This invention relates to novel pyrazole-substituted amino-heteroaryl compounds of Formula I:

Many current medicines suffer from poor absorption, distribution, metabolism and/or excretion (ADME) properties that prevent their wider use or limit their use in certain indications. Poor ADME properties are also a major reason for the failure of drug candidates in clinical trials. While formulation technologies and prodrug strategies can be employed in some cases to improve certain ADME properties, these approaches often fail to address the underlying ADME problems that exist for many drugs and drug candidates. One such problem is rapid metabolism that causes a number of drugs, which otherwise would be highly effective in treating a disease, to be cleared too rapidly from the body. A possible solution to rapid drug clearance is frequent or high dosing to attain a sufficiently high plasma level of drug. This, however, introduces a number of potential treatment problems such as poor patient compliance with the dosing regimen, side effects that become more acute with higher doses, and increased cost of treatment. A rapidly metabolized drug may also expose patients to undesirable toxic or reactive metabolites.
Another ADME limitation that affects many medicines is the formation of toxic or biologically reactive metabolites. As a result, some patients receiving the drug may experience toxicities, or the safe dosing of such drugs may be limited such that patients receive a suboptimal amount of the active agent. In certain cases, modifying dosing intervals or formulation approaches can help to reduce clinical adverse effects, but often the formation of such undesirable metabolites is intrinsic to the metabolism of the compound.
In some select cases, a metabolic inhibitor will be co-administered with a drug that is cleared too rapidly. Such is the case with the protease inhibitor class of drugs that are used to treat HIV infection. The FDA recommends that these drugs be co-dosed with ritonavir, an inhibitor of cytochrome P450 enzyme 3A4 (CYP3A4), the enzyme typically responsible for their metabolism (see Kempf, D. J. et al., Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy, 1997, 41(3): 654-60). Ritonavir, however, causes adverse effects and adds to the pill burden for HIV patients who must already take a combination of different drugs. Similarly, the CYP2D6 inhibitor quinidine has been added to dextromethorphan for the purpose of reducing rapid CYP2D6 metabolism of dextromethorphan in a treatment of pseudobulbar affect. Quinidine, however, has unwanted side effects that greatly limit its use in potential combination therapy (see Wang, L et al., Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 1994, 56(6 Pt 1): 659-67; and FDA label for quinidine at www.accessdata.fda.gov).
In general, combining drugs with cytochrome P450 inhibitors is not a satisfactory strategy for decreasing drug clearance. The inhibition of a CYP enzyme's activity can affect the metabolism and clearance of other drugs metabolized by that same enzyme. CYP inhibition can cause other drugs to accumulate in the body to toxic levels.
A potentially attractive strategy for improving a drug's metabolic properties is deuterium modification. In this approach, one attempts to slow the CYP-mediated metabolism of a drug or to reduce the formation of undesirable metabolites by replacing one or more hydrogen atoms with deuterium atoms. Deuterium is a safe, stable, non-radioactive isotope of hydrogen. Compared to hydrogen, deuterium forms stronger bonds with carbon. In select cases, the increased bond strength imparted by deuterium can positively impact the ADME properties of a drug, creating the potential for improved drug efficacy, safety, and/or tolerability. At the same time, because the size and shape of deuterium are essentially identical to those of hydrogen, replacement of hydrogen by deuterium would not be expected to affect the biochemical potency and selectivity of the drug as compared to the original chemical entity that contains only hydrogen.
Over the past 35 years, the effects of deuterium substitution on the rate of metabolism have been reported for a very small percentage of approved drugs (see, e.g., Blake, M I et al, J Pharm Sci, 1975, 64:367-91; Foster, A B, Adv Drug Res 1985, 14:1-40 ("Foster"); Kushner, D J et al, Can J Physiol Pharmacol 1999, 79-88; Fisher, M B et al, Curr Opin Drug Discov Devel, 2006, 9:101-09 ("Fisher")). The results have been variable and unpredictable. For some compounds deuteration caused decreased metabolic clearance in vivo. For others, there was no change in metabolism. Still others demonstrated increased metabolic clearance. The variability in deuterium effects has also led experts to question or dismiss deuterium modification as a viable drug design strategy for inhibiting adverse metabolism (see Foster at p. 35 and Fisher at p. 101).
The effects of deuterium modification on a drug's metabolic properties are not predictable even when deuterium atoms are incorporated at known sites of metabolism. Only by actually preparing and testing a deuterated drug can one determine if and how the rate of metabolism will differ from that of its non-deuterated counterpart. See, for example, Fukuto et al. (J. Med. Chem. 1991, 34, 2871-76). Many drugs have multiple sites where metabolism is possible. The site(s) where deuterium substitution is required and the extent of deuteration necessary to see an effect on metabolism, if any, will be different for each drug.
Crizotinib also known as 3-[1(R)-(2,6-dichloro-3-fluorophenyl)ethoxy]-5-[1-(4-piperidinyl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl]pyridin-2-amine is known to inhibit hepatocyte growth factor receptor (c-met/HGFR) kinase and also to block the tyrosine kinase of anaplastic lympohoma kinase (ALK). A percentage of non-small cell lung cancer patients carry the echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4 anaplastic lymphoma kinase (EML4-ALK) fusion gene. EML4-ALK, when inserted into a normal cell, causes the cell to become cancerous. Crizotinib blocks the tyrosine kinase of the ALK domain of this fusion gene. See Sasaki, t et al., The Biology and Treatment of EML4-ALK Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Eur. J. Cancer, 2010, July; 46(10): 1773-80.
Crizotinib currently is recommended for approval for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and is undergoing Phase I/II clinical trials for solid tumor cancer and for lymphoma.
Treatment with crizotinib has been associated with mild to moderate gastrointestinal-related events and fatigue.
Despite the beneficial activities of crizotinib, there is a continuing need for new compounds to treat the aforementioned diseases and conditions.

Derivatives of pyrazole-substituted amino-heteroaryl compounds

Abstract: and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. This invention also provides compositions comprising a compound of this invention and the use of such compositions in methods of treating diseases and conditions that are beneficially treated by administering an inhibitor of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK).


A child seat liner provides a comfortable, safe, and hygienic environment for a child seated in a seat such as a shopping cart or a highchair. Child seat liners according to various embodiments of the invention include padding around the leg openings, multiple storage areas for the caregiver, a continuous, elastic front edge for stretching over and gripping a handle of a shopping cart or a front of a seat, one or more sets of fasteners for securing the liner in a rolled-up position, and an adjustable strap that allows the liner to be secured to the back of the seat more securely.

Traditionally, caregivers have used various means to protect their child from exposure to germs and to provide comfort and safety for their child while he is seated in a shopping cart or a highchair. There are several types of seat covers that have been developed over the years that provide some protection, safety, comfort and storage. None of the current seat covers provide extra bolstering and padding for the child around the leg openings, nor do they provide a fully integrated, adjustable safety belt with an adjustable safety strap simultaneously.
Most seat covers and liners have a back panel that sits over the seat's back rest, along with a pocket or pockets with elastic on the opening top edge as the only means of storage. Although this is common location for storage in known liners, it is cumbersome for the parent/caregiver to access because of having to reach over the child or walk around the side of the seat.


A phase frequency detector comprising a detection circuit and a reset circuit. The phase frequency detector may receive a feedback signal having a predetermined pulse width. The detection circuit may generate a first control signal based on a reference signal, and a second control signal based on the feedback signal. The reset circuit may generate a reset signal used for resetting the detection circuit based on the first control signal, the second control signal, and the feedback signal. The feedback signal may be tied to the generation of the reset signal such that, during a locked state, the pulse width of the second control signal is approximately equal to the pulse width of the feedback signal, which helps reduce the sensitivity of the circuit to nonlinearities.

A phase frequency detector (PFD) is an electronic circuit that compares the phase and frequency of a first signal to that of a reference signal. Based on the comparison, the PFD generates one or more control signals. In phase-locked loop (PLL) implementations, the PFD generates the one or more control signals to control a charge pump. The charge pump is used to generate a control voltage for controlling the frequency of oscillation of a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO). In some PLL designs, e.g., fractional-N PLLs, charge pump nonlinearities arising from mismatched charge pump currents introduce a significant amount of phase noise in the loop, which degrades the PLL performance.

Phase frequency detector with pulse width control circuitry


A magnet conveyance positioning device including a conveyance unit and an attachment device attached to the conveyance unit to move integrally with the conveyance unit. The attachment device includes a support unit abutting on a object and supporting the conveyance unit from the object, a holding unit provided movably relative to the support unit to detachably hold the magnet, and a driving unit moving the holding unit so that the magnet approaches the object in a state where the support unit is abutted on the object.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnet conveyance positioning device that positions and mounts a magnet on an object.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a magnet is manually mounted on an object by using a jig. In order to accurately mount a magnet, for example, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 11-187627 (JP11-187627A) describes a positioning jig for positioning and mounting the magnet on the object.
However, the configuration that manually mounts the magnet on the object by using the jig, as described in JP11-187627A, requires a lot of labor and time for attaching or detaching the jig, and thus it is difficult to efficiently mount the magnet. On the other hand, in the configuration that conveys the magnet to the object and mounts it on the object by a robot or the like without using any jig or human hands, attraction force between the magnet and the object may cause staggering of an end portion of the robot. Consequently, it is difficult to accurately position the magnet.


