The data acquisition means acquires the acceleration data at predetermined time intervals. The change amount calculation means calculates a change amount vector representing a change amount of the acceleration by using the acceleration data having been acquired by the data acquisition means. The accumulation vector calculation means calculates an accumulation vector by sequentially and cumulatively adding the change amount vector having been calculated by the change amount calculation means. The direction determination means determines, as a waving direction representing a moving direction of the input device, a direction of the accumulation vector, when the accumulation vector having been calculated by the accumulation vector calculation means satisfies a predetermined condition.

Conventionally, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-153673 (hereinafter, referred to as Patent Document 1), a game apparatus calculates an action of a player throwing a punch, based on data output by an acceleration sensor, so as to allow a player to play a boxing game. The game apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 is structured such that a glove unit functioning as a controller of the game apparatus includes an acceleration sensor which detects an acceleration in three axial directions, (e.g., the forward/backward direction (Y-axis direction), the left/right direction (X-axis direction), and the up/down direction (Z-axis direction)). The game apparatus analyzes an output waveform output by the acceleration sensor so as to identify a type of the punch having been thrown by the player. Specifically, the game apparatus calculates, based on an output waveform represented by acceleration data detected in the Y-axis direction, a time period from a start of a punch thrown by the player to an end of the same punch. Next, the game apparatus uses an output waveform represented by acceleration data in the X-axis direction and an output waveform represented by the acceleration data in the Z-axis direction. This data is also obtained in the time period from the start of the punch thrown by the player to the end of the same punch. The output waveform is used to extract data representing, for example, a maximum value, a minimum value, an amplitude, the number of times a peak appears, and an integration value. The game apparatus identifies the type of the punch (straight punch, hook punch and upper punch) based on the extracted data and a waveform pattern obtained for each of the types of punches. After the identification of the type of the punch, the game apparatus performs a game process based on the type of the punch having been identified.
In the game apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the player finishes the punch action, the type of the punch is identified, and thereafter the game process based on the identified type of the punch is performed. Therefore, when a displayed opponent character is affected based on the punch action, a slight delay may occur after the player performs the punch action. In a game such as an action game or a fighting game requiring a quick response to an input made by a player, a slow response may make the game less enjoyable.
Further, when the aforementioned game apparatus represents and displays a punch thrown by a character controlled by the player, it is necessary to render an image representing the punch action based on the type of the punch after the player finishes the punch action. Thus, the representation and display of the user's action may be increasingly delayed.
Therefore, one aspect of the illustrative embodiments provides a storage medium having an acceleration data processing program stored thereon, a storage medium having a game program stored thereon, and an acceleration data processing apparatus used to quickly represent an action of a player in a game.
The illustrative embodiments may include the following features. The reference numerals, step numbers and the like in the parentheses indicate the correspondence with the illustrative embodiments described below in order to aid in understanding the illustrative embodiments and are not intended to limit, in any way, the scope of the present invention.
A first illustrative embodiment is directed to a storage medium having stored thereon an acceleration data processing program which is executed by a computer (30) of an apparatus (5) for performing a predetermined process by using acceleration data (Da) output by an acceleration sensor (701) capable of detecting, in at least one axial direction thereof, an acceleration (accn) applied to an input device (7). The acceleration data processing program causes the computer to function as: data acquisition means (the CPU 30 for executing step 44; hereinafter step numbers are simply represented by numbers; change amount calculation means (S46); accumulation vector calculation means (S49); and direction determination means (S54). The data acquisition means acquires the acceleration data at predetermined time intervals. The change amount calculation means calculates a change amount vector (accv) representing a change amount of the acceleration by using the acceleration data having been acquired by the data acquisition means. The accumulation vector calculation means calculates an accumulation vector (vecs) by sequentially and cumulatively adding the change amount vector having been calculated by the change amount calculation means. The direction determination means determines, as a waving direction (nrm) representing a moving direction of the input device, a direction of the accumulation vector, when the accumulation vector calculated by the accumulation vector calculation means satisfies a predetermined condition (S52).
In a second illustrative embodiment, the accumulation vector calculation means includes an attenuation process means (S48). The attenuation process means sequentially attenuates the accumulation vector before or after the change amount vector is added to the accumulation vector.
In a illustrative embodiment, the acceleration sensor is capable of detecting, in at least two axial directions, the acceleration applied to the input device. The data acquisition means acquires the acceleration data outputted by the acceleration sensor in units of axial components of the at least two axial directions. The change amount calculation means calculates, as the change amount vector, the change amount of the acceleration in units of the axial components by using the acceleration represented by the acceleration data in units of the axis components. The direction determination means determines, as the waving direction representing the moving direction of the input device, a direction of a combined vector of the accumulation vectors obtained in units of the axial components.
In a fourth illustrative embodiment, the accumulation vector calculation means includes an attenuation process means. The attenuation process means sequentially attenuates the accumulation vector before or after the change amount vector is added to the accumulation vector.
In a fifth illustrative embodiment, the computer is caused to further function as gravity direction calculation means (S45). The graviton direction calculation means calculates, by using the acceleration data having been acquired by the data acquisition means, a direction of a gravitational acceleration applied to the input device. The direction determination means determines the waving direction, representing the moving direction of the input device, relative to the gravitational acceleration by using the direction of the accumulation vector, and the direction of the gravitational acceleration having been calculated by the gravity direction calculation means.
In a sixth illustrative embodiment, the direction determination means determines, as the waving direction representing the moving direction of the input device, the direction of the accumulation vector when a magnitude (sp) of the accumulation vector having been calculated by the accumulation vector calculation means is greater than a threshold value (spmax).
In a seventh illustrative embodiment, the computer is caused to further function as threshold value updating means (S51, S53). The threshold value updating means updates the threshold value so as to represent the magnitude of the accumulation vector when the magnitude of the accumulation vector having been calculated by the accumulation vector calculation means is greater than the threshold value.
In an eighth illustrative embodiment, the threshold value updating means (S51) reduces the threshold value by a predetermined amount each time the accumulation vector is calculated.
In a ninth illustrative embodiment, the threshold value updating means previously has set a fixed value (1.9) other than the threshold value. The direction determination means determines, as the waving direction representing the moving direction of the input device, the direction of the accumulation vector when the magnitude of the accumulation vector having been calculated by the accumulation vector calculation means is greater than both the threshold value and the fixed value.
In a tenth illustrative embodiment, the computer is caused to further function as: elapsed time measurement means (S43, S55) and information processing means (S56). The elapsed time measurement means measures an elapsed time (c) from when the direction determination means has determined the waving direction representing the moving direction of the input device. When the elapsed time increases to a predetermined amount, the information processing means performs predetermined information processing by using the waving direction representing the moving direction of the input device having been determined by the direction determination means.
In an eleventh illustrative embodiment, the acceleration sensor is capable of detecting the acceleration having a magnitude which is within a predetermined measurable range. The change amount calculation means updates, when the acceleration represented by the acceleration data having been acquired by the data acquisition means has a value outside the predetermined measurable range (S81, S85, S89), the change amount vector so as to represent the change amount vector obtained by attenuating, by a predetermined amount, the change amount vector immediately preceding the change amount vector being currently calculated (S83, S87, S91).
In a twelfth illustrative embodiment, the accumulation vector calculation means calculates the accumulation vector by sequentially and cumulatively adding the change amount vector which has been calculated by the change amount calculation means and has been multiplied by a coefficient (k) (S103).
In a thirteenth illustrative embodiment, the acceleration sensor is capable of detecting, in three axial (XYZ) directions, the acceleration applied to the input device. The direction determination means determines, based on a two-dimensional plane including two axes (XY) selected from among three axes of the three axial directions, the waving direction representing the moving direction of the input device. The accumulation vector calculation means sets a value of the coefficient in accordance with a magnitude of the acceleration. The acceleration is represented by the acceleration data having been acquired by the data acquisition means and is applied in one axial (Z) direction other than directions represented by the two axes selected from among the three axes (S101).
In a fourteenth illustrative embodiment, when the magnitude of the acceleration applied in the one axial direction is zero, the accumulation vector calculation means sets the value of the coefficient to one. Further, when the magnitude of the acceleration applied in the one axial direction is greater than zero, the accumulation vector calculation means sets the value of the coefficient to a value smaller than one. In this manner, the greater the magnitude of the acceleration applied in the one axial direction is, the smaller the value of the coefficient is.
A fifteenth illustrative embodiment is directed to a storage medium having stored thereon a game program, including the acceleration data processing program based on the first aspect, for causing the computer to perform a predetermined game process by using the acceleration data. The game program causes the computer to further function as a game process means (S56). The game process means performs the predetermined game process by using the waving direction representing the moving direction of the input device having been determined by the direction determination means.
In a sixteenth illustrative embodiment, the game process means includes: object setting means; object moving means; and display control means. The object setting means sets a game object (OBJ, W) in a virtual game world. The object moving means moves the game object in the virtual game world in accordance with the waving direction representing the moving direction of the input device having been determined by the direction determination means. The display control means displays the game object in the virtual game world on a display device (2) (FIG. 10A, FIG. 10B, FIG. 11)
In a seventeenth illustrative embodiment, the game process means includes: object setting means; object operating means; and display control means. The object setting means sets a game object in a virtual game world. The object operating means operates the game object in the virtual game world so as to be waved in accordance with the waving direction representing the moving direction of the input device having been determined by the direction determination means. The display control means displays the game object in the virtual game world on a display device (FIG. 9).
In an eighteenth illustrative embodiment, the game process means includes sound generation setting means and sound control means. The sound generation setting means sets, in accordance with the waving direction representing the moving direction of the input device having been determined by the direction determination means, a sound to be generated. The sound control means generates, from a speaker (2a, 706), the sound having been set by the sound generation setting means.
A nineteenth illustrative embodiment is directed to an acceleration data processing apparatus for performing a predetermined process by using acceleration data output by an acceleration sensor capable of detecting, in at least one axial direction thereof, an acceleration applied to an input device. The acceleration data processing apparatus comprises: data acquisition means; change amount calculation means; accumulation vector calculation means; and direction determination means. The data acquisition means acquires the acceleration data at predetermined time intervals. The change amount calculation means calculates a change amount vector representing a change amount of the acceleration by using the acceleration data having been acquired by the data acquisition means. The accumulation vector calculation means calculates an accumulation vector by sequentially and cumulatively adding the change amount vector having been calculated by the change amount calculation means. The direction determination means determines, as a waving direction representing a moving direction of the input device, a direction of the accumulation vector, when the accumulation vector having been calculated by the accumulation vector calculation means satisfies a predetermined condition.
In a twentieth illustrative embodiment, the accumulation vector calculation means includes an attenuation process means. The attenuation process means sequentially attenuates the accumulation vector before or after the change amount vector is added to the accumulation vector.
In a twenty-first illustrative embodiment, the acceleration sensor is capable of detecting, in at least two axial directions, an acceleration applied to the input device. The data acquisition means acquires the acceleration data output by the acceleration sensor in units of axial components of the at least two axial directions. The change amount calculation means calculates, as the change amount vector, the change amount of the acceleration in units of the axial components by using the acceleration represented by the acceleration data in units of the axial components. The direction determination means determines, as the waving direction representing the moving direction of the input device, a direction of a combined vector of the accumulation vectors obtained in units of the axial components.
According to the first illustrative embodiment, the input device including the acceleration sensor uses the accumulation vector obtained by cumulatively adding the change amount of the acceleration having been detected, and therefore it is possible to determine the waving direction representing the moving direction of the input device with enhanced responsiveness.
According to the third illustrative embodiment, the input device including the acceleration sensor capable of detecting the acceleration in at least two axial directions uses the accumulation vector obtained by cumulatively adding the change amount of the acceleration having been detected. Thus, the waving direction representing the moving direction of the input device can be determined in the two-dimensional direction or the three-dimensional direction.
According to the second and fourth illustrative embodiment, the waving direction is able to be determined when each of the change amounts of the accelerations detected by the acceleration sensor indicates a similar tendency. For example, when a linear movement is applied to the input device, the acceleration sensor detects an acceleration varying in the linear direction, and therefore each of the change amounts (change direction) of the accelerations indicates a similar tendency. That is, when an operation of waving the input device in the linear manner is performed, the change amount of the acceleration acquired by the acceleration sensor is cumulatively added. Thus, the linear direction representing the moving direction of the input device is able to be determined in accordance with a value obtained by the cumulative addition.
According to the fifth illustrative embodiment, it is possible to determine the waving direction representing the moving direction of the input device relative to gravity applied to the input device.
According to the sixth illustrative embodiment, when the magnitude of the accumulation vector is greater than a predetermined threshold value, the waving direction representing the moving direction of the input device is determined, thereby preventing erroneous determination of the waving direction.
According to the seventh illustrative embodiment, a maximum value of the magnitude of the accumulation vector is set as the threshold value, and therefore over-frequent determination of the waving direction(s) is prevented.
According to the eighth illustrative embodiment, the threshold value is attenuated, and therefore it is possible to sequentially make subsequent necessary determinations of the waving direction.
According to the ninth aspect, an influence on acceleration, such as gravitational acceleration, generated when an operation other than the waving operation is performed, is able to be eliminated, thereby preventing erroneous determination of the waving direction.
According to the tenth illustrative embodiment, an elapsed time from the determination of the waving direction is used as a degree of reliability of the waving direction. When it is necessary to acquire the waving direction with enhanced reliability, the waving direction calculated when the elapsed time increases to a predetermined amount is able to be used to perform information processing.
According to the eleventh illustrative embodiment, even when an acceleration having a value outside the measurable range of the acceleration sensor is generated, the acceleration is estimated such that the waving direction is able to be determined.
According to the twelfth illustrative embodiment, the waving direction based on a desired direction is able to be preferentially determined.
According to the thirteenth illustrative embodiment, it is possible to limit, to a direction based on a two-dimensional plane, the waving direction representing the moving direction of the input device to be determined.
According to the fourteenth illustrative embodiment, the smaller the acceleration applied in the direction perpendicular to the two-dimensional plane used for determining the waving direction representing the moving direction of the input device, the more the acceleration in the direction based the two-dimensional plane can be used to determine the waving direction.
According to the fifteenth illustrative embodiment, the waving direction representing the moving direction of the input device is able to be used for a game process.
According to the sixteenth illustrative embodiment, an item is able to be moved in the virtual game world in accordance with the waving direction representing the moving direction of the input device.
According to the seventeenth illustrative embodiment, an operation of, for example, waving a sword in the virtual game world is able to be performed in accordance with the waving direction representing the moving direction of the input device.
According to the eighteenth illustrative embodiment, it is possible to realize a game for allowing a sound to be output from a speaker in accordance with the waving direction representing the moving direction of the input device.
Further, the acceleration data processing apparatus according to the illustrative embodiments is capable of obtaining the same effect as the storage medium having the aforementioned acceleration data processing program stored thereon.
These and other aspects and advantages of the illustrative embodiments will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Acceleration data processing program, and storage medium, and acceleration data processing apparatus for use with the same


