Disclosed is a space-time trellis code (STTC) encoding method for performing space-time coding of a serially-concatenated space-time code (SC-STC) in an encoder having an outer encoder for performing channel coding and an inner encoder for performing the space-time coding, in a mobile communication system including one or more transmission antennas, by transmitting via a first transmission antenna a symbol generated by encoding a first input signal output from the outer encoder by a first recursive convolutional encoder and a symbol generated by encoding a second input signal output from the outer encoder by a second recursive convolutional encoder; and transmitting via a second transmission antenna the first and second input signals.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a mobile communication system, and in particular, to a data transmission/reception apparatus and method for improving performance in a mobile communication system using a space-time trellis code (STTC).
2. Description of the Related Art
With the rapid progress of mobile communication systems and the increasing amount of data being serviced in the mobile communication systems, 3rd generation (3G) mobile communication systems for transmitting data at a high rate have been developed. Such 3G mobile communication system adopt asynchronous Wideband-Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA) technology in Europe and synchronous Code Division Multiple Access-2000 (CDMA-2000) technology in North America as radio access standards. Commonly, in the mobile communication systems, mobile stations (MSs) communicate with each other via a base station (BS).
However, in the existing mobile communication systems, during high-speed data transmission, a received signal undergoes phase distortion due to a natural fading phenomenon occurring on a radio channel. The fading reduces the amplitude of a received signal by several dB up to several tens of dB. This fading also distorts the phase of a received signal, and if not compensated for during data demodulation, causes information errors in the data transmitted by a transmission side, which in turn causing a deterioration in the quality of a mobile communication service. In order to transmit high-rate data without deterioration of the service quality, the mobile communication system must overcome the fading, and in order to overcome the fading, several diversity technologies are used.
A CDMA system utilizes a Rake receiver that performs diversity reception using a delay spread of a channel. Although the Rake receiver employs reception diversity for receiving a multipath signal, a Rake receiver employing diversity technology using the delay spread does not work when the delay spread is less than a predetermined value. In a Doppler spread channel, time diversity technology using interleaving and coding is used to compensate for fading, but the time diversity technology is not efficient in a low-speed Doppler spread channel.
In order to cope with the fading, space diversity technology is used in a channel with a low delay spread such as an indoor channel, and a channel with a low Doppler spread such as a pedestrian channel. The space diversity uses two or more transmission and reception antennas. That is, when a signal transmitted via one transmission antenna decreases in amplitude due to fading, the space diversity technology receives a signal transmitted via the other transmission antenna. The space diversity can be classified into reception antenna diversity technology using reception antennas and transmission diversity technology using transmission antennas. However, because the reception antenna diversity technology is applied to a mobile station, it is difficult to install a plurality of reception antennas the mobile station in light of its small size and increased installation expenses. It is recommendable to use the transmission diversity technology that installs a plurality of transmission antennas in a base station.
Particularly, a 4th generation (4G) mobile communication system anticipates a data transfer rate of 10 Mbps to 150 Mbps, and requires a bit error rate (BER) of 10−3 for voice and a BER of 10−6 for data. The STTC is combination of multiple antennas and channel coding technology, and is a technology that contributes to remarkable improvement in a data rate and reliability in a radio multi-input/multi-output (MIMO) channel. The STTC can obtain space-time diversity gain by extending the space-time dimension of a transmission signal from a transmitter. In addition, the STTC can obtain coding gain without additional bandwidth, contributing to great improvement in channel capacity.
It is preferable to use the STTC when applying the transmission diversity technology, and when a plurality of transmission antennas are used, the use of the STTC obtains coding gain by amplifying transmission power, together with diversity gain corresponding to a reduction in channel gain occurring due to a fading channel.
A method for transmitting a signal using the STTC is disclosed in a reference entitled "Space Time Codes For High Data Rate Wireless Communication: Performance Criterion And Code Construction", by Vahid Tarokh, N. Seshadri, and A. Calderbank, IEEE Trans. on Info. Theory, pp. 744-765, Vol. 44, No. 2, March 1998, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
With reference to FIG. 1, a description will now be made of a structure of a transmitter using a serially-concatenated space-time code encoding apparatus.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a structure of a transmitter using a serially-concatenated space-time code encoding apparatus. Referring to FIG. 1, a serially-concatenated space-time code (SC-STC) encoding apparatus has a serial concatenation structure in which an interleaver 110 is interposed between an outer encoder 100 and an inner encoder 120. That is, the SC-STC encoding apparatus has two encoders serially concatenated with an interleaver interposed therebetween.
The outer encoder 100 is a general channel encoder, for which, for example, a convolutional encoder, a turbo encoder, and a low density parity check (LDPC) encoder can be used. Because the channel encoder is not related to the present invention, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. Although a variety of interleavers can be used for the interleaver 110, it will be assumed herein that a random interleaver is used, for the convenience of explanation.
The inner encoder 120 uses the STTC code in order to obtain a space-time diversity effect in a multi-antenna system. Therefore, a transmission data sequence 'u' is channel-encoded through the outer encoder 100, and an encoded sequence 'a' interleaved through the interleaver 110 is output as symbols s1 and s2 through the inner encoder 120, or an STTC encoder. The output symbol s1 is transmitted via a first transmission antenna TX1, and the output symbol s2 is transmitted via a second transmission antenna TX2.
Generally, a recursive STTC (R-STTC) encoder for delaying, feeding back output data, and calculating the output data with a next signal is used as the STTC encoder 120.
A structure of the R-STTC encoder will now be described in detail with reference to FIG. 2.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a structure of a conventional quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) modulation-based R-STTC encoder used as an inner encoder.
Referring to FIG. 2, the QPSK modulation-based R-STTC encoder has a structure in which two recursive convolutional codes are connected in parallel, and is comprised of, for example, two binary adders 201 and 205 and two delays 203 and 207. The R-STTC encoder illustrated in FIG. 2 outputs 4 STTC-encoded symbols S11, S21, S12 and S22 for 2 channel-encoded input bits a1 and a2 by QPSK modulation. The R-STTC encoder has a structure comprised of two recursive convolutional codes. The number of the recursive convolutional codes can be increased according to a change in a modulation method. The number of the binary adders and delays can also be changed depending on how the recursive convolutional codes are formed. For example, an 8-ary phase shift keying (8PSK) modulation-based R-STTC encoder is comprised of 3 binary adders and 3 delays, and a description thereof will be made with reference to FIG. 3. In the same manner, the R-STTC encoder can also be implemented based on 16-ary quadrature amplitude modulation (16QAM), 64QAM, and 128QAM.
The QPSK modulation-based R-STTC encoder illustrated in FIG. 2 outputs 4 STTC-encoded symbols through recursive convolutional encoders 200 and 210 in order to transmit channel-encoded input signals a1 and a2 via a first transmission antenna TX1 and a second transmission antenna TX2 while obtaining a space-time diversity effect. Here, each of the recursive convolutional encoders is an encoder for generating compound codes with a code rate of ½, and performs QPSK modulation so that the two compound codes are parallel-concatenated.
The channel-encoded input signals a1 and a2 are channel-encoded symbols, continuously output through the channel encoder (i.e. outer encoder). The symbols continuously output through the channel encoder are sequentially mapped to input terminals of the R-STTC encoder as the input signals a1 and a2.
The input signal a1 is output as a symbol S11 through the first binary adder 201 and the first delay 203, and then transmitted via the first transmission antenna TX1, and the symbol S11 is fed back to the first binary adder 201 where it is added to a next input signal. An output symbol S12 calculated by adding the current input signal to a previous signal in the first binary adder 201 is transmitted via the second transmission antenna TX2.
The input signal a2 is output as a symbol S21 through the second binary adder 205 and the second delay 207, and then transmitted via the first transmission antenna TX1, and the symbol S21 is fed back to the second binary adder 205 where it is added to a next input signal. An output symbol S22 calculated by adding the current input signal to a previous signal in the second binary adder 205 is transmitted via the second transmission antenna TX2.
The conventional R-STTC encoder adds channel-encoded input signals to their previous output signals, and then transmits output symbols delayed through the delays via one transmission antenna (i.e. the first transmission antenna). The R-STTC encoder transmits output symbols added through the binary adders via another transmission antenna (i.e. second transmission antenna) before being delayed by the delays.
When output symbols of the R-STTC encoder shown in FIG. 2 are expressed in the form of a matrix, the output matrix G(D) can be expressed as
                                                                        G                                                  (                  D                  )                                            =                              (                                                      G                    1                                    ,                                      G                    2                                                  )                                                                                =                              (                                                                                D                                                  (                                                      1                            +                            D                                                    )                                                                                0                                                                                1                                                  (                                                      1                            +                            D                                                    )                                                                                0                                                                                0                                                                                D                                                  (                                                      1                            +                            D                                                    )                                                                                0                                                                                1                                                  (                                                      1                            +                            D                                                    )                                                                                )                                                                        (        1        )
In Equation (1), G1 denotes a symbol output via the first transmission antenna TX1, and G2 denotes a symbol output via the second transmission antenna TX2. D denotes a delay. In the matrix, each row represents a recursive convolutional code which is a compound code. A first row represents the first recursive convolutional encoder 200 and a second row represents the second recursive convolutional encoder 210. Each column represents an output symbol. The first two columns (i.e. first and second columns) represent output symbols of the R-STTC encoder, transmitted via the first transmission antenna, and the last two columns (i.e. third and fourth columns) represent output symbols of the R-STTC encoder, transmitted via the second transmission antenna. It can be noted that the conventional R-STTC encoder has a parallel concatenation structure of two non-systematic convolutional encoders.
So far, the structure of the QPSK-based R-STTC encoder has been described. Next, an 8PSK-based R-STTC encoder will be described with reference to FIG. 3.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a structure of a conventional 8PSK modulation-based R-STTC encoder used as an inner encoder. Referring to FIG. 3, the R-STTC encoder is comprised of 3 binary adders 301, 305 and 309, and 3 delays 303, 307 and 311.
The R-STTC encoder illustrated in FIG. 3 outputs 6 STTC-encoded symbols S11, S21, S31, S12, S22 and S32 for 3 channel-encoded input bits a1 a2 and a3 by 8PSK modulation. Therefore, the R-STTC encoder has a structure comprised of three recursive convolutional codes.
Each of the recursive convolutional encoders is an encoder for generating compound codes with a code rate ½, and performs 8PSK modulation so that the three compound codes are parallel-concatenated.
The 8PSK modulation-based R-STTC encoder illustrated in FIG. 3 outputs 6 STTC-encoded symbols through recursive convolutional encoders 300, 310 and 320 in order to transmit channel-encoded input signals a1, a2 and a3 via a first transmission antenna TX1 and a second transmission antenna TX2 while obtaining a space-time diversity effect.
The input signal a1 is output as a symbol S11 through the first binary adder 301 and the first delay 303, and then transmitted via the first transmission antenna TX1, and the symbol S11 is fed back to the first binary adder 301 where it is added to a next input signal. An output symbol S12 calculated by adding the current input signal to a previous signal in the first binary adder 301 is transmitted via the second transmission antenna TX2.
The input signal a2 is output as a symbol S21 through the second binary adder 305 and the second delay 307, and then transmitted via the first transmission antenna TX1, and the symbol S21 is fed back to the second binary adder 305 where it is added to a next input signal. An output symbol S22 calculated by adding the current input signal to a previous signal in the second binary adder 305 is transmitted via the second transmission antenna TX2.
The input signal a3 is output as a symbol S31 through the third binary adder 309 and the third delay 311, and then transmitted via the first transmission antenna TX1, and the symbol S31 is fed back to the third binary adder 309 where it is added to a next input signal. An output symbol S32 calculated by adding the current input signal to a previous signal in the third binary adder 309 is transmitted via the second transmission antenna TX2.
The 8PSK-based R-STTC encoder of FIG. 3, like the QPSK-based R-STTC encoder of FIG. 2, adds channel-encoded input signals to their previous output signals, and then transmits output symbols delayed through the delays via one transmission antenna (i.e., the first transmission antenna). The R-STTC encoder also transmits output symbols added through the binary adders via another transmission antenna (i.e., second transmission antenna) before being delayed by the delays.
When output symbols of the R-STTC encoder shown in FIG. 3 are expressed in the form of a matrix, the output matrix G(D) can be expressed as
                                                                        G                                                  (                  D                  )                                            =                              (                                                      G                    1                                    ,                                      G                    2                                                  )                                                                                =                              (                                                                                D                                                  (                                                      1                            +                            D                                                    )                                                                                0                                                              0                                                                                1                                                  (                                                      1                            +                            D                                                    )                                                                                0                                                              0                                                                                0                                                                                D                                                  (                                                      1                            +                            D                                                    )                                                                                0                                                              0                                                                                1                                                  (                                                      1                            +                            D                                                    )                                                                                0                                                                                0                                                              0                                                                                D                                                  (                                                      1                            +                            D                                                    )                                                                                0                                                              0                                                                                1                                                  (                                                      1                            +                            D                                                    )                                                                                )                                                                        (        2        )
In Equation (2), G1 denotes a symbol output via the first transmission antenna TX1, and G2 denotes a symbol output via the second transmission antenna TX2. D denotes a delayer. In the matrix, each row represents a recursive convolutional code which is a compound code. A first row represents the first recursive convolutional encoder 300, a second row represents the second recursive convolutional encoder 310, and a third row represents the third recursive convolutional encoder 320. In addition, each column represents an output symbol. The first three columns (i.e., first, second and third columns) represent output symbols of the R-STTC encoder, transmitted via the first transmission antenna, and the last three columns (i.e., fourth, fifth and sixth columns) represent output symbols of the R-STTC encoder, transmitted via the second transmission antenna. It can be noted that the conventional R-STTC encoder has a parallel concatenation structure of three non-systematic convolutional encoders.
The conventional STTC code described above is capable of obtaining both coding gain and diversity gain, because it is a code designed by simultaneously taking channel coding, a modulation technique and use of multiple antennas into account. A method for forming SC-STC by serially concatenating an error correction code as the outer encoder shown in FIG. 1 with the STTC encoder is being actively studied.
However, in the future radio communication system requiring the increasing channel capacity and data rate in order to implement the 3G or 4G mobile communication system, performance improvement of the SC-STC is required. Although a study on a channel encoder as an outer encoder constituting the SC-STC is being actively perused, the studies on using an STTC encoder as the inner encoder is insufficient.
Furthermore, in the next generation mobile communication system aiming at transmitting data via multiple antennas with improved performance, improving performance for the STTC encoder is necessarily required.

