A method and apparatus for controlling a current of a multi-phase interleaved converter are provided. The method includes filtering, through a filter, currents flowing into converters of respective phases in a multi-phase interleaved converter having multiple phases, The method further includes receiving values of the filtered currents for respective phases and a duty ratio for any one of the multiple phases generated in response to a current flowing into the phase and adjusting duty ratios for phases other than the phase, based on the received current values for respective phases.

Technical Field
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for controlling a current of a multi-phase interleaved converter and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for controlling a current of a multi-phase interleaved converter to reduce load on a Micro Controller Unit (MCU) ( )and redress a current imbalance of a multi-phase interleaved converter.
Background Art
Today, direct current to direct current (DC/DC) converters are applied to various electric power converters such as vehicle battery chargers. When a voltage is boosted using a DC/DC converter, a ripple current may occur in the inductor of the converter. Such a ripple current affects the size constraints of elements such as inductors and capacitors, and is closely related with an amount of power loss. Interleaving refers to a method in which the mix of currents flowing with different phases causes their ripple currents to be offset by one another, to cause the combined ripple current to decrease in magnitude by 1/N times whereas the frequency increases by N times; where N denotes the number of phases.
An interleaved converter connects multiple DC/DC converters in parallel to disperse electric current and uses the phase difference of switching elements to reduce the magnitude and ripple of currents flowing through elements such as inductors. The converter may disperse electric current and allow an appropriate level of phase difference for the current, to significantly decrease the ripple of input and output currents. In addition, the use of such an interleaved converter may increase energy efficiency and adjust the size of elements in the circuit.
An interleaved converter generally has a structure similar to a parallel connection of multiple single-phase converters. For example, in a three-phase interleaved converter, each switch operates with a phase difference of 120 degrees. An N-phase interleaved converter has the same structure as the parallel connection of N single-phase converters, in which each switch operates with a phase difference of (2π/N)(rad). In an interleaved converter, an increase in the number of phases may require an increase in the number of elements needed in the circuit.
There are two methods of controlling a current of interleaved converters which include: sensing a multi-phase current on multiple phases and applying current controllers that correspond to respective phases to generate duty ratios for respective phases; and applying a current controller for one phase to phase-shift the same duty ratio for other phases by a fixed size. However, in the first method, separate current controllers are required for respective phases, thus increasing the load on the
MCU. In the second method, a current change in a phase having no current controller may be difficult to reflect.

Method and apparatus for controlling current of multi-phase interleaved converter


A three-dimensional measuring apparatus including a multi-slit projector has an actuator for displacing at least one of first and second diffraction gratings by only a minute distance in a direction perpendicular to the slit lights. An image recognizing apparatus includes an image arithmetic unit for changing, each time a coded multi-slit light pattern is changed, weights assigned to the binarized image signals, and for summing up the last weighted binarized image signals or the image signals of the last added results read out from an image memory with newly weighted binarized image signals. This improves the image resolution reduces the memory capacity and increases the processing speed.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a three-dimensional measuring apparatus for measuring a shape of an object by projecting multi-slit lights on the object to obtain a three-dimensional measurement.
(2) Description of the Related Art
In the fields involving a three-dimensional visual function for recognizing an object to be measured for use in a robot or other various automatic apparatuses, or a shape input apparatus for measuring the shape of the object to be input, there is a known arrangement in which a slit light is irradiated by a projector onto the object to be measured. The object is then scanned and imaged by an imaging unit from an angle different from the irradiating direction to calculate the distance from the observation point to the slit light irradiated point based on the triangulation. Thus, the shape of the object to be measured is recognized.
Instead of scanning the slit light, a multi-slit projector which irradiates a plurality of parallel slit lights to enable a plurality of points to be measured at the same time can be used. In this case, the resolution in the measurement of the object to be measured is determined by the resolution of the imaging apparatus and the pitch between the slit lights irradiated from the projector. Thus, the resolution in the measurement of the object is not accurate and must be improved.
In the three-dimensional multi-slit measuring apparatus, multi-slit lights are projected onto an object to be measured, the projected image is picked up by an image pick up unit such as a television camera, and a reference slit light is determined among the projected multi-slit lights to calculate a distance from an observation point to a coded pattern irradiated point of the object to be measured. In this apparatus, however, the speeding at which the measurement is made must be increased.


A boot for a joint is provided having an aperture and at least one protrusion and at least one indentation disposed about an inside diameter of the aperture.

Conventional constant velocity joints include a boot constructed of an elastic material such as silicone or rubber that, for example, may be used to seal internal components and lubricants from an external environment. Commonly, a boot is used to protect internal components. The boot permits a shaft to pass from an internal location to an external environment, typically through an aperture provided in the boot. The aperture is often designed to snugly fit against the shaft so that the boot can rotate with the shaft.
While the boot may sufficiently seal the internal components of the joint under most conditions, challenges exist. Under some conditions, the contacting portions of the aperture of a boot may slip against the shaft. One such circumstance is when the joint is exposed to extreme temperature conditions. Slippage may be caused by a number of factors, including shrinkage of the outside diameter of the shaft or imperfections in the associated mating surfaces. In addition, typical boot materials may experience a reduction in volume at extremely low temperatures, which can result in a reduced clamping load exerted upon the boot and the shaft by an associated clamp. Such conditions can, for example, permit greater spacing between the aperture and the shaft and/or solidification of the lubricants inside the joint. The present invention was developed in light of these and other potential challenges.


An embodiment of the present invention includes a super slim compact flash (CF) light Universal Serial Bus (USB) device having a top cover, a top cover slot formed within the top cover and forming a top cover slot cavity, a sliding plug connector positioned within the cavity and flexibly movable therein, a plastic frame disposed below and around the top cover, a retractable slim USB plug connector sub-assembly on top of which and connected thereto is placed the sliding plug connector, the sub-assembly including a retractable slim USB plug connector positioned within the device to be flexibly retracted from or pulled into the device by the sliding plug connector for causing connection to a mating USB plug connector.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to compact flash light Universal Serial Bus (USB) devices and particularly to such a device with a retractable slim USB plug connector.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Compact flash (CF) devices have enjoyed popularity in recent years, both due to their compactness as well as their portability. CF devices, which typically include non-volatile memory, such as flash memory, also typically include a USB connector used for coupling to various devices using the same type of connection. Examples of such devices are consumer devices, such as portable music and other types of mobile digital or electronics devices, such as but not limited to Personal Computers (PCs). CF USB devices are coupled to serve as an external disk drive for transferring files and many other applications in the foregoing consumer or electronics devices.
The portability of CF devices with USB connection, as can be appreciated, offers great convenience to the user of such devices. Moreover, for obvious reasons, the lighter and/or slimmer design of such devices, makes their transportability easier. Currently, improvement is required to further advance the portable characteristic of CF USB devices.
Another concern surrounding CF USB devices is their lack of durability as they are subject to potentially harsh environments and treatment during the course of their transport by a user of such devices. To this end, a current CF USB device having a USB connector extending outwardly from the CF card is subject to less than desirable care, resulting in the suffering of scratches, nicks and so forth. Thus, durability and long-lasting characteristic is an issue.
Yet another problem with prior art devices is that the USB connector must be secured by using a cap or similar device to physically secure the connector and avoid potential damage thereto.
What is therefore needed is an improved CF light-weight USB device having a retractable and slim USB connector.

Super slim compact flash (CF) light universal serial bus (USB) device


Method for recognizing speech includes receiving a speech phrase, generating a signal being representative to the speech phrase, pre-processing and storing the signal with respect to a determined set of rules, generating from the pre-processed signal at least one series of hypothesis speech elements, and determining at least one series of words being most probable to correspond to the speech phrase by applying a predefined language model to at least said series of hypothesis speech elements. The determination of the series of words includes determining at least one sub-word, word, or a combination of words most probably being contained as a seed sub-phrase in the received speech phrase. The determination continues with determining words or combinations of words that are consistent with the seed sub-phrase as at least a first successive sub-phrase, which is contained in the received speech phrase, by using and evaluating additional and paired and/or higher order information between the sub-phrases, thereby decreasing the burden of searching.

Recently, devices and methods for recognizing continuously spoken speech automatically have become more and more important. There are indeed wide areas of services, such as information services, customer support or the like, in which a substantial amount of personal related costs could be avoided by utilizing devices which respond automatically to the customer's inquiries.
The most important condition which must be fulfilled by apparatuses and methods for automatic speech recognition is that these apparatuses and methods have to reliably recognize and understand the speech input given by the customer independently from the particular speaking conditions, such as speaking velocity, voice intonation, articulation, background noise or the like.
There are lots of devices, such as automatical telephone services, time schedule information services or the like, which work in a reliable manner only when applied in a well-defined and narrow area of all possible utterances made by the customer. These methods and devices are generally designed to manage a very narrow scope of vocabulary and vocal situations only.
In the field of large vocabulary speech recognition most methods and devices work as follows:
Upon receipt of a speech phrase a signal is generated which is representative for the received speech phrase. The signal is then pre-processed with respect to a predetermined set of rules which may include digitizing, Fourier-analyzing and like signal evaluation techniques. The result of pre-processing the signal is stored.
On the basis of the pre-processed signal at least one series of hypothetic speech elements is generated which serves as a basis for the determination of at least one series of words being a probable candidate to correspond to said received speech phrase. For the determination of the series of words a predefined language model has to be applied in particular to at least said series of hypothetic speech elements.
One major drawback of conventional methods and devices for large vocabulary speech recognition is the large complexity and the large number of possible candidates of speech fragments or elements to be searched for and to be tested. Without limiting the scope of subject-matter and therefore the scope of vocabulary, all possible candidates for speech elements or speech fragments have to be evaluated by distinct searching techniques.


