A sheet-processing machine includes a turning device. Sheets can be conveyed, by a sheet conveyor system, from a sheet guide cylinder in the turning device, and can be conveyed in a sheet conveyor direction on a sheet conveyor path. A sheet guide element is provided beneath or along the sheet conveyor path. A deionization device is assigned to the sheet guide element. The deionization device can provide positive and negative ions.

In sheet printing presses, for example, an increased electrostatic charge of the sheets can occur in particular in printing units, especially at high speeds. In the printing units, this causes a printed sheet to be drawn to the succeeding sheet guide plates as a result of the charge, despite air cushions that are introduced, and smearing of the fresh ink to occur on the underside of the sheet guide plates.
Increased electrostatic charging of the sheets can also occur in the turning zone, especially at high speeds. The sheets consequently enter the cylinder gap between the turning drum/impression cylinder or the later printing zone in a rippled manner. The sheet can no longer slide on the impression cylinder surface during a smoothing operation and becomes folded.
A device for conveying sheets through the printing zone of the blanket cylinder and the impression cylinder of a sheet rotary printing press is known from EP 0 306 682 A2, wherein deionization rods are arranged upstream from the two ionization rods that generate opposite charges for neutralizing the sheets, which are directed at the sheet from beneath or from above, wherein both are fed, for example, a suitable alternating voltage. This neutralization of the charges creates unambiguous starting conditions for the later positive charge of the sheet. To eliminate the force fit between the sheets and a cover, a further deionization rod is arranged just upstream from the transfer point of the printed sheet to the gripper systems of the sheet removal drum. The arrangement is relatively complex and increases the adhesion of the sheets on the cylinder.
A device for removing electric charges from flat material is known from EP 1 155 834 A2, wherein the positive charge of a printed material lying on a metal plate is compensated for by means of first ionizing tips. Due to the remaining negative charge on the underside of the printed material, the printed material, with the discharged surface, becomes nestled against a further metal plate, wherein the negative charge is compensated for by the downstream ionization rod. This complex system is not suitable for sheet guide elements in sheet-processing machines, in particular in turning devices of sheet-processing machines.
A sheet guide device comprising an electrically insulated, comb-shaped edge is known from EP 1 679 187 B1 or US 2006/150841 A1, wherein a discharging device for discharging the printing material sheets is arranged in the region of the edge. The arrangement in the edge close to the impression cylinder leads to a decreased effect. The edge made of non-conducting material is subject to increased wear, especially in the critical area of the sheet receiving zone, and causes decreased stability in the event of a crash. Furthermore, the arrangement of the discharging device in the concentric guide path makes it more difficult to maintain the optimal electrode spacing, resulting in a decreased effect.
A device for electrostatically influencing signatures is known from DE 197 55 745 A1, wherein a flat charging electrode is applied to the guide surface of a sheet guide plate. The device is intended to draw the sheets onto the sheet guide plate due to the attraction effect and to hold them in a floating state by way of a blower air stream. In reality, a stable floating height of the sheets cannot be maintained at a constant level by such a device. In addition, the flat charging electrode interferes with the nozzle distribution, which has to be configured in accordance with the need for sheet support.
A fan unit in a printing press is known from DE 100 38 774 A1, which comprises controllable ionic fans. In a sheet turning device as well, a printing substrate sheet can thus be guided adhering to the turning drum and turned through the use of generated negative pressure. For this purpose, ionic fan-containing fan units can be integrated within a cylinder or into its surface. This is a complex process, which is also not sufficiently effective.
A device for turning a sheet, while it is conveyed through a printing press, is known from DE 10 2007 049 643 A1, wherein a deceleration system for a sheet is fixed to the stand. The brake system is composed of a generator for an alternating magnetic field and a pneumatic guide device for the sheet. When the sheet passes the generator, a current is to be induced in the ferromagnetic material of the sheet or the printing ink on the sheet. A magnetic field originating from the eddy current is to counteract the field of the generator, so that the sheet is decelerated. The effect of this principle is questionable. The sheets are also not discharged because the generator does not emit any ions.
A turning device of a sheet printing press is known from DE 10 2010 028 702 A1, wherein an ionization device is assigned to the sheet transport path at or in connection with a storage drum, wherein the sheets that are guided on the storage drum or fed to the storage drum can be supplied with electric charges.
DE 100 56 018 A1 shows a device for supporting sheet guidance and sheet stacking, wherein a sheet guide element blowing blower air in the interior encloses a deionization device.
DE 10 2008 001 165 A1 shows a sheet-guiding cylinder of a processing machine, wherein the cylinder comprises a main body on which a cylinder shell that is electrically insulated with respect thereto is arranged.

Sheet-processing machine comprising a turning device, method for conveying sheets, and use of sheet guide elements containing deionization devices


An adjustable mirror device is provided that includes a free-standing or wall-mountable construction, whereon a mirror frame is slidably mounted thereto without the use of fasteners. A free-standing mirror support comprises an upstanding mirror frame support having a first and second side rail and lower support legs that allow the side rails to remain in an upright configuration without secondary support. The wall-mountable mirror support comprises a fastenable frame that affixes to a wall for supporting the mirror frame in the same manner as the free-standing embodiment. The mirror frame backside surface comprises a first and second magnetic strip running vertically therealong. These strips secure to ferric material strip extending along each side rail of the free-standing or wall-mountable mirror frame support embodiment. The magnetic attachment allows the user to slidably reposition the mirror without fasteners or tools.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to mirrors, and more specifically to mirror assemblies that allow a user to slidably adjust the mirror position relative to its support without using any tools.
An item that is commonly found in every household and used on a daily basis is a mirror. A mirror is a well-known object that reflects light in a manner that preserves as much of the original light quality as possible, subsequent to its contact with the mirror. This allows a user to stand in front of the mirror while dressing to view the user's overall appearance prior to going into the public. While a variety of mirror types exist in the art and are available for sale, the most familiar mirror type is the plane mirror, which has a flat reflective surface. Flat mirrors are commonly used for personal grooming purposes or for decorating an interior space.
One of the most commonly used plane mirror types is a full length mirror. Full length mirrors enable users to see a larger portion of themselves when standing in front of the same, which is a major advantage over handheld or smaller mirror types. Full length mirrors are often mounted onto swivels and attached to a frame, or are mounted to a wall. These mirrors are dressing mirrors or cheval mirrors. The swivel configuration of a cheval mirror enables adjustment of the viewing angle of the mirror surface, while enables the user to view different portions of the body while dressing or grooming.
The present invention contemplates a new mirror structure that supports a mirror frame in a slidable configuration rather than in a swiveling configuration. The present assembly supports a full length dressing mirror with magnetic backing strips along the rear surface of the mirror frame, wherein a mirror support is provided having elongated ferric metallic strips to secure the magnetic strips thereto. The mirror support is either self-standing or wall-mountable, wherein the side rails of the support allows the mirror frame to be positioned at a desired elevation relative to the side rails using the magnetic strips as attachment means. The combination of the magnetic mirror and the metallic base frame enables a user to adjust the mirror as needed for viewing.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Devices have been disclosed in the prior art that relate to adjustable mirror structures. These include devices that have been patented and published in patent application publications, and generally relate to swivel mirrors or decorative mirror designs. No devices anticipate a slidable mirror frame using a magnetic attachment means as a way to adjust the mirror frame position relative to a user. The following is a list of devices deemed most relevant to the present disclosure, which are herein described for the purposes of highlighting and differentiating the unique aspects of the present invention, and further highlighting the drawbacks existing in the prior art.
One such device in the prior art is U.S. Pat. No. 5,681,100 to Powell, which discloses a cheval mirror having a concealed storage compartment. The compartment is stowed behind the mirror surface, wherein the mirror surface is a hinged from the compartment for revealing its contents. The mirror and compartment are pivotably attached to an upstanding frame that connects to both sides of the mirror at a single point, allowing rotation of the mirror surface about a common pivot axis. This mirror configuration is typical in the art of cheval mirrors, and allows a user to tilt the mirror upwards or downward to view different portions of the user's body while grooming or dressing. The present invention contemplates a new adjustable mirror surface that is slidable in a vertical fashion along the side rails of a mirror support device. The support device is wall-mounted or freestanding.
A similar mirror architecture in the art is U.S. Pat. No. 8,220,880 to Lin, which discloses a similar assembly as that of Powell, but with a rear link that secures the mirror in a given tinted orientation and locks the mirror in that position. Similar to the Powell device, the Lin device is pivotable about a common axis to allow for tilting the mirror surface. The present invention contemplates a slidably adjustable mirror structure, rather than a tilting device.
Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,339,104 to Weidman discloses another adjustable mirror construction in which an upright stand is provided for supporting a tilting mirror in an elevated position. This configuration offers a tilting mirror in a similar fashion as Lin and Powell, however in an adjustably elevated position above the ground. The mirror pivot arms are supported by an extendable shaft, which connects to a base that allows the shaft to rotate. Therefore, the mirror can be elevated, swiveled about a horizontal axis, or rotated about a vertical axis. The Weidman device is a unique structure in the art, but fails to anticipate the novel aspects of the present invention.
The present invention is a new mirror support device that includes a slidable mirror frame and a mirror support device that is self-standing or wall-mountable. The support device includes a first and second side rail having ferric material strips therealong, which align with magnetic strips along the backside of the mirror frame. The mirror magnetic strips secure to the support device rails and can slide therealong or be removed and repositioned along the rails.
It is submitted that the present invention is substantially divergent in design elements from the prior art, and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing adjustable mirror devices. In this regard the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs.


