A carriage of a mobile storage system is adapted to support at least one storage unit for movement on a rail. The carriage generally includes a wheel mount structure, and a wheel mounting subassembly that includes a shaft having opposing ends, a wheel mounted to the shaft, and a first and a second mounting members that rotatably support the shaft. The wheel is located between the first and second mounting members such that the ends of the shaft extend outwardly from the first and second mounting members. The carriage further includes a cooperating mounting arrangement configured to non-rotatably mount the first and second mounting members to the wheel mount structure. The wheel extends downward from the wheel mount structure to engage the rail, and the ends of the shaft extend outward to engage a drive shaft that imparts rotation to the shaft and wheel so as to move the carriage on the rail.

This invention relates to a mobile storage system for movably mounting storage units such as shelves or file cabinets, and more particularly to a wheel mounting arrangement for the carriage of such a mobile storage system.
High density mobile storage systems are commonly used when it is desired to increase the storage capacity in a given area greater that which is attainable using fixed shelving. A typical mobile storage system employs a series of mobile platforms or carriages to which storage units such as shelves or file cabinets are mounted, and which are movably supported on a series of parallel rails. The carriages extend across the rails, and a number of storage units are mounted to and movable with each carriage. By allowing the storage units to move, the aisle space normally required between storage units for access to the storage units may be eliminated for all but one pair of storage units. This single aisle space may be shared among pairs of storage units by movement of the storage units along the rails. The carriages are typically movable on the rails in response to operation of any satisfactory type of drive system associated with the carriages, for selectively creating an aisle between adjacent storage units so as to provide access to items stored in or on the storage units.
Certain known mobile storage systems employ a formed steel carriage that includes a series of wheel assemblies for moving the carriage along the rails. Each wheel assembly generally includes a wheel mounted to a shaft, and associated wheel bearings that are assembled to the formed sheet metal components of the carriage. A number of steps are involved in mounting each wheel assembly to the carriage, including securing the bearing assemblies to the carriage, positioning the wheel between the bearing assemblies, inserting the shaft through the bearings and the wheel, etc. In addition, in existing systems of this type, the load from the wheel is transferred to the carriage through the bearing and its bolted connection to the carriage. This construction applies significant loads to the bearings and the bolted connections, which can lead to excessive stress and premature failure of the bearings, carriage wheel assemblies, and/or the bearing connections under severe loads.
The present invention addresses these problems by providing a modular wheel assembly that can reduce the labor needed in assembly, as well as improve the carriage life and load carrying ability of the carriage. The modular wheel assembly of the present invention is configured to provide drop-in assembly to the carriage, which reduces the labor involved in initial assembly and also enables quick and easy replacement in the field. The modular wheel assembly is also configured to transfer the wheel load to the top of the carriage member in a manner that extends the operating life of the wheels and the carriage.
In accordance with the present invention, a carriage for a mobile storage system is adapted for placement over a rail, and is configured to support at least one storage unit for movement on the rail. The carriage generally includes a drive arrangement, a wheel mount structure, a shaft defining a pair of ends, a wheel mounted to the shaft, and first and second mounting members to which the shaft is rotatably mounted. The wheel is located between the first and second mounting members such that each end of the shaft extends outwardly from one of the first and second mounting members. The carriage further includes a cooperating mounting arrangement associated with the wheel mount structure and the first and second mounting members for non-rotatably mounting the first and second mounting members to the wheel mount structure. The cooperating mounting arrangement is configured such that the wheel extends downwardly from the wheel mount structure for engagement with the rail and the ends of the shaft extend outwardly from the wheel mount structure. One of the ends of the shaft engages the drive arrangement in a manner such that the drive arrangement imparts rotation to the shaft and to the wheel to move the carriage on the rail.
In one embodiment of the carriage, the wheel mount structure includes a structural member of the carriage having a first sidewall spaced from a second sidewall. The cooperating mounting arrangement generally includes an opening in each of the sidewalls and an engagement section associated with each of the first and second mounting members. Each engagement section is configured to be received within the opening in one of the first and second sidewalls of the structural member. Each of the first and second mounting members is secured to one of the first and second sidewalls of the structural member via one or more fasteners. Each of the first and second mounting members is adapted to be positioned within the space between the sidewalls of the structural member. The engagement section of each of the first and second mounting members extends outwardly into the opening of the first and second sidewalls. The structural member of the carriage further includes an upper wall that extends between and interconnects the spaced apart sidewalls. Each of the first and second mounting members includes an upper edge that engages an inner surface defined by the upper wall of the structural member. The fastener is located between the upper edge and the engagement section of each of the first and second mounting members. Each of the first and second structural member sidewalls defines a lower edge, and the opening in each of the first and second sidewalls extends upwardly from the lower edge. The engagement section of each of the first and second mounting members includes a rim that surrounds an opening through which the shaft extends. The rim and the opening in each of the first and second mounting members has a matching configuration that enables the rim to be received within the opening in the first and second sidewalls of the structural member. The shaft, the wheel, and the pair of mounting members generally comprise a wheel subassembly that is secured as a unit to the wheel mount structure. In one embodiment, the mounting members are in the form of bearing housings, each of which includes a bearing through which the shaft extends.
The invention also provides a method of mounting a wheel to a carriage of a mobile storage system. The carriage is configured to support one or more storage units for movement on a rail. The method includes the acts of providing a wheel mount structure with a first sidewall spaced apart from a second sidewall; forming an opening in each of the first and second spaced apart sidewalls of the wheel mount structure; providing a wheel assembly including a shaft, a wheel mounted to the shaft, and a first and a second mounting member to which the shaft is rotatably mounted, such that the wheel is located between the first and second mounting members; engaging each of the first and second mounting members within the opening in one of the first and second spaced apart sidewalls of the wheel mount structure; and securing each of the first and second mounting members to one of the first and second spaced apart sidewalls of the wheel mount structure.
The invention also provides a mobile storage system in which one or more storage units are carried by a carriage adapted to be movably supported on one or more rails. The carriage generally includes a wheel mount structure configured for placement over one of the rails. The mobile storage system includes a wheel subassembly for mounting a wheel to the wheel mount structure. The wheel subassembly includes a first and a second mounting member and a shaft that is rotatably supported by the first and second mounting members. The wheel is non-rotatably secured to the shaft between the first and second mounting members, and is positioned to engage one of the rails. The wheel mount structure and the first and second mounting members include a cooperating engagement structure for non-rotatably engaging the pair of first and second mounting members with the wheel mount structure.
Various other features, objects and advantages of the invention will be made apparent from the following description taken together with the drawings.

Modular wheel assembly for a carriage in a mobile storage system


One or more software products/services may be installed on a cloud deployment. Product versions of such services can be upgraded (or rolled back) based on a deployment plan comprising tasks adapted to reach a target deployment state. A central upgrade server can forward tasks to an upgrade agent for execution, the tasks being based on a current operational state of the cloud deployment (obtained by the upgrade agent) and one or more constraints. In multiple node deployments, some nodes may be upgraded to a new product version, while other nodes are kept at a current product version until stability of the new product version is determined. Traffic across nodes can be shaped to ensure a deployment is healthy before upgrading other nodes/deployments. If the health of a node/deployment does not meet specified criteria, an upgrade can be stopped, an alert can be triggered, and the node/deployment can be rolled back.

Software and/or hardware deployments may be installed, upgraded, and/or otherwise changed. Managing multiple deployments in the context of such installations, upgrades, and/or other changes can be a complex endeavor. For example, services running on one or more deployments may have particular interdependencies that can be broken after a version upgrade to one service is implemented, but not another service. As another example, data migration (transferring data between storage types, formats, or computer systems) may be impacted by upgrades or changes within a deployment. That is, data migration may include converting data from one schema to another schema, and the schema versions may impact dependencies with respect to downstream requests. Moreover, certain data migrations may involve bringing a database system offline/taking it down for some period of time.


The invention is a heated automotive bed liner which utilizes electrical power to provide the heat necessary to keep the goods inside an automotive vehicle from freezing in cold weather. The device comprises an upper layer and a lower layer--each layer being made of electrically non-conductive material, and electrically resistive heating wires placed between the upper layer and the lower layer. When the heating wires receive power from an electrical power supply, they generate heat, thereby providing heat to the goods placed on the bed liner as well as the surrounding air inside the vehicle.

The invention relates to a heated automotive bed liner for trucks, vans, buses, or any other motor vehicles designed to carry heavy loads. More particularly, the invention relates to an automotive bed liner that is electrically heated to prevent freezing of equipment and goods inside the vehicle during cold weather.
Many trucks, vans and buses are used to transport equipment and goods that are vulnerable to cold temperatures. During transportation, such equipment and goods may freeze, resulting in damage when they are exposed to cold weather for a prolonged period of time.
The problem of freezing arises not only during transportation but also during prolonged parking. Equipment and goods inside the vehicle are susceptible to freeze-ups especially when the vehicle is parked overnight. For this very reason, many people waste valuable time unloading their vehicle every time it is parked overnight. For a long time, people have desired a device that can prevent the equipment and goods inside their vehicle from freezing and thus eliminate the hassle of unloading and loading their vehicle everyday. However, no such device exists today that addresses this specific need.
While various prior art references disclose electrical heated mat-like devices, no device has been specifically designed for use in a motor vehicle to prevent freezing of equipment and goods inside the vehicle. U.S. Pat. No. 5,380,988 to Dyer discloses a heated mat structure for melting ice and snow on heavy foot traffic areas. Likewise, U.S. Pat. No. 5,291,000 to Hornberger discloses a heater mat apparatus for melting snow surrounding an automobile to accommodate access. In addition to their structural differences, these inventions are specifically designed for outdoor use, mainly for the purpose of melting ice and snow. Consequently, they are not suitable for use on automotive vehicles since they do not address the unique needs associated with providing heat to equipment and goods inside the vehicles.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,254,384 to Gordon discloses a heatable car floor mat for the purpose of reducing damages to the floor caused by snow, water, mud and road salts. The duplex floor mat has a porous mat supported by a reservoir to permit water and road salt to flow through the porous mat into the reservoir. The floor mat is connectable to a heater vent of the vehicle in an effort to accelerate the process of evaporating water trapped in the reservoir. Although the device may be effective in keeping the floor of an automobile dry, it is not effective in preventing goods from freezing during transportation. In addition, many trucks, vans and buses do not have heating vents that reach far enough in the back area where the most of the goods are usually carried. Furthermore, the device to Gordon does not solve the problem of freeze-up when the automobile is parked.
While these units mentioned above may be suitable for the particular purpose employed, or for general use, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as disclosed hereafter.


