An apparatus includes a current modulation circuit configured to modulate a current in at least one light-emitting device responsive to a pulse width modulated control signal and a control circuit configured to control a pulse width of the pulse width modulated control signal responsive to a first control input and to control a frequency of the pulse width modulated control signal responsive to a second control input. The first control input may include, for example, a current control input, and the second control input may include a light intensity control input, such as a dimming input. The control circuit may be configured to increase the frequency responsive to a change in the light intensity control input corresponding to a decrease in light intensity and to decrease the frequency responsive to a change in the light intensity control input corresponding to an increase in light intensity.

The present inventive subject matter relates to lighting apparatus and methods and, more particularly, to solid-state lighting apparatus.
Solid-state lighting arrays are used for a number of lighting applications. A solid-state light-emitting device may include, for example, a packaged light emitting device including one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs). These may include inorganic LEDs, which may include semiconductor layers forming p-n junctions, and/or organic LEDs (OLEDs), which may include organic light emission layers.
Solid-state lighting devices are commonly used in lighting fixtures, including task lighting, recessed light fixtures, ceiling mounted troffers and the like. Solid-state lighting panels are also commonly used as backlights for small liquid crystal display (LCD) screens, such as LCD display screens used in portable electronic devices, and for larger displays, such as LCD television displays.
Solid-state lighting devices may be attractive for retrofit/replacement applications, where devices such as LEDs may offer improved energy efficiency, reduced heat generation, extended life and desired performance characteristics, such as certain color and/or color rendering capabilities. For example, LED bulbs are commonly used to replace incandescent bulbs in down lights and other applications to reduce energy consumption and increase time between replacements. LED-based replacements for fluorescent lamps have also been developed.
An LED driver may use a pulse width modulated current source to control current through a string of LEDs. Current through the string may be controlled by a current loop operating at a relatively high PWM frequency, with a duty cycle of a current switch of the current source being varied to regulate the current through the LED string. Output intensity of the LED string may be further controlled by superimposing a second frequency modulation in response to a light intensity control input, such as a dimming input. In particular, this modulation may periodically turn off the current through the LED string responsive to a dimming input. This second modulation may occur at a much lower frequency than the current loop PWM switching frequency.

Lighting apparatus with variable current switching frequency and methods of operating same


Apparatus and method that schedules movement of packets within network devices, such as network processors, includes a calendar using a segmented hierarchical routine to identify the next packet to be moved from one of a plurality of flow queues.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to communication network apparatus such as is used to link together information handling systems or computers of various types and capabilities and to components and methods for data processing in such an apparatus. More particular the present invention relates to calendars used in such devices to indicate when the next packet is to be transmitted from queues within the devices.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Scheduling the transmission of packets between points within a communications device or between points in the communications device and an external transmission network is well known in the prior art. The conventional approach is to provide a plurality of queues within the device and packets to be transmitted are enqueued to selected queues. A timing device sometimes called a timing wheel or calendar is searched to determine when the next packet is to be dequeued and forwarded from the queues. The selection, queueing and dequeueing of packets are controlled by several factors collectively referred to as Quality of Service (QoS). Because the factors and QoS requirements are well known in the prior art further discussion is not warranted. Suffice it to say U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,533,020 and 6,028,843 are examples of prior art.
Even though the prior art devices work well for their intended purposes and in the case of U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,533,020 and 6,028,843 the technology has been advanced beyond what it was at the time when these patents were invented, the communications technology is faced with new problems requiring new techniques and solutions.
One of the problems is that the volume of data has increased due to the increase in the number of users. There are also demands to improve QoS. To address these problems it is desirable to use a hardware scheduler to schedule the transmission of packets from queues in the network devices. It is common knowledge that the hardware implementation of a device is usually faster than its corresponding software implementation.
Notwithstanding, the hardware implementation of a scheduler presents certain problems which have to be addressed if the scheduler is to be used in an environment in which QoS and package throughput are relatively high. Among the problems to overcome are:                a) a physical limitation as to how much "searching" can be done in one of the system clock cycles, as each circuit consumes a finite amount of time against the clock period.        b) a finite number of clock cycles that the search must be completed by, as the winning calendar location must be used by the Scheduler circuits downstream as a part of the overall Scheduler function. So, reducing the number of clock cycles it takes to find a winner is very important.        c) a need to change the number of entries for the search to meet customer demands, as new generations of Hardware Scheduler or related functions emerge.        d) changing system clock frequencies.        e) changing hardware technologies.
The scheduler and in particular the calendar described below overcomes these problems and can be easily redesigned to meet new requirements due to change in technology, increase in the amount of packets to be handled, etc.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Configurable hardware scheduler calendar search algorithm

International Business Machines Corporation


There is disclosed a honeycomb structure 1 having a plurality of cells 4 partitioned by cell walls 2 to function as fluid passages, a predetermined cell 4 being plugged by a plugging material at one end face, a remaining cell 4 being plugged by the plugging material at the other end face, wherein a Young's modulus of the plugging material is lower than that of the cell wall 2. A strength of the plugging material is lower than that of the cell wall. A porosity of the plugging material is 97% or more of that of the cell wall. There is provided a honeycomb structure whose end face is not easily cracked and which is superior in durability.

A honeycomb structure in which predetermined cells are plugged by a plugging material has heretofore been used as a filter (e.g., a diesel particulate filter: DPF) for trapping/removing particulate matters included in dust-containing fluids such as an exhaust gas exhausted from a diesel engine (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. JP-A-7-332064, for example). Moreover, in recent years, porosities of partition walls of the honeycomb structure have been increased in order to reduce a pressure loss in treating the exhaust gas in the honeycomb structure and to treat the exhaust gas more efficiently (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. JP-A-2002-219319, for example). However, to proceed with the increases of the porosities of the partition walls of the honeycomb structure, as shown in FIG. 2, there has been a problem that cracks 5 are easily generated in cell walls 2 of an end portion (end face) of a honeycomb structure 1. A honeycomb structure 1 shown in FIG. 2 has a plurality of cells 4, each cell 4 being surrounded by cell walls 2 and functioning as a fluid passage. Predetermined cells 4 are plugged by a plugging material at one end face to form plug portion 3. Remaining cells 4 are plugged by the plugging material at the other end face (not shown).


A microsensor for electrochemical measurements allowing the determination of concentration or concentration profile of at least one chemical compound with small size or molecular weight, under organic, inorganic, neutral or ionic form in an aqueous environment. The microsensor comprises an array (15) of microelectrodes (16), assembled on a chip (10) supported by an isolating substrate (7), and linked with at least one conductor protected by an insulating layer to a contact allowing the connection to a measuring apparatus. The said microsensor is totally coated with an hydrophilic gel (25) which is chemically inert with respect to the chemical compound, is hydrated at a level of at least 70 %, and has a thickness superior to 10 times the size of the microelectrodes (16). And an integrated electrochemical microsystem including the microsensor.

