This invention provides a method of increasing the level of estrogen receptors in the neural tissue of a subject which comprises administering to the subject estrogen in an amount effective to increase the level of neurotrophin receptors and a neurotrophin in an amount effective to increase the level of estrogen receptors, so as to thereby increase the level of estrogen receptors. This invention also provides a method of increasing the level of estrogen receptors in a sample of neural tissue from a subject which comprises contacting the sample with estrogen in an amount effective to increase the level of neurotrophin receptors and neurotrophin in an amount effective to increase the level of estrogen receptors, so as to thereby increase the level of estrogen receptors. Lastly, this invention provides a method of preventing the onset of Alzheimer's disease.

Both estrogen and the neurotrophins influence neural organization. The estrogen receptor, which mediates the biological response of the hormone, is expressed at high levels in the brain during development, and estrogen has been shown to promote growth in the developing nervous system, in vivo [39, 67, 77, 93, 94], in vitro [97-101] and in oculo [78]. Although estrogen receptor expression is more restricted in adulthood, estrogen continues to affect neuronal structure, physiology and gene expression in specific adult steroid targets [19, 21, 30, 68, 83].
Estrogen regulates transcription of a variety of structural proteins [38, 62, 94], steroid, peptide and neurotransmitter receptors [19, 21, 63], as well as hormones and neuropeptides [83, 110]. The estrogen receptor is a member of the superfamily of steroid/thyroid hormone/Vitamin D.sub.3 /retinoic acid receptors, capable of activating genes by directly binding DNA sites containing hormone-specific regulatory elements [4, 24, 79]. An estrogen response element (ERE) has been identified in several estrogen-responsive genes including vitellogenin [50], c-fos [109], prolactin [107] and b-luteinizing hormone [89], suggesting that, in some instances, steroid effects may be mediated through direct activation of relevant genes. Alternatively, as in extra-neural targets such as MCF-7 mammary tumor cells [20] and the uterus [73, 76], estrogen-inducible genes may be regulated secondarily, or consequent, to the action of estrogen on other endogenous transcription-regulating growth factors or their receptors [99, 102].
The currently identified members of the neurotrophin family of growth factors, nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neurotrophins-3 (NT-3) and -4/5 (NT-4/5), share marked similarities in their conserved sequences and structural domains and all bind to the pan-neurotrophin receptor, p75.sup.NGFR, although they differ in their spatial and temporal patterns of neural expression and function [2, 12, 47, 65, 81]. Ligand specificity and signal transduction requires the neurotrophins to associate with appropriate members of the trk proto-oncogene receptor tyrosine kinase family (trkA, trkB, trkC) of membrane bound receptors [48, 53, 91, 92].
Both NGF and estrogen have been shown: 1) to promote survival and specific patterns of differentiation in their neuronal targets [55, 103], 2) to regulate the expression of primary (early) response genes such as c-fos and c-jun [17, 57, 108, 109, 111], 3) to regulate the activity of cholinergic enzymes in the developing [1, 4, 61] and adult basal forebrain [32, 43, 59, 60]. It has been shown that in neurons of the developing forebrain [72, 105, 106], estrogen receptors colocalize with p75.sup.NGFR mRNA and protein as well as mRNA for trkA (whose encoded protein binds NGF) [15, 48, 75] and trkB (whose encoded protein binds BDNF and NT-4/5) [45, 91, 92], indicating a biological substrate for possible interactions between estrogen and the neurotrophins. Analysis of the identified promoter region [88] of the p75.sup.NGFR [90, 105, 106] and 5'-region flanking the breakpoint of the trkA gene [90] indicates the presence of sequences with a high degree of homology to the putative vitellogenin and c-fos EREs, which is further consistent with the hypothesis that, in some instances, estrogen may regulate responsiveness to neurotrophins.
Co-localization of estrogen and neurotrophin receptor mRNA and protein [72, 105, 106] suggested that estrogen sensitivity may be a more general feature of neurotrophin targets. This hypothesis was tested in a previous study investigating the presence of estrogen receptor systems in a prototypic peripheral target of NGF, the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) of the adult female rat [90]. DRG neurons are dependent on NGF for their survival during development [2, 23, 46, 96] and in adulthood, following injury [16, 56, 82]. Both estrogen receptor mRNA and estrogen binding were found to be present in adult DRG neurons in vivo [90] . Moreover, in these neurons estrogen resulted in a two to three-fold increase in trkA mRNA and a transient decrease in p75.sup.NGFR mRNA.

Means of increasing estrogen receptor levels in neural tissue

The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York


A self-contained package for housing, dispensing and diluting concentrated liquid with a predetermined quantity of dilution liquid prior to use. The package comprises a container for housing the concentrated liquid, a spout having a discharge orifice, and a closure. The spout aids the user in controlling the flow of liquid from the container during the dispensing cycle. The closure includes a concentrate reservoir for receiving concentrated liquid from the container and a main body portion for receiving dilution liquid after the concentrate reservoir has been filled with the concentrated liquid. The main body portion of the closure has a cross-section which is larger than the cross-section of the concentrate reservoir to facilitate easy visual sighting when the concentrate reservoir is filled. The concentrate reservoir further includes a centrally located sealing post which penetrates the discharge orifice in the spout to form a liquid tight seal whenever the closure is fully assembled onto the container.

When dispensing certain types of concentrated liquids, such as concentrated mouthrinses, from containers it is critically important that one be able to get the correct amount and concentration of active, flavor and other ingredients with each diluted dose. For example, some concentrated antimicrobial mouthrinse formulations require proper dilution to provide positive therapeutic plaque and gingivitis prevention benefits. Proper dilution requires the ability to accurately measure both the concentrated mouthrinse from the container, typically a bottle, and the dilution water from the tap or other water source.
For concentrated mouthrinses which are intended to provide therapeutic effects, such as prevention of plaque or gingivitis, patient compliance, i.e., the use of proper regimen, dosage and concentration, is also essential to the efficacy of the mouthrinse.
It is well known that patient compliance is adversely affected by increased difficulty in using a mouthrinse, particularly a concentrated one, which must be diluted each time it is used. Also, the ongoing quality and efficacy of a concentrated mouthrinse requires that it remain substantially free from contamination from germs and saliva from the mouths of users, or contamination from germs and foreign material from the air surrounding the package both before and after the package has been placed in service by the user.
In addition, some concentrated antimicrobial mouthrinse formulations work on the principle that when water is added, a stable organic and water solution transforms into a dispersion of tiny oil droplets within an aqueous phase. This is supposed to occur just prior to use. If water is introduced unintentionally into the concentrated mouthrinse in the bottle prior to use, the shelf stable, homogenous concentrated mouthrinse remaining in the container can be transformed into a mixture which will be unstable, ineffective and unappealing to the user before the next use cycle.
One prior art dispensing system for concentrated mouthrinses, most widely used in Germany, comprises a bottle, with or without a reducing orifice at its point of liquid discharge, that does not employ a closure which can serve as a dilution and use vessel. This design leaves it up to the consumer to use a separate cup or glass, and to either estimate by experience or to use an external measuring device to get the correct amounts of concentrated mouthrinse and dilution water based upon written instructions provided on the package. This approach is ambiguous to consumers, and they often do not get the recommended dose/concentration of diluted mouthrinse. It can also prove awkward in travel situations, since it requires the consumer to have a cup or glass of their own, and such a utensil may not be readily available.
A second approach, which has been practiced in the U.S., employs a flip-up cap on a bottle, with a snap-on dose cup that attaches to the bottle over the top of the flip-up cap. The dose cup has a concentrate line and a water line on it. This particular prior art design has three major drawbacks: 1) it is very difficult to get the correct amount of concentrate because the cup exhibits a relatively large cross-section along its entire vertical axis (this is necessary in order for it to fit over the flip-up cap) resulting in the concentrate fill line being very near the bottom of the cup and consequently very hard to visually sight through; 2) the dose cup is easily lost by the consumer, leaving the consumer without a way to accurately measure the correct concentrate dose or the proper volume of dilution liquid; and 3) the consumer must open the flip-up cap after the dose cup is removed, which represents an extra step which is made more difficult when the dose cup is in one hand and the bottle is in the other. In addition to the foregoing drawbacks, the flip-up cap also requires the consumer to place his or her fingers on or near the product discharge orifice in the flip-up cap in order to initiate the concentrate dispensing process. This could, of course, be unsanitary.
Another prior art package design used on a Japanese concentrated mouthrinse product differs from the prior art package used in Germany in that it employs a V-shaped well at the bottom of the dose cup for measuring the mouthrinse concentrate, and the water dilution line is marked by an inflection of the cup shape. The shape of the dose cup is generally rectangular with radiused corners, which is not ideal for instantaneous mixing of the concentrate with dilution liquid when the liquid is added to the cup. More importantly, this Japanese design requires the user to remove the outer dose cup and then unscrew a sealing cap before dispensing of the mouthrinse concentrate can be carried out. Thus the user must either handle three separate components, i.e., the dose cup, the sealing cap and the container, with only two hands or set one of the components down before proceeding to dispense concentrate from the container. This is awkward.
In addition to the foregoing prior art market place approaches which are used specifically for concentrated mouthrinses, there are a number of prior art patents which generally disclose other approaches to dispensing and measuring liquids from containers. However, the majority of these prior art patents do not address the specific needs of dispensing a concentrated liquid, such as a mouthrinse, to be diluted accurately, yet easily and quickly in conjunction with the problem of maintaining product integrity/stability between successive use cycles.
In this regard, U.S. Pat. No. 4,416,381 issued to Swartout on Nov. 22, 1983 discloses a bottle cap forming an integral measuring cup and bottle closure. The cup has graduations for measuring different amounts of liquid from the bottle. However, because the closure is used merely for measurement and not for dilution, there is no concentrate reservoir of smaller cross-section for accurately measuring a liquid concentrate to be diluted within the measuring cup, nor does the package include a limited cross-section spout to provide flow control, which is very important when measuring small quantities of concentrated liquid. What's more, most of the package embodiments disclosed by Swartout expose the measuring cup portion of the closure to the surrounding atmosphere before and after the package is placed in service, thereby permitting contamination of the measuring cup portion of the closure before and after the package is placed in service by the user.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,543,427 issued to Warne on Feb. 27, 1951 also discloses a combined closure cap/measuring cup. Like Swartout, the measuring cup of Warne is not used for dilution purposes. Furthermore, like most of the embodiments disclosed by Swartout, Warne places the measuring cup in an upright and exposed position when the closure is used to seal the bottle. Thus the measuring cup portion of the closure is exposed to contamination from the surrounding atmosphere and environment not only before the package is placed in service, but also between use cycles after the package has been placed in service by the user. This is highly undesirable for an ethical care product, such as a concentrated mouthrinse.

