A current sensor includes a semiconductor substrate, a ring shaped magnetic core having a center opening and a gap and provided to a surface of the substrate, and a Hall element provided to the surface and placed in the gap of the magnetic core such that a control current for operating the Hall element flows perpendicular to the surface of the substrate. The magnetic core and the Hall element are formed to the substrate by semiconductor manufacturing techniques. Therefore, the Hall element can be placed in the gap to be accurately positioned with respect to the magnetic core and the gap can have a reduced separation distance. Thus, the current sensor can have an increased sensitivity and accurately measure a current to be detected.

A current sensor has been proposed that detects a current based on characteristics of a Hall element, which is a semiconductor element. When a control current flows through the Hall element and a magnetic field is applied to the Hall element in a direction perpendicular to the control current flow direction, a Hall effect occurs and a Hall voltage is induced across the Hall element.
When a current to be detected flows through a conductor, the magnetic field is generated around the conductor in a direction perpendicular to the detected current flow direction. The magnetic field changes proportional to the amount of the detected current. Therefore, the detected current can be measured by the Hall element placed near the conductor. Specifically, the detected current can be measured based on the Hall voltage generated by the Hall element that is placed near the conductor such that the control current flow direction is parallel to the detected current flow direction.
Typically, the Hall element and peripheral circuits are integrated into a Hall IC. The use of the Hall IC reduces the size and manufacturing cost of the current sensor.
In the current sensor using the Hall IC, a portion of the magnetic flux induced around the conductor by the current leaks so that the whole magnetic field is not applied to the Hall IC. As a result, the current sensor may not accurately detect the current.
To overcome the above problem, a current sensor with a magnetic core has been proposed and used in practice. The magnetic core is made of a magnetic material such as permalloy and concentrates the magnetic flux. For example, in a current sensor disclosed in JP-2002-148284A, the magnetic core is installed in a case by insert molding technology and then a circuit board having the Hall IC is placed in the case.
In such a current sensor having the magnetic core, the positional relationship between the magnetic core and the Hall IC affects the strength of the magnetic field around the Hall element. Therefore, the current sensor requires high assembly precision. Even if the requirement for the high assembly precision is met, the positional relationship may change over time due to, for example, change in the ambient temperature. As a result, the current sensor may not accurately detect the current.
The current sensor needs to detect a small current, i.e., needs high sensitively, because recent development trends are toward low power consumption. In the current sensor, the Hall IC is placed in a gap of the magnetic core and the magnetic flux flowing through the magnetic core is applied to the Hall element of the Hall IC. The sensitivity of the current sensor can be increased by reducing a gap separation distance in order to increase the magnitude of the magnetic flux applied to the Hall IC.
However, since the Hall element is integrated in the Hall IC, the gap separation distance may be limited to the thickness of the Hall IC. Further, when the Hall IC is placed in the gap with the reduced separation distance, the assembly precision may need to be further improved.

Current sensor and method of manufacturing the same


An anti-vibration seat mount for tractors and other rough riding equipment with a paired base and top frame, the base frame separated from the top frame by a tapered spring set, with each spring interconnecting the base frame to the top frame. One tapered spring connects each distal end of the top frame to each distal end of the base frame, with the bottom of each tapered spring is mounted immovably to the base frame. A central pipe from the top frame is received into to the top of each tapered spring, downward through the center of each tapered spring. Vibration and bouncing motions of the work vehicle or tractor onto which the seat suspension is mounted are greatly reduced, with movements absorbed while self-centering back to an original position.

Work vehicles broadly include tractors, trucks, excavators, combines, and harvesters, and are widely employed in farms, orchards, fields, mines, construction and work-sites to perform needed tasks, often related to the advance preparation, excavating, material removal or dumping, crop planting, crop fertilizing, crop spraying, crop cultivating, crop maintaining, and crop harvesting. Typically, the ground surface of a mine, work-site, farm or orchard is rutted, muddy, or otherwise uneven and bumpy. Additionally, the tires, tracks, or treads of the work vehicle may include deep lugs to provide traction, but add to the vibrations felt by the driver or rider, especially at higher speeds.
Over time, the vibrations and bumps felt and absorbed by the driver or rider of a work vehicle from traveling over the typical uneven surfaces, and especially those vehicles traveling on fields, orchards and crop-lands while equipped with lugged treads and tracks, can cause health issues. These health issues may include both short term and long term dammage to internal organs, the nervous system, and joints. The long term dammage can be painful and irreversible.
A new suspension device, mechanism, or apparatus that serves to dampen or reduce the vibrations felt by the driver and rider of work vehicles would be desirable. The following is a disclosure of preferred embodiments of a vibration dampening seat suspension, especially useful in work vehicles that travel over bumpy ground surfaces, or have lugs and treads that add to the vibrations felt by the driver or rider. The present invention will be understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Reference characters included in the above drawings and graphs indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, as discussed herein. The description herein illustrates one preferred embodiment of the invention, in one form, and the description herein is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. It should be understood that the above listed figures are not necessarily to scale and may include fragmentary views, graphic symbols, diagrammatic or schematic representations, section lines, and phantom lines. Details that are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention by one skilled in the technology of the invention, or render other details difficult to perceive, may have been omitted.


Various security features for a medical infusion pump are disclosed. The security features include providing dual verification for standing orders, allowing multiple levels of access rights to features of the medical infusion pump, and incorporating a security touch screen in the medical infusion pump. Methods of use and operation of these features are disclosed as well.

Patients at hospitals and other care centers regularly require controlled drug intake as a part of the patient's prescribed therapy. One form of controlled drug intake is accomplished by infusing fluidic drugs with a medical infusion pump.
Medical infusion pumps, in general, provide regulated drug delivery to a patient. These pumps are used to deliver a selected drug or other therapeutic agent to a patient at a predetermined rate that is programmed into the pump. A doctor, nurse, or other healthcare professional typically programs each medical infusion pump in accordance with a prescribed dosage of a drug or therapeutic agent. Once the medical infusion pump is programmed, it will execute that program regardless of any human errors introduced during the programming of the pump or creation of the pump protocol. Introduction of additional redundancies in verifying the programming of pumps can reduce errors in drug delivery to a patient.
Furthermore, medical infusion pumps can include a variety of functionality related to fluidic drug delivery. For example, medical infusion pumps can alter rates of drug delivery, can deliver boluses (additional drugs beyond the prescribed amount), and can accept reprogramming in accordance with different therapies, drugs, or patients. However, certain aspects of this functionality may be intended for use by a doctor, while other functionality may be intended for use by a nurse, and still further functionality may be intended for use by a patient. However, all of these settings and systems are generally available to all users of the medical infusion pump

