A looper drive assembly for a buttonhole sewing machine includes a long arm which is driven by a double cam, followers and an oscillating plate at one end and the arm generally reciprocates longitudinally. V-shaped plates are pivoted at a second end of the arm. Ends of the V-shaped plates are connected to rocking links which carry the looper needles. The links are pivoted on shafts and support the V-shaped plates and the second end of the arm. As the arm reciprocates, the V-shaped plates swing, pull and push lower ends of the link and oscillate the links around shafts for alternating engagement of the looping needles with thread carried through a fabric by a main needle.

The present invention relates to an improved looping mechanism used to facilitate stitching in buttonhole sewing machines. Specifically, this invention allows the looping needles to engage the thread of the main needle which is passed through a garment in which a buttonhole is to be formed.
Sewing machines repeatedly stitch and shift fabric through an intricate sequence of movements. To make a stitch, the sewing machine moves a main needle up and down through the cloth, carrying thread with it. As the main needle comes up from the bottom of its stroke, a looper needle catches and secures the thread, creating a loop. When the main needle descends again, the main needle enters the thread loop, and the loop starts to slide off the looper needle. As the main needle continues to descend, the thread loop slides off the looper needle and is drawn up on the succeeding stroke. Two looper needles are used so that one can reset while the other is creating a loop in the thread.
Needs exist for a reliable, simplified looper apparatus and methods for promoting long lasting error free sewing machines.

Looper drive for a buttonhole sewing machine

by Edith Papajewski, Legal Representative


A system for connecting motor drives to each other is disclosed that does not require the use of wire or tools. The system includes an adapter plug and bus bar modules that connect to each other at a conductive receptacle of the adapter plug to define a splice joint at the point of connect of the bus bar modules. The bus bar modules may include insulating covers and insulating clips may overlie the splice joints so that the system is substantially devoid of exposed surfaces of its conductive materials.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to electrical conductors that connect electronic components to each other and, more particularly, to wiring systems for connecting servo motor drives to each other within servo motor drive systems.
Servomotors provide a motor coupled to a sensor, for example, a position sensor such as an encoder, so that feedback control of the motor may be provided, for example, precise positioning control. Typically, a servo motor drive system provides a servo motor, for example, a DC permanent magnet motor and position encoder, which is wired to a servo drive. The servo drive provides a controllable source of DC power as controlled by a feedback signal from the position encoder by, for example, using a PID (proportional-integral-derivative) motor control algorithm.
The servo drive may be installed in an equipment cabinet to receive the source of DC power. When multiple servo drives are required, this source of DC power is independently wired to each of the servo drives, for example, using terminal blocks and/or standard electrical connectors with pins or blades engaging corresponding sockets. Power has been delivered to printed circuit boards through bus bars that engage connectors that are soldered or screwed to the printed circuit boards.


An apparatus for simulating an open candle flame having a swing holder located within a casing and engaging with a connecting rod, the connecting rod pivotally and rotatably connecting to the swing holder to form a first pivot structure for allowing the connecting rod to turn about a first axis, the swing holder pivotally and rotatably connecting to the casing to form a second pivot structure for allowing the swing holder and the connecting rod to turn about a second axis. The swinging mechanism of the apparatus is able to minimize the cost and the number of parts, ease and simplify assembly, and insure the flame display stays in place after manufacturing and during transit and handling.

An open candle flame simulation lies on the fidelity to simulate the subtle concept that candles burning with different flames have many different meanings and functions. The way that a candle burns holds hidden significance as they can glow dull or shine bright at different time.
Conventionally, the open candle flame simulation uses a flame display and a lighting device, and the flame display is actuated and swung under the illumination of the lighting device for simulating an open candle flame. However, having an effective means for actuating the swing of the flame display to look more realistic as that of a real candle is always a challenge. The conventional swinging mechanisms have complicate structures requiring many components and labor force to assembling them together, which substantially increase production cost. Additionally, many swinging mechanisms fail to provide rigid structure, leading to components coming loose.
A need therefore exists for an improved apparatus for simulating an open candle flame that eliminates or at least diminishes the disadvantages and problems described above.

Apparatus for simulating an open candle flame


A one-piece weather cap that can be installed or removed from a gas valve without the aid of tools, with the one-piece weather cap having a flexible and resilient neck with dimples and a circular band that frictionally engage an extension on the gas valve to frictionally hold the weather cap on the gas valve during adverse weather conditions, with an annular skirt that extends in a cantilevered fashion radially outward from the neck to protect the gas vent in the valve from becoming obstructed with snow or ice.

The concept of gas valves is well known in the art, typically these gas valves have an inlet and an outlet with a diaphragm chamber that is vented to the atmosphere to allow the diaphragm to move within the gas valve. The flow of gas though the gas valve is controlled by the diaphragm within the gas valve. In winter climates, the gas vent can become clogged with snow or ice which prevents the gas valve from operating properly. The present invention comprises a one-piece weather cap that can be installed on an existing valve without the use of tools to prevent the gas vent from becoming clogged with snow, ice, or other forms of moisture. The one-piece weather cap allows the gas vent to breathe and is held on to the gas valve through a frictional and flexible neck that engages a portion of the valve, while the other portions of the valve including the gas vent are shielded by a skirt that is cantilevered radially outward from the neck of the weather cap. A further feature of the invention is that one can make adjustments to the valve simply by slipping the weather cap off the valve to thereby expose the valve.


A sensor system having a substrate and a housing and a method for manufacturing a sensor system are provided, the housing essentially completely enclosing the substrate in a first substrate region, the housing in a second substrate region being provided at least partially open via an opening, the second substrate region in the region of the opening being provided so as to project from the housing, the housing being manufactured using an injection molding compound and being molded in such a way that the injection molding compound has only one flow front.

A method for manufacturing a pressure sensor is known from German Published Patent Application No. 199 29 026, in which a semiconductor pressure sensor is mounted on an assembly section of a lead frame, the semiconductor pressure sensor is electrically connected to contact sections of the lead frame, the lead frame together with the semiconductor pressure sensor is inserted into an injection molding tool, and in the injection molding tool the semiconductor pressure sensor is then enclosed in a housing composed of injection molding compound, means being present in the injection molding tool by which a pressure inlet for the semiconductor pressure sensor is recessed into the enclosure and injection molding compound, a plunger being provided in the injection molding tool separated by a gap from the side of the assembly section facing away from the semiconductor pressure sensor. Alternatively, it is known to package sensors which require access to external media, such as pressure sensors, for example, in premold housings. For this purpose the housing mold is first extruded, and the chip is then mounted and appropriately contacted in the prefabricated housing. Since premold housing molds are relatively costly compared to standard mold housings, in the referenced Unexamined German Patent Application attempts have been made to also package pressure sensors in standard mold housings. For example, for this purpose a subregion of the component surface is kept open via a plunger or the like. A disadvantage of all the existing housing molds is that the sensor element is at least partially embedded in a plastic compound. The characteristic curve of the sensor element may be greatly influenced by thermal expansion. This may occur, for example, due to the fact that different thermal expansion coefficients result in stresses in the sensor element which cause erroneous measurements or malfunctions.

Sensor system having a substrate and a housing, and method for manufacturing a sensor system


The present invention relates to a microphone switching apparatus and method for a mobile communication terminal having a camcorder function, and in particular, a mobile communication terminal having a rotational camera so as to record more distinct and clearer sound, by disposing a microphone on the front and rear side of a mobile communication terminal and operating a microphone at a position corresponding to the direction of a subject (an object to be recorded) and a sound source. In a related art mobile communication terminal, a volume of voice/sound from a subject is recorded undesirably low when a subject is located in front direction of a mobile communication terminal and a camera is directed toward the subject, since it is recorded through the microphone located in the rear side of the terminal, wherein the microphone for voice communication is used for recording voice/sound when performing a camcorder function. To solve the aforementioned problems, a microphone switching apparatus and method for a mobile communication terminal has an effect to increase a volume and clearness of voice or sound which is recorded in video, and thereby to greatly improve the quality of video, which additionally disposes a front microphone on a front side of a mobile communication terminal so as to be used when performing a camcorder function, selects automatically or manually either of the front microphone or the rear microphone according to a derection of a camera, which the rear microphone is used for voice communication.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system and method in a mobile communication terminal for recording audio and video. In particular, a mobile terminal having a camera that records video and directs a microphone for recording a corresponding audio from its source is disclosed.
2. Description of the Related Art
A mobile communication system such as a mobile terminal is mounted with a camera, multimedia player, or the like to implement a variety of functions such as a multimedia communication, voice communication, or short message service. A conventional mobile terminal has either an internally mounted camera or an externally mounted camera. The mobile terminal not only takes still images using the camera, but the terminal records video and audio as well.
Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional mobile communication terminal is illustrated including a main body unit 10, keypad 11, a microphone 12, a camera 14, a folder unit 15, a display unit 16, and a speaker 17. The main body unit 10 connects to a keypad 11 for inputting user commands. The microphone 12 is mounted on the main body unit 10. The folder unit 15 is coupled to one end of the main body unit 10 utilizing a hinge unit 13. The folder unit 15 rotates, using the hinge unit 13, about the main body unit 17. The display unit 16 and the speaker 17 mount to the folder unit 15. The folder unit 15 when opened has a keypad 11 facing a rear direction of the mobile terminal.
The camera 14 is mounted or disposed within the hinge unit 13. An image, for example, of a person or an object may be recorded by the camera 14 in a front direction and a rear direction of the mobile terminal. The front direction of the mobile terminal is an opposite direction from that of the rear direction.
The camera 14 rotates about the hinge unit 13 to face an object in a front direction of the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal records and outputs to the display unit 16 an image of the object located in a front direction of the mobile terminal. The image is not inverted.
In another example, a user rotates the camera 14 about the hinge unit 13 directing the camera 14 toward an object positioned to a rear direction of the mobile terminal. The user records the image of the object. The image is outputted to the display unit 16. The image is vertically flipped. The user may flip the image from top to bottom to create a non-inverted image using a key or a keypad on the main body unit.
When an object and an audio input for recording are located in a front direction of the mobile terminal, a volume of the audio input recorded through the microphone 12 located in the rear direction of the mobile terminal is undesirably low. A user may rotate the camera 14 in the direction of the microphone 12, which rotation results in the display unit 16 facing the object. In this position, a user cannot observe the image of the object being recorded because the display unit 16 faces the object.
Other conventional mobile terminals have a display unit that rotates vertically as well as horizontally. However, these conventional mobile terminals have an spatially large hinge connection. This connection undesirably increases the size of the mobile terminal. Additionally users of the conventional mobile terminals having this large hinge connection have difficulty manipulating a keypad for inputting volume selection, lightness control, and color control. This difficulty is caused by the keypad facing away from a user and toward an object, even though the display unit is rotated.
Therefore, there is a need for a system that overcomes the above problems and provides advantages over other systems.

