A system includes a plurality of modules, a backplane communicatively coupled to the plurality of modules, a plurality of links defined between the plurality of modules over the backplane, and a link management system configured to dynamically manage parameters associated with each of the plurality of links. A link management method includes, for a system, defining a codebook for each module, device, and interconnect in the system, the codebook includes data describing physical link topologies and configuration parameters associated therewith, for initializing a link in the system, obtaining appropriate codebooks for each segment in the link, calculating an overall link loss for the link based on data in the appropriate codebooks, and obtaining configuration parameters for the link based on the overall link loss.

Conventionally, communication networks have ever increasing demands for higher data rates, faster switching times, and reduced operational expenses. For example, communication networks may be realized through interconnected network elements. The network elements include ingress/egress ports for various services along with switching and/or processing elements. The capacity of the network elements has scaled from 10 Gb/s to significantly more than 1 Tb/s in a single bay/frame of equipment. The same is true for supercomputers, data centers, cloud computing, and the like. In physically realizing a network element, supercomputer, etc. there are a plurality of modules with various interconnections therebetween via high-speed links. Conventionally, the links include an optimized set of configuration data that is applied to all the links statically during initialization. Each link may include one or more physical electrical link segments that may or may not be present all the time. The physical and electrical characteristics of these links vary widely at very high data speeds. However, a limited and static set of configuration parameters are used for all the links in the system. Conventional link initialization is a tedious process which is error prone, requires frequent changes (e.g., whenever there is a hardware change), includes no systematic turn up or shut down procedure, and the like. Further, conventional modes of operation also waste power as unused links are initialized in a same manner as used links therefore are always powered up regardless of use.

Link management systems and methods for multi-stage, high-speed systems


An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive body, a charging member for charging the photosensitive body, voltage applicator for applying a voltage including an AC component to the charging member, exposing device for image exposing on the photosensitive body charged by the charging member to form an electrostatic image, and developer for developing the electrostatic image, wherein the image forming apparatus can select from a first mode having low tone reproductivity and a second mode having tone reproductivity higher than that of the first mode, and wherein, when the second mode is selected, the voltage applicator applies a voltage having a frequency of the AC component higher than that when the first mode is selected.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a laser beam printer and the like, and more particularly, it relates to an image forming apparatus having a charging means for charging a surface of an image bearing body.
2. Related Background Art
As image forming apparatuses of this kind, there are electrophotographic copying machines and electrophotographic printer, for example. In such apparatuses, an electrostatic latent image is formed by illuminating image exposure light corresponding to an original image or an inputted multi-value image signals onto a surface of an image bearing body uniformly charged by a charging means, and the electrostatic latent image is developed by a developing means to form a toner image. Then, the toner image is transferred onto a transfer material by a transfer means, and then, the transfer material is conveyed to a fixing means, where the toner image is fixed to the transfer material, and then, the transfer material is outputted as an imaged product (print, copy).
As an example of a charging device used with the above-mentioned image forming apparatus, there is a charging device of contact charging type as shown in FIG. 9. A charge roller (charging member) 11 is obtained by surrounding a metallic core 19 by a semi-conductive elastic member 20. The charge roller 11 is urged against an image bearing body 10 with predetermined pressure by means of a pressurizing means (not shown) and is rotatingly driven in a direction shown by the arrow L by rotation of the image bearing body 10 in a direction shown by the arrow K.
In synchronous with image formation, when charging bias voltage including AC component and DC component is applied from a charging bias voltage source 30 to the core 19 of the charge roller 11, the surface of the image bearing body 10 is charged with potential substantially equal to the DC component of the charging bias voltage. Hereinafter, the charging system of this kind is referred to as "AC bias contact charging type".
However, the charging device of AC bias contact charging type has a disadvantage that charge unevenness corresponding to frequency of the AC component of the charging bias voltage is generated.
FIG. 10 shows an example of the charge unevenness as distribution of electrification (charging) potential. In FIG. 10, the abscissa indicates a position on the surface of the image bearing body 10 along a rotational direction of the image bearing body 10, and the ordinate indicates charging potential on the surface of the image bearing body 10. The period of the charge unevenness corresponds to the frequency of the AC component of the charging bias voltage. The charge unevenness results in unevenness in density of the toner image after developing and, accordingly, unevenness in density of the outputted image, thereby worsening the image quality considerably.
It is known that, as the frequency of the AC component of the charging bias voltage is increased, such charge unevenness is gradually decreased.
On the other hand, the charging device of AC bias contact charging type has a disadvantage that, if the frequency of the AC component of the charging bias voltage is increased, the damage on the surface of the image bearing body is increased.
In the charging device of AC bias contact charging type, when the charging bias voltage including the AC component is applied to the charging member contacted with the surface of the image bearing body, a very strong electric field having alternating polarity is generated near a pole of the surface of the image bearing body. The alternating electric field generates a large amount of plasma ions and accelerates the ions. As a result, there arises a phenomena that, when the large amount of accelerated plasma ions strike against the surface of the image bearing body, the surface of the image bearing body is scraped. (This phenomena is referred to as "scraping phenomenon of surface of image bearing body due to contact charging" hereinafter).
That is to say, when the frequency of the AC component of the charging bias voltage is increased, since the number of ion collisions against the surface of the image bearing body is increased, the scraping phenomenon of surface of image bearing body due to contact charging becomes more noticeable.
If the scraping of the surface of the image bearing body is continued to make the photosensitive layer and insulation layer (of the surface of the image bearing body) thinner, the following disadvantages arise.
Firstly, if the photosensitive layer and insulation layer (of the surface of the image bearing body) are made thinner, the surface of the image bearing body is apt to be damaged. Secondly, as the electrostatic capacity of the surface of the image bearing body is increased, the charge amount required for obtaining the predetermined charging potential is also increased, with the result that the adequate charging potential cannot be obtained. And, the charging bias voltage source must made bulky to compensate such poor charging.
In conclusion, the conventional charging device of AC bias contact charging type arose problems that, if the frequency of the AC component of the charging bias voltage is small, the charge unevenness is generated and that, if the frequency of the AC component of the charging bias voltage is increased, the service life of the image bearing body is shortened and the charging bias voltage source is made bulky to made the apparatus more expensive.
On the other hand, there has been proposed an image forming apparatus in which a character mode (suitable for a character image) having an image forming condition corresponding larger inclination y and a photograph mode (suitable for photographic (intermediate gradation) image) having an image forming condition corresponding to smaller inclination y are provided (here, the "inclination" is defined as inclination in a graph showing property of density of the outputted image with respect to density of an image of an original or an image signal inputted from an external equipment). In the image forming apparatus having such character mode and photograph mode, when the above-mentioned charging member to which the voltage including the AC component is used, it was found that a bad influence upon the image due to the charge unevenness generated in correspondence to the frequency of the AC component of the charging bias voltage becomes noticeable particularly in an intermediate density portion of the image.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 5-11571 discloses a technique in which the frequency of the AC component is switched between a character pattern and a graphic pattern, but does not disclose a mode for changing the inclination .gamma..
USP 5512982 discloses a technique in which the frequency is switched between a character mode and a photograph mode, but does not disclose a technique in which the inclination .gamma. is changed in accordance with the modes.

