A light source includes an arc tube having a light emission portion for emitting light. A reflector reflects the light toward an illumination receiving area with the arc tube fixed to the reflector. A housing houses the reflector to form a space through which cooling air flows. The housing has three delivery ports disposed side by side as ports from each of which the cooling air is delivered toward the direction of the light emission portion. A first delivery port included in the three delivery ports is located such that the center of the first delivery port is disposed substantially at a position aligned and runs parallel to the optical axis of the arc tube. Second and third delivery ports included in the three delivery ports are disposed in the vicinity of one and the other sides of a first delivery port, respectively, with respect to the optical axis.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a light source device and a projector.
2. Related Art
A projector known in the art includes a light source device, a light modulation device which modulates light emitted from the light source device to form image light corresponding to image information, and a projection lens which enlarges and projects the image light thus formed onto a screen or the like. A typical light source device included in this projector contains a discharge-type arc tube such as an extra-high pressure mercury lamp. According to this type of light source device, the temperature of the arc tube increases during light emission.
In this case, the temperature of the upper part of the arc tube easily rises, causing whitening of this part after continuation of the high temperature condition. On the other hand, an excessive low temperature of the lower part of the light emission portion causes blackening of the lower part. In either of these cases, the arc tube may lose its transparency. Therefore, sufficient cooling is required for the upper part of the arc tube to such an extent as not to excessively reduce the temperature of the lower part of the arc tube.
JP-A-2010-212186 discloses a technology which includes a housing accommodating an arc tube and a main reflection mirror. The housing has a hollow column-shaped body disposed on the front side of the main reflection mirror in the light emission direction in such a position as to surround the arc tube, and a duct member disposed on the outside surface of the column-shaped body as an air passage through which air flows in the circumferential direction of the column-shaped body. The top surface of the column-shaped body has an upper introduction port through which the air coming from the duct member goes into the column-shaped body. The upper introduction port is disposed in such a location that the center of the upper introduction port lies at a position shifted from the center axis of the arc tube toward the upstream side with respect to the flow direction of the air within the duct member when the column-shaped body is viewed from above. According to this structure, the flow passage of the duct member becomes shorter, and the resistance of the air flowing through the duct member decreases. Therefore, air having a sufficient flow speed and a sufficient flow amount can be securely introduced through the upper introduction port and supplied to the light emission portion.
According to the technology disclosed in JP-A-2010-212186, the arc tube is cooled by using air supplied only through the one upper introduction port. However, the recent improvement over the light emission efficiency of the arc tube (light emission portion) requires such a structure of the light source device which cools the arc tube with still higher efficiency. Therefore, development of a light source device and a projector capable of cooling the arc tube with excellent efficiency has been demanded.

Projector light source having three cooling airflow delivery ports


An antenna design for radio frequency identification (“RFID”) tags. More particularly, the present invention relates to design for RFID tags particularly operating in the ultra high frequency (“UHF”) operating band.

Radio frequency identification ("RFID") has been proposed for use in a number of applications in which an RFID tag is attached to an item and subsequently interrogated or read to obtain information regarding that item. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,232,870 and 6,486,780, and PCT Publication WO 00/10122 describe various functions and applications for RFID systems, and exemplify the use of RFID tags in libraries. U.S. Pat. No. 5,963,134 also describes certain uses for RFID systems in libraries and for other applications.
The design of a typical RFID tag reflects its origin in the semiconductor and printed circuit board industries. Although functional, the design has a number of features that increase the cost of the finished article and efficiency especially at ultra high frequencies ("UHF"). In a resonant RFID tag, the electrical inductance of an antenna is connected in parallel with a capacitor such that the resonant frequency of the thus-formed circuit is tuned to a prescribed value. In more advanced forms, the circuit of the RFID tag may include an integrated circuit electrically and mechanically bonded to the antenna on a substrate, wherein the voltage induced in/on the antenna by a reader signal provides power to operate the integrated circuit.
Various methods have been developed to design RFID tags, such as disclosed in the following references: U.S. Pat. No. 6,501,435; U.S. Pat. No. 6,100,804; and PCT Publication WO 00/26993.

Ultra high frequency radio frequency identification tag


A modular welding table where the work surface is made up of a plurality of plates that can be easily slid to and fro, adapting to objects of different shapes is disclosed. The through holes on these plates, as well as the parallel grooves between these plates, provide the foothold for clamping tools and devices that are used in conjunction to this welding table, to secure the work piece in place. Under each of the leg, a height-adjustable pad is provided, so that the welding table can adjust its evenness accordingly, by turning the screw stem of the pad easily.

Welding platens and welding tables are commonly used in the machining industry. They provide an ideal surface for precision work to be conducted on work pieces that can be easily secured on the welding table.
However, these types of welding tables either do not have the capability for the conjunctive of other clamping or holding tools, or that they do not have the adaptability to change the working surface when the work objects are of varied shapes and dimensions.
Present invention provides a unique design of modular welding tables, so that it is versatile, easy for conjunctive use with other holding and clamping tools and can adapt to different work objects.


