A modified reciprocating saw blade for use in association with a saw blade holder, shingles and nails, the apparatus comprises a blade member being formed in an elongated planar configuration with an inboard end, an outboard end and a central section, the inboard end being formed as a universal blade mount to permit coupling to a saw blade holder in an operative orientation, the central section having parallel linear upper and lower edges; and the outboard end of the blade member having an upper edge and a lower edge, the lower edge including a cutting region having a length of about one-third of the total length of the blade member, the cutting region including a plurality of cutting teeth, in an operative orientation the inboard end of the blade member being coupled to a saw blade holder, the configuration of the blade member permitting a user to cut nails which secure shingles without damaging adjacent shingles.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a modified roofing, shingle, and siding removal saw blade and more particularly pertains to cutting nails which secure shingles and the like to a mounting surface without damaging adjacent shingles.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of saw blades is known in the prior art. More specifically, saw blades heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of cutting various items are known to consist basically of familiar, expected, and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which has been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
By way of example, the prior art discloses in U.S. Pat. No. 4,802,396.to Kuklinski a saber saw blade.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,331,876 to Hayden, Sr. discloses a saw blade for cutting metal.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,031,324 to Berghauser et al. discloses a power driven saw with reciprocating saw blades.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,063,675 to Michas et al. discloses a low profile hacksaw.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,277,104 to Sanchez discloses a reciprocating shingle remover with upward thrust blade.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,001,946 to Shirlin et al. discloses a roof shingle stripping apparatus.
Finally, further pertinent references include a U.S. Pat. No. 2,735,458; U.S. Pat. No. 5,55,788; and Swiss Patent 16606.
In this respect, the modified reciprocating saw blade according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of cutting nails which secure shingles to a mounting surface without damaging adjacent shingles. Such is accomplished by providing a linear saw having a unique combination of features including a predetermined extent for manual handling, a semicircular outboard end, an inboard end with an attachment for the optional releasable attachment to a saw, and a TEFLON coating an entire outer surface thereof to preclude damage to surrounding shingles and the like. Further features included with such combination is a specific length of the saw adapted for manual use and a flexibility for preventing damage from being inflicted on adjacent shingles and a user from scraping his hand.

Modified roofing, shingle, and siding removal saw blade


The present invention provides a system and method for controlling at least one lighting system by means of a portable wireless remote control device. The system comprises a portable wireless remote control device, a lighting system controller, and at least one lighting system coupled to the lighting system controller. Each lighting system comprises one or more lighting modules (e.g., light emitting diodes (LEDs), incandescent bulbs, etc.). The portable wireless remote control device comprises a wireless transceiver, processor, memory, light control logic, user interface (UI), and an antenna. The lighting system controller-comprises a wireless transceiver, processor, memory, light control logic, and an antenna. Each lighting system coupled (e.g., wired) to the lighting system controller may be wirelessly controlled via the remote control device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to wireless controllers, and in particular, to a wireless controller for lighting systems.
2. Background of the Invention
Lighting fixtures are used for illuminating environments such as indoor spaces. A typical lighting fixture comprises a housing including a socket for receiving a lighting element such as a light bulb, wherein the socket provides electrical power to the lighting element. Each lighting fixture may be independently installed on a support or mounting surface and coupled to an electrical power source via electrical cables for powering the lighting elements.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A device for treating a tissue includes a capsule extending longitudinally from a proximal end to a distal end and including a channel extending therethrough, clip arms, proximal ends of which are slidably received within the channel of the capsule so that the clip arms are movable between an open configuration, in which distal ends of the clip arms extend distally past the distal end of the capsule to be separated from one another, and a closed configuration, in which the clip arms are restrained via an interior surface of the capsule so that distal ends of the clips arms are drawn toward one another, and a reinforcement element coupled to the clip arms, the reinforcement element preventing deflection of the clip arms when engaging a target tissue.

Physicians have become more willing to perform more aggressive interventional and therapeutic endoscopic procedures including, for example, removal of larger lesions (e.g., cancerous masses), tunneling under mucosal layers in the gastro-intestinal (GI) tract to treat tissues below the mucosa, full thickness removal of tissue, inserting devices through the GI tract and then penetrating the GI organ to treat tissue outside the GI tract, and endoscopic treatment/repair of post-surgical issues (e.g., post-surgical leaks, breakdown of surgical staple lines, anastomotic leaks). These procedures may increase the risk of perforating or damaging the wall of the GI tract, or may require closure of the GI tract wall as part of the procedure. Endoscopic closure reduces cost and may reduce the trauma and inconvenience associated with these procedures. However, conventional tissue closure devices may be insufficient to close/capture large volumes of tissue. A reinforced clip opening would allow more tissue to be clipped and treated for larger tissue issues.


A first receiving terminal and a second receiving terminal are connected to a first signal transmission line and a second signal transmission line, respectively, and receive the input of transmission signals. A first resistor and a second resistor convert current signals contained in the transmission signals into voltage. A comparator inputs the respective voltages converted by the first and the second resistor, and outputs, as an output signal, a voltage corresponding to a difference between their voltages. A first transistor connected to an end of the first resistor and a second transistor connected to an end of the second resistor reduce the variation in a transmission voltage signal due to the variation in the current signals contained in the transmission signals. A third transistor connected to the other end of the first resistor causes to drop power-supply voltage so as to generate a control signal. The control signal is turned into a gate voltage of the second transistor in a crosswise manner. A fourth transistor connected to the other end of the second resistor operates in the similar manner to the third transistor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to receiving apparatuses and transmission apparatuses utilizing the same, and it particularly relates to a receiving apparatus using the current as a means for transmitting signals and a transmission apparatus utilizing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
An electronic device is generally made up of a plurality of circuits, such as a central processing unit and semiconductor integrated circuits. For instance, a cellular phone is composed of a communication circuit, a display and an image shooting device. The circuits constituting an electronic device perform their respective processings; that is, a communication circuit carries out communication processing, a display displays predetermined types of information, and an image shooting device carries out image processing. And these circuits further process transmission of signals to and from the other circuits. The image shooting device, for example, transmits data of images shot to the communication circuit. And in the transmission of signals between circuits, the medium used in the conventional practice has been voltage, which changes its value between the power-supply voltage and the ground voltage. However, as the use of higher operating speeds for circuits and larger-capacity processing of signals by a central processing unit has increased in recent years, the signal transmission by means of the voltage began to pose a problem as mentioned below when raising the processing speed for signal transmission between circuits.
In general, a signal transmission line between circuits has a capacitance, and an electric charge is charged or discharged according to the capacitance when the voltage changes. Hence, transmission of signals by the medium of voltage involves extra time for charging and discharging the electric charge due to the capacitance. As a result, the time taken for the rise and fall of signals makes it difficult to achieve the high-speed signal transmission. To solve this problem, a signal transmission technology has been proposed in which current, instead of voltage, is used in transmitting signals.
Related Art List
(1) Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-53598.
Transmission of signals by the medium of current does not require the generation of a significant potential difference as in the case of signal transmission by the medium of voltage. This will result in a reduced amount of electric charge to be charged and discharged, thus making it possible to achieve higher speeds for signal transmission. However, to further raise the speed of signal transmission by current, it is preferable that the voltage variation to be caused by the signal transmission by current be further reduced.
In the case of a foldable cellular phone whose structure is such that the casing is separated into a part including a display and an image shooting device and another part including a communication circuit, the signal transmission lines are arranged such that they are positioned on both sides of the movable mechanism therebetween. As the amount of data to be transmitted increases due to the higher accuracy of the image shooting device and so forth, the number of signal transmission lines to be provided tends to increase accordingly. However, the number of the lines must be held low in consideration of the degree of freedom in arrangement of the signal transmission lines at the movable mechanism, which performs folding or rotating motion. In general, as the number of signal transmission lines decreases, the reliability of the movable mechanism which performs complex operations is raised. As a result of reduction in the number of signal transmission lines, a higher speed of signal transmission is required for each of the signal transmission line.

Receiving apparatus and transmission apparatus utilizing the same


A method and apparatus for providing a mobile station user with information about anticipated roaming charges. The visitor communication system transmits a graded roaming signal to the mobile station user indicative of the anticipated roaming costs. The graded roaming signal is determined by contractual agreements between the visitor communication system provider and user's service provider. This information is stored in a data base at the user's home communication system and is provided to the visitor communication system upon request for authorization to provide service. The graded roaming signal is broadcast to the mobile station and displayed to allow the mobile station user to estimate the cost of the service being provided.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to mobile telephony. More particularly, the present invention relates to a novel and improved method and apparatus for providing roaming indication indicative of anticipated roaming charges.
II. Description of the Related Art
As mobile communication systems become more prevalent in society the demands for greater and more sophisticated service have grown. To meet the capacity needs of mobile communication systems, techniques of multiple access to a limited communication resource have been developed. The use of code division multiple access (CDMA) modulation techniques is one of several techniques for facilitating communications in which a large number of system users are present. Other multiple access communication system techniques, such as time division multiple access (TDMA) and frequency division multiple access (FDMA) are known in the art. However, the spread spectrum modulation technique of CDMA has significant advantages over these modulation techniques for multiple access communication systems.
The use of CDMA techniques in a multiple access communication system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,901,307, issued Feb. 13, 1990, entitled "SPREAD SPECTRUM MULTIPLE ACCESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM USING SATELLITE OR TERRESTRIAL REPEATERS", assigned to the assignee of the present invention, of which the disclosure thereof is incorporated by reference herein. The use of CDMA techniques in a multiple access communication system is further disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,103,459, issued Apr. 7, 1992, entitled "SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING SIGNAL WAVEFORMS IN A CDMA CELLULAR TELEPHONE SYSTEM", assigned to the assignee of the present invention, of which the disclosure thereof is incorporated by reference herein.
Users of mobile telephones have desired to be able to use their mobile phone regardless of their location This desire caused mobile communications providers to negotiate contracts among themselves to provide services known as "roaming" to their customers. A "roamer" is a mobile station which requires service in a system which is operated by a mobile communications service provider other than the one to which the user subscribes.
Currently when a mobile station is roaming, a signal indicative of the roaming condition is provided to the user and displayed as a result of a comparison of the system identification (SID) of the subscribed system which is semi-permanently stored in the mobile station with the SID of the system providing service broadcast from the base station. This alerts the user of the mobile station that the service being provided is accruing roaming costs. Because the contracts between different companies differ, a roamer is typically assuming an unknown risk as to the cost of the service being provided, since he knows neither of the contracts between the service provider and system to which he subscribes nor does he know the identity of the provider of the roaming service.

