An apparatus and method are disclosed for controlling the rate of application of a machine tool to a work piece by compressing a lubricating agent, and then distributing the compressed lubricating agent to lubricate and cool a cutting point of the machine tool. A rod (15) translates axial forces from the machine tool (170) to compress a lubricating agent provided in a compression chamber (70). The pressurization of the lubricating agent creates a counter force to regulate the motion of the machine tool (170), and also forces a lubricating mist out of an exhaust opening (75) which can be directed by an air passage (80) to any point where lubrication is desired.

Parts for mechanical devices, such as airplanes or automobiles, are often machined from pieces of metal or other hard substances with machine tools such as drills. For instance in the aircraft industry, wing and fuselage parts are cut to design specifications from pieces of aluminum and then further drilled and reamed to allow attachment with related wing and fuselage parts.
Parts must often be machined to exact tolerances. However, the process of cutting and drilling metal can often introduce imperfections. For instance, machining metal creates heat which can warp the metal and can deteriorate the cutting point of the machine tools being used. To limit the effects of heat and the deterioration of cutting points, machinists commonly use lubricating devices to lubricate and cool the cutting point of the machine tool as it cuts or drills the metal. For instance, the Quackenbush air-powered drill sold by Intool Incorporated has a mist lubricator which directs a mist of lubricant/coolant at the work piece through a ported head attached near the cutting point of the drill bit. Air pressure forces a lubricating agent from a reservoir into a separate air stream which is directed to ports that meter out predetermined amounts of selected lubricating agents against the cutting point of the drill in the form of a mist. This lubricating mist decreases the heat produced by the cutting or drilling process and also helps to preserve the life of the cutting point. However, this mist lubricator is bulky and inconvenient because it uses separate air lines to supply air pressure to force lubricant from the reservoir that holds the lubricant supply and to pick up the lubricant for distribution to the cutting point of the drill.
Imperfections can also be introduced in the machining process by sudden or irregular movements of the machining tools. When precise tolerances are needed for machine jobs, machinists often use hydraulic feed controls to control the rate of application of the machine tool to the work piece. Hydraulic feed controls are typically attached to the machine tool and have a plunger that rests against the work piece being machined. When force is applied against the plunger, for instance by the application of a drill to a work piece, the plunger compresses hydraulic fluid in a cylinder to provide a counter-force which ensures that the machine tool will not move at an excessive rate. Thus, for instance, a machinist drilling through a material can avoid the sudden movements which often occur when a drill meets reduced resistance as it passes through the material. Such hydraulic feed controls are sold by Deschner Corporation under the trade name KINECHEKS.RTM., and are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,027,152, U.S. Pat. No. 3,244,013, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,257,499, each by Deschner. These devices are built to withstand large forces without leaking any hydraulic fluids.
In the aircraft industry it is common to have both a KINCHEK.RTM. device and a mist lubricator attached to a drill when holes are drilled through a material. However, these accessories add weight and can reduce the versatility of the drill. For instance, the drill, lubricant reservoir and mist distribution ports can each require a separate air line, and the lubricant and KINECHEK.RTM. devices each have separate reservoirs for storing hydraulic or lubricating fluid. In addition, having two devices increases the expense of the machining process. KINECHEK.RTM. devices in particular add expense because they are built with heavy-duty seals that will withstand large forces without leaking. Further, having two devices complicates the machining process since the machinist must understand both devices and incorporate each device in his operation. For instance, the machinist must generally initiate the flow of mist lubricants by a step separate from the initiation of the drilling process itself by supplying air to the lubricant reservoir and the distribution ports.

Method and apparatus for simultaneously lubricating a cutting point of a tool and controlling the application rate of the tool to a work piece


The present invention relates to an automatic water supply-type steam generator using vapor pressure for creating the optimum vacuum pressure inside a pressurized water supply tank, and for smoothly providing water to the pressurized water supply tank by using the strong aspiration force that is created by means of the vacuum pressure while continuously generating steam. The present invention is characterized by allowing control of the vacuum pressure to the optimum state when creating the vacuum pressure inside the pressurized water supply tank by introducing an adequate amount of outside air from the atmosphere through an air vent. In addition, the present invention is characterized by providing a means for cooling the pressurized water supply tank so as to control the vacuum pressure inside the tank to the optimum state.

A steam generator is configured in such a way that a water level detection sensor detecting the level of water is installed in a steam tank which helps generate and store steam by boiling water using various energy source (heater, waste heat, etc.). When the water level lowers and the water level in the steam tank reaches a set minimum water level, the water level detection sensor detects such state, and a water supply control valve installed at a water supply tube automatically opens, so water can be supplied to the steam tank.
The above mentioned conventional steam generator needs an additional electric motor pump so as to supply new water to the steam tank unless water is supplied with a natural pressure based on an elevation difference between upper and lower positions because the water supply tank is provided at the top of the steam tank.
Since the interior of the steam tank maintains a high pressure itself, even when the water supply tank is provided at the top, water supply is not reliably performed. So as to overcome the above mentioned problems, it needs to install a motor pump with a large capacity, which is costly in installing related facilities, and it entails more electric power for the sake of a start and operations of a motor pump, so it is hard to obtain a high energy efficiency and operation performance, and the maintenance of such facilities is disadvantageously costly.
Therefore, it urgently needs to develop a technology of generating the optimum vacuum pressure in the interior of the pressurization water supply tank using a vapor pressure and of reliably supplying water to the pressurization water supply tank with a strong suction force generated by the vacuum pressure.

Automatic water supply-type steam generator using vapor pressure


GPS satellite (4) ranging signals (6) received (32) on comm1, and DGPS auxiliary range correction signals and pseudolite carrier phase ambiguity resolution signals (8) from a fixed known earth base station (10) received (34) on comm2, at one of a plurality of vehicles/aircraft/automobiles (2) are computer processed (36) to continuously determine the one's kinematic tracking position on a pathway (14) with centimeter accuracy. That GPS-based position is communicated with selected other status information to each other one of the plurality of vehicles (2), to the one station (10), and/or to one of a plurality of control centers (16), and the one vehicle receives therefrom each of the others' status information and kinematic tracking position. Objects (22) are detected from all directions (300) by multiple supplemental mechanisms, e.g., video (54), radar/lidar (56), laser and optical scanners. Data and information are computer processed and analyzed (50,52,200,452) in neural networks (132, FIGS. 6-8) in the one vehicle to identify, rank, and evaluate collision hazards/objects, an expert operating response to which is determined in a fuzzy logic associative memory (484) which generates control signals which actuate a plurality of control systems of the one vehicle in a coordinated manner to maneuver it laterally and longitudinally to avoid each collision hazard, or, for motor vehicles, when a collision is unavoidable, to minimize injury or damage therefrom. The operator is warned by a heads up display and other modes and may override. An automotive auto-pilot mode is provided.

