In a ribbon cassette which is used in a thermal transfer printer of the present invention, a head insertion section, in which a thermal head is inserted to turn its head up and down, is formed between a first ribbon housing section and a second ribbon housing section and further, a relief groove having a predetermined depth, in which a paper feeding mechanism can be positioned, is formed between the head insertion section and the second ribbon housing section. In the relief groove, an ink ribbon to be taken up around a take-up reel is exposed and, in a cassette mounting section, a ribbon guide section is formed to help the ink ribbon to be taken up around the take-up reel in the state where the ink ribbon exposed to the relief groove of the mounted ribbon cassette is bent toward the lower portion of the relief groove.

1. Field of the Invention
This application claims the benefit of priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-165534, filed on Jun. 3, 2004, herein incorporated by reference.
The present invention relates to a thermal transfer printer, more specifically, to a thermal transfer printer capable of reducing cost by reducing the number of the components of the ribbon cassette.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional thermal transfer printer 31 will be described with reference to a drawing.
As shown in FIG. 3, the thermal transfer printer 31 includes a printer main body 31a, and a cassette mounting section 31b capable of mounting a ribbon cassette 39 to be described later in the printer main body 31a.
A rotatable platen roller 32 is arranged in the printer main body 31a, and a thermal head 33 is arranged on the platen roller 32.
A recording paper 34 is fed between the thermal head 33 and the platen roller 32 so as to be carried in the direction of an arrow A.
The thermal head 33 is supported by a head mounting table 35 which is mounted on a head lever 36. The head lever 36 is turned about a supporting shaft 37 as a fulcrum, so that the thermal head 33 can be brought into contact with and separated from the platen roller 32 (head up/down).
When a ribbon cassette 39 to be described later is mounted on the cassette mounting section 31b in a state in which the thermal head 33 is separated from the platen roller 32 (head up), an ink ribbon 38 is positioned between the platen roller 32 and the thermal head 33.
The ink ribbon 38 is formed to have a slightly wider width than the recording paper 34 and both ends of the ink ribbon 38 are wound around a supply reel 39a and a take-up reel 39b, respectively. The supply reel 39a and the take-up reel 39b are rotatably supported in ribbon housing sections 39c facing each other so as to be housed in the ribbon cassette 39.
When the ribbon cassette 39 is mounted on the cassette mounting section 31b, the take-up reel 39b is engaged with a take-up bobbin (not shown) of the printer main body section 31a so as to be rotated by the rotation of the take-up bobbin.
When the take-up reel 39b is rotated in the counterclockwise direction by rotating the take-up bobbin in the counterclockwise direction, the ink ribbon 38 wound around the supply reel 39a can be wound around the take-up reel 39b.
Further, the ribbon cassette 39 is provided with a relief groove 39d for relieving a pressing roller 41 to be described later, and a take-up port 39e is provided in the lower portion of the relief groove 39d. In addition, a guide roller 39f made of metallic rod is rotatably supported on a side plate adjacent to the take-up port 39e.
The ink ribbon 38 to be wound around the take-up reel 39b is detached at a predetermined detachment angle from a ribbon detaching member 42 provided downstream in the ribbon-feeding direction of the thermal head 33. Then, the ink ribbon 38 is bent substantially orthogonally by the guide roller 39f so as to be wound around the take-up reel 39b.
In addition, a paper feeding roller 40 and a pressing roller 41 which is pressed against the paper feeding roller 40 are arranged on the left side of the platen roller 32 in FIG. 3. The recording paper 34 is interposed between the paper feeding roller 40 and the pressing roller 41 so that the recording paper 34 can be carried in the direction of the arrow A by the rotation of the paper feeding roller 40 in the counterclockwise direction.
When the ribbon cassette 39 is mounted on the cassette mounting section 31b, the pressing roller 41 is positioned in the relief groove 39d.
The above-mentioned conventional thermal transfer printer is described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication Nos. 2002-144616 and 2002-120446.
However, since the above-mentioned conventional thermal transfer printer 31 uses the high-cost guide roller 31 made of metal in the ribbon cassette 39, cost is increased.
In addition, when the ink ribbon 38 of ink is used up, the ribbon cassette 39 is discarded. In this case, since the guide roller 39f made of metal is also simultaneously discarded, resources are wasted.


A method includes receiving a game play input preferably in a gaming network. This game play input specifies a wager in a primary game in which a player is participating through the network, and is typically entered through a player station connected in the network. A secondary game play is generated in response to the game play input. This generation of the secondary game play is separate from any actions taken in the gaming network in connection with the primary game in response to the game play input. The secondary game play includes one or more entries in a secondary game that is distinct from the primary game, and the number of entries included in the secondary game play is determined by the wager in the primary game. Each entry included in the secondary game play is associated with a chance in the secondary game and is ultimately analyzed to identify a result of the secondary game play for the secondary game. This secondary game result may then be presented to the player preferably at the same player station at which the game play input was made.

Modem gaming systems commonly include a number of gaming machines (hereinafter referred to as "player stations") connected across a communications network with one or more central data processing devices. Some gaming systems even have several different layers of central processing devices. For example, each one of several different gaming facilities may have a number of player stations connected for communications with a respective local area server, and the local area servers at the different gaming facilities may be connected for communication with another server.
There are a number of different functions that may be carried out in these gaming system networks using one or more layers of central data processing devices. For example, an electronic lottery system may use a central data processing device to store a file containing a number of electronic lottery records, and may distribute electronic lottery records or information from those records to the various player stations connected in the network. U.S. Pat. No. 6,733,385 discloses an example of an electronic lottery gaming system in which lottery result information is communicated over a network to the various player stations included in the network. Electronic bingo gaming systems may also be implemented with one or more layers of central data processing devices. Some electronic bingo gaming systems include a number of player stations from which players may submit requests to enter a bingo game, and may also include a central server that collects these game play requests and conducts bingo games to identify results which are then distributed back to the appropriate player stations in the network. U.S. patent application publication 2004-0152499-A1 discloses an example of such a bingo gaming system. Central data processing devices may also be used to implement progressive games in which progressive prizes are determined based upon wagers made at a number of different player stations in the network. U.S. patent application publication 2002-0132666-A1 shows another example of a gaming system network using one or more central data processing devices. In this example, the network implements a player account system for maintaining player accounts from which wagers are withdrawn and to which winnings are credited. A player tracking system or player club system may also be implemented in a gaming system network. Gaming networks may also be implemented simply for providing centralized monitoring and control for a number of different player stations.
Gaming system networks are commonly proprietary to a single player station provider. Also, a gaming facility such as a casino may contain player stations provided by different providers and operating on separate gaming system networks. Thus, a first player station at a casino may be connected in a first gaming system network, and another player station right next to the first player station may be connected in an entirely separate gaming system network. In these situations the player stations themselves are not only competing for players, but also the different networks are competing for players. Even where a given gaming facility includes only a single network of player stations, and all player stations at that facility are connected in that network, an adjacent gaming facility may include one or more separate gaming system networks. In these cases, the neighboring gaming system networks are essentially in competition for players.
Due to the competition between gaming system networks, it is desirable to have some way to make the player stations in a given network more attractive to potential players. Player station providers have traditionally tried to attract players by consistently introducing new and more exciting game presentations. "Game presentation" is used here and throughout this disclosure to refer to all of the graphic displays and mechanisms used by a player station in the course of receiving a wager and other player inputs, and showing the result of play at the player station for a given game. Gaming system operators try to have the most popular game presentations at player stations in their network in an effort to attract players to the network, and to retain players in the network.

Networked gaming system with secondary bonus game


An improved process of fabricating a read only memory device (ROM's) wherein the buried N+ lines have desirable very narrow widths and are closely spaced. The process provides that masking stripes are formed with vertical sidewalls and that spacers are formed on the sidewalls. The areas between the spacers are filled in. The spacers are etched away to form narrow closely spaced openings. Ions are implanted through the openings to form closely spaced buried lines.

1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to non-volatile memory semiconductor devices and in particular, to an improved process for forming very narrow closely spaced buried bit lines.
2) Description of the Prior Art
In the quest to achieve microminiaturization of integrated circuit devices, individual elements have been made very small and the elements have been closely packed. Microminiaturization increases the speed of operation and reduces the production costs. In order to achieve this, each memory device must occupy less space on the device. Moreover, as read only memory (ROM's) devices are scaled down in size, there is a continuous challenge to produce narrower high density conductive lines (i.e., bit lines). In conventional methods for forming conductive lines, an insulating layer 12, (typically oxide) is deposited on a monocrystalline silicon substrate 10 as shown in FIGS. 1 through 3. Next, a masking layer 14, usually silicon nitride, is deposited on the insulating layer 12. Using conventional photolithography techniques, openings 16 that define the spaced, narrow bit lines are formed in the masking layer 14. Using layer 14 as an implant mask, impurity ions 20 are implanted through the openings 16 into the substrate 10 to form buried bit lines 22. The photolithography resolution capability determines the minimum line pitches 24 and line widths 23. The line pitch is the distance between on side of a line and the same side of an adjacent line. Next, the masking layer is etched away. A thin insulating layer 30, typically thermal oxide, is formed on substrate 10. Subsequently, a conducting layer 32, typically doped polysilicon, is deposited over the insulating layer. The following process steps to complete the read only memory (ROM) device are well known.
A major improvement in microminiaturized device fabrication is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,366,613. This patent discloses a spacer insulating layer on substantially vertical surfaces on a gate electrode of field effect transistors (FET's). This structure made possible the formation of dopant gradients in source and drain regions.

