The present invention provides a process for producing hydroxycarboxylic acid esters easily, further at a high reaction selectivity, by using an inexpensive catalyst. That is, the present invention provides a process for producing hydroxycarboxylic acid esters, which comprises hydrogenating dicarboxylic acid diesters having 3 to 20 carbon atoms in the dicarboxylic acid moiety in the presence of a copper catalyst comprising 1 to 40% by weight of copper as copper oxides.

The present invention relates to a process for producing hydroxycarboxylic acid esters inexpensively at a high selectivity.
Hydroxycarboxylic acid esters are useful as starting materials for polymers or as various synthetic intermediates, and in particular C12-20 xcfx89-hydroxy fatty esters are very useful as macrocyclic lactone precursors applied widely as pharmaceutical intermediates or as musk perfumes.
When dicarboxylic acids or diesters thereof are hydrogenated to produce hydroxycarboxylic acids or esters thereof, there is the problem that diols are produced as byproducts and that, as the reaction proceeds, the selectivity of the aimed mono-hydrides lowers. For example, a copper-chromium catalyst (content of copper oxides: 42 to 44% by weight) is well known as a hydrogenation catalyst for esters, but the hydrogenation of dicarboxylic diesters by using this catalyst is poor in the selectivity of mono-hydrides from an early stage of the reaction.
Examples of the prior art described above are as follows.
(1) In JP-A 63-301845, a hydroxycarboxylic ester is obtained from a dicarboxylic monoester by a catalyst comprising cobalt, lanthanum and palladium.
(2) JP-B 2651291 (corresponding JP-A 5-17393 published on Jan. 26, 1993) discloses a process for hydrogenating an xcex1,xcfx89-long-chain aliphatic dicarboxylic acid by using a catalyst of ruthenium or rhenium and tin.
(3) In Example 5 in JP-A 9-87233, a glycolic acid ester is obtained from an oxalic acid diester by using a catalyst of ruthenium. In JP-B 62-37030, a glycolic acid ester is obtained from an oxalic acid diester by a catalyst comprising silver. In JP-B 60-45938, a glycolic acid ester or ethylene glycol is obtained from an oxalic acid diester by a copper catalyst obtained from a copper ammine complex.
(4) In JP-A 1-172359, an xcex1,xcfx89-aliphatic dicarboxylic acid anhydride is reduced by lithium aluminum hydride or sodium borohydride. In JP-A 64-52739, a hydroxycarboxylic acid ester is obtained from a dicarboxylic acid by a catalyst comprising diborane.
However, there is the problem that in the reference process (1), the selective synthesis of dicarboxylic acid monoesters as the starting material is complicated and highly costs.
In the reference process (2), dicarboxylic acids available relatively inexpensively are used as the starting material, but the ruthenium or rhenium catalyst is expensive, and further the operation of the reaction is made difficult by a high melting point of 1,15-pentadecanedioic acid described in Examples and a very high melting point of carboxylic acid dimers and oligomers produced as byproducts during the reaction.
Further, the reference processes (3) are limited to glycolic acid esters.
The reference processes (4) will not be suitable for industrial mass production because a hydride reagent is necessary in an amount being more than the equimolecular to an ester moiety.
The object of the present invention is to provide a process for producing hydroxycarboxylic acid esters easily, further at a high reaction selectivity, by using an inexpensive catalyst to solve the problems described above.
The invention provides a process for producing a hydroxycarboxylic acid ester, which comprises hydrogenating a dicarboxylic acid diester having 3 to 20 carbon atoms in the dicarboxylic acid moiety in the presence of a copper catalyst comprising 1 to 40% by weight of copper as copper oxides (or converted to copper oxides).
The dicarboxylic acid moiety constituting the dicarboxylic acid diesters used as the starting material in the present invention has 3 to 20 carbon atoms and may be linear or branched and aliphatic or aromatic.
The dicarboxylic acid diesters are preferably xcex1,xcfx89-linear aliphatic dicarboxylic acid diesters represented by the formula (I) because these can produce xcfx89-hydroxy aliphatic carboxylic acid esters represented by the formula (II) which are useful as pharmaceutical intermediates and perfume intermediates.
wherein n is an integer of 4 to 16, and R represents a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 24 carbon atoms.
The compounds of the formulae (I) and (II) wherein n is 10 to 15 are useful as an intermediate of a macrocyclic lactone and, in particular, those compounds wherein n is 13 are very useful as an intermediate of cyclopentadecanolide being important as a raw material as musk perfume.
Further, R of the alcohol constituting the dicarboxylic acid diesters represented by the formula (I) contains 1 to 24 carbon atoms in total and may be linear or branched and aliphatic or aromatic for use. However, from the viewpoint of reaction rate, a linear alkyl group with less steric hindrance is preferable and, from the viewpoint of easy preparation, a linear alkyl group containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms is particularly preferable.
As the process for producing dicarboxylic acid diesters in the case where an alcohol capable of forming an azeotropic mixture with water is used, there is a process which comprises feeding the alcohol continuously to the corresponding dicarboxylic acid at atmospheric pressure in the absence of any catalyst or the presence of an acid catalyst and heating the mixture while removing water produced as a byproduct and an excess of the alcohol, and in the case where a high boiling alcohol not forming an azeotropic mixture with water is used, there is also a process which comprises adding 1.0 to 2.0 equivalents of the alcohol per the dicarboxylic acid and heating the mixture at atmospheric pressure to 1 kPa while removing water produced as a byproduct. By neutralizing the acid catalyst and separating the inorganic salt by filtration, the obtained dicarboxylic acid diesters may be used as such in hydrogenation of the present invention, but it is preferable that, after impurities capable of poisoning the copper catalyst are removed by distillation refining or adsorption treatment, the dicarboxylic acid diesters are used in hydrogenation of the present invention.
The copper catalyst used in the present invention includes (a) a catalyst having copper oxides supported on carriers, (b) a mixed metal oxide of copper oxides and other metal oxides, and (c) a catalyst having copper oxides and at least one kind of other metal oxide supported on carriers. The content of copper as copper oxides in these catalysts is 1 to 40% by weight, preferably 5 to 30% by weight and more preferably 5 to 20% by weight in order to obtain the high reaction selectivity.
The content of copper as copper oxides in the catalyst is defined by the equation (1), and the reaction selectivity is defined by the equation (2).                                                                         The                                                  xe2x80x83                                                content                                                  xe2x80x83                                                of                                                                                copper                                                  xe2x80x83                                                                  (                  %                  )                                                                    =                                            Weight                                            xe2x80x83                                          of                                            xe2x80x83                                          copper                                            xe2x80x83                                          oxide                                                                                Total                                                              xe2x80x83                                                            weight                                                              xe2x80x83                                                            of                                                              xe2x80x83                                                            metal                                                              xe2x80x83                                                            oxides                                                                                and                                                              xe2x80x83                                                            carriers                                                                                xc3x97          100                                    (        1        )                                                                                The                                                  xe2x80x83                                                reaction                                                                                selectivity                                                  xe2x80x83                                                                  (                  %                  )                                                                    =                                                                                Hydroxycarboxylic                                                                                xe2x80x83                                                                                xe2x80x83                                                                                ester                                                                                (                    mole                    )                                                                                (                                                                  Hydroxycarboxylic                                                                                xe2x80x83                                                                                xe2x80x83                                                                                ester                                            +                                                                                Diol                      )                                                                                xe2x80x83                                                                                (                      mole                      )                                                                                xc3x97          100                                    (        2        )
The metal oxides other than copper oxides in the copper catalyst used in the present invention include oxides of zinc, chromium, cobalt, iron, manganese, barium etc. In the present invention, copper-zinc or copper-iron catalysts are preferably used. The copper-zinc catalyst is more preferable and one having a low zinc content is particularly preferable. As the catalyst carriers, any of publicly known catalyst carriers such as activated carbon, zeolite, silicon oxide, aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide and titanium oxide can be used. However, aluminum oxide and titanium oxide are preferable from the viewpoint of easy preparation and titanium oxide is particularly preferable.
The copper catalyst used in the present invention can be easily prepared by a publicly known method. It can be prepared for example by adding a precipitant to an aqueous mixed solution containing copper and other metal salts in the presence of finely powdered carriers to obtain precipitates by coprecipitation method, then washing the precipitates with water, drying and calcinating them.
The metal salts used in the coprecipitation method are not particularly limited as long as they are water-soluble. Sulfates, nitrates, ammonium complex salts and so on are generally used. The precipitant used in the coprecipitation method includes aqueous solutions of alkalis such as ammonium carbonate, sodium carbonate, sodium hydrogen carbonate and sodium hydroxide. The catalyst obtained by the coprecipitation method is calcinated at a temperature of 300 to 500xc2x0 C. for 1 to 3 hours.
In hydrogenation of dicarboxylic acid diesters in the present invention, a catalyst with the optimum shape is selected depending on the reaction system. For example, a powdery catalyst is used in hydrogenation in a suspended bed reaction system, and a pellet- or noodle-shaped catalyst is used in a fixed bed reaction system or a fluidized bed reaction system. In the case of the suspended bed reaction system, the amount of the catalyst used is preferably 0.1 to 20% by weight based on the dicarboxylic acid diesters, but depending on the reaction pressure or reaction temperature, the amount can be arbitrarily selected in such a range as to obtain practical reaction rates.
Prior to the hydrogenation reaction in the present invention, the catalyst may previously be activated by reduction. Herein, the reductant used includes hydrogen, carbon monoxide, ammonia and lower alcohols such as methanol.
The reaction temperature in the hydrogenation reaction of the present invention is preferably 100 to 350xc2x0 C. and more preferably 150 to 300xc2x0 C. The hydrogen pressure is preferably 1.0 to 40 Mpa and more preferably 5.0 to 30 MPa. From the viewpoint of productivity, the reaction is preferably conducted in the absence of solvent, but alcohols or ethers not adversely affecting the reaction can be used in the case of poor handleability due to a high melting point of the hydrogenated mixture formed.
According to the process of the present invention, hydroxycarboxylic acid esters, particularly xcfx89-hydroxy fatty acid esters useful as various intermediates, can be produced highly selectively at a low production cost in a simple operation.

