The present invention relates to 2,3-position modified epothilone derivatives, methods of preparation of the derivatives, and intermediates therefor. The compounds of the invention as 16-membered macrolides having the general structure,

The present invention relates to epothilone derivatives, methods for the preparation of the derivatives and intermediates therefor.
Epothilones are macrolide compounds which find utility in the pharmaceutical field. For example, Epothilones A and B having the structures:
have been found to exert microtubule-stabilizing effects similar to TAXOL and hence cytotoxic activity against rapidly proliferating cells, such as, tumor cells or other hyperproliferative cellular disease, see Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl., 1996, Vol. 35, No. 13/14, p.p. 1567-1569.
The present invention relates to compounds of the formula
Q is selected from the group consisting of
G is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heterocyclo,
W is O or NR12;
X is O, S, or H, H;
Y is selected from the group consisting of O; H, OR13; OR14, OR14; NOR15; H, NOR16; H, NR17R18; H, H; or CHR19; OR14 OR14 can be a cyclic ketal;
B is selected from the group consisting of H, OR20, or OCOR21, and NR22R23;
D is selected from the group consisting of NR24R25 or saturated heterocycle (such as piperidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, and the like);
R1, R2, R3, and R4 are selected from H or lower alkyl;
R15, R16, R17, R18, and R19 are selected from the group H, alkyl, substituted alkyl, or aryl;
R6, R7, R13, R14, R20, and R21 are selected from the group H, alkyl, or substituted alkyl;
R5, R8, R9, R10, R11, R22, R24, R26, and R27 are selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl, or heterocyclo;
R12, R23, and R25 are selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl, heterocyclo, R26Cxe2x95x90O, R27SO2, hydroxy, O-alkyl or O-substituted alkyl;
and any salts, solvates or hydrates thereof
Proviso
The present invention does not include compounds of formula I wherein
W and X are both O; and
R1, R2, R3, R4 are methyl; and
R5 is H or methyl; and
G is 1-methyl-2-(2-methyl-4-thiazolyl)ethenyl; and
Q is
Listed below are definitions of various terms used to describe this invention. These definitions apply to the terms as they are used throughout this specification, unless otherwise limited in specific instances, either individually or as part of a larger group.
The term xe2x80x9calkylxe2x80x9d refers to straight or branched chain unsubstituted hydrocarbon groups of 1 to 20 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 7 carbon atoms. The expression xe2x80x9clower alkylxe2x80x9d refers to unsubstituted alkyl groups of 1 to 4 carbon atoms.
The term xe2x80x9csubstituted alkylxe2x80x9d refers to an alkyl group substituted by, for example, one to four substituents, such as, halo, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, hydroxy, alkoxy, cycloalkyoxy, heterocylooxy, oxo, alkanoyl, aryloxy, alkanoyloxy, amino, alkylamino, arylamino, aralkylamino, cycloalkylamino, heterocycloamino, disubstituted amines in which the 2 amino substituents are selected from alkyl, aryl or aralkyl, alkanoylamino, aroylamino, aralkanoylamino, substituted alkanoylamino, substituted arylamino, substituted aralkanoylamino, thiol, alkylthio, arylthio, aralkylthio, cycloalkylthio, heterocyclothio, alkylthiono, arylthiono, aralkylthiono, alkylsulfonyl, arylsulfonyl, aralkylsulfonyl, sulfonamido (e.g. SO2NH2), substituted sulfonamido, nitro, cyano, carboxy, carbamyl (e.g. CONH2), substituted carbamyl (e.g. CONH alkyl, CONH aryl, CONH aralkyl or cases where there are two substituents on the nitrogen selected from alkyl, aryl or aralkyl), alkoxyearbonyl, aryl, substituted aryl, guanidino and heterocyclos, such as, indolyl, imidazolyl, furyl, thienyl, thiazolyl, pyrrolidyl, pyridyl, pyrimidyl and the like. Where noted above where the substituent is further substituted it will be with halogen, alkyl, alkoxy, aryl or aralkyl.
The term xe2x80x9chalogenxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9chaloxe2x80x9d refers to fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine.
The term xe2x80x9carylxe2x80x9d refers to monocyclic or bicyclic aromatic hydrocarbon groups having 6 to 12 carbon atoms in the ring portion, such as phenyl, naphthyl, biphenyl and diphenyl groups, each of which may be substituted.
The term xe2x80x9caralkylxe2x80x9d refers to an aryl group bonded directly through an alkyl group, such as benzyl.
The term xe2x80x9csubstituted arylxe2x80x9d refers to an aryl group substituted by, for example, one to four substituents such as alkyl; substituted alkyl, phenyl, substituted phenyl, heterocyclo, halo, trifluoromethoxy, trifluoromethyl, hydroxy, alkoxy, cycloalkyloxy, heterocyclooxy, alkanoyl, alkanoyloxy, amino, alkylamino, aralkylamino, cycloalkylamino, heterocycloamino, dialkylamino, alkanoylamino, thiol, alkylthio, cycloalkylthio, heterocyclothio, ureido, nitro, cyano, carboxy, carboxyalkyl, carbamyl, alkoxycarbonyl, alkylthiono, arylthiono, alkysulfonyl, sulfonamido, aryloxy. The substituent may be further substituted by halo, hydroxy, alkyl, alkoxy, aryl, substituted aryl, substituted alkyl or aralkyl.
The term xe2x80x9ccycloalkylxe2x80x9d refers to optionally substituted, saturated cyclic hydrocarbon ring systems, preferably containing 1 to 3 rings and 3 to 7 carbons per ring which may be further fused with an unsaturated C3-C7 carbocyclic ring. Exemplary groups include cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, cyclooctyl, cyclodecyl, cyclododecyl, and adamantyl. Exemplary substituents include one or more alkyl groups as described above, or one or more groups described above as alkyl substituents.
The terms xe2x80x9cheterocyclexe2x80x9d, xe2x80x9cheterocyclicxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cheterocycloxe2x80x9d refer to an optionally substituted, fully saturated or unsaturated, aromatic or nonaromatic cyclic group, for example, which is a 4 to 7 membered monocyclic, 7 to 11 membered bicyclic, or 10 to 15 membered tricyclic ring system, which has at least one heteroatom in at least one carbon atom-containing ring. Each ring of the heterocyclic group containing a heteroatom may have 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms selected from nitrogen atoms, oxygen atoms and sulfur atoms, where the nitrogen and sulfur heteroatoms may also optionally be oxidized and the nitrogen heteroatoms may also optionally be quaternized. The heterocyclic group may be attached at any heteroatom or carbon atom.
Exemplary monocyclic heterocyclic groups include pyrrolidinyl, pyrrolyl, indolyl, pyrazolyl, oxetanyl, pyrazolinyl, imidazolyl, imidazolinyl, imidazolidinyl, oxazolyl, oxazolidinyl, isoxazolinyl, isoxazolyl, thiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, thiazolidinyl, isothiazolyl, isothiazolidinyl, furyl, tetrahydrofuryl, thienyl, oxadiazolyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, 2-oxopiperazinyl, 2-oxopiperidinyl, 2-oxopyrrolidinyl, 2-oxazepinyl, azepinyl, 4-piperidonyl, pyridyl, N-oxo-pyridyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyridazinyl, tetrahydropyranyl, tetrahydrothiopyranyl, tetrahydrothiopyranyl sulfone, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl sulfoxide, thiomorpholinyl sulfone, 1,3-dioxolane and tetrahydro-1,1-dioxothienyl, dioxanyl, isothiazolidinyl, thietanyl, thiiranyl, triazinyl, and triazolyl,
Exemplary bicyclic heterocyclic groups include benzothiazolyl, benzoxazolyl, benzothienyl, quinuclidinyl, quinolinyl, quinolinyl-N-oxide, tetrahydroisoquinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, benzimidazolyl, benzopyranyl, indolizinyl, benzofuryl, chromonyl, coumarinyl, cinnolinyl, quinoxalinyl, indazolyl, pyrrolopyridyl, furopyridinyl (such as furo[2,3-c]pyridinyl, furo[3,1-b]pyridinyl] or furo[2,3-b]pyridinyl), dihydroisoindolyl, dihydroquinazolinyl (such as 3,4-dihydro-4-oxo-quinazolinyl), benzisothiazolyl, benzisoxazolyl, benzodiazinyl, benzofurazanyl, benzothiopyranyl, benzotriazolyl, benzpyrazolyl, dihydrobenzofuryl, dihydrobenzothienyl, dihydrobenzothiopyranyl, dihydrobenzothiopyranyl sulfone, dihydrobenzopyranyl, indolinyl, isochromanyl, isoindolinyl, naphthyridinyl, phthalazinyl, piperonyl, purinyl, pyridopyridyl, quinazolinyl, tetrahydroquinolinyl, thienofuryl, thienopyridyl, thienothienyl.
Exemplary substituents include one or more alkyl groups as described above or one or more groups described above as alkyl substituents. Also included are smaller heterocyclos, such as, epoxides and aziridines.
The term xe2x80x9cheteroatomsxe2x80x9d shall include oxygen, sulfur and nitrogen.
The compounds of formula I may form salts with alkali metals such as sodium, potassium and lithium, with alkaline earth metals such as calcium and magnesium, with organic bases such as dicyclohexylamine, tributylamine, pyridine and amino acids such as arginine, lysine and the like. Such salts can be obtained, for example, by exchanging the carboxylic acid protons, if they contain a carboxylic acid, in compounds of formula I with the desired ion in a medium in which the salt precipitates or in an aqueous medium followed by evaporation. Other salts can be formed as known to those skilled in the art.
The compounds for formula I form salts with a variety of organic and inorganic acids. Such salts include those formed with hydrogen chloride, hydrogen bromide, methanesulfonic acid, hydroxyethanesulfonic acid, sulfuric acid, acetic acid, trifluoroacetic acid, maleic acid, benzenesulfonic acid, toluenesulfonic acid and various others (e.g., nitrates, phosphates, borates, tartrates, citrates, succinates, benzoates, ascorbates, salicylates and the like). Such salts are formed by reacting a compound of formula V in an equivalent amount of the acid in a medium in which the salt precipitates or in an aqueous medium followed by evaporation.
In addition, zwitterions (xe2x80x9cinner saltsxe2x80x9d) are formed.
Compounds of the formula I may also have prodrug forms. Any compound that will be converted in vivo to provide the bioactive agent (i.e., the compound for formula I) is a prodrug within the scope and spirit of the invention.
For example compounds of the formula I may form a carboxylate ester moiety. The carboxylate esters are conveniently formed by esterifying any of the carboxylic acid functionalities found on the disclosed ring structure(s).
Various forms of prodrugs are well known in the art. For examples of such prodrug derivatives, see:
a) Design of Prodrugs, edited by H. Bundgaard, (Elsevier, 1985) and Methods in Enzymology, Vol.42, p. 309-396, edited by K. Widder, et al. (Acamedic Press, 1985);
b) A Textbook of Drug Design and Development, edited by Krosgaard-Larsen and H. Bundgaard, Chapter 5, xe2x80x9cDesign and Application of Prodrugs,xe2x80x9d by H. Bundgaard, p. 113-191 (1991);
c) H. Bundgaard, Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 8, 1-38 (1992);
d) H. Bundgaard, et al., Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 77, 285 (1988); and
e) N. Kakeya, et al., Chem Phar Bull, 32, 692 (1984).
It should further be understood that solvates (e.g., hydrates) of the compounds of formula I are also within the scope of the present invention. Methods of salvation are generally known in the art.
The compounds of formula I are microtubule-stabilizing agents. They are thus useful in the treatment of a variety of cancers or other abnormal proliferative diseases, including (but not limited to) the following;
carcinoma, including that of the bladder, breast, colon, kidney, liver, lung, ovary, pancreas, stomach, cervix, thyroid and skin; including squamous cell carcinoma;
hematopoietic tumors of lymphoid lineage, including leukemia, acute lymphocytic leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, B-cell lymphoma, T-cell lymphoma, Hodgkins lymphoma, non-Hodgkins lymphoma, hairy cell lymphoma and Burketts lymphoma;
hematopoietic tumors of myeloid lineage, including acute and chronic myelogenous leukemias and promyelocytic leukemia;
tumors of mesenchymal origin, including fibrosarcoma and rhabdomyoscarcoma;
other tumors, including melanoma, seminoma, tetratocarcinoma, neuroblastoma and glioma;
tumors of the central and peripheral nervous system, including astrocytoma, neuroblastoma, glioma, and schwannomas;
tumors of mesenchymal origin, including fibrosarcoma, rhabdomyoscaroma, and osteosarcoma; and
other tumors, including melanoma, xenoderma pigmentosum, keratoactanthoma, seminoma, thyroid follicular cancer and teratocarcinoma.
Compounds of formula I may also inhibit tumor angiogenesis, thereby affecting abnormal cellular proliferation. Such anti-angiogenesis properties of the compounds of formula I may also be useful in the treatment of certain forms of blindness related to retinal vascularization, arthritis, especially inflammatory arthritis, multiple sclerosis, restinosis and psoriasis.