Method and apparatus for providing roaming indication with charge information


In a crankcase for a piston machine having a bearing support structure for a crankshaft main bearing with a bearing base part integrally formed with the bearing support structure and a bearing cover mounted onto the bearing base part by bearing bolts extending into bolt mounting columns, the bearing support structure includes a transverse wall which extends between the crankcase walls, the bearing support base and the bearing base part and includes a rib structure of an increased wall thickness formed between the bearing base part and the bearing support base and having a recess in the area between the end of a mounting bolt bore in the bolt mounting column and the bearing support base providing for a force flux path which istributes the force flux evenly over the length of the threaded mounting bolt bore area.

The invention relates to a crankcase for a piston engine or piston compressor including a bearing support structure for supporting a divided crankshaft main bearing which has a bearing part formed integrally with the bearing support structure and a bearing cover bolted to the bearing part.
Proper operation of the drive mechanism of a piston machine requires high rigidity of the crankcase and particularly of the bearing support structure in order to have the least possible form changes by external forces effective during operation.
DE OS 42 27 125 discloses a crankcase for a piston internal combustion engine including bearing support structures for mounting divided main bearings of a crankshaft and a crankshaft casing wall extending down below the crankshaft axis and connected to the bearing support structures above the crankshaft axis. The main bearing of the crankshaft comprises a bearing half disposed in the bearing support structure and a bearing cover bolted to the bearing support structure by bearing bolts screwed into heavy-walled threaded bolt holes.
The rigidity of the crankcase, or respectively, the bearing support structure is achieved by an accumulation of wall material in the area of the bolt mounting structures and the joint area between the crankcase wall and the bolt mounting structure adjacent the bearing support structure at the end remote from the crankshaft bearing and by providing reinforcement ribs on the outside of the crankcase wall and the bearing support structure. However, the utilization of such a large amount of material is contradictory to the need for light-weight crankcases.
DE OS 33 05 731 discloses a crankcase for a multi-cylinder piston type internal combustion engine with walls which extend transversely to the longitudinal engine axis and which support each a divided main bearing for the crankshaft. The main bearing consists of a bearing base portion associated with the wall and a bearing cover which is mounted onto the bearing base portion by bolts which are screwed into heavy walled bolt mounting columns. The crankcase wall extends down to an area below the crankshaft axis to about the level of the bolt heads and is connected to the bearing base portion by means of a web extending about at the level of the dividing plane of the main bearing. In addition to these webs the piston forces of the engine transmitted from the crankshaft to the main bearings are transferred to the crankcase through the bolt mounting columns in various areas of the wall which includes the main bearings. The location of these areas depend on the size of the transverse component of the piston force vector. Consequently, the rigidity of the crankcase is determined by the wall thickness of the walls supporting the main bearings. These walls must be quite strong and consequently heavy in order to provide the rigidity needed for the bolt mounting columns and the bolts received therein to remain unaffected by the transverse component of the piston force vector.
It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a crankcase which has a relatively low weight but is still capable of withstanding relatively high dynamic loads.


A jig body adapted to at least temporarily mount a soft plastic lure relative thereto is provided. The jig body includes an elongate shank, a line attachment portion relative to a first end of the elongate shank, a hook mounting element along the length of the shank, a soft plastic lure retention portion, and at least one portion of positive or negative buoyancy.

Any lure made of a soft, rubbery material is classified in the soft plastic lure range these days. The life like action of soft plastics, combined with versatility in rigging and price, makes them extremely popular.
Soft plastic lures are normally rigged using a jig to which the soft plastic lure body and a hook assembly is either connected or is integrally formed.
It is very important to put a soft plastic lure body on the hook properly.
The plastic bait must lay straight and not be bunched up and the hook must be central in the bait or it will interfere with the action and not swim correctly. The soft plastic bait must have action both as it sinks and as it is retrieved to be really successful. Some baits if not correctly rigged will still swim in a fashion on the retrieve but do nothing or just spiral as they sink.
The tail of the soft plastic lure should still work hard as they sink as a lot of bream especially will strike as it is sinking provided it looks lifelike. Start by measuring your soft plastic bait alongside the jig head and take note of where the hook will need to exit the body in order for it to be straight and not bunched or stretched when the front of it is sitting against the head of the jig.
Most plastics have a seam running along the centre in line with the tail so this shows where the hook needs to come through to be central and line up with the tail as well. Start the hook point in the centre of the plastic and thread it round the hook making sure to keep it central and bring the hook point out through the seam.
There are a variety of jigs on the market and examples of the commercially available jigs are illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4.
It will be clearly understood that, if a prior art publication is referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the art in Australia or in any other country.

Jig body and hook assembly for use with soft plastics


The present disclosure includes systems and techniques relating to controlling memory devices with a generic command descriptor. In some implementations, an apparatus, systems, or methods can include a memory controller including an interface configured to connect with a NAND memory device and circuitry configured to receive a descriptor of a command sequence including multiple segments for managing the NAND memory device. The descriptor can include option information corresponding to each segment of the command sequence. The circuitry can also be configured to generate the command sequence for managing the NAND memory device based, at least in part, on the option information of the descriptor.

Many electronic devices include embedded systems with central processor units (CPUs) to control the operation of the devices providing greatly enhanced functionality and operational flexibility. Typically, non-volatile memory is included as a portion of the embedded system to store operating system program code and data for operating the embedded system. Recently, embedded systems have begun to use flash memory for the non-volatile memory. Flash memory may advantageously be efficiently reprogrammed while also providing non-volatile storage of information.
Flash memory devices can be controlled by command sequences describing, for example, read, write, or erase operations. The command sequences for controlling flash memory devices that are fabricated by different flash memory device manufacturers may differ based on the requirements and specification of the respective manufacturer. The hardware (e.g., a memory controller) that generates and executes command sequences to access flash memory devices is generally adapted to the configuration of command sequences as required by the respective flash memory manufacturer.

Generic command descriptor for controlling memory devices


In order to improve image quality of high compression ratio images, a de-blocking process is performed on decoded image data, and then an edge enhancement process is performed on the de-blocked image data. Performing the edge enhancement process after performing the de-blocking process can improve image quality of high compression ratio images.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for improving image quality, and more particularly, to an image processing method which performs an edge enhancement process after performing a de-blocking process.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Currently, as defined in most video encoding specifications, pixel data of a video picture is usually encoded in units of blocks (e.g., each block is 4 by 4 pixels). A quantization operation of each block is required for increasing the compression ratio of the pixel data. As a result, after being decoded, the block-based video picture has blocking effects, which are discontinuity effects around boundaries between the blocks.
In order to decrease the severity of the blocking effect to improve the quality of block-based video pictures, the H.264 specification, which is a newly introduced video encoding specification, calculates boundary strength to determine discontinuity extent among blocks, utilizes thresholds of quantization parameters to check if the discontinuous edge is a real edge or a blocking effect, and finally provides filters with different strengths to process edges correspondingly. Please refer to the H.264 specification for more information. Although video pictures processed by the de-blocking process of H.264 have good picture quality, the H.264 specification requires complex calculation, which is one of its drawbacks.

Method for improving image quality and image processor for same


A subject of the invention is the compounds of formula (I):