A filler for filling a gap includes a hydrogenated polysiloxazane having an oxygen content of about 0.2 to about 3 wt %. A chemical structure of the hydrogenated polysiloxazane includes first, second, and third moieties represented by the following respective Chemical Formulas 1-3:

1. Field
Embodiments relates to a filler for filling a gap and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor capacitor using the filler.
2. Description of the Related Art
As semiconductor technology is increasingly developed, there is continuous research on forming highly-integrated and faster semiconductor memory cells that have improved performance and integrate smaller semiconductor chips. Among these semiconductor memory cells, e.g., DRAM (dynamic random access memory) may be used. The DRAM is capable of freely inputting and outputting information, and may realize large capacity.
The DRAM may include, e.g., a plurality of unit cells including one MOS transistor (MOS transistor) and one capacitor. The capacitor may include two electrodes and a dielectric layer disposed therebetween. The capacitor may have various capacities depending on, e.g., a dielectric constant, a thickness of the dielectric layer, an area of the electrodes, and the like.
As a size of a semiconductor chip is reduced, the size of the capacitor therein may also be reduced. However, the smaller capacitor needs sufficient storage capacity. The capacitor may accomplish bigger capacity by, e.g., increasing the vertical area instead of decreasing the horizontal area to increase overall active area. When a capacitor is formed in this way, a filler may be used to fill, e.g., a mold and a gap, thereon, and to effectively form an electrode thereafter.

Filler for filling a gap and method for manufacturing semiconductor capacitor using the same

Abstract: The third moiety is on a terminal end of the hydrogenated polysiloxazane, and an amount of the third moiety is about 15 to about 35% based on a total amount of Si—H bonds in the hydrogenated polysiloxazane.


A rung lock assembly is provided for a ladder, and comprises rung lock portions, a pinion gear, compression springs, a rung body, a rung cover, a center bolt, a spacer, and a fastener portion. Each of the rung lock portions comprises a rod portion, a rack block fixed to the rod portion, a locking portion, a holding portion connecting the rod portion to the locking portion so that the rod portion is disposed in parallel with the locking portion and configured to be held and pulled by a user's hand, and the rung lock portions are anchored by guide plates and disposed in parallel with each other. The pinion gear is disposed between and engaging the rack blocks, so that the rung lock portions translate outwards or inwards together. The distance between the locking portion is increased in both directions simultaneously by pulling one of the holding portions.

The present invention relates to a ladder.
The ladder is an indispensable tool in many fields of industries. Such necessities can be seen clearly from the long history of ladders.
Even though it has such a long history, the conventional ladders still need improvements.
Accordingly, a need for an advanced ladder has been present for a long time considering the expansive demands in the everyday life. This invention is directed to solve these problems and satisfy the long-felt need.

