A process for tracking and monitoring the operation of a unit for manufacturing a product and/or a near-infrared spectrometer fed with the product. This process includes computing at least one indicator of proper operation of the manufacturing unit and/or of the near-infrared spectrometer. A mathematical expression combines the values of work spectra and those of corresponding recomposed spectra. The evolution of these indicators is then tracked. The spectra are obtained by transformations of spectra emanating from the spectrometer and are recorded periodically. Application of this process is in the chemical, petroleum, pharmaceutical, cosmetological and agro-food industries.

The present invention is aimed specifically at remedying these drawbacks, and in particular at providing a process for tracking and/or monitoring the operation of a near-infrared spectrometer and the manufacturing unit to which it is linked.
By virtue of this process it is possible to expose disturbances, drifting, anomalies of operation of the spectrometer and of the associated measurement rig as well as of the manufacturing unit to which it is linked, to identify the causes of these malfunctions and to make provisions suitable for each situation: for example to declare the result of an analysis invalid and to warn the operator running the unit to which the spectrometer is linked and to supply him with elements for making his decisions.
This process finds its application in analysis laboratories and the manufacturing units of the chemical, petroleum, pharmaceutical, cosmetological and agro-food industries.
For this purpose the present invention proposes a process for tracking and monitoring by means of at least one indicator, the operation of a unit for manufacturing a product and/or a near-infrared spectrometer fed with the said product, the said spectrometer delivering spectra consisting of series of values of absorbance for various values of wavelengths, consisting in executing the following steps:
periodically recording, in the form of numerical data, spectra arising from the near-infrared spectrometer, PA1 mathematically transforming the numerical data of each recorded spectrum so as to obtain transformed spectra, PA1 constructing a string of work spectra from the values obtained previously, by selecting from each transformed spectrum, a set of consecutive wavelengths characteristic of the manufactured product, characterized in that it consists in executing the following steps also: PA1 choosing from the first work spectrum a number 1 of consecutive wavelengths, PA1 computing coefficients by series decomposition of the first spectrum, PA1 choosing the first p coefficients, PA1 determining a first recomposed spectrum by recomposing the first work spectrum from the first p coefficients, PA1 computing a parameter STDm through the formula: EQU STDm=[.SIGMA..sub.i (A.sub.i -A'.sub.i).sup.2 /l].sup.1/2 PA1 in which: PA1 iteratively repeating the computation of the parameter STDm with the first p+q coefficients, q going from 1 to l/4, PA1 comparing the values STDm thus obtained with a threshold value STDs, PA1 adopting the number n of coefficients corresponding to the value STDm immediately greater than the value STDs. PA1 STD represents the indicator of proper operation, PA1 A.sub.j represents the mathematically transformed absorbance value for wavelength j of each work spectrum, PA1 A'.sub.j represents the mathematically transformed absorbance value for wavelength j of each work spectrum recomposed with the adopted number n of coefficients, PA1 j varies from 1 to l PA1 l represents the chosen number of wavelengths.
computing coefficients by series decomposition of each work spectrum, PA2 choosing a limited number n of coefficients by performing a selection procedure, PA2 determining a recomposed spectrum by recomposing each work spectrum from the chosen coefficients, PA2 computing at least one indicator of proper operation of the manufacturing unit and/or of the near-infrared spectrometer, by means of a mathematical expression which combines the values of each work spectrum and those of the corresponding recomposed spectrum, PA2 tracking the evolution over time of the indicator of proper operation. PA2 A.sub.i represents the mathematically transformed absorbance value for wavelength i of the first work spectrum, PA2 A'.sub.i represents the mathematically transformed absorbance value for wavelength i of the first recomposed work spectrum, PA2 i varies from 1 to l, PA2 l represents the chosen number of wavelengths
According to another characteristic of the process of the invention the decomposition of the work spectra is performed by means of a series decomposition chosen from Fourier and Hadamard series and wavelet series decompositions.
According to another characteristic of the process of the invention with the string of work spectra including a first spectrum, the selection procedure consists in determining the number n of coefficients by executing the following steps:
According to another characteristic of the process of the invention the near-infrared spectrometer having known repeatability, the threshold value STDs is chosen equal to the standard deviation of the said repeatability.
According to another characteristic of the process of the invention the mathematical expression which combines the values of the transformed spectrum and those of the recomposed spectrum is the following: EQU STD=[.SIGMA..sub.j (A.sub.j -A'.sub.j).sup.2 /l].sup.1/2
in which:
According to another characteristic of the process of the invention in order to track the evolution over time of the indicator of proper operation, a monovariate control chart is used.
According to another characteristic of the process of the invention, a causes/effects diagram is used to track the evolution over time of the indicator of proper operation.

Process for tracking and monitoring a manufacturing unit and/or a near-infrared spectrometer by means of at least one indicator


A convergence guide is provided that is particularly useful in arthroscopic knee surgery to allow the drilling of two guide pins starting at different places on the outside of the knee but converging to the same spot in the center of the knee. A pair of offset members are arranged in the convergence guide to facilitate adjustment of the position of the pins to converge at one of a plurality of predetermined distances. Each offset member is itself useful as an offset guide to drill a second guide pin through a bone in parallel proximity to a first pin disposed in the bone. The guide has a plurality of parallel offset holes set at predetermined distances in an array for enabling the guide to slide over and pivot around the first pin through one hole and receive the second pin through another hole.

The present invention is useful in a variety of surgical procedures but is particularly useful in arthroscopic surgery of the knee and most particularly in facilitating the surgical repair or reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Sports injuries to the knee often result in tearing of the ACL. If the injured person is a professional athlete, it may be critical to full recovery and to his or her ability to further compete professionally to repair or reconstruct the ligament so that is mimics as much a possible the function of the original ACL.
The anatomically correct procedure would be to make a double band graft where the graft is divided into the two major bands of the ACL, i.e., the anterior medial band and the posterior lateral band, securing each band to the femur. However, it is very difficult to design an operation to provide such an arrangement. Most surgical graft procedures have utilized a single graft joined at one center point on the tibia and at one center point on the femur using bone-tendon-bone blocks taken from the patient's patella and fixed by an interference fit in drilled bone tunnels. In concept, center-to-center attachment of a single band of reasonable size is supposedly "isometric" so that the fiber does not change over its length in any position of knee flexion or extension. However, in fact, not all portions of the graft are going to be perfectly isometric, so that if the points of attachment turn out to be wrong, there is a tendency for the graft to stretch, making the knee looser than it would ordinarily be. Moreover, if the tibial attachment is too far forward, the graft can impinge against the roof of the intercondylar notch as the knee is extended, preventing the knee from straightening out. When that happens, a notchplasty may be required or the graft moved further backwards, entailing additional surgery.
In another procedure used with certain ACL tears, up to 20 sutures are placed in each of the stumps of the torn ligament. Using a drill guide, a guide pin is inserted in back of the knee and then an arthroscopic port is formed using a cannulated drill over the pin. Half of the sutures are drawn through the port, the other half through the center of the knee and around the back of the knee where they are tied to the first half. Several problems arise with such a procedure. First, the procedure requires additional dissection around the back of the knee to retrieve the sutures. Second, the sutures are drawn over tendon structure making it difficult to tie the sutures. Third, placement of the reattachment is less anatomic when you have to draw the sutures over the back of the knee than if you took them all through an anatomic attachment site.
The present invention solves the foregoing problems associated with reconstruction of the ACL as well as those associated with suture repair of the ACL. In one embodiment a convergence guide is provided in which converging guide holes allow the drilling of two pins starting at different places on the outside of the knee but converging to the same spot in the center of the knee. For example, the pins can be drilled to converge from the lateral area of the knee where a surgeon would normally be drilling a hole through the femoral condyle to retrieve sutures. The sutures could then be brought out through the separate holes on the lateral side providing a bone bridge over which the sutures could be tied.
Use of the convergence guide also facilitates a double banded graft such as used in semi-tendonosis anatomic reconstruction (known by the acronym STAR) and is also applicable to dacron grafts as well as to achilles tendon or patellar tendon cadaver grafts, all of which are well known grafts but which are difficult to perform or have the problems referred to above. The STAR procedure is based on the observation that the anterior medial band ducks under the roof of the intercondylar notch at a flatter angle than does the posterior lateral band. The anterior medial band starts further forward on the tibia but then goes at a relatively flat angle to a point further back. The posterior lateral band starts at a point further back on the tibia and goes at a relatively steep angle to a point further forward. As a result, fibers of the posterior lateral band are tighter in extension of the knee whereas fibers of the anterior medial band are tighter at 45 degrees of knee flexion. Using the convergence guide allows the two anatomic bands to be placed in such a way that the posterior lateral band can be tightened in extension and the anterior medial band can be tightened at 45 degrees of knee flexion thereby mimicking the natural disposition of these bands. The bands can then be sutured to one another and/or stapled down over the bone bridge formed by the separation of the converged holes on the lateral side of the knee.
Since different patients will require the convergence point to be located at different distances from the guide, a plurality of converging guide holes are provided. This is accomplished by means of a pair of cylindrical offset members slidably carried in respective converging cylindrical bores on the convergence guide. One offset member is used to slide over and pivot around a first guide pin that has been drilled into the bone. The other offset member is used as a guide to receive a second guide pin to be drilled so as to converge with the first pin. Each offset member contains along its length a plurality of parallel holes offset predetermined distances from each other, enabling the surgeon to choose any of a plurality of convergence distances.
In a particular embodiment, the holes in each offset member are disposed in a rectangular array of at least nine holes including a central hole, corner holes and side holes. The center-to-center distance between each of two opposite side holes and the central hole is 2 mm and the center-to-center distance between each corner hole and the central hole is 3 mm. As a result, parallel offsets of exactly 2, 3, 4 and 6 mm are available to the surgeon along with the intermediate distance of about 4.5 mm. This results in convergence distances into the bone in the range of about 30 to about 40 mm. In still another embodiment, the proximal side of the convergence guide is concave to better fit a patients knee.
By providing converging holes in slidably disposed members, the convergence guide is readily disassembled. Slots are defined entirely through the sidewall of the convergence guide to and coextensive with respective cylindrical bores, each slot being wider than the thickness of the guide pin. The convergence guide is removed while leaving the converging pins in place by sliding the offset members out of their bores and then withdrawing the convergence guide while the pins pass through the slots.
Other problems that arise in the course of arthroscopic surgery relate to difficulties in properly placing or aligning guide pins. The surgeon attempts to locate the pins so that they converge at the inner surface of the knee, but initial placement will generally require some guessing and a poor estimate of the convergence point may require redrilling the pin. Even a single pin can be badly placed or be misaligned due to the tendency of the drill to wander while drilling. Taking the pin out and redrilling is difficult because of the tendency of the pin forming the new hole to slide into the old hole during drilling.
Prior mechanical approaches to this problem are not quite satisfactory. One device, known as an Acufex, has a lug formed with a nubbin on one side that is placed in the bad hole after the pin is removed. The lug has a guide hole offset from the center of the nubbin by 3 mm which can pivot around in any direction to drill a parallel hole 3 mm from the old hole. One problem is that it is often difficult to find the small hole left when the pin is removed. Another problem is that the surgeon has only the option of moving the pin the single fixed distance of 3 mm from the original hole, which limits the surgeon's choices.
Another device is known as the Lemoire offset and has three parallel holes in a triangular array, each hole being 3 mm center-to-center from each other. The offset is slid onto the bad pin and then pivoted around the pin to a desired location, but limited to 3 mm from the original hole where a new pin is drilled parallel to the first pin. As with the Acufex, the surgeon has only the limited option of moving the pin the single fixed distance of 3 mm from the original hole.
These problems are alleviated by another embodiment of this invention in which one of the cylindrical offset members is used as a unique offset guide to enable a second pin to be drilled through a bone in close parallel proximity to a first pin disposed in the bone. The cylindrical offset member is fitted with a clamp handle and is used by sliding the offset member over the badly placed pin through one of the parallel holes and then pivoting it in a desired direction. A new pin is then placed at a desired offset distance and drilled into the bone in parallel proximity to the first pin without the danger of sliding into the first hole which is still occupied by the first pin. After successfully inserting the second pin into the bone, the first pin can be removed. The unique array of parallel holes allows great flexibility to the surgeon in correcting poor pin placement.


