The system disclosed herein employs a method for facilitating access to supplemental information relating to text items entered into an editing application program by a speech recognition system, e.g. alternate translations of utterances stored in a dictation event database (DEDB). A speech event database (SEDB) associated with the editing program is maintained so as to contain text items entered by said speech recognition system and context information identifying preceding and following text items. In response to a user initiated change in the editing point, a context list is created characterizing a region of text around the new editing point. The speech SEDB event database is searched for text items matching items in said context list thereby to create a mapping of the list to the SEDB. The speech event database is then used as an index into said dictation event database, e.g. for correcting previously misrecognized utterances.

The present invention relates to speech recognition systems and more particularly to a speech recognition system working in conjunction with a text editing program and providing text input thereto.
Most modern speech recognition systems respond to a dictation event by generating not only a best match word corresponding to the dictation event but also a ranked list of alternate translations, together with a facility which allows the user to select one of the alternate translations from the list if the initially identified best match is not the correct translation. Preferred speech recognition systems also maintain a historical database of dictation events which records not only the list of alternate translations for each dictation event but also other useful information such as the acoustical record which is useful in training up word models. One system for maintaining such a historical database is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,231,670 issued Jul. 27, 1993 to Richard S. Goldhor et al. A system for improving word models based upon a user's acceptance of a translation or his choosing of an alternate is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,127,055 issued Jun. 30, 1992 to Leah S. Larkey.
Typically, speech recognition systems are used in conjunction with a separate editing or word processing application program with the speech recognition system being operative to provide successive text items to the editing program as the user makes successive utterances. A common difficulty with prior speech recognition/editing systems is that the speech recognition system loses context when the user changes the editing point in the editing program, e.g. by moving the editing cursor with the mouse or keyboard in computer systems providing a graphical user interface (GUI). Loss of context means that the speech recognition system no longer has information as to where the edit point is relative to the historical database maintained by the speech recognition system.
Among the several objects of the present invention may be noted the provision of a method for maintaining context between an editing program and a speech recognition system; the provision of such a method which facilitates access to supplemental information relating to text items obtained through the speech recognition system; the provision of a system allowing the user of an editing program to readily access alternate translations of text items entered into a document by a speech recognition system; the provision of such a system which facilitates the improvement of word models based on the user's correction of misrecognized speech events; the provision of such a system which is highly reliable and which is of relatively simple and inexpensive implementation. Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.


A method of presenting data regarding products. Feature categories are assigned to each product category based on available data. A weighted importance is assigned to each feature category of each product category based on the available data. The items in the product category are ranked according to the weighted importance of the feature categories of each item, and the evaluation metrics of each feature category.

An advantage offered by network-based transaction facilities (e.g., business-to-business, business-to-consumer and consumer-to-consumer Internet marketplaces and retailers) and on-line communities is that by using such facilities or communities, users may shop from a variety of merchants.
The merchants may offer a variety of products or specialize in one type of product. Some users buy products after searching through the offerings of the various merchants and comparing the products and the prices.
Recently comparison shopping facilities have developed that list various merchant offerings on one site to aid users in choosing from which merchant they should buy an item. These comparison shopping facilities present items by listing the price and name of the merchant offering the item.
The user may choose items from the listing and go to each merchant's site to learn more about each item or buy the item. Each available item from each manufacturer is listed separately. Thus, a user has to go to the comparison shopping facility either knowing what product to buy beforehand, and compare merchants and prices at the facility, or look at each item separately, by following a link to each merchant's site, to determine if the item is appropriate. Most comparisons performed by comparison shopping sites are based on the merchant's offer price. That is, the result of the comparison shopping is a list of items listed according to price.

Product feature and relation comparison system


A key model identification and feedback system includes a key identification housing, a master key receiving aperture, a master key identifier, a processor in communication with the master key identifier, and a feedback module. The processor is configured to access a database defining a plurality of known key models, compare the physical characteristics of the master key with physical characteristics of the known key models in the database to identify a model of the master key, and communicate the model of the master key to the feedback module coupled to the key identification housing. The feedback module, responsive to the communication from the processor, outputs an indication of the model of the master key and directions to a location remote from the key identification housing where a key blank having the same model of the master key is available for duplicating the master key.

1. Technical Field
Aspects of this document relate to public use key cutting and key duplication machines for reproducing keys. More specific implementations relate to simplified key duplication systems for identifying a predetermined number of keys for duplication.
2. Background Art
Conventionally, key cutting and key duplication machines are used to copy a key by cutting a bit pattern of a master key onto a key blank. It is known to use methods such as tracer bars, stylus, or other types of mechanical arms to trace a master key bit pattern. A trained operator conventionally was required to eyeball both a master key and a key blank and verify whether both keys are the same size and whether they comprise identical groves before attempting to cut the key. Once the key groves and key shape are verified, the master key and the key blank are placed in a key cutting machine such that the master key faces a stylus or a tracer bar and the key blank faces a cutting wheel.
After the keys are securely gripped by the key cutting machine, a carriage is manually shifted longitudinally along supporting shaft to trace the master key bit pattern so that the cutting wheel cuts the identical key pattern into the corresponding key blank. The key blank cut with the master key pattern is then removed from the grip and buffed on a buffing wheel to remove burrs.
An example of an elaborate system used to assist a trained worker in selecting an appropriate key blank and appropriately positioning the key blank and master key for cutting is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,443,339 to Heredia et al., titled "Method and Apparatus for Aligning and Cutting Single-sided and Double Sided Keys." More recent master key identification systems, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,836,553 to Campbell et al., titled "Key Identification System," the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference, automatically identifies the appropriate key blank and indicates that number for key selection.
A recent key duplication system described in International Application Number PCT/US2007/024522 to Freeman, et al. titled "Fully Automatic Key Duplicating Machine with Automatic Key Model Identification System" sought to reduce the need for the operation skills of a trained worker by automatically identifying master keys and automatically cutting and dispensing a duplicate key from a limited selection of keys within the key duplication system. Another recent key duplication system described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,890,878 to Bass et al., titled "Object Identification System," discloses a system that identifies an appropriate key blank by flashing a light adjacent the appropriate key blank on a product display next to a key blank cutter so that the consumer or a trained worker can select the appropriate key for insertion into the key blank cutter.
More than sixty percent of keys duplicated in United States are made either by SCHLAGE and KWIKSET manufacturers. Complex cutting machines not only aggravate issues pertinent to key cutting among consumers, such as key miscuts, they also tend to confuse a consumer with their intricacies and the skill required to operate.

