A method and system for providing telecommunication services to a mobile-subscriber terminal roaming between private and public-wireless networks is disclosed. After roaming from the public-wireless network into the private-wireless network, for example, an entity in the private-wireless network executes an application that retrieves from a roaming-agreement database roaming-agreement information for operating the mobile-subscriber terminal in the private-wireless network. Using this information as an input, the application may determine one or more roaming rules for operating in the private-wireless network.

1. Field of the Invention
The following relates in general to computer networks, and more particularly, to providing services in wireless telecommunication networks. The following is particularly useful for determining roaming rules for a mobile-subscriber terminal when the mobile-subscriber terminal roams into a private-wireless network from a public-wireless network, and vice-versa.
2. Description of Related Art
Public-wireline telecommunications carriers typically provide to their subscribers telecommunications and other networking services (collectively "services") based, in a large part, on a particular geographical coverage area in which the subscriber resides or otherwise plans to operate. For example, a resident of municipality "A" may subscribe to public wireline carrier "A," whereas a resident of another municipality may subscribe to public wireline carrier "B." Consequently, a subscriber of carrier A cannot move to a coverage area of a foreign carrier, such as carrier B, and continue to receive services without changing their subscription to the foreign carrier. In other words, the subscribers of public wireline networks cannot roam.
On the other hand, a subscriber of a public-wireless and/or a satellite network (collectively referred to as a "public-wireless network") may not only receive the services when operating in the coverage area of their subscribed-to network, but also when roaming in the coverage area of a foreign carrier's public-wireless network. To facilitate roaming, the carriers of the subscribed-to and foreign networks public-wireless networks normally negotiate roaming agreements. This is in addition to providing the technological requirements carry out supplying services to roaming mobile-subscriber terminals.
Such roaming agreements are particularly advantageous to the carriers of both the subscribed-to and foreign networks because the coverage area is based primarily on geographically-restrictive, governmentally-granted licenses for wireless spectrum. Thus, the roaming agreements allow the carriers of the subscribed-to and foreign networks to provide to their subscribers extended coverage areas, which can range from a small municipality to an entire country or even to a plurality of countries.
When the public-wireless networks are integrated with public wired networks, the combined networks provide domestic along with international coverage. Thus, the combined networks may include portions of a Public Switch Telephone Network (PSTN), the Internet, core and proprietary public networks, and/or wireless voice and packet-data networks (e.g., 1G, 2G, 2.5G and 3G telecommunication networks).
For many years, not only have businesses, Small Office/Home Office (SOHO) entities, and other organizations (collectively referred to herein as "enterprises"), but also private individuals have been using private telecommunications networks. Typically, these private networks terminate to public-wireline networks, but are not under the control of the carriers of the public-wireline networks. Advantageously, then, private networks provide the enterprises and private individuals with greater control over the network, which in turn allows customization of the services provided to the network's users and/or subscribers.
For example, many enterprises and private individuals have private-wireline-switching systems, such as private branch exchanges (PBXs) and/or media gateways. These private-wireline-switching systems manage communications (i) internally, i.e., among the subscribers of the private network, and (ii) externally, i.e., between the subscribers of the private network and subscribers of the public wireline or wireless networks. With the ability to manage internal communication free from the public-wireless and/or wireline networks, the private-wireline-switching systems can offer enhanced services such as call forwarding, caller id, etc., to its internal subscribers.
Recent advances in computer data networks, such as the ability to provide Voice-over-Packet communications, have provided the impetus for delivering telecommunication services over local area networks. Enterprises and private individuals are increasingly deploying private-wireless networks, such as wireless local area networks (WLANs). These WLANs may be deployed as stand-alone networks. Alternatively, the WLANs may be coupled to private-wireline-switching systems to connect to the public wireline networks.
Unlike the licensed spectrum used in public-wireless networks, WLANs in the United States have been and are being deployed using freely-available, allocated frequencies provided by the Unlicensed National Information Infrastructure (U-NII). Other countries have similar governmental grants for unlicensed frequencies.
Consequently, the WLANs have developed independent of the geographical restrictions normally associated with the licensed wireless spectrum. However, due to (governmentally-imposed and technological) power limitations, the coverage areas of such private networks are typically geographically limited. These geographically-limited coverage areas are commonly referred to as "hotspots."
The coverage area of a hotspot may be, for example, a single building, a part of a building, or a complex of buildings and campuses, though, typically, such coverage does not cover large contiguous areas. The recently promulgated IEEE 802.11 standard defines a standard protocol for using frequencies allocated by the Unlicensed National Information Infrastructure (U-NII). Under various sections of the standard, the maximum coverage area for a given power and frequency range is defined. For example, a wireless access point conforming to IEEE 802.11b may be limited to providing coverage within a 150 foot radius, whereas a wireless access point conforming to IEEE 802.11g may be limited to providing coverage within a 175 foot radius.
Theoretically, wireless access points may be "daisy-chained" together through a wireline backbone, such as an intranet. Although a single wireless access point can be fairly inexpensive, providing enough wireless access points to cover large contiguous coverage areas and the corresponding infrastructure to support the wireless access points can be substantially expensive and difficult to implement.
Consequently, private-wireless networks are generally not integral to or integrated with other private and public-wireless networks. Even if the private-wireless network is coupled to such other private and public-wireless networks, any external communications are carried out according to rules set-up by the carriers of the other networks. Thus, neither the private-wireless carriers nor the public-wireless carriers currently offer services to their respective subscribers in the others' networks.
Consider, for instance, call forwarding services for a subscriber of a public-wireline network and a public-wireless network. When using the call forwarding services, calls placed to the user's work phone may be forwarded to the user's mobile-subscriber terminal. While this service is useful when the user is in the coverage range of the public-wireless network, it may not work when the user is far from the office and out of the coverage area of the public-wireless network. Thus, a user may be unable to receive important calls when operating outside the coverage area of a public-wireless network even though the user is within the coverage area of a private-wireless network.
One way to overcome this situation is to have a user independently subscribe to the public-wireless network and all the private-wireless networks that cover the area he or she plans to use. In many cases, subscribing to all these networks may require the user to have separate subscriber accounts, separate sets of services, separate mobile-subscriber stations (or a single multiple-technology terminal), and separate mobile-subscriber-station identifiers. Thus, this approach may be impractical. Even if implemented, the user may have certain services available only when operating in the public-wireless network that are not available when operating in the private-wireless networks.
Furthermore, with the abundance of inexpensive WLAN equipment and without the ability to keep others from using the spectrum (and deriving profits therefrom), the public-wireless network carriers historically have been reluctant to invest resources into WLANs. Coupling this with the technological differences between the architectures of the private-wireless and public-wireless networks, the carriers of the public-wireless and private-wireless networks have not generally entered into roaming agreements.
The lack of roaming agreements has prevented integration or harmonization of methods and systems for facilitating roaming between the public-wireless and private-wireless networks. But with the growing number of private-wireless networks and the subscribers' desires for coverage no matter where they are operating, there is a need to facilitate roaming between the public-wireless and private-wireless networks.

Roaming agreement application and database for carrying out roaming between private and public wireless networks


A laser processing method of applying a laser beam to a workpiece having a plurality of members, thereby forming a laser processed groove on the workpiece. The laser processing method includes the steps of setting a plurality of processing conditions respectively corresponding to a plurality of different materials forming the plurality of members constituting the workpiece, detecting the wavelengths of plasma lights generated by applying the laser beam to the plurality of members constituting the workpiece, selecting any suitable one of the processing conditions corresponding to any one of the members corresponding to the wavelength of plasma lights detected above, and applying the laser beam under the processing condition selected above.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a laser processing method and apparatus for applying a laser beam to a workpiece having a plurality of members to thereby form a laser processed groove on the workpiece.
2. Description of the Related Art
As well known in the art, in a semiconductor device fabrication process, a plurality of crossing division lines called streets are formed on the front side of a substantially disk-shaped semiconductor substrate to thereby partition a plurality of regions where a plurality of devices such as ICs and LSIs are respectively formed, thus constituting a semiconductor wafer. The semiconductor wafer is cut along the streets to thereby obtain the individual semiconductor devices. Cutting of the semiconductor wafer along the streets is usually performed by using a cutting apparatus. This cutting apparatus includes a chuck table for holding the semiconductor wafer as a workpiece, cutting means for cutting the semiconductor wafer held on the chuck table, and moving means for relatively moving the chuck table and the cutting means. The cutting means includes a spindle adapted to be rotated at high speeds and a cutting blade mounted on the spindle. The cutting blade is composed of a disk-shaped base and an annular cutting edge mounted on a side surface of the base along the outer circumference thereof. The cutting edge is formed by bonding diamond abrasive grains having a grain size of about 3 μm by electroforming so that the thickness of the cutting edge becomes about 20 μm, for example.
In recent years, a semiconductor wafer intended to improve the processing performance of devices such as ICs and LSIs has been put into practical use. This semiconductor wafer is composed of a semiconductor substrate such as a silicon wafer and a low-permittivity insulator film (Low-k film) formed on the front side of the semiconductor substrate. Examples of the Low-k film include an inorganic film of SiOF, BSG (SiOB), etc. and an organic film such as a polymer film of polyimide, parylene, etc.
Further, there has been put into practical use a semiconductor wafer having a configuration such that a plurality of testing metal patterns called test element group (Teg) for testing the function of the devices are partially provided on the Low-k film in the streets.
However, the Low-k film is formed as a multilayer film like mica and it is very brittle. Accordingly, when this semiconductor wafer having the Low-k film is cut along the streets by using the cutting blade, there arises a problem such that the Low-k film may be separated and this separation may reach the devices to cause fatal damage to the semiconductor devices. Further, in the case of the semiconductor wafer such that the testing metal patterns called test element group (Teg) for testing the function of the devices are partially provided on the streets, there arises a problem such that when the semiconductor wafer is cut along the streets by using the cutting blade, burrs may be generated because the metal patterns are formed of a tough metal such as copper, causing chipping on the side surfaces of each device to result in a degradation in quality of each device.
To solve the above problems, there has been proposed a wafer dividing method including the steps of applying a laser beam to the semiconductor wafer along each street to form a laser processed groove along each street, thereby removing the Low-k film and the Teg on each street and next cutting this area where the Low-k film and the Teg have been removed, by using a cutting blade. However, in the case that the Low-k film and the Teg are provided on each street, the Low-k film and the Teg are removed by applying the laser beam under different processing conditions. Accordingly, this wafer dividing method includes a Teg removing step of preliminarily detecting the position of the Teg to make coordinate data and then applying a laser beam to the Teg according to this coordinate data to thereby remove the Teg and a Low-k film removing step of applying the laser beam to the Low-k film on each street to thereby remove the Low-k film (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-118832, for example).

