The present invention relates to a novel process for the preparation of a cefdinir

Cefdinir of Formula II is an oral, semi-synthetic cephalosporin antibiotic characterized by having a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity particularly against Staphylococci and Streptococci and a high stability against various β-lactamases. It further exhibits an enhanced activity against gram-positive bacteria as well and is chemically known as 7β-[(Z)-2-(2-amino-4-thiazolyl)-2-hydroxyiminoacetamido]-3-vinyl3-cephem-4-carboxylic acid.

Several synthetic methods are known in literature for preparation of cefdinir. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,559,334 describes a synthetic method starting from benzhydryl 7-amino-3-vinyl-3-cephem-4-carboxylate which is reacted with 4-bromoacetoacetyl bromide, the resulting product is nitrosated to oxime and cyclized to obtain protected cefdinir. Deprotection yielded cefdinir (Refer Scheme-1). However, this synthetic method suffers from several disadvantages such as use of not so easily available raw materials, low yielding steps and isolation involving chromatography and lyophilisation. Overall yield reported is 10–11%.
Ph: Phenyl
Spanish Patent ES 2 013 828 describes alternate route to prepare Cefdinir overcoming the difficulties in U.S. Pat. No. 4,559,334 (Refer Scheme-2).
Thus, (Z)-2-(2-amino-4-thiazolyl)-2-acetyloxyiminoacetic acid was prepared and converted into corresponding acid chloride hydrochloride (A) via reaction with phosphorus pentachloride and condensed with 7-amino-3-vinyl-3-cephem-4-carboxylic acid to yield O-acetyl Cefdinir which was deprotected to yield Cefdinir.

However, in our hands the preparation of (Z)-2-(2-amino-4-thiazolyl)-2-acteyloxyiminoacetylchloride hydrochloride did not prove to be consistent, possibly due to nature of side chain sodium salt and a lot of impurity formation was observed. Moreover this reaction resulted in incomplete conversion and formation of anti-isomer was also observed. Further, this process requires very low temperature leading to additional burden on equipment.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,093,814 describes a process wherein tritylated cefdinir is prepared and isolated as O-trityl cefdinir.p-toluenesulfonic acid.2N,N-dimethylacetamide solvate and further converted into cefdinir either by treatment with formic acid or trifluoroacetic acid (Refer Scheme-3). The disadvantages of this process are use of ethers to isolate O-trityl cefdinir.p-toluenesulfonic acid.2N,N-dimethylacetamide solvate which greatly enhances danger of fire hazard on a commercial scale and poor solvent recovery. Further, we could not realize the specified yields in detritylation step.

Detritylation to obtain cefdinir by using a perhalogenated acids has been described by Otsuka Chemical Company in EP 1 273 587 A1. However, this process also gave low yields and further handling and disposal of perhalogenated acids poses an industrial hazard.
Thus, it is evident that the intermediates described in the prior art to prepare Cefdinir include an acid chloride, a reactive thiophosphate, a reactive ester and the like. However, these intermediates have some disadvantages such as low yields, expensive input raw materials and handling problem in commercial production. Hence, there is a need to use such acylating agent which is capable of transferring the 2-aminothiazolyl moiety to 7-amino-3-cephem compound in good yield without producing any side product and without requiring complicated protection/deprotection operations.

Abstract: by reacting O-acetyl thioester of Formula I

Abstract: with

Abstract: in the presence of a base in suitable solvent wherein R′ represents H or any carboxyl protecting group, and then converting to the cefdinir by the removal of protecting groups. This invention also relates to making the cefdinir using a novel process to prepare the O-acetyl thioester intermediate (Formula I) by condensing (Z)-2-(2-amino-4-thiazolyl)-2-acetyloxyiminoacetic acid with bis(benzothiazol-2-yl)disulphide in the presence of triphenylphosphine and a base in a suitable solvent.


An ultrasonic suspension delivery system is provided. The system includes an ultrasonic energy source and an ultrasonic resonating syringe electrically coupled thereto. The ultrasonic resonating syringe includes a barrel with a nozzle, and an ultrasonic resonating plunger slidingly displaceable within the barrel. The ultrasonic resonating syringe includes front and rear bodies, front and rear transducers, and front and rear horns. A support member or a transition member may also be included.

Scientists, technicians and others often have problems delivering precise proportions of solid particles dispersed in a fluid to a surface. Inconsistent mixture ratios bring about waste when solid particles settle out of the fluid, such as, for example, suspensions delivered by a syringe. Solid particles that settle out of the fluid may remain in the syringe as waste material, which may be hazardous, time consuming and costly to dispose of properly.
Known suspension delivery systems may suffer from uneven distribution of solid particles in the fluid. For example, a 10 cc suspension may have a higher concentration of solid particles in the lower portions of the device, and a lower concentration of solid particles in the upper portions of the device. Accordingly, the concentration or ratio of solid particles to fluid varies as the suspension is delivered to the surface. Additionally, suspended particles may begin to settle well before the suspension is delivered, for example, when the suspension begins flowing from a mixing chamber.
Accordingly, there is a need to keep the solid particles suspended in the fluid at all times during delivery.


A camera or an apparatus to which a film having a magnetic storage part is applicable, or a unit adapted for the camera or the apparatus, includes a magnetic head for acting on the magnetic storage part of the film, and a holding member arranged to hold the magnetic head and having a space for disposing a predetermined structure, which space is located in a direction approximately perpendicular to a moving direction of the film with respect to the magnetic head, or a movable holding member arranged to hold the magnetic head and having a space for disposing a predetermined structure.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a camera to which a film having a magnetic storage part is applicable and which is provided with a magnetic head arranged to write or read information into or out of the magnetic storage part of the film.
2. Description of the Related Art
A camera of the kind having a magnetic head which is arranged to write or read information into or out of a magnetic storage part provided on a film and a holding member which is arranged to hold the magnetic head in such a way as to allow the magnetic head to swing on a support shaft extending in parallel with a transport direction of the film has been disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. HEI 5-158136.
In the above-stated camera, the magnetic head is arranged to be capable of swinging on the support shaft of the holding member so as to follow any positional variation of the film taking place perpendicular to the film surface while the film is in process of transportation, and the magnetic head is arranged also to be located as far away as possible from the support shaft so that the magnetic head can be kept in constant contact with the film surface even when the magnetic head swings on the support shaft. With the magnetic head thus positioned far away from the support shaft, however, the size of a magnetic head unit including the magnetic head and the holding member increases. The increase in size of the magnetic head unit leaves only a severely limited space above a pressure plate for arranging other mechanisms or elements and thus has presented a problem in that the size of the camera also inevitably increases.

Camera to which a film having a magnetic storage part is applicable


A camera image is acquired by a camera and a structure that is optically concealed in the camera image is acquired by a material-penetrating acquisition modality. A stereoscopic depth location of a common reference point is then fixed at a predetermined value. The stereoscopic representation is then generated from the camera image, and an overlay image is generated based on the concealed structure. In this case, a depth location of the camera image is fixed at the depth location of the reference point, and, as a function thereof, a depth location of the overlay image is adjusted in relation to the depth location of the reference point, such that in the stereoscopic representation, the overlay image appears realistically in front of and/or behind an optically opaque part in the recording direction of the camera image.

The present embodiments relate to generating a stereoscopic representation of a target object.
All manner of objects are examined and/or manipulated for all variety of purposes in many different application fields. The respective objects are often depicted by a camera in this case, and a corresponding camera image of the object is represented on a display device. This may be advantageous if, for example, an examination region of the object cannot easily be accessed or viewed (e.g., due to limited spatial conditions and/or lighting conditions that are inadequate for direct observation). Even in such situations, the currently available camera technology allows advantageously useful images to be generated. In restricted spatial conditions, a miniaturized endoscopic camera, for example, may be used. It is therefore possible to depict, for example, machine installations or industrial products as well as, for example, parts of building structures or infrastructure facilities, but also, for example, natural objects such as plants, animals, and humans or biological tissue samples.
When using an optical camera, the problem arises in this case that many materials are optically opaque, and therefore, regions that are arranged behind such an opaque material in the viewing direction of the camera cannot be depicted or at least cannot be depicted without the material being destroyed or damaged locally by the camera. If, for example, an X-ray device is used instead of the camera, it is then possible to penetrate optically opaque materials, but corresponding X-ray images are often less clear for a respective user and/or less detailed or less revealing due to the inherent characteristics of X-ray technology. With X-ray technology, materials that are at least substantially transparent for the X-radiation are not depicted. A further significant problem is that often only 2D camera images are recorded or available, and therefore, even if supporting arrows, subsidiary lines, contour lines, or similar are superimposed, no defined or reliable depth information or depth effect is present in corresponding representations. As a result of this, precise orientation and examination of the respective object is often significantly hampered.

Generating a stereoscopic representation


A reference voltage source circuit includes a reference voltage generation circuit that inputs external power voltage and produces a first reference voltage with a first temperature characteristic, and a level shifter circuit that produces a second reference voltage with the first temperature characteristic from the first reference voltage and outputs the second reference voltage as a reference voltage. For example, the reference voltage generation circuit may use a circuit configuration that is configurable to produce reference voltage in first and second ranges with respective positive and negative temperature characteristics, and the reference voltage generation circuit is configured to produce the first reference voltage in the first range with a positive temperature characteristic. The level shifter circuit may be operative to provide a voltage drop between the first and second reference voltages such that the second reference voltage is in the second range. Related methods are also discussed.

