A flow field plate for a fuel cell that has one or more outer layers that makes the plate more conductive and hydrophilic. In one embodiment, the coating is co-deposited as combination of a conductive material and a metal oxide coating. A suitable conductive material is gold and suitable metal oxides include SiO2, HfO2, ZrO2, Al2O3, SnO2, Ta2O5, Nb2O5, MoO2, IrO2, RuO2 and mixtures thereof. The conductive material and metal oxide can also be deposited as two separate layers, where the metal oxide is the outer layer. According to another embodiment, a metal layer is deposited on the plate with nanopores that provide the hydrophilicity. Also, doping ions can be added to the metal oxide to provide low fluoride solubility of the coating to control the rate that hydrofluoric acid etches away the oxide layer.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to bipolar plates for fuel cells and, more particularly, to a process for fabricating a bipolar plate for a fuel cell that includes depositing one or more layers on the plate to make it both conductive and hydrophilic.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Hydrogen is a very attractive fuel because it is clean and can be used to efficiently produce electricity in a fuel cell. The automotive industry expends significant resources in the development of hydrogen fuel cells as a source of power for vehicles. Such vehicles would be more efficient and generate fewer emissions than today's vehicles employing internal combustion engines.
A hydrogen fuel cell is an electro-chemical device that includes an anode and a cathode with an electrolyte therebetween. The anode receives hydrogen gas and the cathode receives oxygen or air. The hydrogen gas is dissociated in the anode to generate free protons and electrons. The protons pass through the electrolyte to the cathode. The protons react with the oxygen and the electrons in the cathode to generate water. The electrons from the anode cannot pass through the electrolyte, and thus are directed through a load to perform work before being sent to the cathode. The work acts to operate the vehicle.
Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) are a popular fuel cell for vehicles. The PEMFC generally includes a solid-polymer-electrolyte proton-conducting membrane, such as a perfluorosulfonic acid membrane. The anode and cathode typically include finely divided catalytic particles, usually platinum (Pt), supported on carbon particles and mixed with an ionomer. The catalytic mixture is deposited on opposing sides of the membrane. The combination of the anode catalytic mixture, the cathode catalytic mixture and the membrane define a membrane electrode assembly (MEA). MEAs are relatively expensive to manufacture and require certain conditions for effective operation. These conditions include proper water management and humidification, and control of catalyst poisoning constituents, such as carbon monoxide (CO).
Several fuel cells are typically combined in a fuel cell stack to generate the desired power. For the automotive fuel cell stack mentioned above, the stack may include about two hundred bipolar plates. The fuel cell stack receives a cathode reactant gas, typically a flow of air forced through the stack by a compressor. Not all of the oxygen is consumed by the stack and some of the air is output as a cathode exhaust gas that may include water as a stack by-product. The fuel cell stack also receives an anode hydrogen reactant gas that flows into the anode side of the stack.
The fuel cell stack includes a series of flow field or bipolar plates positioned between the several MEAs in the stack. The bipolar plates include an anode side and a cathode side for adjacent fuel cells in the stack. Anode gas flow channels are provided on the anode side of the bipolar plates that allow the anode gas to flow to the anode side of the MEA. Cathode gas flow channels are provided on the cathode side of the bipolar plates that allow the cathode gas to flow to the cathode side of the MEA. The bipolar plates also include flow channels through which a cooling fluid flows.
The bipolar plates are typically made of a conductive material, such as stainless steel, titanium, aluminum, polymeric carbon composites, etc., so that they conduct the electricity generated by the fuel cells from one cell to the next cell and out of the stack. Metal bipolar plates typically produce a natural oxide on their outer surface that makes them resistant to corrosion. However, the oxide layer is not conductive, and thus increases the internal resistance of the fuel cell, reducing its electrical performance. Also, the oxide layer makes the plate more hydrophobic.
US Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0228512, assigned to the assignee of this application and herein incorporated by reference, discloses a process for depositing a conductive outer layer on a flow field plate that prevents the plate from oxidizing and increasing its ohmic contact. U.S. Pat. No. 6,372,376, also assigned to the assignee of this application, discloses depositing an electrically conductive, oxidation resistant and acid resistant coating on a flow field plate. US Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0091768, also assigned to the assignee of this application, discloses depositing a graphite and carbon black coating on a flow field plate for making the flow field plate corrosion resistant, electrically conductive and thermally conductive.
As is well understood in the art, the membranes within a fuel cell need to have a certain relative humidity so that the ionic resistance across the membrane is low enough to effectively conduct protons. During operation of the fuel cell, moisture from the MEAs and external humidification may enter the anode and cathode flow channels. At low cell power demands, typically below 0.2 A/cm2, the water accumulates within the flow channels because the flow rate of the reactant gas is too low to force the water out of the channels. As the water accumulates, it forms droplets that continue to expand because of the hydrophobic nature of the plate material. The contact angle of the water droplets is generally about 90° in that the droplets form in the flow channels substantially perpendicular to the flow of the reactant gas. As the size of the droplets increases, the flow channel is closed off, and the reactant gas is diverted to other flow channels because the channels flow in parallel between common inlet and outlet manifolds. Because the reactant gas may not flow through a channel that is blocked with water, the reactant gas cannot force the water out of the channel. Those areas of the membrane that do not receive reactant gas as a result of the channel being blocked will not generate electricity, thus resulting in a non-homogenous current distribution and reducing the overall efficiency of the fuel cell. As more and more flow channels are blocked by water, the electricity produced by the fuel cell decreases, where a cell voltage potential less than 200 mV is considered a cell failure. Because the fuel cells are electrically coupled in series, if one of the fuel cells stops performing, the entire fuel cell stack may stop performing.
It is usually possible to purge the accumulated water in the flow channels by periodically forcing the reactant gas through the flow channels at a higher flow rate. However, on the anode side, this increases the parasitic power applied to the air compressor, thereby reducing overall system efficiency. Moreover, there are many reasons not to use the hydrogen fuel as a purge gas, including reduced economy, reduced system efficiency and increased system complexity for treating elevated concentrations of hydrogen in the exhaust gas stream.
Reducing accumulated water in the channels can also be accomplished by reducing inlet humidification. However, it is desirable to provide some relative humidity in the anode and cathode reactant gases so that the membrane in the fuel cells remains hydrated. A dry inlet gas has a drying effect on the membrane that could increase the cell's ionic resistance, and limit the membrane's long-term durability.

Method to make conductive hydrophilic fuel cell elements


According to one embodiment, the electronic device includes a housing, the first to third printed circuit boards, and a fan unit. The first printed circuit board includes the first heat-generating part secured to the first wiring board. The second printed circuit board includes the second and third heat-generating parts, has an amount of heat generation larger than that of the first printed circuit board, and is located between the first printed circuit board and the second wall. The third printed circuit board includes the fourth heat-generating part, has an amount of heat generation smaller than that of the first printed circuit board, and is located between the first printed circuit board and the first wall.

1. Field
One embodiment of the present invention relates to an electronic device comprising a plurality of printed wiring boards.
2. Description of the Related Art
Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2001-332868 discloses an electronic device comprising a plurality of printed wiring boards arranged inside its cover. This electronic device includes a base member formed into a plate-like shape by an aluminum die-casting, and first to third printed circuit boards mounted on one surface of the base member. On the first printed circuit board, heavy-weight and large-size electronic parts such as a capacitor and an electromagnetic coil are placed. On the second printed circuit board, heat-generating parts such as bear-chip parts of a power transistor are mounted. Further, on the third printed circuit board, small-size electronic parts are mounted.
For adhering the second printed circuit board and the base member together, a high heat-conductive silicon adhesive is used, with which the heat generated from the heat-generating parts is easily released to the base member.
In the electronic device having the above-described structure, the heat generated from the second printed circuit board diffuses to the surroundings via the base member. However, to the base member, the first printed circuit board and the third printed circuit board are adhered, and therefore the heat generated from the second printed circuit board is propagated to the first printed circuit board and the third printed circuit board, thereby causing a thermally adverse effect on these members.


A configuration system for reconfiguring a switch cabinet includes a detection unit—which detects functional units of an electric circuit, which are mounted within a switch cabinet, by way of characteristic features of the functional units, which have unambiguous identification features which are read out by the detection unit. A configuration unit contains a processor, which determines an electric circuit diagram of the electric circuit on the basis of the functional units of the electric circuit which are detected by way of the characteristic features and automatically replaces the detected functional units of the determined circuit diagram with associated replacement functional units which are stored in a database. An output unit is provided for outputting the determined replacement functional units.

A switch cabinet may contain various functional units of an electric circuit. The switch cabinet accommodates electrical and/or electronic functional units of the electric circuit. The electric circuit may form part of a process system or of a production device.
Depending on the application, switch cabinets have a housing, which may consist of plastics material or sheet metal, for receiving the functional units. The various production units or components located within the switch cabinet are interconnected, for example by terminals or terminal strips. Switch cabinets which have in the interior thereof functional units carrying relatively high voltages additionally have a lockable switch cabinet door. The size and construction of switch cabinets may vary depending on the user and the manufacturer. Depending on the application, the functional units of the implemented electric circuit which are mounted in the switch cabinet also vary. These functional units may originate from different manufacturers, and so for a complex electrical circuit a large number of different functional units may be interconnected within the switch cabinet. In conventional switch cabinets, there is a need to extend the electric circuit implemented therein with further functions or to replace functional units mounted in the switch cabinet. A functional unit is replaced for example if the previous functional unit cannot provide some functions or if the functional unit in question is defective. In many applications, it is necessary to reconfigure an existing switch cabinet so as to meet particular requirements, for example performance requirements or safety requirements. In conventional switch cabinets, the switch cabinet can be configured only with considerable effort. Usually, the existing switch cabinet is inspected by a technician so as to identify the functional units mounted therein and to determine how the functional units are interconnected by way of a circuit diagram which may be present. Once the circuit implemented in the electric switch cabinet has been determined, a technician manually replaces at least some of the functional units present with more suitable replacement functional units and creates a corresponding circuit and mounting diagram for the new, reconfigured switch cabinet. This process is extremely time-consuming and error-prone. In addition, the reconfiguration can only be carried out by an employee who is able to read electric circuit diagrams and, from technical data for defective or outdated functional units, to determine corresponding suitable replacement functional units which in addition are suitable or compatible with other existing functional units of the switch cabinet.