Data transmission/reception apparatus and method for improving performance in a mobile communication system using space-time trellis code


A packaging material consisting of small pieces for filling the cavities in packaging containers. The packaging material consists of an outer cover, of a coarse-porous, air-permeable, thin paper, as for example a highstrength wrapping tissue, which surrounds a filling of waste paper or shredded paper (scraps) from paper shredding machines or the like. The ball-like packaging pieces of up to 10 cm in diameter are formed by folding or sealing. The filling does not have the tendency to crumble and all pieces are continuously reusable. Each packaging piece is very elastic due to its air-permeability and adapts well to the cavities to be filled.

A packaging problem of this type exists relatively often in the packaging industry, in particular in the case of sensitive measuring instruments. Wood fiber used to be used extensively in this case. However, wood fiber is relatively expensive and crumbles during use so that it is not suited for every article to be packaged. Plastic, for example polyestyrol, has therefore, for a long time, very often been used in the place of wood fiber, which plastic is provided in large quantities of small pieces and is filled into the packaging cavities. If the individual plastic pieces are dimensioned advantageously, then a relatively loose and light structure is provided by these plastic pieces in the remaining cavities of the packaging containers, which structure, however, at the same time is capable of guaranteeing a stable positioning of the packaged article, if the packaging material is used correctly.
Unfortunately, such plastic parts are environmentally incompatible; they are not at all suited for disposal. Also, repeated use of such plastic pieces has up to now not been successful because the plastic pieces, when used again, are no longer sufficiently elastic and have permanent deformations in them which result in a substantially dense packaging of the plastic pieces. Further, the pieces, just like the wood fiber, have the tendency to crumble.
A method for the manufacture of a shock-absorbing packaging cushion is known from DE-C-38 39 225, which cushion consists of a natural, environmentally protecting disposable fill material and a cover material manufactured of a tear-resistant strip of paper. The strip of paper is thereby bent at lines extending parallel to one another to form a tube and the free, projecting end regions are connected flat with one another.
When straw or blade-like products are used as fill, in order to prevent these products from piercing through the cover material, and to avoid the danger of the cover tearing open and the fill material falling out of the cover, the blade-like products are shortened and are split open by crushing the length. The flatly connected end regions of the strip of paper are prior to their connection bent toward one another through further fold lines, are bent outwardly and fastened to the tubular cover, with the ends of the filled tube being sealed off.
The known packaging material is expensive, because here the blade-like products must first be pretreated, creating thereby due to the crushing a lot of dust particles, which are particularly disadvantageous for later use. Moreover, this known packaging requires an extremely tear-resistance paper, which has a negative effect on the shock-absorbing characteristic of the packaging material.


Providing context to a target minimizes the amount of information that a user must input. Context transfer pages receive context and reformat for the target. Selection of links to such pages provide context which is then reformatted and provided to the target to pre-populate information for the user. A return link can be specified to enable the target to return further context upon user interaction completion. The return link can specify further context transfer pages which can use the returned context to direct the performance of convenience actions, including invoking other applications on the user's computing device and entering information into them. The context transfer pages can themselves collect information from the user to provide appropriate interfaces without requiring resource investment from the target.

