An autochanger of writable discs automatically transfers a write-once optical disc between a disc accommodation unit and a recording/reading device where data is recorded into and read from the optical disc. In order to shorten a disc loading time, the latest defect management information is stored in a floppy disc and renewed when a new defective sector is found in the optical disc.

The present invention relates to an autochanger of writable discs.
FIG. 4 shows a conventional autochanger of writable discs. In this figure, a writable disc of, for example, a write-once type optical disc 1 is a large capacity disc medium having a storage capacity of several hundred mega-bytes to several giga-bytes per one disc and several discs to several hundred discs are accommodated in order in a disc accommodation unit 2. In the predetermined area of the optical disc 1, defect management information showing addresses of defective sectors in the optical disc 1 and addresses of replacement sectors for the defective sectors is recorded. A loading mechanism 3 automatically picks up the predetermined optical disc contained in the disc accommodation unit 2 and transfers the picked-up optical disc to apply it to a recording/reading device 4, automatically removes the optical disc from the recording/reading apparatus 4 and returns it to the disc accommodation unit 2. The recording/reading device 4 records information into the optical disc installed in the recording/reading device 4 by means of the loading mechanism 3 and reads the information recorded on the optical disc. A plurality of the recording/reading devices 4 may be used in the autochanger.
A controller 5 consists of a microcomputer and performs such operations according to commands supplied from a host computer 6 through an interface 7 (SCSI or the like) as: controlling the loading mechanism 3 so as to load the suitable optical disc from the disc accommodation unit 2 to the recording/reading device 4, controlling the recording/reading device 4 so as to record the information supplied from the host computer 6, and reversely controlling the recording/reading device 4 so that the recorded information is read out from the optical disc and transferred to the host computer 6. The controller 5 contains a RAM (random access memory) for storing defect management information of the optical disc.
When a new optical disc has been installed in the recording/reading device 4 in response to the commands sent from the host computer 6, the controller 5 instructs the recording/reading device 4 so as to read the defect management information recorded in the predetermined area of the optical disc and writes the read defect management information into the RAM 8 in the controller 5. After that, when the controller 5 receives the command sent from the host computer 6 to read the information recorded in the optical disc, the controller 5 judges from the defect management information in the RAM 8 whether the designated sectors are replaced by other sectors through the occurrence of defective sectors and gives the recording/reading device 4 an instruction to read suitable sectors. If a defective sector is detected when the writing operation is carried out according to the writing command, the controller 5 rewrites the information to a suitable replacement sector on the basis of the defect management information stored in the RAM 8, writes new defect management information into a suitable sector, and simultaneously renews the data in the RAM 8 to the latest defect management information.
As described above, in the conventional autochanger it is necessary to read the defect management information from the optical disc every time the disc is installed into the recording/reading device 4. Therefore, it takes additional time corresponding to reading the defect management information to install the optical disc. The reason for necessitating the extra time to read out the defect management information will be described in the following.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a defect management method for a write-once type optical disc with a diameter of 130 mm. There are 20,000 tracks (track numbers are 1 to 20,000) in the disc and these tracks are used for a map area, a user area, or a replacement area. One track consists of 32 sectors and each sector has a capacity of 512 bytes.
The user area is originally used by the user to write data into it and read data out of it. The replacement area is used to rewrite the data of the sector which is judged as a defective sector in verification reading performed immediately after the data has been written into the user area. A defective sector means a sector which has micro-defects, so that the data previously written can not be read out with a prescribed signal quality. The map area is used to write the defect management information which indicates the correspondence between the defective sectors in the user area and the replacement sectors in the replacement area.
The disc memory area can be divided into a plurality of bands consisting of at most 63 bands. Basically, each band has a map area, a replacement area and a user area. However, as described below, there exists a band which does not have a user area. The map area and the replacement area of each band are determined to have four tracks (128 sectors), respectively, but the number of tracks in each user area is not fixed. Also there is not determined the position of the first track of each area of each band. The number of tracks in each user area and the positions of the first tracks may be designated by the user or by the controller automatically. In order to memorize the above information, control tracks are provided with the fixed track numbers (except for 1 to 20,000) in the disc.
FIG. 5 shows an example of a format of the band division and the track numbers of each area of the disc memory area. As shown in FIG. 5, the disc memory area is divided into the bands of #1 to #63. The bands of #1 to #62 have respective user areas and the band #63 does not have a user area. Each user area of the bands #1 to #61 consists of 314 tracks and the user area of the band #62 has 342 tracks so as to adjust the fractions.
When data is written in a certain sector in the user area #1 and the sector is judged to be defective in the verification reading carried out just after the writing, the same data is again written into the sector with the smallest address number among non-written sectors in the replacement area #1. This replacement sector is also subjected to verification reading. When it is a defective sector, the data is again written into the next sector. In this manner, the same data is written into the sector in the replacement area #1 repeatedly until a sector without a defect is found in the verification reading. As a result, one sector in the replacement area #1 corresponds to one defective sector in the user area #1. One pair of corresponding addresses of these two sectors comprises one piece of defect management information and this information is written into the sector with the smallest address number among non-written sectors in the map area #1. This sector in the map area #1 is also subjected to the verification reading. When this sector is found to be a defective sector, the data is again written in the next sector. In this way, the same data (defective management information) is written in the map area #1 until a sector without a defect is found in the verification reading.
The same procedure is carried for the bands #2 to #62. The band #63 is provided for the case of overflowing in the map area or in the replacement area of the bands #1 to #62. Therefore, the band #63 does not have a user area.
Construction of the map area will be explained in the following. One sector (512 bytes) in the map area is divided into 128 fields, with each field having four bytes. Three bytes in one field show the defective sector address in the user area and the remaining one byte shows the specific sector of 128 sectors in the replacement area, by which specific sector the defective sector in the user area is replaced. Therefore, the one sector in the map area can contain at the maximum 128 pieces of defect management information and it is identical with the number of 128 sectors in the replacement area provided in one band, so that only one sector in the map area can contain all the defect management information of the corresponding band. When the data in a certain band are overflown, the band #63 as the common overflowing area is used to store the overflown data.
As data-rewriting cannot be performed in a write-once type optical disc, when one piece of defect management information is generated in a certain band, it is unavoidable to consume one sector in the map area, into which sector the defect management information is written. When the defective sector is found at the first time in a certain band, the data describing the defect management information is written into the first field (4 bytes) of the leading sector in the map area of that band. And when the next defective sector is found, the same data describing the first found defect management information is written into the first field of the second sector and the data describing the newly found defect management information is written into the second field of the second sector in the map area, since the data in the leading sector of the map area cannot be rewritten.
As is understood from the above explanation, the latest defect management information in a certain band exists in the last written sector in 128 sectors in the map area of that band. Needless to say, the latest defect management information is necessary when reading the data out of the user area. Moreover, when a new defective sector is found in writing the data; without the latest defect management information it is uncertain into which sector in the replacement area the data should be rewritten, and without the knowledge of the sector address in the map area storing the latest defect management information it is also uncertain into which sector in the map area the next defect management information should be written.
Therefore, the following operations are needed when a disc is loaded in the recording/reading device. Firstly, the control tracks in the disc are read to know the track numbers of the map area of each band. Secondly, the last-written sectors are found out for all map areas and the latest management information of each band is read out of that sector. Finally, the latest defect management information is written into the RAM.
Next, the time necessary to read the defect management information will be explained. If the rotation speed of the disc is 1,800 r.p.m., the time for one rotation of the disc is about 33 msec. Presuming that a considerable portion of the map area of each band has been consumed, it is hard to expect shortening the time by employing the process of finding the last-written sector in the map area of a certain band and immediately after that accessing to the map area in the next band. Eventually, there is no other way than reading all the map area of the disc according to the revolution of the disc. The total number of the tracks in the map areas is 252, so that 8.4 seconds are consumed to read all tracks in the map areas.
As in the autochanger for optical discs in which the discloading time is one of the most important performances, the operating speed of the disc-loading mechanism must be made higher. However, in accordance with the prior art, more than 8 seconds of time is necessary as described above to read the defect management information, resulting in the disadvantage of increasing the disc-loading time.

Autochanger of writable discs including a non-volatile memory for storing most recent defect management information relating to the writable discs


Methods and systems are provided for dynamic sound enhancement for a mobile platform. The system comprises a memory for storing a plurality of unique sound profiles, and a processor communicatively coupled to the memory. The processor receives an identification (ID) for the mobile platform, a driving mode, and references the memory using the ID and driving mode to select a sound profile. The processor also receives sail status data and engine status data for the engine, which indicates whether the engine is in sail mode or not, and the progression of the mobile platform within sail mode. Responsive to the sail status and engine status data, and in accordance with the selected sound profile, the processor generates commands for an audio system coupled to the mobile platform.

People are generally familiar with the sounds emitted from components of a powertrain associated with a combustion engine of a mobile platform, such as a vehicle. First, drivers often rely on this aural feedback to reinforce assumptions about vehicle speed and performance. In addition, onlookers, such as pedestrians, often rely on the aural feedback to make assumptions about vehicle proximity. However, as vehicles increasingly rely on electric propulsion, they have become quieter, which may be undesirable for the drivers and the onlookers. In particular, hybrid vehicles may be undesirably quiet while coasting. In a hybrid vehicle, coasting is generally referred to as engine sail mode, or simply, "sail." Sail is generally defined as a condition of the combustion engine switched off and disconnected from the powertrain of the vehicle, generally also having a duration of time in which this condition occurs. During engine sail, the lack of familiar "engine" sounds can be disconcerting.
Accordingly, an engine sound enhancement system and method capable of dynamically responding to engine sail by providing expected aural feedback associated with a powertrain of a vehicle is desirable. The desired system and method provides powertrain sounds that are consistent with expected sounds across varying vehicle speeds and models. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present disclosure will be apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the foregoing technical field and background.

