A motor includes a two-layer rotor and a two-layer stator. The two layer rotor includes an A-phase rotor and a B-phase rotor that are stacked together. When θ1 represents, in electric angle, an angle of the B-phase stator relative to the A-phase stator in a clockwise circumferential direction, and θ2 represents, in electric angle, an angle of the B-phase rotor relative to the A-phase rotor in a counterclockwise circumferential direction, θ1+|θ2|=90° is satisfied.

Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2005-192384 describes an example of a brushless motor that is an outer rotor type motor including a surface permanent motor (SPM) rotor and a Lundell-type stator. The SPM rotor includes a rotor core and permanent magnets attached to the surface of the rotor core. The Lundell-type stator includes two stator core bases and windings arranged between the stator core bases. Each stator core base includes claw poles arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. In such a brushless motor, two types of windings are stacked in the axial direction. Power from a first system and power from a second system are applied to the two types of windings, respectively.
The brushless motor is a two-phase motor in which the Lundell-type stator is configured by a two-layer structure including winding for the first system and winding for the second system. However, a two-phase motor includes a dead point that adversely affects the starting characteristics of the motor.
A multi-Lundell-type motor includes a Lundell-type rotor and a Lundell-type stator. The Lundell-type rotor includes two rotor cores and a field magnet arranged between the rotor cores. Each rotor core includes claw poles arranged in the circumferential direction. The Lundell-type stator includes two stator cores and windings arranged between the stator cores. Each stator core includes claw poles arranged in the circumferential direction. The problem described above also occurs when the multi-Lundell-type motor has a two-layer two-phase tandem arrangement.
In the two-layer two-phase multi-Lundell-type motor, leakage magnetic flux from gaps between adjacent claw poles may lower the effective magnetic flux. In this case, high torque cannot be obtained with the motor.

Motor, method for driving motor, and drive controller for motor


Examples of the present disclosure describe systems and methods for establishing a persistent connection between file attachments uploaded to cloud storage and associated electronic communications. An electronic communication including an attached file may be stored and presented in a communication application user interface that includes interactive functions, such as edit and save functions. Upon selection of an interactive function, a copy of the file may be uploaded to a cloud storage location and, in some examples, opened in a productivity application. A link to the file at the cloud storage location may be stored as a property of the file that is stored with the electronic communication. Resultantly, a connection may be maintained between the file at the cloud storage location and the electronic communication. Based on this connection, the copy of the file at the cloud storage location may be opened upon a subsequent selection of an interactive function.

A large majority of files shared between users are shared as attachments to electronic communications that are sent and received using a communication service. To edit files received as attachments, the files may be downloaded and saved to a local storage location, edited, and then re-attached to reply or new communications. Each file version sent and received may also be stored at the respective user's mailbox by an electronic communication server of the communication service. This back and forth editing behavior may be repeated numerous times between each of the users associated with the file.
Additionally, despite the edited files being saved to some other storage location, users often utilize their mailbox as a default or primary storage location for these file attachments. For example, even after a user has edited and saved the file to a dedicated storage system, the user may simply return to the electronic communication that includes the attachment within their mailbox to retrieve the file. However, this file attachment is the original attachment received with the electronic communication. Therefore, if the user has previously edited and saved the file, the version of the file retrieved from the electronic communication is not a latest version.
It is with respect to these and other general considerations that the aspects disclosed herein have been made. Also, although relatively specific problems may be discussed, it should be understood that the examples should not be limited to solving the specific problems identified in the background or elsewhere in this disclosure.

Establishment of persistent connection between file attachments uploaded to cloud storage and associated electronic communications


A circuit configuration for supplying the control electronics in an electrical machine is specified, which includes a passive transformer circuit, which is powered by a phase current IP of the electrical machine and which generates an auxiliary voltage VA that is used for supplying the output stage of the electrical machine if no battery is present or if the battery is defective or discharged.

Usually, two electrical machines are used in motor vehicles, a generator, which is driven by the engine of the motor vehicle and which generates electrical energy for supplying the electrical-system consumers and for charging the battery, and a starter, which works as a battery-powered electrical motor and which, in the event of a starting operation, brings the engine of the motor vehicle up to a required minimum rotational speed. Also known, however, are systems featuring a single electrical machine, which takes the form of a starter-generator and which accomplishes both the starting of the engine as well as the generation of the electrical energy.
Such starter-generators are, for example, flywheel starter-generators or crankshaft starter-generators directly connected to the crankshaft of the engine. The starter-generators used in this context are three-phase machines, which can be connected to the vehicle battery via a power electronics that includes a controlled rectifier bridge, in particular a pulse-controlled a.c. converter with a pulse-controlled inverter bridge. The pulse-controlled inverters are controlled using a control electronics.
If the electrical machine, for example, is a permanent-field synchronous machine, then the rotating machine will generate a voltage regardless of whether the electronics is activated or not. In the case of sufficiently high rotational speeds of the synchronous machines this can lead to an exceeding of the permitted voltage and there is the danger of destroying the electronics of the starter-generator as well as the electrical system electronics.
A vehicle electrical system having a starter-generator as well as a method for the automatic control of such a starter-generator, which can be connected to the vehicle battery via a pulse-controlled inverter bridge, is described in German Published Patent Application No. 197 33 212 for example. In this known system, the pulse-controlled inverter elements of the converter bridge are suitably controlled with the aid of a control electronics in such a way that an optimal generator control is achieved in generator operation and hence a maximum of electrical power is generated. At the same time, a suitable control of the pulse-controlled inverter elements ensures that in a starting operation the electrical machine can draw electrical power from the battery and thereby working as a motor can accelerate the vehicle engine to the rotational speed required for starting.
Since it is possible that the vehicle battery is destroyed during the operation of the vehicle or that the battery is largely drained due to unfavorable circumstances, there is the danger that in the resulting so-called batteryless operation, the electronics of the electrical machine is no longer supplied. In this case, when the machine is short-circuited and rotating, there exists no intermediate circuit voltage which could supply the control electronics. Hence there is the danger that, if the control electronics is not supplied, the short-circuiting of the machine cannot be maintained. The consequence would be an uncontrolled rise of the voltage. This could lead to destruction in the electronics of the electrical machine or of the starter-generator and in the vehicle electrical system itself.

Circuit arrangement for supplying a control electronics system in electric machines


A differential amplifier includes a first electrical path formed between a first transistor and a first load impedance; a second electrical path formed between a second transistor and a second load impedance; a tail-current transistor coupled to the first and second transistors; an input end of a feedback amplifier coupled directly to the first and second electrical paths for receiving a differential voltage output signal; and an output end of the feedback amplifier coupled directly to the tail-current transistor for adjusting the current provided through each of the first and second electrical paths. The feedback amplifier includes a non-inverting input node and an inverting input node, each node coupled directly to one or the other of the first and second electrical paths.

Differential amplifiers are electronic devices for amplifying a voltage difference between two input signals. A differential amplifier typically includes two electrical paths that are independently coupled to a voltage source at one end, and that are together coupled to a voltage or current source at an opposite end. Each electrical path usually includes a transistor element and a resistance element. Two differential input signals may be applied to the transistor elements, and a differential output signal may be extracted from each electrical path between its transistor element and resistance element. The two electrical paths are usually designed to substantially match each other, such that components common to both differential input signals are cancelled and a voltage difference signal between the input signals is amplified.
A conventional differential amplifier may have its pair of emitters (in case of bipolar transistors), or its pair of sources (in case of metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) transistors) tied together to a current source. Such current source supplies a fixed tail-current to each transistor of the differential amplifier. When supplied with a fixed tail-current, the differential amplifier may have a gain of only 6 to 12 dB. In order to increase the gain of the differential amplifier, differential cascaded amplifiers are necessary, thus making the circuit more complex.
In addition, for wideband frequency circuit applications, a conventional high amplifier requires frequency compensation components, which may be achieved with the addition of compensation capacitors in the circuit. This further complicates the operation of the differential amplifier and deteriorates other dynamic performance characteristics of the amplifier, such as its response time.
As will be explained, one embodiment of the present invention provides a differential amplifier having a high gain of approximately 50 to 60 dB. This high gain is advantageously achieved with a single amplification stage, without any need for cascaded arrangement of amplifier stages.