As a result of increases in the processing, display and communicational abilities of mobile computing devices, users of such mobile computing devices increasingly use them to perform a greater quantity of tasks. For example, in addition to traditional voice communication functions and network browsing functions, mobile computing devices are increasingly utilized to perform more complex network-based tasks, such as, for example, making restaurant reservations, buying movie tickets, making travel arrangements and other like tasks. However, while the processing, communicational and display abilities of mobile computing devices make such tasks possible, they still remain impractical simply due to the amount of information that is often required to be entered, by the user, through the data entry mechanisms of the mobile device. In addition, many of the interfaces for such tasks do not take into consideration the limited display space on mobile devices, resulting in an interface that is impractical to navigate on mobile devices.
Traditional mobile computing devices typically do not comprise full-size data entry peripherals, such as, for example a full-size keyboard. Instead, mobile computing devices typically comprise either miniaturized keyboards, which are only a small fraction of the size of a full-size keyboard, or virtual keyboards, that are merely images displayed upon a screen. Such keyboards are limited in size due to the physical constraints of the mobile computing device, which is typically designed to fit comfortably in a user's hand and be able to be carried in a pocket, belt holster, purse or the like. Such physical limitations, however, result in keyboards that are simply too small to enable a user to type, or otherwise enter information, as efficiently as they could utilizing, for example, a full-size keyboard. In theory, physical limitations of mobile computing device's input peripherals can be overcome through voice input, where a user simply speaks commands or input data. However, voice input is impractical for entering information into complex templates, and further suffers from inaccuracy drawbacks, thereby again relegating a user to input peripherals such as the miniaturized or virtual keyboards. Consequently, when attempting to do tasks that require the user to enter a lot of information, such as via a keyboard of the mobile computing device, users can often become frustrated and can seek to delay such activity until they have access to a physically larger computing device, or, at least, a physically larger data entry peripheral that they can communicationally couple with the mobile computing device.

Automated target specific format conversion of context information from a user query


A fuse box for a vehicle contains a base box having a housing in which a first bus bar with a battery connection terminal is disposed. The fuse box is configured according to a modular system. For this purpose, the housing is provided for the attachment of an extension box. The extension box preferably has a second bus bar that is placed in contact with the first bus bar. As a result of the modular system with the extension box, it is possible, for example, to allow for extensions in a vehicle on-board power system with little expenditure in respect of the fuse box.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a fuse box for a vehicle having a housing in which a first bus bar that has a battery connection terminal is disposed.
In the field of motor vehicles, such a fuse box, also referred to as a primary fuse box, is usually disposed in the engine cavity, directly in the vicinity of the battery. The individual parts of a vehicle on-board power system are protected by the fuse box. In order to protect individual loads, further fuses may be disposed in a decentralized fashion, for example in the passenger compartment. The fuse box has a bus bar having a battery connection terminal via which the fuse box is connected to the battery of the vehicle in the mounted state. The energy that is made available by the battery is distributed to the individual parts of the vehicle on-board power system via the bus bar.
Published, Non-Prosecuted German Patent Application DE 199 59 272 A1 discloses such a fuse box which is referred to as a primary fuse box and which has a bus bar which is divided in two so that the fuse box can be used both for single-battery systems and for two-battery systems without relatively large modifications to the vehicle on-board power system. A further example of a primary fuse box can be found, for example, in German Utility Model DE 296 07 130 U1.
The configuration of the vehicle on-board power system usually depends on the specific customer requirements so that even with one particular type of vehicle there are different vehicle on-board power system variants owing to different equipment variants. Owing to the large number of electrical loads that are now used in vehicles, the vehicle on-board power system variants may differ considerably in their scope between a basic equipment level and a higher comfort equipment level. In trucks or construction machinery, the vehicle on-board power systems may also differ considerably in their scope, depending on which additional functionalities and thus additional loads are provided for the vehicle. Since the energy is distributed to the loads via the fuse box, they must be configured for the maximum vehicle on-board power system variant. In addition, it is advantageous if more space remains free for possible retrofitted items. A fuse box that is configured for the maximum vehicle on-board power system variant is over dimensioned for the vehicle on-board power system variant in the basic equipment level and takes up a large amount of installation space. However, in modern vehicles the installation space in the engine cavity is highly restricted.


Amlodipine is prepared in a high yield by subjecting a pyrrole derivative, methyl aminocrotonate and 2-chlorobenzaldehyde to a Hantzsch reaction, and converting the pyrrole residue of the resulting 1,4-dihydropyridine derivative to an amine group by the action of hydroxylamine hydrochloride.

The present invention relates to a synthetic method of preparing amlodipine in a high yield.
Amlodipine, a generic name for the compound of formula (I), 3-ethyl-5-methyl-2-(2-aminoethoxy-methyl)-4-(2-chlorophenyl)-6-methyl- 1,4-dihydro-3,5,-pyridine dicarboxylate, is a long-term calcium-channel blocker useful for treating cadiovacular diseases such as stenocardia, hypertension and congestive cardioplegic. This compound is asymmetric due to the presence, around the rotationally restricted biaryl axis, of two different ester residues:
There have been reported a number of methods for amlodipine synthesis but these methods generally suffer from the problem of low productivity caused by low yields observed at the critical Hantzsch reaction step, as further explained below.
For example, Korean Patent Publication No. 87-909 discloses a method for preparing amlodipine represented by Scheme 1: a 1,4-dihydropyridine derivative is obtained by performing a Hantzsch reaction of an azide compound with methyl aminocrotonate and 2-chloro-benzaldehyde, and the azido residue thereof is reduced.
wherein Et and Me represent ethyl and methyl, respectively
However, this method gives a yield of only 19% and is not suitable for a large scale production due to the explosion hazard of the azide compound.
The method disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 86-1921 is illustrated as Scheme 2 below, wherein a Hantzsch reaction is conducted by using a derivative having a phthalimide amine protective group, followed by removing the amine protective group to give amlodipine.
wherein Et and Me represent ethyl and methyl, respectively.
However, this method also has a problem in that the yield of Hantzsch reaction is rather low, e.g., 25%.
Korean Patent Publication No. 87-909 discloses a method for preparing amlodipine described as Scheme 3 below: a Hantzsch reaction is performed using a derivative whose amine group is protected by two benzyl groups, followed by removing the benzyl groups.
wherein Bn, Et and Me represent benzyl, ethyl and methyl, respectively
This method also entails a low yield of 10%, and has the problem that two-step hydrogenation is required to remove the benzyl groups.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,389,654 describes a method of preparing amlodipine besylate (amlodipine benzenesulphonate) presented as Scheme 4 below, wherein a Hantzsch reaction is carried out using a derivative whose amino group is protected by a triphenylmethyl group, followed by removing the amine protective group by benzene sulfonic acid treatment.
wherein Ph, Et and Me represent phenyl, ethyl and methyl, respectively
Again, this complicated method offers a very low yield of 7%.
According to the method disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,046,337 which is represented as Scheme 5 below, a Hantzsch reaction is performed using a halogenated derivative and the halogen group of the resulting product is subsequently converted into an amine group.
wherein Et and Me represent ethyl and methyl, respectively.
Since the chlorine-containing product is non-reactive in the subsequent amine substitution reation, it must be converted first to the corresponding iodine derivative. Accordingly, regardless of the halogen derivative used, the overall yield of amlodipine is 22% or below.
Accordingly, these prior art methods all suffer from the problem of low yield, calling for an improved method capable of producing amlodipine in a high yield.
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved method of preparing amlodipine in a high yield.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of preparing amlodipine of formula (I) which comprises:
(a) performing a Hantzsch reaction of a compound of formula (II) with aminocrotonate of formula (III) and 2-chlorobenzaldehyde of formula (IV) to obtain a compound of formula (V); and
(b) treating the compound of formula (V) with hydroxylamine hydrochloride in a mixture of water and an organic solvent:
xe2x80x83wherein
R1 and R2 are independently halogen or C1-4 alkyl, or C1-4 alkyl substituted with hydrogen or alkoxy,
Me is methyl; and
Et is ethyl.
The method of the present invention may be represented as Scheme 6, as follows:
wherein R1, R2, Et and Me are as defined above.
The pyrrole derivative of formula (II) is a novel compound, and in practicing the present invention, both R1 and R2 are preferably methyl. The pyrrole derivative of formula (II) may be prepared in a high yield in accordance with the method disclosed in [J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. I, 2801, (1984)], which is presented herein as Scheme 7, wherein the amine residue is protected in the form of pyrrole.
wherein R1, R2 and Et are as defined above.
The inventive method is particularly advantageous in that the pyrrole group makes it possible to carry out the substitution reaction even under a strong basic condition, in a high yield, i.e., 90%. Such a basic condition is not practicable when any of the conventional amine protecting groups is employed. Also, the pyrrole group can be easily converted into an amine by the action of hydroxylamine without affecting the adjacent ester-protecting group.
In step (a) of the inventive method, a high yield of a compound of formula (V) can be obtained by performing a Hantzsch reaction of a pyrrole derivative of formula (II) with methyl aminocrotonate of formula (III) and 2-chlorobenzaldehyde, the reaction being typically carried out by refluxing the pyrrole derivative, aminocrotonate and 2-chlorobenzaldehyde in 0.9-1.2:1:1 equivalent amounts in an organic solvent for twenty (20) hours. The organic solvent may be a C1-4 alkanol such as isopropanol and 1-butanol. The yield of this reaction is about 53% which is much higher than that of a conventional Hantzsch reaction.
In step (b), amlodipine can be obtained in a high yield by refluxing the compound of formula (V) in a mixture of water and an organic solvent for a period ranging from 4 to 5 hours in the presence of a hydroxylamine salt, preferably hydroxylamine hydrochloride, in an amount ranging from 15 to 25 equivalents, preferably 20 equivalents based on the amount of the compound of formula (V). A particularly high yield can be obtained when hydroxylamine hydrochloride is used in combination with triethylamine added in an amount of, e.g., 10 equivalents based on the amount of 1,4-dihydropyridine derivative. The organic solvent may be isopropanol, methanol, ethanol or 1-butanol, and it may be mixed with water in a volume ranging from 3 to 5, preferably 4 based on the volume of water.
In accordance with the present invention, the 1,4-dihydropyridine derivative of formula (V) can be obtained and converted into amlodipine in a much higher yield than was previously possible. This inventive method can thus be advantageously used in mass production of amlodipine.


