A high-strength, high-precision injection-molded gear in which resin flow regulating projections that partially thicken a web are formed in a position on a side surface side of the web between pin point gates and a teeth section such as to project from the side surface of the web. The resin flow regulating projections are formed such that a center section thereof, the highest in height, is on a radial direction line extending from the pin point gates in the outward radial direction and the height gradually decreases away from the position on the radial direction line in a circumferential direction of the web.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an injection-molded gear used in a power transmission device in various automobile components, industrial machineries, precision machineries, and the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, an injection-molded resin gear (injection-molded gear) is often used in a gear train in automobile components, printers, and the like to achieve lighter weight, quieter operation noise, and the like. The automobile components, printers, and the like operate by receiving driving force from a drive source, such as a motor.


An actuator is provided with a position sensing system which comprises a permanent magnet, a saddle plate, a sole plate and the magnetically sensitive component. The magnet and the magnetically sensitive component are disposed between the saddle plate and the sole plate which are spaced apart for these purposes. A moveable plunger is arranged to move along an axis relative to a stationary stop member. A first magnetic circuit is provide which comprises the permanent magnet, the saddle plate, the sole plate, the stop member and the moveable plunger. A second magnetic circuit is provided which comprises the magnet, the saddle plate, the sole plate and a magnetically sensitive component such as a Hall effect element. In addition, an adjustment means can be provided within the second magnetic circuit to change the reluctance of that circuit for adjustment purposes. When the plunger is moved away from the stop member, an air gap exists therebetween which provides sufficient reluctance to the first magnetic circuit to permit the permanent magnet to provide a sensible magnetic field at the magnetically sensitive component. When the plunger moves into contact with the stop member, the reluctance of the first magnetic circuit decreases sufficiently to decrease the magnetic field strength of the second magnetic circuit to a magnitude which is detectable by the Hall effect element.

1. Field of the Invention:
The present invention relates generally to a latch valve which is operated by a solenoid device and, more particularly, to an apparatus which incorporates a single permanent magnet and a magnetically sensitive device to indicate the position of a plunger that is actuated in response to a magnetic field provided by a solenoid.
2. Description of the Prior Art:
Many types of actuators are known to those skilled in the art. In certain types of actuators, solenoid apparatus is provided to cause a slidable plunger, or core, to move from a first position to a second position in response to a magnetic field induced by an electric current flowing through a coil of the solenoid. Many solenoid actuators of this type do not provide a means for determining the actual condition of the actuator. In other words, when an electric current is provided to the coil of the solenoid to move the plunger toward one position or the other, no means is readily available to determine if the plunger actually responded to the magnetic field. In solenoid actuators which are configured to provide a latching capability, wherein a momentary actuation of the solenoid causes the plunger to move into a first or a second position and other means are provided to hold the plunger in its position after the solenoid coil is deactivated, it is particularly important to be able to determine the actual position of the plunger. The means for determining the actual position of the plunger is important because several malfunctions can possibly cause the plunger to be in a position other than that which is intended. For example, the solenoid coil may not actually have been actuated by the anticipated flow of current through its conductor. This could be caused by a broken wire or a disconnection in the electrical circuit of the solenoid. Even if the solenoid operates properly and the plunger moves in the intended direction, a subsequent shock to the apparatus could possibly dislodge the plunger from its latched position.
In actuators which are provided with a latching capability, a solenoid coil is typically energized for a brief period of time to cause the core, or plunger, to move into contact with a stop member or plugnut. When the coil is de-energized, the plunger is maintained in the engaged position with the stop member by a permanent magnet which produces a continuous magnetic flux in the magnetic circuit in the same direction as that which was produced by the original energization of the coil. This causes the core to be latched in contact with the stop member by the permanent magnet flux. When the core, or plunger, is to be unlatched, the solenoid coil is energized with an electric current of opposite polarity to that current which was originally used to actuate the coil. Alternatively, a second coil can be wound in the solenoid in a direction which is opposite to the energizing coil. In both alternative applications, the coil produces a magnetic field which is opposite to the field produced by the permanent magnet and therefore allows a return spring to separate the plunger from the stop member and move the plunger to a position which is in noncontact association with the stop member. In these types of solenoid actuator apparatus, the solenoid coil is not continuously energized to maintain the core in either one of its two positions. Momentary electric pulses are applied to the coil, or coils, to cause the plunger to shift between its first and second positions.
As is known to those skilled in the art, certain devices have been developed to permit the detection of the position of the plunger relative to the stop member. One such device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,032,812, which issued to Banick et al on Jul. 16, 1991. The Banick et al patent discloses a solenoid actuator which has a magnetic flux sensor. The actuator comprises a coil or coils of electrical wire, a plugnut or stop member and a moveable core within the coils of the solenoid. A magnetic yoke surrounds the coil and the axis of the coil extends across the magnetic circuit defined by the yoke. Relatively large and small permanent magnets are associated with the yoke on opposite sides of the axis of the solenoid. The magnets produce flux in opposite directions to each other. A flux sensor, disposed closer to the small magnet than the large magnet, senses changes in direction of the flux. When the core and plugnut are separated, a large magnetic flux predominates throughout the yoke. When the core engages the plugnut, the small magnet flux predominates in its portion of the yoke. Changes in the direction of magnetic flux are detected by a sensor. Therefore, the sensor can be used to indicate the position of the core with respect to the plugnut.

Single magnet latch valve with position indicator


Source namespace and file copying: a namespace service receives request to copy namespace to destination, identifies namespace update for file in namespace, and communicates namespace update for file to destination. An access object service receives request to copy file to destination and identifies group identifier for fingerprints group corresponding to sequential segments in file. The access object service communicates request for fingerprints group to deduplication service associated with group identifier range including group identifier. The deduplication service communicates fingerprints group, retrieved from fingerprint storage, to access object service, which communicates fingerprints group and identifier to destination. The access object service communicates request for file segments, corresponding to fingerprints missing in destination, from destination to deduplication service. The deduplication service communicates requested segments, retrieved from source storage, to access object service, which communicates requested segments of file to destination, enabling destination to store namespace update for file in namespace data structure.

A data user may copy data in a data center to one or more remote sites, which may be in one or more cloud locations, to have copies of data in case of a data center disaster, and/or the data user may copy data from remote sites to a centralized data center. Data storage systems include recording media that retain digital information, have evolved towards scalable designs that can grow with customer demand by adding storage and computation as necessary, and typically store redundant information. For example, when creating a copy of an enterprise's email system data which includes 100 instances of the same 1 Megabyte (MB) file attachment, a data storage system may store all 100 instances of the same 1 MB file attachment, inefficiently using 100 MB of storage space to store the same 1 MB file attachment. Data deduplication can eliminate redundant copies of information, which can improve the utilization of data storage systems and lower capital expenditure by reducing the total amount of recording media required to meet the capacity needs of data storage systems. Continuing the previous example, a data deduplication system stores only one instance of the same 1 MB file attachment and stores small references to the one stored instance for the 99 subsequent instances.
When being copied from or to a data storage system, a data file or a data object may be divided into data segments. A data deduplication system can receive data segments, compare these received data segments against previously stored data segments, identify which received data segments are unique because they have not been previously stored, and store the unique data segments. When a comparison identifies a received data segment as a duplicate of a data segment that has previously been stored as unique, a data deduplication system replaces the duplicate data segment with a small reference that points to the previously stored data segment.
Data deduplication efficiency depends on the number of duplications within data and how the data is divided for deduplication. For example, a relatively small data segment size enables a data deduplication system to identify more duplicates, and thereby save more recording media storage space. However, dividing a data file or a data object into a large number of small data segments increases the total size of the data segments' metadata because each data segment requires the same amount of metadata, increases the deduplication time required to process large numbers of small data segments, and increases data fragmentation.
In computer programing, a namespace can be a set of identifiers (known as names) that are used to refer to distinct types of objects while avoiding identifier collision between multiple objects that use the same identifier. Namespaces are commonly structured as hierarchies to allow reuse of identifiers in different contexts, which ensures that all of a given set of objects have unique identifiers so that each object can be easily identified. For example, within the namespace of a family named Smith, the given name John is sufficient to uniquely identify a person named John Smith even though people who have other family names may also have the given name John. Prominent examples for namespaces include file systems, which assign names to files, and hierarchical file systems which organize files in directories, so that each directory is a separate namespace, such that the directory "letters" and the directory "invoices" may both include a file named "to_jane". A namespace may be stored in distinct types of data structures.
A namespace's set of identifiers that are used to refer to distinct types of objects may include index nodes, which may be referred to as inodes. An inode can be a data structure in a Unix-style file system that describes a file-system object, such as a data file or a directory. Each inode stores the attributes and disk block locations of an object's data. File-system object attributes may include metadata, such as times of last change and access, as well as owner and permission data. A directory may be a list of inodes with their assigned names, with the list including an entry for itself, its parent, and each of its children.
A namespace may be stored in a B-tree, which can be a self-balancing computer data structure that maintains sorted data and allows searches, sequential access, insertions, and deletions in logarithmic time. The B-tree generalizes the binary search tree, allowing for nodes with more than two children. Unlike other self-balancing binary search trees, the B-tree is well suited for storage systems that read and write relatively large blocks of data, such as disks. The term B-tree may refer to a specific design or to a general class of designs. In the specific design sense, a B-tree stores keys in its internal nodes, but does not need to store those keys in the records at the leaves. A simple example of a B-tree 100 is depicted by FIG. 1A.
The general class of a B-tree includes variations such as the B+ tree, in which copies of the keys are stored in the internal nodes, the keys and records are stored in leaves, and a leaf node may include a pointer to the next leaf node to speed sequential access, as illustrated by the simple example of a B+ tree 102 depicted by FIG. 1B. The B+ tree 102 stores the namespace for employee files which are accessed using each employee's family name, which are the keys for accessing the files by employee name, and links the keys Allen-Patel to data values dAllen-dPatel, with the leaf nodes' links enabling rapid in-order traversal. A B+ tree can be viewed as a B-tree in which each node can have a large number of children and contain only keys (not key-value pairs), and to which an additional level is added at the bottom with linked leaves. The primary value of a B+ tree is in storing data for efficient retrieval in a block-oriented storage context, particularly file systems. This greater efficiency than binary search trees is primarily because B+ trees have high fanout, which is the number of pointers to child nodes in a node, typically about 100 or more, with the high fanout reducing the number of input/output s(I/O) operations required to find an element in the tree.