The subject of the invention is novel 9-substituted-5-carboxy-oxadiazino-quinolone derivatives, their preparation and their application as anti-bacterials.
9-substituted-5-carboxy-oxadiazino-quinolone derivatives have been described in various patents, applications or publications and there may be cited for example: EP 0259804, EP 0343524, EP 0688772, EP 0394553, EP 0470252, U.S. Pat. No. 4,990,517, U.S. Pat. No. 5,480,879, U.S. Pat. No. 5,679,675, or also J. Med. Chem. 1996, 39, 3070-3088, J. Med. Chem. 2002, 45, 5564-5575, or J. Med. Chem. 2004, 47, 2097-2109. In particular, EP 0394553 and EP 0470252 describe quinolone derivatives substituted by a piperazine ring bearing substituents which can form a spiro ring.
An object of the invention is the compounds of formula (I):
in which:                either R1 and R2 form a 5 or 6 membered carbon cycle optionally substituted by a group Ra and/or by two groups Rb and R′b fixed on the same carbon atom, Ra represents hydrogen, halogen, (C1-C6) linear or branched alkyl, (C3-C6) cyclic alkyl, (C6-C10) aryl, (C7-C12) aralkyl, OH, (C1-C6) linear or branched alkoxy, O—(C6-C10) aryl, O—(C7-C12) aralkyl or NRR′, R and R′, represent together a (C3-C6) carbon chain possibly interrupted by an heteroatom selected from N, O and S and optionally substituted by 1 or 2 (C1-C6) linear or branched alkyls, or R and R′, identical or different, represent hydrogen, (C1-C6) linear or branched alkyl, (C3-C6) cyclic alkyl or R represents hydrogen and R′ represents a 5 or 6 membered heterocycle containing 1 to 3 heteroatoms selected from N, O and S, optionally substituted by 1 or 2 (C1-C6) linear or branched alkyls, Rb and R′b, identical or different, represent hydrogen, (C1-C6) linear or branched alkyl, (C3-C6) cyclic alkyl, (C6-C10) aryl or (C7-C12) aralkyl, or Rb and R′b form together a carbonyl;        or R1 represents a CO—R′1 radical, wherein R′1 represents a 5 or 6 membered heterocycle containing 1 to 3 heteroatoms selected from N, O and S, optionally substituted by 1 or 2 (C1-C6) linear or branched alkyls, and R2 represents hydrogen;        or R1 represents a radical of formula:
wherein Rc represents a (C1-C6) linear or branched alkyl, optionally substituted by a member of the group constituted by COOH, COORf, NH2, NH(C1-C6) linear or branched alkyl, N(C1-C6) di-linear or branched alkyl and NH—CO(C1-C6) linear or branched alkyl, Rf represents a (C1-C6) linear or branched alkyl, Rd represents hydrogen or CO—(C1-C6) linear or branched alkyl and Re represents hydrogen, or Rc and Re form a pyrrolidine ring, and Rd is defined as above, and R2 represents hydrogen;                or R1 represents a radical of formula:
wherein R″1 represents a (C1-C6) linear or branched alkyl substituted by COOH, COORf, Rg or CORg, Rf is defined as above, Rg represents a morpholino, thiomorpholino or piperazino group possibly substituted by a (C1-C6) linear or branched alkyl or Rg represents phenyl optionally substituted by 1 to 3 members of the group constituted by halogen, CF3, (C1-C6) linear or branched alkyl and (C1-C6) linear or branched alkoxy, or Rg represents a 5 or 6 membered heterocycle containing 1 to 3 heteroatoms selected from N, O and S, optionally substituted by 1 or 2 (C1-C6) linear or branched alkyls, and R2 represents hydrogen;                R3 represents hydrogen, —(CH2)m—NRR′, —(CH2)m—OR, (C1-C6) linear or branched alkyl, (C3-C6) cyclic alkyl, or R3 represents (C6-C10) aryl or (C7-C12) aralkyl or a 5 or 6 membered heterocycle containing 1 to 3 heteroatoms selected from N, O and S, all being possibly substituted by halogen, CF3, (C1-C6) linear or branched alkyl and (C1-C6) linear or branched alkoxy, m is 0, 1 or 2 and R and R′ are defined as above and R′3 represents hydrogen,or R3 and R′3 represent (C1-C6) linear or branched alkyl or form together a (C3-C6) spiro ring;        R4 and R′4, identical or different, represent hydrogen or (C1-C6) linear or branched alkyl optionally substituted by 1 to 3 halogens or R4 represents a (C1-C6) linear or branched alkoxy carbonyl group and R′4 represents hydrogen;        R5 represents methyl optionally substituted by one to three halogens;        R6 represents hydrogen, (C1-C6) linear or branched alkyl or (C7-C12) aralkyl;        R7 represents hydrogen, fluorine, NO2, CF3 or CN;in the form of mixtures of enantiomers or single enantiomers,as well as their addition salts with mineral and organic acids and their salts with mineral or organic bases.
The compounds of the invention have remarkable antibacterial properties which make them particularly indicated for use as medicaments in both human and veterinary medicine. In general formula (I) and hereafter:                by 5 or 6 membered heterocycle is meant an aromatic or non aromatic heterocycle and, for example, a pyrrole, furane, thiophene, pyrazole, triazole, tetrazole, thiazole, isothiazole, thiadiazole, imidazole, isoxazole, furazane, pyridine, pyrazine or pyridazine ring, the substituents being fixed, whenever possible, at any possible position, including on a nitrogen atom;        by (C1-C6) linear or branched alkyl is meant any possible radical and in particular methyl, ethyl, propyl or isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl or isopentyl;        by (C3-C6) cyclic alkyl radical is meant any possible radical, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl or cyclohexyl;        by linear or branched (C1-C6) alkoxy is meant any possible radical and in particular methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy or isopropoxy, butoxy, isobutoxy or tert-butoxy;        by (C6-C10) aryl is meant phenyl or naphthyl, and preferably phenyl;        by (C7-C12) aralkyl is meant preferably benzyl or phenethyl;        the above aryl and aralkyl can be substituted by halogen, CF3, (C1-C6) linear or branched alkyl and (C1-C6) linear or branched alkoxy;        by halogen in formula (I) and above is meant fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine, and preferably fluorine or chlorine.
Among the acid salts of the products of formula (I), there may be cited, among others, those formed with mineral acids, such as hydrochloric, hydrobromic, hydroiodic, sulphuric or phosphoric acid or with organic acids such as formic, acetic, trifluoroacetic, propionic, benzoic, maleic, fumaric, succinic, tartaric, citric, oxalic, glyoxylic, aspartic, alkanesulphonic acids, such as methanesulphonic and ethanesulphonic acids, arylsulphonic acids such as benzenesulphonic and paratoluenesulphonic acids. Among the base salts of the products of formula (I), there may be cited, among others, those formed with mineral alkalis such as, for example, sodium, potassium, lithium, calcium, magnesium or ammonium hydroxide or organic bases such as, for example, methylamine, propylamine, trimethylamine, diethylamine, triethylamine, N,N-dimethylethanolamine, tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane, ethanolamine, pyridine, piperidine, piperazine, picoline, dicyclohexylamine, morpholine, benzylamine, procaine, lysine, arginine, histidine, N-methylglucamine. Among the preferred compounds of formula (I) according to the invention are those wherein R4, R′4 and R6 represent hydrogen, R5 represents methyl, and R7 represents fluorine.
A preferred object of the invention is the compounds of formula (I) as defined above, in which R1 and R2 form a 5 or 6 membered carbon cycle optionally substituted as defined above, R3 and R′3, R4 and R′4, R5, R6 and R7 being defined as above, in the form of mixtures of enantiomers or single enantiomers, as well as their addition salts with mineral and organic acids and their salts with mineral or organic bases. An especially preferred object of the invention is the compounds of formula (I) as defined above, in which R1 and R2 form a 5 membered carbon cycle optionally substituted as defined above, R3 and R′3, R4 and R′4, R5, R6 and R7 being defined as above, in the form of mixtures of enantiomers or single enantiomers, as well as their addition salts with mineral and organic acids and their salts with mineral or organic bases.
Within these preferred compounds one can especially mention those having the following formula (I1)
wherein Ra, Rb and R′b, R3 and R′3 are defined as above.
Another preferred object of the invention is the compounds of formula (I) as defined above, in which R1 represents a CO—R′1 radical, wherein R′1 represents a 5 or 6 membered heterocycle containing 1 to 3 heteroatoms selected from N, O and S, optionally substituted by 1 or 2 (C1-C6) linear or branched alkyls, and R2 represents hydrogen,
in the form of mixtures of enantiomers or single enantiomers, as well as their addition salts with mineral and organic acids and their salts with mineral or organic bases.
Another preferred object of the invention is the compounds of formula (I) as defined above, in which R1 represents a radical of formula:
wherein R″1 represents a (C1-C6) linear or branched alkyl radical substituted by COOH, COORf, Rg or CORg, Rf represents a (C1-C6) linear or branched alkyl,
Rg represents morpholino, thiomorpholino or piperazino group, possibly substituted by a (C1-C6) linear or branched alkyl radical or Rg represents phenyl optionally substituted by 1 to 3 members of the group constituted by halogen, CF3, (C1-C6) linear or branched alkyl and (C1-C6) linear or branched alkoxy, or Rg represents a 5 or 6 membered heterocycle containing 1 to 3 heteroatoms selected from N, O and S, optionally substituted by 1 or 2 (C1-C6) linear or branched alkyls, and R2 represents hydrogen,
in the form of mixtures of enantiomers or single enantiomers, as well as their addition salts with mineral and organic acids and their salts with mineral or organic bases.
Among the compounds of the invention, there may be cited the compounds described in the experimental part, in particular those whose names follow:    8-Fluoro-3-methyl-9-(octahydro-pyrido[1,2-a]pyrazin-2-yl)-6-oxo-2,3-dihydro-6H-1-oxa-3,3a-diaza-phenalene-5-carboxylic acid,    8-Fluoro-9-(hexahydro-pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazin-2-yl)-3-methyl-6-oxo-2,3-dihydro-6H-1-oxa-3,3a-diaza-phenalene-5-carboxylic acid,    8-Fluoro-9-(S)-hexahydro-pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazin-2-yl-3-methyl-6-oxo-2,3-dihydro-6H-1-oxa-3,3a-diaza-phenalene-5-carboxylic acid,    8-Fluoro-9-(R)-hexahydro-pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazin-2-yl-3-methyl-6-oxo-2,3-dihydro-6H-1-oxa-3,3a-diaza-phenalene-5-carboxylic acid,    8-Fluoro-3-methyl-9-[4-(1-methyl-1H-pyrrole-2-carbonyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-6-oxo-2,3-dihydro-6H-1-oxa-3,3a-diaza-phenalene-5-carboxylic acid,    8-Fluoro-3-methyl-6-oxo-9-[4-(2,3-dihydro-thiazole-4-carbonyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2,3-dihydro-6H-1-oxa-3,3a-diaza-phenalene-5-carboxylic acid,    8-Fluoro-3-methyl-9-[4-(4-methyl-thiazole-5-carbonyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-6-oxo-2,3-dihydro-6H-1-oxa-3,3a-diaza-phenalene-5-carboxylic acid,    8-Fluoro-3-methyl-6-oxo-9-[4-(thiophene-2-carbonyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2,3-dihydro-6H-1-oxa-3,3a-diaza-phenalene-5-carboxylic acid,    8-Fluoro-9-[4-(furan-2-carbonyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-3-methyl-6-oxo-2,3-dihydro-6H-1-oxa-3,3a-diaza-phenalene-5-carboxylic acid,    8-Fluoro-3-methyl-9-{4-[1-(2-morpholin-4-yl-ethyl)-6-oxo-1,6-dihydro-pyridazin-3-yl]-piperazin-1-yl}-6-oxo-2,3-dihydro-6H-1-oxa-3,3a-diaza-phenalene-5-carboxylic acid,    8-Fluoro-9-{4-[1-(3-methoxy-benzyl)-6-oxo-1,6-dihydro-pyridazin-3-yl]-piperazin-1-yl}3-methyl-6-oxo-2,3-dihydro-6H-1-oxa-3,3a-diaza-phenalene-5-carboxylic acid,as well as their salts.
The compounds of the invention can be prepared by a method characterized in that a compound of formula (II):
in which R4, R′4, R5 and R7 are as defined above and R′6 has the values of R6 defined above or represents another group protecting the carboxylic function, is treated by a compound of formula (III):
in which R1, R2, R3 and R′3 are as previously defined, in the presence of a base, then, if appropriate, the protective groups present are eliminated and, if desired, the carboxy group is esterified by action of an alcohol, and the compound of formula (I) is salified.
The procedure is carried out preferably in a sealed chamber, in solution in the pyridine, at the reflux temperature of the latter. The base used is preferably a tertiary amine, for example triethylamine, N-methyl morpholine or also DBU. When R′6 represents a protective group, it can in particular be a (C1-C6) alkyl, a (C2-C6) alkenyl, or a (C7-C14) arylalkyl. After final elimination of the protective group R′6, the acid obtained can if desired be re-esterified to form a compound in which R6 is different from hydrogen.
Protection of the heterocyclic nitrogen and the amines may be necessary and is carried out in particular, according to circumstances, in the form of benzyl or trityl derivatives, in the form of carbamates, in particular allyl, benzyl, phenyl or tertbutyl, or also in the form of silyl derivatives such as dimethyl, trimethyl, triphenyl tertbutyl or also diphenyl tertbutyl-silyl derivatives. Deprotection is carried out, according to the nature of the protective group, by sodium or lithium in liquid ammonia, by hydrogenolysis or using soluble palladium 0 complexes, by action of an acid, or by action of tetrabutylammonium fluoride or strong bases such as sodium hydride or potassium tert-butylate. These reactions are well known to a person skilled in the art and well described for example by T. W. Green, P. G. M. Wuts, Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, Wiley-Interscience, New York. Illustrations are provided below in the experimental part.
The compounds of formula (II) are generally known and can be prepared by the methods described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,801,584. The compound of formula (II) in which R4 and/or R′4 represent/s an alkyl radical optionally substituted by 1 to 3 halogens can be prepared from a compound of formula (II) in which R4 and R′4 represent a hydrogen, which is hot-treated with an alkaline aqueous base, then neutralized, in order to obtain the compound of formula (IV):
in which R5, R′6 and R7 are defined as above, which is treated in dioxane at boiling point by a compound of formula (V)
in which R4 and R′4 are defined as above. The compound of formula (II) in which R5 represents a methyl radical substituted by 1 to 3 halogens can be prepared according to a method such as the one described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,801,584.
The compounds of formula (III) can be prepared by methods known to the skilled chemist and, for example, by those described in the following documents: Helv. Chem. Acta, 1951, 12, 34, 1544-1575; J. Med. Chem. 2004, 47, 25, 6218-6229; Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2006, 16, 20, 5462-5467; Tetrahedron 1992, 48, 23, 4985-4998; Tetrahedron Asymmetry 1993, 4, 11, 2389-2398; Tetrahedron Asymmetry 1996, 7, 9, 2739-2742; Tetrahedron Assymetry 1993, 7, 7, 1999-2006; Bioorg. Med. Chem. Letters 2004, 12, 1, 71-86; WO2006127694; U.S. Pat. No. 6,284,757; WO2006172831; WO2007/28654; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,354,747; 5,576,314. Preparations of compounds of formula (III) are also provided below in the experimental part.
Typically, following compounds of formula (IIIa):
in which R3, R3′, Ra, Rb and Rb′ are defined as above, can be prepared from a compound of formula (IV):
which is treated by a strong reducer, preferentially LiAlH4, in an ethereal solvent such as diethyl ether or tetrahydrofuran, at reflux temperature.
Compounds of formula (IV) can themselves be prepared by heating a compound of formula (V):
in which R8 represents a (C1-C6) alkyl or a (C7-C14) arylalkyl group, in an appropriated solvent, preferentially an alcoholic solvent such as methanol or ethanol.
Compounds of formula (V) can be prepared by coupling the appropriated substituted proline of formula (VI), in which Ra, Rb and Rb′ are defined as above, with the corresponding amino ester of formula (VII) in which R3, R3′ and R8 are defined as above.

