A buffer circuit for rotating outstanding transactions. A buffer circuit includes a buffer and a command update circuit. The buffer may be configured to store packet commands that belong to a respective virtual channel of a plurality of virtual channels. The packets may be stored in the buffer to await transmission upon a peripheral bus. Once a given packet is selected for transmission, a peripheral bus cycle corresponding to the given packet command may be generated upon the peripheral bus. The command update circuit may be configured to generate a modified packet command in response to receiving a partial completion indication associated with the peripheral bus cycle. The command update circuit may also be configured to cause the modified packet command to be stored within the buffer.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to peripheral transaction handling within a computer system and, more particularly, to buffer circuits within a peripheral interface.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a typical computer system, one or more processors may communicate with input/output (I/O) devices over one or more buses. The I/O devices may be coupled to the processors through an I/O bridge which manages the transfer of information between a peripheral bus connected to the I/O devices and a shared bus connected to the processors. Additionally, the I/O bridge may manage the transfer of information between a system memory and the I/O devices or the system memory and the processors.
Unfortunately, many bus systems suffer from several drawbacks. For example, multiple devices attached to a bus may present a relatively large electrical capacitance to devices driving signals on the bus. In addition, the multiple attach points on a shared bus produce signal reflections at high signal frequencies which reduce signal integrity. As a result, signal frequencies on the bus are generally kept relatively low in order to maintain signal integrity at an acceptable level. The relatively low signal frequencies reduce signal bandwidth, limiting the performance of devices attached to the bus.
Lack of scalability to larger numbers of devices is another disadvantage of shared bus systems. The available bandwidth of a shared bus is substantially fixed (and may decrease if adding additional devices causes a reduction in signal frequencies upon the bus). Once the bandwidth requirements of the devices attached to the bus (either directly or indirectly) exceeds the available bandwidth of the bus, devices will frequently be stalled when attempting access to the bus, and overall performance of the computer system including the shared bus will most likely be reduced. An example of a shared bus used by I/O devices is a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus.
To overcome some of the drawbacks of a shared bus, some computers systems may use packet-based communications between devices or nodes. In such systems, nodes may communicate with each other by exchanging packets of information. In general, a xe2x80x9cnodexe2x80x9d is a device which is capable of participating in transactions upon an interconnect. For example, the interconnect may be packet-based, and the node may be configured to receive and transmit packets. Generally speaking, a xe2x80x9cpacketxe2x80x9d is a communication between two nodes: an initiating or xe2x80x9csourcexe2x80x9d node which transmits the packet and a destination or xe2x80x9ctargetxe2x80x9d node which receives the packet. When a packet reaches the target node, the target node accepts the information conveyed by the packet and processes the information internally. A node located on a communication path between the source and target nodes may relay or forward the packet from the source node to the target node.
Additionally, there are systems that use a combination of packet-based communications and bus-based communications. For example, a system may connect to a PCI bus and a graphics bus such as AGP. The PCI bus may be connected to a packet bus interface that may then translate PCI bus transactions into packet transactions for transmission on a packet bus. Likewise the graphics bus may be connected to an AGP interface that may translate AGP transactions into packet transactions. Each interface may communicate with a host bridge associated with one of the processors or in some cases to another peripheral device.
When PCI devices initiate the transactions, the packet-based transactions may be constrained by the same ordering rules as set forth in the PCI Local Bus specification. The same may be true for packet transactions destined for the PCI bus. These ordering rules are still observed in the packet-based transactions since transaction stalls that may occur at a packet bus interface may cause a deadlock at that packet bus interface. This deadlock may cause further stalls back into the packet bus fabric. In addition, AGP transactions may follow a set of transaction ordering rules to ensure proper delivery of data.
Many I/O bridging devices use buffering mechanisms to buffer a number of pending transactions from the PCI bus to a final destination bus. However buffering may introduce stalls on the PCI bus. Stalls may be caused when a series of transactions are buffered in a queue and awaiting transmission to a destination bus and a stall occurs on the destination bus, which stops forward progress. Then a transaction that will allow those waiting transactions to complete arrives at the queue and is stored behind the other transactions. To break the stall, the transactions in the queue must somehow be reordered to allow the newly arrived transaction to be transmitted ahead of the pending transactions. Thus, to prevent scenarios such as this, the PCI bus specification mentioned above prescribes a set of reordering rules that govern the handling and ordering of PCI bus transactions.
In addition, buffering mechanisms may also be used to buffer pending transactions from a source bus to the PCI bus. In such a scenario, transactions may still be subject to reordering rules. Therefore if a particular transaction within a buffer is blocked from being sent, a mechanism may be provided to allow the transactions following the blocked transaction to continue being sent. Thus, a buffer circuit which may allow some blocked transactions to be retried without impeding other transactions may be desirable.
Various embodiments of a buffer circuit for rotating outstanding transactions are disclosed. In one embodiment, a buffer circuit includes a buffer and a command update circuit. The buffer may be configured to store packet commands that belong to a respective virtual channel of a plurality of virtual channels. The packets may be stored in the buffer to await transmission upon a peripheral bus. Once a given packet is selected for transmission, a peripheral bus cycle corresponding to the given packet command may be generated upon the peripheral bus. The command update circuit may be configured to generate a modified packet command in response to receiving a partial completion indication associated with the peripheral bus cycle. The command update circuit may also be configured to cause the modified packet command to be stored within the buffer.
In one particular implementation, the command update circuit may be further configured to cause the given packet command to be stored within the buffer without modification in response to receiving a retry indication associated with the peripheral bus cycle corresponding to the given packet command.
In another specific implementation, the modified packet command may specify actions associated with the peripheral bus cycle that were not previously completed. In addition, the command update circuit may calculate a data count value and to update a data count field with the data count value. The data count value may be representative of a number of data packets corresponding to the given packet command. The buffer is configured to store and output the packet commands, modified or not, in a first in, first out order.

Buffer circuit for rotating outstanding transactions


Luggage that is easy to transport and easy to store is provided with security tags to enable the passenger and terminal security officers to determine the last person to seal the luggage, enabling a passenger to determine if the luggage was searched, and enabling security personal to determine whether the luggage was previously searched.

This invention relates to luggage having wheels for easier transport, a collapsible frame for easier storage, and a security and/or tamper evident lock.
Generally, wheeled luggage is constructed with a frame and wall system enclosed by a body of a flexible material, usually a fabric. The frame usually has top and bottom pans—so-named for their "pan shape" with a base and edge flanges—that are molded from a rigid durable plastic and are coextensive with the top and bottom walls. Parallel tubes that receive the legs of a U-shaped towing bar join the top and bottom pans. The bottom pan supports wheels. Side stiffener panels, which are coextensive with the sides of the body, and a back panel are joined to the flange portions of the top and bottom pans.
Like most "old-fashioned" hand-carried luggage, modern wheeled luggage of the type described above is strong and durable and serves its purpose very well. It has the additional advantage of being easy to move by towing it on its wheels. Full-framed luggage, either with or without wheels, has the disadvantages of being relatively heavy, in large part because of the frame and stiffener panel system, and of occupying a large amount of space when stored.
Wheeled articles of luggage, such as carrying cases, have become quite popular, especially for use while traveling. The most popular type of wheeled carrying luggage includes wheels on a lower side and a retractable handle. The handle is extended and is used for towing of the case with the wheels engaged against the ground. Placing the weight of the luggage on the wheels permits a traveler to roll the luggage from one location to another, instead of having to carry the luggage, relieving the burden typically placed on the shoulders, back, and arms of the traveler.
As noted above, wheeled carrying bags are made of rigid sidewalls and a heavy reinforcing bottom panel. The rigid construction of the sidewalls holds open the walls of the luggage, permitting easy packing of the inside compartments of the luggage. The rigid bottom panel and sidewalls stabilize the luggage during towing. In addition, the bottom panel often provides an attachment location and support for the wheels.
While the prior art wheeled carrying bags work for their intended purpose, the rigid nature of the bags makes their storage difficult, because the hard-sided bags require as much storage space when they are empty as they do when they are full.
Various designs have been created to provide for wheeled and/or collapsible storage bags, such as described in the following U.S. patents and patent applications (the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety): U.S. Pat. No. 6,401,890; U.S. Pat. No. 6,443,274; U.S. Pat. No. 6,604,617; 2003/0034636; 2003/0085552; and 2003/0213667. One could use a disposable envelope such as described in GB 2 386 061 A, but that adds additional material. One could use a "Baggage Guard Seal" (On the Go Publishing, Columbus, Ohio) which is akin to seals used on water meters and the like, but once opened by a security agent for searching, would not be replaced. Similar to disposable locks, once opened by a security agent for search, it will not be replaced. Alternatively, the traveler's bag can be sealed using RFID (IEEE Aerosp Electron Syst Mag, Vol. 18, No. 3, March 2003, pp. 13-15), and tracked through to the destination, but there is no provision for resealing by the typical traveler.
Present security measures exercised at departure points (typically airports) in the United States, administered by the Transportation Security Authority (TSA), requires that individuals submit their person and accessible property to screening and searching. In addition, each airport operator must establish a secure area and have a security program. The security measures, as are well-known to travelers, include screening and possible searching of carry-on luggage, as well as screening and possible searching of checked luggage. To allow passengers to maintain secured luggage, but allow airport and/or TSA security agents to search luggage, various manufacturers have developed locks that are "approved and recognized" by TSA (http://www.tsa.gov/public/interapp/editorial/editorial—1634.xml). That TSA website also notes TSA has the ability to open some locks that are not listed, but time pressures may require screeners to cut locks because there are multiple master keys for multitude of locks that can be opened by, and/or are "approved and recognized," by TSA.


