The present invention provides a data transmission system having a data sending unit, a data receiving unit and a data transmission medium for data transmission from the data sending unit to the data receiving unit, which comprises an element for generating feature information of data transmission from the data sending unit to the data receiving unit in advance of execution of the data transmission, an element for storing change of states of use of a bandwidth by data transmission now under execution, an element for predicting a time of completion of the data transmission now under execution based on the change of states of use of the bandwidth and the feature information of the data transmission now under execution, an element for determining a transmission rate for data transmission to be next executed at the time of completion of the data transmission now under execution based on the change of states of use of the bandwidth and the feature information of the data transmission to be next executed, and an element for executing the data transmission to be next executed from the data sending unit according to the transmission rate at the time of completion of the data transmission now under execution.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of data transmission and a system using it, and in particular relates to a method of data transmission and a system using it for performing contention control among attempts of data transmission in the case where plural data transmission attempts are executed on a shared transmission medium on a computer network.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
A computer network consists of at least one transmission medium and a plurality of terminals connected thereto. Attempts of data transmission among these terminals are conducted through the transmission medium. Transmission capability of the transmission medium is called transmission bandwidth which is represented as an amount of data transmitted per unit time. The transmission bandwidth has a limit:, and the maximum transmission bandwidth Rmax is a fixed finite value.
In a computer network, generally, a single transmission medium is used for plural attempts of data transmission to hold down the cost of structuring and maintaining the network to the minimum of necessity. If a bandwidth used by each data transmission attempt i at an arbitrary time point t is assumed to be ri (t) (i=1, 2, . . . , n), and the total is assumed to be .SIGMA.ri (t), there occurs a shortage of the transmission bandwidth of the transmission medium in the case of Rmax<.SIGMA.ri (t), which results in a scramble for the transmission bandwidth. This is called contention for the transmission bandwidth.
If the contention occurs, data which could not gain a necessary bandwidth is lost. In the case the data is lost, re-transmission of the data is executed in general. However, this is a cause for deterioration in efficiency of use of the bandwidth =an amount of data successfully transmitted/bandwidth required for successful data transmission .times. time required for successful data transmission!. To efficiently utilize the finite maximum transmission bandwidth of the transmission medium, it is necessary to avoid the loss of data caused by the contention. The factors of deterioration in efficiency of use of the bandwidth are data transmitted for transmission control (protocol control), bandwidth which is not used for some reason related to the control, a time zone where transmission is not conducted, and so forth, as well as the data re-transmitted, namely, the data transmitted repeatedly.
An application on each terminal which executes data transmission in the network normally operates independently. Each of the applications is irrelevant to the state of data transmission of the other applications at all, and makes an attempt of data transmission completely independent of each other. Some of the applications provide timing of data transmission by human triggering, such as "telnet". Therefore, it is impossible to perform centralized prediction and administration of the states of a plurality of data transmission attempts (starting time, ending time, bandwidth to be used or the like) made by all these applications as a whole.
To avoid the contention, conventionally, information about the states of use of the transmission bandwidth which change every moment has been fed back to a sending control mechanism for each data transmission attempt from an observing point for use of the bandwidth, and thereby a control has been conducted so that difference between the available bandwidth R(t) obtained from the fed back information and the actually used bandwidth r(t), .vertline.R(t)-r(t).vertline., becomes zero.
However, in the actual network, there is a distance L between the observing point and the controlling point; accordingly, there occurs at least propagation delay .DELTA.t=distance L/velocity of light c>0 in the propagation of fed back information between them. As a result, it is impossible to accurately reduce the value of .vertline.R(t)-r(t).vertline. to zero. In the case of (R(t)-r(t))>0, there are unused wasteful bandwidths, and in the case of (R(t)-r(t))<0, the loss of the data occurs. That is, the using efficiency is declined in either of the cases. In the latter case, a buffer can be disposed on the transmission path, whereby the loss of the data can be avoided if the data amount is less than the capacity of the buffer. However, since the capacity of the buffer is limited, there is still a possibility of loss of the data if a large number of data transmission requests are made at once.
As to the file transfer, printing service or the like among the applications performing data transmission, there are the following features:
(1) the data to be transmitted is held in the sending terminal before the transmission is started, and the amount of data is already known;
(2) in general, transmission controlling information such as the amount of data is exchanged between the sending terminal and the receiving terminal before the transmission is started;
(3) because the data to be transmitted is already held in the sending terminal, it is possible to control the transmission rate to be adopted;
(4) an acceptable range for the transmission delay is relatively wide; and
(5) in a client-server type application, such as filing service or printing service, all pieces of data to be transmitted concentrate on the server.
Paying attention to these features, the applicant of the present invention has proposed a data transmission system and method for contention control of data transmission attempts (Japanese Patent Application No. 8-17949). In the proposal, it has been made possible to increase the efficiency of use of the bandwidth by performing centralized control of the order of data transmission attempts , bandwidths to be used, and so on, in advance, based on the data transmission controlling information for avoiding the contention.
Here, the proposal is described at first. FIG. 1 shows the method for contention control of data transmission attempts as a whole. The fundamental constituents of the computer network to which the contention control method is applied are: a data sending unit 1; a data receiving unit 2; a data transmission controlling unit 3 for accumulating pieces of information of all data transmission attempts and executing centralized administration; and a transmission medium 4 for connecting these units. There is only one data transmission control unit 3 for the transmission medium 4 shared by the plural attempts of data transmission. If there is only one data receiving unit 2 for the shared transmission medium 4, it is possible to integrate the data receiving unit 2 with the data transmission control unit 3. If there are plural data receiving units 2, the data transmission control unit 3 is required to be independent of at least a part of the plural data receiving units 2.
FIG. 2 shows an example of construction of each unit shown in FIG. 1. Here, the data transmission controlling unit 3 is assumed to be contained in the data receiving unit 2. The explanation for each unit is as follows.
(1) The data sending unit 1
The data sending unit 1 comprises a data transmission direction receiving element 5, a data sending controlling element 6, a data sending element 7, and so forth. The data transmission direction receiving element 5 receives a direction of data transmission sent by a data transmission direction sending element 10 of the data receiving unit 2. The data sending controlling element 6 controls starting or ending of data transmission attempt made by the data sending element 7, bandwidth to be used or the like in accordance with the direction of data transmission received by the data transmission direction receiving element 5. The data sending element 7 sends data to the data receiving unit 2 under the control of the data sending controlling element 6.
(2) The data receiving unit 2 (integrated with the data transmission controlling unit 3)
The data receiving unit 2 comprises a data transmission controlling information acquiring element 8, a data transmission controlling element 9, the data transmission direction sending element 10, a data receiving element 11, and so forth. The data transmission controlling information acquiring element 8 acquires necessary information among the pieces of data transmission controlling information exchanged between the sending unit and receiving unit before/during/after each of all attempts of data transmission. For example, before data transmission, the data transmission controlling information acquiring element 8 acquires information such as an identifier of the data sending unit 1, the amount of data to be transmitted, or the like. The data transmission controlling element 9 determines the time when the data transmission shown by the content of the data transmission controlling information becomes possible and an available transmission bandwidth based on the data transmission controlling information acquired by the data transmission controlling information acquiring element 8 and the states of use of the bandwidth by the data transmission now under execution. The data transmission direction sending element 10 sends the data transmission direction including the content of determination by the data transmission controlling element 9 to the data sending unit 1. The data receiving element 11 receives the data sent by the data sending unit 1.
In the case where a next data transmission is requested before the completion of data transmission now under execution, it is generally performed that the data transmission controlling unit 3 provides the direction for sending to the sending element which will execute the next data transmission after the completion of the preceding data transmission is detected (hereinafter, such method is referred to as handshaking). The similar method is also adopted by the construction example shown in FIG. 2. That is, the data transmission controlling element 9 detects the completion of data transmission by observing the state of transmission or by using a timer to determine a mode of the next data transmission, namely, the bandwidth to be used, the time of starting the data transmission and so forth, and then sends the direction for transmission to the relevant sending unit 1.
If data transmission requests are made by a couple of data sending units 1A and 1B as shown in FIG. 3 to the receiving unit 2 (integrated with the data transmission controlling unit 3), operations according to the handshaking are as shown in a flow chart in FIG. 4. There is a time interval T between the completion of preceding data transmission by the sending unit 1A and the start of next data transmission by the sending unit 1B. Hereinafter, the time T is referred to as a handshaking time. The handshaking time T is roughly classified into the following two parts.
t1: a time from the time point when the receiving unit 2 receives the last data from the sending unit 1A, detects the completion of transmission, determines and sends the direction for sending to the time point when the sending unit 1B receives the direction.
t2: a time from the time point when the sending unit 1B receives the direction for sending to the time point when the receiving unit 2 receives the first data prepared and sent by the sending unit 1B.
The handshaking time consisting of the above two parts of time is inevitable in the case where the handshaking is adopted.
If the handshaking is applied to procedures for changing the bandwidth to be used for an attempt of data transmission subsequent to the completion of another data transmission in a state where plural attempts of data transmission are executed by bandwidth division, the handshaking time as same as described above is generated. FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the operations in the case.
In a terminal to which the pieces of data transmission controlling information are concentrated (a data transmission controlling unit), and in particular, in the case where the contention control method of performing centralized administration of plural data transmission attempts is adopted, if the procedures for starting data transmission and changing the bandwidth according to the completion of an attempt of data transmission are executed, the handshaking time is necessarily generated. During the handshaking time, data transmission from the sending unit to the receiving unit is not carried out, and as a result, there occurs unused bandwidth. Consequently, the handshaking time is a cause of reduction of efficiency of use of the bandwidth.