Process for producing very narrow buried bit lines for non-volatile memory devices


A method of treatment for hypertension and other disease states is described, which comprises the delivery of losartan in a gastric retained dosage form.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to the use of losartan in a gastric retained dosage form. More specifically, the invention relates to the use of such dosage form to treat hypertension and other disease states.
2. Background
Losartan was the first orally active angiotensin II receptor antagonist (McIntyre, et al., Pharmacol. Ther. 74(2):181-194 (1997); Siegel, Journal of Hypertension 11(3):S19-S 22(1993)). At present, losartan is marketed as losartan potassium (C22H22ClKN6O), which is chemically described as 2-butyl-4-chloro-1[p-(o-1H-tetrazol-5-ylphenyl) benzyl]imidazole-5-methanol monopotassium salt. Losartan potassium is administered to treat hypertension and is commercially available in 25 mg, 50 mg and 100 mg tablet dosage forms. Dosage regimens are typically 25 mg to 100 mg either once- or twice-daily.
The effects of losartan potassium are observed at 24 hours for both the 50 mg and the 100 mg dosages, but not for the 25 mg dosage (McIntyre, et al., supra). McIntyre also observes that there is an approximately 30% blockade of the diastolic pressure response to angiotensin II at 24 hours after dosing. Further, the peak:trough blood pressure ratio (5-6 hours after dosing: 24 hours after dosing) was found to be 60% for a 50 mg dosage and 72% for a 100 mg dosage.
Although some researchers have noted that once-daily and twice-daily administrations demonstrate equivalent efficacy, Bauer, et al., Arch. Intern. Med. 155:1361-1368 (1995) has indicated that a 50 mg twice daily dosing regimen is more effective than a 100 mg once-daily dosing regimen. Since the blood pressure responses tends to closely follow the plasma levels of the active metabolite of losartan potassium, and the tmax and half-life of the active metabolite are 2-4 hours and 6-9 hours (4-5 for Japanese patients tested), respectively (Bauer, et al., supra), the superiority of the bid dosing is expected.
A controlled release formulation of losartan would have the desirable benefit of eliminating the need for bid dosing. It was hypothesized that a gastric retentive controlled release dosage form may improve the absorption of losartan.
These problems are addressed by the instant invention, which provides for the once-daily delivery of losartan by means of a gastric retained dosage form to treat hypertension. A gastric retained dosage form is particularly beneficial for delivery of losartan due to its prolonged transit in the upper gastrointestinal tract and thus not have the problem of reduced bioavailability.

Methods of treatment using a gastric retained losartan dosage


In a method for providing a video data streaming service, a server determines whether an occupancy is below a first threshold or is equal to or greater than a second threshold, the occupancy representing the amount of data occupying a queuing buffer of a terminal and the first threshold being less than the second threshold. If the occupancy is not below the first threshold, the server provides the data streaming service at a predetermined service bit rate which is less than the current service bit rate. If the occupancy is equal to or greater than a second threshold, the server provides the data streaming service at a predetermined service bit rate which is greater than the current service bit rate.

Conventionally, a server transmits data to a terminal at a predetermined transmission rate in performing a video data streaming service through a network.
Accordingly, when there occurs a network congestion due to an instantaneous increase in the number of users concurrently accessing the network, e.g., a wireless network, through which a video data streaming service is provided, or when a mobile terminal of a user is in a shadow zone, where the quality of the wireless network is deteriorated, video data being reproduced in the user's terminal malt be broken-off or be delayed,

Method for providing a video data streaming service


The present invention is directed to dipyrazole compounds of formula I and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, stereoisomers, tautomers, or solvates thereof. Novel compounds include those of formula I.

Glutamate is the most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS) and mediates the fast and slow neurotransmission responsible for such normal neurophysiological processes as memory acquisition and processing, and synaptic plasticity. Postmortem and pharmacological findings strongly implicate dysregulation of glutamate neurotransmission in the pathophysiology of several neuropsychiatric disorders including schizophrenia, Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, Huntington disease, epilepsy, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, AIDS-related dementia, neuropathic pain, depression, mild cognitive impairment, learning and memory disorders, and others (Lehohla, et al., Metab Brain Dis, 2004; Coyle, et al., Ann. NY Acad. Sci., 2003; Coyle, et al., Curr. Drug Targets CNS Neurol. Disord., 2002; Krystal, et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry, 2002; Dingledine et al., Pharmacol. Rev., 1999; and Ozawa, et al., Prog. Neurobiol., 1998).
Glutamate neurotransmission is mediated by three ionotropic glutamate receptors. These receptors are cation-specific ion channels which regulate fast synaptic neurotransmission. The ionotropic glutamate receptors have been classified into three types: the alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid (AMPA) receptors, the kainic acid (KA) receptors, and the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors based on their unique pharmacological, electrophysiological and biochemical properties (Nakanishi, Science, 1992). Furthermore, each of these ionotropic glutamate receptors is made up of multiple heteromeric subunits, contributing to receptor heterogeneity in different tissues (Ozawa, et al., Prog Neurobiol, 1998). However, each of the ionotropic glutamate receptors contain predominant subunits, some requisite for functionality and thought to be most responsible for the regulation of function.
Regulation of the ionotropic glutamate receptors is partly achieved through phosphorylation of specific tyrosine, threonine and serine residues by several kinases and, conversely, through de-phosphorylation of those residues by specific phosphatases (Carvalho, et al., Neurochem. Res., 2000 and Swope, et al., Adv Second Messenger Phosphoprotein Res. 1999). The phosphorylation state of receptor subunits plays a critical role in receptor activity. For example, NMDA receptors are regulated by several kinases and phosphatases acting on its NR1 subunit. Protein kinase C (PKC), and cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) have been shown to phosphorylate serine residues 896 and 897 of the NR1 subunit, respectively (Tingley, et al., J. Biol. Chem., 1997 and Snyder, et al., Neuropharmacology, 2003). Likewise, AMPA receptors are regulated by several kinases and phosphatases acting on the GluR1 subunit; PKA phosphorylates serine residue 845 (Roche, et al., Neuron 16: 1179-1188, 1999; Wang, et al., Science 253: 1132-1135, 1991). Protein phosphatase I (PP1) dephosphorylates these serine residues, thus leading to a molecular switch for receptor activity.
Spinophilin (also named Neurabin II) is a scaffold protein, which is enriched in the dendritic spines of CNS neurons that serve as the major site of glutamatergic synapses in the brain (Allen, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 1997; Hsieh-Wilson, et al., Biochemistry, 1999). Spinophilin was originally identified based on its ability to bind F-actin and protein phosphatase I (PP1). The interaction of spinophilin with PP1 is especially important for the function of ionotropic glutamate receptors as spinophilin acts as a modulator of glutamatergic synaptic neurotransmission by regulating PP1's ability to dephosphorylate the ionotropic glutamate receptors via localization. Evidence for such a function has been demonstrated using voltage whole-cell recordings of kainic acid-induced rundown of AMPA currents in individual acutely dissociated prefrontal cortical neurons (Yan, et al., Nature Neurosci. 1999). In these experiments, agonist-induced rundown of kainic-acid-evoked currents was inhibited by a peptide corresponding to the PP1 binding domain of spinophilin, but not by the same peptide containing a point mutation, thus indicating that when spinophilin no longer interacts with PP1, AMPA receptors (in this example) are no longer dephosphorylated to reduce function; therefore, they remain more active.
In order to discover small molecule compounds that would mimic the action of the spinophilin peptide described above, a novel protein interaction assay between PP1 and spinophilin was utilized to discover inhibitors of binding. These compounds were then evaluated in a whole-cell voltage clamp assay for the ability to inhibit the agonist-induced rundown of AMPA currents and for modulation of NMDA-evoked currents.
Thus, compounds discovered here should have utility in the treatment of several neurospychiatric disorders which have been linked to the dysfunction of glutamate neurotransmission.

Dipyrazole compounds and their use as central nervous system agents

Abstract: The compounds of this invention modulate AMPA and NMDA receptor function, and therefore are useful as pharmaceutical agents, especially for the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders.


A railway vehicle movable on a railroad track having a frame configured for movement relative to the track is provided. The vehicle includes a bulk storage container disposed on the frame and located generally at the center of gravity of the vehicle.

