A pixel matrix preferably containing nine pixels is analyzed to determine whether or not all of the image values for the pixels in the pixel matrix correspond to a full saturation level. If the image values do correspond to full saturation level, preferably the center pixel is produced using a variably reduced toner output. If all of the image values do not correspond to full saturation level, the center pixel is produced using conventional methods. The system of the preferred embodiment is comprised of an input buffer for storing the image values, a comparator for comparing the image values with a toner modification value to determine if the pixel or pixels should be produced using a variably reduced toner output. The pixels are then preferably stored temporarily in an output buffer and then sent to a memory to be produced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to output devices, and more particularly to output devices that use toner to produce an image. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a method and system for variable toner output in output devices.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Several types of output devices use toner as the means for producing images, such as text and graphics, on a page. Examples of such output devices include laser printers, copiers, and facsimile machines. Typically, the cost of toner is a significant expense when operating these types of output devices. For example, paper can cost approximately one cent per page while toner can cost one to ten cents a page depending on the amount of toner used.
Contemporary output devices, such as printers, have an economy output mode in addition to a normal output mode. When selected, the economy output mode reduces the amount of toner used on a page during printing. Economy output mode is useful when a lower quality print is desired, such as when printing a draft of a document or checking the layout of a page.
One drawback to contemporary economy output mode implementations is that many are implemented using a low resolution screen to mask a fixed percentage of all picture elements, or pixels. In other words, pixels are printed by dropping out a certain percentage of pixels in some fixed pattern regardless of the image content. The problem with this is that at times a user can detect transitions, or defects, in the image after it is produced. This is especially true if the transition occurs on a edge of a character or graphic. This is because the human perception system is more sensitive to edges than to smooth transitions.
FIGS. 1(a)-1(c) depict a prior art system for variable toner output in an output device. FIG. 1(a) illustrates the original image, which in this example is the word "Test". A fifty percent fixed mask is used as the economy mode in the output device, as shown in FIG. 1(b). When the word "Test" is produced using the economy mode, pixels are printed by dropping out a certain percentage of pixels (i.e., 50%). The resulting image is illustrated in FIG. 1(c). As can be seen, transitions between filled pixels and non-filled pixels occur inside each letter as well as on their edges. Because the human perception system is more sensitive to transitions on the edge of an image, a user may detect defects (i.e., the transitions) in the image when produced using this prior art system.
Another drawback to contemporary economy output mode implementations is that the toner is typically reduced by a fixed amount, such as fifty percent. A user can not select the amount of toner reduction. For example, a user may desire a larger toner reduction, such as seventy-five percent when producing draft documents. Alternatively, a user may want to reduce toner output by only twenty percent. With current economy output modes, a user can not select the amount of toner reduction, but must instead employ the amount of toner reduction that has been predetermined by a manufacturer.

System and method for variable toner output in output devices


A submerged nozzle change device has a slide valve unit 3 which is provided in a molten-metal outlet formed in a lower portion of a molten-metal containing vessel 1 for controlling the outflow of a molten metal. A pair of guide rails 26 for slidably suspending and supporting a holding case 6 mounted on an upper end of a submerged nozzle 5 are swingably supported on the slide valve unit 3 so that one end of each of the guide rails can be pivotally moved upwards and downwards about a shaft 21 while being biased upwards. On the free ends of the guide rails 24, there is provided a pushing cylinder 30 for pushing a new submerged nozzle 51 set on the guide rails 26 to push an old submerged nozzle 52 to the opposite side. A pair of guide rollers 35, which are moved by a piston rod 30a of the pushing cylinder 30, are brought into contact with the upper surfaces of the guide rails 26 to hold the guide rails 26 horizontally until a nozzle hole 52b of the old submerged nozzle 52 is out of register with a nozzle hole 11a of the slide valve unit 3 to close the nozzle hole 11a of the slide valve unit 3. An inclined cam 27 is provided for moving the guide rails 26 downwards until the new submerged nozzle 51 reaches the lower surface of the slide valve unit 3 after the nozzle hole 11a is closed. Thus, it is possible to provide a submerged nozzle change device which can quickly change a submerged nozzle and which can prevent the contact surface of a submerged nozzle from being scratched when a new submerged nozzle is caused to slide to move to a predetermined position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a submerged nozzle change device or a change device for submerged nozzles. More specifically, the invention relates to a change device for a submerged nozzle used for allowing a molten metal to run out of a molten-metal containing vessel.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An example of a conventional submerged nozzle change device is shown in FIG. 13A. As shown in a vertical section of FIG. 13A, an insert nozzle 2 is inserted into a molten-metal outlet formed in the bottom of a molten-metal containing vessel 1, such as a tundish or a ladle. A slide valve unit 3 is arranged directly below the insert nozzle 2. The slide valve unit 3 has an upper plate 4 having a through hole 4a. The lower portion of the insert nozzle 2 is formed on the upper plate 4 of the slide valve unit 3 around the through hole 4a. A submerged nozzle 5 is arranged directly below the slide value unit 3. The periphery of the upper portion of the submerged nozzle 5 is covered with a metal case 6, so that the submerged nozzle 5 is suspended from and supported on a submerged-nozzle supporting unit 7 via the metal case 6.
As shown in FIG. 18, in the case of a continuous casting apparatus, the lower portion of the submerged nozzle 5 is submerged in a mold 8 having a water-cooled structure, so that a molten metal 9 flows continuously into the mold 8 through an outlet 5a formed in the periphery of the lower portion of the submerged nozzle 5. The peripheral surface of the molten metal 9 is cooled in the mold 8, so that the molten metal 9 is solidified therein. Then, the solidified molten metal 9 is drawn out from the lower portion of the mold 8 to be led to the next process.
As shown in FIG. 13A, the slide valve unit 3 also has a slide plate 10 having a through hole 10a. The slide plate 10 is connected to a piston rod of a hydraulic cylinder (not shown in FIG. 13A) to slide in horizontal directions (in directions perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 13A) by means of the hydraulic cylinder. In addition, the slide valve unit 3 has a lower plate 11 having a through hole 11a. When the slide plate 10 slides in horizontal directions by means of the hydraulic cylinder, the hole 10a of the slide plate 10 is brought into and out of register with the hole 4a of the upper plate 4 and the hole 11a of the lower plate 11 to establish and block a fluid communication so as to control the outflow of the molten metal.
The upper end portion of the submerged nozzle 5 is formed as an enlarged-diameter portion which is covered with the case 6 of a metal. The upper-end contact surface of the submerged nozzle 5 is brought into tight contact with the lower surface of the lower plate 11. Since the lower plate 11 may be a lower nozzle, the lower plate 11 will be referred to hereinafter as a lower nozzle 11.
As mentioned above, the lower portion of the submerged nozzle 5 is always submerged in the molten metal in the mold 8. Therefore, wear and damage of the lower portion of the submerged nozzle 5 may be caused by the molten metal, so that it is required to timely change the submerged nozzle 5 to a new submerged nozzle 51.
Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 13A, 13B and 14, the conventional submerged nozzle change device is provided with a pair of rails 12, which are provided on both sides of the submerged-nozzle supporting unit 7 arranged below the slide valve unit 3 and which can slidably support the submerged nozzle 5 thereon. After the new submerged nozzle 51 is set between the pair of rails 12, the new submerged nozzle 51 is pushed as shown in FIG. 15 by means of a piston rod 13a of a hydraulic or pneumatics pressing cylinder 13 supported on the lower surface of the molten-metal vessel 1, whereupon a spent submerged nozzle (which will be hereinafter referred to as an old submerged nozzle 52) is moved to the opposite side of the rails 12, from where the old submerged nozzle 52 is removed.
Furthermore, as can be seen from FIGS. 13A and 14, the submerged-nozzle supporting unit 7 has two sets of supporting members 14 on the right and left sides. Each set of supporting members 14 are oscillatably supported on the lower surface of the slide valve unit 3 at the intermediate portions thereof via a shaft 15. A plurality of springs 16 are provided between the upper surfaces of the outer end portions of the respective supporting members 14 and the lower surface of the slide valve unit 3, so that the inner end portions of the respective supporting members 14 are biased upwards. Thus, the upper-end contact surface of the submerged nozzle 5 suspended between the supporting members 14 is brought into tight contact with the lower surface of the lower nozzle 11 to be fixed thereto.
According to the above described conventional submerged nozzle change device, the time required to change the submerged nozzle 5 may be short, and the time to stop the outflow of the molten metal may be short in the case of the continuous casting. Therefore, there are advantages in that the scrapping of the molten metal can be reduced and the yield thereof can be improved.
However, in the conventional submerged nozzle change device, when the submerged nozzle 5 is changed, the upper-end contact surface of the new submerged nozzle 51 is caused to slide on the lower surface of the lower nozzle 11 to a predetermined position while a surface pressure is being applied to the upper-end contact surface of the new submerged nozzle. In addition, a seal member, such as a packing, can not be used. Therefore, the upper-end contact surface of the new submerged nozzle 51 may easily be scratched to produce gaps between the upper-end contact surface of the new submerged nozzle 51 and the lower surface of the lower nozzle 11 so that air is allowed to enter through the gaps and the molten metal is oxidized.
In particular, if a metal 17 is adhered to the inner periphery of the old submerged nozzle 52 and solidified as shown in FIG. 16, the metal 17 is difficult to be cut even if the new submerged nozzle 51 is pushed by the piston rod 13a of the cylinder 13 to move out the old submerged nozzle 52. Even if the metal 17 is cut, the cut metal 17 projects from the lower nozzle 11 as shown in FIG. 17. In this state, if the new submerged nozzle 51 is caused to slide on the lower nozzle 11, the upper-end contact surface of the new submerged nozzle 51 will be scratched and impair the degree of tight contact of the new submerged nozzle 51 with the lower nozzle 11.


