A microelectronic device comprises a first die and a second die attached to the first die. The first die comprises a memory array region comprising a stack structure comprising vertically alternating conductive structures and insulative structures, vertically extending strings of memory cells within the stack structure, and first bond pad structures vertically neighboring the vertically extending strings of memory cells. The second die comprises a control logic region comprising control logic devices configured to effectuate at least a portion of control operations for the vertically extending string of memory cells, second bond pad structures in electrical communication with the first bond pad structures, and signal routing structures located at an interface between the first die and the second die. Related microelectronic devices, electronic systems, and methods are also described.

Microelectronic device designers often desire to increase the level of integration or density of features within a microelectronic device by reducing the dimensions of the individual features and by reducing the separation distance between neighboring features. In addition, microelectronic device designers often desire to design architectures that are not only compact, but offer performance advantages, as well as simplified designs.
One example of a microelectronic device is a memory device. Memory devices are generally provided as internal integrated circuits in computers or other electronic devices. There are many types of memory devices including, but not limited to, non-volatile memory devices (e.g., NAND Flash memory devices). One way of increasing memory density in non-volatile memory devices is to utilize vertical memory array (also referred to as a "three-dimensional (3D) memory array") architectures. A conventional vertical memory array includes vertical memory strings extending through openings in one or more decks (e.g., stack structures) including tiers of conductive structures and dielectric materials. Each vertical memory string may include at least one select device coupled in series to a serial combination of vertically stacked memory cells. Such a configuration permits a greater number of switching devices (e.g., transistors) to be located in a unit of die area (i.e., length and width of active surface consumed) by building the array upwards (e.g., vertically) on a die, as compared to structures with conventional planar (e.g., two-dimensional) arrangements of transistors.
Control logic devices within a base control logic structure underlying a memory array of a memory device (e.g., a non-volatile memory device) have been used to control operations (e.g., access operations, read operations, write operations) of the memory cells of the memory device. An assembly of the control logic devices may be provided in electrical communication with the memory cells of the memory array by way of routing and interconnect structures. However, as the density of the memory cells of the memory devices increases, the density of the routing and interconnect structures exhibits a corresponding increase in density and complexity.

Microelectronic devices, electronic systems having a memory array region and a control logic region, and methods of forming microelectronic devices


This disclosure provides various embodiments of systems, methods, and software for managing structured and unstructured data within electronic communications. In one implementation, software identifies an electronic communication associated with a user in an enterprise application; creates a link between an unstructured data element associated with the electronic communication and a structured data element associated with the enterprise application, where the link created at least partially based on one or more attributes of the electronic communication and an active process of the enterprise application; and stores the link in a link repository.

Information created and stored in a business environment or by a business enterprise may take many different forms and structures. In some cases, the information may be created, stored, and managed within a structured or formal business environment, such as a business application. Such information may include structured data or data objects, such as business objects or business process objects. Further, information such as structured data may be logically stored within the business application so that particular structured data may be easily associated with related data. For example, several elements of structured data related to a particular business entity may be relationally associated, thus allowing a user within the business application to more easily access and manage the data related to the business entity.
Information created and stored in the business environment or by a business enterprise may also exist in an unstructured format. Such unstructured data may be created, stored, managed, and accessed outside of the business application, yet remain pertinent to the user of the application, as well as the business enterprise as a whole. Further, this unstructured data may be logically related to the structured data managed and stored by the business application. But an association of such unstructured data with the structured data may be difficult, in part, due to the structured environment of the business application.

Managing structured and unstructured data within electronic communications


A freon recovery workstation including a collection tray for collecting and recovering liquid freon from the work area, forced air passageways disposed above and below the work area for drawing and receiving freon vapor, a freon-adsorbing unit connected to the forced air passageways for adsorbing and recovering the freon vapor, and a freon applicator in the form of a hand tool for aiming and regulating the use of freon.

Freon-113 is one of the solvents used to brush away the silicone coating on printed circuit boards being cleaned and repaired. Extreme care must be taken in working with Freon-113, since it is toxic to the worker, harmful to the ozone layer, it evaporates quickly, it is expensive, and is irreplaceable.
Thus, it is desirable to recover as much as possible of the Freon-113 which is used. In the past, paraffin wax has been used to recover the freon by absorbing it. However, paraffin has a slow rate of absorption due to its small surface area and does not recover all of the freon. In addition, carbon filters and coal have been used to recover the freon by adsorbing it. Still further, ion exchange resins have been used to recover the freon. However, no system has been developed to recover a large percentage of or substantially all of the freon or other solvents used for cleaning and repairing workpieces.
In addition, when the freon or solvent is applied, a lot is wasted. Typically, a paint brush is used to apply the solvent to small areas of the circuit boards or workpieces. However, this procedure is wasteful and inefficient. In addition, when workers use this procedure, because of the repetitive wrist movement used in cleaning, they have a tendency to develop carpal tunnel injury syndrome.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a recovery workstation that substantially reduces the amount of freon or other solvent used and recaptures substantially all of it, in addition to increasing production by at least 50%.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a freon recovery workstation, which prevents toxic harm to the workers in the workplace and which prevents harm to the ozone layer, in addition to providing an efficient and economical system in which substantially all of the expensive freon is recovered for reuse.
It is a still further object of the present invention to recover the freon or other solvent even after it has evaporated and becomes a vapor, so that harmful vapors are eliminated from the workplace and the atmosphere.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a hand tool for economically and efficiently applying the freon or other solvent to the workpiece being cleaned by precisely aiming it and regulating its usage and which reduces the tendency of workers to develop carpal tunnel injury syndrome.

United States Environmental Services, Inc.


A photoluminescent polymer/transition metal complex is disclosed which is capable of selectively binding to alkenes to thereby alter the photoluminescence of the complex. In one embodiment, a poly(vinyl phenyl ketone)/Ag(I) complex is disclosed which reversibly and selectively binds with ethylene. The disclosed photoluminescent polymer/transition metal complex can be used as part of a sensor to determine the presence and/or concentration of alkenes such as ethylene.

