The present invention relates to a compound of formula I

The present invention relates to modified peptide derivatives.
Many therapeutic agents operate by interacting with enzymes or receptors to modify their activity in a therapeutically beneficial manner. In the search for novel therapeutic agents it is thus sensible to concentrate on molecules which possess some degree of structural and conformational analogy with the natural substrate or ligand. Very often the identity of the natural substrate or ligand is unknown, but in many cases it can be inferred that a polypeptide is involved. It is therefore desirable to focus on compounds based on naturally occurring peptide structures, which can be screened for efficacy in interacting with the enzymes and/or receptors of interest.
It is known that the interaction of proteins controls key aspects of cellular function. For example protein-protein interactions control the signalling process causing a cell to divide, the malfunctioning of which may lead to cancer and other proliferative diseases. It has previously been demonstrated that an isolated peptide having the same sequence as the active portion of a natural protein may be used to bind with the natural protein-binding partner, and to elicit the same biological response. Processes of this type are described, for example, in WO97/11174, WO96/14339, WO96/35715 and WO97/42222.
Previous studies by the applicant have revealed that a range of non-peptide molecules may be used to mimic the structure of specific peptides within the natural polypeptide binding partners of various proteins which naturally bind protein ligands, and which may be used to interact with those proteins. This work is further described in WO 99/64574.
Of particular interest to the applicant are novel cyclophilin binding ligands. Cyclophilins are ubiquitous proteins highly conserved during evolution. They are found in bacteria, fungi, plants and vertebrates, and are widely expressed in many tissues. At least eight different forms of human cyclophilins have been identified, ranging from 18 kDa to 150 kDa in molecular mass [G{hacek over (o)}thel et al, Cell Mol. Life Sci 1999, 55, 433–436].
Cyclophilin is the major intracellular receptor for the immunosuppressive drug cyclosporin A [Handschumacher et al, Science 1984, 226,544–547]. In particular, cyclosporin A acts as an inhibitor of T-cell activation and can prevent graft rejection in organ and bone marrow transplantation [Borel, Pharmac. Review, 1969, 41, 259–371]. Cyclophilin is believed to be responsible for mediating this immunosuppressive response.
In addition, cyclophilin is also known to catalyse the interconversion of the cis and trans isomers of the peptidyl-prolyl amide bonds of peptide and protein substrates [Takahashi et al, Nature 1989, 337, 473–375; Fischer et al, Nature 1989, 227, 476–478]. Indeed, cyclophilin has been reported to accelerate the isomerisation of peptidyl-prolyl bonds in protein folding [Fisher et al, Biochemistry 1990, 29, 2205–2212]. Several mechanisms have been proposed including catalysis by (i) formation of a tetrahedral intermediate, (ii) distortion, (iii) protonation of the amide nitrogen, (iv) desolvation, or (v) a solvent assisted mechanism.
In order to elucidate the binding site for cyclosporin A, X-ray crystallographic studies have been carried out on a number of cyclosporin A-cyclophilin complexes. For example, Kallen et al [Nature 1991, 353, 276–279] disclose the X-ray crystal structure of human recombinant cyclophilin complexed with a tetrapeptide and identify the specific binding site for cyclosporin A by means of NMR spectroscopy. It was further revealed that the prolyl isomerase substrate binding site is coincident with the cyclosporin A binding site. Such results help provide a structural basis for rationalising the immunosuppressive function of the cyclosporin A-cyclophilin system and may also be important in the rational design of improved immunosuppressive drugs.
Studies by Zhao et al [Biochemistry 1996, 35, 7362–7368] disclose high resolution structures of cyclophilin A complexed with dipeptides of Ser-Pro, His-Pro and Gly-Pro. A comparison of these cyclophilin complexes reveals that the dipeptide structures have the same molecular conformation and bind in a similar manner. Moreover, the side chains of the N-terminal amino acids of the dipeptides do not strongly interact with cyclophilin, implying a minor contribution to any cis-trans isomerisation activity, thus accounting for the broad catalytic specificity of the enzyme.
WO98/25950 (Guildford Pharmaceuticals Inc.) discloses that small proline-containing tetra- or pentapeptides have a high affinity for cyclophilin-type immunophilins. Similarly, X-rays studies by Kallen and Walkinshaw [FEBS Letters, 1992, vol. 300, no. 3, 286–290] disclose the structure of a tetrapeptide bound to the active site of cyclophilin A, whereas Gallo et al [Biopolymers 1995, 36, 273–8] disclose binding experiments of cyclolinopeptide A [cyclo(-Pro1-Pro2-Phe3-Ph4-Leu5-Ile6-Ile7-Leu8-Val9)] with cyclophilin A.
In view of the properties described above, cyclophilin binding ligands are likely to be medically useful as inhibitory drugs. Indeed, the recent discovery that inhibition of cyclophilin prevents its incorporation into the HIV protein coat suggests that families of inhibitors unrelated to the immunosuppressant cyclosporins may provide potential anti-HIV drugs. Moreover, the development of species-specific cyclophilin inhibitors may also provide a route to novel anti-parasitic drugs.
The link between cyclophilin A and HIV has been the subject of a recent publication by Braaten D. and Luban J. [EMBO J Mar. 15, 2001;20(6):1300–9] which confirms the role of cyclophilin A in the regulation of the infectivity of HIV-1 virions.
Cyclophilin has also been implicated in certain types of cancer. For example, cyclophilin 40 is known to be overexpressed in breast tumours, compared to normal breast tissue [Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, 58, 267–280]. Estradiol treatment over a period of 24 hours has been shown to lead to a 5-fold increase in the expression of cyclophilin 40 mRNA in MCF-7 breast cancer cells [Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 2001, 284, 219–225]. Further studies have revealed that allelic loss is detected in 30% of breast carcinomas from patients heterozygous for the cyclophilin 40 marker, suggesting that deletions of the cyclophilin 40 gene might be a late event in breast tumour progression [Journal Of Cancer Research And Clinical Oncology, 2001, 127, 109–115]. Cyclophilin 40 is also believed to play a role in liver cancer [Carcinogenesis, 2000, 21, 647–652].
Cyclophilin B has also been implicated in cancer. In this regard, Gomi et al have reported that the cyclophilin B gene encodes antigenic epitopes recognised by HLA-A24-restricted and tumour specific CTLs [Gomi S, Nakao M, Niiya F, Imamura Y, Kawano K, Nishizaka S, Hayashi A, Sobao Y, Oizumi K, Itoh K., J Immunol Nov. 1, 1999;163(9):4994–5004]. Tamura et al have identified a number of cyclophilin B-derived peptides capable of inducing histocompatability leukocyte antigen-A2-restricted and tumour-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes [Tamura M, Nishizaka S, Maeda Y, Ito M, Harashima N, Harada M, Shichijo S, Itoh K., Jpn J Cancer Res, July 2001;92(7):762–7]. The present invention seeks to provide novel compounds which are capable of either binding to or inhibiting cyclophilin.

Modified peptide derivatives and methods of use thereof

Abstract: wherein                (i) when a and c are double bonds, R2 is absent, b is a single bond,            R1 is

Abstract: or                (ii) when a and c are single bonds, b is a double bond, and R1 is H,            R2 is

Abstract: wherein the substituents are as defined in the specification.


The present disclosure describes two matched antibody pairs for use in a sandwich immunoassay for detecting and quantifying soluble PD-L1 in liquid samples, as well as an electrochemiluminescence sandwich immunoassay that has been optimized and validated with one of the matched pairs.

PD-1 is recognized as an important player in immune regulation and the maintenance of peripheral tolerance. PD-1 is moderately expressed on naive T, B and NKT cells and up-regulated by T/B cell receptor signaling on lymphocytes, monocytes and myeloid cells (1). Two known ligands for PD-1, PD-L1 (B7-H1) and PD-L2 (B7-DC), are expressed in human cancers arising in various tissues, and PD-L1 expression has been associated with poor prognosis and reduced overall survival, irrespective of subsequent treatment, in studies on different cancers, e.g., ovarian, renal, colorectal, pancreatic, liver cancers and melanoma (2-12). Similarly, PD-1 expression on tumor infiltrating lymphocytes was found to mark dysfunctional T cells in breast cancer and melanoma (13-15) and to correlate with poor prognosis in renal cancer (16). Thus, it has been proposed that PD-L1 expressing tumor cells interact with PD-1 expressing T cells to attenuate T cell activation and evasion of immune surveillance, thereby contributing to an impaired immune response against the tumor.
Several monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that inhibit the interaction between PD-1 and one or both of its ligands PD-L1 and PD-L2 are in clinical development for treating cancer. These include nivolumab and pembrolizumab, which bind to PD-1, and MPDL3280A, which binds to PD-L1 (17-19). While clinical studies with these PD-1 antagonists have produced durable anti-tumor responses in some cancer types, a significant number of patients failed to exhibit an anti-tumor response.
Tumor expression of PD-L1 has been investigated as a predictive biomarker to identify tumors that are likely to respond to anti-PD-1 blockade, and published studies have generally described immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis of frozen or formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor tissue sections stained with a primary antibody that binds to membrane-bound PD-L1 (20-23).
Recently, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect a soluble form of PD-L1 (sPD-L1) in human serum and in the culture supernatant of PD-L1 expressing cells (24). Because sPD-L1 levels in cell culture supernatants were lower in the presence of a matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor (MMPI), and correlated with the expression of membrane-bound PD-L1 (mPD-L1) on the cells, it was proposed that sPD-L1 is produced through proteolytic cleavage of mPD-L1. Also, since sPD-L1 has been shown to bind to PD-1, have immunosuppressive activity and is associated with aggressive renal cell carcinoma, it has been proposed that circulating sPD-L1 can contribute to tumor immune evasion (25). Thus, a need exists for sensitive and specific assays to detect sPD-L1 in human serum.