Laser processing method and laser processing apparatus


The invention provides novel compositions comprising Imidazopyridine compounds. Also provided are methods of administering the compositions in an effective amount to enhance the immune response of a subject. Further provided are novel compositions and methods of administering the compositions in combination with (an)other agent(s).

Issued U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,689,338, 5,389,640, 5,268,376, 4,929,624, 5,266,575, 5,352,784, 5,494,916, 5,482,936, 5,346,905, 5,395,937, 5,238,944, 5,525,612, and 6,110,929, and WO 99/29693 disclose imidazoquinoline compounds of the general structure (a) for use as "immune response modifiers":
Each of these references is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety and for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,083,505, describes specific imidazoquinolines for use as adjuvants. WO 03/097641 discloses the use of certain imidazoquinolines and salts thereof for the treatment of certain protein kinase dependent diseases and for the manufacture of pharmaceutical preparations for the treatment of diseases.
Immune response to certain antigens can be enhanced through the use of immune potentiators, known as vaccine adjuvants. Such adjuvants potentiate the immune response to specific antigens and are, therefore, the subject of considerable interest and study within the medical community.
Research has resulted in the development of vaccines possessing antigenic epitopes that were previously impossible to produce. For example, currently available vaccine candidates include synthetic peptides mimicking numerous bacterial and viral antigens. The immune response to these purified antigens can be enhanced by coadministration of an adjuvant. Unfortunately, conventional vaccine adjuvants possess a number of drawbacks that limit their overall use and effectiveness. Moreover, many of the adjuvants currently available have limited utility because they include components that are not metabolized by humans. Additionally, most adjuvants are difficult to prepare and may require time-consuming procedures and, in some cases, the use of elaborate and expensive equipment to formulate a vaccine and adjuvant system.
Immunological adjuvants are described in "Current Status of Immunological Adjuvants", Ann. Rev. Immunol., 1986, 4, pp. 369-388, and "Recent Advances in Vaccine Adjuvants and Delivery Systems" by Derek T O'Hagan and Nicholas M. Valiante. See also U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,806,352; 5,026,543; and 5,026,546 for disclosures of various vaccine adjuvants appearing in the patent literature. Each of these references is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety and for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.
Efforts have been made to identify new immune modulators for use as adjuvants for vaccines and immunotherapies that would overcome the drawbacks and deficiencies of conventional immune modulators. In particular, an adjuvant formulation that elicits potent cell-mediated and humoral immune responses to a wide range of antigens in humans and domestic animals, but lacking the side effects of conventional adjuvants and other immune modulators, would be highly desirable. This need could be met by small molecule immune potentiators (SMIPs) because the small molecule platform provides diverse compounds for the selective manipulation of the immune response, necessary for increasing the therapeutic index immune modulators.
Novel sole-acting agents with varied capacities for altering levels and/or profiles of cytokine production in human immune cells are needed. Compounds with structural disparities will often elicit a desired response through a different mechanism of action, or with greater specificity to a target, such as a dendritic cell, modulating potency and lowering side effects when administered to a patient.
The immunosuppressive effect of cytostatic substances has rendered them useful in the therapy of autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, psoriasis and certain rheumatic diseases. Unfortunately, their beneficial effect has to be weighed against serious side effects that necessitate dosages that are too low. Furthermore, interruption of the treatment may be required.
Agents and/or combinations of active substances that result in significantly improved cytostatic or cytotoxic effects compared to conventional cytostatics e.g., vincristin, methotrexate, cisplatin, etc., are needed. With such agents and combinations, chemotherapies may be offered that combine increasing efficiency with a large reduction of side effects and therapeutic doses. Such agents and combination therapies may thus increase the therapeutic efficiency of known cytostatic drugs. In some embodiments, the compounds of the invention are used in combination with compounds that provide significantly improved cytostatic or cytotoxic effect compared to conventional cytostatic agents when administered alone. Additionally, cell lines that are insensitive to conventional chemotherapeutic treatment may also be susceptible to chemotherapy using combinations of active substances.
Improved methods for preparing therapeutics that serve to augment natural host defenses against viral and bacterial infections, or against tumor induction and progression, with reduced cytotoxicity, are needed. The present invention provides such methods, and further provides other related advantages. The current invention provides method of preparing therapeutic and prophylactic agents for treatment of disease states characterized by other immune deficiencies, abnormalities, or infections including autoimmune diseases and viral and bacterial infections responsive to compounds with the capacity to modulate cytokines and/or TNF-α.


This invention provides therapeutic methods for inhibiting tumor metastasis and for treating primary tumors. The methods of this invention do not cause serious side effects and will be effective for a broad spectrum of cancerous diseases. In particular, the invention discloses a novel method comprising administering to a mammal a preparation of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). The IVIG preparation to be administered according to this invention may contain intact immunoglobulin molecules or fragments of immunoglobulins. The preparation is administered parenterally, preferably via intravenous, intracavitary or subcutaneous routes, either as a sole agent or in combination with other agents or methods which are commonly used for cancer treatment.

The formation of metastases of malignant tumors, initiated from a primary tumor at more or less remote locations of the body, is one of the most serious effects of cancer and one for which a satisfactory treatment protocol is currently unavailable. Cancer tumor metastasis is responsible for most therapeutic failures when the disease is treated, as patients succumb to the multiple tumor growth.
The extent to which metastasis occurs varies with the individual type of tumor. Melanoma, breast cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer and prostate cancer are among the types of cancer that are particularly prone to metastasize. When metastasis takes place, the secondary tumors can form at a variety of sites in the body, with lungs, liver, brain and bone being the more common sites.
The currently available methods of cancer therapy such as surgical therapy, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and other immunobiological methods have either been unsuccessful in preventing metastasis or these methods give rise to serious and undesirable side effects.
In many clinically diagnosed solid tumors (in which the tumor is a localized growth) surgical removal is considered the prime means of treatment. However, many times after surgery and after some delay period, the original tumor is observed to have metastasized so that secondary sites of cancer invasion have spread throughout the body and the patient subsequently dies of the secondary cancer growth. Reports indicate that in individuals with resectable tumors, primary tumor growth or local recurrence is not often the cause of death. Instead, at present, nearly 40% of cancer victims with operable tumors ultimately succumb to metastatic disease following surgery.
Metastasis is a constant occurrence in some tumors. However, many times metastasis is triggered by the surgical operation itself. During the course of surgery malignant cells may become dislodged from the tumor mass and enter the circulatory system thus increasing the chance of metastasis.
Although chemotherapy is widely used in the treatment of cancer, it is a systemic treatment based usually on the prevention of cell proliferation. Accordingly, chemotherapy is a non-specific treatment modality affecting all proliferating cells, including normal cells, leading to undesirable and often serious side effects such as immunosuppression, pancytopenia (growth inhibition of bone marrow cells with anemia, thrombocytopenia and leukopenia), diarrhea, nausea and alopecia (hair loss).
Generally, the existing systemic treatments have, quite often, proven to have little effect on micrometastases already residing in remote organs (lung, liver, bone marrow or brain), and they are not very effective in preventing the dissemination of the tumor to other tissues.
Therefore, the need exists for methods of inhibiting tumor metastasis. In particular, methods which inhibit metastasis without causing serious side effects are much desired.

Immunotherapeutic method of treating cancerous diseases by administration of gamma globulins


A safe trampoline includes a flat resilient mat, and a support frame including an upper frame formed around the resilient mat and a lower frame for supporting the upper frame. The safe trampoline includes: a plurality of rollers mounted on the upper frame; connection members other than springs, sides of which are indirectly or directly coupled to a periphery of the resilient mat and opposite sides of which are partially wound on the rollers; and resilient bodies, sides of which are coupled to the opposite sides of the connection members and opposite sides of which are fixedly coupled to a specific part of a planar lower location of the resilient mat. The resilient bodies extend or are restored to the original positions according to a load applied to the resilient mat.

