A cleaning device for cleaning a transfer sheet conveyance belt, includes: a first brush roll which is provided with voltage with a polarity reverse to a charging polarity of toner particles; and a second brush roll arranged downstream of the first brush roll in a moving direction of the transfer sheet conveyance belt, the second brush roll being provided with the voltage with the same polarity as the charging polarity of the toner particles, while rotating in contact with the surface of the transfer sheet conveyance belt.

The present invention relates to a cleaning device that uses a brush roller to remove toner attached to a transfer sheet conveyance belt.
In an image forming apparatus using electrophotographic process, a toner image is formed on an image carrier (hereinafter also referred to as "photoreceptor") and this toner image is transferred onto a transfer material (hereinafter also referred to as "transfer sheet"). After that, the transfer sheet carrying the toner image is subjected to a process of fixing by a fixing device. After fixing, the transfer sheet with the image formed thereon is ejected from the image forming apparatus. In this process of transfer, the transfer sheet is conveyed by the transfer sheet conveyance belt and is fed through the transfer section made up of a transfer member arranged to face the photoreceptor through the transfer sheet conveyance belt, whereby the toner image formed on the photoreceptor is transferred onto the transfer sheet.
The transfer sheet conveyance belt is not contaminated by unwanted toner particles since the toner image is hardly formed on the surface thereof in general cases. However, for the portion of the image such as an image control patch to be created on a position of the photoreceptor between transfer sheets and a black band to assist photoreceptor cleaning, even if the transfer member is placed in the non-transfer mode, the toner particles on the photoreceptor may be transferred onto the transfer sheet conveyance belt in some cases, since the photoreceptor is kept in contact with the transfer sheet conveyance belt. Further, if the photoreceptor contains fogged toner particles, the toner particles are transferred onto the transfer sheet conveyance belt in some cases.
The aforementioned unwanted toner particles deposited on the transfer sheet conveyance belt are transferred onto the rear surface of the next transfer sheet to cause contamination in some cases. This makes it essential to clean the transfer sheet conveyance belt for removing the unwanted toner particles deposited on the transfer sheet conveyance belt.
A blade method and a fur brush method wherein a fur brush is used as a brush roll is generally used for the cleaning. In the blade method, an elastic blade such as a rubber blade against the transfer sheet conveyance belt and the toner particles are scraped off mechanically for cleaning. In the fur blush method, a cylindrical substrate with a fur brush attached on the surface is rotated to contact the toner particles on the transfer sheet conveyance belt, and at the same time, the voltage with a polarity reverse to that of toner particles is applied to the brush roll, whereby toner particles are scraped off by electrostatic attraction, and cleaning is performed. The blade method has a problem with durability resulting from turning up of the blade or others. Thus, the fur brush method characterized by a smaller contact load is preferably used.
However, toner particles deposited on the transfer sheet conveyance belt are polarized; for example, they are negatively charged as a whole. Each toner particle, however, may be different in the electric charge amount and the toner particles of reverse polarity (positively charged) are present. FIG. 2 is a diagram representing a typical electric charge amount distribution of negatively charged toner particles. In the fur brush method, cleaning is made by electrostatically attracting toner particles by the brush roll. This makes it possible to clean the toner particles of the polarity (negative) reverse to that (positive) applied to the brush roll. However, the toner particles having the polarity (positive) reverse to that of the toner particles and having a smaller amount of electric charge pass under the brush roll without being removed by cleaning and are deposited on the rear surface of the next transfer sheet, thereby causing contamination.
For the cleaning of the transfer sheet conveyance belt, a proposal has been made of an apparatus wherein a cleaning electric field is formed between the conductive cleaning member arranged in contact with the surface of the belt-shaped member with toner particles deposited thereon, and the conductive opposed member (urging roller) arranged to face the cleaning member through the belt-shaped member, the conductive opposed member has an elastic characteristic, and the cleaning member and elastic opposed member are pressed against each other through a belt-shaped member (for example, see Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-40897).
In the Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-40897, voltage with a polarity reverse to a charging polarity of toner particles is applied to the cleaning roller to form the cleaning electric field. This electric field ensures that the toner particles attached to the belt-shaped member are moved toward the cleaning roller member so that the surface of the belt-shaped member is cleaned. Further, the contact pressure between the cleaning member and belt-shaped member is kept constant, thereby maintaining excellent cleaning performances. This arrangement avoids cleaning failure of the transfer sheet conveying member and prevents such a trouble as contamination on the rear of the transfer sheet.
However, as described above, the toner particles having the polarity (positive) reverse to that of the toner particles and having a smaller amount of electric charge pass under the cleaning roll without being removed by cleaning, and are deposited on the rear surface of the next transfer sheet, thereby causing contamination in some case. The Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-40897 fails to consider the toner particles passing under the cleaning roller and does not mention any solution to this problem.
One aspect of the present invention is a cleaning device for cleaning a transfer sheet conveyance belt, wherein a toner image of an image carrier formed by an image forming section is transferred onto a transfer sheet while the transfer sheet is placed on and conveyed by the transfer sheet conveyance belt, the cleaning device including: a first brush roll rotating in contact with the surface of the transfer sheet conveyance belt, the first brush roll being provided with a voltage with a polarity reverse to a charging polarity of toner particles; and a second brush roll arranged downstream of the first brush roll in a moving direction of the transfer sheet conveyance belt and rotating in contact with the surface of the transfer sheet conveyance belt, the second brush roll being provided with a voltage with the same polarity as the charging polarity of the toner particles.

Cleaning device and image forming apparatus provided therewith

Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.


An adjustable tripod stand having independently adjustable legs that includes an upright tube member for supporting an object, such as a drum, at its upper end. Independently movable collar members slidably mounted on the upright member and longitudinally adjustable relative to and past one another and to an upright portion for selective positioning thereon. A releasable fastener on the collars secures them to the upright member at selected positions. Three movable leg members are connected at their upper ends, two to one of the collar members and one to the other collar member. Movement of the collar members permits the stand to be erected in limited or confined areas. The stand preferably includes a leg extender member slidably mounted on the exterior one of the leg members, which is movable a selected distance permitting the stand to be positioned on different levels, such as stairs.

Tripod stands are desirable for supporting various articles and instruments since they provide selective height adjustment and a stable support. They are particularly useful is supporting such things as cameras, video equipment, telescopes, surveying instruments, and musical instruments. Tripod stands for drums, however, raise special problems when used on steps or stairs of an auditorium or stadium.
There are several patents that describe various adjustable tripod stand devices. Bruneau U.S. Pat. No. 1,517,825 shows a tripod support for a table having adjustable legs.
Ley U.S. Pat. No. 1,894,695 shows another tripod support for a table having adjustable legs.
Boehm, U.S. Pat. No. 3,570,130 discloses a holding device for surveying instruments which includes a channel-like mounting bracket with a pair of instrument gripping clamps and a pair of adjustable legs thereon which cooperate with the instrument to form a tripod type support for supporting the instrument in a reference position.
This invention is an improvement over May U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,910. It is distinguished over the prior art in general, and these patents in particular by an adjustable tripod stand with independently adjustable legs which comprises a longitudinal extensible upright portion of telescoping tubular members, a plurality of collar members slidably mounted on the upright portion which are longitudinally adjustable relative to one another and to the upright portion for selective positioning thereon, and a plurality of movable leg members are operatively connected to upper and lower collar members for selective independent longitudinal positioning and radial extension relative to the upright portion and to one another. One leg of the tripod is adjustable in length, a sufficient amount, to permit support on two different stairs or steps of an auditorium or stadium.
When the upper leg supporting collar and the corresponding lower collar are moved toward each other on the upright portion, the bottom of the leg connected thereto will be extended radially outward to be positioned an unequal distance from the center of the upright portion relative to the other legs, and the upper leg supporting collar and the corresponding lower collar are moved away from each other, the bottom of the leg connected thereto will be drawn radially inward to be positioned an unequal distance from the center of the upright portion relative to the other legs. The one adjustable leg of the tripod allows the stand to be erected on multi-level surfaces.
Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components.


