A packaging pouch having a laminate of easily peelable tapes heat-bonded to the package body where an opening of the package is to be formed. The laminate has outer heat-bonding layers heat-fused to heat-sealing layers of the package body. The bonding strength between the heat-bonding layers are such that they can be peeled from each other by hand, The laminate may be formed by co-extruding synthetic resins or by heat-bonding, The laminate may protrude into the package body from where the laminate is thermally bonded to the package body,

This invention relates to a package which is highly sealable, which can be opened easily by peeling and which can accommodate foods, medicines, electric parts and any other articles.
Heretofore, in order to open a hermetically sealed pouch having a content heat-sealed therein, one of the following methods was used:
(1) breaking the heat-sealed portions, or PA1 (2) ripping open the pouch from a notch or similar rip-starting mark formed in the pouch beforehand.
In order to form an opening according to the former method, the heat-sealing strength has to be rather low. Thus, a package opened by this method is not suitable for containing liquids or heavy substances nor is it suitable as a package to be subjected to a retorting treatment. Also, since the heat-sealing strength along the portion where the pouch is to be opened is not uniform, the pouch may not be opened smoothly. If one tries to open the pouch by force, it may get broken, and the contents may scatter about and become useless.
With the latter method, ripping requires a considerable force and it is difficult to rip open the pouch in a desired direction, i.e. to open the pouch at a desired portion. This increases the possibility of the scattering of contents. In order to solve this problem, various proposals have been made, e.g. using a material which is orientated strongly in a direction substantially parallel to the direction in which the pouch is intended to be torn apart, forming perforations to restrict the tear direction, or using a plastic reinforcing material. These measures all push up the cost of the pouch and are still not very effective.


An airbag system for a vehicle having a plurality of seats, each having a respective support structure fixedly disposed forward of each of the seats; a plurality of inflatable airbags; hook-and-pile or snap fasteners disposed between each airbag and a respective support structure; at least one impact sensor in the vehicle, and a plug-and-jack for connecting at least a selected one of the inflatable airbags with the impact sensor upon an impact to the vehicle.

Inflatable airbag systems installed in motor vehicles have long been known and used for protecting vehicle occupants in case of severe impact to the vehicle. Such an airbag system is known for example from U.S. Pat. No. 3,632,133, which shows an inflatable airbag system actuated by an impact sensor that electrically energizes an airbag upon a vehicle impact or collision.
Such airbag systems are relatively expensive, especially when arranged to protect vehicle occupants other than the driver, and restoring the airbag system to service after it has been activated by an impact is also a relatively expensive operation. The trend is now to install further airbags for vehicle occupants beyond the driver, which, it follows, increases the cost of restoring the airbag system to service once it has been activated.
It is therefore an object of the instant invention to provide an inflatable airbag system that with a relatively small expense is capable of being restored to service after an impact.
It is another object to provide an airbag system having selection arrangement for selectively arming only airbags for seats that are actually occupied.


A metallic composite solid, containing alloys and/or intermetallics, is formed by compacting at moderate pressure a mixture of powder particles, foils or sheets at a temperature close to room temperature, well below the melting temperature of the constituent components and without the addition of low melting metals such as mercury, indium or gallium acting as a sintering agent. This low temperature consolidation of the powder mixture is enhanced by having the surface oxide of the powder particles removed, prior to consolidation, and/or by coating the particles with an oxide-replacing metal such as silver or gold. The coating process may be replacement reactions, autocatalytic reduction or electrolytic reduction. The composite formation is assisted by the addition of a liquid acid such as fluoroboric acid, sulfuric acid, fluoric acid, adipic acid, ascorbic acid, or nitric acid. A preferred embodiment of the process for metal solid composite formation is a process for forming dental restorative materials at ambient temperatures and under pressure exerted by manual dental instrumentation.

Powder metallurgy is a processing technique whereby very small diameter powder particles are compressed into parts or shapes by a number of methods that include vacuum hot pressing, hot isostatic pressing (HIP), sinter hipping, hot forging, etc. These processes require the sequential or simultaneous application of high temperature and pressure. Typically, the temperatures used in powder metallurgy are at an appreciable fraction of the melting point (T.sub.m) of the compressed elements or alloys, usually above 0.8 T.sub.m. The pressures applied are often near or beyond the yield point of the metals involved. In the case of metal foils or sheets, consolidation is often done by hot roll bonding. One of the reasons for these severe conditions results from the need to break up the naturally occurring oxide on the surface of the material, thereby enabling the surfaces of the powder particles (foils or sheets) to weld together at a sufficient number of contact points so as to provide adequate adhesion between the individual particles, sheets or foils.
Powder metallurgy is useful as an alternative to comelting appropriate amounts of metal constituent components in forming intermetallic compounds. Intermetallic compounds have a great potential for a variety of applications as a result of their specific properties such as hardness, high elastic moduli and oxidation resistance. On the other hand, the inherent brittleness of intermetallic compounds severely curtails their use in conventional thermomechanical processing operations to form net shapes. As an alternative, powder technology is often used for processing intermetallic compounds. The starting materials for this approach are pre-alloyed compounds that have been comminuted by various methods into powder particles. The limitation of this approach is that it relies on compaction of powders which are inherently brittle and do not deform with ease. Compound formation, however, may also take place by solid state interdiffusion of mostly ductile constituent elements which can be compacted with relative ease. Mixtures of elemental metal powders, maintained in close mutual contact for a sufficient length of time at the appropriate temperature, interdiffuse and form intermetallic compounds. In some situations, intermetallic compound formation is required, but exposure to elevated temperature has to be limited or avoided. An example of such a situation may be the requirement for compound formation (for protheses or as dental restorative material) in a human body environment.
Intermetallic compound formation by interdiffusion of the constituent elements or extremely finely divided multi-phase solid formation by non-compound forming and non-interdiffusing elements is favored when the starting materials are in the form of a very small size particle powder. Such powders possess a large specific surface area, and hence, when mixed, form a relatively large interface area between the different constituents. The generation of an interface area between the different constituents depends on the efficiency of the mixing technique and also on the nature and properties of the mixed powder particles.
Several mixing techniques are commonly used in order to maximize the contact points (interface area) between particles of different kinds. If the effect of particle properties on the outcome of the mixing process is neglected, prolonged mixing will tend to maximize the number of contact points between different particles by striving towards a random distribution of the particles of different kind. Many particle properties such as particle size and shape, surface roughness, in addition to electrostatic phenomena, promote segregation effects and thus reduce and curtail the homogeneous mixing of different powders. Thus, multimodal particle size distribution favors space filling and increased density but also favors particle segregation. The most commonly used mixing technique relies on the tumbling-type blending of the powders. Ball milling is another technique that is used for mixing and also for reducing particle size. An extension of ball-milling is the mechanical alloying technique that yields alloyed powder products from elemental powder mixtures. Alloy or compound formation by ball milling is dependent on the kinetic energy input due to the rapidly rotating hard balls impinging on the powder particles. Thus ball-milling leads to high local temperature increases.
Intermetallic compound formation at the interface of two metals in intimate contact is a documented phenomenon. In some instances, the formation of intermetallic compounds is beneficial, in others, its effects may be detrimental. The formation of a new compound at temperatures below the melting point of the metals in contact relies on interdiffusion effects in the solid state. In most binary combinations, ambient temperature is well below the melting temperature of the constituent metals and, consequently, little or no compound formation takes place at the interface. Notable exceptions to this are diffusion couples in which one of the constituent metals, e.g. mercury or gallium, has a low melting point, below or close to room temperature. Another important group of binary combinations which shows room temperature compound formation, consists of a group I-B of the periodic table (Cu, Ag or Au) metal juxtaposed to a group III-A or IV-A (In, Sn or Pb) element. K. N. Tu et al., Jap. J. Appl. Phys. Suppl., Pt.1, 633 (1974). It is believed that room temperature compound formation in these systems is related to fast diffusion behavior of the noble or near noble component (the I-B elements) in the matrices of the group III-A or IV-A metals. A. D. LeClaire, J. Nucl. Mat. 69 & 70, 70 (1978). Fast diffusion occurs by virtue of the interstitial or partly interstitial diffusivity of the fast diffusing components, W. K. Warburton et al., "Diffusion in Solids, Recent Developments", Nowick and Burton (eds.), Academic Press, New York, 1975, p.172. It is noteworthy that interfaces between two components, each of which respectively belongs to one ot the two classes previously defined, are of common occurrence in electronic devices and it is not surprising, therefore, that such systems have been subject to relatively close scrutiny over the past years K. N. Tu, Ann. Rev. Mater. Sci., 15, 147 (1985). The quasi-totality of the room temperature intermetallic compound formation studies in these systems has made use of the thin film configuration. This configuration yields samples with a high interface to total volume ratio permitting effective study of compound formation at the interface. The phase diagrams in most binary combinations of this kind show the presence at room temperature of several equilibrium intermetallic compounds, (Table I).
TABLE I ______________________________________ Number of intermetallic compounds that are present in binary systems containing noble metals in which room temperature compound formation takes place. In Sn Pb ______________________________________ Cu 3 2 0 Ag 3 2 0 Au 4 4 2 ______________________________________
TABLE II ______________________________________ Numberof intermetallic compounds that are present in binary systems other than those containing noble metals in which fast diffusion effects take place. Ti Zr Gd.sup.1 U.sup.2 ______________________________________ Fe 2 4 4 2 Co 5 5 7 6 Ni 3 8 7 6 Pd 8(10) 4 6 5(7) Pt 4(6) 3 8 4 ______________________________________ .sup.1 A Gd matrix is taken as a prototype for lanthanide elements, as on of the two components of a binary combination. .sup. 2 Uranium matrix is taken as a prototype for other actinide elements, as one of the two components of a binary combination. .sup.3 In parenthesis, the number of intermetallic compounds including those stable at elevated temperatures or not yet well established.
Fast diffusion effects are not restricted to the above-mentioned systems. Other notable and relevant systems are combinations of an early transition metal element from the Group III-B (Sc, Y or a lanthanide element, Th and U) or from Group IV-B, (Ti, Zr or Hf) with a late transition metal from Group VIII (Fe, Co, Ni, Pd or Pt). Fast diffusion of the small size late transition metal elements in the matrix of the early transition metal elements has been reported in the literature. In these latter systems, however, none of the constituent elements has a melting point even relatively close to room temperature. Thus, in spite of fast interdiffusion, some exposure to intermediate temperatures is necessary in order to achieve any significant intermetallic compound formation within a reasonable time frame.
The formation of intermetallic compounds in even a relatively simple system such as two juxtaposed thin films, is a complex process. It depends on a number of variables such as the relative thickness of the individual initial layers, the diffusion mechanisms and the diffusivities of the atomic species in the different layers being formed, the nucleation characteristics of the various compounds, to mention just a few of the relevant parameters. It is not surprising, therefore, that in spite of the relatively large number of completed studies, no clear picture emerges regarding the outcome of the interdiffusion process in a thin film couple.
The thin film configuration, even though allowing an increase in the relative amount of compound to be formed at the interface, does not lend itself to the formation of bulk intermetallic compounds. Bulk formation of intermetallic compounds may be of both theoretical as well as practical interest. Bulk formation at room temperature and ambient pressure is of interest if extraneous constraints preclude the use of conventional processing and production methods, i.e. casting from the melt or diffusion assisted formation at elevated temperatures.
Another important use for powder metallurgy is its use in amalgams and related alloys. Metallic dental restorative materials used in dental fillings, placed directly in tooth cavity preparations, can be classified broadly into two classes, direct gold fillings and dental amalgams (O'Brien, 1989; Phillips, 1991). Dental amalgams are metallic composites resulting from a reaction between mercury and various pre-alloyed silver-tin-copper alloys. The mixing of mercury, which is liquid at ambient temperature, with the alloy in powder form takes place immediately prior to insertion in the dental cavity. The mixture, compacted into the cavity with dental instruments, consolidates into a cohesive solid and hardens over a length of time. Dental amalgams are much harder than pure gold fillings, they display relatively high compressive strength but are brittle and possess low transverse-rupture strength.
Amalgams and related alloys have been incorporated into a variety of commercial applications and thus a number of processes for producing such amalgams are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,664,855 discloses a universally employed process that triturates elemental metals or intermetallic alloys, in the form of comminuted filings or atomized spherical powders, with the sintering agent mercury and compacts the resulting amalgam into a uniform, consolidated metallic composite. The process may be considered a combination of liquid phase and reactive metal sintering. The finely comminuted metallic or intermetallic powders react with the Hg and when pressure is applied to the reaction product, form a compact, high density mass. U.S. Pat. No. 3,933,961 discloses a process for preparing a pre-weighed alloy tablet of uniform weight that is then triturated with a weighed quantity of Hg to form a traditional amalgam alloy.
The mercury content of dental amalgams has been a recurring source of concern because of the health and environmental hazards associated with its presence. Many aspects involved in the use of dental amalgams such as the various hazards, the possible substitute materials, their advantages and drawbacks, the economical considerations that are involved have been reviewed and discussed extensively in various publications as for example: Effects and Side-effects of Dental Restorative Materials", Adv. in Dental Res. 6:, September 1992; JADA Vol. 122, August 1991, papers p.54-61, p.63-65, p.67-71, p.73-77; JADA Vol. 125. April 1994, papers p. 381-387, p. 392-399).
Gold, either in the form of foils, powder or pellets can be used instead of mercury containing dental amalgams in direct filling. Prior to its condensation, pure gold, in all its forms, has to undergo a degassing procedure to desorb any adsorbed layers that might impede or prevent consolidation into a cohesive solid. Degassing is achieved by exposing the filling material to elevated temperature just before its insertion in the dental cavity. Clean gold surfaces and other noble metal surfaces, devoid of adsorbed layers, cold-weld under moderate pressure to form cohesive solids. Pure gold fillings are malleable and ductile and display high values of transverse rupture strength but low values of hardness and compressive strength.