Compounds of the formula I,

The invention relates to substituted diphenylazetidinones, to their physiologically acceptable salts and to derivatives having physiological function.
Diphenylazetidinones (such as, for example, ezetimibe) and their use for treating hyperlipidemia and arteriosclerosis and hypercholesterolemia have already been described [cf. Drugs of the Future 2000, 25(7):679-685)].
It was an object of the invention to provide further compounds having a therapeutically utilizable hypolipidemic action. In particular, it was an object to find novel compounds which, compared to the compounds described in the prior art, are absorbed to a very low extent. Very low absorption is to be understood as meaning an intestinal absorption of less than 10%, preferably less than or equal to 5%. In particular, absorption of the novel compounds should be less than that of ezetimibe. Pharmaceutically active compounds which are absorbed to a very low extent generally have considerably fewer side-effects.
Accordingly, an embodiment of the invention relates to compounds of the formula I,
in which
R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 independently of one another are (C0-C30)-alkylene-L, where one or more carbon atoms of the alkylene radical may be replaced by xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94(Cxe2x95x90O)xe2x80x94, xe2x80x94CHxe2x95x90CHxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94Cxe2x89xa1Cxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94N((C1-C6)-alkyl)- or xe2x80x94NHxe2x80x94; or
H, F, Cl, Br, I, CF3, NO2, CN, COOH, COO(C1-C6)-alkyl, CONH2, CONH(C1-C6)-alkyl, CON[(C1-C6)-alkyl]2, (C1-C6)-alkyl, (C2-C6)-alkenyl, (C2-C6)-alkynyl or Oxe2x80x94(C1-C6)-alkyl, where one or more hydrogens in the alkylene radicals may be replaced by fluorine; or
SO2xe2x80x94NH2, SO2NH(C1-C6)-alkyl, SO2N[(C1-C6)-alkyl]2, Sxe2x80x94(C1-C6)-alkyl, Sxe2x80x94(CH2)n-phenyl, SOxe2x80x94(C1-C6)-alkyl, SOxe2x80x94(CH2)n-phenyl, SO2xe2x80x94(1-C6)-alkyl or SO2xe2x80x94(H2)n-phenyl, where n=0-6 and the phenyl radical may be substituted up to two times by F, Cl, Br, OH, CF3, NO2, CN, OCF3, Oxe2x80x94(C1-C6)-alkyl, (C1-C6)-alkyl or NH2; or
NH2, NHxe2x80x94(C1-C6)-alkyl, N((C1-C6)-alkyl)2, NH(C1-C7)-acyl, phenyl or Oxe2x80x94(CH2)n-phenyl, where n=0-6, where the phenyl ring may be mono- to trisubstituted by F, Cl, Br, I, OH, CF3, NO2, CN, OCF3, Oxe2x80x94(C1-C6)-alkyl, (C1-C6)-alkyl, NH2, NH(C1-C6)-alkyl, N((C1-C6)-alkyl)2, SO2xe2x80x94CH3, COOH, COOxe2x80x94(C1-C6)-alkyl or CONH2;
L is shown connected to (C0-C30)-alkylene as follows:
R7 is methyl, ethyl, propyl or butyl;
R8 is H, OH, NH2 or NHxe2x80x94(C1-C6)-alkyl;
R9 is methyl, ethyl, propyl or butyl;
R10 is methyl, ethyl, propyl or butyl;
wherein at least one of the radicals R1 to R6 has the meaning
(C0-C30)-alkylene-L, where one or more carbon atoms of the alkylene radical may be replaced by xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94(Cxe2x95x90O)xe2x80x94, xe2x80x94CHxe2x95x90CHxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94Cxe2x89xa1Cxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94N((C1-C6)-alkyl)- or xe2x80x94NHxe2x80x94,
and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts.
Another embodiment of the invention relates to compounds of the formula I, in which at least one of the radicals R1 to R6 has the meaning (C0-C30)-alkylene-L, where one or more carbon atoms of the alkylene radical may be replaced by xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94(Cxe2x95x90O)xe2x80x94 or xe2x80x94NHxe2x80x94.
Another embodiment of the invention relates to compounds of the formula I, in which one of the radicals R1 or R3 has the meaning xe2x80x94(C0-C30)-alkylene-L, where one or more carbon atoms of the alkylene radical may be replaced by xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94(Cxe2x95x90O)xe2x80x94 or xe2x80x94NHxe2x80x94.
Another embodiment of the invention relates to compounds of the formula I, in which one of the radicals R1 or R3 has the meaning xe2x80x94(CH2)0xe2x88x921xe2x80x94NHxe2x80x94(Cxe2x95x90O)0xe2x88x921xe2x80x94(C3-C25)-alkylene-(Cxe2x95x90O)0xe2x88x921xe2x80x94NHxe2x80x94L, where one or more carbon atoms of the alkylene radical may be replaced by oxygen atoms.
One of the radicals R1 to R6 may be, for example, attached to the L radical in the meta position of ring C of the L group.
Owing to their increased solubility in water, compared to the parent compounds, pharmaceutically acceptable salts are particularly suitable for medical applications. These salts should have a pharmaceutically acceptable anion or cation. Suitably pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts of the compounds according to the invention are salts of inorganic acids, such as hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, phosphoric acid, metaphosphoric acid, nitric acid, sulfonic acid and sulfuric acid, and of organic acids, such as acetic acid, benzenesulfonic acid, benzoic acid, citric acid, ethanesulfonic acid, fumaric acid, gluconic acid, glycolic acid, isothionic acid, lactic acid, lactobionic acid, maleic acid, malic acid, methanesulfonic acid, succinic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, tartaric acid and trifluoroacetic acid, for example. For medical purposes, very particular preference is given to using the chloride salt. Suitable pharmaceutically acceptable basic salts are ammonium salts, alkali metal salts (such as sodium and potassium salts) and alkaline earth metal salts (such as magnesium and calcium salts).
The scope of the invention also includes salts having a pharmaceutically unacceptable anion, which salts may be useful intermediates for preparing or purifying pharmaceutically acceptable salts and/or for use in nontherapeutic, for example in vitro, applications.
Here, the term xe2x80x9cderivative having physiological functionxe2x80x9d refers to any physiologically acceptable derivative of a compound according to the invention, for example an ester, capable of forming, upon administration to a mammal, for example man, such a compound or an active metabolite (directly or indirectly).
A further aspect of this invention are prodrugs of the compounds according to the invention. Such prodrugs can be metabolized in vivo to give a compound according to the invention. These prodrugs may or may not be active in their own right.
The compounds according to the invention can also be present in various polymorphic forms, for example as amorphous and crystalline polymorphous forms. The scope of the invention includes all polymorphic forms of the compounds according to the invention, which form a further aspect of the invention. The compounds of the invention may also exist in the form of solvates.
The compounds of the formula I and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, prodrugs and derivatives having physiological function are ideal medicaments for treating an impaired lipid metabolism, in particular hyperlipidemia. The compounds of the formula I are also suitable for modulating the serum cholesterol concentration and for treating arteriosclerotic symptoms. The compounds of the invention are also suitable for the treatment of insulin resistance.
As used here, xe2x80x9ctreatmentxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9ctherapyxe2x80x9d of a condition and xe2x80x9ctreatingxe2x80x9d a condition can mean successfully eliminating the condition, reducing the effects associated with it, and/or reducing its severity. It also includes administering the relevant compounds to a patient to avoid recurrence of a condition. It also includes avoiding the onset of a condition by administering the relevant compounds to patients falling into a risk group or category for developing the particular condition. Those skilled in the art can routinely identify patients likely to present with a given condition, thereby qualifying as candidates for treatment.
The compound(s) of the formula (I) can also be administered in combination with other active compounds.
The amount of a compound of the formula (I) required to achieve the desired biological effect depends on a number of factors, for example on the specific compound chosen, on the intended use, on the mode of administration and on the clinical condition of the patient. In general, the daily dose is in the range from 0.1 mg to 100 mg (typically from 0.1 mg to 50 mg) per day per kilogram of bodyweight, for example 0.1-10 mg/kg/day. Tablets or capsules may contain, for example, from 0.01 to 100 mg, typically from 0.02 to 50 mg. In the case of pharmaceutically acceptable salts, the abovementioned weight data relate to the weight of the diphenyl-azetidinone-ion derived from the salt. For the therapy of the abovementioned conditions, the compounds of the formula (I) can be used themselves as the compound, but preferably they are present in the form of a pharmaceutical composition with an acceptable carrier. The carrier must of course be acceptable in the sense that it is compatible with the other constituents of the composition and is not harmful to the health of the patient. The carrier can be a solid or a liquid or both and is preferably formulated with the compound as an individual dose, for example as a tablet, which can contain from 0.05% to 95% by weight of the active compound. Further pharmaceutically active substances can also be present, including further compounds of the formula (I). The pharmaceutical compositions according to the invention can be prepared by one of the known pharmaceutical methods, which essentially consists in mixing the constituents with pharmaceutically acceptable carriers and/or auxiliaries.
Pharmaceutical compositions according to the invention are those which are suitable for oral or peroral (e.g. sublingual) administration, although the most suitable manner of administration is dependent in each individual case on the nature and severity of the condition to be treated and on the type of the compound of the formula (I) used in each case. Coated formulations and coated delayed-release formulations are also included in the scope of the invention. Acid-resistant and enteric formulations are preferred. Suitable enteric coatings include cellulose acetate phthalate, polyvinyl acetate phthalate, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose phthalate and anionic polymers of methacrylic acid and methylmethacrylate.
Suitable pharmaceutical compounds for oral administration can be present in separate units, such as, for example, capsules, cachets, lozenges or tablets, which in each case contain a specific amount of the compound of the formula (I); as a powder or granules; as a solution or suspension in an aqueous or nonaqueous liquid; or as an oil-in-water or water-in-oil emulsion. As already mentioned, these compositions can be prepared according to any suitable pharmaceutical method which includes a step in which the active compound and the carrier (which can consist of one or more additional constituents) are brought into contact. In general, the compositions are prepared by uniform and homogeneous mixing of the active compound with a liquid and/or finely divided solid carrier, after which the product, if necessary, is shaped. For example, a tablet can thus be prepared by pressing or shaping a powder or granules of the compound, if appropriate with one or more additional constituents. Pressed tablets can be produced by tableting the compound in free-flowing form, such as, for example, a powder or granules, if appropriate mixed with a binder, lubricant, inert diluent and/or a (number of) surface-active/dispersing agent(s) in a suitable machine. Shaped tablets can be produced by shaping the pulverulent compound moistened with an inert liquid diluent in a suitable machine.
Pharmaceutical compositions which are suitable for peroral (sublingual) administration include lozenges which contain a compound of the formula (I) with a flavoring, customarily sucrose and gum arabic or tragacanth, and pastilles which include the compound in an inert base such as gelatin and glycerol or sucrose and gum arabic.
Suitable other active compounds for the combination preparations include: all antidiabetics, mentioned in Rote Liste 2001, Chapter 12, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. They can be combined with the compounds of the formula I according to the invention in particular to achieve a synergistically enhanced action. The active compound combination can be administered either by separate administration of the active compounds to the patient or in the form of combination preparations comprising a plurality of active compounds in a pharmaceutical preparation.
Antidiabetics include insulin and insulin derivatives, such as, for example, Lantus(copyright) or HMR 1964, GLP-1 derivatives, such as, for example, those disclosed by Novo Nordisk A/S in WO 98/08871, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein, and oral hypoglycemic active compounds.
The oral hypoglycemic active compounds preferably include sulphonyl ureas, biguadines, meglitinides, oxadiazolidindiones, thiazolidindiones, glucosidase inhibitors, glucagon antagonists, GLP-1 agonists, potassium channel openers, such as, for example, those disclosed by Novo Nordisk A/S in WO 97/26265 and WO 99/03861, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein, insulin sensitizers, inhibitors of liver enzymes involved in stimulating gluconeogenesis and/or glycogenolysis, modulators of glucose uptake, compounds which modulate lipid metabolism, such as antihyperlipidemic active compounds and antilipidemic active compounds, compounds which reduce food intake, PPAR and Pxc3x97R agonists and active compounds which act on the ATP-dependent potassium channel of the beta cells.
In one embodiment of the invention, the compounds of the formula I are administered in combination with a HMGCoA reductase inhibitor such as simvastatin, fluvastatin, pravastatin, lovastatin, atorvastatin, cerivastatin, rosuvastatin.
In one embodiment of the invention, the compounds of the formula I are administered in combination with a cholesterol absorption inhibitor, such as, for example, ezetimibe, tiqueside, pamaqueside.
In one embodiment of the invention, the compounds of the formula I are administered in combination with a PPAR gamma agonist, such as, for example, rosiglitazone, pioglitazone, JTT-501, GI 262570.
In one embodiment of the invention, the compounds of the formula I are administered in combination with a PPAR alpha agonist, such as, for example, GW 9578, GW 7647.
In one embodiment of the invention, the compounds of the formula I are administered in combination with a mixed PPAR alpha/gamma agonist, such as, for example, GW 1536, AVE 8042, AVE 8134, AVE 0847.
In one embodiment of the invention, the compounds of the formula I are administered in combination with a fibrate, such as, for example, fenofibrate, clofibrate, bezafibrate.
In one embodiment of the invention, the compounds of the formula I are administered in combination with an MTP inhibitor, such as, for example, Bay 13-9952, BMS-201038, R-103757.
In one embodiment of the invention, the compounds of the formula I are administered in combination with a bile acid absorption inhibitor, such as, for example, HMR 1453.
In one embodiment of the invention, the compounds of the formula I are administered in combination with a CETP inhibitor, such as, for example, Bay 194789.
In one embodiment of the invention, the compounds of the formula I are administered in combination with a polymeric bile acid adsorber, such as, for example, cholestyramine, colesolvam.
In one embodiment of the invention, the compounds of the formula I are administered in combination with an LDL receptor inducer, such as, for example, HMR 1171, HMR 1586.
In one embodiment of the invention, the compounds of the formula I are administered in combination with an ACAT inhibitor, such as, for example, avasimibe.
In one embodiment of the invention, the compounds of the formula I are administered in combination with an antioxidant, such as, for example, OPC-14117.
In one embodiment of the invention, the compounds of the formula I are administered in combination with a lipoprotein lipase inhibitor, such as, for example, NO-1886.
In one embodiment of the invention, the compounds of the formula I are administered in combination with an ATP citrate lyase inhibitor, such as, for example, SB-204990.
In one embodiment of the invention, the compounds of the formula I are administered in combination with a squalene synthetase inhibitor, such as, for example, BMS-188494.
In one embodiment of the invention, the compounds of the formula I are administered in combination with a lipoprotein(a) antagonist, such as, for example, CI-1027 or nicotinic acid. In one embodiment of the invention, the compounds of the formula I are administered in combination with a lipase inhibitor, such as, for example, orlistat.
In one embodiment, of the invention the compounds of the formula I are administered in combination with insulin.
In one embodiment, the compounds of the formula I are administered in combination with a sulphonyl urea, such as, for example, tolbutamide, glibenclamide, glipizide or gliclazide.
In one embodiment, the compounds of the formula I are administered in combination with a biguanide, such as, for example, metformin.
In yet another embodiment, the compounds of the formula I are administered in combination with a meglitinide, such as, for example, repaglinide.
In one embodiment, the compounds of the formula I are administered in combination with a thiazolidindione, such as, for example, troglitazone, ciglitazone, pioglitazone, rosiglitazone, or the compounds disclosed by Dr. Reddy""s Research Foundation in WO 97/41097, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein, in particular 5-[[4-[(3,4-dihydro-3-methyl-4-oxo-2-quinazolinylmethoxy]phenyl]methyl]-2,4-thiazolidindione.
In one embodiment, the compounds of the formula I are administered in combination with an xcex1-glucosidase inhibitor, such as, for example, miglitol or acarbose.
In one embodiment, the compounds of the formula I are administered in combination with an active compound which acts on the ATP-dependent potassium channel of beta cells, such as, for example, tolbutamide, glibenclamide, glipizide, gliazide or repaglinide.
In one embodiment, the compounds of the formula I are administered in combination with more than one of the abovementioned compounds, for example in combination with a sulphonyl urea and metformin, a sulphonyl urea and acarbose, repaglinide and mefformin, insulin and a sulphonyl urea, insulin and metformin, insulin and troglitazon, insulin and lovastatin, etc.
In a further embodiment, the compounds of the formula I are administered in combination with CART agonists, NPY agonists, MC4 agonists, orexin agonists, H3 agonists, TNF agonists, CRF agonists, CRF BP agonists, urocortin agonists, xcex23-agonists, MSH (melanocyte-stimulating hormone) agonists, CCK agonists, serotonin reuptake inhibitors, mixed serotonin and noradrenergic compounds, 5HT agonists, bombesin agonists, galanin antagonists, growth hormone, growth hormone-releasing compounds, TRH agonists, decoupling protein 2- or 3 modulators, leptin agonists, DA agonists (bromocriptin, doprexin), lipase/amylase inhibitors, PPAR modulators, Rxc3x97R modulators or TR-xcex2 agonists.
In one embodiment of the invention, the further active compound is leptin.
In one embodiment, the further active compound is dexamphetamine or amphetamine.
In one embodiment, the further active compound is fenfluramine or dexfenfluramine.
In yet another embodiment, the further active compound is sibutramine.
In one embodiment, the further active compound is Orlistat.
In one embodiment, the further active compound is mazindol or phentermine.
In one embodiment, the compounds of the formula I are administered in combination with fibers, preferably insoluble fibers, such as, for example, Caromax(copyright). The combination with Caromaxe(copyright) can be given in one preparation or by separate administration of compounds of the formula I and Caromax(copyright). Here, Caromax(copyright) can also be administered in the form of food, such as, for example, in bakery goods or muesli bars. Compared to the individual active compounds, the combination of compounds of the formula I with Caromax(copyright) is, in addition to an enhanced action, in particular with respect to the lowering of LDL cholesterol, also characterized by its improved tolerability.
It is to be understood that each suitable combination of the compounds according to the invention with one or more of the compounds mentioned above and optionally one or more further pharmacologically active substances is included in the scope of the present invention.
The invention furthermore provides both stereoisomer mixtures of the formula I and the pure stereoisomers of the formula I, and diastereomer mixtures of the formula I and the pure diastereomers. The mixtures are separated by chromatographic means.
Preference is given to both racemic and enantiomerically pure compounds of the formula I of the following structure:
Preference is furthermore given to compounds of the formula I in which the L radicals have the following meaning:
The invention furthermore provides a process for preparing the compounds of the formula I, which comprises obtaining the compounds of the formula I by proceeding analogously to the reaction scheme below.
R4xe2x80x3 is (C0-C30)-alkylene in which one or more carbon atoms of the alkylene radical may be replaced by xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94(Cxe2x95x90O)xe2x80x94, xe2x80x94CHxe2x95x90CHxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94Cxe2x89xa1Cxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94N((C1-C6)-alkyl)- or xe2x80x94NHxe2x80x94.
Alternatively, attachment to the L group is via ring A or ring C.

