Provided is a height adjustable suspension unit that can smoothly lift and lower a vehicle body without the need to supply fluid to a shock absorber. The height adjustable suspension unit includes: a shock absorber S having a cylinder 1 and an extensible rod 2 disposed in the cylinder 1 to be able to advance and retract, the extensible rod 2 having an end portion that is coupled to a chassis X; a coil spring 4 mounted around the extensible rod 2, the coil spring 4 having a lower end supported on a spring base 3 that is attached to the upper end of the cylinder 1; and a lifting and lowering mechanism D including a gear mechanism A that is rotationally driven by a power source, a power conversion section B that converts power transmitted from the gear mechanism A into power to move the cylinder 1 up and down, and a guide section C that guides the up and down movement of the cylinder 1.

In recent years, regulations on vehicle height have been relaxed as more emphasis has been placed on running stability and vehicle design, regardless of the type of vehicle—minivan, sports utility vehicle, and the like. As a result, there has been an increasing number of low-floor vehicles (vehicles with low ground clearance). While the low-floor vehicles have contributed to improving running stability and vehicle design mentioned above, they sometimes require adjustment of height when running onto a sidewalk (stepped portion) or coming down from a sidewalk to a road, for example.
A conventional height adjustable suspension unit, produced in response to the need, is now described with reference to FIG. 12. The conventional height adjustable suspension unit includes: a shock absorber S having a cylinder 50 connected to an axle (not shown) and an extensible rod 51 disposed in the cylinder 50 to be able to advance and retract, the extensible rod 51 having at its end a screw portion 52, which passes through a chassis X and to which a nut N is screwed and fixed; a coil spring 55 mounted around the extensible rod 51, the coil spring 55 having a lower end supported on an annular spring base 56 that is attached to the cylinder 50; a cylinder 60 through which the extensible rod 51 passes in the axial direction, the cylinder 60 being fixed to the chassis X; and a plunger 70 inserted into a fluid pressure chamber 80 of the cylinder 60, the plunger 70 being movable along the extensible rod 51 in the axial direction while being in contact with the coil spring 55.
The cylinder 60 has an annular contact portion 61 that is in contact with the chassis X and with the outer circumferential surface of the extensible rod 51; and a tubular covering portion 62 for covering the plunger 70, the tubular covering portion 62 being suspended from the periphery of the annular contact portion 61. The contact portion 61 has an annular groove 61a in its inner circumferential surface, and a packing P is fitted in the groove 61a to ensure sealing between the contact portion 61 and the extensible rod 51.
The plunger 70 includes: an annular rod-side sliding portion 71 that is slidable along the extensible rod 51; a tubular covering portion 72 for covering the outside of the coil spring 55, the tubular covering portion 72 being suspended from the periphery of the annular rod-side sliding portion 71; an annular cylinder-side sliding portion 73 that is slidable along the inner circumferential surface of a lower end opening 63 of the cylinder 60; and a flange-shaped stopper 74 for regulating upward movement of the cylinder 60 by coming into contact with the opening end surface of the cylinder 60, the stopper 74 being disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the lower end of the cylinder-side sliding portion 73 to project radially outward. The annular rod-side sliding portion 71 of the plunger 70, similarly to the contact portion 61 of the cylinder 60, has an annular groove 71a, and a packing P is fitted in the groove 71a. Thus, the plunger 70 is slidable along the extensible rod 51 while at the same time sufficient sealing is ensured. The cylinder-side sliding portion 73 also has a similar packing P on its outer peripheral surface. Thus, the plunger 70 is slidable along the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder 60 while at the same time sufficient sealing is ensured therebetween.
The fluid pressure chamber 80, through which fluid flows in and out, is formed between the inner surface of the cylinder 60 and the outer surface of the plunger 70. The fluid pressure chamber 80 includes: an annular upper space 80a formed between the contact portion 61 of the cylinder 60 and the rod-side sliding portion 71; and a tubular lateral side space 80b formed between the covering portion 62 of the cylinder 60 and the covering portion 72 of the plunger 70.
The cylinder 60 is provided with an attaching portion for an air valve (not shown), through which air is introduced or discharged to and from the fluid pressure chamber 80, and a certain valve is attached to the air valve attaching portion. An example of an air supply and discharge device for use includes an air tank and a compressor connected to the air tank. Such an air supply and discharge device is mounted on the chassis X to introduce air into a vehicle height adjusting unit from the air tank by the operation of a switch provided in the driver seat.
Supply of air is carried out according to a driver's determination. A driver can adjust vehicle height by appropriately adjusting the amount of air supply, not only when driving on roads of different levels, but also when driving on a rough road with bumps or driving on a flat asphalt paved road.
Described here is a manner in which the conventional height adjustable suspension unit is used. FIG. 12 illustrates a state in which: the fluid pressure chamber 80 has not been supplied with fluid (air); the stopper 74 of the plunger 70 is in contact with the opening end surface of the cylinder 60; and the extensible rod 51 of the cylinder 50 is retained at a low ground clearance position by the elastic force of the coil spring 55.
When height adjustment is needed to run onto a sidewalk (stepped portion), fluid (air) is supplied to the fluid pressure chamber 80 in the state of FIG. 12. Then, the air supplied to the fluid pressure chamber 80 presses the flat end surface of the rod-side sliding portion 71 and the annular flat surface of the cylinder-side sliding portion 73 of the plunger 70, as shown in FIG. 13, thereby pushing the plunger 70 downward. In this process, the coil spring 55 is moved downward with its length unchanged, without being compressed and deformed by the air, and the cylinder 50 is moved downward proportionately with the movement of the plunger 70. As a result, the shock absorber extends out, and the chassis X which has been kept at a low ground clearance position is lifted, so as to allow the vehicle to run over a stepped portion without causing any damage to the chassis X.
As another example of a conventional height adjustable suspension unit, one known suspension unit includes: a drive gear disposed concentrically about an end of a rod attached to a chassis; a tubular male screw mounted concentrically about the rod to mesh with the drive gear; and a tubular female screw that is threadedly engaged with the male screw, the tubular female screw being suspended from a spring receiving member disposed at the upper end of a coil spring.
With this height adjustable suspension unit, when the drive gear is rotated, the male screw starts turning while the female screw remains fixed. Thus, vehicle height can be adjusted by the movement of the male screw toward and away from the female screw.
Prior Art Document
Patent Document
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Hei-11-108100


An electrolyte for a rechargeable lithium battery that includes a non-aqueous organic solvent, a lithium salt, and an electrolyte additive. The electrolyte additive includes 2 to 6 wt % of succinonitrile, 2 to 6 wt % of alkane sultone, and 1 to 3 wt % of vinylethylene carbonate based on the total weight of the electrolyte.

1. Field
This disclosure relates to an electrolyte for a rechargeable lithium battery including an additive and a rechargeable lithium battery including the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Lithium rechargeable batteries have recently drawn attention as a power source of small portable electronic devices. They use an organic electrolyte solution and thereby have twice the discharge voltage of a conventional battery using an alkali aqueous solution, and accordingly have high energy density.
As for negative active materials of a rechargeable lithium battery, various carbon-based materials such as artificial graphite, natural graphite, and hard carbon, which can all intercalate and deintercalate lithium ions, have been used.
For positive active materials of a rechargeable lithium battery, chalcogenide compounds that are composite metal oxides such as LiCoO2, LiMn2O4, LiNiO2, LiNi1−xCoxO2 (O<x<1), LiMnO2, and the like have been researched.
For an electrolyte, a lithium salt dissolved in a non-aqueous solvent including ethylene carbonate, dimethyl carbonate, diethyl carbonate, and the like has been used.
During the initial charge of a rechargeable lithium battery, lithium ions, which are released from the lithium-transition metal oxide positive electrode of the battery, are transferred to a carbon negative electrode where the ions are intercalated into the carbon. Because of its high reactivity, lithium reacts with the carbon negative electrode to produce Li2CO3, LiO, LiOH, etc., thereby forming a thin film on the surface of the negative electrode. This film is referred to as an organic solid electrolyte interface (SEI) film. The organic SEI film formed during the initial charge not only blocks (or prevents) the reaction between lithium ions and the carbon negative electrode or other materials during charging and discharging, but it also acts as an ion tunnel, allowing the passage of only lithium ions. The ion tunnel blocks (or prevents) the disintegration of the structure of the carbon negative electrode, which causes organic solvents in an electrolyte with a high molecular weight to make solvate lithium ions, and the solvent and the solvated lithium ions co-intercalate into the carbon negative electrode. Once the organic SEI film is formed, lithium ions do not again react with the carbon electrode or other materials such that an amount of lithium ions is reversibly maintained.
However, problems may occur in which gases are generated inside the battery using carbonate-based organic solvents due to decomposition of a carbonate based organic solvent during the organic SEI film-forming reaction. These gases include H2, CO, CO2, CH4, C2H6, C3H8, C3H6, etc. depending on the type of non-aqueous solvent and negative active material used. Due to gas generation inside the battery, battery may be expanded during charge. In addition, a SEI film is slowly disintegrated by electrochemical energy and heat energy, which increase with the passage of time when the fully charged battery is stored at high temperatures after it is charged, for example, if it is stored at 85° C. for four days after a 100% charge at 4.2 V. Accordingly, a side reaction in which an exposed surface of the negative electrode reacts with surrounding electrolytes occurs continuously to generate gases. The internal pressure of the battery increases with this generation of gases.
Therefore, there is a need to develop an electrolyte additive to suppress an internal pressure increase by preventing or reducing this generation of gases during SEI film-forming reactions, and also to improve capacity retention at a high temperature.

