The present invention relates to the process for the preparation of the compound of Formula I:

This invention relates generally to an efficient process for the preparation of a benzisoxazolyl-pyrazole. Benzisoxazolyl-pyrazoles are useful as factor Xa inhibitors.
Factor Xa inhibitors like those of Formula Ia shown below:
WO98/57951 describes the synthesis of the compound of Formula Ia, as its trifluoroacetic acid salt, as follows:
In the above procedure, the pyrazole carboxylic acid and aniline are coupled and isolated as a free base. The 3-cyano-4-fluorophenyl group of the resulting product is then converted to 1-aminobenzisoxazole. One problem with this procedure is that the acid-aniline coupling product is difficult to purify. A second problem is that the conversion to the 1-aminobenzisoxazole moiety requires the presence of a strong, expensive base such as KOt-Bu.
It can be seen that the preparation of a compound of Formula I is difficult. Thus, it is desirable to find an efficient synthesis of such a compound.
Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a novel process for preparing a compound of Formula I.
It is another object of the present invention to provide intermediates that are useful in preparing a compound of Formula I.
It is another object of the present invention to provide novel salt, crystalline, and solvent forms of Formula I.
It is another object of the present invention to provide pharmaceutical compositions comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a therapeutically effective amount of at least one of the compounds of the present invention or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for treating thromboembolic disorders comprising administering to a host in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of at least one of the compounds of the present invention or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
It is another object of the present invention to provide novel compounds for use in therapy.
It is another object of the present invention to provide the use of novel compounds for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of a thromboembolic disorder.
Thus, in an embodiment, the present invention provides a novel process for making a compound of Formula I:
comprising:
(c) contacting a compound of Formula IVa with maleic acid to form a compound of Formula IV;
(d) converting a compound of Formula IV to a compound of Formula V; and,
(e) forming a compound of Formula I.
In a preferred embodiment, in (c), contacting with maleic acid is performed in the presence of a first solvent, ethyl acetate.
In another preferred embodiment, in (c), a second solvent, 1-chlorobutane, is added to enhance precipitation.
In another preferred embodiment, (d) is performed by contacting a compound of Formula IV with HONHCOCH3 in the presence of a base and a solvent.
In another preferred embodiment, the base is selected from K2CO3, Na2CO3, KHCO3, NaHCO3, KF, NaOH, and KOH.
In another preferred embodiment, the base is K2CO3.
In another preferred embodiment, in (d), the solvent is selected from DMSO, DMAC, N-methylpyrrolidinone, and DMF.
In another preferred embodiment, in (d), the solvent is DMF, comprising: 0.5 to 50% by volume of water.
In another preferred embodiment, in (d), the solvent is DMF, comprising: 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, to 15% by volume of water.
In another preferred embodiment, in (d), the solvent is DMF, comprising: 15% by volume of water.
In another preferred embodiment, (e) is performed by contacting a compound of Formula V with HCl in a solvent selected from methanol, acetonitrile, isopropyl alcohol, ethanol, propanol, acetone, methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK), 2-butanone, and water.
In another preferred embodiment, (e) is performed by contacting a compound of Formula V with HCl in ethanol.
In another preferred embodiment, the compound of Formula I is a mono-HCl salt.
In another preferred embodiment, the compound of Formula I is crystalline.
In another preferred embodiment, the compound of Formula I is a solvate selected from ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, acetone, MIBK, 2-butanone, and water.
In a more preferred embodiment, the compound of Formula I is an ethanol solvate.
In another embodiment, the present invention provides a novel process for making a compound of Formula IVa:
comprising:
(b) coupling compounds of Formulas II and III to form a compound of Formula IVa.
In another preferred embodiment, the compound of Formula IVa is used without purification in (c).
In another preferred embodiment, (b) is performed by contacting a compound of Formula II with an acid activator, in a solvent and a first base, followed by contacting the resulting solution with a compound of Formula III.
In another preferred embodiment, (b) is performed by contacting a compound of Formula II with oxalyl chloride in acetonitrile and pyridine, followed by contacting the resulting solution with a compound of Formula III.
In another preferred embodiment, after a compound of Formula II has been contacted with a compound of Formula III, a second base is added to the reaction solution.
In another preferred embodiment, the second base is diisopropylethylamine.
In another embodiment, the present invention provides a novel process for making a compound of Formula II:
comprising:
(a) contacting a compound of Formula VI with a compound of Formula VII to form a compound of Formula VIII; and,
(a1) converting a compound of Formula VIII to a compound of Formula II.
In another embodiment, the present invention provides a novel compound of Formula I:
wherein I is a mono-HCl salt.
In another preferred embodiment, the compound of Formula I is crystalline.
In another preferred embodiment, the compound of Formula I is an ethanol solvate.
In another embodiment, the present invention provides a novel compound of Formula IV:
In another embodiment, the present invention provides a novel compound of Formula Va:
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt form thereof.
In another embodiment, the present invention provides novel pharmaceutical compositions, comprising: a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the present invention or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt form thereof.
In another embodiment, the present invention provides a novel method for treating a thromboembolic disorder, comprising: administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the present invention or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt form thereof.
In another embodiment, the present invention provides a compound of the present invention for use in therapy.
In another embodiment, the present invention provides the use of a compound of the present invention for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of a thromboembolic disorder.
As used herein, the following terms and expressions have the indicated meanings. It will be appreciated that the compounds of the present invention may contain an asymmetrically substituted carbon atom, and may be isolated in optically active or racemic forms. It is well known in the art how to prepare optically active forms, such as by resolution of racemic forms or by synthesis from optically active starting materials. All chiral, diastereomeric, and racemic forms and all geometric isomeric forms of a structure are intended, unless the specific stereochemistry or isomer form is specifically indicated.
The processes of the present invention are contemplated to be practiced on at least a multigram scale, kilogram scale, multikilogram scale, or industrial scale. Multigram scale, as used herein, is preferably the scale wherein at least one starting material is present in 10 grams or more, more preferably at least 50 grams or more, even more preferably at least 100 grams or more. Multikilogram scale, as used herein, is intended to mean the scale wherein more than one kilogram of at least one starting material is used. Industrial scale as used herein is intended to mean a scale which is other than a laboratory scale and which is sufficient to supply product sufficient for either clinical tests or distribution to consumers.
The term xe2x80x9csubstituted,xe2x80x9d as used herein, means that any one or more hydrogens on the designated atom are replaced with a selection from the indicated group, provided that the designated atom""s normal valency is not exceeded, and that the substitution results in a stable compound. When a substituent is keto (i.e., xe2x95x90O), then 2 hydrogens on the atom are replaced. Keto substituents are not present on aromatic moieties. When a ring system (e.g., carbocyclic or heterocyclic) is said to be substituted with a carbonyl group or a double bond, it is intended that the carbonyl group or double bond be part (i.e., within) of the ring.
The present invention is intended to include all isotopes of atoms occurring in the present compounds. Isotopes include those atoms having the same atomic number but different mass numbers. By way of general example and without limitation, isotopes of hydrogen include tritium and deuterium. Isotopes of carbon include C-13 and C-14.
The reactions of the synthetic methods claimed herein may be preferably carried out in the presence of a base, the base being any of a variety of bases, the presence of which in the reaction facilitates the synthesis of the desired product. Suitable bases may be selected by one of skill in the art of organic synthesis. Suitable bases include, but are not limited to, inorganic bases including, but not limited to, alkali metal, alkali earth metal, thallium, and ammonium hydroxides, alkoxides, phosphates, and carbonates, including, but not limited to, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, cesium carbonate, thallium hydroxide, thallium carbonate, tetra-n-butylammonium carbonate, and ammonium hydroxide.
The reactions of the synthetic methods claimed herein may be carried out in solvents that may be readily selected by one of skill in the art of organic synthesis, the solvents generally are any one that is substantially non-reactive with the starting materials (reactants), intermediates, or products at the temperatures at which the reactions are carried out, i.e., temperatures which may range from the solvent""s freezing temperature to the solvent""s boiling temperature. A given reaction may be carried out in one solvent or a mixture of more than one solvent. Depending on the particular reaction step, suitable solvents for a particular reaction step may be selected.