Diphenylazetidinone derivatives, process for their preparation, medicaments comprising these compounds and their use

Abstract: Compounds of the formula I,

Abstract: in which R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6 have the meanings given in the description, and their physiologically acceptable salts. The compounds are suitable for use, for example, as hypolipidemics.


A vertical MOSFET includes a trench whose inner surface is covered with an insulating layer having a multilayer structure. In order to reduce a change in a gate threshold voltage, and equivalent silicon dioxide thickness of the gate insulating layer and a radius of curvature of an upper corner of the trench are provided such that a dielectric breakdown electric field strength of the gate insulating layer at the upper corner is in the range of 2.5 MV/cm to 5.0 MV/cm.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device such as insulated gate field effect transistors (MOSFETs) or MOS integrated circuits including MOSFETs, and more specifically, to a vertical MOSFET which has a trench structure with a U-shaped cross section.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, there has been developed vertical MOSFETs having a trench structure capable of more reducing the cell size.
FIG. 7 shows a cross section of a trench structure of a conventional N-channel vertical MOSFET.
In this figure, reference numeral 10 denotes an N.sup.+ -type semiconductor substrate, 11 an N-type epitaxial layer, 12 a P-type layer for providing a channel, 13 an N.sup.+ -type source region, and 14 a U-shaped trench extending from the surface of the source region 13 through a portion of the P-type layer 12 to reach the epitaxial layer 11, respectively.
Further, reference numeral 15 denotes a gate insulation film formed on the inner wall of the trench 14, and 16 denotes a polysilicon gate electrode formed on the gate insulation film 15 so as to fill the trench 14.
Since the vertical MOSFET has the gate electrode 16 provided in the trench 14, the cell size can be reduced, and the on-resistance can be also lowered.
The operating principle of the N-channel vertical MOSFET will now be explained.
The source region 13 is grounded, and a positive voltage is applied to the semiconductor substrate 10 (drain region) and the gate electrode 16. In this case, as the gate voltage is increased, a side surface region of the P-type layer 12, which is opposed to the gate electrode 16, is inverted to provide an inversion layer (channel region). Hence, electrons flow from the source region 13 to the drain region (epitaxial layer 11 and semiconductor substrate 10) located directly underneath the inversion layer.
However, when the vertical MOSFET is actually manufactured, it has disadvantages in its characteristics. That is, unwanted phenomena would occur such that the film thickness and film quality of the gate insulation film 15 at the upper corner of the trench 14 are different from those at another portion. As a result, the threshold voltage V.sub.th and the output characteristics (I.sub.ds, g.sub.m) at the upper corner may be different from that at another portions, resulting in unbalanced characteristics.
For preventing the disadvantage in the gate insulation film 15 at the side surface of the trench 14, it has been considered to smoothly round the upper corner of the gate insulation film 15, or improve the quality of the gate insulation film 15 formed in the inner wall of the trench 14.
In order to enhance the thermal stress of the gate insulation film, the bias stress, and the long life reliability, a multilayer (composite) gate film having an O (oxide)/N (nitride)/O (oxide) structure, which is composed of a thermal oxide film, a nitride film, and a CVD oxide film, has been used as a trench capacitor employed in 4MDRAMs (4M-bit dynamic semiconductor memory). It has been known that the dielectric breakdown electric field strength of the trench capacitor depends generally on both the radius of curvature (rounding amount) of the upper corner of the trench, and the equivalent silicon dioxide thickness of the composite gate film.
FIG. 8 shows the calculation results of the dependence of the dielectric breakdown electric field strength of the trench capacitor on the gate oxide film thickness in the case where the radius of curvature of the upper corner of the trench is 100 .ANG. (10 nm) and 400 .ANG. (40 nm). (The calculations were carried out with the assumption that an intrinsic breakdown electric field strength of the oxide film is given by 8 MV/cm.)
As for the trench capacitor in the 4MDRAM, a large capacity and a high dielectric breakdown electric field strength are required. Therefore, it is necessary that a thin gate film having a thickness of 15 nm or less have a dielectric breakdown electric field strength of 7 MV/cm or higher.
In fact, it is reported that the breakdown electric field strength of the trench capacitor of the 4MDRAM is 7 MV/cm or higher, which coincides with the results of the above calculation in the case where the radius of curvature a of the composite gate film of the upper corner of the trench is 15 nm, and the intrinsic breakdown electric field strength of the 0/N/0 composite gate film is 10 MV/cm.
As for the vertical MOSFET, when the guaranteed value of the gate breakdown voltage and the gate threshold voltage are given by 20 V and 1.0 V-2.0 V, respectively, as its specifications, it is required that the equivalent silicon dioxide thickness is limited to 50-65 nm, and the change in the gate threshold voltage does not occur.
It may be considered that the composite gate film having an O/N/O structure described above is employed as the gate insulation film formed on the inner wall of the trench 14.
However, since a MOSFET having the composite gate film has a problem such that the threshold voltage of the gate varies at an electric field of 6 MV/cm or more, the composite gate film is not employed as the gate insulation film of the inner wall of the trench 14 of the vertical MOSFET.
As described above, the change in the gate threshold voltage occurs at the electric field of 6 MV/cm or higher in the trench type MOSFET using the composite gate film. The followings show results to prove the fact described above by forming a capacitor having a flat gate structure as an evaluation sample.
FIG. 9 shows a cross section of the capacitor having the flat gate structure formed as the evaluation sample.
This figure illustrates an N-type semiconductor substrate 100, a plate electrode 101, and a composite gate film 103 having an O/N/O structure whose equivalent silicon dioxide thickness t.sub.ox is given by 50 nm.
FIG. 10 shows the leakage current of the gate film 102 when the DC bias voltage is applied between the plate electrode 101 of the capacitor having the flat gate structure shown in FIG. 9, and the semiconductor substrate 100. In this case, the leakage current value is given by the gate area per 0.1 cm.sup.2.
FIG. 11 shows a relationship between a DC bias application time and a variation in a flat band voltage V.sub.FB in the case where a voltage applied to capacitor of FIG. 10, is +30 V or `30 V (equivalent to the breakdown electric field strength of 6 MV/cm), and in the case where the applied voltage is +40 V or -40 V (equivalent to the breakdown electric field strength of 8 MV/cm).
It can be understood from FIGS. 10 and 11 that when
leakage current flowing through the gate film exceeds 1 .mu.A at the applied voltage of 40 V, carriers are trapped in the interface between films of the composite gate structure, resulting in a variation in flat-band voltage V.sub.FB due to the film interface electric field.
This means that when the gate structure is applied to the MOSFET and the electric field of 6 MV/cm or more is applied thereto, the variation in the threshold voltage of the gate of the MOSFET occurs.
At any rate, in the conventional vertical MOSFET, when the composite gate film having the 0/N/0 structure is adopted in order to improve the thermal stress, the bias stress, and the long life reliability of the gate insulation film, the variation in the threshold voltage of the gate would occur at an electric field of 6 MV/cm or more.