1. Field of the Invention
The object of the present invention is a gel based electroanalytical microsensor and an integrated microsystem allowing reliable measurement of concentration for a variety of chemical compounds and ions in complex aqueous environment, avoiding interferences from other compounds present in the environment and allowing to distinguish between the different chemical forms of the compound of interest.
2. Background Art
Concentration of compounds in solution have long been determined by use of well-known electrodes combined with electrochemical and particularly dynamic electroanalytical techniques based on oxido-reduction processes. These techniques consist of recording current / potential curves, in other word functions F(U, I), under different experimental conditions. In voltammetric, polarographic and chronoamperometric techniques, the potential is swept as a function of time between two extreme values, and the resulting current is measured. In potentiometric techniques, the current is swept and the potential is recorded. In the present invention all these techniques can be used with the microsensor and the integrated microsystem, but for convenience for the rest of this description, only the term "voltammetry" will be used to represent the whole of these techniques. A variety of function F(U, I) have been proposed to carry out measurements in a large range of concentration and in particular to increase the sensitivity and the selectivity towards a given compound. The most commonly used voltammetric techniques are mentioned below. They allow the measurement of concentrations between 10.sup.-11 and 10.sup.-4 M (10.sup.-9 and 10.sup.-2 g/l), and they can be classified into the three following groups illustrated with non-restrictive examples.
i) Techniques without preconcentration of the test compound (analyte): Cyclic Voltammetry-CV. PA0 ii) Techniques with electrochemical preconcentration of the compound on the sensor: Anodic Stripping Voltammetry-ASV; Square Wave Anodic Stripping Voltammetry-SWASV. PA0 iii) Techniques with chemical preconcentration of the compound on the sensor: Adsorptive Cathodic Stripping Voltammetry-AdCSV.
In particular the techniques from the last two groups allow the detection of a large number of compounds at trace levels, as low as 10.sup.-11 M (in the order of 0.001 .mu.g/dm.sup.3). The said compounds can be organic or inorganic compounds under neutral, anionic or cationic form, such as metallic cations.
The electrodes traditionally used are usually made of gold, platinum or carbon and very often of mercury which presents the great advantage of surface reproducibility.
In "An Iridium based Mercury Film Electrode, part I, Selection of Substrate and Preparation" by S. P. Kounaves and J. Buffle (J. Electronal. Chem., 216, 53-69 (1987) Ref. 1), the authors showed that iridium is preferable to any other metal because of its high resistance to oxidation by oxygen, its low solubility in mercury and because of the good mercury-iridium cohesion. It is therefore possible to deposit mercury on the iridium, so that the electrode can be used either as an iridium electrode (without mercury), or as a mercury electrode, which extends its field of application. Classical electrodes can be found with various geometry and mechanical configurations (disc electrodes, rotating disc, hanging or dropping mercury drops, mercury film. . . ). Their dimensions are often in the range 0.1 mm to 10 mm. It is known that microelectrodes with dimensions less than 20 .mu.m present several advantages, such as the ability to work in quiescent or in highly resistive environments, as well as enhanced stability for the mercury films. The fabrication of mercury-plated iridium-based microelectrodes has been described in "A Mercury plated Iridium based microelectrode: preparation and some properties" by R. R. Vitre, M. L. Tercier, M. Tsacopoulos and J. Buffle (Anal. Chem. Acta 249, 419-425 (1991) Ref. 2).
Further improvements have been made in the fabrication procedure. For example S. P. Kounaves et al (patent U.S. Pat. No. 5, 378, 343, Ref. 3) used microtechnology for the fabrication of a microelectrode based sensor. In this patent, the working electrode is always made of mercury and is in direct contact with the aqueous solution to analyse.
Recently in "Fabrication and characterisation of mercury-plated iridium microelectrode arrays" by G. C. Fiaccabrino, M. L. Tercier, J. Buffle, N. de Rooij, M. Koudelpa-Hep (Transducers 95, Digest of Technical papers, vol. 2, 478 (1995), Ref. 4), the authors describe a fabrication procedure involving thin film technology and photolithography allowing the fabrication of a sensor analogous to the previous one, but with increased sensitivity and reliability.
Each single voltammetric technique allows to determine simultaneously the concentration of several compounds without modifying the solution where the measure is carried out. A given sensor allows thus to detect and to quantify a large number of organic or inorganic chemical compounds, which makes these techniques particularly useful for the chemical analysis of complex aqueous solutions of biological, industrial or environmental origins. These measurements can be carried out either after sampling, for example in a drop of blood, or directly in situ, for example in lake or sea waters and in sediments, by means of a probe including the sensor, or on line for example as detectors in separative chromatographic techniques or in flow injection analysis.
At present a number of difficulties limit the use of these techniques in complex environments. For routine analysis, it is necessary to make repetitive, accurate and reliable measurements over a long period of time, and the sensor should be able to work in hostile media and environment. The term "hostile media" includes solution to analyse containing compounds that we do not wish to detect but that can interfere with the measurement in a way or another by modifying the physicochemical conditions at the electrode surface, and in consequence the voltammetric signal. An example of this type of interference (interference 1) concerns compounds that are oxidised or reduced at the electrode surface with the compound to analyse and where oxidoreduction products react with the analyte. This is the case in particular with oxygen which is present in most of the solutions. Its reduction causes an increase of pH close to the electrode surface and eventually the precipitation of metal ions to analyse, as metal hydroxides. Another type of interference (interference 2) concerns macromolecules, colloids and other surface-active compounds which can adsorb at the electrode surface, and block or modify the electron transfer between the electrode and the compound to analyse. A third type of interference (interference 3) concerns contaminations, i. e. the release of ions to analyse, by the system itself. The term "hostile environment" includes the use of the microsensor in probes placed in situ in extreme conditions (bottom of oceans, sinking wells, industrial chemical reactors).
An additional limitation for the current sensors is the influence of the hydrodynamic flux or the stirring, on the measured signal. In particular for in situ measurements, where stirring is uncontrolled and can vary with time, this can lead to irreproducible results over long periods of time.
Finally, for the complex environments previously mentioned and particularly for metal ions, the compound to analyse is often present under different chemical forms (complexed or not, under various redox states, adsorbed or not on particles in suspension. . . ). For a correct analytical interpretation, the sensor should be capable of discriminating between the different forms.
In the presently known voltammetric sensors or electrochemical systems, the electrodes are directly in contact with the analytical environment. Such sensors or systems are not capable of solving the above mentioned problems.
One of the solutions used to solve the unreliability associated with the interferences of type 1 and 2 consists of drastically pretreating the samples by physical, chemical or biological means, which can eliminate the interferences (strong acids or oxidising agents, enzymatic attack. . . ). Such procedures have several disadvantages: large quantities of solvent are needed, they are time consuming, difficult if not impossible to use for in situ measurements, and errors can be generated for example by contaminations or loss by adsorption of the compound to analyse, from or on the pretreatment system.
Furthermore after a pretreatment, it is no longer possible to discriminate between the different chemical forms of the compounds to analyse, although it is often essential to know their relative content to solve industrial, medical or environmental problems.
The interfering compounds of type 2, which are the most frequently encountered in natural waters, biological and industrial fluids, are organic or inorganic colloidal substances or compounds with relatively high molecular mass, such as humic or fulvic compounds (vegetal decomposition products) present in soils and waters, as well as proteins or polysaccharides. Microporous membranes, for example made of Nafion or cellulose acetate have been proposed to protect the surface of the electrode. The efficiency and/or the reliability of preparation have shown to be poor and insufficient for voltammetric sensors which should be used in situ for long periods of time. Also in some cases, they cannot be used because they react with the test compounds.
None of the known techniques allow to satisfactorily protect the electrodes against hydrodynamic flow variations or stirring of the environment to analyse. In particular, reducing the size of the electrode is insufficient in itself to avoid hydrodynamic effects. Indeed these effects are negligible only for microelectrodes with size less than 0.2 .mu.m, whereas the smallest dimensions that can be obtained by the known photolithographic techniques are larger then 0.5 .mu.m. In this conditions, variations in the analytical signal of the order of 30 to 50% can be observed due to the influence of the hydrodynamic flow in the test solution.
Some limitations in the reproducibility of the measurements carried out with the prior art voltammetric sensors results from the said sensors fabrication itself. In particular limiting factors are the surface conditions of the deposited iridium film (which influences the cohesion of the mercury film on iridium), and the renewing conditions of the mercury films on the iridium. Indeed although a given film can be used for continuous measurements for at least several days, it must be renewed after this period of time. Adequate conditions must be used for this operation to avoid the formation of mercuric oxides at the surface of the electrode, leading to irreproducibility of the sensor. These aspects are not mentioned in the prior art patents (Ref. 3).
The present invention provides a sensor and an integrated electrochemical microsystem providing the appropriate conditions to avoid the corresponding problems. Anyway, it must be noticed that the absence of protection on the prior art voltammetric sensor is responsible for their fragility and their sensitivity to external conditions. The physical protection of the electrodes by the gel disclosed in the present invention greatly improves the long term stability of the sensors.

Integrated electrochemical microsensors and microsystems for direct reliable chemical analysis of compounds in complex aqueous solutions


Improved processes for producing a polyether antibiotic compound represented by A82810 comprising: (1) cultivating Actinomadura fibrosa sp. nov. NRRL 18348 or Actinomadura sp. NRRL 18880, (2) feeding acid hydrolyzed casein at a rate from about 2.50-7.50 gm/L/day, (3) feeding glucose at a rate from about 2.50-7.50 gm/L/day, and (4) feeding propionate at a rate from about 0.50-1.5 gm/L/day to the appropriate culture medium during fermentation, are provided.