A bioreactor with an upward flowing impeller system for controlling a mammalian cell culture process is provided. The disclosed system enables control of the cell culture process by controlling the level of dissolved carbon dioxide in the cell culture media and prevent increases in the osmolality level is achieved by enhanced stripping of carbon dioxide via surface gas exchange with little or no damage to the mammalian cells. The use of an upward flow impeller combined with vertical baffles converts the swirling motions of the cell culture media into a largely vertical flow and promotes the removal of dissolved carbon dioxide via surface gas exchange with a sweep gas flowing over the top surface of the cell culture media within the bioreactor vessel.

Commercial production of protein therapeutics and other biological products such as monoclonal antibodies is presently carried out generally in bioreactors adapted for culturing suspensions of genetically optimized mammalian, insect or other cell types. Mammalian cell culture bioreactors typically have several hundred to several thousand liters in working volume. Most common full scale manufacturing plants have bioreactors with working volumes ranging from approximately 1,000 liters up to 25,000 liters. Drug candidates for clinical trials are produced in laboratory scale bioreactors having five (5) liters to several hundred liters of working volume.
The optimization to achieve the highest biological product yields possible in the smallest amount of time and the related challenges of bioreactor scale-up have focused on the control of recognized critical process parameters such as pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), temperature, nutrient composition and by-product profiles, agitation profile, gas sparging method, nutrient feed and product harvest profiles. The importance of other process parameters such as dissolved carbon dioxide (dCO2) and osmolality (i.e. concentration of dissolved particles per kilogram of solution) is just recently being documented in the literature. As a matter of fact, many commercial bioreactors do not even have the means installed to measure dissolved carbon dioxide and/or osmolality levels in-situ, let alone a means to control and optimize those parameters. Depending on the scale of the commercial operation—ranging from hundreds up to 25,000 liters of bioreactor volume—scale-up, optimization and control of the process pose different challenges. At commercial scales above about 1,000 liters, simultaneous and independent control of dissolved carbon dioxide and osmolality levels becomes difficult if not impossible with current best available technologies and methodologies.
Before a manufacturing-scale mammalian cell cultivation process starts in a bioreactor, a seed culture inoculum is typically prepared. This involves culturing production cells in a series of flasks in incubators and/or smaller bioreactors of increasing volume until enough cells are available for inoculation into the production bioreactor. The process involves transferring a cell population from one culture vessel to a larger one. Generally, a 20% dilution of the cell population is used for each transfer or subculture. In the incubator, the flasks with culture medium are clamped to a rotating platform to swirl the culture and facilitate gas transfer between the culture medium and the atmosphere in the incubators. Typically, the incubator for a mammalian cell culture process is set at 37° C. with 5% carbon dioxide (CO2) and a humidity level higher than about 80%. Similar temperatures and CO2 levels are used for seed cultures grown in bioreactors. When the seed culture reaches a sufficient volume and cell density, it is inoculated into the production bioreactor.
After seed culture is inoculated into the bioreactor medium, parameters such as pH, temperature, and level of dissolved oxygen are controlled to the prescribed levels during the cell cultivation process. pH is typically controlled by adding basic or acidic solutions when necessary during the process. Commonly used base solutions include sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate and sodium hydroxide solutions. Dissolution of carbon dioxide (CO2) is commonly used to achieve a more acidic pH. The preferred temperature of the culture medium or solution for mammalian cell cultivation processes is about 37° C. The desired level of dissolved oxygen in the culture medium or solution is typically achieved through air sparging using sparger installed on the bottom of the bioreactor, along with agitation of the culture medium or solution using impellers which breakup the large air/oxygen bubbles to enhance the transfer of oxygen to the cell medium from the sparged air bubbles. Purging the bioreactor headspace with a cover gas provides a limited degree of surface gas exchange. Disadvantageously, air-sparging and agitation of the culture medium or solution may result in foaming and shear damage to the mammalian cells which adversely impacts cell viability. Accumulations of foam on the surface of the culture medium also serve to further limit surface gas exchange and to reduce the available working volume of the bioreactor.
Commercial-scale mammalian cell cultivation processes may be conducted in three different operation modes: batch mode or fed-batch mode for suspended cell cultures, and perfusion mode for immobilized cells. The majority of the commercial-scale mammalian cell cultivation processes are operated in fed-batch mode. In fed-batch mode, additional media and nutrients are added to the bioreactor at different times during the cell cultivation process to supplement the carbon source and other nutrients after initial bioreactor setup.
Before any bioreactor is used for mammalian cell cultivation, it typically must be sterilized and equipped with various probes as well as connections for supplemental gas supply and introduction of additional feeds. Temperature probes, pH detectors, dissolved oxygen probes and dissolved CO2 probes or sensors are used to monitor the temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen and dissolved CO2 levels of the cell medium or solution in real time. In addition, cell culture medium or solution samples can be withdrawn from the bioreactor at selected intervals to determine cell density and cell viability, as well as to analyze other characteristics such as metabolites and osmolality. Based on such analytical results, additional feed or other additives can be added to the cell culture medium or solution in an effort to prolong the cell viability and increase production of biological products. When cell viability reaches a prescribed lower threshold, the cell cultivation process can be stopped or shut down. The prescribed lower threshold is often determined empirically based on the results of down-stream recovery and purification of the harvested biological products.
During the cultivation process, the mammalian cells exhibit three phases, namely the lag phase, the exponential growth phase, and the stationary or production phase. The lag phase occurs immediately after inoculation and is generally a period of physiological adaptation of mammalian cells to the new environment. After the lag phase, the mammalian cells are considered in the exponential growth phase. In the exponential growth phase, the mammalian cells multiply and cell density increases exponentially with time. Many cells actually start to produce the desired protein, antibody or biological product during some point in the exponential growth phase. Cell density refers to the total number of cells in culture, usually indicated in the density of viable and non-viable cells. When the mammalian cells reach the stationary or production phase, the viable cells are actively producing the biological products for downstream harvesting. During this phase, the total cell density may remain generally constant, but the cell viability (i.e. the percentage of viable cells) tends to decrease rapidly over time.
Mammalian cells are known to be sensitive to the amount of dissolved carbon dioxide in the cell culture media or solution. Mammalian cell cultures exposed to excess carbon dioxide levels during the exponential growth phase may demonstrate reduced production of monoclonal antibodies or other desired biological products. Before inoculation, the pH of the slightly alkaline culture media is often reduced to a more optimal value by addition of carbon dioxide. This process often leads to elevated levels of dissolved carbon dioxide at the beginning of the lag phase of many mammalian cell culture processes.
Dissolved carbon dioxide in mammalian cell culture bioreactors originates from chemical and biological sources. The chemical source of carbon dioxide is equilibrium chemical reactions occurring within the cell culture medium or solution that includes a selected amount of a buffer solution containing sodium bicarbonate and/or sodium carbonate. Additionally, carbon dioxide may be directly sparged into the slightly alkaline culture medium or solution to reduce the pH level of the broth to a prescribed level, usually around 7.0, resulting in more dissolved carbon dioxide. The biological source of carbon dioxide is a product of the respiration of the mammalian cells within the bioreactor. This biological source of carbon dioxide increases with cell density and generally reaches its maximum value at about the same time that cell density within the bioreactor is maximized. However, as more carbon dioxide is produced, the pH of the cell culture medium trends toward acidic such that additional bicarbonate is needed to keep the pH of the cell culture medium or solution within the desired range.
To offset the effects of increased dissolved carbon dioxide, one may add sodium bicarbonate so as to maintain the pH of the solution within the prescribed range or attempt to strip the carbon dioxide from the solution by sparging with additional air. Both of these means to offset the effects of increased carbon dioxide have other negative consequences on the mammalian cell culture process.
First, adding sodium bicarbonate to adjust the pH of the solution, results in an increase in osmolality level. Osmolality level represents the number of dissolved particles per kilogram of solution and is commonly reported as mOsm/kg by freeze-point depression. It is known in the art that increased levels of either dissolved carbon dioxide or increased levels of osmolality have adverse or negative impacts on cell density or yield. However, the combined or synergistic effects of carbon dioxide and osmolality levels are not well understood.
Carbon dioxide dissociates into bicarbonate ions at a pH of 7 in water. Only a fraction of the carbon dioxide remains as free CO2 in an un-dissociated state. Removing the dissolved carbon dioxide from a cell culture thus becomes difficult as most mammalian cell cultures take place at pH levels in the range of 6.5 to 7.5. The dissociated bicarbonate ions are not easily removed and generally must be recombined into free carbon dioxide before they can be stripped out of the solution. Any addition of sodium bicarbonate to balance the pH will also increase the equilibrium dissolved carbon dioxide concentration or saturation level in the solution, making it more difficult to remove the carbon dioxide physically.
Conventional methods of removing or stripping dissolved carbon dioxide from a mammalian cell culture solution is by sparging the cell culture solution with air or a gas mixture of air/oxygen/nitrogen in agitated tanks. However, gas sparging in agitated tanks results in adverse effects to the cell culture process. In particular, the gas-bubble breakage at the tip of the rotating agitator is a source of high shear rate that damages mammalian cell membranes, often sufficiently to cause cell death. Even when damage is sub-lethal, cell productivity is compromised in the period that the damaged membrane is repaired. In most current bioreactors, the agitator is a radial flow type that rotates around the center axis of the reactor vessel, and where the sparged gas and liquid within the reactor vessel are pushed outwards from the center of the reactor vessel to the side wall of the vessel. The main purpose of radial pumping impellers is to break and disperse gas bubbles provided by spargers. Bubble breakage behind the rotating impeller will have a major role in cell death. Small shading vortices formed behind the impeller will also damage cells to a lesser extent. Such impellers impart very little vertical or axial mixing. If multiple radial impellers are used, they may form distinct mixing zones within the reactor vessel. Current commercial axial flow impeller designs are all downward pumping. Downward pumping axial impellers generate vortices that entrain gas from the headspace into the body of the agitated liquid, resulting in gas bubble formation. As mentioned above, gas bubbles have a negative impact on cell growth in that the force of a breaking gas bubble is sufficient to damage the outer membrane of a mammalian cell, and can cause it to burst. Therefore, conventional radial impellers and downward pumping axial impellers are not generally suitable for promoting gas exchange between the liquid surface and the bioreactor headspace as a way to remove carbon dioxide from the cell culture medium.
In commercial scale bioreactors (e.g. 1,000 liters to 25,000 liters), carbon dioxide removal is more difficult than in smaller reactors, and the excess carbon dioxide that tends to accumulate is detrimental to cell growth. During scale-up from a bench or laboratory scale bioreactor to a production or commercial scale bioreactor, a productivity loss of up to 60% has been observed; excessive levels of carbon dioxide at the larger scale is the suspected cause of such productivity loss. Carbon dioxide removal via air sparging tends to be very effective in laboratory or bench scale bioreactors (e.g. less than 10 Liters of working volume) but is less effective in larger scale commercial bioreactors for at least three reasons: (i) the surface area to volume ratio is reduced, which further limits surface gas exchange; (ii) higher hydrostatic pressures in a large vessel increase carbon dioxide solubility; and (iii) larger vessels contain more cells and the resulting increased need for sparged gas to supply oxygen leads to more bubbles, which create more foam at the surface and further inhibit surface gas exchange.
Another disadvantage of foam created by air sparging into a rotating agitator is that cells become trapped on the foam layer where they are depleted of nutrients. Foaming also limits the operable volume of the reactor, as foam overflow can damage the integrities of the biological filters that prevent process contamination. Although anti-foaming agents are used, such agents have many undesirable effects. For example, anti-foaming agents can contaminate the biological products and their removal may require further downstream purification steps. Also, many such anti-foaming agents reduce the interfacial gas-liquid mass transfer efficiencies occurring within the bioreactor.
Also, gas bubbles created by sparging can burst at the liquid surface; this is often more damaging to cultured cells than shear due to the agitator. Minimizing agitator speed and limiting the gas sparging rate are currently viewed as the best means to avoid such damage and increase cell viability. However, both measures reduce the amount of carbon dioxide that is removed which in turn inhibits cell growth and reduces viability. These disadvantages are particularly challenging to overcome in large, commercial-scale bioreactors where the shear rate goes up substantially with the diameter of the impellers.
Some bubble free systems with membrane aeration have been proposed, but these have demonstrated only limited success even at small scales. Membrane fouling, system cost and system scalability have prevented membrane-based bioreactors from gaining broader acceptance.
Wave Bioreactor™ is an example of a design in which the surface to volume ration is large enough for dissolved carbon dioxide to be removed through gas exchange at the surface. Agitation is provided by rocking motion of a mechanically supported tray (See FIG. 1). The surface area needed for sufficient gas exchange has limited the size of this bioreactor to less than 500 liter working volume which is not suitable for large, commercial scale systems.
Conical bioreactors have also been proposed as an alternative way to provide a surface area to volume ratio large enough for gas exchange. The conical bioreactor is supported on an orbital shaker that provides gentle rocking motions. Much like the Wave Bioreactor™, mechanical engineering issues limit this design to smaller bioreactors