A spool for preventing backlash includes a bobbin trunk, a rear flange portion, and a front flange portion. The front flange portion includes a first protruding portion and a first oblique portion that protrudes upward and forward from a tip of the first protruding portion. The rear flange portion includes a second protruding portion and a second oblique portion that protrudes upward and rearward from a tip of the second protruding portion. A length in the radial direction of the second protruding portion is approximately the same as a length of the first protruding portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a spool. More specifically, the present invention relates to a spool for a spinning reel with fishing line wound on an outer periphery of the spool.
2. Background Information
In general, a spinning reel comprises a reel unit, a rotor and a spool. The rotor is rotatably supported on the reel unit. The spool is arranged in front of the rotor and the fishing line is wound on an outer periphery thereof.
This type of spool comprises a bobbin trunk, a front flange and a skirt portion. The fishing line is wound on an outer periphery of the bobbin trunk. The front flange is mounted on a front end portion of the bobbin trunk. The front flange has a diameter that is larger than a maximum outer diameter of the bobbin trunk. The skirt portion is mounted on the rear end portion of the bobbin trunk. The skirt portion has a diameter larger than the maximum outer diameter of the bobbin trunk. The bobbin trunk and the skirt portion are two (large and small) cylindrical members. They are made of a synthetic resin, for example, and are integrally formed with the front flange portion (see, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-50774). In this type of spool, portions of the front flange and the skirt portion, which protrude outward in the radial direction, are formed to have approximately the same length. Therefore, it is possible to wind fishing line onto the bobbin trunk up to the height corresponding to the position of the tip of the front flange.
The conventional spool is formed so that the portions of the front flange portion and the skirt portion thereof, which protrude outward in the radial direction, have approximately the same length. Therefore, it is possible to wind the fishing line onto the bobbin trunk up to the height corresponding to the position of the tip of the front flange. However, if the fishing line is wound onto the bobbin trunk up to the limit of the height corresponding to the position of the tip of the front flange, the fishing line may be bunched and the bunched fishing line may fall forward from the front flange when casting. If the fishing line is paid out in a state that the fishing line falls from the front flange, a state that looped fishing line is tangled, the so-called backlash may be caused.
In view of the above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that there exists a need for an improved spool that reliably prevents backlash. This invention addresses this need in the art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.


Novel heterocycle substituted azocycloalkane benzylimidazoles of Formula (I), which are useful as angiotensin-II antagonists, are disclosed: ##STR1##

The compounds of this invention inhibit the action of the hormone angiotensin II (AII) and are useful therefore in alleviating angiotensin induced hypertension. The enzyme renin acts on a blood plasma .alpha.2-globulin, angiotensinogen, to produce angiotensin I, which is then converted by ACE to AII. The latter substance is a powerful vasopressor agent which has been implicated as a causative agent for producing high blood pressure in various mammalian species, such as the rat, dog, and man. The compounds of this invention inhibit the action of AII at its receptors on target cells and thus prevent the increase in blood pressure produced by this hormone-receptor interaction. By administering a compound of this invention to a species of mammal with hypertension due to AII, the blood pressure is reduced. Administration of a compound of this invention with a diuretic such as furosemide or hydrochlorothiazide, either as a stepwise combined therapy (diuretic first) or as a physical mixture, enhances the antihypertensive effect of the compound. Administration of a compound of this invention with a NSAID can prevent renal failure which sometimes results from administration of a NSAID.
Several peptide analogs of AII are known to inhibit the effects of this hormone by competitively blocking the receptors, but their experimental and clinical applications have been limited by their partial agonist activity and lack of oral absorption (M. Antonaccio, Clin. Exp. Hypertens., 1982, A4, 27-46; D. H. P. Streeten and G. H. Anderson, Jr.--Handbook of Hypertension, Clinical Pharmacology of Antihypertensive Drugs, ed., A. E. Doyle, Vol. 5, pages 246-271, Elsevier Science Publisher, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 1984).
Several non-peptide antagonists of angiotensin II, including some biphenylmethyl imidazoles, have been disclosed. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,137,902 and 5,138,069 disclose biphenylmethylimidazoles (A) where R.sup.1 may be a ##STR2## phenyl substituted in the 2'-position with acidic functional groups, such as carboxy, --CONHSO.sub.2 R and tetrazole, and where R.sup.8 may be formyl, acyl, carboxy, alkoxycarbonyl, aminocarbonyl, alkoxyalkyl and hydroxyalky. PCI publication WO 91-00277 and Ser. No. 07/900,540 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,254,546 disclose substituted imidazoles of the same basic structure where R.sup.7 may be optionally substituted aryl or heteroaryl. European Application EP 479,479 (Merck) discloses biphenylmethyl imidazoles (B) where R.sub.1 B may represent alkyl, R.sup.3 may be H, alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl, perfluoroalkyl, halogen, NO.sub.2, CN or optionally substituted phenyl, R.sup.4 includes formyl, acyl, carboxy, alkoxycarbonyl, aminocarbonyl, alkoxyalkyl and hydroxyalkyl, X may be a single bond, and R.sup.5 includes --SO.sub.2 NH-heteroaryl, --SO.sub.2 NHCOR.sup.12 and --SO.sub.2 NHCONR.sup.2 R.sup.12, in which R.sup.2 is H or alkyl, and R.sup.12 is aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl, perfluoroalkyl or optionally substituted C1-C4 alkyl, where the alkyl substituents include aryl, heteroaryl, alkyl, OH, SH, alkoxy, thioalkoxy, halo, carboxy, alkoxycarbonyl, NO.sub.2, optionally substituted amino and various phosphoryl radicals.
European Application Number 90305850.1 (EP 400,974) discloses imidazo-fused 6-membered heterocycles (C) as angiotensin II antagonists useful in the treatment of hypertension and congestive heart failure, where A, B, C, ##STR3## and C are independently carbon or nitrogen atoms.
Australian Application AU-A-80163/91 (EP 465,368, Roussel-Uclaf) discloses substituted imidazoles (D) where R.sup.1 may be alkyl, m may be 1, either R.sup.2 or R.sup.3 is OR.sup.4 or a sulfurous group of structure --S(O).sub.nR.sup.4, ##STR4## --SO(R4)=NS(O)nX' or --SSR4, where R4 represents a variety of optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, acyl or nitrogenous or sulfurous radicals. The imidazole nitrogen substituent (CH.sub.2).sub.m -Y may represent a biphenylmethyl group, which may be substituted in the 2'-position by acidic groups, such as --(CH.sub.2).sub.m1 --S(O).sub.m2 --X-- R.sup.10, in which m1 may be 0-4, m2 may be 0-2, X may be a single bond, --NH--, --NH--CO--, or --NH--CO--NH-- and R.sup.10 is an optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, aryl or heteroaryl radical.
None of the references describe the compounds of this invention.
It is well known that two types of angiotensin II receptors are widely distributed in various mammalian tissues (P. C. Wong et al., Cardiovascular Drug Reviews 1991; 9: 317-339; Trends in Endocrinol. Metab. 1992; 3: 211-217). The angiotensin II receptor most directly involved in the mediation of blood pressure is termed the AT.sub.1 receptor, and is characterized by high sensitivity to the non-peptide antagonist DuP 753. A second angiotensin II receptor, designated AT.sub.2, is sensitive to another class of non-peptide AII antagonists, represented by PD123177 (ibid.), and CGP42112A. Angiotensin II has approximately equal affinity for both receptor subtypes.
Recent evidence suggests that the AT.sub.2 receptor may have a role in mediating the synthesis and breakdown of cardiac connective tissues. For example, Matsubara et ##STR5## al. (The FASEB Journal 6, 4: A941, 1992) have reported that PD123177, but not DuP 753, blocks the AII-stimulated inhibition of collagenase in cultured cardiac fibroblasts. Both PD123177 and DuP 753 are reported by Zhou et al. to block the AII-stimulated increase in collagen synthesis in cardiac fibroblasts (The FASEB Journal 6, 4: A1914, 1992).
Tsutsumi and Saavedra have found AT.sub.2 receptors in cerebral arteries (Am. J. Physiol. 261: H667-H670, 1991). An analog of PD123177, PD123319, has been reported by Brix and Haberl (The FASEB Journal 6, 4: A1264, 1992) to block the pial artery dilation induced by angiotensin II in a rat cranial window preparation monitored by intravital microscopy. This suggests that the AT.sub.2 receptor may have a role in modifying cerebral blood flow.
The AT.sub.2 selective antagonist CGP42112A has been reported by LeNoble et al. (The FASEB Journal 6, 4: A937, 1992) to block the increase in microvascular density induced by angiotensin II in the chick chorioallantoic membrane, suggesting that angiotensin II may in some contexts mediate angiogenesis through AT.sub.2 receptors.
As noted above, DuP 753, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,138,069, is a selective AT.sub.1 antagonist, having extremely low affinity for the AT.sub.2 receptor. No data is presented in U.S. Pat. No. 5,138,069 or the other references above which suggests that any of the compounds disclosed possess high AT.sub.2 affinity.
In addition to potent AT.sub.1 antagonist and antihypertensive properties, the imidazole compounds of the present invention possess potent AT.sub.2 antagonist properties. Since AT.sub.1 antagonism leads to increased levels of circulating angiotensin II in vivo (Y. Christen et al., Am. J. Hypertension, 1991; 4: 350S-353S), and the AT.sub.2 -mediated consequences, if any, of higher AII levels are unknown, simultaneous AT.sub.1 /AT.sub.2 antagonism may prove desirable during AT.sub.1 -targeted therapy.