The invention relates to a process for performing a aqueous synthesis of titanium phosphates (TiP) having solely —H2PO4 groups, which process is characterised by the following steps: providing titanium (IV) oxysulphate, TiOSO4, in an aqueous solution or in a powder and H2SO4, substantially without transition divalent metal ions, including cobalt (II) and copper (II), heating of the thus formed aqueous solution to above 50° C., but below 85° C. for at least 30 minutes, providing a controlled amount of H3PO4 to said aqueous solution, to form an aqueous solution containing a molar ratio between TIO2 and P2Os being controlled to about 1:1, not above 1:1.5 and not below 1:0.7, stirring the thus formed aqueous solution for at least 3 hours to form precipitates of titanium phosphate, and allowing ageing of said solution, without stirring, acidic washing of the formed precipitate using HCI or other acids to obtain TiO(OH)(H2PO4)-H2O having solely —H2PO4 ion-exchange chemical groups and allowing said precipitates to dry to a powder product, substituting protons in the powder product TiO(OH)(H2PO4)-H2O to sodium cations by treatment of the latter with solutions of sodium carbonate and allowing the thus formed powder of Na—TiP1 to dry.

Recently, it has been demonstrated that synthesis of titanium phosphates (TiP) ion-exchangers having solely —H2PO4 active groups and, therefore, a highest known for TiP ion-exchange capacity, may be successfully performed at mild aqueous conditions, i.e. at relatively low temperatures and normal (1 atm) pressure in the presence of the "synthesis directing agents", cobalt(II) or other divalent transition metal ions (copper(II), etc.) and using a very specific source of titanium(IV) oxysulphate (TiOSO4). However, cobalt(II) or other synthesis directing agents cause additional costs for reagents and post-synthetic utilisation and, therefore, it would be advantageous to find a synthetic process that may be performed without the use of cobalt(II) or other synthesis directing agents, at mild conditions, i.e. in aqueous solutions at relatively low temperatures and normal pressures and using different sources (liquid solutions and powders) of titanium (IV) oxysulphate (TiOSO4).
Hence, there is a need of a process of performing a synthesis of titanium phosphate ion-exchangers having solely —H2PO4 active groups (called here as TiP1), which is efficient, but less demanding in terms of resources, energy and synthetic conditions than known processes and using a variety of different sources of titanium (IV) oxysulphate (TiOSO4) for more universal approaches, which will be needed in the up-scaling of production of TiP1 for practical applications, i.e. for fine purification of process and drinking waters or concentrating and recovering of valuable metals from aqueous leachates.

Process for a mild aqueous synthesis of titanium phosphates—ion—exchangers having solely—H2PO4 active groups


An assembly unit attachable to a base structure has at least one assembly part with a through opening and at least one fastener with a radially expanded head and a shaft that is provided with a fastening section extends through the through opening and is held captive therein. The shaft is encircled by a sleeve and the head of the fastener projects in a radial direction over the sleeve. Two stop elements project from the outer circumferential surface of the sleeve. An axial catch projects from the wall of the through opening. The axial catch and the stop elements are embodied such that they can be moved past each other in axial direction. The axial catch inside the through opening and the second stop element on the outer circumferential surface are respectively arranged in an axial position. The fastening section is arranged in a specific axial position relative to the surface of the assembly part that is facing away from the head.

The present invention relates to an assembly unit that can be attached to a base structure, the assembly unit comprising an assembly part provided with at least one through opening and at least one fastener consisting of a radially expanded head and a shaft that extends through the opening and is held captive with axial mobility therein, wherein this shaft has a fastening section on the end that is removed from the head. Assembly units of this type are known from the German patent documents DE 196 54 848 C2 and DE 296 20 397 U1.
During the assembly, an assembly part of this type is moved toward the base structure, wherein the fastening sections, which can be supplied from above during an assembly, will project from the bottom of the through opening for reasons of gravity. If the assembly part is supplied essentially parallel to the center longitudinal axis of the fasteners, then the fasteners and/or their fastening sections are pushed back into the through openings once they hit the assembly surface of the base structure. In some assembly situations, however, the fastening sections that can still project from the through openings can cause problems, for example when they get snagged on edges or projections of the base structure. With a base structure having two assembly surfaces that are inclined toward each other and one assembly part with correspondingly angled counter surfaces, the fasteners are admitted with a force arriving at an angle to their longitudinal extension when they impact with the assembly surfaces, thereby obstructing or even preventing a pushing back into the through opening. This problem also occurs if the assembly unit is supplied to the base structure from a direction that extends at an angle to or is parallel at a short distance to its assembly surface, for example for space reasons.
The assembly part frequently consists of a relatively flexible material as compared to the base structure, e.g. a plastic material. As a result of using an elastic material for the assembly part, the pre-tensioning force required for a secure connection cannot be achieved with the fastener because, in the fully assembled state, the fastener only supports itself on the assembly part, which would consequently be compressed and deformed in an impermissible manner.

Richard Bergner Verbindungstechnik GmbH & Co. KG


Improved topical gel compositions, such as those containing brimonidine, for the treatment of skin disorders are described. The gel compositions contain carbomer and methylparaben, and are substantially free of methylparaben crystalline particles after an extended period of storage.

Parabens are esters of para-hydroxybenzoic acid. They are used primarily for their bactericidal and fungicidal properties. Examples of parabens include methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, isobutylparaben, isopropylparaben, benzylparaben and their salts. Because of their low costs, long history of safe use and the inefficacy of natural alternatives, parabens are widely used as preservatives in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. See Darbre et al., 24 J. Appl. Toxicol. 5-13 (2004) and references therein.
Carbomer is a generic name of Carbopol®, a trademarked product from Lubrizol. Carbomer and Carbopol® are used interchangeably in the present application, referring to a synthetic polymer of acrylic acid cross-linked with polyalkenyl ethers or divinyl glycol. It can be a homopolymer of acrylic acid, cross-linked with an allyl ether pentaerythritol, allyl ether of sucrose, or allyl ether of propylene. Carbomers have been used as vehicles for drug delivery. They have a long history of safe and effective use in topical gels, creams, lotions, and ointments, as supported by extensive toxicology studies. They have been shown to have extremely low irritancy properties and are non-sensitizing with repeat usage. Carbomers or carbomer copolymers have been used in topical formulations, e.g., for thickening, emulsifying or suspending.
Brimonidine is a selective alpha-2-adrenergic agonist. It has been used as either monotherapy or as adjunctive therapy to lower intraocular pressure (IOP) in the treatment of glaucoma and ocular hypertension (OHT) since its approval in 1996. Brimonidine has also been found to be useful in treating various skin disorders, such as rosacea, erythema caused by rosacea, see, e.g., U.S. Ser. No. 10/853,585 to DeJovin et al.; U.S. Ser. No. 10/626,037 to Scherer; U.S. Ser. No. 12/193,098 to Theobald et al.; telangiectasias, see, e.g., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0264515. Topical gel compositions comprising brimonidine, carbomer and paraben(s) for the treatment of skin disorders have been described, see for example, U.S. Ser. No. 10/853,585 to DeJovin et al.; U.S. Ser. No. 12/193,098 to Theobald et al., etc.
In the present invention, crystalline particles of methylparaben have been unexpectedly observed in some brimonidine topical gel formulations and placebo formulations containing carbomer and methylparaben.
There is a need for a topical gel composition containing carbomer and methylparaben that is substantially free of paraben crystalline particles and meets the antimicrobial requirement over an extended period of storage. Such compositions and related methods and products are described in the present application.


The technology described herein provides methods and systems for powertrain optimization and improved fuel economy including multiple displacement engine modeling and control optimization, automotive powertrain matching for fuel economy, cycle-based automotive shift and lock-up scheduling for fuel economy, and engine performance requirements based on vehicle attributes and drive cycle characteristics. Also provided is a reverse tractive road load demand simulation algorithm used to propagate a reverse tractive road load demand and a corresponding component torque and speed, derived from a vehicle speed trace, in a reverse direction through a powertrain system. Also provided is a dynamic optimization algorithm. The dynamic programming algorithm is applied to a matrix of fuel flow rates to find the optimal control path that maximizes the powertrain efficiency over a cycle.