Data transmission system having feature for predicting time completion based on changing of states of use of bandwidth and time required for retransmission


A monitoring device having a signal receiver, a pseudo-ground, a digital processor and a transceiver, the signal receiver having an ability to receive a sensed signal representing a patient vital sign, the pseudo-ground having an ability to generate a baseline signal that is compared with the sensed signal, the transceiver having an ability to wirelessly transmit a processed signal from the digital processor to a base station or a wireless gateway and to receive an incoming signal from the base station or the wireless gateway, and the digital processor having an ability to process the sensed signal and the incoming signal locally within the monitoring device is disclosed.

A wide variety of devices are used inside and outside hospitals for monitoring patient vital signs. One commonly used device is the Holter monitor which records heart rate, heartbeats, or rhythm continuously during a 24-hour period. The primary purpose of a Holter monitor is to record a patient's heart rate and rhythm during various activities over a long period. The Holter monitor is most helpful when symptoms are frequent. It is also helpful for showing changes in heart rate or rhythm that a patient may not notice.
The Holter monitor is a small data recorder/transmitter connected by wires to several patches containing electrodes. These patches are put on the patient's chest. The tape recorder is placed in a small protective box that fits into a case with straps so it could be easily carried on the shoulder or waist. The electrical representation of the heartbeats travels through the electrodes and wires and is continuously recorded, usually for a 24-hour period. After the recording is completed, the monitor and electrodes can be removed. The recorded data may be transferred to paper for review or reviewed by a technician using a computer.
Another device for monitoring patient vital signs is an event monitor. An event monitor is typically used to record heart rate and rhythms for brief periods; it works only when a person turns on the device. A doctor may recommend an event monitor when symptoms are infrequent, for example, once per week or less.
Event monitors are small, portable devices carried in a purse or attached to a belt or shoulder strap in a manner similar to that of a portable tape/digital player. When symptoms are infrequent, an event monitor may be carried for several days or a few weeks. Most monitors are designed to record the heart rate and rhythm only when a button or switch is turned on. For example, when a symptom occurs, the patient or another person could turn on the event recorder. The event recorder would then record the heart rate and rhythm. The recorded heart rate and rhythm could then be sent by telephone to a recipient in a hospital or clinic for review by a physician.
Another device, the transtelephonic monitor, is similar to an event monitor but differs in that it sends an EKG signal to a recorder by telephone. The primary purpose of both the event and transtelephonic monitors is to record the patient's heart rate and rhythm during a symptom or "event."
Both Holter and event monitors have several significant deficiencies. First, these devices are wired and require wires running between the device and the recorder, resulting in signal artifact problems. Second, the wires could be uncomfortable to the patient. Third, water could damage the recorder, so the patient cannot swim or bathe while wearing the recorder. Fourth, the monitors do not transmit a "live" signal and are not capable of two-way communication. Thus, emergency personnel cannot use the device to locate a patient requiring emergency care, in case the patient has a heart attack, for example.
Some known wireless devices employ a sensor connected by thin cables to a centralized unit which then wirelessly communicates data to a receiver station. While such devices improve patient mobility, devices that use analog cables still suffer from the same signal artifact problems of the Holter and event monitors. While finger-mounted oxygen sensors, such as oximeters, have been developed that wirelessly communicate data, these devices are bulky, power intensive, and do not detect electrical signals.
Thus, there exists a need for a compact wireless medical sensor that could a deliver performance superior to the above mentioned wired and wireless devices.


A non-spherical toner particle for developing an electrophotographic image and its producing method are disclosed. The toner particle is one which is produced by coagulating and fusing a plurality of pigment-including polymer particles which are formed by emulsion polymerization of at least one hydrophobic polymerizable monomer in an aqueous phase in the presence of a surfactant, pigment particles, which has a calcium content of zero to 0.1% by weight, dispersed in said aqueous phase and a water-soluble radical polymerization initiator.

A colored polymer particle constituting a toner for electrophotographic use and a colored polymer particle being applied to a carrier for immunologically diagnosing reagent are required to have a particle-size as small as possible. In the field of toners for electrophotographic use, for example, it is not only to expect to obtain a toner having a small particle-size and a narrow range of particle-size distribution, which has been hardly obtained in any conventional kneading/pulverizing process, in such a manner that colored polymer particles having a small particle-size are plurally associated and are then heatedly fused so that a toner particle may be synthesized, but also expected that a toner having a high pigment dispersibility and, accordingly, a high image transparency may be obtained, and that the toner configuration may further readily be controlled. However, it has not been able to realize the expectations in the conventional kneading/pulverizing process, as described above.
A carrier for immunologically diagnosing reagent use has been demanded to be a colored polymer particle having a small particle-size, from the viewpoints of the sharpness of a cohesion image and the speed of an immune cohesion reaction.
For realizing the demand, a polymer particle itself is required to have a satisfactory dispersion stability and to be stable in a step for compounding a pigment serving as a colorant. As for a toner for electrophotographic use, it is required to induce no unnecessary cohesion in a step for associating particles. As for a carrier for immunologically diagnosing reagent use, it is required to be stable when sensitizing an immunologically active species such as an antigen, an antibody and so forth and also to be so satisfactory in storage stability that the carrier dispersion state is invariable even when storing for a long time.
It is an object of the invention to securely provide a process in which the above-mentioned problems can be solved and a pigment-including polymer particle having a satisfactory dispersion stability can be prepared and, further, a toner for electrophotographic use having a particle-size and a particle-size distribution each controlled by making use of the pigment-composite polymer particle.
In other words and to be more concrete, it is an object of this invention is to provide a stable pigment-including polymer particle.
Another object of the invention is to provide a pigment-including polymer particle containing a finely particle-sized pigment excellent in spectral characteristics, light fastness and color fading resistance.
A further object of the invention is to provide a toner for electrophotographic use excellent in spectral characteristics, light fastness and color fading resistance, and improved in the dispersibility of a pigment.
Still further object of the invention is to provide a carrier for immunologically diagnosing reagent use ready for observing a coagulation image and excellent in stability.

Toner particle for electrophotography and production method thereof


An engine air intake manifold has two main body sections that are divided along an airflow direction and mated tightly against each other at oppositely facing mating parts so as to form an air intake passage therein. A gas passage is formed along the mating parts. The gas passage opens into a downstream portion of the air intake passage and supplies a secondary additive gas thereto. Preferably, the engine air intake manifold has air intake branch pipes with valve mounting blocks for mounting air intake control valves to a downstream portion of the air intake branch pipes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an air intake manifold for an engine. More particularly, the present invention relates to an engine air intake manifold having first and second main body sections that are divided along an airflow direction and form an air intake passage therebetween. The first and second main body sections have oppositely facing mating parts that form a gas passage for supplying a secondary additive gas to the intake air flowing inside the air intake manifold. Preferably, the engine air intake manifold includes an air intake branch pipe with a mounting block for mounting an air intake control valve that is inserted into a downstream portion of the air intake branch pipe.
2. Background Information
An air intake manifold for a multiple cylinder engine generally has a collector into which intake air is introduced to the cylinders. The air intake manifold has a plurality of air intake branch parts that distribute the air from the collector to the cylinders. When this kind of air intake manifold is used, a secondary additive gas (e.g., blow-by gas, EGR gas, or secondary air) is sometimes added to the main flow of air in order to reduce atmospheric pollutants in the exhaust gas and accomplish idle control. When blow-by gas, EGR gas, secondary air or other secondary additive gas is circulated with the engine intake air, it is generally introduced at the collector of the air intake manifold. However, if the engine has multiple cylinders, it is difficult to distribute the secondary additive gas to all the cylinders evenly and, since the position where the secondary additive gas is introduced is far from the cylinders, it is difficult to improve the control response of the secondary additive gas.
Consequently, as disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 5-030412 and Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2000-008968, there have been several attempts to introduce the secondary additive gas separately to each cylinder from downstream positions of the air intake branch pipes of the air intake manifold. More specifically, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 5-030412 (pages 7 to 8, FIG. 3) discloses a configuration in which gas passages for delivering blow-by gas to each individual cylinder are provided in a mounting flange that is used for mounting the air intake manifold to the engine main body. On the other hand, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2000-008968 (pages 4 to 5, FIGS. 6 and 7) presents a configuration in which a spacer is arranged between the air intake manifold and the engine and gas passages for delivering EGR gas to each individual cylinder are provided in the spacer.
Moreover, an air intake manifold has been configured to introduce a secondary additive gas into the air intake passage of each air intake branch part in which a gas distribution pipe arranged on the outside of the air intake branch parts and gas passages that run from the gas distribution pipe to the air intake passages of the air intake branch parts.
More specifically, the air intake manifold described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2001-123901 (pages 3 to 5, FIG. 2) has a gas distribution pipe that is arranged inside the collector and provided with a plurality of discharge openings corresponding to the entrances of the air intake passages of the air intake branch parts.
Also, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2001-123901 (pages 3 to 5, FIG. 2) discloses an air intake manifold in which an EGR gas distribution pipe that is arranged inside the collector and provided with a plurality of discharge openings or holes corresponding to the entrances of the air intake passages of the air intake branch parts in order to distribute the EGR gas uniformly to the all of the cylinders. The EGR gas distribution pipe is arranged inside the collector along the direction in which the cylinders are lined up and has discharge openings or holes in positions corresponding to the air intake branch pipes. This air intake manifold efficiently distributes EGR gas to the cylinders by blowing EGR gas toward the entrance of the air intake passages from the discharge openings of the gas distribution pipe located inside the collector.
In view of the above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that there exists a need for an improved air intake manifold for an engine. This invention addresses this need in the art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.