Vertical MOSFET having trench covered with multilayer gate film


Provided is a wavelength converter having a simple and low-cost structure. The wavelength converter generates converted light having a wavelength different from that of input light. The wavelength converter includes (1) a pump light source that outputs pump light, (2) an optical multiplexer that combines and outputs input light and the pump light, (3) a first optical fiber that receives and guides the input light and the pump light that have been combined and output by the optical multiplexer and generates converted light using a nonlinear optical phenomenon that occurs while the first optical fiber guides the input light and the pump light, the first optical fiber being coiled, and (4) zero-dispersion wavelength adjusting means that adjusts a zero-dispersion wavelength of the first optical fiber.

Some wavelength converters generate converted light having a wavelength different from that of input light by using a nonlinear optical phenomenon, such as four-wave mixing, that occurs in an optical fiber. Non-patent Document 1 (M. Onishi, et al.: Proc. 23rd ECOC, 1997, vol. 2, p. 115) discloses that a desired wavelength conversion characteristic can be obtained by adjusting the wavelength of pump light, which is input to an optical fiber, in accordance with the zero-dispersion wavelength of the optical fiber. Non-patent Document 2 (K. Inoue, et al.: IEEE Photonics Technology Lett., vol. 6 (1994) 1451) discloses a wavelength-tunable light source that can be used for such a purpose. A wavelength converter using the wavelength-tunable light source has a complex structure and is expensive.
On the other hand, attempts have been made to obtain a desired wavelength conversion characteristic by adjusting the zero-dispersion wavelength of an optical fiber. For example, Non-patent Document 3 (M. Takahashi et al.: Proc. 32nd ECOC 2006 Th.1.5.1) discloses a method for shifting the zero-dispersion wavelength of a highly nonlinear fiber by stretching the fiber. However, Non-patent Document 3 does not disclose a specific method for applying tension to the fiber. In particular, a method for repeatedly changing tension is not examined in Non-patent Document 3.    Non-patent Document 1: M. Onishi, et al.: Proc. 23rd ECOC, 1997, vol. 2, p. 115.    Non-patent Document 2: K. Inoue, et al.: IEEE Photonics Technology Lett., vol. 6 (1994) 1451.    Non-patent Document 3: M. Takahashi et al.: Proc. 32nd ECOC 2006 Th.1.5.1.    Non-patent Document 4: T. Okuno, et al.: IEEE J. Select. Topics in Quantum Electron. Vol. 5 (1999) 1385.    Non-patent Document 5: T. Okuno, et al.: Electron. Left. vol. 39 (2003) 972.


A system and method for retrieving and intelligently grouping definitions with common semantic meaning is disclosed. In response to a user's textual query for the definition of a term or phrase, a set of documents is retrieved from a repository of structured documents. The retrieved documents are labeled with a prediction score based upon predetermined glossary characteristics of the documents. In order to determine whether the retrieved documents are likely to be definitions, features commonly found in definitions are identified. The identified features are classified with numeric values and weighed using a support vector regression algorithm. Definitions that fail to meet a predetermined threshold score are discarded, and those that exceed a predetermined threshold score are labeled and stored in the local database.

1. Field of the Invention
The subject invention is directed to a computer-based system and method for retrieving and intelligently grouping definitions with common semantic meanings found in a repository of documents, such as web pages, without human intervention.
2. Background of the Related Art
Natural language processing (NLP) is within the field of artificial intelligence and linguistics. NLP systems respond to human language input and convert it into more formal representations for processing by computer programs, thus facilitating interaction between humans and computers. NLP is used for information retrieval, text critiquing, question answering, summarization, gaming, translation, and with search engines. The limitations of NLP are knowing what a word or phrase stands for, and knowing how to link those concepts together in a meaningful way.
The present invention overcomes the limitations of NLP by providing a system and method for identifying and retrieving definitions found in a repository of structured documents, based on glossary characteristics; employing an algorithm for finding similarity between terms, as well as similarity between senses of terms; and grouping and presenting definitions and related terms in a meaningful way to a user.

System and method for retrieving and intelligently grouping definitions found in a repository of documents


Disclosed is a laser (10) comprising a lasing cavity with a lasing medium and primary optical feedback means in the form of a facet (17) at either end of the cavity, the laser cavity defining a longitudinally extending optical path; and secondary optical feedback means formed by a plurality of refractive index perturbations (16, 22) in the laser cavity, each perturbation defining two interfaces (20, 21); characterized in that, for at least one perturbation, only one of the two interfaces contributes to optical feedback along the optical path. The present invention relaxes the lithographic tolerances for making single longitudinal mode devices and improves performance characteristics.

