A system for preventing recorded data from being illicitly read out and analyzed. An Internet connection interface 11 transmits a program executed by an adapter 7 to an authentication station, whilst receiving the program in an encrypted form from the authentication station. A hard disc 15 records the encrypted program, received from the authentication station. An interface 17 transmits the program recorded on the horizontal direction 15 on the adapter 7.

Recently, a device for digital recording and/or reproduction of music data, such as CD (Compact Disc) or a MD (Mini Disc), is in widespread use. As a result, it has become possible with relative ease to make illicit duplication of digital music data, by employing the device for digital recording and/or reproduction of music data in combination with e.g., a personal computer. Thus, a variety of methods have been proposed to prevent such illicit duplication of music data as a copyright protected work.
For example, it has been proposed that reciprocal authentication be made between the copying source and a device of the copying destination, under control by the software controlling the copying source, and that, if proper results of authentication are acquired, music data is encrypted to the device of the copying destination, which then decodes and uses the encrypted data.
It has also been proposed that reciprocal authentication be made between the copying source and a device of the copying destination with the aid of the identification information stored in a pre-set hardware.
It has likewise been proposed to execute the authentication, encryption and decoding by the hardware of the hard-wired logic.
However, if the authentication, encryption and decoding are executed solely with the software, there is a risk that the software be analyzed and modified to make illicit duplication of music data.
Also, if the pre-set ID is stored on the hardware so as to be read by the software on the personal computer and used, there is a risk that the ID thus read out be read out, analyzed and modified in the course of its transmission to the software.
Moreover, if the authentication, encryption and decoding are executed by the hardware of the wired logic, it is possible to prevent analysis and modification, however, if authentication, encryption and decoding are to be made anew, it is necessary to exchange the existing hardware with a new hardware or to add a new hardware.


In general, in one aspect, the disclosure describes a method that includes generating multiple cache line accesses to multiple respective cache lines of a cache as required to satisfy an access to data specified by a single instruction of a processing element specifying an access to data.

Network processors may generate memory accesses to data on byte-aligned addresses and with widely-variable, byte-granularity length. In contrast, general purpose processors often use memory systems with caches and thus generate memory accesses that are aligned to fall within single cache lines and are performance optimized for full cache line, aligned access.

Matching memory transactions to cache line boundaries


Therapeutically active thiazole derivatives of formula (I) wherein R1-R2, X and X′ as are defined in the specification, processes for the preparation thereof, the use thereof in therapy, particularly in the treatment or prophylaxis of disorders characterised by overexpression of transforming growth factor • (TGF-•), and pharmaceutical compositions for use in such

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to compositions of matter that are reagents for preparing radiopharmaceuticals, methods for preparing radiopharmaceuticals using said reagents, the radiopharmaceuticals thus prepared, and methods for using such radiopharmaceuticals. In particular, the invention pertains to reagents that are monoamine, diamide, thiol-containing (MADAT) metal chelators, as well as conjugates between said metal chelating groups and a variety of specific targeting moieties. Also provided in one aspect of the invention are radiodiagnostic agents comprised of the metal chelators conjugated with specific targeting moieties and radiolabeled with gamma radiation-emitting radioisotopes. In another aspect are provided radiotherapeutic agents comprised of the metal chelators conjugated with specific targeting moieties and radiolabeled with cytotoxic radioisotopes. Kits comprising the radiopharmaceuticals of the invention and adjuvant agents for the preparation of the radiodiagnostic and radiotherapeutic agents of the invention are provided. Radiodiagnostic and radiotherapeutic methods for using the agents of the invention are also provided.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is frequently clinically advantageous for a physician to be able to localize the site of a pathological condition in a patient using non-invasive means. Such pathological conditions include diseases of the lungs, heart, liver, kidneys, bones and brain, as well as cancer, thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, infection, inflammation and atherosclerosis.
In the field of nuclear medicine, certain pathological conditions are localized, or their extent is assessed, by detecting the distribution of small quantities of internally-administered radioactively labeled tracer compounds (called radiotracers or radiopharmaceuticals). Methods for detecting these radiopharmaceuticals are known generally as imaging or radioimaging methods.
In radioimaging, the radiolabel is a gamma-radiation emitting radionuclide and the radiotracer is located using a gamma-radiation detecting camera (this process is often referred to as gamma scintigraphy). The imaged site is detectable because the radiotracer is chosen either to localize at a pathological site or, alternatively, the radiotracer is chosen specifically not to localize at such pathological sites. In many situations it is a particular advantage to use a radiolabeled specific binding compound as a radiopharmaceutical, which localizes specifically to the pathological site in vivo.
A variety of radionuclides are known to be useful for radioimaging, including 67Ga, 99mTc (Tc-99m), 111In, 123I, 125I, and 169Yb. However, a number of factors must be considered for optimal radioimaging in humans. To maximize the efficiency of detection, a radionuclide that emits gamma energy in the 100 to 200 keV range is preferred. To minimize the absorbed radiation dose to the patient, the radioisotope should emit no alpha or beta particle radiation, and the physical half-life of the radionuclide should be as short as the imaging procedure will allow. To allow for examinations to be performed on any day and at any time of the day, it is advantageous to have a source of the radionuclide always available at the clinical site.
Tc-99m is the preferred radionuclide for scintigraphic imaging because it has no significant particulate radiation emissions and emits gamma radiation at about 140 keV, it has a physical half-life of 6 hours, and it is readily available on-site using a molybdenum-99/technetium-99m generator.
Other radionuclides used in the prior art are less advantageous than Tc-99m. This can be because the physical half-life of such radionuclides are longer, resulting in a greater amount of absorbed radiation dose to the patient (e.g., indium-111). Alternatively, the gamma radiation energies of such alternate radionuclides are significantly lower (e.g., iodine-125) or higher (e.g., iodine-131) than Tc-99m and are thereby inappropriate for quality scintigraphic imaging. Lastly, many disadvantageous radionuclides cannot be produced using an on-site generator.
Tc-99m is a transition metal that is advantageously chelated by a metal chelator or metal chelating moiety. Chelating moieties capable of binding Tc-99m can be covalently linked to various tarfeting molecules to provide a means for radiolabeling such targeting molecules. This is because the most commonly available chemical species of Tc-99m, pertechnetate (TcO4−), cannot bind directly to most targeting molecules strongly enough to be useful as a radiopharmaceutical. Complexing of Tc-99m with such radiolabel chelating moieties typically entails chemical reduction of the pertechnetate using a reducing agent such as stannous chloride.
The use of chelating agents for complexing Tc-99m is known in the prior art.
Byrne et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,434,151 describe N2S2, homocysteine-containing chelating agents for Tc-99m.
Fritzberg, U.S. Pat. No. 4,444,690 describes a series of bisamide, bisthiol chelating agents for Tc-99m.
Byrne et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,575,556 describe N2S2, homocysteine-containing chelating agents for Tc-99m.
Nosco et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,925,650 describe Tc-99m chelating complexes.
Kondo et al., European Patent Application, Publication No. 483704 A1 disclose a process for preparing a Tc-99m complex with a mercapto-Gly-Gly-Gly moiety.
European Patent Application No. 84109831.2 describes bisamido, bisthiol Tc-99m ligands and salts thereof as renal function monitoring agents.
Burns et al., 1985, European Patent Application No. 85104959.3 describe bisamino, bisthiol compounds for preparing Tc-99m labeled brain imaging agents.
European Patent Application No. 86100360.6 describes dithiol, diamino, or diaminocarboxylic acids or amine complexes for making Tc-99m labeled imaging agents.
Kung et al., 1986, European Patent Application No. 86105920.2 describe bisamino, bisthiol compounds for making small, neutral Tc-99m brain imaging agents.
Bergstein et al., 1988, European Patent Application No. 88102252.9 describe bisamino, bisthiol compounds for making small, neutral Tc-99m imaging agents.
PCT International Patent Application Publication No. WO89/12625 describe bifunctional chelating complexes of bisamido, bisthiol ligands and salts thereof, for use as renal function monitoring agents.
Davison et al., 1981, Inorg. Chem. 20: 1629–1632 disclose oxotechnetium chelate complexes.
Fritzberg et al., 1982, J. Nucl. Med. 23: 592–598 disclose a Tc-99m chelating agent based on N,N′-bis(mercaptoacetyl)-2,3-diaminopropanoate.
Byrne et al., 1983, J. Nucl. Med. 24: P126 describe homocysteine-containing Tc-99m chelating agents.
Bryson et al., 1988, Inorg. Chem. 27: 2154–2161 describe neutral complexes of technetium-99 which are unstable to excess ligand.
Misra et al., 1989, Tet. Lett. 30: 1885–1888 describe bisamine bisthiol compounds for radiolabeling purposes.
Bryson et al., 1990, Inorg. Chem. 29: 2948–2951 describe chelators containing two amide groups, a thiol group and a substituted pyridine group, said chelators forming neutral Tc-99m complexes.
Taylor et al., 1990, J. Nucl. Med. 31: 885 (Abst.) describe a neutral Tc-99m complex for brain imaging.
Targeting molecules labeled with radioisotopes have been used as radiopharmaceuticals for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. A number of methods have been developed to label targeting molecules with radioisotopes. Particularly important are the isotopes of technetium for scintigraphic imaging and rhenium and tin for therapeutic purposes. Toward this end there have been many examples of chelating groups developed for labeling targeting molecules.
Hnatowich, U.S. Pat. No. 4,668,503 describe Tc-99m protein radiolabeling.
Tolman, U.S. Pat. No. 4,732,684 describe conjugation of targeting molecules and fragments of the metal-binding protein, metallothionein.
Ege et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,832,940 teach radiolabeled peptides for imaging localized T-lymphocytes.
Nicolotti et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,861,869 describe bifunctional coupling agents useful in forming conjugates with biological molecules such as antibodies.
Fritzberg et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,965,392 describe various S-protected mercaptoacetylglycylglycine-based chelators for labeling proteins.
Morgan et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,986,979 disclose methods for imaging sites for inflammation.
Fritzberg et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,091,514 describe various S-protected mercaptoacetylglycylglycine-based chelators for labeling proteins.
Gustavson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,112,953 disclose Tc-99m chelating agents for radiolabeling proteins.
Kasina et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,175,257 describe various combinations of targeting molecules and Tc-99m chelating groups.
Dean et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,180,816 disclose methods for radiolabeling a protein with Tc-99m via a bifunctional chelating agent.
Flanagan et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,248,764 describe conjugates between a radiolabel chelating moiety and atrial natiuretic factor-derived peptides.
Reno and Bottino, European Patent Application 87300426.1 disclose radiolabeling antibodies with Tc-99m.
Ranby et al., 1988, International Patent Application No. PCT/US88/02276 disclose a method for detecting fibrin deposits in an animal comprising covalently binding a radiolabeled compound to fibrin.
Dean et al., International Patent Application, Publication No. WO89/12625 teach bifunctional coupling agents for Tc-99m labeling of proteins.
Schoemaker et al., International Patent Application, Publication No. WO90/06323 disclose chimeric proteins comprising a metal-binding region.
Morgan et al., International Patent Application, Publication No. WO90/10463 disclose methods for imaging sites of inflammation.
Flanagan et al., European Patent Application No. 90306428.5 disclose Tc-99m labeling of synthetic peptide fragments via a set of organic chelating molecules.
Gustavson et al., International Patent Application, Publication No. WO91/09876 disclose Tc-99m chelating agents for radiolabeling proteins.
Rodwell et al., 1991, International Patent Application No. PCT/US91/03116 disclose conjugates of "molecular recognition units" with "effector domains.
Cox, International Patent Application No. PCT/US92/04559 discloses radiolabeled somatostatin derivatives containing two cysteine residues.
Rhodes et al., International Patent Application, Publication No. WO93/12819 teach peptides comprising metal ion-binding domains.
Lyle et al., International Patent Application, Publication No. WO93/15770 disclose Tc-99m chelators and peptides labeled with Tc-99m.
Coughlin et al, International Patent Application, Publication No. WO93/21151 disclose bifunctional chelating agents comprising thiourea groups for radiolabeling targeting molecules.
Knight et al., 1990, 37th Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine, Abstract #209, disclose thrombus imaging using Tc-99m labeled peptides.
Babich et al., 1993, J. Nucl. Med. 34: 1964–1974 describe Tc-99m labeled peptides comprising hydrazinonicotinamide derivatives.
Well-studied members of the class of chelating groups used for radiolabeling targeting molecules include diamide dithiols (DADS), also known as N2S2 chelators, and mercaptoacetyltriglycines (MAG3), also known as N3S chelators. Both of these types of chelating groups form stable chelators with technetium, and methods have been developed to link these chelators to targeting molecules.
Fritzberg, European Patent Application No. 853042255.4 disclose N/S complexes of technetium.
Fritzberg et al., European Patent Application No. 88104755.9 disclose N/S chelating agents.
In general, these methods require that the chelate be heated briefly (15 min) at 100° C. in solution to produce the stable chelate (see, for example, Fritzberg et al., 1986, European Patent Application No. 853042255.4). Since many targeting molecules such as peptides and carbohydrates are labile to heat, producing degradation and inactive side products, there is a need for a labeling technology performed under milder (e.g., room temperature) conditions, that avoids these conventional harsh labeling conditions, and can be completed rapidly in the hospital clinic prior to patient administration. Rapid labeling in a clinical setting is particularly important since many patients require diagnostic information quickly because of the acute nature of their condition.
Another class of chelating compounds developed for labeling targeting molecules are the bisamine bisthiols (termed BATs).
Baidoo et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,196,515 and 5,095,111 disclose bisamine bisthiol complexes.
Kung et al., European Application No. 86105920.2 disclosed bisamine bisthiol ligands and their technetium-99m complexes.
Misra et al., 1989, Tet. Lett. 30: 1885–1888 describe bisamine bisthiol compounds for radiolabeling purposes.
Baidoo et al., 1990, Bioconjugate Chem. 1: 132–137 describe a method for labeling biomolecules using a bisamine bisthiol.
These compounds are useful when attached to targeting molecules since they can be labeled with technetium at room temperature. Such mild labeling conditions expose chemically-sensitive targeting molecules to a minimum of chemical stress, resulting in less degradation and more chemically pure radiolabeled targeting compounds. However, BAT chelates also have several drawbacks. One drawback of BAT chelators is that these chelates are intrinsically highly lipophilic. This property can cause these compounds to be retained in peripheral blood in excess, interfering with efficient scintigraphy because imaging agents must clear from the peripheral blood to reduce background radioactivity before a useful diagnostic image can be obtained. This drawback may alone be important enough to determine whether a BAT chelator-containing scintigraphic imaging agent is a commercially feasible product.
Another drawback of BAT chelators is that it is difficult to develop the chemistry to covalently attach such chelates to the targeting molecules. Although successful covalent linkage of BAT chelators to targeting molecules has been achieved, it has also typically resulted in the production of costly intermediates and has proven ultimately to be a costly way to produce the final radiopharmaceutical product.
The use of chelating agents for radiolabeling peptides, and methods for labeling peptides with Tc-99m are known in the prior art and are disclosed in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 07/653,012, 07/807,062, 07/871,282, 07/886,752, 07/893,981, 07/955,466, 08/019,864, 08/073,577, 08/210,822, 08/236,402 and 08/241,625, and radiolabeled peptides for use as scintigraphic imaging agents for imaging thrombi are known in the prior art and are disclosed in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 07/886,752, 07/893,981 and 08/044,825 and International Patent Applications Serial Nos. PCT/US92/00757, PCT/US92/10716, PCT/US93/02320, PCT/US93/03687, PCT/US93/04794, PCT/US93/05372, PCT/US93/06029, PCT/US93/09387, PCT/US94/01894, PCT/US94/03878, and PCT/US94/05895, each of which are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
There exists a need for radiopharmaceuticals for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes that can be easily radiolabeled under mild chemical conditions to avoid chemical and physical degradation of labile biological targeting molecules. There remains a need for low-cost chelating groups which are easy to synthesize, moderately lipophilic, and can be linked to a targeting molecule and subsequently labeled with Tc-99m quickly at room temperature.