Angiotension-II receptor blocking, azacycloalkyl or azacycloalkenyl

The Du Pont Merck Pharmaceutical Company


An arrangement for controlling the operation of a draper belt header of a combine harvester includes a central belt conveyor of the draper belt header having a drive for operably driving the conveyor and two outer belt conveyors attached to a feeder house of the combine harvester. The feeder house has a controllable height which may be controllably adjusted by an actuator. The arrangement further includes a control unit operable to stop the drive of the central belt conveyor or move it into a reversing mode if the feeder house is being raised by the actuator.

Draper headers, where the harvested crop is captured by a reel and conveyed rearward so that it can be severed from the roots remaining in the ground by a cutter bar, are usually used when harvesting grain. Cross conveying the severed harvested crop is effected in the case of one type of draper header by a cross-feeding auger, in the central region of which discharging conveyors in the form of controlled fingers are provided in order to transfer the harvested crop into the feeder house of the combine harvester. In the case of another type of draper header which is designated as a draper belt header, the cross-feeding auger is replaced by outer conveyor belts which convey the cut-off harvested crop in an overshot manner to the center of the draper header, where it is conveyed rearward by a central conveyor belt to the discharge opening of the draper header and there passes into the feeder house. A conveying drum provided with fingers can be arranged above the discharge opening (e.g., DE 10 2013 206 515 A1).
The central belt conveyor also operates in an overshot manner. A pan, which is to prevent harvested crop which passes into the interior of the belt conveyor and onto its underside falling onto the field, is arranged on its underside. Consequently, quantities of harvested crop, which also contain considerable amounts of grain, are gradually collected in the pan during the harvesting operation. The central belt conveyor continuously discharges the harvested crop forward in the harvesting mode. The harvested crop, discharged forward by the central belt conveyor, is entrained as long as harvested crop still comes in from the front by the harvested crop running in from the front and passes onto the central belt conveyor again and is finally pulled into the feeder house. If the draper header is raised at the headland, however, the material running in from the front drops, which results in the central belt conveyor discharging part of the collected harvested crop forward and it falling onto the soil. As a result, on the one hand unwanted grain losses are generated and on the other hand grain is raised in an unwanted manner at the end of the field.
A reversing, known per se, of all belt conveyors of a draper belt header on the basis of an operator input (see e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 8,186,136 B2 and U.S. Publication No. 2018/0104937 A1) is known per se but is cumbersome for an operator and can, as no further operation of the feeder house is provided in the normal conveying direction (but also a reversing), at best result in the material accumulated below the central conveyor belt being ejected onto the field, which does not solve the problem described.
EP 1 419 688 A1 describes a corn header for harvesting whole plants for use with a forage harvester which is reversed automatically during raising in order to eject corn leaves suspended on the outwardly pointing conveying and guiding elements of an endless conveyor which serve for cutting off and discharging the harvested crop. Here it is consequently a matter of freeing the cutting and conveying elements of the endless conveyor on which the plant parts are caught from the leaves as a result of reversing.
EP 1 576 870 A1 proposes driving a crop attachment and an infeed conveyor of a harvesting machine automatically slower at the headland than in the harvesting operation in order to save fuel. The slowing down of the infeed conveyor is effected in a time delayed manner in relation to the slowing down of the crop attachment in order to move all the material taken-in into the harvesting machine still at the same speed. Stopping or even reversing the crop attachment is not provided.
WO 2012/166947 A1 describes an automatic unblocking procedure for a combine harvester where, in the event of reversing the harvested crop processing unit of the combine harvester, all the conveyor belts of the draper belt header are first of all stopped. If the reversing operation of the harvested crop processing unit lasts longer than a certain time, the central belt conveyor of the draper belt header is also reversed. Once the reversing of the harvested crop processing unit has ended, the central conveyor is first of all driven in the normal direction again and after a predetermined time has expired, finally the outer belt conveyors are also set in motion. The method of action cannot solve the problem described either.
Thus, there is a need to provide an arrangement for controlling the operation of a draper belt header that is user-friendly and avoids or reduces the losses when it is raised.

Arrangement for controlling the operation of a draper belt header


In a device having a display, at least one sensor signal is generated from a sensor in the device. One or more context values are then generated from the sensor signal. The context values indicate how the device is situated relative to one or more objects. At least one of the context values is then used to control the operation of one or more aspects of the device.

The present invention relates to devices with displays. In particular, the present invention relates to computing and mobile devices.
Mobile devices, such as personal information managers (PIMs), cellular telephones, pagers, watches, and wearable computers typically include one or more buttons or touch screens through which the mobile device receives explicit instructions from the user. For example, the user can press buttons to explicitly instruct the device to enter a full-power mode, activate an application, or scroll through an image on the display.
Although the devices are responsive to information provided through such explicit instructions, they are generally not responsive to information that is present in the manner in which the device is being handled by the user. For example, the devices do not automatically enter a full-power mode, even when the user is holding the device in a manner that is consistent with wanting to use the device.
The reason these devices are not responsive to such handling information is that they typically are not equipped with the sensors needed to detect the information nor with the software needed to interpret the information.
Because these devices are generally not responsive to the manner in which the user is holding the device, the user is forced to enter explicit instructions into the device to achieve various functions. In light of this, mobile devices are needed that can sense how they are being handled in order to perform certain background functions that expand the functionality of the mobile device without requiring the user to perform any additional actions.

Method and apparatus using multiple sensors in a device with a display


A device for increasing service life of a combustion installation is disclosed. The combustion installation has a gas-conducting component and a conducted gas has dirt particles. The gas-conducting component has a layer which is partially detached together with the dirt particles of the gas when the layer is impinged with the gas and when a dirt particle is deposited on the layer.

A multiplicity of power stations have been built throughout the world over the past decade that are based on a combined gas/steam turbine process and by means of which the noxious discharge can be significantly reduced. Said stations are referred to as combined gas and steam power stations.
In the case of a sub-type of combined gas and steam power stations—what are termed IGCC power stations ("IGCC" being an acronym of "Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle")—the combined gas and steam power station additionally has an integrated fuel gasification unit by means of which a liquid fuel—for example oil—or a solid fuel—for example a mineral—, brown coal, or biomass—is converted in a gasifier into a synthesis gas which is then combusted in a gas turbine. The synthesis gas is as a rule cleaned before being combusted. Viewed overall, noxious substances are in that way separated off even before combustion takes place, or are not produced at all.
Oxygen is required for gasifying the fuels to produce synthesis gas. For producing the oxygen, IGCC power stations have air separation units in which, besides the necessary oxygen, mainly nitrogen is produced from the ambient air through fractional distillation. The synthesis gas has to be cooled prior to further treatment. During the cooling process steam is produced which, among other things, contributes to generating current in the steam turbine of the IGCC power station. Filters first keep back ash particles when the gas has been cooled, then carbon dioxide can also be removed if required. Other noxious substances such as sulfur compounds and heavy metals are bound likewise by means of chemical and physical processes. The necessary fuel purity for operating the gas turbines and low emissions from the IGCC power station are realized thereby.
Upstream of the combustion chamber of the gas turbine the synthesis gas is if necessary mixed with nitrogen from the air separation unit and/or with water vapor in order to condition the fuel-gas mixture in accordance with the gas turbine's requirements. The working gas then produced from combusting with air is expanded in the turbine stages of the gas turbine.
The exhaust gas is released to the atmosphere once the working gas has been expanded in the gas turbine and the waste heat has then been utilized in a steam generator.
The streams of steam from the crude- and waste-gas cooling process are combined and jointly fed to the steam turbine. After being expanded in the steam turbine, the steam is condensed via a condenser and the condensate fed back via the feed-water container into the water cycle or, as the case may be, steam cycle.
An IGCC plant of said type is known from, for example, WO 03/008768. Said plant has a gasification device in which particulate coal is combusted together with oxygen and steam to produce a synthesis gas (partial oxidation). After several processing steps the synthesis gas is fed as a gaseous fuel to a gas turbine combustion chamber.

