Novel intermediates of nucleoside derivatives, of which the 6-position of the nucleic acid base moiety is substituted with a halogen atom, are produced. Using those novel intermediates, even substrates, of which the 3xe2x80x2-position of the saccharide moiety is deoxylated, can be substituted at the 2xe2x80x2-position at an extremely high yield. Specifically, by subjecting a 3xe2x80x2-deoxy derivative of inosine to 6-halogenation to give a 6-halide of the derivative, and then subjecting it to 2xe2x80x2-deoxylation/substitution with a fluorine atom or the like, followed by further subjecting it to substitution with an amino group, a hydroxyl group or any other intended substituent at the 6-positioned halogen atom, nucleoside derivatives are produced at a high yield. Methods for producing nucleoside derivatives including 9-(2,3-dideoxy-2-fluoro-xcex2-D-threo-pentofuranosyl)adenine (FddA) and their related compounds, in a simplified manner, at a high yield and at low costs, and especially Economical methods for substituting substrates, of which the 3xe2x80x2-position of the saccharide moiety is deoxylated, at the 2xe2x80x2-position to produce those nucleoside derivatives on an industrial scale are also provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a novel method for producing nucleoside derivatives, more precisely to a novel method for producing nucleoside derivatives including 9-(2,3-dideoxy-2-fluoro-xcex2-D-threo-pentofuranosyl)adenine (hereinafter referred to as xe2x80x9cFddAxe2x80x9d) and its related compounds which are useful as anti-viral agents, to novel intermediates in the method, and to a novel method for producing the intermediates.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is reported that 9-(2,3-dideoxy-2-fluoro-xcex2-D-threo-pentofuranosyl)adenine (FddA) has a strong anti-viral activity against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and is greatly effective for treatment of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) (see V. E. Marquetz, et al., Biochem. Pharmacol., (36) page 2719, 1987; P. Herdewijn, et al., J. Med. Chem., (30), page 2131, 1987), and many clinical tests using it for the treatment of AIDS and AIDS-related complications (ARC) are being made at present. Recently, in addition, reported are FddA derivatives as modified at the nucleic acid base site to improve their potency (see C. K. Chu, et al., J.Med. Chem., (37), page 821, 1994; J. S. Driscoll, et al., J. Med. Chem., (39), page 1619, 1996; C. K. Chu, et al., J. Med. Chem., (39), page 4676, 1996).
The most direct method for producing FddA and its related compounds comprises substituting a substrate, of which the 3xe2x80x2-position in the saccharide moiety is deoxylated, at its 2xe2x80x2-position (see P. Herdewijn, et al., J. Med. Chem., (30), page 2131, 1987; V. E. Marquez, et al., J. Med. Chem., (33), page 978, 1990; H. Shiragami, et al., Nucleosides and Nucleotides, (11), page 391, 1992). However, the yield in the conventional methods is extremely low or is not higher than 10% and the reagent, diethylaminosulfer trifuluoride (DAST), is not available in industrial amount, and therefore the methods could not be used for industrial production of FddA and its related compounds.
1. Problems to be Solved by the Invention
In the course of the completion to the present invention, the above and following problems in the related art have been also found by the present inventors.
Given the situation as above, it is desired to develop an inexpensive method for producing nucleoside derivatives including 9-(2,3-dideoxy-2-fluoro-xcex2-D-threo-pentofuranosyl)adenine (FddA) and its related compounds, in a simplified manner and at a high yield, in particular, an economical and industrial method for producing those nucleoside derivatives that comprises substituting a substrate, of which the 3xe2x80x2-position of the saccharide moiety is deoxylated, at its 2xe2x80x2-position at a high yield. Accordingly, the subject matter in the art is to provide such an excellent production method.
The object of the present invention is to develop an advantageous method for producing the nucleoside derivatives noted above, especially those having anti-viral activity, and to provide intermediates in the method and also a simple method for producing the intermediates.
We, the present inventors have assiduously studied in order to solve the problems noted above, and, as a result, have found, in a process for producing nucleoside derivatives including 9-(2,3-dideoxy-2-fluoro-xcex2-D-threo-pentofuranosyl)adenine (FddA) and its related compounds, by subjecting a 3xe2x80x2-deoxy derivative of adenine to 2xe2x80x2-deoxylation/substitution with a flurine atom or the like (see P. herdewijn, et al., J. Med. Chem., (30), page 2131, 1987; V. E. Marquez, et al., J. Med. Chem., (33), page 978, 1990; H. Shiragami, et al., Nucleosides and Nucleotides, (11), page 391, 1992 ), the yield thereof is extremely low mainly due to a rearrangement of adenine base.
It is reported that, by subjecting a derivative of adenine, of which the 3xe2x80x2-position is not deoxylated, to 2xe2x80x2-deoxylation/substitution with a fluorine atom or the like, the same kind of rearrangement has occurred as side reaction and lowered the yield (see K. A. Watanabe, et al., J. Org. Chem., (57), page 553, 1992 ). Furthermore, it is reported that, by chlorination at the 6-position of the nucleic acid, this kind of rearrangement can be suppressed (see T. Maruyama, et al., Chem. Pharm. Bull., (44), page 2331, 1996). However, it is not known the case of 3xe2x80x2-deoxy derivatives.
Therefore, we, the present inventors have produced novel intermediates of a general formula (1) mentioned below, which are derivatives as deoxylated at the 3xe2x80x2-position and substituted by a halogen atom at the 6-position of the nucleic acid. Using those novel intermediates, we have found that even substrates, of which the 3xe2x80x2-position of the nucleic acid is deoxylated, can suppress the troblesome rearrangement completely and can be substituted at the 2xe2x80x2-position at an extremely high yield. On the basis of these findings, we have completed the present invention.
Specifically, by subjecting a 3xe2x80x2-deoxy derivative of inosine to 6-halogenation step for halogenating it at the 6-position thereof to give a 6-halide of the derivative, and then subjecting it to 2xe2x80x2-deoxylation/substitution with a fluorine atom or the like, followed by further subjecting it to substitution with an amino group, a hydroxyl group or any other intended substituent at the 6-positioned halogen atom, we have made it possible to produce the intended nucleoside derivatives.
On the basis of our findings noted above, hereinunder illustrated is one embodiment of the production route to give nucleoside derivatives, which covers all the steps in series as concretely demonstrated in Examples to be mentioned hereinafter. All those steps and the compounds as produced therein are usable in the process of producing nucleoside derivatives of the present invention. Naturally, the invention encompasses not only all the steps constituting this production route but also any and every method comprising any one of those steps, novel intermediates as produced in those steps and even the use of those novel intermediates, especially the use thereof for producing various nucleoside derivatives. Production Route:
In those formulae, W represents a halogen atom, X represents a halogen atom, Y represents a substituent of any of a fluorine atom, an azido group or a cyano group, Z represents any one of a hydrogen atom, an amino group, a hydroxyl group, an azido group, a substituent of a formula OR4, a substituent of a formula SR4 and a substituent of a formula NHR4, R1 represents a protective group for the hydroxyl group, SO2R2represents a sulfonic acid-type leaving group, R3represents a protective group for the hydroxyl group, and R4 represents an optionally. phenyl-substituted, lower (e.g., C1-5) alkyl group.
Preferably, R2 represents a halogen atom, an optionally-substituted aryl, alkyl or aralkyl group, or an optionally-substituted alkylamino group.
Regarding the definitions and the meanings of the compounds of general formula (1) to (9) as referred to herein, it shall be understood that the compounds designated by the same formula number are the same ones even though they are not individually described herein.
The invention encompasses a novel method for producing the nucleoside derivatives mentioned herein from the novel intermediates (1) and also from various raw compounds, novel intermediates including the intermediates (1) which are for producing the nucleotide derivatives, a novel method for producing those intermediates, and the use of the intermediates. More precisely, the present invention encompasses the following matters.
(i) A method for producing a nucleoside derivative represented by the following general formula (8) or (9), comprising subjecting a 3xe2x80x2-deoxy derivative of inosine, of which a part or all of the two hydroxyl groups may or may not be optionally protected, to 6-halogenation step for halogenating the compound at the 6-position thereof to give a 6-halide of the derivative, and then subjecting it, optionally after protecting its 5xe2x80x2-position, to 2xe2x80x2-deoxylation/Y-substitution reaction step followed by further subjecting it to Z-substitution reaction at its 6-halogen atom:
In the case of optionally protected 5xe2x80x2-position with a protective group in the derivative, the protective group may be de-protected in the suitable step, for example, before or after the Z-substitution reaction at its 6-halogen atom.
In such formula, as so mentioned hereinabove, Y represents a substituent of any one of a fluorine atom, an azido group and a cyano group, Z represents any one of a hydrogen atom, an amino group, a hydroxyl group, an azido group, a substituent of a formula OR4, a substituent of a formula SR4 and a substituent of a formula NHR4, R1 represents a protective group for the hydroxyl group, and R4 represents an optionally phenyl-substituted, lower (e.g., C1-5) alkyl group.
The compound (8) obtained herein may be optionally subjected to deprotection at the 5xe2x80x2-position to convert them into 5xe2x80x2-deprotected derivative (9), as will be mentioned after.
On the other hand, the obtained compound (8xe2x80x2) mentioned after may be optionally subjected to substitution with a group Z at its 6-halogen atom to give such derivative (9), as will be also mentioned after.
The nucleoside derivatives, compounds (9) in the present invention have anti-viral activity, in which Z is preferably a hydrogen atom, an amino group, a hydroxyl group, an azido group, a methylamino group, a methyloxy group or the like.
(ii) A method for producing a nucleoside derivative represented by the general formula (8) or (8xe2x80x2) noted above, which comprises subjecting a compound represented by the following general formula (1) to 2xe2x80x2-deoxylation/Y-substitution reaction to give a compound represented by the following general formula (3);
and then subjecting the resulting compound (3) to substitution with a group Z at its 6-halogen atom to give the compound (8),
or subjecting the compound (3) to deprotection at the 5xe2x80x2-position to convert the same into 5xe2x80x2-deprotected derivative (8xe2x80x2).
