An analytical device, including: a processing system for treating a liquid sample and for supplying the treated liquid sample to a measuring cell, to the liquid sample; a measuring transducer for registering a measured value of the treated liquid sample variable; a control unit to control the processing system; and an evaluating unit for determining the measured variable based on the measured value registered by the measuring transducer. The analytical device includes at least one first supply container containing a first reagent component, at least one second supply container containing a second reagent component and a mixing apparatus, for mixing a predetermined amount of the first reagent component contained in the first supply container with a predetermined amount of the second reagent component to form a predetermined amount of the reagent.

Such analytical devices are applied, for example, in process measurements technology or in industrial measurements technology. For example, analytical devices can serve to monitor and optimize the cleaning effectiveness of a clarification plant, to monitor an aeration basin and the outlet of a clarification plant or to control a flocculent. Furthermore, analytical devices can be applied to monitor drinking water or to monitor the quality of food. The content of specific substances, for example, ions such as ammonium, phosphate, silicate or nitrate, or biological or biochemical compounds, e.g. hormones, or also microorganisms in the liquid sample is measured and monitored. The total carbon content (TOC) or the chemical oxygen demand (COD) are other measured variables, which are determined by analytical devices in process measurements technology, especially in the area of water monitoring.
In analytical devices, the sample to be analyzed is frequently mixed with one or more reagents, so that a chemical reaction occurs in the liquid sample. Preferably, the reagents are selected so that the chemical reaction is detectable by means of physical methods, for example, through optical measurements or by means of potentiometric or amperometric sensors or through a conductivity measurement. For example, the chemical reaction can affect a coloring or a color change, which is detectable photometrically, thus through optical means. In this case, the color intensity is dependent on the value of the measured variable to be determined.
In order to automate such analytical methods, for example, in industry, or to monitor a clarification plant or a body of water outdoors, the provision of an automated analytical device, which performs the required analytical method, is required. In addition to a sufficient accuracy of measurement, the most important requirements for such an analytical device are robustness, easy serviceability and the assurance of a sufficient working or environmental safety.
Semi-automatic and automatic analytical devices are known from the state of the art. Thus, for example, DE 102 22 822 A1, DE 102 20 829 A1 and DE 10 2009 029305 A1 describe online analyzers for analyzing measurement samples. Each online analyzer is embodied as cabinet device including a control unit, a liquid supply container for reagents, standards and cleaning liquids, pumps for conveying and dosing the liquid sample and or reagent(s) into a cuvette and a measuring transducer for optical measurements of the liquid sample mixed with the reagent(s) in the cuvette. The reagents are moved through lines from the supply containers into the cuvette. Correspondingly, used liquid from the cuvette is transferred to the waste liquids container.
The liquid supply containers of such an analytical device must be refilled or replaced from time to time. In many analytical methods, liquids, which have only a limited storage life, are used as reagents. The time span, also referred to as the maintenance interval, after which a replacement or a refilling of at least the liquid supply containers containing reagents is required, is frequently not primarily determined by the liquid volume contained in the supply containers and the consumption of reagents by the analytical device, but rather by the limited storage life of the reagents. However, it is desirable to use such an automatic analytical device for as long a period of time as possible without maintenance measures to be performed by operators.
German Offenlegungsschrift DE 195 36 789 A1 proceeds from knowledge that storage life of reagents of an automatic analytical device is frequently reduced by gases, such as oxygen, carbon dioxide or ammonia getting into the supply container. Evaporation can also degrade the analytical results in the case of supply containers open to the atmosphere. In German Offenlegungsschrift DE 195 36 789 A1, a vessel for liquids, which limits both the ability of air to get in and the evaporation of reagents, is provided to improve the storage life of liquids contained in analyzers. The vessel includes a removal opening, starting from which a tube extends into the vessel. A gas exchange occurs between the environment and the liquid in the vessel via the tubes, which should preferably penetrate into the liquid. The size of the removal opening is selected for limiting the ability of air to get in and for the evaporation to be as small as possible.
Moreover, DE 195 36 789 A1 discloses an approach known from the state of the art for lengthening the storage life of liquids. The opening of the supply container is provided with a septum, which is penetrated by a pipetting needle in removal steps. Such an apparatus requires, however, a relatively high mechanical stability of the pipetting needle. Moreover, a pipetting needle is not robust and unsuitable for application in a cabinet device, which is to be applied for monitoring a body of water, even outside in given cases, or in a clarification plant.
It is true that both approaches for lengthening the storage life of the reagents described in DE 195 36 789 A1 bring about an improvement compared to the application of open supply vessels; however, they only lead to a slowing of the degradation of reagents; this degradation is especially caused by contact with air. The contact with air cannot be completely prevented in both cases, so a maintenance free operation of the analytical device over a period of time of many months is not possible. A continuous degradation of the reagents and therewith a continuous worsening of the quality of the analytical results is to be expected, at the least.

Analytical device for automated determination of a measured variable of a liquid sample


A method for treating an allergic condition, including an atopic allergic condition, using substituted pyrazoles.

