Author: claimsbot

1. An adaptive equalizer that performs adaptive equalization on a time-domain signal in a frequency domain, comprising a signal conversion section that performs at least one of a fast Fourier transform and an inverse fast Fourier transform, wherein the signal conversion section includes:
a memory capable of reading and writing signals for 2M samples, where M is a natural number;
2M registers accessible to the memory;
M butterfly operation sections; and
a switching control section that switches a connection state between the 2M registers and the M butterfly operation sections, wherein:
the signal conversion section includes two pairs of the memory and the 2M registers; and
the switching control section switches a connection state (i) between the 2M registers in one of the two pairs and the M butterfly operation sections and (ii) between the 2M registers in the other of the two pairs and the M butterfly operation sections, such that a role of the memory is switched between a memory for output and a memory for input for each stage of the fast Fourier transform and the inverse fast Fourier transform.
2. The adaptive equalizer according to claim 1, further comprising:
a first signal conversion section as the signal conversion section that performs the fast Fourier transform; and
a second signal conversion section as the signal conversion section that performs the inverse fast Fourier transform on a signal on which the fast Fourier transform is performed by the first signal conversion section, wherein:
the first signal conversion section does not perform a bit-reversal permutation in the fast Fourier transform; and
the second signal conversion section does not perform a bit-reversal permutation in the inverse fast Fourier transform.
3. The adaptive equalizer according to claim 1, wherein the signal conversion section further includes:
a twiddle-factor memory that stores twiddle factors in each stage of the fast Fourier transform and the inverse fast Fourier transform, and that is capable of reading signals for M samples; and
M twiddle-factor registers that are accessible to the twiddle-factor memory, and that obtains the twiddle factors and passes the twiddle factors to the M butterfly operation sections.
4. The adaptive equalizer according to claim 1, wherein:
the adaptive equalizer is provided in a reception apparatus including a multi-carrier demodulation section; and
the memory is used in common with a memory in the multi-carrier demodulation section.
5. The adaptive equalizer according to claim 4, further comprising:
an inputoutput section that includes an address conversion section, a serialparallel conversion section, and a parallelserial conversion section, and controls input and output of signals to and from the memory; and
a control section that switches configuration of the inputoutput section depending on whether a method for accessing the memory is random or sequential.
6. The adaptive equalizer according to claim 5, wherein in a writing mode when the method for accessing the memory is random, the inputoutput section reads data for 2M samples from the memory before writing the data and overwrites the data only on a predetermined location of the memory.
7. An adaptive equalizer that performs adaptive equalization on a time-domain signal in a frequency domain, comprising:
a signal conversion section that performs at least one of a fast Fourier transform and an inverse fast Fourier transform, wherein the signal conversion section includes:
a memory capable of reading and writing signals for 2M samples, where M is a natural number;
2M registers accessible to the memory;
M butterfly operation sections; and
a switching control section that switches a connection state between the 2M registers and the M butterfly operation sections;

an accumulation section that receives input of a signal in the time domain and sequentially accumulates the signals for a predetermined block size;
an inter-block concatenating section that concatenates a block accumulated last time and a newest block;
a first fast Fourier transform section as the signal conversion section that performs the fast Fourier transform on output from the inter-block connecting section;
a first multiplier that multiplies output from the first fast Fourier transform section and a coefficient for adaptive equalizer converted into the frequency domain;
a first inverse fast Fourier transform section as the signal conversion section that performs the inverse fast Fourier transform on output from the first multiplier;
a block extracting section that extracts a newest block of signal series from the output from the first inverse fast Fourier transform section;
an error extracting section that extracts an error from output from the first inverse fast Fourier transform section to an ideal signal point;
a first zero padding section that pads zero to a series of the error extracted, except for a part denoting desired tap coefficients;
a second fast Fourier transform section as the signal conversion section that performs the fast Fourier transform on output from the first zero padding section;
a second multiplier that multiplies complex conjugation of output from the first fast Fourier transform section and output from the second fast Fourier transform section;
a second inverse fast Fourier transform section as the signal processing section that performs inverse fast Fourier transform on a multiplication result of the second multiplier;
a second zero padding section that pads zero to output from the second inverse fast Fourier transform section, except for a part denoting desired tap coefficients;
a third fast Fourier transform section as the signal processing section that performs the fast Fourier transform on output from the second zero padding section;
a third multiplier that multiplies output from the third fast Fourier transform section and a predetermined coefficient; and
an accumulation section that accumulates output from the third multiplier.