HYUNDAI ALUMINUM VINA SHAREHOLDING COMPANY


The present invention is mainly aimed at obtaining excellent sensor output free from periodic fixed pattern noise even if the pieces of holding capacity are converted into blocks, and the specific solution unit is described below. The signal readout unit includes: a line memory; first switches each connected to a holding capacity; a first common signal line comprising eight switches connected together; and second switches for connecting the first common signal line to the second common signal line. The control unit controls opening/closing of both switches. Between the electrode of the second switch and the second common signal line, there is provided outgoing wiring. From the control unit, control wiring a1 . . . , b1 . . . is connected to the first switch. To each wiring a1 . . . , b1 . . . , a pair of a positive signal and an anti-signal in which the logical level has been reversed with respect to each other is supplied respectively. Each wiring a1 . . . , b1 . . . is arranged so as to be line-symmetric with respect to the outgoing wiring.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a readout circuit, a solid state image pickup device using the same circuit, and a camera system using the same, and more particularly to a readout circuit for temporarily storing a plurality of output signals from a photoelectric conversion unit and reading out the plurality of output signals stored, and its driving method.
2. Related Background Art
With reference to FIG. 14, the description will be made of a conventional example and its problems.
FIG. 14 shows a view of an equivalent circuit for a solid state image pickup device to be used in a line sensor or an area sensor in a conventional example.
In the solid state image pickup device according to the conventional example shown in FIG. 14, each output from a plurality of pixels 101, (in the example shown in the Figure, pixels of 20 pieces px6 to px25 in total of 5 pieces (5 lines) in a vertical direction, and 4 pieces (4 columns) in a horizontal direction) arranged in a two-dimensional shape are held to a holding capacity 103 constituting a memory unit (holding unit) of a line memory once by the selection switch 102a via a vertical output line 102 provided in common with every line, thereafter signals held to the holding capacity 103 are read out in order via its line selection switch 104a to output to a horizontal common signal line 105, and output has been made by a read common amplifier 107 (105a in the Figure denotes a horizontal common signal line reset switch). Each switch 102a, 104a, 105a in the Figure is constituted by, for example, an nMOS transistor (G denotes a gate electrode; S, a source electrode; and d, a drain electrode).
In this case, output from the holding capacity 103 to the horizontal common signal line 105 is performed by capacity division of parasitic capacity CH (Ch) of a horizontal common signal line consisting of capacity CT (Ct) of the holding capacity 103 and parasitic capacity and the like of the horizontal common signal line 105. In other words, when reset voltage of the horizontal common signal line 105 is assumed to be Vchr and signal voltage of light signal to be outputted from the pixel 101 is assumed to be Vsig, voltage to be held at the holding capacity CT becomes Vsig+Vchr, and voltage V to be outputted to the horizontal common signal line 105 is represented by the following expression.
                    V        =                                                            Ct                ×                                  (                                      Vsig                    +                    Vchr                                    )                                            +                              Ch                ×                Vchr                                                    (                              Ct                +                Ch                            )                                =                                                    Ct                ×                Vsig                                            (                                  Ct                  +                  Ch                                )                                      +            Vchr                                              (        1        )
As shown by the above-described expression (1), readout gain of the light signal is given by Ct/(Ct+Ch).
The capacity CH of the horizontal common signal line is constituted by wiring capacity of the wiring and source-drain capacity of a switch to be connected to the wiring.
Because of tendency toward multi-pixels and larger size of the solid state image pickup device in recent years, the source drain capacity is increased, the length of wiring becomes longer and the wiring capacity becomes larger, and the capacity CH of the horizontal common signal line tends to increase. As a result, there has been the problem that when the capacity CH of the horizontal common signal line is large, the readout gain lowers and the S/N ratio is deteriorated.
Also, when the holding capacity CT is made larger in order to secure the S/N ratio, there has been the problem that the area of the holding capacity 103 will become larger to make the chip size larger.
Also, in order to solve these problems, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 05-037715, which is Japanese Patent official gazette open to public inspection, it has been proposed to provide a plurality of horizontal common signal lines and common readout amplifiers for dividing into each horizontal common signal line for outputting. A number of transistors to be connected to the horizontal common signal lines is reduced, whereby the capacity Ch of the horizontal common signal line is made smaller.
However, there have been problems of an increase in a number of output pins, an increase in power consumption and the like due to the increase in the number of the readout amplifiers.
Also, in order to solve these problems, the present inventor, et al., have already proposed means in which as shown in FIG. 15, every two holding capacity 103 are made into a block and for every block (in the example shown in the Figure, first block B1, second block B2) there is provided a common switch called "second switch 109" via an intermediate node (common signal line) 112, whereby the capacity CH of the horizontal common signal line is made smaller. In order to control such a switch group, the horizontal scan circuit 104 in FIG. 15 is used, but the following problems have arisen on that occasion.
FIG. 16 shows driving timing of the circuit shown in FIG. 15, and its problems will be described.
In FIG. 16, upon reading out a signal held in the holding capacity CT1 (103) of the block B1, the first switch M11 (108) and the second switch M16 (109) are turned ON to read out the signal via the intermediate node 112, the horizontal common signal line 105 and a read common amplifier 106.
In other words, a horizontal common signal line reset switch 110 is turned ON at timing t1, the horizontal common signal line 105 is reset, the horizontal common signal line reset switch 110 is turned OFF at timing t2, and thereafter, the first switch M11 (108) and the second switch N16 (109) are turned ON at timing t3.
Similarly, on reading out a signal held by the holding capacity CT2 (103), the first switch M11 (108) is turned OFF at timing t4, the horizontal common signal line reset switch 110 is turned ON at timing t5 to reset the horizontal common signal line 105, the horizontal common signal line reset switch 110 is turned OFF at timing t6, and thereafter, in addition to the second switch M16 (109) which is ON at timing t7, the first switch M12 (108) is turned ON. Thereafter, the second switch M16 (109) is turned OFF at timing t8. Hereinafter, signals held by holding capacity CT3, CT4 of the next block for adjoining at similar driving timing will be read out.
At this time, deflection of control line of the first switch M11, M12 (108) and the second switch M16 (109) causes a problem that a difference in level occurs in the output. This cause is as follows.
A general layout for the above-described holding capacity, horizontal common signal line, and horizontal scanning circuit is that they are arranged such that the horizontal common signal line 105 is sandwiched between the holding capacity 103 and the horizontal scanning circuit 104. For this reason, a control line for controlling switches such as the first switch M11 (108) and the second switch M16 (109) is arranged so as to cross the horizontal common signal line 105. Specifically, it is as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16.
Hereinafter, the description will be made while bringing the layout schematic view shown in FIG. 17 into correspondence with the equivalent circuit view shown in FIG. 15. In FIGS. 17 and 18, the first line memory CT101 to CT116 (203) correspond to the holding capacity CT (103) in FIG. 15; the control unit CTL1, CTL2 (204), the horizontal scanning circuit 104 in FIG. 15; the second common signal line 205, the horizontal common signal line 105 in FIG. 15; the first common signal line 212, the intermediate node 112 in FIG. 15; the first switch M101 to M116 (208), the first switch M11 to M14 (108) in FIG. 15; and the second switch M201, M202 (209), the second switch M16, M15 (109) in FIG. 15 respectively. Reference numeral 220 denotes outgoing wiring for connecting between the control unit CTL1, CTL2 (204) and the second switch M201, M202 (209).
Pieces of the holding capacity CT (103) shown in FIG. 15 are converted into blocks every two pieces, whereas FIG. 17 shows an example in which the first line memories CT101 to CT116 (203) corresponding to the holding capacity CT (103) have been converted into blocks every eight pieces of capacity. In the example shown in FIG. 17, the first block B1 and the second block B2 are illustrated from the left side.
In FIG. 17, reference symbols a1 to a16 denote control lines for opening/closing the first switches M101 to M116 (208) connected to the first line memories 203 (holding capacity CT101 to CT116). In FIGS. 17 and 18, control lines for the second switches M201, M202 (209) are not shown. FIG. 18 shows a schematic view for a detailed layout including the first and second holding capacity CT101, CT102 of the first line memory 203 within the first block B1 shown in FIG. 17, and the second switch M201 (209) for selecting the first block B1.
With reference to the above-described FIG. 16, the description will be made of driving timing of circuits shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 and their problems.
In the conventional technique, in order to drive a control electrode of each switch, only positive signals have been supplied.
First, at the timing t1, in a state in which the second switch M201 (second switch M16) has been turned ON, the second common signal line 205 (horizontal common signal line) is reset. At timing t2, the first common signal line 212 (intermediate node) and the second common signal line 205 (horizontal common signal line) enters a floating state. At timing t3, the first switch M101 (first switch M11) is additionally turned ON. At this time, since the first and second common signal lines 212, 205 are floating, a control line a1 for reading out from the holding capacity CT101, the first one from the left of the first line memory 203 is turned ON, whereby the second common signal line 205 is deflected via parasitic capacity Ca1 between the outgoing wiring 220 and the control line a1. At timing t7, a control line a2 for reading out from the holding capacity CT102, the second one from the left of the first line memory 203 is turned ON, whereby the second common signal line 205 is deflected via parasitic capacity Ca2 between the outgoing wiring 220 and the control line a2.
At this time, since the parasitic capacity Ca1 between the outgoing wiring 220 and the control line a1 and the parasitic capacity Ca2 between the outgoing wiring 220 and the control line a2 result from their respective distances La1, La2, they satisfy a relation of Ca1>>Ca2, and also differ in an amount of deflection of output. In fact, since the deflection due to the parasitic capacity Ca2 can be substantially ignored, only the deflection due to the parasitic capacity Ca1 is observed.
As a result, when eight pieces of capacity have been converted into blocks as shown in FIGS. 17, 18, there occurs pattern noise every eight pieces of output=heterogeneity of output. In other words, on reading out signals from the holding capacity CT101, CT109 of the first and ninth ones (the extreme left line of the first block B1, the second block B2) from the left of the first line memory 203 in FIG. 17, there has been a problem that the voltage of the second common signal line 205 changes into high voltage.
Specifically, between the control line a2 and the second common signal line 205, there is overlapping capacity indicated by a portion o in FIG. 16 in addition to the parasitic capacity Ca2. If this capacity is assumed to be Cc, when a logical level of the control signal of the control line a2 changes from L level to H level, that is, when supply voltage=VDD changes in voltage, voltage change ΔVCH in the second common signal line 205 is represented as the following expression.ΔVCH≈VDD×(Ca2+Cc×2)/CH
Accordingly, when the control voltage of the control line ai of i-th (for example, second to eighth from the left) other than the first and ninth ones from the left within the block in FIG. 17 has been caused to change, voltage change ΔVCHi in the second common signal line 205 is as follows.ΔVCHi≈VDD×(Cai+Cc×2)/CH
However, Cai denotes parasitic capacity between the control line ai of i-th one from the left within the block, and the outgoing wiring 220 (CH denotes parasitic capacity of the second common signal line).
Also, as described above, Ca1>>Ca2 to Ca8.
Therefore, with respect to output of the holding capacity CT102 to CT108 of the second to the eighth ones from the left within the first block B1, a voltage difference ΔVCH of several mV develops on the second common signal line 205.ΔVCH≈VDD×Ca1/CH
The above-described problem is a level at which a problem is conspicuously posed particularly in the solid state image pickup device. That is, the above-described voltage difference ΔVCH is at a level of several mV or less. In other words, it becomes a more serious problem in an analog circuit represented by the solid state image pickup device which handles several mV or 1 mV or less than a digital circuit having logical amplitude of several V.
In order to solve these problems, such a conventional technique is conceivable as control lines of switches and horizontal common signal lines are arranged on layers different from each other and between them, another wiring layer is inserted as a shielding layer, and since parasitic capacity of the horizontal common signal line is increased, there arise problems that the capacity division ratio becomes larger so that S/N characteristic is not improved among others.

Readout circuit, solid state image pickup device using the same circuit, and camera system using the same


A probe head includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a spacer, at least one probe, and an insulating material. The first substrate has at least one first through hole. The second substrate has at least one second through hole. The spacer is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The spacer, the first substrate, and the second substrate together form a cavity. The probe is disposed in the cavity and protrudes from the first through hole and the second through hole. The insulating material is on the probe and at least partially disposed in the first through hole.

Semiconductor devices are used in countless applications throughout the world and millions upon millions of individual semiconductor devices are produced annually. Semiconductor devices are individually and completely electrically tested before they are installed within electronic or other devices. Different semiconductor devices perform different functions and therefore undergo different functional, parametric and electrical tests. In any semiconductor device fabrication or testing facility, the number of different semiconductor devices to be tested far exceeds the number of test equipment available to test the devices. As such, different semiconductor devices are tested on the same test assembly.

Probe head, probe card assembly using the same, and manufacturing method thereof

TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.


An access authentication method and apparatus in which access authentication is performed using positional data associated with access information data.

1. Technical Field
Exemplary embodiments relate to NFC (Near Field Communication) based technology, and more particularly, to methods and apparatuses for performing access authentication by duplicating data of an access authentication card to a user terminal.
2. Description of Related Art
A conventional access authentication system utilizes an identification (ID) card having information of user who is entering or exiting. It is an inconvenience that the person should always carry the ID card. Further, it is inconvenient for the user to carry a plurality of ID cards, such as an ID card for company and an ID card for home, all the time. In addition, it is inconvenient for the user to select a proper card among the plurality of cards and to contact the card to a reader for the access authentication.
Therefore, in accordance with the development of information telecommunication technologies, there is a need for method of performing access authentication by means of mobile terminals that are carried by people.

Method and apparatus for access authentication using mobile terminal


A method for depositing a silicon carbide layer onto a substrate comprises providing a silicon and carbon source gas and an inert gas into a reaction zone. The reaction zone contains the substrate. The method further comprises producing an electric field in the reaction zone. The electric field is generated using low and high frequency RF energy produced by an RF power supply. The RF power supply generates power at an electrode surface used for plasma discharge in the reaction zone. The method further comprises reacting the silicon and carbon source gas to deposit a silicon carbide film on the substrate. The RF power supply generates high energy RF power and low energy RF power during a processing period.

