A method for browsing objects on a protected volume in a continuous data protection system begins by displaying a list of top-level objects to a user who selects a top-level object to browse. A snapshot is selected from the selected top-level object and is decoded. A list of objects in the selected snapshot is displayed and the user selects an object to browse. The selected object is decoded and operations are performed on the selected object. The user can browse the protected volume by snapshots in the top-level object or by a range of time of coverage of the top-level object.

Hardware redundancy schemes have traditionally been used in enterprise environments to protect against component failures. Redundant arrays of independent disks (RAID) have been implemented successfully to assure continued access to data even in the event of one or more media failures (depending on the RAID Level). Unfortunately, hardware redundancy schemes are ineffective in dealing with logical data loss or corruption. For example, an accidental file deletion or virus infection is automatically replicated to all of the redundant hardware components and can neither be prevented nor recovered from by such technologies. To overcome this problem, backup technologies have traditionally been deployed to retain multiple versions of a production system over time. This allowed administrators to restore previous versions of data and to recover from data corruption.
Backup copies are generally policy-based, are tied to a periodic schedule, and reflect the state of a primary volume (i.e., a protected volume) at the particular point in time that is captured. Because backups are not made on a continuous basis, there will be some data loss during the restoration, resulting from a gap between the time when the backup was performed and the restore point that is required. This gap can be significant in typical environments where backups are only performed once per day. In a mission-critical setting, such a data loss can be catastrophic. Beyond the potential data loss, restoring a primary volume from a backup system can be complicated and often takes many hours to complete. This additional downtime further exacerbates the problems associated with a logical data loss.
The traditional process of backing up data to tape media is time driven and time dependent. That is, a backup process typically is run at regular intervals and covers a certain period of time. For example, a full system backup may be run once a week on a weekend, and incremental backups may be run every weekday during an overnight backup window that starts after the close of business and ends before the next business day. These individual backups are then saved for a predetermined period of time, according to a retention policy. In order to conserve tape media and storage space, older backups are gradually faded out and replaced by newer backups. Further to the above example, after a full weekly backup is completed, the daily incremental backups for the preceding week may be discarded, and each weekly backup may be maintained for a few months, to be replaced by monthly backups. The daily backups are typically not all discarded on the same day. Instead, the Monday backup set is overwritten on Monday, the Tuesday backup set is overwritten on Tuesday, and so on. This ensures that a backup set is available that is within eight business hours of any corruption that may have occurred in the past week.
Despite frequent hardware failures and the necessity of ongoing maintenance and tuning, the backup creation process can be automated, while restoring data from a backup remains a manual and time-critical process. First, the appropriate backup tapes need to be located, including the latest full backup and any incremental backups made since the last full backup. In the event that only a partial restoration is required, locating the appropriate backup tape can take just as long. Once the backup tapes are located, they must be restored to the primary volume. Even under the best of circumstances, this type of backup and restore process cannot guarantee high availability of data.
Another type of data protection involves making point in time (PIT) copies of data. A first type of PIT copy is a hardware-based PIT copy, which is a mirror of the primary volume onto a secondary volume. The main drawbacks to a hardware-based PIT copy are that the data ages quickly and that each copy takes up as much disk space as the primary volume. A software-based PIT, typically called a "snapshot," is a "picture" of a volume at the block level or a file system at the operating system level. Various types of software-based PITs exist, and most are tied to a particular platform, operating system, or file system. These snapshots also have drawbacks, including occupying additional space on the primary volume, rapid aging, and possible dependencies on data stored on the primary volume wherein data corruption on the primary volume leads to corruption of the snapshot. In addition, snapshot systems generally do not offer the flexibility in scheduling and expiring snapshots that backup software provides.
While both hardware-based and software-based PIT techniques reduce the dependency on the backup window, they still require the traditional tape-based backup and restore process to move data from disk to tape media and to manage the different versions of data. This dependency on legacy backup applications and processes is a significant drawback of these technologies. Furthermore, like traditional tape-based backup and restore processes, PIT copies are made at discrete moments in time, thereby limiting any restores that are performed to the points in time at which PIT copies have been made.
In a typical data backup/recovery setting, a list of files saved is maintained, often in a database. The backup copy on disk is reviewed to decode the metadata, such as the file system structure, which is then presented to the user in a usable form. The file system would be mounted and then the snapshot would be loaded. In order for a user to find a particular version of a file, the user would have to look at multiple snapshots, which is unnecessarily time consuming.
A need therefore exists for a system that combines the advantages of tape-based based systems with the advantages of snapshot systems and eliminates the limitations described above.

Method and system for browsing objects on a protected volume in a continuous data protection system


A system determines the location of a tip of a hypodermic needle by moving a needle along a path, shining light from two sources onto respective portions of the path, and analysing signals received from the respective light sources that have been reflected by the needle.

Treatment for certain medical conditions can require frequent medicament administration. Percutaneous injection, often accomplished using a syringe having a hypodermic needle, is a common method of administering medicaments. Automated handheld injection devices (autoinjectors) allow a user to place a medicament container, such as a syringe, inside the autoinjector and, upon actuation of the autoinjector, inject a predetermined dosage of the medicament into their body. Different types of injection, for example intravenous, intramuscular, and subcutaneous injections require different needle penetration depths.


A first memory device and second memory device have a same input/output layout configuration. To form a stack, the second memory device is secured to the first memory device. To facilitate connectivity, the second memory device is rotationally offset with respect to the first memory device in the stack to align outputs of the first memory device with corresponding inputs of the second memory device. The rotational offset of the second memory device with respect to the first memory device aligns one or more outputs of the first memory device with one or more respective inputs of the second memory device. Based on links between outputs and inputs from one memory device to another in the stack, the stack of memory devices can include paths facilitating one or more series connection configurations through the memory devices.

Conventional wire bonding (WB) is a method of making interconnections with a semiconductor chip. A bonding wire is generally made from one of the following materials: gold, aluminum or copper. Wire diameters typically start at around 15 μm and can be up to several hundred micro-meters for high-powered applications.
There are two main classes of wire bonding: Ball bonding and Wedge bonding.
Ball bonding is usually restricted to use of gold and copper wire, and usually requires heat to make a respective bond. Wedge bonding can use either gold or aluminum wire. When gold is used in wedge bonding, heat is required to make a respective bond.
In either type of wire bonding, the wire is typically attached using some combination of heat, pressure, and ultrasonic energy to make a weld. Wire bonding is generally considered the most cost-effective and flexible interconnect technology. Wire bonding is thus widely used to assemble the vast majority of semiconductor packages.
Conventional memory chips in a so-called "Multi-Chip-Package (MCP)" system are often interconnected using a parallel interconnection scheme. This "multi-drop" connection method includes interconnecting the memory chips in a manner such that address and data information and control signals are coupled to the chips in a parallel manner using common signal buses. For example, each memory chip can include multiple inputs and outputs to accommodate a parallel transfer of control information, address information, and data through an interconnected set of memory devices.
Various three-dimensional Package-on-Packages (PoPs) have recently been developed in the semiconductor memory industry in efforts to, for example, satisfy demand for increased memory density and functionality. In accordance with some example developments, a conventional three-dimensional package-on-package may be fabricated as follows: After manufacturing a wafer and separating the wafer into a plurality of individual chips, a corresponding chip can be attached and electrically connected to a substrate. The chip can be encapsulated with a molding resin to produce a package. A so-called package-on-package can be created by stacking the packages. These package-on-packages employ a lead frame, or a substrate such as, for example, a tape circuit board or a printed circuit board. An interconnect method such as, for example, a Wire-Bonding (WB), Tape-Automated-Bonding (TAB), or flip-chip-bonding, can be employed to establish electrical connections between the chip and the substrate.
Unfortunately, the different known methods of fabricating PoPs requires use of complex fabrication processes. Moreover, these PoPs are quite large compared to a standard chip, thereby reducing the mounting density on the external apparatus. Further, PoPs can include many interconnected chips with long signal transmission routes. Long routes may, for example, cause signal delays which could be expected to lower system performance.
However, stackings of memory chips into three-dimensional stacked-chip Multi-Chip-Packages (MCPs) on wafer-level or chip-level have the advantage of simple structures, smaller sizes, and simple manufacturing processes. Further, a multi-chip-package at the wafer-level may prevent signal delay.
It is possible to classify multi-chip-packages into two types. One is a multi-chip-package formed by stacking different types of chips, thereby achieving multi-functionality. The other is a multi-chip-package formed by stacking the same types of chips, thereby expanding the memory capacity.
NAND Flash memory is a commonly used type of non-volatile memory in widespread use as mass storage for consumer electronics, such as digital cameras and portable digital music players for example.
The density of a presently available NAND Flash memory chip can be up to 32 Gbits (i.e. 4 GBytes), which is suitable for use in popular USB Flash drives since the size of one chip is small. However, recent demand for consumer electronics devices with music and video capabilities has spurred demand for ultra-high capacities to store the large amounts of data, which cannot be met by the single NAND Flash memory chip. Therefore, multiple NAND Flash memory chips have been interconnected with each other into a storage system to effectively increase the available storage capacity. In certain cases, Flash storage densities of 250 GB or more may be required to accommodate data storage needs.

Data storage and stackable chip configurations

Conversant Intellectual Property Management Inc.


The invention relates a cylinder release arrangement, wherein at least one cylinder is arranged with a piston within the cylinder, and a cylinder head closing off one end of the cylinder, forming a chamber between the piston and the cylinder head, wherein the cylinder is provided to arrange a leakage of fluid from one side of a piston to the other side of the piston, when the piston is in a given position within the cylinder, and release means are provided for the subsequently controlled release of the cylinder head from the cylinder. The invention also comprises a cylinder arrangement with a release mechanism.