Self-contained package for housing, dispensing and diluting concentrated liquid


A compact laser source and a single sideband modulator used therein is disclosed. The compact laser source includes a seed laser and one or more channels, with each channel generating one or more output laser beams having corresponding different wavelengths. The compact laser source can be formed in whole or in part on a single optical motherboard to thereby minimize space and power requirements. By employing the disclosed single sideband modulator, harmonics in the generated output laser beams can be minimized. The compact laser source finds application in an atom interferometer (AI) system, which may be used to measure gravity, acceleration, or rotation of the AI system.

There is a need for improved navigational accuracy, especially in systems that cannot depend upon the Global Positioning System (GPS). Some of these systems have employed terrain tracking or star tracking to improve their navigational accuracy. For systems needing extremely high navigational accuracy, for example, better than 0.1 nautical mile per hour of navigating, the systems often employ large and expensive inertial sensors. These navigation systems are only suitable for large, expensive, and low volume applications.
Atom interferometers (AI) provide a means for creating very sensitive gravimeters, accelerometers, and gyroscopes based upon the movement of a cloud of cold atoms in a vacuum chamber. A typical measurement cycle employs laser cooling of the atoms to achieve an atomic cloud temperature of approximately 5 μK. The cloud of atoms is then released and subjected to gravity and any inertial forces imposed on the atoms by movement of the system. The cloud of atoms is subjected to a pair of counter-propagating Raman laser beams three times and finally to a probe laser beam to detect both gravity and any inertial forces imposed on the atoms. The cloud of atoms is then recaptured, and the measurement cycle begins again. The specific wavelengths for a 87Rb AI are shown in FIG. 1A, with the timing sequence for the various wavelengths shown in FIG. 1B. See, for example, A. Rakholia, "High Data-Rate Atom Interferometry for Measuring Dynamic Inertial Conditions," PhD Thesis at the University of New Mexico (2015), the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, for a description of an atom interferometer, its operation, and its use in detecting motion.
The laser system for the cooling, Raman, and probe functions must generate several precisely controlled wavelengths, five in the case of the above 87Rb AI example, at various times. To this end, prior art AI systems typically employed multiple finely-tuned lasers. These systems could readily occupy several cubic feet of space for the optics, along with racks of support electronics needing hundreds of watts of power to run. As many systems do not have the space or power for such a large and power-demanding laser system, the need exists for a compact laser source capable of generating multiple finely-tuned lines for various applications.

Compact laser source with frequency modulators generating multiple lines

National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC


When recovering data in a database, initially, a database log, which records activities related to a database, is scanned. One or more individual objects that are to be recovered to a target time with reference to a backup time are identified.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to computer-implemented database management systems, and, in particular, to a more efficient database recovery system.
2. Description of Related Art
Databases are computerized information storage and retrieval systems. A Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) is a database management system (DBMS) which uses relational techniques for storing and retrieving data. Relational databases are organized into tables which consist of rows and columns of data. The rows are formally called tuples. A database will typically have many tables and each table will typically have multiple tuples and multiple columns. The tables are typically stored on random access storage devices (RASD) such as magnetic or optical disk drives for semi-permanent storage.
RDBMS software using a Structured Query Language (SQL) interface is well known in the art. The SQL interface has evolved into a standard language for RDBMS software and has been adopted as such by both the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the International Standards Organization (ISO). The SQL interface allows users to formulate relational operations on the tables either interactively, in batch files, or embedded in host languages, such as C and COBOL. SQL allows the user to manipulate the data. The definitions for SQL provide that a RDBMS should respond to a particular query with a particular set of data given a specified database content, but the technique that the RDBMS uses to actually find the required information in the tables on the disk drives is left up to the RDBMS. Typically, there will be more than one technique that can be used by the RDBMS to access the required data. The RDBMS will optimize the technique used to find the data requested in a query in order to minimize the computer time used and, therefore, the cost of performing the query.
Applications (i.e., application programs) communicate with relational databases using the Structured Query Language (SQL). SQL statements are issued to the RDBMS, which executes the SQL statements to access a relational database. The SQL statements received from an application are executed within a "unit of work", which is a collection of related SQL statements. Once the SQL statements are executed, they are either "committed" (i.e., the changes made by the executed SQL statements is made permanent in the relational database) or they are "rolled back" (i.e., the changes made by the executed SQL statements are removed, returning the relational database to the state it was in prior to execution of these statements).
One important aspect of managing a RDBMS is creating backups of the objects to insure data integrity in the event of crashes or other computer misfortunes. Conventional systems often generate backups in a nondisruptive manner by allowing full read/write access to the data being concurrently copied. By making nondisruptive backups of all of the objects conventional systems necessarily create "fuzzy backups" (i.e., backups containing uncommitted data) since one or more objects may be altered while being processed by an application during the backup operation. In other words, the backup does not contain all of the current object information.
In attempting to resolve this fuzzy backup problem, conventional systems perform a recovery procedure that retrieves objects or object data that was not initially recorded in the backup copy. Conventional systems, however, are not capable of selecting or determining which objects have been altered since the last backup operation. Therefore, in order to recover the most current objects, conventional systems resort to taking the system back to a point in time and recover all of the objects rather than only the objects that were actually altered.
The conventional systems described above utilizes what is generically referred to as a two-phase commit system. This system is based on points of consistency. A point of consistency is a point in time at which the data in the database is consistent. The two-phase commit system ensures that either all or none of the databases are updated, and, thus, ensures that the databases remain synchronized. More specifically, a first point of consistency exists when a COMMIT statement is invoked. A new point of consistency is established when the unit of work completes and the COMMIT statement has fully executed. The work completed or change implemented during this COMMIT interval is referred to as a unit of recovery (UR). Each UR represents, for example, an altered set of data or an altered object. The COMMIT statement ends a UR and commits the relational database changes that were made in that UR. While changes remain uncommitted, i.e., while an object or data is in the process of being altered, other application processes are unable to perceive these objects or data. Once committed, these database changes are accessible by other application processes.
Since conventional systems perform the backup and recovery tasks by simply copying all of the objects as they existed at a certain time, some of the object or data changes copied to the backup are uncommitted, resulting in fuzzy backups. Subsequent recoveries cannot be in general accomplished by only restoring the backup copies. Thus, in order to ensure that an object contains current data, conventional systems copy all of the objects from the backup copy and scan and apply the database log, which records all of the activities relating to a database, to identify what changes were made to that object. Reviewing the database log for each object and applying the appropriate changes to a backup copy can be very time consuming and expensive resulting in inefficient database recovery procedures.
In addition to copying all of the objects and applying the database log to these objects, an additional shortcoming of conventional systems is that they must backup objects at a "quiesce" point in time, i.e. the time when there are no uncommitted URs in the system. Establishing quiesce points is normally very disruptive for everyday operations. In order to create a quiesce point, the system suspends the creation of any new URs until all URs already started are committed. In the environments with long running URs, the attempts to create a quiesce point can bring the system to a standstill.
These shortcomings are further amplified when systems utilize multiple objects or large objects. For example, in environments with complex and practically unknown semantical integrity rules such as SAP® R/3®, Peoplesoft®, Baan®, etc., the only safe way to recover data or objects from a prior point in time is to bring the entire system, i.e. all the associated data and metadata back to that point in time. These systems consist of a large number of objects (tens of thousands) and often a large amount of data (hundreds or thousands of GB). System recoveries based on the 'fuzzy' backups of these systems are even more expensive and time consuming. Consequently, users may experience longer system down time and data recovery, system disruption, and increased costs of performing database backups and recoveries.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a framework for managing backup and recovery procedures in a database that identifies individual objects that have been altered, brings back the system to a particular time to recover those identified objects, and does so irrespective of the presence of uncommitted URs and quiesce points. That is, there is a need in the art for a more efficient object recovery system that can recover objects such that recovery times, database log analysis, system down time, and object recovery costs are minimized.

International Business Machines Corporation


Novel process for isolation of 14.beta.-hydroxy 10-deacetyl baccatin-III (14.beta.-OH-DAB) on a commercial scale from plant extract by solvent crystallization without employing chromatographic separation.