Compounds of formula I may induce or inhibit apoptosis, a physiological cell death process critical for normal development and homeostasis. Alterations of apoptotic pathways contribute to the pathogenesis of a variety of human diseases. Compounds of formula I, as modulators of apoptosis, will be useful in the treatment of a variety of human diseases with aberrations in apoptosis including cancer (particularly, but not limited to follicular lymphomas, carcinomas with p53 mutations, hormone dependent tumors of the breast, prostrate and ovary, and precancerous lesions such as familial adenomatous polyposis), viral infections (including but not limited to herpesvirus, poxvirus, Epstein-Barr virus, Sindbis virus and adenovirus), autoimmune diseases (including but not limited to systemic lupus erythematosus, immune mediated glomerulonephritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel diseases and autoimmune diabetes mellitus), neurodegenerative disorders (including but not limited to Alzheimer""s disease, AIDS-related dementia, Parkinson""s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, retinitis pigmentosa, spinal muscular atrophy and cerebellar degeneration), AIDS, myelodysplastic syndromes, aplastic anemia, ischemic injury associated myocardial infarctions, stroke and reperfusion injury, arrhythmia, atherosclerosis, toxin-induced or alcohol induced liver diseases, hematological diseases (including but not limited to chronic anemia and aplastic anemia), degenerative diseases of the musculoskeletal system (including but not limited to osteoporosis and arthritis), aspirin-sensitive rhinosinusitis, cystic fibrosis, multiple sclerosis, kidney diseases, and cancer pain.
The compounds of this invention are also useful in combination with known anti-cancer and cytotoxic agents and treatments, including radiation. If formulated as a fixed dose, such combination products employ the compounds of this invention within the dosage range described below and the other pharmaceutically active agent within its approved dosage range. Compounds of formula I can be used sequentially with known anticancer or cytotoxic agents and treatment, including radiation when a combination formulation is inappropriate. Especially useful are cytotoxic drug combinations wherein the second drug chosen acts in a different phase of the cell cycle, e.g. S phase, than the present compounds of formula I which exert their effects at the G2-M phase.
The present compounds may exist as multiple optical, geometric, and stereoisomers. Included within the present invention are all such isomers and mixtures thereof.
The compounds of this invention can be formulated with a pharmaceutical vehicle or diluent for oral, intravenous or subcutaneous administration. The pharmaceutical composition can be formulated in a classical manner using solid or liquid vehicles, diluents and additives appropriate to the desired mode of administration. Orally, the compounds can be administered in the form of tablets, capsules, granules, powders and the like. The compounds are administered in a dosage range of about 0.05 to 200 mg/kg/day, preferably less than 100 mg/kg/day, in a single dose or in 2 to 4 divided doses.
A compound of formula I can be prepared as shown in Scheme 1, using procedures described in PCT/EP96/05080. A compound of formula 1. A can be esterified using, for example, a mixture of formic acid and acetic anhydride to give a corresponding diformate 1.B. A compound of formula 1.C can be prepared from a compound of formula 1.B using a base such as DBU. A compound of formula I can be prepared from a compound of formula 1.C by treatment with methanolic ammonia.
Compounds of formula I where X is O, W is NH, and Q is an oxiranyl group can be prepared as shown in Scheme 2. A compound of formula 2.A can be esterified using, for example, a mixture of formic acid and acetic anhydride to give a corresponding diformate 2.B. A compound of formula 2.C can be prepared from a compound of formula 2.B by treatment with a base such as DBU. A compound of formula 2.D can be prepared from a compound of formula 2.C using for example methane sulfonyl chloride and triethylamine, or Burgess"" reagent. Treatment of a compound of formula 2.D with methanolic ammonia affords a compound of formula I where X is NH and Q is an oxiranyl group.
A compound of formula 2.A where G is xe2x80x94CR9xe2x95x90CR8H can be prepared as shown in Scheme 3. A compound of formula 3.B can be prepared from a compound of formula 3.A (an epothilone or epothilone-related natural product) by formation of pi-allylpalladium complex using, for example, palladium tetrakistriphenylphosphine followed by treatment with sodium azide (see, for example: Murahashi, S.-I.; et. al., J. Org. Chem. 1989, 54, 3292). Subsequent reduction of a compound of formula 3.B with a reducing agent such as triphenylphosphine provides a compound of formula 3.C. A compound of formula 3.D (or 2.A where G is xe2x80x94CR9xe2x95x90CR8H) can be prepared from a compound of formula 3.C by macrolactamization using, for example, diphenylphosphoryl azide (DPPA) or bromotripyrrolidinophosphonium hexafluorophosphate (PyBroP).
A compound of formula I where W is O and X is H,H can be prepared as shown in Scheme 4. The alcohol moiety of a compound of formula I where both W and X are O can be protected using methods in the art to give a compound of formula 4.A, where P1 is a suitable O-protecting group such as triethylsilyl. Hydrolysis of a compound of formula 4.A, using for example lithium hydroxide monohydrate, provides a compound of formula 4.B. Esterification of a compound of formula 4.B, using for example trimethylsilyl diazomethane, provides a compound of formula 4.C. Selective dihydroxylation of the xcex1,xcex2-unsaturated ester moiety of a compound of formula 4.C by known methods (see Sharpless, K. B. et al., J. Org. Chem. (1992) 57, 2768) provides a compound of formula 4.D. Oxidative cleavage of the diol of a compound of formula 4.D, using for example lead tetraacetate provides a compound of formula 4.E. A compound of formula 4.F can be prepared from a compound of formula 4.E using an allylating agent such as ally bromide and a silver salt such as silver oxide. A compound of formula 4.G can be prepared from a compound of formula 4.F using an olefinating agent such as methyltriphenylphosphonium bromide and a base such as sodium hexamethyldisilazide. A compound of formula 4.H can be prepared from a compound of formula 4.G by ring-closing metathesis using either the Grubbs (RuCl2 (xe2x95x90CHPh)(PCY3)2; see Grubbs, R. H., et al., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl.; (1995) 34, 2039) or Schrock catalysts (see Schrock, R. R., et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., (1990) 112, 3875). A compound of formula I where W is O and X is H,H can be prepared from a compound of formula 4.H by removal of the protecting group using for example acetic acid/THF/water mixtures.
Alternatively, compounds of formula I where X is H,H can be prepared as shown is Scheme 5. A compound of formula I where X is S can be prepared from a compound of formula I where X is O using, for example, Lawesson""s reagent [2,4-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,3-dithia-2,4-diphosphetane-2,4-disulfide]. A compound of formula I where X is H,H can be prepared from a compound of formula I where X is S by reduction with reducing agents such as tri-n-butyltin hydride, Raney nickel, or nickel boride. In Scheme 5, the hydroxyl group can be optionally protected using, for example, a triethylsily group which can be removed ultimately by treatment with hydrogen fluoride-pyridine or acetic acid/THF/water mixtures.
Compounds of formula I where Q is an olefinic group or the corresponding saturated derivative can be prepared as shown in Scheme 6. Compounds of formula I where Q is an oxiranyl group (i.e., compound 6.A) can be reduced using reagents such as reactive titanocene or tungsten chloride and butyllithium to provide compounds of formula I where Q is an olefinic group (i.e., compound 6.B). Further reduction using, for example, diimide provides compounds of formula I where Q is a saturated alkyl chain (i.e., compound 6.C).
In Schemes 1, 3, 4, and 5, the starting material can be obtained from fermentation of Sorangium cellulosum as previously described (see Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl., 1996, 35, No. 13/14.). In these fermentation products G is usually, but not exclusively, selected from the following:
In cases where G is not selected from the preceding list or obtained from fermentation, synthetic methods can be used. For example, total synthesis routes have been described (See, for example: Danishefsky, S. J., et. al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., (1997) 119, 10073), and these methods can be used to provide compounds of formula 1.A where G is, for example, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heterocyclo, and xe2x80x94CR9xe2x95x90CR8H. In addition, semi-synthesis which utilizes degradation of natural epothilones can be employed. For example, epothilones (i.e., 7.A) can be protected and then degraded to a compound of formula 7.B (see PCT/EP96/05080). Subsequent, olefination and deprotection provides compounds of formula 1.A where is xe2x80x94CCH3xe2x95x90CR8H (i.e., compound 7.C). Alternatively, 7.B can be treated with an alkyl or arylmagnesium halide to provide a tertiary alcohol which can be dehydrated using, for example, Burgess reagent to provide a compound of formula 1.A where is xe2x80x94CCH3xe2x95x90CR8H (i.e., compound 7.C).
Furthermore, starting compounds of formula 1.A where G is xe2x80x94C(O)NR10R11 can be prepared from a compound of formula 7.B as shown in Scheme 8. A compound of formula 8.A where P is a trialkylsilyl group can be prepared from a compound of formula 7.B using for example t-butyldimethylsilyl chloride and triethylamine. Oxidative cleavage of a compound of formula 8.A using for example ozone provides a compound of formula 8.B. Amide coupling of a compound of formula 8.B using methods well known in the art followed by deprotection provides a compound of 1.A where G is xe2x80x94C(O)NR10R11 (i.e., compound 8.C).
The in vitro assessment of biological activity of the compounds of formula I was performed as follows:
In vitro Tubulin Polymerization. Twice cycled (2X) calf brain tubulin was prepared following the procedure of Williams and Lee (see Williams, R. C., Jr., and Lee, J. C. Preparation of tubulin from brain. Methods in Enzymology 85, Pt. D: 376-385, 1982) and stored in liquid nitrogen before use. Quantification of tubulin polymerization potency is accomplished following a modified procedure of Swindell, et al., (see Swindell, C. S., Krauss, N. E., Horwitz, S. B., and Ringel, I. Biologically active taxol analogues with deleted A-ring side chain substituents and variable C-2xe2x80x2 configurations. J. Med. Chem. 34: 1176-1184, 1991). These modifications, in part, result in the expression of tubulin polymerization potency as an effective concentration for any given compound. For this method, different concentrations of compound in polymerization buffer (0.1M MES, 1 mM EGTA, 0.5 mM MgCl2, pH 6.6) are added to tubulin in polymerization buffer at 37xc2x0 in microcuvette wells of a Beckman (Beckman Instruments) Model DU 7400 UV spectrophotometer. A final microtubule protein concentration of 1.0 mg/ml and compound concentration of generally 2.5, 5.0, and 10 xcexcM are used. Initial slopes of OD change measured every 10 seconds were calculated by the program accompanying the instrument after initial and final times of the linear region encompussing at least 3 time points were manually defined. Under these conditions linear variances were generally  less than 10xe2x88x926, slopes ranged from 0.03 to 0.002 absorbance unit/minute, and maximum absorbance was 0.15 absorbance units. Effective concentration (EC0.01) is defined as the interpolated concentration capable of inducing an initial slope of 0.01 OD/minute rate and is calculated using the formula: EC0.01=concentration/slope. EC0.01 values are expressed as the mean with standard deviation obtained from 3 different concentrations. EC0.01 values for the compounds in this invention fall in the range 0.01-1000 xcexcM.
Cytoxicity (In-Vitro)
Cytoxicity was assessed in HCT-116 human colon carcinoma cells by MTS (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulphenyl)-2H-tetrazolium, inner salt) assay as reported in T. L. Riss, et. al., xe2x80x9cComparison of MTT, XTT, and a novel tetrazolium compound MTS for in vitro proliferation and chemosensitivity assays.,xe2x80x9d Mol. Biol. Cell 3 (Suppl.):184a, 1992. Cells were plated at 4,000 cell/well in 96 well microtiter plates and 24 hours later drugs were added and serial diluted. The cells were incubated at 37xc2x0 form 72 hours at which time the tetrazolium dye, MTS at 333 xcexcg/ml (final concentration), in combination with the electron coupling agent phenazine methosulfate at 25 xcexcM (final concentration) was added. A dehydrogenase enzyme in live cells reduces the MTS to a form that absorbs light at 492 nM which can be quantitated spectrophotometrically. The greater the absorbance the greater the number of live cells. The results are expressed as an IC50, which is the drug concentration required to inhibit cell proliferation (i.e. absorbance at 450 nM) to 50% of that of untreated control cells. The IC50 values for compounds of this invention fall in the range 0.01-1000 nM.
As preferred compounds of the present invention are compounds of formula I wherein
Q is selected from the group consisting of
xe2x80x83and y is oxygen.