Monoamine, diamide, thiol-containing metal chelating agents

Abstract: therapy.


The present invention provides a process for producing gel-coated, shaped articles wherein the total processing time is decreased compared to conventional processes and the physico-mechanical properties of the gel-coated, shaped articles produced therefrom are maintained.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a process for producing gel-coated, fiber-reinforced shaped articles wherein the total processing time is substantially decreased compared to conventional processes, and the physico-mechanical properties of the gel-coated, shaped articles produced therefrom are maintained.
2. Discussion of the Background
Gel-coated, fiber-reinforced shaped articles are conventionally used to produce bathroom fixtures such as bath tubs, sinks and shower stalls; recreational applications such as boat hulls, canoes and kayaks, as well as panels, especially for roofing, walls and doors of industrial buildings or recreational vehicles.
Gel-coated fiber-reinforced shaped articles are usually prepared from thermosetting resins, in particular from unsaturated polyester resins prepared by polycondensing diols and polycarboxylic acids, either or both of which contain reactive double bonds. The so-obtained product is then mixed with a reactive monomer, e.g., styrene, in order to have cross-linking during polymerization.
When the resin is to be used, filler, e.g., glass fibers or inorganic powders are mixed with it. The amount and kind of filler affect the strength, flexibility, and cost of the product. Thixotropic agents may be used to control the viscosity and prevent the mix from draining from sloping surfaces. Pigments can be used to provide color while UV absorbers can be used to provide outdoor stability. A peroxide catalyst and a combination of a cobalt salt and, possibly, a tertiary amine are then added as accelerators for the crosslinking reaction between the unsaturated polyester and the reactive monomer.
In fabricating jacuzzis, shower stalls, bath tubs, etc., a layer of polyester resin system as above described, containing no fiber reinforcement, is applied first to the surface of a mold (gel-coat). It forms a smooth, strong, impervious, durable chemical-, weather-, and wear-resistant surface. An additional, thicker layer of the resin, which is usually reinforced with glass fiber, is then applied by hand lay-up or by spray gun. The article is then cured at room or higher temperature.
More particularly, the preparation process consists of:
(a) spraying onto the surface of a mold, previously treated with releasing agents, a first layer (gel-coat) of an unsaturated polyester resin system (polyester resin plus catalyst plus additives) which forms the external surface of the molded article; PA1 (b) partially curing the gel-coat (this step usually requires about 40 minutes); PA1 (c) spraying onto the partially cured gel-coat layer a second and thicker layer of an unsaturated polyester resin system mixed with chopped glass fibers; and PA1 (d) further curing the polyester resin, both of the first and the second layer, in an oven at about 200.degree. F. (this step usually requires an additional 80-90 minutes). The total cycle time for such a preparation is about two hours. PA1 a) applying onto the surface of a mold, previously treated with releasing agents, a gel-coat layer of an unsaturated polyester resin system (this layer will represent the external surface of the molded articles); PA1 b) applying onto the gel-coat layer, after 5-7 minutes, a "backer layer" consisting essentially of: PA1 c) applying onto the backer layer, after 5-8 minutes, a layer consisting of a polyurethane system optionally mixed with reinforcement materials; and PA1 d) curing the so-obtained composite; PA1 wherein the total processing time for steps (a)-(d) is about 12 to 25 minutes, preferably 14-20 minutes.
It is desirable to decrease the total cycle time for such processes. Unfortunately, the curing time in either of steps (b) or (d) cannot be reduced. When the process time of step (b) is reduced, insufficient curing results and the chopped glass fibers tend to penetrate the gel-coat layer leading to a worsening of the aesthetic properties of the external surface of the article. When the process time of step (d) is reduced, for example by replacing the polyester resin system of (c) with a faster curing system such as a polyurethane system, the polyester gel-coat layer and the underlying polyurethane layer do not adequately adhere to each other, leading to inadequate physico-mechanical properties of the obtained articles.

