The present invention provides a rapid, high-yielding process for preparing 1,2,3,9-tetrahydro-9-methyl-3-methylene-4H-carbazol-4-one from 1,2,3,9-tetrahydro-9-methyl-4H-carbazol-4-one without using a secondary amine as a catalyst, and without using glacial acetic acid as a solvent. The present invention further provides a rapid, high-yielding process for preparing ondansetron from 1,2,3,9-tetrahydro-9-methyl-3-methylene-4H-carbazol-4-one without using alumina as a catalyst.

Ondansetron (1,2,3,9-tetrahydro-9-methyl-3-[(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)methyl]-4H-carbazol-4-one) and its polymorph (ondansetron hydrochloride dihydrate) are selective inhibitors of the serotonin 5-HT3 receptor type, and are marketed for the treatment of nausea under the tradenames ZOFRAN ODT® and ZOFRAN®, respectively (GlaxoSmithKline, Research Triangle Park, N.C.).
A number of synthetic pathways for ondansetron have been reported, which involve the use of undesirable reactants or require multiple steps and undue length of time. WO 02/055492 A2 (the '492 application) discloses a process of using 1,2,3,9-tetrahydro-9-methyl-4H-carbazol-4-one as an initial substrate to prepare dimethylamino-methyl carbazolone, which is then converted to ondansetron. The '492 application process involves the use of dimethylamine, a chemical weapons precursor, as a reactant, and glacial acetic acid, a corrosive solvent, in a reaction that requires heating for 12 hours. U.S. Pat. No. 4,695,578 (the '578 patent) discloses a process of reacting 1,2,3,9-tetrahydro-9-methyl-4H-carbazol-4-one with a source of formaldehyde and dimethylamine to prepare 3-[(dimethylamino)methyl]-1,2,39-tetrahydro-9-methyl-4H-carbazole-4-one hydrochloride, which is then converted via multiple steps to form ondansetron. Because dimethylamine is a precursor to the nerve agent Tabun, it is a controlled substance in many countries.
Kim et al. (Heterocycles 1997, 45, 2041) disclose a two-step synthesis of ondansetron. In the first step of the synthesis, 1,2,3,9-tetrahydro-9-methyl-4H-carbazol-4-one (compound of formula 1, Scheme 1) is reacted with a source of formaldehyde and morpholine in boiling glacial acetic acid to provide 1,2,3,9-tetrahydro-9-methyl-3-methylene-4H-carbazol-4-one (compound of formula 2, Scheme 1). In the second step of the synthesis, 1,2,3,9-tetrahydro-9-methyl-3-methylene-4H-carbazol-4-one is reacted with 2-methylimidazole in the presence of alumina (Al2O3) to provide ondansetron (See, Scheme 1).

In the first step of the Kim et al. synthesis, an α-methylene group is added to 1,2,3,9-tetrahydro-9-methyl-4H-carbazol-4-one in a Mannich-related reaction. The success of the Mannich-related reaction appears to depend on the structure of the ketone substrate. Kim et al. explicitly state that reactants that are successful in other Mannich-related reactions are unsatisfactory for 1,2,3,9-tetrahydro-9-methyl-4H-carbazol-4-one. For example, formaldehyde/NaOH (used in complex tetralone derivatives; Wagh, A. P. et al., Ind. J. Chem., 1974, 12, 923); trioxane/N-methylanilinium trifluoroacetate in tetrahydrofuran or dioxane (used in cyclic ketones; Gras, J-L, Tetrahedron Lett., 1978, 2111); and formaldehyde/diethylamine (used in thiorphan analogs; Thierry, M. et al., Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett., 1992, 2, 949) are not suitable to add an α-methylene group to 1,2,3,9-tetrahydro-9-methyl-4H-carbazol-4-one.
In the second step of the Kim et al. synthesis, ondansetron is prepared by conjugate (Michael) addition of 2-methyl-imidazole to the exocyclic methylene group of 1,2,3,9-tetrahydro-9-methyl-3-methylene-4H-carbazol-4-one. Pelletier et al. (Tetrahedron Lett. 1980, 21, 809) explicitly state that this type of reaction generally does not occur, or takes place in low yield after a long reaction time in the absence of alumina. U.S. Pat. No. 4,695,578 discloses that when applied to the synthesis of ondansetron, the reaction in the absence of alumina takes place in low yield after a long reaction time (i.e., 43%, 20 hours).
The two-step synthesis of ondansetron disclosed by Kim et al. also suffers several major disadvantages. First, glacial acetic acid is combustible, caustic, corrosive, and extremely destructive to the tissue of mucous membranes and upper respiratory tracts. Second, glacial acetic acid is heated to its boiling point (≧115° C.), a temperature far exceeding its flash point (40° C.). Third, morpholine is flammable, corrosive, and toxic. It is readily absorbed through human skin, and is harmful by inhalation, skin contact, and ingestion. Fourth, the 1,2,3,9-tetrahydro-9-methyl-3-methylene-4H-carbazol-4-one is isolated after the first step by removing the glacial acetic acid and morpholine under vacuum, which is time-consuming and expensive. Fifth, alumina adds to the expense of the process. Sixth, the alumina contaminates the isolated ondansetron, and thus must be removed by extracting the mixture with chloroform, which is a halogenated solvent, and is undesirable commercially.
A need exists for: i) a process for preparing 1,2,3,9-tetrahydro-9-methyl-3-methylene-4H-carbazol-4-one from 1,2,3,9-tetrahydro-9-methyl-4H-carbazol-4-one without employing glacial acetic acid as a solvent or a secondary amine (e.g., dimethylamine or morpholine) as a catalyst; and ii) a process for preparing ondansetron from the 1,2,3,9-tetrahydro-9-methyl-3-methylene-4H-carbazol-4-one without employing alumina as a catalyst.

Process for preparing 1,2,3,9-tetrahydro-9-methyl-3-methylene-4H-carbazol-4-one and ondansetron therefrom


A transition enhancing circuit includes a tapped delay line which provides successively delayed replicas of the signal to be processed. A multiplexer, responsive to a signal transition, sequentially couples delayed signal from the center tap and taps more distant from the input of the delay line to an output terminal to effectively hold the initial value of the transition for approximately half the transition period. The taps at the input end of the delay line up to and including the center tap are then sequentially coupled to the output terminal to effectively advance, in time, the end value of the signal transition. The signal transition is thereby reduced to a time equivalent to the switching interval between taps.

Signal transition enhancement circuitry for use in color television signal processing apparatus is known from, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,777,385 and the article by Hartmut Harlos, "Picture Signal Improvement In Colour TV Receivers", published in the IEEE Transitions on Consumer Electronics, Vol. CE-31, No. 3, August 1985, both of which are incorporated herein by reference. The Harlos article describes an analog processing approach to transition enhancement and U.S. Pat. No. 4,777,385 describes primarily a digital approach to transition enhancement. In both systems, signal transitions having slopes greater than a predetermined value are detected. Responsive to the detected transitions, circuitry is employed to hold the initial amplitude value of the transition for a portion of the duration of the transition and thereafter the final value of the signal transition is coupled to the signal output device. The transition is shortened to the time required to switch between the initial and final values of the transition, which time is typically much shorter than the original transition time. The Harlos system accomplishes this function by incorporating a series switch in the signal path followed by a storage capacitor having one terminal coupled to a point of fixed potential. The series switch is maintained closed until a transition is detected, at which time the switch is opened. The value of the signal at the beginning of the transition is stored on the capacitor and output to further processing circuitry. A predetermined time after the switch is opened it is returned to the closed condition to couple the incoming signal to the capacitor and the further processing circuitry.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,777,385, input signal, represented by, for example, binary samples, is applied to a serial-input-parallel-output shift register. The parallel outputs are coupled to respective inputs of an N-input-to-one-output multiplexer. A modulo N counter is coupled to address the multiplexer. In the absence of transitions the multiplexer is conditioned to pass signal from the center tap of the shift register. Responsive to the detection of a signal transition, the counter is enabled to condition the multiplexer to successively pass signal samples from the center tap and subsequent taps toward the end of the shift register, then to successively pass samples from a tap at the beginning of the shift register and subsequent taps toward the center tap. In this manner transients are compressed to a single sample period.
The drawback of the foregoing transition enhancement systems is that all detected signal transitions are compressed to the same transition time. This feature tends to undesirably distort some signal components rather than enhance them. The present invention is arranged to variably enhance signal transition according to a feature of the particular transition detected.


The present invention provides a method for forming an improved dielectric layer for semiconductor devices such as gate structures and capacitors. The method utilizes a layer of (TaO)1-x(TiO)xN (x defined herein) as a substitute for SiO2, together with one or more additional procedures to minimize or prevent channel leakage and other problems that can minimize the performance of the structure.