Security features for a medical infusion pump


An address memory structure used in an Ethernet switch, comprising an index memory and an address table memory is disclosed. The index memory is used for storing the vendor code section and the address table memory is used for storing the serial code section. The vendor code index data connects the index memory data to the address table memory data. When comparing the node addresses, the serial code section in the address table memory is compared first. If there is a consistent entry, the corresponding vendor code section is compared through the vendor code index data. When adding a new node address, the corresponding vendor code index data is attained, and the vendor code index data and the serial code of the node address are then written into the address table memory.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention in general relates to an Ethernet switch technique. More specifically, it relates to a new architecture of address memory in an Ethernet switch to be applied for recognizing network node addresses, thereby making it is possible to store a greater number of addresses in limited memory space and achieve more efficient memory usage.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The function of the switch is to transfer information between different networks; that is, connecting a number of individual networks into a larger, more complete information transferring network. FIG. 1 (Prior Art) shows a structural diagram for a general switch which can be applied in networks. In FIG. 1, switch 10 connects to network 1, network 2, network 3 and network 4, respectively. When users in network 1 need to send data to another network, the data transfer can be accomplished through switch 10, which transfers said data to network 2, network 3 or network 4 as needed. In this manner, a given network can transfer data to any other network.
The service provided by switch 10 is determined by the protocol used in each network. If the data transfer occurs between two Ethernet networks, for example, the switch (termed a layer 2 switch) can transfer the data without data processing because the protocols of the sending and receiving networks are the same. However, if transferring data between a token ring network and an Ethernet network, the switch (termed a layer 3 switch) must process data because the packet structure of the two network protocols is different, making the layer 3 switch a more difficult one to design. The present invention focuses on an Ethernet switch to be applied for transferring data between Ethernet networks. Today, Ethernet networks are the most widely used networks. For example, a large company might establish an Ethernet network in each of its departments, then connect these networks serially through an Ethernet switch. Accordingly, the Ethernet switch is a very important network product.
An Ethernet switch is used to transfer data between networks having the same protocol and therefore is simpler in design. When a data packet is sent from one network to another, the Ethernet switch will first store the data packet. Then, according to the relevant information contained in the data packet, the switch determines the destination of the packet. Finally, it transfers the data packet to the destination network, completing the switching operation. From the process described above, it can be seen that two kinds of memory are required in an Ethernet switch. One is data buffer memory, which is used for storing data packets being processed. The other is address table memory, which is used for storing the address of each network node. An Ethernet network is usually composed of several connected nodes known as general terminal equipment. In Ethernet networks, each of the network nodes (terminal equipment) connects to the Ethernet network through an Ethernet switch. When an Ethernet network card is being produced, a unique address code whose length is 6 bytes is assigned to it. Presently, the Ethernet network card""s address code is used as the network node address in Ethernet networks. The Ethernet switch decides the location of each network node according to this address code.
FIG. 2 (Prior Art) and FIG. 3 (Prior Art) explain the switch method between Ethernet networks, wherein FIG. 2 illustrates an example of an Ethernet network switch architecture, and FIG. 3 illustrates the structure diagram of a network node address table maintained by an Ethernet switch. In FIG. 2, Ethernet switch 10 is provided with four ports, denoted by 101(the first port), 102(the second port), 103(the third port), and 104(the fourth port). The ports 101,102,103,104 connect to networks 1,2,3,4, respectively. Network 1 comprises at least nodes C11 and C12; network 2 comprises at least nodes C21 and C22; network 3 comprises at least nodes C31 and C32; network 4 comprises at least nodes C41 and C42. In FIG. 3, the Ethernet switch address table contains several node address data entries. Each of the data entries contains three kinds of data, e.g., port, source code, and lifetime, which are used to indicate the information of known network nodes. The port data is used to indicate which port of the Ethernet switch the network node is connected to. The source code data is used to indicate the address code of the network node (that is the address code of the Ethernet network card). The lifetime data is used to indicate the last time the data corresponding to a given network node was used, information utilized to determine whether the data of a particular network node should be kept or not. This is necessary because the memory space in the switch is limited. Therefore, the data for a node that is not used, for a long time, or perhaps off line, can be deleted first.
When the switch architecture in FIG. 2 is started up, the Ethernet switch stores no data for the network nodes, e.g., the table in FIG. 3 is blank. When a node in the network sends out a data packet (possibly to itself or to any other network that can be switched), then Ethernet switch 10 determines the port which the source code is connected to and the actual address of the source code, data which is then written into the address table of the network node. It should be noted that an Ethernet network can only record the source node data for a node that sends out a data packet, it can not record the destination node data. After Ethernet switch 10 has received a data packet, it will compare its destination address with the information of the nodes recorded, determining the network containing the destination node. If the destination node has been recorded, the Ethernet switch will send the data packet to the corresponding port. If the destination node has not been recorded, Ethernet switch 10 will be unable to find the true location of the destination node, and it will go to broadcast, e.g., sending the data packet to all of the other networks. For example, when source node C12 (the first port) wants to send a data packet to destination node C32, as shown in FIG. 3, Ethernet switch 10 does not have a record of the address information for node C32. Therefore, it will send the data packet to network 2 (the second port), network 3 (the third port) and network 4 (the fourth port). Hence, for an n-port switch, the traffic for a single data transfer would be (nxe2x88x921) times for a broadcast, thereby decreasing the system performance.
Accordingly, the functioning of the address memory has a significant impact on Ethernet performance. In an Ethernet switch design, there are two key concerns: first, the memory interface bandwidth, which relates to the speed of read and write; second, the memory size, which affects the number of node addresses it can store. Under broadcast conditions as described above, the Ethernet switch design will indirectly effect the traffic in the network, thereby influencing the probability of data collision. The present invention focuses on the problem of memory size. As described above, the memory space in an Ethernet network switch is limited. Smaller memory space will decrease the number of node addresses recorded and increase the occurrence of broadcast, thereby increasing network traffic. On the other hand, memory size is limited by several practical considerations, such as limitations on physical space and cost. Therefore, the question of how to store more network node address information without sacrificing the network performances is an important one.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an architecture of address memory and a method of node address management, thereby allowing more network node address information to be stored in limited memory space and promoting the efficiency of the address memory. Another object of the present invention is to shorten the read/write bytes, thereby promoting the read/write speed of the node addresses.
The present invention achieves the above-indicated object by providing an address memory architecture for an Ethernet switch, comprising an index memory and an address table memory. The index memory comprises several vendor code index entries. Each of the vendor code index entries includes a vendor storage section and index section for storing the index of the vendor code in the corresponding vendor storage section. The address table memory comprises a plurality of address entries. Each of the address entries stores one node address and includes a first storage section and a second storage section. The first storage section is used for storing the index data of the vendor code of the node address. The second storage section is used for storing the serial code of the node address. While a new network node address is obtained, the vendor code of the new node address is compared with the index memory to determine the corresponding index data. If it exists already, then the corresponding index data is directly retrieved. If it does not exist, then a new entry in the index memory is created, and the new index data is retrieved. Finally, the index data and the serial code of the node address are written into the address table memory that records all the node addresses. Since the vendor codes are recorded by their corresponding index data, memory usage is improved and the access time for the these node addresses is reduced.

Address memory structure and method for processing network node addresses in the Ethernet switch


Systems and techniques for end-to-end fuzzy entity matching are described herein. A first input and a second input may be received. The first input and the second input may be evaluated to identify common attribute types. A set of attribute entity matching models may be selected that correspond to the attribute types. The first input and the second input may be evaluated using the set of attribute entity matching models to determine a set of weighted scores for attribute pairs in the first input and the second input. The set of weighted scores may be evaluated using a table-level entity matching model to identify a common entity included in the first input and the second input. A linking dataset may be generated that includes a cross-linking facility indicating a relationship between a first entity descriptor in the first input and a second entity descriptor in the second input.

An entity may be the subject of a data set including attribute values. For example, a user of a system may be an entity and there may be several data sets that include attributes associated with the user. For example, an account data set may have attributes that include a username of the user, an address of the user, an email address of the user, etc. The attributes of the entity may be spread amongst a variety of data sources. It may be desirable to identify datasets corresponding to a same entity, referred to as a shared entity. For example, a user may desire to link an account associated in a customer resource management (CRM) system with an account in an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. Linking the accounts may include determining a user account used for accessing the CRM system that corresponds to the same real person as an account used for accessing the ERP system.


Optical signal receivers and methods are provided that include multiple optical resonators, each of which receives a portion of an arriving optical signal. Various of the optical resonators are tuned or detuned from a carrier wavelength, and produce an intensity modulated output signal in response to modulation transitions in the arriving optical signal. A detector determines phase transitions in the arriving optical signal, by analyzing the intensity modulation output signals from the optical resonators, and distinguishes between differing phase transitions that result in a common final state of the arriving optical signal.

Light waves may be made to carry information by modulating a light source, often a laser source, to change various properties of the light, such as its amplitude, phase, frequency, wavelength, etc. The light waves may be in the visible spectral band, the infrared spectral band, or another region of the electromagnetic spectrum. In some cases, an underlying signal, such as a radio frequency signal, may be modulated via amplitude, phase, or frequency modulation, or any combination thereof, and the light source may be modulated by the underlying signal. Optical receivers receive the light waves and measure properties or variations of the light wave, such as the amplitude, phase transitions, and the like, from which the underlying signal and the information may be recovered.
Various forms of optical modulation include phase variations of coherent light. Encoded information may include transmitted communication data or other information such as information about the source of the optical signal, interaction of the optical signal with an object, the optical channel through which the optical signal traveled, and/or objects with which it interacted. Conventional receivers capable of demodulating phase variations can be highly complex, requiring precision optics, local oscillators, gratings (such as Fiber Bragg Gratings), and/or delay line interferometers (DLI), etc. Receivers for high-order coherently encoded signals conventionally require frequency controlled lasers to serve as local oscillators (LO), multiple detectors, and significant digital signal processing (DSP).

Phase change detection in optical signals


A semiconductor component has a semiconductor body in which a trench structure is provided. An electrode structure embedded in the trench structure is at least partly insulated from its surroundings by an insulation structure, and is contact-connected in a contact-connecting region via a contact hole that penetrates through an upper region of the insulation structure. The semiconductor component has at least two trenches running next to one another, at least one of said trenches containing a part of the electrode structure. The trenches are oriented so that at least the regions of the insulation structure which are provided in the upper region of the trenches overlap one another in an overlap region. The contact hole is arranged above the at least two trenches in such a way that at least parts of the overlap region and at least one of the electrode structure parts are contact-connected via the contact hole.