Image forming apparatus having a charging member with plural charging modes


Color data is converted into specific number of gradation data. A table is provided storing a correspondence between gradation data and color data. The gradation data is computed based on Gradation data=K SIN (.alpha.x+.beta.) 0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.n wherein K is a constant, x is a color data, .beta. defines phase and contributes to modify the gradation data for the color data, and .alpha. defines frequency and contributes to modify a degree of the modification. Two color data having large luminance levels are converted into gradation data having a large difference in gradation level. Control data for changing the values of .alpha. and .beta. in the above equation is input from a keyboard. A user can arbitrarily change the gradation data to be set in the conversion table from the keyboard.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display control apparatus which includes a flat panel display unit such as a plasma display unit or a liquid crystal display unit as a standard I/O device and can be arbitrarily connected to a CRT display unit, and can be suitable for use in a computer system such as a personal computer and a personal workstation.
2. Description of the Related Art
Liquid crystal display and plasma displays have been used as display units for conventional lap-top type personal computers and personal workstations. However, strong demand has arisen for running an application program created for a CRT display unit in the above computer so as to utilize a wealth of all previous software. For this reason, the above computer equipped with a plasma display unit as a standard I/O device is arranged to be connectable to a CRT display unit as an optional I/O device.
A CRT display unit multigradation palette (CRT palette) is separated from a plasma display unit gradation designation (4 through 16 gradation levels) palette (PDP palette), and different palette values are set therein.
For this reason, when a CRT application program runs to dynamically update the CRT palette, the palette value of the PDP palette is not changed even if the CRT palette value is changed.
Similarly, in a system to which a CRT color display unit can be arbitrarily connected, different palette values are set in a color palette for designating display colors of the CRT color display unit and the PDP palette. Even if the palette value of the CRT palette is arbitrarily changed in accordance with a display color designated by CRT application software, the palette value of the PDP palette is not changed. For this reason, although a change in gradation or hue can be identified on the CRT display screen, the change cannot be reflected on the PDP, resulting in inconvenience.
In order to solve the above problem, Hiroki ZENDA (U.S. Ser. No. 406,066 titled "DISPLAY CONTROL APPARATUS FOR CONVERTING COLOR/MONOCHROMATIC CRT GRADATION INTO PDP GRADATION", filed on Sep. 12, 1989, and assigned by the same assignee of this application) discloses a technology where plasma display unit gradation data is generated from CRT display unit gradation data set in a CRT palette and the plasma display unit gradation data is output to the PDP palette.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a detailed arrangement of a high-resolution display system (HRGS: High Resolution Graphic Subsystem) having a display control function for driving the CRT display at a high resolution (720 dots in the horizontal direction) with multilevel gradation (64 gradation levels) and a display control function for simultaneously driving CRT and plasma display units (in this case, each display unit has a horizontal display resolution of 640 dots). A CRT display unit can be arbitrarily connected to the HRGS 30 through a connector not shown.
An element 31 is a CRT display controller (CRT-CNT) for driving a CRT display unit 51 at the high resolution (720 dots) with multilevel gradation (64 gradation levels). The CRT-CNT 31 includes a decoder 311. The decoder 311 decodes a port address of a CRT palette 343 and outputs a write signal to the CRT palette 343.
A display controller 32 has a bus interface function for exchanging various display control data with a CPU through a system bus 16 and a function for controlling the display operation of a plasma display unit (PDP) 40 and is constituted by one chip of, e.g., a programmable logic array (PLA). The display controller 32 includes an arithmetic unit 325. The arithmetic unit 325 comprises, e.g., a programmable logic array and performs a predetermined arithmetic operation of palette data supplied from a CRT palette 343 through a data bus (SD7-SD0) 62 to output 39 gradation parameters. A conversion table 326 is arranged to output 16 gradation data corresponding to 39 gradation parameters.
A CRT-CNT reads out display data (since a color CRT is used in this embodiment, 16 color data are read out) from a VRAM 33, and the readout data are written in the CRT palette 343 in a CRT display data generator 34 through an internal bus (VD7-VD0). The color CRT palette 343 converts 16 color data into 262,141 color tone data (=64 colors.times.(R, G, and B components)). The 262,144 color tone data are converted into analog display data by a D/A converter 342, and analog display data are output to a color CRT display unit 51. As a result, image data represented by color information designated by the CRT palette 343 is displayed on the color CRT display unit 51.
The 64 data of each of the R, G, and B components are supplied to the arithmetic unit 325 in the display controller 32 through the data bus (SD7-SD0). The arithmetic unit 325 calculates gradation parameters on the basis of equations (1) and (2).
A gradation intensity is calculated by equation (1): EQU Gradation Intensity=(3.times.red data)+(6.times.green data)+(1.times.blue data) (1)
The gradation parameter is calculated by equation (2) using the above gradation intensity:
Gradation Parameter=(gradation intensity)/16 (the decimal part is rounded off)
The 262,144 color tone data supplied from the color CRT palette 343 are converted into 39 gradation parameters by the arithmetic unit 325. These 39 gradation parameters are input to the color conversion table 326.
The conversion table 326 is arranged, as shown in FIG. 2. Addresses "00" (hexadecimal notation) through "27" correspond to gradation parameters 0 through 39, respectively.
The color conversion table 326 outputs gradation data (gradation level 0 through gradation level 15) corresponding to the input gradation parameters to the PDP palette 322. As a result, a PDP 40 performs a display in accordance with gradation data (one of gradation level 0 to gradation level 15) set in the PDP palette 322.
FIG. 3 shows a color-gradation conversion characteristic where the gradation parameter and the gradation intensity are given in abscissa and in ordinate, respectively. As shown in FIG. 3, the conversion characteristic is roughly linear. Therefore, luminance level of color data and gradation level are approximately proportional to each other. In other words, a bright color is converted into a bright gradation, and a dark color is converted into a dark gradation. For this reason, if the bright colors are superimposed on each other, e.g., a bright white is superimposed on a bright yellow background, there is little difference in the gradation level, and this makes it difficult to differentiate between these colors visually.

Gradation display control apparatus for converting color data designated by application program into gradation data


A new and distinct cultivar of Rhododendron plant named ‘Farrow’, characterized by its compact, upright, somewhat outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy plant form; glossy green and pale yellow variegated leaves; freely flowering habit; large single type red purple-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Rhododendron plant, botanically known as Rhododendron hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name 'Farrow'.
The new Rhododendron plant is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of Rhododendron hybrida 'Silver Sword', not patented. The new Rhododendron plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor on a single flowering plant of 'Silver Sword' in an outdoor nursery in Earleville, Md. during the summer of 2001.
Asexual reproduction of the new Rhododendron plant by softwood cuttings taken in a controlled environment in Earleville, Md. since 2001 has shown that the unique features of this new Rhododendron plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.


Benzopyran derivatives and analogs are disclosed as useful for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of neuralgia, trigeminal neuralgia, neuropathic pain, dental pain and cancer pain.