High dielectric materials have many uses in semiconductor devices. Mainly, high dielectric materials are used to form dielectric layers of capacitors and gate insulators of transistors.
Conventionally, layers of SiO2, having a dielectric constant of 3.85, have been used to form gate insulators. Recently, however, much effort has been spent looking for new materials that have better characteristics than SiO2 with which to form gate insulators and the like. As a result of such efforts, for example, Ta2O5 has been discovered. Ta2O5 is a metal oxide having a dielectric constant of 25. It is highly rated as a gate insulator and may advantageously substitute for SiO2 because of its improved characteristics.
Unfortunately, however, Ta2O5 contains impurities as well. Ta2O5 layers always contain elements that substitute for Ta. Such elements can cause current leakage, and thus impair the dielectric effect. These impurities can enter the dielectric material through oxygen vacancies. Oxygen vacancies occur due to instabilities in the Ta2O5 layer itself. The amount of the oxygen vacancies depends on the concentration of the respective elements and the coherence between elements. Nevertheless, it is impossible to remove the oxygen vacancies completely. Thus, to prevent current leakage, one must attempt to stabilize the stoichiometry of the Ta2O5 through oxidation processes. Such processes change the oxidation state of the impurities that would otherwise substitute for Ta elements within the Ta2O5 layer. Accordingly, Ta2O5 gate insulator formation processes becomes complicated owing to a low temperature oxidation processes such as plasma annealing and UV-O3 annealing preformed in-situ or ex-situ.
Where tantalum ethylate (Ta(OC2H5)5) is used as a precursor to Ta2O5, current leakage also occurs via the carbon elements inside of the Ta2O5 layer. That is, carbon elements, such as unbounded carbon, CH4 and C2H4 generated during the deposition process of the Ta2O5 layer and left in the Ta2O5 layer deteriorate the quality of the Ta2O5 layer and degrade its dielectric characteristics.
In order to obtain high dielectric Ta2O5 layer, one should crystallize the amorphous Ta2O5 layer using a high temperature oxidation process. During this process, however, a Si—Tax—Ox compound oxide layer is changed into SiO2 having a low dielectric constant. As a result, the Ta2O5 layer loses the merit of metal-based oxide layer having a high dielectric constant.
Alternately, a low temperature oxidation process may be introduced to prevent the Si—Tax—Ox compound from converting to SiO2. Such processes do not crystallize the amorphous Ta2O5 layer, however,making it difficult to obtain a metal based Ta2O5 layer having a high dielectric constant.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Provided are an FGFR4 inhibitor having the structure of formula (I), and a preparation method therefor and the use thereof. The compound has a very strong inhibitory effect on FGFR4 kinase activity and has a very high selectivity, and can be widely used in the preparation of a drug for treating cancers, especially prostate cancer, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, esophageal carcinomas, gastric cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, ovarian carcinomas, colon cancer, skin cancer, glioblastomas or rhabdomyosarcomas, and is expected to be developed into a new generation of FGFR4 inhibitor drugs.

Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) is a family of 22 structurally related polypeptides with diverse biological activities that can regulate cell proliferation, differentiation and migration, and play a major role in the process of limb development, angiogenesis, tissue repair, tumor formation and the like. (Eswarakumar et al., 2005 Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 16: 139-149 Ornitz and Itoh 2001 Genome Bio 12: Reviews 3005).
The receptors for FGF (FGFR) belong to a family of RPTK of receptor tyrosine kinases. Four FGFRs, FGFR1, FGFR2, FGFR3 and FGFR4, have been identified to date (Ullrich and Schlessinger, 1990 Cell 61:203). The interaction between receptors and the corresponding ligands FGF leads to receptor dimerization and autophosphorylation, thereby initiating multiple downstream signaling cascades including MAPK and AKT (Powers et al., 2000 Endocr Relat Cancer 7: 165-197).
FGFR1-3 has been found to be overexpressed, mutated or translocated in a variety of tumors (including myeloma, breast cancer, stomach cancer, colon cancer, bladder cancer, pancreatic cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma), and considered to be driver gene in cancer (Chesi et al., 2001 Blood 97:729-726; Gowardhan et al., 2005 Br J Cancer 92: 320-327; Jaakkola et al., 1993 Int J Cancer 54:378-282; Jang et al., 2001 Cancer Res 61: 3541-3543). Some FGFR inhibitors have also been developed in the clinical and preclinical development process. However, previous studies have shown that FGFR1 can regulate the level of phosphate, so pan-FGFR inhibitors may pose safety concerns.
Hepatocellular carcinoma (CC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in China and is one of the fastest growing cancers every year (Shariff et al., 2009 Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepato 13: 353-367). Currently, the first-line treatment option is sorafenib, there are no approved second-line treatment, and there is still a need for targeted therapy with anti-tumor agents.
Overexpression of FGF19 is present in 5-10% of hepatocellular carcinoma patients, whereas FGFR4 is a dominant FGFR present in human hepatocytes, and its high expression in hepatocytes is found to be associated with the aggressiveness of hepatocellular tumors. Therefore, FGFR4 plays a very important role in liver cancer. In addition, the interaction of FGF19 and FGFR4 is also considered to be related to the aggressiveness of other cancers (such as gastric cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, and ovarian cancer) (Ye et al, 2011 Cancer 5304-5313; Xu et al, 2011 BMC Cancer 11:84; Fawdar et al, 2013 PNAS 110:12426-12431).
At present, some FGFR inhibitors have entered into the clinical research stage as anti-tumor drugs, but mostly inhibitors against FGFR1, 2 and 3, with weaker inhibition of FGFR4 activity. The inhibition of FGFR1-3 has on-target side effects such as hyperphosphatenia. Highly selective inhibitor of FGFR4 can effectively treat cancer caused by abnormal FGFR4 signaling, and can avoid the side effects caused by FGFR1-3 inhibition such as hyperphosphatemia. Highly selective small molecule inhibitors against FGFR4 have significant application prospects in the field of anti-tumor targeted therapy. Therefore, the development of a novel anti-tumor agent that can selectively target FGFR4 as a good drug candidate will meet the needs of domestic liver cancer and other anti-tumor target therapy, and have the advantages of better safety and higher selectivity.

FGFR4 inhibitor, preparation method therefor and pharmaceutical use thereof


The present invention includes methods for preparing resveratrol, resveratrol esters and substituted and unsubstituted stilbenes of the formula given below; where each Y is —O or halogen, each Z is —O or halogen, each n and each m is independently the value of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, each A and each B is independently selected from Pn, R or absent, each V and each W is independently selected from Pn, straight or branched alkyl of from (2) to (6) carbon atoms and cycloalkyl of from (3) to (8) carbon atoms, alkoxy, phenyl, benzyl or halogen, R is independently selected from the group comprising alkyl with at least one carbon atom, aryl and aralkyl, Pn is an alcohol protecting group and diastereoisomers of the foregoing. The compounds are made from a multi-step process including a N-heterocyclic carbene-type ligand coupling in the presence of a base with benzyol halide and styrene coupling partners. These compounds show increased stability for use in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.

The sirtuins are a class of NAD+-dependent protein deacetylase enzymes that regulate a wide variety of cellular activities that promote cell survival and extend lifespan in response to environmental stress. Sirtuins exert their effect by removing acetyl groups from certain target proteins in the presence of oxidized nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+). For example, the yeast sirtuin enzyme Sir2 (silent information regulator 2), originally identified for its role in silencing transcription of DNA, has also been shown to promote cell survival in response to caloric restriction. Similarly, in C. elegans, the sirtuin enzyme SIR-2.1 has been shown to extend lifespan. In mammalian cells, the sirtuin enzyme SIRT1 (a homolog of the yeast Sir2 and C. elegans SIR-2.1 enzymes) deacetylates the tumor suppressor p53 to promote cell survival. Sirtuins therefore appear to be activated as part of a beneficial cellular response to stress, resulting in cell survival and extended lifespan. Activators of sirtuins may therefore be beneficial in effecting fundamental cellular processes that protect cells from stress and prevent or treat age-related diseases, and lengthen healthy life.
Resveratrol (3,5,4′-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene) is a polyphenol compound, known to be the most potent activator of sirtuins. As a stilbene phytoalexin, resveratrol continues to receive increasing attention for its role in mitigation of numerous and diverse human pathological processes including inflammation, atherosclerosis, and carcinogenesis. Resveratrol is known for its activity as an antioxidant, cyclooxygenase inhibitor, lipid modifier, platelet aggregation inhibitor and vasodilator, inhibitor of tumor initiation, promotion and progression, neuroprotector, and antiviral compound.
Resveratrol is an especially abundant component of red wines produced from grapes grown in cooler climates where plants are under stress from heavy disease pressure. Indeed, the consumption of red wine containing resveratrol is believed to be responsible for the surprisingly normal lifespan of the French, despite their heavy consumption of fatty foods that cause heart disease, a phenomenon referred to as the "French Paradox." Resveratrol, however, is not an optimal sirtuin activator. Its practical use is also limited due to difficult isolation and stereo-selectively of extracts obtained from plant sources. More significantly, resveratrol is highly unstable due to its potential for oxidation, resulting in the formation of unstable radicals and quinones, and requiring that the final isolation of the product be carried out from impure mixtures containing multiple components.
Conventional methods of synthesizing resveratrol and resveratrol derivatives are expensive, inefficient, and do not provide for selective hydroxyl substitution. Many synthetic routes rely on Wittig and Horner-Emmons couplings that give mixtures of olefin isomers while still requiring 7-8 procedural steps. In addition, several conventional synthetic methods use methyl or benzyl ether protecting groups that require the use of boron tribromide or other inconvenient reagents for removal of those protecting groups.
In order to address the above problems, the present invention provides a novel and efficient route to synthetic resveratrol and novel derivative compounds of resveratrol having significantly improved activity and stability. Furthermore, the present invention provides a novel and efficient route to synthetic stilbene compounds.