Suitable ether solvents include: dimethoxymethane, tetrahydrofuran, 1,3-dioxane, 1,4-dioxane, furan, diethyl ether, ethylene glycol dimethyl ether, ethylene glycol diethyl ether, diethylene glycol dimethyl ether, diethylene glycol diethyl ether, triethylene glycol dimethyl ether, or t-butyl methyl ether.
Suitable aprotic solvents may include, by way of example and without limitation, tetrahydrofuran (THF), dimethylformamide (DMF), dimethylacetamide (DMAC), 1,3-dimethyl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-2(1H)-pyrimidinone (DMPU), 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone (DMI), N-methylpyrrolidinone (NMP), formamide, N-methylacetamide, N-methylformamide, acetonitrile, dimethyl sulfoxide, propionitrile, ethyl formate, methyl acetate, hexachloroacetone, acetone, ethyl methyl ketone, ethyl acetate, sulfolane, N,N-dimethylpropionamide, tetramethylurea, nitromethane, nitrobenzene, or hexamethylphosphoramide.
The phrase xe2x80x9cpharmaceutically acceptablexe2x80x9d is employed herein to refer to those compounds, materials, compositions, and/or dosage forms which are, within the scope of sound medical judgment, suitable for use in contact with the tissues of human beings and animals without excessive toxicity, irritation, allergic response, or other problem or complication, commensurate with a reasonable benefit/risk ratio.
As used herein, xe2x80x9cpharmaceutically acceptable saltsxe2x80x9d refer to derivatives of the disclosed compounds wherein the parent compound is modified by making acid or base salts thereof. Examples of pharmaceutically acceptable salts include, but are not limited to, mineral or organic acid salts of basic groups including, but not limited to, amines, and alkali or organic salts of acidic groups including, but not limited to, carboxylic acids. The pharmaceutically acceptable salts include conventional non-toxic salts or quaternary ammonium salts of the parent compound formed, for example, from non-toxic inorganic or organic acids. For example, conventional non-toxic salts include those derived from inorganic acids including, but not limited to, hydrochloric, hydrobromic, sulfuric, sulfamic, phosphoric, and nitric; and the salts prepared from organic acids including, but not limited to, acetic, propionic, succinic, glycolic, stearic, lactic, malic, tartaric, citric, ascorbic, pamoic, maleic, hydroxymaleic, phenylacetic, glutamic, benzoic, salicylic, sulfanilic, 2-acetoxybenzoic, fumaric, toluenesulfonic, methanesulfonic, ethane disulfonic, oxalic, and isethionic.
The pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the present invention can be synthesized from the parent compound that contains a basic or acidic moiety by conventional chemical methods. Generally, salts can be prepared by reacting the free acid or base forms of these compounds with a stoichiometric amount of the appropriate base or acid in water or in an organic solvent, or in a mixture of the two; generally, nonaqueous media like ether, ethyl acetate, ethanol, isopropanol, or acetonitrile is preferred. Lists of suitable salts are found in Remington""s Pharmaceutical Sciences, 17th ed., Mack Publishing Company, Easton, Pa., 1985, p. 1418, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
As used herein, xe2x80x9ctreatingxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9ctreatmentxe2x80x9d cover the treatment of a disease-state in a mammal, particularly in a human, and include: (a) preventing the disease-state from occurring in a mammal, in particular, when such mammal is predisposed to the disease-state but has not yet been diagnosed as having it; (b) inhibiting the disease-state, i.e., arresting it development; and/or (c) relieving the disease-state, i.e., causing regression of the disease state.
The processes of the present invention can be practiced in a number of ways depending on the solvent, base, and temperature chosen. As one of ordinary skill in the art of organic synthesis recognizes, the time for reaction to run to completion as well as yield will be dependent upon all of the variables selected. The following schemes show a representation of the overall sequence of the present invention.
Preparation of Formula VIII:
VI can be converted to VIII by a novel hydrazine in situ trapping procedure. The hydrazine intermediate can be prepared by treating VI with HCl and NaNO2. Preferably, VI is added to a cooled (e.g., xe2x88x9210 to xe2x88x925xc2x0 C.) solution of HCl. The NaNO2 can then added and the solution preferably maintained at a temperature of from 0-10xc2x0 C. At this point, AcOH can be added to the solution. SnCl2.2H2O can then be added to complete formation of the hydrazine. The resulting product may be isolated or used in situ. Preferably, it is used in situ.
VIII can then be formed by addition of VII to the newly formed hydrazine. This addition is preferably performed in the presence of MeOH and at a temperature of from 35-55xc2x0 C.
Preparation of Formula II:
Oxidation of VIII should provide II. The oxidation is performed by contacting VIII with an oxidant in the presence of a solvent and optionally a buffer.
One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that oxidants such as KMnO4 or NaClO2 can be used. Preferably, KMnO4, in the presence of a buffer, is used as the oxidant. VIII can be suspended in an alcoholic solvent (e.g., t-butyl alcohol). The suspension is preferably maintained at a temperature of from 35-50xc2x0 C. An aqueous solution of a buffer known to those of skill in the art (e.g., monobasic sodium phosphate monohydrate) can then be added. Preferably, the buffer is about 0.5 to 4N. Aqueous KMnO4 can then be added to the reaction solution. After the reaction is complete, II can be isolated.
Preparation of Formula IVa:
IVa can be formed by coupling II and III. The coupling is preferably performed by contacting II with an acid activator, in a solvent and in the presence of a base, followed by contacting the resulting solution with III. An acid activator like thionyl chloride or oxalyl chloride can be used, with oxalyl chloride being a preferred activator. The addition of the acid activator is preferably performed at a temperature of from 10-30xc2x0 C.
Contacting II and oxalyl chloride can be performed in a solvent selected from acetonitrile, THF, and methylene chloride, with acetonitrile being preferred. The first base can be selected from DMAP, triethylamine, diisopropylethylamine, N-methyl morpholine, and pyridine, with pyridine being preferred. The amount of first base present is preferably from 0.2 to 1 molar equivalent based on II, more preferably it is 0.4 molar equivalents.
The desired amount of oxalyl chloride to be added will be based on the amount of II present in the solution and the amount of water present in the solution. The amount of water present can be determined by known means, such as the Karl Fischer titration. Preferably, the number of moles of oxalyl chloride added is equal to or slightly greater than the sum of the number of moles of II and water present.
Once II has been activated, it can be contacted with III. Preferably, the reaction mixture is cooled to from 0-10xc2x0 C. prior to contacting with III. After contacting III with the reaction mixture, a second base is preferably added. The second base can be selected from diisopropylethylamine, pyridine, DMAP, triethylamine, and N-methyl morpholine, with diisopropylethylamine being preferrred. The amount of second base present is preferably from about 1-3 molar equivalents, more preferably about 2.2 molar equivalents based on the amount of II present.
Preparation of Formula IV:
IV can be formed from IVa with or without purification of IVa. Preferably, IV is formed from IVa without purification. IVa is usually isolated as an oily substance. IVa is preferably taken up in a first solvent and maleic acid is added. To this solution can be added a second solvent to enhance or accelerate precipitation of IV. Preferably from 0.9 to 1.1 molar equivalents of maleic acid are present based on the amount of II present, more preferably about 0.95 molar equivalents. The first solvent can be selected from the group acetone, chloroform, ethyl acetate MIBK, i-propyl acetate, i-propyl alcohol, and THF, and is preferably ethyl acetate. The second solvent can be selected from the group 1-chlorobutane, heptane, hexane, methylene chloride, and TBME, and is preferably 1-chlorobutane. Preferably, this reaction is run at about room temperature.
Preparation of Formula V:
V can be prepared by contacting IV with HONHCOCH3 in the presence of a base and a solvent. Preferably, the base is selected from K2CO3, Na2CO3, KHCO3, NaHCO3, KF, NaOH, and KOH, with K2CO3 being a more preferred base. The solvent may be selected from DMSO, dimethylformamide (DMF), dimethylacetamide (DMAC), 1,3-dimethyl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-2(1H)-pyrimidinone (DMPU), 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone (DMI), and N-methylpyrrolidinone (NMP). A preferred solvent is DMF. It is preferred that the DMF comprises 0.5 to 50% by volume of water, more preferably, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, to 15% by volume of water, even more preferably 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, to 15% by volume of water, and still more preferably 15% by volume of water.
Preferably, HONHCOCH3, DMF, and K2CO3 are mixed together followed by contacting with water. This reaction mixture is preferably kept at about 20-30xc2x0 C. Upon contacting of the reaction mixture with IV, the reaction is preferably stirred at about room temperature.
Preparation of Formula I:
I can be formed from V by dissolving V in a solvent and contacting this solution with HCl. Preferably, the solvent is selected from methanol, acetonitrile, isopropyl alcohol, ethanol, propanol, acetone, methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK), 2-butanone, and water, with ethanol being a more preferred solvent. V is preferably taken up in a solvent (e.g., ethanol) at a temperature of from 60-80xc2x0 C. HCl is preferably contacted with the solution that is at a temperature of from 20-40xc2x0 C. Preferably, the HCl is in an alcoholic solution. The alcoholic solution is preferably i-propyl alcohol.
I preferably precipitates from the reaction mixture. This precipitation can be enhanced by cooling the mixture to a temperature of about 0-10xc2x0 C. Preferably I is a crystalline mono-HCl salt. More preferably, I is a solvate selected from ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, acetone, MIBK, 2-butanone, and water. Even more preferably, I is an ethanol solvate.
Other features of the invention will become apparent in the course of the following descriptions of exemplary embodiments that are given for illustration of the invention and are not intended to be limiting thereof.

