Analysis of a group of proteomic samples is facilitated. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, ion mass spectrometry data is collected for a group of samples. For each sample, at least one grouping of ions is identified and used to generate another estimated grouping of ions relating to the sample. Using these groupings, characteristics of the sample are detected.

The characterization of material at the molecular and atomic level has been important to the advancement of a multitude of applications, scientific and otherwise. For example, identifying the composition of a variety of structures has been important for developing new technologies, developing new medical treatments and for learning more about the world around us.
Mass spectrometry is one approach to characterizing material, with the mass of one or more components in the material used in identifying the composition of the material and/or the quantity of a particular component in the material. In this regard, mass spectrometry has been used to identify materials, quantify known materials and to provide information about the structure, composition and properties of a variety of structures such as molecules.
Generally, mass spectrometry works by identifying the mass of different components in a material (e.g., of different molecules in a compound) as a function of the mass-to-charge ratio of ions of the component. A variety of approaches to mass spectrometry have evolved over the years, the use of which has become particularly extensive in organic applications.
One approach to mass spectrometry is matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization, or "MALDI." In MALDI mass spectrometry, a laser is used to impart energy to a sample by directing high energy photons to the sample embedded in a matrix. The energy from the photons facilitates the release of ions from the sample. The released ions are in turn detected and used along with a time-of-flight of the ions (i.e., the time from which the laser is activated until the ions are detected) to determine the composition of the sample.
Another approach to mass spectrometry is electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry. Charged liquid droplets are formed from a sample, and ions are desolvated or desorbed from the charged liquid droplets. These ions are directed to a detector where they are detected and used to characterize the sample.
Ions detected in mass spectrometry approaches are generally plotted to a visible graph, which depicts peaks related to the quantity of ions received at a particular time. The peaks can then be used to identify components in the sample, thereby facilitating the identification of the type and quantity of material in the sample. For example, by identifying and analyzing a C12 (carbon) peak, the carbon content (e.g., C+) of the sample can be identified. By identifying the type and quantity of molecules in a sample, the sample is readily quantified.
While mass spectrometry has been useful, it is often challenging to accurately and efficiently identify samples, particularly those having a complex variety of materials. For instance, in many applications, multiple plotted peaks are located in a cluster, making it challenging to distinguish the peaks. In addition, data for a particular peak is sometimes spread out over a small range, making it challenging to identify the precise location of the peak (and thus challenging to identify the type of material to which the peak corresponds). Furthermore, analysis of spectra generated using mass spectrometry is somewhat subjective, leading to potential human error. Such analysis can also be time consuming and is generally not useful for analyzing a multitude of samples over a short period of time. These challenges have inhibited the implementation and usefulness of mass spectrometry for a variety of applications.

Proteomic sample analysis and systems therefor

The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University


A data processor has at least one output terminal which a user of the data processor can vary the output impedance thereof depending upon the application environment of the data processor. A first output buffer of an output buffer stage has a predetermined output impedance and is coupled between an input of the stage and the output terminal. The first output buffer provides a first output terminal impedance. A second output buffer having a lower output impedance than the first output buffer may be selectively coupled in parallel to the first output buffer to reduce the output impedance of the output terminal. The coupling of the output buffers is controlled by a user of the data processor who provides a control input for selecting one of a plurality of predetermined output terminal impedance values.

Data processors are frequently used in two types of operating applications. A first operating application is a use in a high-performance, zero-wait state system. In a high-performance system, output buffers which have a very fast slew rate are used at output terminals. In a printed circuit board to which data processors are commonly connected, bus lines are terminated to a reference potential to control conventional ringing effects. High-performance terminated lines require interfacing with an output buffer having a low output impedance, such as ten ohms or less. Output buffers having such low impedance require transistors with large physical dimensions in order to achieve proper logic levels. A terminated line has the disadvantages of additional components and circuit area and increased power consumption. A second operating application is a use in a mid-performance, lower cost system. In the mid-performance system, output buffers with slower slew rates may be implemented and may be used with non-terminated lines on a printed circuit board. An output buffer for a non-terminated line typically requires a higher impedance to avoid conventional line ringing. Data processors which use output buffers for non-terminated line applications are less costly to implement in part because transistors having smaller dimensions may be used.
Data processors have typically tried to satisfy both types of output impedance requirements in order to be satisfactory for either high-performance or mid-performance applications. In order to be applicable for both terminated line and non-terminated line applications, a data processor having an output driver circuit with a fixed output terminal impedance somewhere between low and high impedance application values has been implemented. Examples of such data processors are the commercially available MC68020 and the MC68030 data processors offered by Motorola Inc..

Data processor having an output terminal with selectable output impedances


An osteochondral scaffold has a chondrogenic spiral scaffold in one end of an outer shell made of sintered microspheres, and an osteogenic spiral scaffold in the other end of the outer shell. Each spiral scaffold has nanofibers of a composition selected to promote attachment and proliferation of the desired types of cells. The nanofibers for the chondrogenic spiral scaffold have a different composition than the nanofibers for the osteogenic spiral scaffold. The nanofibers of each spiral scaffold are aligned to orient the attached cells so as to recreate the structure of the native tissue.

Articular cartilage covers the end of all diarthroidal joints, allowing the bones to slide against each other without actually coming into contact with each other. Due to the lack of vascularity above the subchondral region, healing of damaged cartilage is very rare. Thus, the body generally cannot heal the articular cartilage on its own and the eventual degradation of the tissue leads to painful osteoarthritis and limited movement.
Current treatments for osteoarthritis include joint replacement, microfracturing to release mesenchymal stem cells, autograft procedures such as mosaicplasty or osteochondral autografts that require a donor site and additionally surgery, autologous chondrocyte implantation under the periosteal flap, and scaffold implantation. Unfortunately, although there are numerous treatments, none have been marked as a gold standard due to each one having its own drawbacks, especially when it comes to reproducing the exact physiological structure of articular cartilage capable of integrating with the surrounding tissue and bone.
Though the thickness of the articular cartilage covering the surface of a joint is at most 3 mm, cartilage itself has a fairly complex structure. The cartilage includes living cells (e.g., chondrocytes) and extracellular material (ECM) such as collagen, glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), and proteoglycans. The upper (superficial) zone of the cartilage layer has a higher concentration of collagen and lower concentration of GAGs attached to proteoglycans, thus providing it with the highest density of cells (e.g., chondrocytes) within the cartilage layer, as well as the highest water content. Cells are oriented in a ellipsoidal shape parallel to the subchondral surface (i.e., the surface of the underlying bone that supports the cartilage) where the collagen fibrils and proteoglycans are also arranged parallel to each other, providing strong shear resistance and lubrication. The transitional zone, which is between the superficial zone and middle (radial) zone, has a lower cell density and larger collagen nanofibers oriented in a random fashion. Lastly, the radial zone has cells that are oriented in a perpendicular fashion to the subchondral surface, and has the largest-diameter collagen fibrils with the highest concentration of proteoglycans and the lowest cell density of the three zones. The greater amount of proteoglycan and orientation of the collagen fibrils along with the cellular orientation provides compressive strength and a medium for transferring compressive load to the subchondral bone.
Damage to the cartilage layer may also involve damage to the underlying subchondral bone. Bone tissue includes progenitor cells that may be recruited to regenerate both bone and cartilage. However, critical defects are not able to be healed by the bone's natural regenerative processes. When this occurs, there is a need for a bone graft or substitute to aid in the healing. Autografts are generally considered to be the gold standard in most tissue engineering applications due to their excellent compatibility with the host, and their osteoconductivity, osteoinductivity, and osteogenicity. But the use of autografts is plagued by supply issues and donor site morbidity issues. Allografts, despite being osteoconductive and fairly abundant in supply, can be associated with disease transmissions and require processing, preservation, and sterilization steps that decrease the healing properties of the allograft. Synthetic materials, although they are usually only osteoconductive, are readily available and easy to modify in terms of structure, mechanical strength, topology, and efficacy. Further, the regenerated bone and cartilage must be integrated to prevent delamination due to the transfer of kinetic energy from the cartilage to the bone as the joint is moved.
When there is a partial depth defect (i.e., the defect does not penetrate through the cartilage layer), progenitor cells from the bone marrow cannot be recruited to form new cartilage, thus repair will be extremely limited without the bone marrow mesenchymal cells. But when there is a full thickness defect (i.e., an osteochondral defect), even though the mesenchymal stem cells are released, there is no structure on which the cells can attach, proliferate, and differentiate. In such a situation, the stem cells become fibrocartilage, which is a poor substitute for articular cartilage due to its lack of mechanical strength and lubrication properties. Thus, a bone scaffold should be included as part of the osteochondral graft for full integration of the hyaline cartilage. Through the use of osteochondral grafts, the cartilage graft can be anchored securely to the substrate below through regeneration of the bone. Synthetic osteochondral implants may also be used to promote simultaneous integration of the bone and cartilage tissue at the implant site.