A method is described for the synthesis of oxetan-2-ones comprising protection of the hydroxy group of an hydroxy ester with an acid-labile acetal protecting group, reduction of this O-protected hydroxy ester to an O-protected hydroxy aldehyde, condensation of this aldehyde with a metal enolate of an activated carboxylic acid derivative and spontaneous deprotection of the hydroxy group during the acidic workup procedure. Using the new O-protected hydroxy aldehydes as intermediates the oxetan-2-ones can be obtained after separation in diastereomerically and enantiomerically pure form, in a remarkably reduced number of steps, and in a significantly improved overall yield.

3,4-Disubstituted oxetan-2-ones are important intermediates for the preparation of pharmacologically interesting .beta.-lactones, in particular of the enzyme inhibitors lipstatin, tetrahydrolipstatin, esterastin, tetrahydroesterastin, valilactone, panclicin D and structurally related compounds.
Concerning the number of reaction steps, the required starting materials and reagents, the necessary purification steps and/or the overall yield, the hitherto known procedures used for the preparation of these 3,4-disubstituted oxetan-2-ones as enantiomerically and diastereomerically pure compounds are not satisfactory.
The procedure of Barbier, Schneider, and Widmer (P. Barbier, F. Schneider, U. Widmer, Helv. Chim. Acta 1987, 70, 1412-1418) for the synthesis of (3S,4S)-3-hexyl-4-(2R)-2hydroxytridecyl!oxetan-2-one starting from methyl (R)-3-hydroxytetradecanoate affords after six reaction steps an overall yield of 6%.
The procedure of Pommier, Pons, Kocienski, and Wong (A. Pommier, J.-M. Pons, P. J. Kocienski, L. Wong, Synthesis 1994, 1294-1300) for the synthesis of the same oxetan-2-one starting from methyl (R)-3-hydroxytetradecanoate affords after five reaction steps an overall yield of 40%. However, there have to be considered three additional steps at the beginning of the synthesis for the preparation of 3-hexyl-3-trimethylsilylketen.
The procedure of Uskokovic et al. (N. K. Chadha, A. D. Batcho, P. C. Tang, L. F. Courtney, C. M. Cook, P. M. Wovkulich, M. R. Uskokovic, J. Org. Chem. 1991, 56, 4714-4718) for the synthesis of (3S,4S)-3-hexyl-4-(2S)-2-hydroxytridecyl!oxetan-2-one (Formula XI) starting from cyclopentadien affords in 17 steps an overall yield of only 1%.
The procedure of Hanessian, Tehim, and Chen (S. Hanessian, A. Tehim, P. Chen, J. Org. Chem. 1993, 58, 7768-7781) for the synthesis of (3S,4S)-3-hexyl-4-(2S)-2-hydroxytridecyl!oxetan-2-one (Formula XI) starting from dodecanal affords in 9 steps an overall yield of 35%.
The procedure of Fleming and Lawrence (I. Fleming, N. J. Lawrence, Tetrahedron Lett. 1990, 31, 3645-3648) for (3S,4S)-3-hexyl-4-(2S)-2-hydroxytridecyl!oxetan-2-one (Formula XI) starting from 3-(dimethylphenylsilyl)propynoic acid affords in 19 steps an overall yield of 10%.
The procedures for the conversion of 2,5-disubstituted .beta.-hydroxy-.delta.-lactones into the corresponding 3,4-disubstituted oxetan-2-ones according to Ramig et al. (J. J. Landi, L. M. Garofalo, K. Ramig, Tetrahedon Lett. 1993, 34, 277-280), Karpf and Zutter (M. Karpf, U. Zutter, European Patent Application 0 443 449 A2, 15.02.1991/28.08.1991), and Barbier and Schneider (P. Barbier, F. Schneider, J. Org. Chem. 1988, 53, 1218-1221) are characterized by a high number of reaction steps and consequently by a low overall yield.
The present invention resulted from the intention to develop an efficient procedure for the preparation of oxetan-2-ones for enzyme inhibitors and related compounds with a .beta.-lactone moiety via new intermediates. This procedure should be characterized by a smaller number of reaction steps, the use of easy to introduce and easy to cleave inexpensive protecting groups, and an efficient separation of diastereoisomers.