8. The adaptive equalizer according to claim 7, further comprising a time-domain filter section that performs decision-feedback equalization on output from the first inverse fast Fourier transform section, wherein
at least one of the registers in the first to third fast Fourier transform section and the first and second inverse fast Fourier transform section is used in common with a register in the time-domain filter section.
9. The adaptive equalizer according to claim 7, further comprising a time-domain filter section that performs decision-feedback equalization on at least the output from the first inverse fast Fourier transform section of a main wave, using a filtering coefficient updated in a frequency shorter than the block size.
10. The adaptive equalizer according to claim 7, further comprising a time-domain filter section that performs decision-feedback equalization on output from the first inverse fast Fourier transform section, wherein
at least one of multipliers used for butterfly operation sections in the first to third fast Fourier transform sections and the first and second inverse fast Fourier transform sections is used in common with a multiplier for convolution operation by the time-domain filter section.
11. The adaptive equalizer according to claim 7, wherein at least one of multipliers used for butterfly operation sections in the first to third fast Fourier transform sections and the first and second inverse fast Fourier transform sections is used in common with a multiplier for the first to third multipliers.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A method of measuring the binding of a first partner in an interaction to a second partner in said interaction, wherein said interaction partners are molecular entities, said method comprising the steps of
a) delivering a quantity of said second interaction partner to a reaction well of a device for attachment of said second interaction partner to an attachment zone of said reaction well, wherein said device comprises
i. an opaque temperature-controlled chamber having a centrifuge rotor therein, said rotor having at or near the periphery of the rotor and attached thereto at least one radially positioned transparent reaction well, said reaction well having on an upper surface thereof an aperture for the addition of reagents to the reaction well, said reaction well further including on an internal surface thereof at the end closest the axis of said rotor at least one attachment zone for said second interaction partner and said well having a sufficient length to provide an area for the at least one attachment zone and an area positioned at the end of the well into which the solution or solutions via which the second interaction partner were applied can be displaced by centrifugal force;
ii. a system for detecting light emitted or absorbed by said first interaction partner or an indicator molecule bound thereto; and
iii. means for controlling the temperature of said chamber and the operation of said rotor;

b) adding a solution comprising a quantity of said first interaction partner to said attachment zone and incubating at a temperature and for a time sufficient to allow binding of said first interaction partner to said second interaction partner;
c) rotating said device rotor at a speed sufficient to displace the solution comprising unbound first interaction partner from said attachment zone; and
d) measuring the amount of said first interaction partner bound to said second interaction partner via the fluorescence or absorbance of said first interaction partner or an indicator molecule bound thereto.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first and second interaction partners are respectively selected from the group consisting of the following combinations: an antibody and an antigen; an antigen and an antibody; an enzyme and a substrate; an oligopeptide and a protein; a hormone and a receptor; an effector molecule and a receptor; a nucleic acid and a nucleic acid; an oligonucleotide and a nucleic acid; and, a synthetic organic compound and a protein.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein said first and second interaction partners are delivered as solutions containing other components selected from the group consisting of buffers, salts, DNA or RNA polymerization reagents including a polymerase, and a blocking reagent.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) is carried out with the rotor rotating at a speed of up to 500 rpm.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) is carried out with the rotor totaling at a speed of greater than 500 rpm.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein said first interaction partner has a fluorophore bound thereto selected from the group consisting of FAM, JOE, ROX, TAMRA, Cy5, Cy3, Cy5.5, and VIC.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein said first interaction partner has a Dabcyl or BH quencher absorbent group bound thereto.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein said indicator molecule is an intercalating dye.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein said intercalating dye is Sybr green.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein said the indicator molecule is a derivatised antibody.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein in step (d) said absorbance or fluorescence is measured with the rotor rotating at a speed of at least 500 rpm.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one reaction well has multiple attachment zones and measurement of the amount of said that interaction partner bound to said second interaction partner via the fluorescence or absorbance of said first interaction partner or an indicator molecule bound thereto is by way of multiple detectors.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein the temperature control of said chamber is effected by a heater linked to a temperature sensor.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the temperature control of said chamber is further effected by a cooling system.

