In a method for improving the security of postage meter machines in credit transfers, having at least two modes, the presence of a security flag is necessary for operation of the machine. The security flag is erased in a step of the system routine if an unauthorized action occurs in an attempt to operate the postage meter machine, and the postage meter machine is switched into a first mode in order to effectively shut it down. Otherwise, a special mode for negative remote crediting is entered by setting a special flag when a predetermined operating action for lateral entry into the special mode is undertaken upon machine turn-on. The communication with the data center sequences under time and status (flag) monitoring by the control unit of the postage meter machine until the transaction is completed. The data center monitors the behavior of the postage meter machine user on the basis of data communicated during the transaction.

The invention is directed to a method for improving the security of postage meter machines in the transfer of credit, specifically in the retransfer of funds to the data central.
A postage meter machine usually generates an imprint in a form agreed upon with the postal system: flush right, parallel to the upper edge of the postal matter beginning with the content of the postage in the postage stamp, date in the postmark and stamp imprints for advertising slogan and, possibly, type of mailing in the selective imprint. The postage value, the date and the type of mailing thereby form the variable information being input in conformity with the item to be mailed.
The postage value is usually the delivery fee (postage) prepaid by the sender that is subtracted from a refillable credit register and is employed for franking the postal mailing. In the current account method, by contrast, a register is merely incremented dependent on the frankings undertaken with the postage value and is read by a postal inspector at regular intervals.
In general, every franking that has been undertaken must be accounted for and every manipulation that leads to a non-debited franking must be prevented.
A known postage meter machine is equipped with at least one input unit, one output unit, an input/output control module, a memory containing the operating program, data and, in particular, the accounting registers, a control unit and a printer module. Given a printer module with print mechanism, measures must also be undertaken so that the print mechanism cannot be misused for undebited imprints in the deactivated condition.
In a postage meter machine disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,746,234, fixed and variable data are stored in memories (ROM, RAM) in order to read out this data with a microprocessor when a letter on the conveying path actuates a micro-switch preceding the printing position in order to form a print control signal. The fixed and variable data are subsequently electronically combined to form a print format and can be printed on the envelope to be franked by thermo-transfer printing means.
A method for controlling the column-by-column printing of a postal value stamp in a postage meter machine is disclosed in European Application 578 042, wherein fixed and variable data are converted into graphic pixel image data separately from one another during the column-by-column printing. It therefore becomes difficult to undertake a manipulation at the print control signal without significant and expensive efforts when the printing ensues at high speed.
The memory arrangement in known postage meter machines also has at least one non-volatile memory module that contains the currently remaining credit, this resulting from the substraction of the postage value to be printed from a credit loaded into the postage meter machine earlier. The postage meter machine becomes inhibited when the remaining credit is zero.
Known postage meter machines contain three relevant postal registers in at least one memory for total used value (ascending register), residual credit still available (descending register) and a check sum register. The check sum is compared to the sum of total value used and available credit. This already makes a check for proper accounting possible.
It is also possible to transmit reloading information to the postage meter machine from a data central by means of a remote crediting procedure in order to reload a credit into the register for the remaining credit (residual value). Suitable security measures must be undertaken for this purpose so that the credit stored in the postage meter machine cannot be replenished in an unauthorized fashion. The aforementioned solutions to protect against misuse and counterfeiting attempts require additional outlay in terms of material and time.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,864,506 discloses entering into a communication to the remote data central, initiated by the postage meter machine, when the value of the credit in the descending register lies below a threshold for a predetermined length of time.
The aforementioned patent also discloses establishing communication with the postage meter machine, initiated by the data central, after a defined time span, and the postage meter machine only replies at predetermined times for receiving register data and for checking whether the postage meter machine is still connected to a specific telephone number.
The aforementioned patent also teaches interrogating the identification number of the postage meter machine and the values in the descending and ascending registers for authorization by the data central before a reloading of credit into the postage meter machine.
The aforementioned patent also discloses that the communication of the data central with the postage meter machine need not remain limited to merely a transfer of credit into the postage meter machine. In the case of a log-off of the postage meter machine, the communication of the data central with the postage meter machine is utilized in the data central for transferring the remaining credit of the postage meter machine. The value in the descending postal register of the postage meter machine is then zero, effectively deactivating the postage meter machine.
A security housing for postage meter machines that has internal sensors is disclosed by German OS 41 29 302. In particular, the sensors are equipped with switches connected to a battery, these switches being activated when the security housing is opened and automatically causing erasure of a memory (descending postal register) that stores the residual credit, by interrupting the energy supplied. As is known, however, it cannot be predicted what condition a voltage-high memory module will assume when the voltage is restored. Thus, an unpaid, higher residual credit could arise in the memory upon power restoration. Moreover, it cannot be precluded that the remaining value of the credit is at least partially discharged in the aforementioned way. This, however, would be disadvantageous in the case of an inspection since the remaining credit that has been paid by the postage meter machine user must be loaded again, but the amount of this remaining credit can be falsified by the aforementioned measures. This reference does not disclose how one can prevent a manipulator from restoring an unpaid residual credit.
Further security measures such as break-away screws and an encapsulated, shielded security housing are already used in known postage meter machines. Keys and a combination lock are also standard in order to make access to the postage meter machine more difficult.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,812,994 teaches prevention of an unauthorized access to a use of the postage meter machine by, in addition to standard measures, inhibiting the postage meter machine given the incorrect entry of a predetermined. password. Moreover, the postage meter machine can be set, by means of a password and an appropriate input via a keyboard, such that a franking is only possible during a predetermined time interval, or at predetermined times of day.
The password can be entered into the postage meter machine by a personal computer via modern, by a chip card or manually. The postage meter machine is enabled after a positive comparison to a password stored in the postage meter machine. A security module (EPROM) is integrated in the control module of the accounting unit or debiting unit. As a further security measure, an encryption module (separate microprocessor or program for the franking machine CPU based on DES or RSA code) is provided, which generates a recognition number in the franking stamp that includes the postage value, the user number, a transaction number and the like. It is still possible, however, that a password could be discovered and could be put into the possession of a manipulator together with the postage meter machine.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,812,965 discloses a remote inspection system for postage meter machines that is based on specific messages in the imprint of postal mailings that must be sent to the data central, or is based on a remote interrogation via modem. Sensors inside the postage meter machine are intended to detect every counterfeiting action that is undertaken so that a flag can be set in appropriate memories in case an intervention was made in the postage meter machine for manipulative purposes. Such an intervention could ensue in order to load an unpaid credit into the registers.
When a manipulation is detected, the postage meter machine is inhibited during the remote inspection via modem by a signal transmitted from the data central. A skillful manipulation nonetheless could be made by resetting the flag and the registers into the original condition after producing franking imprints that have not been accounted for. Such a manipulation could not be recognized by the data central via remote inspection if this canceled manipulation were before the remote inspection. Receiving the postcard from the data central on which a franking for inspection purposes is to be made allows the manipulator to return the postage meter machine into the original condition in adequate time. Thus, higher security cannot be achieved in this way.
A disadvantage of such a system is that one cannot prevent a knowledgeable manipulator who breaks into the postage meter machine from subsequently eliminating evidence of the tampering by erasing the flags. Further, this system cannot prevent that an imprint produced by a properly operated machine from being manipulated. This is because in known machines, there is the possibility of producing imprints with the postage value of zero. Such zero frankings are required for testing purposes and could also be subsequently falsified by simulating a postage value greater than zero.
A security imprint is disclosed in European Application 576 113 assigned to Francotyp-Postalia which provides symbols in a marking field in the franking stamp that contain encrypted informations. This allows the postal authority that collaborates With the data central to recognize a manipulation at the postage meter machine at arbitrary points in time based on the visual analysis of the security imprint Although an ongoing monitoring of such postal mailings provided with a security imprint is technically possible by means of corresponding security marks in the stamp format, this requires an additional outlay in the post office. A manipulation, however, is usually only found later given a monitoring based on random samples.