Risers are normally used to link hydrocarbon wells on the seabed to offshore floating structures. A riser is normally made up of lengths of steel tubing having significant diameter, making them heavy. The floating structure therefore needs to apply tension to the riser to prevent it from buckling and possibly collapsing under its own weight, and to prevent the weight from acting on the wellhead. This tension system is also compensated for movements of the platform relative the seabed, e.g. to keep a relative steady tension in the riser. Problems may occur when the platform experiences conditions out of normal operation range, such as drive-off and drift-off, or if the heave compensation system is not working properly. All these conditions may result in excessive tension in the riser, and at some point the riser will break. To address this problem, risers may be provided with a weak link which has a lower tensile rating than the other components of the riser such that a breakage will occur at a predetermined point and a predetermined tension in the riser.
A weak link should comply with the following requirements:
Protect barriers, both primary and secondary;
Protect personnel;
Protect the environment.
A conventional weak link comprises two parts which are releasable attached to one another by, for example, studs, which fracture at a predetermined tensile force. Such conventional weak link systems are able to withstand tensile forces applied to the weak link not only by the offshore structure, but also by well pressure. The studs therefore have to be rated to separate at a tension which is a combination of the separation force supplied by the well pressure and the tension applied from the surface. The well pressure fluctuates. At high well pressures a conventional weak link can provide a very limited operational utilization as it will require a very limited external tension before it breaks, and at low pressures a conventional weak link can fail to protect the system as it will require a relatively higher external tension before it breaks. This might be a problem, both with regards to the operational window, but also in relation to safe protection of existing equipment at the wellhead, such as the barrier within the well.
Another issue with standard weak links is that breaking a weak link in a riser due to excessive tension, e.g. as a result of drive-off, drift-off or a sudden rise in the fluid pressure within the riser, will release massive forces which will act on the riser and give the riser an undesired behaviour. If the riser breaks due to excessive tension, the riser will act like a pulled-out spring and may, in a worst case scenario, shoot out of the water like a projectile towards the offshore structure and cause severe damage to personnel and/or the structure/platform. Another problem may be that if the weak link and/or riser connection break, entrapped gas or hydrocarbons may be released to the sea or surface. In such situations it is desirable to be able to control the behaviour of the riser and the riser contents, and possibly perform a controlled disconnect. Different solutions have been used in the technical fields of weak links and pressure compensated riser connections, including those disclosed in European Patent No. EP 2310613 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,181,704, 5,382,052, 4,361,165 and 4,059,288.
An objective of the present invention is therefore to provide a cylinder release arrangement and/or a cylinder arrangement with a release mechanism which may be used in applications where it is desirable to disconnect a cylinder quickly and in a safe manner, possibly allowing for a larger operational envelope.
The cylinder release arrangement and/or a cylinder arrangement with a release mechanism in accordance with the invention may be used in a safety joint to limit the problems related to prior weak links and allow for a larger operational envelope compared to traditional weak links. The cylinder release arrangement and the cylinder arrangement with a release mechanism may also have other fields of use where it is necessary to safely and quickly release an internal pressure within a cylinder. This may include any cylinders used in connection with riser applications.


An electrical contact assembly comprises a nonconductive housing (30) having a top portion (32) with at least one aperture (36). A rotatable spherically shaped contact (40) extends partially through the aperture (36). A conductive retainer (50) attached to the housing (30) supports the contact within the housing (30).

There are a numerous electrical contacts that are commonly used in the art today. An example of such contacts are shown in FIGS. 1-2. FIG. 1 shows a cantilever contact 10 that bends with a spring like action when engaged. The cantilever contact 10 is typically engaged by a mating contact pressing down from a vertical direction, as shown by a direction arrow in FIG. 1, on a top portion of the contact 10 and deflecting the contact 10. After a period of time the cantilever contact 10 looses its spring action and becomes bent in a direction further away from the mating contact and eventually to the point where no connection is made. The cantilever contact 10 cannot engage a mating contact from a horizontal side direction nor from a horizontal front direction because the friction would cause the contact 10 to buckle or the solder joint to become loose from the circuit or break.
FIG. 2 shows a pogo pin contact 20 that engages with a mating connector by a mating connector pressing down in a vertical direction and deflecting the pogo pin 20 as shown by the direction arrow in FIG. 2. The pogo pin contact 20 cannot receive force or a connection from a horizontal direction because it would break the pogo pin contact 20. There is no known contact that can receive a connection from any planar position without causing wither damage or breakage to the contacts.
There is a need in electrical manufacturing and assembly applications for a contact that permits a connection in any planar direction with minimum of friction. For example, in the portable and mobile radio environment a typical user will abuse contacts in a radio housing by constantly pushing and connecting accessories to the radio housing so that a conventional contact will have short life cycle. There are similar problems in other electrical environments, including mobile phones, computers, or any product with printed circuit boards or accessories that need to be electrically connected via electrical contacts. Thus, there is a need to have a reliable contact that permits full planar sliding movement with minimum friction.


Semiconductor lasers are aged to identify weak or flawed devices, resulting in improved reliability of the remaining devices. The lasers can be aged using a high-power optical burn-in that includes providing a high drive current to the lasers for a period of time, and maintaining the ambient temperature of the lasers at a low temperature. After the high-power optical burn-in, the output of the lasers can be measured to determine if the lasers are operating within specifications. Those that are not can be discarded, while those that are can be further aged using a high-temperature thermal burn-in that includes providing a drive current to the lasers while maintaining the ambient temperature of the lasers at a high-temperature.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to testing of semiconductor lasers. More specifically, embodiments of the invention relate to a high-power optical burn-in.
2. The Related Technology
Burn-in procedures are commonly utilized in production of optical components, such as laser diodes. Due to inconsistencies in manufacturing techniques and materials, optical components can have actual life cycles that differ significantly from design or theoretical life cycles. Industry norm is to operate optical components for an extended period at the manufacturing facility with the hope that those optical components having a less than desired life cycle fail during initial operation. These failed optical components, therefore, never exit from the manufacturing facility to interrupt data flowing in an optical network.
In the case of conventional laser diode manufacture, burn-in of laser diodes includes operating the laser diodes at elevated ambient temperatures for an extended period. This type of burn-in is often referred to as high-temperature thermal burn-in ("TBI"). The high-temperature condition makes the material of a laser diode softer by heating up the lattice, allowing point defects and dislocations to move through the material more easily than at low temperature. Thus, operating laser diodes at these elevated temperatures for a long period facilitates the identification of flawed and/or weak devices, thereby screening out those laser diodes having a tendency to fail prematurely.
Conventional TBI processes have been found to be adequate for screening certain types of lasers, such as 10 G lasers made of indium gallium arsenide phosphide ("InGaAsP"), which have an inherently reliable structure due to the semiconductor materials used. Notably, however, conventional TBI can fail to properly screen lasers made from other materials, such as indium aluminum gallium arsenide ("InAlGaAs"), which may have an inherently less reliable structure. Even so, lasers made from InAlGaAs may be desirable over lasers made from InGaAsP due to improved performance characteristics at high speeds and/or high-temperatures.
The subject matter claimed herein is not limited to embodiments that solve any disadvantages or that operate only in environments such as those described above. Rather, this background is only provided to illustrate one exemplary technology area where some embodiments described herein may be practiced

Methods for testing lasers using optical burn-in


A rubbery marine fender comprises a main rubber body portion, a shock receiving rubber portion and a securing rubber flange portion, in which a rubber buildup portion protruding outward from the outer surface of the main rubber body portion is arranged on the outer surface of the main rubber body portion at either or both regions adjacent or close to a buckling peripheral line thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a rubbery marine fender, and more particularly to an improvement of a rubbery buckling-type marine fender such as hollow cylindrical marine fender, V-shaped marine fender or the like absorbing energy in the berthing of a vessel and causing a buckling phenomenon during compression deformation.
2. Description of Related Art
There has hitherto been used a rubbery hollow cylindrical marine fender of a conical trapezoidal form as shown in FIG. 1. This marine fender comprises a main cylindrical rubber portion 12, a securing flange portion 13 for a quay wall, a shock receiving portion 14 and iron plates 15, 16 embedded in the portions 13, 14. When such a marine fender is compressed in its axial direction by berthing a vessel or the like thereto, there is obtained a deflection-reaction force curve absorbing a berthing energy as shown in FIG. 2. As seen from FIG. 2, after the reaction force increases with the increase of deflection to arrive at an upper peak (point A), it decreases to arrive at a point C though deflection increases, and again rapidly increases with further increase of deflection.
In the marine fender exhibiting such a characteristic curve, the actually usable range is a deflection range from the reaction force at the point A to a point B showing the reaction force equal to the point A, in which the absorption energy of the marine fender is represented by an area defined between the deflection-reaction force and an abscissa up to the point B. However, the reaction force is actually decreased to the point C, so that absorption energy is lost only by a portion S corresponding to an area surrounded with a dotted line A-B and a curve A-C-B.


An armoring sheet for being attached to a wire harness, includes a sheet body that is formed in a flat plate shape and has a first face and a second face which is opposed to the first face, and a first adhesive portion and a second adhesive portion that are provided on the first face of the sheet body. The first adhesive portion is disposed at one end portion of the first face. The second adhesive portion is disposed at other portion of the first face than the one end portion of the first face.

