The invention relates to the use of a peptide derived from HPV-E2, E6 and/or E7 protein for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment or prevention of an HPV related disease, wherein the medicament is for intradermal administration.

HPV infection is highly prevalent among young, sexually active male and female individuals. Large prospective studies showed that acquisition of HPV from male partners is common, occurring in 40-60% of subjects during a 3 year follow-up period (Koutsky et al., 1997, Ho et al., 1998, Marrazzo et al., 2000). Therefore, HPV is probably the most common sexually transmitted disease.
Papillomaviruses of the high-risk types (e.g. HPV16, 18, 31, 33, and 45) are responsible for cervical cancer (Bosch et al., 1995, Zur Hausen, 1996). Following infection of the basal epithelial cells, the immediate HPV early genes E1, E2, E5, E6 and E7 are expressed. The E1 and E2 genes regulate viral replication. Furthermore, the E2 protein controls the expression of the E6 and E7 oncoproteins. The E6 protein of the high-risk HPV types specifically binds to p53 and targets its rapid degradation through the ubiquitin pathway. P53 is involved in initiation of apoptosis and loss of this protein result in the prevention of apoptosis (Scheffner et al., 1990). The E7 protein of high-risk types binds to pRB, which normally prevents cells from entering the cell cycle by inactivating E2F, a protein needed for cell cycle entry (Dyson et al. 1989). E7 expression results in the failure of infected cells to withdraw from the cell cycle and differentiate.
Prolonged and elevated expression of the E6 and E7 oncoproteins is tightly associated with HPV-induced dysplasia and transformation into cervical carcinoma.
The protective role of the immune system in the defense against HPV-related diseases and HPV-induced cancer in humans is suggested by the fact that compared to normal controls, immunosuppressed renal transplant patients and patients infected with HIV display a 17-fold greater incidence of genital HPV infection (Ho et al., 1994, Matorras et al. 1991, Halpert et al. 1986). The diminished capacity of immunosuppressed individuals to resolve HPV infection indirectly points towards a protective role of the immune system early in infection. Evidence of protection against HPV via immunity against the early antigens E2, E6 and E7 comes from the cottontail rabbit papillomavirus model which is the major animal model for cancer-associated papillomaviruses. Vaccination with the nonstructural proteins E1 and E2 induces the regression of virus-induced papillomas whereas viral tumor growth is suppressed.
Furthermore, rabbits vaccinated with the combination of the E1, E2, E6, and E7 genes were completely protected against viral challenge (Han et al. 1999, Selvakumar et al. 1995). Importantly, rabbits with progressively growing papilloma virus-induced warts could eradicate their lesions as well as clear latent viral infections following two injections with a vaccine comprising E6 and E7 long overlapping peptides (Vambutas, Vaccine 2005). These data indicate that immunity against E2, E6, and E7 can be effective as immunoprophylaxis of papillomavirus infection as well as therapeutically for HPV induced lesions and cancer.
Considerable interest exists in the identification of epitopes involved in the immune response to HPV16, given the possibility to incorporate these as subunits into a vaccine or to use these epitopes to monitor vaccine induced immunity in vivo. Since most epithelial cells express MHC class I but not class II, the attention has so far been focused on the induction of tumoricidal HPV-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (Melief et al., 2000; Ressing et al., 1995; Ressing et al., 2000; Ressing et al., 1996). HPV specific CD8+ T-cell reactivity has been found in the peripheral blood of patients diagnosed with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade III (CIN III) lesions or cervical carcinoma (Nimako et al., 1997; Ressing et al., 1996) and in tumor-infiltrating T-cell populations isolated from patients with cervical cancer (Evans et al., 1997). Tumor specific CD4+ T helper ("Th") immunity is now also considered pivotal for the efficient eradication of solid tumors, despite the fact that most of these tumors do not express MHC class II (reviewed in Melief et al., 2000; Pardoll and Topalian, 1998; Toes et al., 1999). Recent evidence indicates that CD4+ tumor specific T-cells are required not only for optimal induction of CD8+ tumor specific CTL but also for optimal exertion of local effector cell function by these CTL (Ossendorp et al., 1998, Toes et al., 1999). For induction of MHC class I restricted tumor-specific immunity, cross-presentation of antigens that have been captured by professional antigen presenting cells appears to play a dominant role. For proper induction of an effective tumor-specific CTL by cross-priming tumor-specific CD4+ T cell help is required (Toes et al., 1999, Schoenberger et al., 1998).
Strong indications for a protective role of HPV-specific Th-immunity was suggested by the predomination of CD4+ T-cells in regressing genital warts (Coleman et al., 1994) as well as by the detection of delayed-type hypersensitivity responses to HPV16 E7 in the majority of subjects with spontaneous regressing CIN lesions (Hopfl et al., 2000). Furthermore, in most healthy persons the immune system succeeds in eliminating the virus before malignancies develop (Koutsky, 1997; Evander, 1995). In line with this, more that half of all healthy females tested display strong proliferative HPV16 E2- and E6-specific Th1/Th2 cell memory responses (de Jong, 2002; Welters, 2003; de Jong, 2004). Furthermore, Th-reactivity against E2 was found to occur at time of viral clearance (Bontkes, 1999). Healthy subjects display HPV16 E7-specific immunity too (Welters, 2003; van der Burg, 2001). In contrast, the occurrence of HPV-induced cancer is strongly associated with immune failure. Analysis of HPV16 E2-, E6- and E7-specific CD4+ T-cell immunity in the peripheral blood of patients with HPV16+ induced neoplasia revealed that half of the patients with high grade vulvar neoplasia (van Poelgeest, 2005) and the majority of patients with CIN III failed to mount a proper immune response (de Jong, 2004). Of the cervical carcinoma patients tested, approximately half lacked any detectable proliferative T-cell responses. The other half displayed weak proliferative HPV16 E2- and E6-specific T-cell responses not associated with the production of Th1/Th2 cytokines but with IL-10 (de Jong, 2004). This corroborates previous observations that E6- and E7-specific proliferative responses can be present (Luxton, 2003), but that the peripheral Th1 response in cervical carcinoma patients is low (de Gruijl, 1996; de Gruijl, 1998) or lacking (Tsukui, 1996). Because, the CD4+ T-cell response is of pivotal importance for the induction and maintenance of CD8+ CTL immunity (Melief, 2002), these data offer a plausible explanation why peripheral HPV16-specific CTL are rarely detected in patients with high-grade dysplasia or cancer (Ressing, 1996; Bontkes, 2000; Nimako, 1997; Youde, 2000), while such CTL are more commonly detectable in women without HPV16+ neoplasia (Nakagawa, 1997; Nakagawa, 1999).
For a clinically relevant approach of immunizing subjects against HPV in particular, it is preferred that both specific T-helper cells and CTL are induced. We have already shown that immunization with minimal CTL epitopes results in protection against tumors in some models (Kast et al. 1991) whereas, in other models, it can lead to tolerance or functional deletion of virus- and tumor-specific CTL that when otherwise induced are protective (Toes et al. 1996ab). The occurrence of tolerance or functional deletion decreases the effects of vaccination significantly. Epitopes involved with this effect were therefore not suitable for immunization purposes. Processing of exogenous antigens for presentation by MHC class 1 molecules by cross-priming as well as by other mechanisms is now widely recognized second pathway of processing for presentation by MHC class T, next to the well known endogenous route (Jondalet al. 1996, Reimann et al. 1997). The normal outcome of antigen processing via this pathway is CTL tolerance, unless APC activation by CD4+ T-cells takes place (Kurts et al., 1997). To solve this problem of tolerance or functional deletion, WO 02/070006 disclosed the use of long HPV peptides as a vaccine, said peptide having both a MHC Class I and II presentable epitopes resulting in the activation of both CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells.
HPV vaccines developed in WO 02/070006 may still further be improved since high doses of peptides and/or sequential vaccinations are usually used in order to get an optimal immunogenic effect. Furthermore, adjuvants such as Montanide ISA-51 are usually required to get an optimal immunogenic effect. These adjuvants induce undesired side-effects such as prolonged local swelling at the site of injection, red swollen hands, fever, vomiting, joint pain, a general illness feeling similar to symptoms experienced during influenza infection. These side effects are generally experienced as uncomfortable and will prevent treatment of patients with early stage lesions.
Therefore, there is still a need for improved HPV vaccines, which do not have all the drawbacks of the existing vaccines, among other, the HPV vaccine used in the invention does not necessitate high doses of peptides and/or sequential vaccinations and/or an adjuvant.

Academisch Ziekenhuis Leiden H.O.D.N. LUMC


The present invention is directed to tablets for oral administration to a subject, comprising a therapeutically effective amount of SYN120 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein the tablet is substantially free of lactose. The present invention is also directed to methods for treating diseases or conditions including Alzheimer's disease and/or Parkinson's disease, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof tablets regarding the same.