1. Fields of the Invention
The invention relates generally to an apparatus and method of precisely determining the actual position and attitude of a host vehicle operating on a select course or path, such as, a highspeed highway and/or in congested traffic, or an aircraft in a landing pattern, and of multiple moving or fixed targets which represent potential collision hazards with a host vehicle, and, then, generating and displaying warning signals and avoidance maneuvers to avoid the collision and, in the absence of effective timely action by the host operator, automatically controlling the host vehicle to avoid the collisions or minimize any injuries and damage therefrom. More particularly, the invention relates to the use of a Global Positioning System ("GPS"), and a differential GPS ("DGPS") supplemented by a Local or Psuedolite Positioning System ("LPS" or "Psuedolite") as the primary host vehicle and target locating system with centimeter accuracy, further supplemented by any of a plurality of conventional all-weather and/or visual scanners and digital computer systems to detect, recognize, track and predict the collision impact point of all relevant potential targets, including other vehicles, fixed geographical obstructions, pedestrians and the like. More particularly, the invention further relates to multiple antennae, GPS determined vehicle attitude for use in generating automobile-on-the-highway, multiple target relative location, and collision avoidance warnings and maneuvers. More particularly, the invention further relates to an inter-vehicle and vehicle to base or satellite communication system for transmitting GPS, DGPS, and LPS position data, as well as, relevant target data to other vehicles and central or local control centers for information and control action. More particularly, the present invention still further relates to the use of neural networks and fuzzy logic rule sets for generating and developing optimal and prioritized warning and avoidance maneuvers, and generating related optimally coordinated control signals for all relevant host automobile control systems which are then automatically implemented, subject to operator intervention and override, to avoid collisions or to optimize prevention of injury or damage.
2. Discussion of Background and Prior Art
a. General
Automobile accidents are one of the most serious problems faced by our society, both in terms of personal deaths and injuries, and in financial losses suffered as a result of accidents. Human suffering caused by death or injury from such accidents is immense. In addition, the costs of medical treatment, permanent injury to accident victims resulting in loss of life opportunities, and financial losses resulting from damage to automobiles and other valuable objects or structures involved in such accidents are staggering. Providing improved systems and methods to minimize such personal and financial losses is an urgent and very important problem deserving the highest possible priority. Increasing populations and increased use of automobiles worldwide with resulting increased congestion on our highways and roadways makes development of improved control and warning systems for collision avoidance even more important. While many advances have been made in vehicle safety, including, for example, the use of seatbelts, airbags and more rigid and safer automobile body structures, much room for improvement exists in automotive systems, in general, and in automobile-on-the-highway warning and control systems, in particular.
b. Positioning Self and Multiple Targets by GPS
For example, impressive advances have been made in various areas of technology that can be applied to the automotive collision avoidance and warning system problem. One dynamic area of rapid technological development exists today in the form of GPS satellite location and tracking systems. Many patents have been issued for various applications of GPS for locating and tracking objects, and for navigation purposes. Also, such GPS systems have been augmented with earthbound pseudo-satellite ("Pseudolite") systems and methods that provide centimeter accuracy with real time, kinematic positioning information for use in aircraft landing systems. Various configurations of GPS-based tracking and communication systems and methods, including Pseudolite systems and methods, are described in the following documents, each of which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference: Logsdon, Tom, The Navstar Global Positioning System, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York (1992), ISBN 0-422-01040-0; Leick, Alfred, GPS Satellite Surveying, John Wiley & Sons, New York (1990), ISBN 0-471-81990-5; Hurn, Jeff, GPS--A Guide to the Next Utility, Trimble Navigation, Ltd., Sunnyvale, Calif. (1989); Hurn, Jeff, Differential GPS Explained, Trimble Navigation Ltd., Sunnyvale, Calif. (1993); Singh, M. S. and Grewal, H. K., Autonomous Vehicle Using WADGPS, IEEE Intelligent Vehicle Symposium, September, (1995); Walter, T., et.al., Flight Trials of the Wide-Area Augmentation System (WAAS), ION GPS-94, September, (1994); Ndili, A., GPS Pseudolite Signal Design, ION GPS-94, September, (1994); Cobb, H. S., Precision Landing Tests with Improved Integrity Beacon Pseudolites, ION GPS-95, September, (1995); Walter, T. and Euge, P., Weighted RAIM for Precision Approach, ION GPS-95, September, (1995); and U.S. Pat. Nos.: Remondi U.S. Pat. No. 5,442,363; Okamoto U.S. Pat. No. 5,434,787; Dekel U.S. Pat. No. 5,430,656; Sprague U.S. Pat. No. 5,422,816; Schuchman U.S. Pat. No. 5,422,813; Penny U.S. Pat. No. 5,414,432; Smith U.S. Pat. No. 5,408,238; Gooch U.S. Pat. No. 5,396,540; Sennott U.S. Pat. No. 5,390,125; Kass U.S. Pat. No. 5,389,934; FitzGerald U.S. Pat. No. 5,382,958; Brown U.S. Pat. No. 5,379,224; Class U.S. Pat. No. 5,361,212; Allison U.S. Pat. No. 5,359,332; Bird U.S. Pat. No. 5,418,537; Izidon U.S. Pat. No. 5,325,302; Gildea U.S. Pat. No. 5,345,244; Brown U.S. Pat. No. 5,311,194; Mueller U.S. Pat. No. 5,323,322; Teare U.S. Pat. No. 5,243,652; Brown U.S. Pat. No. 5,225,842; Mansell U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,844; Geier U.S. Pat. No. 5,202,829; Bertiger U.S. Pat. No. 5,187,805; Ferguson U.S. Pat. No. 5,182,566; Hatch U.S. Pat. No. 5,177,489; Fraughton U.S. Pat. No. 5,153,836; Allison U.S. Pat. No. 5,148,179; Joguet U.S. Pat. No. 4,894,655.
The most pertinent of these GPS references are those that deal with some phase of collision avoidance technology, especially in an automobile-on-the-highway environment.
(1) Providing GPS Position Data All-weather and Inter-vehicle, Detecting/Tracking Multiple Targets, and Warning of Collision
In a system to Izidon U.S. Pat. No. 5,325,302 there is disclosed a GPS based anti-collision warning system in which each vehicle is equipped with GPS to provide location and trajectory to predict collision and warn of the same. By virtue of its ability to also receive GPS position information only from similarly equipped vehicles, as well as, for itself, Izidon provides a restricted, but nonetheless, all-weather, day/night, radar-less, and vision-less system for detecting obstacles that represent collision hazards, analyzing the target and own path and computing a trajectory for each object and self to predict a collision hazard and provide a warning to operator. Izidon discloses that fixed objects in space (land hazards) may also be stored in memory and a collision hazard therewith also warned. The reference discloses a conventional TDMA, random access, communication system using 2 ms time slices and 600 .mu.s to transmit 300 bits of data and a 200 ms cycle time enabling 100 vehicles to participate, with each vehicle receiving the GPS position data of all other vehicles. If redundant broadcasting is used, only 50 aircraft are enabled to participate, with position updates at a 10 Hz rate, which is half the 20 Hz rate at which visual images could be processed by the human eye. However, the Izidon reference fails to disclose any automatic control mechanism, and, while it specifically states that it is applicable to aircraft, sea, and land vehicles, it is, nonetheless, designed primarily for fighter aircraft and fails to disclose a GPS or other position locating system which would be sufficiently accurate or fast enough to enable it to be effectively operated in an automobile-on-the-highway environment where multiple target data with centimeter accuracy is rapidly and repeatedly required rather than the 100 m accuracy and 200 ms cycle time disclosed by Izidon.
(2) Controlling Automobile-on-the-Highway with Centimeter Accurate GPS Data, Computer Vision, Neural Networks and Adaptive Learning
In an experimental system to Singh published Sep. 25, 1995 there is described an autonomous vehicle using a wide area differential GPS system ("WADGPS") applied in a robust system that readily deals with selective availability errors, ephemeris, and satellite clock errors which Singh claims guarantees an error level of decimeter/centimeter accuracy in a ground vehicle control algorithm. Singh discloses a fully automatic ground vehicle using a digital computer control system which includes guidance, navigation, mission handling, GPS model, road model, atmospheric model, engine propulsion model, and actuator model. Singh claims the human intervention is completely eliminated by using reliable sensors/actuators to make performance collision-free and congestion-free. Additional sensors which aid the GPS calculations include dead reckoning, radar, and video camera. The vehicle transmits information about its position and velocity to other immediate participants for collision avoidance and lane changing. Singh provides centerline deviation autosteering by pulse code modulation ("PCM") and acceleration/braking control for longitudinal control using an adaptive learning system. The Singh reference is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Singh does not disclose a warning system, any type of lateral control algorithm or the use of fuzzy logic inference rule sets. Moreover, Singh points out that only one meter accuracy is all that is required for his collision avoidance control and only five meter accuracy is all that is needed for his collision avoidance of hazardous situations.
(3) Controlling Aircraft and Miscellaneous Mobile Receivers to Centimeter Accuracy
In a system by Stanford University a prototype kinematic GPS system with integrity beacon landing system ("IBLS") for aircraft provides a real-time architecture with centimeter level positioning accuracy. See, Stanford Students' Device Allows Centimeter-Accuracy GPS Landing, Air Safety Week, Oct. 24, 1994, V. 8, No. 41; Lawrence, David, A Real-Time Architecture for Kinematics GPS Applied to the Integrity Beacon Landing System, ION GPS-95, June 1995; FAA Tests DGPS River Approaches in Washington, D.C., GPS Report, Sep. 23, 1993, V. 3, No. 19; and, references cited supra, for example, articles to Cobb and Walter and patents to Hatch, Allison, Brown, and Remondi. While these references are all aircraft landing system applications, it appears that for some time centimeter accuracy has been obtainable in selected GPS ground applications where differential GPS has been employed with carrier tracking techniques. See Herring, Thomas, The Global Positioning System, Scientific America, February 1996, pgs. 44-50.
In summary, it appears that heretofore, an automobile has not been controlled to GPS-based centimeter accuracy in a fully integrated collision avoidance and warning system which detects targets in all directions, develops collision avoidance maneuvers through use of fuzzy logic inference rules and is capable of reliable automatic control in a multiple target, high speed, on-the-highway environment.
Accordingly, it is a further object of the present invention to provide such an automobile-on-the-highway collision warning control system and method which is implemented to avoid collisions between motor vehicles and/or between motor vehicles and other hazardous roadway obstacles and to warn drivers of impending collisions so that evasive action may be taken.
It is still a further object of the invention to provide such a system and method that uses GPS technology augmented by Psuedolite technology to not only accurately locate multiple vehicles on a roadway and to derive vehicle velocity and acceleration vectors for use in combination with such GPS Psuedolite augmented coordinates to determine hazardous situations and derive control and warning signals to attempt to avoid and minimize the effects of imminent collisions, but also, to provide such kinematic calculations with centimeter accuracy and in due time such that adequate corrective action may be taken.
(4) GPS Vehicle Attitude Determination
It is also known to place multiple GPS antennae on the extremities of a vehicle and, by comparing the phase differences in signals received simultaneously, determine the attitude of the vehicle relative to a reference plane in space or on the ground. See U.S. Patents as follows: Deem U.S. Pat. No. 4,384,293; Rosen U.S. Pat. No. 4,418,358; Sekine U.S. Pat. No. 4,644,358; Beier U.S. Pat. No. 4,719,469; Uematsu U.S. Pat. No. 4,994,812; Hatch U.S. Pat. No. 4,963,889; Hatch U.S. Pat. No. 5,177,489; Timothy U.S. Pat. No. 5,101,356; Ward U.S. Pat. No. 5,185,610; Timothy U.S. Pat. No. 5,406,489; Knight U.S. Pat. No. 5,296,861; Babitch U.S. Pat. No. 5,347,286; Counselman U.S. Pat. No. 4,870,422; Evans U.S. Pat. No. 4,599,620; Timothy U.S. Pat. No. 5,101,356; Knight U.S. Pat. No. 5,296,861; Babitch U.S. Pat. No. 5,347,286; Timothy U.S. Pat. No. 5,406,489. Each of these references is incorporated herein by reference. However, it remains to be fully developed, and, accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a multiple antennae, GPS based, automobile-on-the-highway, centimeter accurate, attitude determination system which not only determines the vehicle attitude at any given time, but also, generates host automobile attitude compensated warning information and host automobile attitude compensated anti-collision maneuver information which, inter ali, helps the driver get out of an unusual attitude situation, such as, a skid or spin, while taking corrective action to avoid a collision or minimize the effects of an unavoidable collision.
(5) Communicating GPS Data Inter-vehicle/Worldwide
Numerous additional GPS references disclose inter-vehicle GPS communications or GPS communications with satellites or a central control. See, for example, Popular Mechanics, November 1993 pgs. 51-52; Yashiro, Tomyuki, A Network Based on Inter-vehicle Communications, pgs. 345-350, and Aguado U.S. Pat. No. 5,438,337; Benard U.S. Pat. No. 5,119,102; Durboraw U.S. Pat. No. 5,199,504; Simms U.S. Pat. No. 5,334,974, Mansell U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,844; Gooch U.S. Pat. No. 5,396,540; Dekel U.S. Pat. No. 5,430,656; and Bertiger U.S. Pat. No. 5,187,805 each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. However, none of the aforesaid systems provide communications as part of an integrated GPS/DGPS/LPS automobile-on-the-highway, fuzzy logic implemented, anti-collision system which transmits inter-vehicle and to central control a comprehensive set of such GPS based position and related vehicular data.
Accordingly, it is another object of the present invention is to provide GPS-based communications between vehicles and between individual vehicles and motor vehicle control centers, directly, or indirectly via an intermediate receiver, such as via a satellite, for optimum real time dissemination of vehicle location and movement vectors and related vehicular data to permit real time calculation of imminent dangerous situations.
(6) GPS and Scanning
Also of interest is Ruszkowski U.S. Pat. No. 4,949,089 which is a rifle-type laser portable target locator system housing a GPS receiver to visually bounce light off of a target and transmit the calculated target coordinates to a weapons system on a continuously updated basis to cause the weapon to collide with the target. Multiple target capabilities are included along with target recognition by visual comparison to stored data images. While a scanning type laser system, as suggested by Shaw U.S. Pat. No. 5,314,037, is possible, such a scanning system has not been suggested for use in a congested on-the-road automotive environment involving handling multiple targets simultaneously. Each of these references are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Accordingly, it is another object of the present invention to scan multiple targets in a congested automobile-on-the-highway, locate the position of the host automobile and relevant targets in GPS coordinates and transmit that data inter-vehicle and to a fixed control center for use in an anti-collision and warning system.
(7) Controlling Other Automobile-on-the-Highway Apparatuses From GPS Data
It is also known that certain ones of automotive control apparatuses and mechanisms may be operated based on a GPS position calculation, such as, in Capurka U.S. Pat. No. 5,247,440 which preferably operates vehicle lights based on local lighting rules, but could operate other vehicle systems, as well, as a result of certain performance parameters, such as, temperature, altitude, relative humidity. Of a similar nature is Dekel U.S. Pat. No. 5,430,656 which operates engine, steering, transmission, windows, doors, or air conditioning as a result of GPS location automatically transmitted by stolen vehicles to a central station or another vehicle. Dekel's operation, however, is of a limited nature and for a limited purpose. Each of these references are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Accordingly, it is a further object of the present invention to use an apparatus and method which broadly uses GPS based data to operate a plurality of host automobile systems in an improved automobile-on-the-highway collision avoidance and warning system.
C. Conventional Multiple Target Detection and Tracking Systems for Making Automobile-On-The-Road Collision