The present invention provides a solvent based process for the isolation of 14.beta.-hydroxy-10-deacetyl baccatin-III (14.beta.-OH-DAB) which is a very important precursor for the synthesis of 14.beta.-hydroxy-paclitaxel analogues which show excellent cytotoxicity against human ovaries, lungs, colon and breast cancer cell hives [ref. J. Med. Chem. 1977, 40, 267-278]. Several derivatives show manifold better activity than those of paclitaxel and docetaxel.
14.beta.-OH-10-deacetyl baccatin-III is represented by the structural formula shown in the accompanying drawing.
Prior Art References
In this field, European Patent No.0 559 019 A1 relates to isolation of 14-beta-hydroxy-10-deacetyl-baccatin III. However, the above process involves a tedious step of chromatography which adds to the cost of the process in comparison to the present process.
Another prior U.S. Pat. No. 5,453,520 discloses preparation of 14-beta-hydroxy-10-deacetylbaccatin III and its derivatives as antitumor agents. However, this Patent discloses alcoholic extraction of Taxus wallichiana leaves and does not disclose the novel sequence of isolating 14-beta-hydroxy-10-deacetyl-baccatin III including the selective crystallisation employed in the present invention.
Yet another Patent No. WO 9629321 A1 discloses 10-deacetylbaccatin III and 14.-beta.-hydroxy 10-deacetyl baccatin III derivatives and pharmaceutical compositions containing them. However, the above patent does not indicate or even envisage the novel sequence of steps including selective crystallisation claimed in the present invention.
Still another Patent No. EP 559019 A1 discloses preparation of 14-.beta-hydroxy-10-deacetylbaccatin III and its derivatives as antitumor agents. However, the process defined in the above patent is different and involves a costly and tedious chromatographic technique which is not employed in the present invention.
In fact, the applicants have identified that the presence of an additional C-14 hydroxyl group in 14.beta.-OH-10-DAB is found to provide much higher solubility in protic solvents than the usual 10-DAB-III. Hence, the taxoids derived from 14.beta.-OH-10-DAB have substantially improved solubility, bioavailability and hydrophilicity related drug resistance.
As such, the derivatives of 14.beta.-hydroxy-10-deacetyl baccatin-III are expected to have substantially improved water solubility with consequent advantages in connection with administration by perfusion in humans of antitumour drugs containing this type of diterpenic nucleus.

Process for the isolation of 14.beta.-hydroxy-10-deacetyl baccatin-III


Disclosed is a harness system that can be used in both restraining and extracting a wearer. The harness takes the form of webbing that may be integrated into a crewmember worn vest. The webbing includes extraction loops for use in hoisting the crewmember and a release mechanism for releasably coupling the harness to an external restraint, such as an overhead reel. The system can be used within a vehicle, such as a land based vehicle, a water going vessel, or an aircraft.

1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to a harness system. More specifically, the disclosure relates to a harness that can be used to both restrain and extract a wearer. A release mechanism is also included for releasably coupling the harness to an external restraint system.
2. Description of the Background Art
External restraint systems for use within a vehicle are known in the art. These systems include a vest that is secured to the occupant. A tether is used to connect the vest to an overhead reel or to a fixed anchor point within the vehicle cabin. During normal vehicle movements, the webbing can be dispensed from the reel as needed to facilitate movement. However, an accelerometer within the reel locks the tether in the event of sudden or severe movements. In these situations, the user worn vest acts to restrain the occupant. In this manner, the vest protects the occupant from becoming injured or from falling out of the vehicle.
One such system is described in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 7,275,710 to Van Druff et al. Van Druff discloses an aircrew restraint system that includes a track and a trolley that runs along the track. The trolley includes an interlock pin that cooperates with interlock hooks spaced within the track. A tether connects an aircrew vest to an overhead retractor.
Although the Van Druff system is sufficient in many respects, it has two potential drawbacks. First, restraint systems such as the one disclosed by Van Druff lack a mechanism for quickly and easily detaching the vest from the overhead restraint system. Namely, a crewmember must reach behind their back in order to uncouple the tether from the restraint. The ability to detach the vest from the overhead restraint may be especially important in the event of a crash or water landing. The crewmember must also have the ability to be quickly and easily removed from the restraint in the event the crewmember is hanging or otherwise suspended from the restraint tether. These emergency situations require the restrained individual to be immediately separated from the restraint system to prevent bodily injury and/or allow egress from the vehicle.
Van Druff also lacks an extraction or hoisting harness. Hoisting harnesses include a length of webbing that encircles a person's torso and/or legs. Hoisting harnesses must sufficiently engage a person's body to evenly distribute lifting forces and, thereby, allow the person to be hoisted while minimizing injuries. In some emergency situations, the person may be unconscious and/or injured and must be hoisted a substantial distance into a helicopter or rescue vehicle. In battlefield conditions, this task may be further complicated if the person to be hoisted is loaded with heavy or bulky equipment.
An example of a hoisting harness is illustrated in Published Patent Application 2007/0295555 to O'Rourke. O'Rourke discloses a hoisting harness that includes a saddle strap, two leg straps, and two shoulder straps. The shoulder straps have first and second ends. The first ends of the shoulder straps are attachable to the saddle strap ends. The second ends of the shoulder straps are attachable to the leg straps.
It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an improvement which overcomes the aforementioned inadequacies of the prior art devices by providing a harness for restraining and extracting a wearer. It is also an object to provide a harness that can be easily coupled and uncoupled from an external restraint system.

Restraint and extraction harness with associated release mechanism


Electricity bolt for electrical contact of a printed circuit board with an electric conductor, with a basic body, wherein the basic body can be electrically contacted by a first section with the printed circuit board, and by a second section with the electric conductor, wherein the basic body at least in the area of the first section, by which the basic body is electrically conductively contactable with the printed circuit board, is designed as a hollow component, into which for the electrical contact with the printed circuit board a screw is so screwed that the first section is radially outwardly expandable by the screw.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates to an electricity bolt for electrical contacting of a printed circuit board with an electric conductor.
2. Background Information
Electricity bolts are used for making electrical contact of a printed circuit board, namely a trace of the printed circuit board, with an electric conductor, for example, an electric conductor designed as a busbar. Such electricity bolts have a basic body, wherein by a first section the basic body can be electrically contacted with the printed circuit board and by a second section with the electric conductor.
Electricity bolts known from practice have in the first section of the basic body, by which the electricity bolt is to be contacted with the printed circuit board, an outer diameter which is slightly larger than an inner diameter of a recess in the printed circuit board, so that the first section of the basic body of the electricity bolt is mounted by a press fit in the recess of the printed circuit board. In this way, chips can be scraped from the printed circuit board, which can cause short circuits.
Other electricity bolt known from practice are soldered on their first section to the printed circuit board, but the soldering of the electricity bolt to a printed circuit board is costly.

Electric contacting for a circuit plate to a conductor


An exhaust-gas treatment device for arrangement in an exhaust system of a motor vehicle, having a heating element, which is assigned to an exhaust-gas aftertreatment component, for example, a catalytic converter. The heating element is formed by a heating conductor and by a holder coupled to said heating conductor, wherein the holder extends over the cross-sectional area of the heating element, and the holder is formed by a lattice-like structure, wherein the lattice-like structure is formed by arcuate spokes which are coupled to one another in an irregular manner, wherein the heating conductor and the holder have a basin-like configuration as viewed in longitudinal section in an exhaust-gas flow direction.

In order to conform to legislation and meet market or customer expectations, internal combustion engines are nowadays trimmed to the highest efficiency and thus produce the least possible waste heat.
This is contradicted by fast heating of the exhaust-gas components after a cold start, and the adherence to this temperature range during the customary test cycles in order to ensure optimum reaction conditions for the conversion of harmful exhaust-gas constituents into non-harmful elements.
In the case of catalytic converters, this light-off begins at around 180° C., and the reaction rate increases with temperature. Since future approval restrictions assess the exhaust-gas composition directly after a cold start, the light-off temperature should be reached as quickly as possible.
For this purpose, heating elements are used which allow active thermal management of the exhaust system within certain limits. These heating elements are at present normally formed from thin sheet-metal honeycomb structures (fin structures) wound in spiral fashion. The separation of the conductors (honeycomb strands) is ensured by an air gap. The overall structure is stiffened by high-temperature soldering. The electrical insulation of the overall heating matrix is normally realized by means of ceramic pins (support pins), wherein these are pushed into the catalytic converter body.
DE 20 2020 104 976 U1 describes an exhaust-gas treatment device for arrangement in an exhaust system of a motor vehicle.

Holder for an electric heating element in an exhaust-gas aftertreatment device


Dual fuel/air injectors are provided, including a conventional central diffusion flame fuel nozzle 12. A fuel injector 14 for pre-mixing fuel and air for low emissions combustion and coaxial to the central nozzle includes a plenum 30 about the central injector having an air inlet 32, an annular pre-mix chamber 34, a fuel injection region 36 between the pre-mix chamber and air inlet 32 and an outlet 40 defined in part by swirler vanes 38. Radially projecting fuel spokes 46 extend into the plenum 30 and are supplied fuel from a manifold 44. Apertures 52 in the spokes supply fuel in a circumferential direction to the incoming air. The spokes in the plenum define throat areas T which, in the aggregate, define a minimum cross-sectional area of the plenum 30. Differential air flows through the throats provide inverse differential fuel distribution in the throats whereby a uniform fuel/air mixture strength distribution occurs at the throats. The fuel/air pre-mix thus maintains uniform hot gas temperature distribution in the combustor reaction zone, minimizing the formation of pollutants in the exhaust.