Recording audio and video in a mobile communication terminal


Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for dynamically adjusting the amount of mobile device data storage allocated for storing information associated with wireless access points. The amount of allocated data storage may be determined or adjusted based on storage allocation parameter data such as AP density data, device mobility data, route data, or the like.

Information associated with Wi-Fi access points (APs), such as Media Access Control (MAC) addresses of APs, may be received and stored on a mobile device for a variety of reasons. For example, Wi-Fi AP information may be stored on a mobile device to reduce the number of server requests needed to calculate Wi-Fi based locations for the device, to facilitate faster authentication with an AP, and so forth. Embodiments discussed herein improve these and other types of systems.

Adjusting data storage allocation for access point information


The invention provides a film-type dehydrogenation reaction catalyst for aldehyde production, which is used in producing an aldehyde from an alcohol as a starting material, as well as a process for producing an aldehyde, which includes reacting an alcohol in the presence of the film-type dehydrogenation reaction catalyst.

Fatty aldehydes produced from tallow, coconut oil, palm oil etc. as the starting material are important intermediates in household and industrial fields, and are utilized in a wide variety of applications such as the field of perfume.
Conventionally, there is a method of producing an aldehyde from an alcohol as the starting material by dehydrogenation reaction or oxidation reaction. For example, JP-B 7-34865 discloses a method of preparing a target carbonyl compound (aldehyde or ketone) through dehydrogenation reaction by using a Cu/Fe/Al/(alkali metal and/or alkaline earth metal)/Zn catalyst. When such a catalyst is used, the product can be obtained with a high selectivity. But any technique such as stirring for effectively mixing the starting materials with the catalyst is required because of a suspended bed system using such a powdery catalyst. The product should be separated, for example, by filtration from the catalyst. Such problems make facilities and operations complicated.
On the other hand, a fixed bed system can be mentioned as a process neither requiring the operation of mixing the catalyst by stirring or gas bubbling nor necessitating separation by filtration.
As one form of the catalyst used in a fixed bed system, a pellet-, noodle- or tablet-shaped molded catalyst has been well known. A catalytically active substance in a powdery form can be molded into the above form by a method such as compression or extrusion, to form a structure having numberless pores thereby attaining a bulk form and high surface area simultaneously.
As another form of the catalyst used in a fixed bed system, a honeycomb-shaped catalyst is known. JP-B 62-21574 discloses a catalyst in the form of a structure having a large number of flow paths in the direction of from the inlet to outlet of a fluid, which are separated from one another by a thin wall, for example a pipe, a honeycomb, a plate or the like.


This invention deals with novel method and apparatus for positioning and motion control of the elements (mirrors) of a Fresnel reflector solar concentrator tracking heliostat array by induced and/or permanent dipole coupling to an electronic grid to produce angular deflection, and rotational motion. Thus forces and torques are produced without the use of internal moving parts. Control is achieved without recourse to magnetic fields, by means of high electric fields which may be attained at relatively low voltages. At low voltages, the instant invention exceeds the capability of conventional systems. It can perform dynamic motion control with independent amplitude and frequency modulation. It is ideally suited for maximization of solar energy focused by the array onto a receiver. Since there are no internal moving parts, the instant invention is the most adapted for fabrication from the mini- to the microtechnology realm. Furthermore it provides less costly and greater ease of manufacture from the mini- to the micro-realm.

This invention provides a better means to achieve affordable solar energy than by a conventional tracking heliostat array. In the latter, enabling the optical elements (mirrors) to be movable generally requires many large heavy motors that consume a great deal of power. This results in an expensive, bulky, and ponderous heliostat that is unfavorable for rooftop and other applications where much weight cannot be tolerated. The present invention functions in solar concentrators and similar equipment much the same as parabolic dish and parabolic trough concentrators, without their disadvantages of bulk and weight. The angular alignment of the optical elements (mirrors, refractors, lenses, etc.) is accomplished by induced dipole alignment of pivoted mirrors rather than with cumbersome motors. Induced dipole alignment of rotatable mirrors is described and taught in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 6,964,486, "Alignment of Solar Concentrator Micro-Mirrors" by Mario Rabinowitz, issued on Nov. 15, 2005; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,187,490, "Induced Dipole Alignment Of Solar Concentrator Balls" by Mario Rabinowitz, issued on Mar. 6, 2007. As described in these patents, the electric dipole can be induced in the metallic conducting part of the mirror and/or the dielectric part of the mirror.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Solar concentrator with induced dipole alignment of pivoted mirrors


An integrated circuit includes a demodulator having delay circuitry and demodulation control circuitry that may be fully formed within a common integrated circuit. The delay circuitry receives an input signal and generates a delayed input signal. The demodulation control circuitry generates a demodulated output based upon the input signal and the delayed input signal that has a level that is proportional to, or a finction of, a period of a respective cycle of the input signal. The demodulation control circuitry includes pulse generation circuitry, pulse delay circuitry, pulse conversion circuitry and sampling circuitry. The pulse generation circuitry generates a signal pulse based upon the input signal and the delayed input signal with a duration that is proportional to at least one period of the input signal. The pulse delay circuitry generates a delayed signal pulse based upon the signal pulse. The pulse conversion circuitry generates a converted signal that has a level based upon the duration of the signal pulse. The sampling circuitry samples the converted signal based upon a sample pulse to generate the demodulated output based upon the level of the converted signal. The delay circuitry and pulse delay circuitry each include a plurality of cascaded semiconductive elements that, in combination, produce a desired delay duration.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to the conversion of signals, and, specifically, to a delay line ramp demodulator formed entirely as an integrated circuit that demodulates a modulated signal and that may be employed with other signal conversion and processing circuitry.
2. Related Art
It is well known to modulate and demodulate signals in a signal transmission and receipt process. Typically, a signal of interest is modulated with a carrier signal at a transmit location to produce a modulated signal which is then transmitted or broadcast. The modulated signal may be transmitted via a wired link, a wireless link or a fiber optic link depending upon the particular application. One or more receiving locations receive the modulated signal, demodulate the modulated signal to reproduce the signal of interest and use the signal of interest. Typical applications include audio communication, video communication and data transmission. Commonly used modulation techniques include frequency modulation (FM), phase modulation and frequency shift keying (FSK).
Various demodulation techniques exist for demodulating a composite, intermediate frequency (IF) signal to extract the signal of interest. In a typical installation, dedicated demodulation circuitry employs a particular demodulation technique in demodulating each cycle of the IF signal. Because the IF signal is typically at a high frequency with respect to the signal of interest, the demodulation circuitry must operate within tight tolerances to accurately demodulate each cycle of the IF signal. These tight tolerances must be maintained through all operating temperatures so that the demodulation circuitry accurately reproduces the signal of interest. In prior art demodulation circuitry, high quality, low tolerance lumped elements were employed to precisely tune the demodulation circuitry and to guarantee that the demodulation circuitry would function accurately over all variations in operating temperature.
In prior art implementations, a portion of the demodulation circuitry was formed as an integrated circuit to reduce cost and to reduce power consumption. High quality, tight tolerance external elements were then connected to the integrated circuit via external connections as were required for tuning of the demodulation circuitry. The external elements were expensive and significantly increased the cost of the demodulation circuitry. Further, the external connections typically included lengthy electrical paths that consumed both board space and integrated circuit space. In addition, the external connections were prone to failure, increased power consumption and increased thermal output. Prior art demodulation circuitry typically operated only for specific IF signal frequency ranges. Thus, the demodulation circuitry was designed and built for particular applications and had little use other than in the particular application.
Thus, there lies a need for a demodulator that may be constructed as an integrated circuit that does not require external components. Further, there lies a need for such a device that may be adjusted for the demodulation of various carrier frequencies.