Optimal powertrain integration and control design are essential to developing more fuel efficient vehicles. Vehicle systems are becoming increasingly complex, as are driver expectations for both fuel economy and performance. Shorter product development times result in less time available to evaluate alternative powertrain hardware configurations and related control strategies. Often, the interrelationship between hardware and control design and the dependence on driver application of each is overlooked.
Simulation and optimization of vehicle systems are now being utilized more as vehicle systems become increasingly complex and as available product development time decreases. Known in the art are various methods and systems for powertrain optimization and improved fuel economy. These methods and systems, however, rely heavily on control parameters, such as a shift map, which may not exist for hypothetical vehicle designs. Additionally, such methods and systems do not take the driving style or drive cycle characteristics into account. Known methods and systems also do not have the ability to optimize hardware and control design simultaneously.
Vehicle system simulations known in the art employ either a forward or backward-looking approach. A forward-looking simulation includes a driver model and iteratively alters vehicle subsystem and component commands until the desired response of the system is achieved. The driver model considers the current and required speed to determine the appropriate throttle and brake commands often using a PI controller (proportional (P) and integral (I) controls). The throttle command is translated into a fuel flow rate and engine torque, which is subsequently inputted into the transmission model, where the transmission output torque is computed from the transmission's efficiency and gear ratio. The transmission output torque is propagated forward through the drivetrain until the tractive force at the road and corresponding acceleration is calculated.
Backward-looking models generally assume the vehicle meets the desired driver trace and therefore do not require a driver model. Contrary to the forward-looking approach, the force required to achieve the corresponding acceleration is directly calculated step-by-step from the desired speed trace. The required force is then converted into the required torque and rotational speed that must be provided by the component directly upstream. This calculation approach is continued in the reverse direction of the road load tractive force through the drivetrain until the energy demand that would be necessary to meet the driver trace is determined.
Advanced vehicle models have become an essential tool to evaluate vehicle system performance early in the design phase. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory developed the Advanced Vehicle Simulator (ADVISOR), a backward-looking model, to quantify the fuel economy, performance and emissions of vehicles including alternative technologies (Markel, T., A, Brooker, T. Hendricks, V. Johnson, V., K. Kelly, B. Kramer, M. O'Keefe, S. Sprik, and K. Wipke (2002). "ADVISOR, A Systems Analysis Tool for Advanced Vehicle Modeling," Journal of Power Sources, 110, 255-266.). Argonne National Laboratory under the direction of the Partnership for a New Generation (PGNV) developed the Vehicle Systems Analysis Toolkit (P-SAT), a forward-looking simulation that calculates the power generated by the powertrain by modeling the driver following a pre-defined cycle (Rousseau, A., S. Pagerit, G. Monnet, and A. Feng (2001). "The New PNGV System Analysis Toolkit PSAT v4.1—Evolution and Improvement," SAE Paper 2001-01-2536.). The Automotive Research Center at the University of Michigan developed a Vehicle Engine Simulation (VESIM) composed of forward-looking engine, driveline, and vehicle dynamics modules to simulate the dynamic response of a heavy duty diesel truck (Assam's, D., Z. Filipi, S. Gravante, S. Grohnke, X. Gui, L. Louca, G, Rideout, J. Stein, and Y. Wang (2000). "Validation and Use of SIMULINK Integrated, High Fidelity, Engine-In-Vehicle Simulation of the International Class VI Truck," SAE Paper 2000-01-0288.). An array of other modeling software and tools has been developed both commercially and in academia. One example is the Rapid Automotive Performance Simulator (RAPTOR) co-developed by Southwest Research Institute and DaimlerChrysler used for virtual powertrain fuel economy predictions (Berry, A., M. Blissett, J. Steiber, A. Tobin, and S. McBroom (2002). "A New Approach to Improving Fuel Economy and Performance Prediction through Coupled Thermal Systems Simulation," SAE Paper 2002-01-1208).
Early vehicle design optimization work concentrated on optimizing engine control parameters. Auiler et al used a reverse power flow model to optimize the air/fuel ratio, spark timing, and percentage of exhaust gas recirculation in the engine calibration using dynamic programming to allocate emissions contributions while maximizing fuel economy (Auiler, J. E., J. D. Zbrozek, and P. N. Blumberg, (1977). "Optimization of Automotive Engine Calibration for Better Fuel Economy—Methods and Applications," SAE Paper 770076.). Initial work involving powertrain matching techniques for improving fuel economy was performed by Wong and Clemens (Wong, L. T. and W. J. Clemens (1979). "Powertrain Matching for Better Fuel Economy" SAE Paper 790045.) and Porter (Porter, F. C. (1979) "Design for Fuel Economy—The New GM Front Drive Cars," SAE Paper 790721.). Dynamic programming was later applied to find the optimal gear shift sequence and the power split for a hybrid electrical truck (Lin C. C., H. Peng, J. W. Grizzle, and J. M. Kang (2003) "Power Management Strategy for a Parallel Hybrid Electric Truck," IEEE Transactions on Control Systems Technology, 11, 839-849.). Kim used a forward-looking model and dynamic programming to optimize shift maps for fuel economy based on constant throttle inputs (Kim, D. (2006), "Math-Model Based Gear-Shift Control Strategy for Advanced Vehicle Powertrain Systems," University of Michigan Ph.D. Dissertation.).
While optimization in vehicle system design is growing, there still exists a need to fully explore the capabilities of the powertrain system by developing a model-based approach that combines optimal powertrain hardware configuration with optimal control. The technology described herein, including, for example, matching the powertrain hardware configuration and the transmission gear shift and torque converter clutch control strategies to specific vehicle and drive cycle attributes, provides such a solution.

Methods and systems for powertrain optimization and improved fuel economy


A device for adjusting the lift characteristics of an aircraft with a high lift device that is movably attachable to a wing element and that includes at least one slot covering device, where the at least one slot covering device, is movably attachable to the wing element. The slot covering device is designed to regulate the size of a slot between the wing element and the high lift device.

In order to attain a particular lift during slow flight, modern commercial aircraft may require high lift devices during the takeoff and landing phases. During the takeoff phase, high lift devices are used to generate a high coefficient of lift combined with little resistance and a low noise level. Likewise, these conditions apply during the landing phase, wherein in this case, the low resistance plays a subordinate role because resistance makes it possible to concurrently reduce the aircraft speed.
Up to now, high lift devices or additional flaps have been affixed to airfoils or wings and have been extended or retracted or swivelled as required. In this arrangement, so-called slats can be activated on the leading edge of the wing, and so-called flaps can be activated on the trailing edge of the wing in order to have an influence on the wing surface and/or the wing geometry.
The geometry and the surface of the wing profile may have a decisive influence on the flight characteristics of an aircraft, in particular at critical flight states, e.g. during the takeoff or landing phases. Since, as a rule, an aircraft spends by far the greatest part of its time cruising, the wing profiles may be optimised most of the time to this flight state so that additional measures have to be taken for takeoff and landing. In this context, increasing the maximum lift may play an important role in order to shorten the takeoff distance or in order to achieve minimum landing speed during landing. In order to meet these two opposing requirement profiles, namely high lift during takeoff and landing versus the best possible economy during cruising, the geometry of wing profiles may be varied with the use of flap systems.
The profile surface is controlled by intended extension and retraction of high lift devices such that the size of the wing surface changes. On the other hand, it is possible to swivel high lift devices, as a result of which the profile curvature can be adjusted. With an increase in the profile curvature and with a larger wing surface the airflow on the underside of the wing is increasingly decelerated and on the top of the wing is accelerated such that the pressure gradient between the top and the underside of the wing increases and a higher coefficient of lift results.
Several flap systems have been designed that have different effects on flight characteristics. The normal wing flap is arranged between the aileron and the fuselage, on the rear airfoil end. As a rule, the wing flap can deflect downward only; it is primarily used to change the profile curvature, as a result of which higher lift and higher resistance are generated.
One embodiment of the wing flap is the slotted flap. The slotted flap, too, may only deflect downwards. When compared to the wing flap, the slotted flap has a slot between the wing and the high lift device, through which slot air can flow from the underside of the wing to the top.
The Fowler flap is a further embodiment of the wing flap. In principle, the Fowler flap is a slotted flap which not only hinges downward but may also be extended towards the rear. Apart from an increase in the curvature, this may additionally provide a larger wing surface.
Already in the takeoff position, the high lift devices are extended in order to increase lift and thus reduce the take-off speed that is required. As a result of this, the slot already opens, although stall on the flap is not expected as yet.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,601,801 B1 discloses a device in which a slot that results in the aileron of an aircraft may be regulated by an additional element. This additional element is mechanically force-controlled or guided and moves on a fixed axis when the aileron is deflected.
This may result in the lift generated by the high lift devices being reduced correspondingly (pressure equalisation between the top and the underside) and in the noise level being increased (high air-flow speed in the slot).