Process for producing hydroxycarboxylic acid ester


A power inserter module includes an FIC male first port for a direct connection without use of cable to a female F-type output port of a DC source of power, an F-type female second port for connection to an RF amplifier to provide DC power thereto and receive RF signals therefrom, an F-type female connector third port for delivering the RF signals to a subscriber, and an electrical circuit for both connecting DC power from the first port to the second port while blocking RF signals from the first port, and connecting RF signals from the second port to the third port while blocking DC power from the latter.

Power inserter devices are utilized in cable television (CATV), wireless (e.g., MMDS), satellite reception and other communication systems. Conventional power inserter devices typically require jumper cables for supporting proper implementation. However, the use of such jumper cables increases installation space and the number of connections needed, and further introduces uwanted cable bends, all of which can adversely diminish performance and reliability of the power inserter device.
Accordingly, there is a need for a power inserter designed to overcome the problems associated with conventional power inserter devices. There is a further need for a power inserter that eliminates the need for jumper cables, thereby reducing the number of connections, avoiding unwanted cable bends, and minimizing installation space for an enhanced interface connection.


Nutritional formulations and methods for imparting positive health benefits to a subject are disclosed and described. In particular, methods and nutritional formulations for providing increased absorption of antioxidants are taught. In some aspects, the nutritional formulation can include Gac fruit extract in combination with at least one other antioxidant. Such nutritional formulations can in some respects produce enhanced or synergistic results with respect to the amount of antioxidants absorbed by a subject.

In today's modern society, many people are plagued with obesity and poor nutrition. Fast food which is high in calories, cholesterol and salts has become the mainstay for many meals. Most people desire a quick and easy meal regardless of the nutritional value provided. This type of lifestyle is becoming more prolific among many cultures.
Although there is myriad of diseases and disorders which inflict the human body as a result of poor nutrition, two have been on the rise over the recent years, namely heart disease and cancer. The increased risk of developing heart disease and cancer is at least in part attributed to poor nutrition and physical inactivity. It has been suggested that oxidation by free radicals, of the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) molecule, plays a central role in the formation and progression of heart disease. Oxidation reactions alter and damage DNA found in healthy cells. Today's stressful lifestyles combined with a lack of physical activity and poor nourishment is a likely cause of increased in-vivo production of free radicals, which in turn can result in an increased risk of heart disease and cancer.
One known mechanism for combating free-radicals is administration of antioxidant compounds. Antioxidant compounds operate by inhibiting oxidant formation, reducing oxidation reactions once they have started, and repairing oxidant-damaged cells. Antioxidants are free radical scavengers, meaning the anti-oxidant compounds safely interact with free radicals to terminate or reduce the oxidation reaction. Many antioxidant compounds are found in natural foods. Examples of antioxidants include are phytochemicals (carotenoids and polyphenols), vitamins (vitamin E and C) including tocopherols, ascorbic acids, and minerals. Some examples of specific antioxidants include vitamins E, C, and A, including beta-carotene, selenium, and flavonoids.
Phytochemical compounds are antioxidants which are mainly found in fruits and vegetables. In particular, carotenoids, such as beta-carotene, are found in many fruits and vegetables such as carrots, spinach, and sweet potatoes. One food which is extremely high in carotenoids is the fruit from Momodica cochinchinensis Spreng, also known as Gac fruit.
While antioxidants are known for combating free-radicals, certain antioxidants have higher potencies than others. Furthermore, different antioxidants may have different mechanisms of action by which they address free-radicals, and some antioxidants may be more potent against certain free-radicals than others. Some of the most potent antioxidants are carotenoids and flavonoids. Additionally, lycopene and beta-carotene are considered some of the most efficient singlet oxygen quenching antioxidants. It is believed that lycopene, in particular, may contribute to the prevention of cancer and heart disease.
In view of the forgoing, nutritional formulations and methods which impart positive health benefits and have a broad spectrum of free-radicals protection continues to be sought.

Nutritional formulations and associated methods


A sector of a word line driver circuit is provided, comprising a local reset signal generator module and m word line clusters. The m word line clusters are coupled to the local reset signal generator module. The local reset signal generator module is used to generate j reset signals. The x-th reset signal is determined according to an x-th pre-decoding signal, a bank selectable signal and a sector selectable signal, wherein j is a nature number, and x is an integer from 1 to j. Each of the m word line clusters comprises j row drivers. The x-th row driver of the y-th word line cluster determines a [x+j*(y−1)]-th word line signal according to the x-th reset signal, the x-th pre-decoding signal, the sector selectable signal, and a y-th cluster select signal, wherein m is a nature number, and y is an integer from 1 to m.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention generally relates to the memory device, and more particularly to the word line driver circuit of the memory device.
2. Description of Prior Art
The memory device has a plurality of memory cells. When there are a plurality of data being to be stored (or read), the memory device must receive the word line selected signal of each of the data, so as to store the plurality of the data in the corresponding memory cells (or read the plurality of the data from the corresponding memory cells) according to the word line selected signals. Accordingly, the word line driver circuit is adapted in the memory device to generate the word line selected signals.
Referring to U.S. Pat. No. 6,388,472 B1 disclosed by Kang, Kang provided a word line driver circuit to generate the voltage of the decoder signal on the selected word line when the global word line is selected. On the other hands, the selected word line is pulled down to the ground when the global word line is not selected.
Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing one sector 10 of the word line driver circuit provided by Kang.
When the sector 10 of the word line driver circuit is selected (i.e. the global line signal GWL is low) in the reading or programming procedure, the voltage of the word line signal WL0 is equal to that of the decoder signal VXPRE0 approximately. When the sector 10 of the word line driver circuit is unselected (i.e. the global line signal GWL is high) in the reading or programming procedure, the voltage of the word line signal WL0 is equal to that of the power supply VEEX approximately. In general, the power supply VEEX is ground terminal, and thus the voltage of the word line signal WL0 is pulled down the ground when the sector 10 of the word line driver circuit is unselected.
It is noted that, the inversed global line signal GWLb serves as a reset signal to control the row driver 12˜15. In the memory device, there are many sectors of the word line decoder inside, and the inversed global line signal GWLb is coupled to each sector of the word line decoder. Since there are many sectors inside, the loading for the inversed global line signal GWLb may increase. Thus in order to drive the NMOS transistors of all sectors inside, the driving capability of the inversed global line signal GWLb must be strong. However the power consumption increases when increasing the driving capability of the inversed global line signal GWLb. Although laying a wires to provide the inversed global line signal GWLb to all sectors does not make the die area efficiency poor in the 0.25 or 0.16 micron meter semiconductor process, laying a wires to provide the inversed global line signal GWLb to all sectors will make the die area efficiency poor the 90 nano-meter semiconductor process.
Referring to U.S. Pub. No. 2006/0077717 A1 disclosed by Park et al., Park et al. provided a word line driver circuit to generate the voltage. Please see FIG. 2, FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing one sector 100 of the word line driver circuit provided by Park et al. The sector 100 of the word line driver circuit includes a word line decoder 109 and a plurality of row drivers DRV0˜DRVi.
When the sector 100 of the word line driver circuit is selected (i.e. the global line signal GWL_1 and the sector selection signal SS are high) in the reading or programming procedure, the power supplies Vpx and Vpgate are high and the power supply Vexen is low. Now the node ND10 is low and the word line signal WL<k> is controlled by the decoder signals PWL<k> and nPWL<k>, wherein the nPWL<k> is the inversion of the decoder signal PWL<k>, and k is an integer from 1 to i. While sector 100 of the word line driver circuit is unselected (i.e. the global line signal GWL_1 and the sector selection signal SS are low) in the reading or programming procedure, the power supplies Vpx and Vexen are high and the power supply Vpgate is low. Now the node ND10 is high and the word line signal WL<k> is pulled down to the ground Vex.
It is noted that, the global line signal GWL_1 serves as a reset signal to control the row driver DRV0˜DRVi, and the power supply Vpx is used to control the NMOS transistors of the row driver DRV0˜DRVi, so as to pull down the word line signal WL<k>. As stated above, in the memory device, there are many sectors of the word line decoder inside. The power supply Vpx is coupled to the gates of the NMOS transistors of all sectors. Since there are many sectors inside, the loading for the power supply Vpx may increase. In order to drive the NMOS transistors of all sectors inside, the driving capability of the power supply Vpx must be strong. Thus the power efficiency is low. Furthermore, the problem of laying a long wire in 90 nano-meter process will occur as stated above, so the die area efficiency is still poor.
Referring to U.S. Pat. No. 6,930,923 B2 disclosed by Chen et al., Chen et al. provided a word line driver circuit to generate the voltage. Please see FIG. 3, FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing one sector 72a of the word line driver circuit provided by Chen et al. The sector 72a of the word line driver circuit includes a word line decoder 82a and a plurality of row drivers 83a˜83c.
When the sector 72a is unselected in the reading or programming procedure, the output of the NAND gate 84 is high, and the transistors 86b, 86d and 86e turn on. Now the voltage of node A is high, the voltage of the node B is low, and the reset signal (Vrst)i is high, wherein i is an integer from 1 to 7. Thus the voltage of the word line signal WLi is pulled down to the ground (i.e. the power supply Vin′ is low with zero voltage).
As stated above, in the memory device, there are many sectors of the word line decoder inside. The reset signal (Vrst)i is coupled to the gates of the NMOS transistors of all sectors. Since there are many sectors inside, the loading for the reset signal (Vrst)i i may increase. In order to drive the NMOS transistors of all sectors inside, the driving capability of the reset signal (Vrst)i i must be strong. Thus the power efficiency is low. Furthermore, the problem of laying a long wire in 90 nano-meter process will occur as stated above, so the die area efficiency is still poor.