A method for coding a mask read-only memory (ROM) implants impurity ions into a semiconductor substrate so as to form a first impurity region, and forms a plurality of gate electrodes on the semiconductor substrate. Next, sidewalls on both sides of each of the gate electrodes are formed, and source and drain impurity regions are formed in the semiconductor substrate at respective sides of each of the gate electrodes. Then a mask over the semiconductor substrate, which exposes at least one of the gate electrodes and which exposes the source and drain impurity regions associated with the exposed gate electrode, is formed, and code ions are implanted into the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate is also annealed so that the source and drain impurity regions associated with the exposed gate electrode electrically contact the first impurity region.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device and, more particularly, to a coded mask read only memory (ROM) and a method for coding a mask ROM.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
A conventional method for coding a mask read-only memory (ROM) will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIGS. 1a through 1d are cross-sectional views showing process steps of a method for coding a mask ROM. Referring to FIG. 1a, field regions and active regions are defined on a first conductive type semiconductor substrate 1. Next, field ion implantation into the field regions of the substrate 1 is performed to form a plurality of field oxide layers 2 which are separated from one another by a predetermined distance. Then, from one another by a predetermined distance. Then, implantation of depletion ions into the entire surface of the semiconductor substrate 1 inclusive of the field oxide layers 2 is performed. In this case, since a channel should be of an N-type in an NMOS depletion mode, arsenic ions, which are impurity ions of the N-type, are used as the depletion ions.
Referring to FIG. 1b, a polycrystalline silicon layer is formed on the entire surface of the semiconductor substrate 1 inclusive of the field oxide layer 2, and subjected to a photolithography process to pattern the polycrystalline silicon into gate electrodes 3 on the active regions of the semiconductor substrate 1. Subsequently, an oxide layer is formed over the entire surface of the semiconductor substrate 1 inclusive of the gate electrodes 3, and subjected to etch-back to form gate sidewalls 4 on both sides of each of the gate electrodes 3.
Referring to FIG. 1c, with the gate electrodes 3 and the sidewalls 4 serving as masks, a source and drain ion implantation process is performed to respectively form source and drain impurity regions 5 and 6 in the semiconductor substrate 1 at the sides of each of the gate electrodes 3. Subsequently, in order to form an off-transistor, according to a customer's demands, using code ion implantation, all regions except a selected one of the gate electrodes 3 are masked. That is, a photoresist layer 7 is coated over the entire surface of the semiconductor substrate 1 inclusive of the selected gate electrode 3. Then the photoresist layer 7 is patterned to expose only the selected gate electrode 3. Next, with the photoresist pattern 7 serving as a mask, code ions are implanted through the selected gate electrode 3 to form the off-transistor.
Referring to FIG. 1d, the remaining photoresist 7 is removed to complete the formation of the on-transistors and the off-transistor. As a result, data-coding is completed.
FIG. 2a is a graph showing operation characteristics of a conventional depletion type transistor, and FIG. 2b is a graph showing operation characteristics of a conventional enhancement type transistor.
As shown by FIGS. 2a and 2b, a channel is formed in a depletion type transistor even though a positive voltage is not applied to a gate electrode, and a channel is formed in an enhancement type transistor as long as a voltage higher than a threshold voltage is applied to the gate electrode.
The conventional method for coding a mask ROM has disadvantages. Since code ion implantation is carried out in the channel region, the substrate in the channel region is damaged. Moreover, the substrate damage increases the resistance to current flowing along the channel region; thus disturbing the current flow.


The invention is directed to an oil container repository designed to separately collect used motor oil containers and the residual oil left over within each container so that each can be recycled. The invention, in one embodiment, comprises an upper and a lower compartment. The upper compartment has an opening on the top to receive discarded oil containers. A divider separates the upper compartment with the lower compartment. The divider may have a tilted V shape surface and an opening at the bottom. The opening connects the upper compartment to the lower compartment such that the collected containers remain in the upper compartment as they can not fit through the opening. However, opening is sufficiently large to allow the residual motor oil flow through and into the second compartment. The second compartment in turn has an opening for drainage which will permit the drainage of collected motor oil from said second compartment. Alternative embodiments of the invention may include within the upper compartment a bag for easy collection and removal of the discarded motor oil containers, said bag having an opening to permit the drainage of the residual oil into the second compartment.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention is directed to an oil container repository. One of the major characteristics of this repository is that in addition to collecting oil containers, it also collects and separates the left over oil within them.
2. Description of Prior Art
Safe discard and recycling of used motor oil is a preferred practice, also mandated by some public municipalities. Large repositories are generally provided either by public agencies or private vendors for collection and thereafter safe discard of used motor oil. However, no known method or apparatus is available that provides for the collection and recycling of oil containers themselves. Some municipalities provide recycling bins for plastic material such as milk or soft-drink bottles. However, there are strict restrictions in disposing motor oil in the publicly collected trash-cans or recycle bins.
Therefore, there is a need for a repository that collects motor oil containers. Further, there is a need for a repository that can separate the left over motor oil from the container itself for separate recycling. The object of this invention is to accomplish both of said tasks. Another embodiment of the invention can display advertisement items on its outer layer.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for an oil container repository for collection and recycling of both the motor oil and the motor oil container.


An FDMA/TDM satellite-based digital broadcast system is used to provide digital maps and other types of data to users at remote locations. User selection of the desired data is achieved by monitoring the TDM downlink channels of the broadcast system in accordance with a predetermined schedule or until a specific identification code is detected. The user terminals are equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers which allow the positions of the users to be determined. Based on the user positions, the user terminals are able to convert general data to location-specific data tailored to the needs of the user. The general data may comprise a digital map covering a wide geographic area, and the location-specific data may comprise a map covering a portion of the geographic region where the user is located.

There are many situations in which a user at a remote location wishes to receive updated information that is specifically tailored to the user's needs. For example, an aircraft pilot may require a current weather map or aeronautical chart for a specific flight path before beginning a flight, or the crew of an ocean-going vessel may require an updated nautical chart showing local harbor anchorages, entrances, channels or the like. Similarly, hikers, skiers and other individuals engaged in outdoor sporting activities may wish to obtain current topographical maps of the local region in which the activity will take place.
Typically, nautical charts and topographical maps are made available in hard copy form and are updated on a relatively infrequent basis. Weather maps (for which frequent updating is essential) have in some cases been made available to pilots and others by facsimile or modem, but the requirement for access to a facsimile machine or computer may prevent the user from obtaining updated weather maps as frequently as might be desired. Moreover, in all of these cases, the maps are generally designed to cover a wide geographic area and are not tailored to the needs of any specific user.
There currently exists a satellite-based position determination system known as the Global Positioning System (GPS), in which a number of satellites in orbits above the earth broadcast precise timing signals that can be received by mobile receivers in aircraft, ships and land vehicles to provide position information using triangulation techniques. In addition to providing latitude and longitude information, GPS receivers often use various types of onboard data storage devices (such as disks and cartridges) to provide map displays that are combined with the satellite-derived GPS position data. This allows the position of the user to be shown graphically on a moving map, for example. While these receivers are very useful for navigation, the map data must be updated frequently (typically by obtaining new disks or cartridges through a subscription service) in order to remain useful. Even with frequent updating, some types of map data (such as weather map data) cannot be effectively provided in this way.

System for providing location-specific data to a user


In a particular embodiment, the disclosure is directed to a system including a data management system configured to receive sensor data associated with a sensor, a monitoring system coupled to the data management system, and an alert handling system responsive to the data management system and configured to access an alert profile associated with an error object provided by the monitoring system. The monitoring system is configured to provide the error object in response to a monitoring algorithm associated with the sensor data received by the data management system.

Embedded monitoring systems, due to their memory and processing limitations, typically implement monitoring and thresholding applications that provide very specific and limited functionality. On typical systems, error monitoring for specific sensors or sensor types is often limited to simple range thresholding (based on comparing the sensor value to a prescribed maximum and/or minimum value). Typically, the thresholding capabilities for any given sensor are limited in several ways. Generally, only one threshold logic (min-max, above-for-time, etc) is available for a specific sensor or sensor type. Often, only one single instance of a threshold type can be used for a given sensor, such as only one range is able to be defined. Most typical systems lack a means by which severity can be assigned to an alert reported when a threshold is violated. This can restrict the ability to control the level of response to the problem. Most typical systems lack a means by which the status of more than one threshold logic can be combined together to produce more sophisticated logic, such as reporting a problem when both a temperature value is exceeded and a humidity value is out of range.
Another set of limitations typically associated with embedded monitoring appliances is limited alert processing functionality. Typical alert handling systems, particularly in embedded monitoring devices, include limitations such as: support for only a fixed set of alert response types, such as sending e-mail, SNMP traps, or alphanumeric pages; limited control over the invocation of responses based on time, the type of alert, the alert severity, or the age of the alert condition; and little or no support for capturing and saving data during alert processing to provide for delayed access or delivery of alert information.
Accordingly, an improved method and system for sensor monitoring, alert processing, and notification would be desirable.

Extensible sensor monitoring, alert processing and notification system and method


A tunable light source system with wavelength measurement capability for a hyper-spectral imaging system is disclosed. A method includes reference filtering a portion of a tunable light beam while tuning the center wavelength, detecting with at least one photodetector the reference-filtered tunable light beam and generating therefrom at least one detector signal that varies with the center wavelength, and determining a tunable center wavelength based on the at least one detector signal.

Hyper-spectral imaging systems capture images for different electromagnetic spectra. An example hyper-spectral imaging system is a label-independent detection (LID) optical reader. A LID optical reader is used to detect drug binding to a target molecule such as a protein, or changes in living cells as cellular material is displaced in response to a drug. Certain types of LID optical readers measure changes in the refractive index on the surface of a resonant waveguide grating (RWG) biosensor of an array of RWG biosensors. The individual RWG biosensors are located in respective wells of a microplate.
In one type of LID optical reader, the different spectra for the hyper-spectral imaging process are provided by a light source that has a tunable wavelength. The tunable light source sweeps narrowband light over a range of center wavelengths. A digital camera captures the images of the RWG biosensors for the different center wavelengths. The wavelength bandwidth of the narrowband light is typically on the order of 1 nm to 2 nm.
To ensure an accurate RWG biosensor measurement, the center wavelength of the narrowband light must be known to a high degree of resolution. To date, achieving such high resolution has proven to be very expensive. Less costly methods for measuring and maintaining the center wavelength at an accurate value can make LID readers and other hyper-spectral imaging systems commercially more attractive.