Abstract: which have microtubule-stabilizing effects and cytotoxic activity against rapidly proliferating cells, such as, tumor cells or other hyperproliferative cellular disease.


Embodiments of the invention are directed to a system, method, or computer program product for dynamic latency reduction through edge computation based on a multi-layered mechanism. In this regard, the invention is structured for proactive de-centralized monitoring and resolution of network issue events and cross-pollination of resolutions of network issue events between network components and dynamic reallocation of technology resources therebetween for load balancing. In some embodiments, the invention comprises an entity communication network comprising a plurality of network device groups, one or more edge nodes, and a central server system. The invention determines, via an edge node, a first resolution vector for a first network issue event. The invention is configured to implement, via a micro edge adaptor of a first component system, the first resolution vector at a component system.

Entities typically employ various network architectures comprising modems, hubs, switches, routers, load balancers, network hosts, servers, proxy servers, input/output devices, network terminals and computers and the like. Typically, the devices in the network architecture run a plurality of technology applications for facilitating and performing a myriad of tasks and activities associated with the entity. These technology applications generate vast volumes of data flow across the network nodes. However, with existing network architectures, application/system monitoring may be performed, if at all, only via a central system, such as a central cloud system. However, while having an undesirably high latency of resolution of issues/errors in the network and large implementation times for resolutions to alleviate the issues/errors, the central system based monitoring of conventional systems may be ineffective in complex networks with a large number of applications and devices. Moreover, conventional systems typically lack the ability for intelligent correlation between disparate parts of the network architecture.
The previous discussion of the background to the invention is provided for illustrative purposes only and is not an acknowledgement or admission that any of the material referred to is or was part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of the application.

Electronic system for dynamic latency reduction through edge computation based on a multi-layered mechanism


Techniques are described for maintaining synchronization of inspection data when a web roll is converted into intermediate smaller rolls prior to cutting the web into individual parts. A system comprises a database that stores anomaly data acquired from a manufactured web. The anomaly data specifies positions anomalies within a manufactured web relative to a set of fiducial marks on the manufactured web. A conversion processing line comprises a fiducial mark reader to output position information for the set of fiducial marks on the manufactured web, a slitter that cuts the manufactured web into slit rolls, and a fiducial mark printer to print a set of fiducial marks on each slit roll. A position monitoring system maintains spatial synchronization of the anomaly data by computing an updated position for the anomalies relative to the set of fiducial marks printed on the slit rolls.

Inspection systems for the analysis of moving web materials have proven critical to modern manufacturing operations. Industries as varied as metal fabrication, paper, non-wovens, and films rely on these inspection systems for both product certification and online process monitoring. One major difficulty in the industry is related to the extremely high data processing rates required to keep up with current manufacturing processes. With webs of commercially viable width and web speeds that are typically used and pixel resolution that is typically needed, data acquisition speeds of tens or even hundreds of megabytes per second are required of the inspection systems. It is a continual challenge to process images and perform accurate defect detection at these data rates.

Maintaining registration of spatially synchronized data for web products


Use of rights-managed content is enabled by a digital license that includes the identity of the licensee. The licensee redistributes the content by sending a package containing the content and the license to another party. That other party obtains a license to use the content by contacting a license server, and preferably pays a fee for this license. During the contact with the license server, the licensee's identifying information is uploaded to the license server, which allows the license server to determine who distributed the content to the other party. The license server can use this information to reward the original licensee for having redistributed the content.