An electronic messaging method may include storing at least one information field to be included in electronic messages on a message server in one of a plurality of different character set formats, and receiving electronic message body text at the message server to be included in an electronic message for a given communications network from among a plurality of communications networks. The body text may have a respective character set format. The method may further include comparing the character set format of the body text with the character set format of the at least one information field and, if the at least one information field is displayable in the character set format of the body text, then formatting the at least one information field in the character set format of the body text. Otherwise, the body text and the at least one information field may be formatted in a default character set format associated with the given communications network.

Electronic mail (email) has become an integral part of business and personal communications. As such, many users have multiple email accounts for work and home use. Moreover, with the increased availability of mobile cellular and wireless local area network (LAN) devices that can send and receive emails, many users wirelessly access emails stored in source mailboxes of different email storage servers (e.g., corporate email storage server, Yahoo, Hotmail, AOL, etc.).
In some instances, the use of different email protocols, such as character sets, by different email systems may result in compatibility issues when emails are communicated between the various systems. Accordingly, improved approaches for communicating email data across different email systems or platforms may be desirable.

Electronic mail system providing message character set formatting features and related methods


A mathematical triangle kit designed to teach children and adults mathematical and symmetry skills utilizing various sized patterned blocks. By manipulating the patterned blocks the participant learns mathematical skills, such as fractions, multiplication, trigonometry, and geometry. Additionally, by manipulating the patterned blocks the participant also learns geometric relations, such as mirror images and other symmetry relationships amongst the patterned blocks. In the preferred embodiment, the mathematical triangle kit comprises three sets of various sized and colored right triangles with 30.degree. and 60.degree. bases.

Learning mathematical and geometric recognition and relational skills plays an integral role in an individual's ability to effectively perform in our technologically advanced society. Over the last few decades the art of mathematics has slowly become an art of the past with the advent of computers and other technologically advanced machinery. Additionally, the art of geometric recognition and relational skills, such as the appreciation for inverse and mirror symmetry has also become antiquated. As such, those skills that once brought our society to the forefront of technology are slowly being eroded away, ironically, by the mastery and use of that same technology. This is especially relevant in the classrooms around the industrialized world, whereby essentially every classroom has a computer and every student is allowed to use a calculator for the calculation of even the simplest mathematical equations. Effective mathematical and recognition skills can only be learned through effective teaching techniques, memorization, and extensive application, which, unfortunately, are not currently being actively taught.
In light of the importance of a person's mathematical abilities, instructors are faced with the daunting task of teaching children as well as adults effective mathematic skills, which begin with simple recognition of geometric relations to more advanced applications such as multiplication. Such teaching is especially critical to children--those youngsters that will advance our society into the twenty-first century. Methods of teaching these skills have been quite stagnant over the past several decades and have included rote memorization and recitation. Further, current methods of teaching are typically mere variations of old techniques that do not appear to hold the interests of those being taught.
Several inventors have attempted to devise methods for teaching the above-referenced skills in a more fun-filled environment; however, no single or combination of inventions teach these skills so as to teach both complicated mathematical skills, such as fractions, and geometric recognition skills, such as inverse relations.
For example, teaching fractions have relied essentially on rectangular manipulatives and other geometrical shapes. Most notable of these methods of teaching mathematical and geometric recognition skills is the Tangram puzzle, also known as Chinese puzzles. By way of further example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,108,291 to Kuo discloses a supplementary teaching instrument that employs a number of rectangular blocks of a prescribed shape which occupy a predefined area when assembled. This invention also discloses the use of triangular blocks of various shapes.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,533,507 to May discloses a puzzle consisting of four pieces, whereby the four pieces, when laid down correctly, produce a rectilinear outline. This invention further discloses blocks having different colors, whereby in order to form a rectilinear shape one of the blocks must comprise the opposite color of the remaining blocks.
Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 237,464 to Anthony discloses a puzzle consisting of eight right triangles of certain proportions, none of which are 60.degree./30.degree. right triangle.
Others references which may be relevant include U.S. Pat. No. 260,594 to Mehner; U.S. Pat. No. 1,119,309 to Nordman, U.S. Pat. No. 1,261,710 to Coyle; U.S. Pat. No. 2,885,207 to Wormser, U.S. Pat. No. 3,178,186 to Lee, U.S. Pat. No. 4,365,809 to Barry; U.S. Pat. No. 1,657,736 to Bishop; U.S. Pat. No. 4,429,200 to Kanbar; U.S. Pat. No. 4,531,741 to Eskina; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,394,864 to Luton. Additionally, the 1993 Creative Publications Catalog discloses the "The Pattern Blocks" (order #034786)and "Notes on a Triangle" (order #034786). The pattern blocks comprise hexagons, trapezoids, squares, parallelograms, rhombus's and equilateral triangles, whereas the "Notes on a Triangle" comprise large, medium, and small equilateral triangles, small and large isosceles triangles, and small and large right triangles. It should be noted that these references are not necessarily analogous art, but which may only be relevant to the present invention.
All of the above references use various sized blocks, including squares, rectangles, and triangles, to teach either mathematical or geometric skills. While such skills are individually important, it is only through the simultaneous teaching of such skills that effective mathematic and geometrical recognition skills can occur. Additionally, current teaching methods do not entertain and encourage the student's continued participation. A further shortcoming of the current teaching methods are their inability to cater to the varying ability levels of participants, to wit the individual who is incapable of simple addition as well as the individual who is capable of calculating complex fractions and recognizing advanced shapes and their relations to one another. Thus, present devices and methods of teaching the above mathematic and geometric relation skills--i.e., addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, and shape relations (e.g., mirror images, rotational relationships between objects, etc.)--are not as effective as they might be in that they do not provide the necessary means for teaching these skills in a rudimentary as well as advanced manner.
A vehicle for teaching the needed mathematic and geometric skills would comprise a puzzle game having various sized triangular blocks and holding trays, wherein the triangular blocks would be placed within the holding trays. The number of triangular blocks in the holding tray would depend on the size of the blocks and the holding trays. The game would further comprise a number of multi-colored triangular blocks so that individuals can arrange the blocks, utilizing the colors, into various geometric shapes and relations--e.g., mirror symmetry, and inverse relationships between the patterned blocks. This system should use a variety of techniques so that all participants can learn the nuances of mathematics and geometric relations.

Mathematical triangle kit and method of use


Disclosed is a system and method for coordinating the backup of multiple databases and file systems in a Content Manager system. This is accomplished by “pausing” the library server to enable the desired coordinated backup of all servers, that is, the Library Servers and the Resource Servers. The coordinated backup is accomplished by both “pausing” and coordinated backup, and without interrupting a transaction which is in progress. This is accomplished by a consideration of the full CM transaction rather then just the individual elemental library server and resource manager transactions. The effect is to allow existing operations to complete, and involves “pausing” the library server to enable coordinated backup of all servers without interrupting a content management transaction which is in progress, if they complete within an interval specified by the administrator.

