Disclosed is a novel silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material comprising a support and photographic constituent layers formed thereon, said photographic constituent layers including at least one photographic light-sensitive layer comprising light-sensitive silver halide, said silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material being capable of forming an image thereon after exposure and simple heat development thereof, wherein the light-sensitive material contains a specific compound acting as an anti-fogging agent and wherein at least one silver halide emulsion contained in the light-sensitive material is characterized in that silver halide grains of the emulsion have a silver chloride content of 50 mol % or more, the tabular grains whose principal faces are each made up of a (111) plane account for 50% or more of the total projected area of the silver halide grains of the emulsion, the tabular grains have an average thickness of 0.3 .mu.m or less, and that the grains have an average aspect ratio of 2 to 80. Further, a method for forming an image by using the above silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material is disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a novel silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material for recording images and to a method for forming color images using the material.
2. Description of the Related Art
Owing to the remarkable development of color photographic light-sensitive materials utilizing silver halides in recent years, high-quality color images are now easily available. For example, according to so-called ordinary color photography, color prints are obtained by taking a photograph utilizing a color negative film, processing the film, and optically printing the image information which is recorded in the processed color negative film onto color photographic printing paper. Recently, this process has made remarkable progress, and large-scale, centralized color laboratories, in which a large quantity of color prints are produced efficiently, and the so-called mini-labs which are installed in shops and are designed to use compact and simple printer-processors have spread widely. Therefore, anybody can enjoy color photography easily.
In addition, recently, a new concept, the APS system, which utilizes a color negative film capable of recording as a magnetic record a variety of information by using a support coated with a magnetic material, is being put on the market. Using this system photography is made even more enjoyable by allowing the size of the prints to be changed using information recorded at the time the photograph was taken, and by the general simplicity with which the film can be handled. Also proposed is a tool which edits or processes images by reading the image information from processed negative film by means of a simple scanner. Since these means make it possible to easily digitize high-quality image information from silver salt photographs, the enjoyment taken in conventional photography is in the process of being surpassed by a wide range of easily accessible applications.
The color photography, now in common currency, use the optical printing system using color reproduction by the subtractive color process. Generally, a color negative film comprises a transparent support and light-sensitive layers thereon utilizing silver halide emulsions as light-sensitive elements sensitive to blue, green or red wavelength regions respectively, and so-called color couplers capable of producing a yellow, magenta or cyan dye having a complementary hue of the sensitive wavelength region of each light-sensitive layer. A color negative film exposed during photography, is processed in a color developing solution containing an aromatic primary amine developing agent. At this time, the developing agent develops, i.e., reduces the exposed silver halide grains, and the oxidized form of the developing agent, which is formed concurrently with the foregoing reduction, undergoes a coupling reaction with the color coupler to form dyes. The metal silvers (developed silver) generated by the development and the unreacted silver halides are removed through a bleaching and fixing process, respectively. This creates a color image on the color negative film. Subsequently, color photographic printing paper, which comprises a reflective support and light-sensitive layers coated thereon having a combination of light-sensitive wavelength regions and hue in each layer, similar to the color negative film, is optically exposed to light through the processed color negative film, and is then subjected to the color developing, bleaching and fixing processes as in the case of the negative film to obtain a color print having a color image composed of dye images so that an original image can be reproduced. In contrast with the above-described classic methods for forming images, recently it has become possible to enhance the image quality of print by converting the image information recorded on a color negative into digital information by means of a scanner and processing the digitized information in various ways. Mini-lab systems which perform the above-described process have actually been announced.
Because of this background, there is a growing demand for the simplification of the image forming method of the color negative. The first reason for this is that expertise and skilled operation are necessary due to the requirement of strict control of the composition and the temperature of the solutions in processing baths for the above-mentioned procedure consisting of color development, bleaching and fixation. The second reason for this is that equipment to be used exclusively for the developing process is often required, due to substances, such as developing agents and bleaching agents comprising an iron chelate compound, the discharge of which is regulated from the standpoint of environmental protection. The third reason for this is that the currently available systems do not satisfactorily fulfill the requirement for rapid reproduction of recorded images. The above-mentioned processes still take time, although this time has been shortened with recent advances in technology. From this background the demand is increasing for reducing the burden on the environment by creating a system which doesn't utilize bleaching agents or color developing agents as used in current image forming systems and for thereby further improving the ease of use. In order to compete with electronic still photography and similar systems it is imperative to continue improving the ease of use of image forming methods which use processing solutions.
From these standpoints, many improved technologies have been proposed. For example, IS & T's 48th Annual Conference Proceedings, p. 180, discloses a system in which the dye formed in the developing reaction is transferred to a mordant layer and thereafter a light-sensitive material is stripped to remove the developed silver and unreacted silver halide from an image formed by the dye without the use of a bleach-fixing bath which has been indispensable to conventional color photographic processing. However, this technique cannot perfectly solve environmental problems because a developing process using a processing bath containing a developing agent is still necessary.
Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. has proposed Pictrography system which dispense with a processing solution containing a developing agent. In these systems, a small amount of water is supplied to a light-sensitive member containing a base precursor, and then the light-sensitive member and an image receiving member are placed face to face and heated to promote the developing reaction. This system does not use the aforementioned processing bath and, in this regard, is advantageous with respect to environmental protection. Accordingly, it is clearly conceivable that this system can be utilized for image formation in light-sensitive materials for photographic.
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 9-10,506 and European Patent No. 762,201 describe a method whereby a color image is obtained in a light-sensitive material by a developing agent and a coupler contained in the light-sensitive material.
This Pictrography system can dispense with a developing solution, and the processing can be carried out by merely supplying a small amount of water. According to this system, the generation of a base, which is necessary for the progress of heat development, is realized by the above-described simple method. Therefore, developed silver and undeveloped silver halide remain in the light-sensitive material after the heat development. If this system is applied to a light sensitive material for photography, then, as it is necessary to obtain an extremely sharp image, various problems arise due to the necessity of using an image formed on a light sensitive material.
As is generally known, since silver halide grains have a larger refractive index compared with a binder such as gelatin, and since a silver iodobromide emulsion, which can provide high sensitivity for photography, has absorption in a blue color region, so the remaining silver halide causes significant light scattering and thus hinders the reading of the formed image. Therefore, whether to establish a method in which the silver halide grains, which are a light scattering substance, can be removed with the same simplicity as in Pictrographic heat development, or to establish a method in which the image information can be read from a light-sensitive material containing the light scattering substance at a high density, is an important subject.
From the above point of view, silver chloride has an advantageous physical properties as a silver halide in comparison with the silver iodobromide generally utilized in photographic light-sensitive materials, because the refractive index of silver chloride is small and silver chloride has little light scattering due to it having no absorption in the visible light region. In addition to the above properties, silver chloride is preferable due to its rapid fixing speed allowing the silver halide to be removed easily.
Several attempts are known to impart the required high sensitivity to photographic light-sensitive materials by using silver chloride. Although the most effective way of imparting high sensitivity is to increase the amount of light absorbed by each single silver halide grain, merely increasing the grain size is accompanied by such undesirable results as poor graininess and a decrease in the developing speed. Therefore, designing the silver halide grains with a tabular form has the advantage of increasing the area of each grain which can receive light. Examples of these attempts are described in, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,399,215, 4,400,463 and 5,217,858, wherein the photographic emulsions comprise tabular high silver chloride grains which are each made up of a (111) plane as a principal face.
Meanwhile, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,292,632 and 5,310,635 disclose a photographic emulsion composed of tabular high silver chloride grains which are each made up of a (100) plane as a principal face. Although silver chloride grains are known to tend to form a (100) plane as a prevailing face when growing into fine crystals, a strict control of reaction conditions is necessary for preparing tabular grains having the desired shapes and sizes while holding a (100) plane as the principal face, and therefore a simple manufacturing process is difficult to establish.
In the preparation of a practical photographic material, plural kinds of emulsions having different levels of sensitivity need to be used in order to obtain a broad latitude. When viewed from this standpoint, the use of tabular grains having a (111) plane as a principal face is desirable, because the manufacturing process of these grains is more likely to be simplified.
Based on these technologies, an attempt was made to produce tabular grains having a high silver chloride content and being made up of a (111) plane as a principal face and also being characterized by little light scattering and ease in fixing. These grains-were used for the preparation of a photographic light-sensitive material which would enable a simple heat development in the aforementioned Pictrography system. However, this attempt faced serious problems.
In a simple heat developing system suited for the purpose of the present invention, such as the Pictrography system, it is difficult to obtain the high level sensitivity required for photographic light-sensitive materials by using an emulsion having a high silver chloride content. But employment of a higher level of chemical sensitization, for obtaining a higher level of sensitivity, tends to cause serious fogging, and the creation of good discrimination is difficult. Further, it has been found that, when an emulsion having a high silver chloride content is used, the sensitivity of a light-sensitive material prepared by using a coating liquid after the passage of time tends to decrease, and the sensitivity of the light-sensitive material stored for a long time tends to decrease

Silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material and method for forming image


Use of the tetramerous derivative of indole-3-carbinol having formula I

It has been known for a long time that plants belonging to the family of cruciferae contain substances acting on the growth of tumoral cells, and whose administration thus reduces the effects of cancer onto the human body.
The anti-carcinogenic properties of these plants have been found both through epidemiological evidence and by means of tests carried out on animals. Such anti-carcinogenic properties can be attributed to the presence of nutritive and non-nutritive constituents such as indole glucosinates, which are known as inhibitors of the carcinogenic process.
Indole-3-carbinol is a product deriving from the spontaneous hydrolysis of the indole glucosinate gluco-brassicin contained in plants belonging to the family of Cruciferae. Indole-3-carbinol is supposed to be an inhibitor both of breast cancer induced in rats by dimethylbenzanthracene and of stomach cancer induced by benzo(a)pyrene. Once formed, Indole-3-carbinol under-goes further photoinduced transformations with formation of polymeric degradation products.
Some of such polymeric products and their preparation are reported in the article "Oligomerization of Indole-3-carbinol in aqueous acid" by GROSE, Karl et al. in CHEMICAL RESEARCH IN TOXICOLOGY; ISSN 0893-228X, vol. 5, no. 2, 1992, pages 188-193; biological activity of the trimeric product is reported in the article "The major cyclic trimeric product of Indole-3-cabinol is a strong agonist of the estrogen receptor signalling pathway" by RIBY J et al. in BIOCHEMISTRY, Americam Chemical Society, Easton, Pa., US, vol. 39, no. 5, 2000, pages 910-918.
The authors of the present invention have unexpectedly and surprisingly found that a tetramerous derivative of indole-3-carbinol has a high anti-carcinogenic activity. In particular, it has been found that the anti-carcinogenic activity of the tetramerous derivative develops independently from the presence of estrogen receptors in tumoral cells.