Device and method for extending the service life of firing installations


A connection assembly for securing electrical components used with power equipment comprises a housing and connector cover forming an upper arrangement of the connection assembly. The housing and connector cover form a cavity therebetween for supporting electronics disposed within the cavity. The connection assembly also comprises a lower arrangement used to secure the connection assembly to a surface of a power equipment device and a hinge assembly that forms a rotational connection between the upper arrangement and the lower arrangement.

Power equipment that includes for example, lawn and garden tractors, all terrain vehicles (ATVs), and the like are offering more accessories and features as technology evolves. Such accessories and features include, for example, tilt sensing equipment and electronics that measure the inclination of the garden tractor during operation. One example is described in further detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/686,722 that was filed on Jan. 13, 2010 entitled TILT AND/OR ACCELERATION SENSING APPARATUS AND METHOD that published under U.S. Patent Publication No. 2010/0191408 on Jul. 29, 2010 and assigned to the assignee of the present disclosure. The TILT/ACCELERATION U.S. Patent Application identified above (hereinafter "the '722 Application") is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.
Another example of such technology is also described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/261,291 that was filed on Oct. 30, 2008 entitled TILT SENSOR ASSEMBLY AND METHOD that was published under U.S. Patent Publication No. 2010/0114435 on May 6, 2010 (hereinafter "the '291 Application"). The '291 Application is assigned to the assignee of the present and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.
As more features and accessories are being offered, the amount of electronics required to support such features and accessories increases. On power equipment, especially on the type that traverses rugged terrain such as a garden tractor, maintaining the interconnection between electrical components is important. Also important is the need to minimize resonance or vibration in the electronics during the operation of the power equipment. Such achievements reduce quality issues, malfunctioning of the electronics, warranty claims, and provide a longer product life cycle.


A method for separating a temporarily bonded substrate stack by bombardment of a joining layer of the substrate stack by means of laser beams emitted by a laser, characterised in that laser beams of the laser reflected and/or transmitted at the temporarily bonded substrate stack are detected during the bombardment of the joining layer with the laser beams. The invention also relates to a corresponding device.

There are countless methods in the prior art for joining substrates to one another. The purpose and aim of the joining is either permanent or temporary substrate stacks. If the substrates are joined temporarily, in particular by means of a bonding layer, they are again separated from one another at another point in the process chain. The separation process is known as debonding. One of the latest and most important methods for separating substrate stacks is laser debonding. In the case of laser debonding, a focused laser beam with high power and defined wavelength scans the substrate stack interface region of two substrates and leads to a separation of the two substrates from one another as a result of the high energy input into the bonding layer.
An evaluation of the debonding process takes place in the prior art after the separation of the substrates from one another, for example by an optical assessment. The surface roughness and the surface quality, for example, are examined.
A problem in the prior art is that, as a result of the bombardment with laser beams, destruction of the substrates, in particular of expensive functional components of the substrates, can take place.

Device and method for separating a temporarily bonded substrate stack


Printing apparatus for objects to be printed, in particular textile objects, ceramic, paper, plastic or the like, having a circular indexing table which rotates about a vertical axis and has a rotary drive, having at least one pallet carrier arranged on the circular indexing table and in each case having a pallet that can be arranged on the pallet carrier, at least one printing unit arranged above the pallets circulating around the vertical axis, the printing unit and the pallet being arranged such that they can move relative to each other in the vertical direction, and the pallet carrier arranged on the circular indexing table assuming a plurality of electrically indexable, stepwise predefinable rotary positions with respect to the printing unit.

Not applicable.
Not applicable.
The invention relates to a printing apparatus for objects to be printed, of the generic type having a circular indexing table which rotates about a vertical axis and has a rotary drive, having at least one pallet carrier arranged on the circular indexing table and in each case having a pallet that can be arranged on the pallet carrier, at least one printing unit arranged above the pallets circulating around the vertical axis, the printing unit and the pallet being arranged such that they can move relative to each other in the vertical direction, and the pallet carrier arranged on the circular indexing table assuming a plurality of electrically indexable, stepwise predefinable rotary positions with respect to the printing unit.
In order to print objects, in particular T-shirts or textiles, these are fixed to pallets which are arranged on a circular indexing table in the form of a carousel which has a plurality of pallet carriers and rotates about a vertical axis. Above the pallets, at least one printing unit is arranged coaxially with the vertical axis. By means of a lifting apparatus, the pallets and the printing unit can be moved vertically relative to each other, so that an object can be printed by moving the pallet and printing unit together.
In order to apply multicolour prints to an object, for example in the screen printing process, it is necessary, in order to obtain a specific colour, for the respective primary colours to be applied to the object one after another and as precisely above one another as possible in operations which proceed one after another. The precise application of a plurality of printing inks one after another is referred to as register accuracy.
In the known printing apparatuses of the generic type, the individual rotary positions, in which in each case a printing unit for an individual colour, a drying device, a feeder station or a discharge station for the objects to be printed are arranged, are moved to little by little at constant rotational speed. For this purpose, use is made of external sensors which monitor and control the horizontal positioning of the printing units relative to the circular indexing table. The production of such a printing apparatus is very expensive and the maintenance is very costly, since the sensors and transmitters used are casily contarninated. Furthermore, in the known printing apparatuses of the generic type, it is disadvantageous that the individual rotary positions have to be moved to little by little at constant speed, the residence time in the respective positions being predefined by the position to be moved through most slowly.
The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a printing apparatus in which, firstly, a relatively high operating speed is possible and, secondly, the expenditure on maintenance and the susceptibility to faults are reduced considerably.
The printing apparatus according to the invention of the generic type of the main claim, as compared with the prior art, has the advantage that the rotary drive has an electric motor, the electric motor being an asynchronous motor or a servo motor which is connected to a frequency converter or to a servo converter, so that the rotational speed and the direction of rotation of the electric motor can be controlled by a control apparatus, by the frequency and/or the voltage of the frequency converter or of the servo converter being controlled, a rotary encoder, for example an optical, a mechanical or an inductive sensor, being arranged directly on the electric motor, preferably on its drive shaft, so that the printing apparatus and the circular indexing table can be positioned coarsely relative to each other in terms of their rotary position and, when moved vertically together, the register accuracy required for a multicolour print being achieved by means of a mechanical fine positioning apparatus arranged in at least one rotary position on the circular indexing table and on the printing unit that can be moved vertically relative thereto. The control apparatus of the printing apparatus according to the invention can in this case be programmed in such a way that the individual rotary positions can be skipped. Since all the primary colours kept ready in mutually separated printing units are not always needed for a colour to be mixed, in this way rotary stations under the printing units and having a colour that is not needed can be skipped as required, which means that the operating speed of the printing apparatus according to the invention is increased as compared with the prior art. The control of the rotary position of the circular indexing table permits the programming of the control apparatus to the effect that shorter rotary paths between rotary positions with the respective processing steps that follow after one another during printing can be shortened and in this way the operating speed of the printing apparatus can be increased. By connecting the control apparatus to the lifting device for the vertical relative movement between printing unit and circular indexing table, when individual rotary positions are skipped, the vertical relative movements are not carried out, which achieves additional acceleration of the operating speed of the printing apparatus according to the invention. As a result of using an internal rotary encoder arranged directly on the electric motor, the external sensors which were used hitherto and which, for example, need toothed belts and tensioning rollers, are dispensed with, which makes a simpler, cheaper and more reliable construction possible. As compared with the prior art, the rotary encoder arranged directly on the electric motor is better protected, has no play and needs no readjustment. The control of the frequency and/or of the voltage of the frequency converter or the servo converter allows the rotational speed to be changed during the operation of the printing apparatus according to the invention, as a result of which, for example, rapid rotation during the transport between two positions and slow rotation, for example under an infrared drying station, are possible.
One refinement of the invention provides for the motor to have a reduction gearbox, whose smaller gear meshes with a larger gear, and for the larger gear to be connected concentrically rigidly to the vertical axis of rotation of the apparatus.
Another refinement of the invention provides for the gears to have helical toothing.
An additional refinement of the invention provides for the frequency to be controllable, preferably in the range from 0 to 80 Hz.
Another, additional refinement of the invention provides for the frequency to be controllable in decade stages.
An additional refinement of the invention provides for the voltage to be controllable, preferably in a range between 1 and 10 V.
An additional refinement of the invention provides for the printing apparatus to be capable of being driven with multiple indexing, so that a plurality of rotary positions can be skipped one after another or in a specific order.
An additional refinement of the invention provides for the printing apparatus to be capable of being driven with double indexing, so that two rotary positions are skipped, it being possible for identical production sequences to proceed in adjacent rotary positions.
An additional refinement of the invention provides that, in the case of double printing systems, the stencils used in screen printing are twice as large as standard, since larger stencils are possible as a result of skipping rotary positions.
An additional refinement of the invention provides for the stencil size to be 500 mmxc3x971000 mm in double printing systems.
Another refinement of the invention provides for the speed to be slow in intermediate printing stations.
An additional refinement of the invention provides for the printing apparatus to have twelve divisions or eight divisions or six divisions so that, on such a printing apparatus, twelve, eight or six processing stations, including the positions for the fitting and removal of the pallets, can be arranged, the mechanical mimic for the six, eight or twelve divisions being designed identically, so that in the case of different objects to be printed, it is merely necessary for a different program to be called in the control apparatus, and no time-consuming rebuilding of the mechanism is required.


