The invention provides novel compounds useful as kinase inhibitors or as starting materials And/or intermediates in the synthesis of compounds useful as kinase inhibitors. The compounds have The general structure of formula (I)

It has long been established that proteins are reversibly modified in response to many extracellular and intracellular stimuli. One such mechanism is the phosphorylation of proteins by ATP, wherein a phosphate group is added to the hydroxyl group-bearing side chain of serine, threonine, or tyrosine residues. This reaction is catalyzed by enzymes known as protein kinases, which transfer the γ-phosphate group from ATP to the side-chain hydroxyl groups of substrate proteins. The reaction is reversible in a hydrolysis reaction catalyzed in situ by phosphatase enzymes. These phosphorylation and hydrolysis reactions have been established as critical to intracellular signaling processes, regulation of cellular functions, and activation or deactivation of cellular processes.
In mammals, protein kinases tend to fall within three groups: the serine-threonine kinases (S/TKs); the tyrosine kinases (TKs); and the relatively dual function kinases that act as both S/TKs and TKs. TKs have been identified as associated with cell proliferation, activation, or differentiation, and excessive TK activity has been observed in many disease states including benign and malignant proliferative disorders and immune system disorders. Certain TKs have also been identified as mediators of angiogenesis and therefore involved in the progression of cancer and other diseases involving inappropriate vascularization. For example, it has been found that chronic niyelogenous leukemia (CML) is a result of a chromosomal abnormality resulting in production of an a typical TK in the form of a BCR-ABL fusion protein. Inhibitors targeting that fusion protein have been made, and one such inhibitor, imatinib mesylate (the mesylate salt of 4-[(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)methyl]-N-[4-methyl-3-[[4-(3-pyridinyl)-2-pyrinmidinyl]amino]-phenyl]benzamide), is now commercially available under the tradename Gleevec. See, e.g., Carroll et al. (1997) Blood 90:4947, Zimmerman et al. (1997) Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 7:187, Bridges (2001) Chem. Rev. 101:2541, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,521,184 to Zimmerman.
A representative and important family of S/TK kinases are known as "protein kinase C" (PKC), which was identified in 1977 (Takai et al. (1977) J. Biol. Chem. 252:7603). PKC has 12 isoforms that fall into three groups, the conventional or c-PKCs, activated by diacylglycerol and calcium, the novel or n-PKCs, which do not require calcium for activation, and the a typical or a-PKCs, which require neither calcium nor diacylglycerol for activation. See Bridges (2001), supra, Nishizuka (1992) Science 258:607, and Dekker et al. (1994) Trends Biochem. Sci. 19:73. PKC and its various isoforms have been associated with a variety of disorders and diseases, including cancer, CNS disorders, Alzheimer's disease, cardiovascular disease, dermatological disorders, inflammation, autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetic complications.
Staurosporin, an indolocarbazole natural product, was identified as the first potent inhibitor of PKC, exhibiting an IC50 value of 2.7 nM. Tamaoki et al. (1986) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 135:397. Staurosporin is known to induce programmed cell death and has been used in conjunction with other anti-cancer drugs. Jacobson et al. (1996) J. Cell Biol. 133:1041.

While exhibiting inhibition in the low-nanomolar range, however, staurosporin inhibits five of the PKC isoforms with an IC50 below 10 nM, and inhibits many other kinases as well. The compound is not, therefore, useful as a selective PKC inhibitor.
Several additional inhibitors of PKC have been investigated for their inhibitory activity on the proliferation of several tumor cell lines. For example, the phorbol ester and bryostatins are known to bind and regulate PKC competitively with diacylglycerol. See, e.g., Wender et al. (1988) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85:7197, Wender et al. (1986) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 83:4214, Wender et al. (1998) Pure Appl. Chem. 70:539, and Wender et al. (1998) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 120:4534. Bryostatin 1, for example, has been established as a potent activator of the c-PKCs.

Although the bryostatins have been known for some time, their low natural abundance, difficulty in isolation, and severely limited availability through total synthesis have impeded efforts to advance their clinical development. Chemically synthesized simplified analogues of the bryostatins have been disclosed, however, and have exhibited PKC inhibitory activity; see U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2002/0137789 A1 to Wender et al.
Other classes of compounds known to bind to and regulate PKC are indolo[2,3-α]carbazoles and bisindolylmaleimides.

One recently developed bisindolylmaleimide, LY 333531, has been established as particularly selective for the β isoforms of PKC:

See Engel et al. (2000) Intl. J. Pharmaceutics 198(2):239, Jirousec et al. (1996) J. Med. Chem. 39(14):2664, U.S. Pat. No. 5,859,261 to Faul et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 6,117,861 to Engel et al.
While a number of kinase inhibitors have, accordingly, been studied and developed, there is an ongoing need for potent inhibitors that can be readily modified so as to achieve selectivity with respect to a particular kinase, and that can be readily synthesized from relatively simple starting materials. Optimal kinase inhibitors would also be quite potent while exhibiting very low toxicity.
The present invention is the result of extensive, systematic research in the design of novel kinase inhibitors in the form of isoindolone analogs, particularly analogs that derive from the use of staurosporin as a pharmacophoric template. To the best of applicants' knowledge, the compounds, compositions, and methods of the invention are completely unknown and completely unsuggested by the art.

Kinase inhibitors and associated pharmaceutical compositions and methods of use

Abstract: wherein A is a 3- to 8-membered ring, optionally substituted and/or heteroatom-containing, and R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, X, Y, Z, p, and q are as defined herein. The compounds may also be in the form of a salt, ester, amide, or other analog. In preferred compounds, A is a 5- to 8-membered ring, R1 is hydrogen, q is a bond, X is N, Y is C═O, Z is N, R2 contains a terminal amino moiety, p is 1, and R3 and R4 are linked to form a pyrrole ring fused to a second cyclic group. Pharmaceutical compositions and methods for using the compounds are also provided.

Board of Trustees of the LeLand Stanford Junior University


A device for combustion of moist fuel includes a combustion chamber with a moving fire grate disposed at a bottom portion thereof and a drum dryer located within the combustion chamber above the fire grate. The dryer drum rotates and includes therein an involuted drum in communication with a feeding apparatus external to the combustion chamber. The feeding apparatus transports fuel from a bin to the involuted drum. As the drum dryer rotates the fuel therein moves toward an end thereof and is dried by the heat of the combustion chamber. From an end of the drum dryer, the dried fuel falls onto the fire grate and is burned.

The present invention relates to a device for combustion of moist fuel in which a fire grate, on top of which the fuel burns, is mounted inside a combustion chamber. The mechanical arrangement is also provided with a fuel-feeding apparatus and a discharge channel for removing flue gas from the combustion chamber.
The humidity of the organic fuel such as wood chips and turf or the like used in combustion plants is generally too high for direct feeding from the storage into the combustion device. Such fuels are first dried in a separate desiccator and then fed into the combustion device using a separate feeding apparatus. A separate desiccator is expensive and consumes energy. Desiccation, as well as transfer to and away from the desiccator are all separate stages of the process, and each of them increases the processing expenses of the fuel.
In addition, the currently available combustion devices share the problem that even though the fuel is desiccated, it is still so damp that a long fire grate is necessary for successful combustion. The fuel is shifted along the grate, desiccating at the beginning and burning further away on the grate. A long grate requires a long combustion chamber, increasing the costs of the combustion device. The combustion process in large thermal power stations which use moist chip fuel, even up to 65 per cent in humidity, is based on long fire grates and ceramic masonry, enabling efficient evaporation, desiccation and combustion of the fuel. In order to burn properly, the fuel for currently existing small-sized boilers, front end furnaces and stokers must not exceed 35 per cent in humidity.
The purpose of the invention is to introduce a device for combustion of moist fuel, at the same time remedying defects of the currently available devices. Primarily, the purpose is to introduce a device with which no separate desiccator is needed and in which the fuel can be fed into the combustion chamber moister than in the currently available small-sized boilers or similar devices. Further, the purpose is to introduce a device in which the fuel does not need as many transferring stages as compared to the currently available devices, and, in which the combustion chamber and the fire grate are relatively short.
The purpose of the invention will be achieved with a device which is characterized in what has been stated in the patent claims.
The device constructed in accordance with the invention is provided with a drum dryer which is attached to a feeding apparatus and from which fuel is fed directly onto the grate. When the drum dryer is mounted inside the combustion chamber, the temperature inside the dryer is so high that the fuel fed in it dries effectively before it drops onto the grate. Thus, no separate dryer is needed, and the fuel need not be separately fed into nor removed from the dryer. Fuel processing costs will thus reduce and energy will be saved. Furthermore, the fuel dropping onto the fire grate will be so dry that the grate is no longer needed for desiccating the fuel, thus making it possible to use a relatively short grate. The combustion chamber can efficiently use fuel the humidity of which is approximately in the range of 35 to 55 per cent. One advantage is also that the device collects and utilizes the evaporation energy used in desiccating the fuel, increasing the efficiency of the device.
In an inexpensive application of the device the drum dryer is provided with an inner part with an involuted spiral directed towards the combustion chamber. The involuted structure allows unobstructed advancing movement of the fuel. At the same time, the fuel is constantly mixing and desiccating very efficiently. The transition distance of the fuel is .pi. times the internal diameter of the drum times the number of rising spirals, thus making the transition distance very long even in a relatively short drum dryer.
In another inexpensive further application the device is provided with external bearers for the drum dryer and with an actuator for running the dryer. When mounted outside the combustion chamber, the apparatuses are easy to service.
In accordance with the invention, the fire grate is mounted in a diagonal position, and the end of the drum dryer mounted in the combustion chamber reaches a position right above the upper end of the fire grate. In this arrangement the fuel will shift downwards from the position where it is being fed, thus allowing secure forward movement of the fuel on the grate and as well as constant combustion.
In addition, one application of the invention is provided with a fire grate consisting of several components in a step-by-step arrangement that are movable in order to shift the fuel from one part to another. Such an application allows easy transition of the fuel in the combustion chamber.