Plant nitrogen metabolism in corn and tobacco has been altered by transformation with a highly active assimilatory glutamate dehydrogenase gene. Plants containing the gdhA gene are resistant to phosphinothricin herbicides (PPT) which can include glufosinate herbicides. Additionally, these transformed plants evidence higher levels of tolerance to PPT when combined with another PPT resistant gene. This invention also includes the method of improving plant growth in a field of crops encoding for GDH due to a gdhA transgene.

Plants utilize nitrogen to form organic compounds. Ammonia and ammonium ions do not accumulate in plants cells but instead are rapidly assimilated. Ammonium assimilates through two possible pathways. The first pathway produces glutamate and is catalyzed by glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), which is found in chloroplasts and mitochondria.
The second pathway for assimilation of ammonia involves a reaction with glutamate to form its amide, glutamine. This reaction is catalyzed by glutamine synthase (GS) and requires energy in the form of ATP. Glutamine is then catalyzed by glutamate synthase (GOGAT) to form glutamate. GS appears in chloroplasts and cytosol in leaves and roots, whereas, GOGAT is in leaf chloroplasts and plastids in roots.
Although both pathways result in glutmate, the second pathway appears more important in ammonium assimilation in plants. Glutamate dehydrogenase, the enzyme of the first pathway, has a high Km value. This value which is the concentration of ammonia where half of the enzyme maximum operation rate is within levels which are toxic for plant cells. In contrast, the GS Km value is much lower. Additionally, radioactive labeling of NO.sub.3 or NH.sub.4 show labeled nitrogen in the amide group of glutamine first.
Although GS has a high affinity for ammonia and GDH has a lower affinity, GS has low specific activity per enzyme molecule and GDH has high specific activity per molecule.
Ammonium assimilation pathways of plants and microorganism; although maybe not fully understood; have been known. In October of 1980, the ICI Argicultrual Division published in Nature, Volume 287, page 396 an article on improved conversion of methanol to single cell protein by Methylophilus methylotropus.
The researchers cloned the glutamine dehydrogenase gene of Escherichia coli (E. coli) into a mutant of Methylophilus methylotropus organism that lacks GOGAT. The paper explained that the GDH pathway should result in the organism consuming less energy. The researchers speculate the potential industrial or agricultural savings could be made by identification of features that incur "energy penalty" and this is an exciting area for recombinant DNA. This organism of organism transfer of the E. coli GDH gene should substantially decrease in enzyme activity thus a plasmid with a high copy number was used.
In 1988, the expression of E. coli glutamate dehydrogenase in cyanobacterium was reported in Plant Molecular Biology, Volume II, pages 335-344. Cynaobacterium that lacked glutamate dehydrogenase were transformed with the gdhA gene of E. coli and levels of NADP-specific glutamate dehydrogenase activity resulted in the transformed microorganism. The authors speculate that it would be interesting to investigate the engineering of glutamate dehydrogenase activity to higher plants and to study in detail the possible roles for glutamate dehydrogenase activity in ammonium detoxification.
Although there was some speculation on nitrogen assimilation genes in higher plants, in a paper on nitrogen assimiliatory genes in The Genetic Manipulation of Plants and its Application to Agriculture, at page 109, the authors state that it would be tempting to suggest that crop plants might show increased metabolic efficiency if ammonium assimilation was channeled through glutamate dehydrogenase. But the authors clearly list the number of technological barriers to this. There remained a number of barriers to this research including the potential negative consequences of uncontrolled expression in the plant. The authors reluctantly conclude "perhaps" there may be some benefit in replacing glutamate synthase, with ammonium--utilizing alternatives.
In Molecular and General Genetics in 1993 in volume 236, pages 315-325, the modulation of glutamine synthetase gene expression in tobacco was reported. An alfalfa gene was placed in the tobacco plant cells in the sense and antisense position. Partial inhibitation in the antisense position was seen without a true homologous gene.
In 1994, it was reported that increasing the activity of plant nitrogen metabolism enzymes may alter plant growth, development and composition. Increased yield and protein content as well as reduced levels of nitrogen in agricultural runoff water and food may result. Plant nitrogen metabolism has been altered by transformation with a highly active assimilatory bacterial glutamate dehydrogenase gene, plant glutamate dehydrogenase is less active in ammonium gene has been altered by PCR and PCR strand overlap exchange to modify coding region and allow high levels of expression in plant cells. The 5' non-coding region has been altered to increase translation and permit protein targeting to either cytosol or chloroplasts. The 3' non-coding region has been altered to stabilize the mRNA and ensure appropriate polyadenylation of the mRNA. Certain codons likely to inhibit expression to high levels in plant cells have been altered. The effects of the various sequence substitutions on gene expression in plant cells compared to the unmodified gene will be reported. This abstract is reporting on speculation of the researchers as the abstract clearly reference what may happen or codons that are likely to inhibit. The abstract appears to provide a guess as to what might happen, not something that has been done.
Although researchers speculated that the gdhA gene may be useful in higher plants, the drawbacks and possible disruption of the photosynthesis pathway lead researchers to the belief that the potential use was probably not possible due to technical barriers. Even the inventor was only speculating on the potential of the gdhA gene to avoid ammonia toxification.
There remains a need to transform cereals to determine if the gdhA gene would have any effect on the plant in either nontoxifying levels or toxic levels of ammonia. The usefulness of the gene as a tolerance mechanism for certain herbicides was not proven prior to this. This gene is tolerant to phosphinothricin which can include glufosinate and other similar herbicidally active derivatives, salts, and acids thereof. The combination of this gdhA gene with other selectable markers to increase plant resistance to herbicide damage was heretofore undiscovered. The ability of a plant to increase dry weight due to increased nitrogen uptake in even nontoxic levels of ammonia was not realized or considered until the present invention.
The composition of proteins, sugars, starch, cellulose and structural lipids, storage lipids and oils can be altered by increasing or decreasing nitrogen supply to the plant. The question remains if the supply of nitrogen is at a high level can the composition of proteins, sugars, starch, cellulose, lipids and oils be modified by the addition of the gdhA gene. The present invention clearly indicates that the protein content in seeds and leaves is altered. Although the gdhA gene may have had some suggested potential to assimilate additional nitrogen in highly toxic nitrogen conditions, the gdhA genes result GDH enzyme has a weaker ammonium affinity that the ATP specific GS. At lower ammonium concentrations assimilation by GDH was expected to be limited due to its lower ammonium affinity and the reversibility of its reaction. Thus, it was surprising and unexpected that the gdhA gene when in a plant produced measurable changes in the number of leaves and protein content of the leaves and the seeds, the dry weight of the plant even in soils having normal ammonium levels. At these levels, the expectation would be that the GS / GOGAT cycle would be the active cycle.
An object of this invention is to provide transformed plants containing the gdhA gene that evidences increased plant biomass.
Another object of this invention is to provide transformed plants that increase leaf size.
Still another object of this invention is to provide transformed corn plants that are resistant to PPT.
Yet a different object of this invention is to provide a corn plant with dual gene resistance to PPT in the GS and the GDH pathways.
Furthermore, an object of the present invention is to provide altered plant growth and yield in seed crops including sunflower, corn, soybeans and canola (brassica).
Additionally, the object of the present invention is to provide a gdhA transformed corn plant that contains a gene that alters the composition of the makeup of the corn seed.
Broadly, then the present invention includes a method of improving crop growth by applying to a field containing a crop, which are phosphinothricin resistant due to having an expressible transgene encoding for phosphinothricin resistant glutamate dehydrogenase enzyme, a sufficient amount of a phosphinothricin class herbicide to control undesirable vegetation without significantly affecting crop growth.
This method includes a gene which is mutagenized, and a gene which is a modified bacterial gene. The gene can contain the Kozac consensus sequence in a particular embodiment. This method, of course, can include instances where the phosphinothricin class herbicide is combined with a second herbicide and then applied to the transformed crop.
The method includes transformed crops which are selected from the group consisting of corn, cotton, brassica, soybeans, wheat or rice. Some of these crops are naturally resistant and the addition of the gdhA allows additional heartiness during herbicide application.
This invention is not just about the method described about. This invention also includes within its broad scope. Transgenic plant cells and progeny having expression cassettes with a transcription initiation region functional in the plant cells, a DNA sequence that encodes for the GDH enzyme in said plant cells, and a transcription termination region functional in the plant cells. The expression cassette then imparts to the plant a detectable level of herbicide resistance to the phosphinothricin class of herbicides.
In the cells at least one of the transcription region or the termination region is not naturally associated with the gdhA sequence. The invention encompass these cells wherein the sequence is from a bacterial gene preferably from E. coli. In some embodiments these cells, including a sequence from the bacterial gene, are modified to enhance expression in plant cells. The cells, plants and progeny include a DNA sequence that encodes the amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 3.
To enhance amino acid production, the cells can include chloroplast transient peptide under sequences adapted to target the chloroplasts. In other embodiments, cells have a transcription initiation region which consitutive in action or can be organ or tissue specific.
The present invention includes cell culture of cells that contain a marker gene that is capable of growth in a culture medium which includes a herbicide which is in the phosphinothricin class. Additionally, the present invention includes a cell culture of cells having a gene resistant to the PPT and a marker gene that is capable of growth in a culture medium which includes a herbicide which is not a phosphinothricin class herbicide. The herbicide includes bialaphos, Liberty.TM. and Ignite.TM. (glufosinate herbicides).
A transgenic plant originally formed from nontransgenic plants and progeny thereof which contains an expression cassette having a transcription initiation region functional in the plant cell, a genetically engineered DNA sequence that is capable of encoding for the GDH enzyme in the plant cells wherein the plant evidence detectable alteration in GDH activity when compared to the nontransgenic plants like that from which the transgenic plant was formed. The alteration in GDH activity could be increased activity or decreased activity. The transgenic plant can be a dicot or a monocot. Of particular interest are transgenic Zea mays plants. Alternatively, the transgenic plant can be selected from a group consisting of brassica, cotton, soybeans, and tobacco. The change in the nitrogen assimilation pathway allows other parts of the plant to be altered.
Thus, a transgenic plant that plant forms seeds and has genetically engineered DNA sequences that alters the oil content of the seed of the plant and evidences altered GDH activity when compared to a transgenic plant containing only the oil altering DNA sequence.
The invention covers a transformed corn plant containing a bacterial glutamate dehydrogenase gene. Additionally, this plant can contain a second gene that was introduced into the plant or its ancestors by genetic engineering that is resistant to PPT.
The invention broadly covers a recombinant plasmid characteristic in that the recombinant plasmid contains a constitutive promoter, a chloroplast transit peptide and the bacterial gdhA gene and a transcriptional termination region. A biologically pure culture of a bacterium characterized in that the bacterium is transformed with the recombinant plasmid.