A light projector includes a lamp on an optical axis, energized from a remote source of electrical power and focussing illumination at an image plane. The lamp is disposed within a housing having a fan drawing cooling air into the housing through one or more inlets and expelling air through an outlet vent. A chassis within the housing supports the lamp and the fan. The chassis, including the lamp, fan, and a connector to the remote source of electrically power is removable from the housing. In a preferred embodiment, resilient vibration isolation mounting is provided between the lamp and the chassis and between the fan and the chassis, whereby the lamp is substantially isolated from fan vibration.

This invention applies to the field of illumination projectors, including fiber optic projectors, slide projectors, video projectors, movie projectors and overhead slide projectors. These projectors normally use low-voltage (12 to 15 volt) quartz-halogen lamps operating at color temperatures above 3100.degree. K. Lamps operated in projectors usually have a relatively short operating life.
Currently known prior-art projectors are difficult to service. Since lamp failures often occur while the lamp is hot, and the user must allow the projector to cool before attempting lamp replacement. Then, after cool-down, access to the lamp is usually through some kind of door. Since lamp pins fit tightly into the lamp socket receptacles, the lamps require substantial force and dexterity to remove, particularly when manipulated through a door opening. Then the new lamp must be inserted through the same doorway, but with the warning restriction that touching the quartz bulb with the fingers will cause premature lamp failure.
Once installed, quartz-halogen lamps are intensely hot, requiring a cooling fan to keep lamp seal temperatures within operating limits. This lamp cooling requirement is addressed by the applicant's U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,099,399 and 5,263,874. The Lamp filament is supported within the lamp envelope or "bulb".
Most projector manufacturers, as well as users, tend to rely on the lamp manufacturers' data on expected lamp life. However, lamp life tests are conducted on a stationary test bench at standard room temperature. The test lamps are operated at rated D.C. voltage to determine the published average number of burning hours before failure.
Test bench lamp failures occur as a tiny imperfection in the tungsten filament causes higher local resistance and higher heat than adjacent filament areas. Therefore, the filament spalls off tungsten atoms from the hottest spot, developing "notching" that eventually results in what is known as a "burned-out" lamp filament. However, projection lamps are not operated on a vibration-free test bench at room temperature and rated D.C. voltage. Instead, they are operated at low-voltage alternating current, much higher ambient temperature, in a housing with a vibrating fan that sweeps the potential resonant frequencies of the housing, the chassis, the lamp bracket and the lamp filament each time the fan starts or stops.
Extensive testing of lamps in fan-cooled projectors by the applicant has shown that the lamps normally do not operate long enough for typicalnotching failures to occur. Lamps that are rated for 1,000 hours fail in as little as 250 hours, and they fail in a different mode. The filament failure mode for fan-cooled projector lamps is a premature failure in which the filament support wires break off at their juncture with the glass bulb. The premature lamp failure is caused by the fan-induced vibration of the hot lamp filament supports.
A principal disadvantage of prior art projectors is that they do not recognize vibration as a primary cause of lamp failure, and hence to not provide isolation between the vibrating fan and the vibration-sensitive lamp. It is therefore a rare occasion when projector lamp life approaches the published lamp life. Another disadvantage of prior-art projectors is that the frequent lamp replacement is made quite difficult by the limited access through an access door.
Extensive tests by the applicant has shown that vibration isolation of the lamp from the fan can substantially eliminate filament vibration and restore projection lamp life to approximately the bench-test life published by the lamp manufacturer.
The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide a light projector in which the lamp is supported on a chassis that is easily removed from the projector housing for service and lamp replacement. It is a further purpose of the invention to a projector in which the lamp is isolated from fan vibration; thereby greatly increasing actual lamp life in service. It is yet another purpose of the invention to a projector in which all the electrical components of the projector are mounted on an easily-replaced chassis, facilitating on-site service, wherein all service, including lamp replacement may be done on a bench.

Light projector with vibration isolating chassis


The present invention provides new pyridopyrazine compounds of Formula (I) which are suitable for the treatment or prevention of physiological and/or pathophysiological states mediated and/or modulated by signal transduction pathways and/or enzymes in mammals and in particular in humans.