Tunable light source system with wavelength measurement for a hyper-spectral imaging system


A new method is provided for the creation of a high-reliability metal capacitor as part of back-end processing. A first layer of metal interconnect is created, ac contact point is provided in the surface of the first layer of interconnect aligned with which a capacitor is to be created. A copper interconnect is formed overlying the contact point using TaN for the bottom plate, a high dielectric-constant dielectric material capacitor and using TaN for the top plate. The deposited layers are patterned and etched, a spacer layer is formed over sidewalls of the capacitor to prevent capacitor sidewall leakage. Top interconnect metal is then formed by first depositing a layer of etch stop material for further interconnection of the capacitor and the semiconductor devices provided in the underlying substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the fabrication of integrated circuit devices, and more particularly, to a method for the formation of a capacitor during back-end processing whereby specifically are addressed concerns of capacitor breakdown and capacitor leakage.
2. Description of the Prior Art
For many semiconductor devices, devices that are created for the purpose of operating in mixed mode of both logic and RF high frequency processing, high quality capacitors and inductors form an integral part of the created device. Digital and analog methods of signal processing may in this manner reside side by side in the same semiconductor device or package.
It is therefore not uncommon to see a mixture of electrical components and functions, comprising semiconductor devices, resistors and capacitors. The majority of semiconductor components consists of transistors, gate electrodes and a variety of switching components for the performance of logic processing functions. Capacitors may form a basic component of analog circuits in for instance switched capacitor filters. Capacitors are further widely applied in digital applications such as the storage node for Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) circuits.
Requirements for the creation of high-frequency components such as capacitors and inductors include such aspects as low series resistance, low losses incurred in the component, high Q factor for a created capacitor, low RC time constants and the like. It is in addition desirable, for reasons of processing efficiencies and processing costs, to be able to create any reactive component such as a capacitor and an inductor as part of and integratable with the processing of a conventional semiconductor device manufacturing foundry.
One of the more common methods of creating a capacitor is the creation of a Metal-Insulator-Metal (MIM) capacitor, which finds frequent application in the creation of high-performance MOS devices that for instance are part of Random Access Memory (RAM) devices. Such a capacitor can have a sandwich or parallel plate structure. The bottom plate, of metal, is separated from the top plate, equally of metal, by a thin layer of capacitor dielectric. Both the top and the bottom plate can, for more modern capacitor fabrication processes, be made using a sequence of copper (for the bottom plate) followed by silicon nitride (for the capacitive dielectric) followed by copper (for the top plate of the capacitor). Copper however in this processing sequence is prone to the occurrence of surface irregularities such as copper hillocks, which leads to capacitor initial breakdown. These copper hillocks are further the cause of an unacceptably high level of capacitor leakage current, especially where silicon nitride is used as a material for the capacitor dielectric.
The conventional process of creating a capacitor in combination with the creation of a CMOS device is a relatively complex and therefore expensive process. This will further emphasize that the process of the invention, whereby a Metal-Insulator-Metal (MIM) capacitor is created that can be applied for mixed-mode applications, is a relatively simple and therefore cost effective method of creating a capacitor.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,274,435 B1 (Chen) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,300,682 B2 (Chen) shows a MIM capacitor and backend process.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,323,099 B2 (Long et al.) shows a Cu dual damascene capacitor.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,338,999 B1 (Hsue et al.) shows a TaN and Cu metal dual damascene capacitor process.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,329,234 B1 (Ma et al.) shows a Cu compatible CMOS MIM cap structure.

Method to fabricate high reliable metal capacitor within copper back-end process

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.


The invention provides a medicament for topically treating aphthous ulcers in the oral mucosa, and methods of use. The medicament comprises a troche or powder comprising a dry dosage of one or more antibiotics and, preferably, one or more polyvalent metal compounds. The troche or powder is directly applied to the aphthous ulcer and dissolves in saliva, within about 5 to about 15 minutes, thereby directly delivering a supratherapeutic dosage of the antibiotic to the ulcerated oral tissue. Further, in a preferred embodiment the troche/powder directly delivers a therapeutically high concentration of a polyvalent metal compound in suspension to the aphthous ulcer, thereby forming a protective barrier over the ulcerated oral tissue.

1. Field of the Invention
Small shallow painful mucosal ulcers of the mouth, commonly referred to as aphthous stomatitis, aphthous ulcers or canker sores in the medical literature, occur in about 25% of the general human population and are not contagious. They often appear on the unkeratinized oral mucosal surface of the soft palate, the ventral or lateral tongue, the buccal-labial mucosa, and the floor of the mouth, and usually recur at irregular intervals. They are often covered with a grayish white exudate and surrounded by a hyperemic or erythematous margin, and are highly sensitive, especially to acid food. The size of these ulcers is rarely more than 5 mm in diameter, but can be larger, and coalescence of multiple ulcers may occur. The pain caused by these ulcers may extend over the entire face. Small aphthous ulcers usually heal spontaneously in one to three weeks, but larger ulcers may require months to resolve, often with scarring.
Although aphthous ulcers were described by Hippocrates, the etiology of these lesions is still largely unknown. While a variety of conditions are associated with aphthous ulcers, immunologic status seems to be an important factor in initiating eruptions. For example, aphthous-like ulcers are often associated with allergic reactions, human immunodeficiency virus and herpes simplex infection. In some patients, the incidence of ulcer formation correlates with menstrual cycles. In other cases dietary or digestive disturbances seem to be the precipitating factors. Prolonged fever, emotional stress, local trauma, low serum iron, ferritin or zinc levels, deficiency of vitamin B.sub.12 or folate, malabsorption in association with celiac or Crohn's disease, food hypersensitivity and drug reactions may also promote aphthous ulcers.
The first stage of an emerging canker is a vesicle in the stratum granulosum of the mucosal squamous epithelium, produced by intraepithelial edema. The vesicle contains serum and degenerated epithelial cells, with little inflammatory response. This stage is rarely noticed, as the painful symptoms of the ulcer do not occur until the vesicle breaks, presenting an area of ulceration which disrupts the normal epithelium of the mucosa. Once an ulcer forms, the mucosa is no longer protected by an intact epithelium and the raw surface of the ulcer is exposed to microorganisms which normally inhabit the oral cavity.
Examples of indigenous oral flora include lactobacilli, actinomyces, leptotrichiae, .alpha.-hemolytic streptococci, enterococci, gram-positive cocci, Neisseriae, diphtheroid bacilli, fusiform bacilli, bacteroides, spirochetes, yeasts and Candida. When existent in normally balanced proportions, these microorganisms do not usually produce disease in the intact oral mucosa of a healthy person. However, upon rupture of a canker ulcer, opportunistic pathogens quickly destroy the remnants of the local surface barrier of the oral mucosa. The result is a secondary infection, characterized by a dense acute and a chronic inflammatory cell infiltration of the exposed connective tissue of the lamina propria mucosae at the crater of the ulcer. The necrotic tissue, fibrinous exudate and the inflammatory cells constitute a yellowish-white membrane often seen clinically covering the base of an ulcer.
Marked infiltration of the small neurovascular system occurs in the deeper layer of the lamina propria mucosae and at the periphery of the ulcer, which may account for the highly sensitive condition of the lesion and pain-inducing neuritis. The process of healing takes place only after the inflammation subsides, and is characterized by re-epithelialization of the ulcer, with or without scarring.
Despite the multifactorial etiology of aphthous ulcers, secondary infections arise after rupture of the intraepithelial vesicle during the early development of all cankers. Control of infection is essential for promoting the healing process. The diverse indigenous flora in the oral cavity possess a range of sensitivities to the chemotherapeutics of choice for the treatment of aphthous ulcers. During an ulcerative infection, stasis of key opportunistic pathogens can inhibit the growth of other dependent microbes, such that the group ceases to function as the causative agent for the infection.
An obstacle to inhibiting microbial proliferation is the fact that many bacteria are resistant to the concentrations of antibiotics attainable in blood or in tissues during medication. This property of drug resistance may be natural or acquired. However, the growth of many "resistant" microorganisms can be inhibited in vitro by increasing the concentrations of the antibiotic to a supratherapeutic level that is not safely attainable in blood or in tissue fluids via conventional gastrointestinal absorption or intramuscular and intravenous injections. For example, Gram-negative bacilli are generally regarded as being resistant to penicillin G, even at the concentration of 16 mcg/ml which is accepted as the average peak blood level after an intravenous injection of 500 mg of penicillin G. However, if a high concentration of penicillin G is used (such as, for instance, 740 mcg/ml) as the cut-off minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) for classifying sensitive and resistant strains, many Gram-negative bacilli (including, for instance, Salmonella, Shigella, most Escherichia coli strains, all Proteus mirabilis strains and most Bacteroides strains) would fall into the "sensitive" category. Needless to say, in clinical practice, drug toxicity and rapid renal clearance usually prevent this substantial level of antibiotic being achieved in human blood and tissue fluids via systemic oral or parenteral medication.
2. Description of Related Art
The treatment of aphthous stomatitis to date has been palliative, using various measures to lessen the pain, to control secondary infection, and to reduce inflammatory reaction after the painful ulcer is established. The treatments of choice for aphthous ulcers have varied over the years, but in general, palliative treatments have met with only limited success.
For example, in the 1950s, a recommended local treatment of infections of the oral cavity was lozenges of penicillin. The lozenges were prepared by compression of a mixture of amorphous penicillin or benzylpenicillin and dry granules of sucrose, lactose, or a mixture of the two, and suitable binding agents. Each lozenge weighed about 1 gram and contained not less than 90.0% of the prescribed or stated number of Units of penicillin, usually about 1000 Units (an equivalent of 0.625 mg of penicillin G) each. The lozenges were designed to disintegrate slowly, releasing penicillin over a period of 45 to 60 minutes, after which another lozenge was inserted, with this process continuing for 24 hours, except during meals. Adverse reactions included stomatitis upon treatment for more than two days, and a yellowish-brown to black discoloration of the tongue.
However, this topical treatment of aphthous ulcers with penicillin lozenges proved ineffective and was abandoned. Furthermore, as recently as 1980, the use of penicillin for topical applications to mucous membranes and skin was not advised, as such applications were described as ineffective and likely to produce hypersensitivity. (See "The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics", Eds. Gilman Goodman, and Gilman, p.1136.) As a result, this type of treatment for aphthous stomatitis was not included in later teachings.
Treatments for canker ulcers currently include a potent glucocorticoid ointment mixed with an equal volume of Orabase.TM. (active ingredient: mineral oil; available from Bristol-Myers Squibb of Canada), analgesics, topical anesthetics, such as viscous lidocaine hydrochloride, and various hygienic antiseptic mouth rinses. Systemic therapy with corticosteroids, colchicine, or dapsone in severe cases may be indicated. However, potent glucocorticoid ointments and systemic therapy with corticosteroids are known to be immunosuppressive, leaving patients vulnerable to complications, such as severe systemic bacterial or fungal infections. Thalidomide therapy for oral aphthous ulcers is effective in some HIV-infected patients, though the adverse effects of this teratogenic drug limit its usefulness in general. Topical treatment with tetracycline suspensions or nystatin suspensions, as well as systemic therapy with penicillin, are commonly employed. A drawback to oral antimicrobial rinses and suspensions is their inability to present high enough (supratherapeutic) concentrations of the active drugs in the immediate vicinity of the ulcers to suppress the growth of the pathogens which have contributed to and continue to perpetuate the infection. For example, one protocol requires patients to hold 250 mg of tetracycline in 5-10 mg/ml suspension in the mouth for 2 to 5 minutes to coat the ulcers, then suggests swallowing the remaining liquid. This treatment is often impractical, especially for use in children. Tetracycline oral suspensions are available commercially in concentrations from about 5 mg/ml to about 10 mg/ml. Supratherapeutic concentrations of, for example, 500 mg/ml are not achievable with these solutions. Likewise, topical combination treatments utilizing pastes of crushed tetracycline tablets (150 mg in 1 ml of saline) and tissue adhesive agents, such as cyanoacrylate, cannot achieve such high levels of antibiotic. Besides, this type of treatment must be performed by a dentist.
Some patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis have responded to therapy with metal salts, such as zinc sulfate or the aluminum subsalt of sucrose-8-sulfate (sucralfate). Combinations of metal salts with antibiotics have proven effective for treating some forms of ulcers, such as gastrointestinal ulcers generated by, for example, Helicobacter pylori. Protective bioadhesive hydrogel patches made of cellulose have been used to abate oral ulcer pain and reduce healing time, but the patches alone do not address the infectious component of aphthous stomatitis. Therefore, these recommended treatments do not sufficiently meet the needs of many patients with aphthous ulcers.

