A method and system for assisting a user in constructing a formula in a cell of a spreadsheet operating on a computer system. A function dialog box is displayed that lists various functions that may be selected by the user to be entered into the formula. By selecting a button in the function dialog box, an insert function dialog box is displayed that lists additional functions by category. When the user selects a function, a parameter dialog box associated with the selected function is displayed. Parameters may include cell addresses as well as numerical or other data entered directly by the user. The parameter dialog box displays the formula as it is being constructed. After the parameters have been entered, a result dialog box is displayed that allows the user to select the result cell in which to place the formula. The user selects the result cell and the result dialog box is removed from the display screen, the formula is entered in the result cell, and the result of the formula is displayed in the result cell.

Spreadsheet programs are widely-used application programs that run on personal computers. Spreadsheet programs are commonly used for budgets, forecasting, and other finance-related tasks. In a spreadsheet program, data and formulas are entered in ledger-like forms for analysis, tracking, planning, or evaluations of the impacts of real or proposed changes on data.
Spreadsheet programs use rows and columns of cells for the display of data. Depending on the program, a single spreadsheet can contain anywhere from thousands to millions of cells. Some spreadsheet programs can also link one spreadsheet to another spreadsheet that contains related information and can update data in linked spreadsheets automatically. Spreadsheet programs may also include macro facilities, and some can be used for creating and sorting databases. For printed output, spreadsheet programs usually provide graphing capabilities and a variety of formatting options for both printed pages and text, numeric values, and captions and legends in graphs.
Each row and column in a spreadsheet is unique, so each cell is uniquely identified. Typically, each column is identified by a letter, and each row is identified by a number. Thus, the cell located at the intersection of column A and row 1 is identified as cell A1. Each cell is displayed as a rectangular space that can hold text, numerical data, or a formula that uses parameters, which may comprise data in other cells, to calculate a desired result. To ease computation, spreadsheet programs include built-in functions that perform standard calculations.
Such built-in functions may include simple arithmetic functions such as addition (designated by the + character), subtraction (designated by the--character), and multiplication (designated by the * character). Many other functions may be provided in the spreadsheet, including complex trigonometric functions to calculate the sine or cosine of a variable (designated by SIN and COS, respectively), and functions to find the natural logarithm and exponential value of a variable (designated by LN and EXP, respectively). Many other functions are provided by spreadsheet programs to perform a wide variety of calculations and data comparisons.
A formula may be constructed within a cell of the spreadsheet using one or more of the built-in functions combined with any other constants or variables. The proper syntax of each formula is entered into the spreadsheet directly by the user through the use of keystrokes on a keyboard. The various functions available in spreadsheet formulas are denoted by a particular character or characters. For example, the very simple formula A1+B1 may be entered in the spreadsheet when the user wants to add the numbers located in cells A1 and B1. More complicated formulas utilizing unfamiliar and complex functions require the user to manually enter a function identifier, such as SIN, COS, etc., to use the function. Therefore, it is clear that the use of functions in spreadsheet formulas requires that the user memorize the syntax required to correctly enter the formula. Thus, formula entry can quickly become very difficult for the user, and the probability of improperly entering such formulas is high.
Spreadsheet programs are popular among both sophisticated, expert computer users as well as ordinary, novice users. Ordinary users may include homeowners who use spreadsheet programs for maintaining household budgets and personal finances. Other ordinary users may include small business owners who use spreadsheets to perform tasks such as tracking inventory, costs, sales, etc. Frequently, these tasks require the use of complicated formulas in the spreadsheet program.
These ordinary users of computers are usually not well-versed in mathematics or computer syntax related to the formulas that can be entered in the spreadsheet. Therefore, the user may not remember the proper syntax and function identifiers required for various functions and therefore may incorrectly enter the formula or may be forced to consult a lengthy and complicated user's manual to obtain the correct syntax.
Current spreadsheet programs, such as Excel, manufactured by Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash., assignee of the present invention, require that the user is familiar with the complicated syntax needed to enter formulas in the spreadsheet. Thus, when the user wishes to enter a formula in the spreadsheet, the user must manually enter the formula including all proper syntax using the keyboard without being aided or prompted by the spreadsheet program.
When a user manually enters a formula, the probability of errors in the formula are high. Common errors include improperly referencing other cells that are part of the calculation, transposing cell addresses (identifying cell A1 as cell 1A), placing multiple operators together, and mismatching parentheses. Also, incorrect spacing as well as various other typographical errors can result in an improperly entered formula.
Current spreadsheet programs utilize a "function wizard". The wizard assists the user with the entry of parameters into an individual function but does not allow the user to enter functions into the formula. Thus, the function wizard, while assisting the user with certain aspects of formula construction, only assists the user after the proper syntax for a function has been manually entered. Consequently, function wizards associated with current spreadsheet programs do not free the user from the difficult task of remembering and entering the proper formula syntax. Thus, function wizards do not assist the user in the construction of a formula in its entirety.
Also, current function wizards do not perform error correction. Although current spreadsheet programs are able to detect an improperly entered formula and generate and display a message to the user, current programs do not detect the precise error that is present within the formula and also do not provide a suggestion for the correction of the error. If the user incorrectly enters a formula, current spreadsheet programs generate a generic error message to the user indicating that the formula has been incorrectly entered. However, the generic error message neither detects nor notifies the user of the type or location of the error. Therefore, without knowing what type of error is present in the formula, a user is left with the tedious and frustrating task of poring through a lengthy and complicated formula to detect where the error exists and editing the formula to correct the error. This increases user frustration and decreases efficiency.
All of these problems associated with formula entry serve not only to make the use of formulas in spreadsheets time-consuming and inefficient but also frustrating for the user. These problems may force a frustrated user to simply give up and cease entering formulas in spreadsheet programs. By not efficiently and effectively utilizing all of the benefits that spreadsheet formulas provide, the user does not maximize the capabilities of the spreadsheet program.