In general, a trampoline is an exercise device in which a net or a resilient mat is connected to a steel frame having a predetermined shape by springs, and refers to an exercise device which the user can scale to jump therefrom. The trampoline is widely known to people as a public exercise device that contributes to treatment as well as exercise through a jumping operation.
However, a trampoline according to the related art may cause a space at a spring part connecting a resilient mat to a frame provided around the resilient mat, frequently causing a safety accident in which a foot drops through the space.
Accordingly, a supplementary measure using a high tension band has been tried, but the resiliency of the band deteriorates and a food of the user still drops down.
In order to solve the safety problem, Korean Utility Model Application Publication No. 20-0006216 (published on Jun. 22, 2011 and entitled "Trampoline Cover") suggests a cover installed at a spring part between a resilient mat and a frame.
However, a problem of dropping a foot of the user may be solved by the cover suggested in the utility model document to a degree, but a space between an edge of the resilient mat covered by the cover and the frame cannot be used. That is, an area for a jumping operation is restricted.


Disclosed are peptides related to human TGF-xcex1, having TGF-xcex1 biological activity, which are useful for many of the indications that full-length TGF-xcex1 polypeptide is useful. Also provided are methods of use of such peptides, as well as human TGF-xcex1 and biologically related polypeptides. For example, methods for treating or preventing cachexia in subjects are provided as well as methods for stimulating hematopoiesis in patients undergoing cytotoxic chemotherapy. In addition, the use of TGF-xcex1 related peptides to related neurodengenerative diseases is also provided. Methods of the invention also provide protection for patients undergoing cytotoxic therapy from side effects such as gastrointestinal (GI) mucositis.

The invention relates generally to transforming growth factor alpha ( ) and more specifically to methods of using TGF-xcex1 for stimulating hematopoiesis, for suppressing immune function associated with autoimmune diseases, for suppressing inflammatory responses mediated by excessive histamine release and by expression of TNF-receptors and associated pro-inflammatory cytokines, and for treating cachexia or for treating or preventing mucositis and gastrointestinal-associated disorders.
There are several disease treatments that could significantly benefit by having cells regenerate after injury or lesion formation, particularly in the CNS, in the immune system and in the gastrointestinal tract. In some instances, a particular treatment for a disease often detrimentally affects the subject being treated. For example, administration of chemotherapeutic agents to subjects results in destruction of healthy cells, for example, cells of the gastrointestinal tract. A number treatment-related disorders are related to the choice of chemotherapeutic agent. Such agents include carmustine (BCNU), chlorambucil (LEUKERAN), cisplatin (PLATINOL), Cytarabine, doxorubicin (ADRIAMYCIN), fluorouracil (5-FU), methoxetrate (MEXATE), taxol, CPT111, etoposide, and plicamycin (MITHRACIN) which are known for their direct stomatotoxic potential (Sonis, 1993, xe2x80x9cOral Complications in Cancer Therapy,xe2x80x9d In: Principles and Practice of Oncology, pp. 2385-2394, DeVitta et al., Eds., J. B. Lippincott, Philadelphia) and hence incidence of mucositis.
Oral mucositis can be initiated by the cytotoxic effects of chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy on the rapidly dividing epithelial cells of the oropharyngeal mucosa, and is exacerbated by infection with both endogenous oral flora and opportunistic bacterial and fungal pathogens. Complications related to oral mucositis vary in the different patient populations affected, but typically include pain, poor oral intake with consequent dehydration and weight loss, and systemic infection with organisms originating in the oral cavity. The pain associated with oral mucositis may be severe requiring narcotic analgesics, and the difficulty in eating can result in patients receiving total parenteral nutrition.
Current therapies have been directed at decreasing oral flora and the extent of infection of oral ulcerations. Systemic treatment with G- and GM-CSF has been shown to result in a decreased incidence of oral mucositis, presumably by allowing for more rapid neutrophil recovery and thus an improved ability to combat infection, although it has been postulated that the CSFs may have a more direct effect on the oral mucosa (Chi et al., 1995, J. Clin. Oncol. 13:2620-2628). In one study, GM-CSF was reported to exacerbate mucositis. (Cartee et al., 1994, Cytokine 7:471-477). Benzydamine hydrochloride, a nonsteroidal drug with analgesic and antimicrobial properties, has been studied both in patients undergoing radiation therapy and in patients receiving intra-arterial chemotherapy.
In addition, diseases associated with epithelial cell depletion in the gastrointestinal tract often increase the risk of related disorders. Such related disorders include infection by opportunistic pathogens as well as weight loss associated with the loss in nutrient uptake in the gastrointestinal tract.
The present invention is based on the seminal discovery that TGF-xcex1 and functionally related polypeptides, TGF-xcex1 mimetics, functional TGF-xcex1 peptides, and polynucleotides encoding such polypeptides and peptide fragments are effective for treating or preventing weight-loss in subjects having disorders or diseases associated with weight-loss (e.g., cachexia). In addition, the polypeptides of the invention have mitogenic and barrier function (e.g., protective) effects on stem cells and their differentiated progeny from a variety of tissues including the gastrointestinal system, the nervous system and the hematopoietic system.
In a first embodiment, the invention provides a method of treating a subject having or at risk of having cachexia comprising administering to the subject a transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-xcex1) polypeptide in an amount effective to prevent or reduce weight-loss. In one aspect, the invention provides a method of increasing the body weight of a subject comprising administering to the subject, prior to, simultaneously with, or substantially following chemotherapy, a transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-xcex1) polypeptide in an amount effective to increase the weight of the subject. In one aspect the subject has AIDS related complex (ARC) or AIDS and cachexia associated with such diseases.
In another embodiment, the invention provides a method for treating or preventing mucositis of the gastrointestinal tract in a subject, comprising administering a TGFxcex1 or related polypeptide in an amount effective to treat or prevent mucositis in the subject. For example, a subject undergoing chemotherapy can be treated by the method of the invention.
The invention also provides a polypeptide comprising a peptide having a sequence NH2-X1a-Cys-His-Ser-X1b-X2-X1a-X1b-X1a-X3-Cys-COOH (SEQ ID NO:4) wherein X1a and X1b are independently Val, Gly or Ala; X2 is Tyr or Phe; X3 is Arg or Lys; and the two Cys moieties are linked via a disulfide bond to form an at least 11-amino acid functional peptide having TGF-xcex1 activity.
In another embodiment, the invention provides a polypeptide comprising a peptide having a sequence NH2-X1a-Cys-His-Ser-X1b-X2-X1a-X1b-X1a-X3-Cys-COOH (SEQ ID NO:4) wherein X1a and X1b are independently Val, Gly or Ala; X2 is Tyr or Phe; X3 is Arg or Lys; and the two Cys moieties are linked via a disulfide bond to form an at least 11-amino acid functional peptide having TGF-xcex1 activity and wherein at least one or more of the following amino acids are linked to the C-terminal Cys moiety of SEQ ID NO:4: -X4-His-X1c-X4-X5-X6-X1c (SEQ ID NO:5) wherein X4 is Glu or Asp; X5 is Leu or Ile; and X6 is Asp or Glu.
In yet another embodiment, the invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising a polypeptide having a sequence NH2-X1a-Cys-His-Ser-X1b-X2-X1a-X1b-X1a-X3-Cys COOH (SEQ ID NO:4) wherein X1a and X1b are independently Val, Gly or Ala; X2 is Tyr or Phe; X3 is Arg or Lys; and the two Cys moieties are linked via a disulfide bond to form an at least 11-amino acid functional peptide having TGF-xcex1 activity, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In addition, at least one or more of the following amino acids are linked to the C-terminal Cys moiety of SEQ ID NO:4: -X4-His-X1c-X4-X5-X6-X1c (SEQ ID NO:5) wherein X4 is Glu or Asp; X5 is Leu or Ile; and X6 is Asp or Glu.
The invention also provides a compound that acts as a TGF-xcex1 mimetic, comprising a compound of formula: loop peptide N-terminus-linker-cyclic C4H8N2-linker-loop peptide N-terminus wherein the linker moiety is designed to link the N-terminus of the loop peptide to a nitrogen atom of the ring C4H8N2 and wherein the loop peptide has a sequence NH2-X1a-Cys-His-Ser-X1b-X2-X1a-X1b-X1a-X3-Cys COOH (SEQ ID NO:4) wherein X1a and X1b are independently Val, Gly or Ala; X2 is Tyr or Phe; X3 is Arg or Lys; and the two Cys moieties are linked via a disulfide bond to form an at least 11-amino acid functional peptide having TGF-xcex1 activity.

Methods of increasing body weight in a subject by administering TGF-xcex1


A method for remodulation of a modulated optical signal is disclosed which uses a disturbed line signal and an optical clock signal derived from the undisturbed original line signal modulated with the bitrate frequency feeding both signals in a Raman amplifying fiber connected to at least one Raman pump running the clock signal as Raman pump wavelength for the line signal.