This application is related to Korean Application No. 99-59822, filed Dec. 21, 1999, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to electronic generation circuits and methods, and more particularly, to reference voltage source circuits and methods.
It is generally desirable to maintain stable internal power supply voltage levels in integrated circuits (ICs) in order to prevent damage and maintain desired operational characteristics.
Accordingly, integrated circuits often include power supply voltage regulation circuits that generate internal power supply voltages from externally supplied power supply voltages.
These internal power supply voltage regulation circuits often use reference voltages produced by reference voltage generation circuits. Such reference voltage generation circuits may take many forms.
One type of reference voltage generation circuit includes a MOS transistor that has its drain and gate terminals tied together, and which has an associated threshold voltage that is used to generate a reference voltage. However, the threshold voltage of such a MOS transistor typically varies responsive to temperature and process variations. Accordingly, the accuracy of such reference voltage generation circuits may be sensitive to variations in temperature and process.
A conventional reference voltage generation circuit may use complementary circuits having respective positive and negative temperature coefficients to reduce sensitivity to temperature changes. Such circuits are described, for example, in xe2x80x9cVARIABLE VCC DESIGN TECHNIQUES FOR BATTERY OPERATED DRAMS,xe2x80x9d Symposium on VLSI Circuit Digest of Technical Papers, pp. 110-111, 1992.
Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional temperature compensating reference voltage generation circuit includes a power supply voltage terminal that receives a power supply voltage Vcc, a ground voltage terminal that is connected to a power supply ground Vss, and an output terminal at which a reference voltage VREF is produced. In further detail, the reference voltage generation circuit includes a current limiting resistor R1 coupled between the power supply voltage Vcc and a node N1. The reference voltage generation circuit further includes a voltage divider circuit including a second resistor R2 connected to the node N1, and first and second NMOS transistors M1, M2 that are serially connected between a node N2 and the power supply ground Vss, and have their gate terminals coupled to the node N1 and the power supply voltage Vcc, respectively. A P-MOS transistor M3 is coupled between the output terminal and the power supply ground Vss, and has its gate terminal coupled to the node N2.
If the xe2x80x9conxe2x80x9d resistance of the first and second NMOS transistors M1, M2 is denoted Req, and a threshold voltage of the PMOS transistor M3 is denoted |Vtp|, the reference voltage VREF may be expressed as:
In equation (1), the temperature coefficient of the PMOS transistor threshold                     VREF        =                              (                                          1                +                Req                            R2                        )                                          xe2x80x83                              c                                xe2x80x83                              Vtpc                                    (        1        )
voltage |Vtp| typically is negative, while the temperature coefficient of the on resistance Req of the first and second NMOS transistors M1, M2 is typically positive. Accordingly, the reference voltage VREF is generated regardless of the temperature variation. That is, the reference voltage VREF regardless of the temperature variation can be obtained by offsetting the temperature variation by |Vtp| having the negative temperature coefficient and Req having the positive temperature coefficient.
However, the temperature characteristics of PMOS transistor M3 and NMOS transistors M1, M2 are opposite each other and also typically non-linear. For example, above a critical voltage Vcr(e.g., 1.2V), the reference voltage VREF produced by the conventional reference voltage generating circuit of FIG. 1 may increase with increasing temperature.
However, below the critical voltage Vcr, the reference voltage VREF may decrease with increasing temperature, such that the reference voltage VREF(Hot) at a relatively high temperature is less than the reference voltage VREF(Cold) at a relatively low temperature, as shown in FIG. 2.
Such a negative temperature characteristic may be undesirable when producing a reference voltage for a power supply circuit. As the reference voltage decreases with increasing temperature, the level of the power supply voltage that is generated based on the reference voltage may also decrease. This can cause operating speeds of circuits receiving the power supply voltage to decrease.
This phenomenon can represent an obstacle to effectively using low power supply voltages, such as 3.3V.
According to embodiments of the present invention, a reference voltage source circuit includes a reference voltage generation circuit that inputs external power voltage and produces a first reference voltage with a first temperature characteristic, and a level shifter circuit that produces a second reference voltage with the first temperature characteristic from the first reference voltage and outputs the second reference voltage as a reference voltage. In particular, the reference voltage generation circuit may use a circuit configuration that is configurable to produce reference voltages in first and second ranges with respective positive and negative temperature characteristics, with the reference voltage generation circuit being configured to produce the first reference voltage in the first range with a positive temperature characteristic. The level shifter circuit may be operative to provide a voltage drop between the first and second reference voltages such that the second reference voltage is in the second range.
In embodiments of the present invention, the reference voltage generation circuit includes a first resistor having a first terminal connected to a power supply node and a second terminal connected to a first node at which the first reference voltage is produced, and a second resistor having a first terminal coupled to the first node. A first NMOS transistor has a source terminal connected to a drain terminal of the first NMOS transistor at a third node, a gate terminal connected to the power supply node, and a drain terminal connected to a power supply ground. A PMOS transistor has a source terminal connected to the first node, a gate terminal connected to the second node and a drain terminal connected to the power supply ground. In other embodiments of the invention of the present invention, the level shifter circuit includes an NMOS transistor having a source terminal and a gate terminal coupled to the first node and a drain terminal connected to a fourth node at which the second reference voltage is produced.
In still other embodiments of the present invention, the reference voltage generation circuit includes a current limit circuit coupled to a power supply node, a voltage divider circuit coupled to the current limit circuit at a first node at which the first reference voltage is produced and to a power supply ground and a voltage source circuit coupled to the voltage divider circuit at the first node and at a second node. The level shifter circuit includes a voltage drop circuit coupled between the first node and a third node at which the second reference voltage is produced, and a current pass circuit coupled between the third node and the power supply ground.
In method embodiments of the present invention, a first reference voltage with a first temperature characteristic is generated. The first reference voltage is level shifted to produce a second reference voltage with the first temperature characteristic For example, a reference voltage generation circuit may be configured to produce the first reference voltage in a first range with a positive temperature characteristic, wherein the reference voltage generation circuit uses a circuit configuration that is configurable to produce reference voltages in the first range and a second range with respective positive and negative temperature characteristics. A voltage drop may be provided between the first and second reference voltages such that the second reference voltage is in the second range.

Level-shifting reference voltage source circuits and methods


An athletic performance evaluation device utilizes ultrasonic sensing circuitry or infrared sensing circuitry, a vibration sensitive switch, and an audio input to signal a microprocessor to start a timing function that calculates therefrom an objective evaluation of the athlete's performance. A light emitting diode (LED) may be included in the apparatus to signal the athlete to begin performance while simultaneously starting the timing function. The vibration sensitive switch may be placed on the ground adjacent to a selected position on which the athlete stands to stop the timing function. In operation, the athlete jumps and the ultrasonic sensor signals the microprocessor to begin the timing function and the vibration sensor sends a second signal to stop the timing function when the athlete lands again. The interval between signals is used in distance formula h=g(I/2).sup.2 /2 to determine the height attained and a display is provided for a human sensible output to show the athlete or evaluation personnel the height of the jump. The measurement is based solely on time; thus, each jumper is equally evaluated. In a response-time measurement mode, an audible input to a microphone signals the microprocessor to being the measurement and is simultaneously heard by the athlete. Ultrasonic sensing circuitry adjacent to a selected finishing position signals the microprocessor when the athletes passes through an ultrasonic beam. Alternatively, the LED may signal the athlete to begin performance which simultaneously starts the timing function. In the audible input mode, the microprocessor compensates for the delay in time required for the audible signal to reach the athlete. Various types of sensors are anticipated in the device to start and stop the timing function.

Athletes and coaches are constantly concerned with performance enhancement and means for determining whether performance has been improved. Likewise, as an evaluation tool recruiters and coaches are interested in performance evaluation. The venerable stop watch remains a coach's primary ally in determining speed over a distance; however, there are a number of performance parameters which are measurable in much smaller increments than normally attainable with a stop watch or are not measurable with sufficient accuracy with a stop watch. Among these are the vertical jump ability of an athlete, the response time to a signal, and the explosive leg power of an athlete. There have been devices in the past which measure vertical jump by requiring the athlete to touch a standard as he jumps; however, often times the touch does not occur at the zenith or does not occur at full extension of the arm, thus the vertical jump measurement is often somewhat inaccurate. Likewise, response time has heretofore been measured by visual observation, which introduces the physical limitations of the observer and is inaccurate. Other systems have been devised using photosensors and cameras; however, such systems are unduly costly and sometimes difficult to use in particular lighting situations.
Explosive leg power is a factor in the ability of the athlete to perform repeated jumping motions to a maximum height in a minimal time. In basketball parlance, how much air time can the player sustain around the rim?
To date, I am unaware of any device which can evaluate the athletes performance in terms of speed, jump height, explosive leg power, and reaction time.


Apparatuses and methods of manufacture are disclosed for phase change memory cell electrodes having a conductive barrier material. In one example, an apparatus includes a first chalcogenide structure and a second chalcogenide structure stacked together with the first chalcogenide structure. A first electrode portion is coupled to the first chalcogenide structure, and a second electrode portion is coupled to the second chalcogenide structure. An electrically conductive barrier material is disposed between the first and second electrode portions.