The conditions for the coupling reaction are those known in the art, and can employ conventional associations of coupling reagents used in peptidic chemistry such as HOBT, EDCl, in presence of a base such as diisopropylethylamine or triethylamine and in a solvent such as dimethylformamide. Compounds of formula (III)/(IIIa), wherein R1 and R2 form a 5 or 6 membered carbon cycle are known and described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,354,257 or 5,576,314 and/or are commercially available. As stated above, the compounds of formula (I) can be in the form of enantiomers or mixtures of enantiomers essentially at position 9 of the ring. The compounds of formula (I) are obtained without racemization and, as a result, enantiomers can be obtained by using the corresponding enantiomer of the compound of formula (III) and/or (IV).
The compounds according to the invention, and more particularly those wherein R1 and R2 form an optionally substituted 5 or 6 membered carbon cycle, have remarkable antibacterial properties and these properties manifest themselves over a wide spectrum of gram (−) bacteria, but also a wide spectrum of gram (+). This balanced antibacterial activity distinguishes them from compounds of the prior art, for example marbofloxacine or also ofloxacine, and means that they are particularly indicated for use as medicaments in human medicine, but also in veterinary medicine for which there is a need for compounds which are particularly active in relation to these bacteria. Thus the above compounds are active in particular on gram (+) bacteria such as Streptococcus uberis or Staphylococcus aureus, but also Mycoplasma bovis or bovirhinis, or Clostridium perfringens or Enterococcus faecalis, while still being remarkably active on gram (−) bacteria such as Mannheimia haemolytica, Bordetella bronchiseptica, Escherichia coli or Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
These properties make said compounds, as well as their salts with pharmaceutically acceptable acids and bases, suitable for use as medicaments in the treatment of conditions with susceptible germs and in particular those involving staphylococci, such as staphylococcal septicaemia, malignant staphylococcal infection of the face or skin, pyoderma, septic or suppurating sores, anthrax, phlegmon, erysipeles, primitive or post-influenzal acute staphylococcal infections, bronchial pneumonia, pulmonary suppurations. The compounds can also be used as medicaments in the treatment of colibacilloses and associated infections, in Proteus, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas or also Salmonella infections and in other conditions caused by gram (−) bacteria.
A further subject of the present invention is therefore the use as medicaments, and in particular as antibiotic medicaments, of the compounds of formula (I) as defined above, as well as their salts with pharmaceutically acceptable acids and bases. More particularly, a subject of the invention is the use, as medicaments, of the preferred compounds of formula (I) defined above, in particular including the compounds of formula (I1) defined above and the compounds listed below:    8-Fluoro-3-methyl-9-(octahydro-pyrido[1,2-a]pyrazin-2-yl)-6-oxo-2,3-dihydro-6H-1-oxa-3,3a-diaza-phenalene-5-carboxylic acid,    8-Fluoro-9-(hexahydro-pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazin-2-yl)-3-methyl-6-oxo-2,3-dihydro-6H-1-oxa-3,3a-diaza-phenalene-5-carboxylic acid,    8-Fluoro-9-(S)-hexahydro-pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazin-2-yl-3-methyl-6-oxo-2,3-dihydro-6H-1-oxa-3,3a-diaza-phenalene-5-carboxylic acid,    8-Fluoro-9-(R)-hexahydro-pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazin-2-yl-3-methyl-6-oxo-2,3-dihydro-6H-1-oxa-3,3a-diaza-phenalene-5-carboxylic acid,    8-Fluoro-3-methyl-9-[4-(1-methyl-1H-pyrrole-2-carbonyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-6-oxo-2,3-dihydro-6H-1-oxa-3,3a-diaza-phenalene-5-carboxylic acid,    8-Fluoro-3-methyl-6-oxo-9-[4-(2,3-dihydro-thiazole-4-carbonyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2,3-dihydro-6H-1-oxa-3,3a-diaza-phenalene-5-carboxylic acid,    8-Fluoro-3-methyl-9-[4-(4-methyl-thiazole-5-carbonyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-6-oxo-2,3-dihydro-6H-1-oxa-3,3a-diaza-phenalene-5-carboxylic acid,    8-Fluoro-3-methyl-6-oxo-9-[4-(thiophene-2-carbonyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2,3-dihydro-6H-1-oxa-3,3a-diaza-phenalene-5-carboxylic acid,    8-Fluoro-9-[4-(furan-2-carbonyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-3-methyl-6-oxo-2,3-dihydro-6H-1-oxa-3,3a-diaza-phenalene-5-carboxylic acid,    8-Fluoro-3-methyl-9-{4-[1-(2-morpholin-4-yl-ethyl)-6-oxo-1,6-dihydro-pyridazin-3-yl]-piperazin-1-yl}-6-oxo-2,3-dihydro-6H-1-oxa-3,3a-diaza-phenalene-5-carboxylic acid,    8-Fluoro-9-{4-[1-(3-methoxy-benzyl)-6-oxo-1,6-dihydro-pyridazin-3-yl]-piperazin-1-yl}-3-methyl-6-oxo-2,3-dihydro-6H-1-oxa-3,3a-diaza-phenalene-5-carboxylic acid,as well as their pharmaceutically acceptable salts.
A subject of the invention is also the pharmaceutical compositions containing, as active ingredient, at least one of the medicaments according to the invention as defined above. These compositions can be administered by oral, rectal, parenteral, in particular intramuscular route, by respiratory route or by local route in topical application to the skin and mucous membranes.
The compositions according to the invention can be solid or liquid and be present in the pharmaceutical forms commonly used in human medicine, such as for example, plain or sugar-coated tablets, gelatin capsules, granules, suppositories, injectable preparations, ointments, creams, gels; they are prepared according to the customary methods. The active ingredients can be incorporated in same, using excipients which are customarily used in these pharmaceutical compositions, such as talc, gum arabic, lactose, starch, magnesium stearate, cocoa buffer, aqueous or non-aqueous vehicles, fatty substances of animal or vegetable origin, paraffin derivatives, glycols, various wetting agents, dispersants or emulsifiers, preservatives. These compositions can in particular be present in the form of a powder intended to be dissolved extemporaneously in an appropriate vehicle, for example, non-pyrogenic sterile water. The dose administered varies according to the condition treated, the patient in question, the administration route and the product envisaged. It can, for example, be comprised between 0.25 g and 10 g per day, by oral route in humans, with the product described in example 1 or also comprised between 0.25 g and 10 g per day by intramuscular or intravenous route.