1. A switching device position detection system comprising:
a solenoid adapted to generate mechanical energy from an energizing current supplied thereto;
a switching device coupled to the solenoid and adapted to be driven by the mechanical energy to move between a first position and at least one second position;
at least one measuring element coupled to the switching device, the at least one measuring element adapted to be engaged by the switching device and to have a measuring current flowing therethrough when the switching device moves to the at least one second position; and
a solenoid driver coupled to the solenoid and to the at least one measuring element and adapted to supply the energizing current to the solenoid, to detect the measuring current, and to determine on the basis of detection of the measuring current whether the switching device has moved to the at least one second position, wherein the solenoid driver is adapted to receive a feedback current comprising a sum of the energizing current and the measuring current when the at least one measuring element has moved to the at least one second position, and compare the feedback current to a predetermined threshold to detect the measuring current.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein, upon determining whether the switching device has moved to the at least one second position, the solenoid driver is adapted to update the energizing current for supply to the solenoid.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined threshold corresponds to the energizing current at a time t=t1 preceding a time t=t2 at which the switching device has moved to the at least one second position.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one measuring element comprises at least one resistor.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the switching device is adapted to move between the first position and a plurality of successive second positions.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein the at least one measuring element comprises a first measuring element, the first measuring element adapted to be engaged by the switching device and to have a first measuring current flowing therethrough when the switching device is in the first position, and a plurality of second measuring elements each adapted to be successively engaged by the switching device and to have a second measuring current flowing therethrough when the switching device is in a corresponding one of the plurality of successive second positions.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein the second measuring current flowing through a first one of the plurality of second measuring elements is different from the first measuring current and from the second measuring current flowing through a second one of the plurality of second measuring elements.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the switching device is adapted to move between a plurality of successive steady state positions and to pass through a transient position when moving between each pair of the plurality of successive steady state positions.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one measuring element comprises a plurality of measuring elements each adapted to be temporarily engaged by the switching device and have the measuring current flowing therethrough when the switching device passes through the transient position.
10. A switching device position detection method comprising:
energizing a solenoid by supplying an energizing current from a solenoid driver coupled thereto, thereby actuating a switching device coupled to the solenoid to move between a first position and at least one second position;
generating a measuring current through at least one measuring element coupled to the switching device when the switching device moves between the first position and the at least one second position; and
detecting the measuring current at the solenoid driver by receiving a feedback current comprising a sum of the energizing current and the measuring current when the at least one measuring element has moved to the at least one second position and comparing the feedback current to a predetermined threshold, and determining, on the basis of detection of the measuring current, whether the switching device has moved to the at least one second position.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein comparing the feedback current to a predetermined threshold comprises comparing the feedback current to the energizing current at a time t=t1 preceding a time t=t2 at which the switching device has moved to the at least one second position.
12. The method of claim 10, further comprising, upon detecting the measuring current at the solenoid driver to determine whether the switching device has moved to the at least one second position, updating the energizing current for supply to the solenoid.
13. The method of claim 10, wherein energizing the solenoid actuates the switching device to move between the first position and a plurality of successive second positions.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein generating a measuring current comprises generating the measuring current through a first measuring element coupled to the switching device when the switching device is in the first position and generating the measuring current through each one of a plurality of second measuring elements coupled to the switching device when the switching device is in a corresponding one of the plurality of successive second positions.