Plants containing a bacterial Gdha gene and methods of use thereof

The Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University


Disclosed is a surface inspection device that performs a defect inspection throughout a surface of a wafer. In the defect detection using a defect review SEM, an X-Y coordinate system is set throughout a surface (excluding a round end face) of a product wafer to allow the inspection throughout the surface of the product wafer. Therefore, the defect detection can be performed also in an area other than an effective chip area. Further, the inspection results of the area are stored in relation to the coordinates in a position where the inspection results are acquired. Therefore, the inspection results can be effectively used for an analysis and a defect cause can be investigated with a higher degree of accuracy. As a result, the quality and yield of chips can be improved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a surface inspection device and a surface inspection method. More particularly, the present invention relates to a surface inspection device and a surface inspection method for inspecting pattern defects formed on a surface of a sample such as a wafer, or adhesion of foreign matters.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a recent manufacturing process of semiconductor devices, a defect review SEM that inspects pattern defects formed on a wafer, or adhesion of foreign matters (simply referred to as a "defect") through the use of a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) is being used.
The inspection of sample surfaces using such a defect review SEM is performed as follows. First, a defect inspection device such as an appearance inspection device or a laser type surface foreign matter inspection device performs an inspection of a wafer to be inspected, and thereby acquiring data of the inspection results. The inspection data include, for example, the number, coordinates, size of defective spots on the wafer to be inspected, in addition to product number, lot, ID of wafer to be inspected, process inspection device and date. Then, using such review data, the defect review SEM performs, for example, an automatic alignment between the coordinates of a defective spot in the inspection data and those of the surface of the wafer to be inspected, and performs a detailed defect review of the defective spot through the use of an SEM. Finally, the defect review SEM creates SEM image data (image data) of the defective spot. Some defect review SEMs automatically perform the defect classification or elemental analysis on the detected defects.
However, in various surface inspection devices including conventional defect inspection devices or defect review SEMs, the coordinates of the surface of the wafer to be detected are set, for example, only in an area (referred to as an "effective chip area") where a chip capable of being used as a product is formed. Accordingly, the defect detection can be automatically performed only within this effective chip area.
In an area other than the effective chip area, the following defect detection must be performed aside from the automatic defect detection in the effective chip area. That is, an operator performs an SEM observation by manually turning the wafer to be inspected, using a joy stick or drag ball attached to the defect review SEM. Whenever finding defective spots, the operator records SEM image data or takes photographs thereof.
However, it is difficult for the operator to completely find defective spots on the wafer to be inspected, through these operations. Furthermore, considerable time is required. In addition, the SEM image data or SEM photographs acquired through these operations are not related to the inspection data of the defect inspection device. Therefore, the operator hardly specifies a correct position or generation source of the defects even if he/she can find occurrence of the defects or classifies types of the defects.
Conventionally, the following device is proposed. In order to shorten the amount of inspection time, the device detects the inspection data in a rotary scanning area and in an XY advancing scanning area. The rotary scanning area is an area where the wafer to be inspected is inspected while being rotated in a ring shape or in spirals. The XY advancing scanning area is an area where the wafer to be inspected is inspected while being moved straight in the directions of X and Y. After detecting the inspection data, the device detects the defects in each coordinate position using the data (see, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-056306).
Conventionally, the following system also is proposed. In order to reduce the operation quantity of an operator, the system has a configuration that an optical review device performs a preliminary inspection of a wafer to be inspected, and a defect review SEM performs a detailed inspection of the wafer using preliminary inspection information as the inspection data acquired through the preliminary inspection. The system has a data base that stores review information acquired through the review of the defect to be reviewed, which is selected from the defects included in the preliminary inspection information (see, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10-135288).
In an effective chip area of a wafer to be inspected in a manufacturing process of a semiconductor device, elements or wiring patterns are generally formed densely. Therefore, the following problem is raised. Even when defects such as pattern peeling or adhesion of foreign matters, for example, particles are found within the effective chip area by defect detection, it is difficult to specify the generation source or to investigate the generation cause only by the information in some cases. When the surface of the wafer to be inspected is gradually inspected in more detail, the source of these defects is considerably found in an area other than the effective chip area, which heretofore stands outside the area to be inspected for the defect inspection.


The present invention provides a chitinase that can be used as a disease control agent for plants, as well as a gene encoding the chitinase. A family 19 chitinase isolated from yam and a gene encoding the chitinase are disclosed.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a novel chitinase from yam and a gene encoding the chitinase. This chitinase has a strong lytic activity and, thus, is useful as an agent for controlling plant pathogens.
2. Prior Art
A great number of edible or ornamental plants are cultured at present. Generally, such cultivars are weaker against pathogenic fungi and bacteria than wild-type species. Thus, it is necessary to apply large quantities of agricultural chemicals (agents for controlling plant pathogenic fungi or bacteria) for obtaining sufficient yields. As agents for controlling plant pathogenic fungi or bacteria, chemically synthesized agents of heterocyclic aromatic compound type or organic phosphate ester type have been mainly used to date. However, these chemicals not only manifest their effect on pathogenic fungi or bacteria, but they also have an adverse effect on the human body and cause the problem of residual agricultural chemicals.
Chitinase is an enzyme that hydrolyzes chitin. There are known chitinases belonging to family 18 and those belonging to family 19. It is known that chitinases are involved in the plant defense mechanism against pathogenic fungi and bacteria. Plants infected by pathogenic fungi or bacteria protect themselves by producing chitinases and degrading the pathogen with the chitinase. It is expected that, when such chitinases are applied to soils or plant bodies, they would manifest the same effect as that of the chitinases produced in the plant bodies and thus could protect the plants from infection with pathogenic fungi and/or bacteria. Since chitinases are substances produced by organisms, it can be considered that agents for controlling plant pathogens utilizing chitinases are highly safe against the human body and environments.
Several reports have already been made on the use of plant-derived chitinases as agents for controlling plant pathogens. For example, the present inventors have isolated a chitinase belonging to family 18 from yam and revealed that the chitinase exhibits control effect on pathogens such as Pyricularia oryzae (fungus that causes rice blast) (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-109405).
The finding of a novel plant chitinase will lead to the development of novel agents for controlling plant pathogens. Besides, for efficient production of agents for controlling plant pathogens using the chitinase, it is necessary to isolate the gene encoding the chitinase.