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia occurring primarily in the elderly. It is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects over 3.1 million people in the US and 26.6 million people worldwide. Given the general aging of the population, the overall prevalence of Alzheimer's disease is expected to increase in the coming years. Researchers predict that global prevalence of Alzheimer's disease will quadruple by 2050 to more than 100 million.
Although not considered one of the core features of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, neuropsychiatric symptoms are being increasingly recognized as important factors influencing the quality of life for patients and caregivers and may be the trigger for nursing home placement.
Most current treatments aimed at improving the cognitive dysfunction are based on the hypothesis that the cognitive deficits of Alzheimer's disease can be traced to loss of function in the cholinergic system in the CNS. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors represent the mainstay of current Alzheimer's disease therapy, including donepezil(Aricept□), galantamine (Reminyl□), and rivastigmine (Exelon□). While these cholinergic-enhancing treatments produce some symptomatic improvement in some patients, therapeutic response has not been satisfactory for the majority of patients treated.
Dementia greatly affects quality of life for both patients and caregivers with Parkinson's disease as well. Safe and effective treatment options for dementia are much needed. Current treatments for Parkinson's disease dementia are mostly derived from those utilized in Alzheimer's disease. Rivastigmine, the only FDA-approved medication for Parkinson's disease dementia, is the first line treatment. However, more effective treatments are needed to help patients suffering from cognitive dysfunction. There thus remains a high unmet medical need for the treatment of neuropsychiatric symptoms, particularly of psychotic symptoms, and adverse cognitive effects due to Alzheimer's disease and/or Parkinson's disease.

Compositions and methods for treating Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease


A fluid coupling for fuel lines in motor vehicles, includes a housing having a receptacle for a counterpart, a blocking member in the receptacle and engageable behind a blocking rib of the counterpart to fix the counterpart in the receptacle, and a detection sleeve axially movable in the receptacle, and having a first engagement portion, which engages with the blocking rib to move the detection sleeve axially into a detection position, and at least one second engagement portion arranged behind the first engagement portion and, when the counterpart is pulled out, engages with the blocking rib to move the detection sleeve out of the detection position, into the initial position, and the detection sleeve includes at least one detection portion (64), received within the receptacle in the initial position so the detection portion is not visible from the outside and, in the detection position, visibly protrudes from the receptacle.

The present invention relates to a fluid coupling, in particular for fuel lines in motor vehicles, and to a combination of the fluid coupling with a corresponding counterpart. The fluid coupling can also be used for other fluid lines in motor vehicles, however. Examples include cooling-water lines, screen-wash lines, hydrogen lines, air lines and crankcase ventilation systems. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for establishing a connection of two fluid lines.
Fuel lines in motor vehicles usually have fluid couplings for detachably connecting two fuel lines, for example to submersible pumps in fuel tanks, in order to replace a defective submersible pump. To do this, these fluid couplings are supposed to be rapidly and easily detachable and connectable.
As shown in FIG. 7, DE 10 2016 001 610 A1 discloses a fluid coupling of this kind. This plug-in coupling intended for detachably connecting the ends of two fluid lines consists of a plug-in part (not shown in FIG. 7) and a sleeve part composed of a first sleeve portion 3 and a second sleeve portion 5. When plugged in, the plug-in part is axially locked in the second sleeve portion 5 and is received so as to be rotatable about its axis, wherein the second sleeve portion 5 is in turn received in the first sleeve portion 3 in an axially locked manner and such that it can be inserted at different rotational angles about the common axis.
The second sleeve portion 5 supports an actuating element 7, which can be moved between a locked position, in which axial pull-out securing of the plug-in part is shown, and an unlocked position, in which this pull-out securing is released. To do this, a blocking member 12, which can come into engagement with a blocking rib of the plug-in part, is arranged on the elastically deformable end of a tab 11.
In the rest state of the tab 11, the blocking member 12 comes into engagement with the blocking rib (not shown) of the plug-in part. In order to release the engagement, the actuating element 7 is moved in the direction of the arrow 14 opposite to the elastic restoring force of the tab 11 in order to move the blocking member 12 radially outwards and thus out of engagement with the blocking rib.
This configuration provides the option of setting the rotational-angle position of the second sleeve portion 5 supporting the actuating element 7 relative to the plug-in part and to the first sleeve portion 3 and thus the actuating position of plug-in coupling while taking into account the respective installation conditions, with the proviso that the actuating element 7 is accessible without any obstructions. Furthermore, a window 15 is arranged in the second sleeve portion 5, which allows for the correct locking state to be visually checked.
Depending on the installation and space conditions in a motor vehicle, visually checking the locking state is, however, sometimes difficult and can only be carried out using appropriate tools, such as torches and mirrors. There is therefore a need for a fluid coupling in which a locking state can be detected in a simple manner without tools.
The object of the invention is thus to provide a detachable fluid coupling in which the correct locking state can be detected in a simple and reliable manner.

Fluid coupling, in particular for fuel lines in motor vehicles, combination of the fluid coupling with a corresponding counterpart, and method for establishing a connection of two fluid lines


A pharmacy bottle for prescription medication is shown that conveys information thereon to the patient that is clear and understandable. Colored rings are attachable to the cap of the pharmacy bottle to convey general information. Increased surface area of the pharmacy bottle is provided for more specific information to be conveyed to the patient via the label adhered thereto. Further, more detailed information about the prescription is conveyed to the patient by ancillary information sheet(s) inserted through slot(s) into space formed in walls of the pharmacy bottle. One end of the ancillary information sheet(s) forms a tab extending from the slot(s) that may be pulled by the patient to remove the ancillary information sheet from the space via the slot(s) for review by the patient.

For a patient that buys prescription medication, the amount of information and warnings conveyed to the patient is overwhelming. Typically, there is a label stuck to the bottle with various information and warnings thereon. For example, the prescribing physician will be named, the patient will be named, the type and dosage of medication will be given, as well as, how often the patient should take the medication each day. There probably will be a reminder concerning refills and warnings about the medication.
Because there is not enough room on the label that is stuck on the bottle to give all of the warnings and side effect of the medication, the bottle containing the medication is typically put in a bag and stapled to the top of the bag is additional product information or warnings. As a practical matter, normally the patient tears open the bag, gets out the bottle containing the medication and throws the bag with all of the product information and/or warnings stapled thereto away. It is very rare that a patient reads the product information or warnings that are stapled to the bag before it is thrown away.
If it was practical to put more product information or warnings with the container that has the medication therein, typically the patient will stand a much higher probability of reading the product information or warnings. If the product information or warnings are stapled to the bag, normally such product information or warnings are never read.
As an example of an attempt by the industry to add more information to the label, U.S. Pat. No. 7,311,205 by Adler et al shows a generally wedge shaped bottle with a curved top that allows the label to be wrapped thereover. The bottle opening is at the bottom. Due to a recess between the label and the bottle, additional product information can be inserted in that recess. However, since the bottle as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,311,205 has been on the market, it has received a large amount of criticism by the consuming public.
One of the largest manufacturers of containers for prescription drugs is Berry Plastics Corporation. While Berry Plastics has a complete line of prescription containers that can be selected by "family" or "size" on their website of www.berryplastics.com, the containers have the problem of insufficient room to put all of the information concerning the medication on the container so it can be seen by the patient. The most common line by Berry Plastics is the "Friendly & Safe" prescription container with the locking top. The Friendly & Safe prescription containers come in a number of different sizes. Regardless of the size, the problem of sufficient surface area to put all of the information needed on a pharmacy container still exists.
While a lack of space to put proper warnings and/or information on the prescription container is a problem, many patients take their medication by shape of the pill, shape of the bottle or other external factors other than reading the label itself. If there are multiple people in the household taking prescription medication, such as an elderly couple, some times the individuals get confused and take the other persons medication. While various systems have been devised to avoid the confusion, mistakes still occur.
The best reminder system would be one the patient can devise for themself. For example, an elderly couple, both of whom take prescription medication, might have different colors for their bottles or caps. As an example, the wife can take the color red and the husband take the color green. Therefore, all of the medication in the red capped container is for the wife and all of the medication in the green capped container is for the husband.
Another example may be different colors being used as reminders of when to take the medication. The color black could be used for medication to be taken in the evening and the color white for medication to be taken in the morning.
Whatever system is being used, there is a drastic need to convey information in an easy to understand form to the patient that is taking the prescription medication. Some information such as warnings should be given in detail. However, other information such as whose medication it is may be conveyed by colors. Whatever system is used, the object is to convey the maximum amount of information to the patient in a manner the patient will absorb and utilize.