The invention is based on a priority application EP 02360129.7 which is hereby incorporated by reference.
The invention deals with a method for remodulation of a modulated optical signal using a disturbed line signal and an optical clock signal derived from the undisturbed original line signal modulated with the bitrate frequency, feeding both signals in a Raman amplifying fiber connected to at least one Raman pump and running the clock signal as Raman pump wavelength for the line signal.
The invention is also related to a device for remodulation of optical signals with an input for line signals and a coupler, the coupler connects the line and a Raman pump laser with a piece of Raman active fiber, and the Ramon pump laser is connected to a clock recovery device which modulates the Raman pump laser light with the bit rate frequency of the optical signal.
The invention is also related to a transmission system for transmission of optical signals in transmission lines comprising transmitter means, receiver means and regeneration means in the line where the regeneration means have devices to recover amplitude, clock and shape of the signals, the clock recovery device comprises means to recover an optical clock signal, the said optical clock signals is connected to a remodulation device as described in the invention.
Optical communication systems are a fast-growing constituent of communication networks. The term "optical communication system" as used in the following relates to any system or device which makes use of optical signals to transport information across an optical waveguiding medium. Optical communication systems comprise inter alia telecommunication systems, local area networks (LAN), cable television systems etc. Optical communications at ultra-high bit-rates with bit rates for example over 40 Gbit/s over long distance suffers from severe degradations occurring during propagation.
For the transmission capacity of optical fibres in optical communication systems is expected to advance in the future, the evolution of optical signal recovery is one of the core technologies involved in this process. A key to this evolution is the availability of extremely-broad-band optical devices, offering modulation, regeneration, amplification over nearly all the transmission window allowed by silica. In this respect, optical regeneration by synchronous modulation was proven to alleviate limitations of transmission due to reduction of timing litter, decreasing polarisation mode dispersion impact, improvement of optical signal-to noise ratio at low bit error rate levels.
For regeneration of optical signals in transmission system several solution are known.
Electro-optical interferometers are well known. But this InP or LiNbO3 MZ devices, suffer from rather high insertion loss (>10 dB for InP, >8 dB for PI-concatenated LiNbO3), which in turn limits or even suppresses the benefit of synchronous optical regeneration. They also face a problem from the operating speed limit imposed by electronic circuitries and electrode phase-matching which is typical 40 GHz. Their power consumption is rather high (>10 W), which limits their interest for submarine-cable applications. Finally, their optical power-handling capability is limited (<100 mW), which prevents massive/simultaneous WDM optical regeneration.
Also all optical semiconductor amplifiers are known.
For example the EP 0 975 106 discloses a system where a digital modulation is extracted for regeneration using an optical coupler and clock extractor, and semiconductor amplifiers are used in an amplitude or phase modulator arrangement to modulate soliton pulses. The device comprises an optical coupler and electro-optical recovery unit for recovery of the clock signal from the incoming signal in the input line (F1). This permits the extraction of digital information for regenerating use and a means of modulation of the amplitude and/or the phase of the solitons by the clock signal. The device is characterized by the use of a Mach-Zehnder modulator containing first and second optical semiconductor amplifiers arranged in two parallel arms with the gain of each modulated by the recovered clock signal.
The output signals from the recovery unit are fed to a splitting circuit providing, through delay circuits feedback to amplifiers in the modulator. The output line contains the-signal of same wavelength as the input line, with the clock signals blocked by the feedback signals.
Solution with semiconductor optical amplifiers as described in EP 0 975 106 face the problem that the all-optical components can operate beyond 40 GHz but at the expense of complexity.
Basically all the aforementioned approaches require costly semiconductor of electro-optic components, which are difficult to manufacture, to package and to optimize.

Method for remodulation of a modulated optical signal and device for remodulation and transmission system


The invention provides a signal amplifying stage, used in a signal receiver. The signal amplifying stage has: a fixed-gain low noise amplifier (LNA), amplifying an input signal; a variable-gain LNA (VG-LNA) array, amplifying the input signal, including a plurality of parallel VG-LNAs, the VG-LNA array being parallel with the fixed-gain LNA; a variable-gain amplifier (VGA), being in series with the fixed-gain LNA and the VG-LNA array, for amplifying output signals from the fixed-gain LNA and the VG-LNA array to generate an output signal; an attenuator, being in parallel with a combination of the fixed-gain LNA, the VG-LNA array and the VGA, for attenuating the input signal to generate the output signal; and a control loop, coupled to the VGA and the attenuator, for detecting power levels of the output signal to enable and control the fixed-gain LNA, the VG-LNA array, the VGA and the attenuator.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a low noise, highly linear amplifying stage and a signal receiver using the same, which have wide dynamic range and good noise performance by combining active amplifiers and passive attenuators.
2. Description of Related Art
In telecommunication systems, RF (radio frequency) signals or input signals can be distributed to destination devices over a wide area using, for example wireless communication links or wireline communication links. Signal receivers may select between wireless signals received or wireline signals received. In general, wireless signals received are much weaker than wireline signals received. The received signals strength at the receivers may vary over a wide range due to the different characteristics of the wireless links and the wireline links.
TV tuners, which is a kind of signal receivers, need to provide both low noise and highly linear (i.e. wide dynamic range) variable gain. FIGS. 1˜3 show several related arts in signal receivers.
FIG. 1 shows a prior art Radio Frequency (RF) tuner with Automatic Gain Control (AGC) used in conventional signal receivers. System 199 is a Radio Frequency (RF) tuner with Automatic Gain Control (AGC). The system 199 includes: a front-end attenuator 100 that receives an RF input signal, a low-noise amplifier (LNA) 110, a filter 120, a mixer 130, a filter 140, a mixer 150, a digital attenuator 155, and broadband power detectors 160, 170, 180. Power detector 160 is placed after LNA 110, power detector 170 is placed after filter 120, and power detector 180 is placed after mixer 150 and filter 140. Each of power detectors 160, 170, 180 measures the total power in the signal at each respective placement point.
System 199 also includes control block.190 which receives measured power levels from detectors 160, 170, 180 and controls the attenuation by adjusting digital attenuators 100 and/or 150.
However, in FIG. 1, Applicant perceives that the front-end attenuator 100 preceding the LNA 110 constrains the noise figure of the system 199 to be large. That is, Applicant perceives that the noise performance of the system 199 in FIG. 1 is not good enough.
FIG. 2 is a simplified functional block diagram of a prior variable gain amplifier 240. The variable gain amplifier 240 includes a passive attenuator 242 in series with a variable gain stage 244. The amplifier 240 further includes a gain control circuit 246, which controls the attenuation provided by the attenuator 242 and the variable gain provided by the variable gain stage 244, based on feedback signals from other circuits in the signal receiver applying the amplifier 240.
Similarly, Applicant perceives that the passive attenuator 242 preceding the variable gain stage 244 also constrains the noise figure of the variable gain amplifier 240 to be larger than 3 dB. That is, Applicant perceives that the noise performance of the variable gain amplifier 240 in FIG. 2 is not good enough.
FIG. 3 shows another prior AGC amplifier circuit. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 310 represents a signal input terminal, reference numeral 320 represents a fixed-gain amplifier of which the gain does not depend on an AGC voltage, reference numeral 330 represents a variable-gain amplifier (VGA), reference numeral 340 represents a signal output terminal, reference numeral 350 represents an AGC voltage input terminal, reference numeral 360 represents a differential amplifier for level conversion, and reference numeral 370 represents a reference voltage generator circuit. Here, the reference voltage generator circuit 370 supplies a stable reference voltage Vref to the differential amplifier 360. The signal fed in via the terminal 310 is fed to the fixed-gain amplifier 320 and to the variable-gain amplifier 330. The differential amplifier 360 generates AGC voltages Vagc2′ and Vagc2 which vary according to the AGC voltage Vagc.
Applicant perceives that the AGC amplifier circuit in FIG. 3 has limited gain control range because it applies only one VGA. Further, during normal operation, either the active fixed-gain LNA 320 or the active VGA 330 will be active, so Applicant perceives that the linearity performance is also limited.
Therefore, how to solve the above problems is important in RF signal receivers. However, it is difficult to design a very linear amplifying stage capable of amplifying large input signals in a linear fashion which simultaneously possesses continuous or discrete gain control. A further complication is the desire to implement a relatively large dynamic range over which gain control operates. Further, it also needs a RF signal receiver which provides low noise figure, continuous or discrete gain control and wide dynamic range.

Low noise, highly linear amplifying stage and signal receiver using the same


A system for optimizing arbitration latency of a bus. The system places a bus grant idle state insertion logic block in parallel with a bus grant decision logic block. This allows the bus grant idle state insertion logic block to immediately deassert all bus grant output signals for one clock cycle as long as the bus is idle and a device has requested use of the bus. The bus grant idle state insertion logic block then changes the output of a multiplexer so as to select the bus grant output signal (which becomes valid during this state)and drives the output bus grant signal off chip thereby granting the bus to a device which requested use of the bus. The bus granting process takes two (2) clock cycles.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to computer systems and, more specifically, to a system for optimizing bus arbitration latency and method therefor.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Every computer system requires the use of arbiters to determine when certain devices in the computer system may access a particular bus. For example, every Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) based system requires an arbiter to determine when each PCI device may access the PCI bus. Current PCI based arbiter designs require a plurality of PCI clock cycles to determine when a particular PCI device should next be granted use of the PCI bus. A plurality of PCI clock cycles is generally required in order to meet PCI specifications. For example, one PCI clock cycle is typically needed to clock in bus request signals from the PCI devices into the arbiter. One or more clock cycles are further required in order for the arbiter to determine which PCI device should be granted the bus next. Another clock cycle is then required to drive all PCI device bus grant signals inactive (i.e., required to meet PCI specifications). Finally, one or more clock cycles are required to assert the next bus grant signal.
As can be seen from the above discussion, several PCI bus cycles are required in order for the arbiter to determine which PCI device should next be granted use of the PCI bus. This arbitration timing needs to be optimized in order to reduce the time it takes for a PCI device to be granted access to the PCI bus. By optimizing the arbitration timing, the time it takes for a PCI device to be granted access to the PCI bus may be substantially reduced. This will speed up the flow of data in the computer system, thereby increasing the overall efficiency of the computer system.
Therefore, a need existed to provide a system to optimize bus arbitration latency. The system needs to reduce the time it takes for a device to be granted access to a bus. This will increase the overall efficiency of the computer system by speeding up the flow of data.