Content Management is an infrastructure to manage the full spectrum of digital information. Large collections of scanned images, facsimiles, electronic office documents, XML and HTML files, computer output, audio, video, multimedia, and virtual reality content can be stored and accessed through the content management system. The content management system integrates content with line of business, customer service, ERP, digital asset management, distance learning, Web content management or other applications to accelerate benefits across the enterprise.
In one embodiment the content manager product may be visualized as a triangle, its three vertices being the client, a library server and an object server (resource manager). The client is the user's interface which gives the user the capability of storing, searching for, and, marking-up documents (or to use the more general term, objects). The library server is the equivalent of a card catalog which holds information about the objects, including their location. The object server (OS), also referred to herein as the resource manager (RM) is where either the actual object or a pointer to the actual object is stored.
The core Library Server logic (except for system utilities and housekeeping tasks) is packaged as a set of relational data base (RDB) stored procedures (SPs) containing embedded SQL statements. Each stored procedure (SP) is precompiled and runs on a relational database (RDB) server. Thus each Library Server (LS) process is merely a relational database (RDB) server process. The interface to a Library Server is SQL, through which either stored procedures (SPs) can be called or SQL SELECT statements (including cursor support) can be executed. Remote access to Library Server is via a relational database (RDB) client.
The Resource Managers (RMs) may support different/multiple access protocols. The resource manager (RM)—object server (OS) supports the HTTP protocol. The basic information entities managed by the Library Server are "items." "Items" as used herein come in two types, simple items and resource items. Resource items can have content associated with them that is stored in one or more Resource Managers. Resource items point to their content via Resource URL-RELATED DATA. One attribute of "items" is their "folder."
The library server (LS) and object server (OS) (resource manager (RM)) are separate processes, often running on different machines. In operation, clients first contact the library server (LS) to create/update an index for an object, and to determine where the object is to be stored/replaced. The client then sends a request to the object server (OS) to store/replace the object.
To keep track of data entries, tens or hundreds attributes (parameters) may be defined to multiple databases and file systems in a database management system (DBMS). For example, a meaningful information entity may have multiple attributes associated with it. It is also frequently necessary to add, change, and delete the attributes associated with an information entity. This gives rise to problems in coordinating the backup of the multiple databases and file systems.
One approach to this problem is in the IBM Content Manager Version 8, which implements a single CM transaction involving the library server with two separate RDB transactions and data interchange with one or more resource managers. Specifically, the logic involved to implement a content manager transaction is:    1) Call the library server to "prepare" to store an object and commit the LS transaction.    2) Store the object on a resource manager, and commit the RM transaction.    3) Call the library server to store information about the object, and commit the LS transaction.    4) Send an "end transaction" request to the resource manager to finalize the changes and commit the RM transaction.
One problem arises because Step 2, storing the object on a resource manager, and committing the RM transaction, can require a variable amount of time depending, for example, on the size of the object and the network speed. Quiescing the workload is possible, but the fact that a CM transaction involves multiple RDB transactions means merely quiescing the workload does not help solve the coordination problem. There can be cases where the operation is initiated in step 1, calling the library server to "prepare" to store an object and commit the LS transaction, but by the time the library server is called to actually "store" information about the object, and commit the LS transaction, the requests would be rejected by the RDBMC.
Thus a further need exists to be able to "pause" the library server to enable coordinated backup of all servers, but without interrupting a transaction which is in progress.
A still further need exists to be able to consider the full CM transaction instead of the elemental LS and RM transactions, and to thereby reject new operations while allowing existing operations to complete.

Quiescing work bounded by application transactions consisting of multiple relational database transactions

International Business Machines Corporation


Compounds of Formula I ##STR1## and Formula III ##STR2## which are useful in the treatment of thrombin and trypsin related disorders.