A method of network packet receiving management includes: providing a buffer unit which includes a plurality of data blocks with a first packet number and a plurality of data blocks with a second number of packets, wherein the data blocks with the first packet number are for storing a plurality of first network packets according to a first array data structure, respectively, the first array data structure has a plurality of first packet descriptors corresponding to the first packet number, and the data blocks with the second number of packets do not correspond to any packet descriptor; and when a first data block corresponding to a first packet descriptor successively receives a first network packet, changing the first packet descriptor corresponding to the first data block to indicate a second data block which does not correspond to any packet descriptor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a network packet receiving management method and related apparatus, and more particularly, to a network packet receiving management method based on an array data structure and an apparatus thereof.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A network interface controller (NIC) provides an identifiable address for an electronic apparatus connecting to a network, and functions as a communication interface between the electronic apparatus and the network. When the electronic apparatus successively receives a network packet from the network, the network interface controller will upload the received network packet to a processing unit within the electronic apparatus, and receive a processed network packet replied by the processing unit. Generally speaking, the data structures adopted by network interface controllers in the present time are mostly linked-list data structures or array data structures. For a received network packet, the linked-list data structure indicates an address of a previous network packet, an address of a next network packet, or both addresses of the previous network packet and the next network packet; in this way, when the processing unit replies packets in an order different from an order used by the network interface controller for uploading packets, the processing unit can still easily find out a sequence of the data arrangement. However, one disadvantage of the linked-list data structure is that it requires more system resource to process and store addresses indicative of a previous and/or a next network packet. On the other hand, the array data structure utilizes a more simplified structure and requires only a little storage space and system resource. The disadvantage of the array data structure is that when the processing unit replies packets in an order different from an order used by the network interface controller for uploading packets, an out-of-order issue will occur, leading to a decrement in interface utilization efficiency.
Please refer to FIG. 1, which is a diagram illustrating an operation of a network packet receiving management method based on an array data structure according to the prior art. An array A1 has four data blocks DB1˜DB4, indicated by four packet descriptors Da1˜Da4, respectively. When the network control interface receives network packets via a network successively, the network packets are stored into the array A1 sequentially; besides, when the data block DB4 indicated by the last packet descriptor Da4 is also occupied by one of the network packets, it will start all over again to store the next network packet in the data block DB1 indicated by the array descriptor Da1. After the array A1 is full with network packets Pa1˜Pa4 and those network packets Pa1˜Pa4 are uploaded sequentially to at least one processor 105, processed network packets Pa1′˜Pa4′ may not be replied in exact the same order in which they are uploaded. For example, the processed network packets are replied to the network interface controller in an order as follows: Pa1′, Pa3′, Pa4′, Pa2′. The network packet Pa1′ is firstly stored in the data block DB1 indicated by the packet descriptor Da1 correctly; nevertheless, since the data block DB2 indicated by the packet descriptor Da2 is for storing the network packet Pa2′, even the processed network packets Pa3′ and Pa4′ are already stored in a buffer unit 110, those processed network packets Pa3′ and Pa4′ are not stored in the data blocks DB3 and DB4 indicated by the array descriptors Da3 and Da4, respectively, until the processed network packet Pa2′ is successively received and stored in the data block DB2. In this example, the network packet Pa2′, which is not replied in order, causes a bubble in the receiving mechanism, leading to degradation in overall receiving efficiency.

Packet receiving management method and network control circuit with packet receiving management functionality


A nutritional supplement containing fish oil and selenium has been identified that enhances immunotherapy of tumors, particularly in regard to reducing PDL-1 expression. A formulation for such a supplement that is both well tolerated and palatable is also provided.

The background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
Radiotherapy and chemotherapy protocols utilized in the treatment of cancer can clearly benefit patients, but can be ineffective or less effective with some cancers. In addition both radiotherapy and chemotherapy are associated with significant side effects, including nausea, weight loss, hair loss, damage to the gastrointestinal tract, and skin irritation.
Attempts have been made to enhance the effectiveness of radiotherapy. For example, gold nanoparticles that have been modified to target tumor cells have been used to enhance radiotherapy (Yang et al, ACS Nano, 2014, 8(9):8992-9002). All publications herein are incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. Where a definition or use of a term in an incorporated reference is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not apply. Similarly, COX-2 inhibitors have been used to selectively sensitize tumor cells to the effects of radiation (Choy and Milas, J. Natl Cancer Inst (2003) 95(19):1140-1452). Such approaches, however, can have issues with selectivity and may not be effective against all tumor types. To date attempts to reduce the side effects of radiotherapy are primarily directed to partitioning the total radiation dose into a number of smaller radiation doses (leaving time in between to allow for recovery), targeting of tumor using shielding, and identification of the boundaries of the tumor and localization of radiotherapy to that site. Unfortunately, such approaches can fail to adequately treat all of the tumor cells.
Attempts have also been made to enhance the effects of chemotherapy. Some studies have suggested that consumption of fish oil can improve results from chemotherapy, however other research has suggested that fish oil can interfere (Daenen et al, JAMA Oncol (2015) 1(3):350-358). Formulation of chemotherapeutic agents as nanoparticles has also been attempted (Xu et al, Coll. Surf. B: Biointerfaces (2006) 48(1):50-57). It is unclear, however, if all chemotherapeutic drugs are suitable for such reformulation. Codelivery of chemotherapeutic drugs with siRNA designed to interfere with multi-drug resistance has also been explored. Such siRNAs, however, are sequence specific and may not be suitable for some tumors.
Mitigation of the side effects of chemotherapy are generally directed at providing symptomatic relief. For example, antiemetics can be used to reduce nausea, along with diet modification and eating small, frequent meals that avoid certain foods. Unfortunately such approaches are not always effective. In some instances chemotherapeutic agents are selected to have reduced toxicity in order to reduce side effects, however such agents may also have reduced effectiveness against tumor cells.
Thus, there is still a need for safe and effective compositions and methods to enhance the effectiveness and/or reduce the side effects of cancer radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy.

Compositions and methods for enhancing cancer immunotherapy


A ranging sensor includes: a light emitting element; a projection lens for projecting light emitted from the light emitting element to an object; a condenser lens for condensing light reflected from the object; and a light receiving element, provided at the light condensing position of the condenser lens, for transmitting an output signal which varies according to the position of the object by receiving the reflected light at the light receiving surface thereof, wherein the condenser lens is held by a holding member so that the condenser lens is movable in a predetermined direction. Consequently, it becomes possible to easily adjust the output.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a ranging sensor and, more particularly, to a ranging sensor for detecting the distance to the object, and others, by projecting light to the object and receiving the light reflected from the object. The present invention also relates to an electronic device with such a ranging sensor.
2. Description of the Background Art
A ranging sensor applying a so-called triangulation ranging method is applied is known as a device for measuring the distance to an object.
FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram for describing the principle of measurement of distance in a ranging sensor applying such a triangulation ranging method.
Pulse light emitted from a light emitting diode (LED) 101, which is a light emitting element, is converted to a fine beam by means of a projection lens 133 and is projected toward objects 150 and 160. Light reflected from objects 150 and 160 is condensed onto a light receiving surface of a position sensing device (PSD) 102, which is a light receiving element, by means of a condenser lens 138. The PSD is a semiconductor element which detects the position of incident light.
Herein, as shown in FIG. 8, the position (spot position) at which the reflected light has been condensed by means of condenser lens 138 becomes a position which varies in accordance with the distance from the ranging sensor to the object. The light receiving surface of PSD 102 is arranged so as to overlap the range of fluctuation of this position of the condensed light. As a result, a pair of photoelectric power outputs outputted from PSD 102 is processed, thereby measuring the distance to the object.
Herein, it is possible, in addition to a PSD, to use a division-type photodiode or the like having a plurality of light receiving surfaces as a light receiving element.
FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view for describing the structure of a conventional ranging sensor applying the above-described triangulation ranging method.
LED 101, PSD 102 and a control integrated circuit (IC) 103 are mounted on a lead frame 108 by means of die bonding, wire bonding or the like.
These are surrounded by and sealed into light transmitting resin 109. Furthermore, the outside of light transmitting resin 109 is encased in a case 111a made of a light shielding resin. At this time, optical windows for transmitting light are provided on the upper side of case 111a in positions opposite to at least LED 101 and PSD 102. A lens case 111b in which a projection lens 133 and a condenser lens 138 are integrally formed by a light transmitting resin is attached to the upper surface of case 111a.
FIG. 10 is a circuit configuration diagram of a conventional ranging sensor. A clock pulse having a constant period emitted by an oscillation circuit provided within a signal processing circuit 106 is supplied to a timing oscillation circuit also provided within signal processing circuit 106, so that a drive pulse is generated. This drive pulse is inputted into a light emitting circuit 104, so that LED 101 emits light.
On the other hand, a pair of faint photoelectric current outputs obtained by PSD 102, by sensing the reflected light, is amplified by an amplification circuit 105 and, then, is inputted into signal processing circuit 106. An operation is carried out based on this input signal in signal processing circuit 106, and the result thereof is outputted to the outside via an output circuit 107. Herein, the above-described light emitting circuit 104, amplification circuit 105, signal processing circuit 106 and output circuit 107 are usually integrated into control IC 103 so as to be in one package.
As for the signal processing method, there are an analog output method for outputting information concerning the distance to an object by using the variation in the amount of output in accordance with distance as shown in FIG. 11 and an H/L output method for outputting a high (H) or low (L) pulse in comparison with a preset threshold value.
An error occurs, however, between the actual distance to an object and the output of the ranging sensor in either output method. This error is caused due to (1) variation in assembling position precision of the LED, projection lens, condenser lens and PSD; and (2) variation in element characteristics such as the light emitting characteristics and the light receiving characteristics of the LED and PSD.
In the analog output method, for example, an output characteristic curve C or an output characteristic curve E, shown with dotted line in FIG. 11, can be obtained by the above-described variation with respect to a reference output characteristic curve C shown with solid line in FIG. 11. As described above, an error is caused between the actual distance to the object and the output of the ranging sensor due to the variation in the assembling position precision and the variation in the element characteristics. Similarly, this may be also caused in the H/L output method.
As a method for achieving a reduction of such an error in output, there is a method of actually installing an object after assembling a ranging sensor, performing ranging by using the ranging sensor, and adjusting the resulting output to a proper value.
As shown in FIG. 10, for example, there is a method of providing an external variable resistance 107a previously connected to output circuit 107, and electrically adjusting an output by altering a resistance value R of external variable resister 107a, thereby reducing an error. In the case that this technique is used, however, an additional external circuit becomes necessary and a problem arises wherein the cost of manufacture increases.
In addition, there is a technique wherein no adjustment is carried out in the manufacturing process of a ranging sensor and the output of the ranging sensor is corrected by the user using a microcomputer. This technique, however, is not preferable because the burden to the user is great.
There is another technique wherein the output of a ranging sensor is mechanically adjusted. The ranging sensor shown in FIG. 12 is formed so that the position of PSD 202, which is attached to the upper surface of a lead frame 208, is adjustable. That is to say, electrodes 260 on lead frame 208 to which the terminals of PSD 202 are connected are formed so as to be larger than the electrodes to which the terminals of an LED 201 and the terminals of a control IC 203 are connected. Thereby, it becomes possible to adjust the position wherein PSD 202 is attached to lead frame 208 in the direction of arrow F in the figure while monitoring the output of the ranging sensor. Adjustment of output is carried out according to the above positional adjustment.
However, the position where PSD 202 is attached is determined while the output of the ranging sensor is being monitored according to this technique and a problem arises because of the requirement for this very difficult task.
In the ranging sensor shown in FIG. 13, divided lead frames 308a and 308b are provided so that an LED 301 and a PSD 302 are mounted on the separate lead frames. That is to say, adjustment of the output is carried out by shifting the position of lead frame 308b in the direction of arrow G in the figure while monitoring the output after mounting.
However, it is necessary to utilize flexible wires 370, or the like, in order to secure an electrical connection between divided lead frames 308a and 308b according to this technique and, therefore, the cost of manufacture is increased. In addition, a problem arises wherein the size of the device tends to increase.