Electrolyte for rechargeable lithium battery including additives, and rechargeable lithium battery including the same


An apparatus is provided to stack a fuel cell stack by pressurizing a separating plate component including a membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) sheet component, in which gas diffusion layers are bonded to both surfaces of an MEA, respectively. The apparatus include a component aligning unit connected to a completion end of a component transfer route of a conveyor to align the separating plate component and the MEA sheet component transferred by the conveyor to predetermined positions. A component stacking unit is installed at the component aligning unit side, and is configured to grip the separating plate component and the MEA sheet component and stack the components on a stack guide. A component pressurizing unit is installed at an upper side of a transfer route, through which the stack guide is transferred, and is configured to pressurize the separating plate component and the MEA sheet component stacked on the stack guide.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an automatic fuel cell stack assembling system, and more particularly, to an apparatus for rapidly stacking a fuel cell stack, which stacks fuel cell components at a high speed.
(b) Description of the Related Art
As generally known in the field, a fuel cell stack is a type of power generating device that generates electrical energy through an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen by fuel cells, and is applied to, for example, a fuel cell vehicle. The fuel cell stack is formed by an electricity generating assembly, in which several hundred fuel cells (unit cells) are continuously arranged. The fuel cell has a configuration in which separate plates are disposed at both sides of a membrane electrode assembly (MEA). The fuel cells may be fastened together by an end plate and a fastening device in a pressurized state.
The aforementioned fuel cell stack may be manufactured by a process of stacking fuel cells one by one, pressurizing the stacked fuel cells with a force while the fuel cells are disposed between upper and lower end plates, and fastening the end plate using the fastening device. In the related art, a fuel cell stack is manufactured by manually and collectively stacking fuel cells using a predetermined guide mechanism, or dividing and stacking the fuel cells in a unit of a small module and manually stacking the fuel cells in the unit of the small module. Therefore, according to the related art, a general cycle time based on the stacking, pressurizing, and fastening of the fuel cells may be disadvantageous, and reliability of the fuel cells may deteriorate.
In addition, to manufacture a fuel cell stack, supply and examination of respective components configuring the fuel cells, a stack method satisfying handling and securing a stack of the components, and air-tightness (e.g., an air seal) maintenance and a stack fastening process through pressurizing the fuel cells is not required to be performed. However, in the related art, the aforementioned processes are manually performed, thus causing productivity to deteriorate due to an increase in operation hours for assembling the fuel cell stack and quality of the fuel cell stack may deteriorate since a stack degree of the fuel cells cannot be guaranteed.
The above information disclosed in this section is merely for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Apparatus for rapidly stacking fuel cell stack


A method and system provide for sensing multiple wavelengths simultaneously in a single wavelength sensing device. The system may have a plurality of laser signals and a plurality of identifiable modulation signals. A respective laser signal of the plurality of laser signals is combined with a respective identifiable modulation signal of the plurality of identifiable modulation signals so that each of the laser signals is identifiable. A combined optical signal is then formed from the modulated laser signals. A sensor has an input port that receives the combined optical signal. The sensor identifies, for each of the modulated laser signals, a respective laser signal via the identifiable modulation of the respective modulated laser signal.

Wavelength division multiplexing systems typically have multiple, separately modulated laser systems at a transmitter location. These laser systems are designed or actively tuned to operate at different wavelengths. When these laser emissions are combined in an optical fiber, the resulting wavelength division multiplexed optical signal has a corresponding number of separated channels. Along the transmission length, the channels may be collectively amplified by amplifier systems or gain fibers. At the receiving end, the channels are separated from each other to thereby enable detection by separate detectors.
The advantage of wavelength division multiplexing systems is that the transmission capacity of a single fiber can be increased. Modem wavelength division multiplexing systems have hundreds of spectrally separated channels per fiber. This yields increases in the data rate capacities of each fiber. Furthermore, the cost per bit of data in a wavelength division multiplexing system is typically less than in a comparative non-multiplexed system. This is because optical amplification systems required along the link are shared by all of the separate wavelength channels transmitted in the fiber. With non-multiplex systems, each channel/fiber would require its own amplification system.
However, there are difficulties associated with implementing a wavelength division multiplexing system. First, the transmitters and receivers are substantially more complex since, in addition to the laser emitters and receivers, optical components are required to combine the channels into, and separate the channels from, the wavelength division multiplexing optical signal. Furthermore, there is a danger of channel drift where the channels loose their spectral separation and overlap each other. This interferes with channel separation and demodulation at the receiving end.
Optical networks that have many wavelengths require wavelength control. Typically, wavelength control is performed at each laser source. At the laser source, a wavelength is sensed and then adjusted accordingly. In order to support this process, the system must provide either a plurality of wavelength sensing components or a switching network to present laser outputs sequentially to a single wavelength sensing component. Current wavelength sensing components sense only one wavelength at a time. The response of a first wavelength typically obscures the response of a second wavelength, which makes identifying the wavelength requiring adjustment and the direction of adjustment difficult. Thus there is a need for the ability to sense multiple wavelengths simultaneously in a single sensing device.

Methods and apparatus for sensing multiple wavelengths simultaneously in a single wavelength sensing device


The present disclosure provides touch communication devices that can convey touch information to a human user and/or receive touch information from the human user. As one example, a touch communication device can include a plurality of tactile units. The touch communication device can individually control each of the tactile units to apply a respective pressure to a surface adjacent to such tactile unit. For example, the touch communication device can control the plurality of tactile units to convey a touch communication to a human user that has the touch communication device adjacent to a portion of his body. As another example, the touch communication device is configured to determine a counter-pressure applied to each tactile unit by the surface adjacent to such tactile unit. The touch communication device can generate information descriptive of a touch communication performed by the human user on the touch communication device.

The sense of touch allows one to experience different sensations such as: pleasure, pain, heat, cold, or other sensations. Thus, touch is an important aspect of how humans experience and interact with the world around them.
Touch communication refers to the ways and mechanisms by which people communicate and interact via the sense of touch. One of the most significant aspects of touch communication is the ability to convey non-verbal, inter-personal communication. Thus, touch communication can be an important component of interpersonal relationships.
Further, with the development of advanced computing technologies, touch communication has become a viable means for communication between a human and a machine. For example, a user can communicate a certain request to a computing device by providing a certain touch communication. As one example, a user can drag her finger upwards on a touch-sensitive display screen of a smartphone to request that the smartphone perform a scrolling operation on a document (e.g., email or webpage) displayed on the display screen.


A system for analyzing a tissue sample includes two wavelength-division multiplexers and a fiber coupler. The first wavelength-division multiplexer combines visible and near infrared electromagnetic radiation and directs the combined electromagnetic radiation to the fiber coupler. The fiber coupler emits a sample beam of visible and near infrared electromagnetic radiation toward a tissue sample, and a reference beam of visible and near infrared electromagnetic radiation toward a reference mirror. The sample beam reflects off the tissue sample back to the fiber coupler. The reference beam reflects off the reference mirror back to the fiber coupler. The fiber coupler combines the reflected sample and reference beams and directs the combined electromagnetic radiation to the second wavelength-division multiplexer. The second wavelength-division multiplexer sends visible electromagnetic radiation from the sample and reference beams to a first spectrometer, and near infrared electromagnetic radiation from the sample and reference beams to a second spectrometer.

Elastic light scattering spectroscopy is a technique for analyzing tissue samples as a result of the interaction between electromagnetic radiation (such as light) and the tissue sample. Optical coherence tomography ("OCT") is one technique for performing elastic light scattering spectroscopy. OCT allows for resolution of structural aspects of a tissue sample. However, this technique can present limitations on depth penetration and depth resolution, as well as imaging speed. Aspects of the present disclosure provide a new optical imaging system and methods that solves this problem and other problems.

Systems and methods for fiber-based visible and near infrared optical coherence tomography


A device for existing gurneys to allow for transfer of a litter on a helicopter onto the gurney has a raised platform. The raised platform is configured to be positioned on top of the gurney, wherein a top surface of the raised platform is approximately level with a device for transferring the litter from the helicopter to the gurney.

When a patient is transported by a helicopter, the patient is generally placed onto a litter. The litter is then loaded onto a helicopter to transport the patient to a health care facility. Once the helicopter lands on a heliport of the healthcare facility, a gurney from the healthcare facility is bought to the helicopter. The litter, with the patient, is then transferred from the helicopter to the gurney by medical personnel.
While the gurney is adjustable in height, present gurneys are too short and do not extend up to the bottom of the door opening in the helicopter. Thus, there is generally a 1-2 feet difference between the height of the helicopter door and the top of the gurney. This height differential may cause injuries to the medical personnel transferring the patient. When unloading the litter, medical personnel may injure their hands when unloading the litter to the gurney as their hands/fingers may get caught under the litter when moving the litter to the gurney. The injuries caused by such a mishap may be as minor as a scratch and or cut to one or more fingers to as serious as a sprain or broken finger(s). Further, the height differential requires medical personnel transferring the patient to lift and lower the gurney to the litter which may cause possible shoulder, back, arm or other injuries.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a system and method that overcomes the above. The system and method would provide for an extension or raised platform which is placed on top of the gurney to place the top of the gurney level with the helicopter. The stretcher may then be on the same level as the gurney and slide directly onto the gurney.

Gurney attachment for use in helicopter transport and method therefor


These are devices and methods of delivering calibration or control information to a device, such as an analyte monitor. The devices may include a first portion configured to be grasped by the hand of the user, and a second portion including a reservoir and a flexible neck. The reservoir may contain a control material that contains a target analyte in a known or predetermined concentration.