Sirtuin activating compounds and methods for making the same


An image forming apparatus includes a static electricity eliminator to remove residual charge from a printing medium. A selector is provided to connect the static electricity eliminator to ground through a selected resistance, and a controller is provided to control the selector depending on printing medium characteristics. The resistance in the ground path connected to the static electricity eliminator is changed according to printing medium characteristics such that elimination of residual charge is effective over a range of printing media having different printing medium characteristics.

1. Field of the Invention
The present general inventive concept relates to an image forming apparatus and a method thereof. More particularly, the present general inventive concept relates to an image forming apparatus and concomitant method in which different path resistances are selected according to printing media so that residual charge is properly eliminated from a printing medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various types of image forming apparatuses are available, and are mainly categorized by printing method as a dot printer, an inkjet printer, and a laser printer. Laser printers are generally considered to be superior to dot printers and inkjet printers due to their faster printing speed and better printing quality. Therefore, image forming apparatuses applying a laser printing method are widely used.
An image forming apparatus using the laser printing method generally operates through the operations of primary charge, exposure, development, transferring, and fusing. In the primary charge operation, a negative charge is applied to a surface of an organic photo conductive unit (OPC). The charge on the OPC may be locally altered by an application of light, and, in the exposure operation, a latent image is written to the OPC, which may define a surface of a drum, via a laser beam from a laser scanning unit (LSU). In the development operation, a charged toner is affixed to the latent image to develop a visual image. In the transferring operation, the toner image is transferred to a printing medium, and, in the fusing operation, the toner image is bonded to the printing medium by heat and pressure. The printing operation is then complete.
In the transferring operation, a printing medium retains charge from a transfer voltage and passes through a nip between a transfer-charging roller and an OPC, and a gap is generated between the OPC and the printing medium. The toner jumps the gap through a potential difference between the OPC and the printing medium. If a subsequent transfer operation is to be performed on the same printing medium, excessive charge thereon may, along with other problems occurring from excessive static charge accumulating between charged surfaces, prevent the proper transfer of toner in the subsequent image transfer process such that a color image of low toner density results.
A static electricity eliminator is used to prevent the foregoing problems. The static electricity eliminator removes the residual charge from the printing medium. Generally, if an image is printed in low moisture conditions, on a printing medium of high resistance composition, or on both sides of a printing medium, the printing medium presents a high resistance between the transfer-charging roller and the OPC. As a result, charge on the transfer-charging roller applied to attract toner to the latent image may be leaked as a current to the static electricity eliminator through a transfer belt.
An image forming apparatus having a resistor between a static electricity eliminator and a ground has been suggested to alleviate the transfer current leakage problems. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an interior of such an image forming apparatus to perform static electricity elimination.
Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional image forming apparatus comprises an organic photo conductive unit (OPC) 10, a transfer roller 20, a static electricity eliminator 30, a resistor 40, a driving roller 50, and a transfer belt 60. The image forming apparatus charges the transfer-charging roller 20 when a printing medium is transferred thereto on the transfer belt 60 as driven by a driving roller 50. A current flowing to the transfer-charging roller 20 charges the printing medium to attract toner on the OPC 10. However, when the printing medium presents a high resistance in the charge transfer path, the current that would normally flow to charge the printing is diverted across the transfer belt to the static electricity eliminator 30. If the static electricity eliminator 30 is grounded through the resistor 40, the path of least resistance will be into the printing medium. By way of the resistor 40, the image forming apparatus prevents current from leaking through the transfer belt 50.
Accordingly, better static electricity elimination is provided since charge carried over the transfer belt 50 is prevented from interfering with the operation of the static electricity eliminator 30, particularly when images are printed on the printing media having high resistance, or on the both sides of a printing medium. However, resistance between the static electricity eliminator and ground hinders current from flowing, and when images are printed on general purpose paper or on a single side of a printing medium, the added resistance to ground is not needed to prevent the leakage current across the transfer belt 60. Consequently, the conventional image forming apparatus has a problem that residual charge is not completely eliminated in low resistance printing medium situations.
As explained above, the operation of a static electricity eliminator and printing quality are influenced by the resistance and condition of the printing medium. Additionally, limited operations are provided to a user, because of limited compatibly of certain printing operations and image forming apparatuses with certain paper types.

Image forming apparatus and method thereof


A portable collapsible backboard and goal assembly for a pickup truck. The assembly has a base mounted in the bed or back of the pickup truck, a rotatable first support member attached to the base, a rotatable second support member attached to the first support member, and a rotatable backboard and goal attached to the second support member. The two support members and backboard and goal are all rotatable relative to the base and can be collapsed into a flat, compact package in the pickup truck for storage and/or transport. A first bracing member is used to hold the first and second support members in their upright, assembled positions. A second bracing member is used to hold the backboard and goal at the desired position for use.

The present invention generally relates to an improved portable, collapsible basketball backboard and goal assembly which can be elevated to various heights including regulation playing height, and alternately lowered to a storage position. In one embodiment, the invention is concerned with a basketball backboard and goal assembly which is especially adapted for mounting in the back of a pickup truck or the like for easy transportation to and from any playing surface and for compact storage in the bed of the truck when not in use.
Conventional basketball backboards are typically mounted on a fixed pole or other fixed object. These conventional basketball backboards are mounted securely in concrete or other means which prevent the movement of the basketball backboard from its originally mounted location. These permanently installed backboards are considered inappropriate for use at some locations, or are inconsistent with other uses required of some locations.
Portable basketball backboards have been previously available. Such backboards are typically mounted on wheeled frames or other devices, such that the backboard can be moved from one place to another. Although such portable backboards can indeed be moved from one location to another, they are generally large and unwieldy, and are not easily stored or transported more than short distances without considerable difficulty. Furthermore, some prior assemblies do not provide an adequate distance between the backboard and the support, possibly causing injuries.
Another significant problem with the prior basketball backboard and goal assemblies is that they do not provide for adjustments to account for an uneven playing surface, while maintaining the basketball backboard and goal assembly at the appropriate height. Furthermore, prior basketball backboard and goal assemblies do not have the ability to adjust the angle of the backboard and goal to offset a slanted or uneven playing surface.
Accordingly, the object and purpose of the present invention is to provide a portable and collapsible basketball backboard and goal assembly which is mounted in the back of a pickup truck or the like so it can be transported and erected at any location, can be adjusted to any height as well as being able to be adjusted to meet the demands of the playing surface, provides for an adequate distance between the backboard and the backboard support and which can be compactly folded for ease of both transportation and storage in the rear of the pickup truck.