Differential amplifier with current source controlled through differential feedback


An apparatus and method for dissolving and removing material which tends to occlude a body passage way, such as an artery. The device employs a dual catheter system arranged in coaxial fashion. Each of the catheters has an inflatable balloon at its distal tip. Inflating the two balloons occludes the body passage way both proximal and distal to the treatment area, thus isolating it from fluid contact with the rest of the body. Because concentric catheters are used, the distance between the balloons and hence the size of the treatment area is adjustable. The thrombolytic agent is infused through orifices in the inner catheter in the region between the two balloons. A piezo electric device supplies ultrasonic agitation within the treatment area. A pressure device monitors the body passage way for unsafe conditions. Aspiration is accomplished through one or more lumens in the outer catheter. Ultrasonic agitation may be employed with the aspiration also to break up masses of material which may be too big to pass through the exit lumen cross section.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to devices used to clear obstructions in body passage ways, and more particularly, relates to means and methods of treating such obstructions by the infusion of chemical thrombolytic agents.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of catheter systems to treat various medical conditions has been known for some time. In treating a particular area within a body passage way, it is often desirable to isolate the treatment area from the rest of the body through the use of one or more balloons which may be inflated proximal and/or distal to the treatment area. U.S. Pat. No. 2,936,760 issued to Gants, U.S. Pat. No. 4,022,216 issued to Stevens, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,705,502 issued to Patel describe catheters designed for use in the urinary tract.
Such catheter systems are also used in other applications. U.S. Pat. No. 4,696,668 issued to Wilcox, for example, describes a catheter system for treatment of nasobiliary occlusions. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,198,981 issued to Sinnreich is used in intrauterine applications. U.S. Pat. No. 4,453,545 issued to Inoue teaches an endotracheal tube.
One of the most common applications for catheter systems is the treatment of occlusions within the cardiovascular system. A catheter system for venous applications is seen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,795,427 issued to Helzel. U.S. Pat. No. 4,636,195 issued to Wollinsky, U.S. Pat. No. 4,705,507 issued to Boyles, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,573,966 issued to Welkl et al., all describe catheter systems designed to infuse a liquid for the treatment of an arterial occlusion. Each of these devices has one or more balloons to occlude the artery during the treatment process.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,655,746 issued to Daniels et al. proposes the use of two concentric catheters each having its own occlusion balloon to adjustably isolate a portion of the body passage way. The Daniels et al. design, however, requires the use of the interlumenal space as a fluid passageway, thereby complicating the construction and operation of the device. Use of the interlumenal space as a fluid passageway also may undesirably alter the handling characteristics depending upon the specific application and the degree to which the interlumenal space is pressurized.
A recognition of the need the improve to efficiency of the infused liquid is found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,423,725 issued to Baran et al. Unfortunately, the system of Baran et al. employs a middle balloon for forcing the liquid into the side walls of the artery. For arteries having insufficient resiliency, the high pressures in the isolated area tend to be equalized by expelling fluid and/or occluding material past the occluding balloons and out of the treatment area. In extreme cases, rupture of the arterial wall may be envisioned.


An ultracapacitor that includes an energy storage cell immersed in an advanced electrolyte system and disposed within a hermetically sealed housing, the cell electrically coupled to a positive contact and a negative contact, wherein the ultracapacitor is configured to output electrical energy within a temperature range between about −40 degrees Celsius to about 210 degrees Celsius. Methods of fabrication and use are provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention disclosed herein relates to energy storage cells, and in particular to advanced electrolyte systems for use in these energy storage cells, and related techniques for providing an electric double-layer capacitor that is operable at high temperatures.
2. Description of the Related Art
Energy storage cells are ubiquitous in our society. While most people recognize an energy storage cell simply as a "battery," other types of cells should also be included within this context. For example, recently, ultracapacitors have garnered much attention as a result of their favorable characteristics. In short, many types of energy storage cells are known and in use today.
An electric double-layer capacitor, also known as a "supercapacitor," "supercondenser," "pseudocapacitor," "electrochemical double layer capacitor," or "ultracapacitor," is a capacitor that exhibits substantially improved performance over common capacitors. One such parameter is energy density. Generally, an ultracapacitor has an energy density that is on the order of thousands of times greater than a high capacity electrolytic capacitor.
Capacitors are one of the key components in any electronic device and system. Traditional functions include power supply voltage smoothing, supporting the energy source, and filtering. A variety of industries present demanding environments for implementation of electronics and capacitors.
Consider, for example, that industries such as oil-drilling, aerospace, aviation, military and automotive have some applications that require electrical components to work continuously at high temperatures (for example, at temperatures in excess of eighty degrees Celsius). This heat exposure, along with a variety of factors, work to degrade performance of energy storage systems at elevated temperatures, and lead to premature degradation of the energy storage cell. Durability and safety are key requirements in typical aerospace and defense applications. Applications such as those where engines, turbo fans, and control and sensing electronics are placed near outer shells of a rocket engine. Automotive applications, such as small gearboxes or embedded alternators/starters, also require durability and long life at elevated temperatures.
Electronic components used in industrial environments must be physically robust while meeting demands for performance. For designers and producers of ultracapacitors, one of the attendant challenges is obtaining an electrolyte that will function well and reliably at high temperatures, as well as one that will function well and reliably at both high temperatures and low temperatures. Unfortunately, the desirable properties of some electrolytes are not exhibited or sustained at higher temperatures, and even those that have achieved durability at high temperatures have not been able to serve as reliably at lower temperatures. Thus, what are needed are electrolytes for ultracapacitors that perform well in demanding situations. Preferably, the electrolytes provide stable conductivity and low internal resistance as well as stable and high capacitance, and stable and low leakage current over a wide range of temperatures.

Advanced electrolyte systems and their use in energy storage devices


Compounds of the formula I or II:

TIR-domain containing cell surface receptors such as the Toll-like receptors and the IL-1 and IL-18 receptors play critical roles in innate immunity and have been implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmunity. TLRs, for example, recognize pathogenic or endogenous ligands and provide a requisite signal for dendritic cell maturation and antigen presentation to T cells (13). Similarly, the proteins that mediate signaling from these receptors have also been shown to play important roles in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disorders. For example mice deficient in MyD88, an adaptor protein that directly interacts with the TIR domain are more susceptible to bacterial, fungal and parasitic infections. In addition, MyD88 deficient mice are resistant to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and streptococcal cell wall-induced arthritis (7, 11, 18).
The Interleukin-1 Receptor Associated Kinase (IRAK) family is comprised of four family members IRAK-1, IRAK-2, IRAK-3/M, and IRAK-4. These proteins are characterized by a typical N-terminal death domain that mediates interaction with MyD88-family adaptor proteins and a centrally located kinase domain. Whereas IRAK-1 and IRAK-4 have kinase activity, IRAK-2 and IRAK-3/M are catalytically inactive. Upon activation of their upstream cognate receptors, IRAK-4 is thought to phosphorylate IRAK-1 resulting in the activation and autophosphorylation of IRAK-1 and subsequent phosphorylation of downstream substrates. The hyperphosphorylation of IRAK-1 directs its dissociation from the receptor complex and its eventual ubiquitylation and proteasomal degradation. Phosphorylation of downstream substrates such as Pellino-2 ultimately leads to the activation of the MAPKs such as p38 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and NF-kB followed by production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and destructive enzymes (8, 10, 22).
The role of IRAK-1 and IRAK-4 in innate immunity and in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases is emerging. Patients with destabilizing or null mutations in IRAK-4 demonstrate defects in TLR signaling and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1 and TNF (2, 3, 5, 17), as well as antiviral cytokines such as IFNα and IFNβ (27). These patients demonstrate an increased susceptibility to gram-positive bacterial infections although they are generally resistant to gram-negative bacterial, viral, and fungal infections. Similarly, IRAK-4 deficient mice have defects in TLR- and IL-1-mediated cytokine production and increased susceptibility to infection. IRAK-1 deficient mice demonstrated a loss of responsiveness to lipopolysaccharides (LPS), IL-1, IL-18 as well as impaired Th1 development (9). These mice were resistant to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, exhibiting little or no CNS inflammation.
Accordingly, compounds that modulate the function of IRAK-1 and/or IRAK-4 represent an attractive approach to the development of therapeutic agents for the treatment of inflammatory, cell proliferative and immune-related conditions and diseases associated with IRAK-mediated signal transduction, such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, obesity, allergic disease, psoriasis, asthma, graft rejection, cancer and sepsis.
Activation of SYK tyrosine kinase is an important in the signally pathways following the activation of mast cells (J. A. Taylor et al., Molec. and Cell Biol., 1995, 15, 4149). SYK kinase activation and activity is considered for Fc epsilon RI (high-affinity IgE receptor)-mediated release of mediators from mast cells Inhibitors of SYK kinase can thus block the release of allergic and pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines, and are potentially useful for treatment of inflammatory and allergic disorders such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, bronchitis, conjunctivitis, psoriasis, scleroderma, urticaria, dermatitis and allergic rhinitis.

Pyrazolo[1,5a]pyrimidine derivatives as IRAK4 modulators

Abstract: Compounds of the formula I or II:

Abstract: wherein X, m, Ar, R1 and R2 are as defined herein. The subject compounds are useful for treatment of IRAK-mediated conditions.


Embodiments of the present invention include techniques for creating voice applications in different design environments and translating voice applications into any runtime environment. A set of rendering engines creates a translation layer that can convert a voice application into any runtime environment. Each rendering engine receives a voice application and converts the voice application into a runtime-specific voice description. The voice description performs the same or similar functions in the selected runtime environment as the original voice application. Voice applications from different design environments may be stored as metadata and translated through one or more steps into different runtime environments.

The present invention relates generally to voice applications, and more particularly, to techniques for creating voice applications using a voice application development environment, and techniques for translating voice applications into different runtime environments.
A voice application is a system that provides interactive voice dialogues. Examples of voice applications include Voice Recognition (VR) and Interactive Voice Response (IVR) communication systems. Voice applications allow a telephone caller to select an option from a spoken menu and interface with a computer system in a pre-defined way. Typically, such voice applications play pre-recorded, digitized voice prompts. The caller can respond to these prompts by pressing a key on a telephone keypad or by speaking back audible answers to the system (e.g., saying "yes" or "no").
Such voice application systems can be implemented using a variety of proprietary and open source (free) solutions that include a runtime environment. A runtime environment is a software and/or hardware system that can execute an application. A voice application can be specified using metadata, such as an XML-based markup text (e.g., VoiceXML or Visual Composer Language (VCL)). The flow of a voice application, expressed as VoiceXML or VCL, is then interpreted to generate an executable version that may be deployed within a runtime environment.
One problem with contemporary voice application systems is that they are typically proprietary. Consequently, such systems may execute voice applications only if such voice applications are expressed in the particular language of the voice system provider (i.e., in a proprietary language). As a result, conventional voice application systems do not have the flexibility to implement voice applications created using different technologies. This limits the usefulness and portability of any given voice application.
Thus, there is a need for an increased flexibility in voice applications. Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods that may be used for creating and translating voice applications into different runtime environments.