A polyether antibiotic having the formula: ##STR1## and its derivatives and pharmaceutically acceptable salts have been shown to be important compounds as antibacterial and anticoccidial agents. Particularly, these compounds improve feed-utilization efficiency and growth performance in both monogastric and ruminant animals. These compounds also have insecticidal and antiviral activity. See European Patent Publication Nos. 0,341,019 and 0,328,303.
An antibiotic of the above formula, A82810, is produced via the fermentation of a culture of Actinomadura fibrosa sp. nov. NRRL 18348. A culture of Actinomadura fibrosa sp. nov. has been deposited and made part of the stock culture collection of the Midwest Area Northern Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research, North Central Region, 1815 North University Street, Peoria, Ill., 61604, from which it is available to the public under the accession number NRRL 18348.
An antibiotic of the above formula is also produced via the fermentation of Actinomadura sp. See EPO 0,328,303. A culture of Actinomadura sp. originally deposited with the American Type Culture Collection, Rockville, Md., having the accession number ATCC 53708, has been redeposited and made part of the stock culture collection of the Midwest Area Northern Regional Research Center. This culture is also available to the public under the accession number NRRL 18880.
The permanency of the deposit of these cultures at the Midwest Area Northern Regional Research Center in Peoria, Ill., and their accessibility to the public are guaranteed in the event a patent is granted. Access to these cultures is available during pendency of this application under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.122 and 37 C.F.R. .sctn.1.14. All restrictions on the availability to the public of the culture deposited will be irrevocably removed upon granting of the patent.
This invention provides improved processes for the biosynthesis of the polyether antibiotic of the above formula by substantially continuously feeding acid hydrolyzed casein plus propionate, with or without a substantially continuous feed of glucose, to the production medium.

Method of producing a polyether antibiotic from actinomadura fibrosa sp. nov. NRRL 18348 and actinomadura sp. NRRL 18880


A pencil sharpener with structure for covering the pencil receiving inlet of the sharpener, to prevent the back flow of the pencil shavings and accidental contact between the user and the cutting blades of the sharpener when the device is not in use. The device may have a key chain to enhance its portability, and include additional sharpeners to sharpen pencils (or crayons) of different sizes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to pencil sharpeners, and more particularly, to a pencil sharpener with a closable pencil receiving inlet to prevent the pencil shavings from backwashing out through the same inlet.
2. Description of Related Art
Prior pencil sharpeners include various devices that sharpen wood pencils and also house the pencil shavings and chipped lead or graphite for later disposal. Prior pencil sharpeners also include housings for the sharpened points of pencils. However, prior pencil sharpeners all include pencil receiving inlets that are open, permitting the escape of pencil shavings back out of the open pencil receiving inlets or openings.
Accordingly, there is a need for a pencil sharpener that can selectively enclose the pencil receiving inlet when the pencil sharpener is not in use, to prevent the back flow of pencil shavings out through the same opening, and prevent the user from contacting the sharp cutting blades of the pencil sharpener. In addition, there is a need for a pencil sharpener that is highly portable, and capable of sharpening different sized pencils. Further, there is a need for a device as described above that is easily and economically produced.
U.S. Pat. No. 329,486 issued to Price on Nov. 3, 1885 describes a pencil sharpener which includes a dust chamber that reduces the noise generated by the sharpening process, by enclosing the outside of the cutter-holder and pencil guide. The device also includes a pencil receiving inlet that is not enclosed after the pencil sharpener is used, permitting the back flow of pencil shavings and potential contact between the user and the cutting blades.
U.S. Pat. No. 661,955 issued to Cranstone on Nov. 20, 1900 describes a combination pencil point protector and sharpener. The device includes a pencil receiving inlet that is not enclosed after the pencil sharpener is used, permitting the back flow of pencil shavings and potential contact between the user and the cutting blades.
U.S. Pat. No. 703,967 issued to O'Byrne on Aug. 21, 1902 describes a wood pencil sharpener which is constructed to cut the wood of the pencil with the grain, to avoid the breaking or splitting of the wood. The device includes a pencil receiving inlet that is not enclosed after the pencil sharpener is used, permitting the back flow of pencil shavings and potential contact between the user and the cutting blades.
U.S. Pat. No. 879,998 issued to Augir on Feb. 25, 1908 describes a novelty device adapted for use as a pencil sharpener having an interior chamber adapted to receive pencil shavings and dust produced by sharpening a pencil. The device includes a pencil receiving inlet that is not enclosed after the pencil sharpener is used, permitting the back flow of pencil shavings and potential contact between the user and the cutting blades.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,780,371 issued to Benczalski on Nov. 4, 1930 describes another pencil sharpener. This sharpener device is covered by removable casing. The device also includes a pencil receiving inlet that is not enclosed after the pencil sharpener is used, permitting the back flow of pencil shavings and potential contact between the user and the cutting blades.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,485,862 issued to Mattheis et al. on Dec. 4, 1984 describes a pencil sharpener adapted to sharpen a plurality of different sizes and to a method for making such a device. The device includes a pencil receiving inlet that is not enclosed after the pencil sharpener is used, permitting the back flow of pencil shavings and potential contact between the user and the cutting blades.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,367,777 issued to Nguyen et al. on Nov. 29, 1994 describes a wood pencil sharpener and pocket holder which allows a pencil to be stored in a shirt pocket such that the pencil and pencil point are contained within a tube and covered sharpener. The pencil is held in a tubular member. The device also includes a pencil receiving inlet that is not enclosed after the pencil is removed, permitting the back flow of pencil shavings and potential contact between the user and the cutting blades.
U.S. Pat. No. Design 342,251 issued to Bensman et al. illustrates a talking key chain. The device illustrates the attachment of a key chain to the rest of the device.
Swiss Patent Application of Wenger published on Mar. 31, 1934 describes a novelty pencil shaving device which also includes a pencil receiving inlet that is not enclosed after the pencil sharpener is used, permitting the back flow of pencil shavings and potential contact between the user and the cutting blades.
None of the above noted inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.


A method for insuring initiation fees includes receiving information pertaining to an entity and a member, receiving information pertaining to the initiation fee, and processing the received information to determine whether to approve an insurance benefit for the initiation fee of the member. A system for implementing an insurance program for club initiation fees includes at least one user device and a server connected to the user device. The server is configured to receive, via the at least one user device, information pertaining to an initiation fee insurance program. The server is also configured to process the received information and transmit information to the user device regarding whether the initiation fee insurance application has been accepted or rejected.

This invention relates generally to insurance programs and, more particularly, to methods and systems for insuring membership fees, dues and assessments.
Many people desire to find a comfortable location to enjoy a relaxed life-style while having access to multiple amenities. In addition, many families enjoy spending time with people that have similar life styles, hobbies, and preferences. In addition, some people enjoy a certain activity so much, that they prefer to join a club to have access to such activities on a frequent basis.
Generally, in order to join such clubs, a person or family pays an initiation fee and annual or monthly dues. While the initiation fees are important to the club since they are used primarily for capital expenditure (golf course improvements, swimming pool, club house), the dues are used for operations such as salaries, restaurant and bar operations, daily maintenance and retail opportunities. Many clubs have one of two types of refundable initiation fee programs. The first type of program is for equity clubs where, once a requisite number of memberships to the club has been sold, a refund is paid to the resigned member, in the order of resignation, as each new membership is sold. Typically the amount paid is a percentage of the then current initiation fee. The resigning member is typically required to continue paying the monthly dues until the resigning member is replaced by a new member. The second type of program is for initiation deposit program clubs where the initiation fee is a deposit, i.e., a tax-free, no interest loan from the member. For a resigned member to recover the initiation deposit, the club membership must be full. The resigning member will then be repaid when a new member joins based on the resigning member's place on the resigned member list. Alternatively, if the club never achieves full membership, the resigning member is repaid no later than 30 years from the date the membership was first sold. Members are also sometimes asked to pay one-time assessments. An assessment differs from an initiation fee or dues payment in that an assessment is a special, and sometimes unexpected, one-time payment to the club by the members.
Prospective members are typically concerned that if they must leave a club for an unforeseen reason, they will not have the ability to retrieve all or a portion of the initiation fees, dues and assessments. This potential lack of prompt payback of the initiation fee is a deterrent to new people joining clubs. It is therefore desirable to enable a club member to obtain at least a portion of their payments to a club upon resigning from the club. In addition, it would be desirable if the club were reimbursed for the loss of such payments (i.e. initiation fees, dues, and assessments) in a reasonable amount of time to enable the reimbursement of these payments to the resigning member in a reasonable amount of time after their departure. It is still further desirable to allow members to finance all or part of the initiation fees, dues, and assessments.

Method and system for insuring club membership fees


A surgical instrument for harvesting vessels from the body includes an elongated shaft having distal and proximal ends and a plurality of lumens disposed therethrough. The shaft also includes a tip having a dissecting portion disposed at a distal end thereof and a cradle section. The tip is movable from a first position proximate the distal end of the shaft to at least one additional position distally further from the distal end of the shaft to expose the cradle section. The instrument also includes an endoscope disposed in one of the plurality of lumens and at least one additional surgical instrument disposed in one of the remaining lumens. Methods are disclosed for utilizing the surgical instrument.