The present invention provides a method of preparing ortho-difluorobenzene derivatives, which comprises (a) providing a mixture of cyclohexenes by reacting chlorotrifluoroethylene (CTFE) and 1.3-diene in a flow reactor and distilling the resultant, and (b) dehydrohalogenating the mixture of cyclohexenes with a phase transition catalyst in :he presence of alkali metal hydroxide at temperature range of 40 to 150.degree. C. without using any organic solvent. The distillate having low boiling point, which is obtained during distillation of the resultant, is recycled into the flow reactor. The present invention also provides a method of preparing 2-chloro-4,5-difluorobenzoic acid, which comprises (a) providing a mixture of 4-chloro-1-methyl-4,5,5-trifluorocyclohexene and 5-chloro-1-methyl-4,4,5-trifluorocyclohexene by reacting chlorotrifluoroethylene (CTFE) and isoprene and distilling the resultant. (b) dehydrohalogenating said mixture in the presence of alkali metal hydroxide and a phase transition catalyst to form 3,4-difluorotoluene, to reacting said 3,4-difluorotoluene with chlorine gas without using any organic solvent to form 2-chloro-4,5-difluorotoluene, (d) photo-reacting said 2-chloro-4,5-difluorotoluene with chlorine gas under a lighting mercury lamp without using any organic solvent to form 2-chloro-4,5-difluorobenzotrichloride, and (e) reacting said 2-chloro-4,5-difluorobenzotrichloride with aqueous acid solution without using any organic solvent. The present invention also provides a method of preparing 2-chloro-4,5-difluorobenzoyl chloride by reacting the 2-chloro-4,5-difluorobenzotrichloride of step (e) above with zinc oxide.

Conventional methods for synthesis of fluoroaromatic compounds are based on direct substitution of the hydrogen atoms or suitable functional groups of the aromatic ring with fluorine of a fluorinating agent. U.S. Pat. No. 3,499,942 discloses an alternative method of preparing aromatic compounds using a fluorosynthon.
2-chloro-4,5-difluorobenzoyl chloride which is normally prepared from 2-chloro-4,5-difluorobenzoic acid is used as a particularly valuable intermediate for synthesis of quinolone carboxylic acids which have a strong antibiotic activity.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,374,266 discloses fluorophthalamic acids and ammonium salts thereof, and a method for the preparation of these compounds. U.S. Pat. No. 5,003,103 discloses a preparation of 2-chloro-4,5-difluorobenzoic acid which is prepared by decarboxylating 4,5-difluorophthalic anhydride or 4,5-difluorophthalic acid to form 3,4-difluorobenzoic acid in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, quinoline, or dimethyl acetamide, treating the 3,4-difluorobenzoic acid with a mixture of nitric and sulfuric acids to produce 2-nitro-4,5-difluorobenzoic acid, and treating the 2-nitro-4,5-difluorobenzoic acid with elemental chlorine. European Patent Publication No. 431 373 A2 discloses a process for producing 5-fluorbenzoic acids which comprises trichloromethylating a fluorobenzene to obtain a 5-fluorobenzotrichloride, reacting with aqueous ammonia to obtain a 5-fluorobenzonitrile, reacting with a fluorinating agent to obtain a 5-fluorobenzonitrile, and hydrolyzing it. However, all of these methods have shortcomings of either longer reaction steps or using expensive reagents.
Generally, the 2-chloro-4,5-difluorobenzoyl chloride has been prepared by reacting 2-chloro-4,5-difluorobenzoic acid with thionyl chloride.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,754,084 discloses a preparation of substituted fluorobenzenes which is produced by pyrolyzing vinylfluorocyclobutanes in the presence of activated carbon or certain metal oxides or mixtures of metal oxides. In this invention, a tetrafluoroethylene was used to prepare the substituted fluorobenzenes, which tends to polymerize spontaneously in the presence of traces of oxygen. Therefore, the tetrafluoroethylene should be stored at low temperature without contacting air. In the pyrolysis of vinylfluorocyclobutane derivatives, it forms easily polymeric by-products which affects badly a yield of products and cause difficulties in mass production, thus it is always required to react in a nitrogen gas atmosphere.
In addition, the methods described above have a difficulty for isolation of the desired product because of formation of structurally similar by-products.
Accordingly, to overcome the shortcomings as described above, the present inventors have developed methods of preparing 2-chloro-4,5-difluorobenzoic acid and 2-chloro-4,5-difluorobenzoyl chloride without passing via vinylfluorocyclobutane derivatives.

Method of preparing fluoroaromatic compounds


The present invention relates to a photosensitive composition comprising a polysilane having a repeating unit represented by the following general formula (1) and a benzophenone type compound having an organic peroxide, ##STR1## wherein Ar represents a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group.

The present invention relates to a photosensitive composition capable of pattern formation for use in the production of electronic elements such as semiconductor devices and liquid crystal display devices.
For production of electronic device such as semiconductor elements, integrated circuits, fine processing techniques by photoetching is used. For photoetching, for example, a resist film is formed on a silicon monocrystal wafer etc. by spin coating and exposed to light via a mask having a desired pattern. Then, the resist film after exposure to light is subjected to development treatment and then rinsed to form a resist pattern. Thereafter, the resulting pattern is used as an etching mask to etch the wafer to form a line or open a window.
In the fine processing techniques, product accuracy depends mainly on the performance of the resist used, i.e. resolution on a substrate, accuracy of photosensitivity, and adhesive properties on the substrate or resistance to etching.
Recently, there is increasing hope of polysilane as such a resist. For examples, the techniques of forming a positive pattern by use of polysilane are disclosed in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 62-228542. A pattern formed using a resist containing a silicon-containing compound such as polysilane has the following characteristics: If such a resist pattern is subjected to oxygen reactive ion etching (oxygen RIE), a film made of e.g. SiO.sub.2 is formed on the surface of the resist film. Accordingly, the resist pattern has high oxygen RIE properties.
In this prior art, however, a volatile photo-depolymerization polymer is formed by irradiating polysilane with actinic radiation, and then the formed photodepolymerization polymer is evaporated to form a pattern. Therefore, it is very difficult to form a fine pattern accurately in such dry development. Further, there is also the problem that the formation of a pattern by means of conventional polysilane is still inadequate in respect of sensitivity.
As an alternative method, a method of forming a pattern by use of polysilane in wet etching is proposed. Polysilane possesses the properties by which its molecular weight is reduced upon exposure to light by irradiation with ultraviolet light. Therefore, a polysilane film formed on a substrate is selectively exposed to light and then developed by selectively dissolving it in a polar solvent such as alcohol, ketone etc. to form a pattern.
However, when pattern formation is carried out by use of a photosensitive composition consisting of polysilane only, several joules/cm.sup.2 are required as exposed light. In addition, there is the problem that the sectional shape and resolution of the resulting pattern become poor.
Although pattern formation by use of polysilane as a resist has been attempted as described above, it is often difficult to form a fine pattern accurately and sensitivity is also often poor in the case of a resist containing only polysilane. Further, if pattern formation is made feasible by alkali development, an improvement in pattern accuracy can be expected, but polysilane is generally insoluble in an aqueous alkaline solution, so pattern formation by alkali development is not possible.
In view of the above-described problems an object of the invention is to provide a photosensitive composition capable of accurately and highly sensitively forming a fine pattern excellent in sectional shape.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a pattern forming method capable of forming a fine pattern by alkali development.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a process for producing an electronic device, which comprises using the resulting pattern to carry out fine processing accurately.