Many advancements have contributed to a recent surge in phase change memory development. With reference to FIG. 1, one recent improvement that has resulted in a simplified and lower cost method of manufacturing phase change memory cells is the inclusion of a switch 124, such as a selectable diode or an ovonic threshold switch, together with a phase change memory storage element 122 in a stacked memory cell 120 of an apparatus 100. Adding the switch 124 within each stacked memory cell 120 eliminates the need to form a transistor switch in the semiconductor substrate below or above each respective memory cell 120.
In order to prevent heat transfer between the phase change memory storage element 122 and the switch 124, however, a thermally insulative electrode 130 such as carbon is typically positioned between the phase change memory storage element 122 and the switch 124. The carbon electrode 130 provides good electrical conductivity (for voltages and currents to pass through), but inhibits the transfer of thermal energy between the phase change memory storage element 122 and the switch 124. The carbon electrode 130 may also serve as a diffusion barrier to prevent diffusion of materials between the phase change memory storage element 122 and the switch 124 during manufacture and operation of the memory cell 120.
Some manufacturing processes of depositing the carbon 130 (or other material), such as physical vapor deposition (PVD), may cause the carbon 130 to form in a columnar manner. Such a columnar carbon electrode 130, however, provides a poor diffusion barrier because the columnarity allows various materials to diffuse across the electrode 130. For example, oxygen, indium, selenium, and so forth may diffuse from the phase change memory storage element 122 to the switch 124, or vice versa, during manufacturing—for example during deposition, etching, thermal cycling and annealing, and/or electrical cycling or during operation of a finished and packaged memory device. This diffusion of various materials across the electrode 130 may lead to degradation and, eventually, to premature failure of a memory device.

Apparatuses including electrodes having a conductive barrier material and methods of forming same


A stepper motor device uses compensating non-sinusoidal driving values to compensate for operational non-sinusoidal drive characteristics of a motor of the device due to at least design and manufacturing imperfections in the motor. The compensating non-sinusoidal driving values may be derived using back electromagnetic force produced from the motor or using measured rotational positions of the motor when the motor is driven using known driving values.

Stepper motor devices are widely used in various applications, such as printers, disk drives, toys, windshield wipers, fans, vibrating cell phones, robotic arms and video cameras. A stepper motor device includes a stepper motor and a stepper driver to provide driving signals to stator coils of the stepper motor to drive the stepper motor. In a typical bi-polar two phase stepper motor device, two 90-degree offset sinusoidal values are used to produce two driving signals, which are applied to the two stator coils of the motor. The first sinusoidal signal values are values derived from a perfect sine wave, while the second sinusoidal signal values are values derived from a perfect cosine wave. Using these sinusoidal values, the stepper motor can theoretically be driven precisely with respect to position and speed. However, due to imperfect step motor design and manufacturing, the use of these sinusoidal drive values may not produce the desired positional and speed performance of the stepper motor.
Therefore, there is a need for a stepper motor device that can be controlled with more precision.

Stepper motor device with compensating non-sinusoidal driving values and method of producing the driving values


A craps side wager. The player can choose whether the next roll will be even or odd. If the player chose wrong, the player loses the wager. If the player chose right, then the player can win even money on the wager, unless the roll is a craps number, in which the player can win less than even money.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a method, apparatus, and computer readable storage medium directed to a wager for dice games.
2. Description of the Related Art
All casino wagers involve winning some multiple of the amount wagered when the wager is won. Typically, the amount won is less than the true odds of winning the bet, and this difference yields the house edge. As an example, the odds of winning a Place-4 bet in craps are 2-to-1 against, but the wager is paid at 9-to-5 or 1.8-to-1. The 0.2 difference between 2 and 1.8 is retained by the house, yielding a house advantage of 6.67%. In American Roulette, the Red or Black wagers pay at even-money or 1-to-1 even though the chances of winning are 20-to-18 against. In the special case of the "free odds" bets in craps, the payout exactly matches the true odds of winning, and the house has no advantage. It should be noted that this wager is not available unless another wager with a house advantage (the Passline) has already been made.
Although games involving dice are extremely popular in non-gaming environments, only craps has been successful in a gaming environment. The game of craps is offered in nearly all casinos. Craps involves two six sided dice which are rolled two or more times by a designated player (the "shooter"). The fundamental bet in craps is known as the "pass" bet. The pass line bet is lost on a first roll ("come out") of 2, 3, or 12. Each pass bet wagered is paid even money on a come out roll of 7 or 11. In either case, the pass bet is resolved and a new wager must begin. Should the shooter's come out roll be a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, that number is identified as the "point." Thereafter, the shooter continues to roll the dice until the point is repeated or a seven is rolled, whichever occurs first. If the point is repeated ("making the point"), each pass wagerer is paid even money on their pass bets and a new game begins with the same shooter. If a seven is rolled ("seven-out") prior to making the point, each pass bet wagerer loses their pass bet and the shooter must relinquish the dice to another participant. Craps also includes a host of additional wager opportunities related to each roll of the dice. For example, players may wager that any number will be rolled on a subsequent roll, bet that the value of each die will match (e.g. snake eyes), and so on.
Several other dice games have been attempted in casinos, but without great, or even moderate, success. One such game is known as "Chuck-a-Luck." Chuck-a-Luck is a game involving a single roll of three six sided dice having associated payouts related to one, two, or three of the dice faces showing a selected number from one to six. Another dice game is known as "Under and Over 7." Under and Over 7 allows players to wager whether the sum of two dice will be less than, more than or equal to seven.
While popular, a significant disadvantage of craps, for both the casino and player, is that the game is, or at least has the perception of being, complicated. Therefore, new players are reluctant to step up to a craps table and face embarrassment for not knowing the rules or etiquette of the game. In addition, craps can be played at a slow pace because of the numerous wagers being made before each roll and subsequently paid after each roll. Such delays are not conducive to generating income for the casino which generates income on a per roll basis.
A disadvantage associated with nearly every other dice game is the poor payback percentages. For example, Chuck-a-Luck has a house advantage of nearly eight (8) percent, and Under and Over 7 has a house advantage in excess of sixteen (16) percent. By contrast, the house advantage on the popular pass bet in craps is only 1.41%.
Therefore, what is needed is a novel dice-related which can be profitable for casinos and exciting and easy to understand for the players.


According to one embodiment, there is provided a semiconductor digital communication device comprising communication drive and sense electrodes formed in a single plane, where the electrodes have relatively high sidewalls. The relatively high sidewalls permit low electrical field densities to be obtained in the sense and drive electrodes during operation, and further permit very high breakdown voltages to be obtained between the electrodes, and between the drive electrode and an underlying ground plane substrate. The device effects communications between drive and receive circuits through the drive and sense electrodes by capacitive means, and in a preferred embodiment is capable of effecting relatively high-speed digital communications. The device may be formed in a small package using, by way of example, CMOS or other semiconductor fabrication and packaging processes.

High voltage isolation communication devices known in the prior art include optical devices, magnetic devices and capacitive devices. Prior art optical devices typically achieve high voltage isolation by employing LEDs and corresponding photodiodes to transmit and receive light signals, usually require high power levels, and suffer from operational and design constraints when multiple communication channels are required. Prior art magnetic devices typically achieve high voltage isolation by employing opposing inductively-coupled coils, also usually require high power levels (especially when high data rates required), typically require the use of at least three separate integrated circuits or chips, and are susceptible to electromagnetic interference ("EMI"). Prior art capacitive devices typically achieve high voltage isolation by employing multiple pairs of transmitting and receiving electrodes, where for example a first pair of electrodes is employed to transmit and receive data, and a second pair of electrodes is employed to refresh or maintain the transmitted signals.
What is needed is a high voltage isolation communication device that is small, consumes reduced power, permits data to be communicated at relatively high data rates, has improved high voltage breakdown capabilities, and that may be built at lower cost.
Further details concerning various aspects of some prior art devices and methods are set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,693,971 to Gonzales entitled "Combined trench and field isolation structure for semiconductor devices" dated Dec. 2, 1997; U.S. Pat. No. 6,167,475 to Carr entitled "Data transfer method/engine for pipelining shared memory bus accesses" dated Dec. 26, 2000; U.S. Pat. No. 6,215,377 to Douriet entitled "Low cost wideband RF port structure for microwave circuit packages using coplanar waveguide and BGA I/O format" dated Apr. 10, 2001; U.S. Pat. No. 6,320,532 to Diede entitled "Low power radar level transmitter having reduced ground loop errors" dated Nov. 20, 2001; U.S. Pat. No. 6,489,850 to Heineke et al. entitled "Crosstalk suppression in differential AC coupled multichannel IC amplifiers" dated Dec. 3, 2002; U.S. Pat. No. 6,538,313 to Smith entitled "IC package with integral substrate capacitor" dated Mar. 25, 2003; U.S. Pat. No. 6,574,091 to Heineke et al. entitled "Multi-plate capacitor structure" dated Jun. 3, 2003; U.S. Pat. No. 6,661,079 to Bikulcius entitled "Semiconductor-based spiral capacitor" dated Dec. 9, 2003; U.S. Pat. No. 6,944,009 to Nguyen et al. entitled "Ultra broadband capacitor assembly" dated Sep. 13, 2005; U.S. Pat. No. 7,170,807 to Fazan et al. entitled "Data storage device and refreshing method for use with such device" dated Jan. 30, 2007; U.S. Patent Publication No. 2007/0133,933 to Hoon entitled "Enhanced coplanar waveguide and optical communication module using the same" dated Jun. 14, 2007; U.S. Patent Publication No. 2007/0162645 to Han entitled "Communication system for data transfer between on-chip circuits" dated Jul. 12, 2007, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/264,956 to Guenin et al. entitled "Structures and methods for proximity communication using bridge chips" dated Nov. 1, 2005, and WO/2005/001928 to Hester et al. entitled "Capacitor-related systems for addressing package/motherboard resonance" dated Jun. 1, 2005. The foregoing patents and patent applications are hereby incorporated by reference herein, each in its respective entirety.