Method and system for constructing a formula in a spreadsheet


A computer implemented method is provided for use in evaluating a hierarchical representation of a circuit design encoded in a computer readable medium comprising: traversing a circuit path within a higher level circuit that includes a reference potential connection, to identify a port of a call to a first lower level circuit that is DC path connected to the reference potential; identifying a first DC port group that includes each port of the call to the first lower level circuit that is DC path connected to the identified port of the call to the first lower level circuit; automatically marking as DC path connected to the reference potential, each port of the call to the first lower level circuit that is a member of the first DC port group; and traversing a circuit path within the first lower level circuit to identify a circuit path within the first lower level circuit that is DC path connected to a marked port of the first lower level circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates in general to automated design of integrated circuits, and more particularly, to the use of hierarchical circuit designs in the simulation of integrated circuits.
2. Description of the Related Art
As the product development cycles continue to shorten, there is a need for the makers of SPICE-like simulators to come up with new ways to quickly and accurately predict the system-wide behaviors of these exponentially denser and more complex analog integrated circuit designs. In order to simulate a system, it is important to have a complete description of the system and its components. Ordinarily, system descriptions are given structurally. That is, the description of a system sets forth instances of components and their interconnections. Descriptions of primitive components may be provided behaviorally. For instance, a mathematical description may be provided to describe the signals at the ports of the components.
FIG. 1 is an illustrative drawing of a lumped network in which components (circuit modules) connect to nodes through ports. The lumped network includes a collection of nodes and branches. A node is a point of interconnection for branches, and a branch is a path between two nodes. The term port as used in connection with the Verilog language commonly means a terminal or pin. A more formal definition of the term port is a pair of related terminals for which only two quantities are important, the port voltage and the port current. The port voltage is the potential difference between the two terminals, and the port current flows between the two terminals. The current into one terminal must exactly equal the current out of the other. As used herein, however, port means a terminal or pin. See K. Kundert and O. Zinke, The Designer's Guide to Verilog AMS, Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2004, pages 46-47.
In a hierarchical circuit representation, circuit modules are represented as calls to branch circuits or to leaf circuits. A computer readable hierarchical representation of a circuit design may include a hierarchy of software calls. Each call corresponds to a branch circuit or to a leaf circuit. A call is a computer program instruction that instructs a computer program that uses the hierarchical design during simulation, for example, to retrieve a called circuit. In this manner, a branch or leaf circuit model can be retrieved and utilized during simulation.
In a circuit design represented by a hierarchical data structure, opportunities may exist for more efficient simulation processing of redundant or duplicative circuit behaviors that are sometimes exhibited by structurally redundant subcomponents of the hierarchical circuit structure. Examples of integrated circuits which tend to exhibit extensive hierarchical data structure include high-density memory chips such as SRAMs, DRAMs, EEPROMs, etc. Parallel data processing systems and telecommunication systems also tend to have hierarchical structures with redundant subcomponents, for example.
FIG. 2 is an illustrative conceptual diagram of an example of a typical memory circuit design that has a repetitive structure. The memory circuit design includes 64,000 repetitive columns 202. Each of the columns includes 512 repetitive rows. Each row is represented by a row branch circuit 204 which in turn calls to a leaf circuit 206. The 512 repetitive rows in the column are connected together through respective nodes 208, and each node is driven by a respective sense amplifier 210.
More specifically, each row is a subcircuit that is a branch 204 in the design that includes an instance of the leaf circuit 206. The leaf circuit 206 is represented in the hierarchy structure as a call that instructs a simulator program processing the hierarchy to reference the leaf circuit instance. Thus, a single leaf circuit representation is stored, although it may be referenced by numerous calls throughout a circuit hierarchy representing a circuit design.
FIG. 3 is an illustrative drawing of a hierarchical data structure representation of the example memory circuit of FIG. 2. A top level circuit is designated as the Root which represents substantially all column sub-circuits as calls C1 to C64000, where call represents a column of the memory circuit. Each column includes a call to substantially the same row circuits from R1 to R512, each representing a row of the memory circuit. Each row includes a call to substantially the same leaf circuit. This example hierarchical representation shows that identical circuit components that are repeated throughout a design may be more efficiently represented in a hierarchical structure as calls to such repetitive components. In particular, in the Root level 308, there are 64000 substantially the same instances of the same column block, represented by calls C1 to C64000. At the row circuit block level 310, there are 512 substantially the same instances of the same leaf circuit, represented by calls R1 to R512 to the leaf circuit 312. At the leaf circuit level 312, there is only one instance of the leaf circuit 312.
Simulation of a circuit design often involves traversal of the circuit design from one node to another in order to evaluate some aspect of the design such as whether a node has a DC path to ground, whether a node is connected to a ground voltage source, whether a node has some initial condition or whether a node should be considered for dynamic partitioning, for example, within the design. For instance, a topological check of a circuit design may involve traversal of all DC paths of all circuit elements of a circuit design. In a circuit design represented as a hierarchical structure, a traverse of a circuit design during simulation may cross from one level of the circuit hierarchy to a different level of the circuit hierarchy.
Traversal of a hierarchical circuit design presents a special challenge since numerous distinct circuit elements may be represented in the design by references to a single element. For instance, each of the row elements R1 to R512 of the example design of FIG. 3 references the leaf circuit 312, and each reference represents a distinct occurrence of the leaf circuit in the circuit design. Moreover, references to different distinct circuit elements in a design may be embedded in different levels of a multi-level hierarchy. For example, each of the column elements C1 to C64000 of the root level block 308 of the design of FIG. 3 references the branch level row block 310 of the design, that includes row elements R1 to R512. Each reface to the row block 310 represents a distinct occurrence of the collection of row elements R1 to R512. However, typically, only one instance of the row block 310 is stored in the database that contains the circuit design hierarchy. Also, each of the branch level row elements R1 to R512 references the leaf circuit at the leaf circuit level of the design. Each reference to the leaf circuit 312 represents a distinct occurrence of the leaf circuit 312 in the design hierarchy. The challenge is to permit selective traversal of each and every circuit element of the design despite the fact that numerous distinct occurrences of any given circuit element may be represented by a single reference (e.g., branch circuit or leaf circuit) in the hierarchical structure that represents the circuit design.
One approach to circuit design traversal involves flattening a hierarchical circuit design structure. However, flattening an entire circuit design may be impractical in the case of large design databases, such as for a typical DRAM design, for example. More specifically, flattening an entire design may exhaust computational memory resources and may be too expensive in terms of computational time.
Another approach is to partially flatten a hierarchical design. For example, the UltraSim simulator produced by Cadence Design Systems, with a place of business at San Jose, Calif., used a partial flattening technique in which a ground node in a root circuit is identified, and then starting from that identified ground node, attempt is made to dig out all grounded "v" sources from the entire hierarchy. One shortcoming of this approach is that it can break or distort the original circuit design hierarchy.
Accurate simulation results for a hierarchical circuit design can be hampered by the fact that a property of an instance of a called circuit may depend upon a corresponding property of a higher level calling circuit, for example. Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown an illustrative drawing of a hypothetical hierarchical circuit design in which multiple root level subcircuits call the same leaf level circuit. More specifically, within a single root circuit there are four instances of the same subcircuit, labeled subcircuit 1, subcircuit 2, subcircuit 3 and subcircuit 4. All four instances call the same lower level leaf circuit. Assume that a simulation process seeks to identify DC paths to ground through traversal of the illustrated circuit design. The traversal process would determine that, although ports of subcircuits 1-2 have DC paths to ground through resistors R1 and R2, capacitors C1 and C2 block corresponding ports of subcircuits 3-4 from having DC paths to ground. If the DC path traversal of the root circuit was to result in marking the leaf circuit as having a DC path to ground (based upon the DC paths associated with subcircuits 1-2), then such marking would be correct for subcircuits 1-2 but not for subcircuits 3-4. On the other hand, if the DC path traversal of the root circuit was to result in marking the leaf circuit as not having a DC path to ground (based upon the DC paths associated with subcircuits 3-4), then such marking would be correct for subcircuits 3-4 but not for subcircuits 1-2. Thus, the state of the DC path to ground property for each of the higher level calling subcircuits 1-4 affects the state of the DC path to ground property of the leaf circuit that is called by these higher level calling subcircuits 1-4.
Efficiency in the simulation of a hierarchical design can be hampered by repeated traversals of the same called circuit, for example. Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown an illustrative drawing of another hypothetical hierarchical circuit design in which multiple root level subcircuits call the same leaf level circuit. More particularly, within a single root circuit there are four instances of the same subcircuit, labeled subcircuit 5, subcircuit 6, subcircuit 7 and subcircuit 8. All four instances call the same lower level leaf circuit. Assume that a simulation process requires traversal of the entire root circuit and all of its calls. Further assume that traversal begins at node C. One hypothetical example traversal involves stepping into the subcircuit 6 and then stepping down in the hierarchy to the leaf circuit, which is at a lower level of the hierarchy below the root level. The traversal process traverses the leaf circuit. Next, the traversal process steps back up in the hierarchy to node B, which is at the root level. The traversal steps into subcircuit 5, and then again steps down in the hierarchy to the leaf circuit, which is at a level of the hierarchy below the root level. Next, the traversal process steps back up in the hierarchy to node A, which is at the root level. In a similar manner, the hypothetical traversal further involves stepping into the subcircuit 7 and then stepping down in the hierarchy to the leaf circuit, a lower level of the hierarchy below the root level. The traversal process traverses the leaf circuit. Next, the traversal process steps back up in the hierarchy to node D, which is at the root level. The traversal steps into subcircuit 8, and then again steps down in the hierarchy to the leaf circuit. Next, the traversal process steps back up in the hierarchy to node E, which is at the root level. In this hypothetical example, the leaf circuit is traversed four times, which is inefficient.
Thus, there has been a need for an improved accurate and efficient approach to traversal of a circuit design represented in computer memory as a hierarchical structure. The present invention meets this need.

DC path checking in a hierarchical circuit design


The amorphous solid modification of 2,2',2"-nitrilo[triethyl-tris-(3,3',5,5'-tetra-tert-butyl-1,1'-biphenyl-2, 2'-diyl)phosphite] is obtained by melting said compound and rapidly cooling the melt.. The amorphous solid is an effective process stabilizer for polyolefins, particularly polypropylene.

2,2',2"-Nitrilo[triethyl-tris-(3,3',5,5'-tetra-tert-butyl-1,1'-biphenyl-2,2 '-diyl) phosphite] is a compound having the formula I ##STR1##
This compound of formula I is useful as a processing stabilizer for organic polymers as taught in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,318,845 and 4,374,219. The compound of formula I is disclosed as being a white powder melting at 121.degree.-134.degree. C. The relatively high melting point of the "white powder" form of the compound of formula I as disclosed in the above mentioned patents is a problem when stabilizing organic polymers processed at relatively low temperatures such as blow molding of HDPE and processing of natural rubber. The result is the additive is not uniformly distributed within the organic polymer causing problems in the stabilization performance of the additive stabilizer.
In accordance with the present invention an amorphous form of the compound of formula I is obtained which does not suffer the problems associated with the higher melting powder reported previously. This new amorphous form is characterized by a glass transition temperature (T.sub.g) within the range of from 105.degree.-110.degree. C. free of any endothermic melting peak above 110.degree. C. up to 230.degree. C. as determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Additionally the amorphous form of the present invention gave a featureless X-ray diffraction pattern obtained using Cu-K.alpha..
The instant invention also relates to a process for the preparation of this novel amorphous solid modification of the compound of formula I.
The instant invention also pertains to a composition stabilized against thermal, oxidative and actinic induced degradation which comprises
(a) a polyolefin, and PA0 (b) an effective amount of the amorphous solid form of 2,2',2"-nitrilo[triethyl-tris-(3,3',5,5'-tetra-tert-butyl-1,1'-biphenyl-2, 2'-diyl)phosphite], characterized by melting in the range of 105.degree.-110.degree. C. and by an X-ray diffraction pattern which is featureless.
Preferably, the polyolefin is polypropylene.
The instant amorphous solid modification is obtained from any of the solid forms of the compound of formula (I) by melting the compound and rapidly cooling the melt. The preferred method consists of pouring the molten material onto a cool surface maintained below 100.degree. C., more preferably near 25.degree. C. The amorphous solid thus obtained may be further ground or granulated into any desired particle size by conventional means.
Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements are obtained on a TA Instrument Inc., 910 differential calorimeter, with a 100 mL/min nitrogen purge, aligned aluminum pan, temperature scan at 5.degree. C./min to 230.degree. C.
X-ray diffraction patterns are recorded on a Philip Norelco X-ray Diffractometer unit, using Cu-K.alpha. radiation with a nickel filter.