One embodiment of the method comprises a step of processing the compound of formula (3), especially preferably that in which X is a chlorine atom and Y is a fluorine atom, to thereby substitute the substituent X with an amino group, preferably processing it in a solution of ammonia in an alcohol (e.g., methanol, ethanol, propanol, etc.), or a step of processing the compound to thereby substitute the substituent X with a hydroxyl group, preferably processing it in an aqueous solution of an alkali hydroxide (e.g., sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, etc.), or a step of processing the compound to thereby substitute the substituent X with a hydrogen atom, preferably processing it with hydrogen in the presence of a reduction catalyst (e.g., palladium-carbon, Raney nickel, etc.), or a step of processing the compound to thereby substitute the substituent X with an azido group, preferably processing it with an alkali metal azide (e.g., sodium azide, lithium azide, etc.), to thereby produceng the nucleoside derivative of formula (8), and optionally comprises a step of deprotecting the resulting derivative at the protective group R1 to obtain a nucleoside derivative represented by the following general formula (9).
Alternatively, the compound firstly (3) may be subjected to such above deprotecting step at the protective group R1 to give the derivative (8xe2x80x2), and then the obtained this derivative (8xe2x80x2) may be subjected to substitution with a group Z at its 6-halogen atom to give the compound (9) in the same manner as above.
In those above formulae, as so mentioned hereinabove, X represents a halogen atom, Y represents a substituent of any one of a fluorine atom, an azido group and a cyano group, z represents any one of a hydrogen atom, an amino group, a hydroxyl group, an azido group, a substituent of a formula OR4, a substituent of a formula SR4 and a substituent of a formula NHR4, R1 represents a protective group for the hydroxyl group, and R4 represents an optionally phenyl-substituted, lower (e.g., C1-5) alkyl group.
(iii) One embodiment of the method of (ii), wherein the reaction step includes a compound of the following formula (2) as the intermediate:
In this formula, as so mentioned hereinabove, X represents a halogen atom, R1 represents a protective group for the hydroxyl group, and SO2R2 represents a sulfonic acid-type leaving group.
(iv) A method for producing compounds of formula (3) noted above, which comprise;
(a) subjecting a compound of formula (1) noted above to 2xe2x80x2-deoxylation/Y-substitution reaction step, preferably for removing the hydroxyl group from the compound followed by introducing a substituent Y, a fluorine atom, an azido group or a cyano group, thereinto, more preferably by reacting the compound with an alkylaminosulfur trifluoride reagent or a fluoroalkylamine reagent, or
(b) subjecting a compound of formula (2) noted above to removal of 2xe2x80x2-leaving group/Y-substitution reaction step, or that is, processing the compound to thereby remove its O-sulfonic acid-type leaving group therefrom and introduce a substitutent Y, a fluorine atom, an azido group or a cyano group, thereinto, preferably by reacting the compound with a reagent for attaining the substitution with a fluorine atom, an azido group or a cyano group, for example, reacting it with any one of azides, cyanides and fluorides, to thereby produce the intended compound (3).
In the meantime, the removal of 2xe2x80x2-leaving group in the present invention, the sulfonic acid-type leaving group is removed in the form of the O-sulfonic acid-type leaving group.
In these formulae, as so mentioned hereinabove, X represents a halogen atom, Y represents any one of a fluorine atom, an azido group and a cyano group, R1 represents a protective group for the hydroxyl group, and SO2R2 represents a sulfonic acid-type leaving group. Preferably, R2 represents a substituent of any one of a halogen atom, an aryl, alkyl and aralkyl group and also an alkylamino group, which may be optionally substituted (for example, with a halogen atom, etc.).
(v) Novel compounds of formulae (1) and (2) noted above, which are intermediates in the above-mentioned methods.
In those, X, Y, R1 and SO2R2 have the same meanings as defined above.
(vi) One embodiment of the method (iv), in which the compound of formula (2) is prepared by reacting a compound of formula (1) noted above with a reagent for inserting a sulfonic acid-type leaving group thereinto, preferably by reacting it with a sulfonyl halide or a sulfonic acid anhydride, or reacting it with sulfuryl chloride and then with an amine or a halogens such as a fluorine or the like.
(vii) One embodiment of the method (i) or (ii), which comprises at least one of the following steps (A) to (E):
(A): a step of forming a compound of formula (3) according to the step (a) or (b) in the method (iv) noted above,
(B): a step of dehalogenating a compound represented by the following general formula (7) to give a compound represented by the following general formula (4),
(C): a step of reacting a compound represented by the following general formula (6) with a reagent for selectively protecting the 5xe2x80x2-position of the compound to give a compound of formula (1) noted above,
(D): a step of subjecting a compound of formula (1) noted above to reaction of inserting a sulfonic acid-type leaving group thereinto, preferably by reacting the compound with a sulfonyl halide or a sulfonic acid anhydride, or reacting it with sulfuryl chloride and then with an amine or a halogen such as a fluorine or the like, to give a compound of the following general formula (2), and
(E): a step of selectively halogenating a compound of the following general formula (4) at its 6-position with a halogenating agent to give a compound represented by the following general formula (5).
In those above formulae, as so mentioned hereinabove, X represents a halogen atom, Y represents a substituent of any one of a fluorine atom, an azido group and a cyano group, R1 represents a protective group for the hydroxyl group, SO2R2 represents a sulfonic acid-type leaving group, in which R2 is preferably a substituent of any of a halogen atom, and an aryl, alkyl or aralkyl group which may be optionally substituted (for example, with a halogen atom, etc.), and an alkylamino group which may be optionally substituted (for example, with a halogen atom, etc.), and R3 represents a protective group for the hydroxyl group.
(viii) Novel compounds of formula (4) noted above, which are intermediates in the above-mentioned methods.
As so mentioned hereinabove, R3 represents a protective group for the hydroxyl group.
(ix) A method for producing intermediates, which comprises at least any one of the steps (B) to (E).
This method for producing intermediates is usable in the method (vii) noted above. Apart from this, the method is also applicable to the production of other various useful compounds, as being simple and easy. Anyhow, this method is an excellent method for producing various intermediates.
In those formulae, as so mentioned hereinabove, X represents a halogen atom, Y represents a substituent of any one of a fluorine atom, an azido group and a cyano group, R1 represents a protective group for the hydroxyl group, SO2R2 represents a sulfonic acid-type leaving group, in which R2 is preferably a substituent of any one of a halogen atom, and an aryl, alkyl or aralkyl group which may be optionally substituted (for example, with a halogen atom, etc.), and also an alkylamino group which may be optionally substituted (for example, with a halogen atom, etc.), and R3 represents a protective group for the hydroxyl group.
(x) Another embodiment of the method (i) or (ii) for producing nucleoside derivatives of the above-mentioned compounds (8), (8xe2x80x2) or (9), in which is used any one in the intermediates covered in the (viii) noted above.
In this, as so mentioned hereinabove, X represents a halogen atom, Y represents a substituent of any one of a fluorine atom, an azido group and a cyano group, R1 represents a protective group for the hydroxyl group, SO2R2 represents a sulfonic acid-type leaving group such as that mentioned above, in which R2 is preferably a substituent of any one of a halogen atom, and an aryl, alkyl or aralkyl group which may be optionally substituted (for example, with a halogen atom, etc.), and also an alkylamino group which may be optionally substituted (for example, with a halogen atom, etc.), and R3 represents a protective group for the hydroxyl group.
Modes of carrying out the invention are described below.
Compounds of formula (7) noted above, such as typically 9-(2,5-di-O-acetyl-3-bromo-3-deoxy-xcex2-D-xylofuranosyl)adenine, which are used in the invention, can be produced with ease in accordance with known methods (for example, see J. G. Moffatt, et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., (95), page 4025, 1973). The substituent W is a halogen atom such as bromine.
The hydroxyl-protecting group, R3 includes, for example, an acyl group (having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms), such as acetyl or benzoyl; an aralkyl group such as benzyl; and an alkyl group (having from 1 to 5 carbon atoms), such as allyl.
Compounds of formula (4) noted above for use in the invention can be obtained by de-halogenating the compounds of formula (7). To de-halogenate them, employable is any per-se known de-halogenating method, but preferred is a method of reducing the compound (7) with a radical reaction reagent, such as tri-n-butyl tin hydride, tris(trimethylsilyl)silane, diphenylsilane or diphenylmethylsilane in the presence of a radical reaction initiator such as azobisisobutyronitrile; or a method of reducing it with hydrogen in the presence of a reduction catalyst such as palladium-carbon or Raney nickel.
The compounds of formula (4) for use in the invention can also be obtained in any per-se known method (for example, a method for producing them from compounds of formula (7), such as that described by H. Shiragami et al., in Nucleosides and Nucleotides, (15), page 31, 1996). For example, 3xe2x80x2-deoxyinosine is prepared and any hydroxyl groups of the compound are protected to give the intended compound (4).
Compounds of formula (5) noted above for use in the invention have a halogen atom (e.g., chlorine) at the 6-position, and these are preferably obtained by halogenating a compound of formula (4) selectively at its 6-position with a halogenating agent. The halogenating agent includes, for example, a chlorinating agent of a combination of phosphorus oxychloride and N,N-dimethylaniline or a combination of sulfuryl chloride and dimethylformamide, and a chlorinating agent of dimethylchloromethyleneammonium chloride.
Compounds of formula (6) noted above for use in the invention can be obtained by de-protecting the compounds of formula (5). For the de-protection, preferably used is a mild method that may have no influence on the 6-halogen atom of the compounds (5). For example, compounds of formula (5) wherein X is a chlorine atom and R3 is an acyl group, can be easily de-protected with ammonia or sodium methoxide as dissolved in an alcohol, such as methanol, without being influenced at the chlorine atom.
Compounds of formulae (5) and (6) noted above for use in the invention may be produced in per-se known methods (for example, see C. K. Chu et al., WO-9709052 (1997); Frederick William Hurry et al., Japanese Patent Kokoku Publication JP-B-42-17903), or that is, by coupling the nucleic acid base moiety and the saccharide moiety. In general, however, the known methods produce mixtures with unnecessary xcex1-anomers, and therefore indispensably require the separation of the intended products from the mixtures. In addition, the yield of the intended products to be produced in the known methods is low. Therefore, the method of the invention that uses compounds (4) is preferred, as being easy and economical in industrial production of the compounds (5) and (6). The invention encompasses those compounds (4).
