The present invention relates to compound of general formula (1) wherein R1 represents C6-C10 aryl comprising one or two fused rings, wherein from 2 to 5 carbon atoms may be replaced with a heteroatom selected from O, S and NR6, and eventually substituted with from 5 to 11 substituents selected from R6, halo, CN, NO2, CF3, OCF3, COOR6, OCOR6, SO2NR6R7, CONR6R7, NR6R7, NR6COR7, (CH2)p—NR6R7, (CH2)p—OR6 and (CH2)pSR6, as well as, if appropriate, their pharmaceutically acceptable salts and/or isomers, tautomers, solvates or isotopic variations thereof. The compounds are useful for the treatment of cancers.

Cutaneous melanoma deriving from the transformation of melanocytes is one of the most lethal cancers among young adults. Its incidence has increased at a dramatic rate during the last decades. Melanoma has a high capability of invasion and rapid metastasis to other organs. The prognosis of metastatic melanoma is extremely pejorative, as the various protocols of chemotherapy or immunotherapy have not shown real survival benefit. Indeed, at the ganglionic metastatic stage, the forecast deteriorates considerably with a survival rate after 5 years of 50%. At the stage of visceral metastases, the forecast is catastrophic with a median of survival of 6 months. Therefore, the melanoma, which represents only 5% of the cutaneous cancers, represents 80% of the deaths associated to this type of cancer. With an incidence, which doubles every ten years (10000 new cases in France in 2007), the melanoma constitutes a real problem of public health. Finally, even if recently encouraging results were obtained with vemurafenib and dabrafenib, two inhibitors of the B-Raf pathway, the responses remain transitory. Indeed, vemurafenib and dabrafenib target only melanomas mutated on B-Raf (approximately 50% of the metastatic melanomas). Unfortunately, after a short period of regression, the melanoma acquires in all cases, a resistance against the drug and the metastases develop again, increasing only about 2 months the life expectancy of the patient. The identification of these mechanisms of resistance is now the subject matter of numerous works but no study managed to clearly identify the mechanisms involved.
Recently, the anti-CTLA4 antibody ipilimumab able to reactivate the immune response of the patient was developed for the treatment of melanoma. However, this approach provides an objective response in only 10 to 15% of the patients.
The identification of new candidate molecules is thus a major aim for the development of specific biotherapies.
The inventors of the instant invention were initially interested in a family of molecules used in the treatment of the type 2 diabetes, the thiazolidinediones (TZD). The effect of PPAR gamma on glucose metabolism is mediated by activation of nuclear receptor, PPAR gamma.
The inventors have previously shown that some TZD led to a massive death of the cells in in vitro as well as in in vivo models of melanoma independently of PPAR gamma activation.
Taken together, the inventors synthesized and identified a family of compounds derived from TZD that led to a loss of viability of the melanoma cells.
The compounds of the inventions thus show a high potency in vitro as well as in vivo models of melanoma. Interestingly, although the compounds of the invention present structure similarities with dabrafenib, their signaling pathways and their mechanisms of action are totally different from those of dabrafenib.
In addition, it appears that the compounds of the invention are also efficient on several other cancers namely prostate, breast and colon indicating that these molecules may be active in all type of cancers.

INSERM (INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA SANTE ET DE LA RECHARCHE MEDICALE)

CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE (CNRS)


In a printer system in which a plurality of virtual printers can be set, virtual printer names are properly used to select ordinary printing and security printing whose contents should be kept confidential. When print data whose contents should be kept confidential is printed, a virtual printer name for security printing, e.g., “sp2351”, is set upon directing printing. A printer identifies the virtual printer name for security printing by a part “sp”, and temporarily stores the contents to be printed in a memory. Subsequently, when the user inputs “2351” directly to the printer, printing is done.

Usually, a printer connected to a network is shared by a plurality of user terminals. In this environment, the situation might occur that the printed matter of a user is seen by another user, or that the printed matter is erroneously taken away by another user. Such a situation is problematic in case of printing which is to be done with security afforded, for example, printing of secret or private information that ought not to be seen by any other user.
As a method for solving the above problem, the following has been known: First, a printer driver which can transmit a password to a printer simultaneously with the transmission of print data is prepared on the side of the user's computer system. Besides, the printer or printer server is furnished with means for identifying the password transmitted from the user's computer. Also, the password is registered on the side of the printer or printer server beforehand. In the case where the user prints the information not desired to be seen by another user, he/she transmits the print data and the password from his/her own computer to the printer. In the printer, the password is collated with a group of passwords registered beforehand, so as to confirm the user. Herein, the print data is not immediately printed, but it is once stored in a memory. The user goes to a place where the printer is installed, and inputs his/her password directly to the printer. In response to the input of the password, the printer prints the print data stored in the memory. In this way, the user can reliably obtain printed matter which is desired to be kept confidential, and he/she can avoid the problem that the contents of the printed matter are seen by another user. Such methods are described in, for example, Japanese Patent Publication Nos. H8-39898, H8-83153 and H9-65148.
The above conventional printing method which is implemented with security afforded, has a problem that the dedicated printer driver is required to handle the extra information or password, and it would take time and cost to install it. Besides, the conventional printing method has another problem that individual registration of passwords in the printer is required, which would complicate a setting procedure at a stage prior to printing. By way of example, when a portable personal computer carried into an office from outside is connected to a network to direct a print operation from the portable personal computer, the above printing method requires a troublesome procedure to set a password in the printer beforehand.

Printing method, print system and program

International Business Machines Corporation


This invention provides a compound of formula I, ##STR1## and 27-substituted derivatives thereof which are useful as immunosuppressive, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antitumor, and antiproliferative agents. The compound depicted by formula I is named 27-hydroxyrapamycin, and may also be referred to as 27-deoxo-27-hydroxyrapamycin.

This invention relates to a compound of formula I, which is named 27-hydroxyrapamycin, and derivatives thereof and a method for using them for inducing immunosuppression, and in the treatment of transplantation rejection, host vs. graft disease, autoimmune diseases, diseases of inflammation, solid tumors, fungal infections, and hyperproliferative vascular disorders.
Rapamycin is a macrocyclic triene antibiotic produced by Streptomyces hygroscopicus, which was found to have antifungal activity, particularly against Candida albicans, both in vitro and in vivo [C. Vezina et al., J. Antibiot. 28, 721 (1975); S. N. Sehgal et al., J. Antibiot. 28, 727 (1975); H. A. Baker et al., J. Antibiot. 31, 539 (1978); U.S. Pat. No. 3,929,992; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,993,749].
Rapamycin alone (U.S. Pat. No. 4,885,171) or in combination with picibanil (U.S. Pat. No. 4,401,653) has been shown to have antitumor activity. R. Martel et al. [Can. J. Physiol. Pharmacol. 55, 48 (1977)] disclosed that rapamycin is effective in the experimental allergic encephalomyelitis model, a model for multiple sclerosis; in the adjuvant arthritis model, a model for rheumatoid arthritis, and effectively inhibited the formation of IgE-like antibodies.
The immunosuppressive effects of rapamycin have been disclosed in FASEB 3, 3411 (1989). Cyclosporin A and FK-506, other macrocyclic molecules, also have been shown to be effective as immunosuppressive agents, therefore useful in preventing transplant rejection [FASEB 3, 3411 (1989); FASEB 3, 5256 (1989); R. Y. Calne et al., Lancet 1183 (1978); and U.S. Pat. No. 5,100,899].
Rapamycin has also been shown to be useful in preventing or treating systemic lupus erythematosus [U.S. Pat. No. 5,078,999], pulmonary inflammation [U.S. Pat. No. 5,080,899], insulin dependent diabetes mellitus [Fifth Int. Conf. Inflamm. Res. Assoc. 121 (Abstract), (1990)], and smooth muscle cell proliferation and intimal thickening following vascular injury [Morris, R. J. Heart Lung Transplant 11 (pt. 2): 197 (1992)].
Mono- and diacylated derivatives of rapamycin (esterified at the 28 and 43 positions) have been shown to be useful as antifungal agents (U.S. Pat. No. 4,316,885) and used to make water soluble prodrugs of rapamycin (U.S. Pat. No. 4,650,803). Recently, the numbering convention for rapamycin has been changed; therefore according to Chemical Abstracts nomenclature, the esters described above would be at the 31- and 42- positions. Under the older numbering convention, 27-hydroxyrapamycin would be named as 24-hydroxyrapamycin.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,102,876 discloses 15-hydroxyrapamycin and 15,27-bis-hydroxyrapamycin, which were prepared by the reduction of rapamycin with diisobutylaluminum hydride, and a method of using them as immunosuppressive, antiinflammatory, and antifungal agents. 27-hydroxyrapamycin cannot be produced via the synthetic methodology disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,102,876.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,138,051 and 5,169,851 disclose 33-hydroxyrapamycin which were prepared by the reduction of rapamycin using sodium triacetoxyborohydride, and a method of using them as immunosuppressive, antiinflammatory, and antifungal agents. 27-hydroxyrapamycin cannot be produced via the synthetic methodology disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,138,051 and 5,169,851.