There is provided a spot welding apparatus. The spot welding apparatus includes a fixed electrode and a movable electrode that clamp and press a workpiece formed of stacked plates of different rigidities, and a control pressing force applicator that causes a control pressing force applying actuator to bring a receiving unit provided at a distal end of a control pressing force applying arm into contact with the workpiece so as to apply a control pressing force to the workpiece. The control pressing force applying arm is made of a non-magnetic material.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a spot welding apparatus that spot-welds a workpiece in the form of a plate assembly including stacked plates of different rigidities.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a spot welding technique is widely used for joining stacked plates, such as steel plates. The spot welding technique involves using a pair of welding electrodes to clamp and apply a pressing force to the stacked plates, and applying current between the welding electrodes for a predetermined time period.
Referring to FIG. 6A, when spot-welding a workpiece 100 in the form of a plate assembly including three stacked plates, i.e., a thin plate 101 having a lower rigidity, and a first thick plate 102 and a second thick plate 103 having a higher rigidity than the thin plate 101, a movable electrode 111 and a fixed electrode 112 clamp the workpiece 100 therebetween such that the thin plate 101 is in tight contact with the first thick plate 102, and that the first thick plate 102 is in tight contact with the second thick plate 103. Then, when a power source 113 applies current to the workpiece 100 via the movable electrode 111 and the fixed electrode 112, the current density in an electric path between the movable electrode 111 and the fixed electrode 112 becomes substantially uniform. Thus, a good nugget is formed that extends from the thin plate 101 to the second thick plate 103, thereby achieving the required weld strength.
In actuality, however, when the workpiece 100 is clamped and pressed between the movable electrode 111 and the fixed electrode 112, the thin plate 101 having a lower rigidity and the first thick plate 102 bend upward, causing gaps to form between the thin plate 101 and the first thick plate 102 as well as between the first thick plate 102 and the second thick plate 103.
In this case, the contact area between the movable electrode 111 and the thin plate 101 is increased due to the bending of the thin plate 101, whereas the contact area of the joint section between the thin plate 101 and the first thick plate 102 and the contact area of the joint section between the first thick plate 102 and the second thick plate 103 are reduced due to the gaps. Therefore, the current density between the movable electrode 111 and the fixed electrode 112 at the second thick plate 103 side becomes higher than that at the thin plate 101 side. This results in a greater local calorific value between the first thick plate 102 and the second thick plate 103 than between the thin plate 101 and the first thick plate 102.
As a result, as shown in FIG. 6A, a nugget 105 is first formed at the joint section between the first thick plate 102 and the second thick plate 103. Then, as shown in FIG. 6B, the nugget 105 gradually grows so that the thin plate 101 and the first thick plate 102 are ultimately welded to each other. However, because the amount of weld penetration between the thin plate 101 and the first thick plate 102 is small, the weld strength is poor. Thus, the thin plate 101 may be separated from the first thick plate 102, and the welding quality varies. This problem becomes prominent particularly when the thickness of the first thick plate 102 and the thickness of the second thick plate 103 are increased since the increased thicknesses make it difficult for the nugget 105 to reach the joint section between the first thick plate 102 and the thin plate 101.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-251469 discloses an example of a spot welding method as a countermeasure against this problem. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, when spot-welding the workpiece 100 formed or three stacked plates, i.e., the thin plate 101, the first thick plate 102, and the second thick plate 103, a pressing force FU of a movable electrode 125 at the thin plate 101 side is set to be lower than a pressing force FL of a fixed electrode 124 at the second thick plate 103 side. Thus, the contact resistance between the thin plate 101 and the first thick plate 102 is increased, whereas the contact resistance between the first thick plate 102 and the second thick plate 103 is reduced. Accordingly, when current is applied between the movable electrode 125 and the fixed electrode 124, the calorific value at the joint section between the thin plate 101 and the first thick plate 102 is increased, thereby increasing the weld strength between the thin plate 101 and the first thick plate 102.
FIG. 8 illustrates the configuration of a spot welding apparatus used for implementing this method. Specifically, a spot welding apparatus 120 is attached to a wrist 116 of a welding robot 115. The welding robot 115 moves the spot welding apparatus 120 to each spot welding position of the workpiece 100 supported by a clamper 118 and spot-welds the workpiece 100.
The spot welding apparatus 120 includes a base 122 that is vertically movably supported by a linear guide 121. The linear guide 121 is fixed to a support bracket 117 attached to the wrist 116. A fixed arm 123 extending downward is provided on the base 122. The fixed electrode 124 is provided at a distal end of the fixed arm 123.
A pressure actuator 126 is attached to an upper end of the base 122 and is configured to move a rod 127 vertically. The movable electrode 125 is attached to a lower end of the rod 127 so as to face the fixed electrode 124. A servomotor 128 is attached to an upper end of the support bracket 117. The servomotor 128 is configured to move the base 122 vertically by means of a ball screw mechanism.
Based on teaching data stored in advance in a controller (not shown), the pressing force FU of the movable electrode 125 located at the thin plate 101 side is set to be lower than the pressing force FL of the fixed electrode 124 (FU<FL).
In order to set the pressing force FU of the movable electrode 125 to be lower than the pressing force FL of the fixed electrode 124 (FU<FL) in this manner, the controller first causes the servomotor 128 to move the base 122 upward so as to bring the fixed electrode 124 into contact with a lower surface of the workpiece 100, and causes the pressure actuator 126 to move the movable electrode 125 downward so as to bring the movable electrode 125 into contact with an upper surface of the workpiece 100. In this case, the pressing force of the pressure actuator 126 is uniformly applied to the movable electrode 125 and the fixed electrode 124 via the base 122 and the fixed arm 123.
Subsequently, the base 122 is moved upward by the servomotor 128. When the base 122 is moved upward, the pressing force FL of the fixed electrode 124 increases by an amount corresponding to the distance of the upward movement of the base 122, whereby the pressing force FU of the movable electrode 125 becomes lower than the pressing force FL of the fixed electrode 124 (FU<FL).
As a result, when current is applied between the movable electrode 125 and the fixed electrode 124, the current density at the joint section between the thin plate 101 and the first thick plate 102 becomes high, causing the calorific value to become relatively higher than the calorific value at the joint section between the first thick date 102 and the second thick plate 103. Consequently, a good uniform nugget is formed that extends from the thin plate 101 to the second thick plate 103, thereby ensuring a high weld strength.
In the above Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-251469, the fixed electrode 124 is brought into contact with the second thick plate 103 of the workpiece 100 clamped by the clamper 118, and the movable electrode 125 is brought into contact with the thin plate 101. Further, the pressing force FU of the movable electrode 125 is set to be lower than the pressing force FL of the fixed electrode 124 by moving the base 122 upward. Then, the current density between the thin plate 101 and the first thick plate 102 becomes relatively higher. Thus, a sufficient calorific value can be obtained at the joint section between the thin plate 101 and the first thick plate 102, thereby achieving an increased amount of weld penetration and increased weld strength.
However, when setting the pressing force FU of the movable electrode 125 to be lower than the pressing force FL of the fixed electrode 124 by moving the base 122 while the workpiece 100 is clamped by the clamper 118 and is held and pressed between the fixed electrode 124 and the movable electrode 125, a large load is placed on the clamper 118 clamping the workpiece 100. On the other hand, if the clamped position of the workpiece 100 clamped by the clamper 118 and the welding position of the workpiece 100 are markedly distant from each other, the workpiece 100 deforms and bends. This causes the pressing force FL of the fixed electrode 124 and the pressing force FU of the movable electrode 125 to vary, making it difficult to obtain stable contact resistance between the thin plate 101 and the first thick plate 102 and stable contact resistance between the first thick plate 102 and the second thick plate 103. This may result in variations in the current density at the joint sections, leading to reduced spot welding quality.


A method for fabricating a tool used in cutting, grinding and machining operations, is provided. The method is used to deposit a mixture comprising an abrasive material and a bonding material on a tool surface. The materials are propelled toward the receiving surface of the tool substrate using a thermal spray process. The thermal spray process melts the bonding material portion of the mixture, but not the abrasive material. Upon impacting the tool surface, the mixture or composition solidifies to form a hard abrasive tool coating.

Tools used for grinding, cutting and machining, are often manufactured with abrasive surface coatings. Manufacturers of such tools are constantly looking for ways to improve the functionality and performance of such tools. There is a broad spectrum of tools used for such purposes, such as drill bits, saws, knives and grinding wheels. Also, large-area and complex-shaped tools are used for a variety of functions such as tunneling, oil well drilling and bulldozing. In addition to improving tool performance, manufacturers are continually striving for improved methods of fabricating such tools. In particular, there is a common need in the industry to find improved methods of fabricating abrasive surface coatings for tools.
Numerous methods have been devised to form abrasive surface coatings on tools. Generally, rigid abrasive tools are manufactured by applying abrasive particles, mixed with a bonding agent, to the working surface of the tool. The "working surface," as used herein, is the tool surface which performs the cutting, grinding, or machining. For some applications, the abrasive/bonding composite material is formed and solidified prior to attachment to the working surface of the tool by an adhesive backing. For other applications, the composite material is formed and then applied, as a slurry, to the working surface of the tool, where the slurry subsequently solidifies and cures. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,551,959 to Martin et al. describes a high-performance abrasive coating which is manufactured by incorporating variations of these general methods. These methods are expensive and labor intensive. In addition, they are not amenable to coating large-area and complex-shaped tool surfaces.
Still other methods have been developed which make it more feasible to deposit abrasive coatings to complex shaped surfaces, by depositing the abrasive coating as a chemical vapor using either physical vapor deposition (PVD) or chemical vapor deposition (CVD). For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,588,975 to Hammond et al. describes a method for manufacturing a grinding tool in which the abrasive coating of the working surface of the tool is applied as a plasma. However, these methods have inherent limitations, such as the use of vacuum equipment, which limits the abrasive coating applications to small tool substrates. In addition, such methods are expensive and not amenable to an automated production environment.
For the foregoing reasons, it would be desirable to have an efficient and inexpensive method for depositing high-performance abrasive coatings on tools, including those having large surface areas and/or complex surface shapes. The method should provide a means for applying a variety of abrasive coating compositions to different types of tools, without producing byproducts which are harmful to the environment. Furthermore, the method should be flexible enough to be used in an efficient automated assembly environment.

Method for forming an abrasive surface on a tool


A graphic visualization layer in an interactive development environment is displayed and used to create an application on a node of a computer network. The graphic visualization layer includes graphical shapes manipulated by a user to generate program language code for lifecycle stages of the application. The graphical shapes include an application graphical shape representing the application, a resource graphical shape representing a resource for the application, an action graphical shape representing an action for the application and a task graphical shape representing a task of the action. A selection of the application graphical shape is received. An application value for the application is received in an entry field of the application graphical shape. Program language code is generated based on the selection of the application graphical shape and the application value. The program language code is executable to install the application on a node of the computer network.

Cloud computing allows applications to be executed on various computers or nodes of a computing network. Computer programmers write programs to build applications for nodes in a cloud network. Existing cloud platforms focus on machines and servers. Building an application for a cloud network requires a specific application configuration for a node, including the location and resources of the node. Application creation in this environment is not easily separated from the configuration and maintenance details. Having to program for specific application configurations adds an extra layer of complexity for the user and limits the ability to install and execute applications in a dynamic cloud environment.