Tetramerous derivative of indole-3-carbinol with anti-carcinogenic activity and method of synthesis of said derivative

Abstract: for preparing a medicinal having anti-carcinogenic activity, and method of synthesis of the tetramerous derivative having formula I, in which indole-3-carbinol is reacted with an oxidizing agent so as to cause a polymeric oxidation of indole-3-carbinol.


Methods and systems for monitoring quality of service (QOS) data for a plurality of storage volumes from a storage operating system of a storage system are provided. A performance manager collects the QOS data from the storage operating system and the QOS data includes a response time in which each of the plurality of storage volumes respond to an input/output (I/O) request. An expected range for future QOS data is generated based on the collected QOS data. The QOS data is monitored for each storage volume for determining whether a current QOS data for each storage volume is within the expected range.

Various forms of storage systems are used today. These forms include direct attached storage (DAS) network attached storage (NAS) systems, storage area networks (SANs), and others. Network storage systems are commonly used for a variety of purposes, such as providing multiple clients with access to shared data, backing up data and others.
A storage system typically includes at least a computing system executing a storage operating system for storing and retrieving data on behalf of one or more client computing systems (may just be referred to as "client" or "clients"). The storage operating system stores and manages shared data containers in a set of mass storage devices.
Quality of Service (QOS) is used in a storage environment to provide certain throughput in processing input/output (I/O) requests, a response time goal within, which I/O requests are processed and a number of I/O requests processed within a given time (for example, in a second (IOPS). Throughput means an amount of data transferred within a given time in response to the I/O requests, for example, in megabytes per second (Mb/s). Different QOS levels may be provided to different clients depending on client service levels.
To process an I/O request to read and/or write data, various resources are used within a storage system, for example, network resources, processors, storage devices and others. The different resources perform various functions in processing the I/O requests.
As storage systems continue to expand in size and operating speeds, it is desirable to efficiently monitor resource usage within the storage system and analyze QOS data so that any incidents based on not meeting QOS target goals can be identified and handled appropriately. Continuous efforts are being made to efficiently monitor and analyze QOS data.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and system for monitoring and analyzing quality of service in a storage system


The present invention relates to DNA encoding Acrp30, of vertebrate (e.g., mammalian) origin, and particularly of human and rodent origin. The present invention further relates to isolated, recombinantly produced or synthetic DNA which hybridizes to the nucleotide sequences described herein and RNA transcribed from the nucleotides sequence described herein. In addition, the invention relates to expression vectors comprising DNA encoding Acrp30, which is expressed when the vector is present in an appropriate host cell. The invention further relates to isolated, recombinantly produced or synthetic mammalian Acrp30 of vertebrate (e.g., mammalian) origin, and particularly of human and rodent origin. Also encompassed by the present invention is an inhibitor or enhancer of Acrp30. The present invention further relates to a method of identifying inhibitors or enhancers of Acrp30. Isolation of Acrp30 makes it possible to detect Acrp30 or adipocytes in a sample (e.g., test sample). In addition, the present invention relates to a method of regulating the energy balance (e.g., nutritional status) of a mammal by administering to the mammal an inhibitor or enhancer of the Acrp30.

Fat cells or adipocytes are a principal storage depot for triglycerides, and are thought to be endocrine cells. Adipocytes are the only cell type known to secrete the ob gene product and adipsin, which is equivalent to Factor D of the alternative complement pathway (Zhang, Y., et al., Nature 425-432 (1994); Spiegelman, B. M., et al., J. Biol. Chem. 258:10083-9 (1983)). The ob gene product is believed to be involved in the signalling pathway from adipose tissue that acts to regulate the size of the body fat depot. Mice homozygous for a defect in the ob gene become morbidly obese (for a review see Rink, T., Nature, 372:(1994)). However, little else is known about fat storage mechanisms or energy balance regulation.
A greater understanding of genes involved in regulating fat storage in an organism will provide new approaches for the treatment of a variety of conditions involving the energy balance and/or nutritional status of a host, such as obesity, obesity related disorders and anorexia.

DNA encoding a novel serum protein produced exclusively in adipocytes

Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research


A cutting machine includes linear electrical actuation for controlling linear reciprocating movement of a spindle and cutting tool. The cutting machine is suited for gear shaping cutting operations and the like. Linear electrical actuation may be used to control position of a hydraulic valve within the spindle, which controls hydraulic actuation and linear movement of the spindle. Linear electrical actuation may also be used to pivot the spindle to relieve the cutting and/or during the cutting stroke for gear crowning operations. A rotary actuator is also disclosed as incorporated into the pivoting saddle of such a cutting machine.

Cutting machinery such as gear shaping machines are used to create gear teeth along the outer or inner periphery surface of gear members. As will be readily be appreciated, gears come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, with different shapes and sizes of teeth being provided along a gear surface. Additionally, some gears will have straight gear teeth and flutes therebetween which are parallel with the rotational axis of the gear while other gears will have helical or slanted gear teeth and flutes therebetween relative to the rotational axis of the gear. Additionally, some gears will be crowned in that one or both sides of the gear will be rounded as the gear teeth and flutes approach one or both side edges of the gear.
A common approach to providing machinery for shaping gears in disclosed in Tlaker et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,125,056, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. As disclosed therein, a machine includes a hydraulically operated reciprocating spindle which drives a vertical cutter for shaping a gear. The spindle comprises a piston which is slidable in a cylinder. The spindle piston is a differential piston in that it has two faces of different area to which hydraulic fluid under pressure is controllably directed. The larger area piston face is used to drive the spindle downwardly in the cutting stroke and the smaller area piston face is used to drive the spindle upwardly in the return stroke. Further, the spindle piston has an axial bore which receives a vertically reciprocating valve. The valve is reciprocated in a manner which causes a spindle to move downwardly at a controlled lower velocity and moved upwardly on the return stroke at a much higher velocity to provide a greater overall production efficiency. The way in which the machinery is driven is through mechanical cam and inversely related lever/linkage mechanisms which require complex spring housings, mechanical linkages and adjustment mechanisms.
In a machine such as Tlaker et al., the spindle is carried for linear reciprocation within a saddle that is pivotably connected to a main frame. During the downward cutting stroke, the spindle is kept in a true vertical orientation to facilitate cutting action between the cutter and the workpiece. However, the saddle (in which the spindle linearly reciprocates) is pivotably mounted as such and during the return stroke, the saddle and spindle are pivoted slightly to a slightly offset vertical orientation by virtue of mechanical cam action to relieve the cutter from the cutting surface and thereby allow the spindle and cutter to retract free and clear of the workpiece.
As it relates to the general state-of-the-art, additional reference can be had to U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,628,359; 4,136,302; 4,254,690; 4,533,858; 4,542,638; 4,629,377; 4,784,538; and 5,345,390, the entire disclosures of which are also hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. Additional reference can be had to U.S. Pat. No. 3,741,659.
Machinery of the type disclosed in Tlaker et al. have been commercially sold under the trademark HYDROSTROKE® and have met with substantial commercial success. With that being said, the relevant art has largely remained relatively stagnant from a mechanical cam timing, control, and hydraulic operation standpoint. As will be readily appreciated once the present invention is understood, there are several deficiencies heretofore that have not been realized in such gear shaping machines which are hereby improved upon with the present invention.

Cutting machine for gear shaping or the like


A process comprising introducing CO2 into milk of lime, in which the milk of lime is first ground, and then the CO2 is introduced to precipitate the calcium carbonate.