A transmitter includes first generator to generate pilot source signal by modulating pilot sequence, second generator to generate data source signal with time length longer than that of pilot source signal by modulating data sequence, first cyclic shifter to perform cyclic shift of first shift amount to pilot source signal to generate first pilot signal, second cyclic shifter to performs cyclic shift of second shift amount to data source signal to generate first data signal, third cyclic shifter to perform cyclic shift of third shift amount to pilot source signal to generate second pilot signal, fourth cyclic shifter to perform cyclic shift of fourth shift amount to data source signal to generate second data signal, first transmit antenna to transmit first pilot signal and first data signal, and second transmit antenna to transmit second pilot signal and second data signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a transmission method, a transmitter and a receiver for a multi antenna wireless communication system using cyclic delay diversity.
2. Description of the Related Art
Transmit antenna diversity that is one of transmit diversity techniques for wireless communication transmits the same signals from a plurality of antennas. As for the transmit antenna diversity, space time block coding (STBC) which makes transmission data blocks, operates its code, and changes the transmission order then transmits data; and cyclic delay diversity (CDD) which simultaneously transmits signals subjected to cyclic shift for blocks have been well known.
In the CCD, as described, for example, in G. Bauch and J. S. Malik, "Parameter optimization, interleaving and multiple access in OFDM with cyclic delay diversity," VTC-2004 spring, Vol. 1, pp. 505-509 (2004) (hereinafter, referred to as Document 1), a transmitter transmits data signal from one antenna, and also it transmits the same data signal with the cyclic shift performed thereto from other antennas. In a receiver, the data signals transmitted from each antenna of the transmitter are mixed and received.
Cyclic-shifted signals have high velocity phase rotation in frequency domain. Therefore, mixing the cyclic-shifted signals with the not cyclic-shifted signals makes frequencies intensifying the signals mutually and frequencies weakening the signals mutually on a frequency domain at short frequency intervals. Thereby, the CCD eliminates burst power drop in the frequency directions. Therefore, if error correction coding has been implemented as well as transmission data has fully interleaved in the frequency directions, the CCD may fully exert error correction ability in the receiver, and may expect improving reception performance.
In the technique in the Document 1, the CCD requires an amplitude reference and phase reference for demodulating a spectrum varying with a high velocity in the frequency domain in order to demodulate received signals. The transmitter has to transmit pilot signals defied in a system to estimate channels from a plurality of antennas prior to the data signals.
Each pilot signal being a redundant signal not directly contributing to a data transmission, the use of the pilot signals with long time lengths causes a reduction in transmission efficiency of data. Therefore, a short pilot signal length (time length) is desired. However, although the Document 1 refers to a cyclic shift amount of the data signal, it does not refer to a cyclic shift amount of the pilot signal and the pilot signal length.
The object of the present invention is to shorten a pilot signal length as much as possible while enjoying an effect of the CDD to improve the data transmission efficiency.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Transmission method, transmitter, and receiver for multi antenna wireless communication system


Methods and systems are provided for measuring the zeta potential of macroscopic solid surfaces including and not limited to: porous samples, flat substrates, coarse particles, and granular samples. Methods include: subjecting the sample to an injection of a first aqueous solution at an initial pressure with an initial ion concentration; measuring a first electrical conductivity and a first temperature of the first aqueous solution; measuring a first pH and a second pH of the first aqueous solution immediately before and after passing the first aqueous solution through the sample; measuring a first ion concentration and a second ion concentration of the first aqueous solution immediately before and after passing the first aqueous solution through the sample; and processing the measured data to derive a first zeta potential from the first electrical conductivity and the first temperature.

Streaming potential is the voltage difference (ΔV) that arises when a liquid is forced to flow through a porous media by a pressure gradient. When a solid surface is contacted with a liquid medium, a charge forms on the surface, inducing a surface potential, which is balanced by an equal and opposite charge in the liquid medium. An electrical double layer is formed in which two parallel layers of charge surround a surface—a stationary layer formed on the surface and a diffuse layer of ions attracted to the charged stationary layer. The electrical double layer exists within a slipping plane, where liquid between a surface and slipping plane moves tangentially along the surface, and liquid beyond the slipping plane moves within the surrounding liquid. The electric potential at the slipping plane region is referred to as the zeta (←-) potential.
The ζ-potential is calculated from the slope of the streaming potential (E) versus pressure (P) using the classical Helmholtz-Smoluchowski formula:
  ζ  =            λη                                      E              ɛ            P      where ε is the permittivity, λ is the electrical conductivity, and η is the viscosity of the solution. Thus, for a given material, the permittivity ε, electrical conductivity λ, and viscosity η are all known constants resulting in the zeta potential ζ being proportional to the ratio of the streaming potential (E) and the differential pressure (P) across the porous media.
Streaming potential measurements are applied in fields ranging from geology to medicine. For example, in the medical field, streaming potential measurements may be used to study bone growth, repair, and remodeling. Streaming potential measurements may also be applied in the oil and gas industry to evaluate subterranean formations and aid in development of improved methods of enhanced oil recovery.
Current methods of measuring ζ-potential of calcium carbonate solutions are obtained using a system in which the solid and the liquid are in equilibrium. While ζ-potential measurements are performed in closed systems, effluent samples are commonly collected in an environment open to atmosphere. Such practice underestimates the impact of CO2 dissolution on correctly evaluating processes that take place at a gas-liquid interface, as CO2 dissolution directly affects pH and ion concentration (Ca2+ and CO32−) of a liquid solution, which are metrics used to derive the ζ-potential.

In-line monitoring of zeta potential measurements


A model head including a jaw insert having layers of varying materials replicating the anatomical features of a human jaw. The jaw may include a mock nerve system that provides a signal to indicate the condition of the nerve. The jaw also may include a circulatory system including vessels that simulate the bleeding that occurs when a vessel in a human has been damaged.

The present invention relates to dental patient models for performing dental procedures.
To develop skills, learn new techniques or demonstrate new products in the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery, it is beneficial for the student or practitioner to have the opportunity to perform surgical procedures on a repeated basis. Unfortunately, there are not always enough patients to provide a steady supply of opportunities. Furthermore, many patients tend to have different and unique problems, which does not allow equal and consistent opportunities.
In addition, the treatment protocol for which the student and practitioner need training may call for a series of procedures. For instance, the protocol may include site preparation and restoration, grafting, impressions, and prosthetic implantation, each of which may require a recovery time or preparation time in between each procedure. Accordingly, a treatment protocol may span over a year or more, thereby making it difficult to experience and fully appreciate the entire procedure. Therefore, it would be beneficial to perform lengthy protocols in a simulated and accelerated manner.
As an alternative to patients, cadavers are used for practicing procedures. However, because each cadaver presents a unique dental problem and the condition of a cadaver may be unpredictable, it is difficult to provide an equal basis for practice using cadavers. This also makes it difficult to assess performance relative to others.
As an alternative to both patients and cadavers, models have been developed to simulate a human head with a jaw designed for dental procedures. For example, these models have included a cart with dental equipment, such as a flushing device, drills, a suction device, and a model head mounted thereon. The model head includes a jaw opening, a model jaw insert, and non-functional eyes. The model jaw insert is disposed within the model head and is accessible through the jaw opening. The jaw insert includes teeth on which dental procedures can be performed. The human models have a number of shortcomings associated with their rudimentary structure and, consequently, do not provide a vivid, realistic experience in performing many surgical procedures.
Accordingly, a need remains for a patient model that can provide a more realistic and consistent opportunity to perform both routine and complex oral surgical procedures.


A method and system for compiling multiple source language files that share a common library. The common library is represented in a common language that can be used by multiple different source languages. Font end compiler systems read the common language files that make up the common library and the source language files that use the library. Additionally, the front end systems produce common language files. The common language files produced by the front end systems can be used in the common library. The common language files may also be supplied to a back end system or runtime environment that further compiles the common language file to an executable form and executes the file. At runtime, the common language file is used by the runtime environment to layout the objects and methods used during execution.

Compilers are computer programs that read applications or programs written in one language, i.e., a source language such as a high-level programming language, and convert the source language program into a second language, i.e., a target language. Additionally, compilers typically perform other functions, such as reporting errors and importing other files or libraries for use by the source language file. The product of a compilation is typically a machine code language that can be executed directly on a particular processor in a particular operating environment.
Generally, the compilation process involves two parts, a front end portion for doing analysis and a back end portion for performing synthesis. The front end analysis parses the source language file, checks for lexical, grammatical or syntactic problems, and creates an intermediate representation of the source language file. The synthesis step analyzes the intermediate representation of the source language file and generates the target language file from the intermediate representation. The back end synthesis primarily depends on a particular target machine and is relatively independent of the source language used in creating the source file. On the other hand, the front end analysis depends primarily on the specific source language used and is relatively independent of the target machine.
There are at least three types of high-level programming languages in use today. The primary types of languages may be classified as procedural languages, functional languages, and object oriented programming languages. Additionally, each specific programming language has an associated library of functions that may be used by a software developer using that language. For example, almost every programming language has an input/output library of functions to allow the user to read information from an input device, such as from a file or a keyboard, and to write information to an output device such as a file, a display or a printer. In order to use this library of functions, the source language file has an "include" or "import" statement that indicates to the compiler the name of the desired library file.
During compile time, a language-specific compiler reads the source language file, determines that a library declarations file is needed and continues by reading the library declarations file. Importantly, in order for the library declarations file to be handled by the compiler, the library declarations file must be written in the native language for that compiler, i.e., the same language as the source language file. For example, if a user writes a source level program in C++ and the program uses a library declarations file, such as "stdio.h", then the library declarations file must be written in C++ so that the C++ compiler can read and understand the library declarations file. At runtime, the resulting executable program must execute along with a library program file that supplies the implementation of those items from the library declarations file actually used by the source language program written by the user.
One particular drawback associated with front end portions of compilers relates to the fact that only one type of source language file can be "consumed" by a particular front end. That is, compilers only compile files written in a particular source language and are not flexible in receiving other source language files. Moreover, the library declarations files that are imported by a compiler must also be written in the particular source language associated with a particular compiler. Unfortunately, different source languages provide benefits or advantages in performing some functions over other programming languages and many such benefits are associated with specific library functions. Since compilers for one language cannot use a library declarations file written in another language, library declarations files are often translated or rewritten into other source languages so that the library functions may be used by other source languages.
It is with respect to these considerations and others that the present invention has been made.