Knowledge that a postage meter machine was operated by the user beyond the inspection date can be obtained in the data center, however, this knowledge is not sufficient to allow a conclusion to be made regarding whether a manipulation was undertaken for counterfeiting purposes.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,251,874 has a mechanical printer that must be preset for printing and that must be employed with a detector in order to monitor the presetting. Further, means for identifying errors in the data and control signals are provided in the electronic accounting system. When this error number reaches a predetermined value, further operation of the postage machine is interrupted. The sudden outage of the postage meter machine, however, is disadvantageous for the user of the postage meter machine. Given a non-mechanical printing principle, by contrast, such internal errors are not normally anticipated and the postage meter machine is to be shut off immediately anyway given a serious fault. Moreover, the security against manipulation of the postage meter machine does not become significantly greater as a result of the fact that the postage meter machine is turned off after a predetermined number of errors.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,785,417 discloses a postage meter machine with program sequence monitoring. The correct execution of a relatively large program segment is monitored with a specific code allocated to each program part, this code being stored in a specific memory cell in the RAM when the program segment is called. A check is then made to determine whether the code stored in the aforementioned memory cell is still present in the program part which is sequencing at the moment. If the run of a program part were interrupted by a manipulation and a different program part were to sequence, an error can be determined by such a monitoring interrogation The comparison, however, can only be implemented in the main sequence. Sub-sequences, for example security-associated calculations that are used by a number of main sequences, cannot be monitored by such a monitoring for execution of the program part because the program check ensues independently of the program sequence. If, on the basis of allowed program parts and sub-sequences, manipulation was carried out such that sub-sequences were additionally incorporated into the main sequences or were omitted therefrom, or if a branch is made to sub-sequences, then no error would be found since no determination about the length of the program part can be made nor can a determination be made as to what program branch was run nor how often a program branch was run.
Another type of anticipated manipulation is the reloading of the postage meter machine registers with a credit value that has not been accounted for. There is thus a requirement for protected reloading. An additional security measure according to U.S. Pat. No. 4,549,281 is the comparison of an internal, invariable combination, stored in a non-volatile memory, to an entered, external combination, whereby the postage meter machine is inhibited by means of inhibition electronics after a number of failed attempts, i.e. non-identity of the combinations. According to U.S Pat. No. 4,835,697, the combination can be fundamentally changed in order to prevent an unauthorized access to the postage meter machine.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,077,660 also discloses a method for changing the configuration of the postage meter machine, whereby the postage meter machine is switched from the operating mode into a configuration mode with a suitable entry via a keyboard and a new meter type number can be entered, this corresponding to the desired number of features. The postage meter machine generates a code for the combination using the computer of the data central and the entry of the identification data and the new meter type number in the data center computer, that likewise generates a corresponding code for communication to and entry into the postage meter machine, in which the two codes are compared. Given coincidence of the two codes, the postage meter machine is configured and switched into the operating mode. The data center thus always has exact records regarding the current setting for the corresponding postage meter machine. The security reliability is dependent, however, only on the level of sophistication of the encoding technique used to encode the transmitted code.
European Application 388 840 discloses a comparable security technology for setting a postage meter machine in order to clear this machine of data without the postage meter machine having to be transported to the manufacturing company. Again, the security reliability is dependent only on the sophistication of the encoding of the transmitted code.
Secured reloading of a postage meter machine with a credit is achieved in a system described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,255,439 wherein an automatic signal transmission from the postage meter machine to the data central is initiated whenever a predetermined amount of money that was franked or a piece number of processed postal mailings or a predetermined time period was reached. Alternatively, a signal corresponding to the sum of money, the piece number or time period can be communicated. The communication thereby ensues with binary signals via converters connected to one another via a telephone line. The machine receives a likewise secured reloading corresponding to the credit balance and is inhibited when no credit is resupplied.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,811,234 discloses implementing transactions in encoded form and interrogating the registers of the postage meter machine, with the registered data being communicated to the data center in order to indicate a chronological reference for the reduction of the authorized amount stored in the register. The postage meter machine identifies itself at the data central when a preset threshold is reached, by means of its encoded register content. The data center modifies the requested franking amount up to which franking is allowed to be carried out with corresponding authorization signals. The encoding is thus the only protection against a manipulation of the register readings. Therefore, if a manipulator properly loads the same amount at the same time intervals but franks an amount with the manipulated postage meter machine in the meantime that is far higher than the amount he paid, the data center cannot find any manipulation.
European Application 516 403 discloses logging errors of the postage meter machine and storing them in a memory for regular transmittal to a remote error analysis computer for interpretation. Such a remote inspection allows an early warning before an error occurs and enables recourse to further measures (service). This, however, does not yet offer an adequate criterion for a manipulation
According to British Specification 22 33 937 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,181,245, the postage meter machine periodically communicates with the data center. An inhibit means allows the postage meter machine to be inhibited and delivers an alarm to the user after the expiration of a predetermined time, or after a predetermined number of operation cycles. For enabling an encrypted code must be entered from the outside, this being compared to an internally generated, encrypted code. In order to prevent incorrect accounting data from being supplied to the data center, the accounting data are involved in the encryption of the aforementioned code. A disadvantage of this known approach is that the warning ensues simultaneously with the inhibit of the postage meter machine without the user having any possibility to take corrective steps in time (i.e., before the machine is inhibited).
U.S. Pat. No. 5,243,654 discloses a postage meter machine wherein the continuous time data supplied by the clock/date module are compared to stored deactivation time data. When the time represented by the stored data is reached by the current time, the postage meter machine is deactivated, i.e. printing is prevented. Given communication with a data center that reads the accounting data from the ascending register, the postage meter machine has an encrypted combination value communicated to it and a new term is set, as a result of which the postage meter machine is again made operational. The total used amount that contains the sum of used postage and read by the data center, is likewise a component of the combination value communicated in encrypted form. After the encryption of the combination value, the total used amount is separated and compared to the total used amount stored in the postage meter machine. When the comparison is positive, the inhibit of the postage meter machine is automatically canceled. This solution thus requires the postage meter machine to report periodically to the data center in order to communicate accounting data. Instances are conceivable, however, wherein the volume of mail to be franked fluctuates (seasonal operation). In these instances, the postage meter machine would be disadvantageously inhibited unnecessarily often.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,760,532 discloses a mail handling system with the capability of transfer of postal values and accounting information. Data is thereby communicated to the data center via telephone with the touch-tone method widespread in the U.S.A. By pressing an appropriate key of the telephone, the user can transmit a number. Information from the data center is communicated to the operator with a computer voice, the operator having to enter the transmitted values into the postage meter machine. For retransferring funds, the transfer of a negative postal value to a postal device is provided in a first step for setting up a communication to the central station. The central station monitors the total amount of mail (remaining credit) that is stored in the postal device. In second step, the central station is supplied with data related to a desired exchange in order to reduce the total amount of postal values that is available in the aforementioned postal device, and is also supplied with an unambiguous identification relating to the aforementioned postal device. In a third step, a first unambiguous code is received from the central station and entered into the aforementioned postal device. The entry is conducted in order to reduce the total Sum of postal values that are stored in the postal device in agreement with the aforementioned request. In a fourth step, a second unambiguous code is generated in the postal device from the first unambiguous code that was entered into the postal device. The second unambiguous code supplies an indication that the aforementioned postal value, that is available for imprinting the mail, has been reduced in the postal device. If, however, the transmission is disturbed or interrupted, then the data center does not receive a first code and the amount of money in the postal meter machine would remain unmodified, whereas a reaccounting would already have been undertaken in the data center. For checking, of course, the registered readings of the postal meter machine could be interrogated in order to compare these to those stored in the data center. It must be expected, however, that a manipulator would omit the latter. As a final step, U.S. Pat. No. 4,760,532 provides for the transmission of the aforementioned, second unambiguous code to the central station. Under the conditions of the touch-tone method, a re-actuation of numerical keys is required, this being complicated given a multi-place code and usually not sequencing free of input errors. It is also possible for the data center to generate a third, unambiguous code in order to transfer the returned credit to another postage meter machine. The responsible authority can thus be harmed by errors during the transmission. The same problem arises given negative as well as positive remote crediting, namely that of achieving a synchronism of the data in the center and the postage meter machine in a simple way.
The invention is particularly directed to postage meter machines that supply a fully electronically generated imprint for franking postal matter, including the printing of an advertising slogan, which avoids the aforementioned problems of known devices. Since there is no printing mechanism which can be manipulated, it is only a valid franking that has not been accounted for which must be prevented.
It is a further object to improve the security in a communication with the data center when data are communicated in both directions.
The inventive solution is based on the premise that only data centrally stored in a data center can be adequately protected against manipulation. A significant increase in security and synchronism in the stored data is achieved by generating a data report before every predetermined action at the postage meter machine. The reporting ensues at relatively long time intervals, particularly for reloading a credit, enhancing security against a potential manipulation in conjunction with the aforementioned logging. The data to be centrally stored include at least date, time of day, identification number of the postage meter machine (ID number or PIN) and the type of data (for example, register values parameters) when the postage meter machine enters into communication with the data center. For the purpose of pre-synchronization of the data of the postage meter machine with the data of the data center, a specific prescribed request can be employed as a first transaction.