This invention relates to a wire harness-armoring sheet for being attached to a wire harness and also to a method of attaching the armoring sheet.
Wire harness-armoring sheets are already known (see, for example, Patent Literatures 1 to 3).
FIG. 12 is a plan view showing a cover member disclosed in Patent Literature 1, FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a condition in which wires are in the process of being bound together by the cover member of FIG. 12, FIGS. 14A and 14B are cross-sectional views of examples of attaching methods, showing a condition in which the wires are bound together by the cover member of FIG. 12, and FIG. 15 is a perspective view of an important portion, showing a condition in which the cover member of FIG. 12 is attached to a wire harness.
Referring to FIGS. 12 to 15, a pressure-sensitive adhesive double coated tape 102 is provided at one end portion of one surface (or side) of a cover base sheet 101 of the cover member 100.
As shown in FIG. 14A, the cover member 100 is wound in a tubular shape on the periphery of the wire harness W, and the superposed opposite end portions thereof are bonded together by the adhesive double coated tape 102. Thus, the cover member 100 is attached to the wire harness W.
In another attaching method, the cover member 100 is wound in a tubular shape on the periphery of the wire harness W, and in this condition the opposite end portions thereof are bonded together by the adhesive double coated tape 102 at a position spaced radially outwardly of the wire harness W, as shown in FIG. 14. Thus, the cover member 100 is attached to the wire harness W.
FIG. 16 is a plan view showing a wire harness-binding sheet disclosed in Patent Literature 2, and FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view showing a condition in which a wire harness is bound by the wire harness-binding sheet of FIG. 16.
In the wire harness-binding sheet 110, an adhesive tape 111, having an adhesive surface, is bonded to a base sheet 112 of a rectangular or a square shape, and extends along one end thereof, and a bonding surface 113 (to which the adhesive surface is to be bonded) is provided at the opposite end portion of the base sheet 112 remote from the one end thereof, as shown in FIG. 16. The base sheet 112 is wound in a tubular shape on the periphery of the wire harness W, and the superposed opposite end portions are bonded together by the adhesive tape 111 as shown in FIG. 17. Thus, the sheet 110 is attached to the wire harness W.
FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing a distribution wire-binding tube disclosed in Patent Literature 3.
In the distribution wire-binding tube 120, a male member 123 of a velvet-type fastener 122 is provided on a front surface of a sheet base member 121 at one side edge portion thereof, and a female member 124 of the velvet-type fastener 122 is provided on a reverse surface of the sheet base member 121 at the opposite side edge portion thereof spaced from the one side edge portion in a direction of a width thereof, as shown in FIG. 18. The sheet base member 121 is wound in a tubular shape on a periphery of a wire harness W, and the superposed opposite end portions thereof are fastened together by the velvet-type fastener 122. Thus, the sheet base member 121 is attached to the wire harness W.
[Patent Literature 1] JP-UM-A-58-81990 (Page 1, FIGS. 1 and 2)
[Patent Literature 2] JP-UM-A-7-6166 (Pages 1 to 2, FIGS. 1 and 3)
[Patent Literature 3] JP-UM-A-7-4368 (Pages 1 to 2, FIG. 1)
However, in the related cover member 100 shown in FIG. 12, the cover base sheet 101 is not fixed directly to the wire harness W by either of the attaching methods of FIGS. 14A and 14B. Therefore, the cover base member 101 is displaced relative to the wire harness W during the attaching operation, so that the efficiency of the operation is low. And besides, opposite end portions of the wound cover base member 101 need to be manually fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the wire harness W (see portions designated by reference character A in FIG. 15) by a vinyl tape 103 or the like after the cover member 100 is attached to the wire harness W. Therefore, there has been encountered a problem that much processing time and the increased cost have been required.
A problem similar to the problem with the cover member 100 of FIG. 12 has also been encountered in both of the conventional wire harness-bonding sheet 110 of FIGS. 16 and 17 and the conventional distribution wire-binding tube 120 of FIG. 18.

Armoring sheet for wire harness and method of attaching the same


A heat treated electrochromic device comprising an anodic complementary counter electrode layer comprised of a mixed tungsten-nickel oxide and lithium, which provides a high transmission in the fully intercalated state and which is capable of long term stability, is disclosed. Methods of making an electrochromic device comprising an anodic complementary counter electrode comprised of a mixed tungsten-nickel oxide are also disclosed.

This invention relates to electrochromic devices which can vary the transmission or reflectance of electromagnetic radiation by application of an electrical potential to the electrochromic device.
Certain materials, referred to as electrochromic materials, are known to change their optical properties in response to the application of an electrical potential. This property has been taken advantage of to produce electrochromic devices which can be controlled to transmit optical energy selectively.
A number of factors affect the operation of an electrochromic device. One limitation on how dark an electrochromic device can become is how much charge can be stored in the counter electrode layer. There have been many different approaches for producing a charge storage medium, but most attention has focused on a thin film deposited parallel to the electrochromic material layer, and separated by an ionically conductive layer.
To date, most counter electrode layers have been made using NiO, LiNiO, or doped variants thereof. One advantage of using NiO and LiNiO materials is that under careful preparation conditions, the counter electrode can be made so that it displays anodic electrochromism with good efficiency and a high bleached state transmission. Unfortunately, it has been difficult to intercalate lithium into NiO based materials as a result of the material's compact crystalline structure. As such, higher voltages must be applied to such materials to intercalate lithium, which leads to undesirable side reactions.
Other methods employ proton coloration based mechanisms utilizing counter electrode layers comprised of vanadium oxides and other mixtures containing vanadium. Although it may be relatively easy to manufacture a counter electrode layer capable of coloring anodically in an aqueous medium, it is difficult to produce a complete device capable of long-term stability. It is, therefore, more advantageous to use lithium intercalation based systems.
A typical material used for counter electrode applications with lithium is vanadium oxide, which is a material that forms crystal structures similar to those seen in tungsten oxide systems. The open crystalline lattice of vanadium oxide allows lithium intercalation more readily than in NiO based structures. However, the presence of vanadium ions leads to the generation of a strong yellow color. This yellow color is only slightly modulated by lithium intercalation, and shows a reasonable cathodic electrochromic effect throughout the majority of the visible region, thus limiting the maximum transmission that can be achieved using this material as a counter electrode layer. Attempts to reduce the degree of coloration by doping vanadium oxides with other components result in a reduced electrochromic efficiency by reduction of the charge capacity of the counter electrode layer. Such doping results in a device with a higher bleached state transmission at the cost of a higher colored state transmission.
The problems associated with current counter electrode practice can be summarized with reference to FIG. 1, which provides an illustration of coloration in an electrochromic device having a cathodic counter electrode layer. The overall dynamic range for such a device is given by the net optical density change upon transferring charge from the counter electrode to the electromatic material layer. Such a transfer of charge results in a loss of optical density from the counter electrode and a gain of optical density in the electrochromic material layer. Hence, the net change in optical density is given by the difference in electrochromic efficiency between the electrochromic material layer and the counter electrode. Condition 1 shows a lower overall level of charge and, thus, a lower initial bleached state as compared with Condition 2. On the other hand, Condition 2 shows the situation when the charge capacity is increased, such as by increasing the thickness of the counter electrode layer. As a result, there is an increase in the overall dynamic range along with a concomitant increase in the optical density seen in the bleached state. Therefore, while the total charge of a cathodic counter electrode layer may be increased to enhance the overall dynamic range of the device, the optical density of the counter electrode also increases resulting in a less transparent bleached state.
Devices employing anodic counter electrodes have been briefly discussed in the prior art. Some of these devices employ counter electrodes comprised of nickel oxides doped with tungsten or tantalum. However, the materials comprising such counter electrodes contain the metal oxide in an amorphous phase. As a result, such devices suffer from low coloration efficiencies and low conductivity.
In view of the above problems, there remains a need for improved electrochromic coatings, and in particular electrochromic coatings that comprise solid state, inorganic thin films, and metal oxide thin films. In addition, there remains a need for electrochromic coatings that incorporate complementary anodic and cathodic electrochromic ion insertion layers, whose counter ions are either protons or lithium ions. There also remains a need for improved methods for making complementary electrochromic layers to act as a counter electrode, having improved properties over existing practices. Further, there also remains a need for an electrochromic device with a suitably wide transmission range between fully colored and fully bleached states, with suitably fast coloration and bleaching rates, and with suitable longevity and durability for outdoor architectural applications.


An administration system for use within a server system is provided. The server system having a server that provides host management functions and the server system being able to accept computer cards inserted therein. The administration system comprises a computing system that is inserted in the server system, the computing system having a controller that assumes control over the communications bus.