Master key identification and feedback system


Each clock supply unit comprises an inter-unit synchronization portion which operates when the clock supply unit is acting as a standby unit, using a clock signal from a DPLL of a unit which is active as reference, to apply a predetermined phase difference to the output clock signal of the DPLL of the unit to cause synchronization with the output clock signal of the DPLL of the active unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a clock supply device which supplies a reference clock to a transmission device, such as an optical transmission device or mobile communications device, which is provided in a digital synchronous network. In particular, the present invention relates to a clock supply device which comprises a plurality of clock supply boards which generate clock signals based on an external reference clock supplied from an upper level of the digital synchronous network, whereby these clock supply boards create a redundant configuration.
2. Description of the Related Art
A reference clock source which act as a reference is provided in the uppermost layer of a digital synchronous network, and a standard cesium oscillator is generally used as this reference clock source. Each transmission device within the synchronous network comprises a unit (hereinafter called a "system clock supply device") which generates a system clock to be used within that device, based on a clock which is supplied from that reference clock source.
The system clock supply device could be considered to be the heart of a transmission device, and a breakdown in the system clock would cause an immediate system failure. For that reason, the system clock supply device is made to have a redundant configuration, in order to provide stable service in a communications device or the like which could cause serious trouble by failing.
A plurality of clock supply units is provided in a redundant system clock supply device; one of these is used to supply the current clock signal as an active unit (ACT unit) and the other clock supply unit acts as a standby unit (STBY unit).
An example of the redundant configuration of a system clock supply device of the prior art is shown in FIG. 1.
A system clock supply device 1 comprises a plurality of clock supply units 10 and 20 which each generate a clock signal based on an external reference clock, and the redundant configuration is implemented by using one unit as the active unit while another unit is on standby as a standby unit.
The first clock supply unit 10 comprises a reference clock selector 11 which selects one clock signal, with which that unit 10 is synchronized, from external reference clock signals which are supplied from N lines from a clock supply source of a higher level; a digital phase locked loop circuit (DPLL) 12 which generates a predetermined clock signal based on that external reference clock; and an analog phase locked loop circuit (APLL) 13 which generates a clock signal of a frequency higher than that of the clock signal generated by the DPLL 12. The second clock supply unit 20 has a structure similar to that of the first clock supply unit 10, that is, the second clock supply unit 20 comprises a reference clock selector 21, a DPLL 22, and an APLL 23.
The first clock supply unit 10 also comprises an output clock selector 15. The output clock selector 15 selects either a clock signal from the DPLL 12 of the self unit or a clock signal from the DPLL 22 of the second clock supply unit 20, which has been input thereto from the second clock supply unit 20 through back-board wiring B2, as the output clock signal which the first clock supply unit 10 outputs, for input to a distribution PLL 16.
Note that, in this document, the clock signal which has been input from the second clock supply unit 20 through the back-board wiring B2 to the first clock supply unit 10 is called the "partner clock signal" in descriptions relating to the first clock supply unit 10.
The distribution PLL 16 inputs the clock signal which has been selected by the output clock selector 15, generates a clock signal synchronized with that clock signal, and outputs that to an electronic device 2.
When the output clock selector 15 has switched the output clock signal which is output from the first clock supply unit 10 from one of the clock signal from the DPLL 12 and the partner clock signal to the other, the distribution PLL 16 smoothes any sudden phase change in the output clock signal caused by any phase difference between the two clock signals.
If a problem occurs in the active unit which is currently being used, the distribution PLL 16 also fulfills the role of continuing the supply of the clock signal to the electronic device 2 in the later stage by self-oscillation during the short period of time until the switchover operation of the output clock selector 15 is completed, even if the input of the clock signal from the DPLL of the active unit has ceased.
Note that the second clock supply unit 20 has a similar configuration to that of the first clock supply unit 10, that is, the second clock supply unit 20 comprises an output clock selector 25 and a distribution PLL 26. The clock signal from the DPLL 12 of the clock supply unit 10 is input into the second clock supply unit 20 through back-board wiring B1.
Note that, in this document, the clock signal which has been input from the first clock supply unit 10 through the back-board wiring B1 to the second clock supply unit 20 is called the "partner clock signal" in descriptions relating to the second clock supply unit 20.
In this case, the expression "the clock signal from the", within phrases such as "the clock signal from the DPLL 12" and "the clock signal from the DPLL of the self unit" which are used in this document and in the descriptions of the claims, is used to indicate which of the clock supply units has the DPLL which generates the clock signal in which the target clock signal originates. For example, the target clock signal in the above expression may be the clock signal generated by that DPLL directly, a clock signal generated by a later-stage APLL based on the clock signal generated by the DPLL directly, and a clock signal which is one of those signals which has been delayed by a known delay line.
To indicate the clock signal which is generated by the DPLL directly, on the other hand, expressions such as "the clock signal generated by" the DPLL 12 or "the output clock signal of" the DPLL 22 of the second clock supply unit 20.
The system clock supply device 1 performs the operation of switching one of the clock supply units 10 and 20 from being the active unit to being the standby unit, and the other from being the standby unit to being the active unit, by means of the two output clock selectors 15 and 25.
When the first clock supply unit 10 is the active unit and the second clock supply unit 20 is the standby unit, as shown in FIG. 1 by way of example, the clock signal from the DPLL 12 of the first clock supply unit 10 is output from the clock supply unit 10 while the partner clock signal from the DPLL 12 of the first clock supply unit 10 is also output from the second clock supply unit 20.
Conversely, when the second clock supply unit 20 is the active unit and the first clock supply unit 10 is the standby unit, the clock signal from the DPLL 22 of the second clock supply unit 20 is output from the clock supply unit 20 while the partner clock signal from the DPLL 22 of the second clock supply unit 20 is also output from the first clock supply unit 10.
To ensure that there is no phase difference between the clock signals supplied from the two units 10 and 20 due to a delay in the back-board wiring between the first clock supply unit 10 and the second clock supply unit 20 delay lines 14 and 24, which have delays corresponding to the delays of the back-board wiring, are provided between the APLL 13 of the first clock supply unit 10 and the output clock selector 15 and between the APLL 23 of the second clock supply unit 20 and the output clock selector 25, respectively.
The switchover operations of the two output clock selectors 15 and 25 is controlled by an active-system switching signal which is generated by an active-system switcher portion 40 provided within the system clock supply device 1 or provided in an external device at a level higher than that of the system clock supply device 1. The active-system switcher portion 40 detects an abnormality in the output clock of the active unit, for example, then automatically switches the state of the unit which was being used as the active unit from active state to standby state and switches the state of the unit which was on standby as the standby unit from standby state to active state. The active-system switcher portion 40 also can also be set to do this switchover in answer to a manual operation by the operator.
The electronic device 2 which uses the clock signal supplied from the system clock supply device 1 comprises a unit selector 31, which selects one of the two clock supply units 10 and 20 as the active unit and receive the clock signal supplied by the selected unit, and a PLL 32 which generates a clock signal to be used within that device 2, based on the clock signal which is received from the thus-selected active unit.