Air-polluting emissions are an undesirable by-product of the operation of gas turbines. The primary air-polluting emissions produced by gas turbines burning conventional hydrocarbon fuels are oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbons. It is well known that oxidation of molecular nitrogen in air-breathing engines is dependent upon the maximum hot gas temperature in the combustion system reaction zone. The rate of chemical reactions forming oxides of nitrogen is an exponential function of temperature. Consequently, if the temperature of the hot combustion gas is controlled to a low level, thermal NO.sub.x will not be produced.
A typical and preferred method of controlling the temperature of the reaction zone of a gas turbine combustor below the level at which thermal NO.sub.x is formed includes pre-mixing the fuel and air to a lean mixture prior to combustion. The thermal mass of the excess air present in the reaction zone of a lean, pre-mixed combustor absorbs heat and reduces the temperature rise of the products of combustion to a level where NO.sub.x is not formed. However, by lowering the temperature in the reaction zone to that level, the fuel/air mixture strength is reduced to a level close to the lean flammability limit for most hydrocarbon fuels. As a consequence, lean, pre-mixed combustors tend to be less stable than more conventional diffusion flame combustors and do not provide adequate turn-down for operation over the entire load range of the gas turbine. Stability for operation over all load conditions required for gas turbine operations, with minimum emissions of air pollutants in the gas turbine exhaust can be achieved with proper pre-mixing capability.
Dual fuel injectors with pre-mixing capability for heavy duty industrial gas turbines are known. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,701,124, pre-mixing capability is provided. However, that design is not afforded in a compact envelope, nor does it achieve uniform fuel/air mixture in a manner which tolerates maldistribution of inlet air flow/velocity while maintaining a uniform fuel/air mixture strength at the injector discharge, which is necessary to achieve low emissions combustion.

Dual fuel injector with premixing capability for low emissions combustion


The present invention relates broadly to a method of image analysis for analyzing the texture of a surface, and to a saxony-type carpet having a tightly tailored surface texture characterized by this method. The method employs a model based on a second order co-occurrence matrix model which calculates a set of textural parameters for image classification. This co-occurrence matrix model examines the statistics of the spatial relationship between gray levels in a homogeneously textured image with calculated textural features which represent measures such as homogeneity and contrast. The method of the present invention uses this model to construct a set of normalized textural parameters from the textural parameters and calculates a value for the normalized textural parameters from this set, where the normalized textural parameters are related to the physical properties of the surface, such as pile lay of a carpet. The method compares the value for each of the normalized textural parameters of an unknown sample to the value for each of the corresponding normalized textural parameters for a known, or goal, sample. In one embodiment, the method compares an unknown sample of a saxony-type carpet to a goal sample of a saxony-type carpet having a tightly tailored surface texture to determine whether the unknown sample is such a carpet.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing method for analyzing the texture of a surface and a carpet characterized by this method.
2. Description of the Related Art
Traditionally, carpet texture has been characterized by a subjective technique which uses the assessment of panels of expert judges. Such a technique suffers from obvious deficiencies in consistency, including the lack of consistency over time and among differing panel members. Moreover, such a technique lacks an independent method of absolute quantification.
The present invention proposes the use of image processing techniques for the analysis of carpet texture. The image analysis model used in the present invention is based on the second order co-occurrence matrix model originally proposed by Haralick, Shanmugan and Dinstein in an article entitled "Textural Features for Image Classification," IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man and Cybernetics, Vol. SMC-3, No. 6, November 1973, pp. 610-621. This model, known as the Haralick model, examines the statistics of the spatial relationship between gray levels in a homogeneously textured image and calculates a set of textural features which quantify measures such as homogeneity and contrast. The Haralick model has been applied to carpet wear assessment by Siew, Hodgson and Wood as published in an article entitled "Texture Measures for Carpet Wear Assessment," IEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence, Vol. 10, No. 1, January 1988, pp. 92-105. This application of the Haralick model differs from the method of the present invention in that no attempt is made to construct a set of normalized textural parameters which are independent of any variations in the instruments used to generate an image of the carpet.
Papers describing image analysis techniques for carpet assessment have been published by the University of Maryland. In an article entitled "New Imaging Techniques for Quantifying Carpet Appearance," Textile Chemist and Colorist, Vol. 23, No. 4, April, 1991, pp. 25-29, Y. Wu of the University of Maryland characterizes the changes in textural appearance of carpet due to wear by carpet tuft size distribution and evenness of tuft spatial distribution. In contrast to the present invention, Wu's method is restricted to a localized analysis. In another article published by the University of Maryland entitled "Assessing Changes in Texture Periodicity Due To Appearance Loss in Carpets: Grey Level Co-Occurrence Analysis," Textile Research Journal, Vol. 61, No. 10, October, 1991, pp. 557-567, by J. Sobus, B. Pourdeyhimi, J. Gerde and Y. Ulcay, the Haralick co-occurrence matrix model was applied to characterizing carpet texture. This work differs from the present invention in that the image analyzed by this work is pre-processed using histogram equalization. Moreover, Sobus et al. do not further construct a set of normalized textural parameters which are linked to the physical properties of carpet and are independent of instrument variations.
The need exists for analyzing the surface texture of a saxony-type carpet, since a large portion of carpets used in residences are cut pile carpets which include saxony-type carpets. In saxony-type carpets, heat-set ply-twisted pile yarn is inserted into a backing material as loops which are then cut to form substantially parallel vertical tufts. The tufts are then evenly sheared to a desired height which is typically medium length. Generally, there are two different styles of saxony-type carpets: 1) a straight-set style in which the fibers at the tuft tip are straight and substantially perpendicular to the plane of the carpet face, and 2) a textured style in which the tufts and the individual fibers have varying degrees of curl.
Yarn which is used as pile in textured saxony-type carpets is prepared by cabling together two or more singles yarns, heat-setting them in their twisted condition, and finally drying them. One known method of processing the ply-twisted yarn prior to making the carpet involves feeding it through a stuffer box, where the yarn is axially compressed, and then passing it through a continuous heat-setting machine, known as a Superba.RTM., which treats the yarn with pressurized, saturated steam to heat-set the twist. Another known method involves feeding the ply-twisted yarn through the stuffer box, and then passing it through a continuous heat setting machine, known as a Suessen, which treats the yarn with dry heat to heat-set the twist.
Depending on the twist level of the yarns and other factors, such as the operating conditions of the stuffer box, textured saxony-type carpets may exhibit different surface textures or appearances. For example, a frieze carpet is made from pile yarns having a "high ply-twist". By the term "high ply-twist" as used herein, it is meant a ply-twist level greater than about 5.5 turns per inch (tpi) (2.17 turns per centimeter (tpc)). When high-ply twist yarn is tufted into a carpet, the tufts demonstrate a highly-kinked and curled effect with gross buckling of the tuft structures. Such a carpet has a surface texture similar to the surface texture shown in FIG. 1. In other instances, a textured saxony-type carpet may have a loose surface texture with open tuft tips forming a brush-like appearance. Such a carpet has a surface texture similar to the surface shown in FIG. 6. This texture approaches the appearance of a straight-set, saxony-type carpet. These carpets are typically made from "low ply-twist" pile yarns. By the term "low ply-twist" as used herein, it is meant a ply-twist level less than about 4.25 turns per inch (1.67 turns per centimeter). Other textured saxony-type carpets are characterized by loose surface textures having open tuft tips, where many of the yarns have an unraveled structure. Such a surface texture is even looser than the texture of the carpet as shown in FIG. 6. These carpets are typically made from "low ply-twist" pile yarns which have been treated by a process where steam is injected directly into the stuffer box.
A textured saxony-type carpet may also be referred to as a "trackless" carpet. Examples of trackless carpet are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,839,211 to Wilkie et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,058,371 to Yu et al. The carpet of Wilkie et al. is made from a blend of conventional carpet fibers (e.g., nylon fibers) and high shrinkage fibers (e.g., acrylic fibers). However, the addition of such high shrinkage fibers causes non-uniformity in the yarn and in the carpet made therefrom.
The carpet of Yu et al. is made of singles yarn having little or no twist which are cabled together. The yarns are prepared by inserting bundles of high shrinkage filaments into a conventional bulked (i.e., crimped) continuous filament singles carpet yarns by means of an air tangler. The yarn is then heatset. During heatsetting of the yarn, the bundles of high shrinkage filaments cause the crimped continuous filament singles carpet yarns to buckle. Some breakage of the high shrinkage acrylic filaments may occur by this method because the acrylic filaments are fragile. Also, as in Wilkie et al., the addition of high shrinkage filaments in the yarn of Yu et al. causes non-uniformity in the yarn and in the carpet made therefrom.
A carpet having a tightly tailored surface texture is a particular type of trackless carpet. The term "tightly tailored surface texture" as used herein means a surface texture characterized by substantially straight and unkinked tufts having a tightly twisted structure, with great twist integrity. The tuft tips are substantially unopened and have compact helical curls, and the tuft structures do not demonstrate gross buckling. This texture is the result of the individual tuft structures having axial compression deformations, similar to the compression of a helical spring and is a particularly desirable texture for a carpet. Thus, there especially exists a need for creating a saxony-type carpet having a tightly tailored surface texture and for analyzing the surface texture thereof.

Method of analyzing the texture of a surface and a carpet characterized by the method


The disclosure provides a multi-junction solar cell structure and the manufacturing method thereof, comprising a first photovoltaic structure and a second photovoltaic structure; wherein at least one of the first photovoltaic structure and the second photovoltaic structure comprises a discontinuous photoelectric converting structure.