An information handling system includes a method, information handling system, and redundant array of independent disks (RAID) controller. When a write request is received, data are written to a non-volatile memory write cache. When a read request is received, it is determined whether the data are available from a volatile memory read cache. When the data are available from the volatile memory read cache, the data are obtained from the volatile memory read cache and provided in response to the read request. When the data are not available from the volatile memory read cache, the data are obtained from a RAID virtual disk coupled to the RAID controller, the data are stored in the volatile memory read cache, and the data are provided in response to the read request.

As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option is an information handling system. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes. Technology and information handling needs and requirements can vary between different applications. Thus information handling systems can also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information can be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems can include a variety of hardware and software resources that can be configured to process, store, and communicate information and can include one or more computer systems, graphics interface systems, data storage systems, networking systems, and mobile communication systems. Information handling systems can also implement various virtualized architectures. Data and voice communications among information handling systems may be via networks that are wired, wireless, or some combination.
One subsystem of an information handling system is a storage subsystem. A storage subsystem can be implemented using a redundant array of independent disks (RAID). A RAID storage subsystem comprises a RAID controller and a disk group (DG). The DG comprises a plurality of physical disks (PDs) configured to store information which is presented to the information handling system as being stored on a virtual disk (VD) even though the storage of the information is distributed among the PDs.
The use of the same reference symbols in different drawings indicates similar or identical items.

Method and system for improving cache performance of a redundant disk array controller


The present invention provides a method for the production of medicinal aerosol compositions which are made up of a homogenous solution of aerosol propellants, a surfactant and a pharmaceutically active compound, where the process comprises purifying the surfactant, removing the water from the surfactant, and dispersing the surfactant in an aerosol propellant with a hydrophilic pharmaceutical composition and a controlled amount of water. The present invention also provides medicinal aerosol compositions produced by this method which are a homogenous solution of the pharmaceutically active compound contained in reverse micelles made up of the surfactant; and methods of using the medicinal aerosols to provide an effective amount of a therapeutic agent.

Since the 1950's, the delivery of locally acting medicaments to the respiratory tract, in the treatment of the reversible component of an obstructive airways disease, has largely involved administration using the metered dose inhaler (MDI). Over the last twenty years, the range of drugs administered by inhalation has increased to include: bronchodilators, corticosteroids, anticholinergics, the prophylactic agents sodium cromoglycate and nedocromil sodium.
Further, the art teaches the use of aerosol propellants as a method of obtaining local anesthesia in the bronchial airways using lignocaine aerosol and the administration of nebulized morphine to relieve dyspnea.
Metered dose inhalers (MDI's), formulated as suspensions of a micronised drug in a chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) formulation, represent a major device for the delivery of locally active drugs used in the treatment of respiratory disorders and are well known in the art. Despite the identification and optimization of the major parameters which influence the performance of MDI's such as particle size, vapor pressure, and surfactant concentration (Poli et al., M. H. J. Pharm. Sci., 58 (1969) 484), their use in practice results in extensive extrapulmonary deposition with frequently less than 10 percent of the metered dose actually reaching the targeted site.
In the past, metered dose inhalers (MDI's) formulations have been heterogeneous systems which require redispersion prior to use of the medicinal aerosol. These formulations suffer from the drawback that they are prone to agglomeration of the finely divided drug particles, which can lead to the formation of `cakes`. Further, low levels of solubility may be manifested as crystal growth which can lead to changes in the size distribution of the suspended solid. Either of these phenomena can result in inadequate delivery of the desired amount of the drug.
The present invention seeks to overcome these problems of prior art aerosol systems through the formulation of a homogeneous colloidal dispersion system in contrast to both heterogeneous (suspension) systems and homogenous systems which include co-solvents such as ethanol.
Pharmaceutical pressurized pack dosage forms contain the therapeutically active ingredient dissolved or suspended in a propellant system which is capable of expelling the contents of the pack through an opened valve. For potent drugs, such as those used in the treatment of bronchial asthma, the valve includes a metering device that delivers a measured volume typically in the range of 25-100 .mu.L. The prior art inhalation packs also contain a small percentage of surfactant which acts as a suspending agent, and, to a lesser extent, as a lubricant for the metering valve assembly.
Prior art solutions also generally included a high boiling point co-solvent, such as ethanol, which is miscible with the chlorofluorocarbon formulation. These were even more inefficient than present day devices because they decreased the rate of evaporation of propellant from the aerosol droplets.
Inhalation devices offer the advantage of delivering drugs directly to the required site of action and in doing so, avoid `systemic` first-pass metabolism. Pulmonary first-pass metabolism may occur, but the activity of enzymes found in the lungs is generally lower than corresponding enzymes in the liver. The amount of drug required to bring about a pharmacological response can be much smaller than that required when the drug is administered by another route, and thus, the incidence and severity of any potential side-effects can also be reduced. Furthermore, for compounds with rapid absorption, local action can be immediate, and the potential of systemic delivery also exists.
As a result of a combination of factors in the administration process, the release of a large and rapidly moving aerosol bolus and the physical constraints of the tracheabronchial tree, the majority of the metered dose for an MDI fails to reach the intended site of action, mainly through deposition in the orapharyngeal region. This means that while the pharmacological response is efficacious, the administration of the drug is brought about in an inefficient manner. Typically, a loss of drug of between 80 to 90 percent is often encountered which, provided the required pharmacological response occurs, is of little concern in the case of compounds with few localized side-effects and for those which are inactivated in the GI tract. However, with corticosteroids, deposition in the oropharynx can result in fungal overgrowth due to the immunosuppressive side effects of these compounds.
For pressurized packs used under optimal conditions, only some 10-14 percent of the metered dose is deposited in the bronchial tree. Deposition can be improved by using a spacer in conjunction with the MDI and increases to around 15 percent with the Nebuhaler.RTM. and Inspir Ease.RTM. devices. In separate research using an open spacer, Newman and co-workers demonstrated an increase in dose reaching the lung from 11 percent to between 13 and 16 percent (depending on breathing pattern) for an Intal.RTM. inhaler.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,814,161 to Jinks et al. discloses the existence of reverse micellization and the self association of non-ionic surfactants in apolar media. Jinks et al. discloses a technique for incorporating drugs into chlorofluorocarbon aerosol propellants with the addition of a co-solvent, such as ethanol. Jinks et al. does not disclose the exclusion of moisture associated with the surfactant prior to formulation in order to prevent phase separation, which is produced by excess water. Jinks et al. further does not teach the manipulation of the water pool through the addition of water to make it more or less suitable as a site for solubilization.
Amphiphatic molecules in apolar media may associate into reversed or inverted micellar solutions (Luisi et al, Biochim. Biophysi. Acta, 947 (1988) 209) which are homogeneous and optically transparent and have the ability to solubilize quantities of water. The result of incorporating water into such systems is the production of a water-pool and the formation of swollen micelles, which serve as centers for the solubilization of drugs of various physico-chemical characteristics.
The use of therapeutic concentrations of a model bronchodilator solubilized in heterogeneous systems is disclosed in an article, Evans et al, "Surfactant Association and Water Uptake in a Model Chlorofluorocarbon System," J. Pharm. Pharmacol., 39 (1988) 7P. This article discusses the potential for solubilizing drugs through the alteration of the size and polarity of reverse micelle structure.

Method of preparing medical aerosol formulations including drug dissolved in reverse micelles


A hydraulic lash adjuster (130) for an internal combustion engine which includes a body (132) and a plunger (134) of thin-walled construction in which features such as hydraulic fluid collector volumes between the plunger and the body and a check valve seat (174) in the plunger are formed by selectively displaced regions (135,137) of the walls of the body (132). Because of the thin-walled construction of the body (132) and plunger (134), a resilient cap member (161) is in engagement with the upper open end of the body (132) and includes a lip portion in sealing engagement with the outside diameter of the plunger (134), the cap member (161) being rigid enough to help guide the plunger as it reciprocates within the body.

