In an electrical socket including a base for receiving a connection object in a predetermined direction, a plurality of contacts are held by the base and adapted to be contacted with the connection object. A pusher is rotatably held by the base and has an acting portion and an operating portion which is adapted to be operated. The pusher is continuously urged by a spring so that the connection object is brought into press contact with the contact via the acting portion. A cover is coupled to the base to be movable in the predetermined direction. One of the cover and the operating portion has a contact surface faced to the other in the predetermined direction. The other of the cover and the operating portion has a roller adapted to roll on the contact surface following the movement of the cover.

This invention relates to an electrical socket to be connected to an electric connection object such as an IC chip.
For example, Japanese Patent (JP-B) No. 3103760 discloses an IC socket having an IC pressing mechanism for pressing an IC to achieve stable contact. The IC pressing mechanism has a structure such that a rotary latch lever is pressed by an edge portion of an actuator (cover). However, since the edge portion and the rotary latch lever move in frictional contact with each other, abrasion powder is produced. The abrasion powder not only becomes a factor increasing an operating force but also may possibly cause a contact failure. In addition, it is difficult to adapt the IC socket to an IC chip having a large number of contacts and to provide the IC socket at a low cost.
Japanese Patent (JP-B) No. 3044460 discloses a socket for testing a semiconductor package, which is capable of preventing a contact failure by holding the semiconductor package with its upper side pressed downward. The socket comprises a plurality of metal contacts of a normal pressing type (the socket has a sheet-connector structure). However, a contacting force of each contact is large. Therefore, if the number of the contacts is large, a spring of a pusher must have an increased pressing force and an operating force inevitably becomes very large.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication (JP-A) No. H7-14652 discloses an IC package socket capable of mounting and removing an IC package in an unloaded condition. The IC package socket has a structure in which a movable cam is rotated by depressing a cover to displace contacting portions of contacts against an elastic force of a spring portion. However, each contact itself must have a complicated structure and, therefore, the socket can not easily be formed. In addition, each contact is easily deformed. Therefore, adjacent ones of the contacts may be contacted with each other to be short-circuited or the contacts may be nonuniform in contacting condition. Thus, a stable contacting state can not be achieved.

Electrical socket which can be reduced in operating force

Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Limited


A memory device with single transistor drivers and methods to operate the memory device are described. In some embodiments, the memory device may comprise memory cells at cross points of access lines of a memory array, a first even single transistor driver configured to drive a first even access line to a discharging voltage during an IDLE phase, to drive the first even access line to a floating voltage during an ACTIVE phase, and to drive the first even access line to a read/program voltage during a PULSE phase, and a first odd single transistor driver configured to drive a first odd access line, the first odd access line physically adjacent to the first even access line, to the discharging voltage during the IDLE phase, to drive the first odd access line to the floating voltage during the ACTIVE phase, and to drive the first odd access line to a shielding voltage during the PULSE phase.

The following relates generally to memory devices and more specifically to memory devices with single transistor drivers and methods thereof.
Memory devices are widely used to store information in various electronic devices such as computers, wireless communication devices, cameras, digital displays, and the like. Information is stored by programing different states of a memory device. For example, binary devices have two states, often denoted by a logic "1" or a logic "0." In other systems, more than two states may be stored. To access the stored information, a component of the electronic device may read, or sense, the stored state in the memory device. To store information, a component of the electronic device may write, or program, the state in the memory device.
Various types of memory devices exist, including magnetic hard disks, random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous dynamic RAM (SDRAM), ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM), magnetic RAM (MRAM), resistive RAM (RRAM), flash memory, phase change memory (PCM), and others. Memory devices may be volatile or non-volatile. Non-volatile memory, e.g., FeRAM, may maintain their stored logic state for extended periods of time even in the absence of an external power source. Volatile memory cells may lose their stored state over time unless they are periodically refreshed by an external power source.
Cost reduction and device performance are increasingly relevant in most advanced memory devices. Scaling technology, e.g., adopting manufacturing techniques with smaller feature size however, is adding considerable processing cost. Some technologies, such as three-dimensional (3D) technologies, exploit the vertical dimension of the chip to form memory cells so as to improve the ratio between memory capacity and estate. Finding more cost effective and more performant design solutions is highly desirable, especially for array-related circuits, such as access line drivers.

Memory device with single transistor drivers and methods to operate the memory device


A machine learning method executed by a computer, the method includes distributing a first learning model learned on the basis of a plurality of logs collected from a plurality of electronic devices to each of the plurality of electronic devices, the first learning model outputting operation content for operating an electronic device; when an operation different from an output result of the first learning model is performed by a user relative to a first electronic device among the plurality of electronic devices, estimating a similar log corresponding to a state of the learning model in which the different operation is performed from the plurality of logs; generating a second learning model on the basis of a log obtained by excluding a log of a second electronic device associated with the similar log from among the plurality of logs; and distributing the second learning model to the first electronic device.

A cooperation system is used in which a cloud that performs air conditioning for controlling an air conditioner and the like and an edge cooperate with each other so as to make a room temperature comfortable for a user. For example, a cloud server acquires a sensor value such as a room temperature and an outside temperature and an operation log of an air conditioner from each edge that is an air conditioner in each room or the like. Then, the cloud server learns a machine learning model by using the sensor value and the operation log and distributes the machine learning model to each edge. Each edge estimates a user's operation by using the learned machine learning model and changes temperature setting of the air conditioner before the user's operation is performed so as to perform air conditioning control comfortable for the user.
In recent years, a technology has been known in which a cloud server extracts similar edges and generates a group by using the information collected from each edge and generates a machine learning model for each group by using the data collected by the edge belonging to each group. Furthermore, a technology has been known that performs relearning so that data that has not adapted is adapted when the distributed machine learning model does not adapt to the edge. For example, International Publication Pamphlet No. WO 2018/16248, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2018-26129, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2018-27776, and the like are disclosed as related art.

Machine learning device, machine learning method, and storage medium


The motion of two pivotally connected orthosis members are limited in both directions of movement. An adjustable arresting member limits motion in one direction. An elongated member, preferably made of flexible cables, is connected to the two orthosis members to limit motion in the opposite direction.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,022,390 was granted to the present applicant on Jun. 11, 1991, for an "Orthotic Device for Limiting Limb Motion at a Joint". That patent discloses an ankle-foot orthosis with an adjustable stop mechanism for limiting downward motion of the foot. No provision was made in that orthosis for limiting foot motion in the opposite direction.
An ankle-foot orthosis with provision for adjustably controlling the range of motion of the foot in both directions is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,044,360, granted Sep. 3, 1991, to W. R. Janke for "Orthosis With Variable Motion Controls". Adjustments to the range of motion permitted requires replacement of pairs of cam members in an ankle joint assembly of the appliance.
There continues to be a need for an orthosis with provisions for easily and reliably adjusting limb motion in both directions.

Orthotic device for limiting limb motion at a joint


Therapeutic or preventive agents for diseases due to the action of aldose reductase; and aldose reductase inhibitors, characterized by containing at least one compound having an aldose reductase inhibiting activity which is selected from among 2,5-dihydroxytetra-hydro-2-furancarboxylic acid, derivatives of the same, optical isomers of both and pharmacologically acceptable salts of them.