In order to further enhance the security, a distinction is made between authorized action (service technician) and unauthorized action (manipulative intent) With the control unit of the postage meter machine in conjunction with the steps for the implementation of a xe2x80x9cnegativexe2x80x9d remote crediting for returning a credit value into the data center, whereby a setting from the postage meter machine is communicated to the data center and is stored there and in the postage meter machine.
The control unit of the postage meter machine thereby checks whether a defined procedure for lateral entry into the special mode for negative remote crediting was undertaken with predetermined actuation elements, whether a predetermined time sequence was followed during the negative remote crediting, and whether further steps must be implemented for the automatic implementation of the communication in order to complete there turn transfer if the preceding steps for the implementation of a negative remote crediting were interrupted or if incorrectly encrypted data were communicated to the postage meter machine.
Inventively, a communication ensues between the postage meter machine and the data center at least with encrypted messages, the DES algorithm preferably being employed.
For achieving the object, the postage meter machine thus is operable in at least two special modes. A first mode (kill mode) is provided in order to prevent the postage meter machine from franking with postage values given fraudulent actions or given manipulative intent. This inhibit can be canceled on the occasion of the next on site inspection by a person authorized to do so. The postage meter machine is also operable in a further mode in order to initiate, as warranted, entry of the postage meter machine into automatic communication with the data center when selected criteria are met. In such a further mode, the second special mode for negative credit transfer or a sleeping mode can be entered. After the completion of the special mode, only a limited number of zero frankings are possible for testing the postage meter machine. When this number of frankings has occurred, an automatic communication with the data center is necessarily triggered, the data center thus being informed that the limit for permissible zero frankings has been reached and also being informed of relevant register data of the postage meter machine. The postage meter machine is inhibited in the sleeping mode for this time. The interaction of at least these two aforementioned modes enhances the security against fraudulent manipulation in the handling of credits that are loaded into the postage meter machine or are to be transferred back therefrom to the data center.
In a first version of the invention, the security is achieved by a predetermined operating sequence during the turn-on of the postage meter machine for lateral entry into the special mode for negative remote crediting, as well as later when the postage meter machine has entered into the communication connection, by messages during two transactions communicated encrypted. As the result of a first transaction, a predetermined crediting request is stored in the data center and in the postage meter machine. It is thus no longer necessary to again communicate the stored crediting request during a second transaction. As a result of the second transaction, a corresponding crediting value is subtracted from the content of the descending register, or a negative value is added thereto, so that a zero credit is stored in the postage meter machine.
If, however, an operating sequence other than the predetermined operating sequence occurs during the turn-on of the postage meter machine for lateral entry into the special mode negative remote crediting, this other operating sequence being prohibited, the postage meter machine switches into the aforementioned first mode in order to inhibit the postage meter machine from franking with a postage value (kill mode).
For the purpose of enhancing the security against manipulation the data center may have previously modified a lateral entry of the special mode for negative remote crediting, which was already communicated earlier to the authorized operator (service technician). The operating sequence which will be valid in the future can be partially or completely communicated in conjunction with at least one transaction during a positive or negative remote crediting.
An authorized operator of the postage meter machine, preferably the service technician, implements a predetermined operating action for lateral entry into the special mode negative remote crediting, this being known only to the data center in addition to being known to the service technician. A special flag is thus set that is interpreted as specific transaction attempts.
Monitoring by the control unit of the postage meter machine during the implementation of a transaction in the special mode assures that the transactions in the special mode negative remote crediting are completed even though a particular transaction has remained incomplete. Given a completed transaction in the special mode, the special flag is reset.
Additionally, time monitoring by the control unit of the postage meter machine is undertaken during the execution of a transaction in the special mode which takes effect if a predetermined execution time is exceeded or given a transaction that has remained incomplete in order to carry out the transaction to its end.
Time monitoring likewise ensues on the part of the data center when a transaction is undertaken in the special mode for negative remote crediting. The register data of the postage meter machine can be centrally checked when communication is again established, for conducting a re mote crediting in order, for example, to reload a credit. Either the postage meter machine again automatically enters into the communication, if the transaction remains incomplete, in order to finish the transaction to its end, or an authorized service transmission provides the data center with a message before the end of the day regarding the current status of the postage meter machine, for the purpose of annulling the data transmitted in the special mode negative remote crediting. Otherwise, the time monitoring of the part of the data center results in recognition of the data transmitted in the special mode for negative remote crediting after the expiration of the predetermined time spank.
In a second version, security is enhanced by checking the operating sequence for coincidence with a predetermined operating sequence in the postage meter machine and by a check of the crediting request in the data central for coincidence with a code stored therein for a predetermined crediting request. It is possible to time-dependently modify the operating sequence, with the same calculating algorithm being employed in the data center and in the postage meter machine in order to identify a current operating sequence. Transmission of a valid operating sequence from the data center to the postage meter machine is thus superfluous.
In a third version, security is enhanced by a combination of a number of measures. A discriminateable log-on at the data center ensues in a first transaction and a predetermined crediting request was stored in the data center and in the postage meter machine in a first transaction. As a reaction thereto, the data center communicates a new security flag and/or a predetermined operating sequence for lateral entry into the special mode negative remote crediting to the postage meter machine is the postage meter machine was normally, activated and has entered into the communication connection. A check is made in the data central to determine whether the communicated crediting request corresponds to a predetermined crediting request. In the first transaction, for example, a new code word or security flag and/or operating sequence is communicated to the postage meter machine and, in a second transaction, the logged-on transaction is implemented and, corresponding to the crediting request, a credit value is added in the corresponding memory of the postage meter machine as well as in a corresponding memory of the data center for the purpose of checking the transaction.
For an entry into the special mode for negative remote crediting, the service technician must implement the operating sequence during the turn-on of the postage meter machine in the way communicated to him from the data center, i.e. a specific key combination must be simultaneously pressed with turn-on of the machine.
In the second transaction, the reloading of the postage meter machine accordingxe2x80x94the corresponding crediting valuexe2x80x94ensues with a negative credit, so that a remaining credit of zero arises as a result.
The inventive procedure also recognizes that the funds stored in the postage meter machine must be protected against unauthorized access. Falsification of data stored in the postage meter machine is made more difficult to such an extent that the effort is no longer rewarding for a manipulator.
Commercially obtainable OTP processors (one time programmable) can contain all security-related program parts in the inside of the processor housing, and can also contain the code for forming the message authentication code (MAC). The MAC is an encrypted checksum that is attached to a data block (or blocks). For example, data encryption standard (DES) is suitable as a crypto-algorithm. MAC information can thus be attached to the relevant security flags and to the special flags, or to the registered data and thus enhances the difficulty of manipulation of the aforementioned flags or of the postal registers.
The method for improving the security of a postage meter machine of the type capable of communicating with a remote data center and having a microprocessor as part of its control system, also includes the steps of forming a check sum in the OTP processor regarding the content of the external program memory and comparison of the result to a predetermined value stored in the OTP processor. This can occur in the execution of the franking mode or the operating mode, particularly during the initialization (i.e., when the postage meter machine is started) or at times when printing is not carried out (i.e., when the postage meter machine is being operated in standby mode). In case of an error, a logging and subsequent blocking of the postage meter machine then ensue.
In order to improve the security of postage meter machines against manipulation, a distinction is made between non-manipulated and manipulated operation of a postage meter machine using the control system of the postage meter machine by monitoring the time duration of the execution of programs, program parts or security-associated routines during the operating mode, and by comparing the measured run time with a predetermined run time following the execution of the monitored programs, program parts or security-associated routines. A manipulation with fraudulent intent should thus also be prevented during a communication, particularly by undertaking monitoring in the communication mode as to the adherence to a specific time sequence in the special mode for negative remote crediting. The time duration is monitored starting from sending a third encrypted message on the part of the postage meter machine to the reception of the fourth encrypted message sent from the data central to the postage meter machine which trigger, given verification, a zeroizing of the credit value. A decremental counter or an incremental counter is employed in order to detect a transgression of the time in the special mode as a reliable indication for an abortive transmission, and a specific sub program is then called that prepares a renewed implementation of the special mode for negative remote crediting and automatically triggers it, so that the first and second transaction are automatically repeated.
In a fourth version, security is enhanced by an additional input security units that is brought into contact with the postage meter machine in order to transfer a remaining credit from an authorized person back to the data center.