This invention relates to a novel method of treatment.
EP-A-0 126 311 discloses substituted benzopyran compounds having blood pressure lowering activity, including 6-acetyl-trans-4-(4-fluorobenzoylamino)-3,4-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-2H-1-benzopyran-3-ol.
Also EP-A-0 376 524, EP-A-0 205 292, EP-A-0 250 077, EP-A-0 093 535, EP-A-0 150 202, EP-A-0 076 075 and WO/89/05808 (Beecham Group plc) describe certain benzopyran derivatives which possess anti-hypertensive activity.
EP-A-0 350 805 (Biersdorf), EP-A-0 277 611, EP-A-0 277 612, EP-A-0 337 179 and EP-A-0 355 565 (Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft); EP-A-0 466 131 (Nissan Chemical Industries Ltd), EP-A-0 339 562 (Yoshitomi Pharmaceuticals), EP-A-0 415 065 (E. Merck), EP-A-0 450 415 (Squibb), EP-A-0 482 934, EP-A-0 296 975, JO-2004-791 and W089/07103 also describe certain benzopyran derivatives which are believed to possess anti-hypertensive activity.
EP-A-0 430 621 and EP-A-0 385 584 (Beecham Group plc) describe the resolution of certain intermediates useful in the preparation of the compounds described in the above mentioned patent applications.
EP-A-0 139 992 (Beecham Group plc) describes certain benzopyran derivatives which have cis isomerism at position 3 and 4 which compounds are described as possessing anti-hypertensive activity.
EP-A-0 587 645, EP-A-0 673 373, EP-A-0 673 374, EP-A-0 673 248, EP-A-0 674 519, WO95/34545, WO95/34547 and WO95/34546 (SmithKline Beecham plc) describe groups of compounds possessing inter alia anti-convulsant activity, and which are also believed to have utility in the treatment or prevention of mania, depression and the effects associated with withdrawal from substances of abuse.
It has now been surprisingly found that compounds from the above groups have additional activity and are believed to have utility in the treatment and/or prophylaxis of degenerative diseases such as Huntingdon""s chorea, schizophrenia, neurological deficits associated with AIDS, sleep disorders (including circadian rhythm disorders, insomnia and narcolepsy), tics (e.g., Giles de la Tourette""s syndrome), traumatic brain injury, tinnitus, neuralgia, especially trigeminal neuralgia, neuropathic pain, dental pain, cancer pain, inappropriate neuronal activity resulting in neurodysthesias in diseases such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis (MS) and motor neurone disease, ataxias, muscular rigidity (spasticity) and temporomandibular joint dysfunction.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a method of treatment and/or prophylaxis of degenerative diseases such as Huntingdon""s chorea, schizophrenia, neurological deficits associated with AIDS, sleep disorders (including circadian rhythm disorders, insomnia and narcolepsy), tics (e.g. Giles de la Tourette""s syndrome), traumatic brain injury, tinnitus, neuralgia, especially trigeminal neuralgia, neuropathic pain, dental pain, cancer pain, inappropriate neuronal activity resulting in neurodysthesias in diseases such as diabetes, MS and motor neurone disease, ataxias, muscular rigidity (spasticity), temporomandibular joint dysfunction,
which comprises administering to the sufferer in need thereof an effective or prophylactic amount of a compound of formula (A) or pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof:
wherein:
P is a ring system selected from the following:
and the other variables are as defined below:
in which either a and b together represent a bond or CH2 or a and b together represent a carbonyl group, a group Cxe2x95x90NORF, CHORF or
where RF is hydrogen or C1-6 alkyl; or
in which either J is nitrogen and Ja is a lone pair of electrons, M is carbon and Ma is R5; or
J is carbon and M is nitrogen and Ja and Ma are hydrogen; or
in which Z is oxygen or CH2;
wherein: 4
either Y is N and R2 is hydrogen, or Y is Cxe2x80x94R1; where:
either one of R1 and R2 is hydrogen and the other is selected from the class of hydrogen, C3-8 cycloalkyl, C1-6 alkyl optionally interrupted by oxygen or substituted by hydroxy, C1-6 alkoxy or substituted aminocarbonyl, C1-6 alkylcarbonyl, C1 6 alkoxycarbonyl, C1-6 alkylcarbonyloxy, C1-6 alkoxy, nitro, cyano, halo, trifluoromethyl, CF3S, or a group CF3xe2x80x94Axe2x80x94, where A is xe2x80x94CF2xe2x80x94, xe2x80x94COxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94, CH(OH), SO2, SO, CH2xe2x80x94O, or CONH, or a group CF2Hxe2x80x94Axe2x80x2xe2x80x94 where Axe2x80x2 is oxygen, sulfur, SO, SO2, CF2 or CFH; trifluoromethoxy, C1-6 alkylsulfinyl, perfluoro C2-6 alkylsulfonyl, C1-6 alkylsulfonyl, C1-6 alkoxysulfinyl, C1-6 