A fluorescence detection apparatus is provided which has a partial reflection mirror 8 for transmitting a part of fluorescence light emitted from a fluorescent substance by projecting excitation light and reflecting the rest of the fluorescence light, and a pair of a first and a second photodiode 2,3 for measuring the light transmitted through or reflected by partial reflection mirror 8 respectively at a selected wavelength, and the pair of the first and the second diodes are arranged to be optically equivalent relative to the partial reflection mirror 8. This fluorescence detection apparatus is affected less by positional deviation of the measurement cell relative to the optical measurement system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fluorescence detection method, and a fluorescence detection apparatus useful for immunoassay. Particularly the present invention relates to a fluorescence detection method and an apparatus for determining the concentration of an objective substance with high accuracy by measuring the fluorescence from the objective substance and the fluorescence from a reference substance.
2. Description of the Related Art
Methods of immunoassay are known which utilize a fluorescent label contained in a immunocomplex or a fluorescent product formed by a labeling substance. Of these methods, enzyme-labeled immunoassay is conducted, for example, by bringing into contact a serum sample containing an objective substance and an antibody labeled by an enzyme with an antibody immobilized on a solid phase to form an immunocomplex, removing the unreacted portion of the enzyme-labeled antibody, adding a substrate for the enzyme contained in the complex to cause an enzyme reaction, and measuring the fluorescence emitted from the fluorescent substance formed by the enzyme reaction.
The conventional fluorescence detection apparatus for such a detection method comprises an exciting light irradiation system having a light source and a lens, and an optical measurement system comprising at least one detection element and at least one lens for measuring the fluorescence emitted from an objective substance (fluorescent substance). The optical system is selected to have the direction of the projected exciting light (illuminating light) so as to coincide substantially with, or to be perpendicular to the converging direction of the emitted fluorescence, depending on the measurement cell type and the surrounding conditions. In the optical system having the exciting light direction coinciding with the fluorescent light emission direction, a partial reflection mirror such as a dichroic mirror is employed to separate the fluorescent light from the exciting light.
The conventional detection apparatuses have disadvantages such that the measurement accuracy is not sufficient owing to variation of the measured value caused by change of the meniscus of the sample surface or by the presence of bubbles, and that the linear dependence of the fluorescence intensity on the concentration of the objective substance is impaired, at high concentrations, owing to absorption of the exciting light by the objective substance, causing the drop of the intensity of the generated fluorescence.
To offset such disadvantages, a method is proposed (JP-A-5-38297 and its corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 5,460,943). In this method, a reference fluorescent substance is added which is excited at the same wavelength as the objective substance in the sample and emits fluorescence of a wavelength different from that of the objective measurement substance, and the fluorescent light intensities of the sample and the reference substance are measured to obtain the concentration of the objective substance. This method, which utilizes different fluorescence wavelengths, may be called a two-wavelength fluorometry. For example, in this method, the fluorescence light is separated into two fluorescence light beams by a partial reflection mirror such as a dichroic mirror, the separated fluorescence light beams are respectively allowed to pass through a wavelength selection element, thus the fluorescence from the objective substance and the fluorescence from the reference substance are detected selectively, the intensities of the respective fluorescence light are measured, and the measured value of the fluorescence light of the objective substance is corrected based on the change of the fluorescence light of the reference substance.
The two-wavelength fluorometry enables high accuracy measurement. The inventors of the present invention made studies to improve the accuracy further, and found that the ratio of the changes of the signals of the two fluorescence intensities are not always constant in measurement of many samples in the aforementioned conventional two-wavelength fluorometry.
The variation of the ratio of the signal changes was found to be due to the causes below. For example, in the apparatus for immunoassay for quantitative determination of a biological substance, enzyme-containing complexes are placed usually in relatively small cells, and a large number of such cells are delivered mechanically and automatically into an optical measurement station for the quantitative determination. However, it is not easy to deliver constantly the cells without positional variation precisely to the predetermined position in the measurement station. In particular, in commercial apparatuses utilizing a large number of measurement cells, it is extremely difficult to reproducibly position each cell with respect to the optical measurement system. The positional variation of the cells occurs unavoidably. Furthermore, bubbles can be formed in the measurement liquid in dispensing the enzyme substrate into the measurement cell, and the bubble formation cannot be completely prevented. The variation of the signal change ratio of the aforementioned two detection elements, by this positional deviation and the bubble formation makes impossible the complete correction for the positional deviation. When the cell deviates positionally or bubbles are formed in the cell, the ratio of the signal changes of the two detectors is not constant in the two-wavelength fluorometry owing to physical non-equivalency such as positional deviations of the detection elements, of the apertures before the respective detection elements, and of the optical axes of the respective detection elements, and sensitivity irregularity of the detection elements, thereby causing inconformity of the change ratios of the detection signals with the two detection elements.
In the case where the intensity of the fluorescence from the reference substance is affected more by the positional deviation of the cell than that from the measurement object substance, the measurement data corrected by the same procedure (by use of a correction equation, or the like) involves the influence of the positional deviation.


Nucleic acids encoding genes with SepRS and tRNASep activity for site specific incorporation of phosphoserine into a protein or polypeptide and methods of use thereof are described. Typically, SepRS preferentially aminoacylates tRNASep with O-phosphoserine and the tRNASep recognizes at least one codon such as a stop codon. In a preferred embodiment the nucleic acids are on vectors. In one embodiment, the vectors are expressed in cells such as bacterial cells, archeaebacterial cells, and eukaryotic cells. In an alternative embodiment, the vectors are expressed in an in vitro transcription/translation system. Proteins or polypeptides containing phosphoserine produced by the methods described herein can be used for a variety of applications such as research, antibody production, protein array manufacture and development of cell-based screens for new drug discovery.

Signal transduction is any process by which a cell converts one kind of signal or stimulus into another. Processes referred to as signal transduction often involve a sequence of biochemical reactions inside the cell, which are carried out by enzymes and linked through second messengers.
Signal transduction is often accomplished by the activation of enzymes that can act upon other enzymes and change their catalytic activity. This may lead to increases or decreases in the activity of certain metabolic pathways, or may lead to even large intracellular changes, for example, the initiation of specific patterns of gene expression and/or changes in cell proliferation.
The most common covalent modification used in signal transduction processes is phosphorylation, which results in the alteration of the activity of those enzymes which become phosphorylated. Phosphorylation is the addition of a phosphate (PO4) group to a protein or a small molecule. Any of several amino acids in a protein may be phosphorylated. Phosphorylation on serine is the most common, followed by threonine. Tyrosine phosphorylation is relatively rare. However, since tyrosine phosphorylated proteins are relatively easy to purify using antibodies, tyrosine phosphorylation sites are relatively well understood. Histidine and aspartate phosphorylation occurs in prokaryotes as part of two-component signaling.
Other types of phosphorylation include oxidative phosphorylation. ATP, the "high-energy" exchange medium in the cell, is synthesized in the mitochondrion by addition of a third phosphate group to ADP in a process referred to as oxidative phosphorylation. ATP is also synthesized by substrate level phosphorylation during glycolysis. ATP is synthesized at the expense of solar energy by photophosphorylation in the chloroplasts of plant cells.
Phosphorylation of sugars is often the stage of their catabolism. It allows cells to accumulate sugars because the phosphate group prevents the molecules from diffusing back across their transporter.
In eukaryotes, protein phosphorylation is probably the most important regulatory event. Many enzymes and receptors are switched "on" or "loff" by phosphorylation and dephosphorylation. Phosphorylation is catalyzed by enzymes known as ATP-dependent phosphotransferases which are often simply referred to as "kinases." These include, among others, protein kinases, lipid kinases, inositol kinases, non-classical protein kinases, histidine kinases, aspartyl kinases, nucleoside kinases, and polynucleotide kinases.
The network underlying phosphorylation can be very complex. In some cellular signalling pathways, a protein A phosphorylates B, and B phosphorylates C, but A also phosphorylates C directly, and B can phosphorylate D, which may in turn phosphorylate A.
Phosphorylation regulates protein function by affecting conformation, for example. This in turn regulates such processes as enzyme activity, protein-protein interactions, subcellular distribution, and stability and degradation. The stoichiometry of phosphorylation of a given site is controlled by the relative activities of a cell's repertoire of protein kinases and phosphatases. Thus phosphorylation can often generate extremely rapid and reversible changes in the activity of target proteins. The ability to assay the state of phosphorylation of specific proteins is of great utility in the quest to establish the function of a given protein. Such assays are also critical for the identification of drugs that can influence the phosphorylation, and hence the function, of specific proteins.
In general, phosphoproteins are highly unstable and difficult to produce, both in terms of specific phosphorylation of biologically relevant amino acids and subsequent purification of protein. A means to specify and drive a targeted phosphorylation event with a high degree of certainty and efficiency in vivo has not been described.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for the site specific phosphorylation of proteins or peptides.
It is further an object of the present invention to provide a method for the site specific phosphorylation of proteins or peptides in vivo.