A high strength, corrosion resistant Crxe2x80x94Coxe2x80x94Ni base alloy for long-life service at 530xc2x0 C. to 820xc2x0 C. containing in % by weight about 23.5-25.5% Cr, 15.0-22.0% Co, 0.2-2.0% Al, 0.5-2.5% Ti, 0.5-2.5% Nb, up to 2.0% Mo, up to 1.0% Mn, 0.3-1.0% Si, up to 3.0% Fe, up to 0.3% Ta, up to 0.3% W, 0.005-0.08% C, 0.01-0.3 % Zr, 0.001-0.01% B, up to 0.05% rare earth as misch metal, 0.005-0.025% Mg plus optional Ca, balance Ni including trace additions and impurities. The alloy provides a combination of strength, ductility, stability, toughness and oxidation/sulfidation resistance so as to render the alloy range uniquely suitable for engineering applications where oxygen/sulfur-containing atmospheres are life limiting, in applications such as exhaust valves for diesel engines and in tubes for coal-fired steam boilers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to Nixe2x80x94Coxe2x80x94Cr base alloys and, more particularly, to a high strength, sulfidation resistant Nixe2x80x94Coxe2x80x94Cr alloy for long-life service at 538xc2x0 C. to 816xc2x0 C. The alloy of the present invention provides a combination of strength, ductility, stability, toughness and oxidation/sulfidation resistance so as to render the alloy range uniquely suitable for engineering applications where sulfur-containing atmospheres are life limiting.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Over the years, researchers have continually developed alloys meeting requirements for both high strength at intermediate temperatures and corrosion resistance under severe environmental conditions. This quest for increasing performance is far from over as designers and engineers continuously seek to increase productivity, lower operating costs, improve yields and extend service lives. All too often, however, researchers terminated their efforts when the target combination of properties was achieved. Such is the case, for example, in two industrial areas in critical need of advanced alloys to maintain progress. These industrial applications are diesel exhaust valves and alloys for coal-fired boilers. These applications have in common that their developers require ever-increasing strength at increasingly higher temperatures, improved resistance to sulfur-containing atmospheres as atmospheres become more demanding and increases in service lives to assure trouble-free operation over the life of the equipment. Heavy-duty diesel engines in off-road construction equipment, often operating in remote corners of the globe where refined, low sulfur fuels are not available, are suffering exhaust valve failure due to sulfidation attack. Maintenance of these engines, usually requiring original equipment mechanics, can become prohibitively expensive and time-consuming. These same engines are now being designed for higher temperatures to increase power and efficiency. This has only served to exacerbate the alloy challenge.
Ultra supercritical boiler designers are creating a similar problem in coal-fired boilers as utilities seek to improve efficiency by raising steam pressure and temperature. Today""s boilers with efficiencies around 45% typically operate at a 290 bar steam pressure and 580xc2x0 C. steam temperature. Boiler designers are setting their sights on 50% efficiency or better by raising the steam conditions as high as 375 bar/700xc2x0 C. To meet this requirement in the boiler tubing, the 100,000 hour stress rupture life must exceed 100 MPa at 750xc2x0 C. (mid radius tube wall temperature needed to maintain a 700xc2x0 C. steam temperature at the inner wall surface). Raising steam temperature has made coal ash corrosion more troublesome, placing a further requirement on any new alloy. This corrosion requirement is less than 2 mm of metal loss in 200,000 hours for exposures in the temperature range of 700xc2x0 C. to 800xc2x0 C. For economy, the boiler tube must be as thin-walled as possible (i.e.,  less than 8 mm wall thickness) and be fabricable into long lengths in high yield on conventional tube making equipment. This places a major constraint on the maximum work-hardening rate and yield strength tolerable in manufacture and field installation, physical property characteristics running counter to the need for superior strength in valve and boiler tube service.
To meet the new strength and temperature requirements of an advanced diesel exhaust valve or a future boiler tube alloy, designers must exclude the usual ferritic, solid solution austenitic and age-hardenable alloys heretofore employed for this service. These materials commonly lack one or more of the requirements of adequate strength, temperature capability and stability or sulfidation resistance. For example, the typical age-hardenable alloy, in order to develop high strength at intermediate temperatures, must be alloyed with insufficient chromium for peak sulfidation resistance in order to maximize the age-hardening potential of the alloy. Adding chromium not only degrades the strengthening mechanism but, if added in excess, can result in embrittling sigma, mu or alpha-chromium formation. Since 538xc2x0 C. to 816xc2x0 C. is a very active range for carbide precipitation and embrittling grain boundary film formation, alloy stability is compromised in many alloys in the interest of achieving high temperature strength and adequate sulfidation resistance.
The present invention overcomes the problems of the prior art by providing a Nixe2x80x94Coxe2x80x94Cr-base alloy range possessing exceptional resistance to sulfur-containing atmospheres containing limiting amounts of Al, Ti, Nb, Mo and C for high strength at 538xc2x0 C. to 816xc2x0 C. while retaining ductility, stability and toughness.
The present invention contemplates a newly-discovered alloy range that extends service conditions for the above-described critical industrial applications notwithstanding the seemingly incongruous constraints imposed by the alloying elements economically available to the alloy developer. Past alloy developers commonly claimed broad ranges of their alloying elements which, when combined in all purported proportions, would have faced these counter influences on overall properties. The present inventors have discovered that a narrow range of composition does exist that allows one to fabricate a high strength alloy for service at 538xc2x0 C. to 816xc2x0 C. with both sulfidation resistance, phase stability and workability. A better appreciation of the alloying difficulties can be presented by defining below the benefits and impediments associated with each element employed in the present invention.
A high strength, sulfidation resistant Crxe2x80x94Coxe2x80x94Ni base alloy for long-life service at 538xc2x0 C. to 816xc2x0 C. containing, in % by weight, about 23.5-25.5%Cr, 15.0-22.0%Co, 0.2-2.0%Al, 0.5-2.5%Ti, 0.5-2.5%Nb, up to 2.0%Mo, up to 1.0%Mn, 0.3-1.0%Si, up to 3.0%Fe, up to 0.3%Ta, up to 0.3%W, 0.005-0.08%C. 0.01-0.3%Zr, 0.001-0.01%B, up to 0.05% rare earth as misch metal, 0.005-0.025%Mg plus optional Ca, balance Ni, including trace additions, such as up to 0.05%La, up to 0.05%Y, plus impurities. The alloy provides a combination of strength, ductility, stability, toughness and oxidation/sulfidation resistance so as to render the alloy range uniquely suitable for engineering applications where sulfur-containing atmospheres are life limiting.
The combination of elements set forth above unexpectedly and surprisingly possesses all of the critical attributes required of high strength applications in sulfur-containing atmospheres. It has been discovered that sulfidation resistance can be achieved by alloying within a narrow range of Cr (23.5-25.5%Cr) without destroying phase stability resulting from embrittling phases by concurrently limiting certain elements to very narrow ranges, namely, Mo to less than 2%, C to less than 0.08%, Fe to less than 3.0% and the total Ta plus W content to less than 0.6%. Less than 23.5%Cr results in inadequate sulfidation resistance and greater than 25.5%Cr produces embrittling phases even with the alloy restrictions defined above. It should be mentioned that, unless otherwise specified, all percentages of the various alloy constituents set forth herein are percent by weight.
Oftentimes, in striving for maximum corrosion resistance, the resultant alloys lack the required high temperature strength. This has been solved by the instant invention by balancing the weight percent of precipitation hardening elements to a narrow range where the resulting volume percent of hardening phase is between about 10 and 20% within the Nixe2x80x94Coxe2x80x94Cr matrix. Excessive amounts of the hardener elements not only reduce phase stability and lower ductility and toughness, but also render valve and tubing manufacturability extremely difficult, if not impossible. The selection of each elemental alloying range can be rationalized in terms of the function each element is expected to perform within the compositional range of the present invention. This rationale is defined below.
Chromium (Cr) is an essential element in the alloy of the invention because Cr assures development of a protective scale which confers the high temperature oxidation and sulfidation resistance vital for the intended applications. In conjunction with the minor elements Zr (up to 0.3%), Mg (up to 0.025%) and Si (up to 1.0%), the protective nature of the scale is even more enhanced and made effective to higher temperatures. The function of these minor elements is to enhance scale adhesion, scale density and resistance of the scale to decomposition. The minimum level of Cr is chosen to assure xcex1-chromia scale formation at 538xc2x0 C. and above. This level of Cr was found to be about 23.5%. Slightly higher Cr levels accelerated xcex1-chromia formation but did not change the nature of the scale. The maximum Cr level for this alloy range was determined by alloy stability and workability. This maximum level of Cr was found to be about 25.5%.
Cobalt (Co) is an essential matrix-forming element because Co contributes to hot hardness and strength retention at the upper regions of the intended service temperature (538xc2x0 C.-816xc2x0 C.) and contributes in a significant way to the high temperature corrosion resistance of the alloy range. However, because of cost, it is preferred to maintain the level of Co below 40% of that of the Ni content. Thus the beneficial range of the Co content becomes 15.0-22.0%.
Aluminum (Al) is an essential element in the alloy of the present invention not only because Al contributes to deoxidation but because it reacts with nickel (Ni) in conjunction with Ti and Nb to form the high temperature phases, gamma prime (Ni3Al,Ti,Nb) and eta phase (Ni3Ti,Al,Nb). The Al content is restricted to the range of 0.2-2.0%. The minimum total of elements contributing the hardening elements are related by the following formula:
%Al+0.56xc3x97x%Ti+0.29xc3x97%Nb=1.7%, preferably xe2x89xa72.0%xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(1)
While the maximum hardening elements are related by the following formula:
%Al+0.56xc3x97%Ti+0.29xc3x97%Nb =3.8%, preferably  less than 3.5%xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(2)
Larger amounts than 2.0%Al in conjunction with the other hardener elements markedly reduce ductility, stability and toughness and reduce workability of the alloy range. Internal oxidation and sulfidation can increase with higher amounts of Al.
Titanium (Ti) in the range 0.5-2.5% is an essential strengthening element as defined in equations (1) and (2), above. Ti also serves to act as grain size stabilizer in conjunction with Nb by forming a small amount of primary carbide of the (Ti,Nb)C type. The amount of carbide is limited to less than 1.0 volume % in order to preserve hot and cold workability of the alloy. Ti in amounts in excess of 2.5% is prone in internal oxidation to leading to reduced matrix ductility.
Niobium (Nb) in the range 0.5-2.5% is also an essential strengthening and grain size control element in the alloy of the present invention. The Nb content must fit within the constraints of equations (1) and (2), above, when Al and Ti are present. Nb along with Ti can react with C to form primary carbides which act as grain size stabilizers during hot working. Compositions 2 through 4 of Table IIB contain increasing amounts of Nb which, when one examines the flue gas/coal ash corrosion data of Table VI, finds that Nb has a negligible effect on the rate of corrosion within the limits of the present invention. Table VI presents metal loss and depth of attack for 2,000 hours at 700xc2x0 C. in a flue gas environment of 15%CO2B4%O2B 1.0%SO2Bbal.N2 flowing at the rate of 250 cubic centimeters per minute. The specimens were coated with a synthetic ash comprising 2.5%Na2SO4+2.5%K2SO4+31.67%Fe2O3+31.67%SiO231.67%Al2O3. An excessive amount of Nb can reduce the protective nature of protective scale and, hence, is to be avoided. Tantalum and W also form primary carbides which can function similarly to that of Nb and Ti. However, their negative effect on xcex1-chromia stability limits their presence of each to less than 0.3%.
Molybdenum (Mo) can contribute to solid solution strengthening of the matrix but must be restricted to less than 2.0% due to its apparent deleterious effect on oxidation and sulfidation resistance when added in greater amounts to the alloys of the present invention. Table V shows the reduction in sulfidation resistance as a function of Mo content based on metal loss and depth of attack after times to 3,988 hours at 700xc2x0 C. in a flue gas environment of 15%CO2B4%O2B 1.0%SO2Bbal.N2 flowing at the rate of 250 cubic centimeters per minute. The specimens were coated with a synthetic ash comprising 2.5%Na2SO4 +2.5%K2SO4+31.67%Fe2O3+31.67%SiO2+31.67%Al2O3.
Manganese (Mn), while an effective desulfurizer during melting, is overall a detrimental element in that it reduces protective scale integrity. Consequently, the Mn content is maintained below 0.5%. Mn, above this level, degrades the xcex1-chromia phase by diffusing into the scale and forming a spinel, MnCr2O4. This oxide is significantly less protective of the matrix than is xcex1-chromia.
Silicon (Si) is an essential element in the alloy according to the present invention because Si ultimately forms an enhancing silica (SiO2) layer beneath the xcex1-chromia scale to further improve corrosion resistance in oxidizing and sulfidizing environments. This is achieved by the blocking action that the silica layer contributes to inhibiting ingress of the molecules or ions of the atmosphere and the egress of cations of the alloy. Levels of Si between 0.3 and 1.0% are effective in this role. Excessive amounts of Si can contribute to loss of ductility, toughness and workability.
Iron (Fe) additions to the alloys of the invention lower the high temperature corrosion resistance by reducing the integrity of the xcex1-chromia scale by forming the spinel, FeCr2O4. Consequently, it is preferred that the level of Fe be maintained at less than 3.0%.
Zirconium (Zr) in amounts between 0.01-0.3% and boron (B) in amounts between 0.001-0.01% are effective in contributing to high temperature strength and Stress rupture ductility. Larger amounts of these elements lead to grain boundary liquation and markedly reduced hot workability. Zr in the above compositional range also aids scale adhesion under thermally cyclic conditions. Magnesium (Mg) and optionally calcium (Ca) in a total amount between 0.005 and 0.025% are both an effective desulfurizer of the alloy and a contributor to scale adhesion. Excessive amounts of these elements reduce hot workability and lower product yield. Trace amounts of La, Y, or misch metal may be present in the alloys of the invention as impurities or as deliberate additions up to 0.05% to promote hot workability and scale adhesion. However, their presence is not mandatory as is that of Mg and optionally Ca.
Carbon (C) should be maintained between 0.005-0.08% to aid grain size control in conjunction with Ti and Nb since the carbides of these elements are stable in the hot working range (1000-1175xc2x0 C.) of the alloys of the present invention. These carbides also contribute to strengthening the grain boundaries to enhance stress rupture properties.
Nickel (Ni) forms the critical matrix and must be present in an amount greater than 45% in order to assure phase stability, adequate high temperature strength, ductility, toughness and good workability.