The present invention relates generally to hydraulic lash compensators (or adjusters), and more particularly to a hydraulic lash adjuster which is of extremely light weight and cost effective construction.
Hydraulic lash adjusters for internal combustion engines have been in use for many years to eliminate clearance, or lash, between engine valve train components under varying operating conditions in order to provide a consistent valve motion and to maintain engine operating efficiency and to reduce noise and wear in the valve train. Hydraulic lash adjusters operate on the principle of transmitting the energy of the valve actuating cam through hydraulic fluid trapped in a pressure chamber behind a plunger. During each revolution of the cam, as the length of the valve actuating components varies due to temperature changes or wear, small quantities of hydraulic fluid are permitted to enter or escape from the pressure chamber and thus effect an adjustment in the position of the plunger, and consequently, an adjustment of the effective total length of the valve train.
The cam operating cycle comprises two distinct events: base circle and valve actuation. The base circle event is characterized by a constant radius between the cam center of rotation and the cam follower during which effectively no motion or cam energy is transmitted. The valve actuation event is characterized by a varying radius between the cam center of rotation and the cam follower which effectively transmits cam energy to open and close an engine valve. During the valve actuation event, a portion of the loads due to the valve spring, the inertia of valve train components, and cylinder pressure are transmitted through the valve train and through the lash adjuster. These loads raise the pressure of the hydraulic fluid within the lash adjuster pressure chamber in proportion to the plunger area, and in current hydraulic lash adjusters, causes some fluid to escape from the pressure chamber. As the fluid escapes, the plunger moves down according to the change in volume of the pressure chamber, shortening the effective length of the valve train. During the base circle event, the lash adjuster plunger spring moves the plunger up such that no clearance or lash exists between valve actuation components.
Hydraulic fluid is drawn into the pressure chamber through the plunger check valve in response to the increased volume of the pressure chamber as the plunger moves up. If the effective length of the valve train shortens during the cam operating cycle, positive lash is created and the lash adjuster extends, moving the plunger to a higher position at the end of the cycle than at the beginning. Inversely, if the effective length of the valve train lengthens during the cam cycle, negative lash is created and the lash adjuster contracts, moving the plunger to a lower position at the end of the cycle than at the beginning. The latter condition typically occurs when valve train components lengthen in response to increased temperature.
In prior art hydraulic lash adjusters the escape of hydraulic fluid from the pressure chamber is between the plunger and the wall of the lash adjuster body. Such escape or "leakdown" is controlled solely by the fit of the plunger within the body. Effective operation of the lash adjuster requires that the leakdown be precisely controlled, and thus, the fit between the plunger and the body must be held to a very close clearance, e.g., between about 0.000200 in. (0.00508 mm) and 0.000230 in. (0.00584 mm). Such close clearances require selective fitting of the plunger to the body, which is an expensive operation.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,622,147, assigned to the assignee of the present invention, and incorporated herein by reference, discloses a hydraulic lash adjuster wherein the fit between the plunger and the body is relatively loose in comparison with prior art designs, but wherein a resilient seal between the plunger and the body is used to maintain a pressure seal between the high and low pressure regions of the lash adjuster. Effective leakdown is obtained by providing a normally open check valve and closely controlling the movement of the check valve between its open and closed positions, wherein during the initial portion of the valve actuation event some hydraulic fluid escapes from the high pressure chamber as the flowing fluid closes the check valve. The plunger then moves downward according to the change in volume of the pressure chamber, thus shortening the effective overall length of the valve train.
The elimination of the need for leakdown between the plunger and the lash adjuster body, and the precision fit required thereby, provides an opportunity to make fundamental changes in the plunger and body structures permitting the use of significantly lighter weight and more economically fabricated components than heretofore considered possible. The present invention addresses this opportunity by providing a lash adjuster body and a plunger which can be fabricated by a cold forming process which produces the parts to essentially net shape requiring little or no additional finishing steps prior to assembly. The thin-walled structure produced by cold forming further permits certain ports and passages, as well as other characteristics required for the function of the lash adjuster, to be formed as part of the cold forming process; whereas, in prior art designs additional machining steps were required to obtain these characteristics.


A transceiver including a controller, a first memory that includes first information, and a second memory accessible by a host is provided. The controller is configured to copy the first information from the first memory to the second memory.

Manufacturers or other organizations may collaborate to produce various standards for devices such as electronic devices. These standards may set forth a wide range of design criteria for a device. The criteria may include physical, mechanical, and/or electrical specifications. In order to conform or comply with a standard, a device typically meets all of the called for physical, mechanical, and/or electrical provisions.
One organization that has been formed to set standards for the electronic storage industry is the Small Form Factor (SFF) Committee. The SFF committee may be found at http://www.sffcommittee.com. One set of standards set forth by the Committee includes standards for small form factor pluggable (SFP) transceivers. These standards include the Small Form Factor Pluggable Transceiver MultiSource Agreement (SFP MSA), the SFF-8074i Specification for SFP (Small Form Factor Pluggable) Transceiver, and the SFF-8472 Specification for Digital Diagnostic Monitoring Interface for Optical Transceivers.
A transceiver manufactured in accordance with these SFP standards includes an EEPROM that is accessible by a host coupled to the transceiver. In particular, the SFP standards specify the type and quantity of information that is to be stored in the EEPROM as well as the way in which a host can access and update information in the EEPROM. Although a transceiver may provide a host with a direct connection to an EEPROM, other design goals and constraints may make such a direct connection undesirable or infeasible. In particular, a direct connection between an EEPROM and a host may become undesirable where a transceiver includes a controller that operates in conjunction with firmware or other software. In such as transceiver, EEPROM accesses by a host may take a much longer time than in transceivers with hardware controllers.
It would be desirable to be able to provide a host with fast EEPROM accesses without a direct connection to the EEPROM.

Avago Technologies Fiber IP (Singapore) Ptd. Ltd.


A system and method including cameras for monitoring objects such as documents, at multiple locations, and for recording the objects' movement through space and time. The objects are marked with unique identifiers, and the invention is adaptable for recording and recognizing the objects' development using character recognition. A center receives the information from the cameras, and that information is searchable. Advantageously, the unique identifiers are printed with ink that is invisible unless it fluoresces or phosphoresces, the digital cameras include an ultraviolet flash to cause the identifiers to fluoresce or phosphoresce at a certain wavelength, and the cameras are equipped with filters to filter out wavelengths other than the certain wavelength. Packages or pads of pre-marked blank paper are adaptable for use with the present invention.

Systems for electronically monitoring changes of physical documents have already been developed that entail attaching electronic files to physical objects, by putting the electronic files on removable media such as disks, tapes, or CD's and then attaching the removable media to the physical object using a clip or using a common folder, stack or other container. Some disadvantages with this solution are that the electronic attachment is bulky, may be accidentally detached, and cannot be accessed remotely or through a network (e.g., one could not include the electronic files in network-wide searches when stored this way).
Another solution is to virtually attach some code to the electronic file indicating where the physical object is supposed to be filed. This type of system is analogous to an electronic catalog of library books. Some disadvantages of this solution are that the object might not be where it is "supposed" to be filed, and moreover, this type of solution does not empower the user to use the physical object to find the electronic file. To solve the latter problem, one might attach a machine-readable physical tag, such as a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) or barcode, to the physical document, so that the electronic files are invoked when the tag is detected. Disadvantages of this approach include the cost of tagging the objects and that either the object is defaced or the tags can accidentally become detached. That would still leaves the first problem, which is that the object is not where it is supposed to be. Additional problems with this type of solution, as applied to an office environment, is that the process of updating the library-type database would be very labor-intensive, especially if the changing content of office documents is also to be recorded in the electronic database.
Both fluorescent and phosphorescent inks are well known in the art. See, for example, Sarada et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,569,317); Houle (U.S. Pat. No. 6,513,921); Auslander (U.S. Pat. No. 5,684,069). Both fluorescent and phosphorescent inks are luminescent, the difference being that the latter continue to glow for a time after the stimulating source has been removed. Neither of these types of inks, nor any other comparable identifying technique, has been utilized in conjunction with cameras to monitor objects such as documents at various locations as functions of time, or to coordinate those physical objects with electronic versions thereof.