Method for synthesizing oxetan-2-ones and intermediates for their preparation


A method and apparatus for transforming a source executable code optimized for a source processor into a target executable code optimized for execution on a target processor is provided. Initially, the source executable is converted into a functionally equivalent source executable capable of execution on the target processor. Next, execution performance information for each basic block of code in the functionally equivalent source executable code is collected. Similarly, execution performance information for each basic block of code in an initial target executable code is also collected. As a next step, an optimization metric is generated for each basic block of code within the functionally equivalent source executable code and for each basic block of code within the initial target executable code. These optimization metrics are used to compare basic blocks in the functionally equivalent source executable code with basic block of code within the initial target executable code. To perform this comparison, the optimization metric for each basic block of code within the initial target executable code is associated with the corresponding optimization metric associated with each basic block of code within the functionally equivalent source executable code. Next, based upon the corresponding optimization metric for each basic block, it is determined which basic blocks of code in the initial target executable code and the functionally equivalent source executable code have higher execution performance. Next, a target executable code is generated using a combination of basic blocks of code from the initial target executable code and the functionally equivalent source executable code which exhibit higher execution performance. Then, each basic block in the target executable code is optimized in a predetermined order typically based upon the elapsed execution time.

In an open computing environment, most software applications are usually available on a wide variety of computer hardware platforms. Often, software applications written using open computing standards such as C, C++ and JAVA can be ported to several different computer hardware platforms with very little effort. In fact, applications written entirely in JAVA require no actual porting and are categorized uniquely as "Write Once, Run Anywhere".sup.1 because they run on many platforms with little or no modification. Consequently, computer hardware manufacturers can no longer sell their computing platforms based on the availability of proprietary software applications because the software can be easily ported to many different computer hardware platforms. Instead, computer manufacturers must compete by offering computer hardware platforms with more processing power and increasingly lower costs. FNT 1. Write Once, Run Anywhere is a trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries. Write ONCE, Run Anywhere est une marque de fabrique ou une marque deposee de Sun Microsystems, Inc. aux Etats-Unis et dans d'autres pays.
Benchmarks are typically used to measure the processing power of a computer hardware platform. Computer manufacturers work hard to improve the execution performance of benchmarks to bolster the performance ratings of their computer hardware platforms. The importance of these benchmarks is underscored by the amount of research and development spent on optimizing compilers. These optimizing compilers can increase the execution performance of a benchmark using special compilation techniques in the optimizer without even modifying the underlying hardware. In particular, benchmarks run through an optimizing compiler can execute faster on the same hardware platform by streamlining the executable code and reducing the total number of clock-cycles per instruction (CPI) required to execute the benchmark.
These benchmark applications are also very important because they often become the basis on which a user will ultimately select a computer hardware platform. In many cases, a better optimizing compiler can make an inherently less powerful computer hardware platform appear to have equal or more processing throughput than a computer hardware platform with more theoretical overall processing power. More specifically, computer manufacturers who develop an optimizing compiler which performs special optimization techniques, suited for benchmark applications such as SPECint and SPECfp, can appear to have a more powerful computer. Conversely, the computer manufacturer who does not develop an optimizing compiler tailored to the benchmark suites used for the comparison can lose enormous sales and profit because the computer appears to execute applications or benchmarks more slowly.
Currently there is no simple method for computer manufacturers to determine if a competitor's hardware is more powerful or the benchmark has been highly optimized. Most computer manufacturers only disclose benchmarks compiled with the highest level of optimization. Outside of the benchmarks, this makes it very difficult to reliably compare the general performance characteristics of two computer hardware platforms. Even if a computer manufacturer was able to isolate specific optimization techniques used in the competitors benchmark, existing compilers could not include these optimization techniques without being significantly rewritten or redesigned. Rewriting an optimizing compiler for each benchmark is time consuming and not an economically efficient use of resources.
What is needed is a reliable technique which can analyze an executable generated for a source platform and generate a new executable for a target platform having a similar degree of optimization. This would be useful for determining the computing performance of different computer hardware platforms in a heterogeneous computing environment. It would also be useful in generating highly optimized executable benchmarks quickly and without re-writing the optimizer for a compiler.

Method and apparatus for generating an optimized target executable computer program using an optimized source executable


The cartridge comprises a slide valve for regulating the temperature of a mixture of hot and cold fluids. The slide valve is, under the action of a thermostatic element and in relation to an outer casing of the cartridge, which can be displaced along the central axis of the casing in such a way as to vary inversely the respective flow sections of an inlet for a first of the fluids, delimited axially between the casing and one of the two opposite axial surfaces of the slide valve, and of an inlet for the second fluid, delimited axially between the casing and the other axial surface of the slide valve. Therefore the cartridge can, effectively and economically, provide a good mixture of the two fluids, a flow passage.

In this type of cartridge, thermostatic regulation is generally obtained by means of an expandable thermostatic element comprising, on the one hand, a piston normally fixed in relation to the outer hollow casing of the cartridge and, on the other hand, a body integral with a slide valve for regulation. This slide valve can be displaced in relation to the casing of the cartridge in such a way as to vary inversely the flow sections of the two fluids, referred to as "hot fluid" and "cold fluid", supplying the cartridge with the purpose of mixing these fluids in variable proportions in order to obtain, downstream of the slide valve, a fluid, referred to as "mixed fluid", which flows along a thermosensitive part of the thermostatic element and which exits the cartridge. By changing the position of the piston in relation to the casing, generally by means of an ad hoc adjusting mechanism, the thermostatic regulation temperature is fixed, i.e. the balancing temperature around the temperature of the mixed fluid is adjusted. An example of this type of cartridge is provided by EP-A-1 496 415 whereon is based the preamble of the annexed claim 1.
In order to improve the quality and/or the rapidity of the thermostatic regulation, it is known to provide this type of cartridge with a fixed member for creating turbulence, commonly referred to as a "turbulator": this member disturbs the flow of the mixture around the thermosensitive part of the thermostatic element, in such a way as to increase the turbulence of this mixture in order to homogenize the latter and as such even out its temperature. However, the presence of this turbulator limits the abilities of evacuating the mixture at the outlet of the cartridge and therefore imposes a imitation of the maximum output flow of the cartridge. In addition, the presence of this turbulator does not prevent, and even accentuates the risk that one of the two fluids, which is not supposed to flow through the slide valve since it is admitted on the side of the slide valve turned towards the outlet, begins to "work back up" in the slide valve, thus disturbing the flow of the other fluid through the slide valve: this situation generally results in that the two fluids flow from the slide valve, in the direction of the outlet, in the form of two concentric columns, with the thermosensitive part of the thermostatic element being substantially subjected only to the flow of the inner column.

Thermostatic cartridge for the regulation of hot and cold fluids to be mixed


A method of making a microstructured adhesive article that includes (a) providing an article comprising a crosslinked pressure sensitive adhesive layer disposed on a backing; and (b) embossing the surface of the crosslinked pressure sensitive adhesive layer to form a crosslinked pressure sensitive adhesive layer having a microstructured adhesive surface.

Microstructured adhesive articles have been prepared by applying a flowable pressure sensitive adhesive to the surface of a microstructured release liner or the surface of a microstructured molding tool. The process results in the creation of an adhesive having a microstructured surface. When the resulting articles are dry laminated under pressure to substrates such as glass or polymer films, the microstructural features created in the adhesive surface allow air to escape from the bonding interface, thereby minimizing or preventing the formation of bubbles and pinholes.
During lamination, the microstructural features flatten out and wet the substrate surface under the influence of applied pressure. In the process, however, stresses are introduced into the adhesive as the adhesive relaxes and tries to return to its initial microstructured state. These stresses can create defects in the adhesive that adversely affect its optical properties.

Method for preparing microstructured laminating adhesive articles


The invention relates to a device which is used for the spectral analysis of optical signals and which is based on the stimulated Brillouin scattering effect. The invention also relates to the associated measurement method which makes use of the optical signal amplification caused by the Brillouin scattering effect. The Brillouin scattering effect enables the selective optical amplification of a determined component of the optical spectrum of the signal to be analysed, known as the problem signal, for the measurement thereof with a determined dynamic range, sensitivity and resolution. According to the invention, the problem signal is introduced into an optical fibre together with a narrowband optical signal, known as the probe signal, with a determined wavelength. Said probe signal propagates in the opposite direction to that of the problem signal, such that both signals interact inside the fibre owing to the Brillouin effect.