27-hydroxyrapamycin and derivatives thereof


The disclosed embodiments relate to a system that uses colocation hints to facilitate storing data blocks in a distributed data storage system, which includes a plurality of data centers. During operation, the system receives a write request from a client to write a data block to the distributed data storage system, wherein the write request includes a colocation hint that identifies a colocation group associated with the data block. In response to the write request, the system uses the colocation hint to identify one or more data centers associated with the colocation group. Next, the system writes copies of the data block to the one or more identified data centers. In this way, the system situates copies of data blocks associated with the colocation group in the same data centers when possible.

Field
The disclosed embodiments generally relate to data storage systems. More specifically, the disclosed embodiments relate to the design of a data storage system that uses colocation hints provided by a client application to facilitate accessing data blocks in a distributed data storage system.
Related Art
Organizations are beginning to use cloud-based storage systems to store large volumes of data. These cloud-based storage systems are typically operated by hosting companies that maintain a sizable storage infrastructure, often comprising thousands of servers that that are sited in geographically distributed data centers. Customers typically buy or lease storage capacity from these hosting companies. In turn, the hosting companies provision storage resources according to the customer's requirements and enable the customers to access these storage resources.
To provide fault tolerance, data items are often replicated across different storage devices. In this way, if a specific storage device fails, the data items on the failed storage device can be accessed from other storage devices. To provide an even higher level of fault tolerance, data items can be replicated across geographically distributed data centers. In this way, if a data center fails (or becomes inaccessible), copies of the data items on the data center can be accessed from another data center.
For efficiency reasons, it is desirable to "colocate" copies of a related set of data items at the same data center. In this way, an application can access the set of related data items from a single data center, without having to perform a large number of slow accesses to remote data centers. For example, colocating a set of associated files at the same data center enables a client application to efficiently perform a keyword search through the set of files. In contrast, if the set of files needs to be accessed from multiple data centers, the same keyword search would be extremely time consuming.
Also, if a set of data items is replicated across multiple data centers, it is desirable for each data center holding such data items to have a complete copy of the set of data items. In this way, if a data center containing the set of data items fails, the set of data items can be accessed from another data center that contains a complete copy of the set of data items. This is more efficient than accessing the set of data items from multiple data centers.
Hence, what is needed is a system that facilitates colocating related data items within a distributed data storage system.

Using colocation hints to facilitate accessing a distributed data storage system


Embodiments herein describe performing an engineering change order (ECO) after a physical design team has begun (or finished) a physical design (PD) netlist. However, the ECO may describe changes or additions to the logic and/or nets using component names found in a design netlist that is different than the PD netlist. Embodiments herein rely on generating an equivalents nets file that the maps the components in the design netlist to the components in the PD netlist. When performing an ECO, the PD team can use this file to map the components in the ECO (which are based on the design netlist) to all the equivalent components in the PD netlist. The PD team then selects one of the equivalent components to alter as indicated in the ECO.

The present invention relates to performing a change order during, or after, a chip is designed, and more specifically, to using a Boolean equivalence checking tool to perform the change order.
In chip design, an engineering change order is the process of inserting a logic change directly into the netlist after it has already been processed by an automatic layout tool. Before the chip masks are made, engineering change orders (ECOs) are usually done to save time, by avoiding the need for full ASIC logic synthesis, technology mapping, place, route, layout extraction, and timing verification. Electronic design automation (EDA) tools are often built with incremental modes of operation to facilitate this type of ECO.
One of the most common ECOs in ASIC design is the gate-level netlist ECO. In this flow, engineers manually (and often tediously) edit the gate-level netlist, instead of re-running logic synthesis. The netlist files are searched for the logic affected by the change, edited to implement the changes, and verified to ensure changes are made without introducing errors into the design. This is a very time and resource-intensive process highly subject to errors. Therefore, formal equivalence checking is normally used after ECOs to ensure the revised implementation matches the revised specification.

Preparing engineering change orders for physical design using boolean equivalence checking tools

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


In a display device, a cover window is capable of increasing transparency of a curved part to improve visibility of a screen and appearance quality of a product. The cover window for the display device includes at least one curved part. In addition, the curved part includes an outer surface formed in an arc having a curvature radius of r1 and an inner surface formed in an arc having a curvature radius of r2, where r1≦r2≦2r1.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cover window, and more particularly, to a cover window having a curved part and a display device with the cover window.
2. Description of the Related Art
A display device includes a display panel displaying an image and a transparent cover window covering a display surface of the display panel. The cover window protects the display panel from external impact and scratches that occur in use, and the like. Generally, the cover window is made of a plastic resin and is manufactured by an injection molding method using a mold.
Recently, as the use of a smart phone and a tablet PC has increased, diversity in design of a display device installed in these devices has been required. In order to meet diverse standards of design, a flexible display panel and a display device with the cover window with a curved part have been proposed.
However, when a resin material flows along the curved part in the process of manufacturing the cover window with the curved part by the injection molding method, a temperature difference partially occurs, and thus a convection phenomenon occurs, such that fluidity deteriorates. In this case, abnormal elements hindering transparency occur in the curved part of the completed cover window, such that visibility of a screen and an appearance quality of a product deteriorate.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of an understanding of the background of the invention, and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Cover window and display device with cover window


There is provided a semiconductor device in which the characteristic variations of a transistor and the degradation of a gate oxide layer are reduced during a WP process and a method for manufacturing the same. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor chip having an SOI transistor. The SOI transistor includes a semiconductor layer comprising device isolating regions, a channel region, and diffusion regions that sandwich the channel region therebetween. The semiconductor layer is formed on a support substrate via a first insulating layer. A gate electrode is formed on the channel region of the semiconductor layer via a second insulating layer. The semiconductor chip has, on the first surface, a first electrode pad electrically connected to the SOI transistor and a second electrode pad electrically connected to the support substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to semiconductor devices, and more particularly to a technique having advantages when applied to semiconductor devices having a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
An SOI technique has been used to achieve lower power consumption and higher-speed operability for semiconductor devices. In cases where integrated circuits(ICs) are manufactured using the SOI technique, ICs are manufactured from SOI wafers.
The SOI wafers have a structure in which a semiconductor layer or a device-forming region, and a substrate are isolated from each other by a thick silicon oxide layer (hereinafter, referred to as a buried oxide layer) or a first insulating layer. When transistors are formed in the semiconductor layer of a SOI wafer, the silicon serving as a channel region and a diffusion region is completely insulated from the substrate by the silicon oxide layer.
A transistor formed in the semiconductor layer of the SOI wafer (hereinafter, referred to as an SOI transistor) undergoes characteristic variations when hot carriers generated at the ON state of the SOI transistor are accumulated in the channel region of the SOI transistor. To reduce the variations, a potential of the channel region needs to be fixed to stabilize the action of the SOI transistor. Since ICs are generally sealed by resin or ceramic, it is difficult to establish electrical connection with the substrate. Accordingly, a technique in which in addition to a bonding to a front surface of a IC, another bonding to a metal plate attached to a back surface of the IC is made to fix the electrical potential of the metal plate from the exterior is sometimes used. Another technique of fixing the electrical potential of substrate is sometimes used, in which the back surface of the IC is fixed mechanically and electrically to a conductive layer in which a potential of a package member is fixed, using a conductive paste.
Unless the potential is fixed from the back surface of the IC, electrical connection from the surface of the SOI wafer to the substrate needs to be established in wafer processing. In general SOI-transistor manufacturing processes, for electrical connection from the front surface of the wafer to the substrate, a contact hole is formed through the buried oxide layer, and a conductive material is buried therein.
The technique in which electrical connection is established from the front surface of the IC to the substrate is, for example, disclosed in JP-A-2004-319853.
However, with the technique described in the foregoing related art and the referenced patent, the contact connected to the substrate fixes the potential to a ground, so that the substrate and a terminal in the circuit which is connected to the ground are connected to each other through a wire or a first metal. The substrate becomes charged by the bias applied to a stage due to chemical-vapor deposition (CVD) or etching treatment or the bias of an electrostatic chuck applied to attract the wafer toward a stage. The generated charge is input to the transistor via the contact connected to the substrate. There is therefore a possibility that characteristics variations of the transistor and degrading of the gate oxide layer are triggered.