A method for sharing firmware across heterogeneous processor architectures. Respective sets of firmware are stored on a platform, including a first set of native firmware designed to execute on a first processor, a second set of native firmware designed to execute on a second processor; and a third set of firmware written in an intermediate language that may be processed via respective virtual machines executing on the first and second processors. The intermediate language is processor instruction set independent, while the native firmware is specific to the instruction sets of each of the first and second processors.

As computer server architectures have advanced, more specific functionality have been added to meet customer needs and to increase up time. For example, older computer server architectures might employ a single processor that is use to provide substantially all server functionality via execution of firmware and software instructions on the processor, as well as through specific hardware-level logic built into the processor and/or platform. More recently, the single point of service has been discarded for a more distributed service scheme, whereby multiple processors are employed to perform targeted functions.
For example, modern servers may employ an "out-of-band" management controller that performs separate functions than the servers' primary processor (or processors for multi-processor platforms). Typically, an out-of-band management controller comprises an independent processor, such as a base management controller or service processor, connected to various hardware components of a server platform to monitor the functionality of those hardware components. For instance, a service processor may be configured to have its own independent link to a network with an independent Internet protocol ("IP") address to allow an administrator on a remote console to monitor the functionality of the server. As used herein, these processors are collectively termed "co-processors."
With reference to FIG. 1, a server 100 having a conventional service processor configuration known in the art is depicted. The illustrated embodiment of server 100 includes a service processor 102, a main processor (CPU) 104, a communication interface 106, a data storage unit 108, a service processor firmware storage device 110, and a platform firmware storage device 112. Main processor 104 is communicatively coupled to various platform components via one or more buses that are collectively illustrated as a system bus 114. Typically, service processor 102 is coupled to the same and/or different platform components via an independent bus and/or direct channels, also called service channels; this bus or buses is depicted in FIG. 1 as a management bus 116. In one embodiment, service processor 102 is communicatively-coupled to communication interface 106 via a separate channel 118. Optionally, the coupling may be implemented via management bus 116.
Generally, service processor 102 may be linked in communication with a network 120 via either communication interface 106 or a dedicated network interface. In the illustrated embodiment, communication interface 106 provides two ports with respective IP addresses of IP1 and IP2, whereby one IP address may be used by main processor 104, while the other may be used by service processor 102
An administrator working on a remote console 122 coupled to network 120 can monitor the functionality of main processor 104, data storage unit 108, or other entities (not shown) via interaction with service processor 102. The functions of service processor 102 generally include monitoring one or more characteristics or operations of main processor 104 (e.g., monitoring the temperature of processor 104), data storage unit 108, and other hardware components (not shown), recording hardware errors, performing manual tasks initiated by the administrator (such as resetting main processor 104), recovering main processor 104 after an error, performing manual input/output data transfers, and the like.
The foregoing service processor functions are enabled via execution of firmware stored in service processor firmware storage device 110. In particular, interaction with the various hardware components is provided via one or more corresponding firmware drivers. At the same time, separate firmware drivers stored in platform firmware storage device 112 are employed by main processor 104 to access the same hardware components. Since main processor 104 and service processor 102 will generally employ different instructions sets, the firmware drivers for the respective processors are often developed by independent groups.

Method for sharing firmware across heterogeneous processor architectures


A design aid apparatus includes an input section, an antenna propensity determination section, an output section, and a memory storing design data for a plurality of structures comprising an electronic device to be designed. Conductivity of a structure is determined based on conductivity information of the structure read out from the memory. The antenna propensity determination section determines a contact relation, which expresses a state of electrical contact between a conductive structure having conductivity and another conductive structure, based on information relating to shapes and arrangements of structures stored in the memory. A length of a route between a reference conductive structure and the conductive structure is determined. The antenna propensity of the electronic device is evaluated based on the route length.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a design aid apparatus and a design evaluation method for an electronic device, and in particular to a design aid apparatus and a design evaluation method relating to electromagnetic wave radiation properties of an electronic device such as a printer or a fax machine.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent electric and electronic devices, the technological difficulty of EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility) design, which prevents generation of unnecessary electromagnetic wave noise and ensures resistance to external noise, has been increasing as sources of electromagnetic waves have increased with the digitalization and increased speed of electronic circuits and as external noise from cellular phones and the like has increased.
In order to efficiently carry out the EMC design of an apparatus, a design of the whole apparatus, especially a design of the grounding system, is important.
Conventionally, as a technique for effecting the design of the whole apparatus, numerical simulation techniques for calculating the electromagnetic field, such as the moment method described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 7-302278, are known.
FIG. 20 shows a functional block diagram of a simulation apparatus using the conventional moment method. This simulation apparatus includes: a database 70 of three-dimensional CAD data, library data, or the like; an input unit 72 for converting CAD data of an electric circuit apparatus to be analyzed, which CAD data is input from the database 70, into structure information required to calculate an electromagnetic field strength, and then inputting the converted data into an electromagnetic field strength calculation unit 74; the electromagnetic field strength calculation unit 74 for calculating the electromagnetic field strength according to the input data; and an output unit 76 for outputting an obtained result.
In this simulation apparatus, structures of printed circuit boards, cables, leads, casings, and the like included in the electric circuit apparatus to be analyzed are input accurately, and consequently an electromagnetic field strength can be calculated with high precision.
In the above described conventional technique, in principle, simulation of an actual apparatus can be conducted with high precision. In actual practice, however, the electromagnetic field calculation unit needs a very long calculation time and a lot of memory space. Therefore, structures in the apparatus can be calculated only in considerably simplified models. This results in a problem that the conventional technique cannot be substantially utilized for the apparatus design.