Photosensitive composition comprising aryl-substituted polysilane and peroxide-substituted benzophenone


An integrated circuit is formed on a substrate containing a semiconductor material having a first conductivity type. A deep well having a second, opposite, conductivity type is formed in the semiconductor material of the first conductivity type. A deep isolation trench is formed in the substrate through the deep well so as separate an unused portion of the deep well from a functional portion of the deep well. The functional portion of the deep well contains an active circuit element of the integrated circuit. The separated portion of the deep well does not contain an active circuit element. A contact region having the second conductivity type and a higher average doping density than the deep well is formed in the separated portion of the deep well. The contact region is connected to a voltage terminal of the integrated circuit.

An integrated circuit includes a deep n-type well in a p-type substrate, for example to isolate a transistor in the deep well from the substrate. A deep isolation trench isolation is formed through the deep well to laterally isolate the transistor. The deep isolation trench separates a portion of the deep well from a main part of the deep well which contains the transistor; the separated portion contains no components of the integrated circuit. The separated portion of the deep well undesirably causes electrical interference with nearby circuit components.

Deep trench isolation with tank contact grounding


A multi-chip package includes a plurality of semiconductor devices each having an address which is designated based on unique values corresponding to the respective semiconductor devices; and a controller suitable for activating each of the semiconductor devices based on the address, and controlling the activated semiconductor device to perform a normal operation.

1. Field
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to semiconductor design technology, and more particularly, to a multi-chip package including a plurality of semiconductor devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, semiconductor devices such as double data rate synchronous DRAM (DDR SDRAM) have developed in various ways (e.g., a package technology) to satisfy users' needs. Recently, a multi-chip package has been suggested as the package technology for semiconductor devices. The multi-chip package refers to a single apparatus including a plurality of semiconductor devices (i.e., chips or dies). The multi-chip package may increase a memory capacity using a plurality of memory devices with a memory function and secure desired performance using semiconductor devices with different functions. For reference, the multi-chip package may be a single-layer multi-chip package or a multilayer multi-chip package. The single-layer multi-chip package includes a plurality of semiconductor devices arranged in parallel on the plane, and the multilayer multi-chip package may include a plurality of semiconductor devices stacked therein.
Conventionally, when a plurality of semiconductor chips are implemented as a multilayer multi-chip package, input/output terminals of semiconductor devices are wire-bonded. However, when wire bonding is used, the multi-chip package may not satisfy a high-speed operation and may be vulnerable to various noises. Thus, through-silicon via (TSV) technology has been recently used in place of the wire bonding.
The multi-chip package may be implemented as a double-die package (DDP), quad-die package (QDP), or octo-die package (ODP). A DDP represents operation of two semiconductor devices, QDP represents operation of four semiconductor devices, and ODP represents operation of eight semiconductor. In each of DDP, QDP, and ODP, before a normal operation is performed, an address must be designated for each of the semiconductor devices in the multi-chip package.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a conventional multi-chip package. A multi-chip package in which DDP and QDP operations are available will be taken as an example.
Referring to FIG. 1, the multi-chip package includes first to fourth semiconductor devices 110 to 140 and a controller 150.
The first to fourth semiconductor devices 110 to 140 may be activated in response to an address signal ADD generated by the controller 150. Among the first to fourth semiconductor devices 110 to 140, an activated semiconductor device performs a normal operation corresponding to a command signal (not illustrated). Thus, an order for addressing the semiconductor devices 110 to 140 is to be set. Conventionally, to set the order for addressing, option pads are used. The respective semiconductor devices 110 to 140 include option pad units P1 to P4. Then, according to settings of the option pad units P1 to P4, the order for addressing the first to fourth semiconductor devices 110 to 140, the controller 150 may activate a semiconductor device corresponding to the address signal ADD, and perform a normal operation.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, at least two option pads are required for the respective semiconductor devices 110 to 140. For example, in the configuration for ODP operation, at least three option pads are required for each semiconductor device. Recently, with the developments in process technology and design technology of semiconductor devices, the number of stacked semiconductor devices has gradually increased. As the number of the stacked semiconductor devices increases, the number of option pads also increases. The increase in the number of option pads may serve as a factor which increases the size and cost of the multi-chip package.

Multi-chip package and operating method thereof


The sunvisor attachment apparatus of the present invention includes a mounting bezel configured to retain a sunvisor sub-assembly. The mounting bezel includes an alignment protrusion adapted to align the mounting bezel relative to the vehicle. The alignment protrusion includes a mounting clip configured to temporarily retain the mounting bezel to the vehicle. The mounting bezel also includes an attachment boss positioned to align with a complementary attachment feature of the vehicle when the mounting bezel is aligned with the vehicle. The sunvisor attachment apparatus also includes a fastener configured to more permanently attach the mounting bezel to the vehicle. Advantageously, the temporary retention of the mounting bezel to the vehicle allows the fastener to be driven to more permanently attach the mounting bezel to the vehicle in a simplified hands-free manner.

Two known methods for attaching a sunvisor to a vehicle include a "modular build" method and a "layered build" method. According to the modular build method, the sunvisor is initially mounted to a headliner sub-assembly which is thereafter installed into a vehicle as a single modular unit. According to the layered build method, the sunvisor is mounted directly to the vehicle as the vehicle is being assembled.

Method and apparatus for sunvisor attachment


A safety switch device connects a heating unit for at least one battery cell of a high-voltage battery of a motor vehicle to a power supply connection that provides a heating current for the heating unit. The device includes: a first controllable switching element arranged in a heating current transmission path, which is designed to receive a control signal supplied by a unit external to the high-voltage battery via a signal transmission path of the safety switch device and to generate heating current transmission between the heating unit and the power supply connection according to the received control signal; a separating unit arranged in the heating current transmission path, for interrupting the heating current transmission in the event of failure of the first switching element; and a transmission unit arranged in the signal transmission path, which is designed to transmit the control signal potential-free to the first switching element, for the galvanic separation of the high-voltage battery and the unit.