GPS vehicle collision avoidance warning and control system and method


Described herein are compounds that are useful as protein kinase inhibitors having the formula:

Mammalian mitogen-activated protein (MAP)1 kinases are serine/threonine kinases that mediate intracellular signal transduction pathways (Cobb and Goldsmith, 1995, J Biol. Chem., 270, 14843; Davis, 1995, Mol. Reprod. Dev. 42, 459). Members of the MAP kinase family share sequence similarity and conserved structural domains, and include the ERK2 (extracellular signal regulated kinase), JNK (Jun N-terminal kinase), and p38 kinases. JNKs and p38 kinases are activated in response to the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha and interleukin-1, and by cellular stress such as heat shock, hyperosmolarity, ultraviolet radiation, lipopolysaccharides and inhibitors of protein synthesis (Derijard et al., 1994, Cell 76, 1025; Han et al., 1994, Science 265, 808; Raingeaud et al., 1995, J Biol. Chem. 270, 7420; Shapiro and Dinarello, 1995, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 92, 12230). In contrast, ERKs are activated by mitogens and growth factors (Bokemeyer et al. 1996, Kidney Int. 49, 1187).
ERK2 is a widely distributed protein kinase that achieves maximum activity when both Thr183 and Tyr185 are phosphorylated by the upstream MAP kinase kinase, MEK1 (Anderson et al., 1990, Nature 343, 651; Crews et al., 1992, Science 258, 478). Upon activation, ERK2 phosphorylates many regulatory proteins, including the protein kinases Rsk90 (Bjorbaek et al., 1995, J. Biol. Chem. 270, 18848) and MAPKAP2 (Rouse et al., 1994, Cell 78, 1027), and transcription factors such as ATF2 (Raingeaud et al., 1996, Mol. Cell Biol. 16, 1247), Elk-1 (Raingeaud et al. 1996), c-Fos (Chen et al., 1993 Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90, 10952), and c-Myc (Oliver et al., 1995, Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 210, 162). ERK2 is also a downstream target of the Ras/Raf dependent pathways (Moodie et al., 1993, Science 260, 1658) and may help relay the signals from these potentially oncogenic proteins. ERK2 has been shown to play a role in the negative growth control of breast cancer cells (Frey and Mulder, 1997, Cancer Res. 57, 628) and hyperexpression of ERK2 in human breast cancer has been reported (Sivaraman et al., 1997, J Clin. Invest. 99, 1478). Activated ERK2 has also been implicated in the proliferation of endothelin-stimulated airway smooth muscle cells, suggesting a role for this kinase in asthma (Whelchel et al., 1997, Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol. 16, 589).
Aurora-2 is a serine/threonine protein kinase that has been implicated in human cancer, such as colon, breast and other solid tumors. This kinase is believed to be involved in protein phosphorylation events that regulate the cell cycle. Specifically, Aurora-2-may play a role in controlling the accurate segregation of chromosomes during mitosis. Misregulation of the cell cycle can lead to cellular proliferation and other abnormalities. In human colon cancer tissue, the aurora-2 protein has been found to be overexpressed. See Bischoff et al., EMBO J., 1998, 17, 3052–3065; Schumacher et al., J. Cell Biol., 1998, 143, 1635–1646; Kimura et al., J. Biol. Chem., 1997, 272, 13766–13771.
Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) is a serine/threonine protein kinase comprised of α and β isoforms that are each encoded by distinct genes [Coghlan et al., Chemistry & Biology, 7, 793–803 (2000); Kim and Kimmel, Curr. Opinion Genetics Dev., 10, 508–514 (2000)]. GSK-3 has been implicated in various diseases including diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, CNS disorders such as manic depressive disorder and neurodegenerative diseases, and cardiomyocete hypertrophy [WO 99/65897; WO 00/38675; and Haq et al., J. Cell Biol. (2000) 151, 117]. These diseases may be caused by, or result in, the abnormal operation of certain cell signaling pathways in which GSK-3 plays a role. GSK-3 has been found to phosphorylate and modulate the activity of a number of regulatory proteins. These proteins include glycogen synthase which is the rate limiting enzyme necessary for glycogen synthesis, the microtubule associated protein Tau, the gene transcription factor β-catenin, the translation initiation factor e1F2B, as well as ATP citrate lyase, axin, heat shock factor-1, c-Jun, c-Myc, c-Myb, CREB, and CEPBα. These diverse protein targets implicate GSK-3 in many aspects of cellular metabolism, proliferation, differentiation and development.
In a GSK-3 mediated pathway that is relevant for the treatment of type II diabetes, insulin-induced signaling leads to cellular glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis. Along this pathway, GSK-3 is a negative regulator of the insulin-induced signal. Normally, the presence of insulin causes inhibition of GSK-3 mediated phosphorylation and deactivation of glycogen synthase. The inhibition of GSK-3 leads to increased glycogen synthesis and glucose uptake [Klein et al., PNAS, 93, 8455–9 (1996); Cross et al., Biochem. J., 303, 21–26 (1994); Cohen, Biochem. Soc. Trans., 21, 555–567 (1993); Massillon et al., Biochem J. 299, 123–128 (1994)]. However, in a diabetic patient where the insulin response is impaired, glycogen synthesis and glucose uptake fail to increase despite the presence of relatively high blood levels of insulin. This leads to abnormally high blood levels of glucose with acute and long term effects that may ultimately result in cardiovascular disease, renal failure and blindness. In such patients, the normal insulin-induced inhibition of GSK-3 fails to occur. It has also been reported that in patients with type II diabetes, GSK-3 is overexpressed [WO 00/38675]. Therapeutic inhibitors of GSK-3 therefore are considered to be useful for treating diabetic patients suffering from an impaired response to insulin.
GSK-3 activity has also been associated with Alzheimer's disease. This disease is characterized by the well-known β-amyloid peptide and the formation of intracellular neurofibrillary tangles. The neurofibrillary tangles contain hyperphosphorylated Tau protein where Tau is phosphorylated on abnormal sites. GSK-3 has been shown to phosphorylate these abnormal sites in cell and animal models. Furthermore, inhibition of GSK-3 has been shown to prevent hyperphosphorylation of Tau in cells [Lovestone et al., Current Biology 4, 1077–86 (1994); Brownlees et al., Neuroreport 8, 3251–55 (1997)]. Therefore, it is believed that GSK-3 activity may promote generation of the neurofibrillary tangles and the progression of Alzheimer's disease.
Another substrate of GSK-3 is β-catenin which is degradated after phosphorylation by GSK-3. Reduced levels of β-catenin have been reported in schizophrenic patients and have also been associated with other diseases related to increase in neuronal cell death [Zhong et al., Nature, 395, 698–702 (1998); Takashima et al., PNAS, 90, 7789–93 (1993); Pei et al., J. Neuropathol. Exp, 56, 70–78 (1997)].
As a result of the biological importance of GSK-3, there is current interest in therapeutically effective GSK-3 inhibitors. Small molecules that inhibit GSK-3 have recently been reported [WO 99/65897 (Chiron) and WO 00/38675 (SmithKline Beecham)].
Aryl substituted pyrroles are known in the literature. In particular, tri-aryl pyrroles (U.S. Pat. No. 5,837,719) have been described as having glucagon antagonist activity. 1,5-Diarylpyrazoles have been described as p38 inhibitors (WO 9958523).
There is a high unmet medical need to develop new therapeutic treatments that are useful in treating the various conditions associated with ERK2 activation. For many of these conditions the currently available treatment options are inadequate.
Accordingly, there is great interest in new and effective inhibitors of protein kinase, including ERK2 inhibitors, that are useful in treating various conditions associated with protein kinase activation.