European patent EP-1-199549-A1 discloses a device using the Brillouin Scattering effect in an optical fiber for carrying out spectroscopic measurements and constitutes the most recent background with an invention field similar to the one disclosed in the present document.
The main innovative step included in the present invention is the use of the optical amplification by means of the Brillouin Scattering effect, combined with the spectral selectivity provided by the same Brillouin Scattering effect as a consequence of the narrowness of the Brillouin gain curve in an optical fiber.
To obtain the Brillouin amplification effect, the test and probe signals are introduced into the optical fiber in which the effect occurs on opposite ends and in opposite propagation directions, unlike the configuration disclosed in European Patent EP-1-199549-A1. This difference is associated with significantly different operation principles of the device which permit obtaining a high optical amplification level of the test signal together with the high Brillouin effect spectral selectivity.
The resolution in the optical spectral measurement with the device disclosed in the present invention is determined by the Brillouin gain curve spectral width, and it is not based on any passive filtering of the test signal by means of systems with diffraction gratings, Fabry-Perot interferometers or other similar systems.

Optical spectrum analyzing device by means of Brillouin scattering and associated measurement process


A droplet ejection apparatus has an ejection unit that ejects a droplet of liquid onto a target. The ejection unit is arranged in a multi-joint robot. The robot moves the ejection unit in a two-dimensional direction above the target. The ejection unit includes a droplet ejection head, a liquid tank, and an auto-seal valve. The auto-seal valve adjusts the pressure of the liquid supplied from the liquid tank to the droplet ejection head to a predetermined pressure. The auto-seal valve has a valve body that is movable between a closing position and an opening position in correspondence with the difference between the pressure of the liquid in the droplet ejection head and the pressure of the liquid in the liquid tank. The valve body is arranged such that the direction of acceleration that produces force capable of moving the valve body from the closing position to the opening position differs from the direction of acceleration of the ejection unit moving in the two-dimensional direction.

The present invention relates to a droplet ejection apparatus.
Typically, a display such as a liquid crystal display or an electroluminescence display includes a substrate that displays an image. The substrate has an identification code (for example, a two-dimensional code) representing product information including the name of the manufacturer and the product number, for purposes of quality control and production control. The identification code includes a plurality of dots formed by, for example, colored thin films or recesses. The dots are arranged to form a predetermined pattern so that the identification code can be identified in accordance with the arrangement pattern of the dots.
As a method for forming one such identification code, JP-A-11-77340 discloses a laser sputtering method and JP-A-2003-127537 discloses a waterjet method. In the laser sputtering method, dots are formed by films provided through sputtering by radiating laser beams onto a metal foil. In the waterjet method, dots are marked on a substrate by ejecting water containing abrasive onto the substrate.
However, in the laser sputtering method, the interval between the metal foil and the substrate must be adjusted to several or several tens of micrometers in order to form each dot in a desired size. The substrate and the metal foil thus must have extremely flat surfaces and adjustment of the interval between the substrate and the metal foil must be carried out with accuracy on the order of micrometer. This limits application of the method to a restricted range of substrates, and use of the method is limited. In the waterjet method, the substrate may be contaminated by water, dust, and the abrasive that are splashed onto the substrate when the dots are marked on the substrate.
In order to solve these problems, an inkjet method has been focused on as an alternative method for forming the identification code. In the inkjet method, dots are formed on a substrate by ejecting droplets of liquid containing metal particles from an ejection head onto the substrate through nozzles. The droplets are then dried to mark the dots on the substrate. The method thus can be applied to a relatively wide range of substrates. Further, the method prevents contamination of the substrate caused by formation of the identification code.
JP-A-8-174860, JP-A-9-290514, JP-A-2001-225479, and JP-A-2002-36583 and Japanese Patent Re-publication No. WO2000/03877 each describes a droplet ejection apparatus used for the inkjet method. The droplet ejection apparatus has a valve mechanism arranged between an ink tank that retains ink and a droplet ejection head. The valve mechanism selectively opens and closes in correspondence with the difference between the pressure of the ink in the ink tank and the pressure of the ink in the droplet ejection head. Specifically, the valve mechanism opens in correspondence with negative pressure caused by consumption of the ink by the droplet ejection head, supplying the ink to the droplet ejection head under stable pressure. The droplet ejection apparatus thus avoids leakage of the ink. Further, the size and the receiving position of each of the droplets are stabilized, improving position accuracy for forming the dots.
To manufacture the aforementioned types of displays, a plurality of identification codes are formed on a single mother substrate so as to enhance productivity for forming the displays. The portions corresponding to the substrates each of which corresponds to one of the identification codes are then cut out from the mother substrate. In this manner, the multiple substrates are obtained from the single mother substrate. In other words, to perform the inkjet method, identification code areas are defined at separate positions on the mother substrate. The droplet ejection head thus operates only when the droplet ejection head is arranged above any one of the code areas. As a result, most of the time necessary for forming the multiple identification codes is consumed by movement of the droplet ejection head from one identification code area to another.
Accordingly, to improve productivity for forming the identification codes by the inkjet method, it is desired that the droplet ejection head is mounted in a multi-joint robot so that the droplet ejection head is transported in two-dimensional direction at high speed.
Japanese Patent Re-publication No. WO2000/03877 describes a structure including a coil spring and a movable film. The coil spring constantly urges the movable film to elastically contact a valve seat. The coil spring receives rocking of the ink caused by movement of the droplet ejection head, stabilizing the pressure in the droplet ejection head. In other words, the coil spring receives the force generated by interaction between acceleration of the droplet ejection head in the two-dimensional direction and the mass of the ink.
However, the structure described by Japanese Patent Re-publication No. WO2000/03877 does not address to the force produced by interaction between the acceleration of the droplet ejection head and the mass of the valve body of the valve mechanism. Thus, if the mass of the valve body or the acceleration of the droplet ejection head is excessively great, the valve body may receive the force acting in the direction of the acceleration of the droplet ejection head, leading to erroneous operation of the valve mechanism.
Further, if the droplet ejection head is arranged in the multi-joint robot, a liquid supply tube connecting the liquid tank to the droplet ejection head may interfere with an arm of the robot. In this case, stable supply of the liquid is hampered.
Therefore, in the droplet ejection apparatus having the droplet ejection head installed in the multi-joint robot, stable droplet ejection by the droplet ejection head is difficult to ensure.


This invention relates to novel pyrazole derivatives of formula I wherein R1 to R4 are as defined in the summary and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and solvates thereof, methods to inhibit or modulate Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) reverse transcriptase with compounds of formula I and pharmaceutical compositions containing of formula I admixed with at least one solvent, carrier or excipient. The compounds are useful for treating disorders in which HIV and genetically related viruses are implicated