Achieving single mode emission by introducing perturbations at prescribed positions along the length of a device is known, see EP 1 214 763 (Trinity College Dublin) the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. So called "slotted lasers", which achieve single longitudinal mode emission by means of optical feedback resulting from the etching of slot features along the laser cavity, are also disclosed in Irish Patent No S82521 (National University of Ireland, Cork).
In general terms, the perturbations may be caused by any index altering means which modifies the refractive index profile of the waveguide to an appropriate degree to manipulate optical feedback and hence the spectral content of the device. While the description of the present invention which follows refers primarily to the case where the perturbations are defined by slots etched along the device it will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the teaching of the invention is equally applicable to other forms of perturbations (for example modifying the refractive index profile by employing doping or ion implantation methods).
The term 'slot length' (designated Lalot in FIG. 1) as used herein refers to the distance between the longitudinal slot faces in the device material, ie 'slot length' is measured along the direction of light propagation, d. FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a typical prior art slotted laser 1 having a single rectangular slot 6. Typically such a device comprises waveguiding layers 2 (containing for example a multiple quantum well structure) covered by an upper cladding layer 4. Primary optical feedback means are provided in the form of a cleaved facet 8 at either end of the device. The distance between the facets determines the exact wavelengh's of the Fabry Perot modes of the cavity. The upper cladding layer 4 forms a ridge 3 having a cap layer 5. The slot features in such known devices are formed by etching a rectangular slot 6 in the ridge waveguide 3, resulting in two longitudinal interfaces 7 that are perpendicular to the direction of light propagation, d, within the device.
The mechanism where by slotted lasers achieve their single mode performance may be described as follows:
It is well known that the free spectral range of a laser is given by
                              Δ                                                              λ                =                              λ            2                                2                                      n              eff                                    L                                              (        1        )            and as such is in effect determined by the cavity length, L, of the device. Where, Δλ, is the free spectral range, λ, is the free space wavelength of the light and, neff, is the effective index of the optical mode in the laser cavity. However it is observed that by placing reflective interfaces in the laser cavity at intervals separated L/N it is possible to discriminate against all but every Nth Fabry Perot mode (ie to enhance approximately every Nth mode). Where L is again the cavity length of the laser and N is an integer. This is essentially what occurs in a slotted laser, except for the fact that when a rectangular slot feature is etched into a laser cavity, two reflective interfaces are created simultaneously. What is important to note here is that each of the reflective interfaces created provides a similar amount of optical feedback. It is also important to realise that the length of the etched slot features must be kept reasonably small (typically <3 μm). The principal reasons for this are the following: Firstly, the internal loss in the waveguide beneath slots is substantially higher that elsewhere in the cavity. Secondly, since the dopant concentration in the semiconductor material below the bottom of a slot may be less than one tenth of that in the cap layer it is impossible to create a low resistance metal contact on this material. This means that if the length of a slot feature is increased arbitrarily, then a portion of material beneath the slot will remain unpumped.
In order to accurately specify the emission wavelength of a device it is necessary to be able to position all the edges of the slot features relative to each other with an accuracy that is inversely proportional to the distance between them. This can be understood by recognising that the standing wave conditions in a long cavity device are less effected by a fixed change in the length of the cavity, Δx, than the standing wave conditions in a short cavity device. (It is noted that since the facets of a device provide a significant amount of optical feedback, the positioning of these interfaces with respect to the slot features is important). As typical slotted lasers incorporate etched features, the length's of which are less than an order of magnitude greater than the wavelength of the optical field in the laser cavity. Also given that the two interfaces of a given conventional slot feature provide a significant amount of optical feedback, then it can be appreciated that the emission wavelengths, or more precisely the mirror loss spectra of such devices, are extremely sensitive to errors in the distance between the interfaces of such a feature. The emission wavelength of a slotted laser is thus critically dependent on length of the slot features themselves. The process of accurately realising a slot feature of a given length is therefore also important.
The most important factor in determining the accuracy with which a slot feature can be implemented is the choice of lithographic technique used. This varies between +/−10-20 nm for e-beam systems to +/−100-200 nm optical lithography systems. Beyond the accuracy of the lithographic system itself, the procedure of realising a rectangular slot feature of a certain length is also severely hampered by the bias associated with etching process (the offset due to process bias is designated Opb in FIG. 3). This is a problem because the length of a slot feature with parallel edges is affected by the bias of the etching process and therefore the critical dimensions in the slot pattern may be changed. As a result of these factors it is difficult, using standard lithographic and processing techniques, to sufficiently control the length of a rectangular slot feature and thus specify the spectral content of a device containing such features.
As discussed above there are considerable difficulties in accurately specifying the emission wavelength of slotted lasers. It is an object of the present invention to address these difficulties.
It is a further object of the invention to provide manufacturing method, which addresses the problems, associated with processing bias and the resulting effect on slot positioning.
It is a still further object to provide a substantially single mode laser whose performance is less temperature dependent.
It is another object of the invention to provide a method of enhancing the free spectral range of a laser and to provide a laser having improved free spectral range.

Semiconductor laser and method of manufacture


A deactivation arrangement for a vehicle park assist system is provided. The deactivation arrangement includes a trailer hitch receiver affixed to the vehicle and arranged to receive a trailer hitch. A switch assembly is provided that is associated with the vehicle park assist system and includes a switch arranged to engage the trailer hitch when the trailer hitch is inserted into the trailer hitch receiver. The switch assembly is arranged to deactivate the vehicle park assist system when the trailer hitch is inserted into the trailer hitch receiver and engages the switch.

Motor vehicles today are sometimes equipped with devices to assist vehicle operators with parking the vehicle. These devices are commonly used to alert vehicle operators of an imminent collision, such as when the vehicle is operating in reverse. One potential disadvantage of these devices is that use of a trailer may interfere with the device and cause an incorrect indication of an imminent collision to be provided. This can occur, for example, when the vehicle is operated with a trailer or when the vehicle is operated in reverse moving towards a trailer in an effort to attach the trailer to the vehicle. In an attempt to overcome this disadvantage, strategies for disengaging the park assist device have been developed such as where the device is deactivated when a trailer and an accompanying trailer wiring harness are both attached to the vehicle. However, such strategies do not deactivate the park assist device unless the trailer and harness are attached to the vehicle, and thus do not contemplate situations such as when a vehicle operator is reversing the vehicle towards the trailer to attach the trailer to the vehicle.
Thus, there is a need for a deactivation arrangement for a vehicle park assist system that overcomes the aforementioned and other disadvantages.

Deactivation arrangement for a vehicle park assist system


A vehicle height adjusting device includes a front fork and a rear suspension capable of changing the relative position between a vehicle body and wheels of a vehicle, and a control device that adjusts a vehicle height, which is a height of the vehicle body, by controlling the front fork and the rear suspension to change the relative position. The control device changes a vehicle height change rate, which is a rate of changing the vehicle height to a target vehicle height during stoppage, on the basis of deceleration of the vehicle.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a vehicle height adjusting device and a vehicle height adjusting method for adjusting the vehicle height of a motorcycle.
2. Related Art
In recent years, devices have been proposed for raising the vehicle height while the motorcycle is running and lowering the vehicle height while the motorcycle is stopped for facilitating the process of mounting and dismounting a motorcycle.
For example, the vehicle height adjusting device described in Patent Literature 1 (JP-B-H08-22680) automatically changes the vehicle height in response to the vehicle speed of the motorcycle, automatically raises the vehicle height when the vehicle speed reaches a setting speed, and automatically lowers the vehicle height when the vehicle speed falls below a setting speed. Moreover, the vehicle height adjusting device described in Patent Literature 2 (JP-A-2014-8889) lowers the vehicle height when the estimated stopping time falls below a predetermined reference stopping time.

Vehicle height adjusting device and vehicle height adjusting method


A swimming pool or spa heater unit having a heat exchanger manifold designed to permit the use of direct plastic piping connections to the manifold header. The manifold is principally characterized by a header end having an inlet port and outlet port located on a level below the manifold inlets and outlets communicating with the heat exchanger. The inverted arrangement of the header ports relative to the manifold inlets and outlets to the heat exchanger permits unreturned water in the unit heated by residual heat from the heater to form a temperature gradient therebetween which prevents the temperature of the water at the header connection from reaching a level incompatible with the use of direct plastic piping connections. The manifold is also integrally provided with weirs which serve to provide dry-fire protection for the heater.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to liquid heaters and particularly swimming pool and spa heaters which transfer heat from products of combustion to water as it is being circulated through a heat exchanger.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A constant problem associated with the operation of conventionally known swimming pool and spa heaters is that after the heater is shut off, water circulation through the heater is also shut off and water left in the heat exchanger inside the unit continues to be heated by residual heat stored in the mass of the unit. The amount of this residual heat is quite often sufficient to cause the temperature of the remaining water in the heat exchanger to rise close to the boiling point before the heat can be dissipated to a point where the water temperature will begin to lower. Because the residual water in the heater can reach much higher temperatures than does the circulating heated water as it is returned to the swimming pool or spa, the last several feet of piping leading to the header of the heater unit on conventionally known heaters and the header couplings are made of copper or other high temperature piping material providing heat resistance characteristics sufficient to address the problem. This is a disadvantage because the use of plastic piping and couplings would offer significant manufacturing cost savings. Additionally, the high header temperatures place undesirable space restrictions on the location of the heater unit.
Another problem associated with such heaters is that they are often elevated above the level of the body of water in the swimming pool or spa. If a leak occurs in the water conduit system associated with the heater, the water in the heater will automatically drain and leave the heater dry. If the heater is fired while dry, a "dry-fire" will occur which may cause a melt-down of the heat exchanger before any of the typical safety controls in the heater are able to respond. A common practice which has been employed to address this problem is to incorporate a water trap through an extension to the heat exchanger or manifold which prevents the water from completely draining under such circumstances. If a "dry-fire" occurs in a heater having such a trap, the liquid trapped in the manifold or heat exchanger will rapidly convert into steam, the presence of which will more quickly activate the heater safety controls to shut down the heater.

Heat exchanger manifold for swimming pool or spa heaters


Methods for selectively displaying portions of a hierarchical data set on an electronic display comprise the steps of displaying at least a portion of the hierarchical data set on an electronic display in a tree diagram format. Input may then be obtained from a user to identify one or more displayed nodes in the tree diagram that are to be hidden and/or one or more hidden nodes in the tree diagram that are to be displayed. Based on this input, at least one node in the tree diagram is partially collapsed and/or at least one node in the tree diagram may be partially expanded so as to display the hidden nodes identified by the user and so as to hide the displayed nodes identified by the user.

A wide variety of computer operating systems and computer application programs incorporate, display and/or perform operations on data or information which is hierarchical in nature. For example, most computer operating systems provide users access to a hierarchy of directories and/or sub-directories where documents, programs and/or other information are stored. Many computer e-mail systems likewise provide a hierarchy of files and/or sub-files in which e-mail messages may be stored. Organizer applications typically allow a user to establish task listings and/or store other forms of data which, once again, may be hierarchical in nature. The number and variety of computer systems and programs which store and/or manipulate hierarchical data sets continues to increase as computer processing applications continue to proliferate.
With the advent and expanded use of graphical user interfaces over the last fifteen or so years, it has become possible to display all or part of hierarchical data sets to the user of a computer via a "tree diagram" representation. Tree diagrams are particularly useful in displaying hierarchical data as the levels of the tree diagram visually depict the location of each piece of data in a way that quickly and intuitively conveys to a user both the location of the data within the hierarchy and the relationship of that data to other data in the hierarchy. Additionally, the hierarchical structure of a tree diagram may allow a user to more quickly and efficiently peruse the data, such as by reviewing the entries at the higher levels to locate particular branches which are most likely to contain the information of interest. A user also typically can "expand" or "collapse" the tree diagram at various points (i.e., displaying or hiding information in the higher levels of the tree) to further facilitate viewing the hierarchical data. Both custom programs, as well as tree diagram objects, are known in the prior art for providing a tree diagram graphical user interface to a user. For example, FIG. 3 is a screen capture of a prior art application (Microsoft Corporation's Windows Explorer) that includes a display area 5 containing hierarchical data displayed using a tree diagram graphical user interface.
While the use of tree viewer objects and custom tree viewer programs has expanded in recent years, so has the complexity of many of the hierarchical data sets that are displayed to the user via the tree diagram. Moreover, as computer memory and processing capabilities have expanded, users are now opening up more and more applications at the same time, resulting in desktop displays that typically have numerous windows open simultaneously in what may be a confusing, layered display of icons, windows and the like. Additionally hierarchical data is now displayed using tree diagrams on many mobile computing devices that have different constraints in terms of the size of the display and the control of windows. The complexity of the hierarchical data sets and the proliferation of environments in which they may be used have left a need for improved graphical user interfaces that display hierarchical data in tree diagram form.