This invention relates to a method for treating an allergic condition using substituted pyrazoles.
Atopic allergies afflict at least 20% of populations in developed countries and comprise a wide range of IgE-mediated diseases such as hay fever, asthma, atopic dermatitis, and food allergies. Exposure of an allergic subject to relevant allergens cross-links allergen specific IgE bound to mast cells, triggering degranulation and release of proinflammatory mediators, such as histamine and eicosanoids, which cause the weal-and-flare response on a skin test. Characteristically, this early response is followed by a prolonged late reaction in which inflammatory cells, particularly eosinophils and activated TH-2 CD4 T cells, are recruited to the site of allergen exposure. Inflammatory cytokines such as IL-4 and IL-5, both produced by TH-2 cells, are important for IgE production by B cells and for eosinophilia, respectively. Immunotherapies targeting CD4 T cells have been shown to be effective in reducing the production of IgE, the activation of proinflammatory cells, and the release of inflammatory mediators.
Current allergy therapies targeting CD4 T cells have met with mixed success. Desensitization with allergen extracts or vaccines is effective for many allergens, such as the Hymenoptera insect sting which can induce life-threatening allergic reactions. The mechanism may be either induction of T cell tolerance or the conversion of TH-2 to TH-1. However, such treatment requires a long-term treatment regime, frequent doctor visits and prior stabilization by other medications, and is associated with a certain morbidity rate and rare deaths. Alternatively, immunosuppressive drugs such as steroids which effectively stabilize ongoing allergy responses, are often associated with severe side effects.
The activation of CD4 T cells is a major factor in the initiation and maintenance of the allergic response. Allergens are taken up by specialized antigen presenting cells (APCs) such as dendritic cells and B cells. Protein allergens pass through the endosomal or lysosomal system where they are degraded by different proteases. These peptide fragments are bound by the MHC class II molecules which, at the cell surface, are heterotrimeric complexes consisting of two transmembrane glycoprotein chains (xcex1 and xcex2) that form a binding scaffold for the third component, a peptide of 11-20 amino acids. The antigen-MHC class II molecule complex is recognized by CD4 T cells and leads to the activation of the T cell. Activated T cells in turn activate several other components of the immune system, such as B cells and macrophages, that are crucial for the body""s response to pathogens, but also lead to the symptoms of allergies.
Class II molecules, like other transmembrane proteins, are translocated into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) after synthesis, where they associate with a third protein, the invariant chain (Ii). The invariant chain molecule is a type II transmembrane protein that serves as a class II-specific chaperone, promoting the exit of class II-Ii complexes from the ER and preventing class II molecules from binding to peptides and unfolded proteins in the ER and in the secretory pathway. A targeting motif in the cytoplasmic tail of Ii directs the class II-Ii complexes from the secretory pathway into the endosomal system.
Before the MHC class II molecules can present antigen the Ii must be removed by a series of proteases that break down Ii. The resultant Ii peptide fragments, called class II-associated invariant chain peptides (CLIP), occupy the peptide binding groove of the class II molecule, and in most cases are not spontaneously released. The CLIP protects the class II binding pocket from collapsing both during intracellular transport and after Ii degradation in the endosomal system. Binding of antigenic peptides generated from endocytosed proteins requires an empty, and yet open binding site. The CLIP therefore must be released while the open binding site is stabilized to allow the binding of other peptides. Human Leukocyte Antigen-DM (xe2x80x98HLA-DMxe2x80x99) mediates both of these functions, thus promoting the binding of antigenic peptides. After acquiring peptides, the class II molecules are transported to the cell surface via routes that are largely unknown.
In view of the above, inhibition of invariant chain proteolysis will prevent removal of Ii from the class II binding pocket, which in turn will specifically block antigen binding to the MHC class II molecule.
Cathepsin S (xe2x80x98CatSxe2x80x99) is a cysteine protease expressed in lymphatic tissues. CatS mediates invariant chain proteolysis, which is a prerequisite for peptide loading of MHC class II molecules (Riese et al. (1996) Immunity 4:357). CatS has 50-60% homology with cathepsins L and K, but differs from them in that it has a broad pH optimum that extends to alkaline pH. CatS modulates antigen presentation in animal models, and inhibitors are effective in an asthma model (Riese et al. (1998) J. Clin. Invest. 101:2351). Mice deficient in cathepsin S have an impaired ability to present exogenous proteins by professional antigen presenting cells (Nakagawa et al. (1999) Immunity 10:207; Shi et al. (1999) Immunity 10:197).
Compounds that inhibit the proteolytic activity of human cathepsin S are expected to find utility in the treatment of chronic autoimmune diseases including, but not limited to, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis; and have potential utility in modulating the immune response to tissue transplantation. Methods of modulating autoimmunity with an agent that modulates cathepsin S activity, e.g., proteolysis of the Ii chain, as well as methods of treating a subject having an autoimmune disorder, methods of evaluating a treatment for its ability to modulate an immune response are described in WO 99/58153.
Compounds somewhat similar to those of the present invention are described in the following references.
Winters, et. al. (Winters, G.; Sala, A.; Barone, D.; Baldoli, E. J. Med. Chem. 1985, 28, 934-940; Singh, P.; Sharma, R. C. Quant. Struct.-Act. Relat. 1990, 9, 29-32; Winters, G.; Sala, A.; Barone, D. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,500,525 (1985)) have described bicyclic pyrazoles of the type shown below. R never contains a heterocyclic ring and no protease inhibitor activity is ascribed to these molecules; they are described as xcex11-adrenergic receptor modulators.
Shutske, et. al. claim the bicylic pyrazoles below. The pyridine ring is aromatic in their system (Shutske, G. M.; Kapples, K. J.; Tomer, J. D. U.S. Pat. No. 5,264,576 (1993)). Although reference is made to R being a linker to a heterocycle, the claims specify only R=hydrogen. The compounds are referred to as serotonin reuptake inhibitors.
The compound 2-[4-[4-(3-methyl-5-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)butyl]-1-piperazinyl]-pyrimidine is known from EP-382637, which describes pyrimidines having anxiolytic properties. This compound and analogs are further described in EP-502786 as cardiovascular and central nervous system agents. Pharmaceutical formulations with such compounds are disclosed in EP-655248 for use in the treatment of gastric secreation and as anti-ulcer agents. WO-9721439 describes medicaments with such compounds for treating obsessive-compulsive disorders, sleep apnea, sexual dysfunctions, emesis and motion sickness.
The compounds 5-methyl-3-phenyl-1-[4-(4-phenyl-1-piperazinyl)butyl]-1H-indazole and 5-bromo-3-(2-chlorophenyl)-1-[4-(4-phenyl-1-piperazinyl)butyl]-1H-indazole, in particular the hydrochloride salts thereof, are known from WO-9853940 and CA 122:314528, where these and similar compounds are described as kinase inhibitors in the former reference and possessing affinity for benzodiazepine receptors in the latter reference.
The present invention features the use of cathepsin S inhibitors to treat allergic conditions, including but not limited to atopic allergies. Examples of an allergic condition include hay fever, asthma, atopic dermatitis and food allergies. Allergens include dust, pollen, mold, and pet dander or pet hair.
In one aspect, the invention provides a method for treating a subject suffering from an allergic condition, in particular an atopic allergic condition, said method comprising administering to said subject a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a cathepsin S inhibitor.
In another aspect, the invention provides a method for treating a subject suffering from an IgE-mediated allergic condition, in particular an atopic allergic condition, said method comprising administering to said subject a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a cathepsin S inhibitor.
A third aspect of the invention provides the use, or the use for the manufacture of a medicament, of a cathepsin S inhibitor for treating an allergic condition, more in particular for treating IgE-mediated allergic conditions, still more in particular treating hay fever, asthma, atopic dermatitis or food allergies. The invention also features anti-allergic pharmaceutical compositions comprising as active ingredient an effective amount of a cathepsin S inhibitor, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The active ingredient can be formulated in any manner suitable for the particular allergic condition, including aerosol, oral and topical formulations and time-release formulations.
The present invention concerns the treatment of an allergic condition using one or more compounds which can be represented by formula (I):
wherein:
Ar2 is a monocyclic or bicyclic ring system, unsaturated, saturated or aromatic, optionally fused, optionally including between 1 and 5 heteroatom ring moieties independently selected from O, S, N, SO2, and Cxe2x95x90O; said Ar2 ring system being optionally substituted with between 1 and 4 substituents;
R5 and R6 are independently selected from hydrogen and C1-5 alkyl;
R7 and R8 are independently hydrogen, C1-5 alkyl, C2-5 alkenyl, C1-5 alkoxy, C1-5 alkylthio, halogen, or a 4-7 membered carbocyclyl or heterocyclyl; alternatively, R7 and R8 can be taken together to form an optionally substituted 5- to 7-membered carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring, which ring may be unsaturated or aromatic, and may be optionally substituted with between one and three substituents independently selected from halo, cyano, amino, hydroxy, nitro, R4, R4Oxe2x80x94, R4Sxe2x80x94, R4O(C1-5 alkylene)-, R4O(Cxe2x95x90O)xe2x80x94, R4(Cxe2x95x90O)xe2x80x94, R4(Cxe2x95x90S)xe2x80x94, R4(Cxe2x95x90O)Oxe2x80x94, R4O(Cxe2x95x90O)(Cxe2x95x90O)xe2x80x94, R4SO2, NHR44(Cxe2x95x90NH)xe2x80x94, NHR44SO2xe2x80x94, and NHR44(Cxe2x95x90O)xe2x80x94; H, C1-5 alkyl, C2-5 alkenyl, C1-5 heterocyclyl, (C1-5 heterocyclyl)C1-6 alkylene, phenyl, benzyl, phenethyl, NH2, mono- or di(C1-6 alkyl)Nxe2x80x94, (C1-6 alkoxy)carbonyl- or R42OR43xe2x80x94, wherein R42 is H, C1-5 alkyl, C2-5 alkenyl, phenyl, benzyl, phenethyl, C1-5 heterocyclyl, or (C1-5 heterocyclyl)C1-6 alkylene and R43 is C1-5 alkylene, phenylene, or divalent C1-5 heterocyclyl;
R44 can be H in addition to the values for R4;
n is 0, 1, or 2;
G is C3-6 alkenediyl or C3-6 alkanediyl, optionally substituted with hydroxy, halogen, C1-5 alkoxy, C1-5 alkyl, oxo, hydroximino, CO2Rk, RkRlN, RkRlNCO2, (L)xe2x80x94C1-4 alkylene-, (L)xe2x80x94C1-5 alkoxy, N3 or [(L)xe2x80x94C1-5 alkylene]amino;
each of Rk and Rl is independently hydrogen, C1-5 alkyl, C3-5 alkenyl, phenyl, benzyl, phenethyl, or C1-5 heterocyclyl; alternatively Rk and Rl, can be taken together to form an optionally substituted 4- to 7-membered heterocyclic ring, which ring may be saturated, unsaturated or aromatic;