Semiconductor device having an SOI structure and method for manufacturing the same


Systems, kits and methods are provided for mounting multiple tuning machines to a stringed musical instrument without requiring permanent alteration of the instrument. An exemplary mounting element includes a multiplicity of post apertures. Each post aperture is configured to receive a string post of a respective tuning machine, which is then axially secured within respective head stock holes of the instrument. The mounting element includes one or more alignment detents associated with the post apertures. The axial securement generally does not require penetration of the instrument independent of the head stock holes. When the string posts are received by their post apertures and are axially secured to the head stock of the instrument, the alignment detents restrict rotation of the tuner gear housing with respect to the instrument. The axial securement is preferably via threaded engagement between a threaded hub of the tuning machine and a respective barrel nut.

Musical instruments, such as acoustic guitars, mandolin and banjos are very popular and have been in mass production for well over 100 years. Other string instruments such as electric guitars and basses have also been produced for over 60 years. Many of these instruments are still in service today. Vintage instruments such as Fender, Gibson and Martin guitars are very coveted and their value can be much greater than those of more modern instruments. As is with many antique and vintage items, value can be impaired if permanent modifications or alterations are performed.
As such instruments age, their tuning machines can wear to the degree that their function and accuracy become impaired. Moreover, tuning machines can break for various reasons, thereby necessitating replacement of the tuning machines even on more modern instruments from time to time. Further, incorporating modern-style tuning machines which possess new and advanced technology would be advantageous to older instruments if the vintage value of the instrument was not affected.
Throughout the years, many different brands and styles of tuning machines have been used on older instruments which can make it very difficult, if not impossible, to find a suitable match. Because different brands and styles of tuning machines require different screw alignment/mounting patterns, it is often necessary to relocate alignment/mounting holes on expensive instruments. Relocating these holes can be difficult. If the alignment/mounting holes are not located precisely, the tuning machine can tilt or be off angle. The alignment/mounting screws tend to be very small while the neck material of instruments can vary from, for example, hard maple to soft mahogany. It is very common for these small screws to strip out or break off in the neck while installing tuning machines. For these and other reasons, many musicians opt to have tuning machines installed by professional instrument technicians, which can be costly.
What is needed is a system, kit and/or method which allows a modern tuning machine to be easily and inexpensively installed on a wide variety of instruments, including vintage guitars, without the need of any permanent alterations to the instrument.

System, kit and method for universal mounting of tuning machines on stringed musical instruments


A display application can be configured to provide a visual indication associating a dialog box (that was not invoked for display by a user) to a user selectable source on a display screen. In such circumstances, because the dialog box was not actually invoked based on actions of by the user, the user may be unaware of how to invoke redisplay of the dialog box. The visual indication (e.g., a highlighting of a path between the dialog box and a user selectable source such as an icon) produced by the display application teaches a user of a location of the selectable source so that the user can select the selectable source at a future point in time and redisplay the window.

Conventional graphical user interfaces often provide users with a variety of ways to interact with a software application that executes on a corresponding computer. One way involves displaying text or other content in a pop-up window on a display screen. A pop-up window (e.g., a dialog box) typically prompts a user to provide input required by the application.
The content displayed in a dialog box can include, for example, information about the current state of the application or current user preferences. The input prompted by the dialog box may be for the user to simply acknowledge the information. For example, a dialog box may be configured to display information about the application as well as display an "OK" button. The user can click on the "OK" button to signal the corresponding display application to remove the dialog box from the display screen.
In addition to merely displaying information, a dialog box can prompt a respective user to input data. For example, the dialog box may prompt a user to enter information (e.g., a user name or a file name) or to choose between multiple items displayed in the dialog box.

Source identification on a display screen


A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device including a substrate to be processed having a conductive layer essentially consisting of platinum includes etching the conductive layer, and generating plasma and cleaning the substrate, to which an etching product adhere, by means of ions in the plasma. The cleaning includes heating the substrate to a first temperature, introducing gas, which contains chlorine and nitrogen and in which a ratio of chlorine atoms to nitrogen atoms is 9:1 to 5:5, and applying high-frequency power to an electrode, on which the substrate is placed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device including a platinum layer, and particularly to a method for cleaning the semiconductor device using plasma.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, platinum (Pt) has been used in many semiconductor devices as a material of electrodes in a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) or FeRAM (Ferroelectric Random Access Memory). As the integration density of the DRAM or FeRAM has become higher, the demand for finely etching the platinum layer has increased.
A thin film made of material having a low vapor pressure, such as platinum, is generally etched by physical etching in the following manner. First, plasma is generated in a process chamber, for example. Then, bias power is applied to an electrode on which a substrate to be processed is placed, so that an electric field is generated in the plasma. The electric field attracts ions in the plasma to the surface of the substrate, thereby etching the substrate.
However, in the physical etching generally employed to etch a thin film made of material having a low vapor pressure, such as platinum, the etching product is not volatilized. Therefore, minute platinum particles having a diameter of several nanometers adhere to the surface of the substrate to be processed. The adhesion of the platinum etching product to the surface of the substrate deteriorates the electrical characteristics of the semiconductor device including the substrate.
In connection with this matter, a technique for carrying out etching without adhesion of the platinum etching product has been disclosed (PCT National Publication No. 2002-537645).

Method for manufacturing semiconductor device


A hydraulic lash adjuster of the type in which the plunger assembly (15) includes a ball plunger element (50), and defines a valve opening (57) in the lower plunger member (19). A check valve member (53) is seated in the valve opening (57), for opening the valve opening in response to a relative decrease in the pressure in a high pressure chamber (23). The ball plunger element (50) includes a metering valve element (45) movable between an outward position (FIG. 1) and an inward position (FIG. 2). An elongated member (65) is fixed to move with the metering element (45), and includes a lower end (67) juxtaposed the valve opening (57). When the metering element (45) is in its inward position, the lower end (67) engages the check ball (53) and lifts it from the valve opening, thus facilitating assembly of the lash adjuster, filled with fluid, into an engine.