Methods, systems and computer program products for controlling tree diagram graphical user interfaces and/or for partially collapsing tree diagrams

International Business Machines Corporation


An edge protector, including a flexible body portion, spacers, and mating straps, that protects slings from both abrasion damage and cutting damage caused by a heavy object being lifted.

Industrial slings are designed to lift, transport and move extremely heavy loads. Thirty years ago, the vast majority of industrial slings were made of metal (either chains or wire rope). More recently, non-metal or synthetic slings have gained popularity and are replacing metal slings in many circumstances.
Synthetic slings are usually comprised of a lifting core made of twisted strands of synthetic fiber and an outer cover that protects the core. The outer cover plays an important role in synthetic slings. The cover is designed to move with respect to the inner core in order to reduce the likelihood of wear points. Also, the outer cover provides a means for protecting the inner core from the elements (e.g., heat, cold, chemicals, etc.). Therefore, once the cover is damaged the probability that the load-bearing inner core will be exposed and damaged increases dramatically.
When a metal sling was used to lift an abrasive load/object (e.g., one made of concrete) or any object having a sharp edge, there was little concern that the metal sling would be damaged. However, with the advent of synthetic slings, the damage that may be done to the outer cover by an abrasive or sharp object is of particular concern. The size and/or shape of the load/object may require that the sling be placed next to an abrasive surface or, more commonly, against an edge (e.g., an elongated stretch where two pieces of metal are joined to form a 90° angle) of the load to be lifted. The tremendous force applied to the sling at the point of contact with the load being lifted may damage the sling.
Some large objects that have particularly sharp edges or which are particularly unwieldy undergo the additional manufacturing step of attaching ring bolts, eye bolts or lifting loops in order to accommodate the slings needed to move the objects. If the object being lifted is made of metal, the eye bolts are attached by welding ring-shaped pieces to the object. For example, large pipe sections, cargo ship sections, structural steel for a sky scraper or bridge section may be manufactured with multiple eye bolts.
It should be noted that the eye bolts cannot be placed just anywhere on the object to be lifted. The eye bolts must be placed at points accessible by the slings, so that during a lift the load is stable. In addition, the load must be properly oriented once it is lifted or moved into position. Specifically, the eye bolts must take into consideration the center-of-gravity of the object so that the object does not drop into an odd position or begin to spin uncontrollably as it is being lifted.
Once the object is moved to its final destination and placed in its permanent position, the eye bolts may be removed from the object by cutting, burning or unwelding. Clearly, the extra steps of calculating the object's center-of-gravity, attaching the plurality of eye bolts in an appropriate location and then removing the eye bolts after the object has reached its final destination increases the time and cost of a lifting operation. Moreover, if the load is not made of iron it is much more difficult to attach eye bolts.
For shipping purposes, it is known to manufacture protectors by forming angular pieces of cardboard to abut against various goods/objects. Also, foam inserts that are custom designed to fit against the edge of a particular object serve a similar purpose. The protectors are designed to absorb some of the force to which the object will be exposed during normal shipping and handling. For example, televisions, filing cabinets, furniture, computers, washers, refrigerators and similar appliances are shipped inside cardboard boxes, with protectors placed along several edges, thereby providing a measure of protection. These types of protectors are designed to protect the object during shipping and handling. As long as the goods are protected, the destruction of the cardboard boxes and the foam protectors are irrelevant since they are disposed of once the goods are unpacked.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,470,637 to Jeffrey Gratz discloses a corner protector made of molded pulp that protects goods/objects such as windows during shipments. The corner protector disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,470,637 is inexpensive to manufacture. Since it is disposed of once the window reaches its destination and is unpacked, the corner protector disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,470,637 is designed to be biodegradable.
The aforementioned cardboard and foam protectors are specifically designed and shaped to protect the contents (i.e., the object being shipped or moved). They are not designed to protect the means used to lift the object (e.g., a sling, rope, fork-lift, overhead crane, etc.). Furthermore, the cardboard and foam protectors would provide negligible protection when used under the conditions in which industrial slings are used. Accordingly, there is a need in the industry to develop an apparatus that could be quickly and safely (and preferably releasably) secured to an industrial sling, lifting or towing chains, wire rope, etc. that would protect the sling, towing chain, wire rope, etc. from abrasive or sharp edges at the points where the sling contacts its load.


In auxiliary headlamp, for attachment to the headstrap of a personal headlamp, a lamp body is removably attachable to a strap bracket having a strap-receiving slot through which a headstrap can extend. When the lamp body is attached to the strap bracket, the lamp body is rotatable about an axis of rotation which extends in perpendicular relationship to the portion of the headstrap held in the slot, and the lamp is arranged to project a beam of light in substantially perpendicular relationship to the axis of rotation of about which the lamp body is rotatable.

Typical personal headlamps are shown in U.S. Design patents D405202 dated Feb. 2, 1999, and D470615, dated Feb. 18, 2003. In most cases, the headlamp is supported on the wearer's head by a headstrap, in the form of a band of flexible material, usually a stretchable fabric, adapted to fit about an individual's head so that the headlamp is supported on the forehead. The headstrap extends through slots in a bracket attached to an assembly comprising one or more incandescent bulbs or light-emitting diodes, a reflector, a switch, and associated electrical wiring or control circuitry. The assembly may include a power source compartment for containing one or more electrochemical cells ("batteries"). However, in the case of higher power headlamps, the power source compartment is often a separate unit at a location remote from the light-emitting device or devices.
One of the problems encountered by users of personal headlamps is that drainage of the power source can result in inopportune loss of illumination. Moreover, it is usually difficult to replace the batteries, especially in the dark, and when the power source compartment is closed by screw fasteners or the like, so that a tool is required to open it. Failure of the headlamp can also occur due to filament burn-out in the case of an incandescent bulb, and for various other reasons such as mechanical failure of a switch, or corrosion due to moisture. There is a need, therefore, for a suitable auxiliary illumination device to serve as a back-up source of illumination in the event of failure of the primary headlamp.
Carrying a second headlamp or flashlight as a spare is generally not a practical solution, especially in hiking and other activities where pack weight minimization is important. Moreover, providing two headlamps on a single headstrap is unwieldy, and requires the user to carry significant additional weight.


Sound representations and winner-take-all codes of auditory spectra are used in the identification of audio content. A transformation component converts a set of sound frames from audio content into a set of spectral slices. A spectral encoder component encodes the spectral slices of auditory spectra into winner-take-all codes with a winner-take-all hash function. An identification component identifies which spectral dimension of a subset of spectral dimensions within a spectral slice has highest spectral value according to the winner-take-all codes. Reference audio content is determined to be similar or matching to the audio content based on the winner-take-all codes.

Internet media sharing enables users to share media content virtually anywhere at any time using a media capable device with an internet connection. Electronic media libraries may contain very large volumes (e.g., millions of video and/or audio files), in which the task of managing respective volumes presents unique challenges. For example, identifying audio content (e.g., songs, speeches, etc.) from among the volumes of media content is a task often required of media host services in order to recognize copyrighted uploads of music and police appropriate licensing or removal of the copyrighted material.
Audio recognition enables media hosting services to index media files for searching of desired media content. Users can thus quickly identify audio files having particular audio content. For example, a user may seek examples of particular sounds for inclusion in an audio project such as a home movie, audio recording, etc. Audio content such as sounds, audio portions, sound bites, songs, and the like can be tagged with textual labels. However conventional information retrieval of audio content using textual queries can be inaccurate. Moreover, audio content that has undergone transformation such as by being slowed, dubbed, voice overlaid, edited, recorded with a different performer than an original known performer can be difficult to identify by conventional audio recognition systems, and consequently hampering matching of media content for retrieval.

Sound representation via winner-take-all coding of auditory spectra


A sublimation printer includes a casing, a platen roller, a thermal printing head and a paper cassette. The platen roller, the thermal printing head and the paper cassette are disposed inside the casing. The platen roller is configured to support a printing medium when the printing medium moves along a first direction or a second direction, in which the first direction is opposite to the second direction. The thermal printing head faces to the platen roller and is used to transfer dyes of a ribbon onto the printing medium. The paper cassette is located on a side of the platen roller along the second direction and is configured to accommodate the printing medium, in which the orthogonal projections of the paper cassette and the platen roller on the casing at least partially overlap with each other.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a printer, and more particularly, to a sublimation printer.
2. Description of Related Art
Generally speaking, color printers can be divided into four types: dot matrix printers, inkjet printers, laser printers and sublimation printers. A sublimation printer uses a thermal printing head to heat up a ribbon so that dyes on the ribbon can be transferred onto a printing medium, and a continuous tint can be formed by controlling the heating temperature or length of heating time. The performance of the tint has continuity, and the sublimation printer can print a photo, for example, with more natural colors. Thus, a sublimation printer is adapted to specializing in printing the photos captured by a digital camera and has gained more and more attention by the market due to its excellent printing quality.
As technology advances, the act of shoot and print has gradually become the trend of the market. Therefore, for printing a picture right after shooting, the size of the sublimation printer needs to be minimized to meet the market requirements.