Techniques for creating and translating voice applications


A cable disconnector assembly is described for use with a lifting hook of a lifting assembly for disconnecting the lifting cable from the lifted material. The disconnector assembly includes a vertical suspended member having an upper end eyelet portion engageable with the lifting hook of the lifting assembly, a lower end portion having a slotted opening therein, and a recessed shoulder portion. A jaw member is hingedly mounted to the lower end portion through the slotted opening and operable between an open disengaging position and a closed engaging position wherein the jaw member rests in the recessed shoulder portion. The lower end portion of the vertical suspended member includes extension members which engage the surface of the lifted material to move the jaw member from a closed position to an open position to permit disconnection of the lifting cable from the lifted material. A locking mechanism is provided to prevent movement of the jaw member from the closed position to an open position.

The present invention relates to a lifting device which automatically disconnects the lifting cable from the bundle of lifted material when the lifting device engages the bundle of lifted material that has been placed in an at rest position and claims the benefit of United States provisional application 60/003,748, filed Sep. 14, 1995.
In the past, there has been a need for a simple and efficient means of lifting bar joist, wooden roof joists, trusses or other bar or tubular material to position these materials at a work site for proper installation. In accordance with the prior art, the preferred method and apparatus for lifting and for positioning hanging bar, joist, roof joists and other bar or tubular material at a work site for installation has been the utilization of a crane lifting cable secured to a headache ball having a lift hook member secured to the ball. The lift hook member generally includes a spring biased closure member which prevents dislodgement from the lift hook member of an open hook member which is used to engage the shackled ends of a lifting cable that is engaged with the truss or bar stock to lift and move the truss or bar stock to the desired installation position. However, safety regulations have precluded the use of open hook members to engage shackled ends of a lifting cable because of the danger of injury due to accidental disengagement of the shackled end of the lifting cable from the open hook member.
To overcome such unsafe prior art devices, it has been suggested to utilize spreader cables with choker members which are specially wrapped around the bar stock or truss material for lifting the same. The spreader cable has an eyelet or ring which is engaged with the lifting hook member having a spring bias closure which prevents accidental removal of the spreader cable from the lift hook member. However, such devices although being safe for use, are slow and inefficient and require the workers to walk out onto the bar, joist or truss material to unhook the cable, a time consuming operation and, sometimes, a dangerous operation.
Finally, it has been suggested to utilize an automatic hook disengaging device which includes an attachment portion which engages the lifting hook or is directly shackled to the crane lifting cable. The disengaging device is comprised of a first portion which engages the cables or lifting hook and a center portion which is pivotally mounted to the first portion and includes a hook member pivotally mounted to the lower end thereof. In operation, such automatic hook release structures require the engagement of a lifting cable with the hook member and wherein the subsequent lifting of the bar or truss material pivotally moves the center portion to a vertical substantially parallel configuration to close the jaw of the hook member. When the raised load is lowered into position, contact of the hook device with the lifted object results in the hook member being positioned perpendicular to the vertical, with the center portion positioned at an angle to the upper first portion. However, such devices must engage precisely the top portion of the bar or truss material to cause the hook member to be positioned perpendicular to the vertical to release the hook member from the lifting cable, a condition which is difficult to achieve. Moreover, oftentimes when such automatic hook devices are in the open position, a worker still has to climb onto the lifted bar, joist or truss material to remove the lifting cable from the hook. Finally, such devices are expensive and, accordingly, have only found limited acceptance in the marketplace.


In an ATM switching system, calls are equally distributed. The ATM switching system is arranged by a transmission path storing unit for storing therein a transmission path to which a first terminal is connected; a terminal storing unit for storing therein a plurality of second terminals which constitute a group and the representative of which group is predetermined; a communication time calculating unit for calculating communication time by subtracting a communication start time instant between the first terminal and the second terminals from a communication end time instant between the first terminal and the second terminal; a communication amount calculating unit for calculating a communication amount by multiplying the communication time calculated in the communication time calculating unit by a use bandwidth; and a communication amount accumulating unit for accumulating the communication amount calculated in the communication amount calculating unit with respect to each of the second terminals. In this ATM switching apparatus, such a second terminal the accumulated communication amount of which is the lowest among these second terminals is selected as a terminal for call receiving destination.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) switching system. More specifically, the present invention is directed to an ATM switching system capable of equally distributing calls so as to avoid call concentration.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an ATM switching system, when an incoming call (receiving) request is issued from a network, an incoming call receiving control is carried out so as to call a call receiving terminal only in the case that such a resource for satisfying a call reception request condition issued from this network can be secured. The call reception request condition contains, for instance, a band required to a call, and an identifier (ID) of a call receiving user.
The more the call receiving terminal which is requested to receive the call from the network is brought into busy condition, the larger the call loss rate would be increased. As a consequence, such a call loss rate lowering problem is solved by constituting a single group by employing a plurality of call receiving terminals, and further by executing the call receiving control to this single group in accordance with the below-mentioned method.
That is, in accordance with this method, when the incoming call request is issued to a representative call receiving terminal, a detection is made in the register sequence as to whether or not the call receiving terminal registered into this group is under busy state. Then, when such a call receiving terminal not under busy state is firstly detected, the incoming call receiving control is performed to this call receiving terminal. In other words, the incoming calls are distributed.
It should be understood that a "call loss rate" implies such a probability that since a counter party (call receiving destination) is under busy state, a call connection is refused.
On the other hand, in the above-described conventional incoming call control method, there is another problem that the incoming calls would be readily concentrated onto the incoming call receiving terminal the register sequence of which is low, and therefore, these incoming calls may not be equally distributed to other incoming call receiving terminals within the group.
To solve this problem, the quantity of incoming calls is counted with respect to each of the incoming call receiving terminals, and then these incoming calls are distributed in such a manner that the number of incoming calls for the respective terminals are equal to each other in the above-explained conventional incoming call control method.
However, even this solving manner would cause the below-mentioned problem. That is, there are incoming calls having short communication time, and incoming calls having long communication time. As a result, when the incoming call having a short or a long communication time is merely counted as one irrelevant to the actual communication time, there is such a problem that the incoming calls would be concentrated onto the incoming call terminal to which the call having long communication time has been distributed.
As a consequence, the Applicants could conclude that the above-described problem would be caused by such a condition that the incoming calls are not distributed while communication amounts become equal.


An air tool storage device includes a mounting plate with axial shaft projecting therethrough for receipt of opposed flanged circular retainer members that are spaced apart so as to receive at one radial position an air tool disconnect plug. A body member within the space between the opposed circular retainer members may be rotated to align outwardly extending radial pins with the notches of the retainer members aligned so that disconnect plugs may be positioned on the device or removed from the device.

In a principal aspect the present invention relates to a device for storing multiple air tools such as chucks, blow guns, connectors and the like.
Air chucks, blow guns and other air tools are produced in a large quantity having many styles and sizes. Although these devices vary in style and size, there are some common factors. That is, almost all include a ¼ inch female pipe thread into which most users install one or two common styles of disconnect plugs. "Style T" disconnect plug is known as an automotive design and "Style I-M" disconnect plug is an industrial design. The I-M plug design has been adopted by most coupler manufacturers.
Many tradesmen, craftsmen, auto mechanics, mechanics in general and other workers often require access to multiple air tools. Thus, there has developed a need for a device or storage arrangement which will enable ease of access to those tools while at the same time providing a means for storage which is secure and yet which may be portable.


A developing device according to an aspect of the invention includes: a housing; a developing roller comprising a roller main body having a circumferential surface, the developing roller being rotatably supported to the housing; and seal members respectively disposed to face both end portions of the circumferential surface of the roller main body with respect to a rotational axis direction thereof and to press contact with the roller main body. Each of the seal members comprises: a base material formed of an elastic element; and a sliding frictional member that is formed of fibers and contacts with the circumferential surface of the roller main body such that the roller main body frictionally slides on the sliding frictional member. Both edges of the circumferential surface of the roller main body with respect to the rotational axis direction thereof are brought into contact with the base materials.

In an image forming apparatus such as a laser printer, an electrostatic latent image is formed on a surface of a photosensitive drum, and toner is fed to the elastic latent image from a developing device, whereby a toner image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum. Then, the toner image is transferred to a sheet of paper, and the image is formed on the sheet.
The developing device includes: a housing having an opening which is open towards the photosensitive drum; and a developing roller which is supported rotatably in the opening of the housing. Toner is held within the housing. The developing roller is configured such that a roller main body formed of a conductive elastic material is provided on and covers a metallic roller shaft. In the developing roller, a portion of a circumferential surface of the roller main body is exposed from the housing, and the exposed portion faces a surface of the photosensitive roller. The toner in the housing is carried on the surface of the roller main body of the developing roller, and the toner so carried is then fed to the surface of the photosensitive roller in association with the rotation of the developing roller, and the toner is fed to the electrostatic latent image that is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum.
In the developing device, side seals are provided for preventing the leakage of the toner from both sides of the roller main body. Each side seal is formed by affixing a sliding frictional member formed of fibers to a sponge member made from urethane foam. The side seals are respectively secured to positions which face both end portions of the roller main body of the developing roller. When the developing roller is attached to the housing, the sliding frictional members are brought into contact with portions of the circumferential surface of the roller main body which extends inwards from both edges of the circumferential surface by a predetermined width, whereby the side seals are pressed by the developing roller. The sponge member has an appropriate thickness, and when the developing roller is attached to the housing, the sponge member is compressed between the roller main body and the housing so as to produce an appropriate elastic force. By this elastic force, the side seals (the sliding frictional seal members) are brought into press contact with both the axial end portions of the roller main body, whereby seals are established between both the end portions of the roller main body and the housing by the side seals. This kind of the developing device is disclosed in JP-2003-A-195630, for example.