In this specification where a document, act or item of knowledge is referred to or discussed, this reference or discussion is not an admission that the document, act or item of knowledge or any combination thereof was at the priority date, publicly available, known to the public, part of common general knowledge, or otherwise constitutes prior art under the applicable statutory provisions; or is known to be relevant to an attempt to solve any problem with which this specification is concerned.
Currently, analyte monitoring devices, such as blood glucose monitors, include a method of executing a "control fluid" test to determine if the device is functioning according to the manufacturer's expectations. Typically, users complete a "control" test by dispensing a variable amount of fluid onto a test strip from a vial packaged with the test kit. This vial contains a fluid within a known analyte concentration. After the users dispense the fluid onto the test strip the analyte monitor assumes the fluid is a body fluid and provides a result as usual. The device and/or the user can compare the concentration of target analyte measured by the device with the known concentration contained in the control solution as a measure of the accuracy of the monitoring device.
Current systems require the user to dispense the calibration fluid from a vial containing several doses of calibration fluid. When dispensing the fluid the user must take care not to spill the fluid on the device, or on the testing surface. Completing a control test also requires that users have the dexterity to deliver a small droplet of control solution from a vial onto the test strip; this is especially difficult when diseases such as diabetes affect the patient's vision and tactile sensation.
A typical calibration or control test requires the following steps:                1. users find their control vial        2. ensure that the control solution is still within its expiration limits        3. find a test strip        4. insert the test strip into the device or meter        5. place the device into "control test mode" (if applicable)        6. shake the bottle of solution        7. open the control vial (using two-hands)        8. carefully squeeze out enough control solution onto the test strip or the finger, taking care not to damage the analyte monitor by dispensing too much fluid        9. accurately deliver the control solution to the analyte monitor        10. compare the result of the control test versus the stated control range which may or may not be listed on the control vial        11. mark the control test in their logbook so that health care professionals can remove this test from the users monthly averages if so desired.
Currently many users of analyte monitors find executing a control test to be a burdensome experience that they often ignore. By ignoring the control test users often will acquire erroneous information from their monitors, and this information may then be used to adjust drug treatments. The use of inaccurate information can lead to serious consequesnces, such as hypoglycemia in diabetes patients from a dosage of insulin that is too high.
While certain aspects of conventional technologies have been discussed to facilitate disclosure of the invention, Applicants in no way disclaim these technical aspects, and it is contemplated that the claimed invention may encompass or include one or more of the conventional technical aspects discussed herein.

Calibration material delivery devices and methods


A bearing or rolling bearing may comprise a stationary first bearing ring and a second bearing ring that is arranged in a rotatable manner about a longitudinal axis relative to the first bearing ring. The bearing may have a first sensor and a second sensor, which are contactless measuring sensors. The first sensor and the second sensor may each have a sensor surface. The first sensor may be positioned opposite an at least partly circumferential reference edge, and the second sensor may be positioned opposite a reference surface. The first sensor can measure a degree of overlap between the sensor surface of the first sensor and the reference edge. The second sensor can measure a distance, in particular a radial distance, between the sensor surface of the second sensor and the reference surface.

Bearings are used to guide structural parts movably with respect to each other, for example, by two bearing rings arranged concentrically about each other, one of which is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner, with the rings rolling directly or indirectly against each other. Depending on the size and construction of the bearing, substantial forces may be absorbed. Since such bearings are often installed in hard-to-reach locations, it is desirable to identify the need for servicing of the bearing well in advance, for example on account of wear, in order to keep the down time for the bearing due to servicing as short as possible. Wear usually involves an abrasion of material or damage such as cracks or chipping, especially at the surfaces absorbing the forces.
It is known, for example from EP 0922 870 A1, to install a contact pin in a bore of a bearing ring, the contact pin protruding with a certain play, such as a tenth of a millimeter, in a groove of the oppositely situated bearing ring. If the wear is large enough that the oppositely situated bearing ring touches the contact pin, the pin relays a signal indicating a need for servicing to a corresponding device. The drawback here is that the known solution can only qualitatively recognize a need for servicing, i.e., whether or not wear is present, but does not allow for any quantitative wear measurement.
Furthermore, it is known, for example from the publications WO 2008/135 123 A1, EP 529 354 B1 and DE 10 2007 020 940 B3, to provide high-frequency coils on a cage of a rolling bearing, whereby the coils induce eddy currents in a surface of a bearing ring situated opposite the cage. By measuring the eddy current density, it is possible to ascertain the radial distance from the surface and thus perform a measurement of the load or the wear in the radial direction. The drawback here is that only a radial change in distance is detected. A loading or a wear in the axial direction cannot be identified with these systems.
Finally, it is known from WO 2014/090 347 A1 to provide at least one sensor taking measurements in a noncontact manner opposite a non-steplike contour of a bearing ring. The sensor may be an inductive sensor, a capacitive sensor, an ultrasound sensor or an eddy current sensor. Thanks to the non-steplike contour, such as a ramp or a V-shaped contour, an axial displacement can also be detected. The drawback here, however, is that the radial and the axial components in the event of a combination of radial and axial displacement caused by wear or a loading situation cannot be clearly separated from each other, since in both cases the sensor or the sensors detect a change in distance along the non-steplike contour. In each instance, the contour must be fabricated extremely exactly and the bearing, or at least the sensor, must be adjusted very exactly in relation to the non-steplike contour, requiring substantial labor expense.
Thus a need exists for a bearing with sensors having a simple and compact construction and making possible a comprehensive monitoring of wear, in particular a quantitative measurement of wear, as well as a measuring of load during the ongoing operation. Likewise, a corresponding method is needed to provide for monitoring wear and/or measuring a load.

Bearing and method for monitoring wear and/or measuring a load


A mobile insurance architecture includes a wireless communication interface that connects mobile client devices to wireless networks. An insurance server cluster that includes a group of independent network servers operates and appears to mobile client devices as if the group of independent network servers were a single computer server. An adaptive transmission controller communicates with the insurance server cluster and processes content in multiple mobile formats that may be optimized to the screen sizes of the mobile client devices. The insurance server cluster responds to native application clients resident to the mobile client devices. The native application clients contain code stored on a non-transitory media that render insurance quoting services, insurance claims services, on-line insurance policy services, usage based insurance services, mobile monitoring services, or insurance agency management services.

1. Technical Field
This disclosure relates to insurance devices, systems, and methods, and more particularly to a mobile architecture that supports mobile applications that may be accessible through or executed by mobile devices.
2. Related Art
Insurance often requires back-office operations and customer interactions to optimize customer relationships and achieve growth. The operations may require collaboration between insurance representatives and customers to capture new business, service existing business, and resolve insurance issues such as claim handling and fulfillment. The process requires regular communication to service customers and attract new business.
From an insurer's perspective a higher level of communication is required to maintain operational visibility, customer relationships, and support core business processes. Such processes may include the management of distribution channels, commissions, collaboration with insurance agent partners, billing, claim evaluations, payments, and the capture and processing of insurance information. The support needed to generate and deliver insurance products that support these functions and others is not a straight through automated process that may be serviced and sustained by a limited network bandwidth or through one or more general purpose computers. Such functions have yet to be serviced or empowered by a mobile architecture.


A method and an apparatus for forming a profile groove in an elongated key blank having a key blade with opposite side surfaces. The profile groove is formed in a surface of the key blank by a punching or a broaching tool with at least one tooth. The punching or broaching tool is forced and guided longitudinally in parallel to the key blank so as to cut out the material of the key blank into the desired profile shape, corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the at least one tooth. At the same time, the opposite side surfaces portions of the key blank are clamped or held firmly between opposite holding surfaces of a fixture, causing a firm abutment and retaining action on the longitudinal side surface portions of the key blank located adjacent to and all along the profile groove being formed.

The normal way of forming profiles grooves in the sides of a key blank made of a durable material, such as brass, or so called "nickel silver", or some other metal alloy, is to use a rotating cutter disc which operates in a side surface of the key blank so that the material is cut away and a groove is formed, while moving the axis of the cutter disc linearly along the key blank.
However, the shape of the profile groove formed by such a conventional method is limited. Of course, the disc can be oriented at an angle relative to the key blank surface, and it is also possible to modify the shape of the peripheral, active surface of the cutter disc to some extent. Even so, there are numerous geometrical shapes of profile grooves that need other or additional forming methods, in particular undercut profile grooves of various geometrical shapes.
It is known per se to use linearly guided punching tools with one or more teeth, such as broaches with several teeth, for making profile grooves in key blanks. See e.g. the published international patent application WO/2010/095997 (WINLOC AG), page 2, last paragraph. Such tools are guided and forced linearly in parallel to the key blank while forming a profile groove, such as an undercut groove.
However, there are limitations as to the possible geometrical shapes that can be made with such punching tools. The forces are very strong, and there is a clear risk that the material of the key blade will start to float adjacent to the groove being formed in this way, especially if the wall between the inside of the groove and the outer surface of the key blank is relatively thin Thus, there is a great risk that the key blade will be deformed during this forming process, making the finished key useless.

Method and apparatus for forming a profile groove in a key blank


A data management platform server that organizes and transforms data in a 3-tier data structure. The server comprises an application stored in a memory that transforms data into profiles. The application stores the profiles to a profile data store. The application selects a first profile subset from the profiles based on a first criterion. The application selects a second profile subset form the profiles based on a second criterion, where at least some of the profiles in the first profile subset are not in the second profile subset and wherein at least some of the profiles in the second profile subset are not in the first profile subset. The application stores the first profile subset and the second profile subset to a profile data store. The application receives a request from an ad gateway for the first profile subset and transmits the first profile subset to the ad gateway.