The present invention relates to a solid solution that comprises a complex between a photoluminescent polymer and a transition metal capable of binding to an alkene. Such a solid solution can be employed as a sensor for monitoring the level of at least one gaseous alkene (also known as an 'olefin'). The invention finds particular utility in monitoring gaseous ethylene during shipment and storage of fresh produce. A robust market exists for the sale of ethylene detection and ethylene removal products, but these products have various shortcomings, noted below. New strategies for sensing ethylene at commercially relevant levels are essential to development of cost-effective monitoring devices.
Three environmental factors—temperature, humidity and ethylene concentration—influence the development and ripening of fresh produce. Control over these three factors is essential for efficient produce transport, storage and induced ripening. Temperature and humidity are easily and precisely controlled, while ethylene concentration is more difficult to control. It is commercially important to avoid premature exposure of fruits, vegetables, flowers and other plant products to ethylene because exposure to as little as 10 ppb ethylene initiates ripening. Moreover, while short-term exposure to high ethylene concentrations (1000–100,000 ppb) is required to induce rapid ripening, prolonged exposure inevitably leads to premature rotting and attendant financial losses. On the other hand, timely exposure of unripe fruit to ethylene at a suitable level desirably induces ripening.
Commercial fruit and vegetable growers harvest products in a slightly immature state to facilitate processing and transport, and store the unripe fruit in carefully controlled environments until ripening is desired. To initiate ripening, produce is processed to ensure that the product reaches market in an optimal state. Each product type requires specific conditions, including a specific ethylene concentration range and duration of exposure, for optimal market quality. Suitable ethylene control involves both (1) monitoring ethylene gas concentration over a range of between about 10 and 100,000 ppb and (2) adjusting the concentration as needed.
Ethylene is typically measured by metal oxide resistivity, by chemiluminescence on reaction with ozone, or by gas chromatography. Each method has drawbacks. Metal oxide sensors can be inaccurate as they are susceptible to interference from other analytes, from flow rate variations and from ambient oxygen. Chemiluminescence systems require ozone generation and are therefore expensive and potentially dangerous. Gas chromatography is accurate and specific but the instrumentation is costly and the method is not well-suited to real time sensing. Moreover, existing ethylene sensors are not ideal for routine use because they lack sufficient sensitivity and they are prohibitively expensive. Available commercial sensors cannot function below 200 ppb ethylene, notwithstanding the botanically-relevant 10 ppb level. The $1,000–$13,000 cost per unit also precludes widespread use of these devices.
Likewise, existing ethylene removal strategies are hampered by expense and by the shortcomings in available sensors. Existing removal strategies include simple adsorption and oxidation by supported permanganate. A catalytic oxidation device, the Bio-KES 348 Ethylene Removal System, can maintain ethylene levels as low as 10 ppb; but requires continuous UV irradiation and consumes 475 Watts. If this device were coupled to a low cost, accurate sensor/actuator system, it could be operated cost effectively in ripening chambers.
Some metals are well known to interact strongly with alkenes under some conditions, and are therefore a reasonable choice for sensor handles. There is precedent for the use of, e.g., coinage metals in ethylene sensing, as plants use copper in their ethylene receptor proteins and silver is used both to inhibit the ethylene response in cut flowers and to extract alkenes from petrochemical feedstreams. The chemistry of coinage metals provides fertile ground for the design of new ethylene sensor technology.
Coinage metals are used to separate gaseous alkenes and alkanes (also called 'paraffins') in the petrochemical industry. In solution separations, silver(I) or copper(I) salts are dissolved in a stabilizing solvent, thereby promoting metal-alkene interaction while inhibiting decomposition of the active metal ions. When crude gas streams are passed through the solution, alkenes bind to metal ions therein, and an alkene-enriched solution is collected. The alkenes are released from solution by heating, to produce a high purity alkene gas mixture.
Gaseous alkenes and alkanes are also separated from input gas streams by differential membrane permeability in facilitated transport processes wherein silver(I) or copper(I) salts are suspended in a polymer membrane that acts both as a support and as a metal ion ligand. The metal ions preferentially bind alkenes from the input gas stream, and the alkenes pass through the membrane by rapid diffusion from one metal center to another. The metal ions selectively facilitate the passage of alkenes through the membrane, thereby generating a purified alkene gas stream. A schematic diagram of facilitated transport is shown in FIG. 1. Facilitated transport is distinguished from the present invention in that it does not involve luminescence or sensing, and cannot because the polymers there employed lack the extended conjugation structures employed in the present invention.
Silver(I) salts are highly effective in facilitated transport applications because membranes impregnated with Ag(I) salts are stable and bind alkenes strongly but reversibly. Bound alkenes are readily removed from the membranes by mild desorption methods such as heating. Cu(I) can also be used in facilitated transport processes, but care must be taken to minimize disproportionation of the Cu(I) ion. Since disproportionation is bimolecular, Cu(I)-impregnated polymers are stable only if the polymer separates the metal centers effectively.
A key criterion for an effective transport polymer appears to be that the polymer bears a functional group capable of interacting with the metal centers. Polyoxazoline, cellulose acetate, polypyrrolidinone and polyethyleneoxide polymers can effectively separate alkenes and alkanes in commercial facilitated transport membranes. Many of these polymers contain electronegative oxygen atoms to bind the metal ions. Also, interaction between silver(I) ions and the oxygen atoms promotes the alkene-Ag(I) interaction. Ethylene transport by poly(vinyl methyl ketone) (PVMK) has been studied in some detail, revealing the molecular interactions that occur in this process. Silver ions interact directly with the carbonyl groups in PVMK, decreasing the frequency of the carbonyl vibrations. When ethylene binds to the silver ions, the carbonyl vibrational frequency increases slightly, suggesting that both the carbonyl and the alkene are within the coordination sphere of the metal. The fact that spectral changes are observed demonstrates that the polymer responds to the presence of the alkene. Nevertheless, there has been no suggestion to employ such polymers in a sensor system.
The efficacy of facilitated transport membranes depends on easy access of the alkene to the metal centers in the polymer matrix. A primary determinant of access to the metal ion is the strength of interaction between the metal cation and the counter-anion. Considerable improvement in the rate of alkene transport is achievable by varying the counter-ion. Because ethylene binding to closed shell Ag+ and Cu+ ions is calculated to involve both covalent and electrostatic components, soft electron-rich counter-ions compete with alkenes more effectively than hard electron-poor ions.
Counter-ion size and polarizability are both important to matrix structure. Large bulky counter-ions cannot approach the metal ion closely, thereby decreasing the strength of the electrostatic attraction. At the same time, small alkene molecules can enter spaces created in the polymer matrix by such large counter-ions. In 1-hexene:Ag(I) complexes with CF3CO2−, BF4−, NO3−, and CF3SO3− counter-ions, the metal-alkene bond strength correlates more strongly with the size of the counter-ion than with its basicity. On the other hand, the donor ability of the ion is also a matrix structure determinant. For example, poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) impregnated with AgBF4 gives rise to a more porous polymer matrix and to substantially more rapid passage of alkene than the same polymer impregnated with AgClO4. In the aforementioned system, the silver ions are three-coordinate in the presence of the electron poor BF4− anion and four-coordinate in the presence of ClO4−, an observation that is more reasonably explained by donor ability than by size. Interestingly, there has been little effort to apply many of the very large, weakly interacting counter-anions commonly used in inorganic synthesis to facilitated transport systems.


The invention provides means for evaluating the fit of a knee replacement prosthesis on a resected tibial surface. A provisional instrument for this purpose includes a positioning tray having a peripheral profile corresponding to that of the tibial platform of the prosthesis, the tray having an upper surface and an under surface which is substantially flat and free from projections and the tray having a plurality of holes for receiving pins for temporarily attaching the positioning tray in a desired position on the resected tibial surface. Also disclosed is a jig for guiding, drilling and broaching operations, the jig having an aperture which is shaped to guide the broach. In addition, the invention includes a tibial broach which includes a hollow body having an upper end and a lower end and having an anvil at its upper end, an interior face and a posterior face which slopes downwardly towards a lower end, the posterior face having a series of teeth which are formed in the hollow body, such that bone cut by the teeth as the broach is driven into an intramedullary canal of a tibia passes into the hollow body.

Total knee replacement prostheses of the condylar type comprise a femoral component, a tibial base plate and a plastics meniscal component arranged to support the femoral component, and to be mobile to a limited extent on the base plate. One typical prosthesis of this kind is described in UK Patent Application No. 2280375. Accurate and rapid fitting of orthopaedic implants is facilitated by the use of suitable instruments so that the prosthesis, when installed, operates in the way in which it is designed.
It is an important consideration in fitting a knee prosthesis that the tibial base plate should be fixed on the strongest portion of resected bone, should not twist within the bone and that, when fixed, the joint should articulate in the most effective manner.

Evaluating the fit of an orthopaedic implant


The invention relates to a method for transmitting data between a GRPS/EDGE radio access network and user equipment of a mobile system, and to user equipment using the method, and to GERAN. In the method, the data to be transmitted is encrypted using an encryption algorithm at the transmitting end, the encrypted data is transmitted from the transmitting end to the receiving end, and the transmitted data is decrypted using an encryption algorithm at the receiving end. The used encryption algorithm is an encryption algorithm of the radio access network UTRAN employing the wideband code division multiple access method of the universal mobile telecommunications system, in which case the input parameters of agreed format required by the encryption algorithm are created on the basis of the operating parameters of the GPRS/EDGE radio access network GERAN.

When transmitting data from GERAN to user equipment and vice versa, the data to be transmitted must be encrypted (ciphered) before transmission for security reasons. Encryption makes tapping of signaling and user data difficult. The data to be transmitted is encrypted using an encryption algorithm at the transmitting end and the encrypted data is transmitted from the transmitting end to the receiving end, where the transmitted data is decrypted using an encryption algorithm. The same encryption algorithm is used at both ends.
An encryption mask created by the encryption algorithm is attached to the data to be encrypted using an XOR operation (logical exclusive OR operation), so the encryption does not per se increase the number of bits to be transmitted. This can be presented by the formulaC=M⊕P  (1)wherein C is the encrypted data, M is the encryption mask, P is the unencrypted data and ⊕ is the XOR operation.
The encryption algorithm requires input parameters to make the encryption mask created by the algorithm different for each user and each usage time. The most important parameter is the encryption key whose length is 128 bits, for instance. A different encryption key, and thus also a different encryption mask, is used for each user. However, a problem arises from the fact that the same encryption mask cannot be used twice for data with different content. This prohibited situation can be described by the formula
                                                                                P                1                            ⊕              M                        =                                                            C                  1                                                                                ⊕                                                                                P                  2                                ⊕                M                            =                              C                2                                                                                P              1                        ⊕                          P              2                                =                                    C              1                        ⊕                          C              2                                                          (        2        )
wherein P1 and P2 are unencrypted data with different content and C1 and C2 are encrypted data with different content. As can be seen, a possible eavesdropper can remove the mask by performing an XOR operation between the data having different content and encrypted using the same mask, thus breaking the encryption.
Because of this, other parameters are also used in encryption algorithms, for instance the encryption algorithm of a radio access network (UTRAN) employing the wideband code division multiple access method of the universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) uses as input parameters a counter parameter which changes with time, a directional parameter (uplink/downlink) and a bearer parameter.
The structure of the encryption algorithm to be used in GERAN has not yet been decided. It should, however, meet at least the following requirements:                implicit encryption synchronization, especially in connection with handover,        similar approach to both real-time and non-real-time services,        incremental redundance,        multiplexing several different users to the same time slot,        multiplexing several different radio bearers to the same user equipment,        enabling multi-slot operation.