Process for the production of gel-coated shaped articles


Gas treatment devices and vehicle exhaust systems are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the vehicle exhaust system, comprises: an engine, a gas treatment device disposed downstream from the engine, the gas treatment device comprising a housing, a substrate disposed within the housing, the substrate comprising a catalyst and a hexaaluminate comprising a catalyst stabilizer disposed in a hexaaluminate crystal structure.

Gas, e.g., exhaust gas, treatment devices such as catalytic converters, evaporative emissions devices, hydrocarbon scrubbing devices, diesel particulate traps, non-thermal plasma reactors, and the like, are employed in various applications to physically and/or catalytically treat environmentally unfriendly gas emissions. Such gas treatment devices incorporate a substrate, support, monolith, or brick, which includes a catalyst material coated thereon. A mounting device such as a mat support material comprising an intumescent material, non-intumescent material, or a combination of both, is disposed about the substrate forming a mat support material/substrate subassembly.
In order to meet the stringent requirements imposed by regulations governing the emission of pollutants, gas treatment devices are designed such that they can withstand higher temperatures over longer periods, e.g., so that they can be disposed in a close coupled (e.g., about 12 inches from the manifold) or manifold location where temperatures reach and exceed about 1,200° C. The catalysts of these gas treatment devices often degrade and their catalytic performance is reduced at temperatures greater than 1,000° C. Of the possible causes for this degradation in performance, sintering of the support upon which the catalyst is deposited, and sintering of the catalyst's active phase and/or encapsulation thereof by the support are among those most frequently blamed.

Gas treatment device, methods for making and using the same, and a vehicle exhaust system


A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided. A substrate having a first gate and a second gate respectively formed in a first region and a second region is provided. An underlayer is formed on the substrate to cover the first gate in the first region and the second gate in the second region. A patterned mask with a predetermined thickness is formed on the underlayer in the first region. The underlayer corresponding to the second gate in the second region is removed by the patterned mask to expose the second gate, wherein the underlayer corresponding to the first gate in the first region is partially consumed to expose part of the first gate.

1. Technical Field
The disclosure relates in general to a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, and more particularly to the method for manufacturing a semiconductor device having undamaged gates in different regions.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the conventional method for manufacturing the devices on a substrate, part of the devices would be fully covered by the protection layer when other devices are fabricated. For example, the NMOS device is fully covered while the PMOS device is constructed, such as forming the recesses for epitaxially growing the SeGe layer. However, the unprotected gate of the PMOS device may be damaged during fabrication process. In the conventional method, lithography for forming recesses removes portion of the gate in the PMOS region while the gate in the NMOS region is fully protected. Due to the different protection conditions of the devices, the gate heights of the devices are different and the subsequent process would cause damage to the gates (ex: in the PMOS region). The damaged gates have considerable effect on the performance characteristics of the devices.

Method for manufacturing semiconductor device


A thrust bearing for use in a rolling mill, having a pair of each of working rolls and stay rolls as well as a mechanism for crossing the rolls, is provided with retainers in which pockets for retaining rolling bodies are arranged in a plurality of rows. Each rolling body, when accommodated in the pocket, has the rotating axis passing substantially the center of swing motions, which makes the bearing appropriate to the swing motions of the rolling mill. Also, centering mechanisms, collar members and stoppers are provided for the retainers, so that malfunctions can be effectively prevented.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a thrust bearing for use in a rolling mill having a pair each of working rolls and stay rolls as well as a mechanism for crossing the rolls.
2. Related Background Art
FIG. 5 shows in cross-section a main portion of a four-stage rolling mill which is a kind of conventional rolling mills. In FIG. 5, an upper working roll 102 and a lower working roll 103 are located vertically adjacent to each other. Above the upper working roll 102, there is arranged an upper stay roll 101, while a lower stay roll 104 is arranged below the lower working roll 103. A material to be rolled is passed between the upper and lower working rolls to be rolled in an appropriate thickness, where bending of the upper and lower working rolls, occurring due to the reaction of the rolling is prevented by the upper and lower stay rolls. It should be noted that the left side of FIG. 5 constitutes a driving side provided with a driving mechanism (not shown) for transmitting a rotating force to the rolls, while the right side of the same is made dismountable for maintenance or the like. Therefore, each of the rolls is rotatably supported by an upper stay roll chock 111, an upper working roll chock 112, a lower working roll chock 113, or a lower stay roll chock 114, respectively. These roll chocks are attached to a mill housing (not shown) which is a rigid body.
In recent years, a new type of rolling mill has been developed for the purpose of improving the plate manufacturing accuracy. Such a new type of rolling mill having a cross mechanism will be briefly explained with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 shows a main portion of the rolling mill having a cross mechanism, viewed from one side thereof. FIG. 4 shows a top plan view of a roll which is swung by the cross mechanism.
Conventional rolling mills have a problem that the thickness of a rolled material near the ends of a roll tends to be smaller than that of a central portion of the roll. To solve this problem, rolls have been provided with a crowing, a roll bending mechanism has been equipped between upper and lower roll chocks, and so on. However, the improvement in the plate manufacturing provided by these methods was limited. The new type of rolling mill is constructed such that an upper working roll and an upper stay roll are swung or crossed with respect to a lower working roll and a lower stay roll, and the rolling is performed in this state. Explaining with reference to FIG. 4, a one-dot chain line X--X represents the axis of the upper working roll and the upper stay roll, while a one-dot chain line Y--Y represents the axis of the lower working roll and the lower stay roll (not shown). An angle formed by both the axes is designated .alpha.. By adjusting this angle .alpha., that is, by appropriately swinging the rolls, a material can be rolled in a uniform thickness.
Referring now to FIG. 3, an upper stay roll chock 111 is downwardly urged through a thrust bearing 107 by a pressing device 105 which may be a hydraulic device, by way of example. Likewise, a lower stay roll chock 114 is attached to a mill housing 106 through a thrust bearing 108. A cross mechanism, not shown, causes each of the rolls and each of roll chocks to swing.
Incidentally, moving the pressing device 105 and the mill housing together with the roll chocks and so on causes the apparatus to be undesirably large and complicated, so that a thrust bearing need be inserted between the roll chocks and the pressing device or the mill housing. However, since the relative motion thereof is not linear motion but swing motion, a normal direct-acting rudder bearing cannot be used for this purpose. Moreover, this portion is an important portion which is applied with a large load, so that measures should be taken to prevent defective operation of the bearing.


An inventive neutron detector includes an n-type GaN wafer and a photomultiplier, which are optically coupled with each other. The n-type GaN wafer is irradiated with neutrons from a neutron source, such as including a particle accelerator and a beryllium target. Scintillation of the n-type GaN resulting from the neutron irradiation is amplified by the photomultiplier and is analyzed using a data acquisition system.

The present invention relates to nuclear physics, neutron generation, neutron interactions with matter, scintillation properties of III-V solid-state compounds, and radioactivity. More particularly, the present invention relates to use of gallium nitride (GaN) for detection of ionizing radiation.
In physics parlance the term "scintillation" generally refers to production of light by an object when it absorbs ionizing radiation. A "scintillator" is a material that is characterized by scintillation. A scintillator "scintillates" (e.g., luminesces) when it is excited by ionizing radiation; that is, a scintillator material re-emits absorbed energy in the form of light.
Various types of scintillators have been known for detecting ionizing radiation. For instance, successful attempts have been reported using cerium-doped cesium lithium yttrium hexa-chloride (CLYC) for radiation detection. However, the dynamic ranges of the CLYC detectors are limited and complicated due to the capture cross-section behavior of the 35C1.
Some scintillators are disclosed in the literature that contain a high content of hydrogen atoms. Scintillators of this kind include liquid scintillators, scintillators dissolved in a hydrogenic solvent, and scintillators incorporated in a polymerized hydrocarbon. Coating of polymeric material has been performed onto the front face of a scintillator (typically, an inorganic one), and onto self-contained organic crystals (i.e. anthracene, stilbene). Drawbacks of such approaches involving high hydrogen atom content are relatively low radiative efficiency as well as self-absorption of emitted light.

