The invention is directed to substituted piperidine derivatives. Specifically, the invention is directed to compounds according to Formula IIII:

In metazoa, diverse stress signals converge at a single phosphorylation event at serine 51 of a common effector, the translation initiation factor elF2α. This step is carried out by four elF2α kinases in mammalian cells: PERK, which responds to an accumulation of unfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), GCN2 to amino acid starvation and UV light, PKR to viral infection, and HRI to heme deficiency. This collection of signaling pathways has been termed the "integrated stress response" (ISR), as they converge on the same molecular event. elF2α phosphorylation results in an attenuation of translation with consequences that allow cells to cope with the varied stresses (1).
elF2 (which is comprised of three subunits, α, β, and γ) binds GTP and the initiator Met-tRNA to form the ternary complex (eIF2-GTP-Met-tRNAi), which, in turn, associates with the 40S ribosomal subunit scanning the 5′UTR ofmRNAs to select the initiating AUG codon. Upon phosphorylation of its a-subunit, elF2 becomes a competitive inhibitor of its GTP-exchange factor (GEF), elF2B (2). The tight and nonproductive binding of phosphorylated elF2 to elF2B prevents loading of the elF2 complex with GTP thus blocking ternary complex formation and reducing translation initiation (3). Because elF2B is less abundant than elF2, phosphorylation of only a small fraction of the total elF2 has a dramatic impact on elF2B activity in cells.
Paradoxically, under conditions of reduced protein synthesis, a small group of mRNAs that contain upstream open reading frames (uORFs) in their 5′UTR are translationally up-regulated (4,5). These include mammalian ATF4 (a cAMP element binding (CREB) transcription factor) and CHOP (a pro-apoptotic transcription factor) (6-8). ATF4 regulates the expression of many genes involved in metabolism and nutrient uptake and additional transcription factors, such as CHOP, which is under both translational and transcriptional control (9). Phosphorylation of elF2α thus leads to preferential translation of key regulatory molecules and directs diverse changes in the transcriptome of cells upon cellular stress.
One of the elF2α kinases, PERK, lies at the intersection of the ISR and the unfolded protein response (UPR) that maintains homeostasis of protein folding rates in the ER (10). The UPR is activated by unfolded or misfolded proteins that accumulate in the ER lumen because of an imbalance between protein folding load and protein folding capacity, a condition known as "ER stress". In mammals, the UPR is comprised of three signaling branches mediated by ER-localized transmembrane sensors, PERK, IRE1, and ATF6. These sensor proteins detect the accumulation of unfolded protein in the ER and transmit the information across the ER membrane, initiating unique signaling pathways that converge in the activation of an extensive transcriptional response, which ultimately results in ER expansion (11). The lumenal stress-sensing domains of PERK and IRE1 are homologous and likely activated in analogous ways by direct binding to unfolded peptides (12). This binding event leads to oligomerization and trans-autophosphorylation of their cytosolic kinase domains, and, for PERK, phosphorylation of its only known substrate, elF2α. In this way, PERK activation results in a quick reduction in the load of newly synthesized proteins that are translocated into the ER-lumen (13).
Upon ER stress, both the transcription factor XBP1 s, produced as the consequence of a non-conventional mRNA splicing reaction initiated by IRE1, and the transcription factor ATF6, produced by proteolysis and release from the ER membrane, collaborate with ATF4 to induce the vast UPR transcriptional response. Transcriptional targets of the UPR include the ER protein folding machinery, the ER-associated degradation machinery, and many other components functioning in the secretory pathway (14). Although the UPR initially mitigates ER stress and as such confers cytoprotection, persistent and severe ER stress leads to activation of apoptosis that eliminates damaged cells (15,16).
Small-molecule therapeutics that inhibit the UPR and/or the Integrated Stress Response could be used in cancer as a single agent or in combination with other chemotherapeutics (17, 18, 19), for enhancement of long-term memory (24,25), in neurodegenerative and prion associated diseases (20), in white matter disease (VWM) (23) and in biotechnology applications that would benefit from increased protein translation.
It is an object of the instant invention to provide novel compounds that prevent the translation of ATF4 or are inhibitors of the ATF4 pathway.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide pharmaceutical compositions that comprise a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient and compounds of Formula (III).
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a method for treating neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, and other diseases/injuries associated with activated unfolded protein response pathways such as: Alzheimer's disease, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, ischemic stroke, stroke, diabetes, Parkinson disease, Huntington's disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, and related prion diseases, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, progressive supranuclear palsy, myocardial infarction, cardiovascular disease, inflammation, fibrosis, chronic and acute diseases of the liver, chronic and acute diseases of the lung, chronic and acute diseases of the kidney, chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), neurodegeneration, dementias, atherosclerosis, ocular diseases, arrhythmias, in organ transplantation and in the transportation of organs for transplantation that comprises administering novel inhibitors of the ATF4 pathway.

Abstract: wherein A, B, X, Y, L1, L2, L3, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R9, z2, z4, z5, and z6 are as defined herein, and salts thereof.

Abstract: The compounds of the invention are inhibitors of the ATF4 pathway and can be useful in the treatment of cancer, pre-cancerous syndromes and diseases associated with activated unfolded protein response pathways, such as Alzheimer's disease, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, ischemic stroke, stroke, diabetes, Parkinson disease, Huntington's disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, and related prion diseases, progressive supranuclear palsy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, myocardial infarction, cardiovascular disease, inflammation, fibrosis, chronic and acute diseases of the liver, chronic and acute diseases of the lung, chronic and acute diseases of the kidney, chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), neurodegeneration, dementia, cognitive impairment, atherosclerosis, ocular diseases, arrhythmias, in organ transplantation and in the transportation of organs for transplantation. Accordingly, the invention is further directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising a compound of the invention. The invention is still further directed to methods of inhibiting the ATF4 pathway and treatment of disorders associated therewith using a compound of the invention or a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of the invention.

GlaxoSmithKline Intellectual Property Development Limited


A wireless telephone having a remote controller function, including a key input unit for inputting television control key signals for television viewing or incoming call termination or a telephone number for outgoing call origination, a television controller for controlling the overall system of a television in response to the key signals inputted by the key input unit, an indicator responsive to a first control signal from the television controller for indicating an incoming call termination state or a recorded state of a telephone message received in the user""s absence, a display unit responsive to a second control signal from the television controller for displaying information about the incoming call termination state on a screen of the television, and a recording/reproduction unit responsive to a third control signal from the television controller for recording or reproducing the telephone message received in the user""s absence. The wireless telephone is capable of functioning as a remote controller for the television and the like using its buttons to control television viewing and a telephone conversation at the same time. Further, even hearing impaired people can recognize the incoming call termination state by viewing the associated information displayed on the television screen by the display unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to a wireless telephone having a remote controller function, and more particularly to such a wireless telephone which is capable of functioning as a remote controller for a television (TV) and the like using its buttons to control TV viewing and a telephone conversation at the same time and displaying information about an incoming call termination state on a screen of the TV to allow even hearing impaired people to recognize the incoming call termination state.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Generally, a TV viewer selects a desired TV channel using a remote controller to view a desired TV program.
When a telephone rings while viewing the TV, the viewer lowers a volume of the TV using the remote controller or selects a mute function using it to mute the TV volume, and then receives a telephone call.
For this reason, in the case where the telephone rings during the TV viewing, a considerable amount of delay time is required in searching for the remote controller and adjusting the TV volume. As a result, the telephone may often stop ringing before the viewer receives the telephone call.
Further, the viewer may often not hear the ringing of the telephone if he views the TV at a loud volume.
Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a wireless telephone having a remote controller function, which is capable of functioning as a remote controller for a TV and the like using its buttons to control TV viewing and a telephone conversation at the same time and displaying information about an incoming call termination state on a screen of the TV to allow even hearing impaired people to recognize the incoming call termination state.
In accordance with the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by a provision of a wireless telephone having a remote controller function, comprising key input means for inputting television control key signals for television viewing or incoming call termination or a telephone number for outgoing call origination; television control means for controlling the overall system of a television in response to the key signals inputted by the key input means; indication means responsive to a first control signal from the television control means for indicating an incoming call termination state or a recorded state of a telephone message received in the user""s absence; display means responsive to a second control signal from the television control means for displaying information about the incoming call termination state on a screen of the television; and recording/reproduction means responsive to a third control signal from the television control means for recording or reproducing the telephone message received in the user""s absence.