Because the petroleum source is limited, various kinds of substitutive energy are developed extensively and turned into products. Among those, the solar cell has become the commercial products for either the industrial or the residential use, and the III-V multi-junction solar cell is mainly applied to the space industry and the industrial field because of its high conversion efficiency. The structure of this kind of solar cell is a lattice-matched triple junction Ge/GaAs/GaInP structure. Ga1-xInxP (1.85 eV; x˜0.5), which is called the top cell, has the larger band gap and is the upmost layer to absorb the photon with higher energy (the wavelength from the range of the ultraviolet to the visible light); GaAs, which is called the middle cell, has the band gap with 1.42 eV and can absorb the photon with the wavelength in the near IR range; Ge, which is called the bottom cell, has the band gap with 0.74 eV and can absorb the light passed through the upper two layers with the wavelength in the IR range. Because the absorbed spectrum range is broader, the conversion efficiency is larger than 30%.


The present invention is an object hanging device, comprising an elongated body and a scale on the elongated body. The elongated body having a middle section. The scale has a zero point that is located within the middle section of the elongated body. The scale includes right measuring units to the right of the zero point and left measuring units to the left of the zero point. The right measuring units and the left measuring units increase away from the zero point.

Larger and heavier pictures and other hanging objects are manufactured with two looped hooks on the back to help distribute the weight evenly across the frame. Due to the difficulty and lack of system to hang the object using the supplied loops, some will connect the multiple loops with items such as picture wire. This does not solve the problem of the weight distribution. The wire also creates problems with wire stretch when deciding on height, along with the angling downward and hanging away from the wall. The hanging object then hanging by only one anchored hook is still easily knocked off center by any simple touch. Also, the single anchor never completely provides confidence that it will hold up safely and securely, especially on heavier objects.
For people who are willing to try using the two supplied loops on the back, the task is much more difficult than it needs to be. The tools needed to complete this task often include a calculator, a large level, a tape measure, a hammer and a pencil. To accomplish this, all tools listed above must be used more than once to determine a position of the two anchored hooks. The slightest miscalculation will result in the hooks not lining up and a second try is necessary. When starting with fractioned numbers, the need to find the center of a fractioned number can sometimes be difficult and imprecise.
As such, a need exists for a simple tool that can accurately hang large objects without having to locate and use the various stated tools listed above. Further, it is preferred that the tool is light and easy to store, and useable for everyday projects.


An apparatus for determining information indicative of cardiac malfunctions and abnormalities includes a processing device (402) configured to extract, from a signal indicative of electromagnetic phenomena related to cardiac activity, a first wave pattern repeating on a heart-beat rate and, from a signal indicative of cardiovascular motion, a second wave pattern repeating on the heart-beat rate. The processing device is configured to form timing data such that each timing value of the timing data is indicative of a time period from a reference point of the first wave pattern belonging to one heart-beat period to a reference point of the second wave pattern belonging to the same heart-beat period. The processing device is configured to determine, at least partly on the basis of the timing data, an indicator of cardiac malfunction and abnormality.

Malfunctions and abnormalities that may occur in the cardiovascular system, if not diagnosed and appropriately treated or remedied, may progressively decrease the ability of the cardiovascular system to supply, inter alia, sufficient oxygen to satisfy the coronary oxygen demand when the individual encounters stress. Currently, methods such as cardiography based on electromagnetic phenomena related to cardiac activity, echocardiography, and cardiography based on cardiovascular motion are used in the identification and assessment of various cardiac malfunctions and abnormalities. A well-known example of the cardiography based on electromagnetic phenomena related to cardiac activity is the electrocardiography "ECG", and examples of the cardiography based on cardiovascular motion are ballistocardiography "BCG" and seismocardiography "SCG". The echocardiography provides images of sections of the heart and can provide comprehensive information about the structure and function of the heart, but requires expensive equipment and specialised operating personnel. The ECG provides a fairly rapid electrical assessment of the heart, but does not provide any information relating to forces of contraction. The cardiography based on cardiovascular motion involves measurement of a signal indicative of cardiovascular motion. Earlier, the signal was obtained while an individual lay on a bed that was provided with an apparatus for measuring movements or there was a facilitating apparatus that was attached across the shin area of the legs. Currently, the signal can be obtained using small sensor elements, e.g. accelerometers, which are suitable for measuring minute movements which are representative of movements of the heart.
FIGS. 1a and 1b show the relationship between rhythmic electrical functions and related cardiovascular motions. FIG. 1a shows an example of an ECG waveform and FIG. 1b shows a waveform of an exemplifying signal indicative of cardiovascular motion and measured with an accelerometer in the "head-to-foot"-direction that is typically referred to as the y-direction. For the sake of illustrative purposes, a brief explanation of basic heart functions is provided below.
The heart includes four chambers. The right atrium is interconnected with the right ventricle by the tricuspid valve, and the left atrium is interconnected with the left ventricle by the mitral valve. Blood is delivered to the right atrium from the upper half of the body via the superior vena cava, and from the lower half of the body via the inferior vena cava. The tricuspid valve is opened by concurrent contraction of the right atrium myocardium and the right ventricular papillary muscles thereby allowing blood flow from the right atrium into the right ventricle. Then the tricuspid valve closes when the papillary muscles relax. When the myocardium of the right ventricle contracts, blood is forced from the right ventricle through the pulmonary valve into the pulmonary artery which delivers the blood into the lungs wherein it is oxygenated. The oxygenated blood is then delivered to the left atrium via pulmonary veins. The oxygenated blood flows from the left atrium into the left ventricle when the mitral valve is opened by concurrent contraction of the left atrium myocardium and the left ventricular papillary muscles thereby allowing blood flow from the left atrium into the left ventricle. Then the mitral valve is closed when the papillary muscles relax. The oxygenated blood is then forced out from the left ventricle through the aortic valve into the aorta which delivers the oxygenated blood to the peripheral vascular system.
Each heart-beat period involves three major stages: the atrial systole, the ventricular systole and the cardiac diastole. The atrial systole is the period of contraction of the heart muscles encompassing the right and left atria. Both atria contract concurrently with the papillary muscle contraction thereby forcing open the tricuspid valve and the mitral valve. The electrical activity, i.e. the electrical systole, which stimulates the muscle tissue of the chambers of the heart to make them contract begins in the sinoatrial node located in the right atrium. The conduction electrical depolarization continues to travel as a wave downwards, leftwards, and posteriorly through both atria depolarising each atrial muscle cell in turn. This propagation of charge can be seen as the P-wave on the ECG waveform shown in FIG. 1a. This is closely followed by mechanical contraction of the atria that is detected as an impact which corresponds to the h-peak of the waveform shown in FIG. 1b and to a recoil which corresponds to the i-valley of the waveform shown in FIG. 1b. When the right and left atria begin to contract, there is a high velocity flow of blood into the right and left ventricles, which is represented by the j-peak on the waveform shown in FIG. 1b. The continuing atrial contraction, when the tricuspid valve begins to close, causes an additional lower velocity flow of blood into the right and left ventricles. The additional flow of blood is called the "atrial kick", which corresponds to the "a-a1"-wave complex in the waveform shown in FIG. 1b. After the atria are emptied, the tricuspid and mitral valves close thereby giving rise to the downward g-wave on the waveform shown in FIG. 1b. The ventricular systole is the contraction of the muscles of the left and right ventricles, and is caused by the electrical depolarization of the ventricular myocardia giving rise to the "Q-R-S"-wave complex in the ECG waveform shown in FIG. 1a. The downward Q-wave is caused by the downward flow of depolarisation through the septum along a specialized group of cells called "the bundle of His". The R-peak is caused by depolarization of the ventricular muscle tissue, and the S-wave is produced by depolarization of the heart tissue between the atria and ventricles. As the depolarization travels down the septum and throughout the ventricular myocardia, the atria and sinoatrial node start to polarise. The closing of the tricuspid and mitral valves mark the beginning of ventricular systole and cause the first part of the "lub-dub" sound made by the heart as it beats. This sound is typically known as the "first heart tone". When the electrical depolarization of the ventricular myocardia peaks, the atrioventricular "AV" septum separating the right and left ventricles contracts causing an impact, which corresponds to the H-peak on the waveform shown in FIG. 1b, and a recoil which corresponds to the I-valley on the waveform shown in FIG. 1b. The ventricular contraction forces the blood from the right ventricle into the pulmonary artery through the pulmonary valve, and from the left ventricle into the aorta through the aortic valve under very high velocity thereby causing the J-peak on the waveform shown in FIG. 1b. The deceleration of blood flow from the left ventricle into the aorta causes the downward K-wave on the waveform shown in FIG. 1b. When the left ventricle empties, its pressure falls below the pressure in the aorta and the aortic valve closes. Similarly, when the pressure in the right ventricle falls below the pressure in the pulmonary artery, the pulmonary valve closes. The second part of the "lub-dub" sound, which is typically known as the "second heart tone", is caused by the closure of the pulmonary and aortic valves at the end of ventricular systole thereby causing the upward L-wave on the waveform shown in FIG. 1b. Concurrently with the closing of the pulmonary and aortic valves, the atrioventricular "AV" septum relaxes and moves upward, and the ventricular myocardia is re-polarized giving rise to the T-wave on the ECG waveform shown in FIG. 1a. The cardiac diastole, which includes the atrial diastole and the ventricular diastole, is the period when the heart relaxes after contraction and prepares for being refilled with circulating blood. Atrial diastole is when the right and left atria are relaxing, and the ventricular diastole is when the right and left ventricles are relaxing. During the period of the atrial diastole, the right atrium is re-filled by deoxygenated blood while the left atrium is re-filled with oxygenated blood. Re-filling of the atria causes the downward M-wave on the waveform shown in FIG. 1b early in the diastole which coincides with repolarization of the bundle of His cells, which is shown as the U-wave in the ECG waveform. When the right and left atria are filled to their maximum capacities, the reflux of blood against the tricuspid valve and mitral valve cause the upward N-wave on the waveform shown in FIG. 1b.
Publication WO2012149652 describes a method for assessment of cardiac contractility in a subject by recording precordial acceleration signals.
Publication US2008194975 describes a method for monitoring an individual's physiological condition and detecting abnormalities therein. The method comprises concurrently receiving a first signal that is an ECG signal and a second signal indicative of cardiovascular motion.
Analysis of waveforms indicative of cardiovascular motion is typically performed visually by qualified diagnosticians in order to distinguish abnormal cardiovascular function from normal cases. In many cases, however, it may be challenging to find out certain cardiac malfunctions and abnormalities, such as for example atrial fibrillation, by visual analysis. Thus, a need exists for methods and apparatuses for determining information indicative of cardiac malfunctions and abnormalities.