Single slotted flap with sliding deflector flap and lowerable spoiler


A process to prepare an olefin from its corresponding alcohol is improved by reacting, under reaction conditions including a first temperature, an aliphatic alcohol and, optionally, diluent water, to form a reaction product including at least a dialkyl ether. The product is then reacted again, under higher temperature to complete the dehydration of the dialkyl ether to the desired olefin. This process is particularly suitable to prepare ethene from ethyl alcohol. The stepped temperature scheme serves to reduce the formation of byproduct aldehydes, which in turn reduces coke formation, fouling, and the need to handle large amounts of water, thereby lowering energy and capital costs.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the field of production of olefins from alcohols. More particularly, it relates to the field of producing olefins by way of dehydrating alcohols in reactors under either adiabatic or isothermal conditions.
2. Background of the Art
Ethene is an important raw material in the world today and is known to be useful as a raw or starting material to prepare products as wide-ranging as packaging, detergents, chemical weapons agents, and anesthetics. It is also used as a welding gas and fruit ripening agent. It is particularly important in the field of plastics production, and a majority of the global ethene production goes toward this purpose. Because of its carbon-carbon double bond it is highly reactive, enabling a wide variety of useful polymerization products.
Methods to prepare ethene have been known since the late 18th century, when it was discovered that it could be made by passing ethyl alcohol over a heated catalyst. This method was common for decades until it was discovered in the 1950's that it could more economically be obtained via steam cracking of naphtha, which converted longer-chain hydrocarbons to shorter-chain hydrocarbons and introduced unsaturation. This is a laborious and very energy-intensive process, which was propagated primarily during a time period when petroleum reserves seemed endless and relatively inexpensive. At the present time, however, petroleum-based processes may be considered to be less desirable and, therefore, new and improved methods to produce ethene are being sought.
One method that has been described is the preparation of ethene by dehydration of ethyl alcohol, wherein ethyl alcohol vapor is passed over solid catalysts maintained at high temperature in multitubular, isothermal reactors. The isothermal conditions are maintained by circulating a heating fluid externally to the tubes, thereby indirectly heating the ethyl alcohol vapor. A problem with this method, however, is that such heating fluids necessarily exhibit a high boiling point and high thermal stability, and include certain organic liquids and low melting inorganic salts. Few organic liquids can be maintained at a temperature greater than 370° C. without degradation, while molten salts, which may be heated to 550° C., are likely to be solid at temperatures below 150° C. This change of state may result in highly problematic obstruction when plant equipment either fails or is shut down. Molten salts may cause equipment corrosion, while equipment materials that can withstand temperatures greater than 450° C. include only certain expensive steels. Furthermore, if molten salts and organic vapors come into direct contact, flammability and safety issues may arise. Finally, the multitubular reactors, which offer the increased heat exchange area needed for the highly exothermal dehydration reaction, represent significant initial capital outlays, yet enable only a limited throughput rate.
Another method is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,134,926 (1979). That method includes the catalytic dehydration of ethyl alcohol to ethene in a fluidized catalyst bed. The use of the fluidized bed, at reaction temperatures of at least 700° F. (370° C.), preferably at least 750° F. to 900° F. (that is, 400° C. to 482° C.), and a reaction time from 1 to 10 seconds, is described as increasing overall yields to greater than 99 percent.
Yet another approach to catalytically preparing ethene from ethyl alcohol is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,232,179 (1980). In that process an ethyl alcohol feed is introduced to the catalyst simultaneously with a "sensible" heat carrying fluid, which may be selected from, for example, a part of the effluent from the reactor used as a recycle stream; steam supplied by an external source; other adequate fluids for the process; or any combination thereof. Adiabatic reactors containing a fixed catalyst bed are used, singly, in parallel or in series, enabling catalyst exchange, maintenance, without detriment to process continuity. Because of the heat carrying fluid, multitubular reactors are not necessary and the heating fluid requires no independent circulation. Higher temperatures may therefore be used, which facilitate higher space velocities. The patent alleges reduction in by-product and coke deposition on the catalyst, but the relatively high amount of water reduces energy efficiency by requiring water separation and cleanup, which in turn requires additional processing equipment.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,396,789 (1983) discloses another process relating to dehydration of a low molecular weight alcohol to form ethene in fixed adiabatic reactors. This process uses a combination of a co-feed of ethyl alcohol and steam, at a temperature of 400° C. to 520° C. and a pressure from 20 to 40 atmospheres (that is, 2.03 to 4.05 megapascals (MPa)), in a plurality of adiabatic reactors containing a fixed bed catalyst, to accomplish the dehydration of the ethyl alcohol. Subsequent washing and purification steps are described as producing a higher purity ethene.
Despite efforts to discern an effective method of producing an olefin via dehydration of an alcohol, desirably under adiabatic conditions which become more economically favored as process scale increases, it has generally been found that large co-feeds of water or other heat-carrying diluents increase yields, but also undesirably increase costs, particularly those relating to energy and capital. At the same time, reducing water content requires more adiabatic reactors and increases byproduct production and fouling. Those skilled in the art therefore continue to search for adabatic processes whereby alcohols may be dehydrated to form olefins as conveniently and inexpensively as possible, and whereby problems arising from production of byproducts and coke deposition are minimized. The present invention provides such a process.

Process to prepare olefins from aliphatic alcohols


An RFID device includes a conductive sheet defining at least first and second portions, with an intermediate portion joining the other portions. One or more RFID chips electrically coupled to the portions, such as one or both of the first and second portions of the conductive sheet and to the intermediate portion. The first portion of the conductive sheet defines a multi-turn high frequency antenna having one or more disruptions in the conductive sheet positioned between and/or defining adjacent turns of the multi-turn antenna. The second portion of the conductive sheet defines a first radiating arm of an ultra high frequency antenna. The disruptions direct a high frequency current around the turns of the multi-turn high frequency antenna, while allowing an ultra high frequency current to flow across the disruptions, resulting in the first portion of the conductive sheet defining a second radiating arm of the ultra high frequency antenna.

Field of the Disclosure
The present subject matter relates to radio frequency identification ("RFID") devices. More particularly, the present subject matter relates to RFID devices having antennae configured to operate at different frequencies.
Description of Related Art
RFID tags and labels are widely used to associate an object with an identification code. RFID tags and labels generally have a combination of antennae and analog and/or digital electronics, which may include, for example, communications electronics, data memory, and control logic. In many applications it is desirable to employ an RFID device that operates in multiple frequency bands such as high frequencies, which may be on the order of approximately 13.56 MHz, and ultra high frequencies, which may be on the order of approximately 865-868 MHz or approximately 902-928 MHz. Exemplary RFID devices incorporating dual-frequency antennae are described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0235870 to Forster, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

RFID devices with multi-frequency antennae

AVERY DENNISON RETAIL INFORMATION SERVICES, LLC


A semiconductor integrated circuit in which adjacent terminals are formed by using contacts for connecting two metal layers or formed by using any of the metal layers so as to be disposed away from each other with an interval equal to larger than one wiring interval in the vertical and the horizontal directions, for example, diagonally or obliquely in a cell.