Acid assisted cold welding and intermetallic formation


An image forming apparatus includes a first image forming device, a plurality of second image forming devices, a first bias voltage supply device, and a second bias voltage supply device. The first image forming device and the second image forming device form a toner image. The first bias voltage supply device applies a bias voltage to a first component of the first image forming device. The second bias voltage supply device applies a bias voltage to a second component of each of the plurality of second image forming devices.

1. Field
This disclosure generally relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile machine, or a copier.
2. Discussion of the Background
A tandem-type image forming apparatus forms a color image to lay a toner image of each color (black, yellow, magenta, and cyan) on the surface of a transfer member. An image-forming unit includes a photoconductive drum, a charge device, a developing device, and a cleaning device. The charge device forms a latent image on a surface of the photoconductive drum charged, which has been uniformly charged. The developing device forms a toner image to develop the latent image. The cleaning device removes untransferred toner on the surface of the photoconductive drum after transferring the toner image to a transfer member.
Japanese Patent No. 4597837 discloses a cleaning device that includes a cleaning brush roller to be rotatable and to contact with a surface of a photoconductive drum and a voltage application member to apply a voltage to a cleaning brush roller for adhering toner electrically. The cleaning brush electrically and mechanically removes the untransferred toner on a surface of the photoconductive drum after transferring the toner image to a transfer member.
A conventional image forming apparatus that includes a power supply unit for each cleaning brush roller of each color (black, yellow, magenta, and cyan) has a high cost and an increased size. Thus, it is necessary to reduce the number of power supply units so that individual power supply units do not apply a bias voltage to each cleaning brush roller.
Further, it is not always necessary to use each colored image-forming unit when using an image forming apparatus included a plurality of image-forming units. Namely, an image forming apparatus can operate in a monochrome mode in which a black toner image is formed using only an image-forming unit for black, and in a color mode in which a color toner image is formed using every image-forming unit.
Therefore, conventionally the power supply unit applies a bias voltage to the cleaning brush rollers of the image-forming units for black as well as yellow, magenta, and cyan, when the image forming apparatus prints a sheet in monochrome mode.
Conventionally, the power supply unit applies power not just to the cleaning brush roller, but also, e.g., to a charge device of the image-forming unit.

Image forming apparatus including first and second bias voltage supply devices


There is disclosed a powdered composition that enhances the adherence of print to hard and uneven finish printing stock such as vellum, as well as a method of using the composition on such printing stock.

There is a wide variety of printing stock available for printing invitations, announcements and journaling blocks and titles in scrapbooks, photo albums and the like. The most desirable types of printing stock from an aesthetic appearance standpoint are hard and uneven finish papers. A particularly desirable printing stock is vellum. However, the principal drawbacks of vellum are the difficulty of getting ink to adhere to the hard, somewhat slick finish and the long drying time for the ink. The same drawbacks hold true for other aesthetically appealing hard finish printing stock such as coated paper, glossy paper, rice paper, calendered paper and cellulose acetate film; as well as for printing stock having a non-uniform surface texture, such as handmade papers.
There is therefore a need in the art of printing for a solution to the problems of securing adherence of ink and speeding up the ink drying time when printing on the aforementioned types of printing stock. This need is met by the present invention, which is summarized and described in detail below.

Composition for printing on vellum and the like


A method and a system for separating the phases of a multiphase fluid from one or more wells. The system includes at least one first gravity separator and at least one second gravity separator, and elements for conducting the fluid from the well or wells to the first and second gravity separator(s). The system includes elements for selectively conducting the fluid to the first and second gravity separators either in parallel or in subsequent steps depending on the properties of the well fluid and process conditions.