The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition or a reagent having an aldose reductase inhibitory activity.
Aldose reductase (hereinafter referred to as AR) is an enzyme involved in a polyol pathway, one of glucose-metabolic pathways, in a living body. The polyol pathway consists of two pathways, i.e., a pathway of reducing glucose to sorbitol involving AR; and a pathway of dehydrogenating sorbitol to D-fructose involving sorbitol dehydrogenase (hereinafter referred to as SDH). It is known that the polyol pathway exists in a number of tissues including brain, liver, pancreas, kidney, adrenal gland, testis, seminal vesicle, placenta, erythrocytes, lens, retina and peripheral nerve. However, the physiological significance of the polyol pathway has been confirmed only in the seminal vesicle, in which it acts as a pathway for producing energy source for sperms. It is believed that, in other sugar-metabolic pathways in normal cells, most of the glucose incorporated into a cell is converted into glucose 6-phosphate by the action of hexokinase to be metabolized in a glycolytic pathway, while only several percents of the glucose is metabolized through the polyol pathway [Tsuyoshi Tanimoto, Pharmacia, 24:459-463 (1988)].
When influx of glucose into a cell increases, the glucose which the glycolytic pathway fails to process is brought to the polyol pathway. The SDH activity is lower than the AR activity. Therefore, an intermediary metabolite, sorbitol, is produced in large quantities if the influx of glucose continues. Sorbitol is highly polar and, therefore, does not efficiently diffuse outside the cell. Thus, sorbitol is accumulated with the cell, resulting in the increase in intracellular osmotic pressure [Tsuyoshi Tanimoto, Pharmacia, 24:459-463 (1988)]. Examples of tissues in which glucose present in blood (blood sugar) unlimitedly flows into cells include insulin-independent tissues such as central nervous system, blood cells and medulla glandulae [Medical Dictionary, 17th edition, Nanzando, Co. Ltd. (1990)].
Diseases due to the accumulation of sorbitol have been reported. For example, diabetic cataract has been reported to be caused as a result of the following steps: AR in lens of eyeballs converts glucose and galactose into corresponding sugar alcohols. The sugar alcohols are inappropriately accumulated in the lens to increase the osmotic pressure. The increased osmotic pressure damages the lens to cause the cataract [see J. H. Kinoshita et al., Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, 158:472 (1968) and references cited therein]. Various harmful influences due to accumulation of sorbitol in lens, peripheral nerve cord and kidney in a diabetic animal have also been reported [see A. Pirie et al., Experimental Eye Research, 3:124 (1964); L. T. Chylack Jr. et al., Investigative Ophthalmology, 8:401 (1969); and J. D. Ward et al., Diabetologia, 6:531 (1970)].
Among complications of diabetes in which blood sugar value is elevated, AR is involved in, for example, cataract, retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy and/or nephropathy. It is essential to inhibit the activity of AR, which is responsible for the above-mentioned complications, as strongly as possible in order to prevent, ameliorate or treat them.
Other diabetic complications include, for example, infectious diseases due to decrease in phagocytosis in leukocytes and diabetic coma [Shin-ban Katei No Igaku, 11th edition, Jiji Press, Ltd. (1996)] and arteriosclerosis due to atheromatous degeneration in great vessel walls [Medical Dictionary, 17th edition, Nanzando, Co. Ltd. (1990)].
The main object of the present invention is to develop a compound having an AR inhibitory activity and to provide a pharmaceutical composition for a disease due to AR or a composition for inhibiting AR which contains the compound as its active ingredient.
The other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the description below.
The present inventors demonstrated that 2,5-dihydroxytetrahydro-2-furancarboxylic acid, as well as optical isomers and salts thereof have carcinostatic activities (WO 98/32749). As a result of intensive studies, the present inventors have found that these compounds have highly selective ability of inhibiting an AR activity. Thus, the present invention has been completed.
Thus, the first aspect of the present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition for treating or preventing a disease due to an AR activity, which contains at least one compound having an AR inhibitory activity selected from the group consisting of 2,5-dihydroxytetrahydro-2-furancarboxylic acid of formula 1:
as well as derivatives, optical isomers and pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof.
The second aspect of the present invention relates to a composition for inhibiting AR, which contains at least one compound having an aldose reductase inhibitory activity selected from the group consisting of 2,5-dihydroxytetrahydro-2-furancarboxylic acid, as well as derivatives, optical isomers and salts thereof.
2,5-Dihydroxytetrahydro-2-furancarboxylic acid is produced, for example, by heating glucaric acid.
Glucaric acid (also called as saccharic acid) is represented by molecular formula C6H10O8 (molecular weight 210.14). Glucaric acid is a dicarboxylic acid produced by oxidizing D-glucose, or an oligosaccharide or a polysaccharide that contains D-glucose with nitric acid or the like. It can also be produced by oxidizing D-glucuronic acid with bromine water.
For example, a reaction of glucaric acid at 121xc2x0 C. for 4 hours results in a reaction mixture containing 2,5-dihydroxytetrahydro-2-furancarboxylic acid. 2,5-Dihydroxytetrahydro-2-furancarboxylic acid can be purified and isolated from the reaction product by subjecting it to reverse phase column chromatography.
2,5-Dihydroxytetrahydro-2-furancarboxylic acid can also be produced by hydrating xcex1-ketoglutarate semialdehyde. xcex1-Ketoglutarate semialdehyde can be produced according to a known method [Journal of Bacteriology, 116:1364-1354 (1973)].
Any derivatives of 2,5-dihydroxytetrahydro-2-furancarboxylic acid may be used in the present invention as long as they have an AR inhibitory activity. Examples of the derivatives include, but are not limited to, a compound of formula 2:
wherein R1, R2 and R3 may be the same or may be different each other, and are hydrogen, an aliphatic group, an aromatic group or an aromatic aliphatic group; m and n are 1 or 0, provided that in case of m=n=0, R1, R2 and R3 are not simultaneously hydrogen.
Examples of aliphatic groups include linear alkyl groups of 1-30 carbons, branched alkyl groups such as isopropyl group, isobutyl group, sec-butyl group, tertbutyl group, isopentyl group, neopentyl group and tertpentyl group, linear alkenyl groups such as etenyl group, allyl group, trans-1-propenyl group, cis-1-propenyl group, cis-8-heptadecenyl group, cis-8-cis-11-heptadecadienyl group, cis-8-cis-11-cis-14-heptadecatrienyl group, cis-5-cis-8-cis-11-heptadecatrienyl group, cis-4-cis-7-cis-10-nonadecatrienyl group, cis-4-cis-7-cis-10-cis-13-nonadecatetraenyl group, cis-4-cis-7-cis-10-cis-13-cis-16-nonadecaheptaenyl group, cis-12-henicosenyl group and cis-3-cis-6-cis-9-cis-12-cis-15-cis-18-henicohexaenyl group, as well as branched alkenyl groups such as isopropenyl group, cis-1-methyl-1-propenyl group, trans-1-methyl-1-propenyl group, trans-1-methyl-1-propenyl group and trans-1-ethyl-1-propenyl group.
Examples of aromatic groups include phenyl group, naphthyl group, biphenyl group, pyrrolyl group, pyridyl group, indolyl group, imidazolyl group, tolyl group, xylyl group, o-chlorophenyl group, o-bromophenyl group, o-nitrophenyl group and o-methoxyphenyl group.
Examples of aromatic aliphatic groups include phenylalkyl groups of 1-15 alkyl group carbons (e.g., benzyl group or phenetyl group), stylyl group and cinnamyl group.
The compound of formula 2 can be produced by reacting 2,5-dihydroxytetrahydro-2-furancarboxylic acid with an alcohol having an aliphatic group, aromatic group or an aromatic aliphatic group and/or a reactive derivative thereof (e.g., alkyl halide, aryl halide, acid ester, diazo compound, salt and alkene produced by dehydrating alcohol), and/or by reacting 2,5-dihydroxytetrahydro-2-furancarboxylic acid with a carboxylic acid having an aliphatic group, aromatic group or an aromatic aliphatic group and/or a reactive derivative thereof (e.g., acid halide, acid anhydride, acid ester and salt).
After the thus produced derivative is purified, its AR inhibitory activity is measured. Then, the derivative can be used in the present invention. The degree of inhibition of alcohol dehydrogenase (hereinafter referred to as ADH) activity by the compound at a concentration that results in 50% inhibition of the AR activity (IC50) is 20% or less, preferably 15% or less, most preferably 10% or less.
Furthermore, 2,5-dihydroxytetrahydro-2-furancarboxylic acid or derivatives thereof purified as described above can be optically resolved to obtain 2,5-dihydroxytetrahydro-2-furancarboxylic acid or derivatives thereof in (xe2x88x92) and (+) form.
Optical isomers can be separated by mechanical resolution of racemic mixture, preferential crystallization, resolution by crystallizing as a diastereomeric salt or an inclusion compound, kinetic resolution using an enzyme or a microorganism, chromatographic separation or the like.
Gas chromatography, liquid chromatography, thin-layer chromatography or the like using an appropriate chiral stationary phase can be used for chromatographic resolution.
A method in which a chiral stationary phase is used, a method in which a chiral eluent is used, separation as a diastereomer or the like can be used for optical resolution by liquid chromatography. An amide-type stationary phase, a urea-type stationary phase, a ligand exchange-type stationary phase, a polysaccharide or polysaccharide derivative stationary phase, a protein stationary phase, a polymethacrylate ester stationary phase, a polymethacrylamide stationary phase or the like can be used as a chiral stationary phase. A hexan-type eluent, an alcohol-type eluent, an aqueous (buffer) eluent or the like can be appropriately used as an eluent depending on the stationary phase used.
2,5-dihydroxytetrahydro-2-furancarboxylic acid has two asymmetric carbons at 2-position and 5-position in its molecular structure. Thus, there exist four stereoisomers represented by (2S,5S), (2S,5R), (2R,5S) and (2R,5R) forms. As used herein, 2,5-dihydroxytetrahydro-2-furancarboxylic acid and derivatives thereof include any stereoisomers without being limited to a specific conformation as long as they have an AR inhibitory activity. Furthermore, 2,5-dihydroxytetrahydro-2-furancarboxylic acid and derivatives thereof may be optical isomers or racemic modifications as long as they have an AR inhibitory activity.
2,5-dihydroxytetrahydro-2-furancarboxylic acid has a low activity of inhibiting ADH, which has substrate specificity similar to that of AR. The activities of inhibiting enzymes are highly selective for AR.