Developing device and image forming apparatus with seal members


Methods and kits for the use of a non-ionic detergent to suppress enzyme inhibition in a reaction solution due to the presence of inhibiting ionic detergent. Prior to reaction, the reaction mixure is given an effective amount of a non-ionic detergent, and agitated. The enzyme is then added, and the enzymatic reaction is the allowed to proceed. Also disclosed are preferred embodiments of the present invention, and kits for nucleic acid amplification of a biological sample in the presence of an ionic detergent.

This invention concerns enzyme-mediated chemical reactions conducted in vitro, and techniques for preventing their inhibition in the presence of detergents. Detergents are common tools in medical and biological research laboratories, primarily due to their ability to solubilize various proteins, cell wall and membrane components, and other cellular organelles, substructures, and components which are either insoluble or incompletely soluble in aqueous solution alone. Thus, detergents are often components of extraction or lysis buffers, both as lytic agents and as effective inhibitors of undesired enzyme activities such as those contributed by the proteases and nucleases normally present in a crude cell lysate. Additionally, such detergents are often used for the same purposes in the purification of nucleic acids.
Most enzymes used as tools in applied molecular and biological chemistry are quite sensitive to detergents, especially strong ionic detergents such as sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) or lithium lauryl sulphate (LLS). Such ionic detergents can bind strongly to proteins, often resulting in irreversible denaturation of the protein. (See American Society for Microbiology, Manual of Methods for General Bacteriology 57-58 (1981) ). However, for precisely this reason ionic detergents such as LLS are often an extremely valuable and inexpensive short- to medium-term preservative of nucleic acids in solution. Thus, such agents are useful to assist in accomplishing the first step of a nucleic acid hybridization assay using microorganisms; extraction of the nucleic acids from microbial cells or particles. Ionic detergents help to solubilize the cell wall and cell membrane, and to simultaneously prevent degradation of the nucleic acids by nucleases. (See id.) Moreover, strong ionic detergents such as SDS or LLS are often added to the lysis, permeabilization, or transport media in which clinical specimens are conveyed to the laboratory for analysis.
Often nucleic acids obtained from a biological sample are subsequently subjected to enzymatic manipulation, such as digestion with a restriction endonuclease or an exonuclease specific to DNA or RNA. Additionally, nucleic acids obtained from such samples are often not present in amounts large enough for them to be directly detected and/or quantified by nucleic acid hybridization techniques. Thus, the nucleic acid sequences of interest in such samples must normally be enzymatically amplified to be detected.
In biological or clinical samples to be subjected to one or more rounds of nucleic acid amplification or another enzyme-mediated reaction, the detergent must be separated from the nucleic acids in solution before an enzyme can be added to the reaction mixture. Dialysis or ultrafiltration, which usually works well to remove small molecules from a solution will not effectively remove most detergents, probably due both to the size of the micelles formed by the aggregation of the detergent molecules, as well as ionic or hydrophobic binding of the detergent molecules to larger solutes. Moreover, neither dialysis nor ultrafiltration is conveniently adaptable for use in a commercial diagnostic kit.
It would be convenient and cost-effective to perform an enzyme-mediated reaction such as nucleic acid amplification or a restriction digest in the same tube or collection vessel as is used to transport the biological sample to the laboratory for analysis, i.e. in the presence of SDS or LLS. Alternatively, it would be desirable to conduct such a reaction using such a sample as the immediate starting material, rather than having to subject the sample to an additional detergent-removing step. Although SDS can be precipitated with solvents such as acetone, acetone can denature or precipitate some enzymes. Moreover, the desired reaction may be inhibited by traces of acetone or other precipitating agents.
Currently, nucleic acids in a crude sample are generally purified prior to conducting an amplification by means of a phenol/chloroform extraction and subsequent ethanol precipitation. The method of the present invention takes advantage of both the similarities and the differences between ionic and non-ionic detergents to eliminate the necessity for such a step, thereby allowing enzyme-mediated reactions to be performed using nucleic acids in a biological sample, even when the sample contains an amount of ionic detergent which would normally inhibit the reaction.
The present invention is preferably a method for performing a nucleic acid amplification reaction, such as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or a transcription-based amplification system, in the presence of anionic detergents such as sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) or lithium lauryl sulphate (LLS). However, this present invention should be capable of preventing the inhibition of other enzymatic reactions, such as restriction digests, endo- and exonuclease digests, and kinase and transferase reactions by ionic detergents as well. Nor does the Applicant contemplate that the application of the present invention is limited to enzymatic reactions involving nucleic acids. Thus, while the embodiments of the present invention contained herein illustrate the use of the present invention in amplification reactions, such embodiments are meant to be exemplary only, the scope of the present invention being defined solely by the claims with which this specification concludes.
While not wishing to be bound by theory, Applicants believe that the formation of colloidal aggregates comprising heterogeneous micelles of non-ionic and ionic detergent molecules effectively remove the ionic detergent molecules from solution, thus making them unavailable to bind with or denature the subsequently added enzyme.
The ability of detergents to enhance or restore the activity of some enzymes has been reported. Saito, M., et al., Action of Arthrobacter ureafaciens Sialidase on Sialoglycolipid Substrates, 254 J. Biol. Chem. 7845-54 (1979). The use of heterogeneous micelles of ionic and non-ionic detergents as a method for the reactivation of detergent-inhibited proteins has also been reported. See Ey, P. L. & Ferber, E., Calf Thymus Alkaline Phosphatase II. Interaction with Detergents, 480 Biochim. Biophys. Acta 163-77 (1977) ; Berge, R. K., et al., Variations in the Activity of Microsomal Palmitoyl-CoA Hydrolase in Mixed Micelle Solutions of Palmitoyl-CoA and Non-Ionic Detergents of the Triton X Series, 666 Biochim. Biophys. Acta 25-35 (1981), Tandon S., & Horowitz, P. M., Detergent-assisted Refolding of Gaunidinium Chloride-denatured Rhodanese, 262 J. Biol. Chem. 4486-91 (1987). Additionally, the formation of heterogeneous micelles of ionic and non-ionic detergents has been reported as a method for removing inhibiting concentrations of non-ionic detergents from a solubilized enzyme preparation. Stralfors, P. et al., Removal of Nonionic Detergent from Proteins Fractionated by Electrofocusing, 533 Biochim. Biophys. Acta 90-97 (1978).
All of the methods mentioned in the publications listed above involve the activation or reactivation of enzymes in a detergent solution; none of these methods teach or suggest the formation of heterogeneous micelles in a solution containing an enzyme substrate before the addition of active enzyme. Additionally, in all these cases detergents were used to solubilize, purify, or activate the enzyme; in no case was the detergent initially added to solubilize and stabilize the enzyme substrate rather than the enzyme itself.

Method for suppressing inhibition of enzyme-mediated nucleic acid amplification reactions by ionic detergents


A vehicle comprises a regulation device for ordering of movements of the vehicle (1) in a horizontal plane and a control device with a calculation unit arranged to produce signals to control the control and drive means of the vehicle's wheels (3) by information from the regulation device to achieve movement as instructed by the regulation device. The regulation device is designated with the capability to, on request of a change of the vehicle's direction in the horizontal plane, order a location for a turning point (B) for the vehicle located anywhere in the horizontal plane. The control device's calculation unit is designed to calculate the instantaneous desired value of the respective wheel's angular alignment relative to a lengthwise axis of the vehicle corresponding to the location of said turning point as ordered by the regulation device and send signals to the control means so as to achieve that alignment.

The present invention relates to a vehicle and a method for controlling thereof according to the description herein.
The vehicle can be of many different types, and the invention includes both driver controlled as well as driver-less, remote controlled vehicles. The invention is however in particular, but not exclusively, directed towards vehicles which will move in environments where space is relatively limited and where high demands are placed on the vehicles' manoeuvrability, as is the case for industrial trucks, which are driven in warehouses, industrial sites, loading yards and other such places to handle cargo. For this reason the invention will hereafter mainly be described in connection with vehicles of such so-called truck type without limiting the invention in any way thereto.
A vehicle of the type defined by way of introduction is known from the applicant's patent application PCT/SE99/00618. By arranging said two first wheels in the indicated way excellent properties to displace such a vehicle in a confined space according to advantageous movement patterns are achieved. The reason for this is that it can be said that such a wheel can be turned on the spot without any tendency to slip in that on turning the wheel one revolution around the first axis it will with said turning point describe a circle on the ground. At the same time it is made possible to take up new alignments of the wheel while the chassis is totally still, which means that the vehicle can be brought to a new position in the shortest possible or otherwise most desirable way.
It is stated here that the invention is fully realisable with only said first wheels of said first type and no other means resting on the ground to support the chassis, so that in this case the vehicle has to be balanced like a motorcycle, even if hereafter the diagrams and the accompanying text show and describe the case of a vehicle with four wheels, as this is the way the vehicle will usually be realised. The desire exists to improve the way in which the vehicle of the discussed type is controlled in order to make full use of the excellent possibilities of displacement patterns which such a vehicle offers.