Method and system for compiling multiple languages


Disclosed is an SIMD-type microprocessor comprising a processor element group, plural processor elements with an operation part and a register file being arranged therein and a processor element control signal generator configured to output a processor element control signal controlling an operation of the processor element, wherein a feed part configured to feed a processor element control signal output from the processor element control signal generator to the processor element is provided at a center of the processor element group.

1. Technical Field
This disclosure relates to an SIMD-type microprocessor, a method of processing data, an image data processing system, and a method of processing image data.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, improvement of image quality, such as increase of the number of picture elements or impartation of a coloring function is intended in an image processing device such as a digital copying machine or a facsimile apparatus. Then, the number of data that should be processed increases with the improvement of image quality.
Meanwhile, in regard to data processing in an image processing device such as a copying machine, identical processing operations are frequently applied to all of the picture elements. Therefore, an SIMD-type microprocessor is frequently used in which identical processing operations are simultaneously applied to plural data by one command.
FIG. 1 illustrates an SIMD-type microprocessor according to a related art. An SIMD-type microprocessor 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 is composed of a global processor 101, a processor element group 102, and an external input/output 103, wherein predetermined processing operations are applied to image data read from an image memory 104 connected to the SIMD microprocessor 100.
The global processor 101 is a so-called SISD (Single Instruction-stream, Single Data-stream)-type processor which includes a program RAM and a data RAM, interprets a program, and generates various kinds of control signals. The control signals are also fed to register files or an operation array of the processor element group 102, as described below, as well as included blocks. Furthermore, the GP (global processor) conducts various kinds of processing operations and a program control operation using an included generalized register, ALU (arithmetic and logic unit) and the like at the time of executing a command.
In the processor element group 102, plural register files 102a are arranged linearly and plural operation parts 102b are also arranged linearly. On the register files 102a, data to be proceeded by processor elements are held. The control of data reading from/writing into the register files 102a is conducted through controlling of the global processor 101. The data read by controlling the global processor 101 are sent to the operation parts 102b, subjected to processing operations on the operation parts 102b, and subsequently written into the register files 102a. Furthermore, the register files 102a are accessible from the outside of the SIMD-type microprocessor 100 and reading/writing of a specified register is/are conducted from the outside besides the control of the global processor 101. On the operation parts 102b, processing operations are conducted according to a PE (processor element) command. All of the controls of the processing operations according to the PE command are conducted through the global processor 101.
On the external input/output 103, original image data to be processed are read from the image memory 104 and written into the register files 102a of the processor element group 102 or processed image data are read from the register files 102a and written into the read image memory 104.
On the image memory 104, original image data to be processed are stored and processed image data are also stored.
When the number of PEs (the number of the register files 102a and operation parts 102b) is increased in order to improve the throughput of the SIMD-type microprocessor 100 as described above, the length of a control signal line extending from a driving circuit of a PE control signal generator included in the global processor or the like to the terminal of the processor element group 102 (signal line for conducting the control of processing operations according to a PE command) becomes very long.
For example, as described with reference to FIG. 2, the difference between the delay times of a PED arranged near the global processor 101 in the processor element group 102 and a PEn arranged at the end terminal (the most remote one) is large due to the difference between the lengths of wires of the control signal lines and therefore it may be difficult to increase the operation frequency relating to the throughput.
Against such a problem, for example, a method as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication H08-212169 has been suggested. Japanese Patent Application Publication H08-212169 discloses an array processor in which registers between adjacent n processor elements are grouped and a common bus is set to provide each group with one control signal line.
In the method as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. H08-212169, however, there is a problem that it may be difficult to connect the registers between the adjacent processor elements by means of a read bus and write bus so as to conduct, for example, a process for shifting plural processor elements, rewriting the data of a specified processor element, or the like. Furthermore, the wiring delay between the control signals for a processor element near a command sequence control part and an end terminal processor element has not been taken into consideration in the method as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. H08-212169. Therefore, it has been difficult to increase the operation frequency relating to the throughput.

SIMD processor with each processing element receiving buffered control signal from clocked register positioned in the middle of the group


The present invention refers to a method of treating and preparing food in a cooking device, in which a plurality of cooking parameters can be set, wherein the cooking process is carried out by means of an adjustable cooking program, wherein the setting of the cooking parameters is carried out by an input device. By means of the input device a point in an at least two-dimensional map is controlled by the operator of the cooking device, in which at least two cooking parameters are defined, and the adjusted point is implemented into the cooking program as part of the cooking process. The present invention also comprises a control panel for a cooking device, in particular for a steam cooking device and a cooking device equipped with this control panel.

Methods of treating and preparing food by means of various cooking devices have been known for many years. In carrying out the cooking process, one must select from a number of different parameters. Conventionally, a selection is made from one of the operating modes offered by a cooking device that is dependent on the food to be cooked. Operating modes of this type are, for instance, hot air, steaming, frying, regenerating, etc.
After the mode of operation has been selected, a selection from other parameters takes place which correspond to this mode of operation. In addition to the selected mode of operation, these selections must be input by the person operating the cooking device, such as the temperature, humidity, etc., and these values must be input independent of one another in successive steps.
The process of cooking food is usually carried out by way of one or more programed steps, e.g. heating-up, steaming, roasting and subsequent browning, wherein each individual step must be selected by the operator who then inputs the respective parameters.
The input is conventionally made on a display panel having a line-shaped structure that shows the corresponding choices in parameters as a plurality of lines and allowing each parameter to be controlled, e.g. by means of a rotary knob. When reaching the correct value, the parameter is selected by pressing a certain confirmation key for this program step.

Method of treating and preparing food in a cooking device, control panel for a cooking device and cooking device comprising a control panel


An ink ribbon cartridge for a printer according to the present invention is one in which drive side shaft portions and driven side shaft portions of a ribbon supplying spool shaft wound up with an unused ribbon and a ribbon take-up spool shaft for winding a used ribbon are rotatably received respectively by drive side bearing means and driven side bearing means of a housing formed of only a lower shell. The drive side bearing means have U-letter shaped drive side bearing portions having shaft disengagement stopping portions at opening portions into which the drive side shaft portions are inserted from the top, flange receiving portions at the outside of the bearing portions on the same plane for receiving flanges of the drive side shaft portions, and slits formed with upper portions cut off and between the drive side bearing portions and the flange receiving portions making the drive side bearing portions capable of being elastically deformed toward the slits. The driven side bearing means form U-letter shaped driven side bearing portions having shaft disengagement stopping portions at opening portions into which the driven side shaft portions are inserted from the top, and spool pushing springs located at the back of the driven side shaft receiving portions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ink ribbon cartridge used for a printing apparatus for printing a recorded picture such as a video image or the like as a hard copy, a so-called color photograph or the like and which housed in is a spool shaft with an ink ribbon wound therearound.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional ink ribbon cartridge will be described with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view under a state where the ink ribbon cartridge is disassembled, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view under a state where the ink ribbon cartridge is assembled.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ink ribbon cartridge consists of a lower shell 40, an upper shell 41 and an ink ribbon unit 1.
Firstly, a construction of the lower shell 40 will be described. The lower shell 40 has a pair of semicircular spool shaft receiving units 42, 43 and both the end portions of both the spool shaft receiving portions 42, 43 are integrally connected with wall plates 44, 45, respectively. One wall plate 44 is provided with bearing apertures 46, 47 in which are pivotally received drive side shaft portions of both spool shafts of the ink ribbon unit 1, which will be described later on, and the other wall plate 45 is provided with U-letter shaped bearing portions 48, 49 corresponding to the bearing apertures 46, 47, respectively by which driven side shaft portions of both the spool shafts are pivotally received. A portion between both the above-mentioned spool shaft receiving portions 42, 43 is made as an opening portion 50. Besides, ribs 51, 51 are formed on outer side edge portions of both the spool shaft receiving portions 42, 43, respectively.
On the other hand, the upper shell 41 has an opening portion 52 the same size as the opening 50 in the lower shell 40 through its upper surface, and constitutes a housing of the ink ribbon cartridge after being combined with the lower shell 40. In addition, the upper shell 41 has also ribs 53, 53 formed on its outer side surface portions.
On the other hand, the ink ribbon unit 1 is constructed as follows. There are provided a ribbon supply spool shaft 2 wound up with an unused ink ribbon 3 and a number 4 is a ribbon takeup spool shaft 4 for winding a used ink ribbon. At one end portions of both the spool shafts 2, 4 there are respectively provided hollow drive side shaft portions 5, 6 by way of flanges 5a, 6a. On internal circumferential surfaces of the drive side shaft portions 5, 6 are respectively formed projections not shown in the figure which will engage with drive shafts of the printer.
Further, at the other ends of both the spool shafts 2, 4 there are respectively provided driven side shaft portions 7, 8. Further, a ribbon code reading ring 9 is rotatably supported by a shaft portion between the ribbon supply spool 2 and the driven side shaft portion 7.
In order to assemble the ink ribbon cartridge having parts constructed as above, firstly the drive side shaft portions 5, 6 of both the spools 2, 4 of the ink ribbon unit 1 are pivotally received by the bearing apertures 46, 47 of the lower shell 40 respectively, and then the driven side shaft portions 7, 8 are pivotally received by the driven side shaft bearing portions 48, 49 respectively to thereby house both the spool shafts 2, 4 in the spool shaft receiving units 42, 43. Thereafter, the upper shell 41 is united with the lower shell 40, and then the contacting portion of the ribs 51, 53 of the both shells 40, 41 is melt-fixed by a spot welding 54 or the like, whereby the ink ribbon cartridge is constructed as shown in FIG. 2.
Accordingly, a part of the ink ribbon 3 which traverses from the ribbon supply spool shaft 2 to the ribbon winding-side shaft 4 is exposed from the opening portions 50, 52 of both the shells 40, 41. Further, the ribbon code reading ring 9 is made to be exposed outside partially from recesses 40a, 41a formed respectively in both the shells 40, 41.
By the way, when the above mentioned conventional ink ribbon cartridge is loaded on a printer apparatus and used for printing action. When the ink ribbon is used up once, the ink ribbon cartridge can not be reused, resulting in being discarded. There is no damages whatsoever, however, to functions of the lower shell 40 and the upper shell 41 which constructs the housing of the cartridge. Therefore, it is possible to reuse the cartridge if the ink ribbon unit is taken out from the inside of the shells, but in view of a product state of the cartridge it is difficult to separate both the shells 40, 41 because they are melt-fixed. Even if they are separated, damages are done to the shell itself, so in the past there has been no other way but to dump all the ink ribbon cartridge, which is not economical.
Further, at a time of dumping the ink ribbon cartridge, sorting out the used ink ribbon, the shells and the spool shafts has to be done after disassembling the given cartridge, so the sorting-out work therefor is troublesome. At the same time, when burning, the shells an incinerating furnace is necessary capable of enduring a high temperature, which has demanded much trouble with the dumping process.
On the other hand, an ink ribbon cartridge with a replaceable ink ribbon unit relative to a housing of the cartridge has been on the market, but the exchange of the ink ribbon unit requires much time in the replacing work and hence in some cases, quality of the ink ribbon may be impaired.