System and method for tracking positions of objects in space, time as well as tracking their textual evolution


A system and method for inspection is disclosed. The design generally employs as many as four design principles, including employing at least one lens from a relatively low dispersion glass, at least one additional lens from an additional material different from the relatively low dispersion glass, generally matching the relatively low dispersion properties of the relatively low dispersion glass. The design also may include at least one further lens from a further material different from and exhibiting a significantly different dispersion power from the relatively low dispersion glass and the additional material. Finally, the design may include lenses positioned to insert a significant amount of color within the objective, a gap, and additional lenses, the gap and additional lenses serving to cancel the color inserted.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of optical imaging, and more specifically to optical systems used for microscopic imaging, inspection, metrology and lithography applications.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many optical systems have the ability to inspect or image features on the surface of a specimen, such as inspecting defects on a semiconductor wafer or photomask, or alternately examining a biological specimen on a slide. Microscopes have been used in various imaging situations, including biology, metrology, semiconductor inspection, and other complex inspection applications where high resolution images of small areas and/or features are desired.
When inspecting features on a specimen surface, a broadband objective exhibiting highly accurate and near perfect optical performance is particularly desirable. This is particularly true for alignment systems such as those used for photomask alignment. However, all standard objectives are typically limited at the edge of the field by lateral color.
In general, lateral color represents a difference between different wavelengths of light, such as blue light and red light. FIG. 1 shows the principal ray of an optical system formed from a positive lens 101. Blue light ray 102 in this simple arrangement tends to be more strongly refracted than red light ray 103 due to the refractive index changing with wavelength. The difference in position of the rays is the lateral color 104, a standard definition based on the principal ray position. Note that the standard definition for lateral color does not include the effects of monochromatic aberrations such as coma and chromatic variation of coma. These aberrations can move the image centroid away from the principal ray location. Monochromatic aberrations and the chromatic variation of the monochromatic aberrations produce an additional contribution to lateral color when based on such an image centroid definition.
Lateral color according to this centroid definition can yield problems when inspecting under precise conditions. In other words, lateral color causes a shift in the image centroid for different colors. The centroid shift can adversely impact the image, particularly at the edge of the field. Lateral color can also limit the accuracy obtained when using optics in metrology applications.
Some new methods for high order color correction can reduce the effects of lateral color and the aforementioned chromatic centroid shift to less than 1 nanometer (nm) over a very broad wavelength range, generally improving the image at the edge of the field. As centroid shift can vary for different colors, a design where the centroid shift for all colors is reasonably uniform can be highly desirable, particularly when changing the focus position for the image.
It would therefore be beneficial to provide a system for use in microscopy that overcomes the foregoing lateral color drawbacks present in previously known systems and provide an optical inspection or metrology system design having improved functionality over devices exhibiting those negative aspects described herein.

Broad band objective having improved lateral color performance


An integrated circuit radio transceiver and method therefor includes a high-pass variable gain amplifier (HPVGA) operably disposed within one of the transmitter and the receiver front ends operable to provide a linear variable gain and a substantially constant high-pass frequency corner that does not vary with changes in gain level settings. The HPVGA includes an amplifier operably disposed to receive an input signal and to produce an amplified output based upon the input signal, an adjustable resistance block operable to adjust resistance based upon a gain control input and corner drift compensation block operably disposed to provide corner frequency compensation at the input terminal of the amplifier that is further coupled to receive the input signal from the adjustable resistance block.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to wireless communications and, more particularly, to circuitry for filtering and amplifying signals.
2. Related Art
Communication systems are known to support wireless and wire lined communications between wireless and/or wire lined communication devices. Such communication systems range from national and/or international cellular telephone systems to the Internet to point-to-point in-home wireless networks. Each type of communication system is constructed, and hence operates, in accordance with one or more communication standards. For instance, wireless communication systems may operate in accordance with one or more standards, including, but not limited to, IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth, advanced mobile phone services (AMPS), digital AMPS, global system for mobile communications (GSM), code division multiple access (CDMA), local multi-point distribution systems (LMDS), multi-channel-multi-point distribution systems (MMDS), and/or variations thereof.
Depending on the type of wireless communication system, a wireless communication device, such as a cellular telephone, two-way radio, personal digital assistant (PDA), personal computer (PC), laptop computer, home entertainment equipment, etc., communicates directly or indirectly with other wireless communication devices. For direct communications (also known as point-to-point communications), the participating wireless communication devices tune their receivers and transmitters to the same channel or channels (e.g., one of a plurality of radio frequency (RF) carriers of the wireless communication system) and communicate over that channel(s). For indirect wireless communications, each wireless communication device communicates directly with an associated base station (e.g., for cellular services) and/or an associated access point (e.g., for an in-home or in-building wireless network) via an assigned channel. To complete a communication connection between the wireless communication devices, the associated base stations and/or associated access points communicate with each other directly, via a system controller, via a public switch telephone network (PSTN), via the Internet, and/or via some other wide area network.
Each wireless communication device includes a built-in radio transceiver (i.e., receiver and transmitter) or is coupled to an associated radio transceiver (e.g., a station for in-home and/or in-building wireless communication networks, RF modem, etc.). As is known, the transmitter includes a data modulation stage, one or more intermediate frequency stages, and a power amplifier stage. The data modulation stage converts raw data into baseband signals in accordance with the particular wireless communication standard. The one or more intermediate frequency stages mix the baseband signals with one or more local oscillations to produce RF signals. The power amplifier stage amplifies the RF signals prior to transmission via an antenna.
Typically, the data modulation stage is implemented on a baseband processor chip, while the intermediate frequency (IF) stages and power amplifier stage are implemented on a separate radio processor chip. Historically, radio integrated circuits have been designed using bi-polar circuitry, allowing for large signal swings and linear transmitter component behavior. Therefore, many legacy baseband processors employ analog interfaces that communicate analog signals to and from the radio processor.
In conventional designs of radio receivers, and especially of integrated circuit radio receivers with a large baseband frequency filter, direct current (DC) offset is a known problem. With multiple gain stages in a receiver front end, the DC offset can saturate the linear range of the gain stages. A significant problem that exists is that a typical high-pass transfer function for a feedback based amplifier with a resistor in the feedback loop as well as at the input is that of the high-pass corner frequency changing as a function variable gain amplifier (VGA) gain levels within a high-pass VGA. The greater the change in VGA gain, the greater the change in the high pass corner frequency. Typically, the corner frequency of the high-pass filter amplifier increases with the increase in gain. The undesirable consequence is that more of a DC or low frequency signal is amplified by the gain stages resulting in lower filtering or blocking of such signal components as the corner frequency increases. Additionally, overall bandwidth is lowered when the high-pass frequency corner changes.
In many systems, the final analog bandwidth is sampled and converted to digital form with an analog-to-digital converter. A subsequent digital filter may then be used to recover the desired analog signal bandwidth and impart the required DC offset cancellation. The problem with this approach, however, is that there is considerable gain in the analog processing path such that cumulative offsets will saturate the intermediate stages in the filter chain. Thus, even in a system that employs a form of DC offset cancellation, the drift of the high frequency corner as described may result in lower frequency components not being cancelled which would have been cancelled without frequency drift. Thus, these DC offset components that are not cancelled may be subsequently amplified at each gain stage. In this situation, the digital form signal produced to the baseband processor or digital filters is substantially saturated thereby limiting the ability of the baseband processor to provide digital compensation. Thus, it is desirable to provide adequate compensation in the analog processing path such that cumulative DC offset does not saturate downstream amplifiers or analog-to-digital converters.
One approach to solve the problem of the high-pass corner movement is to use a very slow DC offset cancellation system that has a very low high-pass corner. This approach, however, has the drawback that there is significant delay while an offset cancellation loop settles. Moreover, other approaches that may provide reasonable linearity and variable gain are low bandwidth systems. Thus, there is a need for a system or design that provides a high-corner that provides filtering at the desired low frequency without movement due to increases in and is independent of amplifier gain and provides linearity over a wide frequency bandwidth. For example, it is desirable to provide linearity over a 20-30 MHz bandwidth with linearity over a gain of 60 dB in a variable gain amplifier.
Moreover, in an integrated circuit utilizing MOSFETs as configured and biased to operate as resistors, or, alternatively, in an integrated circuit using MOSFET switches to switch resistances in and out of connectivity to set the gain, process variations in generating bias signals for the MOSFET switch or resistor result in non-linear response due to square-law voltage-current relationships within MOSFET devices as is known by one of average skill in the art. It is desirable, therefore, to avoid the effects of non-linearity known to exist for such MOSFET resistors and MOSFET switches and to provide adequate filtering of low frequency components without frequency drift that results from gain level changes.