alkoxysulfonyl, aryl, heteroaryl, arylcarbonyl, heteroarylcarbonyl, phosphono, arylcarbonyloxy, heteroarylcarbonyloxy, arylsulfinyl, heteroarylsulfinyl, arylsulfonyl, heteroarylsulfonyl in which any aromatic moiety is optionally substituted, C1-6 alkylcarbonylamino, C1-6 alkoxycarbonylamino, C1-6 alkyl-thiocarbonyl, C1-6 alkoxy-thiocarbonyl, C1-6 alkyl-thiocarbonyloxy, 1-mercapto C2-7 alkyl, formyl, or aminosulfinyl, aminosulfonyl or aminocarbonyl, any amino moiety being optionally substituted by one or two C1-6 alkyl groups, or C1-6 alkylsulfinylamino, C1-6 alkylsulfonylamino, C1-6 alkoxysulfinylamino or C1-6 alkoxysulfonylamino, or ethylenyl terminally substituted by C1-6 alkylcarbonyl, nitro or cyano, or xe2x80x94C(C1-6 alkyl)NOH or xe2x80x94C(C1-6 alkyl)NNH2,
or one of R1 and R2 is nitro, cyano or C1-3 alkylcarbonyl and the other is halo, C1-4 alkyl, methoxy or amino optionally substituted by one or two C1-6 alkyl or by C2-7 alkanoyl;
or R1 and R2 together are xe2x80x94(CH2)4xe2x80x94; (CH2)x CO(CH2)y where x is 0 to 3 and y is 0 to 3 with the proviso that x+y is at least 2x; or xe2x80x94CHxe2x95x90CHxe2x80x94CHxe2x95x90CHxe2x80x94; or form an optionally substituted triazole or oxadiazole ring, or together form a group CONRcCO where Rc is hydrogen, C1-6 alkyl, aralkyl or heteroarylalkyl;
Z is N only when Y is Cxe2x80x94R1 or Z is Cxe2x80x94Ra when Y is N or Cxe2x80x94R1; wherein Ra is hydrogen, halogen, nitro; C1-4 alkylcarbonyl, C1-4 alkyl; aryl C1-4 alkyl, aryl C1-4 alkenyl, heteroaryl C1-4 alkyl or heteroaryl C1-4 alkenyl,
Rb is hydrogen, halogen, nitro; C1-4 alkylcarbonyl or C1-4 alkyl; and in which any aryl or heteroaryl or alkyl moiety associated with Ra or Rb are optionally substituted;
one of R3 and R4 is hydrogen or C1-4 alkyl and the other is C1-4 alkyl, CF3 or CH2Xa where Xa is fluoro, chloro, bromo, iodo, C1-4 alkoxy, hydroxy, C1-4 alkylcarbonyloxy, xe2x80x94Sxe2x80x94C1-4 alkyl, nitro, amino optionally substituted by one or two C1-4 alkyl groups; cyano or C1-4 alkoxycarbonyl
or R3 and R4 together are C2-5 polymethylene optionally substituted by C1-4 alkyl;
R5 is C1-6 alkylcarbonyloxy, benzoyloxy, ONO2, benzyloxy, phenyloxy or C1-6 alkoxy and R6 and R9 are hydrogen or R5 is hydroxy and R6 and R9 are independently hydrogen or C1-2 alkyl;
Rx is (a)
in which:
R11 and R12 are independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, cycloalkyl, aralkyl, cyano, nitro, COR13, CONHR13, CONR13R14 or halo where R13 and R14 are independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl or (cycloalkyl)-alkyl;
R10 is hydrogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, cycloalkyl, Oxe2x80x94R15, cyano, nitro, CF3, halo, S-alkyl, COR15, COOR15, NR15CO alkyl or OCO alkyl where R15 is hydrogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl or (cycloalkyl)-alkyl; m is 0 or 1;
or (b) Rx is a R8xe2x80x94Nxe2x80x94COxe2x80x94R7 group where
R7 is heteroaryl or phenyl; both of which are optionally substituted one or more times independently with a group or atom selected from chloro, fluoro, bromo, iodo, nitro, amino optionally substituted once or twice by C1-4 alkyl, cyano, azido, C1-4 alkyl, C1-4 alkoxy, trifluoromethoxy, trifluoromethyl; optionally substituted aryloxy or heteroaryloxy; C1-4 alkoxy substituted by one or more halogens (excluding trifluoromethoxy); amino substituted by C1-4 alkanoyl, aroyl aryl phenylsulfonyl or C1-4 alkylsulfonyl; C1-4 alkyl substituted by one or more halogens (excluding trifluoromethyl) or alkoxy; phenylsulfonyl C1-4alkyl sulfonyl, aminosulfonyl in which the amino group is optionally substituted by C1-4 alkyl; CONH2 in which the amino group is optionally substituted by C1-4 alkyl;
R8 is hydrogen; C1-6 alkyl, OR1-6 or NHCOR17 wherein R16 is hydrogen, C1-6 alkyl, formyl, C1-6 alkanoyl, aroyl or aryl-C1-6 alkyl and R17 is hydrogen, C1-6 alkyl, C1-6 alkoxy, mono or di C1-6 alkyl amino, amino, amino-C1-6 alkyl, hydroxy-C1-6 alkyl, halo-C1-6 alkyl, C1-6 acyloxy-C1-6 alkyl, C1-6 alkoxycarbonyl-C1-6-alkyl, aryl or heteroaryl;
X is oxygen or NR18 where R18 is hydrogen or C1-6 alkyl; and the Rx group is cis or trans to the R5 group.
Generally the cis compounds of formula (A) may be prepared from the corresponding trans compounds, procedures for the preparation of which are generally described in EP-0126311, EP-0376524, EP-205292, EP-0250077, EP-0093535, EP-0150202, EP-0076075, WO/89/05808, EP-0350805, EP-027761 1, EP-0277612, EP-0337179, EP-0339562, EP-0355565, EP-A-415 065 (E. Merck), EP-A-450 415 (Squibb) EP-0466131, EP-A-0482934, EP-A-0296975, JO-2004-791 and WO89/07103.