A game board (20) for playing chess or checkers, and the like, for two or more players. Each side of the game board (20) has seven edge stations or playing squares, (e1) through (e7), of two alternating contrasting colors, seven first interior stations, (f1) through (f7), also of two alternating contrasting colors, seven second interior stations, (s1) through (s7), also of two alternating contrasting colors, and a central area (ca). In a preferred embodiment in the initial playing position a first castle occupies e1, a first bishop occupies e2, a first knight occupies e3, a king and a queen occupy e4, a second bishop occupies e5, a second knight occupies e6, and a second castle occupies e7.

The traditional games of chess and checkers are well known in the art, and are played on a game board having 64 squares arranged in eight rows of eight squares each, alternate squares being of two contrasting colors. Games played on such boards are generally restricted to two players. In an attempt to enhance the play of the game, and specifically in order to accommodate three or four players, numerous alternative game board designs have been conceived. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,125,666 shows a four-player chess game including a board having a main playing area made from a square matrix of eight-by-eight alternately colored playing spaces with two additional rows of eight alternately colored playing spaces adjacent each side of the main playing area. The game is played by placing each player's set of playing pieces on the game board so that each different set occupies two rows adjacent one side of the main playing area in a conventional chess arrangement. U.S. Pat. No. 4,708,349 defines a chess game for play by two, three, or four persons, which is played according to conventional rules of play. The game is played on a checkerboard having two hundred eight playing squares arranged in a central playing array of twelve bilaterally arranged rows having twelve squares per row and bordered by four smaller staging arrays, each of the staging arrays having eight bilaterally arranged rows of two squares per row. The players may play as individuals, or they may play as partners. U.S. Pat. No. 4,249,741 depicts a board for three player draughts and the like. The board is of hexagonal shape with a three-sided blocking area in the center. The board is divided into three equal territories. Three opposed sides of the board are bounded by "a" fields and the three other opposing sides by "b" fields, so as to form a pattern of 3.times.1/2a.times.b substantially rectangular fields of equal size. U.S. Pat. No. 4,190,254 discloses a "double-chess" board game for the playing of partnership chess by four participants. The playing area of the board is 8-sided, being bounded by four straight sides alternated with four curved sides formed by quarter circles. A symmetrical checkered pattern of 120 four-sided and 8 five-sided playing spaces is provided on which four standard sets of 16 chess pieces are placed. An octagonal space or gate is located at the center of the board. U.S. Pat. No. 4,067,578 comprises a chess board and pieces for play by four persons. The chess board has a "central field" of 8.times.8 squares. Sixteen diagonally disposed squares in the central field are called "combat bases", and extending from each side of the central field is an 8.times.4 squares "domain" for each player. U.S. Pat. No. 3,778,065 consists of a three-player chess game apparatus. The game apparatus consists of a hexagonal, planar board comprising a plurality of equi-dimensional, contiguous, uniformly distributed hexagonal playing spaces thereon and three sets of chessmen adapted to be disposed on the board and to be moved thereover in accordance with the rules of the game. U.S. Pat. No. 3,652,091 describes a three player chess board. The board is in the shape of a hexagon and is divided by transverse and longitudinal lines into three discrete territories, each of which territories includes 32 play spaces. U.S. Pat. No. 3,533,627 includes a three player chess board wherein each of the three players may simultaneously compete against the other two. The board is in the shape of a six-sided polygon of which three relatively long side alternate with three relatively short sides, and in which the relatively short sides are 3/7 of the length of the relatively long sides. U.S. Pat. No. 521,737 shows a six-sided game board having five playing spaces per side. The board is utilized to play a game different from chess. U.S. Pat. No. Des. 241,358 defines a chess game board designed for four players. The board has 192 squares. U.S. Pat. No. Des. 231,848 depicts a three player chess board. G.B. Patent 1,576,313 discloses a board for playing games normally played on a chess board. The board has 128 squares and allows play with four players. Eight curvilinear sides are provided, the odd sides marked with eight home squares of alternating light and dark color. The remainder of the board is marked with curvilinear lines of "squares" connecting home squares on adjacent sides. French Patent 2,504,811 comprises a board game for four players having 128 squares arranged in octagon or star shape. The central part of the board has 8 quadrilateral identical squares arranged in a regular star around the center. French Patent 335,792 describes a six-sided game board which can accommodate three players. German Patent 2,406,462 consists of a chess game for three persons having a board with triangular or polygonal zones, and a number of usual chess pieces per player. Each of the players have at least one additional piece at their disposal.
The present invention is directed to a game board for chess, checkers, and the like. The game board disclosed herein comprises a family of game boards having any number of sides "m", where m is four or greater. The game board employs a unique geometric principle, wherein each side of the board contains seven edge stations (playing squares) rather than the conventional eight normally used in chess or checkers. In counterclockwise order the seven edge stations are designated e1, e2, e3, e4, e5, e6, and e7. Edge station e1 is common with edge station e7 of the first adjacent side on the left (as viewed by a player), and edge station e7 is common with edge station e1 of the first adjacent side on the right.
Each side of the game board further includes seven first interior stations, designated f1 through f7, inwardly disposed adjacent to the seven edge stations, and seven second interior stations, designated s1 through s7, inwardly disposed adjacent to the seven first interior stations. That is, three ranks of stations emanate from each side of the game board. A central area is formed by the middle second interior stations.
The use of seven edge stations on each board side results in a board layout which permits all chess pieces, except one of the bishops, to enter into or pass over the central area, while simultaneously allowing the convenient placement of the chess pieces along one side of the board in an initial game position. No other number of edge stations exhibits these two properties. The odd number of edge stations positions the middle edge station in the middle of the side and thereby creates a straight line column across the central area to the middle edge station on the other side. In order to accommodate the one square reduction from eight to seven, the king and queen initially both occupy the middle edge station e4. Further, in order to have one bishop of each color, the order of the knights and bishops on the left side of the king and queen is reversed from that on the right side of the king and queen.
The game board can be used to play chess with only minor variations from the conventional rules of play. The game board can also be used to play checkers.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the game board has at least four sides. Seven edge stations are arranged in a rank along each of the sides. Seven first interior stations are arranged in a rank adjacent to and inward of the seven edge stations, and seven second interior stations are arranged in a rank adjacent to and inward of the seven first interior stations. A central area is formed by the middle stations of the second interior stations. The stations and central area of the game board are of alternating contrasting colors in a checkerboard pattern.
In accordance with an important aspect of the invention, the sides of the game board have a concave curvilinear shape.
In accordance with an important feature of the invention, each edge, first interior, and second interior station has a curvilinear quadrilateral shape.
In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the invention, chess pieces occupy the seven designated edge stations as follows;
e1--a first castle (rook); PA1 e2--a first bishop; PA1 e3--a first knight; PA1 e4--a king, and a queen; PA1 e5--a second bishop; PA1 e6--a second knight, and PA1 e7--a second castle.
In accordance with an important aspect of the invention, the game board has six sides, is substantially hexagonal in shape, has a substantially hexagonal central area, and can accommodate either two or three players.
In accordance with an important feature of the invention, the game board has eight sides, is substantially octagonal in shape, has a substantially octagonal central area, and can accommodate four players.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

Game board for chess, checkers, and the like


A tube supporting member for an automotive heat exchanger is disclosed wherein the support member includes a plurality of apertures each having a cylindrical ferrule portion extending therefrom. The apertures include a curvilinear portion terminating in a discontinuous radius to form a corner at the aperture. The ferrule portions support the tube members of the heat exchanger.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to tube supporting members for heat exchangers such as condensers, evaporators and oil coolers used in automotive vehicles. More particularly, the present invention relates to an endsheet for use in a fin and tube type heat exchanger wherein the endsheet provides increased support for the heat exchanger tubing.
2. Disclosure Information
Fin and tube type heat exchanger are commonly used in vehicle, industrial and residential environments for heating and cooling purposes. Typically, these heat exchanger utilize a plurality of tubes to form a condenser or the like by having the fluid pass through a plurality of U-shaped tubes. The number of U-shape tubes depends on a thermal capacity requirements of the fin and tub heat exchanger. A manifold interconnects these tubes so that the fluid can flow through the tubes.
Endsheets or headers support the heat exchanger tubes and mount the heat exchanger to the vehicle structure. Typical prior art endsheets, such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,190,101, assigned to the assignee of the present invention, are stamped from a metal blank and include apertures through which the tubes are passed. The apertures provide little support for the tubing, the support being equal to the thickness of the endsheet. These prior art endsheets have worked well in the past for heat exchanger below a critical size. However, when the heat exchanger becomes larger and heavier or the application in which the heat exchanger used is subject to severe stresses, the prior art endsheets may not provide enough support for the tubes, resulting in leakage at the tube-manifold interface. Therefore, it would be advantageous to provide an endsheet or tube support member which provides increased support for the tube and fin exchanger.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,181,561 proposes one type of type supporting member for a heat exchanger used in the aircraft industry. The '561 patent discloses a stiffener plate having a plurality of openings for receiving the tubes therethrough. Each opening is in the form of an integral short-length tubular ferrule portion of internal diameter slightly greater than the external diameter of the tube. The ferrule supports the tubular member. Each ferrule of the '561 patent is formed through an extrusion process and includes a smooth, continuous radius for the tube to pass through. This smooth, continuous radius of the stiffener plate in the '561 patent cannot be used however in certain types of automotive heat exchangers. In the manufacturing of certain automotive type heat exchanger, such as condensers, it is necessary that a mandrel be inserted through the tube after the tube has been placed through the endsheet to expand the diameter of the tube to increase the tube-fin contact area. It has been found that using a stiffener plate, such as that in the '561 patent with a ferrule having a smooth continuous radius, allows the tubing to slide through the endsheet during the expansion process, and thus destroying the condenser during the manufacturing process. Therefore, it would be advantageous to provide a tubular support member, such as an endsheet for condenser, which would allow for increased support of the tubular members and which does not allow the tubing to slide therethrough during the manufacturing process.