Lesion-directed antibiotics in dry dosage forms for the treatment of shallow ulcers of the oral mucosa


An N-containing five-membered ring compound of formula (I)

Cysteine protease is a generic name of proteases which have a cysteine residue in the activity center and catalyze protein degradation thereat. In animal cells, a large number of cysteine proteases are known; for example, cathepsin family, calpain family, caspase-1, etc. Cysteine protease exists in various kinds of cells extensively and plays a basic and essential role in the homeostasis, such as conversion (processing) of precursor protein into its active form and degradation of proteins which have become out of use, etc. Until now, its physiological effects are being vigorously studied, and as the studies progress and characteristics of the enzymes are revealed, cysteine protease came to be taken as a cause of really various kinds of diseases.
It is revealed that cathepsin S (See J. Immunol., 161, 2731 (1998)) and cathepsin L (See J. Exp. Med., 183, 1331 (1996)) play a role in processing of major histocompatibility antigen class-II in antigen presenting cells which play an important role in the early stage of immune responses. In an experimental inflammatory response model induced by antigens, a specific inhibitor of cathepsin S showed an inhibitory effect (see J. Clin. Invest., 101, 2351 (1998)). It is also reported that in a leishmania-infected immune response model cathepsin B inhibitor inhibited an immune response and by means of this effect it inhibited the proliferation of protozoans (See J. Immunol., 161, 2120 (1998)). In vitro, a result is given that a calpain inhibitor and a cysteine protease inhibitor E-64 inhibited apoptosis which is induced by stimuli on T cell receptors (see J. Exp. Med., 178, 1693 (1993)). Therefore, it is conceivable that cysteine protease is much concerned with the progress of immune responses.
It is speculated that caspase-1 or a cysteine protease similar thereto occupies an important position in the mechanism of cell death including apoptosis. Therefore it is expected for a cysteine protease inhibitor to be used as an agent for the prophylaxis and/or treatment of those diseases concerning apoptosis, such as infectious diseases, deterioration or sthenia of immune function and brain function, tumors, etc. Diseases concerning apoptosis are, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), AIDS-related complex (ARC), adult T cell leukemia, hairy cell leukemia, spondylopathy, respiratory apparatus disorder, arthitis, HIV or HTLV-1 related diseases such as uveitis, virus-related diseases such as hepatitis C, cancer, collagenosis (systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.), autoimmune diseases (ulcerative colitis, Sjögren's syndrome, primary biliary cirrhosis, spontaneous thrombocytopenic purpura, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, myasthenia gravis, insulin dependent (type I) diabetes, etc.), diseases accompanied by thrombocytopenia (osteomyelodysplasia syndrome, periodic thrombocytopenia, aplastic anemia, spontaneous thrombocytopenia, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), etc.), hepatic diseases such as viral hepatitis (type C, A, B, F, etc.) or hepatitis medicamentosus and cirrhosis, dementia (Alzheimer's diseases, Alzheimer's senile dementia, etc.), cerebrovascular injury, nerve degeneration diseases, adult acute respiratory distress syndrome, infectious diseases, prostatomegaly, hysteromyoma, bronchial asthma, arteriosclerosis, all kinds of lusus naturae, nephropathy, senile cataract, chronic fatigue syndrome, myodystrophy, peripheral neuropathy, etc.
Moreover, caspase-1 is concerned with various inflammatory diseases and those diseases caused by immune disorders, by means of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) production. A lot of diseases are shown to be involved with caspase-1 including inflammatory diseases and autoimmune diseases listed below; inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis, insulin-dependent (type-I) diabetes, autoimmune thyroid diseases, infectious diseases, rejection of an organ transplantation, graft versus host diseases, psoriasis, periodontitis (above, see N. Eng. J. Med., 328, 106 (1993)), pancreatitis (see J. Interferon Cytokine Res., 17, 113 (1997)), hepatitis (see J. Leuko. Biol., 58, 90 (1995)), glomerulonephritis (see Kidney Int., 47, 1303 (1995)), endocarditis (see Infect. Immun., 64, 1638 (1996)), myocarditis (see Br. Heart J., 72, 561 (1995)), systemic lupus erythematosus (see Br. J. Rheumatol., 34, 107 (1995)), Hashimoto's diseases (see Autoimmunity, 16, 141 (1993)), etc.), etc. Experimentally, it is reported that in liver injury model induced by lipopolysaccharide and D-galactosamine, a caspase-1 inhibitor depressed the symptoms, and it is expected that a caspase inhibitor shows an effect in sepsis, ischemic reperfusion and hepatitis gravis (see Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., 15, 1308 (1999)).
It is also shown that cysteine protease is concerned with rheumatoid arthritis. IL-1β is shown to be concerned with this disease (see Arthritis Rheum., 3, 1092 (1996)), and in addition, as autoantibody toward calpastatin (endogenous calpain inhibitor) was found in the serum of the patients, it is considered that increase of calpain activity leads to the cause of diseases.
It is also known that cysteine protease causes a disease symptom by decomposing various proteins which compose the organism.
It is reported that cathepsin B plays a role in decomposing muscular protein in the chronic phase of sepsis (see J. Clin. Invest., 97, 1610 (1996)), and in decomposing muscular protein in myodystrophy model (see Biochem. J., 288, 643 (1992)). And it is also reported that calpain decomposes the myocyte cells protein of myodystrophy patients (see J. Biol. Chem., 270, 10909 (1995)).
In the ischemic reperfusion model, a result is given that calpain causes degeneration of brain tissues by means of degradation of protein kinase C-β (see J. Neurochem., 72, 2556 (1999)) and that a cathepsin B inhibitor inhibits nerve injury (see Eur. J. Neurosci., 10, 1723 (1998)).
In the brain ischemic model, it is known that the degradation of spectrin by calpain causes a damage and function disorder in the neurocyte (see Brain Res., 790, 1 (1998)) and it is reported that an IL-1β receptor antagonist relieved the symptoms (see Brain Res. Bull., 29, 243 (1992)).
In myocardial ischemic model it is confirmed that cathepsin B activity increases in the lesion (see Biochem. Med. Metab. Biol., 45, 6 (1991)).
In the experiment utilizing ischemic liver injury model, it proved that necrosis and apoptosis of hepacyte were induced by means of protein-decomposing activity of calpain (see Gastroenterology, 116, 168 (1999)).
Besides, it is known that calpain causes cornea turbid in cataract by means of degradation of crystalline (see Biol. Chem., 268, 137 (1993)) and that in the lesion of contracted gut mucosa model it was confirmed that the activity of cathepsin B, H and L increased (see JPEN. J. Parenter. Enteral. Nutr., 19, 187 (1995)) and it is shown that cysteine protease is a cause of the diseases resulting from such protein degradation.
It has been revealed that cysteine protease is concerned with systemic disorders of organs and tissues by shock.
It is shown that IL-1β is concerned with septic shock and systemic inflammatory response syndrome (see Igakuno Ayumi, 169, 850 (1994)) and besides, it is reported that in endotoxin shock model induced by lipopolysaccharide, a calpain inhibitor prevented circulatory system disorder, disorders of liver and pancreas and acidosis by means of inhibitory effect of activation of nuclear factor κB (see Br. J. Pharmacol., 121, 695 (1997)).
Since it is reported that calpain is concerned with platelet coagulation process and a calpain inhibitor prevented the coagulation of platelets (see Am. J. Physiol., 259, C862 (1990)), it is conceivable that a cysteine protease inhibitor is useful for the disorder by blood coagulation. From the fact that calpain activity increased in the serum of the patients of purpura (thrombocytopenia) resulting from marrow transplantation, it is conceivable that calpain is concerned with the actual disease symptoms (see Bone Marrow Transplant., 24, 641 (1999)). Caspase-1 inhibitor inhibited the apoptosis of blood vessel endothelial cells, which is seen in the early phase of purpura (thrombocytopenia) and is thought to be important for the progression of the pathology afterwards (see Am. J. Hematol., 59, 279 (1998)), so it is expected that a cysteine protease inhibitor makes effect on purpura and hemolytic uremic syndrome.
The effect of cysteine protease and its inhibitor is being investigated in the field of cancer and metastasis of cancer.
Since the proliferations of pancreas cancer cells (see Cancer Res., 59, 4551 (1999)) and acute myeloid leukemia cells (see Clin. Lab. Haematol., 21, 173 (1999)) were inhibited by an inhibitor or receptor antagonist of caspase-1, it is expected that caspase-1 activity is essential for the process of proliferation of tumor cells, and that an inhibitor thereof is effective for these cancers. Cathepsin B activity increased in colon cancer metastasis model (see Clin. Exp. Metastasis, 16, 159 (1998)). Cathepsin K protein expression was recognized in human breast cancer cells and the relationship of cathepsin K and bone metastasis is shown (Cancer Res., 57, 5386 (1997)). Also, a calpain inhibitor inhibited migaration of the cells and it implied the possibility that calpain inhibition may inhibit metastasis of cancer (J. Biochem., 272, 32719 (1997)). From these, a cysteine protease inhibitor is presumed to show an inhibitory effect on the metastasis of various malignant tumors.
As to AIDS (see AIDS, 10, 1349 (1996)) and AIDS-related complex (ARC) (see Arch. Immunol. Ther. Exp. (Warsz), 41, 147 (1993)), it is shown that IL-1 is concerned with the progress of symptoms, so it is conceivable that cysteine protease inhibition leads to an effective therapy of AIDS and its complication.
Some parasites have cysteine protease activity in their body. Cysteine protease in the phagosome of malaria protozoan is an essential enzyme for supplying nutrition of the parasites. A result is given that the inhibitor of cysteine protease shows an inhibitory effect of the proliferation of the protozoan (see Blood, 87, 4448 (1996)). Thus, it is possible to apply the inhibitor of cysteine protease to malaria.
In Alzheimer-type dementia, it is said that adhesion of non-physiological protein called amyloid to brain is deeply involved with nervous function disorders. Cysteine protease has an activity of generating amyloid by decomposing its precursor protein. Clinically, it is shown that cathepsin B is an enzyme that possesses a processing activity of amyloid proteins in the brains of Alzheimer-type dementia patients (see Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 177, 377 (1991)). Also, expressions of cathepsin B protein (see Virchows Arch. A. Pathol. Anat. Histpathol., 423, 185 (1993)), cathepsin S protein (see Am. J. Pathol., 146, 848 (1995)) and calpain protein (see Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 90, 2628 (1993)) and increase of caspase-1 activity (see J. Neuropathol. Exp. Neurol., 58, 582 (1999)) were confirmed in the brain lesions. Besides, by the fact that calpain is concerned with the formation of paired helical filaments which accumulate in Alzheimer dementia patients and production of protein kinase C which stabilizes the protein by phosphorylation (see J. Neurochem., 66, 1539 (1996)) and by the knowledge that caspase is concerned with neurocyte death by β amyloid protein adhesion (see Exp. Cell Res., 234, 507 (1997)), it is implied that cysteine protease is concerned with the disease symptoms.