Method for improving the security of postage meter machines in the transfer of credit


There are provided a code reading unit for reading a code in a portable terminal, a first terminal side operating environment setting unit for analyzing a code, thereby acquiring first operating environment setting information required for connection to a relay device through Bluetooth and setting the first operating environment setting information to the portable terminal, a setting information generating unit 4 for generating second operating environment setting information required for connection to a telephone call control server through a wireless LAN to make a call, a second terminal side operating environment setting unit for setting the second operating environment setting information thus generated to the portable terminal, and transmitting the second operating environment setting information to the telephone call control server and registering the second operating environment setting information therein.

Conventionally, there is known the technique for utilizing a smartphone as a cordless extension unit of a fixed telephone (for example, see Patent Document 1). The Patent Document 1 discloses the technique related to an SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) client application. The SIP client application is operated on the smartphone, and the smartphone is extension accommodated as an SIP terminal in an SIP control unit incorporated in a network termination device such as a home gateway and an outgoing call, an incoming call, a telephone call or the like can be performed by the smartphone.
A smartphone in which the SIP client application is operated is registered as a cordless extension unit of a house telephone in the SIP control unit. The SIP control unit transmits an incoming call signal to the SIP client application on the smartphone when a call arrives. The SIP client application receiving the incoming call signal presents the incoming call to a user, and the user starts a telephone call. In order to use the smartphone as the cordless extension unit, thus, it is necessary to install the SIP client application into the smartphone, thereby performing various setting required for the SIP control unit.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2014-3363

Operating environment setting system, portable termina, repay device and operating environment setting program


A method of repairing a diametral surface of a mold of the type used in manufacturing glass containers by an I.S. machine, after a repair procedure that causes or can cause an out-of-roundness condition in the diametral surface. The method, which is applicable to the frusto-conical baffle match surface of a parison mold and to a compound cylindrical and frusto-conical bottom plate engaging surface of a blow mold, involves positioning a mold set with its separable semi-circular molds in end to end contact and contacting the diametral surface to be repaired, while the mold set is stationary, with a rotating reaming tool the tips of the removable blades of which define a surface that is complemental to the surface to be repaired.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,617,233 (Mumford), which was assigned to a predecessor of the assignee of this application, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein, describes a glass forming machine of the I.S. type, which is a type of forming machine that is widely used in forming various types of hollow glass containers. As described in the '233 patent or as is otherwise known, an I.S. machine has a multitude of side-by-side machine sections, such as six, eight, ten or even twelve sections, and containers are formed in each section, usually two, three, or four at a time, in a two-stage process. In the first of the stages, preforms of the containers, which are often called parisons or blanks, are formed by pressing or blowing gobs of molten glass in a first set of molds, often called blank molds, with each parison being formed in an inverted orientation, that is, with its open end down. Each set of blank molds is made up of a separable pair of semi-cylindrical mold elements, which remain in end to end contact with one another throughout the blank molding step.
During the forming of glass parisons in an I.S. machine blank mold, the "finish" portion of each parison, which is the threaded or otherwise configured closure receiving portion at the open end, is formed by a separate annular neck mold, which is often referred to as a neck ring, each of which is made up of a separable pair of generally semi-cylindrical elements. The neck rings for each I.S. machine section are carried in a neck ring mechanism and remain in closing contact with the parisons at the conclusion of the blank molding step, when the elements of the blank molds separate to allow the parisons to be transferred to a second set of molds, often referred to as blow molds, for the blowing of parisons into containers in the final desired shape of the containers. The containers are held by the neck rings during their transfer from the blank molds to the blow molds, and the transfer is effected by inverting the neck ring mechanism through an arc of 180.degree. to present the parisons, which remain grasped by the neck rings throughout the transfer step, at the blow molds, the parisons now being in upright orientations, with the finishes at the top, as a result of the inverting step.
At the blow mold station, each parison is blown into its final desired configuration in a second set of molds, each set of blow molds being made up of a separable pair of semi-cylindrical elements, which remain in end to end contact with one another throughout the blow molding step. At the conclusion of the blow molding step, the separable semi-cylindrical blow mold elements are separated, and the finished containers are removed for further processing.
From time to time during the useful lives of sets of I.S. machine molds, both blank molds and blow molds, it is necessary to remove each mold set for repair. During normal repair operations, the face or pad surfaces adjacent to their respective cavities are machined, as well as welding of glass contacting surfaces of the mold elements to replace material lost through abrasion from prior usage. However, these repair procedures can lead to an out of roundness condition in various diametral surfaces of the molds, such as the baffle engaging surfaces of blank molds (the baffle is identified by reference numeral 15 in the aforesaid '233 patent) and the bottom plate engaging surfaces of the blow molds. It is important that these diametral surfaces be as round as possible for proper manufacture of glass containers, and it is the repair of these otherwise out of round surfaces to which the present invention is directed.

Method for repairing diametral surfaces of glass manufacturing molds


The invention relates to 4-imino-oxazolidine-2-one derivatives represented by the general formula (1): ##STR1## and a process for producing said compounds by reacting aryl isocyanates of the general formula (2): ##STR2## with methacrolein cyanohydrin in the presence of a base, as well as a herbicide containing said compounds as an active ingredient; it also relates to a process for producing oxazolidinedione derivatives useful as herbicides by hydrolyzing said compounds.

Conventionally, 4-imino-oxazolidine-2-one derivatives having substituted aryl groups on the nitrogen atom in position 3 are known to have fungicidal activity (see, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 43800/1972); however, there have been no reports on the synthesis of 4-imino-oxazolidine-2-one derivatives having an isopropylidene group in position 5 of the oxazolidine ring as represented by the general formula (1) in the present invention and it is entirely unknown that such derivatives have a potent herbicidal activity.
The 4-imino-oxazolidine-2-one derivatives described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 43800/1972 are produced by addition and cyclization reactions of the corresponding isocyanate and cyanoalcohol. However, no reaction has yet been known that employs a cyanoalcohol having a double bond in the a position and, what is more, the introduction of an isopropylidene group utilizing the isomerization of the double bond is a reaction that is a key to the synthesis of the 4-imino-oxazolidine-2-one derivatives of the present invention.
EP-0241559B teaches that oxazolidinedione derivatives represented by the general formula (3) are useful as the active ingredient of the herbicide it claims and such derivatives may be produced by subjecting an aryl isocyanate (2) to an addition cyclization reaction with a 2-hydroxy-3-methyl-3-butenoic acid ester (4) according to the scheme shown below. However, this process requires a two-step reaction for preparing the 2-hydroxy-3-methyl-3-butenoic acid ester which is used as a starting material and it is necessary to use many auxiliary materials; what is more, the desired product cannot necessarily be obtained with satisfactory yield.
Thus, the conventional method which uses the 2-hydroxy-3-methyl-3-butenoic acid esters (4) not only involves a prolonged reaction process but also requires the use of many auxiliary materials in association with the individual steps and these and the additional problem of low yield make the method economically disadvantageous for the production of oxazolidinedione derivatives of the general formula (3) which are useful as the active ingredient of herbicides. Hence, it is desired to develop a more efficient production process. ##STR5## (where X.sup.1, X.sup.2 and X.sup.3 each have the same meaning as defined above; R' is a lower alkyl group).

4-imino-oxazolidine-2-one derivatives, a process for producing such derivatives and a herbicide containing them as an active ingredient


An antivibration device which can enhance the antivibration characteristic in the horizontal direction is provided.

The patent document 1 describes an antivibration device including: a bottom plate horizontally and fixedly placed; a top plate placed above the bottom plate by a predetermined space and supporting an object such as a structural material to be supported; a middle plate horizontally placed between the bottom plate and the top plate and having a through hole at the center thereof; one first viscoelastic body connecting the bottom plate with the top plate through the through hole of the middle plate; at least three first compression coil springs placed around the viscoelastic body so as to extend m the vertical direction between the bottom plate and the middle plate; and at least three second compression coil springs placed at the same position as the first compression coil springs with respect to the horizontal direction so as to extend in the vertical direction between the middle plate and the top plate; wherein the first and the second compression coil springs which correspond to each other are placed around the central axle of the first viscoelastic body in a point symmetrical manner or in an equivalent angle intervals and a plurality of second viscoelastic bodies extending in the vertical direction so as to connect the bottom plate with the middle plate are placed at positions where the first compression coil springs are not interfered therewith with respect to the horizontal direction between the bottom plate and the middle plate.
The patent document 2 describes an active antivibration table including a bench having a planer shape for placing an equipment thereon; dampers supporting the bench at the four corners of the under surface thereon; a vibration sensor for measuring vibration of the bench; an actuator for moving the bench; and a controller for calculating a control output to the actuator based on vibration information output from the vibration sensor; wherein the active anti-vibration table is provided with a coil spring in the vertical direction used as the dampers and is provided with the actuator and the vibration sensor near the coil spring.

Abstract: An antivibration device 10 includes: a support part 100 supported by at least one first viscoelastic body 400 so as to permit circumferential movement; a carrying part 200 to which a target object 900 for antivibration is mounted; a connecting mechanism 300 connecting the support part 100 with the carrying part 200; wherein the connecting mechanism 300 has at least one second viscoelastic body 350 which permits the circumferential movement of the carrying part 200 with respect to the support part 100. Preferably, the connecting mechanism 300 further includes a suspending plate 302 suspending the carrying part 200; wherein the suspending plate 302 is supported by at least one of the second viscoelastic bodies 350 from the lower side in the gravitational direction.