System for optimizing bus arbitration latency and method therefor


A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type; a plurality of first cylindrical semiconductor pillar regions of the first conductivity type periodically provided on a major surface of the semiconductor layer; a plurality of second cylindrical semiconductor pillar regions of a second conductivity type provided on the major surface of the semiconductor layer and being adjacent to the first semiconductor pillar regions; a plurality of first semiconductor regions of the second conductivity type provided in contact with the top of the second semiconductor pillar regions; second semiconductor regions of the first conductivity type selectively provided on the surface of the first semiconductor regions; a first main electrode provided on the first semiconductor region and the second semiconductor region; an insulating film provided on the first semiconductor pillar regions, the first semiconductor regions, and the second semiconductor regions; a control electrode provided on the insulating film; and a second main electrode provided on a side opposite to the major surface of the semiconductor layer. The control electrode has openings periodically provided in first and second directions substantially parallel to the insulating film. Each of the first semiconductor regions is provided below the opening of the control electrode. A period of arrangement of the plurality of second cylindrical semiconductor pillar regions is smaller than the periods of the openings in the first and second directions.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a semiconductor device, and more particularly to a semiconductor device having the superjunction structure.
2. Background Art
Vertical MOSFETs (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistors) suitable for power electronics application have been conventionally known. The on-resistance of this MOSFET greatly depends on the electric resistance of the conduction layer (drift layer). The resistance can be decreased by increasing the impurity concentration of the drift layer. However, the increase of impurity concentration is restricted for ensuring a desired breakdown voltage. That is, there is a tradeoff between the device breakdown voltage and the on-resistance. Improving this tradeoff is important for low power consumption devices.
As an example MOSFET improving the tradeoff, a MOSFET having a structure called the superjunction structure is known, where p-type pillar regions and n-type pillar regions are provided in parallel in the drift layer. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,081,009 (FIG. 3). In this structure, a non-doped layer is artificially produced by equalizing the amount of impurities contained in the p-type pillar region and the n-type pillar region. While maintaining high breakdown voltage, a current is allowed to flow through the n-type pillar region doped with high concentration. Thus a device with low on-resistance over the limit of the material is realized.
In this superjunction structure, the period of the superjunction structure (the period of repetition of the p-type pillar region and the n-type pillar region) needs to be decreased for increasing the amount of impurities in the p-type and n-type pillar region to reduce the on-resistance. If the amount of impurities in the p-type and n-type pillar region is increased without decreasing the period, the lateral electric field for completely depleting the superjunction structure is increased, and the vertical electric field determining the breakdown voltage is decreased. Thus the period of the superjunction structure needs to be decreased for reducing the on-resistance while maintaining high breakdown voltage.
When the superjunction structure is arranged in the same direction and at the same period as the overlying MOS gate structure, decreasing the period of the superjunction structure entails downsizing of the MOS gate structure. The downsizing of the MOS gate structure leads to a significant change of process and a decrease in process margin.
The '009 patent also discloses the superjunction structure and the MOS gate structure extending orthogonal to each other in a striped configuration. In such configuration, the period of the superjunction structure can be made different from the period of the MOS gate structure.
However, in such configuration, electrons injected from the channel into the n-type pillar region spread and flow below the base region. This lateral spreading resistance causes a problem of increased on-resistance.


An apparatus for recording and reproducing a video signal and a digital audio signal, the audio signal being recorded and reproduced in either a first mode or a second mode, includes a rotary drum having a pair of rotary heads and records the video signal and selectively records the audio signal on a magnetic tape wrapped around the rotary drum. When the video signal and selected digital audio signals are reproduced, a detector detects the frequency of a predetermined portion of the reproduced signal and judges the mode of the digital audio signal on the basis of the detected frequency.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to video tape recorders and, more particularly, is directed to a so-called 8-mm video tape recorder in which recorded modes of a pulse-code modulated (PCM) audio data can be identified by checking reproduced signals recorded in the intervals adjacent to the PCM audio data.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the 8-mm video tape recorder, the video signal is recorded as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
As shown in FIG. 1, a frequency-multiplexed signal SV is formed by frequency-multiplexing an FM (frequency-modulated) signal SF, FM-modulated by a video signal SY, a down-converted carrier chrominance signal SC, an FM signal SM, FM-modulated by a sum signal (L+R) of left and right channel audio signals L, R, an FM signal SS, FM-modulated by a difference signal (L-R), and a pilot signal SP used to effect tracking servo in playback mode. This frequency-multiplexed signal SV is recorded on a magnetic tape 2 as one slant video track 2V at every field period as shown in FIG. 2.
In accordance with the technology development of the 8-mm video tape recorder, the PCM audio signal is recorded in a variety of modes, such as shown in FIG. 3.
In "NRML mode", as shown on the second row of FIG. 3, the audio signal is quantized into a digital signal in which a sampling frequency is 31.5 kHz (.apprxeq.2 fh where fh is the horizontal frequency) and one sample is formed of 10 bits. Then, one sample of the digital signal is nonlinearly compressed in data from 10 to 8 bits and converted into a biphase mark signal. This biphase mark signal is recorded on the magnetic tape 2 at a front over-scan interval of the video track 2V over an angular extent of 36 degrees as the track 2A as shown in FIG. 2.
In "L mode", as shown on the third row of FIG. 3, the audio signal is quantized into a digital signal in which a sampling frequency is any of 48 kHz, 44.1 kHz and 32 kHz and one sample is formed of 16 bits. This digital signal is converted in an eight-to-ten conversion fashion and the converted digital signal is then recorded on the magnetic tape 2 at a front over-scan interval of the video track 2V over an angular extent of 41 degrees as the track 2A as shown in FIG. 2.
Further, in "N mode", as shown on the fourth row of FIG. 3, one sample of the quantized digital signal is nonlinearly compressed in data in the form of 16 to 12 bits and then recorded similarly to the L mode.
In actual practice, the recorded signal involves an error correction code, an identifying (ID) code and so on and the transmission rate thereof is presented as shown in FIG. 3. Also, the recorded signal has a pre-amble signal, a post-amble signal and the like added thereto.
The NRML mode is the standard standardized when the 8-mm video tape recorder was introduced and the L and N modes are the standards added or expanded in accordance with the development of the 8-mm video tape recorder technology.
Since the L and N modes are new modes which are added to or expanded in the PCM audio mode of the 8-mm video tape recorder as described above, the existing high-grade video tape recorders can cope with the NRML mode, the L mode and the N mode. However, the NRML mode, the L mode and the N mode are not available in the existing standard type video tape recorders and therefore these standard type video tape recorders have no system to properly identify these modes.

Recording/reproducing apparatus for determining the mode of a recorded digital audio signal by detecting different clock frequencies at selected times


Methods, systems, and computer program products are disclosed for selectively performing global title translation based on message type at an SS7 network node. A message is received indicating route-on-global-title. A message type of the received message is determined. Global title translation is selectively performed based on the determined message type.

In telecommunications signaling networks, global title translation (GTT) refers to the process by which the signaling connection control part (SCCP) called party address (CdPA) in a signaling message is translated into the point code of an intermediate or final destination. In intermediate global title translation, the SCCP CdPA is translated into the point code of an intermediate destination. In final global title translation, the SCCP CdPA is translated into the point code and subsystem number of a final destination.
A node that performs intermediate GTT translates the global title address (GTA) digits in the message to a point code corresponding to a second node and sends the message with a route-on-global-title indication to the second node. The first node may or may not modify the GTA digits before sending to the second node. The second node performs another global title translation, which could be another intermediate GTT, or a final GTT.
The node performing the final GTT translates the GTA digits in the message to the point code and subsystem number corresponding to the final destination node for the message. After translation, the node sends the message route-on-point-code-subsystem-number to the next hop in the routing path. The next hop in the routing path may or may not be the final destination. Although no subsequent GTTs will be performed, the message may be routed through several more nodes before reaching its final destination.
The transaction capabilities application part (TCAP) protocol is used in Signaling System 7 (SS7) telecommunications networks for sending database queries to a service control point (SCP). The SCP provides an interface to local and remote databases that contain subscriber and routing information. TCAP messages can also be sent from one voice switch to invoke functions in another switch in the network. When TCAP is used to query a database, SCCP may be used in conjunction with TCAP to route the message to the appropriate database subsystem.
In some telecommunications networks, SCPs are redundantly provided. That is, multiple identically provisioned SCPs may be present in a network for enhanced reliability and/or for increasing the speed at which SCP services are provided. Each of the redundant SCPs may have a separate point code, and other network nodes may rely on GTT translations to route messages to the SCPs. In such a case, most final GTT translations are performed such that messages will be distributed among redundant SCPs based on any suitable criteria, such as load sharing. Load sharing between redundant SCPs may be equal, for example, if the SCPs have identical processing capabilities. Alternatively, load sharing may be unequal, for example, if one SCP has greater relative processing capabilities. Another reason for unequal load distribution may include providing a high quality of service SCP for subscribers willing to pay for faster SCP access.
Regardless of the reason for distributing messages among redundant SCPs, there may be some cases in which it is desirable to ensure that a message is delivered to a particular SCP. More particularly, certain types of messages are handled more efficiently when sent to an SCP already involved in the associated transaction. For example, when a query is initiated by an SCP, a response to the query can be handled more efficiently if returned to the initiating SCP. Conventionally, however, there is no discrimination performed based upon the type of message being processed. For example, when load sharing is employed, the load sharing algorithm does not process messages differently based on whether the message is a response or another message type. Thus, a conventional GTT load sharing application could result in a message being sent to the incorrect SCP.
Some conventional approaches use a calling party address (CgPA) point code (PC) from a query message to return the response to the query back to the SCP originating the query. Not all network implementations, however, have a point code in the CgPA. Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) implementations, for example, do not use a CgPA PC in order to provide space for other data. As a result, for GSM implementations, each transaction must be tracked using a transaction ID in the TCAP message to associate specific transactions with a particular SCP. This requires the use of a device that tracks the state of each transaction by transaction ID and associates it with an SCP until the entire transaction is completed.
Tracking individual transactions requires resource-intensive complex operations, thereby increasing overhead for message processing. Accordingly, a need exists for methods, systems, and computer program products for selectively performing GTT translations based on a message type without requiring the tracking of transactions.