Ranging sensor and electronic device using the same


This invention discloses an interface card built in each single unit of a CTI system and connected to the Voice Processing Unit (VPU) of the single unit via local CT-BUS. On the transmitting side of an interface card, low-speed signals from the VPU in the single unit are multiplexed into a single high-speed signal and converted into LVDS signals. On the receiving side of the interface card, external high-speed LVDS signals are converted into low voltage TTL signals, demultiplexed into local CT-BUS compatible low-speed signals and sent to the VPU in the single unit. The invention also discloses a CTI system applying the interface card. The interface card and the CTI system applying the interface card feature low cost, simple and reliable connection, easy installation and operation, high reliability, large channel capacity and good expandability.

The invention relates to value-added telecommunication services, to be more specific, an interface card and a CTI system applying interface cards.
Applications of Computer Telephony Integration (CTI), especially value-added telecommunication services, generally require the system to have a large channel capacity and sufficient expandability. Due to limited processing capabilities of single unit and requirement of system reliability, the overall CTI system usually has to be distributed in multiple chassis, which demands interconnection of the distributed chassis. In CTI application, interconnection of multiple computers is realized with interface card. There are three commonly used interface cards in the market: CT-BUS extension, ATM interface conversion and Ethernet interface conversion.
CT-BUS extension interface card enables interconnection of BUS between chassis by directly converting unipolar CT BUS signals in a CTI single unit into RS-485 signals. As CT BUS has a plurality of signal cables, there are a plurality of pairs of connection cables between chassis. All the chassis are actually connected to the same CT BUS, therefore the transmission distance has to be small (less than one meter) and the requirement for signals is very strict. It features complicated installation and usage, and low reliability.
ATM interface conversion interface card enables interconnection of multiple computers by merging and combining CT BUS data in a CTI single unit into ATM packets and switching to optical fiber transmission via ATM optical port. It features a long connection distance and good expandability. But its application is limited due to high cost and complicated usage.
Ethernet interface conversion interface card enables interconnection of multiple computers via Ethernet by packing CT BUS data to be switched in a CTI single unit with a specific Ethernet packet processor. It features simple usage, easy connection, a long connection distance and good expandability, only requiring a common twisted pair cable for interconnection. However, its cost per channel is high, which can lead to an extremely high cost when it comes to application of large channel capacity.

Interface card and CTI system applying interface card

Shenzhen Donjin Communication Tech Co., Ltd.


A sigmoidoscope comprises at least one disposable part, in combination with a device for insufflation of a body cavity with a medium via the sigmoidoscope, the medium being susceptible to contamination by a contaminant during use of the sigmoidoscope. The insufflation device and the sigmoidoscope are connected, or adapted for connection, to one another. The sigmoidoscope and/or the insufflation device are provided with a disposable contamination prevention device, or being so formed and arranged, that no non-disposable part of the sigmoidoscope and no non-disposable part of the insufflation device is exposed to any contaminated medium during use of the sigmoidoscope.

It is frequently necessary for a medical practitioner to inspect the colon or rectum of a patient. This procedure is commonly conducted with a sigmoidoscope which in the past consisted of a metal tube or speculum adapted at one end for insertion into the rectum of a patient and adapted at the other end for connection with a manifold. The manifold was provided with an observation window, a rubber bulb insufflator connectable via a spigot to the manifold and communicating with the interior of the speculum whereby the bowel may be pressurised, and an illuminator with which at least a portion of the bowel interior may be illuminated during examination. In the past after use and before reuse on a subsequent patient, the metal tube was sterilised. Subsequently there were developed sigmoidoscopes in which parts coming in contact with the patient were designed to be thrown away after use to save the time and expense of cleaning and sterilising.
Presently used sigmoidoscopes employ a disposable speculum in the form of a hollow, light transmissive, plastic rube. The disposable speculum is purchased in a clean or sterile condition sealed in a bag together with a disposable obturator adapted for use with the speculum. In use the disposable speculum is coupled to a non-disposable fibre optic head which has a hinged window through which an obturator or biopsy instrument may be inserted and removed coaxially through the interior of the speculum.
A light source is operatively coupled with the speculum via the fibre optic head so as to illuminate a circumferential end edge of the speculum via fibre optics whereby light from the illumination means may be directed through the wall of the speculum into the anal canal, bowel, or other body cavity under examination. The fibre optic head is also provided with a spigot for connection, for example via a flexible communicating tube, to an insufflation bulb with which the bowel may be insufflated with air. After use the obturator is discarded.
Upon conclusion of an examination the inexpensive plastic disposable speculum is also disconnected from the fibre optic head and disposed of. The fibre optic head together with the hinged window mounted thereto and, fibre optic illumination means costs in excess of $750 and are retained for use with another speculum. The insufflation bulb may be disconnected between uses but commonly remains connected to the fibre optic head.
Although the invention will be herein described with reference to sigmoidoscopy, it will be understood that the invention is equally applicable to other forms of endoscopy which involve inflation of an internal cavity to be examined and is not limited to instruments for use in bowel examination.
The present inventor has discovered a previously unrecognised potential for cross-infection from sigmoidoscopy.


A combination hang-tag holder and displayer which includes a body; one or more fasteners of sufficient size to attach the body to an automobile sun visor; a hanging device located on the front of the body, either on the left side or right side, such that a hang-tag may be temporarily hung from the hanging device without requiring physical modifications to the hang-tag; and a securing device located on the front of the body on the upper corner opposite the hanging device. The combination hang-tag holder and displayer may be attached to an automobile sun visor, and a hang-tag may be hung from the hanging device for display of the hang-tag. The hang-tag may then be rotated to a horizontal position and secured by the securing device for storage.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to devices for holding and displaying handicap hang-tags. In particular, the present invention is directed to a combination holder and display device for vehicle hang-tags.
2. Prior Art
Various state and other laws typically require handicapped drivers or passengers wishing to park in designated handicap parking areas to display a government-issued hang-tag indicating that parking in such areas is permitted. Such hang-tags are generally rectangular in shape and have a notch allowing the hang-tag to be hung from a rear-view mirror. However, driving with the hang-tag in place on the rear-view mirror can be difficult, as the hang-tag is often large and can obstruct the driver's view or otherwise distract the driver. On the other hand, removing the hang-tag when not in use can be bothersome, as the hang-tag may be misplaced or the user may have difficulty applying and removing the hang-tag.
Attempts have been made to solve the problems posed by the storage and display of handicap hang-tags. However, the solutions available to date are unsatisfactory, as they often require permanent alterations to the handicap hang-tag or the vehicle in which it is displayed. Thus, installation may be difficult and the hang-tag may not be capable of being readily moved from one vehicle to another.
Additionally, some jurisdictions require periodic replacement of the hang-tag.
By way of example, Shedd (U.S. Pat. No. 6,276,081) shows one example of a prior art of a hang-tag mounting apparatus which requires defacing the hang-tag and permanently mounting to the vehicle visor.
Based on the foregoing, there is a need for a safe and convenient way to store and display a handicap hang-tag in a vehicle that allows the hang-tag to be easily and clearly displayed, both displayed and stored without undue physical stress, and protected, always in the same place, closed, secure, and out of sight when not in use.

