A barcode scanner capable of switching the reading resolution of scanning can be used for scanning a barcode with high resolution or low resolution, including a shell body, a scan module and a switchable magnifying module. The shell body has an opening. The scan module arranged in the shell body has a lighting unit emitting an illuminating light onto the barcode through the opening and a sensing unit sensing a barcode image formed from a reflection of the barcode illuminated by the illuminating light passing through the opening. The switchable magnifying module has a magnifier for magnifying the barcode image and a switch unit for switching the position of the magnifier relative to the sensing unit. The switch unit can move the magnifier between an off-axial position, which is not between the sensing unit and the barcode, and an on-axial position, which is between the sensing unit and the barcode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention in general relates to a barcode scanner, in particular, to a barcode scanner capable of switching reading resolution of scanning.
2. Description of Prior Art
Barcode scanner is a sensing component matched with specific optical assembly for scanning a barcode to obtain its corresponding information. In general, a barcode scanner has a resolution upper-limit for the barcode to be scanned. During scanning, only the barcode with a resolution lower than the upper-limit can be scanned by the scanner.
High resolution has become a trend for a barcode, because it can reduce the barcode volume and save the material cost. However, the resolution of the optical lens in a barcode scanner is inversely proportional to the depth of field of the optical lens. Therefore, in a barcode scanner capable of scanning a barcode with high resolution (<4 mil), its depth of field is shorter relatively. This means that it can effectively scan the barcode only when the user puts the barcode in front of the barcode scanner within a small range or a specifically back and forth distance. On the contrary, in a barcode scanner capable of scanning a barcode with low resolution (>4 mil), its depth of field is longer relatively so, during use, it is unnecessary in some degree to consider the distance between the bar code and the barcode scanner, thereby effectively enhancing the scanning efficiency.
Therefore, in order to solve aforementioned drawbacks, company or store sometimes has to prepare two barcode scanners respectively capable of scanning the barcodes with different resolutions. The barcode scanner with low resolution is used for scanning the barcode with low resolution, while the barcode scanner with high resolution is used for scanning the barcode with high resolution. Thereby, the overall scanning efficiency is enhanced.
However, preparing two kinds of barcode scanners respectively for scanning the barcodes with different resolutions can cause company or store to pay more money to purchase additional devices, especially for large retail store, like mall, where a large amount of barcode scanners are needed. Besides, the cost of a barcode scanner with high resolution is much higher than that of a barcode scanner with low resolution, which can cost a lot of operational fee, especially for large company or store.
Accordingly, after a substantially devoted study, in cooperation with the application of relative academic principles, the inventor has finally proposed the present invention designed reasonably to possess the capability to improve the drawbacks of the prior arts significantly.

Barcode scanner capable of switching reading resolution of scanning


The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I):

Atherosclerosis and its associated coronary heart disease are the leading causes of death in the industrialized world. Risk for development of coronary heart disease has been shown to be strongly correlated with certain plasma lipid levels. Lipids are transported in the blood by lipoproteins.
The general structure of lipoproteins is a core of neutral lipids (triglyceride and cholesterol ester) and an envelop of polar lipids (phospholipids and non esterified cholesterol). There are 3 different classes of plasma lipoproteins with different core lipid content: the low density lipoprotein (LDL) which is cholesteryl ester (CE) rich; high density lipoprotein (HDL) which is also cholesteryl ester (CE) rich; and the very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) which is triglyceride (TG) rich. The different lipoproteins can be separated based on their different flotation density or size.
High LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglyceride levels are positively correlated, while high levels of HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) are negatively correlated with the risk for developing cardiovascular diseases.
Plasma lipoprotein metabolism can be described as a flux of cholesterol between liver and the other tissues. The LDL pathway corresponds to the secretion of VLDL from the liver to deliver cholesterol by LDL to tissues. Any alteration in LDL catabolism could lead to uptake of excess cholesterol in the vessel wall forming foam cells and atherosclerosis. The opposite pathway is the mobilization of free cholesterol from peripheral tissues by HDL to deliver cholesterol to the liver to be eventually excreted with bile. In humans a significant part of cholesteryl ester (CE) is transferred from HDL to the VLDL, LDL pathway. This transfer is mediated by a 70,000 dalton plasma glycoprotein, the cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP).
Mutations in the CETP gene associated with CETP deficiency are characterized by high HDL-cholesterol levels (>60 mg/dL) and reduced cardiovascular risk. Such findings are consistent with studies of pharmacologically mediated inhibition of CETP in the rabbit, which argue strongly in favor of CETP inhibition as a valid therapeutic approach [Le Goff et al., Pharmacology & Therapeutics 101:17-38 (2004); Okamoto et al., Nature 406:203-207 2000)].
No entirely satisfactory HDL-elevating therapy exists. For example, niacin can significantly increase HDL, but it also has serious toleration issues which reduce compliance. Fibrates and the HMG CoA reductase inhibitors raise HDL-cholesterol only modestly (−10-12%).
Thus, there is a significant unmet medical need for a well tolerated agent which can significantly elevate plasma HDL levels. The net result of CETP activity is a lowering of HDL-C and an increase in LDL-C. This effect on lipoprotein profile is believed to be pro-atherogenic, especially in subjects whose lipid profile constitutes an increased risk for coronary heart disease. By inhibiting CETP activity there is the potential to inverse this relationship towards a lower risk and ultimately to protect against coronary heart diseases and associated mortality.
CETP inhibitors, therefore, are useful as medicaments for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of atherosclerosis, peripheral vascular disease, dyslipidemia, hyperbetalipoproteinemia, hypoalphalipoproteinemia, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, familial hypercholesterolemia, cardiovascular disorders, angina, ischemia, cardiac ischemia, stroke, myocardial infarction, reperfusion injury, angioplastic restenosis, hypertension, and vascular complications of diabetes, obesity or endotoxemia.
In addition, CETP inhibitors may be used in combination with another compound such as, for example, an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, a microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP)/ApoB secretion inhibitor, a PPAR activator, a bile acid reuptake inhibitor, a cholesterol absorption inhibitor, a cholesterol synthesis inhibitor, a fibrate, niacin, an ion-exchange resin, an antioxidant, an ACAT inhibitor or a bile acid sequestrant.

Indole, indazole and indoline derivatives as CETP inhibitors

Abstract: wherein —X—Y—, R1 to R11 and n are as defined in the description and claims, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The compounds are useful for the treatment and/or prevention of diseases which are mediated by CETP inhibitors.


A wood rail-to-metal post bracket assembly comprised of two galvanized carriage bolts and nuts; four pieces punched and press-formed from sheet metal; two pieces formed as pipe clamping mechanisms, and two pieces formed as rail brackets. The pipe clamping mechanisms and the rail brackets connecting the respective wood fence rails to an associated elongated pipe member.

Galvanized metal posts/pipes are used for their durability and strength.
A prior art search produced various patented and commercially available connectors, however none of the existing connectors are capable of meeting all of the following criteria:
1—A design that allows adjusting the Y angel of the rail brackets (with respect to the horizon) easily, independently and properly based on land topology.
2—A design that allows adjusting the X angel of the rail brackets properly based on the boundary path.
3—A design that creates a sturdy and durable wood-to-pipe connection, with better grip, ideal for hillsides.
4—A design that minimizes the overall fence footprint, without the post sticking out on one side of fence.
5—A design that accommodates pickets being installed continuously without a gap near the posts/pipes.
The invention, outlined herein, can achieve all of the above.

Wood-to-metal post clamp with adjustable rail bracket angle (WTMPCWARBA), set A, B and C


An accelerometer with improved immunity to sensitivity drift is disclosed. In some embodiments, the accelerometer comprises an actuator that induces a known acceleration on a reference frame. A signal based on this known acceleration is used to calibrate the accelerometer to mitigate the effects due to at least one of sensitivity drift, D.C. bias drift, sense laser wavelength drift, and resonant frequency drift.