Method and system for configuring a switch cabinet


A visual inspection apparatus 10 performing a visual inspection of an electronic component 13 including opposing sides 11, 11a and opposing sides 12, 12a, the apparatus 10 including an optical-path adjusting means 30 changing a traveling direction of a light and setting an appearance of the side 11a of the electronic component 13 temporarily stopped at a first inspection point in an image of the side 11 of the electronic component 13 captured by a first imaging means 31, and an optical-path adjusting means 34 setting an appearance of the side 12a of the electronic component 13 temporarily stopped at a second inspection point in an image of the side 12 of the electronic component 13 captured by a second imaging means 35, thereby performing a visual inspection of the sides 11, 11a, 12, 12a.

Various electronic components, including bare chips and CSPs (Chip Sized Packages), are shipped after a predetermined inspection. A visual inspection apparatus is used for detecting any crack or chip of the electronic component. Specific examples of the apparatus are described, for example, in Patent Literatures 1 and 2. A visual inspection apparatus disclosed in Patent Literature 1 detects if problems in appearance are present or an absent by imaging an appearance of an electronic component (a semiconductor device) with a camera, in which the electronic component being rectangular or square when viewed from above is placed in a recess of an embossed tape. In the vicinity of the embossed tape, a plurality of reflecting mirrors are provided so that a total of three surfaces, a pair of opposing sides and a surface (top side), of the electronic component can be imaged by the one camera. A visual inspection apparatus disclosed in Patent Literature 2 performs an a visual inspection by imaging a pair of opposing sides and a surface (top side) of an electronic component with a camera while feeding the electronic component by a conveyer-belt mechanism.


In a method for tracking postal items, the shipping details of each postal item are stored in a data base that can be interrogated and is updated during shipping. A data record which can be changed and completed is created in each original distribution center and for each postal item that is posted in the center. The data record contains a reference number and data that characterize the postal item and the shipping details. Each posted postal item is provided with an identification key in the original distribution center. The key uniquely characterizes the postal item. The postal items are transported to the destination distribution center, optionally via additional distribution centers. The reference numbers and the original distribution centers are subsequently detected in said succeeding distribution centers and the relevant shipping data including the reference numbers is electronically transmitted to the original distribution centers for completing the data records.

The invention relates to a method for tracking postal items, in which the shipping sequence of each postal item is stored in a data record that can be interrogated and is updated during shipping.
In order to ensure that the shipping of the postal items, such as letters, packages and the like, is carried out uniformly at high quality, it is necessary to determine the times at which a postal item is located where during the shipping sequence. In the case of valuable postal items, the customers (senders or recipients) also wish to have current information frequently as to when the postal item has reached the respective intermediate stations.
According to the prior art, two variants are known. In the first variant, the data records are collected and updated centrally. This requires expensive "high end" computers with a high data throughput. If the quantities of data are very high, then such a system can only be implemented technically in a very complicated manner.
In the second variant, the data records that can be interrogated are dispatched electronically in parallel with the stream of postal items and are stored, changed and supplemented in computers in the respective distribution centers. In this case, finding the information can take a very long time, since a search has to be made through the entire network.


A system for drilling a slender borehole through geologic formations. The system comprises a hollow drill pipe having a drill bit for maintaining gauge of the borehole. A pulsed generator such as a homopolar generator provides the power for operating a downhole rail gun. One or more projectiles are accelerated by the rail gun to impact the geologic formations and to extend the borehole length. A plasma generating material is attached to the projectiles to generate a plasma for accelerating the projectiles, and the projectiles can include a secondary explosive for impacting the geologic formations. A controller controls the operation of the rail gun in cooperation with the drill rate to provide interactive control over the firing rate and energy of projectiles impacting the geologic formations.

The present invention relates to the field of drilling boreholes. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved drill system for generating slender boreholes in geologic formations, and particularly for the purpose of creating geophysical shot holes.
Geophysical seismic operations use explosive charges to generate source signals in the form of shock waves for penetrating subsurface geologic formations. In land-based geophysical seismic operations, slender shot holes several inches in diameter and ranging five to several hundred feet deep are drilled into near surface geologic formations. Explosive charges are positioned within the shot holes, and the explosive charges are detonated to generate the shock waves. The shock waves are reflected from subsurface geologic structures and interfaces, and the reflected energy is detected with receivers or geophones located at the surface. Transducers reduce the reflected energy into signals which are recorded for processing.
Conventional rotary or reciprocating drills can generate shot holes in unconsolidated soils such as topsoil and clay layers. However, conventional drilling equipment is particularly challenged by hard rock. Hard rock drills optimized for hard rock drilling are inefficient in unconsolidated soils because the drill mechanism is fouled by clay materials.
Numerous alternative systems have been developed to generate boreholes in rock. Such systems include water jet assisted drilling, thermal spalling systems, explosive capsule drills, liquid explosive drills, shaped and gauge charges, and combination rotatary and explosive systems. U.S. Pat. No. 3,670,828 to Bennett (1972) used shaped explosive charges detonated by a firing mechanism to impact the geologic formations. U.S. Pat. No. 3,601,061 to Dardick (1971) disclosed a light gas hypervelocity gun. A primary ammunition round having a propellant charge operated in combination with a piston and a secondary ammunition piece. Gas was introduced under pressure into a piston and the primary round was fired.
One tool known as the Tround drilling tool combined a projectile firing gun barrel with a conventional drill bit. The term "Tround" referred to triangular rounds of ammunition and was described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,855,931 to Dardick (1974) as using projectile rounds having a rear chemical propellant charge for accelerating the projectile against the geologic formations. U.S. Pat. No. 4,004,642 to Dardick (1977) described small caliber projectiles fired to generate shock wave interaction, and the utilization of residual gun gases to actuate drill heads and reamers. Mechanical pulverizing teeth pulverized the fractured rock, and this drilling technique increased drilling rates two to five times over conventional drilling systems. A variation of this system was disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,582,147 to Dardick (1986), wherein projectiles were fired away from the tool center to fracture the geologic formations toward one side, thereby causing the drill bit to deflect toward the fractured rock. By controlling the location of the projectile impact relative to the drill head, the direction of the drilling could be controlled.
Another high speed electromagnetically accelerated earth drill was disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,997,047 to Schroeder (1991). Metal ringed, frozen water projectiles were accelerated by a electromagnetic ringing circuit formed with multiple toroidal accelerating coils mounted transverse to the barrel axis. Each projectile included at least two metal rings around the frozen ice core. The multiple accelerating coils were powered with a direct current charger comprising storage batteries charged with a 110 volt battery charger. Alternatively, Schroeder stated that homopolar generators could charge the accelerator coils. The system required multiple timing circuits, projectile position indicators, and variable capacitance storage to effectively phase the coil activations. Alternating polarity between adjacent coils pushed and pulled the projectiles through the barrel.
A recently developed system for breaking rock was disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,474,364 to Ruzzi (1995), wherein shotgun cartridges or other firearm ammunition provided the explosive charge for moving a steel rod to break the rock. In addition to this approach, railgun thrusters have been developed to move projectiles and to generate thrust. U.S. Pat. No. 5,439,191 to Nichols et al. (1995) disclosed a satellite thruster system for generating a high velocity plasma jet. A high energy pulse source was connected to a coaxial or dual-rail accelerator, and a heated propellant plasma was accelerated by a magnetic field. This magnetic field is generated by the rails which generate a "Lorenz" magnetic force perpendicular to the magnetic field on the plasma. The magnetic field accelerates a plasma through the parallel rails in one direction, and the acceleration magnitude depends on the rail length and the current provided.
The power systems for railguns typically comprise capacitor banks, and the wave form for such power is controlled by varying the inductor of the pulse forming network. Current flow through the railgun is induced through electrodes such as rails, creating the electromagnetic field in the railgun bore. Higher current with a shorter discharge duration results in a higher projectile velocity. Additionally, higher current increases the railgun efficiency because the ratio of projectile kinetic energy increase rate to the railgun energy consumed per unit time increases with higher current. The size of the power source and desired thrust performance are relevant to the successful application of railguns to a particular use.
Conventional systems for drilling a borehole through geologic formations such as hard rock have been limited by various factors. The narrow confines within a slender borehole significantly limits downhole placement of equipment and power systems. There is, accordingly, a need for an improved system capable of drilling a slender borehole through subsurface geologic formations. The system should be transportable into remote areas and should efficiently generate a borehole through unconsolidated soils and hard rock.


A circuit comprising a first driver circuit, a second driver circuit and a delay circuit. The first driver circuit may be configured to generate a first output signal and a control signal in response to a first input signal. The delay circuit may be configured to generate a delay signal in response to a second input signal and the control signal. The second driver circuit may be configured to generate a second output signal in response to the delay signal.