Ni-Co-Cr high temperature strength and corrosion resistant alloy


A method for providing a calibrated rock-physics model of a subsoil. First, a geological model of the subsoil comprising a grid made of cells, associated with a rock-physics parameter is obtained. A group of cells forming a calibration body is selected in the grid. The calibration body corresponds to a region of the subsoil having substantially homogenous rock-physics parameter values. Finally, an adjustable constant parameter in a physical equation expressing a relationship between the petro-physical parameter and a petro-elastic parameter in the calibration body is calibrated so as to reduce a mismatch between the petro-elastic parameter estimated using the physical equation and a petro-elastic parameter value determined from inverted seismic data, the calibrated physical equation providing a calibrated rock-physics model of the subsoil in the calibration body.

Geophysical surveys provide data that can be used to obtain a realistic representation of a subsoil, locate hydrocarbon reservoirs and obtain information on the composition of geological layers in the subsoil. Such surveys provide valuable information on the nature of the subsoil, such as for example the layer structure of the subsoil, each layer corresponding to a medium. Each area having substantially identical physical properties in a layer can be referred to as being a "facies", that is to say a region of the subsoil forming a substantially homogeneous soil medium.
The layer structure of the subsoil can be obtained by collecting samples and performing logging acquisition at wells or bore holes drilled in the subsoil. Away from the wells or bore holes, information on the layer structure can be obtained indirectly by analyzing seismic data. Seismic data can be obtained by recording seismic waves emitted from the surface and reflected at interfaces in the subsoil.
Modeling of the structure of the subsoil is subject to some interpretation especially away from areas such as wells, bore holes or areas from which samples were collected, that is to say, away from areas where accurate data can be obtained from measurements. This uncertainty more particularly affects the estimation of petro-elastic parameters of the layers of the subsoil.
Knowledge of these petro-elastic parameters is sought to provide a deeper understanding of the physics of the subsoil in order to describe subsoil more accurately and to be able to predict its future evolution. Petro-elastic parameters, such as for example rock density rho, acoustic wave propagation velocity for P and S waves in the medium Vp, Vs, can be expressed as functions of rock-physics parameters. Rock-physics parameters can be inferred from measurements performed on the subsoil. In the invention, the term "rock-physics parameter" is used to define petro-physical parameters, geomechanical parameters, thermodynamical parameters for example.
Examples of rock-physics parameters include proportion of clay volume in the medium Vcl, porosity, fluid saturations of the medium, pressure or temperature. Physical equations relate rock-physics parameters to petro-elastic parameters. These physical equations form a "rock-physics model".
When a rock physics-model is applied to a rock-physics parameter, or a set of rock-physics parameters (considered as inputs of the rock-physics model), a petro-elastic parameter value or a set of petro-elastic parameter values can be estimated (considered as an output of the rock-physics model).
The rock-physics parameters that describe the physics of the subsoil can include for example: clay volume Vcl in the medium, porosity Ppore of the medium, fluids saturations in the medium, pressure P in the medium or temperature T.
Seismic measurements provide data that can be inverted to obtain an experimental value for petro-elastic parameters of the subsoil. When there is a mismatch between petro-elastic parameters inferred from inverted seismic data and petro-elastic parameters estimated using a rock-physics model, either the rock-physics model or the geological model can be the source of the mismatch. Prior art techniques do not provide a reliable method to determine what should be calibrated, nor how. Calibration involves adjusting constant parameters in the physical equations of the rock-physics model, but this operation is generally not very efficient in effectively reducing the mismatch to a sufficient degree.
Production in subsoil can involve several actions which affect the structure of the subsoil and the rock-physics parameters of its layers. For example, extraction of hydrocarbons can affect water, oil or gas saturation of layers, pressure in the layers and porosity. Other actions such as injecting fluids to extract the hydrocarbons or to fill empty spaces in the subsoil can also affect petro-elastic parameters. Such changes in rock-physics parameters induce changes in petro-elastic parameters.
To monitor these modifications, four-dimensional or 4D seismic measurements are performed. These measurements involve the recording of seismic data of the subsoil at different times. In addition to 4D seismic measurements, sensors located within boreholes may record the local evolution of values of different parameters of the subsoil (including rock-physics parameters) to track changes in the subsoil as a function of time, such as pressure, fluid flow for example.
The laws of physics provide equations that make up a rock-physics model, capable of expressing a relationship between rock-physics parameters and petro-elastic parameters. For example, Gassmann's equation describes the influence of fluid saturation of a rock on rock density, and seismic wave propagation velocity in the rock. Other examples of physical equations can be found, describing relationships relating other rock-physics parameters to a petro-elastic parameter. It is also possible to produce models of the evolution over time of a petro-elastic parameter when subsoil is subjected to a physical phenomenon such as pumping or injection of fluids. Some laws can be estimated from laboratory measurements performed on rock samples.
These laws comprise several adjustable constant parameters that can be estimated by comparing rock-physics model outputs (petro-elastic parameters) to inverted seismic data and calibrating the adjustable constant parameters to achieve the best fit between inverted seismic data and rock-physics model outputs.
The reservoir model of a subsoil comprises a model of the layer structure of the subsoil filled with the values of rock-physics parameters in this subsoil. Values of rock-physics parameters can be obtained by direct measurements at wells or bore holes as explained above, and can involve experiments conducted on extracted samples to check the physics in a layer of the subsoil. Petro-elastic values within the reservoir model can be estimated by applying rock-physics model equations to the rock-physics parameters of the reservoir model. However, the constructed model is often inaccurate because most of the information, and particularly the values of rock-physics parameters, is extrapolated, and because rock-physics models have their own uncertainties. As a result, petro-elastic parameters generally do not fit well with inverted seismic data (the latter being also subject to some uncertainties due for example to experimental bias). The evolution (spatially or over time) of estimated petro-elastic parameters generally fails to match the evolution of the subsoil when predicted by physical laws, i.e. by an uncalibrated rock-physics model.
A calibration process can be performed on the rock-physics model by adjusting the values of estimated rock-physics parameters in an effort to better match inverted seismic data for base and monitor data sets. Once this adjustment of the values of rock-physics parameters is performed, a calibration of the adjustable constant parameters of the rock-physics model can be implemented, to provide a rock-physics model capable of reproducing the evolution of petro-elastic parameters as a function of time when certain actions (such as production or injection of fluids) are performed in the subsoil.
Prior art methods typically implement this calibration step manually, for example by applying a multiplying factor to the adjustable constant parameters in physical equations in order to optimize the fit between modelled behavior of petro-elastic parameters and the evolution obtained from seismic data. A problem with this approach is that it tries to calibrate the adjustable constant parameters of the rock-physics model randomly in the subsoil, and to fit seismic data with the model over the entire volume of the subsoil.
This approach is unsuccessful because many physical phenomena can occur simultaneously in the subsoil (production, local injection of fluids, local change in porosity or density for example), each being best described by a different physical law, that is to say a different rock-physics model. A global calibration approach over the entire volume of the subsoil artificially tries to fit unsuitable rock-physics model outputs with inverted seismic data that correspond to a much more complex geophysical reality in the subsoil.
Furthermore, the layer structure of the subsoil can change over time, which cannot be accounted for using the "global" approach of the prior art, which is too empirical. Since the rock-physics model that is obtained in the prior art does not accurately reproduce inverted seismic data, it is impossible to know whether this mismatch is due to errors in the calibration process (erroneous values estimated for the adjustable constant parameters of the rock-physics model), errors in the inverted seismic data (due for example to some experimental bias), errors in the rock-physics parameters used to estimate petro-elastic parameters, or errors in the layer structure of the reservoir model.
Prior art generally provides a rough rock-physics model that is not very efficient in predicting the future evolution of the subsoil.
A method for estimating a more reliable rock-physics model of a subsoil to better predict the evolution over time of a subsoil is sought.

Method for providing a calibrated rock-physics model of a subsoil


Propulsion apparatus is disclosed for urging a trenching arm forward against the advancing face of an elongate trench being dug by the trenching arm. The propulsion apparatus includes a propulsion member which is engageable with the base wall of the trench such that the trenching arm may be urged forward relative to the engaged propulsion member. The propulsion member may then be withdrawn from engagement with the base wall and retracted towards the trenching arm before commencing a further propulsion cycle. The propulsion member is also operable to cooperate with the trenching arm in excavating a starting slot at the beginning of a new trench.

This invention relates to a trenching or trench excavating apparatus wherein a deep trench is dug and corners are formed, the trench to receive poured concrete as in the formation of an inground retaining wall. It is contemplated that the trench dug by the apparatus will have a depth of up to or exceeding 25 feet.
Propulsion apparatus which is engageable with the side or base walls of a trench is disclosed in co-pending application Ser. No. 059,745, and may be utilized to provide propulsive force within the trench, enabling a relatively light machine to be used for a particular trenching operation. Such propulsion apparatus may have difficulty adapting to varying ground types and may jam due to the ingress of dirt dislodged during the excavation process, or wet concrete, which is often poured immediately behind the trenching arm to minimize the probability of trench collapse in soft ground conditions.