The cis compounds of formula (A) may be prepared by procedures generally described in or analogous to those described in EP-A-0139992.
The cis compounds of formula (A) may also be prepared according to the procedures described by G. Burrell et al, Tet. Letters, 31, 3649-3652 (1990) or by the procedures described by U. Quast and E. Villhauer, Eur. J. Pharmacol, Molecular Pharmacology Section 245, 165-171 (1993).
It should be appreciated that racemates for formula (A) may be resolved or enantiomerically purified compounds of formula (A) may be prepared using procedures conventional in the art and in particular using the procedures outlined in EP-0430631 and EP-0355584.
It should also be appreciated that it is preferred that the compounds of formula (A) may be prepared in the required enantiomeric form by forming a chirally pure epoxide using catalysts and conditions generally outlined in WO91/14694 or WO93/17026 and thereafter converting the epoxides to the required compound of formula (A) using procedures outlined herein.
The trans compounds of formula (A) may be prepared according to the procedures outlined in PCT/GB92/01045 which procedures are incorporated herein by reference or the trans compounds of formula (A) may be prepared according to methods analogous to these described in the one mentioned patents.
Reference is particularly directed to EP-A-0 587 645, EP-A-0 673 373, EP-A-0 673 374, EP-A-0 673 248, EP-A-0674 519, WO95/34545, WO95/34547 and WO95/34546 for compounds suitable for use in this invention.
Preferred compounds for use in this invention are trans-6-acetyl-4S-(4-fluorobenzoylamino)-3,4-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-2H-1-benzopyran-3R-ol, hereinafter Compound 1 (for preparation see Example 20 of WO 92/22293) and cis-6-acetyl-4S-(3-chloro-4-fluorobenzoylamino)-3,4-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-2H-1-benzopyran-3S-ol, hereinafter Compound 2 (for preparation see Example 17 of WO95/34545) and trans-6-acetyl-4S-(3,5-difluorobenzoylamino)-3,4-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-2H-1-benzopyran-3R-ol, hereinafter Compound 3 (for preparation see Example 4 of WO95/34545).
The above compounds may be used in therapy as pharmaceutically acceptable salts, such as hydrochlorides, and pharmaceutically acceptable solvates, such as hydrates.
The administration to the mammal may be by way of oral, parenteral, sub-lingual or transdermal administration.
An amount effective to treat the disorders hereinbefore described depends on the usual factors such as the nature and severity of the disorders being treated and the weight of the mammal. However, a unit dose will normally contain 1 to 5000 mg, suitably 1 to 500 mg, for example an amount in the range of from 2 to 400 mg such as 2, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 100, 200, 300 and 400 mg of the active compound. Unit doses will normally be administered once or more than once per day, for example 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 times a day, more usually 1 to 4 times a day, such that the total daily dose is normally in the range, for a 70 kg adult, of 1 to 5000 mg, for example 1 to 500 mg, that is in the range of approximately 0.01 to 15 mg/kg/day, more usually 0.1 to 6 mg/kg/day, for example 1 to 6 mg/kg/day.
It is greatly preferred that the compound of formula (I) is administered in the form of a unit-dose composition, such as a unit dose oral, including sub-lingual, rectal, topical or parenteral (especially intravenous) composition.
Such compositions are prepared by admixture and are suitably adapted for oral or parenteral administration, and as such may be in the form of tablets, capsules, oral liquid preparations, powders, granules, lozenges, reconstitutable powders, injectable and infusable solutions or suspensions or suppositories. Orally administrable compositions are preferred, in particular shaped oral compositions, since they are more convenient for general use.
Tablets and capsules for oral administration are usually presented in a unit dose, and contain conventional excipients such as binding agents, fillers, diluents, tabletting agents, lubricants, disintegrants, colourants, flavourings, and wetting agents. The tablets may be coated according to well known methods in the art.
Suitable fillers for use include cellulose, mannitol, lactose and other similar agents. Suitable disintegrants include starch, polyvinylpyrrolidone and starch derivatives such as sodium starch glycollate. Suitable lubricants include, for example, magnesium stearate. Suitable pharmaceutically acceptable wetting agents include sodium lauryl sulfate.