An apparatus for repairing organic electroluminescent element defects is used to repair the electroluminescent element having a substantial short circuit portion/substantial short portions. The apparatus includes a transfer chamber, an electrical testing chamber and an insulator-forming chamber. In this case, the organic electroluminescent element is transferred in the transfer chamber. In the electrical testing chamber, a power supply source is provided to apply a current or voltage to the organic electroluminescent element, so that the short circuit portion or portions of the organic electroluminescent element is turned to an open circuit portion or open circuit portions. In the insulator-forming chamber, an insulator is formed on the open circuit portion or portions of the organic electroluminescent element. The invention also discloses an apparatus for repairing organic electroluminescent element defects, which further includes an optoelectrical detecting chamber.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an apparatus for repairing organic electroluminescent element defects, and more particularly to an apparatus for repairing organic electroluminescent element defects, which is capable of repairing substantial short circuit portions.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the manufacturing of organic electroluminescent element and organic electroluminescent display, a photolithography process is necessary to define an anode and an auxiliary anode, and then a process for forming organic and inorganic materials in a vacuum chamber is performed. Herein, the inorganic material includes the material of a cathode layer. Since the organic electroluminescent element is sensitive to environmental factors such as moisture and oxygen, which may influence the lifetime of the element, the organic electroluminescent element has to be encapsulated so as to keep the element under normal operations.
During the manufacturing processes of the organic electroluminescent element, if the cleanness of the clean room is insufficient, impurities such as bubbles or particles may exist in the organic electroluminescent element to cause substantial short circuit. Similarly, because the surface of an anode substrate within the organic electroluminescent element is rough and the structure of the organic electroluminescent element is weak, it is also possible to cause the substantial short circuit. Herein, electric current may only pass through defects of the electroluminescent element, which cause the substantial short circuit, and not all of pixels can be driven. Furthermore, the emitting efficiency of the element and the image display effects are influenced. If an apparatus for repairing organic electroluminescent element defects can be used to form a new structure to improve the poor properties of the original structure and to increase the product yield and reliability, the mass-production technology may be advantageously enhanced and the manufacturing cost may be greatly reduced.
Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional apparatus 3 for detecting organic electroluminescent element defects includes a transfer chamber 31 and an electrical testing chamber 32. Before performing electrical testing, the organic electroluminescent element is encapsulated. During the encapsulating process, a cover-cap is placed on and adhered to the element with a UV-cured adhesive, and the UV-cured adhesive is then cured. After the organic electroluminescent element is encapsulated, a cutting machine is used to cut the organic electroluminescent elements into small area. Then, a robot arm 311 in the transfer chamber 31 transfers each manufacture to the electrical testing chamber 32 for electrical tests. After testing, the manufacture with short circuit portions is picked out. Since all manufactures have been encapsulated, defects in the individual pixels inside the manufacture cannot be repaired. That is, the encapsulated manufacture cannot be re-worked. Thus, the entire manufacture has to be eliminated when short circuit portions are found. Accordingly, the product yield and reliability are decreased and the manufacturing cost is further increased.

Apparatus for repairing organic electroluminescent element defects


The upper works of a boom machine such as a crane is supported for rotation about a vertical axis on a lower portion of modular construction. The lower portion comprises a hub-like member having four leg module holders which are equidistant from said axis and spaced around it at uniform intervals and to each of which a leg module is detachably securable. To outer ends of the leg modules can be secured pad modules or extension leg modules that have ground engaging pads at their outer ends; or laterally opposite pairs of leg modules can be detachably connected to crawler modules. The hub-like member also has a pair of body module holders at opposite sides thereof, each laterally intermediate a pair of leg module holders, to which wheeled transporter modules can be detachably secured. Alternatively, with crawler modules installed, a hydraulic power module for energizing them can be secured to one body module holder. When not supporting the machine for transport or as a truck crane, transporter modules can serve as auxiliary counterweight carriages.

Heretofore it has been conventional to provide certain wheel-mounted cranes with outriggers that could be extended and engaged with the ground to provide fixed, stable support for the crane while it was in operation. Such a crane, when working with its outriggers in place, could not transport a load that it was hoisting, although retraction of the outriggers permitted the unloaded crane to be moved from place to place on its wheels.
A heretofore conventional crawler crane has been capable of transporting a load that it was carrying, since the endless tracks or crawlers on such a crane provided it with a stable base, both when it was moving and when it was standing still. But a crawler crane could not travel on its crawlers for over-the-road transportation from one job site to another; hence, transportation of a crawler crane across any substantial distance required that the machine be loaded onto a flatbed trailer or a railroad car, or that it be disassembled, transported in several loads, and reassembled at a new job site.
Stationary cranes were also available that were intended to be erected at a job site where hoisting operations were to be conducted for a relatively long period of time, and which thereafter had to be disassembled for transportation to a new project at which they were again reassembled.
Each of these types of cranes was relatively specialized, having certain definite advantages and certain definite disadvantages. A contractor who wanted to be able to provide a crane suitable for any type of hoisting operation therefore had to invest in several different cranes, each relatively expensive in itself.
It seldom happens that a contractor has several different jobs simultaneously, each suitable for one of several different cranes. Therefore it has heretofore been necessary for a contractor either to restrict his investment to one or a few cranes and decline jobs for which he was not equipped, or to invest in a variety of cranes only to find that at almost any given time at least one of them was standing idle and thus representing a substantial investment that was yielding no return.
The present invention removes this long-standing dilemma by providing a relatively heavy-duty crane which is substantially more versatile than any heretofore available, so that a contractor or operator can, in effect, equip himself with several different kinds of cranes at a capital cost only slightly higher than was heretofore required for one specialized crane.
It is a more specific object of this invention to provide a convertible crane of modular construction, capable of being altered from one type of crane to another by means of readily interchangeable modules, so that a contractor or crane operator can invest in a set of modules that will provide him with one basic type of crane and, when the need arises, can purchase a few additional modules at relatively modest cost that will enable him to convert to a basically different type of crane.
Another and more specific object of this invention is to provide a convertible crane of modular construction that can be very readily set up as a crawler crane, a stationary crane on a very stable base, or an extra-heavy-lift crane having supplementary counterweight means, and which is further readily convertible to a wheeled transport configuration for over-the-road travel and can be used in that configuration as a truck crane.

Convertible boom machine having modular bottom portion


A semiconductor device includes: a plurality of target lines to be driven; a plurality of target line drivers configured to drive the corresponding target lines in a logic level corresponding to a plurality of target line selection signals; a plurality of booster enable units configured to generate a booster enable signal by sensing whether a group of target lines that is obtained by grouping the target lines by a predetermined number is enabled or not; and a plurality of self-boosters configured to boost corresponding target lines by sensing levels of the corresponding target lines in response to the booster enable signal.

1. Field
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a semiconductor designing technology, and more particularly, to a line driving method of a semiconductor device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Most semiconductor memory devices including Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) devices are using a row/column addressing scheme to access a particular memory cell. First, a semiconductor memory device receives a row address from the outside to select a row, which is a word line, and then receives a column address inputted from the outside to select one column in the selected row, which is a bit line.
In order to select one row, word lines have to be driven, and a column selection line has to be driven as well to select one column. The column selection line is a line for transferring a column selection signal that is selectively enabled by decoding the column address in a column decoder. The column selection signal is a control signal of a switch that selectively connects a local data bus and a bit line during a read operation or a write operation. While the column selection signal pulses, data are exchanged between a corresponding bit line and a corresponding local data bus.
As semiconductor memory devices are integrated higher and higher, more load is applied to the column selection line. Since the column selection line is a relatively long line among the lines disposed in a core region of a semiconductor memory device, the load of the line to be driven is not small.
In order to drive a line with much load, a driving circuit is required to have a sufficient driving force. When the driving circuit has a small driving force, a signal transfer rate through the line is dramatically decreased, which is problematic.
A transistor that constitutes the driving circuit has to be designed large to have the sufficient driving force. However, the size of the transistor cannot be enlarged without any definite plan, because the circuit area and current consumption have to be taken into consideration. Therefore, the insufficient driving force of the driving circuit has to be complemented while designing the transistor of the driving circuit in an appropriate size. Two methods have been suggested to complement the driving force of the driving circuit for a line with much load.
One is to insert a repeater in the middle of the line, and the other is to boost the line by generating a control signal. The insertion of a repeater into the middle of the line may cause another problem. Particularly, it takes a dummy cell array and a sense amplifier array to insert a repeater into the column selection line in a DRAM device having an open bit line structure. Since the dummy cell array and the dummy sense amplifier array occupy a great area, it is disadvantageous in terms of the chip size. Also, the method of boosting the line by generating a control signal not only has difficulty in controlling timing but also has increased current consumption.
These are not the only problems of the driving circuit of the column selection line, but also the problems of multiple lines having much load, such as word lines.