The invention relates to a semiconductor component and to a method for fabricating said semiconductor component.
Trench transistors are frequently used semiconductor components. FIG. 1 shows a cross section through a detail from a known trench transistor.
A trench transistor 1 has a semiconductor body 2, in which a trench structure 3 is provided. An electrode structure 4 is embedded in the trench structure 3, said electrode structure 4 being insulated from its surroundings (semiconductor body 2) by an insulation structure 5. In this embodiment, the electrode structure 4 comprises gate electrodes by means of which current flows from source regions 6 through body regions 7 into a drift region 8 can be generated/controlled. The drift region 8 is adjoined by a highly doped drain region 9, which in turn adjoins a rear side terminal 10. The source and body regions 6, 7 are contact-connected by a front side terminal 11 (source terminal). In this case, the source regions 6 and also the drift region 8 and the drain region 9 are of one conduction type and the body regions 7 are of the other conduction type.
The electrode structure 4 is contact-connected within a contact-connecting region 12. For this purpose, firstly an insulation layer (upper part of the insulation structure 5) is applied to the surface of the semiconductor body 2 or the surface is thermally oxidized. A contact hole 13 penetrating through the insulation layer is subsequently produced. A contact-connecting terminal (here: gate terminal) 14 is then applied to the insulation layer 5, which contact-connecting terminal fills the contact hole 13 and makes contact with the electrode structure 4.
The contact-connecting method has the disadvantage that increasing miniaturization means that a precisely central alignment of the contact hole 13 with respect to the electrode structure 4 is not ensured. Thus, by way of example, FIG. 1 shows the case where the contact hole 13 is situated too far to the right, which has the consequence that the insulation structure 5 turns out to be thinner than desired within the region identified by reference numeral 15. This means, however, that there is the risk of a short circuit between the conductive material in the contact hole 13 and the body region 7 situated on the right next to the contact hole 13. If such a short circuit occurs, this may lead to the total failure of the trench transistor 1.

Semiconductor component and method for fabricating it


An electrical insulator for supporting an electrical conductor includes a load sustaining molded core, a mounting on the core, an dielectric sheath, and a metal cap. The molded core is formed of a dielectric polymer with opposite longitudinal ends and a profiled lateral outer surface between the ends. The dielectric outer sheath overlies the core outer surface and has a weathershed extending laterally outwardly relative to the core. A metal cap is secured to one end of the core by the metal cap having a portion directly molded to the core. The mounting is located on the end of the core opposite the metal cap.

Overhead electric power lines, wires or cables are supported by poles or towers which may be constructed of wood, metal or other construction materials. The overhead power liens are mounted on the poles or towers by insulators which are maintained upright by an upstanding pin engaged in an axial blind bore of the insulator body.
These insulators were, in the past, typically constructed of a ceramic material such as porcelain, and have a variety of shapes and/or designs depending upon the necessary mechanical strength, dielectric strength and leakage distance. However, the use of porcelain for insulators has several disadvantages. For example, porcelain insulators are often very heavy to provide the necessary mechanical and electrical characteristics. Moreover, such porcelain insulators are typically expensive to install and require strong supporting structures. Additionally, porcelain insulators are brittle, and thus, subject to being damaged during shipping and installation. Porcelain insulators are also susceptible to vandalism damage.
Accordingly, in recent years, newer insulators have been developed which include a fiberglass reinforced polymer core and an external protective housing forming annular flanges and webbed weathersheds. The weathershed housing or sheath is usually made of an elastomeric or an epoxy material. Elastomer or epoxy sheaths are designed to protect the fiberglass reinforced cores from weather and electrical activity. Weather and electrical activity degrade the mechanical strength of the fiberglass reinforced cores. The weathersheds on the housing intercept water flow down the insulators and increase the distance along the surface of the insulator for better electrical performance in wet or contaminated conditions.
With use of a dielectric polymer core, significant stresses, particularly electrical stresses, are created between the line wire and the ground insert coupled to the insulator. Additionally, the use of externally mounted clamps hinders installation and increases the cost of the components.


A power plant includes an internal combustion engine having a crankshaft to which a piston is connected and a variable compression ratio system for changing the position of the axis of rotation of the crankshaft. The power plant includes a transmission having a main shaft which is connected to the crankshaft through a first deceleration system. The variable compression ratio system includes a crankshaft holder, which rotatably supports the crankshaft and which is swingably supported on a main shaft, and a drive system which swings the crankshaft holder. Thus, the power plant retains unchanged the distance of shafts between the crankshaft and the main shaft, even when the combustion engine has a variable compression ratio system, by changing the position of the axis of rotation of the crankshaft.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power plant which includes an internal combustion engine with a variable compression ratio system which involves changing the position of the axis of rotation of a crankshaft, and which includes a transmission to which power of the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine is transmitted.
2. Background
A known internal combustion engine has a variable compression ratio system achieved by changing the position of the axis of rotation of a crankshaft in order to change a compression ratio. Such a system is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Sho 58(1983)-57040. In the internal combustion engine thereof, a crankshaft is rotatably supported on a cylinder block through an eccentric bearing. The eccentric bearing is activated into a rotational motion by a drive unit. As a result, the position of the axis of rotation is changed and the position of the top dead center is changed, hence changing the compression ratio.
In the meantime, in a power plant which includes a transmission with an input shaft whose axis of rotation is on a parallel with the axis of rotation of a crankshaft, when the position of the axis of rotation of the crankshaft is changed to change the compression ratio as in the above-described conventional technology, the shaft distance between the crankshaft and the input shaft is changed. As a result, it is difficult to make appropriate power transmission from the crankshaft to the input shaft. In addition, when power of the crankshaft is transmitted through a transmission which is formed by a gearing system, the shaft distance is changed so that the backlash between gears being engaged with each other is changed, causing gear noise to increase.

Power plant including an internal combustion engine with a variable compression ratio system


A vane arrangement for a compressor of a gas turbine engine comprises a plurality of circumferentially arranged vanes, a plurality of levers and a control ring. Each vane comprises a fixed upstream portion secured to a casing and a movable downstream portion pivotally mounted to the casing. The movable portion of each vane is pivotally mounted at the upstream end of the movable portion adjacent the fixed portion of the respective vane. The movable portion of each vane has a spindle extending through an aperture in the casing. Each aperture in the casing has an elongate shape in cross-section and each aperture has a bush arranged within the aperture and around the spindle to fill the elongate shaped aperture. The downstream end of the fixed portion of each vane has substantially the same shape as the upstream end of the movable portion of the respective vane.

A variable vane arrangement for a turbomachine, as disclosed in our UK patent application GB2339244A, comprises a plurality of circumferentially arranged vanes, a plurality of operating levers and a control ring. Each vane comprises an upstream portion secured to a casing and a movable downstream portion pivotally mounted to the casing of the turbomachine. Each operating lever is pivotally mounted at a first end to the control ring and each operating lever is mounted at second end to a spindle of the movable downstream portion of a respective one of the vanes. Rotation of the control ring causes the levers to adjust the angular position of the movable downstream portions of the vanes.
In this variable vane arrangement the movable downstream portions of the vanes are pivotally mounted about an axis adjacent the upstream ends of the movable downstream portions and downstream of the downstream ends of the fixed upstream portions of the vanes.
Also in this variable vane arrangement the radially outer ends of the downstream ends of the upstream portions of the vanes are shaped to allow the radially outer ends of the upstream ends of the movable downstream portions of the vanes to be inserted into apertures in the casing.
A problem with this variable vane arrangement is that when each vane is fully assembled, there is an undesirable gap between the shaped radially outer end of the downstream end of the fixed upstream portion of the vane and the radially outer end of the upstream end of the movable downstream portion of the vane. In operation these gaps allow a leakage flow from the concave pressure surfaces to the convex suction surfaces of the vanes which may be a source of aerodynamic forcing, or aeromechanical excitation, on the stage of rotor blades downstream of the vanes. The aerodynamic forcing may cause the rotor blade to vibrate and reduce the working life of the rotor blade.

Variable vane arrangement for a turbomachine


A system for carrying out surgery on a bodily structure (e.g., breast and liver) with greater precision, accuracy, comfort and minimal invasiveness. A 3-dimensional tracking and imaging system (1000) is used to obtain an accurate position of an instrument as it is maneuvered by an operator, and to mark a location on the subject bodily structure. The system is particularly advantageous for surgical procedures for biopsying and destroying tumors in bodily structures which are easily deformable.