Systems and methods for dynamic engine sound enhancement


An integrated heat management system may include an engine system circulation line around an engine and a transmission circulation line around an automatic transmission. The engine system circulation line and the transmission circulation line may be integrated by a control valve having a plurality of input and output ports. The integrated heat management system controls opening and closing of the control valve in accordance with engine cooling water temperature and automatic transmission fluid (ATF) temperature, which may be changed after engine start-up, and implements a variety of modes for varying an engine cooling water flow. Therefore, the integrated heat manage system shortens an engine warm-up time, prevents a bad effect in a low-temperature state due to a fast temperature increase of the ATF, and satisfies performance required by a vehicle of which the fuel-efficiency may be improved and the efficiency may be increased in a high oil price environment.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an integrated heat management system in a vehicle, and more particularly, to an integrated heat management system in a vehicle, which is capable of performing integrated heat management for an engine and an automatic transmission and a heat management method using the same
2. Description of Related Art
In general, a heat management system applied to a vehicle is operated in such a manner as to individually control an engine and an automatic transmission in a state in which the engine and the automatic transmission are separated from each other.
FIG. 10 illustrates a general heat management system including an engine and an automatic transmission.
Referring to FIG. 10, the heat management system includes a water pump 110, a thermostat 120, a radiator 130, a cooling fan 140, and a heater core 150, which are mechanically operated except for cooling fan 140, when seen from the side of engine 100.
In particular, heater core 150 may include a valve mounted thereon to block an unnecessary cooling water flow at the side of heater core 150. According to a recent electronic trend, electronic thermostat 210 and electric water pump 110 may be partially adopted.
When seen from automatic transmission 200, the heat management system may include a heat exchanger 210 for warm-up, which is separately mounted therein. Heat exchanger 210 may be inserted into radiator 130 or may use engine cooling water as a heat exchange medium without using the air.
However, in the heat management system in which the engine and the automatic transmission are separately controlled, the temperature control of engine cooling water and the temperature control of automatic transmission fluid (ATF) are not considered together.
Accordingly, the heat management system may not significantly contribute to the control temperature optimization for the engine and the automatic transmission, of which the efficiencies significantly differ depending on the operation temperature.
Therefore, the above-described heat management system which is inadequate to perform the optimal temperature control has a limit in implementing performance required by a vehicle of which the fuel-efficiency is significantly improved and which is operated at high efficiency in accordance with the recent high oil price environment. In particular, the heat management system is inevitably at a disadvantage in terms of the fuel-efficiency improvement which is the most important thing of all.
The information disclosed in this Background of the Invention section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.

Integrated heat management system in vehicle and heat management method using the same


The invention relates to an exhaust gas heat exchanger for motor vehicles, comprising a cluster of exhaust pipes (10) which are soldered on the front surface thereof to pipe bottoms, and a housing jacket (3, 3b) which is welded to the pipe bottoms (7). According to the invention, the pipe bottoms are welded to the housing jacket (3b) by means of peripheral welds (11).

The invention relates to an exhaust gas heat exchanger for motor vehicles, of the same type which is known from commonly assigned DE-A 199 07 163. The invention also relates to a method for production of an exhaust gas heat exchanger such as this.
DE-A 199 07 163 discloses a welded exhaust gas heat exchanger which comprises a housing casing, a pipe or tube bundle and pipe bases (header plates), with the ends of the pipes being welded in the pipe bases and the pipe bases being welded via circumferential beads to the housing casing. The pipe ends are welded in the pipe base at the ends, while the pipe bases are welded circumferentially to the housing casing, that is to say the laser beam which is used for the welding process is directed at right angles to the pipe axes. In this case, the laser beam is either passed around the housing or the laser beam is stationary and the housing is rotated about its longitudinal axis. The different welding directions (with respect to the direction of the laser beam) make it necessary to clamp the workpiece, that is to say the heat exchanger block, at least twice successively. This increases the production complexity. Furthermore, in the known production method, provision is made for the heat exchanger block, that is to say the housing casing, not to be cut to length until two circumferential weld beads have been applied, to be precise by means of an additional laser beam step. This also involves additional production complexity.
One object of the present invention is to improve the welding carried out on an exhaust gas heat exchanger of the type mentioned initially. Another object of the invention is to provide a simplified method for its production, in particular for welding of this exhaust gas heat exchanger.

Exhaust gas heat exchanger and method for the production thereof


A molding apparatus includes a moving mold for shaping molten plastic into product made within the moving mold. The moving mold is surrounded by an air block housing to define a cooling chamber exteriorly around the moving mold. At least one heat exchanger is located within the cooling chamber. The heat exchanger provides cooling air which is contained by the housing within the cooling chamber to act on and provide cooling of the moving mold.

It is known in the molding business and particularly in the pipe molding business to use moving molds in forming the pipe for product. These moving molds are formed by mold block sections that mate with one another to define a mold block tunnel. Molten plastic is fed from an extruder into the moving mold tunnel. The mold block sections then separate from one another along what is known as a return run to move back to an up stream position for reentering the moving mold. The plastic product or pipe emerges from the downstream end of the moving mold where the mold block sections separate from one another before moving to their return path.
As the mold block sections move in a downstream direction in the moving mold tunnel they pick up a large amount of heat from the molten plastic. This is detrimental to the cooling and shaping of the product in the moving mold. As such, it is important to attempt as much as possible to cool the mold block sections. Typically, this is done while the mold block sections are mated with one another through the moving mold by subjecting them to different cooling mediums. One cooling medium according to conventional practice may be in the form of chilled water run through or onto the surfaces of the mold block sections. Another cooling medium is cooling air run through the mold tunnel.
In the case where water is used to cool the mold block sections there are generally problems created in controlling and drawing the water flow
In the case of introducing cooling air directly into the mold tunnel there are problems associated with the location for the introduction of the air to get it into the mold tunnel. Further there is a problem with cooling of the actual extrusion equipment through which the air is passed to get the air into the interior of the mold tunnel.


Door system with a locking device which has top and bottom locking elements which can be displaced by a drive unit to realize a door system which is simple and easy to install, whereby the functional and operational reliability of the system are increased. For this purpose, associated with each of the top and bottom locking elements is an actuator element whereby the actuator elements are fastened to a single slide which is held on a beam so that it can move perpendicular to the sliding direction of the leaf and which can be moved indirectly by the drive unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is based on a door system to move and lock at least two door leaves, which door system may be equipped with a drive device to move the leaves between a position that opens a passage and a position that closes the passage, as well as with a locking device. The locking device can have a motor-side drive unit which is attached to a door frame profile, and top and bottom locking elements, whereby the top locking elements can be actuated by the drive unit in the position of the leaves that closes the passage, and to create a substantially interlocking or form-fitting connection in the vicinity of the top of the leaves between the leaves and a stationary part of the doors, whereby there can be lower locking elements that can be actuated by the drive unit and are located in the vicinity of the bottom of the leaves to create an additional interlocking connection between the leaves and the stationary part of the door system, and whereby the drive unit can be effectively connected with the locking elements only when the leaves are closed for locking and unlocking.
2. Background Information
A similar locking device is described in European Patent No. 0685621 A1. The locking device has top and bottom locking elements on leaves of an automatically actuatable door system which, when the leaves are in the closed position, lock the top and bottom portions of the door leaves. The top and bottom locking elements are mechanically coupled by means of a rod, so that both locking elements are actuated when the drive unit is started by means of a pivoted lever. The top locking elements lock the neighboring leaves with respect to one another, while the bottom locking elements fix the respective leaf directly to the floor. The top and bottom locking elements are automatically moved into an interlocking connection by a single drive unit. The interlocking connection of the locking elements thereby acts in all directions, i.e., both in the direction of movement and also perpendicular to it. The door system can be operated fully automatically by means of a switch. The door system can be locked and unlocked manually in the event of the failure of the power supply system.
The type of conversion of the motor movement to the locking elements and their complex mechanical coupling system must be seen as a disadvantage, because complex and time-consuming adjustment measures on the entire system are necessary during the installation and as a result of the inevitable tolerances that occur during the operation of the door system. On account of the direct mechanical coupling of the locking elements, it may not be possible to compensate for differences in the distances traveled between the top and bottom locking element, e.g. differences that may be caused by dirt in the floor guide, which can lead to the failure of both locking mechanisms. The pivoted lever device that couples the locking element during the movement of the leaves also requires a high degree of precision of the movement process. Even minor deviations mean that the driver pin, provided for the purpose, on the pivoted lever does not come into engagement with the corresponding indentation of a locking bracket, because the plane of the indentation is perpendicular to the direction of movement, and the indentation in the direction of movement of the leaf must be guided by means of the driver pin.
An additional disadvantage of at least one locking device described in some publications is that the locking device of the leaves can be tampered with mechanically--that is, a pin-shaped tool can be pushed between the leaves, so that when the appropriate pressure is exerted against the locking bracket, the top and bottom locking elements can be moved from their position and the leaves can be displaced.