A method for processing a multi-directional X-ray computed tomography (CT) image using a neural network and an apparatus therefor are provided. The method includes receiving a predetermined number of multi-directional X-ray CT data and reconstructing an image for the multi-directional X-ray CT data using a neural network learned in each of an image domain and a sinogram domain.

Embodiments of the inventive concept described herein relate to a method for processing a multi-directional X-ray computed tomography (CT) image and an apparatus therefor, and more particularly, relate to an image processing method for reconstructing a multi-directional X-ray CT image as a high-quality image using a neural network learned in each of an image domain and a sinogram domain and an apparatus therefor.
As terrorist threats occur in nearby areas in our daily lives, security awareness is increasing day by day. Like such increased security awareness is reflected, the level of screening and security for baggage in various areas, particularly, railroads, harbors, and airports, is rising. A security system about general baggage in airports is a two-dimensional X-ray explosive detection system (2D EDS). The 2D EDS captures bidirectional X-ray images. An inspector inspects the fluoroscopy images and determines whether there is a risk. For the 2D EDS, there is a possibility that a detection rate about hidden dangerous objects will be degraded because of determining whether there is a risk of baggage based on the fluoroscopy images. To address such problems, a variety of research have been conducted.
In an existing technology, a stationary CT EDS uses fixed X-ray sources and detectors, making the system suitable for routine carry-on baggage inspection. FIGS. 1A and 1B are drawings illustrating source and detector geometry of the stationary CT EDS according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1A, nine pairs of X-ray source and dual energy detector in the opposite direction are distributed at a certain angular interval. For seamless screening without stopping the convey belt, each pair of source and detector are arranged along the z-direction as shown in FIG. 1B so that different projection view data may be collected while the carry-on baggage moves continuously on the conveyor belt. Then, 9-view fan beam projection data is obtained for each z-slice by rebinning the measurement data. This type of stationary CT system is suitable for EDS applications because it does not require a rotating gantry, but with only 9 projection views it is difficult to use a conventional filtered-backprojection (FBP) algorithm due to severe streaking artifacts. Therefore, advanced reconstruction algorithms with fast reconstruction time are required.
In another existing technology, there is research using a sparse-view CT EDS, and this is the model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR) of the CT system. Because of using a rotating gantry-based CT system, general CT EDS equipment gives the mechanical overload to a rotating gantry when driven during long time. Moreover, although the mechanical overload is ignored, because the MBIR should iteratively perform the CT system operator, a high operation time is taken. This has the limitation in being actually operated in railroads, harbors, and airports, which require a number of baggage screening during short time.
Recently, research on the CT reconstruction technique using the neural network has been actively conducted. It is known that the reconstruction technique using the neural network shows excellent performance although time for performing reconstruction is very short.

Method for processing multi-directional X-ray computed tomography image using artificial neural network and apparatus therefor

Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology


Compositions and methods for generating platelets and methods of use thereof are disclosed.

Several publications and patent documents are cited throughout the specification in order to describe the state of the art to which this invention pertains. Full citations of these references can be found throughout the specification. Each of these citations is incorporated herein by reference as though set forth in full.
Platelets are critical for hemostasis and are anucleate cellular fragments derived from megakaryocytes (Kaushansky, K. (2008) Blood 111:981-6). Platelets also have important roles in angiogenesis and inflammation (Browder et al. (2000) J. Biol. Chem., 275:1521-4; May et al. (2008) Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., s5-10). Transfusions of platelets are used in diverse clinical settings, including individuals with decreased platelet production, for example, secondary to chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia (CIT) (Benjamin et al. (2002) Crit. Rev. Oncol. Hematol., 42:163-71), and those with increased platelet destruction, for example, in patients with disseminated intravascular coagulopathies (Dempfle, C. E. (2004) Thromb. Haemost., 91:213-24). In 2001 in the USA, platelet transfusions totaled 10,196,000 units, an increase of 12.6% from 1999 (Sullivan et al. (2007) Transfusion 47:385-394). The use of single-donor apheresis platelets increased at the same time by 26% to 7,582,000 platelet concentrate units.
While the number of platelet donors is increasing, there is still a significant donor shortage due to the growing population of patients with serious illnesses associated with thrombocytopenia and hemorrhage (Sullivan et al. (2007) Transfusion, 47:385-394). At present, platelet transfusions are limited by their short storage half-life, apheresis requiring a donor to undergo a 2-hour procedure, and units varying significantly both qualitatively and quantitatively (Kaufman, R. M. (2006) Hematology Am. Soc. Hematol. Educ. Progr., 492-6; Heddle et al. (2008) Transfusion 48:1447-589; Garner et al. (2008) Transfusion 48:673-80). Because platelets have to be stored at room temperature, these units have the highest incidence of bacterial contamination (Eder et al. (2007) Transfusion 47:1134-42). Even with leuko-reduction to remove contaminating white cells, there is still a high incidence of inhibitors developing in multiply transfused patients (Seftel et al. (2004) Blood 103:333-9). Thus, the use of donor-derived platelets raises the following concerns: variability of quality and quantity, risk of infectious transmission, short lifespan of stored platelets, bacterial contamination during storage, and development of alloantibodies in multi-transfused patients. These problems highlight a need for new strategies to generate platelets for infusion therapy.
Thrombopoiesis, the process by which circulating platelets arise from megakaryocytes remains incompletely understood. In vitro studies suggest that platelets form nodes at tips of proplatelet strands (Italiano et al. (1999) J. Cell. Biol., 147:1299-1312). However, direct visualization of live calvaria marrow using multiphoton intravital microscopy suggests that megakaryocytes release large cytoplasmic fragments into the vasculature (Junt et al. (2007) Science 317:1767-1770), which must then undergo reorganization into platelets. Studies based on morphologic analysis and quantification of megakaryocyte-like polyploid nuclei in the pulmonary venous system suggested that megakaryocytes release platelets in the lungs (Zucker-Franklin et al. (2000) Am. J. Pathol., 157:69-74). Derivation of platelets from megakaryocytes in culture has been reported (Choi et al. (1995) Blood 85:402-413) but has been difficult to quantitatively upscale. Present day efforts to develop platelets ex vivo have met with very limited and not clinically relevant results. To date, the best published result from infused in vitro produced platelets used irradiated mice with low platelet counts (˜104/μl) (Nishikii et al. (2008) J. Exp. Med., 205:1917-1927). Peak percent donor platelet counts were still only 1%-2%.