Systems, methods and computer program products for a cloud application editor


The present invention provides a carbon membrane for fluid separation that can suppress the breakage of a carbon membrane installed in a separation module during a vacuum desorption step before permeation of a fluid or during permeation of a fluid. The present invention provides a carbon membrane for fluid separation including a porous carbon support and a dense carbon layer provided on the porous carbon support, wherein the porous carbon support has an Rs value of 1.0 or less, where the Rs value is an R value (peak intensity of D-band (1360 cm−1)/peak intensity of G-band (1580 cm−1)) calculated from a Raman spectrum.

A membrane separation method is used as a technique for selectively separating a specific component from various mixed gases and mixed liquids for purification. The membrane separation method is attracting attention because this method is energy-saving as compared with other fluid separation methods. As for types of separation membranes, organic polymer membranes such as polyimide membranes and cellulose acetate membranes, and inorganic membranes such as zeolite membranes, silica membranes, and carbon membranes have been proposed.
Among them, carbon membranes exhibit excellent gas separation performance and pervaporation separation performance, and are usable even in environments where heat resistance and chemical resistance are required. Therefore, carbon membranes are expected to be put to practical use. As an example of the carbon membrane, there has been proposed a ceramic support type carbon membrane, which is obtained by laminating, on a surface of a ceramic porous support having a tube shape or a lotus root shape combining tubes and having a monolithic structure, a resin for a carbon membrane precursor such as a phenol resin or a polyimide, and carbonizing the resulting laminate in a non-oxidizing atmosphere. For example, it is disclosed that in a carbon membrane containing a phenol resin as a precursor, an R value calculated from a Raman spectrum within a specific range leads to an excellent water/ethanol separation factor (Patent Document 1).
There has also been proposed a carbon support type carbon membrane that is obtained by forming a tubular porous carbon support containing a phenol resin powder as a precursor, laminating a resin such as a phenol resin on a surface of the support, and then carbonizing the resulting laminate in a non-oxidizing atmosphere (Patent Document 2).
Meanwhile, a hollow fiber carbon membrane having a fiber diameter less than 1 mm may possibly be manufactured by a continuous process, and is expected to be manufactured at a lower cost than for the ceramic support type carbon membrane. As an example of the hollow fiber carbon membrane, there has been proposed a carbon membrane including a laminate of two membranes having different affinity with components to be passed through the membrane (Patent Document 3).
In general, hollow fiber carbon membranes are highly brittle, and it has been pointed out that hollow fiber carbon membranes may be broken due to vibration during manufacture or transportation of a separation module, or a sudden change of pressure or temperature during use. In order to suppress the breakage of the hollow fiber carbon membranes, studies have been made on improving the flexibility and elongation at break of the carbon membranes (Patent Document 4).

Carbon membrane for fluid separation and method for manufacturing the same


A symbol boundary detection device and a method thereof for use in a receiver of a multi-channel communication system. The device utilizes a threshold to make an auxiliary judgement so as to select a proper symbol boundary reference point within an early range. The threshold may be flexibly set in response to different characteristics of the systems. In addition, a pilot symbol guard interval matched filter is further utilized to determine whether a pilot symbol guard interval is received.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates in general to an OFDM (orthogonal frequency division multiplexing) communication system, and more particularly to symbol boundary detection device and method for use in an OFDM system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, a multi-carrier (or multi-channel, multi-tone) communication technology has been widely used in data transmission, such as the OFDM (orthogonal frequency division multiplexing) technology for use in the IEEE 802.11a/g WLAN (wireless local area network). FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a typical OFDM system. The OFDM system 100 respectively puts the to-be-transmitted data into N sub-channels in the frequency domain through a signal mapping device 101 in a transmitter. Then, an inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) device 102 transforms the to-be-transmitted data into a time-domain signal, to which a guard interval (GI) is added. Next, the time-domain signal with the guard interval passes through a parallel-to-serial converter (P/S) 104 and a DAC (digital-to-analog converter) 105, and is then transmitted in the channel 106. An ADC (analog-to-digital converter) 107 of the receiver samples the signal and removes the GI therefrom. Then, the signal passes through the serial-to-parallel converter (S/P) 110 and is fed to the fast Fourier transform (FFT) device 111, which transforms the signal back to the frequency domain signal. Then, channel compensations are respectively performed in the sub-channels, and finally a signal demapping device 113 demaps to signal into the originally transmitted data.
An output value of a set of N-point IFFT is referred to as a symbol. Because the channel impulse response (CIR) is not ideal in practical, a symbol passing through the channel 106 influences the subsequent symbol receiving operation in the receiver, thereby causing inter-symbol interference (ISI). In order to avoid this problem, a guard interval (GI) is added between the symbols. In general, the GI is added in a cyclic prefix (CP) manner. That is, the post-stage signal of the output symbol is duplicated to the front stage to serve as the GI. Consequently, it is possible to prevent the ISI from occurring and the N sub-channels from interfering with one another or each other when the CIR length does not exceed the GI. The part of signal processing is accomplished by adding a guard interval circuit 103 and removing a guard interval circuit 109 in FIG. 1.
However, the receiver has to determine the correct start position (i.e., the symbol boundary) of the time domain sampling signal inputted to the FFT device 111, that is, the proper time to perform FFT on the receiving sampling signal, before the GI is removed so as to avoid the ISI effectively. Thus, it is an important subject to perform a proper symbol boundary detection.
In the OFDM system 100, a known short preamble with the time domain periodicity for the synchronous processing of the time domain is firstly transferred in the packet or code frame. Then, known pilot symbols (or referred to as a long preamble) with the frequency domain signal for the channel estimation in the frequency domain are transferred so that channel compensation in the frequency domain is performed in the subsequent data symbols. A guard interval (referred to as GI2) is added before the long preamble time-domain signal, and the guard interval (referred to as GI) is also added before each data symbol in order to avoid the ISI. FIG. 2 shows the code frame architecture of a typical OFDM signal. As shown in FIG. 2, the short preamble is typically composed of some time-domain cyclic symbols with the auto-correlation property, and the long preamble symbols and subsequent data symbols are respectively added thereafter.
In the conventional boundary symbol detecting method, the receiver usually determines the proper start points of the long preamble symbols and the subsequent data symbols in order to remove the GI and to serve as the start basis for the subsequent input FFT according to the cyclic and auto-correlation properties of the short preamble. This method may be typically viewed as two parts.
First, the sampling signal of the received code frame is sent to the sliding delay correlator, and its output result is observed. The operation method of this sliding delay correlator is as follows:
                              c          k                =                              ∑                          n              =              0                                      N              -              1                                                                    r                              k                -                n                                      ·                                          r                                  k                  -                  n                  -                  N                                *                            .                                                          (                  1          -          1                )
This operation correlates the sampling interval of the N points with the sampling interval of the previous N points, wherein the sampling interval of N points is sliding updated when the new sampling points are received. In Equation (1-1), rk denotes the k-th sampling value of the received code frame, N denotes the sampling number within one period of the short preamble, and ck is the k-th output value of the sliding delay correlator. According to the operation property of the sliding delay correlator, when the received signal is the cyclic signal, the absolute value of its output reaches a maximum. Accordingly, the absolute value of the output of the sliding delay correlator reaches the maximum when the short preamble is received, and reaches a relatively smaller value at other time. Thus, whether or not the short preamble has been received may be detected by comparing the absolute output value to a threshold. When the absolute output value ascends, from the relatively smaller value, to a value greater than this threshold, it means that the code frame has been detected (i.e., the receiving of the short preamble is started). Then, when the absolute output value descends to a value smaller than this threshold, it means that the guard interval of the long preamble symbols has been detected (i.e., the receiving of the short preamble is ended). FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of this mechanism.
Secondly, the sampling signal of the received code frame is transferred to a short preamble matched filter. The matched filter performs a plurality of linearly auto-regressive operations with respect to the sampling signal using the known short preamble as the coefficients. The operation method thereof is as follows:
                                          z            k                    =                                    ∑                              n                =                0                                            N                -                1                                                                                r                                  k                  -                  n                                            ·                              p                n                *                                                    ,                            (                  1          -          2                )            wherein rk is the value of the k-th sampling points of the received code frame, pn is the known short preamble, N is the sampling number within one period of the short preamble, and zk is the k-th output result of the matched filter. Because the short preamble typically has some auto-correlation property, the output of the matched filter presents the estimated result of the time domain channel impulse response (CIR). In addition, because of the periodicity of the short preamble itself, if the output result of the matched filter is observed using a window having the length of N points, the estimated value of the CIR also presents in the window periodically. FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of this mechanism.
In the conventional method, there are two drawbacks. First, when determining the symbol boundary reference point, the maximum peak value in the observed window is detected, and then an early range is set forward according to this maximum peak value in order to cover the pre-cursor response of the CIR. Herein, the early range correlates with the boundary of the observed window. It is assumed that the start point of the early range is x sampling points in front of the maximum peak value, and the maximum peak value is distant from the start boundary of the window by y sampling points. If x<=y, then the start point of the early range is (y-x) point after the start boundary of the window, wherein the early range is from the start point, i.e. the (y-x)th point of the window, to the maximum peak value, i.e. the yth point of the window, as shown in FIG. 5A. If x>y, then the start point of the early range is (x-y) points before the end boundary of the window, wherein the early range ranges from the start point to the end boundary of the window as well as from the start boundary of the window to the maximum peak value, as shown in FIG. 5B. In the early range, the receiver further selects a position away from the maximum peak value by the fixed number of sampling points to serve as the symbol boundary reference point. This fixed method, however, lacks of flexibility, and misjudgment of the reference point will be made when the pre-cursor response is longer or has many relatively high peak values, thereby influencing the efficiency of the receiver.
Secondly, in the channel environment of the larger delay spread, the appearance of the guard interval of the long preamble symbols is often incorrectly estimated owing to the delay, and thus the timing for the long preamble symbols and the subsequent data symbols to enter the FFT device 111 is determined incorrectly.