An accelerometer provides an output signal based on an acceleration that acts upon it. Accelerometers are used in a wide variety of applications, such as inertial guidance systems, automobile crash detection systems, video game controllers, and shipping container shock sensors.
An accelerometer with very high sensitivity can be used as a gravity sensor. Gravity sensors are used in such area as geological surveying, oil field exploration, homeland security, and seismology.
The advent of Micro-Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) technology has ushered in a new era of accelerometers. A typical MEMS-based accelerometer includes a sensing element that is based on a proof mass attached to a reference frame by means of resilient tether (e.g., a spring element or spring system). An acceleration of the reference frame or the presence of a gravitational field causes a displacement of the proof mass relative to the reference frame. A transducer converts this displacement into an output signal.
The sensitivity of an accelerometer (expressed in terms of Volts or Amperes per unit of acceleration) is dependent upon its signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and output drift. In the absence of an acceleration, the output signal of the accelerometer typically exhibits a constant voltage or current level. This steady-state output value is referred to as a D.C. bias. Unfortunately, DC bias is subject to drift over time and temperature. In addition, accelerometers are subject to sensitivity drift with temperature. Such drifts contribute to the noise on the output signal, thereby decreasing the signal-to-noise ratio of the accelerometer. This adversely affects the overall sensitivity of the device.
Approaches to mitigating the effects of bias stability have been developed in the prior art. In some cases, temperature sensors and microcontrollers are integrated with the accelerometer. During operation, the temperature-induced drift can be removed from the output signal by means of a look-up table or mathematical solution. Unfortunately, this leads to significant added cost and complexity.
Other approaches rely on the integration of analog correction circuitry with the accelerometer. Unfortunately, it is very hard to tune the correction circuitry to accommodate variations from accelerometer to accelerometer.
Still other approaches employ active temperature stabilization. In such approaches, the accelerometer is held at a temperature above the ambient by means of a heating element. This dramatically increases power consumption for the accelerometer however. Low power consumption is particularly desirable for mobile applications.
In some cases, a user-employable "reset" button is provided to enable a user to zero the accelerometer when it is in a state of zero acceleration. This, however, is impractical in many applications.
Finally, AC-coupling an accelerometer can eliminate bias drift all-together. Unfortunately, in many applications DC-coupling is required or highly desirable (e.g., tilt sensors, geological surveying, inertial navigation, etc.).

Accelerometer with enhanced DC stability


A dielectric ceramic composition includes: a base material powder BamTiO3 (0.995≦m≦1.010); 0.2 to 2.0 moles of a first accessory ingredient, an oxide or carbide containing at least one of Ba and Ca, based on 100 moles of the base material powder; a second accessory ingredient, an oxide containing Si or a glass compound containing Si; 0.2 to 1.5 moles of a third accessory ingredient, an oxide containing at least one of Sc, Y, La, Ac, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu, based on 100 moles of the base material powder; and 0.05 to 0.80 mole of a fourth accessory ingredient, an oxide containing at least one of Cr, Mo, W, Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni, based on 100 moles of the base material powder, a content ratio of the first accessory ingredient to the second accessory ingredient being 0.5 to 1.7.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a dielectric ceramic composition and a multilayer ceramic capacitor including the same, and more particularly, to a dielectric ceramic composition having a high dielectric constant and excellent high-temperature reliability, and a multilayer ceramic capacitor including the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, electronic components using a ceramic material, such as a capacitor, an inductor, a piezoelectric element, a varistor, a thermistor, or the like, include a ceramic body formed of a ceramic material, internal electrodes formed within the ceramic body, and external electrodes provided on surfaces of the ceramic body and connected to respective internal electrodes.
Among ceramic electronic components, multilayer ceramic capacitors include a plurality of stacked dielectric layers, internal electrodes disposed to face each other, having the dielectric layer interposed therebetween, and external electrodes electrically connected to respective internal electrodes.
Multilayer ceramic capacitors have been widely used as components in mobile communications devices such as computers, personal data assistants (PDAs), mobile phones, and the like, due to advantages thereof such as a relatively small size, high capacitance, ease of mounting, and the like.
A multilayer ceramic capacitor is manufactured by using a paste for internal electrodes and a paste for dielectric layers in a sheet method, a printing method, or the like, and simultaneously sintering the stacked sheets of paste.
However, in the case of a dielectric material used in the multilayer ceramic capacitor according to the related art, or the like, when the dielectric material is sintered under a reducing atmosphere, the dielectric material may be reduced to thereby become a semiconductor.
For this reason, as a material for internal electrodes, a noble metal such as palladium (Pd), or the like, which may not be melted at a temperature at which the dielectric material is sintered and may not be oxidized even in the case of being sintered at a high oxygen partial pressure at which the dielectric material does not become a semiconductor, is used.
However, since a noble metal such as palladium (Pd), or the like, is relatively expensive, the noble metal may significantly increase manufacturing costs of the multilayer ceramic capacitor.
Therefore, as the material for internal electrodes, a base metal such as nickel (Ni), a nickel alloy, or the like, which is relatively inexpensive, is mainly used.
However, in the case in which the base metal is used as a conductive material in the internal electrodes, the internal electrodes may be oxidized in the case of sintering the internal electrodes under an air atmosphere.
Therefore, the dielectric layers and the internal electrodes should be simultaneously sintered under the reducing atmosphere.
However, when they are sintered under the reducing atmosphere, the dielectric layer may be reduced, such that insulation resistance (IR) may be decreased.
Therefore, a non-reducing dielectric material has been suggested.
Further, in the case in which barium titanate (BaTiO3) is used as a base material for the dielectric material, in order to suppress non-uniform grain growth and form uniform grains, a magnesium oxide (MgO) additive has generally been used.
However, the magnesium oxide (MgO) additive may be easily solid-solubilized in barium titanate (BaTiO3) to serve as an acceptor, such that there is a problem in terms of high-temperature reliability. Therefore, a solution for the problem has been required.
[RELATED ART DOCUMENT]
    (Patent Document 1) Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-0040610

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Dielectric ceramic composition and multilayer ceramic capacitor including the same


A method of molding different versions of a skate component, the method including providing a single mold, the mold having a mold cavity capable of molding the skate component; attaching a first mold insert within the mold cavity to set a skate feature; injecting molding resin into the mold cavity, the mold cavity including the first mold insert, to form a first version of the skate component; replacing the first mold insert within the mold cavity with a second mold insert to change the skate feature; and injecting molding resin into the mold cavity, the mold cavity including the second mold insert, to form a second version of the skate component.

The present invention generally relates to skates. More specifically, the present invention relates to in-line roller skates and to methods of molding skates and skate components.
Purchasers of consumer goods such as in-line roller skates typically prefer or require any of a wide variety of features. For instance, some purchasers of in-line roller skates prefer skates that are secured to the foot with laces, while other purchasers prefer skates that are secured to the foot with buckles. Some purchasers seek a basic skate without added features, and other purchasers prefer in-line roller skates with many added features such as accent apertures and fancy buckles.
Consumer tastes tend to change over time and sometimes may change quickly. Rapid manufacturer response to changes in consumer taste is often necessary to retain existing customers and to attract new customers. Production techniques capable of quickly incorporating design changes are important capabilities for manufacturers who must respond to shifting consumer tastes.
In-line roller skates are made using several methods. One manufacturing method of interest is injection molding. Injection molding offers several benefits to manufacturers and consumers alike. For example, a relatively high level of quality control is possible for molded in-line roller skates. Additionally, the cost of molding in-line roller skates may be low, relative to other manufacturing techniques. Also, injection molding techniques are typically adaptable to automation and may include higher reliability factors than alternative manufacturing techniques.
Though in-line roller skate injection molding techniques offer advantages over other manufacturing techniques, injection molding is not without disadvantages. Traditionally, manufacturers developed molds and injection molding techniques to efficiently produce large numbers of identical goods. For example, molds were typically used to manufacture in-line roller skate models that included standard, fixed features with broad consumer appeal. Unfortunately, molds for producing these skates included mold cavities with fixed features that could not be readily modified to accommodate changing consumer preferences.
One potential way for a manufacturer to satisfy changing consumer preferences is to substitute a different mold in the mold machine each time the manufacturer produces a different model of skate. However, molds are relatively expensive and time-consuming to obtain. Consequently, consumer tastes may shift several times before a new mold is obtained, thereby rendering the new mold obsolete before it is even used.
The negative aspects of responding to consumer taste fluctuations by changing molds are more pronounced when consumer preferences are scattered among a wide variety of skate features. Manufacturers may attempt to satisfy scattered preferences by producing small batches of skate models with varied features. However, variable production costs tend to rise significantly when molds are repeatedly changed to fill small orders for different skate models. Furthermore, the physical act of substituting molds is labor intensive and may require lengthy production shutdowns.


An image forming apparatus includes an exposure part forming an electrostatic latent image on a charge region, a developer carrier developing the electrostatic latent image into two types of development images (printing developer image and no-printing developer image), a supply member supplying developer to the developer carrier, a first detection part detecting a first physical quantity correlating to the density of the no-printing developer image, a setting part performing a setting, based on the first physical quantity, for a development voltage applied to the developer carrier or a supply voltage applied to the supply member, a second detection part detecting a second physical quantity correlating to a number of rotations after the print of the printing developer image starts, a correction part correcting, based on the second physical quantity, the development voltage or the supply voltage set by the setting part, and a power source part applying the development voltage to the developer carrier and applies the supply voltage to the supply member.

In an electrographic system image forming apparatus, after a photosensitive drum is charged negatively by a charge roller, an electrostatic latent image is formed when light is irradiated at the negatively charged portion of the photosensitive drum. The electrostatic latent image is developed by a developer supplied from a development roller and a supply roller, and a developer image produced by development is transferred onto a sheet by transfer rollers.
When the image forming apparatus is a printer forming color images, to faithfully reproduce a color image, there is a need to strictly control the amount of developer to be transferred onto a sheet. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses that the developer density of the patch pattern printed on a transfer belt is measured, and the processing conditions are controlled based on the density data obtained from the measurement.