Sun visor handicap hang-tag holder/displayer


A semiconductor laser includes a lower cladding layer, an active layer, a first upper cladding layer, an etch-stopping layer, a second upper cladding layer, and a contact layer successively laminated on a substrate, a ridge waveguide formed by selectively etching the second upper cladding layer and the contact layer with the use of a stripe-like insulating film as a mask to form a ridge, an AlAs oxide layer on the substrate and a second electrode on the substrate. Incorrect positioning does not occur between the ridge waveguide and a first electrode, reliability is improved, and the distribution of effective refractive index transverse to the resonation of the laser is reduced. A detailed method of fabricating this semiconductor laser is also provided.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a conventional semiconductor laser including a ridge waveguide (hereinafter) referred to as a ridge type semiconductor laser), taken parallel to facets of the laser resonator. In the figure, reference numeral 1 designates an n-GaAs substrate. An n-Al.sub.0.3 Ga.sub.0.7 As lower cladding layer 2, a quantum well active layer 3, ap-Al.sub.0.3 Ga.sub.0.7 As first upper cladding layer 4, a p-Al.sub.0.7 Ga.sub.0.3 As etch-stopping layer 5, a p-Al.sub.0.3 Ga.sub.0.7 As second upper cladding layer 6, and a p-GaAs contact layer 7 are disposed in this order on the substrate 1. A ridge waveguide 9 has a ridge structure extending like a stripe. A p side electrode 12 and an n side electrode 13 are disposed on top and bottom of the laser, respectively. An insulating film for current confinement 14 is disposed on the ridge waveguide 9 and the etch-stopping layer 5, having an opening 15 forming a stripe-like surface on the upper flat surface of the ridge waveguide 9.
FIGS. 4(a), 4(c), 4(d), and 4(e) are cross-sectional views and FIG. 4(b) is a perspective view, illustrating a method of fabricating the conventional ridge type semiconductor laser. In these figures, the same reference numerals as shown in FIG. 3 designate the identical or corresponding parts; reference numeral 8 designates an insulating film having a stripe-like surface.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a principal process of the method of fabricating the conventional ridge type semiconductor laser. In the figure, the same reference numerals as shown in FIGS. 4(a)-4(e) designate identical or corresponding parts.
A description is given of the method of fabricating the conventional ridge type semiconductor laser.
Initially, on the n-GaAs substrate 1 in a wafer state (the wafer state is not shown), the n-Al.sub.0.3 Ga.sub.0.7 As lower cladding layer 2, the quantum well active layer 3, the p-Al.sub.0.3 Ga.sub.0.7 As first upper cladding layer 4, the p-Al.sub.0.7 Ga.sub.0.3 As etch-stopping layer 5, the p-Al.sub.0.3 Ga.sub.0.7 As second upper cladding layer 6, and the p-GaAs contact layer 7 are epitaxially grown in this order. FIG. 4(a) shows a cross-sectional view of the wafer after completing the epitaxial growth.
Thereafter, the wafer is completely covered with an insulating film (not shown) and then coated with a photoresist(not shown) having the desired pattern which is formed by means of photolithographic techniques. Using the photoresist as a mask, the insulating film 8 is selectively etched to a shape like a stripe. Si.sub.3 N.sub.4, SiO.sub.2 or the like is used as the material for the insulating film. The stripe-like insulating film 8 serves as a mask for etching to produce a ridge waveguide. FIG. 4(b) shows a cross-sectional view after the patterning of the insulating film 8.
Thereafter, using the insulating film 8 as a mask, the p-GaAs contact layer 7 and the p-Al.sub.0.3 Ga.sub.0.7 As second upper cladding layer 6 are selectively etched, the etching being stopped at the p-Al.sub.0.7 Ga.sub.0.3 As etch-stopping layer, to produce a ridge waveguide having a ridge structure extending like a stripe in the desired direction. Examples of a solution for etching are a mixture of tartaric acid and hydrogen peroxide, or a mixture of sulfuric acid, hydrogen peroxide, and water. FIG. 4(c) shows a cross-sectional view after the etching step.
After the etching to produce a ridge structure, the stripe-like insulating film 8 is selectively removed by wet or dry etching. The entire wafer is covered with insulating film 14 again. Further, the photoresist 16 is deposited on the insulating film 14 and, by use of the photolithographic technique, an opening 17 is made in the photoresist on the upper flat surface of the ridge waveguide 9 shown in FIG. 4(e). Using the photoresist 16 as a mask, a portion of the insulating film 14 situated on the upper flat surface of the ridge waveguide 9 is selectively removed by dry etching or the like to form opening 15. Furthermore, the p side electrode 12 is formed on top of the wafer. Thus, the p side electrode 12 comes into contact with the contact layer 7 only through the opening 15. That is, the current is allowed to flow only through the opening 15.
Finally, the n side electrode 13 is formed on the rear surface of the substrate 1. The wafer is cleaved into chips, making facets of laser resonators, thereby completing the semiconductor laser shown in FIG. 3.
A description is given of how the conventional ridge-type semiconductor laser operates.
When voltage is applied across the p side electrode as a plus pole and the n side electrode as a minus pole, holes are injected into the active layer 3 through the p-GaAs contact layer 7, the p-AlGaAs second upper cladding layer 6 and the p-AlGaAs first upper cladding layer 4, while electrons are also injected into the active layer 3 through the n-GaAs substrate 1 and the n-AlGaAs lower cladding layer 2. The recombination of electrons and holes occurs in the active region of the quantum well active layer 3, producing light by the stimulated emission of radiation. Provided that a substantial volume of carriers are injected into the active region to produce light beyond the loss of the ridge waveguide, laser oscillation will occur.
At this time, current can not flow through the other regions except the upper flat surface of the ridge waveguide 9 since those regions are covered with the insulating film 14. Namely, the current is allowed to flow only into the ridge waveguide 9. Thus, the quantum well active layer 3 disposed under the ridge waveguide 9 serves as an active region so as to produce laser oscillation.
A semiconductor laser generally confines light within an active region due to a difference in the refractive indices between an active layer and cladding layers along a direction perpendicular to the surface of a substrate. Therefore, light confinement along a vertical direction is effective along the entire waveguide of the semiconductor laser. As opposed to this, a ridge type semiconductor laser guides light along a direction parallel to the surface of a substrate due to an effective difference in the refractive indices between a ridge waveguide and its adjacent regions. When the width of a ridge is constant, higher modes of oscillation occur more easily, the larger the difference in the refractive indices between the ridge waveguide and its adjacent regions. Conversely, as the difference in the refractive indices decreases, the tolerable width of the ridge without higher modes of oscillation becomes larger. Namely, it is possible for a wider ridge to cut off higher modes. In this case, however, as the volume of the injected current is increased, the refractive index decreases in the middle of the ridge where current density is high. Hence, a slight fluctuation of the current distribution occurs, which causes the phenomenon whereby the spot of light floats. As a result, a non-linear state, the so-called kink, emerges on the light output versus current characteristics in which light output is not proportional to current. A kink means that there will be a serious failure during the actual use of the device.
A solution to this problem is to make the ridge sufficiently narrow so that higher modes of oscillation do not occur. When the width of the ridge is less than 3 .mu.m, the horizontal transverse mode remains as a fundamental mode with good controllability. The thicknesses of the upper and the lower cladding layers both need to be more than 1.5 .mu.m in order to confine light effectively within an active layer in which light generation occurs. In this case, when the width of the lower side of the ridge waveguide 9 is 3 .mu.m, the width of the upper side thereof needs to be less than 1 .mu.m. This results in the upper flat surface of the ridge waveguide 9 becoming so small that it is very difficult to transfer the pattern of an opening thereon in the step of forming the opening 15 of the insulating film 14 on the upper surface of the ridge waveguide 9 in order to make contact with the p side electrode 12. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, the opening 15 of the insulating film 14 is not correctly positioned on the upper flat surface of the ridge waveguide 9. In this case, the size of the area where the p side electrode 12 is in contact with the p-GaAs contact layer for ohmic contact is effectively reduced, and thus the contact resistance of this area becomes so high that the area may heat and melt during the operation of the device and the operating characteristics will change. A defect could result in the characteristics of the device. When the misposition is so large that the two layers have no contact with each other, it is impossible to fabricate devices and the yield is severely reduced.
Further, when the opening 15 of the insulating film 14 is not correctly positioned on the upper surface of the ridge waveguide 9, the p side electrode 12 does not come into contact with the proper area on the upper surface of the ridge waveguide 9 through which a part of the current flows into the active layer 3. In such a case the current becomes non-uniform and asymmetrical with respect to the ridge waveguide 9. As a result, the current distribution becomes asymmetrical with respect to the ridge waveguide 9, which causes a problem in that the horizontal transverse mode becomes unstable and the level of the light output is lowered because of the occurrence of a kink.
Further, the thermal expansion coefficient of the insulating film is much different from those of semiconductor crystals included in the semiconductor laser. A protruding part like the ridge waveguide 9 is likely to be exposed to stress. Therefore, when the conventional semiconductor laser operates at a high-output, generation of heat during operation causes stress at the junction of the insulating film 14 and semiconductor crystals and crystalline defects are induced at the lower part of the ridge waveguide 9, which reduces the reliability of the semiconductor laser with the passage of time.
Furthermore, the refractive index of 1.5.about.1.9 of the insulating film 14 is much different from those around 3.4 of semiconductor crystals, such as the first upper cladding layer 4, the second upper cladding layer 6, and so on. Therefore, a difference in the refractive indices between the insulating film 14 and semiconductor crystals causes the distribution of the refractive index to become larger along a horizontal transverse direction, namely, a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the ridge waveguide 9 and parallel to the surface of the substrate 1, whereby higher modes occur easily. A problem occurs whereby the tolerable width of the ridge for producing a fundamental mode becomes so narrow that it becomes very difficult to construct the ridge.


The present invention provides a helper cell for expressing an infectious, replication defective, alphavirus particle in an alphavirus-permissive cell. The helper cell includes (a) a first helper RNA encoding (i) at least one alphavirus structural protein, and (ii) not encoding at least one alphavirus structural protein; and (b) a second helper RNA separate from the first helper RNA, the second helper RNA (i) not encoding the alphavirus structural protein encoded by the first helper RNA, and (ii) encoding the at least alphavirus one structural protein not encoded by the first helper RNA, such that all of the alphavirus structural proteins assemble together into alphavirus particles in the cell. Preferably, the helper cell also includes a replicon RNA encoding an alphavirus packaging sequence and an inserted heterogeneous RNA.