Abstract: wherein R1, R2, R3, R′3, R4, R′4, R5, R6 and R7 are as described in the application,                in the form of enantiomers or mixtures, as well as their salts with acids and bases, their preparation and their application as anti-bacterials, in both human and veterinary medicine.


The corrosion of metals in contact with aqueous alkanolamine solution in acid gas removal units is inhibited by maintaining in the alkanolamine solution a corrosion inhibiting amount of a compound having the formula: ##STR1## where R is S or O, and R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are independently H, C.sub.1 to C.sub.8 alkyl, C.sub.1 to C.sub.8 alkenyl, C.sub.6 to C.sub.10 aryl, C.sub.7 to C.sub.12 alkaryl, C.sub.7 to C.sub.12 aralkyl, C.sub.3 to C.sub.10 cycloalkyl, C.sub.1 to C.sub.8 thiophene, or amino groups. The alkanedithiol is useful for inhibiting the corrosion of metals in both the acid gas rich and lean portions of the acid gas removal unit.

The conditioning of naturally occurring liquid and gas streams by absorbing acid gases such as CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 S in an absorbent solution is a well known commercial practice. Acid gas removal is commonly practiced in the oil refining, natural gas recovery, ammonia plant and wood pulp industries. For example, when crude oil and natural gas are removed from a formation they frequently contain CO.sub.2 or H.sub.2 S (acid gases). Acid gases are removed from the hydrocarbon in an acid gas removal amine system (an amine unit). Amine units are typically constructed of carbon steel and operate at temperatures of from about 110.degree. to about 300.degree. F., at pressures of from about 10 to about 500 psig and with less than about 10 ppm of oxygen present as an undesirable contaminant in the aqueous alkanolamine solution. An amine unit utilizes an alkanolamine such as monoethanolamine (MEA), diethanolamine (DEA), methyldiethanolamine (MDEA), diisopropylamine (DIPA), and diglycolamine (DGA) in an aqueous solution. The hydrocarbon containing acid gases are contacted with the aqueous amine solution in a tray or packed absorber where the amine reacts with the acid gases thereby removing them from the hydrocarbon and forming an aqueous amine solution containing the absorbed acid gases (rich stream). The amine-acid gas reaction is later reversed in a plate or packed stripper resulting in an acid gas stream and a reusable aqueous amine solution (lean stream).
Amine units present a variety of corrosion control problems. Unreacted carbon dioxide dissolved in the aqueous alkanolamine solution forms acid species which are corrosive to metals. Oxygen can enter an amine unit through storage tanks, sumps, surge vessels, and the like and attack metals causing corrosion. Oxygen also can oxidize the alkanolamine. Oxidation and degradation products of alkanolamines can cause metal corrosion. Efforts to control corrosion in amine units usually focus on the use of metallurgy, minimization of acid gas flashing, filtration, stress relieving, process controls and corrosion inhibitors such as metal passivating agents. However, environmental and safety concerns have limited the practicality of using some materials such as nickel, cobalt, calcium, copper, chromium, zinc, tin, aluminum, magnesium and cyano compounds and the like as corrosion inhibiting agents. Since corrosion, if left untreated, can cause shut-down of an amine unit, corrosion control is a very important consideration. In addition, most corrosion control efforts have focused on treating the rich stream of the amine unit. However, the lean sections of amine units also experience corrosion.
Therefore, a need exists for compositions which when added to an aqueous alkanolamine solution in an acid gas removal amine unit inhibits corrosion of metals in contact with the aqueous alkanolamine solutions and which are effective for inhibiting corrosion in both the rich and lean portions of the amine unit.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide compounds for inhibiting corrosion of metals in contact with aqueous alkanolamine solutions.
It is also an object of this invention to provide compounds which are effective for inhibiting metal corrosion in both the rich and lean portions of amine units containing aqueous alkanolamine solutions.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide aqueous acid gas removal solutions for use in amine units which are inhibited against acid gas promoted corrosion of metals.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a method for inhibiting corrosion of metals in contact with aqueous alkanolamine solutions in amine acid gas removal units.

Corrosion inhibitor for alkanolamine units


A head cartridge for an ink-jet printer is disclosed. This head cartridge includes an ink storage inside an ink vessel body, a flexible body installed inside the ink storage to hold and deliver ink, an ink filter located on the lower portion inside the ink storage, a heating device with heating elements located under the ink filter to heat and evaporate ink in the ink storage, a nozzle having a spray hole with multiple of apertures for spraying ink particles onto the print media by vapor pressure created by the heating device and a cap attached to the top of the ink vessel by an ultrasonic bonding process. An ink filling hole for the head assembly is located on the cap of the head cartridge, and a plug assembly is mounted on an opening formed on one side of the cap. In the plug assembly, a lid for plugging the ink filling hole, a projection used for fixing the plug assembly to the cap, and a locking portion for locking the head cartridge in a carriage of the printer's main body are integrally formed.

Sealing mechanisms are employed on cartridges for ink jet printers. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,572,852 for a Method For Opening, Refilling and Sealing a Cartridge and U.S. Pat. No. 5,400,573 for a Kit and Method For Opening, Refilling and Sealing a Cartridge to Crystal et al. both disclose a method for opening, refilling and sealing an ink cartridge. A spherical plug is used to reseal the opening after refilling the ink cartridge with ink.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,488,400 for a Method For Refilling Ink Jet Cartridges to Crystal et al. discloses another method for refilling ink jet cartridges and resealing them after being refilled An aperture used for refilling the cartridge with ink is sealed with a seal or plug after refilling the cartridge with ink.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,572,245 for a Protective Cover Apparatus For An Ink-Jet Pen to Cowger discloses a protective cover apparatus for ink jet pen. The protective cover apparatus is used to protect the ink pen head against damage caused by the ingress of dirt and debris, the accumulation of solidification of ink, and the like.

Head cartridge assembly for ink-jet printer


A false twist device for an open-end spinning device to introduce a false twist in a yarn has a largely tubular carcass and several false twist edges arranged behind one another in the yarn draw-off direction and inclined by an angle in the carcass with regard to the yarn draw-off direction. The false twist edges protrude in such a way into the interior of the tubular carcass that the yarn experiences a deflection on each one of the false twist edges. The several false twist edges are arranged offset in such a way in the carcass in circumferential direction that the yarn simultaneously experiences a spatial deflection compared to its regular yarn draw-off direction through the successive deflections on the several false twist edges.

When yarn is produced in an open-end spinning device of a rotor spinning machine, the spinning fibers are opened into individual fibers and fed to the spinning rotor and pulled off as spun, twisted yarn through a yarn draw-off nozzle centrally arranged in the spinning rotor. In the process, the rotation of the spinning rotor causes the individual fibers to be incorporated in the end of the already produced yarn, which extends as a rotating yarn leg between the rotor groove and the yarn draw-off nozzle, and a twist is imparted to the yarn. Here, the spinning stability of the open-end spinning device depends essentially from the twist of the revolving yarn leg extending between the yarn draw-off nozzle and the rotor groove. In this case, a yarn twist that is too low will always have a negative impact on spinning stability. Therefore, various open-end spinning devices have been known in the state of the art with which twists as false twist can be pushed back towards the spinning rotor against the yarn's draw-off direction. This makes it possible to increase the real twist in the yarn section between the yarn draw-off nozzle and the rotor groove.
DE 40 39 755 A1 shows such a yarn draw-off device of a rotor spinning machine, in which a yarn deflection point is arranged downstream from the yarn draw-off nozzle, and the yarn is drawn off in this deflection point through false twist edges lying obliquely to the yarn path. At the same time, the false twist edges can have a largely circular cross-section and be executed web-like or triangularly. This can generate a false twist that becomes larger as the profile of the false twist becomes more sharp-edged. However, if the false twist becomes too sharp-edged, it can damage the yarn surface, so that a compromise must always be selected in practice between introducing a false twist that is as large as possible but nonetheless able to prevent yarn damage.
Apart from the execution of the profile of the false twist edges, the generation of the false twist is additionally influenced by the yarn's wrapping angle with regard to the false twist edge. Therefore, DE 87 02 807 U1 suggests arranging another deflection or false twist edge downstream from the yarn draw-off nozzle opposite the first false twist edge, to deflect the yarn in a direction other than the one of the previous deflection. As a result of this, the yarn's wrapping angle at the first false twist edge can be increased, thus preventing the yarn from being raised from the false twist edge. As a result of this, the effect of the false twist edge can be improved. Incidentally, however, the introduction of the false twist can also be influenced here by the sharp edge quality of the false twist edges, so that the possibilities of introducing a false twist without damaging the yarn are limited here as well.

False twist device for an open-end spinning device


A hanger allows a height position of an object to adjusted easily after the object is hung when hanging the object using wire rope. The hanger includes wire rope inserted through a lock case and has a wire grip mechanism and a hook, wherein a height position of the lock case with respect to the wire rope can be adjusted after the object is hung on the hook.