Wireless telephone having remote controller function


The present invention provides a lens holder (14) for a lens under test (26) in an in-line hologram interferometric test apparatus (10) which includes a flat reflective surface (34) for rotationally positioning the lens under test and a spherical reflective surface (32) for translationally positioning the lens under test (26). According to this configuration, the lens holder (14) is translationally positioned using the spherical reflective surface (32) to reflect radiation back to the interferometer (12) at a precise distance and position using normal interferometric techniques. The lens under test (26) is rotationally positioned by pivoting the lens holder (14), both in tip and in tilt, so that the flat reflective surface (34) is nulled to the interferometer (12). Thereafter, the lens holder (14) is correctly positioned relative to the hologram (22) and interferometer (12) so that when the lens under test (26) is seated on the lens holder (14), its aspherical shape can be tested.

1. Technical Field
The present invention generally relates to interferometric testing devices and, more particularly, to a holder for a lens under test in an in-line hologram interferometric test apparatus.
2. Discussion
In-line holographic testing employs a hologram interposed in space relation to an interferometer and a lens under test. The interferometer projects a beam of radiation through the hologram towards the lens under test. As the beam propagates through the hologram a wavefront is created which converges to a focal point at a pre-selected focal length from the hologram. From the focal point, the beam diverges to the lens under test.
When the lens under test is correctly positioned with respect to the interferometer, hologram, and focal point, the wavefront is reflected back through the hologram to the interferometer. The hologram converts the wavefront back into an aspherical beam suitable for interference patterning by the interferometer. As such, any abnormalities or errors associated with the lens under test can be detected and analyzed by the interferometer's analysis system.
During this testing, it is critical to correctly position the lens under test with respect to the interferometer in order to accurately and precisely reflect back the aspherical wavefront. The exact position for the lens under test is often dictated by the characteristics of the hologram itself. To properly locate to lens, translational positioning of the lens must be performed in the X, Y and Z planes and rotational positioning of the lens must be performed in tip (about a horizontal axis) and tilt (about a vertical axis).
According to the prior art, the lens under test is secured to a fixture which is initially positioned to the interferometer focus. The lens under test is then iterated to the desired position using slides, scales, and spacers. This technique requires a large degree of optician skill and experience to position the lens under test quickly and accurately. Furthermore, rotational positioning of the lens under test according to the prior art is achieved largely through trial and error.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an apparatus and method for quickly and accurately positioning a lens under test relative to an interferometer and hologram in an in-line hologram interferometric test apparatus.

Holder for holographic testing of aspherical lenses with spherical and flat reflective surfaces


A semiconductor structure having a micro electromechanical system (MEMS) device is provided. The MEMS device includes a first and a second type electrical terminal, and a semiconductor interconnector. The semiconductor interconnector connects the first type electrical terminal with an external circuitry through a conductor. The conductor serves to electrically connecting the semiconductor interconnector with the first type electrical terminal. The second type electrical terminal surrounds the first type electrical terminal. In addition, the second type electrical terminal is interposed between the semiconductor interconnector and the first type electrical terminal. An isolative layer is provided around the conductor. The isolative layer is positioned under the first type electrical terminal, the second type electrical terminal and the semiconductor interconnector.

Wafer level packaging (WLP) technology provides for the packaging of semiconductor devices at a wafer level. WLP is employed in a variety of technologies including 3D-integrated circuits (IC), chip scale package (CSP) devices, and micro electromechanical systems (MEMS).
Micro electromechanical systems (MEMS) devices are small electro-mechanical systems often incorporated into integrated circuit devices. The fabrication and development of products encompassing MEMS devices has experienced numerous challenges including those of integrating the MEMS chips and integrated circuit chips together. Typically the chips may be placed side-by-side and then wire bonded together, which provides a product with a large footprint. Wafer level chip scale packaging of MEMS and CMOS devices is advantageous in that it can reduce packaging and integration costs, however, other issues arise. Measures to increase WLP MEMS device yield and reduce WLP MEMS device manufacturing cost are continuously being sought.
Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

Semiconductor structure and method forming the same

TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.


Disclosed herein are apparatus and methods for mitigating column bed compression over time. This invention provides for an improved column design and method of controlling bed density in a chromatographic column using a protruding portion of a filter assembly. The invention results in a higher sorbent bed density than can normally be achieved using a fixed length column of conventional design. The invention may be implemented as a unique filter assembly or as a column tailored for the application and a matching filter assembly.

A common method used to separate analytes within a sample is liquid chromatography. Liquid chromatography employs specific chromatographic columns and one or more mobile phases used to both equilibrate the column and elute analytes therefrom. Chromatography columns are used to effectuate the separation, purification and study of analytes contained within a homogeneous or heterogeneous sample. Columns are packed with sorbent material (also referred to as the "stationary phase" or "packing bed") that provides a chemical milieu with which analytes of a sample can interact. Generally, the sorbent material contains functional groups having a specific chemistry. For example, reverse-phase columns have a stationary phase comprising molecules with one or more hydrophobic groups. These hydrophobic groups, e.g., a C18 hydrocarbon chain, will interact with other molecules via hydrophobic interaction. This hydrophobic interaction can be interrupted with an organic mobile phase, thus eluting analytes from the stationary phase.
The most commonly used chromatographic columns, referred to herein as "conventional columns", are comprised of a column tube into which sorbent is packed, and inlet and outlet end fittings, which facilitate connection to the fluid stream, and which also contain filters that are designed to contain the sorbent bed within the column tube itself. These filters are disposed at each end face of the column tube.
In operation, the sorbent bed within the chromatographic column is subjected to fluid forces resulting from the flow of mobile phase through the column. Over time, these forces may disrupt the packing bed of the column resulting in voids or dead volume (V0) within the column's packing bed. These voids have a detrimental effect on the performance of a column. Voids can in effect serve as mixing chambers within the confines of the column leading to the loss of column efficiency. For example, the practitioner may observe excessive peak tailing over time using a standard analyte, such peak tailing is indicative of a poor column.
An issue that plagues practitioners of chromatography is how to mitigate this loss of column performance. Some chromatography columns in the prior art employ a movable device situated within the column. This movable device, for example a piston, is designed to adjust the internal volume of the chromatographic column in response to changes in the sorbent bed density during use, thereby attempting to minimize the void volume within the column. However, these designs are typically very complex requiring multiple components and seals and are therefore inherently more expensive to produce. Additionally, the columns with these movable devices require that the column tube itself be significantly larger and therefore much less convenient to use. Further, these columns with movable devices do not contain a fixed volume of sorbent, which can lead to difficulty in predicting analyte retention times and the scaling of chromatographic methods across different column sizes
Thus, there currently exists a need for a chromatography column that minimizes the effects of sorbent bed compression, which incorporates a simple, cost effective design, is highly portable and convenient to use, and does not negatively affect the column's chromatographic behavior. The present invention addresses this need in toto. In addition, the present invention provides for a method of increasing the sorbent bed density within a chromatographic column beyond what is possible with conventional fixed length column designs, thereby improving the stability of the column during use.

Chromatographic column and methods for controlling sorbent density


A system is provided that includes a security system having a plurality of sensors and actuators within a building and a respective control feature embodied as a programmed processor and associated with operation of the security system and at least some of the plurality of sensors and actuators, a user display of a portable wireless device that depicts a portion of the building using a building information model (BIM), a user interface of the wireless device that receives a symbol drawn by a human user over part of the building portion and a processor that correlates the symbol with a control feature of the security system based upon proximity of the symbol on the display with a location of an associated sensor or actuator of the control feature within the BIM model of the building.

Systems are known to secure geographic areas such as homes or businesses from threats. Such systems are typically based upon the use of one or more sensors placed on or around the secured area.
Some security systems are directed primarily to threats from intruders. Other systems may be directed threats from intruders and/or environmental threats such as from fire, smoke or toxic gases.
In the case of a home or business, a security system may include a number of sensors placed along the periphery of the secured area on the doors and/or windows allowing entry into the secured area. In some cases, the sensors may be limit switches that operate to detect the opening of any door or window.
Other intrusion detectors may be placed in the interior of the secured area. In this case, passive infrared (PIR) detectors or television cameras with motion detection capability may be used to detect intruders who have been able to circumvent sensors on the periphery of the secured area.
In many cases, the sensors of the security system are monitored by a local control panel. In the event of activation of a sensor, the control panel may activate a local audible alarm that warns authorized occupants.
A local user interface to the control panel may also be provided. The user interface may be provided to allow authorized users to arm the security system during periods when the secured area is unoccupied and to disarm the system after return by the authorized person.
While existing security systems work well, it is often difficult to adapt the system to changing circumstances. For example, sensors may malfunction and may need to be disabled. Alternatively, the names of authorized users may need to be added or deleted from a list of authorized users. Accordingly, a need exists for improved methods of interfacing with security systems.

