The present invention relates to printing apparatus, and more particularly to an improved apparatus and method which facilitates production of quality images upon repetitive printing operations.
The printing of multicolored and other complex images on articles (such as sheets of textiles, plastic or the like) is commonly accomplished by screen printing machines. Generally, these machines are provided with a conveyorized printing blanket driven over a pair of spaced apart rotating drums. The article is placed flat on the blanket and indexed to each in a series of printing stations. At each station, a printing head is lowered onto the article and a printing operation is performed. For example, a print squeegee is stroked across the surface of a horizontal screen in registry with the article so as to force printing ink through the screen and onto the article, thereby effecting printing. In this manner, each in a series of printing steps are performed on the article to obtain a desired complex image.
To assure quality, it has been found desirable that the printing head be in precise registration with the article. However, manufacturing imperfections inherent in printing blankets, i.e., the nonuniform center or neutral plane within, have been found to inhibit precise registration. In particular, upon each indexing movement of the blanket (and associated angular displacement of the drums), the distance traveled by the blanket circumference (over the drums) varied with the neutral plane of the blanket. While these variations were small initially, they compounded upon repeated printing operations, visibly offsetting the blanket from a desired position relative to the printing head. This resulted not only in overlapping images and other printing inaccuracies, but also complicated set up by requiring numerous adjustments to obtain acceptable, though seldom precise, registration.


1 . Field
The following description relates to a rectifier which may be used with a wireless power receiver.
2 . Description of Related Art
Resonance power may include electromagnetic energy. A conventional resonance power transferring system may transmit power wirelessly, and may include a source device that transmits a resonance power and a target device that transmits a resonance power. Resonance power may be transferred from the source device to the target device.
When an amount of current increases due to properties of a diode included in a conventional rectifier in a wireless power receiver (i.e., the target device of the wireless power transmission system), a voltage drop may increase due to resistance of the diode.
Various products, such as, for example, high-power applications that consume more than 100 W power and low-power applications that consume less than 10 W, have been studied. However, it has been found that for a wireless power transmission system that consumes about 10 W, the total efficiency is low, for instance, only about 60%.


1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a recording head cleaning apparatus, an image recording apparatus and a recording head cleaning method, and more particularly to a recording head maintenance system in an image recording apparatus which employs a drum conveyance system to convey a recording medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a general image recording apparatus, it is suitable to use an inkjet recording apparatus, which forms a desired image on a recording medium by ejecting and depositing colored inks from a plurality of nozzles provided in an inkjet head. If the inkjet head is operated for a long period of time, adhering matter such as solidified ink or paper dust from the recording medium, and the like, adhere to the nozzle surface. In particular, if adhering matter becomes attached to the vicinity of the nozzles and the nozzle apertures, this gives rise to deflection of the ejection direction of the ink ejected from the nozzles, or reduction in the ejection volume, and so on, and therefore an inkjet recording apparatus is composed in such a manner that cleaning of the nozzle surface is carried out appropriately.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2000-094703 discloses a cleaning apparatus which applies a cleaning liquid in a non-contact fashion to an inkjet head which is horizontally installed, by rotating an application roller having a cylindrical shape which is immersed in the cleaning liquid. However, the nozzle surface of an inkjet head that records an image on a recording sheet held on the outer circumferential surface of a cylindrical conveyance roller has a prescribed inclination with respect to the horizontal, in order to maintain a uniform distance with respect to the recording sheet. When carrying out cleaning of the inkjet head thus disposed in the inclined state, using an application roller having cleaning liquid held on the surface thereof, it is necessary to incline the application roller in such a manner that the application roller is parallel to the nozzle surface.
If an application roller 200 in a cleaning apparatus 202 shown in FIG. 8 is inclined in accordance with the inclination of a nozzle surface 204A of an inkjet head 204, then the state depicted in FIG. 9 is obtained. In the cleaning apparatus 202 depicted in FIG. 9, a liquid surface 212 of a cleaning liquid 210 accommodated in a case 208 is inclined with respect to a rotational axle 216 of the cleaning roller 200, and therefore it is almost impossible to create a coating layer (liquid pool) 214 of the cleaning liquid in an upper portion 200B of an inclined surface 200A of the application roller 200, and hence the coating layer 214 of the cleaning liquid assumes a non-uniform shape and collects in a lower portion 200C of the inclined surface 200A. In the coating layer 214 having an instable shape of this kind, it is difficult to achieve stable application of the cleaning liquid to the nozzle surface 204A of the inkjet head 204.


This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present disclosure, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
A vehicle that uses one or more battery systems for providing all or a portion of the motive power for the vehicle can be referred to as an xEV, where the term “xEV” is defined herein to include all of the following vehicles, or any variations or combinations thereof, that use electric power for all or a portion of their vehicular motive force. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) combine an internal combustion engine propulsion system and a battery-powered electric propulsion system, such as 48 volt or 130 volt systems. The term HEV may include any variation of a hybrid electric vehicle. For example, full hybrid systems (FHEVs) may provide motive and other electrical power to the vehicle using one or more electric motors, using only an internal combustion engine, or using both. In contrast, mild hybrid systems (MHEVs) disable the internal combustion engine when the vehicle is idling and utilize a battery system to continue powering the air conditioning unit, radio, or other electronics, as well as to restart the engine when propulsion is desired. The mild hybrid system may also apply some level of power assist, during acceleration for example, to supplement the internal combustion engine. Mild hybrids are typically 96V to 130V and recover braking energy through a belt or crank integrated starter generator. Further, a micro-hybrid electric vehicle (mHEV) also uses a “Stop-Start” system similar to the mild hybrids, but the micro-hybrid systems of a mHEV may or may not supply power assist to the internal combustion engine and operates at a voltage below 60V. For the purposes of the present discussion, it should be noted that mHEVs typically do not use electric power provided directly to the crankshaft or transmission for any portion of the motive force of the vehicle, but an mHEV may still be considered as an xEV since it does use electric power to supplement a vehicle's power needs when the vehicle is idling with internal combustion engine disabled and recovers braking energy through an integrated starter generator. In addition, a plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) is any vehicle that can be charged from an external source of electricity, such as wall sockets, and the energy stored in the rechargeable battery packs drives or contributes to drive the wheels. PEVs are a subcategory of electric vehicles that include all-electric or battery electric vehicles (BEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and electric vehicle conversions of hybrid electric vehicles and conventional internal combustion engine vehicles.
Micro Hybrid technology can use a dual voltage architecture, such as a traditional 12V vehicular electrical system used in conjunction with a lead-acid battery, and a 48 volt vehicular electrical system used in conjunction with a Lithium-ion battery. 12 volt electrical system, as used herein, refers to a traditional vehicular electrical system that operates at a nominal 12 volts. The actual voltage varies dynamically depending in part on the charge state of the battery and the load, and an any point in time can be more or less than 12 volts. 48 volt electrical system, as used herein, refers to a vehicular electrical system that operates at a nominal 48 volts, such as one using an LI-ion battery. The actual voltage varies dynamically depending in part on the charge state of the battery and the load, and an any point in time can be more or less than 48 volts. The 12 volt system can include things such as lights, audio/entertainment, electronic modules and ignition. The 48 volts system can include the A/C compressor, active chassis, and regeneration. These systems support higher power loads and provide redundancy. Typically an 8-10 kW motor/generator captures energy for regeneration, supports re-start and supports higher power loads. A DC/DC converter bridges between the higher 48 volt system and the traditional 12 volt system.
Such a micro hybrid vehicle can change electrical load management due to high power regeneration, and provide for electrification of new loads such as air conditioning, active chassis and safety, electric supercharging, as well as result in increased fuel efficiency.
The DC-DC converter needed for to bridge the systems should be able to provide sufficient power without taking excess space. Moreover, it should be able to withstand the vehicular environment, including high temperatures.


