparatus for manufacturing magnet segments constituting a field pole magnetic body formed by cleaving a magnetic body at a plurality of scheduled cleaving parts is provided. The apparatus includes placing tables on which a magnetic body having a coating applied to an outer surface thereof is placed, a pressing unit that cleaves the magnetic body by pressing the magnetic body from an opposite side of an incision at a scheduled cleaving part arranged between two of the placing tables, and a cutting unit that cuts the coaling of the magnetic body present at the scheduled cleaving part after the magnetic body is cleaved, by applying a moment in a direction opposite to a moment generated in the magnetic body between the two placing tables at the time of cleaving. Cleaving divides the magnetic body into a magnet segment and an uncleaved magnetic body.

A field pole magnetic body formed by dividing a plate-like magnetic body (hereinafter, merely referred to as a "magnetic body") into a plurality of magnet segments and bonding these plurality of magnet segments to each other is known as a field pole magnetic body to be arranged in a rotor core of a permanent magnet embedded rotary electric machine. Since such a field pole magnetic body is formed of a plurality of magnet segments, the volumes of the individual magnet segments can be reduced and eddy currents generated in the magnet segments due to a variation of a magnetic field caused by the rotation of a rotor can be reduced. This can suppress heat generation of the field pole magnetic body associated with the generation of the eddy currents and prevent irreversible thermal demagnetization.
It is disclosed in JP2009-142081A to manufacture a plurality of magnet segments by placing a magnetic body on which incisions are made along scheduled cleaving lines on dies for supporting the magnetic body on opposite end parts in a direction perpendicular to the scheduled cleaving lines and pressing the magnetic body at the scheduled cleaving line downwardly from above by a punch, thereby cleaving the magnetic body along the scheduled cleaving line.

Apparatus and method for manufacturing magnet segments constituting field pole magnetic body


A color filter manufacturing method colors each of many filter elements partitioned off by many frames formed on a transparent substrate by discharging an ink colored in a predetermined color into each of the frames. In coloring each of the filter elements, a discharging start position of an ink discharged into the frame partitioning off each of the filter elements is changed to color the filter element while changing an amount by which the ink overlaps the frame.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for manufacturing a color filter by forming and arranging a large number of colored filter elements on a transparent substrate, the color filter, a display apparatus, an apparatus having the display apparatus, and a method of equalizing the colored states of areas.
2. Description of the Related Art
With recent advances in personal computers, especially portable personal computers, the demand tends to arise for liquid crystal displays, especially color liquid crystal displays. However, in order to further popularize the use of liquid crystal displays, a reduction in cost must be achieved. Especially, it is required to reduce the cost of a color filter which occupies a large proportion of the total cost. Various methods have been tried to satisfy the required characteristics of color filters while meeting the above requirements. However, any method capable of satisfying all the requirements has not been established. The respective methods will be described below.
The first method is a dyeing method, which is the most popular method. In the dyeing method, a water-soluble polymer material as a dyeable material is coated on a glass substrate, and the coating is patterned into a desired shape by a photolithography process. The obtained pattern is dipped in a dye bath to obtain a colored pattern. This process is repeated three times to form R, G, and B color filter layers.
The second method is a pigment dispersion method, which is currently replacing the dyeing method. In this method, a pigment-dispersed photosensitive resin layer is formed on a substrate and patterned into a single-color pattern. This process is repeated three times to obtain R, G, and B color filter layers.
The third method is an electrodeposition method. In this method, a transparent electrode is patterned on a substrate, and the resultant structure is dipped in an electrodeposition coating fluid containing a pigment, a resin, an electrolyte, and the like to be colored in the first color by electrodeposition. This process is repeated three times to form R, G, and B color filter layers. Finally, these layers are calcined.
The fourth method is a print method. In this method, a pigment is dispersed in a thermosetting resin, a print operation is performed three times to form R, G, and B coatings separately, and the resins are thermoset, thereby forming colored layers. In either of the above methods, a protective layer is generally formed on the colored layers.
The point common to these methods is that the same process must be repeated three times to obtain layers colored in three colors, i.e., R, G, and B. This causes an increase in cost. In addition, as the number of processes increases, the yield decreases. In the electrodeposition method, limitations are imposed on pattern shapes which can be formed. For this reason, with the existing techniques, this method cannot be applied to TFTs. In the print method, a pattern with a fine pitch cannot be formed because of poor resolution and poor evenness.
In order to eliminate these drawbacks, methods of manufacturing color filters by an ink-jet system are disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 59-75205, 63-235901, and 1-217320. In these methods, coloring solutions containing coloring agents of three colors, i.e., R (red), G (green), and B (blue), are sprayed on a transparent substrate by an ink-jet system, and the respective coloring solutions are dried to form colored image portions. In such an ink-jet system, R, G, and B filter elements (pixels) can be formed at once, allowing great simplification of the manufacturing process and a great reduction in cost.
In the above conventional manufacturing methods based on the ink-jet system, however, it is difficult to discharge a required amount of ink for one filter element (one pixel) at once and uniformly spread the ink on the entire surface of each opening portion of a black matrix for partitioning off each filter element. In addition, each discharged ink dot has an almost circular shape, and a plurality of ink dots must be discharged onto each rectangular opening portion of the black matrix. In this case, it is difficult to uniformly spread the ink on the entire surface of each opening portion of the black matrix by using a method of uniformly discharging an ink. Color omissions occur sometimes at peripheral portions of an opening portion. A color omission is a serious defect for a color filter, and causes a great deterioration in image quality. If a considerably larger dot is formed on an opening portion of a black matrix in order to prevent such an inconvenience, the dot may mix with a dot of another color in an adjacent opening portion. In order to solve this problem, various proposals associated an improvement in the properties of inks and reception layers have been made.
The experiment conducted by the present applicant shows that the behavior of inks after impact greatly varies depending on the characteristics of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) inks and the like. That is, only with an improvement in the properties of inks and reception layers, it is difficult to manufacture a color filter without color irregularity by using an ink-jet system. As described above, an ink discharging method and discharging amount are important factors in manufacturing a color filter.