As to Huntington's chorea, cathepsin H activity increased in the patient's brain (see J. Neurol. Sci., 131, 65 (1995)), and the ratio of activated form of calpain increased (see J. Neurosci., 48, 181 (1997)). In Parkinson's diseases, the increase of expression of m-calpain was recognized in the mesencephalon of the patients (see Neuroscience, 73, 979 (1996)) and IL-1β protein was expressed in brain (see Neurosci. Let., 202, 17 (1995)). Therefore, it is speculated that cysteine protease is concerned with the genesis and progress of these diseases.
Besides, in the central nervous system, spectrin degradation by calpain is found in the process of injury on neurocyte observed in the traumatic brain injury model (see J. Neuropathol. Exp. Neurol., 58, 365 (1999)).
In spinal cord injured model it was recognized that in glia cells calpain messenger RNA increased and its activity increased in the lesion and the possibility was shown that calpain had much to do with the degeneration of myelin and actin after injury (see Brain Res., 816, 375 (1999)). And IL-1β was shown to be concerned with the genesis of multiple sclerosis (see Immunol. Today, 14, 260 (1993)). Therefore, it is conceivable that a cysteine protease inhibitor is promising as an agent for the treatment of these nerve-injuring diseases.
Normally, cathepsin S and cathepsin K do not exist in human arterial walls but it was confirmed that they expressed in arterial sclerosis lesion and they had an decomposing activity of alveolus elastica (see J. Clin. Invest., 102, 576 (1998)) and a calpain inhibitor and antisense of m-calpain inhibited the proliferation of human blood vessel smooth muscle cells and it is shown that m-calpain is concerned with the proliferation of smooth muscle (see Arteioscler. Thromb. Vssc. Biol., 18, 493 (1998)), so it is conceivable that a cysteine protease inhibitor is promising for the treatment of blood vessel lesion such as arteriosclerosis, restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), etc.
It is reported that in liver, cathepsin B is activated in the process of injuring hepatocyte by bile acid (see J. Clin. Invest., 103, 137 (1999)) and so it is expected that a cysteine protease inhibitor is effective for cholestatic cirrhosis.
In lungs and respiratory system, it is shown that cathepsin S is an enzyme that plays a role in elastin degradation by alveolus macrophages (see J. Biol. Chem., 269, 11530 (1994)), so it is probable that cysteine protease is a cause of pulmonary emphysema. And it is also shown that lung injury (see J. Clin. Invest., 97, 963 (1996)), lung fibrosis (see Cytokine, 5, 57 (1993)) and bronchial asthma (see J. Immunol., 149, 3078 (1992)) are caused by production of IL-1β by caspase-1.
It is pointed out that cysteine protease is also concerned with diseases concerning bones and cartilages. Cathepsin K is specifically recognized in osteoclast and it has a decomposing activity against bone matrix (see J. Biol. Chem., 271, 12517 (1996)), so its inhibitor is expected to show an effect against osteoporosis, arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, hypercalcemia and osteometastasis of cancer, where pathologic bone resorption is recognized. And since IL-1β is shown to be concerned with bone resorption and cartilage degradation, and a caspase-1 inhibitor and IL-1β receptor antagonist inhibit the bone resorption and symptoms of arthritis, a caspase-1 inhibitor and IL-1β receptor antagonist are expected to be effective for arthritis (see Cytokine, 8, 377 (1996)) and osteoporosis (J. Clin. Invest., 93, 1959 (1994)). And it is reported that IL-1β is also concerned with osteoarthritis (see Life Sci., 41, 1187 (1987)).
Cysteine protease is involved with production of various hormones. Since increase of messenger RNA of cathepsin S was recognized by stimuli of thytropin on thyroid epitheliocyte strains (see J. Biol. Chem., 267, 26038 (1992)), it is conceivable that a cysteine protease inhibitor is effective for hyperthyrodism.
Since quantity and activity of cathepsin B protein increased in the gingival sulcus liquid of periodontitis patients (see J. Clin. Periodontol., 25, 34 (1998)), it is pointed out that cysteine protease is concerned with periodontitis.
Therefore, it is expected that the compound that possesses the inhibitory activity of cysteine protease is useful as an agent for the prophylaxis and/or treatment of inflammatory diseases (periodontitis, arthritis, inflammatory bowel diseases, infectious diseases, pancreatitis, hepatitis, glomerulonephritis, endocarditis, myocarditis, etc.), diseases induced by apoptosis (graft versus host diseases, rejection of an organ transplantation, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), AIDS-related complex (ARC), adult T cell leukemia, hairy cells leukemia, spondylopathy, disorders of respiratory apparatus, arthritis, HIV or HTLV-1 related diseases such as uveitis, virus-related diseases such as hepatitis C, cancer, collagenosis (systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.), ulcerative colitis, Sjögren's syndrome, primary biliary cirrhosis, spontaneous thrombocytopenic purpura, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, myasthenia gravis, autoimmune diseases such as insulin dependent (type I) diabetes, diseases accompanying thrombocytopenia (osteomyelodysplasia syndrome, periodic thrombocytopenia, aplastic anemia, spontaneous thrombocytopenia, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), etc.), hepatic diseases such as viral hepatitis (type A, B, C, F, etc.) or hepatitis medicamentosus and cirrhosis, dementia such as Alzheimer's diseases and Alzheimer's senile dementia, cerebrovascular injury, nerve degeneration diseases, adult acute respiratory distress syndrome, infectious diseases, prostatomegaly, hysteromyoma, bronchial asthma, arteriosclerosis, all kinds of lusus naturae, nephropathy, senile cataract, chronic fatigue syndrome, myodystrophy, peripheral neuropathy, etc.), diseases induced by disorders of immune response (graft versus host diseases, rejection of an organ transplantation, allergic diseases (bronchial asthma, atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, pollinosis, diseases induced by house dusts, irritable pneumonia, food allergy, etc.), psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.), autoimmune diseases (insulin-dependent (type I) diabetes, systemic lupus erythematosus, Hashimoto's diseases, multiple sclerosis, etc.), disease by degradation various proteins which compose the organism (myodystrophy, cataract, periodontitis, hepatocyte disease by bile acid such as cholestatic cirrhosis, etc.), decomposition of alveolus elastica such as pulmonary emphysema, ischemic diseases (brain ischemia, brain disorders (encephalopathy) by ischemic reperfusion, myocardial infarction, ischemic hepatopathy, etc.), shock (septic shock, systemic inflammatory response syndrome, endotoxin shock, acidosis, etc.), circulatory system disorders (arteriosclerosis, restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), etc.)), blood coagulation disorders (thrombocytopenic purpura, hemolytic uremic syndrome, etc.), malignant tumor, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and AIDS-related complex (ARC), parasitic diseases such as malaria, nerve degenerative diseases (Alzheimer-type dementia, Huntington's chorea, Parkinson's diseases, multiple sclerosis, traumatic encephalopathy, traumatic spondylopathy, etc.), pulmopathy such as lung fibrosis, bone resorption diseases (osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, arthritis, osteoarthritis, hypercalcemia, osteometastasis of cancer, etc.), endocrinesthenia such as hyperthyroidism.
On the other hand, what is the most important for inhibitors in inhibiting the activity of proteases is, the special reaction site which interacts with the aminoacid residue that is the activity center of proteases. The surrounding structure of the reaction sites are represented by ---P3P2P1-P1′P2′P3′---, centering peptide binding (P1-P1′) of the reaction site, and at P1 site there exist amino acid residues fitting the substance specificity of proteases which the inhibitors aim. Some reaction sites against cysteine proteases are known, for Example, in the specification of WO99/54317, the followings are described;    P1 position against calpain I, II (norvaline, phenylalanine, etc.),    P1 position against calpain I (arginine, lysine, tyrosine, valine, etc.),    P1 position against papain (homophenylalanine, arginine, etc.),    P1 position against cathepsin B (homophenylalanine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, etc.),    P1 position against cathepsin S (valine, norleucine, phenylalanine, etc.),    P1 position against cathepsin L (homophenylalanine, lysine, etc.),    P1 position against cathepsin K (arginine, homophenylalanine, leucine, etc.),    P1 position against caspase (aspartic acid).
On the other hand, in the specification of JP-A-H6-192199, it is disclosed that a ketone derivative of formula (V) is useful as a thiol protease inhibitor
wherein RIV is hydrogen atom, R10V—CO—, R10V—OCO—, R10V—SO2— or R10V—NHCO—, (1) when AV is —S—, —SO—, —SO2—, R9V is C6-14 aryl which may have a substituent, or —(CH2)mv—XV, wherein XV is hydrogen atom, hydroxy, heteroring optionally having a substituent, etc., mv is an integer of 0 or 1 to 15, and (2) when AV is —O—, R9V is hydrogen atom or —(CH2)1V—XV, wherein 1V is an integer of 1 to 15, (3) when AV is —NR11V—, R9V is C6-14 aryl optionally having a substituent, or —(CH2)mv—XV, R9V and R11V may be taken together to form a N-containing heteroring optionally having a substituent.
Also, in the specification of WO 93/09135, it is disclosed that the compound of formula (W)RWA1W-A2WnwA3W-A4W-XW-A5W  (W),wherein RW is hydrogen atom, a protected amino, etc., nw is 0 or 1, A1W is Val, Leu, Ala, Ile or trimethylsilyl-Ala, A2W is Phe or Tyr, A3W is a single bond, Val, Leu, Ala, Ile, trimethylsilyl-Ala, etc., A4W is a single bond or —NR1W—CH(Y1W)—CO—, XW is
A5W is hydrogen, CF3, —CH2—Y3W, wherein Y3W is heteroaryl, etc., is effective as an interleukin-1β releasing inhibitor.
Also, in the specifications of JP-A-H9-136878, WO 97/24339 and JP-A-H10-251295, it is disclosed that tetrazole compounds represented by formula (X), (Y) and (Z) respectively are effective as interleukin-1β converting enzyme inhibitors.
wherein RX is
and YX is
nx is an integer of 1 to 4,
is a carboring or heteroring, and R20X is hydrogen atom, C1-4 alkyl, halogen atom, etc.,
wherein RY is
and YY is
ZY is C1-6 alkylene, C2-6 alkenylene, O, S, etc., and EY is hydrogen, halogen, C1˜4 alkyl, etc.,
wherein RZ is
YZ is
ZZ is a single bond, C1-6 alkylene, C2-6 alkenylene, O, S, etc. and EZ is hydrogen atom, halogen atom, CF3, etc.