Use of esters of pharmaceuticals (e.g., penicillin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) which are hydrolyzed under physiological conditions as pharmaceuticals has become common. Thus, the active ingredient contained in the pharmaceutical composition for treatment or prevention of the present invention is not specifically limited to the above-mentioned compounds having the AR inhibitory activity. For example, the active ingredient may be a compound that is hydrolyzed under physiological conditions to generate the above-mentioned compound having the AR inhibitory activity. That is, compounds having an AR inhibitory activity as used herein include so-called prodrug compounds, which themselves are inactive, but are converted to compounds having an AR inhibitory activity in vivo.
Examples of esters of 2,5-dihydroxytetrahydro-2-furancarboxylic acid that are hydrolyzed under physiological conditions include a compound of formula 3:
wherein G1 and G2 are independently hydrogen or a group that forms a commonly used ester being able to be hydrolyzed under physiological conditions, provided that G1 and G2 are not simultaneously hydrogen.
The group that forms an ester to be used for G1 can be appropriately selected from, for example, 1H-furan-5-on-1-yl, 1H-isobenzofuran-3-on-1-yl, xcex3-butyrolacton-4-yl, xe2x80x94CH2CH2NR4R5, xe2x80x94CHR6OCOR7 or xe2x80x94CHR6OCOOR8, wherein R4 and R5 are independently (C1-C4) alkyl or R4 and R5 form pyrrolidine, piperidine or morpholine ring together with the nitrogen to which they are attached; R6 is hydrogen or methyl; R7 is (C1-C6) alkyl, (C1-C6) carboxyalkyl, carboxycyclohexyl or carboxyphenyl; and R8 is (C1-C6) alkyl. The group that forms an ester to be used for G2 can be appropriately selected from, for example, acyl group and xe2x80x94PO(ONa)2. Without limitation, acyl groups having a little number of carbons are generally preferable. For example, formyl group, acetyl group and propionyl group are used. The above-mentioned compounds can be prepared from 2,5-dihydroxytetrahydro-2-furancarboxylic acid or optical isomers thereof according to known methods.
Examples of salts used in the present invention include alkaline metal salts, alkaline earth metal salts and salts with organic bases. Pharmacologically acceptable salts mean salts of the above-mentioned compounds having the AR inhibitory activity which are substantially non-toxic to organisms. Examples of pharmacologically acceptable salts include sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, ammonium or protonated salts with benzathine(N,Nxe2x80x2-di-benzylethylenediamine), choline, ethanolamine, diethanolamine, ethylenediamine, meglumine(N-methylglucamine), benethamine(N-benzylphenetylamine), piperazine or tromethamine(2-amino-2-hydroxymethyl-1,3-propanediol). These salts are obtained by converting a compound having an AR inhibitory activity selected from the group consisting of 2,5-dihydroxytetrahydro-2-furancarboxylic acid, as well as derivatives and optical isomers thereof according to known methods.
The pharmaceutical composition for treating or preventing a disease due to an AR activity, which contains at least one compound having an AR inhibitory activity selected from the group consisting of 2,5-dihydroxytetrahydro-2-furancarboxylic acid, as well as derivatives, optical isomers and pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof as an active ingredient of the first aspect of the present invention may be prepared by formulating at least one compound having an AR inhibitory activity selected from the group consisting of 2,5-dihydroxytetrahydro-2-furancarboxylic acid, as well as derivatives, optical isomers and pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof as an active ingredient with a known pharmaceutical carrier.
At least one compound having an AR inhibitory activity selected from the group consisting of 2,5-dihydroxytetrahydro-2-furancarboxylic acid, as well as derivatives, optical isomers and pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof is generally mixed with a pharmaceutically acceptable liquid or solid carrier and, optionally, solvent, dispersing agent, emulsifier, buffering agent, stabilizer, excipient, binder, disintegrant, lubricant and the like to formulate it. The formulation may be in a form of a solid preparation such as tablet, granule, powder, epipastic and capsule, or a liquid preparation such as normal solution, suspension and emulsion. In addition, the composition may be formulated into a dried preparation, which can be reconstituted as a liquid preparation by adding an appropriate carrier before use.
The pharmaceutical carrier can be selected according to the above-mentioned particular administration route and dosage form. For an oral preparation, starch, lactose, sucrose, mannit, carboxymethylcellulose, cornstarch, inorganic salts and the like are utilized, for example. Binder, disintegrant, surfactant, lubricant, fluidity-promoting agent, tasting agent, coloring agent, flavoring agent and the like can also be included in oral preparations.
A parenteral preparation can be prepared according to conventional methods by dissolving or suspending at least one compound having an AR inhibitory activity selected from the group consisting of 2,5-dihydroxytetrahydro-2-furancarboxylic acid, as well as derivatives, optical isomers and pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof, in a diluent. The diluents include injectable distilled water, physiological saline, aqueous glucose solution, injectable vegetable oil, sesame oil, peanut oil, soybean oil, corn oil, propylene glycol and polyethylene glycol. Optionally, sterilizer, stabilizer, osmotic regulator, smoothing agent and the like may be added to the solution or suspension.
The pharmaceutical composition for treating or preventing a disease due to an AR activity of the present invention (hereinafter simply referred to as the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention) is administered through a suitable route for the dosage form of the composition. The administration route is not limited to a specific one. The composition can be administered internally or externally (or topically) or by injection. The injectable preparation can be administrated intravenously, intramuscularly, subcutaneously, intradermally and the like, for example. External preparations include a suppository.
A dosage of the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention is appropriately determined and varies depending on the particular dosage form, administration route and purpose as well as age, weight and conditions of a patient to be treated. In general, a daily dosage for an adult person is 0.1 to 2000 mg/kg in terms of the amount of at least one compound having an AR inhibitory activity selected from the group consisting of 2,5-dihydroxytetrahydro-2-furancarboxylic acid, as well as derivatives, optical isomers and pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof contained in the formulation. Of course, the dosage can vary depending on various factors. Therefore, in some cases, a less dosage than the above may be sufficient but, in other cases, a dosage more than the above may be required. The pharmaceutical composition of the present invention can be administrated orally as it is, or it can be taken daily by adding to selected foods and drinks.
Since the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention has an AR inhibitory activity, it can be used for preventing and/or treating a disease due to an AR activity. Examples of the diseases due to an AR activity include diabetic complications as described above. Specifically, such diseases include cataract, peripheral neuropathy, retinopathy and/or nephropathy. The pharmaceutical composition of the present invention can be used in order to prevent and/or treat such diseases.
A dosage of the pharmaceutical composition for preventing and/or treating diabetic complications including cataract, peripheral neuropathy, retinopathy and/or nephropathy is appropriately determined and varies depending on the particular dosage form, administration route and purpose as well as age, weight and conditions of a patient to be treated. In general, a daily dosage for an adult person is 1 to 1000 mg, preferably 10 to 200 mg in terms of the amount of the active ingredient contained in the formulation. Of course, the dosage can vary depending on various factors. Therefore, in some cases, a less dosage than the above may be sufficient but, in other cases, a dosage more than the above may be required. The pharmaceutical composition of the present invention can be administrated orally as it is, or it can be taken daily by adding to selected foods and drinks.
The pharmaceutical composition of the present invention may be used in combination with a substance having an AR inhibitory activity derived from plants. Any plants may be used as long as they contain a substance having an AR inhibitory activity. Examples of the plants include, but are not limited to, those belonging to family Liliaceae. Examples of the plants belonging to family Liliaceae include onions (Allium cepa) belonging to genus Allium. A substance having an AR inhibitory activity can be prepared from onions, for example, by extracting bulbs or bulb pellicles of onions with hot water. The extract having an AR inhibitory activity may be used in combination with the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention. The onion extract having an AR inhibitory activity may be used alone.
The process for preparing a substance having an AR inhibitory activity from bulbs or bulb pellicles of onions is not limited to a specific one. For example, after bulb pellicles of onions are washed with water, water is added thereto to adjust the content of pellicles to 0.1 to 20% by weight. The mixture is heated at 50 to 130xc2x0 C. for several minutes to several hours. Thus, an extract containing a substance having an AR inhibitory activity at a high concentration can be obtained. The extract selectively inhibits AR. Therefore, the extract is used for a healthy drink useful for treating or preventing a disease due to an AR activity. Such a healthy drink may be produced by using an extract of bulbs and/or bulb pellicles of onions as an active ingredient according to a conventional method for producing drinks. Alternatively, flavonoid compounds having an AR inhibitory activity such as spiraein, quercetin, quercitrin and myricetin may be concentrated from the extract for use as active ingredients. In addition, the flavonoid compounds may be used in combination with the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention.
No toxicity is observed when a physiologically effective amount of a compound having an AR inhibitory activity selected from the group consisting of 2,5-dihydroxytetrahydro-2-furancarboxylic acid, as well as derivatives, optical isomers and pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof used in the present invention was orally administered to a mouse.
The composition for inhibiting AR of the second aspect of the present invention may be prepared by formulating at least one compound having an AR inhibitory activity selected from the group consisting of 2,5-dihydroxytetrahydro-2-furancarboxylic acid, as well as derivatives, optical isomers and salts thereof into a conventional reagent form according to the method as described above with respect to the production of the pharmaceutical composition. The inhibitory composition is useful for studying diseases involving AR and for screening AR inhibitors.
The following Examples further illustrate the present invention in detail but are not to be construed to limit the scope thereof. Percent (%) in Examples means percent by weight unless otherwise stated.