15. The method of claim 10, wherein energizing the solenoid actuates the switching device to move between a plurality of successive steady state positions and to pass through a transient position when moving between each pair of the plurality of successive steady state positions.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein generating a measuring current comprises generating the measuring current through each one of a plurality of measuring elements coupled to the switching device when the switching device passes through the transient position.
17. A switching device position detection system comprising:
means for energizing a solenoid by supplying an energizing current from a solenoid driver coupled thereto, thereby actuating a switching device coupled to the solenoid to move between a first position and at least one second position;
means for generating a measuring current through at least one measuring element coupled to the switching device when the switching device moves between the first position and the at least one second position; and
means for detecting the measuring current at the solenoid driver by receiving a feedback current comprising a sum of the energizing current and the measuring current when the at least one measuring element has moved to the at least one second position and comparing the feedback current to a predetermined threshold, and determining, on the basis of detection of the measuring current, whether the switching device has moved to the at least one second position.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. An image fixing unit for a wet image forming apparatus, comprising:
a fixing section having a first fixing roller and a second fixing roller, the second fixing roller rotating in close contact with the first fixing roller to feed paper through a fixing nip)between the fixing rollers; and
a belt disposed on a feed path of the paper and supported by a preheating roller spaced a predetermined distance apart from the first fixing roller to move along an endless path so that the belt is adapted to be fed in contact with a non-image surface of the paper.
2. The image fixing unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second fixing rollers has a heating element mounted therein.
3. The image fixing unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the image has a content of the liquid carrier in a range from at or about 3% to at or about 20% by weight when the image enters the fixing nip.
4. An image fixing unit for a wet image forming apparatus, comprising:
a fixing section having a first fixing roller and a second fixing roller which rotates in close contact with the first fixing roller to feed paper through a fixing nip between the fixing rollers,
wherein any one of the first and second fixing rollers is disposed to bring a surface thereof into contact with a non-image surface of the paper before the paper passes through the fixing nip, and the fixing roller in contact with the paper has a heating element mounted therein.
5. The image fixing unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first and second fixing rollers have different diameters respectively, and the non-image surface of the paper comes into contact with the surface of the fixing roller having a larger diameter.
6. The image fixing unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the fixing roller whose surface does not come into contact with the paper further comprises a heating element.
7. The image fixing unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the image has a content of the liquid carrier in a range from at or about 3% to at or about 20% by weight when the image enters the fixing nip.
8. An image fixing unit for a wet image forming apparatus, comprising:
a fixing section having a first fixing roller and a second fixing roller that rotates in close contact with the first fixing roller to feed paper through a fixing nip between the first and second rollers; and
a preheating means disposed on a feed path of the paper before the paper enters the fixing nip and in contact with a non-image surface of the paper to allow the image to be exposed to the air.
9. A method for fixing an image in a wet image forming apparatus, comprising:
preheating a non-image surface of a paper containing an image that has a content of liquid carrier to evaporate a substantial portion of the liquid carrier in the paper; and
fixing the preheated paper to adhesively secure the image to the paper.
10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the step of preheating comprises:
contacting the non-image surface of the paper with a pre-heating element while an image surface of the paper is exposed to air.
11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the pre-heating element comprises a first fixing roller.
12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the pre-heating element further comprises:
a pre-heating roller and belt configured in an endless loop around a first fixing roller and a pre-heating roller.
13. The method according to claim 12, wherein at least either the first fixing roller or the pre-heating roller contains a heating element.
14. The method according to claim 9 wherein the image has a content of the liquid carrier in a range from at or about 3% to at or about 20% by weight when the image enters the fixing nip.
15. The method according to claim 9, wherein the fixing step comprises:
passing paper between the first and second fixing roller.
16. The method according to claim 15, wherein at least one of the first and second fixing rollers comprises a heating element.
17. The method according to claim 9, wherein the step of pre-heating comprises:
heating a pre-heating roller by an internally contained heating element, wherein the preheating roller is in rotational communication with a first fixing roller by a belt, such that the preheating roller heats the non-image surface of the paper containing the content of liquid carrier; and
evaporating a substantial portion of the liquid carrier in the paper.