Much valuable information content—e.g., copyrighted music, videos, text, software, etc.—is available in digital form. Storing content in electronic digital form offers a number of advantages, such as wide availability of distribution channels, wide availability and low cost of storage media, and the ability to render digital content in high-quality. However, electronic digital content suffers from the disadvantage that high-quality illegal copies can easily be made with little skill or effort. Thus, unauthorized copying of valuable digital content has become a significant problem. Millions of users share unlicensed, non-revenue generating digital assets via peer-to-peer networks and other means, and the phenomenon is growing.
It is unlikely that any law or technology will be completely effective in stopping this trend. Law enforcement does not have the resources to monitor every environment in which illegal copying could take place. Every existing technology that has sought to prevent illegal copying has eventually been broken. Given sufficient time and motivation, a skilled hacker can find a weakness in almost any technology. Since copy-protection technology is generally employed to protect information that has a high economic value, there is no shortage of motivation to break a copy protection technology.
If copy-protection technologies can be broken, and if law enforcement cannot effectively prevent copying, then a better approach to the prevention of illegal copying is to provide a system that gives users an incentive to participate lawfully in the distribution and licensure of content. The possibility that a copy protection technology can be broken is less of a concern if a user has more to gain by participating in the distribution scheme for content than he does by circumventing that scheme. By providing such an incentive, much illegal copying is averted and wider distribution (and purchase) of the content is encouraged.
The present invention provides a system and method for encouraging users to handle content lawfully and to participate in the distribution of that content, and provides advantages that have not been realized in the prior art.

Redistribution of rights-managed content and technique for encouraging same


For processing of substances in the reservoir (3) of a microdroplet dosing device (1), movement of a solid carrier material with a binding-active surface takes place in the reservoir, and binding of the substance takes place on the surface of the carrier material which comprises magnetic particles (7) or a carrier pad.

In the field of biochemistry, gene technology and medicine, minute sample quantities are obtained, detected, analysed, handled or processed. Often the tasks consist of transferring the samples which are dissolved or suspended in a liquid, between macroscopic receptacles such as e.g. micro titre plates (μl volumes) and miniaturised carriers such as e.g. membranes, filters MALDI-MS targets, silicon wafers or nano titre plates (nl volumes). Tools known for transferring minimum substance quantities (lower limit approx. 1/10 nl) are so-called pin tools where the samples to be transferred adhere to needle points, or micropipettes or microdispensers where, analogous to inkjet printing technology applications, minute droplets with the incorporated sample are placed on the respective target substrate. Transfer at the interface between macroscopic receptacles and miniaturised carriers is generally associated with the problem that as a result of using part of the sample quantity present in the macroscopic receptacle, after transfer to the miniaturised carrier the quantity of substance present is insufficient to undertake a reliable analysis or treatment step. For this reason there is an interest in concentrating, collecting and/or purifying substance quantities in small volumes (μl range).
In the detection of substances of interest, mass-spectrometry processes nowadays achieve detection sensitivities in the attomol to lower femtomol region. Such sensitivity can effectively be used in practice only if the analyte is present in as pure a form as possible, at a volume comprising only a few nanolitres. For this purpose too, there is an interest in purifying or enriching substance samples.
From chemical and biochemical analysis it is generally known for sample enrichment to introduce solid phases in the respective solution or suspension, to which solid phases the desired molecules can temporarily be bound. With suitable magnetic materials properties, the solid phases can be manipulated under the influence of magnetic field forces (magnetic purification).
From U.S. Pat. No. 5,186,827, a magnetic separation device for separating magnetic particles from a non-magnetic test medium is known. The magnetic particles are small particles to whose surfaces the substances of interest are bound, or for example biological cells into which magnetic substances have been incorporated. With the use of a multitude of magnets, a magnetic field gradient is established in the test medium such that the magnetic particles are moved to the walls of the vessel where they are collected. The magnetic separation device known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,186,872 has the following disadvantages.
The design of the separation device is complex. To form the field gradients, at least four magnets are required which have to be arranged in a predetermined way and which require the use of particular receptacles for the test medium. In particular when electromagnets are used, the conventional separation device, which has been designed for characteristic receptacle dimensions in the cm region, does not allow miniaturisation. This precludes its use on the above-mentioned interface between macroscopic receptacles and miniature carriers with the tools used. Moreover, the conventional separation device is limited to separation only. There is no provision for loading magnetic particles with the substances of interest in the separation device.
From U.S. Pat. No. 5,498,550 a sample collector is known in which complexes of protein samples and magnetically marked antibodies are manipulated in a reactor under the influence of an external magnetic field. However, this sample collector is not suitable for handling substance quantities with volumes in the nl to μl range. A further disadvantage is that the respective antigen-antibody reaction for complex formation is limited to particular substances. Furthermore, a system for controlling magnetic particles in pipetting arrangements is known from WO 97/44671 and JP 08/062,224 (in: Patent Abstracts of Japan, 1996). The magnetic particles are suspended in a pipette-shaped cell; they can be pulled to the rim of the cell using an external permanent magnet. When the permanent magnet is removed, the particles are released and can therefore sink to the lower end of the cell which is open. But this system too is limited to manipulation of larger sample volumes in the ml range. Furthermore there is an advantage in that particle control only comprises binding or release, but not targeted movement of the particles in the cell. A magnetic separation device is described in WO 96/09550 (or U.S. Pat. No. 5,567,326) in which magnetisable particles are extracted from a non-magnetic test medium. The test medium is accommodated in a cell arrangement in which each cell is adapted for immersing a pin-shaped permanent magnet. This technology is associated with the disadvantage that the cells do not allow any dispersing of the test medium and that consequently the test medium is difficult to handle.
Further systems for manipulating magnetic or magnetisable particles are known from WO 86/06493, WO 89/01161, U.S. Pat. No. 5,147,529 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,985,649. However, none of these systems allow delivery of media in the same way as a dispenser. However, this dispensing function is of decisive importance in particular in the context of the tasks in biochemistry, gene technology and medicine mentioned above.
From WO 97/31105 a method for treating biopolymers, micro-organisms or materials with several types of magnetic particles is known. The materials to be treated are placed in a reservoir with the magnetic particles and bound to their surfaces. With a pipette, samples are taken from the supply vessel. Under the influence of a magnetic field, magnetic particles with bound materials can be held fast in the inside of the pipette. From WO 97/44134, a droplet shot device is known with which microscopic liquid droplets can be transferred to substrates.
At present, no purification or enrichment technology is known which can be used for processing (e.g. handling, collecting, purifying or similar) extremely small substance quantities (down to the nl range and below).
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a method for processing extremely small substance quantities which in particular is compatible with the use of traditional tools for handling samples in the nl-range and which has the widest possible scope of application. The method is to be easy to integrate into the conventional methods for handling samples, for detecting samples and for processing samples from biochemistry, gene technology and medicine. It is also the object of the invention to provide a device for implementing such a method.

Method and device for processing extremely small substance quantities

Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der Wissenschaften e. V.


An electrically insulating shell is disclosed, which includes a first half shell and a second half shell devised to be mutually connected together and shaped so as to define, once connected together, a central part delimiting a substantially closed space, which will encase a corresponding first portion of an associated electrical conductor. A first hollow portion protrudes from a first side of the central part, the first hollow portion being in communication with an inner space of the closed central part and adapted to surround a corresponding second portion of the electrical conductor. A second hollow portion protrudes from the central part from a second side opposite to the first side, the second hollow portion being in communication with the inner space of the closed central part and adapted to surround a corresponding third portion of the electrical conductor.

The electrically insulating shell and related electrically insulating device according to the present disclosure can be suitable for use inside the cabinet of electric switchgear panels, for example, when retrofitting existing switchgear panels, and will be described in reference to such applications, without intending however to limit their broader applications.
The use of electrically insulating devices is known in the field of electricity.
Such insulating devices can electrically insulate the conductor to which they are associated from the surrounding environment. In addition, depending on the specific applications, they can provide a good mechanical robustness and/or thermal stability for a long lifetime.
Further, insulating devices should also have a whole structure, which can be relatively inexpensive to produce, relatively easy to install, and relatively flexible, for example, adaptable to different configurations without incurring substantial or cumbersome modifications.
These latter specifications can play an important role when insulating devices have to be installed inside the cabinet of switchgear panels since more than one insulating device is usually needed, the space available can be limited, and the distance between conductive parts can be rather short.
These aspects can be important when retrofitting an existing switchgear panel. For example, in these cases, when instead of replacing the entire switchgear panel, a user replaces only the existing circuit breaker with a new and different one, a problem of compatibility can arise for example between the new circuit breaker to be used and the structural and/or functional characteristics of the existing switchgear panel. For example, the distance between the pre-existing contact pieces of the electric circuit into which the circuit breaker has to be inserted can be totally different and unsuitable with respect to the distance of the corresponding input and output connection contacts of the circuit breaker; hence, the installer should form "ad hoc" paths for electrically connecting each contact of the circuit breaker to the respective contact piece of the associated circuit.
For example, an insulating device should have first a structure adapted to be applied to the specific conductive path to which is it associated. However, for a greater market appeal, the insulating device should have its own structure applicable to different paths at least within the same cabinet and can fit within limits and constraints imposed by the surrounding parts of the panel, without needing substantial modifications to the structure.

Electrically insulating shell, an electrically insulating device comprising such insulating shell, and related switchgear panel


A light emitting diode (LED) lighting fixture includes a lamp having a tube with at least one LED lamp positioned therein and operatively connected with external electrical contacts. The lamp has at least one communication protocol address associated therewith. A communication protocol converter is associated with the lamp and is configured to receive an instruction from a communication protocol controller, determine if the instruction is intended for the associated at least one communication protocol address, and if so, control the at least one LED lamp based on the instruction.

