The present invention provides, by adding an ultraviolet absorbent and a colorant having a specific chemical structure, a plastic base material capable of effectively suppressing the transmission of ultraviolet radiation and short wavelength visible radiation known harmful to eyes, which material further reduces glares.

The present invention relates to a plastic base material that cuts off ultraviolet and short wavelength optical radiations harmful to eyes.
As compared with glass, transparent plastic base materials are characterized in that they are lightweight, unbreakable, and in that they are easily dyed or colored. As such transparent plastic base materials, styrene resins, acrylic resins, polycarbonate resins, and ADC resins are commercially available; further nowadays, sulfur-containing urethane resins, sulfur-containing episulfide resins and the like are also utilized, and those having refractive indices exceeding 1.60 are put into market to be used in eyeglasses, optical articles, light-intake windows, and the like.
On the other hand, sunlight contains, in addition to visible radiation, ultraviolet radiation harmful to cornea, crystal lens, retina, etc., of the eyeballs. Ultraviolet radiation is classified into UV-C, UV-B, and UV-A (near ultraviolet radiation), and each has unfavorable influences on the eyeballs.
In case of eyeglasses, for instance, there have been proposed, or put into market, optical lenses that not only correct the abnormal refraction of the wearer, but also are imparted with a function of absorbing ultraviolet radiation to some extent, such that they may protect the eyeballs of the wearer from such harmful ultraviolet radiation.
However, conventionally used in practice were optical lenses designed so as to cut off ultraviolet radiation of 380 nm or shorter in wavelength, because ultraviolet radiation of 380 nm or shorter in wavelength were believed harmful. With progress in the research on the damage of eyeballs, however, it is demanded to cut off ultraviolet radiation of 400 nm or shorter in wavelength. Further recently, not only the ultraviolet radiation of 400 nm or shorter in wavelength, but also blue color radiation of 400 nm or longer in wavelength are being considered problematic, because it has the possibility of causing damages such as macular degeneration with aging. Moreover, glaring can be suppressed by controlling blue color radiation 400 nm or longer in wavelength.
Conventionally, special lenses generally denoted as xe2x80x9cUV400 processedxe2x80x9d, which cuts off ultraviolet radiation, have been supplied in the eyeglass optical lens industry. This type of lens is imparted with an ultraviolet absorbing function, and it utilizes a lens base material colored with an ultraviolet-absorbing compound available as a ultraviolet absorbent by means of immersion coloring or the like. However, the lens produced by the method above has disadvantages, such that the lens undergo extreme yellow coloring with passage of time; in extreme cases, it was found that the feeling on wearing becomes extremely impaired due to yellow coloring of the lens which occurs in about a month after starting wearing.
In the light of the aforementioned circumstances, there are proposed lenses which effectively suppress the transmission of ultraviolet radiation of 400 nm or shorter in wavelength, and which are also free from yellow coloring with passage of time. There are proposed, for instance, a lens such as that comprising a base material and/or a hard coating layer containing mixed therein an ultraviolet absorbent or that using titanium dioxide having a ultraviolet absorbing function, and comprising an antireflection layer having, as the constituent layer thereof, a titanium dioxide layer having a thickness capable of efficiently suppressing the transmission of ultraviolet radiation.
For instance, the lens proposed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 51706/1985 effectively suppresses the transmission of ultraviolet radiation of 380 nm or shorter in wavelength, however, suppressing ultraviolet radiation of 380 to 400 nm in wavelength is still insufficient.
In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 265059/1997 is proposed an optical lens for eyeglasses capable of cutting off ultraviolet radiation up to 400 nm in wavelength, having a base material and/or a hard coating layer containing an ultraviolet absorbent, with a multi-layered antireflection film containing a titanium dioxide layer provided thereon at a predetermined thickness or thicker. Further, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 186291/1998 is disclosed a plastic lens containing an ultraviolet absorbent having an average light transmittance of 0.5% or lower for radiation in the wavelength region of 300 nm or longer but not longer than 400 nm. Furthermore, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 218602/1999 is disclosed a plastic lens containing at least two types of ultraviolet absorbents differing in maximum absorption wavelength.
The lenses proposed above are effective for controlling the ultraviolet radiation of 400 nm or shorter in wavelength since the development was done mainly on the control of the radiation of the wavelength; however, the control of blue color radiation in the visible region remains still insufficient.
Further, if ultraviolet absorbents should be added in large quantities, it is certainly possible to suppress the transmission of radiation in the blue color region; however, the resulting lens becomes yellow-colored to impair the product value. Moreover, the addition of the agents in large quantities may cause unfavorable results, such as fogging of the plastic base lens material, inferior heat-resistance due to the drop in softening point of the resin, etc.
On the other hand, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 133801/1997 is described a method comprising mixing a trace amount of blue-colored colorant with an aim to obtain a colorless and transparent lens by suppressing the yellow coloring which occurs with heat treatment and the like of lens base material such as a urethane resin lens. However, in case blue-color colorant is applied to a lens base material containing an ultraviolet absorbent in large quantities, the lens results in a green colored material to make it difficult to obtain the transparent appearance. Furthermore, although lenses colored to blue to an excessive extent to stress transparency are partly put into market, there is another disadvantage that, in colored lenses which are the characteristic products for plastic lenses, the desired color cannot be obtained and result in an unclear color hue.
An object of the present invention is to provide a plastic base material, which suppresses the transmission of not only the ultraviolet radiation of 400 nm or shorter in wavelength, but also the blue color radiation of 400 to 420 nm in wavelength, harmful to eyeballs, while preventing glaring and yet providing a transparent appearance. In further detail, the object is to provide a plastic base material having a transmittance of 10% or lower for radiation of 400 nm in wavelength and a transmittance in a range of from 40 to 60% for radiation of 410 nm in wavelength, i.e., an average transmittance of about 50% in a wavelength range of from 400 to 420 nm, and yet having a transparent appearance. The plastic base material according to the present invention can be applied not only to eyeglasses, but also to construction materials such as light-intake windows and the like, which will protect the inhabitants living indoors from harmful rays.
The inventors have conducted extensive studies on the control of visible radiation of 420 nm or shorter in wavelength and ultraviolet radiation, as well as on the prevention of glaring. As a result, it has been found that a base material in compliance with the object above can be obtained by mixing an ultraviolet absorbent and a colorant each having a specific chemical structure into the plastic base material. The present invention has been accomplished based on those findings.
The present invention provides a plastic base material characterized by that it contains a benzotriazole based ultraviolet absorbent expressed by the general formula (1) and an anthraquinone based violet colorant expressed by the general formula (2), and that it yields a transmittance of 1% or lower for a radiation of 390 nm in wavelength and a transmittance of 10% or lower for a radiation of 400 nm in wavelength. Furthermore, glaring can be efficiently suppressed by reducing the transmittance of radiation of 410 nm in wavelength to a range of from 40 to 60%. If the transmittance at a wavelength of 410 nm should be lowered too excessively, the transmittance in the wavelength region of from 440 to 450 nm may be also influenced to impair the color sensation. On the other hand, if the transmittance above should be set too high, glaring cannot be effectively prevented from occurring.