Lithium glass capable of minimizing the effects of alkali silica reaction in concrete. The lithium glass includes a glass forming oxide; lithium oxide; and optionally a glass network modifying oxide. The lithium glass can be also essentially free of sodium or potassium ions.

This invention relates generally to compositions and processes for controlling alkali-silica reaction using the same, and more particularly to the use of lithium containing glass compositions as components of concrete.
Concrete is a conglomerate of aggregate (such as gravel, sand, and/or crushed stone), water, and hydraulic cement (such as portland cement), as well as other components and/or additives. Concrete is generally fluidic when it is first made, enabling it to be poured or placed into shapes, and then later hardens, and is never again fluidic, in the general sense. Typically, moisture present in normal concrete is basic (that is, has a high pH). Alkali materials can be supplied by the cement, aggregate, additives, and even from the environment in which the hardened concrete exists (such as salts placed on concrete to melt ice).
Silica compounds are typically found in the aggregate components of concrete. Silica which is present in aggregates used to make concrete and mortars is subject to attack and dissolution by hydroxide ions present in basic solutions. Generally, the higher the pH (i.e., the more basic the solution), the faster the attack.
Different forms of silica show varying degrees of susceptibility to this dissolution. If there is sufficient alkali metal ion also present in this solution (such as sodium or potassium ions), the alkali metal ions can react with the dissolved silica and form an alkali-silica gel. Under certain conditions, the resultant alkali-silica gel can absorb water and swell. The swelling can exert pressures greater than the tensile strength of the concrete and thus cause the concrete to swell and crack. This process (hydroxide attack of silica, followed by reaction with alkali such as sodium and potassium) is referred to generally in the art as an xe2x80x9calkali-silica reactionxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cASRxe2x80x9d.
ASR has caused the failure of concrete structures, although rarely. Further, ASR can weaken the ability of concrete to withstand other forms of attack. For example, concrete that is cracked due to this process can permit a greater degree of saturation and is therefore much more susceptible to damage as a result of xe2x80x9cfreeze-thawxe2x80x9d cycles. Similarly, cracks in the surfaces of steel reinforced concrete can compromise the ability of the concrete to keep out salts when subjected to de-icers, thus allowing corrosion of the steel it was designed to protect.
ASR is a common chemical process in many concretes around the world. As an indication of its importance to the concrete industry, by 1991 over 1,450 research articles had been published on the subject. See S. Diamond, Alkali-aggregate reactions in concrete: an annotated bibliography1939-1991, Washington, D.C.: National Research Council, Strategic Highway Research Program, SHRP-C/UWP-92-601:470 (1992).
In 1987, Congress authorized a $150 million, five-year research program to be administered by the National Research Council to study and develop improvements in highway construction materials and construction practices. This program was called the Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP). One of the areas addressed by this program was ASR mitigation. Four recommendations resulted from the SHRP research for preventing ASR in concrete. D. Stark, et al., Eliminating or minimizing alkali-silica reactivity, Washington, D.C. National Research Council, Strategic Highway Research Program, SHRP-C-343 (1993) (the xe2x80x9cSHRP reportxe2x80x9d).
One recommendation was the use of a low alkali cement, which is defined as a cement with a sodium equivalent of 0.60% or less. The sodium equivalent of a cement is the weight percent of sodium, reported as sodium oxide, plus 0.658 times the weight percent of potassium, reported as potassium oxide. Sodium equivalent (Na2Oe) can be represented generally by the formula NaO2+0.658xc3x97K2O=Na2Oe.
While the use of a low alkali cement can have some effectiveness, it is not a guarantee of ASR prevention. Low alkali cement is not always available on a local basis, can have limited availability, and can be more expensive than high alkali cement. Further, if the raw feed for the cement production contains high levels of alkali, then the production of low alkali cement from such feed can generate much greater waste than would otherwise be the case. Generally, xe2x80x9cfinesxe2x80x9d are a waste product of cement production and are normally recirculated into the cement kiln. However,when the raw feed has a high alkali level, the fines must be removed from the process and constitute a waste material. These fines are called cement kiln dust.
Still further, using a low alkali cement is no guarantee of ASR control, as the cement is not the sole source of the alkalies in concrete that can contribute to the problem. Alkalies also can be supplied by pozzolans that are either admixed in or part of the blended cement. Alkalies can be supplied by the mix water, admixtures used in the concrete, the aggregate itself, including recycled concrete used as aggregate, and/or deicers applied in snow and ice removal.
Another recommendation set forth by the SHRP report is the use of a non-reactive aggregate. This, however, is not always possible. There are limited aggregates with no potential for reactivity, since all silica has some potential for reaction and most aggregates contain significant amounts of silica. Recycled concrete when used as aggregate can also by reactive, particularly if it had already had ASR occurring before it was recycled. There are environmental reasons to use recycled glass as aggregate, but this is very reactive material. Also, transporting aggregates over long distances instead of using locally available materials adds significantly to the cost of concrete production.
Another recommendation is the use of appropriate levels of a suitable pozzolan. A pozzolan is a siliceous material that can combine with lime and water to harden, similar to a cement with just water. Since the hydration of cement produces lime as a byproduct (resulting in its basic nature), pozzolans can work well with cements. The pozzolan may be added as a mineral admixture at the time of concrete production, blended with the cement, or interground with the cement during the final production step of cement. The end result is about the same, as neither the cement nor the pozzolan is substantially changed as a result of the blending.
However, sources of suitable pozzolans are not always available locally, and the supplies are limited. Also, many pozzolans used for this purpose are waste products, and thus are quite variable in composition. An example is fly ash, which is the end result of coal burned for electric generation.
Further, sufficient amounts of the pozzolan must be used, or the protection is short lived, or the ASR can actually be made worse. This is particularly true of pozzolans with significant lime contents, such as many fly ashes. In a cementitious system, the Ca:Si ratio is very important to its stability with regard to ASR. The higher the Ca:Si ratio, the less capable the system is of tying up alkali present, and there is more susceptibility to ASR. A low lime content pozzolan will reduce the ratio and give more protection from increased alkalies. However, a high lime content pozzolan will not give this protection, and further, since pozzolans carry their own alkalies into the system, this can easily make the situation worse.
Still another recommendation is the use of a lithium-based admixture. Use of lithium was shown to be effective in ASR inhibition in 1951 (see W. J. McCoy and A. G. Caldwell, xe2x80x9cNew approach to inhibiting alkali-aggregate expansion,xe2x80x9d J. Amer. Concrete Institute, 22:693-706 (1951)). See also Y. Sakaguchi, et al., xe2x80x9cThe inhibiting effect of lithium compounds on alkali-silica reaction,xe2x80x9d Proceedings, 8th international conference, alkali aggregate reaction, Kyoto, Japan: 229-234 (1989), and the SHRP report.
For example, lithium salts, such as lithium hydroxide monohydrate, have been added to cement at the grinding stage of the cement production. J. Gajda, Development of a cement to inhibit alkali-silica reactivity, Skokie, Ill., Portland Cement Association Research and Development Bulletin RD115T (1996). As with the pozzolan blended cements mentioned above, the net effect is basically the same as if the lithium salt were admixed into the concrete separately at the time the concrete was batched. That is, by adding the lithium salt to the cement at the time of grinding, neither the cement nor the lithium salt is changed during the process. Rather, the lithium salt and cement are merely blended.
Despite the effectiveness of cement produced in this manner to mitigate ASR, using relatively pure lithium compounds can result in substantial amounts of the lithium (about 50%, as reported in the SHRP Report) being xe2x80x9clocked upxe2x80x9d in the hydration products of the early hydration reactions of the cement. A substantial portion of the lithium ions, therefore, is unavailable for use in controlling ASR. This generally happens within the first few days of hydration. Still further, the concentration of hydroxyl ion can increase when lithium salts are admixed into concrete and mortars (see the SHRP Report). This can make the job of the lithium ion that much more difficult, and requires more lithium than would otherwise be the case.
In addition, lithium salts, such as lithium carbonate, lithium nitrate, lithium hydroxide and lithium fluoride, can be expensive relative to other concrete additives.
The present invention provides novel glass compositions that can inhibit alkali-silica reactivity from alkali containing components in hardened cementitious structures. In the invention, lithium containing materials, including lithium salts and lithium ores, are heated with a glass forming material, such as silica, to form a melt. In addition, a glass network modifying agent can also be present, for example, to reduce melting temperature, to delay or aid crystallization, to change solubility, to change color, etc. The melt is then cooled to form a glass material, which includes lithium oxide as a component. Alternatively, soluble forms of the glass forming oxide, lithium oxide and optionally glass network modifying oxides are combined to form a gel and the gel dried to form the glass composition. The resultant lithium containing material supplies lithium ions to the glass. This in turn enables the glass to inhibit alkali-silica reaction in concrete and mortars which include the glass as a component.
The invention not only provides a glass material capable of reducing the undesired effects of ASR. The invention can also provide economies of manufacture and use. For example, less lithium is required to inhibit ASR than prior techniques in which purified forms of lithium are added directly to concrete (such as direct addition of LiOH). As discussed above, adding lithium salt directly to a concrete mixture can result in substantial amounts of the lithium being xe2x80x9clocked upxe2x80x9d in the hydration products of the cement. A substantial portion of the lithium ions, therefore, is unavailable for use in controlling ASR. In contrast, in the present invention, the lithium is added as part of an admixture so that the lithium ions are not locked up early during the hydration process and thus are available after much of cement hydration has occurred.
Further, the inventors have found that glass can be prepared using relatively high levels of lithium, contrary to teachings in the art that glass cannot be formed using high lithium concentrations. This in turn can provide benefits in use because relatively small dosages of a lithium xe2x80x9cconcentratexe2x80x9d (the lithium glass) can be added to concrete yet still be effective against ASR. Additional benefits have been observed by adding the lithium glass to concrete in combination with a pozzolanic material, which can further reduce the lithium dosage required to provide protection against ASR.
Still further, because the lithium glass can be prepared from the raw starting materials, the composition of the resultant glass can be readily tailored and adjusted according to the specific needs of the end user.
The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.
The lithium glass compositions of the invention generally include one or more glass forming oxides and lithium oxide. The lithium glass compositions of the invention can also optionally include one or more glass network modifying oxides. As discussed below, such optional glass network modifying oxides can be added for various reasons, for example, to reduce melting temperature, to delay or aid crystallization, to change solubility, to change color, etc. Thus, the glass compositions may be binary glasses, i.e., include at least one glass forming oxide and lithium oxide. The glass compositions of the invention can also be ternary glasses, i.e., further include at least one glass modifying oxide. The skilled artisan will appreciate, however, that trace amounts of other components may be present in the compositions, for example, components brought in as impurities in the raw batch materials, through erosion of the refractories, and the like. Thus the present invention encompasses the presence of such impurities.
The lithium glass of the invention can include glass forming oxides of the general formula RO2 in which R is an element capable of forming a glass forming oxide. R can be, without limitation, an element of Group IVA, Group IVB, the Lanthanide series and the Actinide series of the Periodic Table of Elements, such as Si, Ge, Sn, Zr, Ti, Ce, Th, and the like and mixtures thereof. It is noted, however, that the lithium glasses of the invention can provide protection against ASR without requiring the presence of zirconium oxide, and thus the invention contemplates glasses which are essentially free of ZrO2. Stated differently, the lithium glass of the invention can provide protection against ASR without including zirconium in an amount sufficient to contribute to the ASR protection. The glass forming oxide may also include oxides of the formula R12O5, in which R1 is also an element suitable for forming a glass forming oxide. R1 can include without limitation an element from Group VA and VB of the Periodic Table of Elements, such as P, V, La and the like and mixtures thereof. Additional glass forming oxides include oxides of the formula R22O3, in which R2 is also an element suitable for forming a glass forming oxide. R2 can include without limitation an element from Group IIIA of the Periodic Table of Elements, such as B and the like and mixtures thereof.
The glass forming oxide is derived from any of the glass forming materials as known in the art. Glass forming materials can generally be described as any of the types of materials as known in the art which can be heated to fusion temperatures and then gradually cooled to an amorphous state with minimal or substantially no crystallization. Stated differently the resultant material is generally an amorphous, undercooled liquid of extremely high viscosity which has the appearance of a solid. Amorphous compositions are preferred, but the compositions can contain crystals.