Breast biopsies are currently performed using a device known as a Core Biopsy System. The Core Biopsy system first obtains a stereo-mammogram from a patient's breast, while the breast is immobilized by being compressed between two plates, and uses these two images to calculate the 3-D coordinates of the suspected tumor. A needle is then fired into the breast and a biopsy is taken of the suspected tumor. If the biopsy is positive, then the patient is scheduled for tumor removal surgery. It should be noted that before the biopsy procedure is commenced, the tumor needs to be manually identified by a radiologist.
The surgical procedure generally proceeds in the following manner. A patient undergoes multi-plane mammography, a radiologist examines the film, and then inserts a wire into the breast so that it punctures the tumor. This procedure is visualized using repetitive x-ray imaging. More recently, the stereotactic breast imaging system has been used to localize the tumor more precisely and assist in the insertion of the wire. The patient is then sent to the operating room, and the breast is prepared for surgery by the application of a topical sterilant. The surgeon then cuts the breast open, following the wire until the lesion is found and excised.
One of the undesirable factors of the foregoing procedure is the presence of a long wire through the breast for many hours at a time while awaiting surgery. This is highly traumatic for the patient and undesirable. Secondly, during surgery, the surgeon must follow the wire into the breast. Since this may not be the optimal trajectory, the surgeon would ideally like to plan the entry pathway independent of the wire, or eliminate the wire altogether. This can be done only if the location of the lesion within the breast can be identified using a system that takes into account the inherent deformability of the breast tissue. It should be appreciated that the problem associated with the deformability of breast tissue applies equally to other easily deformable bodily structures such as the liver.
The current problem limiting use of stereotactic breast surgery is the large difference between the position and shape of the breast during mammography and surgery. In this regard, images taken during mammography become unusable for stereotactic positioning during the surgical procedure. While stereotactic surgery can be done with the breast compressed, and the patient lying on the stereotactic table, this is not desirable. The ideal way to do this surgery is with the patient on her back, as is done routinely.
The present invention overcomes these and other drawbacks of prior art systems and provides a system having significantly improved accuracy and providing greater comfort to the patient.

System for carrying out surgery, biopsy and ablation of a tumor or other physical anomaly


An electrical power system that can be used to interconnect a plurality of generators to a plurality to loads while being rated at less than a total power consumed. The system is preferably used to distribute power for a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facility. The system broadly comprises a primary bus connected between the generators and the loads, such as electrical compressor motors used in the LNG facility. The generators and the loads are arranged along the primary bus in order to distribute the power from the generators to the loads, without overloading the primary bus.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electrical power systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to an electrical power system that can be used to interconnect a plurality of generators to a plurality of loads while being rated at less than a total power consumed.
2. Description of Prior Art
Power distribution buses are commonly used to distribute power from sources, such as generators and/or electrical power providers, to electrical loads. As a total power consumed is increased, a rating of a distribution bus must also be increased. In other words, bus ratings must be increased to handle an increase in total power consumed flowing through a bus.
However, there are practical limits on rating increases for conventional buses. For example, skin effect limits a bus bar's current carrying capacity. Additionally, components for higher rated buses are very expensive and occupy a large space. Therefore, it is not always practical to simply increase a rating of a bus.
One prior art solution is to use a lower rated bus and then use step-up and step-down transformers to reduce a current flow through the bus. For example, power can be generated at a generation voltage and a generation current. A step-up transformer may be used to increase the generation voltage to a distribution voltage, thereby decreasing the generation current to a distribution current. A distribution bus then carries the distribution current to a step-down transformer, which decreases the distribution voltage to a motor voltage, thereby increasing the distribution current to a motor current. In this case, the distribution bus need only be rated to handle the distribution current. However, this further complicates a power system by adding components, with their associated costs and space requirements. This problem is especially troublesome where the generation voltage can be made equal to the motor voltage, since the transformers would otherwise be superfluous.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved electrical power system that overcomes the limitations of the prior art.

Stand-alone electrical system for large motor loads


A drive circuit for a display device including a display panel for displaying an image line by line has a data register. The data register is used to store optional data in response to a control signal, to overwrite the stored optional data with display data, and to prepare display data for a given line of the display panel. The data prepared in the data register is transferred to the display panel to display the given line of the display panel. The drive circuit is capable of supplementing display data if the display data is improper for the display, thereby securing the quality of the displayed images.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display device, a drive circuit for the display device, and a method of driving the display device, and particularly, to a drive circuit of a liquid crystal display.
2. Description of the Related Art
Display devices are important for providing visual information. Liquid crystal displays are thin, low power consumption, and light, and therefore, are widely used for portable information equipment such as notebook-type personal computers and word processors. Semiconductor integrated circuits (ICs) for driving the liquid crystal displays must be simple and small.
The liquid crystal display (LCD) panel is driven by a dedicated integrated drive circuit. The drive circuit receives display data from a main device such as a personal computer and converts it into data voltages suitable for the panel.
By the way, if display data for a CRT is supplied as it is to the liquid crystal display, or if the number of pixels contained in display data does not fit that of the liquid crystal display, the displayed image will be disturbed. Therefore, the conventional display must have the dedicated display controller to convert input display data into that suitable for the display.
Note that the dedicated display controller increases the number of parts of the drive circuit, needs a large mounting space, consumes power, and deteriorates the versatility of the drive circuit. This problem occurs not only in the liquid crystal displays but also in other displays. Prior arts and their problems will be explained in detail with reference to drawings.

Display device, drive circuit for the display device, and method of driving the display device


The invention provides for secure end-to-end user authentication by a remote server communicating with a communication device. The communication device further communicates with an authentication device, which provides a user authentication message to the communication device for forwarding to the remote server. The authentication device comprises a data store for storing user authentication credentials. A user authentication processor performs a local authentication of a user of the authentication device in response to a user input. An authentication processor generates the authentication message if the user authentication is valid. The authentication processor implements a cryptographic function based on the user authentication credentials. A transmitter then transmits the authentication message to the at least one communication device.

Electronic interactions and transactions involving physically distant entities are becoming increasingly prevalent and is the basis of many commercial and non-commercial human interactions. Accordingly, security of such electronic transactions is becoming of increasing importance and a number of techniques have been developed to address such issues.
For example, online shopping over the Internet has in the latter years grown to become a substantial part of the economy. Such transactions need to be secure and resistant to security attacks. Such attacks include:
1. Eavesdropping meaning that attackers listen to the messages during their transport without the source or destination knowing.
2. Tampering meaning that attackers modify the messages in transport without being noticed by the receiver.
3. Impersonation is said to happen when a malicious party pretends to be the legitimate sender of the message and deceives the receiver to treat it as from the legitimate sender.
4. Replay attack covers intercepting a message and replaying it at later time without the receiver realising that it has been received more than once.
Furthermore, wireless and mobile communication has become increasingly widespread with a number of different communication systems providing different services and offering different advantages and characteristics. For example, cellular communication systems, such as GSM or UMTS, and Wireless Local Area Networks, such as IEEE 802.11 systems, have become commonplace and may provide the users with different access points to e.g. the Internet.
In order to facilitate and provide a coherent user experience, it is desirable to implement seamless mobility where it is possible for an end-user to seamlessly roam between different access networks without the user needing to take any action or even being aware of which access network is used. Seamless mobility for a terminal can be achieved via specific protocols and functionalities at the terminal and network side.
However, it is desirable to extend seamless mobility to the end-user rather than merely to a user terminal. Thus, it is desirable to enable an end-user to roam among different end-user terminals and networks while maintaining session continuity.
The user may specifically use a personal access network wherein different communication devices can be used to form the access point. Such a network can include elements such as a cellular subscriber unit, a cordless phone, a TV receiver, a digital audio receiver, a Personal Computer (PC) etc. Thus a number of different communication devices can be used to deliver a desired service.
However, such a scenario has significant impact on security aspects and requires additional functionality to ensure that secure communications and transactions can take place.
In particular, it is insufficient to merely authenticate a communication device providing a current access but rather it is desirable to authenticate the end-user itself. Thus, from the network perspective, a peer authentication guaranteeing that an authorized user is using an authorized device for consuming a specific service and authorizing a specific transaction should be provided.
Although, it is typically relatively straightforward to implement functionality allowing a communication device to be authenticated, a secure, reliable and user friendly user authentication is generally difficult to achieve.
Specifically, it has been proposed that user authentication may be achieved by a user entering a secret password. However, as human users are incapable of memorizing long cryptographic secrets, authentication methods based on human memory (passwords) lack sufficient cryptographic strength.
It has also been proposed to use a hardware element to store user security credentials that can be used for authenticating the user. However, such an approach is impractical as it requires the user to carry and use the hardware whenever user authentication is required. Furthermore, the approach does not provide sufficient security and personalization as the basic hardware element can be used by different people. For example a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) for a mobile phone can be used by many users.
Thus, before such a hardware element can be used to authenticate a user towards the network, it needs to verify that the user is indeed the legitimate user. For mobile cellular communication systems, it has been proposed to combine the use of a SIM card with a personal four-digit PIN code as a way of personalizing the SIM card. Specifically, the user types a PIN code on the device carrying the SIM card as a way of verifying the identity to the device. However, a problem with this approach is that PIN codes are not considered cryptographically strong. Furthermore, once the PIN number has been provided by the legitimate user, the device becomes usable by anybody.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,703,918, an end-user authentication method is described which uses a specific device worn by the end-user. The specific device communicates with an access point over a wireless communication link. However, the communication between the specific device and the access point is not cryptographically secure and therefore the system does not provide an optimal user authentication. Specifically, the described system will be sensitive to active security attacks such as replay attacks or monitoring/detection of signals transmitted over the wireless communication link.
Hence, an improved system for user authentication would be advantageous and in particular a system allowing improved security, facilitated operation and/or improved performance would be advantageous.