Data transmission method, user equipment and GPRS/EDGE radio access network


Kappa opioid receptor antagonists are provided that yield significant improvements in functional binding assays to kappa opioid receptors, and the use of these antagonists in treatment of disease states that are ameliorated by binding of the kappa opioid receptor such as heroin or cocaine addictions.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to compounds that bind with high affinity and/or specificity to kappa opioid receptors.
2. Discussion of the Background
The study of compounds exerting their actions via the opioid receptor system has continued for nearly eight decades. Though this has been a broad effort, the fundamental driving force for this endeavor relates to the elimination or reduction of the side-effect profile produced by the most frequently used or abused opiates morphine (1) and heroin (2) in FIG. 1. Among the many side effects produced by compounds 1 and 2, addiction, tolerance and respiratory depression are of greatest concern when heroin abuse is considered. Though its use waned in the late 70s, increases in both the purity and availability of this drug have promoted a serious resurgence of illegal use. In the study and treatment of substance abuse, antagonists for the opioid receptors such as naltrexone (3) (FIG. 1) have played a prominent role. In recent years, researchers studying the physiological mechanisms underlying addiction have sought antagonists selective for each of the three opioid receptor subtypes mu, delta and kappa. Extensive research efforts along these lines lead to the discovery of several such compounds with examples including cyprodime (mu, 4), naltrindole (delta, 5) and nor-binaltorphimine (kappa, 6) (FIG. 1). Of the three, the kappa receptor has only begrudgingly yielded antagonists and, of the known examples, all stem from modification of the prototype, nor-binaltorphimine (nor-BNI, 6).
Portoghese in his pioneering work provided not only the second and third generation kappa antagonists 5′-[(N2-butylamidino)methyl]naltrindole (7) and C5′-guanidinylnaltrindole (GNTI, 8) but also convincing evidence that the Glu297 residue in transmembrane helix 6 of the kappa receptor is the principle address site influencing the kappa selectivity found in 6-8 (FIG. 1). In terms of the message address concept as applied by Portoghese to opioid small-molecules, it is the pendant amine functionality (noted by asterisks in the chart) that functions as the kappa address element for compounds 6-8 by interacting with the Glu297 residue which is present in the kappa but not in the mu receptor.
In terms of substance abuse treatment, antagonists selective for the kappa receptor have been the least studied primarily due to the limited bio-availability of 6 and its analogs. However, mounting evidence that the endogenous kappa opioid system opposes the actions of mu agonists like 2 suggests that antagonists selective for the kappa receptor system could suppress or eliminate the symptoms of withdrawal which arise from an overactive kappa receptor system and thus could promote abstinence and prevent relapse. Therefore, the development of novel kappa antagonists possessing improved pharmacokinetic profiles would be of great value.
As is obvious from the examples above, the morphinan substructure of 3 has served as the preeminent template upon which selective antagonists have been constructed. Contrary to these efforts, our work in this field started from the relatively unstudied N-substituted trans-(3,4)-dimethyl-4-(3-hydroxyphenyl)piperidine class of opioid antagonist discovered by Zimmerman et al. Compounds like 9a and 9b (FIG. 1) were novel opioid antagonists because their intrinsic antagonist activity was not mediated by the structure of their N-substituent (i.e. the N-methyl (9a) and N-cyclopropylmethyl (9b) analogs in the phenylpiperidine series are both pure antagonists). Indeed, no N-substituent has been discovered which converts this series of compound into an agonist. Compounds 10-12 (FIG. 1) represent some of the structures tried to date. In this connection we recently demonstrated that compounds bearing the trans-cinnamyl N-substituent, as found in 13 (FIG. 1), most closely reproduced the potency at the mu opioid receptor of the flexible N-substituted analogs (10-12). In fact, the comparable mu receptor potencies demonstrated by analogs trans-(3,4)-dimethyl-4-(3-hydroxyphenyl)piperidine possessing the trans-cinnamyl moiety lead us to speculate that in their biologically active conformation, compounds such as 10-12 have the connecting chain and appended ring in their N-substituent extended away from the piperidine nitrogen in a manner consistent with the trans-cinnamyl skeleton like that found in 13.
In our more recent studies comparing opioid receptor potency and selectivity to N-substituent changes in this series of antagonists, we discovered 14-18, where Q is NH, CH2, O, S, SO, or SO2 (FIG. 1). These compounds were obtained from the screening of libraries of compounds which were biased for opioid antagonist activity by incorporation of trans-(3,4)-dimethyl-4-(3-hydroxyphenyl)piperidine into each ligand. In biological testing those compounds (14-18) were found to possess kappa opioid receptor subtype selectivity in functional binding assays. Our earlier work in this class of compounds is described in, for example, U.S. patent publication Nos. 2002/0132828 and 2006/0183743. The present application is directed to this new group of compounds.


An automatic pet feeder includes a food hopper and a feeding tray; the hopper has a bottom larger than a top and includes a cylindrical rotating shaft located in the center, and a tapered outer wall. A grid is fixed between an outer side surface of the rotating shaft and the food leaking outer wall, and the grid is radial with the axis of the rotating shaft as the center of a circle, to partition a space between the outer side surface of the rotating shaft and the food leaking outer wall into feeding spaces with the same size.

Technical Field
The present invention relates to pet supplies, and particularly to an automatic pet feeder.
Related Art
An automatic pet feeder, especially a programmable automatic pet feeder, is mainly a device used for providing food for pets regularly and quantitatively according to a program under conditions where the pets cannot be monitored by humans (for example, on business or travel). By means of the device, the pets can acquire a suitable amount of food on time to ensure health. A more advanced automatic feeder can accommodate more food, so as to provide longer-time automatic feeding; and can also implement everyday single or multiple feeding and adjustment on the amount of feeding for each meal through program control.
For example, in terms of a commercially available automatic feeder, an upper portion thereof has a container in the shape of an inverted cone (i.e., big end up), and the container can accommodate 2-4 kg of dog food. The bottom of the inverted cone is connected to a food leaking mechanism. The mechanism consists of a cylinder and several groups of blades evenly distributed on an upper surface of the cylinder. Each group of blades equally divide the circumference of the cylinder therebetween. The mechanism is externally encircled by a cylinder to form a relatively closed space; in this way, the blade groups equally divide a space formed by the inner and outer cylinders, thereby implementing quantification. An upper end of the outer cylinder is connected to the container in the shape of an inverted cone, to allow that food can fall into a space formed by two groups of blades and the two cylinders by means of its own gravity. A lower end of the outer cylinder is connected to a slope, to allow the food to flow out. When the food leaking mechanism operates according to a preset program, a motor drives the cylinder with the blades to rotate, and the food can flow from an upper food container to a lower food bowl. Such a technical solution is a solution which is relatively simple and more popular but is prone to get stuck. When the food reaches the bottom of the container in the shape of an inverted cone, it is easy to form a stable structure, i.e., a stuck state, due to interaction of gravity and friction between the food, and it is more prone to get stuck especially when the food is irregular in appearance or bigger in particle size. When the blades on the inner cylinder rotate, in order to overcome pressure and friction caused by upper food, it is also prone to get stuck. In addition, hard blades may get stuck because the food is clamped, and in order to solve the problem, when the blades are made of a soft material, there is a possibility that the space between the blade groups changes significantly, but the problem of inaccurate feeding quantity arises.
As stated above, lots of users of the automatic feeder reflect that the feeder has design defects, and problems such as the food leaking mechanism gets stuck and food leakage quantity is uncontrollable may occur. In addition, the following problems may also occur: the structural design is not good, a pet may acquire extra food through some actions and damage the feeder, the programming is complicated and manipulation is difficult.
The above problems are fatal, for example, the feeding mechanism gets stuck, the feeder stops feeding, and the pet may starve and even die if the master goes out for a long time.
A serious problem, for example, the feeding quantity is uncontrollable, may result in that the food intake of the pet is unstable or the pet starves for a long time, or the pet intakes too much food for a long time, to cause health problems, such as obesity, diabetes and malnutrition; or the pet may damage the feeder structure through actions to acquire extra food, thereby causing health problems and the like.
A slight problem, for example, the programming is complicated and illogical, may affect user experience.
Therefore, it is urgent in the field of current pet feeding utensils to provide an automatic feeder that can solve the fatal problems, ensure that the food leaking mechanism is stably operated and does not get stuck, ensure accurate food leaking quantity, prevent the pet from acquiring extra food, and is simple to operate.

Automatic pet feeder having rotating food hopper and food leaking plate


Good yields and selectivities are achieved in a process for preparing an isochroman-3-one of the formula (I) ##STR1## by reacting a 1,3-dihydroisobenzofuran of the formula (II) ##STR2## with carbon monoxide at a CO pressure of from 0.1 to 20 MPa in the presence of an ionic halide, a palladium catalyst and a dipolar aprotic solvent.

The present invention relates to a novel process for the catalytic preparation of 3-isochromanones from phthalans.
3-Isochromanones and their substituted derivatives are of great interest, for example, as intermediates in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and crop protection agents. Thus, EP-A-0 278 595 and WO 97/12864 describe the use of 3-isochromanone as an intermediate in the synthesis of fungicides and pesticides.
3-Isochromanones are prepared from phthalans by the process of Azzena et al. (Tetrahedron Lett. 1995, Vol. 36, page 8123ff), Almena et al. (Tetrahedron 1995, Vol. 51, p. 3351ff) and Churanov et al. (Vestn. Mosk. Univ., Khim 1975, Vol. 16, 338 ff.). To this end, the corresponding 1,3-dihydroisobenzofurans (phthalans) are reacted with lithium and catalytic amounts of naphthalene to give the dilithium compound of the formula below ##STR3## which is subsequently converted into the desired 3-isochromanone by reaction with carbon dioxide.
This process requires two equivalents of metallic lithium per equivalent of product.
The consequence of this high consumption of lithium is that transfer of this process to industrial scales is uneconomical, in particular owing to the safety precautions associated with metallic lithium and especially owing to the high costs.