Conventional lighting technology for large buildings such as office buildings, schools, recreational centers, retail establishments, theme parks and other similar structures are typically fluorescent fixtures including fluorescent lamps. Fluorescent lamps are more durable, economical and efficient when compared to incandescent lamps, and thus became standard for many lighting applications.
Typical fluorescent lighting fixtures include one or more ballasts for converting input or source power into power usable by the fluorescent lamps. A typical fluorescent lamp may have a standard socket size, tube diameter and length (e.g., a T8 lamp having a one inch tube diameter and a four foot length many others are available).
In light of recent energy conservation efforts and improved designs, one common occurrence is replacing existing fluorescent lamps with similarly shaped and rated LED lamps. By using existing technology, LED lamps can be made to closely match the functionality and appearance of fluorescent lamps.
Additionally, many existing lighting installations utilize lighting communications and protocols for providing an interactive lighting experience. For example, entertainment facilities, recreational facilities such as bowling centers, theme parks, stage productions, television productions, and theater productions utilize lighting communications to provide inter-active sound and visual effects.
It would be advantageous to provide an LED lamp that functionally and visually replaces existing fluorescent lighting while also providing for an interactive DMX controlled lighting experience.
Moreover, for some lighting applications, particular types of lamps and lighting fixtures may be required to utilize different lighting colors, effects, or patterns. As such, more complex lighting applications may involve using numerous lamps and fixtures. For example, in a bowling alley, fluorescent lamps may be used to emit white light during league bowling during the day, and ultraviolet lamps and/or colored fluorescent lamps may be used to emit ultraviolet and colored light, respectively, during nighttime bowling. LED lamps may be used to reduce the number of lamps and lighting fixtures in these lighting applications. For example, one LED lamp may include true white LEDs configured to emit light that closely matches the appearance and color temperature of white fluorescent lamps. The LED lamp may include ultraviolet LEDs configured to emit light having a wave length measured in nanometers similar to light emitted from a fluorescent ultraviolet lamp. Additionally, the LED lamp may include Red, Green, and Blue (RGB) LEDs configured to produce 16.7 million colors. That is, the LED lamp can perform the functions of multiple fluorescent lamps. However, the components, such as a data control board or a power control board, that operate the various LEDs are typically loosely positioned within the conventional LED lamps and are difficult to service. Therefore, the components of the LED lamps may be prone to breaking if dropped and difficult to replace or repair if broken.

LED lighting incorporating DMX communication


A configuration space bus includes a configuration space on a primary interface and an extension or secondary interface in communication with a configuration space of the primary interface. When the primary interface receives a transaction request which it does not recognize, the transaction request is passed to the secondary interface for processing. The primary bus then waits for a response from the secondary bus. If the primary interface receives a transaction request which it does recognize, that transaction request is processed by the primary bus. The extension interface allows the primary bus to receive and process industry standard specification defined commands as well as forward commands defined by a user to the extension bus for processing. Multiple buses may be cascaded to form a primary extension interface, a secondary interface, a third interface, etc. A transaction request is passed down through such a chain of interfaces until an interface recognizes and processes it.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to computer buses, and more particularly to an apparatus and method of expanding the functionality of computer buses.
2. Background Description
An interface is typically needed where computer devices must transfer transactions and commands between one another, so that the transactions or commands of one device can be received and properly interrupted by the other device. An example of such an interface includes a Peripheral Connect Interface ("PCI").
Peripheral Connect Interface is an industry standard system level bus interconnect protocol. A PCI bus allows peripheral devices like memory, video cards, printers, etc. to be functionally added to a computer system. The PCI bus also allows a peripheral using a proprietary system to communicate with the controlling computer using predefined industry standard commands or transactions. Examples of such transactions include memory read and write, interrupts, errors and other messages. Additionally, a PCI bus may send and receive both input/output ("IO ") and memory instructions.
Because the function of such an interface is to allow two different devices to communicate with one another, the interface will frequently be designed to an industry standard specification. The industry standard specification specifies the type and format of the allowable inputs and outputs to and from the interface. Accordingly, any device which will interact through the interface must comply with the interface's specifications or protocols.
An example of such an industry standard specification for the PCI interface is PCI Express. A PCI Express interface provides a system level bus interconnect applied to a computer system with a processor having a processor specific local bus. The PCI Express interface may be used where most of any memory and system accesses occur and would also include a PCI host bridge that would allow the system to bridge from the proprietary system of the system bus to the industry standard PCI bus. The PCI bus would then allow the addition and interface of devices like memory, video cards, printers, etc., which would then interact with the processor specific local bus though the PCI bus.
Interfaces can be structured so that there is a hierarchy to the interfaces. Such multiple interfaces may be connected to one another in series or cascaded, or in parallel with one another. Where multiple interfaces are connected to one another, it is frequently necessary to specify a hierarchy of the interfaces. The hierarchy of the interfaces may, among other things, specify how a command, which is received by one of the interfaces, is passed to the other interfaces. In the example of the PCI standard, one PCI interface may have multiple PCI interfaces or buses cascaded underneath it. Thus, a predetermined protocol is required to determine the path that a command or transaction follows as it is passed between interfaces. Examples of commands or transactions that may be passed through or between an interface or interfaces includes interrupts, error messages, etc.
In addition to facilitating communication between a device or a peripheral and a computer system, an interface also may have the capability to allow a computer system to automatically detect and configure a device. Such detection and configuration is commonly referred to as "plug and play" and requires that the interface and the device be capable of sending and receiving commands to configure the computer and the device for operation. Such communication commands may include, for example, memory range, IO range, and number of interrupts. Such configuration commands are transmitted through configuration space. Accordingly, both the interface and the peripheral attached thereto are configured to send and receive commands through configuration space at start-up in order for the computer system to configure the device for use.
A configuration bus is a component of the interface to facilitate the transmission and reception of configuration commands in order to allow software to set-up a system to function with a peripheral and to adjust to hardware changes. Typically, a configuration space has a combination of read only registers which are configured to describe the device. The read only registers are located on the device and include information such as, for example, the type of the device, the class of the device, the manufacturer of the device and registers which define the system resources the device needs to operate. Additionally, the device may have registers that enable the device to generate messages such as an interrupt. Also, the appropriate software drivers may be determined by information in the registers. Thus, configuration space may have a set of predefined read only registers which generally describe the device, describe the required system resources, and registers containing information which enable the bus to begin communication with the device. Also, an interface may utilize configuration commands which are unique to it.

Method and apparatus for configuration space extension bus

International Business Machines Corporation


A dishrack system for a drawer-type dishwasher having a tub including bottom, rear and opposing side walls includes a side portion and a readily removable base portion supported by the side portion. The side portion includes a base section having first and second leg members, and a back wall section. The leg members directly support the side portion upon the bottom wall of the tub, with the back wall section extending along one of the opposing side walls. The base portion includes a first end directly supported by the side portion and a second end which can be supported either directly by the bottom wall of the washing chamber or by another side portion. With this arrangement, the dishrack system occupies a full length and width of the tub, while the base portion can be removed without disturbing dishware items resting on the side portion(s).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to the art of dishwashers and, more particularly, to a multi-piece dishrack system for a drawer-type dishwasher.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Racks for supporting items in a dishwasher are well known in the art. Typically, the racks are designed to hold dishware, utensils and other items such as pots, pans and casserole dishes. Towards that end, the racks are generally provided with various support elements that enable a consumer to arrange the dishware in such a manner so as to optimize available space on the rack. As there exists a wide array of dishwashers, racks are typically specially configured to accommodate each dishwasher model. For example, racks for industrial dishwashers are designed to ride along a conveyor belt, racks for conventional dishwashers are designed to be slidingly supported in a tub through rollers or extensible glide rails and racks for drawer-type dishwashers are designed to fit into a drawer.
In drawer-type dishwashers, the drawer or washing chamber is generally slidingly supported in a cabinet and contains or supports many, if not all, wash system components for the drawer. With this arrangement, various components, such as filters, wash arms and pump inlets are arranged in a bottom portion of the drawer, with the rack being of a length, width and height so as to readily be fitted into the drawer atop the various components. Prior to a washing operation, the consumer need simply load items to be washed upon the rack. The drawer is then slid into the cabinet and a washing operation initiated. During the washing operation, a washing fluid is introduced into the drawer through wash arms which spray the washing fluid onto the items arranged on the rack. The water and any entrained soil particles pass through the filters and into the pump inlet, at which point the water, less the soil particles, is redirected back to the wash arms. This process is repeated until the washing operation is complete.
Occasionally during a washing operation, a large food particle will become dislodged and rest upon one of the filters. Also, during loading of the items to be washed, a utensil or other item may fall and pass through the rack, landing onto one of the filters, or simply come to rest on the bottom portion of the drawer. In order to retrieve anything that falls onto the bottom portion of the drawer, the rack must be removed. If there are items on the rack, most, if not all, of the items must be removed prior to lifting the rack from the dishwasher. Unloading and reloading the rack to retrieve a fallen item can be very inconvenient, particularly when the rack is full.
Despite the existence of dishracks in the prior art, there still exists a need for an enhanced dishrack designed for use with a drawer-type dishwasher. More specifically, there exists a need for a dishrack that is formed from multiple pieces so as to conform to a full length and width of a dishwasher drawer as well as provide at least one high wall for supporting tall items such as glassware and to enable a consumer to easily install the dishrack, readily remove a portion of the dishrack and gain access to a bottom portion of a drawer without having to completely unload the dishrack.

Multi-piece dishrack for a drawer dishwasher


An electrical generation system is based upon sail craft that move between towers through wind power. The system includes at least two support towers (or support structures on buildings, for example), and upper and lower cables extending from one tower to another. At least one sail craft is coupled to the upper and lower cables such that wind moves the sail craft along the cables. Each sail craft is coupled to the upper and lower cables with respective upper and lower modules, one or both of which includes a wheel that rotates as the craft moves along the cables. The wheel is coupled to an electrical generator that that feeds one or both of the cables for further distribution through at least one of the towers. A structure at each tower causes the craft to reverse its direction and travel back and forth between the towers in such a way that sail craft travelling in opposite directions to not block the wind to other craft.