The most common glass forming material is silica, which is particularly useful in the glass compositions of the invention. The invention is not limited to silica, however, and other glass forming materials as known in the art can also be used, either singly or in combination with one another and/or with silica.
The amount of glass forming material used (and the resultant amount of glass forming oxide present in the glass of the invention) can vary, depending upon several factors such as the type of glass former used, the types and amounts of other components, the process conditions used to make the glass, such as the temperature needed to fuse the raw ingredients into a glass, and the like. The amount required in a given formulation can be readily determined by the skilled artisan. Exemplary compositions include glass forming oxide in an amount of at least about 35 weight percent of the total weight of the glass composition, and advantageously from about 40 to about 80 weight percent, although amounts outside this range can also be used.
The glass compositions of the invention also include lithium oxide (Li2O). The inventors have found that glass which incorporates lithium as a component can provide a level of protection against ASR in cementitious structures. In addition, however, the inventors have found that glass having relatively high levels of lithium oxide can be readily formed, despite conventional teaching that lithium oxide negatively impacts glass formation. In this regard, in contrast to the teachings in the art, the lithium glass of the invention can have greater than 5 percent by weight lithium oxide.
The lithium oxide source material may be any material capable of mixing with the molten glass forming materials upon heating and decomposing to form lithium oxide in the glass composition. Lithium containing materials useful in practicing the invention include, but are not limited to, organic and inorganic lithium salts, such as lithium nitrate, lithium sulphate, lithium citrate, lithium formate, lithium borate, lithium acetate, lithium meta- or tetraborate, lithium benzoate, lithium salts of simple carboxylic acids generally described by the formula RC(O)OH, wherein R is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, aryl, alkylaryl, arylalkyl, or cycloalkyl, and the like, lithium halides, such as lithium chloride, lithium bromide, lithium fluoride and the like, lithium hydroxide, lithium carbonate, lithium nitrite, lithium ortho- and metaphosphate, lithium aluminate, lithium meta- and polysilicates, and the like, and mixtures thereof.
Other lithium sources include lithium bearing ores and lithium ore concentrates such as lithium aluminum silicates, such as spodumene (Li2O≈Al2O3≈4SiO2), petalite (Li2O≈Al2O3≈8SiO2), eucryptite (Li2O≈Al2O3≈2SiO2), montrebrasite, lepidolite, lithium-aluminate phosphate ores, such as amblygonite (LiF≈AIPO4), lithium-bearing clays, and the like and mixtures thereof.
The glass compositions of the invention include lithium oxide in an amount sufficient to impart a level of protection against ASR in cementitious structures. The level of protection can be determined, for example, by measuring the percent expansion of a cementitous structure over a period of time using standard tests, such as ASTM C227, ASTM C1293, and the like. Generally the lithium glass of the invention will include sufficient lithium oxide so that when the glass is added to a cementitious structure, less expansion is observed than for the same structure without the lithium glass.
The amount of lithium source material used to make the lithium glass of the invention, as well as the resultant amount of lithium oxide present in the glass product, can also vary depending upon factors such as those noted above, including without limitation: the types and amounts of other components, process conditions, and the like. The glass of the invention can have from about 3 to about 40 weight percent lithium oxide, more preferably from about 8 to about 30 weight percent, based on the total weight of the glass composition, although the glass can include amounts outside this range as well, so long as the glass composition provides protection against ASR. In some aspects of the invention, the lithium glass can have as little as 0.5 weight percent lithium oxide and still provide the benefits described above.
The lithium glass compositions of the invention can also optionally include one or more one glass network modifying oxides. In this regard, as the skilled artisan will appreciate, glass network modifiers are materials added to the raw materials that are capable of providing oxides that stabilize the glass and make the glass substantially insoluble. Glass network modifiers can also be used to reduce melting temperatures, to delay or aid crystallization, to change solubility, to change color, and the like. In the present invention, glass modifying agents can be used for purposes other than that typically associated with such agents. For example, one such modifier is calcia. Calcia can provide improved performance (i.e., improved protection against ASR) in the glass compositions of the invention, and is not necessarily added for its solubility reducing properties. In this regard, the inventors have demonstrated improved performance against ASR by increasing the amount of CaO from 22 weight percent to 44 weight in 8 weight percent LiO2 glass.
The glass network modifying oxides can be defined generally by the formula R32O3, in which R3 can be any element capable of forming a glass network modifying oxide. R3, without limitation, is generally an element selected from the group consisting of transition metals, Group IIIA elements, Group VA elements, such as B, Al, Fe, Cr, Bi, and the like and mixtures thereof.
The glass network modifying oxide can also have the formula R4O, in which R4 is also defined as an element capable of forming a glass network modifying oxide. R4 without limitation can be an element selected from the group consisting of alkaline earth metals, such as Be, Mg, Ca, Ba and the like; transition metal elements, such as Sr, Zn, Ni, Cu, Cd, Mn, Co, Fe, and the like; and Group IVA elements such as Pb; as well as mixtures thereof. In the present invention, when the glass network modifying oxide is R4O, and R4 is an alkaline earth metal, then the glass can include greater than 0.5 mol percent R4O.
Still other glass network modifying oxides can have the formula R52O in which R5 can be any element capable of forming a glass network modifying oxide. R5, without limitation, is generally a Group IA element (other than lithium). However, in contrast to conventional soda lime glass, which typically includes soda (Na2O) to lower the melting temperature of the glass forming material such as silica, the lithium glass of the present invention advantageously is essentially free of sodium or potassium ions. The compositions may, however, contain small amounts of sodium where the sodium does not decrease the effectiveness of the glass (for example less than 5 weight percent sodium).
Such oxides can be derived using any of the glass network modifying materials as known in the art, including without limitation calcia, alumina, magnesia, and the like and mixtures thereof. It is noted that alumina, for example, can be supplied by clays or feldspars. The amount glass modifying source material and the resultant amount of oxide derived therefrom present in the compositions can vary, depending upon several factors such as noted above, including without limitation: the types and amounts of other components, process conditions, and the like. The lithium glass compositions of the invention generally include the glass forming oxide and lithium oxide in the weight percents discussed above, optionally with network modifying oxide making up the balance of the composition.
A particularly preferred lithium glass composition of the invention is a ternary glass composition that includes SiO2 as the glass forming oxide, preferably in an amount from about 40 to about 80 weight percent; CaO as the glass network modifying oxide, preferably in an amount from about 20 to about 50 weight percent; and Li2O, preferably in an amount of at least about 0.5 weight percent, and more preferably from about 3 to about 30 weight percent. Another useful lithium glass composition of the invention is a ternary glass composition that includes SiO2 as the glass forming oxide, preferably in an amount from about 40 to about 80 weight percent; Al2O3 as the glass network modifying oxide, preferably in an amount greater than about 5 weight percent; and Li2O, preferably in an amount of at least about 0.5 weight percent, and more preferably from about 3 to about 40 weight percent.
Another advantageous glass composition of the invention is a binary system which include a glass forming oxide, such as SiO2, B2O3, or P2O5. The binary glass systems can include at least about 0.5 weight percent lithium oxide, preferably from about 5 to about 25 weight percent lithium oxide, with the balance glass forming oxide.
The lithium glass compositions of the invention can be prepared as follows. The desired raw starting materials (including at least one glass forming material, at least one lithium containing material and optionally at least one glass network modifier, as described above) are heated to a temperature sufficient to form a molten mixture and to fuse the materials. The heating step can be a batch or continuous process and can employ any of the types of ovens known in the art for making glass materials. Heating conditions such as temperature and time can vary depending upon the amounts and types of components used. Generally the temperature ranges from about 400 to about 1300xc2x0 C., although temperatures outside of this range may be used for a given composition. The composition is heated for a time sufficient to fuse the materials and to free the melt of undissolved materials. The resultant molten composition is then cooled, for example by pouring the molten composition onto a chilled steel plate or through chilled rollers. The rate of cooling also depending on factors such as the composition makeup, and is generally selected to be rapid enough to prevent phase separation. These process conditions can be readily determined by the skilled artisan.
Other processes can be used as well, such as a sol-gel process. In this case, the ingredients are soluble forms of the glass forming oxide, lithium oxide and optionally glass network modifying oxides (for example tetraethoxysilane, lithium hydroxide monohydrate, calcium hydroxide, etc.). Generally a sol-gel process includes combining the materials at room temperature to form a gel and then drying the gel.
After cooling the lithium glass can be treated to provide the desired size glass particles. For example, the cooled lithium glass can be initially crushed, for example in a steel mortar or other suitable device as known in the art.
The inventors have found that addition of the lithium glass of the invention to cementitious structures can provide protection against ASR. The lithium glass of the invention can be admixed with cement and/or pozzolanic materials, which in turn can be added to concrete, mortar and the like. Alternatively, the lithium glass can be directly added to concrete, mortar, etc, to provide the benefit of protection against, ASR in the hardened cementitious structure.
The lithium glass is used in an amount effective to provide protection against the detrimental effects of ASR, particularly compared to the same cementitious composition without lithium. The amount of lithium glass added to the cementitious mixture will depend on various factors, such as the alkali content of the cement, the amount of lithia present in the glass, and the like. Generally the lithium glass can be substituted for cement according to the total alkali content (calculated as Na2Oe=Na2O+0.658xc3x97K2O) of the cement in a ratio of about 0.74 to about 1 on a Li:Na atomic ratio, although more can be used, albeit with reduced economies of scale.
In one aspect of this embodiment of the invention, pozzolanic materials can also be added to the concrete in addition to the lithium glass. If pozzolans are used in combination with the lithium glass of the invention, the amount of lithium glass used can be reduced without substantial loss of effectiveness. For example, when using pozzolans in combination with the lithium glass, the dose of lithium glass can be reduced to as low as about 40 percent of the original dose without fly ash. This can provide additional economies of use.
In addition to the lithium containing glass compositions of the invention, the concrete compositions of the invention generally include cement, aggregate (in addition to the lithium glass of the invention), water, optionally ASTM C494 defined chemical admixtures such as water reducing, accelerating, retarding admixtures, and other chemical admixtures understood to act as corrosion inhibitors in conventional amounts. As used herein, the term xe2x80x9ccementxe2x80x9d refers to, but is not limited to, hydraulic and alite cements, such as Portland cement; blended cements, such as Portland cement blended with fly ash, blast-furnace slag, pozzolans, and the like, and mixtures thereof; masonry cement; oil well cement; natural cement; alumina cement; expansive cements, and the like, and mixtures thereof. Portland cements include cements such as described in ASTM C150 Type I and IA, Type II and IIA, Type III and IIIA, Type IV, and Type V. The term also includes cements blended with ASTM C311 defined pozzolanic materials such as fly ash, raw and calcined natural pozzolans, ASTM C989 defined ground granulated blast furnace slag, ASTM C1240 defined silica fume materials, metakaolin, and the like. The cement is present in the fluid concrete mixture in an amount between about 5% to about 20% by weight based on the total weight of the concrete mixture.
Aggregates can include, but are not limited to natural and crushed quarried aggregate, sand, recycled concrete aggregate, glass, and the like, as well as mixtures thereof. Aggregate is present in the fluid concrete mixture in an amount between about 75% to about 95% by weight, based on the total weight of the concrete mixture.
The fluid concrete mixture also includes water, in an amount ranging from about 2% to about 10% by weight based on the total weight of the mixture.
The fluid concrete mixture also can include other materials as known in the art for imparting various properties to concrete, including, but not limited to, air-entraining admixtures, water reducing admixtures, accelerating admixtures, pozzolans (as noted above, such as, but not limited to, fly ash, metakaolin, and silica fume), and the like. These agents can be present in conventional amounts.
Although reference has been made to the components of concrete, it will be appreciated that the present invention also includes mortar compositions, which generally are similar in composition to concrete, except that mortar is typically made with sand as the sole aggregate, in contrast to concrete which includes larger aggregates. Sand in this sense is aggregate of about xe2x85x9cxe2x80x3 and smaller in diameter.