A bicycle tail light has a casing containing LEDs and a battery, as well as a universal mounting for engaging a bicycle luggage rack, a chain stay, a seat post or a rider's messenger bag, backpack or clothing. A swivel mounting is included for adjusting the light to an appropriate tilt angle, depending on the position of the bicycle component on which the light's base is mounted. The tail light projects light from both sides as well as to the rear, providing over 180° of visibility. A micro USB charging port for the battery is located at the outside of the light casing.

This invention concerns night lighting for bicycles, and specifically a tail light of high power and high visibility, as well as universal mounting capability.
Bicycle tail lights and reflectors are known in many forms. Typically these include brackets for securing to a seat post, rack or bicycle frame component. Most provide for only limited visibility of the rider and bicycle. One popular brand, for example, produces about 3.8 lumens of light in the rear facing direction. Normally the tail lights flash, both for conserving battery and for better attracting the attention of nearby drivers.
One problem with some prior tail lights was the need to remove the battery for recharging.
An objective of the invention is to improve over existing and conventional bike tail lights by providing a light of increased light output, visibility and wide angle of visibility, as well as easy removal and charging convenience.


One of the aspects of the present invention is to provide a semiconductor module, which includes at least one semiconductor device including a semiconductor element molded with a resin package having a main surface and a side surface, and a plurality of terminals extending from the side surface and being bent towards a direction away from the main surface. It also includes a box-shaped hollow casing including a base member having a plurality of through-holes and an opening opposing to the base member, for receiving the semiconductor device with the terminals of the semiconductor device inserted into the through-holes. Further, the semiconductor module includes an insulating resin member filling up a gap defined between the semiconductor device and the casing so as to cover portions of the terminals at the side surface of the resin package of the semiconductor device.

1) Technical field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor module, and in particular, relates to the semiconductor module including a semiconductor device with a main surface contacted onto a radiator of grand potential.
2) Description of Related Arts
The conventional semiconductor device includes a semiconductor chip molded with packaging resin may be used with the radiator contacted thereon for radiating heat generated by the semiconductor chip. Also, the radiator may be connected with the grand potential in accordance with the type of the semiconductor device during operation of the semiconductor device. In this circumstance, especially in case where the power semiconductor device having high withstand voltage such as 600 volts and 1200 volts is demanded, adequate insulating clearance distance and insulating creepage distance should be secured between the terminals of the semiconductor device and the radiator connected with the grand potential.
One of the conventional techniques, i.e., JPA 2003-303939, discloses a power semiconductor module which secures adequate insulating clearance distance and insulating creepage distance required between the adjacent terminals by means of projected walls of resin and grooves formed continuously with the walls.
However, the semiconductor module is assembled with any existing semiconductor devices, thus ones having fixed outline, it is difficult to form such walls and grooves on the semiconductor device. In particular, in case where the semiconductor device is one of DIP-type (Dual Inline Package) semiconductor devices, which includes the semiconductor chip molded with the resin package having a main surface contacting the radiator, and a plurality of terminals (lead frames) extending from side surfaces and being bent towards the direction away from the main surface, the distance between the terminals and the radiator of the grand potential may be closer than that of the other type of the semiconductor devices. Therefore, securing sufficient insulating clearance distance and insulating creepage distance of the semiconductor module using the DIP-type semiconductor devices is one of major issues.
Therefore, one of the aspects of the present invention has a purpose to provide the semiconductor module composed of the semiconductor device, which includes the semiconductor element molded with the resin package having the main surface contacting the radiator, and a plurality of terminals (lead frames) extending from side surfaces and being bent towards the direction away from the main surface, in which adequate insulating clearance distance and insulating creepage distance are secured even when the semiconductor module is fixed onto the radiator.


In a discharge lamp driving device, a mixed period is provided, in which a first period in which an alternating current is supplied and a second period in which a direct current is supplied are alternately repeated and a third period alternately including a first direct current period and a second direct current period in which a direct current having a polarity opposite to a polarity of the direct current in the first direct current period is supplied. Length of the second direct current period is smaller than 0.5 ms. A total of lengths of the first direct current periods in the third period is larger than length of the second period. The third period is not provided at least when the inter-electrode voltage is smaller than a first predetermined value or when a cumulative lighting time of the discharge lamp is smaller than a second predetermined value.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a discharge lamp driving device, a light source device, a projector, and a discharge lamp driving method.
2. Related Art
For example, JP-A-2011-124184 (Patent Literature 1) describes a configuration for switching the frequency of an alternating current supplied to a high voltage discharge lamp to a first frequency and a second frequency larger than the first frequency.
For example, in Patent Literature 1, for the purpose of suppressing wear of distal end portions of electrodes, a period is provided in which the alternating current having the first frequency is supplied to the high voltage discharge lamp in the length of a half cycle. However, in this method, the wear of the distal end portions of the electrodes cannot be sufficiently suppressed according to deterioration of the high voltage discharge lamp. Therefore, the life of the high voltage discharge lamp cannot be sufficiently improved.

Discharge lamp driving device, projector, and discharge lamp driving method


The present invention relates to a process for the preparation and purification of olmesartan medoxomil hydrohalide salts and optionally converting them to olmesartan medoxomil. The invention also relates to products obtainable by the process of the invention, to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the products and to their use in medicine, particularly to treat hypertension.

Olmesartan medoxomil is the name commonly given to (5-methyl-2-oxo-1,3-dioxol-4-yl)methyl 1-((2′-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl-4-yl)methyl)-4-(2-hydroxypropan-2-yl)-2-propyl-1H-imidazole-5-carboxylate, shown as (1) below. This chemical is known as an antagonist of angiotensin-II receptors and acts as an antihypertensive agent.

According to an article in J. Med. Chem, 1996, 39, 323-338 titled Nonpeptide Angiotensin II Receptor Antagonists, by Yanagisawa et al, olmesartan medoxomil is prepared as shown in the Scheme 2 below from the tritylated intermediate (2) by hydrolysis in aqueous acetic acid at elevated temperature in which triphenylmethanol is released.

However, continued exposure to acidic conditions and the presence of water may lead to the cleavage of the ester bond to give olmesartan acid (3), as shown below (Scheme 3).

In addition to this degradation compound, the tritylated intermediate (2) would also contain impurities from previous steps.
WO 2007/017135 also discloses a method of making olmesartan medoxomil. In this method, the tritylated intermediate (2 as shown in scheme 2 above) is dissolved in acidic solution which causes deprotection to occur. The solution is then neutralised and olmesartan medoxomil is precipitated. The crude precipitated olmesartan medoxomil is then recrystallised to purify it.
There remains the need for an efficient way of preparing olmesartan medoxomil of high purity.

Process for the preparation or purification of olmesartan medoxomil


Silicone paste compositions are disclosed by combining a silicone organic elastomer gel with water or a hydrophilic solvent. The silicone paste compositions may further contain a personal or healthcare active. The silicone organic elastomer gel is prepared by reacting in a carrier fluid an organohydrogensiloxane with two polyoxyalkylenes, the first polyoxyalkylene having aliphatic unsaturation at both each molecular termini, and the second polyoxyalkylene having aliphatic unsaturation at one molecular terminal.