N-containing five-membered ring compounds and pharmaceutical agents comprising the same as active ingredient

Abstract: wherein all symbols are the same as described in the specification, and a non-toxic salt thereof.

Abstract: The compound of formula (I) has an inhibitory activity against cysteine protease and therefore it is useful as an agent for the prophylaxis and/or treatment of inflammatory diseases, diseases induced by apoptosis, diseases induced by disorders of immune responses, autoimmune diseases, diseases induced by decomposition of proteins which compose organism, shock, circulatory system disorders, blood coagulation systems disorders, malignant tumors, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and AIDS-related complex (ARC), parasitic diseases, nerve degeneration diseases, pulmonary disorders, bone resorption diseases, endocrinesthenia, etc.


A windrow turning apparatus which mounts to a front of a tractor and has a first rake support assembly and a second rake support assembly. The rake support assemblies support rotary raking wheels at an angle in relation to a support frame extending from a forward end outwardly toward a tractor attachment end. A farmer can lower either the first rake support assembly or the second rake support assembly to an operative position, depending upon the direction that windrow needs to be turned in order to maintain consistent windrow spacing.

Windrow turning apparatus are a specialized type of raking apparatus that are used to turn windrows that have become laden with moisture due to exposure to rain or snow. A top layer of a windrow that has been exposed to rain or snow, rapidly dries as a result of the action of the sun and wind. A bottom layer of a windrow remains moist and will experience deterioration, unless the windrow is turned so that the bottom layer can be dried by exposure to sun and wind. It is generally considered advantageous to avoid altering the spacing between the windrows that are turned. When the spacing between the windrows is altered it adversely effects the ability to subsequently process the windrows using other machinery.
A review of the prior art discloses a number of raking apparatus that are adapted to be mounted to the front of a tractor; German Patent 2,359,224; U.S. Pat. No. 4,077,189; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,214,428. These raking apparatus are not used to turn windrows, but are intended to move two windrows toward each other in order to feed a baling apparatus. Although the patents listed differ in their raking mechanisms, they all have two rakes mounted to a front of a tractor; the rakes being oriented to funnel two windrows inwardly toward a baling apparatus being towed behind the tractor.


A knife sharpener is provided including a base. A plurality of sharpening members are positioned on the base and situated in side-by-side relationship. Also included is a biasing assembly for urging the sharpening members into abutment.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to knife sharpeners and more particularly pertains to a new knife sharpener for sharpening a blade with a plurality of spring biased rods which are rotatable.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of knife sharpeners is known in the prior art. More specifically, knife sharpeners heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art knife sharpeners include U.S. Pat. No. 4,799,335; U.S. Pat. No. 4,229,910; U.S. Pat. No. 4,025,319; U.S. Pat. No. 4,912,885; U.S. Pat. No. 4,866,845; and U.S. Patent Des. 327,402.
In these respects, the knife sharpener according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of sharpening a blade with a plurality of spring biased rods which are rotatable.


Provided is a semiconductor device which can perform secure data transmission/reception considering functional safety. The semiconductor device includes a hardware security module circuit which performs an authentication process and an error detection circuit used to perform an error detection process at least on first data which is processed in the hardware security module circuit. A memory area associated with the error detection circuit is configured to be accessible only by the hardware security module circuit when the error detection process is performed at least on the first data.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, an authentication system, and an authentication method, and more particularly to, e.g., a semiconductor device having a hardware security module circuit, an authentication system, and an authentication method.
A secure data loading method for use in the case of data transmission/reception between devices has been proposed. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a data structure in which a digital signature using public/private keys and a MAC (Message Authentication Code) value are added to data and a method which performs, when loading data, an authentication process or a data falsification check using the data structure. Patent Document 2 discloses a technique which allows updating of sensing rules for sensing an unauthorized frame in an in-vehicle network.
On the other hand, an encryption/decryption method using an error-correcting code technique has been proposed. Patent Document 3 discloses an encryption/decryption method using an error-correcting code technique. In Patent Document 3, an error correction coding process is performed on a plaintext and, in the resulting error-correction-coded data, a correctable random bit error is caused. Then, the error-correction-coded data with the random bit error is encrypted to produce a ciphertext. Conversely, the ciphertext is decrypted and then subjected to error correction coding to provide a plaintext.

Semiconductor device, authentication system, and authentication method


A cooled electronic assembly includes an integrated-circuit device carrier (such as a printed circuit board), a device (such as a flip chip), a liquid pump, a molding material, a heat exchanger, and a cover. The device and the liquid pump are electrically connected to the integrated-circuit device carrier. The molding material is molded to the device, to the liquid pump, and to the integrated-circuit device carrier. The cover has a coolant channel fluidly connected to the heat exchanger, wherein the cover is attached to the molding material. The coolant channel and the heat exchanger together at least partially define a closed coolant circuit. The liquid pump is operatively connected to the closed coolant circuit. A method for cooling a printed circuit board includes placing a liquid coolant in the closed coolant circuit and electrically activating the liquid pump through the printed circuit board.