A bottom electrode structure and manufacturing method is described for producing crystallographically textured iridium electrodes for making textured PZT capacitors that enables enhanced ferroelectric memory performance. The use of seed layers originating from hexagonal crystal structures with {0001} texture provides a smooth surface for growth of {111} textured iridium, which exhibits the face-centered cubic (xe2x80x9cFCCxe2x80x9d) structure. This seeding technique results in {111} textured iridium with a small surface roughness relative to the film thickness. The highly textured iridium supports {111} textured PZT dielectric layer growth. Textured PZT exhibits enhanced switched polarization, reduced operating voltage and also improves the reliability of PZT capacitors used in FRAM(copyright) memory and other microelectronic devices.

This invention pertains to ferroelectric capacitors and integrated circuit memory devices, and, more particularly, to textured electrodes for ferroelectric capacitors.
The term xe2x80x9ctexturexe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9ctexturedxe2x80x9d generally refers to the crystallographic orientation of the material being discussed, and is not to be confused with the surface smoothness of the material. Specifically, the texture of the electrode and dielectric material being discussed refers to the crystallographic orientation of the material in the xe2x80x9cZ-axisxe2x80x9d and does not generally describe the orientation of the material in the X or Y axes (parallel to the surface of the integrated circuit). In fact, the grain structure of the material is generally random in the X or Y axes, yet it is ordered in the preferred orientation in the Z-axis of the material for maximizing electrical performance as is disclosed in greater detail below with respect to the description of the invention.
One possibility for improving the electrical performance of a ferroelectric memory is by texturing the ferroelectric dielectric material. Referring now to FIG. 1, a typical prior art ferroelectric capacitor 10 is shown including a substrate 12, a bottom electrode 14, a Perovskite ferroelectric dielectric layer 16 such as Pb(Zr1-XTiX)O3 (xe2x80x9cPZTxe2x80x9d), and a top electrode 18. The bottom electrode layer 14 and top electrode layer 18 are typically platinum or iridium. It is desirable for ferroelectric dielectric layer 16 to have a texture that maximizes electrical performance, and not a random grain structure. The use of a textured dielectric layer helps to maximize signal strengths and minimize operating voltage distribution since the polarization vector of all of the grains in the layer are oriented in the same direction. This is especially important if, as is required in integrated circuit memories, the capacitor area is very small ( less than 1 xcexcm2) and the number of grains is also small ( less than 50 grains). Randomly distributed grain orientation in the Z-axis of the dielectric film substantially affects signal strength and electrical memory performance.
Presently available bottom electrode structures and processing methods do not support a textured PZT ferroelectric dielectric layer and therefore process control and narrow single-bit signal distributions cannot be achieved for high density memories. With randomly oriented materials, the distribution in bit signals is large for capacitor sizes approaching the grain size of the PZT layer (typically 0.1-0.3 xcexcm) since the switchable polarization is a vector property linked with specific crystal directions.
In particular, it has also been found that it is difficult to maintain good PZT crystallographic texture on iridium metal bottom electrodes. Iridium metal is oxidized when it is exposed to air or oxygen-containing environments. Currently, after iridium deposition, the iridium is typically exposed to air, resulting in a surface layer of IrOX that does not provide the proper template for textured PZT growth. While it may be possible to prevent iridium oxidation by directly depositing the PZT after iridium deposition and avoiding a vacuum break, the oxygen present in the PZT and the atmosphere used to deposit PZT can also cause iridium oxidation in an uncontrolled manner.
Exposure, therefore, of an iridium bottom electrode to atmosphere causes surface oxidation of the iridium. This surface oxidation causes an undesirable non-oriented PZT dielectric layer to be formed. Current platinum technology does not prevent oxygen diffusion through the bottom electrode. This, in turn, does not allow protection of contacts that lie below the bottom electrode in a capacitor-on-plug FRAM(copyright) memory architecture.
What is desired, therefore, is a bottom electrode structure for a ferroelectric capacitor that supports the growth of a properly textured ferroelectric dielectric film.
According to the present invention, a method is described for producing crystallographically textured electrodes for making ideally textured PZT capacitors for enhanced ferroelectric memory performance. The use of seed layers originating from hexagonal crystal structures with {0001} texture provides a template with a smooth surface for growth of {111} textured iridium, which exhibits the face-centered cubic (xe2x80x9cFCCxe2x80x9d) structure. This seeding technique results in {111} textured iridium with a small surface roughness relative to the film thickness. The highly textured iridium acts as a template for {111} textured PZT growth. Textured PZT exhibits enhanced switched polarization, reduced operating voltage and also improves the reliability of PZT capacitors used in FRAM(copyright) memory and other microelectronic devices.
One advantage of using iridium is that iridium provides a barrier against oxygen diffusion. When the PZT capacitor is formed on top of a tungsten, silicon, or other plug material, oxidation of the plug is ideally prevented (or at least limited) to avoid excessively high contact resistance between the plug and the capacitor. Capacitor-over-plug architectures are normally required for high density memories that incorporate small capacitors ( less than 1 xcexcm2). It is therefore desirable to maintain a textured PZT layer to have a maximum switching signal, low operating voltage and a narrow distribution in bit-to-bit response. With textured materials, all capacitors substantially exhibit the same switchable polarization since all the PZT grains exhibit the same texture.
During vapor phase deposition, materials with hexagonal crystal structures have a natural growth habit such that the basal plane, i.e., the {0001} plane, prefers to grow parallel to the surface of a planarized substrate. This growth habit results in the formation of {0001} textured films with smooth surfaces that terminate on the {0001} plane. This smooth {0001} lattice plane in turn provides an ideal growth surface for growth of a smooth subsequent layer. In addition, the basal planes of hexagonal structure materials are close-packed planes that provide for an excellent template for growth of {111} textured films exhibiting an FCC crystal structure. The {111} planes in the FCC structure are also close-packed planes. In fact, the only difference between hexagonal close-packed structures and face-centered cubic structures is the stacking sequence of the close-packed planes. ABC stacking is exhibited in FCC structures and AB stacking is exhibited in HCP structures. The FCC (111) plane can have a good lattice match with the HCP (0001) plane. A mismatch as large as 25% can be accommodated between the FCC (111) and HCP (0001) lattice while still assuring that the HCP (0001) lattice acts as a seed for textured growth of the FCC (111) lattice. The mismatch is given by:             2                    a        H              -                  2                          a        F                        2                  a      F
where aH is the unit cell parameter for the hexagonal basal plane of the seed layer and aF is the unit cell parameter for the FCC electrode layer.
Since the HCP seed layer is textured, the lattice match of the FCC and HCP structures introduce a texture of the FCC material. The lattice match between the FCC (111) and HCP (0001) planes is confined within a single grain; therefore the FCC layer exhibits a {111} texture perpendicular to the plane of the substrate, but the grains are randomly oriented with respect to relative rotations within the plane of the substrate.
Tetragonal seed layers that form a distorted hexagonal sub-lattice can also be used to achieve textured Ir films. Such films can be formed by using thermal oxidation or nitridation of smooth {0001} as-grown hexagonal metal films, resulting in alternative oxide and nitride based seed layers with smooth surfaces. These oxide and nitride seed layers can also be used to achieve better lattice matching with FCC electrodes and therefore result in improved texture of the FCC electrode film. Formation of compound hexagonal and tetragonal seed layers can also be achieved by deposition processing such as sputtering and MOCVD. An example of a tetragonal seed layer that can be formed by thermal oxidation is TiO2, which exhibits the rutile structure and a distorted hexagonal oxygen sub-lattice. Hexagonal Ti with an {0001} texture transforms to tetragonal TiO2 with a {100} texture. The FCC (111) lattice can have a good match with the tetragonal rutile (200) lattice provided that the lattice mismatch is less than 25%. The lattice mismatch in this case is given by                     2                          c          T                    -                        2                                  a          F                                    2                          a        F                    xe2x80x83      and        xe2x80x83                        a        T            -                                    3            2                                            a          F                                              3          2                                  a        F
where cT and aT are the unit cell parameters for the tetragonal seed layer and aF is the unit cell parameter for the FCC electrode layer.
Because of the natural growth habit of the hexagonal close-packed (xe2x80x9cHCPxe2x80x9d) structure of titanium, titanium growth with an {0001} texture provides for an excellent seed layer for the growth of {111} textured FCC iridium. Because of the strong growth habit of titanium, this seed layer can be grown on a variety of amorphous and crystalline substrates while still maintaining a high quality of {0001} texture. Because the {0001} titanium texture can be maintained on a variety of substrates, it provides for a universal seed layer that can be used on top of an interlevel dielectric, plug, and other barrier materials that are placed on top of the plug structure. In turn, the {0001} textured titanium can be thermally oxidized to form a stable oxide that also provides not only a thermally stable seed layer but also a smooth seed layer that allows the growth of {111} textured iridium that can act as a bottom electrode for textured PZT growth. The thermally oxidized titanium exhibiting a {100} textured rutile structure is ideally grown such that it exhibits a 200 X-ray diffraction (xe2x80x9cXRDxe2x80x9d) rocking-curve peak with a full width at half maximum (xe2x80x9cFWHMxe2x80x9d) of less than 5xc2x0. With such a seed layer, the iridium can be grown with a 111 rocking-curve FWHM of less than 5xc2x0, which is ideally required to achieve a high quality 111 PZT texture with a 111 rocking-curve of less than 5xc2x0 omega. Such a PZT texture is ideally needed to achieve the full performance benefits of the textured PZT. In order to achieve the high degree of iridium texture, the iridium is ideally deposited in a temperature range of 300 to 700xc2x0 C.
The method of the present invention includes a hexagonal close-packed seed layer, which is employed as-grown, oxidized or nitrided by thermal processing, with an FCC bottom electrode, and can be extended to other materials. Potential hexagonal metal seed layers include titanium, cobalt, zirconium and ruthenium, among other materials as is explained in greater detail below. The advantage of using ruthenium is that oxidation of ruthenium still results in a conducting layer.
Other hexagonal materials that can act as a seed layer include BN, AlN, GaN, InN, ZnO, and other wurtzite (or hexagonal) structure materials, as well as solid solutions or doped derivatives of these materials. For these materials, the anion sub-lattice provides the close-packed basal plane that provides the lattice match with the FCC close-packed (111) plane.
These can be formed by a variety of thin film deposition processes including sputtering and MOCVD. The advantage of using the wurtzite structure nitrides is that the seed layer can also provide additional protection against oxidation of the plug since it is known that certain nitrides are resistant to oxidation.
Other seed layer compounds having a hexagonal or tetragonal crystal structure that contains a hexagonal or distorted hexagonal sublattice can be used if that compound provides a lattice match with the iridium {111} plane within 25%. Additionally, other FCC electrode materials can be used in place of iridium and these include Pt, Pd, Ag, Au, Cu, and Ni, among other materials as is explained in further detail below.
The present invention also provides a means to prevent iridium oxidation and provides a means for textured PZT growth with a narrow rocking-curve FWHM. The iridium layer provides a barrier against oxygen diffusion, which can be used to prevent oxidation of conducting plugs in a FRAM(copyright) capacitor-over-plug ferroelectric memory architecture.
Textured iridium with a 111 rocking-curve FWHM of less than 5xc2x0 is first deposited to a thickness of 1-100 nm. Without breaking vacuum, a platinum layer (1 to 50 nm thick) is deposited on top of the iridium. Because of the close lattice match and same FCC structure of platinum and iridium, the platinum grows with a {111} texture that has a 111 rocking-curve FWHM similar to iridium. Since the platinum does not oxidize when exposed to air and oxidizing environments, the Pt/Ir electrode is stable against oxidation. Textured PZT can easily be grown on the platinum layer when the platinum has a 111 rocking-curve FWHM of less than 5xc2x0. The high degree of PZT texture ensures high performance ferroelectric properties for FRAM(copyright) memory applications. An additional advantage is the PZT provides a narrow distribution in the signal sensed from bits comprising the FRAM memory.
The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Method for producing crystallographically textured electrodes for textured PZT capacitors