A computer pointing device includes a casing having a top on which a button rotatably support by a ball joint. The button has a plurality of pins corresponding to a plurality of openings formed on the top of the casing. A rubber pad is disposed within the casing, having a plurality of raised projections respectively received within the openings, each having a hollow configuration to receive and retain therein a conductor. The projections selectively collapse when the button is depressed to have at least one of the pins engaging the corresponding projections via the openings so as to move the conductors thereof in a downward direction. A circuit board is disposed under the rubber pad, having conductive ribs formed thereon to be selectively engageable by each of the conductors when the projections collapses to cause the downward movement of the conductors. This establishes an electrical connection between the conductors and at least one of the ribs to give a signal which indicates a moving direction associated with the depressed projections and a speed determined by the number of the ribs that are contacted by the depressed conductors. The circuit board has a circuit to process and transmit the signals to a computer to control the cursor on the monitor screen.

The most common computer pointing devices include computer mouse and tracking balls. Both are classified as electronic type, optic type and semi-optic type. The electronic type pointing device or mouse comprises a ball or spherical member which is rollingly movable with respect to two variable resistors respectively representing two orthogonal axes defining the plane of the monitor screen. The rolling movement causes the variable resistors to change their resistance and thus providing a signal indicating the displacement associated with the monitor cursor in the two axes. A disadvantage of the electronic type pointing device is that it is less precise. Further, the variable resistors may be subject to oxidation when exposed in the atmosphere.
The optic type pointing device uses photo-transistors to replace the rolling movement of the spherical member of the electronic type mouse. A disadvantage associated with the optic type mouse is that the photo-transistors are very easy to be damaged. Further, the optic mouse has to be operated on a dark pad and is more costly.
The semi-optic type pointing device takes advantages of the benefits of both the electronic type and the optic type, using the rolling motion of a spherical member to drive rotatable means which are associated with two sets of light emitting diode and photo-transistor to convert the rolling motion of the spherical member into electrical signals. The advantages of the semi-optic type mouse are that it has a good precision, that it is only moderately cost and that it has a longer service life. Thus, most of the computer mouses available in the market are of the semi-optic type.
A problem associated with the semi-optic type computer mouse is that the spherical member of the mouse is in general in contact engagement with two rotatable shafts to drive the shafts in order to convert the rolling motion of the spherical member into electrical signals. The contact engagement, however, inevitably causes un-desired displacement of the shafts. This deteriorates the precision of positioning the cursor in the monitor screen, especially in handling high precision drawings.
Further, the spherical member of the mouse is generally rolling on for example a mouse pad. Dusts and ashes may be brought into the mouse by adhering to the surface of the tracking ball during the rolling motion thereof. Such dusts may get stuck to the shafts by being brought into contact with the shafts by the spherical member. This may eventually result in an improper operation of the conversion of the rolling motion of the spherical member into electrical signals. Thus it requires frequent and periodic cleaning of the shafts and the spherical member.
In addition, in operating a mouse, the user has to continuously move the mouse relative to the mouse pad or a fixed surface with his or her hand. This may cause strain of the wrist muscle, especially for using mouse for a long while.
Moreover, the relationship between the motion of the spherical member relative to the mouse pad and the movement of the cursor in the monitor screen is in general not consistent. Thus, a user has to get acquaint with the relationship before he or she may operate the mouse well. This is very inconvenient for the user.
Thus, it is desirable to have an improved computer pointing device which overcomes the problems encountered in the conventional pointing devices or mouses.


Methods and systems are provided for an air system. In one example, a system includes a boost device configured to be driven by exhaust air from a plurality of cylinder in order to compress ambient air. The compressed ambient air is delivered to a tank configured to store compressed gases.

Vehicles, such as passenger vehicles and/or commercial vehicles, may be equipped with work systems for providing hydraulic and/or compressed air functionality. Compressed air may be used to drive air tools, pneumatic lifts, and other compressed air-driven devices. The work systems may be installed as an add-on system to the vehicle or may be integrally arranged in the vehicle, such as part of an accessory drive system.
These work systems may have some drawbacks. For example, they occupy space that may be used for other vehicle components or in a vehicle storage area, such as a truck bed, which may be used to transport goods. Additionally, these vehicle systems may reduce engine power output as the work system is powered by a main engine of the vehicle.
Some example approaches include arranging a secondary engine on the vehicle, the secondary engine configured to power the one or more systems of the work system. However, this may increase a cost of the work system. Furthermore, an efficiency of driving the work system may be high.
Other example approaches include supplying compressed air to the work system via a compressor driven via a turbine of an engine. To do this, exhaust gases are produced at a desired rate to supply a desired amount of compressed air to an air compressor tank of the work system. However, this approach may have the same drawback of the above example, where an efficiency of driving the work system may be high, thereby increasing vehicle emissions.
In one example, the issues described above may be addressed by a system, comprising:
a boost device arranged in an exhaust passage, wherein the boost device is driven by exhaust air from a cylinder bank of an engine and configured to compress ambient air. In this way, the cylinder bank is not fueled and emissions during the compressed air production are reduced relative to the previous examples.
As one example, an operator may select a mode for operating compressed air devices while the vehicle is stationary. The vehicle may cut-off a fuel supply to cylinders of the cylinder bank of the engine. In this way, the cylinder bank is operated as a pump via work from another fueled cylinder bank, wherein air flowing through the deactivated cylinder bank is compressed and delivered to a work system. The work system may include a passage, which bypasses a portion of an exhaust passage of the vehicle, wherein the passage comprises a booster for further increasing a pressure of the compressed air. The air is delivered to an air tank, from which compressed air may be used to operate the compressed air devices. In this way, emissions during the operation of the compressed air tool are reduced relative to the previous examples.
It should be understood that the summary above is provided to introduce in simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined uniquely by the claims that follow the detailed description. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure.

Method and system for on vehicle compressed air generation


Disclosed are a content providing system and a relay apparatus in which an information terminal connected to a multi-function mobile telephone receives a content in the same operational procedure as that for the multi-function mobile telephone. When a video gaming machine connected to the multi-function mobile telephone accesses a content providing apparatus, an DNS server in an NOC converts a telephone number of the multi-function mobile telephone into an ID code unique to the multi-function mobile telephone. The content providing apparatus thus identifies the multi-function mobile telephone in use, and a user can thus enjoy a video game on the video gaming machine in the same operation as that for the multi-function mobile telephone.

The Internet is now widespread use as personal computers become ubiquitous. The Internet links the entire world, and anyone easily accesses it for data collection. Web sites for providing a diversity of types of contents are connected to the Internet. Using the Internet, one can easily and quickly gain access to not only mere information, but also entertainment contents such as music, and software programs for video gaming.
In game playing using the Internet, an information terminal is not identified if a player is identified with an ID (identification) number and a password. A user can enjoy game playing on his home personal computer or on a computer in other places. Even if the user stops playing in the middle of a game, the progress of the game is saved in a Web site that provides a game content. For example, when the user suspends the game in the middle thereof at home, he may continue game playing until the end thereof on a personal computer in other places.
As mobile telephones such as PHS (Personal Handy-phone Systems) or portable telephones are widely used, more and more people communicate over mobile telephones. Multi-function mobile telephones, having a function of serving as an information terminal with an Internet connection capability, appear in the market. Among multi-function mobile telephones, some provide an "i mode" service available from the NTT DoCoMo in Japan (formerly, "Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Mobile Communications Network, Inc,").
A Web browser and an E-mail software, which are standard applications working on the Internet, are installed in such a multi-function mobile telephone. Using the multi-function mobile telephone, the user views home pages set in numerous Web sites over the Internet. The user plays a video game on the multi-function mobile telephone by connecting the multi-function mobile telephone to a site that provides a game content and downloading the game content thereto. In this way, the user can enjoy video game playing anywhere.
A mobile telephone service company which provides mobile telephone service owns a gateway as a relay apparatus which interfaces a communication network to the Internet for the multi-function mobile telephone to gain access to the Internet. Since the multi-function mobile telephone accesses each site over the Internet through the gateway, the gateway recognizes that a pay content is downloaded from a pay site to the multi-function mobile telephone when the multi-function mobile telephone accesses the pay site. The mobile telephone service company thus bills a fee of the pay content to an owner of the multi-function mobile telephone. Since the multi-function mobile telephone is identified from a telephone number, the user is free from an operation to input an ID number and a password on the multi-function mobile telephone to identify himself.
With an information terminal such as a personal computer connected to the multi-function mobile telephone, the user may access each site over the Internet from the information terminal through a mobile telephone network. If the mobile telephone is combined with a mobile computer, the user can obtain required information from the Internet anywhere like with the multi-function mobile telephone.
When the information terminal connected to the multi-function mobile telephone accesses the Internet, the multi-function mobile telephone merely functions as an interface, and remains unrelated to the data exchanged between the information terminal and each site. When the multi-function mobile telephone does not directly access the Internet, the mobile telephone service company is unable to learn the content communicated by the multi-function mobile telephone from the standpoint of privacy protection. Since communications are performed between the information terminal and each site with the gateway bypassed, the company has a technical difficulty in learning the content communicated by the multi-function mobile telephone.
When the information terminal connected to the multi-function mobile telephone accesses the Internet, a billing destination needs to be clarified by inputting an ID number and a password. In this way, operational steps become more complex when the multi-function mobile telephone is used as a mere interface than when the multi-function mobile telephone itself accesses the Internet.