A method, system, and tool product for creating a grammar for a natural language dialog system from a device description is provided. The system can include a device descriptor for identifying configuration, interface, object, and attribute information of the device, a speech grammar for identifying one or more rules generated from the device descriptor that are supported by the device, a speech recognition system for invoking rules of the speech grammar, and a processor for facilitating interoperability and development of distributed applications and providing delineated coverage of the one or more rules in view of the device descriptor.

The use of portable electronic devices and mobile communication devices has increased dramatically in recent years. Mobile communication devices are offering more features such as speech recognition, pictures, music, audio, and video. Such features are facilitating the ease by which humans can interact with mobile devices. In particular, the speech communication interface between humans and mobile devices becomes more natural as the mobile devices attempt to learn from their environment and the people within the environment using the portable devices.
For example, Natural Language Dialog systems can include speech recognition which allows a user to speak to a mobile device for communicating a command or a query. Techniques for accomplishing speech recognition are well known in the art. Among known speech recognition techniques are those that use grammars. A grammar is a representation of the language or phrases expected to be used or spoken in a given context. Grammars typically constrain the speech recognizer to a vocabulary that is a subset of the universe of potentially-spoken words; and grammars may include sub-grammars. A grammar rule can then be used to represent the set of "phrases" or combinations of words from one or more grammars or sub-grammars that may be expected in a given context. "Grammar" may also refer generally to a statistical language model (where a model represents phrases), such as those used in language understanding systems.
Speech recognition grammars can predict words which are to be spoken at any point in a spoken command phrase. Essentially, from a speech recognition grammar, a speech recognition system can identify the words which should appear next in a spoken phrase. The use of speech recognition grammar can result in more accurate speech recognition since the list of possible words which can be spoken at any point in a spoken phrase is limited based upon the previously spoken words.
However, one of the most difficult and time-consuming tasks in the developing Natural Language Dialog Systems is creating or adapting pre-existing grammars. This task requires a high degree of linguistic training and expertise. Typically, the most difficult part of this task is beginning; creating an initial set of grammar rules. Normally, grammars are derived from a given training corpus. However, such training corpora are expensive and difficult to obtain, and new corpora must be obtained for each new application. If the target grammar is to contain semantic information, then the training corpus must be annotated for semantics, which requires additional time and expertise. Moreover, extracting an optimal grammar from a given corpus is an unsolved problem.
Existing grammar toolkits allow developers to generate a grammar using various approaches. In one approach, the developer must formulate sample utterances by anticipating the utterances a user may present to the dialog system. Essentially, the developer is presented with a blank slate and told to fill the slate with samples. If the developer fails to anticipate a full user utterance range, the coverage of the resulting grammar is inadequate. In another approach, the developer can refine an existing grammar specific to a system component, though the resulting grammar may be tightly integrated with its result, and cannot be used by other system components. In another method, a grammar can be created from a domain model having access to a large corpus. An interactive tool for semi-automatic creation of a domain has been described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,622,136 and is incorporated herein by reference. The domain model provides a useful, formalized representation of knowledge about the domain of an application that the system is addressing and reflects a particular domain expert's conceptualization of that knowledge.
In general, a user of a mobile device is the person most often using the speech capabilities of the mobile device. Due to limited constraints in processing power and memory, the mobile device may not be able to provide all the resources of a Natural Language Understanding system, including the speech recognition components of the system, such as the grammars, on the mobile device. The mobile device may only be capable of supporting a few default speech grammars which may not adequately provide grammar coverage to the user. In addition, limitations of the device itself may not provide certain features that are available on other mobile devices. For example, certain speech processing aspects may only be available to a higher tier product. The user, and the developer of the speech grammars, may not be aware of the capabilities available to the device.
In many interactive systems, the burden is on the developer to either formulate a grammar from scratch, or to come up with a labeled corpus of sample utterances, both of which require time and expertise. Presently, developers write software for Natural Language Dialog systems without general knowledge of what device will be running the software. Accordingly, developers may not be aware of the capabilities the device can support for a natural language interface. A need therefore exists for opening access to capabilities of a device.

Interactive tool for semi-automatic generation of a natural language grammar from a device descriptor


A method for making lignin-amines is provided. The method comprises providing a lignin; then modifying the lignin with modifier to create a modified lignin; and then reacting the modified lignin with an amine to form a lignin-amine. Suitable modifiers comprise acrylates. A method for coagulating suspended materials in a water stream is also disclosed. The method comprises providing a water stream and contacting the suspended materials in the water stream with at least one lignin-amine.

Coagulants are used to clarify industrial waste water having high turbidity. Organic coagulants have received considerable attention as replacement of inorganic coagulants (e.g., aluminum sulfate, polyaluminum chloride and ferric chloride). Although inorganic coagulants are less expensive, they are less efficient and result in a larger volume of sludge which needs further treatment. U.S. Pat. No. 4,155,847 discloses cationic coagulants which are water-soluble polymers made from polycondensation of epihalohydrin and amines. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,784,493, 3,912,706, 4,017,419, 4,017,475, 4,455,257, 4,739,040 and 4,775,744 describe the Mannich reaction products of lignin-based materials with amines (including monoamines and polyamines) and can be characterized as in Reaction I:
where R1 and R2 may be the same or different and selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyls, ethyls, alkyls, hydroxyl-substituted alkyls, and alkoxy-substituted alkyls of 1 to 20 carbon atoms; the alkyl groups may be straight or branched alkyl groups; or a cycloalkyl ring. The lignin may be repeating units of a Kraft lignin or lignosulfonate from softwood or hardwood. The functional groups in the these lignins include, but are not limited to, hydrogen, alkyl groups that are straight or branched, or cycloalkyl rings, for example, phenolic, hydroxyl, methoxyl, carboxyl, catechol, and sulfonate groups. A more thorough technical description of lignins can be found in Lebo, S. E., Gargulak, J. D. and McNally, T. J. 2001. Lignin. Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology. John Wiley & Sons.
The resulting cationic lignin-amines are useful as coagulants as well as setting control agents, surfactants, fillers for resins. Formaldehyde, however, was recently identified as a carcinogen. Thus, there is a need for cationic lignin-amine production processes that do not use formaldehyde.


2,4-Diaryl-5-pyridylimidazoles are glucagon antagonists. The compounds block the action of glucagon at its receptor. Thus, the compounds can be used in the prophylaxis or treatment of disease states in mammals mediated by elevated levels of glucagon. Examples of such disease states include diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and cachexia and the like.

The present invention relates to triaryl substituted imidazoles which antagonize the metabolic effect of glucagon. This invention also relates to compositions containing such compounds and methods of treatment using such compounds.
Diabetes is a disease process derived from multiple causative factors and characterized by elevated levels of plasma glucose. Uncontrolled hyperglycemia is associated with an increased risk for microvascular and macrovascular diseases, including nephropathy, retinopathy, hypertension, stroke and heart disease. Control of glucose homeostasis is, therefore, a major approach to the treatment of diabetes.
Glucagon is a major counter regulatory hormone that attenuates the inhibition of liver gluconeogenesis by insulin. Glucagon receptors are found primarily in the liver, although their presence has been documented in kidney, pancreas, adipose tissues, heart, smooth muscles of vascular tissues, and some regions of the brain, stomach and adrenal glands.
Type II diabetics have elevated levels of plasma glucagon and increased rates of hepatic glucose production. The rate of hepatic glucose production positively correlates with fasting blood glucose levels in type II diabetics. Therefore, antagonists of glucagon are useful in improving insulin responsiveness in the liver, decreasing the rate of gluconeogenesis and lowering the rate of hepatic glucose output resulting in a decrease in the levels of plasma glucose.
A monoclonal antibody to glucagon (Glu-mAb) has been utilized to test the acute effects of attenuation of glucagon action in streptozotocin-treated diabetic rats (Brand et al., Diabetologia 37:985, 1994). In contrast to a control antibody, injection of Glu-mAb attenuated the postprandial increase in blood glucose in moderately hyperglycemic rats (ie., rats with a moderate impairment in insulin secretion). In severely hyperglycemic rats (ie., rats with severely impaired insulin secretion), Glu-mAb injection did not lower blood glucose levels, but potentiated the hypoglycemic effect of a suboptimal dose of insulin. These data suggest that attenuation of the action of glucagon in these models leads to increased sensitivity to the action of insulin, but does not lead to decreased blood glucose levels in the absence of insulin. On the other hand, a monoclonal antibody to glucagon was effective in lowering plasma glucose levels in diabetic rabbits independent of insulin effects (Brand et al., Diabetes, 45:1076 (1996). While these data support the notion that antagonism of glucagon action will provide beneficial therapy for both type I and type II diabetics, this hypothesis could be more rigorously tested if a specific non-peptidyl glucagon antagonist were available.
The regulation of glucagon homeostasis is also mediated by the hormone insulin, produced in the .beta. cells of the pancreas. Deterioration of these cells is typically observed in Type I diabetics, and abnormalities in the function of these cells may occur in patients presenting the symptoms of Type II diabetes. Thus, a glucagon antagonist might have utility in treating Type I diabetics.
The glucagon receptor is expressed in kidney tissues where glucagon has been demonstrated to have an effect on electrolyte homeostasis including the ions sodium, potassium, chloride, magnesium, calcium, and phosphate and the non-electrolytes urea and water (Ahloulay et al., Am. J. Physiol., 269: F225, 1995). A glucagon antagonist may have use in treating disorders involving electrolyte imbalance. The kidney is also gluconeogenic in response to glucagon (Amores et al., Molec. Cell. Biochem., 137: 117, 1994) and an antagonist would act to lower glucose production in kidney furthering the treatment of diabetes.
Glucagon receptors are present in the heart and in smooth muscles. Glucagon has a direct effect on cardiac output and heart rate (Glick et al., Circ. Res., 22: 789 (1968); Farah, Pharm. Rev., 35: 181, 1983). A strong correlation has been observed in patients with hypertension and elevated plasma glucagon levels resulting from impaired hepatic catabolism (Silva et al., Heptatology, 11: 668, 1990). Antagonism of the effects of elevated glucagon levels may have an effect on certain types of hypertension, thus a glucagon antagonist may have utility in the treatment of certain types of hypertension associated with elevated glucagon production.
The primary role for glucagon and glucagon receptors associated with adipose tissues is to induce lipolysis, thus providing free fatty acids as a substrate for fat burning tissues (Saggerson et al., Biochem. J., 238: 387, 1986). An antagonist to this effect might be useful in treating conditions where there is excessive lipolysis of fat stores resulting from elevated glucagon levels, such as wasting disease (cachexia).
Glucagon and glucagon receptors have been localized to the hippocampus region of the brain (Hoosein and Gurd, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 81: 4368, 1984). This discovery suggests that glucagon may have a neuroendocrine role in initiating or elaborating basic behavior or somatic motor programs. Since glucagon secretion is increased in response to low blood glucose levels, increased glucagon levels in the brain may initiate behavior to respond to low glucose levels, such as eating. Thus, chronic hyperglucagonemia may also result in a constant craving for food resulting in obesity. A glucagon antagonist may have utility in treating obesity by altering feeding behavior associated with a response to glucagon.
The compounds in the present invention are glucagon antagonists. The compounds block the action of glucagon at its receptors and thereby decrease the levels of plasma glucose. The instant compounds thus are useful as antidiabetic agents. Glucagon may have other direct effects on cardiac output, lipolysis, and feeding behavior and therefore may be useful as antihypertensive, anti-cachexia or antiobesity agents.