Site specific incorporation of phosphoserine into polypeptides using phosphoseryl-tRNA synthetase


An integrated circuit packaging system and method of manufacture thereof including: providing an unplated leadframe having a contact protrusion; depositing a solder resist on the contact protrusion; forming a contact pad and traces by etching the unplated leadframe; applying a trace protection layer on the contact pad and the traces; removing the solder resist; forming a recess in the trace protection layer by etching a top surface of the contact pad to a recess distance below a top surface of the trace protection layer; and depositing an external connector directly on the top surface of the contact pad.

Semiconductor chips have become progressively more complex, driven in large part by the need for increasing processing power in a smaller chip size for compact or portable electronic devices such as cell phones, smart phones, personal media systems, ultraportable computers.
There are a number of conventional processes for packaging integrated circuit (IC) dice. By way of example, many IC packages utilize a metallic leadframe that has been stamped or etched from a metal sheet to provide electrical interconnects to external devices. The die may be electrically connected to the leadframe by means of bonding wires, solder bumps or other suitable electrical connections.
In general, a leadframe will come from a supplier pre-plated with a desired pattern for further processing. The plating can protect selected portions of the leadframe during processing steps, but the plating itself uses relatively expensive materials, and under certain conditions it may be desirable to remove the plating. The die and portions of the leadframe are encapsulated with a molding material to protect the delicate electrical components on the active side of the die while leaving selected portions of the leadframe exposed to facilitate electrical connection to external devices.
Thus, a need still remains for a better manufacturing system. In view of the rising costs of materials, it is increasingly critical that answers be found to these problems. In view of the ever-increasing commercial competitive pressures, along with growing consumer expectations and the diminishing opportunities for meaningful product differentiation in the marketplace, it is critical that answers be found for these problems. Additionally, the need to reduce costs, improve efficiencies and performance, and meet competitive pressures adds an even greater urgency to the critical necessity for finding answers to these problems.
Solutions to these problems have been long sought but prior developments have not taught or suggested any solutions and, thus, solutions to these problems have long eluded those skilled in the art.

Integrated circuit packaging system with leadframe and method of manufacture thereof


In an optical member coupling apparatus for coupling an exchangeable lens unit and an optical member such as a color-separating prism with each other, a supporting section for movably supporting the optical member in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis is provided, whereby even when the optical axes of the lens unit and optical member deviate from each other, they can be adjusted easily. A color-separating prism 2 is attached, together with a lens unit 1, to a panel 3 by means of first and second bases 7 and 8 which are respectively movable only along X and Y axes in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis. The first and second bases 7 and 8 respectively have elliptical holes 7G and 8G into which a joystick 16 can be inserted. When the optical axis of the lens unit deviates from the imaging center of a CCD attached to the color-separating prism 2, screws 10A to 11B are unfastened, and the joystick 16 is inserted through the tool-inserting holes 7G and 8G and is wrenched so that the color-separating prism 2 is moved in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for coupling an optical member, such as color-separating prism, with a lens unit.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In broadcasting television cameras and the like, a zoom lens is often used as their taking lens. This zoom lens is attached to the main body of an optical apparatus (camera main body) as a zoom lens unit comprising a lens mount in which the zoom lens is accommodated. In order to selectively use various kinds of zoom lenses depending on states of taking, a lens mount structure configured so as to detachably attach the lens unit to the main body is widely employed as well.
Used in such a lens mount structure is an optical member coupling apparatus in which a mechanism for detachably holding the lens unit is attached to one surface of a flat panel, while a color-separating prism for separating an incident luminous flux into three primary color light components of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) is attached to the other surface. In order to couple the lens unit and the color-separating prism together by means of such an optical member coupling apparatus, the color-separating prism is initially secured to the panel, then a reference lens having a fixed reference distance between its mounting surface and the imaging surface of a CCD disposed downstream the color-separating prism is attached to the panel, and thereafter the CCD is attached to the rear end face of the color-separating prism so that the optical axis of the reference lens aligns with the imaging center.
Though the CCD is attached such that its imaging center aligns with the optical axis of the reference lens; when various kinds of lens units are exchanged for use as mentioned above, the optical axis of the lens unit and the imaging center of the CCD may deviate from each other due to an error in designing or the like. When the optical axis of the lens unit and the imaging center of the CCD thus deviate from each other, pictures taken by the CCD may erroneously shift.


A method includes executing a virtual machine, which executes on a data processing device and includes an application container and an agent. The application container includes a file system mount interfaced with a file system residing outside the application container, an application programming interface (API), and a software application including a reference to the API. The agent is configured to monitor whether the software application attempts to access any resources outside of the application container. When the software application attempts to access any resources outside of the application container, the agent is configured to execute a remediation routine.

In a distributed system, a data processing device can execute instructions configuring the data processing device to instantiate an instance of a virtual machine. A virtual machine can emulate a computer and an operating system running on the computer. A virtual machine can be used to execute a software application.