Compounds of formula (1) noted above, which the invention encompasses, can be produced by reacting the compound of formula (6) with a reagent capable of selectively protecting the 5xe2x80x2-position of the nucleosides.
In formula (1), R1 is a protective group for the hydroxyl group, which may or may not be substituted (for example, with a halogen atom, an alkyl group having from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, an alkyloxy group having from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, etc.), and the protective group includes, for example, an acyl group such as acetyl or benzoyl; an alkyl group such as methoxymethyl or allyl; an aralkyl group such as benzyl or triphenylmethyl; a silyl group such as trimethylsilyl. As the reagent that gives such a protective group, for example, preferably used is any of an acylating agent, an alkylating agent, an aralkylating agent and an organic silylating agent. The acylating agent includes, for example, acid anhydrides such as acetic anhydride and benzoic anhydride, and acid halides such as acyl chloride and benzoyl chloride.
The alkylating agent includes, for example, alkyl halides such as chloromethyl methyl ether and allyl bromide. The aralkylating agent includes, for example, aralkyl halides such as benzyl bromide and triphenylmethyl chloride. The organic silylating agent includes, for example, organic silyl halides such as trimethylsilyl chloride. The reaction of the compound (6) with the protecting reagent is preferably effected in the presence of a base. The base usable in the reaction includes, for example, hydroxylamine, ammonia and their salts; primary to quaternary amines and their salts; metal hydroxides such as barium hydroxide; metal alkoxides such as sodium methoxide and potassium methoxide; lithium-ammonia solution; ion exchange resins; carbonates such as potassium carbonate, sodium carbonate and sodium hydrogencarbonate; phosphates such as disodium phosphate; acetates such as sodium acetate; and alkaline solutions of sodium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide or the like.
Regarding the reaction condition, the two may be reacted in a suitable solvent. As the solvent, preferably used is an organic solvent such as ethyl acetate, toluene, methylene chloride or methanol. The reaction solvent may be or may not be dewatered. Anyhow, after the reaction, the base, if used, in the reaction mixture is optionally neutralized, and the product formed can be isolated from the mixture through ordinary extraction using an organic solvent such as ethyl acetate, toluene or methylene chloride. Apart from this, the reaction mixture may be directly subjected to the next step without isolating the product therefrom.
Compounds of formula (1) wherein R3 and R1 are the same, for example, R3=R1=acetyl or benzoyl, may be obtained by de-protecting the compound of formula (5) selectively at the 2xe2x80x2-protective group.
Of compounds of formula (2) noted above, the hydrogen atom in the 2xe2x80x2-hydroxyl group is substituted with a sulfonic acid-type leaving group (SO2R2). In those, R2 is preferably a substituent of any one of a halogen atom, and an aryl (having from 6 to 10 carbon atoms, such as phenyl), alkyl (having from 1 to 5 carbon atoms) or aralkyl (having from 7 to 19 carbon atoms, such as benzyl) group, which may or may not be substituted (for example, with a halogen atom, an alkyl group having from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, a nitro group, an alkyloxy group of which the alkyl moiety has from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, and the like), and also an alkylamino group (having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms), which may or may not be substituted (for example, with a halogen atom, an alkyl group having from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, a nitro group, an alkyloxy group of which the alkyl moiety has from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, and the like). More preferably, the protective group is any one of a chlorosulfonyl group, a fluorosulfonyl group, an imidazolesulfonyl group, a trifluoromethanesulfonyl group, a methanesulfonyl group, a an arylsulfonyl group such as a paratoluenesulfonyl, paranitrobenzenesulfonyl and benzenesulfonyl group, and the like.
Those compounds of formula (2) can be obtained by reacting the compound of formula (1) with a sulfonyl halide or a sulfonic acid anhydride, or by reacting it with sulfuryl chloride and then with an amine or a halogen. The sulfonyl halide includes, for example, arylsulfonyl halides such as paratoluenesulfonyl chloride and paranitrobenzenesulfonyl chloride; alkylsulfonyl halides such as methanesulfonyl chloride; aralkylsulfonyl halides such as benzylsulfonyl chloride; and halogenoalkylsulfonyl halides such as trifluoromethanesulfonyl chloride. The sulfonic acid anhydride includes, for example, arylsulfonic acid anhydrides such as paratoluenesulfonic acid anhydride and paranitrobenzenesulfonic acid anhydride; alkylsulfonic acid anhydrides such as methanesulfonic acid anhydride; aralkylsulfonic acid anhydrides such as benzylsulfonic acid anhydride; and halogenoalkylsulfonic acid anhydrides such as trifluoromethanesulfonic acid anhydride. The amine includes, for example, imidazole. The halogen includes, for example, fluorine.
The reaction to give compounds (2) may be effected in a suitable solvent. For this, preferably used is an organic solvent such as ethyl acetate, toluene or methylene chloride. The reaction may be effected in the presence of a basic catalyst such as pyridine, dimethylaminopyridine, triethylamine or the like. After the reaction, the basic catalyst, if used, in the reaction mixture is optionally neutralized, and the product formed can be isolated from the mixture through ordinary extraction using an organic solvent such as ethyl acetate, toluene and methylene chloride, And the like. Apart from this, the reaction mixture may be directly subjected to the next step without isolating the product therefrom.
In compounds of formula (3) noted above for use in the invention, Y is any one of a fluorine atom, an azido group and a cyano group. Those compounds (3) can be obtained by reacting the compound of formula (2) preferably with an azide, a cyanide or a fluoride. The azide includes, for example, alkali metal azides such as sodium azide and lithium azide; as well as ammonium azide and trimethylsilyl azide. The cyanide includes, for example, alkali metal cyanides such as sodium cyanide and lithium cyanide. The fluoride includes, for example, hydrogen fluoride; alkali metal fluorides such as lithium fluoride, potassium fluoride and cesium fluoride; alkylammonium fluorides such as tetrabutylammonium fluoride, pyridinium polyhydrogenfluoride and triethylamine trihydrofluoride; alkylaminosulfur trifluorides such as diethylaminosulfur trifluoride and morpholinosulfur trifluoride; and fluoroalkylamines such as Yarovenko reagent and Ishikawa reagent.
The reaction to give compounds (3) may be effected in a suitable solvent. For this, preferably used is an organic solvent such as ethyl acetate, toluene or methylene chloride. The reaction may be effected in the presence of a basic catalyst such as pyridine, dimethylaminopyridine or triethylamine. After the reaction, the basic catalyst, if used, in the reaction mixture is optionally neutralized, and the product formed can be isolated from the mixture through ordinary extraction using an organic solvent such as ethyl acetate, toluene or methylene chloride.
Compounds of formula (3) noted above for use in the invention, wherein Y is a fluorine atom, can be obtained by reacting the compound of formula (1) with a fluoride. The fluoride for this includes, for example, alkylaminosulfur trifluorides such as diethylaminosulfur trifluoride and morpholinosulfur trifluoride. This reaction may be effected in a suitable solvent. For this, preferably used is an organic solvent such as ethyl acetate, toluene and methylene chloride. The reaction may be effected in the presence of a basic catalyst such as pyridine, dimethylaminopyridine and triethylamine.
Compounds of formula (3) noted above for use in the invention, wherein X is a chlorine atom and Y is a fluorine atom, may be processed with ammonia as dissolved in methanol under pressure to thereby substitute X with an amino group, and thereafter the protective group R1 in the resulting compounds may be de-protected in any suitable manner to give FddA. However, the usefulness of the compounds illustrated herein is not limited to this case.
To produce nucleoside derivatives of formula (8) noted above, for example, the compounds of formula (3) may be subjected to any of the following reaction steps.
To obtain the derivatives (8) wherein Z is an amino group, the compound (3) is processed with ammonia as dissolved in an alcohol such as methanol under pressure.
To obtain the derivatives (8) wherein Z is a hydroxyl group, the compound (3) is processed with an aqueous solution of an alkali hydroxide such as sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide.
To obtain the derivatives (8) wherein Z is a hydrogen atom, the compound (3) is processed with hydrogen in the presence of a reduction catalyst such as palladium-carbon.
To obtain the derivatives (8) wherein Z is an azido group, the compound (3) is processed with an alkali metal azide, such as sodium azide or lithium azide, in a solvent capable of dissolving the metal azide, such as dimethylformamide.
To obtain the derivatives (8) wherein Z is OR4 or SR4, the compound (3) is processed with a corresponding alkyl alcohol or alkyl thiol having been activated with an alkali metal halide such as a sodium halide.
To obtain the derivatives (8) wherein Z is NHR4, the compound (3) is processed with an alkylamine (corresponding to the intended substituent, such as methylamine), preferably in an inert solvent such as dimethylformamide.
In formula (8), R4 indicates an optionally phenyl-substituted lower (C1-5) alkyl group, such as a methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl and benzyl group.
Nucleoside derivatives of formula (9) may be produced with ease by de-protecting the compounds of formula (8). For example, compounds (8) wherein R1 is an acyl group such as an acetyl and benzoyl group may be processed with an alkali (e.g., sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide); those wherein R1 is an alkyl group such as a methoxymethyl and allyl group may be processed with an acid such as hydrochloric acid and acetic acid; those wherein R1 is an aralkyl group such as a benzyl or triphenylmethyl group may be processed with hydrogen in the presence of a reduction catalyst such as palladium-carbon and Raney nickel, or may be processed with an acid such as acetic acid; and those wherein R1 is a silyl group such as a trimethylsilyl group may be processed with tetraammonium fluoride or the like, to thereby give the derivatives of formula (9).
Alternatively, the above mentioned de-protecting reaction step at the 5xe2x80x2-potion thereof may be conducted and then substitution reaction with Z group may be conducted. In this case,the compound (3) firstly may be subjected to such above deprotecting step at the protective group R1 in the same manner as above to give the derivative (8xe2x80x2), and then thus obtained derivative (8xe2x80x2) may be subjected to substitution with a group Z at its 6-halogen atom to give the compound (9) also in the same manner as above.