A safety rail assembly for surrounding a structure protruding from a support surface comprises at least three base units for positioning in a free-standing manner on the support surface, support members each extending substantially vertically from a respective base unit, and barrier members each extending between and supported by a respective pair of successive support members, each base unit comprising a side face which faces inwards of the assembly towards another of the base units or a position between two or more other base units of the assembly, and each side face being of a shape which defines a recess which accommodates part of the protruding structure thereby to restrain lateral movement of the safety rail assembly away from the protruding structure.

A disadvantage of some types of known safety rail assembly constructions is that they require to be fixed in position by anchoring devices that penetrate the weatherproof surface of a roof or floor, thus creating a potential for water penetration when any sealing material around the anchoring device degrades.
In some other safety rail assembly constructions special adjustable clamping devices need to be provided and mounted on the assembly to engage with a skylight to retain the safety rail assembly against lateral movement. This adds to cost and time.


A teaching device capable of teaching not only movement work but also more detailed working content. The teaching device is provided with input section for inputting work information such as work of pinching workpieces which is carried out by a robot arm at a working position. When carrying out motion capture by moving jig (an object which mimics the robot arm) which is provided with marker section, a user manipulate input section at an appropriate timing to input the working content to be performed by the robot arm as work information, and thus it is possible to set fine working content of the robot arm in teaching device. Accordingly, teaching device is capable of linking positional information of jig and the like and work information generating control information for controlling the robot arm.

In recent years, there has been progress in the automation of work using industrial robots in an effort to reduce labor at production sites. There is an industrial robot, for example, which, in a robot arm, is provided with a so-called parallel link mechanism that supports one end effector using multiple arm sections which are arranged in parallel, and there is an industrial robot such as an articulated robot which is provided with a serial link mechanism that connects multiple arm sections in one direction and supports an end effector.
In the related art, there is a teaching device in which a person mimics the work to be performed by a robot arm, the operations of the mimicking person are acquired by motion capture, and the robot arm is taught (for example, PTL 1). In the teaching device disclosed in PTL 1, when an operator operates a measurement device ("motion capture" in the literature) in a state in which the measurement device is worn on the hand, based on the three-dimensional coordinate data which is transmitted from the measurement device, the position of the measurement device is sampled at a predetermined sampling interval. The teaching device calculates the movement position, the movement speed, and the like based on the sampled data and controls the arm section to move to the calculated movement position at the movement speed.
PTL 1: JP-A-2011-200997

Teaching device and control information generation method


Polysaccharides, more particularly, polysaccharide structures, especially fibers, comprising an unsubstituted polysaccharide, webs comprising such polysaccharide structures and processes for making such polysaccharide structures and/or webs are provided.

Polysaccharide structures, such as fibers and/or films, comprising polysaccharides are known in the art. However, polysaccharide structures, especially in the form of fibers, comprising unsubstituted polysaccharides wherein the polysaccharide structures exhibit an apparent peak wet tensile stress greater than 0.2 MPa and/or an average fiber diameter of less than 10 μm have been until now unobtainable.
Accordingly, there exists a need for polysaccharide structures that comprise unsubstituted polysaccharides wherein the polysaccharide structures exhibit an apparent peak wet tensile stress greater than 0.2 MPa and/or an average fiber diameter of less than 10 μm, webs comprising such polysaccharide structures and processes for making such polysaccharide structures.

Polysaccharide structures comprising an unsubstituted polysaccharide and processes for making same


An electric cooking apparatus can be used for many purposes and includes heating programs and a control device. The heating programs can be changed freely through the operation of an operation panel. The heating temperature and time can be programmed according to a user""s taste and are set and stored as a heating program, thereby making it possible to cook various ways. The setting of the heating program is carried out through the operation of the operation panel making the program setting extremely simplified. The control device is provided with a storage device for storing the heating programs set through the operation of the operation panel.

a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electric cooking apparatus with a control means.
b) Prior Art
Conventional electric cooking apparatus with a control means have been designed according to respective dedicated application. For example, electric rice cookers have had dedicated heating programs only for cooking rice, said dedicated heating programs being stored beforehand in such control means, and electric germinators also have had dedicated heating programs only for germinating unmilled, brown rice, said dedicated heating programs also being stored beforehand in such control means. Accordingly, it was impossible for users to set such dedicated heating programs as they like. For this reason, it was impossible to use conventional electric cooking apparatus designed for respective exclusive uses for other cooking uses, such as for boiling eggs or boiling Japanese xe2x80x9codenxe2x80x9d (i.e., Japanese hotchpotch). Further, it was also impossible for users to cook as they like according to their favorite recipes or recipes created by famous cooks.
Accordingly, it is a main object of the present invention to provide an electric cooking apparatus which can be used for multi-purposes.
To attain the object, there is provided an electric cooking apparatus in accordance with a first aspect of the invention, comprising: a main body including a heating device; a control device for controlling heating temperature and time of the heating device based on a heating program; an operation panel for operating the control device; and a receptacle provided in the main body, the receptacle being heated by the heating means, wherein the heating program of the control device is able to be set arbitrarily by operating the operational panel.
Accordingly, the heating program can be set freely through the operation of the operation panel so that a multi-purpose electric cooking apparatus can be provided by setting the heating temperature and time as heating program according to a user""s taste. Further, as the setting of the heating program is carried out only through the operation of the operation panel, the setting of heating program is simplified.
According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided an electric cooking apparatus according to the foregoing aspect, wherein the control device includes a storage device for storing the heating program set through the operation of the operation panel.
Accordingly, it is possible to store the heating program by way of the storage device so that the stored heating program can be precisely repeated.
According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided an electric cooking apparatus according to any of the foregoing aspect, wherein the storage device is so structured that it may have a plurality of the heating programs stored thereon, while the operation panel is provided with a selection operating portion for selecting among the stored heating programs.
Accordingly, it is possible to easily repeat or reproduce any one of the stored heating programs.
According to a still further aspect of the invention, there is provided an electric cooking apparatus according to any of the foregoing aspect, wherein the main body is provided with a temperature detection device for detecting temperature in the receptacle or in foods to be heated, with the temperature detection means connecting with the abovementioned control device.
Accordingly, it is possible to perform cooking while feeding back a heat condition to the control device.


The present invention relates to novel chemical compounds, methods for their discovery, and their therapeutic use. In particular, the present invention provides benzodiazepine derivatives and methods of using benzodiazepine derivatives as therapeutic agents to treat a number of conditions associated with the faulty regulation of the processes of programmed cell death, autoimmunity, inflammation, and hyperproliferation, and the like.