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Bioreactor with upward flowing impeller system for use in a mammalian cell culture process


Image sensor structures are provided. The image sensor structure includes a substrate having a front side and a backside and a light-sensing region formed in the substrate. The image sensor structure further includes a front side isolation structure surrounding the light sensing region and having an opening region in a top view and a backside isolation structure formed at the backside of the substrate and encompassing the light-sensing region and vertically overlapping the opening region. The image sensor structure further includes a first gate structure formed over the front side of the substrate and overlapping the opening region and the front side isolation structure and a storage node in the substrate adjacent to the first gate structure. In addition, the storage node extends into the opening region.

Semiconductor integrated circuit devices are used in a variety of electronic applications, such as personal computers, cell phones, digital cameras, and other electronic equipment. Semiconductor devices are typically fabricated by sequentially depositing insulating or dielectric layers, conductive layers, and semiconductor layers of material over a semiconductor substrate, and patterning the various material layers using lithography to form circuit components and elements thereon.
Over the past several decades, the semiconductor integrated circuit industry has experienced rapid growth. Technological advances in semiconductor materials and design have produced increasingly smaller and more complex circuits. These material and design advances have been made possible as the technologies related to processing and manufacturing have also undergone technical advances.
Many of the technological advances in semiconductors have occurred in the field of image sensing. A backside illuminated (BSI) image sensor is one of the types of image sensors used in integrated circuits. However, although existing backside illuminated image sensors have generally been adequate for their intended purposes, as device scaling-down continues, they have not been entirely satisfactory in all respects.

TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.


It is described a method for managing a radio transmission between a base station and a user equipment, wherein a communication channel is used for the radio transmission, wherein the communication channel includes a plurality of channel resources and is based on a MIMO transmission scheme. The method includes dividing the plurality of channel resources into a set of channel resource regions, assigning a MIMO rank to each channel resource region, wherein the MIMO rank is indicative for a number of channel resources to be used for a radio transmission within a corresponding channel resource region, selecting a channel resource region for the radio transmission between the base station and the user equipment, and managing the radio transmission between the base station and the user equipment based on the selected channel resource region and the corresponding assigned MIMO rank.

In cellular network systems, multiple-input and multiple-output, or MIMO may be used for improving the communication performance by using multiple antennas at both the transmitter and receiver. MIMO rank adaptation may be employed at the transmitter side as part of the link adaptation process to make best use of the multiple transmit antennas. If the user equipment (UE) channel quality is good, multiple data streams could be sent to the UE using high rank transmission. If the channel is poor, a low transmission rank may exploit the MIMO diversity gain to improve the received signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR). At the receiver side, the SINR can be improved by combining the signals from multiple receiving antennas. An IRC (interference rejection combining) receiver may exploit the interference correlation across the receiving antennas to suppress the strongest interferers and maximize the SINR. It may experience each MIMO rank as one independent interference source. Therefore, its performance may be significantly penalized when high rank transmissions are applied at interfering base stations or eNBs.
An IRC receiver with Nrx antennas can ideally suppress up to Nrx−1 strongest interferers. If rank 1 transmission is used in all neighboring cells, the interference from Nrx−1 neighboring cells can be suppressed. It should be noted that more than one cell can be provided by a single base station. However, if neighboring cells are using high rank transmission, one interferer corresponds to one MIMO data-stream, and the IRC receiver can suppress interference from only (Nrx−1)/Nrank neighboring cells. Therefore, the benefit of using IRC may be reduced. This effect may be significant for cell-edge UEs who suffer from severe inter-cell interference.
There may be a need for an improved system and method being adapted to reduce the interferences between neighboring cells and to increase the benefit of using an IRC receiver.

Managing a radio transmission between a base station and a user equipment


Metallopeptides with a sequence of a biologically active alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH), gamma-melanocyte stimulating hormone (γ-MSH), or bombesin sequence of length n residues, wherein a residue including a nitrogen atom and sulfur atom each available for complexation to a metal ion is inserted at any position from between the two and three position to the C-terminus side of the n position, or alternatively is substituted for the residue at any position from the three position to the n position, with a metal ion complexed thereto, with any proline (Pro) residue which is either of the two residues on the immediately adjacent N-terminus side of the inserted or substituent residue comprising a nitrogen atom and sulfur atom available for complexation to a metal ion is substituted with a homolog.

1. Field of the Invention (Technical Field)
The present invention relates to metallopeptides that bind to a target of interest and are agonists, antagonists or mixed agonist-antagonists, and more particularly to biologically active metallopeptides derived from biologically active known peptide sequences, including compounds specific for one or more melanocortin receptors and bombesin analogs.
2. Description of Related Art
Note that the following discussion refers to a number of publications by author(s) and year of publication, and that due to recent publication dates certain publications are not to be considered as prior art vis-a-vis the present invention. Discussion of such publications herein is given for more complete background and is not to be construed as an admission that such publications are prior art for patentability determination purposes.
Metallopeptides. Specific metallopeptides and methods for making and using receptor-specific metallopeptides are generally disclosed in International Patent Application Serial No. PCT/US02/04431, entitled Melanocortin Metallopeptides for Treatment of Sexual Dysfunction, filed Feb. 13, 2002; International Patent Application Serial No. PCT/US01/50075, entitled Identification of Target-Specific Folding Sites in Peptides and Proteins, filed Dec. 19, 2001; International Patent Application Serial No. PCT/US00/16396, entitled Melanocortin Metallopeptide Constructs, Combinational Libraries and Applications, filed Jun. 14, 2000; International Patent Application Serial No. PCT/US99/29743, entitled Metallopeptide Combinatorial Libraries and Applications, filed Dec. 14, 1999; U.S. Pat. No. 6,027,711 entitled Structurally Determined Metallo-Constructs and Applications, issued Feb. 22, 2000; U.S. Pat. No. 6,331,285 entitled Structurally Determined Cyclic Metallo-Constructs and Applications, issued Dec. 18, 2001; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,891,418, entitled Peptide—Metal Ion Pharmaceutical Constructs and Applications, issued Apr. 6, 1999, and the specifications thereof of each are incorporated herein by reference. In summary, the foregoing patents and applications teach metallopeptide compositions and methods of making and using metallopeptides, which metallopeptides are mimics of turn structures, bind to receptors of interest, and are agonists, antagonists, or mixed agonist-antagonists. In one simplified embodiment, an amino acid sequence provides an N3S1 ligand for a tetradentate metal ion such as rhenium (Re). The tri-peptide metal ion binding sequence can include amino acids in the L- or D-configuration, which may further have modified or unnatural side chains. The metallopeptides can include one or more amino acid residues, mimetics or other structures at either or both ends, and any terminal or capping group. Such a metallopeptide has the following general structure:

where R1 and R4 are the same or different and are independently selected from any terminal or capping group and optionally any one or more natural or unnatural L- or D-amino acid residues; R2 and R3 are the same or different and independently selected from any amino acid side chain moiety or derivative thereof; and M is a metal ion, such as Re.
Melanocortin. A family of melanocortin receptor types and subtypes have been identified, including melanocortin-1 receptors (MC1-R) expressed on normal human melanocytes and melanoma cells, melanocortin-2 receptors (MC2-R) for ACTH (adrenocorticotropin) expressed in cells of the adrenal gland, melanocortin-3 and melanocortin-4 receptors (MC3-R and MC4-R) expressed primarily in cells in the hypothalamus, mid-brain and brainstem, and melanocortin-5 receptors (MC5-R), expressed in a wide distribution of peripheral tissues.
In general, compounds specific for MC1-R are believed to be useful for treatment of melanoma, including use as radiotherapeutic or drug delivery agent, and as diagnostic imaging agents, particularly when labeled with a diagnostic radioisotope. Compounds specific for MC3-R, MC4-R or MC5-R are believed to be useful in-regulation of energy homeostasis, including use as agents for attenuating food intake and body weight gain, for use in treatment of anorexia, as a weight gain aid, for treatment of obesity, and other treatment of other food intake and metabolism-related purposes. Compounds specific for MC3-R and MC4-R, among other melanocortin receptors, can be used as agents for treatment of sexual dysfunction, including male erectile dysfunction. Compounds specific for MC3-R and MC4-R, among other melanocortin receptors, can be used to regulate blood pressure, heart rate and other neurophysiologic parameters. Other melanocortin receptor-specific compounds, such as MCR-1 agonists, can be used as tanning agents to increase melanin production. Compounds specific for MCR-1 and MCR-3 may be useful in regulation of inflammatory processes.
There is a significant need for compounds with high specificity for discrete melanocortin receptors, as well as compounds that are either agonists or antagonists for specific melanocortin receptors. High affinity compounds for melanocortin receptors can be used to exploit varied physiological responses associated with the melanocortin receptors, either as agonists or antagonists. In addition, melanocortin receptors have an effect on the activity of various cytokines, and high affinity compounds for melanocortin receptors can be used to regulate cytokine activity.
Bombesin. There is further a need for compounds that mimic bombesin analogs. Such compounds can be used in cancer diagnosis and therapy and a variety of physiological responses associated with bombesin receptors, including neurological and CNS responses, such as stroke, ischemia, head injury, and learning, memory and attention disorders.
Peptides, particularly peptides consisting entirely or primarily of L-isomer natural amino acids, are subject to peptidase and other enzymatic degradation, and typically have a very short half-life in vivo. There is a need for constructs made of amino acids but which are not susceptible to peptidase and other enzymatic degradation, or have decreased susceptibility to such degradation. The metallopeptide constructs of this invention advantageously are not subject to degradation, or have decreased susceptibility, and in most instances are excreted intact.


To provide a novel compound which satisfies characteristics required for an optical anisotropic material and which is excellent in durability against blue laser light, a liquid crystal composition containing the compound and an optical anisotropic material employing the liquid crystal composition.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a novel compound, a liquid crystal composition containing the compound, and an optical anisotropic material obtained by polymerizing the liquid crystal composition.
2. Discussion of Background
In recent years, in order to increase the capacity of an optical disk, blue shift of laser light to be employed for writing and reading of information is in progress. At present, laser light having a wavelength of 780 nm is used for CDs, and that of 660 nm is used for DVDs, but it has been studied to use laser light having a wavelength of from 300 to 450 nm for optical recording media of the next generation. Accordingly, an optical element such as a diffraction element or a phase plate to modulate laser light having a wavelength of from 300 to 450 nm (hereinafter referred to also as blue laser light), is required, and therefore, an optical anisotropic material useful for laser light in such a wavelength range is needed.
On the other hand, liquid crystal molecules having polymerizable functional groups have both characteristics as a polymerizable monomer and characteristics as a liquid crystal. Accordingly, if the polymerization reaction is carried out after liquid crystal molecules having polymerizable functional groups are aligned, it is possible to obtain an optical anisotropic material having alignment of the liquid crystal molecules fixed. The optical anisotropic material has an optical anisotropy such as a refractive index anisotropy derived from a mesogen skeleton and is applied to e.g. a diffraction element or a phase plate by the use of such a characteristic.
As such an optical anisotropic material, for example, a polymer liquid crystal has been reported which is obtained by polymerizing a liquid crystal composition containing a compound represented by the following formula (2):
(wherein Q is a 1,4-phenylene group or a trans-1,4-cyclohexylene group, and Z is an alkyl group) (Patent Document 1).
Further, the following properties may be mentioned as properties usually required for an optical anisotropic material for a diffraction element or a phase plate.
(1) Absorption of light is low.
(2) The in-plane optical properties (such as the retardation value) are uniform.
(3) The optical properties can easily be adjusted to those of other materials constituting the element.
(4) The wavelength dispersion of the refractive index is small.
(5) The durability is good. Patent Document 1: JP-A-10-195138
However, conventional materials such as a polymer liquid crystal disclosed in JP-A-10-195138 had a problem that they are insufficient in durability against blue laser light.

Polymerizable liquid crystal compound, liquid crystal composition and optical anisotropic material

Abstract: A compound represented by the following formula (1):CH2═CR1—COO-(E1)m-Cy-Y-Cy-E2-R2  (1)provided that the symbols in the formula have the following meanings. R1: a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; R2: a C1-8 alkyl group; Y: —OCO— or —COO—; m: 0 or 1; E1 and E2: each independently a 1,4-phenylene group or a trans-1,4-cyclohexylene group; and Cy: a trans-1,4-cyclohexylene group; provided that the above 1,4-phenylene group and the trans-1,4-cyclohexylene group may be such that a hydrogen atom in each group may be substituted by a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom or a methyl group.


This invention relates to IL-4 production inhibitors, antiallergic agents and atopic dermatitis preventives and improvers, each of which contains at one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl-containing monoterpenes, hydroxyl-containing sesquiterpenes and their acylated derivatives. This invention is also concerned with IL-4 production inhibitors, antiallergic agents and atopic dermatitis preventives and improvers, each of which contains an essential oil such as cedarwood oil. This invention is also concerned with bath medicine compositions, each of which contains one or more ingredients selected from cedrol, cedrenol, farnesol, patchouli alcohol and vetiverol.