System and method for providing content, and relay apparatus


A replacement pathway in an STB is utilized to determine loss of packets and delivery error during reception of media broadcasts, and to retrieve replacement data from one or more replacement media servers. The retrieval of the replacement data is performed during playback of the received media broadcasts. The communication of media broadcast incorporates delays to accommodate the retrieval of replacement data. Alternatively, received broadcast media streams are buffered to enable retrieval of replacement data and to provide seamless presentation of media content in the media broadcasts. The replacement media server performs access authentication operations during replacement data retrieval. The replacement media server is accessed via markup language, for example, HTML and/or XML, based interfaces and/or dedicated APIs. The replacement media server may deny replacement data based on plurality of service criteria such as acceptance and denial criteria, which may comprise allowable bandwidth and/or error rates.

Audiovisual display devices are utilized to play broadcast media streams received from broadcast head-ends. Broadcast media streams are received via the internet and/or via TV broadcasts. For example, Television (TV) broadcasts are generally transmitted by television head-ends over broadcast channels, via RF carriers. The TV head-ends may comprise terrestrial TV head-ends, Cable-Television (CATV), and/or satellite TV head-ends. The TV head-ends may utilize, for example, a set of broadcast channels to facilitate TV broadcast. The TV broadcasts comprise transmission of video and/or audio information, wherein the video and/or audio information may be encoded into the broadcast channels via one of plurality of available modulation schemes. The TV Broadcasts may utilize analog and/or digital modulation format. In analog television systems, picture and sound information are encoded into, and transmitted via analog signals, wherein the audio/video information may be conveyed via broadcast signals, via amplitude and/or frequency modulation on the television signal, based on analog television encoding standard. Analog television broadcasters may, for example, encode their signals using NTSC, PAL and/or SECAM analog encoding and then modulate these signals onto a VHF or UHF RF carriers, for example.
In digital television (DTV) systems, television broadcasts may be communicated by terrestrial, cable, and/or satellite head-ends via discrete (digital) signals, utilizing one or more of available digital modulation schemes, which may comprise, for example, QAM, VSB, QPSK, and/or OFDM. The use of digital signals generally requires less bandwidth than analog signals to convey the same amount of information. Accordingly, DTV systems may enable broadcasters to provide more digital channels within the same space otherwise available to analog television systems. In addition, the use of digital television signals may enable broadcasters to provide high-definition television (HDTV) broadcasting and/or to provide other non-television related service via the digital system. Available digital television systems comprise, for example, ATSC, DVB, and/or VSB based systems. Video and/or audio information may be encoded into digital television signals utilizing various video and/or audio encoding and/or compression algorithms, which may comprise, for example, MPEG-2, MPEG-4 AVC, MP3, AC-3, AAC, and/or HE-AAC.
Media streams are sometimes broadcast via the Internet. Internet head-ends are utilized, for example, to communicate multimedia streaming data, which may correspond to TV broadcasts, via the Internet based on one or more applicable networking standards, including TCP/IP.
Televisions (TVs) and/or other audiovisual playback devices are utilized to play received TV and/or media broadcasts. The received TV and/or media broadcasts are inputted directly into the playback devices, and the playback devices are enabled to perform, for example, necessary tuning and/or processing operations to extract the audio/video information. Alternately, specialized devices referred to as set-top boxes are utilized to provide necessary processing operations that convert TV and/or Internet based media broadcasts to signals suitable for play via the playback devices.
Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systems with some aspects of the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.

Utilizing a replacement pathway for lost packet delivery during media reception in a set-top box (STB)


An image processing apparatus includes a reading unit, a color value calculation unit, a reading period measurement unit, a color value storage unit, a color value creation unit and a color value output unit. The reading unit reads a color of each of plural objects. The color value calculation unit calculates a color value of the color of each read object. The reading period measurement unit measures a time period during which the reading unit reads each object. The color value storage unit stores the color value calculated and time period information indicating the time period measured, for each object. The color value creation unit creates a new color value based on the color values of the plurality of objects and the time period information stored in the color value storage unit. The color value output unit outputs the new color value created.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing system.
2. Related Art
A color of a pen used in writing on an electronic whiteboard apparatus used in a conference or other events is primarily determined in the following two ways: (1) plural pens are prepared for respective colors to be displayed, and (2) a color to be displayed is selected from a palette displayed on the electronic whiteboard apparatus.

Image processing apparatus and image processing system


A PLL (phase lock loop) circuit improves pull-in and noise performances by changing a loop gain based on the loop states. The PLL circuit includes a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) for generating an oscillation signal whose oscillation frequency is controlled by a control voltage provided thereto, a phase comparator for detecting a phase difference between the oscillation signal from the VCO and a reference signal wherein a detection gain of the phase difference is regulated by a bias voltage provided thereto, a low pass filter for receiving an output signal of the phase comparator for removing high frequency components therefrom to produce the control voltage supplied to the VCO, a phase lock loop formed by the VCO, phase comparator and low pass filter, and a phase lock detection circuit for detecting whether the phase lock loop has reached a phase lock state and changing the bias voltage to decrease the detection gain of the phase comparator when the phase lock loop has reached the lock state.

An example of PLL in the conventional technology is shown in FIG. 3. The PLL circuit in the example of FIG. 3 includes a phase comparator 10, a low pass filter 20, a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) 30, forming a negative feedback loop.
A reference signal V1 and an oscillation frequency signal of the VCO 30 are provided to the phase comparator 10 wherein phases of two signals are compared and difference in the phase is detected. The phase difference signal V3 is provided to the low pass filter 20 which determines a loop response characteristics of the PLL. The low pass filter 20 smoothes the phase difference signal to convert the same to an error voltage or a control voltage which is supplied to the VCO 30 to control the oscillation frequency. When the PLL is in a lock-in situation, the phases, i.e., the frequencies of the oscillation signal V2 of the VCO 30 and the reference signal V1 match with one another.
PLL circuits are widely used in communication systems and devices, frequency synthesizers with a frequency divider therein, test instruments, signal generators, frequency modulators and the like.
In the conventional PLL circuit, an example of the phase comparator 10 is an analog multiplier such as a double balanced mixer. When a reference signal V1 and an oscillation signal V2 of the VCO 30 are expressed as equations (1) and (2), respectively, an output V3 of the phase comparator 10, which is an analog multiplier, is expressed by an equation (3) as follows. EQU V1=2.sup.1/2 A sin .theta.(t) (1) EQU V2=2.sup.1/2 B cos .theta.'(t) (2) EQU V3=AB sin (.theta.(t)-.theta.'(t))+AB cos (.theta.(t) +.theta.'(t))(3)
As shown in the right side of the equation (3), the output signal V3 of the phase comparator 10 includes a multiplied component showing a phase difference of the two signals V1 and V2 and a multiplied component showing a phase sum of the two signals V1 and V2. The output signal V3 is provided to the low pass filter 20 where the component having the phase sum of the two signals V1 and V2 is removed. Thus, the component (error voltage) showing the phase difference between the signals V1 and V2 is feed-backed to the VCO 30 to control the phase of the oscillation signal of the VCO 30.
Because the PLL circuit is a negative feedback loop, the PLL circuit functions to minimize the phase difference between the oscillation signal V2 and the reference signal V1. When the PLL circuit reaches the lock-in situation, the phases of the two signals match with one another, i.e., the oscillation frequency of the VCO 30 output signal V1 becomes the same as the frequency of the reference signal V2.
Parameters of the low pass filter 20 and a gain of the PLL circuit determine a response characteristics of the PLL circuit. In the operational process of the PLL circuit, there are two steps to reach the steady (phase lock) state of the PLL circuit. The first step is a frequency pulling process (pull-in) wherein the oscillation frequency of the VCO is driven close to the frequency of the reference signal. The second step is a phase synchronization (lock-in) process wherein the phases of the VCO output signal and the reference signal are completely synchronized.
In describing the operational ranges of a phase clock loop, such terms as a lock range, a pull-in range, and a lock-in range are generally used. The lock range means a maximum frequency difference between the VCO free running oscillation frequency and the reference signal frequency for which the PLL can maintain the lock-in state. The pull-in range (also called a capture range) means a frequency difference between the VCO free running oscillation frequency and the reference signal frequency for which the PLL can acquire the lock state. The lock-in range means a frequency difference between the VCO oscillation frequency and the reference signal frequency for which the PLL immediately goes into the lock state. The relationship among these ranges is that expressed as: EQU lock range>pull-in range>lock-in range (4)
The dynamic response characteristics of the phase lock loop is determined mainly by a transient response of the low pass filter 20. The parameters of the low pass filter 20 are selected so that the transient response shows, for example, a first order delay curve.
In case where the frequency difference between the oscillation frequency of the VCO 30 and the reference signal frequency is too large, frequency components in the difference signal from the phase comparator 10 may not pass through the low pass filter 20. This means that the frequency difference is outside of the pull-in range of the PLL, and thus, the lock state will not be achieved by the PLL circuit.
Once the PLL circuit establishes the lock state, the response speed of the PLL for following the frequency change in the reference signal, for example, is solely determined by the low pass filter 20. Since the low pass filter 20 has the delay response curve as noted above, when the PLL circuit is instantaneously out of the lock state by noise or the like, the lock state is immediately resumed. In other words, the low pass filter 20 performs as a memory for recording the control voltage to be supplied to the VCO 30 for a short period of time.
Generally, an SN (signal to noise) ratio, a pull-in range, a lock-in range, and a response speed of a phase lock loop are largely dependent upon a loop gain of the feed back loop of the PLL. When the loop gain increases, the pull-in range and the lock-in range increase as well while the time required for reaching the lock-in state decreases (loop response speed is high). However, the higher the loop gain, the lower it becomes the SN ratio, i.e., the noise increases. Conversely, when the loop gain decreases, the pull-in range and the lock-in range will decrease accordingly while the time required for reaching the lock-in state will increase (loop response speed is low). However, by the decrease of the loop gain, the SN ratio will improve, i.e., the noise decreases.
As in the foregoing, in the PLL circuit using the conventional phase comparator having the double balanced mixer or the like, the loop gain affects the PLL characteristics both advantageously and disadvantageously. Therefore, it is not possible to achieve all of the desired characteristics of a phase lock loop, i.e., a wide pull-in range and lock-in range, a high response speed, and a high SN ratio at the same time.