The invention relates to a safety switching device for switching a heating unit for heating at least one battery cell of a high-voltage battery of a motor vehicle having a power supply terminal providing a heating current for the heating unit. The invention furthermore relates to a high-voltage on-board power supply, to an on-board power supply system and to a motor vehicle.
What are of interest in this case are high-voltage batteries or high-voltage stores for electrically driveable motor vehicles, in particular electric or hybrid vehicles. Such high-voltage batteries comprise a plurality of battery cells or storage cells that are generally connected so as to form a battery module. In this case, a maximum power able to be provided by the battery module usually drops as the operating temperature of the battery cells drops. In the case of an electrically driveable motor vehicle, this may lead to a situation whereby only limited drive power and limited charging power are available at the start of a journey in the case of low outdoor temperatures. It is therefore known from the prior art to equip the battery modules with a heating unit in order that the battery cells are able to be heated when necessary. By way of example, the heating unit may in this case be driven by an apparatus, external to the high-voltage battery, for heating the battery cells. The apparatus may for example be part of a low-voltage on-board power supply of the motor vehicle.
In this case, predefined safety requirements placed on the motor vehicle make provision for example for the high-voltage battery and the low-voltage on-board power supply to be galvanically isolated from one another. It is thus possible for example to prevent a harmful overvoltage from being transmitted to a body of the motor vehicle via the low-voltage on-board power supply connected to the body in the event of a fault in the high-voltage battery, which overvoltage could injure people. In addition, uncontrolled erroneous heating of the heating unit should be prevented in order to avoid overheating of the battery cells.
The object of the present invention is to make a heating procedure for heating battery cells of a high-voltage battery for an electrically driveable motor vehicle particularly safe.
This object is achieved according to the invention by a safety switching device, a high-voltage battery, an on-board power supply system and a motor vehicle having the features according to the respective independent patent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent patent claims, the description and the figures.
A safety switching device according to the invention is used to connect a heating unit for heating a battery cell of a high-voltage battery of a motor vehicle to a power supply terminal providing a heating current for the heating unit. The safety switching device has a first controllable switching element, arranged in a heating current transmission path, that is designed to receive a control signal provided by an apparatus external to the high-voltage battery via a signal transmission path of the safety switching device and to provide a transmission of heating current between the heating unit and the power supply terminal in order to heat the battery cells depending on the received control signal. The safety switching device furthermore has a disconnection apparatus, arranged in the heating current transmission path, for interrupting the transmission of heating current in the event of a fault with the first switching element, and a transmission apparatus, arranged in the signal transmission path, that is designed to transmit the control signal without potential to the first switching element in order to galvanically isolate the high-voltage battery and the apparatus.
The invention furthermore relates to a high-voltage battery for a motor vehicle, having at least one battery cell, a heating unit, a power supply terminal and a safety switching device according to the invention, wherein the first controllable switching element is electrically connected to the heating unit and to the power supply terminal and the transmission apparatus is able to be connected to the apparatus external to the high-voltage battery.
The high-voltage battery or the high-voltage accumulator may be, for example, a traction battery for an electrically driveable motor vehicle and have a plurality of battery modules that are connected to one another. The battery modules in turn have a plurality of battery cells that are connected to one another and that may be designed for example as prismatic battery cells. The high-voltage battery furthermore has a heating unit for at least one of the battery cells, in particular for each of the battery cells, of a battery module. The heating unit may for example have a heating film with a heating resistor and that is arranged in or on a cell housing of the respective battery cell. The safety switching device is then used to electrically connect the heating units for heating the battery cells and the power supply terminal to one another in order to start a heating procedure and to disconnect them again in order to end the heating procedure. The power supply terminal may for example be a power supply terminal internal to the high-voltage battery and be formed for example by cell terminals of the battery cell. There may however also be provision for the power supply terminal to be formed by module terminals of a battery module, which module terminals are electrically connected to the cell terminals of the battery cells. In both cases, the heating current for heating the at least one battery cell is provided by the at least one battery cell itself.
The safety switching device or the safety circuit has the heating current transmission path and the signal transmission path. The heating current transmission path comprises the first controllable switching element and the disconnection apparatus. The disconnection apparatus is in particular connected in series with the first switching element. The first switching element may be designed as a semiconductor switch, for example as a power MOSFET. The first switching element may be put into an on state, in which the heating unit and the power supply terminal are electrically connected and in which the transmission of heating current is activated, and into an off state, in which the heating unit and the power supply terminal are disconnected from one another and in which the transmission of heating current is deactivated, by way of the control signal. In order to drive the first switching element, a control terminal of the first switching element is able to be connected to the apparatus external to the high-voltage battery via the signal transmission path. The apparatus may for example be a control apparatus of a low-voltage on-board power supply of the motor vehicle. The apparatus in this case generates the control signal for the first switching element and provides it to the transmission apparatus in the signal transmission path.
The transmission apparatus is designed to forward the control signal to the first switching element with galvanic isolation or without potential. Reference potentials of the apparatus external to the high-voltage battery and of the high-voltage battery are thus isolated from one another. Galvanically isolating the high-voltage battery and the apparatus may prevent an overvoltage from being transmitted to the apparatus in the event of a fault with the high-voltage battery, for example in the case of a short circuit. If the apparatus is part of the low-voltage on-board power supply, it is thus possible to prevent the overvoltage from being transmitted to the low-voltage on-board power supply, whose reference potential is for example the body of the motor vehicle.
In order to heat the battery cells, the control signal is thus for example generated by the apparatus, transmitted without potential to the first switching element by way of the transmission apparatus, as a result of which said switching element is put into the on state and the transmission of heating current is activated or provided. The heating current is then able to be transmitted from the power supply terminal to the heating unit via the first switching element. As soon as the heating procedure is to be ended, the first switching element is put back into the off state and the transmission of heating current is interrupted. In the event of a fault with the first switching element, for example in the case of an alloyed layer forming on the semiconductor switch, this off state is no longer able to be produced and the first switching element remains permanently in the on state. In order still to be able to interrupt the transmission of heating current, the disconnection apparatus is provided. The disconnection apparatus may for example be self-tripping or driveable. The disconnection apparatus is thus able to end the heating process in order to prevent overheating of the battery cells, even in the event of a fault with the first switching element.
As a result of the safety switching device, which makes it possible both to safely interrupt the heating current transmission path and to galvanically isolate the high-voltage battery and the low-voltage on-board power supply, it is possible to provide a particularly safe heating procedure for heating the battery cells.
There may be provision for the disconnection apparatus to have a second controllable switching element, redundant with respect to the first controllable switching element, in the heating current transmission path. The second switching element is arranged in series with the first switching element and may likewise be a semiconductor switch. The semiconductor switches in particular have a current-carrying capacity of up to 150 A and a blocking voltage of 400 V to 800 V. The second switching element is in particular likewise able to be connected to the apparatus via the transmission apparatus, such that the control signal is likewise able to be provided to the second switching element without potential via the signal transmission path. There may be provision in this case for both switching elements to be switched together and therefore synchronously, or to be switched independently or separately from one another. In the event that one of the switching elements is no longer able to be put into the off state, the respective other switching element may be driven so as to interrupt the transmission of heating current.
As an alternative or in addition, the disconnection apparatus has an electric fuse connected in series with the first switching element. The electric fuse or overcurrent protection apparatus may be for example a thermal fuse that interrupts the heating current transmission path for example when the heating current flows via the heating current transmission path for longer than a predefined duration. The duration for which the heating current is allowed to flow from the power supply terminal to the heating unit may be for example between 60 s and 80 s. If a heating current is still flowing after this duration, this is an indication that the first switching element is no longer able to be put into the off state. In order to interrupt the heating procedure, the fuse trips and interrupts the heating current transmission path permanently and thus particularly reliably.
In one development of the invention, the transmission apparatus has at least one optocoupler. The optocoupler is coupled to the first switching element and is able to be coupled to the apparatus external to the high-voltage battery and is designed to transmit the control signal without potential at least to the first switching element. The second switching element may likewise be coupled to the apparatus via the optocoupler or a further optocoupler. There may also be provision for the transmission apparatus to have a DC-to-DC converter with galvanic isolation. The DC-to-DC converter or DC voltage converter may be provided in order to convert the control signal, provided by the apparatus and having a first voltage level, into a control signal having a second voltage level suitable for the first switching element. The voltage is in this case converted without potential, meaning that the DC-to-DC converter may be used both for the voltage conversion and for the galvanic isolation. The DC-to-DC converter may for example have a transformer for the transmission without potential.
In one embodiment of the invention, the signal transmission path of the safety switching device has a timer that is designed to provide the control signal for connecting the heating unit to the power supply terminal only for a predetermined duration for the transmission apparatus. The signal transmission path of the safety switching device in particular has a fuse for interrupting the signal transmission. The fuse and the timer may be connected between the apparatus external to the high-voltage battery and the transmission apparatus. The timer and the fuse may interrupt the signal transmission path, for example in the event of a fault with the apparatus. It is thus for example possible to prevent the control signal from being provided to the first switching element for too long, and thereby transmitting the heating current for too long and consequently overheating the battery cells.
The invention furthermore relates to an on-board power supply system for a motor vehicle, having a high-voltage on-board power supply having a high-voltage battery according to the invention and a low-voltage on-board power supply having an apparatus that is designed to provide the control signal for the first switching element, wherein the high-voltage on-board power supply and the low-voltage on-board power supply are coupled to one another without potential via the transmission apparatus.
A motor vehicle according to the invention comprises an on-board power supply system according to the invention. The motor vehicle is in particular designed as an electric or hybrid vehicle.
The embodiments set forth with regard to the safety switching device according to the invention and its advantages apply analogously to the high-voltage battery according to the invention, to the on-board power supply system according to the invention and to the motor vehicle according to the invention.
Further features of the invention will become apparent from the claims, the figures and the description of the figures. The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description and the features and combinations of features mentioned below in the description of the figures and/or shown only in the figures are able to be used not only in the respectively specified combination, but also in other combinations or on their own.
The invention is now explained in more detail on the basis of one preferred exemplary embodiment and with reference to the drawings.
Identical and functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference signs in the figures.

Safety switch device for a high-voltage battery of a motor vehicle, high-voltage battery, on-board power supply system and motor vehicle

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft


Provided is a game system which performs control so as to allow a previously set donation amount to be donated when a user performs a cashing-out operation. A donation management server 40 stores settings related to donations made by a user in a donation setting information table 421 and when the user performs the cashing-out operation on a slot machine 1010, performs control so as to donate a donation amount selected by the user from among donation amount candidates set by the above-mentioned settings made by the user.

A user card is inserted into a player tracking device as in the above-described U.S. Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0135799 as well as the above-described U.S. Pat. No. 8,777,734, whereby a game is executed on a gaming machine by credit data associated with said user card. Since the credit obtained as an outcome of the game can be added to a value of an account of a user (player), the user can easily enjoy the game without cumbersome taking-in-and-out of cash or the like.
In addition, in the conventional system which includes each of the configurations disclosed in the above-described Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2012-022657 and the above-described Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2005-230348, refund money in a publicly operated competition and points obtained in games can be donated.
However, among users, not a few users dislike events which disturb games during playing the games. Such users are likely not to even play the games, let alone make donations.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Game system, server, and donation control method