Methods for producing nucleoside derivatives and intermediates therefor


A dressing suitable for tires and plastic automotive trim is an alkaline, aqueous emulsion, free from silicone oil, and contains a non-film forming acrylic polymer, an oxidized polyethylene wax, tributoxyethyl phosphate, hydrophilic carbon black, a non-ionic surfactant, and a biocide. The dressing, when applied to a tire or plastic automotive trim produces a lasting, luxurious luster.

Conventional tire and plastic trim dressing compositions contain silicone oils in petroleum distillates or as water emulsions. While such tire dressing compositions, when applied to the sidewall of a tire produce a shiny appearance, these dressings attract dirt and dust, require frequent cleaning, and must be re-applied regularly. Such dressings also are relatively short lived and are readily removed from the sidewall in a rainstorm or during washing of the vehicle.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a tire dressing that provides long-lasting shine, is easy to apply, and does not attract dirt. The present dressing composition satisfies this need and provides a composition that enhances appearance but does not attract dirt and the like.


A diversity satellite system using a trailer satellite concept. The main satellite is placed into orbit and the trailer satellite, typically a much smaller satellite, is in orbit with the main satellite. The main satellite and trailer satellite are communicating with one another by crosslinks. In this way, two alternative geometric configurations are possible: a first geometric configuration direct from the ground station to the first satellite, and a second geometric configuration to the main satellite from the ground station via the trailer satellite. This enables avoiding interference.

The present invention relates to compensation of communications when different satellite systems overlap with one another.
Satellite systems require communication between a base station on the ground and a satellite in orbit. The base station on the ground needs to track the satellite in order to receive and transmit the information to the satellite.
As more satellites are used in low to medium earth orbits, it becomes more likely that two satellites will interfere with one another. Two satellites can interfere when both enter the beam of the same base station on the same frequency. This could interrupt or degrade transmissions to both of the satellites.
A few different solutions to this problem are known. One uses so-called site diversity in which two antennas are located a certain distance apart. This has a number of problems, including requiring two large antennas, and a long terrestrial connecting link (for example tens or hundreds of miles). This is a costly solution. This distance can cause a phase shift between the transmissions to or from the two antennas.
The present system defines using a special trailer satellite to avoid the interference.


An ink-jet head includes a holder having first reference surfaces arrayed at a predetermined pitch in a main scanning direction. A plurality of segment chips is held on the holder. Each of the plurality of segment chips has an ink chamber plate and nozzles, each of the ink chamber plates having a flat surface on which grooves forming ink chambers are arrayed in a row perpendicular to the main scanning direction. Each of the ink chamber plates has a second reference surface extending from and coplanar with the flat surface. The second reference surfaces of the ink chamber plates of the plurality of segment chips are in contact with the first reference surfaces of the holder so that the nozzles of the respective segment chips are positioned on the holder at the pitch in the main scanning direction, and the plurality of segment chips are fixed to the holder.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to ink-jet heads, and more particularly to an ink-jet head of a color printer which is used for various systems including copiers, facsimiles, computers, wordprocessors or the like.
(2) Description of the Related Art
Generally, an ink-jet head 10, as shown in FIG. 10A, has a yellow segment chip 12, a magenta segment chip 13, a cyan segment chip 14 and a black segment chip 15 which are held by a holder 11. These segment chips are arrayed in parallel in the holder 11 in this order. In FIG. 10A, "X" indicates a main scanning direction in which the ink-jet head 10 is moved, and "Y" indicates a sub-scanning direction in which a sheet of paper is delivered.
The segment chips 12, 13, 14 and 15 respectively include nozzles 12a, 13a, 14a and 15a. The nozzles of two of the segment chips 12-15 are spaced apart at a given distance in the main scanning direction X, and the nozzles for each of the segment chips 12-15 are spaced apart at a given distance in the sub-scanning direction Y. In FIG. 10A, "S" indicates a pitch between the nozzles of two of the segment chips 12 through 15 in the main scanning direction X.
FIG. 10B is an enlarged view of a portion "A" of the ink-jet head 10 of FIG. 10A. As shown in FIG. 10B, the arrangement of the nozzles of one of the segment chips 12-15 deviates from the arrangement of the nozzles of another segment chip with a given pitch in the sub-scanning direction Y. In FIG. 10B, "Q" indicates a pitch between the nozzles of the segment chips 12 through 15 in the sub-scanning direction Y.
If the ink-jet head 10 of the above-mentioned type is designed to provide a resolution of about 300 dpi (dots per inch), in order to produce an ink-jet head having this resolution, it is necessary to join together the holder 11 and the segment chips 12-15 with the pitch S being set within a tolerance of .+-.5 .mu.m and the pitch Q being set within a tolerance of .+-.5 .mu.m. Thus, the volume production of the ink-jet head 10 requires delicate assembly operations and accurate adjustments.
Therefore, in order to attain volume production, it is desired to provide a structure of an ink-jet head which provides a required level of accuracy for positioning the components at a low cost while requiring only simple assembly operations.
As disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 7-40531, a conventional method of production of an ink-jet head uses an automatic gripper and a positioning block. The ink-jet head has segment chips held by a holder, similar to the ink-jet head 10 of FIG. 10A. When the ink-jet head is assembled, the holder is fixed to the positioning block, and the automatic gripper holds and moves the segment chip relative to the positioning block. The segment chips are set by the automatic gripper at given locations within the holder. At this time, base plates attached to the segment chips are placed into grooves of the holders. The base plates attached to the segment chips are then bonded to the holder using adhesive agent.
In the conventional method of the above-mentioned publication, the structure of the ink-jet head is not adequate to provide accurate positioning of the nozzles of the segment chips on the holder. The base plates are bonded to the holder by the adhesive agent, and the pitch between the nozzles of the segment chips held on the holder may be affected by a curing condition of the adhesive agent. Further, the segment chips are fixed to the holder through the base plates, which may cause a deviation of the positions of the segment chips from the accurate positions of the nozzles. Therefore, it is difficult for the conventional method to provide accurate positioning of the nozzles of the segment chips on the holder.
Further, the conventional method of the above-mentioned publication has to use the automatic gripper to place the segment chips on the holder, and it is difficult for the conventional method to produce the ink-jet head at a low cost.

Ink-jet head for providing accurate positioning of nozzles of segment chips on a holder


The invention concerns a device for sealing a bottle containing a sparkling wine and includes a stopper, particularly made of cork or a synthetic material, capable of being inserted in the neck of the bottle, maintained thereon by a wire cap, and run through in the axial direction, by a conduit having first and second ends capable of communicating respectively with the bottle""s internal volume and external volume. The second end is closed by a retractable closer. The device is characterized in that the stopper is axially run through by an orifice designed to receive the conduit and having an adjusted and tight cross-section relative to the conduit external section, the latter being provided at its second end, with a support flange capable of resting against the stopper upper surface.