Biphasic osteochondral scaffold for reconstruction of articular cartilage

THE TRUSTEES OF THE STEVENS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY


A process for the preparation of Irbesartan of formula (I)

The chemical name of Irbesartan is 2-Butyl-3-[[2′-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl]methyl]-1,3-diazaspiro[4,4]non-1-en-4-one and formula is C25H28N6O and molecular weight is 428.53. The current pharmaceutical product containing this drug is being sold by Sanofi Synthelabo using the tradename AVAPRO, in the form of tablets. Irbesartan is useful in the treatment of diabetic nefropathy, heart failure therapy and hypertension. Irbesartan is angiotension II type I (AII1)-receptor antagonist. Angiotension II is the principal pressor agent of the rennin-angiotension system and also stimulates aldosterone synthesis and secretion by adrenal cortex, cardiac contraction, renal resorption of sodium, activity of the sympathetic nervous system and smooth muscle cell growth. Irbesartan blocks the vasoconstrictor and aldosterone-secreting effects of angiotension II by selectively binding to the AT1 angiotension II receptor.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,270,317 and 5,559,233 describes a process for the preparation of N-substituted heterocyclic derivatives which involves reacting a heterocyclic compound of the formula
with a (biphenyl-4-yl)methyl derivative of the formula
wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and t, z and Hal have the meanings given in said U.S. Pat. No. 5,270,317, in the presence of an inert solvent such as DMF, DMSO or THF, with a basic reagent, for example KOH, a metal alcoholate, a metal hydride, calcium carbonate or triethylamine. The products of the reaction were purified by chromatography.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,352,788, and 5,559,233, and WO 91/14679 also describe identical alkylation of the nitrogen atom of the heterocyclic compound with the halo-biphenyl compound using the same inert solvent and the same basic reagents.
Also Canadian Patent No. 2050769 describes the alkylation of the nitrogen atom of the heterocycle of the formula
with a compound of the formula
wherein X, R1, Z1 and Z6 have the meanings given therein, in the presence of N,N-dimethylformamide and a basic reagent, such as alkali metal hydrides for example sodium or potassium hydride.
All of the above identified patents describe alkylation in solvents, such as N,N-dimethylformamide or DMSO, etc. in the presence of a basic reagent, for example, a metal hydride or a metal alcoholate etc. The strong bases, such as metal hydride or a metal alcoholate require anhydrous reaction conditions. Since N,N-dimethylformamide is used as a solvent, its removal requires high temperature concentration by distillation, which can result in degradation of the final product. The product intermediate is also purified by chromatography which is commercially not feasible and cumbersome on large scale.
Another process given in Canadian Patent No. 2050769 provides synthetic scheme as herein given below.

This process comprises the steps of protecting carboxylic group present on cyclopentane ring which is deprotected in consecutive step by vigourous hydrogenation condition in autoclave which is operationally difficult at a large scale.
US Patent No. 2004242894 also discloses the process of preparation of Irbesartan from 4-bromomethyl biphenyl 2′-(1H-tetrazol (2-triphenylmethyl) 5-yl) and Ethyl ester of 1-Valeramido cyclopentanecarboxylic acid in toluene in presence of base and PTC, and then hydrolyzing the protecting group. However this requires chromatographic purification.
This patent also discloses the process of preparation of tetrazolyl protected Irbesartan using 2,6 lutidine and oxalylchloride in toluene. However in this process the yield is as low as 30%.
US Patent No. 2004192713 discloses the process of preparation of Irbesartan by condensing the two intermediates via Suzuki coupling reaction. The reaction scheme is as given herein below.

However, this process has several disadvantages such as use of the reagents like butyl lithium and triisobutyl borate at low temp such as −20 to −30° C. under Argon atmosphere condition which is difficult to maintain at commercial scale.
WO2005113518 discloses the process of preparation of Irbesartan by condensing n-pentanoyl cycloleucine (V) with 2-(4-aminomethyl phenyl) benzonitrile (VI) using dicyclocarbodiimide (DCC) and 1-hydroxy benzotriazole as catalyst to give an open chain intermediate of formula (VIII) which is then cyclized in the presence of an acid, preferably trifluoro acetic acid to give cyano derivative of formula (VII) and which in turn is converted to Irbesartan by treating it with tributyl tin chloride and sodium azide.

In this application further describes another process comprising the steps of reacting 2-butyl-1,3-diazaspiro[4,4]non-1-en-4-one monohydrochloride (A) with 4-bromobenzyl bromide (B) in presence of base and solvent to give 3-[4-bromobenzyl]-2-butyl-1,3-diazaspiro[4,4]non-1-en-4-one (C) which is condensed with 2-[2′-(triphenylmethyl-2′H-tetrazol-5′-yl)phenyl boronic acid in the presence of tetrakis triphenyl phosphine palladium and base to give Irbesartan (I).
However these processes suffer with several disadvantages such as it uses trifluoroacetic acid for the cyclization step which is highly corrosive material. The process requires an additional step of activation by DCC. This step not only increases number of steps but also create problem in handling DCC at an industrial scale as it is highly prone to hazard which makes the process least preferred on a large scale production of Irbesartan. Further it uses phenyl boronic acid derivative and triphenyl phosphine complex which are harmful for the skin and eye tissue and also harmful for respiratory system. Tetrakis triphenyl phosphine palladium is also a costly material which increases overall cost for the production of Irbesartan. Moreover the yield is as low as 22%.
All the above patents/applications are incorporated herein as reference.
In summary, prior art relating to the process for the preparation of Irbesartan suffers with several drawbacks such as                i) It requires chromatographic purification of intermediates at various stages.        ii) It requires specific autoclave conditions for a deprotection of protecting group.        iii) It requires maintaining low temperature conditions such as −30° C. and requires special handling care and air and moisture tight condition with the reagents such as butyl lithium and triisobutyl borate.        iv) It uses hazardous and highly corrosive reagents.        v) It suffers low yield problem.        vi) All the process is having more number of reaction steps.
It is therefore, a need to develop a process which not only overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art but also economical, operationally simple and industrially applicable. Present inventors have directed their research work towards developing a process for the preparation of Irbesartan which is devoid of the above disadvantages.

Abstract: using the steps of:                (i) reacting 4′ aminomethyl-2-cyano biphenyl of formula (VI) with 1-veleramido cyclopentane carboxylic acid of formula (V)

Abstract: in an organic solvent and in the presence of an acid, without activating the —COOH group of compound of formula (V) to give 1-(2′cyanobiphenyl-4-yl-methylaminocarbonyl)-1-pentanoylamino cyclopentane of formula (VII).

Abstract: converting the compound of formula (VII) obtained in step (i) to Irbesartan of formula (I) by reacting the compound of the formula (VII) with tributyl tin azide in o-xylene to give Irbesartan of formula (I).


A method of culturing human pluripotent stem cells to produce pancreatic lineage, the method comprising the steps of (a) culturing the stem cells in the presence of a chemically defined medium comprising an effective amount of FGF, Activin A, and BMP; (b) culturing the cells from step (a) in the presence of a chemically defined medium comprising an effective amount of insulin, transferrin, and selenium (ITS), and FGF; (c) culturing the cells from step (b) in the presence of a chemically defined medium comprising an effective amount of insulin, transferrin, and selenium (ITS), and Noggin-Nicotinamide-Retinoic acid; and (d) culturing the cells from step (c) in the presence of a serum free chemically defined medium (ITSFINE and Noggin) comprising an effective amount of ITS, FGF7, islet neogenesis associated peptide (INGAP), nicotinamide, and Exendin-4, wherein pancreatic lineage cells are produced, wherein the pancreatic lineage cells are insulin+ cells.