Elite Semiconductor Memory Technology Inc.


An image forming apparatus and a power control method thereof are provided. The image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit which forms an image; a power supply which supplies operating power for the image forming apparatus; a switching circuit unit which switches to selectively supply the operating power; a memory unit which stores information about power status of the switching circuit unit; and a controller which outputs a power control signal for controlling a switching operation of the switching circuit unit in accordance with the information about the power status stored in the memory unit if power is abnormally shut off and then supplied again from the power supply to the switching circuit unit. With this, the image forming apparatus operates in a last power status, so that power can be prevented from being wastefully consumed or data can be prevented from being lost.

1. Field
Exemplary embodiments relate to an image forming apparatus and a power control method thereof, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus, power of which is controlled by turning on/off direct current (DC) power of a secondary circuit, and a power control method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image forming apparatus forms an image to be printed on a printing medium. The image forming apparatus may be embodied in a printer, a copy machine, a facsimile, a multi-function peripheral having two or more functions, etc.
For power control of the image forming apparatus, there may be used a method of preparing a mechanical switch at one side of the image forming apparatus and completely shutting off operating power supplied for operation.
However, in the case where a method of turning on/off alternating current (AC) power of a primary circuit is used, an AC harness of a power inlet generally placed in a back side of the image forming apparatus has to be connected to a front side in order to place the switch in a front side of the image forming apparatus for a user's convenience in operating the switch. This causes problems in designing the apparatus and increases production costs.
Also, because the mechanical switch is turned on/off by a user regardless of operations such a printing, data transmission/reception, data storage, etc. of the image forming apparatus, damage may occur. For example, if the switch is turned off while the printing or the like job is performed, data may be abnormally (improperly or incorrectly) backed up and thus lost, or a logic circuit or the like inner parts of the image forming apparatus may be damaged.
Thus, there may be employed a method of controlling the DC power through a secondary circuit provided with a small capacity switching device such as a transistor (e.g., field effect transistor (FET).
Since the above method of switching on/off the DC power of the secondary circuit uses the small capacity device, it is possible to keep a standby power of 1 watt (1 W) or less in an off status. Thus, the data backup is normally achieved even when the switch is turned off, thereby preventing the data from loss or the parts from damage. Accordingly, the method of switching on/off the DC power of the secondary circuit has widely spread. Further, both the primary circuit and the secondary circuit may be used.
Although it is possible to protect data from loss due to the power switch off through the method of turning on/off the secondary circuit, there is still a problem in that data may be lost because the data backup operation is not implemented in the case of unexpected power-off such as a power failure.
Also, when power supplying is resumed after the unexpected (abnormal) power-off due to the power failure, switch operation of the primary circuit, etc. is terminated, and the image forming apparatus is forcibly turned on or off on the basis of preset information since it has no information about a previous power status.
Accordingly, if the image forming apparatus is previously set up to be turned on, power is supplied to the image forming apparatus and thus wastefully consumed. On the other hand, if the image forming apparatus is previously set up to be turned off, printing data received before the unexpected power-off and being on standby, fax data being received, or the like may be lost and it is thus inconvenient for a user.
For the convenience in power control, an additional microcomputer (MICOM) may be used, but the use of the MICOM costs a great deal.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Image forming apparatus and power control method thereof for determining whether power switch is turned on during power-off status


Device for pulling a door panel or a window casement toward a frame, comprising a traction device arranged in the rabbet of the door panel or the frame, wherein the traction device can be engaged with a retracting block arranged in the rabbet of the frame or the door panel, wherein the traction device comprises a traction element that is loaded by a spring that can be moved in vertical direction, wherein the retracting block comprises an inclined retracting structure, and wherein the traction device comprises means for engaging the traction element with the inclined retracting structure, wherein tension from the spring when engaging with the inclined retracting structure moves the traction element along the inclined retracting structure.

The U.S. Pat. No. 1,417,815 A discloses an arrangement by means of which a door can be brought in closed position. For this purpose, visible to the outside, a spring-loaded pin with a roll on one end is provided at the door panel, and the spring-loaded pin has a corresponding bracket on the door frame. The bracket has an intake structure which is inclined toward the frame, and the roll of the spring-loaded pin moves on the intake structure. As a result of the spring force of the pin, the door panel is pulled to the frame. The device is very bulky, and for optical reasons alone, it cannot be used for customary front doors or room doors, and certainly not for windows. Moreover, it involves the danger that fingers and pieces of clothing, for example scarfs, ties, etc., are being caught between the door and frame because the locking mechanism becomes effective even before the door comes to rest on the frame.
A device for pulling a door or window to a blind frame has been disclosed in the DE 101 08 494 C2. In particular, this device comprises a snap-action device having a traction bolt, as well as a closing hook, wherein the closing hook can be engaged with the traction bolt, wherein the traction bolt or the closing hook are mounted at the door or the blind frame. The closing hook mounted at the door is moved in the direction of the snap-in device which comprises the traction bolt and a spring. At the moment when the hook finger reaches an inclined intake structure, the hook finger is moved upward against spring force. In the process, the hook finger passes an engaging piece at the extraction bolt. Then the hook finger moves downward into an undercut so that the closing hook engages with the extraction bolt. When the door continues to move toward the strike plate, the inclined intake structure of the closing hook reaches the area of the pivoting bolt. In the process, the bolt disengages from the extraction bolt. Since now the extraction bolt is no longer blocked by the pivoting bolt, the extraction bolt is moved by the force of two springs in the direction of the blind frame and takes along the closing hook and, consequently, the door so that the door is pulled toward the blind frame.
The device functions in a very satisfactory manner. However, because of its complicated mechanism, it is expensive to produce

Device for pulling a door panel or a window casement toward the frame


The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I) wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are as defined herein, compositions and uses thereof for treating human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. In particular, the present invention provides novel inhibitors of HIV replication, pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds and methods for using these compounds in the treatment of HIV infection.

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), particularly the HIV-1 strain. Most currently approved therapies for HIV infection target the viral reverse transcriptase and protease enzymes, with one additional approved drug targeting gp41 to inhibit viral entry. Within the reverse transcriptase inhibitor and protease inhibitor classes, resistance of HIV to existing drugs is a problem. Therefore, it is important to discover and develop new antiretroviral compounds.


Systems and methods for performing sparse backups are disclosed. One method may involve: receiving information indicating unallocated extents from a file system that organizes data on a primary storage device; copying to a backup storage device data from extents of the primary storage device, where the unallocated extents indicated by the information are not copied; and for each of a plurality of copied extents, storing a mapping from an original extent on the primary storage device to a new extent on the backup storage device into which data stored in that original extent is copied. A backup volume that includes the data included in plurality of copied extents may be mounted, and the mapping may be used to translate accesses to the extents on the backup volume to extents on the backup storage device.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to file systems and, more particularly, to performing backups.
2. Description of the Related Art
File systems organize and manage information stored in a computer system. Typically, information is stored in the form of files. File systems may support the organization of user data by providing and tracking organizational structures such as folders and directories. The file system may interpret and access information stored in a variety of storage media, abstracting complexities associated with the tasks of locating, retrieving, and writing data to the storage media.
Backups are typically performed by copying individual files from one physical location to another. In order to locate each file being copied, each file is typically accessed through the file system. The file system maintains metadata (e.g., in an Mode table or master file table) that is used to locate the blocks within each file on the primary storage media. Accessing this metadata may itself involve accessing the primary storage media, and thus locating the files on the primary storage media may involve significant amount of I/O. Additionally, if the file system actually accesses a logical volume that is itself mapped to the primary storage media, generating the block location information from the metadata may involve a significant amount of computation, depending of the complexity of the mapping that relates the logical volume to the physical volume. Furthermore, performing backups through the file system may increase the load on the file system, which may in turn decrease file system performance for actual users for the duration of the backup.
In other systems, backups may be performed without accessing each file through the file system by simply copying the entire storage volume managed by the file system. However, this method of performing backups may unnecessarily reduce network performance by copying needless data in situations where a large portion of the storage volume is not currently in use. As these examples show, improved methods of performing backups are desired.