wherein, R1 and R2 each represent a C1 to C8 alkyl group, which may be the same or different,
wherein, R represents a substituted or an unsubstituted phenyl group, and X represents xe2x80x94OH or xe2x80x94NHR.
In the present invention, there is no particular limitation on the usable plastic base materials, but favorably applied are thermosetting resins such as CR-39, thiourethane resins, sulfur-containing episulfide resins, etc., and thermoplastic resins such as styrene resins, acrylic resins, polycarbonate resins, cyclic olefin resins, norbornene resins, etc.
For instance, nowadays, thiourethane resin is often used as a high-refraction material for the eyeglass lens substrate, and it is generally obtained by heat polymerization of a polyisocyanate compound having two or more functional groups with a polythiol compound having three or more functional groups under the presence of a catalyst.
There can be used any type of polyisocyanate selected from aliphatic, aromatic, and alicyclic polyisocyanates without limitations; however, preferably used are the aromatic or alicyclic diisocyanates. More specifically, mentioned are m-xylylenediisocyanate, trilenediisocyanate, 4,4xe2x80x2-diphenylmethanediisocyanate, tetramethyl-m-xylylenediisocyanate, isophoronediisocyanate, bis(isocyanatomethyl)cyclohexane, dicyclohexylmethanediisocyanate, cyclohexanediisocyanate, 2,5-bis(isocyanatomethyl)bicyclo [2,2,1]-heptane, 2,6-bis(isocyanatomethyl)bicyclo[2,2,1]-heptane, etc.
As polythiol, generally used are trithiol or tetrathiol, and favorably used are pentaerythritol tetrakisthioglycolate, pentaerythritol tetrakis(3-mercaptopropionate), 1,2-bis[(2-mercaptoethyl)thio]-3-mercaptopropane, 4-mercaptomethyl-3,6-dithia-1,8-octanedithiol, etc.
Sulfur-containing episulfide resins can be obtained by polymerizing and curing the compounds proposed in, for instance, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 71580/1997, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 110979/1997, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 183702/1999, and the like.
Concerning construction materials, polycarbonate resins, acrylic resins, etc., are used nowadays in the place of glass from the viewpoint of safety, and the plastic base material obtainable by processing these materials according to the present invention can further protect the inhabitants from harmful rays. In case of thermoplastic resins, ultraviolet absorbents and colorants may be added on polymerization, or may be mixed under heating and melting the resin obtained by polymerization. In general, the latter method is employed.
In order to improve the physical properties and the like of the resulting product, there can be added in producing the resins above, as a resin improving agent, for instance, a lubricant, an antioxidant, a fragrant, a perfume, or a copolymerizable compound and the like.
The ultraviolet absorbent for use in the plastic base material according to the present invention is a compound expressed by the general formula (1), and the plastic base material having the targeted performance can be obtained by adding the ultraviolet absorbent in a quantity of from 0.1 to 1.0% by weight with respect to the resin. The amount of addition should be determined in accordance with the resulting spectral transmittance. Although it differs depending on the type of the resin, in case of a compound other than that expressed by the general formula (1), for instance, an addition of 1.5% by weight or more is necessary to obtain the aimed ultraviolet absorbing function; yet, such an addition still fails to efficiently suppress the transmission of visible radiation in the wavelength range of from 400 to 420 nm, and lowers the softening point of the resin due to excessive amount of addition, thereby causing thermal deformation on processing the lens for forming hard coating or antireflection coating. In case of another compound, an addition of 0.2 to 0.4% by weight is effective for cutting off radiation in the wavelength region of 400 nm or shorter. However, it brings about a drop in transmittance for radiation in the wavelength range of about 400 to 440 nm, and results in a yellow-colored product.
As the ultraviolet absorbent expressed by the general formula (1), there can be used, for instance, 2-(3,5-ditertiary-butyl-2-hydroxyphenyl)-2H-benzotriazole, 2-(3,5-ditertiary-pentyl-2-hydroxyphenyl)-2H-benzotriazole, 2-(3,5-bis(xcex1,xcex1-dimethylbenzyl)-2-hydroxyphenyl)-2H-benzotriazole, etc.
The colorants for use in the plastic base material according to the present invention is a violet colorant expressed by the general formula (2), and it provides a color hue with transparent appearance when used in combination with the ultraviolet absorbent according to the present invention. If a blue-color dye should be used, a greenish color hue results, and a transparent appearance becomes unfeasible. As the violet colorant, for instance, a solvent violet type colorant described in Color Index (or C.I.) can be selected, and although depending on the type of colorant used, the amount of addition is preferably in a range of from 0.1 to 1.0 ppm with respect to the resin. If the addition should be too low, transparent appearance is unfeasible as the product results yellowish. If the addition should be too high, the product results violet colored, and there are disadvantages as such that not only the transparent appearance becomes unfeasible, but also the desired color hue would not be obtained after post treatment such as coloring process, resulting in a product having an obscure color hue.
In the present invention, for instance, in case of producing eyeglasses using thiourethane resin, for example, an ultraviolet absorbent, a colorant, a catalyst, and a polythiol compound are added into a polyisocyanate compound, and the raw material mixture obtained by stirring and degassing is injected into a constituent body comprised of two pieces of glass or metal molds aligned previously with gaskets or tapes incorporated between them (which are referred to hereinafter as xe2x80x9cshellsxe2x80x9d). A lens material made of solid thiourethane based material can be obtained by heating and polymerizing the raw material mixture under predetermined conditions of temperature and time.
The lens base material thus obtained is provided for practical use in eyeglasses; hence, if necessary, the surface of the material is then subjected to hard-coat coating for preventing scratches from forming, to the formation of antireflection coating by using a multi-layered film of metal inorganic compounds, or to waterproof coating and the like.
On forming a film of hard-coating, an arbitrary known hard-coating composition is coated by employing immersion method, spin coating method, etc. and after that, dried. For instance, there may be used a hard-coating composition containing, as the main components thereof, an organic silicone based compound, fine particles of metal oxides such as silicon dioxide, titanium dioxide, etc., and a curing agent. If necessary, the hard-coating composition may further contain various types of additives blended therein, such as a solvent, an antioxidant, a light and/or heat resistant stabilizer, an ultraviolet absorbent, an oil-soluble dye, a dispersion dye, a pigment, a phosphorescent whitening agent, a photochromic compound, a leveling agent, a dispersion stabilizer, a defoaming agent, a thickener, an antistatic agent, an anti-fogging agent, etc.
On coating the coating composition, to improve the adhesiveness of the coating with the lens base material, it is effective to perform a pretreatment on the surface of the base material, such as an alkali treatment, an acid treatment, a surfactant treatment, a polish treatment using fine particles, a plasma treatment, a treatment using active energy radiation such as an ultraviolet radiation, etc. For the same purpose, it is also effective to apply a primer coating treatment.
Then, an antireflection coating film made of inorganic substance is formed on the surface of the hard-coating film thus obtained. As a method for forming the films, there can be mentioned, for instance, vacuum evaporation, ion plating, sputtering, etc. In performing vacuum evaporation, an ion beam assist method, which comprises irradiating an ion beam simultaneously with evaporation, may be employed. The film constitution may be either mono-layered or multi-layered, and is properly selected depending on the desired antireflection properties. As examples of the usable preferred inorganic materials, there can be mentioned silicon oxide (SiO2, SiO, etc.), titanium oxide (TiO2, TiO, Ti2O3, Ti2O5, etc.), zirconium oxide, aluminum oxide, tantalum oxide, cerium oxide, magnesium oxide, yttrium oxide, tin oxide, magnesium fluoride, tungsten oxide, etc.