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the causative agent of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a disease characterized by the destruction of the immune system, particularly of the CD4+ T-cell, with attendant susceptibility to opportunistic infections. HIV infection is also associated with a precursor AIDs-related complex (ARC), a syndrome characterized by symptoms such as persistent generalized lymphadenopathy, fever and weight loss.
In common with other retroviruses, the HIV genome encodes protein precursors known as gag and gag-pol which are processed by the viral protease to afford the protease, reverse transcriptase (RT), endonuclease/integrase and mature structural proteins of the virus core. Interruption of this processing prevents the production of normally infectious virus. Considerable efforts have been directed towards the control of HIV by inhibition of virally encoded enzymes.
Currently available chemotherapy targets two crucial viral enzymes: HIV protease and HIV reverse transcriptase. (J. S. G. Montaner et al. Antiretroviral therapy: "The State of the Art", Biomed. & Pharmacother. 1999 53:63-72; R. W. Shafer and D. A. Vuitton, Highly active antiretroviral therapy(HAART) for the treatment of infection with human immunodeficiency virus type 1, Biomed & Pharmacother. 1999 53:73-86; E. De Clercq, New Developments in Anti-HIV Chemotherap. Curr. Med. Chem. 2001 8:1543-1572). Two general classes of reverse transcriptase inhibitors (RTIs) have been identified: nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs). NRTIs typically are 2′,3′-dideoxynucleoside (ddN) analogs that must be phosphorylated prior to interacting with viral RT. The corresponding triphosphates function as competitive inhibitors or alternative substrates for viral RT. After incorporation into nucleic acids the nucleoside analogs terminate the chain elongation process. HIV reverse transcriptase has DNA editing capabilities which enable resistant strains to overcome the blockade by cleaving the nucleoside analog and continuing the elongation. Currently clinically used NRTIs include zidovudine (AZT), didanosine (ddI), zalcitabine (ddC), stavudine (d4T), lamivudine (3TC) and tenofovir (PMPA).
NNRTIs were first discovered in 1989. NNRTI are allosteric inhibitors which bind reversibly at a nonsubstrate binding site on the HIV reverse transcriptase thereby altering the shape of the active site or blocking polymerase activity. (R. W. Buckheit, Jr., Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors: perspectives for novel therapeutic compounds and strategies for treatment of HIV infection, Expert Opin. Investig. Drugs 2001 10(8)1423-1442; E. De Clercq The role of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) in the therapy of HIV-1 infection, Antiviral Res. 1998 38:153-179; G. Moyle, The Emerging Roles of Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors in Antiviral Therapy, Drugs 2001 61(1):19-26) Although over thirty structural classes of NNRTIs have been identified in the laboratory, only three compounds have been approved for HIV therapy: efavirenz, nevirapine and delavirdine. Although initially viewed as a promising class of compounds, in vitro and in vivo studies quickly revealed the NNRTIs presented a low barrier to the emergence of drug resistant HIV strains when used in monotherapy as well as having and class-specific toxicity. Drug resistance frequently develops with only a single point mutation in the RT.
While combination therapy with NRTIs, PIs and NNRTIs has, in many cases, dramatically lowered viral loads and slowed disease progression, significant therapeutic problems remain. The cocktails are not effective in all patients, potentially severe adverse reactions often occur and the rapidly reproducing HIV virus has proven adroit at creating mutant drug-resistant variants of wild-type protease and reverse transcriptase.
There remains a need for safer drugs with activity against wild type and commonly occurring resistant strains of HIV.
WO 02/100852 (B. W. Dymock et al.) discloses novel pyrazole derivatives, processes for preparing the novel pyrazoles, pharmaceutical compositions containing the pyrazoles and the use of pyrazoles as inhibitors of human immunodeficiency virus reverse transcriptase enzyme which is involved in viral replication. WO 02/30907 (B. W. Dymock et al.) also teaches novel pyrazoles useful for inhibiting HIV reverse transcriptase. These patents are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,005,109 (W. S. Faraci) EP 0 691 128 (G. M. Bright et al.) and EP 0 959 074 (G. M. Bright et al.) disclose pyrazole derivatives which have corticotropin releasing factor antagonist activity.
EP 1 072 597 (Banks, B. J. et al.) disclose pyrazole derivatives with endothelin antagonist activity. WO 97/04773 (J. I. Luengo et al.) discloses phenyl pyrazoles as endothelin receptor antagonists for treating cardiovascular or renal disease.
WO 02/04424 (R. G. Corbau et al.) discloses the use of pyrazole derivatives in the manufacture of reverse transcriptase inhibitor or modulator, to novel pyrazole derivatives and to processes for the preparation pyrazole derivatives and for compositions containing novel pyrazole derivatives. WO 02/085860 (L. H. Jones, et al) disclose pyrazole compounds, processes for the preparation of the pyrazole compounds and uses for the compounds to inhibit or modulate viral enzyme reverse transcriptase. The use of the pyrazoles for the treatment diseases caused Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) also is taught.
WO 00/66562 (V. B. Lohray et al.) disclose phenylsulfinyl-, phenylsulfonyl- and phenylthio-substituted pyrazole compounds which inhibit r-hu COX-2 useful for inhibiting prostaglandin biosynthesis, and treating pain fever and inflammation. WO 01/16138 (T. Kolasta and M. V. Patel) and WO 01/64669 (H. Cheng et al.) also disclose sulfonylphenyl substituted pyrazole compounds which inhibit COX-2.
Hydroxypyrazole derivatives have been disclosed to have agrochemical pesticide activity. WO 99/33813 (P. Desbordes et al.) discloses fungicidal aryloxypyrazoles.

Nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors


A gripping method relates to a method for gripping an object using a multi-fingered hand provided with a plurality of fingers. The method includes measuring, using a three-dimensional measurement sensor, an area that contains the object, and obtaining three-dimensional information for each position within the area, and deciding positions of the plurality of fingers for gripping the object, by classifying the area, if the area includes a measured area for which the three-dimensional information could be obtained and an unmeasured area for which the three-dimensional information could not be obtained, into the measured area and the unmeasured area based on the distance-indicating information, the positions of the plurality of fingers being decided based on positions of the unmeasured area.

As a method for gripping a workpiece using a multi-fingered hand, JP5558585B discloses a workpiece pick-up method in which the gripping position/posture is derived based on workpiece measurement data obtained by three-dimensionally measuring a workpiece and hand shape data for gripping the workpiece.
JP5558585B describes, as a unit for obtaining the three-dimensional workpiece measurement data, for example, a twin-lens or multiple-lens stereo camera, a stereo camera of the active stereo measurement method that is provided with a light projecting unit such as a laser or a projector and a camera, or the like.
JP5558585B is an example of background art.

Gripping method, gripping system, and program


A fertility period calculator especially suited for third world countries, non-complex in operation, having two rotatable disks that require identification of numerals representing the days of the month and the average number of days in the user's menstrual cycle.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a fertility period calculator and specifically to an improved fertility calculator especially useful in third world countries to determine, through the natural menstrual cycle of a woman, those particular days when a woman is most likely not to conceive a child. The device is simplified for use by women who might otherwise have difficulty in comprehending and manipulating a complicated device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Fertility period calculators are well known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 4,092,521, issued to Weisshaar, May 30, 1978, shows a multiple disk device that is used to calculate the menstrual cycle. Because of the numerous disks and written materials on the device it is complicated to determine the specific available days when conception is not likely. U.S. Pat. No. 4,367,527, issued to Desjacques, Jan. 4, 1983, shows an electronic calculator including memory that is quite complex and would be difficult for many people in the third world to utilize effectively. Another fertility calculator is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,625,099, issued to Freedom, Nov. 25, 1986 which contains much written data and disk-like rotatable members which require a thorough knowledge of written language for proper utilization. U.S. Pat. No. 4,737,619, issued to Freedom, Apr. 12, 1988, shows a handheld calculator having only two disks but still requires reading of written indicia for complete understanding and utilization of the device. Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 3,964,674, issued to Van der Gahst, Jun. 22, 1976, shows a very complex calculator with multiple disks and much indicia which may be difficult for persons with limited education to utilize effectively.
Another important factor in the utilization of fertility period calculators is their universal distribution in numerous countries having different languages. The present invention provides a very simple mechanical fertility period calculator that requires only two manipulations and uses universal symbols to aid the user without requiring complex written indicia instructions for its operation. The device is also mounted in a protective compact housing which can be carried and stored safely and conveniently.


A scanning-type image display devices includes: a light source; a scanning unit that scans light beams emitted from light source to display an image on a projection plane; and a control unit that controls the emission time of the light beam from the light source for each pixel of the image, and that also controls the emission time for each pixel depending on the scanning angle of the scanning unit.

A scanning-type image display device is known which irradiates coherent lights (for example white lights) emitted from a white light source such as a halogen lamp, a high-pressure mercury lamp, etc., onto planer display elements such as liquid crystal light valves, etc., and magnifies and projects lights emitted from the display elements on a screen through a projection lens for displaying images.
The aforementioned projection-type image display device is problematic in that a discharge lamp, which is used as a light source, such as a halogen lamp, a high-pressure mercury lamp, etc., requires a measurable amount of power.
By removing out lights of three primary colors of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) with a narrow spectrum width from white lights emitted from the light source, the image display device can achieve a high color reproducibility. However, the problem arises in which the light usage efficiency decreases due to narrowing of the spectrum width, thus darkening the projected image.
By setting wide spectrum widths of respective colors that correspond to the three primary colors for the maximum use of lights from the white light source, light usage efficiency can be increased. However, this decreases the color purity of the three primary colors and this causes a failure to achieve a high color reproducibility. In addition, widening the chromaticity range is also difficult.
Furthermore, since a projection-type image display device having planer display elements such as liquid crystal light valves, etc., inevitably becomes large-scale, miniaturizing the device is difficult.
Furthermore, when the distance from a projection lens to a screen takes a certain value, the image formed by display elements may not be projected within the focal depth of the projection lens, and the projected image may not be in focus. In this case, the user must perform an operation to adjust the focus of the projection lens depending on the distance from the projection lens to the screen. Such an operation to adjust the focus may impair user convenience.
Accordingly, scanning-type image display devices have been proposed wherein a laser light source is used as a light source, and a laser light emitted from the laser light source is two-dimensionally scanned to be projected on a screen for displaying an image (see Patent Document 1, 2).
FIG. 1A shows the configuration of a projection-type image display device described in Patent Document 1.
Referring to FIG. 1A, the projection-type display device comprises light sources 111, 112, 113, color synthesis element 114, collimator lens 115, and light scanning elements 116, 117.
Light source 111 is a red semiconductor laser, light source 112 is a blue semiconductor laser, and light source 113 is a green solid laser. Here, the green solid laser extracts the second harmonic from the emitted light of an infrared semiconductor laser using a nonlinear optical crystal to acquire the green light.
Color synthesis element 114 synthesizes lights of each color of red, blue, and green from light sources 111 to 113. The light flux from color synthesis element 114 enters light scanning elements 116 through collimator lens 115.
Light scanning element 116 performs light scanning in a horizontal direction. Lights from light scanning element 116 enter light scanning element 117. Light scanning element 117 performs light scanning in a vertical direction.
By bringing the position of a beam waist into agreement with a projection plane through collimator lens 115, the above-described projection-type display device is capable of displaying a high-definition image.
FIG. 1B shows the configuration of an image display device described in Patent Document 2.
Referring to FIG. 1B, the image display device comprises light source section 101G, condensing optical system LN1 that condenses light beams from light source section 101G, and reflective mirror 202 that reflects the light beams condensed by condensing optical system LN1 toward screen 110.
Condensing optical system LN1 forms a beam waist at a position which is farther from reflective mirror 202 than from an intermediate position between reflective mirror 202 and screen 110. This reduces the beam diameter on reflective mirror 202, and can also inhibit enlargement of the beam diameter on screen 110. Accordingly, it is possible to miniaturize reflective mirror 202, and to display a high definition image.
In the devices described in the aforementioned Patent documents 1 and 2, a micro mechanical mirror is used as light scanning element 116 and reflective mirror 202.
A micro mechanical mirror described in Patent document 2 will now be described, by way of example.
This micro mechanical mirror comprises a mirror surface, a first substrate on which the mirror surface is fixed through a torsion bar, a second substrate which is arranged opposite to the first substrate, and a core consisting of a magnetic body which is formed on the side of the second substrate that faces the first substrate. The mirror surface is made into a rotary resonant state by an electromagnetic force generated in the core.
As a means for making the mirror surface into a rotary resonant state, an electrostatic actuator and an electromagnetic actuator can be used.