1. Field of the Disclosure
This present disclosure relates to instruments and methods for performing minimally invasive, laparoscopic or endoscopic surgical procedures. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to instruments and methods that are especially suitable for procedures that require or benefit from minimally invasive access to anatomical conduits or vessels for harvesting the same. The instrument is suitable for harvesting vessels from surrounding tissue for use in bypass procedures including, but not limited to, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or reverse or in-situ femoral-popliteal or femoral-tibia peripheral bypass grafting.
2. Related Art
Coronary artery disease is often characterized by lesions or occlusions in the coronary arteries which may result in inadequate blood flow to the myocardium, or myocardial ischemia, which is typically responsible for such complications as angina pectoris, necrosis of cardiac tissue (myocardial infarction), and sudden death. In some cases, coronary artery disease may be treated by the use of drugs and/or by modifications in behavior and diet. In other cases, dilatation of coronary arteries may be achieved by such procedures as angioplasty, laser ablation, atherectomy, catheterization, and intravascular stents. Coronary bypass surgery is required when these methods of treatment cannot be used or have failed to clear the blocked artery.
Many surgical procedures have been developed to replace arteries that have come blocked by disease. For certain patients, a coronary artery bypass graft ("CABG") is the preferred form of treatment to relieve symptoms and the graft often increases life expectancy. A CABG procedure consists of direct anastomosis of a vessel segment to one or more of the coronary arteries. For example, a reversed segment of the saphenous vein may be grafted at one end to the ascending aorta as an arterial blood source and at the other end to a coronary artery at a point beyond the arterial occlusion.
Therefore and in order to perform a CABG procedure, a vessel must be harvested from the body and grafted into place on either side of the point of blockage. It is preferred to use a vein taken from the patient undergoing the bypass surgery to avoid and/or limit the chances of rejection by the body after grafting onto the aorta and coronary artery. The saphenous vein in the leg is often the most suitable candidate for use in coronary bypass surgery because the saphenous vein is typically 3 mm to 5 mm in diameter which is about the same size as a coronary artery. The cephalic vein in the arm is another suitable harvesting candidate for CABG procedures.
As can be appreciated, harvesting these conduits from the body often requires enormous skill and precision due to the delicate nature of the tissue structure. Various methods for harvesting vessels are known. For example, some surgeons typically cut the leg open and carefully dissect the surrounding tissue from the vein using dissecting scissors or tissue scraping instruments. Other surgeons make a series of incisions from the groin to the knee or the ankle leaving one or more skin bridges along the line of the incisions. The surgeon then literally strips the vein free from surrounding tissue using one or more surgical dissecting instruments.
While stripping the vein and removing the surround tissue, the surgeon will undoubtedly encounter the various tributary veins that feed into the saphenous vein. These tributaries must be ligated and separated from the vein prior to removal. As can be appreciated, ligating and separating these tributaries from the vein requires a high degree of skill and accuracy and is typically a very tedious procedure.
When the vein has been completely mobilized and the tributaries have been divided from the vein, the surgeon cuts the proximal and distal ends of the vein and removes the vein from the leg. Once removed, the vein is prepared for implantation into the graft site, and the long incision(s) made in the leg are stitched closed.
The procedures described above are often used to harvest veins for a femoral popliteal bypass or for the revascularization of the superior mesenteric artery which supplies blood to the abdominal cavity and intestines. In addition, the above-described procedures can be used to harvest the umbilical vein or to harvest veins for femoral-tibial, femora-peroneal, aorto-femoral, and iliac-femoral bypass operations and any other bypass operation.
As can be appreciated from the above descriptions, the harvesting of vessels can be very traumatic and is often the most troublesome part of the bypass operation. Moreover, the incisions, especially the long ones, created in the leg or arm to harvest the vessel tend to heal slowly and are often very painful.
Over the last several years, minimally invasive, for example endoscopic tools and methods have been developed for harvesting vessels which are less intrusive and less traumatic. For example, with one known technique, the surgeon makes a few small incisions in the leg and inserts one or more elongated surgical instruments, e.g., forceps, scissors, clip appliers, staplers, etc., into the incision and carefully manipulates the instruments while viewing the operating area through an endoscopic or laparoscope. These techniques are often referred to as endoscopic, laparoscopic, minimally invasive, or video-assisted surgery. References to endoscopic surgery and endoscopes below is intended to encompass all these fields, and the exemplary operations described below with reference to endoscopes can also be accomplished with laparoscopes, gastroscopes, and any other imaging devices which may be conveniently used.
Other minimally invasive procedures for vein harvesting are also known. For example, soviet patent number SU 1371689 teaches a vessel removal procedure which utilizes an endoscope having a lumen extending therethrough. In this procedure, the saphenous vein is grasped and held with a grasper which is introduced through the lumen of the endoscope. After connective tissue has been dissected from around the vein, a length of the vein is ligated, transected and removed from the lower limb of the patient through the lumen of the endoscope. U.S. Pat. No. 5,373,840 discloses a method for harvesting the saphenous vein which also utilizes an endoscope having a lumen disposed therethrough.
Other known techniques employ balloons which are inflated to create a working cavity or tunnel along the length of the vein. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,601,581 describes a method of vein harvesting which utilizes an everted balloon to assist in dissecting the harvested vein. The balloon is stored inside a cannula which is inserted through one of the small incisions in the leg and inflated so that it everts out the end of the cannula and forces its way along the vein to create a tunnel.
Typically, many of the above-described techniques require the surgeon to insert different instruments through the working lumen of the endoscope to dissect tissue and to separate vessel tributaries. As can be appreciated, this simply adds to the overall complexity of the operation since it requires the repeated exchange of surgical instruments through the working lumen to perform the different tasks associated with blunt dissection and removal of the vessel tributaries.
Thus, a need exists to develop an endoscopic vessel harvesting instrument and method for harvesting vessels which allows the operator to both dissect surrounding tissue from the vein and selectively manipulate, grasp and separate vessel tributaries from the vein without removing and/or exchanging instruments through the working lumen.