Method and apparatus for user authentication


An electrical connector assembly (10) comprising a housing (20) with a latch arm (30), a CPA (40) received in the latch arm (30), an inner housing (50) received within the housing (20), a wire seal (60) disposed on the inner housing (50) and retained by a seal retainer (70) and posts (51); a wire cover (80), and a header housing (90). Wire seal (60) includes wire receiving slits (67) therein for advantageously receiving wires (17) during an insulation displacement type wire termination operation. CPA (40) is operative to assure the operator that the header (90) and housing (20) have been fully mated together and to prevent inadvertent separation of the housing (20) from the header (90).

The CPA function of assuring an operator that the matable connector halves have been mated is particularly advantageous on an assembly line where the operator must make connections quickly and be certain that electrical connections are, in fact, made. Additionally, a CPA should be of a compact size, and must eliminate the risk of inadvertent separation of the connector halves by securely preventing deflection of any latches used to maintain the mated condition. The foregoing features are important to the automotive industry, where reliability of the electrical system's connections is essential, and material and labor costs are to be minimized.
A known CPA is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,634,204. This known connector device provides electrical terminals having matable male and female connector halves, one of which has a resilient, extended lock arm means for locking behind a lock bar of a sized window of the complementary connector half. When the two connector halves are mated, a CPA and an assist device are inserted axially along a track slot. The CPA device includes releasable, resilient lock tab means to retain it in operative engagement with the connectors. This known CPA is designed to provide a means of assuring that the male and female connectors have been fully mated. However, this known device is not readily adaptable to plug housings which include a deflectable latching arm that the operator deflects with his hand or finger. Moreover, once the CPA is fully advanced into its final position, the operator must use a tool to deflect a latching section of the CPA so that the CPA can be retracted and the connector halves can be separated. Additionally, the CPA must be maintained as a separate part from the plug housing until the plug and header have been fully mated such that the CPA cannot be in its fully advanced position relative to the plug housing when this housing is being mated with the header.

Electrical connector with connector position assurance device


This invention provides for certain bridged and fused compounds of the formulaG-L-A  Ior a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester of solvate thereofwherein:                A is

Diabetes refers to a disease state or process derived from multiple causative factors and is characterized by elevated levels of plasma glucose (hyperglycemia) in the fasting state or after administration of glucose during a glucose tolerance test. Persistent or uncontrolled hyperglycemia is associated with a wide range of pathologies. Diabetes mellitus, is associated with elevated fasting blood glucose levels and increased and premature cardiovascular disease and premature mortality. It is also related directly and indirectly to various metabolic conditions, including alterations of lipid, lipoprotein, apolipoprotein metabolism and other metabolic and hemodynamic diseases. As such, the diabetic patient is at increased risk of macrovascular and microvascular complications. Such complications can lead to diseases and conditions such as coronary heart disease, stroke, peripheral vascular disease, hypertension, nephropathy, neuropathy, and retinopathy. Accordingly, therapeutic control and correction of glucose homeostasis is regarded as important in the clinical management and treatment of diabetes mellitus.
There are two generally recognized forms of diabetes. In Type 1 diabetes, or insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), the diabetic patient's pancreas is incapable of producing adequate amounts of insulin, the hormone which regulates glucose uptake and utilization by cells. In Type 2 diabetes, or noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), patients often produce plasma insulin levels comparable to those of nondiabetic subjects; however, the cells of patients suffering from type 2 diabetes develop a resistance to the effect of insulin, even in normal or elevated plasma levels, on glucose and lipid metabolism, especially in the main insulin-sensitive tissues (muscle, liver and adipose tissue).
Insulin resistance is not associated with a diminished number of cellular insulin receptors but rather with a post-insulin receptor binding defect that is not well understood. This cellular resistance to insulin results in insufficient insulin activation of cellular glucose uptake, oxidation, and storage in muscle, and inadequate insulin repression of lipolysis in adipose tissue, and of glucose production and secretion in the liver. A net effect of decreased sensitivity to insulin is high levels of insulin circulating in the blood without appropriate reduction in plasma glucose (hyperglycemia). Hyperinsulinemia is a risk factor for developing hypertension and may also contribute to vascular disease.
Patients who have insulin resistance often have several symptoms that together are referred to as Syndrome X, or the metabolic syndrome. According to one widely used definition, a patient having metabolic syndrome is characterized as having three or more symptoms selected from the group of five symptoms: (1) abdominal obesity; (2) hypertriglyceridemia; (3) low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL); (4) high blood pressure; and (5) elevated fasting glucose, which may be in the range characteristic of Type 2 diabetes if the patient is also diabetic. Each of these symptoms is defined clinically in the Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III or ATP III), National Institutes of Heath, 2001, NIH Publication No. 01-3670. Patients with metabolic syndrome, whether or not they have increase risk of developing the macrovascular and microvascular complications that occur with Type 2 diabetes, such as atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease.
The available treatments for Type 2 diabetes, some of which have not changed substantially in many years, are used alone and in combination. Many of these treatments have recognized limitations, however. For example, while physical exercise and reductions in dietary intake of fat, high glycemic carbohydrates, and calories can dramatically improve the diabetic condition, compliance with this treatment is very poor because of well-entrenched sedentary lifestyles and excess food consumption, especially of foods containing high amounts of saturated fat. Increasing the plasma level of insulin by administration of sulfonylureas (e.g. tolbutamide and glipizide) or meglitinide, which stimulate the pancreatic beta-cells to secrete more insulin, and/or by injection of insulin when sulfonylureas or meglitinide become ineffective, can result in insulin concentrations high enough to stimulate insulin-resistance in tissues. However, dangerously low levels of plasma glucose can result from administration of insulin or insulin secretagogues (sulfonylureas or meglitinide), and an increased level of insulin resistance due to the even higher plasma insulin levels can occur. The biguanides are a separate class of agents that can increase insulin sensitivity and bring about some degree of correction of hyperglycemia. These agents, however, can induce lactic acidosis, nausea and diarrhea.
The glitazones (i.e. 5-benzylthiazolidine-2,4-diones) are another class of compounds that have proven useful for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. These agents increase insulin sensitivity in muscle, liver and adipose tissue in several animal models of type 2 diabetes, resulting in partial or complete correction of the elevated plasma levels of glucose without occurrence of hypoglycemia. The glitazones that are currently marketed are agonists of the peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR), primarily the PPAR-γ subtype. PPAR-γ agonism is generally believed to be responsible for the improved insulin sensititization that is observed with the glitazones. Newer PPAR agonists that are being tested for treatment of Type 2 diabetes are agonists of the alpha, gamma or delta subtype, or a combination thereof, and in many cases are chemically different from the glitazones (i.e., they are not thiazolidinediones). Serious side effects (e.g. liver toxicity) have been noted in some patients treated with glitazone drugs, such as troglitazone.
Compounds that are inhibitors of the dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) enzyme are also under investigation as drugs that may be useful in the treatment of diabetes, and particularly Type 2 diabetes.
Additional methods of treating hyperglycemia and diabetes are currently under investigation. New biochemical approaches include treatment with alpha-glucosidase inhibitors (e.g. acarbose), protein tyrosine phosphatase-1B (PTP-1B) inhibitors, and glucagon receptor antagonists.
The free fatty acid receptor GPR40 (FFAR or FFAR1) is part of a family of recently deorphanized GPCR's that bind fatty acids of varying chain lengths. GPR40 binds long-chain FFA, particularly oleate, as well as the PPAR-gamma agonist rosiglitazone. GPR40 is highly expressed in the pancreas, where it functions to produce insulin release upon agonist stimulation through activation of the PKC pathway resulting in Ca++ efflux. The receptor is also expressed in throughout the brain in monkeys and humans, but not in rodents.
Initial studies in GPR40 KO mice reported that they were resistant to high-fat diet-induced insulin resistance, suggesting an antagonist mechanism would be appropriate for this target. However, given the localization and function of the receptor, as well as the fact that most groups have not replicated this initial finding, the use of an agonist appears to be the appropriate answer for increasing insulin release for the treatment of diabetes. In facts, it has been demonstrated that agonists of GPR40 stimulate glucose-dependent insulin secretion in vitro and lower an elevated blood glucose level in vivo. See for example, Diabetes 2008, 57, 2211; J. Med. Chem. 2007, 50, 2807.
Compounds that act as GPR40 receptor agonists are known in the art. WO2008/054674 (assigned to Merck) discloses bicyclic derivatives of the formula
These derivatives are said to be useful in treating Type 2 diabetes mellitus and conditions associated with the disease, including insulin resistance, obesity and lipid disorders. WO2006/083781, WO2006/083612, US 2007/0265332 and WO2008/054674 (all assigned to Merck) disclose bicyclic derivatives that modulate the GPR40 receptor and are said to treat Type-2 diabetes.
Other bicyclic derivatives are known in the art to be useful in treating disease states such as diabetes, obesity and metabolic disorder. WO 2004/058174 (assigned to Bayer) discloses indane acetic acid derivatives of the formula
and states that these derivatives are useful in treating Type-2 diabetes, obesity and atherosclerotic diseases.
US 2005/0245529 (Boehringer Ingelheim) discloses alkyne derivatives that are said to be useful in treating metabolic disorders and diabetes by antagonizing the MCH-receptor.
There is a need for new compounds, formulations, treatments and therapies to treat diseases and disorders associated with the GPR40 receptor that exhibit good safety profiles and efficacy by controlling insulin levels in a mammal. It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide compounds that are useful in the treatment or prevention or amelioration of diseases and disorders associated with the GPR40 receptor, such as hyperglycemia, diabetes, and related metabolic diseases and indications.