(1) Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a device for ensuring the sealing of a bottle containing sparkling wine and includes a plug, namely made of cork or of synthetic material, capable of being inserted into the neck of said bottle, maintained on the latter through a cork wiring, and through which passes, in axial direction, a duct including a first and a second end capable of communicating with the inner volume or the outer volume, respectively, of the bottle, said second end being closed by a retractable seal.
This invention will find its application in the field of the manufacture of devices for closing bottles containing sparkling wine.
(2) Description of Related Art
Plugs capable of being inserted into the neck of a bottle containing sparkling wine are already known.
The latter produces indeed pressurized gases likely to expulse said plug that, in order to avoid such an expulsion, is completed with a cork wiring capable of co-operating with said neck and aimed at maintaining said plug on the bottle.
Now, at the moment of opening such a bottle of sparkling wine and after having removed the cork wiring, it often happens that, due to this gas pressure, the plug cannot be held under control by the person who removes the plug.
In addition to the fact that such a plug, propelled at high speed, can cause material damage, it is also capable of injuring somebody, which is of course even more serious and therefore unacceptable.
In order to cope with this problem, there have already been devised devices allowing degassing a bottle prior to proceeding to opening it.
In particular, mechanically expandable plugs are known, which are therefore radially pressure-released before the cork wiring is removed, while creating a passageway allowing the gases to be released. As a matter of fact, such plugs are of a complex design and necessarily made of synthetic material, which undeniably limits their application.
German Patent 3901711 describes a sealing device for a bottle containing sparkling wine. Such a device is in the form of a plug through which passes a duct including an inner channel at the level of which is provided for a internal thread. The latter is capable of cooperating with the external thread of a threaded rod screwed into said duct. Such a device allows, through unscrewing said rod, the release of the gases contained in the bottle.
One should note that in such a device the rod as well as the duct are made of synthetic material. In this respect, one should note that it is particularly difficult to achieve an appropriate tightness between the external thread of the rod and the internal thread of the duct, this with a rod and a duct made of such synthetic material. Hence, one notices many leaks at the level of the cooperation between the external thread and the internal thread of this device, which is not acceptable for sparkling wine, in particular for high-quality wine.
This invention allows coping with the drawbacks of the sealing device known in the state of the art, and this through a new, particularly astute device.
To this end, the invention relates to a device for ensuring the sealing of a bottle containing sparkling wine and includes a plug, namely made of cork or of synthetic material, capable of being inserted into the neck of said bottle, maintained on the latter through a cork wiring, and through which passes, axially, a hole for receiving a duct including a first and a second end capable of communicating with the inner volume or the outer volume, respectively, of the bottle, said second end being closed by a retractable seal, characterized in that said hole has a cross-section tightly fitting the outer cross-section of said duct, the latter being provided, at the level of its second end, with a resting flange, on the one hand, capable of resting against the upper surface of said plug and, on the other hand, against which said seal defined by a lip is inserted.
According to an additional feature, the ratio between the cross-section of the duct and the cross-section of the hole in the plug varies between 1.05 and 1.36.
More specifically, the ratio between the cross-section of the duct and the cross-section of the hole in the plug is of about 1.15 and, preferably, the cross-section of said duct is of about 3 mm, while that of the hole is of about 2.6 mm.
Another feature of this invention relates to said duct, which is made of a food-type semi-rigid synthetic material, preferably PET.
According to an additional feature, the second end of said duct includes a portion protruding out of said plug and, through distortion, namely through a raise in temperature, defines the resting flange.
Another peculiarity of this invention is that said seal is defined by a lip inserted against the resting flange.
As a matter of fact, said lip is inserted against the flange through heat sealing.
According to an additional feature, the plug receives, at the level of its upper surface, a cap capable of cooperating with said cork wiring and provided with an opening aimed at providing access to the retractable seal.
As a matter of fact, the opening of said cap has a substantially circular shape and has a diameter varying between 8 and 12 mm, preferably equal to 10 mm, so as to allow seizing said cap, through magnetization, to place it on the plug.
Another feature is that said plug has an outer diameter and that the ratio between the outer diameter of the plug and the inner diameter of the neck varies between 1.52 and 1.7, this ratio being preferably equal to 1.64.
The advantages of this invention reside in that said device authorizes an evacuation of the gases contained in a bottle of sparkling wine, by proceeding to removing the retractable seal. This allows creating inside said bottle a pressure in the range of that of the atmospheric pressure, which impedes the plug from being expulsed when the cork wiring is removed.
As a matter of fact, one should note that the duct is inserted by force into the plug, before the latter is placed into the neck of the bottle. In this respect, one should note that said duct is made of semi-rigid material allowing, on the one hand, its insertion by force into the plug and, on the other hand, placing the latter in the neck, this without suffering damages despite the stresses exerted on the sealing device according to the invention during its manufacture and its putting in place.
This duct as well as, eventually, said plug are, as a matter of fact, defined so as to allow placing the sealing device according to the invention on the bottle by means of a corking machine of a traditional design usually used for ensuring the placing of traditional plugs, namely of massive cork. Thus, said sealing device according to the invention does not require designing a new corking machine, but advantageously allows using existing machines.
During the process of placing such a sealing device, one proceeds, after inserting the plug into the neck and before placing said cork wiring, to covering said plug with a cap, the handling of the latter occurring through magnetization. In this respect, one should observe that the size of the opening in this cap is so defined as to advantageously allow seizing, through magnetization, said cap by means of an appropriate organ an existing corking machine of a traditional design is provided with.
The presence of this opening at the level of said cap advantageously allows acceding to the lip of the retractable seal, in order to ensure its removal, while maintaining the cork wiring in place on the bottle.
This invention will be better understood when reading the following description, with reference to the attached drawing.

Sealing device for a bottle containing sparkling wine


A rotation detector includes a rotor having a shaft. Projections are located at predetermined intervals on the periphery of the rotor and extend in an axial direction. Magnets are located between the projections and the shaft. The flux of each magnet is detected by a corresponding magnetism detection element. Each magnetism detection element has magnetic resistors. Movement of the projections changes the direction of flux of the magnets. Each resistor is switched between a first state, in which its magnetic resistance is great, and a second state, in which its magnetic resistance is small, in accordance with the change of the flux direction. The resistors are divided into two groups. The groups are substantially symmetrical relative to a centerline of the groups such that, when the direction of the flux changes, the resistors in one group are in the opposite state from the resistors in the other group. The centerline of changes in the direction of the flux matches the centerline of the resistor groups.

The present invention relates to a rotation detector, and more specifically, to a rotation detector including a rotor having magnetic sensing elements.
FIG. 10 illustrates how an absolute position detection type detector detects rotational position. The rotation detector includes a rotor 30, which is fixed to a rotating shaft and integrally rotates with the shaft. N pole zones 32 and S pole zones 33 are alternately formed at sixty degree intervals on the rotor 30 in a circumferential direction. At positions facing the rotor 30, first to third magnetic resistance elements 31 are arranged around the axis O of the rotor 30 at forty-degree intervals. Each of the first to third resistance elements 31 detects the N pole zone 32 and the S pole zone 33, which alternately pass by the resistance elements 31 at sixty-degree intervals during the rotation of the rotor 30.
When the N pole zone 32 is detected, the first to third resistance elements 31 respectively output H-level signals SG1, SG2, SG3. When the S pole zone 33 is detected, the resistance elements 31 respectively output L-level signals SG1, SG2, SG3. When each resistance element 31 detects a change from the N pole zone 32 to the S pole zone 33, each of the signals SG1, SG2, SG3 changes from the H level to the L level. Contrarily, when each resistance element 31 detects a change from the S pole zone 33 to the N pole zone 32, each of the signals SG1, SG2, SG3 changes from the L level to the H level.
As shown in FIG. 10, the signals SG1, SG2, SG3 of the resistance elements 31 change gradually between the L and H levels. The reason for this is that the direction of magnetic flux changes gradually when the detected zone changes from the N pole zone 32 to the S pole zone 33. Three comparators (not shown) respectively receive the signals SG1, SG2, SG3 and adjust the waveforms of the signals SG1, SG2, SG3, thus generating detection signals S1, S2, S3 that change sharply between the L and H levels.
More specifically, each comparator compares an output signal with a reference value, which is a middle level between the H level and the L level. When the output signal is greater than the reference value, the comparator generates an H level detection signal S1, S2, S3. When the output signal is lower than the reference value, the comparator generates an L level detection signal S1, S2, S3. The reference value is the level of the signals SG1, SG2, SG3 output when the border between the N pole zone 32 and the S pole zone 33 passes by each of the first to third resistance elements 31. When any one of the detection signals S1, S2, S3 changes from the L level to the H level or from the H level to the L level, the rotational position of the rotor 30 (or rotation shaft) is determined based on the state of the other detection signals. In the case of FIG. 10, the rotational position (absolute position) is detected in the range of zero to hundred twenty degrees at intervals of twenty degrees.
However, it is difficult to precisely form the N pole zone 32 and the S pole zone 33 alternately at sixty-degree intervals on the rotor 30 in the circumferential direction. Accordingly, the rotational position is not detected at twenty-degree intervals with precision at the point when the detection signals S1, S2, S3 change from the L level to the H level or from the H level to the L level.
The objective of the present invention is to provide a rotation detector that detects rotational position with high precision.
To achieve the foregoing and other objectives and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, a rotation detector is provided. The rotation detector includes a rotor having a shaft, magnets and magnetism detection elements. Axial projections are located at predetermined intervals about the rotor. The magnets are located between the projections and the shaft. Each magnetism detection element detects magnetism of corresponding one of the magnets and includes a plurality of magnetic resistors. A movement of the projections changes the flux of the magnets. Each resistor is switched between a first state, in which its resistance is great, and a second state, in which its resistance is small. The resistors are divided into two groups. The groups are substantially symmetrical relative to a group centerline such that, when the direction of the flux changes, the resistors in one group are in the opposite state from that of the resistors in the other group. The centerline of changes in the direction of the flux caused by movements of the projections matches the group centerline.
Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention.

Rotation detector having a plurality of magnetism detection elements, a plurality of magnetic resistors which are able to switch the resistance from great to small and vice-versa

Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho


A container comprising a body portion and a neck portion, the neck portion having a pump dispenser thereon, the pump dispenser comprising a pump mechanism, a dip tube on one end of the pump mechanism, a pump outlet on another end of the pump mechanism, the dip tube extending from the pump mechanism into the body portion, the body portion containing a liquid, and a motion element, the motion element being captive within the dip tube and adapted to be movable within the dip tube under the action of liquid flow through the dip tube, and at least a portion of the body portion being transparent, a decorative effect resulting from the motion of the motion element being visible from an exterior of the container. Also disclosed is a method of providing an enhanced display by a dispensing container during dispensing of a liquid from the container.

Dispensing containers with dip tubes are used to store and dispense a range of personal care products. These include hand soaps, hand and body lotions, shampoos and body cleansing gels. There is a constant need to enhance the appearance of these containers. Various prior patent specifications disclose structures intended to enhance the appearance of the container, and some exhibit a dynamic, moving feature which is operable during dispensing. Examples of such US Patents are: U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,729,500, 6,345,731, 6,279,778, 6,592,007, 6,006,958, 1,916,646, 2,590,279, 1,976,762, 5,426,877, 5,937,554, 6,073,373 and 6,233,856. However, such constructions have a limited visual effect and/or are complicated in construction. U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,954,669, 6,276,566, and 6,918,510 disclose the provision of static decoration associated with the dip tube within a dispensing container.
The present invention aims to improve the dynamic enhancement of the appearance of a container and its product during use.
The present invention also aims to provide a simple and reliable structure which can be dynamically operated by the user during product dispensing.
The present invention further aims to provide a dispensing structure which functionally indicates product dispensing as well as enhancing the appearance of the container and its product during product dispensing.