High voltage isolation semiconductor capacitor digital communication device and corresponding package

Avago Technologies ECBU IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.


A continuous wave ranging system, comprising a modulator 2 for modulating an r.f. carrier wave in accordance with a pseudo random code, a transmitting antenna 5 for radiating the modulated signal towards a target, a receiving antenna 6 and receiver 7 for detecting the signal reflected back from the target, a correlator 8 for correlating the reflected signal with the transmitted code with a selected phase shift corresponding to the current range gate to be tested, whereby the range of the target from the system may be determined, a store 12 containing a plurality of different pseudo random codes, and selector means 13 arranged to supply to the modulator 2 and to the correlator 8 a code from the store 12 which code does not produce a breakthrough sidelobe in at least the next range gate or gates to be tested.

This invention relates to a continuous wave ranging system and, in one aspect, to an aircraft radar altimeter system.
Such systems usually comprise a means of microwave transmission upon which some form of coding has been added, an antenna for directing the energy to the target, an antenna for receiving the returned energy and, after amplification, a means of determining the amount of delay that has occurred on the signal, and hence the range of the target. The coding on the transmission had in the past been pulse or frequency modulation, but more recently phase modulation from a pseudo-random code has been used. This form of modulation has the property of producing a noise-like transmitted spectrum which is difficult to detect and hence finds applications where covertness is of importance. Covertness can be enchanced by reducing the transmitted power such that the returned signal is just sufficient for ranging measurement.
In such phase-modulated systems, the received signal is correlated with a delayed version of the transmitted code, the delay being gradually increased in steps, and samples of the output of the correlator are detected and stored in an array. From this stored data, the delay, and hence the range, where the received signal return occurs can be found. A typical system is shown in FIG. 1 and comprises:—a transmitter including an r.f. signal generator 1; a modulator 2 for modulating the r.f. signal in accordance with a pseudo-random code 3; a transmitter amplifier 4 and a transmitting antenna 5. The receiver includes a receiving antenna 6; a receiver amplifier 7; a correlator 8 for correlating the received signal with a delayed version of the transmitted code corresponding to the range being examined; an amplitude detector 10; and a memory array 11.
The data for such a system is shown in FIG. 2, the code delay corresponding to range.
In a direct sequence spread spectrum ranging system, correlation sidelobes can appear at any range, due either to the transmitter to receiver breakthrough or to wanted signals. These sidelobe positions can be shown to be related to the position of the signal (breakthrough or otherwise) causing the sidelobe, and the particular pseudo-random code sequence in use. By careful selection of the code sequence, it is possible to achieve a signal to sidelobe performance which allows the sidelobes of wanted signals to be disregarded. However, since the breakthrough signal is usually much greater than any wanted signal, a problem is evident when considering wanted signal to breakthrough sidelobe levels. Since the breakthrough signal position is constant, it has been found possible for any given code sequence to determine the position of the resulting breakthrough sidelobes.

Selex Sensors and Airborne Systems Limited


The invention relates to a method for producing an electrode stack for a battery cell, comprising the following steps: providing a strip-shaped anode element (45) comprising an anodic current discharger (31) to which an anodic active material (41) is applied; providing a strip-shaped cathode element (46) comprising a cathodic current discharger (32) to which a cathodic active material (42) is applied; providing at least one strip-shaped separator element (16); introducing grooves (70) into the cathodic active material (42) around segmentation lines (S); generating a strip-shaped composite element (50) by applying the cathode element (46) onto the anode element (45), with the interposition of the at least one separator element (16); cutting the composite element (50) into plate-shaped composite segments at the segmentation lines (S); and stacking the composite segments. The invention also relates to a battery cell comprising at least one electrode stack which is produced according to the method according to the invention.

The invention relates to a method for producing an electrode stack for a battery cell by cutting strip-shaped elements into plate-shaped segments and stacking the segments. The invention also relates to a battery cell, which comprises an electrode stack that is produced by such a method.
Electrical energy can be stored by means of batteries. Batteries convert chemical reaction energy into electrical energy. In this case, distinction is made between primary batteries and secondary batteries. Primary batteries are only functional once, while secondary batteries, which are also referred to as accumulators, are rechargeable. In an accumulator, so-called lithium ion battery cells are in particular used. These are distinguished inter alia by high energy densities, thermal stability and an extremely low self-discharge.
Lithium ion battery cells comprise a positive electrode, which is also referred to as the cathode, and a negative electrode, which is also referred to as the anode. The cathode and the anode each comprise a current collector, onto which an active material is applied. The electrodes of the battery cell are configured in the form of foils and are stacked with interposition of a separator, which separates the anode and the cathode, for example to form an electrode stack. The electrodes may also be wound to form an electrode winding, or form an electrode unit in another way.
The two electrodes of the electrode unit are electrically connected to poles of the battery cell, which are also referred to as terminals. The electrodes and the separator are surrounded by a generally liquid electrolyte. The battery cell furthermore comprises a cell housing, which is for example made of aluminum. The cell housing is generally shaped as a prism, in particular as a cuboid, and is configured to be pressure-resistant. Other housing shapes are, however, also known, for example circular-cylindrical, or alternatively flexible pouch cells.
One essential aim in the development of new battery cells is to increase the usable electrochemical volume in the cell. The electrode stack has been found to be the most suitable design of an electrode unit in order to maximize the usable volume, since this can be produced ideally prismatically as well as in any other desired geometry.
In lithium ion battery cells, metallization of the lithium provided for the charge transport may occur. Metallized lithium is then no longer available for the charge transport, and the capacity of the battery cell therefore decreases. The metallization of lithium may be prevented, or at least reduced, when the anode in the electrode stack protrudes beyond the cathode.
WO 2015/015274 discloses a battery having an electrode unit, which comprises a negative electrode foil and a positive electrode foil. The negative electrode foil in this case has a greater width than the positive electrode foil.
US 2011/0039140 discloses a battery having an electrode unit, which comprises a negative electrode and a positive electrode. The positive electrode has a current collector, which is coated with active material on both sides. Grooves are introduced into the active material.
CN 203932198 discloses a lithium ion battery which comprises an electrode unit having electrode foils. One of the electrode foils has a current collector, which is coated with active material. Grooves are introduced into the active material by means of a laser.

Method for producing an electrode stack for a battery cell, battery cell


A semiconductor laser apparatus is provided which comprises a semiconductor laser device for emitting laser light and a base having a major surface and a circumferential side surface. The circumferential side surface has an upper surface and a lower surface. The semiconductor laser device is mounted on the major surface of the base. At least one of the upper and lower surfaces of the circumferential side surface is tilted from a direction perpendicular to the major surface so that a height in a vertical direction of the semiconductor laser apparatus is reduced or minimized.

1. Field of the Technology
The present technology relates to a semiconductor laser apparatus for recording/reproducing information onto/from an information recording medium, such as an optical disc or the like, and an optical pickup apparatus using the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional optical pickup apparatus using the above-described type of semiconductor laser apparatus will be described.
FIG. 4A is a side view showing an outline structure of the conventional optical pickup apparatus. FIG. 4B is a front view showing a circumferential portion of a base portion of a semiconductor laser apparatus used in the conventional optical pickup apparatus.
As shown in FIG. 4A, the conventional optical pickup apparatus 20 has a semiconductor laser apparatus 18 in which parts, such as a semiconductor laser device (LD) 12, a monitor submount 13 and the like, are provided on a base 11; a reflection mirror 14; an objective lens 15; and a housing (not shown) which accommodates and fixes these components with a predetermined positional relationship among them.
As shown in FIG. 4B, a circumferential portion of the base 11 has two straight portions 11b which are parallel to each other and are disposed at upper and lower positions in the front view, and two arc portions 11c which are disposed at left- and right-hand positions in the front view and connect the straight portions 11b. The arc portions 11c are engaged with the housing (not shown) of the optical pickup apparatus 20, and are used to rotate the base 11 so as to adjust a site to be irradiated with the laser light. The straight portion 11b is not usually engaged with the housing, i.e., is not in contact with the housing. When the base 11 is engaged with the housing, the two straight portions 11b are arranged vertically, i.e., one of them is disposed at a higher position than that of the other.
Further, the reflection mirror 14, the objective lens 15 and an actuator (not shown) integrated with the objective lens 15 are fixed to the housing with a predetermined positional relationship among them.
In the semiconductor laser apparatus 18, the semiconductor laser device (LD) 12 is mounted on the monitor submount 13. Also, the monitor submount 13, a signal photodetector (not shown), a hologram device and the like are provided on a major surface 11a of the base 11.
In the optical pickup apparatus 20, laser light emitted from the semiconductor laser device 12 is reflected from the reflection mirror 14. Light whose traveling direction has been changed is transmitted via the objective lens 15 to an information recording surface of an optical disc 16.
In the optical pickup apparatus 20, the base 11 is fixed to the housing so that the straight portions 11b are vertically arranged, and laser light emitted from the semiconductor laser device 12 which travels in a direction parallel to the information recording surface of the optical disc 16 falls on the reflection mirror 14.
In order to make the optical pickup apparatus 20 thinner, the semiconductor laser apparatus 18 may be attached to an upper portion of the housing with a predetermined angle with respect to the housing, as shown in FIG. 5 (e.g., see, Japanese Patent No. 2626106).
FIG. 5 shows an optical pickup apparatus 20A in which the semiconductor laser apparatus 18 is attached to an upper portion of the housing in a tilted manner (a predetermined angle with respect to the housing). The lower edge of the base 11 (the lower straight portion 11b) is positioned higher than the lower edge of the reflection mirror 14 (higher than a phantom line L of FIG. 4). Thus, the lower edge of the base 11 does not project downward from the lower edge of the reflection mirror 14, resulting in the thinner optical pickup apparatus 20A.