This invention relates to interleukin-4 (hereinafter called xe2x80x9cIL-4xe2x80x9d) production inhibitors, antiallergic agents and atopic dermatitis preventives and improvers, which contain specific monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes or particular essential oils. This invention is also concerned with bath medicine compositions containing specific plant-derived ingredients.
IL-4 is a substance produced by T lymphocytes which are human or animal immune response cells, and are known to act on B lymphocytes and to enhance production of an antibody such as IgE [Rinsho Meneki (Clinical Immunology), 27, 45-57 (1995)]. For many years IgE is known to take a significant part in the onset of an atopic disease. Further, IL-4 is known to act as an accelerator of inflammatory cell infiltration at lesions in allergic diseases [Cell, 62, 457-467 (1990)]. From these, it is considered that IL-4 is largely implicated in the onset of an allergic disease. Inhibition of IL-4 production, if successfully achieved, is therefore believed to make it possible to treat and prevent allergic diseases more fundamentally from their cause than conventional treatment and preventive methods making use of histamine release inhibitors, IgE or histamine effect inhibitors or the like.
As substances for inhibiting the production of IL-4, a group of sulfonium derivatives including suplatast tosilate is well-known [Japan. J. Pharmacol., 62, 27-30 (1993)]. They are formulated into oral drugs and are used to treat allergic diseases such as atopic dermatitis, itching and pruritus, and the like, but their effects are not sufficient. In addition, their administration routes are limited because they have low percutaneous or transdermal absorption due to their structures. There is hence an outstanding need for IL-4 production inhibitors, antiallergic agents, and atopic dermatitis preventives and improvers, which are excellent in percutaneous or transdermal absorption, stability and safety.
In the case of one having overdrying skin or oversensitive skin and one suffering from atopic dermatitis, on the other hand, the skin is especially sensitive so that the skin tends to develop itching, pruritus, eczema or the like even by mild stimulation. Further, an allergic reaction to a house dust mite antigen, food or the like, psychological stress or the like acts as a deteriorating factor, thereby tending to result in a skin trouble. Use of medicinal bath preparations (JP 2-115117 A), which were added with conventional oil ingredients or humectants, were not able to sufficiently bring about fundamental preventing and improving effects although moistened skin feeling was available temporarily. There is accordingly an outstanding desire for bath medicine compositions, which have high effectiveness for improving skin roughness or dryness and for preventing and improving atopic dermatitis even for those having overdrying or oversensitive skin.
This invention provides use of at least one compound for the production of. an IL-4 production inhibitor, an antiallergic agent or an atopic dermatitis preventive and improver, in which the compound is selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl-containing monoterpenes, hydroxyl-containing sesquiterpenes and acylated derivatives thereof,
This invention also provides use of at least one essential oil for the production of an IL-4 production inhibitor, an antiallergic agent or an atopic dermatitis preventive and improver, in which the essential oil is selected from the group selected from the group consisting of cedarwood oil, eucalyptus oil, patchouli oil, sandalwood oil, vetiver oil, guaiacwood oil, bay oil, clove oil, chamomile oil, ginger oil, cumin oil, pepper oil, rosemary oil, hinoki oil, hiba oil, pimentoberry resinoid and myrrh resinoid.
This invention further provides use of at least one compound for the production of an IL-4 production inhibitor, an antiallergic agent or an atopic dermatitis preventive and improver, in which the compound is selected from the group consisting of eugenol, hinokitiol, cineole and acetylcedrene.
This invention still further provides a method for the treatment of a disease caused by production of IL-4, an allergic disease or atopic dermatitis, which comprises administering at least one essential oil selected from the group consisting of cedarwood oil, eucalyptus oil, patchouli oil, sandalwood oil, vetiver oil, guaiacwood oil, bay oil, clove oil, chamomile oil, ginger oil, cumin oil, pepper oil, rosemary oil, hinoki oil, hiba oil, pimentoberry resinoid and myrrh resinoid.
This invention still further provides a method for the treatment of a disease caused by production of IL-4, an allergic disease or atopic dermatitis, which comprises administering at least one compound selected from the group consisting of eugenol, hinokitiol, cineole and acetylcedrene.
Moreover, the present inventors have found that addition of one or more specific fragrance ingredients out of the above-described ingredients makes it possible to provide a bath medicine composition having high effectiveness for improving symptoms such as skin roughness, dryness, eczema and the like and also skin characteristics prone to skin troubles even for those having overdrying skin or oversensitive skin or suffering from atopic dermatitis.
This invention therefore also provides a bath medicine composition comprising at least one ingredient selected from cedrol, cedrenol, farnesol, patchouli alcohol or vetiverol.
This invention further provides use of at least one ingredient for the production of a bath medicine composition, in which the ingredient is selected from cedrol, cedrenol, farnesol, patchouli alcohol or vetiverol.
Furthermore, the present invention provides a bathing method, which comprises bathing in bathwater added with a composition which comprises at least one ingredient selected from cedrol, cedrenol, farnesol, patchouli alcohol or vetiverol.
Essential oils such as cedarwood oil are found in branches, leaves, roots, stalks, barks, fruits, buds, resins and the like of plants, and owing to the inclusion of abundant volatile ingredients and the possession of characteristic fragrances, are used as ingredients for perfumes. On the other hand, hydroxyl-containing monoterpenes, hydroxyl-containing sesquiterpenes, eugenol, hinokitiol and cineole are found as isolated ingredients of essential oils in branches, leaves and the like of plants. Further, as reaction products of isolated ingredients of essential oils, derivatives such as acetylcedrene and cedryl acetate are used as fragrance ingredients. However, their possession of IL-4 production inhibitory action and the like were not known at all.
Preferred examples of hydroxyl-containing monoterpenes can include l-menthol and citronellole. Preferred examples of hydroxyl-containing sesquiterpenes can include globulol, epiglobulol, farnesol, guaiol, patchouli alcohol, cedrol, santalol, vetiverol, widrrol, thujopsenol and cedrenol. As acylated derivatives, acetylated derivatives are preferred with cedryl acetate being more preferred. Of these, globulol, epiglobulol, farnesol, guaiol, patchouli alcohol, cedryl acetate and cedrol are more preferred, with cedrol being particularly preferred.
Hydroxyl-containing monoterpenes, hydroxyl-containing sesquiterpenes, eugenol, hinokitiol and cineole can be isolated by methods known per se in the art from plants known to contain them. Acetylcedrene, on the other hand, can be obtained by acetylating cedrene which is isolated from cedarwood oil or the like. They may also be chemically synthesized ones.
As these ingredients, known plant extracts, distillate fractions or the like with such ingredients contained therein can be used as they are. Described specifically, essential oils in the form of extracts, resinoids, absolutes or the likexe2x80x94which can be obtained by providing trees, herbs, spices and the like as raw materials and subjecting their wood chips, barks, roots, stalks, leaves, fruits, flowers or the like to extraction, steam distillation, pressing or the like in a manner known per se in the artxe2x80x94can be used as they are. More specifically, it is possible to use, without any further processing or treatment, cedarwood oil as cedrol; eucalyptus oil as globulol or epiglobulol; patchouli oil as patchouli alcohol; bay oil, clove oil or pimentoberry resinoid as eugenol; guiac wood oil as guaiol; hinoki oil as hinokitiol; and cardamon oil or the like as cineole. Illustrative of the above-described trees, herbs, spices and the like are cedar, eucalyptus, patchouli, sandalwood, vetiver, bayberry, clove, chamomile, ginger, cumin, pepper, rosemary, peppermint, valerian, honeysucle, thyme, tea, guaiacwood, hiba, hinoki, pimentoberry, and sage. Concerning these source plants, no particular limitation is imposed on their place of origin, weather, harvesting method, handling method, and the like.
In the present invention, preferred examples of essential oil can include cedarwood oil, eucalyptus oil, patchouli oil, pimentoberry resinoid, vetiver oil, sandalwood oil, bay oil, clove oil, chamomile oil, guaiacwood oil, ginger oil, and cumin oil. Of these, cedarwood oil, eucalyptus oil, patchouli oil, pimentoberry resinoid, vetiver oil and sandalwood oil are more preferred. Still more preferred are cedarwood oil, eucalyptus oil and pimentoberry oil, with cedarwood oil and eucalyptus oil being particularly preferred. Such essential oils can be obtained by methods known per se in the art by using as raw materials plants which contain them.
Such hydroxyl-containing monoterpenes, hydroxyl-containing sesquiterpenes, acylated derivatives thereof, eugenol, hinokitiol, cineole and acetylcedrene, which are useful in the present invention, may have chirality.
Essential oils (hereinafter called xe2x80x9cIL-4 production inhibiting substancesxe2x80x9d), such as these hydroxyl-containing monoterpenes, hydroxyl-containing sesquiterpenes, acylated derivatives thereof, eugenol, hinokitiol, cineole, acetylcedrene, eucalyptus oil and cedarwood oil, have excellent IL-4 production inhibitory activity and are useful for the production of antiallergic agents, especially preventives and improvers for atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma.
IL-4 is also considered to have some connection to various non-allergic diseases of skin. IL-4 has an effect that it acts on keratinocytes to enhance production of IL-6 [Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., 557, 454-465, (1989)], and has been considered to take part in skin inflammation. Further, mast cells stimulated by IL-4 are known to react to endothelin, thereby undergoing a histamine release [J. Immunol., 154, 1830-1837 (1995)]. In view of the fact that endothelin is produced from keratinocytes upon exposure to ultraviolet rays, ultraviolet rays are certainly considered to take part in itching. IL-4 is also known to act on fibroblasts to modify their collagen synthesizing ability [J. Clin. Invest., 90, 1479-1485 (1992)], so that there is possibility that IL-4 may also take part in the development of wrinkles and flabbiness on skin. The IL-4 production inhibitor according to the present invention is therefore expected to be effective for the prevention and treatment of other IL-4-related diseases, namely, itching or pruritus, wrinkles, freckles, dermatophytosis, stomatitis and the like.
The IL-4 production inhibitor, antiallergic agent and atopic dermatitis preventive and improver according to the present invention can be administered as external skin care preparations, oral preparations, injections, inhalants, medicinal bath preparations or the like.
Illustrative of external skin care preparations are ointments, toilet waters, creams, lotions, packs, and foundations. They can be produced by formulating the above-described IL-4 production inhibiting substance, an external skin care base commonly employed in external skin care preparations, one or more other medicinally-effective ingredients and the like in a manner known per se in the art. The external skin care base can be an oil base, an emulsified base of the oil/water or water/oil type, or water. Examples of the oil base can include oils and fats such as vegetable oils and animal oils, higher alcohols, fatty acids, and esters. As illustrative examples of medicinally-effective ingredients, anti-inflammatory analgesics, disinfectants, vitamins, emollients and the like can be used as needed. Further, humectants, ultraviolet absorbers, chelating agents, pH regulators, antiseptics, thickeners, alcohols, colors, perfumes and the like can also be added.
Oral preparations can be obtained by mixing the above-described IL-4 production inhibiting substance with a carrier such as lactose or starch and then forming the resulting mixture into tablets, capsules, granules or powder as needed or by dissolving or dispersing the above-described IL-4 production inhibitor in purified water or the like to provide a liquid preparation, syrup or drink. On the other hand, injections and inhalants can also be prepared by methods known per se in the art.