These solid oral compositions may be prepared by conventional methods of blending, filling, tabletting or the like. Repeated blending operations may be used to distribute the active agent throughout those compositions employing large quantities of fillers. Such operations are, of course, conventional in the art.
Oral liquid preparations may be in the form of, for example, aqueous or oily suspensions, solutions, emulsions, syrups, or elixirs, or may be presented as a dry product for reconstitution with water or other suitable vehicle before use. Such liquid preparations may contain conventional additives such as suspending agents, for example sorbitol, syrup, methyl cellulose, gelatin, hydroxyethylcellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, alumninium stearate gel or hydrogenated edible fats, emulsifying agents, for example lecithin, sorbitan monooleate, or acacia; non-aqueous vehicles (which may include edible oils), for example, almond oil, fractionated coconut oil, oily esters such as esters of glycerine, propylene glycol, or ethyl alcohol; preservatives, for example methyl or propyl p-hydroxybenzoate or sorbic acid, and if desired conventional flavouring or colouring agents.
Oral formulations also include conventional sustained release formulations, such as tablets or granules having an enteric coating.
For parenteral administration, fluid unit dose forms are prepared containing the compound and a sterile vehicle. The compound, depending on the vehicle and the concentration, can be either suspended or dissolved. Parenteral solutions are normally prepared by dissolving the compound in a vehicle and filter sterilising before filling into a suitable vial or ampoule and sealing. Advantageously, adjuvants such as a local anaesthetic, preservatives and buffering agents are also dissolved in the vehicle. To enhance the stability, the composition can be frozen after filling into the vial and the water removed under vacuum.
Parenteral suspensions are prepared in substantially the same manner except that the compound is suspended in the vehicle instead of being dissolved and sterilised by exposure to ethylene oxide before suspending in the sterile vehicle. Advantageously, a surflctant or wetting agent is included in the composition to facilitate uniform distribution of the compound of the invention.
As is common practice, the compositions will usually be accompanied by written or printed directions for use in the medical treatment concerned.
The present invention further provides a pharmaceutical composition for use in the treatment and/or prophylaxis of degenerative diseases such as Huntingdon""s chorea, schizophrenia, OCD, neurological deficits associated with AIDS, sleep disorders (including circadian rhythm disorders, insomnia and narcolepsy), tics (e.g. Giles de la Tourette""s syndrome), traumatic brain injury, tinnitus, neuralgia, especially trigeminal neuralgia, neuropathic pain, dental pain, cancer pain, inappropriate neuronal activity resulting in neurodysthesias in diseases such as diabetes, MS and motor neurone disease, ataxias, muscular rigidity (spasticity) and temporomandibular joint dysfunction, which comprises a compound of formula (A), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
In a further aspect the invention provides the use of a compound of formula (A), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of degenerative diseases such as Huntingdon""s chorea, schizophrenia, neurological deficits associated with AIDS, sleep disorders (including circadian rhythm disorders, insomnia and narcolepsy), tics (e.g. Giles de la Tourette""s syndrome), traumatic brain injury, tinnitus, neuralgia, especially trigeminal neuralgia, neuropathic pain, dental pain, cancer pain, inappropriate neuronal activity resulting in neurodysthesias in diseases such as diabetes, MS and motor neurone disease, ataxias, muscular rigidity (spasticity) and temporomandibular joint dysfunction.
Such compositions and medicaments may be prepared in the manner as hereinbefore described.
This invention is particularly concerned with the treatment of neuropathic pain and trigeminal neuralgia, espesially by use of trans-6-acetyl-4S-(4-fluorobenzoylamino)-3,4-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-2H-1-benzopyran-3R-ol (Compound 1) and cis-6-acetyl-4S-(3-chloro-4-fluorobenzoylamino)-3,4-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-2H-1-benzopyran-3S-ol (Compound 2) and trans-6-acetyl-4S-(3,5-difluorobenzoylamino)-3,4-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-2H-1-benzopyran 3R-ol (Compound 3).