Dispensing container with enhanced appearance


A system for a clinical lab that is capable of automatically processing, including sorting, of multiple specimen containers. The system comprises a central controller, a workstation, one or more analyzers, and an automated centrifuge. The workstation has automatic detectors for detecting the presence of a holder holding specimen containers. The workstation has a bar code reader for reading bar codes on the containers. The system has a transport subsystem, preferably a workstation robotic arm and an analyzer robotic arm for transporting the specimen containers, moving them to and from the workstation, to and from the analyzers, and to and from the centrifuge. The centrifuge is loaded with buckets containing specimen containers. The workstation can be provided with a balance system for balancing the weight of the buckets used. The workstation can also have a decapper for automatically removing caps from the specimen containers.

The present invention relates generally to systems for the automation of laboratory tests, and particularly testing of biological specimens.
Laboratory testing has changed and improved remarkably over the past 70 years. Initially, tests or assays were performed manually, and generally utilized large quantities of serum, blood, or other biological fluids. However, as mechanical technology developed in the industrial workplace, similar technology was introduced into the clinical laboratory. With the introduction of new technology, methodologies were also improved resulting in improved quality of the results produced by the individual instruments, and a decrease in the amount of specimen required to perform each test.
Instruments have been developed to increase the efficiency of testing procedures by reducing turnaround time and decreasing the volumes necessary to perform various assays. Exemplary of such instruments are the Synchron™ line of automated analyzers available from Beckman Instruments of Fullerton, Calif. Such instruments are capable of automatically analyzing a large number of blood specimens and a large number of analytes, providing reliable, accurate, and fast analysis of specimens.
There remains room for improvement in the operations of clinical laboratories, in spite of the advances that have been made. For example, significant labor is still required for sample preparation. Sample preparation can include the sorting of specimens for processing, centrifugation, and removal of the caps of containers containing the specimens. Centrifugation requires loading multiple specimen containers, which are typically test tubes, into centrifuge buckets, balancing the weight of the buckets so the centrifuge is balanced, loading the buckets into the centrifuge, closing the centrifuge lid, centrifuging, opening the lid, removing the buckets, and then removing the test tubes from the buckets. All these operations are labor intensive, increasing the cost of laboratory analysis. Moreover, these labor intensive steps can lead to operator error. Also, human involvement always involves the risk of contamination of specimens by the operator, and exposure of the operator to dangerous biological substances.
There have been attempts to improve automation include the use of conveyor systems for conveying specimens to analyzers, such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,178,834 and 5,209,903. A difficulty with using conveyor systems is that they generally are part of a total integrated system, which system includes special analyzers and other handling equipment. Thus a clinical laboratory that wishes to switch to a conveyor system may need to replace its entire existing system, with attendant high capital investment and significant training expense for the operators.
Another common problem in clinical laboratory systems is how to deal with "STAT" specimens. These are specimens that need immediate attention. For example, specimens from patients in the emergency room often require "STAT" analysis so attending physicians can determine the cause of the medical emergency. Present clinical systems currently depend on operator intervention to interrupt the normal flow of work to be certain that the STAT samples get immediate attention. However, in the hustle and bustle of a clinical laboratory these STAT samples and specimens do not always get the immediate attention they need.
Laboratory centrifuges of the prior art typically have a high-speed motor-driven spindle, a plurality of holders for test-tubes, test-tube racks and/or vials being provided at respective angularly spaced stations of a head assembly of the spindle, the head assembly being located within a tub-shaped cavity and surrounded by a safety ring, the centrifuge also having a safety-latched door for covering the cavity during operation of the spindle. The spindle is driven at a selected speed which can be as high as from about 3600 RPM up to about 100,000 RPM.
A number of challenges are associated with automation of centrifugation. For example:
1. It is desired to bypass centrifuging in some cases;
2. Access to the centrifuge is impeded by the presence of a protective cover, which typically swings vertically between open and closed positions;
3. Inordinate expense is associated with automating the cover and protecting against persons being injured during movement thereof;
4. It is necessary to have the centrifuge balanced within approximately 10 grams before high-speed operation can commence; and
5. Many processes are inordinately burdened by the time required for spinning the samples, particularly when lengthy periods are needed for loading and unloading the centrifuge, for programming spin cycles, and for accelerating and decelerating the centrifuge.
In some centrifuges of the prior art, a spindle head can be indexed to one of a plurality of rest positions for facilitating loading and unloading at corresponding angularly spaced receptacle stations of the spindle head assembly. However, these centrifuges are undesirably complex and expensive to provide in that separate motors and controls are used for the indexing and for high-speed operation; a further consequence being degraded high-speed performance resulting from added inertia that is associated with the indexing motor.
Accordingly, there is a need for a system that can automate the sample handling and sample preparation process, including the centrifugation for analytical procedures, including in particular, clinical laboratories. It is desirable that the system can be used with existing equipment, i.e., existing equipment does not need to be replaced, and can be used with a wide variety of existing analytical equipment. Further, system throughput should be only minimally affected by specimens requiring centrifugation. Moreover, it is desirable that the system recognize and expeditiously handle STAT samples, minimize the health risks associated with contacting biological samples, and minimize the chance that specimens will be inadvertently contaminated by operator error.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A routing mechanism provides network segmentation preservation by route distribution with segment identification, policy distribution for a given VPN segment, and encapsulation/decapsulation for each segment using an Ethernet VLAN_ID, indicative of the VPN segment (subnetwork). Encapsulated segmentation information in a message packet identifies which routing and forwarding table is employed for the next hop. A common routing instance receives the message packets from the common interface, and indexes a corresponding VRF table from the VLAN ID, or segment identifier, indicative of the subnetwork (e.g. segment). In this manner, the routing instance receives the incoming message packet, decapsulates the VLAN ID in the incoming message packet, and indexes the corresponding VRF and policy ID from the VLAN ID, therefore employing a common routing instance over a common subinterface for a plurality of segments (subnetworks) coupled to a particular forwarding device (e.g. VPN router).

In a typical campus network environment, a set of related local area networks (LANs) are often co-located in a common geographic area. In such a campus environment, each of the LANs, or subnetworks, may define single or multiple groups of users interconnected in a switched Ethernet framework. Campus LANs at different locations within an organization are typically interconnected via an Enterprise WAN or Service Provider network. Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) have traditionally been used by Service Providers to isolate different customers from each other over their networks. ATM and Frame Relay mechanisms provide Layer 2 VPN traffic isolation, where as IPSec and MPLS typically provide L3 VPN traffic isolation between customers. The need for traffic isolation or segmentation within Campus networks is increasing because of both additional security requirements and because more Enterprise organizations are acting as Service Providers for their departments, guests, subsidiaries, etc. Many enterprises wish to run multiple logically isolated networks within the same campus or data center environment. This is typically achieved through the use of layer 2 Virtual LAN (VLAN) technology where groups of devices and users are assigned to VLANs represented by a given VLAN Identifier (VLAN ID) in the Ethernet frame. The use of VLAN technology to create many, parallel, network-wide segments becomes cumbersome, unreliable, and prone to configuration error. The scope of VLAN segmentation is usually bounded to a site, building, or section of a building to isolate layer 2 traffic, broadcast domains, and spanning tree domains. Historically, an enterprise has turned to Layer 3 (L3) routing (e.g. routing based on IP addresses) to interconnect VLANs and used L3 and L4 filters or access control lists to provide traffic separation and isolation. As the enterprise began to distribute IP services such as Voice-Over-IP (VoIP) end-points, additional security controls, guest VLANs, and quarantine VLANs through out the campus and data center, the use of traffic filtering technology made traffic isolation between the user VLANs more complicated.
Specifically, the use of Layer 3 (L3) access control lists (e.g. IP address filtering) between the VLANs made management and security much more cumbersome. The net effect is the trend towards implementation of L3 VPN methods deeper into the campus and data center. The L3 VPN methods in use today require VLANs to be assigned to VPNs, a unique routing process per VPN, and some form of tunneling technology (GRE, IPSec, MPLS) to be used to provide traffic separation between VPNs across the network. The multiple instances of Interior Gateway Protocol (IGP) processes, Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) processes, tunnel adjacencies, and/or MPLS adds significant complexity to the implementation of traffic segmentation across a switched campus infrastructure.
Some enterprises have implemented Multi-VRF technology with VLAN segmentation as a means of providing the VPN services in lieu of MPLS. This solution requires multiple sub-interfaces and multiple routing instances (e.g. routing processes) to correspond to each of the virtual route forwarding tables defined for each of the VPNs. Establishing multiple sub-interfaces and routing instances (one per VPN) invokes substantial computing overhead and multiplies the provisioning complexity. The individual routing instances maintain the virtual route forwarding table (VRF) and routing policy for each VPN. The individual VRFs are accessed through conventional sub-interfaces upon which traffic is received and forwarded. In other words, each VPN partition providing traffic segmentation requires a unique routing instance, a set of distinct sub-interfaces, and an associated routing policy. In other words, each conventional VPN subnetwork triggers another IGP routing instance. A more efficient network segmentation model is required that simplifies the provisioning and optimizes the computational requirements.

System and methods for network segmentation


This disclosure relates to an electrified vehicle having remote terminals accessible via a charging port door. An example electrified vehicle a charging port configured to couple to a plug to charge the electrified vehicle, and remote terminals. The electrified vehicle can be jump started via the remote terminals. Further, the electrified vehicle includes a charging port door moveable between a closed position, a normal open position in which the charging port is accessible such that a plug may couple to the charging port to charge the electrified vehicle, and an extended open position in which the charging port door has moved beyond the normal open position. The remote terminals are accessible when the charging port door is in the extended open position.