Heterocyclic inhibitors of ERK2 and uses thereof

Abstract: wherein Z1 and Z2 are each independently nitrogen or CH and Ring A, TmR1, QR2, UnR3, and Sp are as described in the specification. The compounds are especially useful as inhibitors of ERK2 and for treating diseases in mammals that are alleviated by a protein kinase inhibitor, particularly diseases such as cancer, inflammatory disorders, restenosis, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.


The present invention discloses a matrix comprising a modified polysaccharide consisting of repeating disaccharide units whereby in at least 11% of the disaccharide units one primary alcohol group is oxidized into a carboxylic acid group.

In the text of the present application, the nomenclature of amino acids and of peptides is used according to "Nomenclature and symbolism for amino acids and peptides", Pure & Appl. Chem., Vol. 56, No. 5, pp. 595-624, 1984, if not otherwise stated.
The following abbreviations have the meaning as given in the following list, if not otherwise stated:
AFM atomic force microscopy
CD circular dichroism
CSF cell shape factor
CT computed tomography
DIC differential interference contrast imaging
DLS dynamic light scattering
DMEM Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium
DNA deoxyribonucleic acid
ECM extracellular matrix
EDC 1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride
ESEM environmental scanning electron microscopy
FTIR Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy
HCl hydrochloric acid
KBr potassium bromide
MAS-NMR magic angle spinning NMR
MD molecular dynamics
MES 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid
Mn number average molecular weight
MRI magnetic resonance imaging
MWCO molecular weight cut off
NaOCl sodium hypochloride
NaOH sodium hydroxide
NMR nuclear magnetic resonance
PCR polymerase chain reaction
PDB protein database
RNA ribonucleic acid
RMSD root mean square deviation
SEM scanning electron microscopy
siRNA small interfering RNA
SLS static light scattering
TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-piperidin-1-yl)oxyl.
Living cells of higher organisms reside in an environment that is mechanically and biologically well-defined by an extracellular matrix (in the following ECM). Structural and mechanical aspects of the ECM such as stiffness and topography can have a substantial influence on different cell functions like cell growth or differentiation of the cells.
The present invention provides matrices wherein important mechanical and chemical properties of the matrix can be adjusted according to the desired application. Thus, it can be for example required to lower the shear modulus G′ of the matrix or to improve the optical properties towards an increased transparency of the matrix.
The cell surrounding has been considered in the past decades to be an important piece of the puzzle of organogenesis. It is known that each type of cell builds and evolves in a specific environment that provides the mechanical properties and the nutritional needs of the cell. This environment is called extracellular matrix (ECM). Structural and functional components of the ECM can modulate cell behavior and function and also determine which cell can interact with another in the human body. Nevertheless, most of these intercellular interactions are not fully understood. It has been shown that the properties of the ECM supporting the cell in the human body have many aspects (physical and chemical) that have been shown to impact the cell fate in vitro and in vivo. It has been found that in addition to cell adhesion moieties and growth factors, the physical attributes of a cellular microenvironment namely, stiffness and topography are another important element in dictating and controlling cell fate and function.
Providing a synthetic ECM would be a significant contribution to investigation of such intercellular interaction. Importantly, a model employing such ECM would allow mimicking of human tissues in vitro and be amenable to translation in vivo. A further aim of this model is to enable communicating with the body and aid in healing or regeneration of tissues. Injectable, biologically well-defined matrixes with tailor-made and tunable physical properties would be the evolutionary next-step in synthetic niches for cells.
The present invention provides a matrix suitable for these applications. Moreover, the matrix of the present invention can also be used as a food additive, material for surgery implants and controlled drug release implants, as lubricant for industrial purposes as well as for conditioning of liquids.
In the present application the matrix is defined as molecules composing the cell surrounding. In general matrix is made up of different components that can be classified as:
(1) the soluble molecules, e.g. growth factor and other signaling molecules and
(2) the structural polymers, composed of proteins and polysaccharides that determines the mechanical properties of the tissues.
The term "growth factor" relates to a naturally occurring compound which is capable of stimulating cellular growth, proliferation and differentiation. Preferably, the growth fact is a polypeptide or a protein, for instance, a water-soluble protein.
The term "protein" relates to a polymeric structure which consists of one or several polypeptides. Polypeptides, in turn, consist of amino acid residues joined together by peptide bonds. Preferably, the amino acids of the proteins are L-α-amino acids, whereby proteinogenic amino acids are particularly preferred. It is preferred that proteins acting as components of an extracellular matrix are not water-soluble. The term "peptide sequence" used in the present invention relates to a polypeptide. Preferably, a peptide sequence has between 2 and 50 amino acid residues, particularly preferred between 5 and 20 amino acid residues.
In the present application the term "polysaccharide" relates to a polymeric carbohydrate structure which is formed of repeating units joined together by glycosidic bonds. Preferably, the repeating units are either mono- or disaccharides and the polymeric structure of the polysaccharide is non-branched. It is preferred that the number average molecular weight of the polysaccharide ranges from 10 000 Da to 500 000 Da, particularly preferred the number average molecular weight of the polysaccharide ranges from 50 000 Da to 300 000 Da, whereby the number average molecular weight of the polysaccharide ranging from 80 000 Da to 140 000 Da is even more preferred.
Some synthetic matrixes for use as ECM have already been commercialized. So far three different strategies have been explored to produce synthetic ECMs:
(1) Use of animal protein extracts such as Matrigel® which suffer from a lack of batch to batch reproducibility and a poor definition of the components. This leads to difficulties in the interpretation of the results obtained with such ECMs.
(2) Use of synthetic polymers such as degradable polyester that although biocompatible are not easy to synthesize and manufacture and additionally, require knowledge in synthetic chemistry to set it up and are also difficult to translate into in vivo clinical settings.
(3) Use of natural components of the ECM such as collagen or hyaluronic acid, which reproduce only one aspect of the natural ECM environment.
As outlined in the review of Tan et a! (Materials 2010, 3, 1746-1767) various polysaccharides have been suggested as suitable materials for ECMs in the last decades. Prominent among them are hyaluronic acid, alginate acid and chitosan. Hyaluronic acid when modified using long chain alcohols can yield gels that are formed due to physical cross-links established by the aggregations of the hydrophobic alkyl chains in water. Hyaluronic acid can also be gelled using covalent crosslinking. In this case, the hyaluronic acid is oxidized to bear aldehyde groups which are then reacted with N-succinyl modified chitosan or other biopolymers. Subsequently, the crosslinking is induced by diamine through Schiff base formation. Alginic acid can also be processed into gels that can serve as cell supports by ionic crosslinking it with divalent cations Ca2+, Mg2+, Ba2+ or Sr2+.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Matrices comprising a modified polysaccharide


A process chamber (14) for processing a substrate (12) in a plasma, comprises a support for supporting the substrate having a surface with a perimeter (32). A gas distributor is provided for distributing process gas into the chamber (14). A plasma generator (40) is used to generate a plasma comprising plasma species from the process gas. A plurality of electrical ground pathways (80) around the perimeter (32) of the substrate (12) are spaced apart, electrically isolated from one another, and provide electrical paths to ground for the charge carried by the plasma species. Preferably, the ground pathways (80) extend through a dielectric surface (70) abutting and extending substantially continuously around the perimeter (32) of the substrate (12).