Integrated circuits have evolved into complex devices that include multiple levels of metal layers to electrically interconnect discrete layers of semiconductor devices on a single semiconductor chip. Recently, with the evolution of higher integration and higher density of integrated circuit components, the demand for greater speed of the data transfer rate is required. For this reason, an insulating film having low leakage current, low dielectric constant to give the small RC delay is employed.
As the dimensions of the integrated circuit components are becoming increasingly denser, the materials used to fabricate such components contribute to the electrical performance of such components. One way to reduce the size of interconnection lines and vias is to change the wiring materials from the conventional aluminum (Al) to copper (Cu) wiring having low electric resistance.
However, to produce a semiconductor device having multi-layered copper wiring, a low dielectric constant insulating layer is formed as the interlayer insulating film on the copper wiring.
Furthermore, the use of copper as the interconnect material has various problems. For example, copper is easily diffused into the low dielectric constant insulating film from the copper wiring, thus increasing the leakage current between the upper and lower wiring.
The use of silicon carbide films as copper diffusion barrier layers has been published in U.S. Pat. No. 5,800,878. The dielectric constant of this film is such as about 5, and in addition it is used as copper diffusion barrier layers for 130 nm-nodes Large Scale Integration (LSI) technologies where the dielectric constant of the interlayer dielectric film is 3.
For next generation, 100 nm/65 nm-nodes Ultra Large Scale Integration (ULSI) technologies, the reduction of interconnect capacitance is important for suppressing the signal delay as well as the power consumption. Interlayer dielectric films with dielectric constant less than 2.5 are used with copper damascene structures. To decrease the effective dielectric of fine pitched lines, further reduction in the dielectric constant is necessary not only for the inter layer dielectric film itself but also the supporting dielectric films such as hard mask, etch stop layers and copper diffusion barrier layers. Furthermore, to prevent the migration of metal atoms the leakage current of such film at 1 MV/cm has to be less than that of 1×10−8 A/cm2. Silicon carbide films with dielectric constant less than 4.5 such that the leakage current at 1 MV/cm is less than 1×10−8 A/cm2 are suggested to be suitable to substitute for as such films.
The method of forming Nitrogen doped silicon carbides (SiCN), oxygen doped silicon carbides (SiCO) has been published in U.S. Patent Application Publication 2001/0030369, U.S. Patent Application Publication 2002/0027286, U.S. Patent Application Publication 2001/0051445, and U.S. Patent Application Publication 2001/0031563. Furthermore; these films have been proposed as copper diffusion barrier layers. Though a nitrogen doped silicon carbide layer has been proposed as a copper diffusion barrier layer with low leakage current, its dielectric constant is 4.5 to 5.0 and this results in significant increases in the effective dielectric of the total dielectric stacks.
In case of oxygen doped silicon carbide, although its dielectric constant is relatively low, such as less than 5, it cannot sufficiently refrain from increasing the leakage current. To decrease the leakage current to a sufficient level, the oxygen must be introduced much more into the silicon carbide film.
However, to do so, the leakage current can be reduced up to a satisfactory level, nevertheless a new problem is caused such that the surface of the copper wiring is oxidized and thus the barrier insulating film and the inter dielectric layer is ready to peel.
Silicon carbide has also been suggested for use of barrier layer on integrated circuits, since silicon carbides can have a low dielectric constant.
However, the dielectric constant and stress of the conventional silicon carbide film drifts when it is directly exposed to air. This is due to the oxidation of the top surface of the silicon carbide film. The method to minimize the oxidation of carbon containing materials, such as silicon carbide, with an inert gas plasma such as helium (He), Argon (Ar) is published in U.S. Patent Application Publication 2001/0060584. This inert gas plasma treatment only minimizes the top surface of the silicon carbide film from getting oxidized, however, no changes/improvements to the film properties are observed.
Furthermore, although the dielectric constant is relatively low, such as 4.0, the conventional SiC barrier insulating film cannot sufficiently suppress the increase in the leakage current. In this case, to enough suppress the leakage current, a new method is desired that can produce a barrier layer that is effective in preventing the migration of metal atoms while also exhibiting low dielectric constant and low leakage current.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A method and device for improving a structurally integrated propulsion battery system with a battery, a tray for accommodating the battery, with lower and upper internal structural cross beams coupled to the tray, and a liquid cooling plate located between the upper internal structural cross beam and the lower internal structural cross beam.

Battery powered vehicles offer significant advantages over traditional modes of travel. However, multiple technological problems still need to be overcome so as to ensure optimal use of the technology. Current market products are limited, for example, by range of travel, and structural soundness. In one particular form, such products require multiple cooling plates with multiple hose connections that wind inefficiently over the structural beams. In such systems problems inevitably arise as a result of lower reliability due to the multiple hose connections and air getting trapped above structural beams during service repair. Trapped air can prevent proper coolant flow and fill volume thus affecting the system's ability to function properly.
There is a long felt need in the art for affordable electric vehicles with long ranges having structurally integrated batteries with systems providing structural enhancement. There is a long felt need in the art for enhanced methods, devices, and systems with single coolant plates capable of accommodating large quantities of active battery material so as to provide adequate power required for long-distance travel. Provided herein are descriptions of such methods devices, and systems, which achieve an optimized structural performance with low mass, cost, and efficient packaging so as to allow maximum occupant comfort and vehicle usage.

Structurally integrated propulsion battery


In order to obtain a flame-retardant polyolefin resin expanding molded product which has excellent in-mold moldability and excellent surface appearance and satisfies the FMVSS flammability even if carbon black is added, polyolefin resin particles containing, with respect to 100 parts by weight of polyolefin resin, (i) 0.03 part by weight to 5 parts by weight of phosphorous flame retardant having a phosphorous content of 7% by weight or more, a melting point of 120° C. or more, and a 5% by weight decomposition temperature within a range of 240° C. to 320° C. and (ii) 0.5 part by weight to 20 parts by weight of carbon black are expanded.

In-mold expanding molded products, which are produced by (i) introducing, into a mold for in-mold expanding molding, polyolefin resin expanded particles that have been produced by expanding polyolefin resin particles and (ii) fusing the polyolefin resin expanded particles by heating, are used in various ways such as packaging materials, buffer materials, heat insulators, building materials, and automobile materials.
In some fields such as building materials and automobile materials among those uses, in-mold expanding molded products are required to have flame retardancy. Therefore, there are proposed polypropylene resin expanded particles made from resin containing a flame retardant and a flame retardant aid as necessary and in-mold expanding molded products made from the polypropylene resin expanded particles (see, for example, Patent Literatures 1 and 2).
Colored polyolefin resin expanded particles or in-mold expanding molded products made from the colored polyolefin resin expanded particles are demanded in some cases in view of appearance. Particularly in the field of automobile parts etc., black-colored polyolefin resin expanded particles or black-colored in-mold expanding molded products are demanded, and carbon black is generally used as a black pigment for in-mold expanding molded products because of its tinting strength, heat resistance, etc.
Meanwhile, weight reduction of those materials have been carried out in recent years, and requests for expanding molded products having a high expanding ratio have been increased accordingly.
Automobile interior part materials etc. usually must satisfy flammability standards, and there are therefore demands for flame-retardant materials or materials having a slow flame velocity. However, in-mold expanding molded products in which carbon black is used and in-mold expanding molded products having a high expanding ratio tend to be flammable. Therefore, in many cases, black in-mold expanding molded products having a high expanding ratio cannot satisfy the flammability standards.
Various methods of preparing nonflammable polyolefin resin which is originally flammable are examined, and addition of a flame retardant is a general method. As the flame retardant added to polyolefin resin, the following various flame retardants are used: halogen-containing compounds, hydrated metal oxides, phosphate esters, and nitrogen-containing compounds, and such examples of flame retardants used for polyolefin resin expanding bodies are disclosed in Patent Literatures 1 to 3 typically. In recent years, non-halogen flame retardants are preferably used because of, for example, an environmental problem that halogen-containing compounds may generate a harmful gas at the time of combustion. In addition, those non-halogen flame retardants are used in large amounts for resin, which may cause reduction in mechanical properties and deterioration of moldability.
Further, in recent years, sterically hindered amine ether flame retardants are proposed to be used as non-halogen flame retardants for polypropylene resin in-mold expanding molded products (see Patent Literatures 4 and 5). However, in a case where sterically hindered amine ether flame retardants are used in polypropylene resin in-mold expanding molded products containing carbon black, the sterically hindered amine ether flame retardants have insufficient flame retardancy in some cases. Those organic compound molecule type flame retardants are extremely expensive, but may have a low heat resistance, and may limit process conditions.
The step of molding polyolefin resin expanded particles into a polyolefin resin in-mold expanding molded product is also carried out as follows in many cases: air is pressurized in the polyolefin resin expanded particles in advance in a pressure-resistant vessel to impregnate air to the polyolefin resin expanded particles, thereby imparting an expandability; an in-mold expanding molding apparatus is filled with the polyolefin resin expanded particles; and the polyolefin resin expanded particles are heated with use of heated steam.
In actual production, however, change in internal pressure of polyolefin resin expanded particles because of air impregnation, reduction of the internal pressure after removal of the polyolefin resin expanded particles from the pressure-resistant vessel but before introduction of the polyolefin resin expanded particles into the in-mold molding apparatus, and variation of the internal pressure of the polyolefin resin expanded particles occur in some cases. It was found that the internal pressure of the polyolefin resin expanded particles is extremely decreased depending on which kind of flame retardant is used with the polyolefin resin expanded particles, which easily results in generation of wrinkle on a surface of a molded product thus produced and in occurrence of gaps between the polyolefin resin expanded particles. Accordingly, even if the internal pressure of the expanded particles varies, a favorable molded product is desirably produced.

Polyolefin resin foam particles and in-mold foaming molded body of same


Disclosed is a process for the preparation of 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-dihydroperoxyhexene by reaction of 2,5-dimethyl-1,5-hexadiene with hydrogen peroxide in an acidic medium. According to this process, the 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-dihydroperoxyhexane can be prepared with good yield and in a technically simple way.