With a rapidly aging population, diseases of the vascular system are of great concern to our society. Arterial thrombosis is the major cause of death in the form of heart attacks and strokes, while venous thrombosis is associated with pulmonary embolism which occurs after surgery or extended periods of inactivity.
Thrombin is a multifunctional serine protease whose role in thrombosis and hemostasis has been documented by a number of sources (See generally, Tapparelli, et al. TiPS 1993, 14, 366-76). Thrombin acts as a procoagulant through proteolytic cleavage of fibrinogen to form fibrin and as an anticoagulant through activation of the protein C pathway (followed by inactivation of coagulation factors V and VIII.) The concentration of active thrombin is limited by a number of feedback mechanisms involving endogenous factors and proteins. In addition to protein C, antithrombin III is another regulating protein which forms a complex with endogenous heparin. This complex binds to active thrombin, thus inactivating it.
Current anticoagulant therapy consists of three classes of compounds: heparins, coumarins and low molecular weight heparins. These drugs act indirectly to limit the concentration of active thrombin. Heparins and low molecular weight heparins interact with antithrombin III and the coumarins inhibit a number of vitamin K dependent coagulation factors. Although these drugs are prescribed for diseases associated with venous thrombosis and arterial thrombosis, their use is limited. They have a number of side effects, a slow onset of action and only the coumarins are orally active (warfarin and dicumarol).
Indirect thrombin inhibitors have been shown to be less effective at controlling associated diseases than direct thrombin inhibitors. Thus the search for orally active direct thrombin inhibitors is underway in a number of laboratories. These efforts have produced a number of acyclic peptidyl compounds which directly inhibit thrombin. PPACK, argatroban, (D)-NAPAP, hirulog-1 and DUP 714 are examples of these inhibitors . Many of these compounds lack useful oral activity, and many have a poor selectivity for thrombin versus other serine proteases. Therefore, a need remains for new direct thrombin inhibitors.
When compared to acyclic peptides, cyclic peptides have a number of structural features that have been linked to changes in the biological activity of simple peptides. Due to the absence of polar end groups and a relatively rigid structure, cyclic peptides are hypothesized to be more membrane permeable and less susceptible to peptidases. Potentially one could incorporate the structure of simple peptides, within rigid, non-polar macrocyclic framework, to produce active bioavailable compounds.
Cyclotheonamide A (CtA) is a cyclic peptide which was isolated from Theonella.sp, a marine sponge. It inhibits a variety of serine proteases particularly thrombin and trypsin. ##STR3##
Although this molecule inhibits thrombin (Ki# ca. 1-2 nM), it is a scarce natural product which is difficult to extract from its natural source. In addition, CtA is not an optimal candidate for treating thrombin-related disorders as its selectivity for thrombin over trypsin does not favor thrombin. The invention described below claims a novel macrocyclic peptides that inhibit thrombin at nanomolar levels and exhibit reasonable selectivity for thrombin over trypsin.
The invention relates to new compounds of the Formula I ##STR4## wherein: m is 2to 12;
A is ##STR5## where the amido carbonyl is bound to B and the .alpha. aminomethine is bound to the depicted ring carbonyl, PA1 B is ##STR6## where the amido carbonyl of B is bound to the depicted ring methylenes and the methine is bound to A, PA1 R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 are each hydrogen or taken together with the carbon to which each is attached to form a carbonyl, and PA1 b is 0 or 1; PA1 G is ##STR7## where the amine of G is bound to the ring methylenes and the methine is bound to the depicted amide, PA1 R.sub.7 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C.sub.1-5 alkyl, carboxyC.sub.1-5 alkyl, phenyl, substituted phenyl (where the phenyl substituents are C.sub.1-5 alkyl, carboxy C.sub.1-5 alkoxycarbonyl, carboxamido, amino, C.sub.1-5 alkylamino, hydroxy, C.sub.1-5 alkylcarbonylamino, C.sub.1-5 alkoxy, fluorine bromine or chlorine), phenylC.sub.1-5 alkyl, substituted phenylC.sub.1-5 alkyl (where the phenyl substituents are C.sub.1-5 alkyl, carboxy C.sub.1-5 alkoxycarbonyl, carboxamido, amino, C.sub.1-5 alkylamino, hydroxy, C.sub.1-5 alkylcarbonylamino, C.sub.1-5 alkoxy, fluorine bromine or chlorine), 3-pyridylC.sub.1-5 alkyl, 4-pyridylC.sub.1-5 alkyl, diphenylC.sub.1-2 alkyl, and naphthyl, substituted naphthyl (where the naphthyl substituents are C.sub.1-5 alkyl, carboxy C.sub.1-5 alkoxycarbonyl, carboxamido, amino, C.sub.1-5 alkylamino, hydroxy, C.sub.1-5 alkylcarbonylamino, C.sub.1-5 alkoxy, fluorine bromine or chlorine), PA1 E is carbon or C(CH.sub.2).sub.q --, where q is 0 to 12, with the proviso that the sum of q and m cannot exceed 24, PA1 R.sub.8 and R.sub.9 are hydrogen or taken together with the carbon of E to form a carbonyl, and PA1 g is 0 or 1; PA1 and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. PA1 R.sub.2 is hydrogen; PA1 m is 2to 12; PA1 A is ##STR9## where the amido carbonyl is bound to B and the a aminomethine is bound to the depicted ring carbonyl, PA1 R.sub.3 is hydrogen or C.sub.1-5 alkoxy, PA1 n is 1 or 2, and PA1 a is 0 or 1; PA1 B is ##STR10## where the amido carbonyl of B is bound to the depicted ring methylenes and the methine is bound to A, PA1 R.sub.4 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C.sub.1-5 alkyl, carboxyC.sub.1-5 alkyl, phenyl, substituted phenyl (where the phenyl substituents are C.sub.1-5 alkyl, carboxy C.sub.1-5 alkoxycarbonyl, carboxamido, amino, C.sub.1-5 alkylamino, hydroxy, C.sub.1-5 alkylcarbonylamino, C.sub.1-5 alkoxy, fluorine bromine or chlorine), phenylC.sub.1-5 alkyl, substituted phenylC.sub.1-5 alkyl (where the phenyl substituents are C.sub.1-5 alkyl, carboxy C.sub.1-5 alkoxycarbonyl, carboxamido, amino, C.sub.1-5 alkylamino, hydroxy, C.sub.1-5 alkylcarbonylamino, C.sub.1-5 alkoxy, fluorine bromine or chlorine), 3-pyridylC.sub.1-5 alkyl, 4-pyridylC.sub.1-5 alkyl, diphenylC.sub.1-2 alkyl, naphthyl or substituted naphthyl (where the naphthyl substituents are C.sub.1-5 alkyl, carboxy C.sub.1-5 alkoxycarbonyl, carboxamido, amino, C.sub.1-5 alkylamino, hydroxy, C.sub.1-5 alkylcarbonylamino, C.sub.1-5 alkoxy, fluorine, bromine or chlorine), PA1 R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 are each hydrogen or taken together with the carbon to which each is attached to form a carbonyl, PA1 b is 0 or 1; PA1 G is ##STR11## where the amine of G is bound to the ring methylenes and the methine is bound to the depicted amide, PA1 R.sub.7 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C.sub.1-5 alkyl, carboxyC.sub.1-5 alkyl, phenyl, substituted phenyl (where the phenyl substituents are C.sub.1-5 alkyl, carboxy C.sub.1-5 alkoxycarbonyl, carboxamido, amino, C.sub.1-5 alkylamino, hydroxy, C.sub.1-5 alkylcarbonylamino, C.sub.1-5 alkoxy, fluorine bromine or chlorine), phenylC.sub.1-5 alkyl, substituted phenylC.sub.1-5 alkyl (where the phenyl substituents are C.sub.1-5 alkyl, carboxy C.sub.1-5 alkoxycarbonyl, carboxamido, amino, C.sub.1-5 alkylamino, hydroxy, C.sub.1-5 alkylcarbonylamino, C.sub.1-5 alkoxy, fluorine bromine or chlorine), 3-pyridylC.sub.1-5 alkyl, 4-pyridylC.sub.1-5 alkyl, diphenylC.sub.1-2 alkyl, naphthyl or substituted naphthyl (where the naphthyl substituents are C.sub.1-5 alkyl, carboxy C.sub.1-5 alkoxycarbonyl, carboxamido, amino, C.sub.1-5 alkylamino, hydroxy, C.sub.1-5 alkylcarbonylamino, C.sub.1-5 alkoxy, fluorine, bromine or chlorine), PA1 E is carbon or C(CH.sub.2).sub.q --, where q is 0 to 12, with the proviso that the sum of q and m cannot exceed 25, PA1 R.sub.8 and R.sub.9 are each hydrogen or taken together with the carbon of E to form a carbonyl, PA1 g is 0 or 1; PA1 or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. PA1 W is nitrogen, sulfur or oxygen; PA1 A is ##STR13## where the amido carbonyl is bound to B and the .alpha. aminomethine is bound to the depicted ring carbonyl, PA1 R.sub.3 is hydrogen, hydroxy or C.sub.1-5 alkoxy, PA1 n is 1 or 2; PA1 a is 0 or 1; PA1 B is ##STR14## where the amido carbonyl of B is bound to the depicted ring methylenes and the methine is bound to A, PA1 R.sub.4 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C.sub.1-5 alkyl, carboxyC.sub.1-5 alkyl, phenyl, substituted phenyl (where the phenyl substituents are C.sub.1-5 alkyl, carboxy C.sub.1-5 alkoxycarbonyl, carboxamido, amino, C.sub.1-5 alkylamino, hydroxy, C.sub.1-5 alkylcarbonylamino, C.sub.1-5 alkoxy, fluorine bromine or chlorine), phenylC.sub.1-5 alkyl, substituted phenylC.sub.1-5 alkyl (where the phenyl substituents are C.sub.1-5 alkyl, carboxy C.sub.1-5 alkoxycarbonyl, carboxamido, amino, C.sub.1-5 alkylamino, hydroxy, C.sub.1-5 alkylcarbonylamino, C.sub.1-5 alkoxy, fluorine bromine or chlorine), 3-pyridylC.sub.1-5 alkyl, 4-pyridylC.sub.1-5 alkyl, diphenylC.sub.1-2 alkyl, naphthyl or substituted naphthyl (where the naphthyl substituents are C.sub.1-5 alkyl, carboxy C.sub.1-5 alkoxycarbonyl, carboxamido, amino, C.sub.1-5 alkylamino, hydroxy, C.sub.1-5 alkylcarbonylamino, C.sub.1-5 alkoxy, fluorine bromine or chlorine), PA1 R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 are each hydrogen or taken together with the carbon to which they are attached to form a carbonyl, PA1 b is 0 or 1; PA1 G is ##STR15## where the amine of G is bound to the ring methylenes and the methine is bound to the depicted amide, PA1 R.sub.7 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C.sub.1-5 alkyl, carboxyC.sub.1-5 alkyl, phenyl, substituted phenyl (where the phenyl substituents are C.sub.1-5 alkyl, carboxy C.sub.1-5 alkoxycarbonyl, carboxamido, amino, C.sub.1-5 alkylamino, hydroxy, C.sub.1-5 alkylcarbonylamino, C.sub.1-5 alkoxy, fluorine bromine or chlorine), phenylC.sub.1-5 alkyl, substituted phenylC.sub.1-5 alkyl (where the phenyl substituents are C.sub.1-5 alkyl, carboxy C.sub.1-5 alkoxycarbonyl, carboxamido, amino, C.sub.1-5 alkylamino, hydroxy, C.sub.1-5 alkylcarbonylamino, C.sub.1-5 alkoxy, fluorine bromine or chlorine), 3-pyridylC.sub.1-5 alkyl, 4-pyridylC.sub.1-5 alkyl, diphenylC.sub.1-2 alkyl, naphthyl or substituted naphthyl (where the naphthyl substituents are C.sub.1-5 alkyl, carboxy C.sub.1-5 alkoxycarbonyl, carboxamido, amino, C.sub.1-5 alkylamino, hydroxy, C.sub.1-5 alkylcarbonylamino, C.sub.1-5 alkoxy, fluorine bromine or chlorine), PA1 E is carbon or C(CH.sub.2).sub.q --, where q is 0 to 12, with the proviso that the sum of q and m cannot exceed 25, PA1 R.sub.8 and R.sub.9 are each hydrogen or taken together with the carbon of E to form a carbonyl, PA1 g is 0 or 1; PA1 or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. PA1 A is ##STR16## where R.sub.3 is hydrogen and n is 1; B is ##STR17## where R.sub.4 is 2-methyl-1-propyl and R.sub.5 is taken together with R.sub.6 to form a carbonyl. A known N-protected .alpha.-amino acid Ia, is coupled at room temperature to a known C-protected amino acid Ib, using HOBT/DCC in an inert solvent, such as DMF, CH.sub.3 CN or THF, over 5-24 h. Although HOBT/DCC is the preferred coupling agent other agents can be used and include: BOP, BOP-Cl and PyBrOP. The protecting groups are chosen in order to permit selective removal, where the favored protecting groups are CBZ for nitrogen and t-butoxycarbonyl for carboxy. However, other well known protecting groups may be substituted and are described in Green, Theodora Protecting Groups in Organic Synthesis; John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1981. As illustrated the CBZ group is removed by hydrogenation at approximately 20 psig using Pd(OH).sub.2 /C as a catalyst. However, other conditions may be used such as catalytic transfer hydrogenation using Pd/C and formic acid. The resulting C-protected di-peptide Ic, is coupled to an N-protected aliphatic amino acid, Id, followed by removal of the N-protecting group to give amine Ie. As illustrated, the CBZ serves as the N-protecting group and Pd/(OH).sub.2 is the hydrogenation catalyst. However either the protecting group or the reaction conditions may be modified as previously described. Intermediate Ie is coupled to 6-imino4-methylbenzenesulfonyl)-amino!methyl!amino!-2-(R,S)-2-(trimet hylsilyl)ethoxy!methoxy!-3(S)-9-phenylmethoxycarbonyl)-amino!hexanoic acid, ( Maryanoff et al. Journal of the American Chemical Society 1995, 117, 1225-39) using HOBT/DCC at room temperature for 4-24 h in an inert solvent and deprotected with Pd(OH).sub.2 to give the arginine derivative If. The t-butoxycarbonyl and SEM protecting groups are removed with TFA and the resulting intermediate is coupled at room temperature with BOP-Cl and DMAP in an inert solvent such as CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2 to give the hydroxy macrocyclic derivative Ig. Compound Ig is oxidized using the Dess-Martin periodinane in an anhydrous aprotic solvent and deprotected using HF in the presence of a carbocation scavenger such as anisole, thioanisole, pentamethylbenzene, dimethylsulfide or cresol to give a compound of Formula I. PA1 A is ##STR23## where R.sub.3 is hydrogen and n is 1; B is ##STR24## where R.sub.4 is benzyl and R.sub.5 is taken together with R.sub.6 to form a carbonyl; and PA1 G is ##STR25## where E, R.sub.8 and R.sub.9 are taken together to form a carbonyl and R.sub.7 is 4-chlorobenzyl. PA1 A is ##STR33## where R.sub.3 is hydrogen and n is 2; B is ##STR34## where R.sub.4 is benzyl and both R.sub.5 as well as R.sub.6 are hydrogen. A known N-protected aldehyde IIIa, is reductively aminated at room temperature to a known C-protected amino acid IIIb, using NaB(OAc).sub.3 H in an inert solvent, such as CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2 or (CH.sub.2).sub.2 Cl.sub.2 , over 2-16 h. The protecting groups are chosen in order to permit selective removal, where the favored protecting groups are Fmoc for nitrogen and t-butoxycarbonyl for carboxy. However, other protecting groups may be substituted as previously discussed. The free amine of the resulting product IIIc is protected as the CBZ and the Fmoc group of the other amine is cleaved with an anhydrous base such as piperidine to give IIId. Intermediate IIId is coupled to 6-imino4-methylbenzenesulfonyl)-amino!methyl!amino!-2-(R,S)-2-(trimet hylsilyl)ethoxy!methoxy!-3(S)-9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl)-amino!hexanoic acid, (Maryanoff et al. Journal of the American Chemical Society 1995, 117, 1225-39) using HOBT/DCC at room temperature for 4-24 h in an inert solvent and deprotected with Pd(OH).sub.2 to give the arginine derivative IIIe. The Fmoc group is removed with an organic base and the t-butoxycarbonyl and SEM protecting groups are removed with TFA. The resulting intermediate is coupled at room temperature with BOP-Cl and DMAP in an inert solvent such as CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2 to give the hydroxy macrocyclic derivative IIIf. Compound IIIf is oxidized using the Dess-Martin periodinane in an anhydrous aprotic solvent and deprotected using HF in the presence of a carbocation scavenger to give a compound of Formula I. PA1 A is ##STR40## where R.sub.3 is hydrogen and n is 1; and ##STR41## G is where E, R.sub.8 and R.sub.9 are taken together to form a carbonyl and R.sub.7 is phenyl. PA1 A is ##STR47## where R.sub.3 is methoxy; n is 1; PA1 B is ##STR48## where R.sub.4 is 4-chlorobenzyl and R.sub.5 is taken together with R6 to form a carbonyl; and PA1 G is ##STR49## where E is carbon, R.sub.8 and R.sub.9 are hydrogen and R.sub.7 is hydrogen. PA1 A is ##STR61## where R.sub.3 is hydrogen and n is 1; B is ##STR62## where R.sub.4 is benzyl and R.sub.5 is taken together with R.sub.6 to form a carbonyl; and PA1 G is ##STR63## where E, R.sub.8 and R.sub.9 are taken together to form a carbonyl and R.sub.7 is benzyl.
R.sub.3 is hydrogen, hydroxy or C.sub.1-5 alkoxy, PA2 n is 1 or 2 and PA2 a is 0 or 1; PA2 R.sub.4 is selected from the group consisting of any of hydrogen, C.sub.1-5 alkyl, carboxy C.sub.1-5 alkyl, phenyl, substituted phenyl (where the phenyl substituents are C.sub.1-5 alkyl, carboxy C.sub.1-5 alkoxycarbonyl, carboxamido, amino, C.sub.1-5 alkylamino, hydroxy, C.sub.1-5 alkylcarbonylamino, C.sub.1-5 alkoxy, fluorine, bromine or chlorine), phenylC.sub.1-5 alkyl, substituted phenylC.sub.1-5 alkyl (where the phenyl substituents are C.sub.1-5 alkyl, carboxy C.sub.1-5 alkoxycarbonyl, carboxamido, amino, C.sub.1-5 alkylamino, hydroxy, C.sub.1-5 alkylcarbonylamino, C.sub.1-5 alkoxy, fluorine bromine or chlorine), 3-pyridylC.sub.1-5 alkyl, 4-pyridylC.sub.1-5 alkyl, diphenylC.sub.1-2 alkyl, naphthyl or substituted naphthyl (where the naphthyl substituents are C.sub.1-5 alkyl, carboxy C.sub.1-5 alkoxycarbonyl, carboxamido, amino, C.sub.1-5 alkylamino, hydroxy, C.sub.1-5 alkylcarbonylamino, C.sub.1-5 alkoxy, fluorine bromine or chlorine),
An additional aspect of the invention relates to novel compounds of the Formula II which are intermediates in the synthesis of compounds for the Formula I, ##STR8## wherein: R.sub.1 is hydroxy;
Yet another aspect of the invention relates to novel thrombin inhibitors of the Formula III. ##STR12## wherein: m is 2 to 12;
The terms used in describing the invention are commonly used and known to those skilled in the art. However, the terms that could have other meanings are defined. "Independently" means that when there are more than one substituent, the substitutents may be the same or different. The term "alkyl" refers to straight, cyclic and branched-chain alkyl groups and "alkoxy" refers to O-alkyl where alkyl is as defined supra. "CBZ" refers to benzyloxycarbonyl. "BOC" refers to t-butoxycarbonyl and "Ts" refers to toluenesulfonyl. "DCC" refers to 1,3-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, "DMAP" refers to 4-N'N-dimethylaminopyridine and "HOBT" refers to 1-hydroxybenzotriazole hydrate. "FMoc" refers to N-(9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl). Amino acid refers to compounds where the amino group and the carboxy group are on different carbon atoms. The term .alpha.-amino acid, refers to compounds where both the carboxy and the amino group are attached to the same carbon atom. The stereochemistry of this carbon is indicated by the terms "D and L" where D indicates right-handed chirality.