Method and system of interacting with building security systems


A coaxial cable connector is provided, wherein the connector comprises a conductive engagement element slidably positionable around a post element of the connector and entirely within an internal cavity of a connector body of the connector. The conductive engagement element is configured to physically and electrically contact a lengthwise portion of a coaxial cable as securely affixed to the connector with a fastener member facilitating an annular environmental seal between the cable and the connector.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates generally to the field of connectors for coaxial cables. More particularly, this invention provides for a coaxial cable connector comprising a conductive component being interactive with the outer conductive shield of a coaxial cable and a method of use thereof.
2. Related Art
Broadband communications have become an increasingly prevalent form of electromagnetic information exchange and coaxial cables are common conduits for transmission of broadband communications. Connectors for coaxial cables are typically connected onto complementary interface ports to electrically integrate coaxial cables to various electronic devices. In addition, connectors are often utilized to connect coaxial cables to various communications modifying equipment such as signal splitters, cable line extenders and cable network modules.
To help prevent the introduction of electromagnetic interference and to facilitate proper transmission of electromagnetic communications, common coaxial cables are provided with an outer conductive grounding shield. In an attempt to further screen ingress of environmental noise and promote accurate electromagnetic information exchange, typical coaxial cable connectors are generally configured to contact with and electrically extend the conductive shield of attached coaxial cables. However, often the electrical contact between a coaxial cable and a typical coaxial cable connector is insufficient to properly extend the electrical shield between the cable and the connector. Hence, problematic electromagnetic noise is introduced via the insufficient connective juncture between the outer conductive shield of the cable and the common coaxial cable connector. Such problematic noise interference is disruptive where an electromagnetic buffer or shield is not provided by an adequate electrical and/or physical interface between the connector and the coaxial cable. Attempts have been made to increase electrical/physical contact between common coaxial cable connector components and outer conductive shield elements of standard coaxial cables. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,910,919 to Hung, discloses a connector having a resilient member disposed to increase electrical contact with a coaxial cable and to secure the cable to the connector. However, the physical design and corresponding operation of the connector described in Hung, leave the connector open to ingress of environmental contaminants such as moisture and dirt which can disrupt the electrical connection and interfere with proper cable communications. It is desirable for a connector to physically seal to a coaxial cable to prohibit ingress of unwanted environmental contaminants. Existing connector designs do not provide enough electrical/physical contact to ensure an adequate electromagnetic shield extension between the connector and the cable and do not provide a sufficient seal to safeguard against ingress of physical contaminants.
Accordingly, there is a need in the field of coaxial cable connectors for an improved connector design.

Coaxial cable connector having conductive engagement element and method of use thereof


The read/write offset between the read head and write head is used to determine the head width ratio between the read head width and write head width. The servo information is written onto the magnetic disk in accordance with the APC value and track pitch that are derived from the determined head with ratio.

Hard disk drives, which are widely used as a data storage device for computers and like devices, includes a magnetic head for reading user data stored on a magnetic disk or writing user data onto a magnetic disk. The magnetic head is mounted on an actuator that is oscillated by a VCM (Voice Coil Motor). When the magnetic head reads or writes user data, the actuator is driven to move the magnetic head to a specific track (target track) for positioning purposes. Magnetic head positioning control is exercised in accordance with servo information stored on a magnetic disk to move the magnetic head to a specified position. In line with recording density improvement, hard disk drives released in recent years have begun to use an MR (magnetoresistive) head, GMR (giant magnetoresistive) head, or other magnetoresistive device, which produces a magnetoresistive effect, as a read-only read head, and a transducer induction head as a write-only write head. These two heads are mounted on the same actuator but positioned at a predetermined distance from each other.
A plurality of data tracks are concentrically formed on a hard disk or other magnetic disk. Further, servo tracks, which store identification information and burst patterns beforehand, are formed in the radial direction of a magnetic disk. The aforementioned servo information comprises the identification information and burst patterns. The identification information indicates the track address of a data track. The identification information acquired by the read head is used to determine the data track on which the read head or write head is positioned. As the burst patterns, a plurality of burst pattern rows, which differ in signal storage area phase, are employed so that various signal storage areas are arranged at fixed spacing intervals and in the radial direction of a magnetic disk. In accordance with a signal (PES: Position Error Signal) that is generated by the read head depending on the burst patterns, the deviation of the read head or write head from the target data track can be detected.
The servo information is written onto a magnetic disk in a manufacturing process that is performed prior to hard disk drive shipment as a product. For an accurate read/write of user data, the servo information, which serves as the reference, needs to be accurately written. Conventionally, a dedicated device called an STW (Servo Track Writer) was used to write servo information onto a magnetic disk. Recently, however, a self servo write (SSW) method for enabling a hard disk drive to perform a servo write by itself has been proposed and put to practical use (refer to Patent Documents 1 and 2).
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-1999 (pages 9 and 10)
[Patent Document 2]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-8331 (page 3)
The conventional self servo write method, however, cannot easily determine the absolute track pitch (the distance between the track center of one track and the track center of the next adjacent track). This problem can be solved, for instance, by performing a self servo write onto the area between the inside diameter (ID) and outside diameter (OD) sections at an appropriate track pitch, regarding the obtained radial distance of the magnetic disk as an absolute length, and performing a self servo write again in such a manner as to acquire a track pitch having a desired length.
However, the use of the above method causes problems, which will now be described. If, for instance, the head width of the read head is significantly narrow as compared to a written track pitch, a deadband arises. The deadband is a region where changes in all the burst patterns formed in accordance with a track pitch cannot be read by the read head. Servo control within such a deadband becomes unstable.
On the other hand, if the head width of the write head is significantly wide as compared to a written track pitch, the write head writes data not only on the target track but also on a track adjacent to the target track. It means that the data on such an adjacent track can be overwritten.
Further, a self servo write needs to be performed twice on the entire magnetic disk surface. As a result, the servo information write process requires an increased amount of time, thereby decreasing the efficiency of hard disk drive manufacture.
The present invention is made to solve the foregoing technical problems, and has for its object to write servo information onto recording media at an improved track pitch even when the self servo write method is employed. It is a further aspect of the present invention to reduce the time required for a servo information write according to the self servo write method.

Servo information write method, data storage device, and programs

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.


An electronic device according to various embodiments may include: a hall integrated circuit (IC) configured to detect magnetic flux generated by an external device enclosing at least a portion of the electronic device; a wireless charging circuit; and at least one processor configured to be connected to the hall IC and the wireless charging circuit, wherein the at least one processor is configured to: receive an output value for the detected magnetic flux from the hall IC; and control the wireless charging circuit, based on the output value.

The development of digital technology has promoted the spread of various electronic devices such as mobile communication terminals, personal digital assistants (PDAs), electronic organizers, smart phones, tablet personal computers (PCs), or wearable devices. Auxiliary devices to be used for various electronic devices are being developed, in connection with the spread of various electronic devices. The auxiliary devices may include a cover (or case) that may be mounted on an electronic device to protect the electronic device, a wireless charging device, and the like. For example, the lid of the cover (or case) may accommodate a card (e.g., a credit card, a debit card, or the like).
An electronic device may identify whether the lid of the cover is closed or open. For example, a hall sensor included in the electronic device may detect a magnetic field generated by a magnet included in the lid of the cover, and the electronic device may detect whether the lid is closed or open using the magnetic field.
Meanwhile, the electronic device may perform wireless charging while it is wirelessly connected to a wireless charging device (e.g., a wireless charging pad). For example, when the electronic device may be placed on a wireless charging device, a verification procedure may be performed through wireless communication, thereby receiving power wirelessly from the wireless charging device.

Electronic device for controlling wireless charging according to state of external device mounted to electronic device, and operation method thereof


An apparatus and a method for drawing figures. The apparatus includes a memory apparatus for storing part figures having drawing order judging rules whereby a target figure is drawn, a selecting apparatus for selecting part figures from the memory apparatus according to the user's instructions, and an apparatus for determining the drawing order based on the drawing order rules of a plurality of part figures that were selected from the memory apparatus. The part figures including a given figure are stored in the memory apparatus along with their respective drawing order rules. A second apparatus is provided whereby these part figures are searched for and transferred into a temporary memory area in accordance with the user's instructions. A drawing order determining apparatus determines drawing orders based on the drawing order rules of the user-selected part figures transferred into the temporary memory area. The part figures are drawn on a display unit in accordance with the drawing orders thus determined.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for drawing, on a display device, target figures each constructed by a plurality of part figures including characters and images, the part figures being drawn in an optimal order thereof.
The representative prior art drawing device, such as one disclosed by Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 62-49477, illustratively draws figures such as a human face according to the typical prior art method whereby pluralities of part figures such as hair style, physiognomy, eyes, mouths and noses are prepared beforehand and are then suitably combined to draw the target image of various human faces.
In drawing the above-mentioned part figures including characters and images combined in a superimposed fashion, the prior art method fails to address specifically the order in which to draw such part figures. That is, the part figures are drawn simply in the order in which they were selected. For example, when a human face is to be drawn, a physiognomy is selected first, followed by a hair style so that the part figures representing the physiognomy and the hair style are drawn, simply in that order. In this case, part of the physiognomy is sometimes overlaid with part of the hair style. That is, the physiognomy simply because it was selected first is partially hidden by unnecessary hair style lines.