L is amino, mono- or di-C1-5 alkylamino, pyrrolidinyl, morpholinyl, piperidinyl homopiperidinyl, or piperazinyl, wherein available ring nitrogens may be optionally substituted with C1-5 alkyl, benzyl, C2-5 acyl, C1-5 alkylsulfonyl, or C1-5 alkoxycarbonyl;
Ar represents a monocyclic or bicyclic aryl or heteroaryl ring, optionally substituted with between 1 and 3 substituents independently selected from halogen, C1-5 alkoxy, C1-5 alkyl, C2-5 alkenyl, cyano, azido, nitro, R22R23N, R24SO2, R24S, R24SO, R24OCxe2x95x90O, R22R23NCxe2x95x90O, C1-5 haloalkyl, C1-5 haloalkoxy, C1-5 haloalkylthio, and C1-5 alkylthio;
R22 is hydrogen, C1-5 alkyl, C3-5 alkenyl, phenyl, phenethyl, benzyl, or C1-5 heterocyclyl, C2-8 acyl, aroyl, R38OCxe2x95x90O, R25R26NCxe2x95x90O, R38SO, R38SO2, R38S, or R25R26NSO2;
R23 is hydrogen, C1-5 alkyl, C3-5 alkenyl, phenyl, benzyl or C1-5 heterocyclyl; alternatively, R22 and R23 can be taken together to form an optionally substituted 4- to 7-membered heterocyclic ring, which ring may be saturated, unsaturated or aromatic;
each of R24 and R24 is C1-5 alkyl, C3-5 alkenyl, phenyl, benzyl, or C1-5 heterocyclyl;
R25 and R26 independently are hydrogen, C1-5 alkyl, C3-5 alkenyl, phenyl, benzyl, or C1-5 heterocyclyl; or, alternatively, R25 and R26 can be taken together to form an optionally substituted 4- to 7-membered heterocyclic ring, which ring may be saturated, unsaturated or aromatic;
W represents O, S, NR27, Cxe2x95x90O, (Cxe2x95x90O)NH, NH(Cxe2x95x90O), CHR28, or a covalent bond;
Rz is H or OH and the dashed line is absent; or Rz is absent where the dashed line is an sp2 bond;
R27 is hydrogen, C1-5 alkyl, C3-5 alkenyl, phenyl, naphthyl, benzyl, phenethyl, C1-5 heterocyclyl, C2-8 acyl, aroyl, R29OCxe2x95x90O, R30R31NCxe2x95x90O, R29SO, R29S, R29SO2, or R30R31NSO2; or, alternatively, R27 and part of Ar2 can be taken together to form an optionally substituted 5- or 6-membered heterocyclic ring with optionally 1 to 3 additional heteroatom moieties in the ring selected from O, NR9, NR10, N, SO2, Cxe2x95x90O, and S; which ring may be saturated, unsaturated or aromatic; R9 and R10 are independently selected from H, C1-3 alkyl, and xe2x80x94CH2CO2(C1-4 alkyl);
R28 is hydrogen, C1-5 alkyl, C3-5 alkenyl, hydroxy, phenyl, benzyl, C1-5 heterocyclyl, R29O, R30R31NCxe2x95x90O, R29S, R29SO, R29SO2, or R30R31NSO2;
R29 is C1-5 alkyl, C3-5 alkenyl, phenyl, benzyl, or C1-5 heterocyclyl;
R30 and R31 are independently selected from hydrogen, C1-5 alkyl, C3-5 alkenyl, phenyl, benzyl, phenethyl, naphthyl, and C1-5 heteroaryl; alternatively, R30 and R31 can be taken together to form an optionally substituted 4- to 7-membered ring carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring, which ring may be saturated, unsaturated or aromatic;
xe2x80x83wherein each of the above hydrocarbyl or heterocarbyl groups, unless otherwise indicated, and in addition to any specified substituents, is optionally and independently substituted with between 1 and 3 substituents selected from methyl, halomethyl, hydroxymethyl, halo, hydroxy, amino, nitro, cyano, C1-5 alkyl, C1-5 alkoxy, xe2x80x94COOH, C2-6 acyl, [di(C1-4 alkyl)amino]C2-5 alkylene, [di(C1-4 alkyl)amino]C2-5 alkyl-NHxe2x80x94COxe2x80x94, and C1-5 haloalkoxy;
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, amide, or ester thereof; or a stereoisomeric form thereof.
One embodiment of the invention is the treatment of an allergic condition using a compound of formula(I), wherein Ar2 is selected from 5-7 membered monocyclic rings, and [5,6], [6,6], [6,5], and [5,5] fused bicyclic ring systems, said ring or ring system being carbocyclic or heterocyclic, saturated, unsaturated, or aromatic, optionally substituted with halo, C1-4 alkyl, C1-4 haloalkyl, C1-4 hydroxyalkyl, nitro, hydroxy, amino, mono- or di-(C1-6 alkyl)amino, C1-4 alkoxy, C2-4 alkoxycarbonyl, C2-6 acyl, C2-6 acyloxy, C1-5 alkylsulfonyl, C1-5 alkoxycarbonylC1-4 alkoxy, cyano, and mono- or di-(C1-6 alkyl)carbamoyl.
Another embodiment of the invention is the use of a compound of formula (I), wherein Ar2 is selected from 2,5-di(C1-6 alkyl)aminopyrrolyl and the following 6 formulae:
wherein
each dashed line may be an sp2 bond or absent; Xc is O, S, or N; and Xd is O or S;
R1 is hydrogen, halogen, C1-5 alkoxy, hydroxy, C1-5 alkyl, C2-5 alkenyl, cyano, nitro, RaRbN, C2-8 acyl, C1-5 heterocyclyl, (C1-5 heterocyclyl)C1-5 alkylene, R11S, R11SO, R11SO2, RcOCxe2x95x90O, RcRdNCxe2x95x90O, or RcRdNSO2; or R1 can be taken together with R27 as provided below;
R2 is hydrogen, halogen, C1-5 alkoxy, hydroxy, C1-5 alkyl, C2-5 alkenyl, cyano, nitro, ReRfN, C1-5 heterocyclyl, or C2-8 acyl;
R3 is hydrogen, halogen, C1-5 alkoxy, hydroxy, C1-5 alkyl, C2-5 alkenyl, cyano, nitro, RgRhN, C2-8 acyl, C1-5 heterocyclyl, RhOCxe2x95x90O, RgRhNCxe2x95x90O, or RgRhNSO2;
Ra is selected from hydrogen, C1-5 alkyl, C3-5 alkenyl, phenyl, benzyl, phenethyl, C1-5 heterocyclyl, C2-8 acyl, aroyl, RjOCxe2x95x90O, RiRjNCxe2x95x90O, R12SO, R12SO2, R12S, and RiRjNSO2;
Re is selected from hydrogen, C1-5 alkyl, C3-5 alkenyl, phenyl, benzyl, phenethyl, C1-5 heterocyclyl, C2-8 acyl, aroyl, R32OCxe2x95x90O, R32R33NCxe2x95x90O, R13SO, R13SO2, R13S, and R32R33NSO2;
Rm is selected from hydrogen, C1-5 alkyl, C3-5 alkenyl, phenyl, benzyl, phenethyl, C1-5 heterocyclyl, C2-8 acyl, aroyl, R34OCxe2x95x90O, R34R35NCxe2x95x90O, R15SO, R15SO2, R15S, and R34R35NSO2;
Ro is selected from hydrogen, C1-5 alkyl, C3-5, alkenyl, phenyl, benzyl, phenethyl, C1-5 heterocyclyl, C2-8 acyl, aroyl, R36OOCxe2x95x90O, R36R37NCxe2x95x90O, R19SO, R19SO2, R19S, and R36R37NSO2;
each of Rb, Rf, Rn, Rp, R32, R33, R34, R35, R36, R37, R39, and R40 is independently selected from hydrogen, C1-5 alkyl, C3-5 alkenyl, phenyl, benzyl, phenethyl, and C1-5 heteroaryl;
alternatively, Ra and Rb, Re and Rf, Rm and Rn, and Ro and Rp, independently, can be taken together to form an optionally substituted 4- to 7-membered heterocyclic ring, which ring may be saturated, unsaturated or aromatic;
each of R11, R12, R13, R14, R15, R16, R19, R38, and R41 is independently C1-5 alkyl C3-5 alkenyl, phenyl, benzyl, phenethyl, or C1-5 heterocyclyl;
each of Rc and Rd, and Ri and Rj are independently are hydrogen, C1-5 alkyl, C3-5, alkenyl, phenyl, benzyl, phenethyl, or C1-5 heteroaryl; alternatively, Rc and Rd, and Ri and Rj, independently, can be taken together to form an optionally substituted 4- to 7-membered heterocyclic ring, which ring may be saturated, unsaturated or aromatic;
Rg is hydrogen, C1-5 alkyl, C3-5 alkenyl, phenyl, benzyl, phenethyl, C1-5 heterocyclyl, C2-8 acyl, aroyl, R17OCxe2x95x90O, R17R18NCxe2x95x90O, R16S, R16SO, R16SO2, or R17R18NSO2;
Rh is hydrogen, C1-5 alkyl, C3-5 alkenyl, phenyl, benzyl, phenethyl or C1-5 heterocyclyl; alternatively, Rg and Rh can be taken together to form an optionally substituted 4- to 7-membered heterocyclic ring, which ring may be saturated, unsaturated or aromatic;
R17 and R18 independently are hydrogen, C1-5 alkyl, C3-5 alkenyl, phenyl, benzyl, or C1-5 heterocyclyl;
alternatively, R17 and R18 can be taken together to form an optionally substituted 4- to 7-membered heterocyclic ring, which ring may be saturated, unsaturated or aromatic;
Ye is nitrogen or R20C;
Ze is nitrogen or R21C;
R20 is hydrogen, halogen, C1-5 alkoxy, C1-5 alkyl, C2-5 alkenyl, cyano, nitro, RmRnN, C2-8 acyl, RmOCxe2x95x90O, R14S, R14SO or R14SO2;
R21 is hydrogen, halogen, C1-5 alkoxy, C1-5 alkyl, C2-5 alkenyl, cyano, nitro, RoRpN, C2-8 acyl, R16OCxe2x95x90O, R11S, R11SO or R11SO2;
alternatively, R3 and R20 or R3 and R21 can be taken together to form an optionally substituted 5- or 6-membered carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring, which ring may be saturated, unsaturated or aromatic; wherein said ring may be optionally substituted with halo, di(C1-5 alkyl)amino, C2-5 acyl, and C1-5 alkoxy;
R27 is hydrogen, C1-5 alkyl, C3-5 alkenyl, phenyl, naphthyl, benzyl, phenethyl, C1-5 heterocyclyl, C2-8 acyl, aroyl, R29OCxe2x95x90O, R30R31NCxe2x95x90O, R29SO, R29S, R29SO2, or R30R31NSO2;
or, alternatively, R27 and R1 can be taken together to form an optionally substituted 5- or 6-membered heterocyclic ring with optionally 1 to 3 additional heteroatom moieties in the ring selected from O, NR9, NR10, N, SO2, Cxe2x95x90O, and S; which ring may be saturated, unsaturated or aromatic; R9 and R10 are independently selected from H, C1-3 alkyl, and xe2x80x94CH2CO2(C1-4 alkyl);
Xf is CHR1f, xe2x95x90Nxe2x80x94, NH, Cxe2x95x90O, SO2, CHSR1f wherein, in formula (f), R1f is hydrogen, halogen, C1-5 alkoxy, hydroxy, C1-5 alkyl, C3-5 alkenyl, cyano, nitro, R39R40N, C2-8 acyl, C1-5 heterocyclyl, (C1-5 heterocyclyl)C1-5 alkylene, R41S, R41SO, R41SO2, R39OCxe2x95x90O, R39R40NCxe2x95x90O, R39R40NSO2, R41SO3xe2x80x94 or R39(Cxe2x95x90O)Oxe2x80x94;
Yf is CH2, xe2x95x90CHR2f, xe2x95x90CR2f, O, or NR2f, wherein R2f is H, C1-7 alkyl, C3-5 alkenyl, C2-8 acyl, C1-5 heterocyclyl, (C1-5 heterocyclyl)-C1-5 alkylene, phenyl, (phenyl)-C1-5 alkylene, (C3-7 cycloalkyl)-C1-5 alkylene, (H2NCO)xe2x80x94C1-5 alkylene, C1-5 haloalkyl, C1-5 cyanoalkyl, (C1-5 alkoxycarbonyl)C1-5 alkylene, and (phenylcarbonyl)NHxe2x80x94;
m is 0 or 1;
p is 0 or 1;
xe2x80x83wherein each of the above hydrocarbyl or heterocarbyl groups, unless otherwise indicated, and in addition to any specified substituents, is optionally and independently substituted with between 1 and 3 substituents selected from methyl, halomethyl, hydroxymethyl, halo, hydroxy, amino, nitro, cyano, C1-5 alkyl, C1-5 alkoxy, xe2x80x94COOH, C2-6 acyl, [di(C1-4 alkyl)amino]C2-5 alkylene, [di(C1-6 alkyl)amino]C2-5 alkyl-NHxe2x80x94COxe2x80x94, and C1-5 haloalkoxy.
The disclosed compounds are high-affinity inhibitors of the proteolytic activity of human cathepsin S. For use in medicine, the preparation of pharmaceutically acceptable salts of compounds of formula (I) may be desirable.
Certain compounds of the present invention may have one stereogenic atom and may exist as two enantiomers. Certain compounds of the present invention may have two or more stereogenic atoms and may further exist as diastereomers. It is to be understood by those skilled in the art that all such stereoisomers and mixtures thereof in any proportion are encompassed within the scope of the present invention.
Another aspect of the invention provides pharmaceutical anti-allergic compositions comprising a compound of formula (I) and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. A further embodiment of the invention is a process for making a pharmaceutical anti-allergic composition comprising mixing a disclosed compound as described above, with a suitable pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
The invention also contemplates pharmaceutical compositions comprising more than one compound of formula (I) and compositions comprising a compound of formula (I) and another pharmaceutically active agent.
The invention features a method of treating allergic disorders or conditions mediated by the cathepsin S enzyme, in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of any of the compounds or pharmaceutical compositions described above. If more than one active agent is administered, the therapeutically effective amount may be a jointly effective amount. The compounds described herein inhibit the protease activity of human cathepsin S, an enzyme involved in the immune response. In preferred embodiments, cathepsin S inhibition is selective.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description below, including examples, and the appended claims.