The Alphavirus genus includes a variety of viruses all of which are members of the Togaviridae family. The alphaviruses include Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus (EEE), Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis virus (VEE), Everglades virus, Mucambo virus, Pixuna virus, Western Equine Encephalitis virus (WEE), Sindbis virus, Semliki Forest virus, Middelburg virus, Chikungunya virus, O'nyong-nyong virus, Ross River virus, Barmah Forest virus, Getah virus, Sagiyama virus, Bebaru virus, Mayaro virus, Una virus, Aura virus, Whataroa virus, Babanki virus, Kyzylagach virus, Highlands J virus, Fort Morgan virus, Ndumu virus, and Buggy Creek virus. The viral genome is a single-stranded, messenger-sense RNA, modified at the 5′-end with a methylated cap, and at the 3′-end with a variable-length poly (A) tract. Structural subunits containing a single viral protein, C, associate with the RNA genome in an icosahedral nucleocapsid. In the virion, the capsid is surrounded by a lipid envelope covered with a regular array of transmembranal protein spikes, each of which consists of a heterodimeric complex of two glycoproteins, E1 and E2. See Pedersen et al., J. Virol. 14:40 (1974). The Sindbis and Semliki Forest viruses are considered the prototypical alphaviruses, and have been studied extensively. See Schlesinger The Togaviridae and Flaviviridae, Plenum Publishing Corp., New York (1986). The VEE virus has been studied by the present inventors. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,185,440 to Davis et al.
The study of these viruses has led to the development of beneficial techniques for vaccinating against the alphavirus diseases, and other diseases through the use of alphavirus vectors for the introduction of foreign DNA. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,185,440 to Davis et al., and PCT Publication WO 92/10578. The introduction of foreign DNA into eukaryotic cells has become a topic of increasing interest. It is well known that live, attenuated viral vaccines are among the most successful means of controlling viral disease. However, for some virus pathogens, immunization with a live virus strain may be either impractical or unsafe. One alternative strategy is the insertion of sequences encoding immunizing antigens of such agents into a vaccine strain of another virus. One such system utilizing a live VEE vector is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,505,947 to Johnston. et al. Another such system is described by Hahn et al., Proc. Nati. Acad. Sci. USA 89:2679 (1992), wherein Sindbis virus constructs express a truncated form of the influenza hemagglutinin protein. Unfortunately, relatively few such systems are currently available.
Accordingly there remains a need in the art for nucleic acid sequences encoding foreign antigens into a vaccine strain of a virus which may be utilized as a vaccine for the foreign antigen, and/or the viral vector itself.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill


Torque converter arrangements and operating methods are provided herein. In one example, the torque converter includes a first attachment interface designed to rotationally couple to a prime mover and a second attachment interface designed to rotationally couple to a transmission. The torque converter further includes a lock-up clutch with an engagement spring embedded in an actuation piston, a plurality of separator plates supported by one or more guiding pins that extend through the plurality of separator plates and into a casing, and a plurality of friction plates interleaved with the plurality of separator plates, where the plurality of separator plates and friction plates are axially captured between the actuation piston and an end plate.

Certain powertrains include hydraulic torque converters. Typically, in-use, the torque converters are coupled directly to an engine and transmission. Torque converters have a comparatively high input speed, low output speed, and torque multiplication functionality. Hence, torque converters are particularly useful during vehicle launch and pushing operations. However, after a certain amount of acceleration, the converter's output speed may approach the input speed which reduces the torque multiplication while efficiency losses in the converter persist. At a certain operating point, the converter's torque multiplication functionality becomes negligible. In certain torque converters, at this point, a lock-up clutch may be used to lock rotation of the driving and driven wheel of the converter. Because of lock-up clutch engagement, the engine is directly coupled to the transmission which reduces torque converter losses.
US 2017/0343092 A1 to Arhab et al. teaches a hydrokinetic torque coupling device that has a lock-up clutch integrated therein. Arhab's lock-up clutch, when closed, locks the rotation of the casing to a turbine, such that the driven and drive shafts of the torque coupling device rotate in unison.
The inventors have recognized several drawbacks with Arhab's torque coupling device as well as other torque converters. For instance, Arhab's torque converter and other torque converters are stiff and generate undesirable amounts of noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) during shifting transients. The inventors have therefore recognized that the system's lack of flexibility may diminish shifting performance.
To address at least a portion of the abovementioned issues, the inventors developed a torque converter. The torque converter includes a first attachment interface designed to rotationally couple to a prime mover. The torque converter further includes a second attachment interface designed to rotationally couple to a transmission. Even further, the torque converter includes a lock-up clutch with an engagement spring embedded in an actuation piston. The lock-up clutch has a plurality of separator plates supported by one or more guiding pins that extend through the plurality of separator plates and into a casing and a plurality of friction plates interleaved with the plurality of separator plates. In the lock-up clutch, the plurality of separator plates and friction plates are axially captured between the actuation piston and an end plate. Due to the incorporation of the engagement spring into the lock-up clutch, the system's controllability, shifting performance, and shifting quality is increased due to the spring attenuating shocks that occur during shifting events. The abovementioned torque converter may additionally have greater space efficiency than previous torque converter.
Further, in one example, the one or more guiding pins may each extend axially through a corresponding opening in one of the plurality of clutch separator plates and into a recess in a section of the casing. Further, in certain examples, the engagement spring may be positioned radially inward from the one or more guiding pins. In this way, the lock-up clutch may achieve a compact and easy to assemble design, thereby reducing manufacturing duration and costs, if wanted.
It should be understood that the summary above is provided to introduce in simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined uniquely by the claims that follow the detailed description. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure.

Torque converter with lock-up clutch and torque converter operating method


A humidifier, especially for room humidification, has a reservoir for water to be dispersed into the atmosphere, a unit for dispersing the water and a passage between the reservoir and that unit which is provided with a UV radiation generator for sterilizing water before it reaches the unit. The unit can be a heater, an ultrasonic atomizer for the water or a wettable surface over which air is passed.

Humidifiers are used in a wide variety of applications, including the humidification of gases for use in therapeutic environments or for home heating purposes, as space humidifiers and otherwise and among the humidifiers which may be mentioned are those described in United States Patents: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,329,939, 5,195,515, 4,891,171, 4,714,078, 4,518,404, 4,500,480, 4,225,542, 4,177,945, 4,100,235, 4,089,915 and others. Among these are those which are self-sterilizing, i.e. reduce the contamination which otherwise tends to develop in a humidifier unit because of the presence of microorganisms in the water which is used or because water at a temperature suitable for the growth of microorganism cultures may stand in the unit.

Humidifier with UV anti-contamination provision


This invention is a new inspection technique using ultrasonic Lamb waves to measure reduction of pipe wall thickness due to localized corrosion at pipe supports. The technique uses two transducers in a pitch-catch mode to send and receive a selected Lamb wave. The wave travels along the pipe wall in the circumferential direction. The reduction of the pipe wall thickness at the pipe support changes the time-of-flight between the two transducers. By comparing time-of-flight data measured from the pipe support area and from areas adjacent to the pipe support, one can quantify the change of time-of-flight due to the pipe corrosion wall loss at the support. A mathematical model, a sizing algorithm and a PC program have been developed to quantitatively relate in time-of-flight to the minimum remaining wall thickness. With them, one can quantify the minimum remaining pipe wall thickness at a pipe support by simply measuring the change in the time-of-flight.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is directed to methods and apparatus for ultrasonically measuring pipe wall thickness at pipe supports without lifting the pipe.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Prior to this invention, qualitative inspection using Lamb waves to detect pipe corrosion wall loss at pipe supports was available. Quality NDT, Inc., having an address at P.O. Box 1145, Breaux Bridge, La. 70517, offered such an inspection service.
There was, however, no sizing technique to allow quantitative measurements of pipe wall thickness at pipe supports.

Ultrasonic Lamb wave technique for measurement of pipe wall thickness at pipe supports


A process and apparatus for adjusting clock signals in a synchronous system of the type having several units synchronized by clock signals furnished by at least one generator providing a basic clock signal The generator includes means for adjusting the clock signals, the adjustment means being controlled by digital adjustment parameters.