The signal transduction cascades ras-Raf-Mek-Erk and PI3K-Akt play a central role in cell growth, cell proliferation, apoptosis, adhesion, migration and glucose metabolism. Consequently, the fundamental involvement in the pathogenesis of diseases such as cancer, neurodegeneration and inflammatory diseases is proven both for the ras-Raf-Mek-Erk and for the PI3K-Akt signal pathway. The individual components of these signal cascades are therefore important therapeutic points of attack for intervention in various disease processes (Weinstein-Oppenheimer C. R. et al. 2000, Chang F. et al. 2003, Katso R. et al 2001 and Lu Y. et al 2003).
The molecular and biochemical properties of both signal pathways are first described separately hereinafter.
A plurality of growth factors, cytokines and oncogenes transduce their growth-promoting signals via the activation of G-protein coupled ras which leads to the activation of serine threonine kinase Raf and to the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1 and 2 (MAPKK1/2 or Mek1/2) and results in the phosphorylation and activation of MAPK 1 and 2—also known as extracellular signal regulated kinase (Erk1 and 2). Compared to other signal pathways, the ras-Raf-Mek-Erk signal pathway combines a large number of proto-oncogenes, including ligands, tyrosine kinase receptors, G-proteins, kinases and nuclear transcription factors. Tyrosine kinases such as, for example, EGFR (Mendelsohn J. et al., 2000) frequently mediate constitutively active signals to the downstream ras-Raf-Mek-Erk signal pathway in tumour events caused by overexpression and mutation. Ras mutations are mutated in 30% of all human tumours (Khleif S. N. et al., 1999, Marshall C., 1999), the highest incidence of 90% being found in pancreatic carcinomas (Friess H. et al., 1996, Sirivatanauksorn V. et al., 1998). For c-Raf a deregulated expression and/or activation has been described in various tumours (Hoshino R. et al., 1999, McPhillips F. et al., 2001). B-Raf point mutants were detected in 66% of all human malignant melanomas, 14% of all ovarian carcinomas and 12% of all carcinomas of the colon (Davies H. et al., 2002). It is therefore not surprising that Erk1/2 is primarily involved in many cellular processes such as cell growth, cell proliferation and cell differentiation (Lewis T. S. et al., 1998, Chang F. et al., 2003).
In addition, the members of the Raf kinases also have Mek-Erk-independent anti-apoptotic functions whose molecular steps have not yet been fully described. Ask1, Bcl-2, Akt and Bag1 have been described as possible interaction partners for the Mek-Erk-independent Raf activity (Chen J et al., 2001, Troppmaier J. et al., 2003, Rapp U. R. et al., 2004, Gotz R. et al., 2005). It is assumed nowadays that both Mek-Erk-dependent and Mek-Erk-independent signal transduction mechanisms control the activation of the upstream ras and Raf stimuli.
The isoenzymes of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases (PI3Ks) function predominantly as lipid kinases and catalyse the D3 phosphorylation of the second-messenger lipids Ptdlns (phosphatidylinositol) to Ptdlns(3)P, Ptdlns(3,4)P2, Ptdlns(3,4,5)P3 phosphatidylinositol phosphates. The class I PI3Ks are composed structurally of the catalytic (p110alpha, beta, gamma, delta) and the regulatory (p85alpha, beta or p101gamma) subunits. Furthermore, the class II (PI3K-C2alpha, PI3K-C2beta) and class III (Vps34p) enzymes belong to the family of the P13 kinases (Wymann M. P. et al., 1998, VanHaesebroeck B. et al., 2001). The PIP increase triggered by the PI3Ks activates the proliferative ras-Raf-Mek-Erk signal pathway via the coupling of ras on the one hand (Rodriguez-Viciana P. et al., 1994) and on the other hand stimulates the anti-apoptotic signal pathway by recruiting Akt to the cell membrane and consequent overactivation of this kinase (Alessi D. R. et al., 1996, Chang H. W. et al., 1997, Moore S. M. et al., 1998). Consequently, the activation of PI3Ks fulfils at least two crucial mechanisms for tumour formation, namely the activation of cell growth and cell differentiation and the inhibition of apoptosis. In addition, PI3K also have protein-phosphorylating properties (Dhand et al., 1994, Bondeva T. et al., 1998, Bondev A. et al., 1999, VanHaesebroeck B. et al., 1999) which can trigger a PI3Ks-intrinsically regulating serine autophosphorylation for example. In addition, it is known that PI3Ks also have kinase-independent regulating effector properties, e.g. during control of cardiac contraction (Crackower M. A. et al., 2002, Patrucco et al., 2004). It is furthermore proven that PI3Kdelta and PI3Kgamma are specifically expressed on hematopoietic cells and therefore constitute potential points of attack for isoenzyme-specific PI3Kdelta and PI3Kgamma inhibitors in the treatment of inflammatory diseases such as rheumatism, asthma and allergies and in the treatment of B and T cell lymphomas (Okkenhaug K. et al., 2003, Ali K. et al., 2004, Sujobert P. et al., 2005). PI3Kalpha, which was recently identified as a proto-oncogene (Shayesteh L. et al., 1999, Ma Y. Y. et al., 2000, Samuels Y. et al., 2004, Campbell I. G. et al., 2004, Levine D. A., 2005) is considered to be an important target in the treatment of tumour diseases. The importance of PI3K species as a target for the development of active substances is therefore extremely diverse (Chang F. & Lee J. T. et al, 2003).
The kinases related to PI3K (PIKK), which include the serine/threonine kinases mTOR, ATM, ATR, h-SMG-1 and DNA-PK (Chiang G. G. et al 2004) are also of great interest. Their catalytic domains have a high sequence homology to the catalytic domains of PI3Ks.
In addition, the loss of the tumour suppressor protein PTEN (Li J. et al., 1997, Steck P. A. et al., 1997)—whose function is the reversion of the phosphorylation initiated by the PI3K—contributes to an overactivation of Akt and its downstream cascade components and thereby emphasise the causal importance of PI3K as a target molecule for tumour therapy.
Various inhibitors of individual components of the ras-Raf-Mek-Erk and PI3K-Akt signal pathways have already been published and patented.
The present state of development in the field of kinase inhibitors, in particular of the ras-Raf-Mek-Erk and PI3K-Akt pathway, is described in the reviews of H. T. Arkenau et al, 2011, M. S. Chapman & J. N. Miner, 2011 and P. Liu et al, 2009. These publications contain comprehensive listings of the published low-molecular ras-Raf-Mek-Erk- and PI3K inhibitors.
The kinase inhibitor Sorafenib (Bay 43-9006; WO 99/32111, WO 03/068223) which was approved in, 2006 shows a relatively non-specific inhibition pattern of serine/threonine and of tyrosine kinases such as Raf, VEGFR2/3, Flt-3, PDGFR, c-Kit and other kinases. Great importance is attached to this inhibitor in angiogenesis-induced advanced tumour diseases (e.g. in renal cell carcinoma) and also in melanomas having a high B-Raf mutation rate. No inhibition of the kinases in the PI3K-Akt signal pathway has been described for Bay 43-9006. Other Raf-specific inhibitors like PLX-4032 and GSK2118436 (Arkenau H. T. et al, 2011) are currently under clinical evaluation.
Several Mek1/2 inhibitors (AZD-6244, XL-518, GSK1120212 and others) currently undergo clinical testing (reviewed by M S Chapman & J N Miner, 2011). However, no interaction with Erk1 or Erk2 nor any PI3K-Akt signal pathway inhibiting function or its simultaneous modulation has yet been disclosed for these Mek inhibitors.
Patent specification WO 2009/077766 describes pyrido[2,3-b]pyrazines as RAF inhibitors.
In addition, the patent specifications WO 2008/040820, WO 2008/009908 and WO 2005/123733 describe pyrido[2,3-b]pyrazines as agrochemical fungicides and herbicides, respectively.
The Korean invention KR 2008004646 relates to 2-alkenyloxy-3-ethynylpyrido[2,3-b]pyrazine derivatives and their pharmaceutically salts which with inhibit the expression of hypoxia-inducible transcriptional factor 1 (HIF-1) gene.
Patent specifications WO 04/104002 and WO 04/104003 describe pyrido[2,3-b]pyrazines, which can be substituted in the 6- or 7-position with urea, thiourea, amidine or guanidine groups. These compounds possess properties as inhibitors or modulators of kinases, in particular of tyrosine and serine/threonine kinases, and a use as a medicament is specified. However, no use of these compounds as modulators of lipid kinases, alone or in combination with tyrosine and serine/threonine kinases has been described.
In addition, patent specification WO 99/17759 describes pyrido[2,3-b]pyrazines which, among other things, carry alkyl-, aryl- and heteroaryl-substituted carbamates in the 6-position. These compounds are to be used to modulate serine threonine protein kinases.
Patent specification WO 05/007099 describes, among other things, urea-substituted pyrido[2,3-b]pyrazines as inhibitors of the serine/threonine kinase PKB. A use in the treatment of cancer diseases is specified for these compounds. However, no specific examples of urea-substituted pyridopyrazines with these biological properties are given.
Further examples of pyrido[2,3-b]pyrazines substituted with urea in the 6- and 7-position are given in patent specification WO 05/056547. The compounds in this patent specification are described as inhibitors of protein kinases, in particular GSK-3, Syk und JAK-3. A use in the treatment of proliferative diseases is given for these compounds among other things. No use of these compounds as modulators of lipid kinases, alone or in combination with serine/threonine kinases is described.
The patent application WO 04/005472 describes, among other things pyrido[2,3-b]pyrazines substituted with carbamate in the 6-position which inhibit the growth of bacteria as antibacterial substances. No antitumour effect is described.
Certain diphenyl quinoxalines and pyrido[2,3-b]pyrazines with special alkylpyrrolidine, alkylpiperidine or alkyl sulfonamides group at a phenyl ring which can additionally also bear urea or carbamate substitutions in the 6- or 7-position are described in patent specifications WO 03/084473, WO 03/086394 and WO 03/086403 as inhibitors of the activity of the serine/threonine kinase Akt. A use in the treatment of cancer diseases is specified for these compounds. No defined indication of a biological effect is given for the pyrido[2,3-b]pyrazine compounds described therein as examples.
Patent specification WO 03/024448 describes amide and acrylamide-substituted pyrido[2,3-b]pyrazines which can also contain carbamates as additional substituents and can be used as histone deacetylase inhibitors for the treatment of cell proliferation diseases.
The publication (S. Laufer, J. Med. Chem. 2010, 53(3), 1128-1137) describes pyridinylpyridopyrazines as lead compounds for novel p38α Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Inhibitors.
In another publication (M. R. Dobler, Pest Management Science, 2010, 66(2), 178-185) pyrido[2,3-b]pyrazines are described as tubulin polymerisation promoters.
In the publication (Temple C. et al. 1990) the synthesis of a 6-ethylcarbamate-substituted pyrido[2,3-b]pyrazine derivative is described as one example. No antitumour effect is disclosed or made obvious.
The synthesis of further derivatives of 6-ethylcarbamate-substituted pyrido[2,3-b]pyrazine is described in a publication by R. D. Elliott (J. Org. Chem. 1968). No biological effect of these compounds is described or disclosed.
The publication by C. Temple (1968) describes the synthesis and investigation of 6-ethylcarbamate-substituted pyrido[2,3-b]pyrazines as potential antimalarial drugs. No antitumour effect is disclosed or made obvious.
Several PI3K inhibitors (NVP-Bez-235, GDC-0941, XL-147 and others) undergo clinical trials (reviewed by Maira S. M., et al, 2010).

Pyridopyrazine derivatives and their use


The hydraulic piston cylinder assembly which operates the governor of a turbine which powers a hydropower generator has a servo valve capable of flowing only a portion of its flow requirements during normal low power fluctuation conditions of the turbine's operation. During high power fluctuation conditions of the turbine's operation, such as during start-up, hydraulic fluid also flows to and from the piston and cylinder assemblies through high flow pressure and return conduits that bypass the servo valve. Control of fluid flow in the high flow conduits is accomplished by a proportional throttling valve located in the high flow return line. The servo valve and proportional throttling valve together have a flow capacity which is equal to the flow requirements of the piston and cylinder assembly and they are both actuated by the same electronic controller. However, the electronic controller only actuates the proportional throttling valve when the flow requirement of the piston and cylinder assembly exceeds the flow capacity of the servo valve. A hydraulic logic circuit activated by the electronic controller allows the high flow pressure and return conduits to be reversed for two-way operation of the piston and cylinder assembly.