The present invention relates generally to hydraulic lash adjusters, and more particularly to a hydraulic lash adjuster (HLA) of the type in which a check valve provides at least some of the leakdown flow from the pressure chamber to the reservoir.
Hydraulic lash adjusters (also sometimes referred to as "lifters") for internal combustion engines have been in use for many years to eliminate clearance, or lash, between engine valve train components under varying operating conditions, in order to maintain efficiency and to reduce noise and wear in the valve train. Hydraulic lash adjusters operate on the principle of transmitting the energy of the valve actuating cam through hydraulic fluid, trapped in a pressure chamber under a plunger. During each operation of the cam, as the length of the valve actuating components varies as a result of temperature changes and wear, small quantities of hydraulic fluid are permitted to enter the pressure chamber, or escape therefrom, thus effecting an adjustment in the position of the plunger, and consequently adjusting the effective total length of the valve train.
The cam operating cycle comprises two distinct events: (1) operation on the base circle and (2) valve actuation. The base circle event is characterized by a constant radius between the cam center of rotation and the cam follower, and during this event, no cam energy is transmitted. The valve actuation event is characterized by a varying radius between the cam center of rotation and the cam follower, which effectively transmits cam energy to open and close an engine valve. During the valve actuation event, a portion of the load resulting from the valve spring, the inertia of valve train components, and cylinder pressure are transmitted through the valve train and through the lash adjuster. The load increases the pressure of the hydraulic fluid within the lash adjuster pressure chamber, in proportion to the plunger area, and in typical hydraulic lash adjusters currently in commercial production, fluid escapes the pressure chamber between the plunger and the wall of the lash adjuster body. Such a device is referred to as a "conventional leakdown" lash adjuster.
As the fluid escapes, the volume of the pressure chamber is decreased and the plunger moves down, shortening the effective length of the lash adjuster. During the base circle event, the lash adjuster plunger spring moves the plunger up within the body such that no clearance or lash exists between valve actuation components. As this occurs, hydraulic fluid is drawn into the pressure chamber through the plunger check valve in response to the increasing volume of the pressure chamber as the plunger moves up. If the effective length of the valve train shortens during the valve actuation cycle, positive lash is created and the lash adjuster extends, moving the plunger to a higher position at the end of the cycle than at the beginning. Conversely, if the effective length of the valve train increases during the valve actuation cycle, negative lash is created and the lash adjuster contracts, moving the plunger to a lower position at the end of the cycle than at the beginning. The latter condition typically occurs when valve train components lengthen in response to increasing temperature.
As noted previously, commercial lash adjusters of the conventional leakdown type have controlled the escape of fluid from the high pressure chamber (or "leakdown") solely by the fit of the plunger within the body, thus necessitating close clearances therebetween, and selective fitting of the plunger to the body. In an effort to overcome the expense of such selective fitting of the plunger within the body, as well as other associated disadvantages of the prior art, the assignee of the present invention has developed a lash adjuster in which the leakdown flow is past the plunger check valve. This improved lash adjuster is illustrated and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,622,147 for a "HYDRAULIC LASH ADJUSTER", assigned to the assignee of the present invention and incorporated herein by reference.
Lash adjusters of the type disclosed in the above-identified patent are referred to as having "sealed leakdown" systems. In connection with the development of the sealed leakdown type lash adjusters, it has been determined that it is necessary to assemble such lash adjusters into the engine without fluid (i.e., assemble the lash adjuster "dry"), and after the engine begins to run, oil is pumped into the lash adjuster in a manner well known to those skilled in the art. If such lash adjusters were already filled with hydraulic fluid, prior to assembly into the engine, the assembly process would be nearly impossible. In a sealed leakdown lash adjuster, the check valve constitutes the only fluid passage between the high pressure chamber and the reservoir so that a compressive load imposed on the plunger results in fluid being displaced through the check valve. During the assembly process, at normal assembly speeds, the hydrodynamic forces generated by the flow of fluid through the check valve are sufficient to close the check valve before the lash adjuster is shortened enough to permit assembly.
In response to the above-described problems, those skilled in the art have developed an HLA of the "normally biased open" type, i.e., the check valve comprises a check ball (also referred to as a "freeball" check valve), which is normally biased toward an open position. For example, in co-pending application U.S. Ser. No. 792,809, filed Jan. 30, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,758,613, for a "HYDRAULIC LASH ADJUSTER AND BIASED NORMALLY OPEN CHECK VALVE SYSTEM THEREFORE", assigned to the assignee of the present invention, and incorporated herein by reference, the check ball is biased by a compression spring toward the open position. Although the structure of the incorporated application functions in a satisfactory manner, the addition of the biasing spring adds to the overall expense of the HLA, and does add some complication to the assembly process.

Hydraulic lash adjuster and check valve opening arrangement therefor


By advancing a rotatable feed rod (5) with a threaded part (1) such as a bolt or a nut inserted into a socket hole (6) at a front end thereof, the threaded part (1) is supplied and tightened to an object such as a threaded hole or a bolt. In order to prevent the part (1) from dropping off or dislocating on its way of feeding the part (1) is advanced to the vicinity of the object with the part being restrained by, for example, a closure member (31), and then the part (1) is inserted into the socket hole (6) of the feed rod (5). Finally, the feed rod (5) is further advanced until the part (1) arrives at the object and is tightened thereto.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to feeding and tightening of threaded parts such as bolts and nuts to, depending on the parts, threaded holes or bolts (hereinafter called objects) at a desired location, with the purpose of realizing generally used bolt runners or nut runners as automatic machines.
2. Prior Art
As far as the present inventor investigated the literature there is no prior art exactly corresponding to the present invention, but generally a rotatable feed rod capable of reciprocating movement holds a threaded part at its front end, and carries the threaded part to the object by moving along a specified path while avoiding surrounding machines and devices. When the feed rod moves along such a specified path with the threaded part at its front end, the feed rod moves in the axial direction or then suddenly moves in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction, and therefore, the threaded part being held is caused to move suddenly or stop abruptly, and can be accidentally shaken off the front end of the feed rod or deviated in position due to the inertial force. Such problems as described are particularly significant in a robot apparatus of the like.

Apparatus for feeding and tightening threaded parts


A method for closed-chest cardiac surgical intervention relies on viewing the cardiac region through a thoracoscope or other viewing scope and endovascularly partitioning the patient""s arterial system at a location within the ascending aorta. The cardiopulmonary bypass and cardioplegia can be induced, and a variety of surgical procedures performed on the stopped heart using percutaneously introduced tools. The method of the present invention will be particularly suitable for forming coronary artery bypass grafts, where an arterial blood source is created using least invasive surgical techniques, and the arterial source is connected to a target location within a coronary artery while the patient is under cardiopulmonary bypass and cardioplegia.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to thoracoscopic methods for performing cardiac procedures. More particularly, the present invention relates to thoracoscopic methods for performing procedures externally on or internally within the heart while the patient""s chest is unopened, the patient""s heart is stopped, and the patient is supported by cardiopulmonary bypass.
Coronary artery disease remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Western societies. Coronary artery disease is manifested in a number of ways. For example, disease of the coronary arteries can lead to insufficient blood flow resulting in the discomfort and risks of angina and ischemia. In severe cases, acute blockage of coronary blood flow can result in myocardial infarction, leading to immediate death or damage to the myocardial tissue.
A number of approaches have been developed for treating coronary artery disease. In less severe cases, it is often sufficient to treat the symptoms with pharmaceuticals and lifestyle modification to lessen the underlying causes of disease. In more severe cases, the coronary blockage(s) can often be treated endovascularly using techniques such as balloon angioplasty, atherectomy, laser ablation, stents, hot tip probes, and the like.
In cases where pharmaceutical treatment and/or endovascular approaches have failed or are likely to fail, it is often necessary to perform a coronary artery bypass graft procedure using open surgical techniques. Such techniques require that the patient""s sternum be opened and the chest be spread apart to provide access to the heart. A source of arterial blood is then connected to a coronary artery downstream from an occlusion while the patient is maintained under cardioplegia and is supported by cardiopulmonary bypass. The source of blood is often the left or right internal mammary artery, and the target coronary artery can be the left anterior descending artery or any other coronary artery which might be narrowed or occluded.
While very effective in many cases, the use of open surgery to perform coronary artery bypass grafting is highly traumatic to the patient. The procedure requires immediate postoperative care in an intensive care unit, a total period of hospitalization of seven to ten days, and a recovery period that can be as long as six to eight weeks.
It would therefore be desirable to provide other, less traumatic methods and techniques for performing coronary artery bypass grafting. It would be particularly desirable if such techniques did not require opening of the patient""s sternum, and might be even more desirable if such techniques could be performed using thoracoscopic methods. Such thoracoscopic methods could decrease morbidity and mortality, cost, and recovery time when compared to conventional open surgical coronary bypass procedures. In addition, such methods could be even more efficacious than open-surgical bypass procedures.
2. Description of the Background Art
Conventional thoracoscopic techniques are described in Landreneau et al. (1992) Ann. Thorac. Surg. 54:800-807. Conventional open surgical procedures for performing coronary artery bypass grafting are described in Kirklin and Barratt Boyes, Cardiac Surgery, John Wiley and Sons, Inc. New York, 1993 (2nd Ed.). Copending application Ser. No. 07/730,599, assigned to the assignee of the present application, describes a catheter which is insertable into a patient""s arterial system and includes a distal balloon which can be expanded to occlude the ascending aorta. The coronary ostia remain unblocked so that the heart and proximal ascending aorta may be isolated while the patient is on cardiopulmonary bypass. This catheter is particularly intended to be used in heart valve replacement procedures.
According to the present invention, a method for closed-chest cardiac surgical intervention relies on viewing the region of the heart through a percutaneously positioned viewing scope, such as a thoracoscope. The patient""s arterial system will be partitioned during such interventional procedures at a location within the ascending aorta between the brachiocephalic artery and the coronary ostia. In a preferred embodiment, such partitioning is achieved by endovascularly advancing the distal end of a catheter to the desired location with the ascending aorta and expanding a blocking element on the catheter at said location to inhibit the flow of blood and other fluids past said location. Such partitioning facilitates isolation of the heart, and in particular permits the heart to be stopped while the patient is supported by cardiopulmonary bypass. Once the patient""s heart is stopped, a variety of surgical procedures can be performed using percutaneously introduced instruments in a minimally invasive fashion.
The methods of the present invention will be particularly useful for forming coronary artery bypass grafts in a patient suffering from coronary artery disease. The methods will be performed while the treating physician views the region of the heart through the viewing scope, with initial portions of the procedures being performed while normal heart function is maintained. As a first step, the physician will prepare an arterial blood source, typically by harvesting an internal mammary artery or other suitable artery. Conveniently, the lung beneath the internal mammary artery will be collapsed while the other lung remains ventilated. After the arterial blood source is prepared, cardiopulmonary bypass will be established, the patient""s arterial system will be partitioned, and the heart stopped, typically by introducing cardioplegic fluid to the isolated heart. A target location on the coronary artery will then be prepared to receive attachment of the arterial blood source, typically by forming an incision at a location downstream from a narrowed region in the artery. The arterial blood source can be connected to the coronary artery by various conventional anastomotic techniques, such as suturing.
The methods of the present invention provide a minimally-invasive approach for forming coronary artery bypass grafts with an efficacy equal to or greater than conventional open surgical bypass techniques. The methods of the present invention can be adapted to create anastomoses of a variety and type similar to those created by open surgical techniques, while greatly reducing patient trauma since there is no need to perform a sternotomy. Moreover, the preferred use of an endovascular catheter to partition the aorta and isolate the heart offers a substantial advantage over open surgical techniques where external clamps are placed on the aorta. External clamps can damage the aorta and may frequently cause the release of emboli from the aortic lumen. Additionally, since the sternum does not need to heal after the procedure, both internal mammary arteries can frequently be used in a single procedure to provide multiple bypass routes. Heretofore, one internal mammary artery was often left in place to provide blood flow to promote healing of the sternum in many open-surgical procedures.