In recent years, the oil and gas industry has found significant oil and gas reserves in deepwater offshore locations. The subsea technology of today has limitations when it is deployed at these water depths. At these water depths the compactness of the equipment used is critical during installation and maintenance thereof. A compact system will ease the installation process and lower the installation costs since smaller installation vessels can be deployed. The maximum weight for a single lift is decreasing with increasing water depth and some equipment that could be used at shallower water depths will be impossible to install due to their weight and size (typically large gravity separators).
Numerous solutions to deal with the weight and size limitations of gravity separators have been suggested based on other and more compact technologies than gravity separation. Some of these technologies come to short when it comes to reliability and failure rates. For instance, cyclone technology alone may fulfill the compactness requirements, but will have difficulties to meet the important reliability criteria as to dealing with e.g. variations in process conditions.
Thus, the use of gravitational settling by means of gravity separators, in combination with or in addition to supplementing techniques such as hydro cyclones, electrostatic coalescers, etc may be regarded as the most efficient and reliable way in order to achieve sufficient separation of oil from water, gas and possible solid particles, such as sand, at large water depths as well as on the surface or on land.


Systems consistent with the present invention implement provide information regarding savings associated travel alternatives. Such systems receive requests from users reflecting travel itineraries, respectively. Each itinerary is analyzed to determine a set of alternative itineraries comparable to the travel itinerary specified in the request based on selected rules associated with travel. Then a value or cost of the input travel itinerary is determined and a value for each of the alternative itineraries is also calculated. The systems then generate a report reflecting the input travel itinerary specified in the request, each of the alternative itineraries, the value for each travel itinerary, and a difference between the value for the travel itinerary specified in the request and each of the alternative itineraries.

A. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to electronic commerce and, more particularly, to an apparatus and methods for determining non-obvious savings in the purchase of goods and services.
B. Description of the Related Art
The Internet has been hailed the marketplace of the future, a result of its accessibility and usability. A computer equipped with a communication mechanism such as a modem and telephone connection is nearly all that is necessary to gain access to the Internet. A program called a browser, such as the Netscape Navigator from Netscape Corporation, makes it a simple task to traverse the vast network of information available on the Internet and, specifically, its subpart known as the "World Wide Web."
The architecture of the Web follows a conventional client-server model. The terms "client" and "server" are used to refer to a computer's general role as a requester of data (the client) or provider of data (the server). Under the Web environment, Web browsers reside in clients and specially formatted "Web documents" reside on Internet (Web) servers. Web clients and Web servers communicate using a protocol called "HyperText Transfer Protocol" (HTTP).
In operation, a browser opens a connection to a server and initiates a request for a document. The server delivers the requested document, typically in the form coded in a standard "HyperText Markup Language" (HTML) format. After the document is delivered, the connection is closed. The browser displays the document or performs a function designated by the document.
Every day, more people gain access to the Web, and every day, more of them are shopping online. Online shopping provides a level of convenience they want, need and will soon demand. Electronic commerce or "e-commerce" is the term often used to refer, at least in part, to online shopping on the Web. E-commerce is a unique opportunity for businesses of any size. E-commerce can expand a company's marketplace-and consequently, its customer database. By simply providing a Web server having information on the company's product offerings and the customer database, and linking the Web server to the Web, the company can track visits, sales, buying trends and product preferences-all at the customer level. The company can then present its customers with products they are most likely to buy-on an individual basis. For this reason alone most marketing professionals consider the Web to be one of the best direct marketing tools.
But the number of retailers with online stores is growing exponentially every year, making it increasingly difficult for online shoppers to navigate the Web to locate particular products at the best prices. At one site, called the "Internet Mall," online shoppers can browse through more than 20,000 "virtual stores." This challenge for consumers also introduces a problem for merchants in designing campaigns to attract consumers to the merchants' Web sites and away from their competitors' sites.
Certain known business methods, and conventional implementations of those methods, give consumers greater control over a business deal by permitting consumers to set the price they are willing to pay for selected products and/or services, such as travel resources like airfare, car rentals, and similar travel commodities. Such methods and implementations, however, do not necessarily provide consumers with the best available price for the products and/or services, and consequently, they do not permit the merchants to claim that they deliver the best available price for a particular product or service. Consequently, consumers may still be paying too much for products and services using these implementations.
There is therefore a need for a system that can attract more consumers to a Web server by delivering on a claim that the merchant offers the best available price for a particular product or service. Such a system not only permits the server to expose more consumers to its products and services but also it permits the server to expose an increasing number of consumers to information such a advertisements for products and services.

Methods and apparatus for determining non-obvious savings in the purchase of goods and services


This system is formed, on the one hand, by a transmitting section (1) comprising coders (CA, CB, CC) for coding according to an error detection code the data to be transmitted over the main channels and comprising a coder (CS) for an auxiliary channel (CHS) and, on the other hand, a receiving section (2) constituted by error detecting circuits (DA, DB, DC, DS). In the transmitting section there is provided a combining circuit (20) for combining the data to be transmitted over the main channels, whereas the auxiliary channel is used for transmitting the combined data. In the receiving section there are provided decombining circuits (USA, USB, USC) for producing replicas of the transmitted data for each of the main transmission channels on the basis of data transmitted over the auxiliary channel. These replicas are used in case of failing transmission channels.

A system of this type which does not belong to the microwave domain is described in British Patent Specification 1 532 753. In this prior-art system data organized as binary words are transmitted accompanied by a parity code over a first transmission channel and supplementary data of the same binary words having binary elements of opposite value are transmitted over the auxiliary channel. The comparison on reception of the binary elements coming from transmission channels and auxiliary channels makes it possible to rapidly detect a transmission error.

Data word transmission system utilizing at least two transmission channels


A portable computer is comprised of a base, a display, and one or more multi-sectioned arms connecting the base and the display. The arms can be folded and parked alongside the computer in a closed position. The arms can also be detached from both the base and the display. The display's viewing position can be continuously adjusted up, down, forward, backward, left, or right relative to the base, in a 3-dimensional range of movement with a semi-diameter of the height of the fully stretched arm. The base and the display are rotatably connected to the arms, so that the base and the display can rotate independently around the connections to control how they face each other, enabling multiple configurations in one computer. Five embodiments of the present invention are presented for illustration, based on arm designs and how they are connected to the base and the display.

Technological advancements have enabled portable computers to be built in various forms such as notebook, tablet PC, and personal digital assistants (PDA). Some of these forms can be unified into one single portable computer with multiple configurations.
Portable computers or notebooks typically comprise of a computer base and a display screen. The computer base generally holds the central processing unit, memory, electronic circuitry and other components, such as a keyboard, a disk drive. Typically, the base is hinged to the display in a manner in which the display folds down on the base, as shown by the computer (900) in FIG. 5. This design is referred to as the clam shell type enclosure. The display screen is typically connected to the base in such a way that the screen is hidden when the clam shell is closed. That is, the screen faces the upper side (typically, the keyboard) of the base.
There are several disadvantages of the clam shell design. One disadvantage is that the screen and the keyboard are next to each other. If the screen is placed at a comfortable viewing position, it will make the arms and shoulders uncomfortable for typing. On the other hand, if the computer is placed at a comfortable typing position, it would make the neck uncomfortable when looking at the screen. This problem can cause serious computer-related work injuries. Another disadvantage is that it needs to sufficient room to fully open the clam shell computer and position the display screen at an angle of about ninety (90°) or more with respect to the base for normal viewing; and this can be very difficult when operating in tight space, such as on the pull-out tray on the back of a declined airplane seat. Therefore, the clam shell design is insufficient for comfortable use.
In general, it is useful to be able to arrange a single portable computer into various configurations as follows.                (1) Improved Notebook configuration: The display screen can be adjusted to a desirable viewing angle, and to a position by height (up or down relative to the base) and by depth (forward or backward relative to the base's user edge).        (2) Shared viewing configuration: This is configuration (1) plus display adjustment by width (left or right of the space above the keyboard). (This can be useful when more than one people are looking at the screen at the same time.)        (3) Tablet PC configuration: The portable computer is closed with the base stacked underneath the upward-facing screen to be used as input pad. (The keyboard in this configuration can either be facing down or up. But it does not matter.)        (4) Stylus input configuration: The portable computer is open with screen up in normal viewing position; but the bottom side (opposite to the keyboard) of the base is up and used as input pad.        (5) Space saving configuration: The portable computer is closed with the display stacked underneath the base, so that the base can be used as a desktop machine together with a desktop display unit, typically with a bigger and better screen.        (6) Desk note configuration: The display is completely detached from the base so that the base can be used as a desktop machine together with a desktop display unit. (Both this configuration and the Space saving configuration can get the built-in display out of the way of the desktop monitor screen.)
There have been numerous attempts to address various subsets these six configurations. Many of them are focused on the screen viewing position adjustment using various approaches, which are all different from the multi-sectioned arm approach in the present invention. Some others are focused on mode transitioning between conventional notebook and tablet PC. There has been no single invention until now that can solve all six configurations in a single computer.
The purpose of the present invention is to support all or a subset of configurations (1)–(6) in one single portable computer. The invention also has some additional features.