Semiconductor device having line self-boosting scheme


An engine has an engine body, an injector, and a control section which controls a fuel injection amount and an injection state of the injector. The control section predicts a state of temperature in the combustion chamber, and controls the injector such that a volume of an air-fuel mixture layer formed in the combustion chamber is larger when the predicted temperature is high, than when the predicted temperature is low, even when same fuel amounts are injected.

Patent Document 1 discloses a compression self-ignition engine in which a wall surface dividing the combustion chamber is made of a heat-insulating material to reduce cooling loss by the wall surface of the combustion chamber. A reduction in the cooling loss improves thermal efficiency.
Patent Document 2 discloses an outwardly-opening valve injector for injecting the fuel into the combustion chamber of an engine. In the outwardly-opening valve injector, the effective cross-sectional area of a nozzle port, through which the fuel is injected, is changed by changing a lift amount of a valve body. Further, Patent Document 3 discloses a valve covered orifice (VCO) nozzle type injector. The VCO nozzle type injector is configured such that a needle valve is set directly on the seat portion where the nozzle port is open, and that the nozzle port is closed by that needle valve. In the VCO nozzle type injector, the size of a cavitation area, which is generated on the inner periphery of the nozzle port, varies according to the lift amount of the needle valve. Thus, in the VCO nozzle type injector, the effective cross-sectional area of the nozzle port changes according to the lift amount of the needle valve, similarly to the outwardly-opening valve injector.
Patent Document 4 discloses an engine having an outwardly-opening valve injector arranged on the central axis of the cylinder, and injecting the fuel in the form of a cone, wherein the fuel is injected into the cylinder in the second half of a compression stroke, thereby forming, in the combustion chamber, an air-fuel mixture layer and a gas layer (a gas layer containing fresh air) around the air-fuel mixture layer. The engine disclosed in Patent Document 4 reduces the cooling loss by making the gas layer around the air-fuel mixture layer serve as a heat-insulating layer at the combustion of the air-fuel mixture. Patent Document 4 also discloses making the fuel concentration uniform with respect to the fuel injection direction by changing the lift amount of the outwardly-opening valve in the middle of a continuous injection of the fuel.

Control device for direct injection gasoline engine


Device to prepare turnovers which has a base element, a top contact element, and lever for closing. The base element has two parts which are joined by two hinges. One part is fixed and the other one performs a 180° opening and closing movement to form the turnover. This movable part has engravings on its interior surrounding walls which are marked in the dough when the two parts come together to form the pie. The outer edge of the periphery of the base element has a slope that serves to cut the dough excess of the turnovers. When the lever presses the top contact element against the base element a concave tortilla will form. Then, the concave tortilla is stuffed with your choice of filling and the movable part closes to form the turnover. Finally, the movable part opens and the turnover is taken out.

There are some similar products in the market however, this invention is a novelty product, since it has concave surfaces which allow the appropriate accommodation of the food to be prepared. In addition, it has a lever that make sure that a similar quantity of the product is evenly distributed in each production cycle.


A cue ball aiming device, comprising a cue ball spotter, an object ball cradle, a center-to-center sight, and a support structure, is provided for aiming a cue ball with respect to an object ball. The cue ball aiming device may aid in improving one's skill in playing the game of billiards.

This invention relates generally to means for aiming a cue ball with respect to an object ball when practicing the game of billiards.
The game of billiards had its origin in Europe over 400 years ago. Today, the game of billiards has emerged into an exhaustive number of forms played throughout the world. There exist amateurs and professionals alike who spend countless numbers of hours mastering the skill required to become the best players of the game.
Pocket billiards, commonly called pool, has a large number of players, particularly amateurs, in the United States. A white cue ball and fifteen colored object balls are used, with the balls numbered from 1 to 8 being solid colors and the balls numbered 9 to 15 being striped. The fundamental object of pocket billiards is to stroke the cue ball with a cue stick such that the cue ball strikes the object ball at the appropriate point to pocket the object ball.
To master the game of billiards, it is necessary for a player to develop the skill of stroking the cue ball so that the cue ball strikes the object ball at the proper point of contact to project the object ball into a pocket. The cue ball aiming device of the present invention may aid a player in developing such skill.
By positioning the cue ball aiming device of the present invention over the object ball and aligning the cue ball aiming device with the appropriate pocket, a player is able to eye the path the cue ball must follow to properly strike the object ball. When the cue ball is aimed at the cue ball aiming device and stroked accordingly, the cue ball will strike the object ball at the proper point of contact and project the object ball into the appropriate pocket.


Poly(arylene ether) sulfones that contain thiophene rings within the aromatic polymer backbone are disclosed, along with fibers, films, and other articles of manufacture formed therefrom.

Poly(arylene ether sulfone)s (PAES) are recognized as important high performance engineering thermoplastics. Commercially available materials include those sold under the trademarks Udel (shown as Formula I) ##STR1## and Victrex (shown as Formula II). ##STR2## PAES materials are generally regarded as having high tensile and flexural strength and excellent oxidative, thermal, and hydrolytic stability. PAES is used for a variety of component parts, such as those employed for ultrafiltration, and also can be used as matrix for composites, coatings, and adhesives.
An exemplary polymerization method for producing PAES is disclosed in Johnson et al., J. Polymer Sci. Pt. A., 5:2375 (1967), which describes step growth polymerization of 4,4'-dichlorodiphenylsulfone and various biphenols using aprotic solvents such as DMSO and potassium hydroxide. McGrath et al., Polymer, 25:1827 (1984), notes that this polymerization proceeds with excess potassium hydroxide and dimethylacetamide as a solvent.
Thiophene is five-membered aromatic ring (Formula III) ##STR3## that has been introduced into the polymer backbone of commercially known polymers such as poly(ethylene terephthalate), poly(ether ether ketone) and poly(arimid). Because they include only six-membered aromatic ring structures, the non-thiophene containing analogs of these compounds are linked so that the bond angles about the individual aromatic rings of the backbone are either 120 or 180 degrees. The introduction of the five-membered thiophene ring into the polymer backbone causes the backbone to include additionally bond angles of 148 degrees. This substitution in the polymer backbone modifies the crystalline structure of the polymer and thereby provides the polymer with, inter alia, different mechanical, thermal, chemical, and crystalline properties.
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide polymer alternatives to PAES which have different physical, chemical, and processing characteristics to increase the range of applications for these types of materials.

Thiophene-containing poly(arylene ether) sulfones

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill


A semiconductor memory has a sense amplifier array shared by first and second memory cell arrays, which are selected by first and second selection signals. Interconnections between the sense amplifier array and the first memory cell array are controlled by a first transfer gate signal. When the first selection signal is inactive, the second selection signal is coupled through a first transfer gate driver to become the first transfer gate signal. When the first selection signal is active, the first transfer gate signal is decoupled from the second selection signal and driven to an elevated level.

This invention relates to a semiconductor memory, more particularly to the circuits for generating transfer gate signals in a semiconductor memory with shared sense amplifiers.
To conserve power and obtain an adequate operating margin, the memory cells in a semiconductor memory are commonly divided into a plurality of arrays, only one of which is activated in any given access cycle. This leads to a configuration in which sense amplifier arrays are disposed between memory cell arrays, with each sense amplifier array shared by the memory cell arrays on either side. Transfer gate signals control interconnections between the memory cell arrays and sense amplifier arrays.
In the standby state, to precharge bit lines in the memory cell arrays, it suffices to drive the transfer gate signals to the supply voltage level. During an access cycle, however, the transfer gate signals associated with the accessed memory cell array must be driven to a higher level, to enable writing or refreshing of data at the full supply-voltage level.
Prior-art semiconductor memories of this type accordingly provide, for each transfer gate signal, a transfer gate driver having a charge pump for generating an elevated voltage. In densely integrated memories, in which each transfer gate signal must drive the gate capacitance of a large number of gate transistors, the charge pump requires a large capacitor, so the transfer gate drivers take up considerable space. Moreover, they must be located at some distance from the sense amplifier arrays, a requirement that lengthens the transfer gate signal lines and increases their resistance and capacitance.
Prior-art transfer gate drivers also rely on delay lines for timing control. These delay lines are a source of various problems, such as inefficient charge pumping or unwanted current flow from the power supply to ground. These problems occur when the timing is improperly adjusted, as a result of fabrication variations, for example.