Compositions and methods for the generation of platelets and methods of use thereof


The design and construction of past piston assemblies having a wrist pin bolted to a connecting rod had excessive structural components requiring more complex machining procedures and tooling. Additionally, the loading and bolting patterns allowed the wrist pin to flex about the central axis of the piston assembly causing ultimate failure of the design. The present invention overcomes these problems by providing a piston assembly utilizing a bifurcated connecting rod and a piston having a pair of outer legs and a central leg. The outer legs and the central leg contact a wrist pin in three locations substantially distributing the forces across the wrist pin uniformly. A connecting means centrally connects the piston assembly shortening the overall length of the piston assembly. This results in a simplified forging or casting process, a more easily machinable piston, and a higher reliability design with improved load capacity.

Present day engines are being manufactured to produce a compact package offering improved fuel economy, longer service life, and greater power output per cylinder. The engines are constantly being upgraded in order to accomplish these goals thereby subjecting the piston assemblies to higher combustion chamber pressures and temperatures. It is for that reason that emphasis has been placed over the past several years on finding new and economical means to manufacture a piston assembly capable of withstanding these higher combustion chamber pressures and temperatures.
The goal of the prior art piston assemblies was to provide economical piston assemblies by reducing excessive weight and limiting structural components. The prior art piston assemblies included a two piece articulated piston assembly with a wrist pin attached to an upper piston member, resulting in reduced piston assembly weight, a simplified skirt or crown geometry, and improved manufacturability. However, the wrist pin is attached to the piston member by extending a bolt through the wrist pin and into the upper piston member on opposing sides of the connecting rod. Due to the high combustion pressures experienced during operation of present day engines, the bolting pattern and loading design of the prior art allows the wrist pin to flex about the central axis of the piston assembly causing ultimate failure of the design. Required bolt access on the piston underside also limits the connecting rod bearing length, and thereby, piston load capacity.
In other prior art piston assemblies, the wrist pin is attached to the connecting rod by bolts extending through the connecting rod into the wrist pin. A pair of struts or connecting members extend from an upper piston member and surround the wrist pin making a more complicated and expensive part to manufacture.
Another example of a piston assembly is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,810,423 issued to Roscoe J. Hatch on Jun. 16, 1931 wherein a one piece piston assembly has the piston member attached to the wrist pin by extending bolts through the piston member and into the wrist pin on opposing sides of the connecting rod. This prior art design may experience flexing of the wrist pin about the central axis of the piston assembly due to the bolting pattern and loading design. In addition, the one piece design results in a longer and more complicated piston assembly resulting in more costly manufacturing. Furthermore, the piston assembly disclosed by Hatch is made from aluminum with small bearings designed for the automotive industry. Therefore, the piston assembly would not withstand the pressures necessary for present day heavy duty diesel engines.
In another example, UK Pat. No. GB2,198,210A issued to Michael Ledsham Price Rhodes on Jun. 8, 1988, discloses a piston assembly. The piston having a bifurcated connecting rod and a piston member which has a central boss and two outer bosses which contact the wrist pin on three mounting surfaces. However, the one piece design results in a longer and more complicated piston assembly including a pair of struts or connecting members which surround the wrist pin resulting in increased weight for the piston assembly. The longer one piece design, including the pair of struts, is more complicated and expensive to manufacture. Furthermore, as with Hatch, the piston assembly disclosed by Rhodes is made from aluminum with small bearings designed for the automotive industry. Therefore, the piston assembly would not withstand the pressures necessary for present day heavy duty diesel engines.
The present invention discloses an attachment method which provides an inexpensive, compact design for maximum load capacity without complicated manufacturing and machining requirements. The present invention also increases the bearing area across the wrist pin increasing overall stability and reliability of the piston assembly.

Piston assembly with distributed loading and centrally fastened wrist pin


A method for processing access requests and a web browser are disclosed. In one embodiment, the processing method may be applied by a gateway maintaining a database containing, for each from among a plurality of computer virtualization platforms, at least one service provided by this platform and connection information to this platform. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving an access request to a computer virtualization service provided by a platform transmitted by a web browser of a terminal and, if the requested service is in the database, generating from associated connection information in the database with this service, a system application adapted to the service. The system application may be configured to connect to the platform to allow the terminal to negotiate the establishment and maintenance of a communication session with the latter. The method may also comprise sending the system application to the web browser.

The invention relates to the general field of telecommunications.
It more particularly relates to the field of computer virtualization techniques, such as the techniques which allow a virtual working environment to be generated, accessible via a workstation of a user.
In a known way, computer virtualization consists of installing and/or operating on one or several remote servers, an operating system or an application, and of sending back an image or a virtual representation of this operating system or of this application to the user on his/her terminal (for example on his/her workstation), this image being connected to the remote server(s) hosting the operating system or the application. Computer virtualization therefore relies on decoupling between hardware and software, totally transparent for the user.
It has many advantages for companies, notably in terms of maintenance and management of their installed computers. Moreover, they give the possibility of easily managing mobility of the users: a user is actually no longer dependent on his/her physical workstation but may connect to his/her workstation from different physical terminals.
Various solutions of computer virtualization exist in the present state of the art, and are proposed by providers of virtualization services via virtualization platforms (for example a server).
The VDI (for "Virtual Desktop Infrastructure") solution for example proposes the integration of the notion of computer virtualization into the working environment of the users. It consists of operating the operating system of each user workstation on a single central hosting server and of having each operating system converse with the workstation with which it is associated via a remote display procedure, which is based on a flow broadcasting protocol also known under the name of streaming protocol. The workstation of the user then only has on board a light client software package, i.e. requiring limited computer resources and not consuming much energy.
The VDI solution advantageously relies on a relatively simple architecture and provides large capability of customizing the working environment of the user.
However, the streaming protocol applied between the central hosting server and the workstations requires significant resources in terms of bandwidth, and stable connectivity. In the case of a small available bandwidth, display difficulties for certain flows on the workstations may be encountered.
Moreover, updating applications on-board operating systems via this solution may sometimes prove to be difficult to manage.
An alternative to the VDI solution is the SBC (for "Server-Based Computing") virtualization, which proposes centralized virtualization of applications. This solution consists of having remote applications operate on servers, and of sending back their image on the terminal of the user via a video flow broadcasting protocol. Only applications are virtualized according to the SBC solution (not the operating systems).
This solution gives the possibility of easily managing the application from end-to-end, and notably their installation/deinstallation and their maintenance.
However, like the VDI solution, it requires significant resources in terms of bandwidth. Moreover, incompatibilities may be encountered with certain applications because of their execution on a remote server rather than within the operating system of the workstation of the user.
Another proposed solution in the state of the art consists in the virtualization of applications and/or of operating systems based on a web interface. According to this solution, a web server provides application services (i.e. of contents) hosted by different servers and provides these services as a web page to the user thereby forming again a virtual desktop. Each operation carried out by the user on the web page is sent back towards the web server for being carried out. This solution generally relies on the HTML language (HyperText Markup Language) or one of its revisions such as the HTML 5 revision.
It has the advantage of consuming few resources because of the use of web pages. However, this solution does not have a very significant customization capability.
Thus, depending on the context in which is found the user and on his/her needs in terms of virtual environment, it may be proved to be meaningful to contemplate either one of these virtualization solutions. However, today no system exists allowing integration of distinct virtualization solutions such as for example the aforementioned VDI, SBC or virtualization solutions based on a web interface.

Method for processing access requests and web browser


A tape measure includes a housing that includes a frame and a mouthpiece body moveable mounted to the frame. The mouthpiece body includes a tape exit port that is moveable, advantageously rotatably, and may include an external recess aligned with the exit port. A measuring tape is supported by the housing and selectively deployable from the housing via the exit port. The movable exit port may allow the tape to enter the housing along a line that is tangent to the coil of tape rotatably supported by the housing. This tangency is advantageously maintained as the size of the coil changes due to the amount of tape therein. Other aspects and methods are also disclosed.

The present invention relates to a tape measure that utilizes a flexible tape blade that is deployable and retractable relative to an associated housing for taking distance measurements.
Tape measures typically include a housing and a measuring tape. The tape is selectively deployable from, and retractable into, the associated housing for taking a measurement and storage, respectively. The measuring tape is typically stored as a convolute coil inside the housing, with the lead section of the tape being routed through an opening in the housing called the mouth or tape exit port. During retraction, the tape may experience stresses due to various geometrical relationships, and may tend to whip back and forth, particularly as the last portions of the tape are retracted. Several approaches have been proposed for dealing with this situation. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,698,679, which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses that a sliding grip element may be used to help cushion the tape during retraction. However, the approach of the '679 patent, and other prior art approaches, have not proven completely satisfactory for all situations. Thus, there remains a need for alternative designs of tape measures, advantageously ones that allow the mouth of the tape measure housing to assist in reducing stresses experienced by the tape during retraction.