Methods and systems for performing thoracoscopic cardiac bypass and other procedures


Provided is a storage device including a first non-volatile storage media having first performance capabilities; a second non-volatile storage media having second performance capabilities different from the first performance capabilities; and a device controller configured to report to a host software the first performance capabilities, the second performance capabilities, changes to the first performance capabilities, and changes to the second performance capabilities.

Non-volatile memory express (NVMe) solid state drives (SSDs) provide device level information through identify controller and identify namespace commands. This provides device resource information such as the capacity of the SSD, number of namespaces, hardware queues, etc. Typical host software uses this information for capacity planning in mapping application storage capacity requirements to SSDs. However, no such information is available to host software to manage application performance requirements. In the absence of it, host software uses out-of-band information such as performance capabilities as listed in the datasheets.
Different SSD models may support different performance levels; in addition, even for a given SSD model, the performance may vary by the capacity of the device. Host software usually maintains a database of multiple tuples made up of <device model, capacity, performance>, and provides lookup services on the database. Also, the host software incurs additional complexity in maintaining updated database records of drive performance capabilities as the system configuration changes during the life of the system by the addition/deletion of drives.
As SSDs wear out, their performance capabilities are known to degrade. This may make datasheet based performance planning unreliable.
Typical SSD datasheets list aggregate performance of latency, random IOPS and sequential throughput at the device level. However, for SSDs that support more than one namespace per device, the aggregate performance as listed in the datasheet will become less useful in mapping application level performance requirements to namespaces.

Non-volatile memory storage device capable of self-reporting performance capabilities


A method for providing audio-guided deployment of a data processing system is disclosed. An unpack instruction related to a data processing system in a first container for audio presentation is designated, and one or more position sensors in the first container are queried to determine whether the position sensors are spatially configured for audible presentation of the unpack instruction. In response to determining that the position sensors are not spatially configured for the audible presentation of the unpack instruction, a position sensor error message is audibly presented. One or more radio frequency sensors associated with the first container are queried to determine whether the first container contents are ready for audible presentation of the instruction, and in response to determining that the first container contents are not ready for audible presentation of the unpack instruction, a radio-frequency sensor error message is audibly presented. In response to determining that the first container contents are ready for audible presentation of the unpack instruction, audio-guided deployment of the data processing system is provided by audibly presenting the unpack instruction.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates in general to packaging systems and in particular to packaging systems for data processing systems. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a system, method and computer program product for providing audio-guided deployment of data-processing systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the increasing penetration of computers and information technology into the lives of Americans, a division in quality of life has developed between those with access to computing technology and those without. Services available to those with access include a wealth of commercial, social, and informational opportunities. Unfortunately, studies suggest that Americans with disabilities are less than half as likely as their non-disabled counterparts to own a computer, and they are about one-quarter as likely to use the Internet.
Computer technology and the Internet have a tremendous potential to broaden the lives and increase the independence of people with disabilities. Those who have difficulty leaving their homes can now log in and order groceries, shop for appliances, research health questions, participate in online discussions, catch up with friends, or make new ones. Blind people, who previously waited months or years for the information they needed to be made available in Braille or on audiotape, can now access (through text-to-speech adaptations to web browsers) the very same news stories, magazine articles, government reports, and information on consumer products at the very same time it becomes available to the sighted population. People who have difficulty holding a pen or using a keyboard can use the latest speech recognition software to write letters, pay their bills, or perform work-related tasks.
While these new technologies hold great promise, the computer revolution has left many people with disabilities behind. Studies suggest that only one-quarter of people with disabilities own computers, and only one-tenth ever make use of the Internet. Elderly people with disabilities, and those with low educational attainment, are even less likely to take advantage of these new technologies.
Just as with people who are not handicapped, the installation and deployment of new computing devices is a significant barrier to initial access for people with disabilities. Deployment usually depends on the ability to decipher manuals which, while they sometimes make sense to the experienced user, are not particularly helpful to the novice. What is needed is a method to simplify the deployment of new computing devices.

Method and system for providing audio-guided deployment of data processing systems


An input apparatus of a semiconductor memory may be provided. The input apparatus may include a first storage circuit configured to receive at least a portion of an input signal provided based on a pin reduction command which is enabled before an operation command through a pin and store the at least a portion of the input signal. The input apparatus may include a second storage circuit configured to receive a remaining portion of the input signal provided based on the operation command through the pin and store the remaining portion of the input signal. The input apparatus may include an arrangement circuit configured to control an output timing of the input signal stored in the first storage circuit and the second storage circuit.

1. Technical Field
Various embodiments may generally relate to a semiconductor integrated circuit device, and more particularly, to an input apparatus and a semiconductor memory apparatus having the input apparatus.
2. Related Art
In general, after semiconductor memory apparatuses are fabricated on a wafer, the chips may be tested through a wafer test process before the chips are individualized to determine whether or not there is a failure. The test process may also be performed at a packaging level after the chips fabricated on the wafer are individualized.
Because the test process is performed at the packaging level, the test process at the wafer level may tend to be simplified, and thus only the minimum number of pins may be used in the wafer test process.
Due to a reduction in the number of test pins at the wafer test, fabrication costs associated with a probe card may be saved and a test parameter may be reduced.
An address, data, and the like required for the test operation may have to be input within a preset time. For example, n/m input pins may be necessary to input n signals for m clock cycles.
When more signals are input using less input pins within a preset clock cycle, the pin reduction efficiency can be expected to increase at the wafer test performed within the pin reduction mode.

Input apparatus and semiconductor memory apparatus having the input apparatus


A prototype development apparatus includes a logic board (LB) including a plurality of integrated circuit (IC) sites each adapted to receive an IC, logic traces coupled to each of the IC sites, and a plurality of logic board connector sites (LBCSs) configured to provide access to a number of the logic traces and each adapted to receive a connector. Additionally, a mezzanine board (MB) has a plurality of mezzanine board connector sites (MBCSs) each adapted to receive a connector and configured to provide access to a number of mezzanine traces interconnecting the LBCSs. The MB board is coupled to the LB and a portion of the logic traces are coupled to a portion of the mezzanine traces. In another embodiment the MB does not have any active components. This is because in this embodiment, the MB is configured to connect the pins of the connector sites according to a predetermined program. A method of prototyping a target circuit generates a netlist representative of the target circuit, divides the netlist into portions to be programmed into ICs on the LB and portions to be fabricated on the MB, such that the target circuit is configured from both the LB and the MB. Advantages of the present invention include providing a cost-effective technique for developing a prototype that combines the advantages of the custom prototype speed with the flexibility of the re-programmable emulators.