Silicone elastomer gels and pastes impart desirable properties to a variety of formulations. They can be used as rheology modifiers or thickeners. In personal care formulations, they are often valued for imparting desirable aesthetics such as skin feel to a formulation. They may also be used to deliver actives to a surface. Silicone elastomer gels are typically prepared by crosslinking organopolysiloxanes to form a silicone elastomer in the presence of a swelling solvent. During and/or after the crosslinking step, the swollen silicone elastomer is sheared to create a paste. The paste can be subject to additional processing such as the addition of more solvent, inhibitors, or active ingredients and subject to additional shear to give a uniform paste. Silicone elastomers are most commonly dispersed in a volatile silicone carrier fluid to form gelled compositions. Representative examples of such silicone elastomers are taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,880,210, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,760,116.
PCT/US2008/67989 discloses silicone elastomer gels having greater compatibility with organic carrier fluids and organic actives of interest in personal care by crosslinking the silicone elastomer with a hydrophobic polyalkylene oxide.
While PCT/US2008/67989 provides silicone elastomer gels having greater compatibility with organic carrier fluids and actives, there is still a further need to incorporate aqueous or hydrophilic ingredients with these silicone elastomeric gels while reducing or eliminating the need to use additional surfactants or emulsifiers. Addition of surfactants and emulsifiers can limit formulation latitude and decrease aesthetics. Thus, there is a need to identify such compatibilized compositions that are stable when formulated as a personal or healthcare product. Furthermore, there is a need identify such composition having the aesthetic qualities associated with silicone elastomer gels.


A golf club head includes a body having a faceplate with a strike surface, a toe end opposite a heel end, a back end opposite the faceplate, and a sole opposite a top rail, the faceplate is connected to the sole and configured to pivot about the sole.

Golf clubs take various forms, for example a wood, a hybrid, an iron, a wedge, or a putter, and these clubs generally differ in head shape and design (e.g., the difference between a wood and an iron, etc.), club head material(s), shaft material(s), club length, and club loft.
Generally, during impact with a golf ball, a golf club faceplate undergoes a certain amount of deformation. More specifically, at impact with the golf ball, the faceplate deflects and then rebounds in a spring-like manner. This resulting "spring-effect" between the faceplate and the golf ball can be quantified by a Coefficient of Restitution (COR). A higher COR increases the kinetic energy that is transferred to the golf ball at impact, generally increasing golf ball speed and golf ball launch distance.
While golf clubs have a variety of designs to increase faceplate deflection, these designs also limit or restrict deflection (or bending) of the faceplate near the heel, near the toe, and/or near the sole where the faceplate attaches to the golf club body. Accordingly, there is a need to further increase golf club faceplate deflection, and to provide a more uniform deflection across the golf club faceplate during impact with a golf ball to further increase the launch angle, the spring-effect, and decrease the spin imparted on the ball.

Golf club head having a detached faceplate


A method of delivering a withdrawal cord to a transfer member, wherein the method includes providing a supply path fluidly connected to a metered cord supply. The supply path comprises a pressure source, a transfer member, and a cutting apparatus. The transfer member comprises a first surface, a second surface, and a plurality of orifices on the first surface. The method also comprises moving a deployed cord supply towards the transfer member through the supply path by a fluid flow generated by the pressure source. The method further comprises moving a portion of the deployed cord supply into an orifice of the transfer member, moving the deployed cord supply to an attachment system, connecting the deployed cord supply to a substrate, and cutting the deployed cord supply to create a withdrawal cord comprising a first end and a second end; wherein a portion of the withdrawal cord is in the orifice to the transfer member.

Withdrawal cords are commonly sewn onto tampons to help ease in the removal of the tampon from the vaginal cavity. Typically, during the manufacturing process, a continuous cord is sewn onto multiple pledgets thereby connecting the pledgets. The pledgets may be spaced on a conveyor connected by the continuous cord. The amount of cord between two pledgets may comprise the amount of cord that is not sewn to the pledget, which represents the graspable portion of a withdrawal cord. The cord is then cut between pledgets in a separate process; leaving a portion of the cord attached to the pledget prior to the location of the cut and portion of the cord attached to a pledget after the location of the cut. The typical process also sews the cord onto the entire longitudinal length of the pledget. This leads to unnecessary sewing that utilizes excess sewing thread and cord. This process also creates inefficiency because the conveyor must space the pledgets to account for the desired length of cord between pledgets.
The typical process ideally cuts the cord without cutting any of the pledgets. However, often, one or more pledgets are partially cut when cutting the cord. This leads to irregular pledgets that are discarded because they do not meet the product target.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a method and apparatus for delivering a withdrawal cord to an attachment system. The transfer member may move the cord supply to an attachment system capable of attaching a single withdrawal cord to a pledget. Upon contacting the pledget, the cord supply may be cut to form a withdrawal cord. This allows for a reduced sewing requirement per pledget while possibly increasing the pledget production rate.

Method of delivering a withdrawal cord to a substrate


According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method includes receiving a query from a user, the query requesting access to a database object in a first database table, the database object comprising a first column and a second column. The method also includes determining whether the user is authorized to access the database object based on the first column, and determining whether the user is authorized to access the database object based on the second column. The method further includes allowing the user to access to database object in response to determining the user is authorized to access the database object based on the first column or the second column.

In existing systems, implementation of multi-tenancy in a database may be accomplished using a technique called striping, wherein each row of a database comprises a column containing a value that indicates the tenant that may access the data in the row. Users may then be associated with the various tenants, making it possible to structure database queries to return only those results from the rows that a user is authorized to access through his association with the tenant indicated. However, in such systems, it is not easy to implement shared access to certain database objects due to their nature, or to change access authorization to database objects from one group of tenants to another.

System and method for controlling access to a database object


In one aspect of the invention, a method of managing one or more optical elements includes storing in a memory, provisioning information describing at least one setting of an optical element and monitored information describing at least one operational characteristic of the optical element. At least a portion of the monitored information is correlated with at least a portion of the provisioning information. The method further includes maintaining in the memory, a correlation history comprising the provisioning information stored over time and the monitored information correlated to that provisioning information.

The present invention relates generally to the field of optical communication systems, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for managing one or more optical elements.
Optical amplification systems are becoming increasingly complex. For example, the number of channels being amplified continues to increase as the spacing between adjacent wavelengths utilized decreases and new communication bands are implemented. Moreover, as the distance the optical signals traverse increases, the number of optical elements and spans of fiber in each optical link increases.
As the amplification systems increase in complexity, it becomes increasingly difficult to track and manage the specifics of how each element is provisioned and the operational characteristics of the elements.
The present invention recognizes a need for a method and apparatus operable to facilitate monitoring and/or management of the operation of one or more optical elements. Various implementations of the present invention reduce or eliminate at least some of the shortcomings of conventional element management approaches.
In one aspect of the invention, a method of managing one or more optical elements comprises storing in a memory, provisioning information describing at least one setting of an optical element and monitored information describing at least one operational characteristic of the optical element. At least a portion of the monitored information is correlated with at least a portion of the provisioning information. The method further comprises maintaining in the memory, a correlation history comprising the provisioning information stored over time and the monitored information correlated to that provisioning information.
In another aspect of the invention, a method of managing one or more optical elements comprises accessing a memory comprising monitored information describing at least one operational characteristic of an optical element measured at a plurality of time periods. The memory further comprises provisioning information correlated with at least some of the monitored information. The provisioning information describes at least one setting of the optical element. The method also comprises retrieving provisioning information correlated with monitored information reflecting a desired operational characteristic of the optical element. In addition, the method comprises applying at least a portion of the retrieved information to an application operable to monitor and/or modify the performance of the optical element based at least in part on the retrieved information.
In yet another aspect of the invention, a system operable to facilitate management of one or more optical elements comprises an element agent operable to receive provisioning information describing at least one setting of an optical element and monitoring information describing at least one operational characteristic of the optical element. At least a portion of the provisioning information is correlated with at least a portion of the monitored information. The system further comprises an element memory accessible to the element agent and operable to maintain a correlation history for the element, the correlation history comprising a plurality of correlated provisioning and monitored information measurements.
Depending on the specific features implemented, particular embodiments of the present invention may exhibit some, none, or all of the following technical advantages. For example, various embodiments of the invention facilitate maintaining a correlation history including provisioning information correlated with monitored information over a period of operation of an optical element, an optical link, or a plurality of optical links. The correlation history can facilitate various maintenance operations and/or efficiency enhancing functions with respect to the element""s and/or link""s operation.
For example, a graphical user interface (GUI) could display one or more sets of correlated provisioning information and monitored information to facilitate identification of trends in operation, to identify a malfunctioning component of the element, to facilitate optimization of operation, or various other utilities. As another example, the correlation history could facilitate xe2x80x9cbefore and afterxe2x80x9d comparisons to assess the impact of a change in provisioning to the operation of the element and/or the link.
As still another example, the correlation history could facilitate identification of improper or inefficient provisioning settings in a particular element or link. As a related example, the correlation history could facilitate reversion provisioning. For example, the correlation history could store a set of provisioning information, which is known based, for example, on past experience to yield desired results. By indexing the correlation history using a portion of the provisioning information and one or more desired operational characteristics, the remaining provisioning information associated with the desired operating characteristics can be recalled and applied to the element and/or the link.
These are just a few examples of advantageous uses of a correlation history in an optical amplification system. Various other uses of this information fall within the spirit and scope of this invention. Other technical advantages are readily apparent to one of skill in the art from the attached figures, description, and claims.

Method and apparatus for optical element management


The invention relates to compositions and methods useful for preventing graft rejection in a recipient following organ transplantation.