Ads may be sent to mobile communication devices, such as mobile phones, to be presented on the display of the mobile communication device. For example, when a browser or game application is active, ads may be presented in portions of the display, such as in a banner ad location at the top of a screen or down at the bottom of a body of content that may be seen as a user of the device scrolls down through the content. The different locations where an ad may be presented on the mobile communication device and/or in a screen of an application on the device may be referred to as slots. Slots may be available at the top of a screen, on the right side of the screen, on the left side of the screen, at the bottom of the screen, or at other locations in the screen. Increasingly, advertisers are interested in more effective targeting of advertisements to mobile communication devices. Advertisements that are presented by mobile communication devices may be referred to as mobile advertisements or mobile ads.
Mobile ads that match a profile of a user of a mobile communication device tend to be more successful in eliciting behavior that the advertiser desires, for example the user buying an advertised product or promoting a memory of the product in the mind of the user. Such ads may be referred to as targeted ads. Targeted ads may be employed in different scenarios. In a first scenario, an advertiser wants a particular mobile ad to be sent to a number of mobile devices, for example to 1000 devices and/or users of the devices, and wants the profile of the users to match the particular mobile ad. For example, an advertiser wants to send an advertisement for a luxury car to 1000 devices and/or users of the devices and wants those 1000 users to be selected from a larger population of device users (for example, a population of 1,000,000 users in a particular metropolitan area) based on an annual income associated with the selected users. In a second scenario, an application on a mobile communication device requests a mobile ad from an advertising gateway or source of mobile ads, and the advertising gateway wants to select one mobile ad from a large number of mobile ads stored in an ad repository to match the selected ad to a profile of the device and/or the user of the device. For example, the advertising gateway searches an ad repository for a mobile ad for presenting on the mobile device of a 45 year old man with a high income. In this case, the search may return a mobile ad for a luxury car. Both the first scenario and the second scenario may be referred to as targeted advertising.

Three tier data structures for targeting data


The present invention provides a compound of formula I and the use thereof for the therapeutic treatment of disorders relating to or affected by the 5-HT6 receptor.