The present invention relates to a prototype development system. In particular, the invention is used by engineers to quickly and accurately develop a electronic prototype that is designed to represent a target circuit such as a microprocessor.
Prototype construction has been used by many electronics companies to improve their circuit designs before investing large sums of money in fabricating integrated circuits. One conventional technique of verifying a circuit is a software simulation. In this technique, the circuit is portrayed by software in a computer and the computer performs all the steps necessary to simulate operation of the circuit. This technique is time consuming both in that the computer must be programmed for each of the circuit elements (sometimes taken from a library) and that the general purpose computer must simulate all the signals internal to the simulated circuit. A high performance computer can simulate the clock rate of the circuit at only a small fraction of the actual circuit operational clock, for example, {fraction (1/1,000,000)} of real time.
Alternatively, conventional emulation techniques can be used that more accurately portray the operational circuit. A conventional emulation technique is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,036,473. This type of emulator employs programmable gate arrays (PGAs) that are programmed to perform the functions of the desired circuit. The PGAs are coupled to one another by a cross-bar switch network that is controlled with a switch controller. In order to emulate the desired circuit, both the PGAs need to be programmed as well as the switch network. The switch network programming is generally difficult because it requires that the connections between the PGAs be programmed for specific connections at specific times, while adhering to a myriad of constraints. This task can easily take an engineer a week or more to write. A high performance emulator can emulate the clock rate of the circuit by only a small fraction of the actual circuit operational clock primarily due to the programmable interconnect.
Both the software technique and the emulator technique suffer from the time required to either simulate or emulate the design. For example, a Pentium class processor has in excess of 8 million transistors (about 2 million gates), and the clock rate of a Pentium class processor can be in excess of 500 Mhz. A high performance computer can only clock the simulated design at a rate of approximately 500 Hz. As a result, full simulation of the design could take months or years. A high performance emulator may be able to clock the emulated design at a rate of approximately 500 KHz. As a result, full simulation of the design could take weeks or months. Moreover, if a problem is discovered in the design or in the simulation or emulation, additional weeks or months are spent fixing and re-simulating or re-emulating the design. This is a very expensive and time-consuming process.
An alternative to simulation and emulation is a custom prototype. This is an expensive and time-consuming task since it means starting from scratch for each design. The engineer constructs a custom prototype using programmable logic and a dedicated target board. The custom prototype provides the most realistic circuit and can simulate the desired circuit the fastest since the custom prototype employs dedicated processors and interface components. However, if a modification is desired (e.g., due to an error or design change), modifying the custom prototype can be expensive and time-consuming, if not impossible.
Accordingly, a limitation of conventional simulation and emulation techniques are that they are expensive and slow. Additionally, conventional emulators are difficult to program, and any modifications made to the design cause substantial circuit modification and re-programming. Moreover, a limitation to the custom prototype is that modification is expensive, if not impossible.
Therefore, a goal of the invention is to overcome the identified limitations and to provide a cost-effective technique for developing a prototype that combines the advantages of the custom prototype speed with the flexibility of the re-programmable emulators.
The invention overcomes the identified problems and provides a prototype system that combines the advantages of the custom prototype speed with the flexibility of the re-programmable emulators. An exemplary embodiment of a prototype development apparatus includes a logic board (LB) including a plurality of integrated circuit (IC) sites each adapted to receive an IC, logic traces coupled to each of the IC sites, and a plurality of logic board connector sites (LBCSs) configured to provide access to a number of the logic traces and each adapted to receive a connector. Additionally, a mezzanine board (MB) has a plurality of mezzanine board connector sites (MBCSs) each adapted to receive a connector and configured to provide access to a number of mezzanine traces interconnecting the MBCSs. The MB board is coupled to the LB and a portion of the logic traces are coupled to a portion of the mezzanine traces.
In the exemplary embodiment, the MB does not have any active components.
This is because in this embodiment, the MB is solely configured to connect the pins of the connector sites. However, additional embodiments employ components on a portion of the MB.
In another embodiment, the integrated circuits (ICs) are programmable gate arrays (PGAs) that can be re-programmed. A computer is used to generate a netlist representative of a target circuit. The computer divides the netlist into first portions to be programmed into the PGAs and second portions to interconnect the PGAs. The computer then programs the first portions into the PGAs. A mezzanine board is fabricated based on the second portions. Finally, the LB and the MB are coupled together such that the target circuit is constructed from both the LB and the MB.
In practice, the LB contains re-programmable PGAs and the MB contains a dedicated interconnect structure (the mezzanine traces). With these two boards coupled to one another, flexibility is achieved because the PGAs are re-programmable and speed is achieved because the interconnect structure is dedicated traces. Moreover, the interconnect structure can be quickly modified by re-fabrication and replacement of the MB.
Advantages of the present invention include providing a cost-effective technique for developing a prototype that combines the advantages of the custom prototype speed with the flexibility of the re-programmable emulators.


A material testing device 1 is constituted by a test piece 2, the mechanical properties of which are to be measured and which is connected to the test piece 2, a pair of torsion bars 4 operating as an elastic support portion of the rotary lever 3 and a frame 5 functioning as a rigid support portion of the test piece 2 and the torsion bars 4 and forming an outside frame, the mechanical properties of the test piece 2 are measured by applying an uniaxial tensile force on the test piece 2 in a direction of arrow marks A--A by applying a vertical load W on one end of the rotary lever 3. The test piece 2 is integrally formed with the frame 5 and the rotary lever 3 and therefore, the mechanical property values can easily be measured with no direct contact to the test piece 2.

The present invention relates to a material testing device for testing mechanical properties of a very fine material in a thin film form by applying a stress on the material, a material testing apparatus for carrying out the test and a method of testing the material.
Intensive researches are carried out on the micro-machining technology of a semiconductor, or the MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) in which a mechanical structure having a size of several tens through one hundred .mu.m is prepared by using, for example, photolithography, etching, thin film forming technology or the like and the mechanical structure is applied to a sensor, an optical element or a mechanical device, or on a micromachine. With respect to such a new device, a single crystal of silicon or an oxide film, a nitride film or the like formed on the surface of the single crystal of silicon is used in place of a conventional metal material such as steel or the like.
The mechanical properties such as elastic modulus, yield stress or the like of these materials are important factors controlling the function of the device of the MEMS. Meanwhile, it is known that the mechanical properties of these thin films are significantly varied by the manufacturing processes of these and therefore, and the importance of the method of measuring and evaluating these materials has been emphasized.
As conventionally proposed methods of measuring and evaluating these materials, there are methods where a diaphragm is prepared by a thin film and an amount of bulging of the diaphragm when an air pressure is applied thereon, is measured, a method using a micro hardness tester in which an indenter is pushed into a test piece, a method in which a very small tensile test piece is prepared and the test piece is pulled by attaching the test piece to a tensile tester or the like.
However, according to the conventional method of measuring the amount of bulging of a diaphragm, although the elastic modulus can be measured, the yield stress cannot be measured. Further, although the method of using a micro hardness tester for pushing in an indenter into a test piece, is simple for evaluating the yield stress of a ductile metal, the method is difficult to apply to a brittle material such as silicon and compounds of silicon.
Although the method using a tensile tester is one of the most preferable testing methods in evaluating the mechanical properties, when a very small test piece that is easy to destruct, is chucked or adhered to a tensile tester, the brittle test piece may be destructed, or a bending stress may be superposed thereon because the axis of the test piece is not in alignment with the axis of tension, or the like. Further, the measurement accuracy of strain may be low since the displacement in elongating the test piece having a short gage length is small.