1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method of fabricating a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), and more particularly to a method of fabricating a capacitor in a DRAM.
2. Description of the Related Art
Modern semiconductor fabrication technique in an ultra large scale integration (ULSI) highly increases the circuit density on a chip. The increase of circuit density causes the downsizing of devices and the increase of device packing density. Recently, enhanced resolution of photolithography technique, the development of anisotropic plasma etching and other improvements of semiconductor fabrication have all been advantageous to device downsizing. However, in order to develop towards a further higher circuit density, some breakthrough is required for semiconductor fabrication.
DRAM is a device broadly used in electronic industry for data storage due to the characteristic of increased circuit density in an integrated circuit (IC). The stored information or message is determined by the charges stored in an internal capacitor of a memory cell. The access of data is performed by operating the read/write circuit and the peripheral memory in a chip. A single DRAM memory cell comprises a field effect transistor (FET) and a capacitor as a bit for representing a binary data.
As the number of transistors in a DRAM greatly increases, the dimension of the transistors reduces. Thus, during storing charges, a acceptable signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio is difficult to maintain. By decreasing the charges in a capacitor to enhance the S/N ratio, the refresh cycles for storing charges is correspondingly increased.
Being restricted by the limited available surface area of a capacitor in a memory cell, to supply sufficient capacitance to the chip without increasing the occupied space on the substrate, a special and effective capacitor structure is needed to meet the requirement of semiconductor fabrication. As example, a trench capacitor, a cylinder capacitor, and a stack capacitor have been developed and used. However, due to the high complexity of fabrication, the trench capacitor is not as common as the cylinder capacitor and the stack capacitor. The disadvantages of these structures are the complex process and the high cost of fabrication.
In FIG. 3a to FIG. 3g, a conventional method of fabricating a cylinder capacitor in a DRAM is shown.
Referring to FIG. 3a, on a silicon substrate 300 having a metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) formed thereon, an oxide layer 301 and a silicon nitride layer 302 are formed in sequence. The silicon nitride layer 302 is used as an etch stop in the subsequent etching process.
In FIG. 3b, using photolithography and etching, the silicon nitride layer 302 and the oxide layer 301 are patterned to form an opening 309, so that the silicon substrate 300 is exposed within the opening 309, for example, a doped region in the MOS is exposed. A poly-silicon layer 303 is formed on silicon nitride layer 302 and fills the opening 309.
In FIG. 3c, the poly-silicon layer 303 is etched back until the surface of the poly-silicon layer and the surface of the silicon nitride layer 302 are at a same level.
In FIG. 3d, an oxide layer 304 is formed over the substrate 300. Using photolithography and etching, the oxide layer 304 is patterned to form an opening 310, so that the poly-silicon layer 303 within the opening 310 and a part of the surface of the silicon nitride layer 302 are exposed. A poly-silicon layer 305 is formed to cover the opening 310 and the oxide layer 304, and thus, the poly-silicon layer 303 and the poly-silicon layer 305 are electrically connected. An oxide layer 306 is formed on the poly-silicon 305.
In FIG. 3e, the oxide layer 306 is etched back with the poly-silicon layer 305 as an etch stop. The poly-silicon layer 305 is etched back with the oxide layer 304 as an etch stop.
In FIG. 3f, the remaining oxide layer 306 and the remaining oxide layer 304 are removed by wet etching with the silicon nitride layer 302 as an etch stop.
In FIG. 3g, an insulation layer 307, for example, an oxide/nitride/oxide (ONO) layer, is formed over the substrate 300. A poly-silicon layer 308 is formed on the insulation layer 307. The fabrication of a conventional cylinder capacitor in a DRAM is formed.
In the above method, two photolithography and etching processes are used, so that two photo-masks are required. Thus, the possibility of misalignment is increased, the process is more complex, and the cost of fabrication is high.


1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to cellulose esters and/or ionic liquids. One aspect of the invention concerns processes for producing cellulose esters in ionic liquids.
2. Description of the Related Art
Cellulose is a β-1,4-linked polymer of anhydroglucose. Cellulose is typically a high molecular weight, polydisperse polymer that is insoluble in water and virtually all common organic solvents. The use of unmodified cellulose from wood or cotton products, such as in the housing or fabric industries, is well known. Unmodified cellulose is also utilized in a variety of other applications usually as a film (e.g., cellophane), as a fiber (e.g., viscose rayon), or as a powder (e.g., microcrystalline cellulose) used in pharmaceutical applications. Modified cellulose, including cellulose esters, are also utilized in a wide variety of commercial applications. Cellulose esters can generally be prepared by first converting cellulose to a cellulose triester, then hydrolyzing the cellulose triester in an acidic aqueous media to the desired degree of substitution (“DS”), which is the average number of ester substituents per anhydroglucose monomer. Hydrolysis of cellulose triesters containing a single type of acyl substituent under these conditions can yield a random copolymer that can comprise up to 8 different monomers depending upon the final DS.
Ionic liquids (“ILs”) are liquids containing substantially only anions and cations. Room temperature ionic liquids (“RTILs”) are ionic liquids that are in liquid form at standard temperature and pressure. The cations associated with ILs are structurally diverse, but generally contain one or more nitrogens that are part of a ring structure and can be converted to a quaternary ammonium. Examples of these cations include pyridinum, pyridazinium, pyrimidinium, pyrazinium, imidazolium, pyrazolium, oxazolium, triazolium, thiazolium, piperidinium, pyrrolidinium, quinolinium, and isoquinolinium. The anions associated with ILs can also be structurally diverse and can have a significant impact on the solubility of the ILs in different media. For example, ILs containing hydrophobic anions such as hexafluorophosphates or triflimides have very low solubilities in water, while ILs containing hydrophilic anions such chloride or acetate are completely miscible in water.
The names of ionic liquids can generally be abbreviated according to the following convention. Alkyl cations are often named by the first letters of the alkyl substituents and the cation, which are given within a set of brackets, followed by an abbreviation for the anion. Although not expressively written, it should be understood that the cation has a positive charge and the anion has a negative charge. For example, [BMlm]OAc indicates 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate, [AMlm]Cl indicates 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride, and [EMlm]OF indicates 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium formate.
Ionic liquids can be costly; thus, use of ionic liquids as solvents in many processes may not be feasible. Despite this, methods and apparatus for reforming and/or recycling ionic liquids have heretofore been insufficient. Furthermore, many processes for producing ionic liquids involve the use of halide and/or sulfur intermediates, or the use of metal oxide catalysts. Such processes can produce ionic liquids having high levels of residual metals, sulfur, and/or halides.


1. Field of the Invention
The field of the invention is data processing, or, more specifically, methods, systems, and products for determining a bisection bandwidth for a multi-node data communications network.
2. Description of Related Art
The development of the EDVAC computer system of 1948 is often cited as the beginning of the computer era. Since that time, computer systems have evolved into extremely complicated devices. Today's computers are much more sophisticated than early systems such as the EDVAC. Computer systems typically include a combination of hardware and software components, application programs, operating systems, processors, buses, memory, input/output devices, and so on. As advances in semiconductor processing and computer architecture push the performance of the computer higher and higher, more sophisticated computer software has evolved to take advantage of the higher performance of the hardware, resulting in computer systems today that are much more powerful than just a few years ago.
Parallel computing is an area of computer technology that has experienced advances. Parallel computing is the simultaneous execution of the same task (split up and specially adapted) on multiple processors in order to obtain results faster. Parallel computing is based on the fact that the process of solving a problem usually can be divided into smaller tasks, which may be carried out simultaneously with some coordination.
Parallel computers execute parallel algorithms. A parallel algorithm can be split up to be executed a piece at a time on many different processing devices, and then put back together again at the end to get a data processing result. Some algorithms are easy to divide up into pieces. Splitting up the job of checking all of the numbers from one to a hundred thousand to see which are primes could be done, for example, by assigning a subset of the numbers to each available processor, and then putting the list of positive results back together. In this specification, the multiple processing devices that execute the individual pieces of a parallel program are referred to as ‘compute nodes.’ A parallel computer is composed of compute nodes and other processing nodes as well, including, for example, input/output (‘I/O’) nodes, and service nodes.
Parallel algorithms are valuable because it is faster to perform some kinds of large computing tasks via a parallel algorithm than it is via a serial (non-parallel) algorithm, because of the way modern processors work. It is far more difficult to construct a computer with a single fast processor than one with many slow processors with the same throughput. There are also certain theoretical limits to the potential speed of serial processors. On the other hand, every parallel algorithm has a serial part and so parallel algorithms have a saturation point. After that point adding more processors does not yield any more throughput but only increases the overhead and cost.
Parallel algorithms are designed also to optimize one more resource the data communications requirements among the nodes of a parallel computer. There are two ways parallel processors communicate, shared memory or message passing. Shared memory processing needs additional locking for the data and imposes the overhead of additional processor and bus cycles and also serializes some portion of the algorithm.
Message passing processing uses high-speed data communications networks and message buffers, but this communication adds transfer overhead on the data communications networks as well as additional memory needed for message buffers and latency in the data communications among nodes. Designs of parallel computers use specially designed data communications links so that the communication overhead will be small but it is the parallel algorithm that decides the volume of the traffic.
Many data communications network topologies are used for message passing among nodes in parallel computers. Such network topologies may include for example, a tree, a rectangular mesh, and a torus. In a tree network, the nodes typically are connected into a binary tree: each node typically has a parent and two children (although some nodes may only have zero children or one child, depending on the hardware configuration). A tree network typically supports communications where data from one compute node migrates through tiers of the tree network to a root compute node or where data is multicast from the root to all of the other compute nodes in the tree network. In such a manner, the tree network lends itself to collective operations such as, for example, reduction operations or broadcast operations. The tree network, however, does not lend itself to and is typically inefficient for point-to-point operations. A rectangular mesh topology connects compute nodes in a three-dimensional mesh, and every node is connected with up to six neighbors through this mesh network. Each compute node in the mesh is addressed by its x, y, and z coordinate. A torus network connects the nodes in a manner similar to the three-dimensional mesh topology, but adds wrap-around links in each dimension such that every node is connected to its six neighbors through this torus network. A mesh or a torus network generally lends itself well for point-to-point communications. In computers that use a torus and a tree network, the two networks typically are implemented independently of one another, with separate routing circuits, separate physical links, and separate message buffers. Other network topology often used to connect nodes of a network includes a star, a ring, or a hypercube.
The different network topologies mentioned above each have different characteristics that impact the performance for data communications among the nodes in a network. One important performance characteristic is bisection bandwidth. Bisection bandwidth is the total network bandwidth that can be achieved when nodes from different, approximately equal size network partitions communication with one another. Bisection bandwidth may therefore be used as a measure of the bandwidth through a network bottleneck and may be used to represent the effectiveness of a network at handling injected traffic. Networks having a higher value for bisection bandwidth generally handle injected traffic better than networks having a lower value for bisection bandwidth. Because bisection bandwidth is such an effective measurement of how well any given network handles injected traffic, readers will appreciate any advancement in determining a bisection bandwidth for a multi-node data communications network.