The advantages of wind power are many. It is widely available and does not require flowing water or sources of fuel. Harnessing the wind dates back to the first sailboat. Wind-powered machines have ground grain and pumped water for hundreds of years. With the development of electricity, wind power found new applications in lighting buildings remote from centrally-generated power. Throughout the 20th century, small wind plants evolved for farms and residences, while larger utility-scale wind generators were connected to electricity grids for power in remote locations.
Today, wind powered generators range in size from small plants for battery charging at isolated residences, to expansive offshore wind farms that provide electricity to national electrical networks. Multi-megawatt turbine technologies in use today include advanced aerodynamic, structural, and acoustic engineering design features such as steel tube towers, variable-speed generators, composite blade materials and partial-span pitch control. In 1987, the MOD-5B was the largest single wind turbine operating in the world with a rotor diameter of nearly 100 meters and a rated power of 3.2 megawatts.
However, not all the energy of blowing wind can be harvested, since conservation of mass requires that as much mass of air exits the turbine as enters it. Betz' law gives the maximal achievable extraction of wind power by a wind turbine as 59 percent of the total kinetic energy of the air flowing through the turbine. Further inefficiencies, such as rotor blade friction and drag, gearbox losses, generator and converter losses, reduce the power delivered by a wind turbine. Commercial utility-connected turbines deliver about 75 percent of the Betz limit of power extractable from the wind, at rated operating speed.
Conventional wind turbines face a number of obstacles, including intermittency, space requirements, complaints from homeowners; as such, alternative technologies are being given more serious consideration. One alternative is the airborne generator, the basic premise of which is to tether a device to the ground and let it fly around in the strong winds like a kite, either generating power and sending it down a tether to the ground or using the tether itself to produce electricity at its base.
One example, the Ampyx's PowerPlane, is a glider that generates electricity by pulling on its tether, which is connected to a ground-mounted generator. The PowerPlane glides around between 1,000 and 2,000 feet; the next iteration of this design should generate 250 to 500 kilowatts continuously. There are also inflatable designs, as well as a soft-wing kite design from North Carolina-based Windlift that uses a 40-square-meter wing flying at a maximum altitude of 500 feet, with the controls and generator on the ground.
But scaling up airborne prototypes will not be easy without strong government support. In order to be viable, airborne devices would need to stay aloft for long periods of time with little maintenance required. Another challenge is regulation, since airborne systems are so large and consume such a large volume of airspace.


A sectional rate control unit for an agricultural implement is disclosed herein. The sectional rate control unit is preferably used with a planting system including a planting implement coupled to a work vehicle. The implement includes a frame having at least one section supporting multiple row units which are configured to apply a product (e.g., seed, fertilizer, insecticide, herbicide) to the rows in a field. Each section includes a product delivery apparatus having a target delivery rate controlled by a section application control signal and at least one product channel for delivering an amount of the product to each of the row units. The control unit includes an electronic product sensor coupled to each of the sections and the product channel. The product sensor is configured to generate a product rate signal representative of the amount of the product delivered to the row units. An electronic display located in the cab is configured to generate an image in response to a display signal. The display includes operator-actuatable switches configured to independently control the state of each of the sections and the target delivery rate of each product for each of the sections. A processor circuit is configured to monitor the product rate signal from each product sensor, to calculate product rate data for each product sensor, to generate and apply a display signal to the electronic display to generate the image on the display representing the product rate data for each product in each section, and to generate and apply the section application control signal to each product delivery apparatus in response to actuations of the switches on the electronic display.

Planting implements such as planters and drills are used for planting seed in agricultural fields. Planting implements include a frame having one or more sections. Each section supports multiple row units configured to apply seeds to a field as the implement is pulled across the field by an agricultural vehicle (e.g., a wheeled or tracked tractor). Seeds are stored in a seed bin mounted on or pulled behind the implement. Planters and drills often include additional systems for applying granular or liquid fertilizer, insecticide or herbicide to the field.
Planters include meters configured to dispense or meter individual seeds to row units. In contrast, drills use fluted rolls to meter a mass or volume of seed. The metering and placement accuracy is typically higher for planters than drills. Seeds of crops (e.g., corn) which require relatively accurate metering and placement for efficient growth are typically planted using planters, and seeds of crop which grow efficiently in more varied environments (e.g., oats; wheat) are planted by less accurate and less expensive drills.
Many planters and drills are made by Case Corp., the assignee of this invention. For example, the 955 Series EARLY RISER CYCLO AIRS Planters have central-fill seed bins for storing seed, pressurized air metering systems including cyclo seed drums for metering seed, and air distribution systems for delivering the metered seed to the row units. Planters in this series plant different numbers of rows at different row widths. For example, a 12/23 Solid Row Crop (SRC) Cyclo Planter plants 23 narrow rows or 12 wide rows when every other row unit is locked up. Drills made by Case Corp. include the 5300, 5400, 5500, 7100 and 7200 drills which include different numbers of openers, opener spacings and seeding widths. The 5500 Soybean Special Grain Drill, for example, includes 24 openers, 5 inch spacings and a 30 foot width.
Planting implements such as those described above may be equipped with variable-rate controllers permitting the operator to plant seed at target seed planting rates. Such implements may further be equipped with monitors, whether integral with or separate from the controllers, for displaying theoretical or estimated planting rates. An example of such a controller is available on the 955 Series Planters discussed above, and examples of such monitors are the Seed Flow II and Early Riser monitors sold by Case Corp. The seed planting rates are estimated because the above-described controllers and monitors do not include mechanisms or systems to count the seeds actually planted. Rather, the rates are estimated based upon known parameters such as the meter constant (i.e., seeds per metering drum revolution), meter rotation speed, row width and distance traveled. Depending on the condition and adjustments of the planting implement, however, estimated seed planting rates may deviate substantially from the actual planting rates. Additionally, the operator is not able to easily control the target seed planting rates for each section on the implement.
To alert the operator to conditions causing errors between the desired and actual seed planting rates, it would be desirable to provide a planting implement having a system for monitoring the actual seed planting rates by counting seeds actually planted, and for displaying data representative of such planting rates. It would also be desirable to allow an operator to independently control the state of each of the sections and the target delivery rate of several different products associated with each of the sections on the implement. It would also be desirable to display the product application rate data for each row in each section in a format easily understood by the operator for determining whether each row is operating at an actual planting rate consistent with the desired planting rate. For sections having multiple row units, it would also be desirable to display average planting rate data for the row units in each section. Based on such displayed data, the operator can make appropriate adjustments or repairs to the planting implement to maximize the performance of the system.


A belt tensioning system for an appliance, which has a tub driven by an endless loop drive belt connected to a motor that is movable with respect to a tub housing surrounding the tub, includes a rib extending from the tub housing, a pivotal cam washer having a pivot axis and an eccentrically curved cam profile edge with a series of arcuately spaced contact points thereon for engaging the ribs on the tub housing. The cam washer is pivotally mounted to the motor along the pivot axis and loosenably secured against rotation about the pivot axis and with respect to the motor. Normally, one of the contact points engages the rib so as to establish an offset distance between the rib and the motor, and thereby a tension on the drive belt. When the cam is loosened, the motor can be moved with respect to the tub housing and the cam washer can be pivoted into the rib until the rib rests against a new contact point on the cam profile edge to establish a new offset distance between the motor and rib so that a new tension is applied to the drive belt.

The present invention relates to a belt tensioning system for an appliance having a tub rotatable by a drive means driven by a motor. More particularly, this invention relates to a cam-based belt tensioning system for appliances such as laundry machines, including washers, dryers, and the like.
Various appliances, including but not limited to laundry machines such as washers and dryers, are known to utilize belt and pulley drive systems for rotating the tub. However, belt drive systems can be inefficient and noisy if the proper belt tension is not maintained. Inadequate tension can lead to the belt wearing prematurely, noise, or the belt becoming dislodged completely. Excessive tension on the belt can lead to wearing of the belt, stress on the pulley system or other components, and excessive heat. Therefore, it is desirable to maintain the appropriate tension on the belt in belt drive systems.
Various belt drive systems are known in the art. However, existing belt drive systems have some important disadvantages. Some belt drive systems utilize an adjustable idler mechanism that includes bell cranks pivoted about a common point and interconnected with a threaded member for adjustment. Although such a system is effective, a significant number of parts are required. This relatively complex mechanism also demands a significant amount of space, which may not be available in some appliances. Therefore, there is a need for a simple and effective belt tensioning system in modern appliances.
Therefore, the primary object of the present invention is the provision of an improved belt tensioning system for appliances, including but not limited to laundry appliances such as washers and dryers.
A further object of the present invention is the provision of a belt tensioning system which is simple and effective for setting and maintaining a particular belt tension.
A further object of the present invention is the provision of a cam-based system for adjusting belt tension in a washer or dryer.
A further object of the present invention is the provision of a cam means for increasing or decreasing the tension on a belt in predictable increments.
A further object of the present invention is the provision of a cam means which facilitates a wide range of adjustment.
A further object of the present invention is the provision of a belt tensioning system which has fewer parts than existing belt tensioning systems.
A further object of the present invention is a provision of a belt tensioning system which is economical to manufacture, durable in use, convenient to use and simple in construction.
These and other objects will be apparent from the drawings, as well as from the description and the claims which follow.


In one embodiment, a method of generating write data generates write data for a multi charged particle beam writing apparatus. The method includes dividing a polygonal figure included in design data into a plurality of figure segments including trapezoids each having a pair of parallel opposite sides extending in a first direction, the trapezoids being connected in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction such that adjacent trapezoids share the side extending in the first direction as a common side, and generates the write data including position information of a common vertex of a first trapezoid and a second trapezoid next to the first trapezoid expressed by a displacement in the first and second directions from a position of a common vertex of the second trapezoid and a third trapezoid next to the second trapezoid.