A passive optical network includes a central office and a subscriber-side apparatus connected with the central office through an optical fiber link. The subscriber-side apparatus performs communication with the central office based on wavelength-division-multiplexed optical signals. The central office has a routing section, provided with first to fourth multiplexing ports, for demultiplexing multi-wavelength light inputted from the fourth multiplexing port into a plurality of channels. Each of the demultiplexed channels is amplified and multiplexed for output through the first multiplexing port. Optical signals inputted through the third multiplexing port are demultiplexed and outputted upstream. The routing section also multiplexes channels for downstream optical signals, outputting the multiplexed channels through the second port. A splitting section, provided with first to third splitting ports and arranged on a loop optical waveguide connects the first and fourth multiplexing port with each other. The splitting section causes some of multi-wavelength light inputted into the first splitting port to be outputted through the second splitting port and causes the remainder of multi-wavelength light to be outputted through the third splitting port connected with the fourth multiplexing port. A circulator causes the multi-wavelength light inputted through the second splitting port to be transmitted to the subscriber-side apparatus and causes upstream optical signals received from the subscriber-side apparatus to be outputted to the third multiplexing port.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical communication system, and more particularly to a wavelength division multiplexing passive optical network.
2. Description of the Related Art
A wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) passive optical network distributes, optical signals downstream from a central office to each subscriber. The network uses at a remote node between the central office and the subscriber a passive element instead of an active element, such as an amplifier, a transmitter and so forth. Similarly, upstream optical signals together with data for the subscriber are sent through the passive element to the central office. In such a WDM passive optical network, both the central office and the remote node require an apparatus for multiplexing and/or demultiplexing upstream and downstream optical signals, and both the central office and the subscriber require a transmitter and a receiver.
A persistent attempt has been made in recent WDM passive optical networks to efficiently implement a multiplexer and a demultiplexer for use with an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) and to economically implement a light source for transmission. In particular, much research has recently been published regarding a method for implementing the light source for transmission of the upstream optical signals in a simple and inexpensive manner, in which the light source is provided for the subscriber.
FIG. 1 illustrates construction of a conventional WDM passive optical network. This WDM passive optical network includes a central office 110 and a subscriber-side apparatus 130,140 connected with the central office 110 through optical fiber links 120, 125, respectively. Here, the subscriber-side apparatus includes a remote node 130 and a plurality of subscribers 140 connected with the remote node 130.
The central office 110 includes a plurality of optical transmitters 111, a plurality of optical receivers 114, a multiplexer 112 and a demultiplexer 113.
Each of the optical transmitters 111 outputs channels, which are modulated with the corresponding data signals and have different wavelengths. The optical transmitter 111, for example, makes much use of a distributed feedback laser diode (DFB LD) appropriate to downstream optical signals for transmission of high capacity data.
The multiplexer 112 multiplexes channels inputted from the transmitters 111 into downstream optical signals, and then transmits the multiplexed downstream optical signals through the optical fiber link 120. The multiplexer 112 may make use of a passive element such as a 1×N AWG, for example.
The demultiplexer 113 demultiplexes upstream optical signals received through the optical fiber link 125 into a plurality of channels, and then outputs the demultiplexed channels. The demultiplexer 113 may also make use of a passive element such as a 1×N AWG.
The optical receivers 114 convert each of the channels inputted from the demultiplexer 113 into an electrical signal. The optical receiver 114 makes use of a photodiode, for example.
The subscriber-side apparatus 130, 140 includes a demultiplexer 131, a multiplexer 132, a plurality of optical transmitters 142 and a plurality of optical receivers 141.
The demultiplexer 131 demultiplexes downstream optical signals received through the optical fiber link 120 into a plurality of channels, and then outputs the results.
The optical receivers 141 convert each of the channels inputted from the demultiplexer 131 into an electrical signal.
The optical transmitters 142 each output a plurality of channels, which are modulated with the corresponding data signals and have different wavelengths. The optical transmitter 142, for example, makes much use of either a spectrum-sliced light source appropriate to upstream optical signals for transmission of relatively low capacity data or a light source for generating only a single mode by locking a multi-mode laser diode.
The multiplexer 132 multiplexes a plurality of channels inputted from the transmitters 142 into upstream optical signals, and then transmits the multiplexed upstream optical signals through the optical fiber link 125.
However, the conventional WDM passive optical network has a problem in that transmission of a high volume of optical signals caused by a sharp growth in volume of the upstream optical signals, when either the spectrum-sliced light source or the light source for generating only a single mode by locking a multi-mode laser diode is used as a light source for transmitting upstream optical signals, makes operation of the network impossible or causes a transmission error rate to increase rapidly. As a further problem, costs for constructing the subscriber-side apparatus are increased when a single mode laser diode such as the DFB LD is used as a light source for transmitting upstream optical signals.

Passive optical network using loop back of multi-wavelength light generated at central office


A filter includes: first series resonators and first parallel resonators that are connected in a ladder shape between an input terminal and an output terminal; a first inductor that is connected in parallel to at least one first series resonator; one or more second parallel resonators that are provided separately from the first parallel resonators, are connected between the input terminal and the output terminal, and have a resonance frequency and an anti-resonance frequency at frequencies lower than a passband formed by the first series resonators and the first parallel resonators; wherein an attenuation region is formed by a first attenuation pole formed by the at least one first series resonator and the first inductor and a second attenuation pole formed by a resonant response of the one or more second parallel resonators.

Filters using acoustic wave resonators are used in wireless devices for example. Exemplary acoustic wave resonators are a surface acoustic wave resonator and a piezoelectric film resonator. A ladder-type filter using the acoustic wave resonator functions as a bandpass filter. An inductor may be connected in parallel to a series resonator in order to suppress a specific frequency band other than a passband in the ladder-type filter as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication Nos. 9-167937 (Patent Document 1) and 2003-69382 (Patent Document 2) for example.
However, gentle attenuation characteristic is obtained when the methods disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are used. Thus, it is difficult to secure a certain amount of attenuation in a specific frequency band.


Methods, devices, and systems for image sensors are disclosed that include a multi-mode circuit that can be configured for operating as an imaging pixel and a memory. The multi-mode circuit includes a photo-detector for collecting electrons generated by radiation impinging on the photo-detector. A transfer gate is configured for transferring the collected electrons from the photo-detector to a floating diffusion node when the transfer gate is enabled. A write circuit receives and stores a multi-value voltage on the floating diffusion node and a read circuit is configured for reading a state of the floating diffusion node. The state of the floating diffusion node corresponds to the amount of transferred electrons in an image mode or the multi-value voltage in a memory mode. The semiconductor image sensor may be included in as part of an imaging system that includes a memory for storing a digital representation of an image.

Many systems include imaging devices to sense and capture optical images that can be electronically converted to a digital representation of the image. These image sensors include an array of photo-sensitive devices such as photodiodes, photo-transistors, photoconductors, or photogates, fabricated on, for example, a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) device. The photo-sensitive devices are arranged as an array of pixel cells in a focal plane. Each photo-sensitive device is sensitive to light in such a way that it can create an electrical charge that is proportional to the intensity of light striking the photo-sensitive device. The overall image captured by an image sensor includes many pixels arranged in an array such that each pixel detects the light intensity at the location of that pixel.
Active pixel arrays are conventionally configured with the sensor element and additional circuitry. In many CMOS image sensors, this additional circuitry is generally configured to convert the charge accumulated on the photo-sensitive device to a voltage and possibly amplify or buffer that voltage for sensing.
In conventional implementations, the additional circuitry is dedicated to these tasks of conversion to a voltage, buffering, and amplifying.

Multi-purpose image sensor circuits, imager, system and method of operation


A method and apparatus for the acoustic examination of a monolith for damage, wherein a blow of defined force is applied by a hard striker to a monolith for its acoustic examination for damage. The sound pressure distribution over a predetermined frequency range, of the sound radiated by the struck monolith is analyzed by a frequency analyzer and the result is compared with a reference curve defined for undamaged monoliths. The device for implementing the process has a receptacle for the monolith to be examined, a striker, capacitor microphones as the sound pressure receivers and an evaluation unit with a frequency analyzer.

The present invention relates to a process for the acoustic examination of monoliths for damage as well as a device for carrying out the process.
Monolithic carrier elements, as are used, for example, during the manufacture of waste gas catalysts and soot filters for motor vehicles, consist usually of relatively porous ceramic materials. The considerable porosity of the material used leads to possible damage of the monoliths during their manufacture or further processing; in particular, during handling of a monolith, fine cracks can form at the latter's surface or its interior. Such cracks render the carrier element practically unusable, since they constitute a starting point for a possible break of the monolith at a later time; a destruction of such cracked monoliths may take place already during relatively small loads, for example, due to jarring during their processing and/or during operation. For this reason, monolithic carrier elements must not be processed further, even if they have been damaged only slightly.
Therefore, it is required to examine carrier elements for possible damage prior to further processing. In addition to an optical examination, which naturally can address merely the condition of the surface, an acoustic examination takes place as well. For this purpose, a trained person lightly taps the monolith and evaluates the noise subsequently emitted by the monolith. For this purpose, the understanding is taken into consideration that cracks in the interior of the monolith influence the latter's vibration behavior and thus the radiated frequencies.
With such an acoustic examination, various disadvantages are connected: For one thing, the reproduceability is not satisfactory, because the subjective sound perception by the person conducting the test is critical to the result of the examination. Also, the striking location and strength, carried out manually in the known process for acoustic examination, influence the result of the examination inasmuch as the resulting variation in loudness of the radiated sound alters the sound perception of the examining person. Thus, all in all, a low degree of reliability results from the conventional acoustic examination, which in practice is expressed by a large portion of monoliths which can neither be clearly classified as flawless nor clearly as damaged. After, for safety reasons, only those monoliths are processed further, which have been classified as clearly flawless, the shown unreliability of the testing method used leads to a relatively high rejection rate during the production and thus to higher manufacturing costs.

Process for the acoustic examination of monoliths for damage and device for implementing the process


A method of reducing hair growth in a mammal includes applying, to an area of skin from which reduced hair growth is desired, a dermatologically acceptable composition containing a compound that inhibits the formation of glycoproteins, proteglycans, or glycosaminoglycans in an amount effective to cause a reduction in hair growth.