Method for treating allergies using substituted pyrazoles


An example inflatable paddle board includes a first inflatable chamber forming a stand-up board, and a second inflatable chamber connected to the first inflatable chamber to form a curve-shaped front hull. In an example, the second inflatable chamber at least partially overhangs the first inflatable chamber. In another example, the first inflatable chamber at least partially overhangs the second inflatable chamber. A tent may cover between the first inflatable chamber and the second inflatable chamber.

Stand-up paddle boarding is believed to have originated in Hawaii by surfers standing on long surf boards and using paddles. Unlike surfing, however, paddle boarding can be easier to learn for a wider spectrum of people. Even some surfers enjoy paddle boarding because of its versatility. For example, paddle boarding can be practiced in still waters without surf, and is increasingly being practiced on rivers in whitewater and other bodies of water.


A method is provided for processing an electronic document (ED), the method includes: generating a mark-up version of the ED that includes a text attribute that covers a first area of the ED and an image attribute that covers a second area of the ED; segmenting the text attribute into lines of text and the lines of text into words separated by spaces; determining whether the second area overlaps with the first area based on at least one of the lines of texts or the words; and displaying, in response to determining that the second area overlaps with the first area, the ED on a display to notify a user that the image attribute is an overlapped objected on the ED.

Printing methods (e.g. personal printing, commercial printing, production printing, etc.) are available to print copies of an electronic document (ED) (e.g., word processing document, spreadsheet, slide show, webpage, etc.). Often, users may forget to remove foreign objects (e.g., labels, sticky notes, a piece of tape, e.g.) from the ED prior to scanning the ED for printing. Regardless, users still wish to prevent the printing of the ED with the foreign object.

Identifying a foreign object in an electronic document


The boundary of a surface can be represented as a series of line segments. A number of polygons are successively superimposed onto the surface. The polygons utilize a common reference point and each of the polygons has an edge that coincides with one of the line segments. Coverage bits are associated with respective sample locations within a pixel. A value of a coverage bit is changed each time a sample location associated with the coverage bit is covered by one of the polygons. Final values of the coverage bits are buffered after all of the polygons have been processed. The values of the coverage bits can be used when the surface is subsequently rendered.

In computer graphics, it is often necessary to render (e.g., shade) an irregularly shaped surface—that is, a surface that is not a regular geometric shape, or that has edges that curve in different directions and/or have different radii of curvature. Various techniques may be used to render such surfaces. In some of these techniques, a per-pixel mask representative of the surface is generated. For example, pixels that are covered by the surface are designated as such by setting a bit per pixel, while the bit is not set for pixels that are not covered by the surface.

Using coverage information in computer graphics


The equipment comprises a semiconductor-processing device in which a load-lock chamber, a transfer chamber and a reaction chamber are modularized into, a main frame, a stand-alone chamber frame on which the semiconductor-processing device is placed, a sliding mechanism for enabling attaching/removing of the chamber frame to/from the main frame smoothly, and a positioning mechanism for fixing a position of the chamber frame. This enables the processing device to be attached and removed at will. The method comprises pulling out from the main frame the chamber frame, on which the modularized semiconductor-processing device is placed; forming a maintenance space inside the main frame; maintaining the semiconductor-processing device and peripherals attached in the vicinity of the main frame, and putting the chamber frame with the processing device back into the main frame.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for installing a modularized semiconductor-processing device on a main frame and a method for maintaining the modularized semiconductor-processing device and peripherals.
2. Description of the Related Art
In Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-196802, which is incorporated herein by reference, there is disclosed modularized semiconductor manufacturing equipment including a load-lock chamber, a transferring mechanism and a reaction chamber. FIG. 1 shows compact single-wafer-processing type semiconductor manufacturing equipment for forming a thin film on a semiconductor substrate, which is disclosed in the above-mentioned reference. FIG. 1(a) is a plan view, FIG. 1(b) is a front view, and FIG. 1(c) is a side view of the equipment respectively. This equipment comprises a modularized reactor unit, an AFE portion [the portion which includes an atmosphere robot 5 for carrying in/out a substrate from within a cassette or a front opening unified pad (FOUP) 6 into/from a load-lock chamber] and a load boat in which the cassette or the FOUP 6 is positioned. The reactor unit is modularized by connecting two adjacent units. Each of the units comprises a reactor 1 for growing a film on a semiconductor substrate, a load-lock chamber 3 used for keeping the semiconductor substrate ready in vacuum, which is directly connected with the reactor 1 via a gate valve 2, and a wafer handler 4, which is positioned inside the load-lock chamber 3. The wafer handler has one thin link-type arm for transferring a semiconductor substrate into the reactor 1 and moves the substrate in a straight-line direction. Modularizing the reactor units minimizes dead space inside the reactor unit and reduction in a faceprint 7 of the entire equipment.
FIGS. 2(a) to (d) illustrate the operation sequences of the semiconductor manufacturing equipment disclosed in the above-mentioned reference. In FIG. 2(a), the atmosphere robot 5 carries a semiconductor substrate 20 from a cassette or a FOUP into respective load-lock chambers 3 via a flapper valve 21. After this is completed, the flapper valve 21 is closed and air in the load-lock chamber 3 is evacuated. In FIG. 2(b), the gate valve 2 is opened and the semiconductor substrate is transferred onto a susceptor 22 inside the reactor 1 by a wafer handler mechanism 4. Because the wafer handler only reciprocates between the load-lock chamber and the reactor in a straight-line direction, only positioning is required, and no complicated teaching and adjustment are required. In FIG. 2(c), wafer support pins 23 protrude from a susceptor surface and support the semiconductor substrate 20. The arms of the wafer handler mechanism 4 are housed in the load-lock chamber and the gate valve is closed. In FIG. 2(d), the susceptor 22 is raised and the semiconductor substrate 20 is placed on the surface of the susceptor 22. Afterward, a thin film formation onto the semiconductor substrate 20 is started. After thin film formation is completed, the processed semiconductor substrate is transferred to a cassette or a FOUP in a reverse sequence of FIGS. 2(d)→(c)→(b)→(a). In addition to a single-wafer-processing type, the modularized semiconductor-processing device is capable of handling multiple substrates simultaneously and of executing deposition processing simultaneously. Consequently, device throughput is high, and stable processes are provided.
Generally, conventional load-lock type semiconductor manufacturing equipment comprised a load-lock chamber, a transfer chamber and a reaction chamber, and each chamber was directly attached to the main frame. Because of the construction, the only way of performing equipment maintenance was from the outside. Consequently, providing a space for maintenance work outside the equipment was required. Additionally, there was dead space in which no one was able to get in the center portion of the main frame, causing a problem that equipment footprint was increased when two units or more of the equipment were arranged transversely.
When maintenance is performed, workers are compelled to do jobs within such narrow area and work becomes extremely difficult when a critical failure occurs. As a result, equipment downtime lengthens and throughput declines.
The present invention was achieved in view of the above-mentioned problems. The object of the present invention is to provide semiconductor manufacturing equipment for which maintenance work can be performed easily and a maintenance method for the same.
The second object of the present invention is to provide compact semiconductor manufacturing equipment for which there is no space for maintenance required and no dead space, hence the entire equipment footprint is small.
The third object of the present invention is to provide semiconductor manufacturing equipment which reduces the time required for manufacturing devices and maintenance and improves throughput and a maintenance method for the same.

Semiconductor manufacturing equipment and maintenance method


A hand-held processing system wherein a peripheral module may receive therein a computer processor basic module of standardized construction, with a user-immune real-time multi-tasking operating system. Advantageously the peripheral module or computer processor module may include a touch screen or other highly versatile and compact data input/output device adaptable to graphical and/or other input/output modes suitable for different applications, languages and the like.