1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a control for controlling the force applied to splitter jaw clutches during engagement and disengagement under various vehicle operating conditions.
The adaptive control may be utilized with a fully or partially automated vehicular transmission system or with the range or, preferably, the splitter section of a controller-assisted, manually shifted transmission.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Compound manually shifted mechanical transmissions of the range, splitter and/or combined range/splitter type are in wide use in heavy-duty vehicles and are well known in the prior art, as may be seen by reference to U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,754,665; 5,272,929; 5,370,013 and 5,390,561, 5,546,823; 5,609,062 and 5,642,643, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. Typically, such transmissions include a main section shifted directly or remotely by a manual shift lever and one or more auxiliary sections connected in series therewith. The auxiliary sections most often were shifted by a slave actuator, usually pneumatically, hydraulically, mechanically and/or electrically operated, in response to manual operation of one or more master switches. Shift controls for such systems by be seen by reference to U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,455,883; 4,550,627; 4,899,607; 4,920,815; 4,974,468; 5,000,060; 5,272,931; 5,281,902; 5,222,404 and 5,350,561, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Fully or partially automated transmission systems wherein a microprocessor-based electronic control unit (ECU) receives input signals indicative of various system operating conditions and processes same according to logic rules to issue command output signals to one or more system actuators are known in the prior art, as may be seen by reference to U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,361,060; 4,593,580; 4,595,986; 4,850,236; 5,435,212; 5,582,069; 5,582,558; 5,620,392; 5,651,292 and 5,679,096; 5,682,790; the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Systems wherein variable force is used to engage auxiliary sections, usually to protect range or splitter section synchronizers, are known in the prior art, as may be seen by reference to U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,186,066; 5,193,410; 5,199,314 and 5,224,392, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.