Conventional electronic-assembly liquid cooling methods include using a first heat exchanger to remove heat energy from the electronic assembly, a second heat exchanger to transfer to the environment the removed heat received from the first heat exchanger, plumbing to connect the two heat exchangers into a re-circulating liquid cooling system, and a pump to force a liquid coolant through the cooling system. The fabrication of these components and their assembly into a cooling system can be relatively complicated and costly. Such a cooling system can pose reliability problems in maintaining liquid-tight interfaces between adjacent components during the life of the product.
What is needed is an improved cooled electronic assembly and an improved method for cooling a printed circuit board.

Cooled electronic assembly and method for cooling a printed circuit board


Some embodiments of the present invention provide a control system configured to control a driveline of a motor vehicle to operate in a selected one of a plurality of configurations, the control system being configured to receive an environment indication signal indicative of an environment surrounding the vehicle, the control system being configured to determine, based on the environment indication signal, whether there is a need to pre-emptively brake the vehicle before brake torque is demanded of a braking system of the vehicle and the control system being configured, when it is determined that there is a need to pre-emptively brake the vehicle, to cause the driveline to operate in a second configuration and not a first configuration, wherein in the first configuration a first group of one or more wheels are arranged to be driven by the driveline and in the second configuration the first group of one or more wheels and in addition a second group of one or more wheels are arranged to be driven by the driveline.

It is known to provide a motor vehicle having a four wheel drive mode of operation in which motive power is supplied to each of two pairs of wheels of the vehicle. Each pair of wheels may be considered to form part of an axle assembly, the vehicle having a front axle assembly and a rear axle assembly. Motive power is supplied to the wheels by means of a driveline.
Some known vehicles are arranged such that motive power is permanently supplied to both axle assemblies. Some other vehicles are arranged such that motive power is selectively supplied to either only one axle assembly or to both axle assemblies. A driver operable selector may be provided to allow the driver to select two wheel (front or rear axle assembly) and four wheel (dual axle assembly) operation.
Some driveline systems require the vehicle to be stationary when transitioning between two and four wheel drive modes. Such systems may be referred to as static disconnect/reconnect systems.
GB2407804 discloses a dynamic driveline reconnect arrangement in which reconnection of the wheels of one axle assembly to the driveline following disconnection of the wheels of that axle assembly may be undertaken when the vehicle is moving. Such a system may be referred to as a dynamic driveline reconnect system. The system disclosed in GB2407804 employs clutch arrangements to enable dynamic driveline reconnection.
In some known dynamic driveline reconnect systems the vehicle is operable automatically to disconnect the driveline from two of the wheels when a prescribed condition is met so that the vehicle operates in a two wheel drive mode. The system automatically reconnects the driveline to enable four wheel drive operation when the prescribed condition is not met.
It is an aim of embodiments of the present invention to at least partially mitigate the disadvantages of known dynamic driveline systems.

Control system and method of controlling a driveline


A system for providing a configurable graphical user interface useful in managing network devices connected to a network, the system using one or more servers and one or more clients, each server receiving messages from and sending messages to a set of the network devices via a standard server/device protocol, each client communicating with at least one server via a client/server protocol and providing a graphical user interface for receiving requests from a user and displaying information to the user relating to the network devices, the client initiating a graphical user interface in response to a user input by sending an initiation message to the server, and the server then sending resource information and a data stream relating to the current state of the network devices, the client creating a graphical user interface that provides a display relating to the state of the network devices based upon the resource information and data stream, the resource information providing a context for data in the data stream.

The invention relates to a configurable graphical user interface useful in managing devices connected to a network.
A common approach for managing a network involves a hardware platform and a software application which allow the customer to manage devices connected to the network. The software application provides a graphical user interface that displays information on variables relating to network operation and devices on the network and receives user instructions and requests. As the additional devices are added to the network, the load on the network management system increases. If the limitations of the hardware and software are reached, the system must be upgraded or replaced.

Configurable graphical user interface useful in managing devices connected to a network


Enolate salts of 4-fluoro-2-hydroxymethylene-3-oxobutyrates of formula wherein R1 is C1-10 alkyl, R2 and R3 are independently hydrogen or fluorine, M is an alkali or alkaline earth metal, and n is 1 or 2, are prepared from enolate salts of the corresponding 4-fluoro-3-oxobutyrates and carbon monoxide. The enolate salts of formula I can be alkylated or acylated to obtain the corresponding enol ethers and esters. The 4-fluoro-3-oxobutyrate starting material can be prepared from 1,1-difluoroethyl methyl ethers by SbF5-catalyzed fluoromethane elimination followed by halogen exchange with lithium chloride, reacting the thus obtained fluoroacetyl chloride with ketene and quenching with the appropriate alcohol R1—OH.

Derivatives of 4-fluoro-2-hydroxymethylene-3-oxobutyrates, in particular the enol ethers of formula III above, wherein R4 is lower alkyl, are valuable intermediates in the synthesis of heterocyclic compounds such as pyrazoles (see e.g. JP 01-113371 A, U.S. Pat. No. 5,093,347, WO 2005/123690 A1). A known synthesis (cf. WO 2005/123690 A1) of said enol ethers is based on the reaction of the corresponding 3-oxobutyrates with trialkyl orthoformates (HC(OR)3), which are relatively expensive, in the presence of acetic anhydride. The orthoformate and acetic anhydride are both used in excess. Moreover, the process suffers from poor atom economy because only one of the three alkoxy groups of the trialkyl orthoformate remains in the product and the other two combine with acetic anhydride to give acetic acid and the corresponding alkyl acetate as byproducts.
Accordingly, it was an object of the present invention to provide an alternative method for the production of the enolates and/or enol ethers or esters of formulae I and III above, which has an improved atom economy and does not require expensive reagents.

Process for the preparation of enolate salts of 4-fluoro-2-hydroxymethylene-3 oxo-butyrates


A removable ink tank configured to be mounted to a printhead assembly includes a floor having an ink output port A free ink chamber is located above the floor. A suspended ink chamber is located above the floor and around the ink output port. The suspended ink chamber is separated from the free ink chamber. At least one ink suspension body is contained in the suspended ink chamber. A fluid communication port is formed between the free ink chamber and the suspended ink chamber to facilitate a fluid communication between the free ink chamber and the suspended ink chamber. A filter device is positioned to cover the fluid communication port. The filter device has a porosity selected to establish a desired bubbling pressure between the free ink chamber and the suspended ink chamber.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ink tank, and, more particularly, to an ink tank with features to regulate bubbling pressure, so as to accommodate high ink flow rates at a desirable backpressure.
2. Description of the Related Art
An ink jet printer forms an image on a print medium, such as paper, by applying ink on the print medium. The ink may be contained in one or more replaceable supply cartridges. Examples of such replaceable supply cartridges include a replaceable ink tank and a replaceable ink jet printhead cartridge. A replaceable ink jet printhead cartridge, for example, includes both an ink tank and an ink jet micro-fluid ejection device, i.e., a printhead, in a unitary package. In contrast, a replaceable ink tank does not include the micro-fluid ejection device, but rather, the micro-fluid ejection device forms part of a printhead assembly that is separately attached to the printhead carrier.
A typical ink tank includes a free ink chamber separated by a dividing wall from a suspended ink chamber, which is also sometimes referred to as a felt chamber. The felt chamber has inserted therein the felt ink suspending member having pores for retaining ink. The divider wall between the free ink chamber and the felt chamber has an ink communication port, sometimes referred to in the art as a "bubbler window", to allow transfer of air and ink between the two chambers. The term "bubbling" refers to the process of air and liquid exchange through the ink communication port, i.e., the bubbler window. Air enters the free ink chamber, which in turn allows ink from the free ink chamber to move into the felt chamber.
Bubbling pressure is the pressure at which an air and liquid exchange occurs through the ink communication port, i.e., bubbler window. In prior art ink tanks, the felt in the felt chamber dictates the bubbling pressure. For example, the bubbling pressure is dependant upon the porosity of the felt, erg., the length through which the ink must travel before reaching the wick that transfers ink from the ink tank to the printhead assembly, since ink flow resistance increases as length increases, and vice-versa. Thus, the bubbling pressure has been difficult to regulate with any consistency.

Ink tank configured to accommodate high ink flow rates


A method of managing a power monitoring and control informational system that encompasses multiple intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) of varying types comprises creating different device types, including tags associated with each of the device types; creating at least one profile for each of the device types; and generating a user interface display that enables a user to create a new profile, the display including options to create a new profile or to create a profile by modifying a copy of data representing an existing profile.

In a any software system (such as SCADA, HMI or DCS) that has to communicate with IEDs (devices), a tag (a description of how to read/write and format the data from a device) must be defined for every measurement that the software expects to read and write to an IED. This process is time-consuming and increases the time a systems integrator takes to install and commission a large software system. The more powerful a device's features/capabilities, the more tags/measurements that need to be defined and entered for use by the software.
The more sophisticated the capabilities of an IED (device), the more difficult it is to properly utilize the IED within a particular customer's system. Often how a device is used is very specific to the problems or issues that a customer is trying to solve, or around the market segment in which they are deployed. It is becoming increasingly difficult to find personnel that are experienced in a device's capabilities, and in the various market segments in which a particular device might be deployed. This lack of experienced personnel can result in poorly designed and implemented software solutions that do not truly meet the needs of the customer.
It is often difficult to do analysis on alarms and measurement data because the available information is insufficient. Often the creators of reports and/or analytical tools need to collect the required information after the fact, which requires extensive labor-intensive work.

System for managing a power monitoring system containing a multiplicity of intelligent electronic devices