The universal serial bus (USB) has a variety of operating modes that allow a number of computer peripherals to be connected to a generic port. One of the modes of a USB device is a low speed mode. While operating in the low speed mode, the outputs of a USB device are generally very slow transitioning signals. One design criteria involved with USB devices is that there may be a large variation in the load placed on the device. As a result, the USB device must be designed to provide the proper speed at the output across wide load variations.
The USB specification calls for controlled differential rise and fall times over a 7:1 range of load capacitances (i.e., from 50 pf to 350 pf) for operation in the low speed mode. The USB specification also requires that the differential outputs cross between 1.3 and 2.0 volts over the entire load range. A particular design problem in implementing an output driver to meet the crossover specification occurs since the negative output signal generally contains a 1.5 K.OMEGA. pull-up resistor at the output. The pull-up resistor causes the negative output to rise more quickly than the positive output causing an imbalance in the output crossovers. The crossovers are also effected by process and temperature variations. As a result, the circuit must not only change the signal delay, but must also track the process and temperature variations.
Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional USB driver circuit 10 is shown which implements operational amplifiers 12,14 to control the transitioning of the output signal. The circuit 10 generally requires the use of the operational amplifier 12 and the operational amplifier 14 to control the signal presented at an output pad 16. The circuit 10 also requires a variety of transistors, a bias circuit 18, a predriver circuit 20 and a clamp circuit 22. More information regarding the circuit of FIG. 1 may be found in the paper "Design Guide For A Low Speed Buffer For The Universal Serial Bus," published in December 1996, the appropriate sections which are hereby incorporated by reference.
Each universal serial bus device has two outputs, a plus output and a minus output. The circuit 10 would have to be implemented, at a minimum, at each of the plus and minus outputs of each device. In an application that provides a number of universal serial bus outputs on a single device, the number of instances that the circuit 10 would have to be duplicated increases accordingly. As a result, it is desirable for the number of components in the circuit 10 be kept to a minimum in order to reduce the overall area required to implement the plurality of required buffers at the various outputs.
The USB specification also requires that the differential outputs be monotonistic (i.e., smoothly transitioning). When switching from a HIGH (e.g., "1") to a LOW (e.g., "0") in low speed mode, the pull-up resistor on the D- output signal generally causes the D- output to pull toward the power supply voltage until the NMOS pull-down transistor reaches its threshold voltage. This may cause a variation in voltage, or a "bump," to occur on the output. It is generally desirable to reduce the bump at the output.

Methods, circuits and devices for improving crossover performance and/or monotonicity, and applications of the same in a universal serial bus (USB) low speed output driver


A system and methods are provided for enabling real-time call control. with minimal requirements for dedicated telecommunications PBX and dedicated switching equipment. Dynamic call routing is handled by a network carrier's equipment and an interface is provided at the carrier switch to dynamically redirect calls from outside of the carrier's network. A call's signaling channel and bearer (voice) channel are separated, allowing the voice carriage to continue to be handled by the network carrier, but the routing of the call is controlled from outside of the carrier's network. A real-time signaling path and interface is provided into the carrier network such that the associated routing decisions and business logic can remain outside of the carrier network, while the carrier network continues to carry the voice channels.

This invention relates to the fields of computer and communications. More particularly, the invention relates to the dynamic routing and control of a voice telephone call in real-time.
In a company call center setting, a PBX or other switching equipment is deployed to redirect incoming customer calls to the next available customer service agent to handle the incoming customer call. This in-house PBX or switch equipment is often coupled to dedicated incoming phone lines which serve only that particular company.
In addition to routing an incoming call, an associated "screen-pop" is often presented on an agent's display in parallel with the incoming phone call. This "screen-pop" typically provides the phone agent with information associated with the customer.
Outsourced call centers provide a more generalized solution whereby a telecommunications infrastructure is shared among many customers. Outsourced call centers are typically serviced by many incoming phone line trunks which accept incoming phone calls for any of its customers. Agents may be dedicated to accept phone calls only for certain customers, but often agents are trained to accept incoming phone calls for a list of companies An automated call distribution (ACD) technique for this scenario is typically deployed by the call center's telecommunications equipment to automatically distribute the incoming calls to the appropriate agent.
Known outsourced call centers have several limitations and economic challenges. First, dedicated equipment can handle only a certain peak number of phone calls. Although the average utilization rate of the equipment and phone lines is typically much lower than the peak capacity, the call center must still pay for enough equipment capacity to handle peak demands. The difference between the average utilization rate and the peak demand levels can be very large, thus creating an economically inefficient use of the expensive dedicated equipment infrastructure.
Second, as a call center grows, it continually needs to expand its telecommunications infrastructure and the number of phone lines needed to handle the additional call load. The capital outlay for fixed telecommunications equipment is often expensive, and the optimal growth of the telecommunications infrastructure equipment can be difficult to predict.
Third, if outsourced call centers use external agents physically outside of the company's premises, such as work-at-home phone agents or offshore phone agents, then the PBX or switched telecommunications solution is inherently inefficient: typically two legs (two circuits) of phone lines are required, the first being an incoming circuit used to deliver the incoming call to the PBX, the second being an outgoing circuit placed to connect from the PBX to the external agent. Thus two circuits are activated and required for each such call.
What is needed is a solution that would improve efficiency and utilization rate of port use, provide higher available port capacity, use port capacity more flexibly (to reduce the need to accurately predict port needs), and provide an improved method of call routing for off-premises agents.


When a telephone unit communicates with a communication party using a television telephone function, a receiving portion of the telephone unit receives compressed moving picture data from the communication party having a moving picture encoder through a communication network. While the received moving picture compressed data is successively decoded by a moving picture decoder and displayed on a displaying device or the like, when the user of the telephone unit performs an inputting operation equivalent to a shutter operation, one frame of decoded picture data at the timing is supplied to a still picture encoder and encoded as still picture compressed data. In addition, a communication party telephone number detecting portion detects the telephone number of the communication party and stores it to a telephone directory along with the compressed still picture data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a telephone unit having a telephone directory with picture data, and in particular, to a picture data obtaining means and a method for correlating obtained picture data with character information such as telephone numbers.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In recent years, because of convenience, telephone units have been widely used. Correspondingly, they have been provided with high performance and high communication quality. In addition, it is expected that they will be developed as multimedia units having a variety of application functions.
As technologies that have been already accomplished, ringing melodies are known. Initially, telephone units were provided with only mechanical ringing tones that inform their users of incoming calls. Currently, the sound quality of ringing tones has been improved using for example four chords. Thus, the users can enjoy more advanced music. Regularly, ringing melodies for several songs can be stored in a memory of a telephone unit. They are correlated with telephone numbers stored in the telephone directory. When a call is terminated, a ringing melody corresponding to a caller's telephone number is generated. Thus, ringing melodies have been used as a caller identifying means.
In several years, it is expected that a technology that allows the data capacity transmitted and received to be remarkably increased will be accomplished. As a result, telephone units will be able to handle picture data.
Specifically, telephone units will be provided with a small camera, a picture codec, and so forth. Thus, the telephone units can be used as digital cameras or video cameras. Alternatively, telephone units will have a so-called television telephone function that allows picture data to be exchanged thereamong in real time.
Picture data captured to a telephone unit by such a means may be correlated with the telephone directory and used as a caller identifying means, similarly to a number display or a ringing melody.
Conventionally, in such a telephone unit having a telephone directory function with picture data, not only personal information such as telephone numbers and names, but also correlated picture data are pre-registered to the telephone directory. Thus, as disclosed in JPA 03-162087, when a call is terminated, picture data corresponding to the telephone number of the caller is displayed. In addition, as disclosed in JPA 11-041339, when a call is originated using the telephone directory function, the picture data corresponding to the particular information of the called party is displayed. Thus, according to the related art references, a calling party and a called party can be easily identified with visual information.
In addition, a picture data obtaining means and a method for correlating the picture data with character information such as telephone numbers are disclosed in for example JPA 11-205761. In FIG. 1, a telephone unit 3 is a telephone unit having a conventional digital camera function. picture data is obtained as captured picture of a camera 20. Alternatively, picture data is obtained through a communication network 16.
In the former case, a picture that is input from the camera 20 is converted into digital compressed picture data by a still picture encoder 11 and then stored in a telephone directory 10. In the latter case, a control signal is transmitted to a communication party 4 having the same digital camera function as the telephone unit 3. The control signal causes the communication party 4 to transmits the picture data to the telephone unit 3.
This point will be described in more detail. A control signal generating portion 21 of the telephone unit 3 generates a control signal that causes the communication party 4 to perform a photographing operation. The control signal is received by a receiving portion 24 of the communication party 4 from a transmitting portion 22 through a communication network 23. Thereafter, the signal is analyzed by a control signal processing portion 25. Corresponding to the analyzed result, a still picture encoder 27 is activated and then an input picture of a camera 26 is photographed.
Thereafter, the control signal generating portion 21 of the telephone unit 3 generates a control signal that causes the communication party 4 to transmit the photographed picture data. The control signal is received by the communication party 4 in the above-described manner.
After the communication party 4 analyzes the control signal, a transmitting portion 17 of the communication party 4 transmits the photographed picture data. The picture data is received by a receiving portion 15 of the telephone unit 3 through the communication network 16 and stored to the telephone directory 10. FIG. 2 shows the structure of the telephone directory 10. The picture data is stored to a picture memory 40 that is a structural element of the telephone directory 10. In addition, character information such as names and telephone numbers is stored to a character information memory 30 of the telephone directory 10. A picture-character information correlating memory 41 stores picture-character information correlating information composed of addresses of picture data stored in the picture memory 40 and addresses of character information stored in the character information memory 30.
However, there are problems in the related art reference. As a first problem of the related art reference, when the telephone unit causes the communication party to transmit picture data to be registered to the telephone directory to the telephone unit, a dedicated protocol that allows the communication party to perform the photographing operation and the transmitting operation is required.
As a second problem of the related art reference, in order to picture data and character information such as telephone numbers are correlated, the user is obliged to manually correlate the obtained picture data with character information and then register the correlated information with the telephone directory.