The present invention is in a process for the preparation of 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-dihydroperoxyhexane by the reaction of 2,5-dimethyl-1,5-hexadiene with hydrogen peroxide in an acidic medium.
2,5-Dimethyl-2,5-dihydroperoxyhexane (DHHP) is an important starting material for the preparation of cross-linking peroxides (dialkyl peroxides, such as e.g. 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di-tert.-butylperoxyhexane, or perketals, such as 3,3,6,6,9,9-hexamethyl-1,2,4,5-tetraoxacyclonotane)(cf. GB-PS 936008), as well as of highly reactive bifunctional peresters.
In FR-PA 1291965 discloses the preparation of 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di-tert.-butylperoxyhexane from 2,5-dimethyl-1,5-hexadiene by reaction with tert.-butylhydroperoxide. However, the yield of 26% thereby obtained is very unsatisfactory and, furthermore, according to this process, only dialkylperoxides but no perketal or perester derivatives of DHHP are obtained.
From the prior art, a process for the preparation of 2,5-dimethyl-2,5dihydroperoxyhexane (DHHP), from 2,5-dimethylhexane with oxygen is known.
EP-A-0513711 describes a process for the preparation of aliphatic hydroperoxides, e.g. of 2,5-dimethyl-2,5dihydroperoxyhexane (DHHP), by the reaction of a corresponding tetrahydrofurane derivative with hydrogen peroxide.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,154,768 describes a general process for the preparation of tert.-alkylhydroperoxides from asymmetric secondary olefins by reaction with hydrogen peroxide in a reaction mixture containing a strong acid.
According to JP-A-3215468 and JP-A-3190856, hydroperoxides are obtained by the reaction of an olefin or alcohol with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a strong acid.
Usually, the preparation of 2,5-dimethyl-2,5dihydroperoxyhexane (DHHP) takes place by the reaction of 2,5-dimethylhexane-2,5-diol with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of an acidic catalyst, in general using sulphuric acid (cf. Rust, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 79 (1957) 4000, 4002; L. Criegee, Erdol und Kohle, 15 (1962) 523, 524, 528; Criegee and Paulig, Chem. Ber., 88 (1955), 712, 716; Criegee and Dietrich, Liebigs Ann. Chem. 560 (1948) 141; L. Dulog and A. Sanner, Tetrahedron Letters, 51 (1966) 6353-6358). According to these processes, the dosing of the diol takes place as a solid, which is a disadvantage. Another disadvantage of this process is the easy formation of cyclisation products (e.g. 2,2,5,5-tetramethyltetrahydrofuran) from the diol under the influence of acids which gives poor yields of dihydroperoxide and a contaminated product.
Therefore, there was still a great need for a process for the preparation of 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-dihydroperoxyhexane (DHHP) which can be carried out in a simple and technically advantageous way, and by which the DHHP is obtainable in high yield.
This problem has been solved by the process of the present invention.

Process for producing 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-dihydroperoxyhexane


A Controller 20 sends to a Consumer 40 a command for reserving a plug/port in order to send/receive data using an Asynchronous transmission (Step 211) and receives information on a port connecting from the Consumer 40 (Step 212). The Controller 20 further sends to a Producer 30 a command for reserving a port/plug for sending content or the like (Step 213) and receives from the Producer 30 information on a Producer plug/port used for transmission (Step 214). After this, the Controller 20 notifies the Consumer 40 of the information on the port of the Producer 30 (Step 215) and receives a response from the Consumer 40 (Step 216). Next, the Consumer 40 issues a device authentication request command to the Producer 30 (Step 219) and they perform mutual device authentication and exchange of keys (Step 217).

A conventional transmission method of digital data includes a data transmission method based on IEEE1394 (IEEE1394-1995, Standard for a High Performance Serial Bus) serial bus interface standard (hereafter referred to as "IEEE1394"). As for a communication using this data transmission method, two types of communications exist: an Isochronous communication suitable for a data transmission in which it is required to keep a data transmission rate constant as in a case of sending video signals and audio signals or the like; and an Asynchronous communication for a data transmission in which it is required to communicate without fail and it does not matter whether the data transmission rate is constant or not as in a case of sending control signals or the like. It is also possible to mix a single unit of data of the both types of communications in the bus IEEE1394.
Here, a brief summary of the IEEE1394, the Isochronous communication and the Asynchronous communication follows.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an AV (Audio Visual) protocol stack when the IEEE1394 is used for transmitting digital video signals and digital audio signals. As is shown in FIG. 1, the IEEE1394 is defined as a protocol of a lower layer. Various types of protocols are suggested as a protocol of an upper layer using the lower layer, for example, SBP-2 designed to efficiently transmit a SCSI protocol in the IEEE1394, IP over 1394 for transmitting datagram of IPv4 in the IEEE1394 being conscious of a network and an AV protocol (IEEE 61883) which is conscious of a real-time data transmission like AV information. An AV protocol 102, above all, mounted with many of the digital AV apparatuses, plays the role of an engine for the diffusion of the IEEE1394.
The AV protocol 102 is a protocol mainly aiming at transmitting real-time data such as video and audio using Isochronous packet. The AV protocol 102 consists of three elements: a real-time data transmission 103, a signal transmission procedure 104 and a control signal 105.
The real-time data transmission 103 defines additional information and a method of packetization that are necessary for storing data in various formats into the Isochronous packet and transmitting it via IEEE1394. The signal transmission procedure 104 defines a procedure for establishing an input/output path between apparatuses for exchanging data using the Isochronous packet for the apparatuses connected via the IEEE1394. In this case, a virtual transmission path is established between the apparatuses by using a concept of "plug". The control signal 105 defines a control signal for controlling the operations of the apparatuses connected via the IEEE1394. This control signal is transmitted via Asynchronous packet.
As is described above, the concept of "plug" is provided as the signal transmission procedure 104 for establishing a logical signal connection in the AV protocol 102. The plug is a virtual concept and has an input plug and an output plug. The aforementioned apparatuses can have a plurality of input plugs and output plugs irrelevantly to physical connectors. To control a signal path by connecting the input plug and the output plug to a data channel is called a connection management.
The following describes a summary of the Isochronous communication and the Asynchronous communication.
FIG. 2 is a packet block diagram of the Isochronous packet in the Isochronous communication. In the Isochronous communication, a data transmission is carried out using the unit of Isochronous packet in FIG. 2. The data size of the Isochronous packet differs according to the transmission rate. The sending side does not transmit data to a specified node but transmits a packet to all the nodes on the bus using channel numbers 0˜63. A receiving node reads the data by selecting a packet of a channel number which it desires to receive. Therefore, it shall be necessary for the sending node and the receiving node to mutually recognize beforehand the channel numbers to be used in the Isochronous communication between the specified nodes.
FIG. 3 is a packet block diagram of the Asynchronous packet in the Asynchronous communication. In the Asynchronous communication, data transmission is carried out using the unit of Asynchronous packet as shown in FIG. 3. The maximum data size of this packet (the maximum payload length) is defined within a range of 512 [bytes] to 4096 [bytes] according to the transmission rate. There are three types of transactions (processing) of "Read" "Write" and "Lock" in the Asynchronous communication. The Read transaction reads out data of a predetermined data length from a target address of the partner node. The Write transaction writes the data of the predetermined data length to the target address of the partner node. The Lock transaction writes the data of the predetermined data length to the target address of the partner node with conditions. The Read transaction and the Write transaction are used mainly for data transmission whereas the Lock transaction is used principally for sending commands or the like.
The following describes a communication sequence in a conventional Asynchronous communication with reference to FIG. 4.
Firstly, a Controller 120 sends an "ALLOCATE command" to a Consumer 140 and reserves a receiving plug of the Consumer 140 (Step 101). The Consumer 140, receiving the "ALLOCATE command", reserves the plug and sends back an "ACCEPTED response" to the Controller 120 (Step 102).
Next, the Controller 120, receiving the "ACCEPTED response" from the Consumer 140, sends an "ALLOCATE_ATTACH command" to a Producer 130 (Step 103).
Consequently, the Producer 130 connects a Producer port and sends back the "ACCEPTED response" to the Controller 120 (Step 104). The Controller 120, receiving the "ACCEPTED response" from the Producer 130, sends the "ATTACH command" to the Consumer 140 (Step 105). The Consumer 140, receiving the "ATTACH command", connects a Consumer port and sends back the "ACCEPTED response" to the Producer 130 (Step 106). With the above processing, an Asynchronous Connection is established, and the data transmission is realized (Step 107).
As described before, the Isochronous communication of the real-time data transmission 103 is a data communication method of broadband type which does not specify a receiving apparatus, and all the apparatuses connected to the IEEE1394 can refer to the data in the bus. As for the video data and the audio data, however, there are cases where it is necessary to protect the copyright.
With that, 5CDTCP (Five Company Digital Transmission Content Protection) (hereafter accordingly referred to as DTCP) has been established as a system to protect digital content sent and received between the apparatuses connected via the IEEE1394. The DTCP authenticates in advance whether processing of encryption/decryption can be handled correctly between a sending apparatus and a receiving apparatus so as to send and receive the data by encrypting the digital content using a method that is available only for the sending apparatus and the receiving apparatus when the digital content with the copy restriction is sent and received.
The following describes a protecting method for contents under the DTCP based on the IEEE1394 with reference to FIG. 5.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a communication sequence regarding a device authentication and an exchange of encryption keys. The DTCP with the use of the IEEE1394 is defined with an assumption that the data transmission (hereafter referred to as "Isochronous transmission") is carried out using the Isochronous packet. A data receiving apparatus becomes capable of receiving data from the time when it is connected to the bus and the data is transmitted to the bus since the Isochronous transmission is a broadband type transmission method as mentioned before.
As shown in FIG. 5, when the digital content with a copy restriction is sent with the Isochronous transmission method under the DTCP, firstly a Sink 140, the receiving side, issues a device authentication request to a Source 130, the sending side (Step 121). In this case, the Sink 140 sends a parameter of the receiving side towards the Source 130. The Source 130 sends a parameter of the sending side to the Sink 140 when the received parameter is correct. On the contrary, the Source 130 sends a notification which aims at rejecting the data transmission when the received parameter is not correct. A shared authentication key is calculated respectively when the parameters are exchanged between the sending side and the receiving side (Steps 123 and 126). The Source 130 encrypts an encryption key for encrypting the content using the calculated authentication key when the calculation of the authentication key is terminated (Step 124) and sends the encrypted key to the Sink 140 (Step 125). The side of the Sink 140 decrypts the received encryption key based on the calculated authentication key (Step 127). The Source 130 encrypts the content using the encryption key and sends the encrypted content (Step 129) whereas the Sink 140 decrypts the received encrypted content (Step 130). In this way, the protection of the content or the like at the time of transmission is operated in the conventional Isochronous transmission.
As described above, in the case of using the IEEE1394, the protection for the content under the DTCP presupposes that the Isochronous transmission is employed and thereby nothing is defined for the Asynchronous transmission. For the Isochronous transmission, an aim is to send the content in which a copyright of mainly a video stream and audio data is emphasized, whereas the Asynchronous transmission requires a cumbersome control procedure and a processing speed becomes low when commands and the data stored in an external storage are encrypted at the time of transmission. Also, due to a specified node ID defined for the transmission, the specification in which an apparatus other than the one with the specified node ID cannot receive the data can be considered as one of the reasons for the low processing speed.
However, recently, there has been an increase in the number of occasions to handle still picture data with which an industrial design of a content creator such as PDF (Portable Document Format, a trademark of Adobe) can be recreated and also the still picture data with which a problem of rights of portrait becomes an issue as with an object such as high quality image data. Therefore, a content protection for such data is necessary. It is conceivable that a malicious apparatus located somewhere in the bus lies about its own node ID so as to exploit data unless the data protection is performed.
Consequently, there arises the case in which a data protection for the transmission is necessary even for the data to be transmitted preferably by Asynchronous transmission rather than Isochronous transmission. As for the protecting method, taking into consideration the fact that many AV apparatuses having the IEEE1394 bus are available on the market, it is desirable that the transmission method needs a relatively little modification and is efficient at the same time. Namely, a transmission method that can realize an Asynchronous transmission taking over the content protection method of the DTCP realized with the Isochronous transmission is desired.
Also, an application of the DTCP to USB (DTCP Volume 1 Supplement A Informational Version/Mapping DTCP to USB) is standardized as an example of applying the content protection method of the DTCP to the asynchronous transmission. Furthermore, as is published in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 2001-333130, a method of converting the IEEE1394 into the USB is suggested. However, in the case of the USB, different from that of the IEEE1394, a function sharing between a host apparatus and peripheral apparatuses is provided, and it is the host apparatus who manages all the controls of the apparatuses being connected. For example, when a printer is connected to a personal computer, the personal computer controls the peripheral apparatuses via software known as a driver which performs a control specific to each apparatus. In this case, the driver handles the control of the peripheral apparatuses on a one-to-one basis because each peripheral apparatus maker provides a driver uniquely.
However, in a case of using an AV apparatus, such as a digital TV, that is different from a personal computer, it is difficult to perform a control specific to each peripheral apparatus with the use of a driver. Therefore, it is desirable to apply the data transmission utilizing the IEEE1394 interface which has versatility, for instance, in the case of connecting the AV apparatus to a printer.
Nevertheless, there are several challenges in appropriating the cryptographic protocol of the DTCP defined in the Isochronous transmission with the use of the IEEE1394 directly for the Asynchronous transmission.
Firstly, in the case of Isochronous transmission, the encryption key shall be updated regularly every 30 seconds to 2 minutes, and information on the changing timing is stored in an O/E (Odd/Even) field 141 which is a head part of the Isochronous packet as shown in FIG. 2. Therefore, there is no chance that the changing timing at the sending side and the receiving side mismatch even though the time of changing the encryption keys are not completely at regular intervals. In the Asynchronous transmission, however, a free space for a flag to notify the change of the encryption keys does not exist in the data packet as shown in FIG. 3. What is more, the part corresponding to the O/E field 141 is not defined.
Furthermore, in the case of Asynchronous transmission, time and amount of data transmission are not in a proportional relationship, which is different from the Isochronous transmission, and the transmission of enormous amount of data with a fixed transmission rate is not assured. This means that the data transmitted within a certain time under the Isochronous transmission has a specified amount whereas this is not assured in the case of Asynchronous transmission. The size of the data to be transmitted differs according to the content or the like. Therefore, in the case of changing the encryption keys, it is necessary that the sending side and the receiving side recognize with which timing the encryption keys should be changed.
In the case of Isochronous transmission, a unit used for encryption is defined one-sidedly according to the content to be sent. The unit used for encryption is determined according to the data transmission rate of respective contents. In the Asynchronous transmission, however, the transmission rate has no meaning and the amount of the data to be transmitted varies greatly. Therefore, there are no criteria for a unit that is the most suitable for encryption, and it can be set freely between 8 bytes and 1023 bytes in the case of applying the DTCP to the USB. In the case of using a personal computer which mainly utilizes the USB, a type of apparatus for the receiving side may be registered beforehand to the sending side, as described above. However, as for an AV apparatus with which the IEEE1394 is mainly used, it is not allowed to take the required steps to register a parameter according to the apparatus being connected. Consequently, there is a need for the sending side and the receiving side to share a unit of encryption in one way or another.
For the above reasons, a solution different from the case of Isochronous transmission is required in order to apply the DTCP method to the IEEE1394 Asynchronous communication.
The present invention therefore takes the above challenges into consideration and aims to provide a data transmission system that allows a copyright protection of contents in the conventional Asynchronous transmission employing the IEEE1394.