Efficient process for the preparation of a factor Xa inhibitor

Abstract: from its corresponding 3-cyano-4-fluorophenyl-pyrazole and intermediates useful therein.


An internal latent image type silver halide photographic emulsion comprising internal latent image type silver halide photographic emulsions containing silver halide grains comprising an internal silver halide nucleus which has been doped with metal ions and/or chemically sensitized and an external silver halide shell which covers at least the light-sensitive sites on the internal nucleus, wherein during production of the silver halide grains the pAg at the end of the surface chemical sensitization stage, which is carried out in the presence of sulfur sensitizing agents, is at least 0.4 higher than the pAg at the beginning of the chemical sensitization stage.

As disclosed in the specifications of U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,317,322 and 3,761,276, it is known that reverse images are obtained by development in the presence of fogging agents or by uniform exposure during development of photographic light-sensitive materials containing internal latent image type silver halide grains, silver halide grains whose grain surfaces have been chemically sensitized, comprised of an internal silver halide nucleus (core) which is either doped with metal ions or chemically sensitized, or which has undergone both treatments, and an external silver halide shell covers at least the light-sensitive sites on the said internal nucleus (hereinafter referred to as core/shell grains).
However, the chemically sensitized nuclei produced by the chemical sensitization of the surfaces of such internal latent image type core/shell silver halide grains have poor age stability and have the disadvantage that the maximum density (Dmax) of the reverse image varies if after the internal latent image type core/shell silver halide grains having these chemically sensitized nuclei have been stored for a long time (for example, 10 days or more) at low temperatures (hereinafter referred to as cold-storage aging) said stored silver halide grains are introduced into direct positive photographic light-sensitive materials.
In order to obtain a sufficiently high Dmax in comparison to the minimum density (Dmin) of the reverse image, the chemical sensitization of the surfaces of internal latent image type core/shell silver halide grains is carried out using various methods. Also, it is known that the extent of chemical sensitization has an effect on negative image speed and on Dmin. Furthermore, the extent of surface chemical sensitization also has an effect on variations in Dmax and Dmin caused by cold-storage aging of the emulsions. It is thought that these variations caused by cold-storage aging are partially due to changes in the surface chemically sensitized nucleus during low temperature storage. Accordingly, in order to improve the cold-storage aging properties, it is useful to ensure that surface chemical sensitization is completed during that stage, and that changes in performance do not occur after that (namely, during emulsion storage, during the preparation of the coating solution or during the aging of the light-sensitive materials) due to changes in the sensitized nucleus or the effects of unreacted sensitizing agents remaining. By way of example, the method in which surface chemical sensitization is carried out in the presence of a polymer such as poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) as disclosed in JP-B-60-55821 (the term "JP-B" as used herein means an "examined Japanese patent publication"), the method in which surface chemical sensitization is carried out after deactivating the additives used in the silver halide grain formation using deactivating agents as mentioned in JP-A-61-3137 (the term "JP-A" as used herein means an "unexamined published Japanese patent application"), and techniques such as changing the pAg of the surface chemical sensitization disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 63-40479 have been considered as methods of surface chemical sensitization which are in accordance with these requirements. However, none of these give fully satisfactory results.

Internal latent image type silver halide photographic emulsions


Hardware cells inside of an IC device, such as in a processor circuit, for characterization that replace functional flip-flops that capture inputs or drive outputs in the device. The cells are circuits that are used, in conjunction with a software method, to generate test programs for testing exact I/O transitions for timing measurements at various operating conditions.

The Functional testing of any device, digital or analog, includes the steps of functional verification and characterization. In the design of a new integrated circuit (IC) such as a computer processor, functional characterization is performed on Primary Input and Output logic in the chip itself in order to verify the timing. Modern, complex IC devices are designed to contain one or more embedded core data processors for processing digital signals such as computer instructions from internal or external software. The core is operatively communicates with memory, peripherals, and other circuitry in the IC. An embedded core of an IC also has many input and output terminals, many of which are not directly accessible by the external pins of the IC. Thus, there is no direct access to these I/Os for characterization and testing.
Two types of tests, scan vector test and application vector test, are used to verify function parameters of a device. The scan vector test, also called a structural test, used in scan chain and boundary scan configurations, is used to search for defects and verify logical or physical failures within a circuit. Application vector testing is used to verify that a circuit is functional, the circuit is correctly controlled by primary inputs, and that the expected protocols and behaviors are observed in the primary outputs and primary inputs. When an IC is designed, the logic paths and functions are characterized according to design protocols to make sure the chip works correctly. Vector patterns are used to send instructions into the chip's inputs in order to create outputs.
Logic that is built into a an integrated circuit (IC) in order to facilitate characterization and testing of the chip is called "Design for Test" (DFT). DFTs for functional testing are a necessary step to perform on a new processor design to insure that the logical functions designed in the processor perform properly. Characterization determines timings of the device to define exactly the way the actual manufactured device works. Characterization is verifying the input/output (I/O) timing of the IC on all split lot materials and operating conditions. Usually characterization is performed, by using complex functional tests of the device. DFT logic facilitates this process.
FIG. 1 illustrates a simplified circuit diagram containing sequential logic elements connected to logic blocks. Each logic element is a flip-flop ("FF"), which is a logic circuit that can hold one bit of memory with data input and output. The output is driven by a clock, and the output changes in synchronization with the clock cycle. Each D-type flip-flop has a single input in addition to a clock and stores a single bit of data, either a zero (0) or a one (1). For example, a D flip-flop will transfer data from a D input to Q output pin on the rising edge of the clock (rising edge triggered FF). A set of D flip-flops operably connected by data input and outputs all run with a common clock or different clocks. In circuit 10, inputs 12 comprises input data according to the data sheet that is transmitted to logic block 14. The data passes through FFs 16 before being inputted into logic block 18. Data from logic block 18 the pass through FFs 20 and third logic block 22 before being output at 24.
An inherent problem with convention methods for characterization is that up to thousands of I/Os must be characterized in an integrated circuit. In prior methods, characterization of a device was performed using very complex functional test vectors that were generated by design engineers. The functional test vectors create exact I/O transitions for timing measurements at all process corners and operating conditions, such as voltages and temperatures. Further, test engineers must create millions of complex and long functional test vectors, in order to generate the required protocol transitions at the I/Os of the IC, expending months worth of time de-bugging and operating the vectors, which can cause significant time delays to bring a new IC device to market.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Functional cells for automated I/O timing characterization of an integrated circuit


A panning tool is described and comprises a sifting scoop comprising an elongated half sphere of proportional dimensions. The elongated half sphere can be a one-piece main body comprising a floor with a front edge, a left side wall curving upwardly along the floor's left side, a right side wall curving upwardly along the floor's right side, and a back wall curving upwardly from the floor's back side. The left side wall, right side wall, and back wall define a reservoir. The floor extends forwardly from the back side. The panning tool comprises a connection body. The connection body is affixed to an interior face of the sifting scoop. Methods of using the panning tool and manufacturing the sifting scoop are also described.

Gold panning can be performed by using manually powered tools. However, these manually powered tools are labor intensive, and require users to crouch during use.
Gold panning and methods of gold panning are highly regulated. For example, machines, pumps, or battery-powered devices cannot be used while gold panning. Gold and gems can be found several inches below the floor of a body of water or a dry land area. Typically, gold and gems are trapped under sediment. If gold and gems are found under the floor, holes cannot be left in the floor. This is difficult to accomplish due to the weight of the gold and sediment collected, along with the water's buoyant forces.
As a result, improvements in the field of gold and gem prospecting are needed, in order to maintain human health, reduce injury, comply with various regulations, and ensure practical and safe collection of gold and gems.


The arrangement (201) comprises an optical narrow detection beam (203) focussing system for a passive infrared radiation in accordance with a reference plane (U). A filter selects the spectral analysis band and at least one passive infrared radiation detector is provided in the focal plane. According to the invention, the arrangement comprises a first analog processing chain and a second digital processing chain by means of which it is possible to recover in accordance with a characteristic curve at least the undercarriage of vehicles. On this curve, each turning element of the undercarriage assumes the shape of an identifiable pulse. The arrangement is used in the identification of moving vehicles in a predetermined plane.

The invention relates to an arrangement for detecting the intrusion of and identifying land vehicles when these land vehicles pass a reference plane, comprising an optical system for focussing a narrow detection beam for detecting a passive infrared radiation in said reference plane, a filter allowing the selection of the spectral analysis band and at least one detector arranged in the focal plane of said optical system.
This arrangement is suitable for civil or military uses. It is more specifically designed to identify the general shapes of mobile vehicles, in particular the proportion between some of their characteristic elements and not their speed or the direction in which they move. It is, for example, used to recognize the type of vehicles which enter or leave a parking-lot or vehicles which usually do not drive on given roads or within the precincts of a factory etc. The use for military purposes consists in the arrangement being used, in association with further pick-up devices or sensors, in the processing of an automatic light switch-on command for an anti-tank trap. The principle of detecting objects, persons or vehicles by means of passive infrared radiation detectors, more specifically piezo-electric detectors, is known and is used, for example, to trigger automatically the opening of doors when a passive infrared radiation (IR-P) is transmitted by the object in a narrow detection beam. The European Pat. 0 065 159 in particular discloses a movement detector for monitoring a space which utilizes the infrared thermal radiation of a non-authorized person entering the space and in which the radiation receiver is a piezo electric element. Passive infrared detectors (IR-P) are increasingly preferred to Doppler radar arrangements, which are much more susceptible to false alarms and which can be detected by the electromagnetic radiation they transmit, the latter constituting a drawback for military uses. The pyro-electric detectors are simple to use because of the facts that they do not require any cooling, and are suitable for a detection in a range of some dozens of metres at a maximum, beyond which the thermal noise of the detectors becomes predominant with respect to the useful signal searched for. The foregoing relates to a simple detection which does not furnish any other information than the presence or absence of a warm object in a detection beam. On the other hand, infrared thermographical systems are known which by means of a thermal camera and a television monitor render it possible to obtain an image from the passive infrared radiation in a field of vision which may be at a distance of several kilometers and in accordance with several dozens of contrast levels. Such systems which however always require cooling of the detectors, are complicated and expensive.