1. Field the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor integrated circuit such as an LSI having a terminal configuration suitable for an automatic placement and wiring layout.
2. Description of Related Art
Recent high integration of LSIs requires a very long period of time for the layout design by man power, resulting in an increased design cost. With regard to the most of the LSIs excluding a certain part of general LSIs, the design by man power is unpractical. Accordingly, a layout design system is now practically used in which a standard cell having passed a logic operation test is used for placement and wiring layout by adopting an automatic placement and wiring program.
Two types of the configuration of input, output or input/output terminals conventionally used will now be described.
FIG. 1 is a plane diagram showing a conventional standard cell disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-7147 (1985). In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a standard cell frame of one standard cell. Along the upper and lower sides of the standard cell frame 1 are aligned terminals 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D and 2E to be used for input, output or input/output terminals with a predetermined interval thereamong in two lines. In this conventional standard cell, polysilicon employed in the gate of an MOS transistor is used as vertical wiring, and the polysilicon is also employed in the input, output or input/output terminals.
When polysilicon is used as the vertical wiring as in this case, a resistance per unit length is comparatively high, resulting in a disadvantage in terms of the operation speed of a logic LSI.
Further, in the recent automatic placement and wiring layout system, higher integration has been achieved by the development of the semiconductor process technology so that multi layers wiring such as three- or four-layers wiring is realized, whereas two-layers wiring was conventionally used. Therefore, a standard cell can be provided with a horizontal wiring using a third metal layer, that is, the uppermost metal layer. As a result, it is possible to dispose input, output or input/output terminals around the center of the cell, which is the configuration practically used now. FIG. 2 is a schematic plane diagram showing this type of a standard cell, wherein input, output or input/output terminals 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D are horizontally aligned in a line at the center of a standard cell frame 1 with a predetermined interval thereamong. For the terminals 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D, a second metal layer, that is a metal layer underlying a third metal layer, is generally used. In certain cases, however, both the second metal layer and the third metal layer, or contacts between the second metal layer and the third metal layer are used for the terminals.
In such a conventional three-metal layers wiring system, wirings are provided by using the third metal layer in a portion where a horizontal wiring can be provided in the standard cell, and in a portion where a horizontal wiring can not be provided, wirings are provided in an external region out of the standard cell. Therefore, this system can advantageously attain automatic placement and wiring with higher integration than the aforementioned two-layers wiring system.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a design pattern obtained by the automatic placement and wiring in a plurality of the standard cells each having the configuration as shown in FIG. 2. This design pattern is obtained by the automatic placement and wiring for a circuit shown in FIG. 4. An inverter circuit 8A includes an input terminal 4V and an output terminal 4T, and an inverter circuit 8B includes an input terminal 4S and an output terminal 4R. A NAND circuit 8C includes four input terminals 4L, 4M, 4O and 4P and an output terminal 4N, and a NAND circuit 8D includes four input terminals 4D, 4E, 4F and 4G and an output terminal 4C. An inverter circuit 8E includes an input terminal 4B and an output terminal 4A, and a NAND circuit 8F includes three input terminals 4H, 4I and 4J and an output terminal 4K. The terminals (4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, 4F, 4G, 4H, 4I, 4J, 4K, 4L, 4M, 4N, 4O, 4P, 4S, 4T and 4V) are horizontally aligned in a line.
The input terminal 4V of the inverter circuit 8A is connected with a standard cell 41A in another cell group through a wiring 6A, and the output terminal 4T is connected with the input terminal 4M of the NAND circuit 8C through a wiring 9A. The input terminal 4P of the NAND circuit 8C is connected with the standard cell 41A through the wiring 6A, the input terminal 4L with a standard cell 41B through a wiring 6B, the input terminal 4O with a standard cell 41C through a wiring 6C, and the output terminal 4N with the input terminal 4E of the NAND circuit 8D and with the input terminal 4B of the inverter circuit 8E through a wiring 9C. The input terminal 4S of the inverter circuit 8B is connected with a standard cell 41D through a wiring 6D, and the output terminal 4R with the input terminal 4D of the NAND circuit 8D and the input terminal 4H of the NAND circuit 8F through a wiring 9B.
The input terminal 4F of the NAND circuit 8D is connected with a standard cell 41E through a wiring 6E, the input terminal 4G with a standard cell 41F through a wiring 6F, and the output terminal 4C with a standard cell 42A through a wiring 7A. The input terminal 4I of the NAND circuit 8F is connected with the standard cell 41E through the wiring 6E, the input terminal 4J with the standard cell 41F through the wiring 6F, and the output terminal 4K with a standard cell 42C through a wiring 7C. The output terminal 4A of the inverter circuit 8E is connected with a standard cell 42B through a wiring 7B.
Broken lines in FIG. 3 indicate the horizontal wirings, which use a third metal layer. Dashed lines therein indicate the vertical wirings, which use a second metal layer. In FIG. 3, contacts for connecting the second metal layer (i.e., the vertical lines) and the third metal layer (i.e., the horizontal lines) with each other are indicated as 5A through 5O.
When the input and the output terminals in the same cell row are connected with each other in the circuits shown in FIG. 3, for example, when the input terminals 4B and 4E are connected with each other, vertical wirings are drawn upward from the respective input terminals 4B and 4E by using the second metal layer, and the formed vertical wirings are connected with the wiring 9C, which is a horizontal wiring (the third metal layer), through the contacts 5A and 5D. The wiring 9C is also connected with a vertical wiring drawn upward from the output terminal 4N through the contact 5K. Further, the input terminal 4M and the output terminal 4T are connected with each other by connecting vertical wirings drawn downward from the respective terminals with the line 9A through the contacts 5J and 5N.
Further, the input terminals 4D and 4H and the output terminal 4R are connected with one another by disposing the wiring 9B on the upper side of the wiring 9C, drawing vertical wirings, which are longer than those from the input terminals 4B and 4E, upward from the input terminals 4D and 4H and the output terminal 4R, and connecting the longer vertical wirings with the wiring 9B through the contacts 5C, 5G and 5M. With regard to the connection among the respective input and output terminals with the standard cells 41A through 41F and 42A through 42C, vertical wirings are used when they are vertically connectable, and vertical wirings are drawn to be horizontally connected through a contact or horizontal wirings are used directly when they are horizontally connectable.
Recently, the automatic placement and wiring program for the three-metal layers has been highly developed so that the following semiconductor integrated circuit has been already developed: input, output or input/output terminals which have been conventionally formed by using contacts between the second metal layer and the third metal layer or the second metal layer, are now formed by using contacts between the second metal layer and a first metal layer formed thereunder or a first metal layer. The first metal layer is also used for forming an element.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a conventional design pattern obtained by the automatic placement and wiring using such an automatic placement and wiring program for three metal layers in a plurality of the standard cells each having the configuration as shown in FIG. 2. This design pattern is obtained by the automatic placement and wiring for a circuit as shown in FIG. 6. An inverter circuit 23A includes an input terminal 25A and output terminal 25B, and a NOR circuit 23B includes input terminals 25C, 25D and 25E and an output terminal 25F. A NOR circuit 23C includes input terminals 25G and 25H and an output terminal 25I, and a NOR circuit 23D includes input terminals 25J and 25K and an output terminal 25L. The terminals (25A, 25B, 25C, 25D, 25E, 25F, 25G, 25H, 25I, 25J, 25K and 25L) are horizontally aligned in a line as shown in FIG. 5.
The input terminal 25A of the inverter circuit 8A is connected with a standard cell 43A in another cell group through a wiring 21A, and the output terminal 25B with the input terminal 25C of the NOR circuit 23B through a wiring 24A. The input terminal 25D of the NOR circuit 23B is connected with a standard cell 43B through a wiring 21B, the input terminal 25E with a standard cell 43C through a wiring 21C, and the output terminal 25F with the input terminal 25K of the NOR circuit 23D through a wiring 24B. The input terminal 25G of the NOR circuit 23C is connected with the standard cell 43C through the wiring 21C, the input terminal 25H with a standard cell 43D through a wiring 21D, and the output terminal 25I with the input terminal 25J of the NOR circuit 23D through a wiring 24C. The output terminal 25L of the NOR circuit 23D is connected with a standard cell 44 through a wiring 22.
Broken lines in FIG. 5 indicate the horizontal wirings, which use a third metal layer. Dashed lines therein indicate the vertical wirings, which use a second metal layer. Double lines also indicate horizontal wirings, which use a first metal layer. Contacts for connecting the second metal layer (the vertical wirings) and the third metal layer (the horizontal wirings) with each other are indicated as 26A through 26D.
The wirings among the inverter circuit 23A and the NOR circuits 23B, 23C and 23I) will now be described. The output terminal 25B and the input terminal 25C are directly connected with each other through the wiring (24A) using the first metal layer, and the output terminal 25I and the input terminal 25J are directly connected with each other through the horizontal wiring (24C) also using the first metal layer. With regard to the connection between the input terminals 25E and 25G, vertical wirings drawn upward from the respective terminals are connected with each other through the contact 26A, a horizontal wiring using the third metal layer and the contact 26C. With regard to the connection between the output terminal 25F and the input terminal 25K, vertical wiring formed downward from the respective terminals are connected with each other through the contact 26B, the horizontal wiring 24B using the third metal layer and the contact 26D.
The wirings 21A, 21B, 21C, 21D and 22 are vertical wirings using the second metal layer.
In such a conventional configuration of the input, output or input/output terminals, adjacent terminals can disturb the placement of a horizontal wiring. Therefore, vertical wirings are required to be drawn upward or downward, and contacts are required to be formed in the same number as that of terminals for connecting the drawn vertical wirings with horizontal wirings. These requirements result in longer wirings and the decrease of the operation speed of a circuit. Further, since a plurality of connections are provided between a second metal layer and a third metal layer, a large number of contacts are required, resulting in degradation of the reliability and the yield.


A concentration agent for microorganisms is provided that contains both lanthanum and carbonate. Additionally, articles that include the concentration agent and methods of concentrating a microorganism using the concentration agent are provided.

Infections resulting from microorganism contamination are a growing concern. Thus, it is often desirable or necessary to assay for the presence of microorganisms in various clinical, food, environmental, and other types of samples to identify and/or to quantify the microorganisms that are present. The ability to detect the presence of a particular microorganism is often dependent on the concentration of the microorganism in the sample being analyzed.
Various physical concentration methods such as, for example, filtration, chromatography, centrifugation, and gravitational settling have been utilized for non-specific capture of various microorganisms. These physical concentration methods have varied in speed, cost (e.g., at least some of some of the known methods require expensive equipment, materials, and/or trained technicians), sample requirements (e.g., sample nature and/or volume limitations), space requirements, ease of use (e.g., at least some of the known methods require complicated multi-step processes), suitability for on-site use, effectiveness, or a combination thereof. Inorganic materials such as various metal hydroxides and/or metal oxides have been used as concentration agents for the microorganisms in some of these methods such as those described, for example, in PCT International Publication Numbers WO 2009/046183 A1 (Kshirsagar), WO 2009/046191 A2 (Kshirsagar), WO 2009/085357 A2 (Kshirsagar), WO 2010/114725 A1 (Kshirsagar), WO 2010/114727 A1 (Kshirsagar), and WO 2011/079038 (Kshirsagar).

Lanthanum-based concentration agents for microorganisms


Techniques are provided for capturing external signals at output pins on a programmable logic integrated circuit (IC) during a boundary scan test. A JTAG sample signal is routed to an input/output block on a chip and active during a JTAG sampling phase. An input buffer coupled to an output pin is turned on during the JTAG sample phase. Logic gates enable the input buffer in response to the JTAG sample signal so that the input buffer can capture a signal on the pin. The input buffer is turned off after the JTAG sampling phase to conserve power. The output buffer coupled to the pin that receives the test signal is tristated to prevent contention during the JTAG sampling phase. The techniques of the present invention can be used to test board level interconnects in less time and are easy to implement.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to programmable logic integrated circuits, and more particularly, to techniques for capturing signals at output pins in a programmable logic integrated circuit.
2. Description of Related Art
Often referred to as the JTAG standard after the Joint Test Action Group that developed it, the JTAG standard provides boundary-scan testing and debugging of printed circuit boards (PCBs) and systems to solve physical access problems on PCBs caused by crowded assemblies. The JTAG standard also provides in-system programming (ISP) of flash memory and field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs).
Boundary scan is a methodology that allows the control and observation of the boundary pins of a JTAG compatible device via software control. Boundary scan provides in-circuit testing without in-circuit test equipment. Boundary-scan testing embeds test circuitry at the chip level to form a complete board-level test protocol.
A digital system on a board includes two or more integrated circuit chips connected together through board level interconnect lines. The interconnect lines can be tested to ensure that they are working properly using a JTAG sample instruction. According to the JTAG sample instruction, the board level interconnect lines are tested by scanning in a "0/1" test signal at a first one of the integrated circuit chips, transmitting the signal across the interconnect lines, and then sampling the test signal at one or more receiving chips on the same board.
Each of the receiving chips receives the test signal at a pin and transmits the signal to a boundary scan register through an input buffer. If one of the receiving chips does not capture the correct test signal value, the interconnect lines are not functioning properly, possibly because of an open circuit or short circuit on one of the interconnect lines. The JTAG sample instruction is not dependent on the type of input/output (IO) standard used at the IO pins of the receiving chip.
In a typical FPGA, an input buffer and an output buffer is coupled to each input/output (IO) pin. The IO pins can be programmed to function exclusively as input pins, exclusively as output pins, or as bidirectional pins during user mode. Thus, there are input buffers coupled to pins that are programmed to be used exclusively as output pins. These input buffers are not used during the user mode. Therefore, in the Stratix® II and Cyclone™ II FPGAs made by Altera Corporation of San Jose, Calif., these unused input buffers are turned off to save IO power. Because the input buffers for the programmed output pins are turned off, the receiving chip cannot capture interconnect test signals applied to the output pins during the JTAG test phase. As a result, the JTAG sample instruction fails.
Turning off the unused input buffers to save power causes a conflict between the driver and the receiver chips during the board level interconnect test, because the receiver is not able to capture the signal sent from the driver. This conflict makes it difficult to test the integrity of the board level interconnect. It may still be possible to test the board level interconnect, but such techniques typically increase the complexity and test time. It would therefore be desirable to provide efficient techniques for capturing board level signals on programmable logic integrated circuits during boundary scan that minimize power consumption.