As LSI circuits are increasing in density, circuit linewidths of semiconductor devices are becoming finer year by year. To form a desired circuit pattern on a semiconductor device, a method is used which includes reducing the size of a high-accuracy original pattern (mask or also called a reticle which is used, in particular, in a stepper or a scanner) formed on quartz and transferring the pattern to a wafer with a reduced projection exposure apparatus. The high-accuracy original pattern is written through an electron beam writing apparatus by means of so-called electron beam lithography technology.
Known electron beam writing apparatuses include a multi-beam writing apparatus that performs multi-beam irradiation, or irradiation with multiple beams at one time to improve throughput. In such a multi-beam writing apparatus, for example, an electron beam emitted from an electron gun passes through an aperture member having a plurality of holes, thus forming multiple beams. Each of the beams is blanking-controlled in a blanking plate. The beams which have not been blocked are reduced in size by an optical system and are then applied at desired positions on a mask, serving as a writing target.
For electron beam writing with the multi-beam writing apparatus, the layout of a semiconductor integrated circuit is designed and design data is generated as layout data. A polygonal figure included in the design data is divided into a plurality of trapezoids, thus generating write data to be input to the multi-beam writing apparatus. The write data includes, for each trapezoid, coordinate data indicative of a placement origin corresponding to one vertex of the trapezoid and data indicative of displacements from the placement origin to the other three vertices of the trapezoid.
If design data includes a figure, such as an oval figure, approximately represented with a polygonal figure having many sides, the polygonal figure will be divided into many trapezoids, resulting in an enormous amount of write data which includes, for each of the many trapezoids, coordinate data indicative of a placement origin and data indicative of displacements from the placement origin to the other three vertices.
The amount of the write data can be reduced by representing the polygonal figure with polygons. If such write data is input to the multi-beam writing apparatus, however, the amount of calculation necessary for data processing, such as rasterization, in the apparatus will increase.

Method of generating write data, multi charged particle beam writing apparatus, and pattern inspection apparatus


An apparatus which receives an input light having a spectrum, and determines a momental wavelength of the spectrum. The apparatus includes a decoupling unit, a weighting unit and a computation unit. The decoupling unit decouples a portion of the received input light, to provide a first signal representing the input light with the portion decoupled therefrom, and a second signal representing the decoupled portion. The weighting unit weights the second signal. The computation unit determines the momental wavelength from the power of the first signal and the power of the weighted second signal. An optical amplifier is also provided which determines the momental wavelength of an amplified light, and controls a gain tilt parameter of the optical amplifier in accordance with the determined momental wavelength, to reduce gain tilt. An optical communication system is also provided which includes a plurality of such optical amplifiers sequentially arranged along an optical transmission line.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for determining the momental wavelength of the spectrum of light. In addition, the present invention relates to an optical amplifier and an optical communication system which incorporate the method and apparatus to adjust gain tilt in accordance with the determined momental wavelength.
2. Description of the Related Art
Optical communication systems typically use wavelength-division multiplexing to increase transmission capacity. More specifically, a plurality of signal lights each having a different wavelength are multiplexed together into a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) signal light. The WDM signal light is transmitted over a transmission line, and then demultiplexed at the other end of the transmission line so that the individual signal lights can be individually received. The transmission line is usually a single optical fiber.
An optical amplifier is typically used in such an optical communication system to amplify the WDM signal light, since an optical amplifier has a relatively broad band. More specifically, the broad band of the optical amplifier allows each of the individual signal lights in the WDM signal light to be amplified.
Generally, an optical amplifier includes an optical amplifying medium, such as an erbium-doped fiber (EDF). The WDM signal light travels through the optical amplifying medium. The optical amplifier also includes a light source, such as a laser diode, which provides pump light to the optical amplifying medium. The pump light causes the WDM signal light to be amplified as the light signal travels through the optical amplifying medium. Repeaters, each have an optical amplifier, are typically interposed into the transmission line to transmit a WDM signal light over a long distance.
Moreover, the gain of an optical amplifier is dependant on the wavelength of the amplified signal. This dependance is defined as the "gain tilt" of the optical amplifier. Therefore, when a WDM signal light is amplified by the optical amplifier, each of the individual signal lights multiplexed together may be amplified with a different gain. This gain tilt of the optical amplifier must be considered when using an optical amplifier to amplify a WDM signal light.
Therefore, the gain tilt of an optical amplifier should be monitored or controlled when using the optical amplifier in an optical communication system which used wavelength division multiplexing. A conventional spectrum analyzer can be used to monitor the gain tilt of an optical amplifier. However, a spectrum is expensive and relatively large device.

Method and apparatus for monitoring the momental wavelength of light, and an optical amplifier and an optical communication system which incorporate the method and apparatus to adjust gain tilt


In a system and method of shadow mask tensioning, an object having second set of alignment features is positioned on a side of shadow mask having a first set of alignment features such that the object and the shadow mask can move independently of each other and the first and second sets of alignment features are not in final alignment. Tension is then applied to the shadow mask to bring the first set of alignment features into final alignment with the second set of alignment features. The alignment features of the shadow mask can include at least one deposition aperture of the shadow mask.

Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to the field of thin film electronic devices fabricated by additive manufacturing methods. In particular, the present invention is directed to a shadow mask used for patterning materials such as metals, oxides, and OLED compounds.
Description of Related Art
There is currently great interest in additive manufacturing methods for fabrication of thin film devices. Such methods would offer an alternative to established methods such as photolithography. Investigating alternatives to photolithography is of interest because photolithography requires significant facility floor space, requires numerous complex steps per patterned feature, and produces significant toxic chemical waste.
It is known in the art of additive manufacturing to employ the method of shadow masking. Shadow masking involves placing a substrate in close proximity or contact with a shadow mask that includes numerous formed apertures. Subsequently, material is deposited through the apertures, yielding the desired pattern on the substrate. Most often several shadow masks are required to produce a desired thin film device. Thus, it is necessary to precisely align the series of shadow masks with reference points on the substrate.
Typically, thin film devices require features to be accurately located within no more than a few micrometers of their specified location. Current alignment methods are capable of accurately placing the center of the shadow mask within less than 1 μm of its desired location. However, the shadow mask typically contains features over a significant area, hereinafter referred to as the "array." Therefore, the size of the array must be controlled very precisely if the features of several masks are to be placed within their specified areas.
Because of the desired patterned feature sizes (typically >100 μm), the shadow mask is typically made of a thin metal foil less than 100 μm thick. Such a thin material does not have the structural integrity to be easily and safely handled on its own. Additionally, the shadow mask will be subject to elevated temperature during the deposition process and it is desired that the apertures of the array remain at constant locations during the thermal cycling. Therefore, tensioning the shadow mask and mounting the shadow mask to a rigid frame allows the shadow mask to be easily and safely handled while being robust to temperature changes.
Heretofore, heat was used to tension the shadow mask before it was attached to the frame. In this method, the frame is made of a low coefficient of thermal expansion alloy, such as invar. The frame and shadow mask are heated to a temperature where the array grows, via thermal expansion, to the proper size and an adhesive bonds the shadow mask to the frame. As the assembly cools, the shadow mask contracts more than the frame resulting in a tensioned shadow mask. This method of thermal tensioning does work but it has limitations and requires significant skill of the fabricator.
One limitation of thermal tensioning is that heat causes the shadow mask to expand proportionally in all directions. This method would be sufficient if all pre-mounted shadow masks are dimensionally accurate to the micrometer level. However, shadow masks often do not start with correct proportions. An example of this concept is shown in FIG. 1. In this example, the particular shadow mask requires more stretch in the horizontal direction than in the vertical direction. The best course of action for mounting this shadow mask using thermal tensioning is to select a mounting temperature that splits the difference between the two desired dimensions. This introduces dimensional inaccuracies to the array of this shadow mask which could cause the shadow mask to become unusable. Therefore, the inability to adjust shadow mask dimensions independently is a limitation of thermal stretching.
When shadow masks are mounted via thermal tensioning, the selected mounting temperature should be higher than the maximum temperature realized at the shadow mask during deposition. When this is done the patterned features are generally observed to remain in their starting locations over the course of the thermal cycling of the deposition. According to observations, this starting location is the "cold" or room temperature dimension of the shadow mask. This differs from the mounting, "hot," dimension of the shadow mask. When the shadow mask cools from the mounting temperature and becomes tensioned, the array changes in dimension. This concept is shown in FIG. 2. This process is somewhat repeatable in that shadow masks with the same aperture pattern tend to deform in the same fashion when transitioning from hot to cold states. However, achieving acceptable shadow mask mounting results requires collecting extensive data on the behavior of shadow masks and significant decision making from the fabricator. Further, transition from hot to cold can result in bowing of the array, a problem that cannot be directly addressed in the thermal tensioning process.
Including an elevated temperature within the mounting process also adds further complications. Introducing an environment of elevated and adjustable temperature greatly complicates the task of making the accurate micrometer scale measurements that are required for a precise shadow mask. Additionally, since it is continually desired to mount shadow masks at increasingly high temperatures, ease of handling and even operator safety become a concern.

Shadow mask tensioning method and apparatus


A method of joining two objects includes applying an adhesive composition between and in contact with a first object and a second object, and allowing the adhesive composition to harden to form an adhesive bond between the first and second objects, wherein the adhesive composition consists essentially of an optional stabilizer and a reversible polymer material that can reversibly transition between a liquid state and a solid state by reversible cycloaddition reactions, wherein upon cooling, the reversible polymer material transitions from a liquid state to a solid state by reversible cycloaddition reactions within a time period of less than about 2 minutes.