This invention relates to a hydraulic linear actuation system, and in particular to a two-stage actuation system for use as a governor in a hydropower turbine.
Turbines which are driven by water under hydrostatic pressure to drive power producing generators must be operated at a specified constant rotational speed in order to generate constant frequency AC power. However, when the load fed by the generator increases the turbine will slow down, thereby decreasing the system frequency, and as the load decreases the turbine will speed up, thereby increasing the system frequency, unless the amount of water being fed to the turbine is changed in response to the change in the load. To this end power generation turbines have flow control gates at their inlets which can be opened to increase water flow to the turbine, and closed to decrease water flow to the turbine. The position of these gates has traditionally been controlled by a governor system utilizing a double-acting hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly operated by a servo valve that regulates the flow of hydraulic fluid to the piston and cylinder assembly. The servo valve in turn is controlled by an electronic controller that monitors the turbine rotational speed.
As hydropower turbines have become larger and larger, these governor systems have become increasingly expensive. When a generator first comes on line it must be brought from an essentially no-load condition to operating load in a manner of seconds or it will be destroyed. Thus, the flow control gates must be opened quickly during this transition period which requires a large piston and cylinder assembly that is supplied hydraulic fluid at a high rate. Since the servo valve which operates the piston cylinder also must accommodate this high flow rate, it must be quite large and large servo valves are extremely expensive.
The subject invention overcomes the foregoing shortcomings of the prior art hydropower turbine governor systems by utilizing a servo valve which can flow only a portion of the requirements of the piston and cylinder assembly, for controlling the piston and cylinder assembly when the turbine has reached its normal operating condition. A low flow servo valve is sufficient for this purpose since under normal operating conditions load changes are relatively small, and low flow rates of hydraulic fluid to the piston and cylinder assembly is all that is required to maintain generator synchronization.
The subject invention also provides high flow pressure and return conduits which extend from the source of pressurized hydraulic fluid and the hydraulic reservoir to the ends of the piston and cylinder assembly, bypassing the servo valve. Rather than placing a large volume servo valve in the high flow conduits, which, when combined with the low flow rate servo valve, would be nearly as expensive as the single large servo valve in the prior art systems, a lower cost proportional throttling valve is placed in the high flow return line. The throttling valve is actuated by the same controller that actuates the servo valve. The throttling valve is operated in combination with the low flow servo valve to control the piston and cylinder under high flow conditions. Thus, the system achieves the fine control of the lower capacity servo valve along with the high flow capability of the larger capacity throttling valve at considerably less expense than would result from using a large capacity servo valve.
In order to switch the source of pressurized hydraulic fluid between the rod end and blind end of the piston and cylinder assembly, and thus achieve two-way travel of the rod, a hydraulic logic switching circuit is utilized. The hydraulic logic circuit includes a first high flow pressure conduit which extends between the source of pressurized hydraulic fluid and the rod end of the piston and cylinder assembly and has a first logic valve located in it. A second high flow pressure conduit extends between the source of pressurized hydraulic fluid and the blind end inlet of the piston and cylinder assembly and has a second logic valve located in it. In addition, a first high flow return conduit, which extends between the hydraulic system reservoir and the rod end inlet of the piston cylinder, has a third logic valve located in it, and a second high flow return conduit, which extends between the hydraulic system reservoir and the blind end inlet of the piston and cylinder assembly, has a fourth logic valve located in it. The four logic valves are pilot operated, and a double-acting solenoid, which is activated by the controller whenever the proportional throttling valve is in operation, either opens the first and fourth logic valves and closes the second and third logic valves, or opens the second and third logic valves and closes the first and fourth. In the former situation pressurized hydraulic fluid flows to the rod end of the piston and cylinder assembly, and hydraulic fluid is discharged from the blind end through the proportional throttling valve, and the rod is retracted. In the latter situation the reverse occurs and the rod is extended. In either case the combined capacity of the servo valve and the proportional throttling valve is available to supply fluid to the piston and cylinder assembly.
The governor of the subject invention also includes a safety shutdown that causes the piston and cylinder assembly to immediately retract, and thus close the flow control gates and shut down the turbine, whenever power to the controller is interrupted. The safety shutdown includes a first bypass conduit that extends between the source of pressurized hydraulic fluid and the rod end inlet of the piston and cylinder assembly and has a first normally open shutdown valve located in it. A second bypass conduit extends between the reservoir and the blind end inlet of the piston and cylinder assembly and has a second normally open shutdown valve located in it. The first and second shutdown valves are pilot operated and a solenoid valve, which is actuated by the controller, provides pressure to their pilot ports when the controller is receiving power, and vents their pilot ports to the reservoir when the controller loses power. Thus, upon power loss to the controller the shutdown valves are opened and pressurized hydraulic fluid from an accumulator that is associated with the hydraulic system is directed to the rod end of the piston and cylinder assembly and the blind end is vented to retract the rod and close the flow control gates.
In addition, the safety shutdown includes vented pilot-to-close check valves in the hydraulic fluid lines associated with the servo valve. These valves are provided pilot pressure from the same solenoid valve that provides pilot pressure to the first and second shutdown valves, and thus are open when the controller has power and close when the controller loses power, to isolate the servo valve from the piston and cylinder assembly upon power loss.
Accordingly, it is a primary objective of the present invention to provide a two-stage hydraulic positioning system for a hydropower turbine governor in which a servo valve capable of flowing only a portion of the flow capacity of the governor piston and cylinder assembly is used to control the piston and cylinder assembly during normal operation of the turbine.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a device in which a separate larger flow capacity proportional throttling valve is used in conjunction with the lower flow capacity servo valve to control the piston and cylinder assembly during high flow conditions.
It is a further object of the present invention to utilize a hydraulic logic circuit in conjunction with the proportional throttling valve to control the direction of the piston and cylinder assembly.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a safety shutdown which causes the piston and cylinder assembly to be retracted when there is an interruption to the power which operates the system.
It is a yet further object of the present invention to provide such a safety shutdown which isolates the servo valve from the piston and cylinder assembly when there is an interruption of power to the system.

Hydraulic positioning system with normal and high supply and exhaust flow paths


An apparatus and method, according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, cutting opposing notches in side edges of a flat metallic strip to provide a flat notched strip with pairs of notches extending along a length of the flat notched strip. The flat notched strip is rolled formed to provide a profiled notched strip and a flexible material is extruded to cover the profiled notched strip to provide a roof ditch molding. The roof ditch molding is cut at notch locations to achieve a desired molding length extending between molding cut ends comprising tabs, and a pattern of flexible material is removed from the notches associated with the molding cut ends. The tabs are bent to provide final formed ends for the roof ditch molding.

Vehicles can include roll formed roof ditch moldings that are overmolded with a soft material to seal along the side of the roof. The moldings often have end caps that are separately attached to provide a finished look. Forming and installing separate end caps is labor intensive and cost prohibitive. Other roof ditch moldings have stamped ends that are formed by taking an existing formed/extruded roof ditch molding and notching away edges of the ditch molding to form the end of the ditch molding. Stamping processes are labor intensive and can have high scrap rates.

Co-extruded roll-formed roof ditch molding with end formed feature


The present invention provides a system and method that facilitates data consistency maintenance between two segments of memory. A data consistency maintenance and recovery system and method of the present invention uses a dual page configuration and locking process to store and track data. A primary page is used as the primary data storage location and a mirror page operates as a copy of the primary page, except during certain stages of data manipulation operations. In one embodiment the present invention facilitates consistency maintenance during a write operation to a database. The present invention also facilitates data recovery following a system or process crash.

The present invention relates to the field of data consistency maintenance and recovery. More particularly, the present invention relates to the maintenance and recovery of valid information in a memory mapped data base utilized by multiple processes operating on a computer system.
Electronic systems and circuits have made a significant contribution towards the advancement of modern society and are utilized in a number of applications to achieve advantageous results. Numerous electronic technologies such as digital computers, calculators, audio devices, video equipment, and telephone systems have facilitated increased productivity and reduced costs in analyzing and communicating data, ideas and trends in most areas of business, science, education and entertainment. Electronic systems designed to provide these results are usually arranged in a variety of complicated configurations governed by processing and communication limitations, including time dependencies and ordering constraints. Typically, electrical systems depend upon consistent or xe2x80x9cvalidxe2x80x9d data to operate properly.
Numerous electrical systems include a variety of processes and frequently different processes attempt to manipulate data at the same time, often resulting in inconsistent (xe2x80x9cinvalidxe2x80x9d) data. For example, if a first process in a computer system accesses xe2x80x9coldxe2x80x9d information that is currently being updated by a second process, the old data may no longer be valid and the first process may produce inaccurate or inappropriate results. In sequential processing and communication systems information is usually divided into units that are transmitted or processed one piece at a time, with one piece of information following another. In some situations it is critical for a first piece of information to follow second piece of information and if the first piece of information is not valid the results are typically unreliable. Maintaining data consistency is particularly important in a computing environment utilizing a database shared by various programs or processes. Processes utilizing a memory mapped data base memory (MDBM) expect that the data they access from a main memory is consistent with the data in a MDBM file and looks the same to any process accessing it. Thus, most computer systems typically require data to be consistent (xe2x80x9ccorrectxe2x80x9d) with respect to a particular point in time.
Computer system crashes or process crashes typically have an adverse affect on data consistency maintenance. If a system or process crashes in the middle of performing a write transaction the resulting data is typically unreliable and often invalid. Maintaining consistency across process transactions is critical for proper recovery from a process or system crash. If a read or write process (or the system that a write is happening on) crashes anytime during the transaction it is important for the consistency (e.g., of a database) to be maintained so that continuing processes receive valid information.
What is required is a system and method that facilitates data consistency maintenance during a write operation. The system and method should also facilitate recovery from a system or process crash with valid data.
The present invention is a system and method that facilitates data consistency maintenance between two segments of memory. In one exemplary implementation, the present invention facilitates consistency maintenance during a write operation to a database. The present invention also facilitates recovery from a system or process crash with valid data. A data consistency maintenance and recovery system and method of the present invention utilizes a dual page configuration and locking process to store and track data. A primary page is utilized as the primary data storage location and a mirror page operates as a copy of the primary page except during certain stages of a data manipulation operation (e.g., a write operation). In one embodiment of the present invention, a process can not access a page to perform a read operation if the page is locked and a process can not perform a write operation if the process did not lock the page.
In one embodiment of the present invention, a consistency maintenance locking method and an access tracking method are utilized to facilitate consistency maintenance of plurality of data buckets stored across multiple pages. In one embodiment of the present invention, data being manipulated is stored in buckets across multiple pages and chained together by a reference key (e.g., xe2x80x9cKEYxe2x80x9d). The present invention also facilitates recovery from a process or system crash. Read operations access information from unlocked primary pages. Consistency maintenance write operations access, lock and update a mirror page, then access, lock and update a primary page. Primary page and mirror page accesses are tracked (e.g., counted). Then a consistency maintenance write operation unlocks and syncs the primary page and mirror page to disk. A page with consistent data is copied to a page with inconsistent data during a process system crash recovery. In one embodiment of the present invention, a primary page is considered consistent if a write operation has not accessed the primary page to begin a write process, otherwise data on a mirror page is considered consistent. In one embodiment of the present invention, a write operation is dropped or continued upon determination that data is inconsistent when recovering from a process or system crash.