Symbol boundary detection device and method for use in OFDM system


Systems and methods presented herein provide for improved duplex communications in an RF cable network comprising a plurality of CMs. In one embodiment, a system includes a CMTS operable to transmit downstream communications to the CMs and to process upstream communications from the CMs. The system also includes a duplex RF communication path between the CMTS and the CMs. The CMTS is further operable to transmit a control signal that directs a first of the CMs to transmit, to direct the remaining CMs to receive the transmission from the first CM, to direct the CMs to report received power levels of the transmission from the first CM, and to calculate RF isolations of the remaining CMs with respect to the first CM based on the reported power levels.

A duplex communication system is a point-to-point system composed of two connected parties or devices that can communicate with one another in both directions. Generally, a duplex system has two clearly defined data transmission channels, with each channel carrying information in one direction. In a full duplex system, both parties/devices can communicate with each other simultaneously using the same physical spectrum channels.
In a (Radio Frequency) RF cable network, full duplex communications can be more difficult to achieve due to the number of "downstream" devices and the network configuration. For example, a Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) is typically coupled to a plurality of downstream Cable Modems (CMs). Each of the CMs can transmit "upstream" along the same path to the CMTS while the CMTS transmits its downstream communications to the CMs. The CMs and the CMTS generally use different spectral bands. The CMs can also transmit at specific coordinated times. However, because many CMs are transmitting to the CMTS, they tend to interfere with one another as well as with the CMTS if they are not separated in time and spectrum bands, as required in Frequency Division Duplex (FDD), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), and Time Division Duplex methods currently practiced.

Hybrid full duplex communications in a radio frequency cable network


Computer-readable media, methods and network information computer systems are provided for obtaining network topology information about a relationship between a configuration item and a network of configuration items based upon a property of the selected configuration item, and displaying the network topology information as a topological map.

Topology information for a network of configuration items often is stored in a configuration management database ("CMDB"). This information may be accessible using a query language such as the Structured Query Language ("SQL") or the Topological Query Language ("TQL"). Applications exist for creating and running database queries graphically. However, without intricate knowledge of query languages such as SQL or TQL, novice and even intermediate users have great difficulty using these applications to create or execute complex database queries. Moreover, existing solutions provide for the input of general criteria of configuration items and return configuration items that meet those general criteria. Existing applications do not provide for the input of a particular configuration item or return topology information about that particular configuration item's relationship to the network.

Obtaining and displaying network topology information

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP


The purpose is to suppress ripple of voltage between terminals of smoothing condenser. Electric motor control apparatus is electric motor control apparatus that controls electric motor system having electrical power converter, smoothing condenser and three-phase AC electric motor, and has generating device that generates modulation signal by adding third harmonic signal to phase voltage command signal; controlling device that controls operation of electrical power converter by using modulation signal; and adjusting device that adjusts amplitude of third harmonic signal, adjusting device adjusts amplitude of third harmonic signal so that peak value of voltage between terminals of smoothing condenser in the case where amplitude of third harmonic signal is adjusted is smaller than peak value of voltage between terminals in the case where amplitude of third harmonic signal is not adjusted.

A PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) control is one example of a control method for driving a three-phase AC electric motor. The PWM control controls an electrical power converter which converts DC (Direct Current) voltage (DC electrical power) to AC voltage (AC electrical power) on the basis of a magnitude relation between phase voltage command signal, which is set from a point of view of making phase current which is supplied to the three-phase AC electric motor to coincide with a desired value, and a carrier signal having predetermined frequency. Incidentally, the PWM control may be used to control an electrical power converter which converts the AC voltage to the DC voltage (see a Patent Literature 1).
By the way, a smoothing condenser for suppressing variation of the AC voltage that is inputted to the electrical power converter or that is outputted from the electrical power converter is often connected electrically in parallel to the electrical power converter. Recently, the smoothing condenser is often downsized by reducing capacity of the smoothing condenser. However, if the capacity of the smoothing condenser is reduced, there is a possibility that ripple (what we call, a pulsation component) of voltage between terminals of the smoothing condenser becomes relatively large. Thus, the Patent Literature 1 discloses a technology that uses third harmonic signal for suppressing (reducing) this ripple of the voltage between the terminals of the smoothing condenser. Specifically, the Patent Literature 1 discloses the technology that controls a switching element of the electrical power converter so that current waveform of input current from an AC electrical power source coincides with combined wave of the third harmonic and sine wave whose frequency is same as that of the AC electrical power.


A mold assembly for blow molding plastic articles is provided having an upper mold member, a lower mold member and a lower support member. The lower mold member is preferably a relatively lightweight plate having a generally centrally located molding cavity matingly matched with an upper molding cavity in the upper mold member. The lower mold member is moved horizontally and optionally vertically beneath an extrusion head as a molten parison is extruded. The lower mold member is then transported to, and positioned within, the lower support member. The upper mold member is then closed over the lower mold member and lower support to close the mold assembly. The molten parison is then expanded in the mold cavity. After the molding operation, the plastic part may be removed and the lower mold member may be cooled by immersion in a cooling fluid. The apparatus to move the lower mold member during extrusion of the parison and to the molding station may be a robotic arm. The lower mold member is relatively lightweight so that it may be efficiently moved by the robot arm while the necessary structural support is provided by the lower support member.

It is well-known that blow molding is effective in fabricating hollow plastic articles. Many components such as plastic parts used in the automotive industry include portions which extend substantially in length, width and height. Examples of such components include tubular conduits such as air conditioning ducts, hoses and the like, which may have portions which are at angle to one another but which each have substantial length and width. These articles are referred to in this specification as multi-axial articles. Typically, when molding articles in a blow molding process, a parison is extended and the parison is accommodated in a suitable groove in one half of a blow mold, the more complex the shape of the article, the more complex will be the shape of the mold and the groove in the mold. For very simple articles, a parison may be extruded directly into a groove under the effect of gravity alone. With more complex shapes other steps are usually required to properly locate the parison before blowing occurs. Often instead of using molds which close horizontally, the mold halves are arranged to close in the vertical direction with the parison being placed into the groove of the lower mold.
The prior art offers several solutions for placing a molten parison in such molds. For example, one solution involves introducing means for horizontally (i.e. in an x-y plane) moving the lower mold half beneath the parison extrusion head in such a manner that the parison is dropped within the mold cavity. Molds used in blow molding are typically are quite heavy, however, and hence this solution requires significant effort to effectively and accurately move the lower mold half.
In some prior art devices, the extrusion head is moved horizontally in an x-y plane so that as the parison is extruded it drops into the groove in a lower mold half. Extrusion equipment used in typical blow molding is also large and heavy to support the extrusion temperatures and pressures involved and it is costly and cumbersome to move the extrusion head even in a horizontal plane.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,030,083 to Kohno teaches the use of a robotic hand to grasp and transport an extruded parison to a remote lower mold half, and place it therein. Where a sizeable parison is required, however, the swinging action of the parison induced by its movement by the robot hand can make the path the hand must follow to properly load the parison in the mold quite complex. Another significant problem is the weight and strength of the molten parison. The parison may break under its own weight during transport from the extrusion head to the mold.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,464,635 to Geiger discloses the use of a moveable pre-mold, having a shape matching the lower mold cavity. A molten parison is extruded into the pre-mold which is moved under the extrusion head, by robotic or other means, to cause the parison as it is extruded, to be deposited into the pre-mold cavity. Once loaded with the parison, the pre-mold is transported to the lower mold half and positioned thereover, with the pre-mold and mold cavities substantial aligned. The pre mold includes openable doors or other similar acting structure so that by opening the structure, the parison is dropped directly into the mold cavity of the lower mold half. This system requires the design of a complex premold with means to accurately release the parison so that it accurately falls into the groove of the lower mold half.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved apparatus and method for the fabrication of multi-axial blow-molded plastic parts.

Mold assembly for blow molding plastic articles and method of use


An electrically erasable and programmable read only memory (EEPROM) device is disclosed. The EEPROM device includes a memory array coupled to an address bus and a data bus; a register located in a predetermined memory area of the EEPROM device for latching a data bit from the data bus when the address of the register is selected, in which the data bit functions as program enable or disable signal; and means for setting program enable or disable state of the EEPROM device in response to input of the output signal of the register and write enable signal. The register consists of a D-flip flop which has a clock input connected with the write enable signal, and the program enable or disable state setting means includes an OR gate. With this, simple configuration of the system Input/Output address is possible. This invention also effectively interrupts the write enable signal (WE) supplied with the EEPROM memory block after the data input is completed. Thus, loss of data in the memory block is effectively prevented.