Process for the catalytic preparation of 3-isochromanones from phthalans


An apparatus and method for controlling an actuatable occupant protection system (40) in a passenger compartment (12) of a vehicle (10) includes a camera (72) configured for obtaining an image of a viewable field (78) within the passenger compartment (12) of the vehicle (10). At least one pattern (84, 86) is associated with vehicle structures (22, 24, 26) located within the viewable field (78). The portions of the obtained image associated with vehicle structures (22, 24, 26) having the pattern (84, 86) are removed from the image so as to obtain information regarding occupancy of the viewable field (78). The actuatable occupant protection system (40) is controlled in response to the obtained occupancy information.

Vehicle occupant detection systems are useful in determining a position and a classification of an occupant of a vehicle. Actuation of an air bag assembly may be controlled in response to the determined position and classification of the occupant.
A significant challenge to using an image system for determining the position and the classification of an occupant of a vehicle is differentiating the occupant from the background objects of the vehicle. If the background objects of the vehicle are confused with the occupant, the potential for incorrectly determining the position and the classification of the occupant increases significantly.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,531,472 includes a system for determining the location of an occupant of a vehicle. The system must be programmed prior to use in determining the location of the occupant. To program the system, a background image is taken for every combination of seat position and seat inclination available for a seat within the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The background images are stored in a memory. During the process of locating the occupant, the seat position and seat inclination are sensed and the background image for the particular combination of seat position and seat inclination is obtained from memory. An image of the passenger compartment of the vehicle is obtained and the background image associated with the particular combination of seat position and seat inclination is subtracted from the newly obtained image to remove background objects from the newly obtained image. The location of the occupant is then determined from the remaining portions of the image.

Apparatus and method for controlling an occupant protection system in response to determined passenger compartment occupancy information


A method for performing a functional test of a position measuring system, which in the course of scanning a scale by a position measuring unit generates position values. The method includes generating a control value in the position measuring system, the control value having a defined mathematical interrelationship with one of the position values and into which a correction value stored in the position measuring system is entered as a parameter. Transmitting the control value and an associated position value to an evaluation unit located downstream of the position measuring system. Making a check in the evaluation unit to determine whether there is a mathematical interrelationship between the control value and the associated position value. Storing the correction value in the position measuring system under a first memory address and a second memory address. Accessing the correction value at the first memory address for forming a definite mathematical interrelationship between the control value and the associated position value, wherein the making a check includes having the evaluation unit access the correction value at the second memory address.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for performing a functional test of a position measuring system, which in the course of scanning a scale by a position measuring unit generates position values, and to a position measuring system for executing the method.
2. Discussion of Related Art
A position measuring system includes a position detection unit for the generation of positional data words, which are fed to a processing unit of the position measuring system and from which position values are generated in the processing unit. Here, the generation of the positional data words by means of a position detection unit takes place by scanning, for example optical scanning, of a scale (measuring graduation) by a measuring transducer device of the position detection unit during a relative movement of the position detection unit with respect to the scale. If, for example, the measuring transducer device is operated in a known manner in accordance with a magnetic or optical scanning principle, it includes magnetic detectors or optical detectors (photo-detectors), which in the course of scanning the associated scale (measuring graduation) generate electrical signals, which are passed on to the processing unit in the form of digital positional data words for generating position values.
By arranging the position detection unit, on the one hand, and the scale on the other, respectively on two objects which are movable with respect to each other, for example in the form of machine elements of a machine tool, it is possible to detect the respective position of the one object in relation to the other object, and this, as a function of the type of the scale, either in the form of an absolute position (when using a scale formed by a code track), or in the form of relative position changes (when using an incremental periodic measuring graduation of the scale). The position measuring system can be designed for longitudinal measurements, on the one hand or, on the other for angle measurements, depending on the type of the movement of the two objects in relation to each other.
To assure that the position values generated from the positional data words in the processing unit, which are to be passed on for evaluation to an evaluation unit (electronic follow-up device) arranged downstream of the position measuring system, are not distorted because of electronic malfunctions or interferences, a functional test is performed in the course of position measuring in that at least one control value is generated in the position measuring system in addition to the position values, which has a specific mathematical interrelationship with one of the position values, wherein a correction factor is introduced into this mathematical interrelationship, which is stored in a memory of the position measuring system.
The control value, together with the position values, is transmitted to the evaluation unit (electronic follow-up device) arranged downstream of the position measuring system, which can be, for example, a component of a machine control device, which controls a machine tool as a function of the position values generated in the position measuring system. For this purpose it is possible in connection with the evaluation unit and, in some applications even with the position measuring system itself, to form values composed of or derived from several individual position values such as, for example, speed values as a change of the individual position values over time, and acceleration values as a change of the individual speed values over time. In this case the term "position values" is also intended to include the values respectively composed of or derived from several individual position values, such as speed, acceleration and jolts. However, the main field of application is the transmission of individual position values in the narrower sense from the position measuring system to the evaluation unit, so that then possibly further values, such as speed and acceleration, for example, can be formed from them, which are required for the control or regulation of a machine.
A check is also made in the evaluation unit (electronic follow-up device) whether the expected mathematical interrelationship exists between the control value and the associated position value, and this is done by using the correction value stored in the memory of the position measuring system, which is transmitted to the electronic follow-up device for this purpose. Thus, the position values generated in a position measuring system, for example, are regularly charged with an offset in the form of a so-called zero point shift before the respective position value is passed on to the electronic follow-up device. By this it is possible to create a definite reference position (a so-called zero position) for every type of the arrangement of the position measuring system on the machine tool or the like. As a rule, a suitable zero point shift is defined in the course of the initial start-up of a position measuring system.
Besides the position values charged with the zero point shift, second position values, called control values, which are not charged with the zero point shift and each of which relates to the same measured position value (i.e. the same positional data word) as each (actual) position value charged with the zero point shift, can be created in the position measuring system. In this case the respective control value and the associated position value are preferably generated independently of each other.
By transmitting the position values charged with the zero point shift, as well as the control values not charged with the zero point shift, to an electronic follow-up device arranged downstream of the position measuring system, it is possible to perform there a comparison between the individual position values and a respectively associated (i.e. not related to the same positional data word generated by the measuring transducer device) control value. By comparing control values and position values which are associated with each other in the electronic follow-up device it is possible to check whether the expected mathematical interrelationship exists between them, and this while using the correction value introduced into this mathematical interrelationship, which is read out of the memory of the position measuring system for this purpose.
However, in the course of this functional test it is not possible to detect those errors which are based on a hardware defect of certain memory cells of the memory of the position measuring system. A distortion of the correction value because of a hardware defect in the memory of the position measuring system has the same effect on the generation of the control value in the position measuring system as during the subsequent check of the mathematical interrelationship between a position value and the associated control value in the downstream arranged electronic follow-up device.

Method for performing a function test of a position measuring system and position measuring system for executing the method


A connector apparatus includes a header connector (10) of a given thickness into which an IC pack is loaded and from which it is ejected. An ejecting member (16) is mounted on the header connector (10) for ejecting the IC pack from the header connector. The ejecting member (16) is configured to lie substantially within the thickness profile of the IC pack. An actuating member (18) is provided for actuating the ejecting member (16) to eject the IC pack from the header connector. The actuating member is configured to lie substantially within the thickness profile of the header connector (FIG. 1 ).

Header connectors are used with IC packs or memory cards, and are provided with various attachments, such as means for facilitating ejection or removal of the IC pack for replacement. The header connector is used for interconnecting the semiconductor circuit of the IC pack to an external circuit such as a main electronic unit. The IC pack is inserted into the header connector and is extracted therefrom as needed. The pulling force to extract the IC pack, i.e. the force between the respective pins disposed in the header connector and the respective terminals of the IC pack, must be relatively large due to the tight fit required to obtain a good electrical contact. When the IC pack is extracted by hand, the pack often is extracted in an oblique direction which may damage the respective terminals or contacts.
Consequently, a variety of ejecting mechanisms have been incorporated in various connector apparatus for facilitating ejecting an IC pack from a header connector. One of the problems with using ejecting mechanisms is that they add to the overall size or dimensions of the apparatus envelope. There are various applications where it is desirable to maintain as low a profile for the overall connector apparatus as possible, such as where it may be desirable to stack a plurality of header connectors. It is difficult to maintain a low profile when various attachments, such as ejecting mechanisms, are disposed outside of the header connector profile, particularly outside the thickness of the header connector. It is difficult to reduce the thickness of the header as a whole and, consequently, extraneous attachments add to the overall envelope of the connector apparatus.
This invention is directed to solving these problems by providing an improved ejecting means in a connector apparatus for ejecting an IC pack from a header connector, the ejecting means being confined substantially within the thickness profile of the IC pack or, at least, within the thickness profile of the header connector.