Methods, systems, and computer program products for selectively performing global title translation based on message type


A composition for suppressing appetite and cravings for substances such as nicotine, coffee, sweets or chocolate while improving energy and enhancing mood comprises theobromine or a salt thereof at an effective amount of from about 250 to 4000 mg. Using such relatively high proportions of theobromine, without added caffeine or ephedrine provides an effective method for promoting weight control or to halt substance cravings without the side effects associated with such stimulants. The composition also includes Rhodiola rosea extract to offset stress effects from reduced food or substance intake, and to further improve mood, and clarity of thought and ability to handle stress, and to also increase endurance while reducing muscle pain.

Numerous attempts have been made to provide an oral composition to assist individuals in controlling weight, particularly to improve health. Excess weight can result in a higher incidence of illness, such as diabetes, coronary disease, and a higher risk for certain cancers.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,447,818, a weight loss composition utilizes ephedrine, or one of its analogs, combined with a Crataegus extract and an extract of Gingko biloba in particular proportions.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,277,396 a caffeine-ephedrine combination is discussed.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,543,405, another ephedrine containing composition is discussed.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,229,390, a dieting composition comprises an amino acid such as arginine, with a stimulant such as caffeine, theophylline or theobromine, and a thiamine type compound in a particular weight ratio.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,436,946, a composition for oral administration contains caffeine plus a non caffeine stimulant and a cognitive cofactor which ameliorates the diffuse chronic depolarization and subsequent cortical depression commonly associate with stimulants alone.
Many compositions in this area utilize as a stimulant, caffeine and/or ephedrine combined with other ingredients, as stimulants generally suppress appetite, However, these substances have various undesirable side effects. Caffeine increases blood pressure, can cause cardiac arrhythmia, and can give one to have a nervous, jittery feeling. Ephedrine can produce similar side effects and the FDA has recommended that ephedrine not be taken by those with heart disease or high blood pressure. There have been allegations that the misuse of ephedrine containing products has caused several deaths. While ephedrine and/or caffeine compositions may be effective in weight control, the search continues for oral compositions which support weight control without these detrimental side effects.
It is particularly desirable to provide a weight control composition which avoids the "edginess" or "jittery" feeling that often occurs with stimulant use, by avoiding the use of added caffeine or ephedrine.
Various natural based products have been proposed to improve mood, and improve clarity of the thought. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,290,994 describes a beverage that contains theobromine or caffeine with vinpocetine citrate for stimulating cerebral activity. U.S. Pat. No. 4,472,387 describes a pharmaceutical composition that increases serotonin concentration which uses a hydroxy tryptophan as a serotonin precursor and a compound such as caffeine or theobromine.
One problem with most weight control compositions is that while they may suppress appetite, they may not reduce the craving for food and in fact, a "rebound" often occurs where, when the stimulant effects wear off, there follows a strong urge to "binge" and overeat, offsetting whatever previous gains have been made.
This craving effect also occurs for those wishing to stop smoking, or other use of tobacco products, or who which to forego an addictive need for specific foods such as coffee or chocolate. No products are known which have a direct effect on such physical cravings.
Consequently, the search continues for natural products that can help an individual with weight control, suppressing appetite as well as cravings for certain foods, such as sweets, for tobacco, chocolate, or other pseudo-addictive substances while improving mood and energy with limited side effects, and particularly for such a product that avoids use of added caffeine and/or ephedrine.

Composition and method for appetite and craving suppression and mood enhancement


A hearing aid (200) with multiple microphones comprises a first microphone (1) for converting sound into a first audio signal, a second microphone (20) for converting sound into a second audio signal, directional processing means for combining the first and said second audio signal according to a mixing ratio to form a spatial signal, estimating means for estimating a first acoustic feedback signal entering the first microphone and a second acoustic feedback signal entering the second microphone, processing means (4) for processing said spatial signal by applying a gain not exceeding a resulting maximum gain limit to form a hearing loss compensation signal, wherein the resulting maximum gain limit is derived from the first and second acoustic feedback signals and the mixing ratio, and an output transducer (3) for converting the hearing loss compensation signal into an acoustic output. The invention further provides a method and a computer program product.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to hearing aids. The invention further relates to methods of utilizing gain-limitation in hearing aids. The invention, more particularly relates to hearing aids incorporating multiple microphones that are adapted to interpolate a maximum gain limit in dependency of the mixing ratio of the microphone signals. The invention still more particularly, relates to hearing aids further incorporating feedback cancellation in order to reduce disturbances due to acoustic feedback, and respective methods thereof.
2. The Prior Art
It is a widely known problem in hearing aid design to adjust the maximum possible amount of gain with which an acoustic input signal may be amplified to produce a hearing loss compensation signal without the appearance of artifacts cased by acoustic feedback or other acoustic disturbances. This is in particular a problem in hearing aids that incorporate multiple microphone branches each having a microphone providing a feedback path. Therefore, a gain safety margin is generally required in order to avoid that the feedback loop approaches the border of stability, the point of generating undesired and annoying sounds.
WO-A-94/09604 discloses a hearing aid with digital, electronic compensation for acoustic feedback which comprises a compensation circuit. The circuit monitors the loop gain and regulates the hearing aid amplification so that the loop gain is less than a constant K. An adaptive filter operates to minimize the correlation between input and output from the hearing aid and may be used to give a measure of the attenuation in the acoustic feedback path by deriving gain, and possibly also phase, characteristics from a feedback cancellation filter.
WO-A-02/25996 discloses a hearing aid with an adaptive filter for suppression of acoustic feedback. The adaptive filter may be used as an independent measuring system to estimate the acoustic feedback signal without distortion of the processed acoustic input signal.
These data may be used to determine loop gain and then set an upper limit on the applicable gain that may be used in each of multiple evaluated frequency bands.
Also, U.S. Pat. No. 6,498,858 discloses how feedback cancellation may be applied to a system with two omni-directional microphones.
Neither of these publications discloses, however, how maximum gain limit values can be determined in multi-microphone systems.
WO-A-99/26453 discloses a feedback compensation system for a hearing aid with two microphones and directional processing, wherein each microphone signal is independently feedback compensated before processing in a directional controller. Independently compensating each microphone signal before directional processing requires extensive processing and carries a risk that an imperfect compensation of the feedback signals will result in a residual feedback signal component, which may interfere with the function of the directional controller.
Thus, there is a need for improved hearing aids as well as improved techniques for utilizing gain-limitation in multi-microphone hearing aids.

Hearing aid and method of utilizing gain limitation in a hearing aid


One aspect of the present invention can include a vehicle seat, a seat frame having a cushion frame, the cushion frame with a first and second side frame, a bead extending from an outer side of one of the first and second side frame, the bead including a first and second inclined surface connected at a ridge portion, and a notch portion defined in a lower portion of the at least one of the first and second side frame, wherein the notch portion is positioned proximate the bead.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a frame structure of a vehicle seat for absorbing an impact generated upon a rear-end collision by bending of a seat frame.
2. Description of the Related Art
A vehicle seat includes a seat-cushion, a seat-back and a reclining system. The reclining system connects the seat-back to the seat-cushion so as to be capable of moving between an upright position and a reclined position.
When the vehicle encounters the rear-end collision, an occupant seated on the vehicle seat is pressed toward the rear of the seat due to the impact thereof. The seat-back is positioned upright at a predetermined angle of inclination with the reclining system. The occupant must be supported by the seat-back. In order to do so, a configuration (frame structure) which causes another frame component to bend to absorb the impact of the rear-end collision is necessary to protect the reclining system.
A kind of a frame structure is described in JP-A-2001-178584. This structure includes a reclining system and a bracket. A cushion frame and a back frame are connected via the reclining system. The back frame is mounted on the reclining system via the bracket. The bracket includes a main plate shaped as a flat plate and a flange to be connected to the main plate. The flange has a substantially L-shape (side cross-sectional view).
The bracket includes a bead. The bead is a portion that is formed by depressing an outer wall of the bracket inwardly of the bracket in a triangle shape. The bead is formed on the bracket so as to extend across a borderline between the main plate and the flange.
The impact of the rear-end collision of the vehicle is absorbed by bending of the bracket (outer wall) starting from the bead. The impact which is transmitted to the reclining system is alleviated by the impact absorption as described above.
However, this frame structure does not include configurations to absorb impact other than bending of the bracket (part of the back frame) by plastic deformation. Therefore, sufficient alleviation of the impact of the rear-end collision is not achieved by the frame structure.
The vehicle seat is adapted to transmit the impact of the rear-end collision to the cushion frame which is joined to the back frame. Therefore, the impact of the rear-end collision can be sufficiently absorbed by bending the cushion frame. However, since the occupant is seated on the cushion frame, the cushion frame should not be bent in an arbitrary direction.