The invention relates to a process for the preparation of precipitated calcium carbonate which is suitable as a functional filler and is distinguished by defined properties. One typical field of application is the use of the precipitated calcium carbonate as a filler in plastisols, such as underbody sealants for automobiles.
The precipitated calcium carbonate in this case is capable of controlling the flow behavior of the plastisols. Thus, by using the calcium carbonates which are suitable in each case, plastisols having very differing flow behaviors can be prepared. Depending on the intended application, high, medium or low flow limits may be desired. The flow limit according to Bingham in the plasticiser mixture is usually quoted as a typical characteristic for the application-related suitability of calcium carbonates as fillers. The ability of the precipitated calcium carbonate to control the flow limits is influenced, inter alia, by the nature of the burnt lime used for producing the milk of lime and by the slaking operation.
Finely dispersed calcium carbonate is either prepared from naturally-occurring raw materials by mechanical preparation, or chemically, e.g. by precipitation.
Usually, precipitated calcium carbonate is prepared by introducing CO2 into milk of lime
Ca(OH)2+CO2xe2x86x92CaCO3+H2O
The properties of the precipitated calcium carbonate depend, for example, on the chemical composition of the limestone used or on the burning conditions.
Preferably so-called soft-burned lime is used to prepare precipitated calcium carbonate. To this end, limestone is burned at a temperature of 1000 to 1250xc2x0 C.
Among other characteristics, the ability of burnt lime to react with water is used to characterize it. The so-called VEC value (Vxc3xa9locitxc3xa9 d""Extinction de Chaux) is measured. In this case, the heating rate of a defined water/burnt lime mixture is measured. Typical VEC values for burnt lime which is suitable for the preparation of precipitated calcium carbonate are above 3xc2x0 C./min.
To prepare the milk of lime, the burnt lime is reacted with water, for example in a slaking drum, whereupon a Ca(OH)2 suspension, so-called milk of lime, forms. The milk of lime usually has a solids content of 70 to 220 g/liter Ca(OH)2, a viscosity of 30 to 1500 mPas and an average particle diameter of less than 50 xcexcm.
Milk of lime is used, for example, to neutralize waste water, or to prepare soda or precipitated calcium carbonate.
One drawback of the previously known processes for preparing precipitated calcium carbonate is that it has hitherto not been possible to satisfactorily control the application-related properties of the precipitated calcium carbonate, in particular as a Theological additive, due to its average grain size, grain size distribution and particle form.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,920,800 describes a process for the preparation of precipitated calcium carbonate of high purity. According to the method described, an aqueous calcium hydroxide slurry (milk of lime) is ground in the presence of CO2 at a temperature of at most 1000xc2x0 C. The calcium carbonate formed by the reaction of the calcium hydroxide with the CO2 is free of calcium hydroxide. The particle size of the calcium carbonate is controlled by means of the temperature during the grinding process. At temperatures of approximately 30xc2x0 C., very small particles are obtained, and at temperatures of approximately 80xc2x0 C. larger calcium carbonate particles are obtained.
It is the object of the invention to provide a process for preparing precipitated calcium carbonate (CCP) having defined, reproducible properties.
This and other objects are achieved in accordance with the invention in that the milk of lime is ground before the CO2 is introduced to precipitate the calcium carbonate.
Known mills may be used for grinding the milk of lime. Preferably bead mills are used. Suitable grinding beads include, in particular, zirconium oxide grinding beads having a diameter of 0.4 to 2 mm.
The grinding result is greatly influenced by the fineness of the beads.
The grinding effect is furthermore controlled by the speed of the mill, the residence time of the milk of lime in the mill and the resulting specific energy input.
The average particle size of the Ca(OH)2 particles in the milk of lime or the viscosity of the milk of lime can also be measured as a measured parameter indicating the success of grinding.
The course of the wet grinding can also be followed by measuring the grain distribution of the calcium hydroxide or by measuring the viscosity of the milk of lime at a defined concentration and temperature.
According to the invention, the viscosity of the milk of lime is measured and used to control the mill. The viscosity should be measured without difficulty, e.g. continuously, and the mill throughput or the speed of the mill, and hence the resulting quality of the milk of lime, can be controlled automatically by means of a corresponding control circuit.
In one embodiment of the invention, the milk of lime is ground to a viscosity of at most 2500 mpas. A higher viscosity should be avoided, since otherwise the introduction of the precipitating gas is not optimally possible.
Therefore, for the purposes of the invention, the viscosity of the ground milk of lime should be set such that the milk of lime can flow readily, so that the precipitating gas can be dispersed homogeneously. The grinding furthermore makes it possible to adjust the viscosity of the milk of lime such that calcium carbonate with application-related properties which are desired in each case, in particular as a rheological additive, can be prepared. Thus, depending on the intended purpose, CaCO3 can be prepared in a consistent quality which is suitable as a high functionality constituent of mixtures for e.g. polymers, polymer preparations, plastics, coating compounds, sealing compounds, paper or paints, in particular printing inks.
After grinding, the milk of lime is supplied to a container into which CO2 is introduced to precipitate the calcium carbonate and is homogeneously dispersed in the milk of lime.
Surprisingly, it has been discovered that the properties of the precipitated calcium carbonate can be reproduced if the milk of lime is first ground, and then CO2 is introduced to precipitate the calcium carbonate.
If precipitated calcium carbonate from non-ground milk of lime is compared with that from ground milk of lime, it is apparent that the grinding has an influence on the reaction rate, on the average particle diameter of the CCP and on the use-related properties of the CCP.
It has been discovered that a decreasing particle size in the milk of lime also involves a reduction in the average particle diameter of the CCP.
It has furthermore been discovered that the precipitation time is decreased by about 20% by using the milk of lime ground according to the invention.
The viscosity-controlled wet grinding of the milk of lime according to the invention makes it possible to significantly influence the flow limit of the CCP-filled plastisols, i.e. to adjust them specifically. It has been found that the flow limit is a function of the specific energy introduced during grinding, or of the viscosity of the milk of lime after grinding. It was therefore discovered that the properties of the CCP can be reproducibly influenced by specifically adjusting the viscosity of the milk of lime.
The undesirable influencing of the properties of the CCP by undefined fluctuations in the nature of the burnt lime and of the slaking operation are cancelled out by the grinding of the milk of lime according to the invention.

Process for preparing precipitated calcium carbonates


The invention relates to a gas injector (10) for supplying gas or a gas mixture to a reaction region (16). The gas injector (10) contains a main part (12) with a gas channel (14). Furthermore, a gas feed (30) is provided for the gas channels (14). The gas or the gas mixture reaches the reaction region (16) from the gas channel (14) via a first opening (26) or a first group (54) of openings (26) in the main part. The main part (12) is equipped with a second opening (27) or a second group (56) of openings (27) via which the gas of the gas mixture likewise reaches the reaction region (16) from the gas channel (14). Each of the openings (26, 27) or the groups (54, 56) of openings (26, 27) is paired with a respective separate gas feed (30, 40) in the main part (12) on the gas channel (14).

Gas injectors are primarily used in the manufacture of semiconductor-based integrated circuits. Here, so-called wafers are exposed to a gas or gas mixture in a reaction region in order to cause single gas molecules to be adsorbed to atomic layers on the substrate surface. For this purpose, the substrates are introduced in a reaction chamber. Via a gas injector, the gas or the gas mixture is introduced into the reaction chamber. It is particularly important that the surface of the substrate adsorbs the gas or gas mixture uniformly. For this, the gas must be brought to the surface very homogeneously and uniformly. In the known gas injectors, it is found that the homogeneity and the uniformity with respect to the flows of the gas during the wetting of the substrate are relatively poor. This is in particular valid when a short gas pulse is used.
Furthermore, such gas injectors are also used in combustion processes such as gas heating. In this case, a uniform combustion process is also important. The gas to be burned should be combined with the oxygen for oxidation as uniformly and homogeneously as possible.
DD 251453 A1 discloses a device for generating atomic particle streams with high intensity by dissociation of gas molecules of a molecular gas in a low-pressure arc discharge. The device consists of a rod-shaped cathode and an anode, provided with an electrical supply. The anode connected to ground potential encloses the cathode, which is insulated by an insulating body from the cathode. The anode is provided with a gas inlet and a gas outlet. The gas outlet is located in the immediate vicinity of one end of the cathode. The anode, the cathode and the insulating body are surrounded by an electrically conductive body, which is electrically insulated against its environment and has a passage for the anode and the cathode and a gas inlet and a gas outlet passage. The gas outlet passage is arranged in the immediate vicinity and concentrically with the gas outlet of the anode.
DD 281425 C4 describes a device for plasma-assisted deposition or removal of thin layers with a cylindrical electrode arrangement. The electrode assembly consists of a housing configured as recipient. The housing is connected to a vacuum generating device which has means for supplying a reaction gas. The housing also contains the charge generating electrodes connected to an RF voltage source. The electrodes are formed as cylinders and arranged coaxially with each other. The inner electrode is designed as a substrate holder. A hollow cylinder made of metal is regularly provided with channels for gas inlet and for suction. Between these channels chambers are incorporated for receiving permanent magnets. This hollow cylinder basket is covered on the outside with a metal jacket and on the inside by a perforated metal jacket. The gas supplies and suctions, which emanate to the outer electrode from collecting channels, are distributed alternately on the circumference and arranged on the end face of the electrode. The plasma space is covered at the ends by plates of highly insulating material with a small dielectric loss angle.
DE 60 2004 010 930 T2 discloses a method and a device for depositing layers. In particular, they serve to produce a conformal thin film on a substrate. The device for producing conformal thin films on a substrate comprises a sputtering plate having a projection. The projection reduces turbulence in an expansion volume belonging to a gas injector. Accordingly, the method of forming conformal thin films on a substrate includes introducing a gas from a gas inlet into an expansion volume belonging to an atomic layer deposition (ALD) assembly. The gas is passed through an atomizer plate adjacent to the expansion volume and a reaction chamber. The atomizer plate includes a protrusion that is opposite the gas inlet, thereby reducing turbulence in the expansion volume.
WO 97/37059 describes a showerhead for uniformly distributing process gas, such as chemically reactive gas over a semiconductor substrate surface to enhance species utilization at the substrate surface. Gas plasma technology is a well-known technique used in the manufacture of integrated circuits. In particular, plasma technology has been used with great success for thin film etching, vapor deposition of films on wafers, photo resist stripping, etc. As is known, it has sometimes proved difficult to ensure uniform distribution of a reactive gas over a wafer during processing. It is particularly problematic to ensure uniform distribution of gas over the semiconductor wafer to perform photo resist stripping. A process chamber is described which has the problem of non-uniform distribution of the reactive species. A gas contains active species and is passed through a central channel into the process chamber. The gas reacts with the surface of the wafer, which is positioned on a plate, and then exits through a central exit channel. The residence time of the gas in the chamber is typically short (for example, a few milliseconds).
WO 02/097870 A2 discloses a diffuser for plasma processing systems. It describes that semiconductor processing systems are used to process semiconductor wafers for integrated circuit fabrication. In etching, oxidizing, chemical vapor deposition (CVD), etc., plasma-based semiconductor processing processes are used. Conventional plasma processing systems control a gas or plasma stream in a plasma processing chamber to provide an optimal environment for processing the wafer. In the processing chamber, the wafer is processed (e.g. with etching, oxidation, CVD, etc.) by exposing the wafer to a gas or plasma which is pumped into and out of the chamber. This process changes the characteristics of the wafer. It is described that the cycle velocity of a chamber in conventional processing systems is generally limited in practice by the maximum local velocity of the incoming and outgoing gases.
From WO 2006/039211 A2 it is known that in a plasma processing system an integrated gas flow control arrangement is provided for connecting a gas distribution system to an injector multi-zone. Channels connect a plurality of valve arrangements in the gas distribution system for gas flow control.
US 2006/006 5368 A1 describes a gas injector with a base body, which is formed as a distribution ring tube. Atomizer nozzles are provided at the distribution ring tube, which lead a gas or a gas mixture into a central reaction space. The distributor ring tube is supplied with gas via a gas supply line. In order to produce the most possible uniform distribution of the gas flow, a distributor element is provided between connections of the distributor ring tube and the gas supplier line. The distributor element is in turn connected to the distributor ring tube via a plurality of parallel gas supply lines. The connections of the distributor ring tube are provided symmetrically around the body.
The known gas injectors have the disadvantage that the distribution of the gas in the reaction region on the openings or group arrangements of openings is not homogeneous and uniform in particular because of different pressure and flow conditions. The cause for this is often the turbulence and friction in the gas channel. Finally, this leads to uneven chemical reactions in the reaction region. Especially with short gas pulses this inequality of gas distribution leads to problems. Often the reaction region, where there is sufficient homogeneity for reactions, is therefore very limited. The size of the substrates, which should react with a gas or gas mixture, such as wafers, is thereby severely limited.
In addition, the inhomogeneity and irregularity of the gas ultimately have the consequence that in particular the required reaction time with a substrate or other chemical elements in the reaction region is uneven. This lengthens the residence times during the treatment process.