The field of the invention is related to compositions and methods useful for preventing graft rejection in a recipient following organ transplantation.
Organ transplantation has been used to improve the quality of human life. Substantial progress has been made in the transplantation of kidneys, hearts, lung, livers and pancreas. Current immunosuppressive drugs are generally effective in blocking the immediate rejection of these organs. However, when the organ is from an unrelated donor, i.e., allograft, these drugs become less successful with the passage of time because immunosuppressive drugs are often ineffective in blocking chronic allograft rejection. In addition, there are significant side effects associated with long term immunosuppressive therapy. Each year approximately 10,000 kidney transplants are performed in the United States. While the chances that the graft will function well for at least one year have been increasing, there has been a lack of progress in preventing chronic allograft rejection during the past 20 years (See FIG. 1; In Fundamental Immunology, 4th ed., Paul, W. E. (ed.), Lippincott-Raven, Philadelphia, 1999, p. 1201). As a result, only 50% of transplants are still functioning years later. There is an urgent need, therefore, for new methods to prevent chronic rejection.
Graft rejection occurs when the immune system of the recipient recognizes foreign histocompatibility antigens. Infrequently, rejection is caused by antibodies, either preformed or the result of multiple blood transfusions. Rejection generally occurs when T lymphocytes from the recipient recognize and respond to donor histocompatibility antigens (Pescovitz M D, Thistlethwaite J R Jr, Auchincloss H Jr, et al. J Exp Med 1984;160:1495-1508).
There are two major histocompatibility complex (MHC) loci. Both major and minor histocompatibility antigens have been described as well as the genes that encode them. One encodes MHC class I antigens which are recognized by CD8+ T cells and another encodes MHG class II antigens which are recognized by CD4+ cells. MHC class I antigens are expressed on almost all tissues of the body. Both MHC I and II antigens are very polymorphic so that it is highly unlikely that antigens from unrelated individuals will be identical.
Differences in MHC antigens between donor and recipient trigger a strong immune response by the recipient which results in the rejection of the transplanted organ. Foreign MHC antigens are directly recognized by the recipient""s immune cells and also indirectly recognized by antigen-presenting cells of the recipient which have processed donor MHC antigens. The classical model of allograft rejection emphasizes CD4+ T cells of the recipient recognizing MHC class II antigens of the donor. These activated CD4+ cells serve as helper cells for recipient CD8+ which are sensitized by direct recognition of donor MHC class I antigens. The activated CD8+ cells then kill donor cells by lysing them (Mizuochi T, Golding H, Rosenberg A S, Glimcher L H, Malek T R, Singer A. J Exp Med 1985;162:427-443. 205). Further studies have revealed additional participation of recipient antigen presenting cells, B cells, NK cells and NK T cells which adds complexity to the mechanisms responsible for graft rejection.
Graft destruction which occurs within the first few weeks after transplantation is called xe2x80x9cacute rejectionxe2x80x9d. Usually, the use of immunosuppressive drugs temporarily prevents this result. Unfortunately, the grafts may eventually fail weeks or months later. This failure is referred to as xe2x80x9cchronic rejection.xe2x80x9d Both humoral and cellular mechanisms have been implicated in chronic rejection. Anti-donor antibodies have been claimed to promote chronic rejection, but this is controversial. It is generally believed that chronic rejection is the consequence of persistent sensitization of the immune system to donor MHC antigens. The immune cells of the recipients cannot xe2x80x9clearnxe2x80x9d to accept the donor MHC antigens as self and respond by attacking the graft.
There are two approaches to prevent graft rejection. The first is by treatment with non-specific immunosuppressants and the second is to induce donor-specific tolerance. The standard first approach is to use immunosuppressive drugs such as steroids, azathioprine, mycophenolate, cyclosporine, FK-506, rapamycin, leflunomide, or 15-deoxyspergualin. These drugs suppress immune responses by inhibiting lymphocyte gene transcription, cytokine signal transduction, nucleotide synthesis and cell differentiation. These drugs are associated with lifelong increased risks of infection and malignancy. In addition, anti-T cell antibodies such as anti-lymphocyte serum or anti-thymocyte globulin are also powerful immunosuppressants. However, they have major side effects include serum sickness and infectious complications More recently, OKT3, a mouse antibody directed against the CD3 antigen of humans, has become widely used in clinical transplantation. (Cosimi A B, Burton R C, Colvin R B, et al Transplantation 1981,32:535-539). Other monoclonal antibodies used include the antibody to the IL-2 receptor (anti-CD25) and the anti-ICAM-1 or anti-TNF-xcex1 to block the effector mechanism of graft rejection. These monoclonal antibodies also have broad toxic side effects.
The ultimate goal of transplantation immunology is to enable the recipient to become tolerant to donor histocompatibility antigens. That is, to prevent the recipient""s immune cells from recognizing donor antigens (i.e., accepting the donor organ as xe2x80x9cselfxe2x80x9d) so that the graft is not rejected. The current state of the art in this area is reviewed herein and elsewhere (See Hugh Auchincloss, Jr., Megan Sykes, and David H. Sachs In Fundamental Immunology, 4th ed., Paul, W. E. (ed.), Lippincot-Raven, Philadelphia, N.Y., 1999 pp 1182-1222).
Tolerance can be achieved by three mechanisms. The first is xe2x80x9cclonal deletionxe2x80x9d; the elimination of lymphocytes which react to the donor antigens. The second is xe2x80x9cclonal anergyxe2x80x9d; the failure of T cells to proliferate in response to donor antigen. Anergy is generally reversible and can be reversed by infection or elimination of antigen (Rocha B, Tanchot C, Von Boehmer H. J Exp Med 1993;177:1517-1521) (Ramsdell F, Fowlkes B J. Science 1992;257:1130-1134). The third is xe2x80x9csuppressionxe2x80x9d; which can be either non-specific or antigen-specific. Non-specific suppression can result from the secretion of soluble molecules that inhibit immune function. Suppressive molecules include prostaglandins (Snijdewint F G M, Kalinski P, Wierenga E A, Bos J D, Kapsenberg M I. J Immunol 1993;150:5321-5329, Betz M, Fox B S. J Immunol 1991;146:108-113), nitric oxide (Langrehr J M, Dull K E, Ochoa J B, et al. Transplantation 1992;53:632-640), and cytokines (Verbanac K M, Carver F M, Haisch C E, Thomas J M. Transplantation 1994;57:893-900); Raju G P, Belland S E, Eisen H J. Transplantation 1994;58:392-396).
Certain T cells, called xe2x80x9csuppressor cellsxe2x80x9d, produce inhibitory cytokines which include IL-4, IL-10, and TGF-xcex2 which, non-specifically, block graft rejection (Qin L, Chavin K D, Ding Y, Woodward J E, Favaro J P, Lin J, Bromberg J S. Ann Surg 1994;220:508-519); (Qin L, Chavin K D, Ding Y, et al. J Immunol 1996; 156:2316-2323); (Zheng X X, Steele A W, Nickerson P W, Steurer W, Steiger J, Strom T B. J Immunol 1995;154:5590-5600). The existence of alloantigen-suppressor cells have been reported (Pearce N W, Spinelli A, Gurley K E, Hall B M. Transplantation 1993;55:374-379; Roser B J. Immunol Rev 1989; 107:179-202; Tomita Y, Mayumi H, Eto M, Nomoto K. J Immunol 1990;144: 463-473), but these cells are difficult to clone (Koide J, Engleman E G. J Immunol 1990;144:32-40).
Naturally occurring suppressor T cells produced by the thymus have been characterized in mice. These are CD4+ cells that express CD25, cell surface IL-2 receptor a chains (Shevach, E. A. (2000) Annu. Rev. Immunol. 18:423-449; Seddon, B., and D. Mason, (2000) 21.95-99; Sakaguchi, S., N. Sakaguchi, M. Asano, M. Itoh, and M. Toda, (1995) J. Immunol. 155:1151-1164). To date, this T cell subset has not been well described in humans and whether these cells can be expanded in the periphery is unknown.
CD4+ cells repeatedly stimulated with IL-10 or activated with immature dendritic cells develop down-regulatory activity (Groux, H., A. O""Garra, M. Bigler, M. Rouleau, S. Antojejko, J. E. De Vries, and M. G. Roncarolo, (1997) Nature. 389:737-742; Jonuleit, H., E. Schmitt, G. Schuler, K. Jurgen, and A. H. Enk. (2000) J Exp Med 192:1213-1222). These T cells, called TR1 or TR1-like cells, are anergic and their immunosuppressive effects are mediated by IL-10 and TGF-xcex2. Anergic T cells suppress other T cell responses by targeting antigen-presenting cells (Taams, L. S., A. J. M. L. van Rensen, M. C. M. Poelen, C. A. C. M. van Els, A. C. Besseling, J. P. A. Wagenaar, W. van Eden, and M. H. M. Wauben (1998) Eur J Immunol 28:2902-2912; Vendetti, S., J. G. Chai, J. Dyson, E. Simpson, G. Lombardi and R. Lechler, (2000), J. Immunol. 165:1175-1181). Unfortunately, large numbers of these cells are required for suppressive activity and their capacity to expand is very poor.
The profile of cytokines produced by T cells can affect the survival of an organ graft. The shift in T cell response from the pro-inflammatory Th1 response (IL-2 and IFN-xcex3) to the anti-inflammatory Th2 (IL-4, IL-10) response has been associated with allograft acceptance (Roser B J. Immunol Rev 989: 107:179-202; Lancaster F, Chui Y L, Batchelor J R. Nature 1985;315:336-337; Wilson. Immunol Rev 1989;107:159-176). Only limited data, however, implicate an active role of Th2 cells in tolerance induction (Bucy R P, Li J, Huang G Q, Honjo K, Xu X Y. [Abstract]. FASEB J 1995;9:A497; Wilson. Immunol Rev 1989;107:159-176). Moreover, in some cases Th2 cells can mediate or contribute to graft rejection.
Methods to specifically direct T cells to become tolerant or produce inhibitory cytokines would be very helpful in promoting the survival of transplanted organs. Several tolerance-inducing strategies have been attempted in combination with conventional immunosuppressive drugs. In rodents, tolerance can be achieved by giving a dose of lethal irradiation to a mouse, and saving the animal by giving back T cell-depleted syngeneic and allogeneic bone marrow cells. The hematopoietic cells that repopulate the animal will display histocompatibility antigens of both donor and recipient cells and, therefore, will be tolerant to grafts from each mouse strain (Singer A, Hathcock K S, Hodes R J. J Exp Med 1981;153:1286). Non-myeloablative conditioning regimens have been described where mice are sublethally irradiated, T cell depleted with monoclonal antibodies and given either anti-CD154 or CTLA4lg which block co-stimulatory molecules (Wekerle, 1999). This strategy achieves central tolerance and should have long lasting effects, but has not yet been performed in large animals. None of these strategies have been used to replace chronic therapy in clinical transplantation.
Peripheral tolerance can be achieved by blocking co-stimulatory molecules. The combination of CTLA4lg and anti-CD154 markedly prolongs the survival of primary skin allografts in mice (Larsen C P, Elwood E T, Alexander D Z, et al. Nature 1996;381:434-438; Kirk A D, Harlan D M, Armstrong N N, et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1997;94:8789-8794). A major problem with strategies to block co-stimulatory molecules is that they cannot prevent generation of new T cells in the recipient capable of recognizing donor antigens.
There are examples of solid organ transplants that have survived for many years in human recipients who did not receive hematopoletic cell transplants (Starzl T E, et al. (1993) Transplantation, 55:1272-1277). In these instances, passenger leukocytes from the graft might emigrate to the thymus and tolerize subsequently developing thymocytes. The heavy doses of immunosuppressive drugs used to prevent acute rejection blocks this thymic education. Strategies to reduce the dosage of immunosuppressive therapy might overcome this problem and lead to long lasting central tolerance.
An ideal strategy to prevent graft rejection would be to induce T cells to develop the capacity to suppress the immune attack by the recipient against donor histocompatibility antigens. Although CD4+ cells repeatedly activated in the presence of IL-10 develop potent suppressor activity, these cells have a very short life span and poor proliferative potential (Groux H, et al., (1997) Nature, 389:737-42). Thus, there is a need for a method to generate suppressor T cells which are hardy and able to proliferate.
In accordance with the objects outlined above, the present invention provides compositions and methods that can be used to induce T cell tolerance in a solid organ transplant recipient. The compositions include compounds that inhibit or suppress immune function by inducing a population of T cells to develop suppressor activity. Compounds useful in the compositions of the invention include anti-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL4, IL-10 and TGF-xcex2, chemokines, prostaglandins and nitric oxide.
In an additional aspect, the present invention provides methods of inhibiting graft rejection in a recipient comprising removing peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from a donor and recipient, culturing the donor and recipient cells together in the presence of a compound that induces T cell suppressor activity, and administering these treated cells to the recipient following graft transplantation
In a further aspect, the invention uses closed systems for the purification, conditioning and expansion of T cell populations before administering them to a patient.