A semiconductor device includes a substrate having a first major surface; a semiconductor device structure over the first surface of the substrate, the device structure comprising an n-type semiconductor layer, and a p-type semiconductor layer over the n-type semiconductor layer; a p-side electrode having a first and a second surface, wherein the first surface is in electrical contact with the p-type semiconductor layer; and a p-side bonding pad over the p-side electrode. Preferably, the semiconductor device further comprises an n-side bonding pad over an n-type semiconductor layer. The p-side and n-side bonding pads each independently includes a gold layer as its top layer and a single or multiple layers of a diffusion barrier under the top gold layer. Optionally, one or more metal layers are further included under the diffusion barrier. Typically, the p-side bonding pad is formed on the p-side electrode. The n-side bonding pad typically is formed on the n-type semiconductor layer, and forms a good ohmic contact with the n-type semiconductor layer.

In a semiconductor device, such as a light-emitting diode (LED) or laser diode (LD), a layer of an n-type semiconductor material and a layer of a p-type semiconductor material are sequentially stacked on a suitable substrate, such as gallium arsenide, indium phosphide, silicon carbide or sapphire. In general, the n-type semiconductor layer is formed over the substrate layer, and the p-type semiconductor layer is formed above the n-type layer. In a typical example of an LED, a p-side electrode layer is formed on the p-type semiconductor layer, through which light is observed. In this device, the p-electrode layer must be very thin in order to be light transmissive, and thus, it is difficult to attach a bonding wire directly to it. Accordingly, a bonding pad is commonly used to attach the bonding wire, such as a gold wire, to the p-side electrode.
The bonding pad and electrode include one or more metal layers. Examples of the metal materials include nickel, copper, palladium, platinum and aluminum. In general, the top layer of the bonding pad is a gold layer because it can form a good bond with a gold wire. These metal layers are annealed at high temperature, for example, above 400° C. to obtain highly desirable electrical properties. During the high-temperature annealing process, metals in the bonding pad or in the electrode under the bonding pad, such as nickel, copper, palladium, platinum and aluminum, diffuse to the top surface of the bonding pad. In particular, nickel, copper, palladium, platinum and aluminum have a large diffusion coefficient through the grain boundaries of a top layer, for example, a gold layer, and diffusion of these materials can occur at temperatures as low as 100° C. The metal materials that diffuse to the top surface of the bonding pad are now subject to oxidation through various heat and/or chemical treatments associated with the fabrication of the semiconductor devices, rendering the surface of the bonding pad less suitable for subsequent wire bonding.
Similarly, diffusion of metal materials can also occur in an n-side electrode over an n-type semiconductor layer and a bonding pad for the n-side electrode or for the n-type semiconductor material during, for example, high temperature annealing, thereby weakening the bonding strength between a bonding wire and the bonding pad.
Therefore, there is a need for developing methods for reducing or preventing diffusion of oxidizable metal materials to the top surfaces of bonding pads.

Bonding pad for gallium nitride-based light-emitting devices


A method of removing a silver cladding from high temperature superconducting material clad in silver (HTS) is disclosed. The silver clad HTS is contacted with an aqueous solution of HNO.sub.3 followed by an aqueous solution of NH.sub.4 OH and H.sub.2 O.sub.2 for a time sufficient to remove the silver cladding from the superconducting material without adversely affecting the superconducting properties of the superconducting material. A portion of the silver cladding may be masked with a material chemically impervious to HNO.sub.3 and to a combination of NH.sub.4 OH and H.sub.2 O.sub.2 to preserve the Ag coating. A silver clad superconductor is disclosed, made in accordance with the method discussed.

In 1986 Bednorz and Muller disclosed that certain mixed phase compositions of La--Ba--Cu--O appeared to exhibit superconductivity beginning at an onset temperature of about 30.degree. K., over 7 degrees above the critical temperature of known Nb.sub.3 Ge compositions. Bednorz et al., Z. Phys. B., Condensed Matter, Vol. 64, pp. 189-198 (1986). The superconducting composition was determined to have a crystalline structure like that of K.sub.2 Ni.sub.1 F.sub.4, and is therefore referred to as a 214 composition. It has since been determined that whatever the rare earth metal or the alkaline earth metal constituent of such a 214 system may be, the upper temperature limit of superconducting onset, T.sub.CO, of superconductors of a 214 type crystalline structure is no greater than about 38.degree. K. Liquid helium is still required as the coolant for such a 214 type of material.
Following the discovery of superconductivity in a rare earth-alkaline earth Cu oxide system of a 214 crystalline structure, a new class of rare earth-alkaline earth-copper oxides was discovered which are superconductive at temperatures above the boiling point of liquid nitrogen, 77.degree. K. These new rare earth-alkaline earth-copper oxides are now recognized as one of three oxide systems, a YBaCuO system, a BiSrCaCuO (with Pb dopping) system and a TlBaCaCuO system. These high-temperature superconductors (HTS) are oxide ceramics but for industrial uses need to be sheathed in a good electrical conductor which will not chemically interfere with the superconducting properties, such as silver.
The unit cell formula for one class of HTS compounds is L.sub.1 M.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.6+.delta. (.delta.=0.1 to 1.0, preferably about 1.0) wherein the constituent, L, is yttrium, lanthanum, neodymium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, or lutetium, or mixtures thereof including mixtures with scandium, cerium, praseodymium, terbium and the alkaline earth constituent, M, is barium, strontium or mixtures thereof. Among this class of 123 HTS compounds, that most preferred is Y.sub.1 Ba.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.6+.delta..
The 123 HTS compounds have a perovskite related crystalline structure. The crystalline unit cell of such 123 compounds consists of three sub-cells in alignment along the crystallographic C-axis wherein the center of the middle subcell is occupied by a rare earth metal atom (L), the center of each end subcell is occupied by an alkaline earth metal atom (M), the corner positions of each subcell are occupied by copper atoms, and intermediate the copper atoms along the edges of the subcells are sites for occupation by oxygen atoms. X-ray and neutron powder diffraction studies indicate the structure of superconductive 123 compounds to be oxygen deficient and that the ordering of oxygen in the basal planes is critical to the existence of superconducting properties in such compounds. See C. Poole et al., Copper Oxide Superconductors (John Wiley & Sons 1988).
Studies indicate that when .delta. is between about 0.1 to about 0.6, the resulting 123 compound assumes a tetragonal unit cell crystallographic symmetry and is non-superconductive. In the tetragonal unit cell symmetry, the lattice dimension of the c axis is approximately 11.94 angstroms and that of the a and b axes is equal, approximately 3.9 angstroms. When .delta. is between 0.7 and 1.0, the resulting 123 compound has an orthorhombic unit cell crystallographic symmetry and is superconductive. The orientation of the oxygen atoms in the orthorhombic unit cell causes the unit cell to compress slightly along the a crystallographic axis and thus the lattice dimension of the a axis is less than that of the b axis. Lattice constants in the orthorhombic symmetry are about a=3.82, b=3.89 and c=11.55 angstroms.
For use in superconducting magnets, it is most efficient and desirable to produce a HTS in the form of a wire, ribbon, plate or cylindrical form. A wire/ribbon form enables the convenient fabrication of the wire-ribbon coils of the superconducting magnet. Yet, to have commercially practical application for superconducting magnets, the wire/ribbon in which a HTS compound is produced must have in the maximum field of the magnet a J.sub.c at a minimum order of 10.sup.3 A/cm.sup.2. For commercially practical applications in power transmissions lines, the wire/ribbon in which a HTS compound is produced must have in the maximum field of the magnet a J.sub.c of at least about 10.sup.3 to about 10.sup.5 A/cm.sup.2 in a magnetic field of about 1T.
The superconductivity of an ideal orthorhombic lattice network is anisotropic and it has been determined that the critical current density J.sub.c is greatest when measured along the axis in the a-b plane of the unit cell. However, articles composed of the orthorhombic compositions which have been produced by solid state reaction are granular and though containing grains with a near perfect lattice structure, the grains of the aggregate material are poorly aligned. Thus, articles composed of such sintered compositions are isotropically superconductive and exhibit current densities below that required for commercial use in superconducting magnets and transmission lines.
Anisotropic superconductivity has been attained on a macroscopic scale in cold pressed and sintered forms of superconductors produced by solid state reaction through the process of melt-texturing wherein the form is heated beyond the peritectic temperature of the superconducting composition to incongruently melt the composition into L.sub.2 M.sub.1 CuO.sub.5 and a liquid phase and cooled at a controlled rate to precipitate out grains of the superconducting material. The effective application of the melt-texturing process causes the precipitation of highly aligned grains, which imparts to the bulk article composed of the precipitated grains anisotropic superconductivity approaching that of the ideal lattice network.
Due to the slow kinetics of melt-texturing methods, fabrication of large anisotrophically superconducting articles is time consuming. Typical growth rates of the aligned grain structure are on the order of a few millimeters per hour. In addition, large articles require stringent processing conditions to maintain uniform grain alignment throughout the article.
Preparation of large articles from segments of melt-texturized segments wherein the larger article has comparable J.sub.c properties to those of the segments of which it is composed, would be one means for overcoming the size constraints. Joining segments of bulk superconductor provides a way by which the attractive properties of melt processed materials can be extended to larger sizes and different shapes. For example, in addition to the possibility of fabricating long conductors capable of carrying high currents, superconducting magnets with uniform field profiles over larger areas could be made for bearing applications.
Ag-clad BSCCO conductors are formulated in long lengths by the well known powder-in-tube method providing advantages in sinter forging or hot pressing. A tape resulting from the powder-in-tube method is suitable for use in the subject invention.