Telephone unit having telephone directory with picture data and method for generating telephone directory with picture data


The present application provides a data management method, apparatus, device, system and storage medium for a smart lock. The smart lock includes: respective databases corresponding to N unlock modes, N is an integer greater than 1, and the method includes: receiving a registration command transmitted by a terminal device; acquiring first unlock information of a current unlock mode according to the registration command; and storing the first unlock information of the current unlock mode into a database corresponding to the current unlock mode. Therefore, unlock efficiency of the smart lock is improved.

At present, there are various unlock modes for the smart lock, including: an unlock mode based on Near Field Communication (NFC), a digital password unlock mode, a fingerprint password unlock mode and the like.
For any of the above unlock modes, the smart lock identifies unlock information by a process including: the smart lock acquires unlock information and matches it with unlock information in a database; when the matching is successful, a micro controller unit (MCU) in the smart lock controls an actuator to actuate the smart lock to be in an open state. Among others, the unlock modes such as the unlock mode based on NFC, the digital password unlock mode, the fingerprint password unlock mode and the like correspond to a same database. Based on this, for any of the above unlock modes, the smart lock is performing, in the database, a process for matching unlock information, and since there is a large amount of data in the database, a problem of low unlock efficiency is incurred for the smart lock.

Data management method, apparatus, device, system and storage medium for smart lock


Methods for reducing the risk of viral infection in animals due to consumption of viral contaminated feed. The methods comprise administering to an animal in need thereof an effective amount of a feed additive, wherein the feed additive comprises a mixture of organic acids. The methods can be used to reduce the risk of infection in animals whose feed may or may not be contaminated with certain viruses.

It is believed that porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) was introduced into the United States in 2013 via contaminated feed ingredient container which allowed introduction of the virus into animal feed. It has been demonstrated that viral pathogens are able to survive in animal feed ingredients or feed products during transboundary shipping (Dee et al., PLOS ONE 13(3): e0194509.) Evidence suggests that certain feed additives may decrease viral survival and viral load in feed contaminated with some viruses (Cottingim et al, 2015, Allen D. Leman Swine Conference; Cottingim et al, 2017, Porcine Health Management 3:5 DOI 10.1186/s40813-016-0048-8). What is needed, therefore, are means for reducing the risk of infection in animals due to consumption of feed that may be contaminated with viruses.

Reducing the risk of viral infection due to viral contaminated feed


The present invention is directed to compounds of formula I, formula Ia, and formula Ib.