Triaryl substituted imidazoles as glucagon antagonists


An on-chip network interfacing apparatus and method are provided. The apparatus includes a plurality of on-chip network ports; a switch receiving data from a first on-chip network port of the on-chip network ports and transmitting the received data to a second on-chip network port of the on-chip network ports; and an interface unit interfacing an advanced microcontroller bus architecture (AMBA) signal received from an module, which is designed according to an AMBA on-chip bus protocol, and outputting the interfacing result to the first on-chip network port; and interfacing the on-chip network signal received from the first on-chip network port, and outputting the interfacing result to the module. Accordingly, it is possible to establish communications at increased speeds by interfacing a signal according to the AMBA 2.0 on-chip bus protocol with a signal according to the on-chip network protocol.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an on-chip network interfacing apparatus and method, and more particularly, to an on-chip network interfacing apparatus that includes an interface circuit that establishes communications among modules designed according to an advanced microcontroller bus architecture (hereinafter, referred to as "AMBA") 2.0 on-chip bus protocol and an on-chip network device designed according to an on-chip network protocol, and a method therefor.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, the AMBA 2.0 on-chip bus protocol is often used to establish communications between on-chip circuits. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the structure of a conventional AMBA 2.0 on-chip bus that is designed according to the AMBA 2.0 on-chip bus protocol. Referring to FIG. 1, the AMBA 2.0 on-chip bus allows a master module 110 to communicate with a slave module 120. The master module 110 includes first through third master modules 111 through 113, and the slave module 120 includes first through fourth slave modules 121 through 124. Here, the master module 110 is a module that requests data for communications and the slave module 120 is a module that is requested to provide the communications data. Thus, the master module 110 transmits only read/write request signals, and the slave module 120 transmits read data/write data in response to the read/write request signals.
The AMBA 2.0 on-chip bus of FIG. 1 includes an arbiter 130, a decoder 140, a read data multiplexer 170 that allows the master module 110 to request the read data and the slave module 120 to transmit the read data, a write data multiplexer 160 that allows the master module 110 to request the write data and the slave module 120 to transmit the write data, and an address and control multiplexer 150 that allows the master module 110 to transmit control/address information to the slave module 120.
The master module 110 transmits a request signal for use of the AMBA 2.0 on-chip bus to the arbiter 130.
The arbiter 130 sets an order in which the AMBA 2.0 on-chip bus is to be used by the modules of the master module 110. Request signals output from the modules of the master module 110 are connected to a plurality of input terminals of the arbiter 130, and thus, the arbiter 130 sequentially receives the request signals in a set order. The arbiter 130 gives priority over use of the AMBA 2.0 on-chip bus to the modules of the master module 110 according to the set order. The master module that acquires a right of the AMBA 2.0 on-chip bus, communicates with one of the modules of the slave module 120 via the address and control multiplexer 150 and the read data multiplexer 170, or via the address and control multiplexer 150 and the write data multiplexer 160. The slave module to be communicated with is determined by the decoder 140.
However, the AMBA 2.0 on-chip bus experiences a bandwidth limitation when exchanging data between the master module 110 and the slave module 120, which is caused due to physical sharing of a wire. When a physical bus is occupied by a master module, the other master modules cannot establish communications in the AMBA 2.0 on-chip bus.
To solve these problems, an on-chip network protocol will be described in greater detail with reference to FIG. 2.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a conventional on-chip network apparatus designed according to an on-chip network protocol. Referring to FIG. 2, the on-chip network apparatus includes a plurality of first on-chip network ports 210, and a switch 220. Each of the first on-chip network ports 210 includes an up sampler 212 that transmits on-chip network signals received from a plurality of first modules 250, which are designed according to the on-chip network protocol, to the switch 220 in the order that the on-chip network signals were received; and a down sampler 214 that transmits the on-chip network signals received from the switch 220 to the first modules 250 in the reverse order that the on-chip network signals were received. The on-chip network apparatus of FIG. 2 is designed to solve a problem that a master module has to wait when a grant for use of an AMBA 2.0 on-chip bus is given to another master module. Specifically, when there are many master modules that simultaneously request use of the AMBA 2.0 on-chip bus to communicate with different slave modules, the on-chip network apparatus of FIG. 2 allows the master modules to simultaneously communicate without waiting for a grant for use of the bus. Even if they want to communicate with the same slave module, the on-chip network apparatus of FIG. 2 makes it possible by dividing desired data into predetermined units.
The switch 220 is a physical medium that delivers a signal, which is transmitted to the first module 250 from the first on-chip network ports 210, to a plurality of second on-chip network ports 210′.
In the on-chip network apparatus of FIG. 2, even while the first module 250 uses a network, a plurality of second on-chip network ports 250′ can use the network without requesting use of the network and waiting for a grant for use. This is because data is transmitted in packet units. That is, since the first and second modules 250 and 250′ are connected to the switch 220, which collects packets and send them to a target destination, via different media, data from the first modules 250 is transmitted to the network in packet units irrespective of the amount of the data. Also, each packet to be transmitted contains a tag that specifies a destination, a departure place, and the characteristics of the packet. Accordingly, even if packets generated by different systems are mixed, it is possible to sequentially transmit the packets to their target destinations by decoding the tags contained in the packets. The switch 220 decodes the tags contained in packets and sequentially transmits the packets to their destinations.
The construction of the switch 220 will now be described in greater detail with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a detailed block diagram of the switch 220 illustrated in FIG. 2. Referring to FIG. 3, the switch 220 includes a plurality of in-ports 222, a plurality of arbiters 224, and a switch fabric 226.
Each of the in-ports 222 queues incoming data from a corresponding arbiter 224 and transmits a request signal for use of the switch fabric 226 to the corresponding arbiter 224. The arbiter 224 receives the request signal from the in-port 222 and transmits a signal granting the use of the switch fabric 226 to the in-port 222. The switch fabric 226 outputs the data received via the in-port 222.
More specifically, the switch 220 receives packets, which are to be transmitted to different destinations, via the in-ports 222. The received packets are sent to their destinations via the switch fabric 226. Each of in-ports 222 is connected to all of the destinations via the switch fabric 226. The in-port 222 decodes a tag from a packet and sends a request signal for use of the switch fabric 226 to the arbiter 224. When the switch fabric 226 is unoccupied, the arbiter 224 accepts the request for use of the switch fabric 226 and sends the packet stored in the in-port 222 to the switch fabric 226. Accordingly, it is possible to simultaneously transmit packets corresponding to the arbiters 224 to the destinations of the packets. However, while the arbiter 224 is in use, the packets are queued in the in-port 222. In this case, until a master module completes all desired operations, the packets stand by in the in-ports 222 similar to a bus but the number of the packets is less than that of packets that stand by to receive a grant for use of the bus. However, since most conventional modules are designed according to the AMBA 2.0 on-chip bus protocol, an interface circuit must be installed between each conventional module and an on-chip network so as to establish communications via the on-chip network.