The present invention relates to a hanger for hanging an object by using wire rope and particularly to a hanger a position of which in the height direction is adjustable.
Although there is no limit to the object to be hung, the hanger is useful when used for exhibiting a picture and the like in an art gallery, a museum, and the like, because a height of the picture can be adjusted easily.
FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematic views of exhibition of the pictures or the like in the art gallery, the museum, or the like. FIG. 1 is a front view and FIG. 2 is a left side view.
Exhibits 1 such as pictures are hung by using hangers 4 from a rail 3 disposed in an upper position on a wall face 2 and parallel to a ceiling.
Normally, a long time has passed since the exhibit 1 such as a picture in the art gallery, the museum, or the like was produced. A frame of the exhibit 1 was produced in the same age as the picture or the like, a long time has passed since the production, and the frame has been distorted in most cases.
As shown in FIG. 1, each exhibit 1 is hung by using hangers 4 in two positions and it is necessary to adjust a height position after hanging in most cases.
In hanging the object by using wire rope, development of a hanger with which a height position of an object can be adjusted easily after hanging is desired.
In order to provide a hanger with which an object is hung by using wire rope and then a height position of the object can be adjusted easily, according to the invention, there is provided a hanger with wire rope inserted through a lock case and having a wire grip mechanism and a hook, wherein a height position of the lock case with respect to the wire rope can be adjusted after an object is hung on the hook.
Furthermore, in order to provide a hanger with which an object is hung by using wire rope and then a height position of the object can be adjusted easily, according to the invention, there is provided a hanger with wire rope inserted through a lock case and having a wire grip mechanism and a hook, wherein a height position of the lock case with respect to the wire rope can be adjusted after an object is hung on the hook and the hanger has a scale for indicating an amount of height adjustment.
Moreover, in order to provide a hanger with which an object is hung by using wire rope and then a height position of the object can be adjusted easily, according to the invention, there is provided a hanger comprising: a wire retaining member which is housed in a lock case and through which wire rope is inserted; a cylindrical wire grip fitted over a lower portion of the wire retaining member and having a wire grip mechanism together with the wire retaining member; an adjusting shaft member with its upper portion screwed over the wire grip; an adjusting dial positioned in a window hole formed at a lower portion of the lock case and screwed over the adjusting shaft member; and a coil spring provided in a compressed state between a lower end of the wire retaining member and an upper end of the adjusting shaft member, wherein a height position of the lock case with respect to the wire rope can be adjusted by turning the adjusting dial.
Furthermore, in order to provide a hanger with which an object is hung by using wire rope and then a height position of the object can be adjusted easily, according to the invention, there is provided a hanger comprising: a wire retaining member which is housed in a lock case and through which wire rope is inserted; a cylindrical wire grip fitted over a lower portion of the wire retaining member and having a wire grip mechanism together with the wire retaining member; an adjusting shaft member with its upper portion screwed over the wire grip; an adjusting dial positioned in a window hole formed at a lower portion of the lock case and screwed over the adjusting shaft member; and a coil spring provided in a compressed state between a lower end of the wire retaining member and an upper end of the adjusting shaft member, wherein a height position of the lock case with respect to the wire rope can be adjusted by turning the adjusting dial, a scale hole is formed in a side wall of a middle portion of the lock case, a scale is provided on an edge face of the scale hole, and a stopper pin protruding from the adjusting shaft member and penetrating an intermediate portion of the adjusting shaft member is inserted into the scale hole so that an amount of adjustment of the height position of the lock case can be known.


A method includes estimating a position of a receiver, aboard a moving object, on the basis of the navigation signals emitted by satellites received by an antenna in an antenna array placed on the moving object, and using a three-dimensional geographical map to deduce, geometrically, on the basis of the position of the receiver and of a ray casting starting from the receiver, the number of paths reflected on walls of buildings present in a scene corresponding to an environment surrounding the receiver. The determined number of reflected paths is used to initialize an algorithm for estimating angles of arrival of multi-paths to deduce therefrom angles of arrival of the paths reflected on the walls before reaching the receiver. Optionally, the method can comprise making it possible to bound the distance information error due to a multi-path to render the estimation of direction of arrival of the signals more efficacious.

In a satellite positioning system using a receiver of the GNSS type placed aboard a moving object, the data signals allowing the receiver to calculate its positioning originate from various satellites belonging to a constellation of satellites. The constellation comprises at least four satellites for determining four unknowns corresponding to the geographical x, y, z and temporal t coordinates of the receiver. The positioning of the moving object by the receiver is carried out in two steps. In a first step, the receiver effects the acquisition of radioelectric signals constituting navigation signals originating from the four satellites of the constellation and in a second step, the receiver evaluates the distances separating the moving object from the four satellites whose signals have been received and determines the position of the moving object by using a triangulation method.
An error made in the position of a moving object can have disastrous consequences in an application relating to civilian aviation or geo-located road tolls.
There exist numerous sources of positioning error that may impair the validity of the position information determined by a satellite positioning system. A positioning error may be due to a technical problem with the reception of the GNSS signals, such as for example a failure of the receiver or a failure of the information transmitted by the constellation of satellites used. The reliability of the position determined by a satellite positioning system also depends on the environment in which the moving object is situated.
In the case of an aeronautical application relating to civilian aviation, the receiver is not constrained by any obstacle, so that the radioelectric signals are received directly from the satellites, without reflection on any wall. In this case, there exist SBAS systems (Satellite-Based Augmentation Systems) making it possible to provide a confidence information item relating to the position calculated by the receiver of an aeronautical moving object. The SBAS systems monitor and bound, permanently, the errors made in the orbit of the satellites, in the synchronization of each satellite with the time reference of the constellations and the errors induced by the propagation of the radioelectric signals in the upper atmosphere and in particular in the Ionosphere. The information provided by an SBAS system allows the receiver of the aeronautical moving object to provide the position of the moving object as well as a position error bound.
Geo-located road toll applications consist in determining the road followed by a terrestrial moving object furnished with a GNSS receiver and in billing a user of the terrestrial moving object when the road followed is subject to a toll. Billing being dependent on the road used, the receiver must deliver two complementary information items relating on the one hand, to the position of the moving object and on the other hand, to the trajectory of the moving object. These information items giving rise to billing, it is also necessary to determine a confidence information item relating to the trajectory used.
However, in the case of an application relating to geo-located road tolls, the conditions of reception of the radioelectric signals are much more complex, and much less controlled than in the case of an aeronautical application. It is then much more difficult to bound the position error determined by the receiver.
In an urban setting, the navigation signals emitted by one or by two or three of the satellites of the constellation may for example be stopped by buildings and not arrive at the receiver of the moving object. In this case, the geometry of the set of satellites that are used to calculate the position of the moving object is affected and this may render the calculation of the position of the moving object impossible.
Likewise, in an unfavourable terrestrial setting, the navigation signals emitted by a satellite of the constellation may be reflected on certain walls before reaching the receiver. This phenomenon, called multi-path, has a significant impact on the precision of the position calculated by the receiver. Indeed, the route measured by the receiver is then longer than the distance separating the moving object from the corresponding satellite. This results in an error in the triangulation method and therefore in the position of the moving object. In this case the consequence is twofold since on the one hand, the position error is significant and on the other hand, the receiver has no means of knowing that it has made an error, nor of evaluating the error made. Now, the errors made by the receiver may induce an error of judgment as regards the road followed and consequently induce a false billing.
There exist schemes for rejecting multi-paths consisting in using an array of reception antennas and in analysing the signal received by each of the antennas of the array to determine the angles of arrival of signals reflected by walls before arriving at the receiver. An example of this type of scheme is described notably in the document [Multipath mitigation methods based on antenna array, S. Rougerie, ION NTM 2011]. However, these schemes suffer from a very heavy handicap due to the wavelength of the signals considered. Indeed, in such an array of antennas, the distance separating 2 antennas must be greater than half the wavelength of the signal received. One of the rejection techniques conventionally considered, consists in forming the antenna beam in the direction of arrival of the signal emitted by a satellite, thereby making it possible to reduce the antenna gain in the direction of the potential reflections exhibiting a different angle of arrival from that pointing in the direction of the satellite considered. The directivity of such an array of antennas depends directly on the number of antennas used. Large directivity, allowing effective rejection, requires a large number of antennas, and consequently an array of large size.
In numerous applications, such as vehicle geo-location applications, the size of the arrays is constrained, and may not permit a large number of antennas.
In this case, schemes for identifying the angle of arrival of the reflections of signals are implemented to attenuate the beam in the identified direction or directions. However these schemes suffer from several performance problems. As shown by the document [Multipath mitigation methods based on antenna array, S. Rougerie, ION NTM 2011], a first problem relates to the process for estimating the angles of arrival of reflected signals which requires an assumption as regards the number of reflections to be estimated. The performance of the process for estimating the angles of arrival depends on the correctness of this assumption, as does consequently the performance of the process for rejecting multi-paths and their impacts on the quality of measurement of line-of-sight distance separating the receiver from the satellite. A second problem relates to the quality of the calibration of the array of antennas, namely the knowledge of the exact distance separating the various antennas from one another. The performance in estimating the angles of arrival of the reflected signals depends on the correctness of this information item.

Method for estimating the direction of arrival of navigation signals at a receiver after reflection by walls in a satellite positioning system

CENTRE NATIONAL D'ETUDES SPATIALES (CNES)


A pocket filter assembly includes a frame structure having a plurality of filter pocket openings and a corresponding plurality of filter pockets, each filter pocket having a pocket mouth securely sealed in a corresponding filter pocket opening. The frame structure includes an outer subframe and a corresponding inner subframe connected and locked to each other by means of locking elements at locking positions distributed along opening portions of the subframes defining the filter pocket openings. At each locking position, the filter pocket mouths are sealed clamped and sealed between co-operating opening portions of the subframes. The locking elements include an undercut hook-shaped projection on the inner subframe and a co-operating receiving hole on the outer subframe, such that an interlock of the subframes to each other is obtained, while including filter pocket mouth material of the associated filter pocket between said projection and said aperture such that said interlock is sealed thereby.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,554,203 discloses a filter element of the general kind defined above. The filter element comprises a main stiff support frame including the frame itself and traversing bars or ribs which define filter pocket openings. The main support frame is built of an exterior subframe that snugly fits over an interior subframe. The edges of the filter pockets are inter-engaged by opposite subframe wall portions. The interfitting subframes are detachably connected one to another and to the filter pockets. On the outer periphery of the interior subframe there are a number of protrusions which can be snappingly locked into corresponding receiving openings provided in the outer periphery of the exterior subframe, enabling the interlocking engagement between the subframes to be easily unlocked for replacement of the filter pockets. In a preferred embodiment, the traversing bars or ribs of the subframes are also locked to each other by releasable security means, such as so-called magnetically operated security means.