Multicellular organisms exert precise control over cell number. A balance between cell proliferation and cell death achieves this homeostasis. Cell death occurs in nearly every type of vertebrate cell via necrosis or through a suicidal form of cell death, known as apoptosis. Apoptosis is triggered by a variety of extracellular and intracellular signals that engage a common, genetically programmed death mechanism.
Multicellular organisms use apoptosis to instruct damaged or unnecessary cells to destroy themselves for the good of the organism. Control of the apoptotic process therefore is very important to normal development, for example, fetal development of fingers and toes requires the controlled removal, by apoptosis, of excess interconnecting tissues, as does the formation of neural synapses within the brain. Similarly, controlled apoptosis is responsible for the sloughing off of the inner lining of the uterus (the endometrium) at the start of menstruation. While apoptosis plays an important role in tissue sculpting and normal cellular maintenance, it is also the primary defense against cells and invaders (e.g., viruses) which threaten the well being of the organism.
Not surprisingly many diseases are associated with dysregulation of the process of cell death. Experimental models have established a cause-effect relationship between aberrant apoptotic regulation and the pathenogenicity of various neoplastic, autoimmune and viral diseases. For instance, in the cell mediated immune response, effector cells (e.g., cytotoxic T lymphocytes "CTLs") destroy virus-infected cells by inducing the infected cells to undergo apoptosis. The organism subsequently relies on the apoptotic process to destroy the effector cells when they are no longer needed. Autoimmunity is normally prevented by the CTLs inducing apoptosis in each other and even in themselves. Defects in this process are associated with a variety of autoimmune diseases such as lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis.
Multicellular organisms also use apoptosis to instruct cells with damaged nucleic acids (e.g., DNA) to destroy themselves prior to becoming cancerous. Some cancer-causing viruses overcome this safeguard by reprogramming infected (transformed) cells to abort the normal apoptotic process. For example, several human papilloma viruses (HPVs) have been implicated in causing cervical cancer by suppressing the apoptotic removal of transformed cells by producing a protein (E6) which inactivates the p53 apoptosis promoter. Similarly, the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), the causative agent of mononucleosis and Burkitt's lymphoma, reprograms infected cells to produce proteins that prevent normal apoptotic removal of the aberrant cells thus allowing the cancerous cells to proliferate and to spread throughout the organism.
Still other viruses destructively manipulate a cell's apoptotic machinery without directly resulting in the development of a cancer. For example, the destruction of the immune system in individuals infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is thought to progress through infected CD4+ T cells (about 1 in 100,000) instructing uninfected sister cells to undergo apoptosis.
Some cancers that arise by non-viral means have also developed mechanisms to escape destruction by apoptosis. Melanoma cells, for instance, avoid apoptosis by inhibiting the expression of the gene encoding Apaf-1. Other cancer cells, especially lung and colon cancer cells, secrete high levels of soluble decoy molecules that inhibit the initiation of CTL mediated clearance of aberrant cells. Faulty regulation of the apoptotic machinery has also been implicated in various degenerative conditions and vascular diseases.
It is apparent that the controlled regulation of the apoptotic process and its cellular machinery is vital to the survival of multicellular organisms. Typically, the biochemical changes that occur in a cell instructed to undergo apoptosis occur in an orderly procession. However, as shown above, flawed regulation of apoptosis can cause serious deleterious effects in the organism.
There have been various attempts to control and restore regulation of the apoptotic machinery in aberrant cells (e.g., cancer cells). For example, much work has been done to develop cytotoxic agents to destroy aberrant cells before they proliferate. As such, cytotoxic agents have widespread utility in both human and animal health and represent the first line of treatment for nearly all forms of cancer and hyperproliferative autoimmune disorders like lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis.
Many cytotoxic agents in clinical use exert their effect by damaging DNA (e.g., cis-diaminodichroplatanim(II) cross-links DNA, whereas bleomycin induces strand cleavage). The result of this nuclear damage, if recognized by cellular factors like the p53 system, is to initiate an apoptotic cascade leading to the death of the damaged cell.
However, existing cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents have serious drawbacks.
For example, many known cytotoxic agents show little discrimination between healthy and diseased cells. This lack of specificity often results in severe side effects that can limit efficacy and/or result in early mortality. Moreover, prolonged administration of many existing cytotoxic agents results in the expression of resistance genes (e.g., bcl-2 family or multi-drug resistance (MDR) proteins) that render further dosing either less effective or useless. Some cytotoxic agents induce mutations into p53 and related proteins. Based on these considerations, ideal cytotoxic drugs should only kill diseased cells and not be susceptible to chemo-resistance.
One strategy to selectively kill diseased cells is to develop drugs that selectively recognize molecules expressed in diseased cells. Thus, effective cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents, would recognize disease indicative molecules and induce (e.g., either directly or indirectly) the death of the diseased cell. Although markers on some types of cancer cells have been identified and targeted with therapeutic antibodies and small molecules, unique traits for diagnostic and therapeutic exploitation are not known for most cancers. Moreover, for diseases like lupus, specific molecular targets for drug development have not been identified.
What are needed are improved compositions and methods for regulating the apoptotic processes in subjects afflicted with diseases and conditions characterized by faulty regulation of these processes (e.g., viral infections, hyperproliferative autoimmune disorders, chronic inflammatory conditions, and cancers).

Compositions and methods relating to F1F0-ATPase inhibitors and targets thereof


A construction method for a (n,n(n−1),n−1) permutation group code based on coset partition is provided. The presented (n,n(n−1),n−1) permutation group code has an error-correcting capability of d−1 and features a strong anti-interference capability for channel interferences comprising multi-frequency interferences and signal fading. As n is a prime, for a permutation code family with a minimum distance of n−1 and a code set size of n(n−1), the invention provides a method of calculating n−1 orbit leader permutation codewords by On={αo1}α=1n-1(mod n) and enumerating residual codewords of the code set by Pn=CnOn={(l1)n-1On}={(rn)n-1On}. Besides, a generator of the code set thereof is provided. The (n,n(n−1),n−1) permutation group code of the invention is an algebraic-structured code, n−1 codewords of the orbit leader array can be obtained simply by adder and (mod n) calculator rather than multiplication of positive integers. Composition operations of the cyclic subgroup Cn acting on all permutations oα of the orbit leader permutation array On are replaced by well-defined cyclic shift composite operation functions (l1)n-1 and (rn)n-1 so that the action of the cyclic group acting on permutations is realized by a group of cyclic shift registers.

Multiple interferences comprising multipath fading, permanent narrow-band noise, broadband impulse noise and colored background noises may coexist in a power line channel, which is uncommon for wireless and wired channels. Therefore, information transmission reliability is hard to be guaranteed by applying existing technology of wireless and wired communications directly to power line carrier communication channels, and it is necessary to propose a solution of error-correcting codes with higher reliability to interferences of multiple forms and multiple frequencies in power line carrier communication. Besides, error-correcting codes with higher reliability are still needed for wider wireless transmission environment with interferences of multiple forms and multiple frequencies.
In 2000, Vinck introduced permutation codes into power line carrier communication, and a corresponding dissertation "'Coded modulation for power line communications', AEU int. J. Electron. Commun., vol. 54, no. 1, pp: 45-49, 2000" discloses a power line carrier coded modulation method combining permutation code and M-dimension FSK modulation, where time diversity and frequency diversity are introduced simultaneously at a transmitter terminal according to redundancy of permutation codes to increase capability of resisting fading and interferences of multiple frequencies, and a receiving signal is detected by a constant envelope demodulation algorithm at a receiver terminal to form a simple non-coherent demodulation method. It should be noted that Vinck came to a conclusion that permutation codes have an error-correcting capability of d−1 rather than └(d−1)/2┘ through analyzing a permutation code with code length of 4. However, Vinck failed to provide an effective construction method for permutation codes. At present, permutation codes with an error-correcting capability of d−1 develop slowly and are not applied in practice for design methods for algebraic structures of permutation codes are rare and more particularly, the problem of their executable circuits has not been effectively solved yet.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Construction method for (n,n(n-1),n-1) permutation group code based on coset partition and codebook generator thereof

HUAZHONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY


Lipid-based delivery vehicles are provided. Nanoparticulate compositions typically including a p21 activated kinase (PAK) inhibitor and a lipid-based delivery vehicle are also provided. In preferred embodiments, the lipid-based delivery vehicle is a liposome, most preferably a sterically-stabilized liposome. Typically the lipid-based delivery vehicle includes one or more phospholipids, and optionally a sterol. In some embodiments, at least one of the phospholipids is PEGylated. In particular embodiments, the lipid-based delivery vehicle includes DSPC, DSPE-PEG2000, and cholesterol. In specific embodiments, the ratio of DSPC, DSPE-PEG, and cholesterol is 9:1:5. The nanoparticulate composition typically includes a PAK inhibitor, preferably a PAK-1 inhibitor such as IPA-3 or a derivative, prodrug, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. Methods of use, for example methods of treating cancer, particularly prostate and breast cancer by administering the composition to subjects in need thereof, are also provided.