Amorphous solid modification of 2,2',2"-nitrilo[triethyl-tris-(3,3',5,5'-tetra-tert-butyl-1,1'-biphenyl- 2,2'-diyl)phosphite]


An instrument is used to mark locations in tissue that define the boundary of a three-dimensional treatment zone. The position of the instrument is recorded by a tracking system and a treatment zone image is produced which depicts the treatment zone along with patient reference points also marked by the instrument. The treatment zone image is exported to a radiation treatment system which uses the patient reference points to align the treatment zone image with the patient and uses the treatment zone image to aim the radiation.

The field of the invention is the treatment of tumors, and particularly, the identification of a region to be treated with a radiation therapy device or the like.
There are currently three common methods used to communicate key operative findings to a radiation oncologist for use in intra-operative and post-operative radiation therapy. First, the surgeon may describe the operative findings, both by speaking directly with the radiation oncologist, and by dictating his findings in the operative note. With this method, the radiation oncologist makes a best attempt to utilize this information by digitizing the area of concern described by the surgeon on a CT image that has been imported to the radiation therapy planning workstation. Much can be lost in this translation. In addition, it is often considerably more difficult to precisely identify a soft tissue area of concern on a post-operative CT scan than it is to identify it intra-operatively, especially when the person identifying the area of concern intra-operatively (the surgeon) is usually different than the person attempting to identify the same area on the post-operative CT scan (the radiation oncologist).
Second, the surgeon may embed radio-opaque metallic clips into soft tissue surrounding the area of concern, to outline the area of concern. The radiation oncologist then identifies these clips on the simulation film or planning CT images, and adjusts the radiation field shape to ensure that the clips are incorporated in the treatment field. However, interpreting the area of concern (a three-dimensional shape) on a two-dimensional simulation film can cause the radiation oncologist to misinterpret the area of concern. In addition, the clips do not outline the entire border of concern. Rather, three to six "representative" clips are generally placed, spread over the entire border of concern. Finally, it can be difficult to differentiate these clips from clips placed for other purposes at the time of surgery, and the tumor identification clips can be difficult to find on the post-operative planning CT images.
Third, intra-operative irradiation may be delivered by directly visualizing the area of concern, and adjusting the linear accelerator electron cone in an attempt to ensure that the area of concern is contained within the borders of the cone. Poor lighting, blood pooling, the placement of suction devices, the use of bolus material to increase dose at the surface, difficult angles, and visual obstruction caused by the cone can make targeting vague. Clips may be placed by the surgeon to outline the area of concern, but for the reasons described above, these clips can be difficult to visualize as the radiation oncologist sets the electron cone position.

Stereotactic system and method for defining a tumor treatment region


Construction of an outer column for a telescopic steering apparatus is achieved that maintains sufficient strength, and maintains smooth operation of the work of making it possible to adjust the forward-backward position of a steering wheel and maintaining the steering wheel at the adjusted position even when a steering-lock apparatus is assembled. An approximately H-shaped slit 31 for expanding or contracting the inner diameter of a fitting-holding portion 30a of an outer column 10b comprises a main-slit section 39 and a pair of sub-slit sections 40a, 40b. Of the slit-end sections 41a, 41b, 42a, 42b of the sub-slit sections 40a, 40b, the rigidity in the direction of expansion or contraction of the width of the slit 31 in at least the portion where the closest-end section 41a that is located in a portion closest to a lock through hole 17b is formed is greater than the rigidity in the direction of expansion or contraction of the width of the slit 31 in the portions where the other slit-end sections 41b, 42a, 42b are formed.

Steering apparatuses such as illustrated in FIG. 12 are widely used for applying a steering angle to steered wheels (normally the front wheels) of an automobile. In this steering apparatus, a steering shaft 3 is supported on the inner-diameter side of a cylindrical steering column 2, which is supported by the vehicle body 1, so as to be able to rotate. A steering wheel 4 is fastened to the rear-end portion of the steering shaft 3 that protrudes further toward the rear than the opening on the rear end of the steering column 2. The rotation of the steering wheel 4 is transmitted to an input shaft 8 of a steering gear unit 7 by way of the steering shaft 3, a universal joint 5a, an intermediate shaft 6 and a universal joint 5b. The rotation of the input shaft 8 pushes or pulls a pair of tie rods 9 located on both sides of the steering gear unit 7, which applies a steering angle to the steered wheels according to the amount that the steering wheel 4 is operated.
The steering apparatus illustrated in FIG. 12 is provided with a telescopic mechanism for adjusting the forward-backward position of the steering wheel 4 according to the size and driving posture of the driver. The telescopic mechanism is constructed so that by fitting the front-end section of an outer column 10 on the rear side around the rear-end section of an inner column 29 on the front side so that relative displacement in the axial direction is possible, the steering column 2 has a telescopes shape, the overall length of which is able to extend or contract; and by combining an outer tube 11a and an inner shaft 11b by a spline joint, that steering shaft 3 is able to transmit torque, and can extend and contract.
Moreover, the steering column 2 and steering shaft 3 are constructed to be able to allow to displace the steering wheel 4 in the forward direction while absorbing impact energy during a collision accident. In other words, in a collision accident, after a primary collision in which an automobile collides with another automobile or the like, a secondary collision occurs when the body of the driver collides with the steering wheel 4, and in order to protect the driver by lessening the impact that is applied to the body of the driver during this secondary collision, the steering shaft 3 that supports the steering wheel 4 is supported by the vehicle body 1 so as to be able to move in the forward direction due to an impact load in the forward direction that occurs during the secondary collision. More specifically, the outer column 10 moves in the forward direction as the overall length of the steering column 2 contracts, and the outer tube 11a moves in the forward direction as the overall length of the steering shaft 3 contracts.
In recent years, as a measure to prevent automobile theft, automobiles have been equipped with various kinds of anti-theft apparatuses. One of these kinds of anti-theft apparatuses widely used is a steering-lock apparatus that does not allow operation of the steering wheel unless a proper key is used. FIG. 13 illustrates one example of a steering-lock apparatus as disclosed in JP 2008-265646 (A). This steering-lock apparatus 12 is provided with a lock unit 13 attached to part of the steering column 2a and a key-lock collar 15 having an engaging concave sections 14 formed in at least one location in the circumferential direction in a position that coincides with the phase in the axial direction of the lock unit 13, the key-lock collar 15 being fitted and fastened around part of the steering shaft 3. When operated (when locked), the tip-end section of a lock pin 16 of the lock unit 13 is displaced through a lock through hole 17 that is formed in the middle section in the axial direction of the steering column 2a toward the inner-diameter side of the steering column 2a, and by engaging with the engaging concave section 14, makes it essentially impossible to rotate the steering shaft 3a. In other words, when the steering wheel 4 is rotated with a force exceeding a specified value (value specified by the key-lock regulation) in a state in which the ignition key is turned OFF and the engaging concave section 14 and lock pin 16 are engaged, the steering shaft 3a will rotate with respect to the key-lock collar 15. However, when a force that is normally used for operating the steering wheel 4 is applied, the steering shaft 3 will not rotate. Steering-lock apparatuses having construction in which the key-lock collar 15 is fastened so as not to rotate relative to the steering shaft 3a, or having construction in which the key-lock collar 15 is integrally formed with the steering shaft 3a are also known. Furthermore, there are also steering-lock apparatus having construction in which breakage of the key-lock collar 15 or steering shaft 3a is prevented even when the steering wheel 4 is rotated with a force exceeding a specified value.
When the steering-lock apparatus 12 is assembled in the steering apparatus, the lock unit 13 is attached on the outer-diameter side of the steering column 2a, and the key-lock collar 15 is attached on the inner-diameter side of the steering column 2. Therefore, in order to arrange the key-lock collar 15 on the inner-diameter side of the steering column 2a so as to be able to rotate and to certainly allow the lock pin 16 and key-lock collar 15 to disengage without excessively increasing the stroke of the lock pin 16, it is necessary to make the outer diameter of the steering column 2a small and the inner diameter thereof large in at least in a portion of the steering column 2a where the steering-lock apparatus 12 is assembled, or in other words, it is necessary to make the thickness of the steering column 2a in that portion thin.
FIG. 14 illustrates an outer column 10a that is disclosed in JP 2007-223383 (A). The outer column 10a is integrally formed by die casting of a light alloy metal such as an aluminum alloy or magnesium alloy. Moreover, a fitting-holding portion 30 is provided in the end section in the axial direction of the outer column 10a for fitting the end section of a cylindrical shaped inner column inside so that relative displacement in the axial direction is possible, and a lock through hole 17a is provided in the middle section in the axial direction of the outer column 10a for assembling a steering-lock apparatus 12. With an outer column 10a having this kind of construction, there is a possibility that in the operated state of the steering-lock apparatus 12, the necessary strength will not be sufficiently maintained. In other words, when an attempt is made to rotate the steering wheel 4 with a large force in a state in which the lock pin 16 that protrudes through the lock through hole 17a into the inner-diameter side of the outer column 10a is engaged in the engaging concave section 14 of the key-lock collar 15, there is a possibility that the lock through hole 17a will deform due to an excessively large force. Therefore, in order to prevent such deformation, it is necessary to sufficiently maintain the strength of the outer column 10a. In order for this, the thickness of the outer column 10a can be increased, or the outer column 10a can be manufactured using an iron-based material, however, in that case a problem occurs in that the overall weight of the steering column increases.