Semiconductor laser apparatus and optical pickup apparatus


This invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions and methods for treating alopecia and promoting hair growth using N-linked sulfonamides of heterocyclic thioesters.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions and methods for treating alopecia and promoting hair growth using low molecular weight, small molecule N-linked sulfonamides of heterocyclic thioesters.
2. Description of Related Art
Hair loss occurs in a variety of situations. These situations include male pattern alopecia, alopecia senilis, alopecia areata, diseases accompanied by basic skin lesions or tumors, and systematic disorders such as nutritional disorders and internal secretion disorders. The mechanisms causing hair loss are very complicated, but in some instances can be attributed to aging, genetic disposition, the activation of male hormones, the loss of blood supply to hair follicles, and scalp abnormalities.
The immunosuppressant drugs FK506, rapamycin and cyclosporin are well known as potent T-cell specific immunosuppressants, and are effective against graft rejection after organ transplantation. It has been reported that topical, but not oral, application of FK506 (Yamamoto et al., J. Invest. Dermatol., 1994, 102, 160-164; Jiang et al., J. Invest. Dermatol. 1995, 104, 523-525) and cyclosporin (Iwabuchi et al., J. Dermatol. Sci. 1995, 9, 64-69) stimulates hair growth in a dose-dependent manner. One form of hair loss, alopecia areata, is known to be associated with autoimmune activities; hence, topically administered immunomodulatory compounds are expected to demonstrate efficacy for treating that type of hair loss. The hair growth stimulating effects of FK506 have been the subject of an international patent filing covering FK506 and structures related thereto for hair growth stimulation (Honbo et al., EP 0 423 714 A2). Honbo et al. discloses the use of relatively large tricyclic compounds, known for their immunosuppressive effects, as hair revitalizing agents.
The hair growth and revitalization effects of FK506 and related agents are disclosed in many U.S. patents (Goulet et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,258,389; Luly et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,457,111; Goulet et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,532,248; Goulet et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,189,042; and Ok et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,208,241; Rupprecht et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,284,840; Organ et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,284,877). These patents claim FK506 related compounds. Although they do not claim methods of hair revitalization, they disclose the known use of FK506 for effecting hair growth. Similar to FK506 (and the claimed variations in the Honbo et al. patent), the compounds claimed in these patents are relatively large. Further, the cited patents relate to immunomodulatory compounds for use in autoimmune related diseases, for which FK506's efficacy is well known.
Other U.S. patents disclose the use of cyclosporin and related compounds for hair revitalization (Hauer et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,342,625; Eberle, U.S. Pat. No. 5,284,826; Hewitt et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,996,193). These patents also relate to compounds useful for treating autoimmune diseases and cite the known use of cyclosporin and related immunosuppressive compounds for hair growth.
However, immunosuppressive compounds by definition suppress the immune system and also exhibit other toxic side effects. Accordingly, there is a need for non-immunosuppressant, small molecule compounds which are useful as hair revitalizing compounds.
Hamilton and Steiner disclose in U.S. Pat. No. 5,614,547 novel pyrrolidine carboxylate compounds which bind to the immunophilin FKBP12 and stimulate nerve growth, but which lack immunosuppressive effects. Unexpectedly, it has been discovered that these non-immunosuppressant compounds promote hair growth with an efficacy similar to FK506. Yet their novel small molecule structure and non-immunosuppressive properties differentiate them from FK506 and related immunosuppressive compounds found in the prior art.

N-linked sulfonamide of heterocyclic thioester hair growth compounds and uses


An objective lens for use in an optical pickup apparatus for recording and/or reproducing information on a first optical information recording medium having a protective substrate with a thickness t1 using a light flux with a wavelength λ1, on a second optical information recording medium having a protective substrate with a thickness t2 using a light flux with a wave length λ2 and a third optical information recording medium having a protective substrate with a thickness t3 using a light flux with a wavelength λ2, the objective lens includes: an optical surface including a central area and a peripheral area, wherein when the objective optical lens forms the portion of the light flux with the wavelength λ2 passed the central area into a converged spot through a substrate with a thickness t4, the objective optical lens makes a spherical aberration of the converged spot a minimum value.

Presently, the optical disc (in other words, optical information disc) such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) or CD (Compact Disc) is widely spread in the market.
Ordinary, DVD is in the range of protective substrate thickness is 0.6 mm, and the wavelength of the laser light is 635 nm-675 nm, and CD is in the range of protective substrate thickness is 1.2 mm, and the wavelength of the laser light is 765 nm-805 nm, however, there is a production error in the protective substrate thickness of these optical discs, and as an optical pickup apparatus to record or reproduce them, it is considered that it is more desirable that, even when there is more or less fluctuation in the protective substrate thickness of the optical disc, the apparatus can correspond enough to it.
Other than such a more or less fluctuation in the protective substrate thickness, in the case where it is intended that the production cost of the optical disc is more reduced, it is also considered in the future that the material consumption of the protective substrate is reduced by the means that the protective substrate thickness of, particularly, CD whose protective substrate is 1.2 mm and thick, is reduced as possible. Further, for example, there is a possibility that the optical disc in which the DVD and CD are integrated is assumed in the future, and it can also be assumed that, in that case, the protective substrate thickness of the CD is reduced (for example, the protective substrate thickness is about 0.9 mm) for suppressing the thickness of the optical disc. (Hereinafter, although the substantial standard is the same as an ordinal CD, the CD whose protective substrate thickness is about 0.9 mm and very thin, and which is out of the initial standard, is called herein as "new format optical disc").
In the future, in the case where it is assumed that this new format optical disc is spread in the market, the development of the compatible-use optical pickup apparatus by which the reproducing and/or recording can be conducted not only for the existing DVD or CD but also for the new format optical disc, is important, and particularly, one lens system optical pickup apparatus by which the compatibility is conducted by one objective lens is the most ideal mode.
In the optical pickup apparatus by which both of DVD and CD can be reproduced and/or recorded, at the time of reproducing/recording of CD, there is no necessity that the ray of light passing an area whose numerical aperture NA is larger than about 0.45 in the optical surfaces of the objective lens is used.
Accordingly, by using the diffractive structure formed on the optical surface of the objective lens, on the one hand that the laser light for CD passing the area whose numerical aperture NA is larger than about 0.45 is made so-called a flare light on the information recording surface of CD, a technology that the laser light for DVD is made converged with about no aberration on the information recording surface of DVD, is well known (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).
[Patent Document 1] Tokkai No. 2001-195769
Generally, when a light flux passes a diffractive structure, diffracted light fluxes with a plurality of diffraction orders are generated, and in these diffracted light fluxes, the recording and/or reproducing of the optical disc is conducted by using the diffracted light flux whose diffraction efficiency is the highest. However, there is a problem that the remaining diffracted light fluxes whose diffraction efficiencies are low and which are not used, (hereinafter, called as "unnecessary diffracted light fluxes") badly affect the operation of the optical pickup apparatus. Specifically, when a position at which the unnecessary diffracted light flux passes the objective lens and crosses the optical axis, and a position at which the usable diffracted light flux passes the objective lens and crosses the optical axis, are overlapped, the spot diameter of the converged spot is enlarged on the information recording surface of the optical disc, and there is a problem that apparent numerical aperture NA is lowered. Particularly, when the paraxial light-converging position of the unnecessary diffracted light flux is overlapped with the paraxial light-converging position of the usable diffracted light flux, the phases of both diffracted light fluxes coincide with each other at the converged spot, and the problem of the spot diameter enlargement is more conspicuous.
Further, when the position at which the unnecessary diffracted light flux passes the objective lens and crosses the optical axis is in close vicinity to the position at which the useable diffracted light flux passes the objective lens and crosses the optical axis, there is a case where the unnecessary diffracted light flux reflected on the information recording surface of the optical disc enters into a sensor for reflection light detection, noises are mixed in the RF signal, and the reading error of the recording and reproducing signal is generated. The RF signal is a signal used for the focus detection by the astigmatism method, and the returning characteristic from the sensor for the dislocation (ΔfB) from the best focus position is shown. The focus detection is conducted by using the linearity of this RF signal.
Because an interval in the optical axis direction of the paraxial light-converging position of the diffracted light flux depends on the power of the diffraction, the chromatic aberration of the using laser light flux is influenced.
Further, the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 is one for attaining the compatibility between two kinds of optical discs of DVD and CD, and not only DVD and CD, as the technology for attaining the compatibility among three kinds of optic al discs including the new format optical disc as described above, it is difficult that the technology disclosed in the Patent Document 1 is applied as it is.