Type I diabetes is an autoimmune disease of humans caused by destruction of pancreatic islet β cells. Transplantations of whole pancreas or isolated islet cells are effective treatments for Type I diabetes to restore insulin independence, when combined with immunosuppressive therapy. Successful transplantation of isolated islets from human cadaver donors is a proof-in-principle that a cell-based therapy for human diabetes can be successful. However, the lack of available and variable quality of organs and islet cells has restricted this therapy to very few patients. The amount of islet cells which can be harvested from human cadavers is extremely limited. Therefore, technologies capable of producing significant quantities of cells of the pancreatic lineage are highly desirable.
Stem cells are cells that are capable of differentiating into many cell types. Embryonic stem cells are derived from embryos and are potentially capable of differentiation into all of the differentiated cell types of a mature body. Certain types of stem cells are "pluripotent," which refers to their capability of differentiating into many cell types. One type of pluripotent stem cell is the human embryonic stem cell (hESC), which is derived from a human embryonic source. Human embryonic stem cells are capable of indefinite proliferation in culture, and therefore, are an invaluable resource for supplying cells and tissues to repair failing or defective human tissues in vivo.
Similarly, induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, which may be derived from non-embryonic sources, can proliferate without limit and differentiate into each of the three embryonic germ layers. It is understood that iPS cells behave in culture essentially the same as ESCs. Human iPS cells and ES cells express one or more pluripotent cell-specific markers, such as Oct-4, SSEA-3, SSEA-4, Tra 1-60, Tra 1-81, and Nanog (Yu, et al. Science, Vol. 318. No. 5858, pp. 1917-1920 (2007)). Also, recent findings of Chan, suggest that expression of Tra 1-60, DNMT3B, and REX1 can be used to positively identify fully reprogrammed human iPS cells, whereas alkaline phosphatase, SSEA-4, GDF3, hTERT, and NANOG are insufficient as markers of fully reprogrammed human iPS cells. (Chan, et al., Nat. Biotech. 27:1033-1037 (2009)). Subsequent references herein to hESCs and the like are intended to apply with equal force to iPS cells.
One of most significant features of hESCs is their ability to self-renew: hESCs can proliferate into multiple progeny, each having the full potential of its immediate ancestor. In other words, the progeny are pluripotent and have all the developmental and proliferative capacity of the parental cell. Self-renewal appears mutually exclusive with differentiation, as only undifferentiated hESCs are capable of indefinite self-renewal. Upon commitment toward any cell lineage, the attribute of perpetual self-renewal is lost. Therefore, to avoid uncontrolled differentiation of hESCs, care must be taken to maintain the cells in an undifferentiated state.
Previously, we have discovered several techniques for culturing hESCs and iPS cells into cells of the pancreatic lineage, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,247,229 and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0264209. It has been shown in these two disclosures that reproducible culture methods utilizing defined components can promote islet cell differentiation from human pluripotent stem cells. Specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 8,247,229 describes a 3-stage protocol to differentiate hESCs and hiPSCs into cells that adopt pancreatic fates. This protocol is based on BMP4 treatment of undifferentiated cells during Stage 1, formation of embryoid bodies (EB) during Stage 2, and further differentiation during Stage 3. While the resulting cells were PDX1+Insulin+, the amount of insulin produced is relatively limited. Also, the culture conditions of the protocol were not defined as serum and conditioned media were used. On the basis of this protocol, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0264209 further improves the stability of the pancreatic lineage by using TransWell™, typically during the last stage to allow maintenance of a PDX1+Insulin− putative progenitor population in culture and in which the cells are stable in culture without further differentiation for at least 70 days. To promote cell-cell contact and create an islet-like environment, EBs are embedded in Matrigel™ and treated with a cocktail of insulin-transferrin-selenium-FGF7-INGAP-nicotinimide-Exendin-4 (ITSFINE), producing distinct sphere-structured cell clusters ("pancreas-spheres"). The cells in the pancreas-spheres are almost entirely PDX1+, SOX9+, FOXA2+, HNF1β+, and HNF6+ markers characteristic of human pancreatic epithelium. A portion of the cells also express PTF1A, CPA, NGN3, and NKX6.1, which is characteristic of multi-potent pancreatic progenitor cells. Furthermore, some pancreas-spheres exhibit budding/branching structures, reminiscent of normal pancreatic morphological development. Culturing pancreas spheres in medium containing Nicotinamide leads to a significant increase at the end of the culture period in the number of cells that co-stain with PDX1 and insulin/C-peptide, characteristic of normal adult β cells. However the percentage of insulin-positive cells is low, and secretion of human C-peptide into the medium is also low.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,685,730 also discloses a simplified protocol, in which Matrigel™ is used at Stage 2. By using Matrigel™ at this stage, the transition from APS/DE to posterior foregut can be shortened by 7 days. From the end of Stage 2, the simplified protocol follows the same stages of the standard protocol, i.e., culturing cells from Stage 2 for at least another two weeks. While the simplified protocol represents a relatively shorter period of time for culturing, the protocol only produced pancreatic progenitors (PDX1+Insulin−). There is no insulin produced by the cells produced by that protocol.
Although these protocols are highly reproducible, the relatively long culture period amplifies the cost of media and personnel time, and impedes efficient testing of additional growth factors that may advance the protocol. In addition, the longer culture period can promote undesirable deviation from specific directed lineage progression and variability in the results. As such, a shortened and improved protocol is desired. Fortunately, advances in our understanding of extrinsic signaling events controlling the formation of definitive endoderm and regional specification of the pancreas are leading to new methodologies for directed differentiation of stem cells into cells of the pancreatic lineage. Also, subtle differences in media growth factor concentrations, combinations, timing and/or sequence of growth factor introduction, and length of incubation with particular growth factors may induce pluripotent stem cells to differentiate into many different cell lineages. Moreover, the types and concentrations of supporting extracellular matrix components may further affect the differentiation of pluripotent stem cells.

Methods for producing insulin-secreting beta cells from human pluripotent stem cells


A cosmetic or pharmaceutical composition containing an emulsifier comprising an ester of palmitic acid and technical grade triglycerol with the proviso that the monoester content of the ester is from 30% to 50% by weight.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to cosmetic and/or pharmaceutical formulations with increased viscosity and improved stability in storage which are distinguished by a content of selected esters of oligoglycerols with fatty acids as emulsifiers.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Emulsifiers are required for the permanent homogeneous mixing of substances which would otherwise be immiscible with one another. Esters of fatty acids with polyhydric alcohols, for example pentaerythritol, dipentaerythritol, or self-condensation products of glycerol, so-called technical oligoglycerol mixtures, are often used for this purpose in cosmetic and pharmaceutical formulations, for example for the production of cremes and notions. A review of this subject by G. Schuster and H. Pospischil was published in Arztl. Kosmetol., 11, 30-37 (1981).
The use of polyglycerol esters as o/w emulsifiers for cosmetic formulations is described, for example, in J. Soc. Cosmet. Chem. 28, 733-740 (1977) and in Fette, Seifen, Anstrichmittel 88, 101-106 (1986).
In addition, the use of selected polyglycerol fatty acid esters as cosmetic emulsifiers is claimed in DE-A1 40 05 819 and in DE-A1 40 23 593 (BASF). However, in cases where the esters based on unsaturated or saturated fatty acids mentioned in these documents are used, it has been found that the resulting emulsions are not always sufficiently stable in storage and/or are low in viscosity, i.e. have a viscosity which is not sufficiently high, so that problem-free dosing is difficult.
Accordingly, the problem addressed by the present invention was to provide new emulsifiers based on technical oligoglycerol mixtures and fatty acids which would not have any of the disadvantages mentioned above.

Cosmetic and/or pharmaceutical formulations


An information providing device for a vehicle, comprising an in-car device having a display unit for displaying vehicle state information and a first control means for activating the display unit; and an external device having a second control for outputting external information. The display unit has a first display area for displaying predetermined information, and a second display area for displaying other information. The first control implements a first display mode for displaying the vehicle state information and a second display mode for displaying the vehicle state information and the external information. In the second display mode, the first control means activates the display unit so that the external information is displayed in the second display area.

For example, an information providing device for a vehicle, such as an intra-vehicle information system, is disclosed in the following PTL 1. In this information providing device, a portable information device (external device) and a vehicle-mounted multimedia computer (vehicle-mounted device) having a liquid crystal display mounted on a vehicle are connected to each other and can be communicated with each other. Thereby, external information (an audio player, a navigation system and an internet browser) of a vehicle, which is held in the portable information device, can be displayed to a vehicle user through a display (display part) which is included in the vehicle-mounted multimedia computer.

Information providing device for vehicle


A method and system includes digitally linearizing a digital output signal originating from a magnetoresistive sensor by detecting the digital output signal originating from the magnetoresistive sensor. A linearization factor is then correlated to the digital output signal. Then, the digital output signal is modified the linearization factor to linearize the digital output signal.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates in general to a method and system for reducing asymmetry and distortion in an output signal and in particular, to a method and system for reducing asymmetry and distortion in an output signal from a magnetoresistive sensor. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a method and system for linearizing the output of a magnetoresistive sensor in a disk drive system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Magnetoresistive ("MR") sensors responsive to changes in resistivity brought about by the presence of magnetic fields are increasingly being employed as read transducers in magnetic disk drive heads mainly because the change of resistivity in such sensors is independent of disk speed, depending only upon the magnetic flux. A MR head is a magnetoresistive sensor that has a resistivity that is a function of the input flux. As the input flux increases, the resistance in the MR head decreases. The resulting MR resistance curve of the MR head resistivity is very nonlinear, and since the curve contains nonlinearities, the recording channel attached to the MR head will also contain distortions unless these nonlinearities may be compensated for.
One method of linearizing an output signal from a MR head involves utilizing analog circuits to compensate for the nonlinearities. For example, Jove, U.S. Pat. No. 4,706,138, discloses an analog circuit in FIG. 4 thereof for decreasing sensitivity to variations in the MR sensor resistance.
In accordance with an analog method of compensation, an operating point at the center of the most linear portion of the MR resistance curve for the MR head is the operating point usually chosen. The operating point is implemented in an analog circuit to linearize the output for a limited range around the operating point. One problem associated with this method is that component values in the analog circuit will drift with time. As a result, the analog circuit may no longer accurately linearize the output as time passes. Additionally, the MR resistivity curve for a particular MR head will also change over time. Consequently, outputs or different gains will result from changes in an MR head over time.
Furthermore, in a disk drive, many MR heads are normally switched into a single amplifier. Currently, the characteristics of multiple MR heads, i.e., gain, must be carefully matched. In attempting to match various MR heads, problems may occur if the signal sent to the amplifier from a MR head is too small or too large. For example, if the signal is too small, the amplifier may not increase the strength of the signal sufficiently, resulting in data errors. Additionally, too large a signal going into an amplifier will also cause errors in data retrieval. As a result, MR heads must be carefully matched such that all the MR heads in a disk drive have gains which are as close as possible to each other. Consequently, a MR head must often be discarded because its characteristics vary too far to be utilized with other available MR heads.
Therefore, it would be desirable to have a method and system for adaptively linearizing the output from a MR head while eliminating the problems associated with characteristics of components and the MR head itself changing over time.