A simple color separation apparatus includes a light source for radiating light on the document, a movable color filter set arrayed in parallel with the main-scanning direction, the movable color filter set includes filters selectively transmitting colors respectively, which separate into three colors the radiated light reflected from the document, wherein each filter has sufficient length to cover the light in the main-scanning direction and a width that prevents interference between colors of the reflected and separated light; a lens for image-forming the light transmitted by each filter of the color filter set; a three-line CCD sensor for converting the light image formed by the image-forming lens to electrical signals, wherein the three-line CCD sensor includes three lines arrayed in parallel with the main-scanning direction, each of which has a line width that is determined by the magnification of the lens; and a carriage for moving the color filter set in the sub-scanning direction. The color filter is removable to allow the color separation apparatus to perform double duty in a copier and/or scanner in color or black/white mode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a color separation apparatus and, more particularly, to a color separation apparatus that may be used in low-priced color copiers and scanners.
2. Description of Background Art
In color copiers and scanners, there are generally two methods for separating the color of an original image being copied or scanned. One method uses a color CCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensor, and the other method uses a black-and-white (hereinafter referred to as "b/w") CCD sensor and a color separation apparatus. Color CCD sensors, however, are expensive and therefore significantly raise the component cost of color copiers or scanners that incorporate them. Accordingly, in lower-priced color copiers and scanners, b/w CCD sensors and a color separation apparatus are usually adopted for color separation.
A color separation system using a conventional b/w CCD sensor and a color separation apparatus can be further classified based upon whether a method of using R, G and B (red, green, blue) light sources, each having a different spectral distribution, or a method of using a single white light source and a color filter or a prism is used. An apparatus that employs a method that uses a prism, however, exhibits a drawback in that its structure is complicated and requires 3-line CCDs and image-forming optical systems, all of which increases the component cost of the apparatus. An apparatus that employs the method of using R, G an B light sources also exhibits a drawback in that high-speed scanning is hindered by persistence time of each light source as they are turned on and off in succession.
In an apparatus that employs a single white light source and a color filter, there are generally two methods for separating color. The first method involves arranging the filter in fixed positions, and the second method involves driving the filter to be rotated or ascended/descended in front of the sensor. However, the second method involving driving the filter requires an additional apparatus or component, e.g., a motor, for driving the filter.
To overcome these drawbacks, two different color separating methods using a fixed color filter have been proposed. The first method involves installing the color filter at a transparent glass portion where documents are loaded, as disclosed in Japanese Patent, Publication No. 60-127862, and the second method involves using a 3-line CCD and triple-layered reflection filters, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,709,144.
The method disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 60-127862 is depicted in FIG. 1. As seen in FIG. 1, a surface of a glass 2 where a document 3 is placed is coated with a strip filter 4. Upon illumination of the document 3 by light 1, an area of the document 3 in the reading section is selectively transmitted through the strip filter 4 so that color is separated, reflected by mirror 5, refocused by lens 6 and received by CCD sensor 7. However, as shown in FIG. 2, since sets of R, G & B color strip filters are arranged in a single line in a main scanning direction, resolution lowers to 1/3 or below compared with other conventional color separation apparatus, and high resolution scanning cannot be easily achieved.
The method disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,709,144 is depicted in FIG. 3. Referring to FIG. 3, a color separation system comprises a trichromatic photosensor 9 (or 3-line CCD sensor) and reflection-type filters 10a and 10b (trichromatic beamsplitter) having glass plates and dichroic coatings R, B and G, that are suitable for high resolution scanning. In this method, however, light passing through a lens 8 is reflected from reflection-type filters 10a and 10b, respectively, and is thereafter incident on the 3-line CCD or trichromatic photosensor. Inevitably, there is a loss of energy as the light is made to pass through filters and glass plates, and this loss of energy may be compensated by increasing the power of the light source to obtain a desired final output. From the standpoint of physical and mechanical construction, since each color-separated light should be image-formed respectively on the 3-line CCD or trichromatic photosensor, and because the linear array of photosensors are disposed at predetermined intervals, exact and precise arrangement of the reflection-type filters is required.

Color separation apparatus having RGB color filters and a three-line CCD sensor


The present invention relates to a motor that allows connection terminals to be stably fastened to a bobbin. The motor includes at least one lead wire wound around a bobbin of a stator to form a coil, at least one power line electrically connected to the lead wire to supply power to the lead wire, at least one connection terminal to connect the lead wire to the power line, a terminal holding part provided at a portion of the bobbin to place the connection terminal, at least one terminal receiving hole provided in the terminal holding part to allow the connection terminal connected to the power line to be inserted and connected to the lead wire, and a fastening member to accommodate the connection terminal connected to the power line therein and to be fastened to the terminal holding part so as to keep the connection terminal mounted in the terminal receiving hole.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a motor and, more particularly, to a motor that allows connection terminals to be kept stably fastened to a bobbin.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a motor is an apparatus that is supplied with power and generates a rotating force. A conventional motor includes a stator provided with wound coils and a rotor placed in the stator and provided with permanent magnets therein, so that, when power is applied to the stator, a magnetic field is generated, and thus the rotor is rotated in the stator and generates a rotating force.
In the conventional motor, the stator is configured in such a way that coils are formed by winding lead wires around teeth parts protruded to an interior of the cylindrical-shaped bobbin so that the magnetic field is generated as the power is applied.
Connection terminals are provided to electrically connect power lines and the lead wires to transmit the power to the lead wires, and terminal receiving holes are provided at the bobbin to accommodate and fasten the connection terminals. The power lines and the lead wires are connected to each other in such a way that the lead wires are placed in the terminal receiving holes, the power lines are connected to the connection terminals, and the connection terminals are tightly fitted into the terminal receiving holes.
However, the conventional motor is problematic in that, since the connection terminals are tightly fitted into and fastened in the terminal receiving holes, a large amount of force is required when the connection terminals are placed and fastened in the terminal receiving holes, and the connection terminals may be separated from the terminal receiving holes by vibrations generated from the motor when the motor is used for a long time.


In a handheld power tool having a planetary gear, drivable by a motor, for driving a drive shaft in a first or second predefined direction of rotation, the planetary gear being situated in a gear housing and having at least one planetary stage to which an annulus gear situated in the gear housing is assigned, in the area between the annulus gear and the gear housing, at least one sensor element is situated which is designed to enable a detection of a torque which acts in the first or the second direction of rotation and is transferable to the annulus gear via the drive shaft during the operation of the handheld power tool.