This application relates generally to railway right of way maintenance equipment of the type used to repair and maintain railroad track. More specifically, the present invention relates to an improved arrangement for balancing railway right of way maintenance devices on the track upon which they are working.
Conventional railroad track consists of a plurality of spaced parallel wooden ties to which are attached a pair of spaced rail tie plates. Each tie plate is configured to rest on the upper surface of the tie and includes holes for receiving spikes or screws, as well as a canted seat or a cradle formation for receiving the bottom of the steel rail. Since two rails make up a railroad track, there are a pair of spaced tie plates on each tie. Some of the spikes are used to secure the tie plate on the tie and others are used to secure the base of the rail to the tie plate cradle. Anchors are used to prevent linear movement of the rails relative to the ties.
Over time, components of the railroad require maintenance, such as removal and replacement of ties, tie plates and anchors, for example. The railway maintenance vehicle typically includes a frame which is either self-propelled or towable along the track, and at least one workhead configured to engage the track to perform the maintenance task. Depending on the type of maintenance being conducted, the vehicle may carry bulk supplies such as ties, tie plates and anchors. Further, the amount of bulk carried by the vehicle may change over the duration of the maintenance, such as by removing replacement track parts from the vehicle and applying them to the track, or by adding expended track parts onto the vehicle. Not only does the weight change on the vehicle, but the center of gravity of the vehicle changes when the weight of the bulk changes.
The center of gravity and the balancing characteristics of the vehicle are particularly important when the maintenance vehicle is to be lifted up off the track, and when the maintenance vehicle is to be turned around on the track. Typically, the workhead assembly is located on one side of maintenance vehicle, and in some cases, the maintenance vehicle must be turned around in order to do the maintenance on the other side of the track.
Rotation is accomplished with a turntable, which is an assembly on the vehicle that lifts the vehicle off the track, rotates the vehicle, and sets the vehicle back down on the track, as is known in the art. The turntable is usually positioned generally centrally on the vehicle. When the vehicle is lifted off the track, the operator typically must pivot the vehicle about a pivot point on the turntable, such as by manually pushing or pulling on the vehicle about the turntable. Thus, a balanced maintenance vehicle is important for the cylinder to lift the maintenance vehicle off of the track, with no portion of the vehicle touching the track and/or ground. Further, a balanced maintenance vehicle is important for the operator to be able to more steadily and more effortlessly turn the vehicle around on the turntable. Further, a balanced maintenance vehicle more positively retains the turntable and the maintenance vehicle to the track.
Thus, there is a need for an improved railway maintenance machine for balancing the machine on the track.
There is also a need for an improved railway maintenance machine which can be more steadily and more effortlessly turned around on the turntable by a single operator.

Railway maintenance vehicle with balanced bulk storage


In some instances, undesired content is selectively omitted from a mixed-reality scene via use of tags. An environment's spatial mapping is initially accessed. Based on an analysis of this spatial mapping, any number of segmented objects are identified from within the spatial mapping. These segmented objects correspond to actual physical objects located within the environment and/or to virtual objects that are selected for potential projection into the mixed-reality scene. For at least some of these segmented objects, a corresponding tag is then accessed. A subset of virtual content is then generated based on certain attributes associated with those tags. The content that is included in the subset is specially chosen for actual projection. Thereafter, the selected content is either projected into the mixed-reality scene or scheduled for projection.

Mixed-reality systems, including virtual-reality (VR) and augmented-reality (AR) systems, have received significant attention because of their ability to create truly unique experiences for their users. For reference, conventional VR systems create a completely immersive experience by restricting their users' views to only virtual environments. This is often achieved through the use of a head-mounted device (HMD) that completely blocks any view of the real world. As a result, a user is entirely immersed within the virtual environment. In contrast, conventional AR systems create an augmented-reality experience by visually presenting holograms that are placed in or that interact with the real world. As used herein, a "hologram" is a virtual image/object (either two-dimensional or three-dimensional) that is formed by projecting light patterns to form a desired design. Examples of holograms include, but are not limited to, virtual cars, planes, text, graphics, videos, books, magazines, laser guns, dragons, zombies, and others. It will be appreciated that a mixed-reality system is able to project and render any kind of hologram in any shape, dimension, size, or configuration.
As used herein, VR and AR systems are described and referenced interchangeably. Unless stated otherwise, the descriptions herein apply equally to all types of mixed-reality systems, which (as detailed above) include AR systems, VR systems, and/or any other similar system capable of displaying holograms.
Some of the disclosed mixed-reality systems use one or more on-body devices (e.g., the HMD, a handheld device, etc.). The HMD provides a display that enables a user to view overlapping and/or integrated visual information (e.g., holograms) in whatever environment the user is in, be it a VR environment, an AR environment, or any other type of environment. Continued advances in hardware capabilities and rendering technologies have greatly improved how mixed-reality systems render holograms. Notwithstanding these advances, the process of immersing a user into a mixed-reality environment creates many challenges and difficulties, particularly with regard to determining which content should be projected for a user to view.
For instance, there are many difficulties associated with selecting appropriate content to display in a mixed-reality environment. Current methodologies are in place to scan an environment in order to reconstruct any geometric surfaces included within that environment. This scanning process includes obtaining multiple images of the environment and then generating spatial mappings of the environment, which are consulted and used for presenting virtual content to mixed-reality system users. Sometimes, spatial mappings are shared between disparate mixed-reality systems, which enables virtual content to be broadly used and accessed. Unfortunately, however, not all of the content in the spatial mappings is appropriate for all users to view. As such, there is a need to improve the manner in which content is selectively made available for projection to a user in mixed-reality environments.
The subject matter claimed herein is not limited to embodiments that solve any disadvantages or that operate only in environments such as those described above. Rather, this background is only provided to illustrate one exemplary technology area where some embodiments described herein may be practiced.

Controlling content included in a spatial mapping


The disclosure provides reagents, methods, and kits, for treating melanoma. The reagent encompasses interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) responsive melanoma cells, where the cells are autophagic and non-apoptotic melanoma cells, and where the cells express MHC Class II. In another aspect, the reagent encompassed dendritic cells loaded with the IFN-gamma responsive, non-apoptotic, MHC Class II-expressing melanoma cells.

Cancer is distinguished by the lack of effective immune response against the cancer. Lack of immune response can result, for example, from the fact that many tumor antigens are "self-antigens," from lack of expression of MHC by the tumor cells and consequent lack of presentation of tumor antigens by the tumor cells, from the association of macrophages with tumors where the macrophages express cytokines that reduce immune response, and from the immunosuppressive activity of T regulatory cells (Tregs). Lack of immune response against tumors also results from the fact that tumor cells tend not to express molecules that stimulate innate immune response, that is, molecules that stimulate toll-like receptors (TLRs) or nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptors). Cancer encompasses solid tumors as well as the hematological cancers, such as the leukemias and the myelodysplastic syndromes.
The immune system encompasses cellular immunity, humoral immunity, and complement response. Cellular immunity includes a network of cells and events involving dendritic cells, CD8+ T cells (cytotoxic T cells; cytotoxic lymphocytes), and CD4+ T cells (helper T cells). Dendritic cells (DCs) acquire polypeptide antigens, where these antigens can be acquired from outside of the DC, or biosynthesized inside of the DC by an infecting organism. The DC processes the polypeptide, resulting in peptides of about ten amino acids in length, transfers the peptides to either MHC class I or MHC class II to form a complex, and shuttles the complex to the surface of the DC. When a DC bearing a MHC class I/peptide complex contacts a CD8+ T cell, the result is activation and proliferation of the CD8+ T cell. Regarding the role of MHC class II, when a DC bearing a MHC class II/peptide complex contacts a CD4+ T cell, the outcome is activation and proliferation of the CD4+ T cell (Munz, et al. (2010) Curr. Opin. Immunol. 22:89-93; Monaco (1995) J. Leukocyte Biol. 57:543-547; Robinson, et al (2002) Immunology 105:252-262). Although dendritic cells presenting antigen to a T cell can "activate" that T cell, the activated T cell might not be capable of mounting an effective immune response. Effective immune response by the CD8+ T cell often requires prior stimulation of the DC by one or more of a number of interactions. These interactions include direct contact of a CD4+ T cell to the DC (by way of contact the CD4+ T cell's CD40 ligand to the DC's CD40 receptor), or direct contact of a TLR agonist to one of the dendritic cell's toll-like receptors (TLRs).
Humoral immunity refers to B cells and antibodies. B cells become transformed to plasma cells, and the plasma cells express and secrete antibodies. Naïve B cells are distinguished in that they do not express the marker CD27, while antigen-specific B cells do express CD27 (Perez-Andres, et al. (2010) Cytometry Part B 78B (Suppl. 1) S47-S60). The secreted antibodies can subsequently bind to tumor antigens residing on the surface of tumor cells. The result is that the infected cells or tumor cells become tagged with the antibody. With binding of the antibody to the infected cell or tumor cell, the bound antibody mediates killing of the infected cell or tumor cell, where killing is by NK cells. Although NK cells are not configured to recognize specific target antigens, in the way that T cells are configured to recognize target antigens, the ability of NK cells to bind to the constant region of antibodies, enables NK cells to specifically kill the cells that are tagged with antibodies. The NK cell's recognition of the antibodies is mediated by Fc receptor (of the NK cell) binding to the Fc portion of the antibody. This type of killing is called, antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity (ADCC). NK cells can also kill cells independent of the mechanism of ADCC, where this killing requires expression of MHC class I to be lost or deficient in the target cell (see, e.g., Caligiuri (2008) Blood 112:461-469).
The technique of "delayed type hypersensitivity response" can be used to distinguish between immune responses that mainly involve cellular immunity or mainly involve humoral immunity. A positive signal from the delayed type hypersensitivity response indicates a cellular response (see, e.g., Roychowdhury, et al. (2005) AAPS J. E834-E846).
Autophagy is a homeostatic process by which cytosolic components and organelles are delivered to the lysosome for degradation. Autophagy is also associated with innate and adaptive immune responses to intracellular pathogens whereby cytosolic antigens are loaded onto major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules for CD4+ T-cell recognition.