A system for resizing image files includes an FPGA including an interface controller operable to receive a plurality of image files through an interface, a computing kernel controller, and a memory controller. The FPGA also includes an interconnect coupled to the computing kernel controller and the memory controller and a plurality of computing kernels coupled to the interconnect. The system also includes a memory coupled to the FPGA.

JPEG is the de facto image format used in the Internet. Due to the explosive growth of the use of social networking and internet communications, a large amount of images are transferred every day, most of which are compressed using the JPEG standard. Because mobile devices such as tablets and smart phones and fixed devices such as desktop computers have different screen resolutions and bandwidth capabilities, it is necessary to resize images for optimized viewing on each individual device. This resizing task is usually done in datacenters, using large number of servers based on conventional microprocessors.
Despite the progress made in data communications and processing, there is a need in the art for improved methods and systems for resizing or rescaling images.

Method and system for rescaling image files


A method including intercepting a OFR for a file issued by an application to a FS, forwarding the OFR to the FS, receiving from the FS a FD for the file, issuing a SR for the file to the FS. The further method includes receiving from the FS status information for a target device on which the file is located, where the status information includes an OID for the file, storing a mapping of FD to the OID, intercepting a first FOR for the file, making a determination the that the first FOR is one of a read request and a write request, based on the determination, making another determination that the target device supports the direct I/O protocol, and issuing a DI request to the target device using the OID for the file, where the DI request is not processed by the FS.

File systems are typically used to manage the interaction between applications and the data used by the applications. In particular, file systems provide applications with a common interface through which the applications can access data without requiring the applications to understand how the data is stored on the storage device. The processing of requests from the applications by the file system typically introduces latency that may impact the operation of the applications.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and system for hybrid direct input/output (I/O) with a storage device


Apparatus which separates particles by size or by specific gravity. The apparatus separates particles from a liquid slurry by directing the slurry into a particle separation chamber which circulates slurry particles along helical paths in the chamber. The apparatus continues to circulate slurry particles along helical paths of travel after the flow of liquid slurry into the particle separation chamber is discontinued.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to particle separation apparatus which separates particles by size or by specific gravity.
More particularly, the invention relates to apparatus which separates particles from a liquid slurry by directing the slurry into a particle separation chamber which circulates slurry particles along helical paths in the chamber.
In a further respect, the invention relates to particle separation apparatus of the type described which continues to circulate slurry particles along helical paths of travel after the flow of liquid slurry into the particle separation chamber is discontinued.
In another respect the invention relates to particle separation apparatus of the type described which can readily and efficiently separate from a liquid slurry a particle size fraction which is comprised entirely either of particles less than 150 mesh in size or of particles greater than 3 mesh in size.
In still a further respect, the invention pertains to particle separation apparatus of the type described which does not require a large difference between the inlet pressure and outlet pressure, and which does not require that liquid slurry be directed into the particle separation chamber under pressure in order for the apparatus to operate efficiently.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hydrocyclones are commonly utilized to separate particles from a liquid slurry. The particles are separated by size or by specific gravity. In a hydrocyclone, a slurry is pumped under pressure through an orifice into a conically shaped housing. The conically shaped housing causes the slurry to travel along an ever decreasing helical path. Heavier (or larger) particles segregate along the conical wall of the housing while lighter (or smaller) particles segregate inwardly from the housing wall. Several disadvantages are associated with conventional hydrocyclones. First, if there is an interruption in the flow of pressurized slurry through the orifice into the hydrocyclone, the internal flow of slurry through the hydrocyclone collapses. Second, hydrocyclones are, practically speaking, limited to performing particle separation on slurries which contain particles no larger than about one quarter of an inch. Third, a particular limitation of hydrocyclones is that hydrocyclones can only achieve relatively rough splits when removing particle size fractions from a slurry. Fourth, hydrocyclones do not permit liquid or gas overflow which is at the center of hydrocyclone to be both forced out under pressure generated in the hydrocyclone and suctioned out of the hydrocyclone under vacuum.
Accordingly, it would be highly desirable to provide an improved particle separation apparatus which maintained its internal energy during the ebb and flow of the liquid slurry stream feeding the apparatus, which could readily process slurries containing large or small particles, which could both pump particles out under internal hydrocyclone pressure and draw particles out of the hydrocyclone under vacuum, and which could accurately achieve a greater number of particle splits than conventional hydrocyclones, such splits being made according to particle size or particle specific gravity.
Therefore, it is a principal object of the invention to provide an improved particle separation apparatus.
A further object of the invention is to provide improved apparatus which separates particle size fractions or particle specific gravity fractions from a liquid slurry by directing the slurry into a particle separation chamber which circulates the slurry along uninterrupted continuous helical paths of travel in the separation chamber.
Another object of the invention is to provide improved particle separation apparatus of the type described which maintains the flow of slurry particles along continuous helical paths of travel in the separation chamber even after the input of slurry into the chamber has been discontinued or interrupted.
Still a further object of the invention is to provide improved particle separation apparatus of type described which enables liquid slurry to be input into the particle separation chamber moving only under the force of gravity at atmospheric pressure.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide improved particle separation apparatus of the type described which efficiently produces particle size fractions comprised either of small or large particles.


A device for detecting and indicating the caffeine concentration of a beverage includes a disposable test sheet having a reagent section and a color chart. The reagent section is impregnated with a reagent which, when reacted with caffeine, produces a characteristic chromogenic and color change. These changes vary according to the caffeine concentration of a tested beverage sample. The color chart includes a plurality of color gradations corresponding to ranges of caffeine concentrations and includes numerical indicia corresponding to respective color gradations. The color chart further includes indicia indicative of representative beverages corresponding to respective color gradations and numerical ranges. The color chart may be arranged concentrically about the reagent section or in tabular list form. The test sheet includes a polymeric layer to prevent a beverage sample from soaking through the reagent section.

This invention relates generally to the detection of caffeine in a beverage and, more particularly, to a disposable test sheet that enables a consumer to determine the caffeine concentration of a beverage at the time of consumption and to compare the caffeine concentration to a numeric range and representative beverages within that range.
Consumers have become increasingly concerned about the effects that caffeine may have on their bodies. For example, pregnant women may avoid caffeine due to its teratogenic effect. Others may avoid caffeine because it is a known diuretic. Others simply desire to avoid caffeinated beverages during the evening hours due to its stimulating effect that may lead to insomnia.
Various devices have been proposed in the art for determining the concentration of caffeine in a beverage, such as the dipstick device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,610,072 to Scherl, et al. Although assumably effective for their intended purposes, the existing devices are not portable and do not provide for a disposable sheet that allows a consumer to determine the caffeine concentration of a beverage sample and to compare an identified numerical range to representative beverages having similar concentrations.
Therefore, it is desirable to have a caffeine testing device that enables a consumer to determine the caffeine concentration of a beverage by comparing a test result color with color gradations on an integral color chart. Further, it is desirable to have a caffeine testing device which enables a consumer to compare the caffeine concentration of a beverage with predetermined concentrations of other beverages.
A caffeine testing device according to the present invention includes a test sheet constructed of a flexible and disposable material such as cloth, paper, or cardboard. Therefore, the test sheet may be constructed in the form of a napkin, coaster, or the like. The test sheet includes a reagent section on which a consumer may place a sample of a beverage, e.g. a few drops, for testing. The reagent section is impregnated with a reagent which, when reacted with caffeine, produces a characteristic chromogenic change which corresponds to a particular caffeine concentration. This change is observable in that the chromogenic change produces a color that is characteristic of the respective caffeine concentration of the beverage sample.
The test sheet further includes a color chart having a plurality of color gradations corresponding to the possible color variations that may result from a reaction between the reagent and a beverage sample. The color gradations may be arranged as concentric sections surrounding a centrally positioned reagent section or in a more conventional tabular list format. The color chart includes numerical indicia representing the caffeine concentration associated with each respective color gradation. Therefore, a consumer is able to determine a caffeine concentration range of a beverage sample by matching the color of the reagent section with a corresponding color gradation on the color chart. The color chart further includes a list of representative beverages relative to each color gradation and associated caffeine concentration range. Thus, a consumer is able to identify the caffeine concentration of a beverage, the names of other beverages having similar concentrations, as well as the names of alternative beverages having lower concentrations.
Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide a caffeine testing device for detecting and displaying the caffeine concentration of a beverage.
Another object of this invention is to provide a caffeine testing device, as aforesaid, having a color-coded chart for indicating caffeine concentration ranges for comparison with the color of a test result.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a caffeine testing device, as aforesaid, which is portable and disposable.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a caffeine testing device, as aforesaid, in which the color observed in a test area varies according to the concentration of caffeine in a tested beverage sample.
A further object of this invention is to provide a caffeine testing device, as aforesaid, which includes an impermeable polymeric layer opposite the reagent section so as to prevent a beverage sample from soaking through the reagent section.
A still further object of this invention is to provide a caffeine testing device, as aforesaid, in which the reagent section is constructed of an absorbent material.