This invention relates to shirt pocket size computer processor system means, and particularly to a plural module computer processor system capable of incorporating various data entry peripheral devices and of coupling with various data storage and data transmission devices while yet being suitable to be carried on the person of an individual user throughout a working day.
A long-standing problem in the hand-held computer field has been to provide a compact and efficient system for data capture while yet achieving low production cost. It is conceived that a breakthrough can be realized by an optimum plural module system configuration.
In another aspect, the invention relates to novel terminal means for association with information cards and is particularly concerned with such terminal means for use by an individual user in communication with another computer system. There are many circumstances for example where an individual may desire to carry out transactions with a central computer processing station. In one example, a racing establishment such as a horse racing organization may desire to enable individual members having accounts with the organization to place bets from various locations such as home or office. In such a circumstance, it would be highly advantageous if the individual could communicate directly with a central computer system placing with the system all the information concerning a bet, and receive from the computer system essentially instantaneous information as to whether such a bet has been accepted. Another example relates to food service functions where orders may be transmitted to a central order processing center, and where credit or debit card purchases may be approved and/or related data stored at the central processor. Still another example is in the field of direct store delivery of merchandise. A pocket size terminal may contain the necessary information concerning the items being delivered and may be coupled with the store computer system to effect a paperless delivery transaction.

Core computer processor module, and peripheral shell module assembled to form a pocket size data capture unit


A chain link for a product capturing chain, including a pair of opposed retaining lips integral with the link for retaining the resilient gripping member.

This invention relates to conveyor chain, and, more particularly, to an improved conveyor chain for use in a product capturing conveyor.
Product capturing chains have been used in the past for elevating articles from one level to another in a conveyor system. These chains are made up of a roller base chain with a snap-on metal top plate having a resilient attachment. Two strands of chain are run parallel to each other so that the resilient attachments oppose each other, picking up articles in their path by squeezing the articles between two opposing resilient attachments. The chains are able to flex in order to raise or lower the articles being conveyed, and then the two strands of chain separate, depositing the articles on a platform or conveyor at a different level.
The present invention improves on those chains in several respects. The product capturing chains of the prior art included several different pieces--a roller chain, a snap-on top plate, and a resilient attachment. They were difficult and expensive to assemble due to the number of pieces and the method by which the attachments were held on the chain. The top plate included two welded-on studs, which were inserted into holes in the resilient attachment to retain the attachment. Welding was an expensive operation on each link, and, of course, the existence of welds provided a place for the assembly to fail. Also, the heat of welding might tend to distort the flight, so it would not run true on the supporting track. Welding also reduced the corrosion resistance of the parts. The holes in the resilient attachment provided a place for fatigue failure to begin as the attachment repeatedly flexed, picking up and releasing articles.

Chain link for a product capturing chain


A mobile device comprises a sensor and a processor. The sensor is configured to wirelessly receive an identification signal including an item identifier code, the identification signal being emitted by a low-rate transmission device associated with an item, wherein the sensor receives the identification signal from a direction of the item. The processor is configured to generate an output signal based on the item identifier code.

There are many different data transmission techniques available. Conventional data transmission techniques make use of a transmitter device that encodes original data and transmits an accordingly encoded signal and of a receiver device that receives the encoded signal and decodes the signal to provide the original data.
For a wireless data transmission the encoded signal is typically represented as a modulated electromagnetic wave, such as an infrared light wave or a visible light wave, as a modulated sound wave such as an ultrasound wave or as a modulated magnetic wave.
Usually, large data sets are necessary to transmit particular information. Therefore, high-rate transmission transmitter devices that are able to transmit high amounts of data are necessary. However, high-rate transmitter devices are complex and have a high power consumption. Thus, in many situations, it is desired to transmit the particular information even via low-rate transmission.
Although there generally exist techniques for data transmission on the basis of low-rate transmission, it is generally desirable to improve methods and apparatuses for data transmission on the basis of low-rate transmission.


An automatic identification system for a car-plate which comprises a photographing apparatus and an image-processing CPU. The system disclosed in the present invention can be mounted in a car for automatically identifying a car-plate that is under a still or moving condition. The photographing apparatus is used for taking the image of a car-plate, and the image is then transmitted into the image-processing CPU, which accurately extracts the characters of a car-plate using a "Fuzzy inference" technique, and identifies the characters through a character structure analysis neural network. With the automatic identification system of the present invention, an incorrect identification can be avoided in the event the image of a car-plate is blurred, and the characters is deformed or smeared.

At the present time, all car-plate identification systems are fixed types which are installed at fixed spots. All of these systems are provided with a sensing unit to detect a car that passed thereby. The sensing unit will trigger a photographing apparatus to identify a car-plate. Such a fixed type car-plate identification system has to be installed at a suitable spot and requires a considerable constuction work after it is set up, such system can only conduct a sensing operation and a photographing operation at a given angle over a limited area. It cannot perform a mobile identification operation of a car-plate to be placed on a car under moving condition so as to detect a stolen or otherwise wanted car. In other words, it has no mobility. Such type of identification system comprises several photo-sensitive detectors to detect a car passing a given spot, and to send a photographing instruction to allow a camera take a car-plate image, which is transmitted into an image-processing unit to find the position of a car-plate by means of a differential space frequency (i.e. intensity) analysis method. The outer frame of a car-plate is to be defined by means of a projection method, and then each character of a car-plate is extracted by means of a differential limiting-value analysis method; each character of a car-plate is then identified by means of a gray-scale three code method or an template-matching method.
In the aforesaid prior art, a projection method is used for extracting the characters of a car-plate. In case of a car-plate being a smaller one or being smeared, a wrong character extraction might occur, causing a wrong identification. Moreover, the prior art is unable to identify the characters of a car-plate in the event of the character being deformed or smeared.

Mobile type of automatic identification system for a car plate

Industrial Technology Research Institute


A digital information transferring coin is a disc-shaped apparatus that is capable of transferring digital information to another electronic device through radio communication. The apparatus includes a metal planar body, a near field communication (NFC) chip, a vinyl sticker, and an insulative pad. The NFC chip is mounted within a recessed well of the metal planar body. The vinyl sticker encloses the NFC chip within the recessed well, which allows the NFC chip to wirelessly communicate with a host NFC-enabled electronic device without interference from the apparatus. The NFC chip is situated within its recessed well with the insulative pad, which is used to prevent the NFC chip from making direct contact with the metal planar body. An epoxy finish is applied onto both the vinyl sticker and the metal planar body in order to further protect the NFC chip from any physical damage.

Typically, custom coins comprise a photographic insert within a custom minted coin that is offset printed onto a thin, iron-based metal disc and is inserted into the center of the coin. Epoxy is applied over the insert in order to seal the insert into the coin design. The problem with this configuration is that the metal disc, on which the photograph is printed on, blocks the transmission of digital data from the coin to a smart-phone or other NFC reader, and, thus, making the coin unable to function as described. The present invention uses NFC technology in the form of a custom minted coin that can exchange business information through radio communication with another electronic device. The present invention can also be used as a digital portfolio/resume, a means to store personal contact information, a means to store a link to a website, a means to store a unique customer identification for reward/loyalty points, a means to track time and attendance, a means for physical access, a means for secure computing access, or a means for cashless payments.


This invention relates to a light-receiving module in which transmission impedance of lead terminals are matched by simple method. The module has a semiconductor light-receiving device, such as a photo diode, a plurality of lead terminals for transmitting an electrical signal converted by the semiconductor device, and a metal base with a plurality of through holes, the lead terminals passes therethrough. The diameter of the lead terminal for signal transmission is smaller as compared with that of other lead terminal and the diameter of the through holes is adjusted and filled by a sealant glass with a dielectric constant so as to match the impedance thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a light-receiving module, in which an optical signal is converted into an electrical signal.
2. Related Prior Art
As shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, a conventional light-receiving module has a semiconductor light-receiving device 102, such as a photodiode, a base 103 for mounting the light-receiving device 102, and a plurality of lead terminals 104 to 108. The semiconductor light-receiving device converts an incident optical signal to a corresponding electrical signal. The base 102 also mounts a semiconductor electronic device that amplifies the converted electrical signal and outputs the signal to an outside of the module through the lead terminal. A sealing material 109, such as a glass sealant, supports the lead terminals 104 to 108 that are not connecting to the base 103. The sealing material electrically isolates the lead terminals 104 to 108 from the base 102. In the conventional module, the base made of metal forms a hollow 110 in its backside opposing to the surface where the semiconductor device is mounted thereon. The sealing material is entirely filled up within the hollow.
The current optical communication requires a transmission speed over 10 Gbps. In such high-speed application, the conventional optical module shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 can not be applicable because a lead terminal through which an electrical signal is transmitted has not an impedance-matched configuration. When the electrical signal transmits such lead terminal, a reflection and a loss of the signal may occur at an impedance-mismatched portion. The higher the transmission speeds, the more serious this impedance-mismatched problem. Moreover, the higher the transmission speeds, the more the power consumption of the semiconductor device. In the conventional module, since the backside of the base is entirely filled up with the sealant that has less thermal conductivity than metal, the heat dissipation through the base is restricted.
One aspect of the present invention is a light-receiving assembly comprising a light-receiving module and a circuit board installed the a light-receiving module thereon. The light-receiving module includes a semiconductor light-receiving device such as semiconductor photodiode, a first and a second lead terminals and a metal body. The semiconductor light-receiving device converts an optical signal input therein to an electrical signal. The circuit board has a signal transmission line on the first surface and bias supply lines on the second surface opposite of the first surface. The first lead terminal outputs an electrical signal and the second lead terminal provides an electrical bias to the semiconductor light-receiving device within the module. The metal body has a plurality of through holes, the first and the second lead terminal pass therethrough with a sealant being plugged into the gap between the surface of the through hole and the lead terminal. The circuit board is sandwiched by the first lead terminal and the second lead terminal. The first lead terminal is connected to the transmission line of the first surface such that the first lead terminal is straitened, while the second lead terminal is connected to the bias supply lines on the second surface.
In the present invention, the second lead terminal may be bent to the bias supply lines of the second surface of the circuit board. Moreover, the diameter of the first lead terminal may be smaller than that of the second lead terminal. Therefore, the first lead terminal may be impedance-matched at the through hole by adjusting the gap to the inner surface of the through hole and the dielectric constant of the sealant plugged in the through hole.
In this assembly, the electrical signal converted by the semiconductor device is transmitted to the first lead terminal, the impedance of which may be matched at the portion of the through hole, and finally transferred to the transmission line on the first surface of the board. Since the metal body of the module abuts on or just close to the edge of the circuit board and the first lead terminal is connected to the transmission line such that the first lead terminal is straitened, the reflection and the loss of the transmission signal can be restricted.