Reversible Diels-Alder based polymers are generally known, and have been investigated for use in solid ink printing. These are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,844,020, 5,952,402, and 6,042,227. These reversible Diels-Alder based polymers would be particularly useful in ink jet applications, because the ink jet apparatus allows for precise, imagewise control of the placement of material, and thus would allow for the production of precise, hard polymer films possessing the reversible adhesion and solid-to-liquid conversion properties.
However, the Diels-Alder based polymers previously investigated suffered from long solidification times after being deposited on a substrate. For example, it was found that many of the prior Diels-Alder based polymers had solidification times on the order of several hours, making them unsuitable for use in most printing applications. Long solidification times are unsuitable in most printing applications because while the printed material remains in a liquid or semi-liquid state, the image can become distorted, image quality can degrade, and the printed images cannot be stacked on top of each other resulting in either large space needs or low throughput.
Accordingly, there is a need for improved materials that exhibit the reversible polymerization property, but that have shorter solidification times to permit their efficient and economical use in commercial processes.
A wide variety of adhesive materials are also known, including epoxy-based adhesives, acrylate-based adhesives, and the like. Such materials have been shown to provide very strong bonding properties. However, many of these adhesive materials are irreversible. That is, the objects that are bonded together cannot be easily separated or separated without damage or destruction to the objects.
The concept of reversible adhesives has been previously described. For example, one such reversible adhesive system is described in Luo, X. et al., Polymer 2010, 51, 1169-75; Aubert, J. H., J. Adhesion 2003, 79, 609-616; Wouters, M. et al., Prog. Org. Coatings 2011, 72, 152-158; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,825,315, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. The described system uses a combination of epoxy or acrylate materials and Diels-Alder materials.
In the systems described, irreversible epoxy or acrylate chemistry is used as the adhesion force, while the Diels-Alder chemistry only provides the means for reversibility. Because the Diels-Alder materials are present, heating and cooling of the substrate will result in delamination or re-adhesion. However, in these examples the surface is irreversibly altered once the epoxy groups are affixed. Total restoration or cleaning of the surface would require mechanical removal of the epoxy residue, which could possibly damage the substrate, and more importantly would prevent re-adherence of the materials.
Thus, there remains a need in the art for improved adhesives that allow for reversible adhesive of objects, yet without any permanent alteration or damage to the objects being adhered.


A silent surface fastener comprises a base part (2), a plurality of engaging elements (3a, 3b) raised from the base part, and a vibration-damping material layer (10) disposed on the back surface of the base part. According to one preferred embodiment, the vibration-damping material layer is disposed on the back surface of the base part through the medium of a bonding layer. The vibration-damping material layer is desired to have a loss tangent (tanδ) at −40 to 40° C. of 0.05-2.5 and a thickness of 0.3-10 mm. According to the other preferred embodiment, the base part is made from a woven or knitted base fabric, the plurality of engaging elements are made of a monofilament, and the fineness of the monofilament is 100-500 T (deciTex).

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a silent surface fastener, more particularly to a surface fastener adapted to produce reduced sound during peeling of the fastener from its mating member, and to a product to which the surface fastener has been attached.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In general, a loud noise is generated during peeling of a surface fastener from its mating member. This peeling noise poses a problem in the use of some objects, such as clothes and bags for military applications. Therefore, the reduction of noise is required.
As to a method for reducing noise during peeling of a surface fastener from its mating member, development has been heretofore directed to the modification of a base part itself of a surface fastener to such structure that will generate noise only with difficulty or that will propagate vibration only with difficulty. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,776,068 proposes to decrease the propagation of vibrational energy to the air by making the base part itself of a surface fastener into a lattice-like structure (mesh structure). It further teaches that the vibration will be suppressed by forming a base fabric with a high-mass thread.
Further, U.S. Pat. No. 4,884,323 discloses a method of intervening a mounting member between the base part of a surface fastener and a fabric to which the surface fastener is attached to decrease the contacting area between the fabric and the surface fastener, thereby suppressing the propagation of sound.
On the other hand, JP 2000-70010 A teaches that a plurality of hook-like engaging elements with small diameters will be effective in suppressing the generation of an unusual peeling noise owing to the small diameter while maintaining necessary engagement force.
According to the methods disclosed in above-mentioned U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,776,068 and 4,884,323, the surface fastener itself will produce a small peeling noise before attachment to a fabric. However, a disadvantage is that it will produce greatly increased noise when it is attached to a fabric and opened and closed practically. In the case of the structure where a mounting member has been intervened between the base part of a surface fastener and a fabric, the surface fastener takes a floated state over the fabric, and the operating characteristics of engagement and disengagement are also not ideal. Further, it has another disadvantage that the type of fabrics to which the fastener can be attached is limited because the material to be attached, particularly the material of a high-density texture, tends to easily propagate vibration. On the other hand, according to the method disclosed in JP 2000-70010 A, there is no difference in the sound level before and after attachment to a fabric. However, the sound level itself is not so reduced and therefore the effect is inadequate.


An aspect of the present invention relates to hexagonal ferrite magnetic powder, which has an activation volume ranging from 900 nm3 to 1,600 nm3, and a ratio of a coefficient of plate thickness variation to a coefficient of particle diameter variation, coefficient of plate thickness variation/coefficient of particle diameter coefficient, ranging from 0.20 to 0.60.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to hexagonal ferrite magnetic powder and to a method of manufacturing the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to hexagonal ferrite magnetic powder that is suitable for use as the ferromagnetic powder of a magnetic recording medium for high-density recording, and to a method of manufacturing the same.
The present invention further relates to a magnetic recording medium comprising the above hexagonal ferrite magnetic powder.
2. Discussion of the Background
Conventionally, ferromagnetic metal magnetic powder has primarily been employed in the magnetic layers of magnetic recording media for high-density recording. Ferromagnetic metal magnetic powder is comprised primarily of acicular particles consisting mainly of iron. To achieve high-density recording, efforts have been made to reduce the size of the particles and increase their coercive force. They have been employed in magnetic recording media used in various applications.
With the increase in the amount of information being recorded, ever higher density recording has been demanded of magnetic recording media. However, in achieving even higher density recording, limits to the improvement of ferromagnetic metal magnetic powder have begun to appear. By contrast, magnetic recording media with magnetic layers in which hexagonal ferrite magnetic powder is employed have better high-density characteristics in their vertical components. Accordingly, hexagonal ferrite magnetic powder is ferromagnetic material that is suited to achieving even higher densities. Thus, in recent years, various investigation has been conducted into magnetic recording media employing hexagonal ferrite magnetic powder (for example, see Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 2011-178654; Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 2012-142529 or English language family member US2012/177951A1; Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 2012-204726 or English language family member US2012/251844A1; Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 2006-120823; Japanese Patent No. 4675581; and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 2010-239067, which are expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entirety).

Hexagonal ferrite magnetic powder and magnetic recording medium


The present invention provides a three position hydraulic piston assembly for a gear ratio change mechanism for a transmission exhibiting reduced gear shift noise. The three position hydraulic piston assembly includes a master piston and motion retarding assemblies that act near both travel limits of the master piston. The master piston includes symmetrical passageways that provide hydraulic fluid flow to small chambers at each end of the piston that are closed off as the piston approaches its travel limits. Hydraulic fluid trapped in the chambers decelerates the piston and is bled off through an orifice allowing the piston to reach its travel limit and quickly and quietly engage a gear ratio.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may or may not constitute prior art.
In dual clutch transmissions (DCT's) and manual transmission automation (MTA), gear ratio changes are typically accomplished by double acting hydraulic cylinders. One side of a cylinder is pressurized with hydraulic fluid while the other side is exhausted to move a piston and associated shift rail, fork and synchronizer clutch in one direction to engage one gear and the opposite activity engages another gear. The double acting cylinder is configured to also provide a center or neutral position.
One of the acknowledged features and benefits of dual clutch transmissions is their ability to rapidly shift gears. Such rapid gear shifts actually are achieved when one of the dual clutches engaging the current gear ratio on one countershaft is released and the other clutch on the other countershaft is engaged, the newly selected gear ratio having been previously pre-engaged by the process described above.
Notwithstanding such gear ratio pre-selection and its attendant shift time reduction, there is still a desire and demand to even more rapidly change gear ratios. The speed of such gear ratio changes may be increased by many commonly known approaches: increasing the hydraulic pressure, increasing the flow rate of the hydraulic fluid and increasing the size of the hydraulic cylinder. Unfortunately, all of these approaches carry with them the essential certainty of increased noise of a very noticeable and objectionable type. The noise will not be, for example, a continuous or low frequency sound which might not be noticeable given the other sounds from the vehicle but will be a distinct and abrupt impact or clunk as the piston, shift rail and gear come to a sudden stop upon reaching the limit of travel and engagement.
This problem has not gone unrecognized and significant effort has been expended to rectify it. One of the more accepted solutions is referred to as apply pressure profiling. This involves controlling or adjusting the hydraulic pressure applied to a piston and reducing it as the piston approaches its travel limit to slow it in order to minimize the noise generated as it stops. Clearly this solution to gear ratio change noise is a compromise as it results in slower average piston travel and thus slower gear engagement. Furthermore, it significantly increases the complexity of the electronic control and driver circuitry as modulating control of the pressure of the hydraulic fluid must now be provided. Finally, if the travel of the hydraulic piston is very short, there is simply not enough time to achieve effective pressure profiling due to the inertia of the mechanical components of the system.
From the foregoing, it is apparent that noise reduction improvements in the art of gear ratio change mechanisms for dual clutch and other transmissions would be desirable and the present invention is so directed.

Hydraulic actuator for transmissions having reduced noise