This invention relates to an apparatus used for plasma processing of substrates.
In semiconductor fabrication processes, an enclosed process chamber having gas distributors for distributing process gas therein, is used to deposit material upon, etch, or implant material on substrates. A plasma is formed from the process gas using plasma generators comprising inductor coils, microwave plasma generators, or capacitive coupled process electrodes. Process gas byproducts are exhausted through an exhaust system. The gas distributor, plasma generator, and exhaust system often fail to provide a uniform distribution of reactive process gas or plasma species across the substrate surface. For example, process gas distributors positioned directly above the substrate can cause an asymmetric distribution of reactive process gas species across the substrate, with higher concentrations of reactive process gas at the center of the substrate and lower concentrations at the peripheral edge. Conversely, a process gas distributor positioned around the peripheral edge of the substrate can cause the concentration of reactive process gas or plasma to be higher at the peripheral edge than the center of the substrate. The distribution of process gas or plasma species can also be adversely affected by the nature of the magnetic fields formed by the plasma generator, or the asymmetric positioning of the exhaust nozzles that exhaust spent process gas byproducts from the chamber. It is desirable for the distribution of plasma species across the surface of the substrate to be uniform from the center to the peripheral edge of the substrate.
The use of process gas containment structures, such as a focusing ring around the substrate, are known to reduce such concentration gradients of reactive process gas, by containing the flow of process gas around the substrate. Typically the focus ring comprises a wall extending upwards in a plane transverse to the surface of the substrate, to encircle the substrate and contain the flow of process gas on the substrate. However, conventional plasma focusing rings often cause process gas to stagnate at the bottom wall of the focus ring next to the peripheral edge of the substrate, leading to the deposition of gas byproduct deposits on the focus ring. Such particulate contamination of the substrate can be reduced by periodically cleaning the process chamber components using a plasma of a corrosive gas, such as NF.sub.3. However, the corrosive plasmas erode the processing components and reduce the lifetime of the process chamber. Also, the cleaning process step increases down time of the apparatus and reduces process efficiency. Thus it is desirable to have a process gas distribution and containment system that reduces formation and deposition of contaminants on the substrate.
Additional non-uniformity problems arise in capacitively coupled chambers, where an electrically biased cathode electrode is located below a substrate, and the anode electrode is formed by electrically grounding the walls of the process chamber. The anode and cathode are maintained at differing electrical potentials to form an electric field that generates and/or accelerates plasma ions from the process gas toward the substrate. A strong and uniformly distributed electric field in the process chamber is needed to generate a uniform distribution of plasma ions for processing the substrate. However, conventional chambers often have a low surface area ratio of anode to cathode which results in a low density of plasma ions that does not allow efficient processing of the substrate. The substrate must remain in the process chamber for an extended period to provide sufficient exposure to the plasma ions, increasing process cycle time, and reducing process throughput. A low anode to cathode surface area ratio can also form a non-uniform distribution of electric field lines across the width of the chamber resulting in non-uniform processing of the substrate. The low surface area ratio is a particular problem when the anode or cathode surfaces are distant or removed from the substrate, for example, in process chambers in which the anode is formed by grounding the sidewalls, bottom wall, and/or ceiling of the process chamber.
Yet another problem arises when electrostatic chucks are used to electrostatically hold the substrate during processing. Electrostatic chucks comprise an electrostatic member electrically biased with respect to the substrate by an electrical voltage causing electrostatic charge to accumulate therein. In monopolar chucks, the plasma provides electrically charged species having opposing polarity to the substrate resulting in an attractive electrostatic force that holds the substrate to the chuck. Sufficient plasma ions are needed to accumulate electrically charged species in the substrate. A low anode to cathode surface area generates a low density level of plasma ions that result in insufficient charge accumulation and resultant weak electrostatic attractive forces that can cause the substrate to become misaligned during processing, resulting in loss of the entire substrate.
In electrostatic chucking systems, additional problems arise during dechucking or release of substrate from the electrostatic chuck. To dechuck a substrate, the residual electrostatic charge remaining after the supply of voltage to the electrostatic chuck is discontinued needs to dissipated to ground. In one method, the charge accumulated in the substrate is removed by bringing a grounded conductor in contact with the substrate. However, such discharging methods do not remove the charge carried by the plasma ions above the substrate. Charge from the charged plasma ions continues to accumulate on the substrate causing the substrate to remain electrostatically attracted to the chuck even after power to the chuck is turned off. During removal from the chuck, the substrate can become damaged due to opposing forces applied to the substrate by residual electrostatic attraction and by the substrate removal apparatus, such as lift pins. Alternatively, the substrate dechucking time must be increased to allow dissipation of the charge carried by the plasma ions by slow diffusional transport and leakage to ground through the process chamber walls, before attempts are made to remove the substrate.
Thus, there is a need for a plasma processing apparatus capable of maintaining a substantially uniform concentration of reactive gas across the substrate surface, and for reducing deposition of contaminants and process gas byproducts on the substrate. There is a further need for a plasma processing apparatus capable of providing a high anode to cathode surface area ratio for generating a high density of plasma ions. There is also a need for an apparatus that provides sufficient accumulation of charge on the substrate to securely hold the substrate on the electrostatic chuck, and is capable of rapidly discharging the plasma ions to allow fast dechucking of the substrate.


An add-on VLC (Visible Light Communication) controller for an LED lighting device includes a power input port, a power output port, a housing, a control unit in the housing, and at least one data signal receiver in the control unit. A power input of the control unit is connected to the power input port. A power output of the control unit is connected to the power output port. The data signal receiver is configured to receive data from the external data source. The control unit further includes VLC protocol engine configured for interpreting the received data according to VLC protocol, and a VLC transceiver for converting the received data into one or more LIBM (Light Intensity Baseband Modulation) modulated signals. The control unit is configured to activate and deactivate the power output port to supply output voltage responsive to the one or more LIBM-modulated signals.

Technical Field
The present disclosure pertains to the field of lighting devices and, more specifically, proposes an add-on Visible Light Communication (VLC) controller for a light-emitting diode (LED) lighting device.
Description of Related Art
Visible Lighting Communication, a subset of optical wireless communication technologies, is a data communication using visible light between 400 and 800 THz (780-375 nm). The technology transmits data by adjusting the intensity or the on-off cycle of the visible light. Popular Light Intensity Baseband Modulation (LIBM) includes On-Off Keying (OOK), Pulse Amplitude Modulation (PAM), and Pulse Position Modulation (PPM). The first general of VLC device achieved 10 kbit/s data transmission rate by using fluorescent lamp. Recently LED light source was used and this dramatically improved the VLC data rate up to 500 Mbit/s.
FIG. 1 depicts schematically a typical LED-based VLC system where the VLC controller comprises of a protocol engine for interpreting the incoming data stream and a transceiver for converting the incoming data into LIBM modulated signal stream. The LIBM modulated signal stream is fed to the LED driver which in turn drives the LED diode to emit VLC encoded data by adjusting the light intensity at a frequency higher than human eye can perceive. On the VLC signal receiving end, there is a photo diode for receiving the VLC data, and the received data is fed to the VLC transceiver for demodulation, and then the VLC protocol engine for interpretation. The VLC receiving device is typically a smartphone or a specially designed electronic device.
VLC has several advantages over traditional wireless communication technologies. First of all, its spectrum is license-free. Secondly, it is free of RF health concerns. Thirdly, it has the potential of delivering ubiquitous computing since light-producing devices as such lamps (indoor/outdoor), TVs, traffic signs, street light, car headlights/taillights, and commercial displays are everywhere. VLC data communication is more secure since data can only be received where the VLC light source is visible. It is also less susceptible to RF-noise. Lastly, the high data rate offered by LED light source makes it very cost-effective for delivering large of amount of data over a short distance.
The conventional approach of designing a VLC-enabled LED lighting devices is to embed the VLC controller inside an integrated LED device as shown in FIG. 1. This approach has the advantage of achieving the maximal controllability of the LED device by the VLC controller. It however severely limits the deployment of the VLC technology, because firstly it requires existing LED lighting devices to be replaced with VLC-enabled ones, which could induce significant costs on material and labor for replacement. Secondly, once a VLC controller is embedded inside of an LED lighting device, it can't be upgraded or improved easily. Given the long life of LED lighting device of 10-20 years, it is foreseeable that the VLC technology would make significant improvement over this time span on data transmission speed and functionality. An embedded VLC controller design would prevent the user from taking the advantage of the latest and more cost-effective VLC technology. The present disclosure overcomes the above limitations of embedded VLC controller design by extending and applying the invention of "Add-on Smart Controller for LED Lighting Device" in U.S. Pat. No. 9,089,031 to VLC controller.

Add-on VLC controller for LED lighting device


A circuit package having an inner lead, an outer lead and a circuit element is provided, in which the circuit element is connected a first surface of the inner lead. The circuit package has a first molded resin portion and second molded resin portions. The first molded resin portion is formed from a second surface, opposite to the first surface, of the inner lead toward the first surface inner lead embedding the inner lead and the circuit element. And the second molded resin portions are formed on side portions of the outer lead excluding the first and second surfaces of the outer lead.

In the case of mounting electronic parts such as diodes and resistors on an electric circuit, for example, packages having a lead such as an axial lead type package and packages having no lead such as a chip resistor have been mostly used.
Recently a circuit packaging technology has been improved and high density packaged products are increasing. Also in mounting by welding, a strong demand for down-sizing is largely increasing, and, for example, use of a small size package having a lead is demanded so as not to damage a semiconductor element due to a thermal stress at welding.
Further, a scope of use of electronic parts such as diodes and resistors has been enlarged and accordingly, various sizes of circuit packages have been required.
Meanwhile, as described in JP 6-086349 A and JP 6-021293 A, axial lead type circuit packages have been used mostly as a circuit package for the above-mentioned diodes and resistors. However, in the case of producing packages of this type, since a metal mold for forming a molded resin for protecting a diode and a resistor and a cutting die for cutting a lead are required essentially depending on specifications, a large investment was necessary for production.
Also, it is demanded to flexibly comply with requirements for a package size according to specifications of electronic parts such as a diode and a resistor. However, in order to comply with such a demand, a mold for forming a molded resin and a cutting die being suitable for each specification are necessary. Therefore, there is a problem that higher equipment investment is necessary and more production cost is required.
Furthermore, in the case of semiconductor elements, outer leads for mounting on an electric circuit are used and a length of outer leads is rather long in consideration of cutting by a cutting die. Therefore, there was a problem that an excess portion arises when connecting to individual electric circuits.