System and method for maintaining and recovering data consistency across multiple pages


A method, system, and data structure for creating electronic calendar entries are disclosed. One aspect of the invention involves a computer data structure that includes an email message with an embedded link. The embedded link contains event information corresponding to multiple parameters for an event described in the email message. The embedded link is configured, upon activation, to initiate generation of an electronic calendar entry form with multiple fields. A plurality of the multiple fields contain event information from the embedded link.

Electronic calendars are increasingly used to organize our lives. Such calendars are accessed from both desktop computers and portable computing devices (e.g., laptop computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), mobile phones, and wearable computers).
One problem that limits more widespread use of electronic calendars is the process of filling out electronic calendar entries. Current calendar entry techniques are cumbersome and inefficient. Users typically must type or cut-and-paste data into multiple calendar fields (e.g., date, start time, end time, location, activity, and people involved). Some research groups have tried to develop systems (e.g., the Stanford Event eXtraction sYstem) that automatically create calendar entries from free-form e-mail messages, with limited success.
Thus, it would be highly desirable to find new, more efficient ways to create electronic calendar entries from email messages.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method, system, graphical user interface, and data structure for creating electronic calendar entries from email messages


Cojoined collet has a center housing with opposing central orifices, each central orifice capable of receiving an externally positioned shaft, and further having a fastener about each opposing orifice, wherein the externally positioned shaft is releasably connectable on a common axis of rotation through the opposing central orifices and can be held fast by the fastener about the central orifice which receives the externally positioned shaft, and it is finely balanced about its intended axis of rotation. It may be coupled in series with a shaft, which may be rigid or flexible, and be embodied for employment in rotating devices, for an example, such as the high-speed simulator-viscometer of U.S. Pat. No. 4,445,365.

Selby, U.S. Pat. No. 4,445,365 (May 1, 1984), discloses a TAPERED BEARING SIMULATOR-VISCOMETER. In it, a flexible drive shaft or cable, coaxially interconnected with a motor above it by a coupling, is fixed upwardly on a cylinder or drum (See e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 3,350,922) that is rotated at high speeds within a liquid-filled cup in order to measure the viscosity of the liquid. See e.g., column 3, lines 36-60, etc. A problem is that that device occasionally becomes inoperable due to breaking of its flexible shaft or cable.


A system and method include association of a first plurality of software licenses of a first type with a first subscription associated with a first plurality of cloud-based resources, determination of a first number of the first plurality of software licenses to activate based on the types of the first plurality of resources, activation of the first number of the first plurality of software licenses, monitoring of usage of the first plurality of resources, determination, based on the monitored usage, of a second one or more resources to associate with the first subscription, determination, in response to determining the second resources, of a second number of the first plurality of software licenses to activate based on the types of the second one or more resources, activation of the second number of the first plurality of software licenses, and association of the second resources with the first subscription.

Cloud-based computing deployments present rights-management issues which are not present in a typical on-premise computing deployment. For example, in an on-premise deployment, system resources which require licenses (e.g., operating systems, database management systems) are substantially fixed and the licenses are purchased along with the resources. If a resource is added to the on-premise deployment, a corresponding license is purchased therewith. The on-premise customer maintains the licenses in order to ensure legal compliance and to provide documentary evidence of such compliance if audited by one or more resource providers.
Cloud-based deployments, by their nature, typically provide resource elasticity. For example, a cloud-based deployment may allow dynamic and possibly temporary increases to the compute size of a customer's deployment due to an increased business demand. Such an increase may require the customer to acquire additional licenses in order to remain in compliance. Current systems for acquiring additional licenses are cumbersome and lack any centralized management. Alternatively, the customer may simply purchase extra licenses in the conventional manner to maintain a buffer of usable licenses in case additional licenses are eventually needed. Such a buffer is not cost-efficient, may eventually be exhausted (requiring further additional licenses), and fails to address the issue of centralized license management.
Some cloud platforms offer Bring Your Own License (BYOL) benefits to facilitate migration to the cloud. These benefits provide a full or partial credit for previously-purchased on-premise licenses with respect to resources deployed in the cloud such as, but not limited to, an SQL managed instance, an SQL database, and an SQL Virtual Machine. In order to apply this benefit, the customer typically self-reports the existence of an on-premise license corresponding to the resource to be deployed in the cloud. The BYOL approach fails to address resource elasticity as described above. Moreover, records of the self-reported licenses are typically scattered across many resources in different customer subscriptions, which hinders compliance reporting. The users responsible for deploying the cloud resources and confirming the licenses' existence often cannot access applicable enterprise agreements and the licensing details therein, possibly resulting in inadvertent violation of licensing requirements.


A method and apparatus for welding uses a power circuit and a controller connected to the power circuit. The controller included a welding program having a limited term. The program may be part of a system, or a stand alone program. The controller has a data port and the welding program and/or an authorization is received by the controller on the data port in one embodiment. The welding program includes a limited time module, a limited time in use module, a limited arc start module, a controlled short circuit program, and/or a pulse program in various embodiments. A second welding program, without a limited term module, may be provided.

There are many known types of welding systems used for many different welding processes. Welding system, or system for welding, as used herein, includes one or more of a power source, controller, wire feeder, and a source of gas, it may also include peripherals such as robots etc. Welding power supply, as used herein, includes any device capable of supplying welding power including power circuitry, control circuitry and other ancillary circuitry associated therewith.
Some welding power supplies are dedicated for a single welding process, such as MIG welding, and other welding systems can be used for a variety of processes. The Miller Axcess® welding system is a multi-process machine that can be controlled to provide a number of welding processes such as pulse, controlled short circuit welding, MIG, spray and hybrid processes.
The power circuit and controller of the Axcess® are sufficiently flexible that they can provide power and control for the various processes as good as or better than a system designed for a single process. Moreover, software and hardware allow the user to select a welding program (that can include fixed parameters or user setable parameters). Welding program, as used herein, includes a software routine and/or hardware that causes a welding system or power supply to provide an output suitable for a welding process.
Some customers need a multi-process system such as an Axcess®, while others need a single process system. Accordingly, to address the ends of various market segments, a single system can be sold with different software, interfaces, and/or controls. For example one customer can purchase a system for pulse and spray, while another can purchase the same system, but with additional software to use that system for controlled short circuit welding.
Because advanced systems such as the Axcess® are relatively new, many customers do not fully appreciate the capabilities of some processes, and/or the desirability of a multi-process machine. Thus, a practice developed to allow the user to test or qualify a particular process. For example, a sales person would include a welding program for RMD® (a hybrid controlled short circuit process) when the customer purchased a system. Then, after allowing the customer to try the program for some time (perhaps days or weeks), the customer decided if they wanted to purchase that option. If not, the seals person (or technician) would have to return to the customer's work site, and disable the option (by removing the software, e.g.). Of course, requiring a return visit to disable the feature adds cost, does not provide a definite term for the trial, and generally is inconvenient.
Accordingly, a way to allow the user to test a feature on a welding system that does not require action to disable it is required. Preferably, such a system will provide a definite term for the user to test the option.