Material testing device, material testing apparatus and material testing method


An oval speaker apparatus includes a diaphragm whose outer peripheral shape in a plan view is oval or elliptical; an oval or elliptical voice coil for driving the diaphragm; an edge which is joined to an outer periphery of the diaphragm; and a frame to which an outer peripheral edge of the edge is fixed. Further, lead wire which is led out from the voice coil is wired so as to traverse the surface of the edge along the minor-axis direction of the diaphragm, and is provided with slack.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an oval speaker apparatus employing a diaphragm and a voice coil whose outer peripheral shapes in a plan view are oval or elliptical, as well as a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, an electrodynamic speaker has a round diaphragm, a round voice coil for driving this diaphragm, an edge joined to an outer periphery of the diaphragm, a frame to which an outer peripheral edge of this edge is fixed, a magnetic circuit on the frame for housing the voice coil, and lead wires led out from the voice coil.
Further, a wiring structure is configured that the lead wires led out from the voice coil are wired in such a manner as to traverse the diaphragm and the edge in the radial direction, extend along surface of the diaphragm or the edge, and are led out from the outer peripheral edge of the edge.
In such a wiring structure of the lead wires, if a wiring is configured straightly over the surface of the diaphragm or the edge, abnormal noise such as buzzing is generated due to amplitude of the diaphragm and the edge during operation. In addition, bending load or tensile load comes to be repeatedly applied to the lead wires, possibly resulting in the disconnection of the lead wires. Accordingly, methods of manufacturing a speaker in which a wiring is configured by providing slack have been proposed (refer to JP-A-8-223687, for example).
Meanwhile, as one of electrodynamic speakers, attention has recently focused on an oval speaker apparatus employing a diaphragm whose outer peripheral shape in a plan view is oval or elliptical.
Since the outer peripheral shape of the diaphragm in a plan view is oval or elliptical, as compared with a general speaker apparatus using the round diaphragm, this oval speaker apparatus has advantages in that not only can it be easily mounted in such as a space where a width is narrow, but it is possible to obtain a wide area on the diaphragm by portions expanding in its major-axis direction, making it possible to improve the low-range reproduction. In addition, in a case where the diaphragm is a dome type diaphragm in which its center protrudes from its peripheral edge, as compared with a cone type in which its center is concaved to the inner recess, there is no containment of high-frequency components, and a radiation angle of sound is wide. Therefore, there are also advantages that the directionality is weak, and degree of freedom of mounting in an apparatus or the like improves.
Namely, the oval speaker apparatus is very useful as a high-performance micro speaker which is mounted in a portable telephone or portable audio equipment, and studies have been made devotedly.
In such an oval speaker apparatus as well, to prevent amplitude of the edge from resulting in generating the abnormal noise such as buzzing and the disconnection of the lead wires, it is also effective to wire the lead wires by providing slack, as described above.

Oval speaker apparatus and method of manufacturing the same


Since an image processing apparatus of this invention can record images input from a plurality of image sources on a plurality of recording media simultaneously held on a recording medium holding member, the images input from the plurality of image sources can be efficiently output, and the productivity of the image processing apparatus can be improved.

This invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method and, more particularly, to an image processing apparatus and method, which can perform a color image print operation based on a plurality of image sources.
In recent image processing apparatuses, a composite image processing apparatus which has a plurality of functions, i.e., a copy function, print-out function, facsimile transmission/reception function, filing function, and the like, is commercially available. Most of conventional image processing apparatuses each having a plurality of functions are based on monochrome printers. However, in recent years, a color composite image processing apparatus, which comprises, e.g., an interface with external devices, and has a color image print function, has been proposed.
However, since an image processing apparatus based on especially a multiple transfer type color copying machine frame-sequentially develops four colors (magenta, cyan, yellow, and black), the print time required for printing an image on one sheet is to four times that of a monochrome printer, resulting in low productivity.
When an external device such as a host computer or the like issues a print request to the image processing apparatus which is executing a copy operation of an original image, the print operation of an image requested by the external apparatus is performed after four-color print processing of the original image, or vice versa. Therefore, when a color print operation is performed, an operator must wait for a longer queue time of a print job than the monochrome printer.

Method and apparatus for processing image data from a plurality of sources and for forming a plurality of images on a photosensitive drum based on the processed image data


Described is an apparatus for memory write assist which consumes low power during write assist operation. The apparatus comprises: a power supply node; a device operable to adjust voltage on the power supply node; and a feedback unit coupled to the power supply node, the feedback unit to control the device in response to a voltage level of the voltage on the power supply node.

In scaled technologies, the increasing levels of integration and process variation on minimum-sized devices in memory cells makes it challenging to maintain memory cell stability and write margin concurrently. Write margin can be enhanced by collapsing the power supply to the memory cell during write operation. In such a method, power supply voltage coupled to memory cells is reduced to weaken the strength of p-type transistors of the written memory cell to enhance write margin.
However, in partially selected cells along a column of memory cells, which are being written to, the state of the memory cells is maintained during the power supply collapse operation. The retention characteristics of these partially selected memory cells sets constraints on the duration and depth of power supply collapse, and are a technology sensitive metric that is difficult to predict at design time during technology development.
Currently, known methods of power supply collapse significantly increase Vcc-Vss cross-over current (current from power supply to ground), which is an impediment for low power designs. In low frequency cases where the collapsed voltage may need to stay at the suppressed level for an extended time, this cross-over current can increase the overall write power consumption by up to 2× in SRAMs (Static Random Access Memories).