Portable computer with multi-sectioned arms to support display position adjustment and multiple configurations


The present invention relates to compositions which maintain the structural integrity of the anterior chamber of the eye during ophthalmologic surgery, thereby protecting the tissues that form and line the anterior segment from potential damage and simultaneously providing sustained delivery of a miotic or mydriatic agent. The present invention provides for compositions which comprise a viscoelastic polymer, wherein sustained release of a miotic or mydriatic agent is mediated by ionic interactions, as well as for compositions wherein sustained release of a miotic or mydriatic agent is mediated by microcapsules or copolymer micelles.

Maintaining the integrity of the anatomic components of the eye facilitates the delicate manipulations, performed within small areas, of ophthalmological surgery.
One component which may be controlled is the anterior chamber of the eye. As shown in FIG. 1, the anterior chamber is located between the cornea and the iris. Just posterior to the iris is the lens, which is interposed between the anterior chamber and the larger vitreous chamber, filled with vitreous humor. Maintaining the structural integrity of the anterior chamber minimizes the risk that the endothelium and/or the iris will be damaged during surgery. The introduction of viscoelastic materials, such as sodium hyaluronate, chondroitin sulfate, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, and methylcellulose, into the anterior chamber prevents the chamber from collapsing during surgery.
Another component that may be controlled is pupil size. During cataract surgery, it is desirable that the pupil is dilated, so that access to the lens is simplified and the insertion of a posterior chamber implant is facilitated. A variety of mydriatic drugs, such as atropine (a cholinergic blocker), phenylephrine (an adrenergic stimulator), and prostaglandin inhibitors have been used in this regard, and have hitherto predominantly been administered via external application.
Conversely, in refractive implants and secondary aphakic implants, a smaller ("miotic") pupil is desirable, in order to reduce iris trauma, avoid anterior synechias, prevent iris tucking, and facilitate appropriate positioning of the implant. Externally applied pilocarpine and carbachol (cholinergic stimulators), and physostigmine, demecarium bromide, echothiophate iodide, and isofluorphate (cholinesterase inhibitors) have been used for this purpose.
During surgery, however, and in the open eye, the efficacy of topical medication is reduced. Dilution and runoff preclude a continued high dose of effective medication. Even the direct introduction of miotic agents such as acetylcholine chloride or carbachol do not provide long term effects and often require frequent repeated administration into the open eye.
Previous attempts to achieve long-term maintenance of effective drug levels have employed sustained drug delivery technology, using systemic or transdermal administration, or the positioning of a bioerodible drug delivery device external to the eye. Such methods have been used primarily to control intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients. However, prior to the present invention, no method has been devised which combines sustained mydriatic or miotic drug delivery with maintenance of the structural integrity of the anterior chamber.

Controlled release of miotic and mydriatic drugs in the anterior chamber


There is provided a method of securing multimedia data for streaming over a network comprising receiving the multimedia data from a server, transforming the multimedia data into secure multimedia data using a security key associated with the multimedia data, storing the security key associated with the multimedia data, streaming the secure multimedia data to the destination server. The method further comprises receiving decoding solution requests associated with the multimedia data from one or more multimedia players for playing the multimedia data and transmitting the security key associated with the multimedia data to each of the multimedia players.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to multimedia data for streaming across a network. More particularly, the present invention relates to securing multimedia data for streaming across a network.
2. Background Art
In our increasingly Internet pervasive society, the streaming of digital information across the Internet has become increasingly pervasive as well. Video streaming websites, such as YouTube, have been accessed by hundreds of millions of users across the globe. As a result of such technological advances, an increasing volume of copyrighted digital multimedia data are being streamed to third parties without the consent of the content owners. Several solutions have been formulated and implemented to deter unauthorized streaming of multimedia data.
One solution used to prevent illegal streaming of digital data is digital rights management (DRM). DRM is padlock technology that restricts how users can download, open, install and copy multimedia data files, such as movie files, music files, and software. DRM solutions may also be used to prevent users from viewing streaming multimedia data from a website. Software applications, such as Adobe Flash Access 2.0, may be used to prevent the displaying of multimedia data from streaming onto an unauthorized computer playback device. For example, when an individual begins streaming a digital movie, created with Adobe Flash Access 2.0, on a website, the website may be prevented from playing digital movie due to restrictions set by the digital movie content distributor. In order to display the streaming multimedia data successfully, the user may be required to acquire a digital access license by verifying the user's identity with DRM verification servers.
DRM not only places restrictions on the playback of streaming multimedia data, but DRM may also restrict which playback devices may stream multimedia data. For example, the streaming or downloaded multimedia data may be played back only through handheld devices but not on desktop personal computers (PCs). Attempting to stream multimedia data onto an unauthorized playback device may require the user to acquire an access license from a DRM verification server.
However, many businesses engaged in the streaming of multimedia data may desire to secure their multimedia data a lesser degree than the security standards set by DRM solutions. For example, a business may desire to allow any visitor to the business's own data website to view streaming multimedia data on the business's website, but the same business may not want unauthorized third-parties from incorporating the business's streaming multimedia data into third-parties' websites. Furthermore, DRM solutions may be too expensive to use for some businesses. For example, a business using Flash Access 2.0 to protect its streaming data may have to purchase and build a Flash Access licensing server and pay Adobe on a per-license issued/per-playback basis.
Thus far, any attempts to secure streaming multimedia data result in overly securing the multimedia data from any user. Accordingly, there is a need to overcome the drawbacks and deficiencies in the art by providing a solution to secure streaming multimedia data without overly burdening a user's access to the streaming multimedia data, and lessening overhead costs on the content providers.

Method and system for securing multimedia data streamed over a network


A security element which is difficult to copy includes a layer composite which has microscopically fine, optically effective structures of a surface pattern, which are embedded between two layers of the layer composite. In a plane of the surface pattern, which is defined by co-ordinate axes x and y, the optically effective structures are shaped into an interface between the layers in surface portions of a holographically non-copyable security feature. In at least one surface portion the optically effective structure (9) is a diffraction structure formed by additive superimposition of a macroscopic superimposition function (M) with a microscopically fine relief profile (R). Both the relief profile (R), the superimposition function (M) and also the diffraction structure are functions of the co-ordinates x and y. The relief profile (R) is a light-diffractive or light-scattering optically effective structure and, following the superimposition function (M), retains the predetermined profile height. The superimposition function (M) is at least portion-wise steady and is not a periodic triangular or rectangular function. In comparison with the relief profile (R) the superimposition function (M) changes slowly. Upon tilting and rotation of the layer composite the observer sees on the illuminated surface portions light, continuously moving strips which are dependent on the viewing direction.

The invention relates to a security element.
Such security elements comprise a thin layer composite of plastic material, wherein at least relief structures from the group consisting of diffraction structures, light-scattering structures and flat mirror surfaces are embedded into the layer composite. The security elements which are cut out of the thin layer composite are stuck on to articles for verifying the authenticity of the articles.
The structure of the thin layer composite and the materials which can be used for same are described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 4,856,857. It is also known from GB 2 129 739 A for the thin layer composite to be applied to the article by means of a carrier film.
An arrangement of the kind set forth in the opening part of this specification is known from EP 0 429 782 B1. The security element which is stuck on to a document has an optically variable surface pattern which is known for example from EP 0 105 099 and which comprises surface portions arranged mosaic-like with known diffraction structures. So that a forged document, for faking apparent authenticity, cannot be provided without clear traces with a counterfeited security element which has been cut out of a genuine document or detached from a genuine document, security profiles are embossed into the security element and into adjoining portions of the document. The genuine document differs by virtue of the security profiles which extend seamlessly from the security element into adjoining portions of the document. The operation of embossing the security profiles interferes with recognition of the optically variable surface pattern. In particular the position of the embossing punch on the security element varies from one example of the document to another.
It is also known for the security elements to be provided with features which make it difficult or even impossible to counterfeit or copy using conventional holographic means. For example EP 0 360 969 A1 and WO 99/38038 describe arrangements of asymmetrical optical gratings. There, the surface elements have gratings which, used at different azimuth angles, form a pattern which is modulated in respect of brightness, in the surface pattern of the security element. The pattern which is modulated in respect of brightness is not reproduced in a holographic copy. If, as described in WO 98/26373, the structures of the gratings are smaller than the wavelength of the light used for the copying operation, such submicroscopic structures are no longer detected and are thus not reproduced in the copy in the same manner.
The protection arrangement to afford protection against holographic copying described in EP 0 360 969 A1, WO 98/26373 and WO 99/38038 which are referred to by way of example is achieved at the cost of difficulties in terms of production engineering.

Security element comprising micro- and macrostructures


A connection device for connecting a cable assembly with a plurality of cables to a printed circuit board of motor electronics arranged in a motor mounting of an electric motor, having a contact adapter with a number of current rails corresponding to the cables and with an injection molded housing, in which the current rails are embedded together in an injection molded manner, wherein the current rails protruding from the injection molded housing have first connection contacts for contacting the printed circuit board and second connection contacts for contacting the cable ends of the cables, and a connection housing having a first housing part and a second housing part that surrounds the second connecting contacts contacting the cable ends and that is joined to the injection molded housing of the contact adapter.