Macrocyclic peptides useful in the treatment of thrombin related disorders


Provides is a method of manufacturing an insert-molded article enabling to perform resin molding and tie bar cutting in one step and so as not to expose the cut planes of the tie bars to the external surface of the resin. A lead frame 1 provided with easily breakable notches 3a at positions closer to the metal component than the interfaces of tie bars 3 to be resin molded is prepared and positioned by means of pilot pins 11 provided to a lower mold 10. A metal component 4 is sandwiched between support protrusions 13 and component fixing pins 24 by lowering an upper mold 20 with the lead frame being positioned. Tie bar cutting punches 23 provided to the upper mold 20 are pressed against the tie bars, the tie bars 3 are separated from the metal component 4 by breaking the notches 3a, and the surroundings of the metal component 4 are filled with resin while the molds are closed. By this, the cut surfaces between the metal component 4 and the tie bars 3 are buried in the molded resin 7.

Conventionally, an insert-molded article, that is a resin molded metal component, have been widely used for a package for an electronic component, etc. The insert-molded article is usually manufactured by punching out the lead frame from a hoop material in a state where the metal component and a runner are connected by tie bars, setting the lead frame in a mold, injecting resin to resin-mold and the metal component, subsequently taking out the lead frame from the mold, and separating the insert-molded article from the lead frame by cutting the tie bars.
In the method of manufacturing an insert-molded article mentioned above, however, it is necessary for tie bars to be removed from the lead frame taken out from the mold by cutting in another process, and thereby, more working hours are required and a mold for a single purpose of being cut is required, thus resulting in increased equipment cost.
In order to address such a problem, a method of setting a lead frame in a forming mold, and cutting tie bars with cut means provided to the forming mold, while molding a metal component in the lead frame with resin at the same time, is proposed in Patent Document 1. Since, in this case, resin molding and tie bar cutting can be performed in a single process, not only working hours but also equipment cost can be decreased.    Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-289059

Method of manufacturing insert-molded article and apparatus therefor


A wound golf ball has a wound core enclosed with a multilayer cover. The wound core consists of a center ball and a thread rubber layer. The multilayer cover includes an inner layer, an outer layer, and an adhesive layer therebetween. The adhesive layer forms a firm joint between the cover inner and outer layers whereby the ball is improved in restitution, spin and durability. The outer cover is formed of a non-yellowing thermoplastic polyurethane. The cover outer layer is injection molded on the adhesive layer.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a wound golf ball having a multilayer cover, and more particularly, to a wound golf ball which is improved in restitution, spin, and durability.
2. Prior Art
As is well known in the art, wound golf balls are superior in spin, controllability, and hitting feel compared to solid golf balls.
In the prior art, wound golf balls are manufactured by winding high stretching thread rubber around a liquid or solid center to form a thread rubber layer thereon, and enclosing the thread rubber layer with a cover of balata rubber or ionomer resin.
As compared with wound balata balls, the wound golf balls using ionomer resins as the cover stock are superior in flight distance on driver shots, but inferior in spin properties necessary for approach play on the green. On the other hand, wound balata balls are less durable, for example, in that their cover presenting the ball surface can be scuffed or fretted by bunker shots and cut when topped with iron clubs.
For the purpose of improving spin property and durability, a wound golf ball using a softer ionomer resin as the cover stock was also proposed. This ball has problems that it produces little difference in flight distance on driver shots from the wound balata balls and that it can be cut in the cover when topped with iron clubs as are the wound balata balls.
From this standpoint, the inventors proposed in JP-A 224323/1996 a new type of wound golf ball comprising a solid center and a cover of a two layer structure wherein the cover outer layer has a low hardness and the cover inner layer has a high hardness. This wound golf ball has many advantages. On approach shots, the ball is susceptible to spin and hence, improved in spin properties and controllability because the cover outer layer is soft. Because the cover inner layer has a high hardness and the cover as a whole has satisfactory restitution or resilience, the ball produces an increased initial velocity and a low spin rate on driver shots, which insures an increased flight distance. The combination of the soft outer layer and the hard inner layer provides improved cut durability. The outer layer formed of a low hardness ionomer resin is improved in scuff resistance over a balata cover and high hardness ionomer resin covers.
Such wound golf balls, however, are still desired to increase the ball bounce for increasing the flight distance and to further improve the spin performance. The balls are also desired to be so durable that the ball can be used repeated times.


A gas flow pass has a gas flow direction deflecting member arranged in the gas flow pass for deflecting a gas flow direction outward with respect to a center of the gas flow pass, and a foreign substance trapping member arranged at a downstream position of the gas flow direction deflecting member and arranged on a part of or all of an inner surface of the gas flow pass. Therefore, it is possible to obtain the gas flow pass which can prevent a damage of the foreign substances in the gas flow and have a long term reliability.