Color filter manufacturing method and apparatus, color filter, display device, apparatus having display apparatus, and method of equalizing colored states of areas


A digital driver for an ink jet printhead and an associated method for selectively applying voltage to a piezoelectric sidewall actuator of the printhead. The digital driver includes positive, negative and neutral voltage sources, a first switching element having a first control input, a first voltage supply input connected to the positive voltage source and a first output, a second switching element having a second control input, a second voltage supply input connected to the negative voltage source and a second output, and a third switching element having a third control input, a third voltage supply input connected to the neutral voltage source and a third output. The first, second and third outputs are connected together to provide a common output for connection to the piezoelectric sidewall actuator. By asserting the first control input for a first time period, the first switching element generates a positive voltage pulse at the common output to displace the sidewall actuator from a rest position to a first position. Next, by simultaneously deasserting the first control input and asserting the second control input, the second switching element generates a negative voltage pulse at the common output to displace the sidewall actuator from the first position, past the rest position, to a second position. Finally, by deasserting the second control input and asserting the third control input, a path to ground potential is provided at the common output, thereby driving the return of the sidewall actuator to the rest position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to ink jet printhead apparatus and, more particularly, to a three element switched digital drive system for piezoelectrically driving an ink jet printhead.
2. Description of Related Art
A piezoelectrically actuated ink jet printhead is a relatively small device used to selectively eject tiny ink droplets onto a paper sheet operatively fed through a printer, in which the printhead is incorporated, to thereby form from the ejected ink droplets selected text and/or graphics on the sheet. In one representative configuration thereof, an ink jet printhead has a horizontally spaced parallel array of internal ink-receiving channels. These internal channels are covered at their front ends by a plate member through which a spaced series of small ink discharge orifices are formed. Each channel opens outwardly through a different one of the spaced orifices.
A spaced series of internal piezoelectric wall portions of the printhead body separate and laterally bound the channels along their lengths. To eject an ink droplet through a selected one of the discharge orifices, the two printhead sidewall portions that laterally bound the channel associated with the selected orifice are first piezoelectrically outwardly deflected away from the channel to impart an expansive into the channel. The sidewall portions are held in the outwardly deflected position while the rearwardly propagating portion of the expansive pressure pulse reflects off a back wall of the channel and begins to propagate forwardly in the channel. When the forwardly propagating reflected wave returns to its point of origination, the sidewall portions are inwardly deflected past the rest position and into the channel and again held, thereby imparting a second, reinforcing, pressure pulse into the channel. The sidewall portions are then returned to their normal, undeflected positions. This driven inward deflection of the opposite channel wall portions increases the pressure of the ink within the channel sufficiently to initiate the ejection of a small quantity of ink, in droplet form, outwardly through the discharge orifice.
According to a recently proposed drive method for this type of ink jet printhead, top sides of the internal channel dividing wall portions are commonly connected to ground, and the bottom sides of the wall portions are individually connected to a series of electrical actuating leads. Each of these leads, in turn, is connected to a drive system operable to selectively impart to the lead an electrical waveform that sequentially changes (1) from ground to a first driving polarity, (2) from the first polarity to the opposite polarity, and (3) from the opposite polarity back to ground.
When this electrical waveform is imparted to a piezoelectric channel wall portion bounding one side of a selected, and a second electrical waveform of opposite polarity sequence is simultaneously imparted (via another one of the actuating leads) to the opposite piezoelectric channel wall portion, the opposite channel wall portions, by piezoelectrical action, are sequentially deflected (1) outwardly away from the channel that they laterally bound, (2) into the channel to initiate the ejection of an ink droplet therefrom, and (3) back to their starting or "neutral" positions.
To provide the above drive method in an ink jet printhead, the use of an analog type drive system in which analog circuitry, for example, operational amplifiers (or "op-amps"), deliver the desired driving voltages to the sidewall portions of the ink jet printhead has been suggested. To do so, the analog type drive system would generate an analog voltage waveform which moves linearly from 0 volts to a positive peak +V volts. After holding the voltage at the positive peak for a first period of time, the analog drive system would then move linearly to a negative peak of -V volts and, after again holding the voltage at the negative peak for a second period of time, move linearly back to 0 volts. Due to their linear nature, such analog type drive systems tend to produce unacceptably high levels of power dissipation and have, therefore, proven inefficient in use. Furthermore, when utilized as the drive system for an ink jet printhead, such analog type drive systems tend to lower the operating speed of the printhead. Finally, such analog type drive systems require excessive space on the printhead, thereby adversely affecting driver density for the printhead.
It can be readily seen from the foregoing that it would be desirable to provide an improved ink jet printhead drive system that eliminates, or at least substantially reduces, the above-mentioned limitations and disadvantages associated with the drive systems described above. It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide such an improved ink jet printhead drive system.

Three element switched digital drive system for an ink jet printhead