Objective lens and optical pickup apparatus


A process cartridge is disclosed which is detachably mounted on an apparatus for forming an image using toner, and which has a process cartridge housing. The process cartridge housing includes: a smoothed surface portion including an inner face and an outer face; at least one protruding portion formed on the smoothed surface portion so as to protrude therefrom; and a structure having a surface configured for physically facilitating removal of the toner from the process cartridge housing, once attached thereto.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a replaceable cartridge for use in image forming apparatuses of an electro-photography type such as copiers, facsimile machines, or laser printers, and more particularly to technologies of facilitating recycle of such a cartridge.
2. Description of the Related Art
Apparatuses are known that each form an image such as characters or graphics in a manner that an electrostatic latent image is formed on a photosensitive member (a photosensitive drum, a photosensitive belt, etc.), that a developer material is delivered to the photosensitive member for formation of a visible image, and that the visible image is transferred onto a recording medium.
An example of such a type of an image forming apparatus is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2000-267547. This conventional apparatus includes a process cartridge detachable to a body (housing) of the apparatus. This process cartridge is configured to include a photosensitive cartridge at least contains a photosensitive member, and a developer cartridge containing a toner storage chamber and a developing roller.

Process cartridge with component geometry suitable for recycle of same


According to an example, a technique for image processing is provided, the technique comprising: obtaining a first image and a second image that at least partially illustrate the same real-world scene, wherein the first image comprises a visible light image and the second image comprises a thermal image; identifying one or more spatial portions of the second image that represent a predefined temperature range; identifying one or more spatial portions of the first image that illustrate the same portions of the real-world scene as illustrated in the identified one or more spatial portions of the second image; and deriving, based on the first image, a composite image wherein the identified one or more spatial portions of the first image are emphasized.

For example many search and surveillance solutions at least partially rely on visual information obtained via usage of a camera assembly that may include one or more camera modules or camera units that may be applied to capture still images and/or video stream depicting a location of interest. Such solutions involve portable devices that may be brought to the site of usage to capture images/video to depict locations of interest that may be non-accessible for direct visual inspection or fixed installations arranged to constantly monitor an area or space of interest.
A specific example of using such a camera assembly involves so-called search camera device, such as Savox SearchCam 3000. Such a device involves a camera assembly arranged in one end of an elongated shaft and a display unit arranged in or close to another end of the shaft, which display unit is arranged to display the current camera view to a user of the search camera device e.g. to enable locating victims or items of interest in collapsed buildings, inspecting underwater locations or objects, etc. Some search camera devices enable switching between normal camera operation and infrared camera operation in order to provide the user with the possibility of making use the part of the electromagnetic spectrum that provides the most useful visual information under the current operating conditions.

Image processing arrangement providing a composite image with emphasized spatial portions


The present invention provides for compounds useful for treating an HIV infection, or preventing an HIV infection, or treating AIDS or ARC. The compounds of the invention are of formula I wherein A is A2 and R1, R2, R3, R4a, R4b, R5, R6, Ar, X1, X2, X4, X4 and X5 are as herein defined. Also disclosed in the present invention are methods of treating an HIV infection with compounds defined herein and pharmaceutical compositions containing said compounds.

The human immunodeficiency virus HIV is the causative agent of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a disease characterized by the destruction of the immune system, particularly of the CD4+ T-cell, with attendant susceptibility to opportunistic infections. HIV infection is also associated with a precursor AIDS-related complex (ARC), a syndrome characterized by symptoms such as persistent generalized lymphadenopathy, fever and weight loss.
In common with other retroviruses, the HIV genome encodes protein precursors known as gag and gag-pol which are processed by the viral protease to afford the protease, reverse transcriptase (RT), endonuclease/integrase and mature structural proteins of the virus core. Interruption of this processing prevents the production of normally infectious virus. Considerable efforts have been directed towards the control of HIV by inhibition of virally encoded enzymes.
Currently available chemotherapy targets two crucial viral enzymes: HIV protease and HIV reverse transcriptase. (J. S. G. Montaner et al., Antiretroviral therapy: 'the state of the art', Biomed & Pharmacother. 1999 53:63-72; R. W. Shafer and D. A. Vuitton, Highly active retroviral therapy (HAART) for the treatment of infection with human immunodeficiency virus type, Biomed. & Pharmacother. 1999 53: 73-86; E. De Clercq, New Developments in Anti-HIV Chemotherap. Curr. Med. Chem. 2001 8:1543-1572). Two general classes of RTI inhibitors have been identified: nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI) and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. Currently the CCR5 co-receptor has emerged as a potential target for anti-HIV chemotherapy (D. Chantry, Expert Opin. Emerg. Drugs 2004 9(1):1-7; C. G. Barber, Curr. Opin. Invest. Drugs 2004 5(8):851-861; D. Schols, Curr. Topics Med. Chem. 2004 4(9):883-893; N. Meanwell and J. F. Kadow, Curr. Opin. Drug Discov. Dev. 2003 6(4):451-461).
NRTIs typically are 2′,3′-dideoxynucleoside (ddN) analogs which must be phosphorylated prior to interacting with viral RT. The corresponding triphosphates function as competitive inhibitors or alternative substrates for viral RT. After incorporation into nucleic acids the nucleoside analogs terminate the chain elongation process. HIV reverse transcriptase has DNA editing capabilities which enable resistant strains to overcome the blockade by cleaving the nucleoside analog and continuing the elongation. Currently clinically used NRTls include zidovudine (AZT), didanosine (ddI), zalcitabine (ddC), stavudine (d4T), lamivudine (3TC) and tenofovir (PMPA).
NNRTIs were first discovered in 1989. NNRTI are allosteric inhibitors which bind reversibly at a nonsubstrate-binding site on the HIV reverse transcriptase thereby altering the shape of the active site or blocking polymerase activity (R. W. Buckheit, Jr., Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors: perspectives for novel therapeutic compounds and strategies for treatment of HIV infection, Expert Opin. Investig. Drugs 2001 10(8)1423-1442; E. De Clercq, The role of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) in the therapy of HIV infection, Antiviral Res. 1998 38:153-179; E. De Clercq, New Developments in Anti-HIV Chemotherapy, Current medicinal Chem. 2001 8(13):1543-1572; G. Moyle, The Emerging Roles of Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors in Antiviral Therapy, Drugs 2001 61 (1):19-26). Although over thirty structural classes of NNRTIs have been identified in the laboratory, only three compounds have been approved for HIV therapy: efavirenz, nevirapine and delavirdine.
Initially viewed as a promising class of compounds, in vitro and in vivo studies quickly revealed the NNRTIs presented a low barrier to the emergence of drug resistant HIV strains and class-specific toxicity. Drug resistance frequently develops with only a single point mutation in the RT. While combination therapy with NRTIs, PIs and NNRTIs has, in many cases, dramatically lowered viral loads and slowed disease progression, significant therapeutic problems remain. (R. M. Gulick, Eur. Soc. Clin. Microbiol. and Inf. Dis. 2003 9(3):186-193) The cocktails are not effective in all patients, potentially severe adverse reactions often occur and the rapidly reproducing HIV virus has proven adroit at creating mutant drug-resistant variants of wild type protease and reverse transcriptase. There remains a need for safer drugs with activity against wild type and commonly occurring resistant strains of HIV.

2-Benzoyl phenyl-N-[phenyl]acetamide compounds 1a and 1b have been shown to inhibit HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (P. G. Wyatt et al., J. Med. Chem. 1995 38(10):1657-1665). Further screening identified related compounds, e.g. 2-benzoyl phenyloxy-N-[phenyl]-acetamide, 2a, and a sulfonamide derivative 2b which also inhibited reverse transcriptase (J. H. Chan et al., J. Med Chem. 2004 47(5):1175-1182; K. R Romines et al., J. Med. Chem. 2006 49(2): 727-739; C. L. Webster et al., WO01/17982). P. Bonneau et al. in US 20060069261 published Mar. 30, 2006 disclose 4-{4-[2-(2-benzoyl-phenoxy)-acetylamino]-phenyl}-2,2-dimethyl-but-3-ynoic acid compounds 3 which are inhibitors of HIV reverse transcriptase.

Pyridazinone non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors 4 have been described by J. P. Dunn et al. in U.S. Publication 20040198736, filed Mar. 23, 2004 and by J. P. Dunn et al. in U.S. Publication No. 2005021554 filed Mar. 22, 2005. 5-Aralkyl-2,4-dihydro-[1,2,4]triazol-3-one, 5-aralkyl-3H-[1,3,4]oxadiazol-2-one and 5-aralkyl-3H-[1,3,4]thiadiazol-2-one non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors 5 have been disclosed by J. P. Dunn et al. in U.S. Publication No. 20040192704 filed Mar. 23, 2004 and by J. P. Dunn et al. in U.S. Publication No. 20060025462 filed Jun. 27, 2005. Related compounds are disclosed by Y. D. Saito et al. in U.S. Ser. No. 60/722,335. Phenylacetamide non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors 6 have been disclosed by J. P. Dunn et al. in U.S. Pub. No. 20050239881 published Oct. 27, 2005 and methods for treating retroviral infection with phenylacetamide compounds have been disclosed by J. P. Dunn et al. in U.S. Publication No. 20050239880 published Oct. 27, 2005; T. Mirzadegan and T. Silva in U.S. Ser. No. 60/728,443 filed Oct. 19, 2005; and Z. K. Sweeney and T. Silva in U.S. Ser. No 60/728,609 Oct. 19, 2005. These applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