Conduit harvesting instrument and method


A method for controlling a device temperature measures a parameter related to device power consumption and utilizes the parameter to control the device temperature. This can be achieved with a system including a heat exchanger, a power monitor, and a circuit which controls the temperature setting of the heat exchanger. The circuit uses as inputs the power level, heat exchanger temperature, and set point. The system thus eliminates the need for temperature sensing devices in or connected to a chip, responds to the temperature of the device and not the package, can be used for high volume chip manufacturing, does not require significant surface area of a device for temperature sensing, and eliminates the need for chip power profiles. Significantly, the system allows a set point to be maintained with minimal overshoot or undershoot.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to the field of temperature control and more particularly to an improved apparatus and method of providing temperature control to electronic devices using power following feedback.
2. Description of Related Art
The present invention relates to temperature control systems which maintain the temperature of an electronic device at or near a constant set point temperature while the device is being operated or tested. Two examples of electronic devices which are best operated at a constant or near constant temperature are packaged integrated chips and bare chips which are unpackaged. Maintaining the chip temperature near a constant set point is not difficult if the power dissipation of the chip is constant or varies in a small range while operating or testing. One way of handling such a situation is to couple the chip through a fixed thermal resistance to a thermal mass which is at a fixed temperature. But if the instantaneous power dissipation of the chip varies up and down in a wide range while operating or testing, then maintaining the chip temperature near a constant set point is very difficult.
Various temperature forcing systems are used to respond to the chip""s temperature variation caused by widely varying power dissipation of the chip. Feedback methods are commonly used to sense the varying temperature. Typical approaches involve the use of a temperature sensing device such as a thermocouple, mounted on the chip package or chip itself. Another approach is to integrate a temperature sensing device, such as a thermal diode, into the chip circuitry. Such a temperature sensing device would be used to sense changes in the chip""s temperature, and then adjust the temperature forcing system appropriately.
There are several problems with the use of temperature sensing devices. In the case of packaged chips, an externally mounted thermocouple will indicate the temperature of the package surface, not the temperature of the chip inside the package. At some level of power dissipation, this temperature difference will be significant to the test result. The use of temperature sensors integrated into the chip itself addresses this problem, but raises other issues. It is not typical practice for the chip manufacturer to integrate temperature sensors on the chip. Even if it were, each chip""s temperature sensor would have unique calibration requirements. All of the above present problems for high volume chip manufacturing.
Temporary temperature sensors, such as thermocouple probes, included in automated test handling equipment can address some of these issues. However, the package temperature vs. die temperature problem will remain. Also, the reliability of the temporary temperature sensor introduces error which can be significant to the high volume chip manufacturing test result. Moreover, the surface available for temperature control is the same surface needed for the temporary temperature sensor, complicating the problem further.
Therefore, a need has arisen for an apparatus and method of temperature control for electronic devices which can respond to the temperature of the electronic device, instead of the package. A further need exists for an apparatus and method of temperature control for electronic devices which can conveniently be used for high volume chip manufacturing. A further need exists for an apparatus and method of temperature control for electronic devices which is reliable. A further need exists for an apparatus and method of temperature control for electronic device which does not require significant surface area of the electronic device. A further need exists for a method of temperature control for electronic devices which does not require temperature sensing devices to be integrated into the chip or to be temporarily in contact with the chip. A further need exists for a method of temperature control for electronic devices which does not require collecting, maintaining, and applying the use of chip power profiles, and does not require the capability of performing such tasks in the automated test equipment, temperature forcing system, and testing software.
The present invention is directed to overcoming or at least reducing the effects of one or more of the problems set out above.
In accordance with the present invention, an apparatus and method of temperature control for electronic devices is provided that substantially eliminates or reduces the disadvantages and problems associated with the previously developed temperature control for electronic devices.
An advantage of the present invention is that it provides an apparatus and method of temperature control for electronic devices which can respond to the temperature of an electronic device, instead of the package.
Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides an apparatus and method of temperature control for electronic devices which can conveniently be used for high volume chip manufacturing.
A further benefit of the present invention is that it provides an apparatus and method of temperature control for electronic devices which is reliable.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it provides an apparatus and method of temperature control for electronic devices which does not require significant surface area of an electronic device for temporary monitoring of package temperature.
Another benefit of the present invention is that it eliminates the need for temperature sensing devices to be integrated into the chip or to be temporarily connected to the chip for temperature control in high volume manufacturing.
Yet another benefit of the present invention is that it eliminates the need to collect, maintain, and apply the use of chip power profiles, as well as eliminating the need for the capability in the automated test equipment, temperature forcing system, and testing software to collect and apply chip power profiles.
Briefly, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for controlling a temperature of a device. The method includes measuring a parameter related to power consumption by the device and utilizing the measured parameter in controlling the temperature of the device. The measuring of the parameter and the controlling of the temperature occur contemporaneously. The parameter is other than the temperature of the device, and the relevant power consumption is the power which is consumed by the device through power connections as opposed to signal connections.
Briefly, in accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for calculating a real time temperature of a device. The method includes measuring a real time power usage of the device, and using the measured real time power usage of the device in determining a figure which can be used for the real time temperature of the device. The power usage relates to power which is used by the device through one or more power connections as opposed to signal connections.
Briefly, in accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for controlling a temperature of a device in a system containing a temperature forcing system coupled to the device. The method includes monitoring a power consumption of the device, adjusting a temperature of the temperature forcing system based in part on the monitored power consumption of the device, and controlling the device temperature with the temperature forcing system. The power consumption relates to power which is supplied to the device by one or more power supplies.
Briefly, in accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for controlling a temperature of a device. The system includes a measuring device for measuring a parameter related to power consumption by the device, a heat exchanger adapted to be coupled to the device, and a thermal controller for determining a setting of the heat exchanger. The setting is determined in part by using the measured parameter related to power consumption by the device. The thermal controller is coupled to the measuring device and operates contemporaneously with it. The parameter is other than the temperature of the device, and the relevant power consumption is the power which is consumed by the device through power connections as opposed to signal connections.
Briefly, in accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for controlling a temperature of a device. The system includes structure for measuring a parameter related to power consumption by the device, and structure for controlling the temperature of the device based in part on the measured parameter related to power consumption by the device. The measuring of a parameter related to power consumption by the device and the controlling of the temperature of the device occur contemporaneously. The parameter is other than the temperature of the device, and the relevant power consumption is the power which is consumed by the device through power connections as opposed to signal connections.
Briefly, in accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data generation system for use with a semiconductor device under test. The data generation system includes a programmable power supply and a data acquisition device. The programmable power supply is for supplying power to the semiconductor device under test, and for supplying a data signal which contains information on the power being used by the semiconductor device under test. The data acquisition device is coupled to the programmable power supply. The data acquisition device is for acquiring data on the power being used by the semiconductor device under test by receiving the data signal from the programmable power supply.
Briefly, in accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of data generation for use with a semiconductor device under test. The method includes continuously supplying a data signal from a programmable power supply. The data signal contains real-time information on the power being supplied by the programmable power supply to the semiconductor device under test. The method further includes continuously receiving the data signal, from the programmable power supply, at a data acquisition device.
Briefly, in accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a temperature control system for use with a semiconductor device during testing. The temperature control system includes a measuring device, a heat exchanger, a thermal controller, and a test head. The measuring device is for measuring a parameter related to power consumption by the semiconductor device during testing. The parameter is other than the temperature of the semiconductor device, and the relevant power consumption is the power which is consumed by the semiconductor device through power connections as opposed to signal connections. The heat exchanger is adapted to be coupled to the semiconductor device. The thermal controller is for determining a setting of the heat exchanger, wherein the setting is determined in part by using the measured parameter related to power consumption by the device. The thermal controller is coupled to the measuring device and operates contemporaneously in time with it. The test head is for holding the semiconductor device during testing. The test head allows testing of the semiconductor device while the semiconductor device is in conductive contact with the heat exchanger and the setting of the heat exchanger is determined by the thermal controller.

Temperature control of electronic devices using power following feedback


A computer-implemented system and method are provided to handle operations dealing with a multidimensional database. Information about the hierarchical structure of a multidimensional database is used when performing the operations upon the database. Operations including update, select and others are performed using the hierarchical structural information. Keys and indexes are used in accessing the hierarchical structural information.

1. Technical Field
The present invention is generally directed to database operations, and more particularly to multidimensional database processing operations.
2. Description of the Related Art
Database technology has evolved to where multidimensional data can be stored and retrieved. In a multidimensional database, data is categorized into measures which are numerical in nature and into textual dimensions which characterize the measures. The textual dimensions have hierarchies and have found utility in many fields, including the data warehousing field and the Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) field.
Despite the evolution of database technology, operations involving multidimensional data can be time consuming and resource intensive. An example of such an operation is querying the different dimensions in the database. Traditionally, to get a specific answer to a query of a multidimensional database, all the answers have to be calculated. This involves matching character strings in the query to each dimension hierarchy by completely walking through the hierarchy tree. A query may take time O (Size Dimension1*Size Dimension2*Size Dimension3, . . . ), where "Size Dimension" is the number of discrete values in a dimension.

Computer-implemented multidimensional database processing method and system


An interactive source-code software production system and method modeling complex sets of functional modules is described. This system and method uses a graphic editing software stored in the memory of a computer and draws up graphic plates describing complex logic circuits of the module from a library of graphic symbols to produce a file for precoding symbols. The system and method allow coherent control between the symbols of each plate for coherent controlling of the temporal order of execution conditions of the plates. A control dictionary is provided for updating the plates. Finally, the source-code software is produced from processing the contents of the precoding file and that of the dictionary.