Apparatus and method for drawing figures


An apparatus and method for electron beam inspection with projection electron microscopy, is constructed so as to allow correction of changes in focus offsets due to changes in the electrically charged state particularly during inspection. The apparatus includes: a focus measure sensor unit; a focus measure calculation unit which calculates focus measure from the multiple image signals converted by the focus measure sensor unit; a focus position calculation unit which calculates the height of a confocal plane conjugate to the plane of convergence of a planar electron beam by an objective lens, on the basis of the calculated focus measure, and then calculates the focus position of the objective lens on the basis of the calculated height of the confocal plane; and a focus position correction unit which corrects the focus position of the objective lens according to the calculated focus position of the objective lens.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for electron beam inspection with projection electron microscopy, the apparatus and method being intended to irradiate with a planar electron beam an object to be inspected (hereinafter, this object may be referred to as the object), and inspect defects or defect candidates present on the object.
During electron beam inspection of semiconductor wafers, electron beam inspection apparatuses of the projection electron microscopic type using a planar electron beam to irradiate an object to be inspected are used as powerful tools to improve throughput, instead of the scanning type that uses spot-shaped electron beam irradiation. These electron beam inspection apparatuses are known in Japanese Patent Laid-open Nos. 2003-202217 and 2004-363085, and in Japanese academic journal papers "Hasegawa et al.: Development of EB wafer Inspection Technique by Using Mirror Electron Projection, LSI Testing Symposium, pp. 89-93, 2004", "Murakami et al.: Development of an Electron Beam Inspection System Based on Projection Imaging microscopy, LSI Testing Symposium, pp. 85-87, 2004", "Nagahama et al.: Inspection performance of the electron beam inspection system based on projection electron microscopy, pp. 921-928, SPIE Vol. 5375, 2004", and "Satake et al.: Electron beam inspection system for semiconductor wafer, based on projection electron microscopy, pp. 1125-1134, SPIE Vol. 5375, 2004".
Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2003-202217 describes a defect inspection apparatus that detects the existence and positions of defects in a plurality of regions on the surface of an object to be inspected (hereinafter, this object is referred to as the object). Defect detection by this apparatus includes: forming an electric field that decelerates an electron beam, on the surface of the object; reflecting, in the immediate vicinity of the surface of the object, a planar electron beam that includes energy components unable to reach the surface of the object because of the presence of the deceleration electric field and has a certain area, and forming images of the plural regions of the surface of the object by use of an image-forming lens; acquiring the images; storing the acquired images into an image storage section; and detecting the existence and positions of defects in the plural regions by comparing the stored images.
Also, Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2004-363085 describes an inspection apparatus including: electron irradiating means that creates a crossover by generating an electron and forming images at a desired magnification, and irradiates a substrate with the electron so as to form a desired sectional shape; means that moves at least either one of the electron with which the substrate is to be irradiated, and a stage to hold the substrate, and moves, in a relative fashion with respect to the electron or the stage, the regions on the substrate that are to be irradiated with charged particles; a detector that detects the electron which has been used to obtain information on the surface of the substrate; means that acquires a detection image of a die to be inspected, by using the information of the substrate surface which has been detected by the detector; means that acquires an image of a reference die which is used as the basis for comparison with the detection image of the die to be inspected; and means that compares the image of the reference die and the image of the die to be inspected.
However, neither of the above six publications has given any consideration to an automatic focusing technique for conducting real-time corrections for changes in focus offsets due to time-varying changes in the electrically charged state of the surface of the object, in the respective electron beam inspection techniques based on projection electron (or imaging) microscopy. That is, no such consideration has been given in Japanese Patent Laid-open Nos. 2003-202217 and 2004-363085 or in Japanese academic journal papers "Hasegawa et al.: Development of the wafer electron beam inspection technology based on mirror electron projection, LSI Testing Symposium, 2004", "Murakami et al.: Development of an electron beam defect inspection system based on projection imaging microscopy, LSI Testing Symposium, pp. 85-87, 2004", "Nagahama et al.: Inspection performance of the electron beam inspection system based on projection electron microscopy, pp. 921-928, SPIE Vol. 5375, 2004", and "Satake et al.: Electron beam inspection system for semiconductor wafer, based on projection electron microscopy, pp. 1125-1134, SPIE Vol. 5375, 2004".

Apparatus and method for electron beam inspection with projection electron microscopy


Systems, devices, apparatus and methods for cleaning contaminated tanks without introducing large amounts of free water or liquefier into the tanks. A gathering arm assembly and a bucket assembly is used to remove and break up waste debris from a contaminated tank.

Across the United States radioactive material is stored in hundreds of underground storage tanks. Sluicing technologies have been used to break up and retrieve the material located in these tanks. These systems utilize a fluid jet from a nozzle to impact, break up, and liquefy in-tank material so it can be pumped out of the tank.
In many cases, however, this use of water or fluids as liquefier poses significant challenges. For instance, if a tank is known or suspected of having structural flaws, large volumes of free fluid in the tank becomes a potential for leakage into the environment that may carry contaminated material with it and thus contaminating neighboring properties as well as subterranean and underground water. Additionally, the use of large quantities of fresh water or liquefier costs money and resources and also produces large quantities of contaminated liquefier that will then have to be treated and disposed of.
Additionally, typical radioactive tanks are configured with limited numbers of access points that can accommodate the type equipment proposed herein. A way to change out end effectors would substantially increase productivity and provide a way to use multiple end effectors without taking up multiple access points to the tank(s).
An additional problem with typical cleaning systems Is end effector wear and failure. Since the end effectors are closest to the radioactive waste, and see the most operation, they can succumb to premature failure while the rest of the arm is still fully functional. It is far too expensive with far too much liability to remove the entire machine from the tank for repairs. Therefore, the entire machine is rendered inoperable with these types of failures.
Furthermore, typical equipment only allows for a single technology such as sluicing, sampling, removing hazards, etc. Waste in tanks can vary in type and consistency where different methodologies are essential for optimal performance. Multiple machines can be used in a single tank, but this increases operational costs. And if multiple machines are used, there are a limited number of usable openings in the tanks; thus, limiting the number of possible machines. This singular functionality also does not allow the opportunity to perform other functions in the tank such as collecting samples, removing hazards, or some other work other than cleaning that require specialized end effectors.
Lastly, due to physical constraints of the prior art, there is a limit to how much of the liquefied waste can be captured and removed from the tank. While most of the waste Is removed, it is not eliminated and leaving radioactive waste behind that can then leak.
Thus, the need exists for solutions to the above problems with the prior art.

Mechanical dry waste excavating end effector


A method is provided for detecting T-cell dysfunctions. The method includes detecting an alteration in the level of a protein regulating synthesis of the hexasaccharide NeuNAc.alpha.2.fwdarw.3Gal.beta.1.fwdarw.3(NeuNAc.alpha.2.fwdarw.3Gal.beta .1.fwdarw.4GlcNAc.beta.1.fwdarw.6)GalNAc on leukosialin of T-cells from a subject suspected of having a T-cell dysfunction compared to resting T-cells from a normal individual. The protein regulating synthesis of the hexasaccharide can be core 2 GlcNAc transferase and can be detected by either a change in its amount or activity. Also provided is a method of detecting T-cell dysfunctions which includes detecting an alteration in the level of leukosialin having the hexasaccharide NeuNAc.alpha.2.fwdarw.3Gal.beta.1.fwdarw.3(NeuNAc.alpha.2.fwdarw.3Gal.beta .1.fwdarw.4GlcNAc.beta.1.fwdarw.6)GlcNAc on T-cells from a subject suspected of having a T-cell dysfunction compared to resting T-cells from a normal individual. Kits for detecting T-cell dysfunction are provided as well.