Family 19 class IV chitinase gene from yam


The invention relates to a novel process for preparation of N-[2-n-butyl-3-[4-[3-(di-n-butylamino)-propoxy]-benzoyl]-benzofuran-5-yl]methanesulfonamide (I) and pharmaceutical acceptable salts thereof, where a salt of (5-amino-2-butyl-1-benzofuran-3-yl){4-[3-(di-n-butylamino)propoxy]phenyl}methanone of formula (II)—where A is a mono- or dibasic acid forming an acid addition salt with the compound of formula (II), n is 1 if A is dibasic acid and n is 1 or 2 if A is a monobasic acid—is reacted with a mesylating reagent in a heterogen reaction, if desired, in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst. The invention also relates to the novel salts of compound of formula (II), for the preparation thereof and their use in the preparation of dronedarone.

Dronedarone is a known drug for the treatment of arrhythmia and has the chemical name of N-[2-n-butyl-3-[4-[3-(di-n-butylamino)propoxy]benzoyl]benzofuran-5-yl]methanesulfonamide [see also formula (I) below]. There are some known processes for the preparation of dronedarone as follows:
In EP 0471609 the following scheme is disclosed for the preparation of dronedarone [Process A]

The above mentioned patent description discloses some new intermediary compounds, too.
In WO 02/48078 the following scheme is disclosed for the preparation of dronedarone [Process B]:

The novelty of the process is based on the adaptation of the Friedel-Crafts reaction in the first step. The process and the intermediary compounds used for the preparation of the benzoylchloride compound of the first step are also disclosed in this document. The further steps of the process are identical with the final steps of the synthetic route disclosed in EP 0471609 [Process A], but in the claims the whole synthetic route is claimed, up to dronedarone.
In WO 02/48132 (Sanofi) the following reaction route is disclosed [Process C]. This method is the so called superconvergent route. In the first step of it 5-amino-2-butyl-benzofuran

is mesylated and the obtained 2-butyl-5-methanesulfonamido-benzofuran (in HCl salt form) is further reacted in the next step as follows:

In this process the order of reaction steps are altered, the reduction and the methansulfonylation steps are performed at the beginning of the procedure. Besides the reaction route for preparation of dronedarone, the starting material 2-butyl-5-methansulfonamido-benzofuran and its preparation is also claimed.
From among the mentioned procedures the first one [Process A] is the so called linear synthesis. In this way of procedure the different parts of the dronedarone are stepwise built up on the starting compound. This method is the least economical because the step by step building of the chemical groups is performed where more and more complicated and expensive molecules are applied which rises the costs of preparation. Furthermore, it comprises complicated and dangerous reaction step because aluminium chloride is used in the cleaving reaction of the methoxy group which makes the industrial feasibility more complicated.
In WO 02/48078 (Process B) a shorter synthetic route is disclosed which makes this process more economical, but its last reaction step remained the methansulfonylation reaction of the amino group. This reaction step (see the method described in example 6 of of WO 02/48078) is complicated and give a low yield, only 61.6%. Pure product can be obtained after purification using chromatographic column purification, which method is necessary because of the separation difficulties of the bis-methanesulfonylated product.
The process disclosed in WO 02/48132 (process C) is simpler and more economical taken into consideration the number of the reaction steps. Unfortunately, in the last reaction step rather impure dronedarone.HCl (hydrochloride) is formed which is the obvious consequence of the presence of dibutylamino group in the Friedel-Crafts reaction. According to Examples 3 and 4, the crude dronedarone hydrochloride is prepared with a yield of 90% which is further purified and finally the crude dronedarone base is produced with a yield of 86%. This base is reacted with hydrogen chloride gas dissolved in isopropanol which results in pure dronedarone hydrochloride salt. No yield is given for this reaction step. According to example 5 crude dronedarone hydrochloride salt is prepared with a yield of 90%, which is washed with water and reacted with hydrogen chloride gas dissolved in isopropanol, resulting dronedarone hydrochloride salt again. The quality of this product is not known. However, neither the components used in the Friedel-Crafts reaction nor the resulted products and by-products are soluble in water, the washing step with water cannot result any purification apart from the removal of inorganic salts.
There is another drawback of this process, namely, a dimesylated side-product is formed in the mesylation reaction of the 5-amino-2-butyl-benzofuran. The purification is carried out by crystallization which has a yield of 78.5%.
It is known from example 3 of EP 0 471 609 (Process A) that the methanesulfonylation reaction of amino group in preparation of dronedarone is performed in dichloromethane solvent in presence of triethylamine as acid binding agent and using methanesulfonyl chloride as methanesulfonylating reagent. The reaction is performed at room temperature, probably, since the applied temperature is not given. The reaction time is 20 hours. The yield of crude dronedarone is 100% but pure dronedarone can be prepared from the crude material only with a yield of 61.6%. In another example the purification of crude dronedarone is made by hexane. The yield of this purification step is 56.5%. The purity of the obtained pure dronedarone is 96.1% (HPLC).
In example 35 of EP 0 471 609 (Process A) the methanesulfonylation reaction of 2-n-butyl-5-amino-benzofurane is disclosed. The solvent is carbon tetrachloride and trietylamine is applied as base and methanesulfonyl chloride is used as methanesulfonylating reagent in an amount of 3 equivalents. After 6 hours reaction time the 2-(bis-methanesulfonamido)-2-n-butyl-benzofurane[3] is separated.
It is quite obvious from these two experiments that the selective mono-methanesulfonylation of the amino group is difficult and, according to example 3 mentioned before, beside the unreacted amino compound bis-methanesulfonylated compound (2) is also present. This is the reason of the moderate yield of the purification of crude dronedarone and of the relatively low purity level of 96.1% (HPLC) (which disables the direct use of the obtained material for pharmaceutical purpose).
It is an object of present invention to provide a novel process for the preparation of dronedarone of formula (I), starting with known and commercially available materials, applying simple and environmentally compatible reagents and solvents to afford high overall yields and good purity of the product.

Process for preparation of dronedarone by mesylation


Methods are provided for managing a multitude of objects displayed on a touch screen by selectively associating objects using free-form input gestures. A method comprises displaying a plurality of objects on the touch screen, identifying a first free-form input on the touch screen overlying a first object of the plurality of objects, and identifying a second free-form input gesture on the touch screen overlying a second object of the plurality of objects. The first object and the second object are associated when the first free-form input and the second free-form input each substantially correspond to the same input gesture.

Many electronic devices use touch screens to present information to a user and also receive input from the user. Some applications involve numerous objects or items being displayed on the touch screens. For example, file folders, photo albums, contact lists or music playlists often include numerous entries. Using the touch screen to organize, categorize, or otherwise manage each object individually becomes tedious and time-consuming, particularly as the number of items increases. Accordingly, it is desirable to reduce the workload on a user when managing objects displayed on the touch screen.

Methods for associating objects on a touch screen using input gestures


By a wire end joining method, conductors are integrally joined to each other by applying ultrasonic vibration in a predetermined direction to a conductor bundle obtained by bundling the conductors exposed from a plurality of wires. In a conductor bundle forming process, the conductor bundle is formed by bundling the conductors while interposing metallic foils or plates between the conductors adjacent in a predetermined direction which is an applying direction of the ultrasonic vibration. In an ultrasonic joining process, the conductors are integrally joined to each other by applying the ultrasonic vibration to the formed conductor bundle while pressing the formed conductor bundle in the predetermined direction.

For example, in a wire harness for a vehicle such as an automobile, etc., an operation for joining conductors of a plurality of insulated wires together has been carried out.
As a technique for joining the conductors of the plurality of wires, there is known a technique of increasing peel strength at a joining region in such a way that conductors exposed from insulated wires are bundled by a metallic foil and then joined by an ultrasonic joining (see PTL 1, for example).


Natural-phenomenological information is personalized to the unique requirements of a subscriber and distributed to the subscriber. Natural-phenomenological data is gathered from a variety of sources, such as current ground observations, forecast conditions, satellite images, and radar data. Personal preferences of the subscribers are also gathered and stored, such as activities of the subscriber, geographic locations of the activities, sensitivities of the subscriber to natural-phenomenological conditions, calendar information of the subscriber, and modes of delivery. The personal preferences of the subscriber are used as a filter to identify the natural-phenomenological data that is particularly useful to the subscriber, and the resulting information is delivered to the subscriber. The subscriber identifies the destination device that the information is delivered to. The invention is extensible to support new sources of natural-phenomenological information and new output devices. Electronic delivery of the personalized natural-phenomenological information can be through any number of a variety of output mediums, including pagers, text to voice synthesizers to create an audio stream for playback either via a telephone or a personal digital assistant (PDA), a multimedia-enabled computer, email, computer display monitors, PDA, and a PCS phone.