Outer column for telescopic steering apparatus


A charged beam writing apparatus is disclosed, which comprises a shaped beam forming unit which shapes a charged beam radiated from a charged beam source into a beam of a desired shape by using at least two shaping masks each having a shaping aperture to form a shaped beam, a figure dividing unit which divides a contour portion of a pattern to be formed on an object layer into a plurality of figure portions having a predetermined area, a writing unit which writes the figure portions of the contour portion by using a shaped beam of the predetermined area, and a focus control unit which performs focusing of the beam radiated from the charged beam source, by using a shaped beam having the same area as that of the shaped beam which has the predetermined area and is used in writing of the figure portions of the contour portion.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a charged beam writing technique which writes a fine device pattern for a semiconductor integrated circuit or the like on an object by using a charged beam, in particular, a charged beam writing apparatus and writing method adopting a beam shaping system.
2. Description of the Related Art
In conventional art, there have been used a method of transferring a pattern by light, and a method of writing a pattern by using a charged beam such as an ion beam and an electron beam, to form the pattern on a substrate such as a semiconductor wafer and a mask. In particular, there has been mainly used an electron beam writing apparatus adopting a beam shaping system, in which an electron beam radiated from an electron beam source is shaped into desired shape and size and a pattern is written on a substrate by using the shaped beam, to manufacture a mask to be used for a lens projection aligner.
In an electron beam writing apparatus adopting a beam shaping system, writing of an internal portion of a pattern is performed by using a beam of a maximum size, i.e., a beam of an upper-limit size, which is provided by a beam shaping unit of the beam writing apparatus, and a contour portion of the pattern is divided by a figure having a beam size restricted in view of the space-charge effect and writing of the contour portion of the pattern is performed by using a beam of the restricted beam size (for example, refer to Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Pub. No. 59-167018, and Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Pub. No. 2-138723). In this method, a fixed beam size is used in the pattern contour portion, and thus no difference in the beam size is generated between individual figure portions in the pattern contour portion. Specifically, no difference in the beam resolution is generated between the individual figure portions in the pattern contour portion. Further, the internal portion of the pattern is divided by a large figure, the number of the figure portions is reduced, and increase in the writing time can be suppressed.
However, when the inventor of the present invention actually wrote a pattern by using an electron beam writing apparatus of the above method, actually there was decrease in the writing accuracy considered as being caused by the space-charge effect. It is inferred that this is because the beam size used in writing in the apparatus is different from the beam size in focusing. In an electron beam writing apparatus adopting the beam shaping system, focusing is performed by using a beam of a desired size prior to writing.
As described above, in the conventional electron beam writing apparatus adopting the beam shaping system, the beam resolution in writing is different from that in focusing due to the space-charge effect, and thus patterning accuracy is decreased with this.

Charged beam writing apparatus and writing method


The current invention relates to compounds of the formula: (Ia) and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof and their use as TGF-beta signal transduction inhibitors for treating cancer and other diseases in a patient in need thereof by administration of said compounds.

The transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) ("TGF-β3") polypeptides influence growth, differentiation, and gene expression in many cell types. The first polypeptide of this family that was characterized, TGF-β1, has two identical 112 amino acid subunits that are covalently linked. TGF-β3, is a highly conserved protein with only a single amino acid difference distinguishing humans from mice. There are two other members of the TGF-β3 gene family that are expressed in mammals. TGF-β2 is 71% homologous to TGF-β1 (de Martin, et al. (1987) EMBO J. 6:3673-3677), whereas TGF-β3 is 80% homologous to TGF-β1 (Derynck, et al. (1988) EMBO J. 7:3737-3743). There are at least three different extracellular TGF-β receptors, Type I, II and III that are involved in the biological functions of TGF-β1, -β2 and -β3 (For reviews, see Derynck (1994) TIBS 19:548-553 and Massague (1990) Ann. Rev. Cell Biol. 6:597-641). The Type I and Type II receptors are transmembrane serine/threonine kinases that in the presence of TGF-β form a heteromeric signaling complex (Wrana, et al (1992) Cell 71: 1003-1014).
The mechanism of activation of the heteromeric signaling complex at the cell surface has been elucidated (Wrana, et al. (1994) Nature 370: 341-347). TGF-β3 first binds the type II receptor that is a constitutively active transmembrane serine/threonine kinase. The type I receptor is subsequently recruited into the complex, phoshorylated at the GS domain and activated to phosphorylate downstream signaling components (e.g. Smad proteins) to initiate the intracellular signaling cascade. A constitutively active type I receptor (T204D mutant) has been shown to effectively transduce TGF-β responses, thus bypassing the requirement for TGF-β and the type II receptor (Wieser, et al. (1995) EMBO J. 14: 2199-2208). Although no signaling function has been discovered for the type III receptor, it does increase the affinity of TGF-β2 for the type II receptor making it essentially equipotent with TGF-β1 and TGF-β3 (Lopez-Casillas, et al. (1993) Cell 73: 1435-1444).
Vascular endothelial cells lack the Type III receptor. Instead endothelial cells express a structurally related protein called endoglin (Cheifetz, et al. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267:19027-19030), which only binds TGF-β1 and TGF-β3 with high affinity. Thus, the relative potency of the TGF-β's reflects the type of receptors expressed in a cell and organ system. In addition to the regulation of the components in the multi-factorial signaling pathway, the distribution of the synthesis of TGF-β polypeptides also affects physiological function. The distribution of TGF-β2 and TGF-β3 is more limited Derynck, et al. (1988) EMBO J. 7:3737-3743) than TGF-β1, e.g., TGF-β3 is limited to tissues of mesenchymal origin, whereas TGF-β1 is present in both tissues of mesenchymal and epithelial origin.
TGF-β1 is a multifunctional cytokine critical for tissue repair. High concentrations of TGF-β1 are delivered to the site of injury by platelet granules (Assoian and Sporn (1986) J. Cell Biol. 102:1217-1223). TGF-β1 initiates a series of events that promote healing including chemo taxis of cells such as leukocytes, monocytes and fibroblasts, and regulation of growth factors and cytokines involved in angiogenesis, cell division associated with tissue repair and inflammatory responses. TGF-β1 also stimulates the synthesis of extracellular matrix components (Roberts, et al. (1986) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 83:4167-4171; Sporn, et al. (1983) Science 219:1329-1330; Massague (1987) Cell 49:437-438) and most importantly for understanding the pathophysiology of TGF-β1, TGF-β1 autoregulates its own synthesis (Kim, et al. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264:7041-7045).
The compounds disclosed herein may also exhibit other kinase activity, such as p38 kinase inhibition and/or KDR (VEGFR2) kinase inhibition. Assays to determine such kinase activity are known in the art and one skilled in the art would be able to test the disclosed compounds for such activity.
The compounds disclosed and claimed in this patent application are generally related to compounds disclosed and claimed in PCT patent application number PCT/US002/11884, filed 13 May 2002, which claims priority from U.S. patent application U.S. Ser. No. 60/293,464, filed 24 May 2001, and is herein incorporated by reference.


A polymer waveguide/modulator including a lower cladding layer, a polymer core, an upper cladding layer, a first protection/barrier layer sandwiched between the lower cladding layer and the core, and a second protection/barrier layer sandwiched between the core and the upper cladding layer. The protection/barrier layers designed to protect the cladding layers and the core from solvents and gases and to prevent current leakage between the cladding layers and the core. The first protection/barrier layer is optically transparent and designed with a refractive index less than, greater than, or the same as the refractive index of the core and approximately equal to the refractive index of the lower cladding layer. The second protection/barrier layer is optically transparent and designed with a refractive index less than, greater than, or the same as the refractive index of the core and approximately equal to the refractive index of the upper cladding layer.

Laser modulators have been in use for 20 years. Initially discrete lasers were positioned next to discrete modulators so that higher performance signaling (and speeds above 10 Gbps) could be attained. While this technique has been commercialized it is not optimized. That is it does not reach the low cost targets, or space/size requirements, and takes lots of time to align the components, place them, package them, and test them.
In two copending patent applications semiconductor lasers and polymer modulators are integrated on a common platform to provide more efficient coupling between the source laser and the optical modulator. A first one of the two applications is entitled "Polymer Modulator and Laser Integrated on a common Platform and Method", filed Aug. 31, 2017, with Ser. No. 15/692,080, and a second one of the two applications is entitled "Guide Transition Device with Digital Grating Deflectors and Method" filed Nov. 14, 2017, with Ser. No. 15/812,630, both are incorporated herein by reference.
In the preferred process for fabricating the polymer modulators/waveguides the various layers are deposited in liquid form, which involves the use of solvents. These solvents can affect the abutting or surrounding layers. Also, the polymer modulators generally operate through the application of an electrical field, which is generally produced by connecting electrical contacts on opposed sides of the modulator. Thus, care must be taken to eliminate or minimize electrical leakage through the various polymer layers. Further, because the polymer modulators/waveguides are basically a "sandwich" of layers, which may or may not vary in characteristics, the index of refraction for the various layers must be considered.
It would be highly advantageous, therefore, to remedy the foregoing and other deficiencies inherent in the prior art.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide new and improved protection layers for use in polymer modulators/waveguides.
It is another object of the present invention to provide new and improved protection layers that provide protection from various solvents, gasses and for electrical charges.
It is another object of the present invention to provide new and improved protection layers that provide optical continuity with similar optical refractive indices for cladding and core layers.

Protection layers for polymer modulators/waveguides


A lock device includes a housing; a pair of rods disposed slidably in a linear direction relative to the housing, and switched between a lock position separated from each other, and a release position approaching each other; and an operating member allowing the rods to be switched from the lock position to the release position by changing from an initial state to an operating state. The lock device engages/disengages opening/closing members with/from a main member through the rods, and is formed by the housing, the rod, the operating member, a connection member urging the rods in a connected state in a direction of separating the rods from each other, and an urging member disposed between the housing and the operating member and serving as a swaying resistance of the operating member when switched from the operating state to the initial state through an urging force of the connection member.

FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b) show a lock device disclosed in Patent Document 1, and FIG. 8(a) is an exploded structural view, and FIG. 8(b) is an operational explanatory view. The lock device in FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b) comprises an operating member (a handle) 1 including right-and-left cylindrical portions 6; a support frame 2 holding the operating member; two rods (slide pins) 3 disposed slidably in a linear line direction through the cylindrical portions 6 relative to the support frame 2, and switched between a lock position separated from each other, and a release position approaching each other; two cam members 4 connected on base end sides of the respective rods 3, and urging the rods to move forward and backward; and two coil springs 5 disposed in the respective cylindrical portions 6 and respectively urging the corresponding rods 3 in a separating direction. In a basic operation, the lock device is switched between the lock position wherein the respective rods 3 are slid in a direction of separation by the coil springs 5 as shown in FIG. 8(b) so as to be engaged with lock holes H of panels P which are a main body; and the release position (a position wherein an engagement of each rod relative to the lock hole H can be released) wherein each rod 3 sways the operating member 1 from an initial state to an operating state so as to urge both the rods against an urging force from the lock position.
Essential features reside in that each rod 3 is switched from the lock position to the release position through the cam member 4 by a sway of the operating member 1; each rod 3 is operated and connected through the cam member 4 relative to the operating handle 1; back end portion sides of the respective rods 3 are formed in two-pronged-shaped elastic pieces 11; and there are provided locking holes 15 in cylindrical end portions 4a of the respective cam members 4, and projections 12 engaging with and disengaging from the locking holes 15 thereof in the respective elastic pieces 11. In the essential operation, even in a locked state wherein each rod 3 is engaged with the lock hole H on a panel side as shown in FIG. 8(b), only by rotating the rod 3 relative to the cam member 4, the projection 12 comes to free from the locking hole 15 on a cam member side, so that a drive mechanism including the rod 3 and the cam member 4 can be easily removed as well.


Exemplary embodiments of this invention encompass a method for purifying a substantially crude stevioside, methods for preparing polymorphic and amorphous forms of stevioside, and the polymorphic and amorphous forms prepared therefrom.

Stevioside is a high-potency diterpenoid glycoside sweetener having the chemical structure:
Stevioside is isolated and extracted, along with other steviol glycosides, from the Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) plant ("Stevia"), which is commercially cultivated in Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia, South Korea, China, Israel, India, Brazil, Australia, and Paraguay. It is an alternative non-caloric sweetener with functional and sensory properties superior to those of many high-potency sweeteners. Processed forms of Stevia can be 70 to 400 times more potent than sugar. The use of stevioside, however, is made more difficult by its low water solubility of approximately 1.25 g/L at room temperature (U.S. Pat. No. 4,082,858). Accordingly, it would be desirable to develop polymorphic and amorphous forms of stevioside that have improved rates of dissolution.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,962,678 discloses the re-crystallization of stevioside using an anhydrous methanol solution to obtain an 91.6% pure stevioside. By repeating the re-crystallization with aqueous methanol numerous times, the purity of stevioside may be increased to over 99%. U.S. Patent Publication No. 2007/0082103 discloses a method for purifying stevioside by recrystallization from methanol and then with 90% ethanol, asserting a two-step recrystallization from crude stevioside (64.6%) results in the formation of >99% pure stevioside in very high yield. These prior art methods, however, do not provide a substantially pure stevioside composition using only a single recrystallization step. Accordingly, it would be desirable to develop a method of purifying stevioside using a simple and economical crystallization method.

Stevioside polymorphic and amorphous forms, methods for their formulation, and uses


A cruise control device for vehicles includes a pedal shaft formed at a linking part of an accelerator of the vehicle, a gear rotatably fitted on the pedal shaft, and an adjusting unit releasably engaged with the gear for adjusting the position of an accelerator pedal. The constant speed of the vehicle is quickly and safely maintained in a mechanical manner.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cruise control device for vehicles, and more particularly to a cruise control device for vehicles comprising a pedal shaft formed on the link part of an vehicle's accelerator, a gear rotatably fitted on the pedal shaft, and an adjusting unit releasably engaged with the gear for adjusting the position of an accelerator pedal, thereby quickly and safely maintaining the constant speed of the vehicle mechanically.
2. Description of the Related Art
The speed of a vehicle, stemming from the generation of power by means of the combustion stroke of an engine of the vehicle, is generally controlled by means of a brake pedal, a clutch pedal, and an accelerator pedal. The opening angle of a throttle valve, through which mixed gas is supplied to the combustion chamber of the engine, is changed depending on the degree which the accelerator is depressed.
When the accelerator pedal is deeply depressed, the combustion rate of the fuel is increased, thus the vehicle accelerates. On the other hand, when the accelerator pedal is depressed slightly, the combustion rate of fuel is decreased, thus the vehicle decelerates. Consequently, a driver controls the speed of the vehicle via the accelerator pedal.
Although the speed of the vehicle is properly controlled by means of the accelerator pedal on the basis of road conditions, it may be preferable to maintain a constant speed of the vehicle for a desired period of time. In this case, the accelerator pedal must be depressed at a constant level.
In the case where a vehicle is driven at a constant speed, the consumption rate of fuel is reduced, and vehicle components are not overstrained. However, it is difficult, even for a skilled driver, to maintain a constant speed under various conditions.
A cruise control device for vehicles, which is capable of maintaining a constant speed has been developed in order to solve the above-mentioned problems. The cruise control device, which comprises complex mechanical units and complex electronic units, controls the throttle valve to maintain the speed of the vehicle at a predetermined speed.
However, the cruise control device, which controls the throttle valve to maintain the constant speed of the vehicle, has an asynchronous feedback mechanism such that the opening angle of the throttle valve is controlled by means of a driving part, i.e., an actuator, on the basis of the response of a sensor. Consequently, the response speed is very low.
Furthermore, the constant speed of the vehicle is not quickly released in case of an emergency while the vehicle is driven, which may lead to injury of the driver. Also, the durability of the electronic units deteriorates.


A laminated safety glass is formed of an inboard glass sheet, an outboard glass sheet and a plasticized polyvinyl chloride containing interlayer therebetween. The outboard glass sheet has an average transmittance of radiation in the range of 300-340 nm of less than about 20%, and preferably less than about 1%. The outboard glass sheet also has an average transmittance of radiation in the range of 340 to 500 nm of more than about 50%. The outboard glass sheet may be formed of an ultraviolet radiation absorbing glass, such as an ultraviolet radiation absorbing green glass.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to laminated glazings and, more particularly, to laminated safety glass having an interlayer including a plasticized polyvinyl chloride resin. The laminated safety glass of the invention is particularly useful for producing automotive and airplane windshields, and architectural glazings.
2. Summary of Related Art
Safety glass is a well known term for a glass sandwich composed of an interlayer bonding together two glass plates or sheets so that breaking the glass results in minimum dispersion of broken glass fragments. The interlayer must possess a number of properties, including the following: high impact energy adsorption to minimize concussive injury; shear and tear strength sufficient to prevent rupture of the interlayer by the broken glass; sufficient adhesion to the glass to inhibit laceration on contact with, and prevent dispersion of, broken glass; acceptable thermal and light stability; acceptable weatherability; and good optical quality. The interlayer must possess these properties over the wide range of temperatures in which these laminated glazings are used for relatively long periods of time.
It has been widely known to use a film of plasticized polyvinyl butyral as the interlayer material in safety glass for automobiles, air planes and building materials because of its high adhesiveness and superior light stability, transparency and low-temperature flexibility. However, the use of plasticized polyvinyl butyral films makes the production of laminated safety glass relatively expensive.
The surface of plasticized polyvinyl butyral film is very tacky, and presents a problem of blocking at the time of windup after film formation. Thus, plasticized polyvinyl butyral film must be provided with some parting means if it is to be stored or transported in the form of stacks of die-cut blanks or in the form of rolls. Furthermore, the production of plasticized polyvinyl butyral films requires specialized equipment and, due to their sensitivity to moisture, plasticized polyvinyl butyral films must generally be handled under controlled atmosphere conditions during manufacture, storage and immediately prior to their incorporation into the laminated safety glass. This all adds to the expense of utilizing plasticized polyvinyl butyral films in laminated safety glass.
Alternative interlayer materials have been proposed. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 4,277,538 to Beckmann et al discloses a laminated safety glass employing a sheet of plasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC) as the interlayer. The use of PVC would be advantageous in that it may be produced on conventional equipment and would be much less expensive to manufacture and process into a laminated safety glass when compared with polyvinyl butyral. However, by itself, a PVC film will not adhere to glass. To increase the adhesion of the PVC to glass, Beckmann et al suggest the use of an organofunctional silane, either as a primer or uniformly dispersed within the PVC film.
At least certain of the silicon-organofunctional silanes proposed by Beckmann et al are effective to increase the adhesion of a PVC interlayer to the glass sheets of a laminated safety glass. However, the laminated safety glass employing a PVC interlayer as taught by Beckmann et al does not possess all of the properties required of an interlayer for laminated safety glass, and therefore has not been placed into commercial use. For instance, the Beckmann et al interlayer has poor long term heat and light stability at service use temperatures. With only a few years of exposure to normal use levels of heat and light, the PVC interlayer tends to degrade to the point where it has visibly yellowed and is aesthetically unacceptable, and the haze has increased to the point that visibility through the glazing is significantly impaired. It would therefore be advantageous to develop a laminated safety glass with a PVC interlayer wherein the interlayer exhibits a lower level of degradation over its useful life.