A method and apparatus for highly efficient use of higher-order diffraction beam in holography. The thermoplastic hologram (10) is recorded at a recording angle (.theta..sub.R) between two coherent beams (12, 14) equal to a first-order diffraction angle (.theta..sub.1) corresponding to the angle (.theta..sub.2) of the desired higher-order beam (18) set to the angular peak (22) of diffraction efficiency (20) of the material of the hologram. On read-out, the desired higher-order beam is read. By use of the invention, the intensity of a higher-order beam can be tuned and made nearly equal to that of the first-order beam. Thereby, useful non-linear holographic systems, such as an associative memory (FIG. 4), can be practically implemented.

Holography offers much promise as a storage medium, especially for images, and as pattern recognizers. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,988,153 issued Jan. 29, 1991 and U.S. patent applications Ser. No. 07/588,710, filed Sep. 27, 1990, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,121,228, issued Jun. 9, 1992 and Ser. No. 07/713,421, filed Jun. 10, 1991 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,138,489, issued Aug. 11, 1992, all by Paek. These holographic devices share a common configuration, as illustrated schematically in FIG. 1, for the recording and readout of the hologram. During the recording phase, a holographic recording medium 10 is simultaneously irradiated by an image beam 12 and a reference beam 14 which are coherent with each other and are angularly separated by the angle .theta..sub.R, with the image beam 12 being displaced from the surface normal by the angle .phi.. The image beam 12 in some sense bears an image, but its exact nature depends on the nature of the device being implemented. The holographic recording medium 10 is photo-sensitive to the light of the two beams 12 and 14, and the interference between them causes a hologram to be recorded in the recording medium 10. The hologram may be considered as a series of diffraction gratings recorded in the medium 10 corresponding to the Fourier transforms of the image in the image beam 12. Multiple holographic images can be recorded in the recording medium 10 by moving the reference beam 14 to a slightly different angular position .theta. near .theta..sub.R.
If the device is used as an image pattern recognizer, during the read-out, an unknown image (assumed at this point to exactly correspond to one of the recorded images) is impressed on the image beam 12 and irradiates the recorded medium 10. No reference beam is used. The unknown image interacts with all the recorded holograms and is diffracted into a single beam 16 at an angle .theta..sub.1 with respect to the axis of the image beam 12; the angle .theta..sub.1 is close to .theta..sub.R. That is, the diffracted beam 16 is coelinear to the reference beam 14 used to record that corresponding image. Accordingly, by determining the angle .theta..sub.1 of the diffracted beam 16, the image or pattern is recognized. Such a pattern recognizer becomes powerful when queried with images that closely but not exactly resemble one of the recorded images. In this case, the diffracted beam 16 at the one angle .theta..sub.1 having the greatest intensity indicates the recorded image most closely resembling the unknown image.
Holographic devices are typically limited by the photosensitivity of the recording medium 10. An example of such recording media for planar holograms is a thermoplastic plate, which is a thin plastic plate abutted to a photoconductor and which deforms in accordance with variations in light exposure. Such thermoplastic plates are described by Collier et al. in the text Optical Holography (Academic Press, 1971), pp. 298-305 and in Operator's Manual: HC-300 Holographic Recording Device from the Newport Corporation. As is well known, the diffraction efficiency for thermoplastic plates varies with the recording angle .theta..sub.R. The sensitivity of thermoplastics is limited to a fairly narrow bandwidth of spatial frequency centered at about 800 lines per millimeter although the value may vary between 600 and 1200 lines per millimeter for different thermoplastics. A typical response curve 20 as a function of angle recording angle .theta..sub.R for 514.5 nm light is illustrated in FIG. 2 and has a peak 22 with a relatively narrow bandwidth at about .theta..sub.P =20.degree.. The peak efficiency is about 12% for thermoplastics. Once the peak recording angle .theta..sub.P has been determined, in conventional practice, that angle .theta..sub.P is used as the central recording angle .theta..sub.R and any of the recording angles .theta. must be close to the peak 22. That is, to maximize intensity, the recording geometry is usually chosen so that .theta..sub.R .apprxeq..theta..sub.P.
The diffracted beam 16 in fact represents the first-order diffraction beam at the first-order diffraction angle .theta..sub.1 =.theta..sub.R. Additional, higher-order beams are diffracted, for example, a second-order diffraction beam 18 at the angle .theta..sub.2 from the axis of the image beam 12. In general, the angle for an n-th order diffraction beam is given by ##EQU1## where .lambda. is the wavelength of light and d is the period of the diffraction grating recorded in the hologram. If the reference beam 14 is normal to the surface so that .phi.=0, the equation simplifies to ##EQU2## If the angles .theta..sub.n of interest are small, then EQU .theta..sub.n =n.theta..sub.1, (3)
where .theta..sub.1 is the position of the first-order diffraction beam.
There are many applications where the higher-order diffraction beam would be useful. However, as shown in FIG. 2, the diffraction efficiency would be substantially reduced for the higher-order beams, for example, to about 1% for thermoplastics.


Compositions for directed self-assembly patterning techniques are provided which avoid the need for separate anti-reflective coatings and brush neutral layers in the process. Methods for directed self-assembly are also provided in which a self-assembling material, such as a directed self-assembly block copolymer, can be applied directly to the silicon hardmask neutral layer and then self-assembled to form the desired pattern. Directed self-assembly patterned structures are also disclosed herein.

1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to new methods of directed self-assembly pattern formation in the fabrication of microelectronic structures and hardmask neutral layers for use in the same.
2. Description of Related Art
Currently, the genuine resolution limit for single patterning optical lithography techniques, using 193-nm immersion scanners is 37 nm for dense lines and spaces. However, a relatively new non-lithography patterning technique, called directed self-assembly (DSA), is already capable of forming patterns that are <15 nm. DSA harnesses the ability of some molecules to rearrange themselves into ordered, nanometer-scale structures. Such self-assembling molecules tend to form highly regular and extended arrays of alternating lines or tiled configurations of close-packed circles. Block copolymers containing at least two different components are suggested DSA materials which can be aligned using annealing. In general, self-assembly is based upon the affinity or preference of one of the blocks for the underlying surface and/or air interface. This typically results in parallel lamellar layers. Pre-patterning techniques, such as chemoepitaxy or graphoepitaxy, can be used along with DSA, to de-randomize the alternating patterns formed by annealing blocked copolymer layers, making this technology even more useful in IC manufacturing. In graphoepitaxy, topography on the wafer surface, such as photoresist lines/trenches, is used to guide the self-assembly process. Thus, DSA may be particularly useful for line/space frequency multiplication techniques. In chemoepitaxy, local variations in the surface energy of the layer to which the DSA material is applied dictate how the block copolymers will align. Due to the flexibility of this approach, DSA is quickly becoming a front running technology for forming patterns of <20 nm for integrated circuit (IC) manufacture, and these types of non-lithography techniques will become more and more important in the future.
However, current DSA process flows require the use of several layers, which can complicate the process. In particular, DSA of block copolymers typically requires an organic, neutral "brush" layer applied in the stack underneath the block copolymer layer to induce pattern formation in a manner perpendicular to the substrate surface. For a typical PS-b-PMMA block copolymer, this brush layer usually consists of a random copolymer of styrene and methyl methacrylate (PS-r-PMMA) that has been cured over a long period of time. The brush layer is typically applied over a stack already containing spin-on carbon, a hardmask layer, and a bottom anti-reflective coating (for lithography-assisted DSA techniques). The block copolymer DSA formulations are then coated to a thickness of around 200-400 Å on top of the brush layer and annealed. The annealing process causes the block co-polymer to arrange itself into alternating organized structures.
A conventional DSA process is depicted in FIG. 1. As noted above, a bottom anti-reflective coating is often used in the stack to control reflection during lithography pre-patterning. This pre-pattern is often formed by standard photolithography techniques, such as the patterning of a photoresist. Inorganic layers are also included in the process flow to facilitate the pattern transfer process (e.g., a CVD hard mask). Each of these layers increases the level of complexity in the process and the challenges for chemical matching between layers. The multiple layer process also increases the length of time and cost of the DSA flow.
Thus, there remains a need in the art for improved compositions and methods for DSA patterning of microelectronic substrates.

Silicon hardmask layer for directed self-assembly


An information processing device includes: a calculator that calculates the number of pages used for storing management information in a first storage medium; a storage processor that sets pages corresponding to the calculated number of pages as free pages and stores the management information in the set free pages to thereby store the management information in the first storage medium; and an update processor that performs a process of updating position management information that indicates a storage position of the management information in the first storage medium. The information processing device can quickly write out logs on a memory.

A storage device which includes a backup power supply and a backup memory and which has a function of storing data on a cache that stores I/O data to a disk in the backup memory in the event of power-cut is known. Moreover, in a processing sequence during the occurrence of power-cut, write-out of logs (fault information or the like) accumulated on a memory is also performed.    [Patent Literature 1] Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2005-293085    [Patent Literature 2] Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2008-77669
However, in such a conventional storage device, when a cache size increases with an increase in the size of a mounted memory, the time (write-out time) required for writing out data of the cache to the backup memory increases.
On the other hand, since the capacity of a backup power supply is limited, when the time required for writing out cache data increases, the time allocatable to the log write-out process decreases. Thus, there is a problem in that writing out logs on a memory needs to be performed in a short time.

Information processing device, storage processing method, and computer readable recording medium having program stored therein


A multi-point laser device comprising a plurality of optical pumping sources. Each optical pumping source is configured to create pumping excitation energy along a corresponding optical path directed through a high-reflectivity mirror and into substantially different locations within the laser media thereby producing atomic optical emissions at substantially different locations within the laser media and directed along a corresponding optical path of the optical pumping source. An output coupler and one or more output lenses are configured to produce a plurality of lasing events at substantially different times, locations or a combination thereof from the multiple atomic optical emissions produced at substantially different locations within the laser media. The laser media is a single continuous media, preferably grown on a single substrate.