Embodiments of the present invention provide a replacement metal gate and a fabrication process with reduced lithography steps. Using selective etching techniques, a layer of fill metal is used to protect the dielectric layer in the trenches, eliminating the need for some lithography steps. This, in turn, reduces the overall cost and complexity of fabrication. Furthermore, additional protection is provided during etching, which serves to improve product yield.

Conventional polysilicon gate stacks have become increasingly unsuitable due to excessive gate leakage as the gate dielectric is proportionally thinned as gate length is decreased. The introduction of novel gate stack materials including high-K (HK) dielectric materials and metal gates has enabled the continuation of Moore's Law.
In a replacement metal gate (RMG), or "gate last" process, the polysilicon gate is replaced with a metal gate stack. P-type field effect transistors (PFETs) and N-type field effect transistors (NFETs) utilize different metal stacks to achieve a desired work function, and thus enable a desired threshold voltage. The use of different metals in adjacent devices typically requires numerous, time-consuming steps to fabricate them. Therefore, it is desirable to have improvements in replacement metal gates and fabrication methods to reduce time and cost of fabrication.

Replacement metal gate and fabrication process with reduced lithography steps


A foldable playyard combined with an outer playyard frame assembly and an inner playyard frame assembly is disclosed. The outer playyard comprises an essentially rectangular upper support composed of four pairs of rail sections each centrally coupled by a switch unit, each pair of rail sections being pivotably connected to a respective corner bracket provided at four corners of the upper support, a lower support respectively engaged with four vertical rails at a lower end. The lower support includes four legs, each for receiving a corresponding vertical rail, four tilting rails sections each pivotably coupled to one of the legs at one end thereof, two pairs of curved L-shaped rail sections, each respectively coupled with the other ends of two adjacent tilting rails by a hinge and pivotably attached to each other at a different end and two posts each disposed under one of the hinges and supporting the corresponding hinge, providing a stable lower support structure. The inner playyard has four corner bearers each releasably gripped to a corresponding corner bracket and four vertical short rails each integrally formed beneath a corresponding corner bearer to provide a height-adjustable structure.

Various attempts have been made to provide a foldable playyard for safe occupation by a child. Conventional foldable playyards are made of boards and generally comprise a pair of pivot hinges each disposed midway along a cross rail section thereof to achieve a fold. Though this type playyard can be folded when stored, it still has a large volume after being folded which is inconvenient for those families living in a limited space. An improved foldable playyard is disclosed in Taiwan Pat. No. 83,202,736. This type of the foldable playyard is combined with an upper support, a lower support and four vertical rail sections. Two safety catch units and fastener units are provided to connect one corner bracket to another one close thereto. Though this type of foldable playyard reduces the volume after being folded, there still exist several drawbacks. Firstly, folding is accomplished by a user pressing the fastener unit and rotating all the rail sections, requiring a large force to operate. Secondly, due to a large volume of the playyard, the lower support is only supported by two posts which is inadequate in preventing the playyard from moving or shaking when used. Thirdly, this type of playyard is not designed with height adjustment so that it can be adapted in accordance with the growth of a child.
The present invention therefore is aimed to provide an improved foldable playyard to mitigate and/or obviate the aforementioned problems.

No. 9, Alley 2, Lane 606, Sec. 2, Po Ai Rd.


ON-OFF operations of the pull-up and pull-down transistors are independently controlled so as to generate a start edge of a pulse signal in synchronizing with any one of a rising edge and a falling edge of a first cycle of the clock signal, and then generate an end edge of the pulse signal in synchronizing with any one of a rising edge and a falling edge of a later cycle than the first cycle, thereby avoiding concurrent ON-states of the pull-up and pull-down transistors, whereby the pulse generator is capable of generating the pulse signal completely depending upon a clock signal externally supplied but being independent from internal factors of the circuits thereby allowing a high speed and constant width pulse generation.

The present invention relates to a pulse generator, and more particularly to a pulse generator for generating a basic pulse signal activating read/write internal operations of a synchronous semiconductor memory device wherein an internal access is made by utilizing two or more clock cycles as a cycle unit.
A conventional pulse signal generator has a circuit configuration as illustrated in FIG. 1. This conventional pulse signal generator has the following disadvantage. A pulse signal generation timing is largely delayed from input of the clock signal CLK. The conventional circuit configuration is such that a short pulse signal "B" is once generated in accordance with a logic signal "A" based upon the clock signal and the action commence signal "AC". This means it necessary to form three logic gate stages. This short pulse generation circuit is necessary. If no short pulse generation circuit is provided, the following problems will appear. If the high level time period of the clock signal CLK is short, a reset appear due to the low level of the clock signal CLK on the delay circuit which defines the pulse width of the next stage, whereby the pulse signal may be discontinued.
The conventional pulse signal generator of FIG. 1 has a further disadvantage as follows. A pulse width is variable depending upon variations on characteristics of the transistors due to variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and power voltage level as well as due to variations in manufacturing conditions. The conventional circuit configuration is such that the pulse width is defined by a total time of first and second delay times respectively provided by first and second delay circuits 26 and 27. This circuit normally comprises series connections of plural stages of invertors. This delay time is just influenced by variations of the capability of the MOS transistors in the invertors.
In the above circumstances, it had been required to develop a novel pulse generator free from the above problems and generating a basic pulse signal activating read/write internal operations of a synchronous semiconductor memory device wherein an internal access is made by utilizing two or more clock cycles as a cycle unit.

Pulse generator with improved high speed performance for generating a constant pulse width


A system includes at least one of a first generator, at least two of a second generator, and a load board. The at least one of a first generator one of receives and transmits analog signals. The at least two of a second generator one of receives and transmits digital signals. The load board is disposed between the first generator and the second generators and electrically coupled therebetween to calibrate parameters relating to communications. The load board includes a direct path for each of the analog signals between the at least one of the first generator and a corresponding number of devices under test and for each of the digital signals between the at least two of the second generator and a corresponding number of devices under test.

In today's communication, radio frequency (RF) modulation protocols have increased in complexity. Therefore, the process of making the communications more accurate has accordingly become more complex. In the past, the time and effort required to implement the necessary hardware and software to accomplish this extended accuracy has been very large. RF signals which have been down converted to a baseband frequency range have been historically comprised of single complex electrical signals, where complex entails two types of data embedded therein, real and imaginary. These signals have been called IF in nature because they represent data in the intermediate frequency range. A direct conversion of the IF waveform into two separate real signals is becoming the normal practice. These two signals are commonly called the "I" for in phase and the "Q" for in quadrature. "In quadrature" refers to the signal being 90 degrees out of phase. The motivation to convert single, complex IF waveforms into two real waveforms stems from the fact that two digital to analog converters (DAC) operate at twice the speed of a single DAC. These will double the possible data transmission rate of the communication and increase the accuracy of the transmission fidelity. Because of this advantage, single signal, complex IF intermediate stages are disappearing. However, one requirement of I and Q arbitrary waveform generators (AWG) and digitizers (DGT) is that they be highly balanced in phase and magnitude relative to each other. This is a difficult practice, time intensive, and costly to achieve.
Historically, the requirement to achieve balanced I and Q signals has challenged automatic test equipment (ATE) since such a balance is frequency and magnitude dependent. In order to calibrate out the frequency response of the I and Q paths, calibration at each tone frequency must occur. However, it is nearly impossible for a system calibration procedure to calibrate an ATE at all possible frequencies as the number involved is infinite. A more tractable approach is to calibrate at only those frequencies and amplitudes to be used by a given test program performed by the ATE. Conventional systems and software have been upgraded to enable users to accomplish this using a new Application Programming Interface (API), new additions to the analog calibration menu, and a new calibration load board. Nevertheless, efficiency problems still occur, in particular with regard to a number of relays required on the load board.