Method and apparatus for welding with limited term software


A holding sealing material includes inorganic fibers, a mat shape, a first end face and a second end face and a penetration portion. The mat shape has a width direction, a length direction and a thickness direction. The first end face and the second end face are each provided approximately in parallel with the width direction. The penetration portion penetrates the holding sealing material in the thickness direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a holding sealing material, an exhaust gas purifying apparatus, and a method of manufacturing an exhaust gas purifying apparatus.
2. Discussion of the Background
In order to purify harmful substances such as toxic gases contained in exhaust gas discharged from an internal combustion engine such as an engine, conventionally an exhaust gas purifying apparatus is installed in an exhaust path (exhaust pipe for exhaust gas distribution, and the like) of the internal combustion engine.
The exhaust gas purifying apparatus has a structure in which a casing is provided in the exhaust path of the internal combustion engine, and an exhaust gas-treating body is disposed inside the casing. Examples of the exhaust gas-treating body include a catalyst carrier or a diesel particulate filter (DPF).
For improving the efficiency of purifying harmful substances of the exhaust gas purifying apparatus in which a catalyst is supported on the exhaust gas-treating body, temperatures in the exhaust path of the internal combustion engine and exhaust gas need to be maintained at temperatures suitable for activating the catalyst (hereinafter, also referred to as catalyst activation temperature).
As described earlier, the exhaust gas purifying apparatus in which a catalyst is supported on the exhaust gas-treating body tends not to exert a sufficient catalytic action unless the temperature is raised to a predetermined catalyst activation temperature. Therefore, the exhaust gas purifying apparatus soon after starting the engine problematically requires a certain period of time to achieve a sufficient level of the exhaust gas purification ability.
For solving the problems, electrically heated catalyst (EHC) converters for rapidly heating a catalyst have been proposed to reduce harmful substances discharged immediately after starting the engine.
For example, JP-A 5-269387 discloses a catalytic converter (exhaust gas purifying apparatus) in which a metallic exhaust gas-treating body is provided in a metallic shell (casing), and positive and negative electrode members connected to a metallic catalyst carrier (exhaust gas-treating body) are provided in a manner to insulatingly penetrate the metallic shell wall and project therefrom.
FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a conventional exhaust gas purifying apparatus disclosed in JP-A 5-269387. FIG. 1B is a C-C line cross-sectional view of the conventional exhaust gas purifying apparatus shown in FIG. 1A.
In a conventional catalytic converter (exhaust gas purifying apparatus) 600 shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, metallic catalyst carriers (exhaust gas-treating bodies) 630a, 630b, and 630c are disposed in a metallic shell (casing) 620. The outer surfaces of the metallic catalyst carriers 630a, 630b, and 630c are respectively connected to positive electrode members 650a, 650b, and 650c, and further respectively connected to negative electrode members 650d, 650e, and 650f, with another end of each of the positive and negative electrode members penetrating the metallic shell 620.
Moreover, in the conventional catalytic converter 600 shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, ring-shaped mat members (holding sealing material) 610a, 610b, and 610c are respectively disposed between outer faces of the metallic catalyst carriers 630a, 630b, and 630c and inner faces of the metallic shell 620.
The contents of JP-A 5-269387 are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Holding sealing material, exhaust gas purifying apparatus, and method of manufacturing exhaust gas purifying apparatus


Method for producing decorative grass, such as Easter grass, from a sheet or web of material having printed material and/or embossed patterns thereon. The printed material and embossed patterns may be in register or out of register with one another. A method for producing decorative grass having the appearance of a blend of decorative grasses is also disclosed.

Not applicable.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to decorative grass and methods for making same, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a decorative grass having printed matter thereon and to a method for producing same. In one aspect, the present invention relates to a decorative grass having an embossed pattern thereon and to a method for producing same. In yet another aspect, the present invention relates to a decorative grass having an embossed pattern and printed matter thereon and to a method for producing same.
2. Brief Description of Prior Art
Decorative grass has been used for many years in Easter baskets and for other decorative purposes. The decorative grass of the prior art has been produced by numerous methods and from a variety of materials such as plastic materials, paper, cellophane or the like. Typically, such materials are cut and shredded to produce segments having predetermined dimensions. One such prior art method for making decorative grass is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,292,266, issued to Weder et al., wherein a plastic film is extruded and cut into plastic strips which are passed through a slow-speed godet, an oven and a high-speed godet so that the strips are drawn down in width and thickness without breaking. From the high-speed godet, the strips or strands are chopped to a desired length and conveyed to a storage area for subsequent bagging and packaging.
While the prior art methods for making decorative grass have been widely accepted, new and improved methods for making decorative grass having improved aesthetic qualities are being sought which are less costly and wherein the decorative grass has an improved feel. It is to such a decorative grass and method for producing same that the present invention is directed.
The present invention relates to a decorative grass having improved aesthetic qualities and to methods for making such decorative grass. In one embodiment, decorative grass is produced by providing a flexible sheet or web of material, printing the sheet of material to provide the printed sheet of material containing printed material and/or printed patterns on at least one side thereof, slitting the printed sheet of material to provide a web of flexible strips wherein at least a major portion of the strips have printed material and/or printed patterns on at least one side thereof, and thereafter chopping the flexible strips into segments having a predetermined length to produce a decorative grass having printed material and/or printed patterns on at least one side thereof.
In another embodiment, decorative grass is produced by providing a flexible sheet or web of material, printing at least one surface of the sheet of material with a plurality of different colored inks, slitting the printed sheet of material to provide a web of flexible strips, and thereafter chopping the flexible strips into segments having a predetermined length to produce decorative grass having a plurality of different colored segments and thereby provide the decorative grass with an appearance of a blend of different colors of decorative grass.
In another embodiment, decorative grass is produced by providing a flexible sheet or web of material, embossing the sheet of material to provide the sheet of material with an embossed pattern, slitting the sheet of material having an embossed pattern to provide a web of flexible strips wherein at least a major portion of the strips have an embossed pattern, and thereafter chopping the flexible strips into segments having a predetermined length to produce a decorative grass having an embossed pattern.
In yet another embodiment, decorative grass is produced by providing a flexible sheet or web of material, embossing the sheet of material to provide an embossed pattern thereon and printing the embossed sheet of material to provide embossed, printed sheet of material, slitting the embossed, printed sheet of material to provide a web of flexible strips wherein at least a major portion of the strips have an embossed pattern and printed material, and thereafter chopping the flexible strips into segments having a predetermined length to produce a decorative grass having an embossed pattern and printed material and/or designs.
An object of the present invention is to provide a decorative grass having improved aesthetic qualities.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a decorative grass having improved aesthetic qualities and feel which is cost effective.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and appended claims.

Method for making printed and/or embossed decorative grass


A front end scalar to a frequency multiplier such as a synchronous delay line (SDL) allows the SDL to operate at a single clock frequency for all multiplier coefficients and input frequencies and provides for maximum SDL design margins. A frequency multiplier of this type relies upon a feedback voltage to maintain a desired output clock frequency. So long as the input clock frequency is within predetermined limits, the feedback voltage will maintain the output frequency at a desired frequency for which the SDL has been optimized. As the input frequency approaches the upper or lower limit for which an SDL basic building block has been optimized, it may become impossible for an SDL to provide frequency lock since control voltage is already below or above V.sub.cc /2 due to a lower or a higher input frequency. The invention operates to ensure that the input frequency to the SDL is always close to the frequency for which the SDL has been optimized by changing the input frequency to a frequency which is at or near the frequency for which a SDL has been optimized and thereby eliminate the input frequency dependency of the SDL.

As the operating frequencies of microprocessors go beyond 25 MHz clock speeds, a typical design may obtain the clock signals needed by the processor and its peripherals by multiplying a low speed clock source rather than dividing a high speed clock source. While a clock source having a speed exactly equal to the require clock speed could be used, such an approach is usually not utilized since 1) higher frequently crystals cost more; 2) special oscillator circuits would need to be designed; and 3) external RC components would need to be added to isolate the fundamental frequency from its overtones (harmonics). Although, in general, it is possible to obtain a reliable lower speed clock from a higher speed clock source by dividing a higher speed crystal source, due to the expense of obtaining a high speed clock oscillator circuit, most system designers rely upon a clock source with a lower than required speed clock and multiply that clock to obtain the desired higher clock speed. Additionally, if the input clock source and output clock need to be completely synchronized, the multiplication technique is preferred since techniques used to divide a high speed clock to obtain a lower clock speed usually result in the output clock not being synchronized with the input clock thereby requiring additional circuitry to accomplish synchronization.
To perform the multiplication function on an input clock source, a digital or analog phase locked loop (PLL) or a synchronous delay line (SDL) may be utilized. A suitable SDL for this purpose is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,980,585. See FIGS. 1A and 1B of the patent which describe a suitable PLL and FIGS. 2-9 of the patent which describe a suitable SDL and supporting elements.

Input frequency converter to increase input frequency range of a synchronous delay line


A reconfigurable bone adjustment device (1, 101, 201) includes a first member (10,110, 210, 1010) configured for attachment to a first bone fragment, a second member (20, 130, 230, 1030) configured for attachment to a second bone fragment and a reconfiguration assembly (2, 102, 401, 501, 601, 701, 801, 901, 1020) configured to move the second member relative to the first member. The reconfiguration assembly includes a drive mechanism (50, 150, 250, 440, 540, 640, 740, 840, 940, 1050) and a threaded rod (70, 170, 245, 470, 570, 670, 770, 870, 970, 1070, 1170) operatively coupled to the drive mechanism so that rotation of the drive mechanism rotates the threaded rod. The reconfiguration assembly operates to reduces stresses, forces, bending moments and/or eccentric moments on a junction and/or by configuring the junction in a manner whereby one of more of the forces, is isolated away from the junction.