On-chip network interfacing apparatus and method

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


Transmitting a bidirectional, virtual differential signal in addition to other differential signals over physical communication channels. Thus, four signal lines can provide three differential signals, where the virtual differential signal is bidirectional. The virtual differential signal can be provided over one or more of the other physical communication channels. Additional configurations allow for providing a bidirectional DC power supply. Additional configurations allow for providing DC power in addition to data over a reduced number of lines. Selective switching of signal lines can allow backward and forward interoperability with other standard interfaces.

Many systems rely upon the transmission of signals between devices or components. The transmission of signals may take place in single-ended mode, where a signal is transmitted over a single wire or line, or in differential mode, where a signal is transmitted over a first wire or line, and the signal's complement is transmitted over a paired wire or line. For single-ended signaling, the single transmission line can be considered the physical channel, while for differential signal, the transmission line pair can be considered the physical channel.
As is understood, differential signaling confers benefits in terms of signal integrity, including noise immunity, common mode noise rejection, and reduced electromagnetic emissions as compared to single-ended signaling. These benefits may be desired for improved transmission in certain electrically noisy environments or where the signal itself may cause interference elsewhere. However, one disadvantage of differential signaling as compared to single-ended signaling is the requirement for twice as many wires or physical transmission media (assuming that a ground wire, plane, or shield is not required, or that a single ground return can be used for multiple signal wires).
Some systems have constraints on the number of wires or physical channels available to transmit signals. For purposes of simplicity in description, the expression "physical channel" will be used to refer to any electrical conductor, as well as wireless transmission, or optical signal channel. A differential link or channel uses two physical wire or lines, and thus can refer to a pair of wires, printed circuit board traces, or other pair of conductors. The constraints of some systems mean that there are not as many physical lines available for signaling as there are signals to be transmitted. Especially when differential signaling is employed, the available wires or physical lines may be already fully occupied for a specific application without sufficient wires or physical lines for all the signals required.
Previous work, for example, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,492,984, recognizes that a "virtual" common-mode signal may be transmitted over an existing differential physical channel while allowing recovery of both the differential signal and the common-mode signal. However, the resulting transmitted common-mode "virtual" signals are subject to the signal integrity limitations described earlier.
Additionally, using differential signaling in some systems may require adapting certain physical interfaces to provide differential signaling. Such adaptations may prevent the use of legacy devices that are not compatible with the differential signaling interface.
Descriptions of certain details and implementations follow, including a description of the figures, which may depict some or all of the embodiments described below, as well as discussing other potential embodiments or implementations of the inventive concepts presented herein. An overview of embodiments of the invention is provided below, followed by a more detailed description with reference to the drawings.

Transmitting multiple differential signals over a reduced number of physical  channels


A spinal pedicle rod comprising an internally reinforced polymeric core that is at least partially encased within at least one polymeric coating. A dynamic stabilization device for bones in which flexible rods are combined with a pair of dynamic anchoring devices comprising i) a shank for anchoring into a bone or a vertebra, ii) a head connected to the shank, iii) a receiving part for the head and iv) a mobile element acting on the head.

Metallic-based pedicle rod and screw systems are often used in spinal surgeries to correct spinal deformities and intervertebral disc degeneration. Although these systems have been shown to be useful, there has nonetheless been documentation of a number of clinical problems with these systems. First, there are reports of pedicle screw loosening due to a material stiffness that is significantly higher than that of bone. There are reports of reduced postoperative visualization due to artifacts incurred with radio-imaging of the metallic components. Low interbody fusion rates are thought to be due to excessive load transfer through the posterior column, again due to a material stiffness that is significantly higher than that of bone. Lastly, adjacent level hypermotion, excessive loading and physiological breakdown are also thought to be due to the use of metallic rods.
In response to these issues, spinal device companies have recently launched polyetheretherketone (PEEK) polymer rod systems in an attempt to minimize the imaging scatter associated with metallic implants and to increase anterior load sharing at the operative level. Spinal companies have also developed posterior pedicle-based motion systems in attempt to address these clinical problems as well.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,743,260 discloses polymeric pedicle rods, and teaches the use of polymers with carbon fiber reinforcements to enhance strength. In addition, a 1995 thesis compiled by Balli at the University of Akron specifically discloses the use of chopped carbon fiber reinforced PEEK for pedicle-based spinal fixation systems.
PCT Patent Publication WO2006/118866 (Trieu) discloses composite components for use in spinal fixation systems, wherein the composite components comprise polyetheretherketone (PEEK) or another non-resorbable or resorbable polymeric material and at least one metal. Incorporation of PEEK or another non-resorbable or resorbable polymeric material into the components allows average or mean physical properties (e.g., tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, etc.) of the components to be modulated. The composition and orientation of the composite components can be advantageously chosen to produce components with desired physical characteristics.
US Published Patent Application 2006/0229607 (Brumfield) discloses a system, kit and method for treatment of the spinal column, including a plurality of elongate support elements configured for placement across multiple levels of the spinal column wherein at least one of the elongate support elements is formed of a first material and at least one other of the elongate support elements is formed of a second material different from the first material, with the first material having a modulus of elasticity that is different from that of the second material. A plurality of fixation elements are provided which are configured to engage a number of the elongate support elements to the spinal column and which are formed of a third material that is bio-compatible with each of the first and second materials. Further disclosed is an operative kit with elongate support elements (Pedicle rods) with two or more materials, i.e. a kit having metallic and polymeric rods.
Other patents and published patent applications related to this subject matter include: US 2004/0225289 (Biedermann I); US2005/0154390 (Biedermann II); European patent Publication 1579816 (Biedermann III); US 2005/0143823 (Boyd); US2005/0182409 (Callahan); US 2004/0236329 (Panjabi I); US 2005/0222569 (Panjabi II); US 2004/0236327 (Paul I); US 2004/0236328 (Paul II); US2005/0171543 (Timm I); US 2005/0182401 (Timm II); US 2005/0177164 (Walters); and US 2005/0182400 (White).

Polymeric pedicle rods and methods of manufacturing


A system and method that provide non-cash avenues to redeem a ticket voucher associated with an amount of funds.

Gaming machines may provide players awards in primary games. Gaming machines generally require the player to place a wager to activate the primary game. The award may be based on the player obtaining a winning symbol or symbol combination and on the amount of the wager. When a player cashes out a credit balance of such gaming machines, these gaming machines may provide the player with a ticket voucher redeemable for the amount of the credit balance.

System and method for redeeming ticket vouchers


An apparatus for use in a wellbore is disclosed that in one aspect includes a drilling assembly configured for use in drilling the wellbore, a liner disposed outside a portion of the drilling assembly that includes a feature at a selected location of the liner, and a liner orientation sensor for providing signals representative of the displacement or movement of the feature relative to the drilling assembly.

1. Field of the Disclosure
This disclosure relates generally to estimating orientation of a liner conveyed in a wellbore and deploying the liner based on such orientation.
2. Background of the Art
Oil wells (also referred to as "wellbores" or "boreholes") are typically drilled with a drill string having a drilling assembly (also referred to as a "bottom hole assembly" (BHA)) at the bottom end of a tubular member (such as a jointed pipe or coiled-tubing). A drill bit is attached at the end of drilling assembly to drill the wellbore. Once the wellbore has been drilled, the drill string is retrieved to the surface and a casing is set in the wellbore to avoid a collapse of the wellbore. Such a method requires removing the drill string from the wellbore before deploying and setting the casing in the wellbore.
Wellbores are sometimes drilled wherein a liner is placed outside the drill string. The drilling assembly used for such operations includes a drill bit (referred to as the "pilot" bit) to drill a small diameter hole followed by an underreamer (a larger diameter drill bit) which enlarges the pilot hole to a size greater than the outer dimensions of the liner. The drilling assembly is retrievably disposed at or below the liner bottom so that it can be retrieved without retrieving the liner. The liner is set in the wellbore after drilling the wellbore.
Many wellbores include sections of different inclinations and curvatures. Some wellbores are further developed by drilling lateral wellbores from the initial or main wellbore. In some cases, it is desirable to form features, such as windows for drilling lateral wellbores, in the liner before it is deployed in the wellbore so as to avoid secondary operations, such as cutting a window in the liner. These and other features can be formed at the surface with greater precision and at a relatively low cost compared to forming such features in the liner after the liner has been deployed in the wellbore. The orientation of the features formed at the surface relative to the drilling assembly or the drill string is known before the deployment of the liner around the drill string. However, due to the relatively long length of the liner and the rotational forces to which it is subjected in the wellbore, the relative location of these features with respect to a known location on the drilling assembly is subject to change.
The disclosure herein provides apparatus and methods for estimating orientation of a liner in the wellbore and taking one or more actions based on such estimate.