A magnetic one-component developing toner including a plurality of toner particles is provided. Each of the plurality of toner particles contains a binder resin including a polyester resin; and a magnetic powder. Water absorptions of the toner and the magnetic powder shown in an environment of 10° C. and 20% RH and in an environment of 28° C. and 80% RH respectively fall in predetermined ranges.

The present disclosure relates to a magnetic one-component developing toner.
As dry developing methods currently practically employed in electrophotography, two-component development and magnetic one-component development are known. In the two-component development, a toner and a carrier are used. In the magnetic one-component development, a carrier is not used but a toner containing a magnetic powder is used. The toner containing a magnetic powder (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the magnetic toner) used in the magnetic one-component development has advantages of low cost and excellent durability. In such a magnetic toner, a polyester resin is often used as a binder resin because a coloring agent or a magnetic powder can be satisfactorily dispersed in the toner and the toner can easily attain excellent low-temperature fixability when the polyester resin is used as a binder resin.
If an image is formed by using a magnetic toner containing a polyester resin as a binder resin in a high-temperature and high-humidity environment, however, the image density of the formed image is liable to be lower than a desired value due to degradation of the charge amount of the toner.
In order to solve this problem, a particle powder of black magnetic iron oxide having an average particle size of 0.05 μm or more and 2.0 μm or less and an electrical resistance value of 1×108 Ω·cm or more under an applied voltage of 100 V has been proposed. If a magnetic toner containing such a particle powder of black magnetic iron oxide as a magnetic powder is used, an image can be formed in a desired image density even in a high-temperature and high-humidity environment.


A transmission includes a selectable one-way clutch (SOWC) assembly. The SOWC assembly includes a rotatable pocket plate, a rotatable slide plate, and an annular piston having a ramped surface feature. The piston, which can be hydraulically actuated, moves axially toward the pocket plate when applied, and axially away from the pocket plate when released, to thereby select between two torque holding or operating modes of the SOWC assembly. The ramped surface feature of the piston engages an axial knob portion of the slide plate when the piston is applied to select to one operating mode, thus rotating the slide plate in one direction. A return spring moves the piston away from the pocket plate when the other operating mode is selected, and the slide plate is rotated via a spring in another direction. A guide pin maintains a relative position of the piston and the slide plate.

In various mechanical devices, and particularly within automatic vehicle transmissions, specialized overrunning or one-way clutches are used to produce a one-way driving connection between the input and output members of the transmission. In particular, a one-way clutch has a pair of members, races, or plates capable of transmitting torque when the rotation of one plate with respect to the other is in one direction, with the clutch "overrunning" or freewheeling when the rotational direction is reversed.
The relative shape and/or orientation of the plates may vary depending on the particular clutch design. Certain one-way clutches have input and output races or plates that are oriented in a radially-concentric manner with respect to each other. Alternately, the confronting or mating faces of the plates have a planar orientation or relationship. The mechanical means used to lock a typical one-way clutch are varied, but commonly consist of torque-transmitting elements such as rollers, sprags, rockers, or struts that are positioned between the plates. Depending on the particular type or style of one-way clutch and the direction of rotation, each plate may contain unique surface features suitable for engaging one or more of the struts in order to selectively enable various clutch operating modes.
In a basic one-way clutch, the operating mode is determined by the direction of the torque being applied to an input race or plate of the clutch. However, the increased complexity of power transmitting mechanisms has led to a class of selectable one-way clutches. A selectable one-way clutch or SOWC is similar to a one-way clutch in operation, as described above. As the name implies, a SOWC is capable of producing a driving connection between the input and output plates in one or both rotational directions, and/or is able to freewheel in one or both rotational directions as needed. In a conventional SOWC, one of the two plates is indexed or grounded to a stationary member, such as a transmission case or center support, and therefore can be less than optimal when used in certain applications.


A foldable truss having a pair of side frames hinged together by a foldable arm allowing the truss to be collapsed to a smaller width while maintaining the truss length as a constant.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is in the field of trusses used to support a variety of appliances, such as lights.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various staging systems are used in the production and managing of events for every shape and size including all types of entertainment, such as, concerts, dance, theatre, comedy, etc. Typically, large scale truss assemblies support, above the staging area, various appliances including lighting fixtures used during the performance.
A minimum amount of time is allocated to the erection of staging systems since access to a performance site is limited. Thus, the truss must arrive at the performance site in a condition ready to be hoisted into place.
Trusses are transported to the performance site in the assembled state thereby requiring a relatively large amount of storage space within the transportation vehicle due to the size of each truss. A typical truss used in staging systems is approximately 36 inches wide and 42 inches in length. Some of the prior trusses have been designed to partially minimize the amount of space occupied by the truss in the transportation vehicle by allowing one side of the truss to move not only toward the other side of the truss, but also along its length since the cross members linking the truss side are not flexible and pivot on each side in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the truss. The result is a decrease in the width of the truss occupied in the storage vehicle; however, the length of the truss dramatically increases requiring large storage space. Disclosed herein is a foldable truss allowing the truss sides to move toward each other while the truss sides do not move in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the truss. Thus, the space in the transportation vehicle occupied by the truss is minimized since the width of the truss is decreased while the length of the truss remains constant. An example of a column or girder wherein the length increases as the column or girder is folded to a storage condition is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,141,385 issued to J. O. Ellinger. An example of two members moving toward each other while also moving along the longitudinal axis of the assembly by disassembly of diagonal cross supports extending between the two members is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,113 issued to R. K. Gregory.
A variety of products include a plurality of rod shaped members connected together by cross members removably mounted by means of conventional fasteners, such as bolts and nuts. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,541,509 issued to D'Alessio et al and U.S. Pat. No. 3,011,586 issued to J. E. Harvey, Jr., the cross members may be removed from the sides of the product. U.S. Pat. No. 2,982,379 issued to R. E. Fisher discloses a folding tower having hinged cross members connected together and secured by a slidable sleeve extending over the hinge.
What is needed is a truss that may be collapsed decreasing the truss width and maintaining the truss length without requiring all of the cross members connecting the opposite sides of the truss from being disassembled.


In a low tension spiral conveyor belt system, driving assistance is provided between the driving cage or capstan and a plastic conveyor belt via ridges formed generally vertically on the bars or caps on the cage bars. These ridges, preferably rounded at their exterior surfaces, interact with grooves provided in inner edge members of the belt, or with gaps between successive edge members. As the belt progresses up the spiraling incline of the system, the drive capstan ridges seat in belt grooves or gaps for a short period of time, assisting in driving engagement, then advance forward out of the groove due to the overdrive relationship of the capstan to the belt.

This invention is concerned with conveyor belts, and in particular the invention relates to a spiral conveyor belt driven in part by a driving tower or cage, and to improvement in driving engagement between the driving cage and the upwardly spiraling belt.
In a related patent, U.S. Pat. No. 5,069,330, assigned to the assignee of the present invention, a spiral conveyor belt system was disclosed wherein an edge member or side plate includes one or more generally vertical grooves formed in its outer side. These vertical grooves were positioned to engage with protruding structure of cage bars of a spiral conveyor driving cage. The modular plastic conveyor belt had recessed rod heads on the connecting rods, and at least one of the generally vertical grooves was preferably positioned coincident with the rod head recess. The driving cage was disclosed as including ridges or protrusions, preferably formed in cage bar caps assembled onto the exterior of the cage bars. At any one time, at least some of the protrusions on the cage bars are engaged in grooves of the side plates, providing assistance in the driving of the spiral conveyor belt by the driving cage.
Other approaches have been suggested for providing more positive gripping engagement or "positive drive" between a driving cage and a spiral conveyor belt, particularly for high speed spiral conveyors. See Irwin U.S. Pat. No. 4,941,566, Roinestad U.S. Pat. No. 4,741,430 and Roinestad U.S. Pat. No. 4,852,720. The Irwin patent describes jackets or caps for the cage bars of a driving cage, which are rectangular in cross section. These caps provide grooves at the outer side of each driving cage bar. The grooves cooperate with steel connecting rod heads of a metal spiral conveyor belt. Although not every rod head becomes engaged in a cage bar groove, due to phase shifting in the spacings involved, some of the rod heads do become engaged. The rod head and groove arrangement is supposed to provide some driving assistance and establish less slippage of the spiral conveyor belt against the driving cage, which moves circumferentially faster than the belt in "overdriving" relationship.
The Roinestad patents disclose another type of "positive drive" for a spiral conveyor system. In the Roinestad patents, cage bar caps include linear vertical protrusions positioned to engage against protruding rod heads in a metal spiral conveyor belt. The vertical driving protrusions of the cage bar caps are square in cross-section and are intended to grip against the protruding belt rod heads and thus drive the belt, or a portion of the belt, at the same speed as the driving tower for a certain period or arc of movement. Since a spiral conveyor belt rises as it progresses, the rod heads in the Roinestad arrangement were to ride up on the cage bar protrusions until they were released at a vertical gap or interruption in the vertical protrusion of the cage bar. This would release the rod heads and allow the rod and belt edges to spring back, then subsequently engage a second, different cage bar protrusion farther back than the first. In this way, the Roinestad "positive drive" arrangement was intended to intermittently drive groups of protruding rod heads at the same speed as the driving tower. Thus, there would be a dwell time during which rod heads would be forced to travel with the bars of the driving tower, then the differential speed would cause a snapping or jerking disengagement, which was intended to occur at the vertical gap in the cage bar protrusion.
It is a principal purpose of the present invention to provide improved driving engagement between a spiral conveyor driving cage and a plastic conveyor belt, with structure which is relatively simple and advantageous over prior apparatus aimed toward the same purpose.