Conventional handheld power tools may, for example, be designed as cordless screwdrivers or cordless combi drills and have a planetary gear, situated in an associated gear housing, for driving a drive shaft rotatable in different directions of rotation. The planetary gear may be designed as a single-stage or multi-stage gear and may accordingly have one or multiple annulus gears situated in the gear housing.
The disadvantage of the above is that, in handheld power tools of this type, a kinetic energy of rotation supplied to the drive shaft by the planetary gear may be converted into a rotation of the gear housing and thus of the handheld power tool in the event of extreme load conditions, e.g., in the event of so-called hard screw applications during the operation of cordless screwdrivers or cordless combi drills which may occur during metal screw fittings, for example, and may cause a spontaneous blocking of the drive shaft. This may result in an impact-like load on components of the planetary gear, for example, and thus in them being damaged or destroyed.

Handheld power tool having a planetary gear


The present invention provides a stable 2-(2-pyridylmethyl) sulfinyl-1H-benzimidazole (lansoprazole) comprising either greater than 500 ppm and not more than about 3,000 ppm water or greater than 200 ppm and not more than about 5,000 ppm alcohol, or both. The present invention provides a method of preparing a stable lansoprozole as well as a pharmaceutical composition containing same. The present invention further provides a method of purifying lansoprazole that is substantially free of sulfone and sulfide derivatives.

Several substituted 2-(2-pyridylmethyl) sulfinyl-1H-benzimidazoles are known gastric proton pump inhibitors. These benzimidazole derivatives include omeprazole, lansoprazole, pantoprazole, and rabeprazole.
Lansoprazole is a reversible proton (acid) pump inhibitor. Lansoprazole per se is protected by U.S. Pat. No. 4,628,098 assigned to Takeda Chemical Industries, Ltd. Lansoprazole is known chemically as (2-[[[3-methyl-4-(2,2,2-trifluoro-ethoxy)-2-pyridinyl]methyl]sulfinyl]-1H-benzimidazole) and has the following chemical formula A:
wherein R1 is methyl, R2 is trifluoro-ethoxy, and R3 is hydrogen and R4 is hydrogen. Other benzimidazole derivatives (e.g., omeprazole and pantoprazole) share lansoprazole's ability in inhibiting gastric acid secretion and they are commonly known as anti-ulcer agents.
The preparation of lansoprazole by conventional methods is always accompanied by the formation of small quantities of the corresponding sulfone derivative as an impurity. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,180,652 ("the '652 patent") describes the presence of sulfone derivative. Formation of sulfone derivative brings about the drawback of low yield of the desired sulfoxide. The '652 patent describes a method that permits separation of lansoprazole from its sulfone derivative and discloses an acetone complex of the lansoprazole salt.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,002,011 ("the '011 patent") discloses that lansoprazole and other 2-(2-pyridylmethyl) sulfinyl-benzimidazole derivatives tend to lose stability and decompose when contaminated with traces of residual solvent, particularly in their crystal structure. According to the '011 patent, the residual solvent must be reduced to a minimum and it discloses a water reslurry method which provides a 'solvent-free' lansoprazole said to be more stable. Specifically, it limits the lansoprazole content to no more than 500 ppm water and 200 ppm C1-6 alcohol.
The '011 patent also states that when an ethanol:water system is used to crystallize lansoprazole, it often contains solvent in excess of tolerable limits (i.e., more than 500 ppm water and more than 200 ppm alcohol) which causes the lansoprazole to be unstable. Efforts to eliminate this excessive solvent by intensive drying further destabilize the lansoprazole. As such, this prepared lansoprazole still contains intolerable levels of solvent and is unsuitable to be a pharmaceutical composition.
Reducing water and ethanol to levels below the reported tolerable limits (i.e., more than 500 ppm water and more than 200 ppm alcohol) is both time-consuming and costly.
In "Stabilization of a New Antiulcer Drug (Lansoprazole) in Solid Dosage Forms," by Tabata et al., Drug Development and Industrial Pharmacy, 18(13) 1437-47 (1992) (the 'Tabata article'), the mechanism of stabilization of lansoprazole in enteric granules is discussed. The Tabata article discloses that lansoprazole is unstable under conditions of high temperature and also high humidity, with a decrease in the amount of lansoprazole and discoloration of the material being noted on storage under such conditions. The variation in assay and color of solid lansoprazole over time on storage at various temperatures and humidities is presented in Table 2, at page 1439. The table shows that after 4 months at 40° C. and 75% room humidity lansoprazole turns pale brown, and even in the absence of humidity under the same conditions, lansoprazole turns pale yellowish brown. The Tabata article explains the unusually high instability of lansoprazole under even weak acidic conditions as being due to proton attack on the sulfoxide group. Lansoprazole seems to be especially sensitive to such attack compared to the other members of the 2-(2-pyridylmethyl) sulfinyl-benzimidazole family of drugs.
Lansoprazole is a relatively unstable compound, especially in acidic conditions, but also under strongly basic conditions. The Tabata article further discloses that degradation of lansoprazole is minimized under weakly basic conditions, and concludes that the degradation of lansoprazole in dosage forms is minimized by it being formulated to also contain stabilizing compounds suitable to produce such a weakly basic pH. The Tabata article, however, does not address the use of lansoprazole as an active pharmaceutical ingredient. As such, lansoprazole must be stored and transported, often for long time periods.
There is a continuing need to obtain a stable 2-(2-pyridylmethyl) sulfinyl-1H-benzimidazole (e.g., lansoprazole) that is free of contaminants (e.g., sulfone and sulfide derivatives) and a long-felt need for a pharmaceutical composition containing such a stable lansoprazole. In other words, the need exists for a stable form of lansoprazole, which does not suffer degradation and/or discoloration even if stored or transported under non-optimum conditions. The present invention provides such a stable lansoprazole compound and a method for its production.

Stable iansoprazole containing more than 500 ppm, up to about 3,000 ppm water and more than 200 ppm, up to about 5,000 ppm alcohol


The invention is a process for reducing the fatty alcohol content of a mixture of fatty alcohol and fatty glycoside product by passing the mixture through a forced circulation evaporation zone to form a mixture of fatty alcohol and fatty glycoside product with a reduced fatty alcohol content and passing the mixture with the reduced fatty alcohol content to a wiped film evaporator to remove additional fatty alcohol.

Glycoside surfactants have been known for at least sixty years. They are nonionic surfactants with low toxicity and gentleness to the skin. They can be made from renewable resources and are rapidly degraded in the environment.
In spite of the excellent properties of the glycoside surfactants, they have not achieved great commercial acceptance because of the difficulties encountered in their production. Rohm & Haas Corporation has been providing alkyl glycosides in which the alkyl group is formed from a mixture of fatty alcohols having 8 and 10 carbon atoms. The compositions are sold under the trade names BG-10 and CG-110. The BG-10 composition is a dark, almost black material and is used only in commercial formulations. The CG-110 material is a light colored product useful for consumer applications.
Early processes for the preparation of glycoside surfactants were two-step processes. The first step comprised the reaction of a lower alcohol having 1 to 6 carbon atoms with a saccharide source in the presence of an acid catalyst to form a glycoside. The glycosides prepared from the lower alcohols did not have useful surfactant properties. Since water is soluble in the alcohols, the reaction mixture could contain a substantial quantity of water (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,721,780). The higher glycoside surfactants in which the organic group attached to the glycoside moiety contains more than about 7 carbon atoms are then prepared by transacetalization of the lower glycoside with alcohols containing at least 7 carbon atoms under substantially anhydrous conditions.
More recently, aliphatic glycosides having aliphatic groups with from 7 to 22 carbon atoms have been prepared by a "direct process". In the "direct process" a long chain fatty alcohol is reacted with a source of saccharide in the presence of an acid catalyst under conditions in which the water formed in the reaction is removed as quickly as it is formed to maintain the water content of the reaction mixture at as low a level as is reasonably possible. The water formed in the reaction is only sparingly soluble in the fatty alcohol and any undissolved water results in the rapid formation of unwanted byproducts. The parameters of the "direct process" with a less than ideal catalyst and neutralization procedure are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,839,318, which is incorporated herein by reference. Other patents such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,939,245, U.S. Pat. No. 4,950,743 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,003,057 also disclose the "direct process" and are incorporated herein by reference.
The glycoside surfactants are formed by the reaction of the alcohol having more than about 7 carbon atoms and preferably more than about 8 carbon atoms with a saccharide source under anhydrous conditions in the presence of an acid catalyst. The reaction is generally carried out in the presence of a stoichiometric excess of the alcohol and at least a sufficient amount of alcohol to maintain the reaction mixture in a fluid state. Generally, the reaction mixture contains from about 1.5 to about 10 moles of alcohol per mole of saccharide moiety.
The reaction is carried out at a temperature in the range of from about 90.degree. C. to about 145.degree. C. under a reduced pressure. The high temperature and reduced pressure provide for rapid removal of the water formed in the reaction from the reaction mixture. The temperature and reduced pressure at which the reaction is carried out is dependent upon the alcohol used and the amount of discoloration which can be tolerated in the finished product. The lower molecular weight alcohols generally react at lower temperatures and at higher pressures, since at lower pressures the lower molecular weight alcohols tend to vaporize and change the composition of the reacting mixture.
After the source of saccharide has been substantially all reacted with the alcohols or polymerized to form a polymer, the acid catalyst is neutralized.
After the catalyst has been neutralized, it is generally accepted procedure that the unreacted or excess alcohol is then separated from the reaction mixture. Generally, it is desirable to have as low a content of the higher alcohol in the product as possible. The presence of higher alcohols are known to reduce the surfactant activity of the composition and to impact the odor of the product. Generally, the amount of alcohol remaining in the product is generally less than about 5% by weight of the product and preferably less than about 2% by weight and most preferably less than about 1.0% by weight of the product.
The alcohol is generally removed from the reaction mixture by heating the reaction mixture at a reduced pressure. Preferably, the alcohol is separated from the glycoside product in a thin film evaporator such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,223,129 or EP 077 167. U.S. Pat. No. 3,565,885 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,393,203 disclose that the most preferred method for removing the unreacted alcohol from the reaction mixture is in a wiped film evaporator. Especially with longer chain alcohols, a wiped film evaporator is particularly useful in that the glycoside product is exposed to the high temperature for only a short period of time and the degradation caused by the vaporization process is substantially reduced.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,079,350 discloses that the most preferred method for removing unreacted alcohol from a glycoside surfactant product is to contact the alkyl glycoside and alcohol mixture with a stream of inert gas under reduced pressure in a wiped film evaporator maintained at a temperature in the range of about 140.degree. C. to about 200.degree. C. The process is disclosed as substantially removing all of the unreacted alcohol and the odor from the glycoside product.
Wiped film evaporators have been recognized as being useful for removing high boiling point materials from heat sensitive products. However, wiped film evaporators are an expensive apparatus and have a limited surface area for a unit volume of the evaporator. It would be advantageous to be able to reduce the evaporation load which is required of the wiped film evaporator. The prior art teaches that the glycoside products are sensitive to heat and the color of the product deteriorates when the reaction mixture is exposed to a high temperature for a relatively long period of time. One skilled in the art faced with the problem of removing unreacted fatty alcohol from a glycoside product would select a process in which the glycoside product is exposed to an elevated temperature for as short a period of time as possible.