N-type gallium nitride scintillation for fast-neutron detection

The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


A disclosed method comprises scanning a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag on a package to generate scanned data, and generating a handling instruction for the package based on the scanned data. The handling instruction can be executed to route the package to a tip position within a hub facility for directing the package to the next location along its route, and/or to pre-load the package in a vehicle for delivery to the package's final destination. Related systems and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Barcodes are well known in the package delivery industry as a method of identifying and tracking packages. The barcode is a binary code consisting of a field of bars and gaps arranged in a parallel configuration. The bars and gaps are arranged according to a given pattern that corresponds to some data. The configuration of the bars and gaps reflect a pattern when illuminated by a laser scanner. The optical power received by the scanner can then be processed and the data associated with the configuration extracted. Thus, in the case of barcode reading, transmission of data is performed optically.
In the context of a package delivery system, packages bearing barcodes are scanned at various points in a carrier system and the data captured from the barcodes are used to route the package through the system. In addition, the information captured from the barcode may be uploaded to a package tracking database and made available to shippers and consignees that wish to track the progress of a package through the carrier system. However, there are several limitations with using barcodes to perform these functions. For one, the process of scanning a barcode requires a direct line of sight between the reader and the barcode. Even in automated carrier sortation facilities, packages must be manually placed on the sortation conveyor belts so that the barcode of the package shipping label will be properly aligned for the scanning process. Another problem is that the barcode becomes unreadable if the code is obscured or if the package label bearing the code is damaged in the shipping process.
A need therefore exists in the industry for an improved method of capturing package information that overcomes deficiencies in the prior art, some of which are discussed above.

Systems and methods for package sortation and delivery using radio frequency identification technology


When a knob is turned by a predetermined turning angle α and this angle is detected by a rotary encoder, an electromagnetic brake is activated by a controller and the rotation of the knob is locked. Then, while the knob is locked by the electromagnetic brake, the controller determines whether an operating force was applied to the knob in direction A in which the turning angle of the knob is increased. If the controller determines that the operating force was not applied to the knob in direction A (if the operating force was applied in direction B), the locking of the knob is released.

This application claims the benefit of priority to Japanese Patent Application Nos. 2003-140567 and 2003-180365, herein incorporated by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an input device for outputting an operation signal for operating an electronic apparatus such as an in-vehicle electronic apparatus. More specifically, the invention relates to a force feedback input device having a knob that provides a predetermined dynamic sensation (force sensation) to the operator by applying a turning force to the knob in accordance with the turning angle.
2. Description of the Related Art
A known force feedback input device comprises a knob to be rotated manually, a rotary encoder for detecting the turning angle of the knob, a motor for applying a turning force to the knob, and a controller for controlling the motor in accordance with the turning angle of the knob detected by the rotary encoder and for outputting an operating signal corresponding to the turning angle of the knob to a separate device which is controlled by the knob.
By manually rotating a knob, the force feedback input device outputs an operating signal for operating an electric apparatus such as an in-vehicle electric apparatus. By operating the knob of the force feedback input device, for example, the airflow of an in-vehicle air conditioner may be controlled, the air outlet of the in-vehicle air conditioner may be switched, the volume and the tuning of the radio may be controlled, and the volume and the tone of the audio equipment may be controlled. Furthermore, the force feedback input device is applied in a so-called steer-by-wire system, which is installed on a steering apparatus to steer the vehicle and provide force feedback from the tires.
To control the air flow from an in-vehicle air conditioner, the knob is set, for example, so that when it is turned in a direction that increases the air flow, a motor applies a turning force to the knob in a direction opposite to the direction the knob is turned. In this way, as the knob is turned in the direction to increase the air flow, the turning force applied in the direction opposite to the direction the knob is turned is increased. In other words, the operator can sense how much he or she has turned the knob in the direction to increase the air flow through the increase in a sensation of resistance (force sensation) provided by the knob.
As well as the above-mentioned force feedback input device that provides a sensation of resistance as a force feedback, other force feedback input devices are known that provide a sensation of acceleration as a force feedback by applying a turning force in the direction the knob is turned or provide a sensation of clicking as a force feedback by reversing the turning force applied to the knob when the turning angle of the knob becomes greater than a predetermined turning angle, as is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-50639.


To reduce the overhead induced by transmitting data between a mobile client and a cellular network via an ad-hoc network extension, the cellular network transmits data dedicated to the mobile relay and dedicated to the mobile client within the same data stream, the mobile relay detects whether data received by the mobile relay contains data that are dedicated to the mobile relay itself and terminates the part of the received data that is dedicated to the mobile relay itself, the mobile relay detects whether data received by the mobile relay contains data that are dedicated to the mobile client and forwards the part that is dedicated to the mobile client to the mobile client, and the mobile relay detects whether data received by the mobile relay contains data that are dedicated to the cellular network and forwards the part that is dedicated to the cellular network to the cellular network.