A solid-state imaging device is provided, in which both a reduction in a read voltage and enhancement of a transfer efficiency are satisfied. A p type well 507 is formed on an n type semiconductor substrate 506, and a CCD channel region 102 is formed on a surface region of the p type well 507. A gate insulating film 510 is formed on a surface of the CCD channel region 102, and first electric charge transfer electrodes 503 are formed on the gate insulating film 510. An interlayer insulating film 511 is formed on circumferences of the first electric charge transfer electrodes, and second electric charge transfer electrodes 504 are formed between the first electric charge transfer electrodes on the gate insulating film 510. An electrode length L1 of the second electric charge transfer electrodes 504 is longer than an electrode length L2 of the first electric charge transfer electrodes 503, and n− type potential level difference regions 113 are formed in upstream side portions of the CCD channel region under the second electric charge transfer electrodes 504 by p type impurity implantation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a solid-state imaging device. In particular, the present invention relates to a solid-state imaging device, such as an interline transfer type solid-state imaging device, configured in such a manner that signal charge generated and accumulated in a photoelectric converting region is read via a charge-coupled device (CCD).
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, a household video camera and digital camera using a solid-state imaging device is used widely. In these cameras, an interline transfer type solid-state imaging device is widely used, which reads signal charge generated and accumulated in a photoelectric converting region via a CCD. In such an interline transfer type solid-state imaging device, in order to reduce power consumption and allow a power source to be shared by the solid-state imaging device and a liquid crystal monitor mounted thereon, an attempt has been made to reduce a read voltage.
As an attempt to reduce a read voltage, a solid-state imaging device has been proposed in which, among a plurality of electric charge transfer electrodes constituting a vertical CCD, an electric charge transfer electrode that also functions as a reading gate for transmitting a signal charge generated and accumulated in a photoelectric converting region to the vertical CCD is configured so as to have an electrode length in a transfer direction longer than that of the other electric charge transfer electrodes (e.g., see JP 2950317). Hereinafter, a conventional interline transfer type solid-state imaging device with a reduced read voltage will be described.
FIG. 17 is a view schematically showing an overall configuration of a conventional interline transfer type solid-state imaging device. In FIG. 17, reference numeral 100 denotes a photodiode (PD) for performing photoelectric conversion. 200 denotes a vertical CCD for transferring signal charge in a vertical direction. 300 denotes a signal charge read portion for reading signal charge from the photodiode 100 to the vertical CCD 200. 400 denotes a horizontal CCD for transferring signal charge in a horizontal direction. 500 denotes an output portion for detecting and amplifying signal charge. Generally, a region "I" composed of the photodiode 100 for performing photoelectric conversion and the vertical CCD 200 is called a pixel.
The operation of the solid-state imaging device thus configured is performed schematically as follows. Each photodiode 100 generates and accumulates signal charge in accordance with the amount of incident light by photoelectric conversion. During a vertical blanking period after the elapse of a predetermined accumulation period, the signal charge accumulated in the photodiode 100 is read collectively to the adjacent vertical CCD 200 via the signal charge read portion 300. Then, the signal charge is transferred downward in FIG. 17 through a plurality of vertical CCDs 200 in parallel on a stage basis, and the signal charge is transferred from the final transfer stage of each vertical CCD 200 to the horizontal CCD 400 on a row basis. Then, the signal charge is transferred successively leftward in FIG. 17 through the horizontal CCD 400. The signal charge is converted to a voltage signal in the output portion 500, and thereafter, is output as a video signal in a temporal series.
FIG. 18A is a plan view showing a pixel configuration in the region "I" shown in FIG. 17. FIG. 18B is a cross-sectional view taken along a line II–II′ shown in FIG. 18A. In FIG. 18A or 18B, reference numeral 501 denotes a photoelectric converting region formed of an n type diffusion layer. 502 denotes a CCD channel region of the vertical CCD 200 formed of an n type diffusion layer. 503 denotes a first electric charge transfer electrode of the vertical CCD 200 formed of a first polysilicon layer. 504 denotes a second electric charge transfer electrode of the vertical CCD 200 formed of a second polysilicon layer. 505 denotes an electric charge read portion of the second electric charge transfer region 504, for reading electric charge from the photoelectric converting region 501. 506 denotes an n type semiconductor substrate. 507 denotes a p type well. 508 denotes a p type reading region for reading signal charge accumulated in the photoelectric converting region 501 to the CCD channel region 502. 509 denotes a p+ type device separation region for separating the photoelectric converting regions 501 and the CCD channel regions 502 from each other. 510 denotes a gate insulating film. 511 denotes an interlayer insulating film for insulating the first electric charge transfer electrode 503 from the second electric charge transfer electrode 504. In FIG. 18B, ΦV1, ΦV2, ΦV3, and ΦV4 denote transfer clocks.
The signal charge generated and accumulated in the photoelectric converting region 501 by photoelectric conversion is read to the CCD channel region 502 through the p type reading region 508 by applying a read pulse having a voltage amplitude of, for example, 8 to 15 V to the second electric charge transfer electrode 504. Thereafter, by applying a transfer pulse having a voltage amplitude of, for example, −5 to −8 V to the first electric charge transfer electrode 503 and the second electric charge transfer electrode 504, the signal charge is transferred from right to left in FIG. 18B through the CCD channel region 502. The impurity concentration in the p type reading region 508 is set to be an appropriate value in such a manner as follows: when a read pulse is applied to the second electric charge transfer electrode 504, the p type reading region 508 is conductive and completely transfers the signal charge in the photoelectric converting region 501 to the CCD channel region 502, and when a transfer pulse is applied to the first electric charge transfer electrode 503 and the second electric charge transfer electrode 504, and the signal charge is transferred through the CCD channel region 502, the p type reading region 508 is kept in a non-conducting state.
In order to read the electric charge accumulated in the photoelectric converting region 501 to the CCD channel region 502, it is required that the amplitude of a voltage to be applied to the second electric charge transfer electrode 504 is 15 V or less due to the constraint of a driving circuit. Herein, when a width W (FIG. 18A) of the electric charge read portion 505 of the second electric charge transfer electrode 504 is narrow, which is defined by the device separation region 509 and the first electric charge transfer electrode 503, the p type reading region 508 is unlikely to be conducted due to a narrow channel effect to increase a read voltage.
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in a conventional solid-state imaging device, the width W of the electric charge read portion 505 is enlarged to such a degree that a narrow channel effect does not occur remarkably. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 18B, the electric charge read portion 505 is formed so that an electrode length L1 of the second electric charge transfer electrode 504 that also functions as a reading gate is set to be longer than an electrode length L2 of the first electric charge transfer electrode 503.
In general, the transfer efficiency of a CCD is determined mainly by a fringe electric field generated between transfer electrodes. In particular, the transfer efficiency largely depends upon a minimum electric field under a transfer electrode. As the minimum electric field becomes larger, a time (transfer time) required for transfer becomes shorter, whereby the transfer efficiency is enhanced.
FIG. 19A is a cross-sectional view partially showing the vertical CCD shown in FIG. 18B. FIG. 19B shows a potential distribution in the channel region at an intermediate voltage while the vertical CCD is driven with four-phase transfer clocks of ΦV1, ΦV2, ΦV3, and ΦV4, whereby the first electric charge transfer electrode 503 supplied with ΦV2 changes from a middle level voltage VVM to a low level voltage VVL. FIG. 19C shows a potential distribution in the channel region at an intermediate voltage while the second electric charge transfer electrode 504 supplied with ΦV1 changes from the middle level voltage VVM to the low level voltage VVL. In FIGS. 19B and 19C, a potential is shown with the downward direction being positive.
As shown in FIG. 19A, in the conventional solid-state imaging device, in order to reduce a read voltage, the electrode length L1 of the second electric charge transfer electrode 504 is set to be longer than the electrode length L2 of the first electric charge transfer electrode 503. Therefore, a minimum electric potential 512 under the second electric charge transfer electrode 504 supplied with ΦV1 appears at the center portion of the second electric charge transfer electrode 504 whose electrode length is formed long, as shown in FIG. 19C, and its value is decreased as the electrode length L1 is longer.
Thus, in the conventional solid-state imaging device, as the electrode length L1 of the second electric charge transfer electrode 504 is increased so as to reduce a read voltage, the minimum electric field becomes weak, decreasing the transfer efficiency.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A power meter (10) is provided which can plug into an electric wall socket and it is provided with its own socket (16) for receiving the plug of an electrical appliance. The power meter has means for measuring electric current flow to an electrical appliance and indicates the amount of electrical power consumed by an appliance. In alternative embodiments, the meter is provided as an integral part of an electric wall switch (30) or wall socket (40) or it is built into an electrical appliance (50). In another embodiment, the power meter has a plurality of sockets for receiving the plugs of a number of electrical appliances for separately indicating the power consumption of each appliance.

Electrical appliances differ widely with respect to the amounts of electricity which they consume, which, in turn, determines the cost of running the appliances. However, in most cases, the amount of electricity consumed by an appliance is not readily apparent to a consumer. It would be useful if a consumer had means at his disposal by which electric power consumption could be measured, in which case a consumer could take steps to use higher power consumption devices more sparingly in order to save costs. This would result in a general saving of energy, which is in the public interest.
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a power meter which readily provides a consumer with data regarding the power consumption of an electrical appliance.

Power consumption meter for displaying electric power consumed by appliance and the time period of consumption


A power saving display device and a method for controlling power thereof. The power saving display device comprises a main power supply circuit for converting an output voltage from a power rectifier into desired voltages to be supplied to components in the display device, a synchronous signal discriminator for discriminating whether horizontal and vertical synchronous signals are inputted and generating first and second control signals for power management in accordance with the discriminated result, a main power interrupter for interrupting the operation of the main power supply circuit in response to the first control signal from the synchronous signal discriminator, an auxiliary power supply circuit being continuously operated in response to the output voltage from the power rectifier although the main power supply circuit is interrupted in operation, a heater power regulation circuit for varying a voltage being supplied to a heater of a cathode ray tube or maintaining it constantly in response to the second control signal from the synchronous signal discriminator, and a heater power connector for supplying an output voltage from the auxiliary power supply circuit to the heater power regulation circuit when the main power supply circuit is interrupted in operation.

Generally, a display device comprises control means for saving consumption power. In one approach, the control means may be implemented by a DPMS, proposed by Video Electronics Standard Association (VESA) in U.S.A.
The DPMS functions to manage power of a display device, which is one of the peripheral devices of a computer, according to a used state of the computer to save the power.
In conformity with the VESA, the computer selectively supplies or blocks horizontal and vertical synchronous signals to the display device according to its used state, and the display device manages power according to the presence of the horizontal and vertical synchronous signals from the computer.
The power management states are classified into an on state, a stand-by state, a suspend state and a power off state. Both the horizontal and vertical synchronous signals are applied at the on state, and only the vertical synchronous signal is applied at the stand-by state. Only the horizontal synchronous signal is applied at the suspend state, and either the horizontal or vertical synchronous signal is not applied at the power off state.
The power management state is sequentially changed to the on state stand-by state suspend state power off state with the continuous lapse of unused time of the computer. It is commonly prescribed that consumption power of the display device be about 80W at the on state, 65W or less at the stand-by state, 25W or less at the suspend state and 5W or less at the power off state.

Power saving display device and method for controlling power thereof


The invention concerns a process for validation of devices for photometry of living tissue, which encompasses the following steps:. in vitro adjusting of a particular concentration of a substance to be detected in a bodily fluid; PA1 transporting the bodily fluid which has been adjusted to a pre-determined concentration to at least one measuring cell; PA1 transillumination of the bodily fluid; and PA1 sensing of the light intensity of at least one spectral window for determination of at least one suitable parameter in the bodily fluid, which is contained in the measuring cell, by means of at least one emitter and at least one receiver; PA1 thereby characterized, PA1 that one actively and in a defined manner dynamically changes the effective absorption length through the bodily fluid, without using the bodily fluid for transmission of the forces, wherein the bodily fluid is found in the optical space between the emitter and the receiver; and PA1 establishment of at least one relationship between the concentration on the one hand and the suitable parameter on the other hand. This process provides very precise results in the calibration of pulse oximeters. The invention concerns also the device for carrying out the process as well as appropriately calibrated pulse oximeters.