Method and system for adaptive digital linearization of an output signal from a magnetoresistive head

International Business Machines Corporation


The present invention relates to a circular stapler used for an operation of cutting off and suturing a jejunum, where a structure of the circular stapler is improved to facilitate manipulation thereof and to enhance the potential for success of the operation. The circular stapler comprises: a detachable anvil; a head section coupled to the detachable anvil and having a head section cover; and a cylindrical body which extends longs and of which the top end is coupled to the head section, and a recessed portion is formed in a side surface of the cylindrical body positioned under the head section cover. According to the circular stapler, it is possible to considerably reduce the potential for constricting the small intestine, to reduce the bleeding, which may be generated due to the stapling in a state where the tension is applied, and to reduce a risk that the small intestine is caught by the head section of the circular stapler during the suturing operation.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improved circular stapler, and more specifically, to a circular stapler used for an operation of cutting off and suturing a jejunum, where a structure of a head section is improved to facilitate manipulation thereof and to enhance the potential for success of the operation.
(b) Description of the Related Art
In operations of suturing both cut-off ends, such as esophagus reconstruction after extracting the esophagus, gastrectomy, and small or large intestinal resection, studies and developments of operative methods and instruments for more completely anastomosing or suturing both cut-off ends have been carried out continually.
Specifically, in operations on insides of human bodies, there are many difficulties when anastomosing an end of an esophagus and a jejunum at positions where it is difficult to carry out specific manipulations inside a diaphragm after the above suturing operations, that is, total gastrectomy, or when cutting off a rectum up to a portion close to an anus and then anastomosing the large intestine and the remaining rectum each other. That is, in order to anastomose the esophagus and the jejunum after the total gastrectomy, a major operation of cutting ribs and the diaphragm to enter a chest should have been performed. In a case of operation on the rectum, the anus should have been removed and the large intestine should have been exposed to the abdomen, so that a disorder of receiving excrements should be left.
One of the operative instruments developed to overcome the operative difficulties is an intraluminal stapler, which is used for esophagus to jejunum anastomosis or intestine to intestine anastomosis, or cutting off a specific portion and anastomosing blood vessels each other. The intraluminal staplers are divided into circular staplers and linear staplers. The circular staplers are used mainly for anastomosing esophagus to jejunum in the total gastrectomy or anastomosing the jejuna each other and the linear staplers are used mainly for closing ends of cut intestines. Circular staplers having a diameter of 25 mm, 28 mm, 29 mm, 31 mm, 33 mm, etc. are put on the market.
Such a circular stapler is a product recognized officially by U.S. FDA (Food and Drug Administration), which is used as follows. An anvil is inserted into an upper end of the intestine to be anastomosed, the end of the intestine is tied, a cylindrical body having a head section including staples fixed in a circular shape and a cylindrical blade is inserted into a lower end of the intestine, a side surface of the intestine is pierced by a trocar tip, the trocar tip is coupled and fixed firmly to the anvil, the anvil and the head section come in close contact with each other and are stapled by turning an adjusting screw, and the intestines interposed therebetween are cut off, thereby anastomosing the ends of both intestines. A structure of the conventional circular stapler will be described in more detail with reference to U.S. Pat. No. 5,104,025.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,104,025, registered on Apr 14, 1992, discloses a conventional circular stapler having a detachable anvil. The circular stapler disclosed in FIG. 1 of the U.S. Pat. No. 5,104,025 is the same as the circular stapler 100 of FIG. 5. In FIG. 5, reference numerals, which are different from those of the circular stapler disclosed, in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,104,025, are used to explain the circular stapler 100 of a prior art for convenience. As shown in FIG. 5, the circular stapler 100 roughly comprises an anvil 10 and a cylindrical body 40, and the anvil 10 has a staple support 11 and an anvil shaft 21 and is detachably coupled to the cylindrical body 40. A trocar tip 22 passes through the cylindrical body 40, and a lower portion of the cylindrical body 40 is provided with a handle 50, a trigger 60, a safety 70 and an adjusting screw 80.
Although a method for using the circular stapler disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,104,025 is not illustrated therein, such a circular stapler can be explained to be used hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8.
A method of actually operating on the inside of a human body using the circular stapler is shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C. First, as shown in FIG. 6A, for example, A Rouxen Y method is used for anastomosing the esophagus to the jejunum after the total gastrectomy. At that time, a method of anastomosing an end of the esophagus to a side of the jejunum is used mainly for this operation. That is, the anvil 90 of the circular stapler is inserted into an end of the esophagus E to protrude the anvil shaft 92 outwardly, and then the lower portion is fixed temporarily with a thread. Next, the head section 94 of the circular stapler is inserted into an end of the jejunum J to be connected and the jejunum is bent, and then the trocar 93 is allowed to pierce the jejunum and to approach the anvil shaft 92.
Next, as shown in FIG. 6B, the anvil 90 and the head section 94 are connected by coupling the trocar tip to the anvil shaft 92, and the anvil 90 and the head section 94 become closer to each other by turning the adjusting screw provided at an end of the circular stapler, thereby allowing both to engage with each other. When the anvil 90 and the head section 94 come in close contact with each other, the safety of the circular stapler is released, the handle is grasped, and then the trigger is pressed. When the trigger is pressed, the cylindrical blade and the staples are projected from the head section 94, whereby the intestines between the anvil 90 and the head section 94 of the circular stapler are cut off and the end of the esophagus and the side of the jejunum are connected through the staples.
A state where the jejunum and the esophagus are anastomosed in this way is shown in FIG. 6C. After anastomosing the end of the esophagus E to the side of the jejunum J, the circular stapler is pulled out, and the opened portion of the jejunum J is sutured by stapling the opened portion with the linear stapler 910. As a result of this operation, the end of the esophagus is connected to the side surface of the jejunum to form a shape in which one tube is divided into two tubes, whereby only the portion through which food proceeding along the esophagus pass to proceed toward the lower portion of the jejunum is left opened.
Conventionally, since the portions to be connected of a human body could be easily connected using the above circular stapler to innovatively improve the operative methods, the complex operative processes are simplified very much and leakage from the anastomosed portion or the number of bleeding times are reduced, thereby considerably lowering the complication after operation and the mortality rate during operation. However, the conventional circular stapler causes several severe problems in the esophagus to jejunum anastomosis due to its structural features. These problems will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 7.
(A) through (C) of FIG. 7 conceptually illustrate variation in diameter of the jejunum before and after performing the esophagus E to jejunum J anastomosis using the conventional circular stapler. Here, (A) of FIG. 7 schematically shows the shape of the jejunum before the operation, where point A is a portion which should be pierced by the circular stapler and which should be connected to the center of the esophagus. As shown in (A) of FIG. 7, the jejunum before the operation has almost the same inner diameter, where L1≈L2≈L3.
In this way, by inserting the head section 94 into the end of the jejunum J, piercing the side surface of the jejunum J with the trocar tip 93, and thus connecting the jejunum to the esophagus E, the state shown in (B) of FIG. 7 is obtained. That is, when the circular stapler having a cylinder-shaped head section 94 is inserted into the jejunum J, the circular stapler is tightly fitted to the inside of the jejunum J, and in this state, in order to connect the jejunum to the end of the esophagus E, the jejunum J should be bent at about 180° and a portion to be stapled by the circular stapler should be exposed. At that time, one end of the jejunum into which the circular stapler is inserted holds a circular sectional shape, while the other end of the jejunum through which food should actually pass is drawn due to application of tension. The end of the esophagus E is anastomosed to the jejunum by carrying out the stapling.
As shown in (B) of FIG. 7, when the head section 94 of the circular stapler is connected to the esophagus E, force is applied toward the top end of the head section 94 of the circular stapler and thus the tension on the jejunum is applied upwardly, so that a portion AB is stretched more than a portion A′B′ due to the tension. If the esophagus E is connected to the jejunum J in a state where the portion AB is abnormally stretched more than the portion A′B′ as described above, the state shown in (C) of FIG. 7 is obtained, so that the diameter L1 (length of AA″) of the jejunum to be restored to the original state is too small and may be rather closed. That is, since L1 is still shorter than L2 (length of BB′) and L3 (length of CC′), food passing through the esophagus does not proceed to the left jejunum for digestion, proceeds to the right jejunum, and is stored in the closed portion, it is easy to cause indigestion and the potential for sequela is large even after the operation.
Furthermore, in the anastomosed portion of the esophagus, the tension is applied uniformly on its circular section and the staples are uniformly distributed, but since the tension on the anastomosed portion in the side surfaces of the jejunum is not uniform and the anastomosed portion of the jejunum is stapled in a state where the AC side is more stretched than the AB side, relatively more jejunum tissues are stapled at the AB side. A proper tension is applied to point B. Therefore, the bleeding is much generated at an intermediate position between A and B. The non-uniform tension may constrict the anastomosed portion.
Specifically, the above problem may become severer because in most surgical operations, the operation wounds are invisible and senses of hands is absolutely relied on, and still severer because most surgeons do not consider the above problems as problems particular to the conventional circular staplers, but as their own technical mistakes.
On the other hand, (A) and (B) of FIG. 8 are conceptual diagrams illustrating another problem that may be caused in the operation using the conventional circular stapler. In actual operations, since the surgeons cannot see the shape of anastomosed wounds and handle the circular staplers only relying upon the sense of hands, the jejunum side through which food passes may be too folded and much relaxed, and may have a very large surface area compared with the circumference of the jejunum. As a result, the internal mucosa of the jejunum forming the folds may be interposed between the anvil 90 and the head section 94 and thus may be cut off.
That is, since the jejunum is severely constricted due to the technical mistakes as shown in (A) of FIG. 8 and portions not associated with the anastomosis are interposed between the anvil 90 and the head section 94 of the circular stapler and are cut off to form the shape shown in (B) of FIG. 8, the left side of the jejunum may be closed and thus a re-operation may be necessary.
This state may cause very severe complications. Since the inner diameter of the jejunum side through which food passes is very small, patients have difficulties in swallowing food. Further, since the tension of the anastomosed wound at the side of the jejunum is not uniform, the bleeding may be caused in the anastomosed wound and may be constricted.