Known examples of the antibiotics of anthracycline type include daunomycin (daunorubicin; U.S. Pat. No. 3,616,242) and adriamycin (doxorubicin; U.S. Pat. No. 3,590,028), which both may be obtained from the culture broth of a microorganism of actinomycetes. These two compounds exhibit a wide range of antitumor spectra against a variety of experimental tumors and have been used as a chemotherapeutic agent in the clinic practice. Daunomycin and adriamycin are the compound of the general formula ##STR1## wherein R is a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl group. Daunomycin (the compound of the formula (a) above where R is the hydrogen atom) and adriamycin (the compound of the formula (a) where R is the hydroxyl group) can show a fairly high antitumor activity against various kinds of tumors. However, these two compounds are not necessarily an antitumor agent which are completely satisfactory. Thus, daunomycin and adriamycin have been shown to exhibit wide antitumor spectra against the experimental tumors and also have widely been used as a valuable agent for the therapeutic treatment of tumors in the clinic practice. On the other hand, it is known that daunomycin and adriamycin can bring about heavy adverse side-effects that they can cause cardiac toxicity and a decrease in the number of leukocytes and falling-off of the hair in the patients who received the administration of these agents. It is reported that the glycoside linkage between the daunosaminyl group of the formula ##STR2## and the hydroxyl group at the 7-position of daunomycinone or adriamycinone is likely to be broken in vivo by the hydrolysis, and that the moiety of the aglycon as formed by the in vivo hydrolysis, namely the daunomycinone or adriamycinone shows a higher cardiac toxicity than the daunomycin or adriamycin itself.
In the past, therefore, some researches were already made in an attempt to provide new daunomycinrelated compounds which possess a higher anticancer activity and a lower toxicity than daunomycin and adriamycin. For instance, studies for discovering and producing new daumonycin-analogous compounds by fermentative methods, semi-synthetic methods, total synthetic methods or enzymatical conversion methods were conducted. Such particular compounds previously proposed include, for example, aclacinomycins A and B (F. Arcoamone "Topics in Antibiotic Chemistry" Vol. 2, pp. 102-279, published from Elis Horwood Limited, U.S.A.; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,988,315), 4'-O-tetrahydropyranyladriamycin (West Germany Patent No. 2,831,579 and Japanese patent publication No. 47194/81) and N-mono-benzyl- or N-di-benzyl-adriamycin (U.S. Pat. No. 4,177,264).
Further, the specification of U.S. Pat. No. 4,427,664 of Horton et al describes a chemical structure of compounds represented by the general formula ##STR3## wherein R.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom and R.sup.2 is a methoxy group; or R.sup.1 is a hydroxyl group and R.sup.2 is a methoxy group; or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each a hydrogen atom; or R.sup.1 is a hydrogen and R.sup.2 is a hydroxyl group, and X is an iodine, chlorine, bromine or fluorine atom and Y is a hydroxyl group or acetoxy group, and which compounds are of such structure that an aglycon selected from the group consisting of daunomycinone, desmethoxydaunomycinone, adriamycinone and carminomycinone is linked through the oxygen atom at the 7-position thereof to the 1'-position of a sugar of a 2'-halo-.alpha.-L-hexopyranose of the .alpha.-L-manno type or .alpha.-L-talo type. The method of producing a compound of the above formula (b) which is described in the specification of U.S. Pat. No. 4,427,664 is the method wherein an aglycon such as daunomycinone and a glycal, for example, 3,4-di-O-acetyl-L-rhamnal or 3,4-di-O-acetyl-L-fucal, which corresponds to the sugar to be linked to said aglycon are dissolved together in substantially equimolar proportions in a mixture of aprotic organic solvents consisting of anhydrous acetonitrile and tetrahydrofuran and wherein to the resulting solution is then added an iodination agent such as N-iodosuccinimide together with a solvating agent such as dichloromethane at a low reaction temperature so that the aglycon reacts with the said glycal in such way that the glycal used is linked to the 7-hydroxyl group of the aglycon with accompanying by an alkoxyhalogenation of the glycal. According to this method of Horton et al, it happens as described in the specification of said U.S. Pat. No. 4,427,664, that the halogen atom as possessed by the halogenation agent employed is introduced into the 2'-position of the sugar moiety of the compound of the formula (b) formed as the reaction product, and that for instance, when N-iodosuccinimide is employed as the iodination agent, the iodine atom is introduced into the 2'-position of the sugar moiety of the reaction product as obtained.
The U.S. Pat. No. 4,427,664 specification discloses an Experimental Example in which 3,4-di-O-acetyl-L-rhamnal of the formula ##STR4## where Ac denotes an acetyl group here and also hereinafter unless otherwise stated is reacted with daunomycinone and N-iodosuccinimide, with accompanying alkoxyhalogenation of said rhamnal compound, to produce 7-O-(3,4-di-O-acetyl-2,6-dideoxy-2-iodo-.alpha.-L-manno-hexopyranosyl)daun omycinone, as well as another Experimental Example in which 3,4-di-O-acetyl-L-fucal of the formula ##STR5## is reacted with daunomycinone and N-iodosuccinimide with accompanying alkoxyhalogenation of said fucal compound, to produce 7-O-(3,4-di-O-acetyl-2,6-dideoxy-2-iodo-.alpha.-L-talo-hexopyranosyl)dauno mycinone. However, this U.S. Patent specification does not disclose any further experimental Examples.
In the U.S. Pat. No. 4,427,664 specification, the formula (b) appearing therein refers to that X may broadly be an iodine, bromine, chlorine or fluorine atom, but there is not shown any Experimental Examples in which such a compound of the formula (b) where X is the bromine, chlorine or fluorine atom was virtually synthetized. If the one skilled in the art wishes to synthetize a compound of the above formula (b) where X is the bromine, chlorine or fluorine atom, it is expected that in accordance with the method of producing the compound of the formula (b) taught in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,427,664 specification, he will repeat the procedures of the two Experimental Examples as given in said U.S. patent specification using N-bromosuccinimide, N-chlorosuccinimide or N-fluorosuccinimide as the halogenation agent in place of the N-iodosuccinimide employed by Horton et al. Among the above-mentioned three compounds which are expectedly employable as the halogenation agent in place of the N-iodosuccinimide, a substance which is to be represented by the formula ##STR6## and which may be termed as N-fluorosuccinimide is unknown by now, because it is not described before in any literatures with respect to any process of preparing it and with respect to the physical and chemical properties of it, as far as we, the present inventors, have searched numerous literatures. Accordingly, it is evidently considered that a compound which may be termed as N-fluorosuccinimide is an actually unknown substance which was never prepared in the past prior to these days.
Besides, it is to be noted that the fluorine element which may be and have usually been considered to belong to the class or family of halogens is possessing an extraordinarily different and higher electric negativity than the other halogen elements, iodine, bromine and chlorine, and also that, as be well known, the fluorine element shows the chemical behaviors very much different from those of the other halogen elements. Accordingly, even when it is assumed that the N-fluorosuccinimide will have been prepared by any chemical process, it is highly probable that the properties of the chemical linkage between the fluorine atom and the succinimide group existing in the N-fluorosuccinimide as an imaginable compound would be very much different from the properties of the other sorts of a halo group linking to the succinimide group, and that such fluoro group is too strongly or too weakly linking to the succinimide group. For these reasons, it is very much hardly conceivable that the N-fluorosuccinimide can act as a fluorination agent to transfer its fluoro group into a second compound and bring about the fluorination of the latter compound. Accordingly, it is not presumable that the N-fluorosuccinimide, even if prepared, can serve especially as the fluorination agent required in the method of producing the compounds of the formula (b) which is described in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,427,664 specification.
In short, the U.S. Pat. No. 4,427,664 specification describes the chemical structure of the compounds of the above formula (b) where X may broadly be a chlorine, bromine, iodine or fluorine atom. Of the compounds which are designated by the above formula (b), the compounds of the formula (b) where X is a chlorine or bromine atom are shown merely with reference to their chemical structure in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,427,664 specification but were actually not synthetized concretely. Nonetheless, it is admittable that N-chlorosuccinimide and N-bromosuccinimide are a chlorination or bromination agent already known and necessary and available as the halogenation agent in the process of producing such compound of the formula (b) where X=chlorine or bromine, according to said U.S. patent of Horton et al, and therefore it is deducible from the descriptions of the U.S. Pat. No. 4,427,664 specification that the production of such compounds of the formula (b) where X=chlorine or bromine and isolation of such compounds as produced are possible theoretically in accordance with the method of Horton et al as disclosed in said U.S. patent specification. In contrast, however, it is evident that the U.S. Pat. No. 4,427,664 specification does not disclose or teach a process for really producing such compound of the formula (b) where X is the fluorine atom, to such extent that the process would be workable by chemical experts in view of the disclosure of the U.S. Pat. No. 4,427,664, firstly, because the N-fluorosuccinimide which is deemed as necessary as the fluorination agent for the production of the compound of the formula (b) where X=fluorine, according to the disclosed method of Horton et al is a substance which is still unknown up to now and is very much suspicious to be able to act successfully as the necessary fluorination agent for the intended purpose, and secondly, because the U.S. Pat. No. 4,427,664 of Horton et al does nowhere teach how to prepare the N-fluorosuccinimide. Hence, it is worthy to say that such compound of the above formula (b) where X is the fluorine as shown in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,427,664 was a merely imaginary one which was thought by referring to its chemical structure on the papers in the specification of said U.S. patent and of which utility for the intended antitumor agent is very much suspicious. Accordingly, we, do not believe that such special compound of the formula (b) where X is the fluorine atom could be prepared by the chemical experts according to the disclosure of the U.S. Pat. No. 4,427,664.
Furthermore, in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,427,664 specification, there is described by the inventors, Horton et al that the compounds of the formula (b) exhibit the antitumor activities against mouse blood cancer cell, Leukemia P 388. More particularly, this U.S. patent specification describes such antitumor activity of 7-O-3,4-di-O-acetyl-2,6-dideoxy-2-ikodo-.alpha.-L-mannohexopyranosyl) daunomycinone (nominated as Compound NSC 331,962 by Horton et al) as tested against Leukemia P 388 but does not describe any data of the antitumor activity of 7-O-(3,4-di-O-acetyl-2,6-dideoxy-2-iodo-.alpha.-L-talohexopyranosyl)daunom ycinone (nominated as Compound NSC 327,472 by Horton et al). While, according to an article of Horton et al reported in the "Carbohydrate Research" Vol. 136, pp. 391-396 (1985), they obtained experimental results to show that said Compound NSC 331,962 exhibited an antitumor activity that the increase (in %) of survival days of the mice treated, as compared to the mice untreated (control) (namely, T/C, %), was 247% at a dosage of 50 mg/kg of the test compound when the mice as inoculated with Leukemia P 338 were treated by administration of the test compound; and that said Compound NSC 331,962 exhibited an antitumor activity that the increase (in %) of survival days of the mice treated, as compared to the mice untreated (T/C, %), was 196% at a dosage of 25 mg/kg of the test compound when the mice as inoculated with Leukemia L-1210 -were treated by administration of the test compound (a single dose per day, intraperitoneally given for 9 days). Also, the above-mentioned Compound NSC 327,472 experimentally showed such antitumor activities that the increase (%) of survival days of the Leukemia P 388-inoculated mice treated was 172% at a dosage of 12.5 mg/kg to 25 mg/kg of Compound NSC 327,472, whereas the increase (%) of survival days of the Leukemia P 388-inoculated mice treated decreased to 162% at a further increased dosage of 150 mg/kg of the tested compound.
Apart from the above-mentioned researches of Horton et al, we have made studies in an attempt to produce new daunomycin derivatives or adriamycin derivatives which have better antitumor activity and lower toxicity than daunomycin and adriamycin. As a result, we already succeeded to synthetize a few examples of such daunomycin derivative and adriamycin derivative in which the sugar moiety of daunomycin or adriamycin has chemically been modified and which are useful as the antitumor agent. Thus, we reported 4'-O-tetrahydropyranyl-daunomycins and -adriamycins (Japanese patent publication No. 47194/81); and 3'-deamino-3'-morpholino-daunomycins and -adriamycins (Japanese patent application first publication "KOKAI" No. 163393/82).
Further, we have made another studies to provide new compounds which are derived by chemical modification with a fluoro group of the 3'-position or 2'-position of kanamycin A and kanamycin B of the aminoglycosidic antibiotics. Thus, we have succeeded to synthetize 3'-deoxy-3'-fluorokanamycin A (Japanese patent application No. 161615/84; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 758,819; European patent application No. 85 4015757.7); 3'-deoxy-3'-fluorokanamycin B (Japanese patent application No. 262700/84); and 2',3'-dideoxy-2'-fluorokanamycin A (Japanese patent application No. 263759/84; U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 807,485; European patent application No. 85 115901.2).
In this way, we already obtained many findings and experiences in the fluorine chemistry of sugars through our studies where the fluoro group is introduced into kanamycins of the glycosidic antibiotics. Based on these findings and experiences, we have now succeeded to synthetize as a new compound a 4-O-benzyl-protected derivative of methyl 2,6-dideoxy-2-fluoro-.alpha.-L-idopyranoside represented by the formula ##STR7## through a multi-stage process with starting from L-fucose of the formula ##STR8## Further, we succeeded to synthetize from the sugar compound of the above formula (g) methyl 2,6-dideoxy-2-fluoro-.alpha.-L-talopyranoside of the formula ##STR9## as a new compound, and further synthetize from the compound of the formula (h) 2,6-dideoxy-2-fluoro-.alpha.,.beta.-L-talopyranose of the formula ##STR10## as a new compound and also a 3,4-di-O-protected-2,6-dideoxy-2-fluoro-.alpha.-L-talopyranosyl halide of the formula ##STR11## wherein A' is a hydroxyl-protecting group, particularly an acyl group, especially a lower alkanoyl group such as acetyl or an aroyl group such as benzoyl and Y is a chlorine bromine or iodine atom, for example, 3,4-di-O-acetyl-2,6-dideoxy-2-fluoro-.alpha.-L-talopyranosyl bromide as a new compound.
Then, we have now succeeded to produce firstly 7-O-(2,6-dideoxy-2-fluoro-.alpha.-L-talopyranosyl)daunomycinone of the formula ##STR12## as a new compound by reacting the 3,4-di-O-protected-2,6-dideoxy-2-fluoro-.alpha.-L-talpyranosyl halide of the above formula (j) with the 7-hydroxyl group of daunomycinone and then removing the residual hydroxyl-protecting groups (A') from the resulting reaction product.
Furthermore, by converting the 14-methyl group of the compound of the above formula (k) into a hydroxymethyl group (--CH.sub.2 OH) by treatment with a mild oxidizing agent, we have now succeeded to produce firstly 7-O-(2,6-dideoxy-2-fluoro-.alpha.-L-talopyranosyl)adriamycinone of the formula ##STR13## as a new compound. We also have found that the new compound of the formula (k) and the new compound of the formula (l) have excellent antitumor activities and low toxicities and that the glycoside linkage at the 7-hydroxyl group of these new compounds shows a high stability against hydrolysis by acid. Accordingly, the new compound of the formula (k) and the compound of the formula (l) are interesting for use as antitumor agent owing to their low toxicities coupled with their excellent antitumor activities as demonstrated hereinafter. These new compounds of the formulae (k) and (l) have also high antibacterial activities and are useful as antibacterial agent.
Accordingly, there is provided an anthracycline derivative represented by a general formula ##STR14## wherein R is a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl group (Japanese patent application No. 282798/85; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 942,773; European patent application No. 86 117 662.6).
Of the compounds of the general formula (m), 7-O-(2,6-dideoxy-2-fluoro-.alpha.-L-talopyranosyl)daunomycinone of the formula (k) is in the form of red colored solids having a specific optical rotation [.alpha.].sub.D.sup.25 +197.degree. (c 0.02, chloroform-methanol (1:1)). 7-O-2,6-dideoxy-2-fluoro-.alpha.-L-talopyranosyl)adriamycinone of the formula (l) is in the form of red colored solid having a specific optical rotation [.alpha.].sub.D.sup.25 +194.degree.(c 0.01, chloroform-methanol (1:1)).
We have confirmed by animal tests that the compounds of formula (m) exhibit significantly high antitumor activities on experimental tumors and that the level of their antitumor activities is much higher than those of daunomycin and adriamycin, coupled with an acceptably low level of toxicities. Some typical tests on experimental animal tumors are given below.