Semiconductor memory with improved transfer gate drivers


A stepping motor system is shown wherein a method is employed for determining the optimum amplitude of the current supplied to the stator winding of the motor. A series of different currents are applied to the motor. First, the stator windings are energized with currents of certain base magnitudes. Then the current in one winding is increased by a small amount and the current in the adjacent winding is decreased by a small amount so that the rotor tends to move towards its new equilibrium position. When the rotor reaches its maximum displacement the current changes in the windings are reversed so that not only will the rotor "hunt" for its new equilibrium position but it overshoots with twice the magnitude. This process continues for a certain period of time during which the oscillation magnitudes rapidly grow. In one embodiment, after a maximum amplitude is reached, the current changes are applied out of phase with the oscillations to now try to decrease their amplitude. After another period of time, the current changes are terminated, the residual oscillations are monitored and all oscillations greater than a given amplitude are recorded. As this process can be repeated for different base currents, that current which yields the minimum number of "over" oscillations during the monitoring period is selected as the current amplitude for subsequent use in positioning the rotor. In another embodiment, the damping portions of the method is not performed. Then, the base current is selected which results in the greatest number of "over" oscillations.

This invention pertains to resonant systems and more particularly to stepping motor systems which are optimally driven by exploiting the resonant properties between the stator field and the rotor.
In my copending U.S. application Ser. No. 876,656 filed Jan. 6, 1978 and Ser. No. 82,742 filed Oct. 9, 1979 I disclosed new appartus and methods for driving conventional stepping motors. In particular the apparatus and methods relied upon among other things, particular current waveforms with certain amplitudes for energizing the windings of the stator. These amplitudes were derived by exploiting the resonant properties of the system. The disclosure of such apparatus and methods has created a demand for even more versatile devices. In particular, it has been discovered that the load connected to the stepping motors can be changed for certain applications. For example, if the stepping motor is being used in a printer utilizing interchangeable "daisy" wheels for different type fonts, the problem arises in that each wheel may have a different mass. Accordingly, the load on the rotor will change. The changing of this load in effect changes the resonant properties of the system. Accordingly, the original driving current amplitudes will no longer be optimum.

Method of determining operating currents for stepping motor


Salts of pyrimidine derivatives are provided having the formula:

Not applicable
The field of the invention is in salts of substituted pyrimidine compounds and their use as pharmacologically active agents capable of suppressing and inhibiting viruses (e.g., herpes viruses). The subject compounds and compositions are particularly useful in treating and suppressing human Cytomegalovirus.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a member of the herpes virus family. Other well-known members of the herpes virus family include, for example, herpes simplex virus, types I and II, Epstein-Barr virus and varicella zoster virus. These viruses are related taxonomically, but each manifests in a clinically distinct manner. In the case of CMV, medical conditions arising from congenital infection include jaundice, respiratory distress and convulsive seizures which may result in mental retardation, neurologic disability or death. Infection in adults is frequently asymptomatic, but may manifest as mononucleosis, hepatitis, pneumonitis or retinitis, particularly in immunocompromised patients such as AIDS sufferers, chemotherapy patients, and organ transplant patients undergoing tissue rejection therapy.
A variety of drugs have been developed to treat herpes virus infections, including naturally occurring proteins and synthetic nucleoside analogs. For example, the natural anti-viral protein interferon has been used in the treatment of herpes virus infections, as have the nucleoside analogs cytosine-arabinoside, adenine-arabinoside, iodoxyuridine and acyclovir, which is presently the treatment of choice for herpes simplex type II infection.
Unfortunately, drugs such as acyclovir that have proven sufficiently effective to treat infection by certain herpes viruses are not sufficiently effective to treat CMV. Additionally, drugs currently used to treat CMV infection, such as 9-((1,3-dihydroxy-2-propoxy)methyl)guanidine (ganciclovir, DHPG) and phosphonoformic acid (foscarnet), lack the acceptable side effect and safety profiles of the drugs approved for treatment of other herpes viruses. Moreover, such drugs are ineffective to treat certain strains of CMV that have acquired drug resistance. Thus, despite advances in the development of anti-herpes virus drugs, there remains a need for therapeutic agents effective in treating CMV infection with an increased safety margin. Recently, PCT US99/03136 described the use of pyrimidine derivatives for the treatment of antiviral infections.
The present invention provides salts of certain pyrimidine derivatives which are surprisingly effective in treating viral infection and which have properties suitable for clinical use.
In one aspect, the present invention provides compounds having the formula:
In this formula, R represents hydrogen, methyl or ethyl; Z represents a substituted or unsubstituted 1-piperidinyl, a substituted or unsubstituted 4-morpholinyl, or a substituted or unsubstituted 1-pyrrolidinyl; and Ar represents a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl or a substituted or unsubstituted naphthyl.
The compounds of the present invention are useful in therapeutic as well as prophylactic and diagnostic applications. Accordingly, the present invention provides compositions containing the above compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable excipients or diagnostically acceptable excipients. The invention further provides methods of inhibiting or suppressing certain viruses, and methods of treating individuals infected with such viruses, particularly CMV. In addition to treatments for existing conditions, the present invention also provides methods for prophylactic treatments to prevent the onset of viral infection in patients undergoing, for example, organ transplants.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description and claims.

Arylsulfonic acid salts of pyrimidine-based antiviral agents

Abstract: wherein R represents hydrogen, methyl or ethyl; Z represents a substituted or unsubstituted 1-piperidinyl, a substituted or unsubstituted 4-morpholinyl, or a substituted or unsubstituted 1-pyrrolidinyl; and Ar represents a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl or a substituted or unsubstituted naphthyl. These salts are particularly useful as antiviral agents (e.g., to treat CMV infections).


A chip arrangement may include: a mold compound; and a microelectromechanical systems device at least partially embedded in the mold compound.

A chip (or die) may be packaged prior to distribution and/or integration with other electronic assemblies. Packaging a chip (or die) may include encapsulating or embedding the chip in a material, and may further include providing an interface to the encapsulated or embedded chip, for example by means of electrical contacts (e.g. formed on the exterior of the chip package). A chip package may protect the embedded chip from ambient atmosphere and/or contaminants, provide mechanical support to the embedded chip, disperse heat in the embedded chip, and reduce mechanical damage to the embedded chip, although other uses of the chip package may be possible as well.
As the demand for greater capabilities and features of chip packages increases, chips including sensors, oscillators, surface acoustic wave (SAW) structures, bulk acoustic wave (BAW) structures and/or other microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) structures may be packaged. Such chips may also be referred to as MEMS devices. Chip packages including MEMS devices may have a large thickness and/or a large lateral extent (which may also be referred to as "package footprint"). Such chip packages may be undesirable for future technology nodes, which seem to show a trend towards smaller thicknesses and/or smaller package footprints. New ways of packaging MEMS devices may be needed.

Chip arrangement and method for manufacturing a chip arrangement


A method for discovering, identifying, and monitoring of mechanical defects in a ferromagnetic underground or underwater structure. A magnetic scanner portable device is used to inspect the ferromagnetic underground structure and identify at least one portion with a magnetic field anomaly. Sets of permanent magnetic scanner sensors to monitor the magnetic field anomaly are placed adjacent to the at least one portion of the underground structure. A calculation unit, coupled to the sets of permanent magnetic scanner sensors is used to collect and process data. A stress-deformed state (SDS) and a risk-factor (RF) of the at least one portion with the magnetic field anomaly is presented on a display unit, which is coupled to the calculation unit.