Laminated glazing unit with polyvinyl chloride interlayer


A cover lid for a urinal having a fresh scent compartment includes a basic portable urinal container with cover lid made to secure a new plastic hand on top of it. The basic portable urinal container is for receiving and storing the user's urine. The new plastic hand is for storing a fresh scented liquid inside, so the user can control the unpleasant odors found inside the urinal container. Finally, both the new cover lid & new plastic hand were specially made to be placed together to form a new compartment. In addition the new plastic hand has a screw on 24 mm flip-top cap w/valve for releasing the liquid from the new plastic hand into the urinal's container.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a basic portable urinal container and more specifically to a new cover lid for a urinal having a fresh scent compartment designed for the purpose of sanitizing.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A basic portable urinal container being used on a daily basis can most definitely become undesirable from the unpleasant odors found inside the urinal container. In this respect, a new cover lid for a urinal having a fresh scent compartment, will allow a user a better & cleaner approach to urinate, when restroom facilities are unreachable. Also, the biggest problem with basic portable urinal container is trying to attain a sanitary condition. And just keeping this problem in mind, the present invention provides a newly designed cover lid made to secure a new plastic hand on top of it. In addition, the new plastic hand is being used for storing a fresh scent liquid inside, so a user can manually release the liquid from the new plastic hand into the urinal container for sanitizing.

Cover lid for a urinal having a fresh scent compartment


A phosphor material contains encapsulated particles of manganese (Mn4+) doped fluoride phosphor. A method of encapsulating such particles is also provided. Each particle is encapsulated with a layer of a manganese-free fluoride phosphor. The use of such a phosphor material in a lighting apparatus results in improved stability and acceptable lumen maintenance over the course of the apparatus life.

The invention relates generally to phosphor materials, and particularly to red emitting phosphors. More particularly, the invention relates to moisture-resistant phosphors, and a lighting apparatus employing these phosphors.
Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are semiconductor light emitters often used as a replacement for other light sources, such as incandescent lamps. They are particularly useful as display lights, warning lights and indicator lights, or in other applications where colored light is desired. The color of light produced by an LED is dependent on the type of semiconducting material used in its manufacture.
Colored semiconductor light emitting devices, including light emitting diodes and lasers (both are generally referred to herein as LEDs), have been produced from Group III-V alloys such as gallium nitride (GaN). With reference to the GaN-based LEDs, light is generally emitted in the UV-to-green range of the electromagnetic spectrum. Until quite recently, LEDs have not been suitable for lighting uses where a bright white light is needed, due to the inherent color of the light produced by the LED.
Recently, techniques have been developed for converting the light emitted from LEDs to useful light for illumination purposes. In one technique, the LED is coated or covered with a phosphor layer. A phosphor is a luminescent material that absorbs radiation energy in a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, and emits energy in another portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Phosphors of one important class are crystalline inorganic compounds of high chemical purity, and of controlled composition, to which small quantities of other elements (called "activators") have been added to convert them into efficient fluorescent materials. With the appropriate combination of activators and inorganic compounds, the color of the emission can be controlled. Most useful and well-known phosphors emit radiation in the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum in response to excitation by electromagnetic radiation outside the visible range.
By interposing a phosphor excited by the radiation generated by the LED, light of a different wavelength, e.g., in the visible range of the spectrum, may be generated. Colored LEDs are often used in toys, indicator lights and other devices. Continuous performance improvements have enabled new applications for LEDs of saturated colors in traffic lights, exit signs, store signs, and the like.
In addition to colored LEDs, a combination of LED generated light and phosphor generated light may be used to produce white light. The most popular white LEDs consist of blue emitting GaInN chips. The blue emitting chips are coated with a phosphor that converts some of the blue radiation to a complementary color, e.g. a yellowish emission. Together, the blue and yellowish radiation produces a white light. There are also white emitting LEDs that are designed to convert the UV radiation to visible light. These LEDs utilize a near UV emitting chip and a phosphor blend including red, green and blue emitting phosphors, and produces white light.
In many white light applications, phosphors with line emission spectra (e.g., Y2O3: Eu3+) are preferred as the red component, because they maximize the luminous efficacy of radiation (LER) at acceptable color-rendering index (CRI) values (e.g. 80-86), over the correlated color temperature (CCT) range of interest (e.g. 3000-6500K). These red fluorescent lamp phosphors, doped with Eu3+, cannot be used successfully in UV LED lamps because they have virtually no absorption of near-UV (370-420 nm) light, leading to unacceptable light loss, due to scattering by the phosphor. Currently, a class of phosphors based on manganese (Mn4+) doped complex fluorides can be used in LED lamps, due to having their main emission peak at a wavelength ranging from 300 nm to 520 nm. These fluoride phosphors usually have high quantum efficiency, and their narrow red line emission leads to potential use in warm white light. Warm white LEDs (CCT<4500K) have high CRI (>80), and also have a high lumen equivalent.
However, these fluoride phosphors are sensitive to moisture, and degrade under high temperature (more than about 60 degrees Celsius) and high humidity conditions. The phosphor often turns brown, probably due to hydrolysis of MnF6−2 ion to hydrated manganese dioxide, which leads to significant deterioration of the brightness of these phosphors.
It would therefore be desirable to produce fluoride phosphors that are resistant to moisture-induced degradation, in order to prolong the light emission of LEDs. Moreover, the new fluoride phosphor can provide the advantage of simple packaging methods, e.g., those that may require less of a hermetic seal. It would also be very desirable to develop an improved LED that incorporates such moisture-protected phosphors.

Moisture-resistant phosphor and associated method


An electroacoustic transducer has a magnetic circuit, a frame combined with the magnetic circuit, a diaphragm combined with a periphery of the frame, a voice coil, a terminal, and a holder covering the frame. The voice coil is combined with the diaphragm and a part of the voice coil is arranged in a magnetic gap of the magnetic circuit. The terminal, made of a metal plate having spring property and electric conductivity, electrically connects an outside circuit and the voice coil utilizing spring pressure generated when the metal plate is bent. The holder forms a stopper for restricting a bend of the metal plate forming the terminal to within a reversible limit of a metallic material.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a conventional electroacoustic transducer, which is used for a speaker or a receiver loaded on an electronic device such as a mobile phone. Magnet 101 is sandwiched with top plate 102 and yoke 103, forming internal magnet type magnetic circuit 104. Yoke 103 is press-fitted into frame 106 made of resin and combined with frame 106 by bonding. Diaphragm 107 is bonded to a periphery of frame 106. Voice coil 108 for driving diaphragm 107 is combined with diaphragm 107 and a part of voice coil 108 fits into magnetic gap 105 of magnetic circuit 104.
The lead wire (not illustrated) of voice coil 108 is combined with one end of terminal 110 by soldering. Frame 106 holds a part of terminal 110 by molding. Terminal 110 is bent at central part 110A so as not to extend outward off the outside dimensions of frame 106. Terminal 110, formed by bending a single sheet-like metal plate, contacts a feeding portion (not illustrated) of the electronic device at movable end 110B utilizing the spring pressure of this metal plate. Stopper 109, provided by extending the bottom end of frame 106, is shaped integrally with frame 106 when injection molding frame 106 made of resin.
Stopper 109 restricts the range in which terminal 110 is bent so that a bend of the metal plate forming terminal 110 does not exceed the reversible limit as an elastic body. This prevents terminal 110 from being bent beyond the reversible limit even if speaker 111 is strongly pressed when mounted to the electronic device. Consequently, the inconvenience is resolved in that terminal 110 breaks when mounting speaker 111 and an insufficient spring pressure of terminal 110 causes unstable contact with the device. Speaker 111 is disclosed in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 2003-37890, for example.
However, accidentally dropping the electronic device with speaker 111 incorporated thereinto can destroy stopper 109 due to an excessive impact force. If stopper 109 is thus destroyed, the spring pressure of the metal terminal of terminal 110 exceeds the reversible limit, causing the contact with the feeding unit at the electronic device to be unstable. Consequently, a contact failure occurs when the electronic device undergoes an impact or vibration, thus resulting in interrupted signals.

Electroacoustic transducer and electronic device using the same


A shoe remover includes a first member having first and second end portions, the first end portion having at least one aperture associated therewith and the second end portion being configured to engage a shoe. The shoe remover further includes a second member having first and second end portions, the first end portion being positioned proximate the first end portion of the first member and the second end portion being configured to contact a support surface. The shoe remover still further includes a pin pivotally coupling the first member and the second member and a lock member coupled to the second member. The lock member has at least one rod extending therefrom, the at least one rod being configured to releasably engage with the at least one aperture.

Shoes, such as boots, may not be easily removed, and, thus, shoe removers, such as boot jacks, may be employed to aid the wearer in removing his or her shoe without having to bend portion over or sit down. However, most of the current shoe removers are heavy and/or unwieldy, such that they are not easily transported. Moreover, present shoe removers that are capable of folding are often not as stable as traditional (i.e., not foldable) shoe removers.