Design aid apparatus and design evaluation method for electronic device


A scroll type compressor which includes a fixed scroll and an orbiting scroll which have their base plates provided with scroll wraps thereon, and which have the scroll wraps combined to form a compression chamber therebetween. A center shell is provided which has an upper inner peripheral surface formed with a stepped portion engageable with a stepped portion in the frame, which has the frame shrinkage fitted thereto. Shells are connected to both ends of the center shell to form a hermetic housing; and the hermetic housing is divided into a high pressure space and a low pressure space at a boundary which is formed by the shrinkage fitted portions of the center shell and the frame. The center shell has a lower inner peripheral surface formed with a stepped portion, and the stepped portion in the upper inner peripheral surface and the stepped portion in the lower inner peripheral surface are formed to keep predetermined parallelism and coaxiality, and the subframe is fixed to the stepped portion in the lower inner peripheral surface. In a preferred embodiment, a welding starting point for fixing the end shells to the center shell is in the same position when viewed in the axial direction on the circumference of the center shell as a welding point for fixing the subframe to the center shell.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a scroll type compressor, and a method for preparing it, the compressor having the inside of a hermetic housing divided into a high pressure space and a low pressure space, and having a crankshaft supported in a way to sandwich an electric motor portion between both ends of the crankshaft.
2. Discussion of Background
In FIG. 14, there is shown a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional scroll type compressor. In FIG. 15, there is shown a longitudinal sectional view of parts shrinkage fitted in the compressor of FIG. 14. Reference numeral 1 designates a fixed scroll which has a base plate 1a provided with a scroll wrap 1b thereon. Reference numeral 2 designates an orbiting scroll which has a base plate 2a provided with a scroll wrap 2b thereon. The scroll wraps 1b and 2b are reverse to each other in the direction in which the scroll wraps are wound, and are combined to form a compression chamber 4. Reference numeral 3 designates a discharge port which is formed in the base plate 1a to communicate with the compression chamber 4. Reference numeral 7 designates a frame which is formed with a flange 7b. The base plate 1a is fixedly supported on the upper end surface of the flange. The flange 7b has an outer peripheral surface formed with a stepped portion 7c. The flange 7b has an inner peripheral surface formed with a concentric assemblage jig mounting surface 7d, the concentric assemblage jig mounting surface being concentric with a bearing 13 which is located at a central portion of the frame 7. Reference numeral 6 designates a crankshaft which has an intermediate portion provided with an electric motor rotor 8, and which is rotatably supported by the bearing 13. Reference numeral 23 designates a center shell which has an intermediate portion provided with a glass terminal 42, and which supports an electric motor stator 9 on an inner peripheral surface. The center shell has an upper inner peripheral surface formed with a stepped portion 23a, which is engaged with the stepped portion 7c. To the center shell 23 is fixed the frame 7 at an upper end side of the stepped portions 7c and 23a by shrinkage fit. Reference numeral 27 designates a subframe which is fixed to an inner peripheral surface of a lower end of the center shell 23 by welding, and which has a central portion formed with a bearing 39 for supporting the crankshaft 9 at its lower end. The bearing 39 has a lower portion formed with a concentric assemblage jig mounting surface 27b concentric therewith, a pumping element 43 being housed on the concentric assemblage jig mounting surface 27b. Reference numeral 20 designates a discharge chamber which is mounted to the upper end of the center shell 23 to close it. Reference numeral 40 designates a low pressure space which is formed under the frame 7. Reference numeral 41 designates a high pressure space which formed in the discharge chamber 20. The center shell 23 have the lower end closed by a lower shell 10, and an oil stored therein.
In operation, the crankshaft 6 which is driven by an electric motor comprising the electric motor stator 9 and the electric rotor 8 rotates while being supported by the bearings 13 and 39. The base plate 2a of the orbiting scroll 2 is eccentrically connected to the upper end of the crankshaft 6, and is supported on the frame 7 so as to be capable of carrying out orbiting movement. The rotation of the crankshaft 6 gives orbiting movement to the orbiting scroll 2 to form the compression chamber 4 between the fixed scroll 1 and the orbiting scroll 2. A low pressure refrigerant gas which has been introduced into the low pressure space 40 from outside is inspired into the compression chamber 4 by the action of compression between both scrolls 1 and 2, and is compressed into a high pressure refrigerant gas. The high pressure refrigerant gas is discharged from the discharge port 3 into the high pressure space 41, and leaves outside though a discharge pipe 5 which is mounted to the discharge chamber 20. As shown in FIG. 15, the stepped portion 7c in the frame 7 is supported by the stepped portion 23a in the center shell 23. Thrust which is caused on the frame 7 due to a difference between the pressure in the low pressure space 40 and that in the high pressure space 41 is received by the center shell 23. Such arrangement can prevent the frame 7 from axially shifting in the center shell 23. The outer peripheral surface of the flange 7b and the inner peripheral surface of the center shell 23 are fixed together at the upper end side of the stepped portions 7c and 23a by shrinkage fit to hermetically separate the high pressure space 41 and the low pressure space 40.
In order to assemble the frame 7 and the subframe 27, it is required that misalignment and inclination of the bearing 39 of the subframe 27 with respect to the bearing 13 of the frame 7 fall in predetermined precision ranges. Now, a method for assembling the frame 7 and the subframe 27 will be explained, referring to FIGS. 16 and 17. In FIG. 16, the frame 7 and the electric motor stator 9 have been previously fixed to the center shell 23 by shrinkage fit, and the electric motor rotor 8 is inserted in the center shell 23 in such a state that the end of the center shell 23 adjacent to the frame 7 faces downward. The center shell 23 with the frame 7 and the electric motor stator 9 fixed thereto and the electric motor rotor 8 inserted thereinto is placed on a table 45a to put the concentric assemblage jig mounting surface 7d of the frame 7 into engagement with a concentric assemblage jig 44a, and to position a fixed scroll mounting surface 7e of the frame 7 on a top surface of the table 45a. On the other hand, the subframe 27 is mounted onto a bottom surface of a table 45b to put the concentric assemblage jig mounting surface 27b of the subframe 27 into engagement with a concentric assemblage jig 44b, thereby positioning a reference surface 27c of the subframe 27 onto the bottom surface of the table 45b. The table 45b and the concentric assemblage jig 44b are vertically slided from such conditions to insert the subframe 27 into the center shell 23 until the subframe 27 is set at a predetermined height as shown in FIG. 17. During this process, the subframe 27 should not get in touch with the inner peripheral surface of the center shell 23. Finally, the subframe 27 is fixed to the center shell 23 by means of arc spot welding. In order that the misalignment and the inclination of the bearing 39 with respect to the bearing 13 fall in the predetermined precision ranges, coaxiality of the concentric assemblage jig mounting surface 7d with respect to the bearing 13, perpendicularity of the fixed scroll mounting surface 7e with respect to the bearing 13, coaxiality of the concentric assemblage jig mounting surface 27b with respect to the bearing 39, perpendicularity of the reference surface 27c with respect to the bearing 39, coaxiality of the concentric assemblage jig 44b with respect to the concentric assemblage jig 44a, and parallelism of the table 45b with respect to the table 45a are required to fall in predetermined precision ranges as a prerequisite. In addition, the arc spot welding should have no effect on a relative position or posture of the subframe 27 with respect to the frame 7.
The structure of the conventional scroll type compressor, which has been described in detail, does not ensure coaxiality between an outer peripheral surface of the subframe 27 and the inner peripheral surface of the center shell 23. In order to prevent the subframe 27 from getting in touch with the center shell 23 during inserting the subframe 27 into the center shell 23, a remarkable great clearance is required between the subframe 27 and the center shell 23. The sizes of the clearance significantly vary, depending on the positions of the arc spot welding. As a result, when the subframe 27 is fixed to the center shell 23, there are variations in strain due to arc spot welding, depending on the positions of the arc spot welding. This creates a problem in that the relative position and the posture of the bearing 39 with respect to the bearing 13 are changed, and the misalignment and the inclination go out of the predetermined precision ranges, lowering a fabrication yield.
It is a first object of the present invention to solve this problem, and to provide a scroll type compressor capable of realizing a high yield without being adversely affected by a change in a relative position and a posture of a subframe bearing with respect to a frame bearing due to arc spot welding, and a method for preparing such a scroll type compressor.
By the way, there has been known a scroll type compressor wherein a bearing which supports one end of the main shaft for driving an orbiting scroll is supported by a subframe, and the subframe is fixed to a side wall of a hermetic shell by means of spot welding.
Referring now to FIG. 18, there is shown a cross sectional view showing the structure of such a conventional scroll type compressor.
In FIG. 18, reference numeral 101 designates a fixed scroll which is constituted by a base plate 101a and a spiral wrap 101b projecting from it. Reference numeral 102 designates an orbiting scroll which comprises a base plate 102a and a spiral wrap 102b projecting from it. Reference numeral 103 designates a frame which has one side provided with a flange 103a, and which has the other side provided with a bearing 103c. The flange 103a has the fixed plate 101a fixedly supported at a top end surface, and the flange 103a defines a recessed portion 103b at a central portion, where the orbiting scroll 102 is put to carry out an orbital movement. The bearing 103c is formed to project in the axial direction for supporting one end of a main shaft, which is described later on.
Reference numeral 104 designates a hermetic shell which is constituted by a center shell 104a and dish-shaped end shells 104b, the center shell 104a being formed in a cylindrical shape and having the flange 103a fixed to an upper inner peripheral surface thereon by means of shrinkage fit, and the dish-shaped end shells 104b being fixed to the center shell 104 by welding the end shells to both ends of the center shell 104 at their circumferences in a continuous sequence to close the open ends of the center shell. Reference numeral 105 designates a compression chamber which is defined between both spiral wraps 101b and 102b. Reference numeral 106 designates a high pressure space which is formed between the base plate 101a and the end shell 104b. Reference numeral 107 designates a discharge port which is formed through a central portion of the base plate 101a to communicate between the compression chamber 105 and the high pressure space 106.
Reference numeral 108 designates a subframe which has a central portion provided with a bearing 108a to companion to the bearing 103c of the frame 103, and which has an outer side surface provided with a plurality of radial ribs 108b, as shown in FIG. 19 depicting the section taken along the live 19--19 of FIG. 18. Each rib 108b has an outer side surface fixed to a lower inner peripheral wall of the center shell 104a by means of spot welding. Reference numeral 109 designates the main shaft which has the one end supported by the bearing 103c of the frame 103 and the other end supported by the bearing 108a of the subframe 108, and which is rotatably connected to the orbiting scroll 102 at the one end side. In a central portion of the main shaft, a bore 109a is formed therethrough so that a lubricating oil which is supplied through a pumping device 110 arranged in the subframe 108 flows through the bore 109a.
Reference numeral 111 designates a low pressure space which is defined under the frame 103. Reference numeral 112 designates an electric motor which is arranged in the low pressure space 111 to rotate the main shaft 109, and which is constituted by an electric motor rotor fixed to the main shaft 109 by e.g. press fit, and an electric motor stator fixed to an inner side wall surface of the center shell 104a. Reference numeral 113 designates a glass terminal which is mounted in a side wall of the center shell 104a to feed power to the electric motor 112.
Now, how to fix the subframe 108 and the end shell 104b to the center shell 104 by welding will be described in more detail. As shown in FIG. 19, firstly, the outer side surfaces of the respective ribs 108b of the subframe 108 are inserted to a predetermined position along the inner peripheral wall of the center shell 104a, and the ribs 108b are fixed to the center shell 104a by arc spot welding. Welding points by the arc spot welding are indicated by reference numerals 114a, 114b and 114c. When the subframe 108 is fixed, the precision of the respective parts is controlled so that the subframe 108 is coaxial with the frame 103 on the order of a few .mu.m-a few tens .mu.m.
Next, the end shell 104b is press fitted into the center shell 104a in a light manner, and then a single welding torch is usually used to seal the end shell 104b to the center shell 104a around its circumference by continuous arc welding while moving the torch or rotating the center shell 104a and the end shell 104b. The starting point of the arc welding is indicated by reference numeral 115a.
The conventional scroll type compressor which is constructed as stated above carries out the following operations as generally well known. The main shaft 109 which is driven by the electric motor 112 rotates, being supported by the bearing 103c of the frame 103 and the bearing 108a of the subframe 108, thereby causing the orbiting scroll 102 to carry out an orbital movement. Such an orbital movement allows a low pressure refrigerant gas in the low pressure space 111 to be inspired into the compression chamber 105 defined by the wraps 101b and 102b of the fixed scroll 101 and the orbiting scroll 102. After the refrigerant gas is compressed in the compression chamber 105 to become a high pressure refrigerant gas, it is discharged into the high pressure space 106 through the discharge port 107, and leaves outside the hermetic shell 104.
Since the conventional scroll type compressor is constituted as stated earlier, when the end shell 104b is connected to the center shell 104a by arc welding, the point where a melted metal starts solidifing is located near to the welding starting point 115a. As a result, the end shell 104b is drawn toward the welding starting point 115a of the center shell 104a. Because the end shell 104b can shift freely in a radial direction in the center shell 104a at that stage, a gap can be formed between the end shell 104b and the center shell 104a at the location remote from the welding starting point 115a as shown in FIG. 20, thereby preventing welding from causing internal stress.
After that, the melted metal gradually solidifies along the route where the welding has progressed. As a result, portions of the center shell 104a are drawn toward the end shell 104b, and the center shell 104a is deformed in a way to collapse inwardly. How much the center shell 104a is deformed inwardly is roughly proportional to the size of the gap between the end shell 104b and the center shell 104a. It means that the deformation at the side of the center shell 104a remote from the welding starting point 115a, i.e. the deformation in the direction of a welding point 114a of the arc spot welding is the greatest. Since the subframe 104b also slightly shifts toward the welding starting point 115a, in addition to such deformation as indicated by an arrow in FIG. 21, coaxiality of the subframe 104b with respect to the frame 103 deteriorates. It creates a problem in that if this deterioration exceeds an acceptable limit, the rotation of the main shaft 109 supported by the bearings 103c and 108a becomes worse to damage performance.
It is a second object of the present invention to solve this problem, and to provide a scroll type compressor capable of make the rotation of a main shaft smooth and of preventing performance from being damaged without deteriorating coaxiality of a subframe with respect to a frame by subjecting an end shell to welding.