Typically, motor electronics to be electrically connected to the on-board network of a motor vehicle have a connection terminal (connection interface, motor interface) which is led out of its (electronic) housing as a connection device, the connection contacts (connection points) of which are electrically isolated from each other and from the environment.
The electrical connection of the motor electronics to the on-board network is normally carried out with a number of cables of a cable assembly guided in a wiring loom, one cable assembly end or wiring loom end of which being provided with a plug-in connection and the other end of the cable assembly or wiring loom being electrically conductively connected to the motor electronics to be supplied via the connection contacts of the connection terminal. This electrical connection of the individual conductor ends of the cables of the cable assembly to the connection terminal can be established by a welded, soldered, clamped or crimped connection.
Such a connection device is also provided in particular in an electric motor already equipped with connecting cables, which is used, for example, as a drive of a radiator fan (radiator fan motor) of the motor vehicle. The radiator fan motor is operated to adjust the required cooling power by means of an electrical or electronic control circuit of the motor electronics. The radiator fan motor is powered via an on-board wiring loom, which is connected to an energy storage system (vehicle battery) of the motor vehicle. The cable assembly usually also includes control and/or signal cables of sensors or higher-level control devices in addition to the supply cables, i.e. the plus and minus poles of the supply voltage of the energy storage device or the on-board network.
Mechanical loads, such as tensile loads, between the wiring loom containing the cable assembly and the connection device of the electric motor are problematic with such connection devices or electric motor connections. Such tensile loads may lead to damage and/or separation of the electrical contact on the connection device or the motor connection.
Furthermore, environmental influences such as temperature fluctuations and humidity are problematic, as corrosion can occur as a result thereof on the connection contacts of the connection device, which can lead to high contact resistances and/or mechanical instability (contact wobble). A short circuit on the connection device that may occur as a consequence thereof may result in damage in the on-board network or in the motor electronics. In addition, the normally prescribed contact safety can be endangered. In order to protect the motor electronics, it is further important and desirable that reliable and dependable sealing of the connection device against the electronic housing is realized.
For this purpose, the motor electronics typically have a lead frame for contacting and interconnecting electronic components, such as an electrolytic capacitor or an inverter circuit. The lead frame is provided here at least partially as an insert with injection molding, wherein conductor tracks of the lead frame are led out as connecting contacts from the injection molding and the electronic housing. The injection molding of the lead frame thus enables reliable sealing of the cable input area of the connection device relative to the electronic housing, wherein additionally strain relief is also realized.
Disadvantageously, the integration of the sealing and strain relief function into the injection molded lead frame makes it difficult or even impossible to use circuit boards in motor electronics. This severely restricts flexibility in the configuration and design of the motor electronics.

Brose Fahrzeugteile SE & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft, Würzburg


A sheet conveyor includes a first conveyance belt, a second conveyance belt, a first driving roller, a second driving roller, a first gear, and a second gear. In switching between sandwich and separation states, an axial center of a rotation shaft of the first or second gear moves on a movement plane substantially perpendicular to a direction in which the first conveyance belt and the second conveyance belt convey a sheet. Where L represents diameter of a tooth edge circle of the second gear in unit of millimeter and T1 represents a chordal tooth thickness of the second gear, an acute-side angle θ in unit of degree (°) formed by the movement plane and an interaxial-center plane including the axial center of the rotation shaft of each of the first gear and the second gear in the sandwich state is within a range represented by the following Formula 1: Tan−1(2×T1/L)<|θ|<45°.

1. Technical Field
Embodiments of this disclosure relate to a sheet conveyor to sandwich and convey a sheet, such as a sheet of paper or a sheet-type recording medium, with a conveyance belt, a belt-type cooling device employing the sheet conveyor, and an image forming apparatus including at least one of the sheet conveyor and the cooling device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Image forming apparatuses are used as printers, facsimile machines, image forming apparatus, plotters, or multi-functional devices having, e.g., two or more of the foregoing capabilities. As one type of image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet of paper or a sheet-type recording medium, an image forming apparatus is known that includes a sheet conveyance assemble to sandwich and conveys the sheet of paper or the sheet-type recording medium with a pair of endlessly-movable conveyance belts. For example, an image forming apparatus includes the following sheet conveyor.
The sheet conveyor includes a first conveyance belt and a second conveyance belt to sandwich and convey a sheet. The sheet conveyor also includes two gears to engage each other in a sandwich state in which the sheet is sandwiched with the first conveyance belt and the second conveyance belt and disengage from each other in a separation state in which the sheet is not sandwiched with the first conveyance belt and the second conveyance belt. For example, the sheet conveyor includes a first gear (drive transmission gear) coupled to a first driving roller for endlessly moving the first conveyance belt and a second gear (drive transmission gear) to rotate a second driving roller for endlessly moving the second conveyance belt. During maintenance, such as sheet jam processing (clearance) or replacement of conveyance belts, the sheet conveyor can perform switching operation between a sandwich state in which the first conveyance belt and the second conveyance belt are disposed opposing and in proximity to each other to sandwich a sheet and a separation state in which the first conveyance belt and the second conveyance belt are separated from each other to allow an operator to remove a jammed sheet or a conveyance belt. In conjunction with the switching operation between the sandwich state and the separation state, the sheet conveyor engages the first gear and the second gear with each other in the sandwich state and moves the first gear to a position at which engagement of the first gear and the second gear is released in the separation state.

Sheet conveyor, cooling device, and image forming apparatus


In the patent document, the wireless communication terminal includes a baseband working unit, a RF working unit and a DC power converter connected with the baseband working unit and the RF working unit, further including a power supply device, a CPU and an envelope detection device; the power supply device is configured to receive a voltage supplied by the DC power converter, supplying an output voltage to a PA in the RF working unit, receiving a control signal sent from CPU, adjusting the output voltage according to the control signal; the envelope detection device is configured to detect the envelope signal of output signal of the PA in real time and send the envelope signal to the CPU; the CPU is configured to receive the voltage supplied by the DC power converter, convert the envelope signal into a control signal and send the control signal to the power supply device.

A power conversion module is the core part of data card products and plays a decisive role in the price-performance ratio of the data card products. Continuous power technology innovation and individual needs of the power technology have long been the objectives focused and pursued by product research and development engineers. The traditional data card, the method for supplying power to the data cards, and the method for managing the power supply are shown in FIG. 1a, and its main characteristics are embodied in the following aspects:                the data card mainly comprises a baseband working unit and a radio frequency (RF) working unit, the power supply of the above-mentioned two working units is provided by an external input power supply of the data card outputting an appropriate power to supply power for the baseband and RF working units through a single-chip DC power converter.
The above-mentioned data card and its method for supplying power have advantages of simple structure and low cost, but meanwhile they have the following problems:
1. The output power of the power supply of the conventional data card cannot dynamically adapt to the change of load and cannot automatically adjust the output power of the power supply device in real time, especially when supplying power to the power amplifier (hereinafter referred to as PA) in the RF circuits, the power supply device of the traditional data card and the management method thereof cannot perform the adjustment dynamically with the change of the output load of the amplifier, thus it is difficult to solve the power consumption and heat dissipation problems of the products.
2. In the traditional data products, the communication between the power supply device and the main central processing unit (CPU) mainly adopts the CPU's general-purpose input/output (GPIO) ports for implementation. That is, the CPU needs to use some of the input/output (I/O) ports for the parameter detection of the power supply module, and use the other I/O ports for the control of the power supply module. Obviously, when the detected parameters or control amount increases, the number of I/O ports used by the CPU increases dramatically. The method also increases the complexity of the system, taking up a lot of CPU hardware resources, and meanwhile it also increases the physical space of the circuit board, not suitable for compact design of the terminal products.
3. The conventional data card products often lack the real-time monitoring and centralized management of the CPU for core components such as the power conversion device and the charging management device in the system to enhance the reliability and flexibility of system.
Product research and development engineers want to use a device to monitor and manage the power supply module in real time via the CPU in the system, to solve the above-mentioned problems and enhance the flexibility and reliability of system. However, the existing technical solutions cannot meet the above-mentioned requirements very well.

Power supply device, method for managing power supply thereof and wireless communication terminal


A head of a disc drive is decelerated after being accelerated, according to a desired deceleration profile for minimizing damage to the head. The desired deceleration profile is determined from an acceleration profile used for accelerating the head before decelerating the head. With such a desired deceleration profile the head is parked with substantially zero speed by an end of the desired deceleration profile to minimize damage to the head.