The present invention is directed to novel compounds, to a process for their preparation, their use and pharmaceutical compositions comprising said novel compounds. These novel compounds are useful in therapy, particularly for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
Phosphorylation on serine, threonine and tyrosine amino acid residues in downstream proteins forms the major output from growth factor and cytokine receptors, from which a cellular response is built. A large number of growth factor and cytokine-regulated protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) have been identified which can be integral parts of receptor proteins or cytosolic molecules (Al-Obeidi, FA, Wu, JJ and Lam, KS, Biopolym. Pept. Sci. Sect. 47, 197-223). These serve to phosphorylate proteins on tyrosine residues within specific primary amino acid sequences which, when phosphorylated, act as docking points for proteins that contain SH2 domains. It is the docking of proteins to phosphorylated tyrosine residues that contributes to the activation of such proteins and the establishment of a signal transduction cascade.
The overall output from signal transduction cascades is derived from the balance between phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of proteins. Phosphotyrosines are returned to their free acid form by the action of protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) (Zhang, Z Y (1998) Crit. Rev. Biochem. Mol. Biol., 33, 1-52). Whilst a large number of PTKs has been identified (Hunter, T (1994) Sem. Cell Biol. 5, 367-376), the number of PTPs identified to date is decidedly smaller (van Huijsduijnen, R H (1998) Gene 225, 1-8). Despite the smaller number of enzymes in the PTP family available for investigation, a detailed understanding of the roles they play in signal transduction and disease has not been forthcoming. This is due in part to the lack of small molecule inhibitor molecules which are specific for members of the PTP family and which are permeable to the cell membrane and can thus be used in cell-based experiments. Furthermore, whilst experiments in transgenic animals can be and have been performed in which individual PTPs can be ablated, the effects of the loss of function of a specific enzyme may be masked by compensation by other members of the PTP family. Thus, the availability of small molecule inhibitors of PTPs would be very useful to the study of this important family of enzymes.
A role for the PTP family of proteins in ontogeny and disease is now becoming clearer (Li, L and Dixon, J E (2000) Sem. Immunol. 12, 75-84). Thus, experiments with gene knockouts in transgenic animals has revealed that the motheaten phenotype of mice in which cells of the haematopoietic lineage undergo hyper-proliferation is due to the loss of normal SHPTP1 function (Schultz, L D, Schweitzer, P A, Rajan, T V, Yi, T and Ihle, J N (1993) Cell 73, 1445-1454). Loss of function in the receptor-like subfamily of PTPs leads to conditions such as heightened and reduced sensitivity to insulin (Ren, J-M, Li, P-M, Zhang, W-R, Sweet, L J, Cline, G, Shulman, G I, Livingston, J N and Goldstein, B J (1998) Diabetes 47, 493-497), stunted growth and neurological disruption (Elchelby, M, Wagner, J, Kennedy, T E, Lanctot, C, Michaliszyn, E, Itie, A, Drouin, J and Tremblay, M L (1999) Nature Genet. 21, 330-333) and blockages in T cell maturation (Kishihara, K, Penninger, J, Wallaca, V A, Kundig, T M, Kawai, K, Wakeham, A, Timms, E, Pfeffer K, Ohashi, P S and Thomas P L (1993) Cell 74, 143-156).
The recent descriptions of mice in which the PTP PTP1B had been disrupted revealed that loss of function of this enzyme leads to enhanced insulin sensitivity and resistance to the development of obesity, thus revealing a therapeutic need for the development of specific PTP inhibitors (Elchelby, M, Payette, P, Michaliszyn, E, Cromlish, W, Collins, S, Loy, A L, Normandin, D, Cheng, A, Himms.Hagen, J, Chan, C C, Ramachandran, C, Gresser, M J, Tremblay, M L and Kennedy, B P (1999) Science 283, 1544-1548; Klaman, L D, Boss, O, Peroni, O D, Kim, J K, Martino, J L, Zablotny, J M, Moghal, N, Lubkin, M, Kim, Y-B, Sharpe, A H, Stricker-Krongrad, A, Shulman, G I, Neel, B G and Kahn, B B (2000) Mol. Cell. Biol. 20, 5479-5489). The mechanism of insulin action depends critically upon the phosphorylation of tyrosine residues in several proteins in the insulin signaling cascade. PTPs that dephosphorylate these proteins are important negative regulators of insulin action. Therefore, the use of specific PTP inhibitors may therapeutically enhance insulin action.
The anabolic effects of insulin are triggered through the activation of a variety of signal transduction cascades which lie downstream of the insulin receptor (Gustafson, T. A., Moodie, S A and Lavan, B E (1999) Rev. Physiol. Biochem. Pharmacol. 137, 71-190). The varieties of signals that are activated by insulin are thought to contribute to the range of effects that insulin controls. However, each pathway is activated by a common series of biochemical reactions proximal to the insulin receptor. Thus, the insulin receptor undergoes autophosphorylation on tyrosine residues when activated by insulin, and also phosphorylates other proteins, in particular, the insulin receptor substrate proteins (IRSs). It has now become widely accepted that the resistance to insulin that is a feature of type 2 diabetes results in part from dysfunctions in signal transduction activated by the insulin receptor, in particular in steps early in the signaling cascades which are common to different pathways (Virkamxc3xa4ki, A, Ueki, K and Kahn, R C (1999) J. Clin. Invest 103, 931-943; Kellerer, M, Lammers, R and Hxc3xa4ring, H-U (1999) Exp. Clin. Endocrinol. Diabetes 107, 97-106).
The signals that emanate from the insulin receptor are switched off by the returning of the insulin receptor and other components of the signal transduction cascades to their basal, non-active states. For the insulin receptor and the IRS proteins, this is achieved by dephosphorylation of phosphotyrosine residues. It is now becoming clear that different PTPs may regulate the insulin receptor in different tissues, but the number of candidate enzymes which do this is small (Wxc3xa4lchi, S., Curchod, M-L., Pescini Gobert, R., Arkinstall, S. and Hooft van Huijsduijnen, R. (2000) J. Biol. Chem. 275, 9792-9796). Thus, protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) appears to be the major negative regulator of the insulin receptor in muscle and liver tissues (see for example Elechelby, M, Payette, P, Michalszyn, E, Cromlish, W, Collins, S, Loy, A L, Normandin, D, Cheng, A, Himms-Hagen, J, Chan, Cxe2x80x94C, Ramachandran, C, Gresser, M J, Tremblay, M and Kennedy, B P (1999) Science, 283, 1544-1548; Goldstein, B J, Bittner-Kowalczyk, A, White, M F and Harbeck, M (2000) J. Biol. Chem. 275, 4283-4289). By contrast, PTP alpha may play a more dominant role in regulating the insulin receptor in adipose tissue (Calera, M R, Vallega, G and Pilch, P F (2000) J. Biol. Chem. 275 6308-6312).
The development of type 2 diabetes is characterised by a protracted period of insulin resistance. In human subjects who are obese and insulin resistant, PTP protein concentrations are increased, which has led to the idea that elevations in the proteins contributes to the cause of the diabetic state (Ahmad, F, Azevedo, J L, Cortright, R, Dohm, G L and Goldstein, B J (1997) J. Clin. Invest. 100 449-458). The two most significantly elevated are PTP1B and LAR. Considering that loss of LAR activity is associated with insulin resistance and diabetes (Ren, J-M, Li, P-M, Zhang, W-R, Sweet, L J, Cline, G, Shulman, G I, Livingston, J N and Goldstein, B J (1998) Diabetes 47 493-497), these data support the concept that PTP1B is a major contributor to the insulin resistant state and that pharmacological inhibition of its activity may go some way towards pharmaceutically alleviating the condition. Indeed, the recent reports of the knockout mouse in which PTP1B has been ablated confirm that loss of PTP1B activity leads to enhancement of the metabolic effects of insulin (Elechelby, M, Payette, P, Michalszyn, E, Cromlish, W, Collins, S, Loy, AL, Normandin, D, Cheng, A, Himms-Hagen, J, Chan, C-C, Ramachandran, C, Gresser, M J, Tremblay, M and Kennedy, B P (1999) Science, 283, 1544-1548; Klaman, L D, Ross, O, Peroni, O D, Kim, J K, Martino, J L, Zabolotny, J M, Moghal, N, Lubkin, M, Kim, Y-B, Sharpe, A H, Stricker-Krongrad, A, Shulman, G I, Neel, B G and Kahn, B B (2000) Mol. Cell. Biol. 20 5479-5489). Furthermore, inhibition of PTP1B with a specific small molecule has been reported to treat the symptoms of diabetes in the ob/ob mouse (Wrobel, J, Sredy, J, Moxham, C, Dietrich, A, Li, Z, Sawicki, D R, Seestaller, L, Wu. L, Katz, A, Sullivan, D, Tio, C and Zhang, Z-Y (1999) J. Med. Chem. 42 3199-3202).
The patent application with the publication no. WO 96/40113, discloses heterocyclic nitrogen containing compounds, such as nitropyridine or nitrothiazole, capable of inhibiting protein tyrosine phosphatase activity. Such molecules are disclosed as being useful to modulate or regulate signal transduction by inhibiting protein tyrosine phosphatase activity and to treat various disease states including diabetes mellitus.
WO 98/27065 discloses a class of compounds which are stated as being protein tyrosine phosphatase modulating compounds. These prior art compounds are however structurally distinct from the compounds claimed in the present patent application.
WO 97/08934 discloses aryl acrylic acid compounds of a certain structure, which compounds are stated as having protein tyrosine protease modulating activity. Also these prior art compounds are however structurally distinct from the compounds claimed in the present patent application.
WO 99/58519 discloses certain phenyl oxo-acetic acid compounds. These compounds are stated as being useful in the treatment of metabolic disorders related to insulin resistance and hyperglycemia. Also these prior art compounds are however structurally distinct from the compounds claimed in the present patent application.
WO 99/58521 discloses the use of 11-aryl-benzo[b]naphtho[2,3-d]furan and 11-aryl-benzo[b]naphtho[2,3-d]thiophene compounds to inhibit protein tyrosine phosphatase activity. Such compounds are disclosed as being useful to modulate or regulate signal transduction by inhibiting protein tyrosine phosphatase activity and to treat various disease states including diabetes mellitus.
The preparation of the compound 4-hydroxy-3,3-dimethyl-2H-benzo[g]indole-2,5(3H)-dione, said compound having the chemical structure
is disclosed by Siegfried Petersen et al. in Justus Liebigs Ann. Chem. (1972), 764, pp. 50-57. However, this prior art document does not disclose or even suggest that this compound may have therapeutic activity, and particularly not in the diabetes area, such as type 2 diabetes.
The object of the present invention was to provide novel compounds having improved advantages over drugs currently used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. It should be appreciated that the wording xe2x80x9cimproved advantagesxe2x80x9d is not necessarily defined as more potent compounds, but as compounds having improved advantages overall, including but not limited to also improved selectivity and less side-effects.
The novel compounds according to the present invention are defined by the general formula I
wherein
R1 is
(i) hydrogen;
(ii) linear or branched C1-C6 alkoxy;
(ii) xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94(C1-C6 alkyl)xe2x80x94Q, where the alkyl group may be linear or branched, and where Q is phenyl, naphthyl, or a heterocycle having from 5 and up to 10 ring atoms, where at least one of the ring atoms is an atom other than carbon, such as O, N, or S (e.g., R1 can be xe2x80x94O-methyl-phenyl, xe2x80x94O-ethyl-phenyl, or xe2x80x94O-propyl-phenyl); and
where n is an integer 1 or 2; and each of Q1 and Q2 is independently hydrogen or C1-C6 alkyl where the alkyl group may be linear or branched (e.g., methyl or ethyl); or
where n is an integer 1 or 2;
R2 is
(i) hydroxy;
(ii) linear or branched C1-C6 alkoxy (e.g., C1-C3 alkoxy);
(iii) xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94COxe2x80x94(C1-C6 alkyl) where the alkyl group may be linear or branched (e.g., xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94CO-methyl or xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94CO-methyl); or
(iv) xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94CO-phenyl, or xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94CO-naphthyl;
each of R3 and R4 is independently
(i) C1-C6 alkyl, where the alkyl group may be linear or branched (e.g., methyl or ethyl); or
(ii) cyclopentane, or cyclohexane;
the compound 4-hydroxy-3,3-dimethyl-2H-benzo[g]indole-2,5(3H)-dione being excluded.
The invention also features compounds of formula Ia
wherein each of R1, R2, R3 and R4 has been defined in formula I above, and wherein Ra is xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94COxe2x80x94(C1-C6 alkyl) where the alkyl group may be linear or branched (e.g., xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CO-methyl or xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CO-ethyl);
The invention further features compounds of formula Ib
wherein each of R1, R2, R3 and R4 has been defined in formula I above, and wherein Rb is
(i) xe2x80x94COxe2x80x94(C1-C6 alkyl) where the alkyl group may be linear or branched (e.g., xe2x80x94CO-methyl or xe2x80x94CO-ethyl); or
(ii) hydrogen.
Within the scope of the invention are also pharmaceutically and pharmacologically acceptable salts of a compound of formula I, formula Ia, and formula Ib, as well as hydrates thereof.
Some specific examples of R1 in accordance with the present invention are hydrogen, methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, butoxy, pentoxy, and hexyloxy, wherein said alkoxy substituents may be linear or branched. Another specific example of R1 in accordance with the present invention is phenyl-(CH2)nxe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94 where n is an integer 1, or 2. Still another specific example of R1 in accordance with the invention is H2Nxe2x80x94COxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94.
Some specific examples of R2 in accordance with the present invention are hydroxy; methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, butoxy, pentoxy, and hexyloxy, wherein said alkoxy substituents may be linear or branched; xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94COxe2x80x94(CH2)nxe2x80x94CH3 wherein n is an integer 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 (e.g., xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94COxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CH3); xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94CO-phenyl; and xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94CO-naphthyl.
Some specific examples of R3 and R4 in accordance with the present invention are methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, and hexyl, wherein the alkyl groups may be linear or branched; cyclopentyl; and cyclohexyl.
A specific example of Ra in accordance with the present invention is xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94COxe2x80x94(CH2)nxe2x80x94CH3 wherein n is an integer 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 (e.g., xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94COxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CH3, xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94COxe2x80x94(CH2)2xe2x80x94CH3, or xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94COxe2x80x94(CH2)3xe2x80x94CH3).
A specific example of Rb in accordance with the present invention is xe2x80x94COxe2x80x94(CH2)nxe2x80x94CH3 wherein n is an integer 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 (e.g., xe2x80x94COxe2x80x94CH3, xe2x80x94COxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CH3, or xe2x80x94COxe2x80x94(CH2)2xe2x80x94CH3).
A subset of the compounds of the invention include compounds of formula I, formula Ia, or formula Ib wherein R1 is linear or branched C1-C6 alkoxy, phenyl-(CH2)nxe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94 where n is an integer 1 or 2, or H2Nxe2x80x94COxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94; and R2 is linear or branched C1-C6 alkoxy, xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94COxe2x80x94(CH2)nxe2x80x94CH3 where n is an integer 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94CO-phenyl, or xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94CO-naphthyl. Another subset of compounds of the invention include compounds of formula I, formula Ia, or formula Ib wherein R1 is hydrogen, linear or branched C1-C6 alkoxy, phenyl-(CH2)nxe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94 where n is an integer 1 or 2, or H2Nxe2x80x94COxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94; R2 is hydroxy, linear or branched C1-C3 alkoxy, or xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94COxe2x80x94(CH2)nxe2x80x94CH3 where n is an integer 0, 1, 2, or 3; and R3 and R4 are each and independently linear or branched C1-C3 alkyl. Still another subset of the invention include compounds of formula I, formula Ia, or formula Ib wherein R1 is hydrogen, linear or branched ethoxy, propoxy, or butoxy; phenyl-(CH2)nxe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94 where n is an integer 1 or 2; or H2Nxe2x80x94COxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94; R2 is hydroxy; methoxy, xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94COxe2x80x94CH3; R3 and R4 are each methyl; Ra is xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94COxe2x80x94CH3; and Rb is xe2x80x94COxe2x80x94CH3.
The compounds according to the present invention are useful in therapy, particularly for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Also within the scope of the invention is the use of a compound of the formula I, for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.
A further aspect of the invention is the use of a compound of the formula Ia, for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Still a further aspect of the invention is the use of a compound of the formula Ib, for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.
A further aspect of the invention is a method for the treatment of a patient suffering from type 2 diabetes mellitus, whereby an effective amount of a compound according to formula I above, is administered to a patient in need of such treatment.
A further aspect of the invention is a method for the treatment of a patient suffering from type 2 diabetes mellitus, whereby an effective amount of a compound according to formula Ia above, is administered to a patient in need of such treatment.
Still a further aspect of the invention is a method for the treatment of a patient suffering from type 2 diabetes mellitus, whereby an effective amount of a compound according to formula Ib above, is administered to a patient in need of such treatment.
As used herein, an alkyl is a straight or branched hydrocarbon chain containing the indicated number of carbon atoms. Examples of alkyl groups include, but are not limited to, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl, 2-methylpentyl, and n-hexyl.
By cycloalkyl is meant a cyclic alkyl group containing the indicated number of carbon atoms. Some examples of cycloalkyl are cyclopropyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, adamantyl, and norbornyl. Heterocycloalkyl is a cycloalkyl group containing the indicated number of heteroatoms such as nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur. Examples of heterocycloalkyl include piperidinyl, piperazinyl, tetrahydropyranyl, tetrahydrofuryl, and morpholinyl.
As used herein, aryl is an aromatic group containing the indicated number of ring atoms. Examples of an aryl group include phenyl, naphthyl, phenanthryl, and anthracyl. Heteroaryl is aryl containing the indicated number of heteroatoms such as nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur. Some examples of heteroaryl are pyridyl, furanyl, pyrrolyl, thienyl, thiazolyl, oxazolyl, and imidazolyl.
Each of the cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, or heteroaryl groups described herein is optionally substituted with C1-4 alkyl, C3-6 cycloalkyl, 3-6 membered heterocycloalkyl, C6-10 aryl, 6-10 membered heteroaryl, C7-14 aralkyl, C1-4 alkyl-heteroaryl with 6-10 ring atoms, C1-4 alkoxy, hydroxy, hydroxyl-C1-4 alkyl, carboxyl, halo, halo-C1-4 alkyl, amino, amino-C1-4 alkyl, nitro, cyano, C1-5 alkylcarbonyloxy, C1-5 alkyloxycarbonyl, C1-5 alkylcarbonyl, formyl, oxo, aminocarbonyl, C1-5 alkylcarbonylamino, C1-4 alkylsulfonylamino, aminosulfonyl, aminocarbonyloxy, or C1-4 alkyloxycarbonylamino.
Note that an amino group can be unsubstituted, mono-substituted, or di-substituted. It can be substituted with groups such as C1-4 alkyl, C3-6 cycloalkyl, 3-6 membered heterocycloalkyl, C6-10 aryl, or 6-10 membered heteroaryl. Halo refers to fluoro, chloro, bromo, or iodo.
The compounds according to the present invention may be prepared as described by the following methods.
The compounds of formula I can be synthesized from the corresponding 5 and 6-hydroxyquinone according to the procedure reported by Ley and Nast Angew. Chem. 1967, 79, 150 (see Schemes 1 and 2 below). The starting material 5-hydroxyquinone is commercially available from Aldrich. Another starting material silver oxide can be prepared according to a literature procedure (Vogel""s textbook of practical Organic Chemistry 5Th Edition, p677) and stored under inert atmosphere in the dark until used. Freshly prepared silver oxide generally gives the best results.
The invention will now be described in more details in the following Examples, which however should not be construed as limiting the invention. In the following examples, column chromatography was carried out using either normal glass columns and compressed air or pumps and fractions collectors. The packing materials used were Merck Silica Gel 60 (230-400 mesh) or YMC-GFL Silica 60 xc3x85 S-50 Mesh. 1H NMR and 13C NMR were recorded on a Varian at 500 MHz and at 125.7 MHz, respectively. 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectra were referenced to residual solvent or to tetramethylsilane as internal standard. EI MS spectra were obtained on Micromass Quattro I instrument. Elementary analyses were performed at a Vario EL instrument (Elementar Analysensysteme GmbH, Hanau, Germany).