It is applicable for the simulation and designing of complex functional units, such as safety control systems in nuclear power stations, systems for controlling robotized machine tools, etc.
It can be applied advantageously for the simulation and designing of functional modules, such as automatons or complex logic circuits with automatic or electric flight controls of an aeroplane.
In this application, the method of the invention makes it possible to grahically design and then, via an automatic translation operation, to obtain in a language or source-code the software modeling the functional modules of the flight controls of the aircraft. When this software has been elaborated, it is then used in a flight simulator so as to test the electric or automatic flight controls simulated in various flight conditions. According to the results of these tests, the graphic design is modified interactively, as shall be seen later in detail. After these modifications and once the test results have proved to be satisfactory, the source-code may be compiled so as to then obtain an executable code software which is then able to be stored in the memory of the computer on board the aircraft so as to control the functional modules constituted by automatons or logic circuits acting on the flight of the aircraft.
There currently exists no method for producing source-code software from graphic plates and able to model a complex set of functional modules able to be interactively modified extremely quickly according to the results of simulation tests of this functional unit in different operating conditions.
For a functional module, it is only possible to source-code model graphic plates corresponding to the functional portions of this module. However, when all the plates have been source-code translated, any modification of one of these plates, subsequent to tests for example, currently requires a new source-code translation of the modified plate but also requires a new source-code translation of all the other plates of the module. It is then necessary to check the functional coherence of each retranslated plate.
So as to model one functional portion of a module, it is possible to use, in a computer connected to display means, a graphic editing software stored in a memory connected to the computer so as to produce for the functional portions of this module (for example, automatic controls or logic circuits) graphic plates respectively corresponding to these functional portions. These plates are displayed by display means and are elaborated from a library of graphic symbols corresponding to the functional elements of each plate. This library is stored in the memory of the computer and makes it possible to describe the automatic controls and/or the logic circuits of each plate.
This editing software may be a "SAFIRS" software sold by the Societe ASSIGRAPH International.
Once this graphic editing has been carried out, it is possible to implement in the computer a precoding software stored in the memory of the computer so as to define each symbol of a plate by means of a precode comprising at least the qualifying attributes of the symbol and the input/output variables of this symbol. In fact, each symbol represents a functional element having at least one input and one output. Any variable or parameter characteristic of an input-applied signal corresponds to a variable or parameter characteristic of an output-collected signal in response to this input signal.
This precoding is effected from a precode library stored in the memory of the computer. For each plate, once this precoding has been carried out, a precoding file of the symbols of the plate is stored in the memory of the computer.
A precoding, such as the one described, is embodied by a "SCALP" software of the Societe AEROSPATIALE and commercialized by the Societe ASSIGRAPH International.
In the current state of the art, the modeling of a functional module thus consists of solely modeling separately, in the form of source-code expressed softwares, graphic plates corresponding respectively to the functional portions of this module without establishing any link or verification of coherence between the modeling softwares of these various plates.
This lack of any link and coherence verification constitutes a significant drawback in that it is impossible to rapidly have a single software to reliably model the unit of a module.

Interactive source-code software production method modeling a complex set of functional modules

Aerospatiale Societe Nationale Industrielle


An agricultural conveyor is supported on a pair of steerable wheels such that the steerable wheels are pivotal relative to the conveyor frame about respective upright axes. A hydraulically actuated steering mechanism is arranged to commonly pivot the steerable wheels together relative to the conveyor frame. A hydraulic connector is arranged to connect the hydraulically actuated steering mechanism to a controllable hydraulic output of the towing vehicle.

Conveyors, and more particularly auger type screw conveyors, are available in relatively large sizes for agricultural applications. Conveyors of this type typically include a tubular housing supported on wheels which are parallel and spaced apart from one another on opposing sides of the housing and fixed in orientation for rolling movement in the longitudinal direction of the housing so as to be suitable for towing by a tractor and the like. Because of the large sizes of some conveyors, these conveyors can be very difficult and awkward to navigate during transport.
Auger moving kits are known, for example a self propelled auger transport kit available by Wheatheart, but such known systems are typically very limited in size and involve the costly addition of an auxiliary set of wheels supported on an auxiliary frame along with an additional motor suitable only for transport of smaller agricultural augers. Steering is typically accomplished in a skid steer configuration. No means are provided for steering the conveyor relative to a vehicle during transport.

Steerable wheel for an agricultural conveyor


In the present invention a voice and data network is disclosed that has applicability to a home or building where existing phone lines are used to interconnect multiple phones and computers within the network. Voice and data modules connect telephones and computers to the existing telephone wiring in a home or building. A link to wide area network allows phone calls to be placed between the network and the Public Service telephone network. All devices connected to the telephone wiring have their own ID and communicate by Tokens in Ethernet technology. This allows Ethernet packets to perform a plurality of communications between a plurality of devices connected to the network under the control of tokens. The communications is accomplished by passing packets containing voice and data signals between phones and computers internal to the network and to an external port to connect to outside of the network. The link to wide area network also allows connection to an ISP by converting from Ethernet packets to Internet packets and from Internet packets to Ethernet packets. The connection to the ISP also allows Internet Telephony without a special telephone or the use of a computer.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to communication networks and more specifically voice and data networks within a house, an office or a building using existing telephone lines with a communication port to outside the voice and data network.
2. Description of Related Art
Within an existing home network, devices are limited to one type of network and use either voice devices such as phones or computers. There does not exist a device for home use that allows communications between multiple phones or computers using existing telephone lines. A PBX (private branch exchange) box is the only similar device, but requires each phone to be wired individually to the PBX box. The PBX box is very expensive, and it would be very expensive to adapt an existing house or building to a PBX system if all the telephone lines had to be reinstalled so that each phone line was routed separately between a telephone and the PBX box.
In "Standardization Activities and Technology Competitors for the Home Networking," Hwang et al., Proceedings of 1998 International Conference on Communication Technology, 1998, pp 787–832, in-home networking is discussed for the connection of various devices and the distribution of data to these devices. Multiple data types with security must be easily configured, have low cost and negligible maintenance. In "Emerging Home Digital Networking Needs," Chen, W. Y., Proceedings—1997 Fourth International Workshop on Community Networking, IEEE, pp 7–12, 1997, the possibility of using the IEEE 1394 protocol for a digital home network is explored. There are four driving forces for a home network that are discussed, home automation, home computer, digital audio and video distribution, and digital access network.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,005,861 (Humpleman) a home network architecture is described that has an internal digital network interconnecting devices in the home. Network interfaces connect entertainment services into the network by coupling to an external network. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,999,612 (Dunn et al.) a computer adapter and call routing system allows broad band networks, such as cable television, to provide digital data and telephone service. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,991,634 (Hui et al.) a peer to peer protocol is used to provide a plug and play capability in a distributed telephone system. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,929,748 (Odinak) a home control system is described using the electrical wiring of a home for communications. The system includes the uses high bandwidth and high frequency channels along with low frequency channels for control information. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,790,548 (Sistanizadeh et al.) a system and method is described for providing an Internet access by means of a Public Switched Telecommunication Network (PSTN) using a full time asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) between a subscriber processor terminal and a local area network (LAN) node and router located remote from the subscriber.
There are a large number of homes and buildings that have been wired for telephone service, and the wiring usually can only accommodate one or two phone lines. Attached to these phone lines can be several phones, but only one phone per line can be in use on separate conversations at one time. Also unless a calling phone is on one line and the receiving phone is on another line, communication between the two phones cannot be accomplished. A computer can use a telephone line by means of a modem to connect to an Internet service provider (ISP), but if there are more computers than phone lines, all of the computers cannot connect to the Internet a one time. If each telephone line is being used by a computer, then the telephones cannot be used, and computers cannot communicate with one another unless they are using separate lines.

Architecture for a mixed voice and data network


The invention provides peptide inhibitors of BACE1 that bind to the active site in a noncanonical fashion, and methods of use thereof.