Various central nervous system disorders such as anxiety, depression, motor disorders, etc., are believed to involve a disturbance of the neurotransmitter 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) or serotonin. Serotonin is localized in the central and peripheral nervous systems and is known to affect many types of conditions including psychiatric disorders, motor activity, feeding behavior, sexual activity, and neuroendocrine regulation among others. The effects of serotonin are regulated by the various 5-HT receptor subtypes. Known 5-HT receptors include the 5-HT1 family (e.g. 5-HT1A), the 5-HT2 family (e.g. 5-HT2A), 5-HT3, 5-HT4, 5-HT5, 5-HT6 and 5-HT7 subtypes.
The recently identified human 5-hydroxytryptamine-6 (5-HT6) receptor subtype has been cloned, and the extensive distribution of its mRNA has been reported. Highest levels of 5-HT6 receptor mRNA have been observed in the olfactory tubercle, the striatum, nucleus accumbens, dentate gyrus and CA1, CA2 and CA3 regions of the hippocampus. Lower levels of 5-HT6 receptor mRNA are seen in the granular layer of the cerebellum, several diencephalic nuclei, amygdala and in the cortex. Northern blots have revealed that 5-HT6 receptor mRNA appears to be exclusively present in the brain, with little evidence for its presence in peripheral tissues. The high affinity of a number of antipsychotic agents for the 5-HT6 receptor, in addition to its mRNA localization in striatum, olfactory tubercle and nucleus accumbens suggests that some of the clinical actions of these compounds may be mediated through this receptor. Therefore, 5-HT6 receptor ligands are believed to be of potential use in the treatment of certain CNS disorders such as anxiety, depression, epilepsy, obsessive compulsive disorder, attention deficit disorder, migraine, cognitive memory enhancement (e.g. for the treatment of Alzheimer""s disease), sleep disorders, feeding disorders (e.g. anorexia or bulimia), neurodegenerative disorders (e.g. stroke or head trauma), panic attacks, withdrawal from drug abuse (e.g. cocaine, ethanol, nicotine or benzodiazepines), schizophrenia, or the like; or in the treatment of certain gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome.
Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide compounds which are useful as therapeutic agents in the treatment of a variety of central nervous system disorders related to or affected by the 5-HT6 receptor.
It is another object of this invention to provide therapeutic methods and pharmaceutical compositions useful for the treatment of central nervous system disorders related to or affected by the 5-HT6 receptor.
It is a feature of this invention that the compounds provided may also be used to further study and elucidate the 5-HT6 receptor.
These and other objects and features of the invention will become more apparent by the detailed description set forth hereinbelow.
The present invention provides an indolylalkylamine derivative of formula I
wherein
Q is SO2, CO, CONR9 or CSNR10;
n is an integer of 2 or 3;
R1 and R2 are each independently H, halogen, CN, OCO2R12, CO2R13, CONR14R15, CNR16NR17R18, SOmR19, NR20R21, OR22, COR23 or a C1-C6alkyl, C2-C6alkenyl, C2-C6alkynyl, C3-C6cycloalkyl, cycloheteroalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl group each optionally substituted;
R3 and R4 are each independently H or an optionally substituted C1-C6alkyl group;
R5 and R6 are each independently H or a C1-C6alkyl, C2-C6alkenyl, C2-C6alkynyl, C3-C6cycloalkyl, cycloheteroalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl group each optionally substituted, or R5 and R6 may be taken together with the atom to which they are attached to form an optionally substituted 5- to 7-membered ring optionally containing an additional heteroatom selected from O, N or S;
R7 is H, halogen, or a C1-C6alkyl, C1-C6alkoxy, aryl or heteroaryl group each optionally substituted;
R8 is an optionally substituted 8- to 13-membered bicyclic or tricyclic ring system having a N atom at the bridgehead and optionally containing 1, 2 or 3 additional heteroatoms selected from N, O or S;
m is 0 or an integer of 1 or 2;
R9 and R10 are each independently H or a C1-C6alkyl, aryl or heteroaryl group each optionally substituted;
R12, R13, R19 and R23 are each independently H or a C1-C6alkyl, C2-C6alkenyl, C2-C6alkynyl, C3-C6cycloalkyl, cycloheteroalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl group each optionally substituted;
R14, R15 and R22 are each independently H or an optionally substituted C1-C6alkyl group; and
R16, R17, R18, R20 and R21 are each independently H or an optionally substituted C1-C4alkyl group; or R20 and R21 may be taken together with the atom to which they are attached to form a 5- to 7-membered ring optionally containing another heteroatom selected from O, N or S; or
the stereoisomers thereof or the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.
The present invention also provides methods and compositions useful for the therapeutic treatment of central nervous system disorders related to or affected by the 5-HT6 receptor.
The 5-hydroxytryptamine-6 (5-HT6) receptor is one of the most recent receptors to be identified by molecular cloning. Its ability to bind a wide range of therapeutic compounds used in psychiatry, coupled with its intriguing distribution in the brain has stimulated significant interest in new compounds which are capable of interacting with or affecting said receptor. Significant efforts are being made to understand the possible role of the 5-HT6 receptor in psychiatry, cognitive dysfunction, motor function and control, memory, mood and the like. To that end, compounds which demonstrate a binding affinity for the 5-HT6 receptor are earnestly sought both as an aid in the study of the 5-HT6 receptor and as potential therapeutic agents in the treatment of central nervous system disorders, for example see C. Reavill and D. C. Rogers, Current Opinion in Investigational Drugs, 2001, 2(1):104-109, Pharma Press Ltd.
Surprisingly, it has now been found that indolylalkylamine derivatives of formula I demonstrate 5-HT6 affinity. Advantageously, said amine derivatives may be used as effective therapeutic agents for the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) disorders associated with or affected by the 5-HT6 receptor. Accordingly, the present invention provides indolylalkylamine derivatives of formula I
wherein
Q is SO2, CO, CONR9 or CSNR10;
n is an integer of 2 or 3;
R1 and R2 are each independently H, halogen, CN, OCO2R12, CO2R13, CONR14R15, CNR16NR17R18, SOmR19, NR20R21, OR22, COR23 or a C1-C6alkyl, C2-C6alkenyl, C2-C6alkynyl, C3-C6cycloalkyl, cycloheteroalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl group each optionally substituted;
R3 and R4 are each independently H or an optionally substituted C1-C6alkyl group;
R5 and R6 are each independently H or a C1-C6alkyl, C2-C6alkenyl, C2-C6alkynyl, C3-C6cycloalkyl, cycloheteroalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl group each optionally substituted, or R5 and R6 may be taken together with the atom to which they are attached to form an optionally substituted 5- to 7-membered ring optionally containing an additional heteroatom selected from O, N or S;
R7 is H, halogen, or a C1-C6alkyl, C1-C6alkoxy, aryl or heteroaryl group each optionally substituted;
R8 is an optionally substituted 8- to 13-membered bicyclic or tricyclic ring system having a N atom at the bridgehead and optionally containing 1, 2 or 3 additional heteroatoms selected from N, O or S;
m is 0 or an integer of 1 or 2;
R9 and R10 are each independently H or a C1-C6alkyl, aryl or heteroaryl group each optionally substituted;
R12, R13, R19 and R23 are each independently H or a C1-C6alkyl, C2-C6alkenyl, C2-C6alkynyl, C3-C6cycloalkyl, cycloheteroalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl group each optionally substituted;
R14, R15 and R22 are each independently H or an optionally substituted C1-C6alkyl group; and
R16, R17, R18, R20 and R21 are each independently H or an optionally substituted C1-C4alkyl group; or R20 and R21 may be taken together with the atom to which they are attached to form a 5- to 7-membered ring optionally containing another heteroatom selected from O, N or S; or
the stereoisomers thereof or the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.
As used in the specification and claims, the term halogen designates Br, Cl, I or F and the term cycloheteroalkyl designates a five- to seven-membered cycloalkyl ring system containing 1 or 2 heteroatoms, which may be the same or different, selected from N, O or S and optionally containing one double bond. Exemplary of the cycloheteroalkyl ring systems included in the term as designated herein are the following rings wherein W is NR, O or S; and R is H or an optional substituent as described hereinbelow:
Similarly, as used in the specification and claims, the term heteroaryl designates a 5- to 10-membered aromatic ring system containing 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms, which may be the same or different, selected from N, O or S. Such heteroaryl ring systems include pyrrolyl, azolyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, imidazolyl, furyl, thienyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, indolinyl, benzothienyl, benzofuranyl, benzisoxazolyl or the like. The term aryl designates a carbocyclic aromatic ring system, e.g. of 6 to 10 carbon atoms such as phenyl, naphthyl, or the like. The term haloalkyl as used herein designates a CnH2n+1 group having from one to 2n+1 halogen atoms which may be the same or different and the term haloalkoxy as used herein designates an OCnH2n+1 group having from one to 2n+1 halogen atoms which may be the same or different.
Exemplary of the 8- to 13-membered bicyclic or tricyclic ring systems having a N atom at a bridgehead and optionally containing 1, 2 or 3 additional heteroatoms selected from N, O or S included in the term as designated herein are the following ring systems wherein W is NR, O or S; and R is H or an optional substituent as described hereinbelow:
In the specification and claims, when the terms C1-C6alkyl, C2-C6alkenyl, C2-C6alkynyl, C3-C7cycloalkyl, cycloheteroalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl or 8- to 13-membered bicyclic or tricyclic ring system having a N atom at the bridgehead are designated as being optionally substituted, the substituent groups which are optionally present may be one or more, e.g. two or three, the same or different of those customarily employed in the development of pharmaceutical compounds or the modification of such compounds to influence their structure/activity, persistence, absorption, stability or other beneficial property. Specific examples of such substituents include halogen atoms, nitro, cyano, thiocyanato, cyanato, hydroxyl, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, formyl, alkoxycarbonyl, carboxyl, alkanoyl, alkylthio, alkylsuphinyl, alkylsulphonyl, carbamoyl, alkylamido, phenyl, phenoxy, benzyl, benzyloxy, heteroaryl, cycloheteroalkyl or cycloalkyl groups, preferably halogen atoms or lower alkyl groups. Typically, 0-3 substituents may be present. When any of the foregoing substituents represents or contains an alkyl substituent group, this may be linear or branched and may contain up to 12, preferably up to 6, more preferably up to 4 carbon atoms.
Pharmaceutically acceptable salts may be any acid addition salt formed by a compound of formula I and a pharmaceutically acceptable acid such as phosphoric, sulfuric, hydrochloric, hydrobromic, citric, maleic, malonic, mandelic, succinic, fumaric, acetic, lactic, nitric, sulfonic, p-toluene sulfonic, methane sulfonic acid or the like.
Compounds of the invention include esters, carbamates or other conventional prodrug forms, which in general, are functional derivatives of the compounds of the invention and which are readily converted to the inventive active moiety in vivo. Correspondingly, the method of the invention embraces the treatment of the various conditions described hereinabove with a compound of formula I or with a compound which is not specifically disclosed but which, upon administration, converts to a compound of formula I in vivo. Also included are metabolites of the compounds of the present invention defined as active species produced upon introduction of these compounds into a biological system.
Compounds of the invention may exist as one or more stereoisomers. The various stereoisomers include enantiomers, diastereomers, atropisomers and geometric isomers. One skilled in the art will appreciate that one stereoisomer may be more active or may exhibit beneficial effects when enriched relative to the other stereoisomer(s) or when separated from the other stereoisomer(s). Additionally, the skilled artisan knows how to separate, enrich or selectively prepare said stereoisomers. Accordingly, the present invention comprises compounds of Formula I, the stereoisomers thereof and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The compounds of the invention may be present as a mixture of stereoisomers, individual stereoisomers, or as an optically active form.
Preferred compounds of the invention are those compounds of formula I wherein Q is SO2. Also preferred are those compounds of formula I wherein n is 2. Another group of preferred compounds of formula I are those compounds wherein R8 is 6-chloroimidazo[2,1-b][1,3]-thiazol-5-yl.
More preferred compounds of the invention are those compounds of formula I wherein Q is SO2 and R7 is H. Another group of more preferred compounds are those compounds of formula I wherein Q is SO2, n is 2 and R7 is H. Further more preferred compounds are those formula I compounds wherein Q is SO2, n is 2, R7 is H and R8 is 6-chloroimidazo[2,1-b][1,3]thiazol-5-yl.