Implantable reconfigurable bone adjustment devices are occasionally used in orthopedic procedures to gradually adjust the position, orientation, geometry and/or length of a bone, such as, for example, by distraction, compression, realignment or bone transport. One form of an implantable reconfigurable bone adjustment device is a limb lengthening nail (LLN) configured for implantation in the medullary canal of a long bone and subsequently manipulated to adjust the length of the bone. Another form of an implantable reconfigurable bone adjustment device is a bone transport nail configured for implantation in the medullary canal of a long bone and subsequently manipulated to move a middle bone fragment across a gap between proximal and distal bone fragments to induce bone regeneration in the gap. Still other forms of implantable reconfigurable bone adjustment devices include spinal adjustment implants and implants configured to achieve other gradual adjustments to the shape, position or length of skeletal structures.
Implantable reconfigurable bone adjustment devices may include internal magnets that are configured to rotate upon actuation by an external actuating device, thereby driving a threaded rod that engages other device components to achieve a dimensional modification of the device or other relational modification between components of the device. Such dimensional modification or relational modification of the device operate on bone segments, portions or fragments to which the device is affixed to exert pressures on the bone segments, portions or fragments to which the device is affixed, thereby gradually moving the bone segments, portions or fragments relative to one another. Such devices may include a first member configured to be affixed to a first bone segment, portion or fragment; a second member configured to be affixed to another bone segment, portion or fragment; a rod with at least one thread, the rotation of which causes displacement of the second member relative to the first member, and a mechanism for controlling the rotation of the threaded rod. In the case of certain LLN devices, for example, the second member may be assembled telescopically relative to the first member and rotation of the threaded rod operates to telescopically displace the second member relative to the first member, thereby increasing the distance between the bone segments, portions or fragments to which the first member and the second member are respectively affixed. In the case of certain bone transport nails, the first member may have a first end configured to be affixed to a first bone fragment, a second end configured to be affixed to a second bone fragment, and a carriage configured to be affixed to a middle bone fragment positioned within a gap between the first and second bone fragments. Rotation of the threaded rod in such a device operates to axially transport the carriage relative to the first member to thereby facilitate formation of regenerate bone between the first and second bone fragments.
In such implantable reconfigurable bone adjustment devices, rotation of the threaded rod may be driven by a component, referred to herein as a "drive mechanism," whose actuation is controlled to achieve a desired amount of rotation over time and at a desired rate, thereby to achieve a desired amount of bone adjustment at a desired rate. In certain devices, the drive mechanism includes a magnet hermetically sealed in a housing, although other types of drive mechanisms, such as electric motors, are contemplated. A common feature of such drive mechanisms, which may also include gear reducers, is that the threaded rod is rigidly affixed to a structure of the drive mechanism to achieve controlled rotation of the threaded rod. This structure is referred to herein as a "driver."
The threaded rod in such devices necessarily engages at least one component of the device (other than the driver) such that rotation of the threaded rod changes the relative positions of different device components. The rotation of the threaded rod imposes forces on the threaded rod, which may differ in different regions of the threaded rod, such as axial loads (compressive and/or tensile), bending moments and the like. For example, in some such devices, the junction at which the threaded rod is connected to the driver carries a tensile load when the device is in normal use. Moreover, the torque required to rotate the rod is sometimes substantial, which places substantial forces on the point of connection between the threaded rod and the driver. As a result of these loads, together with potential bending moments and eccentric loading, stresses are localized at the junction of the threaded rod and the driver when such a device is loaded.
While currently-available bone adjustment systems have produced excellent results, many of these devices exhibit one or more shortcomings or disadvantages that render the device susceptible to failure. For example, a problem has been encountered where the stress concentrations at the point where the threaded rod is affixed to the driver can cause failure of the device at this junction. Failures of a device at this junction results in the inability of the device to perform its intended bone adjustment action. For these reasons among others, a need remains for further improvements in this technological field. The present disclosure addresses this need.


Movement of a tool is delayed for a specified time from the movement of a tracer head that probes a model and traces the same path so that a cutter does not attain a state of excessive overshoot at a corner of a workpiece. The tracer head is driven independent of the tool on all axes of a machine tool by submotors provided in conjunction with feed axes of the tool. Profiling command values are stored in the FIFO memory 41 and output to the axes of the machine tool after being delayed for the specified time. In an operating circuit 43, speed command values Vxs to submotors are calculated based on the profile command values. The tracer head probes the model in precedence to the tool in response to the speed command values Vxs.

A conventional tracer control unit has carried out a tracer control subject so that the axes of a cutter of a copy machine tool are mechanically coupled to a tracer head. More specifically, the tracer control unit detects the amount of deflection of all axes of a stylus by the tracer head and the command values for the axes are calculated using these amounts of deflections in a trace computing circuit. Then with these command values, the cutter is relatively moved to a workpiece by driving the motors for the axes while the tracer head is moved at the same speed along a surface of a model. The tracer control for machining a workpiece in the same shape as the profile of the model is carried out by repeating the above operations.
In the case that a tool such as, for example, a cutter and a workpiece are to be moved in accordance with the tracer command values generated by the conventional tracer control unit, the tracer head and the tool are simultaneously driven with the feed axis drive commands thus generated and the tracer control unit has not been provided with a function for moving the tracer preceding movement of the cutter axis.
However, when the stylus provided on the tip of the tracer head collides with a corner or a similar part of the model during the tracing of the model, the tracer head bites the model for a moment, because the tracer head travels excessively because of effects such as the delay of the servo system that forms the driver of the tracer head and the inertia of the machine.
Consequently, the cutter also bites the workpiece as much as that of the tracer head and the machining accuracy at the corner of the model deteriorates. Accordingly, the conventional tracer control unit has a problem in that a part of the model where the profile is abruptly changed cannot be accurately traced.


A circuit for receiving data to be written in a synchronous semiconductor memory device, comprising: a first set of latches for receiving an n-bit data upon transition of an internal strobe signal; a counter for counting the number of transitions of the internal strobe signal and for outputting an indicating signal upon counting the end of a string of internal strobe signals; a second set of latches for receiving the outputs of the first set of latches, the second set of latches being clocked by the indicating signal; and a third set of latches for receiving the outputs of the second set of latches, the third set of latches being clocked by a clock signal derived from a system clock.