System and method for performing sparse backups


This invention relates to an optical fiber grating and a method of manufacturing the same. According to the method, a hydrogen doping process is performed before ultraviolet irradiation in order to obtain a sufficient photoinduced refractive index change. In particular, a target for the hydrogen doping process of the method is characterized by a coated fiber obtained by covering the outer surface of the bared fiber having a core region and a cladding region with the resin. After the coated fiber is exposed in a hydrogen atmosphere in a predetermined pressurized state for a predetermined period of time, the resin is partially removed. An ultraviolet ray is irradiated on the predetermined area of the bared fiber from which the resin is removed, thereby forming a reflection grating in the core region. The method is also characterized in that the pressure of the hydrogen atmosphere is reduced from the pressurized state while adjusting the pressure reducing rate. Degradation of the bared fiber surface can be prevented, and generation of bubbles or the like between the bared fiber and the resin coating can also be prevented, thereby obtaining an optical fiber grating with high reliability.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical fiber grating (optical component) having an optical fiber and a Bragg grating provided in the core region of the optical fiber along its longitudinal direction and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Related Background Art
In recent years, optical communication system configurations have advanced along with the recent developments of optical fiber communication techniques to realize sophisticated networks and achieve signal wavelength multiplexing. In these optical communication systems, the importance of optical circuit elements (optical components) is increasing.
A fiber type element as a general example of the optical circuit elements has advantages in that it is compact and has a small insertion loss and it can be easily connected to an optical fiber serving as a transmission line. An example of such a fiber type optical component is a fiber type filter. As is known well, when an ultraviolet ray is irradiated on glass doped with germanium oxide (GeO.sub.2), the refractive index changes in the irradiated portion.
In recent years, research and development of an optical fiber grating having a Bragg grating formed in the core region of an optical fiber have been made as an example of a fiber type filter using a photoinduced refractive index change. In this specification, an optical fiber grating is defined as an optical component having at least an optical fiber comprising a core region having a predetermined refractive index and doped with GeO.sub.2 and a cladding region provided around the core region and having a lower refractive index than the core region, and a Bragg grating formed in the core region of the optical fiber along its longitudinal direction. The grating is defined as a region in which the refractive index of the core region periodically changes along the longitudinal direction of the core region irradiated with an ultraviolet ray, or the like.
More specifically, the optical fiber grating has a function of reflecting a light component having a specific wavelength (to be referred to as a reflection wavelength of grating hereinafter) of light propagating along the optical fiber and transmitting the remaining light component (i.e., a light component having a wavelength shifted from the reflection wavelength of grating). The reflection wavelength of grating is determined by the pitch of a refractive index change induced in the core region. A method of forming a photoinduced grating in an optical fiber upon irradiation of an ultraviolet ray has an advantage of high productivity.
In such an optical fiber grating, its reflectance R serves as an important characteristic factor. The reflectance R depends on the length of the grating (i.e., the length of a region in which the refractive index of the core region periodically changes along the longitudinal direction of the core region) and the amount of the photoinduced refractive index change. This relation is expressed as: EQU R=tanh.sup.2 (L.pi..DELTA.n/.lambda..sub.R)
where
R: reflectance
L: length of grating
.DELTA.n: amount of photoinduced refractive index change
.lambda..sub.R : Bragg wavelength.

Optical fiber grating and method of manufacturing the same


Methods and apparatus for communication over a block-coherent communication system are described. The present invention is directed to methods of interleaving coded bits that are encoded by codes, e.g., LDPC codes, having graph structures largely comprised, e.g., of multiple identical copies of a much smaller graph.

A communication system requires noncoherent detection when it is infeasible for the receiver to maintain a reliable estimate for instantaneous channel gain (magnitude and, especially, phase). Noncoherent communication systems include, for instance, a wireless multiple access system where the mobile, having limited power, cannot afford to transmit high power known symbols (pilots) to enable reliable channel estimation. A noncoherent communication channel may possess some coherence property: A coherent block is a time interval during which the channel variations are negligibly small. Communication over such a channel is referred to as block-coherent communication.
Block-coherent communication may arise naturally in fast frequency-hopping orthogonal frequency division multiple (OFDM) access systems. In such systems information may be modulated onto a subset of available frequencies, called tones, in every symbol time. To enhance spectral efficiency and increase diversity gain, tones utilized are, in some cases, rapidly hopped across the entire utilized frequency band in every L symbols, i.e., L consecutive symbols are mapped to one tone, followed by another L symbols mapped to a different tone, and so on. When L is small, we can assume consecutive L symbols experience identical channel gain. Although the amplitudes of the gains of two consecutive L symbols can be close, their phases are normally completely independent.
More precisely, a block-coherent communication system can be defined as follows: for a system represented in discrete time domain, the channel gain is an unknown complex random variable that remains the same for every L consecutive symbols but otherwise varies independently according to some distribution, e.g., the phase is uniformly distributed over [0, 2PI] and the magnitude is Rayleigh distributed.
For block-coherent communication the nominal modulation scheme is differential M-array phase-shift-keying (DMPSK). DMPSK carries the information in the phase differences between two successive symbols over the coherent block. For illustration, to transmit N×(L−1) MPSK information symbols s(i), each of the N consecutive sets of L−1 symbols, denoted as s(1), s(2), . . . , s(L−1), is differentially encoded to transmitted symbols t(1), t(2), . . . , t(N), where t(1)=1, and t(j+1)=t(j)×s(j) for j=1, . . . , N−1.
Modulations other than DMPSK are possible. For instance, with the insertion of known symbols in a block, information symbols may be transmitted directly on other symbols instead of differentially. This may be referred to as pseudo-pilot modulation. It is apparent, however, that at most L−1 information symbols can be transmitted inside a dwell of length L due to the phase uncertainty. In general we assume there are M information symbols transmitted in each dwell, which can be regarded as a transmission unit. In other words, each transmission unit includes L–M known symbols. M is at most L−1. For instance, both schemes mentioned have M=L−1.
With forward error-correction coding a block-coherent communication system will normally include an encoder (which inserts structured redundancy into original data stream), a DMPSK modulator (which maps binary data bits to MPSK symbols), a demodulator (which extracts out soft information differentially and feeds it to the decoder), and a decoder (which decodes the original message based on soft information from the demodulator).
In most coded systems, a receiver applying iterative demodulation and decoding—a scheme henceforth referred to as turbo equalization—has significant performance gain over a non-iterative receiver. For instance, convolution and/or turbo coded DMPSK systems, investigated by Shamai et al. in "Iterative decoding for coded noncoherent MPSK communications over phase-noisy AWGN channel" published in IEE Proceedings Communication 2000, demonstrates turbo-equalization performance within 1.3 dB of channel capacity and 1 dB better than traditional schemes.
It has been shown that for turbo equalization to be maximally effective, the code design needs to take the effect of iterative demodulation into account. The necessity of code design and an effective way of achieving it are described in Jin and Richardson's paper "Design of Low-Density Parity-Check Codes in Noncoherent Communication," published in International symposium on information theory Jun. 30, 2002. The approach therein improves the performance to within 0.7 dB of channel capacity.
For optimal performance of turbo equalization, the coded bits also should be sufficiently interleaved in transmission. The interleaving serves two purposes. On one hand, it can effectively eliminate the correlation among soft-messages associated with coded bits of small distance in the block structure for decoding purposes. On the other hand, interleaving can eliminate the dependence among the soft values feed back to the same coherent block for demodulation. A commonly conceived interleaving structure is random interleaving. To achieve random interleaving, however, the same (randomly generated) permutation must be accessible, e.g., stored, at both the transmitter and the receiver. This inflicts large memory requirements for practical systems coded by large block codes.
While the performance of turbo equalization is important, for a communication system to be practical for use in a wide range of devices, e.g., consumer devices, it is important that the turbo equalizations be capable of being implemented at reasonable cost. Accordingly, the ability to efficiently implement turbo equalization schemes used for a block-coherent communication system, e.g., in terms of hardware costs, can be important.
The usage of LDPC codes as a coding scheme in block-coherent communication is desirable given its near-capacity coding gain and rich design space.
LDPC codes are often represented by bipartite graphs, called Tanner graphs, in which one set of nodes, the variable nodes, correspond to bits of the codeword and the other set of nodes, the constraint nodes, sometimes called check nodes, correspond to the set of parity-check constraints which define the code. Edges in the graph connect variable nodes to constraint nodes. A variable node and a constraint node are said to be neighbors if they are connected by an edge in the graph. For simplicity, we generally assume that a pair of nodes is connected by at most one edge.
A bit sequence associated one-to-one with the variable nodes is a codeword of the code if and only if, for each constraint node, the bits neighboring the constraint (via their association with variable nodes) sum to zero modulo two, i.e., they comprise an even number of ones.
The number of edges attached to a node, i.e., a variable node or a constraint node, is referred to as the degree of the node. A regular graph or code is one for which all variable nodes have the same degree, j say, and all constraint nodes have the same degree, k say. In this case we say that the code is a (j,k) regular code. These codes were originally invented by Gallager (1961). In contrast to a "regular" code, an irregular code has constraint nodes and/or variable nodes of differing degrees. For example, some variable nodes may be of degree 4, others of degree 3 and still others of degree 2.
While irregular codes can be more complicated to represent and/or implement, it has been shown that irregular LDPC codes can provide superior error correction/detection performance when compared to regular LDPC codes.
An exemplary bipartite graph 200 determining a (3,6) regular LDPC code of length ten and rate one-half is shown in FIG. 2. Length ten indicates that there are ten variable nodes V1–V10, each identified with one bit of the codeword X1–X10, the set of variable nodes V1–V10 is generally identified in FIG. 2 by reference numeral 202. Rate one half indicates that there are half as many check nodes as variable nodes, i.e., there are five check nodes C1–C5 identified by reference numeral 206. Rate one half further indicates that the five constraints are linearly independent, as discussed below.
While FIG. 2 illustrates the graph associated with a code of length 10, it can be appreciated that representing the graph for a codeword of length 1000 would be 100 times more complicated.
The practical challenges posed by turbo equalization, in the light of implementation cost, are the complexity of soft-in soft-out (SISO) demodulator and the data interleaving at the transmitter and the receiver. There remains a need for improved interleaving techniques and/or implementation. The present invention is directed to implementing an interleave in an efficient manner. The data interleaving techniques of the present invention are well suited for use with data bits encoded, e.g., by Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) codes.