Among the preferred compounds of the invention are:
2-{1-[(6-chloroimidazo[2,1-b][1,3]thiazol-5-yl)sulfonyl]-1H-indol-3-yl}ethylamine;
2-{1-[(imidazo[2,1-b][1,3]thiazol-5-yl)sulfonyl]-1H-indol-3-yl}ethylamine;
{2-[1-(6-chloro-imidazo[2,1-b][1,3]thiazole-5-sulfonyl)-1H-indol-3-yl]ethyl}methylamine;
{2-[1-(6-chloro-imidazo[2,1-b][1,3]thiazole-5-sulfonyl)-1H-indol-3-yl]ethyl}dimethylamine;
benzyl-{2-[1-(6-chloro-imidazo[2,1-b][1,3]thiazole-5-sulfonyl)-1H-indol-3-yl]ethyl}amine;
1-(6-chloro-imidazo[2,1-b][1,3]thiazole-5-sulfonyl)-3-(2-pyrrolidin-1-ylethyl)-1H-indole;
1-(6-chloro-imidazo[2,1-b][1,3]thiazole-5-sulfonyl)-3-[2-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)ethyl]-1H-indole;
1-(6-chloro-imidazo[2,1-b][1,3]thiazole-5-sulfonyl)-3-(2-piperidin-1-ylethyl)-1H-indole;
benzyl-{2-[1-(6-chloro-imidazo[2,1-b][1,3]thiazole-5-sulfonyl)-1H-indol-3-yl]ethyl}methylamine;
{2-[1-(6-chloro-imidazo[2,1-b][1,3]thiazole-5-sulfonyl)-1H-indol-3-yl]ethyl}phenethylamine;
1-{2-[1-(6-chloro-imidazo[2,1-b][1,3]thiazole-5-sulfonyl)-1H-indol-3-yl]ethyl}pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid;
2-[1-(6-chloro-imidazo[2,1-b][1,3]thiazole-5-sulfonyl)-1H-indol-3-yl]-1-methylethylamine;
(R)-2-[1-(6-chloro-imidazo[2,1-b][1,3]thiazole-5-sulfonyl)-1H-indol-3-yl]-1-methylethylamine;
(S)-2-[1-(6-chloro-imidazo[2,1-b][1,3]thiazole-5-sulfonyl)-1H-indol-3-yl]-1-methylethylamine;
2-[1-(2-chloro-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-3-sulfonyl)-1H-indol-3-yl]ethylamine;
2-[1-(2,6-dichloro-imidazo[2,1-b][1,3]thiazole-5-sulfonyl)-1H-indol-3-yl]ethylamine;
2-[1-(2-chloro-benzo[d]imidazo[2,1-b][1,3]thiazole-3-sulfonyl)-1H-indol-3-yl]ethylamine;
{2-[1-(2-chloro-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-3-sulfonyl)-1H-indol-3-yl]ethyl}methylamine;
{2-[1-(2,6-dichloro-imidazo[2,1-b][1,3]thiazole-5-sulfonyl)-1H-indol-3-yl]ethyl}methylamine;
{2-[1-(2-chloro-benzo[d]imidazo[2,1-b][1,3]thiazole-3-sulfonyl)-1H-indol-3-yl]ethyl}methylamine;
{2-[1-(2-chloro-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-3-sulfonyl)-1H-indol-3-yl]ethyl}dimethyamine;
{2-[1-(2,6-dichloro-imidazo[2,1-b][1,3]thiazole-5-sulfonyl)-1H-indol-3-yl]ethyl}dimethylamine;
{2-[1-(2-chloro-benzo[d]imidazo[2,1-b][1,3]thiazole-3-sulfonyl)-1H-indol-3-yl]ethyl}dimethylamine;
2-[5-chloro-1-(6-chloro-imidazo[2,1-b][1,3]thiazole-5-sulfonyl)-1H-indol-3-yl]ethylamine;
2-[5-chloro-1-(2-chloro-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-3-sulfonyl)-1H-indol-3-yl]ethylamine;
2-[5-chloro-1-(2,6-dichloro-imidazo[2,1-b][1,3]thiazole-5-sulfonyl)-1H-indol-3-yl]ethylamine;
2-[5-chloro-1-(2-chloro-benzo[d]imidazo[2,1-b][1,3]thiazole-3-sulfonyl)-1H-indol-3-yl]-ethylamine;
2-[1-(6-chloro-imidazo[2,1-b][1,3]thiazole-5-sulfonyl)-5-methoxy-1H-indol-3-yl]ethylamine;
2-[1-(6-chloro-imidazo[2,1-b][1,3]thiazole-5-sulfonyl)-6-methoxy-1H-indol-3-yl]ethylamine;
2-[5-bromo-1-(6-chloro-imidazo[2,1-b][1,3]thiazole-5-sulfonyl)-1H-indol-3-yl]ethylamine;
2-[5-benzyloxy-1-(6-chloro-imidazo[2,1-b][1,3]thiazole-5-sulfonyl)-1H-indol-3-yl]ethylamine;
2-[1-(6-chloro-imidazo[2,1-b][1,3]thiazole-5-sulfonyl)-5-methyl-1H-indol-3-yl]ethylamine;
2-[1-(6-chloro-imidazo[2,1-b][1,3]thiazole-5-sulfonyl)-6-methyl-1H-indol-3-yl]ethylamine;
2-[1-(6-chloro-imidazo[2,1-b][1,3]thiazole-5-sulfonyl)-7-methyl-1H-indol-3-yl]ethylamine;
3-(2-amino-ethyl)-1-(6-chloro-imidazo[2,1-b][1,3]thiazole-5-sulfonyl)-1H-indol-5-ol;
2-[1-(6-chloro-imidazo[2,1-b][1,3]thiazole-5-sulfonyl)-5-fluoro-1H-indol-3-yl]ethylamine;
2-[1-(6-chloro-imidazo[2,1-b][1,3]thiazole-5-sulfonyl)-6-fluoro-1H-indol-3-yl]ethylamine;
the stereoisomers thereof; or the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.
Compounds of the invention may be conveniently prepared using conventional synthetic methods and, if required, standard separation and isolation techniques. For example, compounds of formula I wherein Q is SO2, n is 2 and R3 and R4 are H (Ia) may be prepared by sequentially reacting an indole derivative of formula I with oxalyl chloride and an amine, HNR5R6, to give the intermediate of formula III; reducing the carbonyl groups of formula III with lithium aluminum hydride to give the corresponding 3-ethylamine derivative of formula IV; and reacting said formula IV derivative with a base such as potassium t-butoxide or sodium hydride followed by a sulfonyl chloride, R8SO2Cl, to give the desired formula Ia product. The reaction sequence is shown in flow diagram I.
For intermediates of formula IV wherein R5 or R6 are H, the formula IV amine may be protected with a conventional protecting reagent such as di-t-butyl carbonate, prior to the final sulfonylation steps. The resulting N-protected formula I compound may then be deprotected in the presence of acid.
Alternatively, compounds of formula Ia may be prepared by reacting a 3-(2-bromoethyl) derivative of formula V sequentially with a base and a sulfonyl chloride, R8SO2Cl, to give the formula VI intermediate and reacting the formula VI intermediate with an amine, HNR5R6 to give the desired product of formula Ia. The reaction steps are shown in flow diagram II
Compounds of formula I wherein R3 or R4 are other than H and Q is SO2 (Ib) may be prepared by sequentially reacting the intermediate of formula II with a Grignard reagent, such as ethyl magnesium bromide, and an amino acid chloride of formula VII to give the 3-acylated compound of formula VIII; reducing said formula VIII compound with a reducing agent such as lithium aluminum hydride to give the corresponding 3-alkylamino compound of formula IX and sulfonating the formula IX compound as described hereinabove in flow diagrams I and II to afford the desired formula Ib product. The reaction sequence is shown in flow diagram III.
In the case where R5 or R6 are H, the nitrogen atom of the amino acid chloride of formula VII is protected and the corresponding resultant product may be deprotected using conventional means to give the desired formula Ib compound wherein R5 or R6 are H.
Compounds of formula I wherein Q is SO2; n is 3; and R3, R4, R5, R6 and R7 are H (Ic) may be prepared by sequentially reacting an aryl hydrazine hydrochloride of formula X with 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran to give the indol-3-yl-propanol-1-ol of formula XI; displacing the hydroxy group with bromine to give the corresponding bromo compound of formula XII; reacting the formula XII compound with sodium azide to form the azide of formula XIII; sulfonylating the formula XIII azide to give the compound of formula XIV and converting the formula XIV compound to the desired formula Ic amine via reaction with triphenylphosphine. The reaction sequence is shown in flow diagram IV.
Similarly, compounds of formula I wherein Q is CO, CONR9 or CSNR10 may be prepared using the above procedures illustrated in flow diagrams I, II, III and IV and employing the appropriately substituted acid chloride, isocyanate or isothiocyanate in place of R8SO2Cl.
Protecting groups useful in the reactions described hereinabove include t-butylcarboxylate, benzyl, acetyl, benzyloxycarbonyl, or any conventional group known to protect a basic nitrogen in standard synthetic procedures.
Sulfonyl chlorides, R8SO2Cl, may be obtained commercially or prepared by conventional techniques. For example, 6-substituted-imidazo[2,1-b][1,3]thiazol-5-yl sulfonyl chlorides of formulas Xva and XVb may be prepared by reacting 2-amino thiazole with chloroacetic acid or a suitable chloromethyl ketone to give 2-imino-4-thiazolin-3-ylacetic acid (XVIa) or the 2-imino-4-thiazolin-3-yl ketone (XVIb), respectively; reacting either XVIa or XVIb with POCl3 to give, in the case of XVIa, 6-chloroimidazo[2,1-b]thiazole (XVIIa) or, in the case of XVIb, 6-substituted-imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole XVIIb; and sequentially reacting the respective XVIIa and XVIIb compounds with chlorosulfonic acid and POCl3 to give the desired sulfonyl chlorides of formulas Xva and XVb. The reactions are illustrated in flow diagram V wherein R represents an optional substituent as described hereinabove with the exclusion of halogen.
Advantageously, the present invention provides a method for the preparation of a compound of formula I wherein Q is SO2 and R5 and R6 are other than H (Id) which comprises reacting a compound of formula XVIII with a sulfonyl chloride, R8SO2Cl, in the presence of a base optionally in the presence of a solvent. The process is shown in flow diagram VI.
Bases suitable for use in the method of invention are strong bases such as NaH, KOt-Bu, or any conventional base capable of removing a proton from a basic indole or benzazole nitrogen atom.
Advantageously, the inventive compound of formula I may be utilized in the treatment of central nervous system disorders relating to or affected by the 5-HT6 receptor such as motor, mood, psychiatric, cognitive, neurodegenerative, or the like disorders, for example, Alzheimer""s disease, Parkinson""s disease, attention deficit disorder, anxiety, epilepsy, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, migraine, sleep disorders, neurodegenerative disorders (such as head trauma or stroke), feeding disorders (such as anorexia or bulimia), schizophrenia, memory loss, disorders associated with withdrawal from drug or nicotine abuse, or the like or certain gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome. Accordingly, the present invention provides a method for the treatment of a disorder of the central nervous system (CNS) related to or affected by the 5-HT6 receptor in a patient in need thereof which comprises providing said patient a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula I as described hereinabove. The compounds may be provided by oral or parenteral administration or in any common manner known to be an effective administration of a therapeutic agent to a patient in need thereof.
The therapeutically effective amount provided in the treatment of a specific CNS disorder may vary according to the specific condition(s) being treated, the size, age and response pattern of the patient, the severity of the disorder, the judgment of the attending physician and the like. In general, effective amounts for daily oral administration may be about 0.01 to 1,000 mg/kg, preferably about 0.5 to 500 mg/kg and effective amounts for parenteral administration may be about 0.1 to 100 mg/kg, preferably about 0.5 to 50 mg/kg.
In actual practice, the compounds of the invention are provided by administering the compound or a precursor thereof in a solid or liquid form, either neat or in combination with one or more conventional pharmaceutical carriers or excipients. Accordingly, the present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition which comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and an effective amount of a compound of formula I as described hereinabove.
Solid carriers suitable for use in the composition of the invention include one or more substances which may also act as flavoring agents, lubricants, solubilizers, suspending agents, fillers, glidants, compression aides, binders, tablet-disintegrating agents or encapsulating materials. In powders, the carrier may be a finely divided solid which is in admixture with a finely divided compound of formula I. In tablets, the formula I compound may be mixed with a carrier having the necessary compression properties in suitable proportions and compacted in the shape and size desired. Said powders and tablets may contain up to 99% by weight of the formula I compound. Solid carriers suitable for use in the composition of the invention include calcium phosphate, magnesium stearate, talc, sugars, lactose, dextrin, starch, gelatin, cellulose, methyl cellulose, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidine, low melting waxes and ion exchange resins.
Any pharmaceutically acceptable liquid carrier suitable for preparing solutions, suspensions, emulsions, syrups and elixirs may be employed in the composition of the invention. Compounds of formula I may be dissolved or suspended in a pharmaceutically acceptable liquid carrier such as water, an organic solvent, or a pharmaceutically acceptable oil or fat, or a mixture thereof. Said liquid composition may contain other suitable pharmaceutical additives such as solubilizers, emulsifiers, buffers, preservatives, sweeteners, flavoring agents, suspending agents, thickening agents, coloring agents, viscosity regulators, stabilizers, osmo-regulators, or the like. Examples of liquid carriers suitable for oral and parenteral administration include water (particularly containing additives as above, e.g., cellulose derivatives, preferably sodium carboxymethyl cellulose solution), alcohols (including monohydric alcohols and polyhydric alcohols, e.g., glycols) or their derivatives, or oils (e.g., fractionated coconut oil and arachis oil). For parenteral administration the carrier may also be an oily ester such as ethyl oleate or isopropyl myristate.
Compositions of the invention which are sterile solutions or suspensions are suitable for intramuscular, intraperitoneal or subcutaneous injection. Sterile solutions may also be administered intravenously. Inventive compositions suitable for oral administration may be in either liquid or solid composition form.
For a more clear understanding, and in order to illustrate the invention more clearly, specific examples thereof are set forth hereinbelow. The following examples are merely illustrative and are not to be understood as limiting the scope and underlying principles of the invention in any way.
Unless otherwise stated, all parts are parts by weight. The terms NMR and HPLC designate nuclear magnetic resonance and high performance liquid chromatography, respectively. The terms THF and EtOAc designate tetrahydrofuran and ethyl acetate, respectively.