Spiral conveyor belt with ridged drive capstan


A new cultivar of Delosperma plant, ‘WOWDRY1’, characterized by its compact and horizontal plant habit, its relatively small leaves, its very floriferous and long blooming flowering habit, and its large flowers with petals that are magenta pink on the outer region and yellow and white towards the center of the flower surrounding yellow and white petaloids.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Delosperma plant, botanically known as Delosperma cooperi 'WOWDRY1' and will be referred to hereinafter by its cultivar name, 'WOWDRY1'. The new cultivar of Delosperma is an herbaceous perennial grown for container and landscape use.
The new cultivar was derived from a controlled breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Katsuta-Gun, Okayama-Pref., Japan. The overall purpose of the breeding program was to develop new cultivars of Delosperma plants with low-growing and well-spreading growth habits combined with long flowering periods and a unique range of flower colors.
'WOWDRY1' was selected in the Inventor's trial garden in summer of 2011 as a single unique plant from amongst the seedlings derived from self crossing an unnamed plant from the Inventor's breeding program, ref. code HANADRY 1001, in summer of 2010.
Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by softwood stem cuttings in summer of 2011 by the Inventor in Katsuta-Gun, Okayama-Pref., Japan. Asexual propagation by softwood stem cuttings has determined the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.


Apparatus for forming a toroid coil on a toroidal body comprising a wire feeder for feeding the wire forward in the direction of its length toward the toroidal body. The wire is fed along a path which at the toroidal body is generally tangent to the surface of the toroidal body and nonparallel to the radial plane of the toroidal body. A die having a wire forming path defined therein constrains the wire to bend as it is fed forward into the convolutions of a helix extending through the opening in the toroidal body and advancing circumferentially around the toroidal body to form the toroid coil.

This invention relates generally to apparatus and methods for winding wire on a workpiece, and more particularly to apparatus and a method for forming a toroid coil on a toroidal body.
Wire wound toroid cores are frequently used in various types of electrical equipment. In order to optimize the electromagnetic properties of the core, it is formed as an unbroken toroidal body. However, the shape of the toroidal cores makes them difficult to wind with automatic machinery. Yet, to provide large numbers of such cores at a reasonable cost, use of machines in manufacture is mandated. Heretofore, the machines used for winding the cores have been complex and expensive. Further, the rate of completion of the final product, a wound toroidal core, has been relatively slow.
Some of these machines have a rotatable, C-shaped shuttle for carrying a leading end of wire from a source of wire. The core is positioned in the opening in the shuttle with its central opening lying on the circumferential path of the shuttle. As the shuttle rotates through the central opening of the core, wire is wrapped around the core through its central opening, with one turn of coil being formed every rotation of the shuttle. At the same time, the core is slowly rotated (manually or otherwise) on its axis of rotation so that the turns of coil advance around the circumference of the core, thus producing a toroid coil. Alternatively, the shuttle may move around the circumference of the core while the core remains stationary, to form the toroid coil. An example of such a machine is shown in Albo, U.S. Pat. No. 4,379,527. In another type of toroidal core winding machine, wire is pushed by rollers along a circular path having a large diameter in comparison with the diameter of the core. The path passes through the central opening of the core. After a full loop of wire is formed, it is released so that during the formation of the succeeding loop, the preceding loop is constricted around the core. The core must be simultaneously rotated on its axis so that the loops of wire form a toroid coil extending around the circumference of the core. An example of such a machine is shown in Sato et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,872,618.

Apparatus for winding a toroid coil on a toroidal body


A folding ball trolley having a minimized volume has a frame, a bag and multiple resilient elements. The frame has four stand rods, four top seats, four sliding seats, four wheels, four connecting rod assemblies and four mounting rods. The bag connects to the mounting rods, and the mounting rods pivotally connect to the stand rods. Accordingly, the mounting rods can be rotated relative to the stand rods, such that the mounting rods do not protrude upward to occupy too much space when the ball trolley is folded. Besides, the frame is braced by the resilient elements so a user does not have to stretch his hands between the rods when folding the ball trolley, thereby preventing the hands from being clamped.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a folding ball trolley and, especially, to a ball trolley that can be minimized in volume when folded.
2. Description of the Prior Arts
A ball trolley is common in sports arenas, such as a gymnasium, for containing multiple and various kinds of balls, such as volleyballs, basketballs and so on. A user can conveniently move the ball trolley with the balls in it, or the user can take out the balls continually from the ball trolley for use.
With reference to FIG. 11, a first conventional ball trolley has a folding frame 81, a bag 82 and multiple resilient elements 83. The frame 81 has four stand rods 811, four wheels 813 and multiple connecting rods 812. The wheels 813 are respectively mounted on bottom ends of the stand rods 811 for moving the first conventional ball trolley. A top end of each connecting rod 812 pivotally connects to a top end of one of the stand rods 811, while the bottom end of each connecting rod 812 pivotally connects to another stand rod 811 in an axially moveable manner. The bag 82 is mounted around the frame 81 and has a room 821 and a top opening to contain the balls. The resilient element 83 is mounted between the top end of one of the stand rods 811 and the bottom end of the connecting rod 812 connecting to the same stand rod 811, such that the resilient element 83 pulls up the bottom end of the connecting rod 812 to brace outward the two adjacent stand rods 811.
However, said conventional ball trolley has the following shortcomings. First, the frame 81 is disposed inside the bag 82, such that the frame 81 may scrape the balls or the user's hands stretching into the room 821 to take out the ball. Second, the top opening of the room 821 is so small that the user cannot take out the balls conveniently. Third, the room 821 is too deep, which is also another reason that the user cannot take out the balls conveniently.
With reference to FIG. 12, to solve the shortcomings mentioned above, a second conventional ball trolley is provided. The four connecting rods 912 are inclined and protrude out of the top ends of the stand rods 911. The bag 92 is mounted around the protruding connecting rods 912 to form a shallower room 921 with a bigger opening. Besides, the connecting rods 912 connect to an outside surface of the bag 92 to keep the ball and the hands from being scraped.
However, the second conventional ball trolley still has the flowing shortcomings. First, with reference to FIG. 13, the second conventional ball trolley has multiple bracing rods 914. Two of the bracing rods 914 are mounted between two adjacent connecting rods 912, and are pivotally connecting and engaged with each other. When the second conventional ball trolley is folding, the two bracing rods 914 are pushed upward first, such that the hands of the user may get clamped by the bracing rods 914 and the connecting rods 912. Second, with reference to FIG. 14, after the second conventional ball trolley is folded, the connecting rods 912 are substantially straight upright and protrude upward, which increases the volume of the second conventional ball trolley to occupy more space in transportation and storage. Third, with reference to FIG. 12, the top opening of the bag 92 is wider, but the room 921 is shallower, and the bag 92 is trapezoidal in cross section. As a result, the room 921 of the bag 92 is still not big enough in its capacity for containing balls.
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a folding ball trolley having minimized volume to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

Folding ball trolley having minimized volume


Disclosed is a satellite communication system that allocates bandwidth to maximize the capacity of the communication system while providing service to geographical areas having different demands. A smaller portion of the frequency spectrum can be allocated for subscriber beams that supply service to low demand areas. A larger portion of the frequency spectrum can be provided to subscriber beams that provide access to high demand areas. Allocation of bandwidth can be determined by the amount of demand in low demand areas versus the amount of demand in high demand areas. High demand gateways are physically located in low demand subscriber beams, while low demand gateways are physically located in high demand subscriber beams, which prevents interference.

Communication satellites have become extremely important, not only for military purposes but also for commercial purposes. Satellites, such as the WildBlue Communications, Inc. Anik F2 satellite and the WildBlue-1 satellite, provide broadband Internet access to numerous subscribers throughout the satellite coverage area, including subscribers in rural and remote areas that may be unserved by terrestrial systems.

Satellite system architecture for coverage areas of disparate demand


Perfluoroelastomers that contain high levels (i.e. about 40 mole percent or more) of perfluoro(alkyl vinyl ether) copolymerized units can form stable blends with higher levels of perfluoropolyethers than can perfluoroelastomers that contain lower levels of perfluoro(alkyl vinyl ether) units. Thus, the former blends have better low temperature properties than the latter.

Elastomeric perfluoropolymers (i.e. perfluoroelastomers) exhibit excellent resistance to the effects of heat, weather, oil, solvents and chemicals. Such materials are commercially available and are most commonly copolymers of tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) with a perfluoro(alkyl vinyl ether) such as perfluoro(methyl vinyl ether) (PMVE). Often, these perfluoroelastomers also contain copolymerized units of a cure site monomer to facilitate vulcanization. While these copolymers have many desirable properties, including low compression set and excellent processability, their low temperature flexibility is not adequate for all end use applications. One particularly desirable improvement would be a reduction in glass transition temperature (Tg) with an accompanying extension of service temperature to lower temperatures. Tg is often used as an indicator of low temperature flexibility because polymers having low glass transition temperatures maintain elastomeric properties at low temperatures.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,894,418 discloses vinylidene fluoride based fluoroelastomer compositions which contain processing adjuvants that are perfluorinated polyethers having an hydroxyl group at one or both chain ends. Among the benefits listed for such adjuvants is improved low temperature properties. Being perfluorinated, the polyethers disclosed in the '418 patent are not very compatible with vinylidene fluoride based fluoroelastomers which contain polar hydrogen atoms. Such incompatibility may cause processability problems and lead to the ready extraction of the polyether by solvents.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,268,405 discloses compositions of TFE/PMVE copolymers which also contain a perfluoropolyether (e.g. DuPont's Krytox® fluorinated oil) for reducing the Tg of the composition.
At high temperatures, the perfluoropolyethers employed in all the above compositions tend to be fugitive. As the level of perfluoropolyether in the compositions decreases, the physical properties of the compositions revert to those of compositions containing no perfluoropolyether.
It would be an improvement to have a perfluoroelastomer composition wherein the perfluoropolyether is less fugitive than the above compositions and that also provides the needed reduction in Tg.