Methods and apparatus for interleaving in a block-coherent communication system


An apparatus and a method of controlling tracking in slow mode playback. The tracking control apparatus comprises a video head for detecting a video signal recorded on a magnetic tape, a video signal processing circuit for detecting envelopes of the detected video signal from the video head, a microcomputer for outputting servo data and a slow tracking signal in response to the detected envelopes from the video signal processing circuit, a servo device for outputting a capstan phase control signal in response to the servo data from the microcomputer, and a capstan motor for driving a capstan in response to a signal into which the capstan phase control signal from the servo device and the slow tracking signal from the microcomputer are combined.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to controlling tracking in slow mode playback of a video cassette recorder (VCR), and more particularly to an apparatus and a method for controlling tracking in a slow mode playback in which a tracking error is automatically controlled when it generates a noise on a screen in the slow mode playback, so that an optimal picture state can be obtained.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Generally, a video signal is recorded on the tracks of a magnetic tape by a magnetic head and the recorded video signal is played back as the tracks of the magnetic tape are traced by the magnetic head. At this time, the tracks of the magnetic tape must accurately be traced by the magnetic head, which is called tracking.
Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a block diagram of a conventional apparatus for controlling tracking in a slow mode playback. As shown in this drawing, the conventional tracking control apparatus comprises a video head 1 for detecting a video signal recorded on a magnetic tape, a pre-amplifier 2 for amplifying the detected video signal from the video head 1 by a predetermined level, an envelope detector 3 for converting an output signal from the pre-amplifier 2 into a direct current (DC) voltage and outputting the converted DC voltage to a microcomputer 5, and a manual tracking controller 4 for outputting a tracking control signal to the microcomputer 5 in response to a key input signal from the user.
The microcomputer 5 is adapted to output a servo control signal in response to the DC voltage from the envelope detector 3 and the tracking control signal from the manual tracking controller 4.
The conventional tracking control apparatus also comprises a servo device 6 for outputting a capstan phase control signal in response to the servo control signal from the microcomputer 5, and a capstan motor 7 for driving a capstan in response to the capstan phase control signal from the servo device 6.
The conventional tracking control apparatus with the above-mentioned construction is adapted to play back the video signal recorded on the magnetic tape in a slow mode by repeatedly performing normal-speed playback--still playback--normal-speed playback--still playback, as will hereinafter be described in detail with reference to. FIGS. 5A to 5D, which are waveform diagrams of the signals from the components shown in FIG. 1.
First, upon receiving the capstan phase control signal from the servo device 6 as shown in FIG. 5A, the capstan motor 7 performs repeatedly an acceleration traveling (interval A in FIG. 5A), a normal-speed traveling (interval B in FIG. 5A) and a deceleration traveling (interval C in FIG. 5A). At this time, the video head 1 traces the magnetic tape as shown in FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, the playback enters from the still mode into the normal-speed mode in an interval A. The normal-speed playback is performed in an interval B. The playback is changed from the normal-speed mode to the still mode in an interval C. The still playback is performed in an interval D. In this manner, the video signal recorded on the magnetic tape is detected by the video head 1 as shown in FIG. 5D and then applied to the pre-amplifier 2. The pre-amplifier 2 amplifies the detected video signal from the video head 1 by the predetermined level and outputs the amplified video signal to the envelope detector 3. The envelope detector 3 detects an envelope of the amplified video signal from the pre-amplifier 2 as shown in FIG. 5C. Then, the envelope detector 3 converts the detected envelope into the DC voltage and outputs the converted DC voltage to the microcomputer 5. Here, a head switching signal, as shown in FIG. 5B, is a reference signal of the system.
The microcomputer 5 outputs the servo control signal to the servo device 6 in response to the DC voltage from the envelope detector 3. The servo device 6 outputs the capstan phase control signal to the capstan motor 7 in response to the servo control signal from the microcomputer 5 to control a phase of the capstan motor 7, so as to make the tracking accurate.
On the other hand, in the case where a noise is generated on the screen in the slow mode playback, the user applies a control signal to the manual tracking controller 4 using a remote controller (not shown). The manual tracking controller 4 outputs the tracking control signal to the microcomputer 5 in response to the control signal from the user. Upon receiving the tracking control signal from the manual tracking controller 4, the microcomputer 5 outputs the resultant servo control signal to the servo device 6, thereby causing the tracking to be controlled.
However, in the above-mentioned conventional tracking control apparatus, the capstan phase control signal which is applied to the capstan motor 7 in the slow mode playback is controlled as shown in FIG. 5A by a predetermined program of the microcomputer 5. For this reason, the user must manually control the tracking using a tracking control key when a noise is generated of the noise on the screen. This causes an inconvenience to the user.

Apparatus and method for controlling tracking in slow mode playback


Scalable multi-view image encoding and decoding methods and apparatuses are provided. The scalable multi-view image encoding and decoding methods and apparatuses filter multi-view images input from a plurality of cameras in spatial-axis and in temporal-axis directions using motion compensated temporal filtering (MCTF) or hierarchical B-pictures and scalably code the filtered multi-view.

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) of Korean Patent Applications No. 10-2005-0027729, filed on Apr. 1, 2005, and No. 10-2006-0025680, filed on Mar. 21, 2006 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to image encoding and decoding methods and apparatuses. More particularly, the present invention relates to scalable multi-view image encoding and decoding methods and apparatuses which filter multi-view images input from a plurality of cameras in spatial-axis and temporal-axis directions using motion compensated temporal filtering (MCTF) or hierarchical B-pictures and scalably code the filtered multi-view images using a scalable video coding (SVC) technique.
2. Description of the Related Art
Digital broadcasting services are expected to evolve from high-definition television (HDTV) and satellite/ground-wave digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) services to interactive TV and broadcasting services, to three-dimensional (3D) TV and broadcasting services, and then to reality broadcasting services. Reality broadcasting services provide viewers with information regarding images of scenes at various viewpoints. Reality broadcasting services allow a viewer to select a preferred scene by creatively editing an image of the scene provided by a broadcasting station. To implement such reality broadcasting services, panorama images must be generated. To generate a panorama image, images are acquired using a plurality of cameras placed at various viewpoints. Then, the acquired images are connected. Alternatively, a panorama image may be obtained using an omni-directional camera system. A large amount of data must be collected and transmitted to deliver image information obtained using a plurality of cameras to users. Accordingly, various methods of collecting information regarding multi-view images have been studied. For example, a multi-view camera system, a stereoscopic camera system and an omni-directional camera system, have been studied. A multi-view camera system simultaneously films or transmits a subject or a scene using a plurality (M) of cameras and provides users with various scenes or a three-dimensional (3D) scene provided by the M cameras at different locations.
Multi-view image coding relates to simultaneously coding images input from M cameras that provide multi-view images. Multi-view image coding also relates to compressing, storing, and transmitting the coded images. When a multi-view image is stored and transmitted without being compressed, a large transmission bandwidth is required to transmit the data to users in real time through a broadcasting network or wired/wireless Internet due to the large volume of data of the multi-view image. For example, when 24-bit color images, each with a resolution of 1310×1030 pixels, are input from 16 cameras at a rate of 30 frames/sec, 14.4 Gb/sec data must be processed. Therefore, a 3D audio and video subgroup in the Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) has organized a group dedicated to devising a multi-view coding method. The group attempts to make a method of coding a huge amount of image data input from a multi-view video using an international standard for video compression.
FIGS. 1A through 1C illustrate arrangements of conventional multi-view cameras. FIG. 2 illustrates images respectively and simultaneously input to 16 multi-view cameras arranged in a 4×4 parallel structure in a free-viewpoint TV (FTV) system. FIGS. 1A through 1C illustrate a plurality of cameras 10 arranged in a parallel structure, a convergent structure, and a divergent structure, respectively.
Referring to FIG. 2, the images respectively input to the 16 cameras are very similar. In other words, a high correlation exists between the images input to the cameras that provide a multi-view image. Therefore, information regarding the high spatial correlation between the images input to the cameras can be utilized to achieve high compression efficiency in multi-view video coding. Also, spatio-temporal scalable coding is required to present 3D or 2D images in various environments and using terminals with diverse computational capabilities.
Accordingly, there is a need for improved apparatuses and methods to filter multi-view images input from multiple cameras in the spatial-axis and temporal-axis directions to support a variety of spatio-temporal scalabilities.