Information Technology organizations are frustrated with the cost of server downtime, the rising frequency of malicious attacks and programs, and the significant operational expenditures required for managing their systems. The complexity and cost of server management is increasing. The server management tasks include: fault diagnosis, software upgrade and patching, backup and recovery, monitoring and resource reallocation. Many architectural solutions to the server management problem have been devised with a variety of hardware and software components; however complete delegation of management authority to the server has not yet been achieved. High levels of human intervention are still required for server management.
IBM™ has established a new paradigm in computer networks called "Autonomic Computing™". In short, autonomic computing is an approach to "self-managed" computing systems with a minimum of human interference. A true, complete autonomic system requires that computer systems be reconstructed from software at the high end to hardware components in every computer. In addition to IBM, Microsoft™, HP™, Dell™ and Sun™ have begun their own autonomic computing initiatives. While "total" autonomic computing may be the ideal its successful and complete implementation will take years. There are alternative approaches that will help increase their systems' uptime, while lowering their systems' Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).
The quickest way to begin reducing the TCO is to attack the area of "least value-add", namely labor. The two most common existing approaches to reducing labor costs are adding additional hardware or additional software.
With regard to hardware based approaches so called "watchdog" cards are inserted into host computers. A separate software process runs on the host, and communicates heartbeats to the watchdog card across the bus. After not receiving a heartbeat for a pre-set amount of time, an on-board timer will expire, causing the watchdog card to cycle the power of the host. Remote Management Cards (RMCs) are add-in server cards that allow system administrators (SYSADMINs) independent access to the server. The key problem with RMCs is that a SYSADMIN is required to intervene if the card detects a problem, thus mitigating any cost savings. Furthermore, RMCs are not autonomic. RMCs are able to scan vast amounts of information, but they are unable to make decisions on their own. RMCs are generally higher-power cards with more powerful CPU (e.g. 200 MHz CPU). This allows a remote system administrator to log into a host machine, and redirect KVM (Keyboard, Video, Mouse) across the remote connection. This facilitates configuration and troubleshooting as though the admin was sitting directly in front of the actual host. Host video and keyboard connectors are actually inserted into the remote management card ports. Most remote management cards offer watchdog timers and functionality.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a current network administration system. A server system 1 includes a server chassis 2, a server 4, a Network Interface Card (NIC) 6 and a lights out card 10. Communications in the server chassis 2 are provided for by communications bus 16. The lights out card 10 and network administration system 12 are elements of a management system 8. The lights out card 10 provides local control capability, including power, and intercepts for the keyboard, video and mouse. The lights out card 10 further gathers data and invokes simple actions initiated by a remote user. Monitoring of the server 4 is performed by a Host Management Agent (HMA) 14. The observations made by the HMA 14 are sent to the Network Administration System 12. The system 12 receives telemetry data from and provides policy management for the server 4. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that there may be more than one server and one or more peripheral cards in the sever chassis 2. The system 12 further determines appropriate actions based on the collected information and provides information to a user for evaluation.
Host Monitoring Agents (HMAs) are software-oriented products that are relatively inexpensive and are typically based on industry standards. HMAs reside on a server's primary hardware and operate in conjunction with the host operating system. However, the major drawbacks of HMAs are that they impact host performance (HMAs take away CPU cycles from the server to run monitoring software), are susceptible to host faults (if the host crashes the HMA crashes), and have narrow monitoring visibility (do not monitor internal functions of operating systems and applications). This category of products features software agents that monitor the host system(s). Operational information collected is passed to a separate management station across the network, where it passes through several "filters". Upon successful match by a filter, a response action is initiated, being either a correction action on the host (e.g. restart failed process) or notification (e.g. by email) of a human system administrator.
There have been some recent technologies entering the market that allow a server or desktop to create a protected partition on the host hard drive. In the event of hard drive corruption, the user can essentially replace the master partition with the copy in the protected partition.
There is a need for providing new hardware and software that addressed the issues left unresolved, thereby increasing the availability and reducing the TCO of servers.


Devices and methods for mounting a tuning machine with locator pins to a stringed instrument having a mounting configuration with receiving holes that are misaligned with the tuning machines locator pins. A mounting element is provided having top and bottom surfaces and a post aperture to receive the tuning machine's post. Tuning machine alignment apertures in the top surface are in alignment with and adapted to receive the locator pins when the post is located within the post aperture, and instrument alignment elements in the bottom surface are in alignment with the receiving holes on the instrument when the post is located within the post aperture on the mounting element and the first post aperture on the instrument. The top surface complementarily receives the base of the tuning machine, and the bottom surface complementarily fits with the mounting configuration of the instrument such that the tuning machine can be secured to the mismatched instrument.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates generally to systems, kits and methods for mounting tuning mechanisms on stringed instruments. More particularly, the invention relates to systems and methods for adaptively mounting diverse tuning machines on an instrument in an aligned manner without permanently modifying or altering the instrument.
2. Description of Related Art
Stringed musical instruments typically provide a fixed anchor on one end of each string and a mechanism on the other end which allows a user to establish a select amount of tension in the string. The frequency at which the string oscillates depends greatly on, among several other parameters, the vibrating length of the string and its tension. A geared mechanical mechanism used to adjust the tension of the string is often referred to as a tuning machine or machine head. Tuning machines are well known in the art, and a typical tuning machine used on guitars, banjos and the like comprises a tuning handle 12 secured to an end of a worm shaft which extends through a body 14. A worm wheel is meshed with a worm of the worm shaft inside the body 14, and a cylindrical post 16 is connected to the worm wheel and aligned with the rotational axis of the worm wheel. The cylindrical post 16 extends through a hole in the headstock of the instrument to the same side as the strings and is aligned such that its axis is generally perpendicular to the strings. In operation, as the tuning handle 12 (hence worm shaft) is rotated, it rotates the worm wheel, hence the cylindrical post 16. By this a guitar string that is inserted through a guitar string insertion hole 13 defined in the cylindrical post 16 is wound or unwound on or from the cylindrical post 16, thereby increasing or decreasing the string tension to effect tuning of the string.
There are numerous commercially available tuning machines of various designs, but most have the above common features and functions. There exists variance among past and present tuning machine manufacturers or models of tuning machines in the configuration of the connecting structures, also referred to herein as the mounting configuration, that enable the tuning machine to connect to or mate with the headstock of the particular make or model of instrument for which the tuning machine is or was intended. For example, some tuning machines 10, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, include one or more projections or pins 17 that extend from the bottom surface 18 of the body 14 that are received within complementary sized and aligned holes 19 provided in the instrument or headstock 20 of a guitar, banjo or the like adjacent the post receiving hole 28. With the pins 17 of the tuning machine located within the complementary holes 19 on the headstock 20, unwanted rotation or movement of the tuning machine 10 is prevented. Other variants of tuning machines may include one or more lug portions 22 that extend from the body of the tuning machine and includes a hole 24 that aligns with a hole 26 provided on the headstock 20 adjacent the hole 28 for the cylindrical post 16. A screw 31 is affixed through the hole 24 on the lug portion 22 and into the hole 26 of the headstock 20 to prevent unwanted movement or rotation of the tuning machine. Some examples of other screw reliant mounting configurations are exemplified in FIG. 5 on a model headstock: wherein the dots 32 about the post receiving hole 28 could represent holes to receive complementary projections on the body of the matching tuning machine, screws passing through the body of the matching tuning machine, or a combination of both.
Over time, tuning machines may wear or break, necessitating replacement. Furthermore, it may be desirable to replace older tuning machines with modern technologically advanced or more aesthetically pleasing units. However, a problem frequently encountered in replacing the tuning machines on a particular instrument is that of finding aftermarket tuning machines with the same mounting configuration as that of the ones being replaced so as to obviate the need to make any modifications to the instrument. For example in regard to guitars, it is sometimes difficult or impossible to obtain a desired aftermarket tuning machine with the same mounting configuration as on the units being replaced, which means that the headstock of the instrument will have to be modified by boring additional holes to match the mounting configuration of the new tuning machines, or by driving screws at new locations on the headstock to match the lugs/holes on the new tuning machines, or both. If the old holes remain visible, then they must be filled to preserve aesthetics. In many instances the owner of the instrument may be reluctant to modify the headstock in order to preserve the value of the instrument. In these cases, finding replacement tuning machines may be difficult and time consuming, or the options may be limited.
One device in the prior art that seeks to solve the above problem is a device referred to as the UMP™ (Universal Mount Plate) sold by Hipshot Products, Inc. of Interlaken, N.Y., and described and illustrated in international patent publication WO/2014/052910. The UMP™ device is an adapter plate that fits between the tuning machines and the headstock of the guitar. Tabs on the face of the plate prevent the tuning machines from slipping against the headstock. At the same time, reach nuts inserted through the existing headstock holes into the tuning machines keep the whole assembly securely in place. This means that the tuning machines, being interlocking as one unit, use the headstock holes themselves for stability rather than individual locator pins or mounting screw holes. While the UMP™ does provide a system by which flat based tuning machines can be mounted on headstocks of various mounting configurations, it nevertheless suffers from an aesthetic perspective since the plates that span several tuning machines are quite visible on the headstock, and to some instrument owners or enthusiasts, provide a somewhat unattractive appearance. In particular, guitar purists who strive to preserve the aesthetics of the instrument may consider the UMP™ device to be a less than ideal solution. There remains a need for an adapter device and method for mounting a tuning machine of one mounting configuration to the headstock of an instrument having a different mounting configuration while being minimally obtrusive visually so as to preserve the aesthetics of the instrument.

Devices and methods for mounting tuning machines on stringed instruments


A lifting magnet having a housing, a rotary magnet unit, and a stationary magnet unit. The lifting magnet also includes a pinion, a socket moving up and down, a slider rotating the pinion to set the magnetization and demagnetization states at top and bottom dead points, respectively, a locking part provided in one of the socket and the slider, a locking unit provided in the other, including a locker, and moving both the socket and the slider up and down while the locker is locked to the locking part, and a locking unit driver alternately driving the locking unit to make the locker released from and locked to the locking part at first and second moving operations, respectively. With this configuration, the lifting magnet can stably keep on and off states of an attractive magnetic force and conveniently performs lifting and carrying operations.