Phase lock loop circuit with variable loop gain


A cutting head attachment assembly for a cutting tool includes a body forming an axially forward part of the cutting tool attachable to a cutting head via a clamping element and a fixation element. A guide surface provided at the body or cutting head extends in both a radial and an axial direction to support movement of the clamping element in both the radial and axial directions via actuation of the fixation element to force and clamp together axially the head and body.

Cutting tools, for example rotary cutting tools, are used extensively for grooving and boring a workpiece. Such tools typically comprise hardened cutting inserts removably mounted at a cutting head that is, in turn, detachably mounted to an axially forwardmost part of a cutting tool body. As the body and workpiece are moved relative each other, for example the body is rotated about its axis or the work piece is rotated about its axis, the cutting insert engages into the workpiece to create the desired groove, bore, shoulder profile etc., as will be appreciated.
Long tool exchange times are undesirable with respect to machine down time and productivity efficiency. Accordingly, the cutting head/tool body interface is required to be relatively easy to assembly and dimensionally accurate so as to appropriately and effectively transfer loading forces during cutting. WO 2013/018087 describes a modular cutting tool holder and clamping mechanism. In particular, an eccentric screw is adapted to engage a follower body that extends axially intermediate and into an axially forward cutting head and an axially rearward tool body. By rotation of the screw, and via the follower body, the head and tool body are clamped together axially.
However, existing clamping mechanisms are typically intricate to assemble and manipulate to achieve the desired coupling. Accordingly, tool exchange times are still excessive and complicated. What is required is a cutting tool part assembly and clamping mechanism that addresses such problems.


A cotton candy machine includes a floss head comprised of a floss head cap, a heated filament spinning screen, a floss head base and a rotatable retaining cap, all removable from said head without tools by manually rotating said retaining cap. A floater includes a vane, a shank and a shank end. Sockets on the upper surface of the retaining cap capture the shanks of plural floaters. The floaters are relative rigid and of selective pitch to produce sugar fiber cooling air flow, and are non-porous for enhanced cleaning. The floss head is easily manually disassembled for cleaning.

In known cotton candy machines, a rotating, heated, floss head is oriented above a candy floss receiving bowl from which the candy can be applied to a paper cone, placed in a bag or otherwise collected. Sugar in granular form is dispensed into the rotating heated floss head where it is flung outwardly to a perforated, heated ring or screen, heating the sugar to a melted condition. The molten sugar flows through slots or apertures in the heated, rotating screen and is "spun" outwardly as elongated filaments, where it cools and is collected in the surrounding bowl as cotton candy floss, which can be collected and consumed.
The transition of the melted sugar filaments back to a cooled cotton candy filament state within the bowl is problematical. If the melted sugar engages the bowl before it cools sufficiently, it will stick to the bowl; with the result that cleanup is difficult.
If the sugar filaments are blown about too much, they can be blown over, out or above the bowl, into the area surrounding the bowl and resulting in messy waste.
In an effort to control the sugar filaments, flexible leather "floaters" have been secured to the rotating floss head. These prior leather floaters are disposed or twisted at an angle which is sufficient to suck air into the bowl, drawing air into the bowl primarily from underneath the central area of the mounted bowl near the floss head. This air flow cools the hot filaments before they contact the bowl surfaces, and prevents undesirable air flow or inertia from causing the filaments to flow overboard outside the confines of the bowl.
Such floaters have traditionally been made of flexible leather, pliable enough that they can be mounted to the floss head cap and twisted to a desired angle to create the air flow desired. These leather floaters, used for years, nevertheless present problems of their own. They are porous and are not generally easily treated or cleaned from a sanitizing perspective. Their performance is inconsistent depending on length, pliability, rigidity, angle and the like. Moreover, tools are required to disassemble the head components which hold the floaters so they and the head can be removed for cleaning. This takes effort and operators may not go to the trouble to remove the floaters and the head for proper cleaning.
In another aspect of the invention, various regulations or specifications of food preparation machines, such as cotton candy machines, which are the subject of this invention, are being increasingly and more frequently asserted by federal, state, county and municipal jurisdictions. For example, guidelines from the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) are more frequently being asserted in such jurisdictions to cover cotton candy machines respecting issues of safety and sanitation. Among these are requirements to render the machines more easily cleanable, capable of being disassembled for cleaning without tools and more protective against electrical shock.
It is thus desired to improve the floater function and structure in a cotton candy machine.
It is also desired to improve access to improved floaters for orientation, as in pitch, and for cleaning.
It is further desired to provide structure to improve floater operation in existing cotton candy machines.
It is further desired to provide cotton candy machine floaters which can easily be removed and thoroughly cleaned, independently of the head.
It is a further objective of the invention to provide an improved floss head for cotton candy machines rendering toolless disassembly safe and improving the candy making function.
Another objective has been to provide a cotton candy machine capable of compliance with increasingly demanding guidelines and regulations.


A gas turbine rotor and a method for manufacturing a gas turbine rotor having integral blading, is disclosed. A rotor blade has a blade pan and a blade footing connected to the blade pan. The blade footing is designed with a V-shaped cross section in at least some portions and the blade footing is welded to a rotor mount by capacitor discharge welding.

This application claims the priority of International Application No. PCT/DE2004/001654, filed Jul. 23, 2004, and German Patent Document No. 103 36 587.7, filed Aug. 8, 2003, the disclosures of which are expressly incorporated by reference herein.
The present invention relates to a rotor blade for gas turbine rotors. In addition the invention relates to a method for manufacturing gas turbine rotors having integral blading.
Gas turbine rotors having integral blading are identified as blisks or blings according to whether they have a disk-shaped rotor and/or rotor mount or a ring-shaped rotor and/or rotor mount. Disk-shaped gas turbine rotors having integral blading are referred to by the term blisk (bladed disk) and ring-shaped gas turbine rotors having integral blading are referred to by the term bling (bladed ring).
It is known from the related art that gas turbine rotors having integral blading can be manufactured by the so-called method of milling from a solid block. Milling from a solid block is used mainly to manufacture relatively small gas turbine rotors. For example, milling from a solid block is suitable in particular for mass production of blisks or blings having relatively small titanium blade pans. Milling blisks or blings from a nickel alloy is problematical because of the poor workability of this material.
Another method of manufacturing gas turbine rotors having integral blading, which is known from the related art, involves joining finished rotor blades to the rotor mount, i.e., the hub, by so-called linear friction welding. In linear friction welding, one of the parts to be joined is clamped in a fixed position while the other part is oscillated linearly and pressed with pressure against the fixedly clamped part. The friction heats up the area of the weld zone to a forging temperature and the pressure results in the development of a welding bulge in the joining area. In the manufacture of relatively large gas turbine rotors, i.e., gas turbine rotors having relatively large blade pans, linear friction welding is more economical and less expensive than milling from a solid block.
Against this background, the problem on which the present invention is based is to propose a novel rotor blade for gas turbine rotors and a novel method for manufacturing gas turbine rotors having integral blading.
According to this invention, the blade footing of the rotor blades is adjusted so that the blade footing is designed with a V-shaped cross section in at least some portions in order to manufacture a gas turbine rotor having integral blading by means of capacitor discharge welding, in particular capacitor discharge stud welding.
According to an advantageous refinement of the present invention, the footing of the blade has a cross section adapted to the introduction of pressure forces in an area situated between the blade pan and the area designed with the V-shaped cross section. The blade pan preferably has a protrusion running in the longitudinal direction of the blade pan or at least a groove running in the longitudinal direction in order to introduce the pressure forces.
Preferred refinements of the present invention are derived from the following description.

Apparatus and method for joining a rotor blade to a rotor mount of a gas turbine rotor


A cleaning device (10) for a threaded shaft (12) having a cleaning member (34) having a threaded recess (42) received on the shaft (12) and extending partially around the shaft (12) with the threads (44) of the cleaning member (34) meshing with the threads (14) of the shaft (12).

The present invention relates to cleaning devices for a threaded shaft.
In the past, threaded screws or shafts have been used to linearly translate the position of a threaded member, such as a threaded block engaged with the threads of a shaft, in opposite directions depending upon the direction of rotation of the shaft, such as in a printing press. Although such devices have satisfactorily moved the block in selected opposite directions along the shaft, when operating the device in a dusty environment, dust and dirt may accumulate in the threads of the shaft, which hampers movement of the threaded shaft, and possibly jams the shaft such that it can no longer rotate in the block. Thus, the device must be stopped in this case, and the threads of the shaft must be cleaned prior to subsequent use, causing undesirable delays and inconvenience to the operator of the press or device.