The invention is based on a priority application EP04291664.3 which is hereby incorporated by reference.
The present invention relates to a method for transmitting data between a mobile client and a cellular network, wherein the mobile client is connected to an ad-hoc network and communicates via the ad-hoc network with a mobile relay that is connected to the ad-hoc network and the cellular network and wherein the mobile relay relays data that are transmitted from the mobile client to the cellular network and/or data that are transmitted from the cellular network to the mobile client.
The invention also relates to a mobile relay for relaying data that are transmitted from a mobile client to a cellular network and/or for relaying data that are transmitted from a cellular network to a mobile client wherein the mobile client is connected to the ad-hoc network and the mobile relay is connected to the ad-hoc network and to the cellular network.
The invention furthermore relates to a mobile client connected to an ad-hoc network and to a radio access network that is part of a cellular network and adapted to transmit signaling, data dedicated to a mobile relay, and data dedicated to a mobile client, wherein the radio access network comprises a radio access network protocol stack and wherein the radio access network protocol stack comprises a set of lower layers and a set of higher layers.
The invention at least relates to a telecommunications system comprising a cellular network, an ad-hoc network, a mobile client and a mobile relay wherein the mobile client is connected to an ad-hoc network and comprises means for communicating with the mobile relay via the ad-hoc network, and wherein the mobile relay is connected to the ad-hoc network and the cellular network and comprises means to relay data that are transmitted from the mobile client to the cellular network and/or data that are transmitted from the cellular network to the mobile client.
Cellular networks are widely used for enabling communication between a mobile terminal and another mobile terminal or between a mobile terminal and a terminal that is connected to a terrestrial network, e.g. the public switched telephone network (PSTN), the integrated services data network (ISDN) or the internet. It is also possible for a mobile terminal to access different services offered directly by a cellular network operator to its subscribers (e.g. the mobile terminals), based on different service platforms located in the Core Network.
A cellular network consists of different network elements such as a Core Network (CN), a Radio Access Network (RAN), and a mobile terminal (also called User Equipment, UE) e.g. a mobile telephone. Examples of cellular networks are GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) and UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System). In the remaining text the terminology according to the UMTS standard is used.
The Radio Access Network (RAN) is composed of a collection of Radio Network Subsystems (RNS). Each RNS includes a Radio Network Controller (RNC) and several Node Bs that are attached to and controlled by the RNC.
The Node B is a physical unit for radio transmission (and reception) and is attached to one or more cells. The main task of the Node B is the conversion of data transmitted to and from the mobile terminal. In addition, the Node B measures the quality and strength of the connection to the mobile terminal.
The RNC is responsible for the control of its associated Node Bs. Thus, it is in charge of the management of resources in those Node Bs and in the cells to which these Node Bs are attached.
The different elements of the RAN are interconnected with each other and towards the Core Network by means of a transmission network, which is usually a terrestrial network. Consequently, the RAN is named UTRAN (UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network). In UTRAN, the transmission network can be based on ATM or IP transport. Initial releases of the UMTS standard were only allowed for the use of ATM, but IP transport was introduced as an option in Release 5.
Several logical interfaces have been defined for the interconnection of different types of network elements across the transmission network. In particular, the communication between an RNC and any of the Node Bs belonging to the same RNS takes place across the so-called Iub interface. Moreover, different RNCs (belonging to different RNSs) may communicate with each other using the so-called Iur interface. Finally, the communication between an RNC and the Core Network (and hence between RAN and CN) takes place across a so-called Iu interface.
In UTRAN, the RNC may play several roles with respect to the different Node Bs and terminals. In each RNS, there is a single RNC, which is responsible for the control of all Node Bs in the RNS and their associated resources. In this case, the RNC acts as a Controlling RNC (CRNC) for the Node Bs in the RNS. In addition to the control of Node Bs, the RNC is also responsible for controlling the connection of the mobile terminals to the cellular network. The RNC in charge of a particular user connection acts as a Serving RNC (SRNC) for the user.
A mobile terminal accesses the cellular network via one or several radio links which are accessible through a so called air interface. Data transmitted from the mobile terminal are carried over the air interface to one or several Node Bs. Each Node B transmits the data received from the mobile terminal together with measurement results to the associated Controlling RNC, via the Iub interface.
The Controlling RNC for a Node B through which the mobile terminal is accessing the network may also be the Serving RNC for the mobile terminal or a different RNC. In the latter case, the Controlling RNC for the Node B plays also the role of a Drift RNC with respect to the user connection, because data must be forwarded ("drifted") via the Iur interface by this RNC to the Serving RNC responsible for the control of the user connection.
In UMTS the Core Network consists of a circuit-switched part (CS domain) and a packet-switched part (PS domain). Each of them is composed of several elements. One major element in the CS domain is the Mobile Switching Center (MSC), responsible e.g. for switching and signaling functions for mobile terminals, including support of user mobility through handover and location update procedures. Moreover, access to external circuit-switched networks may be provided through a so called Gateway MSC. The MSC communicates with a Home Location Register (HLR) and a Visitor Location Register (VLR) which are databases storing permanent subscriber information and temporary user location information, respectively.
In the PS domain, a Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) can be considered as the counterpart of the MSC. The SGSN is responsible for managing the packet-switched related communications within the CN. The SGSN communicates with a Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN), which provides access to an external packet-switched network such as the Internet. A network address is assigned to each mobile terminal by the GGSN. This network address is valid in the external packet-switched network. This allows the mobile terminal to communicate with other terminals or servers in the external network.
Data that originate from the mobile terminal are transmitted through the Core Network (CN) to the receiver. This is for example a terminal connected to an external circuit-switched network such as the ISDN, an external packet-switched network like the Internet or another mobile terminal. If the receiver is another mobile terminal the data are transmitted from the CN to this mobile terminal via its associated Serving RNC and the Node B that controls the cell in which the other mobile terminal is located or the Node Bs responsible for those cells in which the terminal has an active radio link, in case of soft handover (described later in this document).
The transmission of data described so far relates mainly to user data, e.g. voice related data, that are dedicated to a specific receiver. Besides this user data, within a cellular network several control information have to be transmitted to make sure the cellular network operates properly. This control information is called signaling. Signaling related data deal with subjects like handover control (including macro diversity), power control, exchange of measurements between network and terminals, mobility and location management.
A mobile terminal can be connected to several cells simultaneously. This option is called macro diversity. The set of cells the mobile terminal is connected to simultaneously is called the active set of the mobile terminal. The data streams received via the different cells of the active set are combined by the Node B (in case of softer handover, i.e. several cells in the active set belong to the same Node B) or by the RNC (in case of soft handover, i.e. cells in the active set belong to different Node Bs). The mobile terminal measures the signal levels of these cells and reports the measurement results via the controlling Node Bs to the RNC. The RNC evaluates the reported data and causes the mobile terminal to change the set of active cells if necessary.
Soft handover involves the addition of a new radio link through another Node B in case of transmission quality deterioration to improve transmission quality (e.g. by reducing the error frame rates) and to improve the rate of high quality active connections in one cell.
Since the same frequencies are used in an active cell and in the adjacent cells, there exists the risk of interference. Thus, power control is an important issue. Different power control techniques exist in UMTS, e.g. open-loop power control and closed loop power control. According to open loop power control, the Node B broadcasts information about the minimum power needed to enable a mobile terminal to gain access to the cellular network. According to the closed loop power control, the Node B transmits information to the mobile terminal to adjust the transmission power, according e.g. to a signal-to-interference ratio. The closed loop power control is a kind of dedicated signaling, since those information are not sent to all mobile terminals that reside in a cell (via broadcasting) but is dedicated to one specific mobile terminal.
The UMTS radio interface protocol stack comprises a physical layer, several L2 (layer 2) protocols, and different L3 (layer 3) protocols used for the exchange of signaling between the cellular network and the terminals. From the lowest to the highest layer, L2 protocols include the following layers: MAC (Medium Access Control), RLC (Radio Link Control), BMC (Broadcast/Multicast Control, used only for Cell Broadcast Services) and PDCP (Packet Data Convergence Protocol, used only for packet-switched services).
Some of the L3 protocols used for signaling exchange are terminated in the Core Network, and only the RRC (Radio Resource Control) protocol is terminated in the RAN. The RRC protocol is responsible for all signaling related to the usage of a radio interface to gain access to the cellular network.
Data transferred within UMTS can be divided into two groups. These are represented by control channels for transmitting signaling related data and traffic channels for transmitting user data. Examples for control channels and traffic channels are                the Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH): Broadcast of system information, i.e. information related to the radio environment like code values in the cell and in the adjacent cells, power levels, etc.        the Paging Control Channel (PCH): Paging is performed in order to find out the actual location of the user and to notify the user of the arrival of an incoming call.        the Common Control Channel (CCCH): Used for tasks common for all mobile terminals residing in the cell, for instance the initial access procedures. Since many users may use the CCCH simultaneously they are identified by unique identity (IMSI, International Mobile Subscriber Identifier, or U-RNTI, UTRAN Radio Network Temporary Identity).        the Dedicated Control Channel (DCCH): Control information of dedicated and active connection, used for instance for handover control and measurement exchange.        Dedicated Traffic Channel (DTCH): Channel for the transmission of dedicated user traffic (user data), e.g. voice data.        Common Traffic Channel (CTCH): Information that is to be send to all mobile terminals or a specific group of mobile terminals in the cell. This channel is mainly used for Cell Broadcast Services, which consist in the delivery of short text messages to all users or to the subscribed users in a cell (e.g. for short news services).
The channels described so far are called logical channels, which can be considered as transmission services offered by the MAC layer to higher sublayers.
Logical channels are mapped to transport channels by the MAC sublayer, which may also multiplex several logical channels into the same transport channel. Transport channels are bearer services (i.e. transmission services) offered by the physical layer of the air interface.
The physical layer maps transport channels to physical channels. Physical channels correspond to the actual radio channels used for the communication across the radio interface. In addition to mapping transport channels to physical channels, the physical layer can also multiplex several transport channels onto a Coded Composite Transport Channel (CCTrCH), which is then mapped to one physical channel or more than one physical channel (in case the maximum data rate which can be offered by a single physical channel is lower than the joint data rate of the CCTrCH).
For extending a cellular network an ad-hoc network can be used. With an ad-hoc network extension a mobile terminal (here: mobile client) that is connected to the ad-hoc network communicates with the cellular network not directly but via another mobile terminal (here: mobile relay). The mobile relay is connected to the ad-hoc network and to the cellular network. Data that are transmitted from the mobile client and are dedicated to the cellular network are first transmitted from the mobile client to the mobile relay using the ad-hoc network. The mobile relay then relays these data by forwarding it to the cellular network. Examples of an ad-hoc network are WLAN (wireless local area network) and Bluetooth.
Extending a cellular network by an ad-hoc network can result in an improvement of cell capacity and coverage. If, for example, a mobile terminal is placed far away (in terms of reception level, and not necessarily physical distance) from a Node B that is in the active set of the mobile terminal, it transmits data with a very high transmission power. This in turn can interfere with other data transmissions in the same or adjacent cells. Using an ad-hoc network extension and having a mobile relay within reach of the mobile terminal, the mobile relay can connect to a Node B with a higher quality and lower power transmission than the mobile terminal. Thus the coverage can be raised and the risk of interference with other connections will be reduced. Since one mobile relay can in principle relay the data transmitted from different mobile terminals at a given time, the coverage can be increased further on.
The communication between the mobile relay and the mobile client can also be realized across a number of intermediate so called ad-hoc terminals such that the data that are transmitted from the mobile terminal and that are dedicated to the cellular network (or vice versa) are forwarded several times by intermediate ad-hoc terminals between the mobile client and the mobile relay. This is called a multi-hop ad-hoc connection.
Transmitting data between a mobile client and a cellular network via an ad-hoc extension induces an overhead since it requires several steps of processing and/or converting these data. This usually is a computing-time consuming task which is at least at the expense of computing power in one of the elements involved in the transmission of data.
For each communication connection via the ad-hoc network at least two mobile terminals are involved, namely the mobile client which communicates indirectly with the cellular network and a mobile relay that communicates directly with the cellular network. This means, that at least control data for both—the mobile relay that communicates directly with the cellular network and the mobile client—have to be transferred via the cellular network. This induces a further overhead since for just one communication connection at least two sets of control data have to be generated, transferred via the cellular network, and processed.

Air interface protocols for a radio access network with ad-hoc extensions


The invention discloses a switching devise for a pixel electrode of display devise and methods for fabricating the same. A gate is formed on a portion of a substrate. A semiconductor layer is formed on the gate. A source and a drain are formed on a portion of the semiconductor layer. A low-k (low dielectric constant) materia layer, such as a layer of a-SiC:H or a-SiCN:H, is formed between the gate and the semiconductor layer and/or on the source/ drain.

The invention relates to a display device, and more particularly to a switching device for a pixel electrode and methods for fabricating the same.
Bottom-gate type thin film transistors (TFTs) are widely used for thin film transistor liquid crystal displays (TFT-LCDs). FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a conventional bottom-gate type TFT structure 100. The TFT structure 100 typically comprises a glass substrate 110, a gate 120, a gate-insulating layer 130, a channel layer 140, an ohmic contact layer 150, a source 160 and a drain 170.
In a conventional TFT structure for an LCD, SiNx is employed as a cap-dielectric layer. However, serious RC delay is likely to occur due to its high k value of about 7. Specifically, RC delay becomes worse as SiNx is applied to an electrical circuit in large-size TFT-LCDs.

Switching device for a pixel electrode and methods for fabricating the same


A method for providing a protective coating and enhanced optical qualities to a gemstone. The method includes coating a first portion and a second portion of a gemstone with TiO2 doped with calcium oxide (TiO2+). The TiO2+ coated gemstone is next coated with a diamond like carbon (DLC) coating. The gemstone may be synthetic or natural. The composite gemstone, having been coated with both TiO2 and DLC, exhibits high refractivity and enhanced wear resistance and color.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to gemstones and more specifically it relates to a method for producing a highly refractive composite gemstone having a protective coating and other enhanced optical qualities.
2. Description of Related Art
Gemstones may be found in nature or they may be man-made, and they include but are not limited to naturally occurring rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and diamonds as well as man-made cubic zirconium and moissanite stones. Gemstones are typically cut to a desired shape and are often placed within a metal setting for use as a ring or other common pieces of jewelry.
One problem with gemstones is that they often do not have the desired optical beauty or the desired color grade. Another problem is that they can become scratched or worn over time thereby reducing their attractiveness.
In these respects, the highly refractive composite gemstones made according to the embodiments of the present invention substantially depart from conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provide gemstones having substantially enhanced optical qualities and a protective coating to reduce scratching or wear on their surfaces.