Circular surgical stapler with a detachable anvil


The invention provides a container for at least one information carrier, particularly for CDs. Each information carrier has opposed major surfaces substantially defining a plane therebetween, and also has an outer edge which includes perimeter portions of both the major surfaces. The container comprises a first cover portion and a second cover portion rotatable relative to the first cover portion between a closed position and an open position. When the second cover portion is in the closed position, the first and second cover portions define a substantially enclosed information carrier storage volume. At least one information carrier holder is disposed within this storage volume, the holder comprising clamping elements on either side of a slot. The slot is capable of receiving a portion of the edge of the information carrier, so that the clamping elements releasably grip the information carrier along each of its major surfaces. Thus, the information carrier is removable from the slot when the cover portion is in the open portion by applying a force substantially along the plane of the information carrier.

The present invention provides a container for information carriers, and in one embodiment, provides an integrally moldable CD container with a holder which grips the outer edge of the compact disc so that the disc is easily pulled free from the box by applying a force along the plane of the disc.
Known CD storage container generally include first and second cover portions which are hinged together. The first cover portion generally includes a bottom floor and raised lateral walls so as to form a box. The second cover portion is in the form of a lid which lockingly engages the box. Near the center of the box are circularly arranged clamping elements which project a short distance upward from the floor of the box. When these circularly arranged elements extend through a central opening of the CD, they clamp the CD in place, holding the CD roughly parallel to the bottom floor and within the lateral walls of the box. By locking the lid onto the box, the CD can be stored inside the container and protected from the external environment.
When removing the CD from known CD containers, the lid is pivoted open and the CD is grasped along its peripheral edge. To release the CD from the box, the clamping elements within the central opening are forced inward so that the CD can be retracted in a direction substantially perpendicularly to the box floor. Similarly, the CD is inserted into the box by pressing it down over the central clamping elements, perpendicular to both the box floor and the plane of the disc itself. As the inward deformation of the clamping elements during insertion and removal of the CD is substantially parallel to the plane of the CD and the box floor, and as the clamping elements project perpendicularly from the floor, the clamping elements are generally deformed along the plane of the CD. One such information carrier container is described in European Patent Application No. 0 420 350.
Known containers for CDs and other information carriers have a number of drawbacks. For example, these known devices can generally only store information carriers that have a central opening to receive the circular clamping elements. Additionally, it is often difficult to remove CDs and other information carriers which are held in place by the clamping elements of these known CD boxes. Specifically, there is very little space for grasping the CD along its perimeter edge, as the plane of the CD is quite close to the bottom of the box to minimize the storage volume surrounding the flat CD. Also, it is generally necessary to grasp the carrier with one hand while holding the box with the other. In fact, manual deformation of the central clamping elements often helps to release the CD. Hence, two hands are generally required whenever the information carrier is to be removed. Another disadvantage of known CD boxes is that there is a significant chance that the user will damage the CD by coming into contact with a data bearing portion of the carrier during this removal process. Similarly, both the installation and removal forces applied against the CD are generally normal to the plane of the disc, increasing the possibility that the disc will be bent or broken.
Known CD container structures also suffer from disadvantages from the manufacturer's viewpoint. Known CD boxes are often assembled from several individual pieces, generally of differing, relatively expensive materials. For example, the clamping elements must be sufficiently flexible to be readily pushed aside by the information carrier, but should be sufficiently rigid to clamp the information carrier firmly in place. This combination of requirements substantially limits the selection of suitable materials, particularly when it is desired to form the clamping elements using inexpensive molding techniques. Even when such expensive materials are used, these short stiff clamping elements are generally not sufficiently durable to accommodate long term, repeated use. Furthermore, known boxes are often also formed with molded hinge pins to ease assembly, but these structures are also prone to breakage during use. Should the clamping elements or hinge pins snap off, the CD or other information carrier can no longer be held in place and/or protected from the environment, thereby rendering the container useless. Lastly, once damaged boxes are to be discarded, the use of several individual materials makes recycling the useless container problematic.
For the above reasons, it is desirable to provide improved information carrier containers and methods for their production. It would be particularly desirable to provide containers which held CDs and other information carriers securely and protected them from the environment, but which allowed the information carrier to be removed and reinserted easily and safely throughout the useful life of the information carrier itself.

Container for CDS and other information carriers


A method and apparatus for handling samples such as blood samples for hemostasis. The sample is transferred from a test tube into a cuvette which has been released from a supply of cuvettes. Prior to transferring the sample, a needle is introduced into the sample and automatically senses the level or height of the sample in the test tube. The presence of vials of reagent is optically confirmed. Reagents are to be delivered through a delivery tube into the cuvette and the delivery tubes are initially primed with reagent. The presence and orientation of the cuvette are verified and the sample transferred into the cuvette, the reagent automatically delivered into the cuvette, and the reaction such as, but not limited to, blot clotting occurs in the cuvette. The occurrence of the reaction is optically confirmed. The system and method controls the sequential release of stacked cuvettes in addition to confirming the presence and proper orientation of the cuvettes.

The invention is a hemostasis analyzer system used for measuring clotting times on samples of human plasma. Analyses for Prothrombin Time (PT), Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (aPTT), Thrombin Clotting Time (TCT), Fibrinogen and Factor Assays (Factors II, V, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI and XII) may be performed using this invention. Additional tests may be performed if data is provided as an input to the system. The invention is intended for in-vitro diagnostic use.
The invention automates or eliminates many of the steps of conventional hemostasis procedures which depend for their reliability on the technique and skill of the laboratory technician using the equipment. The present system automatically prepares dilutions and mixtures from samples and reagents, transferring them to cuvettes. Timed additions of reagent, incubation periods, and optical density measurements are performed automatically. Results are automatically quantitated, displayed and printed. As an option, the system will read bar coded information from sample tubes or vials. In addition, the invention may be interfaced with an LIS (Laboratory Information System) which will provide patient data and tests required, avoiding manual entry of that data.

Blood coagulation system having a bar code reader and a detecting means for detecting the presence of reagents in the cuvette


Intersection structures are provided to reduce a strain in a conformable electronic system that includes multi-level arrangements of stretchable interconnect structures. Bypass regions are formed in areas of the stretchable interconnect structures that may ordinarily cross or pass each other. The bypass regions of the stretchable interconnects are disposed relative to each other such that the intersection structure encompasses at least a portion of the bypass regions of each stretchable interconnect structure. The intersection structure has elastic properties that relieve a mechanical strain on the bypass regions during stretching at least one of the stretchable interconnect structures.

High quality medical sensing and imaging data has become increasingly beneficial in the diagnoses and treatment of a variety of medical conditions. The conditions can be associated with the digestive system, the cardio-circulatory system, and can include injuries to the nervous system, cancer, and the like. To date, most electronic systems that could be used to gather such sensing or imaging data have been rigid and inflexible. These rigid electronics are not ideal for many applications, such as in biomedical devices. Most of biological tissue is soft and curved. The skin and organs are delicate and far from two-dimensional.
Other potential applications of electronics systems, such as for gathering data in non-medical systems, also can be hampered by rigid electronics.

Strain relief structures for stretchable interconnects


A face and neck cover includes a fabric tube having an inner surface and a droplet filter attached to the inner surface. The droplet filter includes a first filter layer, a second filter layer joined to the first filter layer along a first fold, and a third filter layer joined to the first filter layer along a second fold. The third filter layer is in contact with the inner surface of the fabric tube. A first filter pocket for holding an optional removable filter medium is formed between the second filter layer and the third filter layer. A second filter pocket is formed between the third filter layer and the inner surface of the fabric tube. The first, second, and third filter layers are preferably integrally formed from one continuous sheet of fabric folded and attached to the fabric tube.

A cloth face covering worn over the nose and mouth provides a barrier to respiratory droplets released when a person coughs, sneezes, or talks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced that cloth face coverings impede the transmission of coronavirus from one person to another. The CDC has recommended that all people over the age of two years should wear a cloth face covering when around people outside their household to prevent the spread of COVID-19, particularly in situations where social distancing is difficult to maintain. The CDC further recommends that cloth face coverings preferably completely cover the nostrils and mouth, fitting under the chin and over the top of the nose and snugly against the sides of the face.