Scroll type compressor, having welded end shells and shaft subframe


A truss structure well suited for use as an engine strut on a commercial aircraft. The truss structure is cast as a single piece integrally formed component from a titanium alloy or another suitably lightweight, structurally strong material. The truss structure includes a plurality of integrally formed attachment structures which enable the truss structure to be secured to an element of an aircraft such as a wing. A plurality of attachment areas for an element such as an engine is also formed that allows the element (e.g. jet engine) to be secured to the truss structure. The truss structure includes a plurality of elongated rails and truss elements that are arranged to provide redundant load paths to ensure that a failure of any one truss element or elongated rail will not result in a failure of the overall truss structure to support whatever load is required.

Large cast support structures have traditionally not been used in applications where fail-safe performance of the structure is required. One example of such an application would be in connection with the manufacture of large commercial aircraft. In such instances, large support structures, and particularly large support structures such as engine pylons, have been constructed with a large plurality of independent parts and fastening elements designed so that the failure of any one of the constituent parts does not result in failure of the entire structure. It has generally been believed that a monolithic structural support element, formed from a casting process, is not ideal for use as a primary component of an aircraft because of heretofore recognized inherent limitations with large, cast structures. More particularly, with previously developed large, cast structures, when such structures develop a crack, the crack may propagate through the structure in response to repeated cyclic loading on the structure. Thus, a failure beginning in one element of a large, cast support structure can eventually result in the failure of the entire structure.
Further limitations with large, cast structures involve the weight typically associated with such structures. Until the present time, the manufacture of a monolithic cast structural component has generally been made using steel or aluminum. In aircraft applications, where weight is of paramount importance, casting a large truss-like support structure from steel would yield a component that is simply unacceptably heavy.
Some large structural parts have been cast from aluminum, but aluminum also has drawbacks when attempting to apply it to components to be used with aircraft structures. Most notably, aluminum is not suitable for areas of an aircraft where the component will experience high heat, such as an engine pylon, which experiences significant heat generated by the jet engine.
The use of a large, cast structure as a primary structure on an aircraft would also significantly simplify the construction of modern day commercial aircraft. For example, an engine strut (i.e., pylon) which is used on an aircraft to attach an engine to a wing of the aircraft is typically assembled from a large plurality of independent, complex parts. For commercial aircraft, a typical engine strut is usually composed of a hundred or more independent parts, including various shims, which are held together by thousands of fasteners. The connections require extensive drilling of holes, corrosion protection and sealing of joints and fasteners. The cost of just the engine strut is a significant portion of the total cost of manufacturing an aircraft despite the structure being a relatively small fraction of the aircraft's total mass. Any manufacturing improvement that reduces the overall cost of such an assembly while maintaining a redundant structure that assures against failure, despite the structure being located in an environment of high loading, high sonic fatigue, high temperature, and corrosive gases, would be very desirable. Other examples of such applications might be the carry-through structure used to connect the right and left horizontal tail planes into a single structural assembly, supports for the landing gear, or attachment of fuel tanks or other external equipment to the aircraft (to name a few potential applications).
Accordingly, there is still a need for producing primary structural components for aircraft and other structures that are structurally strong and resistant to structural failure, yet which are lighter than present day structural assemblies. There is a particular need for such structural components that are also capable of handling the high loading, high fatigue, and highly corrosive environments experienced by various structures used in commercial aircraft applications.

Cast unitized primary truss structure and method


A fluid coupling 10 for connecting the output of an upper 102 and a lower 101 submersible pump in a well casing 100 to the well supply pipe 105. The fluid coupler 10 includes an upper coupling unit 11 connected to the upper pump 102, a lower coupling unit 12 connected to the lower pump 101, and a manifold unit 13 operatively connecting the upper 11 and lower 12 units together to form a framework which surrounds and suspends the upper pump 102.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of fluid couplers in general, and in particular to a fluid coupler for a stacked pump system.
2. Description of Related Art
As can be seen by reference to the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,088,771; 5,090,737; 5,215,335; and 5,219,186, the prior art is replete with myriad and diverse fluid coupling arrangements.
While all of the aforementioned prior art constructions are more than adequate for the basic purpose and function for which they have been specifically designed, they are uniformly deficient with respect to their failure to provide a simple, efficient, and practical fluid coupler that can be used to supplement the output of a first submerged pump with the output of a second submerged pump in a stacked pump arrangement disposed within a well casing such that the stacked pump array can deliver on demand, the output of the pumps alternately or in combination with one another contingent upon the volume of water required for a specific task.
As a consequence of the foregoing situation, there has existed a longstanding need for a new and improved fluid coupler for a stacked pump system to allow for the delivery of different volumes of water from a well, and the provision of such a construction is a stated objective of the present invention.


A system and method of attenuating noise generated in a multicylinder internal combustion engine as a result of opening and closing of the exhaust and intake valves in which cross passages extend between regions of the exhaust and intake manifolds adjacent the exhaust and intake valves of different cylinders in which the exhaust and intake valves open at approximately the same time. The acoustic waves of the noise caused by opening of the exhaust and intake valves respectively are set in mutual opposition to each other to thereby substantially cancel each other. A low mass flexible diaphragm in each cross passage prevents cross flow of exhaust gases while allowing transmission of the acoustic waves. Porous plugs restrict flow to the diaphragm while being sufficiently open to allow free transmission of the noise sound waves to the diaphragm to not impair the mutual cancellation process.

This invention concerns internal combustion engines and more particularly noise reduction systems and methods for engine intake and exhaust systems. Engines commonly employed for automotive use have intake and exhaust valves which are rapidly opened and closed at timed intervals during the engine cycle.
Much development effort has been exerted to produce quieter running passenger vehicles, and specifically to eliminating engine noise.
Exhaust muffler systems have long been employed and more recently resonators and expansion chambers on the air intake systems. Such devices are bulky since the exhaust gases and air flows must be expanded to large volumes to reduce the noise levels.
A more exotic approach has been active noise attenuation systems involving the use of microphones, amplifiers, and speakers to generate cancellation sound waves 180.degree. out-of-phase with detected noise sound waves. This approach requires significant electrical power and considerable equipment to execute.
The major source of noise in the exhaust and air induction passages is generated by the sudden opening and closing of the exhaust and intake valves during the engine cycle to enable the intake, compression, power, and exhaust engine phases in each cylinder to proceed in the well known manner. The sudden opening and closing of the valves create acoustic waves due to the inertia of the gas streams in the connected passages. That is, the arrested exhaust gas flow into an exhaust passage by the exhaust valve suddenly closing creates a rarefaction zone near the exhaust valve as the downstream exhaust flow persists as a result of the inertia of the exhaust gas. A compression zone near the exhaust valve is created as the exhaust flow is initiated in a stationary volume of exhaust gas downstream from a suddenly opening exhaust valve. The arrested intake air flow from an intake passage by the intake valve suddenly closing creates a compression zone near the intake valve as the upstream intake air flow persists as a result of the inertia of the intake air. A rarefaction zone near the intake valve is created as the intake flow is initiated in a stationary volume of intake gas upstream from a suddenly opening intake valve.
These compression and rarefaction zones propogate as acoustic waves travelling at the speed of sound through the manifold passages in either the intake or exhaust systems and finally emanate from the air intake in the induction system or the exhaust tailpipe in the exhaust system.
It is the object of the present invention to attenuate noise generated in this fashion in an internal combustion engine without using bulky mufflers, expansion chambers, resonators and the like, and without expending electrical power and necessitating complex equipment.