Lead built-in type circuit package and method for producing same


A system for validating data includes a digital touch point associated with an organization having an element and a quality assurance (QA) module for monitoring the digital touch point. The system includes a quality control (QC) algorithm associated with the QA module, which is executed against the new element to determine if one or more discrepancies exist between current data for the new element and expected data for the new element. The system includes a tangible error report that is generated by the QA module. The tangible error report captures the one or more discrepancies between the current data and the expected data for the new element. The QA module has the ability to modify the request to call to eliminate the one or more discrepancies.

In the digital space, organizations use a variety of technologies to track a consumer's movements as the consumer interacts with any of the digital touch points the organization may have (e.g., website, mobile application, mobile site, etc.). When a consumer arrives at a digital touch point for an organization such as a website the consumer is given a cookie, which stays with the consumer as he or she explores the various pages or layers of the digital touch point. There are a variety of JavaScript tags that may be deployed throughout the digital channel to capture information about the consumer and send that information to the organization or a third party to process the collected data and turn the data into reports. The types of consumer data that may be collected includes:                Data from the Document Object Module (DOM);        Visitor provided information (name, email address, etc.);        Behavioral data (web pages viewed, applications interacted with, links clicked, etc.);        Purchase data (items placed in cart, items purchased, etc.); and        Campaign interactions (consumer came to website from email, by clicking on an ad on a third party website, etc.).
Deploying JavaScript tags properly so that accurate consumer information is captured and sent to the relevant party for processing requires a great amount of skill. Largely, this is a manual process completed by external consultants, internal IT teams, or a combination of the two. Most deployment implementations end up having faults due to human error as a high level of attention to detail is required to accurately adjust the JavaScript tags for each page or section of the digital touch point. As a result, organizations spend large amounts of time and money on auditing and validating implementations. Further, once the data is processed and a report generated there is often a considerable amount of time that is spent questioning the accuracy of the data or explaining why discrepancies exist.
When accurately collected, consumer data becomes inherently valuable to an organization and many business decisions are made based on the insights generated from the data. However, with all of the complications in the initial deployment implementation, maintaining that implementation over time can become a very burdensome process. Therefore, there exists a need to consistently validate data being collected and sent to an organization or third parties for processing.


A support apparatus used with construction masts. The support apparatus comprises a truss and a top adjustable mount assembly secured to the truss. The top adjustable mount assembly is selectively positionable so as to engage the construction mast.

This invention is in the field of mast systems for supporting, conveying and/or hoisting booms, as well as derricks and personnel lift equipment. In particular, the invention addresses the mounting of masts using mast supports.
Construction works in industrial or municipal plants frequently require the hoisting, conveyance and/or placement of materials, equipment and personnel for construction of facilities or plant operation. Properly constructed and installed, boom and personnel lift systems offer a safe, cost effective and efficient method of accomplishing these tasks. Mast systems (either tubular masts or lattice towers) are currently used to allow boom, crane and personnel lift equipment to be installed at an elevated position, typically 10–250 feet above grade elevation or at the top of a building or structure. The minimum size of the mast, both in diameter and in length, is dictated by a variety of loads on the mast, including the load from the supported equipment, operating loads (e.g., material being hoisted) which generate an overturning moment, vertical and horizontal loads, wind and snow loads and other vertical and horizontal loads. In order to minimize the load reactions at the mast anchorage points and on the structure to which the mast is anchored, it is desirable to use the smallest and lightest mast allowed by engineering requirements for the particular application.
It is known to provide mounting systems for masts by attaching supporting trusses to vertical walls. Previous systems, however, were specially designed to accommodate a single mast size. Thus, if a construction firm owned more than one mast, it was necessary for the firm to purchase multiple mounting systems in order to accommodate each differently sized mast. If it became desirable to change mast sizes during the job, the mounting system would need to be changed. This usually required unbolting the mounting system from the wall in order to allow for the changing of the mast.

Universal mast support frame and method for mounting masts


In an information recording medium, a Bi—Ge—Te material is adopted as a phase-change recording layer material. A C—Ta—O material is used for at least any one of first and second boundary layers which are in contact with a recording layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information recording medium in which recording, playback, and rewrite can be performed at high speed and high density using a phase change of a recording layer caused by laser irradiation.
2. Description of the Related Art
One of rewritable information recording media is a phase-change optical recording medium. A phase-change optical recording medium includes a recording layer in which the atomic arrangement reversibly changes between two different states (amorphous and crystalline states) by applying a light beam. Information is recorded by utilizing the two different states of the atomic arrangement of the recording layer. Phase-change optical recording media are particularly low priced among rewritable media, and therefore the consumer use thereof is significantly increasing. In particular, the use as home video recording media is rapidly increasing. By replacing video recording media, which have been tapes heretofore, with disks of phase-change optical recording media, new functions such as time-shift playback can be realized. Accordingly, more advanced characteristics are required than those required for phase-change optical recording media heretofore used as backup media for computers. For example, in the case of time-shift playback, since a just-recorded image needs to be followed and played back during recording, it is necessary to change between recording and playback at regular time intervals at high speed. In order to achieve this, it is necessary to further increase access speed for the recording and playback of information.
In a conventional phase-change optical recording medium, information is recorded and played back by controlling the number of revolutions of the medium by the constant linear velocity (CLV) technology. Since the CLV technology is a controlling method in which the relative velocity (linear velocity) between a light beam and the medium is always constant, the data transfer rate in recording and playback is always constant. Accordingly, it is possible to enormously simplify a signal processing circuit used for the recording and playback of information.
However, in the CLV technology, when the light beam moves in the radial direction on the medium, the number of revolutions of a motor needs to be adjusted according to the radial position of the light beam on the medium so that the linear velocity is maintained constant. Accordingly, the access speed for the recording and playback of information becomes low in the CLV technology.
On the other hand, in the constant angular velocity (CAV) technology in which information can be recorded and played back with the number of revolutions of a medium maintained constant, the number of revolutions of a motor does not need to be controlled according to the radial position. Accordingly, high-speed access can be realized.
However, in the CAV technology, since the data transfer rate in recording and playback varies depending on the radial position, a signal processing circuit used for the recording and playback of information becomes complicated. Further, in the CAV technology, since the linear velocity increases toward a peripheral portion of the disk, the crystallization speed of the recording layer in inner tracks have to be higher than that in outer tracks. Accordingly, in the CAV technology, a special recording layer is needed which has a crystallization speed ready for both of a high linear-velocity region in an outer portion of the disk and a low linear-velocity region in an inner portion thereof. In a phase-change optical recording medium, a Ge—Sb—Te alloy is generally used as a phase-change material for a recording layer. Specific examples include Ge2Sb2Te5, Ge6Sb2Te9, and Ge8Sb2Te11. The melting points of these are approximately 650° C. In order to reduce thermal damage to a substrate caused by heating such a phase-change material to a temperature equal to or higher than the melting point using a laser beam and cooling it in recording, protective layers made of dielectric material are often formed on both surfaces of the recording layer. Furthermore, a technology has been proposed which relates to an information recording medium having a structure that improves repeated-rewrite resistance by providing boundary layers between the recording layer and the protective layers, providing Cr2O3, Ge—N, GeCrN, or the like in the boundary layers, and thus preventing a chemical reaction between the recording layer and the protective layers and atom diffusion.
For example, according to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-178487, a decrease in reflectivity caused by multiple rewrites can be suppressed by depositing a mixture of Ta2O5 and Cr2O3 with a thickness of 26 nm on an energy beam incident side of a recording layer.
(Patent Document 1) Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-178487
In known technologies, as phase-change recording layer materials with which high-speed recording can be performed, Ge—Sb—Te materials on the line connecting GeTe with Sb2Te3 in a triangle with vertices Ge, Sb, and Te are often used because of the high crystallization speeds thereof. Further, it has been known that the crystallization speed is further increased by substituting SnTe for GeTe in the above-described Ge—Sb—Te phase-change materials. GeTe has a melting point of 725° C., whereas SnTe has a high melting point of approximately 800° C. Accordingly, Ge—Sb—Sn—Te materials obtained by substituting SnTe for GeTe have higher melting points. In addition, a rewritable DVD medium in which the above-described high-speed recording can be performed is required to have performance in which recording is favorably performed even in conventional low-speed recording, in addition to high-speed recording. For example, in the case of a 4.7 GB DVD-RAM, the recording linear velocity (2× speed) defined in the specification for low-speed recording is 8.2 m/s. However, in a DVD-RAM ready for 5× speed recording, it is required that favorable recording performance can be obtained in a very wide linear velocity range of 8.2 m/s to 20.5 m/s. In order to satisfy this condition, the inventors of the present invention further studied Ge—Sn—Sb—Te materials obtained by substituting SnTe for GeTe in the above-described Ge—Sb—Te phase-change materials, by increasing SnTe to improve the crystallization speed. However, it was revealed that the above-described characteristics cannot be satisfied. Specifically, by substituting SnTe for GeTe, the difference in refractive indexes of the recording layer between crystalline and noncrystalline (amorphous) states is decreased with increasing Sn. Moreover, the crystallization speed of the recording layer becomes too high at low linear velocities. For this reason, in a cooling process immediately after heating the recording layer to a temperature equal to or higher than the melting point using a laser beam, crystals grow from an outer edge portion of a melted region, and recrystallization therefore occurs, which reduces a recording mark size. Thus, there arises the problem that a reproduced signal is reduced.
In order to solve these, the inventors of the present invention further studied phase-change recording layer materials of BiGeTe which are suitable for speed enhancement. According to an experimental study by the inventors, for example, the composition of Bi7Ge43Te50 suitable for speed enhancement is a composition in which Ge is excessively added more than those on the line connecting GeTe with Bi2Te3 in a composition triangle with vertices Bi, Ge, and Te. It has been proved that such compositions can satisfy the aforementioned characteristics in a wide range from low-speed recording to a high-speed recording. The reasons for this are the following: activation energy for crystallization is large in the vicinity of Ge50Te50 in the aforementioned composition triangle, and the stability of an amorphous mark increases in low-speed recording; and high-speed crystallization is allowed because an appropriate amount of BiTe is added. However, the melting point of such a composition is at least 700° C. or more, which is higher than approximately 650° C. of conventional Ge—Sb—Sn—Te phase-change materials by approximately 50° C. Accordingly, in a phase-change optical recording medium in which a phase-change material in this composition region is used, excellent rewrite resistance, shelf life, and reproduced-signal output characteristics will probably be very hard to obtain if Cr2O3 or GeCr—N is used, which have been heretofore used in low melting-point phase-change recording media.
Against this background, the inventors of the present invention prepared information recording media in which the aforementioned boundary layers and phase-change recording film materials with high melting-point were used, and investigated multiple-rewrite performance, shelf life under a humidified environment, and reproduced-signal output characteristics. As for reproduced-signal output characteristics, favorable characteristics could be obtained by optimizing the amount of added Bi among compositions in which Ge is excessively added more than those on the line connecting GeTe with Bi2Te3 in a composition triangle with vertices Bi, Ge, and Te. However, it was proved that multiple-rewrite performance is favorable in materials except Cr2O3. In Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 10(1998)-154352, it is described that multiple-rewrite performance is improved by using Cr2O3 for a boundary layer. However, an experiment by the inventors revealed that multiple-rewrite performance deteriorates in the case where a high melting-point material is used as a recording film material. On the other hand, as for shelf life in a humidified environment, it was proved that only Cr2O3, which is inferior in multiple-rewrite performance to others, shows favorable characteristics.