Perfluoroelastomer compositions for low temperature applications


A novel analog-to-digital converter (ADC) architecture using subranging successive approximation approach is disclosed. The ADC architecture is capable of achieving high sampling rate, low power consumption and low complexity. It is also able to advance the chip production yield and area utilization ratio. The new proposed ADC is formed by combining a flash converter having high sampling rate and low resolution with a successive approximation converter having low power consumption and low sampling rate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an analog-to-digital converting system, and more particularly, to an analog-to-digital converting system by using subranging successive approximation (SAR) approach.
2. Description of Related Art
Analog-to-digital converters (ADC) have various architectures, for example, flash analog-to-digital converters (flash ADC), pipeline analog-to-digital converters (pipeline ADC), successive approximation analog-to-digital converters (SA-ADC) and two-steps analog-to-digital converters (two-steps ADC), all of which respectively have suitable application fields.
Flash ADCs are usually used in applications with high sampling rates, but they come with disadvantages of high power consumption. SA-ADCs are limited by lower sampling frequency, but they have advantages of low power consumption and low circuit complicity.
Characteristics of pipeline ADCs are between flash ADCs and SA-ADCs. In particular, pipeline ADCs require to employ multiplier digital-to-analog converters (MDAC), while MDACs include residue operation amplifiers therein, which are characterized by negative feedback architecture. Thus, the residue operation amplifiers appear to be a bottleneck for pipeline ADCs to be used in high speed sampling applications.
Two-steps ADCs can be categorized into bit-cycling analog-to-digital converters (bit-cycling ADC) and subranging analog-to-digital converters (subranging ADC). Bit-cycling ADCs require residue operation amplifiers as well and have problems similar to pipeline ADCs. According to the so far references however, subranging ADCs are capable of breaking through the limitations on pipeline ADCs and two-steps ADCs adopting bit-cycling architecture and capable of reaching high speed sampling.
Several conventional ADC systems are respectively introduced hereinafter.
The first conventional ADC system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,124,818, which uses pipeline approach so as to largely enhance the operation capability. In this prior art, a two-steps ADC architecture is adopted, and both the coarse analog-to-digital converter (coarse ADC) and the fine analog-to-digital converter (fine ADC) therein take SA-ADC architecture, so that the resolution demand by the digital-to-analog converter (DAC) is lowered, the circuit area of the DAC gets less and the data-converting speed is advanced. However, due to the coarse ADC is SA-ADC, the first conventional ADC system has long latency and slow sampling frequency.
The second conventional ADC system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,973,632, which uses two-steps ADC approach, and both coarse ADC and fine ADC use a flash architecture for converting data so as to advance the data-converting speed of the ADC. Because the fine ADC adopts the flash architecture, the required number of comparators is (2MSBs+2LSBs−2) where MSBs and LSBs respectively represent a most-significant-bit set and a least-significant-bit set. Thus, the second conventional ADC system is disadvantageous in high quantity of the comparators, high circuit complexity, high power consumption and low area utilization ratio.
The third conventional ADC system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,675,340, which uses two-steps ADC approach, and both coarse ADC and fine ADC use an SA-ADC architecture; the required number of comparators is 2MSBs only. Thus, the third conventional ADC system has low power consumption and small chip area. However, the adder in the third conventional ADC system makes the DAC data-converting time long, thus it is not suitable for a high speed converting architecture. In addition, without adopting the subranging technique, the MSBs obtained by the coarse ADC must be transmitted to the DAC inside the SA-ADC. Accordingly, the DAC inside the SA-ADC has large circuit area (due to more unit capacitors are included herein). Besides, the DAC insides the SA-ADC has high equivalent input capacitance and slow sampling frequency.
The fourth conventional ADC system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,247,301. Referring to FIG. 1, which is a diagram of the ADC system provided by U.S. Pat. No. 5,247,301. As shown by FIG. 1, a two-steps ADC mainly includes a high bit comparator set 1, a high bit sample/hold circuit set 2, a high bit encoder 3, a low bit comparator set 4, a low bit sample/hold circuit set 5, a low bit encoder 6, a reference voltage generator 7, a control signal generator 8 and a buffer 9.
The high bit comparator set 1 includes multiple comparators 1-1˜1-m to compare reference voltages VH-1˜VH-m with an input voltage Vin. The high bit S/H circuit set 2 includes multiple S/H circuits 2-1˜2-m, wherein each S/H circuit includes switches S2 and S21 and a capacitor Ci. The high bit S/H circuit set 2 performs sampling/holding on the input voltage Vin and sends the result to the high bit comparator set 1. The high bit encoder 3 encodes the comparison result of the high bit comparator set 1 into high bit set DoH.
Similarly, the low bit comparator set 4 includes multiple comparators 4-1˜4-n to compare reference voltages VL-1˜VL-n with the input voltage Vin. The low bit S/H circuit set 5 includes multiple S/H circuits 5-1˜5-n, wherein each S/H circuit includes switches S5 and S51 and a capacitor Ci. The low bit S/H circuit set 5 performs sampling/holding on the input voltage Vin and sends the result to the low bit comparator set 4. The low bit encoder 6 encodes the comparison result of the low bit comparator set 4 into low bit set DoL.
The reference voltage generator 7 generates high bit reference voltages VH-1˜VH-m to the high bit comparator set 1. In addition, the reference voltage generator 7 generates low bit reference voltages VL-1˜VL-n to the low bit comparator set 4.
The control signal generator 8 respectively generates control signals φm to the analog switch Sm and control signals φs to the high bit S/H circuit set 2 and the low bit S/H circuit set 5.
The analog switch Sm controls on/off status between the input voltage Vin and the high bit S/H circuit set 2 together with the low bit S/H circuit set 5.
The fourth conventional ADC architecture combines the two-steps ADC and the subranging ADC. The fourth conventional ADC architecture has high data-converting speed, but more comparators, which comes with high circuit complexity, high power consumption, low production yield and low area utilization ratio.
The fifth conventional ADC system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,994,806, which uses a flash ADC (with high speed converting feature) to advance the ADC converting speed. SA-ADC architecture is also used to advance the ADC accuracy. Thus, the fifth conventional ADC system absorbs the advantages both of flash ADC and SA-ADC so as to enhance the overall efficiency of the ADC without additional correction circuit. However, since a residue amplifier is employed, the residue amplifier would become a bottleneck of the entire ADC system in case the ADC is operated in high converting frequency.

Industrial Technology Research Institute


NadA, App and ORF40 function as adhesins in N. meningitidis. Adhesion nad be modulated by targeting these three proteins. NadA allelic variants are also disclosed. Autoproteolytic cleavage of App is disclosed, as is removal of the activity by mutagenesis. App is processed and secreted into culture medium when expressed in E. coli. Mature App proteins are disclosed. Knockout mutants are disclosed. Vesicles from non-Neisserial hosts with heterologous adhesion expression are disclosed.

International patent applications WO99/24578, WO99/36544, WO99/57280 and WO00/22430 disclose proteins from Neisseria meningitidis and Neisseria gonorrhea. The complete genome sequence of serogroup B N. meningitidis has been published [Tettelin et al. (2000) Science 287:1809-1815] and has been subjected to analysis in order to identify vaccine antigens [Pizza et al. (2000) Science 287:1816-1820]. Approaches to expression of the proteins are disclosed in WO01/64922. The complete genome sequence of serogroup A N. meningitidis is also known [Parkhill et al. (2000) Nature 404:502-506].
Sequence data alone, however, does not reveal everything about this pathogen. Objects of the present invention include: (a) to provide ways of intervening in Neisseria biochemistry; (b) to provide new uses for known Neisseria proteins; (c) to provide alternative and improved forms of known Neisseria proteins, such as enzymatically inactive forms of known proteins or proteolytic products of known proteins; and (d) to provide materials useful for studying and modulating Neisserial adhesion.

Meningococcus adhesins NadA, App and ORF 40


A system for mixing flows from a compressor is provided. The system comprises an ejector that combines a first flow and a second flow, from the compressor, into a third flow. A bypass flow is connected between the first flow and the third flow. A mixer combines the bypass flow and the third flow into a fourth flow. The fourth flow has a pressure and temperature intermediate the respective pressures and temperatures of the bypass flow and the third flow.