Use of benzopyranols to treat neurological disorders


Described herein are systems and methods for a providing Ledger as a Service (LaaS). Blockchain technology helps bring potential solutions to the distributed ledger problem, with a linear record structure to record transaction history. However, there are different types of blockchain techniques (e.g., Hyperledger, Ethereum, Quorum), and users/developers need to know the explicit features of each technique and align with the required APIs. Ledger as a Service can allow users to an develop applications more efficiently, and can allow users to easily migrate applications among different blockchain techniques and platforms (e.g., between Hyperledger and Ethereum). LaaS can also allow for simplified transactions with a blockchain, and can additionally provide simplified communication between blockchains of different types.

A distributed ledger may be broadly described as a digital record of asset ownership. There is no central administrator of the ledger, nor is there a central data store. Instead, the ledger is replicated across many participating nodes in a computing environment that may be geographically spread across multiple sites, countries, or institutions. A consensus protocol ensures that each node's copy of the ledger is identical to every other node's copy. As well, the set of copies may be viewed as a single shared ledger. A distributed ledger may be used by asset owners using cryptographic signature technology, for example, to debit their account and credit another's account.
A blockchain is a data structure can be used to implement tamper-resistant distributed ledgers. Multiple nodes follow a common protocol in which transactions from clients are packaged into blocks, and nodes use a consensus protocol to agree on the next block. Blocks carry cumulative cryptographic hashes making it difficult to tamper with the ledger. Each block can have a reference [hash value] to the previous block in time. In addition, each block can comprise its own hash. The blockchain can be traversed traverse backwards (e.g., up the chain).
Permissionless decentralized ledgers allow anonymous participants to maintain the ledger, while avoiding control by any single entity. However, identity, accountability and auditability are difficult in light of the anonymity. In contrast, permissioned decentralized ledgers allow for levels of trust and accountability by allowing explicitly authorized parties to maintain the ledger. Permissioned ledgers support more flexible governance and a wider choice of consensus mechanisms. Both kinds of decentralized ledgers may be susceptible to manipulation by participants who favor some transactions over others. However, the accountability underlying permissioned ledgers provides an opportunity to constraints that can be enforced on participants.
Blockchain helps bring potential solutions to the distributed ledger problem, with a linear record structure to record transaction history. However, there are different types of blockchain techniques (e.g., Hyperledger, Ethereum, Quorum) today, and users need to know the explicit features of each technique and align with the required APIs. When a user designed his distributed ledger application, and then want to migrate to other blockchain, he needs to modify the application a lot typically.
There are ways to alleviate the blockchain provision and management efforts like Blockchain Cloud Service, which is a Platform as a Service (PaaS), however, the users still need to know how to use the underly blockchain APIs correctly.