A compound and a method of synthesizing a compound having the following general formula (1):

The present invention relates to novel compounds and methods of preparation thereof and, particularly, to silyl camptothecin derivatives or analogs and to methods of preparation of such silyl camptothecin analogs.
(20S)-Camptothecin (CPT, see below) and its derivatives are some of the most promising agents for the treatment of solid tumors by chemotherapy. See, for example, Wall, M. E. et al, J. Ethnopharmacol., 51, 239 (1996); Camptothecin: New Anticancer Agents; Potmesil, M. and Pinedo, H., Eds.; CRC, Boca Raton, Fla. (1995); Bonneterre, J., Bull. Canc., 82, 623 (1995); Sinha, D. K., Drugs, 49, 11 (1995). This natural alkaloid was first isolated in 1966 from the extract of a Chinese plant, Camptotheca accuminata, by Wall. Wall, M. E. et al, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 88, 3888 (1966). As depicted below, camptothecin has a fused ring system generally comprising a pyrrolo[3,4-b]quinoline system (rings ABC) fused to a 2-pyridone ring (ring D), which, in turn, is fused to a lactone ring (ring E).
Camptothecin belongs to the family of topoisomerase I poisons. See, for example, Froelich-Ammon, S. J. et al., J. Biol. Chem., 270, 21429 (1995). Research to date strongly suggests that this molecule acts by interfering with the unwinding of supercoiled DNA by the cellular enzyme topoisomerase I, an enzyme which is usually overexpressed in malignant cells. In the highly replicating cancer cells, this triggers a cascade of events leading to apoptosis and programmed death. See Slichenmyer, W. J. et al., J. Natl. Cancer Inst., 85, 271 (1993). Recent advances at the molecular pharmacology level are reviewed in Pommier, Y. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA , 92, 8861 (1995).
Camptothecin""s initial clinical trials were limited by its poor solubility in physiologically compatible media. Moreover, early attempts to form a water-soluble sodium salt of camptothecin by opening the lactone ring with sodium hydroxide resulted in a compound having a poor antitumor activity. It was later reported that the closed lactone-form is an absolute requisite for antitumor activity. See Wani, M. C. et al., J. Med. Chem., 23, 554 (1980). More recently, structure-activity studies have identified analogous compounds with better solubility and better antitumor activity. For example, topotecan (TPT) and irinotecan (IRT) have recently been approved for sale in the United States., while GI-147211C is in late stage clinical trials. These analogs are effective against a variety of refractory solid tumors such as malignant melanoma, stomach, breast, ovarian, lung and colorectal cancers, and seem particularly promising for the treatment of slow-dividing cancer lines. See, for example, Kingsbury, W. D. et al., J. Med. Chem., 34, 98 (1991); Sawada, S. et al., Chem. Pharm. Bull., 39, 1446 (1991); Luzzio, M. J. et al., J. Med. Chem., 38, 395 (1995); Abigerges, D. et al., J. Clin. Oncol., 13, 210 (1995). Furthermore, synergistic or additive effects have been observed in combination therapies with cisplatin, irradiation, or hyperthermia. See Fukuda, M. et al., Canc. Res., 56, 789 (1996); Goldwasser, F. et al., Clin. Canc. Res., 2, 687 (1996); Wang, D. S. et al., Biol. Pharm. Bull., 19, 354 (1996).
Although most research has focused on the development of water-soluble derivatives of camptothecin, new formulations, such as lipid-complexation, liposomal encapsulation, and wet milling technology have recently been developed. Such formulations result in new therapeutic opportunities for poorly water-soluble camptothecins. See Daoud, S. S. et al., Anti-Cancer Drugs, 6, 83 (1995); Merisko-Liversidge, E. et al., Pharm. Res., 13, 272 (1996); and Pantazis, P., Leukemia Res., 19, 775 (1995). An attractive feature of these formulations is their impact on drug biodistribution. Sugarman and coworkers have recently reported that while free camptothecin achieves the greatest concentration in the pulmonary parenchyma, lipid-complexed camptothecin has the highest concentration in the gastrointestinal tract. These results open new and interesting perspectives for the treatment of colon cancer. See Sugarman, S. M. et al., Canc. Chemother. Pharmacol., 37, 531 (1996). Another interesting aspect of using insoluble camptothecin analogs is that they are usually more active than their water-soluble congeners and seem less likely to create drug-induced resistance, probably because they are not substrates of the p-glycoprotein multi-drug transporter. See Pantazis, P., Clin. Canc. Res., 1, 1235 (1995).
In this context, new camptothecin analogs that combine good to excellent anti-tumor activities with different solubility and biodistribution profiles could play a crucial role in the therapeutic arsenal for the treatment of various types of cancers.
Given the proven beneficial biological activity of camptothecin and analogs thereof, it is desirable to develop additional camptothecin analogs and methods of preparation of camptothecin analogs.
The present invention provides generally a compound having the following formula (1):
The present invention also provides a method of
synthesizing compounds having the formula (2):
via a 4+1 radical annulation/cyclization wherein the precursor
xe2x80x83is reacted with an aryl isonitrile having the formula
R1 and R2 are independently the same or different and are preferably hydrogen, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, an acyloxy group, xe2x80x94OC(O)ORd, wherein Rd is an alkyl group, a carbamoyloxy group, a halogen, a hydroxy group, a nitro group, a cyano group, an azido group, a formyl group, a hydrazino group, an acyl group(xe2x80x94C(O)Rf wherein Rf is preferably an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an amino group or a hydroxy group), an amino group, xe2x80x94SRc, wherein, Rc is hydrogen, an acyl group, an alkyl group, or an aryl group, or R1 and R2 together form a group of the formula xe2x80x94O(CH2)nOxe2x80x94 wherein n represents the integer 1 or 2.
R3 is preferably H, a halogen, a nitro group, an amino group, a hydroxy group, or a cyano group. R2 and R3 can also together form a group of the formula xe2x80x94O(CH2)nOxe2x80x94 wherein n represents the integer 1 or 2.
R4 is preferably H, F, a trialkylsilyl group, a C1-3 alkyl group, a C2-3 alkenyl group, a C2-3 alkynyl group, or a C1-3 alkoxy group. R5 is preferably a C1-10 alkyl group. A preferred alkyl group is an ethyl group. Preferred substituted alkyl groups for R5 include an allyl group, a propargyl and a benzyl group.
R6, R7 and R8 preferably are independently (the same or different) a C1-10 alkyl group, a C2-10 alkenyl group, a C2-10 alkynyl group, or an aryl group. A preferred substituted alkyl group for R6, R7 and R8 is a xe2x80x94(CH2)NR9 group, wherein N is an integer within the range of 1 through 10 and R9 is a hydroxy group, an alkoxy group, an amino group, a halogen atom, a cyano group or a nitro group. Preferred amino groups for R9 include alkylamino groups and a dialkylamino groups.
R11 is preferably an alkylene group, an alkenylene or an alkynylene group. R12 is preferably xe2x80x94CHxe2x95x90CHxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94 or xe2x80x94Cxe2x89xa1Cxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94. X is preferably Cl, Br or I. More preferably, X is Br or I. Most preferably, X is Br.
The present invention also provides a compound having the formula (2):
wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8 and R11 are as defined prior to this paragraph. The present invention further provides a compound of the above formula wherein one of R1, R2, R3, and R4 is not H. The present invention still further provides a compound of the above formula wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8 and R11 are as defined prior to this paragraph and wherein R5 is a methyl group, a C3-10 alkyl group, an allyl group, a benzyl group or a propargyl group.
The present invention further provides a compound having the following formula (3):
The present invention further provides a compound having the following formula (4):
The terms xe2x80x9calkylxe2x80x9d, xe2x80x9carylxe2x80x9d and other groups refer generally to both unsubstituted and substituted groups unless specified to the contrary. Unless otherwise specified, alkyl groups are hydrocarbon groups and are preferably C1-C15 (that is, having 1 to 15 carbon atoms) alkyl groups, and more preferably C1-C10 alkyl groups, and can be branched or unbranched, acyclic or cyclic. The above definition of an alkyl group and other definitions apply also when the group is a substituent on another group (for example, an alkyl group as a substituent of an alkylamino group or a dialkylamino group). The term xe2x80x9carylxe2x80x9d refers to phenyl or napthyl. As used herein, the terms xe2x80x9chalogenxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9chaloxe2x80x9d refer to fluoro, chloro, bromo and iodo.
The term xe2x80x9calkoxyxe2x80x9d refers to xe2x80x94ORd, wherein Rd is an alkyl group. The term xe2x80x9caryloxyxe2x80x9d refers to xe2x80x94ORe, wherein Re is an aryl group. The term acyl refers to xe2x80x94C(O)Rf. The term xe2x80x9calkenylxe2x80x9d refers to a straight or branched chain hydrocarbon group with at least one double bond, preferably with 2-15 carbon atoms, and, more preferably with 3-10 carbon atoms (for example, xe2x80x94CHxe2x95x90CHRg). The term xe2x80x9calkynylxe2x80x9d refers to a straight or branched chain hydrocarbon group with at least one triple bond, preferably with 2-15 carbon atoms, and more preferably with 3-10 carbon atoms (for example, xe2x80x94Cxe2x89xa1CRh). The terms xe2x80x9calkylene,xe2x80x9d xe2x80x9calkenylenexe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9calkynylenexe2x80x9d refer to bivalent forms of alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl groups, respectively.
The groups set forth above, can be substituted with a wide variety of substituents to synthesize camptothecin analogs retaining activity. For example, alkyl groups may preferably be substituted with a group or groups including, but not limited to, a benzyl group, a phenyl group, an alkoxy group, a hydroxy group, an amino group (including, for example, free amino groups, alkylamino, dialkylamino groups and arylamino groups), an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group and an acyloxy group. In the case of amino groups (xe2x80x94NRaRb), Ra and Rb are preferably independently hydrogen, an acyl group, an alkyl group, or an aryl group. Acyl groups may preferably be substituted with (that is, Rf is) an alkyl group, a haloalkyl group (for example, a perfluoroalkyl group), an alkoxy group, an amino group and a hydroxy group. Alkynyl groups and alkenyl groups may preferably be substituted with (that is, Rg and Rh are preferably) a group or groups including, but not limited to, an alkyl group, an alkoxyalkyl group, an amino alkyl group and a benzyl group.
The term xe2x80x9cacyloxyxe2x80x9d as used herein refers to the group xe2x80x94OC(O)Rd.
The term xe2x80x9calkoxycarbonyloxyxe2x80x9d as used herein refers to the group xe2x80x94OC(O)ORd.
The term xe2x80x9ccarbamoyloxyxe2x80x9d as used herein refers to the group xe2x80x94OC(O)NRaRb.
Amino and hydroxy groups may include protective groups as known in the art. Preferred protective groups for amino groups include tert-butyloxycarbonyl, formyl, acetyl, benzyl, p-methoxybenzyloxycarbonyl, trityl. Other suitable protecting groups as known to those skilled in the art are disclosed in Greene, T., Wuts, P. G. M., Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, Wiley (1991), the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
In general, R1, R2, R3, R6, R7 and R8 are preferably not excessively bulky to maintain activity of the resultant camptothecin analog. Preferably, therefore, R1, R2, R3, R6, R7 and R8 independently have a molecular weight less than approximately 250. More preferably R1, R2, R3, R6, R7 and R8 independently have a molecular weight less than approximately 200.
Some of the camptothecin analogs of the present invention can be prepared for pharmaceutical use as salts with inorganic acids such as, but not limited to, hydrochloride, hydrobromide, sulfate, phosphate, and nitrate. The camptothecin analogs can also be prepared as salts with organic acids such as, but not limited to, acetate, tartrate, fumarate, succinate, citrate, methanesulfonate, p-toluenesulfonate, and stearate. Other acids can be used as intermediates in the preparation of the compounds of the present invention and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts.
For purification, administration or other purposes, the E-ring (the lactone ring) may be opened with alkali metal such as, but not limited to, sodium hydroxide or calcium hydroxide, to form opened E-ring analogs of compounds of formula (1) as set forth in the compounds of formula (4). The intermediates thus obtained are more soluble in water and may be purified to produce, after treatment with an acid, a purified form of the camptothecin analogs of the present invention.
The E-ring may also be modified to produce analogs of compounds of formula (1) with different solubility profiles in water or other solvents. Methods to achieve this goal include, but are not limited to, opening the E-ring with hydroxide or a water-soluble amino group or functionalizing the hydroxy group at position 20 of the E-ring with a water-soluble group such as a polyethylene glycol group. The analogs thus prepared act as pro-drugs. In other words, these analogs regenerate the compounds of formula (1) (with the closed E-ring structure) when administered to a living organism. See, Greenwald, R. B. et al., J. Med. Chem., 39, 1938 (1996).
The analogs of the present invention are highly lipophilic and have been shown to enhance activity both in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, their A-ring substitution(s) have been shown to enhance blood stability.
The present invention also provides a method of treating a patient, which comprises administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of a compound of formulas (1) and/or (2) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The compound may, for example, be administered to a patient afflicted with cancer and/or leukemia by any conventional route of administration, including, but not limited to, intravenously, intramuscularly, orally, subcutaneously, intratumorally, intradermally, and parenterally. The pharmaceutically effective amount or dosage is preferably between 0.01 to 60 mg of one of the compounds of formulas (1) and (2) per kg of body weight. More preferably, the pharmaceutically effective amount or dosage is preferably between 0.1 to 40 mg of one of the compounds of formulas (1) and (2) per kg of body weight. In general, a pharmaceutically effective amount or dosage contains an amount of one of the compounds of formulas (1) and (2) effective to display antileukemic and/or antitumor (anticancer) behavior. Pharmaceutical compositions containing as an active ingredient of one of the compounds of formulas (1) and (2) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in association with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent are also within the scope of the present invention.
The present invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising any of the compounds of formulas (1) and (2) and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The composition may, for example, contain between 0.1 mg and 3 g, and preferably between approximately 0.1 mg and 500 mg of the compounds of formulas (1), (2) and/or (4), and may be constituted into any form suitable for the mode of administration.