Intake-exhaust manifold bridge noise attenuation system and method


A method and an apparatus for using an electronic phone book in a communication terminal are provided. If a user manually requests a phone number to be registered as a bookmark, or the number of calls to the phone number exceeds a predetermined first threshold, the phone number is saved in a bookmark DB. Upon user request for a bookmark mode operation, bookmarked phone numbers are presented. If the number of calls to a phone number stored in the bookmark DB for a predetermined time period does not exceed a predetermined second threshold, the phone number is deleted from the bookmark DB. Therefore, the user can give a call without memorizing frequently used phone numbers or direct dialing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a portable terminal, and in particular, to a method and apparatus for using an electronic phone book of a portable terminal.
2. Description of the Related Art
As communication technology develops, most individual users own at least one wireless or wired phone number. Therefore, various techniques have been explored to manage phone numbers for the individual users. One of the techniques is an electronic phone book for a portable terminal such as a personal computer (PC), a wired telephone, a cellular phone, or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant). Such a portable terminal saves a plurality of names, addresses, and phone numbers entered by a user in association with each other, so that the user can select menu items using a display means, search the electronic phone book for an intended phone number, and automatically dials the selected phone number. Due to the advantages of being portable and convenient dialing features, the electronic phone book takes the place of existing phone books.
While the increasing memory capacity of the portable terminal increases the number of entries in the electronic phone book, only a limited number of phone numbers are frequently used in reality. However, conventional electronic phone book technology requires a user to search the entire electronic phone book by selecting many menu items in order to detect an intended phone number.
FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a typical electronic phone book search operation. As shown in FIG. 1, to search for an intended phone number, a user must go through a number of menu items (menu key→1. phone book→3. search by name→2. Tom . . . ). Accordingly, there is a need for a method of more readily searching for a plurality of phone numbers in an electronic phone book.

Bookmarking method and apparatus for an electronic phone book


A vertical autoloader design enables multiple data cartridges to be selectively loaded into a drive while minimizing the device footprint. The structure of the vertical autoloader incorporates Geneva steps into the walls of the autoloader. The Geneva steps interface with gearing on a drive carriage to move the drive vertically. The data cartridges are inserted into slots on the front of the vertical autoloader, and the data cartridges not currently loaded into the drive can be removed and replaced while the autoloader is in operation. Further, the vertical autoloader includes prevent devices in the cartridge slots to ensure the data cartridges are loaded correctly.

A popular device for handling large amounts of information in a data processing system is an automated data cartridge loader (autoloader). Autoloaders store and manage large numbers of data cartridges containing media on which data is recorded. These cartridges are typically tape media, but recently autoloaders have been introduced using hard disk cartridges. One such autoloader is the SCSI Autoloader from Iomega Corporation, which incorporates its exclusive REV® drive and REV® disk cartridges in the autoloader design.
One problem in the field of autoloaders is to increase the storage density while decreasing the equipment storage area required for the autoloaders. Autoloaders are widely accepted because they combine multiple data cartridges and a drive within a single chassis for higher data storage capacity. Typically, prior art autoloaders have an array of storage positions for data cartridges, one or more drives, and some type of automated changer or cartridge transport for picking or gripping a data cartridge and moving the data cartridge between a storage position and the drive. The robotic mechanism, often called a "picker", is typically mounted to the autoloader chassis relative to the drive in order to move the data cartridges between a storage position and the drive.
A typical picker mechanism automatically exchanges the individual data cartridges between their storage locations and the drive. Different types of data cartridge retrieval/transport mechanisms are used to accommodate the various data cartridge arrangements in different data cartridge library systems. One example of a data cartridge retrieval/transport mechanism utilizes a rotatable robotic arm with an optical sensor for selecting and retrieving the correct data cartridge and transporting the data cartridge to the one or more drives. Another example of a data cartridge retrieval/transport mechanism is a linear robotic mechanism that moves along an X-Y translation or about a pivot in a rotary motion to select, retrieve and transport data cartridges to the one or more drives. The drive is operable to read/write data from or to the media in the data cartridge. A host computer that communicates with a library control unit typically controls operation of the autoloader. In all of these architectures, the data cartridge retrieval/transport mechanism is a complex mechanism which must translate among the multitude of fixed data cartridge storage locations, moving in three dimensions to retrieve selected data cartridges for insertion into the drive. The complexity of this data cartridge retrieval/transport mechanism accounts for a significant component of the cost of the autoloader and requires a significant amount of space to implement.
Therefore, there exists a need in the art of data storage for an autoloader that simplifies the storage and handling of large amounts of information, reduces the size of the system and space required for data storage, while at the same time being cost effective and simple.

Auto loading device for data storage cartridges


A medium supplying apparatus of an image forming device capable of removing static electricity generating in medium supplying operation by a ground. The medium supplying apparatus includes a medium supplying cassette mounted in a main body of the image forming device, a knock-up plate disposed to be movable up and down in the medium supplying cassette by at least one elastic member and to support printing media, a pickup roller to pick up the printing media loaded on the knock-up plate, a separating unit disposed on medium supplying cassette to separate the printing media one by one when the printing media are picked up, and a ground unit to ground the knock-up plate and the separating unit to the main body.

1. Field of the Invention
The present general inventive concept relates to an image forming apparatus. More particularly, the present general inventive concept relates to a medium supplying apparatus of an image forming device to pick up and to supply loaded printing media (e.g., paper, transparency or other suitable printing medium) one by one.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, an image forming device, such as a copier, a printer, a facsimile, a multifunction machine, or the like, has a function, to form a desired image input from the outside on a printing medium, such as a printing paper. Such an image forming device has a developing unit, a transferring unit, a fixing unit and a medium discharging unit, which are mounted in a main body. In addition, the image forming device has a medium supplying apparatus, which supplies loaded printing media into the main body one by one. An example of such medium supplying apparatus is illustrated in FIG. 1.
Referring to FIG. 1, the medium supplying apparatus includes a medium supplying cassette 10, a knock-up plate 20, a pickup roller 30, and a friction pad 41. The knock-up plate 20 is installed to be movable up and down with respect to the medium supplying cassette 10, and to support printing media. The pickup roller 30 is used to pick up the printing media. The friction pad 41 is used to separate the printing media one by one while facing the pickup roller 30. The friction pad 41 is supported by a supporting holder 42.
To prevent an abrasion (e.g., wear and tear) of the friction pad 41 due to a continuous supply of the printing media, a protecting pad 43 is installed on the supporting holder 42 to come in contact with front ends of the picked-up printing media, as illustrated in FIG. 1.
With the construction as described above, the printing medium supported on the knock-up plate 20 is picked up by the pickup roller 30 to pass over the protecting plate 43 and the friction pad 41, so that the printing medium is separated and conveyed one by one (e.g., one sheet at a time).
However, because of material characteristics of the printing media, the printing media can have a built up electric charge. Thus, static electricity is generated between the printing media and the knock-up plate 20 supporting the printing media. In addition, static electricity is also generated between the pickup roller 30 and the printing media due to friction electrification.
If the printing media loaded on the knock-up plate 20 are relatively small in quantity (e.g., a shorter stack of printing medium sheets), the distance between the knock-up plate 20 and the protecting plate 43 is reduced. Thus, a greater amount of static electricity is generated by electric discharge as the thickness of the stack of printing medium sheets becomes smaller (e.g., as the printing medium sheets get used).
Such generated static electricity during the medium supplying operation can transfer to various parts, such as a controller and the like susceptible to damage by static electricity. As a result, the parts may malfunction, and the image quality may deteriorate.