This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 2003-0066337 filed on Sep. 24, 2003 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to disc drives, such as a HDD (hard disc drive) for example, and more particularly, to decelerating a head, after being accelerated in a disk drive, according to a desired deceleration profile for minimizing damage to the head.
2. Description of the Related Art
A (HDD) hard disc drive magnetically records data on or reproduces data from a rotating magnetic disc. The HDD is capable of accessing a large amount of data at high speed and thus has been frequently used as an auxiliary storage device of a computer system.
A latch system of a hard disc drive protects a disc and a head from external impact when the head is not floating over the disc. In general, such a latch system is classified into a magnetic type, an electromagnetic type, and a lamp loading type.
The magnetic type latch system is easy to operate, and thus, its use is popular. This system fixes a head in a parking zone using magnetic force when the head is not floating over a data area of a disc. An actuator within the HDD has the head mounted thereon, and the actuator is moved when current is applied to a voice coil motor (VCM). The actuator is thus moved for accelerating the head to a position over the disc after being unlatched.
If servo information is not read from a disc during such unlatching of the head, the unlatching process is stopped and the head is returned to the parking zone. However, since the head is moving over the data area at a very high speed after unlatching, large currents must be applied to the VCM so as to return the head to the parking zone away from the data area. Such high currents cause a high speed of the head during parking which may cause the head to be physically damaged.
Thus, the actuator and the head mounted thereon are desired to be decelerated for parking the head with minimized damage to the head.

Deceleration of head in disc drive according to a desired deceleration profile


Modification of the DNA encoding the enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) resulting in amino acid substitution in one of the first fifty five N-terminal residues, in particular replacing Ser-40 with Tyr or Leu, produced TH variants having substantially increased enzymatic activity upon transfection of suitable host cells. Cells transfected with the variant TH having enhanced enzymatic activity are useful for treating neurological or psychiatric disorders associated with deficient TH or dopamine, in particular Parkinson's disease, by grafting such cells into the brain.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention in the fields of neuroscience and medicine relates to genetic modifications of the enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase resulting in genetic constructs encoding the variant enzyme having increased activity, which is useful in treating a variety of disorders associated with deficient tyrosine hydroxylase.
2. Description of the Background Art
The enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) catalyzes the rate-limiting step of catecholamine biosynthesis, the conversion of tyrosine to DOPA, the immediate precursor of dopamine (DA). TH utilizes tetra-hydropteridine as a cofactor in the enzymatic hydroxylation reaction. The activity of TH in the peripheral and central nervous system is subject to short and long term regulation by extra- and intracellular signals. Such signalling provides the mechanisms for modulation of the amount of DA (as well as norepinephrine and epinephrine) synthesized and available for secretion in response to physiological requirements.
Cyclic AMP (cAMP)-dependent phosphorylation of proteins plays a role in neuronal functions (Anagnoste, B. et al., J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 101:370-376 (1974); Ebstgein, B. et al., J. Pharm. Pharmacol. 26:975-977 (1974); Goldstein, M. et al., Brain Res. 109:563-574(1976)). Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase A or PKA) phosphorylates and activates TH in vitro (Joh, T. H. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 75:4744-4748 (1978); Markey, K. A. et al., Mol. Pharmacol. 17:79-85 (1979); Morgenroth, V. H., III. et al., J. Biol. Chem. 250:1946-1948 (1975)). Activation of TH by nerve stimulation produces changes in its kinetic constants similar to those produced in vitro following phosphorylation by PKA (Vulliet, P. R. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 77:92-96 (1980)).
A number of extracellular signals produce activation and phosphorylation of TH using at least three different protein kinases: PKA, calmodulin-dependent multiple protein kinase (CaM-dependent PKII) (Vuillet et al., supra; Yamauchi, T. et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 100:807-813 (1981)), and Ca.sup.2+ -phospholipid-dependent protein kinase C (PKC) (Albert, K. A., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 817713-7717 (1984); Raese, J. D. et al., Commun. Psychopharmacol. 3:295-301 (1979); for review, see: Goldstein, M. et al., Psychopharmacology: The Third Generation of Progress. Meltzer, H. Y., ed., Raven Press, New York, 1987, which reference is hereby incorporated by reference). Phosphorylation of TH by PKA correlates with increased TH catalytic activity (Goldstein et al., 1976, supra, Joh et al., supra; Morgenroth et al., supra; Meligeni, J. A. et al., J. Biol. Chem. 257:12642-12640 (1982)). In purified TH preparations from cultured PC12 cells, an adrenal chromaffin cell line, purified exogenous kinase A increased .sup.32 P incorporation from gamma[.sup.32 P]ATP, and the radioactivity was associated with the 62 kDa subunit of the TH enzyme (Goldstein, M. et al., J. Pharm. Pharmacol. 22:715-716 (1970); Haycock, J. W. et al., J. Biol. Chem. 257:12641-12648 (1982)).
The activation of TH by CaM-dependent PKII requires the presence of an activating protein, and the phosphorylated enzyme shows a pH profile similar to that of the nonphosphorylated enzyme. In contrast to this kinase, CaM-dependent protein kinase I does not appear to phosphorylate or activate TH. TH phosphorylated by PKC has kinetic properties similar to those of TH phosphorylated by PKA. Thus, TH phosphorylated by PKA or PKC has a higher affinity for pteridine cofactor and lower affinities for catechol end-products. The kinetic changes suggest that phosphorylation of TH by PKA and PKC is involved in the control of TH activity in physiological and pathological states, and that the non-phosphorylated TH may represent an inactive or less active reservoir. The finding that phosphorylation-dephosphorylation of TH is reversible and is associated with activation and deactivation of the enzyme also supports the notion that these mechanisms have a regulatory function in the synthesis of catecholamines.
When phosphorylation is catalyzed by PKA or PKC, a single major phosphorylated peptide species is generated by tryptic-chymotryptic digestion of TH. Phosphorylation by CaM-dependent PKII results in two phosphopeptides. Nerve growth factor (NGF) treatment of PC12 cells also enhances phosphorylation, though apparently mediated by a distinct kinase that results in a single tryptic-chymotryptic phosphopeptide. The relevance of phosphorylation at each site to the activity of TH is not yet known.
Acute administration of neuroleptic drugs increases the firing rate of DA neurons and increases turnover and synthesis of DA. This is thought to be due to TH phosphorylation by a cAMP-independent protein kinase. The deactivation of TH following long-term treatment of rats with neuroleptics may result from dephosphorylation (Lerner, P. et al., Science 197:181-183 (1977)). TH activated by haloperidol has been said to represent a mixture of phosphorylated and nonphosphorylated forms of the enzyme.
In summary, at least three distinct classes of well-characterized protein kinases have been found to catalyze the phosphorylation of a large number of neuronal proteins Interestingly, TH is a substrate for all three of these kinases, and perhaps for others as well. It is not clear whether this represents a biological redundancy, or whether phosphorylation in vivo with two or more kinases can result in additive, nonadditive, synergistic or antagonistic effects.
K. Y. Lee et al. (J. Neurochem. 53:1238-1244 (1989)) discovered that a peptide corresponding to position 32-47 in rat TH (termed TH-16) induced rabbit polyclonal antibodies which could modulate TH enzymatic activity. Such antibodies (termed anti-TH-16) enhanced the enzymatic activity in a concentration-dependent manner. This antibody did not appear to inhibit phosphorylation of the enzyme at Ser-40. Lee et al. also referred to studies showing that TH was activated by limited trypsin or chymotrypsin proteolysis (Petrack, B. et al., J. Biol. Chem. 243:743-748 (1968); Shiman, R. et al., J. Biol. Chem. 246:1330-1340 (1971)), presumably involving the N-terminus. The Lee et al. reference further suggests that antibody-induced activation may result from stabilization of a conformational state in the vicinity of Ser-40, or that a conformational change induced by the antibody facilitates phosphorylation. The suggestion was made that the antibody produces a conformational change near the Ser-40 phosphorylation site similar to that produced by phosphorylation with PKA or PKC.
The gene for human TH has been cloned and sequenced. Four similar but distinct mRNAs, produced through alternative splicing from a single gene result in different TH "isozymes." For a description of the structure of the human TH gene, see: Grima, B. et al., Nature 326:707-711; Le Bourdelles, B. et al., J. Neurochem. 50:988-991 (1988); Horellou, P. et al., J. Neurochem. 51:652-655 (1988); Kobayashi, et al., J. Biochem. 103:907-912 (1988); Nagatsu, T., Cell. Mol. Neurobiol. 9:313 (1989), which references are hereby incorporated by reference).
Parkinson's disease (PD) results from a selective loss of DA-releasing (dopaminergic) nigrostriatal neurons. This causes a loss of neural input from the substantia nigra to the striatum. Classically, PD has been treated by supplying L-DOPA which acts as a compensatory source of DA. However, this mode of therapy is accompanied by a number of undesired side effects
(Adams, R. D. et al., Principles of Neurology. 4th Edition, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1989)). Alternative approaches to pharmacotherapy involving the grafting of cells into the brain, have been considered and tested during recent years.
Solid grafts of tissues potentially capable of producing DA, such as adult adrenal medulla and embryonic substantia nigra (SN), have been used extensively for experimental grafting in rats and primates treated with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) to destroy dopaminergic cells (Dunnett, S. B. et al., Brain Res. 215: 147-161 (1981); Dunnett, S. B. et al., Brain Res. 229:457-470 (1981); Morisha, J. M. et al., Exp. Neurol. 84:643-654 (1984); Perlow, M. J. et al., Science 204:643-647 (1979)). Grafts of embryonic SN tissue have also been used to treat primates lesioned with the neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), which produces a PD-like syndrome (Redmond, D. E. et al., Lancet 8490:1125-27 (1986)).
Stenevi et al. (Brain Res. 114:1-20 (1976)) reported that optimal engraftment occurred when (a) fetal CNS neurons were used, and (b) the transplanted cells were placed next to a rich vascular supply. A review of the literature reveals that tissue from almost every area of the fetal brain can be successfully transplanted if care is taken with procedural details (see, for example, Olson, L. A. et al., In: Neural Transplants: Development and Function, Sladek, J. R. et al., eds, Plenum Press, New York, 1984, pp. 125-165). Embryonic tissue provides a good source of cells which will differentiate in a foreign environment and become integrated with the host tissue (Dunnett et al., Morisha et al., Perlow et al., supra; Wuerthele, S. M. et al., In: Catecholamines, Part B, E. Usdin et al., eds., A. R. Liss, Inc., New York, pp. 333-341).
In contrast to successful grafting of fetal neural tissue, mature CNS neurons have never been found to survive in transplants (Stenevi, U. et al., Brain Res. 114:1-20 (1976)). Among other reasons, this advantage of fetal tissue may be due to its responsiveness to growth (or "Survival") factors present in the milieu of the damaged host brain (Nieto-Sampedro, M. et al., Science 217:860-861 (1982); Nieto-Sampedro, M. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 81:6250-6254 (1984)). However, despite the promise of fetal tissue and cell transplants, the art has turned to alternate sources of donor tissues for transplantation because of the ethical, moral, and legal problems attendant to utilizing fetal tissue in human medicine.
Thus, the feasibility of the transplant approach has been established experimentally. However, this approach is severely limited by the dependence on fetal tissue, which is of limited availability and great political controversy. In essence, transplantation of human fetal tissue from aborted pregnancies has been prohibited in the United States.
Potential sources of donor tissue for neural implants include neural and paraneural cells from organ donors and cultured cell lines. (See, for example: Gash, D. M. et al., In: Neural Grafting in the Mammalian CNS, Bjorklund, A. et al., eds, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1985, pp. 595-603; Gash, D. M. et al., Science 233:1420-22 (1986)). Adrenal medullary cells are derived from the neural crest and, like sympathetic neurons, grow processes in vivo or in vitro in response to nerve growth factor (NGF) (Unsicker, K. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 75:3498-3502 (I978)) and can survive in the brain of 6-OHDA treated rats for at least 5 months, and produce DA (Dunnett et al., supra; Freed, W. J. et al., Ann. Neurol. 8:510-519 (1980); Freed, W. J. et al. Science 222:937-939 (1983)).
Thus, a great need exists for new approaches to provide cells to the central nervous system which can supplement or replace missing factors, such as synthetic enzymes or growth factors, in a variety of debilitating neurological or psychiatric disease. It is to this end that the present invention is directed.