No particular limitation is imposed on the dose of the above-described IL-4 production inhibitor insofar as it falls within a range commonly adopted for cosmetics, drugs, or quasi-drugs, but a daily dose of from 0.001 to 2000 mg per adult is generally preferred.
For use in the bath medicine composition according to the present invention, one or more ingredients can be selected from cedrol, cedrenol, farnesol, patchouli alcohol and vetiverol. The proportion of such ingredient or ingredients in the bath medicine composition may be 10 ppm or higher, more specifically 0.01 to 20 wt. %, more preferably 1 to 10 wt. % based on all the ingredients. It is preferable to set the one dose of the bath medicine composition such that the concentration of such ingredient or ingredients becomes 0.01 ppm or higher, more specifically 0.1 to 1,000 ppm, more preferably 5.0 to 1,000 ppm in bath water.
In the bath medicine composition according to the present invention, an extract, steam distillate, pressed liquid or the like of a plant containing such an ingredient may also be used.
Examples of such a plant can include cedar, patchouli, and vetiver.
These plants can be subjected to extraction, steam distillation, pressing or the like in a manner known per se in the art. The resulting fraction may be used after fractionating it further or may be used in the form of a further-purified essential oil.
It is particularly preferred to incorporate, in addition to the above-described ingredients, an epidermal lipid or its analogue in the bath medicine composition according to the present invention, because the skin roughness or dryness improving effect can be enhanced further.
Examples of the epidermal lipids and its analogue for use in the present invention can include intercellular corneum lipids such as natural ceramides, ceramide analogues, steroids, fatty acid esters of steroids, fatty acids, and triglycerides; and cerebrosides and phospholipids. Among these, natural ceramides, ceramide analogues, phospholipids and fatty acid esters of steroids are preferred.
As a natural ceramide, it is preferred to use one or more of known type I to type VII which are contained in human epidermal lipids [Hifu Rinsho (Dermatoclinical Medicine), 35, 1147-1161 (1993); Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 38, 1532-1568 (1999)]. Examples of ceramide analogues can include those represented by the following formulas (1)-(4) and disclosed in JP 63-216812 A [formula (1)], JP 8-319263 A [formula (2)], JP 3-193754 A [formula (3)], JP 4-282304 A [formula (4)] and the like. All of these publications are incorporated herein by reference.
wherein R1 represents a hydrocarbon group having 10 to 26 carbon atoms, R2 represents a hydrocarbon group having 9 to 25 carbon atoms, and n stands for an integer of from 2 to 6.
In the formula, R1 may preferably be a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group having 10 to 26 carbon atoms, with an alkyl group having 10 to 18 carbon atoms being particularly preferred. R2, on the other hand, may preferably be a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group having 9 to 25 carbon atoms, with an alkyl group having 9 to 21 carbon atoms being particularly preferred.
wherein R3 and R4 are the same or different and each independently represent a hydroxylated or unhydroxylated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 40 carbon atoms, R5 represents an alkylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or a single bond, and R6 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkoxy group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms or a 2,3-dihydroxypropyloxy group with a proviso that R6 is a hydrogen atom when R5 is a single bond.
In the formula, R3 may preferably be a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group having 8 to 26 carbon atoms, with an alkyl group having 12 to 22 carbon atoms being particularly preferred. R4 may preferably be a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group having 9 to 25 carbon atoms, with an alkyl group having 11 to 21 carbon atoms being particularly preferred. R5 may preferably be a linear or branched alkylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, with a linear or branched alkylene group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms being particularly preferred. R6 may preferably be a hydrogen atom, a linear or branched alkoxy group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, or a 2,3-dihydroxypropyloxy group.
wherein R7 represents an alkyl or alkenyl group having 11 to 21 carbon atoms, and R8 represents a hydrocarbon group having 3 to 30 carbon atoms.
In the formula, R7 may preferably be an alkyl group having 13 to 17 carbon atoms, and R7 may preferably be a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group having 8 to 24 carbon atoms.
wherein R9 represents a hydroxylated or unhydroxylated, phosphorylated or unphosphorylated, or sulfated or unsulfated aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 49 carbon atoms, or a fatty acid residual group having 14 to 22 carbon atoms and represented by a substituent groupxe2x80x94(CaHb)xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94Y in which Y represents a hydrogen atom or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group represented by the following formula:
wherein Z represents xe2x80x94OH, xe2x80x94OP1, xe2x80x94OSO3xe2x88x92 or an epoxy oxygen, x stands for an integer of from 12 to 20, y stands for an integer of 20 to 40, and z stands for an integer of from 0 to 4, a stands for an integer of from 7 to 49, and b stands for an integer of from 10 to 98; R10 represents a hydroxylated or unhydroxylated, phosphorylated or unphosphorylated, or sulfated or unsulfated aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 28 carbon atoms; R11 represents a hydrogen atom, a carbohydrate group, a sulfate group or a phosphate group P1 in which P1 represents the following group:
R12 represents a hydrogen atom or the following substituent group:
wherein X1, X2 and X3 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a hydroxylated or unhydroxylated alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, c stands for an integer of from 0 to 4, d stands for an integer of 0 or 1, and R11 has the same meaning as defined above; and l and m each independently stand for 0 or 1 with the proviso that l+m is 1 or 2 when R9 has 9 to 49 carbon atoms.
In the formula, R9 may preferably be a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group having 6 to 32 carbon atoms, with an alkyl group having 10 to 20 carbon atoms being particularly preferred. R10 may preferably be a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group having 8 to 22 carbon atoms, with an alkyl group having 10 to 20 carbon atoms being particularly preferred.
R11 may preferably be a hydrogen atom, and R12 may preferably be a hydroxyethyl group.
Among these, ceramide analogues represented by the formula (1) or (2) are particularly preferred.
Examples of the phospholipids can include those disclosed in JP 3-66604 A, which are presented below by formula (5). This publication is also incorporated herein by reference.
wherein one of R13 and R14 represents
and the other represents a hydrogen atom; and X represents:
Further, preferred examples of the fatty acid esters of the steroids can include cholesteryl fatty acid esters represented by the following formula (6):
wherein R15 represents a hydroxylated or unhydroxylated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 25 carbon atoms.
The epidermal lipids and their analogues can be used either singly or in combination. They can be added in a proportion of from 0.001 to 60 wt. %, especially from 0.01 to 20 wt. % based on all the ingredients. It is preferred to set the one dose of the bath medicine composition such that their concentration becomes 0.01 ppm or higher, especially ranges from 0.1 to 1,000 ppm in bath water, because this concentration gives excellent feeling of use.
The bath medicine composition according to the present invention can also be added with another oil ingredient and a surfactant. These oil ingredient and surfactant make it possible to provide a self-emulsifying bath medicine composition which makes bath water cloudy and gives good feeling of use.
As the oil ingredient, it is preferred to use one or more compounds selected from glycerides, oils and fats, waxes, hydrocarbons, higher fatty acids, higher alcohols, esters and silicone oils. As the glycerides, diglycerides are preferred, with diglycerides such as the diglyceryl esters of one or more fatty acids, for example, 2-ethylhexanoic acid, myristyl acid, oleic acid and isostearic acid being particularly preferred. Illustrative of the oils and fats are natural oils and fats, such as soybean oil, rice bran oil, jojoba oil, avocado oil, almond oil, olive oil, cacao butter, sesame oil, persic oil, castor ol, coconut oil, mink oil, beef tallow and lard; hardened oils obtained by hydrogenating these natural oils and fats; and synthetic triglycerides such as glycerol myristate and glycerol tri-2-ethylhexanoate. Illustrative of the waxes are carnauba wax, whale wax and beeswax. Illustrative of the hydrocarbons are liquid paraffin, vaseline, paraffin microcrystalline wax, seresine, squalane, and pristane. Illustrative of the higher fatty acids are lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, behenic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, lanolin acid, and isostearic acid. Illustrative of the higher alcohols are lauryl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, oleyl alcohol, lanolin alcohol, and 2-hexyldecanol. Illustrative of the esters are myristyl lactate, cetyl lactate, isopropyl myristate, myristyl myristate, isopropyl palmitate, isopropyl adipate, butyl stearate, and decyl oleate. Illustrative of the silicone oils are dimethylpolysiloxane, and various silicones.
These oil ingredients can be used either singly or in combination. It is preferred to add them in a proportion of from 0.01 to 99 wt. %, especially from 50 to 95 wt. % based on the whole composition.
As the surfactant, on the other hand, nonionic, cationic, anionic and amphoteric surfactants are all available no matter whether they are natural surfactants or synthetic surfactants. Illustrative nonionic surfactants can include polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers, polyoxyethylene alkylphenyl ethers, polyoxyethylene fatty acid esters, polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid esters, sorbitan fatty acid esters, fatty acid monoglycerides, sugar fatty acid esters, and higher fatty acid alkanols. Typical cationic surfactants can be quaternary ammonium salts. Quaternary ammonium salts can all be used preferably insofar as they are generally available for the body, and those containing the branched quaternary ammonium salts disclosed in JP 61-267505 A are preferred. Illustrative anionic surfactants can include alkyl- or alkenylsulfate salts, alkyl- or alkenylsufate salts added with ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide, olefinsulfonate salts, alkanesulfonate salts, saturated or unsaturated fatty acid salts, alkyl- or alkenylether carboxylate salts added with ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide, xcex1-sulfofatty acid salt esters, surfactants of the amino acid type, surfactants of the phosphate ester type, surfactants of the sulfosuccinic acid type, surfactants of the taurin type, and surfactants of the amide ether sulfate type. Illustrative amphoteric surfactants can include amphoteric surfactants of the sulfonic acid type and amphoteric surfactants of the betaine type.
These surfactants can be used either singly or in combination. It is preferred to add them in a proportion of from 0.01 to 90 wt. %, especially from 5 to 20 wt. % based on the whole composition.
To the bath medicine composition according to the present invention, ingredients employed in general bath medicine compositions, for example, inorganic salts, organic acids, vegetable and animal drugs, other essential oils, other perfumes, colors, vitamins, polyhydric alcohols, fine-powders, sulfur, deposits of hot-spring water, antiseptics and the like can be added as needed to extents not impairing the effects of the present invention.
To the bath medicine composition according to the present invention, water can be added in an appropriate proportion within a range of from 0.01 to 90 wt. % to increase the stability of the composition or to form the composition into an emulsified form.
The bath medicine composition according to the present invention can be formulated into a desired preparation form such as powder, granules, tablets, capsules, a liquid, or an emulsion by a method known per se in the art. Further, the one dose of the bath medicine composition according to the present invention can be varied as desired, and may range preferably from 1 to 500 g, especially from 5 to 100 g for general home bathtubs of from 150 to 200 liters