An oil dynamic bearing, a motor and a disk drive adapted to be reduced in both size and thickness are disclosed. The oil dynamic bearing (B) includes at least two bearing portions (B1, B2), each having a bearing near end nearer to the rotational axis or the bearing center of the bearing and a bearing far end farther from the rotational axis or the bearing center of the bearing. The near and bearing far ends are each connected to a taper seal portion, which in turn communicates with the atmosphere. The taper seal portion connected to the bearing near end of the bearing portion (B1) and the taper seal portion connected to the bearing near end of the other bearing portion (B2) make up a common taper seal portion.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an oil dynamic bearing using an oil or the like as a lubrication fluid and a motor and a disk drive having the oil dynamic bearing.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, the hard disk drive (HDD) has been increased in capacity and improved in quietude. The hard disk drives having a spindle motor for driving the disk supported on an oil dynamic bearing has found an increased application.
In the oil dynamic bearing, the oil held in a minuscule gap between the surface of a rotary unit and the surface of a fixed unit is caused to develop the dynamic pressure through a plurality of dynamic pressure generating grooves formed on at least one of the surfaces of the rotary unit and the fixed unit in the gap, and the rotary unit is supported rotatably by the dynamic pressure of the oil.
A motor having a dynamic bearing using an oil is known, comprising upper and lower radial bearings for supporting the radial load of the rotary unit, upper and lower thrust bearings for supporting the axial load of the rotary unit and a taper seal structure formed at the ends of the radial bearing portion and the thrust bearing portion not to scatter the oil.
This structure has the feature that an oil interface with an air is formed at the ends of each bearing portion and therefore bubbles, if generated in the oil, are easily discharged out and therefore a malfunction due to the bubbles hardly occurs.
Some examples of the malfunction due to the bubbles in the dynamic bearing include a case in which bubbles, if mixed in the minuscule gap of the dynamic bearing which should be filled up with the oil, are thermally expanded at high temperatures. As a result, the oil forcibly leaks out, the bearing surfaces facing the bubbles come into contact with each other and burn, or the uneven magnitude of the dynamic pressure of the bubbles causes instability.
The storage capacity of the HDD has so increased and the price thereof has so decreased recently that the HDD has now come to find application in various home electric appliances such as the recording equipment, the portable music player and the digital camera as well as the storage device of the personal computer.
The home electric appliances are required to be reduced in size and used in various environments. The HDD mounted in the home electric appliances, therefore, requires new characteristics not required of the personal computer. The HDD mounted on the portable devices such as the portable music player and the digital camera, for example, is required to be compact and thin, high in shock resistance and vibration resistance and have an internal power supply small in power consumption to stand the protracted use without adversely affecting the storage capacity and quietude.
In order to realize such HDD, a spindle motor for driving the disk in keeping with the characteristics described above is required, and we have studied the use of an oil dynamic bearing having an oil interface with an air at each end of the bearing as explained above.
Generally, the spindle motor carrying an oil dynamic bearing can be implemented with high-accuracy rotation, and therefore the HDD having this motor can achieve the desired storage capacity and quietude. The oil dynamic bearing having an oil interface with an air at the ends thereof, however, requires a space for holding the oil in a taper seal portion and a bearing portion, and therefore cannot be suitably reduced in size or thickness.
For this reason, the spindle motor and the HDD carrying this oil dynamic bearing is difficult to reduce in size and thickness.
The foregoing is the description of the HDD, the spindle motor and the oil dynamic bearing mounted on the HDD. A similar problem is encountered, however, also in the use of the oil dynamic bearing for motors of other applications and the devices carrying the motors.

Oil dynamic bearing, motor supported on oil dynamic bearing and disk drive carrying the motor


A holder for a loudspeaker box onto which the loudspeaker box can be slipped. The holder includes a control handle and a clamping device actuatable without tools via the control handle.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a holder for a loudspeaker box onto which the loudspeaker box can be slipped.
2. Discussion of Background Information
Loudspeaker boxes are used, e.g., at music events. They are generally arranged on box stands or box tripods. It is also conceivable for the loudspeaker boxes to be attached via wall holders.
For attachment, loudspeaker boxes generally have a flange that is embodied or formed in the broadest sense as a hollow cylinder. This flange serves to receive a cylindrical part of a box stand. However, because the flange of the loudspeaker box does not have the same diameter for all loudspeaker boxes, the connection between the flange and the cylindrical part of the box stand is affected by play. This is due, among other things, to the fact that loudspeaker boxes in Europe have a flange inside diameter of 35 mm, while loudspeaker boxes in the U.S.A. have a flange inside diameter of, e.g., 1.5 inches or approx. 38 mm. As a result, the support of a loudspeaker box on a box stand of this type is still relatively unstable. In addition, the flanges are often not embodied or formed on the inside in an exactly hollow cylindrical manner, but instead are formed to have tapers. Thus, play between the flange and the cylindrical part of a box stand is unavoidable.
Although the play between the loudspeaker box and the box stand facilitates the placement and removal of the loudspeaker box, it also means that the loudspeaker box can vibrate on the box stand, which can lead to acoustic problems. The loudspeaker box is not clearly fixed with respect to the box stand, either, so that the position of the loudspeaker box can change during operation, which is generally undesirable.


A tangential combustion turbine is disclosed which is based on a casing, a rotor, and moving levers. A radial compressor is attached to the rotor and creates air pressure which pushes air into the combustion chamber based on the position and design of the combustion lever. The combustion chamber is defined by spaces between rotor lobes, and by combustion levers and exhaust levers which follow the rotor surface. A premix fuel system or direct fuel injection is used to create combustion. The exhaust gases then pass through the exhaust lever into the exhaust piping as the rotor rotates.

(1) Field of the Invention
This application is directed to a rotational combustion turbine or engine, with a stationary casing and a rotating part, in which the thermodynamic expansion power released during the burning of an oxygen/combustible mixture of fuel within defined chambers, works directly against a rotor, and is directly transformed into mechanical power.
(2) Description of Related Art
The classical Otto, Diesel, and Wankel engines, with the first two having a development history of more than 100 years, have meanwhile reached very high performances, but are still less than ideal regarding the modern requirements for more economic, environmental friendlier as well as for higher performance engines. Some of the main disadvantages of these engines are the occurring of the ignition only after two or four revolutions, high vibrations, two dead rotation points in the power transmission from piston to the crank shaft, many heavy oscillating and rotating parts to be balanced etc. The vibrations and sealing problems of the Wankel engine have not been solved yet.
Most of the rotational engines are based on the Wankel design, or have pulsating piston systems within circular trajectories and need complicated gears for the conversion of the chemical energy into mechanical power, and thus deliver low efficiency. Some of these engines with more tangential action of the ignition do have large pendulant components and shapes that are difficult to seal. These engines provide a reduced number of ignitions per rotation and have relatively low compression rates, what makes them economically obsolete. The well known Gas Turbines are ideal for the airplane industry, especially for high speed and high performances, but are not economical for slower and smaller means of transportation.
Others have worked on rotary engines. A common design is the rotary vane type, of which, U.S. Pat. No. 2,468,451 is an example. There are always reliability issues with the rotary vanes in a rotating engine. The structure to house the vanes and allow them to move becomes complicated and requires a robust setup to allow reliable, consistent operation. The vanes must be designed with the exhaust and intake systems in mind to ensure the seals are not affected by any valves or chamber openings. The reliability of the gas sealing and the movement of the vanes is always questionable. In a rotating engine it is much more desirable to have a sealing system that follows a smooth surface to ensure reliable operation.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,988,008 describes the Wankel rotary type of rotary engine which is known in the art. Fundamentally, it is a four stroke cycle is carried out in three or four working chambers. The seal between the inner rotor and outer rotor is always a complicated matter due to the geometry match of the rotating member to the stationary casing. This type of engine has not been widely implemented due to problems of sealing within combustion chamber, poor durability, low fuel efficiency at low loads, and undesirable emissions.


A method and apparatus for positioning a tong comprises a piston and cylinder assembly and a mounting assembly therefor. The mounting assembly is mounted on a support beam in the drilling derrick and the piston and cylinder assembly is pivotally mounted on the mounting assembly. The piston and cylinder assembly can be pivoted between an operative position in which it can be extended and retracted to move a tong towards and away from a string of tubulars, and an inoperative position in which the piston and cylinder assembly extends along an upwardly extending axis with part of the piston and cylinder assembly disposed to either side of the mounting assembly.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an apparatus for positioning a tong and a drilling rig provided with said apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In our PCT Publication No. WO 95/10686 we have described an apparatus for positioning a tong which comprises two rigid members which are each formed by connecting two chains each of which is independently flexible. Whilst this apparatus functions extremely well, it is expensive to manufacture and to maintain.

Apparatus for positioning a tong and drilling rig provided with such an apparatus