Intrusion detection and identification arrangement for land vehicles


In one embodiment, a method includes detecting a coupling of a device to an interface of the host machine. The method also includes determining, through an operating system of the host machine whether the device coupled to the interface of the host machine is same as another device that is formerly coupled to the interface of the host machine as indicated in a topology file of the operating system. In addition, the method includes modifying the topology file maintained in the operating system to remove a mapping information of the other device that is formerly coupled with the interface of the host machine in the topology file to logically decouple the other device from the interface of the host machine and to add a mapping information of the device coupled with the interface in the topology file to logically couple the device with the interface of the host machine.

An external device such as a storage device may be coupled to a host machine through an interface provided in the host machine. A firmware of the host machine may be configured to manage the external device coupled to the host device. The firmware may map the external device to the interface of the host machine. In some cases, the firmware may map more than one external device to the interface of the host device. One example is a case where a device coupled to the interface is accidently removed and another external device is coupled to the same interface of the host machine. In such a case, the firmware may maintain mapping of more than one external device to the interface. However, an operating system may not allow such mappings in the operating system layer. Therefore, in such cases, the operating system may not allow communication of the external device with the operating system. Consequently, a newly added device may not be detected immediately.

Management of detected devices coupled to a host machine


A system and method to observe user behavior and perform actions on interospectable objects is presented. A console logs backend events it receives from plug-ins and user actions it receives from a user. The console mines the logged entries and creates initial rules in response to mining the log entries. The console proceeds through a series of steps using the initial rules' cause nodes and effect nodes to generate deduced rules. The deduced rules include global user actions and global backend events. When the console receives subsequent backend events, the console matches the backend events with one of the global backend events included one of the deduced rules, and performs a corresponding global user action.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates in general to a system and method to observe user behavior and perform actions on introspectable objects. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for generating deduced rules using logged backend events and corresponding user actions.
2. Description of the Related Art
Enterprise administration becomes more and more complex as the enterprise being administered increases in size. An enterprise may include a multitude of components such as machines, drivers, applications, services, and processes. Each of these components may be designed to interface with a particular management system or console, which results in an overwhelming administration task. In an effort to alleviate some of the complexity of managing an enterprise, the Distributed Management Task Force (DMTF) introduced the Common Information Model (CIM) to standardize the representation of these components. The CIM model allows a user to describe a component in a manner that is not bound to a particular implementation or platform.
With the multitude of components that an enterprise may include, a user may wish to analyze the enterprise using particular views. For example, a user may wish to view the enterprise in a topology tree structure which first sorts the machines, based upon clusters, and then into subnets. Once the user's console renders a requested view, the user monitors the view for backend events, such as "server down." When the user notices a backend event, the user issues a user action, such as "restart server." A challenge found, however, when a rendered view supports a plurality of heterogeneous backends, is the difficulty in generalizing the enterprise's behavior across a multitude of related components (e.g. machines), which may be in different subnets and clusters.
Furthermore, a user typically performs the same user action when the user receives the same backend event. For example, the user may perform a "restart server" each time the user notices a "server down" backend event. A challenge found, however, is automating user actions in response to receiving events that are generated at heterogeneous, and possibly numerous, backends that correspond to a navigation tree's imposed hierarchy in which the hierarchy may be hardcoded or softwired through the use of a descriptive model. Softwires abstract physically unrelated and unconnected objects into logical node trees, peer nodes, and peer trees, such that common events, rules, and actions are defined. In turn, multi-component command requests are processed based upon a particular rendered view.
What is needed, therefore, is a system and method to automatically perform actions in response to receiving backend events from heterogeneous backend environments.

System and method to observe user behavior and perform actions introspectable objects

International Business Machines Corporation


The present detector comprises a detection level and an electronic level. The detection level comprises at least one of a smoke detection sensor, a carbon monoxide sensor and a temperature sensor. The at least one smoke detection sensor, carbon monoxide sensor and temperature sensor generate a detected measure. The electronic level includes an alarm module, a communication module and a processor. The alarm module generates at least one of an audible alarm signal or a visual alarm signal. The communication module wirelessly communicates with a monitoring central station. The processor receives the detected measure, compares the detected measure with a predetermined threshold, actuates the alarm module when the detected measure is above the predetermined threshold and generates a message to be wirelessly communicated to the monitoring central station by the communication module, the message including the detected measure and a unique identifier of the detector.

Smoke detectors are mandatory safety devices for residential, commercial and industrial buildings. In the first years following their introduction, residential owners and apartment dwellers used to install one battery-operated stand-alone smoke detector per home or apartment. Although better than no smoke detector, the installation of one battery-operated stand-alone smoke detector did not suffice to address on its own the problems resulting from residential fires.
The Life Safety Code® from the National Fire Protection Association 101 (NFPA 101) defines the standard for fire protection in homes. The standard has evolved over the years, and now requires that every new home be equipped with one smoke detector in every bedroom, hallway and floor. Furthermore, the standard requires that at least one smoke detector be connected to AC power, and that the smoke detectors be interconnected, so that if one smoke detector goes off, that all the smoke detectors interconnected therewith go off as well.
NFPA 101 defines the number, types and location of smoke detectors to be installed. Those guidelines include the installation of at least one AC powered smoke detector. UL/ULC™ is the organization that defines the standards and provides certification to manufacturers of electrically powered products, including smoke detectors. Since 1988, UL/ULC™ has established that all electrically powered products should be provided with a three-wire connection: a feed, a neutral and a data wire. Installation of three-wire connection electrical products, including smoke detectors, must be performed by an electrician. Thus, adding one or several UL/ULC™ smoke detectors require the services of an electrician, prohibiting further the installation of such smoke detectors.
In addition to NFPA 101's established standard and UL/ULC™ standards, Public Safety Services (PSS) recommends connecting one of the interconnected smoke detectors to a UL/ULC™ certified monitoring central station. Monitoring central stations are usually private organisations specialising in receiving and monitoring burglar and fire alarms. Properly staffed to support continuous 24 hours a day, seven days a week monitoring, these monitoring central stations receive and manage each alarm received. For example, when a smoke detector alarm signal is received at the monitoring central station, an operator of the monitoring central station may first attempt to call the home from which the smoke detector alarm signal is received, before calling a city fire department or emergency services such as 9-1-1.
However, connecting one smoke detector to a UL/ULC™ certified monitoring central station requires the addition of: a security system, 12-24 Vdc smoke detectors or one 12-24 Vdc smoke detector wirelessly interconnected with battery-operated smoke detector(s). Thus, connecting one of the interconnected smoke detectors to the UL/ULC™ certified monitoring central station is quite expensive, time consuming, and requires the further installation of a security system panel and keypad.
As NFPA 101 requires that smoke detectors be replaced every 10 years, home owners who connect their smoke detectors with one of the monitoring central stations has to replace the smoke detectors not connected to the monitoring central station as well as the smoke detector(s) connected to the monitoring central station, thus increasing the costs of such replacements.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,875,631 describes a two-wire smoke detector that is AC powered, includes batteries for power outages period, and includes a Wi-Fi communication unit. However, the two-wire electrical connection of this two-wire smoke detector lacks the mandatory requirement of third wire interconnection set by UL/ULC™, and therefore cannot be used to replace existing electrically powered smoke detectors in homes built after 1988. Furthermore, the two-wire smoke detector described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,875,631 relies on a proprietary electrical power connector that is incompatible with existing connectors and requires the replacement of the existing power harnesses by a qualified electrician. Moreover, the Wi-Fi communication unit described sends text messages to a smartphone and cannot be connected a UL/ULC™ monitoring central station. Furthermore, as 49% of home fires involved an electrical failure, and most Wi-Fi users do not protect their Internet equipment with a battery back-up, the Wi-Fi connection proposed by U.S. Pat. No. 9,875,631 is not sufficiently reliable and does not alleviate many of the current problems.
BRK™ offers through its SA520B series a wireless alarm-bridge electrically powered detector including a wire and wireless interconnection. However, the SA520B series is not adapted for transmitting alarms to a UL/ULC™ monitoring central station.
There is therefore a need for an AC three-wire powered and interconnectable detector, adapted to communicate with a UL/ULC™ certified monitoring central station.
There is also a need for a detector which is compatible with current electric power harnesses, therefore alleviating the need to hire an electrician for installation.
There is also a need for a detector which reduces the number of false alarms.