In WO2006/067587 published Jun. 26, 2006, L. H. Jones et al. disclose biaryl ether derivatives 7 and compositions containing them which bind to the enzyme reverse transcriptase and are modulators, especially inhibitors, thereof.
Pyrazole compounds which inhibit HIV reverse transcriptase have been disclosed. L. H. Jones et al. in WO2002085860 published Oct. 31, 2002 entitled "Preparation of aryloxy pyrazole derivatives as reverse transcriptase inhibitors for treating HIV", H. L. Jones et al. in WO2004031178 published Apr. 15, 2008 entitled "Preparation of pyrazole amides for treating HIV infections", D. A. Price et al. in WO2004031178 published Apr. 15, 2004, entitled "Preparation of pyrazole derivatives as HIV reverse transcriptase inhibitors", P. J. Edwards et al in WO2004031178 published Apr. 15, 2004 entitled "Preparation of pyrazole derivatives as therapeutic agents for HIV mediated diseases", O. Barba and L. H. Jones in WO2004029042 published Apr. 8, 2004, WO20040408 entitled "Preparation of pyrazole derivatives as reverse transcriptase inhibitors" and R. G. Corbau et al. in WO 2002004424 published Jan. 17, 2002 entitled "Pyrazole derivatives useful as reverse transcriptase inhibitor, for the treatment of HIV infection, and their use, formulations, and preparation" all disclose pyrazole compounds which inhibit HIV reverse transcriptase.
B. W. Dymock et al. in WO2002100853 published Dec. 12, 2002 entitled "Preparation of pyrazoles as HIV reverse transcriptase inhibitors" and J. Dunn et al. in WO 2004074257 publish Sep. 2, 2004 entitled "Preparation of pyrazole derivatives as non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors for the treatment of HIV disorders and compositions thereof" also disclose pyrazole compounds which inhibit HIV RT.
M. J. Genin et al. (J. Med. Chem. 2000 43(5):1034-1040) disclose pyrazole compounds with activity against the delaviradine resistant P236L mutant.


A method of operating a self-service terminal is described in which a stack of media is presented to a customer. If it is detected that at least some of the stack remains within the terminal, the remaining media is advanced out of the self-service terminal.

Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) dispense bank notes by picking the required number of notes from an internal store, compiling those notes into a stack and presenting them through the fascia of the ATM for collection by the customer.
In order to ensure the customer can collect all of the bank notes the stack must be sufficiently extended from the fascia to allow the customer to grasp the bank notes, but must still be retained securely by the ATM such that the bank notes do not fall out of the ATM without being grasped by the customer.
During use bank notes become worn, in particular accumulating folds such that they are not flat. As a result worn notes are difficult to handle repeatably and when formed into a stack, the notes may not be well aligned with each other. This may be detected by transport sensors within the ATM which detect that the stack is longer than it should be (i.e. it is longer than the longest note within the stack) and upon detection, the badly aligned stack of notes may be deposited into the purge bin and not presented to the customer. As the purge bin has a limited capacity, repeated rejection of stacks of notes results in the purge bin becoming full. When the purge bin is full, the ATM must be taken out of operation until the purge bin has been emptied.


The invention relates to a brush holding device used in a motor, and a method of assembling a brush holding frame onto a base plate in the brush holding device. In the brush holding device, flanged portions are protruded from both sides of a lower portion of a brush holding frame, and a pair of fixing portions each having a recessed portion substantially identical in shape to a cross-sectional shape of a corresponding one of said flanged portions are provided. The brush holding frame is inserted between the fixing portions while being slid on and along a base plate surface until the flanged portion on both sides of the brush holding frame are respectively fitted to the recessed portions of the fixing portions. Cover portions are provided on the brush holding frame at a level lower than the guide hole so as to cover the fixing portions when the fixing portions and flanged portions are fitted together.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a brush holding device used in a motor, which includes a brush holding frame having a guide hole through which a flexible conductive member leading an electric current to or from a brush is drawn out, and a base plate onto which both sides of the lower portion of the brush holding frame is fixed. The present invention also relates to a method of assembling the brush holding frame onto the base plate in the brush holding device.
2. Description of the Related Art
A typical brush holding device used in a motor is disclosed, for instance, in FIGS. 1 to 3 of Japanese Utility Model Kokai Publication No. Hei. 3-18658. The device will be explained with reference to the FIGS. 10 and 11 attached hereto. In these Figures, reference numeral 1 designates a brush; 2, a brush holding frame for holding the brush; 3, a flexible conductive member, so called as a pig-tail, for leading an electric current to or from the brush; 4, a guide hole perforated through the holding frame so that the flexible conductive member is drawn out therefrom; 5, a base plate onto which the brush holding frame is fixed; 6, a fixing-purpose caulking pawl implanted on the base plate; and 7, a hole of a holding frame through which the caulking pawl is passed.
The brush holding device 2 shown in these Figures is designed to adopt a fixing method in which the bottom surface of the brush holding frame 2 is placed onto the base plate surface so that the caulking pawls 6 are upwardly inserted into the respective holes 7 provided on both sides of the lower portion of the brush holding frame 2, and then the caulking pawls 6 are bent or beaten appropriately to fix the brush holding frame 2 onto the base plate 5 by "caulking".
This fixing method or fixing structure may arise a problem in that a short circuit occurs by the contact between the flexible conductive member 3 and the caulking pawl 6 formed by raising up a portion of the base plate 5 made of a steel plate since the flexible conductive member 3 so called as a pig-tail is elongated above a fixing region where the caulking pawl 6 is caulked.
For this reason, an insulative tube 8 is additionally required and an assembler is forced to carry out such a work that the flexible conductive member 3 is at least partially covered by the insulative tube 8 over a lengthwise region contactable with the fixing region, which results in the cost increase.
Since the brush holding frame 2 is fixed by bending or caulking the caulking pawl 6 and the brush holding frame 2 of this kind is made of synthetic resin, the brush holding frame 2 or its fixing region may accidentally deformed or damaged during the fixing work by beating. On the other hand, if the assembler carries out the fixing work while trying to avoid such accident, another problem arises in that the installation inevitably becomes unstable and the required sure fixing can not be achieved. In addition, the brush holding frame is generally molded of high-insulative synthetic resin.

Brush holding device used in motor, and method of assembling brush holding frame in the device


The present inventive device provides a new method of real-time, interactive, competitive, live on-line auction using an animated auctioneer. The animated auctioneer initiates the auction, actively solicits bids from the auction participants, acknowledges bids input from auction participants, and moves to close the auction when there is a cessation in bidding. In the course of the auction, the auctioneer audibly and physically promotes the item up for bid, and entices the participants to bid. Participants input bids real-time, competitively and successively in response to the animated auctioneer's solicitations.

It can be appreciated that various methods of auction have been in use for years. Prior to the advent of on-line or Internet auctions, traditional auctions conventionally took the form of a physical gathering of participants assembled together within a specified location; said location being where the goods to be auctioned physically resided. At such traditional auctions, a human auctioneer was the conductor of the auction and the individual responsible for shilling the goods to the auction participants. Incited by the direction of the human auctioneer, bidding was conducted simultaneously, successively and competitively among a group of participants present at the auction site.
As noted above, the presence, participation, and personality of the auctioneer was an essential component that provided the auction its sense of competitiveness and excitement. The auctioneer was responsible for instigating bids from auction participants and increasing the bid amount in succession by cajoling the auction participants, and closing the auction upon a cessation of bidding. Thus, in the traditional auction, the role of the auctioneer was not only essential to the functioning of the auction, but in generating the excitement and enjoyment of the auction participants.
The threat of immediate, rapid-fire, and constant competition from other participants was a key factor in the auction's thrill and in the ability of the auctioneer to drive up the current bid price. Thus, in the traditional form of auction, the threat of immediate, rapid-fire bid input, constant competition, the solicitation and offering of goods by an auctioneer, are essential.
The advent of electronic commerce, the Internet, and its related technologies, dramatically and profoundly changed the nature and the method of the traditional auction. The Internet and its related technologies have liberated the bidder from having to be being physically present at the auction. Likewise, the corollary is that the Internet and its related technologies permit the auction of goods from locations that are geographically remote from the bidders. To state the obvious: the Internet has been instrumental in forging a new electronic marketplace that allows buyers and bidders to unite without regard to the constraints of geographical boundaries.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Real-time, interactive, competitive method of on-line auction utilizing an auctioneer


A cutting insert fastener adapted to secure a cutting insert to a cutting tool holder. The fastener comprises a fastener head portion comprising at least one feature adapted to direct a coolant fluid to an insert cutting edge of a cutting insert when the cutting insert is secured to a cutting tool holder by the cutting insert fastener. Cutting tools comprising internal coolant systems and fastened with a cutting insert fastener comprising a fastener head portion with at least one feature adapted to direct a coolant fluid to an insert cutting edge are also disclosed.