The present invention relates generally to the cooling and sealing air system in turbomachinery. In particular, the invention relates to a mixer used in the cooling and sealing air system in turbomachinery.
The cooling and sealing air system in a turbomachine (e.g., a turbine) utilizes air from the compressor (e.g., an axial flow compressor) to: (1) cool internal parts of the gas turbine, (2) cool the turbine outer shell and exhaust frame, (3) seal the turbine bearings, (4) prevent compressor pulsation, and (5) provide an air supply for air operated valves.
The following example describes some of the functions of the cooling and sealing air system in an exemplary gas turbine, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way. During the startup sequence of a gas turbine, air is extracted from the 9th and 13th stages of the axial flow compressor and is vented to atmosphere. These 9th and 13th stage extractions, together with the inlet guide vanes in the closed position, limits airflow through the compressor and prevents compressor pulsation.
During normal operation of the gas turbine, air from the 9th and 13th stages is used for cooling and sealing 2nd and 3rd stages of the gas turbine. This is achieved by means of external piping and flow controlling orifices sized to meet the worst case operating requirements of the gas turbine, typically the cold and hot day operating conditions. The pressurized air entering the 2nd and 3rd stage casing manifolds purges the hot turbine air from the 2nd and 3rd stage wheel space cavities.
While the turbine is being unloaded or shut down, the cooling and sealing air system continues to cool and seal the turbine wheel space cavities and the interior turbine components. Air from the 9th and 13th stages of the compressor is again vented through the exhaust plenum. This prevents compressor pulsation during the turbine deceleration period.
The diverted air from the axial flow compressor can consume a large proportion of the total air flow through the compressor, for example, as much as 20%. The management and control of these parasitic flows can dramatically increase the performance of the turbine. The extraction ports often provide cooling air flow at too high a pressure and/or temperature and typically the flow is throttled, resulting in a net loss of energy. By employing an ejector, the low pressure/temperature flow (e.g., from the 9th compressor stage) may be mixed with the high pressure/temperature flow (e.g., from the 13th compressor stage) to provide a flow at an intermediate pressure and temperature substantially matching the pressure and temperature required to cool a turbine component, while simultaneously making use of low pressure and temperature air which otherwise might be dissipated as wasted energy.
An ejector in a cooling and sealing air system of a gas turbine helps in reducing the usage of expensive (i.e., in terms of work expended) high-pressure air by replacing it with relatively inexpensive low-pressure air. The ratio of the mass flow of low-pressure air pumped by the ejector by expending a pound of high-pressure air is called the entrainment ratio. For maximum benefit of the ejector system, a high entrainment ratio is expected over all operating conditions of the gas turbine. Depending on the cooling flow requirement of the turbine, bypass flow is needed at several operating conditions. A high entrainment ratio improves overall gas turbine performance (both efficiency and output).
Ejectors, however, have no moving parts and are designed for operation at specific design points based on ISO day conditions. ISO standard day conditions are 59° F., 14.7 psia, 60% relative humidity or 15° C. (288° K.), 101.3 kilopascals, 60% relative humidity. For turbine applications, the turbine inlet conditions to the ejector are a function of ambient day conditions in which the turbomachinery operates. The ambient day variations seen by the gas turbine can vary, for example, from −20° F. to +120° F., which results in about a 50% temperature and about 50% pressure variation on the inlet/exit conditions to the ejector. This variation has a strong effect on the operational characteristics of the ejector to the extent that, at many ambient day conditions, the ejector will not provide adequate cooling and/or purge flow. That is, the ejector behaves differently on different days and at different times during each day, and on certain days, the ejector will provide insufficient benefit.

Mixer for cooling and sealing air system for turbomachinery


This invention has as its object to implement the constitution of a receiver that receives signals sent by performing multi-valued pulse modulation and performs iterative decoding. The constitution includes: (1) a bank of pulse correlators that achieves correlation with all predetermined sent pulse waveforms, (2) a pulse demapper that calculates the log likelihood ratio for each bit of the interleaved code word from said pulse correlator outputs and a priori information for each bit, (3) a deinterleaver that performs deinterleaving on the output from said pulse demapper, (4) a decoder that calculates likelihood information for the deinterleaved code word bits and information bits, respectively, (5) an interleaver that interleaves the output of the decoder in the same manner as on the sending side, and (6) a feedback circuit that provides feedback of the output of said interleaver as a priori probability to the pulse demapper.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a receiver in an ultra-wideband (UWB) wireless communications system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
UWB wireless communication, which uses a signal pulse width on the order of several nanoseconds, is attracting attention as wireless communication that can achieve high-speed data transmission with low power consumption. UWB wireless communication is susceptible to the effects of timing jitter arising on the receiving side, and there is a possibility that the transmission error rate may deteriorate greatly due to interference among pulse signals arising due to the use of large numbers of devices. Conceivable methods of improving this transmission error rate include the application of channel encoding. Up until now, Reed-Solomon encoding, convolutional encoding and turbo encoding have been studied as the channel encoding in UWB wireless communications, and convolutional encoding and turbo encoding have been shown to be effective.
Reference Document 1 (R. Herzog, A. Schmitbauer, and J. Hagenauer, "Iterative Decoding and Despreading Improves CDMA-Systems using M-ary Orthogonal Modulation and FEC," IEEE International Conference on Communications, Montreal, Canada, pp. 909-913, June 1997.) reports an iterative decoding method of the constitution shown in FIG. 4. This reported decoding method is a constitution wherein the turbo principle presented in Reference Document 5 (J. Hagenauer, "The turbo principle: Tutorial introduction and state of the art," International Symposium on Turbo Codes, Brest, France, pp. 1-11, September 1997.) is used as a decoding method for improving the transmission error rate in the IS-95(B) Code Division Multiple Access system using narrowband signals. In FIG. 4, the output from a Fast Hadamard Transformer (FHT) is sent to a channel decoder via a deinterleaver, and in the decoder decoding is performed based on the Maximum A posteriori Probability (MAP) decoding algorithm or the Soft Output Viterbi Algorithm (SOVA), and the output is fed back to the FHT as a priori information. Decoding of the input and output from each FHT and is performed using the log likelihood ratio which is soft information.
In addition, Reference Document 2 (S. ten Brink, "Iterative Decoding for Multicode CDMA," IEEE Vehicular Technology Conference, Vol. 3, pp. 1876-1880, May 1999.) reports the iterative decoding method illustrated in FIG. 5. This reported decoding illustrates a method wherein iterative decoding is performed on the receiving side by using the turbo principle illustrated in Reference Document 5 in narrowband multicode CDMA where a plurality of spread codes are used to perform parallel transmission. Regarding the constitution of FIG. 5, the likelihood of information transmitted in each spread signal is calculated in the code demapper, and this likelihood information is sent to the decoder via a deinterleaver, and in the decoder, decoding is performed based on an a posteriori probability (APP) decoding algorithm, and the output is fed back to the code decoder as a priori information. Decoding of the input and output from each code demapper and decoder is performed using the log likelihood ratio which is soft information.
The conventional decoding methods described above are ones intended to improve the transmission error rate characteristics of iterative decoding on the receiver side when using the turbo principle in narrowband Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA). Each consists of a block that calculates the likelihood of transmitted spread codes along with a deinterleaver, decoder and interleaver, thus achieving iterative decoding by the feedback of likelihood information from the decoder via the interleaver.
In addition, Reference Document 3 (03154r2P802-15_TG3a Xtreme Spectrum CFP Presentation. Proposal for IEEE 802.15.3a. May 2003.) presents a study of the application of convolutional code or Reed-Solomon code to UWB wireless communication. On the receiving side, hard decisions are made on each pulse signal and decoding is performed on each code. Since hard decisions are made on the receiver side, the improvement of the transmission error rate characteristics becomes smaller than in the case of using iterative decoding based on a soft-input/soft-output algorithm.
In addition, Reference Document 4 (N. Yamamoto and T. Ohtsuki, "Adaptive internally turbo-coded ultra wideband-impulse radio (AITC-UWB-IR) system," IEEE International Conference on Communications 2003, pp. 3535-3539, May 2003.) applies turbo codes to UWB wireless communications. As shown in FIG. 6, the receiving side consists of a pulse correlator, integrator and turbo decoder. In this method of Reference Document 4, recalculation of the likelihood information on received pulses is not performed using a priori information from the decoder.
The present invention has as its object to provide a receiver that is able to improve the transmission error rate in an arbitrarily encoded UWB wireless communications system.

Constitution of a receiver in an ultra-wideband wireless communications system

National Institute of Information and Communications Technology Incorporated Administrative Agency


Compounds of the formula (I) below, or pharmacologically acceptable salts, esters or other derivatives thereof:

The present invention relates to heteroaryl-substituted pyrrole derivatives which are useful as a medicament. In detail, the present invention relates to compounds substituted with bicyclic amino groups which have excellent inhibitory activity against the production of inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6 and IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and synthetic intermediates thereof. As a consequence, the compounds of the present invention have valuable anti-pyretic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity and are useful in the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as chronic rheumatism, bone diseases such as osteoporosis and other diseases in which the above-described inflammatory cytokines take part.

Compounds substituted with bicyclic amino groups

Abstract: wherein A is furan, thiophene, pyrazole, imidazole, isoxazole or isothiazole; R1 is a substituted or unsubstituted aryl or a substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl; R2 is a substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl; and R3 is a bicyclic amino group; provided that the substituents R1 and R2 are bonded to the two atoms of the cyclic group A which are adjacent to the atom of the cyclic group A to which the substituent R2 is bonded. The compounds inhibit the production of inflammatory cytokines.