Low power transient voltage collapse apparatus and method for a memory cell


Antisense oligonucleotides are provided which are capable of inhibiting HBV replication. These oligonucleotides are specifically hybridizable with HBV RNAs which encode a P gene product, S gene product or C gene product, or with the 5' cap region, U5 region, .epsilon. region or translation initiation site of HBV RNA. Methods of diagnosing HBV infection, methods of inhibiting HBV replication, methods of treating an HBV infection and methods of treating or preventing HBV-associated diseases using the oligonucleotides of the invention are also provided. Such diseases may include acute hepatitis, chronic hepatitis, fulminant hepatitis, or hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the etiological agent of a wide spectrum of clinical abnormalities and is a major public health problem worldwide. The spectrum of disease associated with HBV includes acute self-limiting infections, life-threatening fulminant hepatitis, and chronic hepatitis which can progress to cirrhosis and lead to liver failure. Furthermore, chronic infection has been epidemiologically associated with development of hepatocellular carcinoma. In areas such as Southeast Asia, China and sub-Saharan Africa where HBV infection is endemic, the proportion of chronically infected individuals may range from 5-20% of the adult population. The number of chronically infected HBV carriers worldwide has been estimated to be 200 million. The risk to these individuals of developing hepatocellular carcinoma has been estimated to be as high as 15%. Long-term consequences of HBV infection can lead to mortality in 60% of infected individuals in some populations.
Therapy for acute or chronic HBV infections is currently inadequate and has mainly been limited to supportive therapy. Experimental therapies using antiviral drugs such as adenosine arabinoside (araA) and interferon-a have proven effective in suppressing HBV replication in chronically infected individuals. However, permanent suppression after discontinuation of antiviral therapy occurs in only a small percentage of treated patients. Significant clinical benefits require an anti-HBV drug which could be administered continuously without side effects or which could eliminate HBV replication permanently following a course of therapy. An obvious need exists for a clinically effective antiviral therapy for acute and chronic HBV infections. Such an antiviral would also be useful for treating individuals accidently exposed to clinical specimens or blood products containing infectious HBV, to prevent the development of HBV-associated disease. There is also a need for research reagents and diagnostics which are able to differentiate HBV from other agents causing hepatitis and which are useful in designing appropriate therapeutic regimes.
Antisense oligonucleotides PA0 HBV replication PA0 Identification of HBV targets for antisense therapy PA0 Antisense oligonucleotides PA0 Pharmacokinetics of antisense oligonucleotides PA0 In vitro evaluation of HBV antisense oligonucleotides PA0 Animal models for HBV
Oligonucleotides are commonly used as research reagents and diagnostics. For example, antisense oligonucleotides, which, by nature, are able to inhibit gene expression with exquisite specificity, are often used by those of ordinary skill to elucidate the function of particular genes, for example to determine which viral genes are essential for replication, or to distinguish between the functions of various members of a biological pathway. This specific inhibitory effect has, therefore, been harnessed for research use. This specificity and sensitivity is also harnessed by those of skill in the art for diagnostic uses. Viruses capable of causing similar hepatic symptoms can be easily and readily distinguished in patient samples, allowing proper treatment to be implemented. Antisense oligonucleotide inhibition of viral replication in vitro is useful as a means to determine a proper course of therapeutic treatment. For example, before a patient suspected of having an HBV infection is treated with an oligonucleotide composition of the present invention, cells, tissues or a bodily fluid from the patient can be contacted with the oligonucleotide and inhibition of viral replication can be assayed. Effective in vitro inhibition of HBV replication indicates that the infection will be responsive to the oligonucleotide treatment.
Oligonucleotides have been employed as drugs for the treatment of disease states in animals and man. For example, workers in the field have now identified antisense, triplex and other oligonucleotide compositions which are capable of modulating expression of genes implicated in viral, fungal and metabolic diseases.
As examples, U.S. Pat. No. 5,166,195 issued Nov. 24, 1992 provides oligonucleotide inhibitors of HIV. U.S. Pat. No. 5,004,810, issued Apr. 2, 1991, provides oligomers capable of hybridizing to herpes simplex virus Vmw65 mRNA and inhibiting replication. U.S. Pat. No. 5,194,428, issued Mar. 16, 1993, provides antisense oligonucleotides having antiviral activity against influenzavirus. U.S. Pat. No. 4,806,463, issued Feb. 21, 1989, provides antisense oligonucleotides and methods using them to inhibit HTLV-III replication. U.S. Pat. No. 5,276,019 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,264,423 (Cohen et al.) are directed to phosphorothioate oligonucleotide analogs used to prevent replication of foreign nucleic acids in cells. Antisense oligonucleotides have been safely administered to humans and clinical trials of several antisense oligonucleotide drugs are presently underway. The phosphorothioate oligonucleotide, ISIS 2922, has been shown to be effective against cytomegalovirus retinitis in AIDS patients, BioWorld Today, Apr. 29, 1994, p. 3. It is thus established that oligonucleotides can be useful drugs for treatment of cells and animal subjects, especially humans.
Blum et al. (Lancet 1991, 337, 1230) showed inhibition of hepatitis B virus antigens in transfected hepatocytes by an undisclosed antisense oligodeoxynucleotide which blocked HBsAg and HBeAg synthesis as well as HBV replication.
Blum et al. (PCT publication WO 94/24864) subsequently disclosed termination of hepatitis B replication by antisense oligonucleotides complementary to mRNA which is complementary to a portion of the minus strand of the viral genome which encodes the terminal protein region of the viral polymerase.
Goodarzi et al. (J. Gen. Virol 1990, 71, 3021-3025) tested the effects of a number of 12- to 15-mer phosphodiester oligonucleotides on the expression of the HBV HBsAg surface antigen in an HBV-infected human cell line. They found that oligonucleotides directed against the cap site and region around the initiation site were most effective, giving inhibition of up to 96% at an oligonucleotide concentration of 17.4 .mu.M. A phosphorothioate analog of one of the most active sequences was also tested and gave 90% inhibition of HBsAg expression at a concentration of 5.8 .mu.M.
Wu and Wu (J. Biol. Chem. 1992, 267,12436-12439) used a 21-mer oligodeoxynucleotide complementary to the polyadenylation signal for HBV, coupled to an asialoglycoprotein targeting moiety. In the infected cell line HepG2, treatment with oligonucleotide-asialoglycoprotein complex at an oligonucleotide concentration of 50 .mu.M resulted in 80% inhibition of HBsAg expression after one day and an 80% decrease in HBV DNA. In the presence of uncomplexed antisense oligonucleotide at a concentration of 50 .mu.M, HBsAg concentrations continued to rise steadily throughout the 7 days of treatment, though after three days of treatment the treated cells had 30% less antigen than controls.
Yao et al. examined the effect of antisense phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotides on HBsAg and HBeAg production (Yao et al., Chung Hua I Hsueh Tsa Chih 1994, 74, 74-76).
Offensperger et al. (EMBO J. 1993, 12, 1257-1262) used phosphorothioate antisense oligonucleotides to inhibit duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) in cultured duck hepatocytes. Nine oligonucleotides were tested, of which four were targeted to the pre-S/S region, one to the start of the polymerase region and four to the pre-C/C region. All showed some activity and two, directed to the start of the pre-S region and the direct repeat (DR)II region, were particularly active. The active oligonucleotide directed to the start of the pre-S region was tested on DHBV-infected ducklings in vivo. Oligonucleotide was injected intravenously daily for ten days, after which the livers were analyzed for DHBV. All ducklings showed a nearly complete inhibition of viral replication after oligonucleotide treatment, and no hepatotoxicity was detected. Two DHBV-negative ducklings were also treated with the same oligonucleotide and subsequently infected by injection of DHBV. These ducks were found not to be infected with DHBV twelve days later, showing that the oligonucleotide treatment was able to prevent infection.

Antisense inhibition of hepatitis B virus replication


The invention is to a method of manufacturing a recording medium, such as an optical information recording medium and a magnetic recording medium. By providing the surface of an optical information recording medium with a chemical adsorption film containing an alkyl fluoride through a siloxane coupling, a recording medium excelling in humidity resistance and corrosion resistance is obtained. By providing the surface of a magnetic recording medium with a chemical adsorption film containing an alkyl fluoride through siloxane coupling, a recording medium excelling in lubricity, durability, running performance and wear resistance may be obtained. Employing the vapor phase process, a plastic substrate may be used, and the formation of pin holes may be prevented.

Optical information recording media for forming a recording medium on one side of a transparent substrate using light energy, and recording and reproducing using laser beams on the substrate side have been recently developed. Not only materials for a recording layer have been developed, but also protective films for preventing the recording layer from deteriorating due to moisture or oxygen have been developed (Japanese Laid-open Patent SHO. 59-68850/1984).
The protective layer is typically composed of a material having low moisture permeability, which may include, as inorganic matter, oxide films such as SiO.sub.2, MgO, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3. Examples of organic matter may be polypropylene, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, and polyvinylidene chloride.
In an optical information recording medium, protection from moisture is explained below.
First, to prevent invasion of moisture through the substrate, oxides or fluorides are formed on the surface of the substrate. These inorganic materials are generally low in moisture permeability, and if the optical information recording medium is left in a high humidity atmosphere, corrosion of the recording medium may be prevented to a certain extent. Instead of these inorganic materials, similarly, by using organic high polymers relatively low in moisture permeability, such as polyvinylidene chloride, corrosion of the recording layer may be prevented. Moreover, as an organic high polymer protective film, crosslinking type resins such as epoxy resin are proposed (Japanese Laid-open Patent SHO. 57-70694/1982).
Such protective films, however, involve the following problems.
(1) Inorganic materials such as oxides and fluorides weakly adhere to the transparent substrate, and peeling or cracking may occur if left at a high temperature, high humidity condition.
(2) Oxides and fluorides do not readily form dense thin films.
(3) In organic high polymer materials, moisture barrier performance is limited although moisture permeability is low, and the moisture-proof effect is lost when stored for a long time under high temperature, high humidity conditions.
(4) When storing for a long time under high temperature, high humidity conditions, the crosslinking type resin is porous and is high in moisture permeability, and the recording layer is likely to deteriorate due to moisture.
Due to these reasons, when the optical information recording medium is stored under high temperature, high humidity conditions, the recording layer may corrode and deteriorate.
Instead of the conventional coating type magnetic recording medium, the magnetic recording medium forming a ferromagnetic metal thin film on a nonmagnetic support using a plating, sputtering, vacuum deposition, or ion plating method is being presently studied for use as a high density magnetic recording medium.
However, the magnetic recording medium using the ferromagnetic metal thin film fabricated in the above methods has its problems in wear resistance and running performance. That is, in the recording and reproducing process of a magnetic signal, the magnetic recording medium is set in a state of high speed relative motion against the magnetic head. At this time, running of the magnetic recording medium must be smooth and stable.
The ferromagnetic metal thin film fabricated in such methods, however, cannot withstand the rugged conditions in the process of magnetic recording or reproduction, and running becomes unstable due to wear of the magnetic head. Output may be significantly lowered in the course of running for a long time due to wear, tear or worn chips. It is accordingly proposed to form a monomolecular film composed of saturated fatty acid or its metal salt on the ferromagnetic metal thin film (Japanese Laid-open Patent SHO. 50-75001/1975).
In this case, although the initial lubricity is somewhat improved, the lubricity is not durable, and running stability and wear resistance are not sufficient. This is because the bonding of the monomolecular film of the saturated fatty acid and the ferromagnetic metal thin film is relatively weak, since the bonding is by physical adsorption, and the saturated fatty acid is shaved off by the sliding magnetic head or the like during running. To improve this point, it is known to form a protective film by coating the surface of the magnetic recording layer with a silane chemical adsorption film (U.S. Pat. No. 4,992,300).
In this known art, however, since the chemical adsorption film is formed by a liquid phase method using a chemical solvent, the substrate may be dissolved or swollen depending on the type of solvent. Another problem is peeling of the recording layer. Moreover, due to dust or contamination in the solvent, pin holes are likely to occur.

Method of manufacturing a recording medium

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.