Method for producing a highly refractive composite gemstone, and product


A method and system are provided to calibrate multiple camera devices to perform multi-camera tracking of one or more objects. The method and system identifies one or more common (or matching) calibration points on both of a first image or video stream captured by a first camera device and a second image or video stream captured by a second camera. Each of the one or more common calibration points are in a field of view of the first and second camera devices. The method and system further determines coordinate information for the first and second camera devices from the one or more common calibration points, and evaluates the coordinate information to determine alignment parameters, which reflect a location and orientation of the second camera device relative to the first camera device.

Cameras are used in a variety of applications. One example application is in surveillance applications in which cameras are used to monitor indoor and outdoor locations. Networks of cameras may be used to monitor a given area, such as the internal and external portion (e.g., a parking lot) of a commercial building.

Method of aligning two separated cameras matching points in the view


A method, system and product for image classification. The method comprising obtaining a set of encoding functions and signature values which corresponds to a set of class images, wherein each pair of an encoding function and a signature value corresponds to a class image of the set of class images, wherein the signature value is a value produced by applying the encoding function on the class image; obtaining an image to be classified to a class associated with a class image of the set of class images; with respect to each class image of the set of class images: determining a transformation from the image to the class image; and applying the encoding function using the transformation on the image to produce a value; and automatically determining a class to which the image is classified based on the values and the signature values.

In computer vision applications intended for image recognition, it is often required to differentiate between visually similar image classes. For instance, many images from the same group of interest may have the same graphics and almost identical caption apart from small changes within the image. One solution to such a problem is first to identify visually similar locations in all similar classes. Then, relative to those locations, to attempt to find dissimilar discriminative locations.
Image classification includes a broad range of decision-theoretic approaches to the identification of images or parts thereof. Classification algorithms are generally based on the assumption that the image depicts one or more features, such as geometric parts in the case of a manufacturing classification system, or spectral regions in the case of remote sensing, or the like, and that each of these features belongs to one of several distinct and exclusive classes. The classes may be specified a priori by an analyst, as in supervised classification or automatically clustered into sets of prototype classes, as in unsupervised classification, where the analyst merely specifies the number of desired categories.
Image classification analyzes numerical properties of various image features and organizes data into categories. Supervised classification algorithms typically employ two phases of processing: training and predicting. In the initial training phase, characteristic properties of typical image features are isolated from a plurality of images that correspond to the class and, based on these, a unique description of each classification category, i.e. training class, is created. In the subsequent predicting phase, these feature-space partitions are used to classify image features. Unsupervised classification algorithms typically do not utilize a training set but rather are configured to automatically discover structure in data provided thereto in order to generalize mapping from inputs to outputs. In order that such generalization be accurate, a plurality of representative images from each class need to be processed.

International Business Machines Corporation


The present inventions relate to substituted piperazine derivatives of general formula (I)

A general overview of the role of glycine transporter-1 (GlyT1) inhibitors for the treatment of diseases can be taken for example from WO2010/086251. This role of glycine transporter-1 (GlyT1) inhibitors is applicable for the present invention as well. In the following sectionexcerpts from pages 1 to 4 of WO2010/086251 will be cited in parts and/or modified and wherever considered appropriate further details, which are known in the art, are added, in order to provide state of the art background information for the present invention:
Schizophrenia is a progressive and devastating psychiatric disease characterized by episodic positive symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations, thought disorders and psychosis and persistent negative symptoms such as flattened affect, impaired attention and social withdrawal, and cognitive impairments (Lewis D A and Lieberman J A, 2000, Neuron, 28: 325-33).
A hypothesis of schizophrenia was proposed in the mid-1960' based upon the psychotomimetic action caused by the blockade of the glutamate system by compounds like phencyclidine (PCP) and related agents (e.g. ketamine) which are non-competitive antagonists of the glutamate N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. Interestingly in healthy volunteers, PCP-induced psychotomimetic action incorporates positive and negative symptoms as well as cognitive dysfunction, thus closely resembling schizophrenia in patients (Javitt D C et al., 1999, Biol. Psychiatry, 45:668-679); see also Jentsch and Roth, 1999, Neuropsychopharmacology 20:201-225). Therefore, increasing NMDA-receptor neurotransmission in the central nervous system offers an opportunity for the development of novel treatment approaches for schizophrenia and also other neurological and psychiatric diseases related to NMDA-receptor and/or glutamatergic dysfunction. The NMDA-receptor is a ligand-gated ion channel composed of a combination of two NR1 and two NR2 subunits and requires the concomitant binding of glutamate at the NR2 subunit and glycine as a co-agonist at the NR1 subunit to be activated (Johnson and Ascher, 1987, Nature 325:529-531). One strategy to enhance NMDA receptor activity is to elevate the glycine concentration in the local microenvironment of synaptic NMDA receptors by inhibition of GlyT1 (Bergeron R. et al., 1998, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 95:15730-15734). In fact, clinical studies with direct glycine site agonists D-serine and a prototype GlyT1-inhibitor, sarcosine, which increases glycine in the synaptic cleft, have demonstrated some efficacy for the treatment of negative symptoms and to a lesser extent, positive and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia (Tsai et al., 2004, Biol. Psychiatry 44:1081-1089; Lane et al., 2005, Biol. Psychiatry 63:9-12). Recently, clinical efficacy regarding negative symptoms in schizophrenia patients was reported for the GlyT1-inhibitor RG1678 tested in a clinical phase II trial as adjunctive treatment to marketed antipsychotics (Umbricht et al., 2011, Schizophr. Bull. 37(Suppl. 1):324).
Efficacy in various animal models/tests for positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia as well as in several memory tasks has been reported in the literature for different GlyT1-inhibitors. In detail, the selective GlyT1-inhibitors SSR504734 and SSR103800 were shown to be efficacious in two models for antipsychotic activity, i.e. reversal of NMDA-receptor antagonist induced hyperlocomotion and pre-pulse-inhibition, well known models for positive symptoms of schizophrenia (Depoortere et al., 2005 Neuropsychopharmacology 30:1963-1985; Boulay et al., 2008, Pharmacol. Biochem. Behav. 91:47-58). Regarding negative symptoms, SSR504734 was demonstrated to increase dopamine in the prefrontal cortex, a mechanistic in-vivo model for negative symptoms in schizophrenia (Depoortere et al., 2005, Neuropsychopharmacology 30:1963-1985). Regarding memory enhancement, the selective GlyT1-inhibitors SSR504734 and SSR103800 were efficacious in the social recognition test (Depoortere et al., 2005, Neuropsychopharmacology 30:1963-1985; Boulay et al., 2008, Pharmacol. Biochem. Behav. 91:47-58). Another GlyT1-inhibitor, NFPS, was shown to be active in the object recognition and social recognition test regarding reversal of MK-801-induced cognitive deficits (Karasawa et al., 2008, Behav. Brain Res. 186:78-83; Shimazaki et al., 2010, Psychopharmacology 209:263-270). In addition, an enhancing effect on long-term potentiation in hippocampal slices could be shown with NFPS demonstrating that inhibition of GlyT1 leads to strengthening of synaptic plasticity which is crucial for memory formation on a cellular level (Kinney et al., 2003, J. Neurosci. 23:7586-7591). In fact, glutamate neurotransmission, in particular NMDA receptor activity, plays a critical role in synaptic plasticity, learning and memory, such as the NMDA receptors appears to serve as a graded switch for gating the threshold of synaptic plasticity and memory formation (Bliss T V and Collingridge G L, 1993, Nature, 361:31-39).
In addition, GlyT1-inhibitors were shown to be efficacious in animal models of depression, anxiety and sleep, such as chronic mild stress, ultrasonic distress calls in rat pups and increased latency of paradoxical sleep (Depoortere et al., 2005, Neuropsychopharmacology 30:1963-1985).
Two distinct glycine transporter genes have been cloned (GlyT1 and GlyT2) from mammalian brain, which give rise to two transporters having 50% amino acid sequence homology. GlyT1 presents four isoforms arising from alternative splicing and alternative promoter usage (1a, 1b, 1c and 1d). Only two of these isoforms have been found in rodent brain (GlyT1a and GlyT1b). GlyT2 also presents some degree of heterogeneity. Two GlyT2 isoforms (2a and 2b) have been identified in rodent brains. GlyT1 is known to be located in CNS and in some peripheral tissues, whereas GlyT2 is specific to the CNS, primarily in the hindbrain and spinal cord (Zafra et al., 1995, J. Neurosci. 15:3952-3969). GlyT1 is expressed in glia and neurons, and it is found to be located at glutamatergic synapses (Cubelos et al., 2005, Cereb. Cortex 15:448-459).
Glycine transporter inhibitors are suitable for the treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders. The majority of diseases states implicated are psychoses, schizophrenia (Armer R E and Miller D J, 2001, Exp. Opin. Ther. Patents 11: 563-572), psychotic mood disorders such as severe major depressive disorder, mood disorders associated with psychotic disorders such as acute mania or depression, associated with bipolar disorders and mood disorders, associated with schizophrenia, (Pralong E T et al., 2002, Prog. Neurobiol., 67:173-202), autistic disorders (Carlsson M L, 1998, J. Neural Trans. 105:525-535), cognitive disorders such as dementias, including age related dementia and senile dementia of the Alzheimer type, memory disorders in a mammal, including a human, attention deficit disorders and pain (Armer R E and Miller D J, 2001, Exp. Opin. Ther. Patents, 11:563-572).
Thus, increasing activation of NMDA receptors via GlyT1 inhibition may lead to agents that treat psychosis, schizophrenia (positive, negative and cognitive symptoms), dementia and other diseases in which cognitive processes are impaired, such as attention deficit disorders, Alzheimer's disease, or other neurological and psychiatric disorders.
The before mentioned concepts related to the inhibition of GlyT1 are of high interest, in particular with respect to cognitive impairment associated with Alzheimer's disease or Schizophrenia.