A system and method for mobile number portability service in an asynchronous mobile communication network is provided. The system stores changes in mobile service providers and an address of a Network Provider Database (NPDB) in the service network which is presently providing the mobile subscriber with mobile service. By performing a mobile number portability inquiry only for a mobile subscriber who has changed his mobile service provider can be processed by the NPDB in the service network presently providing the mobile subscriber with mobile service, thus reducing the number of NPDBs required and improving system performance.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and system for mobile number portability (MNP) service in an asynchronous mobile communication network and, in particular, to a method and system of which performance is improved by storing whether mobile subscriber changed his mobile service provider and an address of a Number Portability Database (NPDB) in a service network where the mobile subscriber gets to subscribe and by performing mobile number portability inquiry, in the NPDB using the address, only for a mobile subscriber who practically changed his mobile service provider.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, the MNP service supports mobile subscribers to change mobile service provider without changing their mobile station number (Hereinafter, "mobile number") and is specifically described in 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Technical Specifications (TS) 23.066 Support of MNP Technical Realization Phase 2.
When a mobile service provider provides a mobile subscriber with mobile service at first, the mobile service provider provides the mobile subscriber with Mobile Subscriber Identification Number (MSIN) and Mobile Station Integrated Service Digital Network (ISDN) Number (MSISDN).
The MSIN is a number for identifying mobile subscribers, used by a mobile service provider, and the MSISDN is a mobile number of a mobile subscriber.
If a mobile subscriber wants to change his mobile service provider, the mobile subscriber should abandon the MSISDN given by a previous mobile service provider and receive a new MSISDN from a new mobile service provider.
To change MSISDN is too complicated and causes uncomfortable-ness that a mobile subscriber informs people, who know the previous MSISDN, of the new MSISDN again.
Accordingly, it is comfortable that a mobile subscriber is able to use a previous MSISDN in spite of change of a mobile service provider.
The MNP service enables mobile subscribers to use same MSISDN in spite of change of mobile service provider and there are Terminating call Query on Digit analysis (TQoD) method and Query on HLR Release (QoHR) method in systems providing the MNP service.
First, MNP service network according to the TQoD method, as illustrated in attached FIG. 1, includes: an originating network 10 attempting calls; a previous service network 20 terminating calls until a mobile subscriber changed his mobile service provider; and a current service network 30 where the mobile subscriber presently subscribes. The previous network 20 includes, as components for providing the MNP service: a Gateway Mobile Switching Center (GMSC) 21 that processes call processing between networks; and an NPDB 22 where information of the mobile subscriber, who changed his mobile service provider, is stored.
Nodes are connected through intelligent network protocol messages. ITU-T SS7 ISUP protocol is used between the originating network 10 and the GMSC 21 or between the GMSC 21 and the current service network 30. 3GPP Customer Application for Mobile Network Enhanced Logic (CAMEL) protocol is used between the GMSC 21 and the NPDB 22, for controlling details and processing messages.
Second, MNP service network according to the QoHR method, as illustrated in attached FIG. 2, includes: an originating network 10 attempting calls; a previous service network 20 terminating calls until a mobile subscriber changed his mobile service provider; and a current service network where the mobile subscriber presently subscribes. The previous network 20 includes, as components for providing the MNP service: a GMSC 21 that processes call processing between networks; an NPDB 22 where information of the mobile subscriber, who changed his mobile service provider, is stored; an HLR 23 where location or general information of the mobile subscriber is stored.
ITU-T SS7 ISUP (ISDN User Part) protocol is used for connecting the originating network 10 and the GMSC 21 or connecting the GMSC 21 and the current service network 30. 3GPP Mobile Application Part (MAP) protocol is used for connecting the GMSC 21 and the HLR 23. 3GPP CAMEL protocol is used for controlling details and processing messages between the GMSC 21 and the NPDB 22.
The NPDB, one of components making up the MNP service network, includes an MNP service logic supporting multiple protocols; and an MNP routing table corresponding to each MNP service logic. When an inquiry message is inputted from the GMSC, the NPDB analyzes a protocol applied to the inquiry message and, then, pages MNP service logic corresponding to the protocol. The MNP service logic obtains routing information about called subscriber from the MNP routing table by using mobile number of the called subscriber as service key.
Then, the NPDB transfers the obtained routing information to the GMSC, using the same protocol as the protocol used for the inquiry message.
Hereinafter, the MNP service in the above-mentioned network will be described in detail with reference to attached drawings. First, in the MNP service according to the TQoD method, as illustrated in FIG. 3, call originated from the originating network 10 transfers an MSISDN of a called subscriber to the GMSC 21 in the previous service network 20, with loading the MSISDN of the called subscriber on an ISUP_Initial Address Message (IAM) according to ITU-T SS7 ISUP protocol (S301), since it is determined that the mobile subscriber still uses previous mobile number as a result of translating mobile number.
Then, the GMSC 21 transfers the MSISDN of the called subscriber to the NPDB 22, with loading the MSISDN, received from the originating network 10, on the CAMEL_Initial Detection Point (IDP) message according to 3GPP CAMEL protocol, in order to request mobile number portability inquiry (S302).
If a mobile subscriber subscribes to another service network and mobile number of the mobile subscriber is changed, the NPDB 22 transfers a routing number of the mobile subscriber, an actual called number given to the called subscriber by the current service network 30, to the GMSC 21, with loading the routing number on CAMEL_CONNECT message according to 3GPP CAMEL protocol (S303).
The GMSC 21 translates the routing number loaded on the received CAMEL_CONNECT message and, then, transfers the routing number to the current service network 30, with loading the routing number on ISUP_IAM according to ITU-T SS7 ISUP protocol (S304). Then, a call is connected to the called subscriber in the current service network 30 according to a mobile call processing procedure.
Second, as illustrated in FIG. 4, in the MNP service according to the QoHR method, a call originated from the originating network 10 transfers an MSISDN of a called subscriber to the GMSC 21 in the previous service network 20 for call connection request, with loading the MSISDN on ISUP_IAM according to ITU-T SS7 ISUP protocol (S401), since it is determined that the mobile subscriber still uses a previous mobile number as a result of translating mobile number.
The GMSC 21 transfers the MSISDN to the HLR 23, in order to inquire about called subscriber information, with loading the MSISDN on MAP_Send Routing Information (SRI) message, which is mobile subscriber information inquiry request message according to 3GPP MAP protocol.
However, the HLR 23, which does not have the subscriber information due to the mobile subscriber's change of mobile service provider, transfers 3GPP MAP_SRI_Negative Response (NRP) message, information inquiry failure response message according to 3GPP MAP protocol, with 'INVALID SUBSCRIBER' sign to the GMSC (21) (S403).
The GMSC 21 which received the MAP_SRI_NRP message, in order to inquire about mobile number portability of the called subscriber, transfers the MSISDN to the NPDB 22 in the previous service network 20, with loading the MSISDN on the CAMEL_IDP message, mobile number portability request message according to 3GPP CAMEL protocol (S404).
The NPDB 22 transfers a routing number of the mobile subscriber, an actual called number given to the called subscriber by the current service network 30, to the GMSC 21 by loading the routing number on the CAMEL_CONNECT message according to 3GPP CAMEL protocol (S405).
The GMSC 21 translates the routing number loaded on the received CAMEL_CONNECT message and, then, transfers the routing number to the current service network 30 by loading the routing number on the ISUP_IAM according to ITU-T SS7 ISUP protocol (S406). Then, the call is connected to the called subscriber in the current service network 30 according to a mobile call processing procedure.
The MNP service of the related art has a problem in that NPDB server corresponding to the number of service networks has to be provided in every service network cooperating with one current service network for MNP service.
More specifically, one routing number management server allotting a routing number and N-1 mobile number portability inquiry server inquiring about mobile number portability of a called subscriber, have to be provided in each N service network.
According to the MNP service of TQoD method, mobile number portability inquiry about all mobile subscribers is performed in the NPDB, so that even a call for a mobile subscriber who does not change his mobile service provider has to go through the mobile number portability inquiry in the NPDB, thereby declining system performance.
According to the MNP service of QoHR method, it has an advantage in that system performance is improved, compared with TQoD method, because mobile number portability inquiry in an NPDB is performed only for a mobile subscriber, whose location information inquiry is failed. However, it still has a problem in system performance because mobile number portability inquiry in an NPDB is performed for all cases where the location information inquiry is failed and the called subscriber is determined as 'INVALID SUBSCRIBER'.

Method and system for mobile number portability service


Systems and methods are provided for facilitating network transactions. One exemplary method includes receiving, from a terminal, a request for a conversion option for a transaction to a payment account, where the request includes a transaction amount for the transaction in a first currency and an identifier associated with the payment account. The exemplary method also includes determining a charge rate for the payment account for conversion of the transaction amount to a second currency, determining the conversion option for the transaction in the second currency based on at least a conversion rate and the charge rate, and transmitting the conversion option to the terminal in response to the request.

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
Users are known to purchase various different products (e.g., goods and services, etc.) from merchants and to withdraw cash from banks or at automated teller machines (ATMs) through the use of payment accounts. Such users are also known to reside in regions, whereupon a portion of the payment account transactions performed by the users takes place in the regions of their residence, i.e., their native or home regions. In addition, from time to time, the users may travel to other regions, i.e., foreign regions, whereupon payment account transactions in the foreign regions may involve different currencies and/or extra fees.
When performing payment account transactions in foreign regions, the users may be invited, by point-of-sale (POS) or ATM terminals at corresponding merchants, banking institutions, etc., to effect the transactions in the user's native or home currencies rather than in local currencies of the foreign regions (a practice referred to as dynamic currency conversion (DCC)). For example, upon presenting payment devices to the POS terminals to initiate the transactions, payment account numbers (e.g., primary account numbers (PANs), etc.) may be used to determine the users' native regions and associated currencies. The POS terminals then invite the users to initiate the payment account transactions in the determined native currencies. This option is provided by the merchants, and/or banking institutions associated with the merchants (DCC providers), and often includes fees, mark-ups, and/or other charges. When the users accept the invitation/option, the payment account transactions are initiated in the native currencies of the users (as DCC transactions) in amounts equal to the transaction amounts in the merchants' currencies converted to the users' native currencies at rates set by the merchants and/or associated banking institutions (again, DCC providers), including the additional fees, mark-ups, and/or other charges. In turn, issuers of the payment accounts used in the transactions (again, DCC transactions) (and payment networks associated therewith) receive requests for the transactions in the native currencies and process the transactions (i.e., through authorization, clearing and settlement) in a conventional manner. In doing so, the issuers and/or payment networks may further apply one or more fees to the transactions as prescribed by applicable rules and regulations associated with the types and/or characters of the transactions and/or the accounts used therein (e.g., cross-border fees to account for the given transactions occurring in the foreign regions, etc.).
Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Systems and methods for use in facilitating network transactions