Indolylalkylamine derivatives as 5-hydroxytryptamine-6 ligands


An improved method and system for controlling free space distribution by key range within a database. In one embodiment, a data structure including key ranges of a plurality of database tables and indexes, and a plurality of key range free space parameters is created. The plurality of database tables and indexes may include a plurality of page sets, which may include rows of data and keys. Time values may be associated with the plurality of free space parameters. The key range free space parameters may have values assigned to them. The key range free space parameters may be user-defined or automatically generated using growth trend analysis, based on key range growth statistics. The rows of data and keys within the plurality of page sets may be redistributed by a reorganization process. The redistributing may reference the key ranges of the data structure and the key range free space parameters.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to database utility software, and more particularly to a system and method for controlling free space distribution by key range within a database.
2. Description of the Related Art
Database utility software programs that build table spaces and indexes (e.g., database reorganization, database loading, database recovery, among others) typically apply free space parameters evenly across the entire table space and index. This approach of even distribution may lead to an inefficient use of Direct Access Storage Device (DASD) resources (e.g., allocating too much free space in a section of the table space or index that does not require free space to accommodate growth, or not allocating enough free space in a section of the table space or index that experiences high levels of growth). Unneeded free space allocated to a section of the table space or index may have an impact on performance since more reads may be required to retrieve a given amount of data. Furthermore, disorganization may occur when DB2 attempts to insert or update data within a section of the table space or index that has insufficient free space to accommodate growth.
A table space may contain multiple tables. In this situation, DB2 does not provide the user with the capability to define free space attributes for each table within a given table space. Free space attributes may only be defined for the table space as a whole. Therefore, it is desirable to be able to apply free space to accommodate the free space requirements of each individual table within a multi-table table space.
The current version of REORG PLUS for DB2, a product of BMC Software, Inc., applies free space to a table space during the process of calculating new row identifiers (RIDs) for table space rows during the unload phases. This process is described more fully in U.S. Pat. No. 5,222,235, titled "Databases system for permitting concurrent indexing and reloading of data by early simulating the reload process to determine final locations of the data", whose inventors are Thomas E. Hintz and William R. Cunningham, and which issued on Jun. 22, 1993. U.S. Pat. No. 5,222,235 is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety as though fully and completely set forth herein.
The RID for each row contains the page number of the page where the row will reside after reorganization. The new RID is written with its corresponding row data to an unload file for processing during the reload phase. During the RID calculation process, free space parameters are applied to keep a portion of each data page free (PCTFREE or percent free) or to insert free pages (FREEPAGE or free page) between data pages. It is noted that the free space parameters are applied at a table space level, rather than at a finer level of granularity within the table space.
The current version of REORG PLUS for DB2 applies free space to indexes in a similar manner. During the unload phase, after the new RID for each row in the file page set has been calculated, REORG PLUS for DB2 extracts the keys for each secondary index and writes them with the new RID to an index work file. During the reload phase, the index work file is sorted by index key. After the sort is complete, free space parameters are applied as index pages and are reloaded with key and RID pairs. The clustering index is rebuilt in a similar manner.
It is desirable that free space settings or parameters allow more granularity (i.e., allow user-defined sub-sections, or key ranges, within a table space or index to be individually controllable through user-defined free space settings or parameters). Thus, using this finer level of granularity than currently available, the user may be able to reduce free space in key ranges of a table or index that do not require free space for insert or update activity (e.g., read-only data), and/or increase free space in key ranges of a table or index that are expected to require new growth (e.g., new database records inserted, existing database records updated). For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a system and method for controlling free space distribution by key range within a database such that user control of free space settings or parameters within a table or index is achievable.

System and method for controlling free space distribution by key range within a database


Method for switching access nodes for a terminal capable of implementing a set of applications with at least one remote communicating entity through a packet-switched network, said terminal being associated with a set of first communication contexts, a first communication context including a same first transport configuration common to the set of applications and a first application configuration corresponding to a given application. The method comprises the following steps, reiterated for all the first communication contexts: reception by the terminal of an access node switching notification message, said message indicating a second communication context including a second transport configuration, reception by the terminal of notification message count information, filtering of said second transport configuration of said second communication context on the basis of said count information, transmission of a filtered notification message to the application corresponding to the current iteration.

The field of the invention is that of tele-communications and, more specifically, that of mobile radiocommunication networks.
More particularly, the invention relates to the switching of access nodes of a terminal in the process of implementing a plurality of applications with one or more remote communicating entities through a packet-switched network.
Initially, the terminal is connected to an origin access node but may be required to switch from the origin access node to a destination access node because of its mobility. It will be noted that the origin and destination access nodes may belong to one and the same access network or indeed to different access networks. They may be access networks of cellular mobile radio-communication networks, for example of UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) type, or wireless, for example of WIMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) type, or even wired, for example FTTH (Fiber To The Home). Whatever the case, this (these) access network(s) is (are) connected to a packet-switched network, for example an IP (Internet Protocol) type network supporting all the applications used by the terminal. Also, the terminal may be, without differentiation, a single-technology, multi-technology or reconfigurable single-technology terminal.
The access node is, for example, a base station of a UMTS, HSDPA or even LTE network ("Node B" or "Evolved node B"), or even an access point of a WIMAX network.
The multiplicity of remote communicating entities with which the terminal implements the plurality of applications may consist of one or more other user terminals and/or one or more remote servers. The packets exchanged between the terminal and the multiplicity of remote communicating entities take, for each application, a path including intermediate nodes. In the case where the terminal is switched from an origin access node to a destination access node ("handover"), the various paths taken to implement the plurality of applications are modified.
The OSI model, standardized by the ISO (International Organization for Standardization), defines data transfer management by means of seven stacked protocol layers: the physical layer (layer 1), the data link layer (layer 2), the network layer (layer 3), the transport layer (layer 4), the session layer (layer 5), the presentation layer (layer 6) and the application layer (layer 7). The various nodes of the tele-communication networks incorporate all or some of these layers. The terminal itself has all seven layers of the OSI model.
The first three layers, called bottom layers, relate to the implementation of the connection and the routing of the data. They are transparent with respect to the type of data transported. The next four layers, called top layers, are responsible for the processing of the data so that an application can be offered to the terminal.
There are other communication models that use layers, notably an IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force) model with five layers, for which the layers 5 to 7 defined above are combined.
By definition, a communication context comprises all the information required for the implementation of an application and relating to all the layers of the communication model used.
The body of communication context information required for the transport of the data with a destination communicating entity for a given application is here called transport configuration. The transport information comprises, for example, the IP address of the terminal, the identity of the access node, parameters relating to the radio link between the terminal and the access node such as the frequency.
Similarly, the body of communication context information required for the implementation by the terminal of a particular application is called application configuration. These parameters are, for example, the type of application, the bit rate, the type of coder/decoder activated for the application concerned implemented through the access node.
It will be recalled that, in the bottom layers, the protocols are exchanged between the adjacent intermediate nodes, whereas in the top layers the protocols are exchanged between the terminal and the remote communicating entity or entities which may be separated by numerous intermediate nodes. For a given application, the bottom layers are thus strung along a path between the terminal and the corresponding remote communicating entity through the intermediate nodes.
In the case of a UMTS network, the intermediate nodes are, for example, in succession, a base station controller RNC (for radio network controller), an SGSN (Serving GPRS Support Node) gateway, a GGSN (Gateway GPRS Support Node) gateway which maintain a communication context linked to the terminal and to the current applications. In the upgrades of the UMTS network, the functionalities of the controller are distributed between the base stations and the gateways which constitute the intermediate nodes, called SAE gateway and PDN gateway.
In the case of WIMAX-type wireless networks, the intermediate nodes are, for example, the AGW gateways and routers implementing the MIP protocol of the MIP (Mobile Internet Protocol) network layer.
The generic access node switching procedures comprise an access node switching decision step, a step for attaching the terminal to the destination access node by setting up a link on the data link layer, a step for determining and updating the path linking the terminal and the remote communicating entity through this new access node, and a step for reconfiguring the terminal to update the application configurations according to the state of a second link between the terminal and the destination access node.
For access node change management initialized by an element of the access network, called switching node, protocols of the "end-to-end" type are used between this switching node and the remote communicating entities for the execution of an update of the various communication contexts. The switching node is, for example, an origin access node or an intermediate node common to the various paths. The protocols are, for example, the SCTP (Stream Control Transmission Protocol) transport layer protocol, or the SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) session layer protocol. These protocols implement signaling messages whose function is to inform the destination communicating entities of a change of IP address of the terminal. For each current application, a command to execute an update of the communication context is sent to the terminal; it also includes the sending of a transport configuration change notification.
A set of notification messages is therefore sent by the switching node to the terminal corresponding to the set of current applications.
The reception by the terminal of the first notification message of the set of notification messages sent results in the reconfiguration of the terminal, notably its reconfiguration according to the modified transport configuration of the new communication context. In the case of a set of applications for which the initial transport configuration is identical, the reception of the first message results in the loss of connectivity of the terminal with the switching node. The terminal is then no longer able to receive the subsequent messages of the set of notification messages corresponding to this set of applications. In this case, additional signaling messages are necessary in order to update the paths for these pending applications. In addition to an additional resource consumption for these signaling messages, delays in updating the application configurations of the pending applications are generated which may cause these applications to crash or malfunction, notably in the case of real-time applications.
For access node switching management initialized by a switching node, there is therefore a need for access node switching capability suitable for updating a set of applications for a terminal in communication with one or more remote communicating entities.


A data transmitter includes (a) first communication means performing data transmission according to IrDA Standard, (b) second communication means performing data transmission that does not comply with the IrDA Standard and (c) means for switching between a process performed by the first communication means and a process performed by the second communication means. The second communication means includes (a) management information transmitting means for sending management information for managing transmission target data according to a data transmission prosecution command from a user, (b) communication capability information receiver means for receiving communication capability information indicating communication capability of a device that has responded to the transmission of the management information and (c) data transmission means for transmitting a packet including the transmission target data on the basis of the communication capability information. This can make the communication time shorter than the conventional communication time in infrared communication.