Tube support member for a heat exchanger


An apparatus and method are described for conducting spatially-based valuation of property, taking into account the values of neighboring properties. The method proceeds by analyzing a database of properties including details of at least the location and value of the known properties, and the location of the property to be valued. Other characteristics of the properties may be included in the database. Similarity scores for each property compared with each other property are calculated, and used to identify those properties with are comparable to the property to be valued. All the comparable properties within a predetermined distance from the property to be valued are used to calculate the unknown property value. The method and apparatus may also generate a report on the property to be valued to a user, which report may further include details of the comparable properties. A computer program for implementing the method is also described.

Property Appraisal is an estimate of value based on opinion, of an adequately described property of a specific age, supported by presentation and analysis of appropriate information. In the case of domestic property an inspection is undertaken whereby a series of criteria are assessed. The combined output of the assessed criteria allow the valuer to produce an appraisal or an estimate of value for the property. In addition, a professional valuer may apply his or her own knowledge about the locality to further refine the assessment.
Mass appraisal, as a method of systematic statistical assessment, requires the same criteria as single appraisals. It therefore follows the same principles as outlined above, the main difference between the two forms of assessment being multiplicity. As with single appraisals, mass appraisal models are primarily judged by two core factors of transparency and predictive accuracy. There are various models or hybrid models and associated modelling techniques currently available; many of these however might perform well in either one of the two factors of transparency and accuracy, but not both. This might be explained by issues such as the sample size, its distribution, the stratification used, the homogeneity of the area or other local environmental factors.
It is commonly accepted that location of a property is the most important factor affecting its value. Significant differences in value can occur over short distances, even within a single street. Property appraisers will infer a substantial amount of information about a property from its location, which ability is based largely on local knowledge and experience. In addition, location itself will exert an influence on nearby properties.
Modelling of property values, therefore, should take into account the significant effect of location on property value. However, due to the difficulties of reproducing local knowledge of appraisers in a model, many valuation models do not directly take into account location when valuing properties, instead making use of 'pseudo-location' signifiers, such as local amenities, accessibility to services, and the like; however, such signifiers do not directly reflect the influence of location, and so can be inaccurate. In addition, such models typically will incorporate many such pseudo-location signifiers in an attempt to minimise the errors inherent in such an approach; this therefore increases computer processing time, and requires detailed assessment of local areas thereby increasing the expense of generating the models.
Other more complex models do attempt to incorporate location as a factor, all of which require an assessment of neighbourhoods or sub-markets. The housing market is a set of distinct but interrelated sub-markets, encompassing dwellings differentiated by one or several alternative dimensions. However, there is little consensus on whether sub-markets should be defined according to property characteristics, or based on the actual house price.
Sub-markets may be defined in a number of ways. In a spatial context, it is possible to create localised regions formed through the aggregation of units such as postal zones, enumeration districts, or ward boundaries. The use of 'political' or other non-property based locational areas creates problems related to boundary positioning; that is, such boundaries have not been drawn up on the basis of property values, and so do not truly reflect the effect of location on property values. Another approach is based on quantitative characteristics of the dwellings, such as house type, size, age, etc.; or house prices may be used to identify sub-markets. These traditional models however assume homogeneity in distribution and thus density over a unit area. Further, no consideration can be given using this type of analytical method to trends which occur across the boundaries of these areal units. Clusters of value which may be higher than average for the whole unit may be 'lost' during analysis. Locational analysis is normally encompassed by either assuming that the locational value is constant, or by sub-dividing units into more readily definable areas such as retail, business or financial districts and assuming each to be constant. In many cases the locational value of these districts may be accounted for through the valuers' expert knowledge of the location.
Although these models do attempt to incorporate the effect of location on property values, the sub-markets thereby defined are often unrepresentative of the actual sub-markets, while no attempt is made to treat the effects of location within a sub-market; that is, the models assume that the effect of location within a sub-market is identical on every property within the sub-market. This can lead to inaccurate valuations, and ignores the possibility of locational trends within a sub-market. In order to go some way towards overcoming these difficulties, conventional models can only rely upon creating smaller and smaller sub-markets, using more and more data, which will clearly increase computer processing time and use more computer memory. In addition, the problem of directly considering the effects of location on property values remains unaddressed.
It is among the objects of embodiments of the invention to provide a valuation model whereby the effects of spatial location on property values may be directly incorporated into the model.
It is further among the objects of certain embodiments of the invention to provide a computer-based modelling method and computer program which may generate property valuations at a lower computer processing burden than conventional valuation models, without sacrificing accuracy.


At least two inputs, at least one output and a clock source for the inputs are provided in a multiplexer. Each input balances an input signal and is coupled to a transistor circuit having two transistors with collectors commonly connected to a power potential. The transistor circuit can be supplied with a first balanced input signal on a first input signal path connected to the base of the first transistor, and with a second balanced input signal on a second input signal path connected to the base of the second transistor. The two balanced input signals are able to have a predetermined switching potential applied to them under the clocking of a driver circuit. In addition, two outgoing signal paths from the emitter of each transistor circuit can be combined to form at least two output signal paths for the at least one output. In this arrangement, the two output signal paths can be connected symmetrically with respect to a reference-ground potential.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a multiplexer which has at least two inputs, at least one output and a clock for the inputs, as disclosed in DE 38 08 036 A1.
2. Description of the Related Art
Multiplexers are used in circuits when the aim is to concentrate a plurality of channels onto one common channel. If one wishes to digitize N analog channels, for example, this normally requires N analog/digital (A/D) converters. Using a multiplexer, all N analog channels can be time-division multiplexed onto a common analog channel and digitized by a single A/D converter. Since N A/D converters are normally more expensive than a single, N times faster A/D converter, this involves a cost saving. Added to this is the fact that the layout of a circuit is significantly simplified by omitting N-1 lines and N-1 A/D converters.
Signal critical applications in magnetic resonance (MR) installations, for example, require the use of multiplexers which meet particularly high demands, since this presupposes that a high signal quality is obtained during the signal processing. Preferably, a multiplexer should have a high level of channel separation for this purpose, so that crosstalk is kept as low as possible. The multiplexer should also be able to process a correspondingly high level of dynamics of at least 100 dB and should be able to be operated at high clock rates in the region of 40 MHz. At a clock rate of 40 MHz, the time for turning on and off should be no more than 5 ns, assuming a turn-on duration of 15 ns. When analog signal compression is used between multiplexer and A/D converter in order to reduce the bit depth of the A/D converter, the multiplexer should be able to suppress the multiplex clock, i.e. the switching clock and many of its harmonics, to a sufficient extent, since otherwise the compressor is being modulated in the nonlinear range, and the expansion back to the original useful signals becomes erroneous.
Most known multiplexers are integrated chips and are based to a large extent on CMOS technology. Normally, however, they do not meet at least one of the demands mentioned above. By way of example, although the four-to-one multiplexer MAX4559 from Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. has a channel separation of 60 dB and above at 2 MHz, it requires approximately 150 ns just for turning on or off. The series ADG781, ADG782 and ADG783 multiplexers from Analog Devices, Inc., with a turn-on time of 16 ns and a turn-off time of 10 ns, are an order of magnitude faster than the aforementioned multiplexers, which nevertheless does not meet the demands cited above. Even the switching clock suppression does not meet these high demands in all of the examples cited.
DE 38 08 036 A1 discloses a multiplexer for combining four digital signals over time to form one output signal. In this case, the multiplexer contains four signal transistors which each have an emitter connection, four clock transistors which each have two emitter connections, and a multi-emitter transistor with four emitter connections. In this arrangement, the emitters of the signal transistors are connected in a particular manner to the emitters of the double emitter clock transistors and to the four emitter connections of the four-way multi-emitter transistor. The collector connection of the multi-emitter transistor is the signal output of the multiplexer in this case. To generate balanced output signals, an emitter-coupled differential amplifier may be connected to the signal output. For this multiplexer circuit based on emitter followers, however, there is no provision for switching clock suppression and no provision for multiplexing analog signals.
In the field of electronic balanced and bridge mixers, "ring modulators", balanced or bridge arrangements of symmetrical design are known for suppressing a local oscillator signal (cf. book by Zinke, Brunswig: "Hochfrequenztechnik 2" [Radio-frequency engineering 2], 5th Edition, Springer-Verlag (DE), 1999, pages 492 to 494). Problems with such mixers cannot readily be transferred to multiplexers.