Embodiments described herein are generally directed to a venturi valve. The venture valve includes an inlet; an outlet opposite of the inlet; a passage, a primary orifice, and an insert. The passage is positioned between the inlet and the outlet and fluidly coupling the inlet to the outlet. The primary orifice is positioned between the inlet and the outlet and in fluid communication with the passage such that the primary orifice permits fluid to enter the passage. The insert is positioned between the inlet and the outlet, the insert configured to enclose at least a portion of the passage.

Previously known coolant delivery systems include a coolant supply passage and a coolant return passage. The coolant supply passage runs from a supply of coolant to a device to be cooled. The coolant return passage runs from the device to be cooled to a coolant recirculating device. The coolant recirculating device removes the heat added to the coolant by the device to be cooled and then recirculates the coolant to the coolant supply.
In addition, the previously known coolant delivery systems are configured to close the coolant supply passage upon the detection of a leak. However, any coolant that remains in the coolant supply passage downstream from the closure will continue to discharge from the leak. The continuous discharge of coolant even after the closure of the coolant supply passage increases the stop work delay due to repair of the leak and clean the discharged coolant.
Accordingly, a need exists for alternative systems and methods for draining coolant that remains in a coolant delivery system downstream from a closure after leak detection.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Venturi vacuum drawback assemblies and dual orifice venturi valve assemblies


The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum, botanically known as Dendranthema grandiflora, and referred to by the cultivar name Golden State. The new cultivar is distinguished by its rich golden color, exceptional even flowering and spreading habit and its full crested anemone capitulum type. It displays superior shipping and keeping characteristics.

Golden State, identified as originally coded P89-0280 was originated from a cross by Peter S. Hesse in a controlled breeding program at Clearwater Nursery, 887 Mesa Rd., Nipoma, Calif. 98444, U.S.A.
The female parent of Golden State is the commercial variety Indio, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,774, and the male parent was Hopscotch, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,816.
Golden State was discovered and selected as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross by Peter S. Hesse in October 1989 in a controlled environment in Nipoma, Calif.
The first act of asexual reproduction of Golden State was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken in April 1990 in a controlled environment in Nipomo, Calif. by Peter S. Hesse.
Horticultural examination of controlled flowerings of successive plantings has shown that the unique combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for Golden State are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.
Golden State has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in the environment such as temperature, light intensity and day length.
The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in controlled environments in Nipomo, Calif. Unrooted cuttings were directly stuck into 6.5" pots and grown under the natural temperature and day length prevailing in March-May 1992.
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of Golden State, which in combination distinguish this Chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar.
1. Flat capitulum form.
2. Anemone capitulum type.
3. Golden Yellow to Clear Yellow fully expanded outer ray florets.
4. Yellow Anemone disc with green eye.
5. An average of 6.75 flowers per break.
6. Diameter across the face of capitulum of 6.5 cm.
7. Exceptional upright to spreading habit with an average of 5.0 breaks after a single pinch.
8. Flowering response of approximately 59 days from the start of short days.
9. Relative easy in controlling plant height such that the finished height will range from 10 inches to 18 inches from the bottom the pot size and market requirements.

Chrysanthemum plant named `Golden State`


A size associated with a first content file is determined to be less than a threshold size. In response to determining that the size associated with the first content file is less than the threshold size, a combined metadata structure is updated at least in part by combining metadata of the first content file with metadata of a second content file in the combined metadata structure. A snapshot tree is updated to reference a first portion of the combined metadata structure corresponding to the first content file and to reference a second portion of the combined metadata structure corresponding to the second content file.

A file system is used to control how data is stored on and retrieved from a storage medium. Without a file system, information placed in the storage medium would be one large body of data with no way to tell where one piece of information stops and the next begins. A file system is responsible for organizing files and directories, and keeping track of which areas of the storage medium belong to which file and which are not being used. A file system also manages access to both the content of files and the metadata associated with those files.
A file system may store the metadata associated with a content file, including the file name, the length of the contents of a file, and the location of the file, separate from the contents of the file. A file system may allocate a default minimum amount of space on the storage medium for metadata associated with a content file. The storage medium may store the data associated with a large number (e.g., hundreds, thousands, millions, etc.) of small files (e.g., files with a size less than a threshold size). The actual size of a small file may be a small fraction of the default minimum amount of space. The amount of overhead in maintaining the metadata associated with the large number of small files may be burdensome on system resources. Creating the metadata associated with a file also uses a certain amount of system resources each time the metadata is generated. The amount of system resources used to generate the metadata may be significant when a large number of small files are created.

Using a storage system to optimize and maintain the metadata associated with a plurality of small files


Pharmaceutical formulations exhibit a desirably low Cmax, among other properties, that contain particles of amorphous bardoxolone methyl, either in pure form or in the form of a solid dispersion, admixed with particles of a hydrophilic binding agent. Such formulations possess the advantage of higher oral bioavailability, relative to formulations based on the crystalline form of bardoxolone methyl.

The synthetic triterpenoid bardoxolone methyl, also known as CDDO-Me and as "RTA 402," has shown potent anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor properties in preclinical studies and in human clinical trials. In particular, bardoxolone methyl has shown significant anticancer activity in patients with advanced cancer, and has shown the ability to improve measures of kidney function, insulin resistance, glycemic control, and systemic cardiovascular disease in patients suffering from chronic kidney disease as a result of Type 2 diabetes.
In these studies bardoxolone methyl was administered orally in a crystalline form ("Form A"), once daily, at a variety of doses. In addition to the significant clinical efficacy noted in these studies, Form A bardoxolone methyl showed an excellent tolerability profile with very few drug-related side effects noted.
Pharmacokinetic data from these studies indicated, however, that Form A bardoxolone methyl has relatively low oral bioavailability. Fortunately, a non-crystalline form of bardoxolone methyl ("Form B") also has been identified, which shows markedly superior oral bioavailability compared to Form A.
It is well understood that improved oral bioavailability is a desirable feature of a drug formulation, since it reduces the per-dose cost of active material and is consistent with the general medical principle of administering the lowest amount of a drug that is known to produce the desired effect. Conversely, low aqueous solubility resulting in poor oral bioavailability of potential drug candidates has been recognized as a significant challenge facing the pharmaceutical industry.
In fact, an estimated 25-30% of compounds in early development have poor bioavailability due to low solubility. The United States Food and Drug Administration has adopted a biopharmaceutics classification system (BCS) that classifies drugs intended for oral dosage according to solubility and membrane permeability. Drugs that are poorly soluble yet highly membrane permeable make up a substantial portion of drug candidates and are referred to as BCS class 2 drugs. For this class of drugs intended for oral dosage, improvements in effective bioavailability can occasionally be addressed by altering the solubility profile of the drug substance, either alone or via the use of functional excipients in an appropriate pharmaceutical composition.
Several techniques have evolved to improve the solubility of certain drug candidates that have the potential to be safe and effective. One such technique that has been explored is to formulate the drug using an amorphous form of the drug substance, either alone or in a polymer matrix. While improvements in aqueous solubility of amorphous forms over that of the corresponding crystalline forms of the drug substance have been documented, such systems are inherently unstable and may return to their thermodynamically more stable crystalline state. As a result, considerable research and experimentation often is conducted to define formulation systems that can yield formulations with acceptable shelf-life.
Because dissolution rates and solubility in physiological media are typically higher in the upper gastrointestinal system, formulations containing amorphous drug substances, if they can be developed, often behave differently in vivo, relative to those formulations containing the corresponding drug in a crystalline form. Formulations containing amorphous drug substances have been reported to produce bioavailability enhancements and have area-under-curve (AUC) values several-fold higher than formulations containing the corresponding crystalline form of the drug substance on an equivalent dose basis. While it is not unusual for amorphous forms of drugs, once absorbed into general circulation, to exhibit similar metabolism, distribution, and excretion profiles, the time to maximal plasma concentration (Tmax) and the maximal concentration observed (Cmax) often are altered markedly in formulations containing amorphous drugs compared to their crystalline counterparts.
If a drug exhibits toxicity or is associated with an increased frequency of adverse events above a certain limiting plasma concentration, then maintaining therapeutic plasma levels safely below such a limiting level may be of paramount importance. Thus, even if a drug has a broad therapeutic window and is otherwise safe and effective, the control of Cmax or Tmax profiles may be important if the drug is to be administered chronically. More generally, if a particular plasma concentration profile is associated with a desirable profile of safety and efficacy, it is useful for alternative formulations containing the same active ingredient to produce a comparable plasma concentration profile.

Delayed release, oral dosage compositions that contain amorphous CDDO-Me


The main object of the present invention is to provide a lithium solid state secondary battery system capable of restoring the decrease of output characteristics of a lithium solid state secondary battery without deteriorating an anode. The present invention attains the above-mentioned object by providing a lithium solid state secondary battery system including a lithium solid state secondary battery and an overdischarge treating unit, wherein an anode active material layer of the above-mentioned lithium solid state secondary battery contains an anode active material and a sulfide solid electrolyte material containing Li, A (A is at least one kind of P, S, Ge, Al and B) and S and having an ortho-composition, and the above-mentioned anode current collector includes a metal.