Data transmitting apparatus, data receiving apparatus, data transmission system and data transmission method

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A system for rapid recruitment of automatic external defibrillators and operators of the defibrillators including a plurality of automatic external defibrillators. A locator is operable to determine locations of the defibrillators, a victim, and a potential operator of the defibrillators. A communicator is operable to communicate the location of at least one of the defibrillators to the potential operator.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system and method for locating defibrillators and potential operators of the defibrillators to administer to a victim.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Electrotherapy devices are used to provide electric shocks to treat patients for a variety of heart arrhythmias. For example, external defibrillators typically provide relatively high-energy shocks to a patient (as compared to implantable defibrillators), usually through electrodes attached to the patient""s torso. External defibrillators are used to convert ventricular fibrillation (xe2x80x9cVFxe2x80x9d) or shockable ventricular tachycardia (xe2x80x9cVTxe2x80x9d) to a normal sinus rhythm. Similarly, external cardioverters can be used to provide paced shocks to convert atrial fibrillation (xe2x80x9cAFxe2x80x9d) to a more normal heart rhythm.
Sudden cardiac arrest (xe2x80x9cSCAxe2x80x9d) is the leading cause of unanticipated death in the United States. On average, about 600 people per day die of SCA. This translates to nearly one death every two minutes. It is likely that these statistics would, at a minimum, hold true for third world countries. Precise international statistics are not available but the U.S. rate for coronary heart disease deaths, of which sudden deaths constitute nearly half, is representative of international rates (rank 16th and 13 th among 36 nations reported by the World Health Organization (WHO), for men and women, respectively).
Most sudden cardiac death is caused by VF, in which the heart""s muscle fibers contract without coordination, thereby interrupting normal blood flow to the body. The only effective treatment for VF is electrical defibrillation, which applies an electrical shock to the patient""s heart. The electrical shock clears the heart of the abnormal electrical activity (in a process called xe2x80x9cdefibrillationxe2x80x9d) by depolarizing a critical mass of myocardial cells to allow spontaneous organized myocardial depolarization to resume.
To be effective, the defibrillation shock must be delivered to the patient within minutes of the onset of VF. Studies have shown that defibrillation shocks delivered within one minute after the onset of VF achieve up to a 100% survival rate. However, the survival rate falls to approximately 30% after only 6 minutes. Beyond 12 minutes, the survival rate approaches zero. Importantly, the more time that passes, the longer the brain is deprived of oxygen and the more likely that brain damage will result. As improved access to defibrillators increases, survival rates from SCA also increase.
Currently, in a typical scenario, a witness to a victim contacts an emergency response operator, such as by dialing 911 or public service access points, to alert the operator to the existence of the victim. The emergency response operator then dispatches an emergency response team, such as firefighting teams, paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) to the site of the victim. Emergency response systems rely on notification of the operator or dispatcher and the urgent dispatch of centralized resources and highly trained personnel to the site of the victim.
The above-described system may work well in many situations.
However, given the short response time necessary to address cardiac emergencies, the currently utilized system may not provide timely response in numerous instances. For example, traffic congestion in many metropolitan areas as well as large travel distances in both in rural areas and urban areas may prevent timely response to 911 calls. For example, the probability of successfully resuscitating a victim of sudden cardiac arrest declines from approximately 90% in the first minute post-cardiac arrest to less than about 10% after about 10 minutes. Also, as time goes on, the chances of brain damage due to lack of oxygen as a result of lack of blood flow or other unfavorable affects greatly increase with increased passage of time after a cardiac arrest.
Current emergency medical response systems do not reliably respond in less than ten minutes in many environments and particularly not in high population density environments because of crowding, traffic, and/or long delays to ascend high-rise buildings, among other factors. As a result of delayed treatment, the vast majority of out of hospital sudden cardiac arrest victims die.
In some areas, implementation of publicly accessible automatic defibrillation systems provides a partial solution to delay in emergency medical response systems to treat cardiac arrest victims. The automatic defibrillation systems include automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) deployed in publicly accessible locations and capable of application by minimally trained operators or untrained lay people. Such systems typically rely on information campaigns and local signage to bring attention to the availability and location of AEDs. Publicly available defibrillators have provided some success in highly trafficked narrowly constrained areas, such as Chicago O""Hare Airport. However, success in more general areas is doubtful. Also, increasing the possibility of success in even highly trafficked areas would be desirable.
The present invention relates to a system and method that addresses the lack of knowledge of AEDs. The present invention helps to rapidly locate victims, defibrillators, and/or potential operators of the defibrillators.
A system according to the present invention rapidly recruits automatic external defibrillators and operators of the defibrillators. The system includes a locator operable to determine locations of the defibrillators, a victim, and/or a potential operator of the defibrillators. A communicator is operable to communicate the location of at least one of the defibrillators to the potential operator.
Additionally, the present invention concerns a method for rapid recruitment of automatic external defibrillators and operators of the defibrillators. According to the method, a location of a victim that could benefit from application of a defibrillator is identified. Also, location of a potential operator of the defibrillator is identified. Additionally, a location of the defibrillator for use by the potential operator is identified. The location of the defibrillator is communicated to the potential operator.
Still other objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent by those skilled in the art from a review of the following detailed description. The detailed description shows and describes preferred embodiments of the invention, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated of carrying out the present invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other and different embodiments and its several details are capable of modifications in various obvious respects, without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description are illustrative in nature and not restrictive.