The present invention was made with support of National Cancer Institute grant number CA 33895. The United States Government may have rights in the invention.
The invention relates generally to cell surface carbohydrate markers, and more specifically to a method of detecting T-cell dysfunctions using a specific hexasaccharide structure found on the protein leukosialin.
The hematopoietic system can be divided into two major cell lineages. The first consists of the myeloid cell lineage and is responsible for functions such as oxygen exchange, destruction of invading bacteria, modulation of allergic inflammatory reactions and blood clotting. Cells of the myeloid lineage which mediate these functions include erythrocytes, granulocytes, monocytes, eosinophils and platelets.
The second major lineage within the hematopoietic system consists of the lymphoid cell lineage. This class is primarily responsible for host immunity and includes B-lymphocytes (B-cells) and T-lymphocytes (T-cells). B-cells are responsible for antibody-mediated immunity. Antibodies produced by B-cells circulate in the blood stream and are capable of binding and neutralizing a foreign antigen. T-cells, on the other hand, function in cell-mediated immunity. They are involved in a wide variety of immune functions, all of which involve the direct interaction of the T-cell with some other cell. The interacting cell can be another T-lymphocyte, a B-lymphocyte, a macrophage or a target cell. In the latter case, the antigen to be recognized is generally found at the surface of a target cell. Types of T-lymphocytes include, for example, helper T-cells, suppressor T-cells and cytotoxic T-cells.
The ability of the immune system to perform both antibody-mediated and cell-mediated immunity is the basis of our defense against invading pathogenic organisms. These two types of immune response can be dissociated to a large extent but not without compromising the host's ability to provide complete protection. For instance, in humans, congenital agammaglobulinemia is a disease in which antibody-mediated immunity is deficient while cell-mediated immunity is normal. In contrast, congenital thymus deficiencies produce individuals with greatly impaired cell-mediated immunity but relatively high serum antibody levels.
In many instances, an individual cannot survive without the function of both immunities. For example, loss of T-cell function due to cancers such as acute T-lymphocytic leukemia (T-ALL) can eventually lead to death. In this disease, the normal population of T-cells is overtaken by the faster growing malignant population until complete loss of normal T-cell-mediated immunity occurs. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is another disease where complete loss of T-cell function results in death. AIDS is caused by infection with a retrovirus. An analogous example of a congenital T-cell immunodeficiency is Wiscott-Aldrich Syndrome (WAS).
Cell surface carbohydrate structures have been used as tumor or differentiation markers since they are known to undergo characteristic changes during differentiation. For example, leukemic cells have been classified by their surface glycoprotein molecular weight patterns with respect to their relationship to normal blood cells (Gahmberg and Andersson, Annals New York Academy of Sciences 240-255 (1978). For a detailed review of such onco-differentiation markers as they apply to the myeloid cell lineage, see Fukuda, Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 780:119-150 (1985), which is incorporated herein by reference.
One of the most extensively studied markers is a major sialoglycoprotein known as leukosialin, also known as sialophorin or CD43. It is an integral membrane protein which carries one N-linked and eighty O-linked carbohydrate chains. Its mobility on SDS-PAGE depends largely on the structures of the O-linked glycans and the extent of sialiation. This glycoprotein has been shown to be differentially glycosylated between different leukemic cell lines and to increase in molecular weight upon activation of normal human T-cells, Carlsson et al., The Journal of Biological Chemistry 261:12787-12791 (1986), and Piller et al., The Journal of Biological Chemistry 263:15146-15150 (1988). The differential glycosylation between leukemic cell lines is due to characteristic sets of O-linked oligosaccharides whereas the increase in molecular weight upon activation is due exclusively to the expression of a branched hexasaccharide structure. Resting T-cells express on leukosialin the tetrasaccharide NeuNAc.alpha.2.fwdarw.3Gal.beta.1.fwdarw.3(Neu NAc.alpha.2.fwdarw.6)GalNAc-Ser/Thr but activated T-cells carry the more complex structure NeuNAc.alpha.2.fwdarw.3Gal.beta.1.fwdarw.3(Neu NAc.alpha.2.fwdarw.3Gal.beta.1.fwdarw.4GlcNAc.beta.1.fwdarw.6)GalNAc-Ser/T hr. This branched hexasaccharide structure has also been found on leukosialin from T-lymphocytes isolated from WAS patients, Piller et al., J. Cell Biol. 108:191a (1989), and on cell surface glycoproteins of the myeloid cell lineage, Fukuda et al., The Journal of Biological Chemistry 261:12796-12806 (1986), both of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The shift in biosynthesis of O-glycans in activated T-cells compared to resting T-cells is apparently caused by a stimulation of the .beta.1.fwdarw.6GlcNAc-transferase (Core 2 GlcNAc-T). Activated T-cells also exhibit a concomitant decrease in .alpha.2.fwdarw.6 sialyltransferase activity. This shift in glycosyltransferase activity results in a decrease in the amount of tetrasaccharide expressed on leukosialin paralleled by an increase in the amount of expressed hexasaccharide, Piller et al., (1988) supra.
Despite the increased interest in the elucidation of cell surface structures and their biosynthetic mechanisms, very few markers have been discovered which accurately predict pathological disorders of cell-mediated immunity. Leukosialin has been extensively characterized as a marker for normal T-cell activation. However, there has been no indication that this determinant can also be used as a marker for pathologic T-cell dysfunctions.
There thus exists a need for a method which can accurately diagnose T-cell dysfunctions. The present invention satisfies this need and provides related advantages as well.

Methods of detecting T-cell dysfunctions


A removable electronic circuit card having both a memory module with a non-volatile mass storage memory and a separate input-output module so that data transfers may be made through the input-output module directly to and from the mass storage memory in a direct memory access (DMA) type transfer when the card is inserted into the host system but without having to pass the data through the host system. Once the host gives a DMA command, the data transfer is accomplished independently of the host system, except for the host supplying power and possibly a clock signal and other like support, during such a data transfer directly with card. The data for the transfer can be communicated between the input-output module and the exterior device through either wireless or an electrical connection means.

This invention relates, generally, to the use and structure of removable electronic circuit cards and, more specifically, to cards having both a non-volatile memory module and an input-output ("I/O") module.
Various commercially available non-volatile memory cards that are becoming popular are extremely small and have different mechanical and/or electrical interfaces. Examples include the related MultiMediaCard ("MMC") and Secure Digital ("SD") memory cards that are available from SanDisk Corporation of Sunnyvale, California, assignee of the present application. There are other cards that conform to standards of the International. Organization for Standardization ("ISO") and the International Electrotechnical Commission ("IEC"), an example that is widely implemented being known as the ISO/IEC 7816 standard.
The physical and electrical specifications for the MMC are given in "The MultiMediaCard System Specification" that is updated and published from time-to-time by the MultiMediaCard Association ("MMCA") of Cupertino, Calif. Versions 2.11 and 2.2 of that Specification, dated June 1999 and January 2000, respectively, are expressly incorporated herein by this reference. MMC products having varying storage capacity up to 64 megabytes in a single card are currently available from SanDisk Corporation, and capacities of 128 megabytes are expected to be available in the near future. These products are described in a "MultiMediaCard Product Manual," Revision 2, dated April 2000, published by SanDisk corporation, which Manual is expressly incorporated herein by this reference. Certain aspects of the electrical operation of the MMC products are also described in co-pending patent applications of Thomas N. Toombs and Micky Holtzman, Ser. Nos. 09/185,649 and 09/186,064, both filed Nov. 4, 1998, and assigned to SanDisk Corporation. The physical card structure and a method of manufacturing it are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,040,622, assigned to SanDisk Corporation. Both of these applications and patent are also expressly incorporated herein by this reference.
The newer SD Card is similar to the MMC card, having the same size except for an increased thickness that accommodates an additional memory chip. A primary difference between them is that the SD Card includes additional data contacts in order to enable faster data transfer between the card and a host. The other contacts of the SD Card are the same as those of the MMC card in order that sockets designed to accept the SD Card will also accept the MMC card. The electrical interface with the SD card is further made to be, for the most part, backward compatible with the MMC product described in version 2.11 of its specification referenced above, in order that few changes to the operation of the host need be made in order to accommodate both types of card. Certain aspects of the SD card are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/641,023, filed Aug. 17, 2000, which application is incorporated herein by this reference.
Cards made according to the ISO/IEC 7816 standard are of a different shape, have surface contacts in different positions, and a different electrical interface than the MMC and SD Cards. The ISO/IEC 7816 standard has the general title of "Identification cards-Integrated Circuit(s) Cards with Contacts," and consists of parts 1-10 that carry individual dates from 1994 through 2000. This standard, copies of which are available from the ISO/IEC in Geneva, Switzerland, is expressly incorporated herein by this reference. ISO/IEC 7816 cards are particularly useful in applications where data must be stored in a secure manner that makes it extremely difficult or impossible for the data to be read in an unauthorized manner. The small ISO/IEC 7816 cards are commonly used in cellular telephones, among other applications.
Currently, data is transferred between the memory card and some external device through the host system to which the memory card is connected. Not all host systems with which such memory cards are used are particularly adapted to so transfer certain types or large amounts of data in a fast, efficient and convenient manner.