Techniques for capturing signals at output pins in a programmable logic integrated circuit


An inkjet recording apparatus includes a carriage having a printing head and moving in a main scanning direction, an exterior cover, and a detection part configured to detect an opening or closing state of the exterior cover. The carriage is returned to a home position when opening of the exterior cover is detected.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to inkjet type recording apparatuses and control methods of the same, and more particularly, an inkjet recording apparatus and a control method of the same whereby danger at the time when a cover provided in the recording apparatus is opened is avoided and a printing head is prevented from being dried.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is necessary for a nozzle of a printing head of an inkjet type recording apparatus to be prevented from being dried. Therefore, in a case where a printing operation is not performed, a carriage where the printing head is provided should be positioned at a home position and the printing head be covered with capping means.
In addition, in a related art inkjet recording apparatus, a cartridge button is pushed or the cover of the recording apparatus is opened so that the carriage is moved from the home position to an exchange position and thereby it is easy to exchange the ink cartridge.
For example, the carriage being moved from the home position to the exchange position so that the cover can be opened by pushing the operation button so that a printing mode is switched to a maintenance mode is discussed at paragraph 0030 of Japan Laid-Open Patent Application Publication No. 2003-48330.
In addition, Japan Laid-Open Patent Application Publication No. 9-20017 discloses that the carriage is moved from the home position to the exchange position by opening the cover of the recording apparatus in a state where the remaining ink amount is smaller than a certain amount.
However, a hand of an operator may touch a paper conveyance part or a recording part in order to exchange the ink cartridge or for a jam clearing process, so that the hand or a finger may be injured.
Furthermore, if a state where the cover is opened and the carriage is positioned at the exchange position is left as it is, the nozzle of the printing head becomes dried.

Inkjet type recording apparatus and control method of the same


In a vehicular battery mounting structure, a rear suspension beam has a beam main body portion extending in a vehicle width direction, and a beam end portion formed on an outside of the beam main body portion in the vehicle width direction. A sectional area of the beam end portion viewed from a side is larger than the beam main body portion. Also, a backboard forming a rear portion of a battery frame has a board main body portion that extends in the vehicle width direction and is arranged in front of the beam main body portion. A vehicle body attaching portion attached to a vehicle body frame is provided on an end portion on the outside of the board main body portion. The vehicle body attaching portion is arranged in front of the end portion on the outside of the beam main body portion, and opposing the end portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a vehicular battery mounting structure.
2. Description of Related Art
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2009-87774 (JP 2009-87774 A), Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2011-73581 (JP 2011-73581 A), and Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 7-156826 (JP 7-156826 A), for example, each describe a vehicular battery mounting structure in which a battery is mounted below a floor of a vehicle.
However, in this kind of structure, the battery may be arranged close to a rear suspension beam that connects a pair of left and right rear suspension arms together. In this case, when the vehicle is collided with from the rear (i.e., in a rear-end collision), the rear suspension beam that moves toward the front of the vehicle as a result of this rear-end collision may encroach on the battery frame that supports the battery.
Therefore, in order to protect the battery, it is necessary to restrict the movement of the rear suspension beam toward the front of the vehicle when a rear-end collision occurs. Also, normally in a vehicle body structure, it is desirable to reduce both the weight and cost.


A portable worktable has a frame, top, legs, and latches. The frame has rails, a plate perpendicular to the rails, and supports beneath the rails for wheels. The top mounts upon runners hinged to the front and rear upper legs at the corners of the worktable. The worktable secures the top and the front upper legs perpendicular with a hinge assembly. The top holds cargo upon hooks. The front lower legs have casters while the rear lower legs end near the wheels. The hinge assemblies secure the upper and lower legs individually but have hinges for folding the legs towards the center of each rail.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a portable worktable for use in connection with supporting work pieces and tools at waist height. The portable worktable has particular utility for repairs inside finished building spaces and transport of cargo.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Portable worktables are desirable for workers using tools and materials at waist height. Collapsible, sturdy worktables have found wide use in building construction and maintenance. While the conventional worktable can be carried from place to place and stored in a collapsed form, transportation of the worktable for more than a short distance becomes burdensome and may damage building finishes and contents.
The uses of portable tables and hand trucks are known in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,565,382 to Sherman discloses a light duty portable table and hand truck. However, the Sherman '382 patent does not have front casters, and has further drawbacks of not securing cargo behind the raised table and the wheels.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,536,034 to Miller discloses a convertible hand truck and dolly that accepts a table. However, the Miller '034 patent does not fix the sub-frame having casters, and additionally does not support the leg directly above the wheels.
Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 234,486 to Leyburn discloses a hand truck that raises its bed with scissor action legs. However, the Leyburn '486 patent does not permit the hand truck to move with the bed in the raised position, and cannot carry cargo beneath the front end.
Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 3,064,989 to Bellows discloses a collapsible dolly with a table supported on the dolly handle and by one pair of hinged legs. However, the Bellows '989 patent does not permit cargo on the hinged legs, and collapses by both folding the table and the legs into the frame between the bars.
Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,611,823 to Haas discloses a two-wheeled stand for a machine with scissor action legs. However, the Haas '823 patent does not permit ready movement of the stand in a raised position, and cannot carry cargo on the legs.
Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. D384,467 to Stallbaumer discloses a side frame for a hand truck that has angle section members arranged in a generally triangular shape. However, the Stallbaumer '467 patent does not have tubular members, and has the additional deficiency of no top for use as a table.
While the above described devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a portable worktable that allows repairs inside finished building spaces and transport of cargo. The '382 patent makes no provision for casters and for carrying cargo. The '034 patent does not fix the sub-frame with casters. The '486 patent does not allow the truck to move in a raised position. The '989 patent does not carry cargo on the legs. The '823 patent does not have four wheels for ready movement. Then, the '467 patent lacks tubular members.
Therefore, a need exists for a new and improved portable worktable that can be used for repairs inside finished building spaces and transport of cargo. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need. The portable worktable according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of repairs inside finished building spaces and transport of cargo.


A system and method are disclosed associated with at least one physical data store instance adapted to contain electronic records; and a shared cluster platform, coupled to the data store, including: a computer processor, and a computer memory, coupled to the computer processor, storing instructions that, when executed by the computer processor cause the shared cluster platform to: receive a request for a first tenant; select a physical data store instance in response to the request; generate a first container for the first tenant, wherein the first container maps the first tenant to the selected physical data store instance; generate a unique first key element for the first tenant; and transmit a first endpoint of the first container as a proxy for the selected physical data store instance, wherein the transmission fulfills the request. Numerous other embodiments are provided.

Remote Dictionary Server (Redis) is a fast, open-source (BSD licensed) in-memory key-value database, cache, message broker and queue. Redis is a data structure store that may provide and support data structures such as strings, hashes, lists, sets, sorted sets with range queries, bitmaps, hyperlogs, geospatial indexes, and streams. In short, Redis may simplify code writing for an enterprise by enabling an enterprise developer to write fewer lines of code to store, access, and use data in the enterprise's applications. For example, if the application has data stored in a hashmap, and the developer wants to store that data in a data store, the developer can simply use the Redis hash data structure to store the data. A Redis instance refers to a particular single installation of the Redis server with associated memory storage.
Although Redis is an open-source database, often enterprises ("Service Consumers") may prefer to use a managed version of Redis provided by Platform as a Service (PaaS) vendors ("PaaS vendors") such as AMAZON® Web Services ("AWS"), or MICROSOFT® Azure. The PaaS vendors manage the provisioning (configuration, deployment and management of IT system resources) patching and other operations of the Redis instances while providing the Service Consumers with ease of simply accessing the Redis instance via a convenient network endpoint. PaaS vendors may offer services that may not be suitable to the Service Consumer workloads.
It would therefore be desirable to provide the functionality of Redis in a manner that is more tailored to the Service Consumer workloads.

Method to implement multi-tenant/shared Redis cluster using envoy


A bearing removal tool and method of removing a bearing assembly for the wheel hub is provided. The bearing removal tool includes an elongated bar having a fixed end portion and a free end portion which is offset from the fixed end portion, and a cup which is adapted to engage the outer race of a bearing assembly without interfering with other components, such as a tone wheel, associated with the bearing assembly. A driving member is operably coupled between the elongated bar and the cup to urge the cup away from the elongated bar, thereby removing the bearing assembly from the wheel hub.

In a motor vehicle, the suspension system operably couples the wheels of the vehicle with the body. In this regard, the suspension system often includes an axle having a wheel hub disposed on each end of the axle which rotatably supports the wheels. A bearing assembly is commonly used to support rotational movement of the wheels. These bearing assemblies are subjected to severe stresses which results in wear requiring replacement of the bearing assembly. To replace the worn parts, it is first necessary to remove the bearing assembly. Since bearings are usually press fit into and tightly secured within bearing seats, their removal requires a great deal of effort and special tools. Moreover, the proliferation of parts associated with the suspension system makes access to the bearing assemblies difficult. For example, the use of an anti-lock brake system often requires the use of a tone wheel for measuring the rotational velocity of the wheel assembly. Frequently, the tone wheel is operably associated with an inner race of the bearing assembly which makes access to the bearing assembly difficult.
Currently, there are few tools specifically designed for the removal of bearing assemblies on wheels equipped with anti-lock brake systems. Likewise, there are few tools designed to readily remove a bearing assembly without having to remove other components associated with the suspension system, such as the shocks, springs, controls arms, traction bars etc. Consequently, it is common practice to remove some of these components prior to removing the bearing assembly. As a result, the removal and replacement of a bearing assembly is a time consuming and difficult task.