A semiconductor laser device is comprised of a first lead member having a mounting portion for mounting a semiconductor laser, at least one second lead member to be connected to the semiconductor laser, and a resin mold member for unitarily molding the first and second lead members, wherein the resin mold member has a recess portion for receiving the semiconductor laser therein and for exposing therein the mounting portion of the first lead member and a part of the second lead member, and wherein the semiconductor laser is electrically connected to the first and second lead members within the recess portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to semiconductor laser devices and, more particularly, is directed to a semiconductor laser device in which a lead member having a mounting portion for a semiconductor laser and other lead members are unitarily molded by a resin mold.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Semiconductor laser devices have been employed in various fields such as a light source of a recording/reproducing apparatus for an optical disk, magneto-optical disk or the like.
The ordinary semiconductor laser device includes a semiconductor laser and a photo detecting element such as a photo diode for monitoring an illumination state of the semiconductor laser so as to control the semiconductor laser to thereby automatically control an output power thereof at a constant level. In the ordinary semiconductor laser device, both the semiconductor laser and photo detecting element are sealed in a can package.
In the can package sealing, for example, three leads are extracted from the semiconductor laser and the photo diode. Among the three leads, two leads respectively serve as two power supply terminals for the laser and diode, and remaining one lead serves as one common terminal for the laser and diode. Both the semiconductor laser and the photo diode are mounted on a header portion, and the header portion is covered by a can having a window sealed by a glass plate for passing a front light beam radiated from the laser. Both the header portion and the can are sealed with each other.
The thus constituted can package sealing has a disadvantage that assembling processes such as a positioning process for respective parts and a sealing process between the header and can are troublesome.
In contrast, there has been proposed such a semiconductor laser device as shown in FIG. 1 which has the following structural features.
Referring to FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings, a semiconductor laser LD is mounted on a sub-mount substrate 1 made of silicon or the like together with a photo detecting element, for example, photo diode PD for receiving a laser beam radiated from the semiconductor laser so as to monitor the laser beam. The sub-mount substrate 1 is mounted, that is, die bonded on a lead 3 which penetrates through a resin substrate 2. Respective electrodes of the semiconductor laser LD and the photo diode PD are connected via lead wires 4 to other two leads 3 which also penetrate the resin substrate 2. A transparent resin mold 5 covers the lead wires, bonding portions thereof and bonding portions of both the semiconductor laser LD and the photo diode PD so as to seal them.
However, the thus constituted semiconductor laser device has disadvantages such that, in the sealing process of both the semiconductor laser LD and the photo diode PD by the resin mold 5, stress is applied to the laser and the photo diode due to shrink of the resin mold 5 or the like when it is hardened, thereby degrading the yield of the device. Further, the aberration may be caused in the laser beam generated by the semiconductor laser LD due to the flow of the resin in the sealing process and insufficient flatness of the resin surface or the like to thereby degrade the characteristic of the semiconductor laser device. Furthermore, since the resin used is required to be transparent, the material used for the resin mold is disadvantageously limited.

Semiconductor laser with encapsulated lead members


A process is described for forming a microlens, either directly on a substrate or as part of a process to manufacture an optical imaging array. The process starts with the deposition of a layer of silicon oxide over the substrate, said layer being the determinant of the lens to substrate distance. This is followed by layers of polysilicon and silicon nitride. The latter is patterned to form a mask which protects the poly, except for a small circular opening, during its oxidation (under the same conditions as used for LOCOS). The oxide body that is formed is lens shaped, extending above the poly surface by about the same amount as below it, and just contacting the oxide layer. After the silicon nitride and all poly have been removed, the result is a biconvex microlens. In a second embodiment, a coating of SOG is provided that has a thickness equal to half the microlens thickness, thereby converting the latter to a plano-convex lens.

Microlenses are in widespread use in conjunction with light imaging arrays, particularly when these utilize photodiodes operating together with charge coupled devices (CCDs). The purpose of the microlens is to focus a pixel's worth of light onto the photodiode, thereby increasing the sensitivity of the display.
The easiest, and most commonly used, way to form a microlens has been to first form a disk of resin (which in practice is also a photoresist) and then to heat it until it softens, allowing surface tension forces to give it a hemisperical shape which approximates a plano-convex lens.
This process, while easy to use, is often difficult to control, making the future optical behavior of the microlens difficult to predict. Additionally, once the microlens has been formed the array must not be subjected to temperatures in excess of about 200.degree. C. or the microlens will melt. Such temperatures could be of external origin or they could be the result of lens heating. Finally, the optical transparency of photoresist tends to decrease over time, particularly when it is repeatedly exposed to light. Aside from decreasing the overall sensitivity of the array, this also serves to exacerbate the lens heating problem mentioned above.
The present invention provides a method of fabricating a microlens from silicon oxide, which material is much more robust than photoresist with respect to both temperature and light. In the course of searching for prior art we did not find that this method has been previously described. The following references were, however, found to be of interest:
Use of photoresist to form microlenses is discussed in detail by Sakakibara et al. in `A 1" format 1.5M pixel IT-CCD image sensor for a HDTV camera system` published in the IEEE Transactions on Consumer Electronics vol. 37 no. 3 August 1991, pp. 487-493. A similar discussion may be found in `Submicron spaced lens array process technology for a high photosensitivity CCD image sensor` by Sano et al. in IEDM 1990 pp. 283-286.
Furukawa et al. discuss the design of microlenses and the associated system in `A 1/3 inch 380K pixel IT-CCD image sensor` in the IEEE Transactions on Consumer Electronics vol. 38 no. 3 August 1992, pp. 595-600. The design of microlenses is also discussed by Deguchi et al. in `Microlens design using simulation program for CCD image sensor` in IEEE Transactions on Consumer Electronics vol. 38 no. 3 August 1992 pp. 583-589.
A non photoresist microlens, formed by reflowing a disk of boro-phosphosilicate glass (BPSG) at high temperature is described by Tsukamato et al. in `High sensitivity pixel technology for a 1/4 inch PAL 430K pixel IT-CCD` published in the 1996 Custom IC Conference, pp. 39-42.
We note here that all the above references describe processes that result in plano-convex lenses. Additionally, these processes do not, in general, provide for control of the distance between the microlens and the photodiode as an independent variable. Rather, this distance is determined by other parameters of the total process which must be compromised if said distance needs to be modified.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


The invention is directed to a method for monitoring services of an information technology (IT) environment. The method comprises evaluating, by a status engine, the status of a service (superordinate service) that depends on at least one of the statuses of one or more other services (subordinate services) and one or more messages. The messages come from services of the IT environment and affect the status of the superordinate service. The evaluation is performed according to one or more rules. The rules include at least one of:                a) a rule that is based on additional attributes of the service other than the status;        b) a rule that ignores subordinate services;        c) a rule that is defined by a user on the basis of at least one of i) logical and ii) arithmetical operations of the status of subordinate services or of said messages or of said attributes; and        d) a rule that is programmed individually by a user.

Nowadays, as information systems become ubiquitous, and companies and organizations of all sectors become severely dependent on their computing network and IT services, the demand for tools for monitoring IT environments increases rapidly. The class of sensitive IT services includes online transaction processing, electronic commerce, Internet/World Wide Web, data warehousing, telecommunication switches, and server applications that generally run 24 hours a day. In addition, almost all internal business processes such as electronic communication or information retrieval rely on a properly functioning IT network. These servers must run perpetually, providing a service to the employees and clients, and therefore demand a high availability as the cost of any outage can be substantial. While it is essential for companies to maintain the health of their IT services, the underlying IT environment becomes more and more complex and thus susceptible to failures. Not only is the number of computers within an IT network growing rapidly, but also many services are distributed over the network and depend thus on several network components. In large IT networks those dependencies make it impossible for administrators and operators to keep an overview over the performance of the IT services without an appropriate service management tool.
Operators of complex services that are distributed over different platforms within an IT network are often confronted with a huge number of messages reporting the status and errors of nodes of the IT network. Due to the number of network components and the complex interactions between those components it is difficult for the operator to resolve the dependencies of the generated error messages and to track down the origin of the problem. Moreover, it is even difficult to detect important error messages and distinguish them from less important messages so that there is a risk that the operator overlooks relevant messages in the stream of messages.
A service management tool is an IT solution for managing the availability and performance of IT-based business services from the end user's perspective. Those tools are able to detect and evaluate the health and availability of a service or application, recognize and warn the operator when a problem is about to occur and respond automatically to poor performance. They allow the user to manage individual services and all elements that depend on these services. They enable the user to build management models of the IT environment that represent the service elements and the relationships and dependencies between them. One feature of those service management tools is therefore to provide the status of any of those services in the light of the dependencies amongst them. The Hewlett-Packard product HP OpenView VantagePoint for Windows™ is such a service management system that runs under Windows™ but is also able to manage heterogeneous IT environments independent of the platform.
Service management tools are aiming to support administrators and operators of complex network-based IT services. In general, the task of administrators is to set up the management model, to configure it and maintain the model configuration, and to define failures and suppression criteria in order to reduce the information that is sent to operators. The operators' primary function is to monitor the status of a service and to troubleshoot and respond to problems using the information provided by the service management tool.
Service management tools are usually built on common network software and common console software such as the Microsoft Management Console (MMC) for the Windows™ environment which is a common console framework for IT management applications. MMC provides a basic framework for the management of IT environments. The invention, however, is intended to improve the possibilities of monitoring IT environments in view of the growing complexity of those environments.