Bridged and fused antidiabetic compounds

Abstract: and the other variables are defined herein; the inventive compounds are agonists of the G-protein coupled receptor 40 (GPR40, also known as free fatty acid receptor FFAR). This invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds, and the use of these compounds to regulate insulin levels in a mammal. The compounds may be used, for example in the prevention and treatment of Type 2 diabetes mellitus and in the prevention and treatment of conditions related to Type 2 diabetes mellitus, such as insulin resistance, obesity and lipid disorders.


The present invention provides a novel composition of matter useful for the treatment of neoplastic diseases. The novel composition is synergistic and comprised of galectin-3C in combination with a proteosome inhibitor, the combination having a pharmacologic activity greater than the expected additive effect of its individual components. Other embodiments of the invention provide novel synergistic compositions of galectin-3C with a proteasome inhibitor capable of reducing or overcoming resistance that develops to the proteasome inhibitor or reducing the adverse side effects from the proteasome inhibitor through increasing the therapeutic efficacy of lower doses.

The American Cancer Society expects more than 20,000 new cases of MM in the US in 2010. The median age at diagnosis is 69 years for men and 72 years for women (it rarely occurs before 40 years) and the median survival is 5 years (2). Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignancy characterized by clonal proliferation and accumulation of terminally differentiated plasma B cells that produce immunoglobulin. The malignant plasma cells are found in the bone marrow (BM) and extramedullary locations (1). Currently chemotherapy induces complete tumor regression in about 50% of patients (1, 3), but the eventual outcome is the development of drug resistance and death. Thus, the need for more efficacious treatments is apparent.
The introduction of novel drugs such as thalidomide, lenalidomide, and bortezomib (Bor) that are thought to target specific intracellular pathways and affect cellular interactions with the tumor microenvironment, has aided in the treatment of MM especially in management of elderly patients (1,3). Nonetheless, although the recent advances in hematological diseases and especially in MM have prolonged survival and led to higher rates of remission, arguably the course of the disease has not fundamentally changed since the 1960s, when autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) was first recommended as a standard treatment in patients that were suitable candidates for the procedure. The frontline treatment for MM is AHSCT, but the outcome is favorable only in younger patients where it increases the rate of complete remission and prolongs event-free survival compared with conventional chemotherapy (4). Thus, pharmacologic interventions are the only option for the majority of patients who are older.
During the last ten years, intriguing insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the progression of MM were obtained and successfully translated into more effective therapeutics, such as the proteasome inhibitors. The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway degrades intracellular proteins, interacts with the cell cycle and apoptosis, and has an important function in almost all cellular events (5,6). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted approval for the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib (PS-341; VELCADE®) for the treatment of multiple myeloma in May 2003. This was the first approval of a drug targeting the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Since then the FDA also has approved bortezomib for treatment of mantle cell lymphoma. Several U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,780,454; 6,297,217; 6,617,317; and 6,747,150, disclose (and each of which are incorporated herein by reference) the use of bortezomib for treatment of cancer (7-10).
The development of drug resistance frequently causes bortezomib to become ineffective in treatment of multiple myeloma and the drug also displays problematic off-target adverse effects (11,12). Combinations of bortezomib with other therapeutics are being tested to develop regimens that will overcome drug resistance and reduce the occurrence of adverse side effects (13-15).
Bortezomib (Bor) is a synthetic peptide boronate that is a reversible proteasome inhibitor. Several other classes of compounds that inhibit the proteasome have been developed that include several irreversible inhibitors (5,6). Salinosporamide A (NPI-0052) is a natural product that is an irreversible proteasome inhibitor that has been the subject of several U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,842,814; 7,511,156; and 7,691,896 (16-18). Synergy in animal models of multiple myeloma was shown for the combination of salinosporamide A and lenalidomide (19). Carfilzomib (PR-171) is an irreversible proteasome inhibitor. Carfilzomib is a synthetic epoxomycin analog that was previously disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,417,042 by Smyth and Laidig (20). Three of the irreversible proteasome inhibitors, salinosporamide A, carfilzomib, and CEP-18770 (a bortezomib analog), are being tested in clinical trials.
Bor also has shown promising activity in some types of solid tumors, such as combination studies in non-small cell lung cancer (21-25). Other studies including clinical trials of Bor have indicated potential benefit in breast (25), gastrointestinal cancer (26,27), and thyroid cancer (28,29).
Galectin-3C (Gal-3C) is an N-terminally truncated form of the human carbohydrate binding protein, galectin-3. Galectin-3 is involved in cancer cell adhesive properties, metastatic and invasive potentials (30-33), tumor growth, neoplastic transformation, and apoptosis (34-36). Galectin-3 is a member of the galectin family that is defined based on sequence homology within the carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD) and a characteristic affinity for -galactosides (37,38). Galectin-3 is unique among the galectins because in addition to the carboxy-terminal CRD it has an amino-terminal domain that is critical for multivalent behavior. Alone the carboxy-terminal CRD lacks hemagglutination activity and the cooperative binding that are characteristics of the intact lectin. The amino-terminal domain enables the CRD to cross-link carbohydrate-containing ligands on cell surfaces and in the extracellular matrix and, thus, to modulate cell adhesion and signaling (39-43).
Galectin-3 is thought to participate in regulation of the inflammatory state of various immune cells. Several studies indicate that it plays a novel regulatory role in the B cell compartment (44-46) including PCs (47). Hoyer et al. found stage-specific expression during B-cell development (48). Highest galectin-3 levels were observed in the long-lived naive and memory B cells, and lowest were in germinal center and plasma B cells. Nonetheless, high level galectin-3 levels were observed in the neoplasms that derive from these cells-diffuse large B-cellymphoma, primary effusion lymphoma, and MM (48).
The expression of galectin-3 in cancer has been the subject of many studies. Among those cancers in which galectin-3 is overexpressed are non-small cell lung cancer (49), gastrointestinal cancer (50, 51, 52, Miyazaki, 2002 #2994, 53, 54), thyroid cancer (55-57), and ovarian cancer (58). The gene expression level of galectin-3 in three CCC cell lines was over threefold higher than that of ovarian serous adenocarcinoma cell lines. Knock-down of galectin-3 expression in clear cell carcinoma (CCC) of the ovary using small interfering RNA induced increased apoptosis induced by cisplatin, suggesting that galectin-3 expression may contribute to cisplatin-resistance in ovarian CCC (59).
The truncated galectin-3 (Gal-3C) disclosed in the present invention consists of 143 carboxy-terminal amino acid residues of human galectin-3. Gal-3C retains carbohydrate binding ability but lacks the amino-terminal domain and, therefore, is expected to act as a dominant negative inhibitor of galectin-3 by preventing its homophilic cross-linking that promotes cell adhesion and consequent survival signals (60). The amino acid sequence of the galectin-3C, that is produced by exhaustive digestion with collagenase, and that is designated as SEQ ID NO: 1, is as follows: gap agplivpynl plpggvvprm litilgtvkp nanrialdfq rgndvafhfn prfnennrrv ivcntkldnn wgreerqsvf pfesgkpfki qvlvepdhfk vavndahllq ynhrvkklne isklgisgdi ditsasytmi (SEQ ID NO: 1)
The amino acid sequence of the intact recombinant human galectin-3 described by Oda et al. (61) is designated herein as SEQ ID NO: 2, and its sequence is as follows: madnfslhda lsgsgnpnpq gwpgawgnqp agaggypgas ypgaypgqap pgaypgqapp gayhgapgay pgapapgvyp gppsgpgayp ssgqpsapga ypatgpygap agplivpynl plpggvvprm litilgtvkp nanrialdfq rgndvafhfn prfnennrrv ivcntkldnn wgreerqsvf pfesgkpfki qvlvepdhfk vavndahllq ynhrvkklne isklgisgdi dltsasytmi (SEQ ID NO: 2)
Previously Gal-3C inhibited tumor growth and metastasis in a mouse model of human breast cancer and showed no evidence of adverse side effects (60). U.S. Pat. No. 6,770,622 to Jarvis et al. discloses the use of galectin-3C as set forth in SEQ ID No. 1 to treat cancer, to reduce tumor size, and to reduce metastasis (62).