P21 activated kinases (PAKs), which exist in 6 different isoforms, are categorized into group-I and group-II PAKs based on their distinctly different mechanisms of activation and their non-redundant role in the regulation of cellular function (Kichina, et al., Expert Opin Ther Targets. 2010; 14: 703-25). Group-I PAKs, PAK-1 and PAK-2 in particular, have been implicated in various cancers (Radu, et al., Nature reviews Cancer. 2014; 14: 13-25). Although PAK-1 is the most expressed PAK isoform in the majority of tissues, the expression level of PAK-1 is below the detectable range in normal prostate tissue and prostatic epithelial cells (Kichina, et al., Expert Opin Ther Targets. 2010; 14: 703-25). Instead, normal prostate abundantly expresses group-II PAKs such as PAK-4 and PAK-6 (Schrantz, et al., The Journal of biological chemistry. 2004; 279: 1922-31). A previous study demonstrated that Rac1-mediated cytoskeletal remodeling is essential for prostate cancer invasion (Goc, et al. PLoS One. 2012; 7: e40594). Group-I PAKs are the major downstream effectors of Rac1 in mediating cytoskeletal remodeling (Somanath, et al., Journal of cellular physiology. 2009; 218: 394-404; Parrini, et al., Biochemical Society transactions. 2005; 33: 646-8.), and further investigation of the role of PAK-1 in prostate cancer revealed that although not detected in the human prostatic epithelial cells, normal prostate gland and benign prostatic hyperplasia tissues, PAK-1 is abundantly expressed in prostate tumor biopsies and metastasized colonies harbored in the human lung tissues (Goc, et al., J Biol Chem. 2013; 288: 3025-35). PAK-1 has also been shown to be important for the growth of prostate PC-3 cell tumor xenografts in athymic nude mice as well as transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ)-induced prostate cancer cell epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (Al-Azayzih, et al., Biochim Biophys Acta. 2015; 1853: 1229-39).
Among the known inhibitors of PAKs, a reliable inhibitor and one specific to group-I PAKs is the 'inhibitor targeting PAK-1 activation-3' (IPA-3), a compound identified through high throughput screening (Deacon, et al., Chem Biol., 2008; 15: 322-31). A major advantage of IPA-3 is that, unlike other kinase inhibitors, IPA-3 does not interact with and compete for the ATP-binding domain of the kinase (Rudolph, et al., J Med Chem. 2015; 58: 111-29). Instead, it is a non-competitive, allosteric inhibitor of PAK-1 that inhibits PAK-1 activation, even at higher ATP levels. However, the chemically and metabolically labile nature of IPA-3 becomes a major bottleneck in its use for therapeutic purpose (Rudolph, et al., J Med Chem. 2015; 58: 111-29). Although IPA-3 inhibits prostate cancer cellular function in vitro and tumor growth in vivo, increased frequency (i.e., daily) of drug administration was necessary (Goc, et al., J Biol Chem. 2013; 288: 3025-35, Al-Azayzih, et al., Biochim Biophys Acta. 2015; 1853: 1229-39). Further, since PAK-1 is necessary for many physiological events (Ke, et al., Front Med. 2014; 8: 399-403-14; Koth, et al., J Physiol Paris. 2014; 108: 270-7; Taglieri, et al., Cellular signalling. 2014; 26: 2060-9; Wang, et al., Frontiers in physiology. 2015; 6: 76). Serious toxic side effects of targeting PAK-1 with the free form of IPA-3 cannot be ruled out.
Thus there is a need for improved compositions and methods of delivering IPA-3 to cancer cells, particularly prostate cancer cell, in vivo.
It is an object of the invention to provide compositions and methods of use thereof that improve the in vivo stability, efficacy, or combination thereof of IPA-3.
It is a further object of the invention to provide compositions and methods of administration thereof that reduce the frequency of drug administration, reduce any potential side-effects, or combinations thereof of IPA-3.

IPA-3-loaded liposomes and methods of use thereof

UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.


A data imprinting device for a camera has a light source, a diaphragm member, and an optical member mounted on support structures integrally formed in a body of the camera. Another embodiment of the invention includes first and second optical members for imprinting data at two respective locations, upon a film, corresponding to full size and panorama size modes of operation. A shutter slides to obstruct emergent light from one of the first and second optical member thus disabling it from imprinting. The first and second optical members are integrally formed in a bracket structure which is mounted in a body of the camera. Embodiments includes the first and second optical members having emergent planes equidistant from the film. The first and second optical elements have incident planes either offset in a direction parallel with the film or perpendicular to it. Similar exposure characteristic at the two respective locations are maintained by controlling numerical apertures and transmittances of the first and second optical members.

This invention relates to data imprinting devices, for cameras, which imprint data on pictures taken including the date when the picture is taken. More particularly, the invention relates to a data imprinting device having an integrated optical system which reduces the number of elements in the camera and thereby increases productivity.
Conventional imprinting devices include a compound prism lens element, mounted in a shaft of a camera body, and a diaphragm element mounted within the shaft a fixed distance from the prism lens element. A spacer support member is required to mount the diaphragm member a correct distance from the prism lens for a gathering a light beam and controlling properly controlling an amount of light passing therethrough. This installation of the spacer support member and the alignment of the respective parts increases production time and costs.
At times, it is desirable to imprint data on multiple types of screens or imprint multiple data on one screen. In conventional devices, imprinting data on the film at different locations requires multiple optical members. Each optical member has to be accurately placed in the camera so that the data is properly focused and clearly imprinted on the film for each screen mode. Generally, the installation process is very time consuming.
Imprinting data on different locations at the same time requires additional control mechanisms. These are needed to account for the differing amounts of light and flash time. This adds additional elements to the camera. More specifically, Japanese Laid Open Patent Application No. 58-79235 discloses a filter disposed between the light source and the optical members to adjust the amount of light to obtain proper exposure. In this case, the filter has to be supported by another element. The same drawbacks exist in this prior art.
Other conventional devices having a plurality of optical members, a control mechanism for each optical member is required. The control mechanism adjusts an amount of light from a light emitting source to obtain proper exposure when imprinting data. The control mechanism is an electrical control device which operates during each exposure. However, the control mechanism requires additional data and hardware elements to calculate a correction value than a normal camera does. Increases in the production cost of the camera result. Additionally, it is impossible to simultaneously imprint data at multiple positions using devices of the prior art.


The present invention pertains to a process for the preparation of an orally disintegrating tablet for administration to a human subject, the tablet containing a medicinal substance to treat a disorder of the human subject, comprising the steps of providing a fluid formulation comprising the medicinal substance, providing a solid element having formed therein at least one cavity, cooling the solid element to a temperature below a freezing temperature of the formulation, filling the cavity with the fluid formulation, solidifying the formulation while present in the cavity by extracting heat from the formulation through a cavity wall by conduction, to form a solid pellet comprising the medicinal substance without actively shaping the entire surface of the pellet, taking the pellet out of the cavity, and drying the pellet in a vacuum to obtain the tablet. The invention also pertains to the tablet itself and a package comprising such a tablet.