Camptothecin analogs and methods of preparation thereof

Abstract: wherein R1 and R2 are independently the same or different and are hydrogen, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, a benzyl group, an alkynyl group, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, an acyloxy group, xe2x80x94OC(O)ORd, wherein Rd is an alkyl group, a carbamoyloxy group, a halogen, a hydroxy group, a nitro group, a cyano group, an azido group, a formyl group, a hydrazino group, an acyl group, an amino group, xe2x80x94SRc, wherein, Rc is hydrogen, an acyl group, an alkyl group, or an aryl group, or R1 and R2 together form a group of the formula xe2x80x94O(CH2)nOxe2x80x94 wherein n represents the integer 1 or 2; R3 is H, F, a halogen atom, a nitro group, an amino group, a hydroxy group, or a cyano group; or R2 and R3 together form a group of the formula xe2x80x94O(CH2)nOxe2x80x94 wherein n represents the integer 1 or 2; R4 is H, a trialkylsilyl group, F, a C1-3 alkyl group, a C2-3 alkenyl group, a C2-3 alkynyl group, or a C1-3 alkoxy group; R5 is a C1-10 alkyl group, an allyl group, a benzyl group or a propargyl group; and R6, R7 and R8 are independently a C1-10 alkyl group, a C2-10 alkenyl group, a C2-10 alkynyl group, an aryl group or a xe2x80x94(CH2)NR9 group, wherein N is an integer within the range of 1 through 10 and R9 is a hydroxy group, alkoxy group, an amino group, an alkylamino group, a dialkylamino group, a halogen atom, a cyano group or a nitro group; and R11 is an alkylene group or an alkenylene group, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.


A method for managing AI components installed in containers is provided. The container-based component management method creates a container, installs at least one selected from a plurality of components in the container, and manages the components installed in the container. Accordingly, the execution priorities of the AI components installed in the containers can be managed and operated, such that degradation of system performance and frequent error occurrence can be prevented.

Container-based virtualization technology capable of overcoming the shortcomings of existing virtual machines, which require high-capacity memory regions and high central processing unit (CPU) performance, supports user services by executing a processor in the space of a network, a CPU, a memory, and a disk which are isolated from one another. Therefore, there are advantages of enhanced execution speed and minimized use of computing resources.
However, when an internal function for implementing software (SW) is designed, the processor is normally assigned a differential order over the operating system, and performs functions. Therefore, there is a risk that, when an error occurs, all of the functions stop.
In particular, when artificial intelligent (AI) components providing enhanced functions are standardized and are applied to a design system, there may be difficulty in smoothly interacting with a manager without degrading system performance.
In addition, such container-based virtualization technology requires network abstraction in a host operating system. However, current local network abstraction techniques have a limit to performing a function related to calling of an internal program of a container at a remote distance.
Accordingly, there is a demand for a method for calling an internal program of a container at a remote distance.

Container-based management method by changing intelligent container component execution priority using remote calls via remote access unit and remote network functon module


A wall bracket to support the side of a shelf. A cradle extending from a back plate and a pair of wall anchors formed integrally with the back plate. Laterally expandable fingers on the wall anchors. Drive pins for being driven through the sockets to expand the fingers. Reinforcing ribs on the front of the back plate to strengthen the sockets against strain of the drive pins.

This invention relates to a wall bracket of the kind adapted to support a front edge of a shelf from a wall. More particularly, the invention is directed to a wall bracket having integral wall anchors molded to it to provide a unitary overall construction.
In the prior art there is an abundance of wall brackets, including wall brackets adapted to support shelves. There are also means to attach wall brackets to a wall. The wall brackets of the prior art include a wall bracket having a cradle joined to a back plate with holes through the back plate to receive screws or other mounting means. Among the mounting means available are a variety of wall anchors that include fingers expandable laterally upon the insertion of a screw-like member. However, these prior art devices do not have the advantages of the unitary wall bracket of this invention.


The invention relates to a method for detecting and classifying foreign material in an inspection lot of textile fibers that is moved lengthwise. The aim of the invention is to allow for the simultaneous inspection of the inspection lot with regard to a plurality of properties and to allow for the detection of a foreign material and for its classification in a simple manner while taking due consideration of all properties measured. According to the invention, values for deviations of these properties from a standard are detected and stored for at least two properties that are influenced by the foreign material. The values for the deviations are eliminated according to a predetermined rule except for the values of one property. A value for the deviation and a value for the length of the deviation on the inspection lot resulting from the values of the remaining property is detected and the foreign material is classified according to this deviation and length.

The invention relates to a procedure for detecting and classifying impurities in longitudinally moving inspection material of textile fibres.
Such impurities are to be understood to be, in particular, fibres having other properties, for example, having a colour other than that to be attributed to the basic material. They are also to be understood to include, however, impurities which generally interfere with the normal arrangement of the fibres of the basic material, are not of fibrous constitution, or even constitute actual foreign bodies.
Such a procedure is known from WO 01/92875. In that case, two different properties of the inspection material, such as the capacitance variation in an electric field and the reflection of light by the inspection material, are to be continuously measured. Deviations of measurement values of these properties from a standard value are measured and stored in memory, and can be recorded in a coordinate system in which values for coordinates, which represent both properties, are entered. Through the predefinition of appropriate threshold values or limits for both properties, impurities of a first type can be distinguished from impurities of a second type, and also be selectively subjected to different subsequent processing. In this case, the signals for both properties are each separately compared with their own assessment specifications. The continuous evaluation enables, for example, impurities of a vegetable nature to be distinguished from impurities of a non-vegetable nature, and to be eliminated from the inspection material in a selective and differentiated manner.
A disadvantage of this known procedure is that, in particular, although it is very suitable for distinguishing certain impurities from one another, out of a greater selection of possible impurities it can at best be used for identifying one impurity or an entire group of impurities, without distinguishing between them.

Procedure for detecting and classifying impurities in longitudinally moving textile inspection material


Power adapters generally include a few components that make up the majority of the volume. One component that can consume a relatively large volume is a bulk capacitor. In accordance with the implementations described herein, the size (which can include the capacitance value or volume) of the bulk capacitor within a power adapter can be reduced. Moreover, by introducing a new control scheme, the bulk capacitor can be eliminated from the power adapter. This size reduction or elimination of the bulk capacitor from a power adapter can result in not only a smaller power adapter, but can also result in a lower cost for production of the power adapter and/or an improvement in the power factor and/or power efficiency of the power adapter. This type of relatively small adapter can be beneficial from a user experience perspective.

A computing device can be portable and can operate on power provided by a rechargeable battery. A computing device additionally, or in the alternative, can operate on power provided by a power converter (sometimes referred to as a power brick). The power converter converts power received by plugging one part of the power converter into an alternating current (AC) receptacle ("the wall") into direct current (DC) power at a voltage that is used by the computing device and provided to the computing device using another connector or adapter that can plug into a receptacle provided on the computing device. In some cases, the DC power can also charge/recharge the battery while providing power to the computing device. The power adapter can convert (adapt) the voltage (110/220 Volts) of the power received from the alternating current (AC) receptacle ("the wall") to the voltage required by the computing device.

Power supply including a flyback controller and buck converter


A scanner is provided with an illumination lamp for emitting light to a first side of a document from one side of a transfer path and a CCD image sensor for receiving light reflected from the first side of the document, and a CIS provided in a document feeder is provided with an LED for emitting light to a second side of the document from the other side of the transfer path and a line sensor for receiving light reflected from the second side of the document. The illumination lamp is a xenon lamp, and the LED is a white LED having emission characteristics different from those of the xenon lamp. To the CIS, a filter is attached, which brings emission characteristics of light emitted from the LED onto a document closer to those of light emitted from the illumination lamp onto the document.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus which captures images on a document, and more specifically, an image reading apparatus which can capture images on both front and back sides of the document by single transfer.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, as reading apparatuses such as a copying machine, a facsimile and a scanner for computer inputs, image reading apparatuses (automatic double side reading apparatuses) have been used which automatically read image information on both front and back sides of a document without intervention of users. Among these automatic double side reading apparatuses, a method of reading by inverting the front and back sides of a document at a document inverting unit is widely used. When inputting image information by front-back inversion, after images on the front side are read by a specific document reading unit, this document is inverted and conveyed again to this specific document reading unit and images on the back side are read. However, in this automatic double side reading by method of front-back inversion, since it is required that the document is inverted after being ejected and conveyed again to the document reading unit, this double side reading takes a long time, and this deteriorates the yield of double side reading. Therefore, for example, there is an art which makes it possible that both sides of a document are automatically read by single transfer of the document without front-back inversion by providing image sensors on both front and back sides of a document path in which the document is conveyed.
In addition, in conventional image reading apparatuses, a method in which a document is irradiated with light from a light source using, for example, a fluorescent light, and light reflected from the document is read by an image sensor through a minification optical system, is widely used. As an image sensor using this method, for example, a one-dimensional CCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensor is available, which simultaneously processes one line. In this method, when reading of one line in the line direction (main scanning direction) is finished, the document is moved for a short distance in the direction (vertical scanning direction) orthogonal to the main scanning direction and the next line is read. This operation is repeated for the entire document size to complete reading of one page of the document. In addition, as a method for successively reading in the vertical scanning direction without movement of the document, it is also possible that reading in the vertical scanning direction is successively carried out by moving a plurality of mirrors by movers such as full-rate carriages or half-rate carriages.
In this reading method, as mentioned above, it is necessary that a document is irradiated with light from a light source and reflected light is read by a CCD sensor through some mirrors, so that the whole unit tends to be large in size. Particularly, in a case where a plurality of image sensors must be provided for reading both sides of a document without inversion, it is difficult to provide such a plurality of CCD sensors due to limitations of space. Therefore, in order to solve such a spatial problem, it has been considered that a small-shaped LED (Light Emitting Diode) is used as a light source and an image sensor called CIS (Contact Image Sensor) which reads images by, for example, a linear sensor through a selfoc lens, is used.
Generally, emission spectrum (relationship between an emission wavelength and emission intensity) greatly differs between an LED and a fluorescent light. Therefore, when a fluorescent light is used as a light source of one reading unit and an LED is used as a light source of the other reading unit, the difference in emission spectrum between the fluorescent light and the LED poses the following problem when color images formed on both sides of a document are read as monochrome images.
For example, a case where a spectral reflection of an image formed on a document has an inherent tendency (for example, including many images in blue) is considered. In the case, in a reading unit using a fluorescent light as a light source, when blue components are included in the emission spectrum of the fluorescent light, reading images corresponding to the densities of blue images can be outputted. On the other hand, in a reading unit using an LED as a light source, when blue components are rarely included in the emission spectrum of the LED, reading images corresponding to the densities of the blue images cannot be outputted, so that reading signals corresponding to high density are normally outputted. Namely, due to the difference in emission characteristics between the light sources, the density obtained with respect to the blue image differs between the front and back sides. This problem may also occur in cases where the image includes many components of other colors as well as the image including many blue components.