Derivatives of 4-(piperazinylcarbonyl)thiane-1, 1-dione which inhibit GlyT1

Abstract: and to the manufacture of said compounds, pharmaceutical compositions comprising a compound according to general formula (I), and the use of said compounds for the treatment of various medical conditions related to glycine transporter-1 (GlyT1).


A paper transporting apparatus transporting continuous paper to a paper processing part that performs designated processing on the continuous paper includes a drive roller that transports the continuous paper in a forward direction with respect to the paper processing part and a direction opposite to the forward direction by a frictional force, a pre-centering mechanism, disposed upstream of the drive roller with respect to the forward direction, that regulates a position of the continuous paper with respect to the forward direction and a direction orthogonal to the forward direction by abutting against the continuous paper, and a tension increasing mechanism, disposed upstream of the pre-centering mechanism with respect to the forward direction, that increases tension on the continuous paper.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a transporting apparatus and method. The present invention is suitable for a transport mechanism of a pinless printer transporting continuous paper having no feed pins (or tractor pins). The continuous paper here falls into two categories: paper folded back at perforations formed per given length, and a continuous roll of paper.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventional continuous paper is formed with sprocket holes serving as through holes at side edges provided separably from a main body used as a printable area. The continuous paper is transported while feed pins of a paper transport system of a printer are engaging in the sprocket holes. Although such continuous paper has the advantage of being transported in a transport direction without being skewed or becoming slack, it takes processing costs to form through holes at both side edges. Furthermore, since the both side edges are unusable for printing, they must be separated at the termination of printing, leaving dust behind. For this reason, there are demands for the use of continuous paper having no holes at the both side edges. In this case, however, technologies are required for transporting the continuous paper in the transport direction without being skewed or becoming slack.
In a transport mechanism disclosed by Japanese Translation of Unexamined PCT Appln. No. 507666/1997, a paper position regulation unit is provided that presses one edge of holeless continuous paper against a stopper to regulate the position of the continuous paper with respect to a direction orthogonal to a transport direction, and a tension increasing unit and an accumulator are disposed at the following stage of the paper position regulation unit with respect to the transport direction (forward direction). The tension increasing unit, which is made up of a vacuum brake, increases tension on the paper to prevent swing or paper skew in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the paper. The accumulator, which is made up of a roller moving vertically, increases tension on the paper to remove slack in the paper in a back feed operation for transporting the paper in a direction opposite to the transport direction (forward direction) during printing. The paper is transported in the forward direction and the backward direction by a drive roller provided at the following stage of the accumulator with respect to the transport direction.
Since printers have been sped up, paper overruns several inches when it stops, and the paper must be run preparatorily several inches when printing is started. Accordingly, when printing is stopped and restarted, a back feed is performed to pull back the paper in the backward direction by the sum of the distances of the overrun and the preparatory run, thereby preventing an excessive space between an image printed previously and the next image to be printed. To stabilize the run of the high-speed printers during paper activation, a back feed amount must be increased to drop activation acceleration. This is because a high activation acceleration leaves inertia in a motor for driving a following drive roller and disables quick transition to a constant speed.
The above-described patent application has several problems. Specifically, (1) the separate arrangement of the tension increasing unit and the accumulator increases the size and cost of the transport mechanism. (2) Since the accumulator removes slack in the paper by vertical movement of the roller, large slack in the paper would increase the distance of vertical movement of the accumulator. Accordingly, if a back feed amount is increased to cope with the speedup of printers, a space for the vertical movement of the accumulator must be allocated in the apparatus, increasing the size of the apparatus. (3) Since vertical movement of the accumulator causes vertical changes in the transport direction, the paper is easily skewed and runs unstably. (4) The vacuum brake is susceptible to wear. Since the vacuum brake applies brake force in accordance with the width of the paper, a different brake force is applied for a different paper width. Therefore, for different paper types, the vacuum brake cannot always apply desired brake forces. (5) Since the tension increasing unit is disposed at the following stage of the paper position regulation unit with respect to the transport direction, paper slack occurring between the paper position regulation unit and the tension increasing unit cannot be removed. (6) Since the tension increasing unit must press a paper edge against the stopper so as not to crush (buckle) it, it is difficult to adjust press forces. Paper buckling limitations limit the types of usable paper. In other words, such a tension increasing mechanism is unsuitable for treating thin paper.

Feeding device and feeding method, and image forming device


A heat sink assembly (10) includes a heat sink (12) and a wire clip (14). The heat sink includes a base (120) and a plurality of fins (124) mounted on the base. A channel (126) is defined between two neighboring ones of the fins. A pair of points (1250) are punched on one of the fins and received in the channel. The wire clip includes a main body (140), first and second legs (141, 142) extending from opposite ends of the main body. The wire clip intervenes across the points and extends through the channel such that the main body is received in the channel and the first and second legs are located at opposite ends of the channel. Thus, the wire clip is prevented from dropping from the channel in a direction parallel to the channel.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a heat dissipation device, and more particularly to a heat dissipation device having a heat sink and a wire clip, wherein the wire clip can be easily and reliably pre-assembled to the heat sink before the heat dissipation device is used to cool a CPU mounted on a printed circuit board.
2. Description of Related Art
Advances in microelectronics technology have resulted in electronic devices which process signals and data at unprecedented high speeds. During operation of many contemporary electronic devices such as CPUs, large amounts of heat are produced. The heat must be efficiently removed, to prevent the system from becoming unstable or being damaged.
Typically, a heat sink assembly comprises a heat sink, a fan and a clip attached to an outer surface of the electronic device to facilitate removal of heat therefrom. The clip in this kind of assembly is a discrete part which must be packed and transported separately. The clip takes up additional transportation space. Furthermore, in use, the clip is prone to be displaced or to fall away from the heat sink. Thus the clip does not always firmly attach the heat sink to the electronic device, thereby lowering the efficiency of heat removal.
To overcome the above-mentioned problems, a spring metal clamp is commonly used to fasten the clip to the heat sink prior to transportation. This kind of spring metal clamp is not easily made, and requires a special apparatus to complete assembly. Thus the manufacturing and assembly processes are unduly complicated and costly.
An improved heat sink assembly, which overcomes the above problems, is desired.

Fu Zhun Precision Industry (Shen Zhen) Co., Ltd.


A laminated electrical switch includes an insulative substrate having a lower stamped metal circuit sheet supported thereon. The lower sheet includes a plurality of switch contacts and a plurality of leads for connecting the switch contacts to appropriate conductors. An upper stamped metal sheet is disposed over the insulative substrate and includes a plurality of embossed metal domes in registry with and spaced from respective ones of the switch contacts. Depression of a selected one of the embossed metal domes engages the dome with a respective one of the switch contacts to close a circuit therethrough.

This invention generally relates to the art of electrical switches and, particularly, to laminated electrical switches of the push-button type.
Push-button electrical switches have been designed in a wide variety of configurations for a wide variety of applications. Such switches range from substantial three-dimensional structures having box-like housings to very thin or laminated switches, sometimes called xe2x80x9cmembranexe2x80x9d switches. Thin laminated switches often are used in conjunction with printed circuit boards. This invention is directed to improvements in such laminated switches.
An object, therefore, of the invention is to provide a new and improved electrical switch of the character described.
In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the electrical switch includes an insulative substrate having a lower stamped metal circuit sheet supported thereon. The lower sheet includes a plurality of switch contacts and a plurality of leads for connecting the switch contacts to appropriate conductors. An upper stamped metal sheet is disposed over the insulative substrate and includes a plurality of embossed metal domes in registry with respective ones of the switch contacts. Depression of a selected one of the embossed metal domes engages the dome with a respective one of the switch contacts to close a circuit therethrough.
As disclosed herein, the lower stamped metal circuit sheet is insert molded in the insulative substrate and includes a common contact in engagement with the upper stamped metal sheet. The common contact is in the form of a peripheral contact outside the plurality of switch contacts. The upper stamped metal sheet includes a peripheral frame outside the plurality of embossed metal domes. The peripheral frame is in engagement with the peripheral contact. The plurality of embossed metal domes are electrically coupled to the peripheral frame.
A feature of the invention includes the insulative substrate having a plurality of integral pegs extending through apertures in the peripheral contact of the lower stamped metal circuit sheet and through apertures in the peripheral frame of the upper stamped metal sheet. The pegs are deformed, as by staking, to hold the upper stamped metal sheet and the insulative substrate together, with the peripheral contact in engagement with the peripheral frame.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, an insulated circuit sheet is disposed between the upper stamped metal sheet and the insulative substrate. The insulated circuit sheet includes conductive pads in registry between the embossed metal domes and the switch contacts. The insulated circuit sheet is configured to hermetically seal the insulative substrate and lower stamped metal circuit sheet.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.


A vessel with retention features for the retention of pellets for use in laboratory processes, manufacturing, and producing packaged foods, chemicals, and medicines.