Galectin-3C combination therapy for human cancer


A method for providing interactive and iterative testing of integrated circuits including the receiving of a first failing region. The first failing region corresponds to one or more circuits on the integrated circuit. The method generates a set of adaptive algorithmic test patterns for the one or more circuits in response to the first failing region and to a logic model of the integrated circuit. Expected results for the test patterns are determined. The method includes applying the test patterns to the first failing region on the integrated circuit resulting in actual results for the test patterns. The expected results to the actual results are compared. The method also transmits mismatches between the expected results and the actual results to a fault simulator. The method includes receiving a second failing region from the fault simulator, the second failing region created in response to the mismatches and the logic model, and the second failing region corresponding to a subset of the one or more circuits on the integrated circuit.

The invention relates to testing integrated circuits and in particular to a diagnostic utility for identifying defects and test pattern sensitivities in semiconductor logic.
Several design, test and diagnostic methodologies have evolved over the years in support of structural and functional test methods. Some of the integrated circuit designs integrate this support onto the device itself. These built-in self-test (BIST) and diagnostic functions are based on several design for test (DFT) techniques such as scan design (e.g., level sensitive scan design (LSSD) and general scan design (GSD)), logic and array built-in-self-test (LBIST and ABIST), on-product clock generation (OPCG), and others.
The LSSD test and diagnostic methodology has been widely used for many years. It is based on the concept of "divide-and-conquer" whereby large sequential logic structures are divided into smaller combinatorial partitions. The LSSD methodology is a system design and a DFT approach that incorporates several basic test concepts (e.g., scan design). In such a design most of the device's storage elements, such as latches or registers, are concatenated into one or more scan chains that are externally accessible via one or more serial inputs and outputs. Storage elements that are not in this category are usually memory or other special macros that are isolated and can be tested independently. The LSSD design methodology ensures that all logic feedback paths incorporate one or more of these concatenated storage elements, thereby simplifying a sequential design into subsets of combinational logic sections.
These basic design concepts in conjunction with the associated system and scan clocking sequences, greatly simplify the test generation, testing, and the diagnosing of complex logic structures. In such a design, every latch can be used as a pseudo primary input and as a pseudo primary output, in addition to the standard primary inputs and standard primary outputs, to enhance the stimulation and observability of the device being tested or diagnosed. Typically, LSSD latches are implemented in a configuration having master (L1) and slave (L2) latches where each master latch (L1) has two data ports that may be updated by either a scan clock or a functional clock, and each slave latch (L2) has one clock input that is out of phase with both the L1 scan and functional clocks. Scanning is performed using separate A and B scan clocks.
The strategy of diagnosing these LSSD circuits has been established and evolving for many years. The primary characteristic of deterministic or pre-determined LSSD patterns is that each pattern is independent from every other pattern and each pattern consists of stimulating primary inputs, clocking, load and unload of shift register latches, and primary outputs measure sequence. Such LSSD circuits may have thousands of patterns depending upon the size and structure of the logic. During diagnostics, one or more failing patterns are identified and fault simulation is performed on the failing pattern (load, primary inputs, system clocks, and unload sequence). The circuit states can be determined by analyzing and simulating the failing pattern load, primary inputs, system clocks and measures. Passing patterns may also be used to eliminate potential faults that the identified failing patterns marked as potential candidates.
Identifying the fault and pinpointing the root cause of the problem in large logic structures requires high resolution diagnostic calls. The high resolution diagnostic calls help to localize the defect(s), and to complete the physical failure analysis (PFA) defect localization. The resolution of current logic diagnostic algorithms and techniques depends on the number of tests and the amount of passing and failing test data available for each fault. A problem often encountered in testing, and the subsequent diagnosis, of very large-scale integration (VLSI) devices is the availability of effective test patterns for a broad range of modeled and un-modeled faults. The rapid integration growth of VLSI devices, associated high circuit performance, and complex semiconductor processes has intensified old and introduced new types of defects. This defect diversity and subtlety, accompanied by limited fault models, usually results in large, insufficient and ineffective diagnostic pattern sets. The results determined by the fault simulators are typically imperfect, in that they contain several (in many cases dozens) diagnostic calls that may need to be investigated in order to pinpoint the cause(s) of the failure.

Method and system for providing interactive testing of integrated circuits

International Business Machines Corporation


A semiconductor chip with test pads and a tape carrier package using the same are provided. The tape carrier package comprises a semiconductor chip. The semiconductor chip has an active surface and a back surface. The active surface has a main circuit area having integrated circuits and a peripheral area having chip pads connected to the integrated circuits. The semiconductor chip has test pads connected to the chip pads for testing the characteristics of the integrated circuits. The tape carrier package further comprises a tape wiring substrate having an insulating base film, wiring patterns formed on the insulating base film, leads formed integrally with the wiring patterns and dummy leads electrically isolated from the wiring patterns, and bumps connecting the chip pads to the corresponding leads and the test pads to the dummy leads.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor chip with test pads and a tape carrier package using the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
A process for manufacturing a semiconductor device is generally divided into two processes, i.e., a wafer fabrication and a package assembly. Devices such as transistors, resistors or capacitors are integrated in a semiconductor wafer by the wafer fabrication process to form circuits having a particular predetermined function. The semiconductor wafer is divided into a plurality of individual semiconductor chips by the package assembly process. Each semiconductor chip can be provided as a chip per se, or as a final product in which it is packaged in a suitable form. A test process is performed on the semiconductor device during or after its manufacture. The test process monitors the performance of the semiconductor devices manufacturing method, and tests the quality of these devices. The testing process improves the operational reliability of the devices.
Each chip of the semiconductor wafer includes test pads for use in the test process on the wafer. The test pads may provide an electrical path to a selected circuit and allow an electrical parameter of the semiconductor device to be measured through a test probe of an external test apparatus. Tests which use the test pads may allow verification of the reliability of the integrated circuits and test the performance of the semiconductor device manufacturing method by comparing measured parameters with designed parameters.
The test pads should be of a size which is large enough to accommodate a test probe. The test pads may be formed in a main circuit area, or an area between the chips, in order to promote maximum usage of an available wafer area. In case a semiconductor chip is to be used for operating a display, the test pads may not be provided in the area between the chips, but are instead located in the semiconductor chip itself.
Referring to FIG. 1 through FIG. 2c, the conventional semiconductor chip 210 has an active surface and a back surface. The active surface has a main circuit area 211 and a peripheral area 212. Integrated circuits (not shown) are formed in the main circuit area 211. The semiconductor chip 210 is an edge-pad-type chip, in which chip pads 213 are disposed along the edges of its active surface. The chip pads 213 are connected to the integrated circuits for external input and output. The chip pads 213 are arranged in the peripheral area 212 in rows parallel to the adjacent edges of the semiconductor chip 210. Dummy pads 215 are formed in the rows of the chip pads 213 for improved connection strength during chip mounting. The dummy pads 215 assume the configuration of a chip pad, but are not connected to the integrated circuits or the chip pads 213.
A plurality of test pads 217 are connected to the integrated circuits by wirings 218 in the main circuit area 211. They are grouped together. Each test pad 217 has a size large enough to be contacted with a test probe of an external test apparatus. Although FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b show ten test pads 217 which are illustratively grouped together, the number of test pads 217 are not limited to the exemplary number depicted.
Conventionally, the test pads are connected to the integrated circuits and formed inside the chip. Thus, the circuit characteristics of the chip can be tested by making contact with the test probe of the external test apparatus on the wafer during or after the wafer fabrication process. For example, after the wafer fabrication process, an electric die sorting test may be performed to determine the electrical characteristics of the chip, i.e., whether the chip is acceptable or faulty.
The conventional semiconductor chip has some disadvantages. For example, because the test pads are formed for testing the wafer, they are not useful after the testing process has been completed. The test pads in a final product unnecessarily occupy the space on the semiconductor chip. This may be an obstacle to reduction of the chip size. Further, the test pads are located in the main circuit area. The test pads may make contact with the test probe causing damage to the integrated circuits. In order to overcome this disadvantage, a membrane should be added.
In another case, even though the test pads are formed in the area between the chips, it is difficult to significantly reduce the overall chip size.