Combination non-volatile memory and input-output card with direct memory access


A method for fabrication and a structure of a self-aligned (crosspoint) memory device comprises lines (wires) in a first direction and in a second direction. The wires in the first direction are formed using a hard mask material that is resistant to the pre-selected etch processes used for creation of the lines in both the first and the second direction. Consequently, the hard mask material for the lines in the first direction form part of the memory stack.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to high-density non-volatile memory circuits, and more particularly to memory devices based on phase-change materials.
2. Description of the Related Art
Memory devices based on phase change materials (PCM) are generally non-volatile, are capable of high read and write speeds, and are compatible with a relatively simple cell design. The phase change memory element is typically switched between a largely amorphous (high resistance) state and a largely crystalline (low resistance) state. Typical materials suitable for such electrically switchable phase-change memory elements are based on chalcogenides. These materials are typically switched by the application of heat generated by the passage of electrical current through the material. The cell state is determined by measurement of the cell resistance.
More specifically, heating the high resistance (amorphous) material to a set temperature, Tc, changes the phase of the low resistance (crystalline) state. As taught by U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,825,046 and 6,087,674, the complete disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference, switching is accomplished by direct heating. Heating to a higher temperature, Tm, and quenching resets the PCM to its original phase. Thus, the set temperature, Tc, is associated with the change in phase from an amorphous state to a crystalline state. Heating to the reset temperature and quenching resets the chalcogenide to its amorphous phase.
Such phase-change memory is compatible with a crosspoint architecture, as is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 6,579,760, the complete disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference, where the cell size can approach the minimum cell size of approximately 4F2 (where "F" stands for "feature" as in minimum resolved feature), which is effectively the minimum cell size that can be uniquely and instantaneously addressed by electrical interconnects, for a two interconnect level design. In the context of a device size, 4F2 means that the area of the device is 4 times the minimum resolvable feature size squared. A lithography with a resolution of 100 nm could be used to create devices with an area of 4×(10−7)2=4×10−14 cm2. Combined with the demonstrated high-speed performance and its intrinsic non-volatile nature, phase change memories have the potential to compete with all existing memory devices.
In the U.S. Pat. No. 6,579,760 patent, a multilayer stack is first deposited containing a conduction layer for the lines of the first direction as well as the phase-change material and diode and heater layers. The whole stack is then patterned into lines. Then, oxide material is coated onto the lines and the structure is planarized. As these memory devices are pushed to higher densities, this planarization will become difficult and will require an unprecedented level of control. Indeed, the level of control required may not be achievable.
Accordingly, it is desirable to eliminate the planarization requirement. It is also desirable to minimize the number of processing steps, thereby increasing yield and reducing manufacturing costs.

Non-planarized, self-aligned, non-volatile phase-change memory array and method of formation

International Business Machines Corporation


A seating unit comprises a support member; a seat member pivotally mounted on the support member; an arm rest member having an actuating button positioned in the arm rest member, the button being movable between a first position and a second position; a fluid pressure cylinder having actuating means and operatively connected to the seat member for adjustment of the inclination thereof; and, a flexible cable having a first end connected to the button and a second end operatively connected to the actuating member. When the button is moved from the first position to the second position, the actuation member is actuated so that the inclination of the back member or the seat member may be adjusted and when the button is moved from the second position to the first position, the inclination of the back member or the seat member is fixed.

Many chairs which are used in a commercial environment, such as office chairs, chairs for computer data entry operators and chairs for operators of industrial plant process control equipment, are adjustable so that the chair will provide comfortable support to the user for an extended period of time. Accordingly, such chairs typically have a mechanism for adjusting the height of the chair. In addition, the chairs may include a mechanism for permitting the back support member of the chair to tilt relative to the seat member. Further, the chairs may provide a mechanism to permit the seat member of the chair to tilt so that the chair may be rocked backwards and/or forwards.
Typically, office chairs comprise a wheeled base, the seat member of the chair (which may include a back rest member) and a support leg extending between the wheeled base and the seat member. The height adjustment mechanism may employ a telescoping pneumatic cylinder which forms a part of, or may consist of, the support leg. These cylinders have a valve release pin provided thereon. The cylinder is generally in a locked condition but, when the valve release pin is depressed, the cylinder is unlocked typically permitting it to telescopically extend upwardly due to the force exerted by the pressurized fluid in the cylinder or contract downwardly due to, for example, a user sitting in the chair.
One mechanism which has been utilized to provide a tilt mechanism for the seat member of a chair comprises mounting the seat member on the support leg. A spring is provided so as to bias the seat member to the horizontal position. When the user leans backwardly in the chair, the users exerts a force greater than the biasing force of the spring thus causing the seat member to tilt rearwardly. An arm member positioned under the seat member may be used to lock the chair into the at rest, horizontal position. One disadvantage with this design is that the chair may not be fixed in an inclined position. Accordingly, if the user wishes to maintain the chair in an inclined position, they must continuously exert pressure against the spring.
Buchacz (U.S. Pat. No. 5,024,484) discloses an adjustable sitting device. The seat and/or back rest member of this device are turnable about an axis that is essentially coincident with an imaginary axis through the hip joints of the user. Slide members are provided so that the seat and back rest members of the chair are mounted for slidable movement with respect to each other. Movement of these members is controlled by locking means which interacts with the slide members and a gas cylinder.
Ishida (U.S. Pat. No. 4,383,714) discloses a rocking movable chair. The chair has a leg portion on which is mounted a circular arc surface. The seat member is mounted for travel along the circular arc surface. A spring is provided to bias the seat member in one direction during the rocking movement. A locking device utilizing a gas cylinder is provided to lock the rocking movement at a desired position.
Meiller et al (U.S. Pat. No. 4,743,065) discloses an office chair, the back rest member of which and the seat member of which may be adjusted by means of gas spring unit. Meiller et al discloses a locking member which utilizes a single actuating lever to adjust the inclination of the back rest member as well as the seat member.
Various control linkages for height adjustment mechanisms are known in the art. Examples of these include Kuhn et al (U.S. Pat. No. 5,069,496), Knapp (U.S. Pat. No. 4,408,800), Slabon et al (U.S. Pat. No. 4,076,308), Wirges et al (U.S. Pat. No. 4,072,288), Knoblauch et al (U.S. Pat. No. 4,373,692) and Lai (U.S. Pat. No. 5,222,783).
Numerous means have been used to control the inclination of the chair back member. These include various biasing means as well as the use of pneumatic cylinders. See for example Meiller et al (U.S. Pat. No. 4,743,065), Lei et al (U.S. Pat. No. 5,137,330), Kuhn et al (U.S. Pat. No. 5,069,496), Knapp (U.S. Pat. No. 4,408,800), Simpson (U.S. Pat. No. 4,681,369), Lai (U.S. Pat. No. 5,222,783), Slabon et al (U.S. Pat. No. 4,076,308) and Hiramatsu (U.S. Pat. No. 3,284,135).
Generally with the foregoing devices, the locking devices are adjusted by a lever or other mechanism which is positioned beneath the seat of the chair. Accordingly, the user must extend their arm downwardly and then transversely to a position underneath the seat to grasp the lever so that they can actuate the mechanism. This operation tends to be difficult particularly if the chair has a large, bulky arm. Since the use of these devices typically includes a biasing means to bias a chair to a preset position, the operator must move the actuating lever to the actuating position and hold the lever in that position while sitting in the chair so as to set the chair in the desired position. As this may require the operator to bend or stoop over, it is difficult to set the inclination of the chair accurately. This is also problematic if the operator has a back problem which prevents such movement.
Nelson (U.S. Pat. No. 4,595,237) discloses an actuating control for a seat height adjustment mechanism. The mechanism of Nelson uses a pivotally mounted lever positioned on the bottom of the seat number. Nelson still requires users to extend their arm downwardly beneath the seat to actuate the lever.


A temperature sustaining flip chip process in which ILD cracking and delamination are lessened. A sequence of substrate prebake, underfill dispense, chip placement, solder reflow and underfill cure operative stages introduces lower thermal-mechanical stress during flip chip packaging.