Cements including lithium glass compositions


Systems consistent with the present invention automatically process data associated with insurance claims to identify insurance claims with subrogation potential. Text from an insurance claim file may be automatically analyzed to extract data that can be quantified to determine whether the claim may have subrogation potential.

In a typical insurance claim, an insured submits a claim to an insurance company for costs associated with an injury or property damage, and the insurance company pays the claim. Some of the paid claims may be the result of third party fault. For example, a third party driver may have caused an accident that injured the insured. In such a case, the insurance company may be able to recover all or a portion of the amount paid on the claim from the responsible party. As a result, the insured may be required to subrogate the right to sue the at-fault third party in favor of the insurance company. Using the insured's subrogated rights, the insurance company may attempt to recover amounts paid on the claim from any third party responsible for the injury or damage. For instance, if an insured's car is destroyed in an auto accident caused by a third party, the insured's insurance company may pay the insured for the value of the car, and separately seek to recover the amount paid from the third party or the third party's insurance company.
One challenge for the insurance company in attempting to recover money paid on claims is that not all claims are the result of third party fault. For example, a single-car accident in which the driver/insured falls asleep and hits a tree is not likely to have an at-fault third party from which to recover. The insurance company must therefore determine which claims may be due to a third party fault and therefore have subrogation potential.
Currently, insurance companies rely on methods such as claim adjuster referrals and scheduled audits to identify cases in which there is a chance for subrogation and recovery. However, these traditional methods are inadequate because they miss recovery opportunities. Adjuster referrals use an insurance adjuster to manually review a paid claim to make recommendations regarding subrogation. Such a method is inadequate to identify all recoverable claims because the determination of recoverability is subjective, requires experience and knowledge, and is generally a secondary job responsibility for the adjuster. The quality and consistency of adjuster referrals varies, leading to missed recovery opportunities in some cases, while in others valuable resources are spent pursuing unproductive claims.
Scheduled audits are also problematic. In a scheduled audit, large numbers of files are selected either at random or using primitive selection criteria such as a claim amount or claim type. For instance, an insurance company might select for review all claims in which a collision payment was made. The selected claim files are then sent to an auditing company for a "closed claim study," in which the insurance company is typically charged on a per-file-reviewed basis. The auditing company typically uses specially trained auditors to manually review files to determine if there is a chance for recovery on any of the claims. The process is expensive and time consuming, and its success depends largely on the initial selection of claims to review and the diligence and discretion of the auditors.
Automation of the subrogation potential determination has been difficult because the information required to make the determination is not easily identifiable within a claim file. Subrogation recognition factors are often buried or obscured in adjuster notes that are accumulated over the life of the claim. Moreover, the content and form of a claim file can vary widely from company to company and adjuster to adjuster. Some files may be handwritten and kept on paper, while others may be kept electronically. Recognition and extraction of subrogation information from such files has traditionally been a task requiring extensive manual labor and significant expense.