The invention relates to a method of reducing unwanted hair growth in mammals.
A main function of mammalian hair is to provide environmental protection. However, that function has largely been lost in humans, in whom hair is kept or removed from various parts of the body essentially for cosmetic reasons. For example, it is generally preferred to have hair on the scalp but not on the face.
Various procedures have been employed to remove unwanted hair, including shaving, electrolysis, depilatory creams or lotions, waxing, plucking, and therapeutic antiandrogens. These conventional procedures generally have drawbacks associated with them. Shaving, for instance, can cause nicks and cuts, and can leave a perception of an increase in the rate of hair regrowth. Shaving also can leave an undesirable stubble. Electrolysis, on the other hand, can keep a treated area free of hair for prolonged periods of time, but can be expensive, painful, and sometimes leaves scarring. Depilatory creams, though very effective, typically are not recommended for frequent use due to their high irritancy potential. Waxing and plucking can cause pain, discomfort, and poor removal of short hair. Finally, antiandrogens--which have been used to treat female hirsutism--can have unwanted side effects.
It has previously been disclosed that the rate and character of hair growth can be altered by applying to the skin inhibitors of certain enzymes. These inhibitors include inhibitors of 5-alpha reductase, ornithine decarboxylase, S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, and transglutaminase. See, for example, Breuer et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,885,289; Shander, U.S. Pat. No. 4,720,489; Ahluwalia, U.S. Pat. No. 5,095,007; Ahluwalia et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,911; Shander et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,132,293; and Shander et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,925.
Glycoproteins, proteoglycans, and glycosaminoglycans are three related components present in most mammalian tissues including skin and hair follicles.
Glycoproteins are protein molecules with oligosaccharide chains covalently attached to their polypeptide backbone structure. The oligosaccharide chains consist of sugar residues, which may include glucose, galactose, mannose, N-acetylgalactosamine, N-acetylglucosamine, fucose, arabinose, xylose, and sialic acids (example, N-acetylneuraminic acid). The oligosaccharides composed of these nine sugar residues are linked to the protein molecules with either O- or N-glycosidic linkage to form a glycoprotein molecule. The oligosaccharide chain is first synthesized on a lipid carrier, dolichol, and then transferred to the protein molecule to form a glycoprotein.
The synthesis of the oligosaccharide chain on dolichol is carried out in a specific manner in which the sequence of sugar residues is pre-determined by the regulatory enzymes involved in the synthesis. The first step in the synthesis is transfer of N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) to dolichyl-phosphate to form GlcNAc-pyrophosphoryl-dolichyl (GlcNAc-P-P-Dol), which acts as an acceptor for an additional molecule of GlcNAc. Nine molecules of mannose (Man) and three molecules of glucose (Glc) are attached to this molecule to form Glc.sub.3 Man.sub.9 (GlcNAc).sub.2 -PP-dolichol. The completed oligosaccharide chain Glc.sub.3 Man.sub.9 -(GlcNAc).sub.2 ! is then transferred to an acceptor protein catalyzed by an enzyme (oligosaccharide transferase). The oligosaccharide chain on this glycoprotein is further modified by enzymes such as glycosidases to form an active glycoprotein.
It is known that the process of glycoprotein formation (or protein glycosylation) can be inhibited at several steps by using select inhibitors.
For example, the synthesis of N-acetyl-glucosamine-pyrophosphoryl-dolichyl (GlcNAc-P-P-Dol), the first step in lipid linked oligosaccharide formation, is inhibited by antibiotics such as bacitracin, tunicamycin, amphomycin, tsushimycin, diumycin, showdomycin, amphortericine, streptovirudin, and mycospocidin. In addition, the formation of (Glc.sub.3 Man.sub.9 -GlcNAc).sub.2 -PP-dolichol and the protein glycosylation step of transferring the core oligosaccharide chain to the acceptor protein molecule is inhibited by sugar analogs such as 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-mannose, fucose, mannose, D-glucasoamine, N-acetyl-D-glucasomine, and galactose. Also, the modification of the oligosaccharide chain of glycoprotein to form the active glycoprotein is inhibited by inhibitors of glucosidase I and II (e.g., castanospermine, deoxynojirimycin, and methyldeoxynojirimycin), inhibitors of mannosidase I (e.g., deoxymannojirimycin), inhibitors of mannosidase II (e.g., swainsonine). Other inhibitors of the processing include 2,5-dihydroxymethyl-3,4-dihydropyrrolidine, and 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-iminomannitol.
Proteoglycans, like glycoproteins, consist of a core protein molecule covalently attached to glycosaminoglycan (polysaccharide) chain(s). The distinction between proteoglycans and glycoproteins is based on the chemical nature and the arrangement of sugar residues of the attached polysaccharides. Glycosaminoglycan consists of linear polysaccharide chains made of a repeating sequence of an aminosugar hexosamine (D-glucosamine or D-galactosamine) and uronic acid (D-glucuronic acid or L-iduronic acid) residues. At least seven different types of glycosaminoglycans have been identified. Each differs from the others by the nature and/or arrangement of the sugar moieties and the degree of sulfation. Glycosaminoglycans, except hyaluronic acid, typically are synthesized attached to the protein molecule (i.e., as proteoglycans). The chain elongation is initiated by either xylosylation of select serine residues of protein (the xylose-serine bond formed is unique to proteoglycans), or a bond between N-acetylhexosamine (GalNAc or GlcNAc) and either the serine or the asparagine residue of a protein. Additional sugar residues then are added, and are further modified by the introduction of sulfate groups.
The proteoglycans generally are referred to by simple names based on their localization and/or function, or by names based on the attached glycosaminoglycan chains. The common proteoglycans include aggrecan, decorin, syndecan 1, versican, BM-CSPG (basement membrane-chondroitin sulfate containing proteoglycan), perlecan (heparan sulfate proteoglycan), biglycan, and fibromodulin.
The common glycosaminoglycans include chondroitin sulfates, keratan sulfates, dermatan sulfate, heparan sulfate, heparin, and hyaluronic acid. With the exception of hyaluronic acid, which is found as a free polysaccharide, all other glycosaminoglycans typically exist as proteoglycans.
It is known that inhibitors of glycosaminoglycan and proteoglycan formation include xylosides such as nitrophenyl-.beta.-xylopyranoside, nitrophenyl-N-acetyl-.beta.-D-xalactosamide, 4-methylumbelliferyl-.beta.-D-xyloside, and methyl-.beta.-xylopyranoside. These act as artificial acceptors and compete with the core protein molecule for the synthesis of glycosaminoglycan chain, especially at the initial xylosylation step.
Additional compounds that are known to affect one or more steps in the synthesis of glycoproteins, glycosaminoglycans, and proteoglycans include an ionophore monensin, which inhibits the terminal glycosylation reaction; inhibitors of .beta.-galactosidase like benzyl-N-acetyl-.beta.-D-galactosamide, phenyl-N-acetyl-.beta.-D-galactosamide, and nitrophenyl-N-acetyl-.beta.-D-galactosamide; and compounds that affect exocytosis (release) of proteoglycans, like diethylcarbamazine.