A tool provides for the batch processing of assets that will be utilized across multiple ad sizes, allowing quickly and simultaneously reformatting assets into multiple standard online advertisement formats so as to save time and cost in generating an online advertising campaign. The tool may include high level commands to allow a user to simultaneously or individually adjust an asset for different renderings for an online advertising campaign. The tool may also allow a user to adjust multiple assets simultaneously for different renderings for an online advertising campaign.

Web developers, web designers, and bloggers frequently have to deal with the challenge of converting many images to different sizes and formats. While production artists and others of ordinary skill in the art know how to convert such assets by hand, the process to do so can be extremely time consuming. Batch image processing such as that provided for by the present invention can reduce this process from hours of work to just a few simple clicks. Moreover, an automated batch process to create such images provides much greater flexibility to meet desired changes in the advertisements over time.
Thus, the present state of the art reflects a need for a system which easily permits a user flexible batch processing tools for assets related to advertisements for an online advertising campaign.
One example of a prior art approach is found in the Pixillion Image Converter software from Pixillion Limited. The Pixillion software can convert images, resize and rotate them, adjust the quality of JPEG files, add captions, and the like. Another example can be seen in the Advanced Batch Converter software from Gold Software. Advanced Batch Converter can convert from over 180 file types into 44 common file formats (including jpg, png, and tiff). It can also resize, rotate, flip, mirror, crop, filter, watermark, or perform other functions on images.
However, none of these prior art approaches permit a user to ability to implement the simultaneous batch processing of multiple ad units for placement on the same page that includes the adjustment of multiple individual assets within a given advertisement.
What is needed is simple, user friendly solution for the flexible and simultaneous processing of the placement, size, and layer compositions of multiple advertisements within an online advertising system.


A motor driving apparatus is provided which can minimize ripple current flowing through a DC link capacitor, and downsize the motor driving apparatus. It synchronizes the frequency of the inverter carrier signal for driving an inverter with the frequency of the DC/DC converter carrier signal for driving a DC/DC converter, and carries out control in such a manner that the center of a period during which the input current of the inverter is zero and the center of a period during which the output current of the DC/DC converter is zero are matched.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a control method of a motor driving apparatus using a DC/DC converter and an inverter.
2. Description of Related Art
As an example of a conventional motor driving apparatus used for an electric vehicle or HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle), a motor driving apparatus disclosed in Relevant Reference 1 is known. The motor driving apparatus includes a motor, an inverter for converting DC power to AC power, a high voltage battery, a DC/DC converter and a DC link capacitor. The DC/DC converter boosts the voltage fed from a high voltage battery and supplies the DC power to the inverter during power running, and decreases the voltage of the DC power output from the inverter and supplies it to the high voltage battery during regenerative running. The DC link capacitor, which includes a plurality of capacitors, is interposed between the DC/DC converter and the inverter to smooth the DC voltage.
Relevant Reference 1: Japanese patent application laid-open No. 8-214592/1996.
The conventional motor driving apparatus has the following problems. First, a power conversion unit constructed by integrating the inverter, DC/DC converter and DC link capacitor into a module to downsize the unit has a problem of increasing the ripple current flowing through the DC link capacitor because of interaction between the current pulses fed from the DC/DC converter to the DC link capacitor and the current pulses fed from the DC link capacitor to the inverter. Second, a configuration that limits the ripple current per capacitor within a tolerance to maintain the life of the DC link capacitor has a problem of increasing the size of the DC link capacitor, which in turn increases the size of the unit in its entirety.


Packet formats and associated metering infrastructure for filtering meter reading data that is being transmitted by utility meters are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method is provided of measuring the accuracy of an endpoint clock, such as a utility meter clock, from a remote device configured to capture transmissions that originate from the utility meter. Generally, the method includes synchronizing the time maintained by the utility meter with the time maintained by the remote device. The method receives and decodes a packet that includes a time stamp provided by the utility meter. Then, the method calculates the extent of the inaccuracy of the time stamp in the received packet and determines whether the extent of the inaccuracy satisfies a predetermined threshold.

Utility meters may be configured to perform wireless transmission of meter readings. For example, an Encoder Receiver Transmitter ("ERT") may be implemented within a utility meter in order to encode and transmit data utilizing radio-based communications. Utility meters configured to report meter readings in this way are commercially available and increasingly being installed in homes, businesses, and the like. At installation or subsequently, a utility service provider may register and begin obtaining meter readings using a collection system such as fixed network, mobile collection unit, etc.
Transmissions of meter readings are typically encoded as "packetized" data. In the present application, the term "packet" is intended to encompass packets, frames, cells or any other method used to encapsulate data for transmission between remote devices. As understood in the art, packets typically maintain a plurality of fields as well as a preamble and trailer to identify the beginning and end of the packet. For example, existing packet formats typically include a time stamp field identifying the time maintained by the "clock" of a utility meter. To extend the operating life of a battery or other power source, techniques and devices that minimize power consumption are utilized. As a result, a low-power clock having at least some tendency to "drift" from an actual time may be employed by utility meters. Unfortunately, existing packet formats and related systems are not readily able to measure inaccuracies in the time maintained by utility meters.
A collection system employed by a utility service provider may include Cell Control Units ("CCU") that receive meter readings within a geographic coverage area. To provide fault-tolerance and ensure that meter readings are collected, CCUs will typically maintain overlapping coverage areas. As a result, meter readings originating from a utility meter may be received by multiple CCUs with each being forwarded to a utility service provider. During normal operations, this fault tolerance may result in excessive network resources being consumed since the same data is forwarded by multiple CCUs.

Measuring the accuracy of an endpoint clock from a remote device


A disposable absorbent article for personal wear has a generally liquid permeable liner adapted for contiguity with the wearer""s skin, and an outer cover. An absorbent body lies between the liner and the outer cover for absorbing liquid body waste. A surge layer lies between the liner and the absorbent body for receiving liquid body waste penetrating the liner and for subsequently releasing liquid body waste to the absorbent body. The surge layer has an inner surface, an outer surface generally facing the absorbent body and an opening extending from its inner surface toward its outer surface. A flow control layer between the liner and the absorbent body at least retards the flow of liquid body waste from the surge layer opening to the absorbent body to facilitate a prolonged feeling of wetness against the wearer""s skin upon the release of liquid body waste into the article.

The present invention relates to disposable absorbent articles, such as those used as personal care products, and more particularly to such a disposable absorbent article which provides an indication of wetness to the wearer upon the release of liquid body waste into the article.
Disposable absorbent articles find widespread use as personal care products such as diapers, children""s toilet training pants and other infant and child care products, adult incontinence garments and other adult care products, sanitary napkins and other feminine care products and the like, as well as surgical bandages and sponges. These articles absorb and contain body waste and are intended to be discarded after a limited period of use; i.e., the articles are not intended to be laundered or otherwise restored for reuse. Conventional disposable absorbent articles comprise an absorbent body disposed between an inner layer adapted for contacting the wearer""s skin and an outer layer for inhibiting liquid waste absorbed by the absorbent body from leaking out of the article. The inner layer of the absorbent article is typically liquid permeable to permit body waste to pass therethrough for absorption by the absorbent body.
For example, children""s toilet training pants serve as a training aid as a child transitions from diapers to underpants. Conventional toilet training pants are three-dimensional articles, similar to underpants in appearance, but constructed with a liquid permeable inner layer and an absorbent body to provide the absorbent function of disposable absorbent articles. An initial step in the toilet training process is for the child to recognize when urination occurs. However, where the training pants quickly and effectively draw urine away from the skin and retain the urine in the absorbent body, the inner layer of the pants remains dry and comfortable against the child""s skin. As a result, there is little or no recognizable indication to the child that he or she has urinated. To this end, it is desirable to provide some indication to the child that the child has urinated in the training pants.
Therefore, despite advancements in the construction of disposable absorbent articles, there continues to be a need for relatively easily constructed disposable absorbent articles capable of indicating to the wearer that a release of liquid body waste has occurred.
In general, a disposable absorbent article of the present invention comprises a generally liquid permeable liner adapted for contiguity with the wearer""s skin, and an outer cover. An absorbent body lies between the liner and the outer cover for absorbing liquid body waste. A surge layer lies between the liner and the absorbent body for receiving liquid body waste penetrating the liner and for subsequently releasing liquid body waste to the absorbent body. The surge layer has an inner surface generally facing the liner and an outer surface generally facing the absorbent body, and has an opening therein extending from the inner surface of the surge layer toward its outer surface. A flow control layer between the liner and the absorbent body at least retards the flow of liquid body waste from the surge layer opening to the absorbent body.
In another embodiment, toilet training pants of the present invention comprise an anterior region, a posterior region and a crotch region disposed longitudinally therebetween. The anterior region, posterior region and crotch region are integrally formed and configured to define a central waist opening and a pair of leg openings of said pants, with the crotch region extending generally laterally between said leg openings. A generally liquid permeable liner extends from the anterior region through the crotch region to the posterior region of the pants and is adapted for contiguity with the wearer""s skin. An absorbent body lies between the liner and an outer cover for absorbing liquid body waste. A surge layer lies between the liner and the absorbent body for receiving liquid body waste penetrating the liner and for subsequently releasing liquid body waste to the absorbent body. The surge layer has an inner surface generally facing the liner and an outer surface generally facing the absorbent body, and has an opening therein extending from the inner surface of the surge layer toward its outer surface. A flow control layer between the liner and the absorbent body at least retards the flow of liquid body waste from the surge layer opening to the absorbent body.
A method of the present invention for manufacturing toilet training pants generally comprises forming an opening in a surge layer to extend from an inner surface of the surge layer toward an outer surface thereof. A flow control layer is positioned adjacent the surge layer generally at the surge layer opening for at least retarding the flow of liquid body waste from said opening. The surge layer and flow control layer are positioned between a liner and an absorbent body adapted for absorbing liquid body waste, with the liner being adapted for contiguity with the wearer""s skin and being generally liquid permeable. The surge layer, the flow control layer and the absorbent body are positioned generally between the liner and the absorbent body, with the liner and outer cover together defining an anterior region, a crotch region and a posterior region of the training pants. The training pants are configured such that the anterior region, crotch region and posterior region generally form a central waist opening and a pair of leg openings of the training pants with the crotch region being disposed between the leg openings
Other aspects and features of this invention will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.