System and method for processing insurance claims


A method and system for removing the effect of intersymbol interference (ISI) from a data record indicating times of logic level transitions exhibited by a data signal that has been distorted by ISI exhibited by a system having a particular step response may perform the following acts. The data record may be received, and a transition from within the data may be selected record for removal of ISI. Preceding transitions within the data record are then inspected. A time defect is obtained, based at least in part upon the inspected preceding transitions. Finally, the data record is adjusted, based upon the time defect, to indicate a new time of transition for the selected transition, thereby removing the effect of ISI for the selected transition.

Waveform analyzers are devices that measure data signals in order to extract information. For example, a transmitting device may be coupled to a receiving device via a communication medium. In order to better understand the signal observed by the receiving device, a waveform analyzer may be coupled to the medium in place of the receiving device. The waveform analyzer may then be used to measure the data signal, in order to gather information. Examples of information determined by the wavefrom analyzer include statistical information regarding timing jitter and amplitude noise of the received data signal, bit error rate of the received data signal, and so on.
Traditionally, to expand the capabilities of waveform analyzers, new waveform analyzers are designed including general-purpose hardware that expensively and inefficiently addresses the problem of bit-error analysis. For example, a waveform analyzer may be used to record an infrequent bit error (or characteristic related to an error), so that the error or characteristic can be analyzed. Traditionally, this has been accomplished by instructing a transmitter to send data through a transmission medium, and by arranging a waveform analyzer on the other end of the medium. The waveform analyzer is programmed to oversample every bit it receives to obtain a long, highly resolved v(t) record that hopefully contains the bit error or characteristic. After the capacity of the waveform analyzer to store data is exhausted (i.e., the memory is "full"), the memory is examined to determine if the stored v(t) record exhibits the sought-after error or characteristic. If the error or characteristic occurs infrequently, it is quite likely that v(t) record does not exhibit the sought-after error or characteristic. This means that the procedure must be repeated until the v(t) record exhibits the sought-after error, or characteristic. Traditionally, this state of affairs has been improved by adding additional memory to the waveform analyzer. This method of addressing the aforementioned problem is costly, and does not directly address the principle of the problem.
The above-described scenario illustrates a broader point, namely, that there is a need for waveform analyzers to be improved according to a scheme that values efficiency. Such a scheme addresses three central issues: (1) how measurements are taken; (2) when measurements are taken; and (3) how information is extracted from the measurements. Each of these issues interrelate with one another. For example, how information is extracted from measurements is a function of, in part, when the measurements were taken. As more sophisticated methods of extracting information from measurements are developed, it may be possible to take fewer measurements without loss of information. A design that addresses these issues jointly may arrive at a cost-efficient solution to many forms of problems.
As alluded to above, there exists a need for a waveform analyzer that addresses performance and capability issues by examining those issues from the point of view of (1) how measurements are taken, (2) when measurements are taken, and (3) how information is extracted from those measurements. After consideration of performance and capability issues from those points of view, design choices may be made to address performance and capability issues in the least expensive manner.


According to one embodiment, a radar includes multiple antenna elements coupled to an image processing application. The antenna elements have a differing vertical spatial separation relative to one another and are configured to transmit a radio-frequency signal toward a stationary object and receive multiple reflected radio-frequency signals from one or more internal features of the building. The image processing application receives the reflected radio-frequency signals as the antenna elements are moved horizontally with respect to the stationary object. From these reflected radio-frequency signals, the image processing application generates imagery of the stationary object according to phase variations in the plurality of received radio-frequency signals. The imagery depicting vertical characteristics of the one or more internal features of the building.

Synthetic aperture radars (SARs) generate imagery by processing radio-frequency energy reflected from differing orientations and positions relative to the target. Imagery generated by synthetic aperture radars may have benefits over other image generating devices such as cameras in that imagery generated by synthetic aperture radars is not usually hampered by precipitation, fog, or other atmospheric phenomena that warps or blocks visible light. In some cases, synthetic aperture radars may be used to gather imagery of various internal features of objects that may be normally opaque to visible light.


A receiver includes a first case to which an integrated circuit controlling component of the receiver is mounted, and a second case pivotally mounted to the first case and having an antenna mounted thereto. The integrated circuit and the antenna are thus mounted in different cases so as to be separated from each other, and the receiver receives a radio wave with less noise from the integrated circuit. An LCD is mounted to one of the cases such that the LCD is interposed between the antenna and integrated circuit, to substantially shield the antenna from the integrated circuit, when the cases are closed together.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a receiver.
2. Description of the Related Art
Use of portable receivers such as a pager, in response to a calling signal received by an antenna of the pager, indicating by sound, display or vibration that a holder of the pager must telephone, has prevailed among business enterprises and persons. Use of a pager is prevailing which receives a calling signal having message information such as a telephone number of a party at a location to make contact and when to make contact and which displays the received message information.
Such a pager usually includes a rectangular casing, a logic board having a central processing unit (CPU) controlling components of the pager, a radio frequency (RF) board having an antenna etc., a liquid crystal display module and a key unit. A flexible cable connects the components of the pager.
If a receiver such as a pager is required to have a multifunction comprising, for example, a computing function and a dialer function, then a CPU is required to have a higher speed of operation. Thus, the amount of noise from the CPU necessarily increases. In this case, if the components of the pager are mounted in the same casing, the noise overlaps a radio wave received by the antenna and therefore the pager cannot detect a necessary signal.

Portable receiver having pivotally connected case arranged to shield antenna


A method of unwrapping wrapped digital data that is unusable while wrapped, includes obtaining an acceptance phrase from a user; deriving a cryptographic key from the acceptance phrase; and unwrapping the package of digital data using the derived cryptographic key. The acceptance phrase is a phrase entered by a user in response to information provided to the user. The information and the acceptance phrase can be in any appropriate language. The digital data includes, alone or in combination, any of: software, a cryptographic key, an identifying certificate, an authorizing certificate, a data element or field of an identifying or authorizing certificate, a data file representing an images, data representing text, numbers, audio, and video.

When delivering digital data such as computer software, data files, cryptographic certificates and the like to end users, there is typically a desire to bind the end users to various terms, provisions, policies, rules or the like, collectively referred to herein as conditions relating to the use of that data.
To deal with this desire, over the last fifteen years or so, a legal doctrine known as shrink-wrap licensing has evolved. Using shrink-wrap licensing, a software license agreement is printed onto a software package, and the physical act of tearing off the shrink wrap plastic is held to constitute an objective manifestation of assent to the license terms. More recently, a doctrine known as click-wrap licensing has begun to be recognized. In click-wrap licensing, the user is provided with a license agreement (either displayed on a computer screen or in some other manner). The user's action of clicking a mouse key with the computer's cursor positioned on a screen button labeled with some words of assent, for example, the phrase "I Agree" or equivalent, is deemed to constitute proof of assent by the end user to the displayed license terms.
When the goods being delivered are software intended for use in electronic commerce, the problem of binding the user to the terms and conditions of an electronic transaction system (generally known as system rules) is very important. Not only must the user be bound to perform (prepare and send) his own transactions according to certain rules, but he must also agree to reject certain transactions sent to him by other participants if those transactions violate certain rules. An example of this is the obligation of a recipient to disregard a transaction which does not match the authorization given to its sender, when verified according to the electronic commerce system being employed by the recipient.
Delivery to an end user of electronic (digital) goods in an encrypted (or scrambled) state is known. It is also known to subsequently deliver an appropriate decryption key to the end user, only upon fulfillment of some condition, such as arranging for payment for the goods. In such cases, users do not know the decryption key until they receive it in exchange for payment, or until they fulfill some other conditions (such as registering use of the goods).
Various schemes also exist in which an on-line service sign-up process involves entering a credit card number followed by a formalistic typing of words of assent such as "I Agree" in reference to the terms of service. However, in those cases, while the program requires the words to be entered in order to proceed, there is no decryption step involved, only recognition of the phrase.


The disclosed systems and methods include a native portable communications device having an application module that modifies communications between the portable device and a non-native communications device connected to a non-native communications network. The application module transforms communications between a native standard to a non-native standard to allow interoperability between the native portable communications device and the non-native communications device within the non-native communications network. Further, the application module may modify communications in other manners, such as to apply a security function to the communication. Additionally, the systems and methods may include a communications accessory for switching communications between the application module of the native device, the non-native device, and the non-native network. Thus, the native portable communications device and the associated methods of operation with the application module provide a mobile system that enables modified communications over various communications networks.