Vehicle and a method for controlling steering thereof


A method implemented by a node in a high availability system having a master node and a replica node, the method including monitoring another node to determine whether or not the node is responding via a network connection, when the node is found to be not responding, changing into a periodic replication mode of operation, serving user requests while in the replication mode of operation, determining that the other node is now responding via the network connection, negotiating to merge changes resulting from serving the user requests with the other node, and reverting to an online replication mode of operation.

Split brain data or availability inconsistencies originate from the maintenance of two separate data sets at different network nodes with overlap in scope, either because of servers in a network design, or a failure condition based on servers not communicating and synchronizing their data to each other. In a high availability (HA) split brain situations, if communications between the nodes is broken, each node may continue to run, and serve clients, oblivious to other nodes.
There is no trustworthy arbitrator than identify whether a node is down or not communicating. Usual approaches to correctly synchronizing data between the nodes may involve selecting between different solutions. In one solution, a most recent failed node will become the master. In another solution, the most frequently I/O updated node will become the master. In still a further solution, a graphical user interface prompts an administrator to select a node to become the master. In any case, some data on the new replica may be lost during the split brain period. In critical situations, such as finance protection, such losses are unacceptable.


A marker for use in a blasting system which includes a harness, the marker including a control unit, a memory in which information is stored and a connector for connection to a selected location on the harness whereby, upon receipt of an enabling signal via the harness, the information is made available by the control unit.

This invention relates to a blasting system, to a method of controlling the blasting or initiation of a plurality of detonators in a blasting system, and to a marker for use in a blasting system.
Detonators are often connected to one another in a predetermined sequence and programmed so that each detonator is initiated at a predetermined time relative to other detonators in the sequence. A preset time difference may prevail between adjacent detonators in the sequence but this time difference can be dependent on a geographical or physical pattern in which the detonators are positioned or on geological factors such as the nature of the rock in which the detonators are placed. More generally it can be said that parameters of a blasting system such as a detonator layout or configuration or a timing sequence are influenced by the environment in which the detonators are used. For example in an underground situation particular physical and timing blasting patterns may apply in respect of detonators which are in a stope as opposed to detonators which are in a gully.
A practical difficulty which can arise at least in this connection when a complex blasting pattern is used, or when there are a large number of detonators in a blasting system, is the formulation by a user of a visual depiction of the interconnected detonators in a manner which facilitates the correct implementation of a desired blast sequence. For example at what location must time delays, assigned to the detonators, be changed? Where does a row or branch of detonators start, or finish? Where, in a blast structure, does use start or stop of a particular type or class of detonator? and so on.


A process for producing a 2-pyridylpyridine derivative usable as an intermediate for medicines or agricultural chemicals is provided, which does not require expensive special catalysts and special equipment, which does not cause environmental problems, and which can be conducted on an industiral scale. The process comprises reacting an acetyl-substituted pyridine derivative with a 3-amino acrolein, then reacting the reaction product with ammonia or an ammonium salt.

This invention provides a process for producing a 2-pyridylpyridine derivative, an important intermediate for producing medicines, agricultural chemicals, catalyst ligands, organic electroluminescence elements, charge transfer materials, electrophotographic photo-sensitive materials and dyes, in a high yield and with a high purity in a sequential manner at a low production cost, which process can be conducted on an industiral scale.
As reactions for synthesizing 2-pyridylpyridine derivatives, there have conventionally been known Ullmann reaction between 2-bromopyridine and 4-chloropyridine in nitrobenzene (Khim. Geol. Nauk., 114 (1970)), a reaction utilizinga cobalt catalyst (Synthesis, 600 (1975); Chem. Pharm. Bull., 33, 4755 (1985)), a coupling reaction between an alkyltin derivative and a halogenated pyridine in the presence of a Pd catalyst (Tetrahedron Lett., 33, 2199 (1992)), and a coupling reaction of halogenated pyridine derivatives with each other (W09852922). These reactions, however, involve many problems. For example, they require extremely expensive catalysts or reagents, require a special treatment for metal-containing waste liquor, and require difficult separation of by-products produced therefrom, thus not being said to be industrially advantageous techniques.
In addition, there have been proposed a cross-coupling reaction utilizing Grignard reaction (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3169/1989; Tetrahedron Lett., 28, 5845 (1987) and synthesis by Wurtz reaction of halogenated pyridine derivatives with each other in the presence of Li metal under irradiation with ultrasonic waves (Tetrahedron Lett., 30, 3567 (1989); Synthesis, 564 (1986)). However, these reactions require exclusive equipment, and involve many problems for production on a large scale.
Recently, it has been reported to form a pyridine ring via pyridinium ion by iodinating an acetylpyridine derivative (Synthesis., 815 (1999)). This technique causes environmental problems since it involves halogenation and, in case where iodine used in the iodination remains, by-products are produced in the subsequent step. Thus, a purification step must be provided before the step after the iodination, which is not advantageous for synthesis on a large scale.
The present invention provides a process for producing a 2-pyridylpyridine derivative usable as an intermediate for medicines or agricultural chemicals, which does not require expensive special catalysts and special equipment, which does not cause environmental problems, and which can be conducted on an industrial scale and, more particularly, provides a process for producing a 2-pyridylpyridine derivative with a high positional specificity and a high purity in a high yield, which enables to produce the 2-pyridylpyridine derivative in a sequential manner at a low production cost.
The objects of the invention can be attained by the following processes. That is:
(1) a process for producing a 2-pyridylpyridine derivative, which comprises reacting an acetyl-substituted pyridine derivative with a 3-aminoacrolein, then reacting the reaction product with ammonia or an ammonium salt;
(2) a process for producing a 2-pyridylpyridine derivative as described in (1) above, wherein the acetyl-substituted pyridine derivative is a compound represented by the following general formula (I):
wherein R1 and R2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group, a heterocyclic group or an aryl group or, when taken together, R1 and R2 may form a ring, R3 represents an acetyl group, and n represents an integer of 1 to 3;
(3) a process for producing a 2-pyridylpyridine derivative as described in (1) above, wherein the ammonium salt is ammonium chloride, ammonium acetate or ammonium formate;
(4) a process for producing a 2-pyridylpyridine derivative as described in (1) above, wherein amount of the ammonia or the ammonium salt to be used is 1 to 30 mols per mol of the acetyl-substituted pyridine derivative;
(5) a process for producing a 2-pyridylpyridine derivative as described in (1) above, wherein the acetyl-substituted pyridine derivative and the 3-aminoacrolein are reacted with each other in the presence of a base;
(6) a process for producing a 2-pyridylpyridine derivative as described in (5) above, wherein amount of the base to be used is 0.1 to 10 mols per mol of the acetyl-substituted pyridine derivative;
(7) a process for producing a 2-pyridylpyridine derivative as described in (1) above, wherein an acid catalyst is used in the reaction between the reaction product of the acetyl-substituted pyridine with the 3-aminoacrolein and ammonia or the ammonium salt;
(8) a process for producing a 2-pyridylpyridine derivative as described in (7) above, wherein the acid is formic acid, ac acid or propionic acid; and
(9) a process for producing a 2-pyridylpyridine derivative as described in (1) above, wherein a solvent is used in the reaction between the acetyl-substituted pyridine derivative and the 3-aminoacrolein.
The invention is described in more detail below.
In order to describe the invention in more detail, one embodiment of the process of the invention is shown below which, however, does not limit the invention in any way.
In the invention, the acetyl-substituted pyridine derivative is exemplified by the compounds represented by the following general formula (I). The 3-aminoacrolein is exemplified by those 3-aminoacroleins which are represented by the following general formula (II) or (III). However, these are not to be construed to limit the scope of the invention.
In the above general formula (I), R1 and R2 each independently represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group, a heterocyclic group or an aryl group or, when taken together, R1 and R2 may form a ring, R3 represents an acetyl group, and n represents an integer of 1 to 3. In the above embodiment of the process of the invention, n=1.
In the above formula (II) or (III), R4 and R5 each independently represent an alkyl group or, when taken together, R4 and R5 may form a ring, and R6 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or an alkyl group.
In the above general formulae (I) to (III), the alkyl group includes amethyl group, an ethyl group and a propyl group, with methyl group being preferred. The aryl group includes aphenyl group. The heterocyclic group includes a pyridyl group and a pyrazyl group, with pyridyl group being preferred. The halogen atom includes a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom and a bromine atom, with fluorine atom and chlorine atom being preferred. The ring formed by R1 and R2 includes a benzene ring and a cyclohexane ring, with benzene ring being preferred.
The ring formed by R4 and R5 includes a piperidine ring, a pyrrolidine ring and a morpholine ring, with morpholine ring being preferred.
As the acetyl-substituted pyridine derivatives to be used in the invention, there are specifically illustrated following compounds (IV-1) to (IV-6) including those represented by the above general formula (I). In the following formulae, R7 represents an acetyl group.
These acetyl-substituted pyridine derivatives may be obtained from, for example, easily available compounds wherein R7 represents a cyano group, by reacting them with a Grignard reagent (MeMgI) prepared from methyl iodide according to the process described in Org. Syntheses., Coll. Vol. III, 26(1965), then hydrolyzing the product to thereby convert R7 to acetyl group.
In the invention, no reaction solvents may be used throughout the all steps but, if necessary, there may be used any of polar or non-polar organic solvents such as aromatic solvents, e.g., benzene, toluene, xylene, chlorobenzene and dichlorobenzene; polar solvents, e.g., pyridine, acetonitrile, N,N-dimethylformamide, N,N-dimethylacetamide and N-methylpyrrolidone; ester solvents, e.g., methyl acetate, ethyl acetate and butyl acetate; and alcohols, e.g., methanol, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, butanol and t-butanol. Preferred solvents are ether solvents such as diethyl ether, diisopropyl ether, dibutyl ether, methyl t-butyl ether and tetrahydrofuran (abbreviated as xe2x80x9cTHFxe2x80x9d), with THF being more preferred. In addition, two or more of these solvents maybe used as a mixture, with the mixing ratio being freely determined. The reaction solvent is used in an amount of 1 to 50 parts by weight per part by weight of the acetyl-substituted pyridine derivative, with an amount of 2 to 30 parts by weight being more preferred and an amount of4 to 8parts by weight being still more preferred.
In the invention, existence of a base is preferred in reacting the acetyl-substituted pyridine with the 3-aminoacrolein. As the base to be used in the invention, any base maybe used and, usually, metal alkoxides such as potassium t-butoxide, sodium t-butoxide and sodium ethoxide, inorganic bases such as sodium hydride, metallic sodium, sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide, and organic bases such as triethylamine and diisopropylamine may be used. Of these, potassium t-butoxide, sodium t-butoxide and sodium hydride are preferred, with potassium t-butoxide being more preferred. These bases are used in an amount of 0.1 to 10 mols, preferably 0.8 to 2.0 mols, more preferably 0.9 to 1.2 mols, per mol of the acetyl-substituted pyridine derivative.
Ammonia or the ammonium salts to be used in the invention maybe in any form but, usually, an ammonia gas, aqueous ammonia, ammonium chloride, ammonium acetate or ammonium formate is used. Of these, ammonium chloride, ammonium acetate and ammonium formate are preferably used, with ammonium acetate being more preferred. These are used in an amount of 1 to 30 mols, preferably 3 to 15 mols, more preferably 6 to 10 mols, per mol of the acetyl-substituted pyridine derivative. Two or more different forms of ammonia may be mixed to use, with the mixing ratio being freely determined.
In the invention, reaction temperature upon reacting the acetyl-substituted pyridine derivative with the 3-aminoacrolein ranges from 20 to 100xc2x0 C., preferably from 40 to 80xc2x0 C., more preferably from 40 to 60xc2x0 C. Reaction temperature upon subsequently reacting the reaction product with ammonia or the ammonium salt ranges from 40 to 200xc2x0 C., preferably from 50 to 150xc2x0 C., more preferably from 60 to 120xc2x0 C. These reactions complete usually within 24 hours and, in many cases, disappearance of the starting materials is confirmed in 5 to 12 hours.
In the process of the invention, catalysts are not particularly required throughout the all steps. However, in the reaction between the reaction product of the acetyl-substituted pyridine derivative with the 3-aminoacrolein and ammonia or the ammonium salt, use of an acid catalyst serves to complete the reaction in a shorter period of time, thus being preferred. As such acid catalyst, any acid may be used and, specifically, there may be used in organic acids such as sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid, organic acids such as p-toluenesulfonic acid, formic acid, acetic acid and propionic acid, and strongly acidic ion-exchange resins such as Amberlite and Amberlyst. Preferably, formic acid, acetic acid or propionic acid capable of keeping the reaction system weakly acidic is used, with acetic acid being more preferred.
After completion of the reaction, the end product of 2-pyridylpyridine derivative is purified by recrystallization from alcohol, hexane or toluene, column purification using silica gel or distillation under reduced pressure. These purification methods may be employed independently or in combination of two or more to obtain the end product with a high purity.