A medication delivery cartridge for dispensing consumable medical supplies is provided, comprising a base; a hollow guide member, preferably in the shape of a tube, removably connectable to the base by a guide sleeve, wherein the guide member is shaped and dimensioned to contain a plurality of medical supply containers; and attachment means on the base for allowing the cartridge to be installed within a medication delivery system. The hollow guide member preferably includes an indexing device for aligning the guide member with the base. Each of the medical supply containers may include a lifting device attached thereto for allowing temporary attachment to the probe of the delivery system. Where a magnetic probe is employed, each of the lifting devices includes a ferrous material sufficient to allow magnetic attachment of the probe to the lifting device. The medical supply containers are stacked end to end within a medication tube, and the medication tube is inserted into the guide member. For alignment purposes the medication tube may further include a plurality of alignment elements disposed therealong, the alignment elements resulting in slidable contact with the guide member when the medication tube is inserted therein. Each cartridge further includes identifying indicia operatively attached to the cartridge, such as to the medication tube or the guide member, corresponding to a particular type of medical supply container and readable by the medication delivery system. In a preferred embodiment, the identifying indicia comprises a bar code.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to medication delivery systems, and more particularly to cartridges and specially designed unit dose and multi-dose medication used for filling automated medication delivery systems.
II. Description of Prior Art
Medication in the form of vials, ampules and other containers is often packaged in boxes and drawers from which medical personnel can retrieve them as needed for a patient. Many such vials are intended for a single use and are referred to as unit dose medications. Other such vials may be used several times and are referred to as multi-dose medications. For example, these containers often hold liquid medication that is used in syringes for injections, and some might contain powders that can be rehydrated with water for oral consumption. The packaging of such medications in unit doses is advantageous for a variety of reasons. Individually sealed containers prevents spoilage of larger quantities of unused medication, and there is a substantially lesser risk of overdose due to the limited amount within the vials. Also, small containers of medication allow for longer storage of the medication for use over extended periods of time, and it helps to prevents medical care personnel from having to touch the medication before it is delivered to a patient. This is especially important in situations where the medical care personnel are handling numerous types of medication, and where patients may have a hypersensitivity to certain medications. Although most of the small containers used in pharmacies and hospitals contain liquid and powder forms of medication, a wide variety of medical items are similarly packaged, such as syringes and other consumable medical supplies. Because most of the containers referred to above are cylindrical in shape, the ensuing description will employ the word "vials" for all such similarly shaped containers. It should be understood, however, that use of the word "vials" is only for the sake of simplicity, and is not intended as a limitation on the invention as it will be described herein.
Because of their relatively nonuniform shape, especially at the tops and bottoms of the vials, automated delivery of vials has been an elusive goal. Automated medication dispensing devices have been developed for certain forms of medication, namely the dispensing of single pills from bulk containers, such as my prior invention represented by U.S. Pat. No. 5,292,029, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. In that device, single pills are retrieved from a bulk container by a suction probe that is capable of traveling along three axes. The shape of the probe and the individual pills makes retrieval by suction quite reliable. In theory, it is possible to retrieve a single vial by suction, but only if the vial is oriented so that a flat portion of the vial, such as the lid, is substantially perpendicular to the suction probe. Therefore, a bulk container having multiple, unusually oriented unit dose vials would not be a viable container for such medication if retrieval of single vials is desired.
Another attempt to resolve the problems in retrieving unit dose medications has been made in another of my prior applications, Ser. No. 08/948,284. That invention deals primarily with the retrieval of unit dose "blister packs" containing pills. In that invention, a specially designed cartridge was developed which allows for alignment of the packages and retrieval by suction or other means within an automated medication delivery system. As will be appreciated herein, the present invention is similar in that a specially designed cartridge is employed to allow retrieval of vials within the same automated medication delivery system.
Consequently, there is a broad need for the automatic dispensing of single unit dose or multi-dose medication vials, especially in connection with automated devices such as my prior patent mentioned above. One means of allowing for such automated dispensing is to provide a cartridge which houses a plurality of vials which are oriented in a manner to facilitate retrieval by suction or other means, such as magnetic means. The cartridge should be readily alignable and attachable within an automated delivery system so as to allow retrieval of vials, preferably without modification to any existing suction probe unit and without any other major functional and structural changes to the delivery system. The cartridges should be relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture by the medication supplier so that pre-filled cartridges may be provided to users of the automated delivery system. A bar code or other means of identifying the medication should be conveniently located on the cartridge so that the automated delivery system can correlate the particular medication type with a specific location within the automated delivery system.


The present invention relates to a decoder for tail-biting convolution codes and a method thereof. The decoder receives an encoding bit sequence in a convolutional encoding method from a channel, generates an expanded encoding bit sequence, Viterbi decodes the expanded encoding bit sequence, and generates decoded data. In addition, the decoder selects a central bit sequence of the decoded data, rearranges the central bit sequence, and generates final decoded data. Accordingly, the decoder has a simplified configuration for decoding the bit sequence encoded in the tail biting convolutional encoding method, and the decoder also decodes a bit sequence encoded in a zero-tail convolutional encoding method.

Various digital communication standards have adopted a convolutional coding method for a forward error correction (FCE).
An information bit sequence encoded in the convolutional coding method is decoded by a Viterbi decoder in a receiver.
FIG. 1 shows a diagram of a configuration of a convolutional encoder having a constraint length K of 7 according to the international standard IEEE 802.16.
As shown in FIG. 1, the convolutional encoder having the constraint length K of 7 according the international standard IEEE 802.16 includes two XOR operators 11 and 12 and six delay units 21 to 26. The convolutional encoder receives one bit among the information bit sequence for every clock signal through a first delay unit 21, and generates two encoded symbols by the two XOR operators 11 and 12. The convolutional code is classified as a zero-tail convolutional code and a tail-biting convolutional code.
The zero-tail convolutional encoding method will now be described with reference to FIG. 2 to FIG. 4.
FIG. 2 shows a diagram for representing an encoding unit packet of an encoder in the zero-tail convolutional encoding method.
As shown in FIG. 2, the encoding unit packet of the encoder in the zero-tail convolutional encoding method is formed by adding a sequence of (K−1) zero-bits (a zero-tail sequence) to the information bit sequence. Therefore, when the number of the information bits is L, the number of bits of the encoding unit packet of the encoder in the zero-tail convolutional encoding method is L+K−1. Since the constraint length K is 7 in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the encoding unit packet includes L+6 bits.
FIG. 3 shows a diagram for representing an initial state of the encoder in the zero-tail convolutional encoding method. As shown in FIG. 3, each delay unit has a value of 0 when the encoder in the zero-tail convolutional encoding method is at the initial state. Therefore, a Viterbi decoder in the zero-tail convolutional encoding method may start a decoding operation from the 0 state.
FIG. 4 shows a diagram for representing an ending state of the encoder in the zero-tail convolutional encoding method. As shown in FIG. 4, the ending state of the encoder in the zero-tail convolutional encoding method is the 0 state in which each delay unit has the value of 0. Since 0 values of the last K−1 bits of the encoding unit packet are inputted to the convolutional encoder, the ending state of the encoder in the zero-tail convolutional encoding method is becomes the 0 state. Therefore, the Viterbi decoder in the zero-tail convolutional encoding method may start a trace back operation from the 0 state.
Since the additional zero tail sequence having the values of 0 is used in the zero-tail convolutional encoding method, an error may be easily corrected when a last part of the information bit sequence has the error. In addition, the Viterbi decoder may start the decoding and trace back operations from the 0 state since both the initial and ending states of the convolutional encoder are 0, and therefore a configuration of the Viterbi decoder may be simplified. However, there is a problem in that the data rate is reduced due to the additional zero tail sequence in the zero-tail convolutional encoding method. To solve the problem, the tail biting convolutional encoding method has been suggested.
The tail biting convolutional encoding method will now be described with reference to FIG. 5 to FIG. 7.
FIG. 5 shows a diagram for representing an encoding unit packet of an encoder in the tail biting convolutional encoding method. As shown in FIG. 5, the encoding unit packet of the encoder in the tail biting convolutional encoding method has no additional data. Therefore, the data rate in the tail biting convolutional encoding method is better than that in the zero-tail convolutional encoding method.
FIG. 6 shows a diagram for representing an initial state of the encoder in the tail biting convolutional encoding method. As shown in FIG. 6, the initial state of the encoder in the tail biting convolutional encoding method is determined by the last 6 bits of the encoding unit packet. Since the last 6 bits of the encoding unit packet of the encoder in the tail biting convolutional encoding method are respectively not 0, the initial state of the encoder in the tail biting convolutional encoding method is not 0. The encoder in the tail biting convolutional encoding method preferentially receives the last 6 bits of the encoding unit packet before performing an encoding operation, so as to establish the initial state of the encoder as the last 6 bits of the decoding unit packet. At this time, the encoder in the tail biting convolutional encoding method does not generate an encoded output bit. Then, the encoder in the tail biting convolutional encoding method sequentially receives the information bit sequence, and generates the encoded output bit.
FIG. 7 shows a diagram for representing the ending state of the encoder in the tail biting convolutional encoding method. As shown in FIG. 7, differing from the zero-tail convolutional encoding method, the ending state in the tail biting convolutional encoding method is determined by the last 6 bits of the information bit sequence since the ending state includes no additional zero-bit. Therefore, the initial and ending states of the encoder in the tail biting convolutional encoding method are the same.
In addition, the initial and ending states of the encoder in the tail biting convolutional encoding method are not 0 since those are determined by the last 6 bits of the encoding unit packet. Therefore, the Viterbi decoder in the tail biting convolutional encoding method has a problem of determining the initial state for the decoding and trace back back operations, and therefore the configuration of the Viterbi decoder is problematically complicated. In addition, the initial state for the trace back operation may be falsely determined and the final decoded information bit sequence may include an error when the last part of the encoding unit packet has errors.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


A new Begonia plant particularly distinguished by its large, silvery white flower with intensive rose backside in outdoor plantings, giving a bicolor effect early flowering, an erect habit and easily self branching.