A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of memory cells that are arranged at intersections of a word line with bit line pairs, a precharge circuit that is arranged for each of the bit line pairs and is configured to precharge each of the bit line pairs, and a Y-switch circuit that is arranged for each of the bit line pairs and is configured to select each of the bit line pairs. The semiconductor memory device further includes a mode switching unit that switches the normal mode and the test mode in accordance with a mode selection signal that is externally supplied, a plurality of individual control units that control operation of each of the precharge circuits in accordance with operation of each of the Y-switch circuits in the normal mode, and a block control unit that collectively turns off all of the precharge circuits in the test mode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device, and more specifically, to a semiconductor memory device that is suitable for high-speed operation and capable of analyzing detailed failure.
2. Description of Related Art
A semiconductor memory device that includes SRAM cells is known. For example, FIG. 7 shows a semiconductor memory device where a precharge system used in a low power SRAM is mounted.
Such a low power system SRAM is also disclosed, for example, in FIG. 1 of Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-184198.
As shown in FIG. 7, a low power system SRAM 10 includes a memory array 11 formed of memory cells C00 and C01 arranged at intersections of bit line pairs (BP00, BP01) with a word line WORD, a precharge unit 12 that includes a plurality of precharge circuits PC00 and PC01 that precharge each bit line pair BP00 and BP01, and a Y-switch unit 13 that includes a plurality of Y-switch circuits YS00 and YS01 that select each bit line pair BP00 and BP01.
Each of the memory cells C00 and C01 is arranged at intersections of the bit line pairs BP00 and BP01 with the word line WORD, and is arranged in matrix as a whole.
In FIG. 7, two memory cells are shown as a representative example.
The memory cells C00 and C01 are well-known static memory cells (SRAMs). The precharge circuits PC00 and PC01 are arranged for each bit line pair BP00, BP01. Then, all the precharge circuits PC00 and PC01 are connected to a precharge control line LPC that is horizontally arranged, and collectively controlled by a block selection signal BLKsel that is supplied to the precharge control line LPC.
Further, FIG. 8 is a timing chart describing the operation of the low power system SRAM.
As the block selection signal BLKsel is changed from an L level to an H level in this low power system SRAM, the precharge operation of the precharge circuits PC00 and PC01 is turned off. Further, as the word line WORD becomes the H level and a Y switch selection signal Ysel00 becomes the H level to turn on the Y-switch circuit YS00 that selects the bit line pair BP00 to which the memory cell C00 which is the reading target is connected, data reading/writing is made possible from/to the memory cell C00.
In recent years, lines in a semiconductor memory device have been miniaturized in order to realize reduction in size, which may cause defects such as a short-circuit of the lines during a manufacturing process.
FIG. 9 shows an enlarged view of one of static memory cells (SRAMs).
For example, as shown in dashed lines in FIG. 9, such a defect may be caused that a node system of the SRAM shorts out with the GND. In order to overcome such a problem, it is required to analyze detailed failure of each memory cell regarding such a defect before mass production and to improve the product yield.
As one of the failure analyses of memory cells, one method is known that performs long write which is longer than normal writing on each memory cell C00 and C01.
In performing such a failure analysis, for the memory cell C00 which is the test target, the word line WORD is made to the H level, the Y-switch circuit YS00 is made to the ON state (Ysel is in the H level), and the potential difference corresponding to the write data is applied to the bit line pair BP00 for performing long write.
At this time, if current flows in the memory cell C00, there is a high possibility that any defect occurs that is connected to the GND side in a memory cell part node where High is written or any defect occurs that is connected to the VDD side in a memory cell part node where Low is written.
As such, by detecting the current that flows in the memory cell while executing the long write, the memory cell can be analyzed in detail.
In the related art, the above-described detailed test has been performed on the circuit of the SRAM memory as shown in FIG. 7 to improve the product yield.
Note that the failure test of the memory by the long write is also employed in a technique disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-067598, for example, although its purpose is different from the one described above.
By the way, in recent years, high-speed operation has also been strongly desired along with the miniaturization of semiconductor memory devices.
However, the low power system SRAM as shown in FIG. 7 cannot cope with the high-speed operation.
According to the low power system SRAM shown in FIG. 7, in performing data reading/writing from/to the memory cell, the precharge circuits PC00 and PC01 are collectively turned off by the block selection signal BLKsel supplied to the precharge control line LPC.
Although only the memory cell C00 that is connected to the Y-switch circuit YS00 that is selected is read/written through a common bit line pair LIOT/LION, the potential at full amplitude is applied to the bit lines BT01 and BN01 even in the bit line pair BP01 which is not selected, as shown in FIG. 8.
Accordingly, all the bit line pairs BP00 and BP01 need to be charged to full capacity in order to execute the next precharge, which causes extremely large current consumption peak.
If there is a large current consumption peak, the power supply drop may easily be produced, which cannot assure the following high-speed operation or stable operation.
Accordingly, the low power system SRAM as shown in FIG. 7 is not suitable for the high-speed operation.
For example, a high-speed operation system SRAM as shown in FIG. 10 is known.
FIG. 10 is a circuit example in which a precharge system employed in a normal high-speed system SRAM or the like is mounted.
Such a high-speed system SRAM is disclosed also in FIG. 2, for example, of Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-313083.
In such a high-speed system SRAM, gates of the precharge circuits PC00 and PC01 are controlled in accordance with each of the Y-switch circuits YS00 and YS01.
FIG. 11 is a timing chart describing the operation of the high-speed system SRAM.
In such a high-speed system SRAM, the selection signal Ysel00 of the Y-switch circuit YS00 that selects the memory cell which is the reading/writing target and the word line WORD are controlled substantially in the same way.
When the selection signal YSW00 of the Y-switch circuit YS00 that selects the memory cell C00 which is the target of reading/writing is changed from the L level to the H level, the precharge circuit PC00 in accordance with the Y-switch circuit YS00 becomes the OFF state.
The data reading/writing from/to the memory cell C00 is made possible with this state.
When the precharge circuit is made OFF state and the data reading from the memory cell C00 is executed, for example, potentials of VDD, and GND are shown in the bit line pair BP00 (BT/BN00), respectively, which is connected to the memory cell C00 which is the writing/reading target.
On the other hand, the precharge circuit PC01 remains in the ON state in the bit line pair BP01 of the memory cell C01 which is not the target of reading/writing. Thus, the potential remains in the VDD with little change, or keeps VDD-a within a range of minor (a) fluctuation, if any.
Accordingly, for performing the precharge after the reading/writing operation, only the limited amount needs to be charged again, which causes only a small peak current due to the precharge.
Compared with FIG. 7 where the low power system SRAM collectively supplies charge to all the precharge circuits (PC00, PC01) for the precharge operation after the reading/writing operation, the high-speed system SRAM shown in FIG. 10 requires little current for the precharge and produces no abrupt current consumption peak, whereby the high-speed operation may be stably performed.