Scalable multi-view image encoding and decoding apparatuses and methods

Industry Academic Cooperation Foundation Kyunghee University


A system for automatically handling incoming telephone calls. The system receives an incoming call and telephony information about the incoming call, and, using a call discrimination subsystem and based on the telephony information, assigns control of the call to one of a plurality of possible application programs. At least one application program includes queries for obtaining further information about the call and returns control of the call to the call discrimination subsystem to reassign the call based on the telephony information and the further information. The system selects an application program by comparing telephony information about the call with telephony digit patterns that correspond to different types of telephony information and that have been input by a user to be associated with an application program. Other features of the system are directed to selecting agents to handle incoming calls based on a list of quantitative agent performance values that are continuously updated by a monitoring system. In some cases, multiple, user-selectable lists are maintained. Also, offset values are used to modify the agent performance values when selecting an agent. When an agent is selected, the system provides on command of a plurality of possible commands regarding the handling of the incoming call depending upon which agent has been selected. The system also counts the number of incoming calls and handles a preselected number of the calls in a different manner than the remainder of the calls.

The invention relates to systems for automatically handling incoming telephone calls.
An automatic call distributor (ACD) is a type of system for automatically handling incoming telephone calls. An ACD is designed to efficiently route calls, such as toll-free "800" calls, to agents in telemarketing and service inquiry centers and provides specialized real-time call management and report generation capabilities. An ACD is a unique communications product in that it directly supports the operation and management of a customer's business. The ACD monitors the status of each agent and, when an incoming call is received, selects the agent best able to handle a particular marketing or service request. The ACD also provides detailed reporting on the performance of the agents in their tasks, reporting such statistics as the number of calls handled and the time spent in various stages of call handling.
ACDs can have different application programs to handle calls in different ways, e.g., one application program to handle sales calls and a different application program to handle service calls.


A non-yellowing one-package polyurethane coating composition containing an oxime-blocked polyisocyanate, an isocyanate-reactive material, and an imino-functional amino resin is provided. The coating composition is applied onto an acid-cured base coat and cured. The clear coat produced in this manner has good yellowness resistance and intercoat adhesion.. Articles such as multi-layered coated substrates are prepared using the coating method of this invention. The coated substrates typically contain an acid-cured first layer and an adjacent layer derived from a curable composition containing an oxime-blocked polyisocyanate, an isocyanate-reactive material, and an imino-functional amino resin.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is an improvement in multi-layer coatings and methods of coating which utilize catalysts in one layer and blocked isocyanates in an adjacent layer.
2. Description of the Related Art
Modern automotive and appliance finishes are frequently two-layer coatings where a pigmented base coat is enhanced by covering with a clear top coat. In such multi-layer systems it is highly desirable that the top coat adhere strongly to the base coat and that the top coat not develop objectionable color.
Top coat color development and/or poor adhesion of the top coat to the base coat is a particular problem in two-layer coatings wherein one layer contains an acidic component and the adjacent layer contains a blocked isocyanate. This situation typically occurs where the base coat is crosslinked with amino resin type crosslinkers using acid catalysts and the top coat is a "one-package" polyurethane coating containing a blocked isocyanate wherein the blocking agent is released during heat curing. Surprisingly, it has been found that the addition of an amino resin with at least one imino-functional (--NH--) group to curable compositions which form polyurethane top coat layers adjacent acid-cured amino resin coating layers is highly beneficial for improvement of color and/or adhesion.

One-package polyurethane top coat composition


The embodiments disclosed herein relate to a ureteral stent having two stent bodies and a tether. The stent can minimize or prevent migration of the device out of the bladder of the patient while also reducing patient discomfort associated with such stents.

For a patient with an obstructed ureter, a ureteral stent is used to aid in transfer of urine from one of the patient's kidneys to the patients bladder through the obstructed ureter. As best shown in FIG. 1B, the ureters 20, 22 connect the kidneys 24, 26, respectively, to the bladder 28 for the drainage of urine from the kidneys 24, 26 to the bladder 28. Ureter obstruction can occur as a result of one or more kidney stones, stricture, tumors, or scarring from various causes, including infection, surgery, or radiation. While aiding with the flow of urine to the bladder, the stent should also function to stay in the desired position within the ureter and not migrate out of or further into the kidney or the bladder. "Stent migration" is a phenomenon in which the end of the stent positioned in the bladder or kidney moves or "migrates" into and/or through the ureter, thereby resulting in the failure of the stent to provide the desired urinary diversion from the kidney to the bladder.
As shown in FIG. 1A, one typical design of a known ureteral stent 10 that is configured to aid flow while maintaining its position has a hollow tubular stent body 12 with having spirals or loops 14, 16 at both ends. The stent body 12 can also be solid (have no lumen therein). The first self-contained loop (also referred to as a "first loop," "first coil," "renal loop," or "renal coil") 14 is coupled to or integral with one end of the body 12, and the second self-contained loop (also referred to as a "second loop," "second coil," "bladder loop," or "bladder coil") 16 is coupled to or integral with the other end. Other structures/configurations other than loops are also used in various known stents.
In use, as shown in FIG. 1B, when the stent 10 is successfully implanted into the patient, the renal loop 14 is positioned in the kidney 26 or renal pelvis, the body 12 is positioned in and through the ureter 22, and the bladder loop 16 is positioned in the bladder 28. The loops 14, 16 (or other types of configurations/structures) function to retain the stent 10 in its desired position, with the first loop 14 being retained in the kidney 26 and the second loop 16 being retained in the bladder 28. The loops 14, 16 are formed as a result of both ends of the stent 10 deviating from a substantially linear or tubular shape and instead forming structures that reduce the risk of migration of the stent 10. It is understood that while the stent 10 is positioned in the left ureter 22 as shown, it can also be positioned in the right ureter 20 in the same fashion as described herein. A stent can be required for a period ranging from a day to several months.
In this type of stent 10, the urine flows through the lumen (not shown) of the tubular stent body 12 such that the wall of the body 12 prevents obstructions from blocking the flow. Alternatively, the urine can flow around or external to the tubular stent body 12. Thus, the body 12 in these various types of stents 10 can have a small or large lumen diameter (typically ranging from about 3.7 French up to about 10 French).
One disadvantage of this type of stent is patient discomfort. Typically, the above stent type causes pain or discomfort due to the bladder loop irritating, scratching, puncturing, or poking the bladder lining. While the loop prevents or reduces the incidence of stent migration, the loop can cause debilitating pain.
Another typical design of a ureteral stent has a highly flexible strands or loops at the bladder end of the stent (replacing the standard loop described above) that reduce the size of the stent in the bladder end to reduce patient discomfort. More specifically, this type of stent has a renal end that is substantially similar to the renal end of the stent type described above, but at some (usually significant) distance from the renal end, the flexible strands or loops are coupled thereto or integrated therein—typically at about the iliac vessels of the patient when the stent is properly positioned in the patient.
One disadvantage of this type of stent is that stents of multiple sizes are required and then a physician must select the stent size to use based on approximations of the patient's physiology. Further, despite the reduced size of the strands or loops, significant patient discomfort is still a common problem, and there is little evidence that these alternative stent designs reduce stent discomfort. In these designs, the common feature is the presence of a bulky bladder component that causes bladder pain.
While multiple designs have been tested, no stent configuration to date has been able to successfully overcome both the migration problem and the patient discomfort associated with the various structures/configurations (such as the loop or highly flexible strands/loops described above) used to prevent the migration.
There is a need in the art for an improved ureteral stent and related systems and methods.

The Regents of the University of California


Implementations for providing communication services using a virtual environment are described. An audio communication session may be established between a first user device and a second user device. The second user device may answer the audio communication session using a virtual environment. The virtual environment may be updated to display virtual features associated with the communication session.

A conventional contact center allows for audio calls between users and employees of the contact center. If the contact center receives calls related to complex services or products, such as machinery, the employee may have difficulty accessing detailed information to help customers. Available visualization mechanism are separate from the employee's phone and may be inaccessible or cumbersome while handling calls. Thus, there is a need for more sophisticated and flexible approaches for visually rendering information associated with callers during communication sessions.

Communication session using a virtual environment


A method for fabricating a non-planar heterostructure field effect transistor using group III-nitride materials with consistent repeatable results is disclosed. The method provides a substrate on which at least one layer of semiconductor material is deposited. An AlN layer is deposited on the at least one layer of semiconductor material. A portion of the AlN layer is removed using a solvent to create a non-planar region with consistent and repeatable results. The at least one layer beneath the AlN layer is insoluble in the solvent and therefore acts as an etch stop, preventing any damage to the at least one layer beneath the AlN layer. Furthermore, should the AlN layer incur any surface damage as a result of the reactive ion etching, the damage will be removed when exposed to the solvent to create the non-planar region.