Generally, a lifting magnet comprises a rotary magnet disposed on a rotational shaft in the center of a housing, and a stationary magnet placed on inner opposite sides of the housing in correspondence with the rotary magnet, so that the housing exerts an attractive magnetic force when the rotary magnet is rotated in a first direction and allows the same magnetic poles of the rotary and stationary magnets to face each other, but the attractive magnetic force is canceled when the rotary magnet is rotated in a second direction and allows the different magnetic poles of the rotary and stationary magnets to face each other. Thus, the lifting magnet is installed in a carrier such as a crane, etc. to lift and carry a heavy steel plate using the magnetic force.
Such a lifting magnet is disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 1998-72201.
A conventional lifting magnet comprises a pinion placed in the middle of the rotational shaft to which the rotary magnet is coupled, and a rack provided in an operating unit and engaged with the pinion, wherein the operation unit moves up and down through the middle inside of the housing. Therefore, when the operating unit moves up or down, the rotary magnet is rotated along with the pinion by an angle of 180 degree, so that the lifting magnet is automatically turned on/off to exert and cancel the attractive magnetic force.
Further, the conventional lifting magnet comprises a separate connecting rod placed in the middle of the rotational shaft and allowing the pinion to rotate on its axis against the rotational shaft when the operating unit moves down; and a cylindrical body formed integrally with the pinion and placed on the connecting rod with a bearing. Here, the cylindrical body comprises therein a locking part having a resilient piece; a cam body to be locked to the locking part; and a disc formed integrally with the cam body, which are respectively arranged in consideration of a rotating direction of the rotational shaft. Further, a magnetic pole holding disc having a ratchet shape, together with a stopper, is provided in one end of the rotational shaft.
However, in the conventional lifting magnet, when the lifting magnet is connected to the crane and moves up from the state that the lifting magnet is put on the ground and the attractive magnetic force is set to be turned off, the operating unit first moves up due to the lifting magnet's own weight and at the same time the attractive magnetic force becomes turned on, so that various foreign materials around the lifting magnet are attached to the lifting magnet and therefore the attractive magnetic force becomes weak, thereby making it difficult to smoothly lift and carry the steel plate. Particularly, the attractive magnetic force can be set to be turned on/off only when the operating unit moves up, so that it is difficult for a user to correctly determine the state of the lifting magnet and to carry the steel plate.
Further, in the case where the attractive magnetic force is set to be turned on, because the same magnetic poles of the rotary magnet and the stationary magnet face to each other, a strong repulsive force is exerted between the rotary magnet and the stationary magnet and makes the rotary magnet tend to rotate with respect to the rotational shaft to turn off the attractive magnetic force. In this case, it is impossible to rotate the rotational shaft in the first direction because the pinion is engaged with the rack. However, with regard to the second direction, the free rotation of the rotational shaft is restricted by only a spring force of the stopper, so that the attractive magnetic force is unstably kept, thereby threatening safety of a worker.
Further, the stopper is used for two incompatible purposes of not only smoothly rotating the pinion while the rack moves up but also holding/preventing the pinion from rotating when the attractive magnetic force is set to be turned on, so that it is not easy to secure the operations of the stopper. Also, because the stopper is exposed to the outside, the stopper may be easily released from a locking state or broken due to strong sway or collision with an obstacle while the steel plate is lifted and carried by the lifting magnet installed in the crane, so that the steel plate is likely to be detached from the lifting magnet and fall.
Besides, the magnetic pole of the rotary magnet is eccentrically formed with regard to that of the stationary magnet, so that the attractive magnetic force of the lifting magnet is weakened when the attractive magnetic force is in the on state. Further, the attractive magnetic force is not completely turned off and remains in the lifting magnet even though the attractive magnetic force is in the off state, so that foreign materials as well as the steel plate are attached to the lifting magnet, thereby weakening the attractive magnetic force and causing risk in safety.


The Wrapping Hammock is the only product of its kind that imitates a mother's womb environment providing a tight wrap around a child for comfort. Also known as “The Next To Me Baby Hammock,” the disclosure is uniquely designed with a breathable, durable, hammock material to guarantee babies have a familiar and safe sleeping experience. The disclosure includes a sheet gathered at a first end attached to a first point and gathered at a second end attached to a second point. The disclosure also includes a high durometer lengthwise wiring looping from the first point to the second point and configured to provide a lengthwise antibunching characteristic. The disclosure additionally includes a suspension cord attached to the first end and to the second end. The disclosure further includes a stand comprising a free standing arm and an anchor attached thereto configured to suspend the hammock system therefrom.

A newborn baby is unlikely to sleep through the night before they are four to six months old, creating a stressful and possible sleep depriving situation for many parents. Finding solutions to calm a fussy baby at night can be an incredibly difficult and a time-consuming process. There have been no products available as original equipment or as an aftermarket to address this problem.
An apparatus to simplify the process of getting your baby to sleep and a higher chance of the baby sleeping through the night is presently unavailable. There exists a need for a versatile hammock product that is not being met by any known or disclosed device or system of present.


Disclosed are compounds of the formula:

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to 6-(4-arylalkylpiperazin-1-yl)benzodioxanes and 6-(4-arylalkylpiperazin-1-yl)chromanes and pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds. It also relates to the use of such compounds in the treatment or prevention of psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia and other central nervous system diseases.
2. Description of the Related Art
The therapeutic effect of conventional antipsychotics, known as neuroleptics, is generally believed to be exerted through blockade of dopamine receptors. However, neuroleptics are frequently responsible for undesirable extrapyramidal side effects (EPS) and tardive dyskinesias, which are attributed to blockade of D2 receptors in the striatal region of the brain. The dopamine D4 receptor subtype has recently been identified (Nature, 350: 610 (Van Tol et al., 1991); Nature, 347: 146 (Sokoloff et al., 1990)). Its unique localization in limbic brain areas and its differential recognition of various antipsychotics indicates that the D4 receptor plays a major role in the etiology of schizophrenia. Selective D4 antagonists are considered effective antipsychotics free from the neurological side effects displayed by conventional neuroleptics.
This invention provides novel compounds of Formula I which interact with dopamine subtypes. Accordingly, a broad embodiment of the invention is directed to a compound of Formula I:
or pharmaceutically acceptable addition salts thereof wherein:
A is C1-C4 alkylene optionally substituted with C1-C2 alkyl;
R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 independently represent hydrogen, halogen, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkoxy, C1-C6 alkylthio, hydroxy, amino, mono- or di(C1-C6)alkylamino, cyano, nitro, perfluoroalkyl or perfluoroalkoxy; and
R6, R7, R8, and R9 independently represent hydrogen or C1-C6 alkyl; and
X is oxygen, a bond, C1-C2 alkylene, or methyleneoxy.
Dopamine D4 receptors are concentrated in the limbic system (Science, 265: 1034 (Taubes, 1994)) which controls cognition and emotion. Therefore, compounds that interact with these receptors are useful in the treatment of cognitive disorders. Such disorders include cognitive deficits which are a significant component of the negative symptoms (social withdrawal and unresponsiveness) of schizophrenia. Other disorders include those involving memory impairment or attention deficit disorders.
Compounds of the present invention demonstrate high affinity and selectivity in binding to the D4 receptor subtype. These compounds are therefore useful in treatment of a variety of neuropsychological disorders, such as, for example, schizophrenia, psychotic depression and mania. Other dopamine-mediated diseases such as Parkinsonism and tardive dyskinesias can also be treated directly or indirectly by modulation of D4 receptors.
Compounds of this invention are also useful in the treatment of depression, memory-impairment or Alzheimer""s disease by modulation of D4 receptors since they exist selectively in areas known to control emotion and cognitive functions.
Thus, in another aspect, the invention provides methods for treatment and/or prevention of neuropsychochological or affective disorders including, for example, schizophrenia, mania, dementia, depression, anxiety, compulsive behavior, substance abuse, memory impairment, cognitive deficits, Parkinson-like motor disorders, e.g., Parkinsonism and dystonia, and motion disorders related to the use of neuroleptic agents. In addition, the compounds of the invention are useful in treatment of depression, memory-impairment or Alzheimer""s disease. Further, the compounds of the present invention are useful for the treatment of other disorders that respond to dopaminergic blockade, e.g., substance abuse and obsessive compulsive disorder. These compounds are also useful in treating the extrapyramidal side effects associated with the use of conventional neuroleptic agents.
In yet another aspect, the invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising compounds of Formula I.
In another aspect, the invention provides intermediates useful in the preparation of compounds of Formula I.
As mentioned above, the invention encompasses 6-(4-Arylalkylpiperazin-1-yl)benzodioxane and 6-(4-Arylalkylpiperazin-1-yl)chromane derivatives of Formula I. Preferred compounds of Formula I are those where X is oxygen or methylene. Still other preferred compounds of Formula I are those where R1, R2, and R5 are hydrogen and R3 and R4 are independently hydrogen, halogen, C1-C6 alkyl, or C1-C6 alkoxy. Other preferred compounds of Formula I are those where R6, R7, R8, and R9 are independently hydrogen, methyl, or ethyl.
Other preferred compounds of Formula I are those where A is methylene or ethylene, each of which is optionally substituted independently with a C1-C2 group. More preferably, A is methylene.
Preferred compounds of the invention include those of Formula IA:
wherein:
R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 independently represent hydrogen, halogen, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkoxy, C1-C4 alkylthio, hydroxy, amino, mono- or di(C1-C6)alkylamino, cyano, nitro, trifluoromethyl or trifluoromethoxy; and
X is oxygen, a bond, methyleneoxy, or C1-C2 alkylene.
Preferred compounds of Formula IA are those where R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 independently represent hydrogen, halogen, C1-C6 alkyl, or C1-C6 alkoxy.
Other preferred compounds of Formula IA are those where R1, R2, and R5 are hydrogen.
More preferred compounds of Formula IA are those where R1, R2, and R3 are hydrogen and R3 and R4 independently represent hydrogen, halogen, C1-C6 alkyl, or C1-C4 alkoxy, where not both R3 and R4 are hydrogen.
Particularly preferred compounds of Formula IA are those where R3 and R4 independently represent hydrogen, fluoro, chloro, bromo, methyl, ethyl, methoxy, or ethoxy, where not both R3 and R4 are hydrogen.
Other particularly preferred compounds of Formula IA are those where X is a bond or methyleneoxy and R3 and R4 independently represent hydrogen, fluoro, chloro, bromo, methyl, ethyl, methoxy, or ethoxy.
The present invention further encompasses compounds of Formula II:
wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are defined as above for Formula I.
Preferred compounds of Formula II are those where R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 independently represent hydrogen, halogen, C1-C6 alkyl, or C1-C6 alkoxy.
Other preferred compounds of Formula II are those where R1, R2, and R5 are hydrogen.
More preferred compounds of Formula II are those where R1, R2, and R5 are hydrogen and R3 and R4 independently represent hydrogen, halogen, C1-C6 alkyl, or C1-C4 alkoxy, where not both R3 and R4 are hydrogen.
Particularly preferred compounds of Formula II are those where R3 and R4 independently represent hydrogen, fluoro, chloro, bromo, methyl, ethyl, methoxy, or ethoxy, where not both R3 and R4 are hydrogen.
The present invention further encompasses compounds of Formula III:
wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are defined as above for Formula I.
Preferred compounds of Formula III are those where R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 independently represent hydrogen, halogen, C1-C6 alkyl, or C1-C6 alkoxy.
Other preferred compounds of Formula III are those where R1, R2, and R5 are hydrogen.
More preferred compounds of Formula III are those where R1, R2, and R5 are hydrogen and R3 and R4 independently represent hydrogen, halogen, C1-C6 alkyl, or C1-C4 alkoxy, where not both R3 and R4 are hydrogen.
Particularly preferred compounds of Formula III are those where R3 and R4 independently represent hydrogen, fluoro, chloro, bromo, methyl, ethyl, methoxy, or ethoxy, where not both R3 and R4 are hydrogen.
The invention also provides intermediates useful in preparing compounds of Formula I. These intermediates have Formulae IV-A, IV-B, IV-C, IV-D, IV-E, and IV-F.
In each of Formulae IV-A-F, R6, R7, R8, and R9 independently represent hydrogen or C1-C6 alkyl. Particularly preferred compounds of Formulae IV-A-F, are those where R6, R7, R8, and R9 are all hydrogen.
In certain situations, the compounds of Formula I may contain one or more asymmetric carbon atoms, so that the compounds can exist in different stereoisomeric forms. These compounds can be, for example, racemates or optically active forms. In these situations, the single enantiomers, i.e., optically active forms, can be obtained by asymmetric synthesis or by resolution of the racemates. Resolution of the racemates can be accomplished, for example, by conventional methods such as crystallization in the presence of a resolving agent, or chromatography, using, for example a chiral HPLC column.
Representative compounds of the present invention, which are encompassed by Formula I, include, but are not limited to the compounds in Table 1 and their pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts. In addition, if the compound of the invention is obtained as an acid addition salt, the free base can be obtained by basifying a solution of the acid salt. Conversely, if the product is a free base, an addition salt, particularly a pharmaceutically acceptable addition salt, may be produced by dissolving the free base in a suitable organic solvent and treating the solution with an acid, in accordance with conventional procedures for preparing acid addition salts from base compounds.
Non-toxic pharmaceutical salts include salts of acids such as hydrochloric, phosphoric, hydrobromic, sulfuric, sulfinic, formic, toluenesulfonic, methanesulfonic, nitric, benzoic, citric, tartaric, maleic, hydroiodic, alkanoic such as acetic, HOOCxe2x80x94(CH2)nxe2x80x94COOH where n is 0-4, and the like. Those skilled in the art will recognize a wide variety of non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable addition salts.
The present invention also encompasses the acylated prodrugs of the compounds of Formula I. Those skilled in the art will recognize various synthetic methodologies which may be employed to prepare non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable addition salts and acylated prodrugs of the compounds encompassed by Formula I.
Where a compound exists in various tautomeric forms, the invention is not limited to any one of the specific tautomers. The invention includes all tautomeric forms of a compound.
By xe2x80x9cC1-C6 alkylxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9clower alkylxe2x80x9d in the present invention is meant straight or branched chain alkyl groups having 1-6 carbon atoms, such as, for example, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, pentyl, 2-pentyl, isopentyl, neopentyl, hexyl, 2-hexyl, 3-hexyl, and 3-methylpentyl. Preferred C1-C6 alkyl groups are methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, cyclopropyl and cyclopropylmethyl.
By xe2x80x9cC1-C6 alkoxyxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9clower alkoxyxe2x80x9d in the present invention is meant straight or branched chain alkoxy groups having 1-6 carbon atoms, such as, for example, methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, isopropoxy, n-butoxy, sec-butoxy, tert-butoxy, pentoxy, 2-pentyl, isopentoxy, neopentoxy, hexoxy, 2-hexoxy, 3-hexoxy, and 3-methylpentoxy.
By the term xe2x80x9chalogenxe2x80x9d in the present invention is meant fluorine, bromine, chlorine, and iodine.
Representative 6-(4-arylalkylpiperazin-1-yl)benzodioxane and 6-(4-arylalkylpiperazin-1-yl)chromanes of the present invention are shown in Table 1.
The invention also pertains to the use of compounds of general Formula I in the treatment of neuropsychological disorders. The interaction of compounds of the invention with dopamine receptors is shown in the examples. This interaction results in the pharmacological activity of these compounds.
The compounds of general formula I may be administered orally, topically, parenterally, by inhalation or spray or rectally in dosage unit formulations containing conventional non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, adjuvants and vehicles. The term parenteral as used herein includes subcutaneous injections, intravenous, intramuscular, intrasternal injection or infusion techniques. In addition, there is provided a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a compound of general formula I and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. One or more compounds of general formula I may be present in association with one or more non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable carriers and/or diluents and/or adjuvants and if desired other active ingredients. The pharmaceutical compositions containing compounds of general formula I may be in a form suitable for oral use, for example, as tablets, troches, lozenges, aqueous or oily suspensions, dispersible powders or granules, emulsion, hard or soft capsules, or syrups or elixirs.
Compositions intended for oral use may be prepared according to any method known to the art for the manufacture of pharmaceutical compositions and such compositions may contain one or more agents selected from the group consisting of sweetening agents, flavoring agents, coloring agents and preserving agents in order to provide pharmaceutically elegant and palatable preparations. Tablets contain the active ingredient in admixture with non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable excipients which are suitable for the manufacture of tablets. These excipients may be for example, inert diluents, such as calcium carbonate, sodium carbonate, lactose, calcium phosphate or sodium phosphate; granulating and disintegrating agents, for example, corn starch, or alginic acid; binding agents, for example starch, gelatin or acacia, and lubricating agents, for example magnesium stearate, stearic acid or talc. The tablets may be uncoated or they may be coated by known techniques to delay disintegration and absorption in the gastrointestinal tract and thereby provide a sustained action over a longer period. For example, a time delay material such as glyceryl monosterate or glyceryl distearate may be employed.
Formulations for oral use may also be presented as hard gelatin capsules wherein the active ingredient is mixed with an inert solid diluent, for example, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate or kaolin, or as soft gelatin capsules wherein the active ingredient is mixed with water or an oil medium, for example peanut oil, liquid paraffin or olive oil.
Aqueous suspensions contain the active materials in admixture with excipients suitable for the manufacture of aqueous suspensions. Such excipients are suspending agents, for example sodium carboxymethylcellulose, methylcellulose, hydropropylmethylcellulose, sodium alginate, polyvinylpyrrolidone, gum tragacanth and gum acacia; dispersing or wetting agents may be a naturally-occurring phosphatide, for example, lecithin, or condensation products of an alkylene oxide with fatty acids, for example polyoxyethylene stearate, or condensation products of ethylene oxide with long chain aliphatic alcohols, for example heptadecaethyleneoxycetanol, or condensation products of ethylene oxide with partial esters derived from fatty acids and a hexitol such as polyoxyethylene sorbitol monooleate, or condensation products of ethylene oxide with partial esters derived from fatty acids and hexitol anhydrides, for example polyethylene sorbitan monooleate. The aqueous suspensions may also contain one or more preservatives, for example ethyl, or n-propyl p-hydroxybenzoate, one or more coloring agents, one or more flavoring agents, and one or more sweetening agents, such as sucrose or saccharin.
Oily suspensions may be formulated by suspending the active ingredients in a vegetable oil, for example arachis oil, olive oil, sesame oil or coconut oil, or in a mineral oil such as liquid paraffin. The oily suspensions may contain a thickening agent, for example beeswax, hard paraffin or cetyl alcohol. Sweetening agents such as those set forth above, and flavoring agents may be added to provide palatable oral preparations. These compositions may be preserved by the addition of an anti-oxidant such as ascorbic acid.
Dispersible powders and granules suitable for preparation of an aqueous suspension by the addition of water provide the active ingredient in admixture with a dispersing or wetting agent, suspending agent and one or more preservatives. Suitable dispersing or wetting agents and suspending agents are exemplified by those already mentioned above. Additional excipients, for example sweetening, flavoring and coloring agents, may also be present.
Pharmaceutical compositions of the invention may also be in the form of oil-in-water emulsions. The oily phase may be a vegetable oil, for example olive oil or arachis oil, or a mineral oil, for example liquid paraffin or mixtures of these. Suitable emulsifying agents may be naturally-occurring gums, for example gum acacia or gum tragacanth, naturally-occurring phosphatides, for example soy bean, lecithin, and esters or partial esters derived from fatty acids and hexitol, anhydrides, for example sorbitan monoleate, and condensation products of the said partial esters with ethylene oxide, for example polyoxyethylene sorbitan monoleate. The emulsions may also contain sweetening and flavoring agents.
Syrups and elixirs may be formulated with sweetening agents, for example glycerol, propylene glycol, sorbitol or sucrose. Such formulations may also contain a demulcent, a preservative and flavoring and coloring agents. The pharmaceutical compositions may be in the form of a sterile injectable aqueous or oleaginous suspension. This suspension may be formulated according to the known art using those suitable dispersing or wetting agents and suspending agents which have been mentioned above. The sterile injectable preparation may also be sterile injectable solution or suspension in a non-toxic parentally acceptable diluent or solvent, for example as a solution in 1,3-butanediol. Among the acceptable vehicles and solvents that may be employed are water, Ringer""s solution and isotonic sodium chloride solution. In addition, sterile, fixed oils are conventionally employed as a solvent or suspending medium. For this purpose any bland fixed oil may be employed including synthetic mono-or diglycerides. In addition, fatty acids such as oleic acid find use in the preparation of injectables.
The compounds of general formula I may also be administered in the form of suppositories for rectal administration of the drug. These compositions can be prepared by mixing the drug with a suitable non-irritating excipient which is solid at ordinary temperatures but liquid at the rectal temperature and will therefore melt in the rectum to release the drug. Such materials are cocoa butter and polyethylene glycols.
Compounds of general formula I may be administered parenterally in a sterile medium. The drug, depending on the vehicle and concentration used, can either be suspended or dissolved in the vehicle. Advantageously, adjuvants such as local anesthetics, preservatives and buffering agents can be dissolved in the vehicle.
Dosage levels of the order of from about 0.1 mg to about 140 mg per kilogram of body weight per day are useful in the treatment of the above-indicated conditions (about 0.5 mg to about 7 g per patient per day). The amount of active ingredient that may be combined with the carrier materials to produce a single dosage form will vary depending upon the host treated and the particular mode of administration. Dosage unit forms will generally contain between from about 1 mg to about 500 mg of an active ingredient.
It will be understood, however, that the specific dose level for any particular patient will depend upon a variety of factors including the activity of the specific compound employed, the age, body weight, general health, sex, diet, time of administration, route of administration, and rate of excretion, drug combination and the severity of the particular disease undergoing therapy.
A representative synthesis of the 6-(4-arylalkylpiperazin-1-yl)benzodioxanes and 6-(4-arylalkylpiperazin-1-yl)chromanes of the invention is presented in Scheme I. Those having skill in the art will recognize that the starting materials may be varied and additional steps employed to produce compounds encompassed by the present invention.
In Scheme I, A, R1-R9 and X are as defined above for Formula I, and Z is a leaving group.
Thus, for example, a 5-piperazinyl-2,3-dihydrobenzo[b]furan (IV, X is a bond), a 1-(1,4-benzodioxan-6-yl)piperazine (IV, X=oxygen), a 1-(chroman-6-yl)piperazine (IV, X=xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94), or a 7-piperazinyl-2H,3H,4H,5H-benzo[f]oxepin (IV, X is xe2x80x94CH2CH2xe2x80x94) may be reacted with an appropriately substituted alkylating agent (V), e.g., a benzylic alkylating agent, in the presence of a suitable base to afford a compound of Formula I.
The leaving group (Z) on alkylating agent V may be a halide, sulphonate ester or the like. Where they are not commercially available, the compounds of general structure V may be prepared by procedures analogous to those described in literature. The compounds of general structure V are either known or capable of being prepared by the methods known in the art. Those having skill in the art will recognize that the starting material may be varied and additional steps employed to produce compounds encompassed by the present invention. The base employed may be an inorganic base such as potassium carbonate, sodium hydroxide or the like; or an organic base such as triethylamine, pyridine or the like.
The disclosures of all articles and references mentioned in this application, including patents, are incorporated herein by reference.
The preparation of the compounds of the present invention is illustrated further by the following examples which are not to be construed as limiting the invention in scope or spirit to the specific procedures and compounds described in them.