A process, based on sputtering from metal sources, is disclosed for forming a stable, reduced electrochromic layer in contact with an ionically conducting oxide. A deposited electrochromic layer is reduced by sputtering onto it an alloy or composite metallic thin film capable of injecting insertion atoms into the electrochromic layer. The metallic thin film, now partially depleted in insertion atoms, is converted into an electronically insulating but ionically conducting oxide layer in an oxidizing atmosphere. The resultant two-layer structure, consisting of the reduced electrochromic layer capped by the insulating oxide, may be used as on component in an all solid-state electrochromic device.

This invention relates to the manufacture of electrochromic devices for modulation of light transmission, absorption and reflection.
Electrochromic materials are materials whose optical properties can be reversibly altered in response to an applied potential in a process involving the simultaneous insertion or extraction of electrons and charge compensating ions. These materials have been used, e.g., in display devices, variable reflectance mirrors, and in windows for controlling light transmission.
In general, devices having a composite whose transmittance can be varied in response to an applied electrical potential are known. The composite includes a variably transmissive electrochromic layer that is normally colorless, but when reduced by the insertion of an electron and charge compensating ion becomes colored by absorption, reflectance or a combination of both. The composite also includes a second electrochromic layer, a so-called counter electrode, which is either optically passive when oxidized or reduced, or is colored when oxidized and colorless when reduced, thus forming a complement with the first electrochromic layer. The oxidation and reduction of the counter electrode must also occur by electron injection and insertion of the same charge compensating ion as the first electrochromic layer. The charge compensating ions are transported by an ion conducting but electron blocking layer, e.g. an electrolyte, separating the two electrodes.
A general equation representing the operation of the device in which WO.sub.3 is the primary electrochromic layer, V.sub.2 O.sub.5 the counter electrode, and Li.sup.+ the transported ion can be written as: ##STR1##
Here, b denotes that the two electrode materials need not be present in any special molar ratio. The degree to which the counter electrode V.sub.2 O.sub.5 is reduced in the bleached state is given by the stoichiometric parameter x. Coloration is accomplished by the transfer of Li from V.sub.2 O.sub.5 to WO.sub.3. Thus, assuming that V.sub.2 O.sub.5 is the limiting electrode and that therefore sufficient WO.sub.3 is present to accept all of the available Li, the dynamic optical range of the device will be determined by the amount of Li present.
The inserting species, Li, must be introduced during fabrication. This can be accomplished by several methods, including direct vapor deposition of Li.sub.x V.sub.2 O.sub.5 (or other counter electrode), its reduction by elemental Li in a separate step, or electrochemical reduction of the counter electrode layer in an electrolytic solution of Li.sup.+. Alternatively, the Li may be introduced initially into the primary electrochromic layer (WO.sub.3 in the above equation), using similar methods; or the Li may be distributed between both electrodes by the same means, the resulting as-fabricated structure being in some intermediate state of coloration. In a large scale process vapor deposition is preferred, so that the multiple layers of the structure can be deposited on an in-line, continuous basis, as in a series of box coaters. In coating evenly large area glass or plastic for architectural or vehicular applications, sputtering is presently the industry standard.
In order to fabricate the device structure in FIG. 1 by vacuum processing such as by sputtering, the layers must be deposited in sequence, one on top of the other. For high sputter rates consistent with economical processing of large surface areas, sources with a high electrical conductivity are preferred. Since the component layers are oxides, they must be deposited in an oxidizing atmosphere, such as in pure O.sub.2, Ar/O.sub.2 or O.sub.2 /H.sub.2 O--i.e., they must be reactively sputtered from targets of the parent metals. The Li (or other insertion atom) must be deposited in a reducing or inert atmosphere, however. The resulting compounds, Li.sub.x V.sub.2 O.sub.5 or Li.sub.x WO.sub.3 for example, are easily oxidized. In fabricating an ion conducting layer on top of the reduced electrochromic layer, the Li.sup.+ conducting glass Li.sub.4 SiO.sub.4 or LiAISiO.sub.4 for example, it is necessary to expose it to an oxidizing atmosphere. There are several examples of prior art in which WO.sub.3 is converted to Li.sub.x WO.sub.3 by vacuum deposition, then capped with an ion conductor. Yoshimura et al. (Japanese Journal of Applied Physics 22, 152 (1983)) reported spontaneous coloration when WO.sub.3 /Li.sub.2 WO.sub.4 bilayers were allowed to sit in contact for a day, the intensity of coloration being proportional to the Li.sub.2 WO.sub.3 thickness. Oi (Applied Physics Letters 37, 244 (1980)) demonstrated the evaporation of Li.sub.3 N onto WO.sub.3, which gave rise initially to dry injection of the Li to form Li.sub.x WO.sub.3 (evolving N.sub.2), but eventually the Li.sub.3 N ion conductor built up on the WO.sub.3. Optical switching was further demonstrated in an ITO:Li.sub.x WO.sub.3 :Li.sub.3 N:Al structure polarized between.+-.6V. Problems with this approach include the red coloration of Li.sub.3 N, the fact that it cannot be conveniently sputtered, and that it would be easily oxidized on deposition of the contiguous counter electrode and conductive oxide layers. Haas, Goldner et al. (Proc. SPIE 823, 81 (1987)) reported deposition of the ion conductor LiNbO.sub.3, onto WO.sub.3, which resulted in spontaneous lithiation of the WO.sub.3. Optical 01 switching devices were configured and demonstrated using V.sub.2 O.sub.5 or In.sub.2 O.sub.3 as the counter electrode. A problem with this approach is that LiNbO.sub.3 has an electrical conductivity that is too high, particularly in the Li-depleted state, resulting in parasitic dc current flow during device operation.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a process for reducing the electrochromic layer, then "capping" it with an ion conducting oxide without oxidizing the former material. The subsequent layers may then be deposited onto this "capped" layer without oxidizing significantly the reduced electrochromic underlayer.
It is a further object of this invention to achieve this deposition sequence using metallic sources, for high sputtering rates, and using targets that can be handled reasonably in the open air (i.e. are not pure alkali metals).

Process for forming a reduced electrochromic layer in contact with an ion conducting oxide


When an operator starts a pattern separation extraction tool, an input screen is displayed on the display device. The operator can choose and designate any one of document image data within the storage device through the input screen. The document image that is chosen by the operator is displayed on the display device. The operator can choose and designate a color sample by a drag operation on the document image that is displayed on the display device. If the operator inputs the designation to finish the designation of a color sample through the input device after designating some color samples, the pattern separating extraction device generates and outputs the image data that consists of one print pattern for each of the print patterns included in the document image chosen by the operator.