Medium supplying apparatus of image forming device


A storage process that includes adding, to the elementary files of fixed length provided for by, e.g., ISO Standard 7816-4, elementary files of variable length whose capacity is always adapted to the size of the records they store, and managing this new type of file with micro-instructions complying with the formalism of ISO Standard 7816-4 and belonging to the proprietary class of instructions. By virtue of this new type of variable-length elementary file, it is possible to envisage new smartcards complying with ISO Standard 7816-4 and implementing data compression techniques at the data storage level, this capability being particularly beneficial considering the limited data storage capacities of a smartcard.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the storage of data in a microprocessor smartcard.
2. Description of the Background Art
Smartcard are generally cards with the format of a credit card or tokens fitted with an electronic microcircuit, based on memories and a microcontroller, these being devised so as to allow the running of a for example bank or health transaction. They communicate with their environment by means of readers with which they exchange messages and comply with ISO Standard 7816-4. To make a transaction run, they need to preserve and update a certain number of items of information in a reprogrammable built-in memory termed an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory).
Hitherto, the storage of data in the EEPROM of a smartcard has been organized by ISO Standard 7816-4 into three levels of files:
a first level termed the main file consisting of the accessible part of the space of the EEPROM memory, provided with a defining header and with headers for tagging the second-level files which it contains;
a second level of directory files (or dedicated file) each provided with a defining header and with headers for tagging the third-level files which it contains, and
a third level of so-called elementary files which are of two types: either of transparent type, the data of the records not being structured within the file, write and read addressing being delegated to the application program controlling the transaction running in the smartcard, or of record type, the data being stored in fixed-size blocks managed by the operating system of the microcontroller of the smartcard.
With a system for storing data in a smartcard EEPROM memory, as governed by ISO Standard 7816-4, the application program controlling the transaction running in the smartcard must know the sizes of the data blocks which it proposes to store in the EEPROM memory of the smartcard since the two types of elementary files permitted, in which the data are actually stored, are of fixed length. This limitation precludes the compression of data within the smartcard since, in this case, the application program controlling the transaction running in the smartcard no longer has control over the length of the data blocks after compression which will actually be stored.
The purpose of the present invention is to avoid this limitation by creating a new type of third-level file termed a variable-length elementary file (or Record Variable File) managed by proprietary instructions of ISO Standard 7816-4, doing so in order to maintain upward compatibility with this standard.
Its subject is a process for storing data in a rewritable smartcard memory, characterized in that it consists in storing the data at least in part in elementary files of variable lengths each made up of a variable-length chain of domains of fixed lengths and of low individual capacities of the rewritable memory, the said chain having its domains tagged by means of a domain allocation table which changes as a function of the number of data items actually stored.
Advantageously, the said elementary record files of variable lengths form part of larger directory files, of variable type, containing their tables for allocating domains which each consist of a header placed in a management area of the host directory file and locating the start of chain, and of links placed at the start or at the end of each domain identifying the relevant domain""s membership of a chain, that is to say its occupancy, and locating the next domain in the chain.
Advantageously, the said elementary files of variable lengths coexist together with the elementary files of fixed lengths within distinct directory files and are managed by an operating system responding to commands consisting of several successive fields: an instruction class field, an instruction field and a parameter field, the instruction class making it possible to distinguish a directory file of variable type containing files of variable lengths from directory files of fixed type containing files of fixed lengths so that each elementary file is managed according to its kind, by the operating system either alone, or under the dependence of an application program intervening at a higher level.

Method for storing data in a chip card rewritable memory


A skew delay compensator is provided including at least two communication interfaces, at least two conductors connected to the communication interfaces, adjustable delay lines connected to the communication interfaces detecting means for measuring propagation delay indicative parameters of the at least two conductors, means for automatic adjustment of at least one adjustable delay line on the basis of the measured propagation delay indicative parameters so that the mutual delay between the at least two conductors is minimized.

Generally, many types of signals are transmitted via multi-conductors and in many different kinds of applications.
A problem with transmission of analogue signals, e.g. video signals, via multi-conductor twisted cabling, such as standard Cat 5/6 cables, is that such cables are typically optimized for transmission of data signals and not suited for transmission of analogue data signals at all.
This problem may for example be encountered at a remote video monitor on which video signals transmitted via data cables may suffer from signal/image degradation, sometimes to a marked degree.
The invention generally facilitates transmission of video signals, e.g. RGB video signals, via multi-conductor cables, for example twisted pairs of cables in such a way that the above-described distortion or feathering is eliminated.


The present invention relates to novel and concise process for the construction of chiral 3-substituted tetrahyroquinoline derivatives based on proline catalyzed asymmetric α-functionalization of aldehyde, followed by in situ reductive cyclization of nitro group under catalytic hydrogenation condition with high optical purities. Further the invention relates to conversion of derived chiral 3-substituted tetrahydroquinoline derivatives into therapeutic agents namely (−)-sumanirole (96% ee) and 1-[(S)-3-(di-methylamino)-3,4-dihydro-6,7-dimethoxy-quinolin-1(2H)-yl]propanone[(S)-903] (92% ee).

Chiral substituted tetrahydroquinoline derivatives possess variety of pharmacological activities and hence, the current trend of research is looking for efficient methods for the construction of these derivatives. There is ample literature available on the construction of chiral tetrahydroquinoline derivatives. The 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline (THQ) is a very common structural motiff found in numerous biologically active natural products and pharmacologically relevant therapeutic agents. For example, (−)-sumanirole [PNU-95666E, (1)] is a selective and high affinity agonist at the dopamine D2 receptor subtype and has proven as a potential agent for the treatment of Parkinson's disease and restless leg syndrome. Also, 1-[(S)-3-(dimethylamino)-3,4-dihydro-6,7-dimethoxy quinolin-1(2H)-yl]propanone [(S)-903 (2)] has recently been identified as a potentially interesting positive inotropic agent, while (+)-duocarmycin D1 (3) has exhibited potent antitumor activity, whereas Anachelin H chromophore (3′) has significant anti-bacterial activity (FIG. 1). Due to the significance of these scaffolds in drug discovery and medicinal chemistry, the development of new methodologies for the synthesis of 3-substituted THQs derivatives continue to be very active field of research in recent years.

A few methods thus are reported in the literature for their synthesis. Rh-catalyzed reduction of chiral amino cinnamates by Isabelle Gallou-Dagommer et al. is reported in Org. Lett., 2001, 3 (13), pp 2053, whereas CoCl2-catalyzed reductive cyclization of nitro cyclic sulfites is disclosed in Org. Lett., 2009, 11 (4), pp 803-806 by Arun R. Jagdale. Also Co-catalyzed concise enantioselective synthesis of 1-[(S)-3-(dimethylamino)-3,4-dihydro-6,7-dimethoxyquinolin-1(2H)yl]propan-1-one, (S)-903 is reported in Tetrahedron: Asymmetry 20, (3), 2009, PP 335-339.
Romano Di Fabio et al. in Bioorganic a Medicinal Chemistry Letters 17 (5), 2007, 1176-80 discloses the preparation of chiral tetrahydroquinoline derivatives by an asymmetric Mannich-type condensation reaction using commercially available vinyloxyethylsilane and a N-arylimino R-(+)-t-butyl lactate ester, in the presence of a catalytic amount of metal triflates as Lewis acids.
Highly enantioselective chiral bifunctional thiourea catalyzed asymmetric tandem reactions for synthesis of substituted tetrahydroquinolines in good yields and high enantioselectivities are demonstrated by Zhen-Xin Jia in Org. Lett., 2011, 13 (5), pp 832-835. Further Young Ku Kang et al in J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2010, 132 (34), pp 11847-11849 describes CSA (Camphorsulfonic acid) mediated efficient formation of ring-fused tetrahydroquinolines in high enantioselectivities.
However, the use of expensive chiral starting materials, multi-step reaction sequences, use of protection and deprotection of various functional groups and low overall yields are some of the limitations of the existing routes. In this regard, an organocatalytic protocol that provides for the efficient synthesis of chiral 3-substituted THQs is highly desirable.
In recent years, it has been proven that proline-catalyzed direct α-aminooxylation or -amination of aldehydes provides efficiently for the enantioselective synthesis of α-amino acid derivatives. The highly enantioselective method for the synthesis of γ-amino-α,β-unsaturated esters via tandem α-amination-Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons (HWE) olefination of aldehydes is described in Org. Lett., 2007, 9 (6), pp 1001-1004 by Shriram P. Kotkar et al. Further organocatalytic sequential α-aminoxylation followed by cis-Wittig olefination of aldehydes is reported by Dattatray A. Devalankar Tetrahedron: Asymmetry Volume 23 Issues 3-4, 29 Feb. 2012, Pages 240-244. The organocatalytic sequential α-aminationcorey-chaykovsky reaction of aldehydes is reported by B. Senthil kumar in Org. lett., 2012, 14 (10), pp 2468-2471.
Yet, full synthetic potential of the use of α-functionalized aldehydes that are readily available in situ by existing route in excellent enantioselectivity, remains to be further explored.
In continuation of present work on the utilization and application of these enantiomerically-enriched α-functionalized aldehydes, the present inventors have succeeded to develop sequential reaction of α-aminooxylation or -amination of o-nitrohydrocinnamaldehydes followed by intramolecular catalytic hydrogenation which indeed furnish 3-hydroxy- and 3-aminated THQs in good yields with excellent enantioselectivity/optical purity.

Process for synthesis of chiral 3-substituted tetrahydroquinoline derivatives

Council of Scientific & Industrial Research


A solid coating composition for use in powder coating and extrusion coating applications is disclosed. The coating composition contains about 70 to about 95% of a base resin, such as a polyester, and about 1 to about 50% of a low-to-medium molecular weight end-capped epoxy resin, and is essentially free of a bisphenol-A diglycidyl ether monomer. The solid coating composition is applied to a metal substrate in a powder coating or an extrusion process to provide a metal article having a composition film having a thickness of about 1 to about 200 microns. The metal articles can be used to package food and beverages.