Scanning-type image display device and its image display method


A method of producing a container and a closure comprises blow molding a body comprising a container portion and a closure portion joined together, and separating the closure portion from the container portion. A container and/or a closure produced according to the method are also disclosed, as well as an intermediate product for producing a container and a closure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to blow molded containers and closures. More specifically, the present invention relates to containers and closures that are simultaneously blow molded.
2. Related Art
Methods for simultaneously molding a container and a closure, such as a lid, are known. Known methods include blow molding the container while simultaneously injection molding or compression molding the closure in the same mold. Typically, the cavity for the closure is located above the cavity for the container, along the parting line of the mold halves. This arrangement usually requires the cavity for the closure to be oriented vertically with respect to the container (e.g., tilted 90° with respect to its position when applied to the container), disadvantageously increasing the vertical dimension of the mold. In addition, closures made by this type of injection or compression molding process can be very costly. Furthermore, closures made by injection or compression molding processes often are not readily recyclable.
Therefore, there remains a need in the art for a closure that is simultaneously molded with the container in an efficient and cost-effective manner.

Simultaneously blow molded container and closure


In-line systems for and methods of measuring the moisture content of ceramic material within an extrusion system used to form ceramic articles are disclosed. One method includes arranging, relative to the extrusion system, at least one radio-frequency (RF) sensor system having an RF antenna, and generating through the RF antenna an RF field that resides substantially entirely within the ceramic material. The method also includes, in response to the RF field interacting with the ceramic material, generating in the RF sensor system a signal representative of a raw moisture-content measurement of the ceramic material. The method also includes generating calibration data by performing RF moisture-content measurements on samples of the ceramic material having different known moisture contents, and establishing a calibrated moisture-content measurement using the raw moisture-content signal and the calibration data. Both contact and non-contact systems and measurement methods are described.

Extrusion processes are used in a variety of industries to form a wide range of products. One type of extrusion process uses a ceramic-forming material that forms a plastic mix or 'batch material" that is extruded through a die orifice to form a shaped article.
More recently, ceramic honeycomb-shaped articles having a multitude of cells or passages separated by thin walls running parallel to the longitudinal axis of the structure have been formed via extrusion and used as filters ("ceramic filters") for a variety of applications, including particulate filters for combustion engines.
A number of parameters need to be controlled in the extrusion process for the desired article to maintain its post-extrusion form and to ultimately form an article that meets is particular design and/or performance requirements. Such parameters include, for example, the particular composition of the mix that makes up the batch material, and the moisture content of extruded "logs" that can subsequently be dried (a "dried log") and fired to form a ceramic article A batch material having insufficient moisture will not extrude properly and could lead to the formation of cracks (including invisible microcracks) in the final article. On the other hand, an organic batch material having too much moisture will also not extrude properly and could lead to deformation (e.g., sagging) of the extruded article.
The moisture content of a dried log needs to be measured to determine whether it meets the dryness specification, which is typically on the order of 1% or so, prior to the dried log being cut and fired. A log having too much moisture will be damaged (e.g., "smeared") upon cutting, and can also damage the saw blade used to cut the log.
It is thus desirable to be able to measure the moisture content of ceramic-forming material used to make the ceramic articles such as ceramic filters. One moisture-content measurement technique is called "loss on drying" (LOD), which is a destructive, off-line technique that can take hours to complete. Other moisture-content measurement techniques that rely on pyrometers to measure log temperature tend to be inaccurate because they measure surface temperature, which is often significantly different from the bulk temperature (and thus the water content) of the ceramic material.
Consequently, what is needed are efficient, in-line methods and systems for measuring moisture content of the ceramic material during the ceramic article manufacturing process.

In-line moisture-content measurement of ceramic materials in ceramic article manufacturing


A method, device, and system are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises setting a threshold length for data allowed in a cache, inserting data into the cache during a read or a write request if the length of the data requested is less than the threshold length, and not inserting data into the cache during a read or write request if the length of the data requested is greater than or equal to the threshold length.

Mass storage devices within computers are essential for holding important information for each end user as well as for holding application data and low level operating system files. Although these devices have improved significantly over the years they still are one of the slowest devices in the system when accessing data. The processor and main system memory are much faster at transferring data. To increase the performance of these mass storage devices relative to the other computer system components it is quite common to have a cache associated with the device that stores information recently accessed through read and write commands. Many times a cache is beneficial to increasing the performance of the device, but depending on the location of the data on the mass storage device and the data access patterns, the cache many times is utilized inefficiently.
Caches are most useful for workloads that have a large number of data accesses to a small subset of total data. Additionally, caches are also more efficient if they are able to accumulate historical data about what data is most likely to be reused. When using a disk cache, whether comprised of volatile or non-volatile memory, it is important to consider the impact of workloads that can flush the cache of useful contents. Problematic workloads can include workloads that access a large amount of data only one time such that they displace the useful contents of the cache while deriving no benefit from caching themselves. One such potentially problematic workload is a streaming workload (e.g., video or audio playback).
In a streaming workload, a dataset that is larger than the cache size is accessed sequentially. In this case, even if the access pattern is repeated, the cache is not helpful because the first part of the stream will be evicted by the last part of the stream. Thus, even though the data is inserted in the cache, it is no longer present in the cache by the time it is accessed again. Modern operating systems such as Microsoft® Windows® may have certain disk caching policies for performance improvement based on file types. Thus, a large movie file may not be cached during a stream because the content is played one time only.

Method, device, and system to avoid flushing the contents of a cache by not inserting data from large requests


In a magnetic recording medium according to the present invention, a magnetic layer consisting of a metal magnetic material is formed on the upper surface of a non-magnetic support member, a protective layer is formed on the magnetic layer, and a back-coat layer is formed on the rear surface of the non-magnetic support member. In the present invention, in particular, the protective layer is formed by a thin film containing carbon as a main component and 5 to 20 atom % of hydrogen, and the back-coat layer is formed by a thin film containing carbon as a main component and 5 to 20 atom % of hydrogen, thereby making it possible to obtain a magnetic recording medium having excellent sliding characteristics and excellent durability.