Process for the production of 2-pyridylpyridine derivatives


A light-emitting device having the quality of an image high in homogeneity is provided. A printed wiring board (second substrate) (107) is provided facing a substrate (first substrate) (101) that has a luminous element (102) formed thereon. A PWB side wiring (second group of wirings) (110) on the printed wiring board (107) is electrically connected to element side wirings (first group of wirings) (103, 104) by anisotropic conductive films (105a, 105b). At this point, because a low resistant copper foil is used to form the PWB side wiring (110), a voltage drop of the element side wirings (103, 104) and a delay of a signal can be reduced. Accordingly, the homogeneity of the quality of an image is improved, and the operating speed of a driver circuit portion is enhanced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device having an element (hereinafter referred to as luminous element) that is comprised of a luminous material sandwiched between electrodes (the device will hereinafter be referred to as light-emitting device), and to a method of manufacturing the same. Specifically, the present invention relates to a light-emitting device using a luminous material that provides EL (Electro Luminescence) (hereinafter referred to as EL material).
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, development is proceeding in a light-emitting device (EL display device) using a luminous element that utilizes the EL phenomenon of a luminous material (hereinafter referred to as EL element). The EL display device is a display device that uses a luminous element which itself has a light-emitting ability, that is, self-emissive, and hence, unlike a liquid crystal display device, does not need a back light. In addition, the EL display device has merits such as a wide field of vision, light weight, and a low power consumption.
Such an El display device is constructed of a structure that has an EL element composed of an anode, a cathode, and an EL material sandwiched therebetween. By applying a voltage between the anode and the cathode to make a current flow in the EL material, carriers re-couple, whereby the EL element emits light. Such a driving method is called a current drive. However, in the EL display device which has the current drive, there is a problem of a phenomenon in which a voltage drop (also referred to as an IR drop) caused by a wiring resistance occurs. This phenomenon is that the voltage becomes lower as its distance from a power source becomes farther even if it is the voltage of the same wiring. This problem is particularly conspicuous when the wiring becomes long. Thus, it is a large obstacle in making the screen of the EL display device larger.
When the wiring is made of a material such as tantalum, tungsten, or silicon, the EL display device is susceptible to the influence of the wiring resistance, which may become the cause of immensely reducing the homogeneity of the quality of the image. In addition, in case of using a low resistant material such as aluminum or copper, when the draw-around distance is long, then the same thing can be observed, i.e., the aforementioned phenomenon will occur.
The above-mentioned problem will be explained here with reference to FIG. 2. Shown in FIG. 2 is a portion of a pixel portion of an active matrix EL display device. An "n" number of pixels denoted by A1, A2, . . . An are arranged in the up and down direction (vertical direction) of the diagram. Reference symbol 201 denotes a gate wiring, 202 denotes a source wiring, and 203 denotes a current supply line. Furthermore, a switching TFT 204, a storage capacitor 205, a current control TFT 206, and an EL element 207 are formed in a region that is surrounded by the gate wiring 201, the source wiring 202, and the current supply line 203.
At this point, the voltage of the current supply line 203 drops as the current supply line 203 moves towards the bottom of the diagram due to the influence of the voltage drop. That is, a voltage V1 that was in the upper part of the pixel portion becomes a voltage V2 in the lower part of the pixel portion, becoming a relationship of V1>V2. This influence becomes more conspicuous as the area of the pixel portion (image display region) is made larger.
As a result, in case of making the EL elements of each of the pixels emit light in the same brightness, the pixel denoted by A1 and the pixel denoted by A2 will emit light in about the same brightness. However, the brightness of the light emitted by the pixel denoted by An declines compared with the pixel denoted by A1 and the pixel denoted by A2. The reason for this originates in that the voltage applied to the EL element of the pixel denoted by An has declined due to the voltage drop.
Further, the influence of such voltage drop is imparted not only to the current supply line 203 but also to the gate wiring 201 and the source wiring 202. In other words, there is a concern that the gate wiring 201 may not be able to open a gate of the switching TFT 204 because of the voltage drop. In addition, the source wiring 202 becomes incapable of applying a desired voltage to a gate of the current control TFT 206 due to the voltage drop, leading to a fear that the brightness of the EL element will change or that the EL element will not emit light.
Thus, the transmission of a desired voltage becomes impossible because of the voltage drop which originates in the wiring resistance. Consequently, a drawback in which there is a considerable loss in the homogeneity of the quality of the image in the pixel portion occurs. Attempts such as contriving to apply a voltage to both ends of the wiring have been made in order to improve the above problem. However, because the wiring is drawn around longer, as a result, the influence of the voltage drop cannot be ignored.
In case of manufacturing a monolithic type light-emitting device in which a driver circuit portion (typically including a gate driver circuit and a source driver circuit) is integrated on the same substrate, the wiring resistance of a wiring that is drawn around between the driver circuit portion and an input terminal of an electric signal becomes a problem. The wiring resistance induces a delay of the electric signal, and therefore there is a concern that the operating speed of the gate driver circuit and the source driver circuit will be reduced.
Thus, drawbacks such as the considerable loss of the homogeneity of the quality of the image and the extreme decline in the operating speed of the driver circuit portion due to the voltage drop which originates in the wiring resistance and the delay of a signal occur. Such a problem becomes a particularly conspicuous problem in a light-emitting device having a large screen that is several tens inches in diagonal.