Amyloidosis is not a single disease entity but rather a diverse group of progressive disease processes characterized by extracellular tissue deposits of a waxy, starch-like protein called amyloid, which accumulates in one or more organs or body systems. As the amyloid deposits accumulate, they begin to interfere with the normal function of the organ or body system. There are at least 15 different types of amyloidosis. The major forms are primary amyloidosis without known antecedent, secondary amyloidosis following some other condition, and hereditary amyloidosis.
Many diseases of aging are based on or associated with amyloid-like proteins and are characterized, in part, by the buildup of extracellular deposits of amyloid or amyloid-like material that contribute to the pathogenesis, as well as the progression of the disease. These diseases include, but are not limited to, neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's Disease (AD), Lewy body dementia, Down's syndrome, hereditary cerebral hemorrhage with amyloidosis (Dutch type); the Guam Parkinson-Dementia complex. Other diseases which are based on or associated with amyloid-like proteins are progressive supranuclear palsy, multiple sclerosis, Creutzfeld Jacob disease, Parkinson's disease, HIV-related dementia, ALS (amyotropic lateral sclerosis), Adult Onset Diabetes, senile cardiac amyloidosis, endocrine tumors, and others, including macular degeneration.
The polypeptide β-amyloid (Aβ) is likely to play a central role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Vassar et al., J. Neurosci. 29:12787-12794 (2009). Aβ polypeptide accumulation in the CNS results in synaptic dysfunction, axon degeneration and neuronal death. The brains of AD patients show a characteristic pathology of prominent neuropathologic lesions, such as neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), and amyloid-rich senile plaques. The major component of amyloid plaques is Aβ. These lesions are associated with massive loss of populations of central nervous system (CNS) neurons and their progression accompanies the clinical dementia associated with AD.
Aβ is the proteolytic product of the precursor protein, beta amyloid precursor protein (β-APP or APP). APP is a type-I trans-membrane protein which is sequentially cleaved by two proteases, a β- and γ-secretase. The β-secretase, known as β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1), first cleaves APP to expose the N-terminus of Aβ, thereby producing a membrane bound fragment known as C99. Vassar et al., J. Neurosci., 29:12787-12794 (2009) and UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot Entry P56817 (BACE1_HUMAN). The γ-secretase then is able to cleave C99 to produce the mature Aβ polypeptide. Aβ is produced with heterogenous C termini ranging in length from 38 amino acids to 43 amino acids. The 42 amino acid form of Aβ (Aβ42) is the fibrillogenic form of Aβ and is over produced in patients with Down's syndrome and has been suggested to play a role in the early pathogenesis of AD. Vassar et al., J. Neurosci. 29:12787-12794 (2009). BACE1 has thus become a therapeutic target as its inhibition would presumably inhibit Aβ production.
Indeed, BACE1 knock-out mice (BACE1−/−) do not produce cerebral Aβ, confirming that BACE1 is the major, if not only, enzyme responsible for producing Aβ in the brain. Roberds et al., Human Mol. Genetics 10:1317-1324 (2001). Moreover, BACE1 knockout mice in AD models do not form amyloid plaques; cognitive defects and cholinergic dysfunction are rescued as well. McConlogue et al., J. Biol. Chem. 282: 26326-26334 (2007); Ohno et al., Neuron 41: 27-33 (2004); and Laird et al., J. Neurosci. 25:11693-11709 (2005). Additionally, BACE1 heterozygous knock-out mice have reduced plaque formation indicating the complete inhibition of BACE1 activity is not necessary for plaque reduction. McConlogue et al., J. Biol. Chem. 282: 26326-26334 (2007).
The discovery of BACE-1 (Hussain, I. et al. (1999) Mol Cell Neurosci 14: 419-27; Sinha, S. et al. (1999) Nature 402: 537-40; Vassar, R. et al. (1999) Science 286: 735-41; Yan, R. et al. (1999) Nature 402: 533-7; Link, X. et al. (2000) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 97: 1456-60), along with its structure in complex with a substrate-like peptidomimetic inhibitor OM99-2 (Hong, L. et al. (2000) Science 290: 150-3) initiated the recent era of pharmaceutical development, triggering the development of many types of BACE1 inhibitors. The first waves of inhibitors were small molecule peptidomimetics (Luo, X. et al. Int J Clin Exp Pathol 3: 618-28), which have yet to show clinical success, due in part to the challenge of penetrating the blood brain barrier (BBB). Subsequently, many fragment-based and non-peptidic approaches have led to compounds more suitable for delivery across the BBB to the central nervous system (CNS) (Silvestri, R. (2009) Med Res Rev 29: 295-338; Luo, X. et al. (2010) Int J Clin Exp Pathol 3: 618-28). Most recently, the development of antibodies has emerged (Pul, R. et al. (2011) Expert Opin Biol Ther 11: 343-57). The first class targets Aβ and clears it from the circulation, acting as a sink to modulate Aβ levels in the CNS. The newest class of antibodies targets BACE1 itself, by binding to an exosite and acts as a noncompetitive inhibitor (Atwal, J. K. et al. (2011) Sci Transl Med 3: 84ra43; Zhou, L. et al. (2010) J. Biol. Chem. 286: 8677-8687). In mice and cynomolgus monkeys, anti-BACE1 reduces not only peripheral Aβ levels, but surprisingly those in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) as well. Further engineering of this antibody to incorporate receptor mediated transcytosis across the BBB via bispecific anti-BACE1 anti-transferrin antibodies has resulted in even more effective pharmacodynamic reduction of Aβ in the CNS (Yu, Y. J. et al. (2011) Sci Transl Med 3: 84ra44).
It would be beneficial to have an effective therapeutic inhibitor of BACE1 to reduce Aβ production in patients with neurological diseases and disorders, such as AD. The invention provided herein relates to such inhibitors, including their use in a variety of methods.
All references cited herein, including patent applications and publications, are incorporated by reference in their entirety.


An aluminum axle journal or wheel mount comprises an aluminum body to which a bearing unit is secured. A steel pivot is inserted into the aluminum body which supports the wheel bearing unit and which is braced against the aluminum body. The aluminum body can be either cast or forged and after it has been produced is designed with a dimensionally accurate opening that serves to receive the steel pivot. After pressing in the steel pivot, a wheel bearing unit is fitted onto the steel pivot and secured against axial shifting using a suitable attachment, preferably a necked-down bolt.

The invention relates to an axle journal (steering knuckle) or wheel mount comprising an aluminum body, a wheel bearing unit, and a steel pivot, and a method of producing an axle journal or wheel mount.
On their front axles, rear-wheel drive vehicles have axle journals that each support the steerable wheel and are pivotable around a steering knuckle pin.
In the prior art, rear-wheel drive vehicles usually have on their front axle steel-forged axle journals with pivots. The pivots each serve to receive a wheel bearing, the wheel hub, brake disk and finally the actual wheel.
On their rear axle, front-wheel drive vehicles comprise a wheel mount in which either a steel pivot is integrated to receive the wheel bearing or on which the wheel bearing as a unit is directly screwed.
The advantage of steel-forged axle journals or wheel mounts with pivots lies in the very high mechanical strength properties, such as very high yield points. The disadvantage of steel-forged axle journals or wheel mounts with pivots does, however, lie in the fact that these components are relatively heavy and hence stand in the way of efforts to reduce the weight of automobiles in particular.
To reduce the weight of the axle journals or wheel mounts, aluminum axle journals produced by chill casting were developed. A wheel bearing is screwed on the aluminum casting. In terms of the outer shape, the aluminum axle journals or wheel mounts clearly differ from the steel-forged axle journals. The aluminum axle journals or wheel mounts do not have any integrated aluminum pivots because an aluminum pivot is unable to transfer the forces and moments transferred from the wheel via the wheel bearings. A comparison of the moduli of elasticity of steel and aluminum reveals the high elasticity of aluminum. Nevertheless, to achieve a desirable strength, the wheel bearing on the aluminum casting has to be attached to a point at which the aluminum casting is sufficiently dimensioned to transfer reliably the emergent forces and moments. This does, however, result in a wheel bearing unit that has a large internal diameter, on account of which this wheel bearing unit entails considerable expense. Furthermore, the weight saving obtained by using an aluminum casting is again largely offset by the heavy wheel bearing unit.

Aluminum axle journal or wheel mount with an inserted steel pivot and a method for the production thereof


A system and method whereby a holder of a financial account card, such as a credit card or debit card, is able to disable and re-enable use of the card by locking and unlocking the card repeatedly. A request to lock or unlock a card may be provided by a variety of delivery channels, e.g., telephone, automated teller machine, or online, to a card processor. For a locking transaction the card processor saves the current operable status of the card and changes the status to locked. For an unlocking transaction the saved operable status of the card is restored. The changed locked or unlocked status of the card is reported by the card processor to companion systems and an audit record created.