1. Technical Field
Disclosed is a synchronous semiconductor memory device. In particular, a circuit and a method for writing data into a synchronous semiconductor memory.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
The operational speed and performance of a synchronous dynamic random access memory SDRAM is improved over a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) when the SDRAM is operated in synchronization with an external system clock and there are frequent sequential data read/write operations.
The operational speed and performance of an SDRAM is further improved when both the rising and falling edges of the system clock is used in reading and writing data, i.e., the clock rate is effectively doubled. This memory device is called the double data rate (DDR) SDRAM. In a DDR SDRAM, a strobe signal, commonly referred to as xe2x80x9cDQSxe2x80x9d, is used in conjunction with the system clock to strobe and clock memory data.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,078,546 to Lee discloses a synchronous semiconductor device having a double data rate input circuit which allows data to be written in the device in response to a clock signal and a data strobe signal. FIG. 1A shows an input circuit disclosed in the ""546 patent which stores a pair of data which is synchronized with either the system clock signal or the data strobe signal. Referring to FIG. 1A, an externally applied data strobe signal DS is received during a data write operation. An edge detector 300 detects an edge of the data strobe signal DS and generates first and second internal strobe signals DS1 and DS2 in synchronization with rising and falling edges of the data strobe signal DS, respectively. The signals DS1 and DS2 are used to strobe the odd and even data into data registers 303A and 303B, respectively. A second edge detector 301 detects an active edge of a system clock. A delay circuit 304 delays the output of the second edge detector 301 and the delayed clock signal CLKD is used to output the data from the data registers to write driver 305.
FIG. 1B shows the structure of the data register 303. Referring to FIG. 1B, the first or the odd data of the pair of data is input first to unit cell R1, where it is strobed by strobe signal DS1 and the complement of DS1. The output of R1 is fed to R2. Unit cell R3 receives the even or the second data bit of the data pair. Unit cells R2 and R3 are both first strobed by a strobe signal DS2 (AWR) and its complement. DS2 (AWR) is a product of the DS2 strobe signal and the write pulse to synchronize the strobe signals to the write operation. The odd and even data pair is then output with clocking by the delayed clock signal CLKD.
FIG. 2 shows a timing diagram of the data write operations of the circuit of FIG. 1A. The timing diagram shows the strobe and clock operations for a 4-bit data string input from DIND. The storage cell R1 stores the odd numbered data D0 and D2 of the data string in synchronism with internal data strobe signals DS1 and its complement/DS1. The storage cell R3 stores the even numbered D1 and D3 in synchronism with strobe signals DS2 and its complement/DS2. The write drivers are activated with the first active external clock signal CLK after the write command WR. Case I illustrates that the data reaches the register circuit 303 with the valid data strobe signals inputted after reference clock signal CLK(0), namely in a case where the value of the t DQSS is maximum. Case II illustrates that data reaches the register circuit 303 with the valid data strobe signals inputted before the reference clock signal CLK(0), namely, in the case where the value of the t DQSS is minimum. The disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 6,078,546 in its entirety is incorporated by reference herein.
As operational speed of memory devices are further increased, the timing margin between the external system clock and the data strobe signal DS becomes shorter. Accordingly, a need exists for an improved system and method for writing a string of data into a synchronous memory device with increased timing margin.
According to the present invention, a circuit for receiving data for a synchronous semiconductor memory device is provided, comprising: a strobe generator having a flip flop and a plurality of logic gates for generating S(n) internal strobes based on an external strobe signal, each of the S(n) internal strobes having a latch-triggering transition occurring one after another in response to the external strobe signal; a plurality of latches for receiving an n-bit data, including at least one set of latches being clocked by the S(n)th internal strobe and another set of latches for receiving the outputs from the one set of latches, the another set of latches being clocked by an internal clock signal having a period longer than that of an external clock signal and a data write driver for receiving the outputs of the another set of latches and for driving the n-bit data into memory cells of the memory device under clocking control of the external clock.
The circuit further including a frequency divider for dividing by two the external clock signal to derive the internal clock signal for clocking the another set of latches. The plurality of latches includes a first set of L(nxe2x88x921) latches for receiving respective (nxe2x88x921) bits of an n-bit data, each of the first set of latches being clocked by a respective S(nxe2x88x921) internal strobe, and a second set of latches configured to receive respective outputs of the first set L(nxe2x88x921) latches and the nth bit data, the second set of latches being clocked by the S(n)th internal strobe, and a third set of latches for receiving respective outputs of the second set of latches, the third set of latches being clocked by the internal clock signal, the external clock signal being derived from an external memory controller.
Further, the flip flop in the strobe generator is configured as a frequency divider for dividing by two the external strobe signal, and the complementary outputs of the flip flop are applied to the inputs of four AND gates to produce the S(n) internal strobes. Preferably, the semiconductor memory device is a double data rate SDRAM, and wherein (n) is equal to four (4).
A circuit is also provided for receiving data to be written in a synchronous semiconductor memory device, comprising: a first set of latches for receiving an n-bit data upon transition of an internal strobe signal; a counter for counting the number of transitions of the internal strobe signal and for outputting an indicating signal upon counting the end of a string of internal strobe signals; a second set of latches for receiving the outputs of the first set of latches, the second set of latches being clocked by the indicating signal; and a third set of latches for receiving the outputs of the second set of latches, the third set of latches being clocked by a clock signal derived from a system clock, wherein the counter is clocked by a first clock derived from the system clock.
Preferably, the first clock is derived from a falling edge of the system clock, and a counter reset signal is generated based on the falling edge of the system clock after a write command, the counter reset signal for resetting the counter. The first set of latches receives the n-bit data serially under clocking control by the internal strobe signal. The second set of latches receives the latched n-bit data in parallel, wherein the indicating signal is output by the counter upon detecting two transitions of the internal strobe signal, and (n) is equal to four.
Accordingly to another aspect of the invention, a circuit for receiving data to be written in a synchronous semiconductor memory device is provided, comprising: a first set of latches for receiving an n-bit data upon transition of an internal strobe signal; a counter for counting the number of falling edges of an external strobe signal and for outputting a counting signal; an indicating signal generator for receiving the counting signal outputted from the counter and for outputting an indicating signal; a second set of latches for receiving the outputs of the first set of latches, the second set of latches being clocked by the indicating signal; and a third set of latches for receiving the outputs of the second set of latches, the third set of latches being clocked by a clock signal derived from a system clock, wherein the counter is clocked by a first clock derived from the system clock.
Accordingly to still another aspect of the invention, a circuit for receiving data to be written in a synchronous semiconductor memory device is provided, comprising: a first set of latches for receiving an n-bit data upon transition of a first internal strobe signal buffered from a data strobe buffer; a counter for counting the number of rising edges of a second internal strobe signal outputted from the data strobe buffer and for outputting a counting signal; an indicating signal generator for receiving the counting signal outputted from the counter and for outputting an indicating signal; a second set of latches for receiving the outputs of the first set of latches, the second set of latches being clocked by the indicating signal; and a third set of latches for receiving the outputs of the second set of latches, the third set of latches being clocked by a clock signal derived from a system clock.
Preferably, a counter reset signal is generated based on the falling edge of the system clock after a write command, the counter reset signal for resetting the counter; and the clock signal is derived by dividing by two the system clock.
A semiconductor memory device is further provided for accessing data in synchronization with an external clock signal, comprising: a converting circuit for outputting at least four bits of serial data as four bits of parallel data in response to a data strobe signal, and a latch circuit for receiving the four bit of parallel data in response to a first clock signal and outputting the four bit of parallel data to a data write circuit in response to the first clock signal, wherein each of the four bits of parallel data has a valid data window corresponding to at least two clock cycles of the external clock signal, wherein the semiconductor memory device further includes a division circuit for dividing an internal clock signal outputted from a clock buffer to output the first clock signal.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, a semiconductor memory device for accessing data in synchronization with rising and falling edges of a clock signal is provided, the semiconductor memory device comprising: a division circuit for generating a second data strobe signal by dividing a first data strobe signal; a plurality of internal strobe signal generating circuits for receiving the first data strobe signal and the second data strobe signal and generating a plurality of internal strobe signals; a plurality of first latch circuits for sequentially latching a plurality of received serial data in synchronization with each of the plurality of internal strobe signals; a second latch circuit for receiving and storing data from the first latch circuit in synchronization with one of the plurality of internal strobe signals; and an output circuit for receiving data from the second latch circuit in response to a predetermined clock signal, and transferring the received data to a data bus line.
The semiconductor memory device further includes: a second division circuit for generating a second clock signal by dividing a first clock signal; and an output circuit for transferring an output signal of the second latch circuit into a data bus line in response to the second clock signal.
A data input circuit for inputting data into a semiconductor memory device is also provided, comprising: a converting circuit for converting serial data into parallel data in synchronization with rising and falling edges of a data strobe signal; a data strobe counter for receiving the data strobe signal and an internal clock signal, for counting the number of pulses of the data strobe signal at an interval where the data strobe signal is enabled, and outputting a count signal corresponding to the number of the pulse signals of the data strobe signal; a first latch circuit for receiving and latching output data of the converting circuit in response to the count signal; and a second latch circuit for receiving and latching output data of the first latch circuit in response to the internal clock signal, wherein the data strobe counter receives a write command signal and is initialized in response to a first transition of the internal clock signal after a valid data strobe signal is input.
Preferably, the data input circuit further includes an indicating signal generating circuit for receiving the count signal and outputting an indicating signal for clocking the first latch circuit, wherein the converting circuit comprises: a third latch circuit for latching odd-numbered data of the serial data in response to the data strobe signal; and a fourth latch circuit for latching even-numbered data of the serial data in response to the data strobe signal, wherein the count signal is generated by counting the number of falling edges of the data strobe signal at the interval where the data strobe signal is enabled.
A data input circuit is also provided, comprising a first register for latching first data input in response to a rising edge of a first pulse signal of a data strobe signal, a second register for receiving and latching output data of the first register in response to a falling edge of the first pulse signal, a third register for receiving and storing output data of the second register in response to a rising edge of a second pulse signal of the data strobe signal, and a fourth register for receiving and storing output data of the third register in response to a falling edge of the second pulse signal; a second latching means comprising a fifth register for latching second data input in response to the falling edge of the first pulse signal of the data strobe signal, a sixth register for receiving and storing output data of the fifth register in response to the rising edge of the second pulse signal of the data strobe signal, and a seventh register for receiving and storing output data of the sixth register in response to the falling edge of the second pulse signal; a third latching means for storing third data input in response to the rising edge of the second pulse signal of the data strobe signal into the third register through the first register and the second register, storing fourth data input in response to the falling edge of the second pulse signal of the data strobe signal into the sixth register through the fifth register, and receiving and storing data from the fourth register of the first latching means in response to an indicating signal generated in response to the falling edge of the second pulse signal of the data strobe signal; a fourth latching means for receiving and storing data stored into the seventh register of the second latching means in response to the indicating signal; a fifth latching means for receiving and storing data stored into the third register of the first latching means in response to the indicating signal; and a sixth latching means receiving and storing data stored into the sixth register of the second latching means in response to the indicating signal.
According to the present invention, a data input method for inputting data in a semiconductor memory device is provided, comprising the steps of: converting N bits of serial data into N bits of parallel data in synchronization with a data strobe signal; transmitting the N bits of parallel data to a first circuit in response to a predetermined signal outputted after the last falling edge of the data strobe signal; and outputting the N bits of parallel data of the first circuit to a second circuit in response to a clock signal derived from an external clock signal, wherein the predetermined signal is derived by counting signal generated from a counter, wherein the clock signal is derived by dividing the external clock signal.

Data input circuit and method for synchronous semiconductor memory device