A method and apparatus for actively simulating an apparent termination input impedance to a current driven data communication equipment (DCE) device is disclosed. The DCE device utilizes several components to implement the apparent termination impedance. A first component is a current driver for providing a source of current within the DCE device. The current source is configured to actively drive an input-output signal line within a communication link. The current driven DCE also includes a mechanism for sensing an input-output signal line voltage, a mechanism for converting the sensed voltage to a feed back current and an active termination for simulating an apparent termination impedance. The converting mechanism is coupled to a summation node which sums current provided from the current driver and current from the converting mechanism to force the desired termination impedance in the DCE device, whilst performing DCE current drive function.

Telephones, computers and other remote data terminal equipment (DTE) units convey information from one location to another over a DCE connection to a local subscriber loop, through the publicly switched telephone network (PSTN) and finally back through a receiving end local subscriber loop to complete a connection therebetween for as long as the voice or data communication takes place. In many scenarios, DCE devices transmit an analog signal over a conventional copper wire pair using a voltage driven configuration. Those typical scenarios entail quite long data communication lines and therefore require the DCE devices to include driver amplifiers. For example, in the local subscriber loop, a head end terminal at a driver end requires an amplifier, which requires a power source. Prior art DCE devices are voltage driven and require two termination impedances coupled in series for echo cancellation for proper data transmission and for sufficient audio quality in voice communications. The first impedance is located at the head end terminal or the first DCE device, and the second impedance is located at the second end of the line.
A primary disadvantage associated with this scenario is that as first end of the transmission line is driven, the local termination is also unnecessarily driven. This scenario results in wasted power, excessive driver power requirements allocated for DCE devices, and reduced linearity associated with the behavior of the DCE devices.


An imaging system may include processing circuitry, a lens, and an array of pixels including image sensor pixels and temperature sensor pixels. The image sensor pixels may generate image pixel values in response to image light received through the lens. The temperature sensor pixels may generate thermal estimate signals based on the temperature of the pixel array. The image sensor pixels and temperature sensor pixels may generate dark current. As the temperature of the pixel array increases, the image sensor pixels and temperatures sensor pixels may generate increased dark current. Temperature sensor pixels may generate more dark current than image sensor pixels. Dark current generated by the temperature sensor pixels may be used to generate dark current compensation values that may compensate for the dark current generated by the image sensor pixels.

This relates to solid-state image sensor arrays and, more particularly, to image sensors with temperature sensor pixels for performing dark current compensation.
Image sensors are commonly used in electronic devices such as cellular telephones, cameras, and computers to capture images. In a typical arrangement, an electronic device is provided with an array of image pixels. The image pixels generate image signals in multiple color channels. Readout circuitry such as analog-to-digital converter circuits are commonly coupled to the image pixels for reading out image signals from the image pixels.
In an image sensor, the temperature of the image sensor substrate typically affects the image signals generated by the image pixels. In a typical pixel photodiode, there is some current (i.e., dark current) in the photodiode even when no light is incident upon the photodiode (due to the inherent movement of electrons across the corresponding semiconductor junction). As the temperature of the photodiode increases, this flow of the electrons, and therefore the dark current, increases. Increased dark current in the image sensor can cause excessive and unsightly noise in the final image signal.
Because the level of dark current generated by a photodiode is temperature-dependent, it is useful to be able to detect the temperature of the image sensor array so that dark current contributions to the final image signal can be compensated for. In some conventional image sensors, a junction sensor is placed on the image sensor substrate separated from the pixel array. However, the junction sensor can only measure the temperature of the image sensor array substrate at the location at which the junction sensor is placed, resulting in a single temperature reading that is representative of one location on the image sensor. The image sensor then uses this temperature reading to generate a correction value for correcting for temperature-based dark current in the captured image signals. However, in this scenario, the correction value will inaccurately estimate the temperature and corresponding dark current signal contribution for pixels at positions on the substrate that are far from the junction sensor.
It would therefore be desirable to provide imaging devices with improved systems and methods for detecting array temperatures and compensating for dark current in the array.

Systems and methods for pixel-level dark current compensation in image sensors

SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC


A device for assembling a bicycle equipped with a pedal crank system to improve the mechanics of the kinetic energy put in by the rider by simplifying the movement of the rider's feet into a reciprocating up and down movement. It consists of right and left cranksets (1D, 1G) pivoting about the axis (Ex) of the shafts (2), a chainset which includes a rack (3) that propels the ring gear (4) and the set of ring gears and chains (5, 6) by transforming the play forces through a rear changer (7) and moves forward the rear wheel via its hub receiving the propelling force of the play of the hubs of the cassettes (8) integrated in the hub of the wheel (9), or external with a system of one-way freewheel (8), fixed on the rear fork (12) by the rotating pin (Ax) also maintaining the wheel fastener (25).

This present invention concerns a new type of two-wheeled vehicle equipped with a pedal-crank system that is propelled by the feet of the rider, and which transforms reciprocal vertical alternating movement in translation into a unidirectional rotational movement.
The conventional two-wheeled vehicles, known as bicycles, propelled by the rider, are not efficient for use by the general public, in particular because they are not "propellable" at high speed, and are uncomfortable when pedalling uphill on steep slopes.

Bicycle equipped with a chainset/crank-arm system


A system (method and apparatus) for hemodynamic measurements of the cardiac activity, including the stroke volume and cardiac output on the basis of a blood pressure pulse wave of a patient. Using a function that relates cardiac activity to an anthropometric parameter of the patient (height or arm span), ordinates of the pulse wave, and time intervals of certain characteristic points of the pulse wave, the stroke volume and/or cardiac output are obtained. The pulse wave can be determined by means of an optical sensor clipped to an ear lobe of the patient. The characteristic points and time intervals from the initial point of the pulse wave to the characteristic points are obtained under computer control. The measured values of the time intervals and ordinates are inputted to the computer which computes cardiac output, stroke volume and other cardiac information related thereto.

Cardiac output, i.e., the amount of blood ejected from the left ventricle into the systemic circulation per minute, is one of parameters which is very important for controlling the condition of a cardiovascular system of a human being or any mammal. This parameter is important in anesthesiology, intensive care, during surgery, and in similar situations where continuous control of cardiac activity of a patient is critical.
At the present time the existing methods for measuring cardiac output may be divided generally into invasive methods and noninvasive methods. Each of the above categories, in turn, can be classified on the basis of the principles on which the methods are based upon. For example, invasive methods may be subdivided into thermodilution methods, dye dilution methods, etc. Among these, thermodilution methods for measuring cardiac output are the most simple and accurate methods which, therefore, find most frequent application in the field of hemodynamics. In accordance with these methods, a cardiac catheter, e.g. a Swan-Ganz type catheter, is introduced into the lung artery and is used for measuring the cardiac output (see an article by J. Conway and P. Lund-Johansen in "European Heart Journal", 1990, 11, p. 17). Measurements by thermodilution methods have an accuracy within the range of 10-15%. In measuring parameters of hemodynamics, thermodilution is considered by clinicians to be a "Gold Standard", i.e. a generally accepted way of making hemodynamic measurements.
However, a disadvantage of this method, as well as any other invasive methods, is that it requires an introduction of a catheter into the cardiovascular system of a patient. It is known that long dwelling of the catheter in the patient's body may lead to complications. Another disadvantage of all invasive methods is their high cost and requirements for highly trained personnel. Thermodilution, e.g., as it is commonly practiced, provides discrete measurements, rather than continuous monitoring of cardiac output.
Noninvasive methods of making hemodynamics measurements, such as cardiac output, etc., in general, can be divided into ultrasound methods, echocardiography methods and impedance methods, etc.
Typically,an impedance method is carried out with several electrodes which are brought into contact with a part of the patient's body, e.g., with the neck, and/or the abdominal area. Then a high-frequency current (e.g., of about 1 to 5 mA, 50 to 200 kHz) is passed between the electrodes through the body, and the impedance of part of the body is continuously measured. The impedance method is based on the principle that when blood vessels are completely filled with blood during the cardiac impulse, the body has the minimum impedance, and at the moment directly prior to the cardiac impulse, when blood vessels have minimum volume of blood, the impedance of the body is at its maximum. The difference between the maximum and minimum impedances is proportional to a heart stroke volume (hereinafter referred to as "stroke volume"). The stroke volume is the volume of blood ejected by the left ventricle during a single systole. After appropriate calibration, an absolute value of stroke volume is obtained (S. W. White, et al. European Heart Journal, 1990, 11, p. 79).
A drawback of the impedance method is that when carried out simultaneously with the introduction of various substances into the patient's body which possess electrolytic properties (e.g., a physiological solution) the measurement is inaccurate. Similar inaccuracies occur with the loss of blood. Furthermore, the impedance method is inconvenient and expensive because it involves a complicated procedure of installating sensors over the patient's body.
In another noninvasive method, stroke volume may be measured in terms of the duration of a sphygmic phase and heart rate. See Leshchenko A. I. in Russian Journal "Vrachebnoe Delo", 1973, No. 12, pp. 28-30. The sphygmic phase is a period of time from opening to closing of the aorta valve. Heart rate is the number of ventricular contractions per minute. In accordance with this method, the stroke volume is calculated by means of the following equation: EQU SV=a.multidot.T+b.multidot.HR-c,
where a, b, and c are constants which are determined experimentally, T is the duration of the sphygmic phase, and HR is the heart rate. The accuracy of measurement with this method, as well as all other known noninvasive methods, has been found insufficient for widespread, practical application.