Pulse oximetry is a process for measuring arterial oxygen ration. It can be employed in principle in all pulsatile (systolic-diastolic blood pressure) perfused tissues of all species.
Description of the Related Art
Pulse oximetry has been employed clinically with great success for many years. It is no longer possible to imagine operating theaters, intensive care stations, emergency rooms, ambulances, obstetrics wards, etc. without it. Its success rests on its simple operation, the reliable indication and the uncomplicated interpretation of the indicated values.
Pulse oximetry has, until this day, not been available for use as an indicator during delivery. This is remarkable, because oxygen saturation is an essential piece of information for the birth helper,
first, in order to make possible the earliest possible diagnosis of problems relating to oxygen condition, and PA1 second, in order to evaluate more precisely the classical cesarean section indicators (16% Germany, 20% Europe, 25-33% USA). PA1 1. Here young healthy subjects inhale a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen (and carbon dioxide), of which the oxygen partial pressure is stepwise lowered in defined steps from normal values to hypoxic values. After an equilibration is achieved between the oxygen partial pressure in the gas mixture and in the blood, blood samples are taken, from which the oxygen saturation in the arterial blood is determined and at the same time, that is, at the moment the blood is withdrawn, the measured value Omega (see below) is measured with the pulse oximeter to be calibrated. This calibration is thus developed by obtaining as many solid measured values as possible, for which both the oxygen saturation as well as the Omega value is known. PA1 1. light leaving the emitter is radiated in all directions, PA1 2. the dye, blood, or blood perfused tissue is present in all spatial directions, and so absorbs as well as scatters, PA1 3. there is not a geometric border such as that produced by a cuvette, but rather the boundaries of the three-dimensionally transilluminated tissue are determined by intensity attenuation, that is, with corresponding light pathlengths, over which the light is attenuated by scattering and absorption, the light intensity is so reduced, that finally it's contribution to the total light signal is irrelevant (one could call this an "intensity limited cuvette" , see FIG. 1). PA1 1. the scattering level of tissue is achieved, which is significantly higher than that of blood alone, and PA1 2. a substantial independence from the scattering effect of blood is achieved, which can strongly fluctuate with the hemoglobin content, or more precisely, the cell count. PA1 at least one subassembly for adjusting the concentration of a substance to be detected in a bodily fluid; PA1 at least one transport subassembly, with which the bodily fluid adjusted to a specific concentration can be brought to at least one measurement cell; PA1 at least one emitter and at Least one receiver, which are provided in the measurement cell, so that their mean effective light path to each other can be actively and dynamically altered in a defined manner, without requiring the bodily fluid to transmit forces for altering the mean effective light path between light emitter and light receiver; and PA1 a device which measures the intensity of light, which has passed through the bodily fluid, detected in at least one spectral window, in a form providing at least one suitable parameter and producing an association between the concentration on the one hand and the parameter on the other hand. PA1 at least one emitter and at least one receiver, which are provided in the measuring cell, wherein in the optical space between emitter and receiver an optical discontinuity of variable thickness is provided. PA1 in-vitro setting or adjustment of a particular oxygen saturation value in blood; PA1 transportation of the blood adjusted to a particular oxygen saturation to at least one measuring cell; PA1 measuring a light intensity in at least one spectral window for determination of at least one suitable parameter in the blood, which is contained in the measuring cell, via at least one emitter and at least one receiver, PA1 a container with at least one supply and at least one removal opening as well as at least one emitter and at least one receiver for light waves, PA1 an effective absorption length through the bodily fluid, which is actively and in a dynamic manner altered in a defined way without using the bodily fluid to transmit forces, wherein the bodily fluid occupies the optical space between the emitter and receiver. PA1 existing brain damage PA1 anencephally PA1 decoupling tissue from a healthy brain with it's own circulation system, for example, via a heart-lung machine perfused extremity (arm or leg) PA1 It simulates an arterial/arteriole-pulsation in that between light emitter and light receiver a change of distance can be produced, of which the intensity (amplitude) and frequency can be adjusted over a great range. PA1 It simulates the arterial character in that pulsating, arterial blood, that is, blood immediately after the gas exchange in the lung, courses through the tissue model. As a result, each oxygen saturation condition in the blood can be simulated. PA1 It makes possible the application of the fetal transmission-pulse oximetry-sensor (and other reflection sensor and transmission-pulse oximetry-sensors) so that the sensor completely and exclusively evaluates the arterial blood in the tissue model. PA1 It enhances the reproducibility and precision (oxygen saturation, heart frequency, pulse form, pulse harmonics), than is possible with natural tissues. Of particular interest is the sinusoidal-shaped optical plethysmography and the resulting purity of the frequency spectrum. PA1 It makes possible determinations independently of biological characteristics of natural tissue such as edema, hematoma, injuries, and from physiological values, such as blood pressure, heart frequency, blood flow. Each of these values can be adjusted independently and maintained constant. PA1 It avoids the necessity to set the oxygen saturation by means of the lung (brain damaging), that is, a steady state through inhalation of a defined adjusted mixture (nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide). PA1 It makes possible determinations independent of movement artifacts, from outside light sources, temperature variations and restricted perfusion (shock). PA1 It provides the necessary transparency and reproducibility during the tests. PA1 It makes possible the imitation/simulation of any living species in that the species-specific blood (hemoglobin) is being utilized. PA1 final testing for a pulse oximiter manufacturer, PA1 monitoring by regulatory authorities, and PA1 precise function tests for recurring tests by the end user. PA1 separation of the light path, PA1 reception of the light amplitude, PA1 recognition of which LED is irradiating, PA1 multipliers for each individual LED amplitude, PA1 multipliers selected so that base absorption, heart beat, perfusion, finger thickness, movement artifacts, smoking, disturbances and other artifacts can be simulated, and PA1 generation of a true light signal with one or more LEDs, which is proportional to the initial light and the respective multipliers. PA1 base absorption PA1 heart beat PA1 perfusion PA1 finger thickness PA1 motion artifacts PA1 smoking PA1 disturbances PA1 other characteristics PA1 Fully valid values are obtained with no constraint as a result of intolerance of low oxygen saturation condition or, as the case may be, through movement artifacts. PA1 In a further embodiment according to the invention, the variance of the absorption is achieved by introduction of a transparent body, for example a glass wedge or a glass step, which displaces blood. In this manner a blood layer thickness change is produced. A servomotor with an alternating direction of rotation and a coil spool for transformation of the rotation movement into a translational movement moves the optical wedge between light emitter and light receiver. This calibration principle can be used with fetal pulse oximetry sensors in which both light emitter as well as light receiver are placed within the tissue, that is, are introduced via a spiral needle. These so-called inside-inside sensors can be constructed in the following manner: in the part of the spiral, which comes to rest within the tissue in the operational state, two oppositely lying opposing windows are formed in the needle. In one window the two LEDs are provided, and in the other a small photodiode is placed. PA1 The entire system is an artificial circulatory system, that is, the components are positioned analogously to their positions in the circulatory system in the organisms in a circular manner. The blood is thus pumped in a circulatory system. PA1 fractional oxygen saturation, and PA1 functional oxygen saturation. PA1 I.sub.0 =intensity of the entering light PA1 c=concentration of the dye stuff (independent of the wavelength) PA1 d=layer thickness of the absorbing dye stuff (dependent upon wavelength by scattering) PA1 e=specific absorption coefficient (valid for a specific wavelength only) PA1 1. Actual human tissue (subjects, patients) of an intact, organism capable of living , normally perfused, that is, by a viable heart, PA1 2. Actual human tissue of an organism not capable of living in the end (brain dead, anencephaly) normally perfused, that is, by means of an intact heart, eventually also artificially perfused (heart-lung machine). Ethics? PA1 3. Animal tissue, PA1 4. Artificial tissue, that is, tissue model for pulse oximetry, that at least as a minimal condition possesses the essential characteristics of arterioles, since arterioles are the anatomic structure of tissue pulsatility, and therewith are the cause for the optical plethysmography. The artificial tissue model must also thus at least possess the following characteristics or components: PA1 I.sub.0 =incident light intensity PA1 I.sub.out =emerging light intensity PA1 c=concentration of the absorbing medium PA1 e=extinction co-efficient of the absorbing medium PA1 d=layer thickness PA1 .delta.=supplemental layer thickness EQU I.sub.out max =I.sub.o *e.sup.-.epsilon.*c*d EQU I.sub.out min =I.sub.o *e.sup.-.epsilon.*c*(d+.delta.) PA1 optically homogeneous medium PA1 no optical scattering PA1 monochromatic light PA1 only the medium to be measured pulsates, or the other pulsating parts can be ignored. PA1 The scattering is increased or decreased depending upon whether the scattering effect of the scattering/absorption body is greater or less than the displaced bodily fluid. PA1 The layer thickness of the bodily fluid is decreased. Since, however, preferably the absorption of the scattering/absorption body is selected to lower than the absorption of the bodily fluid, it follows that
It would thus be expected that numerous research groups would be working in order to make this process available for use during delivery. An author of the present patent application has been awarded a pioneer patent for transmission pulse oximetry on unborn fetuses during birth.
During the development of pulse oximetry for assistance in delivery, a particular difficulty has become apparent: calibration. By this, we refer to the achievement of a correlation between the fetal oxygen saturation indicated by the pulse oximeter and the actual arterial oxygen saturation found in the blood of the fetus. Calibration becomes particularly difficult in the fetal area because the fetus already has, or can have, a physiologically very low oxygen saturation. One must thus be able to calibrate, among other things, for very low arterial oxygen saturation levels, which are not reconcilable with those of normal living organisms (be they human or animal), at least not in all situations, in which the brain is included in the low arterial oxygen saturation levels. This does not apply when, for example, a body part, such as an arm, is temporarily isolated for calibration/validation, that is, has a circulation rate differing from the rest of the body which is in correspondence with that of the brain. The fetus is equipped, for this physiological oxygen poor condition, with a special hemoglobin variant, the fetal hemoglobin (HbF). It exhibits a left-biased oxygen binding curve, and thus has a particularly high affinity for oxygen and makes possible therewith even under physiologically non-optimal conditions (prolonged phases of oxygen depletion e.g., labor pains, expulsion period!, difficult diffusion placenta!, mixture of arterial with venous blood physiological shunt!), bonding with oxygen which makes oxygen ultimately available to the fetal tissue.
Because all pulse oximeters available on the market must be calibrated by the manufacturer, a number of methods have been developed and described in the literature. The calibration over a great oxygen saturation range, as is necessary for the fetal situation, provides, however, a particular requirement or demand on the manufacturer of the respective devices, which cannot be overcome with known methods.
The state of the art describes various calibration methods:
1) Calibration on voluntary subjects:
A table or curve is then input into the device, that is, the software of the device, which makes it possible to determine at any measured Omega the corresponding oxygen saturation (Severinghaus/San Francisco: Pulse Oximetry, Springer Verlag, 1986).
2) Another method comprises photometricaly measuring the pulsatile arterial blood in an artificial construct instead of in a living tissue. For example, an artificial finger is made of a red casting resin. A hole is bored into the transplant material into which a shaft is introduced, onto the end of which a slit is sawed. In this slit a red filter disc is wedged. When this test finger is introduced into a pulse oximetry finger sensor and the shaft is rotated, transmission fluctuations are produced as a result of the angular dependent change of the color-dye layer thickness, which can imitate a tissue. As described, depending on the colored dye concentration in the filter disc, oxygen saturation values from 50 to 100% can be imitated. A. J. Munley, A. Shaw, M. J. Sik in The Lancet, May 13, 1989. In comparison to an actual finger, no changes occur in the intermediate effective light path between the light transmitter and light receiver, since the finger remains unmoved. This system is very artificial. Often there remains the question of how the test finger itself is to be calibrated.
Because the physiological and/or pathologic oxygen saturation in unborn fetuses can be less than 10%, and such low oxygen-saturation values are not reconcilable with life after birth, there is a requirement for a completely new calibration concept. An essential fundamental principle of this calibration concept must be to find a tissue or, as the case may be, a tissue model, in which the arterial oxygen saturation over the entire range from 100% down to (close to) 0% can be imitated, without any concern that the lack of oxygen saturation affects the validity of the model.