A variety of techniques are available to assemble microelectronic die, such as an integrated circuit device (commonly referred to as an IC chip), into a component or a package. One type of packaging employs a flip chip package, such as a C4 flip chip package, to mount the die onto a package substrate. In one such flip chip packaging technique, a dielectric material, such as a low-dielectric constant (low-k) material layer, is used in-between the metal layers on the active die side for higher electrical performance and contact pads or bumps reside along the surface to mate the conductive contacts (terminals) to electrically join the die to the package substrate. A joint forms at the mating of the electrical conductive paths. In order to assemble the die onto the package substrate, a common technique is to employ a sequence of operative stages that subject the two components to significant temperature variations.
For example, in one die to substrate assembly technique the sequence of stages practiced includes the following: 1) die placement 2) solder reflow 3) deflux 4) prebake 5) underfill dispense 6) underfill cure. In this example sequence, significant temperature differentials are experienced between some of the stages. In the example technique, die placement typically occurs at room temperature (25° C.) but the temperature of the joint rises to approximately 221° C. during the solder reflow stage. The solder reflow is used to electrically join the electrical contacts of the die and the package substrate. After the electrical bonding of the die to the substrate, the assembled unit is allowed to cool to room temperature prior to commencing the next stage, which is the deflux stage. The cooling usually is encountered, since the solder reflow operation occurs in one equipment while deflux is performed in another. Typically, the substrate with the die is transported from one equipment to the other, allowing ample time for the electrical contacts to cool from about 221° (temperature of solder reflow) to room temperature (approximately 25° C.). In some instances the lag period may not be avoided, since solder reflow operation is performed on single units, while the deflux operation is performed on multiple assembled units in a batch process. The assembled units cool from the higher temperatures encountered at the solder reflow while waiting to be stacked and transported to the equipment which performs the deflux operation. In a typical deflux operation, the temperature is again raised to approximately in the range of 80° C.
Once the deflux stage has been completed to remove unwanted flux residue, the assembled units are then transported to another equipment to perform the prebake operation. Again at this point the assembled units are lowered to the room temperature of 25° C. for transport before the prebake operation is performed. In one prebake operation, the packaged assemblies are raised to a temperature range of approximate 163° C. Subsequently, underfill dispense is performed to fill the void area between the die and the substrate with the underfill material. Then, the underfill is allowed to cure in the sixth stage. In one practice, the underfill dispense is performed at about 110° C. and subsequently the assembly is allowed to cool to room temperature, after which the underfill cure is performed at about 163° C.
In the above example, the die and substrate assembly undergo considerable temperature changes as it sequences through the six operative stages. One of the more significant temperature differential occurs when the solder reflow is performed on the assembly (at about 221° C.) and subsequently allowed to cool to room temperature. A temperature differential of approximately 195° C.-200° C. may be encountered when the assembly is allowed to cool after the reflow operation. As noted, the first five stages occur without the underfill protection residing between the die and substrate and only the last step (underfill cure) is performed with the underfill support between the die and the substrate. Also, during the first five operative stages, where no underfill protection is provided, the assembly undergoes various temperature changes including three occasions at which point the die and substrate assembly are allowed to cool to room temperature. Again the most likely point for the biggest temperature differential occurs after the solder reflow.
Because the cooling of the assembly to the ambient or room temperature may occur several times before the underfill material supports the die on the substrate, there is a tendency for the dielectric material of the die (as well as the substrate) to experience cracking or delamination. Such cracking or delamination may be enhanced if the dielectric material is a low k dielectric such as a low-k dielectric layer, typically used for inter-level dielectric (ILD). The temperature changes may cause considerable thermal stress, especially in the instance where the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) differs significantly for the materials present. In the particular case, CTE mismatch is between the silicon and the dielectric material.

Temperature sustaining flip chip assembly process


A method and arrangement is provided for producing an adhesive-bound printed item composed of a plurality of printed products. The printed products are gathered into loose book blocks along a first conveying section of a conveying track for a circulating conveyor while positioned transverse to a conveying direction and inclined counter to the conveying direction. The book blocks are then accelerated in an additional section of the circulating conveyor to obtain a larger divisional spacing between the printed products. The book blocks are transferred from the additional section of the circulating conveyor to clamps of a transporter and pivoted to an upright position where one side edge is approximately parallel to the conveying direction. The book blocks are transferred from the clamps of the transporter into respective circulating conveying clamps of an adhesive binder.

The invention relates to a method for producing an adhesive-bound printed item composed of several printed products, for which the printed products are gathered along a first conveying section of a conveying track for a circulating conveyor and gathered into loose book blocks, and are then supplied with a following conveying section to an adhesive binder. The invention furthermore relates to an arrangement for realizing the method.
With the methods used in the print processing industry for the adhesive binding of printed products to form printed items, the individual printed products are first gathered in a gathering machine into loose book blocks, and are subsequently transferred to the conveying clamps of an adhesive binder. The transfer from the gathering machine to the adhesive binder among other things involves the function of taking over the gathered loose book blocks, which move at the speed and with the orientation of the gathering machine, and to transfer these book blocks to the adhesive binder at the speed of the adhesive binder.
According to a one known system, the book blocks can be conveyed in the gathering machine while positioned upright and in the direction of the book block spine, inside a conveying channel with a V-shaped cross section that is inclined slightly counter to the back fold. The book blocks are transferred in a vertical plane to the adhesive binder, which also moves in a longitudinal direction of the spine, wherein the back folds of the book blocks are oriented in a downward direction. Inside the gathering machine, the book blocks are normally conveyed form-fittingly with the aid of pushers attached to chains, which push along the book blocks. If no optional processing of the book blocks is required inside the transfer region, such as vibrating, adding sections, gluing on of end sheets, wire-stitching, printing, and the like, then the book blocks need only to be moved from a slightly inclined position to an upright position during the conveying in the longitudinal direction of the spine. If the gathering machine stops, the adhesive binder can continue to operate and finish the processing of the remaining book blocks. As a result, the divisional spacing between successively following book blocks of necessity increases while the conveying speed becomes relatively high. The conveying speed thus can be the limit speed for a maximum production speed. Above all, this applies to the channel region of the gathering machine where the conveying operation generates turbulence in the air, which in turn causes buoyancy forces for the top printed products of the loose book blocks that can lift up these sheets from the book blocks. An additional disadvantage of this solution manifests itself when the gathering machine is stopped because the loose book blocks shoot forward as a result of their kinetic energy, which may cause a loss of orientation.
A different solution according to another known system is disclosed in European Patent Application 0 675 005 B1, which calls for the loose book blocks to be conveyed inside the adhesive binder while positioned transverse to the longitudinal direction of the spine. The conveying speed can thus be reduced while the production speed remains the same, as compared to a conveying in the longitudinal direction of the spine. The disadvantage of this principle is that the adhesive binder requires a complicated configuration.
According to published European Patent Application 1 528 023 A1, the printed sheets, which are positioned transverse to the longitudinal direction of the spine on a conveying belt, are gathered to form overlapping flows and are then separated into individual book blocks just prior to the transfer to an adhesive binder which moves in longitudinal direction. Following the separation, the individual book blocks are transferred to laterally moving compartments and placed in the upright position, so that the book block spines point downward. They are subsequently deflected by an angle of 90° and moved to a conveyed flow in which they are conveyed with the spine aligned in conveying direction. The disadvantage of this method is that book blocks having thicker or smaller formats, as well as book blocks with a rigid content such as CD's, cannot be processed.

Method and arrangement for producing an adhesive-bound printed item composed of several printed products


An administering device with an osmotic drive for administering an injectable product includes a housing with a first chamber containing a solvent, a second chamber containing a solution and a product chamber for accommodating the product. A semi-permeable membrane is disposed between the first chamber and the second chamber. The second chamber is adjoined by a delivery means for delivering product out of the product chamber. A triggering device for triggering the osmotic drive includes an impermeable separating means between the first chamber and the second chamber. The delivery means is slidable relative to the housing along a longitudinal axis of the housing.