Methods and apparatus are described for providing test access by synchronous test equipment to an asynchronous circuit. Synchronous-to-asynchronous (S2A) conversion circuitry is operable to receive synchronous input data serially from the synchronous test equipment and convert the synchronous input data to asynchronous input data. Asynchronous logic is operable to transmit the asynchronous input data to a first test register in the asynchronous circuit, and to transmit asynchronous output data received from a second test register in the asynchronous circuit. The asynchronous output data results from application of the asynchronous input data to the asynchronous circuit. Operation of the asynchronous logic is synchronized at least in part with a clock signal associated with the synchronous test equipment. Asynchronous-to-synchronous (A2S) conversion circuitry is operable to receive the asynchronous output data from the asynchronous logic, convert the asynchronous output data to synchronous output data, and serially transmit the synchronous output data to the synchronous test equipment.

The present invention relates to asynchronous digital circuit design and in particular to the testing of asynchronous circuits and systems.
The ever increasing demand for simultaneously faster and more complex digital circuits, e.g., microprocessors, has pushed conventional digital circuit design methodologies to their limits. Because of the combination of high clock rates (i.e., greater than 100 MHz) and design complexity (e.g., very large scale integration (VLSI) devices with 10 million or more transistors), signal propagation delay has become a dominant design consideration. It has become clear that a significant design paradigm shift will be necessary if digital circuit design is to continue its historical adherence to Moore's law.
Asynchronous VLSI is an active area of research and development in digital circuit design. It refers to all forms of digital circuit design in which there is no global clock synchronization signal. Delay-insensitive asynchronous designs, by their very nature are insensitive to the signal propagation delays which have become the single greatest obstacle to the advancement of traditional design paradigms. That is, delay-insensitive circuit design maintains the property that any transition in the digital circuit could have an unbounded delay and the circuit will still behave correctly. The circuits enforce sequencing but not absolute timing. This design style avoids design and verification difficulties that arise from timing assumptions, glitches, or race conditions.
Generally speaking, synchronous design styles are facing serious performance limitations. Certain asynchronous design methodologies also have difficulties with some of the same types of limitations, e.g., race conditions. By contrast, the delay-insensitive branch of asynchronous digital design, because of its relative immunity to these limitations, appears to hold great promise for supporting future advancements in the performance of digital circuits.
However, even if such asynchronous digital design techniques are to be the digital design methodology which enables the performance of digital circuits and systems to continue to improve in accordance with historical norms, the testing of such circuits will likely need to be done using synchronous test equipment for some time to come. That is, virtually all of the commercially available and currently installed base of test equipment is synchronous in nature. As is well known, such test equipment is employed with a variety of standard interfaces, e.g., JTAG and scan interfaces, to facilitate access to (via boundary scans) and verification of synchronous circuit designs using, for example, one or more scan chains.
Because asynchronous designs do not typically employ clock signals, the application of test vectors and the reading of results using conventional synchronous test equipment is not straightforward. It is therefore desirable to provide circuits and techniques for facilitating test access to the internal signal nodes of asynchronous designs using conventional synchronous test equipment.

Methods and apparatus for providing test access to asynchronous circuits and systems


One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that computes translational differentials between a “perfect” image (henceforth called a database-image) and a scanned-image of a photomask. During operation, the system receives a noise-free database-image and a scanned-image that is generated by an imaging process. Next, the system computes a set of candidate-translational-differentials using the database-image and the scanned-image. The system then generates one or more sets of translated directional-gradient-images based on the set of candidate-translational-differentials and using the database-image and the scanned-image. Next, the system converts the database-image into a set of smoothed directional-gradient-images. Finally, the system computes translational differentials by performing a normalized correlation using the set of smoothed directional-gradient-images and the one or more sets of translated directional-gradient-images. Note that the computational time is significantly reduced because the method performs normalized correlation using only the set of candidate-translational-differentials, instead of exhaustively performing normalized correlation using all possible translational differentials.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the process of fabricating semiconductor chips. More specifically, the invention relates to a method and apparatus for registering a database image against a noisy scanned image, such as an image taken using a Scanning Electron Microscope.
2. Related Art
The relentless miniaturization of integrated circuits has been a key driving force behind recent advances in computer technology. Today, integrated circuits are being built at deep sub-micron (DSM) dimensions. At these dimensions, photomask accuracy is becoming increasingly important in the chip manufacturing process.
A photomask is typically a high-purity quartz or glass plate that contains deposits of chrome metal, which represents the features of an integrated circuit. The photomask is used as a "master" by chipmakers to optically transfer these features onto semiconductor wafers.
The mask-making process involves complex physical, transport, and chemical interactions. As a result, the actual photomask is different from the "perfect" photomask. If this difference is too large, it can render the photomask useless. Hence, it is important to measure the features of the actual photomask, so that one can ensure that the difference is within the error tolerance.
Before the features on the actual photomask can be measured, the photomask needs to be scanned using an imaging process to generate a scanned image. Furthermore, the scanned image must be accurately aligned with the perfect image so that the features on the scanned image can be accurately measured. This alignment process is called "photomask image registration".
Typically, photomask image registration only involves determining the translational differentials (in 2D space) between the scanned image and the perfect image.
Unfortunately, the scanned image can contain noise, which can sometimes be excessive, e.g., the noise in a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) image. Furthermore, the scanned image and the perfect image can have different pixel depths. Moreover, the scanned image can contain a large number of pixels. For example, the scanned image can be a 512×512 grayscale image with an 8-bit pixel depth. For these reasons, it is very difficult to accurately and efficiently compute the translational differentials between the scanned image and the perfect image of a photomask, especially when the scanned image has low signal-to-noise ratio (as in SEM images).
Consequently, image registration for noisy images (e.g., SEM images) is typically performed manually. Unfortunately, this manual step slows down the chip fabrication process, which increases the cost and the time taken to manufacture chips.
Hence, what is needed is a method and apparatus for accurately and efficiently computing the translational differentials between the scanned image and the perfect image of a photomask.

Photomask image registration in scanning electron microscope imagery


A cathode composition for a lithium ion battery that contains lithium having the formula (a) Liy[M1(1−b)Mnb]O2 or (b) Liy[M1(1−b)Mnb]O1.5+c where 0≦y<1, 0<b<1 and 0<c<0.5 and M1 represents one or more metal elements, with the proviso that for (a) M1 is a metal element other than chromium. The composition is in a form of a single phase having an O3 crystal structure that does not undergo a phase transformation to a spinel crystal structure when incorporated in a lithium-ion battery and cycled for 100 full charge-discharge cycles at 30 C and a final capacity of 130 mAh/g using a discharge current of 30 mA/g.

Lithium-ion batteries typically include an anode, an electrolyte, and a cathode that contains lithium in the form of a lithium-transition metal oxide. Examples of transition metal oxides that have been used include lithium cobalt oxide, lithium nickel oxide, and lithium manganese oxide. None of these materials, however, exhibits an optimal combination of high initial capacity, high thermal stability, and good capacity retention after repeated charge-discharge cycling.

Cathode compositions for lithium ion batteries


A trim panel for a vehicle containing a vehicular antenna system comprising a substrate, an outer skin and a foam disposed between the substrate and the outer skin. An antenna/circuitry system (2) is located on the upper surface of the substrate (1) and is in contact with the urethane foam (7), the antenna/circuitry system (2) comprising an insulating base layer (12) including upper and lower surfaces and an electro-conductive antenna layer on the upper surface of the base layer (12) and an electro-conductive circuit layer on the lower surface of the base layer (12).