Apparatus and method for estimating orientation of a liner during drilling of a wellbore


An electronic device includes a biometric reader, a verification indicator, a main screen, a memory, and a processor device. The verification indicator is associated with the biometric reader. The processor device is coupled to the biometric reader, the verification indicator, the main screen, and the memory. The processor device is provided to receive a request for biometric authorization of an action, the request comprising verification information that allows a user to uniquely identify the request, display a representation of the verification information from the verification indicator, provide a representation of the verification information from the verification indicator, and authorize the action based on biometric information from the biometric reader.

Biometric authentication is the use of biometric information such as a fingerprint scan, a facial scan, a retinal scan, or the like to authorize an action. Biometric authentication has gained popularity in recent years due to its potential to provide both increased security and convenience. For example, many electronic devices now include a biometric authorization device such as a fingerprint scanner, a facial scanner, or the like, which allows for biometric authentication of actions on the device.

Systems and methods for biometric authorization using a main screen and a visual indicator


A cutting wheel using knives with slice thickness gauging surfaces defining, with the knife cutting edges, a thickness dimension of sliced food products and a throat dimension measured perpendicular to the wheel cutting plane between each knife cutting edge and the terminal edge of the adjacent gauging surface, wherein the knives each have a single primary bevel extending practically tangent to the cutting plane on the side of the knife facing towards the cutting plane and a smooth transition area on the opposite side of the knife, and the ratio of throat dimension to slice thickness dimension is 1 to 1.7.

1. Field
The present invention relates to a knife arrangement for minimizing feathering of food products, in particular potatoes, during high speed cutting of the products.
2. Related Art
Food product slicing apparatus is known in which a food product is transported into a rotating wheel having a plurality of cutting knives such that the food product is cut into slices. In the food processing industry, in particular potato chip processing, it is vitally important that the food product be cut into slices having a uniform thickness with minimum or no damage of the food product. Such thickness uniformity facilitates the further processing of the food product giving a maximum amount of usable food product with a minimum amount of waste, and facilitates uniform baking, cooking and frying of the products after slicing of same.
Broadly, food slicing devices comprise those having a rotating wheel in which a plurality of knives extend between a hub and a rim, and the food product is fed through the cutting plane of the rotating wheel, and those having a drum in which the circumference of the drum comprises a plurality of shoes, each shoe having a cutting knife thereon wherein the cutting edge of one shoe is spaced from a trailing edge of an adjacent shoe to control the thicknesses of the sliced food product. In the drum-type of cutting devices, the food product is fed into the interior of the drum onto a rotating base and is driven by paddles or blades on the base and by centrifugal force into contact with the stationary axially extending cutting knives radially projecting towards the drum interior. Generally speaking, controlling the consistency of the thickness of food products sliced with the rotating wheel device requires accurate coordination between the rotating speed of the wheel, the spacing between the blades of the wheel and the feed rate of the food product.
The drum type of slicing apparatus accurately controls the thickness of the sliced food product, but cannot reach the desired high output volume without the possibility of damaging the food product. The output volume of these devices is limited by the rotational speed of the base, which must be limited to prevent possible damage to the food product by contact with the paddles or blades of the base. Another drawback associated with this type of slicing apparatus relates to the orientation of elongated food products. It is often desirable to slice an elongated food product either perpendicular to, or at an oblique angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the elongated food product. However, it is extremely difficult to properly orient elongated food products, which may have varying dimensions, both longitudinally and laterally, in the drum type of slicing apparatus in order to slice the food product in the desired orientation.
Typical, known cutting wheels are illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. A first type of known wheel illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises a hub 10, about which is concentrically arranged a rim 12, the hub and rim being interconnected by a plurality of knives 14. Each of the knives 14 has a cutting edge 16 facing in the direction of rotation of the wheel, indicated by arrow 18. The width W of each of the cutting knives 14 is relatively small thereby forming a radially extending space 20 between a trailing edge of one knife and the cutting edge of the adjacent knife having large dimensions in a circumferential direction. Not only is the space 20 between the knives relatively large, but the circumferential dimension of this space 20 is greater adjacent to the rim than adjacent to the hub.
A second type of known cutting wheel is illustrated in FIG. 2 wherein the hub 10 and the rim 12 are similar to the previously described cutting wheel, but cutting knives 22 have a greater width W. Again, the knives 22 each have a cutting edge 24 facing in the direction of rotation, illustrated by arrow 26. Although the radial space 28 between the cutting edge of one knife and a trailing edge of an adjacent knife is somewhat smaller than in the previously described known cutting wheel, the circumferential dimensions of the space 28 varies greatly between the rim and the hub.
Typically, the food product is transported at a food product receiving area through the cutting plane of the cutting wheel at a constant speed and the cutting wheel is rotated, also at a constant speed. The varying circumferential dimensions of the radial spaces 20 and 28 between the adjacent knives 14 and 24 render it difficult to achieve a desired high level of consistency in the thickness of the sliced food product.
Still other prior art knives for slicing food products in a rotary slicing machine are illustrated in FIGS. 3-7, wherein knives 30 that are formed triangular in shape or knives comprising triangular holders 48 supporting separate knife blade elements 50 are used to maintain a constant radial gap between adjacent knives mounted on a cutting wheel.
Still other examples of prior art knives suitable for use in cutting wheels are illustrated in FIGS. 10-19, wherein a gauging surface 70 is provided on the side of a slicing knife facing the uncut food product to control uniformity of slices cut by the knife. For a fuller description of the prior art cutting knives discussed above, reference may be made to U.S. Pat. No. 5,992,284 granted Nov. 30, 1999 and assigned to the owner of the present application. The text and drawings of U.S. Pat. No. 5,992,284 are hereby incorporated by reference in this description.
While the prior art knives incorporating gauging surfaces as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,992,284 and illustrated in FIGS. 9-19 to be discussed in more detail below produce slices of food product having highly uniform and precise thicknesses, certain hard core food products such as potatoes intended for use in the production of food products such a potato chips or french fries were observed to contain cracks or fissures along the surface of the cut slice facing the cutting edge of the slicing knife, a phenomenon referred to as "feathering" in the food product diminution industry.

Knife and cutting wheel for a food product slicing apparatus


An improved method for stereolithographically making an object by alternating the order in which similar sets of vectors are exposed over two or more layers. In another method, a pattern of tightly packed hexagonal tiles are drawn. Each tile is isolated from its neighboring tiles by specifying breaks of unexposed material between the tiles. Using an interrupted scan method, vectors are drawn with periodic breaks along their lengths. In another method, modulator and scanning techniques are used to reduce exposure problems associated with the acceleration and deceleration of the scanning system when jumping between vectors or changing scanning directions. In another method, a capability for automatically inserting vents an drains into a three-dimensional object representation is provided.

Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of stereolithography, which is a technique for making solid, three-dimensional objects (or "parts") from solidifiable materials (e.g. fluid or fluid-like material such as photopolymers, sinterable powders, and bindable powders).
In recent years, stereolithography systems, such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,575,330, issued Mar. 11, 1986 and entitled "Apparatus for Production of Three-Dimensional Objects by Stereolithography," have come into use. Basically, stereolithography is a method for automatically building complex three-dimensional parts by successively solidifying thin cross-sectional layers. These layers may be composed of photopolymer resin, powdered materials, or the like. Some types of powder materials are converted from a fluid-like medium to a cohesive cross-section by melting and solidification. The layers are solidified on top of each other consecutively until all of the thin layers are joined together to form a whole part. Photocurable polymers change from liquid to solid upon exposure to synergistic stimulation. Many photopolymers exist whose photospeed (rate of transformation from liquid to solid) upon irradiation with ultraviolet light (UV) is fast enough to make them practical model building materials. In a preferred system, a radiation source (e.g., an ultraviolet laser) generates a beam which is focused to a small intense spot which is moved across the liquid photopolymer surface by galvanometer or servo type mirror x-y scanners. The scanners are driven by computer generated vectors or the like. The material that is not polymerized when a part is made is still functionable and remains in the vat for use as successive parts are made. With this technology, the parts are literally grown from a vat of fluid-like material (e.g. resin or powder). Specifically, the parts are grown from a thin layer near a surface of the vat of fluid-like material. In this manner precise complex three dimensional patterns can be rapidly produced. This method of fabrication is extremely powerful for quickly reducing design ideas to physical form for making prototypes.
This technology typically utilizes a stereolithography apparatus, referred to as an "SLA," which generally includes a laser and scanner, a photopolymer vat, an elevator, and a controlling computer. The SLA is programmed to automatically make a three-dimensional part by forming it as a sequence of built-up cross-sectional layers.
Stereolithography represents an unprecedented way to quickly make complex or simple parts without tooling. Since this technology depends on using a computer to generate its cross-sectional patterns, there is a natural data link to computer aided design and manufacture (CAD/CAM). However, such systems have presented challenges relating to structural stress, shrink-age, curl and other distortions, as well as resolution, speed, accuracy and difficulties in producing certain object shapes.
The techniques to be described herein are also useful in other Solid Modeling, or Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing, technologies. One of these other technologies builds up objects from sheets of materials, as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/803,681, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,182,715. In some embodiments these sheets of material are transformed upon exposure to appropriate radiation, which transformation can benefit from the techniques to be described herein.