1. Technical Field
The disclosed embodiments relate in general to a control method of sound producing, a sound producing apparatus for a portable device, and a portable apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
A speaker reproducing audible sound is typically limited to its maximum excursion, temperature rising, transducer's non-linearity and its corresponding amplifier induced nonlinearity. In general, a speaker is driven under a rated power for a long period, and under a maximum power in a short period, which are determined by the manufacturer. The driven power restrictions confine the maximum excursion as well as temperature rising of a speaker in a safe range. For a reproduced signal of a large dynamic range without any distortion, the loudness of the speaker is small, especially for a handheld device under the power restrictions. Consequently, a dynamic range compression (DRC) technology has been introduced in a speaker system for decades so as to trade-off the distortion and loudness under the power restrictions.


1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cordless telephone apparatus having an antenna gain control circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a cordless telephone comprises a base station, which is connected to a wire telephone network, and a plurality of movable portable sets. The base station and the portable sets are connected to each other by a wireless or radio network. In the conventional cordless telephone apparatus, in a case where the portable set initiates a call, a predetermined key pad button is pressed in the portable set. A signal for setting a talking channel is then input into a control circuit of the movable portable set. A resultant talking channel setup is transmitted through an antenna via the wireless network to the base station.
The base station receives the transmitted radio signals from the portable set, and modulates the received signal. The modulated signal closes a line switch provided in a hybrid circuit via a baseband circuit of the base station. The wire telephone network and the base station are connected to each other by the line switch, and talking can be performed between the base station and the wire telephone over a line wire. The control circuit of the base station transmits a signal to the portable set by wireless, to indicate that the base station and the wire network are connected to each other.
In a case where telephone communications using two portable sets A and B are simultaneously performed, if the portable set A is positioned close to the base station and the portable set B is positioned further away from the base station, the base station receives a high field intensity radio signal from the portable set A and a low field intensity radio signal from portable set B. When the receiver of the base station receives the radio signal from the portable set B, its receiving sensitivity for the radio signal from portable set B is relatively the communication quality with the portable set B is accordingly worsened. The signal/noise may be deteriorated to the point that the base station cannot receive radio signals transmitted the portable set B and a connection between the portable set B and the base station will not be made.


Migraine is a chronic condition with recurrent episodic attacks. It is rather unpredictable illness with its characteristics varying among patients. This unpredictability and variability is also observed within migraine attacks observed in a single patient. Among the most distinguishing features of a migraine is a potential disability caused by the accompanying headache and nausea with or without vomiting as well as extreme sensitivity to sound and light (Headache, 39: 720-727 (1999)). Because of the variability and complexity of the condition, effective management of patients suffering from migraines is challenging.
Migraine headaches which are considered “primary headaches” are about three times more common in women than in men. Geographically, the occurrence of migraine headaches varies significantly and ranges from 1.5% in Southeast Asia to 14% in Western countries (GRIM, Cephalalgia, 12:229 (1992); JAMA, 267:64-69 (1992) and Pharmacoeconomics, 11: 1-10 (Suppl.1)(1997)).
Systemic administration of anti-migraine and anti-nausea drugs orally to patients has not been very successful, in part because migraine is often accompanied by nausea and the orally administered drugs are vomited before they can take effect. The only viable route of administration for treatment of nausea and/or migraine is the intravenous or another injectable administration. These typically require a visit at the doctor's office or hospital. The failure to successfully treat migraine or nausea is thus based on a delivery method rather than on the drug effectiveness.
The vaginal delivery route of drugs through the vaginal mucosa to the uterus and/or to the general circulation has been discovered by inventors and is disclosed, for example, in the U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,086,909, 6,197,327 and 6,572,874 and in a co-pending application Ser. No. 10/600,849 and 10/349,029, all hereby incorporated by reference.
As well as the vaginal delivery route described in the above cited patents and application works, there is still some need for improvement, particularly as it concerns an efficacious quantitative drug delivery.
The current invention thus concerns an improved transmucosal delivery of anti-migraine and anti-nausea drugs through vaginal mucosa directly to uterus or to the general circulation which is more efficacious due to a more quantifiable sequestration of the drug within the impermeable layer or layers covering a proximal portion of the vaginal device.
It is therefore a primary objective of this invention to provide a vaginal device, such as a tampon, tampon-like foam or another vaginal device which is coated, or of which a proximal portion is coated, with a fluid impermeable layer(s) of film, foil, foam or xerogel forming a strip or an attached or removable cap or cup wherein said impermeable layer further comprises a mucoadhesive composition comprising an anti-migraine or anti-nausea drug, or a combination of both, said composition being released and delivered from said layer(s) substantially quantitatively through the vaginal mucosa into the uterus and/or to the general circulation.


The subject matter disclosed herein relates to amusement park attractions, and more specifically, to providing augmented experiences in amusement park attractions.
Amusement parks or theme parks may include various entertainment attractions in providing enjoyment to guests (e.g., families and/or people of all ages) of the amusement parks. For example, the attractions may include a ride attraction (e.g., closed-loop track, dark ride, thriller ride, or other similar ride), and there may be themed environments along the ride that may be traditionally established using equipment, furniture, building layouts, props, decorations, and so forth. Depending on the complexity of the themed environments, this could prove to be very difficult and time-consuming to setup and replace the themed environment. It may also be very difficult to setup a themed environment that is entertaining for all passengers on the ride. The same themed environment may be appealing to some passengers, but not others.
In addition, due to different motion paths and/or different view perspectives of the passengers in the ride vehicle, it may be difficult to provide the same ride experience to all passengers. For example, passengers sitting in the front row may have better view and thus a more immersive ride experience than passengers in the back row. It is now recognized that it is desirable to include attractions where it may be possible to change attraction themes, or to include or remove certain themed features in such attractions in a flexible and efficient manner relative to traditional techniques. It is also now recognized that it may be desirable to provide an immersive and more personalized or customized ride experience for all passengers.


The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to systems and/or methods for image registration and, more particularly, but not exclusively, to systems and/or methods for registration of ultrasound and Computed Tomography CT and/or Magnetic Resonance (MR) images.
Physicians may use several imaging modalities when examining the heart of a patient. Each imaging modality may provide better imaging detail of some tissue types and/or tissue functionalities, but poor imaging of other tissue types and/or functionalities. Therefore, several different modalities may be used to gain an overall clinical picture.
Ultrasound may be used to provide dynamic and/or functional information of the beating heart. Ultrasound may also provide images of the function of the cardiac valves. Computed tomography may provide detailed examination of the heart structure, for example, chambers, blood vessels, connective tissue and/or muscle tissues. However, due to limitations in radiation exposure of the patient, fewer samples may be acquired at different stages of the cardiac cycle, yielding high quality images at some time phases and low quality images at other time phases.
US and CT imaging modalities may be different in terms of, for example, image artifacts, intensity levels and/or spatial shape differences. The differences may be due to physical processes related to image formation of each modality. Ultrasound images are obtained by echo (i.e., reflection) of acoustic waves. CT images are obtained from X-rays, optionally accompanied by injected contrast agents. The differences in the image modalities raise difficulties in registering the US and CT images.
Various attempts have been made to align US and CT images, in order to fuse the information of both modalities and enable better diagnosis, follow up and visualization during treatment procedures. However, the differences in the modalities, for example, image artifacts, intensity levels, and spatial shape differences due to physics related to image formation in each modality, have made image registration challenging.
Huang et al., “Rapid dynamic image registration of the beating heart for diagnosis and surgical navigation.” IEEE Trans Med Imaging. 2009 November; 28(11):1802-14. discloses “ . . . a rapid two-step method for registering RT3D US to high-quality dynamic 3-D MR/CT images of the beating heart. This technique overcomes some major limitations of image registration (such as the correct registration result not necessarily occurring at the maximum of the mutual information (MI) metric) using the MI metric.”