The present invention relates to a program, device, and method for separating and extracting any one print pattern from a plurality of print patterns that overlap mutually.
As everyone knows, a document is a piece of paper on which some entry columns are formed by ruled lines according to a predetermined format. Characters and symbols fill in the entry columns by handwriting or printing, or seals are imprinted therein. A pattern such as a handwriting character, a carbon copy character, or an imprint of a seal that is added to a document by a person is called a post print pattern. A pattern such as a ruled line, a character, or a symbol that is printed on a document before a person adds a post print pattern is called a pre-print pattern.
In recent years, contents of a document may be digitized and saved in a disk unit. Thereby, it becomes unnecessary to keep storage space for a paper text. An image data generating device such as a scanner or a digital camera, and OCR (Optical Character Reader) are required for the digitization.
The OCR means a device that generates text data by comparing a character pattern or a character feature included in a process-target image with a reference character pattern or a reference character feature, or by finding a distribution boundary in a process-target image. A certain type of the OCR is provided with a function for analyzing a layout in a process-target image to save an area that is recognized as a pattern or an imprint of a seal as image data, and a function for analyzing a configuration of a pre-print pattern by extracting a ruled line and a printing character from a process-target image to save it as vector data that can be decompressed and edited, in addition to a fundamental function for generating text data.
When such an OCR recognizes a handwriting character in a process-target image, saves an imprint of a seal as image data, or saves a pre-print pattern as vector data, overlaps of print-patterns such as a handwriting character, imprint of a seal, ruled line, and printing character have an adverse effect on processes of character recognition, layout analysis, and pre-print-pattern structural analysis. Therefore, an operator of the OCR has to separate a plurality of print patterns that overlap mutually to extract the respective patterns as a preliminary treatment of each process.
Japanese unexamined patent publication 2005-071134 (JP2005-071134A) disclose a method for separating two print patterns that overlap mutually (see paragraph 0027 and FIG. 5). The separating extraction method disclosed in the publication extracts one print pattern and removes the other print pattern using color information.
Specifically, the technique disclosed in the above-mentioned publication forms a color distribution of a ruled line and a color distribution of a handwriting character on a color space coordinate about an image of a document on which the ruled line and the handwriting character are indicated by plotting the coordinate points of the colors of the respective pixels on the color space coordinate system. Then, the technique sets up a single boundary (referred to as a threshold in the publication) that separates the color distribution of the ruled line and the color distribution of the handwriting character in the document image, and brings the brightness levels of the pixels in the side of the color distribution of the ruled line with respect to the boundary to zero. Thereby, the ruled line is removed from the document image and the handwriting character remains. If the document image from which the ruled line is removed is used, the OCR can execute the character recognition process without an influence of the ruled line section.
As mentioned above, although the technique disclosed in JP2005-071134A can extract a print pattern that consists of handwriting characters only, it cannot separate and extract a print pattern that consists of ruled lines only that are overlapped with the handwriting characters simultaneously.
Of course, if the separating extraction process is repeatedly executed for the respective print patterns that overlap mutually, an image of the print pattern that consists of characters only, an image of the print pattern that consists of ruled lines only, and an image of the other print pattern can be generated individually. However, since the iteration count for the separating extraction process must be equal to the number of the print patterns to be extracted, the operation becomes very complicated.

Pattern separating extraction device, and pattern separating extraction method


The signal integrity of a high speed heavily loaded multidrop memory bus is often degraded due the numerous impedance mismatches. The impedance mismatches causes the bus to exhibit a nonlinear frequency response, which diminishes signal integrity and limits the bandwidth of the bus. A compensating element, such as a capacitor which ties the bus to a reference plane (e.g., a ground potential), or an inductor wired in series with the bus, is located approximately midway between the memory controller and the memory slots. The use of the compensating element equalizes signal amplitudes and minimizes phase errors of signals in an interested frequency range and diminishes the amplitudes of high frequency signals which exhibit high degrees of phase error. The resulting bus structure has increased desirable harmonic content with low phase error, thereby permitting the bus to exhibit better rise time performance and permitting a higher data transfer rate.

The present invention relates to improving signal integrity of data signals applied to a bus and, more particularly, to the use of a compensating element for improving the signal integrity of a fully loaded high speed memory bus.
Memory systems for computers provide many memory devices on a common bus to allow larger storage and transmission capacities than can be obtained with a single memory device. The memory devices are multiplexed on to a multidrop bus to reduce the pin count of a memory bus master or controller. Most of these systems requires user upgradeable or replaceable components to allow future expansion or repair of the memory subsystems. Typically, these systems are upgraded on a module basis, where the memory module (e.g., a dual in-line memory module or DIMM) has several devices on a small printed circuit board (PCB), and the module plugs into a connector that provides an electrical connection to the memory subsystem bus.
From a signal integrity standpoint, the provision of many memory devices on the bus can be problematic since these modules represent electrical stubs to the memory bus, which causes reflection on the bus. These reflections degrade the signal integrity an therefore, limit the maximum bandwidth or timing margin of the system. A robust electrical design is required in a high speed multidrop memory bus since the signal integrity must be acceptable to lightly loaded systems, that is, where only a small number of module slots are populated, heavily loaded systems, and for every device on the bus. A signal analysis of a typical memory subsystem has shown degraded signal integrity when the memory subsystem is fully loaded.
An example of a multidrop memory bus that must carefully balance the design for different loading characteristics is one which is intended for use with a double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR SDRAM) main memory system. Such systems often have up to four memory slots that operate at a bus frequency of at least 133 MHz. Each memory slot can be populated with a single bank or double bank memory module. Balancing the design to be acceptable for both lightly and fully loaded situations can be challenging due to the number of slots, varying number of banks on the memory modules, and minor impedance mismatches between the memory modules and the memory bus.
Now referring to the drawings, where like reference numerals designate like elements, there is shown in FIG. 1 a conventional memory system 1. The memory system 1 includes a memory controller 200, which may be coupled to a computer system via a local bus 1000, which is also coupled to a processor 1100 and an expansion bus controller 1200. The expansion bus controller 1200 is also coupled to one or more expansion buses 2000, to which various peripheral devices such as mass storage devices, keyboard, mouse, graphics adapters, and multimedia adapters may be attached.
The memory controller 200 is also coupled to a memory bus 100, which includes a plurality of sockets 106a-106d. The sockets 106a-106d may be left empty, or they can accept memory modules 300a-300d. The memory modules may be double bank modules containing a first memory bank 301a-301d and a second memory bank 302a-302d, respectively, or the memory modules may be single banked modules containing only the first memory bank 301a-301d.
In order to operate the memory bus 100 at high speed, it is important to minimize signal reflections within the bus. To this end, the memory bus 100 includes a transmission line 101 that contains a source resistor 105, which splits the transmission line 101 into a first segment 102 running from the memory controller to the source resistor 105 and a second segment 103 which runs from the source resistor 105 to a terminator 104 and which includes the plurality of sockets 106a-106d. The terminator 104 includes a terminating resistor Rterm and a termination voltage source VTT. The use of the source resistor 105, terminating resistor Rterm, and termination voltage source VTT is designed to match the memory bus 100 loaded impedance. When the memory bus is populated with memory modules 300a-300d (via the sockets 106a-106d), electrical stubs are created on the memory bus. These stubs reduce the effective impedance at that point on the bus, and this creates signal reflections which reduce the signal integrity and the maximum possible data rate that can be transferred on the bus.
When a four socket memory system has each socket populated by a double bank memory module, there are a large number of minor impedance mismatches leading to a significant decrease in signal integrity. FIGS. 2A-2D are examples of signal plots of read operations from each of the four double bank memory modules 300a-300d, respectively. Similarly, FIGS. 3A-3D are examples of signal plots of write operations to each of the four double bank memory modules 300a-300d, respectively.
Each signal plot shows a reference voltage 10, an aperture box 20 for a first overdrive voltage, and an aperture box 30 for a second overdrive voltage. The reference voltage 10 is the baseline voltage of the memory bus 100. Signals are detected on the memory bus 100 by either the memory controller 200 or the memory modules 300a-300d when the voltage level of the signal differs by a minimum threshold, or overdrive voltage threshold, from the reference voltage 10. For example, a logical low, sometimes called voltage output low or Vol, is detected on the memory bus 100 when the signal is at a voltage below the difference between the reference voltage 10 and the overdrive threshold voltage, while a logical high, sometimes called voltage output high or Voh, is detected when the signal is at a voltage above the sum of the reference voltage 10 and the overdrive voltage. Two separate overdrive voltage thresholds are shown on the signal plots because differing memory systems may require different overdrive thresholds. For example, the use of the larger second overdrive parameter may result in more accurate signal detection in a noisy environment. The two aperture boxes 10, 20 illustrate the period of time when the plotted signals 40 differed by at least a first or second overdrive voltage threshold, respectively, to be detectable as either voltage output high or voltage output low. The plotted signals 40 are the signals that are seen by the memory controller 200 when the memory modules 300a-300d drive signals onto the memory bus 100 (i.e., for the read operations illustrated in FIGS. 2A-2D), as well as the signals see at each memory module 300a-300d when the memory controller 200 drives signals onto the memory bus 100 (i.e., for the write operations illustrated in FIGS. 3A-3D). In each case, the signals driven onto the memory bus 100 are a plurality of pseudo-random pulses.
As illustrated in FIGS. 2A-2D and FIGS. 3A-3D, the conventional system exhibits the following characteristics. When using the first overdrive threshold of 0.31 volts for read operations, the four memory modules have signal aperture times of 2.33 nanoseconds (ns), 2.29 ns, 2.33 ns, and 2.29 ns, respectively. For writes, the aperture times are 1.25 ns, 1.67 ns, 1.83 ns, and 1.92 ns, respectively. When using the second (larger) overdrive voltage threshold of 0.35 volts for read operations, the four memory modules have aperture times of 0.83 ns, 1.83 ns, 2.04 ns, and 2.00 ns, respectively. For writes, the aperture times are 0.71 ns, 1.25 ns, 1.54 ns, 1.58 ns. Thus, a fully loaded conventional memory bus 100 exhibits poor aperture times for write operations, especially when the overdrive threshold is set at 0.35 volts. Additionally, reads from the first memory module also exhibit poor aperture times at the 0.35 volt overdrive threshold.
Accordingly, there is a desire and need to improve the signal integrity of a fully loaded memory system in order to permit high speed operation.
The present invention improves the signal integrity of a high speed fully loaded multidrop memory bus without compromising the signal integrity when the bus is lightly loaded. A typical high speed multidrop memory bus is designed for impedance matching between the bus and the various memory modules that can be inserted into the memory slots. However, minor impedance mismatches introduce unwanted signal reflections into the bus. The presence of the reflections cause phase and amplitude aberrations in the frequency response of the bus. The frequencies in which these aberrations occur are related to the electrical length of the bus, and the location of poles and zeros in the frequency domain (caused by the parasitic capacitance and inductance). In the prior art bus structure, these aberrations occur relatively low in frequency when compared to the operation frequency of the bus. In the present invention, a compensating element, such as a capacitor that connects the bus to a reference plane, is placed approximately midway between the memory controller and the memory slots. That is, at a location which is between 40% and 60% of a distance between a first end of the bus and a first plurality of memory slots. The compensating element alters the frequency response of the bus by introducing another pole into the frequency domain. By carefully choosing and placing the compensating element, the frequency response of the bus can be altered to peak at a lower frequency, thereby increasing the amount of desirable harmonic content. While this technique also increases the degree of phase error at high frequency, the introduction of the additional pole in the frequency domain serves to attenuate the amplitude of high frequency signals, thereby mitigating their affect on the frequency response. Therefore, adding the compensating element results in an equalization of signal amplitudes at frequencies where the phase error is minimal, and an attenuation of amplitudes at frequencies where the phase error is significant. This results in a bus structure which exhibits better rise times, which permits the bus to be operated at a higher data rate.