Ejecting means in an IC pack connector apparatus


Methods for prevention or inhibition of the growth or metastasis of cancer cells in a subject are disclosed. One method comprises the step of administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of an antibody to the chemokine CCL25 and/or the chemokine receptor CCR9. Another method comprises the step of administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of an expression vector that expresses an antibody to the chemokine CCL25 and/or the chemokine receptor CCR9.

Despite recent advances in cancer research, the development of cell-specific therapies for the treatment of malignancies remain elusive. The many and complex factors that enable malignant cells to undergo mutations, evade immune protection and promote angiogenesis to deliver nutrients to the rapidly growing cells complicate the development of targeted treatment modalities. Current therapies have multiple untoward side effects. For example, chemotherapy results in multiple painful and sometimes lethal side effects. Advances in biotechnology have promoted the development of targeted biologicals with fewer side effects.
Host cells have surface receptors that associate with ligands to signal and cause host cell activities. The epidermal growth factor receptor helps control cell growth and metastasis. Many tumor cells express higher numbers of epidermal growth factor receptors than normal cells. A new treatment designated IMC-225 was specifically designed to target and block epidermal growth factor receptors, thus preventing cell division and repair. Recently, trastuzumab, which is a HER-2-specific monoclonal antibody, has proven effective at treating metastatic breast cancers. This antibody blocks interactions on cancer cells that inhibit cell growth. HER-2, however, is only found on about 25 to 30 percent of breast cancer cells.
Chemokines are a superfamily of small, cytokine-like proteins that are resistant to hydrolysis, promote neovascularization or endothelial cell growth inhibition, induce cytoskeletal rearrangement, activate or inactivate lymphocytes, and mediate chemotaxis through interactions with G-protein coupled receptors. Chemokines can mediate the growth and migration of host cells that express their receptors.
Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 25 (CCL25), also known as Thymus-Expressed Chemokine (TECK), is a small cytokine belonging to the CC chemokine family. CCL25 is chemotactic for thymocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells. CCL25 elicits its effects by binding the chemokine receptors CCR9 and is believed to play a role in the development of T-cells. Human CCL25 is produced as a protein precursor containing 151 amino acids. The gene for CCL25 (scya25) is located on human chromosome 19.
Chemokine (C-C motif) receptor 9 (CCR9), also known as GPR 9-6, is very highly expressed in thymus (on both immature and mature T-cells) while low in lymph nodes and spleen. CCR9 is also abundant in the gut, with its expression associated with T cells of the intestine. To note, the chemokine binding protein D6 had previously been referred to as CCR9, but this molecule is a scavenger receptor not a true (signaling) chemokine receptor.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Anti-CCL25 and anti-CCR9 antibodies for the prevention and treatment of cancer and cancer cell migration


The invention provides a compound represented by formula (I) which may modulate a kinase, and a pharmaceutical composition thereof, as well as the method for preventing or treating a protein kinase mediated disease or condition.

The information provided herein is intended solely to assist the understanding of the reader. None of the information provided nor references cited is admitted to be prior art to the present invention.
Protein kinase is known as protein phosphatase, which distributes throughout the nuclear, mitochondrial, microsomal and cytosol. The human genome contains about 500 protein kinase genes and they constitute about 2% of all human genes. Up to 30% of all human proteins may be modified by kinase activity, and kinases are known to regulate the majority of cellular pathways, especially those involved in signal transduction. It has been found to have more than 400 kinds of human diseases associated with protein kinase.
Specific disease states associated with aberrant regulation of protein kinases include, for example without limitation, melanoma, colorectal cancer, colon cancer, gastric cancer, pelvic cancer, esophageal cancer, brain cancer, testicular cancer, bone cancer, lymphoma, lung cancer, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, thyroid cancer, ovarian cancer, liver cancer, kidney cancer, glioma, sarcoma, medullary thyroid carcinoma, carcinoid, small cell lung cancer, leukemia, neurofibromatosis, myelodysplastic syndrome, tumor angiogenesis, neuropathic pain, inflammatory pain, acute and chronic pain, cancer-related pain, migraine headaches, heart failure, ischemic stroke, cardiac hypertrophy, thrombosis, atherosclerosis, multi-infarct dementia, head injury, spinal cord injury, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, psoriasis, arthritis, bone and joint inflammation, fibrois, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, immune deficiency diseases, organ transplant rejection, graft versus host disease, diabetic nephropathy, polycystic kidney disease, nephrosclerosis, glomerulonephritis, prostatic hyperplasia, diabetes, obesity, H. pylori infection, hepatitis infection, influenza virus infection, fever, sepsis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, acute respiratory distress syndrome, muscular dystrophy, motor neuron disease, neuromuscular disease, endocrine abnormalities of the disease, peripheral nerve diseases, glandular diseases, body and muscle metabolic diseases.

Kinase modulating compounds, compositions containing the same and use thereof

Chia Tai Tianqing Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd.


An apparatus for interfacing a wireless local area network with a wide area, cellular or public switched telephone network including the function of a wireless LAN base station or access point, and a gateway. The interface may contain one or more different types of gateways, including a PSTN voice gateway, an analog modem gateway, and others. The apparatus may also include a well designed to receive the handset or mobile computer device to recharge the battery as well as to automatically transfer data when the phone or device is secured in the well.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of voice communications over different types of communications networks. More specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus which interfaces a wireless IP network and a wide area network or public switched telephone network (PSTN) for voice communications.
2. The Background Art
Public switched telephone networks have been used for many years for voice communication. The typical telephone converts sound waves into analog signals, which are then transmitted through the public switched telephone network to another telephone, which converts the analog audio signals back into sound waves. In recent years, wireless and cellular telephones have been rising in popularity, due to their mobility. Users are no longer tied to a stationary telephone, but are free to carry their telephones with them.
With the advent of computers and fax machines, there arose a need to transmit data in a similar fashion. Due to the fact that analog telephone lines were already in existence in every part of the nation, these lines were also used in the transmission of data. Specific protocols were designed, such as the V.32 protocol, which specified how digital data is encoded into analog signals for transmission over public switched telephone networks.
The apparatus that performs conversion from digital data to an analog telephone signal is known as an analog modem. Analog modems do not require dedicated or specialized lines, as they use pre-existing telephone lines, which are already in existence in nearly every home in the country. The main drawback, however, is in the relatively low speed of transmissions. Current protocols allow only up to about 56 Kbps to be transmitted through an analog phone line, and FCC regulations currently limit this number to 53 Kbps due to power output concerns.
Users who require faster transmission speeds have turned to carriers which allow digital transmission, which not only provide much faster speeds and higher bandwidth, but also reduce errors that occur during transmission. Examples of such carriers are ISDN lines, T1 and T3 lines, and cable lines. ISDN lines are in actuality twisted pair telephone lines. While ISDN service allows a user to obtain digital transmission without a dedicated or specialized line, the inherent physical drawbacks of twisted pair lines limits the amount of bandwidth and speed of such systems. T1 and T3 lines are specialized, dedicated lines (T1 lines can carry up to 1.544 Mbps while T3 lines can carry up to 44.736 Mbps.
Cable modems interface to coaxial cable lines that are typically used for providing cable television signals into homes and they provide a large amount of bandwidth. While it is generally necessary for the cable provider to upgrade the overall cable network system in order to enable Internet access through cable modems, it is generally not necessary to install new lines into homes.
Wide Area Networks (WANS) using wireless data communications techniques and systems have been generally available for many years. Implementations exist which employ microwave radio-frequency (RF) communication systems and frequency-modulated (FM) radio communications. The data rate is generally up to 19.2 Kbps, which is sufficient for the intended class of applications. Frequency-modulated communication techniques include both conventional point-to-point radio and broadcast. These systems include RAM Mobile Data Service using the Mobitex protocol; the Advanced Radio Data Information Service (ARDIS), manufactured by ARDIS Company, Lincolnshire, Ill.; and the Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD) service.
The ARDIS system, for example, uses a dedicated radio network which includes a number of radio base stations deployed throughout larger metropolitan areas in the United States. The remote devices in the field communicated with the base stations, and vice versa. The base stations are fixed and can cover an approximate radius of 15 to 20 miles when transmitting and receiving. The base stations communicate with a limited number of radio network controllers located at various points throughout the United States. Each radio network controller is responsible for maintaining authorization and registration of the remote terminals. The radio network controllers are further connected to one of three network hubs. The network hubs are connected by dedicated leased lines and are accessed by the customer host applications to send and receive data to and from the remote devices. The customer host applications are also connected to the network hubs by dedicated leased line or through a value added network (VAN).
Wireless local area networks (LANs) are used in business applications such as inventory, price verification mark-down, portable point of sale, order entry, shipping, receiving and package tracking. Wireless local area networks use infrared or radio frequency communications channels to communicate between portable or mobile computer units and stationary access points or base stations. These access points are in turn connected by a wired or wireless communication channel to a network infrastructure which connects groups of access points together to form a local area network, including, optionally, one or more host computer systems.
Wireless infrared and radio frequency (RF) protocols are known which support the logical interconnection of portable roaming terminals having a variety of types of communication capabilities to host computers. The logical interconnections are based upon an infrastructure in which at least some each of the remote terminals are capable of communicating with at least two of the access points when located within a predetermined range therefrom, each terminal unit being normally associated with and in communication with a single one of such access points. Based on the overall spatial layout, response time, and loading requirements of the network, different networking schemes and communication protocols have been designed so as to most efficiently regulate the association of the mobile unit with specific access points, and the availability of the communication channel to individual mobile units for broadcasting.
One such protocol is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,029,183; 5,142,550; 5,280,498; and 5,668,803 each assigned to Symbol Technologies, Inc. and incorporated herein by reference.
Another such protocol is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,673,031. Still another protocol is set forth in the IEEE Standard 802.11 entitled "Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) Specifications" available from the IEEE Standards Department, Piscataway, N.J. (hereinafter the "IEEE 802.11 Standard").
The IEEE 802.11 Standard permits either infrared or RF communications, at 1 Mbps and 2 Mbps data rates, a medium access technique similar to carrier sense multiple access/collision avoidance (CSMA/CA), a power-save mode particularly important for battery-operated mobile units, seamless roaming in a full cellular network, high throughput operation, diverse antennae systems designed to eliminate "dead spots", and an easy interface to existing network infrastructures.
The basic specifications for the communications of audio, video and multimedia that are applicable to the networks pertaining to the present invention are set forth in the International Telecommunications Union Telecommunication Standards Sect (ITU-T) standards H.320-323.
The H.321 recommendation relates to asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) channels, H.322 to guaranteed Quality of Service LANs, and H.323 to packet based systems. Data packets are created from a compressed data stream of digital voice samples. The data packets are formatted for transmission over a data network. Since network latency and packet transmission delays can be disastrous to the intelligibility and quality of real-time phone conversations, a variety of approaches of giving priority of voice packets (or other real-time multimedia packets) over data packets in the network have been proposed, thus allowing delay-sensitive packets to supercede data packets across any network node in any traffic situation. The H.323 recommendation also provides for call establishment and control, including determining the sequencing and timing of establishing and disconnect procedures, as well as the control of the H.323 session after it is established.
To the extent the Internet Protocol or "IP" (as set forth in IETF RFC 791) is used as the network layer protocol, the recommendations of the International Multimedia Teleconferencing Consortium's Voice over IP Forum are also applicable to such a Voice over IP ("VoIP") network. In a VoIP network, the voice signal is digitized, encapsulated into IP packets, and then routed between VoIP capable devices in an IP network. These packets of voice may then be delivered in real time as voice communications, or stored as voice mail.
Communications between a LAN and a wide area network or public switched telephone network are generally performed by communications controller known as a gateway. In the H.323 standard, a gateway generally refers to an endpoint which provides for real-time, two-way communications between H.323 terminals on an IP network and other ITU terminals, telephones on a PSTN, and terminals on other networks. An example of a gateway is the Cisco 3600 series of Cisco Systems, Inc. The Cisco 3600 series is a modular gateway that can be configured to provide gateway functions over a wide variety of communications mediums. These include, among others, analog modem access, ISDN access, digital modem access, and voice and fax access. Other types of interfaces between wired LANs and connected or switched networks such as frame relay and ATM networks are known. For example, the ATM Forum has developed a bridging implementation agreement called LAN Emulation (LANE). LANE relies on a LAN Emulation Server (LES), which performs MAC-to-ATM address resolution; a Broadcast and Unknown Server (BUS), which performs data broadcast; and an optional LAN Emulation Configuration Server (LECS), which performs initialization and configuration.
Prior to the present invention, there has not been a simple and user-transparent way to interface a wireless LAN with the diverse range of currently available public and private networks, including the public switched telephone network (PTSN), cable networks, wide area networks (WAN), cellular telephone networks, and satellite communications networks.