The present invention relates to an automatic-reverse tape player, and more particularly to an operation switching mechanism for use in such an automatic-reverse tape player.
Automatic-reverse cassette tape players are widely used in automobiles. Many of these automatic-reverse cassette tape players have a common motor for rotating capstans and reel bases for the purpose of saving electric energy. In ordinary cassette tape players, the rotational speed of a reel base varies depending on the diameter of the tape being wound or unwound on the reel base in a play mode in which the tape is fed at a constant speed by a pair of capstans and a pair of pinch rollers. A slip mechanism is associated with the reel base for allowing the tape that is fed at the constant speed by the capstans and the pinch rollers to be wound on the reel base without being slackened or excessively tensioned.
The tape transport mechanism of an automatic-reverse cassette tape player has a pair of slip mechanisms associated with the respective reel bases for feeding the tape at a constant speed in opposite directions. When the tape is fed at the constant speed, rotational forces are transmitted from one of a pair of flywheels rotated in different directions by one capstan motor selectively to one of the slip mechanisms associated with the respective reel bases depending on the direction in which the tape is transported. A pair of intermediate rotatable idlers is disposed between the pair of flywheels and the pair of slip mechanisms. The pair of flywheels and the pair of intermediate rotatable idlers make the entire mechanism complex and result in an increased number of parts. Since the intermediate rotatable idlers are spaced from each other, delicate timing has been required to control the switching between the intermediate rotatable idlers in synchronism with the switching between the pinch rollers, and it is tedious and time-consuming to adjust such timing.
It is widely known to control the switching between the directions in which the tape is transported, the switching to a fast feed mode, and the loading and ejecting of the tape with a combination of a reversible control motor and cam gears. For example, there is known a switching mechanism for effecting the above switching operations with an intermediate cam gear swingable into mesh with one of the cam gears, each having tooth-free regions, depending on the direction in which the control motor rotates.
With the known structure, the cam gears are concentrically stacked one on the other, and hence are of a complex structure as a whole in their transverse direction. Furthermore, the cam gears do not have a large layout freedom as various members of the switching mechanism and the cam gears are coupled to each other in one position. It has been difficult to achieve delicate timing for controlling reciprocating movement of the loading and tape transport mechanisms while the cam gears are reciprocally rotating through about 360.degree..


The present invention relates to a filter/separator for a vehicle air conditioning system, and more particularly to a filter/separator which functions as a filter and as a separator as well.
A conventional air conditioning system for vehicles includes a compressor, a condenser with a cooling fan, a filter for filtering water and other undesired articles contained in coolant, an expansion valve, an evaporator, a blower, and a separator installed between the compressor and the condenser for separation of gaseous coolant and liquid coolant to prevent liquid coolant from entering into the compressor. Nevertheless, the lowering of temperature of the coolant leaving the compressor by the cooling fan of the condenser is not efficient. In addition, the filter is installed in an engine hood which is exposed to a high-temperature environment, rendering the temperature in the filter to be higher than atmospheric temperature. Accordingly, the temperature of coolant cannot be efficiently and effectively lowered, resulting in bad air conditioning, inefficient compressor operation, and energywaste.
The present invention provides a filter/separator to mitigate and/or obviate the aforementioned problems.


Multicore optical fibers (MCFs) are single fiber strands created with multiple cores to guide light. MCFs are currently being considered for use in telecommunications, data center communications, and high-performance computing applications. It is believed that spatial division multiplexing with MCFs (i.e., using each core as a separate channel) will enable higher fiber bandwidth and channel density than traditional single-core fibers. While fiber manufacturers are presently developing MCF prototypes, numerous commercialization issues remain, including fiber-to-fiber connectorization and fiber-to-photonics interfacing at the ends of each link. Accordingly, there is a need for new optical coupling systems capable of relaying and transmitting optical signals between MCFs and other optical devices for use with such MCFs.


1. Field
The aspects of the disclosed embodiment generally relate to substrate processing systems and, more particularly, to accessing internal areas of the substrate processing system.
2. Brief Description of Related Developments
Generally, conventional load locks, for example, in substrate processing systems have a housing that forms an internal chamber. This internal chamber may house substrates being processed within the substrate processing system. Generally, access is provided to this internal chamber through a manually operated or automatically operated atmospheric door and/or a flat removable lid on the top surface of the load lock. Access to the internal chamber through these conventional atmospheric doors or lids is substantially limited and may require sliding or lifting mechanisms to allow for an exchange of the substrates or other suitable payload within the internal chamber.
It would be advantageous to provide a load lock or other suitable processing tool with substantially unhindered access for exchanging a payload or substrate located within an internal chamber of the load lock or processing tool without additional mechanical devices such as sliding (e.g. drawers) or lifting mechanisms that move the workpieces substantially in and out of the load lock or other workpiece handling module.


The N-formyl peptide receptor like-1 (FPRL-1) receptor is a G protein-coupled receptor that is expressed on inflammatory cells such as monocytes and neutrophils, as well as T cells and has been shown to play a critical role in leukocyte trafficking during inflammation and human pathology. FPRL-1 is an exceptionally promiscuous receptor that responds to a large array of exogenous and endogenous ligands, including Serum amyloid A (SAA), chemokine variant sCKβ8-1, the neuroprotective peptide human, anti-inflammatory eicosanoid lipoxin A4 (LXA4) and glucocorticoid-modulated protein annexin A1. FPRL-1 transduces anti-inflammatory effects of LXA4 in many systems, but it also can mediate the pro-inflammatory signaling cascade of peptides such as SAA. The ability of the receptor to mediate two opposite effects is proposed to be a result of different receptor domains used by different agonists (Parmentier, Marc et al. Cytokine & Growth Factor Reviews 17 (2006) 501-519).
Activation of FPRL-1 by LXA4 or its analogs and by Annexin I protein has been shown to result in anti-inflammatory activity by promoting active resolution of inflammation which involves inhibition of polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) and eosinophil migration and also stimulate monocyte migration enabling clearance of apoptotic cells from the site of inflammation in a nonphlogistic manner. In addition, FPRL-1 has been shown to inhibit natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity and promote activation of T cells which further contributes to down regulation of tissue damaging inflammatory signals. FPRL-1/LXA4 interaction has been shown to be beneficial in experimental models of ischemia reperfusion, angiogenesis, dermal inflammation, chemotherapy-induced alopecia, ocular inflammation such as endotoxin-induced uveitis, corneal wound healing, re-epithelialization etc. FPRL-1 thus represents an important novel pro-resolutionary molecular target for the development of new therapeutic agents in diseases with excessive inflammatory responses.
JP 06172288 discloses the preparation of phenylalanine derivatives of general formula:
as inhibitors of acyl-coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase derivatives useful for the treatment of arteriosclerosis-related various diseases such as angina pectoris, cardiac infarction, temporary ischemic spasm, peripheral thrombosis or obstruction.
Journal of Combinatorial Chemistry (2007), 9(3), 370-385 teaches a thymidinyl dipeptide urea library with structural similarity to the nucleoside peptide class of antibiotics:

WO 9965932 discloses tetrapeptides or analogs or peptidomimetics that selectively bind mammalian opioid receptors:

Helvetica Chimica Acta (1998), 81(7), 1254-1263 teaches the synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of 4-chlorophenyl isocyanate (1-chloro-4-isocyanatobenzene) adducts with amino acids as potential dosimeters for the biomonitoring of isocyanate exposure:

EP 457195 discloses the preparation of peptides having endothelin antagonist activity and pharmaceutical compositions comprising them:

Yingyong Huaxue (1990), 7(1), 1-9 teaches the structure-activity relations of di- and tripeptide sweeteners and of L-phenyl alanine derivatives:

FR 2533210 discloses L-phenyl alanine derivatives as synthetic sweeteners:

WO2005047899 discloses compounds which selectively activate the FPRL-1 receptor represented by the following scaffolds:


I. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to control of machines and particularly to eliminating relative misalignment of a plurality of driving means spaced along the length of a moveable member, the member being propelled by the driving means to move linearly transverse to its length and the misalignment being measured parallel to the direction of motion.
II. Description of Related Art
An example of machine construction giving rise to misalignment of driving means of a machine member, referred to as skew, is illustrated in FIG. 1. Machine member 20 is moveable along rails 24 and 26 as indicated by the double ended arrow "X". Skew is defined as a difference of the positions of the driving means or driven points of machine member 20 as measured relative to a common reference and parallel to the axis of motion. For example, in FIG. 1 skew is represented by a difference in the values of X' and X". Movement of member 20 is imparted by, respectively, actuators 28 and 30 driving through transmissions or gear trains 32 and 34, respectively, at distal ends 21 and 22. It will be appreciated that machine constructions may include additional driving means spaced along the length of member 20. The driving means may include, for example, pinions engaging racks on the rails to propel member 20. Other driving devices may be included in the driving means for driving member 20 such as, for example, nuts rotated by actuators and engaging screws mounted parallel to the rails.
Member 20 and driving means 28 and 30 are arranged to propel member 20 linearly along the rails 24 and 26, the rails being substantially parallel to one another and substantially perpendicular to member 20. Skew may introduce binding of member 20 against rails 24 and 26 as well as poor engagement of the driving means. Skew can result in unsatisfactory response of actuators 24 and 26 to the control thereof and may result in excessive mechanical wear or damage to member 20, rails 24 and 26 or the driving means. Skew may arise as a result of forces acting on member 20 during periods when actuators 28 and 30 are not energized and therefore not active to maintain positions of ends 21 and 22. In light of the adverse consequences of skew, it is desirable to eliminate skew before initiation of extensive motion of member 20.
It is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,045,660 to return a machine member to a desired location following power interruption using values of measured position determined upon power loss and upon power restoration. It is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,484,287 to restore a moveable machine member to a desired position following power interruption by storing position information in a nonvolatile memory upon power loss for recall upon restoration of power. From U.S. Pat. No. 5,013,988 it is known to use presettable counters in conjunction with absolute encoders to create and update absolute position data, the data being updated so long as power is applied to the measuring system. From U.S. Pat. No. 4,629,955 it is known for control of motion of a machine member driven at distal ends to vary servomechanism gain of the driving means to eliminate skewing therebetween. The control of this patent provides only for reduction of skew attributable to differences in loading on the driving means during execution of motion. Servomechanism position control effected in accordance with this patent does not provide for detection, reduction or elimination of skew between the driving means upon application or restoration of power.
The controls of the aforesaid references addressing restoration of position after power interruption all rely on absolute position information which is immediately available upon application or restoration of power. However, in the event sufficient absolute position data is not available on application of power, it must be determined from position transducers. Sufficient position data will not exist if, during a period when position control is disabled, positional changes are not monitored and the range of position measurement transducers is less than the potential magnitude of positional change or the output of the position transducers while the machine member is stationary do not provide any indication of position whatsoever. Position transducers of the latter type include incremental or semi-absolute encoders, which are favored for providing high resolution position measurement over extended distances.


1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an exposure apparatus and a method for producing a device in which a substrate is exposed with a pattern via a projection optical system and a liquid.
2. Description of the Related Art
Semiconductor devices and liquid crystal display devices are produced by the so-called photolithography technique in which a pattern formed on a mask is transferred onto a photosensitive substrate. The exposure apparatus, which is used in the photolithography step, includes a mask stage for supporting the mask and a substrate stage for supporting the substrate. The pattern on the mask is transferred onto the substrate via a projection optical system while successively moving the mask stage and the substrate stage. In recent years, it is demanded to realize the higher resolution of the projection optical system in order to respond to the further advance of the higher integration of the device pattern. As the exposure wavelength to be used is shorter, the resolution of the projection optical system becomes higher. As the numerical aperture of the projection optical system is larger, the resolution of the projection optical system becomes higher. Therefore, the exposure wavelength, which is used for the exposure apparatus, is shortened year by year, and the numerical aperture of the projection optical system is increased as well. The exposure wavelength, which is dominantly used at present, is 248 nm of the KrF excimer laser. However, the exposure wavelength of 193 nm of the ArF excimer laser, which is shorter than the above, is also practically used in some situations. When the exposure is performed, the depth of focus (DOF) is also important in the same manner as the resolution. The resolution R and the depth of focus δare represented by the following expressions respectively.R=k1·λ/NA  (1)δ=±k2·λ/NA2  (2)
In the expressions, λ represents the exposure wavelength, NA represents the numerical aperture of the projection optical system, and k1 and k2 represent the process coefficients. According to the expressions (1) and (2), the following fact is appreciated. That is, when the exposure wavelength λ is shortened and the numerical aperture NA is increased in order to enhance the resolution R, then the depth of focus δ is narrowed.
If the depth of focus δ is too narrowed, it is difficult to match the substrate surface with respect to the image plane of the projection optical system. It is feared that the margin is insufficient during the exposure operation. Accordingly, the liquid immersion method has been suggested, which is disclosed, for example, in International Publication No. 99/49504 as a method for substantially shortening the exposure wavelength and widening the depth of focus. In this liquid immersion method, the space between the lower surface of the projection optical system and the substrate surface is filled with a liquid such as water or any organic solvent so that the resolution is improved and the depth of focus is magnified about n times by utilizing the fact that the wavelength of the exposure light beam in the liquid is 1/n as compared with that in the air (n represents the refractive index of the liquid, which is about 1.2 to 1.6 in ordinary cases).
However, the conventional technique as described above involves the following problem. The exposure apparatus, which is disclosed in International Publication No. 99/49504, is constructed such that the liquid is supplied and recovered to form the liquid immersion area on a part of the substrate. In the case of this exposure apparatus, for example, when the substrate stage is moved to the load/unload position in order to unload the substrate having been placed on the substrate stage and load a new substrate in a state in which the liquid in the liquid immersion area is not recovered sufficiently after the completion of the liquid immersion exposure, there is such a possibility that the liquid, which remains on (adheres to) the end portion of the projection optical system, the liquid supply nozzle, and/or the liquid recovery nozzle, may fall onto surrounding units and members including, for example, the guide surface of the stage and the reflecting surface for the interferometer for the stage.
Further, when the liquid remains on the optical element disposed at the end portion of the projection optical system, the remaining liquid leaves any adhesion trace (so-called water mark) on the optical element disposed at the end portion of the projection optical system after the evaporation of the remaining liquid. There is such a possibility that any harmful influence may be exerted on the pattern to be formed on the substrate during the exposure process to be subsequently performed. It is also assumed that the liquid immersion area is formed during any process other than the exposure process, i.e., when the reference mark member and/or the reference plane member arranged around the substrate on the substrate stage is used. In such a situation, there is such a possibility that the liquid in the liquid immersion area cannot be recovered sufficiently, the adhesion trace may remain on the member as described above, and the liquid remaining on the member as described above may be scattered.


The present invention provides a process for the rapid and efficient production and examination of polyurethane (“PU”) foam-forming formulations in which only a small amount of material is required.
Screening of PU foam formulations is generally carried out by hand. Laboratory packets containing from 200 to 300 g of foam are produced after all of the ingredients have been manually weighed, mixed together in a bench stirrer, and the mixture has been poured into paper packets. Disadvantages of this manual screening are the low maximum throughput of 15 packets per day per technician, poor reproducibility resulting from the non-documenting of errors/deviations in weighing, stirring times, stirrer speed, etc., and a laborious determination by hand of reaction parameters such as the cream time, full rise time, fiber time and tack-free time.
A problem when conducting physical testing of PU foams is that the removal of a plurality of identical sample bodies in accordance with the DIN standard (sample size at least 125 cm3) is virtually impossible due to flow distance phenomena and fluctuations in density (up to 10%) and to the limited sample quantity from one identical batch. Additionally, destructive testing techniques frequently also mean that the sample body can be used only for a single measurement thereby necessitating the use of a plurality of packets which are as nearly identical as possible but which may frequently have properties which differ from one another (for example, differences in densities or in open cell content). Defined storage times must be observed before the samples are examined, in order to avoid or standardize ageing of the samples due to cell gas exchange.


1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a quick joint for liquid tight joining of lines under high pressure and comprising a sleeve shaped female part and a male part being introducible into said female part, whereby a male part related to the female part comprises a cylindrical part being introducible into the female part the envelope surface of which presents a groove having a certain width, which groove receives a ring being axially displaceable between the two walls of the groove, which ring has substantially the same thickness as the depth of the groove, and which female part comprises a cylindrical space for receiving the cylindrical part of the male part, the envelope surface of said space is provided with at least a groove for receiving elastically movable locking means out off and into the cylindrical part, which means in a locking position cooperates with the edge of the groove being situated closest to the outer end of the male part and which locking means are displaceable out off their locking position by an movement of the ring towards said outer end edge, which movement is made possible by pressing the male part into the female part until the locking means are brought into a frictional engagement with the outer side of the ring. In particular the invention relates to the female part of such a quick joint.
2. Description of Related Art
A quick joint according to above is known from EP 0 375 674 and is provided with a ring of spring steel. Such a ring of spring steel provides for a necessary locking at normal hydraulic applications but there is a risk that it will become deformed at extremely high hydraulic pressures. If the locking ring is given larger dimensions in order to withstand higher loads it will become much harder to mount the ring in its groove within the female joint part.
PCT/SE96/00593 discloses a quick joint of the type given above, as well, wherein a ring shaped flange is coaxially arranged on the outer side of the groove of the envelope surface for receiving locking means being elastically movable out off and into the cylindrical space, and wherein the locking means comprises at least three arc shaped segments arranged in said groove which segments are forced into a an angular position by an elastic element to take a locking position in relation to the symmetrical longitudinal axis of the female part, in which angular position the segments together takes the shape of a truncated cone which supports with its broader base against the outer side of the groove of the female part, radially on the outer side of the flange.
These known quick joints become in order to be tight, torsional rigid, which means that those hoses which are connected to the joint will take much of optional rotational movements, such as e.g., at hydraulically operated timber-cutting apparatuses where a front cutting head is rotated in several different planes to facilitate cutting, delimbing and lumber distribution.