This invention relates to systems and methods for modifying communications within a communications network, and, more particularly, to systems and methods for utilizing an application from a portable device within a "non-native" communications network, or in other words, a communications network with which the portable device was not originally intended to communicate.
The complexity of communications systems are ever-increasing due to the increasing number of different types of communications devices and different types of communications networks. For example, portable or wireless devices, wireline and wireless phones, and desktop and portable computers are increasingly used in conjunction on one or more communications networks, each having different standards and protocols, to transfer all different types of information. Such information includes, for example, voice data, audio data and video data. Because of the differences in communications standards and protocols between the various communications networks, a given communication device is typically designed for operation with a specific communications network. For example, a typical wireless phone designed for native operation on a Global System for Mobile ("GSM") communications network will not be able to communicate on a non-native Code-Division Multiple Access ("CDMA") communications network. In another example, a typical portable device designed for operation on a native BLUETOOTH™ communications network is not operable on a non-native GSM network. Thus, there is a need to improve the interoperability of the plethora of communications devices with the plethora of communications networks to enable applications to be utilized on both native and non-native communication networks.
Additionally, in some cases, a party receiving or transmitting the information desires the communication to be modified prior to its receipt or transmission. One example of a modified communication is a communication that is encrypted or decrypted by a security application. An encrypted communication is referred to as a secure communication, as only a party having the proper decryption algorithm or key may understand it. For example, a party transmitting sensitive or confidential information may desire to transmit it as a secure communication, such as by scrambling the communication using an encryption algorithm or key. Upon receiving the secure communication and applying the corresponding decryption algorithm or key, one may obtain the original or clear communication. Thus, private and secure communications may be achieved over a variety of public communications networks.
Current solutions for establishing secure communications over public communications networks, such as the public switched telephone network or wireless networks, have a number of drawbacks. Most secure communications products are not portable. Typically, these products comprise desktop units that require a physical interconnection between a wireline phone handset and its base unit, or between the base unit and a wall interface to the public switched telephone network. Depending on whether voice or data communications are to be secured, some products may require the connection to be physically changed. For example, some products require a connection to a computer for secure data communications. This requirement of continuously having to change the connection leads to consumer dissatisfaction because of the continuous need to connect and disconnect the various devices based on the use. Further, these products require security applications to be locally resident within the product. This local residence of the security application exposes the secure aspects of the product to tampering. Further, an item having encryption technology may be considered a Controlled Cryptographic Item ("CCI"). A CCI device is defined as secure telecommunications or information handling equipment, with an associated cryptographic component, that is governed by a special set of control requirements that may add additional cost to an item due to special handling, storage and export restrictions. Additionally, some of these secure communication products are not universally compatible with any type of wireline phone. Finally, most of these products are very expensive.
Thus, improved systems and methods of interoperable communications between devices and networks are desired, along with more flexible systems and methods of modifying a communication relying on a variety of public communications networks.

Systems and methods for utilizing an application from a native portable device within a non-native communications network


A structure for protecting electronic package contacts is provided. The structure includes at least an electronic contact mounted on a chip, a dielectric layer, a conductor trace line and a protective layer. The protective layer is used to prevent stresses from being gathered within electronic contacts on the chip through surroundingly covering the conductor trace line.

While more convenient life for human being is ongoing and driven by rapid changing technology, demands for electronic products tend to deliver multiple functionality, high-speed transmission of electronic signals, and high density of circuit components. Particularly for consuming electronic products, the larger number of passive components embedded in the IC is, the more functions performed thereby will be. Therefore, how to accommodate the large number of electronic components in the limited packaging space has become a technical bottleneck to be overcome. To solve the above-mentioned problem, package technique is guided by market segments to progressively develop towards the level of Sip (system in package), and the embedded technology and the build-up technology become crucial. Components buried interiorly shorten the packaging space extensively, where more components with high performance can be integrated into the saving space within the package. Furthermore, the build-up technology increases high density of the circuit and reduces the thickness of components, thereby raising the overall packaging density of the product.
However, the size of layout and the space between electronic components on the chip become much tinier due to the extensively space-limited packaging and higher contact density. Therefore, stresses are easily provoked to gather in terminal contacts of the chip or via holes for rerouting when the environment is changed by different factors and exterior forces. Those areas on the chip with higher stress usually cause the terminal contacts to be damaged or cause the conducting wires to be broken, thereby disabling the chip.
Please referring to FIG. 1, the U.S. Pat. No. 5,757,072 disclosed that the protective cap 16 is used to cover the chip 12a and the positive and passive components 12 which are sensible and easily interfered by exterior forces, in order to protect the overall manufacturing process from contamination within the high-density interconnecting structure 10. However, in this patent, the protective cap 16 needs to be additionally manufactured and the structure thereof is quite complicated, and thus the cost therefor is high.
Please referring to FIG. 2, the U.S. Pat. No. 6,586,836 disclosed that the second die assembly 162 is used to reduce warpage of the microelectronic die, which prevents the microelectronic die from being disabled due to the gathering stress resulting from warpage. However, this is only applied in the microelectronic dice with multiple chips. As described above, the technique is applied in limited fields and its procedures are more complicated.
Please referring to FIG. 3, the U.S. Pat. No. 5,866,952 disclosed that the compliant material 17 is deposited around the chips 14 and 20, and then a mold form is positioned around the chips prior to molding a polymeric substrate therearound within the high-density interconnecting structure 26. Hence, the chip is normally operated by preventing from the gathering stress thereon.
In order to overcome the drawbacks in the prior art, a structure for protecting an electronic package contact and the method thereof are provided. The particular designs in the present invention not only solve the problems described above, but also are easy to be implemented. Thus, the invention has the utility for the industry.

Structure for protecting electronic packaging contacts from stress


A pipe heating assembly includes a housing that has a pair of openings extending therethrough. The openings are axially aligned. A light emitter is hingedly attached to the housing and is selectively positioned in a first position facing inward of the housing or in a second position facing outwardly of the housing. A pipe may be positioned in the housing and heated by the light emitter.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to pipe heating devices and more particularly pertains to a new pipe heating device for heating a PVC pipe so that the pipe may be selectively bent as needed for electrical purposes.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of heating devices is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,511,145 describes a heat lamp device adapted for using infrared light to heat air. A pipe heating device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,017,760 and includes a housing having a heating coil therein. When a plastic pipe is extended through the housing, the heating coil is wrapped around the pipe for adequately heating the pipe.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a device that is used for heating pipes comprised of a plastic material in such a manner that they become pliable enough to bend into a required shape. Additionally, it is preferred that the device may be used as an auxiliary lighting assembly for illuminating a job site. This will allow a worker to bring only one tool or device to satisfy two job related needs.

Pipe heating assembly with hingedly attached light emitters


An automotive electric fluidic pump includes a brushless and electronically commutated electric drive motor. The electric drive motor includes a permanent-magnetic motor rotor which rotates around a rotation axis and includes rotor poles, stator-sided electro-magnetic coils, a printed circuit board with openings, at least two stator-sided Hall sensors arranged on a proximal side of the printed circuit board to face the permanent-magnetic motor rotor, and a ferromagnetic back iron member arranged at a distal side of the printed circuit board to provide a direct magnetic coupling of the Hall sensors with each other. The Hall sensors are arranged eccentrically to detect axial magnetic fields of the rotor poles. The ferromagnetic back iron member comprises axial protrusions. An axial protrusion extends into an opening of the printed circuit board. Each axial protrusion faces a Hall sensor.

The drive motor comprises a permanent-magnetic motor rotor rotating around a rotation axis and being provided with a plurality of rotor poles, a plurality of stator-sided electro-magnetic coils, and a printed circuit board lying in a transversal plane. The drive motor further comprises at least two stator-sided Hall sensors arranged on the printed circuit board at a proximal side thereof and facing the motor rotor, wherein the Hall sensors are arranged eccentrically so that the Hall sensors detect the axial magnetic fields of the rotor poles. A ferromagnetic back iron member is also provided at a distal side of the printed circuit board for a direct magnetic coupling of the Hall sensors with each other.
A respective automotive electric fluidic pump having a brushless and electronically commutated electric drive motor is described in EP 2 701 291 A1. The position of the motor rotor is detected by three Hall sensors mounted on a PCB (printed circuit board) which are connected to three field conducting pins. An interference ring is mounted on a side of the PCB opposite to a side where the Hall sensors are provided to the PCB.
The exact detection of the rotational rotor position of the motor rotor of an automotive fluidic pump, which is driven by an electronically commutated drive motor, is important for a safe and energy-efficient operation. An accurate control of the drive motor requires an exact detection of the rotational rotor position of the motor rotor. An accurate motor control avoids undesired operation states, such as start-up problems, so-called toggling etc. Such undesired operation states can in particular occur with displacement fluidic pumps because of a wide range of torques. The total energy consumption is also minimized by an accurate timing of the commutation in the stator coils.
Hall sensors are used for accurate rotor position detection; the Hall sensors can be arranged axially of the motor rotor. The Hall sensors thereby detect the passing rotating magnetic fields generated by the rotor poles. The absolute field strength of the magnetic field of the rotor poles detected by the Hall sensor and the strength of interference fields are relevant for the accuracy of the rotor position detection with Hall sensors.