Electrified vehicles differ from conventional motor vehicles because electrified vehicles are selectively driven using one or more electric machines powered by a traction battery. The electric machines can drive the electrified vehicles instead of, or in addition to, an internal combustion engine. Example electrified vehicles include hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), fuel cell vehicles (FCVs), and battery electric vehicles (BEVs).
The traction battery is a relatively high-voltage battery that selectively powers the electric machines and other electrical loads of the electrified vehicle. The traction battery of a plug-in electrified vehicle may be charged at public or private electrified vehicle charging stations, for example. Plug-in electrified vehicles include a charging port configured to couple to a plug of the electrified vehicle charging station. When the plug is coupled to the charging port, the electrified vehicle charging station may charge the traction battery.

Electrified vehicle including remote terminals accessible via charging port door


A single box gabion is disclosed. The gabion comprises interconnected side walls. Each side wall comprises at least one substantially closed side wall element panel that prevents a gabion fill material from falling through the side wall without the aid of a gabion lining material. The single box gabion can be coupled together to form a modular gabion structure to protect military or civilian installations from weapons assault or from elemental forces, such as flood waters, lava flows, avalanches, soil instability, slope erosion and the like.

Gabions are temporary or semi-permanent fortification structures which are used to protect military or civilian installations from weapons assault or from elemental forces, such as flood waters, lava flows, avalanches, slope erosion, soil instability and the like.
WO-A-90/12160 discloses wire mesh cage structures useful as gabions. The cage structure is made up of pivotally interconnected open mesh work frames which are connected together under factory conditions so that the cage can fold concertina-wise to take a flattened form for transportation to site, where it can be erected to take an open multi-compartmental form for filling with a suitable fill material, such as sand, soil, earth or rocks.
WO-A-00/40810 also concerns a multi-compartmental gabion which folds concertina-wise for transportation, and which comprises side walls extending along the length of the multi-compartmental gabion, the side walls being connected at spaced intervals along the length of the gabion by partition walls which are formed from two releasably connected sections, which after use of the gabion can be released and the gabion unzipped for recovery purposes.
Existing gabions have certain disadvantages with respect to construction and longevity. For example, such gabions frequently comprise a wire mesh cage structure lined with a geotextile material, the lining adding to the cost and complexity of the gabion structure, and constituting a significant limitation on the functionality of the gabion after deployment over a long period of time. Particularly in harsh environmental conditions (intense sunlight, wind, rain, snow, sand or salt spray, or a combination of any two or more of these), the geotextile material tends to degrade and this can weaken the functionality of the gabion by, for example, the occurrence of rips, tears or holes in the liner, through which the gabion fill material can fall.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved gabion. There is also a need for improved multi-compartmental and single box gabions with the adaptability to form larger structures such as modular walls.


A keyboard includes a keyboard membrane where the membrane comprises a top layer, a spacer layer and a bottom layer. The spacer layer has interconnecting voids that are connected to the atmosphere by a common vent. A patch made of a hydrophobic material prevents water entering the keyboard membrane via the vent, but allows the air pressure inside the voids to remain balanced with the atmospheric air pressure.

The present invention relates to a keyboard such as that included in a self-service terminal, such as an automated teller machine (ATM).
The keyboard of a self-service terminal may comprise a matrix of mechanically operable keys supported by a keyboard membrane below. The keyboard membrane contains a void that is connected to the air outside the membrane by a vent. The keyboard can be exposed to rain if the terminal is located outside. Water may thus seep between the keys and into the keyboard membrane below via the vent, damaging the membrane.
What is needed therefore is a keyboard which is more resistant to damage by water.


An interactivity system is provided that tracks interactivity between a target entity and participant entities and identifies entities whose interactions satisfy an interactivity criterion. The interactivity system maintains for the target entity interactivity models between the target entity and each participant entity, with each interactivity model modeling the interactions between the target entity and that participant entity. The interactivity system dynamically updates the interactivity models as notification of interactions are received. Upon receiving a query that specifies an interactivity criterion, the interactivity system analyzes the interactivity models to determine whether the interactivity criterion is satisfied. When an interactivity criterion is satisfied, the interactivity system sends a response to the query indicating that the interactivity criterion is satisfied along with the identity of the entity that satisfies the interactivity criterion.

A social network consists of individuals and their relationships to other individuals. For example, within a company, the employees and their relationships to other employees, such as being members of the same development team or the same management committee, form a social network. Each of the employees may also have relationships to their family members and other non-family friends. Each relationship within a social network specifies a direct relationship between two individuals, such as being members of the same team. Individuals may also have indirect relationships with other individuals. For example, Tom and Mary may not know each other, but both Tom and Mary have a relationship with Jim. In such a case, Tom and Mary would have an indirect relationship to each other through Jim. The distance (number of relationships) between two individuals within a social network is commonly referred to as their "degree of separation." For example, Tom and Mary would have two degrees of separation.
A social network that identifies individuals and their relationships with other individuals can be automatically derived from data stored by computer systems. Many individuals use their computer systems to store indications of relationships to other individuals. In particular, many software applications allow a user to explicitly store names of others with whom the user has a relationship. The names (or other identifiers such as electronic mail addresses) of the other users are stored in address lists for electronic mail programs, in contact lists for instant messaging programs, in invitation lists for event organizing programs, and so on. In addition, the names of the other users can be derived from data that is not in an explicit list. For example, the names of users can be derived from the to, from, and cc fields of electronic mail messages, from meeting entries within a calendar, from letters stored as electronic documents, and so on. Each of these other users has a relationship, referred to as a direct relationship, with the user regardless of the "closeness" of the relationship. For example, a user may have a relationship with a co-worker and a relationship with a worker at another company that was cc'd on the same electronic mail message. In this example, the relationship with the co-worker may be closer than the relationship with the worker at the other company. The users with whom a user has a relationship are referred to generally as "contacts" of that user.
Valuable information can be derived from the mining of social networks. For example, a salesperson in the sales department of company may want to make a sales pitch to a target organization, but that salesperson may not have any contacts within the target organization. Traditionally, that salesperson would either make a cold call to someone at the target organization or try to find someone who can help facilitate such a contact, such as by asking fellow employees in person or via email if they can help. The making of a cold call has disadvantages because the person called may not be the best person in the target organization to field such a call or may simply not respond to such cold calls. The asking of fellow employees also has disadvantages because the employee with the best contact may not respond or may not even be asked. The automatic mining of the social networks of the company can help identify who has a relationship with someone at that target company. Further, the automatic mining might also identify which contact at the target organization has the most relationships with employees of the company, which employee of the company has a relationship with a contact of interest at the target company (e.g., a purchasing manager), and so on.
Although valuable information can be mined from a social network, the relationships automatically derived from data stored by computer systems may be somewhat misleading. Continuing with the example, a person in the mail room of the company may store in their contact list the names and addresses of people to whom mail is sent. That person's contact list may include the president of the target organization, the purchasing manager of the target organization, and so on. The automatic mining may identify that that person has the strongest relationship with the target organization, but, of course, that person would likely not be of much help in facilitating an introduction at the target organization.

Identifying entities based on interactivity models


A catheter handle includes a handle body having a proximal end and a distal end and a passage extending between the proximal end and the distal end. The handle body comprises a plurality of shell parts that can be separated to access an interior of the handle body. The handle body further includes a connector mounted at the proximal end of the handle body and a strain relief arranged at the distal end, the strain relief and the connector being removably arranged relative to the handle body.

Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.
Catheters are commonly used in medical practice to examine and treat the heart. They may be inserted into the cardiovascular system of the patient through small punctures in the skin. They may then extend through a vein into the heart where they sense the electrical activity of the heart. Some catheters may be able to treat the heart by ablating certain areas of the heart in the case of certain types of aberrant electrical activity. Catheters typically include a tubular structure such as a plastic tube with one or more electrodes attached to the tip of the tube, a deflection mechanism for guiding the tubular structure, and a control handle.
During their use in medical procedures, catheters are exposed to biological fluids in the human body. Because catheters come in contact with these bodily fluids, they are commonly designed to be single-use devices to avoid the transfer of viruses or bacteria from one patient to another. Disposing of the catheters after each procedure leads to significant expenses to the patient and the healthcare system, as well as creates a substantial amount of medical waste. Catheters, particularly the handles and sheaths of catheters, are typically an expensive piece of equipment. Catheter handles, in particular, often include proprietary electronics and other expensive components for increased functionality. These valuable components are lost when the device is disposed after a single use. Because catheters and catheter handles are expensive and their use produces a large amount of waste, certain institutions resterilize and reprocess catheters for re-use. Reprocessing single-use devices reduces the cost of a procedure and minimizes the medical waste generated.
Catheters, and catheter handles in particular, are typically fabricated as substantially integral devices where most components are joined together using permanent connections and seals. These types of catheter handles are difficult or impossible to resterilize reliably, and small particles of biological matter may be trapped within the catheter even after the sterilization process. In addition, because most components are permanently joined together, these components are lost when the catheter is disposed of after use, even if they were still fully functional.


A method for operating a driving system of a motor vehicle, in particular, the driving system having an internal combustion engine and at least one electric motor, and during warm-up of the internal combustion engine, the latter being loaded with a specifiable torque; and the at least one electric motor generating a torque at least at times, to unload or load the internal combustion engine. An actual torque of the internal combustion engine is compared to a specifiable first setpoint torque of the internal combustion engine; a difference of the actual torque from the first setpoint torque being formed; and a time integral being formed over the difference formed; and a fault being detected in the warm-up of the internal combustion engine, as a function of the time integral formed.

Motor vehicles are believed to be in the marketplace which are produced as hybrid vehicles and have a driving system which includes an internal combustion engine and at least one electric motor. A so-called "load-point shift" may be carried out using the electric motor, for example, which particularly also makes possible measures for lowering undesired exhaust gas emissions. One patent publication from this specialized field is German document DE 10 2009 027 641 A1, for example.