A dust-proof and heat-control device for hydraulic cylinder is provided, including: a fixing sleeve, an annular fan mechanism, a sealing end cap and a dust cover; wherein the fixing sleeve is sleeved on a cylinder barrel of the hydraulic cylinder, the annular fan mechanism is sleeved on the fixing sleeve, the sealing end cap is disposed on an end of the cylinder barrel, a piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder passes through the sealing end cap and the dust cover, the dust cover is fixed on the piston rod, the annular fan mechanism, the dust cover and the hydraulic cylinder enclose an inner space, a side wall of the dust cover is provided with an opening communicating with the inner space, and a filter screen is mounted at the opening. The device and method can achieve good dust proof and heat control effect on axially reciprocating telescopic hydraulic cylinder.

At present, in the field of axial reciprocating axially moving hydraulic cylinders (including oil hydraulic cylinders, pneumatic cylinders, water hydraulic cylinders, etc.), the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder is often inevitably exposed to dust, smoke, mist, steam, and harsh working environment such as gas, humidity, acid and alkali, heat, and severe cold. The dust, smoke, water vapor, and acid and alkali components in the environment enter the cylinder barrel of the hydraulic cylinder with the expansion and contraction of the hydraulic cylinder, contaminating the hydraulic fluid (oil, air or water, etc.) Moreover, when the hydraulic cylinder is operating, the temperature of the hydraulic fluid will change drastically, which will affect the physical and chemical properties (such as viscosity) of the hydraulic fluid. These combined effects will weaken the performance of the hydraulic cylinder, affects the working efficiency and quality of the hydraulic cylinder, and even causes malfunction of the hydraulic cylinder.

Dust-proof and heat-control device and method thereof


A lithographic printing plate support material comprising an anodized aluminum plate having an anodic layer, a silicate layer in contact with the anodic layer, and a metal salt layer, in contact with the silicate layer, which comprises a metal salt having the formula MX wherein M is a metal selected from the group consisting of zinc, magnesium, nickel, and chromium, and X is an anion selected from the group consisting of acetate, chloride, and borate. A method for preparing the support material comprises the steps of contacting an anodized aluminum plate with a silicating agent and contacting the silicated plate with the above-described metal salt. Lithographic printing plates comprising the above-described support material and a radiation-sensitive layer exhibit improved press sensitivity and extended shelf-life.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a support material for use in a lithographic printing plate, to a method for the preparation of the support material, and to a lithographic printing plate comprising such support material exhibiting improved press sensitivity and extended shelf-life.
2. Description of the Prior Art
One important characteristic of any presensitized lithographic printing plate is the ability to remain stable and yield reproducible photographic speed performance between the time the plate is manufactured and subsequently used. Yet another important property is the ability of the plate to shed ink from non-image areas during start-up and throughout the useful life of the plate.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,492,616 describes a process for treating aluminum oxide layers by treating the metal surface with an aqueous alkali metal silicate solution and an aqueous solution containing alkaline earth metal ions.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,860,426 describes a lithographic printing plate having a hydrophilic cellulosic subbing layer containing a water-soluble salt of a metal to reduce scumming of the plate in areas in which the printing layer is removed. While these plates have gained widespread commercial acceptance, they have not been found to yield reproducible speed performance between the time the plate is manufactured and used under all storage and handling conditions encountered. Moreover, the printing industry has demanded more stringent requirements regarding press sensitivity in their efforts to minimize variability and waste.
Thus, there is a need for lithographic printing plates exhibiting improved press sensitivity and extended shelf-life.

Treated anodized aluminum support and lithographic printing plate containing same


A trusted execution environment migration method for a device comprising a multicore processor, the processor operable to execute a rich execution environment (REE) and a trusted execution environment (TEE), the method comprising: executing a TEE scheduler in the REE on a first core of the multicore processor; subsequent to a migration of the TEE scheduler from the first core to a second core, issuing a request, by the TEE scheduler and to a transition submodule in the TEE, to execute an operations submodule in the TEE, wherein the transition submodule is operable to manage the transition of a core of the processor between execution of the REE and execution of the operations submodule in the TEE, and wherein the transition submodule is executed on the same core as the TEE scheduler; upon execution of the operations submodule, determining if the core on which the operations submodule is executing has changed since the previous execution of the operations submodule.

The present techniques relate to the field of electronic devices. More particularly, they relate to methods for migrating a Trusted Execution Environment between cores on a multicore processor.
Increasingly, electronic devices are being used to access services which may involve handling of potentially sensitive information, such as mobile banking, access to health care services or handling of employment details. Also, with the increasing development of the Internet of Things (IoT), it is becoming more common for systems such as heating, air-conditioning or street lighting to be controlled based on information provided by electronic devices which may provide sensor information such as temperature data or proximity information indicating whether a user is present, for example. In these scenarios, it is important to ensure the security of sensitive information.
One approach that has been developed in recent years is the use of Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs) which act as a secure area of a processor in which to execute sensitive applications and processes. The TEE is isolated from a Rich Execution Environment (REE) in which a rich-OS such as Android, iOS, Windows or Linux can be executed. Examples of embedded hardware technologies which can be used to support TEE implementations include Arm®'s TrustZone®, AMD's Secure Processor and Intel's Trusted Execution Technology.
In general, on a multicore processor, the TEE is executed as a single execution thread on a single core of the multicore processor at a time. This helps maintain data consistency across the various TEE applications and processes which can help avoid concurrency and security issues.
In certain prior approaches this is achieved through the TEE being "pinned" to a single "active" core such that the TEE can only be entered on the active core. However, in some cases it is desirable for the core on which the TEE is executed to be changed, for example, to allow a core to enter a low power state, for example, a sleep state. One challenge, however, with migrating the active core is that there are multiple routes by which the TEE can be entered. Beyond scheduled entries to the TEE, the TEE can be entered, for example, in response to a secure interrupt which requests execution of code within the TEE. These interrupts, can in principle be originated from any core from either the REE or TEE.
Accordingly, there is a need to ensure that upon change of the active core that all possible entry points to the TEE are retargeted to correctly target the new active core. This can be challenging as, by definition, communications between the TEE and REE are highly-controlled and the two execution environments require a way to agree on core numbering. In certain prior approaches this has been achieved through a dedicated "core migration" synchronization API which utilizes both TEE and REE components together with a processor core id conversion table. Upon an instruction to migrate the active core, the core migration synchronization API is explicitly invoked which, in conjunction with the processor core id conversion table, retargets all the possible entry points to the new active core.
However, as identified by the inventors of the present application, these prior approaches have a number of drawbacks. For example, these approaches in practice require adaptation of the core migration synchronization API and processor core id conversion table to each new multicore processor and hardware environment as there is considerable variation in how the different cores are identified across processors and environments.
In addition, as identified by the present inventors, the requirement to explicitly invoke the core migration synchronization API limits the ability of a rich-OS scheduler operating in the REE to dynamically reassign the core on which the TEE is executed. As such, prior approaches are unable to effectively dynamically adjust to rapidly varying changes in resource demand of the TEE, for example, as encountered when utilizing a Trusted User Interface.
At least certain embodiments of the present disclosure address one or more of these problems as set out above.

Trusted execution environment migration method