Method and etchant to join ag-clad BSSCO superconducting tape


A method generates optimized traffic movement plans. A plan monitor determines a first planning boundary for traffic based upon traffic conditions of a region. A plan generator employs the first planning boundary and repetitively generates first traffic movement plans for the traffic. The plan generator selects one of the first traffic movement plans as a first optimized traffic movement plan, and outputs the same for controlling traffic movement. The plan monitor determines current traffic conditions of the region for a planning window, and updates the first planning boundary to provide a second planning boundary for the traffic based upon the current traffic conditions. The plan generator employs the second planning boundary and repetitively generates second traffic movement plans for the traffic, selects one of the first and second traffic movement plans as a second optimized traffic movement plan, and outputs the same for controlling traffic movement.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a method for traffic planning and, more particularly, to a method for generating and dynamically modifying optimized traffic movement plans. The invention also relates to a dynamic optimizing traffic planning system, such as a railroad or commuter rail dynamic optimizing traffic planning system.
2. Background Information
A transportation infrastructure consists of a plurality of physical pathways (e.g., without limitation, roads; rails; canals) for vehicles (e.g., without limitation, trucks; trains; ships or boats) within a particular geographic region. Traffic planning is the process of determining, for a particular transportation infrastructure and over a finite period of time, a plurality of routes that a corresponding plurality of vehicles are to follow (i.e., one route per vehicle), and where those vehicles are planned to be located along their respective routes at specific times. Together, the plural routes constitute a movement plan.
Although traffic planning has traditionally been carried out by humans, the traffic planning process can also be performed by automated traffic planners, or simply traffic planners, that generate movement plans given transportation infrastructure data, data about the individual vehicles to be planned, vehicle schedules, physical and operational constraints, and other data pertinent to the movement of traffic. In the case of train traffic, for example, such traffic planners employ rail infrastructure data (e.g., tracks; signals; switches), data about the individual trains to be planned, train schedules, physical and operational constraints, and other data pertinent to the movement of trains.
In order to execute movement plans generated by a traffic planner, those movement plans are converted into control commands, which are employed to control the states of field devices, which determine how the vehicles are allowed to move. In the case of trains, the control commands change the aspects of signal lights, which indicate how trains should move forward (e.g., continue at speed; reduce speed; stop), and the positions of switches (i.e., normal or reverse), which determine the specific tracks the trains will run on. In dark (unsignaled) territory, forward movement of trains is specified in terms of mileposts (i.e., a train is given the authority to move from its current location to a particular milepost along its planned route), landmarks or geographic locations. Sending the control commands to the field is done by an automated traffic control system, or simply control system, to which the traffic planner is interfaced. Control systems are employed by railroads to control the movements of trains on their individual properties or track infrastructures. Variously known as Computer-Aided Dispatching (CAD) systems, Operations Control Systems (OCS), Network Management Centers (NMC) and Central Traffic Control (CTC) systems, such systems automate the process of controlling the movements of trains traveling across a track infrastructure, whether it involves traditional fixed block control or moving block control assisted by a positive train control system. In dark territory, controlling the movements of trains is effected through voice communication between a human operator monitoring the control system and the locomotive engineer. Control systems act as an interface between the traffic planner and equipment in the field that receives and carries out the control commands. The interface between the control system and the field devices can either be through control lines that communicate with electronic controllers at the wayside that in turn connect directly to the field devices, or, in dark territory, through voice communication with a human, who manually performs the state-changing actions (e.g., usually switch throws).
A traffic planner both sends and receives information to and from the control system. The traffic planner sends control commands and receives information about the actual states of signals and switches, speed limit changes and train positions in the form of messages that the traffic planner is able to read. A movement plan is translated into a plurality of route clears, switch position changes and other control commands, which are sent to the control system for execution. The control system, in turn, sends those commands to the field in field-device-readable formats. The traffic planner sends control commands to the control system in a timely manner, in order that they coincide with actual changes as they are predicted to occur in the field. That is, in order to control the movements of trains in real time, the commands have to be sent to the field in such a way that they conform to the current positions of the trains. For example, signals should be cleared (i.e., turned green) ahead of a train in such a way that it is able to maintain its speed, but not so far ahead that they interfere with the planned movement of another train moving in the opposite direction, which was to traverse the same track before the train for which the signals were cleared.
Some traffic planners employ the information received from the control system (i.e., field updates) to modify the currently executing movement plan, in order to account for changes in the field that occurred since the time the currently executing movement plan was generated, which changes were not expected to occur. That is, the primary reason, though not the only reason, to modify the currently executing movement plan is if changes are happening in the field that are not in the plan. The planned state of the field needs to conform as closely as possible to the actual state of the field, in order that whatever the plan says should be done can be carried out (i.e., the configuration of trains enables the control commands to work as expected). If the trains and devices in the field act according to their planned or expected behaviors as set forth in or otherwise implied by the currently executing movement plan, then no field updates will have to be incorporated.
Human operators employ control systems to monitor the movements of trains using computer interfaces, which schematically display such movements in near-real time. Two types of such interfaces are common. The first interface is a track diagram, which displays tracks in a not-to-scale, non-geographical manner, in order to indicate the locations of trains on the tracks, their authorities to move (lined routes), track switches and their positions, signal lamps and their colors, as well as other miscellaneous devices, such as hot box detectors for detecting hot wheel bearings, and landmarks, such as bridges. The key feature of track diagrams is the display of what is happening in the field in near-real time. Track diagrams indicate the current locations of trains and where they have been given the authority to move.
The second interface, as employed by human operators to monitor the operations of a railroad, is a "string-line," which is a time-distance graph of where the trains are planned to be and when. Typically, the vertical axis of this graph shows locations (usually indicated by station names) and the horizontal axis shows time. The movements of trains are displayed as diagonal lines that are slanted downward or upward depending on the direction of movement. Thus, string-lines for two trains moving in opposite directions over the same rail line during the same time period would form an X-like structure. Although time-distance graphs are generally not drawn to scale, the slopes of the string-lines roughly indicate the speeds of the respective trains. For instance, during the time a train is stopped, its string-line would be horizontal. The faster a train moves, the greater the absolute value of the slope of its string-line. The key feature of string-line graphs is that they depict how trains are planned to move in the future. A train operator is able to see where two trains are planned to meet or when a train is planned to arrive at a particular location.
Traffic planning can be classified as being non-optimizing or optimizing. Non-optimizing traffic planning involves the determination of routes irrespective of performance criteria (e.g., on-time arrival at destinations; relatively higher average speeds).
Several railroads are known to employ a non-optimizing traffic planner, which does not have the capacity to optimize the movements of trains across a rail network. It is constrained to work according to a fixed set of rules. Specifically, it plans trains according to a fixed set of train priorities, in order that movement of a highest priority train is planned first, movement of a next highest priority train is planned second, and so forth down to the lowest priority train. Whenever there is a conflict (e.g., two trains attempting to use the same piece of track at the same time), the non-optimizing traffic planner resolves the conflict in accordance with the priorities of the corresponding trains (i.e., the highest priority train moves across the track first). An example of such a non-optimizing traffic planner is the AutoRouter (or ART) marketed by Union Switch & Signal, Inc. of Pittsburgh, Pa.
In contrast, optimizing traffic planning employs optimization objectives to guide the planning process, in order that the resulting movement plan best satisfies one or more performance criteria. Optimizing traffic planning is of interest to freight railroads because the demand for service (e.g., hauling goods) is increasing and is predicted to continue in this manner for the foreseeable future. Since it is relatively very expensive to lay new rail, which is one way to increase service capabilities, the railroads are looking for ways to utilize more of the capacity of their existing rail infrastructure. Traffic planning that optimizes the movements of trains is able to increase the density of traffic, thereby utilizing more existing rail infrastructure capacity, while also maintaining a high level of on-time performance, which is very important to customers of the railroads.
Traffic planning, whether optimizing or non-optimizing, can also be partitioned into static and dynamic planning. Static planning is the process of generating an initial movement plan from rail infrastructure data, data about the individual trains to be planned, train schedules, physical and operational constraints, and other data pertinent to the movement of trains. The initial movement plan specifies the movements of all of the trains that will be running within a particular geographic region over a finite period of time. Once generated, the initial movement plan can be executed, as discussed above. Static planning implies that no modifications to the initial plan are ever made.
Dynamic planning consists of replacing the currently executing movement plan with a new movement plan as a result of changes that occurred in the field, which were unexpected and, therefore, not accounted for by the currently executing movement plan. That is, events did not take place in the field as planned (e.g., trains may have moved more slowly than planned; a speed limit may have been imposed on a particular segment of track; a device failure may have occurred). Only when the field is changing according to plan (or very close to plan) is dynamic planning not required. Since there are always changes occurring in the field that were not expected or planned for, traffic planning on the railroads, if it is to be effective, must be dynamic.
Known dynamic planning can be classified into two distinct types depending on the way in which the new movement plan is generated. The first type consists of generating a completely new plan, independently of the currently executing plan, and then replacing the currently executing plan with the new plan. No modifications are made to the currently executing plan in order to produce the new plan. Neither is any data from the currently executing movement plan used in the generation of the new movement plan.
The second type of dynamic planning involves modifications to the currently executing movement plan. The modifications are highly localized changes, such as moving a single meet point (i.e., the point where one train must wait for another to pass) or adjusting individual train speeds in order that an already planned meet point is preserved. These modifications typically affect only one or two trains and one or two infrastructure locations, leaving the rest of the movement plan unchanged.
In the case of optimizing traffic planning, the first type of dynamic planning produces a new, optimized movement plan independently of the currently executing plan. This dynamic planning method can be costly from the standpoint of time, since generating an initial plan can take considerably more time than modifying the currently executing plan, depending on the optimization methods employed.
The second type of dynamic planning employs local optimization, which may adversely affect the globally optimized movement plan; that is, the degree of optimization of the overall plan as measured against the objectives is likely to be less. In most cases, local optimization does not improve the overall global optimization of a plan.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,794,172 and 6,154,735 disclose various optimization methods for generating movement plans for a plurality of trains. The methods claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,794,172 are simulated annealing for coarse-grained optimization (to generate a higher-level schedule for train movement) and branch and bound for more fine-grained optimization (to generate a more detailed movement plan from the schedule). U.S. Pat. No. 6,154,735 claims methods of constraint propagation and focused simulated annealing for generating optimized movement plans. U.S. Pat. No. 5,794,172 also claims a system for which adjustments are made to trains not adhering to the predetermined movement plan (the currently executing plan). Such adjustments are then communicated to those trains. The same patent also claims a system for which the resolution of conflicts (two trains attempting to access the same track at the same time), when they occur, is by means of branch and bound techniques. A system incorporating adjustments to individual trains or the resolution of specific conflicts would be an implementation of the second type of dynamic planning.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,623,413 claims branch and bound and procedure-based inference methods for generating optimized train movement plans, and methods for re-scheduling by rule relaxation or by constraint relaxation, which involve rule-based inference and constraint-based inference, respectively. A system implementing these re-scheduling methods would be considered an example of the second type of dynamic planning.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,177,684 discloses an optimizing train movement planner that generates movement plans from predetermined train schedules (i.e., scheduled departure and arrival times of trains are fixed). A depth-first search algorithm bounded by delay costs (costs incurred by delaying one vehicle so that another can pass) adjusts train meet points that are infeasible (i.e. meet points that occur on a single track) to locations where those meets can take place. This train movement plan optimization method determines whether proposed schedules may be met by the trains without the addition of any substantial costs due to delays of the trains at the proposed meet points.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,304,801 and 6,546,371 disclose a gradient search method for optimizing the movements of trains over a rail corridor in particular. The gradient search method is guided by a cost function that enables an optimum schedule to be determined for departing trains by moving each meet point to a siding and evaluating the cost incurred in doing so. Individual train schedules can also be adjusted by changing train speeds and/or train departure times (i.e., the times at which trains enter the corridor).
U.S. Pat. No. 6,459,964 claims a system for coarse-grain scheduling of trains and a method for fine-grain movement plan generation. U.S. Pat. No. 6,459,964 also claims a movement plan repair method that is an example of the second type of dynamic planning described above. The system monitors the progress of trains against the fine-grain movement plan, identifying conflicts between trains in the use of track. It then determines available meet point options for resolving overlapping track usage by trains and selects the one with the least impact on the overall movement plan (local optimization). There is no consideration of any conflicts that may result from the implementation of the selected option. This repairs problems when they arise, independent of the effects those repairs (i.e., new meet points) might have on causing train conflicts further out in time.
There is room for improvement in methods for traffic planning and in traffic planning systems.