Method, computer system, and computer program product for monitoring services of an information technology environment

Abstract: The invention is also directed to a corresponding computer system and a corresponding computer program product.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A seat structure capable of dealing with both a normal posture and a resting posture and providing sufficient relaxation in the resting posture while ensuring excellent comfortableness of an occupant.

In an aircraft, for example, a number of seats are continuously provided in a longitudinal direction to arrange a predetermined number of seats in a limited space. The seating space of each passenger is thus limited to be a predetermined size. In particular, there has been a problem that, when a passenger in a front seat reclines a seat backward to take a resting posture, the leg room (footrest) space of a passenger in a rear seat is significantly limited and this causes deterioration in comfort. In view of this problem, regarding such an aircraft, an effort has been required to maintain a wider seating space including the leg room (footrest) space between the front seat and the rear seat to improve passengers' comfort.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a back frame 20 itself is fixed to a frame support 10 but a cushion frame 30 shifts from a first position A to a second position B according to an occupant's movement and an inclination angle of a pelvis support 31 increases accordingly. The occupant's pelvis portion and a portion lower than the pelvis portion is moved forward but a part of his or her back above his or her breast is not varied. With this structure, the same effect of the resting posture, that is, the posture in which the back frame is reclined in a conventional seat structure, can be obtained. Since the back is not tilted backward, a leg room (footrest) space in a rear seat is not limited.


A foot exercising apparatus includes two foot plates mounted on two slides respectively inserted in two floor tracks, a first linking-up cable connected between the slides and wound through a set of pulleys at the front, a second linking-up cable connected between the slides and wound through a set of pulleys at the back, a drag resistance regulating device controlled by a knob to regulate the drag resistance of the second-linking-up cable. The foot plates are alternatively moved back and forth on the floor tracks with the legs.

The present invention relates to exercising apparatus, and more specifically the present invention relates to a mobile foot exercising apparatus for training the muscles of the legs by sliding two foot plates on two sliding rails alternatively. The drag resistance can be adjusted according to the player's physical conditions.
A variety of exercising apparatus have been proposed for exercising different parts of the body, and have appeared on the market. Regular exercising apparatus which are specifically designed for exercising the legs are commonly heavy, and occupy much installation space. Therefore, these exercising apparatus are not suitable for personal use.

No. 63, Lane 271, Lien Tsun Rd., Lien Tsun Li, Feng Yuan


Disclosed are systems, methods, and devices for simulating human manual input for devices using capacitive touchscreens. In one embodiment, the system comprises a test fixture, wherein the test fixture comprises a matrix of tubes, each tube being coated with a conductive coating; and a camera located under the matrix and configured to record the capacitive touchscreen of the device under test. The system further includes a tablet to receive images from the camera and display a visual representation of the capacitive touchscreen of the device under test, wherein the tablet is configured to receive a plurality of touch events; update the visual representation of the capacitive touchscreen of the device under test in response to the plurality of touch events; and generate a simulation of touch events, the simulation representing interaction with the device under test. The system further includes a workstation communicatively coupled to the tablet and configured to receive the simulation from the tablet device; and transmit the simulation to the test fixture to enable the execution of the simulation on one or more additional devices under test.

Currently, when a large number of phones or other devices are returned or exchanged, manual handling of the devices is often required. Organizations handling the returns may be required to execute a series of actions (e.g., touch events) such as unlocking the device, opening certain applications, filling in forms, configuring settings, etc. Currently, many organizations rely on human operators to follow a "script" that defines what actions to take. Such approaches are time consuming, require a one-to-one correspondence between humans and devices, and are subject to human error. Additionally, operating systems and application software often require manual input that cannot be automated for security reasons. In large volumes, the costs associated with these techniques can increase exponentially.
Other techniques to address the problem of requiring human input rely on mechanical devices that simulate human fingers. These devices, such as the SR SCARA Pro robot designed by Sastra Robotics of Kochi, India, generally include a robotic arm that manually touches a touchscreen device and, quite literally, mimics a human touching a device. These systems however suffer from the deficiencies of all mechanical systems in that the systems are vulnerable to equipment and component failures. Considering the speed and frequency of movements in such systems, such failures happen frequently.
Thus, there is a need in the current state of the art to simulate manual touch on devices such as phones, tablets, phablets etc., without requiring little or no moving parts.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System and method for simulating human manual input for devices using capacitive touchscreens


A memory storing the frequency of using a laser beam printer is attached to a consumable part of the printer. Data indicating its expandable part is stored at the memory location of a specific address of the memory. When the consumable part is set to the laser beam printer, the data is read out of the memory. Emission of the laser beam is prohibited unless the data is read out. When the intended data is readout, control knows that the consumable part has been set to the printer. When the consumable part is properly set, it perfectly shuts off laser beams dangerous for an operator. Under this condition, emission of laser beams is permitted. In this way, the operator is protected from laser beams.

The present invention relates to a laser beam printer capable of protecting an operator from being exposed to laser beams. FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the construction of a key portion of a laser beam printer. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 4 designates a laser scanner; 10, a photoreceptor drum cartridge; 10-1, a photoreceptor in the form of a drum; 11, a toner cartridge; 20, a laser beam printer; 21, a pop-up; 22, a fulcrum; and 23, a laser beam path.
A laser beam emitted by the laser scanner 4 travels along the laser beam path 23, and hits the surface of the photoreceptor 10-1, thereby forming a latent electrostatic image thereon. Toner supplied from the toner cartridge 11 is applied to the latent image, to form a toner image. The toner image is transferred to and fused on a recording paper, which is supplied along a paper path 24. The paper bearing the image is forwarded in the direction B, and discharged outside the laser beam printer.
The laser beam printer thus constructed uses consumable parts removably set or attached to the printer, such as the drum cartridge and the toner cartridge. Those parts are frequently removed from the printer body at the time of periodical inspection, replacement of old parts with new ones, repair for jamming, for example. In such a case, the pop-up 21 is raised.
The pop-up 21, which includes some parts of the printer structure, for example, the laser scanner 4, and the like, is upwardly swung about the fulcrum 22 in the direction A. After the pop-up 21 is raised, the inner structure of the laser beam printer is exposed to allow an operator or a serviceman to make an easy access to the inner structure for inspection and repair.
In a state that the printer is turned on, when the consumable part, such as the drum cartridge 10, is removed, the direct or reflected laser beam, which has been interrupted by some parts before removal of the consumable part, appears outside where it could possibly hit the operator. The laser beam is hazardous for the operator. When it hits the eyes of the operator, he may lose his eyesight. To avoid such a dangerous situation, a measure has been taken for shutting off the laser beam when the drum cartridge 10, for example, is removed.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a key portion of the electrical arrangement of a conventional laser beam printer. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 1 indicates a laser-beam emission controller; 2, an interlock switch; 3, a power source; 4, a laser scanner; 5, a laser controller; 6, a CPU (central processing unit); 7, an I/0 (input/output) port; 8, a drum detect switch; 9, a toner detect switch; 10, a drum cartridge; and 11, a toner cartridge.
The interlock switch 2 is provided for checking whether or not the pop-up 21 has been returned to the normal position, and is lit on when the pop-up 21 is returned to the normal position. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the on/off operation of the interlock switch 2. In the figure, reference numeral 2-1 designates a spring; 21-1, a pop-up cover; and 21-2, a projection. When the pop-up 21 is at the normal position, the projection 21-2 pushes down the interlock switch 2. When the pop-up 21 is turned in the direction A shown in FIG. 3, the projection 21-2 is apart from the interlock switch 2. The interlock switch 2 is pulled up by the spring 2-1, so that it is turned off. When the switch 2 is turned on (that is, the pop-up 21 is returned to the normal position), electric power is supplied from the power source 3 to the laser controller 5.
The laser controller 5, although power is supplied thereto, will not be operated until the drum cartridge 10 and the toner cartridge 11 are set to the printer. The setting of the cartridges 10 and 11 is detected by the drum detect switch 8 and the toner detect switch 9. The detection is transferred to the laser controller 5, through the I/O port 7 and the CPU 6. The drum detect switch 8 is a mechanical switch, which is turned on when the drum cartridge 10 has been set. The toner detect switch 9 is also a mechanical switch similarly operating.
When the cartridge is set to the printer, an earth voltage (corresponding to a low signal) is supplied to the I/O port 7. Accordingly, the setting of them can be detected through the check of the voltage supplied to the I/O port 7.
Thus, in the conventional laser beam printer, emission of the laser beam is prohibited until the drum cartridge 10 and the toner cartridge 11 as the parts located at the laser-beam shut-off place are set to the printer. Accordingly, the operators are protected from being exposed to laser beams.
As described above, in the conventional laser beam printer, the shut-off of the laser beam depends on the on/off o of the mechanical switch. During the repair and inspection of the printer after removal of the drum cartridge 10 and the like, the switch is often turned on mistakenly or any of other manner than the normal switching manner. In such a case, the operator will be exposed to dangerous laser beams.
During the inspection and repair, the switch is frequently turned on in a switching manner different from the normal switching manner. For example, when a bar shaped like the projection 21-2, already prepared, is applied to the switch (see FIG. 4), the switch is turned on. When the switch is turned on in this way and the laser emitting condition is unexpectedly set up, the laser beams will hit the operator. To solve the problem of the exposure of the operation to dangerous laser beams, the present invention is made.

Laser beam printer with automatic laser beam control