Image reading apparatus and image reading module


To develop a medical needle having a small protecting member that is not separate from a needle and a hub, is not obstructive to the performer during use, and is easy to switch from being in a usable state to being in a protective state.

Medical needles having wings for the convenience of use and having a function of preventing misinsertion thereof after use are disclosed in, for example, PTL 1 and PTL 2 listed below.
The medical needles disclosed therein are each of large size with a cylindrical protecting member (protector) covering the entirety of a needle and a hub. Moreover, the protecting member is provided as a separate body from the needle and the hub and is therefore obstructive to the performer during use.

Abstract: A pair of wings are pivotally connected to a hub provided at the tail end of a needle, the wings being provided on both sides of the axis of the needle; one or two or more link members are connected to the tip of each of the wings with joints interposed therebetween; the tips of the link members are pivotally connected to a cylindrical protecting member slidably fitted onto the needle; and, when the protecting member is moved toward the tip of the needle, the wings and the link members move in such directions as to become parallel to the needle while the protecting member comes to cover the tip of the needle, whereby the above object is solved.


A pneumatic compressor capable of supplying compressed gas to a pneumatic tool. The compressor can be powered alternatively by either a battery or an AC power source. The compressor comprises a permanent magnet DC electric motor and circuitry for converting the AC power source to DC power. The compressor includes a receptacle for accommodating one or more of a plurality of batteries and includes circuitry for using batteries having different voltages. The AC power source may also be used to charge a battery connected to the compressor.

Portable pneumatic tools such as pneumatic fastening tools, metal piercing tools and crimping tools each require a source of compressed air. Currently, almost all portable pneumatic tools rely upon external air compressors to deliver compressed air via a flexible compressed air hose. External air compressors are typically either shop models or portable models.
Shop air compressors are large, heavy compressors which are often fixed in place and not designed to be frequently moved from one work site to another. An immovable shop air compressor and compressed air hose of finite length limit the ability to take the portable pneumatic tool to where the work is to be performed. The portable pneumatic tool is, in effect, tethered to the fixed shop air compressor and its portability is thereby reduced.
In contrast, portable air compressors do have the ability to be transported from one work site to another. Still, they remain relatively heavy or bulky and awkward to transport—requiring time and manpower to move around the worksite. As with shop models, portable air compressors require a hose to bring the compressed air from the compressor to the tool. Because of the need for a compressed air hose, the portable pneumatic tool remains tethered to the portable air compressor. When the portable air compressor cannot be easily moved around the worksite, the portability of the portable pneumatic tool tethered to the compressor is in turn limited. The lightest and most portable of the portable air compressors are powered by an electric motor. However, these electric powered models then require access to an external electrical power source which is an additional limitation to the portable compressor's portability.
Additionally, portable air compressors having sufficient capacity to power pneumatic tools may use induction motors or series wound AC motors known as universal motors. Induction motors are big, heavy and expensive but can be directly coupled to the compressor or pump. This eliminates the need to couple the motor to the compressor with gears or a belt(s). Series wound AC motors are smaller, lighter and less expensive. However, they are not as efficient as induction motors and in particular, produce low power density at low speeds. They must thus be coupled to the compressor by gears or a belt with a sufficient reduction ratio so that the motor can be run at high speeds to achieve high power densities.
Further, with either class of external air compressor-shop or portable models—the required purchase of the external air compressor to accompany the portable pneumatic tool is an additional expense which can be difficult to bear for some consumers, especially if the external air compressor will serve no other purpose than to power the portable pneumatic tool.
Also, with either class of external air compressor, a hose is required to deliver the compressed air from the external air compressor to the tool. The hose can get in the way of using the tool, can be time consuming to connect and disconnect, adds additional weight that must be carried from one work site to another, and can even be a safety hazard. The hose and required fittings are also an additional expense to the user and will eventually require maintenance or replacement.
Thus, as can be easily seen, the dependence of portable pneumatic tools upon external air compressors limits the portability of these tools, imposes additional costs and reduces their utility.
The utility of a hand-held pneumatic fastening tool, one type of portable pneumatic tool, is particularly affected by its dependence upon an external air compressor. Hand-held pneumatic fastening tools are designed to be quickly carried by hand to where a fastener is to be driven into a workpiece. As explained above, an external air compressor connected to the tool at a minimum complicates moving the hand-held pneumatic fastening tool around the work site. Also, the hose protruding from the tool can get in the way of the work to be done, and can restrict the use of the tool in confined spaces or difficult to reach places. Setup time can also be a problem. Especially when only a few fasteners are to be driven, the time required to setup and connect the external air compressor to the hand-held pneumatic fastening tool is proportionately high to the actual working time of the tool. In some cases, it may take longer to setup the external air compressor than to drive the fastener by hand. In such cases, a user will naturally resort to manually driving the fastener with a hammer.
All of the above-mentioned problems could be overcome if the portable pneumatic tool's dependence upon an external air compressor was eliminated. In the field of hand-held fastening tools, cordless, combustion-based fastening tools have been proposed and produced. One well known type of combustion-based fastening tool uses an internal combustion chamber in lieu of an external air compressor. A combustible gas and air mix in a combustion chamber in these tools. A spark plug ignites this combustible mixture to create pressure that works on a piston to drive the fastener.
While eliminating the dependence upon an external air compressor, these combustion-based fastening tools exhibit other problems. For example, these combustion-based tools require the recurring purchase of proprietary fuel cells available from the tool's manufacturer. One tool's fuel cells typically cannot be used in the tools of another manufacturer. Maintenance can also be a problem. Some of these combustion-based tools require disassembly after every 30,000 or so shots to clean the residue of the combustion. Further, the design and construction of these combustion-based fastening tools differs substantially from other hand-held pneumatic fastening tools resulting in a substantial lack of part interchangeability. Finally, these combustion-based fastening tools cannot be both a cordless fastening tool and a hand-held pneumatic fastening tool relying upon an external air compressor. The ability to be selectively powered by combustion or external compressed air would increase the adaptability of the tool.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,150,488 to Haley, U.S. Pat. No. 4,215,808 to Sollberger et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,720,423 to Kondo et al. each propose a hand-held fastening tool which does not rely upon an external air compressor and is not combustion-based.
The Haley patent discloses a fastening tool with a pump. The pump pumps a non-compressible fluid which forces a drive piston rearward in a cylinder. The retraction of the drive piston in turn compresses air in an accumulator. Pulling a trigger switch on the fastening tool activates the pump. At some time after the pump has been running and the air has been compressed in the accumulator, the drive piston reaches the limit of its rearward movement. This causes the separation of the drive piston from an accumulator piston, which in turn allows the compressed air to act on the drive piston. The compressed air drives the drive piston forward to drive the fastener.
The Sollberger et al. and Kondo et al. patents each disclose similar proposed fastening tools. In each of these proposed fastening tools, an electric motor drives a piston rearward in a cylinder through an arrangement of gears and linkages. Pulling the trigger on these tools causes the electric motor to be energized to move the piston rearward in the cylinder. As the piston moves rearward, the air behind the piston which is trapped in the cylinder is compressed. At a certain point, the piston is freed from the driving force of the motor and is rapidly propelled forward in the cylinder by the force of the compressed air trapped behind. As the piston is propelled forward, it strikes and drives the fastener.
In these three patents, each of the proposed designs does eliminate the hand-held fastening tool's dependence upon an external air compressor. However, each of the proposed designs would result in one or more new drawbacks. First, pulling the trigger on each of these fastening tools would not immediately result in the firing of the tool and the driving of the fastener. Rather, pulling the trigger would merely activate the motor or pump which begins the process of compressing the air. Then, after the air has been compressed, a release mechanism would automatically fire the tool and drive the fastener. The lag time between the pulling of the trigger and the firing the tool could be a safety concern. This lag time would also reduce the operating speed of the tool and would make operation of the tool less intuitive for the user.
Second, in these proposed fastening tools the maximum air pressure needed to perform an amount of work on the drive piston sufficient to drive the fastener is much greater than with standard pneumatic fastening tools. The work that the compressed air performs on the drive piston in order to drive the fastener is a result of the compressed air exerting a force on the drive piston as it travels downward in its cylinder. The pressure of the compressed air in a standard pneumatic fastening tool will remain high throughout the drive piston's travel because the compressed air is provided by an external air compressor, which is almost a constant-pressure supply source. In contrast, the pressure of the compressed air in the proposed fastening tools will linearly decrease to zero as the drive piston returns to its start position. Because of the lack of air pressure at the end of the drive piston's travel, there must be a relatively high air pressure at the beginning in order to sufficiently drive the fastener flush with the workpiece.
The necessity for high air pressure in these proposed fastening tools is a disadvantage because compressing the air to such a high pressure is energy inefficient. This can make a difference in the weight of these proposed tools if they are to be powered by batteries. A related effect is that the high pressure could generate a significant amount of heat that must be dissipated. In addition to the reduction in efficiency and increase in heat, holding the high pressure compressed air behind the piston for the relatively long period of time before these proposed fastening tools finally fire will require relatively expensive and possible maintenance-intensive seals around the drive piston.
This need for such high air pressure might be obviated if the air in the cylinder were pre-compressed so that air pressure would be maintained even when the piston is in its start position. While the air in some of the proposed fastening tools in the above patents could be pre-compressed, this would require an additional mechanism onboard the tool to maintain this pressure as the pre-compressed air would inevitably leak out and need recharging.
Third, each of these proposed tools relies upon new and untested mechanisms for compressing the air. These new mechanisms are not present in any present-day hand-held pneumatic fastening tools which rely upon external air compressors. The parts for these new mechanisms, especially initially, will be costly to engineer, design, and produce. Likely, these new mechanisms would not immediately be as reliable as the mature technology embodied in present-day hand-held pneumatic fastening tools.
Thus, while the proposed fastening tools disclosed in the above-described patents would not be reliant upon an external air compressor and would not possess the drawbacks of external air compressors, these proposed tools would suffer other important, and potentially more serious, drawbacks.