Orally disintegrating tablets (ODT's), also called melt-in-mouth, fast-melting, mouth-dissolving, rapid-melt, orodispersible or quickly dissolving tablets are solid dosage forms that rapidly disintegrate in the oral human cavity without taking water. They thus overcome for example swallowing problems (especially for geriatric and paediatric patients) and may improve patient compliance. When an ODT is placed in the mouth, saliva causes it to disintegrate rapidly (usually within 60 seconds, preferably within 30 seconds and more preferably within 10 seconds) and to disperse the dosage form so that the saliva contains the medicinal substance. The patient either swallows the saliva-substance mixture such that it reaches the stomach, or a larger part (if not all) of the medicinal substance is absorbed through the mouth, pharynx and/or esophagus before it reaches the stomach, thus preventing first pass metabolism of the medicinal substance, and therewith enhancing the bioavailability of it.
A variety of medicinal substances and/or combinations thereof can be used as the active ingredient in the ODT such as for example analgesics and anti-inflammatory agents, antacids, anthelmintics, anti-arrhythmic agents, anti-bacterial agents, anti-coagulants, anti-depressants, anti-diabetics, anti-diarrheals, anti-epileptics, anti-fungal agents, anti-gout agents, anti-histamines, anti-hypertensive agents, anti-malarials, anti-migraine agents, anti-muscarinic agents, anti-neoplastic agents and immunosurpressants, anti-psychotics, anti-protozoal agents, anti-rheumatics, anti-thyroid agents, anti-viral agents, anxiolytics, sedatives, hypnotics and neuroleptics, beta-blockers, cardiac inotropic agents, corticosteroids, cough suppressants, cytotoxics, decongestants, diuretics, enzymes, anti-parkinson agents, gastro-intestinal agents, histamine receptor antagonists, lipid regulating agents, local anaesthetics, neuromuscular agents, nitrates and anti-anginal agents, opioid analgesics, proteins, peptides, recombinant drugs, sex hormones, contraceptives, spermicides, stimulants etc.
A process for the preparation of ODT's (in this specification also denoted as "disintegrating tablets") is known i.a. from U.S. Pat. No. 5,384,124 assigned to Farmalyoc. In the known process a paste comprising one or more medicinal substances is formed, which paste is mechanically divided into unitary doses having a well defined shape and volume, by distributing the paste in cavities of predetermined shape and size, which cavities are present in a polyvinyl chloride carrier element. After distributing the paste, the carrier element is put in a lyophiliser and the paste is freeze-dried. This way, each unitary dose is formed into a tablet. The advantage of the freeze-drying process is not only that the medicinal substance is brought in a very stable form, but also that a solid dosage form is obtained that disintegrates upon contact with a liquid. In particularly, if the paste originally was based on water as the carrying solvent (the term "solvent" includes any liquid medium may serve as a carrier for other substances), such a tablet will normally disintegrate upon contact with water or a water based fluid such as saliva.
The known method is being widely used in the life-sciences industry (see for example "Orally disintegrating tablets: an overview of melt-mouth tablet technologies and techniques" by Deepak Kaushik, Harish Dureja and T. R. Saini, Maharishi Dayanand University and Shri G.S. Institute of Technology and Science, as published in "Tablets and Capsules", 30 Jul. 2004). In particular technologies such as Zydis (Catalent Pharma Solutions, Somerset, N.J., USA) and Lyoc (Laboratoires Farmalyoc, Maisons-Alfort, France) use this known process. Typically the starting paste or fluid formulation is prepared and dosed into a preformed blister pack. This pack, i.e. the material present in the pack, is then frozen and subjected to freeze-drying to remove water. The resultant structures are inherently very porous and rapidly disintegrate when they contact saliva. Indeed, this method is very advantageous in that tablets can be made that very rapidly disintegrate, show adequate pharmacokinetic characteristics, better patient compliance and higher bioavailability when compared with reference oral solid formulations, and side-effect reduction (see "Fast-Melting Tablets: Developments and Technologies" by Luca Dobetti, in Pharmaceutical Technology Drug Delivery, 2001, pp 44-50). Known disadvantages are that the tablets have a relatively poor mechanical stability and high cost of production. These disadvantages however are believed to be inherent due to the freeze-dry process used: Freeze-drying needs expensive equipment and inherently leads to mechanically less stable tablets when compared e.g. to traditional compression techniques. Due to this fact the known process takes place by using the final tablet package (i.e. the blister package) as a carrier throughout the complete process. This inherently means that each production step has to be adjusted such that it can be used in conjunction with this particular package. This limits the freedom of operation in the various manufacturing steps and thus increases cost price even further. However, given the advantages of freeze-dried products as disintegrating tablets, the inherent high cost price of the manufacturing process is accepted by the manufacturing practitioner.
It is noted that other methods to arrive at ODT's are known from the prior art. For example, WO 93/12770 and US 2006/0057207 (both assigned to Pfizer Inc.) describe a method wherein the tablets are actively shaped over substantially their entire surface by compressing the frozen pellets in a closed mould. This known method thus defers from passively obtaining a tablet shape, for example by using a passively arrived shape that occurs through the mere action of gravity and surface tension. This way a predetermined shape can be arrived at easily in a controlled manner. This method is disadvantageous however in that it requires a rather complex die-and-punch assembly that is prone to leakage of the fluid formulation from the cavity (i.e. the closed mould). Also, frozen pellets tend to stick to either the die or punch due to the use of compression forces. An advantage indeed is that by compressing the frozen pellet, good mechanical properties are obtained which allow the frozen pellet to be taken out of the cavity integrally.
From U.S. Pat. No. 5,382,437 and EP 0 450 141 yet another method is known wherein the fluid formulation is brought over into open cavities of a solid element which is at room temperature, whereafter this element is brought over in a freezer for 30-60 minutes. This appears to be advantageous since the fluid formulation namely will nicely fill the cavity, thus leading to a frozen pellet of a size and shape that exactly corresponds to the size and shape of the cavity, and thus leading to a predictable pellet form. Disadvantages however are that a cooling-heating cycle has to take place with this method and also that the entire process is relatively slow. Also, there is a risk of loosing fluid from the cavity upon filling them with the (low viscosity) fluid formulation.

Process to form an orally disintegrating tablet for human use


Systems and methods of a memory allocation buffer to reduce heap fragmentation. In one embodiment, the memory allocation buffer structures a memory arena dedicated to a target region that is one of a plurality of regions in a server in a database cluster such as an HBase cluster. The memory area has a chunk size (e.g., 2 MB) and an offset pointer. Data objects in write requests targeted to the region are received and inserted to the memory arena at a location specified by the offset pointer. When the memory arena is filled, a new one is allocated. When a MemStore of the target region is flushed, the entire memory arenas for the target region are freed up. This reduces heap fragmentation that is responsible for long and/or frequent garbage collection pauses.

The amount of memory available on inexpensive commodity servers has dramatically increased. For example, when some databases including Apache HBase project started, typical machines running Apache Hadoop had 4-8 GB of random access memory (RAM). Now, users and customers run with at least 24 G of RAM, and larger amounts like 48 G, 72 G, or even larger are becoming common as costs continue to come down. On the surface, this new memory capacity appears to be advantageous to latency-sensitive databases like HBase, where with a lot of RAM, more data can fit in cache which can avoid expensive disk seeks on reads, and more data can fit in the MemStore, or the memory area that buffers write to before they flush to disk.
In practice, however, as heap sizes for databases have increased, the garbage collection methods and/or systems available in production-quality Java Development Kits (JDKs) have remained largely the same. This has resulted in longer garbage collection pauses. Long garbage collection pauses can result in latency when client requests are stalled and other issues in the system.

Memory allocation buffer for reduction of heap fragmentation


An adapter cap including a cap body, a slot in the cap body, wherein the slot is configured to hold an optical flat, an attachment mechanism configured to attach the cap to an inspection device, and an alignment hole in the cap body, wherein the alignment hole is configured to hold an optical connector ferrule.

1. Field
The invention is related to an interferometer adapter cap which can easily be incorporated attached to a fiber inspection device, such as a microscope. It could also be used to examine the "flatness" of the end of any small object with a suitable holder.
2. Related Art
A number of interferometer products tailored to the inspection of fiber optic connector ferrule end faces exist today. They are typically bench style units intended for production or laboratory use. Most are "non-contact" types which do not require physical contact with the connector under inspection. Some are "contact" types which are intended for the inspection of bare optical fiber cleave angles, which are crucial for successful fusion splicing.
The non-contact interferometers tend to be expensive due primarily to the high cost of the specialized optics and motion systems which they contain. Examples of these interferometers include the Micro Enterprises "Optispec" line and the Norland CC6000 "Connect-Chek" models.
Problems with the current interferometers include cost, ease of use and physical form factors. For example, interferometers typically exhibit high sensitivity to mechanical vibration, placing restrictions on the work area. They are also very expensive and require a high end PC for data processing at the time of this writing.
Therefore, there is a need for a lower cost apparatus that can be used to inspect connector ferrules. Portable microscopes are one such apparatus. They are typically in the shape of a hand held probe so that during normal use, they can be held in a variety of positions to probe large panels of connectors, such as in a networking room.
In order to use such a portable microscope, some mechanism for attaching the connector ferrules to the microscope is needed. Therefore, one objective of the invention is to provide an apparatus that allows for the low cost testing of connector end-face geometry, in the field or office, with low sensitivity to environmental factors (vibration, movement, etc.).

Interferometer adapter cap for an optical fiber inspection microscope


A wind directional vent and skylight combination including: (a) a throat which may be in the form of a hood (60) rotatably mounted to a structure such as a building and in communication with a cavity to be exhausted such as a room of the building; (b) wind directional means associated with the hood (60), the wind directional means optionally being inherent in the shape and configuration of the hood (60), the wind directional means causing the hood (60) to rotate in response to changes in wind direction, wherein the hood (60) is made from material adapted to permit the passage of light therethrough.

Wind directional vents have been described in which the vent comprises a throat rotatably mounted to a structure, such as the roof of a building, and a wind vane generally fixed to the top of the rotatable throat and oriented in a vertical plane. The vent aligns itself with the direction of the wind so that an exhaust mouth of the throat feeds into a pocket of air on the leeward side immediately adjacent the mouth having a negative pressure relative to the space from which the exhausted air comes.
Skylights have been described including a transparent or translucent cover material substantially flush or slightly raised above the roof line of a building and a shaft may be fitted having internally reflective lining material to permit the passage of light from the outside through to an internal living area.
The field of ventilation and light quality in working and living spaces is the subject of much research and development and improvements on the prior art are highly desirable and sought after.
The above description of the prior art is not intended to be, nor should it be interpreted as, an indication of the common general knowledge pertaining to the invention, but rather to assist the person skilled in the art in understanding the developmental process which led to the invention.


A method of manufacturing a helical gear, includes a gear cutting process for forming a roughly-processed gear by applying a gear cutting to an outer circumferential surface of a blank, and a tooth surface forming process for forming a tooth surface by pressing a rolling die against a roughly-processed tooth surface of the roughly-processed gear, wherein a length of a portion of the roughly-processed tooth surface, to which a plastic deformation is applied by the rolling die, in a face width direction is formed to be shorter than a length of a face width of the roughly-processed tooth surface.

A method of manufacturing a gear is disclosed in JP9(1997)-308934A. Disclosed in JP9(1997)-308934A is a method of forming a tooth surface by rolling after a tooth shape is roughly formed from a blank by cutting.
In a case where the tooth surface of the gear is formed by rolling, a load applied to the tooth surface when rolling changes in response to a change in engagement between the tooth surface and a rolling die. When the changes in the load become great, changes in surface pressure applied to the roughly shaped tooth during a deformation processing also become greater. Accordingly, waviness (unevenness) may be formed on the tooth surface. In a helical gear, once a gear specification, a size of a face width and the like are determined, the changes in the engagement between the tooth surface and the rolling die are automatically determined. In order to control a level of the changes in the engagement, the gear specification, such as a width of a gear and the like, the face width and the like need to be changed, which may result it significant design change. For example, an increase of the width of the gear may cause disadvantage in weight and costs. On the other hand, a decrease of the width of the gear may cause difficulties in ensuring a necessary strength of the gear.
A need thus exists to provide a helical gear and a method of manufacturing the same which are not susceptible to the drawback mentioned above.