In a magnetic recording medium used in a conventional video tape recorder (to be referred to as a "VTR" hereinafter) or the like, a magnetic layer is formed on one major surface (to be referred to as a "front surface" hereinafter) of a film-like non-magnetic support member, a protective layer is formed on the magnetic layer to protect it, and a back-coat layer for improving the characteristics of the magnetic recording medium is formed on the other major surface (to be referred to as a "rear surface" hereinafter) of the film-like non-magnetic support member.
As such a magnetic recording medium, a so-called coating type magnetic recording medium in which a magnetic coating material including a magnetic powdery material dispersed in a binder is coated on a film-like non-magnetic support member and then dried to form a magnetic layer is popularly used. In the coating type magnetic recording medium, the protective layer or the back-coat layer is formed in the same manner as that of the magnetic layer. More specifically, the protective layer or the back-coat layer is formed in such a manner that a protective layer material or a back-coat layer material including carbon dispersed in a binder is coated on a non-magnetic member and then dried. At this time, the back-coat layer is generally coated with or includes a lubricant containing a fatty acid as a main component.
In contrast to this, with a demand of high-density magnetic recording, a so-called deposition type magnetic recording medium in which a magnetic layer is formed by depositing a ferromagnetic metal material on a non-magnetic support member has attracted attention.
Such a deposition type magnetic recording medium has the following various advantages. That is, loss of a thickness in a recording/reproducing operation can be considerably decreased because the thickness of a magnetic layer in which saturation magnetization can be increased with respect to the anti-magnetic force of the magnetic layer can be remarkably decreased, and a filling density of a magnetic material can be increased because binder serving a non-magnetic material is not mixed in the magnetic layer.
As such a deposition type magnetic recording medium, the magnetic tape in which a Co.sub.80 Ni.sub.20 alloy is deposited on a film to form a magnetic layer was merchandized in 1989.
In the deposition type magnetic recording medium, as in a coating type magnetic recording medium, a back-coat layer is formed in such a manner that a back-coat layer material obtained by dispersing carbon or the like in a binder is coated on a non-magnetic support member and then dried.
However, in the deposition type magnetic recording medium, since the magnetic layer consists of a ferromagnetic metal material, when the back-coat layer is formed in a conventional manner, the following problem is posed.
That is, in the coating type magnetic recording medium, a lubricant containing a fatty acid as a main component is coated on or included in the back-coat layer to decrease a friction coefficient of the back-coat layer as described above. However, in the deposition type magnetic recording medium having the magnetic layer consisting of a ferromagnetic metal material, when a lubricant containing a fatty acid as a main component is coated on or included in the back-coat layer, the lubricant containing the fatty acid as a main component grows the rust of the ferromagnetic recording medium.
Therefore, in the deposition type magnetic recording medium, the back-coat layer cannot be coated with a lubricant containing a fatty acid as a main component, and cannot include the lubricant. For this reason, the deposition type magnetic recording medium has the following problem to be solved. That is, the friction coefficient of the back-coat layer is decreased without coating or including the lubricant containing a fatty acid as a main component on/in the back-coat layer.
A method of increasing the surface roughness Ra of the back-coat layer to degrading the surface properties may be considered to decrease the friction coefficient of the back-coat layer. When the surface properties of the back-coat layer are degraded, and a tape-like magnetic recording medium is wound, the surface properties of the magnetic layer are also degraded depending on the unevenness of the back-coat layer. In this manner, when the surface properties of the back-coat layer is degraded, the surface properties of the magnetic layer are also degraded due to an influence of the back-coat layer, and degradation of characteristics in a recording/reproducing operation or an increase in dropout is caused. Therefore, the method of degrading the surface properties of the back-coat layer to decrease the friction coefficient of the back-coat layer has the above problem.
In the deposition type magnetic recording medium, the friction coefficient of the back-coat layer must be decreased without coating or including a lubricant containing a fatty acid as a main component on/in the back-coat layer and without degrading the surface properties of the back-coat layer.
In the deposition type magnetic recording medium, the type of a binder used in formation of the back-coat layer is limited. More specifically, for example, a vinyl-chloride-based binder cannot be used because chlorine causes a ferromagnetic metal material to rust. For this reason, in the deposition type magnetic recording medium, since the type of the binder used in formation of a back-coat layer is limited, the appropriate composition of the binder cannot be easily founded.
In the deposition type magnetic recording medium, adhering forces among the magnetic layer, the protective layer, and the back-coat layer considerably change depending on the combination among the material of the magnetic layer, the material of the protective layer, and the material of the back-coat layer. For this reason, these materials must be appropriately determined. If these materials are not appropriately selected, for example, a back-coat layer may be partially peeled, or the back-coat layer may be separated from the support member in a width direction or a traveling direction to loss conductivity. Therefore, the back-coat layer may loss the effects of the back-coat layer.
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above conventional circumstances, and has as its object to mainly improve a protective layer and a back-coat layer of a deposition type magnetic recording medium to prevent the deposition type magnetic recording medium from rust and improving the traveling and still characteristics of the deposition type magnetic recording medium.


Disclosed are novel crystals of hydroxyindium phthalocyanine, having distinct diffraction peaks at the particular angles of the Bragg angle (2.theta..+-.0.2) in the X-ray diffraction pattern. An electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising an electroconductive support having thereon a light-sensitive layer containing at least one of an amorphous hydroxyindium phthalocyanine and the above hydroxyindium phthalocyanine crystals. The electrophotographic photoreceptor has excellent sensitivity and durability.

Phthalocyanines are useful as materials for painting compositions, printing inks and catalysts and as electronic materials and, in particular, they have recently been broadly investigated as materials for electrophotographic photoreceptors, materials for optical recording and materials for photo-electric conversion.
Regarding electrophotographic photoreceptors, recently, there is demand for extending the light-sensitive wavelength range of organic photoconductive materials, which have heretofore been proposed, up to the near infrared wavelength range of semiconductor lasers (780 to 830 nm) so as to use the materials as a photoreceptor for a digital recording system such as a laser printer. From this viewpoint, squalilium compounds (as described, e.g., in JP-A-49-105536 and JP-A-58-21414), (the term "JP-A" as used herein means an "unexamined published Japanese patent application"), triphenylamine trisazo compounds (as described, e.g., JP-A-61-151659) and phthalocyanine compounds (as described, e.g., JP-A-48-34189 and JP-A-57-148745) have been proposed as photoconductive materials for semiconductor lasers.
Where organic photoconductive materials are used as light-sensitive materials for semiconductor lasers, they are needed to satisfy the conditions that the light-sensitive wavelength range is extended up to a long wavelength range and that the sensitivity and durability of the photoreceptors to be formed therefrom are good. The above-mentioned organic photoconductive materials do not sufficiently meet the conditions.
In order to overcome various drawbacks of the known photoconductive materials, the materials have been investigated with respect to the relationship between the crystal form and the electrophotographic characteristics. In particular, many reports relating to phthalocyanine compounds have heretofore been disclosed.
In general, it has been known that phthalocyanine compounds have various crystal forms, depending upon the difference in the manufacture method and treating method, and that the difference in the crystal form has a great influence on the photo-electric conversion characteristics of phthalocyanine compounds, for example, with respect to copper phthalocyanine, various crystal forms of .alpha., .pi., 7/8.rho., .gamma. and .delta. are known in addition to a stable crystal form of .beta.. It has been also known that these crystal forms are mutually transferable to each other by mechanical strain force, acid treatment, organic solvent treatment or heat treatment (as disclosed, e.g., in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,770,029, 3,100,885, 3,708,292 and 3,357,989). JP-A-50-38543 describes the difference in crystal forms of copper phthalocyanine and electrophotographic characteristics of them.
However, the above-mentioned phthalocyanine compounds which have heretofore been proposed are not sufficient in point of the light sensitivity and the durability when used as a light-sensitive material, and development of novel phthalocyanine compounds which may be satisfactorily used as a light-sensitive material is desired.

Hydroxyindium phthalocyanine crystals and electrophotographic photoreceptor


Process for producing a flexible polyurethane foam through reaction of a polyol with a polyisocyanate in the presence of an amine catalyst, a blowing agent, and a foam stabilizer, the amine catalyst comprising at least one of the imidazoles represented by the general formula below: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is alkyl of 1 to 4 carbons, dimethylaminopropyl, benzyl, vinyl, or hydroxyalkyl of 1 to 3 carbons; R.sup.2 is hydrogen, alkyl of 1 to 4 carbons, allyl, benzyl, or phenyl; and R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are respectively hydrogen, alkyl of 1 to 4 carbons, or hydroxymethyl.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for producing a flexible polyurethane foam through reaction of a polyol and a polyisocyanate in the presence of an amine catalyst, a blowing agent, and a foam stabilizer. More particularly, the present invention relates to a process for producing a flexible polyurethane foam having high air flow from a formulation employing, as the blowing agent, a decreased amount of a halogenated hydrocarbon and an increased amount of water.
2. Description of the Related Art
Flexible polyurethane foams are widely used for producing vehicle parts, furniture, bedding, cushions, and the like. Hot mold foams and cold cure mold foams, out of the flexible polyurethane foams, are widely used mainly for seat cushions for automobiles.
Generally, a hot mold foam is produced by mixing a starting liquid formulation for polyurethane composed of a polyisocyanate and a polyol containing an amine catalyst, an organometallic catalyst, a blowing agent, a foam stabilizer, and other auxiliary, then foaming the mixture in a mold kept at 30.degree. to 40.degree. C., post-curing it in an oven, and releasing it from the mold. Conventionally, a halogenated hydrocarbon and water are employed as the blowing agent for the hot mold foam. Usual formulation for hot mold foams for front backs and rear backs of automobiles employs from 2.0 to 4.5 parts by weight of water and from 5 to 10 parts by weight of a halogenated hydrocarbon such as CFC-11 based on 100 parts by weight of the polyol, as blowing agents.
A cold cure mold foam, which is generally called "HR foam", is produced without conducting post cure in an oven owing to the use of a highly reactive polyol. For such kinds of foams, a halogenated hydrocarbon is used to produce foams of low density and low hardness.
Recently, among the halogenated hydrocarbons, chlorofluoro carbons (CFCs) such as CFC-11 are indicated to destroy the ozone layer, so that the use of CFCs has come to be regulated and is required to be reduced throughout the world. Consequently, various investigations are being made to develop a formulation employing less CFC-11 and more water instead as the blowing agent in conventional flexible foam formulations. For the same purpose, elevation of the mold temperature up to 50.degree. to 60.degree. C. is also being investigated to raise the foaming efficiency.
In the production of flexible foam, however, decrease of CFC-11, increase of water, or elevation of the mold temperature disadvantageously results in rise of foam hardness, liability of giving splits in the interior of the foam, or roughening of cells at the surface of the foamed article. For the purpose of solving such problems, Japanese Patent Publication No. Sho 62-21807, and Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. Hei 1-259022 and Hei 2-20251 disclose increase of ethylene oxide content and increase of terminal oxyethylene groups to lower the hardness of foams, and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 1-266121 discloses increase of an organotin catalyst and use of a higher potency foam stabilizer to improve high-temperature moldability.
However, the use of a highly reactive polyol having an increased terminal oxyethylene group, the increase of organotin catalyst or the use of a higher potency foam stabilizer will disadvantageously cause increase of the ratio of closed cells in the foam, which impairs remarkably the air flow of the foam, or may cause shrinkage of the foam.
A possible method for improving the air flow of the foam is to use, as the amine catalyst, triethylenediamine, bis(dimethylaminoethyl) ether, N-ethylmorpholine, or the like. However, the use of such an amine catalyst narrows the processing latitude, and causes the serious problem of splitting, giving no satisfactory physical properties of the foam.
Accordingly, an improved formulation for flexible polyurethane foams is desired which contains less CFC-11 and more water as the foaming agent, yet giving high moldability and high air flow.
The inventors of the present invention made comprehensive investigation from the above viewpoint regarding the catalyst in the flexible polyurethane foam formulation, regarding the catalyst in the formulation employing an increased amount of water with a highly reactive polyol having an increased amount of a terminal oxyethylene group, and found a novel fact that use of an amine having a specific chemical structure as the catalyst enables production of a flexible polyurethane foam having high air flow with improved moldability of the foam, and completed the present invention.