Method and apparatus for determining information indicative of cardiac malfunctions and abnormalities


A crisscross level shifter comprising a pull-down circuit configured as a pair of cascode amplifiers and a crisscross pull-up circuit. The cascode amplifiers are enhanced by a feedforward circuit coupling, for both amplifiers, the input of one cascode amplifier to the output of the other cascode amplifier.

With the introduction of CMOS circuits with geometries below 0.35 microns, lower power supply voltages have become necessary to maintain device reliability. Consequently, supply voltage have decreased from 5 volts to 3.3 volts or less. However, many interface (bus) signals still use zero to 5 volt logic levels. Logic processor input/output (I/O) circuits therefore are required to be "voltage friendly", i.e., they may provide (source) a zero to 3.3 volt signal but must accept a zero to 5 volt signal.
In lieu of being voltage friendly, the circuitry can be divided into "core" circuits and I/O circuits, where the "core" logic operates at the lower 3.3 volts, and the I/O circuits operate at 5 volts. To facilitate signal level compatibility, a voltage level shifter circuit similar to FIG. 1 (Prior Art) is used within the I/O circuits.
Furthermore, the introduction of very high speed, small geometry SIMOX CMOS circuits (where each transistor is electrically isolated by silicon dioxide) enables even lower voltages for the `core` circuits. Many of these circuits are required to operate from a single battery in such applications as pagers). Other applications use a single battery (0.8 to 1.5 volts) to power the core circuits and a double battery (1.5 to 3 volts) to power the I/O circuits. A flexible core to I/O voltage level shifter is required that can accept 0.8 volt logic signals as an input and translate to either 0.8 volts or 0.8 to 3 volts output signals. The large voltage spread may result from the core battery being low (end of life) and the I/O battery(ies) being new). As shall be described below, as the battery or batteries are drained, the prior art level shifter circuitry becomes relatively slow.
Specifically, FIG. 1 depicts a schematic diagram of a prior art level shifter 100 comprising a P-type crisscross pull-up circuit 102 and an N-type pull-down circuit 104. In response to an digital input signal V.sub.in the P-type circuit 102 pulls the output signal up to a predefined voltage (e.g., approximately VDDE) and, alternately, the N-type pull-down circuit 104 pulls the output voltage down to a predefined voltage (e.g., approximately zero).
More specifically, the input signal V.sub.in is coupled to two paths, where the first path carries the input signal to an inverter 106 and the second path carries the input signal directly to the gate electrode of transistor N.sub.2 of the N-type pull-down circuit 104. The inverted output of the inverter 106 is coupled to the gate electrode of transistor N.sub.1 of the N-type pull-down circuit 104. As such, each transistor of the N-type pull-down circuit 104 is driven with an input signal that is inverted with respect to the other input. To ensure timing synchronization a delay component may be used in the second path to transistor N.sub.2 such that the input signal at each transistor is synchronized and "clock skew" is avoided.
The source electrode of each N-type transistor is connected to ground and the drain electrodes are coupled to the P-type pull-up circuit 102, i.e., the N-type transistors are arranged in a common source configuration. The P-type circuit is a crisscross design containing a pair of P-type transistors P.sub.1 and P.sub.2. The gate electrode of transistor P.sub.1 is connected to the drain electrode of transistor P.sub.2. Similarly, the gate electrode of transistor P.sub.2 is connected to the drain electrode of transistor P.sub.1. The source electrodes of each P-type transistor are coupled to a DC voltage supply VDDE.
In operation, in response to each transition of the input signal V.sub.in, alternately, the P-type circuit 102 pulls the output signal up to approximately VDDE and the N-type circuit 104 pulls the output signal down to approximately ground. As such, the output signal switches between ground and VDDE with each cycle of the input signal.
In level shifters using such P-type crisscross circuits, the salient feature is the ability to consume minimal power during the transition times. For such level shifters to operate properly, the P-type transistors are "weak" compared to the N-type transistors, i.e., the p-type transistors have significantly lower drive current-capability so the N-type pull-down transistors can overcome the P-type pull-up function. Consequently, the output transitions suffer from relatively slow rise time as well as delay time for low-end voltage supply. This relative slowness is further exacerbated when the battery level at VDDE is low (e.g., decreases to 0.8 volts). In addition, the output signal also suffers from coupling effect gating through from the physically larger N-type pull-down transistors.
FIG. 2 depicts these detrimental characteristics of slow rise time and substantial delay in a plot of the output signal from the prior art level shifter of FIG. 1. The plot 200 depicts time (axis 202) versus output voltage magnitude (axis 204). The switching time delay is approximately 3 nanoseconds and the rise time can be as much as 6 nanoseconds. These data were taken using a 50 megahertz square wave input signal with VDDE fixed at 0.8 volts (simulating a battery with very low voltage) and a load capacitance of 0.1 picofarads. Such delay and rise time duration is well-known to result in excessive power consumption by the level shifter during the switching times.
Therefore, a need exists in the art for a crisscross level shifter having improved rise time, improved switching delay and low power consumption.


A computer-implemented method includes determining that a connection to an update server should be established. The method also includes establishing a wireless connection with the update server. The method further includes sending at least a VIN number to the update server and downloading one or more module updates corresponding to the sent VIN number. Also, the method includes verifying the one or more downloaded updates. The method further includes flashing one or more modules to which the one or more updates correspond. Additionally, the method includes verifying the functionality of each module which has been flashed.

While older vehicles used to be largely mechanically controlled, modern vehicles have a significant number of software components and computerized hardware components that control vehicle subsystems. These components can react to changes in vehicles states to provide advanced degrees of vehicle control and functionality. Additionally, many of these components can interact with each other, linking various modules of the vehicle over one or more data networks, such as, but not limited to, a vehicle CAN bus.
These modules, whether software or firmware, are capable of being dynamically updated. In other words, if an improvement or correction to a module is needed, a change can be made to the module without simply obtaining a newer vehicle reflecting the change. Changes may also be made for diagnostic purposes, and even customized modules can be employed for a group of vehicles, such as a fleet.
Typically, when a change to a module is needed, the vehicle is brought to a diagnostic point where a technician is present, or a technician with diagnostic and update tools is deployed to the vehicle. The technician can access the desired software module(s), make any needed changes, verify that the change has been properly implemented, and then move on to a next vehicle.
If changes are to be made to particular vehicles in a fleet, or all vehicles having a certain designation, and those vehicles are not in proximity to one another, it could take a while to implement the changes to all the vehicles.
In addition to having software control modules, many vehicles are equipped with one or more transceivers. Capable of either direct communication with a remote network, or communication with a wireless device through which the transceivers connect to the remote network, these vehicles can communicate with remote servers and terminals through a wireless connection.

Method and apparatus for automatic module upgrade


A knowledge-based hierarchical method for detecting regions of interests (ROIs) uses prior knowledge of the targets and the image resolution in detecting ROIs. The result produces ROIs that contain only one target that is completely enclosed within the ROI. The detected ROI can conform to the shape of the target even if the target is of irregular shape. Furthermore, the method works well with images that contain connected targets or targets broken into pieces. The method is not sensitive to contrast levels and is robust to noise. Thus, this method effectively detects ROIs in common real world imagery that has a low resolution without costly processing while providing fast and robust results.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of image processing and, more particularly, to detecting regions of interests (ROIs) in images.
2. Description of the Related Art
Detecting ROIs in images is a common step in many image processing systems. Conventional digital image recognition systems (DIRSs) detect ROIs by typically using some knowledge of a prototype. Generally, an image is composed of many objects that can be defined by pixels. A group of pixels is called a region. A target is an object of interest. A prototype contains information about a type of target. A DIRS may detect a region in an image that matches the prototype.
Images may contain a lot of information. DIRSs may have different phases to more efficiently process information from an image, such as: a segmentation phase, a feature extraction phase and a classification phase. The function of the segmentation and feature extraction phases are to reduce the volume of data. In the feature extraction phase, some of the significant characteristics of each target are measured and taken together to form a vector. Thus, the image can be converted into a series of targets, each described by a vector. In the segmentation phase, each target is found and is isolated from the rest of the information in the image. The segmentation phase identifies the features to differentiate different prototypes, uses the detection algorithm to group pixels with similar features, and uses a merging algorithm to group regions of the image. Because these issues may impact the efficiency and effectiveness of a DIRS, the segmentation phase can affect the functionality of the entire process.
The algorithms used in the segmentation phase are typically applied to an entire image to reduce the data dimension for subsequent processing purposes. Pixels with similar optical characteristics, such as color and intensity, are grouped together and separated from the others. Particular regions can then be chosen based upon features such as size and shape, and forwarded to successive processing units.
Several problems hinder the segmentation process. First, because of the characteristics of the image, such as luminance, noise level, ROI position uncertainty, etc., it is difficult to determine the critical parameters for segmentation at different positions. Secondly, different objects in the image have different and distinctive features. Even when the pixels of the objects are accurately grouped and separated, other problems remain. For example, several objects may overlap one other, or one object may be broken into pieces and therefore, different regions may correspond to the same object.
Sophisticated algorithms have been proposed to address some of these segmentation issues. However, the computational complexity associated with these algorithms may prohibit them from use in real-time applications. One solution is to quickly detect regions that may correspond to objects, and then apply dedicated algorithms to those regions. Another solution is to first transform the image, and then cluster the image to detect the ROIs. Yet another solution is to first threshold the image, and then take every "blob" as one region.
All of these algorithms detect ROIs by grouping pixels with similar features. However, because the objects may be connected or broken, and portions of an object may be very close to the background, a ROI may correspond to several objects, or a portion of an object. These conventional solutions for segmentation focus on detecting regions of similar optical characteristics, each of which may be only part of one object, or a concatenation of several objects. Thus, these solutions may result in inaccurate, incomplete, or too general results in detecting ROIs. In addition, they are often computationally complex and usually do not work well with low quality images. Thus, there is a need for a method to detect ROIs that is more accurate, efficient, and faster than conventional methods.