It is well known that an aqueous solution in contact with an untreated metal substrate can result in corrosion of the untreated metal substrate. Therefore, a metal article, such as a metal container for a water-based product, like a food or beverage, is rendered corrosion resistant in order to retard or eliminate interactions between the water-based product and the metal article. Generally, corrosion resistance is imparted to the metal article, or to a metal substrate in general, by passivating the metal substrate, or by coating the metal substrate with a corrosion-inhibiting coating.
Investigators continually have sought improved coating compositions that reduce or eliminate corrosion of a metal article and that do not adversely affect an aqueous product packaged in the metal article. For example, investigators have sought to improve the imperviousness of the coating in order to prevent corrosion-causing ions, oxygen molecules, and water molecules from contacting and interacting with a metal substrate. Imperviousness can be improved by providing a thicker, more flexible and more adhesive coating, but often, improving one advantageous property is achieved at the expense of a second advantageous property.
In addition, practical considerations limit the thickness, adhesive properties, and flexibility of a coating applied to a metal substrate. For example, thick coatings are expensive, require a longer cure time, can be esthetically unpleasing, and can adversely affect the process of stamping and molding the coated metal substrate into a useful metal article. Similarly, the coating should be sufficiently flexible such that the continuity of the coating is not destroyed during stamping and molding of the metal substrate into the desired shape of the metal article.
Investigators also have sought coatings that possess chemical resistance in addition to corrosion inhibition. A useful coating for the interior of a metal container must be able to withstand the solvating properties of a product packaged in the metal container. If the coating does not possess sufficient chemical resistance, components of the coating can be extracted into the packaged product and adversely affect the product. Even small amounts of extracted coating components can adversely affect sensitive products, like beer, by imparting an off-taste to the product.
Conventionally, organic solvent-based coating compositions were used to provide cured coatings having excellent chemical resistance. Such solvent-based compositions include ingredients that are inherently water insoluble, and thereby effectively resist the solvating properties of water-based products packaged in the metal container. However, because of environmental and toxicological concerns, and in order to comply with increasingly strict governmental regulations, an increasing number of coating compositions are water based. The water-based coating compositions include ingredients that are water soluble or water dispersible, and, therefore, cured coatings resulting from water-based coating compositions often are more susceptible to the solvating properties of water.
In addition, water-based coating compositions do not completely overcome the environmental and toxicological problems associated with organic solvents because water-based compositions typically contain two or more pounds of organic solvent per gallon of coating composition. The organic solvent is a necessary ingredient to dissolve and disperse composition ingredients, and to improve the flow and viscosity of the composition. Therefore, in order to entirely avoid the environmental and toxicological problems associated with organic solvents, investigators have sought solid coating compositions that can be applied to a metal substrate. In attempts to find a useful solid coating composition, investigators have tested powder coatings, laminated film coatings, radiation cure coatings, and extrusion coatings.
Solid powder coatings have been used to coat a metal substrate with a coating composition. Solid coating compositions also have been extruded onto a metal substrate, for example, as disclosed in European Patent No. 0 067 060, PCT publication WO 94/01224, and Smith et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,407,702.
In both powder coating and extrusion coating applications, an important component of the coating composition is an epoxy resin. Epoxy resins impart several properties that are important with respect to a cured coating composition on a metal substrate. However, epoxy resins also have a serious disadvantage in that residual amounts of bisphenol diglycidyl ether monomer are present in the resin, typically in an amount of about 0.5% by weight. Typical bisphenol diglycidyl ether are bisphenol-A diglycidyl ether (i.e., BADGE) and bisphenol-F diglycidyl ether (i.e., BFDGE). The term "BADGE" as used herein refers to a bisphenol-A diglycidyl ether and to other similar bisphenol diglycidyl ethers, like a bisphenol-F diglycidyl ether. Additional examples of bisphenol diglycidyl ether monomers are illustrated hereafter.
The presence of a BADGE monomer raises serious environmental and toxicological concerns, especially because a BADGE monomer can be extracted from a cured coating on the interior of a metal container by a product stored in the container. Accordingly, regulatory agencies have promulgated regulations reducing the amount of a BADGE monomer in coating compositions, and especially coating compositions used on the interior of food and beverage containers.
In order to overcome the problem of a free BADGE monomer, investigators attempted to use high molecular weight phenoxy resins as a replacement for epoxy resins. Phenoxy resins are essentially very high molecular weight epoxy resins containing very few, if any, intact epoxy rings. This attempted replacement led to other problems, such as difficulty in handling and processing the high molecular weight phenoxy resins in many practical applications, and the very high cost of the phenoxy resins. In addition, coatings containing the phenoxy resins did not provide the excellent adhesion to metal substrates that is provided by coatings containing low-to-medium molecular weight epoxy resins.
Investigators, therefore, have sought solid coating compositions for use on the exterior and interior of food and beverage containers that are free, or essentially free, of a BADGE monomer, that exhibit the advantageous properties of adhesion, flexibility, chemical resistance, and corrosion inhibition, that are economical, and do not adversely affect the taste or other esthetic properties of sensitive foods and beverages packaged in the container. Investigators especially have sought useful solid coating compositions having these desirable benefits and that reduce the environmental and toxicological concerns associated with BADGE monomer. In particular, investigators have sought solid coating compositions for food and beverage containers that (1) meet increasingly strict environmental regulations, (2) have corrosion inhibition properties at least equal to existing epoxy-based and organic solvent-based coating compositions, and (3) are easily applied onto a metal substrate, by powder coating or extrusion techniques, as a thin, uniform film. Such solid coating compositions would satisfy a long felt need in the art.
A present solid coating composition comprises: (a) a base polymer, such as a polyester or blend of polyesters, and (b) an end-capped epoxy resin having an M.sub.w about 300 to about 10,000 and that is essentially free of a BADGE monomer. A present solid coating composition is a thermoplastic composition and can be applied as a powder coating or extruded onto a metal substrate. A crosslinking step, such as an additional heating step after application of the composition onto the metal substrate or use of a crosslinking agent, is not reguired. A present solid coating composition is free of organic solvents, yet an applied film demonstrates excellent coating properties, such as adhesion, hardness, and flexibility.
A solid coating composition of the present invention contains no organic solvents, and, therefore, overcomes the environmental and toxicological problems associated with liquid coating compositions. In addition, a present solid coating composition also avoids the environmental and toxicological problems associated with a BADGE monomer.
The present thermoplastic solid coating compositions provide a sufficiently flexible coating such that the coated metal substrate can be deformed without destroying film continuity. In contrast, thermosetting compositions often provide a rigid cured film thereby making it difficult to impossible to coat the metal substrate prior to deforming, i.e., shaping, the metal substrate into a metal article, like a metal closure, can, can end, can tube, metal drum, or aerosol can. Coating a metal substrate prior to shaping the metal substrate is the present standard industrial practice.
As an added advantage, it is envisioned that a present solid coating composition can be used on can ends, can and drum bodies, can tubes, and closures, thereby obviating the use of different coating compositions by container manufacturers. Furthermore, a present solid coating composition exhibits sufficient clarity, hardness, and mar resistance after application for use as a coating on the exterior of a metal container. Accordingly, an extrusion coating composition of the present invention has a more universal range of applications, such as for the interior coating of a metal container for food or beverage products, or for the exterior coating of a metal container or a material of construction, like aluminum siding, and overcomes the environmental and toxicological concerns associated with epoxy resins and with a liquid coating composition.

Solid coating compositions for powder and extrusion applications


A system and process for measuring paper formation characteristics in real time is disclosed. The system comprises apparatus used in a papermaking process, and includes a rotating forming fabric having an upper and lower surface. A paper slurry is deposited upon the upper surface of the moving forming fabric to prepare a wet paper web. The wet paper web typically moves at a high rate of speed as it rides along upon the surface of the forming fabric. Light is transmitted from a light source to the surface of the wet paper web, and then reflected from the surface of the wet paper web to a camera. An image is formed corresponding to the pattern of the reflected light, and in some instances data generated from the reflected light may be compared to other values to provide a feedback loop to adjust the parameters of the papermaking process in real time.

In the manufacture of paper products, an aqueous suspension containing pulp fibers is formed. The aqueous suspension is spread over a forming surface to form a paper web. The forming surface generally includes a series of endless rotating conveyor belts formed from a porous fabric that is comprised of metal, plastic, or other suitable material. Forming fabrics are designed to facilitate the formation of the non-woven web, to transport the non-woven web, and to remove excess liquid from the web as it travels downstream. When forming low basis weight paper products, such as tissues, the non-woven web is formed between a pair of forming fabrics. In these systems, the suspension of fibers is injected between a pair of moving fabrics as the fabrics are wrapped around a roll.
The quality of paper formation indicates the degree of fiber variance in a paper sheet. The measure of the degree of fiber variance takes into account the size and distribution of holes, flock distribution, and dust particle measurements. Generally, in the past this measurement has been accomplished by taking a sheet end product which has been through essentially all the steps of papermaking, and placing that sample sheet on an inspection box with a light source to visually examine transparency distribution of the sheet.
Tissue making comprises many different steps, and each step changes the properties of the tissue sheet. Tissue sheets are commonly processed using techniques such as creping the tissue from a rotating drum, which involves physically scraping the tissue with a blade from a drum to which the tissue is affixed and dried. This creping step greatly softens the "doctor" tissue, and changes dramatically the texture of the tissue. Furthermore, other types of tissues undergo a process of foreshortening and throughdrying known as UCTAD (uncreped through air drying) which includes passing air through the tissue sheet as it rests upon a forming fabric. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,932,068 and 5,772,845 to Farrington et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 6,017,417 to Wendt et al.
One of the difficulties in examining finished tissue products to determine the quality of paper formation and performance of the headbox and forming roll section is that there are so many process steps beyond the headbox (i.e., downstream of tissue formation) that it is difficult to correlate the properties of the final tissue product with the performance of the headbox and slurry handling apparatus at the beginning stages of tissue manufacture. It would therefore be desirable to develop an apparatus and method that can accurately measure the degree of paper formation and fiber variance in a paper sheet while the paper sheet is still wet, i.e., during the process of paper sheet formation. A method and apparatus of determining, in real time, the properties of a wet paper sheet as it is being manufactured on a twin wire forming fabric would be desirable. Further, a method of using information obtained during tissue manufacture to adjust, in real time, the processing variables and parameters which are responsible for the properties of the sheet would be a valuable technique for tissue product developers.