Samples, such as material containing DNA, are currently processed both manually and automatically in vessels, such as centrifuge tubes. In many lab processes, a sample of some material which contains components to be isolated, mixed, or the like is typically placed in a sample vessel.
Typical lab procedures for working with samples include mixing and agitating the sample, adding material to the sample, removing material from the sample by pouring, and the like. These processes have traditionally been performed by hand. However, some methods of isolating components involve automated methods.
Some laboratory procedures require the user or the machine to pour-off a portion of the mixture and retain the other portion, for example a supernatant is poured off and one or more pellets are retained for further processing. This pour-off process can be very delicate, and if not done carefully, can result in lost pellets. In the case of unique or limited samples, or samples which require long development cycles, such errors can be devastating when the samples cannot be duplicated, or are irreplaceable. This is especially true for automated methods, as such pour-off techniques can be performed more delicately by humans than by machines.
Furthermore, during precise laboratory procedures, such as DNA or RNA isolation, pellet loss can also cause contamination and cross-contamination of samples and the laboratory, such that the entire process needs to be restarted.
One approach in facilitating pellet retention is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,234,667, which includes a micropitted roughened portion within a micro-centrifuge tube. However, this approach as described by Radtke et al. is intended for μL-sized samples and is not scalable for use with 1 mL or larger samples, and still results in pellet loss. See Example 1 described further below.
Accordingly, what is needed is a process and vessel which prevents inadvertent loss of samples during processing, such as during the pour off process.

Vessel with retention features and method therefor


Methods, apparatus and program products which monitor wireless access points (12, 16) through which data can be exchanged with a network (10), identify an unauthorized access point (16), and respond to monitored data flow in a variety of manners including determining the location of the identified unauthorized access point, establishing filtering, and controlling accounting for access services.

The description which follows presupposes knowledge of network data communications and switches and routers as used in such communications networks. In particular, the description presupposes familiarity with the ISO model of network architecture which divides network operation into layers. A typical architecture based upon the ISO model extends from Layer 1 (also sometimes identified as "L1") being the physical pathway or media through which signals are passed upwards through Layers 2, 3, 4 and so forth to Layer 7, the last mentioned being the layer of applications programming running on a computer system linked to the network. In this document, mention of L1, L2 and so forth is intended to refer to the corresponding layer of a network architecture. The disclosure also presupposes a fundamental understanding of bit strings known as packets and frames in such network communication.
The 802.11 standard is a family of specifications created by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. for wireless local area networks in the 2.4-gigahertz bandwidth space. 802.11 can be thought of as a way to connect computers and other electronic devices to each other and to the Internet at very high speed without any cumbersome wiring—basically, a faster version of how a cordless phone links to its base station. With 802.11, electronic devices can talk to each other over distances of about 300 feet at 11 megabits a second, which is faster than some wired networks in corporate offices.
Devices using 802.11—increasingly known as Wi-Fi—are relatively inexpensive. A network access point can be bought for about $500 and will coordinate the communication of all 802.11 equipped devices within range and provide a link to the Internet and/or any intranet to which the access point is linked. The cards that let a laptop computer or other device "plug" into the network cost $100 to $200. Some personal communication devices come enabled for 802.11 communications without the need of an additional card. Wireless 802.11 cards and access points are flying off the shelves of computer suppliers. People want and find easy connectivity with 802.11-standard products. Such networks are also known by more formal names as ad-hoc wireless networks and, in some instances, as mobile ad-hoc networks or MANETs.
Providing so much wireless speed at a modest price is having profound implications for a world bent on anytime/anywhere communication. Wi-Fi is spreading rapidly. College students are setting up networks in their dorms and cafeterias. Folks in some parts of San Francisco are building 802.11 networks to cover their neighborhoods. Starbucks Corp., United Airlines Inc., and Holiday Inn, among others, are installing 802.11 networks in their shops, airport lounges, and hotels, in a nod toward their customers' desire to stay connected. It has been reported that, in 2000, the number of people using wireless local area networks rose by 150 percent, according to Synergy Research Group. Cahners In-Stat Group, a Scottsdale, Ariz.-based market research firm, sees the number of wireless data users in business growing from 6.6 million today to more than 39 million by 2006. Feeding this trend is the fact that almost a quarter of all workers in small or medium-sized business are mobile workers, spending at least 20 percent of their time away from the office. Wireless e-mail is their prime need, which is why mobile computing products with always-on e-mail capability continue to sell so well. In early 2002, it was estimated that between 25,000 and 50,000 people install and manage 802.11 networks every day.
The wireless trend will inevitably spill over into the home networking market. A major reason is price: The cost of access points, equipment that connects to the wireless network; and network interface cards, or NICs, that make the link between the PC and the access point, is dropping. Those low prices catch the eye of shoppers, which is why the home market grew 20 percent in the last quarter of 2001.
Successor technologies to 802.11 are on the horizon. One is ultra-wide band radio technology or UWB, which uses a wide spectrum technology at low power to transfer data at a very high speed. UWB will be perhaps ten times faster than 802.11, yet suffer from some of the same exposures described here. Another is the inclusion of radio frequency function directly on chips which perform other functions such as system central processors and network processors.
And there's the problem, and a real dilemma it presents. Once again, information technology administrators and users are caught between ease of use and requirements for security. There are two major problems with wireless today and which can be anticipated as remaining into the future. One is that all too often it is implemented without any kind of security at all. The other is that the out-of-the-box security options, if the consumer switches them on, are completely ineffectual. According to Gartner Dataquest, about thirty percent of all companies with a computer network have some kind of wireless network, either official or rogue. Furthermore, if the business or cafe next door has a wireless network, the business might be in trouble.
Wireless is so wide open, in fact, that it has given birth to a new technologist Olympic sport: war driving. The game is all about seeing how many potential targets can be found. All that is needed to play is a laptop, a wireless PC card, and some software. War driving has been widely discussed in the technical press and on technology web sites, and does occur on a regular basis. The new hobby for bored teenagers and technogeeks is to drive around with an antenna and GPS strapped to a laptop hunting for wireless access points. While most are not maliciously attacking networks and are carefully preventing themselves from accessing the network and any of the files contained therein, not everyone is so polite.
One of the more popular tools used in war driving, NetStumbler, tells you the access point name, whether encryption is enabled, and numerous other bits of information. NetStumbler is also a great tool for administrators trying to identify rogue, unauthorized, access points which have been connected in their organizations. One user picked up twenty access points during a quick drive down Highway 101 in Silicon Valley. Another user, cruising the financial district in London and using an antenna made from an empty Pringles brand potato chip can found almost sixty access points in thirty minutes. Kismet is a wireless network sniffer for Linux that includes many of the same capabilities as NetStumbler. AirSnort is a Linux-based tool that tries to recover encryption keys. These and many more tools are freely available on the Internet.
Although organizations still must be vigilant about securing their main Internet gateway, the corporate perimeter is expanding wirelessly. How many users access the internal network via a VPN or other means of remote access? How many of those users have wireless networks at home? Are they secure? If not, your internal network is vulnerable, regardless of how secure your main Internet gateway is. Until 802.11 and UWB are made and proven secure, smart network managers will keep worrying. Particularly where employees lacking authorization to do so go to their friendly computer supply store, buy a wireless access point, bring it to their place of employment, and power it up connected to their employer's intranet.
It is important to note that access nodes or points today generally function at Layer 2 and have no knowledge of Layer 3 addressing, while the edge router which they are connected to has full knowledge of Layer 3 addressing. As technology has advanced more and more function has been incorporated into the access points. For example, originally these were simplistic "wiring concentrators" such as the IBM 8228 which was a completely unpowered product. Today these access points typically are Layer 2 switches with full knowledge of the Layer 2, or Medium Access Control (MAC), addresses of the devices that are connected to them, be they wireless or wired.
In the future these access points, with the advent of low cost Network Processors (as separately described in the literature), will become fully Layer 3 aware, particularly in respect to knowing the IP address of end stations connected to them. Of course today, an edge router already has this knowledge of IP addresses of end devices connected directly to it. Today all edge nodes and some access nodes have the capability to be, via the network, connected to a Network Management console using a messaging protocol known as Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). In the future all access nodes will have this capability.

Methods apparatus and program products for wireless access points


A fence (50) for supporting a workpiece, having two frame members (52, 54) and each frame member (52, 54) having rows of longitudinal grooves (62) in which frame elements or slide bars (66) are retained. An opening (24) between the frame members (52, 54) is reduced to a narrow gap to allow passage of a blade and varied according to a desired cutting angle by moving the slide bars (66) along the grooves (62). Movement of the slide bars (66) is achieved by rotation of a roller (75) mounted in a vertical bore in its respective frame member. The roller abuts the rear of the slide bars (66) and thus also prevents unwanted movement of the slide bars when stationary.

This invention relates to a guide fence for a cutting tool. In particular, it relates to an end fence which supports a workpiece whilst allowing different cuts to be made in or through the workpiece.
Typically, a fence is used with a saw blade assembly and table, with the workpiece being supported on the table and against the fence. The saw blade assembly is adapted to make both mitre and bevel cuts. In order to allow for this range of cuts to be made, the fence is provided with an opening to allow passage of the blade as a cut is completed. Whilst the opening is essential to enable completion of the cut, it unfortunately removes support at the rear edge of the workpiece, thus allowing splintering of the workpiece to occur.
In an attempt to alleviate this problem, it has been known to provide a plastic insert around the opening to support the workpiece and which the blade can enter without causing damage to the blade. After successive cuts have been made, however, the insert is gradually destroyed and needs to be replaced.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,016,693 discloses a guide fence for a spindle moulder comprising a plurality of stacked members, wherein the members are independently moveable to adjust the size and shape of the gap between them to accommodate variously sized and shaped cutting mechanisms.
However the members provide the workpiece support, and hence accuracy is potentially a problem with these moveable elements. Secondly, it is difficult to position the moveable elements.