In accordance with a rapid spread of information relevant apparatuses and communication apparatuses such as a personal computer, a video camera and a portable telephone in recent years, the development of a battery to be utilized as a power source thereof has been emphasized. The development of a high-output and high-capacity battery for an electric automobile or a hybrid automobile has been advanced also in the automobile industry. A lithium secondary battery has been presently noticed from the viewpoint of a high energy density among various kinds of batteries.
Liquid electrolyte containing a flammable organic solvent is used for a presently commercialized lithium secondary battery, so that the installation of a safety device for restraining temperature rise during a short circuit and the improvement in structure and material for preventing the short circuit are necessary therefor. On the contrary, a lithium secondary battery solidified by replacing the liquid electrolyte with a solid electrolyte layer is conceived to intend the simplification of the safety device and be excellent in production cost and productivity for the reason that the flammable organic solvent is not used in the battery.
Also, it is known that a secondary battery may be repeatedly charged and discharged but battery performance decreases due to overdischarge. Thus, an ordinary secondary battery is provided with a means of measuring voltage of the battery during discharge to stop the discharge at a predetermined voltage. On the other hand, in Patent Literature 1, a battery module not provided with an overdischarge protective means of preventing a lithium secondary battery from being overdischarged is disclosed; in Patent Literature 2, a conductive device not provided with an overdischarge protective means of preventing a lithium secondary battery from being overdischarged is disclosed.

Lithium solid state secondary battery system


A relay node for a wireless network is configured for transmissions on the basis of a radio frame with a plurality of subframes. The relay node includes a first relay path and a second relay path. The first relay path is configured to receive, in a first subframe of the subframes, first unicast transmission signals, to decode the first unicast transmission signals to obtain unicast data, and to forward the decoded unicast data by sending second unicast transmission signals in a second subframe of the subframes. The second relay path is configured to receive, in a third subframe of the subframes, multicast transmission signals, to amplify the received multicast transmission signals, and to send the amplified multicast transmission signals in the third subframe. The relay node may switch between the first relay path and the second relay path in order to implement a hybrid Decode-and-Forward and Amplify-and-Forward relaying operation.

In mobile networks, e.g., according to the 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project), it is known to use relaying for improving capacity and/or coverage of the network. For example, in 3GPP LTE (Long Term Evolution) relaying was introduced in the Release 10 Technical Specifications (TSs). The general idea of relaying is that a relay node (RN) receives a transmission from a sender and forwards this transmission to a recipient. For example, a transmission can be received from a base station, in 3GPP LTE referred to as "evolved NodeB" (eNB), and be forwarded to a mobile terminal or other type of user equipment (UE), or vice versa. In 3GPP LTE, a RN communicates with its serving eNB, also referred to as donor eNB, via a backhaul link, and provides access to the UEs attached to a relay cell of the RN via an access link. Both the backhaul link and the access link are implemented using the LTE radio interface.
According to the 3GPP TSs, a Decode and Forward (DF) type relaying operation is used to relay unicast transmissions. In this type of relaying operation, the useful signal of the sender is decoded by the RN before being forwarded to the receiver. There are basically two different realizations of RNs. There are RNs, which can separate access and backhaul links sufficiently well, e.g., by means of separated antennas, also known as Type 1b RNs, or by means of separated frequency bands, also known as Type 1a RNs. Further, there are RNs, whose access and backhaul links could interfere with each other severely such that configuration of separate access and backhaul subframes is used, also known as Type 1 RNs. In backhaul subframes, the RN can communicate with the donor eNB and in access subframes it can communicate with UEs attached to the relay cell. As defined in 3GPP TS 36.216, the RN declares downlink (DL) backhaul subframes as MBSFN (Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Services over Single Frequency Network) subframes towards the connected UEs in order not to confuse the connected UEs during backhaul subframes.
In 3GPP LTE, Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Services (MBMS) are provided for efficient delivery of multicast data or broadcast data. Multicast data are data intended for reception by multiple UEs, and broadcast data can be considered as a specific case of multicast data which are intended for all UEs capable of receiving the multicast data. In the context of MBMS, broadcast data may be received by all connected UEs supporting MBMS, whereas reception of multicast data may be limited to a subgroup of the connected UEs by authentication.
A MBSFN coordinates the transmission of MBMS data, i.e., broadcast data or multicast data, among a group of eNBs such that all involved eNBs jointly transmit the data, i.e., transmit the same data in a synchronized manner using the same time and frequency resources. From a UE perspective all signals combine over the air resulting in an improved signal to interference and noise ratio (SINR). MBSFN transmissions of MBMS data are carried on the Physical Multicast Channel (PMCH) and performed in the MBSFN region of the MBSFN subframe. In LTE Releases 9 and 10, the non-MBSFN region, also referred to as the control region, which consists of the first or first and second OFDM symbols, is used by the eNB to provide cell-specific control information. The size of the control region is semi-statically configured by the Multi-cell/Multicast Coordination Entity (MCE) for all cells participating in an MBSFN area and signaled via PCFICH. However, according to 3GPP TS 36.300, Section 15.1, RNs do not support MBMS.
Accordingly, there is a need for techniques which allow for efficient relaying of both unicast data and multicast data or broadcast data.

Relaying unicast and multicast data in a wireless network


Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for automated mobile device management profile distribution. One of the methods includes receiving a first request for access to a first network resource from a client device, the first network resource corresponding to one of a plurality of restricted resources accessible only by devices enrolled with a mobile device management system, determining that the client device is not enrolled with the mobile device management system, preventing the client device access to the first network resource, providing to the client device a redirect to a mobile device management resource that is different from the first network resource, providing instructions for presentation of a user interface to the client device, and enrolling the client device with the mobile device management system, the enrolling comprising providing a copy of the mobile device management profile to the client device.

Mobile device management functionality can include over the air distribution of data and software applications, and configuration of mobile device settings. Mobile device management can be used for both organization owned and employee owned devices.
The use of mobile device management by an organization can reduce risk and support costs by enforcing policies on the mobile devices that access the organizations data. For example, mobile device management profiles can enforce the use of password protection on mobile devices.

Mobile device management profile distribution


An advanced resource management system for an interactive voice response (IVR) service node allows multiple network ports to be served by one application port thereby increasing efficiency. An IVR with a plurality of network ports can now be efficiently configured with a plurality of application ports with varying capabilities. The resource management system determines which of the plurality of application ports on the service node has the capability to service an incoming call and then dynamically assigns a time slot to one of the network ports and to one of application ports to perform IVR services. The dynamic allocation of application ports to network ports also allows for a more simplified connection of the service node to the telecommunications network in which it is deployed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to computer telephony, and more particularly to providing an efficient platform for advanced interactive voice
2. Related Art
Interactive Voice Response (IVR) platforms, also commonly known as Voice Response Units (VRUs) or Audio Response Units (ARUs), are common in the telecommunications industry. It is common for a business, who is a customer of an IVR service provider, to use IVR services in conjunction with call center services. Interactive voice response service nodes are commonly used for customer call center routing. They perform processing of customer applications, based on one or more criteria selected by the customer, such as the dialed number of a call, Dialed Number Identification Service (DNIS), Automatic Number Identification (ANI), time of day, caller-entered digits, geographic point of call origin, etc. The IVR service nodes may also perform other IVR services such as automated servicing of callers for customers, caller surveys, telemarketing, and call parking until a call center has an available resource (e.g., a customer service agent).
While there are many types of IVR service nodes each with variations in architecture and features, they typically include a network audio server that is connected, via voice trunks, to a bridging switch on a switch network. The network audio server typically contains many network ports to receive calls and application ports to process the calls. However, all currently available IVR service nodes have several limitations.
One limitation of conventional IVR service nodes, in particular, is that they have limited application processing capability. Customers increasingly demand more advanced IVR applications that require specialized application ports. The IVR service nodes include many different types of application ports to handle different customer""s IVR applications. For example, an application port can be a voice port that is capable only of playing recorded messages and accepting Dual Tone Multi Frequency (DTMF) input; a speaker-independent voice recognition (SIVR) port; or a speaker-dependent voice recognition (SDVR) port. The latter two ports have more capabilities and thus are generally more expensive. Consequently, an IVR service provider will limit their number on a IVR service node. Furthermore, conventional IVR service nodes have their application ports hardwired to network ports. Thus a call that requires SIVR or SDVR could only be accepted on certain network ports hardwired to SIVR or SDVR application ports, respectively. If those ports are busy, but a voice port is available, the call has to be blocked or held up until an SIVR or SDVR application port becomes available.
The above described limitations result in network inefficiencies. Therefore, what is needed is an advanced resource management system for interactive voice response service nodes. The advanced resource management system should allow, through dynamic allocation, any application port to be applied to any network port to service a call to the IVR service node.
The present invention is directed to a system and method for an interactive voice response service node with advanced resource management. The method includes interfacing the resource management system with a plurality of network and application ports located on the service node. When a call comes into the service node, via the network ports, the advanced management resource system determines which of the plurality of application ports has the capability to service the call. Each of the plurality of application ports may include different capabilities (e.g., SIVR functionality) to service different types of calls. The system then dynamically assigns one of the plurality of time slots to one of the plurality of network ports and to one of the plurality of application ports. Allocating the same time slot to an application port and to a network port connects the call for IVR handling.
An advantage of the present invention is that, unlike traditional service nodes, the application ports are not hardwired to the network ports. This allows a more efficient handling of calls by a service node. For example, a call requiring only voice application port capabilities may come into any network port on the service node and be handled by any available application port. This also allows calls needing special application port capabilities to be received by any network port without being blocked from the service node.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is that network flexibility is improved. Because any network port may be dynamically assigned to any application port within an, any network port may now receive a call needing an advanced capability (e.g., SIVR) application port. Therefore a single trunk group may route calls to the service node from the telecommunications network in which it is deployed. Further features and advantages of the present invention as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Interactive voice response service node with advanced resource management