EEPROM memory devices are advantageous in re-programming the memory since it uses a supply voltage to erase the data stored therein instead of exposing it to the ultraviolet rays. In particular, a part of the memory area can be selectively erased and thus partial changing of data stored in the EEPROM is possible. Once the data is erased, rewriting of data is performed by applying a program voltage, commonly of high potential, to the program voltage input of the EEPROM chip.
For several bytes capacity EEPROM devices, it is used for example in storing a default setup data of ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) device. The stored data is transferred to or from the SERIAL DATA IN/OUT pin, in synchronization with clock signals applied with the EEPROM device. Further, some Megabyte capacity EEPROM device is used in storing a firmware of a system.
U.S. Pat. No 5,615,151 for a Semiconductor Integrated Circuit Operable And Programmable At Multiple Voltage Levels to Furuno et al discloses an EPROM programmable at a wide range of voltages. However the circuit is complex and requires numerous components to construct. I have not seen a circuit that eliminates the need for a separate program supply voltage that requires relatively few components.

Electrically erasable and programmable read only memory


An antenna module has a PCB with a plurality of contacts, a support element, and an antenna module. The support element has a support portion extended downwardly therefrom. The antenna module is connected with the support element. The antenna structure has a metal support element fixed on the PCB with a plurality of contacts. The support element is used to support an antenna module for electrically connecting the antenna module on the PCB with the contacts. When the antenna module connects to the PCB, the antenna contact does not project out the bottom side of the PCB. Therefore, the bottom side of the PCB is level. The antenna structure has a metal support used to shield the noise interference between the antenna module and the PCB.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an antenna structure, and particularly relates to an antenna structure that has an antenna module supported by a metal support element and in which the antenna module contacts the PCB with a plurality of contacts.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of the antenna structure according to the prior art. The antenna structure includes a PCB 1a, and an antenna module 2a connected to the PCB 1a. The antenna module 2a has an antenna contact 20a inserted into and electrically connected to the PCB 1a. The antenna contact 20a has a bottom side 200a projected out the PCB 1a. A heatproof twin adhesive 3a attaches the antenna module 2a on the PCB 1a.
However, the prior art has some defects, as follows:
(1) The heatproof twin adhesive 3a attaches the antenna module 2a to the PCB 1a, so the antenna structure is not conveniently assembled;
(2) The heatproof twin adhesive 3a attaches the antenna module 2a to the PCB 1a, so it is not convenient to use the twin adhesive 3a. Therefore, the quality of the antenna structure is not stable, and the price of the antenna structure is not good;
(3) The bottom side 200a of the antenna contact 20a is projected out the PCB 1a, so the bottom side of the PCB 1a is not level; and
(4) Noise interference occurs between the antenna module 2a and the PCB 1a.


An aqueous liquid composition containing polyethylene glycol with a molecular weight in the range of about 200 to about 8000, nonionic surfactant, and a corrosion inhibitor, and optionally, amphoteric surfactants and fluorinated surfactants is useful as a highlighting liquid for detection of surface irregularities on shaped metal surfaces and for preventing adhesion of weld splatter on surfaces coated with the composition. Preferably the corrosion inhibitor includes alkali metal salts of boric acid and of a mixture of branched chain carboxylic acids and amino acids.

During industrial manufacturing of many types of metal goods, it is common practice to weld together two or more separate pieces of metal to form a unitary structure. Normally, welding is confined to a relatively narrow zone of the total structure formed by welding, but it produces small and very hot, often molten, bits of metal that are discharged into the space surrounding the welding zone and often come into contact with and, unless inhibited from doing so, stick to, nearby areas of the structure being formed by welding. Any such weld splatter adhering to the structure being formed by welding becomes a surface defect, and, if the surface of the structure being welded is intended eventually to become a glossy finished surface, such as an automobile body, file cabinet, or the like, any such defects must be prevented or repaired in order to achieve a satisfactory finish. Repairing defects of this type is relatively expensive, so that prevention is highly preferred.
The adhesion of welding splatter can be inhibited by covering surfaces in the vicinity of welds with an inhibiting composition. Compositions now in commercial use for this purpose are believed to consist primarily of water, alkali neutralized complex acrylic acids, high foaming nonionic surfactants, and defoamers. These materials are often not fully satisfactory for at least two reasons: They have sufficiently high viscosity to develop noticeable thickness variation ("sagging") on non-horizontal surfaces, and they offer insufficient protection against corrosion when surfaces coated with them are stored for more than a day or two.
During the manufacture of automobiles and other metal goods with decorative glossy surfaces, it is common practice to inspect Class A surfaces for metal surface shape irregularities (dents or dings) prior to painting the surfaces; this inspection and/or the technique used in it is commonly referred to as "hiliting" or "highlighting". Detecting and correcting a metal defect prior to painting simplifies the painting operation and precludes the need for subsequent removal of paint to repair the defect and repainting of the surface. Repairing the defect and repainting results in higher costs for time, materials and labor while reducing product quality.
During automotive assembly operations, bare metal panels such as doors, fenders, roofs, quarter panels, and the like are attached to the frame of the vehicle. The vehicle is then cleaned to remove oil and dirt as well as any grinding dust. The clean metal has a dull finish which makes it difficult to see minor dents and dings in the metal panels of the vehicle.
In practice, metal parts to be painted, especially sheet metal parts of an auto body, are first assembled into a subassembly. The subassembly is then cleaned to remove oxidation, oil, and any other contaminants on the surface to be painted. The cleaned subassembly is then coated with the hilite composition and inspected. A hilite material is applied to the vehicle either by hand wiping or by a mechanical device, typically a number of rotating brushes that have been wetted with a hilite solution. Excess hilite solution is permitted to drain for a short period and the resulting glossy surface of the vehicle is inspected for dents and dings. Any dents and dings found are marked for repair and then lightly sanded and/or bumped out as needed.
The subassembly after hilite inspection and repair, if necessary, is then treated to remove the hilite material. A protective coating such as a phosphate conversion coating is applied to the metal and the metal is then coated with a decorative and protective organic coating.
To be optimally useful, a hilite composition must rapidly form a glossy, foam free coating on the metal surface, must not stain or etch the metal, and must be readily removable from the metal.
Frequently, inspection of the partially assembled vehicles is not performed immediately after application of the hilite solution because of floor space restrictions, lunch breaks, line stoppages, weekend down time, or the like. Such delays impose major performance requirements on the hilite composition. During any delay from application of the hilite composition to inspection, the gloss of the treated surface should not change visually due to drying; the retained hilite solution must not etch or stain the metal surface or otherwise make the surface unsuitable for painting; and the retained hilite solution should provide some corrosion protection to the metal. (An unprotected metal surface, particularly one of zinc alloy coated steel, aluminum, or cold rolled steel, will very quickly rust or otherwise oxidize.)
Currently available hilite compositions normally contain solvents such as kerosene or mineral spirits or water soluble solvents such as glycol ethers. The compositions also contain surfactants, typically nonionics, and corrosion inhibitors such as petroleum sulphonates, triethanolamines or sodium nitrite. The commercially available hilite compositions provide a temporarily glossy surface and short term corrosion protection. The solvents used in the presently available formulations are volatile. Kerosene and mineral spirits evaporate much more rapidly than glycol ethers, but even glycol ethers are considered to be VOC for pollution control purposes, so that these compositions must be used in compliance with government regulations and restrictions for VOC use. (See ASTM 2369, "Volatile Content of Coatings".) Avoidance of this problem is one object of the present invention.

Compositions and process for highlighting surface defects in, and prevention of adhesion of hot metal to, metal surfaces


The present invention prevents breakage of a chip by using a simple configuration even when an extraction-electrode power source cannot apply voltage to an extraction electrode due to a malfunction, etc. This charged particle beam device is provided with: a charged particle source; an extraction electrode that extracts charged particles from the charged particle source; an extraction-electrode power source that applies voltage to the extraction electrode; an accelerating electrode for accelerating the charged particles; an accelerating power source that applies voltage to the accelerating electrode; and a diode and a resistor which are connected in series between a middle stage of the accelerating power source and the output side of the extraction-electrode power source.

PTL 1 relates to a charged particle generating device, in which "An electrode current is measured by an electrode current measuring unit 62 and a measured value of the electrode current is sent to an operation stop circuit 60. The operation stop circuit 60 stops at least one of application of an extraction voltage by an extraction voltage source 12 or supply of a heating current by a heating current source 16 based on the electrode current measured by the electrode current measuring unit 62."


When the function of a printer has been changed, the printer notifies a DSC of a change in printer function using a capabilityChanged tag. If the DSC does not return any inquiry about the capabilityChanged tag, the printer determines that the DSC has no function that supports the capabilityChanged tag. The printer executes disconnection and re-connection of USB to execute a communication procedure with the DSC from the beginning, thereby notifying the DSC of the latest capability information in the printer.