Begonia obliquaxc3x97semperflorens.
xe2x80x98Begotisxe2x80x99.
The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Begonia, botanically known as a cross between begonia obliqua and Begonia semperflorens. The new cultivar is propagated from cuttings resulting from the cross of P5106 and P 629. P5106 is a white flowering, green leaved Begonia obliqua and is not commercially available and is not known by any synonyms. Begonia obliqua is a medium leaved, shrub-like Begonia with single flowers and moderate flowering, mostly flowering in winter and spring. P 629 is a Begonia semperflorens and a plant from the commercial variety xe2x80x98Milo redxe2x80x99, an unpatented variety. P 629 is a semperflorens type Begonia, single flowered and profusely flowering. Neither P5106 or P 629 has been patented. As a result of this cross the present cultivar was created in 1996 in Enkhuizen, Netherlands and has been repeatedly asexually reproduced by cuttings in Enkhuizen, Netherlands over a four-year period. The instant cultivar has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive propagations, and this novelty appears to be firmly fixed.
This new Begonia plant is an annual in most climatical zones in the U.S.

Begonia plant named xe2x80x98Begotisxe2x80x99


A content reproducing apparatus includes a CPU. The CPU executes an authentication process with a memory card at a time of starting reproduction. The reproducing apparatus, when succeeding in the authentication process, can obtain from the memory card a decryption key of encrypted music data. Accordingly, by decrypting encrypted content data separately obtained by use of the decryption key, it is possible to reproduce the music data. In such the authentication process, certificate data is utilized in an order which starts from registered identification numbers and, every time failing in the authentication process, is renewed to a next identification number. Consequently, an identification number of certificate data which succeeds in the authentication process is registered and utilized in a next authentication process and the subsequent.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a content reproducing apparatus. More specifically, the present invention relates to a content reproducing apparatus and an authentication control method in which an authentication process with a detachable recording medium is executed by use of certificate data and a content in the recording medium is reproduced when succeeding in the authentication process.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An example of such kind of a conventional content reproducing apparatus is disclosed in a Japanese Patent Laying-open No. 2002-269090 [H04L 9/32, G06F 12/14, G10L 19/00, H04N 5/91, H04N 5/92] laid-open on Jan. 25, 2002. As shown in FIG. 8, a data reproducing apparatus 1 is provided in a cellular phone 2, for example. The data reproducing apparatus 1 executes a reproduction process of encrypted music data stored in a memory card 3 according to an instruction from a user. A controller 4 reads authentication data {KPpx//Crtfx} KPma from an authentication data holder 6 so as to input to the memory card 3 via a memory interface 7. For example, the authentication data holder 6 holds two authentication data {KPp1//Crtf1} KPma and {KPp2/Crtf2} KPma, and the controller 4 reads the authentication data {KPp1//Crtf1} KPma and {KPp2//Crtf2} KPma in this order.
On the other hand, the memory card 3 accepts the authentication data {KPpx//Crtfx} KPma input from the cellular phone 2 and performs a decryption process thereon. That is, the accepted authentication data {KPpx//Crtfx} KPma is decrypted by a public authentication key Kpma. By utilizing a result of the decryption process, it is determined whether or not the authentication data {KPpx//Crtfx} KPma is normal authentication data. In a case the authentication data cannot be decrypted in the memory card 3, an output of unacceptability of the authentication data is applied from the memory card 3 to the controller 4. On the other hand, in a case the authentication data can be decrypted, the memory card 3 determines whether or not an obtained certificate Crtfx is included in prohibition class list data.
The certificate Crtfx is applied with an ID, and the memory card 3 determines whether or not the ID of the accepted certificate Crtfx exists in the prohibition class list data. In a case the certificate Crtfx is included in the prohibition class list data, the memory card 3 applies to the cellular phone 2, i.e., the controller 4 the output of unacceptability of the authentication data.
Thus, the memory card 3, when the authentication data cannot be decrypted by the public authentication key KPma or when the accepted certificate Crtfx is included in the prohibition class list data, outputs the unacceptability of the authentication data to the cellular phone 2. Accordingly, the controller 4, when receiving the unacceptability of the authentication data, reads next authentication data. As described above, the controller 4 reads the authentication data {KPp1//Crtf1} KPma at first and reads next (another) authentication data {KPp2//Crtf2} KPma in place of this. Then, the next authentication data is read, that is, the certificate data including the certificate Crtf1, the certificate Crtf2, . . . the certificate Crtfx in this order is read, and whereby, the above-described authentication process is repeated until it is determined that the certificate Crtfx is not included in the prohibition class list data or until all the authentication data is output.
Herein, that the certificate Crtfx is included in the prohibition class list data means that a secret decryption key Kpx as a class key is broken due to cracking or leakage. Since the memory card 3 cannot output the encrypted music data to the data reproducing apparatus 1 holding such the broken certificate, the process is set so as not to shift to a next step until it is confirmed that the certificate accepted from the cellular phone 2 is not included in the prohibition class list data.
That is, after outputting the unacceptability of the authentication from the memory card 3, the controller 4 is set to transmit another (next) authentication data to the memory card 3, and therefore, even if one or a plurality of certificates out of the certificates held by the data reproducing apparatus 1 is included in the prohibition class list data, if another certificate is not included in the prohibition class list data, it is possible to accept the encrypted content data and the license key from the memory card 3 and reproduce the music data. Thus, even if the certificate is included in the prohibition class list data due to cracking or leakage of the secret decryption key, the cellular phone 2 including the data reproducing apparatus 1 is aimed to be life-prolonged.
However, in the prior art, at a time of executing the authentication process with the memory card 3, the data reproducing apparatus 1 is set so as to utilize the certificate according to a predetermined order and therefore, there is a case even the certificate which has already been included in the prohibition class list data held by the memory card 3 and became unusable may be transmitted to the memory card 3. In this case, the memory card 3 fails in the authentication and outputs the unacceptability of the certificate data. Therefore, there occur problems that the time period, specifically, the time period spent for the decryption process of the certificate is time-wasting and the start of the reproduction of the music data (content data) is delayed uselessly.

Content reproducing apparatus authenticating detachable recording medium and authentication control method


Methods and systems configured to facilitate smart pre-fetching for sequentially accessing tree structures such as balanced trees (b-trees) are described herein. According to various described embodiments, a pre-fetch condition can be determined to have been met for a first cache associated with a first level of a tree such as a b-tree. A link to a bock of data to be read into the cache can be read into the cache by accessing a second level of the tree. The data elements associated with the retrieved link can subsequently read into the cache.

Background
Tree structures can be used to store data in an ordered fashion. For instance, one kind of tree structure is a balanced tree or "b-tree." B-trees comprise a number of nodes organized along a parent-child relationship. In general, parent nodes will store data (or pointers and/or links to data) having a particular value and link to a number of "children" nodes that also store data (or, again, links to data) having a particular value. At leaf level, the nodes will store data. Typically, a given parent node will have a "left" child that stores values less than the smallest value stored by the parent and a number of "right" children, each corresponding to a subset of values in parent, that store data having values greater than the greatest value in that particular subset in the parent. Consider, for instance, a simple b-tree having three nodes. If the parent node stores data with a value of 2, then the left child node might store data with a value of 1 and the right child node might store data with a value of 3. When a tree has both its left arm and right arm populated (and any associated sub-arms) the tree is said to be "balanced."
When accessing the various values stored in the nodes of a tree, it is necessary to jump across "levels" of the tree to retrieve the values. For instance, if you wanted to sequentially retrieve the values in the simple example above, you might begin with the left child to retrieve "1" and then jump to the parent level to retrieve "2" and jump back down, again, to the child level to retrieve "3". In other words, traversing the tree sequentially can be non-linear in nature. In cases of larger trees in particular, this can require multiple visits to non-leaf levels, which results in additional costs in terms of IO (input and output), cache invalidation, and in worst case possible thrashing (repeated swap-in, swap-out) in memory-constrained environment.
In the drawings, like reference numbers generally indicate identical or similar elements. Additionally, generally, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the drawing in which the reference number first appears.