In recent years, natural-phenomenological information has become increasingly important. Natural-phenomenological data is collected almost instantaneously from numerous sources. For example, natural meteorological data is collected from a multitude of individual sites scattered across the world, such as airports. In another example, hydrological data is collected from nearly all of the rivers in the United States. Consumer interest in natural-phenomenological information has also increased as a result of increased participation in outdoor activities and increasingly damaging natural phenomena, such as hurricanes, tornadoes and floods.
Furthermore, systems for electronic distribution of natural-phenomenological information are commonly available today. Such conventional systems typically include a computer software program running on a client computer that displays periodically reported natural-phenomenological information provided by the National Weather Service through a direct telephone line dial up connection or an Internet connection. The natural-phenomenological information conventionally includes, past, present and forecast meteorological conditions for a number of specific geographic locations including meteorological measures of                temperature        relative humidity        wind direction and speed        barometric pressure        wind chill        dew point        precipitation activity        cloud coverage        satellite images        radar images        aviation-related informationwarnings and watches of dangerous natural phenomena such as:        floods        tornadoes        hurricanes        hail size        speed and direction of the movement of storm cells        wind gusts within storm cells        supercell type        avalanches        brush firesand forecasts for the local geographic area and the geographic region. Natural-phenomenological information also includes tide cycles, hydrological measures of lakes and rivers, seismological reports and forecasts, and ski area snow condition reports, and cosmological events such as sunrise, sunset, and moon phases.
The software programs that display the information include, widely available browsers, platform independent applets, or custom-programmed graphical user interfaces. Server processes are implemented to support the distribution of information to client computers.
All of the above systems provide natural-phenomenological information regardless of the particular needs of the consumer. However, consumers of natural-phenomenological information typically are interested only in a portion of the large amount of natural-phenomenological information that is available. The process of filtering through the large amount of natural-phenomenological information in order to retrieve the specific information that the consumer is interested in and performing a manual qualitative analysis of the information is difficult and inefficient for the consumer. For example, leisure sailors may be primarily interested in wind and tide conditions and golfers may be primarily interested in precipitation and sun intensity. Non-commercial pilots may be particularly interested in conditions at altitudes that few others are interested in. Furthermore, people with particular health conditions may be primarily interested in ozone measurements and pollen count. In addition, skiers may be specifically interested in ski conditions and avalanche reports and campers may be only interested in brush fire reports. Other individuals may only be interested in seismological information. Finally, people who work outdoors may be particularly interested in heat index and wind chill.
Prior art products fail to solve the problem of providing customized generation of natural-phenomenological data tailored to an individual. Therefore, there is a need for the generation and distribution of personalized multimedia natural-phenomenological information.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Generation and distribution of personalized multimedia natural phenomenological information


Disclosed is a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) comprising a transistor having channel holes formed in the channel region thereof and cell gate structures formed in the channel holes. At least three layered impurity regions are formed in a semiconductor substrate between the channel holes and the at least three layered impurity regions form a source region for the transistor.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) and a method of fabricating the same. More particularly, the invention relates to a DRAM having at least three layered impurity regions formed between channel holes in an active region of the DRAM and a method of fabricating the same.
A claim of priority is made to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2004-0072354 filed Sep. 9, 2004, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
A dynamic random access memory (DRAM) typically comprises an array of transistors connected to a corresponding set of bitlines and wordlines. Each transistor generally comprises a source and a drain formed in a semiconductor substrate and a gate formed on the semiconductor substrate so as to overlap the source and the drain. The transistor typically further comprises a channel region formed in the semiconductor substrate between the source and drain. The channel region functions as a route for transferring electrical charges between the source and the drain.
As the size of a DRAM decreases, the length of each channel region within the DRAM typically undergoes a corresponding decrease. Due to a phenomenon called the "short channel effect", the decrease in the channel length may result in a corresponding decrease in the threshold voltage of the transistor.
In an effort to overcome the short channel effect, a transistor having a trench-shaped channel hole formed in a semiconductor substrate has been developed. The trench-shaped channel hole is connected to a word line and functions as a channel region for the DRAM. The channel region transfers charges between source and drain regions along the semiconductor substrate defining the channel hole. The channel hole effectively increases the length of the channel because the distance around the channel hole is longer than the distance across the channel hole.
Unfortunately, transistors using a channel hole to increase the effective length of the channel often experience another phenomenon known as "punch-through". Punch-through occurs where the drain depletion region and the source depletion region of a transistor overlap, essentially creating a single depletion region. Punch-through typically causes current to rapidly increase as the drain-source voltage is increased.
Punch-through typically occurs where the diameter of the channel hole is so small that impurity ions in the source and drain regions pass directly through the channel hole, thereby increasing a possibility of overlapping each other. In addition, reducing the channel length of a transistor in a DRAM also increases a possibility that impurity ions in the source and drain regions facing each other about the channel portion hole contact along the channel region.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,570,233 (the '233 patent) discloses a method of fabricating an integrated circuit. According to the method, source and drain regions are formed in a semiconductor substrate and a gate is formed on the semiconductor substrate so as to overlap the source and drain regions. An insulating layer is then formed to cover the transistor and a contact hole is formed in the insulating layer. A thin first layer is formed on one of the source and drain regions to cover the contact hole. The first layer is formed using a conductive material having a first concentration of dopants. Next, a second layer is formed to cover the first layer. The second layer is formed using a conductive material having a second concentration of dopants which is lower than the first concentration of dopants. Together, the first and second layers form a contact plug.
After the first layer is formed, impurity ions having a first energy level are injected into at least one of the source and drain regions. Then, impurity ions having a second energy level higher than the first energy level are injected into the at least one of the source and drain regions via the first layer. By doing so, a contact resistance between the contact plug and the semiconductor substrate are reduced.
Although the method uses complicated processes in order to reduce the contact resistance between the contact plug and the semiconductor substrate, a problem arises where ions from the ion implantation processes and dopants in the contact plug are excessively diffused, thereby causing a short channel effect.
Because of at least these problems, improved DRAM manufacturing techniques are needed.

DRAM having at least three layered impurity regions between channel holes and method of fabricating same


The heat from garbage upon incineration and solar heat can be effectively used to make sterilized hot water economically. A sterilized hot-water generator is provided with upper, intermediate and lower tanks in communication with each other. The lower tank includes a combustion chamber which is in communication with heating chambers housed centrally within the upper and intermediate tanks. A solar heat hot-water maker is attached to the front side of the sterilized hot-water generator. A sterilizer is located through the heating chambers in the upper and intermediate tanks to introduce the hot water in the upper tank into an associated sterilizing chamber for sterilization by heating. A fume removing tank is provided to dissolve, in water, fumes generated during combustion. Exhaust gases leaving the fume removing tank are fed to a reducing tank where they are reduced to oxygen, by plants, for example. The oxygen is then released into the atmosphere.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a combination sterilized hot-water producer and incineration system capable of making effective use of the heat of burning garbage and solar heat.
2. Prior Art
In recent years, the amount of municipal garbage and waste has increased so much that they can no longer be disposed of by incineration systems now in operation, but instead must be buried in mountains or elsewhere. However, it is said that it is only a matter of time until it becomes no longer possible to continue such disposal practices. Garbage and waste, when buried in mountains or highlands, are carried through underground water to lowlands, forming toxic underground water which will remain for as long as several tens of years. So far, although garbage incinerators for domestic purposes have been commercially available, they can be used only for incineration of small garbage. In addition, the use of such commercial incinerators is now prohibited even in local towns because of the fumes such incinerators produce. Spewing fumes are also responsible for air pollution.
So far, various hot-water generators have been sold for the purpose of preparing hot water. However, they must use precious energy resources such as petroleum, gas and electric power. For the purpose of energy saving, there have been available hot-water makers harnessing solar heat as well. However, they pose a problem in that various bacteria propagate in the course of absorbing heat, some forms impermissible even to livestock.
In view of the foregoing, this invention seeks to provide a combination hot-water producer and incineration system which can prepare sterilized hot water by making effective use of both the heat of burning garbage and solar heat, dispose of garbage, whether large or small, and make that sterilized hot water drinkable.

Combination sterilized hot-water producer and incineration system


The invention relates to a pyridine oxide compound represented by formula (I), an optically active compound thereof, a salt thereof and a hydrate thereof, and, in the presence of the compound as a catalyst, performing 1) a method for producing an ester compound or an amide compound from a carboxylic acid equivalent and an alcohol or an amine, 2) an asymmetric esterification reaction or 3) an asymmetric amidation reaction. In formula (I), each R1 may be the same as the other R1 or different and each R1 represents an alkyl group, an aromatic group, a heterocyclic group, a carboxyl group, an ester group, a cyano group, a halogen atom, an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom or a nitrogen atom; each R2 may be the same as the other R2 or different and each R2 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aromatic group, a heterocyclic group, a carboxyl group, an ester group, a cyano group, a halogen atom, an oxygen atom or the like, and R3 and R4 may be the same or different and R3 and R4 each represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aromatic group, a heterocyclic group, a carboxyl group, an ester group, a cyano group, a halogen atom, an oxygen atom or the like.

Various catalysts have been developed and put into practice for advantageously implementing industrial synthesis of a variety of organic compounds.
However, many organic compounds, particularly pharmaceutical compounds and natural organic compounds, are optically active, and it has been difficult to artificially synthesize these compounds.
Accordingly, it is quite important to develop novel catalysts useful for the synthesis of these kinds of organic compounds.
Although metallic compounds have been developed as catalysts (see non-patent document 1), recent use of such catalysts has shown a negative trend due to problems of toxicity and environmental impact.
While amine catalysts have been developed in recent years as substitutes for metallic catalysts (see non-patent document 2), these catalysts are only able to be used for limited syntheses. Accordingly, there is a desire for the development of catalysts capable of being used in wide range of syntheses.
Non-patent document 1: "Synthesis of organic compounds VI: organic synthesis using metals", Jikken Kagaku Koza (Handbook of Chemical Experiments) (5th ed.), The Chemical Society of Japan, Maruzen, 2004, Vol. 18.
Non-patent document 2: Oriyama et al., (1999), "Development of catalytic asymmetric acylation of alcohols in the presence of a chiral 1,2-diamine", Journal of Synthetic Organic Chemistry, 1999, 57 (7).