(1) Field of the invention
The present invention relates to a gas flow pass through which a gas and the other foreign substances including a solid member such as a metal plate and a liquid member such as water are passed.
(2) Related Art Statement
For example, in an exhaust gas flow pass of an internal combustion engine, solid members and liquid members are clashed against an inner wall of the exhaust gas flow pass, or a construction member arranged in the gas flow pass or connected with the gas flow pass at a high speed together with a gas flow, so that the inner wall of the gas flow pass or the construction member are broken. As the solid members, there are rust or welding scraps on an inner surface of the flow pass wall, dust inserted into the flow pass in the case of installation, and so on. As the liquid members, there are a condensed water and so on.
In these cases, in order to protect an inner wall 53 of a gas flow pass 51 shown in FIGS. 12a and 12b from the solid members and the liquid members, or to protect a honeycomb structural body 52 having a construction shown in FIG. 12c from a breakage, a metal net 54 shown in FIG. 12a or an protection member 55 shown in FIG. 12b is arranged at an upstream position of the gas flow pass or the honeycomb structural body 52.
However, even if the metal net 54 or the protection member 55 is arranged as mentioned above, it is not possible to eliminate completely the solid members and the liquid members, and thus a long term reliability of the gas flow pass is decreased. That is to say, a damage on the surface of the gas flow pass is generated due to foreign substances flowing from an upstream position of the gas flow pass. Moreover, a fracture of the construction member positioned at a downstream is generated due to foreign substances flowing from an upstream position of the gas flow pass. Further, in the case that the foreign substances flowing from an upstream position of the gas flow pass have a conductivity and are contacted with an electric circuit arranged in the gas flow pass, an electric short is liable to occur and thus a long term reliability of the gas flow pass can not be maintained.


A yarn feed system, enabling the control of individual yarns to the needles of a tufting machine, and which system can be manufactured as a substantially standardized unit or attachment that can be removably mounted to a tufting machine. The yarn feed unit includes a series of yarn feed devices for feeding each of the yarns to the needles of the tufting machine, and a series of yarn feed controllers that monitor and control the operation of the yarn feed devices to control the feeding of the yarns to the needles according to programmed pattern instructions.

In the carpet-tufting field, there is considerable emphasis placed on developing new, eye-catching carpet patterns to keep up with changing consumer tastes and increased competition in the marketplace. With the introduction of computer controls for tufting machines, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,867,080, greater precision and variety in designing and producing tufted patterned carpets has been possible while also enabling enhanced production speeds. In addition, computerized design centers have been developed, such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,058,518, to enable designers to design and develope visual representations of patterns on a computer and generate the pattern requirements such a yarn feed, pile heights, etc. that will e input into a tufting machine controller for forming such patterns.
Traditionally, pattern attachments such as roll or scroll pattern attachments have been used for controlling the feeding of selected groups of yarns to the needles of a tufting machine having such a pattern attachment. Such roll and/or scroll pattern attachments include a series of yarn feed rolls that feed the selected groups of yarns to selected ones of the needles. By controlling the operation of these feed rolls, the rate of feed of the yarns to the needles is controlled for varying the pile heights of the tufts of yarn formed in a backing material passing through the tufting machine, so as to enable some tufts of yarn to be back-robbed and hidden by adjacent tufts in order to form different pattern repeats across the width of the backing material.
A significant problem, however, that exists with the use of such traditional pattern attachments and even with more recently developed scroll type pattern attachments such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,244,203, which discloses a servo-motor controlled scroll type pattern attachment for a tufting machine, has been the requirement for tube banks that extend from the pattern attachment feed rolls at varying lengths across the tufting machine for feeding the yarns from the pattern attachment feed rolls to the needles. Such tube banks include a plurality of tubes of varying lengths, along which the yarns are urged or fed to their respective needles. The problem with such tube banks generally has been that the yarns passing through the longer tubes are typically subjected to increased drag or friction as they are passed along the increased length of their tubes, such that it has been difficult to achieve high amounts of precision and responsiveness to changes in the pattern across the width of the carpet. The use of the tube banks further adds a significant cost both in terms of manufacture and set up of the machines, as well as significantly increasing the complexity of operation of the tufting machines.
In addition, systems such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,244,203 and 6,213,036 have attempted to achieve greater precision and control of the feeding of the yarns by the pattern attachment through the use of an increased number of feed rolls and drive motors for feeding selected ones of the yarns to selected needles. However, as the number of yarn feed rolls and number of motors associated therewith for driving such individual yarn feed rolls is increased, there is likewise a corresponding increase in the costs of such pattern attachments. In addition, increasing the number of motors and feed rolls further increases the complexity of manufacturing such pattern attachments, as well as the set up of such attachments as a part of a tufting machine when the machine is installed in the field. In addition, the reliability of such systems generally becomes of greater concern, given the increased number of feed devices being controlled by the tufting machine controller and the corresponding amount of wiring and electrical connections that must be assembled and made in the field with the set up of the tufting machine and pattern attachments.
Accordingly, it can be seen that a need exists for a system that addresses these and other related and unrelated problems in the art.


A method for treating a sinus cavity is provided. The method includes the steps of inserting a plasma applicator into a sinus cavity defined in a bone mass, positioning the plasma applicator adjacent a tissue formation, generating a selectively reactive plasma effluent at the plasma applicator and directing the selectively reactive plasma effluent at the tissue formation. The selective nature of the reactive plasma enables treatment of specific targets inside the sinus while minimizing the effect on other tissues. Such treatment includes, but not limited to, sterilization of bacterial colonies, vaporization of unwanted tissues or foreign masses, stimulation of tissues by enriching the content of reactive oxygen and nitrous oxide pathways, and combinations thereof.

Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to plasma devices and processes for surface processing and tissue removal. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a system and method for generating and directing chemically reactive, plasma-generated species in a plasma device along with excited-state species (e.g., energetic photons) that are specific to the supplied feedstocks for treating tissue.
Background of Related Art
Electrical discharges in dense media, such as liquids and gases at or near atmospheric pressure, can, under appropriate conditions, result in plasma formation. Plasmas have the unique ability to create large amounts of chemical species, such as ions, radicals, electrons, excited-state (e.g., metastable) species, molecular fragments, photons, and the like. The plasma species may be generated in a variety of internal energy states or external kinetic energy distributions by tailoring plasma electron temperature and electron density. In addition, adjusting spatial, temporal and temperature properties of the plasma creates specific changes to the material being irradiated by the plasma species and associated photon fluxes. Plasmas are also capable of generating photons including energetic ultraviolet photons that have sufficient energy to initiate photochemical and photocatalytic reaction paths in biological and other materials that are irradiated by the plasma photons.
Chronic sinusitis originates from several sources including, but not limited to, infection by bacteria that may form biofilms, fungus that can form large fungal masses within the sinus, allergic reactions to infecting agents, chronic viral conditions such as HPV, and combinations thereof. These sources create inflammation in the sinus cavity that result in eosinophils, which in turn concentrate in the sinuses creating even greater inflammation and the degeneration of the mucosa into polyp formation and weakening of the underlying bone mass. Over time the sinuses cavities fill with foreign material or polyps that originate from the mucosa that lines the sinus cavity. Conventional treatments strip the sinus cavity of all mucosa, which results in the sinus lining reforming from scar tissue rather than epithelial mucosa. More conservative conventional treatments focus on removing the bulk of the material while attempting to preserve as much mucosa as possible. The preferred surgical tool for sinus surgery is a microdebrider available from many manufacturers and well known in the industry. These devises have no tissue selective properties and cut the softened bone equally as well as the overlying tissue using mechanical cutting.


A deaeration vessel has a partition wall dividing the hollow vessel body into first and second portions, and defining a weir with a top surface establishing the level of pulp suspension in the vessel body. Turbulence in the deaerated pulp is minimized by providing the outlet for deaerated pulp immediately adjacent the partition wall, in the bottom of the vessel body first portion (on the same side of the weir as the inlet conduits for the suspension being deaerated). The weir is preferably configured so that the top surface, defining the liquid level within the vessel, overlies the outlet. A partition wall may extend substantially linearly at an angle of about 60.degree. to the bottom of the vessel, or it may have a vertical bottom with a top extending at an angle to the bottom, or it may be continuously curved from the vessel bottom to the top surface, about a horizontal and/or vertical axis. The outlet may have an enlarged, non-circular configuration at the bottom, which then tapers to a circular outlet conduit.