In some variations, this disclosure provides a method of verifying the presence of an admixture in association with a solid base material, by combining the admixture with a stable inorganic tracer. A sample of the solid base material may be analyzed, using suitable analytical techniques, to detect the presence of the inorganic tracer in excess of any native inorganic tracer. When the inorganic tracer is positively detected, it is confirmed that the traceable admixture has been properly dosed within the base material. The inorganic tracer may comprise a rare earth metal, such as selenium, molybdenum, bismuth, and combinations, alloys, or oxides thereof, for example. The solid base material may be a cementitious material, in some embodiments. The traceable admixture may be a water-repellent admixture, in some embodiments. The principles of the invention, however, are widely applicable.

Water-repellent additives have been incorporated into hydraulic cement-based products for decades, serving to resist moisture, such as rain water, from penetrating excessively into materials, such as masonry mortars. Reducing moisture penetration can help to resist mold and mildew, to protect against cracks, and to resist efflorescence stains. Reducing water absorption also prevents or minimizes the damaging effects of freeze-thaw cycles.
Although these water-repellent additives to cementitious materials have been relatively effective, their chemical composition is very similar to the chemical composition of the hydraulic cement materials to which they are added. There are occasions when the water-repellent additives are not added or in improper amounts, either in error or deliberately. Therefore, it would be important to be able to detect the presence of a properly formulated mixture during construction, and certainly before it is too late take corrective action. Furthermore, the ability to test for compliance may be a strong incentive to comply with the specified formulations.
Heretofore, water-repellent additives were not intended to be detected or quantified once the cementitious material has hardened. The evaluator is often relegated to attempt some kind of physical property measurement, such as a water uptake test or complicated and expensive analytical test. Such tests often are not very reliable for determining whether the water-repellent additive is present or for estimating whether the water-repellent additive has been added at a sufficient dosage and distribution (i.e., well-dispersed throughout the cement-based material) especially when conducted on hardened masonry mortar samples removed from a wall because of the small dimensions of the samples which are typically only ⅜ inch (10 mm) in width by 1 to 1.5 inch (25 to 40 mm) in depth.
Due to the difficulty with the prior formulations of water-repellent admixtures, organizations such as the National Concrete Masonry Association and ASTM have not recognized an analytical technique for identifying or measuring the presence of a water-repellent additive in cementitious materials, such as masonry mortar. The typical technique is to directly evaluate the level of water repellency exhibited by the cement-based material, but that is difficult due to small sample sizes that are necessary in most situations. What is desired is a method to indirectly detect and quantify the presence of the water-repellent admixture without needing to test the water repellency.
It would be beneficial to employ a tracer that can indirectly verify the presence, quantity, and/or distribution of water-repellent admixture within a cement-based material. What is needed is a tracer additive that is reliably identifiable, qualitatively and/or quantitatively, after the hydraulic cement-based material has aged and weathered over time. Desirable tracers would not oxidize and degrade over time.

Tracers for detecting the presence of solid admixtures


A conformable acoustic coupler for ultrasonically testing an article. The upler has an ultrasonic transducer with an active surface which transmits ultrasonic energy pulses to an article to be tested. A sensor receives and measures an ultrasonic echo from the tested article. The article to be tested is acoustically mated to the active surface by a medium of a gelatinous material layer on the active surface and a flexible film on the gelatinous material layer. The combination of the gelatinous material and film conforms to the shape of the article and provide acoustic coupling between the active surface and the article without leaving a residue of the medium on the article.

The present invention relates to ultrasonic testing and more particularly to conformable acoustic couplers for use in ultrasonic testing.
A requirement exists to verify the existing chemical weapons stockpile declarations. However, a large part of the existing stockpiles are contained within sealed munitions. Typically, chemical munitions can be differentiated from conventional munitions by external labeling. However, many of these munitions, particularly in third world countries, are not labeled. In addition, munitions might be improperly labeled to conceal their contents. Identification of the contents by conventional analytical methods would be dangerous and time consuming. Heretofore, no methods are currently available to quickly and safely identify the contents of sealed munitions. However, a number of existing technologies appear to be adaptable to the task with some additional modifications. Ultrasonic technology is attractive because it is inherently safe, straightforward in application, has the potential to be miniaturized and is available at low cost. It is known in the art to conduct non-destructive testing of unknown materials within containers and the like by means of ultrasonic test procedures. One of several possible approaches to ultrasonic interrogation is to measure the velocity of sound in the various chemical agents. In this regard, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,527,986 and 2,398,701 pertain to such ultrasonic testing techniques. It is generally well known that sound travels through different materials at different speeds. In the case of chemical verification, a specific fill might be related to a specific velocity at a measured temperature. While different chemical agents can be correlated to specific transmission velocities under controlled conditions, it has been found that differentiation of munition fills on the basis of velocity measurements is not practical. One reason is that transmission velocities are highly dependent on temperature, which is easy to measure but difficult to control in the field. In addition, the physical condition and purity of the chemical fills is known to vary significantly, and the variations encountered in the measurement of transmission velocities does not allow for reasonable statistical correlations. Also, the speed of transmission is similar in a number of unrelated materials and is not sufficiently unique for the intended purpose of verification of chemical stockpiles. In addition, several other practical constraints beyond temperature and fill purity require attention. The physical condition of the fills and the internal structural configurations vary, sometimes significantly, in munitions of similar type. In the case of filled munitions, information on the internal structure or condition is often not known. As an example, the burster core within the center of the munition can be short, long or of some intermediate length. It may be empty, packed with explosives, or filled with small explosive canisters. It is apparent that this high degree of variability among like munitions must be taken into consideration. Another approach to ultrasonic interrogation is the standing wave or resonance approach. In this regard see U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,215,583 and 3,861,200. Variations of resonant ultrasound have been used to test for structural integrity or homogeneity of various materials. In this method a structure is stimulated to induce one or more resonant frequencies and the frequency is compared with a reference spectrum for similarity. In the case of the present invention, the munitions would serve as the test structure and behave as an integral system. For a discussion of this method, one may see U.S. Pat. No. 3,595,069 and Postany, G.J., Influence of the Pulser on the Ultrasonic Spectrum: The Results of an Experiment"; Materials Evaluation, Mar. 1965, pgs. 417-419. When stimulated with broadband excitation, those materials with a higher resonance transmission will tend to dominate the frequency spectrum. In the testing of munitions, frequency transmission is favored by the shell or container casing as opposed to the fill. Similar shells or containers would tend to resonate in a similar manner, and the damping effects of the fill would become a secondary resonance effect. Different fills would have different damping factors, and thus can be differentiated. This approach is highly desirable for structural analysis of the munitions, but less so for determination of the contents of the fill because the fill level is observed to have a large effect on the frequency signature. In addition, the method in which the munition is supported and the position of the transducer both have an observable and sometimes unpredictable effect on the frequency signature. Such changes in the frequency signature make correlations with stored spectra difficult.
A third method of ultrasonic interrogation, the pulse-echo method appears to be somewhat more forgiving in subtle variations found in the resonance methods. One may see U.S. Pat. No. 3,595,069 and Kline, R.A. Measurement of Attenuation and Dispersion Using an Ultrasonic Spectroscopy Technique". J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 76(2), Aug. 1985, pgs 498-504, both of which are incorporated herein by references.
By this means, an acoustic transducer generates an acoustic pulse through an active surface which is thereby imparted to an article to be tested. The pulsed article produces a reverberation which is received by a sensor, usually a piezoelectric device. The sensor then produces a signal which is measured by an analysis device such as a computer. While such ultrasonic testing is very frequently used in articles having substantially flat surfaces, it has been a problem in the art to ultrasonically test curved surfaces. This is because it has been difficult to achieve a good acoustic energy coupling between the active surface of the transducer and the curved article to be tested. It is known in the art that when performing ultrasonic testing, close coupling should be attained between the active surface of a transducer and the article to be tested. Acoustic coupling to non-flat surfaces such as ammunition shells, storage tanks, etc., require coupling that easily conforms to its surface. One attempt at solving this problem has been to use an aqueous interface or grease as a coupling medium between the active surface and the article to be tested. In another attempt, plastic materials such as putty or modeling clay have been used. These have proved to be unsatisfactory since such materials leave residues which may be corrosive or absorb chemical agents. A method of close coupling by applying a fluid coupling layer is suggested by Pedrix, M., et al, Acoustic Independence Measurement by Reflection of Ultrasonic Impulse on a Specimen through a Coupling Layer", Transactions on Sonics and Ultrasonics, Vol. SU-28, No. 6, Nov. 1981. Coupling fluids are a problem when testing munitions since they tend to leave a residue and react with or absorb into the shell container.
For ease of operation and speed in testing a large variety of sizes and types of articles, a material is needed which does not leave a residue on the article to be tested. It also must be capable of functioning over a wide temperature range while being non-reactive, non-absorbing and not require subsequent cleaning of the tested article.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a conformable acoustic coupler for ultrasonically testing an article which quickly and easily conforms to a variety of non-flat surfaces and permits quick and efficient testing over a wide range of ambient conditions. Another object of the invention is to provide such a conformable acoustic coupler which does not leave a residue on the article which must be removed and where the coupler is non-reactive with the article.
These and other objects will be in part described and in part apparent from a consideration of the detailed description of the preferred embodiment.