Light-emitting device with suppressed influence of voltage drop

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


A filter element has a support grid structure with a first axial end and a second axial end. A filter medium surrounds annularly the support grid. The support grid has structural web members that are connected and form a hollow-cylindrical grid structure that surrounds a cylindrical interior. At least three of the structural web members or structural web sections connect to each other to define a through opening. A fluid flow is enabled in radial direction relative to a center axis of the hollow-cylindrical grid structure through the through openings. A first average opening cross-section of the through openings in a first region adjacent to a first axial end is greater than a second average opening cross-section of the through openings in a second region adjacent to the second axial end.

The invention concerns a support tube for a filter element wherein the support tube encloses an interior and a filter medium surrounds annularly the support tube. The support tube comprises a plurality of, in particular straight, webs that are partially connected with each other and form a hollow-cylindrical grid structure that surrounds a cylindrical interior. Through openings are formed by at least three webs or web sections that are connected to each other, wherein fluid can flow radially relative to the center axis of the hollow-cylindrical grid structure through the through openings.
DE 10 2010 010 964 A1 discloses a support grid for a filter element. The support grid has at one end a thread for mounting it on a filter housing. When it is screwed onto the filter housing or unscrewed, the support grid transmits torsion forces from the end where the operator is grips it for turning it to the other end which has the thread.
Because of the partially high loads occurring upon mounting and demounting, the webs of the support grid must have a sufficiently large cross-section for force transmission so that the cross-section of the through openings between the webs that is available for flow is reduced and the pressure loss of the filter element is increased.
The object of the invention is to provide a support tube which is resistant to torsion loads and bending loads and enables a minimal pressure loss.


A prosthesis (14) that is useful as an anti-reflux device or an anti-obesity device within a gastro-intestinal tract of a living organism, such as a human, comprises an elastic portion including a helical elastic spring (15) embedded in a biocompatible material.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,764,518 describes a prosthesis, for controlling the direction of flow in the gastro-intestinal tract of a living organism e.g. a mammal, consisting of a hollow elongate body consisting of a proximal elastic portion, that provides an annular fixing part, comprising a relatively thick wall having inner and outer surfaces that together define a cylindrical tube, comprising an elastic spring, such as a meandering nitinol spring or split ring, that extends substantially the length of the elastic portion, embedded within a biocompatible plastics material, and, joined integrally thereto, a distal flexible portion comprising a relatively thin wall having inner and outer surfaces that together define a tube having a passageway and consisting of a biocompatible plastics material. When exposed to a distorting pressure, the elastic portion can be folded e.g. to assist conveyance of the prosthesis with an endoscope, but is capable of returning to its normal undistorted shape once the distorting pressure is removed. In use, the elastic portion at the proximal end of the prosthesis is located e.g. in the esophagus or hiatus hernia, and the flexible portion at the distal end of the prosthesis extends down the tract into e.g. the stomach or intestine. When an overpressure is exerted on its outer surface, the flexible portion collapses on itself, so blocking the passageway and thereby preventing back-flow, as seen in GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disease. A prosthesis of similar design but being relatively longer and provided with relatively thicker walls than the above anti-reflux tubes can be used to reduce obesity by slowing down the ingestion of food in the gastro-intestinal tract, thereby inducing satiety, as described in US 2008-0249533 A1.
A prosthesis of the above design may be positioned in the gastro-intestinal tract by locating the elastic portion of the prosthesis in the natural "cavity" created by a fixed or sliding hiatus hernia, as illustrated in FIG. 1B (9) at least 1 cm high and no more than 6 cm high measured from the Z line (3), which is the junction of the esophageal mucosa and the gastric mucosa and the hiatus (5) or orifice of the diaphragm (4) that can easily and readily be seen and measured by any gastroenterologist practicing endoscopy. It is also possible to locate a prosthesis of the above design in the gastro-intestinal tract without having a hernia creating a distended area with the elastic portion positioned in the lower esophagus above the Z line (3), as illustrated in FIG. 1A. The diameter of the hernia or lower esophagus is measured with a calibration basket (12) that can be passed through the working channel of a standard gastroscope (10), as illustrated in FIG. 2. The calibration basket will enable the diameter of the hernia or esophagus to be measured, which in turn will determine the size of the prosthesis to be placed in the patient. When the elastic portion is correctly located, the flexible portion of the prosthesis extends from the elastic portion down the tract and into the stomach, where it may terminate at its distal end.
An endoscopic procedure may be employed to position a prosthesis in the gastro-intestinal tract. For example, a prosthesis having an elastic portion comprising a meandering nitinol spring, such as illustrated in FIG. 3 of U.S. Pat. No. 6,764,518 may be fitted by a procedure that typically comprises tightly folding the elastic portion and conveying the prosthesis with the endoscope, through the mouth and down the esophagus, where the prosthesis is released from the endoscope at or near to the position where the prosthesis is to be located. Releasing the elastic portion enables it to unfold and resume its normal undistorted shape in the gastro-intestinal tract. The prosthesis can be finally positioned, e.g. with the elastic portion located in the lower esophagus or hiatus hernia and the flexible portion extending down the tract into the stomach.
Once positioned in the gastro-intestinal tract, a prosthesis having an elastic portion comprising a meandering nitinol spring can be exposed to significant peristaltic movements that may push the prosthesis lower down the gastro-intestinal tract e.g. from the esophagus or hiatus hernia into the stomach or even further down into the intestinal tract.
To reduce the problem of the prosthesis becoming dislodged from its correct position within the gastro-intestinal tract, the meandering spring may be replaced by a split ring that extends substantially the length of the elastic portion, such as illustrated in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 of U.S. Pat. No. 6,764,518. However, whilst such a prosthesis is less susceptible to being dislodged from its correct position by peristaltic forces, the continuous pressure exerted by the ring on the mucosal wall can cause local granulation (proliferation of tissue) that can occlude the prosthesis around the ring and/or cause bleeding ulcerations in the mucosal wall of the hernia.
The object of the present invention is to provide a prosthesis, consisting of a hollow elongate body consisting of an elastic portion and a flexible portion, that is no more difficult to fit in position in the gastro-intestinal tract than the prostheses disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,764,518 but which is less prone to displacement from its fitted position by peristaltic pressure than the prosthesis having an elastic portion comprising a meandering elastic spring and which is less prone to cause local granulation and/or ulceration that the prosthesis having an elastic portion comprising a slit ring.


The invention relates to a detector arrangement in an instrument for analysis of discrete liquid sample volumes in the microliter and/or nanoliter range contained in microchannel structures that are present in a disc shaped microfluidic device. The suggested detector arrangement comprises a detector head, supported to be driven and controlled for linear displacement and positioning in a first radial plane through a central axis of an associated rotary drive. A rotary member is carried for rotation about said central axis in a second radial plane in parallelism with said first radial plane. A vacuum source is connected with the rotary member and in air flow communication with a planar top surface of the rotary member for a wide area distribution of sub-pressure over said top surface, the rotary member carrying the disc shaped substrate in adhering contact with the top surface for spinning the substrate in equidistant and equiangular relation to the detector head.

The disc shaped substrate herein referred to has precisely defined microfluidic structures comprising channels, sample basins, reaction chambers, hydrophobic passages and/or other valve structures etc., by which unit operations may be integrated to create scaled down laboratory processes. Through a high precision spinning of the disc, hundreds of analysis may be performed in parallel on a microscale. An automated procedure may be obtained in an instrument incorporating facilities for dispensing liquid samples and reagents to the disc, for spinning and stopping the disc in order to control the process and the movement of liquid in the microstructures, for collecting data and for moving the disc between the operational modules of the instrument. The microfluidic structures may be integrally formed in the disc, and preferably the disc is disposable and manufactured by a replication technique from a synthetic material, i.e. through molding, embossing or the like.
As used herein, the terms "microfluidic", "microstructures" etc. contemplate, that a microchannel structure comprises one or more cavities and/or channels that have a depth and/or a width that is ≦103 μm, preferably ≦102 μm. "Fluidic" in addition means that a liquid transport is taking place in the microchannels. The lower limit for the width/breadth is typically significantly larger than the size of the largest reagents and constituents of aliquots that are to pass through a microchannel. The volumes of microcavities/microchambers are typically ≦1000 nl but may extend into the μl-range such as up to 10 μl or 50 μl. Chambers/cavities directly connected to inlet ports may be considerably larger, e.g. microchambers/microcavities intended for application of sample and/or washing liquids.
The terms "microscale", "microlab" contemplate, that one or more liquid aliquots introduced into a microchannel structure are in the μl-range or smaller, i.e. ≦1000 μl, or in the nl-range such as ≦1000 nl.
The disc comprises covered microchannel structures that are present in a substrate having an axis of symmetry. Each microchannel structure typically is oriented outwards relative to the axis of symmetry with an inlet port at a shorter radial distance from the symmetry axis than a microcavity in which a certain treatment is going to take place, for instance mixing, separation, a chemical reaction, detection etc. There may also be an outlet port for liquid downstream the reaction microcavity. Each microchannel structure may or may not be oriented in a plane perpendicular to the axis of symmetry. By spinning the disc around its axis of symmetry (axis of rotation), a liquid aliquot placed at an inner position, e.g. the inlet port, will be subjected to a centrifugal force driving the liquid outwards, towards and through the microcavity and/or the outlet port for liquids, if present. Vent ports may also be formed and cooperating with liquid flow restrictions in the microchannel structures for controlling the flow direction of liquid aliquots inwards, towards the axis of rotation, through application of centrifugal forces.
According to the invention other forces may also be used for driving liquid flow in this kind of microchannel structures, for instance electrokinetic forces, capillary forces, inertia force other than centrifugal force, over-pressure, etc. This means, for instance, that it is not imperative that the inlet port is at a shorter radial distance from the symmetry axis, than other functional parts of a microchannel structure.
A rotary drive for spinning the disc to create liquid flow in the microfluidic structures is disclosed in a co-pending application titled "ROTARY DRIVE IN AN INSTRUMENT FOR PROCESSING MICROSCALE LIQUID SAMPLE VOLUMES", assigned to the same applicant and filed on the same day as the present application.
A revolving spindle is contemplated for spinning the disc, the disc being carried on a rotary member connected to the spindle. The drive means must satisfy strict demands for an accurate positioning of the disc at a halt and during spinning for sample preparation and sample dispensing, e.g., for detecting and data collection, e.g., and for high speed spinning during processing. For a time effective operation, the disc must be secured on the rotary member under considerable acceleration and retardation loads. In the process step, the disc may be hastily accelerated to speeds up to about 25,000, such as up to about 10,000, revolutions per minute, or above, and hastily decelerated to a halt.
In the detection step the disc is scanned by a detecting means having a capacity for detecting a particular compound or activity in at least a part area of a detection cavity, such as a fluorescence detector, e.g. In consideration of the microscale dimensions and microscale volumes involved, a rotation that is free from warp and in parallelism with the detector means is then of crucial importance for a repeatable and reliable collection of data.
In this context it is a technical problem in the detection step to secure the planarity and a warp free rotation of the disc shaped substrate and its microstructures in parallelism with the detector means. Therefore, and also for reducing the accelerated mass, it is desired to avoid mechanical structures that would be subject to wear and which may also caused damage to the disc at the point of engagement.
Another technical problem related to spinning the disc in the microlab environment is the necessity for avoiding contaminants such as minute particles down to molecular size, that might originate from frictional wear of mechanical arresting means for holding the disc on the spindle.
It is still another technical problem to initially generate a sealed communication between the adhering side of the disc and a vacuum source, if the disc is not plane. Any irregularities or deviations from the planar condition will produce a leak that impairs on the operation of the vacuum fixation of the disc, and must be avoided to achieve the necessary planarity and parallelism with the detector means.
A rotary drive using sub-pressure for holding a recording medium to a revolving turntable is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,493,072, wherein a sub-pressure is distributed through channels arranged in a geometric pattern over the contact surface of the turntable.