Individuals and businesses typically may hold a variety of financial accounts with a variety of different entities. For example, such financial accounts may include credit accounts, such as credit card accounts, and deposit accounts, such as savings and checking accounts, and the like. Such accounts may be maintained by the owners thereof with a variety of financial institutions, such as banks, savings and loans, credit unions, and other banking entities, as well as with brokerage firms, retail establishments, and the like. The owners of such accounts often may be able to access the accounts via the use of a card, such as a credit card, for accessing a credit account, or a debit card, for accessing a deposit account, such as a savings or checking account. Such cards may be used by the account owner, e.g., to make purchases, by physically presenting the card at a point of purchase. For some transactions, such as mail orders, telephone orders, or orders made over the Internet, the card does not have to be physically present. For such transactions, the credit card number, which typically is physically printed on the card as well as electronically encoded in a magnetic strip on the card that may be read by an appropriate card reader, may be provided to a merchant via mail, over the telephone, and/or via a computer network, e.g., the Internet.
No matter how the card or card number is presented, the processing of a transaction using the card number typically is performed electronically. The card number is provided electronically to a card processing system, which may or may not be operated by the financial institution or other entity that holds the account being accessed. The card processing system verifies that the card number corresponds to an active account, that the card itself is valid for accessing the account, that account limits have not been exceeded, etc. If the pre-established conditions for accessing the account using the card are satisfied, electronic approval is provided by the processing system to indicate that the card transaction may proceed.
A variety of security measures may be employed to ensure that a card used for accessing an underlying financial account is used only by the account owner or someone authorized by the account owner. For example, for some card transactions, such as a cash withdrawal or draw on the account from an automatic teller machine (ATM), or at some retail outlets, the individual presenting the card will be required to provide a personal identification number (PIN) that is not printed or otherwise provided on the card itself. An individual presenting a card for a transaction may be required to provide a signature on the transaction receipt. This signature is compared to a signature on the card by a person conducting the transaction to verify that the card owner and person presenting the card are the same individual. Some credit cards and debit cards may have a photograph of the card owner thereon, which also can be used to verify that the person presenting the card is the card owner. Some credit card transactions, particularly credit card transactions performed online over the internet, may require the card user to provide a card verification value (CVV) or card verification code (CVC) as an additional security measure. The CVV/CVC are numeric codes constructed by a cryptographic process based on card data, such as the card number, the expiration date, etc., that are written to the magnetic stripe of the card as well as printed on the back of the card. Merchants and others who accept credit cards, debit cards, and the like for payment employ these and other methods to prevent use of such cards by those who are not authorized to do so.
Despite the security measures mentioned above, when a financial account card, such as a credit card or debit card, is lost or stolen there is still significant risk that the card may be used and, therefore, the underlying financial account accessed, by an unauthorized person. Thus, financial account card issuers strongly recommend that, if a card is lost, stolen, or otherwise misplaced, the card owner immediately contact the card issuer. Card issuers conveniently provide a toll-free customer service telephone number that may be called at any time by a card holder in the event that a card is lost, stolen, or misplaced. Upon calling the customer service number the card owner will be asked to provide the card number or account number for the card that was lost or stolen or misplaced. This number will be entered into the card processing system electronically, and the card will automatically be cancelled or disabled. That is, no further transactions using the cancelled card number will be allowed by the card processing system. If any attempt is made to use the card number or a card bearing the card number after the card is cancelled in this manner, the card processing system will reject the transaction, providing an indication that the card is no longer valid or has been cancelled. Typically, upon canceling a financial account card in this manner, the credit card processing system will automatically initiate a process to issue to the card owner a new replacement card bearing a new card number, such that the card owner may be able to access the underlying financial account using the new card number.
A misplaced credit or debit card can cause a card owner considerable anxiety. A missing card may be in the hands of someone who may try to use the card or card number to access the owner's financial accounts. Thus, it is quite reasonable to want to cancel a financial account card as soon as it turns up missing. However, canceling a credit or debit card can be inconvenient. Once the card is cancelled, the card owner must do without the card, and may not have access to the underlying account, until a new card is received. This could take several days or even longer. Furthermore, the card owner may have established future automatic and/or recurring charges to be made to the card number. Once a financial account card is cancelled, the old card number is no longer valid, and any such pre-established charges to the cancelled card number will be rejected. Thus, the card owner may have to contact various merchants or others to change the card number to be used when the new card and card number is received. All of these inconveniences are made more frustrating when the supposedly lost or stolen card is found by the card owner. Under current systems and practices, once the card is cancelled it cannot be reactivated. Thus, finding the lost card that has been cancelled may give the card owner some peace of mind, in knowing that the card was not in the wrong hands for any period of time, but otherwise is not very helpful. Since the old card number has been cancelled, and, under current practice, cannot be revived, the found card is of no value and can only be destroyed.
Even if a financial account card owner knows where their card is, even if the card is securely in their possession, there is some risk that an unscrupulous person will be able to use the card number to access the underlying financial account without permission. It is possible that such a person may obtain the card number in some illegitimate way, and some merchants or transactions may not require the use of additional security measures, such as the use of PIN's and the like, to process a card transaction using the card number. With some, a card transaction may be authorized if the person presenting the card can present basic information about the card or the legitimate card owner, such as the expiration date of the card and/or underlying account, or the legitimate card owner's mother's maiden name along with the card number, etc. Such information might be obtained from a variety of legitimate and illegitimate sources. Thus, a victim of identity theft is at risk of having their credit or debit card account accessed without their permission even if the credit or debit card is not lost or stolen.
What is desired, therefore, is an effective system and method whereby a card owner is able to lock or prevent use of a financial account card, such as a credit card or a debit card, as desired, and to reactivate or unlock the card, repeatedly as desired. Such a system and method, therefore, provides the card owner with the flexibility both to secure access to the underlying card account when desired, e.g., when the location of the card is uncertain, as well as to avoid the frustration and inconvenience of unnecessarily having had to cancel the card outright when the card is later found. Such a system and method also provides an additional degree of security in allowing a card owner to lock access to a card account during periods when the card is not in use by the card owner, even if the card location is known and secure, thereby to secure the account from unauthorized transactions during the locked periods by those who may obtain the card number and other card owner identifying information even though they do not possess the card itself.

System and method for locking and unlocking a financial account card


A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device to provide a Metal Insulator Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor (MISFET) in a first region of a semiconductor substrate includes forming a first gate insulating film on the semiconductor substrate in the first region, forming a first gate electrode containing silicon on the first gate insulating film, forming first impurity regions inside the semiconductor substrate so as to sandwich the first gate electrode in the first region, the first impurity regions configuring a part of a first source region and a part of a first drain region, forming a first silicide layer on the first impurity region, forming a first insulating film on the semiconductor substrate so as to cover the first gate electrode and the first silicide layer, polishing the first insulating film so as to expose the first gate electrode, and forming a second silicide layer on the first gate electrode.

As a semiconductor device having a memory cell of an electrically writable/erasable nonvolatile memory, a memory cell including a conductive floating gate electrode surrounded by an oxide film or a trapping insulating film sandwiched by an oxide film below the gate electrode of the MISFET is widely used. The latter is referred to as a MONOS (Metal Oxide Nitride Oxide Semiconductor) type including a single gate type cell and a split gate type cell, and is used as a nonvolatile memory of a microcomputer.
In accordance with achievement of lower power consumption and high integration of the microcomputer, a transistor including a metal gate electrode and a high dielectric constant film (high-k film) is used in a logic portion. As a method for forming such a transistor, so-called a gate-last process is known, the gate-last process forming a source/drain region by using a dummy gate electrode made of a polycrystalline silicon film on a substrate, and then, replacing the dummy gate electrode with a metal gate electrode.
In the gate last process, after a silicide layer is formed on the source/drain region of various MISFETs, an element is covered with an interlayer insulating film, and then, an upper surface of the interlayer insulating film is polished to expose an upper surface of the gate electrode. For this reason, when a silicide layer is formed on a gate electrode configuring a memory cell and being made of a semiconductor film, it is required to form the silicide layer again after the polishing process.
Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2014-154790) describes a case of mixedly mounting the memory cell and the MISFET of the logic portion, in which a silicide layer is formed on a source/drain region of the MISFET, subsequently a metal gate electrode of the MISFET is formed by the gate-last process, and then, a silicide layer is formed on the gate electrode of the memory cell.
Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2007-335834) describes a configuration in which in order to set an appropriate threshold value voltage in an n-type FET and a p-type FET having a full silicide gate, in the n-type FET, a gate electrode made of nickel silicide having a nickel content higher than a silicon content is formed on the gate insulating film with an aluminum layer being interposed therebetween. Moreover, it is described that in the p-type FET, a gate electrode made of nickel silicide having a nickel content higher than a silicon content is formed on the gate insulating film. Furthermore, on the surface of the source/drain region of the n-type FET and the p-type FET, a silicide layer is formed.

Semiconductor method for manufacturing a device including silicides of different composition concentrations on the gate electrode and diffusion regions


A gold finger, includes a substrate, an embossable adhesive layer and a plurality of wires. The gold finger is achieved through adhering an embossable adhesive layer to a side of the substrate, providing grid-shaped grooves on a side of the embossable adhesive layer away from the substrate, embedding conductive grids of the wires in the grooves to form the wires. The gold finger is disposed on a sensing component, the wires of the gold finger are electrically connected with a circuit board through an anisotropic conductive adhesive. The contact area of the wire and the embossable adhesive layer is increased through embedding the conductive grid of the wire, which is grid-shaped structure, in the grooves such that the wires are tightly combined to the embossable adhesive layer and not easy to fall off or be scratched. The present invention further provides a touch screen containing the gold finger.

A touch screen is an inductive device able to receive an input signal such as a touch etc. The touch screen is a brand new information interaction device that gives information interaction a new look. The development of touch screen technique has attracted extensive attention in information media at home and abroad. A conductive layer of the touch screen is electrically connected with a Flexible Printed Circuit Board (FPCB) through an electrode lead. A part of the electrode lead located at a distal end thereof is referred to as a gold finger.
At present, the gold finger is silver needle wires formed through a silk screen printing, or achieved by dividing pre-printed silver paste at whole connecting area through laser. Since the gold finger made through above two means involves coating silver paste on the surface of the conductive layer, the gold finger tends to fall off or be scratched, thereby deteriorating the conductivity of the gold finger and the performance of the touch screen.