The present invention relates to a device with an osmotic drive for administering an injectable product, in particular an infusion pump for administering insulin or the like over a long period of time.
In many medical or therapeutic applications, it is necessary or advantageous to administer a medicinal or therapeutic substance at a constant or variably adjustable continuous flow volume, rather than administering a large one-off dose of substance. For this purpose, it is common practice in in-patient treatment to mount infusion bottles containing a liquid substance above an injection point so that the liquid substance is delivered to the injection point via a hose connection by force of gravity. However, such infusion bottles are not suitable for use with an administering device in mobile applications or for administering relatively small doses over a long period.
Infusion pumps with a separate drive have therefore been developed, by means of which a product in a product container can be continuously delivered under pressure, enabling the product to be continuously dispensed from the container. U.S. Pat. No. 4,838,862, for example, discloses a portable infusion device with an osmotic drive, comprising a flat housing with several chambers lying one above the other and a laterally disposed outlet for the product. The uppermost chamber constitutes a solvent chamber, which is filled with water and is separated from a middle solution chamber filled with a salt solution by means of a fixed support plate, a porous layer disposed underneath and a semi-permeable membrane disposed under it. The fixed support plate has an orifice, which is sealed by means of a foil seal. A bottom product chamber is separated from the middle solution chamber by an elastic diaphragm. In the product chamber, the outlet for the product is provided in the form of a lateral orifice in the housing. The infusion device may be placed at a point on the body of a user by means of the base surface of the housing, for example, and carried in this manner. A push-button projects upwards out of the housing, disposed above the foil seal and has a needle pointing inwards into the water chamber in the direction of the foil seal. The infusion device is activated by pushing the push-button into the housing so that the needle pierces the foil seal and forces water out of the top water chamber through the orifice in the fixed support plate into the porous layer via the semi-permeable membrane. An osmotically induced pressure is generated in the middle solution chamber via the semi-permeable membrane by the water, which acts on the elastic diaphragm and hence on the product chamber. As a result of the pressure on the product chamber, the product is administered through the outlet at a continuous flow volume.
The elastic diaphragm of this known infusion device is disposed above the product chamber across a large surface area in order to create sufficient pressure in the chamber. Although the elastic diaphragm is able to camber inwards into the product chamber, this does not enable the product to be fully dispensed from the product chamber. Relative to the total surface area of the solvent chamber, the push-button overlaps with a small surface area. When the button is depressed, little pressure is generated in the solvent chamber, which mans that the solvent is distributed across the total surface of the semi-permeable membrane solely by the capillary action of the porous layer.

Administering device with an osmotic drive


A method for the conversion of grayscale images with a non-white background into halftone images is disclosed. The illustrated embodiment of the present invention addresses the difficulties current conversion methods have in converting multi-bit grayscale images with a non-white background into single bit halftone images. Through manipulation of the grayscale image data, the edges of text and line art features in the grayscale image data are located and extracted from the non-white background through the use of a weight driven conversion algorithm resulting in more defined halftone images.

This invention relates generally to the processing of grayscale image data. More particularly, this invention relates to the conversion of grayscale image data containing text and line art features on a non-white background into a halftone image.
Grayscale images use many shades of gray to represent an image. Halftone images, in contrast, typically use black and white dots to form an image. The pattern and density of the black and white dots is varied to represent different shades. Problems arise when converting a grayscale image into a halftone image when the grayscale image background is a non-white color or the foreground color is not black. Current methods of converting grayscale image into halftone image data result in the text and line art features in the grayscale image on a non-white background being obscured when converted into a halftone image. When converting a grayscale image which contains many different shades of gray, the conversion algorithm must determine whether to fill the corresponding position on the halftone image being created with a black dot or a white space. Current algorithms used in the conversion process have difficulty picking out the edge of text and line art features in grayscale images from backgrounds which are not white, resulting in lack of definition of the text and line art features in the new halftone image.
The present invention addresses problems caused by the current methods of converting grayscale image data into halftone images when the grayscale image data has a non-white background and contains text and line art features. One embodiment of the invention utilizes a conversion algorithm which uses a combination of pixel averages formed from different subsets of pixel values of pixels located within the grayscale image data. The different pixel averages are weighted differently depending on the particular characteristics of the area of the grayscale image data being converted to halftone image data. Pixels are examined one pixel at a time in the grayscale image. The pixel being examined is the focus pixel. Running averages are maintained for both the average pixel value of pixels located in the row of pixels containing the focus pixel and the average pixel value of pixels located in the column pixels containing the focus pixel. Additionally, a pixel window is superimposed over the grayscale image area near the focus pixel, and the average pixel value of the pixels in that pixel window is tracked. The conversion algorithm examines the area near the focus pixel in the grayscale image data for edges indicative of text and line art features and adjusts the weight given to the different averages depending upon whether or not an edge indicating a text or line art feature was found in the grayscale image data. If an edge is detected in the grayscale image, the conversion algorithm gives more weight to the local pixel average. If, on the other hand, the presence of an edge is not detected in the area of the focus pixel, more weight is given in the conversion algorithm to the running horizontal and vertical averages. After assigning the proper weight to the averages, the conversion algorithm produces a threshold value which is compared against the pixel value and used to determine whether that pixel will be depicted as a 1, that is a black dot, or a 0, that is a white space in the halftone image. By shifting the weight given to the various pixel averages depending upon the presence or non-presence of an edge, the conversion algorithm is better able to isolate text and line art features from a non-white background in a grayscale image.

System and method for the dynamic thresholding of grayscale image data


Provided herein are methods for making gamma lactones comprising reacting a carboxylic acid substrate with a heterologous cytochrome P450 (CYP450) protein with carboxylic acid 4-hydroxylase activity.

There exists a universal desire for foods, fragrances and cosmetics that have pleasant tastes and odors. In many cases, these traits of pleasant smells and tastes are provided through various lactone compounds, including various gamma lactones, that possess desirable aroma and flavor characteristics. Current demand for lactone compounds is mainly addressed through either chemical synthesis or extraction processes from plants. Plant extraction-based production has significant disadvantages, such as weather effects on the strength and abundance of the compounds of interest, risk of plant diseases and/or poor harvest, stability of the compound, environmental impact of increased production and trade restrictions. Industrial production can cause environmental damage, may use dangerous precursors and itself may be subject to increased costs due to the costs of key substrates.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for novel methods to produce gamma lactones economically and reliably without the limitations posed by plant extraction and chemical synthesis.

Biosynthetic production of gamma-lactones


Hydrocarbons are prepared, liquid at the reaction temperature, by feeding synthesis gas into three-phase turbulent reactors wherein the solid phase, consisting of the catalyst in particle form, is kept in suspension in the liquid phase by the rising synthesis gas. The reaction product is separated/filtrated in continuous from the catalyst dispersed therein, by means of a separation/filtration unit consisting of several filtration cartridges, each consisting of at least two porous filtering elements, the first having an average pore diameter ranging from 0.5 to 15 μm, whereas the second has an average pore diameter ranging from 0.002 to 0.1 μm.

The Fischer-Tropsch technology is known in scientific literature for preparing hydrocarbons from gas mixtures based on hydrogen and carbon monoxide, conventionally known as synthesis gas. A compendium which summarizes the main works on the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction is contained in Bureau of Mines Bulletin, 544 (1955) entitled "Bibliography of the Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis and Related Processes" H. C. Anderson, J. L. Wiley and A. Newell.
In general, the Fischer-Tropsch technology is based on slurry reactors, which are normally used in relation to chemical reactions which take place in three-phase systems, wherein a gaseous phase is bubbled into a suspension of a solid in a liquid. The gaseous phase consists of the synthesis gas with a molar ratio H2/CO varying from 1 to 3, the dispersing liquid phase, at high temperature, represents the reaction product, i.e. linear hydrocarbons mainly with a high number of carbon atoms, and the solid phase consists of the catalyst.
The reaction product which is discharged from the reactor therefore consists of a suspension containing particle, which are also fine, that must be treated to separate the solid (catalyst) from the liquid phase. Whereas the catalyst is recycled to the synthesis reactor, the liquid is subjected to subsequent upgrading treatment, for example hydrocracking and/or of hydro-isomerization, to obtain hydrocarbon fractions of industrial interest.
European patent 609,079 describes a reactor for Fischer-Tropsch reactions consisting of a gas bubble tower containing a suspension made up of catalyst particles suspended in the liquid hydrocarbon. The synthesis gas is fed to the bottom of the reactor, whereas the synthesized hydrocarbon is recovered at the head.
In order to avoid the entrainment of catalyst particles, the reactor is equipped with cylindrical filtration devices internally arranged in the upper part.
International patent application WO 97/31693 describes a method for separating a liquid from a suspension of solid particles which comprises, in a first phase, degasifying the suspension and, in a second phase, filtering the suspension through a tangential flow. In particular, the suspension comes from a Fischer-Tropsch reactor and consists of synthesized heavy hydrocarbons which entrain the catalyst particles.
Other examples of methods for separating the catalyst contained in the suspension leaving a Fischer-Tropsch reactor are described in European patent 592,176, international patent application WO 94/16807, English patent 2,281,224, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,605,678 and 5,324,335 and German patent 3,245,318.
A disadvantage associated with Fischer-Tropsch processes, for example with those mentioned above, and in particular Fischer-Tropsch processes in which the catalyst is based on cobalt, is that a hydrocarbon mixture is produced, which, in the subsequent transformation phases (hydro-isomerization and/or hydrocracking), causes an alteration in the performances of the corresponding catalysts.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Process for the production in continuous of hydrocarbons from synthesis gas, in slurry reactors and for the separation from the solid phase of the liquid phase produced