System for obtaining hemodynamic information


The present invention provides a halogen-free dry film photosensitive resin composition, which comprises (a) 10˜60 wt % of at least two kinds of acrylic resins having unsaturated carboxylic acid monomers as polymerized units; (b) 5˜20 wt % of a photosensitive resin having at least two (meth)acrylate groups; (c) 0.1˜15 wt % of a photoinitiator; and (d) 0.5˜20 wt % of a thermo-curing agent. The resin composition of the invention is suitable for use as a photoresist in the process of producing printed circuit boards. The resin composition of the invention is particularly suitable for use in the surface of printed circuit boards or semiconductor packages as a protective dry film solder mask.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a dry film type of a halogen-free thermo-curing photosensitive resin composition, which can be used as a photoresist in printed circuit boards. The resin composition of the invention is particularly suitable for use in the surface of printed circuit boards and semiconductor packages as a protective dry film solder mask.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In recent years, due to the development trend of electronic products towards smart, portable, high function and high density and the demands of electronic constructions for high I/O count, miniaturization, and small area, the technology regarding printed circuit boards must be continually improved, and the physical properties of related materials also need to be improved.
After the circuits of printed circuit boards are finished, they should be coated and protected with an insulating resin film, so as to avoid oxidization and short circuits during welding. The protective coating film for the surfaces of printed circuit boards is referred to as solder mask. Due to the more strict conditions for processing and applications, in addition to the physical properties regarding insulation, heat resistance of solders, high rigidity, and chemical resistance, a solder mask should also exhibit the properties of high resolution, fast development, electroplating resistance, electroless plating resistance, and high temperature and moisture resistance. In order to achieve the above high-functional physical properties, many solutions for improving solder masks have been proposed in the prior art. For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Appln. No. 11-21327 discloses a light curing resin obtained via the reaction of epoxy resin/(meth)acrylic acid and a monocarboxylic acid compound/anhydride, wherein the monocarboxylic acid compound has more than two light curable unsaturated groups, such that the light curability of the composition could be improved, thereby reducing the exposure amount. However, for a high-efficiency exposure machine, this does not significantly save the exposure time nor does it significantly enhance the bonding and developing speed. In another aspect, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Appln. No. 10-274849 discloses a solder photoresist ink composition, but its development speed is slow, and the physical properties regarding electroless plating resistance and high temperature and moisture resistance are poorer. Moreover, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Appln. No. 5-202332 discloses a composition containing a photosensitive resin (with more than two acrylate groups and more than one carboxylic acid group in one molecule), which has a high resolution, and excellent electrical properties, but the molecular weight of the photosensitive resin is less than 1000, and the touch dry property is poor.
Furthermore, previous wet solder masks are produced by means of direct heat baking after screen printing to cure the film. However, since the solder mask may penetrate onto the copper surface at the circuit joint during printing and curing, resulting in problems associated with welding parts and relevant applications, the solder mask is normally used in simple circuit boards, and dry film solder masks are used instead in manufacture.
In addition, since all plastic products burn easily, flame-retardants will be added. In the past, since the flame-retardants containing a halogen achieved a good balance between cost and performance and could be used in a broad spectrum, such flame-retardants played a dominant role in the application to plastics. However, with the increasing concern about environmental protection, the use of the flame-retardants containing a halogen becomes limited due to the irritant and corrosive gases of dioxin or benzofuran produced during burning the flame-retardants, as well as the carcinogenic effect of these gases. At present, the flame-retardants are developing towards multifunctional purposes. People have paid more attention to improving the flame retardant efficiency, reducing the amount, and eliminating the risk to health and to the environment. Thus, "halogen-free" has become a main tendency in the development and application of flame-retardants.

Halogen-free dry film photosensitive resin composition


A folding boat assembly includes a hull assembly comprised of a pair of flexible hull panels joined at confronting keel edges by a flexible hinge that permits folding the hull panels together and rolling the hull panels into a storage package. An internal frame assembly for supporting the hull includes a pair of cam-action frame assemblies disposed generally amidship to define the hull curvature and apply tension to the hull between the gunwales. A cockpit coaming is supported at opposed ends by the cam-action frame assemblies and defines a passenger cockpit. A pair of longitudinal strut assemblies extend from the cockpit coaming fore and aft to engage the bow and stern to absorb longitudinal compression forces and transmit them to the cockpit coaming. A deck assembly extends across the gunwales from the bow and stern to the midship area, and may comprise a flexible waterproof fabric. A sealed zipper closure each the deck assembly permits access to install and remove the frame assemblies and longitudinal strut assemblies. The decks may comprise form-retaining panels secured to the gunwale edges by sealed zipper closures. A plurality of panel stiffeners are secured to the hull panels to provide increased stiffness and rigidity to selected portions of the hull panels.

The present invention relates to knock-down boat structures, and more particularly to an assemblable boat formed of roll-up panel elements and associated structural components.
High performance, lightweight personal watercraft have enjoyed a renaissance in recent years, primarily due to the advent of kayaks for white water use, as well as river and ocean-going kayaks. In addition, small personal boats continue to be used for hunting and fishing, as well as wilderness travel on waterways and lakes. Although such watercraft are well designed for use on water, they are often difficult to transport by vehicle, due to their size factors, particularly length.
As a result, there is a strong need and desire for watercraft that can be reiteratively disassembled for transport in small packages and reassembled for use in the field. The simplest of such boats are inflatables, which rely on pneumatic tubes not only to create positive buoyancy, but also to provide rigidity, structural shape, and resistance to impact with obstacles. However, inflatables are generally low performance craft, due to the shape limitations imposed by the pneumatic tubes. Moreover, pressure loss can be catastrophic, even with the provision of compartmentalized pneumatic chambers.
Another class of knock-down watercraft is the folding boat, which is generally comprised of an expandable internal frame that supports a removable flexible outer skin defining the hull and deck. Often the outer skin is a durable waterproof fabric stretched taut over the internal frame to define a streamlined shape that is more efficient than most inflatable craft. One problem associated with this construction is that assembly of the complex frame structure can be a difficult process.
Another common problem involves the assembly of separate panels to form the outer skin. If the panels are joined permanently, and folded along the joining seam, there is a concentration of wear and stress along the seam that can result in leaks and structural failure. This difficulty may be exacerbated if the folded panel construction is then rolled or folded across the joining seam. On the other hand, if the panels are joined temporarily and designed to be separable, it is necessary to provide a mechanism for joining the panels along generally long seams that is reliable and reusable. Moreover, the mechanism must provide both a waterproof seal and a strong mechanical bond, as the boat relies on tension in the outer skin to define the hull shape. In the prior art, waterproof zippers used for this purpose have been the locus of minor failures such as leakage and major failures such as catastrophic separation of the panels.
Regarding the panels that define the hull and deck of the watercraft, every design requires a compromise between providing a frame that minimizes unsupported spans of the outer skin, and providing a hull material that is sufficiently stiff to maintain its shape yet sufficiently flexible for folding. A more extensive frame involves added weight and complexity in assembly, whereas heavier hull materials are more difficult to fold and limit the compactness of the knock-down state of the watercraft. A possible solution to this design dilemma is to provide removable stiffeners or stays to strengthen the hull panels, as long as these components do not add to the difficulty in boat assembly.


A rotary pump is presented for use in a medicament delivery device, where the pump has a back plate having an inner surface and a rotor housing is positioned adjacent to the back plate having a peripheral wall. A front plate support is connected to the back plate and a flexible front plate is positioned between the front plate support and the rotor housing. The pump is rotated using a planetary gear transmission, where an eccentric shaft is operatively connected to the planetary gear mechanism. A rotor is rotationally fixed to the eccentric shaft and movably positioned within the rotor housing. The rotor has three lobes, where each lobe has two peripheral curved surfaces sharing a common apex, where a first portion of each peripheral surface adjacent to the apex defines a non-smooth curve.

The use of rotary type pumps based on the original Wankel combustion engine design are known, but are not in wide spread commercial use. US Pub. 2017/0072132, for example, discloses a medical injection system employing a rotary pump having a bi-lobe rotor and U.S. Pat. No. 4,551,073 discloses a trochoidal rotor piston for use in a rotary pump for pumping blood during clinical procedures. Of the known type of rotary pumps used generally in the medical field, all use either a standard Wankel three-lobe rotor design or a two-lobe design. Characteristic of these rotor designs is that the surface of each lobe of the piston rotor is defined by two continuous smooth shaped edges terminating at an apex of the lobe. In some cases, flexible seals are positioned at the apex to improve the sealing capabilities. Because the smooth curve shaped edges of the rotor do not correspond well with the inner peripheral wall of the rotor housing gaps occur between chambers that cause unwanted transfer of medicament from the desired chamber to an empty chamber. This unwanted transfer then reduces the expected volume that is ultimately expelled from the chamber. This loss of volume, or lower than expected amount expelled, is detrimental to dose accuracy when using such a pump to deliver medicaments to a patient in an infusion and/or bolus injection procedure.
Accordingly, there is a strong need to develop a rotary pump design that eliminates or significantly diminishes the amount of unwanted transfer of medicament from one chamber to another such that a medicament can be accurately delivered to a patient.
The present disclosure, as presented below, solves the above-mentioned problems with existing and known rotary pump designs and provides a pump rotor design that fulfills the needs and requirements of delivering accurate volumetric flow of medicament to a patient.