The efficient operation of engines is essential for reducing transportation and energy costs, fuel consumption, and harmful emissions. The lean-burn operation of engines, where the production of NOx may be significantly reduced, is instrumental in efficient operation, however, incomplete mixing can lead to unnecessary misfire or incomplete burning when the ignition spark occurs and fails to ignite or fully ignite the mixture properly or not at all due to local mix heterogeneity. As every engine has a slightly different intake and fuel introduction design, manufactures are forced to keep lean operation closer to stoichiometry to stay away from the lean limit to avoid misfires. Therefore, there is a need in the art to alieve issues with misfires in a lean-burn engine.


A metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) and a method for fabricating the MOSFET are disclosed. In the method, after a gate is formed by etching a deposited undoped or lightly-doped polysilicon layer, with the portions of the gate above channel edge between a channel region and STI region being protected, ions are doped into the remaining gate portion during source/drain implantation. As a result, each of the gate portions above channel edge is constructed of a doped second polysilicon layer stacked with undoped (or lightly-doped) first polysilicon layers, while the remaining gate portion is simply constituted by the doped second polysilicon layer. This can increase a threshold voltage of the MOSFET at channel edge. Optionally, before the gate is formed by etching the polysilicon, the portions of the polysilicon above the channel edge may be protected, followed by doping ions into the remaining portions of the polysilicon.

Metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) are one of basic electronic components found on integrated circuits (ICs). A MOSFET is usually composed of a source region, a drain region, a gate and a substrate, in which the source and drain regions, along with a channel region between them, together constitute an effective working area of the MOSFET, commonly referred to as an active area. The active area is typically isolated from adjacent device regions by shallow trench isolation (STI) regions. The gate is formed over the channel region, and the source and drain regions are located on both sides of the gate. With critical dimensions of IC features continuing to shrink, the electrical properties of active corners covered by the gate (i.e., interfaces of the channel region with the STI region) are becoming increasingly important and have a great impact on the device's performance.
It has been found that, due to corner effects, portions of a gate dielectric layer around the active corners covered by the gate is thinner, thus leading to an enhanced electric field between the channel and the gate. As a result, a threshold voltage of the channel is lower at the active corners than in the central region between these corners. This lower threshold voltage provides a parallel path for current conduction, which may deteriorate current leakage at the active corners covered by the gate and thus degrade the device's performance and reliability. U.S. Pat. No. 5,998,848 discloses a field-effect transistor (FET) and method for fabricating the FET, in which, with reference to FIGS. 1a to 1c, a gate doped with a P- or N-type dopant (i.e., a polycrystalline silicon (polysilicon) gate layer) 30 is formed over a channel region, and the regions of the gate 30 above the active corners are counterdoped to deplete the previously-doped dopant in those regions, thereby forming dopant-depleted gate regions (or depleted regions for short) 34. As these depleted regions 34 have a lower degree of doping, effective gate oxide thickness above the active corners is increased, resulting in an increase in the threshold voltage at the active corners. However, this solution still suffers from the following drawbacks:
1. In this solution, the formation of the depleted regions 34 requires counter doping the regions of the polysilicon gate layer above the active corners, necessitating an additional masking step for shielding and protecting the rest of the polysilicon gate layer while leaving portions of the polysilicon gate layer to be doped exposed. This leads to increased process complexity.
2. A conventional IC fabrication process typically produces a polysilicon gate 30 thicker than or as thick as a depth of the source/drain junction. In this solution, for effective formation of the depleted regions 34, the counterdoping depth must be greater than a thickness of the polysilicon gate 30 so as to form another depleted region near the interface of the gate 30 and the gate dielectric layer 32. In other words, the counter doping depth is typically greater than the source/drain junction depth. As such, when the type of the counter doping ions is opposite to that of the doping ions in the source and drain regions, any misalignment of the mask used for the counterdoping will lead to the formation of an oppositely-doped region 36 in the vicinity of the source or the drain, which may cause a short circuit or a current leakage. For example, with a counterdoping dose of 5×1014/cm2 and a dopant dose of 1015/cm2 in the source/drain regions, a high-concentration PN junction, tending to cause a current leakage, will be formed between the oppositely-doped region 36 and the corresponding source or drain. Therefore, the counterdoping process in this solution does not allow misalignment or dimensional tolerances, making the solution barely suitable for practical fabrication.
Therefore, there is a need for a MOSFET and a method for fabricating the MOSFET, which can increase the threshold voltage at the active corners covered by the gate, enhance the reliability of the resulting device, reduce a process complexity and be suitably used in practical fabrication.


Aircraft, air conditioning systems, and air diffusers that may be used to create a quiet, comfortable environment within an aircraft cabin are disclosed. The systems and apparatuses are configured to flow air at a rate that meets and/or exceeds the FAA minimum requirement of 0.55 lbs/min (about 250 g/min) per occupant. In use, even at higher flow rates, the systems and apparatuses are configured to create a quiet cabin experience, by contributing little to ambient cabin noise. Thus, the systems and apparatuses may be used to provide fresh air at a comfortable rate and a comfortable noise level.

Many aircraft are designed to fly at high altitudes, e.g., from 10,000 feet (about 3,000 m) to upwards of 41,000 feet (about 12,500 m), while providing a safe, comfortable cabin environment. To maintain this cabin environment, a typical aircraft includes an air conditioning system, with appropriate pressure, temperature, and moisture regulation, to circulate fresh air within the passenger cabin. An aircraft air conditioning system is sometimes referred to as an air conditioning pack, an air handling system, and/or an air circulation system. An air conditioning system may circulate outside air mixed with an approximately equal amount of highly filtered air from the passenger cabin. The combined outside and filtered air is ducted to the cabin and distributed to cabin outlets throughout the cabin, typically louvers, air distribution rails, vents, and personal air outlets (e.g., eyeball gaspers above passenger seating). Air diffusers direct the ducted air into the cabin outlets.
Inside the cabin, air diffusers and outlets are generally arranged along the side walls of the cabin and sometimes along the overhead. The air flows in generally circular patterns and exits through grilles, often on either side of the cabin floor, and, on airplanes with overhead recirculation, the air may exit through overhead grilles. For commercial aircraft, the FAA requires a minimum air flow and cabin pressure. For new aircraft, the minimum air flow is 0.55 lbs/min per occupant (about 250 g/min (grams per minute) per occupant) and the minimum cabin pressure is 0.75 bar (75 kPa).
The cabin air flow is continuous and is used for maintaining a comfortable cabin temperature, pressurization, and/or overall air quality. About half of the air exiting the cabin is exhausted from the airplane through one or more outflow valves in the fuselage, which also controls the cabin pressure. The other half is drawn through high efficiency filters, and then is recirculated with fresh outside air.

Air diffuser systems, methods, and apparatuses


There is provided a method for manufacturing a bearing, which has increased adhesive strength of lubricant to surfaces of rolling elements, a surface of a raceway or a surface of a cage. A surface of a ball, a raceway surface of an inner ring and a raceway surface of an outer ring are subjected to fluoride coating substitution process or ion bombardment process so that their oxygen concentration becomes not more than 2 ppm/mm.sup.2, by which surface oxide is removed. After the removal of the oxide, the surfaces are coated with a solid lubricant of silver, lead or the like. The surfaces from which oxide has been removed have good lubricant adhesion, making breaks in the lubricant unlikely to occur. Thus, the life of the bearing is prolonged.

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a bearing, and a bearing resulting therefrom, which is to be used under a high vacuum or under a high temperature such as in semiconductor manufacturing equipment.
Generally, bearings, when used under severe conditions such as vacuums, high temperatures and low temperatures, involve the use of solid lubricants. These solid lubricants are classified roughly into soft metal based ones, layered material based ones and high polymer based ones. Further, the soft metals are subdivided into gold, silver and lead, the layered materials are subdivided into MoS.sub.2 and graphite, and the high polymers are subdivided into PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), nylon, polyimide and the like. In particular, when the equipment employing the bearing is used under a high vacuum or high temperature, soft metal based solid lubricants are used, where silver is used for high temperatures by virtue of its superior durability and lead is used for ultra-low temperatures because it does not lose lubricity. Besides, with the use of a solid lubricant, too large a thickness of the solid lubricant would obstruct the rolling of the rolling element, while too thin a thickness would cause the lubricant to break. Accordingly, the thickness of the lubricant is adjusted to an appropriate one.
However, even with an appropriate thickness of the lubricant, if the adhesive strength of the lubricant to a surface to be lubricated is weak, the lubricant is more likely to break, resulting in a shortened service life of the bearing. On this account, in determining the bearing performance, adhesive strength of the coated lubricant onto the lubricated surface is a very important element for a decision as to the life of the bearing.
FIG. 2A is a partial sectional view of a ball 4 which is a conventional rolling element. For enhancement of the adhesive strength of a lubricant 12 to the ball 4, the ball 4 is cleaned with an organic solvent or the like so that contaminations such as fats and oils (not shown) are removed, and then the surface of the ball 4 is coated with the lubricant 12. Like this, the conventional bearing to be used under a high vacuum or high temperature has been manufactured through steps of cleaning the surface of the ball 4, the surface of a raceway (not shown), the surface of a cage (not shown) or the like with an organic solvent or the like, and thereafter coating the surface with a solid lubricant of silver, lead or the like, with the aim of increasing the adhesive strength of the lubricant 12 to the ball 4 or the raceway.
However, with the conventional bearing manufacturing method described above, although fats and oils or the like are relatively easily removed from the surfaces of the ball 4, the raceway and the like with an organic solvent, it is quite hard to remove oxide 11 from the surfaces. If the oxide 11 remains unremoved, there would occur a problem of deteriorated adhesion of the lubricant 12 due to the presence of the oxide 11. With deteriorated adhesion of the lubricant 12, a phenomenon would occur early that the coating of the lubricant 12 breaks during the rolling of the ball 4. Then, with the coating of the lubricant 12 broken, the ball 4 would make direct contact with the inner ring, the outer ring or the cage at the broken places, which would cause the rolling performance of the bearing to be considerably impaired. This would lead to a problem of shortened life of the bearing.

Bearing manufacturing method and bearing without oxide under lubricant