Dynamic optimizing traffic planning method and system


A cocrystal of (S)-2-hydroxy-3-methoxy-3,3-diphenylpropanoic acid and an amino acid, in particular L-valine or L-2-aminobutyric acid, their preparation processes, as well as the preparation process of Ambrisentan or Darusentan using any of the cocrystals of the invention.

Ambrisentan is the International Nonproprietary Name (INN) of name (2S)-2-[(4,6-dimethylpyrimidin-2-yl)oxy]-3-methoxy-3,3-diphenylpropanoic acid, and has the CAS Nr 177036-94-1. It functions as an endothelin receptor antagonist, and is selective for the type A endothelin receptor (ETA). It is a drug indicated for use in the treatment of pulmonary hypertension.
The structure of Ambrisentan corresponds to formula (I):

Different processes for the preparation of Ambrisentan and its salts are known in the art.
Ambrisentan was first described in the patent family of U.S. Pat. No. 5,932,730-BASF. In this patent it is disclosed a resolution step on a laboratory scale of 2-hydroxy-3-methoxy-3,3-diphenylpropanoic acid using as resolving agents either L-prolinemethylester (cf. Example 10) or (S)-1-(4-nitrophenyl)ethylamine (cf. Example 11). In the first case the diastereoisomeric salt of the (R)-2-hydroxy-3-methoxy-3,3-diphenylpropanoic acid is crystallized and separated off, and then from the mother liquor is subsequently isolated the (S)-2-hydroxy-3-methoxy-3,3-diphenylpropanoic acid (35% yield from racemic—100% ee). In the second case, the corresponding diastereoisomeric salt is crystallized from methyl tert-butyl ether/acetone, and subsequently it is converted into the free acid (35% yield from racemic—99.8% ee).
Unfortunately, these resolution agents are extremely expensive and would not be preferable for large scale production. In addition, the methyl prolinate could not be completely recycled since free methyl prolinate tends to form diketopiperazines (cf. eg. R. Jansen et al., Organic Process Research & Development, 2001, vol. 5, pp. 16-22). On the other hand, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,559,338 from the same applicant it is stated that when this described reaction was scaled up, additional working steps became necessary in order to ensure a high optical purity as the diastereoisomeric salt with (S)-1-(4-nitrophenyl)ethylamine crystallized with difficulty and could not be filtered off readily. As a consequence, some of the mother liquor remained in the crystals together with the enantiomer to be separated off. Only when the crystals were additionally stirred in the tank together with fresh solvent, and when the crystals which had been filtered off once more had been copiously rewashed, could the required optical purity be obtained.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,559,338 describes a process of resolution of 2-hydroxy-3-methoxy-3,3-diphenylpropanoic acid by using an optically active base (S)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)ethylamine. In Example 1, the resolution process is carried out using tert-butylmethylether/methanol as solvents and one of the diastereomeric salts formed is separated off with a yield of 36% and an ee >99.5%. The filtration problem is reported to be resolved with this agent. However, this resolving agent is also very expensive and would not be preferable for large-scale production.
Other resolution processes have also been disclosed in the art. Thus, WO2012017441A1-NATCO Pharma Ltd discloses an improved process of resolution of 2-hydroxy-3-methoxy-3,3-diphenylpropanoic acid with (S)-1-(4-nitrophenyl)ethylamine (as U.S. Pat. No. 5,932,730). According to the Example, it is obtained a compound having a chemical purity of 99.97% and a chiral purity of 99.98% with a yield of 27.5% in this step of the global process.
WO2011004402A2-Cadila Healthcare Limited describes a process of resolution of the 2-hydroxy-3-methoxy-3,3-diphenylpropanoic acid by using a chiral amine, in particular, (S)-3-methoxyphenylethylamine or (R)-2,4-dichlorophenylethylamine, and the diastereoisomeric salts thus obtained can be directly used in the following step of alkylation to form Ambrisentan. According to the Examples, in the alkylation step N,N-dimethylformamide is used as solvent, which implies that the recovery of the chiral amine most probably will be difficult to carry out.
Finally, WO2010070658A2-MSN Laboratories Ltd also discloses a process for the preparation of (S)-2-hydroxy-3-methoxy-3,3-diphenylpropanoic acid, which comprises treating the racemic 2-hydroxy-3-methoxy-3,3-diphenylpropanoic acid compound with R(+)-phenyl ethyl amine in a chlorinated solvent to provide the R(+)-phenyl ethyl amine salt of (S)-2-hydroxy-3-methoxy-3,3-diphenylpropanoic acid. In Example 22 is exemplified the process which uses chloroform as solvent. The use of chlorinated solvents and, specially, chloroform are not convenient in the industry.
The (S)-2-hydroxy-3-methoxy-3,3-diphenylpropanoic acid is an intermediate useful not only to prepare Ambrisentan but also to prepare other endothelin receptor antagonists such as Darusentan, which is the compound (2S)-2-(4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-yl)oxy-3-methoxy-3,3-di(phenyl)propanoic acid. From what is known in the art is derived that there is still a need of a new resolution process for 2-hydroxy-3-methoxy-3,3-diphenylpropanoic acid using cheaper chiral agents and safer solvents.

Preparation process of carboxylic acid derivatives and intermediates thereof