Method and apparatus for imaging a paper web


The light output intensity of incandescent lamps and LEDs connected to a common lamp power bus are controlled using a composite waveform having two power components: a pulse-width modulated (PWM) component and a direct current DC component. The DC component is maintained below the turn-on voltage for the LEDs. The PWM component controls the light intensity of the LEDs; and the DC component is calculated as a quadrature power series, taking into account that the PWM component contributes to the light intensity of the incandescent lamps. The frequency and slew rate of the PWM component are selected to minimize EMI. A small steady state power component is provided to keep the LEDs slightly turned on to minimize EMI.

Incandescent lamps (or bulbs, or light bulbs) operate differently than light emitting diodes (LEDs). (LEDs are also referred to as "LED lamps".) Basically, incandescent lamps are voltage driven devices, and LEDs are current driven devices. They therefore require different techniques for controlling (e.g., dimming) the intensity of their respective light outputs.
For an incandescent lamp the amount of light produced is more-or-less proportional to the cube of the applied voltage—more specifically, it is proportional to the 3.4th power of the ratio of the RMS (Root-Mean-Square) voltages. (The RMS voltage is the square root of the mean value of the square of the instantaneous voltage.) That means, if the RMS voltage is reduced by one half (½), the light is reduced to (½)3.4 or about one-tenth ( 1/10). Or, an incandescen lamp operating at 20% of nominal voltage (e.g., a 5V lamp operated at 1V) will only produce 1/280 of the light produced at nominal voltage.
In an alternating current (AC) system, such as household, adjusting the light output of an incandescent lamp lighting device is typically carried out by controlling a phase angle of an electrical power supplied to the incandescent lamp under application of a switching element such as a TRIAC switch. In a direct current (DC) system, such as instrument illumination, adjusting the light output of an incandescent lamp is typically carried out by lowering the voltage, as discussed in the previous paragraph.
LEDs are current driven devices. Fewer amps in means fewer photons out. But LEDs are not typically powered from a true current source. The vast majority of power supplies are voltage sources, and that is what is usually found powering LEDs. The relationship between current and voltage in an LED is non-linear. As the voltage increases from zero there is only a trickle of current and no noticeable light. At about a volt and three-quarters (e.g., for red LEDs) the current begins to increase appreciably and the first glimmer of light appears. At two volts (2V) the LED is bright and with only a little more voltage it becomes very bright. Once over about 2.2 volts, the current rapidly soars beyond safe operation. Generally speaking, powering LEDs directly from a voltage source is not such a good idea. The usual approach is to connect a resistor in series with the LED. The combination is still non-linear, but in a much more well behaved manner. In fact, over the range of safe operating current, it acts incrementally linear. And, of course, series resistors represent power losses.
It takes 2 to 4 V to light an LED, depending on its color. Red LEDs take about 2 V, green and yellow LEDs take about 2.4 V, blue LEDs take 3 V, and white LEDs take about 4 V to illuminate. For white LEDs operating normally, a voltage of at least approximately 3.5 volts is required. These voltages are referred to as "turn-on" (or "threshold") voltages. For a given type of device, run in different batches, the threshold voltages may vary by several percent (e.g., +/−10%) from rated threshold.
A typical technique for dimming LEDs is to use Pulse Width Modulation (PWM). Pulse Width Modulation is a technique of voltage regulation. In PWM, the output is at an essentially fixed voltage level, and it is turned on-and-off at a high rate. In this manner, an average output voltage is equal to the duty cycle "D" (the percentage of time that the output is on) times the input voltage. A typical frequency of the output on-and-off would be 400 Hz. The duty cycle D can be varied from 0% (resulting in 0 volts average output voltage) all the way to 100% (average output voltage=input voltage). The light produced by LEDs is proportional to the average current in the LEDs. Applying a 50% duty cycle PWM signal to an LED will produce ½ of the light that the LED produces when 100% duty cycle is applied.
Many existing integrated circuits perform LED dimming. These operate in either PWM mode if the input voltage is higher than the LED voltage, or they operate in current-source mode if the input voltage is lower (like battery operated equipment). Some current source devices can be PWM'ed to vary intensity as well. Typical examples of current source devices are the CAT32 CMOS White LED Driver (Catalyst Semiconductor Inc.) and the FAN5608 Series/Parallel LED Driver with Current-Regulated, Step-Up DC/DC Converter (Fairchild Semiconductor).
Like many other display systems, aircraft instrumentation displays frequently employ illuminated indicators. Originally incandescent bulbs were employed for this purpose. However, a variety of factors have motivated replacement of incandescent bulbs with light emitting diodes (LEDs) in such applications, including improvements in power consumption, heat generation, vibration resistance, and operating lifetime.
This leads to situations where on a given aircraft instrument panel, there is a mixture of incandescent lamps and LEDs. Since techniques for controlling illumination are different for each, this creates some challenges, and in "next generation" cockpits (aircraft designed less than 10 years ago) there may be two cockpit lamp power busses, one for incandescent lamps, the other for LED lamps, each with its own system for dimming.
One approach to satisfying the luminance standards and voltage level expectations when utilizing LEDs involves providing a mechanism for compensating for changing the portion of the applied input power which is actually transmitted to the LEDs. The portion of the applied input power which is transmitted to the LEDs changes across the operating range of input power to the LED illuminated indicator, matching the power transmitted to the LEDs to the power which is required by the LEDs to achieve approximately the same luminance as an incandescent bulb receiving the same input power. However, this approach negates at least some of the reduction in power consumption achieved by employing LEDs in lieu of incandescent bulbs.
Another approach to forcing multiple LEDs to "behave" like incandescent lamps (bulbs) for purposes of dimming (e.g, to follow the incandescent voltage/intensity curve), so that the LEDs could then be powered by an existing incandescent dimmer (DC-mode dimmer) and achieve brightness tracking, can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,670,776 which discloses enhanced trim resolution voltage-controlled dimming LED driver. Illumination sources, each including at least one light emitting diode, are connected either in series or in parallel by a switching circuit, depending upon an applied input voltage. The switching circuit switches the illumination sources from series- to parallel-connection, or vice versa, when the applied input voltage crosses a threshold value in traversing the operating range of applied input voltages. Because the light emitting diodes within the illumination sources are switched from series to parallel connection at a defined kickover point, the voltage-luminance characteristic changes on opposite sides of the kickover point. The resulting overall voltage-luminance characteristic has greater variability in luminance across the entire operating range of applied input voltages, and luminance-variance is not limited to only a portion of the operating range. Greater trim resolution for voltage-controlled dimming of the light emitting diode is therefore provided, with industry standard luminances being achieved at appropriate applied input voltages. This arrangement requires that the LEDs can be clustered to track the brightness curve of the equivalent incandescent lamps. These LEDs could then be powered by the existing incandescent dimmer (DC-mode dimmer) and achieve brightness tracking.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,430,356 discloses programmable lighting control system with normalized dimming for different light sources. A lighting control system is adapted to dim a plurality of groups of light sources in a room to any one of a number of different preset levels to achieve a like number of different lighting scenes. Each group of light sources defines a lighting zone of the same type of light source, for example, incandescent lamps, fluorescent lamps, neon lights, etc. The system includes a plurality of dimmers for adjusting the respective light levels of the different lighting zones, and a display panel for displaying the instantaneous light level of each zone. A suitably programmed microprocessor or the like operates to normalize the system's dimming performance for a plurality of different types of light sources so that a given change in dimmer setting produces the same change in perceived light level from each of the different types of light sources. Preferably, a system user inputs the type of light source used in each zone by a software scheme that operates the light level indicators of the display panel in an alternative mode to indicate the various types of light sources. In this patent, the intensity tracks among different kinds of lights, but each kind of light gets its own dimmer.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,559,777 discloses a lighting system wherein an infrared (LED) and an incandescent lamp cluster are powered by the same power buss. In this system, different voltage levels are transmitted to the infrared/incandescent lamp cluster. A power converter in the lamp cluster detects the voltage level and converts the power to an appropriate voltage level sends the power to one or the other of the infrared and incandescent lamps. This system has the added complexity and decreased reliability of power conversion electronics in each lamp. This function of this system is not to match the intensity of the incandescent lamp with the LED lamp; each type lamp is operated exclusively of the other. The system also requires special composite lamps.

Light dimmer for LED and incandescent lamps