The present invention relates to the technical field of new materials, and relates to a thermal conduction enhanced organic composite shape-stabilized phase change material and a preparation method thereof. A thermal conduction enhanced organic composite shape-stabilized phase change material, which is composed of a coordination crosslinked network polymer, an organic solid-liquid phase change material and a thermal conduction enhancer, the mass percent are as follows: coordination crosslinked network polymer 1-50%, organic solid-liquid phase change material 40-98.9%, and thermal conduction enhancer 0.1-10%, the coordination crosslinked network polymer being formed by complexing of polymer compound with metal ions. The invention has simple synthesis process and convenient applications, the material having large enthalpy of phase change, excellent shape stabilizing effect, while the phenomenon of liquid leakage will not occur during operation. The material has broad application prospects in the field of thermal energy storage and management.

The phase change material (PCM) is to achieve energy storage and release through the absorption or release of a large amount of heat when a material changes phase. PCM has the advantages of high thermal storage density, small equipment volume, high thermal efficiency, and homothermal process of absorption and release, etc. It has good application prospects in solar energy utilization, industrial waste heat recovery and power load control, etc. Organic solid-liquid PCMs are favored by researchers because of not easy to appear supercooling and phase separation, low corrosion, stable performance and low toxicity, etc. However, this kind of materials have many deficiencies. In addition to serious liquid leakage, it has poor heat transfer performance and low heat storage utilization in practical applications due to its small heat conductivity coefficient, thereby limiting its applications.
In order to improve the heat storage and release efficiency of organic materials and expand their applications, it is necessary to perform study on the thermal conduction enhanced organic composite shape-stabilized PCMs.

Thermal conduction enhanced organic composite shape-stabilized phase change material and preparation method thereof


An irrigation system and method for irrigating a field including a plurality of towers linked together by at least one rotatable torque tube. Each of the towers may comprise a frame, one or more wheels on which the frame may travel, a rotatable reel, and a line configured to be spooled onto the reel. A motor may be configured to rotate the torque tube, which may in turn actuate each of the reels to rotate simultaneously. One end of each of the lines may be anchored at a first location and the towers may be located at a second location. Rotation of the reels spools the lines onto the reels and thereby actuates the towers to travel from the second location to the first location. The irrigation system also comprises hoses to link one or more fluid-emitting devices positioned on each of the towers with a water source.

1. Field
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a system and method for irrigating an agricultural field.
2. Related Art
Irrigating agricultural fields can require heavy, bulky equipment which can be difficult to transport from one location to another. The size and fixed configuration of current irrigation systems does not efficiently accommodate a variety of field sizes. Furthermore, heavy, expensive equipment is impractical for small fields.
Accordingly, there is a need for an irrigation system that overcomes the limitations of the prior art.


[Problems] It is to provide a method for producing a silicon oxide film having better quality than a TEOS at low temperature. And it is to provide a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device wherein an insulating film composed of a silicon oxide is formed.

Recently, miniaturization of a wiring in semiconductor devices has been advanced and the unevenness of a base substrate has become increasingly complex due to an increased aspect ratio and the like. Therefore, when an insulating film composed of a silicon oxide film or the like is formed on a substrate, for example on an semiconductor element, a forming method having good step coverage, being excellent in planarity and not adversely affecting the characteristics of the substrate is desired.
Conventionally, a method for forming a film by a thermochemical evaporation method using starting gases including a monosilane gas and oxygen as a producing method of a silicon oxide film is known. However the step coverage is not good so that a method by use of an organic-based silane gas such as tetraethoxysilane and ozone as starting materials has been examined.
Though the step coverage is good and the planarity is excellent in the case tetraethoxysilane is used as a starting material, it is necessary to set the deposition temperature usually to 400° C. or higher.
The silicon oxide film is manufactured by thermochemical vapor-phase deposition method, photochemical vapor-phase deposition method, plasma chemical vapor-phase deposition method and the like. However, there are problems in efficiency of manufacturing, that is, since high temperature is required to decompose or react a starting material by a heat in the thermochemical vapor-phase deposition method, however, and base materials on which a film is deposited are limited, and in the photochemical vapor-phase deposition method, while a film can be formed at low temperature, the window through which light is introduced is clouded and the deposition rate is low, being unfavorable.
In the plasma chemical vapor-phase deposition method, various methods for the silicone oxide film using a monosilane and an oxidizing agent such as oxygen and dinitrogen oxide as starting gases are examined. However, monosilane is hazardous and expensive, the use thereof is not industrially profitable, and the deposition temperature is high, therefore it is difficult to apply extensively in the methods.
A silane compound such as monosilane compound and disilane compound is used in various applications. In the field of a semiconductor, the silane compound is often used as a starting material to manufacture a silicon-based insulating film composed of silicon nitride, silicon oxide, silicon oxynitride by CVD method. That is, in the case a silane compound is used, a reaction with a nitrogen-containing reactable gas such as ammonia leads to a silicon nitride, a reaction with an oxygen-containing gas such as oxygen to a silicon oxide, and a reaction with a nitrogen-containing gas and an oxygen-containing gas to a silicon oxynitride.
There is a reaction where SiH4 gaseous starting material as a silane compound is oxidized with O2 for the standard production method of a silicon oxide by CVD method. Regarding the minimum design dimension of the semiconductor device, a thickness of the silicon oxide film has reached the stage as being counted by the number of layers of atoms accompanying high integration of an LSI in recent years. And it is required to lower the temperature of the process in order to reduce the problems of a heat-loading considering the miniaturization of an element structure.
Conventional CVD process using SiH4 gaseous starting material cannot flatten an uneven surface and a corrugated surface on the substrate. In addition, this CVD process, a void is formed in a space between narrow electrodes or in a trench of a gate to deteriorate significantly the film characteristics. Moreover SiH4 is an extremely dangerous starting material due to its self-ignitability.
In order to overcome the above failures, a reaction where tetraethoxysilane (hereinafter referred to as TEOS) as a liquid starting material instead of SiH4 is used and an oxidation with O3 is performed, is applied and has been made practical.
However, a film to be deposited by CVD method using TEOS still has problems in film quality such as minuteness, crack resistance and insulation properties. The substrate is required to be heated at 600 to 700° C. for forming a film while solving this problem. Accordingly, when a SiO2 film was formed on an aluminum wiring by CVD method using TEOS, there was a failure of deteriorating the aluminum wiring.
Moreover, a method for forming a silicon oxide film by reacting alkoxysilane and oxygen in a low-pressure vapor-phase deposition method is also known. In this case it is possible to form thin films even at low temperature and form thin films even on a glass substrate and on a polymeric film having poor heat resistance, being advantageous, however, the deposition temperature supposed to be suitable in this method is about 350° C. to 400° C. at the lowest, and the formed silicon oxide film is not necessarily satisfactory enough in planarity and film quality.
As a technique for improving film quality and embedding of an insulating film, a method for forming a silicon oxide film on a semiconductor substrate by CVD method where an organic alkoxysilane comprising one or more of straight-chain siloxane bond and ozone are reacted, is known. (For example, Patent document 1)
[Patent Document 1] JP-A H7-142578

Abstract: [Means for solving problems] A film composed of a silicon oxide is produced by CVD method where a silane compound represented by the following general formula is reacted. An insulating film is deposited by CVD method where a silane compound represented by the following general formula is reacted.HnSi2(OR)6−n (In the above formula, R is an alkyl group of carbon number from 1 to 5, and n is an integer from 0 to 2.)


A method for control of braking by a supplementary brake (290-296) of a motor vehicle (100; 110): Choose (s410) supplementary braking by a control device (270). Continuously determine 20) total available supplementary brake torque (Mtot) and determine (s430) by the control device (270) a chosen proportion (Mshare) of total available supplementary brake torque (Mtot). Determine (s440) a supplementary brake torque (Mtot*) corresponding to the chosen proportion share) and apportion (s450) supplementary brake torque determined (Mtot*) to a chosen supplementary brake (290-296). A computer program (P) implements the method. A device controls braking by a supplementary brake (290-296). A motor vehicle (100; 110) is equipped with the device.