Abstract: wherein each of R1, R2, R3, R4, Ra, and Rb has been defined herein. The invention is also directed to a process for the preparation, the use and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds described above. These novel compounds are useful in therapy, particularly for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.


A recording and reproducing apparatus is provided in which recording and reproducing are performed with respect to an existing format cassette having an existing erroneous erasure prevention switch for preventing erroneous erasure of data recorded with the existing format and a new format cassette having a first erroneous erasure prevention switch located at a position corresponding to the position of the existing erroneous erasure prevention switch and having a second erroneous erasure prevention switch for preventing erroneous erasure of data recorded with a new format; wherein at the time of reproduction whether it is the existing format cassette or the new format cassette is judged based on data obtained from the reproduction of the existing format and new format cassettes to reproduce the cassette. Hereupon, in the new format cassette, the first erroneous erasure prevention means is always kept in a state of preventing the erroneous erasure.

A hole referred to so-called an ID hole is provided in a casing of a video tape cassette and the like. The hole is used to prevent erroneous erasure of data recorded on a magnetic tape or to identify a recorded format, a material of a magnetic substance of a tape and the like.
For example, as shown in an example of a relevant part of a high band 8 mm video tape cassette of FIGS. 1A and 1B, an erroneous erasure prevention member 103 capable of sliding in the longitudinal direction on the side surface 100a is provided at a position adjacent to a corner inside a casing of a cassette 100 formed by combining top and bottom shells (not shown in the figures) and an erroneous erasure prevention hole 101 functioning as the ID hole provided on the bottom surface of the cassette casing is opened and closed by moving the erroneous erasure prevention member 103.
An example of the erroneous erasure prevention member 103 has such a structure as a stepped shape formed of a plurality of bending portions as shown in FIG. 2, for example, and includes a lug portion 103a used for the moving operation, a half-disc shaped protruding portion 103b which opens and closes the erroneous erasure prevention hole 101 and an identification display portion 103c to recognize visually through an display window 102 opened in the side surface 100a of the cassette casing.
As shown in FIG. 1A, the erroneous erasure prevention member 103 is moved by laying a finger or the like on the lug portion 103a projecting from the inside of the display window 102 on the side surface 10a of the cassette casing so that the display portion 103c becomes visible in the whole display window 102. At this time, the protruding portion 103b of the erroneous erasure prevention member 103 closes the erroneous erasure prevention hole 101 to become a closed state. A position of the erroneous erasure prevention member 103 at this time is the position where the cassette is in a recordable state (REC position).
Next, as shown in FIG. 1B, the erroneous erasure prevention member 103 is moved by laying a nail on the lug portion 103a projecting from the inside of the display window 102 in the side surface 100a of the cassette casing so that the display portion 103c disappears from the display window 102 and a recording prohibition display panel 102a disposed behind becomes visible. At this time, the protruding portion 103b of the erroneous erasure prevention member 103, which has closed the erroneous erasure prevention hole 101, moves so that the erroneous erasure prevention hole 101 becomes an open state. A position of the erroneous erasure prevention member 103 at this time is the position where the cassette is in an non-recordable state (SAVE position).
Specifically, a detection hole is made to be the closed state at the recordable position and the detection hole is made to be the open state at the non-recordable position; that is, in a casing of a VHS video cassette or the like, for example, a nail has conventionally been provided for this hole when it is in a state of a blank cassette having nothing recorded yet and after recording, the nail is removed so that an existing record can not be deleted thereafter by erroneously making a duplicated recording; and hereupon this nail is made to be a movable one using the above described erroneous erasure prevention member, so that a state of nail-broken or nail-unbroken can be changed according to a necessity.
Further, though a mechanical switch is conventionally used in order to detect the state of nail-broken or nail-unbroken, it is also possible to use a photo-sensor or the like for the detection by irradiating light from below, and also it can be considered to have a construction in which the detection hole is made to be a through hole which pierces from the top surface to the bottom surface of the cassette and light is applied from one side of the through hole to be sensed on the other side thereof.
Conventionally, when magnetic recording of a different kind of format is performed on a cassette having the same shape in a recording and reproducing apparatus such as a VTR (Video Tape Recorder) for example, it is necessary to have detecting switches for identifying the format and for preventing the erroneous erasure. Conventionally, holes for the purpose of the ID hole as described above are provided according to a required number in a casing of a cassette when a format is decided, and those are judged by detecting an open or closed state of the ID holes using the detecting switches in a drive unit of the VTR provided at positions corresponding to those ID holes.
For example, a high band 8 mm video has an erroneous erasure prevention detecting switch of a cassette. FIG. 3A schematically shows an erroneous erasure prevention hole and an erroneous erasure prevention detecting switch of a high band 8 mm video tape cassette. The erroneous erasure prevention of the cassette is identified using an erroneous erasure prevention detecting switch 107, and the erroneous erasure prevention hole 101 becomes an open or closed state depending on a position of the erroneous erasure prevention member 103 which is visible from the display window 102, and thereby, it is judged whether the cassette is in a recordable state or in a non-recordable state. Moreover, in a 8 mm video, a detection hole not shown in the figure is provided for identifying either a normal 8 mm video tape cassette or a high band 8 mm video tape cassette, so that it is judged whether it is a normal one or a high band one.
On the other hand, when a higher format cassette which has been used for NTSC as a television broadcasting method, for example, is used in a new (higher) format such as, for example, a high vision, it becomes impossible to perform recording and/or reproduction in a conventional VTR due to a magnetic head and a signal processing circuit, since a magnetic tape which is a recording medium is made to be one having higher performance to record greater amount of data. For this reason, it is necessary to make the new format cassette not to be capable of recording in a conventional VTR. Following two methods can be considered for the purpose.
1. A Method of Changing a Cassette Size
A new product model is made to be capable of loading a new (higher) format only, or otherwise, it is necessary to have a complicated mechanism of higher/existing format compatible.
2. A method of Adding Another Detection Hole used for a Detecting Switch
It is necessary to keep an erroneous erasure prevention detecting switch for an existing format always turned off in a cassette for a higher format so that recording can not be performed with the existing format. Therefore, it becomes necessary to add two detection holes for detecting switches both for the purpose of identifying the higher/existing format and for the purpose of detecting the erroneous erasure prevention of the higher format cassette.
When a higher format supporting cassette shown in FIG. 4A is used, the erroneous erasure prevention hole 101 of an existing format supporting cassette is continuously kept in the open state and the erroneous erasure prevention detecting switch 107 of the existing format is turned off to prevent the erroneous erasure with the existing format.
When a higher cassette 110 is loaded into a VTR 120, a higher/existing format identification switch 122 is engaged with a higher/existing format identification hole 112 to be turned off as shown in FIG. 4A. Then, it is judged that the cassette is the higher cassette, and also, a higher format erroneous erasure prevention detecting switch 123 is turned on by an erroneous erasure prevention member 115 to become a recordable state.
Further, when the erroneous erasure prevention member 115 is moved to make a hole 113 for erroneous erasure prevention of the higher format become the open state, the higher format erroneous erasure prevention detecting switch 123 is turned off to become a non-recordable state as shown in FIG. 4B.
On the other hand, when an existing format supporting cassette shown in FIG. 5A is loaded, since there is no erroneous erasure prevention hole of higher format, the higher format erroneous erasure prevention detecting switch 123 is always turned on due to being depressed by a casing of a cassette 130 to prevent the erroneous erasure with the higher format.
When the existing cassette 130 is loaded into the VTR 120, the higher/existing format identification switch 122 is depressed by the cassette casing to be turned on as shown in FIG. 5A. Then, it is identified that the cassette is the existing cassette, and also, an existing erroneous erasure prevention detecting switch 131 is turned on by an erroneous erasure prevention member 133 to become a recordable state.
Further, when the erroneous erasure prevention member 133 is moved to make the existing erroneous erasure prevention hole 107 become the open state, the existing erroneous erasure prevention detecting switch 131 is turned off to become a non-recordable state as shown in FIG. 5B.
However, since a reduction in size and in weight with respect to, for example, a recording and reproducing apparatus such as the VTR has been advancing year by year, there has been a problem in which when the above described two detecting switches are to be added, a space for new detecting switches may not be secured in the drive unit of an existing recording and reproducing apparatus and it is not possible to use an existing drive unit.