An ink set, an inkjet recording apparatus including the ink set, and a method of forming an image using the ink set include a black ink composition comprising a first colorant, water, and a first alkyl ether and a color ink composition comprising a second colorant, water, and a second alkyl ether, wherein an amount of the first alkyl ether based on 100 parts by weight of the black ink composition is at most twice an amount of the second alkyl ether based on 100 parts by weight of the color ink composition. When using the ink set, an image of effective quality may be formed which has a reduced bleeding without decreasing an image density.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ink set comprising at least two ink compositions, an inkjet recording apparatus comprising the ink set, and a method of forming an image using the ink set, and more particularly, to an ink set which reduces bleeding between ink compositions having different colors from each other, especially a black ink composition and a color ink composition without detriment to an image density on a recording medium, an inkjet recording apparatus including the ink set, and a method of forming an image using the ink set.
2. Description of the Related Art
Inkjet recording apparatuses form an image on a recording medium by discharging ink droplets through fine nozzles. Inkjet ink should have an excellent drying property on a recording medium, and bleeding of an image formed therefrom must be reduced. Further, inkjet ink should exhibit a uniform image irrespective of the types of recording medium, and when printing colors, bleeding must be reduced at the interfaces between colors. In addition, inkjet ink should have excellent image durability, such as water resistance, light resistance, abrasion resistance, and the like.
Various ink compositions have been proposed to satisfy the above requirements. In particular, a method of preventing bleeding between colors by increasing a drying speed of ink has been proposed. Drying of the ink occurs through two mechanisms—evaporation and penetration. Evaporation depends on a vapor pressure of the ink, while penetration depends on interfacial energy between the ink and a recording medium. To shorten a drying time by increasing a speed at which ink penetrates into a recording medium and decrease bleeding between colors, many methods, for example, addition of penetrants, have been proposed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,156,675 discloses the addition of diethylene glycol monobutyl ether into ink, U.S. Pat. No. 5,196,056 discloses the addition of diethylene glycol monobutyl ether and sulfonyl 465 into ink, U.S. Pat. No. 6,132,502 discloses the addition of glycol monobutyl ether, such as diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, triethylene glycol monobutyl ether, propylene glycol monobutyl ether, and dipropylene glycol monobutyl ether into ink.
The penetrants described above increase a drying speed of the ink, thus reducing bleeding between colors. However, if a large amount of penetrant is present in the ink composition, an insufficient amount of ink remains on a surface of a recording medium, and thus an image density may be decreased. Especially, when realizing a black image by mixing Cyan/Magenta/Yellow to realize a mixed black image, the image density may be increased using color matching with software, even though each image density of the color inks is low. However, in this case, consumption of the inks is increased. Thus, it is advantageous to use black ink to print the black image.
Meanwhile, in general, a drying time of the black ink is longer than a drying time of the color ink. When the drying time of the black ink is significantly longer than that of the color ink, the bleeding cannot be sufficiently reduced even when the color inks are rapidly dried. Considering that one of the goals is to have inkjet printing speed of 30 ppm, 60 ppm or faster for a text mode, the drying time of the black ink is required to be reduced in view of the bleeding and the printing speed. As described above, when a penetrant is added to ink to reduce the drying time, the image density must remain high. In the conventional method, the amount of the penetrant was determined without considering the color of the ink. It is important to add a sufficient amount of penetrant depending on the color of the ink.

Ink set, inkjet recording apparatus comprising the ink set, and method of forming image using the ink set


A mirror and information image display assembly (300) for a vehicle, a holographic information image display system (300, 106, 104), a vehicle (100) comprising such an assembly, and a method of providing image information to an occupant of a vehicle are disclosed. The assembly has a reflective layer (302) and an image display means (304, 306), for displaying image information to an occupant of the vehicle. The image display means comprises a hologram (304), and a lighting means comprising a light source (306) for illuminating the hologram.

Vehicle information display systems are well known to the art. In particular, systems are known in which information is displayed to a driver of the vehicle, in addition to the information available on the vehicle dashboard. For example, information may be displayed in a head-up display. However, such head-up displays usually provide only two-dimensional or flat images, which are less immediately noticeable by the driver. In addition the images are usually displayed either on the windscreen or on a pop-up screen, and the focal plane for the images is either immediately in front of the driver or otherwise close to the driver, whereas the objects the driver should be observing through the windscreen are at far greater depths of field. This can affect reaction time if the driver is re-focussing to a depth of field in front of the vehicle from having viewed a head-up display image.
Many previously considered systems using head-up displays or other such driver displays are highly complex, requiring many different systems to work in concert, and some requiring moving parts to maintain the display.
In one different previously considered system, information is displayed to the driver on a wing mirror of the vehicle. The information relates to alerting the driver to an object, such as another vehicle, entering a blind spot area of the vehicle. In this system, a warning light is lit inside the wing mirror. The warning light is transmitted through an etching in the mirror surface, the etching being in the shape of an icon indicating to the driver information concerning the blind spot object. For example, the icon when lit may indicate to the driver that an object (a vehicle) is approaching from behind, in the blind spot.
One possible disadvantage to such a system may be that the icons etched in the mirror remove useable mirror space, thereby potentially restricting the view of the driver albeit by small amounts. Another is that different icons and images may require different areas on the mirror to be lit, using up further space. Another is that the icons are also lit directly from behind, and therefore the light may be seen directly by the driver, potentially causing discomfort. In addition, the blind spot icon viewed on the mirror is flat (two-dimensional), and requires the user to focus on the surface of the mirror, whereas the driver is usually focussed on objects reflected at a distance behind the vehicle, which are therefore behind the focal plane of the mirror perceived as a virtual image. The driver's eyes therefore need to re-focus each image in order to view them, hence, the accommodation reflex is longer and the eyes work harder.
The present invention has been devised to mitigate or overcome at least some of the above-mentioned problems.

Vehicle information display assembly, system and method


Embodiments provide a temporal sensitive cognitive interface that determines whether a temporal data value of a response to a user query is fixed or variable over time; determine a time lapse from a current time to a time of generation of a variable one of the temporal data values; generate a first presentation of the response to the user that includes a (first) text word modifier that indicates a quality of certainty of the temporal data value in response to determining that the time lapse does not exceed a confidence threshold that is specified for an attribute of the response temporal data value; and generate another, different (second) presentation of the response to the user that includes a different (second) text word modifier that indicates a quality of uncertainty of the temporal data value in response to determining that the time lapse exceeds the confidence threshold.

Cognitive interface modeling refers to an area of computer science that deals with simulating human problem-solving and mental processing in a computerized model that engages a user in a human-like fashion, to improve the quality of human-computer interaction. Cognitive interface models may respond to user inputs with outputs generated by simulating or predicting human behavior or performance on tasks as a function of determining similarities to modeled tasks.
Cognitive interfaces are used within cognitive machine or artificial intelligence (AI) applications, and examples include expert systems, natural language processing, neural networks, robotics and virtual reality applications. Some cognitive machines incorporate "neural networks" that are designed to work similarly to the human brain by running training data through a large number of "artificial neuron" computational nodes that pass information back and forth between each other. Neural network applications may process large numbers of examples of training data (thousands, millions, etc.) to train the neural network to make predictions regarding outputs from similar data inputs, and thereby, to make inferences about topic areas upon which they are trained.

International Business Machines Corporation


A storage unit and dispenser for paper product rolls is disclosed having a hollow, elongate body with an open head end and a closed base, adapted to stand upright on the base; an elongated insert adapted to support vertically a plurality of paper product rolls stacked in end-to-end relation, with the insert being receivable within the body in telescoping relationship therewith and having a top member and a bottom member, with the top member having an upper surface and a lower surface, the bottom member having a cross-sectional dimension less than the cross-sectional dimension of the body and being adapted to support a plurality of rolls in vertically stacked relationship, and the insert being formed with an opening dimension to permit lateral removal of at least one of the vertically stacked rolls; and a holder for horizontally dispensing a paper product roll, which holder is affixed to the upper surface of the top member.

The present invention relates to a combination storage unit and dispenser for paper product rolls, such as toilet tissue. In particular, the present invention combines a storage unit in which a plurality of paper product rolls are vertically stacked in end-to-end relationship, with a holder mounted atop the storage unit for horizontal dispensing of a roll of the paper product that is actively in use.
Many homes have bathrooms and "half-baths" lacking a convenient place to mount a wall fixture for dispensing toilet tissue, or a place within reach of the toilet for concealed storage of spare rolls of toilet tissue. A need exists for free-standing devices capable of dispensing a roll of toilet tissue actively in use and attractively storing spare rolls of toilet tissue.
Devices are known that combine a dispenser for a roll of a paper product with a storage unit for a plurality of paper product rolls. U.S. Pat. No. 2,564,539 to Lucan discloses a horizontal dispenser for a paper product roll with a storage unit that vertically stacks spare rolls in end-to-end relationship. The stored rolls, however, are not readily accessible.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,124,259 to Harris discloses a horizontal dispenser for a paper product roll mounted atop a cabinet. The paper product rolls are not necessarily vertically stacked, and the cabinet need not be used exclusively for this purpose, and may therefore become cluttered with the paper product rolls and other bathroom items, thereby hindering the accessibility of the rolls. U.S. Pat. No. 4,177,958 to Poole discloses a vertical dispenser for a roll of a paper product with a storage unit that vertically stacks the paper product rolls in end-to-end relationship. The tissue web is dispensed through a vertical slit in the cover of the vertical dispenser. Tearing and threading of the web through the slit is problematic.
The storage of plural rolls of paper products in vertical stacks of rolls in end-to-end relationship is also disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,534,290 to Moskowitz, U.S. Pat. No. 3,275,133 to Wood, U.S. Pat. No. 3,316,040 to McGann, U.S. Pat. No. 4,273,392 to Stinson, U.S. Pat. No. 4,432,451 to Hooser, U.S. Pat. No. 4,607,809 to Sineni, U.S. Pat. No. 4,765,475 to Kaysserin and U.S. Pat. No. 4,898,335 to Eysink. None of these storage units are combined with a horizontal dispenser for a paper product roll actively in use.
A need remains for a combination storage unit and dispenser for paper product rolls in which the paper product roll actively in use is horizontally dispensed and the spare rolls are accessibly stored in proximity to the dispenser.