The present invention relates to a deaeration vessel as used in the paper and pulp industry. The invention relates specially to an improvement both in the outlet duct of the main stock flow and the weir used for maintaining a constant level of liquid.
The best known commercially available deaeration vessel is sold under the trade mark DECULATOR by A. Ahlstrom Corporation of Finland. Deaeration vessels are designed to remove air and other gases from cellulose fiber suspensions, and simultaneously separate other light impurities, that would otherwise be detrimental to the paper-making process.
Deaeration vessels are large vessels, into which the fiber suspension is introduced as dilute mixture (e.g. about 0.1-3%, typically about 0.4-1%, consistency). The operating principle of the vessel is to boil the fiber suspension in sub-atmospheric pressure and thus separate the gas into a gas space within the vessel and then to withdraw it from the vessel, and to allow other light impurities to be separated by movement onto the liquid surface in the vessel because of their relatively small density. The suspension is withdrawn via an opening in the bottom of the vessel, in as "deaerated" a state as possible, and directed to the paper-making machine.
In order to maximize the deaerating capability of the vessel, the vessel is evacuated by means of a vacuum pump, so that the gas is withdrawn through the vacuum pump. The deaerating capability is further enhanced by introducing the suspension via nozzles above the liquid level in the vessel, whereby the gas, if any, present in the suspension in the form of bubbles is separated even before the introduced suspension contacts the suspension in the vessel. Besides regulating the level of liquid, the overflow is used for removing any light impurities collected on the liquid surface in the vessel, so as not to allow them to reach the paper-making machine. The light impurities flow over the weir to reject and further treatment, so that the impurities are separated from the suspension as is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,084,161, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.
Conventionally the weir is usually located near one end of the vessel, and the outlet for the suspension to be directed to paper-making machine is located at about the middle of the vessel, as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,206,917, 4,419,109, and Re. 29, 472. The tendency of the deaerated suspension to form turbulence and thereby pressure fluctuations near and at the outlet, has long been a problem. The turbulence and pressure fluctuations are caused when the direction of the flow changes from a horizontal vessel flow to a downward outlet flow. It has been determined according to the invention that the source of the turbulence is on the surface of the suspension, where a formed vortex--when of sufficient magnitude--induces a pressure pulse in the suspension to be withdrawn, or, at least entrains suspension actually meant to be withdrawn at the overflow with light impurities accumulated therein. Besides the pressure fluctuations caused by the turbulence in the flow to the paper-making machine, the turbulence causes fluctuations in the exhaust overflow that is returned to circulation after treatment, which in turn causes instability.
The long-standing turbulence problem is significant because the web-forming process of a paper-making machine is very sensitive to different oscillations caused by the flow, turbulence, waving etc. of the suspension.
The improved deaeration vessel according to the invention overcomes the above drawbacks in prior art vessels. The vessel of the invention optimizes the relative locations of the weir and the outlet for the deaerated suspension so that no detrimental turbulence is formed, so that both the quality of the suspension directed to the paper-making machine and the steady operation of the process are improved. Also, the end product, i.e. paper, encounters no quality problems due to malfunctions of the deaeration apparatus. According to the invention, the vibration of the vessel itself, due to the movement of the suspension, is also significantly reduced compared to prior art vessels.
A characteristic feature of a deaeration vessel according to the invention is that the partition wall forming the weir is located immediately adjacent (e.g. less than about 50-250 mm from) the downstream side of the periphery of the deaerated medium outlet.
The invention also contemplates a method of deaerating cellulose pulp suspension, such as one having a consistency of about 0.1-3%, typically about 0.4-1%. The method comprises the steps of: Introducing pulp suspension into the vessel first portion above the liquid level. Withdrawing gas which separates from the pulp suspension from above the liquid level. Withdrawing liquid that passes over the weir from the second portion of the vessel. And, withdrawing deaerated pulp from the first portion immediately adjacent the weir so as to minimize turbulence in and of the deaerated pulp suspension withdrawn from the vessel first portion. The method may also comprise the additional step of directing deaerated suspension toward the bottom of the weir by the weir configuration, i.e. by defining the top surface, liquid level defining, portion of the weir so that it overlies the outlet through which the deaerated suspension is withdrawn.
It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a deaeration vessel (and method of the utilization of the same) which is advantageous compared to the prior art. This and other objects of the invention will become clear from an inspection of the detailed description of the invention and from the appended claims.


When a display query is received, the display query is evaluated and sensor data is transmitted to a display control in a vehicle computer via a first data path and displayed on a display device. A graphical user interface is loaded and transmitted to the display control unit via a second data path. The graphical user interface is synchronized with the display of the sensor data and the synchronized graphical user interface is displayed with the sensor data on the display device.

Described below are a method and a display system for displaying sensor data from a sensor on a display and a motor vehicle having the display system.
In modern multimedia systems or in vehicle computers, the display of reversing camera images and further optical contents, for example a view all around the vehicle, depends on the user interface of the respective system. Communication between logical units of a user interface and the respective control device in the vehicle may contain multi-level dialogs and, depending on the respective architecture, may run through various interfaces. Coordination between multimedia systems and function control devices is needed in order to be able to ensure a correct display of the information within the scope of a defined overall concept of the user interface.
In common multimedia systems, only the logical units of the user interface are responsible for the displayed contents (for example video stream, navigation map and so on) as soon as the user interface is available. As a result of multi-layer communication which is present in vehicle computers, an unavoidable latency is produced for each layer to be run through. Furthermore, the logical units of the user interface do not have real-time capability and their latencies are decisively dependent on a system load, a state of the user interface and inputs by the user. In addition, many of the common user interfaces are based on a technology in which virtual machines cause additional unavoidable latencies during garbage collection operations, for example Java technology. Furthermore, buffered transitions to other contexts of the multimedia system may result in a delay or even interruption in the display, for example a command to display a navigation map or a very large number of successive user inputs. This may result in unpredictable fluctuations in the time between a request for an item of information and the display or even in an interruption in the active display. For example, a time difference may occur between engaging a reverse gear in a vehicle and the display of a reversing camera image. Reliable compliance with legally predefined times and legally relevant displays, which are relevant to approval under certain circumstances, therefore is possibly not guaranteed.
DE 10 2009 018 586 A1 discloses a computer system having at least one central vehicle computer which, for the purpose of displaying data, is connected to a plurality of operating units via a bus system and is connected to at least one display via a display data line. Furthermore, the computer system contains a camera system for acquiring image data and a plurality of camera image data lines for transmitting image data from the camera system to the display via an image data processing unit. The image data processing unit is a video control device which operates independently of the vehicle computer. The disadvantage of the known computer system is that an additional image data line and an additional image data processing unit have to be present in addition to the vehicle computer. An already existing vehicle computer which does not have real-time capability can be converted to form a faster vehicle computer, in particular a vehicle computer with real-time capability, only at high cost by installing additional hardware components.
DE 10 2013 000 273 A1 discloses an apparatus for displaying an item of information on a display of a driving-relevant processing unit in a vehicle, wherein the driving-relevant processing unit uses first image data and second image data to generate a superimposed image from contents of the two forms of image data and displays the image on a display.
DE 10 2017 110 896 A1 discloses a reversing video system for a vehicle, wherein a reversing camera generates a raw video signal. A video modification module receives the raw video signal and generates a modified video signal on the basis thereof. A video analysis module analyzes whether the modified video signal is valid or impermissible. A switch outputs the modified video signal to a display, if the vehicle is reversing and the modified video signal is valid, and outputs the raw video signal to the display, if the vehicle is reversing and the modified video signal is impermissible.

Method and display system for displaying sensor data from a sensor device on a display device, and motor vehicle having a display system


An internally threaded anchor for use in poured concrete floors having a metal deck or a wood form. The threaded anchor provides quick and easy attachment to threaded support rods that carry racks for utilities, piping, or ceiling grid systems. Each threaded anchor is capable of accepting different diameter rods or bolts with different thread cuts. Each anchor accepts the different diameter threaded rods by a single insertion motion, without the need to thread the rod into the anchor. Full insertion is visually verifiable when the marked end of the rod inserted into the anchor is no longer visible. An authentication tag visible upon full insertion indicates that authorized rod is being used.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to improvements in anchors for poured concrete, metal deck or wood deck ceilings in multi-story buildings, and more particularly, pertains to new and improved threaded anchors that are attached to the metal or wood deck prior to pouring of the concrete so that when the concrete sets, these anchors may be used as support points for suspended utilities such as plumbing pipes, mechanical piping, mechanical equipment, cable trays, bus ducts, HVAC ducts, electrical conduit, conduit racks, junction boxes and panels, or for seismic bracing for example.
2. Description of Related Art
Various concrete inserts or anchors have been used to retain support rods in poured concrete ceilings. Examples of such devices are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,240,697, granted Jun. 5, 2001 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,093,400, granted Aug. 22, 2006.
The anchors described therein perform their functions satisfactorily. U.S. Pat. No. 6,240,697, for example describes an anchor that has the capability of accepting two different diameter threaded rod. However, the threaded rod has to be threaded into the anchor, located in the concrete ceiling, from the floor below. Because such anchors are utilized in high rise buildings in large quantity, threading a rod into each anchor is a very time consuming and inefficient procedure.
Quick acting nut or coupling assemblies which facilitate quick connection of a bolt by an initial axial insertion of the bolt into the specially designed nut and subsequent rotation of the bolt to tighten, are known in the art. An example of such a structure can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,427,488, granted Jun. 27, 1995 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,361,260, granted Mar. 26, 2002. The quick connecting nut or coupling assembly described in these patents require that a threaded bolt pass through the entire nut assembly starting at an input aperture and out an output aperture. U.S. Pat. No. 5,468,105 illustrates a quick connecting anchor for a wood deck poured concrete slab that uses sliding threaded segments like shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,427,488 and 6,361,260. The anchor has a closed top. Threaded rod is connected by an axial insertion. The anchor is constructed so that the threads on the sliding segments engage the rod threads some distance away from the rod end.
The concrete inserts illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 6,240,697 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,093,400, do not use a quick connect nut structure. They have one open end for threading a rod or bolt against a closed end. These concrete anchors do not provide a user with a visual indication of full engagement. Even when the threaded rod or bolt cannot be turned any further in the anchor, full engagement is not assured. Use of a quick connect coupling assembly such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,427,488, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,361,260, and the anchor described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,468,105, do not provide visual feedback of full engagement to a user inserting a rod into the anchor from the floor below. The user is left unsure of whether the threaded rod is fully engaged with the coupling segments of the anchor. Furthermore, these quick connect devices do not contemplate accepting more than one diameter of threaded rod.
The present invention provides a quick connecting threaded anchor for poured concrete, metal or wood decks, which allow for quick connection, by axial insertion of different diameter threaded rods in one anchor, while at the same time providing visual feedback that the threaded rod has been fully engaged by the anchor. Such a visual indication is critical for installation in high rise buildings that use the inserts as support for ducts, electrical conduits and the like, and require an anchor that will meet seismic requirements.