Rotary pump driven medicament delivery device


A gas-fired direct-contact water heater system 10 is described. It consists of a first housing 11, 50, 80 having a packing 16, 51, 81 of heat exchange elements 17 and on which water is sprayed. A burner 18, 52, 83 is disposed on the side of the housing under the packing. A combustible gas feed pipe is connected to the burner 18, 52, 83 to provide a combustible gas to the burner. A water collection reservoir 20, 58, 86 is defined below the burner for collecting heated water. A further packing 31-59-91 having heat exchange elements is located in a further housing 30-60-90 and it is also sprayed water. Ambient air is admitted under this packing by a blower 32-63-101 whereby the air is humidified and heated and supplied to the burner for admixture with the gas whereby to obtain a higher combustion product dew point and a reduction in the NO.sub.x emission when burned. A further water collecting reservoir 35, 62-93 is defined in the second housing 30-60-90 below the packing 31, 59, 91 for collecting water percolated through the further packing. Heated water is convected through a first conduit 36, 69, 107 from the water collection reservoir 35, 62, 93 in the first housing. A further conduit 36, 76', 99 is also provided for convecting water from the further housing. The flue gases from the first packing are also cooled in a third packing before being released to atmosphere.

Reference is made to French Patent No. 81 12770 published on Jun. 29, 1981 and relating to a system for treating flue gases from gas fired burners and No. 88 11 651 published on Sep. 6, 1988 and relating to the concept used on direct contact heaters. This is considered to be the closest prior art and it teaches an arrangement of a second and a third packing section within a system which operates as a water vapor pump for the treatment of exhaust flue gases at the outlet of a boiler and for the further treatment of combustion air at the entrance of the boiler. The system described relates to the exchange of heat and condensate for humidifying drying and heating cooling gases by an exchange system.

High efficiency direct-contact high temperature water heater


A system is provided for performing an operation on a component of an engine. The component includes a first side positioned within an interior of the engine. The system includes a first robotic arm defining a first distal end and including a first utility member positioned at the first distal end, the first robotic arm moveable to the interior of the engine to a location operably adjacent to the first side of the component; and a second robotic arm defining a second distal end and including a second utility member positioned at the second distal end, the second robotic arm also moveable to the interior of the engine to facilitate the first and second utility members performing the operation on the component of the engine.

At least one known gas turbine engine includes, in serial flow arrangement, a compressor for compressing air flowing through the engine, a combustor for mixing fuel with the compressed air such that the mixture may be ignited, a turbine for providing power to the compressor. The compressor, combustor and turbine are sometimes collectively referred to as the core engine.
Through continuous operation one or more the components of the gas turbine engine may become worn or damaged. For example, cracks may form in or beneath a surface of one or more of the components due to, e.g., repeated stress during operation, exposure to temperatures in excess of a designed temperature limit, etc. In order to repair such components, the gas turbine engine is typically removed from the aircraft (e.g., uninstalled from beneath a wing of an aircraft) and disassembled to expose the component. The component may be repaired, and the engine reassembled and reinstalled, such that the engine may be used further.
However, such steps of removing the engine from the aircraft and disassembling the engine to expose the component to be repaired may be a relatively time-consuming and expensive process. Accordingly, a system and method for repairing a component of an engine without necessarily requiring the engine be removed from the aircraft and disassembled to expose such component would be beneficial.

System and method for performing operations on an engine


A disk drive of a perpendicular magnetic recording system has a magnetization test function, for testing the magnetized state of a write head. The disk drive is provided with a write driver and a head amplifier unit. The write driver supplies a write current to the write head, for perpendicular magnetic recording. The degaussing unit degausses the write head.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a disk drive of the perpendicular magnetic recording system, and more particularly to a technology for testing the magnetization of a write head.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, the write head of a disk drive of the perpendicular magnetic recording system is made of a single pole type head because this type of head is suitable for perpendicular magnetic recording.
After the write head of the disk drive writes data signals in a disk medium by perpendicular magnetic recording, the application of a recording current applied to the write head is stopped, but the write head is kept magnetized due to the remanent magnetization.
The remanent magnetization may cause undesirable phenomena after the write operation. For example, the recording data recorded in a data sector of the disk medium and the servo data recorded in a servo sector of the disk may be undesirably erased due to the remanent magnetization. This problem does not occur in the case of disk drives of the longitudinal magnetic recording system.
To solve the problem, the prior art proposes a data write circuit that incorporates a degaussing signal generator for removing the remanent magnetization of the magnetic head (see Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKOKU Publication No. 5-84564, for example). The degaussing signal generator serves to decrease the write current at a fixed time constant in accordance with the fall of data after the write gate is closed. The prior art also proposes a disk drive provided with a read/write channel including a degaussing signal generator (see Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 7-134804, for example).
As can be seen from the above, it is advantageous if a disk drive incorporates a degaussing signal generator for removing the remanent magnetization of the write head. It is further advantageous if the disk drive has a function of automatically executing a test for detecting the magnetized state of the write head. Where this function is incorporated as part of the SMART (Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology System) function, i.e., one of self failure diagnosing functions applied to a disk drive, the host system can control the magnetized state of the write head.