Method for operating a driving system, in particular, of a motor vehicle


A mooring device including two telescoping tubes, a pair of ropes for securing a boat to a dock or piling, and a spring biasing the ropes and/or tubes with respect to one another to adjust to changes in waves and/or tides, while maintaining the boat at a safe distance from the dock or piling.

The present invention relates to mooring devices for securing a boat to a piling, cleat, or other element of a dock, and more particular, to a spring line assembly, which is easy and convenient to handle and enables a boater to quickly moor and secure a boat.
Operators of boats are often faced with the task of safely and easily bringing boats to a stop adjacent to a dock and then trying to moor the boat with suitable docking lines or ropes. In the past, a boater had to often cast or throw a loose line to a person on the dock or attempt to throw a loop formed at the end of the line around the post or piling in order to secure the boat to the dock. As an alternative, boaters can use boat hooks to grapple for a post, while at the same time, attempt to keep the boat from smashing against the post. These prior methods are unreliable and often result in damage to the operator's boat or other boats that may be docked nearby.
Additionally, when the boat is moored to a dock and/or piling, via a rope around one of the boat's cleats attached to the dock, the rope generally has limited stretching capabilities. Thus, if the boat rocks and moves away from the dock, then the rope may become taut and pressure may be then put on the hull of the boat, especially at the location of the tied cleat. This may cause undesirable stress and fractures in the hull. Additionally, if the boat is secured too tightly, the boat will have greater and more frequent impacts with the dock. If the boat is secured too loosely to the dock, it is able to gain momentum before collision with the dock, allowing damage to the boat and/or dock. Wakes created by passing boats, persons moving about on the boat, or waves, will generally cause the boat to impact the docking object and/or place stress on the rope.
Marine bumpers may be used to cushion the boat from impact with the dock and/or pilings. These bumpers are generally placed between the boat and the docking object to dampen the impact between the two objects. However, there may still remain some stress applied to the boat cleats or some damage due to the impact of the boat, despite the use of marine bumpers.
To further explain the force that a boat receives while docked, a great deal can be explained by examining the mooring line used to moor a boat. It is very well known that the wake from a passing vessel or waves causes the mooring lines of the boat to first relax, gather some slack, and then, as the wave ebbs, the lines become taut, imparting a shock in the line, which is transmitted to the boat itself. The shocks applied are disruptive, as well as having deleterious effects on the mooring lines, boat, and dock. Repeated applications of impact loads gradually stretch and weaken the mooring lines, and can damage the boat and docking objects.
Therefore, there is a current need for an apparatus that is easy to use and has shock-absorbing qualities to help facilitate the safe mooring of a boat to a dock.


A cylindrical structural body for use in an image forming apparatus and a method of producing the same are disclosed. The structural includes a cylindrical sleeve and flanges or similar end members respectively affixed to opposite ends of the sleeve. The flanges can be firmly and easily affixed to the sleeve without causing the sleeve to deform. The structural body is therefore low cost and highly accurate.

The present invention relates to a copier, facsimile apparatus, laser printer or similar electrophotographic image forming apparatus and, more particularly, to a developing roller included in a developing device, a cleaning roller included in a cleaning device, or similar cylindrical structural body, and a method of producing the same. Also, the present invention relates to a developing roller which is a specific form of the cylindrical structural body, a method of producing the developing roller, and a developing device including the developing roller.
A developing roller included in a developing device, a cleaning roller included in a cleaning device and other magnet rollers belong to a family of cylindrical structural elements for the above application. The rollers each includes a cylindrical sleeve and flanges or similar end members respectively affixed to axially opposite ends of the sleeve. Some different methods have heretofore been proposed in order to affix the sleeve and flanges surely and accurately. However, the conventional methods are troublesome and expensive and fail to implement the sure and accurate fixation of the sleeve and flanges. It follows that a resisting torque and a pull strength available at the portions where the sleeve and flanges are affixed together are limited.

Cylindrical structural body for use in an image forming apparatus and method of producing the same


A tape recorder and/or a playback device for a multitrack tape utilizes a magnetic head having active parts for recording and/or reading microtracks with the active parts being arranged in a two-dimensional matrix within a substantially planar surface of the magnetic head. A pressure device assures contact between the microtracks and the active parts by acting on a backside surface of the tape opposite to the front side surface containing the magnetic head. A structure allows for positioning the magnetic head in front of either one of at least two macrotracks which bundle addressed microtracks. A portion of the tape surface is supported adjacent to the macrotrack bundling the addressed microtracks to prevent unwanted tape deformation.

The invention relates to a tape recorder and/or playback device for recording and/or reading on a multitrack tape.
In devices of the above mentioned type it is known to use a magnetic head to write and/or read tracks on a multitrack magnetic tape. A track is called a macrotrack when it bundles a plurality of smaller elementary microtracks. A magnetic head may comprise a plurality of active parts, each part being used to write and/or read in one microtrack at the time and the number of active parts being large enough to write in all the microtracks of a macrotrack simultaneously. An example for a device of the above mentioned type is a SDVCR (Stationary Digital Video Cassette Recorder) in which a stationary magnetic head is used to address all the microtracks over the whole width of the tape simultaneously (Reference 1: High-Data-Rate, High-Density Magnetic Tape Recorder Using Matrix Writing Head and Kerr Reading Head, J. C. Lehureau and J-P. Castera, THOMSON-CSF Central research Lab, Orsay, Proceedings of the 13th IEEE Symposium on Mass Storage Systems, Annecy, France, Jun. 12-16, 1994, pp127-130). The active parts of a SDVCR magnetic head are usually arranged in a two-dimensional matrix within a surface of the magnetic head. The surface containing the matrix of active parts is typically obtained by polishing a multi-layer structure until the active parts and their magnetic gaps appear on the surface. Surfaces obtained by this method are substantially planar, therefore a problem occurs when one tries to bring in contact all the active parts of the matrix with their corresponding microtracks at the tape surface. The tape which is very thin by nature will tend to loose contact above the relatively large and planar surface containing the matrix of active parts of the magnetic head. To assure the contact between the microtracks and the active parts an airflow system flattens the tape against the planar surface (Reference 2: Head to Tape Contact Characterization for a 384 Tracks Fixed Magnetic Head, F. Le Texier, N. Blanchard, J-M. Coutellier, THOMSON-CSF, Electrochemical Society Fall Meeting 91, Phoenix, U.S.A.).
The SDVCR magnetic head is typically designed to address a relatively large number of microtracks simultaneously, e.g. 1024 tracks. The complex technology used to produce the SDVCR magnetic head may cause relatively high production costs. In addition the volume needed to incorporate an airflow system turns out to have drawbacks, specially when integrating it in a compact and perhaps portable SDVCR.

Multitrack tape device using a movable magnetic head with a planar surface and including a tape supporting device


An audio control system installed on an electronic device includes a switch switching between a first mode and a second mode, a switching module, a microphone, a microphone control module, a speaker, a speaker control module, a signal radiating module, and a signal receiving module. When the switch is switched to the first mode, the switching module controls the microphone control module to transmit audio data of microphone to the signal radiating module to radiate the audio data via a wireless network. When the switch is switched to the second mode, the switching module controls the microphone control module to transmit the audio data of microphone to the speaker to make sound via the speaker control module.

Generally, a speaker of a communication device is used to project sound received via wireless transmission, but cannot amplify the sound received from a microphone of the communication device. Thus, when a user of the communication device wants to make a public speech, he has to turn to an audio amplifier and the other discreet speaker, which is very inconvenient and costly.

Audio control system and electronic device using same


When the data recording is performed on a magnetic tape in various recording densities, information relating to the recording density (recording-density related information) is recorded in the data recorded on the magnetic tape. Accordingly, recording and reproduction can be properly managed by referring to the recording-density related information, even if data in various recording densities are recorded on the same magnetic tape. Further, when the recording density is altered, the drive apparatus side switches over the recording density in accordance with the quality of recording data. Thus, in the case where the data writing is not possible due to a recording error, the recording density is switched over to a lower recording density to record the data without an error, and therefore a higher flexibility is provided to a data format to be recorded on the magnetic tape.

So-called tape streamer drives have been known as drive apparatuses capable of performing recording/reproduction of digital data on magnetic tape.
Such tape streamer drives have enormous storage capacities of, for example, from several tens to several hundreds of gigabytes, depending on the tape length of the tape cassette media. Consequently such drives are utilized in a wide range of applications, such as backups of the data recorded on the hard disk or other media of computers, and are also well-suited to storage of image and other data with large data sizes.
In such tape streamer drives, the magnetic tape is made to travel with the tape wound over a rotating drum through a predetermined wrap angle; in addition, the rotating drum is rotated, and by using a magnetic head on the rotating drum to perform recording/reproduction scanning using a helical scan method, high-density recording can be performed. Hence as is well known, data are recorded such that there are successive tracks in the length direction on the magnetic tape, formed so as to have a predetermined inclination angle with respect to the length direction.
Then, in the above tape streamer drives, a recording error may occur by reasons of, for example, a damage existed in an area on the magnetic tape or deterioration of S/N in recording data.
In such a case, for example, recording is retried and the recording of data is again carried out at the same recording position. Alternatively, the recording (rewrite) is newly performed on another area of the magnetic tape, while the area where the recording error occurred is treated as a dummy track (frame).
The above described method of performing retry or rewrite is effective when the recording error is caused by a damage, on the magnetic tape which is the recording medium. However, in the case where a recording error is caused by the deterioration of S/N itself, there is a high probability that the error occurs again when recording the data even after performing retry or rewrite, since the S/N itself of the recording data has not been improved. Accordingly, under the situation in which the S/N of the recording data is deteriorated, there may be a problem of difficulty in appropriately recording data by merely performing retry or rewrite.

Recording medium, recording method, and recording apparatus