Genetically modified tyrosine hydroxylase and uses thereof


A power window apparatus is provided that, even if a CPU (IC2) causes malfunction or becomes uncontrollable upon submergence, can prevent windows from performing unexpected operations and enables the windows to be opened without fail if desired. The power window apparatus comprises: a driving part that has two current input-output ends, and opens or closes automobile open/close parts, depending on the direction of a flowing current; two relays which respectively have exciting coils and switching contacts, wherein, when a current is fed to the exciting coils, the switching contacts connect the current input-output end to a positive or negative pole of power; a submergence detecting sensor that drops in resistance value between both ends thereof when exposed to water; and a submergence-time escape switch that forcibly drives the open/close parts open upon submergence, wherein transistors are provided which are connected in series with the exciting coils and feed a current to the exciting coils, and the bases of the transistors are grounded via the submergence detecting sensor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power window apparatus, and more particularly to a power window apparatus capable of opening windows for a predetermined time (e.g., five minutes) when an automobile falls into water.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Although conventional power window apparatus used in an automobile are designed to remain operational when the automobile falls into water, they often fail to operate as intended because the operation of their electrical system is made unstable by water, with the result that passages cannot escape from the automobile and their life may be risked. Accordingly, there is proposed a power window apparatus that retains its reliability and will function to open the windows for a predetermined time after the automobile falls into water.
Such a conventional power window apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 4, the power window apparatus includes a driving part 51, relays 52 and 53, transistors 55 and 60, a control part 58, a submergence detecting sensor 72, a window close switch (UP) 64, and a window open switch (Down) 65. The control part (hereinafter referred to as CPU) 58 comprises a microcomputer, ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit), and the like.
The driving part 51, which is a reversible motor for opening or closing open/close parts (hereinafter referred to as windows) not shown, rotates (Down) so as to open the windows when a current flows from the upper side to the lower side in a circuit shown in FIG. 3, and rotates (Up) so as to close the windows when a current flows from the lower side to the upper side.
The relays 52 and 53 respectively have switches 52a and 53a, and exciting coils 52b and 53b, and only when a control voltage is applied to only one of the exciting coils 52b and 53b, power from an automobile power terminal 54 is supplied to the driving part 51 via the switches 52a and 53a.
The transistor 55 has: a base connected to an output pin P06 of CPU 58 via a resistor 56 and an inverter 57 in series; a collector grounded via the exciting coil 52b; and an emitter connected with an automobile power terminal 59.
A transistor 60 has: a base connected to an output pin P07 of CPU 58 via a resistor 61 and an inverter 62 in series; a collector connected with connected with one end of the exciting coil 53b; and an emitter connected with an automobile power terminal 63.
The CPU 58 has plural input-output pins; input pins (P71, P72, P73) are applied with voltages to serve as signals from the window close switch (UP) 64, the window open switch (Down) 65, and the submergence detecting sensor 72, and according to the signals, minute currents to serve as signals for turning the transistors 55 and 60 on or off are outputted from the output pins (P07, P06).
Both the window close switch (UP) 64 and the window close switch (Down) 65, only when operated, switch a connection destination of one end thereof from the ground to the automobile power terminal 66. Another end of the window close switch (UP) 64 is connected to the input pin P71 of the CPU 58 via an inverter 67 and a pullup power 68. Another end of the window open switch (Down) 65 is connected to the input pin P72 of the CPU 58 via an inverter 69 and a pullup power 70, and to another end of the exciting coil 53b.
The submergence detecting sensor 72 comprises a pair of conductors disposed in opposed relation to each other and in proximity to each other, and when exposed to water, it is brought into conduction with a small resistance value so that one end thereof is grounded and the other end thereof is connected to an automobile power terminal 73 and the base of the transistor 74.
The transistor 74 has an emitter connected to the automobile power terminal 73 and a connector connected to the input pin P73 of the CPU 58.
With the above construction, when the window close switch (UP) 64 or the window open switch (Down) 65 is operated, a signal corresponding to the operated switch is inputted to the input pin P71 or P72 of the CPU 58. According to the inputted signal, the CPU 58 outputs a signal of minute current from the output pin P06 or P07 to the transistor 55 or 60 via the inverter 57 or 62. The transistor 55 or 60 is turned on or off by the outputted signal so that a voltage is applied to the exciting coil 52b or 53b. Accordingly, the switch 52a or 53a is switched so that the automobile power is supplied to the driving part 51, whereby the driving part 51 rotates forward or backward to open or close windows.
When the submergence detecting sensor 72 is exposed to water, the transistor 74 goes on because the base thereof goes into a ground voltage, and a voltage from the automobile power terminal 73 is inputted to the input pin P73 of the CPU 58. When the voltage is inputted to the input pin P73, the CPU 58 outputs minute currents of, e.g., +5 V from both the output pins P06 and P07, which are inputted to the transistors 55 and 60 via the comparators 57 and 62, with the result that both the transistors 55 and 60 are turned on. Since a voltage is applied to both the exciting coils 52b and 53b, both the switches 52a and 53a are switched and an equal voltage is applied to both input-output pins of the driving part 51, so that the driving part does not operate. Consequently, the windows do not operate, either.
At this time, when the window open switch (Down) 65 is operated, a connection destination of one end of the switch 65 is switched from the ground to the automobile power terminal 66. Then, since a series circuit from the automobile power terminal 63 having applied a voltage to the exciting circuit 53b is not grounded, a current flow is stopped, and since a higher voltage is developed at the cathode side of a diode 71 by the automobile power terminal 66, no voltage is applied to the exciting coil 53b. As a result, since a voltage is applied to only the exciting coil 52b and only the switch 52a is switched, the automobile power is applied to the driving part 51, which starts operation, so that the windows are opened.
By the above-described construction and operation, even if an automobile falls into water, the windows can be opened, so that occupants can escape from it.
However, this power window apparatus has the following problem. Parts and circuits except the CPU 58, upon submergence, undergo reduction in insulation resistance between terminals but operate for a predetermined time (e.g., five minutes), while the CPU 58, which performs control by slight currents, may cause malfunction or run away uncontrollably upon submergence. For example, a slight current of, e.g., +5 V, which is outputted from both the output pins P06 and P07 to turn on the transistors 55 and 60, leaks elsewhere at submergence, with the result that the slight current from the CPU 58 minus the leak current may yield to further result in failure of both the transistors 55 and 60 to be turned on, so that the windows may move in unexpected directions or may not be opened even if the window open switch (Down) 65 is operated.
The present invention has been made to solve the problem and provides a power window apparatus that, even if a CPU causes malfunction or becomes uncontrollable upon submergence, can prevent windows from performing unexpected operations and enables the windows to be opened without fail if desired.
To solve the problem, a power window apparatus of the present invention comprises: a driving part that has two current input-output ends, and drives automobile open/close parts open or close, depending on the direction of a driving current flowing via the current input-output ends; two relays which each have an exciting coil and a switching contact, wherein, when a current is fed to the exciting coil, the switching contact connects the current input-output end to a positive or negative pole of power; a submergence detecting sensor that drops in resistance value between both ends thereof when exposed to water; and a submergence-time escape switch that forcibly drives the open/close parts open upon submergence, wherein two transistors are provided which are connected in series with the exciting coils and feed a current to the exciting coils when turned on, and the base of each transistor is connected to a potential point through which a base current flows via the submergence detecting sensor.
By this construction, even if insulation resistance between terminals of discrete parts such as transistors drops because of submergence, currents can be fed to the exciting coils without fail and both switching contacts of the relays are switched, whereby voltages at the current input-output ends of the driving part become equal and the driving part is stopped, with the result that the Fiji operation of the open/close parts can be stopped without fail and the open/close parts can be opened by operating the submergence-time escape switch.
The power window apparatus of the present invention comprises: a driving part that has two current input-output ends, and drives automobile open/close parts open or close, depending on the direction of a driving current flowing via the current input-output ends; two relays which each have an exciting coil and a switching contact, wherein, when a current is fed to the exciting coil, the switching contact connects the current input-output end to a positive or negative pole of power; a submergence detecting sensor that drops in resistance value between both ends thereof when exposed to water; and a submergence-time escape switch that forcibly drives the open/close parts open upon submergence, wherein two transistors are provided which are connected in series with the exciting coils and feed a current to the exciting coils when turned on, and the base of each transistor is connected to a potential point through which a base current flows via a transistor the base of which is connected to a potential point through which a base current flows via the submergence detecting sensor.
By this construction, at submergence, the operation of the open/close parts can be stopped, and by operating the submergence-time escape switch, the open/close parts can be opened, and the submergence detecting sensor can detect submergence quickly and surely because, if a base current of one transistor flows, two transistors can be turned on.
Furthermore, the power window apparatus of the present invention is provided with a transistor that applies a voltage of automobile power to both ends of one of the exciting coils, wherein the transistor is turned on when the submergence detecting sensor is exposed to water and the submergence-time escape switch is operated.
By this construction, when the submergence-time escape switch is operated, since voltages of both ends of one of the exciting coils can be made equal, it can be further ensured that no current flows through the other of the exciting coils, and thereby the windows can be opened further surely when the submergence-time escape switch is operated.