Helical gear and method of manufacturing the same


A floating gate is formed via a first gate insulating film over the channel region between source and drain regions which are formed in a semiconductor substrate. A control gate is formed via a second gate insulating film over the floating gate. A low impurity concentration semiconductor region is formed on the side of the control gate which faces the floating gate. When erasing, a depletion layer is produced in this low impurity concentration region and further saturates the erase characteristic for the erasure time by decreasing the capacitance between the control gate and the floating gate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a non-volatile semiconductor memory, and more specifically, the to a Flash type Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory (Flash EEPROM) capable of substantially simultaneously erasing all data stored therein using an electrical signal.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory (EPROM) has been used in, for example, microcomputers as a program memory. The EPROM needs ultraviolet light To erase all data stored therein. Recently, the EPROM is being replaced with the Flash EEPROM because there is no need in the Flash EEPROM system to use ultraviolet light To erase the data stored therein. The Flash EEPROM uses an electrical signal as a substitute for the ultraviolet light of the EPROM.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a memory cell of a conventional Flash EEPROM.
In the conventional Flash EEPROM, source region 10 and drain region 11 are formed in P-type silicon semiconductor substrate 12. Floating gate 13 is formed over the channel region between source region 10 and drain region 11, on first gate insulating film 14. Control gate 15 is formed over the floating gate 13 and on second gate insulating film 16. The floating gate 13 is electrically isolated from other electrodes by the first and the second insulating films 16 and 14.
FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of a part of the Flash EEPROM.
A plurality of memory cells 20a, 20b, 20c and 20d are arranged as shown in FIG. 2. Drain electrodes of the memory cells 20a and 20c are connected to one of the bit lines 21a, and drain electrodes of the memory cells 20b and 20d are connected to another bit line 2lb. The bit lines 21a and 2lb are connected to sense amplifier 22. Bit lines 21a and 2lb are selected by MOS transistors 23a and 23b. Each of transistors 23a and 23b are inserted into one of the bit line 21a and 2lb respectively and gate electrodes of the transistors 23a and 23b are supplied with a part of an address signal. Control gates of the memory cells 20a and 20b are mutually connected and function as one of the word lines 24a. Similarly, control gates of the memory cells 20c and 20d are mutually connected and function as another one of the word lines 24b. Word lines 24a and 24b are supplied with the other part of the address signal.
Operation of the conventional Flash EEPROM is as follows.
When writing data to the cell, a high voltage such as 10 V is impressed on the control gate 15 and on the drain region 11, and grounded voltage is impressed on the source region 10. By doing this, electrons flow from source region 10 and are accelerated in the channel region. Then, a portion of the electrons become hot electrons and are injected into the floating gate 13 via the first gate insulating film 14. The total amount of electrons to be injected is determined by the potential of the floating gate 13.
Then, the threshold voltage Vth of the memory cell, which is controlled by the total amount of injected electrons, increases, and the presence or absence of the threshold voltage variation component .DELTA.Vth is made to correspond to data levels 1 or 0. Generally, it is desirable that the threshold voltage should shift greatly with a low impressed voltage and short writing time.
On the other hand, data erase is executed by emitting the injected electrons from the floating gate 13. For this purpose, a high voltage such as 10 V is impressed on the source region 10, and a grounded voltage is impressed on the control gate 15.
The characteristics of these injection and emission of electrons are determined by the potential difference between the floating gate 13 and the source region 10. Namely, if the potential difference is great, the velocity of the injection into the floating gate 13 or the emission from the floating gate 13 is rapid. The potential difference between the floating gate 13 and the source region 10 is determined by the voltage difference between the source region 10 and the control gate 15, and by the ratio of the capacitance Cs formed between the source region 10 and the floating gate 13 to the capacitance C1 formed between the floating gate 13 and the control gate 15. The potential difference between the floating gate 13 and the source region 10 is expressed as follows, taking the source region voltage as Vs and the floating gate voltage as Vfg. Capacitance C2 is the capacitance between the floating gate 13 and the channel region. EQU Vs-Vfg=(1-Cs/(Cs+C1+C2)) Vs+Qf/(Cs+C1+C2) (1)
Here, Qf is the charge stored in the floating gate.
Due to the electrons injected to the floating gate 13, the threshold voltage variation component .DELTA.Vth is also expressed as follows. EQU .DELTA.Vth=-Qf/C1 (2)
FIG. 3 shows erase characteristic curves of the conventional memory cell taking the initial value of Vth as 4 V.
When the conventional memory cells are used in a Flash EEPROM array, over-erasure becomes a problem. Namely, erase characteristics of the memory cells 20a, 20b, 20c and 20d are different from each other due to structural parameters of the memory cells, such as the dispersion of the channel width, length and concentration, the insulating (oxide) film thickness and the superimposed area of the control gate and the floating gate of the memory cells. That is to say, when one of the memory cells is sufficiently erased, another memory cell might have been already over-erased and its threshold voltage Vth falls below 0 V. Here, the case of desiring to detect OFF when Vth is above the voltage of the selected word line is studied. At this time, if cell 20a, for example, is in the over-erased state, and its threshold value is below 0 V, the current flows in the selected bit line even if the potential of non-selected word line 24a is 0 V. That is to say, it cannot be sensed that cell 20a is OFF. Therefore the memory itself becomes defective.
In order prevent this over-erasure, the design must be such that, at the point at which the cell in which erasure is slowest exceeds the maximum Vth (VthE) which can be sensed as erased, the cell in which erasure is fastest should not exceed the point of Vth=0.
The speed of erasure is greatly influenced by the structural parameters. Controlling randomness in these becomes increasingly difficult with cell miniaturization and the large capacity memories.
On the other hand, when considered from the circuit point of view, if VthE is set high, the risk of over-erasure will be reduced. However, the power source margin will deteriorate and, in particular, the cell current will decrease. Therefore, deterioration of access time can be predicted. Also, reduction of the power source voltage due to future device miniaturization cannot be accommodated.

Non-volatile semiconductor memory having improved erasure characteristics


A light fence represented by aligned apertures in a plurality of wheels permits the passage of a light beam to a sensor to activate an electro-mechanical control for a lock. Such an arrangement avoids the sound-producing mechanical action of the typical tumbler lock and safeguards discovery of the opening combination. Rather than the typical case of a numerical sequencing combination, a novel approach is taken by using visual pattern recognition to align the apertures. The electro-mechanical control of the present invention additionally features optimized energy use, customizable settings, precision positioning, and an expansion of possible combination permutations by including direction of rotation.

Safes, vaults, lockers, and keyless entries, among other types of secure systems, use locks requiring a unique combination for access. Typically, the combination is a set of numbers and rotational sequences which align tumblers to a predetermined orientation. The tumblers make a sound when dropping and this "signature" can reveal the combination when sophisticated listening devices are used. Furthermore, telltale wear patterns can develop with mechanical abrasion and can similarly be detected with sensitive equipment.
One method of eliminating the mechanical action of tumblers is to use an optical alignment system. U.S. Patent Application 2206/0037374 to Skelly teaches the use of a light beam received by a sensor through aligned holes in three concentric tubes rotating about the common axis. The tubes can be manipulated by interfacing members on each tube such that a series of discrete rotations of the innermost tube, twisting clockwise and counterclockwise, bring the three into an alignment of the holes. The aligned holes enable a beam originating in the center to pass through to a sensor located outboard. The receipt of the beam passes a command to an unlocking mechanism. There are no tumblers to drop and no sound clues to witness the angular settings of the combination.
Similarly, in U.S. Pat. No. 2,008,150 to Nelson, a light signal traversing a "fence" of aligned holes in a series of disks mounted on a common shaft provides the means for controlling a lock. The combination is the individual orientation of each disk thus aligned. Except for one disk corresponding to a dial, the disks are free to rotate on the shaft, and in like manner to Skelly, each can be set into position by means of rotating the dial and engaging an interfacing geometry. The problem with such a system, however, is that the subsequent rotation of the moving part could disturb the prior setting of a positioned part. The common shaft, the case of Nelson, or the nested tubes, in the case of Skelly, would inevitably create rotational drag on co-journaled elements. What is missing in the prior art is a light fence where each disk can be individually set and registered to position.
The energy source for such opto-electrical systems is typically supplied by battery. If the light is rendered always on, or if it is switched on to initialize the combination setting procedure, battery life will be consumed and ultimately require service. The benefit in safety attendant to such an optical device is thus offset by the inconvenience of maintenance. It would be an advantage, therefore, to provide for conservation of energy use and extended battery life in the design of such systems.
Both Skelly and Nelson use number indices to orient the combination. Even if security breach were not a risk, number patterns are not particularly user-friendly. They can be hard to remember, especially if they are randomly chosen and not resettable in after-market use. Research has shown that visual patterns are processed in the brain in a different way than word or number patterns. Not only is visual recognition instantaneous, it is also easier to remember. Furthermore, visual patterns do not lend themselves to discovery by guessing, in the way that knowledge of an individual's background can sometimes suggest a number combination. Some means to set a visual pattern combination, therefore, would represent a needed improvement.

Electromechanical non-numeric control for locks