6-(4-arylalkylpiperazin-1-yl) benzodioxane and 6-(4-arylalkylpiperazin-1-yl) chromane derivatives: dopamine receptor subtype specific ligands

Abstract: Disclosed are compounds of the formula:

Abstract: or the pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts thereof wherein:

Abstract: R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are the same or different and represent hydrogen, halogen, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkoxy, C1-C4 alkylthio, hydroxy, amino, mono- or di(C1-C6)alkylamino, cyano, nitro, trifluoromethyl or trifluoromethoxy; and

Abstract: X is oxygen, a bond, C1-C2 alkylene, or methyleneoxy,

Abstract: which compounds are useful for the treatment and/or prevention of neuropsychological disorders including, but not limited to, schizophrenia, mania, dementia, depression, anxiety, compulsive behavior, substance abuse, Parkinson-like motor disorders and motion disorders related to the use of neuroleptic agents.


Provided is a wireless communication device, including a data processing unit that generates a data packet, and a transmitter unit that transmits the data packet generated by the data processing unit, wherein the data processing unit sets information for use other than an NAV setting to a Duration field in the data packet.

In recent years, a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) system, which is typified by IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11, has come into wide use instead of a wired network owing to advantages of a high degree of freedom of equipment and the like. For example, IEEE 802.11a/g has come into wide use and IEEE 802.11n is expected to become widely available in the future.
Currently, IEEE 802.11 ac is supposed to be employed as a next-generation wireless LAN standard. The IEEE 802.11ac is expected to employ SDMA (Space Division Multiple Access) in which wireless resources on a spatial axis are shared among a plurality of users. SDMA enables simultaneous one-to-many communications using the same frequency, which makes it possible to seek a significant improvement of the transmission rate.
A fair number of wireless LAN systems avoid interference between wireless communication devices by access control based on carrier sense, such as CSMA/CA (Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance).
A data packet defined by IEEE 802.11 contains the Duration field. A wireless communication device having received the data packet avoids interference by setting NAV (Network Allocation Vector: transmission suppression period) based on a Duration value set to the Duration field. Interference avoidance based on the Duration value is described in, for example, Patent Literature 1.

Wireless communication device, program, wireless communication method, and wireless communication system


An input analog signal is sampled at a sampling frequency f.sub.s, which is four times a carrier frequency f.sub.c. A demultiplexer 11 outputs supplied data to four systems sequentially, and generates four zero carriers whose frequencies and amplitudes are equal to each other, with only the phases being different. The delay circuits 12 to 15 delay each one of the zero carriers, and supply delayed signals to adaptive filters 16 to 19. Data output from the four adaptive filters 16 to 19 are selected by a multiplexer 22, and the multiplexer 22 outputs the selected signals as a single signal. The difference between a first zero carrier and an output signals of the first adaptive filter 16 is obtained, and tap coefficients of the adaptive filters 16 to 19 are controlled in accordance with an LMS algorithm based on the difference. A signal output by the multiplexer 22 is output as a reproduced carrier.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a digital filter system which cancels unwanted signal components at the intermediate frequency stage.
The present invention also relates to a demodulation circuit for radio communication, more particularly, to a demodulation circuit to demodulate SSB (Single Side Band) signal, and to a carrier reproduction circuit for the demodulation circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the field of radio communication, filters for canceling unwanted wave (noise) are used at each of the radio frequency (RF), intermediate frequency (IF), and audio frequency (AF) stages of the radio receiver. And for these filters, various improvements have been proposed.
For example, the applicant of the present application proposed "ADAPTIVE FILTER SYSTEM" disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/452,282 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,716,996, for canceling unwanted waves in the AF stage, and for outputting only an objective signal by setting the coefficients of the digital filter using an adaptive algorithm.
FIG. 1 shows the basic structure of the adaptive filter system disclosed in the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/452,282. The adaptive filter system is comprised of a delay circuit 91, a filter 92, a subtracter 93, and a controller 94. The delay circuit 91 delays an AF input signal and supplies the delayed signal to the filter 92, and the filtered signal output from the filter 92 is output as an AF output of the adaptive filter system. The subtracter 93 obtains the difference between the AF input signal and the AF output signal. The controller 94 controls the characteristic of the filter 92 based on the difference obtained by the subtracter 93, in accordance with LMS (Least Mean Square) algorithm.
This adaptive filter system is provided at the AF stage. Therefore, the circuits at the RF stage or the IF stage of, for example, a demodulation circuit process the signal including unwanted components. Therefore, the dynamic range of these circuits become narrow and processing error is large. Further, when AGC (Automatic Gain Control) is performed at the IF stage, the amplitude of the object (target) signal is also erroneously adjusted (suppressed) based on the level of the unwanted signal.
A BPF (Band Pass Filter) is used in the superheterodyne receiver to cancel unwanted reception signals. Transmitters for amateur and service radio can change the frequency of the transmission signal within an allowable range. Thus, there is a large possibility that an unwanted signal is in the reception band (in the passing band of the BPF) of the receiver. Further, image interference, radio frequency interference, spurious beats, or the like are easily contaminated to the reception signals. Notch filters are used for conventional amateur and service radio transceivers to cancel unwanted signals in the passing band of the BPF. In recent amateur and service radio transceivers, digital notch filters or adaptive digital notch filter systems are used whose filter coefficients are set by using adaptive algorithms.
An adaptive notch filter system, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,226,057, for example, converts a received radio-frequency signal to an intermediate-frequency signal, and supplies the intermediate-frequency signal to a plurality of notch filters connected in series to cancel unwanted signal components, then demodulates and outputs the signal output from the series-connected filters.
However, when the notch filter system is formed by using a digital signal processing technique, the processing amount becomes much and processing errors increases as the amount of processing increases.
Recently, in the field of mobile communications or the like, an RZ (Real Zero) SSB system has been proposed as a radio communication system having a good phasing property and a high frequency utilization factor.
The conventional demodulation circuit of the RZSSB signal comprises an FM demodulation circuit having a limiter, a frequency detection circuit, and an integration circuit, and a linearizer. The linearizer, however, comprises a Hilbert transformer, and the quality of the demodulation signal is greatly influenced by the characteristics of the Hilbert transformer. Therefore, although the Hilbert transformer having a good property is required, it is difficult to design the Hilbert transformer having a good property.
To solve this problem, the applicant of the present application also proposed demodulation circuits without a linearizer in Japanese Patent Application Hei 6-206907 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,548,243.
A carrier reproduction circuit disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Hei 6-206,907 produces a low-frequency signal by mixing the received intermediate frequency signal with a local oscillation signal, and abstracts a carrier by passing the low-frequency signal through an active bandpass filter with a narrow pass-band.
A carrier reproduction circuit disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,548,243 prepares an intermediate frequency signal by mixing a received signal with a local oscillation signal, and abstracts a carrier by passing the intermediate frequency signal through the BPF. An FM detection circuit detects the signal output from the BPF. The carrier is reproduced by controlling the local oscillation signal using the detected output.
These carrier reproduction circuits have to reproduce not only the frequency but also the phase of the carrier exactly. When the carrier reproduction circuit comprises an analog circuit, however, the exact reproduction of the carrier is difficult. When the carrier reproduction circuit comprises a digital circuit, its structure and the processing it performs become complex.