System and method for rapid recruitment of widely distributed easily operated automatic external defibrillators


A valve for detecting a liquid surface used in a fuel tank is formed of a valve body having an orifice at an upper part thereof, a plurality of bottom through-holes formed at a bottom part thereof, and a plurality of surrounding wall through-holes formed at a surrounding part thereof; a valve member movably disposed inside the valve body to close the orifice; and an urging member for moving the valve member in cooperation with buoyancy of the valve member so as to close the orifice. In the valve of the invention, the diameter of the orifice is set to be larger than the diameter of the bottom through-holes, and also larger than a diameter of the surrounding wall through-holes. Therefore, the orifice can be prevented from being clogged by foreign substances.

The present invention relates to a valve for detecting a liquid surface in a fuel tank, and the fuel tank to which the valve is attached, wherein an orifice partly facing an inside of the fuel tank and located at an upstream of a flow passageway for communicating between the fuel tank and a canister is closed by a valve member due to rising of the liquid surface.
For example, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,028,244, a conventional valve for detecting the liquid surface is formed of a valve body having an orifice formed at an upper part thereof, a plurality of bottom through-holes formed at a bottom part thereof, and a plurality of peripheral wall through-holes formed at a peripheral wall; a valve member moving inside the valve body to open and close the orifice; and an urging member which can not close the orifice by moving the valve member against its own weight but which can close the orifice by moving the valve member in cooperation with buoyancy of the valve member.
A fuel tank provided with the valve for detecting the liquid surface as a full detecting valve and a cut valve is explained. In a normal condition, by an operation of a differential pressure valve communicating with both of the valves, communication between an inside of the fuel tank through the full detecting valve and the canister is shut off, and the inside of the fuel tank communicates with the canister through the cut valve.
Thus, fuel vapor in the fuel tank flows through the cut valve and the differential pressure valve into the canister.
When a cap is taken out to supply fuel into the fuel tank, a pressure inside the fuel tank is decreased to the atmosphere pressure, so that the differential pressure valve connects between the inside of the fuel tank and the canister through the full detecting valve, and cuts off the communication between the fuel tank and the canister through the cut valve.
Thus, when fuel is supplied by a fuel nozzle into the fuel tank, fuel vapor inside the fuel tank flows to the canister from the flow passageway through the bottom through-holes and the orifice, or through the peripheral wall through-holes.
Then, when the liquid surface of fuel rises and the valve member ascends in cooperation with its buoyancy and a force by the urging member, the valve member closes the orifice, so that the communication between the inside of the fuel tank and the canister is cut off.
When the orifice is closed as described above, the pressure inside the fuel tank is increased, and by detecting the increased pressure, controlling to stop supplying of fuel into the fuel tank can be done.
Also, when supplying of fuel into the fuel tank is finished, by the operation of the differential pressure valve, communication between the inside of the fuel tank and the canister through the full detecting valve is cut off, and the inside of the fuel tank communicates with the canister through the cut valve.
Incidentally, when the liquid surface of fuel descends from the full amount by using fuel, the valve member descends by its own weight against the urging force of the urging member, so that the orifice is opened.
In the aforementioned conventional valve for detecting the liquid surface, however, since a diameter of the orifice is set to be smaller than a diameter of the peripheral wall through-hole, in case foreign substances, such as dust, on the outer surface around the peripheral wall through-hole enter into the valve body together with the fuel vapor, the foreign substances entered into the valve body may clog the orifice.
Also, if the diameter of the peripheral wall through-hole is smaller than the diameter of the bottom through-hole, in case a part of the peripheral wall through-holes is soaked in fuel by swinging or moving of the automobile, the foreign substances entered together with the fuel vapor into the valve body through the peripheral wall through-holes may accumulate on the bottom part of the valve body.
The present invention has been made to solve the aforementioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a valve for detecting the liquid surface, wherein an orifice can not be clogged by foreign substances, the foreign substances can not accumulate on a bottom of a valve body, and a valve member can not be lifted by its force when fuel vapor flows out of the fuel tank.
Also, it is another object of the invention to provide a fuel tank, wherein an air passage resistance can not be increased by clogging of the peripheral wall through-holes due to the ascent of the liquid surface of fuel.


The present disclosure is directed to numerically estimating the shear modulus of Kerogen by using a combination of mineralogy from digital image analysis and sonic log analysis, when measured data on only one elastic constant (Bulk, Young's or P-wave modulus) is available. In some instances, elastic properties predicted from the digital images are compared with sonic, shear, and density logs, to estimate the shear modulus of kerogen. As a one-to-one correspondence is not expected between the core sub-samples and the rock unit sampled by the well logs, cross-property relations can be used to identify the suitability of the effective medium models and to iteratively determine the shear modulus of kerogen.

Elastic properties of kerogen are widely variable and difficult to measure. Kerogen is generally accepted to be an isotropic solid, hence, two elastic moduli are required to characterize its elastic behavior and seismic response. Although one of the elastic moduli of kerogen (e.g. bulk modulus) may be measured, the measurement of the second elastic modulus (shear modulus) has been difficult.

Method of estimating elastic properties of kerogen using multi-scale data integration


The present document relates to voltage regulators. In particular, the present document relates to a method and a corresponding voltage regulator with improved performance subject to load transients. A regulator configured to provide a load current at an output voltage in dependence of an input voltage is described. The regulator comprises a core regulator configured to provide a core current at a core output voltage in dependence of the input voltage. Furthermore, the regulator comprises current sensing means configured to provide an indication of the core current. The output voltage is dependent on the core output voltage and on a voltage drop at the current sensing means. In addition, the regulator comprises a current source configured to provide an auxiliary current based on the indication of the core current. The load current is dependent on the core current and on the auxiliary current.

Voltage regulators typically have a finite transient response capability. Linear regulators may be limited by bandwidth and pass device size. As a result of this, linear regulators may exhibit voltage drops or voltage peaks, subject to load transients of a load connected to an output of the voltage regulator.
As possible approach to reducing such voltage drops or voltage peaks is the use of an output capacitor for the provision of additional load current and/or for the storage of excessive current at the output of the regulator. Such output capacitors typically lead to additional costs and additional space requirements.
The present document addresses the above mentioned technical problem. In particular, the present document describes a voltage regulator and a corresponding method for reducing the error voltage Verror of the voltage regulator, subject to a load transient, without the need of (substantial) output capacitors.

High speed regulator with low capacitor values


According to one embodiment, an output driver which outputs an output signal to a transmission line, the output driver includes a pre-driver and a main driver. The pre-driver changes the duty ratio of a first drive signal and the duty ratio of a second drive signal to a plurality of patterns in accordance with a control signal. The main driver connects in series a first driver driven by the first drive signal and a second driver driven by the second drive signal. The main driver outputs the output signal to the transmission line from a connection node of the first and second drivers.

An output driver to drive a semiconductor device such as a semiconductor memory outputs an output signal to the semiconductor memory via a transmission line. In the semiconductor memory, a terminator is provided or not provided in the line for transmitting the output signal. Characteristics required for the output driver vary depending on the presence of the terminator. That the terminator is provided or present means that a resistance or the like is connected to a far end to prevent the output signal from being reflected by the terminator of the transmission line.

Output driver to drive semiconductor device and memory system


This invention provides a ground-speed measuring apparatus for a vehicle that can detect a velocity along the movement of the vehicle (in the fore direction), a velocity across the movement of the vehicle (in the athwartships direction), a side-skid angle of the vehicle, and an angular velocity of the vehicle.