Method of validating and/or calibrating devices used for carrying out photometry of living tissues and a device for implementing said method


The Present Disclosure is a connector comprising a connector main body, terminals mounted in the connector main body, and a reinforcing main fitting mounted in the connector main body. The connector main body includes a mating guide portion formed on both longitudinal ends, the mating guide portion mating with an opposing mating guide portion formed on both longitudinal ends of the opposing connector main body of an opposing connector. The reinforcing metal fitting includes a pair of left and right contact arm portions, and a pair of left and right side guide portions disposed in the mating guide portions. The side guide portions guide the opposing mating guide portions, and the contact arm portions establishing contact with the opposing reinforcing metal fitting mounted in the opposing connector main body when the connector main body is mated with the opposing connector main body.

The Present Disclosure relates, generally, to a connector.
Conventional board-to-board connectors are typically used to electrically connect a pair of parallel circuit boards. These connectors are mounted on the surfaces of the pair of circuit boards facing each other, and then mated to establish an electrical connection. The reinforcing metal fittings have been proposed which are mounted on both ends to function as locking members for keeping the two connectors mated. An example of this type of connector is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,408,931, the content of which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety.
FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of a conventional connector and reinforcing fitting. Referring to FIG. 7, 811 is a first housing for a first connector mounted on a first circuit board (not shown), and 911 is a second housing for a second connector mounted on a second circuit board (not shown). A plurality of first terminals (not shown) are provided in the first housing 811, and a plurality of second terminals (not shown) are provided in the second housing 911. When the first connector and the second connector are mated, the opposing first and second terminals make contact with each other, and an electrical connection is established between the first circuit board and the second circuit board.
The first housing 811 includes a pair of side wall portions 814 extending in the longitudinal direction, and a pair of mating guide portions 821 connected to both ends of the side wall portion 814 in the longitudinal direction. A mating recessed portion 822 is formed in each of the mating guide portions 821. Also, a plurality of first terminals 861 is mounted on the side wall portion 814, and a first reinforcing metal fitting 851 is attached to the mating guide portions 821. The second housing 911 also includes a pair of mating protruding portions 922 formed on both ends in the longitudinal direction. A plurality of second terminals 961 is mounted on the second housing 911, and a second reinforcing metal fitting 951 is attached to the mating protruding portions 922.
When the first connector and the second connector are mated, the corresponding first terminals 861 and second terminals 961 come into contact with each other. In this way, an electrical connection is established between the first circuit board and the second circuit board. Also, the mating protruding portions 922 are inserted into the mating recessed portion 822 of the mating guide portion 821. Then, an engaging protrusion 858 on the first reinforcing metal fitting 851 formed so as to protrude into the mating recessed portion 822 engages a side portion of the second reinforcing metal fitting 951. In this way, the first connector and the second connector are locked, and remain mated.
However, the first housing 811 or second housing 911 in conventional connectors is sometimes damaged or broken during the mating operation. When a first connector mounted on a first circuit board is mated with a second connector mounted on a second circuit board, the operator may not be able to see the mating surface of the first housing 811 and the mating surface of the second housing 911 due to the operating conditions, and may have to fumble about before performing the mating operation. The operator may having difficulty seeing the mating surface of the first housing 811 and the mating surface of the second housing 911 because newer board-to-board connectors have become more compact and have a lower profile. In this case, the operator may adjust the position of the second housing 911 relative to the first housing 811 while sliding the mating surface of the second housing 911 along the mating surface of the first housing 811 before inserting the mating protruding portion 922 of the second housing 911 into the mating recessed portion 822 of the first housing 811.
Sometimes, when the alignment of the first housing 811 and the second housing 911 is incomplete, force may be applied to the first housing 811 and the second housing 911 in the mating direction. In this case, a portion of the mating surface of the first housing 811 or a portion of the mating surface of the second housing 911 may sustain a large amount of force and become damaged or broken. Specifically, because the mating guide portions 821 formed on both ends of the first housing 811 in the longitudinal direction are relatively thin, they are easily broken when the end portions of the second housing 911 in the longitudinal direction strike them at an oblique angle.
Connecting the first reinforcing metal fitting 851 and the second reinforcing metal fitting 951 to the power lines of the first circuit board and the second circuit board, and using the first reinforcing metal fitting 851 and the second reinforcing metal fitting 951 as the electrical circuit connecting components has been considered, but the engaging protrusion 858 on the first reinforcing metal fitting 851 is not sufficiently flexible. When the electronic device in which the first circuit board and the second circuit board are mounted is dropped or subjected to an external force, the resulting vibrations and impacts may cause a temporary disruption in the electrical connection between the first reinforcing metal fitting 851 and the second reinforcing metal fitting 951, also known as a power flicker.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


The present invention provides for oxygen scavenging materials and uses thereof for reducing oxygen content in an air cavity of a mounted tire, such as to reduce oxidation of a tire. The oxygen scavenging material can include a metal or metal-based material, an antioxidant, or microorganism. In one example, the oxygen scavenging material may be situated or secured within a tire cavity or secured to the tire rim of a wheel prior to mounting of the tire on the rim. Accordingly, the tire is mounted on the tire rim to define an air cavity with the oxygen scavenging material being located therein. The air cavity is be filled with air comprising oxygen to a desired internal air pressure with the oxygen scavenging material being provided in an amount sufficient for reducing oxygen content in the air cavity, such as to reduce oxidation of the tire thereby increasing the lifespan thereof.

The oxidation of tires typically results in a reduced lifespan of the tire. The underinflation of tires also reduces tire lifespan and is the source of other detrimental effects such as reduced rolling resistance and irregular wear. Therefore, it is important to improve the endurance of tires in relation to tire pressure retention and to the oxidizing processes of the rubber compositions and the metallic or textile reinforcement thereof.
One known method of reducing oxidation phenomena has involved using a layer of butyl rubber, which is substantially impermeable to oxygen, that is applied to the inside wall of the tire. This use restricts the amount of oxygen coming from the tire inflation air that gets to zones of the tire that are particularly sensitive to oxidation. Unfortunately, butyl rubber is not totally impermeable and the flow of oxygen into the body of the tire, though reduced, produces undesirable oxidation phenomena over the long term as well as underinflation.
Another way to avoid oxidation problems is to trap the oxygen chemically by the accelerated thermal oxidation of a rubber composition that acts as a buffer, located between a main source of oxygen and the zone to be protected against oxidation phenomena. For example, such a buffer composition is located between the inside face of the tire liner, composed of butyl rubber, and the carcass ply to reduce the amount of oxygen that comes into contact with the carcass ply from the inflation air. Unfortunately, the use of these buffer compositions is believed to result in oxidation of the rubber in that zone. It also does not impact the loss in inflation pressure due to oxygen absorption by the tire.
Lastly, it is known to use nitrogen gas and propellants including gas-generating agents, in place of air, to fill the air cavities of mounted tires, i.e. tires already situated on the tire rim. However, these uses require either a nitrogen source and/or after market canisters including the nitrogen or gas-generating agents.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved method of reducing oxygen content in air cavities of mounted tires to increase the lifespan of the tire, such as by reducing the oxidation of the tire and increasing tire pressure retention.