Power window apparatus capable of leaving windows open for a predetermined time when automobile falls into water


Dehydroevodiamine-HCl, a constituent of Evodia rutaecarpa Benth. (DHED) exhibits anti-AChE activity and improves the memory impairment of animals produced by scopolamine in the passive avoidance test. Thus, DHED can be a potent, long term memory enhancing and anti-dementia agent if it is used together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Senile dementia, also known as Alzheimer's disease, affects a number of people around the world in spite of races, sex, etc. In view of the current situation that the aging population is on the sharp increase, senile dementia poses one of the serious health problems in the 21st century. Presently, there are presumably more than 300,000 patients suffering from senile and vascular dementia in Korea.
In the case of western countries, Alzheimer's disease is known to be present in about 10 percent of those over 65 years old and in about 40 to 50 percent of those over 80 years old. In addition, the number of patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease has been growing over time in Japan and China.
Although a number of theories recently have been proposed concerning the cause of Alzheimer's disease, such as viral infections, toxic poisoning by aluminum and amyloid beta-protein deposited on neuronal cells, the cause of this disease is not obvious.
Therefore, causative therapy cannot be applied due to the unknown pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. However, since the most noticeable characteristics in dementia patients are the reduction of chlolinergic functions in the central nervous system, many researchers have tried to improve the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, through the enhancement of the level of acetylcholine in the brain by administering an acethylcholine precursor, cholinergic agonist or acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (hereinafter called "AChEI").
As a result of intensive endeavors in research, some drugs, such as SDZ ENA 71 (carbamates and a series of miotone derivatives) or L-Huperzine A, were developed, but they have yet to exhibit satisfactory anti-dementia effects. Furthermore, the development of AChEI specific to the CNS is still in the infant stage.
The currently available anti-dementia agents around the world include the following: i) AChEI drugs for improving the symptoms of cognitive deficits through the elevation of acetylcholine level, ii) metabolic drugs increasing the energy metabolism of neurons nonspecifically, and iii) blood-circulation enhancer improving the circulation of micro-blood. However, the effects of these drugs are temporal and marginal, and there is no report that these drugs were useful as a remedy for Alzheimer's disease patients. Further, the side-effects of conventional drugs, due to the stimulation of parasympathetic nerve cells, include nausea, vomiting and bronchoconstriction. Other side-effects, such as depression, insomnia, hypertension, and constipation, have been reported.
Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop an anti-dementia agent displaying a remarkable therapeutic efficacy for dementia, while improving cerebral pathological change with less adverse effects.

Memory enhancing and anti-dementia agent containing dehydroevodiamine HC1 as active ingredient


A method and system perform an ophthalmic procedure on an eye having an optical path from the lens to the retina. An image of at least part of the eye is received in a data processing unit. The image includes the optical path. The data processing unit determines keep out zone(s) and identifies undesirable feature(s) based on the image. The keep out zone(s) include the retina. The data processing unit also selects one of the undesirable feature(s) for removal. At least part of the undesirable feature is outside of the keep out zone(s). Confirmation for removal of the undesirable feature is received in the data processing unit. In response to receiving the confirmation, a control unit controls a laser to perform laser removal the at least the portion of the undesirable feature without targeting any portion of the keep out zone(s).

The human eye sees by transmitting and refracting light through a clear outer portion of the eye called the cornea, transmitting the light through an aperture in the iris known as the pupil, focusing the light via a lens, transmitting the focused light through the vitreal cavity and onto the retina. The quality of the focused image depends on many factors including but not limited to the size, shape and length of the eye, the quality of the vitreous humor, and the shape and transparency of the cornea and lens. Trauma, age, disease and/or another malady may cause an individual's vision to degrade.
For example, undesirable features within the vitreal cavity may adversely vision. Vitreous opacities, otherwise known as vitreous floaters, are one type of undesirable feature. Vitreous opacities are free to move within the vitreous humor of the vitreal cavity. When sufficiently large and/or dense and within the optical path between the pupil and the retina, such vitreous opacities may obscure an individual's vision. One remedy for vitreous opacities is removal. In some cases, a small gauge vitrectomy may be performed. The small gauge vitrectomy may be performed by inserting a narrow gauge line into the vitreal cavity and removing a portion of the vitreous humor containing the vitreous opacity. Alternatively, the vitreous opacity may be removed via the application of laser energy. In such a method, a physician uses a slit lamp to view the posterior portion of the eye and localize the vitreous opacities. The physician then manually aims and fires the laser. The laser energy vaporizes at least part of a vitreous opacity. This procedure is repeated until the vitreous opacity is removed. The entire procedure is repeated for each vitreous opacity, until the vitreal fluid is deemed sufficiently clear.
Although the vitreous floaters may be removed, there are drawbacks. Small gauge vitrectomies are invasive, require an operating visit and carry the attendant risks. The use of laser energy is non-invasive and avoids these drawbacks. However, aiming of the laser may be difficult. Because the physician views the vitreal cavity along the optical path, it may be difficult to determine the depth of the location of the retina, the vitreous opacity or other relevant features. Consequently, there is a danger of missing the vitreous opacity and/or injuring the eye. Application of laser energy may also result in movement of the vitreous opacities. Thus, the physician re-aims the laser after each application of laser energy. This may consume a large amount of time. Therefore, the use of laser energy may involve multiple out-patient visits, each of which may be hours long. Such a procedure is burdensome on the patient and the physician.
Accordingly, what is needed is a mechanism for improving the removal of undesirable features in the vitreal cavity.

Method and apparatus for performing ophthalmic procedures removing undesirable features using laser energy