Knowledge-based hierarchical method for detecting regions of interest


An optical pick-up device of an optical disc player comprsing a laser source part for generating a laser beam and for scanning the laser beam as a beam spot having a predetermined size, a beam deflecting part for receiving the laser beam scanned by the laser source part and for deflecting the laser beam so as to cause the laser beam to be scanned to a desired access position of an optical disc. The beam deflecting part utilizes an acoustooptic deflector and an acoustooptic deflector control member for controlling the ultrasonic frequency, in response to a feedback signal, which in turn corresponds to the desired access position of the optical disc. Further, a beam scanning part for causing the laser beam scanned by the beam deflecting part to become a minute beam spot, which is in turn scanned to the optical disc on the turntable, and for separating the retrace laser beam reflected by the optical disc by reflecting the retrace laser beam, and an optical detector for receiving the laser beam, which has been reflected by the optical disc and separated and reflected by the beam scanning part, and for detecting the laser beam so as to output electric signals corresponding to the detected laser beam. The optical pick-up device does not require a conventional servo mechanism, thereby accomplishing the compactness of the construction, permitting the tracking accuracy to be improved irrespective of the outside vibration and reducing the access time.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to an optical pick-up device of optical disc players such as a laser disc player (LDP), a compact video disc player (CVDP), a compact disc player (CDP) and etc., and more particularly to an optical pick-up device which does not require a servo mechanism for carrying out the mechanical movement of an optical pick-up head but comprises an acoustooptic deflector for scanning the laser beam to the optical disc simultaneously with deflecting the laser beam to a desired direction.
2. Description of the Prior Art
With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 showing a known optical pick-up device of an optical disc player, the known device generally comprises an optical pick-up head part 10 for recording/playing back the data on/from an optical disc 1. This known device is also provided with a servo mechanism for controlling the precise movement of the optical pick-up head part 10 with respect to the optical disc and the data recording/playing back operation of the part 10.
As shown in FIG. 2, the optical pick-up head part 10 comprises a laser source, that is, a laser diode 11 for generating a laser beam, a collimator 12 for collimating the laser beam from the laser diode 11 so as to make this beam become a parallel beam. Under the collimator 12, a beam separator 13 and an objective lens 14 are sequentially arranged as spaced apart from the separator 13 and also from each other. Here, the beam separator 13 receives two types of incident laser beams, the one being received from the collimator 12 and the other being reflected by the optical disc 1, and causes the one laser beam to be scanned to the optical disc 1 while it reflects the other laser beam in order to separate the laser beam. On the other hand, the objective lens 14 receives the laser beam from the beam separator 13 and focuses this laser beam on the optical disc 1. When the laser beam is focused on the optical disc 1 by the objective lens 14, this laser beam has the shape of a minute beam spot. If the laser beam reaches a desired position of the optical disc 1, it is reflected by the disc 1. At this time, the objective lens 14 receives such a laser beam reflected by the disc 1 so as to make this beam become a parallel beam which is in turn received by the beam separator 13. In addition, the pick-up head part 10 includes a condenser lens 15 for condensing the laser beam which has been reflected and separated by the separator 13. An optical detector 16 is provided so as to detect the condensed beam from the condenser lens 15 in order to output an electric signal corresponding to the detected laser beam.
On the other hand, the servo mechanism of the known device comprises a guide rail 21 for guiding the movement of the pick-head part 10 so as to cause this part 10 to be located at a desired position above the optical disc 1. At an end of the guide rail 21, a step motor 22 for controlling the movement of the pick-up head part 10 along the rail 21 is disposed. In addition, this servo mechanism is provided with a servo circuit 23 for controlling the operations of both the step motor 22 and the pick-up head part 10.
In operation of the above optical pick-up device, the laser diode 11 of the optical pick-up head part 10 generates a laser beam which is in turn received by the collimator 12 in order to be collimated thereby. This collimated laser beam is then received by the beam separator 13 and in turn focused on the optical disc 1 by means of the objective lens 14. When the laser beam is focused on the disc 1, this beam becomes a minute beam spot by addition of the objective lens 14.
Upon being focused on the disc 1, the laser beam is reflected by the disc 1 and received by the beam separator 13 by way of the objective lens 14. By this beam separator 13, the received laser beam is reflected in order to be condensed by the condenser lens 15. This condensed beam is then received by the optical detector 16 which detects the laser beam and outputs electric signals proportional to the intensity of the laser beam reflected by the disc 1, thereby causing the data recorded on the disc 1 to be detected.
On the other hand, in order to permit the optical pick-up head part 10 to record and to play back the data on and from the optical disc 1 using the laser beam, it is required to precisely control the movement of the optical pick-up head part 10 by means of the servo mechanism.
In other words, the servo circuit 23 controls the step motor 22 in order to drive the optical pick-up head part 10 to move to a desired position above the optical disc 1 as guided by the guide rail 21. Here, each track of the disc 1 conventionally has a minute width of a few micrometers. Hence, in order to accurately locate the optical pick-up head part 10 above a predetermined track of the disc 1 which is intended to be accessed by the head part 10, the movement operation of optical pick-up head part 10 is necessarily precisely controlled in consideration of mechanical inertia caused by the movement of the head part 10 and the like.
The known optical pick-up device of the optical disc player thus requires to be equipped with a precise servo mechanism which can make possible to precisely control the movement of the optical pick-up head part 10 within a minute range of a few micrometers. Furthermore, this known optical pick-up device requires a high level of circuit technique for improving the accuracy of its operation. In addition, there is the inevitable limitation in reducing the access time due to the mechanical movement of the optical pick-up head part 10.
Also, in order to accomplish the precise location of the pick-up head part 10 with respect to the optical disc 1, the servo mechanism must be precisely operated so that it inevitably has a disadvantage in that it has no resistance to a mechanical shock such as an outer vibration. Particularly, in such a servo mechanism, the guide rail 21 must be machined so as to have a high machining accuracy and this causes the manufacturing cost to be unwillingly increased.

Optical pick-up device for optical disc player


A storage battery of the lead-acid type has unipolar electrodes (6) and bipolar electrodes (7), having a tubular shape fastened preferably perpendicularly to walls (3, 4) made of an insulating material, which divide container into two or more adjacent cells (1) containing the electrolyte. In a preferred embodiment, each tubular electrode (6, 7) is formed by an axial bar (8) of lead or an alloy thereof, having a circular section, surrounded by active material (9), either positive or negative, in its turn enclosed by a coaxial tubular sheath (10) in porous synthetic and insulating material, and end plates (11, 12) of plastic material. The exteriorly extending ends (13), of the bars (8) of the unipolar tubular electrodes (6) of each of the end cells are connected to a respective external bus bar (14) for the current. The external bus bar (14) constitutes a pole of the storage battery.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a storage battery of the lead-acid kind comprising unipolar electrodes having a tubular shape, directed to increasing the specific energy (with an attendant decrease of the weight of the nonactive material) and to improving the operative features, such as the internal resistance and the prolongation of the life cycle of the device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The invention has been developped in the field of research aimed at the improvement of the technical characteristics of lead-acid storage batteries for promoting their application (preferential) to electric propulsion. The bipolar arrangement has already been used, but with controversial results, due to technical difficulties connected to the practical embodiment of the related methods.

Lead-acid storage battery with tubular bipolar electrodes

Comitato Nazionale per la Ricerca e per lo Sviluppo dell'Energia Nucleare e delle Energie Alternative


A method for assembling a hermetically sealed package to contain a MEMS die and the hermetically sealed package are presented. The method includes selectively applying a glass mixture to a dome. The dome is heated to a first temperature sufficient to flow the glass mixture. The dome is pressed into contact with a carrier containing the MEMS device, the pressing being maintained at a pressure and for a temporal interval sufficient to flow the glass mixture onto the carrier. The dome is cooled while maintaining contact with the carrier, to a second temperature sufficient to allow the glass mixture to harden into a glass frit thereby to seal the carrier to the dome. The glass frit has a seal width.