The use of group III-nitride substrates has become popular for fabricating a non-planar region in a non-planar heterostructure field effect transistor. A non-planar heterostructure field effect transistor is a field effect transistor comprising several different semiconductor layers of semiconductor material, wherein the top layer has a non-planar region. Typically a gate is then formed in the non-planar region. By forming the gate in the non-planar region, the parasitic resistance of the heterostructure field effect transistor is lowered. Furthermore, a higher breakdown voltage and transconductance, as discussed below, can be achieved. However, fabricating a non-planar heterostructure field effect transistor using group III-nitride substrates can be troublesome.
Transconductance is a measure of how the output current of the device changes with the applied voltage at the input of the device. The breakdown voltage is a threshold voltage, which, when exceeded, causes current in the gate to flow uncontrollably. This ultimately leads to the destruction of the device. The breakdown voltage is directly related to the bandgap as described above. Another benefit of having a higher breakdown voltage is improved gate modulation of the channel under a strong RF input drive, which improves power performance of the transistor.
The use of group III-nitride substrates to fabricate a non-planar region in the top layer is popular because group III-nitride substrates have much higher bandgaps than more traditional substrates such as silicon. The bandgap of a substrate refers to the degree to which it can support an applied electric field before breaking down. Thus, the applied voltage that a substrate can maintain is directly proportional to the bandgap of the substrate.
Previous attempts have been made to fabricate a non-planar heterostructure field effect transistor with a top layer comprising GaN, a group III-nitride substrate. However, using GaN has presented problems. When using a wet-etch there is no reliable or controllable method for controlling the regions in the GaN which are being etched. As a result, if the GaN layer is overetched, the layers beneath the GaN layer would be damaged by the wet etchant. There have also been attempts at fabricating a non-planar region in AlGaN where the AlGaN layer was partially wet-etched. Like GaN, using a wet-etch with AlGaN presented problems with controlling the area being etched and the depth of the etched area.
Dry etching processes have also been used in an attempt to create a non-planar region in a GaN substrate. However, dry etching introduces unrecoverable damage to the surface of the GaN substrate. Similar damage is also present when using an AlGaN substrate. The surface damage can be repaired by a post-annealing process, but removing all the surface damage is not possible. Another problem with dry-etching in GaN and AlGaN is the difficulty in controlling the etch depth. Techniques attempting to fabricate recessed gates using GaN are discussed in J. W. Burm et al., "Recessed gate GaN MODFETS," Solid-State Electronics vol 41, pp. 247-250 (1997), and T. Egawa et al., "Recessed gate AlGaN/GaN MODFET on Sapphire grown by MOCVD," IEDM tech Digest, pp. 401-404 (1999). These references both use dry-etching techniques to fabricate the recessed gate.
Therefore, there is a need for a method for fabricating a non-planar heterostructure field effect transistor, wherein the non-planar region is fabricated in a group III-nitride material. There is also a need for a non-planar heterostructure field effect transistor in which dry-etching and wet-etching techniques can be used to create the non-planar region which does not induce damage to the transistor and allows good control of the etching depth.

Non-planar nitride-based heterostructure field effect transistor


A method and system for receiving from an authenticated user, at an authorization server, via a service provider, an authorization request to perform a sensitive operation on a first device. The method also includes generating, by the authorization server and in response to receiving the authorization request, an authorization token that includes a device constraint and a binding code constraint, which includes a binding code. Additionally, the method includes transmitting the authorization token to an isolated execution environment of the first device, where the sensitive operation is not permitted on the first device unless the first device successfully performs a verification in the isolated execution environment using the authorization token. Furthermore, the method includes permitting the sensitive operation based on the verification.

Users of computing devices often seek to perform various operations on a device. Such operations may be sensitive operations (e.g., operations that include sensitive information, device management operations, application installation operations etc.) which may require at least some measure of authentication and/or authorization before the operation is allowed to proceed on the device.

Mechanism for enforcing user-specific and device-specific security constraints in an isolated execution environment on a device


A method for fabricating a thin-film transistor contains successively forming four thin films on a substrate and performing an etching process to pattern the four thin films, wherein the four thin films are a first conductive layer, a first insulation layer, a semiconductor film, and a metal-containing sacrificial layer from bottom to top. A second insulation layer is formed on the substrate and the metal-containing sacrificial layer. Then, a lift-off process is performed to the metal-containing sacrificial layer for simultaneously removing the metal-containing sacrificial layer and the second insulation layer positioned on the metal-containing sacrificial layer. Finally, a second conductive layer is formed on the semiconductor layer for forming a source electrode and a drain electrode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for fabricating thin-film transistors, and more particularly, to a method for fabricating thin-film transistors by a lift-off process.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Due to the continued development in technology, flat display panels have been widely used in various information products. Among the various types of flat display panels, thin-film transistor liquid crystal displays (TFT-LCDs) are developed maturely. Because TFT-LCDs have qualities of light weight, thinness, low energy requirements, and no radiation, they have been widely used in portable information products, such as notebooks and personal digital assist (PDA) computers, and even replaced the conventional traditional cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors gradually. The main electric elements of a TFT-LCD are thin-film transistors arranged as an array. In operation with appropriate capacitors and conducting pads, the thin-film transistors drive liquid crystal pixels for producing colorful images, and therefore a thin-film transistor is one of the key elements affecting the image quality of a TFT-LCD.
A thin-film transistor has a gate electrode, a source, a drain, and a semiconductor layer for forming a channel of the transistor. A typical fabrication process of a conventional thin-film transistor has to perform five photolithography processes, which means five photomasks need to be used for defining the patterns of the thin-film transistor. However, since the costs of photomask seriously affect the fabrication costs of display panels, a new fabrication process of thin-film transistors array by using four photomasks, including at least a half-tone mask, has been researched in order to reduce the fabrication costs.
With reference to FIGS. 1-4, FIGS. 1-4 are schematic diagrams of the fabrication process of a thin-film transistor by using four photomasks according to the prior art. As shown in FIG. 1, a first conductive layer and a photoresist layer are formed on the transparent substrate 10 in order. Then, a first photolithography-etching process (PEP) is performed to form a gate electrode 12 and a wire pattern 14.
As shown in FIG. 2, an insulation layer 16, a semiconductor layer 18, an ohmic contact layer 20, a second conductive layer 22, and a photoresist layer 24 are sequentially formed on the surface of the transparent substrate 10. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, a half-tone mask 26 is used to perform a second photolithography process for patterning the photoresist layer 24, wherein the half-tone region of the half-tone mask 26 corresponds to the predetermined channel region above the gate electrode 12.
Referring to FIG. 4, the patterned photoresist layer 24 is taken as an etching mask to sequentially perform a wet etching process and a dry etching process to the transparent substrate 10 for removing portions of the semiconductor layer 18, the ohmic contact layer 20, and the second conductive layer 22 so as to from a semiconductor island 32, a source 28, and a drain 30. Finally, several deposition processes and a third and a fourth PEP processes are performed to form a passivation layer and a pixel electrode electrically connecting to the drain 30 on the transparent substrate 10 so that the fabrication of the thin-film transistor and pixel electrode of each pixel or each sub-pixel is finished.
As mentioned above, the prior-art fabrication method of thin-film transistors uses the half-tone mask during the second PEP process by taking its half-tone region to define the channel pattern of the thin-film transistor. Because the size of the channel pattern of the thin-film transistor is very detailed and minute, the half-tone mask for defining the channel pattern by its half-tone region has to be very accurate, whose formation cost is very high and is twice as the formation cost of normal photomask. Therefore the process cost is very high by using the half-tone mask. In addition, once a defect of the transference of the channel pattern occurs during the second PEP by using a half-tone mask, it will seriously affect the electric property of the thin-film transistor, which is hard to be repaired. Furthermore, according to the prior-art process of fabricating a thin-film transistor, both of the source and drain patterns cover the semiconductor layer so that photo current is easily induced since most materials of the semiconductor layer are amorphous silicon materials that have photo sensitivity, and photo current affects the electrical performance of the thin-film transistor.
For solving the above-mentioned problem of photo current, Wang et al. provide an U.S. Pat. No. 6,998,640 to disclose another method for fabricating thin-film transistors with island-in structure. Referring to FIG. 5, Wang et al. teach forming a first conductive layer 210, an insulation layer 220, a semiconductor layer 230, an ohmic contact layer 240, and a photoresist layer 241 successively on the surface of the transparent substrate 200, and performing a photolithography-etching process to pattern the thin films. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process is performed to form an insulation layer on the whole transparent substrate 200 to cover the surface of the transparent substrate 200 for forming the passivation layer 250b and to cover the photoresist layer 241 for forming the passivation layer 250a. Finally, as shown in FIG. 7, a lift-off process to the photoresist layer 241 is performed with removing the passivation layer 250a simultaneously to complete the fabrication of the semiconductor island. Thereafter, other elements, such as the source and drain, may be formed on the surface of the semiconductor island to finish fabricating the thin-film transistor structure.
However, since general photoresist material will have solvent volatile issue when the temperature reaches 50° C., and will decompose when the temperature reaches 130° C. Furthermore, according to the process of the disclosure of Wang et al., the passivation layer 250a formed on the photoresist layer 241 is fabricated by a CVD process, and the process temperature of conventional CVD processes is more than 280° C. Therefore, when the transparent substrate 200 with the photoresist layer 241 thereon is transferred into the CVD chamber for forming the passivation layers 250a, 250b, the photoresist layer 241 easily decomposes to contaminate the CVD chamber. Accordingly, the patent of Wang et al. has the problem that it is not practicable in practical fabrication processes, and the method taught by Wang et al. cannot be applied to the manufacturers or mass productions of display panels.
As mentioned above, how to fabricate thin-film transistors by practicable processes with low costs to avoid the photo current problem is still an important issue for the manufactures.