In today's vehicles various supplementary brakes are used to reinforce or supplement braking action. One example of a supplementary brake is a so-called retarder associated with the vehicle's transmission. Another example is an exhaust brake arranged to increase the engine's exhaust backpressure and thereby increase the load upon the engine.
Said retarder may be controlled by means of a retarder control lever situated in a driving cab of the vehicle, enabling a driver to set a desired braking action in a number of discrete steps. In one version a driver may choose between five different steps for effecting a certain braking action. In the first four steps different amounts of braking action are applied by means of the retarder. In the fifth step the retarder's maximum possible braking action is applied in conjunction with appropriate braking action of the exhaust brake. Drivers may experience problems because of braking action differing greatly between the fourth (highest but one) step and the fifth (highest) step, since it is so markedly different between them. This is particularly so at relatively low vehicle speeds at which the retarder cannot achieve a particularly large braking torque.
There is a need to improve braking of vehicles whereby supplementary brakes are used to reinforce or supplement the wheel brakes.
There is a need to provide a method for control of braking by means of at least one supplementary brake of a motor vehicle whereby the above disadvantages are reduced.

Device and method for controlling braking of a motor vehicle


A therapy device comprises a flexible sealed envelope and a gel within the envelope. The gel comprises water, thickening agent, and biodiesel by-product glycerin comprising glycerol and soap.

The treatment of many injuries such as sprains, contusions, or dislocations where immediate swelling is common typically involves application of cold ice compresses or other materials to slow the flow of blood to the injured site, thus reducing swelling. After the initial trauma and swelling due to the injury have subsided, however, it is often advisable to apply heat to the injured area to promote healing. Here again, a number of expedients have been used in the past for this purpose, including hot towels or heating pads.
Therapy devices comprising a sealed envelope with a material inside that can be used for application as desired of either heat or cold (that is, the material functions as a heat source or heat sink, respectively) have been used or at least known for some time. In some embodiments, the devices are for one time use; in other embodiments the devices can be reused, for example, following heating by immersion in hot water or irradiation in a microwave oven or cooling by placement in a cooler, freezer, etc. Some illustrative examples of such therapy devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,780,537 (Spencer), U.S. Pat. No. 3,874,504 (Verakas), U.S. Pat. No. 4,462,224 (Dunshee), U.S. Pat. No. 4,854,012 (Kelley), U.S. Pat. No. 5,697,961 (Kiamil), and U.S. Pat. No. 5,843,145 (Brink).
A number of heat source/sink materials have been suggested for use in therapy devices. Among the desired performance criteria are that the material exhibit a desirable degree of conformability throughout the useful temperature range so that it can be conformed to the injury location to provide effective therapeutic treatment. One commonly used gel that is currently frequently used in hot/cold compresses is petroleum-based propylene glycol. Though well performing, this material is derived from petroleum and thus does not come from a sustainable source. In addition, it is becoming more expensive.


A transflective liquid crystal display (LCD) includes: a first substrate formed with a thin film transistor and a pixel electrode connected to the thin film transistor; a second substrate formed with a common electrode and a color filter and facing the first substrate; a liquid crystal layer formed between the first substrate and the second substrate; a first polarizing plate disposed at one side of the first substrate that does not face the second substrate; a second polarizing plate disposed at one side of the second substrate that does not face the first substrate; a cholesteric film formed on the first substrate; and a backlight unit disposed at one side of the first polarizing plate that does not face the first substrate.

1. Field
The described technology relates generally to a liquid crystal display (LCD). More particularly, the described technology relates generally to a transflective liquid crystal display (LCD).
2. Description of Related Art
A liquid crystal display (LCD) is slimmer, lighter, and consumes less power than a comparable cathode ray tube (CRT). As a result, the liquid crystal display (LCD) has been prevalently used for midsize and large products such as a monitor and a TV, and small-sized products such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants (Pads), and portable multimedia players (PMPs).
The LCD is a display device that includes a liquid crystal display panel displaying image data using an optical characteristic of liquid crystal. The liquid crystal display panel includes an array panel formed with a thin film transistor (TFT), a color filter panel formed with a color filter (CF), and a liquid crystal interposed therebetween, and the image is displayed by driving and controlling the liquid crystal by an electric field difference between the array panel and the color filter panel.
The liquid crystal display (LCD) may be divided into a transmissive type using light incident from its backlight unit disposed at one side of its liquid crystal display panel, and a reflective type using external light such as solar light.
The reflective type liquid crystal display (LCD) uses only external light incident through the LCD such that power consumption thereof is relatively small compared to the transmissive type liquid crystal display (LCD) using only internal light incident from its backlight unit. Also, when the transmissive type liquid crystal display (LCD) is used outdoors, visibility may be remarkably deteriorated due to external (outer) light such as the solar light. However, in the case of a reflective liquid crystal display (LCD), the outer light is used as the light source such that the reflective liquid crystal display (LCD) may not be used when the outer light is not present.
Therefore, a transflective liquid crystal display (LCD) including both the transmissive type and the reflective type has been proposed. The transflective liquid crystal display (LCD) includes a transmissive part and a reflective part inside the liquid crystal display panel such that the transmissive mode and the reflective mode may be selectively realized. Generally, the transflective liquid crystal display (LCD) includes a step inside the liquid crystal display panel, and thereby a difference of an interval, that is, a cell gap between two substrates of the liquid crystal display panel is generated, and the transmissive mode and the reflective mode are realized by the difference of the cell gap.
However, the transflective liquid crystal display (LCD) generates light leakage due to the step such that light loss is increased, and when a light blocking layer at the step is formed to block the light leakage, the aperture ratio is decreased. Also, the cell gap is not uniform such that an internal structure is complicated, and resultantly the manufacturing process thereof is complicated.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the described technology and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Liquid crystal display and the fabricating method of the same


The modular folding table includes a collapsible truss framework that supports a folding table top and a folding utility shelf, and includes legs that can be connected horizontally or vertically to the legs of one or more similar modular folding tables, to provide desired table and shelf space with a structure that is foldable, strong and stable.

This invention relates generally to folding, collapsible structures, and more particularly relates to a modular folding table having a truss framework, a folding table top and a folding utility shelf.
Folding card tables and heavy work tables having individual legs or pairs of legs that are pivotally connected to a table top to swing down from a concealed position to lock into a set up position are well known. The portability of such tables is generally limited by the size of the table top. The lighter card table style tables are generally not strong enough or stable enough to support modern video or computer types of displays that are currently used in traveling presentations. The heavier, folding work style tables are generally quite large and heavy, making them impractical for use as a portable display table in presentations, often requiring the use of a truck for transporting video or computer display equipment and appropriate display tables. A display table offering one or more utility shelves would also be useful for providing an efficient use of space for display equipment, but conventional tables providing one or more utility shelves have also generally not been collapsible and easily portable.
In order to provide such a collapsible display table that is expandable both horizontally as well as vertically, it would be desirable to provide a modular folding table with a collapsible truss framework that supports a folding table top and a folding utility shelf to offer a larger and more efficient use of table space, and having improved strength and stability, to support relatively large, heavy equipment and displays such as video display monitors, video or film display equipment, and the like. The present invention fulfills these needs.


A toy sewing machine includes a body portion which resembles the body of a conventional sewing machine and a printing mechanism which is operative for applying a printed image to a piece of sheet material as the piece of sheet material is passed through the sewing machine.