Many high-sensitivity microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) such as microgyroscopes and some pressure sensors need to operate in hermetically sealed vacuum electronic packages to realize their full performance characteristics. Several hermetic sealing technologies for vacuum packaging of a carrier exist. Domes are currently fixed into carriers and then sealed in place by eutectic bonding, adhesive bonding, or silicon-glass anodic bonding. Each of the sealing methods runs a risk of compromising the vacuum within the package due to outgassing.
Outgassing is the slow release of a gas that was trapped, frozen, absorbed or adsorbed in some material. Outgassing can occur due to desorption, seepage from cracks or internal volumes and gaseous products of slow chemical reactions. Outgassing is a challenge to creating and maintaining clean high-vacuum environments. For example, outgassed products can condense onto optical elements, thermal radiators, or solar cells and obscure them. Materials not normally considered absorbent can release enough light-weight molecules to interfere with industrial or scientific vacuum processes. Even metals and glasses can release gases from cracks or impurities, but moisture, sealants, lubricants, and adhesives are the most common cause.
Gold and Silicon are two of the most commonly used elements in semiconductor production. The Gold-Silicon alloy (referred to chemically as "AuSi") is a material of choice for fabrication of interconnects nearly for numerous MEMS devices. AuSi is often used, as well, to serve as a nanocatalyst in Solid-Liquid-Solid growth method to grow of silicon nanowire arrays. Additionally, AuSi eutectic alloys have been used in eutectic wafer bonding process in manufacturing and packaging of microchips and micro-electro mechanical systems (MEMS). In the role of a sealant, AuSi eutectic alloys are a prime source of outgassed materials.
The common use of Au and Si as a sealant in MEMS and semiconductor industry mentioned previously means that amorphous AuSi may be (unintentionally) formed in numerous manufacturing processes. Given its conductive properties, the deposition of the AuSi might well interfere or damage the MEMS device where the AuSi forms.
The word "eutectic" is also commonly applied to describe the composition that has the lowest possible melting point of an alloy. Eutectic (from Greek "Eutektos", which means "easily melted") implies a formation of a liquid alloy at the temperature that is lower than melting temperature of its components. For example, AuSi alloy with 19.5% atomic Si and 80.5% Au melts at T=363 C.°, while pure Au and pure Si are solid up to 1063 C.° and 1412 C.° respectively. Given the low temperature of formation, an ideal sealing method is selected with care must be taken to keep carriers below 363 C.° in order to minimize the unintended formation of AuSi.
One solution to the problem of compromised vacuum due to outgassing has been the insertion of a getter into the hermetically sealed electronic package to assure successful MEMS device operation for long duration applications. The term "getter" refers to materials, which chemically absorb active gases in a vacuum environment. The getter consists of a highly porous and mechanically stable packaging component installed inside the MEMS vacuum packaging chamber and subsequently activated by subjecting the sealed electronics package to a suitable combination of temperature and time. Activation of the getter, however, can also trigger the formation of eutectic alloys which, themselves, tend to outgas byproducts that compromise the vacuum within the electronics package.
What is needed is a sealing technology that prevents outgassing thereby eliminating the need for getters.

System and method for sealing a MEMS device


The present invention relates to the use of topical interferon-.alpha. for the treatment of various forms of fibrosis in and around the eye arising from various ophthalmic diseases and procedures. Specifically the invention relates to alleviation of corneal scarring after laser photoablative refractive keratectomy (PRK). It aslo relates to the alleviation of posterior (lens) capsular opacification after extracapsular cataract surgery with lens implant; the alleviation of wound scarring following glaucoma filtration surgery. Interferon-.alpha. may also be used to coat the lens implant prior to or during implantation. It may also possibly be injected into the eye during eye surgery for inhibiting posterior capsule opacification after cataract surgery and in addition may be injected into the vitreous body to prevent retinal fibrosis and proliferative vitreo-retinopathy, and injected subconjunctivally to inhibit fibrosis and scarring following glaucoma filtration surgery,.

In the field of ophthalmic surgery, it is known to use excimer laser photoablative refractive keratectomy to sculpt the cornea of the eye in order to relieve refractive errors (e.g. myopia) and a number of corneal conditions and diseases. Specifically, the 193 nm argon fluoride excimer laser is able to discretely remove corneal tissue by photoablation without thermal damage to surrounding tissue.
Of major concern is the activation of the stromal keratocytes when a wound is made to the stroma. As is well known, the basic response of wounded tissue is to repair the defect and therefore the ophthalmic surgeon when using this technique is confronted with alteration to the biochemistry, morphologic features and tissue function unpredictability brought about by the wound itself and the healing phenomenon.
Therefore, even though excimer laser ablation of corneal tissue appears to be an efficient method of removing tissue with minimal damage to adjacent areas, nevertheless the healing process does not always lead to the preservation of transparent corneal tissue.
Previous methods of overcoming this problem have been: application of topical steroids such as prednisolone, prednisolone acetate, prednisolone sodium phosphate, fluoromethalone, fluoromethalone acetate, hydromesterone, dexamethasone, and dexamethasone alcohol. Other compounds tested have been idoxuridine, collagen crosslinkage inhibitors and mitomycin C.
It is an object of this invention to ameliorate the known disadvantages of present techniques when dealing with the wound repair mechanism following photoablative refractive keratectomy.
Interferons are a heterogeneous group of proteins that can inhibit many aspects of the fibrotic response. Originally identified by their well known ability to interfere with the production of viral RNA and protein, they also exert anticellular activities generally considered to be inhibitory, which maybe due to their ability to inhibit the c-myc proto-oncogene. Type I interferon (viral interferon, interferon-.alpha. and -.beta.) is produced in response to viral infection, and type II (immune interferon, interferon-.gamma.) in response to specific antigens or mitogens. Of the different classes, .alpha.-interferon is secreted by leukocytes, .beta.- by fibroblasts and .gamma.- by stimulated lymphocytes. Interferons, particularly interferon-.alpha., have been successfully used in humans for twenty years for the treatment of systemic malignancy.
Considerable interest has recently been shown in the potential of interferon as a treatment for such fibrotic diseases as systemic sclerosis, pulmonary fibrosis and keloid. Fibroblasts are stimulated to produce interferons by many cytokines that mediate wound healing, such as interleukin-1-(IL-1), platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) and tumour necrosis factor (TNF). Interferons inhibit fibroblast chemotaxis and proliferation as well as collagen production, the latter synergistically with TNF-.alpha.. Intraperitoneally implanted foreign bodies in mice suffered less encapsulation in the presence of interferon-.gamma., the capsules having a reduced collagen content. Fibroblast glycosaminoglycan production is inhibited by interferon-.alpha., while collagenase production is increased. This deactivation of activated fibroblasts can persist for a long time after a brief exposure to interferon. Of the different types of interferon, the .alpha.- and .beta.-subclasses exhibit a broader antifibrotic spectrum.
The present inventors have recently demonstrated that interferon-.alpha. inhibits foetal calf serum and platelet derived growth factor induced proliferation of human tenon's capsule fibroblasts in vitro. They suggest that interferons may prove to be of benefit in the treatment of fibrosis following PRK in particular, and of ocular fibrosis in general.

Treating ophthalmic fibrosis using interferon-.alpha.


A heat exchanger included in an air conditioner includes a first header pipe to have a refrigerant, compressed by a compressor, to flow therein and a first heat exchange unit coupled to the first header pipe to receive the refrigerant flowing in the first header, a second header pipe to have the refrigerant to flow therein and a second heat exchange unit coupled to the second header pipe to receive the refrigerant flowing in the second header pipe in the air cooling operation. A bypass pipe couples the first heat exchange unit with the second header pipe and a bypass valve controls a flow of the refrigerant through the bypass pipe. A controller controls the bypass valve such that the refrigerant is allowed to flow from the first heat exchange unit to the second header pipe in the air cooling operation.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure relates to a heat exchanger and, more particularly, to a heat exchanger in which the passage of a refrigerant is varied in an air cooling operation and a heating operation.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
In general, an air conditioner is an apparatus configured to include a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, an expansion valve, and an indoor heat exchanger, to cool or heat the interior of a room using a refrigerating cycle. That is, the air conditioner may include a cooler for cooling the interior of a room and a heater for heating the interior of a room. The air conditioner may also be formed in a combination cooling and heating air conditioner for cooling or heating the interior of a room.
If the air conditioner is formed in the combination cooling and heating air conditioner, the air conditioner further includes a 4-way valve for changing the passage of a refrigerant, compressed by the compressor, depending on an air cooling operation or a heating operation. That is, in the air cooling operation, the 4-way valve is controlled by a controller such that the refrigerant compressed by the compressor flows through the 4-way valve into the outdoor heat exchanger, and the outdoor heat exchanger functions as a condenser. Next, the refrigerant condensed by the outdoor heat exchanger is expanded by the expansion valve, and the expanded refrigerant flows into the indoor heat exchanger. In this case, the indoor heat exchanger functions as an evaporator. Next, the refrigerant evaporated by the indoor heat exchanger flows into the compressor through the 4-way valve.
Meanwhile, in the heating operation, the 4-way valve is controlled such that the refrigerant compressed by the compressor flows through the 4-way valve into the indoor heat exchanger, and the indoor heat exchanger functions as a condenser. Next, the refrigerant condensed by the indoor heat exchanger is expanded by the expansion valve, and the expanded refrigerant flows into the outdoor heat exchanger. In this case, the outdoor heat exchanger functions as an evaporator. Next, the refrigerant evaporated by the outdoor heat exchanger flows into the compressor through the 4-way valve.

Heat exchanger and an air conditioning system having the same