Process for producing flexible polyurethane foam having high air flow property


An amplifier circuit whose frequency response has almost no soft knee characteristic or no peak when inverting input capacitance Csin varies and when feedback capacitance Cf is a fixed value of small capacitance, and a feedback circuit is provided. The amplifier circuit includes a plurality of amplifiers each of which negative feedback is provided to and which are connected in series, and a feedback means (feedback circuit) which is connected to an output side of an amplifier near output of the amplifier circuit and an input side of an amplifier near input of the amplifier circuit. These amplifiers are ones in the plurality of amplifiers. One or odd numbers of amplifiers in the plurality of amplifiers are inverting amplifiers.

A current amplifier (current-to-voltage converter) is commonly configured using an operational amplifier (op-amp). FIG. 15 depicts a current amplifier.
In this current amplifier, the relationship between voltage output Vout, current input Iin and feedback resistance Rf in the frequency range where open loop gain of the op-amp is great is as the following formula (1).
Math. 1Vout=−(Iin×R f)  (1)The current amplification factor is determined by the feedback resistance Rf. For example, if the current of +1 nA flows as the current input Iin when the feedback resistance Rf is 1 GΩ, the voltage of −1 V is generated as the voltage output Vout. If the current of −1 nA flows as the current input Iin when the feedback resistance Rf is 1 GΩ, the voltage of +1 V is generated as the voltage output Vout.
In this current amplifier, if inverting input capacitance Csin, which comes from capacitance of an input cable, capacitance between input terminals of the op-amp, stray capacitance, and so on, exists in the current input (inverting input of the op-amp=virtual ground point) Iin, the bandwidth fc of flat frequency response (that is, no peak, no mid range attenuation, no soft knee characteristic, etc.), which is the widest, can be obtained under the condition that feedback capacitance Cf is the following formula (2) (Equation 3 in Design Considerations for a Transimpedance Amplifier. See Citation List below).
                    Math        .                                          2                                                            Cf        ≈                                            C                                                                                sin                                      2                                            π                ·                Rf                ·                ft                                                                        (        2        )            The bandwidth fc in this case is as the following formula (3) (Equation 4 in Design Considerations for a Transimpedance Amplifier).
                    Math        .                                          3                                                            fc        ≈                              ft                          2                                            π                ·                C                                                                                sin                ·                Rf                                                                        (        3        )
Here, "ft" is a gain bandwidth product (unity-gain bandwidth) of the op-amp. The relationships of the above formulae are based on the premise that the open loop gain of the op-amp in the low frequency range is great enough (for example, at least 60 dB).
A common coaxial cable has the capacitance of about 100 pF per meter. If a current signal source and a current amplifier are connected via such a coaxial cable and if the connecting coaxial cable is about 10 m, the inverting input capacitance Csin is about 1,000 pF.
The art expressed in JP 2005-064903 A is used for achieving a broadband current amplifier etc. The amplifier expressed in JP 2005-064903 A uses a current feedback op-amp. Also, a buffer of high input impedance is provided before inverting input, and an integrator is provided before non-inverting input.
Datasheet LCA-4K-1G (see Citation List below) expresses the datasheet of a current amplifier, which is the high amplification factor (current amplification factor: 109 V/A=1 GΩ) and low noise.


Example implementations relate to consensus protocols in a stretched network. According to an example, a distributed system includes continuously monitoring network performance and/or network latency among a cluster of a plurality of nodes in a distributed computer system. Leadership priority for each node is set based at least in part on the monitored network performance or network latency. Each node has a vote weight based at least in part on the leadership priority of the node. Each node's vote is biased by the node's vote weight. The node having a number of biased votes higher than a maximum possible number of votes biased by respective vote weights received by any other node in the cluster is selected as a leader node.

Fault-tolerance is a fundamental foundation of large-scale distributed systems. Almost all distributed systems rely on a consensus protocol that ensures all the replicas reach a consensus, that is, agree on the order for a given client request, even if some of the replicas are faulty.
One of the oldest and most popular computing industry solutions to implement consensus in distributed systems is called Paxos. However, Paxos has a reputation for being difficult to understand and implement correctly. This is due to the fact that its original description leaves out implementation details to make it easier to understand and prove correctness. A more recent protocol called Raft has been designed with the aim of simplifying the understanding and the implementation of Paxos. Raft is a consensus protocol that allows distributed nodes to maintain one common replicated state. Raft decomposes consensus into three sub-problems: (1) leader election, (2) log replication, and (3) safety.

Leader election in a distributed system based on node weight and leadership priority based on network performance

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP


An electronic marketplace allows owners of unused Internet domain names to lease the domain names using a bidding process. The system allows owners to monetize domain names and lessees to obtain customers who are redirected from targeted domain names.

This invention relates to monetization of unused Internet domain names and online advertising.
Internet domain monetization allows domain name owners to earn revenue from domain names that are unused, e.g. have only place-holder web sites. Currently monetization is accomplished by placing sponsored links on unused domains, also referred to as "parking" a domain. For example the owner of cellphones.com might place sponsored links to destination sites such as verizon.com, att.com, and nextel.com. The domain owner is then paid for every click on a sponsored link, or for every click on a sponsored link that results in the conversion of the end user into a customer on the destination site.
Sponsored links are provided by advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Yahoo! Search Marketing, and LinkShare. These advertising networks have agreements with advertisers such as Verizon, AT&T, and Nextel. Alternatively, sponsored links are provided by an intermediary, who specializes in optimizing the revenue produced by unused domains. Intermediaries provide sponsored links from one or many advertising networks. There are a number of intermediaries that provide this type of service including DomainSponsor, Parking.com, and Sedo.com.
The main limitation of monetizing unused domains with sponsored links is that it is contingent on end users clicking on links. In many cases only few end users click on the sponsored links and so the domain owner does not monetize the bulk of the Web traffic to their website. For example, in the case of cellphones.com, if 1,000,000 users visit the site every day and only 5% of the users click on sponsored links, then 950,000 of the daily users are not monetized.
Another limitation of monetizing unused domains using sponsored links is that advertisers have their sponsored links placed next to competing services and have to vie for the attention, and clicks, of end users.
A different type of advertising network is provided by TrafficRouter.com. TrafficRouter sells electronic real-estate on websites. Customers can purchase banner advertising space or text advertising links on various websites that register with TrafficRouter. Customers bid to gain the right to have their banner shown on another website or to have a link on another website point to their destination site. The TrafficRouter model also suffers from the limitation that website owners, or domain owners, are only paid when end users click on banners or links. Furthermore, it does not allow advertisers to fully own the user experience.
U.S. Patent Application 20010034657 shows a system that allows domain owners to sublicense sub-domains, also known as third-level domains. For example, the owner of house.com could sublicense chicago.house.com or philadelphia.house.com. This model has two significant limitations. First, it is much more likely that individuals surfing the web would type-in a second-level domain such as house.com compared to a third-level domain such as chicago.house.com. Thus, a service that offers access to second-level domains is much more attractive to advertisers. Second, since sub-domains are simply licensed for a fixed fee, there is no mechanism for identifying a fair price for domains.
On eBay, users sell blocks of traffic. For example, a user might create an auction for 10,000 users who will be sent to the winner's website. The winner of the auction receives traffic from various sources, including redirects from unused domains. A problem with this model is that the advertiser does not get to pick the specific domains that will send it traffic. Another problem is that advertisers are bidding for fixed blocks of traffic, so they have to keep buying blocks in separate lots in order to have a continuous level of redirected traffic.
VisitorBid provided another solution for monetizing domains, allowing advertisers to select individual domains, or pre-selected categories of domains, from which to receive redirected traffic. Advertisers entered bids and competed to receive redirected traffic from domains, but could not enter categories themselves. Advertisers also were not provided with geo targeting options. The VisitorBid model, with an advertiser selecting individual domains or selecting from preset categories, is not scalable: It is time consuming to sort through long lists of domains, and requires regular inspection of new domains that become available in the market. Use of preset categories of domains also reduces the granularity of targeting. In addition, the VisitorBid solution suffered from requiring the redirect to occur on the client side instead of the server side. This affects the speed of the domain redirect, because a web page must load within the client browser before the redirect can occur. This gives more time for the end user to close the browser before an advertiser's website loads, reducing the effectiveness of the service.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.