A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal panel having a display area, a light source joined with the liquid crystal panel, a first frame coupled to a surface of the light unit and sides of the liquid crystal panel, a second frame coupled to edges of the liquid crystal panel and sides of the first support frame, an outer casing, and a fastening part joining together the first support frame, the second support frame, and the outer casing through the sides of the first support frame, the second support frame, and the outer casing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a computer, and more particularly, to a display unit of a portable computer.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
In general, a liquid crystal display (LCD) device used for a computer such as a portable computer or for a portable display is shown in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 1, the LCD device includes a liquid crystal panel 20, a back light unit, and a driving circuit board 23. The back light unit is comprised of a luminescent lamp 11, a lamp housing 12 having a U-shape and surrounding the lamp 11, a light guide 13, a reflector 14 reflecting the incident light from the horizontal direction to the vertical direction, a protection sheet 15 contacting the light guide 13, a first prism sheet 16 and a second prism sheet 17 set on the protecting sheet (diffuser) 15 and condensing the incident light from the light guide 13 to some direction, a diffuser 18 diffusing the light from the first and second prisms 16 and 17 to a viewing area 21 of the liquid crystal panel 20 with a certain viewing angle, and a first support frame 19 supporting these elements.
FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the light-guiding plate 13 showing a gradual thickness decrease in cross-section as it extends away from the light source 11. A fluorescent lamp 11 as the light source is fixed at a thicker end of the light-guiding plate 13. When the fluorescent lamp 11 is turned on, the light 23 from the source 11 is reflected by the lamp housing 12 surrounding the fluorescent lamp 11. The reflected light transmits through the cross-section towards the other side (thinner end) of the light-guiding plate 13 as indicated by the arrows. Then, the light spreads all over the surface of the light-guiding plate 13 and reaches the display area 21 (FIG. 1) through the diffusion plate 18. At the same time, a thin film transistor formed on the liquid crystal panel controls a corresponding pixel according to the signals from the driving circuit 30 (FIG. 1) to selectively transmit the light which collectively realizes the display of images on the display area.
The liquid crystal display is usually combined with, for example, a notebook computer as an output screen. The following method is used to fix the liquid crystal display to a device such as a notebook computer.
Referring to FIGS. 3a and 3b, in a conventional liquid crystal display, a ground supporting plate 30 is disposed on the first fastening frame 19. A mounting hole 33 is formed through the ground supporting plate 30 and the first fastening frame 19, as shown in FIG. 3b. Then, the ground supporting plate 30 and the first fastening frame 19 are fixed by a screw 31 as shown in FIG. 3a. In other words, a liquid crystal display is fixed to a device such as a notebook computer so as to fasten the first fastening frame 19 and the ground supporting plate 30 by a fastening element such as a screw.
However, the liquid crystal display becomes thicker due to the length of the screw according to the method as shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b. Moreover, since the mounting hole 33 for the screw is formed on the front surface of the liquid crystal display, the display area of the liquid crystal display becomes narrow.
According to the structure described above, the LCD device operates as follows. The light from the luminescent lamp 11 is incident on the rear surface of the liquid crystal panel 20 through the back light unit. A control circuit placed on the driving circuit board 30 controls the incident light on the viewing area 21 of the liquid crystal panel 20 to display images and characters.
FIG. 4 is a drawing showing a plan view of the final assembly structure of the conventional liquid crystal display device. FIG. 4 also shows the assembled result of a second support frame 40, liquid crystal panel 20 and back light unit having an assembly structure for mounting to a portable computer. The second support frame 40 is made of metal or plastic, and holds the liquid crystal panel 20 and the back light unit. Here, the driving circuit board 23 is located behind the rear part of the back light unit connected to the liquid crystal panel 20 with a flexible film (not shown).
FIG. 5 shows the assembly structure of the liquid crystal panel 20 and body 60 of the portable computer in the conventional method. The second support frame 40 is mounted to a rear case 50 of the portable computer using screws 43 through screw holes 41. A front case (not shown) having a blank area adjusted to the viewing area is joined at the rear case 50. That is, the liquid crystal panel 20 is mounted with the rear case 50 by the screws 43 locked in the normal direction of the display surface through the screw holes 41 formed on that surface. Although not shown in the drawings, the front case is mounted on the LCD device, opening the viewing area 21 and covering the other parts.
In general, as the size of the portable computer is designed for easy movement, the same, goes for an A4 copy sheet, for example. Therefore, the ratio of the viewing area to the whole surface area of the display and the thickness of the display device affect the quality of the portable computer. However, in a conventional portable computer, screw holes 41 are located on edge portions of the display surface in order to join the second support frame 40 to the rear case 50. As the display area has a screw frame area 42 (FIG. 4) for forming the holes 41, the ratio of the area of the LC panel to the viewing area 21 is reduced.
Furthermore, in the conventional portable computer, as the screws 43 are locked to the liquid crystal display device and the rear case 50 in the normal direction of the display surface, the display part is thick enough to form an assembly device 51 for the screws 43, such as screw holes 41. The second support frame 40 is also large enough to have a space for supporting the screw holes 41. Thus, it is difficult to reduce the weight of the portable computer.
Accordingly, a liquid crystal device is needed having a high viewing ratio of the display, low weight, and reduced thickness for a computer, such as a portable computer.


A device for acquiring a position and orientation of an end effector of a robot is provided. The robot has a robot arm with axes coupled to one another by joints. The end effector is arranged on an end of the robot arm, optical markers are arranged on first and second axes, and a number of joints between the end effector and the first axis is lower than a number of joints between the end effector and the second axis. An optical sensor acquires image data of the optical markers. A storage device stores a kinematic model of the robot arm. An evaluation device, in a first case, determines a first position of a first optical marker and the position and orientation of the end effector and, in a second case, a second position of a second optical marker and the position and orientation of the end effector.

Robots, for example industrial robots, are universally usable programmable machines that are used for example in the measurement, installation, machining, handling and/or quality control of workpieces in the industrial environment.
The robots generally have a robot arm (what is known as a manipulator), a control device and an end effector. A tool, a gripper and/or one or more sensors for example may be arranged on the end effector, these being used for example to measure, machine, install, handle and/or control the quality of workpieces. Due to the fact that a plurality of working processes are executed autonomously by robots, the degree of automation and also efficiency are increasing, which leads to ever-increasing quantities being able to be produced with a small time expenditure and low rejection quotas.
In order to guarantee that robot-controlled working processes are performed precisely, it is necessary to track as accurately as possible or to control positionally accurately the often complex motion sequences of the robots. In this case, the robots often have a plurality of axes with a plurality of joints, by way of which a plurality of different motion sequences with the highest possible number of degrees of freedom is guaranteed.
Especially in the case of machining robots, which are used for example to place weld spots on bodywork parts, it is necessary to be able to determine as far as possible the position and orientation of the end effector, on which for example a welding gun is arranged, at all times of this working process.
Also when using robots in what is known as inline measurement technology in which measured data are acquired in a clocked manner, for example by way of optical measurement sensors, within a production line and may serve as a process control variable in the production line, it is necessary to determine the position and orientation of the end effector as accurately as possible. An optical measurement sensor may for example be arranged on the end effector, which optical measurement sensor measures the workpiece/bodywork part in order to establish production errors and/or to check compliance with the required measurement tolerances. In such a case, it is absolutely necessary to determine the position and orientation of the end effector in order to be able to guarantee an exact determination of the measured data. Especially in highly automated production lines, it is possible to tolerate only very slight deviations, since the individual errors are superimposed in the subsequent working steps.
A first approach for determining the position and orientation of the end effector of a robot as accurately as possible is that of constantly (re)calibrating a robot control model during a working process. In this case, the control model of the robot, by way of which all of the motion sequences of the robot are controlled, is constantly recalibrated during a working process by measurements on objects in space (what are known as artefacts) whose respective position in space is known. Such (re)calibration is necessary for example in order to at least partly compensate temperature-induced material expansion of individual parts of the robot. Such material expansions are caused for example by heating of individual parts of the robot during the working process.
One problem of the first approach is that constantly calibrating the robot model using the artefacts is not enough to guarantee sufficient accuracy when determining the position and orientation of the end effector (that is to say when measuring workpieces).
To increase accuracy, it is possible for example to correlate the measured values acquired by the robot (that is to say the inline measurement system) with measured values of an (external) coordinate measurement device and thus correct the absolute values of the position and orientation of the end effector of the robot. However, these correlations are highly complex and are generally accompanied by a high cost outlay.
One variant of the first approach may also be that of determining all possible positions of the end effector at all planned measurement points once using an external system when a robot is put into service. However, the flexibility of the system, for example when reorienting the end effector, installing a new sensor and/or when travelling to new measurement positions, is restricted.
A second approach for determining the position and orientation of the end effector of a robot as accurately as possible is that of tracking the robot-controlled sensor or end effector using a generally external position acquisition system.
However, the second approach requires the end effector to be tracked of the robot to always be located in a field of view of the external position acquisition system. This can however not be guaranteed in a large number of production processes. For example, some parts of the robot may be concealed by other parts of the robot (what is known as self-concealment), or parts of the robot, for example the end effector, may be concealed by the workpiece to be machined when a production step is performed. In automotive production, robots "dip" into the wheel housings and/or the engine space of bodywork to be machined, for example during checking or when placing weld spots. The end effector and possibly also further parts of the robot arm are not visible to a position acquisition system in such positions (visibility problem).
Therefore, the known approaches for determining a position and orientation of an end effector of a robot are either highly complex and connected with a high cost outlay or not able to be applied to determine the position and orientation of the end effector in every working position.

Device for acquiring a position and orientation of an end effector of a robot

Carl Zeiss Industrielle Messtechnik GmbH


The present invention provides new microreactor systems, catalysts, and chemical processes. Methods of making novel catalysts and reaction apparatus are also described.

Microreactors, which can have improved heat and mass transfer compared to conventional reactors, are a new type of reactor that offer the potential to significantly improve the efficiency of chemical processes. This potential has engendered intense efforts toward developing microreactors, catalysts and micro-processes. A recent review of this technology, containing 236 citations, has been provided by Gavrilidis et al., "Technology And Applications Of Microengineered Reactors," Trans. IChemE, Vol. 80, Part A, pp. 3-30 (January 2002).
A more conventional approach to reactions in small channels has involved reactions in honeycombs. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,248,251, Dalla Betta et al. described a partial combustion process in which a combustible gas mixture is passed through a monolith that has a graded catalyst in which the catalyst on a leading portion of the support has a higher activity than has the catalyst on a trailing portion of the support.
A recent patent for producing a hydrogen-rich gas describes a catalyst on a honeycomb that has a layer of a partial oxidation catalyst and a layer of a steam reforming catalyst. An embodiment is described in which the catalyst layers are graded such that the partial oxidation catalyst has its maximum thickness near the inlet and diminishes over the length of the catalyst structure to practically zero near the outlet and the steam reforming catalyst has a near zero thickness near the inlet and increases over the length of the catalyst structure to its maximum thickness near the outlet.

Catalysts, in microchannel apparatus, and reactions using same


An exemplary system and methods implementing pulse width control in SRAM bit cell arrays that vary in size are described.

Portable electronic devices, such as cellular devices, include processors or compilers, and compiler memory which can include static random access memory or SRAM. Since it is a continuous goal to make electronic devices smaller, it becomes a goal to make SRAM devices smaller. The industry has characterized size for devices such as SRAM as to contact size, particular examples are larger "65 nm" technology, smaller "45 nm" technology, and even smaller "32 nm" technology. It is expected that sizes will further evolve (grow smaller) from "32 nm" technology.
As SRAM devices decrease in size, certain problems are presented. One such problem is the ability to efficiently read from and write to SRAM devices, and particularly reading from and writing to memory or bit cells of SRAM devices. SRAM bit cells are typically arranged in an array (or arrays) with columns and rows of bit cells. As SRAM become smaller, there may be a need to provide read and write assist circuits to make such higher density bit cells work.
Such read and write assist circuits may require charging or discharging of power rails and/or signals such as bit lines, which run in the column dimension. Tight tolerances may be required to support moving and controlling a change in voltage (i.e., delta V) of these power rails and/or bit lines. A particular problem arises as to how a pulse can be generated to move these power rails and/or bit lines a fixed delta V when the capacitance of the bit lines varies as the number of rows of bit cells along the bit line increase or decreases. This is the case when SRAM is used as compiler memory, where the number of word lines which determine bit line length varies. For example, in one application there may be eight word lines that translate to a relatively short bit line, and in another application there may be 256 word lines that translate to a relatively longer bit line length.