Process and apparatus for influencing web characteristic in a machine for producing a fibrous web. The process includes guiding the fibrous material web in a still-wet state and stretching the still-wet state fibrous material web in a crosswise direction. The apparatus includes a stretching device arranged to stretch the fibrous material web in a still-wet state in a direction crosswise to a travel direction.

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. xc2xa7119 of German Patent Application No. 199 35 481.2, filed on Jul. 28, 1999, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process and device for producing a fibrous material web, in particular a paper or cardboard web, in which the fibrous material web is appropriately treated for the purpose of influencing certain web characteristics such as, in particular, the web structure and/or the fiber orientation.
2. Discussion of Background Information
It is known that, in the current conventional processes for producing fibrous material webs such as, in particular, paper webs, a more or less clear orientation of the fibers in the machine direction occurs. The average fiber orientation can be varied within certain boundaries dependent upon the operating characteristics of the sheet forming unit, i.e., dependent upon whether an overdamming or an underdamming is present, and upon the forces in the machine, in which situation the average fiber orientation defined by the sheet forming unit can only be changed in the direction of a greater longitudinal orientation, e.g., by means of forces in the press section.
It is further known that the edges of a fibrous material web shrink more than the web center in a conventional drying method. Different sheet characteristics across the web width result from this.
In a process known from U.S. Pat. No. 3,301,173, the elasticity of a belt is used to influence web characteristics in that the relatively dry web is compressed by the belt such that a microcreping of the web occurs with a corresponding change in thickness. In this process, the deformation of the belt thus primarily results in a thickness/length variation. However, besides the desired increase in flexibility and energy absorption, such as compression and/or microcreping of the relatively dry web always causes a significant loss in tensile strength in the lengthwise direction of the fibrous material web because some of the fibers are broken.
An aspect of the invention is to create a process and a device of the kind mentioned at the outset in which the aforementioned disadvantages are eliminated. This should particularly also create the possibility of, on the one hand, influencing and preferably increasing the degree of orientation of the fibers crosswise to the operating direction of the machine and, on the other hand, deliberately influencing the structure of the fibrous material web, in a simple and reliable manner.
This aspect is attained with regard to the process in that, in order to influence the applicable web characteristics, the fibrous material web is correspondingly stretched in the crosswise direction while still damp.
Because of this construction, it is now possible, on the one hand, to influence and preferably increase the orientation of the fibers crosswise to the operating direction of the machine and, on the other hand, to deliberately influence the structure of the fibrous material web, which also allows a deliberate influence across the width of the web, if necessary. With a deliberate crosswise stretching of the fibrous material web, the breaking length ratio is decreased as well. During tightening, the elastic belt furthermore behaves similarly to a web in a drying section, i.e., the edges behave differently from the middle of the web because of the different edge conditions. As a result, the contraction of the belt is also different across the width, which has the effect that the web edges are stretched more than the middle of the web. This effect works against an increased edge shrinkage of the web in the drying section and compensates partially or completely therefor. With the crosswise stretching of the fibrous material web, different characteristics of the web, e.g., a paper web, can be influenced, if necessary, also deliberately across the web width.
Among the characteristics of the fibrous material web that can be correspondingly influenced are, e.g., the porosity that can be increased as a result of a loosening of the structure, the smoothness or the smoothness profile, the strengths in the crosswise direction, and the stretching characteristics in the lengthwise direction. The open porosity achieved can, for example, improve the press performance and/or the drying performance. Furthermore, a better or more even acceptance of glue can also be achieved, for example.
The still-wet fibrous material web is suitably stretched in the crosswise direction with a solids content of around 5% to around 65%, in particular of around 5% to around 55%, and preferably of around 15% to around 25%.
In a preferred practical embodiment of the process according to the invention, the fibrous material web is transferred in its still-wet state onto an endless elastic belt which was stretched in the lengthwise direction before the transfer point and whose stretching behavior is adjusted in various directions such that, with the preceding lengthwise stretching of the belt, a crosswise contraction of the belt corresponding to the lengthwise contraction of the belt occurring after the transfer point primarily causes a crosswise stretching of the belt and the fibrous material web is stretched in the crosswise direction thereby.
It is advantageous in this situation for the stretching behavior of the elastic belt to be adjusted separately in the thickness and width direction in such a way that, with a lengthwise stretching or lengthwise contraction of the belt, at least essentially only a crosswise contraction of the belt and/or crosswise stretching of the belt occurs without significant changes in thickness. In comparison to the variation in thickness that has been common up to now, the fibers in the fibrous material web are thus no longer contracted, but rather reoriented. The preceding stretching of the elastic belt in the lengthwise direction suitably follows immediately before the transfer point.
The lengthwise stretching of the belt before receiving the fibrous material web can occur in different ways. In a suitable practical embodiment, the elastic belt is tensed by at least one driven rotating roll, and especially at least two rotating rolls driven in opposite directions and thus stretched in the lengthwise direction. The fibrous material web is preferably transferred to the elastic belt in the region of this one roll and/or the last of these rolls.
The transfer of the still-wet fibrous material web to the elastic belt suitably occurs at a solids content of the web of around 5% to around 65% weight, in particular of around 5% to around 55% weight, and preferably of around 15% to around 25% weight.
Additionally, besides the function of a crosswise stretching of the fibrous material web, the elastic belt can also fulfill one or more further functions. Thus, a belt serving at the same time as a pressing felt can be used as an elastic belt. It is fundamentally also possible to use a belt that is simultaneously serving as a transfer belt as an elastic belt. Such combinations have the advantage that only a few new machine components are necessary.
In a suitable embodiment, an elastic belt with a stretching behavior that varies across the web width is used, by which means different effects can be achieved, such as, e.g., the previously mentioned effect of a decreased edge shrinkage behavior of the web. As needed, an elastic belt with a closed surface or a porous elastic belt can be used.
In a suitable practical embodiment, the fibrous material web is transferred to the elastic belt by a transport belt such as, in particular, a wet wire, a transfer belt, or the like.
The device according to the invention is correspondingly characterized in that it includes a device for stretching the fibrous material web for the purpose of influencing certain web characteristics such as, in particular, the web structure and/or the fiber orientation in the crosswise direction in the still-wet state.
According to an aspect of the present invention a process is provided for influencing web characteristic in a machine for producing a fibrous web, the process including guiding the fibrous material web in a still-wet state; stretching the still-wet state fibrous material web in a crosswise direction.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the web characteristic includes at least one web structure and fiber orientation. In another aspect of the present invention the fibrous material web includes one of paper and cardboard.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, when stretched, the still-wet fibrous material has a solids content of about 5% to about 65%. Moreover, when stretched, the still-wet fibrous material web has a solids content of about 5% to about 55%; in particular about 5% to about 55%, and preferably around 15% to 25%.
In another aspect of the present invention, the process includes stretching a continuous elastic belt in a lengthwise direction before a transfer point, in which a cross-wise direction contraction results, transferring the fibrous material web onto the lengthwise stretched continuous elastic belt at the transfer point, and lengthwise contracting the continuous elastic belt after the transfer point, in which a cross-wise direction expansion results. In this manner, the fibrous material web is stretched in the crosswise direction.
According to a still further aspect of the present invention a process is provided wherein a stretching behavior of the elastic belt is such that the stretching and contracting in the lengthwise direction substantially effects the cross-wise direction contracting and expansion without significantly changing a thickness of the elastic belt.
Further aspects of the invention provide a process wherein the elastic belt is stretched in a longitudinal direction immediately before the transfer point. According to other aspects of the present invention the stretching of the continuous elastic belt is effected by at least one driven rotating roll.
According to another aspect of the present invention the stretching of the continuous elastic belt is effected by at least two driven rolls rotating in opposite directions. According to an aspect of the invention the fibrous material web is transferred to the elastic belt in a region of a last roll used for stretching.
In another aspect of the present invention, the still-wet state fibrous material web is transferred to the elastic belt with a solids content of about 5% to about 65%; in particular about 5% to about 55%; and preferably about 15% to about 25%.
According to a further aspect of the present invention the continuous elastic belt includes a pressing felt. In another aspect of the present invention the continuous elastic belt includes a transfer belt. According to a further aspect of the present invention the continuous elastic belt has a stretching behavior that varies across the web width.
In another aspect of the present invention the elastic belt has a closed surface. According to still a further aspect of the present invention the elastic belt is porous. According to still a further aspect of the present invention the fibrous material web is transferred to the elastic belt from a transport belt comprising one of a wet wire and a transfer belt.
Further aspects of the invention include stretching the fibrous material web in the crosswise direction increases the degree of orientation of the fibers in the crosswise direction. According to other aspects of the present invention the stretching of the fibrous material web in the crosswise direction influences the structure of the fibrous material web is provided.
According to another aspect of the present invention an apparatus is provided for producing a fibrous material web. The apparatus includes a stretching device arranged to stretch the fibrous material web in a still wet state in a direction crosswise to a travel direction.
According to a further aspect of the present invention an apparatus is provided including wherein the stretching device is adapted to influence at least one of web structure and fiber orientation in the fibrous material web. According to a still further aspect of the invention the fibrous material web includes one of a paper and cardboard.
According to an aspect of the present invention, the apparatus includes an elastic belt positioned to receive the still-wet state fibrous material web at a transfer point. The elastic belt is stretched in a lengthwise direction before the transfer point, in which a crosswise contraction of the elastic belt can result, and the elastic belt is contractible after the transfer point, in which the crosswise stretching of the elastic belt can result. In this manner, the fibrous material web is stretched in the crosswise direction.
According to another aspect of the invention a stretching behavior of the elastic belt is such that the stretching and contracting in the lengthwise direction substantially effects the cross-wise direction contracting and expansion without significantly changing the thickness.
In another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus is provided including a driven rotating roll arranged to stretch the elastic belt in the lengthwise direction, wherein the elastic belt is tensed around said driven rotating roll.
According to a further aspect of the present invention the transfer point is located in a region of the driven roll. According to a still further aspect of the present invention, the elastic belt comprises a pressing felt. Further aspects of the invention include an elastic belt that includes a transfer belt.
According to other aspects of the invention, the apparatus has an elastic belt having a stretching behavior that varies across a width of the web. According to another aspect of the present invention the elastic belt has a closed surface. According to a further aspect of the present invention the elastic belt is porous.
According to another aspect of the present invention an apparatus is provided having a transport belt arranged to guide the fibrous web before the transfer point, wherein the fibrous material web is transferred to the elastic belt from a transport belt. In another aspect of the present invention the transfer belt comprises a wet wire.
Other exemplary embodiments and advantages of the present invention may be ascertained by reviewing the present disclosure and the accompanying drawing.

Process and device for producing a fibrous material web


A locking apparatus for a bicycle is provided. The locking apparatus is for locking with a public bicycle station and includes a body, a locking portion and a controlling portion. The body is connected to the bicycle. The locking portion is located on one side of the body and includes a rotating unit, a locking member and an ejecting member. The rotating unit includes a locking groove, wherein a locking head can be inserted into the locking groove, and the rotating unit is rotated between a first position and a second position. When the rotating unit is located at the first position, the ejecting member is corresponded to the locking member and is ejected from the locking groove. The controlling portion is located on the other side of the body and includes an operating unit rotatably coupled to the rotating unit.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a locking apparatus for a bicycle. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a locking apparatus for locking a bicycle to a public bicycle station.
2. Description of Related Art
Recently, bicycle is means of transportation in the city. In addition to energetic promotion on riding bicycle, exclusive bicycle lanes have also been developed constantly by the government. However, a main problem for bicycle riders is safety parking of the bicycles. For solving this problem, it is necessary to set up exclusive parking spaces and safe-locking systems for the bicycles.
Public bicycle is one of the solutions of the problem. However, most of locking apparatus of the public bicycle station have complicated structures, thus the manufacturing cost thereof is high. In a conventional locking apparatus for bicycle, an inner portion has two rods installed through the left and the right side for obtaining locking or anti-parking effect. However, the number of the components of the conventional locking apparatus is large, and a larger force is required to driver the blocking member, thus it is strenuous to operate the locking apparatus, and the failure rate is high. Therefore, it is needed a locking apparatus having smooth operation and simple structure.
Moreover, for preventing the riders from adjusting themselves to a new operation practice, the locking apparatus must be able to be directly applied on the public bicycle station nowadays to meet requirements on easy management and repair. Thus it is difficult to manufacture a locking apparatus having all aforementioned conditions.