Method and apparatus for magnetization test of write head in a disk drive


A method for performing a handoff of a mobile station (MS) from a first base station (BS) to a second BS in a mobile communication system. The first BS sends a handoff required message, which includes a service type identifier of a concurrent service of the voice and packet data and a service configuration record, to the MSC. The MSC sends the received handoff required message to the second BS. The second BS determines whether it can communicate with the MS using a radio resource specified in the service type identifier and the service configuration record, and when it cannot, sends to the MSC a new service type identifier and a new service configuration record for communicating either the voice or packet data with the MS. The MS then communicates with the second BS using the new service type identifier and the new service configuration record.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a handoff method in a mobile communication system, and in particular, to a handoff method in a mobile communication system supporting a concurrent service.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) mobile communication system cannot concurrently provide two difference services in an active state. That is, an existing mobile communication system provides only one of a voice service and a packet service, and rejects a newly requested service, which is different from the currently provided service.
FIG. 1 illustrates the structure of a common mobile communication system. More specifically, FIG. 1 illustrates a reference model of a 3G IOS (3rd Generation Interoperability Specifications) for a digital air interface between a mobile switching center (MSC) and a base station (BS), and between one base station and another base station.
Referring to FIG. 1, the mobile communication system includes a mobile switching center (MSC) 10, base stations (BS) 30 and 40, and a packet data service node or network (PDSN) 60. An interworking function (IWF) block 20 is connected to the mobile switching center 10, and a packet control function (PCF) block 50 is interconnected between the base station 30 and the PDSN 60. The mobile switching center 10 includes a call control and mobility management block 12 and a switch function block 14. The base station 30 is a source base station and the base station 40 is a target base station. The base stations 30 and 40 include base station controllers (BSCs) 32 and 42, and base station transceiver subsystem (BTSs) 34 and 44, respectively. The base station controller 32 includes an SDU (Service Data Unit) function block. The base station transceiver subsystems 34 and 44 are wirelessly connected to the mobile stations (not shown). Assuming that the mobile stations are connected to the mobile switching center 10 via the base station 30 to be provided with the voice service and connected to the PDSN 60 via the base station 30 to be provided with the packet service, a handoff occurs even when the mobile station moves to a service area of the base station 40 adjacent to the base station 30, in order to maintain the currently provided service. That is, during a handoff, the base station 30 serves as a source base station and the base station 40 serves as a target base station.
Signaling data between the mobile switching center 10 and the base station controller 32 is defined as an A1 interface, and user data (or traffic) therebetween is defined as A2/A5 (circuit data only) interfaces. An A3 interface is for a soft/softer handoff between the base stations, and is used for an exchange of signaling data and user traffic between frame selection functions of the target base station 40 and the source base station 30. An A7 interface is also for the soft/softer handoff between the base stations, and is used for an exchange of the signaling data between the target base station 40 and the source base station 30. A8/A9 interfaces are used for exchanges of user traffic and signaling data between the base station 30 and the PCF block 50, respectively. A10 and A11 interfaces are used for exchanges of user traffic and signaling data between the PCF block 50 and the PDSN 60, respectively.
In the CDMA system of FIG. 1, wired communication links between the base stations 30 and 40, and between the base station 30 and the mobile switching center 10 include a forward link for transmitting signals from the mobile switching center 10 to the base station 30, a reverse link for transmitting signals from the base station 30 to the mobile switching center 10, and a link between the base station 30 and the base station 40. A mobile station (not shown) interacting or connected to the base station transceiver subsystem 34 in the source base station 30 is connected to the mobile switching center 10 via the source base station 30 to be provided with the voice service, and connected to the PDSN 60 via the source base station 30 to be provided with the packet service.
It is assumed herein that the mobile station connected to the source base station 30 is provided with any one of the voice service and the packet service. A handoff process is performed when the mobile station moves from a service area of the source base station 30 to a service area of the target base station 40. Conventionally, the source base station 30 and the target base station 40 perform a handoff in accordance with the flows shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.
FIG. 2 illustrates a handoff process flow in the conventional CDMA communication system.
Referring to FIG. 2, when signal strength reported from a mobile station MS exceeds predefined signal strength, a source base station recommends one or more cells belonging to a target base station to perform a handoff by sending a handoff required message together with a list of the corresponding cells to the mobile station center MSC, in step 20a. At this moment, a handoff bit in the handoff required message is set to '1' indicating the handoff. Further, the source base station activates a timer T7.
In step 20b, since the handoff bit in the handoff required message received from the source base station is set to '1' indicating the handoff, the mobile switching center sends a handoff request message to a target base station. The handoff request message includes TIA/EIA-95 channel identity element. In particular, in the case of a handoff for an asynchronous data or facsimile service, the mobile switching center sends the handoff request message with a CIC (Circuit Identity Code) extension information element indicating a CIC code between SDU (Selection and Distribution Unit) and IWF (InterWorking Function).
In step 20c, upon receipt of the handoff request message from the mobile switching center, the target base station assigns a proper radio resource specified in the handoff request message and connects a call. In addition, the target base station sends a null forward traffic channel frame to the mobile station.
In step 20d, the target base station sends a handoff request acknowledge message to the mobile switching center. Further, the target base station activates a timer T9. The timer T9 remains activated until the mobile station is connected to the assigned radio channel.
In step 20e, in reply to the handoff request acknowledge message from the target base station, the mobile switching center prepares to switch the mobile station from the source base station to the target base station, and sends a handoff command message to the source base station. In response to the handoff command message, the source base station inactivates the timer T7.
In step 20f, in response to the handoff command message, the source base station sends a handoff direction message to the mobile station. For the handoff direction message, any one of general handoff direction message, extended handoff direction message and universal handoff direction message can be used. In addition, the source base station activates a timer T8. The source base station also activates a timer Twaitho, if the mobile station is permitted to return to the source base station.
In step 20g, the mobile station sends an MS Ack order message to the source base station in acknowledgement of the handoff direction message. At this point, the source base station inactivates the timer T8. If the handoff direction message is repeatedly sent at a high rate, the source base station may not require acknowledgement from the mobile station. In this case, the source base station does not activate the timer T8 in step 20f.
In step 20h, the source base station sends a handoff commenced message to the mobile switching center in order to inform that the mobile station is ready to move to the target base station channel. In addition, the source base station activates the timer T306 until a clear command message is received from the mobile switching center. If the timer Twaitho has been activated, the source base station waits to inactivate the timer Twaitho before transmission of the handoff commenced message.
In step 20i, the mobile station sends a reverse traffic channel frame or a traffic channel preamble to the target base station.
In step 20j, the mobile station sends a handoff completion message to the target base station.
In step 20k, the target base station wirelessly sends a BS Ack order message to the mobile station.
In step 20l, the target base station sends to the mobile switching center a handoff complete message indicating a successful handoff of the mobile station. In addition, the target base station inactivates the timer T9.
In step 20m, the mobile switching center sends a clear command message to the source base station. Further, the mobile switching center activates a timer T315. In particular, in the case of a handoff for an asynchronous data or facsimile service, the mobile switching center sends a clear command message for clearing every resource including A5 connection in the previous base station. In reply to the clear command message, the source base station inactivates the timer T306.
In step 20n, the source base station sends to the mobile switching center a clear complete message indicating a successful clear. In response to the clear complete message, the mobile switching center inactivates the timer T315.
FIG. 3 illustrates a procedure for creating and transmitting a handoff required message in the source base station during a handoff according to the prior art.
Referring to FIG. 3, in step 10, the source base station receives a pilot signal strength measurement message (PSMM) from the mobile station MS and determines whether to perform a handoff, depending on the received PSMM message. If determined to perform a handoff, the source base station creates a handoff required message in step 11. The created handoff required message includes a single service option and an IS-2000 Service Configuration Record (SCR) related to this service. For example, the handoff required message includes an IS-2000 Service Configuration Record related to the voice service, or includes an IS-2000 Service Configuration Record related to the packet service. In step 12, the source base station sends the created handoff required message to the mobile switching center (MSC).
FIG. 4 illustrates a procedure for receiving in the target base station a handoff request message from the mobile switching center and processing the received handoff request message during a handoff according to a prior art.
Referring to FIG. 4, in step 21, the target base station checks the service option and the IS-2000 Service Configuration Record, specified in the handoff request message received from the mobile switching center MSC. In step 22, the target base station determines whether it is possible to accept a handoff. If it is possible to accept a handoff in step 22, the target base station determines in step 23 whether it is possible to assign the same radio resource as that specified in the handoff request message to the corresponding BTS with regard to one service required by the MSC. If it is not possible to assign the same resource in step 23, the target base station determines in step 24 whether it is possible to assign a radio resource by allowing a change in the Service Configuration Record (SCR). If it is not possible to assign a radio resource by allowing a change in the Service Configuration Record in step 24, the target base station creates a handoff failure message with a Cause value indicating non-assignability of the corresponding radio resource, and then sends the created handoff failure message to the mobile switching center MSC in step 25.
If it is possible to assign a radio resource by allowing a change in the Service Configuration Record in step 24, the target base station creates a handoff request Ack message with a changed IS-2000 Service Configuration Record added thereto, and sends the created handoff request Ack message to the MSC, in step 25-1.
If it is possible to assign the same radio resource in step 23, it means that it is possible to assign the same radio resource as that specified in the IS-2000 Service Configuration Record required by the MSC. Thus, in step 25-2, the target base station creates a handoff request Ack message with the IS-2000 Service Configuration Record removed, and then sends the created handoff request Ack message to the MSC.
If it is not possible to accept the handoff in step 22, the target base station creates a handoff failure message with a Cause value indicating unacceptability of the handoff, and then sends the created handoff failure message to the MSC, in step 25-3.
As described above, the conventional handoff process considers only the case where the mobile communication system provides a single service (not concurrent service). That is, since the conventional mobile communication system provides any one of the voice service and the packet service, it never considers the handoff process performed in a state where the voice and packets services are concurrently provided, i.e., a state where the concurrent service is provided.
Therefore, for the future mobile communication system supporting the concurrent service, it is necessary to consider a plan to perform a concurrent handoff on the two services. If it is not possible to perform a concurrent handoff on the two services, it is necessary to consider a plan to perform a handoff on at least one of the two services.

Method for providing concurrent service handoff in a mobile communication system


A poppet valve apparatus is structured to reduce the rate of build-up of fluid-borne debris within its internal architecture. The inlet and outlet ports are arranged tangential to the internal cylindrical walls defining the valve's flow chambers, whereby a circular flow pattern is produced within the valve interior, and a specially contoured flow director efficiently redirects the circular flow pattern through a circular annulus defined by a valve seat and a sealing ring.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of fluid handling and, more particularly, to improvements in so-called "poppet valves" for controlling the flow of a pressurized fluid. More specifically, the invention relates to a poppet valve that is structured to reduce the rate at which debris associated with the fluid flowing through the valve accumulates within the valve's internal architecture and thereby degrades the valve performance.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
In various medical instruments used to analyze blood and other body fluids, fast-acting "poppet" valves are commonly used to control the flow of small volumes of fluids, such as blood, saline and reagent solutions, between the various work stations of the instrument. In general, such valves comprise an inlet port through which a fluid is presentable to a flow chamber, one or more outlet ports operatively connected to the flow chamber for directing fluid away from the valve, and one or more valving mechanisms for selectively enabling or preventing fluid flow between the valve's flow chamber and it outlet port(s). Typically, each of the valving mechanisms includes a valve seat formed in a wall of the flow chamber, such seat providing an opening through which fluid can escape the confines of the flow chamber, and a movable valving member for quickly opening and closing the valve seat to thereby change the ON/OFF state of the valve. Poppet valves having only one valve seat and two ports (i.e., inlet and outlet ports) are referred to as "two-way" valves, and those having two valve seats and three ports (i.e., one inlet port and two outlet ports) are commonly referred to as "three-way" valves. In a three-way valve construction, fluid enters the inlet port, and is selectively expelled through either one of two outlet ports. Specifically, the particular outlet port through which fluid is expelled is determined by the position of the movable valving member which functions to obstruct fluid flow through one outlet port, while simultaneously permitting fluid flow through the other port. Of course, this state can be reversed by moving the movable valving member to an opposing position. Typically, the positioning of the valving member is accomplished through associated solenoid, pneumatic, or other similarly effective means.
An example of a conventional three-way poppet valve is disclosed by Kloehn in U.S. Pat. No. 5,190,076. As is common of many poppet valves, the Kloehn valve is operated by an axially-movable valve stem which, upon being moved, acts to deflect a pair of flexible diaphragms so as to position them to either permit or obstruct the passage of fluid through one of two valve seats which they respectively overly. Depending on the axial position of the valve stem, one of the diaphragms will be urged against one valve seat so as to effectively obstruct fluid flow therethrough, while the other diaphragm will be slightly separated from the other valve seat so as to enable fluid to be expelled through its associated outlet port.
Another type of poppet valve is that disclosed by Loveless in U.S. Pat. No. 4,026,325. The internal architecture of the Loveless valve differs from that of the Kloehn valve in that fluid flow is controlled by a resilient seal ring secured about the periphery of a plunger that is supported by the valve stem. As the valve stem moves axially, the plunger, and its associated resilient seal ring, moves between a valve-closing position in which the seal ring is pressed against the valve seat so as to obstruct fluid flow, and a valve-opening position in which the seal ring is separated from the valve seat so to enable fluid to pass through the valve seat and exit through an outlet port.
While the above-mentioned valve designs may operate effectively when used to control the flow of purified liquids, both encounter a problem when transmitting fluids containing a significant amount of debris or other material that may come out of a suspension or solution and stick to the mating surfaces of valving elements. In the case of blood, such debris is in the form of protein, lipids, and cell fragments found in the serum, all of which are adhesive in nature and tend to stick on any surface they encounter. In the Kloehn valve, such debris will accumulate on the planar surfaces of the diaphragms and the valve seat, causing a decline in the sealing effect of these mating elements. Similarly, the Loveless valve will experience debris build-up on the sealing ring and valve seats, causing fluid to leak to pass the ring seal prematurely. In both valves, debris build-up is hastened as a result of the particular method employed to introduce fluid into the interior of the valve. In particular, in both the Kloehn and the Loveless valves, fluid is introduced into the valve interior such that a highly turbulent flow pattern is produced, with much of the fluid making "head-on" (i.e., steep angle) contact with the surfaces of the various valving elements, such as the plunger or valve stem, seal ring, or the valve seat; as a result, some of the adhesive debris or particulate matter present in the fluid will attach itself to the surfaces encountered and accumulate thereon. After a period of continued use, accumulation of debris will reach a level where the valve fails to either effectively prevent fluid flow, or enable fluid flow at a desired flow rate. Thus, it would be desirable to provide a valving apparatus of the above type in which the rate at which debris accumulates on the internal mating surfaces is significantly reduced, whereby the mean-time-between-failure is significantly increased.