Method to prevent graft rejection using TGF-beta to induce T suppressor cells


A resist coating unit includes a coater cup surrounding a wafer W held by a spin chuck and an air supply mechanism for blowing an air into the coater cup. The air supply mechanism includes a hollow frame having a first open portion formed in the vertical wall, an air blowing device for blowing an air into the hollow frame, and a filter chamber unit into which the air within the frame is introduced. The filter chamber unit includes a first air introducing chamber having a heater arranged therein, a second air introducing chamber, an air stream control mechanism, and a filter unit. The air flowing within the frame flows into the first air introducing chamber through the first open portion so as to be uniformly heated by the heater and, then, is introduced into the second air introducing chamber. Then, the air uniformly heated by the heater is blown into the coater cup through the air stream control mechanism and the filter unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a substrate processing apparatus used for carrying out a film-forming process for coating a substrate such as a semiconductor wafer with a resist solution or for applying a developing process to the substrate having an exposure treatment applied thereto.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the manufacturing process of, for example, a semiconductor device, a prescribed circuit pattern is formed on the surface of a semiconductor wafer by using a so-called xe2x80x9cphotolithography technologyxe2x80x9d. A series of processing in this photolithography process are carried out by using, for example, a resist coating and developing system such that a cleaned semiconductor wafer is coated with a photoresist solution so as to form a resist film, followed by exposing the resist film to light in a prescribed pattern and subsequently developing the exposed resist film.
A spin coating method is widely employed for the coating processing with a resist solution. In the spin coating method, a wafer is held on a spin chuck arranged within a coater cup, and a prescribed amount of a resist solution is dripped from above onto the central portion of the water while rotating the wafer together with the spin chuck. As a result, the dripped resist solution is centrifugally expanded toward the periphery of the wafer, thereby forming a resist film having a prescribed thickness.
If the temperature or humidity within the coater cup is changed in the spin coating method during the period between the dripping of the resist solution and the expansion of the dripped resist solution to form a film, the thickness of the formed resist film is changed. Therefore, in order to maintain constant the thickness of the resist film, the temperature and humidity within the coater cup are maintained constant by blowing an air whose temperature and humidity are controlled from above the coater cup into the coater cup.
In the manufacturing process of a semiconductor device in recent years, it is desirable to further decrease the thickness of the resist film formed on the semiconductor wafer. In this connection, it is required to blow an air having a uniform temperature distribution into the coater cup in order to form a thin resist film having a uniform thickness.
However, the conventional apparatus is defective in that the air blown into the coater cup is greatly nonuniform in the temperature distribution. Also, where the blowing rate of the air is changed, the nonuniformity of the temperature distribution is rendered more serious.
A first object of the present invention is to provide a substrate processing apparatus in which an air excellent in the uniformity of the temperature distribution is supplied into a substrate process section for processing the substrate.
Also, a second object of the present invention is to provide a substrate processing apparatus in which the uniformity in the temperature distribution of the blown air is maintained constant even in the case where the blowing rate of the air into the substrate process section is changed.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a substrate processing apparatus, comprising:
a substrate process section for applying a prescribed processing to a substrate; and
an air supply mechanism for supplying an air controlled at a prescribed temperature from above the substrate process section into the substrate process section;
wherein, said air supply mechanism comprises:
a tubular body having a substantially vertical wall and extending in a horizontal direction;
an air blowing device for blowing an air into said tubular body;
a first open portion formed in said vertical wall;
a first air introducing chamber arranged in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the tubular body for taking in an air flowing within the tubular body through said first open portion and having a wall section facing said vertical wall;
a heater arranged within said first air introducing chamber for heating the air introduced into the first air introducing chamber;
a second open portion formed on the upper side in the central portion of the wall section of the first air introducing chamber;
a second air introducing chamber communicating with the first air introducing chamber via said second open portion and taking in the air heated by said heater through the second open portion;
a filter unit arranged below said second air introducing chamber for filtering the air introduced into the second air introducing chamber so as to supply a clean air into said substrate process section; and
an air stream control mechanism arranged between the second air introducing chamber and said filter unit for controlling the flow of the air from the second air introducing chamber into the filter unit.
According to the substrate processing apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to blow an air excellent in the uniformity of the temperature distribution into the substrate process section because used is an air supply mechanism in which the blowing state of the air is controlled at a plurality of points. As a result, the quality of the substrate can be enhanced, leading to an improved reliability of the manufactured semiconductor device. Also, the air blowing rate can be changed easily in accordance with various treatments applied to the substrate. For example, in the case of changing the air blowing rate from the first open portion into the first air introducing section, it is possible to prevent the uniformity of the temperature distribution of the air blown into the substrate process section from being decreased by changing the open area of the second open portion or by allowing the air stream control mechanism to change the air blowing rate.