In general, two forms of automotive antennas find widespread use, i.e., the mast antenna and the windshield antenna. The mast antenna comprises a rod conductor projecting from the vehicle body. It is fairly well established that the mast antenna is subject to deterioration by exposure, is prone to damage from external objects, and is easy prey for vandals. Further, mast antennas may detract from the aesthetic appearance of the vehicle. Of course, the mast antenna may be powered to retract, which adds cost to the vehicle.
Windshield antennas make use of one or more thin conductors embedded within the windshield of the automobile. Windshield antennas are also susceptible to their own problems, such as unnecessary replacement simply because the glass has been damaged. In addition, windshield antennas are reportedly susceptible to various forms of FM distortion, such as "station swapping" and may be sensitive to the direction of vehicle travel. Moreover, operation of the windshield washers may create undesirable effects upon the performance of a windshield antenna including the generation of noise. Furthermore, by mounting the antenna on the exterior or interior of the vehicle as separate components or integrating the antenna into window glass, a need is developed to route antenna cables between the electronic component and the antenna location. Such antenna cable is typically installed and connected by the auto manufacturer during assembly of the vehicle.
In related context, current vehicle electrical systems also require the manufacturer to route a wire harness throughout the vehicle body, and more specifically, through the instrument panel cockpit system. Such wire harnesses are generally bulky, expensive, heavy, difficult to install and often a source of a variety of warranty problems.
Attention is directed to the following U.S. Patents and the art cited therein to provide an even broader consideration of the variety of problems and solutions that have been proposed to date to improve upon antenna placement and/or wiring within an automotive environment: U.S. Pat. No. 3,896,448 "Instrument Panel Radio Antenna"; U.S. Pat. No. 4,758,166 "Concealed Radio Antenna"; U.S. Pat. No. 4,853,793 "Microstrip Antenna with Stripline And Amplifier"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,811,732 "Modular Wiring System for Vehicle Instrument Panel Wire"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,861,857 "Vehicular Windshield Wiper Antenna System"; U.S. Pat. No. 6,081,239 "Planar Antenna Including A Superstrate Lens Having An Effective Dielectric Constant"; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,144,343 "Display Antenna Center".
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a remedy to the problems noted above in addition to the development of an vehicular antenna system that provides some unique advantages not reported in the prior art to date.

Integrated dual function circuitry and antenna system


A computer chassis door includes a door mounted on the chassis and a hinge pivotally connecting the door on the chassis. The hinge and door have a break-away connection including a pair of spaced apart resilient snap tabs and a snap-in member engaged with the snap tabs.

The disclosures herein relate generally to computer systems and more particularly to a break-away door mounted on a computer chassis.
Computer chassis and/or bezels include doors which cover slots and ports. These doors are subjected to frequent openings and closings and are usually pivotally mounted on the computer chassis or bezel. Because the doors are often exposed in an open position when the ports are being used, they are sometimes subjected to abuse which causes them to break off and separate from their attachment. Some doors are pivotable into the chassis but this takes up valuable space. If a no door solution is used, the ports and slots are then constantly viewable causing an aesthetically unattractive situation.
Therefore, what is needed is a computer chassis door which includes a break-away attachment so that if the door is stressed beyond structural limits, a break-away mechanism will permit the door to separate from the computer without structural damage. The door can then be re-attached.
One embodiment, accordingly, provides a door which is separable from and re-attachable to a hinge connection on the chassis. To this end, a computer chassis door includes a door mounted on the chassis and a hinge pivotally connecting the door on the chassis. The hinge and door have a break-away connection including a pair of spaced apart resilient snap tabs and a snap-in member engaged with the snap tabs.
A principal advantage of this embodiment is that the door is detachable from the hinge in several directions so as to absorb direct or angular movement relative to the hinge. The door is easy to detach and to re-attach due to the sturdy snap-in structure. The attachment is formed by an inexpensive molded structure.


A storage device includes a memory and a control device. The control device allocates a first storage region out of a plurality of storage regions to a first logical address specified by an external device. The control device stores, in the memory, first information associating the first logical address with a first physical address indicating the first storage region. The control device deletes, upon accepting a request for release of a second storage region indicated by a second physical address associated with a second logical address specified by the external device, second information associating the second logical address with the second physical address from the memory. The control device releases, when copy process of copying first data stored in the second storage region is unexecuted, the second storage region after finishing the copy process.

In the past, in a case of receiving a request for allocation of, for example, 10 TB of storage area from a server, a storage device allocates a physical disk capacity of 10 TB. In contrast, there is a case that the server actually uses only 20% through 30% of the allocated amount out of the physical disk capacity allocated as requested. In such a manner, there is a case that a physical disk capacity allocated to a server is not utilized efficiently.
Given such a situation, as an arrangement for efficiently using a physical disk capacity of a storage device, there is a technique called thin provisioning. In thin provisioning, in a case of receiving a request for allocation of 10 TB from a server, for example, a storage device allocates a virtual volume of 10 TB to the server as requested, while actually allocating a physical disk capacity of only 2 TB.
Then, in a case that the server uses a physical disk capacity exceeding a predetermined threshold, the storage device allocates a fresh additional physical disk capacity to the server. In such a manner, thin provisioning allocates a physical disk capacity at the time of a host access request as the occasion arises. This enables the storage device to efficiently utilize the physical disk capacity. The virtual volume used at this time is called as a thin provisioning volume (TPV), and a smallest unit of the physical disk capacity allocated to the TPV is called as a thin provisioning pool slice (TPPS).
In a case that data is deleted by the server, the deleted data is handled as unused in the operating system (OS) of the server. In contrast, since the TPPS is still allocated to the deleted data in the storage device, the storage device turns out to consume the physical disk capacity uselessly.
As an arrangement to improve this, there is an UNMAP command. An UNMAP command is a command to request the TPV in the storage device for release of the TPPS by specifying a logical address of the unused TPPS. The server issues this UNMAP command to the storage device in coordination with the deletion of data, thereby efficiently operating the TPPS allocated by thin provisioning. The UNMAP command is one of vStorage APIs (application programming interfaces) for array integration (VAAI) out of storage APIs provided by VMware.
The storage device sometimes has a copy function of a snapshot type that logically copies TPPS data. The UNMAP command is allowed to be used together with the copy function executed by the storage device. For example, in a case that an UNMAP command is issued to uncopied TPPS data, the storage device copies the TPPS data and releases the TPPS after finishing the copy. Then, after releasing the TPPS, the storage device responds to the server for the UNMAP command.
The UNMAP command has a capacity, subjected to be processed in a single request from a host, from several GB to several tens of GB or even more, and in comparison with regular write I/O (input/output), the capacity subjected to be processed is large. Therefore, in a case that the storage device receives an UNMAP command and copies all the range requested by the UNMAP command, the time until the UNMAP command is executed increases. As a result, since the server is not able to receive a response to the UNMAP command until finishing TPPS release process by the storage device, there is a higher possibility that the UNMAP command is timed out.
Given such a situation, the storage device records that release process is in a state of being reserved for the TPPS requested for release and immediately returns a response to the UNMAP command to the server. Then, the storage device executes the release process asynchronously at the time of completion of saving the TPPS data to a copy destination to release the TPPS. In such a manner, the storage device keeps an UNMAP command issued to a region subjected to copy from being timed out.
Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2009-251970 and Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2011-13821 disclose related techniques.
However, the techniques in the past described above have a problem of delaying data writing that specifies a logical address specified in the request for release.
In a case that a request for writing data is issued to the TPPS of release process in a reserved state, the storage device puts the request for writing data on standby until the TPPS data is copied and the TPPS is released after finishing the copy. Therefore, the server is not able to receive a response to the request for writing data until finishing the TPPS release process by the storage device, and there is a higher possibility that the request for writing data is timed out.
In addition, the storage device sometimes executes copy of a snapshot type to identical TPPS data at different time. Then, in a case that, after an UNMAP command is issued to the TPPS of a copy source, a request for writing data is issued to the TPPS of release process in a reserved state, the request for writing data is put on standby until finishing the TPPS release process by the storage device. As a result, the possibility that the request for writing data is timed out becomes even higher.
Still in addition, the storage device sometimes executes an UNMAP command and copy of a snapshot type alternately. In such a case, a response performance of the data writing process to the TPPS of release process in a reserved state decreases chronically.

Storage device and method for controlling storage device


A reusable and refillable insect bait container having insect base passageways to its interior bait reservoir, a removable top cap, and a lower ground engaging support stake member. The ground engaging stake member has upper protrusions that engage base notches to hold these two components together. The cap has a lower mating indent which engages a protruding member on the base to hold these components together in a snap fit relationship. When access to the base's reservoir is desired, the removable cap is pulled off by a tab and the bait needed inserted. Both the base and cap should be made of a flexible weather resistant material, such as rubber or soft plastic, to permit the firmer stake material and its protrusions to easily be inserted in a locking manner into the base.

The control of insects, especially those found in warmer climates such as fire ants and carpenter ant, has become an increasing larger problem as more and more people relocate to the sunbelt states. Various methods have been developed to combat this problem including the widespread use of insect sprays and the use of insect baited traps targeted to the specific insect groups to be controlled. Sprays by their very nature may expose pets, people and vegetation to their toxic effects and may also be harmful to the environment over time.
Around the home both types of insect control have been used. When insect traps are employed, there is usually an entrance for the insects to enter the trap where they are exposed to either a consumable or contacting bait and an exit for them to leave after their exposure. These traps may be located either within the person's home or adjacent to it at strategic outside locations where the insects have been seen. The present invention is concerned with a new type of reusable insect container that is designed to be used outdoors adjacent to a residence. When so used, the container's bait is kept safe from the elements thereby insuring the bait's continued potency and allowing the exposed insects to bring its destructive power back to the insects' nest, queen and eggs.