A method for manufacturing a strip in a soft magnetic alloy capable of being cut out mechanically, the chemical composition of which comprises by weight:                18%≤Co≤55%        0%≤V+W≤3%        0%≤Cr≤3%        0%≤Si≤3%        0%≤Nb≤0.5%        0%≤B≤0.05%        0%≤C≤0.1%        0%≤Zr+Ta≤0.5%        0%≤Ni≤5%        0%≤Mn≤2%

Many pieces of electro-technical equipment include magnetic parts and notably magnetic yokes made in soft magnetic alloys. In particular, this is the case of electric generators on board vehicles notably in the field of aeronautics, railways or automobiles. Generally, the alloys used are alloys of the iron-cobalt type and notably alloys including about 50% by weight of cobalt. These alloys have the advantage of having very strong induction at saturation, high permeability at working inductions greater than or equal to 1.6 Teslas and quite strong resistivity allowing reduction of alternating current losses at a high induction. When they are in current use, these alloys have a mechanical strength corresponding to an elasticity limit comprised between about 300 and 500 MPa. However, for certain applications, it is desirable to have alloys with a high elastic limit, the elasticity limit of which may attain or exceed 600 MPa, or even in certain cases 900 MPa. The latter so-called HEL alloys are particularly useful for producing miniaturized alternators on board aircraft. These alternators are characterised by very high speeds of rotation which may exceed 20,000 rpm which require great mechanical strength of the parts making up the magnetic yokes. In order to obtain the characteristics of alloys with a high elasticity limit, the addition of different alloy elements such as niobium, carbon and boron notably was proposed in various patents.
All these materials containing from 15 to 55% by weight of cobalt, regardless of whether they have an approximately equiatomic Fe—Co composition or whether they contain much more iron than cobalt, have to be subject to suitable annealing in order to obtain desired properties of use, and notably good compromise between the sought mechanical characteristics and magnetic characteristics depending on the uses for which they are intended. For these alloys, it is known, well established and practiced that the electro-technical parts (stators, rotor and other various profiles) are cut out in strips of work-hardened material obtained by cold rolling down to the final thickness. After having been cut out, the parts are systematically subject in a last step, to annealing of the static type in order to adjust the magnetic properties.
By state-of-the-art static annealing of Fe—Co alloys, is meant a heat treatment during which the cut out parts are maintained above 200° C. for at least 1 hour and they are raised to a temperature greater than or equal to 700° C., at which a plateau is imposed. By plateau is meant a period of time of at least 10 minutes during which the temperature at most varies by 20° C. above or below a set temperature value. In this treatment, the rises and drops between room temperature and the plateau generally take a time of at least 1 hour under industrial production conditions. Consequently, an industrial <<static>> annealing treatment allowing good optimization of magnetic performances, comprises for this a temperature plateau from one to several hours: <<static>> annealing therefore takes several hours.
In a way known per se to one skilled in the art, cold rolling is carried out on strips with a thickness generally of the order of 2 to 2.5 mm, obtained by hot rolling and then subject to hyper-quenching. The latter gives the possibility of avoiding to a large extent the order/disorder transformation in the material which consequently remains almost disordered, but not very changed relatively to its structural state at a temperature above 700° C. Because of this treatment, the material may then be cold rolled without any problem down to the final thickness.
The thereby obtained strips then have sufficient ductility so as to be able to be cut out by mechanical cutting. Also, when they are intended for the manufacturing of magnetic yokes consisting of a stack of cut out parts in thin strips, these alloys are sold to the users in the form of strips in a work-hardened state. The user then cuts out the parts, stacks them and ensures the mounting or the assembling of magnetic yokes, and then carries out the required quality heat treatment for obtaining the sought properties. This quality heat treatment aims at obtaining a certain development of the growth of the grains after recrystallization, since it is the grain size which sets the compromise between mechanical and magnetic performances. Depending on the relevant parts of the electro-technical machine, the compromises as regards performances, and therefore the heat treatments, may be different. Thus, generally, the stators and rotors of aeronautical on board generators are cut out together in the same strip portion in order to minimize the scraps of metal. But, the rotor undergoes a heat treatment promoting quite high mechanical performances, typically a temperature of less than 800° C., while the stator undergoes a heat treatment optimizing the magnetic performances (therefore with a larger average grain size) typically at a temperature above 800° C.
Further, this quality heat treatment may include for each type of cut out part, two annealings, one for adjusting the magnetic and mechanical properties as this has just been seen and the other one for oxidizing the surfaces of the metal sheets in order to reduce the inter-laminar magnetic losses. This second annealing may also be replaced with deposition of an organic, mineral or mixed material.
The drawbacks of this technique according to this prior art are multiple and mention will in particular be made of:                the requirement of changing alloy (complicated, larger inventory, more costly) when it is desired to attain elastic limits of at least 500-600 MPa; indeed the Fe—Co alloy known to one skilled in the art suitable for most electro-technical applications, may attain soft magnetic properties such as a coercitive field from 0.4 to 0.6 Oe (32 to 48 Nm) when the annealing is at least carried out at 850° C. and may also attain an elastic limit of 450-500 MPa when the annealing temperature is lowered to below 750° C.; in every case, the elastic limit never attains 600 MPa on the same alloy; in order to manage this, other alloys, slightly different in composition, notably using precipitates or a 2nd phase, have to be used;        the requirement for the user to anneal all the cut out parts (whether the grade is with a high elastic limit (HEL) or not); indeed, after static annealing, the alloy is too fragile in order to be able to be cut out with mechanical means;        the requirement of having to support high magnetic losses for elastic limits of at least 500 MPa;        the difficulty or even the impossibility for HEL performances of attaining with the heat treatment, a specific compromise in mechanical and magnetic performances; indeed, theoretically, it is always possible to obtain HEL performances (from 500 to 1200 MPa of elasticity limit) with a <<static annealing>> as defined above by applying temperature plateaus between 700 and 720° C., therefore in a metallurgical state ranging from the work-hardened state and then restored to a more or less crystallized state and specific to this type of annealing; but in practice, in this range of 500-1200 MPa, the elastic limit will very substantially depend on the plateau temperature to within a degree; this hypersensitivity of the performances at the plateau temperature prevents industrial transposition since static industrial ovens cannot generally ensure temperature homogeneity of the load to be annealed of better than +/−10° C., i.e. the extent of the adjustment range of the elastic limit between 500 and 1200 MPa; exceptionally, this homogeneity may be of +/−5° C.; however, this is not sufficient for controlling industrial manufacturing.        the difficulty in attaining specific dimensions of a finished part when the final static annealing is applied to parts cut out in a work-hardened metal, with a complex geometry (example, a E-part/profile of a transformer with elongated legs).

Process for manufacturing a thin strip made of soft magnetic alloy and strip obtained

Abstract: The remainder being iron and impurities resulting from the elaboration, according to which a strip obtained by hot rolling is cold-rolled in order to obtain a cold-rolled strip with a thickness of less than 0.6 mm.

Abstract: After cold rolling, a continuous annealing treatment is carried out by passing into a continuous oven, at a temperature comprised between the order/disorder transition temperature of the alloy and the onset temperature of ferritic/austenitic transformation of the alloy, followed by rapid cooling down to a temperature below 200° C. Strip obtained.