Smart pre-fetch for sequential access on BTree


The heating value of a sample gas is calculated by a microcontroller (12) from the heating value of a reference gas, and from flow ratios and power levels determined as the gas is combusted by a flameless combustion process. The combustible gas is mixed with a combustion supporting gas, such as air, and flowed to a body of material (26, 52) which is heated to a temperature sufficient for oxidation of the gas mixture. The size of spaces in a first embodiment of a heater device (9, 11, 25, 26) and in a second embodiment of a heater device (50) are limited to prevent formation of an open flame. In a preferred "lean mixture" embodiment, the gas-air mixture of the reference gas, and the gas-air mixture of the sample gas, respectively, are each adjusted until a selected power level of combustion at a temperature lower than the point of stoichiometric combustion is reached. In a second, "rich mixture" embodiment, the gas-air mixture of the reference gas, and the gas-air mixture of the sample gas, respectively, are each adjusted from a "rich mixture" to reach a point of stoichiometric combustion. Based on flow rates and the selected power ratio, the heating value of the sample gas is calculated by the microcontroller (12) and output to a visual display or other output device.

The measurement of the heating value of natural gas is important in controlling combustion and is a necessary measurement in the distribution and sale of natural gas. There are four useful methods for measuring heating value.
The first method for measuring heating value is calorimetric measurement in which a volume of the gas is combusted. An amount of heat is liberated by the complete combustion and is carefully accumulated and measured. The amount of heat liberated is manifested by a change in temperature. This method is the original method employed and usually requires extreme control of flows and temperatures. The apparatus usually requires extensive maintenance.
The second method for measuring heating value is constituent analysis. Using a gas chromatograph, the fraction of each chemical constituent in the gas is determined. Then heating value is determined by summing the heating values for the individual constituents according to their fractional presence. The problem with constituent analysis is the reliability of the apparatus and its linearity. Gas chromatographs require constant maintenance and have a limited range for heating value measurement unless calibrated with a reference gas that is very similar to the sample gas.
The third method is stoichiometry, in which combustion is substantially completed with a perfect amount of oxygen. In this case, natural gases are combusted with air and the fuel-to-air ratio is adjusted until combustion results in either a maximum flame temperature or the stoichiometric point of perfect combustion, i.e., the knife edge when there is no remaining oxygen.
Clingman, U.S. Pat. No. 3,777,562, is an example of the third method. In Clingman, heating value is measured by combustion of a gas with amounts of air that are adjusted to obtain the maximum flame temperature. This is further disclosed in Clingman, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,062,236, 4,125,018 and 4,125,123. In each of these patents, the combustion of the air-gas mixture is accomplished with a combustion flame on a burner top and with a temperature sensing device such as a thermocouple. Certain environments cannot be served by equipment that presents an open flame.
The fourth method utilizes catalytic combustion. Gas is passed over a heated catalyst and oxidized. The amount of heat liberated can be measured either by temperature changes related to the catalytic reaction, by changes in power supplied to heat the catalyst or by measuring the temperature of the catalytic material. Catalytic combustion or catalytic oxidation is a known phenomenon with hydrocarbons. A mixture of hydrocarbon gas and air in the presence of platinum and/or palladium material will produce an oxidation reaction. The reaction occurs at temperatures below the auto-ignition temperature associated with a hydrocarbon. For example, methane when mixed with air will ignite at a temperature of about 730.degree. C. and reach an open flame at a temperature exceeding 1600.degree. C. Catalytic oxidation can take place at catalyst temperatures as low as 400.degree. C. although efficient catalytic activity is achieved at temperatures near 500.degree.-600.degree. C.
One problem with catalytic oxidation is the potential for poisoning the catalyst. Certain chemicals such as sulfur or lead and numerous others, can combine with and disable a catalyst and therefore eliminate its usefulness in heating value measurement. In many processes, such as land fill gas recovery, the gases contain "poisons" in sufficient quantity to have a high probability of disabling the measurement process.

Measuring heating value of a gas using flameless combustion


A formula processor which computes results for a group of formulas in which at least one formula uses the result of another formula. The formula processor receives the formulas from a host and returns computed results for the formulas to the host for storage in a main memory. Formulas are received as a sequence of tokens, each token describing operands or operations. The formula processor is pipelined; as one token is interpreted and processed by the formula processor, subsequent tokens are received. The formula processor uses a computation element which is capable of performing only certain operations; before attempting each operation described by a token, the computation element determines whether the operation can be performed by the computation element--if it can be performed, it is; otherwise, the host may perform the operation itself, or rewrite the operation so the formula processor can perform it. After the formula processor computes a result for a formula, it stores this result in a cache memory. Thereafter, the formula processor can retrieve the result stored in the cache memory and use the retrieved result to compute a subsequent formula. The operands to a formula may be values or pointers indicating how to locate values; the formula processor converts pointers into values when required for a computation by requesting resolution from the host microprocessor, or, alternatively, by retrieval from the cache.

This invention relates to methods and apparatus for increasing the speed with which computers calculate values for complex formulas.
As microcomputers have become less expensive and more commonplace, the availability and complexity of microcomputer software has steadily increased, placing increased speed and functionality demands on microcomputer hardware. For example, contemporary data-management software allows the user to perform data retrieval and storage operations on very large files of data. This type of operation can strain the input/output capabilities of the microcomputer, and unless the software and the microprocessor hardware are carefully optimized for speed, such operations can be unacceptably slow. Furthermore, contemporary software for performing mathematical operations (e.g., spreadsheet software, which can be used for various financial or other mathematical analyses), requires the computer to not only perform data retrieval/storage operations, but may also require the microcomputer to repeatedly recalculate complex formulas. (A "formula", as the term is used here and in the following description, is a mathematical, logical, or string operation, or ordered sequence of such operations, which acts on one or more arguments to produce a result.) This type of software can strain not only the input/output functions of the computer, but also the computational power of the computer, and therefore can be even more drastically affected by less than optimal software or hardware design.
Traditional microcomputer designs are not well suited to these types of complex operations. In traditional designs, a single device, known as a general purpose microprocessor (typically a single computer chip), controls all input/output functions and also performs all computational functions. The microprocessor includes communications and timing circuitry which controls the operations of storage and interface components in the remainder of the microcomputer, and also includes circuitry which is responsible for performing computational tasks such as mathematical or logical operations. The difficulty with this traditional design is that, due to the wide variety of functions performed by the microprocessor, and cost and chip area limitations, the microprocessor design cannot be completely optimized for all of the functions it must perform.
In response to increasing pressure for performance, microcomputer hardware designers have modified the traditional microcomputer in several ways. Several techniques, some of which are discussed below, have been used to enhance performance. Often these techniques are combined for further performance enhancement.
One technique is to redesign the microprocessor circuitry to operate at greater speeds. This technique has the advantage that the microprocessor architecture remains unchanged, and thus existing software need not be rewritten to take advantage of the speed enhancement. However, unlike the other techniques described below, this technique does not optimize the microprocessor's architecture.
A second technique is to optimize the microprocessor architecture to increase the speed of some of the more common operations, e.g., the microprocessor may be designed to perform multi-step operations in fewer steps. This technique retains the cost advantages of a single-chip processor, but the optimizations typically increase the complexity of the microprocessor chip, and thus the amount of optimization that can be achieved is limited by the chip area. As a result, the speed of many operations may not be affected.
The above two techniques are illustrated by the instruction sets and relative speed of the "80*86" (8086, 80186, 80286 and 80386) family of microprocessor chips, which are successively faster versions of the traditional microprocessor design, and are described in various literature available from Intel.RTM. Corporation, Literature Distribution, Mail Stop SC6-59, 3065 Bowers Avenue, Santa Clara, Calif. 95051.
A third technique for increasing microprocessor speed couples the microprocessor to an additional computational engine, known as a coprocessor, which is carefully optimized to perform particular functions rapidly. Typically, the co-processor is designed to perform complex mathematical computations, such as multiplication and exponentiation, in an optimized fashion. The microprocessor is designed with a high-speed coprocessor interface (separate from the other interfaces of the microprocessor) so that it may quickly refer complex mathematical operations to the coprocessor rather than computing them with the microprocessor's own, less optimal, internal computation circuitry. The results generated by the coprocessor are then returned to the microprocessor through the coprocessor interface and used in subsequent computation, which may include further coprocessor operations. Coprocessor techniques are illustrated by the 80387 Numeric Processor Extension chip, which is designed for use with the 80386 microprocessor, and is described in data sheets and other literature available from Intel.RTM. Corporation at the address provided above.
Another, less-explored technique for increasing processing speed involves redesigning the microcomputer with multiple independent microprocessors, and designing software that allows the microprocessors to perform computations or input/output functions simultaneously and in parallel. However, cost and space requirements, as well as the compatibility of currently available software, have thus far limited the use of this last technique.