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army


A channel decoding device for a receiver which receives symbols coded by inserting at least one specific bit in a data frame at a predetermined position. In the channel decoding device, a symbol inserter receives the symbols, inserts a symbol having a specific value at a predetermined specific bit insert position and outputs the received symbols at other positions. A decoder decodes symbols output from the symbol inserter.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a communication system which processes data on a frame unit basis, and in particular, to a channel encoding device and a method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
In communication systems for processing voice, character, image and video signals, data is generally transmitted on a frame unit basis. A frame is defined as a basic timing internal in the system. Further, in a system for communicating such frame data, a channel encoder for error correction should also encode data on the frame unit basis. In this case, the channel encoder performs zero tail biting to indicate the termination of each frame so that a decoder can efficiently decode the frames using that information. Encoder tail bits represent a fixed sequence of bits added to the end of a data frame to reset the convolutional encoder to a known state. An IS-95 system typically uses a non-recursive systematic convolutional encoder, which adds a sequence of zero (0) bits to the end of each frame equal to the number of delays, to implement frame termination. However, in contrast to the non-recursive systematic convolutional encoder, a recursive systematic encoder cannot add the zero bits to the end of the frame to implement the frame termination because input bits are fed back to the delays.
FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a conventional parallel turbo encoder, which is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,446,747 issued to Berrou. The encoder of FIG. 1 is one type of conventional recursive systematic encoder. The turbo encoder encodes an N-bit input frame into parity symbols using two simple constituent encoders, and can be configured to have either a parallel or serial structure. In addition, the turbo encoder of FIG. 1 uses recursive systematic convolutional codes as constituent codes.
The turbo encoder of FIG. 1 includes an interleaver 120 interposed between a first constituent encoder 110 and a second constituent encoder 130. The interleaver 120 has the same size as a frame length, N, of input data bits and re-arranges the order of the data bits input to the second constituent encoder 130 to reduce the correlation between the outputs of the first and second encoders.
The first constituent encoder 110 encodes the input data bits and the interleaver 120 interleaves (or randomizes) the bits in the input data stream according to a specified rule so that burst errors introduced by the channel can be converted to random errors. The second constituent encoder 130 encodes the output of the interleaver 120.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a termination scheme in the recursive systematic convolutional encoder of FIG. 1. For more detailed information, see D. Divsalar and F. Pollara, xe2x80x9cOn the Design of Turbo Dodesxe2x80x9d, TDA Progress Report 42-123, Nov. 15, 1995. Here, frame data input to the first and second constituent encoders 110 and 130 is assumed to be 20-bit data. In FIG. 2, D1-D4 denotes delays and XOR1-XOR6 exclusive OR gates.
Referring to FIG. 2, the operative steps to perform encoding are as follows. A switch SW1 is maintained in the ON position and a switch SW2 is maintained in the OFF position. Then, the 20-bit input frame data is applied in sequence to the delays D1-D4 and exclusively ORed by the exclusive OR gates XOR1-XOR6, thus outputting encoded bits at the output of exclusive OR gate XOR6. When the 20 data bits are all encoded in this manner, the switch SW1 is switched OFF and the switch SW2 is switched ON, for frame termination. Then, the XOR gates XOR1-XOR4 exclusively OR the output data bits of the delays and the corresponding fed-back data bits, respectively, thereby outputting zero bits. The resulting zero bits are again input to the delays D1-D4 and stored therein. These zero bits input to the delays D1-D4 become tail bits, which are applied to a multiplexer.
The multiplexer multiplexes the encoded data bits and the tail bits output from the constituent encoder. The number of generated tail bits depends on the number of the delays included in the constituent encoders 110 and 130. The termination scheme of FIG. 2 generates 4 tail bits per frame plus additional encoded bits generated for each of the respective tail bits, undesirably increasing the overall final encoded bit count, which leads to a decrease in a bit rate. That is, when the bit rate is defined as;
Bit Rate=(the Number of Input Data Bits)/(the Number of Output Data Bits),
a constituent encoder having the structure of FIG. 2 has a bit rate of
xe2x80x83Bit Rate=(the Number of Input Data Bits)/{(the Number of Encoded Data Bits)+(the Number of Tail Bits)+(the Number of Encoded Bits for the Tail Bits)}.
Accordingly, in FIG. 2, since the frame data is composed of 20 bits and the number of delays equals 4, the bit rate becomes 20/28.
It is therefore apparent that the recursive, systematic convolutional encoder""s performance depends upon the tailing method, because it is difficult to perfectly tail the turbo codes.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a device and method for performing channel encoding/decoding using a frame structure, in which predetermined bits are inserted, in a recursive systematic encoder for a communication system.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a recursive systematic channel encoding device and method for inserting bits having a specific value in frame data at predefined positions before channel encoding.
It is further another object of the present invention to provide a channel decoding device and method for decoding channel coded data transmitted from a channel encoder, wherein the bits having specific values were inserted at predetermined positions of frame data during channel encoding.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a device and method for inserting a bit having a specific value at a specific symbol position out of channel coded symbols, and performing soft-decision decoding using the bit having the specific value to increase channel decoding performance.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a channel decoding device for a receiver which receives symbols coded by inserting at least one specific bit in a frame data at a predetermined position. The channel decoding device comprises a symbol inserter receiving the symbols, for inserting a symbol having a specific value at predetermined specific bit insert position and outputting the received symbols at other positions; and a decoder for decoding symbols output from the symbol inserter.
More specifically, the channel decoding device comprises a demultiplexer receiving the symbols, for demultiplexing the received symbols into a data symbol, a first parity symbol and a second parity symbol; a symbol inserter for inserting a symbol having a specific value at predetermined specific bit insert position of the data symbol and outputting the received symbols at other positions; a first decoder for performing soft decision for the data symbol output from the symbol inserter and the first parity symbol to generate a first decoded symbol; a first interleaver for interleaving an output of the first decoder; a second decoder for performing soft decision for the first decoded symbol output from the first interleaver and the second parity symbol to generate a second decoded symbol; a hard-decision element for performing hard decision for the second decoded data; and a first deinterleaver for deinterleaving an output of the hard-decision element.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a channel decoding method for a receiver which receives symbols coded by inserting at least one specific bit in a frame data at a predetermine position. The channel decoding method comprises the steps of: receiving the symbols, inserting a symbol having a specific value at a predetermined specific bit insert position and outputting the received symbols at other positions; and decoding the received symbols using the inserted symbol having the specific value.
More specifically, the channel decoding method comprises the steps of a) receiving the symbols, and demultiplexing the received symbols into a data symbol, a first parity symbol and a second parity symbol; b) inserting a symbol having a specific value at a predetermined specific bit insert position of the data symbol and outputting the received symbols at other positions; c) performing soft decision for the data symbol, in which the symbol having the specific value is inserted, and the first parity symbol to generate a first decoded symbol; d) interleaving the first decoded symbol; e) performing soft decision for the interleaved first decoded symbol and the second parity symbol to generate a second decoded symbol; f) deinterleaving the second decoded symbol; g) initializing a corresponding symbol of the deinterleaved second symbol to the specific value at an insert position, and returning to step c) to repeat the steps c) to e); h) upon completion of the steps c) to e), performing hard decision for the second decoded data; and i) deinterleaving the hard-decision processed second decoded symbol.

Channel encoding/decoding in communication system


A foamable structure includes a film shell having a bottom face and a peripheral wall, and a foamable material mounted in the film shell and having a bottom face combined with the bottom face of the film shell, and a peripheral wall combined with the peripheral wall of the film shell. Thus, the film shell is coated on the periphery of the foamable material, so that the film shell is combined with the foamable material rigidly and stably, thereby preventing the foamable material from detaching from the film shell due to a pulling action of an external force.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a three-dimensional foamable structure with a wear-resistant feature, and more particularly to a three-dimensional foamable structure, wherein the film shell is coated on the periphery of the foamable material, so that the film shell is combined with the foamable material rigidly and stably, thereby preventing the foamable material from detaching from the film shell due to a pulling action of an external force.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional foamable product is available for an article, such as a shoe sole, a chair seat, a purse, a sport protective equipment or the like. The foamable product is integrally formed by a foamable material. Usually, the foamable product made by the foamable material has poor outer appearance and is not wear-resistant. Thus, the surface of the foamable product is coated with a cloth or leather layer.
However, the cloth layer cannot surround the periphery of the foamable product completely, so that the cloth layer is not combined with the foamable product rigidly and stably. Thus, the cloth layer is easily detached from the foamable product due to a pulling action of an external force. In addition, the water will infiltrate through the periphery into the foamable product, thereby decreasing the lifetime of the foamable product. Further, the pattern or color printed on the outer layer of the foamable product is easily stripped or broken during a long-term utilization, thereby decreasing the aesthetic quality of the foamable product.

Three-dimensional foamable structure with wear-resistant feature