1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a shift clock generator for generating a shift clock, a timing generator for generating predetermined timing and a test apparatus for testing electronic devices.
2. Related Art
Conventionally, a test apparatus for testing electronic devices such as a semiconductor device is provided with a timing generator for generating predetermined timing. For example, the test apparatus supplies a test pattern to the electronic device with the timing generated by the timing generator. The timing generator generates the predetermined timing by receiving a reference clock and by delaying the reference clock by a predetermined time.
The timing generator has a variable delay circuit section for receiving the reference clock and for delaying the reference clock by the predetermined time and a linearize memory for controlling a value of delay in the variable delay circuit section for example. The variable delay circuit section has a plurality of delay elements in general. The linearize memory stores a delay preset value corresponding to linearization of the predetermined value of delay in the variable delay circuit section. Based on the data stored in the linearize memory, the variable delay circuit section delays the reference clock by passing the reference clock through a route of predetermined delay elements. Although the data stored in the linearize memory is set in advance by design information of the plurality of delay elements, an error occurs between the value of delay in the variable delay circuit section and the delay preset value which is the predetermined value of delay due to dispersion in manufacturing the plurality of delay elements and to ambient temperature in using the delay elements for example.
Conventionally, in order to compensate the error, a shift clock having a phase which is different from that of the the reference clock by a predetermined value is generated and the shift clock is outputted to the outside to measure a compensation value of the value of delay of the shift clock by using a measuring instrument and to linearize the value of delay. The shift clock is compared with the output of the variable delay circuit section to detect the error of the value of delay and to select the data to be stored in the linearize memory based on the error.
Presently, the present applicant is unaware of related patent documents, so that description thereof will be omitted here.
Conventionally, in order to generate the shift clock having the predetermined phase difference from the reference clock, pulses are inputted to the shift clock to phase-shift the shift clock by a method as described later in connection with FIGS. 3 and 4. Conventionally, the shift clock is phase-shifted by counting pulses of the shift clock and by inserting insertion pulses per predetermined count. However, there is a case when the phase shift amount of the shift clock does not change linearly with respect to the number of insertion pulses and this method causes an error in the phase shift amount of the shift clock when the phase shift amount of the shift clock does not change linearly with respect to the number of insertion pulses.
There is also a method of using a memory for storing a number of pulses to be inserted per predetermined phase shift amount in order to eliminate such error. However, in order to accurately measure the value of delay in the variable delay circuit section, resolution of the phase shift amount must be increased and a memory having a wide range of addresses is required. Still more, the number of pulses to be inserted must be stored in each address. Because the number of pulses to be inserted is normally around one to several thousands and such memory must have several tens bits in each address, a memory having a large capacity is required.


1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a seat carried on a vehicle such as an automobile, an airplane, a ship and an electric train.
2. Description of Related Art
As shown in FIG. 8, in a front seat for an automobile, in order to prevent small items from falling from a gap between a seat cushion 110 and a central control station C towards an action area A of a lift mechanism (not shown) of the seat cushion 110, a cover member 117 hanging towards the lower side of the seat cushion 110 is provided on the side portion of the seat cushion 110 so as to cover the gap (see Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2013-226932 (JP 2013-226932 A)).
In this case, the seat cushion 110 comprises a cushion frame 111 and a cushion cover 115 which covers an outer side of a cushion frame 111 that serves as a base body of the vehicle seat such that a soft cushion (not shown) is interposed between the cushion frame 111 and the cushion cover 115. The cushion cover 115 is integrated with the cushion frame 111 by engaging a hook 116 with a lower end portion 111a of the cushion frame 111. At this time, the lower end portion 111a of the cushion frame 111 is located lower than the position of the cushion cover 115 on the side of the central control station C, and is located on the inner side of the seat cushion 110. Thus, the position of the hook 116 also is the same position, and the lower end portion of the cushion cover 115 is bent to be separated from the central control station C. Thus, the action area A of the lift mechanism on the lower portion of the seat cushion 110 is opened on the side of the central control station C, and small items can fall easily. As a countermeasure, in the invention of JP 2013-226932 A, the action area A is closed on the side of the central control station C by stitching the cover member 117 on the cushion cover 115.
However, according to the vehicle seat described in JP 2013-226932 A, since the cover member 117 is newly provided, there exists a problem that the manufacture cost rises. For example, the time for trimming the cover member 117 is unnecessarily spent. Moreover, the time for stitching the cover member 117 on the cushion cover 115 is also unnecessarily spent.


1. Field of The Invention
This invention relates to air conditioner filters.
More specifically this invention relates to electrostatic air conditioner filters.
2. Prior Art
Prior art shows several filters incorporating layers and electrostatic filtering.
This technology dates back for some time. Most of the patents related to electrostatic filtering are improvements on the technology.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,904,288 to d'Augereau shows electrostatic filtering utilizing a waved steel mesh similar to aluminum screening in order to create turbulence and pockets for dust to collect. d'Augereau and patents cited therein show multiple layer electrostatic and regular air filters.
The egg crate design of the polypropylene layers described in this specification are also well known in the art in U.S. Pat. No. 2,724,457.
One problem with the prior art is that the utilization of electrostaticly charged elements involves the excessive dependence on layers impeding the air flow. This reduces the effectiveness of the air conditioner, increases energy use and results in difficulty in cleaning the unit.
Another problem in the prior art is the use of metallic elements grounding and reducing the effectiveness of the electrostatically charged element.
It is therefore one object of the invention to provide for an electrostatic filter made with non-metallic parts so that the electrostatic element retains a greater charge and is not grounded.
It is another object of the invention to provide an electrostatic air filter allowing for greater air flow with less resistance and therefore greater efficiency for the air conditioning unit and less strain on the air conditioning motor.
It is another object of the invention to provide a layered air filter which is both efficient and easy to clean for reuse.
These and other objects of the invention may be more readily observed from the accompanying drawings and detailed description given below.


1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to health related data analysis and more particularly relates to an apparatus system and method for rapid cohort analysis.
2. Description of the Related Art
Most corporations, including health insurance corporations, maintain a high volume of data. Such data may be analyzed and exploited for valuable information regarding business trends, and other important statistics. Data mining is a common strategy for identifying and analyzing such data.
There are many various forms of data mining. Custom analytic operations may be developed to meet specific needs. Alternatively, commercially available statistical analysis tools, such as Statistical Analysis Software (SAS) may be used to identify statistical trends in data.
Health insurance companies typically maintain databases of health insurance claim information, demographic information, and other data about health insurance plan members. Such information may be used to gain valuable insights into disease causes, progressions, and potential cures. Unfortunately, typical methods for analyzing such data are often cumbersome, costly, and require unworkably high processing times and resources.
The referenced shortcomings are not intended to be exhaustive, but rather are among many that tend to impair the effectiveness of previously known techniques disease management; however, those mentioned here are sufficient to demonstrate that the methodologies appearing in the art have not been satisfactory and that a significant need exists for the techniques described and claimed in this disclosure.


The present invention is directed to emitting biofluids from drop ejection units, and more particularly to priming mechanisms used to obtain proper drop ejection sensing and controlling the level of biofluid within drop ejection devices.
Various designs have been proposed for the ejection of biofluids which permit the high-speed printing of sequences and arrays of drops of biofluids to be used in various tests and experiments. In the present discussion, a biofluid, also called a reagent, may be any substance used in a chemical reaction to detect, measure, examine or produce other substances, or is the substance which is to be detected, measured, or examined.
Biofluid ejection devices find particular utility in the depositing of drops on to a substrate in the form of a biological assay. For example, in current biological testing for genetic defects and other biochemical aberrations, thousands of the individual biofluids are placed on a glass substrate at different well-defined locations. Thereafter, additional depositing fluids may be deposited on the same locations. This printed biological assay is then scanned with a laser in order to observe changes in the biofluid property.
It is critical in these situations that the drop ejection device not be a source of contamination or permit unintended cross-contamination between different biofluids. Also, due to the high cost of these biofluids, and the importance of positioning properly formed drops at highly precise locations, it is important that the drop ejectors operate correctly at the start of the drop ejection process.
In view of the foregoing, it has been considered desirable to provide priming mechanisms which ensure the proper delivery of biofluids to an ejector device in a timely, useful manner.


Reinforcements provide structural support without a significant increase in cost and weight. For instance, reinforcements may be used in automobiles to reinforce cavities formed by various parts of the automobile such as a pillar, bumper, etc. To properly transfer loads from one side of the structure to the other, the reinforcement may have features that generally match the inner surfaces of the cavity in which the reinforcement is placed.
Reinforcements may be provided with an adhesive or bonding material that secures the reinforcement within a given cavity. Generally, such materials are provided on outer surfaces of the reinforcement in order to engage corresponding surfaces of the cavity upon insertion of the reinforcement into the cavity. However, such materials may be easily damaged prior to assembly, e.g., during shipping or handling of the reinforcement. Additionally, adhesive materials may be relatively soft, tacky, or otherwise difficult to handle directly, resulting in added difficulty in handling and/or installing the reinforcement.