This invention can be used in various fields where constructions are tested for continuity defects in a contact fashion or combined with the remote method. Examples of device and method implementation may include pipes for oil and gas industry, detection of flaws in rolled products in metallurgical industry, welding quality of heavy duty equipment such as ships and reservoirs, etc. It is especially important for inspection of loaded constructions, such as pressured pipes, infrastructure maintenance, nuclear power plant monitoring, bridges, corrosion prevention, and environment protection.
Similar to modes of transportation like roads, railroads, and electric transmission lines, pipelines have an important role in the nation's economy, belonging to the long linear assets. They typically cross large distances from the points of production and import facilities to the points of consumption. Like the other modes of transportation, pipelines require a very large initial investment to be built, having long exploitation periods when properly maintained. Like any engineering structure, pipelines do occasionally fail. While pipeline rates have little impact on the price of a fuel, its disruptions or lack of capacity can constrain supply, potentially causing very large price spikes. This is why pipelines, such as those used in the oil and gas industry, require regular inspection and maintenance before potentially costly failures occur.
Traditional contact methods of assessing the structural integrity typically are complemented by flaw detection using in-line inspection (ILI), detecting and evaluating various metal defects organized by area (clusters), assessing their danger by calculating a level of stress-deformed state (SDS), and deciding on a permissible operating pressure with evaluated factor of repair (EFR), based on residual pipe wall thickness (for defects of "metal loss"—corrosion type).
As a contact technique, pigging devices have been used for many years to maintain larger diameter pipelines in the oil industry. Today, however, the use of smaller diameter pigging devices is increasing in many plants as plant operators search for increased efficiencies and reduced costs. Unfortunately, the ILI using intelligent pigging is unavailable for a wide range objects that require full disruptive inspection and significant spending on repair preparation. While the ILI method is suitable for the initial flaw detection, it is less efficient for the relative degree (ranking) of the risk-factor evaluation, as well as for defective pipeline serviceability calculation.
Pipeline pigging devices can detect the following types of defects: i) changing in geometry: dents, wavy surface, deformed shape of cross-section; ii) metal loss, having mechanical, technological or corrosion nature; material discontinuity: layering and inclusions; iii) cracks; iv) all types of welding defects.
Pipeline pigging is a very expensive and labor-consuming method. The major limitation of this method is the fact that a large part of pipelines are not prepared for pigging device operation, e.g., due to lack of input/output chambers for pig-flow device launching and pipeline cleaning access, partially blocked pipe cross-sections due to welding artifacts, geometrical abnormalities, and large slopes (small radius turns) of the pipeline layout. In order to make the pipeline pigging method possible, a significant preparation has to be done in advance, in particular, the high residual level magnetization (saturated magnetic fields) of the pipeline has to be performed before using the pig-flow device. This causes future technical problems of pipeline demagnetization that become necessary for actual pipe repair after the pigging.
Moreover, the evaluation of the absolute values of mechanical flaws by pigging devices is particularly difficult due to multiple additional factors that have to be taken into account, e.g., bearing capacity of the soil and local cyclical loads (e.g., temperature, etc.).
Aside of the remote methods, there are numerous contact non-destructive testing devices for access to the surface of the metallic construction (ultrasound, eddy-current, magnetic-powder-defectoscopy). The main disadvantage of such methods is the time-consuming procedure of surface preparation that reduces the scope of applicability and leads to high costs, as well as low registration sensitivity and selectivity for hidden internal defects identification.
Typically, a pipeline company will have a thorough pipeline safety program that will include a routine for the identification of pipeline defects and review of pipeline integrity. Such a plan should include, but not be limited to: i) a review of previous inspection reports by a third party expert; ii) excavation of sites identified by this review for visual examination of anomalies; iii) repairs as necessary; and iv) addressing factors in the failure of the pipeline and verifying the integrity of the pipeline.
It is important to mention that the pipeline safety program can be only as effective as the interpretation of internal inspection reports.
There are several magnetographic devices that have been disclosed for non-destructive inspection of ferrous materials. In magneto-graphic inspection and defectoscopy, the tested area of the material is placed in proximity to the magnetic medium. The changes of the surface-penetrating magnetic flux, due to the material flows or deviations, can be recorded. The resulting "magnetogram" of the material can provide the information about the location, size, and type of the defect or abnormality. In general, this information can be converted into the report about the quality of the material. Obtaining the magnetogram (magnetic picture) of the material during the non-destructive inspection process is very challenging and typically requires additional forms of inspection, such as roentgenogram or an X-ray image.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,806,862 (Kozlov) offers a contact method of magnetographic inspection of quality of materials, where a magnetic substance (such as liquid) is applied to be magnetized together with the tested material. According to the invention, the intensity of the magnetizing field is established by the maximum curvature of the surface of a drop of a magnetic fluid applied onto the surface of the material to be inspected, so that the resulting magnetogram can be used to assess the quality of the material.
In another magnetographic disclosure, U.S. Pat. No. 4,930,026 (Kljuev), the flaw sensor for magnetographic quality inspection is disclosed, which includes a flaw detector and a mechanism for driving the magneto-sensitive transducer. During the scanning procedure, the magnetic leakage fluxes penetrate through the surface of the material in places where flaws occur, resulting in a magnetogram of the tested material.
There is another magnetic technique that has been proposed by U.S. Pat. No. 6,205,859 (Kwun) to improve the defect detection with magneto-strictive sensors for piping inspection. The method involves exciting the magneto-strictive sensor transmitter by using a relatively broadband signal instead of a narrow band signal typically used to avoid signal dispersion effects. The amplified detected signal is transformed by a short-time Fourier transform providing the identifiable signal patterns from either defects or known geometric features in the pipe such as welds or junctions.
There is a known contact device with two single-component collinear flux-gate magnetometers have been reported for the contact magnetometric monitoring and defects detection, RU 2062394. This device is characterized by limited applicability due the slow data reception and processing and low sensitivity that makes it impossible to detect minor deviations of stress-strain state (STS) from the background values, which also leads to low resolution threshold and a high false alarm rate.
The defect areas risk-factor criteria and ranking (such as material stress: F-value) is used for planning a required sequence of repair and maintenance steps. Such criteria were developed by comparing a risk-factor calculated using the defect geometry in calibration bore pits with a predicted risk-factor obtained by the remote magneto-metric data (i.e., comprehensive F-value of particular magnetic anomaly).
The deviations of F-value can be classified as follows: X1—for negligible defects (good technical condition of the metal); X2—for defects that require planned repairs (acceptable technical condition); X3—for defects that require immediate repairs (unacceptable, pre-alarm technical condition, alarm).
The absolute values X1-X3 of the F-value (comprehensive value of magnetic field anomaly) should be defined for each particular case, depending upon the following factors: i) Material (e.g. steel) type; ii) Topological location with the local background magnetic fields variation range, iii) Distance to the object (e.g. pipe-line installation depth), iv) General condition of the deformation-related tension within construction under testing, v) etc.
As a result, the only relative changes (variations) of the magnetic field can be evaluated for the given defective segment (relative to the flawless segment), by comparing to its relative F-values. Thus, the very moment of the ultimate stress-limit crossing can be identified for each defective segment during the real operation (i.e., under pressure/loaded) condition. It can be done by monitoring the development of the defects within its F-value interval, namely, starting from the good technical condition X1 up until the yield-strength-limit approaching and material breakdown. It provides a real possibility to predict the defect's speed development, resulting in increased accuracy in priority order definition for upcoming maintenance steps.
The aforementioned techniques are not satisfactory to be used for efficient prediction in defects development timeline and are not capable of providing a real-time alert about the strength-limits approaching, i.e., when probable construction failure is about to occur. The closest remote technology to the disclosed invention is shown in RU 2264617, which describes the Magnetic Tomography (MT) technique. This technique includes a remote magnetic field vectors measurement in Cartesian coordinates with the movement of a measuring device (magnetometer) along the pipeline, the recording of the anomalies of magnetic field (on top of background magnetic field), processing of the data and reporting on found pipeline defects with their localization shown in a resulting magnetogram. The technique provides a good sensitivity, also capable of discovering the following types of defects: i) Changing in geometry: dents, wavy surface, deformed shape of cross-section; ii) Metal loss, having mechanical, technological or corrosion nature; material discontinuity: layering and inclusions; iii) Cracks; iv) Welding flaws, including girth weld defects. Moreover, such a method provides a risk-factor ranking of the discovered pipe-line defects according to a material tension concentration (factor F).
MT determines the comparative degree of danger of defects by a direct quantitative assessment of the stress-deformed condition of the metal. Conventional surveys only measure the geometrical parameters of a defect. Their subsequent calculations to assess the impact of the defect on the safe operation of the pipe do not take into consideration the stress caused by the defect. Therefore, conventional surveys may fail to detect dangerously stressed areas of the pipe or, conversely, classify a defect as one which requires urgent attention when, in reality, the stress level may be low and the defect presents no immediate threat to the operation of the pipe. Since MT directly measures the stress caused by defects it is an inherently more accurate guide to the safe operation of the pipeline than conventional survey methods.
There are several methods for integrity assessment of extended structures (e.g. metallic pipes) that have been proposed in literature. U.S. Pat. No. 4,998,208 (Buhrow, et al.) discloses a piping corrosion monitoring system that calculates the risk-level safety factor producing an inspection schedule. There is another method disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,813,949 (Masaniello, et al.), which addresses a pipeline inspection system having a serviceability acceptance criteria for pipeline anomalies, specifically wrinkles, with an improved method of correlating ultrasonic test data to actual anomaly characteristics.
The main disadvantages of the previous methods are: i) The scope of its application is limited by large-scale linear objects, which are located at a considerable distance from each other, ii) Difficult real-time implementation of the device, iii) It is impossible to identify the location of individual defects, and to visualize and specify the exact position on the internal or external tested surfaces; iv) There is also a lack of visualization of the obtained information in a form of the resulting tomogram where all the locations of the defective segments with associated respective risk factors (absolute mechanical stress values) are shown.
There is a need for developing a combination of contact and remote techniques in order to increase sensitivity, resolution, and visual representation of the stress-related anomalies within the structure, as well as a probability of operation failure (i.e. risk-factor).

Metallic constructions monitoring and assessment in unstable zones of the earth's crust