A semiconductor device includes a flag signal generating circuit, a reference voltage generating circuit, and a first buffer. The flag signal generating circuit generates a flag signal based on an internal command and a training control code which are extracted from an external signal. The reference voltage generating circuit receives a set code based on the flag signal, an input control code and an output control code, and generates a reference voltage whose level is set based on the set code. The first buffer buffers the external signal based on the reference voltage to generate an internal signal, and generates a calibration code from the internal signal based on the flag signal to output the calibration code.

1. Technical Field
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to semiconductor devices operating using operation mode information and semiconductor systems including the same.
2. Related Art
A semiconductor device may perform various operations such as a read operation and a write operation using operation mode information. The semiconductor device may store the operation mode information in a plurality of storage circuits, which may be realized by mode registers or the like, using a mode register setting operation. The information stored in the storage circuits is subsequently used for operation. The semiconductor device may be included in a semiconductor system to operate in synchronization with an external clock signal outputted from a controller.
Accordingly, what are needed are semiconductor devices which may be utilized in and compatible with different types of semiconductor systems, semiconductor systems which employ such semiconductor devices, and methods for use in operating the same.

Semiconductor device, semiconductor system, and method for use in operating the same based on operation mode information


The invention teaches a passive vehicle rear end warning and collision prevention method and apparatus thereof, comprising: a traveling data monitoring unit serving to monitor and sample the traveling data of present vehicle; a collision prevention information transmitting and receiving unit serving to transmit and receive the collision prevention information; an electronic control unit serving to analyze and process the sampled data so as to generate the collision prevention information and to receive the collision prevention information from other vehicle, and to control the traveling status of prevent vehicle based on the received collision prevention information so as to avoid rear end collision with other vehicle, so that the purpose of rear end warning and collision prevention is realized by receiving passively the collision prevention information from another vehicle.

Vehicle rear end warning and collision prevention is an important technological area in vehicle safety. The main reasons for vehicle rear end collision are: 1) insufficient travel distances between two vehicles; 2) adverse traveling environment, such as poor visibility due to rain, fog or snow; 3) emergency conditions such as punctured tire or broken axle; and 4) insufficient visibility of vehicles stalled on the way or pulled off to the road side.
In view of reasons 1), 2), and 3), an important factor contributing to collisions is the lag time in applying brakes or other contingency measures resulting from the brake reaction time of the driver. Owing to physiological limitations of human beings, the brake reaction time is about 1 s when the traveling speed is 60 km/h, and exceeds 2 s when the traveling speed is 120 km/h. The accidents due to the brake delay caused by the brake reaction time are dreadful; the driver cannot brake the vehicle effectively when the distance is in the range of 20-60 m resulting in rear end collision accidents.
The main research direction of existing technology is an active vehicle distance detection rear end collision warning and prevention system supported by the basic principle of vehicle distance detection technology, such that a present vehicle detects the objects (either moving or standing) within a certain distance in front of the present vehicle by the technologies such as ultrasonic, infrared, laser light, microwave Doppler, or video imaging and calculates its relative distance and speed so as to interpret the risk level of rear end collision, and thus, to start the warning system or automatic speed deceleration system so as to prevent or avoid the rear end collision. However, the existing technology has such problems as the blind area or the dead angle existing in distance scanning and detection, complicated system, poor reliability and high cost.

Apparatus and method for warning and prevention of vehicle collisions


A magnetically de-coupled, separately controlled, electric machine assembly including a radial and one or more axial electric machines, each with rotors mechanically coupled to and arranged to directly drive a single shaft. Each of the electric machines are independently, but cooperatively, controlled by an inverter unit that includes one or more inverters. The axial and radial electric machines are contained in a single housing.

Electric motors convert electrical energy into mechanical energy. Electric generators are mechanically identical to an electric motor, but operate with a reversed flow of power, converting mechanical energy into electrical energy. The term "electric machine", as used herein, refers to a device that can operate as both a motor and a generator.
In general, electric machines operable as motors can be characterized within two broad categories; direct current (DC) or alternating current (AC). DC machines, which are powered by DC power sources such batteries or rectifiers, include, for example, permanent magnet DC machines, series DC machines, shunt DC machines and compound DC machines. AC machines, which are powered by alternating current (AC) sources, such as the power grid or inverters, include induction machines, synchronous machines (e.g., reluctance or permanent magnet synchronous machines). AC electric machines can be of single phase or multiple phases. The three-phase AC machines are more popular compared to single-phase or other multiphase machines.
Most electric motors operate through the interaction between the magnetic field of the rotor and electric currents through the windings or permanent magnets of the rotor. The interaction generates forces, which effectively rotates the shaft in the form of a torque. The magnetic fields create magnetic flux through the motor. Depending on the configuration, the flux generated between rotor and stator of a given motor is typically either radial or axial. With radial flux motors, the flux runs in and out from the rotor in a radial direction. Thus, the term "radial". In contrast, axial flux motors have flux that runs parallel to the shaft, along the axis of the shaft. Thus, the term "axial".
A motor design that uses windings that create both axial and radial flux is known. See for example U.S. Pat. No. 10,256,680, which describes an arrangement of motor windings in both axial and radial directions. With this arrangement, the windings work together to create a maximum force in the direction of motion. In other words, the axial and radial flux work together to generate a combined force.
Cooperatively using two separate motors together is also known. See for example U.S. Patent Publication 2013/0241445, which describes the use of two separate and distinct electric motors to drive an axle of an electric vehicle via a transmission/differential assembly. Each motor, however, is separately housed and includes its own shaft, separately coupled to the transmission/differential by separate gears respectively.
An electric machine assembly that includes two (or more) electric machines that are commonly housed, highly efficient, compact, relatively inexpensive, magnetically decoupled and independently controlled to directly drive a single shaft, is therefore needed.

Magnetically de-coupled, separately controlled, multiple electric machine assembly for driving a common shaft


A packaged PLD solution includes a first die having a masked-Read Only Memory (ROM) that is programmed during its fabrication to store configuration data, and includes a second die having a PLD including a number of configurable resources collectively configured to implement a circuit design embodied by the configuration data. The first die is electrically connected to the second die, and both the first die and second die are stacked and encapsulated together to form the packaged PLD solution. The configuration data is programmed into the masked-ROM by a manufacturer of both the masked-ROM and the PLD.