A Janus-type Doppler ground-speed measuring apparatus has been well known as an apparatus for measuring ground speeds of vehicles (e.g. "Microwave Front End for True Ground Speed Measurements" by J. Kehrbeck et al., Journal of Navigation, pp. 88-96, Vol. 48, No. 1, 1995). The Janus-type system has two Doppler ground-speed measuring apparatus in the fore and aft directions of a vehicle to reduce deterioration in precision of detection due to assembling errors, road conditions, and unbalancing of loads in the fore and aft directions.
Japanese Application Patent Laid-open Publication No. Hei 11-352225 discloses a ground speed measuring apparatus that enables measurement of speeds in fore, aft, and athwartship directions of the vehicle by employing three radio beams originated from transmitting means which are disposed on vertices of a certain equilateral triangle.

Abstract: A ground-speed measuring apparatus comprising three or more transceivers each of which contains a transmitter for transmitting a wave and a receiver for receiving a reflection of the wave transmitted from the transmitter, wherein at least three of said transceivers are placed outside a cylindrical area whose axis of symmetry passes through a point on the floor of the vehicle, three straight lines which respectively pass through said transceivers perpendicularly thereto intersect with each other or skewed in said cylindrical area, and the transmitter of each transceiver is at a preset angle with the floor of the vehicle.


There are provided a casting roll of a twin-roll strip caster and a method for manufacturing a high-nitrogen duplex stainless steel strip having no dimple. The casting roll has an average roughness Ra of 10 μm to 30 μm, and diagonal fine grooves having a width of 50 μm to 500 μm, an interval of 100 μm to 1000 μm, and a depth of 50 μm to 200 μm are formed in the casting roll. The diagonal fine grooves are symmetrically intersecting each other at an angle of 30° to 70° with respect to circumferential direction of the casting roll.

The present disclosure relates to a casting roll for a twin-roll strip caster for manufacturing a strip directly from molten metal, and more particularly, to a casting roll for a twin-roll strip caster for preventing surface defects in a strip.
In general, according to a strip casting method using a twin-roll strip caster, a thin strip having a thickness of about 2 mm to about 6 mm can be formed by directly casting molten steel between two rotating rolls from a tundish, through a nozzle. Therefore, manufacturing costs may be decreased owing to reduced manufacturing processes, and product quality may be improved owing to rapid cooling. Thus, the strip casting method has been intensively researched as a steel forming process method.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a twin-roll strip caster. Referring to FIG. 1, molten steel is supplied to a sump 4 from a ladle 1 through a tundish 2 and a submerged nozzle 3. The molten steel supplied to the sump 4 is formed into a strip while passing between twin casting rolls 5.
If the molten steel contained in a region of the sump 4, surrounded by the twin casting rolls 5 and edge dams 6 is exposed to the air, the molten steel may be oxidized, and resulting oxides may have a significant effect on product quality. Therefore, a meniscus shield 7 is disposed above the sump 4 to cover the surface of the molten steel with a gas atmosphere.
Thus, a space surrounded by the surface of the molten steel, the twin casting rolls 5, and the edge dams 6 is defined in an upper region of the sump 4, and gas may be supplied to the upper region of the sump 4 to form a gas atmosphere preventing oxidation of the molten steel.
The molten steel supplied to the interior of the sump 4 is solidified as shells while being cooled on the surfaces of the twin casting rolls 5, and the solidified shells are attached together as a strip at the nip of the twin casting rolls 5. In this case, since the molten steel is formed into solidified shells while quickly making contact with the twin casting rolls 5 and is then formed into a strip while leaving the twin casting rolls 5, the surface of the strip is subjected to sudden thermal stress during solidification.
Therefore, if the surfaces of the twin casting rolls 5 are flat, the solidified shells may be locally separated from the surfaces of the twin casting rolls 5 by the gas atmosphere (a separation phenomenon) and thus may be unevenly solidified due to non-uniform heat transfer. This may cause the formation of cracks in the solidified shells.
In the related art, a twin-roll strip caster in which dimples are formed in the surfaces of casting rolls is used for general steels to prevent the separation phenomenon of solidified shells. In addition, since the separation phenomenon of solidified shells occurs severely in the case of steels containing large amounts of nitrogen and manganese or steels undergoing a high degree of phase transformation during solidification, casting rolls of a twin-roll strip caster are shot-blasted to form dimples thereon (a shot blasting method), and fine grooves are formed in a parallel strip pattern in the circumferential direction of the casting rolls to discharge gas therethrough as illustrated in FIG. 2A.
However, if fine grooves are formed in the surfaces of casting rolls as illustrated in FIG. 2A, the shape of the fine grooves is transferred to a strip, and thus a striped pattern is present on the surface of the strip after a casting process, as illustrated in FIG. 2B. In addition, if the strip is cold-rolled and then subjected to a formation process (drawing process), the surface of the strip (product) may be heavily dimpled as illustrated in FIG. 3A. As illustrated in FIG. 3B, dimples are periodically formed in the surface of the strip after casting. Such dimples have a negative effect on the appearance of the strip and incur additional costs because an additional process such as a polishing process is necessary to remove the dimples.
As described above, if fine grooves are formed across the entire widths of casting rolls, during casting, locally excessively solidified shells (hereinafter referred to as skulls) may be mixed and pass through the nip of the casting rolls, and at this time, the solidified shells may be over-pressed and caught in the fine grooves. That is, the solidified shells may stick to the casting rolls (a sticking phenomenon).
As illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B, widthwise edge portions may be separated from the strip due to the sticking phenomenon, and the separated edge portions may stick to the casting rolls and rotate together therewith. Then, the separated edge portions may be remixed with molten steel, and thus more edge portions may be separated from the strip. As a result, a casting process may be suspended due to the introduction of separated portions.


A printed wiring board is made of first and second substrates superimposed on each other. The first and second substrates respectively include a core layer made of resin containing carbon fibers. The second substrate has the outline different from that of the first substrate. A stepped surface is defined on the front surface at least of the first substrate. Electrodes can be formed on the stepped surface as well as on the back surface of the first substrate and the front surface of the second substrate. This structure enables detection of an electric signal from the stepped surface. A further flexibility can thus be achieved in locating electrodes as compared with a conventional printed wiring board having uniform substrates simply superimposed on each other. This results in an expanded use or purpose for a printed wiring board.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printed wiring board including core layers made of resin containing carbon fiber or fibers and a method of making the same.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A printed wiring board including a core layer made of resin containing carbon fibers is well known as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-332828. A core layer is superimposed on a core layer in the disclosed printed wiring board. The core layers serve to reduce the thermal expansion of the entire printed wiring board.
The upper surface of the lower core layer receives the lower surface of the upper core layer in the printed wiring board of the type. Since both the core layers are formed in a uniform shape, the upper surface of the lower core layer is completely covered with the lower surface of the upper core layer, while the lower surface of the upper core layer is completely covered with the upper surface of the lower core layer. Electrodes can be formed only on the lower surface of the lower core layer as well as the upper surface of the upper core layer.


The invention provides substituted pyrazolidinone compounds, and methods of treatment and pharmaceutical compositions that utilize or comprise one or more such compounds. Compounds of the invention are useful for a variety of therapies, including treating or preventing preterm labor, dysmenorrhea, asthma, hypertension, infertility or fertility disorder, undesired blood clotting, preeclampsia or eclampsia, an eosinophil disorder, sexual dysfunction, osteporosis and other destructive bone disease or disorder, and other diseases and disorders associated with the prostaglandin EP2 and/or EP4 receptors.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to substituted pyrazolidinone compounds, and methods of treatment and pharmaceutical compositions that utilize or comprise one or more such compounds. Compounds of the invention are useful for a variety of therapies, including treatment of preterm labor, dysmenorrhea, asthma, hypertension, infertility or fertility disorder, undesired blood clotting, preeclampsia or eclampsia, an eosinophil disorder, sexual dysfunction, osteoporosis and other destructive bone disease or disorders, and other diseases and disorders associated with the prostaglandin EP2 and/or EP4 receptors.
2. Background
Certain prostanoid receptors and modulators of those receptors have been reported. See generally Eicosanoids: From Biotechnology to Therapeutic Applications (Plenum Press, New York); Journal of Lipid Mediators and Cell Signalling 14: 83-87 (1996); The British Journal of Pharmacology, 112: 735-740 (1994); PCT applications WO 96/06822, WO 97/00863, WO 97/00864, and WO 96/03380; EP 752421; U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,211,197 4,211,876 and 3,873,566; and Bennett et al. J. Med. Chem., 19(5): 715-717 (1976).
Physiological action of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is reported to be mediated through interaction with the prostaglandin E receptor(s). Four subtypes of the prostaglandin EP receptor have been identified: EP1, EP2, EP3, and EP4. The prostaglandin EP2 receptor including the cloning thereof has been reported. See U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,605,814 and 5,759,789. Binding of PGE2 to the EP2 receptor protein has been reported to result in an increase in cAMP levels, which can cause smooth muscle relaxation. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,605,814. Binding of PGE2 to the EP4 receptor also causes increases in cAMP levels leading to smooth muscle relaxation.
It also has been reported that genetic deletion of the EP2 receptor indicates a key role in normal female fertility and control of blood pressure. See Journal of Clinical Investigation, 103(ii):1539-1545 (1999).
It would be desirable to have new compounds and methods for treatment of diseases and disorders associated with the prostaglandin EP2 and/or EP4 receptors. It also would be desirable to have new compounds for treatment of diseases and disorders associated with inappropriate activation of the EP2 and/or EP4 receptors.

Pyrazolidinone compounds as ligands of the prostaglandin EP2 and/or EP4 receptors