Apparatus for interfacing a wireless local network and a wired voice telecommunications system


An apparatus for collecting material from a workpiece from a machined workpiece includes a fluid nozzle for inducing a flow of a fluid and a collection nozzle. The collection nozzle includes a motive nozzle for accelerating a first portion of the fluid flow; and an induced-suction nozzle for receiving a second portion of the fluid flow. A suction force can be generated within a vicinity of the induced-suction nozzle based on the accelerated first portion of the fluid flow. The suction force can be sufficient to carry at least a portion of the material away from the workpiece. Related methods of collecting material from a workpiece are also disclosed, as are systems capable of incorporating the material apparatus collecting apparatus.

Embodiments of the present invention exemplarily described herein relate generally to methods and apparatuses for collecting material produced by processing workpieces.
Machines such as mechanical drills, mechanical saws, lathes, routers, sanders, abrasive blasters, laser drilling machines, laser cutting machines, laser milling machines, etc., are used to process (e.g., cut, drill, abrade, grind, remove, shape, mill, etc.) workpieces formed of metal, ceramic, glass, semiconductor material, and the like. By-products such as vapor, dust and larger debris are typically produced as a result of the interaction between the machine and the workpiece. Unabated, these by-products often become scattered on the surface workpiece, deposited on the machines used to machine the workpiece, or become entrained by ambient air currents. If not properly collected, such by-products can degrade the quality of the workpiece being machined, degrade the quality of the end-product to be produced as a result of machining the workpiece, contaminate or otherwise degrade the performance of the machine, and can degrade the overall air quality of the surrounding environment. For example, by-products produced as a result of machining with a laser-based system (e.g., a laser drilling machine, a laser cutting machine, a laser milling machine, etc.) can often be molten. If the molten materials are not adequately removed from the work area, these materials can undesirably adhere to the workpiece and to optics of the laser-based system, and can interfere with the laser-workpiece interaction.

Method and apparatus for collecting material produced by processing workpieces


A resistor trimming method which brings about a good surge resistance and which allows a quick and reliable trimming, including the steps of forming a first slit 141 from an edge A of a resistor 11 formed between a pair of electrodes 12a and 12b provided on an insulating substrate 13, the first slit being in the proximity of and in parallel to one electrode 12a, forming a second slit 142 as a continuation of the first slit 141 toward the other one of the electrodes 12b, the second slit 142 being perpendicular to the first slit 141, and forming at least one approximately L-shaped slit 143 as a continuation of either one of the first slit 141 or the second slit 142.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for trimming a printed resistor and, more particularly, to a method for trimming a printed resistor formed on an insulating substrate in a hybrid integrated circuit (IC).
2. Description of the Related Art
FIGS. 4 through 9 show plan views of conventional printed resistors having various kinds of slit patterns. In each of these figures, a resistor 1 is formed extending over a pair of electrodes 2a and 2b provided on an insulating substrate 3 by means of screen printing or the like. Slits 41 through 46 are formed in the resistors 1 by trimming to adjust the resistance value of the resistor 1.
Among the slits 41 through 46 formed by trimming to adjust the resistance, the slit 41 shown in FIG. 4 is formed by trimming so as to extend from one edge of the resistor 1 in parallel with the electrode 2a and to be bent perpendicularly approximately in the shape of L.
The slit 42 shown in FIG. 5 is formed by trimming as a continuation of the slit 41 trimmed approximately in the shape of L so that the new slit returns toward one edge of the resistor 1 approximately in the shape of a square bottomed J.
The slit 43 shown in FIG. 6 is formed by trimming in the shape of J starting from one edge of the resistor 1.
The slit 44 shown in FIG. 7 is formed by scan-cutting off a portion of the resistor 1 from one edge of the resistor 1 between the electrodes 2a and 2b.
Further, the slit 45 shown in FIG. 8 is formed by trimming in the shape of U the tops of which extend from one edge of the resistor 1, the width of the U extending from the electrode 2a side to the electrode 2b side.
The slit 46 shown in FIG. 9 is formed by trimming (lean cutting) one end of the resistor 1 linearly between the electrode 2a and the electrode 2b while also cutting parts of the electrodes 2a and 2b.
The conventional trimming methods described above have had the following problems.
First, resistors having the L-shaped slit 41, the square bottomed J-shaped slit 42 and the J-shaped slit 43 as shown in FIGS. 4 through 6 are susceptible to changes in resistance value due to a surge. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 10(a), a current density is distributed non-uniformly in the printed resistor 1 having a L-shaped slit 41, so that a current is concentrated at points D and E which are located near the bending portion and an end portion of the L-shaped slit 41. As a result, microcracks occur at points D and E or the resistor burns at points D and E when the resistor is subjected to a surge. This causes the change of resistance of the resistor. For example, the resistance of these resistors shown in FIGS. 4 through 6 change with 3.350% on average before and after a surge in a lightning surge test.
Second, although the method of forming the slit 44 by scan-cut as shown in FIG. 7 brought about a good surge resistance and it can be described as an effective trimming method, it takes a considerable amount of time for the trimming, thus raising the cost of the product.
Third, while the method of forming the slit 45 by trimming approximately in the U-shape as shown in FIG. 8 is is done quickly while maintaining the surge resistance of the scan-cut shown in FIG. 8, there is a possibility that it turns out to be a J-shaped slit (similar to one shown in FIG. 6) as the trimming is terminated during the trimming of the U-shape due to a dispersion of an initial value of the resistor. As a result, there is a possibility that this resistor will suffer from the aforementioned problem.
Fourth, in the method of forming the slit 46 by a lean-cut shown in FIG. 9 (trimming the resistor 1 and the electrodes 2a and 2b), the trimming is quickly done while maintaining the surge resistance similar to the method of forming the slit 45 by trimming in the U-shape. However, it has been very difficult to program the necessary trimming machinery to completely cut both electrodes. The resistor and occasionally the electrodes have not been completely cut, resulting in a parallel electrical connection of the resistor and thus the method lacks reliability.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to solve the aforementioned problems by providing a resistor trimming method which brings about a good surge resistance and which allows a slit to be formed in the resistor quickly and reliably. It is another object of the present invention to provide a resistor having a slit formed by the resistor trimming method of the present invention.