Significant amounts of pattern distortion were found to be the result of reflowing borophosphosilicate glass (BPSG) and silicon dioxide shrinkage during high temperature junction anneals. In order to remedy this problem, a method for suppressing the pattern distortion by subjecting the wafer coated with BPSG and with silicon dioxide layers to a high temperature anneal before patterning is disclosed. The high temperature anneal densifies the undoped silicon dioxide before patterning, so that shrinkage of the undoped silicon dioxide does not affect the patterning steps.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates generally to the manufacture of integrated circuit (IC) chips and, more specifically, to a method for suppressing pattern distortion associated with the reflow of borophosphosilicate glass (BPSG) dielectric layers during the annealing process of subsequent layers.
2. Background Art
In the present era of very large scale integration and ultra large scale integration, new techniques are continuously being developed to more efficiently utilize the space within semi-conductor devices while maintaining or improving present production efficiency, i.e., reducing the number of IC chips that fail because of various mistakes that may occur during the production process.
In the manufacture of IC chips, interconnecting contacts are provided between the active semiconductive material, in which the semiconductor devices are formed, and the interconnect lines. These contacts are typically formed by initially depositing a borophosphosilicate glass (BPSG) dielectric layer over the semiconductor devices. The BPSG material is chosen because it is an acceptable insulator that is capable of being flowed over the devices. The flowability of the material is necessary because the devices present a relatively high aspect ratio and all areas between the devices must be filled without the formation of voids. It was noted early on that BPSG, after reflow, filled a higher proportion of voids than other insulative materials.
The contacts and interconnects are formed by using a dual damascene process. A semi-conductor substrate having devices such as field effect transistors, gates and diodes is provided. The BPSG is deposited over the substrate and associated topography, reflowed to fill high aspect ratio features, then planarized with a chemical-mechanical polish (CMP). A low temperature oxide layer is deposited over the BPSG layer and serves as a polish stop during patterning of subsequent metal layers. A masking layer of photoresist is then provided over the oxide and patterned for exposing the underlying oxide in the contact areas. The exposed oxide and BPSG is then etched, forming contact holes. A second masking layer is provided over the oxide and patterned for exposing the underlying oxide in the interconnect areas. The exposed oxide is then etched, forming troughs for the interconnects. Conducting layers such as aluminum or tungsten are deposited over the wafer by non-selective deposition filling the holes and troughs. The conducting layer is then patterned by CMP to simultaneously form interconnects and contacts.
In a similar fashion, junctions are self-aligned with the contacts by performing the implantation step after the contacts have been etched but prior to the deposition of the conducting layer. The implantation typically involves a high energy ion implant and a high temperature anneal.
A problem with this approach is that distortion of the first contact and interconnect levels can occur during the high temperature junction activation anneal, due to shrinkage of the low temperature oxide and reflow of the BPSG. This distortion can lead to misalignment with subsequent contact levels (which can cause opens or shorts) and variations in interconnect resistance.
It is an advantage of the present invention that mis-alignment problems and variations in resistance are reduced. This reduction is achieved by subjecting the BPSG and undoped oxide to a high temperature before the patterning of the lines, the etching of the contacts and the ion implantation steps. This causes the BPSG and the overlying oxide to densify prior to patterning. Therefore, the shrinkage occurs before the pattern is formed and results in straighter lines which will then be more easily alignable with subsequent layers.
Numerous other advantages and features of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention, the figures and the appended claims.

Method for suppressing pattern distortion associated with BPSG reflow and integrated circuit chip formed thereby

International Business Machines Corporation


The invention relates to a trailer hitch, comprising a ball neck, which is movable between an operative position and a rest position and has a trailer ball, a pivot bearing unit, which is arranged fixed to the vehicle, and a rotation-blocking device having at least two rotation-blocking bodies that are guided such that they are movable by means of a guide body in a guide direction having at least one component in the radial direction in relation to the pivot axis, and having an actuation body, which is arranged such that it is rotatable about the pivot axis and has a respective wedge face extending transversely to the guide direction for each of the rotation-blocking bodies and of which the rotary movement in an actuation direction causes the at least two rotation-blocking bodies to be movable and urgeable in the guide direction, wherein there is provided a release position latching device that, in a release position of the actuation body, is movable between a latch release position, which releases movement of the actuation body in relation to the guide body, and a latching position, which fixes the actuation body in relation to the guide body, and, at least in the release position of the actuation body, is urged in the direction of the latching position by a spring element.

The invention relates to a trailer hitch, comprising a ball neck, which is movable between an operative position and a rest position and has a pivot bearing body arranged at a first end and a trailer ball arranged at a second end, a pivot hearing unit, which is arranged fixed to the vehicle and by means of which the pivot hearing body is received such that it is pivotal about a pivot axis between the operative position and the rest position, and a rotation-blocking device having at least two rotation-blocking bodies that are guided such that they are movable in a guide direction by means of a guide body, wherein, in the operative position, the rotation-blocking bodies are configured to be brought into a rotation-blocking position by moving in the guide direction and, in this position, engage with a respective receptacle in the pivot bearing body in order to block a pivotal movement of the pivot bearing body about the pivot axis in relation to the wide body, and are configured to be brought into a release position and, in this position, are disengaged from the respective receptacle, and wherein the rotation-blocking device has an actuation body, which has a respective pressure surface extending transversely to the guide direction for each of the rotation-blocking bodies and of which the movement in an actuation direction causes the at least two rotation-blocking bodies to be movable and urgeable in the guide direction.
Trailer hitches of this kind are known for example from EP 1 741 572 A1.
However, such trailer hitches pose the basic problem of constructing them as compactly and structurally simply as possible m order that they can be used even in constrained spatial conditions.


A golf ball 2 includes a core 4, an envelope layer 6 positioned outside the core 4, a mid layer 8 positioned outside the envelope layer 6, and a cover 10 positioned outside the mid layer 8. The core 4 includes a spherical center 12 and a core outer layer 14 positioned outside the center 12. The center 12 has a diameter of 1 mm or greater and 15 mm or less. The difference (H4−H3) between the JIS-C hardness H4 of the core 4 at its surface and the JIS-C hardness H3 of the core outer layer 14 at its innermost portion is equal to or greater than 10. The cover 10 has a Shore D hardness H7 less than 40. The Shore D hardnesses H5, H6 and H7 of the envelope layer 6, the mid layer 8, and the cover 10 satisfy that H5>H6≧H7.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to golf balls. Specifically, the present invention relates to multi-piece golf balls including a center, a core outer layer, an envelope layer, a mid layer and cover.
2. Description of the Related Art
The greatest interest to golf players concerning golf balls is flight performance. In particular, golf players place importance on a flight distance upon a shot with a driver. By using a golf ball that has a long flight distance upon a shot with a driver, golf players can hit a second shot at a point close to the green. A flight distance upon a shot with a driver correlates with a spin rate. A golf ball with a low spin rate has excellent flight performance. In addition, flight performance correlates with the resilience performance of a golf ball.
Golf players also place importance on spin performance of golf balls. If a backspin rate is high, the run is short. By using a golf ball that has a high backspin rate, golf players can cause the golf ball to stop at a target point. If a sidespin rate is high, the golf ball tends to curve. By using a golf ball that has a high sidespin rate, golf players can intentionally cause the golf ball to curve. A golf ball with excellent spin performance has excellent controllability. In particular, advanced golf players place importance on controllability upon a shot with a short iron.
Golf players also place importance on feel at impact of golf balls. In general, golf players prefer soft feel at impact.
Golf balls with a cover including a polyurethane are commercially available. In general, polyurethanes are flexible. Spin is easily given to this golf ball. This cover contributes to the controllability. On the other hand, if this golf ball is hit with a driver, this cover causes excessive spin. This cover impairs the flight performance.
Golf balls with a core and a thin cover formed from a polyurethane are commercially available. This core includes a center and a mid layer. The mid layer is formed from a hard synthetic resin. This mid layer achieves an outer-hard/inner-soft structure of the core. When this golf ball is hit with a driver, the core deforms significantly because the cover is thin. The outer-hard/inner-soft structure of the core suppresses spin. This core achieves a long flight distance upon a shot with a driver. When this golf ball is hit with a short iron, a high spin rate is achieved by the flexible cover. This cover contributes to the controllability upon a shot with a short iron. This golf ball has hard feel at impact because the cover is thin and the mid layer is hard.
Various golf balls with a multilayer structure have been proposed. U.S. Pat. No. 6,468,169 (JP-HEI10-328326A) discloses a golf ball including a core, an envelope layer, an inner cover and an outer cover. U.S. Pat. No. 6,271,296 (JP2001-17575A) discloses a golf ball including a core, an envelope layer, a core outer layer and a cover. JP2002-272880A discloses a golf ball including a core and a cover. The core consists of a center and an outer core layer. The cover consists of an inner cover layer and an outer cover layer. US2003/64828 (JP2003-10359A) discloses a golf ball including a core and a cover. The core consists of a center and a mid layer. US2003/166422 (JP2003-205052A) discloses a golf ball including a core and a cover. The core consists of a center and a mid layer. US2004/29648 (JP2004-130072A) discloses a golf ball including a core and a cover. The core consists of a center, a mid layer and an outer layer.
In the golf ball disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,468,169, the cover is hard. The golf ball has inferior controllability. In the golf ball disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,271,296, the envelope layer is hard. The golf ball has inferior flight performance upon a shot with a driver. In the golf ball disclosed in JP2002-272880A, the cover is hard. The golf ball has inferior controllability. In the golf ball disclosed in US2003/64828, the cover is hard. The golf ball has inferior controllability. In the golf ball disclosed in US2003/166422, the cover is hard. The golf ball has inferior controllability. In the golf ball disclosed in US2004/29648, the cover is hard. The golf ball has inferior controllability.
Golf players' requirements for golf balls have been escalated more than ever. An objective of the present invention is to provide a golf ball that is excellent in various performance characteristics.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