The instant invention relates to toys, and more particularly to a novel toy sewing machine which is adapted to be utilized by children of various ages without risk of injury.
Toys which simulate various domestic machines and appliances commonly utilized by adults to perform day-to-day domestic activities have generally been found to have relatively high levels of play value. However, for safety reasons, heretofore it has not been possible to incorporate certain types of realistic operating mechanisms into toys of this type and as a result, certain types of heretofore available toys which have simulated domestic machines and appliances have not been capable of operating with sufficient levels of realism to capture the attention of children for extended periods of time. For example, because of the inherent dangers associated with sewing machine mechanisms heretofore it has generally not been possible for toy sewing machines to include realistic operating mechanisms. Hence, the heretofore available toy sewing machines have generally not had sufficient play value to make them popular and effective toys.
The instant invention provides a toy sewing machine which includes a novel and realistic operating mechanism and which is nevertheless capable of being safely operated by children of various ages. More specifically, the toy sewing machine of the instant invention comprises a simulated toy sewing machine body having a simulated sewing station thereon and a simulated sewing machine head located at the sewing station, and image means at the sewing station which is actuatable for applying a printed image to a piece of sheet material passing through the sewing station. The image means is preferably actuatable for printing an image onto a piece of sheet material, and it preferably includes a print wheel and means for applying ink to the print wheel, and the print wheel is positioned so that it is engagable with a piece of sheet material passing through the sewing station for printing an image thereon. The image means preferably further includes a drive mechanism which is actuatable for driving the print wheel, and an idler wheel which is disposed adjacent the print wheel and operable for maintaining a piece of sheet material passing through the sewing station in pressurized engagement with the print wheel. Further, the idler wheel is preferably biased toward the print wheel but nevertheless movable relative to the print wheel to accommodate sheet materials of different thicknesses therebetween. The sewing machine body preferably includes a sewing platform which leads to the sewing station and the image means preferably still further includes a depressible pad on the sewing platform which is depressible for actuating the drive means. The print wheel is preferably detachably mounted at the printing station so that the print wheel can be replaced in order to change the images applied to sheet materials. Specifically, the print wheel means preferably includes a print wheel mounting bracket which is operative for rotatably mounting the print wheel at the printing station. The drive means preferably includes a drive shaft and the print wheel mounting bracket is preferably detachably received on the sewing machine body so that the print wheel is drivingly received on the drive shaft at the sewing station.
It has been found that the toy sewing machine of the instant invention is adapted to operate with a high level of realism, and that as a result, it can be effectively utilized to capture the attention of children for prolonged periods of time. In this regard, because the toy sewing machine is operative for applying images to pieces of sheet material as the pieces of sheet material are passed through the sewing station, the toy sewing machine can be effectively operated to provide high levels of amusement for children. However, because the toy sewing machine is operative for printing images onto pieces of sheet material rather than actually stitching images thereon, it can operate realistically without a hazardous needle mechanism of the type found in most conventional sewing machines.
Toy sewing machine devices representing the closest prior art to the subject invention of which the applicant is aware are disclosed in the U.S. Pats. to Argiro et.al., No. 2,878,614 and Clarke et.al., No. 3,699,705. However, since these references fail to suggest a toy sewing machine which is operative for printing an image onto a piece of sheet material in order to apply simulated stitching thereto, they are believed to be of only general interest with respect to the toy sewing machine of the subject invention. Various printing devices which are also believed to be of only general interest with respect to the subject invention are disclosed in the U.S. Pats. to McKee, No. 1,855,920; Coley, No. 2,467,010; Mercer et.al., No. 2,905,085; McDonough, No. 3,253,542; Oppenheim, No. 3,465,673; Kolody, No. 3,646,885; and Stewart, No. 4,282,809. However, since these references also fail to suggest the concept of incorporating a printing mechanism into a toy sewing machine, the toy sewing machine of the instant invention is believed to represent a new concept in the toy art relating to sewing apparatus.
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the instant invention to provide an effective and amusing toy sewing machine.
Another object of the instant invention is to provide an amusing and realistic toy sewing machine which can be safely operated by young children.
An even further object of the instant invention is to provide a toy sewing machine which is operative for applying a printed image to a piece of sheet material.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention shall become apparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.


A method comprising receiving, by a one-time pad (OTP) hub, from a first user of a computer network, a communication encrypted with an OTP associated with said first user, wherein said communication is intended for a second user; encrypting, by said hub, said communication with an OTP associated with said second user; decrypting, by said hub, said communication with an OTP associated with said first user; and delivering said communication to said second user.

The invention relates to the field of data encryption.
In cryptography, the one-time pad (OTP) is an encryption technique that is unbreakable but requires the use of a one-time pre-shared key the same size as, or longer than, the message being sent. In this technique, a plaintext is paired with a random secret key (also referred to as a one-time pad). Then, each bit or character of the plaintext is encrypted by combining it with the corresponding bit or character from the pad using one of several functions.
If the key is truly random, never reused in whole or part, and kept secret, it is demonstrably mathematically impossible to decipher the ciphertext without a copy of the pad. Because OTP encryption adds no information to the enciphered text, only random noise, it represents a perfect, unbreakable encryption method.
However, one-time pad cryptography faces several implementation difficulties. First, the secure generation, exchange, and disposal of the OTP material, which must be at least as long as the message, is difficult to achieve. In addition, the possibility of interception, copying, or forensic recovery of a pad by a third party will entirely compromise the security of the method.
The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations related therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the figures.

Secure content routing using one-time pads


Dynamic cell mode indication and reporting channel state information for dormant cells in a dual connectivity carrier aggregation environment. UEs may be configured for carrier aggregation of cells associated with non-collocated eNBs, which may include a master eNB (MeNB) and one or more secondary eNBs (SeNB), each supporting multiple carrier frequencies. Indicators of cell mode for secondary cells of the MeNB or SeNB are periodically sent using a broadcast mechanism and may configure active or dormant sub-periods within the indicated periods. The indicators may be transmitted by a primary cell for the MeNB or special secondary cell for the SeNB. Alternatively, the indicators may be transmitted by the secondary cell. When CSI measurements occur for a dormant cell, the UE may report CSI for the dormant periods, suppress CSI reporting for the dormant periods, or report some types of CSI and not others for the dormant periods.

Wireless communications systems are widely deployed to provide various types of communication content such as voice, video, packet data, messaging, broadcast, and so on. These systems may be multiple-access systems capable of supporting communication with multiple users by sharing the available system resources (e.g., time, frequency, and power). Examples of such multiple-access systems include code-division multiple access (CDMA) systems, time-division multiple access (TDMA) systems, frequency-division multiple access (FDMA) systems, and orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) systems.
Generally, a wireless multiple-access communications system may include a number of base stations, each simultaneously supporting communication for multiple mobile devices. Base stations may communicate with mobile devices on downstream and upstream links. Each base station has a coverage range, which may be referred to as the coverage area of the cell. In some cases the coverage area may be subdivided into multiple cells. Also, in some cases, a base station may transmit multiple component carriers on different portions of available spectrum. These component carriers may also be referred to as cells.
A UE may be served by more than one carrier. In some cases a UE may be served by multiple carriers transmitted from a single base station, in other cases, a UE may be served by multiple carriers transmitted from more than one base station. When more than one carrier is configured to serve one or more UEs, there may be periods where one or more of the configured carriers may not transmit data to UEs. Continuing to transmit control information or reference signals when a carrier does not have data to transmit to the UEs may result in inefficient use of resources for the base station and for the UEs.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Cell On-Off procedure for dual connectivity


In one embodiment, a method for electronic enablement of features at a communication device that includes receiving a feature token, validating the feature token, and changing the enablement state of one or more features at the communication device in accordance with a valid feature token.

Communications networks continue to expand and enhance the services provided to an ever-increasing consumer base. In the television realm, subscriber networks have moved beyond original one-way television services to two-way transmissions that allow a subscriber to transmit requests from his home communications terminal (HCT). HCTs, typically embodied as television set-top boxes (STBs), can perform both analog and digital operations to provide a broad array of features and services such as Near Video on Demand (NVOD), Video on Demand (VOD) and Pay Per View (PPV). Contemporary STBs typically include Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) designed to perform a specific function or set of functions. A feature at an STB, such as an MPEG-2 codec, used to support the services offered by the service provider is typically implemented by an ASIC. The circuitry required to implement these features is usually licensed from third-party licensors. An STB may include several distinct ASICs, each representing a licensed feature, or may include a large ASIC in which feature circuitry licensed from one or more licensors is combined. A large ASIC, providing nearly all the functionality of the STB, can be provided on a single chip, referred to as a System on Chip (SoC).
A network operator will often provide a first set of services to subscribers in a first operating region, and a second set of services to subscribers in a second operating region. Because third-party license fees for the STB features required to implement the services can constitute a significant portion of the cost of an STB, it is prudent to include on an STB, and thus pay licensing fees for, only those features that may actually be used in an operating region. An STB manufacturer may choose to spin different ASICs for STBs destined for different operating regions. However, the high Non-Recurring Engineering (NRE) cost associated with ASIC development, coupled with the large number of possible codec combinations that may be requested by a system operator, can make spinning different ASICs for STBs intended for different operating regions prohibitively expensive.
As an alternative, an STB manufacturer can provide circuitry for all the licensed features to all its STBs then selectively disable those features associated with services that will not be offered by the network operator. For example, a fuse associated with the feature can be blown to disable the feature. As a result, third-party license fees for those features need not be paid. Typically, software that supports the features that remain enabled is loaded onto the STB prior to providing the STB to the purchaser. Thus, fully functional STBs can be provided for an intended operating region, while at the same time payment of license fees can be limited to fees associated with those features physically enabled at the STB.

Feature enablement at a communications terminal


Apparatus for use in removing tile from a floor, the apparatus including a generally horizontally extending frame having a front end, a rear end and laterally opposing sides. Wheels are attached to the frame for rolling the frame across the floor, and a handle is mounted on the frame to steer it. Burner units mounted on the frame heat tiles below the burner units to loosen the tiles from mastic adhering the tiles to the floor. A tank mounted on the frame stores fuel for the burner units and a delivery system transports fuel from the tank to the burner units. A blade attached to the frame separates the heated tile from the floor as the frame moves across the floor.

This invention relates generally to apparatus for use in removing tile from a floor and more particularly to apparatus which applies heat to the tiles and the floor to loosen the tiles for removal.
The removal of tile from a floor is greatly facilitated by the application of heat to the tile, to the floor, and particularly to the mastic adhering the tile to the floor. Typically, tile which has been subjected to heat may be removed from the floor without breaking. This is of particular advantage in reducing or eliminating dust from broken tiles, which is important when the tiles being removed contain asbestos. The reduction of asbestos dust during tile removal reduces exposure to the operators and allows a very significant cost savings in that the room does not have to be sealed from dust during the operation.
Reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 3,400,244 which shows an example of an apparatus for heating floor tiles to facilitate their removal. Currently, tile heating machines are dependent on a cord connected to an electrical outlet for power. The cord extending from the outlet to the machine limits the range of the machine. It is also difficult to manipulate the cord while using the machine to avoid dragging in the sticky mastic exposed after removal of some of the tile. Because of the high voltage required to operate electric heaters at sufficiently high temperatures to loosen the tiles, an ordinary electrical outlet will not be sufficient and the machine must be hard-wired into the building's electrical system. Therefore, considerable effort will be expended merely in preparation for using the machine. Further, when using the current available tile loosening machines, a tool such as a spatula type instrument must be used to manually remove the tile from the floor after it is loosened.