A programmable logic device (PLD) is a general-purpose device that can be programmed by a user to implement a variety of selected functions. One type of PLD is the Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), which typically includes an array of configurable logic blocks (CLBs) surrounded by a plurality of input/output blocks (IOBs). The CLBs are individually programmable and can be configured to perform a variety of logic functions on a few input signals. The IOBs can be configured to drive output signals from the CLBs to external pins of the FPGA and/or to receive input signals from the external FPGA pins. The FPGA also includes a programmable interconnect structure that can be programmed to selectively route signals among the various CLBs and IOBs to produce more complex functions of many input signals. The CLBs, IOBs, and the programmable interconnect structure are programmed by loading configuration data into associated memory cells that control various switches and multiplexers within the CLBs, IOBs, and the interconnect structure to implement logic and routing functions specified by the configuration data. The configuration data is typically stored in an external non-volatile memory device such as a PROM or flash memory device and provided to the FPGA during well-known configuration operations.
An FPGA includes a plurality of generic resources (e.g., programmable logic blocks) that are configurable to implement various user designs, and many user designs may not utilize all the resources of the FPGA. As a result, an FPGA configured to implement a given function typically has a higher fabrication cost than an ASIC device that is specifically designed to perform the same function. Therefore, when sales of a system including an FPGA that is configured to implement a specified function reach a point where it becomes more economical to produce dedicated devices specifically tailored to perform the specified function, the FPGAs in the system may be replaced with a dedicated device that implements the same function and has the same pin-outs, timing characteristics, and performance metrics of the replaced FPGA.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,550,839 entitled "Mask-Programmed Integrated Circuits Having Timing and Logic Compatibility to User-Configured Logic Arrays", which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention, describes a dedicated device that is a pin, timing, and performance compatible replacement for an FPGA device. The dedicated device, which is commercially available as the Hardwire™ device from Xilinx, Inc. and is further described in the "Hardwire Data Book" published in 1994 by Xilinx, Inc., is a mask-programmable logic device that is capable of performing the same logical functions as a software programmable IC device such as an FPGA or PLD. More specifically, the mask programmable IC device includes many processing layers. The first several layers, which form individual device resources such as CLBs, IOBs, and the like, are common to both the FPGA devices and to the mask-programmable IC devices. The several top layers, which may include some metal layers, via layers, and contact layers, define the specific functions performed by a corresponding mask-programmed IC device, thereby "programming" the IC device to implement a user-specified function. Thus, a "programmed Hardwire device" is a Hardwire device that has been processed to add the programmable mask layers that define a specific design or function to be implemented.
Ideally, a Hardwire device can emulate the FPGA it replaces in all respects so that replacing the FPGA with the Hardwire device is transparent to the system and its users. A method used by Xilinx, Inc. to produce one type of Hardwire device includes virtually duplicating the architecture of the FPGA to be replaced, but replacing the software-programmable configuration memory cells with mask-programmable (e.g., hardwire) connections. Eliminating the configuration memory cells significantly reduces the required silicon area, and therefore also reduces manufacturing costs. Further, making the devices mask programmable allows much of the design and processing to be done only once for each FPGA product. Top-level processing layers specific to the user's design are then added to customize the behavior of the Hardwire device to match the functional behavior of the emulated FPGA as configured in the user's system.
Although effective in allowing FPGAs to be replaced by less-expensive Hardwire devices, the design process used to match the timing and performance characteristics of the Hardwire device with that of the emulated FPGA involves a relatively high development cost. Further, as the number of functional gates provided within FPGA devices increases, the cost savings realized by eliminating the configuration memory cells becomes less significant. Indeed, for current FPGA devices having millions of gates, the costs associated with designing the Hardwire device may exceed the cost savings realized by eliminating the configuration memory cells.
Thus, there is a need to reduce the manufacturing cost of FPGA devices.

Method to reduce configuration solution using masked-ROM


A first amplifier is coupled to an output node via a first line having first and second portions. A second amplifier is coupled to the output node via a second line having first and second portions. An auxiliary amplifier is coupled via an auxiliary line network to a first intersection between the first and second portions of the first line, and to a second intersection between the first and second portions of the second line. For each of the first and second lines, the first and second portions have a higher-impedance portion and a lower-impedance portion whose combined length is a half wavelength. Lengths of the respective first portions of the first and second lines sum to half a wavelength, and the lengths of the respective second portions of the first and second lines sum to half a wavelength.

In radio base stations and other systems, power amplifiers are often used to amplify wideband signals or signal combinations with high peak to average power ratio (PAR or PAPR). The amplifiers must then be able to repeatedly output very high power for very short periods, even though the bulk of the output power is generated at the much lower average power, level. In systems with random phase combinations of many signals (without any dominating ones) the amplitude of the signal follows a Rayleigh distribution.
A conventional single-transistor power amplifier (for example a class B, AB or F power amplifier) has a fixed radio frequency (RF) load resistance and a fixed voltage supply. The bias in class B or AB amplifiers causes the output current to have a form close to that of a pulse train of half wave rectified sinusoid current pulses. The direct current (DC) current (and hence DC power) is therefore largely proportional to the RF output current amplitude (and voltage). The output power, however, is proportional to the RF output current squared. The efficiency, i.e. output power divided by DC power, is therefore also proportional to the output amplitude. The average efficiency of a power amplifier is consequently low when amplifying signals that on average have a low output amplitude (or power) compared to the maximum required output amplitude (or power), i.e. high PAR.
A Chireix amplifier (as described in "High power outphasing modulation," Proc. IRE, vol. 23, no. 11, pp. 1370-1392, November 1935, by H Chireix), or a Doherty amplifier (as described in "A new high efficiency power amplifier for modulated waves", by W. H. Doherty, Proc. IRE, vol. 24, no. 9, pp. 1163-1182, September 1936) were the first examples of amplifiers based on multiple transistors with passive output network interaction and combination.
They have high average efficiency for amplitude-modulated signals with high peak-to-average ratio (PAR) since they have a much lower average sum of RF output current magnitudes from the transistors at low amplitudes. This causes high average efficiency since the DC currents drawn by the transistors are largely proportional to the RF current magnitudes.
The RF output current from the "peaking" sub-amplifier in the Doherty amplifier needs to rise linearly from zero at a "transition point" to full current at full amplitude. The "main" sub-amplifier has an entirely linear output current. The sum of the amplitudes of these currents deviates far from the ideal parabolic shape (of a constant efficiency amplifier), so the dip in efficiency in the upper amplitude region is quite substantial. Another way to intuitively get to the same result is to observe that the RF voltage at the peaking sub-amplifier is only medium high at the transition point, so the output current pulses will here experience large voltage drop across the transistor.
The Chireix amplifier has high efficiency in the upper amplitude region, since both sub-amplifier RF voltage amplitudes are high, and close in phase with the respective RF currents. Since variations in output amplitude are accompanied by phase shifts in the sub-amplifier RF voltages this operation mode is called "outphasing". In the outphasing region, the current pulses experience low voltage drop across the transistors. The RF current increase at the transition point is very gradual, and the overall shape of the sum of RF current amplitudes is much closer to the ideal parabolic shape than for the Doherty amplifier. The drawback of having both RF voltages high is that the efficiency of the amplifier is degraded by shunt loss, i.e. loss that behaves like a resistor coupled from the transistor output to ground (RF wise). With low loss transistors, Chireix outphasing is very efficient.
Earlier patent applications WO 2004/023647 and WO 2004/057755 by the present applicant describe an expandable multi-amplifier (having 3 sub-amplifiers and higher) structures containing one or more Chireix stages. Earlier patent application WO 2010/074615, also by the present applicant, describes a family of "Quasi-Chireix" amplifiers that have very high efficiency in both 3 and 4-stage (and higher) variants.
A paper by D. J. Perreault entitled "A new power combining and outphasing modulation system for high-efficiency power amplification", IEEE Proc. MWSCAS, 2010, pp. 441-444, describes hierarchic Chireix amplifiers that have higher efficiency than the 4-stage variants of WO 2004/023647 and WO 2010/074615 when very low loss transistors (specifically, low shunt loss) are employed. However, the amplifiers in the paper by Perreault only exist for 4, 8, 16 . . . etc. (powers of two) sub-amplifiers.
Earlier patent application WO 2013/087232, also by the present applicant describes asymmetric hierarchic Chireix amplifiers that can be used when other numbers of transistors are called for, such as 3, 5, 6, 7, 9 . . . etc. The "Chireix-Doherty" 3-stage amplifier of WO 2004/057755 has been improved for transistors with high shunt loss, and very much improved for having one transistor with very high loss, in co-pending application PCT/SE2013/050605, also by the present applicant.
The first Chireix-Doherty amplifiers of WO 2004/057755 and also the improved variant of co-pending application PCT/SE2013/050605 have a Chireix pair that is outphasing with very high efficiency in a middle amplitude region. In the upper amplitude region (its proportion determined by the size of the "peaking" sub-amplifier) they behave like the upper region in a Doherty amplifier, and are therefore sub-optimal when low shunt loss transistors are employed.
The amplifiers in WO 2010/074615 increase the proportion of outphasing behavior, and exist in both 3-stage and 4-stage versions, but require different size sub-amplifiers and have slightly sub-optimal efficiency with very low-loss transistors.
The 4-stage amplifiers Perreault are very close to optimal with very low-loss transistors, but do not exist for circuits having 3 sub-amplifier stages. The optimality also breaks down substantially if different size sub-amplifier pairs are employed.
The amplifiers in WO 2013/087232 exist in 3-stage versions with equal size sub-amplifiers, but have sub-optimal efficiency in a middle amplitude region when the lowermost transition point is placed at too low an amplitude.


A clarification system and method of using for plasmid DNA that is centrifugation-free. The system is comprised of a coarse filter, about 50 to about 200 microns pore size, followed by a prefilter of about 1 to about 2 micron pore size and then a final filter of about 0.22 micron. Preferably, the prefilter and final filter are combined into one filter housing to reduce system hold up volume and enhance recovery of the plasmid DNA. The method allows for continuous as well as batch operation.