Pyridine oxide compound, and process for producing carboxylic acid derivative and optically active carboxylic acid derivative with the use of the same

Tokyo University of Science Educational Foundation Administrative Organization


A first ink tank, and a second ink tank including a first chamber having an ink inlet port and a second chamber having a sensing unit are provided. The ink inlet port is provided at a position so that a volume of the second ink tank above a second height does not become smaller than an amount of ink volume change in the second chamber when the ink volume is changed from a first height which is a height of the ink surface when a minimum volume of ink is in the second ink tank under normal usage to a second height which is a height of the ink inlet port.

1. Field of the Invention
This disclosure relates to an inkjet recording apparatus provided with a liquid surface level sensing unit configured to sense a liquid surface level change in a reserve tank arranged in a flow channel extending from an ink tank to a recording head.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, the amount of ink consumed per sheet has increased due to demands such as high image quality and wide-format printing, such that the ink in an ink tank of an inkjet recording apparatus often runs out during a recording operation.
In order to solve the problem of running out of ink, an inkjet recording apparatus provided with a reserve tank in an ink flow channel between the ink tank and a recording head is proposed.
For example, in the inkjet recording apparatus illustrated in FIG. 13A, an ink tank 5 is connected to a recording head 1 via a first hollow tube 8, a reserve tank 4, and a supply tube 2. Even when the ink tank 5 is out of ink, the recording operation can be temporarily continued with ink in the reserve tank 4, and the ink tank 5 can be replaced by a new tank while continuing the recording operation (continuous recording).
In an inkjet recording apparatus having such a configuration, the amount of ink in the reserve tank needs to be constantly monitored during the recording operation. When a reduction in the amount of ink in the reserve tank is sensed, it is estimated that the ink tank is empty, and a user is prompted to replace the ink.
The amount of ink in the reserve tank (the amount of ink remaining in the reserve tank) is detected by sensing that the ink surface is below a predetermined position (H) (sensing of the ink surface level). Exemplary embodiments of the liquid surface level sensing unit used for sensing the ink surface level include electrodes (421 and 422) configured to sense a potential difference and an optical sensor using light reflection properties as illustrated in FIG. 13A.
However, air bubbles generated in the ink tank, or air bubbles entering a liquid flow channel during replacing the ink tank may flow into the reserve tank together with a flow of ink. If the air bubbles flow into the reserve tank, the liquid surface level sensing unit may not work correctly, that is, erroneous sensing may occur.
For example, in the case of liquid surface level sensing by using electrodes, an energized state between two electrodes is not released due to air bubbles which have accumulated on the liquid surface, such that a liquid surface level change (lowering) cannot be sensed even though the liquid surface level is lowered.
The same applies to the case of liquid surface level sensing by using an optical sensor. In other words, a light beam is reflected due to the presence of the air bubbles adhering to the surface of a prism of the optical sensor irrespective of the presence or absence of the liquid (ink), such that the liquid surface level change may not be sensed.
As a countermeasure for the erroneous sensing problem due to the air bubbles as described above, a disclosure in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-237552 is proposed.
Specifically, according to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-237552, an internal space of the reserve tank open to the atmosphere is partitioned into two chambers by a partitioning plate. An ink inlet port is provided on a lower portion of one of the chambers. The partitioning plate is provided with communication ports to make the two chambers communicate with each other at two positions, namely, above and below the ink surface level in order to keep the liquid surface levels in the chambers on both sides of the partitioning plate the same. With the provision of an optical sensor in a chamber different from the chamber provided with the ink inlet port, a method is proposed to prevent erroneous sensing by blocking air bubbles entering through the ink inflow port to keep the air bubbles and the optical sensors out of contact with each other.
If an attempt is made to provide a partitioning plate 41 disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-237552 in the reserve tank 4 illustrated in FIG. 13A, the partitioning plate 41 needs to be provided with communication ports 41A and 41B as illustrated in FIG. 13B.
In a configuration illustrated in FIG. 13B, an ink inflow port 8a through which the ink flows from the ink tank 5 to the reserve tank 4 is provided on an upper surface (top surface) of the reserve tank 4. Therefore, when ink flows into the reserve tank 4 up to the upper surface (the reserve tank 4 is filled with ink up to the top), no space remains in which air can exist.
If ink in the ink tank 5 is used up in a state in which the reserve tank 4 is filled with ink to the top surface, air (air bubbles) flows into the reserve tank 4 from the ink tank 5. In other words, air (air bubbles) having the same volume as a volume of the ink which has flowed out from the reserve tank 4 toward a head flows into the reserve tank 4 from the ink tank 5.
In this case, the ink surface level in the reserve tank 4 is lowered. However, a volume (height) of air bubbles which have flowed from the ink tank 5 and accumulated on the liquid surface is increased by an amount not smaller than the amount of lowering of the ink surface level in the chamber provided with the ink inflow port 8a. Consequently, as illustrated in FIG. 13B, there is an increased risk (probability) that air bubbles enter the chamber provided with the electrodes (421 and 422), which are liquid surface level sensing units, through the upper communication port 41B and adhere to the electrodes.
Therefore, even though the liquid surface level (the amount of ink remaining in the reserve tank 4) in the reserve tank 4 is lowered, an electricity conducting state between the electrodes (421 and 421) due to the air bubbles which have entered the chamber provided with the electrodes (421 and 422) and accumulated on the liquid surface cannot be resolved. Therefore, there is a probability that lowering of the liquid surface level in the reserve tank cannot be sensed accurately (may be erroneously sensed).


Described is an apparatus of a fifth generation (5G) Evolved Node-B (eNB) operable to communicate with a 5G User Equipment (UE) on a wireless network comprising one or more processors operable to generate one or more 5G Physical Downlink Shared Channel (xPDSCH) transmissions. The one or more processors may be operable to arrange the one or more xPDSCH transmissions for transmission through one or more respectively corresponding beamformed (Tx) beams. The one or more xPDSCH transmissions may carry one or more respectively corresponding 5G System Information Blocks (xSIBs).

Various wireless cellular communication systems have been implemented, including a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Universal Mobile Telecommunications System, a 3GPP Long-Term Evolution (LTE) system, and a 3GPP LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) system. Various next-generation wireless cellular communication systems are being developed, such as a fifth generation (5G) wireless system/5G mobile networks system. Next-generation wireless cellular communication systems may provide support for higher bandwidths in part by supporting higher carrier frequencies, such as centimeter-wave and millimeter-wave frequencies.

System and method for system information transmission in stand-alone mmwave systems


The present invention provides methods of modifying the properties of a subterranean stratum penetrated by a well bore to increase its strength and decrease its permeability. The methods basically include the steps of preparing a hardenable epoxy composition having flexibility upon hardening, pumping the epoxy composition into the subterranean stratum by way of the well bore and by way of the porosity of the stratum and then allowing the epoxy composition to harden in the stratum.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to methods of modifying the properties of subterranean strata, and more particularly, to methods of increasing the strength while decreasing the permeability of the strata.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Hydraulic cement compositions are commonly utilized in oil, gas and water well completion and remedial operations. For example, hydraulic cement compositions are used in primary cementing operations whereby a string of pipe such as casing is cemented in a well bore. In performing primary cementing, a hydraulic cement composition is pumped into the annular space between the walls of the well bore and the exterior of a string of pipe disposed therein. The cement composition is permitted to set in the annular space thereby forming an annular sheath of hardened substantially impermeable cement therein. The cement sheath physically supports and positions the pipe in the well bore and bonds the pipe to the walls of the well bore whereby the undesirable migration of fluids between zones or formations penetrated by the well bore is prevented.
In some well locations, the subterranean strata into or through which wells are drilled have high permeabilities and low compressive and tensile strengths. As a result, the resistances of the strata to shear are low and they have low fracture gradients. When a well fluid such as a hydraulic cement composition is introduced into a well bore penetrating such a subterranean stratum, the hydrostatic pressure exerted on the walls of the well bore can exceed the fracture gradient of the stratum and cause the formation of fractures into which the cement composition is lost. While light weight cement compositions have been developed and used, subterranean strata are still encountered which have fracture gradients too low for even the light weight cement compositions to be utilized without fracture and lost circulation problems occurring.
In the foregoing and other well applications, it is often desirable to decrease the permeabilities of subterranean strata to prevent the inflow or outflow of fluids into or from well bores or into or from producing zones, industrial sites, disposal formations and the like.
Thus, there are needs for methods of modifying the properties of subterranean strata penetrated by well bores to increase their strengths and resistance to shear failure and to decrease their permeabilities.

Methods of modifying subterranean strata properties