Oxygen scavenging material and use thereof for reducing oxygen content in air cavities of mounted tires


A recoil force mitigating device for cooperating with a firearm to mitigate recoil forces imparting undesirable forces to mounted firearm accessories. The recoil force mitigating device includes a recoil rail assembly having a first rail for mounting to the firearm and a slideable second rail for mounting accessories. A recoil force mitigating means is positioned between the first and second rails to mitigate transfer of forces, such as recoil forces, from the first rail to the second rail.

Modern firearms, including those employed in military and law enforcement applications, often include various accessories to assist the shooter. Such devices include costly and mechanically precise instruments including precision optics and electronics, hereinafter referred to as "electro-optic devices". Electro-optic devices may be mounted directly to the firearm or indirectly on a mount associated with the firearm. Conventional mounting means include securing accessories to the firearm with a Picatinny rail system. Electro-optic devices include, but are not limited to, day scopes and night vision devices, infrared views, cameras and illuminators. While the shock mitigating devices as described herein are particularly beneficial for electro-optic devices, beneficial mitigation can be achieved for protecting any device, the firearm, and/or the shooter.
Under firing conditions, devices, particularly electro-optic devices, can sustain damage in many ways. One source of damage is from recoil forces (often called kickback or simply kick) which are the backward momentum of a gun when it is discharged. In most small arms, the momentum is transferred to the ground through the body of the shooter, while in heavier guns, such as mounted machine guns, the momentum is transferred to the ground through its mount. Under firing conditions, electro-optics can be damaged in a number of ways. Recoil forces can cause the body of a day scope to flex, resulting in shifting of optical lenses and reticles. With regard to night vision, laser and white light devices, the precision circuitry of electro-optics can be damaged by the shock of firing forces. The shock mitigating device according to the present invention is directed to mitigating such recoil forces on a firearm to prevent damage to electro-optic devices.

Recoil force mitigating device for firearms


A magnetic disc apparatus has a rocking type actuator driven in a rocking motion by the driving force of a VCM (voice coil motor). Two flexible bending members fixed to a rotor move in synchronization with the driving of the rocking type actuator. The respective flexible bending members are attached to two FPC (Flexible printed circuit sheet) fixing portions provided on the outer wall of the rotor and radially arranged with respect to the driving center of the rocking type actuator so as to have the bending portions bent in directions opposite to each other. The reaction forces of the flexible printed circuit sheets are then canceled out with respect to each other at all times, and hardly affect the driving of the actuator. Therefore, reserve power may be given to the VCM (voice coil motor) while an actuator having a favorable follow-up characteristic with respect to data tracks can be obtained.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a magnetic disc apparatus, and more particularly to a flexible printed circuit sheet employed for transmission of electrical signals between a rocking type actuator of the magnetic disc apparatus and external electrical circuits.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventionally, in a magnetic disc apparatus as referred to above, since flexibility is required for effecting electrical wirings to a magnetic head 3' (FIG. 4.) subjected to rocking driving together with a rocking type actuator 2-1' and a voice coil motor (referred to as a VCM hereinafter) 2-4', etc., a flexible printed circuit sheet (referred to as FPC hereinafter) 1-1' has been employed as shown, for example, in a known magnetic disc apparatus of FIG. 4. In the known arrangement of FIG. 4, a flexible bending portion 1-2', subjected to a bending motion as the rocking type actuator 2-1' is driven, is branched from an apparatus fixing portion 1-3' folded back at right angles, and is fixed, in the bent state, to an FPC fixing portion 2-3b' provided on the outer wall of a rotor 2-3a', and thus repeatedly bent and extended following driving of the rocking type actuator 2-1' as shown in FIG. 5, in which acting directions of reaction forces are represented by numeral 5', and driving forces by numeral 6'. In the above case, the FPC fixing portion 2-3b' has a shape making a certain angle so that it may not contact other members during driving of the flexible bending portion 1-2', while the flexible bending portion 1-2' is also limited to a length so that it will not contact other members.
In the conventional construction as described above, however, a reaction force in one direction due to a restoring force of the flexible bending portion 1-2' is applied at all times to the FPC fixing portion 2-3b' and the rotor 2-3a', i.e. to the rocking type actuator 2-1'. Such a reaction force not only results in a loss of torque in the VCM 2-4', but adverse affects such as an offset or the like may result during tracing of the data track. Therefore, the conventional practices for eliminating such disadvantages have been such that the length of the flexible bending portion 1-2' is increased as far as possible, and its width is reduced in order to minimize the reaction force, while the bending radius thereof is set to be as large as possible, and moreover, the flexible bending portion 1-2' is attached so that the reaction force is directed in a direction perpendicular to the driving direction of the rocking type actuator 2-1'. However, the practices as described above do not necessarily provide solutions to the problem, due to limitations in the reduction of size and the configuration of the apparatus, and accordingly it becomes necessary to provide a method generally applicable to any type of apparatus. Meanwhile, in order to realize a thin type of drive, it becomes necessary to reduce the width of the flexible bending portion 1-2', thus requiring a narrowing of the pattern intervals, but at the present stage, it is difficult to narrow the intervals more than a certain level in order to satisfy the strength, performance and manufacturing limits, etc. Furthermore, there is another defect in that, for reducing intervals between patterns, noises between the head line and the VCM line are undesirably carried by the signals from the magnetic head.

Magnetic disc apparatus having two flexible bending members of an FPC between a fixing portion and a rocking actuator bent in opposite directions

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a supporting member that supports a target transported from the upstream side; a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid toward the target supported by the supporting member; a supporting mechanism that supports the supporting member; and a heating device that heats the supporting member, in which the supporting mechanism supports the supporting member so as to allow the supporting member to be thermally expanded in the direction parallel to a supporting surface of the supporting member, which is a surface that supports the target.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting apparatus such as ink jet printer.
2. Related Art
In general, an ink jet printer (hereinafter, referred to as a "printer") is widely known as a liquid ejecting apparatus which ejects liquid to a target (for example, JP-A-2006-150723). The printer described in JP-A-2006-150723 includes a platen (supporting member) for supporting an elongated printing medium (target) and a printhead (liquid ejecting head) for ejecting ink (liquid) to the printing medium supported by the platen.
Then, in a state in which the recording medium is transported onto the platen from upstream side in the direction of transport of the recording medium and is stopped temporarily, the printer in JP-A-2006-150723 performs a printing job by ejecting ink from a printhead on the recording medium and, after having finished the printing job, transports the recording medium on the platen to the downstream side.
In the printer disclosed in JP-A-2006-150723, the recording medium supported on the platen is heated by a heating unit (heating device) via the platen in order to enhance the fixing ability of ink dropped on the recording medium during the printing job. Therefore, when the platen is fixed completely by screws at a plurality of positions, the platen is heated and is thermally expanded in the horizontal direction, and hence there arises a problem such that a surface of the platen which supports the recording medium is deformed and becomes wavy between the screws.


Disclosed is serial communication control system including: a first microcomputer; and a second microcomputer connected to the first microcomputer through a serial line, wherein the second microcomputer includes an R/B signal sending section to send one of a READY signal and a BUSY signal, the first microcomputer includes an R/B signal receiving section to receive the signal, and a first sending section to send first serial data to the second microcomputer when the R/B signal receiving section receives the READY signal, the second microcomputer includes a first receiving section to receive the first serial data, and a second sending section to send second serial data after the receiving operation of the first serial data by the first receiving section is completed and the R/B signal sending section thereafter sends the BUSY signal, and the first microcomputer includes a second receiving section to receive the second serial data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a serial communication control system.
2. Description of Related Art
There is known a disk reproducing device which controls communication between two microcomputers incorporated in the disk reproducing device using a clock signal (e.g., Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2003-187526, patent document 1, herein after). There is also known a serial control device which controls serial communication for inputting and outputting data into and from a CPU (Central Processing Unit) by using a clock signal, and which generates an interruption signal so that interruption of data which requires fast processing can be carried out (e.g., Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. H7-319841, patent document 2, herein after).
There is also known a serial control device in which UART (asynchronous type serial) is used in serial communication for sending and receiving data to and from a microcomputer, and it is determined whether data sent from a microcomputer is received by a the other party based on whether a receiving operation-completion signal sent from the other party is received (e.g., Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2004-139319, patent document 3, herein after).
However, if the serial control is performed using the clock signal in the serial communication as in the patent documents 1 and 2, the control becomes complicated and costs are increased.
Further, in the patent document 3, it is determined whether sent data is received by a third party based on a receiving operation-completion signal sent from the third party. However, when the receiving operation-completion signal is not received from the third party, it is only possible to again send the data, and it is not possible to determine whether the third party is in a state where the third party can receive data, and this is not efficient.