Formula processor having cache means for storing and retrieving results of previously computed formulas based on identification and dependency information


An electronic bolt seal assembly for locking a hasp of a cargo container, the assembly comprising: a bolt member comprising a head and an elongate shank extending therefrom; a locking body with a housing comprising a cavity for engaging the shank of the bolt member such that during use in a locking configuration the locking body is operable to lock the shank to the locking body in response to axial displacement of the shank within the housing; an electronic module arranged at or adjacent the head in a housing, the electronic module having one or more tracking and communication devices and an electronic circuit to communicate the electronic bolt seal assembly's location to a remote communication center wherein the one or more sensors further comprise an accelerometer for sensing movement and orientation of the bolt member.

Any references to methods, apparatus or documents of the prior art are not to be taken as constituting any evidence or admission that they formed, or form part of the common general knowledge.
Cargo transporting units such as cargo containers are widely employed in the transportation industry. Typically, containers have doors which are locked shut using hasps and secured using seals. One type of commonly used seal is a bolt seal. Such a bolt seal typically comprises a bolt having a head and a shank whereby the shank is locked into a locking device. When the shank is inserted into the locking device, the shank is permanently locked into the locking body.
Cargo containers are shipped via land, sea and air transportation and are subject to tampering and vandalism. It is important that such tampering be immediately noted to preclude theft of valuable cargo. To assist in such theft and tampering prevention, prior art seals are assigned serial numbers. These seals are then assigned and locked to the assigned container. The serial number, container number, the carrier, and the location of the cargo are recorded manually or entered into a local computer. The entry then is manually made to show that the container is being shipped out of that location. Should a seal be tampered with, this most likely will occur at a different time and different location. In view of the above, it is desirable to provide a bolt assembly for a cargo container that can be used for tracking the location and monitoring the movement of a cargo container. It would also be desirable to track the sealing status of a cargo container. It would also be desirable to have instruments measure the cargo container's experiences throughout its journey. It is also desirable to provide an improved bolt assembly that is easy to use and implement and does not require extensive training or expertise for workers to adopt the usage of the improved bolt assembly.


A digital electronic circuit device comprises a plurality of circuit elements, a scan chain establishment element, and a unitary clock domain establishment element. The plurality of circuit elements define a plurality of clock domains, and circuit elements in each clock domain perform processing operations under control of a respective domain clock signal. The scan chain establishment element interconnects the circuit elements in a scan chain to facilitate loading and/or retrieval of a scan vector into and/or out of the digital circuit device. The unitary clock domain establishment element establishes a unitary clock domain for the circuit element when the scan chain establishment element is interconnecting the circuit elements in a scan chain. Thus, the scan vector will be loaded into or retrieved from the digital electronic circuit device using the single, unitary clock signal, thereby avoiding any necessity of using synchronizers or other elements for the scan chain which can complicate layout of the device.

Digital electronic devices typically comprise a large number of circuit elements, all of which generally need to operate satisfactorily in order for the devices to work correctly. Basically, a digital device comprises a number of storage elements, such as flip-flops and registers which store digital information, which are interconnected by processing elements, which perform processing operations in connection with the information in a series of processing steps controlled by one or more clock signals. The particular processing operations that are performed by the processing elements in connection with information in one storage element may be as simple as, for example, transferring the information contained in one the storage element to another storage element. Alternatively, the processing elements may perform quite complex processing operations, representing a complex mathematical or other transformation of the information. In addition, particular processing elements may perform processing operations which are predetermined and fixed, or they may perform a variety of types of processing operations determined by digital information which, in turn, may be stored in ones of the storage elements which are provided to control the processing elements. Generally, the collection of processing elements comprising a device defines the device's state, which state can be modified by successive ticks of the clocking signal(s).
A variety of methodologies have been developed and used over the years to assist in verifying that digital devices were operating correctly, and if not provide guidance as to which components should be repaired or replaced to provide correct operation. Recently, a test methodology has been developed whereby state information is scanned into a device to place the device in a particular state. In the scanning operation, all of the information storage elements, including all of the flip-flops and registers in the device or in a component under test, are effectively connected in series and an input "vector" scanned in. After the device's state has been established, the clocking signal or signals controlling the device is or are advanced, allowing the processing elements to process the digital information defining the scanned-in state and the processed input state to be stored by the storage elements. The actual state vector defining the state at that point is then scanned out, and compared to an expected state vector representing the state vector which would be expected if the device were operating properly. If actual state vector corresponds to the expected state vector, the device will generally be considered to be operating properly. On the other hand, if the actual state vector does not correspond to the expected state vector, the device will be considered to not be operating properly, and the particular locations along the actual and expected state vectors at which they differ can be useful in determining and locating the malfunction.
Generally, a problem arises in using the scan test methodology in connection with digital devices which have multiple clock domains, that is, devices comprising a plurality of sections controlled by clock signals of different frequencies. Generally, if information is to be transferred between sections controlled by clock signals of different frequencies, synchronizing elements, such as delay elements, need to be provided to synchronize the transfers to avoid loss of information across the interface between the sections. Such synchronizing elements tend to increase the component count, which can also complicate component layout, particularly on integrated circuits, since the series of circuit elements through which the scan vector is scanned is arbitrary and can pass between the clock domains any number of times. In addition, particularly in connection with layout of integrated circuits, typically the sequence of the circuit elements comprising the scan chain for an integrated circuit is determined towards the end of the process of laying out components on the integrated circuit, in which case providing synchronizing elements along the scan chain can complicate the layout process.

System and method for providing scan chain for digital electronic device having multiple clock domains


Provided is a polyorganosiloxane having a platinum content of 1 ppm by mass or less.

A polycarbonate is excellent in mechanical properties such as transparency and impact resistance, and hence has been widely utilized in industries typified by an automobile field, an OA field, and electrical and electronic fields. Typically, a homopolycarbonate using 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane [common name: bisphenol A] as a dihydric phenol serving as a raw material has been generally used as a typical polycarbonate. A polycarbonate-polyorganosiloxane copolymer using a polyorganosiloxane as a copolymerizable monomer has been known for improving the physical properties of the homopolycarbonate such as flame retardancy and impact resistance (see Patent Documents 1 to 3).
As the polyorganosiloxane to be used as the copolymerizable monomer upon production of the polycarbonate-polyorganosiloxane copolymer, there has been used, for example, a polyorganosiloxane obtained by: causing a siloxane having a cyclic structure such as octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane and a disiloxane such as tetramethyldisiloxane to react with each other to produce a linear dimethylsiloxane; and causing a hydrogen atom at a terminal of the dimethylsiloxane to react with a phenolic compound such as 2-allylphenol or eugenol in the presence of a platinum chloride-alcoholate complex as a catalyst (see Patent Documents 4 to 6).

Polyorganosiloxane and polycarbonate-polyorganosiloxane copolymer


A method for sealing a side pocket mandrel and hydraulic tube includes moving a sealant dispenser into a pocket of the side pocket mandrel from within a well tubing. The sealant dispenser has an upper seal and a lower seal spaced apart therefrom; the seals are sealingly engaged with the pocket. A space between the upper seal and the lower seal is in fluid communication with at least one port in the pocket. A curable sealant is moved from the sealant dispenser into the pocket and into the tube. Either the sealant is allowed to cure or the sealant dispenser is unlatched from a running tool used to move the sealant dispenser into the pocket.

This disclosure relates to the field of tools used in connection with tubular strings in subsurface wells. More particularly, the disclosure relates to tools and methods for closing external flow lines connected to such tubular strings.
Subsurface wells used for extraction of fluids from subsurface reservoir formations may comprise a tubular string ("pipe string") such as a casing or liner extending through such a reservoir, which pipe string may be permanently emplaced such as by cementing. Additional tubular strings may be nested within such casing or liner, for example a tubing string. Such nested tubular string may have an internal diameter chosen to provide increased velocity to fluids moving to the surface so that dense fluids such as water and solid particles produced from the reservoir may be entrained in the fluid flow to the surface. It is known in the art when a well has reached the end of its productive lifetime, such well may be sealed closed. Permanently leaving well completion strings and components in a well when abandoning the well has substantial cost and environmental savings potential.
So-called side pocket mandrels are well known to be used in casings, and more typically in tubing strings. Side pocket mandrels are disposed in the pipe string at selected locations along the length of the pipe string and are coupled to one or more hydraulic tubes extending from the surface or from a seabed located wellhead. Gas or chemicals may be pumped through such tube(s) into the side pocket mandrel(s). The side pocket mandrels may contain devices such as wireline retrievable gas lift valves or chemical injection valves. From this valve, the gas or chemicals are released into the moving fluid stream. The fluid stream is thereby treated with suitable chemicals and/or is made less dense to as to be able to reach the upper end of the well by gravity.
In abandoning a well with side pocket mandrels so as to leave them in place in a well, there is risk that leaks may occur at any point along the hydraulic tube to the surface. It is desirable in abandonment procedures to eliminate the risk of such leaks. The foregoing may be performed by injecting a sealant into the hydraulic tube, however experience has shown that it is very difficult to pump such sealants all the way from the surface or subsea wellhead down to a side pocket mandrel.

Method and apparatus for sealing a side pocket mandrel