Storage unit and dispenser for paper product rolls


The present invention relates to a liquid, storage-stable isocyanate having a viscosity of less than 100,000 mPa.s at 25.degree. C. and an isocyanate content of from about 10 to 29% by weight, and is prepared by reacting a solid or semi-solid diphenylmethane diisocyanate with a blocking agent. More generally, the liquid isocyanate is prepared by reacting the solid or semi-solid diphenylmethane diisocyanate with the blocking agent in quantities such that from 7 to 55% of the isocyanate groups are blocked. Preferred blocking agents are the ketoximes, and mixtures thereof.

The present invention relates to liquid, storage-stable isocyanates prepared by reacting solid or semi-solid diphenylmethane diisocyanates. The most commercially important diphenylmethane diisocyanates which are solid at room temperature are 4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate and the 2,4'-isomer thereof, which melt at 39.degree. C. and 34.5.degree. C., respectively.
Diisocyanates which are liquid at room temperature have obvious advantages compared to those diisocyanates which are fused solids or slurries at ambient temperature. A liquid is easier to pump and less expensive to transport. A liquid has a homogeneous composition as supplied without the need to homogenize it at elevated temperatures as is the case with slurries or fused solids. In the production of polyurethanes, a liquid can be added easily by weight or volume, and combined with suitable coreactants at ambient temperatures. This is safer than using the materials at elevated temperatures due to the lower vapor pressure of the materials at room temperature.
Numerous patents have issued relating to the liquefication of diphenylmethane diisocyanate. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,152,162; 3,384,653; 3,394,165; 3,449,256; 3,640,966; 3,641,093; 3,674,828; 3,701,796; 3,883,571; 4,014,935; 4,055,548; 4,088,665; 4,031,026; 4,102,833; 4,115,429; 4,118,411; 4,154,752; 4,177,205; 4,229,347; 4,261,852; 4,321,333; 4,332,742; 4,490,300; 4,490,301; 4,490,302; 4,539,156; 4,539,157; 4,539,158; and 4,883,909. Generally, these related to processes which chemically modify the diisocyanate, and yield an adduct. A disadvantage common to all of these processes is that they are not reversible to the original diisocyanate.
It is known from U.S. Pat. No. 3,644,457 to react 4,4'- and/or 2,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate with a branched aliphatic dihydroxyl compound or polyethers based on 1,2-propylene glycol to produce a product which is liquid at room temperature. In a similar manner, U.S. Pat. No. 4,055,548 teaches that diphenylmethane diisocyanate can be liquefied by reaction with ethylene glycol-based polyethers.
Liquid diphenylmethane diisocyanates have also been produced by reacting diisocyanates having specified 2,4'-isomer contents with propylene and polypropylene glycols and with polyoxyethylene glycols (see e.g. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,118,411 and 4,115,429).
It has also been proposed to prepare liquid diphenylmethane diisocyanate compositions by reacting the diisocyanates with three separate alkylene glycols, each having at least three carbon atoms (see e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 3,883,571), or by the same reaction wherein at least one of the glycols is dipropylene, tripropylene, or polypropylene glycol (see e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 4,229,347).
U.S. Pat. No. 4,332,742 discloses the preparation of storage-stable, liquid diphenylmethane diisocyanates by reacting the diisocyanate with an N-substituted ethanolamine.
Urea group-containing polyisocyanate mixtures which are liquid at room temperature are also known. See U.S. Pat. No. 4,611,083.
It is also known that diphenylamine diisocyanates and the higher derivatives can form stable prepolymers with primary amine terminated materials having a degree of amination of from 25 to 100%. See U.S. Pat. No. 4,686,242.
Prepolymers are also known which are prepared by reacting amine reacting amine-terminated polyethers with a variety of different isocyanates including diphenylmethane diisocyanates. See U.S. Pat. 4,689,356.
It is an object of this invention to provide diphenylmethane diisocyanates which are storage-stable and liquid at 25.degree. C.

Liquification of diphenylmethane diisocyanate by partially reacting the isocyanate groups with blocking agents


The present invention relates to a process for preparation of an isocyanate comprising (a) reacting an amide with an aqueous solution of hypochlorous acid in the presence of an water-immiscible organic solvent to produce an N-chloro amide; and (b) reacting said N-chloro amide with a base in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst and a water immiscible organic solvent to produce an isocyanate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the preparation of isocyanates and, more specifically, to a low temperature process for the preparation of an isocyanate from an amide using hypochlorous acid.
2. Background of the Invention
Heretofore, the commercial method of choice for the manufacture of isocyanates has been a gas phase conversion by means of the phosgenation of amines. An example of the use of this methodology for the production of isocyanates is provided in U.S. Pat. No. 4,321,402. Unfortunately, phosgene methodology is expensive in view of the cost of the amine raw materials and the risk associated with the use of highly toxic phosgene gas. Non-phosgene routes to the production of isocyanates are highly sought after by the isocyanates manufacturing community.
One alternative to the use of phosgenation is carbonylation as disclosed in the above-mentioned '402 patent. However, this method utilizes high pressure reaction equipment and expensive carbon monoxide as a reactant, and the method typically uses potentially toxic catalysts such as selenium.
Another alternative is the well-known Hofmann rearrangement reaction entailing the base catalyzed rearrangement of N-halo amides to isocyanates. This reaction is typically conducted in single step without isolating the N-halo amide intermediate before it is reacted and converted into an isocyanate. The isocyanate is not Produced and isolated directly but requires the isocyanate to be trapped as a urea and/or a carbamate, which is then in turn converted to the desired isocyanate by hydrolysis and/or pyrolysis.
As yet another alternative, U.S. Pat. No. 4,282,167 discloses the preparation of isocyanates using a modified Hofmann rearrangement reaction by reacting an alkali metal hypobromite or alkali metal hypochlorite with a solution of a substantially water-insoluble aliphatic or cycloaliphatic organic amide in a substantially water-immiscible organic solvent using a quaternary salt as a phase transfer catalyst. Unfortunately, the solubility of such alkali metal hypobromite and alkali metal hypochlorite salts is typically only about 5% by weight in water, and the purity levels of these salts is sometimes less than might be desired.
New, more efficient, non-phosgene processes for producing isocyanates would be highly desired by the isocyanates manufacturing community.

Isocyanates and their preparation using hypochlorous acid


An image input device capable of: reading images on 35 mm film and images on another type of film contained in a new photo system-adapted cartridge; converting the images into digital image signals; and, feeding the signals into a computer. The device is constructed in such a manner that one selected between film adaptors (100, 300) can be loaded in a groove portion (2) of a main device body. The film adaptor (100) can retain 35 mm film (401, 402), while the film adaptor (300) can retain a new photo system-adapted cartridge film (403). The images on the loaded film are read by a linear CCD image sensor (9) being caused to execute scanning. This scanning results in the digital image signals which then are fed into a computer and the like.

Traditionally, 35 mm type photographic film (hereinafter called 35 mm film), whose photographic picture plane is 24 mm long by 36 mm wide in dimension, has widely and universally prevailed. In addition, a film scanner has also been well known, which is capable of converting images on the aforesaid film into digital image signals and then feeding the digital image signals into a computer.
For example, published Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5 (Heisei 5 or the year of 1993)-244349 discloses an image-digitizing device in which a device for digitizing the images on the 35 mm film is proposed. This device can read and digitize images provided on both slide film and strip-like negative film, and then can feed the digitized images into a computer. The slide film is a sheet of film which is cut every single frame. The slide film is held in a slide mount. The strip-like negative film is a sheet of film which is cut every six frames.
A monthly magazine "Popular Photography" (October 1994, page 8) introduces a new photo system, i.e., an advanced photo system, which is applicable to new film that is different from the prevalent 35 mm film. In the new photo system, a small-sized, film cartridge contains a roll of unused film or developed film, including a leader portion. Such film is smaller in width than the 35 mm film. The unused film or developed film is taken out of the film cartridge at the time of photographing, or printing, and image reproduction. As a result, users are typically precluded from taking a direct look at a strip of the aforesaid film.
The construction of the film cartridge applicable to the new photo system is seen from, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,047,794 (corresponding to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4 (Heisei 4 or the year of 1992)-237043 which discloses a film cassette (cartridge) with a lock-out means for preventing exposed film from being loaded therein. The above film cartridge prevents a partially or substantially exposed film cartridge from being inserted into various cameras.
The aforesaid new photo system-adapted, small-sized film cartridge would be applicable to a film scanner as well if being designed to contain a roll of developed film in a manner that the film is pulled out of the cartridge, whenever necessary. However, the image-digitizing device shown in the aforesaid Patent Application No. 5-244349 is of the type for picking up images on the 35 mm film. That is, the device is constructed in a manner unapplicable to the aforesaid small-sized film cartridge, and is thus impossible to read images on the cartridge-contained film.
In addition, no proposals have been made yet to a film scanner device in which the film contained in the new photo system-adapted cartridge is pulled therefrom to read images on the film, and then image data is input into a computer.
The present invention is produced to overcome the aforesaid inconveniences. Thus, an object of the present invention is to propose an image input device capable of reading images on different types of film, such as the above-mentioned 35 mm film or the new photo system-adapted film, and then feeding image data into the computer.

Image input device capable of identifying different adaptors inserted into the input device