Pulse width control for read and write assist for SRAM circuits


This invention relates to a compound of the following formula or a salt thereof, their production and use. ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 independently represent hydrogen, a group bonding through a carbon atom, a group bonding through a nitrogen atom, a group bonding through an oxygen atom, or a group bonding through a sulfur atom; R.sup.3 represents hydrogen, halogen, a group bonding through a carbon atom, a group bonding through a nitrogen atom, a group bonding through an oxygen atom, or a group bonding through a sulfur atom; W represents an oxygen atom or sulfur atom; A represents a group forming a nitrogen-containing condensed ring at the 3,4- of a 1,4-thiazine ring; R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may be combined to form a bivalent hydrocarbon group interrupted by one or more hetero atoms or an alkylene group. The above compound or a salt thereof not only has Th1 and Th2 cell function modulating activity but has splenocyte proliferation response, interleukin-5 production, and interferon-gamma production inhibitory activity and finds application as an effective therapeutic and/or prophylactic agent for allergic or autoimmune diseases or as an effective therapeutic and/or prophylactic agent for graft rejection or graft-vs-host disease.

In allergic, autoimmune and other diseases associated with abnormalities of the immunological function, and diseases accompanied by abnormalities of the function, a derangement of the balance of T cell subsets is frequently found and it is being made increasingly clear that this derangement has much to do with the onset and exacerbation of those diseases [Annual Review of Immunology, 12, 227-257 (1994); Trends in Pharmacological Science, 15, 324-332 (1994), Immunology Today, 16, 34-38 (1995), ditto, 17, 138-146 (1996)]. However, there is not known a therapeutic drug that exhibits efficacy in such diseases through positive correction of the balance of T cell subsets.
Meanwhile, in the field of organ transplantation, it is known that T helper-1 cells play a central role in graft rejection. However, there is not known a drug that would contribute to an increased survival of grafts or prevent graft-vs.-host diseases due to transplanted myelocytes by selective modulation of the functions of T cell subsets.
A monocyclic 1,4-thiazine compound having antiallergic activity is disclosed in JP-A 275869/1990. A tricyclic 1,4-thiazine derivative having antiallergic activity is described in Chemical and Industry, 3, 227-228 (1989). JP-A 275870/1990 describes an antiallergic bicyclic 1,4-thiazine derivative.
Aside from them, several other bicyclic 1,4-thiazine derivatives are described in Journal of Chemical Society Chemistry Communication, 19, 1394-1395 (1992), Heterocycles, 27(10), 2297-2300 (1988), and Synthesis, 6, 481-482 (1983).
Recent years have seen an increased incidence of allergic, autoimmune, and other diseases associated with immunological abnormalities, and diseases accompanied by such immunological abnormalities and this is presenting a serious problem in medical care today. This category of illness encompasses a broad spectrum of diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, malignant anemia, ideopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, severe myasthenia, scleroderma, uveitis, Hashimoto's disease, Sjogren's disease, Addison's disease, Basedow's disease, granulocytopenia, bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, pollinosis, contact dermatitis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, lupus nephritis, inflammatory bowel disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and psoriasis, among others. Recently, the abnormality of the balance of T cell subsets as found in these diseases has gathered attention and, in particular, it is conjectured today that a marked bias in favor of T helper-1 cells or helper-2 cells is a major factor in the onset and exacerbation of such diseases. For the treatment of these diseases, a variety of drugs including steroids, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, and antihistaminics have been employed but no satisfactory efficacy has been obtained to this day.
Moreover, in the field of organ transplantation, it is known, as mentioned above, that T helper-1 cells play a cardinal role in graft rejection. In this field, steroids, cytotoxic agents, cyclosporins, and tacrolimus, among others, are being used for increasing the survival of grafts or preventing graft-vs-host diseases due to transplanted myelocytes but the adverse reactions associated with the use of these drugs, such as renal impairment and liver damage, are presenting problems today.

Condensed thiazine derivatives, their production and use thereof


This invention provides pharmaceutical uses for 2-methylene-19-nor-20(S)-1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. Administration of this compound increases the life expectancy of human beings, especially elderly human beings. In particular, it increases the survival rate of females lacking estrogen, especially post-menopausal females, and reduces mortality resulting from spontaneous development of malignant tumors in both males and females.

This invention relates to vitamin D compounds, and more particularly to pharmaceutical uses for 2-methylene-19-nor-20(S)-1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3.
The natural hormone, 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and its analog in ergocalciferol series, i.e. 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D2 are known to be highly potent regulators of calcium homeostasis in animals and humans, and more recently their activity in cellular differentiation has been established, Ostrem et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 84, 2610 (1987). Many structural analogs of these metabolites have been prepared and tested, including 1α-hydroxyvitamin D3, 1α-hydroxyvitamin D2, various side chain homologated vitamins and fluorinated analogs. Some of these compounds exhibit an interesting separation of activities in cell differentiation and calcium regulation. This difference in activity may be useful in the treatment of a variety of diseases as renal osteodystrophy, vitamin D-resistant rickets, osteoporosis, psoriasis, and certain malignancies.
Recently, a relatively new class of vitamin D analogs has been discovered, i.e. the so called 19-nor-vitamin D compounds, which are characterized by the replacement of the A-ring exocyclic methylene group (carbon 19), typical of the vitamin D system, by two hydrogen atoms. Biological testing of such 19-nor-analogs (e.g., 1α,25-dihydroxy-19-nor-vitamin D3) revealed a selective activity profile with high potency in inducing cellular differentiation, and very low calcium mobilizing activity. Thus, these compounds are potentially useful as therapeutic agents for the treatment of malignancies, or the treatment of various skin disorders. Two different methods of synthesis of such 19-nor-vitamin D analogs have been described (Perlman et al., Tetrahedron Lett. 31, 1823 (1990); Perlman et al., Tetrahedron Lett. 32, 7663 (1991), and DeLuca et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,086,191).
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,666,634, 2β-hydroxy and alkoxy (e.g., ED-71) analogs of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 have been described and examined by Chugai group as potential drugs for osteoporosis and as antitumor agents. See also Okano et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 163, 1444 (1989). Other 2-substituted (with hydroxyalkyl, e.g., ED-120, and fluoroalkyl groups) A-ring analogs of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 have also been prepared and tested (Miyamoto et al., Chem. Pharm. Bull. 41, 1111 (1993); Nishii et al., Osteoporosis Int. Suppl. 1, 190 (1993); Posner et al., J. Org. Chem. 59, 7855 (1994), and J. Org. Chem. 60, 4617 (1995)).
Recently, 2-substituted analogs of 1α,25-dihydroxy-19-nor-vitamin D3 have also been synthesized, i.e. compounds substituted at 2-position with hydroxy or alkoxy groups (DeLuca et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,536,713), which exhibit interesting and selective activity profiles. All these studies indicate that binding sites in vitamin D receptors can accommodate different substituents at C-2 in the synthesized vitamin D analogs.
In a continuing effort to explore the 19-nor class of pharmacologically important vitamin D compounds, an analog which is characterized by the presence of a methylene substituent at the carbon 2 (C-2) has been synthesized and tested. Of particular interest is the analog which is characterized by the unnatural configuration of the methyl group at carbon 20 (C-20), i.e. 2-methylene-19-nor-20(S)-1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. This vitamin D analog seemed an interesting target because the relatively small methylene group at C-2 should not interfere with the vitamin D receptor. Moreover, molecular mechanics studies performed on the model 1α-hydroxy-2-methylene-19-nor-vitamins indicate that such molecular modification does not change substantially the conformation of the cyclohexanediol ring A. However, introduction of the 2-methylene group into 19-nor-vitamin D carbon skeleton changes the character of its 1α- and 3β-A-ring hydroxyls. Both hydroxyls are allylic to the exocyclic methylene group similar to the 1α-hydroxyl group (crucial for biological activity) in the molecule of the natural hormone, 1α,25-(OH)2D3.
2-methylene-19-nor-20(S)-1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 is known, and this compound exhibits a desired, and highly advantageous, pattern of biological activity which has been reported in DeLuca et al U.S. Pat. No. 5,843,928. This compound is characterized by intestinal calcium transport activity, similar to that of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, but exhibiting very high activity, as compared to 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, in its ability to mobilize calcium from bone. Hence, this compound is highly specific in its calcemic activity. Its preferential activity on mobilizing calcium from bone allows the in vivo administration of this compound for the treatment of metabolic bone diseases where bone loss is a major concern. Because of its preferential activity on bone, this compound would be a preferred therapeutic agent for the treatment of diseases where bone formation is desired, such as osteoporosis, especially low bone turnover osteoporosis, steroid induced osteoporosis, senile osteoporosis or postmenopausal osteoporosis, as well as osteomalacia and renal osteodystrophy.

Use of 2-methylene-19-nor-20(S)-1alpha,25dihydroxy vitamin d3 to inhibit mammary tumor