In recent years, digital cameras (image sensing devices) which can sense an image and can convert the sensed image into digital image data by a simple operation have been popularly used. When an image sensed by such camera is printed and is used as a photograph, it is a common practice to temporarily download the sensed digital image data from a digital camera to a PC (computer), to execute an image process by that PC, and to output the processed image data from the PC to a color printer, thus printing an image.
By contrast, a color print system which allows a digital camera to directly transfer digital image data to a color printer without the intervention of any PC and can print it out (to be referred to as a direct print process hereinafter), a so-called photo-direct (PD) printer which can mount a memory card, which is mounted on a digital camera and stores sensed images, and can read and print sensed images stored in the memory card, and the like have recently been developed.
Such direct print process is originally a model-dependent print function that can be implemented between a camera and printer of an identical manufacturer. However, in recent years, the standardization in these industries has been made, and an environment that allows a direct print process by connecting a camera and printer of different manufacturers irrespective of manufacturers has been created.
Such printer device may receive and print image data from various devices such as a portable phone, PDA, and the like in addition to the aforementioned digital camera. Also, the printer itself has various functions, and exchanges function information with such devices.
However, such function information often includes those which cannot be exchanged between these devices. For example, when a partner device does not consider a given function at all, it cannot interpret such function information even if such information is transmitted. In such case, the device that has transmitted the function information cannot determine whether the partner device does not support the function, or no response returns due to a communication error or the like. For this reason, when such problem has occurred, each device may transfer image data and issue a print instruction while it cannot be determined whether or not the partner device supports the function.
In this case, for example, the contents of a UI displayed on a camera which requests printing by sending image data become different from the functions of a printer as the partner device in practice, and the user of the camera who wishes the printing cannot obtain a print result he or she intended, resulting in confusion. In such case, the camera may give a print instruction to the printer, by using a print function in which the printer does not have, and as the result, a print result that the user did not intend is obtained.

Compensating for changed capability information


An electrical connection includes a wiring harness and an electrical device. The electrical device has a molded plastic support and a flexible printed circuit. The molded plastic support has an end wall that includes mechanical locks and the flexible printed circuit has a connector portion that overlies the end wall. The wiring harness includes a second flexible printed circuit and a plastic end connector that backs a connector portion of the second flexible printed circuit. A clamp bracket is attached to the end wall of the molded plastic support by mechanical locks and clamps the plastic end connector and the connector portion of the second flexible printed circuit against the end wall with the connector portion of the second flexible printed circuit engaging the connector portion of the flexible printed circuit of the electrical device. The clamp bracket may be insert molded or an integral part of an automotive trim piece, such as inner door panel or instrument panel fascia.

Automobile doors have several switches mounted on the interior trim panel of the door for controlling various electromechanical devices such as door locks, windows, adjustable side view mirrors, and seat adjusters that are actuated by electric motors. Multi-function switches, such as seat adjuster switches that control seat height and seat back tilt, often use flexible printed circuit technology to provide open circuit pads that are closed by a moveable conductor such as a conductive rubber button. In the past, electrical connections between the flexible printed circuit of the switch, the power source and the electro- mechanical device have been made by a conventional wiring harness comprising a plurality of wire conductors having end terminals that are housed in a connector body that is attached to a support for the flexible printed circuit. See for instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,071,358 granted to Richard A. Petrosky Dec. 10, 1991, for an adapter locking clip.
While these conventional wiring harness arrangements have been used successfully for many years, the conventional wiring harness arrangement is expensive and bulky.

Electrical connection for flex circuit device


A memory module substrate printed-circuit board (PCB) has multi-type footprints and an edge connector for mating with a memory module socket on a motherboard. Two or more kinds of dynamic-random-access memory (DRAM) chips with different data I/O widths can be soldered to solder pads around the multi-type footprints. When ×4 DRAM chips with 4 data I/O pins are soldered over the multi-type footprints, the memory module has a rank-select signal that drives chip-select inputs to all DRAM chips. When ×8 DRAM chips with 8 data I/O pins are soldered over the multi-type footprints, the memory module has two rank-select signals. One rank-select drives chip-select inputs to front-side DRAM chips while the second rank-select drives chip-select inputs to back-side DRAM chips. Wiring traces on the PCB cross-over data nibbles between the solder pads and the connector to allow two ×4 chips to drive a byte driven by only one ×8 chip.

Many types of electronics systems contain memory. A common, low-cost memory is dynamic-random-access memory (DRAM). Rather than sell individual DRAM chips, such chips are often pre-assembled into modules that can be inserted into sockets in a wide variety of systems. Such memory modules have gained enormous popularity in recent years. Most personal computers (PC's) are shipped with sockets for memory modules so the PC user can later add additional modules, increasing the memory capacity of the PC. High-volume production and competition have driven module costs down dramatically, benefiting the PC buyer.
Memory modules are made in many different sizes and capacities, such as older 30-pin and 72-pin single-inline memory modules (SIMMs) and newer 168-pin, 184-pin, and 240-pin dual inline memory modules (DIMMs). The "pins" were originally pins extending from the module's edge, but now most modules are leadless, having metal contact pads or leads. The modules are small in size, being about 3-5 inches long and about an inch to an inch and a half in height.
The modules contain a small printed-circuit board substrate, typically a multi-layer board with alternating laminated layers of fiberglass insulation and foil or metal interconnect layers. Surface mounted components such as DRAM chips and capacitors are soldered onto one or both surfaces of the substrate.
FIGS. 1A-B show a double-sided memory module. Memory module 20 contains a substrate such as a multi-layer printed-circuit board (PCB) with surface-mounted DRAM chips 22 mounted to the front surface or side of the substrate, as shown in FIG. 1A, while more DRAM chips 26 are mounted to the back side or surface of the substrate as shown in FIG. 1B. Metal contact pads 12 are positioned along the bottom edge of the module on both front and back surfaces. Metal contact pads 12 mate with pads on a module socket to electrically connect the module to a PC's motherboard. Holes 16 and notches are present on some kinds of modules to ensure that the module is correctly positioned in the socket. Capacitors 14 or other discrete components are surface-mounted on the substrate to filter noise from DRAM chips 22, 26.
Flash memory 24 is an electrically-erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) that can be programmed by the manufacturer. Configuration information about the memory is often written to flash memory 24. Such configuration information may include the memory depth and width, locations of bad memory cells, speed of the memory, the type of memory, a manufacturing week code, critical timing parameters such as clock rate, CAS (column address select) latency, and any proprietary information. Flash memory 24 is known in one embodiment as a serial-presence detect (SPD) memory. During boot-up, the PC checks for "serial presence" on its memory bus. If a serial presence is detected, the PC reads the stored memory configuration through the serial line. Once programmed, flash memory 24 can be read by a PC on boot-up to determine the kind of memory installed in the PC.
A manufacturer may produce several different kinds of memory modules for sale. For example, one kind of memory module may contain ×4 DRAM chips that are 4 data bits wide, while a second kind of memory module may contain ×8 DRAM chips that are 8 bits wide. Some customers may order memory modules with the ×8 DRAM chips, while other customers order memory modules with ×4 DRAM chips. Predicting the exact product mix of ×4 and ×8 chip modules can be difficult, and incorrectly predicting the product mix may lead to increased inventory cost or delayed or lost sales.
What is desired is a memory module substrate board that can support either ×4 or ×8 DRAM chips. A memory module board that can have DRAM chips of varying data widths mounted thereon is desirable. A single memory module PCB that can be used to manufacture several kinds of memory modules is desirable.

Memory-module board layout for use with memory chips of different data widths


A storage battery air-cooling device cools down, by forced air circulation, a heat generation of a storage battery mounted in a vehicle as a driving power source of the vehicle. The device includes a battery case containing the storage battery with a marginal space on an outer circumference; a cool box which can be placed and extracted from a vehicle cabin for refrigerating an object; a pair of ducts communicating a case chamber of the battery case with a box chamber of the cool box to form a closed air circulation path; and a fan being set in a halfway position of the closed air circulation path to drive to forcedly circulate air in the path.

In the prior art, a known storage battery air-cooling device which cools down a heat generation of a storage battery (battery) mounted in a hybrid car or the like by forced air circulation is configured to supply air with a fan to around the storage battery from either a vehicle cabin or outside of a vehicle and discharge the air having cooled the storage battery to the outside of the vehicle (for example, see Patent Document 1).    Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2002-166728
However, the prior art storage battery air-cooling device holds the following problems because of its structure of taking in cooling air from a vehicle cabin or outside of a vehicle and discharging the air to the outside after cooling.
(1) The prior art storage battery air-cooling device needs to include a filter to prevent foreign particles from entering, particularly when introducing air from the outside, since it is configured to take in the cooling air from the vehicle cabin or outside of the vehicle.(2) The structure of discharging air to outside may bring a limitation to a vehicle layout such as the height of an air discharge aperature or a duct structure in view of preventing incursion of water especially in such an occasion that the vehicle is flooded.(3) The fan makes noises in introducing air from the vehicle cabin, which may reach near an air intake and impair comfort of occupants.(4) If the temperature of intake air is too high to satisfy the necessary cooling amount of the storage battery, the fan's air blowing amount needs be increased, which may result in increased noises along with an increased blowing amount and impaired comfort of occupants.
In view of solving the above problems, the present invention aims to provide a storage battery air-cooling device which can effectively reduce heat generation of a storage battery by forced air circulation, avoid entry of foreign particles, increase the degree of vehicle layout freedom, and reduce noises.