The press section of a papermaking machine for dewatering a paper web comprises two separate, successively arranged extended nip press locations. Both of the extended nip press locations contain at least one respective felt which travels together with the paper web through the associated extended nip press location. The paper web is guided from the first extended nip press location to a web removal device contacted by an upper felt of the second extended nip press location, and from that location the paper web can move to the second extended nip press location.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a new and improved press section of a papermaking machine for pressing and dewatering a paper web.
Generally speaking, the press section of a papermaking machine for dewatering a paper web, as contemplated by the present development, is of the type comprising two separate successively arranged press locations. Each press location is formed between an upper extended press surface and a lower extended press surface forming extended or wide press nips. The press section contains at the first press location and at the second press location at least one respective separate felt guided in conjunction with the paper web through the press locations. The second press location contains a cylindrical counter roll or roller extending essentially beneath the second press location and an extended nip press roll extending essentially above the second press location. This extended nip press roll forms the extended nip of the second pres location and is essentially accommodated to the contour of the counter roll.
2. Discussion of the Background and Material Information
Press sections or press arrangements of the aforementioned type for pressing and dewatering a paper web possess the decisive advantage that by using press structures which, as viewed in the direction of travel of the paper web, have an extended or wide press length, that is, an extended press nip, there is available a relatively large amount of time for expressing liquid out of the paper web. As a result, such a press section can operate with relatively few press locations and nonetheless can achieve a high dewatering effect or capacity even with relatively rapid throughpass or high speed travel of the paper web. The presently known press apparatuses or arrangements containing an extended press nip are frequently constructed such that there is provided a press roll equipped with a flexible shell or jacket which is pressed from internally of the press roll by means of an essentially only radially movable press element against a rigid counter roll, and the flexible shell or jacket, at the region of the extended press nip, can snugly bear against the rigid counter roll. However, other constructions are possible for achieving an extended press nip or press surface.
In order to obtain as great as possible operational reliability of the press section, at high speed papermaking machines it is strived to continuously maintain the paper web in contact with at least one felt, in order to thus avoid a so-called free or open draw where the paper web would be exposed to the danger of tearing. What is disadvantageous with such arrangements is especially that, following departure of the paper web from the press nip, there occurs remoistening or rewetting of the paper web by the water entrained by the felt.
In the commonly assigned German Published Patent Application No. 3,742,848, published Jun. 29, 1989, and the cognate U.S. Pat. No. 4,915,790, granted Apr. 10, 1990, there is disclosed an arrangement intended to solve the aforementioned problem, wherein special measures are undertaken in order to raise at least one felt very rapidly away from the paper web after the latter emerges from the press nip.
Furthermore, solutions have become known in the papermaking art where only a single felt is present in the second press nip. If this felt is located at the top of the paper web, then such paper web can drop off such felt much too easily prior to entering the second press location or press nip. On the other hand, if such felt is located at the bottom of the paper web, especially in the form of a continuous felt which spans both press locations or press nips, then the paper web co-travels throughout its full width, following exit from the second press location or press nip, upwardly together with the top or upper roll, and is then difficult to handle. Moreover, at this location there also exists a greater tendency of the paper web to again suck up water from the felt behind the press nip.
German Published Patent Application No. 3,815,278, published Nov. 16, 1989, discloses a press arrangement containing two successive roll presses each provided with an extended press nip. While here there exist favorable conditions for dewatering the paper web, on the other hand, the paper web is transported by one felt through both roll presses or press locations. It is not possible to condition the paper web between both of the roll presses.


A disposable garment includes a nonwoven backsheet formed by melt-blowing. The melt-blown nonwoven web has a basis weight of from about 3 g/m2 to about 60 g/m2 and an air permeability value of at least about 15 cm3/cm2/sec. The melt-blowing web is made by fine fibers having an average fiber diameter of from about 3 μm to about 10 μm

Infants and other incontinent individuals wear disposable garments such as diapers to receive and contain urine and other body exudates. Disposable garments function either or both to contain the discharged materials and to isolate these materials from the body of the wearer, and from the wearer's garments and bed clothing. Disposable garments having many different basic designs are known to the art. Examples of such disposable garments include disposable diapers (adult and baby) including pull-on diapers and training pants, disposable underwear, and disposable absorbent pads.
It is also known that the exterior of disposable garments may be covered with a flexible, liquid-impervious sheet to prevent any absorbed liquid from passing through the disposable garments and soiling adjacent articles such as clothing, bedding and the like. Such a liquid-impervious sheet is often constructed from polyethylene films and the like. While such sheets prevent liquid from passing through the disposable garment, such a plastic film tends to be uncomfortable for the wearer and/or user. A plastic film may possess insufficient moisture breathability and almost no air permeability, and may therefore cause wearers undesirable skin irritation.
One approach to provide a sufficient amount of moisture breathability is to use a microporous polyfilm. However, such an approach may provide only limited moisture breathability to wearers, sometimes less than 50% of the desired level, and still provide no or almost no air permeability.
Another approach is the use of nonwoven materials. See unexamined Japanese publication (kokai) H03-240151, filed on Feb. 16, 1990, by Asahi Kasei Kogyo, which discloses sanitary materials comprising a melt-blown nonwoven liquid-impermeable sheet made of fine fibers having an average diameter of from 0.5 to 2.5 μm. Although a sheet having such small fibers may retain liquid within the garment, such a sheet does not possess the desired level of air permeability, because the pores are too small. The sheet also tends to lower a tensile strength.
Based on the foregoing, the need exists for a disposable garment having a nonwoven backsheet formed by melt-blowing, which can provide desirable moisture breathability, desirable air permeability, and a tensile strength sufficient for converting to make disposable garments.

Disposable garment comprising meltblown nonwoven backsheet


The present invention provides a brominated epoxy resin, which has a molecular segment of low polarity in the polymer chain, while the molecular segment of low polarity is attributed to the symmetric or saturated cyclic alphatic molecular structure with low “molecular dipole moment” characteristics; making a printed circuit board for high frequency signal transformation applications needs a proper copper clad laminate which processes the properties of a low dielectric constant and of a low dissipation factor; a copper clad laminate can meet above requirements by using the inventive resin as a laminate binder. The inventive resin is prepared by the following steps:    1. Reacting a 2,6-disubstituted mono-phenol compound (A) with an aldehyde or a cyclic diene compound (B), so as to obtain a bisphenol compound (C) having a high symmetry or saturated aliphatic heterocyclic structure;    2. Reacting the resultant symmetric or saturated cyclic diphenol compound (C) with epichlorohydrin for an epoxidation reaction to obtain an epoxy resin (D); and    3. Reacting the resultant epoxy resin (D) with a bromine-containing phenolic compound (E) to obtain the inventive novel brominated epoxy resin (F).

The general purpose brominated bisphenol A epoxy resin is a mature product for a long time, characterized in that after the long-term research and adjustment, the fiberglass laminate produced from the brominated bisphenol A epoxy resin shows good mechanical properties, electrical properties, dimension stability and other properties; it exhibits superior adhesion to glass, copper and other materials, so the stacked fiberglass laminates produced from bisphenol type brominated epoxy resins are widely used in electronic and aerospace industries.
The electrical properties of printed circuit board materials depend on the three major composites: (1) brominated epoxy resin, (2) filler (3) reinforcement material. As for the resin system, the substrate board with the specifications of FR-4 (Tg 140° C.) made from a current general purpose brominated bisphenol A type epoxy resin (such as Nan Ya Plastics Corporation's NPEB454A80) and glass fiber (E glass) shows about 4.6 Dk value which is unable to meet the requirements in the field of a high-speed high-frequency signal transmission, while new materials, such as BT (bismelaimide-triazene), cyanate ester, PTFE (poly tetra-fluoroethane), are introduced one after another into the application area, but various systems have its advantages and disadvantages, such as the fluorine resin PTFE shows low dielectric constant, low dissipation factor, low water absorption, but has shortcomings e.g. low Tg, high prices, poor processabilty, bad adhesion with copper foil; generally speaking, new materials used in the production process of fiberglass laminates and the production process of fiberglass laminates turned into printed circuit boards, the deviation between its processing conditions and conventional fiberglass laminates is too much to be widely used.

Low dielectric brominated resin with a symmetric or saturated heterocyclic alphatic molecular structure and the preparation thereof