System and method for baseband calibration


A fiber bed element and process for removing aerosols from gas streams wherein a bed of fibers is packed to a desired packing density between two foraminous screens. A substantial portion of the fibers in the bed are positioned in a generally parallel arrangement such that the element can be mounted in an operative position with such substantial portion of the fibers extending in a generally vertical direction to enhance drainage of collected aerosols from the element to thereby allow-operation at even high bed velocities with reduced re-entrainment of collected liquid and thereby increase the total collection efficiency of the element. In the process, the bed element is mounted such that the parallel fibers extend in a generally vertical direction and the gas to be treated is passed through the bed at a predetermined velocity.

a. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to fiber bed elements and processes for removing aerosols from gas streams.
b. Description of the Prior Art
It is known to utilize fibers to make fiber bed elements for removing mists or aerosols from gas streams. In the prior art, the fibers are packed in a substantially randomly distributed manner. The gas to be treated is passed through the fiber bed, with the aerosol droplets being captured by the fibers in the bed. The moving gas urges the captured droplets toward the downstream face of the fiber bed, where the droplets coalesce and drain downward under the influence of gravity. Generally, reasonably high collection efficiencies can be achieved with a fiber bed element of this type.
We have found that, all other parameters of fiber bed design and operating conditions being equal, even higher collection efficiencies can be achieved by forming a fiber bed in such a manner that a substantial portion of the void spaces between the fibers in the fiber bed extend, with substantial continuity, generally in a vertical direction. In the process described herein, such a fiber bed element is mounted in an operative position with such voidage extending in a generally vertical direction and the gas to be treated is passed through the bed substantially normal thereto. This positioning of the fiber bed element results in much improved drainage of the collected aerosols, thereby reducing re-entrainment of collected aerosols and thus improving the collection efficiency.

Fiber bed element and process for removing aerosols from gases


According to an aspect of an exemplary embodiment, there is provided a rotation body of a rotary machine, the rotation body comprising: an impeller comprising a blade; and a shroud that is integrally formed with the impeller and has a cladding stack structure in which a plurality of laser cladding layers are stacked.

A compressor that compresses a fluid, or a pump generally has a structure of a rotary machine including a rotation body therein.
Generally, such a rotary machine includes an impeller as a rotation body, wherein the impeller is configured to increase the pressure of a fluid by transferring rotary motion energy to the fluid. Accordingly, the impeller includes a plurality of blades for helping the flow of the fluid and transferring energy to the fluid.
A shroud is disposed outside the impeller to form a flow path of the fluid along with the blades.
Generally, since the efficiency of the compressor increases as intervals between the blades and the shroud decrease, the shroud has been recently manufactured by being combined with the impeller to thereby increase the efficiency of the compressor.

Rotation body of rotary machine and method of manufacturing the rotation body


Disclosed is a device for detecting the weight of an article by measuring the amount of pressure required to support the article. The weighing device is characterized by a weighing table having a plurality of apertures for receiving compressed air. The pressure required to support the gross weight of an article passing over the apertures is sensed by a pressure transducer and translated into an electrical signal used to derive the actual numerical weight of the article.

This invention relates to a pneumatic weighing device and method, and more particularly to a weighing device capable of receiving articles to be weighed at high speeds.
In many manufacturing process, especially in the canning industry, quantity control is a very important parameter. To achieve efficiency in the weighing function in any canning process, for example, it is necessary to eliminate manual weighing of the individual articles. Automatic high speed weighing systems are utilized to move large quantities of product over a conventional scale to separate the product falling outside a predetermined weight range.
In some high speed weighing systems conveyor belts are used to transport products. The conveying system transports the product to a weigh conveyor having a lightweight belt material, or an endless chain system, and operating in a fashion to move over a conventional scale. Thus, when a product is transferred to the lightweight conveyor the weight of that product will be determined as it moves over the scale.
Since a conventional scale having either torsion or compression springs are utilized in these systems many disadvantages result. For example, there is a required damping time or settling time after each individual product is weighed. Since there must be an interruption in time between weighing individual products, a further problem of spacing the objects to be weighed is encountered. By moving a conveyor belt over the scale there is also mechanical vibration to overcome. Although dash-pots and other damping elements have been used to solve many of these problems, spring loaded scales tend to either overact or counteract. Also, since the product to be weighed is being transported over a conventional spring loaded scale, lightweight belts are necessary on the conveyor to eliminate added weight on the scale. Repeated use of these lightweight belts will yield to mechanical wear and increase the cost of operation of the weighing process.
Thus, the major disadvantage in existing weighing devices utilized for high speed weighing is in the interdependence of the transport mechanism and the weighing mechanism.


A method and framework for automatic non-intrusive testing of object code. The invention comprising a component for defining a test for object code, the test comprising property assignment, validity checking and operation invocation for objects. The object properties after each operation or assignment are compared against a reference object, and the results are reported to the testing person.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and framework for code testing in general, and to testing object code without additional layers in particular.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Code testing is a major part in the development cycle of computer programs. Testing is a process intended to reveal and enable the correction of faulty behavior, problems, inefficiencies and other quality-related issues about the product. Adequate testing is essential for assuring proper performance of the written code. Testing generally starts with testing the smallest possible units, called "unit test", which is usually done by the code developer, and continues with integration testing, system testing, and acceptance testing, which should comprise following test plans or test scenarios associated with the system. However, proper testing, at all levels, requires human and time resources which are often not allowed enough time for. As a result, code is often tested only in a number of a-priori known scenarios which may not be sufficient, so that certain parts of the code are not executed and problems or bugs are not trapped until other programmers' codes are involved. Such bug may present itself only much later in a more complex situation, wherein the bug trapping is much more complex, time consuming and expensive, and its correction may involve major change in the system. Further problems result from changes to existing code, which are believed to be insignificant, so intensive regression tests are not performed, but they may introduce new bugs. Testing is often performed only when user interface, whether the final user interface of the product or an earlier version thereof is available for activating the code. Thus, a programmer writing "internal", i.e. non-user-interface code may postpone testing his code until a much later time. In addition, the user interface and the tests designed for the user interface may not activate each and every command, so that certain parts may be activated for the first time in unexpected situations, and provide unexpected behavior. Another option for testing code requires inserting additional code, required only for testing. However, this is a tiring process which is seldom performed diligently and intelligently enough to cover all possibilities. Further, such code slows the execution and demands maintenance. Keeping a dedicated "debug" version, wherein the "regular" version lacks the debugging code is either impossible or introduces new errors into the code. The situation is no different when object oriented code is involved. For clarity, the term method in the context of object-oriented programming will be referred to as "operation". In the absence of user interface which activates operations of the business-related objects, or having a user interface that does not cover all functionality of the code in all situations, some operations are not tested at all, while others may be partially tested, or tested during creation but neglected later on in further situations.
There is therefore a need for a method and framework or apparatus for testing object oriented code by activating all required object operations in an automated fashion without requiring a programmer to write and maintain neither user interface code nor dedicated testing code. The method and apparatus should support performing tests and checking whether the tested code produces the expected results, both for unit tests and for complex test plans for scenarios of the system. If the expected results are not produced, the method and apparatus should point at the failure by indicating which operation or property of which object caused the failure. The tests should be reproducible so a bug report can be sent to a programmer together with the exact testing scenario that caused the bug, thus eliminating complex, time-consuming, and not necessarily successful reproductions. The method and apparatus should be applicable to all level of testing, whether unit test, integration test, system test or acceptance test.

Method and framework for object code testing


Means for improving the traction of wheeled equipment used in the logging industry comprising an improved skidder ring with clevises to which the connecting tag chains are fastened by a pin preferably secured in place by a spot of welding material. When a tag chain breaks and must be replaced, the pin is severed by a torch permitting the remaining two pin parts to be removed from the clevis. The end link of the replacement or repaired tag chain is secured by a new pin placed in the clevis. A spot of welding material is applied to the pin to hold it in place.

In the logging industry, the tractors used to haul logs and move logging machinery from place to place regularly encounter ground conditions so bad that wheel traction is very uncertain. This is true even though very large tires with non-skid treads are used.
Accordingly, it has been customary to apply to the tires large size anti-skid traction units (known as skidders or skidder rings) which are held in place on the tires by heavy duty tag chains, connecting chains and side chains. In spite of the heavy duty chains that are used, the extreme conditions to which the equipment is subjected result in occasional chain breakage. The most common chain breakage occurs in the tag chains that connect the skidders. The tag chains come into direct contact with the ground as the wheel rotates, resulting in continuous and ralatively rapid wear.
In the construction of the skidders now in general use, there are four eyes in which the end links of the tag chains are placed and secured by welding the eye or the end link in closed position. To replace a broken tag chain, it is necessary to perform a welding operation which usually is difficult to do under the normal working conditions in the woods. If the repair cannot readily be made at the site, then the entire traction unit must be removed from the wheel to be replaced by another complete unit, if available.

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A cane dipper-planter where the pre-cut cane setts are conveyed from a supply hopper to a rotary drum which contains the treatment liquid and a series of lifting members around its internal wall which lift the treated setts out of the liquid and discharges them via an outlet chute to the furrow for planting.

(1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an improved sugar cane dipper-planter.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Cane dipper-planters have been known for several years and have suffered from the problem of ensuring an even, continuous discharge of the cane setts to the furrow at a controlled rate. Examples of such dipper-planters are disclosed in Australian Pat. Nos. 487810 and 488674 (Populin et al). In these planters, a conveyor is required to convey the setts, one at a time, from a supply hopper to the dipping tank, where the conveyor has an upper run arranged to release excess setts and deflecting plates return them to the storage hopper. This arrangement is complicated, expensive to produce and does not ensure an accurate flow of setts to the furrow.

Cane dipper-planter with liquid treating


A mobile station associated with a base station determines a measure of the quality of a communication link between the mobile station and the base station. The measure is determined by comparing either i) an expected data rate for communications over the link and an actual data rate of communications over the link, wherein the expected data rate takes into account radio frequency (RF) power levels of signals received at the mobile station over the link, or ii) an expected RF power level for communications over the link and RF power levels of signals received at the mobile station over the link, wherein the expected RF power level takes into account the actual data rate of communications over the link. This measure of the quality of the link may be a factor in triggering the mobile station to initiate a handoff.