Method and apparatus for making a three-dimensional object by stereolithography


A silicon substance is etched by using alkaline etchant containing additive (Cu, Pb, Mg). The content of the additive is controlled intentionally to provide desired etching quality during an etching operation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to etchant used in a wet etching operation for manufacturing a silicon product, such as a silicon wafer. Furthermore, the present invention relates to an etching method using this etchant and a related etching apparatus.
2. Related Art
A conventionally known product manufactured from a silicon wafer is a silicon diaphragm which is incorporated in a pressure sensor, an acceleration sensor, or the like. An electric resistance circuit is formed along the surface of this silicon diaphragm. Distortion of the silicon diaphragm is electrically detected as a signal representing a pressure or an acceleration applied on the diaphragm. Usually, the silicon diaphragm is manufactured by wet etching. Another conventional silicon products comprise a silicon beam and a silicon nozzle.

Etchant, etching method using the same, and related etching apparatus


An image forming apparatus for forming an image based on image information on a recording medium, including: a storage section for storing print conditions for each of a plurality of pages of image information; a print condition setting section for setting print conditions in accordance with the print conditions stored in the storage section; a preprint section for preprinting in conformity to the print conditions having been set; an input section for inputting contents of a change in print condition for the page to be changed, selected from a plurality of pages after the preprinting; and a change section for changing the setting of the print conditions for the selected page to be changed, based on the contents of the change.

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium.
With an increasing degree of sophistication in the process of printing carried out in the image forming apparatus in recent years, print condition is coming to be set and managed for each page of the recording paper to be inputted (see Patent Document 1 referred to hereinbelow). In such an image forming apparatus, the print condition is set for each page and an image is formed according to the print condition for each page, whereby a great variety of high-quality outputs are achieved.
In the image forming apparatus, the conditions of finishing, e.g. stapling and punching, in addition to the image quality setting conditions are set for each page as print condition. Such finishing conditions are getting more and more highly functional and complicated, with an increasing degree of sophistication in the process of printing. Further, in addition to the process of finishing, the image forming conditions includes such high-functional processing as addition of page information, e.g. pagination and layout processing, e.g. recording of images of plural documents on a sheet of recording paper.
(Patent Document 1): Official Gazette of Japanese Patent Publication Tokkai 2002-99179.
However, an increasing degree of function and complexity in print condition is accompanied by setting errors. In the aforementioned background prior art, resetting requires much labor and time when a setting error has occurred. In other words, the operator has to repeat the setting in conformity to the predetermined procedure from the beginning for each page, and to perform confirmation and correction again.
Especially, when inputting complicated print condition covering a large amount of pages, much labor and time are needed and a setting error may occur. This will cause a high degree of operator effort and concentration.
Further, to avoid faulty image formation outputs caused by such setting errors, preprinting can be performed. In the process of the preprinting, the pages for each job are printed out and the print condition set by an operator is confirmed.
However, even if a preprint is carried out, when the print condition is required to be changed, similar to the problem as mentioned above, there remains the problem that resetting requires much labor and time.
Thus, it is important to develop an image forming apparatus capable of simple resetting of the print condition.

Image forming apparatus having device for changing print condition

Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.


An XY stage for precision movement for use in aligning a wafer in a microlithography system. A main stage supporting the wafer straddles a movable beam that is magnetically driven in a first linear direction in the XY plane. A follower stage, mechanically independent of the main stage, also moves in the first linear (X) difection and its motion is electronically synchronized by a control system with the main stage motion in the X direction. Electromagnetic drive motors include magnetic tracks mounted on the follower stage which cooperate with motor coils mounted on the edges of the main stage to move the main stage in a second linear (Y) direction normal to the X direction. Thus the main stage is isolated from mechanical disturbances in the XY plane since there is no mechanical connections and is lightened by removing the weight of the magnetic tracks from the beam. A cable follower stage moves in the Y direction on the follower stage and supports the cables connecting to the main stage, thereby reducing cable drag. An air circulation system is provided in the magnetic tracks on the follower stage to remove heat from operation of the electromagnetic motors. Air is removed from a central region of each track by a vacuum duct enhanced by air plugs fitting at the two ends of the motor coil assembly on the main stage to contain the air therein.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to electromechanical alignment and isolation, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for supporting and aligning a wafer in a microlithographic system having extreme precision.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various support and positioning structures are well known for use in microlithographic instruments. Typically in the prior art, XY guides including a separate X guide assembly and a Y guide assembly are utilized with one guide assembly mounted on and movable with the other guide assembly. Often a separate wafer stage is mounted on top of the guide assemblies. These structures require high precision in manufacturing and many components. These structures are typically used in a wafer stepper apparatus where the alignment of an exposure field to the reticle being imaged affects the success of the circuit i.e., the yield. In a scanning exposure system, the reticle and wafer move. simultaneously and scan across one another during the exposure sequence.
A related system is disclosed in copending and commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/221,375, filed Apr. 1, 1994, titled "Guideless Stage With Isolated Reaction Stage" invented by Martin E. Lee, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,528,118, issued Jun. 18, 1996, and copending and commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/266,999, filed Jun. 27, 1994, titled "Electromagnetic Alignment and Scanning Apparatus", invented by Akimitsu Ebihara, now abandoned in favor of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/698,827, filed Aug. 16, 1996. See also U.S. Pat. No. 5,040,431 issued Aug. 20, 1991 to Sakino et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,667,139 issued May 19, 1987 to Hirai et al. All of the above patent disclosures are incorporated herein by reference. Many other examples of such stage structures, often called "XY stages", are known in the art.
Prior art stages typically suffer from a significant drawback in that the sensitivity of measurement accuracy of the stage position is adversely affected by temperature. The electromagnetic motors which drive the elements of the stage relative to one another are a significant heat source adversely affecting the performance of the laser interferometry typically used to determine the actual stage position.
Another disadvantage of prior art systems is that the numerous cables including electrical cables, fiber optic cables, coolant tubes, vacuum tubes and air hoses connecting to the stage from external devices impose a significant amount of drag and mechanical forces, both steady and impulsive, on the actual stage, thus degrading performance. Thus, cable drag occurs as the stage moves about pulling the cables with it, causing thereby mechanical friction and disturbances.
Additionally, prior art stages suffer from reduced performance due to the relatively high mass of the stage which typically carries the heavy electromagnetic drive motor magnets for positioning the stage in at least one axis direction. Higher mass may reduce the stage mechanical resonance frequency and thereby lower the stage performance. If the stage is made stiffer to compensate, this may add even more mass. Higher mass requires more motor power, thus undesirably more potential for heating.
Therefore, there is a significant problem in the prior art of impeded stage performance in terms of accuracy and speed caused by the relatively high weight of the stage support, the cable drag, and the heat generated by the stage movement impeding sensing accuracy in terms of position.

Precision motion stage with single guide beam and follower stage


The invention relates to stabilized gas-in-liquid dispersions or foams containing a liquid continuous phase, a dispersed gas phase, and surface-modified fullerenes, dendrimers, organic polymeric microspheres, or combinations thereof.

The invention relates to stabilized gas-in-liquid dispersions or foams.
Pure liquids generally cannot foam unless a surfactant or other material that reduces surface tension is present in the liquid. The surfactant functions by lowering the surface tension of the liquid such that a gas bubble introduced below the surface of the liquid can be maintained in the liquid. The surfactants can also stabilize the foam after it is formed. Such surfactants include, e.g., ionic, nonionic, and polymeric surfactants.

Stabilized foams including surface-modified organic molecules


Approaches are described for updating code and/or instructions in one or more computing devices. In particular, various embodiments provide approaches for updating the microcode of one or more processors of a computing device without requiring a restart of the computing device and without disrupting the various components (e.g., applications, virtual machines, etc.) executing on the computing device. The microcode updates can be performed on host computing devices deployed in a resource center of a service provider (e.g., cloud computing service provider), where each host computing device may be executing a hypervisor hosting multiple guest virtual machines (or other guest applications) for the customers of the service provider.