1. Field of the Technology
The present disclosure relates to cutting tools and fasteners for cutting inserts for machining metallic materials.
2. Description of the Background of the Technology
As used herein, the term "metal cutting" broadly refers to machining, turning, milling, drilling, boring, planing, shaping, reaming, and like material removal operations performed on metallic (i.e., metal and metal alloy) materials. Cutting tools used in metal cutting typically are subjected to high loads and high temperatures. During metal cutting, the cutting tool applies a high load to the metallic workpiece to deform the workpiece. Because of the relative motion of the workpiece and the cutting edge of the cutting tool, shear deformation is produced in the metallic workpiece, generating metal chips from the workpiece. A cutting tool tip or cutting insert will generally include a rake face, which is a portion of the tip or insert that encounters and further deforms chips after the chips are formed at the cutting edge of the tip or insert. Cutting inserts may also include additional features that control chip size and shape. The chips produced in metal cutting are hot from deformation and frictional forces and are in close contact for a time with the cutting tip or cutting insert.
Because cutting inserts experience high loads and frictional contact with the workpiece and the machined chips, the cutting insert, and particularly the insert's cutting edge, is heated to very high temperatures. For example, cemented carbide cutting inserts may be heated to temperatures greater than 1,800° F. (982° C.) during cutting of hard steels. High cutting insert temperatures increase wear during metal cutting and, thus, reduce cutting insert service life. Machine tool operators can reduce tool speed to at least partially counteract high temperature-induced cutting insert wear. Reducing tool speed, however, may adversely affect the finish quality of machined surfaces produced on a metallic workpiece. Instead, a coolant is typically used to cool the cutting edge of a cutting insert during metal cutting.
Metal cutting coolants, which are also referred to as cutting fluids, serve to lubricate the workpiece and reduce frictional forces at low cutting speeds. At higher cutting speeds, coolants predominantly act to cool the workpiece and the cutting insert, and assist in flushing chips away from the cutting insert. The use of coolants in metal cutting significantly increases cutting insert service life, reduces unintended deformation of the workpiece, improves surface finish quality, and enhances chip removal and handling.
Traditionally, coolants are fed from an external source to the region of the interface between the cutting edge of a cutting insert and the workpiece. For example, a flow of coolant may be flooded onto both the workpiece and cutting insert through tubing from an external coolant source. Another method of applying coolant to the cutting edge/workpiece interface region is to direct a jet of coolant at the interface region. Still another method of applying coolant involves misting a coolant with an air jet and directing the mist at the cutting edge/workpiece interface region.
Conventional methods of applying coolants to a cutting edge/workpiece interface region are inefficient. For example, an excess amount of expensive coolant typically is applied during metal cutting to better ensure that coolant will contact the interface region and remove heat from the cutting insert's cutting edge. However, although excess coolant is applied, because of the tight tolerances at the interface region and the continuous generation of chips at the interface, less than an optimal amount of coolant is delivered to the interface region to efficiently and effectively reduce the temperature of the cutting insert's cutting edge. As such, the operating temperature of the cutting insert's cutting edge may remain very high, reducing cutting insert service life.
Accordingly, a need exists for an improved arrangement for reducing the temperature of the cutting edge of a metal cutting insert during cutting operations. In particular, a need exists for an improved system to deliver coolant to the cutting edge/workpiece interface during cutting operations.

Cutting tool including an internal coolant system and fastener for a cutting tool including an internal coolant system


An electron beam apparatus includes at least one electron beam column. The at least one beam column includes an electron beam optical system to irradiate an electron beam on a surface of a sample, and a detection system to detect electrons generated from the electron beam. The electron beam optical system includes an object lens to focus the electron beam on a surface of the sample. The object lens includes an electrostatic lens having a first electrode to which a first voltage is applied, a second electrode that is grounded, a third electrode to which a second voltage is applied, and a fourth electrode that is grounded. The first through fourth electrodes sequentially arranged relative to the sample.

1. Field
One or more embodiments herein relate to semiconductor patter inspection.
2. Description of Related Art
An electron beam apparatus may perform an inspection of the electrical characteristics, exterior appearance, and/or existence of foreign matter on a semiconductor wafer. For example, the electron beam apparatus may perform an electrical characteristic inspection (e.g., presence of opens or shorts) of a contact hole according to an electrification state. To perform such an inspection, the electron beam apparatus may include an electron beam column. However, the inspection may require a considerable amount of time to scan the entire wafer using this arrangement.


Vehicle apparatus for a vehicle including a chain guide device which can be easily mounted to the vehicle with a reduced number of parts. The chain, guide device for guiding a chain in the vehicle includes a main frame and a rear swing arm extending rearward from the main frame. The chain guide device also includes a stay extending downward from the rear swing arm, a sectionally U-shaped plate member fastened to the stay using fastening members, and a chain guide member mounted in the plate member. The chain guide member has a chain guide hole through which the chain passes through to be guided. The chain guide member is fixed by fitting the lower surface and the right and left side surfaces of the chain guide member to the plate member and by fitting the upper surface of the chain guide member to the stay.

Conventionally, a chain guide device is provided on a rear swing arm for guiding a chain wrapped between a drive sprocket mounted to an engine and a rear sprocket mounted to a rear wheel. The chain guide device includes a guide plate member formed of metal and a chain guide member formed of resin, whereby the chain guide member is surrounded and held by the guide plate member.
FIG. 4 of published patent application Japanese Utility Model Laid-open No. 3-5588 discloses a sectional view of a chain guide device 18 (reference numerals cited herein are those shown in the above mentioned publication). This chain guide device 18 includes a stay 41 with a forked shape and a lower opening provided on a rear fork 9, a sectionally U-shaped chain guide plate 42 (hereinafter referred to as plate member 42) connected to the stay 41 forming a ringlike portion, and a chain guide member 43 surrounded and held by the ringlike portion.
The plate member 42 and the chain guide member 43 are fastened together to the stay 41 by using a bolt 45 and a nut 46.
However, since the stay 41 is a forked member with a lower opening, a collar 43d that prevents the deformation of the stay 41 while securing the nut 46 to the bolt 45 is required. This results in an increase in number of parts required and an increase in weight.
Further, fastening the chain guide member 43 and the plate member 42 to the stay 41 using the bolt 45 and the nut 46 requires three types of insertion holes and a total of five holes. They include an insertion hole (axial hole) of the collar 43d fitted with a collar insertion hole h of the chain guide member 43, two insertion holes of the plate member 42, and two insertion holes of the stay 41. Accordingly, in integrating the chain guide device 18 with the rear fork 9, these five insertion holes must be aligned, such that mounting the chain guide device 18 to the rear fork 9 is troublesome.

Vehicle apparatus having a chain guide device


A caulk gun is provided with a forward-biasing mechanism to maintain contact between the caulk tube and the piston rod. The forward biasing mechanism is of simple construction and is piggy-backed to the trigger housing of the caulk gun. The operation of the forward-biasing mechanism relies on a friction grip which surrounds the piston rod. This friction grip is urged in the forward direction by a spring contained within the housing of the forward-biasing mechanism, and thereby biases the piston rod in the forward direction, while relieving the back pressure inside the caulk tube.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to hand-held material dispensing devices such as caulking guns.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hand-held material dispensing devices are well known in the art and generally rely on the action of a piston to push fluid out of a receptacle towards the application area. The motion of the piston is induced by the advancement of a piston rod in the direction of the receptacle, with the piston rod being advanced in the direction of travel by the operator's squeezing of a trigger in engagement therewith.
One such dispenser is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,140,078 to Krahe et al. The device of Krahe does not utilize a trigger, and is not concerned with biasing the piston rod in the forward direction.
Another fluid dispenser is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,461,407 to Finnegan. The Finnegan patent incorporates an automatic pressure release mechanism, but fails to address the forward biasing concerns with which the instant patent is concerned.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,081,112 to Chang, there is disclosed a caulking gun having a forward-biasing spring to urge the trigger back to the cocked position after an application cycle. However, Chang does not make provisions for biasing the piston rod in the forward direction.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,033,484 to Ornsteen shows a hot melt adhesive gun which operates in the conventional manner of the prior art. However, the Ornsteen patent also fails to provide a forward-biasing mechanism for the piston rod to maintain contact of the piston with the fluid receptacle.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,069,053 to Nilsson and U.S. Pat. No. 3,189,226 to Sherbondy each show a caulking gun with an alternative piston rod-trigger engagement arrangement. In these patented guns the trigger urges the piston rod toward the fluid receptacle by means by a ratchet mechanism. They do not, however, make provisions for biasing the piston rod in the forward direction when the trigger is not in operation.


A bearing assembly includes an inner ring and outer ring defining opposed raceways having a plurality of bearing elements disposed therebetween. The bearing assembly includes an improved sealing arrangement having multiple primary seals for providing sealing with the rotating inner ring. In preferred embodiments, the multiple seals include a rolled riding seal and an oblique contact seal having a center lip therebetween. Unlike the other two primary sealing lips, the center lip preferably provides no more than light engagement with the bearing inner ring. Flingers or configured mounting collars may also be provided to further enhance sealing characteristics

The present invention relates generally to the art of bearings for facilitating shaft rotation. More particularly, the invention relates to a bearing assembly which incorporates an improved sealing arrangement.
Shaft bearings are typically designed having an inner ring and an outer ring, each defining an annular raceway situated in opposition to one another. A plurality of bearing elements are disposed in a bearing region defined between the opposed raceways, thereby permitting relative rotational displacement of the inner and outer rings. To facilitate this relative rotation, shaft bearings are generally configured so that a lubricant may occasionally be conducted into the bearing area.
Various configurations of seals are often utilized to isolate the interior of the bearing assembly from the ambient environment. For example, it may be desirable to prevent lubricant within the bearing from escaping too quickly to the ambient environment, thus presenting an unsightly appearance on or around the bearing. Additionally, it is desirable to prevent contaminants in the ambient environment from penetrating into the bearing interior and causing damage to the bearing elements located therein.
The degree of sealing necessary for a particular application will depend upon the duty requirements of such application. For example, a light seal may be suitable for high speed and normal contaminate service. In other applications, it may be necessary to provide a bearing assembly having enhanced sealing characteristics. For economic and other considerations, it is desirable that a single bearing assembly be provided that may be easily adapted from a light sealing to a heavy sealing configuration.

Bearing assembly having compact and efficient seal arrangement