Data processing systems are composed of a plurality of functional units, generally in the form of integrated circuits distributed on electronic cards or printed circuit boards. These units (cards and/or integrated circuits) typically operate in synchronism under the control of clock signals supplied from a common-base clock.
By comparison with asynchronous systems, synchronous systems have an advantage in speed, as exchanges of information signals between the units are performed directly, bypassing resynchronization circuits which may introduce delays. Another advantage is the ability to freeze the system in a given logic state by stopping transmission of clock signals. Synchronous systems also simplify certain maintenance operations, such as reducing the frequency when defective electronic cards are replaced, as described in French Patent Application No. 88 16194 filed on Dec. 9, 1988, (U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/444,941, filed Dec. 4, 1989); entitled "Systeme electronique a plusieurs unites amovibles" ("Electronic System with Several Detachable Units").
On the other hand, synchronous systems have the disadvantage of being difficult to implement, particularly when there is a large number of synchronous units. It is difficult to achieve fully synchronous operation of all the units while maintaining a high operating frequency. Links between units and technological variations in these units introduce spurious synchronization differences which make it necessary to reduce the operating frequency. These spurious phase shifts are both static ("skew") and dynamic ("jitter").
To overcome this drawback, the first approach is to eliminate the causes of phase shift due to the links by disposing the units as regularly as possible in the system. However, this solution does not make up for technological variations which may be very large, particularly if the integrated circuits come from different manufacturers.
Hence, it has been necessary to provide correction circuits that act on the characteristics of the transmitted signals. Of course, to resolve the synchronization problem, the clock signals must be corrected as the first priority. Generally, clock signals are generated by clock generators from a basic clock signal furnished for example by a quartz oscillator. The correction can be made to these generators by influencing the phases of the transmitted signals and in particular the amplitude (voltage or current) of these signals by adjusting the characteristics of the generator output amplifiers.
To determine the optimum corrections, the safest solution is to run each system on a test bench and search for the correction that produces an amplitude and phase match between the signals actually obtained and reference signals. These reference signals define characteristics imposed by the specifications of the system being designed. Also, in order to guard against problems linked to technological variations, it is preferable to choose a digital adjustment method whereby the adjustments to be made are defined by a binary number defining the adjustment value. To make the correction according to the adjustment value, discrete delay circuits and adjustable amplifiers are used.
As soon as the values of the adjustment parameters are determined on the test bench, they must be preserved for use in normal operation after the system has been initialized. Generally, systems of some size include maintenance devices composed essentially of a service processor, specific maintenance units, and maintenance circuits integrated into functional units. These elements are connected together by a set of links called a maintenance channel. The system is then started up under the control of the service processor which triggers initialization of the technological parameters controlling the various adjustment means provided in the clock generators. For this purpose, a nonvolatile memory belonging to the service processor (diskette or other auxiliary memory) in which the adjustment parameters are stored can be used. However, this solution has the drawback that replacement of certain system circuits may make it necessary to change the stored data. This is particularly true in the case of a changed clock generator. Thus, the goal of the invention is to propose a solution to overcome the above drawbacks.

Process and device for adjusting clock signals in a synchronous system


A method of surveilling a subject including a person's body may include or an imaging system may provide interrogating the subject with electromagnetic radiation, and generating, from the interrogating, image data representative of at least a first image of at least a portion of the person's body. In some examples, a first portion of the body may be identified, and a first feature of the image may be determined based at least partially on the identified portion of the body. In some examples, the orientation of the person's body may be determined from one or more features of one or more image portions. In some examples, a portion of the image of the person's body may be replaced with a substitute image portion.

Millimeter wave signals are used for radar and telecommunications. They are also capable of being used to generate data representative of a subject, by directing millimeter-wave signals at the subject and detecting the reflected signal. The data generated may then be used to produce an image of the subject. Examples of such imaging systems are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,455,590; 5,557,283; 5,859,609; 6,507,309; and 6,703,964; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/607,552 filed Jun. 26, 2003; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/697,848 filed Oct. 30, 2003; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/697,965 filed Oct. 30, 2003, which patent references are incorporated herein by reference.

Active subject imaging with body identification


Disclosed is a knock control device for an internal combustion engine wherein, when performing knock control based on an ion current detected using a configuration containing an ignition coil secondary in an ion current path, a knock detection gate period is controlled appropriately in accordance with variation of a mask period in order to ensure complete removal of residual magnetic noise. An ion current output detected through an ion current detection circuit and an inverting amplifier circuit is masked by a mask circuit until a prescribed time elapses after the end of spark discharge, thereby accomplishing complete removal of noise occurring after the end of the discharge. A band-pass filter (BPF) extracts a knock frequency component from the output of the mask circuit, and an integrator circuit integrates the output of the BPF during the gate period. A CPU learns the initiation timing of the gate period in accordance with variation of the end timing of the mask period so that the initiation timing of the gate period occurs later than the end timing of the mask period. As a result, the effects of the noise caused by a signal discontinuity associated with mask removal are eliminated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a knock control device for an internal combustion engine and, more particularly, to a device for controlling engine knock based on an ion current inside a combustion chamber.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a gasoline engine, the air/fuel mixture in the vicinity of a spark plug is ignited by the spark produced at the spark plug, and gasoline combustion takes place with the ignited flame propagating throughout the entire air/fuel mixture. One abnormal combustion phenomenon that can occur at this time is knocking. Knocking is a condition in which unburned gases self-ignite before the flame front arrives, due to an abnormally rapid rise in pressure during the flame propagation. When knock occurs, combustion gases oscillate, allowing heat to propagate more freely, and in some cases, engine damage may result. Knocking is closely related to ignition timing; as the ignition timing is advanced, maximum combustion pressure increases, increasing the tendency to knock.
On the other hand, it is desirable to increase the compression ratio in order to increase thermal efficiency and reduce fuel consumption. To achieve this, knock control is performed as part of ignition timing control by advancing the ignition timing up to the point where knock is about to occur while detecting the occurrence of knock. Previously, in this kind of knock detection method, it was common practice to detect knock-induced vibrations using a vibration sensor attached to the cylinder block or a like part, but in recent years, a knock detection method has been proposed that utilizes the change that occurs in an ion current inside a cylinder when knock occurs.
More specifically, when a spark is produced at the spark plug and the air/fuel mixture burns in the combustion chamber, the air/fuel mixture is ionized. When a voltage is applied to the spark plug while the mixture is in the ionized state, an ion current flows. The occurrence of knock can be detected by detecting and analyzing this ion current. Usually, when knock occurs, an oscillating component of 6 kHz to 7 kHz appears in the ion current. The knock detection device based on the ion current extracts this frequency component peculiar to knock by means of a filter, and judges the knocking condition based on the magnitude of that component.
As an example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-286552 discloses a device in which a capacitor as an ion current generating source is charged to a given voltage by the secondary current that flows when the primary current in the ignition coil is shut off, and an ion current that flows, after a spark discharge, through a closed circuit consisting of the capacitor, the secondary winding of the ignition coil, the spark plug and a current detecting resistor, is measured. In such a device, since the secondary winding of the ignition coil (the secondary coil) is located in the ion current flow path, currents other than the ion current also flow.
More specifically, after the end of the discharge at the spark plug, the ignition coil retains residual magnetic energy, and the ignition coil attempts to release this energy, causing LC resonance by interaction between the inductance L of the coil and the stray capacitance C on the high-voltage line. In this way, after the end of the discharge, an LC resonance current due to the coil's residual magnetic energy flows; since this current has no relevance to the ion current, the LC resonance current causes noise (hereinafter referred to as the residual magnetic noise) in knock detection. To address this problem, the above prior art proposes a method in which an output of an ion current detection circuit is masked starting from prescribed timing before the ignition timing, the residual magnetic noise occurring after the end of the spark discharge is directly detected, and the mask is removed when a prescribed time has elapsed from the time the noise was detected, so that only the ion current can be detected after completely removing the residual magnetic noise.
Here, when the ion current output after masking is supplied to a band-pass filter and the band-pass filter output is supplied to an integrator circuit or a peak-hold circuit to extract the frequency component relating to knock oscillations, the period of the integration or peak holding, that is, the gate period, must be set. Usually, this gate period is set in such a manner as to coincide with the period in which knock-induced oscillations appear. The period in which knock-induced oscillations appear depends on the crankshaft angular position and corresponds, for example, to the position from 15.degree. to 60.degree. CA ATDC (crankshaft angle after top dead center).
When the mask period is provided to remove currents other than the ion current, that is, the residual magnetic noise, and also the gate period is provided during which to perform knock detection, as described above, the following problem will arise. That is, since the spark duration varies due to variations (manufacturing variations, etc.) among systems including the coils, changes over time, etc., mask end timing also varies. Furthermore, at high engine rpm, the interval between the mask end timing and the knock occurrence start timing (15.degree. CA ATDC) becomes shorter than at low engine rpm. Therefore, there can occur cases where the mask period continues partially into the gate period.
The following problem arises when the mask period overlaps into the gate period. That is, frequency components are generated over a wide frequency range in association with a signal discontinuity occurring at the time of mask removal, and some of these frequency components are passed unattenuated through the band-pass filter and introduced into the gate period. If the period containing the mask removal-induced noise overlaps into the knock detection gate period, as just described, the accuracy of knock detection degrades and shifting occurs in the set value of the knock evaluation reference level.

Knock control device for internal combustion engine


Ceramic compositions comprising a distillable binder, shaped articles formed therefrom and a method for making said compositions and for forming the shaped articles.

This invention relates to ceramic compositions containing a distillable binder, shaped articles formed therefrom and preparative processes for the shaped articles and for the compositions.
Shapeable ceramic or preceramic compositions containing polymeric binders wherein the polymer provides a matrix for the composition are well known. Examples of such polymeric binders are epoxy resins, phenolic resins, polyimides, polysulfones, polystyrenes, polyaramids, polyesters and polycarbonates; see, for example, Lee et al., "Metal and Polymer Matrix Composites", Noyes Data Corp., 1987, pages 10 to 18 and 121 to 123. Polymers provide plastic properties which impart toughness and shapeability to ceramic components. However, the polymers must be destructively burned off during densification/firing of the ceramic composite. Frequently, undesirable carbonization occurs during removal of the polymer binder by the technique of burning it off.
So far as can be determined, the art until this time has been unaware of a process for forming ceramic articles from a ceramic/binder composition without the necessity for destructive removal of the binder with the dangers attendant thereon of contaminating the ceramic with undesired polymer residues. It is the subject of this invention to provide compositions of ceramic particulates and methods for making and working the compositions so that it will now be possible to make ceramic articles without the necessity and cost of destroying the polymeric binder matrix used to hold the ceramic particles together until the sintering step.


The present disclosure relates to roller cone drill bit journals with asymmetric ball races and extended friction races. The disclosure also relates to methods of forming such journals, and methods of finishing these journals to produce finished journals with symmetric ball races.