As an increasing number of applications and services are being made available over networks such as the Internet, an increasing number of content, application, and/or service providers are turning to technologies such as cloud computing. Cloud computing, in general, is an approach to providing access to electronic resources through services, such as Web services, where the hardware and/or software used to support those services is dynamically scalable to meet the needs of the services at any given time. A user or customer typically will rent, lease, or otherwise pay for access to resources through the cloud, and thus does not have to purchase and maintain the hardware and/or software needed.
In these environments, it may be difficult for a cloud computing provider or operator to ascertain the tasks and/or availability requirements for a widely disparate and/or independent customer base. As complexity and/or needed computing power increases over time, so does the incidence of events requiring updates to the computing resources used to provide that computing power. Such updates may include patching of security flaws, software bug fixes and the like. When such resources and associated software are shared amongst a plurality of simultaneously connecting customers via hypervisors or other types of virtualization software layers, interruption of the resources to install such updates may be undesirable or otherwise difficult to coordinate without significantly impacting customer experience. Furthermore, certain types of updates may need to be performed at the hardware level, such as a processor's microcode, in order to fix potential software bugs or security flaws.


A protective system for a cast saw includes a voltage source and a processor coupled to the voltage source. The processor is configured to apply a voltage to a saw blade of a cast saw. The processor is also configured to receive a voltage reading taken across a conductive layer that is at least partially embedded in a cast. The processor is also configured to determine whether the received voltage reading exceeds a threshold voltage. Responsive to a determination that the received voltage exceeds the threshold voltage, the processor is further configured to activate an alarm to warn a user of the cast saw that the saw blade is in contact with the conductive layer.

A cast is used in the medical field to immobilize a broken or otherwise injured bone. The immobilization allows the injured bone to be set in a proper position and eventually heal, often over the course of weeks or months. The cast is typically formed from multiple layers of material, with an outermost layer of the cast usually being a hard material such as plaster or fiberglass. To remove the cast, physicians typically use a cast saw, which is an oscillating saw specifically designed to cut through casts.


Concatenated distributed feedback lasers having novel waveguides are disclosed. The waveguides allow for coupling of the laser beam between active and passive waveguide structures and improved device design and output efficiency. Methods of making along with methods of using such devices are also disclosed.

Distributed feedback ("DFB") lasers are a solid state diode laser technology that incorporates a diffraction grating into the active region of the laser. The DFB design allows for the emission of stable, single wavelengths that are slightly tunable via temperature change. The combination of multiple DFB lasers into a concatenated DFB quantum cascade laser allows for an expansion of the tunability of this technology. However, concatenated DFB QCLs suffer from high losses when unused laser sections are unbiased, and from high power usage when biasing is used. It would be advantageous if DFB-QCLs could be created that are more power efficient and yet still offer the expanded range of wavelengths observed with concatenated DFB-QCLs.

Waveguide structure for mid-IR multiwavelength concatenated distributed-feedback laser with an active core made of cascaded stages


A process control system controls a large scale plant such as thermal power plant. This process control system includes a target setting unit for setting an operation target, a control unit for receiving a signal indicating the operation target and for outputting a controlled variable to operate the process, an evaluation unit for quantitatively evaluating operation characteristics corresponding to the operation target of the process operated on the basis of a signal indicating the controlled variable supplied from the control unit, a modification unit for extracting an optimum operation process qualitatively squaring or conforming with the evaluated value derived by the evaluation unit out of a modification rule predetermining operation unit in qualitative relation between the operation characteristics and the operation target of the process and for determining the modification rate of the control unit, a storage unit having a model of a neural network for storing a relation between the operation target and the modification rate derived by the modification unit as a connection state within a circuit, and a learning unit for making the model of the neural network learn the relation between the operation target and the modification rate.

The present invention relates to a plant process control system, and in particular to a process control system suitable for a large-scale plant such as a thermal power plant. A control system according to the present invention is a multi-purpose adaptive control system in which an objective function such as time required for startup or life consumption set by an operator in consideration of situation can be optimized by means of self-learning.
In a large-scale complicated process such as a thermal power plant process, a process variable such as turbine main steam temperature or main steam pressure has strong nonlinearity with respect to the manipulation rate of a manipulating parameter for controlling the process variable so that it may become a desired value. In conventional systems, therefore, the whole-system model of the process is incorporated in the control system and it is attempted to optimize the manipulation rate of the manipulating parameter by using the whole-system model of the process and operations research as described in JP-B-63-33164. That is to say, nonlinearity is represented by a model as table information or represented by physical expressions, and the optimum value of the manipulation rate of the manipulating parameter is derived by using nonlinear programming represented by the complex method.
In a conventional control system with a built-in model, the control performance of the actual plant is directly affected by the precision of the model, and hence a question arises as to how to study the significance of the model.

Process control system and power plant process control system


An enclosure for a genset comprises a container defining an internal volume for housing the genset. The container comprises a container floor, a container roof, a pair of container sidewalls disposed parallel to a longitudinal axis of the container, and a pair of container endwalls disposed at longitudinal ends of the container. A side cap is positioned parallel to each of the pair of container sidewalls along a longitudinal length of the container, each of the side caps sealed to edges of the corresponding container sidewall so as to define an acoustic cavity therebetween.

Large commercial internal combustion engines and gensets are used extensively for physical power production (such as pumps or other shaft power outputs) and power generation and are deployed at a desired deployment site to meet power requirements at the deployment site. Gensets are often housed in containers such as shipping containers. The standard shipping containers used by the shipping industry generally follow the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 6346 standard. One feature desired from genset enclosures is acoustic noise reduction. While mufflers and silencers coupled to exhaust of the genset provide acoustic noise reduction, a significant amount of noise still leaks from the container housing the genset.

Genset enclosures with low acoustic noise


A connector assembly includes a first electronic component, an electrical connector and a shielding shell fixed to the first electronic component, a second electronic component located above the first electronic component, and a mating member fixed to the second electronic component. The electrical connector includes an insulating body, and a first terminal electrically connected to the first electronic component. The mating member includes a second terminal electrically connected to the second electronic component. The shielding shell has a first grounding portion and a second grounding portion, and covers outside the first terminal. The first grounding portion is electrically connected to the first electronic component. When the mating member is downward mated with the electrical connector, the second terminal is inserted into the shielding shell to be mated with the first terminal, and the second grounding portion abuts the second electronic component to be electrically connected to the second electronic component.

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
Currently, a board-to-board connector assembly includes a socket and a plug mated with the socket. The socket and the plug are respectively provided on two circuit boards. The connection and disconnection of the two circuit boards are achieved by the mutual insertion and separation of the plug and the socket. The plug includes a pin, an insulator provided outside the pin and a first shielding shell covering outside the pin and the insulator. The socket includes an elastic contact member, an insulating seat provided outside the elastic contact member, and a second shielding shell covering outside the elastic contact member and the insulating seat. When the plug and the socket are inserted into each other, the pin and the elastic contact member are inserted and connected to each other, such that the two circuit boards are electrically connected. Meanwhile, the first shielding shell and the second shielding shell are inserted and conducted to each other, realizing the function of shielding interference signals for the pin and the elastic contact member. However, since the second shielding shell of the socket needs to be in contact with the circuit board for grounding, it is required to provide an elastic arm or a soldering leg on the second shielding shell to be electrically in contact with the circuit board. Nevertheless, whether the elastic arm or the soldering leg is provided, a large gap is inevitably formed on the second shielding shell, such that the second shielding shell cannot completely cover the elastic contact member, reducing the shielding effect. Further, when the plug and the socket are mated, the pin and the elastic contact member need to be mated, and the first shielding shell and the second shielding shell also need to be mated. However, the plug and the socket of the board-to-board connector are small, and are not easy to be mated simultaneously, which may cause the first shielding shell and the second shielding shell to be improperly mated, resulting in poor contact between the first shielding shell and the second shielding shell. Thus, the first shielding shell cannot be grounded through the second shielding shell, such that the shielding function is not provided. Moreover, the first shielding shell and the second shielding shell are both rigid. When the first shielding shell and the second shielding shell are mated, a gap is easily formed between the first shielding shell and the second shielding shell, such that a portion of the first terminal or the second terminal cannot be shielded.
Therefore, a heretofore unaddressed need to design a new connector assembly exists in the art to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.


A controlling process may enable or disable the launching of a predicated process that has already been queued for launching, e.g. via a pushbuffer. The controlling process generates a report so that launching of the predicated process is enabled or disabled based on the report. The predicate may be global in application to enable or disable all subsequent launch commands. Alternatively, the predicate may be specific to one or more predicated processes. In an embodiment with a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to a graphics processing unit (GPU), the CPU may generate the controlling process that enables or disables the launch of the predicated process. Alternatively or additionally, the GPU may generate the controlling process that enables or disables the launch of the predicated process.

The present invention relates in general to data processing, and in particular to predicated launching of threads in a processor.
In computer programming, a predicate is generally defined as an operator or function which returns a Boolean value, true or false. Predication is a choice to execute (or not to execute) a given instruction based on the content of a memory location such as a machine register. Some applications can be optimized by loading launch commands for several program threads but then selectively launching the program threads depending on a predicate.
For example, in some applications it is desirable for launching of a second program thread to be predicated by a result of a first program thread. The second program thread may provide extra processing that may or may not be needed, depending on the results generated by the first program thread. Predication allows launch commands for the second program thread to be loaded, but if the extra processing is not needed, the launch commands for the second program thread may be ignored so that the second program thread does not launch.

Predicated launching of compute thread arrays