Semiconductor chip with test pads and tape carrier package using the same


A vehicle warning system and a method of modifying a vehicle is provided. The system is installable on a vehicle having a brake pedal operatively connected to a brake light mounted on a rear portion of the vehicle. In one aspect, the vehicle warning system includes a distance proximity sensor adapted for mounting on the rear portion of the vehicle and a controller operatively connected to the sensor. The controller is adapted to receive a brake signal when the brake pedal of the vehicle is depressed, which activates the controller to send a start flashing signal to the brake light. The sensor sends a stop flashing signal to the controller upon sensing a vehicle within a selected distance behind the vehicle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a warning system for a vehicle. More particularly, the invention relates to a vehicle warning system and method that provides flashing indications to a following vehicle of a braking condition.
2. The Prior Art
It is known in the art to provide a warning light to signal stopping or turning of a vehicle. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,710,709 to Morin et al. discloses a flashing or blinking center brake light that uses an intermittent relay to flash the brake light when the brakes are applied. However, this system causes the brake light to flash at all times when the brakes are applied which causes annoyance to the drivers following in heavy traffic and unnecessary drainage on the battery in such situations.
It is also known to mount a distance detector to the rear of a vehicle coupled to a warning light. U.S. Pat. No. 5,838,228 to Clark shows a system for preventing rear end collisions which includes control circuitry which intermittently activates a bulb in a warning light display mounted with mounting arms to the rear of a vehicle and coupled to a distance detector. The control circuitry intermittently activates the bulb when the distance detector detects a distance from a following car lower than a predetermined value in relation to the speed of the leading car. This system, however, is complicated and requires the addition of an unsightly add-on display to a motor vehicle.
Other forms of warning systems are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,744,361 to Maddox; U.S. Pat. No. 6,243,008 to Korabiak; U.S. Pat. No. 6,225,918 to Kam; U.S. Pat. No. 6,177,866 to O'Connell; U.S. Pat. No. 6,160,476 to Ponziani; U.S. Pat. No. 5,838,259 to Tonkin; U.S. Pat. No. 5,467,072 to Michael; U.S. Pat. No. 5,345,218 to Woods et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,162,794 to Seith; U.S. Pat. No. 4,694,296 to Sasaki et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,600,913 to Caine; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,786,507 to Hurd, Jr.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,838,259 to Tonkin discloses a brake light warning system which in one embodiment activates an array of lights upon depression of the brake pedal. The array of lights may be operated in a cyclical pattern when the vehicle is stationary or near stationary and is deactivated when a proximity sensor detects that a following vehicle is less than a certain distance behind the vehicle carrying the display system.
Although a number of vehicle warning systems are known, there is still a need for a vehicle warning system and method that is easily and inexpensively installable into an existing vehicle brake warning system and that does not cause unnecessary annoyance to other drivers or undue drainage of vehicle battery power.


A method of cleaning and maintaining potable water distribution systems which have reduced flow due to an increase of water scale deposits, sediment, and the like on the inside surface of the pipe is disclosed. An aqueous acidic cleaning solution is introduced and circulated through the pipe to be treated for a sufficient time to dissolve and loosen the scale and sediment, and the spent solution containing dissolved or suspended scale and sediment is flushed from the pipe to provide a cleaned pipe with improved water flow. It is also desirable to flush the water distribution pipe system with high pressure water after the treatment to remove loosened scale and sediment that was not removed during the circulation and flushing of the treating solution.

It is well known that hardness and suspended solids in water sources vary widely in composition depending on the source and will result in scale deposition and sedimentation on surfaces wherever water is used. Scale deposition and sedimentation is particularly troublesome in water distribution pipe systems which service the residential and commercial customers of municipalities, private water companies and the like along with industrial process water distribution pipe systems as found in the mining, petroleum, agriculture and the like industries. In these systems, the formation of scale and sediment can reduce the water flow through the pipe system which will limit the capacity of the pipe to service the requirements of the customers or to provide the required water necessary for an industrial process, irrigation, etc. For instance, in municipal systems an increase in the fire risk would be obvious if the fire hydrant did not supply sufficient water to extinguish the fire due to scale and sediment deposits in the feed pipe line. At some point, the water distribution pipe would have to be replaced due to these restrictions at a high cost and with prolonged interruption of service.
Additionally, scale and sedimentation will increase the possibility of corrosion in the water distribution pipe along with promoting the growth of organisms. The organisms also can be a health hazard, promoting corrosion and biomass which binds scale and sediment together and to the surfaces of the system. Corrosion will eventually lead to the leakage of the system and the necessity to replace the leaking section.
Strong acids have been used to clean water wells, however, submersible pumps are removed prior to treatment to prevent corrosion by the acids employed. Also, organic acids, mixtures of mineral acids and organic acids or inhibited acid compositions have been found to clean water wells without the necessity of removing the pumps or other equipment. These methods for cleaning water wells have involved static and surging treatment.
A proper cleaning and maintenance program for water distribution systems will prevent decreased water flow capacity, corrosion and the necessity to replace the system or portions thereof. A simple and effective method for cleaning and maintaining these systems is needed.

Method of cleaning and maintaining potable water distribution pipe systems


Acording to the invention, the size reduction of a wet mass of vital gluten is carried out while said mass is in a brittle state, as a result of which, on the one hand, the vitality is preserved and, on the other hand, savings in energy for the subsequent drying process are achieved. Said brittle state can be achieved by the mass being cooled to a temperature of -75.degree. C. or less. Also described is an apparatus for implementing such a method, and a combination thereof with a drier.

Such a method is known in the art and is employed in the grain industry. This involves, for example, wheat being ground and thus being separated and washed, followed by the gluten fraction being separated from the starch fraction. The wet gluten mass is washed and compressed in preparation for the subsequent drying process, to obtain the desired dry gluten particles. Gluten is the general term for the proteins which are present in grain products, for example wheat. Gluten are added, for example, to bakery products, to cause them to rise. This characteristic is referred to by the term "vitality". It is the result of gluten having an elastic structure which can be expanded, for example by means of air or gas. In the wet state the vitality can be determined on the basis of the extent to which the gluten can be stretched without breaking under standardized conditions.
Vital gluten are separated from the starch in completely hydrated form. This form comprises fairly large balls--somewhat comparable to chewing gum--which need to be formed into a fine powder during drying. It is known in the art that the vitality is adversely affected by the mechanical shear forces, required for size reduction of the mass, and the drying temperature. So as not to impair the vitality of the wet gluten mass, the drying processes employed in practice need to be carried out gently. Indeed, existing drying systems are based on expansion-drying (flash-drying) at low temperature to minimize the effect of the temperature and to limit the residence time. In the process, the heat required for drying is abstracted from the product itself, so that the product is not exposed to a detrimental high temperature. Such drying, however, requires (very) small particles which can readily be dispersed in a stream of hot air in the drier. The small particles required are produced according to the prior art by the wet gluten mass first being made into a thin sheet (for example by extrusion through a slot-like orifice) or small granules and these then being fed into a hot airstream which is already transporting a large quantity of semidried and semipowdered vital gluten which are circulated in a drier which is provided with a disintegrator and within which the wet gluten, either in the form of a thin sheet or as granules, are converted into even smaller particles. The circulating, partly ground and partly dried particles are deposited on particles "freshly" introduced into the drier and thus form a layer thereon which ensures that the freshly introduced gluten will not, as a result of the moisture present therein, adhere to the walls and the like of the drier. A mixture thus formed passes through the drier and arrives at a classifying device, in which the finer and drier particles are separated from the coarser and wetter particles in the airstream. Finally, the separated gluten particles are subjected to a final filtering operation, in which the air is discharged to the atmosphere. As will be clear from the above, the remainder of the particles is returned to the drier feed.

Method and apparatus for size reduction of wet gluten


An apparatus and method for scheduling data distributions to or results information from, or collectively, “jobs” to a plurality of data processing systems via a network. A connection to a target system is created. For each distribution, a session, which is an independent thread, is allocated from one of a plurality of pool of sessions and launched to effect execution of the job. Each pool corresponds to a predetermined priority level, and the session is allocated from the pool having the same priority level as the priority level of the job being scheduled. A connection supports a multiplicity of independent threads. In the event of an error, the session is released, and the scheduling of the aborted job is retried after a predetermined retry interval expires. After expiry of the retry interval, a callback method is invoked when the target system on which the scheduled job is executed becomes accessible.

Present day data processing systems are often configured in large multi-user networks. Management of such networks may typically include the need to transfer bulk data to an endpoint system from a source system (or, simply, "a source") and the collection of information, for example, error reports from a multiplicity of endpoints systems (or, simply, "endpoints").
Such large data transfers may occur within a network, for example, to distribute software updates. The system administrator may need to allocate a specific period of time for the data transfer to more efficiently utilize network resources. This may typically occur when the communication load on the system is lowest, usually at night when most endpoint users are not working at their stations. The system administrator may load the bulk data and the corresponding transfer instructions onto the network system's source, or server, in preparation for the transfer. At the predetermined time set by the administrator, the server will push the data while ensuring that the bulk data is successfully transferred to each of the desired endpoint locations. However, during the transfer a portion of the system server is dedicated to the data transfer and thus unavailable for other networking tasks. Moreover, as the number of endpoints which must be simultaneously serviced by the bulk data distribution increases, network bandwidth demands are concomitantly increased. This complicates scalability of the bulk distribution systems.
Therefore, a need exists in the art for a bulk distribution mechanism that can transfer large amounts of data between network connected subsystems (or nodes) while maintaining scalability. Additionally, there is a need in such distribution mechanisms for methods and apparatus to distribute bulk data to a multiplicity of endpoints and to collect bulk data, including large log files, from the endpoints.

Apparatus for connection management and the method therefor