According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes, a body, a bay portion provided in the body and in which a one of a first device having a first relay board and a second device having a second relay board is removably inserted, a first controller which communicates with the first device, a second controller which communicates with the second device, and a connector provided in the bay portion and connected to the first relay board or the second relay board, and including a plurality of first signal pins connected to the first controller via a first bus, a plurality of second signal pins connected to the second controller via a second bus, two ground pins connected to a common ground, a first power supply pins and a second power supply pins, and one of the second signal pins locates between the two ground pins.

1. Field
One embodiment of the invention relates to information processing apparatus in which a removable device is installed, and a method for controlling the information processing apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Integrated drive electronics (IDE) are widely used for storage devices such as hard disk drives and optical disc drives which are mounted in personal computers or the like. In accordance with the IDE, communications are carried out on the basis of a parallel scheme using 40 signal lines.
In accordance with the IDE, a user must set the storage device so that it can operate either as a master or as a slave. The use of 40 signal lines for communication requires wider cables. In recent years, cables in conformity with the IDE have been obstacles to air flows used to discharge heat from a housing of a personal computer to the exterior.
Serial advanced technology attachment (ATA) have been proposed in order to solve this problem. Storage devices in conformity with the ATS standards are now prevailing. The serial ATA do not involve the master and slave concept for the storage device; they do not require the storage device to be set to operate either as a master or as a slave. Further, in accordance with the serial ATA, communications are carried out on the basis of a serial scheme using seven signal lines. This allows a reduction in the thickness of the cables.
Some notebook type personal computers can execute expanded functions by providing plural types of expansion bays that can be removably installed in a select bay slot formed in the body. Devices mounted in the expansion bays include an optical disc drive, a hard disc drive, and a TV tuner.
As described above, the two sets of standards, the IDE and the serial ATA, are currently used for the storage devices. It is thus expected that storage devices in conformity with the IDE and serial ATA are mounted in the expansion bay. Jpn. Registered UM Publication No. 3093782 discloses a technique for a connector for connection of an expansion bay that supports the two sets of standards.

Information processing apparatus and method for controlling the same


A vertical axis turbine and method of making same is disclosed. The device and method comprise a plurality of blades rotatably disposed around an axis of rotation at a plurality of blade locations, each blade being twisted at a first angle about its longitudinal axis, each blade having its distal ends located a predetermined distance from the axis of rotation, each blade being bent at one or more central locations along the longitudinal axis so the one or more central locations are the same predetermined distance from the axis of rotation as the distal ends, each blade having a foil cross section perpendicular to the axis of rotation for maintaining unidirectional rotation of that blade about the axis of rotation in a fluid flow, and each blade having its longitudinal axis tilted at a second angle with respect to the axis of rotation.

Reaction turbines have been used for centuries to convert naturally occurring phenomena, such as wind, waves, and other fluid flows, into useful power. While traditional, propeller-type turbines (e.g., a windmill) must be oriented to face the direction of the fluid flow, advances in turbine technology have led to the advent of unidirectional turbines that will rotate in the same direction for many different directions of the fluid flow without changing the orientation of the turbine. Thus, unidirectional turbines are particularly suited for use where a naturally occurring fluid flow is frequently changing directions, such as tidal estuaries or shifting winds. Over time, four basic types of unidirectional turbines have evolved—the Wells turbine, the McCormick turbine, the Darrieus turbine, and the Gorlov turbine.
Wells Turbine
The Wells turbine is a propeller-type turbine that includes a plurality of blades extending radially from a central rotating shaft. By contrast to traditional propeller-type turbines, the blades of the Wells turbine are positioned with their faces perpendicular to the plane of the fluid flow (pitch=0° or pitch=90°) instead of angled into the plane of the fluid flow (0°>pitch<90°). Accordingly, the blades of the Wells turbine can be arranged either with the blades parallel to the rotating shaft (pitch=0°) so that the blades rotate in a plane parallel to the direction of the fluid flow or with the blades perpendicular to the rotating shaft (pitch=90°) so that the blades rotate in a plane perpendicular to the direction of the fluid flow.
By further contrast to traditional propeller-type turbines, the blades of the Wells turbine utilize a symmetrical foil cross-section that allows the blades to maintain the same direction of rotation as long as the fluid flow is perpendicular to the faces of the blades. Thus, when the blades are arranged perpendicular to the rotating shaft (pitch=90°), they will rotate in the same direction for the fluid flow approaching parallel to the shaft, either from front-to-back or back-to-front (i.e., unidirectional rotation in bidirectional flow). And, when the blades are arranged parallel to the rotating shaft (pitch=0°), they will rotate in the same direction for fluid flow coming from any direction perpendicular to the rotating shaft, sweeping 360° around the rotating shaft (i.e., unidirectional rotation in omnidirectional flow). Accordingly, Wells turbines are typically mounted within channels that direct the fluid flow perpendicular to the faces of the blades, particularly with the former blade arrangement.
Although the symmetrical blades of the Wells turbine will maintain the same direction of rotation in the presence of a bi-direction fluid flow, that symmetry results in a larger drag coefficient than traditional propeller-type turbines. That higher drag coefficient results in high noise and relatively low efficiency. Moreover, the effective surface area of the symmetrical blades of the Wells turbine is limited to the outer tips where the linear velocity is greatest, preventing the blades from capturing a substantial amount of the available energy in the fluid flow closer to the rotating shaft. In addition, the Wells turbine has no of self-starting capability and must instead use a motor to start the turbine, thereby consuming energy before the turbine can be used to generate energy.
McCormick Turbine
The McCormick turbine was developed in response to the noise and efficiency problems associated with the Wells turbine. By contrast to the Wells turbine, the McCormick turbine includes a plurality of blades extending radially from a central rotating shaft utilizing an asymmetrical, substantially V-shaped, cross-section. Those rotating blades, or rotors, are mounted concentrically between a two sets of fixed blades, or stators, wherein the first set of fixed blades is open to fluid flowing from one direction and the second set of fixed blades is open to fluid flowing in an opposite direction.
The two sets of fixed blades are each positioned to direct the fluid flow into the rotating blades so that the rotating blades rotate in a plane perpendicular to the direction of fluid flow. Each set of fixed blades is configured with an opposite pitch from the set of blades on the opposing side of the rotating blades so that the rotating blades will rotate in the same direction regardless of which side of the rotating blades the fluid flow enters the turbine. Accordingly, McCormick turbines are typically mounted within channels that direct fluid flow perpendicular to the plane of rotation. Because the McCormick turbine will rotate in the same direction in the presence of bi-directional flow (i.e., unidirectional rotation in bi-directional flow), it is particularly suited for harnessing power from natural phenomena that regularly oscillate back and forth, such as wave energy.
Arrangement of the blades of the McCormick turbine allow it to be more efficient and have a smaller diameter than the Wells turbine. Thus, the McCormick turbines are quieter than the Wells turbine. That smaller diameter, however, significantly reduces the rotational speed of the McCormick turbine. The generator gearing required to compensate for that lower rotational speed is complex and expensive to manufacture.
Darrieus Turbine
The Darrieus turbine includes a plurality of blades running lengthwise along a central, vertical rotating shaft. The blades may be rectilinear, parallel to the rotating shaft, and attached to the rotating shaft at their distal ends by struts extending radially from the rotating shaft (i.e., a giromill). Or, the blades may be curved in a semicircular shape extending away from the rotating shaft with their distal ends attached at or on the rotating shaft (i.e., a troposkien turbine). The blades of the Darrieus turbine have a symmetrical foil cross-section and are disposed at a distance away from the rotating shaft so that the fluid flow can pass between the blades and the rotating shaft. That configuration allows the blades to rotate in the same direction for the fluid flow coming from any direction perpendicular to the rotating shaft, sweeping 360° around the rotating shaft (i.e., unidirectional rotation in omnidirectional flow).
In addition, because the fluid flow is allowed to pass between the blades and the rotating shaft of the Darrieus turbine, the oncoming fluid flow from the movement of the blades will create a varying force that will be vectorially added to the force created by the fluid flow moving perpendicular to the blade. The resulting added force will always point obliquely forward along the line-of-action of each blade, creating a positive torque on the rotating shaft and further helping it to rotate in the direction it is already traveling. Thus, a Darrieus turbine can have a rotational speed that is unrelated to the speed of the fluid flow and is usually many times faster.
Although the blades of the Darrieus turbine allow it to rotate at a rate higher than the fluid flow, disposing the blades away from the rotating shaft causes each blade to generate a maximum amount of torque at two different points in rotation—at the front and back of the turbine—due to the changing accelerations of the blades as they pass between high and low pressure zones in the fluid. Those changes in torque can cause strong pulsations that lower the efficiency of the turbine. Moreover, those pulsations can result in catastrophic failure of the turbine at certain wind speeds. Accordingly, Darrieus turbines typically require complicated guy wires systems to stabilize the blades and mechanical brakes or other speed control devices to keep them operating at safe speeds. Darrieus turbines also have no of self-starting capability.
Gorlov Turbine
The Gorlov turbine was developed in response to the vibration and efficiency problems associated with the Darrieus turbine. The Gorlov turbine modifies the Darrieus turbine by arranging the symmetrical foil blades in a helical configuration around a central, vertical rotating shaft rather than running them lengthwise along the rotating shaft. Thus, the blades of the Gorlov turbine are in the shape of a helix running diagonally around a cylinder. By running diagonally with respect to the rotating shaft as they curve around the shaft instead of running in line with the shaft as in the Darrieus turbine, at least a portion of each blade of the Gorlov turbine is always positioned perpendicular to the fluid flow, which provides a more continuous speed of rotation without the accelerations and decelerations caused by the blades passing between high and low pressure zones in the fluid. Moreover, each point on the blade moves in a circular path around the rotating shaft at approximately the same distance from the rotating shaft, which provides a more continuous torque curve. Accordingly, the blades of the Gorlov turbine generate less vibration and noise than a Darrieus turbine.
Although the Gorlov turbine generates a smoother torque curve than the Darrieus turbine, its helical blade shapes are complex compound curves that require the use of sophisticated manufacturing techniques, such as numerically-controlled laser cutting and composite molding and casting. Those techniques can be prohibitively expensive. Accordingly, at least one designer, Igor Palley, has attempted to approximate the helical blade design of the Gorlov patent using conventional manufacturing techniques. Palley approximates a helical blade by making several different, discrete straight sections twisted about their own axes and joining those sections in a curved manner. The more twisted, straight sections that are formed and joined in a curved manner, the closer the blade formed by those sections approximates the helical blade of the Gorlov turbine.
Despite simplifying the shape of the Gorlov turbine blades to some degree, the manufacture of Palley's approximated helical blades can also be prohibitively expensive. In addition to requiring that a large number of different, discrete straight sections be individually twisted for each blade, the offset of each section required to approximate a helix requires large computational facilities and a significant amount of skill in manufacturing and assembly. Accordingly, there remains a need for a quiet, efficient, unidirectional turbine that can operate at high speeds with minimal vibrations and that is easy and inexpensive to maintain and manufacture.