Method for fabricating a thin-film transistor


The present disclosure relates to a method for inhibiting Fatty Acid Synthase (FASN) with a FASN inhibitor, methods for treating cancer and viral infections with a FASN inhibitor, and compounds and compositions inhibiting FASN.

Fatty acid synthase 1 (FASN) catalyzes the final steps leading to the synthesis of long chain tatty acids in vive. FASN is a 270 kDa, multifunctional, cytosolic enzyme that uses NADPH to condense acetyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA into palmitate (Liu et al., 2010). FASN is considered an attractive target for cancer therapy due to the selective dependence of many tumors on de novo fatty acid synthesis. Many tumors are dependent on de novo fatty acid synthesis as a source of long chain fatty acids to maintain growth and interdicting at key steps in this pathway may have therapeutic benefit. FASN up-regulation is correlated with tumor aggressiveness. FASN is upregulated in numerous cancers, including breast cancer, melanoma, and hepatocellular carcinoma (Menendez et al., 2007). Like many essential metabolic pathways under complex homeostatic regulation, the consequences and adaptive responses of acute or chronic inhibition of essential enzymes such as FASN in vivo are not fully understood. Owing to its low level expression and its association with both cancer and enveloped virus replication, FASN is an attractive therapeutic target. Cellular FASN expression is highly regulated, and in response to physiological stresses such as starvation, lactation or pathological states, its expression can change dramatically (Sul et al., 1998). Although studies in mice indicate that FASN is required for embryonic development (Chirala et al., 2003), liver or macrophage-specific FASN knockout mice are viable (Chakravathy et al., 2005; Schneider et al., 2010).
In humans, de novo fatty acid synthesis is active in a limited number of tissues such as liver, adipose, cycling endometrium and lactating mammary gland. This contrasts with the other bodily tissues which largely meet their fatty acid requirements from dietary sources (Brusselmans and Swinnen, 2009) (Iwanaga et al., 2009) (Swinnen et al., 2006). However, some pathological conditions promote cells to become dependent on de novo fatty acid synthesis including solid tumors, leukemic cells and host cells of certain viruses (Ameer et al., 2014).
FASN catalyzes the complete synthesis of palmitate from acetyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA into long-chain saturated fatty acids (FAs). FASN is a multifunctional enzyme that synthesizes FA chains two-carbons at a time, each donated from malonyl-CoA. The active form of FASN is composed of a homo-dimer where each monomer has seven different catalytic domains. These domains include the acyl carrier (ACP) protein which is responsible substrate channeling from one domain to another, the ketoacyl synthetase domain (KAS) which catalyze the condensation step, the ketoacyl reductase (KR) and enoyl reductase (ER) which both are responsible for saturating the acyl chain, the dehydratase (DH) domain which is responsible for removing a water molecule from the acyl chain between the two reduction steps, Malonylacetyl transferase (MAT) domain which catalyze the transfer of both malony-CoA and acetyl CoA, and the thioesterase domain (TE), which clips the palmitate off the enzyme after reaching the desired acyl-chain length (Maier et al., 2008). Palmitic acid (16:0) can be metabolized further by Q-oxidation into myristic acid (14:0), or other long chain FAs (Liu et al., 2010). Long chain FAs are essential components of lipid bilayers, store energy liberated by β-oxidation, and FAs can be covalently attached to proteins as a means to control protein subcellular localization (Wakil, 1989).
The human purinome consists of ˜1,500 proteins that bind and use purines such as ATP, NADH, and NADPH (Fadden et al., 2010). Almost all synthetic processes within the cell, including transcription, protein folding, and metabolite synthesis, require purine-utilizing proteins. By virtue of their purine binding pockets, purinome proteins are highly druggable, and many existing drugs target purine-using enzymes (e.g. methotrexate, warfarin, statins, protein kinase inhibitors, antiretrovirals) (Haystead, 2006). FASN has seven sequential catalytic activities and uses two co-factors, NADPH and co-enzyme A, to transfer two carbon units to a growing FA chain (Wakil, 1989) until the final product, palmitic acid (16:0) is released. Three of the FASN enzymatic activities (ketoacyl reductase, enoyl reductase and malonyl/acetyl transferase) use purine-containing co-factors in the form of NADPH, acetyl CoA and malonyl CoA. Importantly, inhibitors targeting purine-utilizing enzymes are generally not lipophilic and have formed the basis of many drugs in clinical use from reverse transcriptase inhibitors to the newer cutting edge inhibitors targeting protein kinases or heat shock proteins (Felder et al., 2012; Haystead, 2006; Knapp et al., 2006; Murray and Bussiere, 2009). In the last two decades, FASN has been considered a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of metabolic syndrome and numerous malignancies (Puig et al., 2011; Yoshii et al., 2013).
One of the common themes amongst current FASN inhibitors is a mechanism of action favoring competition with substrate intermediates over cofactor binding. Even in the case of GSK2194069, despite acting on f-ketoacyl reductase step, the triazolone is only competitive with trans-1-decalone binding and uncompetitive with NADPH (Hardwicke et al., 2014). Inhibitors targeting the FASN co-factor domain therefore remain largely unexplored. Targeting of the substrate domains may in part explain the toxicities and lack of efficacy in vive of the majority of FASN inhibitors, since in order to act competitively the molecules are lipid like in nature. A second concern relates to the broader physiological consequences of selectively inhibiting FASN in vivo, either acutely or chronically. The de novo fatty acid synthesis pathway is highly regulated at several steps and therefore highly prone to compensatory adaptive responses that would potentially mitigate the efficacy of any selective FASN inhibitor in vivo. Likely compensations could include increased over expression of FASN itself, increased uptake of exogenous dietary lipids, alteration in expression of enzymes regulating malonyl CoA levels, such as acetyl CoA carboxylase or malonyl CoA decarboxylase or even switching of the cell to a glycolytic phenotype.
In breast cancer, the level of FASN expression is correlated with tumor progression, where high FASN expression leads to more tumor aggressiveness and poor prognostic outcome (Alo et al., 1996). Inhibiting FASN activity in vitro by pharmacological means or the message level siRNA has been shown to stop cancer cell growth and induce apoptosis. As a consequence, many research groups have tried to exploit FASN as a target for cancer by developing inhibitors including C75, C93, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), G28UCM, orlistat, GSK2194069 and GSK837149A (Kuhajda et al., 2000) (Thupari et al., 2002) McFadden et al., 2005; Orita et al., 2007; Ueda et al., 2009; Zhou et al., 2007). (Tian, 2006; Wang and Tian, 2001 (Landis-Piwowar et al., 2007; Oliveras et al., 2010; Puig et al., 2009; Turrado et al., 2012) (Puig et al., 2011) (Hardwicke et al., 2014; Vazquez et al., 2008). Despite these efforts, however, the majority of FASN inhibitors have failed to even advance to animal efficacy studies largely due selectivity issues in viva resulting in unexpected toxicities. Current anti-FASN scaffolds include C75 (Kuhadja, 2000) and Cerulenin (Funabashi et al., 1989), which are lipid-like and contain reactive epoxides, or are based on natural products such as Epigallocatechin gallate (EECG). These scaffolds are not in clinical use because they are either unselective (Liu et al., 2010) or with low bioavailability (Kridel et al., 2004). The only FASN inhibitor advanced to clinical trial for the treatment of advanced solid tumors to date is the FASN inhibitor TVB-2640. This molecule is based on a potent imidazopyridine scaffold and also has anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) activity (Oslob et al., 2013). Therefore, a need remains for additional selective FASN inhibitors for the treatment of cancers.
Viruses repurpose host cellular machinery to produce progeny. The development of CCR5-based antiviral therapy and the results of several siRNA-based screens that identified host proteins required for HIV replication highlight both the utility and the potential to drug host proteins (Dorr et al., 2005, Bushman et al., 2009). HIV-1 relies on host systems to replicate, and intracellular host proteins represent an underdeveloped pool of therapeutic targets that do not evolve as rapidly as viral proteins. Drugging host proteins could have several advantages over viral targets, including a high barrier to drug resistance (human proteins evolve at slower rates than viral proteins), and the potential to develop a pan-antiviral drug (if several viruses require the same host pathway). The challenge is to identify a pathway that is dispensable to the host but critical for viral replication. Therefore, a need exists for identification of such pathways and their inhibitors for the development of new antiviral drugs.