Quick connect anchor for poured concrete ceilings on metal or wood decks


Aspects of this invention inter alia relate to novel systems for targeting, editing or manipulating DNA in a cell, comprising one or more heterologous vector(s) encoding a SluCas9 nuclease from Staphylococcus lugdunensis or variants thereof, and one or more guide RNAs (gRNAs), or a SluCas9 nuclease or variant thereof and one or more gRNAs.

Endonucleases such as Zinc-finger endonucleases (ZFNs), Transcription-activator like effector nucleases (TALENs) and ribonucleases have been harnessed as site-specific nucleases for genome targeting, genome editing, gene silencing, transcription modulation, promoting recombination and other molecular biological techniques. CRISPR-Cas systems provide a source of novel nucleases and endonucleases, including CRISPR-Cas9.
Editing genomes using the RNA-guided DNA targeting principle of CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats)-Cas ((CRISPR associated proteins), as described in WO2013/176722, has been exploited widely over the past few years. Three types of CRISPR-Cas systems (type I, type II and IIb, and type III) have previously been described, and a fourth was more recently identified (type V). Most uses of CRISPR-Cas for genome editing have been with the type II system. The main advantage provided by the bacterial type II CRISPR-Cas system lies in the minimal requirement for programmable DNA interference: an endonuclease, Cas9, guided by a customizable dual-RNA structure. As initially demonstrated in the original type II system of Streptococcus pyogenes, trans-activating CRISPR RNA (tracrRNA) binds to the invariable repeats of precursor CRISPR RNA (pre-crRNA) forming a dual-RNA that is essential for both RNA co-maturation by RNase III in the presence of Cas9, and invading DNA cleavage by Cas9. As demonstrated in Streptococcus pyogenes, Cas9 guided by the duplex formed between mature activating tracr RNA and targeting crRNA introduces site-specific double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) breaks in the invading cognate DNA. Cas9 is a multi-domain enzyme that uses an HNH nuclease domain to cleave the target strand (defined as complementary to the spacer sequence of crRNA) and a RuvC-like domain to cleave the non-target strand, enabling the conversion of the dsDNA cleaving Cas9 into a nickase by selective motif inactivation. DNA cleavage specificity is determined by two parameters: the variable, spacer-derived sequence of crRNA targeting the protospacer sequence (a protospacer is defined as the sequence on the DNA target that is non-complementary to the spacer of crRNA) and a short sequence, the Protospacer Adjacent Motif (PAM), located immediately 3′ (downstream) of the protospacer on the non-target DNA strand.
Studies have demonstrated that RNA-guided Cas9 can be employed as a genome editing tool in human cells, mice, zebrafish, drosophila, worms, plants, yeast and bacteria, as well as various other species. The system is versatile, enabling multiplex genome engineering by programming Cas9 to edit several sites in a genome simultaneously by using multiple guide RNAs. The conversion of Cas9 into a nickase was shown to facilitate homology-directed repair in mammalian genomes with reduced mutagenic activity. In addition, the DNA-binding activity of a Cas9 catalytic inactive mutant has, for example, been exploited to engineer RNA-programmable transcriptional silencing and activating devices or epigenetic modifiers.
The present invention provides a novel CRISPR-Cas endonuclease of the CRISPR-Cas9 family from Staphylococcus lugdunensis (SluCas9) and variants thereof having different and advantageous characteristics and functionalities from known CRISPR-Cas endonucleases and thus provides further opportunities for genome editing that previously did not exist. The present invention further provides suitable PAM sequences and suitable guide RNAs (gRNAs), such as single-guide-RNAs (sgRNAs), for use in prokaryotic, eukaryotic, and in vitro environments.
Existing CRISPR-Cas 9 systems have one or more of the following disadvantages:                a) Their size is too large to be carried inside the genome of established therapeutically-suitable viral transfection systems such as adeno associated viruses (AAVs).        b) Their activity in non-host environments is generally too low for use in these environments, for example, too low for efficient use in eukaryotic, and in particular in mammalian environments.        c) Their nuclease action lacks fidelity, leading to unwanted off target effects that would for example make them unsuitable for gene therapeutic uses or other applications requiring high precision.        d) They may trigger an immune response that can limit their use for in vivo applications in mammals.        e) They require complex and/or long PAMs that restrict target selection for the DNA-targeting segment s.
The novel SluCas9 CRISPR-Cas system provided herein exhibits advantageous characteristics over the already existing CRISPR-Cas systems. In some embodiments, the SluCas9 CRISPR-Cas system exhibits a higher activity in prokaryotic, eukaryotic, and/or in vitro environments, and/or greater expression of the Cas endonuclease from a nucleic acid in eukaryotic environments, such as, e.g., a human host cell.

RNA-programmable endonuclease systems and their use in genome editing and other applications


Apparatus and methods in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention convert RGB video to at least one video output of Lab video, YCbCr video, with or without gamma correction, and Srgb video, with or without gamma correction. This conversion increases the flexibility of image information communication by enabling RGB video to be provided to a device that can only handle one of Lab, Srgb and/or YCbCr video.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to color space transformation of RGB video.
2. Description of Related Art
Data relating to color information, such as color images, can be communicated to a broad range of devices, such as, for example, cathode ray tube monitors, televisions, scanners, digital cameras and printers. However, these devices typically utilize numerous different formats and methods of handling the color information. Thus, color information communicated to a certain device may not be in the appropriate format to be utilized by that device. Communicating improperly formatted color information may result in the device incorrectly mapping the color information or even the device being unable to utilize the color information at all.
It is therefore desirable to enable a device, that is only able to handle a specified format of color information, to handle another format of color information that is at least initially different from the specified format. In other words, it is desirable to enable the communication of a first format of color information to a device that is only able to handle a second and different format of color information.
For example, a common format of color information is RGB video. It is therefore desirable to provide methods and apparatus for converting the RGB video into other formats, such as, for example, Lab video, YCbCr video, with or without gamma correction, and/or Srgb video (scanner independent RGB) with or without gamma correction. The apparatus and methods of the invention can use look-up tables to hold data for a non-linear portion of the Lab conversion process and/or to hold data for gamma correction curves.
The invention therefore provides the advantage of increasing the flexibility of image information communication by enabling devices to handle image information that had not been initially formatted to be compatible with the devices. The invention thereby increases the amount of image information that can be handled by various devices.
These and other features and advantages of this invention are described in or are apparent from the following detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the systems and methods according to this invention.

Methods and apparatus for transforming RGB video


A trolling device comprising an elongated body, an adjustable planar guide fin, and an adjustable rudder. The guide fin and rudder are adjusted to optimize trolling performance on either the port or starboard side of a boat.

The present invention relates to fishing devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to bobbers and planers for slow trolling.
Trolling is a popular method of fishing for many recreational species. It is a particularly effective method for certain species in their preferred habitats. However, special devices such as planers, downriggers, and outriggers must be used to put the baits at the desired depth and horizontal distance from the boat. This is especially true when, as is usually the case, it is desired to deploy multiple lines in order to increase the probability of catching a fish. In addition to placing the baits in the desired positions, the above fishing devices enable multiple fishing lines to be spatially separated to minimize entanglement.
Planers are grouped in two general categories, depth planers and side planers. Depth planers are usually nonbuoyant and use a single planar surface that drives the device deep into the water when it is towed behind a slow moving boat. Side planers, are usually buoyant and have one or more planar surfaces to drive the device to either the starboard or port side of the towing vessel.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,548,919, incorporated herein by reference, describes a planar board having a buoyant body with weights that are adjustable for fishing on the port or starboard side of the boat.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,185,951, incorporated herein by reference, describes a trolling device designed to carry a fishing line horizontally away from a boat by means of a fixed keel and rudder. The orientation of the rudder relative to the keel determines whether the device operates on the port or starboard side of the boat. Since the rudder is fixed, individual devices are specifically made for either starboard or port use; they are not adaptable for use on either side.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,181,266, incorporated herein by reference, describes a planar trolling device having a buoyant body with a weighted keel suitable for moving a line horizontally away from a boat. The fishing line is held by a clamping arm that is movable from one side of the body to the other, thereby allowing trolling on the starboard or port side of the boat.