Recording and reproducing apparatus for preventing erroneous erasure


A method of controlling wireless messaging between mobile apparatuses and an onsite office in a worksite, including: dividing the worksite area into elementary cells mapped in correspondence with the topology of the area and into and communication zones, establishing at least one updatable communication attribute value pertaining to a parameter of wireless communication, establishing at least one worksite management attribute value pertaining to a parameter other than a wireless communication parameter of the worksite at that cell, storing values of the worksite and communication attributes, forming a worksite management message with an electronically readable content containing at least one worksite management attribute value, accessing the memory to obtain at least one current communication attribute value, and establishing a wireless communication to or from the communication zone to send or receive the management message on the basis of the current communication attribute value(s) electronically accessed from the memory.

To assist in this task, it is known to use computer-aided tools for generating a target land contour for a worksite, based on surveying data of the original contour of the land in question. These tools generate models from which elementary tasks can be e.g. assigned to various items of on-site apparatus, such as earthmoving-apparatus, the latter in some cases being automated to varying degrees. The earthmoving apparatus or its operator needs to be provided at all times with all the necessary information for conducting the task at hand at its location. This information will generally have various possible sources: a central model held at an on-site office, external devices such as beacons, laser guides, onboard sensors, and the like. As the tasks to be performed by an earthmoving apparatus are inextricably linked to its exact physical location, it has become usual practice to provide each item of mobile apparatus with a positioning device such as a GPS receiver and two-way communication links with different stations, or possibly other mobile apparatus on the site.
In this connection, patent document U.S. Pat. No. 5,631,658 discloses a system for automatically operating geography-altering machinery in a worksite on the basis of a pre-established three-dimensional model of the target contour relative to an existing contour. The latter is divided into elementary grid elements which can be indexed with the position of a contour-modifying tool of a particular earthmoving apparatus. A computerised system on board of the earthmoving apparatus stores the site plan, identifies the current position and elevation of the contour-modifying tool using a GPS device, and automatically determines the actions to be performed with that tool to make the existing contour at that local level correspond to the target contour.
In the field of open-cast mining, patent document U.S. Pat. No. 5,850,341 discloses a system for monitoring the removal of ore with reference to a three-dimensional map of the mine. The map is subdivided into elementary regions which are differentiated according to the type or grade of ore they contain, that information being acquired and recorded at an initial phase. The mobile excavating machinery is provided with a GPS receiver for positioning relative to the map and a sensor for detecting the amounts of ore removed. This information is correlated with the data concerning the ore to control the mobile excavating operations and keep track of the excavated ore.
Patent document U.S. Pat. No. 5,935,192 discloses a database technique for identifying and associating information with elementary sections of a worksite. Each section of the worksite is defined by a corresponding data object occupying two dimensions of a layered data organisation. The layers are classed as objects, each associated with a parameter of the worksite. The information is used notably for a differencing algorithm to direct the operations of working machines through an operator display or an automatic controller.
Patent document U.S. Pat. No. 5,404,661 discloses a technique for acquiring the three-dimensional position coordinates of a work tool in relation to a stored model of a worksite. The tool position information is obtained through a GPS in cooperation with a dynamically updatable database.
Patent document U.S. Pat. No. 6,463,374 discloses a technique for guiding agricultural vehicles, especially for obtaining appropriate spraying patterns over areas of complex contours.

Method and apparatus of managing wireless communication in a worksite


A turbomachine has a stator and a rotor, wherein the rotor has blades (21) and the stator has a housing (20) and stationary guide vanes (17), wherein the guide vanes (17) form guide vane rings (11, 12) that adjoin the housing (20) with radially outwardly positioned ends (18) and adjoin the rotor with radially inwardly positioned ends. The guide vane rings are spoke-centered with the aid of bearing journals or guide pins (24) allocated to the housing (20) and penetrating through the housing (20). The guide pins (24) extend at a slant relative to the radial direction and the axial direction of the turbomachine, wherein the ends (26) of the guide pins (24) reaching into the housing engage in forked elements (27) allocated to the radially outer ends (18) of the guide vane rings (11, 12).

Turbo-engines, for example gas turbines, comprise a rotor and a stator, whereby the rotor comprises rotor blades that rotate with the rotor and the stator comprises a housing and guide vanes. The rotor blades of the rotor rotate relative to the stationary housing and relative to the stationary guide vanes of the stator. The guide vanes form guide vane rings and the rotor blades form rotor blade rings, whereby respectively one rotor blade ring is arranged between two guide vane rings arranged one behind the other in the throughflow direction. The guide vane rings border with a radially outwardly positioned end, particularly with an outer cover band or belt, on the housing and with a radially inwardly positioned end, particularly with an inner cover band or belt, on the rotor. The guide vane rings must be secured to the housing of the turbo-engine and spoke centered relative to the housing.
German Patent Publication DE 198 07 247 A1 discloses such a turbo-engine whereby bearing journal pins are provided for the centering and fixing of the guide vane rings. According to the German Patent Publication DE 198 07 247 A1 the bearing journal pins fixed to the housing pass through the housing of the turbo-engine and engage into bearing bushings arranged in the guide vane rings for the spoke centering of the guide vane rings. Thereby the guide pins pass through the housing of the turbo-engine in a radial direction. Thus, a longitudinal central axis of the bearing bushings extends parallel to the radial direction of the turbo-engine, whereby the corresponding bearing bushings also are oriented in the radial direction of the turbo-engine. According to German Patent Publication DE 198 07 247 A1, seal carriers are positioned between two neighboring guide vane rings, whereby the seal carriers are hooked into or suspended from the outer cover bands or belts of the guide vane rings.