Detector arrangement with rotary drive in an instrument for processing microscale liquid sample volumes


The invention provides a battery, which can improve battery characteristics such as high temperature storage characteristics. The battery comprises a battery device, wherein a cathode and an anode are wound with a separator in between. The anode contains an anode material capable of inserting and extracting Li as an anode active material. An electrolytic solution is impregnated in the separator. The electrolytic solution contains a solvent, and an electrolyte salt such as Li[B(CF3)4] dissolved in the solvent, which is expressed by a chemical formula of Li[B(RF1)(RF2)(RF3)RF4]. RF1, RF2, RF3, and RF4 represent a perfluoro alkyl group whose number of fluorine or carbon is from 1 to 12, respectively. Consequently, high temperature storage characteristics are improved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a battery comprising a cathode, an anode, and an electrolyte.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, many portable electronic devices such as a combination camera (video tape recorder), a mobile phone and a laptop computer have been introduced. Downsizing and weight saving of these devices have been made. Along with these situations, active research and development has been promoted in order to improve an energy density of a battery, particularly a lithium ion secondary battery as a portable power source for these electronic devices.
As a secondary battery coverable of obtaining a high energy density, for example, there is a lithium ion secondary battery, wherein a material such as carbon materials capable of inserting and extracting lithium (Li) is used for an anode. The lithium ion secondary battery is designed so that lithium inserted in the anode material is always in a state of ion. Therefore, its energy density largely depends on the number of lithium ions which can be inserted in the anode material. Consequently, it is thought that the energy density of the lithium ion secondary battery can be further improved by improving an inserting volume of the lithium ions. However, using graphite, which is currently considered as a material capable of inserting and extracting lithium ions most effectively, the theoretical limit of the inserting volume is 372 mAh as a quantity of electricity per 1 g. Lately, the limit is almost attained.
As a secondary battery coverable of obtaining a high energy density, for example, there is also a lithium metal secondary battery, wherein a lithium metal is used for an anode, and precipitation and dissolution reaction of the lithium metal is utilized for anode reaction. The lithium metal has a high theoretical electrochemical equivalent, 2,054 mAh/cm3, and has an energy density equivalent to 2.5 times the graphite used for the lithium ion secondary battery. Therefore, the lithium metal secondary battery has a potential ability to realize a high energy density beyond that of the lithium ion secondary battery.
So far, many researchers have conducted research and development on practical use of the lithium metal secondary battery (for example, refer to Edited by Jean-Paul Gabano, "Lithium Batteries," Academic Press, London, N.Y. (1983)). However, in the lithium metal secondary battery, its discharge capacity significantly deteriorates after charge and discharge is repeated. Therefore, its practical use is currently very difficult. This capacity deterioration is based on that the lithium metal secondary battery utilizes precipitation and dissolution reaction of lithium metal in the anode. The reason of this capacity deterioration is thought that the deposited lithium metal falls away from the anode, or deactivated by reaction with an electrolyte, in accordance with charge and discharge.
Therefore, applicants of the invention have developed a new secondary battery, wherein an anode capacity includes a capacity component by insertion and extraction of the lithium and a capacity component by precipitation and dissolution of the lithium metal, and the anode capacity is expressed by the sum of the foregoing two capacity components (for example, refer to International Publication No. WO01/22519). In this secondary battery, a carbon material capable of inserting and extracting lithium ions is used for the anode, and the lithium metal is precipitated on the surface of the carbon material during the charge. According to this secondary battery, it is expected that charge and discharge cycle characteristics can be improved while attaining a high energy density.
Conventionally, as an electrolyte for the battery wherein such lithium is used as a battery reacting species, one wherein LiPF6 as an electrolyte salt is dissolved in a carbonic acid ester nonaqueous solvent such as propylene carbonate and diethyl carbonate has been widely used in view of its high conductivity and stable potential.
However, thermal stability of LiPF6 is not satisfactory. Therefore, there has been a problem that when LiPF6 is used for the battery, high temperature storage characteristics or the like are lowered. Such characteristics deterioration arises even when thermal decomposition of LiPF6 occurs slightly in the electrolyte.
As electrolyte salts other than LiPF6, LiBF4, LiCF3SO3, LiClO4, and LiAsF6 are known as well. However, these electrolyte salts have respective problems. That is, LiBF4 has high thermal stability and oxidation stability, but low conductivity, and LiCF3SO3 has a high thermal stability but low conductivity and oxidation stability, leading to a problem that sufficient discharge characteristics cannot be obtained when charged at a high voltage of 4 V or more. Meanwhile, LiClO4 and LiAsF6 have high conductivity, but have a problem that excellent charge and discharge characteristics cannot be obtained. Further, an electrolyte wherein LiClO4 or LiAsF6 is used always has a minor potential. Therefore, there has been a problem that when precipitating a highly reactive lithium metal, these electrolytes react to the lithium metal, leading to deterioration of the capacity. Consequently, in order to resolve the foregoing problems, it has been considered to use a new electrolyte salt.
Meanwhile, an electrolyte salt, which is expressed by a chemical formula of Mn+ ([BR14]−)n (in this chemical formula, Mn+ represents cation, n represents a valence. R1 represents CxF2x+1 (1≦X≦8)) has been newly synthesized. It has been considered to apply this new electrolyte salt to secondary batteries and capacitors (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-25610, and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-308884).
However, no reports have been received that this new electrolyte salt is used for the battery wherein lithium is used as a battery reaction species as mentioned above. Therefore, practicality of the new electrolyte salt has been unknown.


An adjustable socket for use with a socket wrench is disclosed that includes opposite first and second clamping units having an outer surface adapted to closely engage an inner surface of the socket and including an inner groove for securely engaging a bolt or nut, and a transverse threaded through hole; first and second threaded fastening units adapted to drive through the socket and the first and second clamping units to be threadedly secured together; and a guide for guiding transverse movements of the first and the second clamping units such that turning at least one of the first and the second fastening units will move the first and second clamping units closer each other or move them away from each other. The socket having an adjustable inside diameter is adapted to fit many different sizes of bolts or nuts.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to sockets for use with a socket wrench and more particularly to such a socket having an adjustable inside diameter so as to fit many different sizes of bolts or nuts.
2. Description of Related Art
A conventional socket has two open ends in which one end (i.e., driven end) is adapted to fit a socket wrench and the other end (i.e., drive end) is adapted to fit a hexagonal bolt head (or nut). Thus, a user can rotate the socket wrench to fasten or unfasten the bolt.
The drive end of the conventional socket comprises interior engagement surfaces for engaging a bolt head. The drive end has a fixed inside diameter. Hence, such conventional socket can only fit a bolt of specific size.
It is known that there are many different sizes of bolts commercially available. This means that a user (e.g., a worker) has to prepare many different sizes of sockets in order to drive each of the bolts. This can bear a great financial burden on the user. Also, this is very inconvenient and annoying since, for example, the worker has to stop an ongoing job if a specific sized socket is not at hand during work. Hence, a need has arisen for a socket having an adjustable inside diameter so as to fit many different sizes of bolts or nuts.

Adjustable socket for use with a socket wrench