A method for producing a microfluidic device includes: a) forming a carrier plate in an injection compression molding tool; b) arranging at least one functional element on one side of the carrier plate; c) forming a cover plate in an injection compression molding tool, wherein the injection compression molding tool is the same or different than that used to form the carrier plate; and d) arranging the cover plate on the carrier plate to cover the at least one functional element and to seal the fluidic device in an airtight manner.

For various fields of application, such as for medical analysis, for example, fluidic devices formed from plastic, such as microfluidic chips or analysis chips, for instance, are usually produced nowadays. These can be used for so-called lab-on-chip systems, for example. In this case, the different analysis chips can comprise a structured plastic carrier plate, an intermediate plate and a cover plate. In this case, the required analysis components or pumps, heat sources and sensors are integrated. The different plastic components are produced separately on a plurality of injection-molding machines in each case in specific molds for injection-molding.
In the case of medical products it is often of elementary importance for the components to be sterile. In this way, it is possible to ensure that the later analysis results are not corrupted by inadvertently introduced contaminants. For this reason, all components of the microfluidic chip are produced and packaged under clean room conditions. The components from the different manufacturing areas are subsequently brought together for further assembly. In order to obtain a media-authentic system in a subsequent assembly step, the equipped carrier plates are connected to intermediate plates and the cover plates in a laser welding process. In this case, the weld seams have to run at a sufficient distance from the analysis components in order that the latter do not incur damage as a result of the high evolution of heat.


Objects of the present invention are:                a lead-free enamel composition comprising finely divided glass particles, finely divided pigment particles and an organic binder, characterised in that the glass of said particles is a lead-free mineral glass, essentially having the composition below, which is expressed in percentages by weight of oxides:

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,883,705, some lead-free mineral glass compositions are also described within the context of the manufacturing of ceramic substrates used for electronic devices. Said compositions are characterized by a relatively low SiO2 content (38 to 48% by weight), a relatively high ZnO content (10 to 20% by weight), a relatively high CaO content (1 to 8% by weight) and a relatively low Li2O+Na2O+K2O content (0 to 5% by weight).
Most of the commercial glass-ceramic cooktops are decorated with the aid of variously coloured enamels. Such a decoration on the one hand conforms to aesthetic criteria, which imply a large variety of tints and motifs, and on the other hand, aim to attain the objective of safety, in outlining with these decorations the location of the areas which heat and which, during the functioning of the cook top, are susceptible to attaining high temperatures.
The preparation of the enamels is normally done in several steps. First of all, a glass is melted according to classical glass industry techniques. This glass is then ground to a particle size which is compatible with the subsequent technique of application of the enamel onto the support to be enamelled (an application technique which generally consists in screen printing or decal(comania)). Pigments and/or opaque-making agents are added to the glass powder which are intended to confer to the final enamel its tint and its opacity. The resulting powdered mixture (glass powder+pigments and/or opaque-making agents) is finally incorporated into an organic binder, in proportions which are adjusted to the viscosity desired for the resulting paste. The enamel composition thus obtained is ready for use.
The enamel composition is applied onto the substrate concerned, by direct screen printing, by transfer, by decal(comania) or by any other process, and then dried and fired by an appropriate heat cycle, which typically comprises a plateau at a temperature of greater than 900° C.
Beyond the two functions set forth above, (with reference to the aesthetics and to the safety), the enamel decorations must meet the physico-chemical requirements which arise from the conditions of use of the glass-ceramic cooktops, cooktops on which said decorations generally are incorporated. Thus, the decorations must be able to resist attack by acids and bases; they must be easy to clean, even after calcination of food remains; they must have a good resistance to abrasion, to friction with metallic pieces; they must not be sensitive to wrenching. The incorporation of said decorations must not either affect, too much, the mechanical strength of the tops on which they are incorporated. To the present day, certain tops on the market are susceptible to being broken, when a pressure of the order of 70 to 80 MPa is exerted on the enamelled face. Under certain conditions, especially of extreme transport and of storage, a resistance to a greater pressure (120-140 MPa) is required from the tops.
Traditionally, the introduction of lead oxide into the glass composition (entering in the composition of the enamel) strongly lowers its viscosity and thus guarantees a good coating, i.e. a good moistening and a good covering of the glassceramic by the enamel. However, in view of the present tendency to remove toxic elements from products used in cooking, we consider that the enamels used for the decoration of glass-ceramic cooktops must be free from such elements, and in particular free from heavy metals, such as lead.
According to prior art, within the context of a search for very efficient products, numerous lead-free glass compositions and enamel compositions which incorporate said glasses have been described.
In FR-A-2 686 333, glass compositions are described which are lead-free and cadmium-free and which are intended for vitrification, enamelling and decoration. Said compositions contain no lead, no cadmium, no zinc, no tin, no fluorine. They can in particular contain barium, between 0 and 12% by weight of barium oxide. Finally, they are characterised by a relatively high CaO content (3 to 18% by weight).
The Applicant has itself, in FR-A-2 732 960, described lead-free enamel compositions which comprise finely divided glass particles, finely divided pigment particles and an organic binder, which are characterised in that the glass has a thermal dilation coefficient less than or equal to 55 10−7/° K and has the following composition, in percentages by weight, on the basis of the oxides:
SiO245-60B2O3 0-10Al2O3 6-17Li2O0-2Na2O0-3K2O0-3Li2O + Na2O + K2O<4CaO 0-12MgO0-9ZnO 0-17BaO 0-27SrO 0-16CaO + MgO + ZnO + BaO + SrO22-42TiO20-2ZrO20-7said glass having a softening temperature TL greater than 680° C.
The Applicant has pursued its research work and is now in a position to be able to provide novel lead-free enamel compositions containing particles of lead-free mineral glass and the corresponding novel enamels.

Lead-free enamel composition, the corresponding enamels and glass-ceramic articles, a new lead-free mineral glass

Abstract: SiO245-60B2O3 0-10Al2O3 6-17Na2O0-7K2O0-7Li2O0-7CaO 0-12BaO13-27ZnO 3-17MgO0-9TiO20-2ZrO20-7with Na2O + K2O + Li2O>4                the enamel able to be obtained by firing of said composition;        glass-ceramic articles, which are decorated with said enamel; and        new lead-free mineral glasses.