Digital filter system, carrier reproduction circuit using the digital filter system, and demodulation circuit using the carrier reproduction circuit


Anti-aliased output based on a scene comprising a plurality of objects may be generated. In one embodiment, a number of samples for an anti-aliasing operation is determined. For each of the samples: each of the objects may be translated in space according to jitter values; the objects may be multiplied by a fractional alpha value for the respective sample; a fractional alpha value stored in a buffer may be modified by a transparency value for each transparent object; and the objects may be rendered to the buffer by blending the objects with existing contents of the buffer. The fractional alpha values may vary from sample to sample. In one embodiment, the plurality of objects comprises one or more opaque objects and one or more transparent objects. In one embodiment, the objects may be rendered directly to a screen buffer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to computer systems; and more particularly, it is directed to the rendering of anti-aliased artwork using computer systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
As the power and complexity of personal computer systems increase, graphics operations are increasingly being performed by dedicated graphics rendering devices referred to as graphics processing units (GPUs). As used herein, the terms "graphics processing unit" and "graphics processor" are used interchangeably. GPUs are often used in removable graphics cards that are coupled to a motherboard via a standardized bus (e.g., AGP or PCI Express). GPUs may also be used in game consoles and in integrated graphics solutions (e.g., for use in some portable computers and lower-cost desktop computers). Although GPUs vary in their capabilities, they may typically be used to perform such tasks as rendering of two-dimensional (2D) graphical data, rendering of three-dimensional (3D) graphical data, accelerated rendering of graphical user interface (GUI) display elements, and digital video playback. A GPU may implement one or more application programmer interfaces (APIs) that permit programmers to invoke the functionality of the GPU.
A GPU may include various built-in and configurable structures for rendering digital images to an imaging device. Digital images may include raster graphics, vector graphics, or a combination thereof. Raster graphics data (also referred to herein as bitmaps) may be stored and manipulated as a grid of individual picture elements called pixels. A bitmap may be characterized by its width and height in pixels and also by the number of bits per pixel. Commonly, a color bitmap defined in the RGB (red, green blue) color space may comprise between one and eight bits per pixel for each of the red, green, and blue channels. An alpha channel may be used to store additional data such as per-pixel transparency values.
Vector graphics data may be stored and manipulated as one or more geometric objects built with geometric primitives. The geometric primitives (e.g., points, lines, polygons, Bézier curves, and text characters) may be based upon mathematical equations to represent parts of digital images. The geometric objects may typically be located in two-dimensional or three-dimensional space. To render vector graphics on raster-based imaging devices (e.g., most display devices and printers), the geometric objects are typically converted to raster graphics data in a process called rasterization.
To reduce demands on central processing units (CPUs) of computer systems, GPUs may be tasked with performing operations that would otherwise contribute to the CPU load. Accordingly, modern GPUs are typically implemented with specialized features for efficient performance of common graphics operations. For example, a GPU often includes a plurality of execution channels that can be used simultaneously. A GPU may also include dedicated structures or built-in program instructions for anti-aliasing rendered objects. Anti-aliasing is any technique for minimizing the jagged, pixilated, or "aliased" edges of objects. Typically, aliasing occurs on objects with non-orthogonal edges, and anti-aliasing may be used to provide a smoother appearance for those edges on a display screen, printed document, or other image rendered on a raster-based imaging device.
One approach for performing anti-aliasing using a GPU includes rendering the artwork to an off-screen buffer (e.g., a multi-sampling image buffer) that is larger than the final displayed image on the target imaging device. The super-sampled image may include a set of samples, each with its own color and alpha values, to represent each pixel at the display resolution. The super-sampled image may then be reduced in size (e.g., using appropriate filtering or averaging of neighboring samples) to generate an anti-aliased image in the screen buffer at the display resolution. Typically, the super-sampled image is larger than the final image by a power of 2. Another approach for performing anti-aliasing using a GPU includes rendering the image several times, slightly "jittering" the camera each time, and averaging the resulting images to generate an anti-aliased image in the screen buffer. The jittering approach typically requires the allocation of multiple off-screen color buffers and depth buffers in the GPU memory (e.g., one color buffer and depth buffer per sample) for storage of the individual jittered images.
Both the super-sampling technique and the jittering technique may consume an extensive amount of the GPU's built-in memory, bandwidth, and other resources. Therefore, the number of samples available in an anti-aliasing operation using these approaches may be limited by the amount of GPU memory. It may be desirable to perform anti-aliasing with more samples per pixel than are available using the super-sampling technique or the jittering technique on a typical GPU.

Rendering antialiased geometry to an image buffer using jittering


The present disclosure relates to a slat conveyor for transporting material in mining and extraction systems. The slat conveyor may comprise a plurality of channel elements arranged in a series, a material-transport strand and an oppositely-moving return strand. The slat conveyor may further comprise an endless conveyor including a conveyor chain and a plurality of transport plates with a plate section, which may be pivotable downward in a delivery area for the transported material. Thus, for example, a flat-constructed slat conveyor (apron conveyor) having a low loading height may be provided.

In underground mining, face conveyors having drive means attached to conveyor chains have been used for decades, in order to transport away material that has been extracted from the mined face using a mining machine, for example a shearer loader or a mining plow, and then drop the material onto a so-called roadway conveyor, which can include in particular a belt conveyor having circulating rubber belts.
For many purposes a chain scraper conveyor (armored face conveyor) may be used in such applications as a face conveyor, which is provided with superimposed channel sections, in which the conveyor chain having the connected scraper cross-bars circulates as the drive means. The upper channel section is called the "upper strand" and constitutes the material-transport strand, while the lower strand constitutes the return strand. The ends of the scrapers are usually guided on profiled side profiles of the channel element. A disadvantage of this design is that the excavated material from the mining machine must be transported to the upper material-transport strand, for which it has been proposed, e.g. in WO 03/091 541 A1, to attach a loading ramp to the mining-face-side sidewall of the channel element. The loading ramp is bent in its height direction.
Chain scraper conveyors are suitable in particular as face conveyors for mining facilities in longwall operations, in which face lengths of 100 to over 400 meters predominate and a wandering support, comprised of numerous roof support frames, is used. The roof supports (shield supports) stand adjacent to one another, in order to keep the working room behind a mining face open for the mining machines, and move either group-wise or in alternating advancement of the roof supports with the mining front as it is further eroded with each machine pass.
For special applications such as in shortwall mining, which is used for example for advancing the stable of machines (cf. DE 1 583 039), or when material should be conveyed (transported) with both strands (DE 914 478), it is known to arrange the two strands not over one another, but rather substantially adjacent to one another.
A slat conveyor has already been proposed in DE Patent No. 914 478 for very special applications, in which trough-like, partially overlapping plates having lateral upturned edges are moved in a circulating manner using a conveyor chain. In this embodiment, the plates themselves move on guide rollers on both sides of channel elements. The channel elements forming the material-transport strand and the channel elements forming the return strand can be disposed either adjacent to one another to achieve a particularly low conveyor height, or one over the other. The plates are situated obliquely at an unloading point, so that the material can slide off from the top side of the transport plate over an open end between the upturned edges. At the unloading station and at the opposite return station the carrier plates that form the transport plates must be swiveled (pivoted) out to the side in a relatively complex manner with respect to the conveyor chain and then situated obliquely. The slat conveyor only functions if the conveyor belt is moved by a sufficient height in the delivery area, where the channels guiding the support plates are raised using lifting supports.
The present disclosure is directed, at least in part, to improving or overcoming one or more aspects of prior systems.

Slat conveyor for extraction systems and transport plates therefor