As used herein, the term "handoff" is intended to include transfers between networks of the same type and networks of different types, and also to include transfers while a mobile station is in idle mode and transfers while a mobile station is in an active communication session such as a telephone call.
A mobile station that is able to communicate with access points (APs) of wireless local area networks (WLANs) will typically make a decision to trigger a handoff based on the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) of signals received at the mobile station. The decision may be based on signals that originate from the AP with which the mobile station is currently associated or on signals that originate from other APs or on both types of signals. The other APs may belong to the same WLAN as the AP with which the mobile station is currently associated or may belong to a different WLAN. Handoffs from one WLAN to another may require more time to complete than handoffs within the same WLAN. For example, if the mobile station needs to obtain a new Internet Protocol (IP) address as part of the handoff, then the handoff will typically require more time than if the mobile station could maintain its current IP address. New IP addresses may be required if the mobile station performs the handoff across networks or across subnets of the same network.
If the mobile station is also able to communicate with base stations of a wireless wide area network (WWAN), for example, a cellular telephone network, then the decision to trigger a handoff from a WLAN to the cellular network is also typically made based on the RSSI of signals received at the mobile station. The decision may be based on signals that originate from the AP with which the mobile station is currently associated or on signals that originate from one or more of the base stations or on both types of signals. Handoffs from a WLAN to a cellular network typically require more time to complete than handoffs from one AP to another AP.
While many different schemes for triggering handoffs have been proposed, most schemes are directed at achieving one or more of the following general objectives:    a) A mobile station should look to perform a handoff before it loses its WLAN connection;    b) A handoff ought to take a minimum amount of time; and    c) A handoff from a WLAN to a cellular network ought to be completed while the mobile station is still in an area of overlapping coverage between the WLAN and the cellular network.
However, it is well known that under certain circumstances the handoffs fail to achieve these objectives. If a WLAN connection is lost or if its link quality deteriorates significantly before or during a handoff, communications over the WLAN connection may suffer. For example, a telephone call being carried over the WLAN connection may be disconnected or suffer unacceptable noise or delays.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Measure of quality of link between mobile station and base station


A rotatable brush having a brush head and a handle pivotally connected to the brush head, whereby the handle is rotatable relative to the brush head between an unfolded position lying end-to-end and axially aligned with the brush head and a compact folded position lying below the brush head. The brush head has a locking cavity formed therein and the handle has a locking rib formed thereon. The locking rib is removably received within the locking cavity by which the brush head and the handle are retained one above the other when the handle is rotated to its folded position below the brush head. The handle includes a hollow fluid chamber running therethrough. A spray pump is detachably connected to the handle so that a spray tube communicates with the hollow fluid chamber to enable a fluid to be sprayed therefrom.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a rotatable (i.e., folding) brush having a brush head and a handle pivotally connected to the brush head, whereby the handle is rotatable relative to the brush head between an unfolded position lying end-to-end and axially aligned with the brush head and a compact folded position lying below the brush head. A spray pump is detachably connected to a refillable fluid chamber formed in the handle to enable a fluid to be sprayed therefrom.
2. Background Art
Hair brushes used for brushing an individual's hair are usually carried in a purse, a sack or even the user's pocket. On occasion, it is desirable to have access to a liquid to treat the user's hair prior, during or after brushing. For example, the user may wish to apply water, hair spray or the like to his/her hair. In this case, in addition to the hair brush, a separate liquid-filled container must also be carried. As a consequence of the foregoing, the user's purse, sack or pocket may become undesirably cluttered with hair care and other products.
In this same regard, in cases where a separate liquid-filled container need not be carried in addition to a hair brush, many brushes are long and bulky. The size of such hair brushes, in and of itself, contributes to the consumption of space within the user's purse, sack or pocket to often make it difficult to efficiently carry additional items therein.
Accordingly, what is desirable is a hair brush in which a liquid-filled spray pump is integrated to avoid the necessity of having to carry a separate liquid container. Also desirable is a hair brush that is adapted to be reduced to a compact size for easy storage and transport when the brush is not in use.


The invention concerns a transverse flux electrical machine operating with alternating current, having a first element having an alternate arrangement of excitation cores and of flux return cores and a winding of electrical conductors, the winding of electrical conductors being wound as a toroid, inside all said excitation cores; a second element having an exciter section comprising two toothed magnetic structures, each toothed magnetic structure comprising a number of slots equal in number to the total number of excitation cores and of flux return cores, the corresponding slots of each magnetic structure being toothed by being aligned; a magnetized sub-assembly is inserted inside each indentation so that an alternating arrangement of magnetic north poles and south poles is produced in each of these magnetic toothed structures of said exciter section; an air gap between the first element and the second element; at least one of the first element and of the second element being capable of rotating around a rotation axis that is common to the first element and to the second element.

Transverse flux electrical machines include a circular stator and a circular rotor, which are separated by an air space called air gap, that allows a free rotation of the rotor with respect to the stator, and wherein the stator comprises soft iron cores, that direct the magnetic flux in a direction that is mainly perpendicular to the direction of rotation of the rotor. The stator of transverse flux electrical machines also comprises electrical conductors, defining a toroid, that is coiled in a direction that is parallel to the direction of rotation of the machine. In this type of machine, the rotor comprises a plurality of identical permanent magnet parts, that are disposed so as to create an alternated magnetic flux in the direction of the air gap. This magnetic flux goes through the air gap with a radial orientation and penetrates the soft iron cores of the stator, which directs this magnetic flux around the electrical conductors.
In the transverse flux electrical machine of the type comprising a rotor, which is made of a plurality of identical permanent magnet parts, and of magnetic flux concentrators, the permanent magnets are oriented in such a manner that their magnetization direction is parallel to the direction of rotation of the rotor. Magnetic flux concentrators are inserted between the permanent magnets and redirect the magnetic flux produced by the permanent magnets, radially towards the air gap.
The transverse flux electrical machine includes a stator, which comprises horseshoe shaped soft iron cores, which are oriented in such a manner that the magnetic flux that circulates inside these cores, is directed in a direction that is mainly parallel to the direction of rotation of the rotor.
The perpendicular orientation of the magnetic flux in the cores of the stator, with respect to the rotation direction, gives to transverse flux electrical machines a high ratio of mechanical torque per weight unit of the electrical machine.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,051,641 describes a transverse flux electrical machine with flux concentration, in which each of the magnetic flux concentrators of the rotor must be fixed to a disc or to a common rotor ring by means of bolts and nuts. This type of machine also includes permanent magnet parts having the same radial dimension as the magnetic flux concentrators, and where each permanent magnet part must be fixed to the magnetic flux concentrators by using a glue that is applied between these two parts. The machine is also provided with a stator, that consists of a plurality of horseshoe shaped soft iron cores which are radially located on both sides of the rotor. The number of horseshoe shaped soft iron cores on the first side of the rotor is equal to the number of horseshoe shaped soft iron cores on the second side of the rotor.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,877,578 presents a transverse flux machine with flux concentration, in which the stator is located on both sides of the rotor, but where the magnets may be inserted into guides. The guides should however be fixed to a disc or a ring by using bolts, which adds to production activities.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,854,521 presents a transverse flux machine without flux concentration where the stator is located on one side only of the rotor, but where the magnets are magnetized perpendicularly to the direction of rotation of the rotor, which increases magnetic leakage fluxes between two adjacent magnets, and consequently decreases the converted power per weight unit of the machine.
The main problems of the transverse flux machine with flux concentration of the prior art are the following. Production of the rotor is difficult, because the magnetic flux concentrators must be fixed to a disc or a common rotor ring by means of bolts and nuts. The machine as a whole is not very rigid since the stator is localized on both sides of the rotor. Finally, the maximum value of the mechanical torque on the shaft of the machine per weight unit of the machine is limited by the magnetic saturation of the horseshoe shaped cores, since the distance of the air gap is the same in the aligned and unaligned position of the rotor.

Transverse flux electrical machine with toothed rotor


In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a hand wrench handle includes on an end thereof a socket-mounting passage-forming structure having mounted therein a revolvable socket of cylindrical shape shiftable axially along a longitudinal axis of the cylindrically-shaped socket between alternate first and second positions, in a first position circumscribing teeth being engaged with a first ratchet key locking against movement in one of clockwise and counter-clockwise directions, and in a second position circumscribing other teeth being engaged with a second ratchet key locking against movement in a remaining other one of clockwise and counter-clockwise directions, with the socket being intermittently secured in one or the other of the alternate positions and shiftable therebetween by a mounted biasing spring mounted on the socket-mounting passage-forming structure pressing a ball into alternate parallel circumscribing grooves on the outer wall of the socket.

Prior to the present invention there have not existed commercially practical two-way ratchet wrenches devoid of switches in the way, or switches that have to be moved with pains-taking difficulty, particularly when the person has greasy hands or fingers as is often the case when doing mechanical work on engines or vehicles, etc. For example, there is the U.S. Pat. No. 934,333 to Wicker which has a switch lever that has to be moved between alternate positions, in one position being engageable of one set of ratchet teeth and in the alternate position being engageable with a second alternate set of ratchet teeth, in order to shift between alternately locking against one or the other of clockwise and counter-clockwise movement of the socket. In that patent the switch member, or handle of the switch, is readily knocket to unintentionally shift, as well as being susceptable to being damaged by striking during use. In the U.S. Pat. No. 2,978,081, the mechanism is slightly different and the manipulator or switch lever is supposedly located on an upper face, such that a person uses the socket wrench only in one position, always face-up. As earlier noted, such manipulator is susceptable to being struck when working in tight area spaces having limited maneuvering space. There also is the question in these types of mechanisms discussed above, as to whether or not the switch will possible accidentally shift when subjected to high stresses.