A throttle opening controller for one embodiment of a small planing boat includes: a throttle valve for changing the degree of opening in response to displacement of a throttle lever; a remaining fuel amount detector; a fuel consumption calculating means; and a throttle opening limiting means. In one embodiment, when a remaining fuel amount detected by the remaining fuel amount detector is equal to or below a preset value L1, the fuel consumption calculating means starts calculating total fuel injection amount. When a value, obtained by subtracting the total fuel injection amount from the preset value L1, is equal to or below a threshold L0, the throttle opening limiting means determines the degree of opening of the throttle valve based on an opening rate (k). An internal space of a fuel tank can be divided using a vertical partition into plural chambers. In addition, a knock sensor can be provided for an engine.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a throttle opening controller for a small planing boat, which has a throttle valve for controlling an mount of air to be supplied to an engine.
2. Description of the Related Art
A small planing boat such as a personal watercraft may have an electronically controlled throttle valve that opens/closes by a motor operative in response to displacement of a lever by a boat operator. Displacement of the lever can be detected by a displacement detecting sensor. The throttle valve adjusts an amount of air to be supplied to the engine. Japanese patent document JP-Y-Hei 7-40476 discloses a small planing boat that has a meter on the handlebar cover. The meter has a built-in tachometer, oil indicator, coolant temperature gauge, fuel gauge, and so forth. An operator of this type of small planing boat can check the meter to monitor boat conditions, including remaining fuel amount, so as to avoid problems such as fuel shortage and overheating, which may occur during driving. Also, such instruments may be adapted to light up a warning light if any problem is indicated.

Throttle opening controller for small planing boat


A knitted textile fabric containing integrated fluid-carrying tubes is fabricated of yarn formed into interlooped stitches arranged in longitudinal wales and transverse courses throughout the fabric structure, with plural elongate hollow tubular segments integrated with the yarn into the fabric structure and spaced essentially in parallel relation to one another. The fabric structure is preferably warp knitted, one embodiment of which has the tubular segments extending longitudinally in selected spaced wales and another embodiment of which has the tubular segments extending coursewise in selected spaced courses.

The present invention relates generally to textile fabrics, especially knitted textile fabrics, and relates more particularly to a novel knitted textile fabric having elongate hollow tubular segments integrated into the fabric structure for use in containing or conveying fluids across the fabric structure.
Tubes and pipes of varying shapes and sizes are commonly used for containing and conveying fluids, and especially for conveying heating and/or cooling fluids. In various environments, such tubes or pipes may be incorporated into a substrate or the like for structural support and to retain the tubes or pipes in a desired position, orientation or relationship. For example, in recent years, it has become common in luxury automobiles to provide active heating or cooling of the automobile seats from interiorly within the seat structure, in addition to actively cooling and heating the atmosphere within the interior passenger compartment of the automobile. One means of accomplishing the cooling/heating of an automobile seat is to incorporate fluid-carrying tubes, pipes or passageways into the seat structure. As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,738,702, assigned to General Motors Corporation, such tubes, pipes or passageways may be formed or contained within the foam cushioning commonly utilized in such seats.
While textile fabrics have found numerous and diverse uses and applications across a wide variety of differing industries, including the automobile industry, it is believed that the concept of incorporating fluid-carrying tubes or pipes into the structure of a textile fabric has not heretofore been proposed or attempted, but given the economies which can be realized from the automated fabrication of textile fabrics, such a composite fabric with integrated fluid-carrying tubes or pipes could offer not only cost savings but also expanded industrial applications for textile fabrics, such as in fabricating heated/cooled automobile seat structures as one potential application.

Knitted textile fabric with integrated fluid-containing or -conveying tubular segments


An electric vehicle charging station for recharging an electric vehicle. The electric vehicle charging station has a base unit with a control box electrically coupled to an electrical power line, and a retractable support arm assembly with an electrical conductor and an electrical connector coupled thereto for movement between a retracted position and an extended position. The support arm assembly includes various support arms and/or linkages which provide limited degrees of vertical movement and horizontal movement.

The number of automobiles being operated is continuing to increase which has significantly increases the worldwide air pollution problem. This air pollution problem from automobiles has prompted many countries to regulate the exhaust emissions from automobiles. In fact, the exhaust emissions standards are constantly becoming stricter each year. For example, California regulators have recently passed a law requiring 2% of all vehicles sold in California to be "zero-emissions" or electric powered by 1998. Failure to meet the new emission standard would result in significant fines to automobile manufacturers selling automobiles in California. Accordingly, automobile manufacturers, ability to sell automobiles in California will be hurt if they do not produce an automobile with zero-emissions.
In view of these increasingly stricter emission requirements, automobile manufacturers are beginning to develop electric powered vehicles. Accordingly, it will be necessary to provide the owners of the electric vehicles with a safe and easy way of recharging their batteries. Moreover, electric vehicles have a limited range of travel before requiring their batteries to be recharged. Thus, recharging stations will be needed which are conveniently located and easy to operate in substantially the same manner in which gas stations are currently available for gas powered vehicles.
One example of an electric vehicle and a recharging station for recharging the batteries of electric vehicles is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,158,802 to Rose, II. The electric vehicle and the recharging station disclosed in the patent issued to Rose, II have many drawbacks. For instance, the vehicle is exposed to the environment which can cause the contacts of the electrical inlet mounted on the vehicle to corrode. Also, the electrical contact surfaces of the vehicle and the recharging station are exposed to the driver such that the driver of the vehicle could accidentally touch one of the electric contacts and receive an electrical shock. Furthermore, this recharging station would require all electric vehicles to be manufactured within a certain range of sizes and shapes to allow its spring biased contacts to properly engage the contacts on the vehicle.
In view of the above, it is apparent that there exists a need for electrical recharging stations which will overcome the above problems of the prior art, and which are safe and convenient to operate. This invention addresses this need in the art along with other needs .which will become apparent to those skilled in the art once given this disclosure.


An example enclosed seating assembly includes a foldable chair enclosure. The example enclosed seating assembly also includes a perch seat for a user to rest against but not fully sit on in the foldable chair enclosure. At least one adjustable height foot platform is provided at the base of the foldable chair enclosure. At least one sensory module provides varied input for the user. The example enclosed seating assembly includes an anti-tip structure on the base of the foldable chair enclosure configured to reduce or altogether prevent tipping. The example enclosed seating assembly includes built in storage for the at least one sensory module. In an example, the enclosed seating assembly includes a door on a sidewall of the chair enclosure for the user to enter and exit the chair enclosure. In another example, the enclosed seating assembly includes a ramp.

Mealtime can be a frustrating, chaotic, and an exhausting time for parents. Some children or teens have difficulty resisting the urge to leave their seat during a meal or activity. When children or teens leave their seat, they may disrupt others or fail to complete the meal or activity. A need exists for an apparatus that helps active children or teens feel comfortable sitting for dinner or an activity. Many families hope to have an improved, positive experience at mealtime.


Compounds of the formula EQU M(XR.sub.2)L.sub.n. where M is a Group IIa metal, X is an azogen, R is a hydrocarbyl or silyl group, L is a neutral azogen-containing donor ligand, and n=l or 2 have good low temperature volatility and can be used as Group IIa metal MOCVD precursors.

Numerous technologies require the uniform deposition of a variety of metals from the vapor phase in controlled amounts. One such technology is the preparation of light-emitting diodes and other photonic devices by the doping of Group 13 nitrides by magnesium. Magnesium doping of GaN devices is theoretically capable of providing stable, high-luminosity blue and green photonic devices. Magnesium is particularly useful as a dopant due to its low diffusion constant in semiconductor matrices, its desirable acceptor energy level, and the relatively low toxicity of its compounds.
Thus far, the magnesium sources used in such techniques as metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD), chemical beam epitaxy (CBE), and related techniques have employed bis(cyclopentadienyl)magnesium (Cp.sub.2 Mg) and substituted derivatives. However, Cp.sub.2 Mg is a solid of high melting point and low vapor pressure. Moreover, the cyclopentadienyl ligands of Cp.sub.2 Mg are known to bond strongly to metals, their cleavage from which are relatively high energy processes. The low vapor pressure and low reactivity of Cp.sub.2 Mg and like compounds cause a so-called "memory effect" during growth of doped films, where Cp.sub.2 Mg adheres to the walls of the reactor, only to slowly desorb following cessation of dopant precursor flow. This process temporarily lowers dopant concentration initially, and prolongs dopant availability following the desired end point. Thus, a broad, rather than an abrupt doping profile is created. The memory effect places a severe impediment on the preparation of devices with well defined doping profiles.
Despite the known inadequacies of Cp.sub.2 Mg as a dopant source, only very few attempts have been reported to alleviate such problems. Hatano et al., APPL. PHYS. LETT., 1991, 58, 1488 have employed Mg(Al(CH.sub.3).sub.4).sub.2 to prepare doped Ga.sub.x Al.sub.1-x As films at high doping levels and with flat doping profiles, thus exhibiting virtually no memory effect. However, the presence of Al and the facile reversion of this compound to the constituent metal alkyls prevents its use for magnesium doping.
CVD precursors for depositing Group IIa metal are disclosed in related U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,280,012; 5,225,561; and 5,453,494. Calcium, barium, and strontium precursors of the bis(cyclopentadienyl) or acetylacetonate-type complexed with a mono- or multidentate ligand are disclosed for use in preparing doped copper oxide superconductors. However, no magnesium precursors are exemplified, and the Group IIa complexes prepared exhibited relatively high sublimation temperatures, higher than Cp.sub.2 Mg.
It would be desirable to provide Group IIa metal-containing, and particularly magnesium-containing organic source compounds having high volatility which can be used as MOCVD precursors. It would further be desirable to provide magnesium MOCVD precursors which exhibit little or no memory effect.

Organometallic source compounds for chemical vapor deposition