Roller cone drill bits are used to form wellbores through formations in the earth in order to access downhole materials, such as petrochemical deposits. Roller cone drill bits are typically formed in a primary shape using a machining process, resulting in a bit body. The bits are then finished by placing specialized materials in selected locations and by tooling, including machining, selected locations.

Method of forming a journal for a roller cone drill bit


A saddle-adjusting mechanism of a fitness apparatus having: a) a set of upper and lower parallel slide rails pivotally attached to a front and a rear connecting rod; and b) a saddle support with guide rollers and an engaging gear such that the upper and lower parallel slide rails may be adjusted at a certain angle. Meanwhile, a saddle can be moved forward and backward and maintained at a certain angle so that the operators have a comfortable sitting. Moreover, a back pad support is installed in such a way that a fine adjustment of the backing angle of a back pad is achieved by moving it upward and downward.

1. Fields of the Invention
The invention relates to a saddle-adjusting mechanism of a fitness apparatus, and more particularly, to a structure for conducting any adjustment of the saddle, thereby meeting different requirements of sitting and lying position.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is well known that many fitness apparatuses (such as fitness bikes, rowing exerciser, etc.) have saddles disposed thereon so that the operator can sit thereon for performing an exercise session. In order to achieve a smooth operation of the fitness apparatus for operators having different heights, the saddles have been designed to be position-adjustable.
At present, the conventional saddle-adjusting mechanism can only achieve an vertical or inclined-vertical adjustment. In this way, the operator has to be forced to accept a single exercise position according to his height. This exercise position does not necessarily meet the requirements on sitting comfort and height. However, the operator does not have other choices. Therefore, the conventional mechanism requires further improvements.

Saddle-adjusting mechanism of a fitness apparatus


A lithium ion battery electrode includes an electrode material layer. The lithium ion battery electrode further includes a current collector. The current collector is located on a surface of the electrode material layer. The current collector is a carbon nanotube layer. The carbon nanotube layer consists of a number of carbon nanotubes.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to lithium ion battery electrodes.
2. Description of Related Art
A lithium ion battery includes a case, an anode, a cathode, a non-aqueous electrolyte, and a separator. The anode and the cathode are both lithium battery electrodes. The anode, cathode, non-aqueous electrolyte, and separator are encapsulated in the case. The separator is located between the anode and the cathode. The anode, cathode and separator are infiltrated by the non-aqueous electrolyte. The cathode includes a cathode current collector and a cathode material layer disposed on a surface of the cathode current collector. The anode includes an anode current collector and an anode material layer disposed on a surface of the anode current collector.
The current collector is used to collect the charge generated by the lithium ion battery during discharge, and to connect to an external power source during the recharging of the lithium ion battery. The current collectors are usually made of metal foils, such as copper foil and aluminum foil. However, the metal foils have a relatively large weight. The power density is calculated by power/weight. Therefore, a large weight of the current collector will decrease the power density of a lithium ion battery. Furthermore, the metal foils may be corroded by the electrolyte, which decreases the life span of the lithium ion battery.
What is needed, therefore, is to provide a lithium ion battery electrode having high power density and a long life.


According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a power supply circuit including: a detection circuit that is connected to an external power supply voltage and that outputs a first signal indicating whether the external power supply voltage is in a dropped-state in which the external power supply voltage is dropped below a reference voltage; a control circuit that includes: a delay circuit that outputs a second signal acquired by delaying the first signal for a reference time; and a determination circuit that outputs a third signal based on the first signal and the second signal; a generation circuit that generates internal power supply voltage from the external power supply voltage and that supplies the internal power supply voltage; and an interruption circuit that interrupts the internal power supply voltage supplied from the generation circuit based on the third signal.

1. Field of the Invention
An aspect of the present invention relates to a power supply circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
A ferroelectric memory as one of nonvolatile semiconductor storage devices has a plurality of internal power supply voltage generation circuits provided in a chip to select a memory cell and to control a storage operation. These internal power supply voltages are controlled to start generating an internal power supply voltage when an external power supply is turned on and an external power supply voltage exceeds a predetermined voltage. For that purpose, a power supply turn-on detection circuit for detecting turn-on of the external power supply is provided in the chip.
A reading operation of reading out data stored in such a ferroelectric memory is a destructive reading operation of destroying data stored in a memory cell. This causes a problem that upon interruption of an external power supply in the middle of a reading operation, data stored in a memory cell is destroyed by occurrence of an access to the memory cell.
Thus, it is desired for preventing such destruction of data that when an external power supply voltage is equal to or lower than a predetermined value, at least an internal power supply voltage to be supplied to a memory cell array becomes 0 V.
Thus, a power supply voltage detection circuit for detecting a change in the external power supply voltage has hitherto been provided in a chip to enable the detection of interruption of the external power supply in addition to the turn-on of the external power supply. Consequently, the activation and the discharging of the internal power supply voltage generation circuit are controlled (see, e.g., JP-2003-196974-A).
However, sometimes, an external power supply voltage drops due to noise or the like only for a short time. Thus, a conventional power supply circuit has a problem in that when the internal power supply voltage supplied to a memory cell array is discharged to 0 V in such a case, it takes long time to restore the voltage and increases power consumption.


Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for handling operational constraints for unmanned vehicles. The system includes: a plurality of mobile unmanned vehicles for deployment in an environment; a computing device connected to the plurality of unmanned vehicles via a network, the computing device storing, in a memory, a plurality of operational constraints; each operational constraint including (i) a type identifier, (ii) an indication of a region of the environment, and (iii) a property defining a constraint on the operation of the unmanned vehicles within the region. The computing device is configured to: receive a request from one of the mobile unmanned vehicles, the request identifying an operational constraint; responsive to receiving the request, retrieve an operational constraint from the memory based on the request; and send the retrieved operational constraint to the one of the mobile unmanned vehicles.

Mobile unmanned vehicles (also referred to as autonomous mobile robots or self-driving vehicles) operate in a wide variety of environments. Such environments can have various physical characteristics that the vehicles may be required to navigate around, interact with and the like, in order to operate successfully. Physical characteristics such as those mentioned above can generally be represented in maps of the environments stored by the vehicles. The operating environments of the vehicles, however, may also impose other restrictions on the operation of the vehicles that do not arise directly from physical characteristics of the environments, or that arise from physical characteristics that are not readily detectable by the vehicles. Such restrictions are less suitable for representation in maps, and can therefore render the operation of self-driving vehicles difficult.

Method, system and apparatus for handling operational constraints for control of unmanned vehicles


Methods and devices for controlling the number of consecutive images captured in a burst operating mode are described. In one example embodiment, the present disclosure describes a method implemented by a processor of an electronic device. The electronic device has a camera module. The camera module is configured to temporarily capture a number of consecutive images to an image buffer when operation of the camera module is triggered. The method includes: obtaining motion data from a motion sensor on the electronic device; and based on the motion data, controlling the number of consecutive images captured by the camera module when operation of the camera module is triggered.

Electronic devices such as smartphones and tablet computers are often equipped with one or more cameras. For example, electronic devices may be equipped with a front-facing camera, which is oriented to capture an image of a subject located near a side of the electronic device which includes the main display of the electronic device. Electronic devices may also be equipped with a rear facing camera, which is oriented to capture an image of a subject located near a side of the electronic device which does not include the main display of the electronic device.
Images captured by the cameras on the electronic device may often be susceptible to image blur. That is, the image may be blurred due to camera movements when capturing the image. For example, a user of the electronic device may inadvertently shake the camera when capturing an image, resulting in the image being blurred.
Like reference numerals are used in the drawings to denote like elements and features.

Methods and devices for controlling camera image capture


A system and method are proposed to protect critical infrastructure assets from an electromagnetic pulse event. Detonation of a nuclear warhead or geomagnetic storms created by solar corona ejecta or an attack by directed energy weapons can create an electromagnetic pulse event. Several embodiments are disclosed that use radio frequency (RF) sensors, electrostatic discharge sensors and geomagnetic sensors that feed sensor signals to an event characterization and detection unit that analyzes and predicts early occurrence of an electromagnetic pulse event. Critical sensor signals are recorded for future use and are used to refine autonomic algorithms used to predict future electromagnetic pulse events from the sensor data.

The critical infrastructures of modern civilizations need protection from catastrophic events such as a detonation of a nuclear warhead, solar corona ejecta or an attack by directed energy weapons. Power and telecommunication systems serve as the backbone of modern infrastructure elements because components of these critical infrastructures depend on computerized control and communication systems, which are inoperable without requisite power and communication capabilities. Accordingly, protection of these critical assets and quick recovery from such a catastrophic event are of utmost national importance.

Method and system to detect and characterize electromagnetic pulses for the protection of critical infrastructure components


A remotely controllable wall switch includes a housing, a push button and a receiver contained in the housing, and a transmitter. The receiver has a circuit board connected to two lead wires of a power source and a load and the push button. A lead wire of the power source and the load are connected to each other. In use, the push button of the receiver or a press key of the transmitter is pressed to control the receiver, to connect power to the load or disconnect it.

This invention relates to a remote controllable wall switch, particularly to one provided with a remote receiver controlled by a remote transmitter for turning on and off a wall switch connected to a load such as a lamp.
To date, remote controllers have been widely used for controlling various electric appliances, such as televisions, air conditioners, fans, acoustic amplifiers, etc. But hanging lamps, wall lamps and computers are still generally controlled manually, without a remote controller.