Presently various methods are proposed as methods for connecting information technology devices. A wireless communication using an infrared ray, among others, is widely used because of the advantages (1) through (3) set forth below:
(1) There is no restriction by laws and, thus, it is possible to establish a world-wide universal communication method is possible.
(2) A transmitter/receiver can be small in size, light in weight and low in cost, and the data transmission/reception can be performed with low power consumption.
(3) Linear propagation of light causes no unnecessary information leakage and hardly allows interference. Thus, utilization of space is efficient.
Especially, IrDA (Infrared Data Association) Standard, which is standardized by IrDA (IrDA is an industry organization), defines maximum communication speed to be 4 Mbps. The standard is extensively applied to PCs (personal computers), handy phones, portable information terminals and the like. (Herein, "IrDA Standard" is denoted simply by "IrDA" as generally called.) The IrDA is disclosed in the following Document 1.
[Document 1]
Infrared Data Association, Serial Infrared Link Access Protocol (Version 1.1), Published on Jun. 16, 1996
According to the IrDA, communication protocols have a layered structure. The communication protocols include a SIR (Serial Infrared) layer, an IrLAP (IrDA Link Access Protocol) layer, an IrLM-LMP (IrDA Link Management Protocol) layer and the like. The SIR layer provides a physical rule. The IrLAP layer establishes a transmission channel. IrLM-LMP (i) performs communication processing of an application that operates in a multi-task environment and (ii) transmits a characteristic and a function of a communication-counter part device.
The IrLAP layer is based on a half duplex procedure of a HDLC (a High level Data Link Control) defined by the ISO (International Organization for Standardization). In order to establish a transmission channel of high quality, the IrLAP layer performs following operations.
[Connectionless-Type Service]
                The IrLAP layer searches a device(s) present in a region within a communication range and obtains an address(es) of the device(s) in the region within the communication range.        In the case where plural devices have the same addresses, the IrLAP layer applies a method (means) for dissolving the overlap of the addresses so that each of the devices in the region within the communication range respectively has an address specific thereto.        The IrLAP layer performs broadcast to all devices in the region within the communication range.[Connection-Type Service]        The IrLAP layer establishes a transmission channel (connection) to connect a device, to which the IrLAP layer belongs, with another device that is a target of the connection.        When the connection is being established, the IrLAP layer negotiates communication speed information, data size in a frame transmitted after establishment of the connection, and the like.        The IrLAP layer adds a sequence number to each frame of data to be transmitted and guarantees an order of the sequence.        The IrLAP layer performs transmission error detection and recovery control, thereby guaranteeing data transmission of high reliability.        When a receiver becomes too busy to receive data, the IrLAP layer requests busy control to a sender and restricts transmission of frames.        The layer releases the established connection.
Moreover, the IrLMP layer (IrLM-LMP layer) includes a LM-MUX (IrLMP Multiplexer) layer and a LN-IAS (LrLMP Information Access Service) layer. The LM-MUX layer supports the communication between applications and performs following operations:
[Processes Performed By LM-MUX Layer]
                By controlling the IrLAP layer, the LM-MUX layer searches a device(s) present in the region within the communication range.        By controlling the IrLAP layer, the LM-MUX layer establishes a transmission channel connecting a device, to which the IrLAP layer belongs, with another device that is a target of the connection.        The LM-MUX layer adds a header to transmission data, thereby clarifying the sender at the receiver.        The LM-MUX layer allots received data according to where the data is to be forwarded, and forwards the data to an upper application to which the data is to be forwarded.        The layer performs exclusive access control and multiplex control.        The LM-MUX layer releases the connections via the IrLAP layer.
The LN-IAS layer performs a process for transmitting, to the application, information on a characteristic and a function of the communication-counterpart device. This allows the upper application to communicate with a device suitable for a specific purpose such as storing data, printing data or the like.
By the processes explained above, the IrDA makes it possible to dynamically discover a communicable device(s) present in the region within the communication range and to easily provide a communication environment suitable for each application.
The IrDA can easily provide a communication environment according to each application by carrying out the processes. This broadens a range of application usage.
However, communication speed for searching a device(s), identifying the device(s) and negotiating with the device(s), is defined to be relatively low. Moreover, a waiting time accompanies these processes. As the result, these processes become causes of increase in time for communication processing as a whole.

Dual mode wireless communication device using IrDA that doesn't comply with IrDA standard as the default mode and the second mode is compliant with IrDA standard


A redundant power bus arrangement for electronic circuits controls the application of voltage from a power source to an active circuit card and a standby circuit card. Current limited switches are used to connect the power source to the active or standby circuits. A switch control circuit controls the conductive state of the current limited switches in response to a control signal generated by at least one of the controlled circuits. The maximum current permitted by each of the current limited switches is less than the maximum output current rating of the power source, thereby preventing a short on a power bus within one of the controlled circuits from affecting the voltage available for the other controlled circuit.

This invention relates to power bus switching arrangements for electronic circuits and, more particularly, to such arrangements for use with circuits having redundant circuit functions.
A desire for the highest reliability in electronic equipment used for certain critical applications, such as in aircraft electronics, has resulted in the increasing use of redundancy in the design of these products. This redundancy is applied to two general areas within aircraft power system electronic equipment: the internal power supplies, and circuits which perform specific functions. Either or both of these areas can be duplicated or "backed up" by additional circuits or components inside the equipment.
There are two well-known methods of using dual redundant power supplies. The first method uses diodes to OR the outputs of the two supplies, while the second uses sophisticated load-sharing controls with suitable isolation to control the operation of the supplies. The former method provides adequate isolation with no loss of bus voltage if the output of one supply shorts. Also, the supplies used in such designs can be relatively simple as they require no load sharing controls. However, this method may be undesirable for applications which require low voltage levels with tight tolerances, such as those required by many integrated circuit families. The diode drop inherent in this approach typically uses up or exceeds the available tolerance band of the supplied voltage. The latter method is acceptable in such situations since it provides a tightly regulated voltage in the center of the tolerance band, but results in increased sophistication and decreased reliability of the supplies due to the load-sharing and output isolation requirements.
Circuit function redundancy can be implemented at various levels in the equipment including the component, circuit, and printing wiring board or card level. At the circuit card level, redundancy is typically of two types: active or standby. Active redundancy implies that both cards are powered simultaneously and, given the same inputs, provide the same outputs to some controlled device. The controlled device is assumed to be sophisticated enough to discern the difference between signals from a good card and a failed card. Often, more than two such cards are used to support a majority vote function in the controlled device. In addition to the added complexity of combining the outputs in such a way as to ignore a failed circuit card, another drawback exists in the reliability gained in having a redundant circuit card. By powering the cards together, the net gain in overall reliability is less than that realized by the standby redundant approach. Higher net increases in reliability can be achieved in the active approach if the number of redundant cards is increased. However, that may be unacceptable in applications where an increase in weight, size or complexity is undesirable.
Standby redundancy represents the largest net gain in overall reliability with the least increase in complexity. This method implies that the backup or redundant circuit card is not powered until it is needed (due to a failure in the primary or active card) by the equipment. Such designs require a switch to turn the active (failed) card off and the standby card on. The trade-off in such designs involves the reliability of the circuit card versus the reliability of the switch and its controls.
A typical application involving both dual redundant power supplies and dual redundant circuit cards may include diode-connected power supplies in combination with active and standby circuit cards. The power to the redundant circuit cards is controlled by sensing logic which, upon detecting a failure in the active circuit card, transfers the control power to the standby card via a relay. Some type of start-up logic would be required and the system must be capable of transferring power to the standby card should the active card short out the power bus. The switching relay would be large and of somewhat low reliability, given a pole for each voltage bus switched. Regardless of how the power transfer is accomplished, a major concern with this approach is the fact that no matter where the isolation diodes are located, a short on the active card (or the standby card, if activated) power bus will cause an interruption of voltage to all other cards on the redundant power supply bus.
It is therefore desirable to devise a redundant power bus arrangement which eliminates the need for the large and somewhat low reliability relay and also addresses the shorted common bus problem so that a shorted bus within one of the controlled circuit cards does not cause a loss of voltage to all of the other circuit cards on the redundant power supply bus.

Redundant power bus arrangement for electronic circuits


The power semiconductor component has a semiconductor body which is electrically supplied through a contact clip. A solder ball connects the semiconductor body to the contact clip. The contact clip has a meandering electrical supply to a solder land, into which the solder ball is inserted.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an electrical connection for a power semiconductor component, which is formed inside a baseplate region. The assembly comprises a semiconductor body, a contact clip and a soldered joint which connects the semiconductor body to the contact clip.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,519,896, for example, discloses an electrical connection without any solder, by means of metal clips, for a power semiconductor component. European patent disclosure EP 0 155 473 describes the use of firmly soldered contact clips to make contact with power semiconductor modules.
In power semiconductor components, an electrical supply to a semiconductor body is often formed by a copper layer which is applied on a ceramic substrate. The heat that is produced in the semiconductor body during the operation of the power semiconductor component is also dissipated via the copper layer. Owing to this one-sided heat dissipation and cooling and the temperature drop across the ceramic substrate, which is only a poor heat conductor, power semiconductor components reach their operating temperature in just a few seconds. This is particularly true when they are used in modular form with, for example, a plurality of power semiconductor components being arranged alongside one another.
The fact that the operating temperature is reached quickly means that the power semiconductor components are subject to large numbers of alternating load cycles in many applications, that is to say to a large number of heating and cooling processes. For example, more than 105 alternating load cycles may be reached per annum. Each heating and cooling process, that is to say each alternating load cycle, causes thermomechanical stresses in the power semiconductor component and its electrical supply leads. Large numbers of alternating load cycles can thus cause severe damage in the electrical supply leads on the semiconductor body.
Since the fatigue in the material caused by large numbers of alternating load cycles becomes less the better the coefficient of thermal expansion of the material of the electrical supplies is matched to the coefficient of thermal expansion of the semiconductor body, that is to say the coefficient of thermal expansion of silicon, and of the ceramic substrate, molybdenum or copper-plated Invar is often used as the material for the electrical supplies, and is respectively soldered to the semiconductor body or the ceramic substrate. The use of such materials is disclosed, for example, in the European patent disclosure EP 0 432 867. However, it has been found that there is always a residual mismatch, although this may be small, between the coefficients of thermal expansion of the various materials and, furthermore, mechanical stresses are caused by non-uniform heating of solder connections on the one hand and, particularly with modular construction, of the module base on the other hand. Together with the mechanical stresses, this mismatch leads to slow fatigue in the respective soldered joints between the semiconductor body or the ceramic substrate and electrical supplies.

Electrical connection for a power semiconductor component