Plasmid DNA is an important product for gene therapy applications. It is grown in host cells that are then lysed to release the plasmid DNA. The lysate is then clarified and the plasmid DNA is recovered using various regimes such as chromatography and the like.
Methods for clarifying lysate streams containing plasmid DNA have been described in WO 00/05358 and WO 97/23601. In both, the lysate is subjected to a centrifugation step that separates the plasmid DNA and smaller solids and particulates from the larger solids such as cell wall debris and the like. The supernatant containing the plasmid DNA is then carefully removed from the centrifuge and subjected to a series of filtration steps comprised of a coarse filter formed of a series of filter cloths (20 microns average pore size), followed by a prefiltration step (1-2 microns) and a final filtration step (about 0.2 microns).
Others have suggested using pad filters such as cellulosic fibers containing various fillers such as diatomaceous earth, clays, etc. or using a tangential flow filtration system (TFF) to clarify the lysate stream after centrifugation.
All of these systems are less than optimal for the recovery of plasmid DNA. Plasmid DNA typically accounts for less than 1%, more typically less than 0.5% by weight of the lysate stream, making the need for high recovery of the plasmid DNA important.
Centrifugation applies a shear to the constituents of the lysate stream which can damage the plasmid DNA. Additionally, recovery of the plasmid DNA containing portion of the stream is subjective and either is less than the total amount available or includes additional solids and particulates that adversely affect the downstream filtration steps (typically by prematurely clogging the filters.). Moreover, centrifugation requires an investment in capital equipment which is expensive, difficult to sanitize to FDA standards and requires the system be run in a batch format.
The proposed filtration train of the prior art has multiple steps and has a relatively low yield of plasmid DNA, typically less than about 80%. Under optimal laboratory conditions, these systems have yielded less than 90% of the available plasmid DNA. This is due to several factors. The selected filtration elements tend to interact with the plasmid DNA, binding some of it to their system. Additionally, each system has a minimum holdup volume that retains some of the plasmid DNA and never passes it on to the next stage of filtration.
Filter pads have not been an acceptable alternative as they irreversibly absorb a relatively high level of plasmid DNA, leading to low yields.
The use of TFF has been minimal as the TFF system with its constant washing of the plasmid DNA across the face of the membrane and its recirculation through one or more pumps applies a high shear on the plasmid DNA leading to reduced yields and reduced efficacy of the plasmid DNA that is recovered. Additionally, the yield of TFF devices is adversely affected by the high hold up volume of the TFF devices.
What is needed is a system and method of clarification that reduces the loss of yield and maintains the efficacy of the plasmid DNA recovered.


Individual images included in a multi-frame image can be reproduced in an enlarged scale by an easy operation. Information indicating the number of split frames of a multi-frame image and information indicating the number of photographed images included in the multi-frame image are recorded on a recording medium together with images constituting the multi-frame image. In the reproduction mode, each of images constituting the multi-frame image is reproduced and output on one frame with reference to the reproduced information indicating the number of split frames of the multi-frame image and the reproduced information indicating the number of photographed images included in the multi-frame image.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a recording apparatus and a reproduction apparatus for a still image.
2. Related Background Art
As a still image recording medium, a still video floppy utilized in a still video camera (or an electronic still camera) is known. The recording format of the still video floppy is standardized by the still video committee, and the floppy records a video signal for one field per track. A standard floppy has 50 tracks. Therefore, the floppy can record a maximum of 50 field images, and can record 25 frame images. The still video floppy also has audio and data recording formats in addition to the still image recording format.
Digital circuit elements have become popular due to low-cost memories, and an electronic still camera tends to have a memory capable of storing image data for at least one frame, and a digital signal processor (DSP) for performing digital signal processing of image data stored in the memory. The DSP can easily produce a multi-frame image in which a plurality of images are arranged in one frame. The DSP can also easily enlarge/reduce an image.
However, in the prior art, it has been difficult to individually reproduce and display images recorded as a multi-frame image. For example, the number of images constituting a multi-frame image or the number of photographed images included in a multi-frame image cannot be detected unless these images are reproduced and displayed. Also, it is not easy to designate and display each of the images constituting a multi-frame image in an enlarged scale.

Recording apparatus and reproduction apparatus storing data of a number of subframes


A heated instrument regulator tip is shown for use in retrieving samples from the interior of a natural gas or similar pipeline. A well is disposed within the tip and adapted to receive an electrical heater. The heater supplements thermal fins on the tip to transfer thermal energy to the gas sample inside the tip. The thermal energy counteracts the Joule-Thompson cooling of the gas due to the rapid pressure drop, thus preventing freeze up or condensation within the regulator tip.

It is often desirable in the natural gas and oil industries to withdraw samples directly from a pipeline for analysis or measurement of various variables. Various instruments are used for this purpose, such as calorimeters, gravitometers, and hydrogen sulfide analyzers. The pipeline can be tapped and a sample drawn directly therefrom, however the pressure of the fluid in a pipeline is often too high for use in the analyzing or measuring instruments. Pipelines carry natural gas at pressures as great as 5000 psig, while many gas analyzing instruments cannot use samples at greater than 100 psig.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,346,611 to Welker ("the '611 patent") demonstrates the use of one type of regulator which is inserted into a pipeline to withdraw a sample and regulate the pressure thereof. The device is inserted into a pipeline so that the tip of the device is near the center of the pipeline, where the samples drawn are the most representative of the pipeline flow.
A regulator is located near the tip of device which reduces the pressure of the sample. In the case of a gas, though, the sudden drop in pressure of the fluid as it flows past the regulator, causes a sudden drop in temperature as well. This effect, known as the Joule-Thomson effect, can cause freezing or liquid carry over into the instrument. Such occurrences can cause damage to the insertion device or the instruments.
To counter the Joule-Thomson effect, regulator tips often have thermal fins attached thereto, thus increasing the surface area of the tip. This allows more thermal energy from the pipeline flow to be absorbed by the tip just beyond the point of regulation. The '611 patent discloses the use of such thermal fins, and most of the regulator tips used in the industry, such as those made by Welker Engineering Company of Sugar Land, Tex., use thermal fins for the same purpose.
Nonetheless, further means are required to counter the Joule-Thomson effect in insertion instrument regulators. It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a regulator tip which will counter the cooling effects of pressure regulation.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an insertion instrument regulator with a heated tip. Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the specification described herein below.


A tool holder for small hand tools such as screw driver sets, drill sets, etc., which tool holder has external threads near one end which accommodate a compression sleeve which fits over and compresses a tool holding collet/chuck. Within the tool holder is a female hex shaped receptacle which is sized to accommodate a male hex shaft of the collet/chuck. The hex shaped receptacle in the tool holder and the hex shafts of the collet/chuck's act to prevent the collet/chuck's from turning when the tool is subjected to high levels of torque and also allow collet/chuck to be easily interchanged so that a single tool holder can be used to accommodate tools with a variety of shaft cross-sectional shapes such as round, square, hexagonal, etc.

It is known to create small hand tools including elongate tool holders for diverse uses such as screw driver sets, drill sets, wire sets, miniature files, hones, etc. which holders are machined from tubular metal stock. The metal stock is cut into suitable lengths for use as a tool holder and machined with external threads to hold, at one end, a compression sleeve for tightening about a collet/chuck which holds the tools as they are used, and, optionally, about the opposite end for an end cap to cover a reservoir within the tool holder to store additional tools. Positioned within the tool holder proximate the chuck end thereof, is typically provided a press fitting sized to receive a round shaft of the collet/chuck in a press fit arrangement. The collet/chuck and the compression sleeve are sized and shaped to receive the appropriate tool or tools. The collet/chuck has slots which form a tool receiving opening, with the slots being spring loaded such that the slot or slots spring outward to a normal, resting size which releases the tool shaft when the compression sleeve is loosened, with the slot or slots being constricted inward to grip the tool shaft as the compression sleeve is tightened onto the tool barrel. Typically, the barrel of the tool holder, and the compression sleeve as well, will be machined with a grip pattern, such as herringbone or the like, which facilitates an operator gripping the tool holder and the compression sleeve.
A number of problems occur with these prior art tool holders, among which is the tendency for the press fit collet/chuck to turn within the tool holder if an unusual amount of torque is applied to a held tool, and thus to the collet/chuck by a user. Once the collet/chuck breaks free of its press fitting, the tool holder is typically ruined. In addition, since the collet/chuck is press fit into the tool holder, it cannot be removed, thus the collet/chuck size and slot design are fixed. This limits the versatility of the tool holder to a specific shaft size and shape of tool, e.g. either round, square or hex shaped shafts of a limited diameter range.
It is clear, then, that a need exists for a tool holder design which prevents a collet/chuck from turning when a tool which it is holding is subjected to high torque. Such a tool holder should also allow collet/chucks to be interchanged such that tools with round, square, hex or other shaped shafts or varying diameters can be used with the same tool holder.

Tool holder with interchangeable collet/chuck system


A first support ring is arranged for positioning about a forward threaded portion of a magazine tube to complementarily engage a bottom surface of the associated gun barrel, wherein a second ring is arranged for locked engagement with the first ring upon directing the associated magazine tube cap into abutting relationship with locking spheres mounted in a projecting relationship relative to the forward walls of the second support ring. A mounting plate is oriented between the butt stock and the butt pad of the associated shotgun, wherein a flexible sling member is arranged for securement between the second support ring having a mounting lug and the mounting plate having a mounting plate mounting lug extending beyond the respective second support ring and the mounting plate.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of invention relates to sling arrangements for firearms, and more particularly pertains to a new and improved shotgun sling mounting apparatus wherein the same is arranged for the ease of retrofit of a carrying sling to a shotgun assembly without resort to deformation of the shotgun butt stock and magazine tube forearm stock assembly.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Typically, in the mounting of a support sling structure to a shotgun, brazing of a support lug to the shotgun barrel or alternatively the directing of fasteners into the butt stock and forearm stock of the associated shotgun is required to permit support of a sling relative to the shotgun assembly. The instant invention attempts to overcome deficiencies of the prior art by providing a retrofit apparatus arranged for ease of securement to the shotgun magazine tube, as well as the shotgun butt stock and in this respect, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.