Systems and methods of providing ledger as a service


A method comprising using a first mass analyzer of a downhole tool to isolate specific ions within a sample received in the downhole tool, using a second mass analyzer of the downhole tool to stabilize the ions isolated by the first mass analyzer, and using a third mass analyzer of the downhole tool to catalog the stabilized ions.

In a classical quadrupole mass spectrometer, molecules are bombarded by high energy electrons, resulting in the fragmentation of the molecular ions. These fragments are very similar to each other, where respective intensities can help to discriminate the original molecules through the use of a spectrum superposition technique.
In the case of mud gas logging, methane is a major contributor to the mud content. This gas is typically used as a chemical reagent for chemical ionization. At the spectrum level and in the presence of methane, a single peak contribution can come from electron ionization induced ions and chemically generated ions. With a large number of molecules, it can be difficult to reduce the uncertainty of the molecule composition in the original mud sample with the fragments originating from multiple molecules, even from isomers of these molecules.


A pair of split-gate fin field effect transistors (finFETs) in an IC, each containing a signal gate and a control gate, in which an adjustable voltage source, preferably in the form of a digital-to-analog-converter (DAC), is connected to the control gate of one of the finFETs, is disclosed. Threshold measurement circuits on the signal gates enable a threshold adjustment voltage from the adjustable voltage source to reduce the threshold mismatch between the finFETs. Adding a second DAC to the second finFET allows a simpler DAC design. Threshold correction may be performed during the operational life of the IC. Implementations in a differential input stage of an amplifier and in a current mirror circuit are described.

This invention relates to the field of semiconductor devices, such as integrated circuits, and their fabrications. More particularly, this invention relates to methods and devices to alleviate degradation of transistors in integrated circuits.
It is well known that metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistors in integrated circuits (ICs) undergo performance degradation during operation. P-channel MOS (PMOS) transistors are subject to negative bias temperature instability (NBTI) mechanisms and other PMOS degradation mechanisms, while n-channel MOS (NMOS) transistors are subject to hot carrier mechanisms and other NMOS degradation mechanisms, resulting in reduced on-state current, shifted threshold voltages and increased off-state leakage current. Analog circuits which depend on transistor pairs with closely matched voltage-current relationships may suffer performance loss and possibly malfunction if sufficient degradation shifts occur. Methods of compensating for performance parameter mismatch are frequently limited to initial adjustments, and cannot alleviate subsequent performance shifts.

Degradation correction for finFET circuits


Apparatus for monitoring the length of a fine wire tail made after the second bond of a fine wire interconnection includes a continuity circuit and a wire bond monitoring system (WBMS) in an automatic wire bonder. The Z axis position of the bonding tool is sensed to determined the height of the bonding tool on second bond and at the time the fine wire breaks from second bond. The monitoring circuit determines if the wire clamps are initiated and when and if the electronic flame-off control is fired. Logic circuit in the WBMS determine if wire tail after second bond is of a proper length to make a ball on the wire tail and if not, what remedial measures must be made to avoid damage to the semiconductor device being bonded.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system for monitoring the conditions of a fine wire bonded interconnection and more particularly to a monitoring system which detects the presence and length of a wire tail employed to make a ball in preparation for making proper wire bonded interconnections.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Automatic wire bonders that employ computer controls are known and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,266,710 and 4,239,144 assigned to Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc., the same assignee as the present invention. Such high speed automatic wire bonders are capable of making eight complete wire interconnections per second. If the fine wire used to make these interconnections breaks improperly and/or is not properly fed through the bonding tool, a tail of proper length is not positioned below the working face of the bonding tool at the time a ball is made in preparation for the next interconnection. Both wedge bonders and ball bonders require a tail of proper length in order to continue to make proper bonds. Numerous problems occur which can cause a fine wire to be missing, too short or too long which will effect the ball size which is produced by an electronic flame off (EFO) device.
Very large scale integration (VLSI) devices are becoming more dense and are employing a greater number of lead out pads (electrodes) that must be wire bonded to lead connections on carriers or packages. As a result of the more dense devices, the lead out pads are becoming smaller and more fragile and the VLSI devices are becoming more expensive. When an automatic wire bonder attempts to bond a fine wire to a lead out pad and there is no fine wire, or no ball under the working face of the bonding tool, the bonding tool makes direct contact with the lead out pad and can easily destroy the pad and the very expensive VLSI device on the attempt to make the next wire bond interconnection.
Accordingly, it is becoming increasingly important to provide an apparatus and a method of monitoring the length and presence of a bonding tail that is made by an automatic wire bonder after the second bond of a fine wire interconnection to prevent the bonding tool from attempting to make a first or ball bond without a proper size ball under the working face of the bonding tool.


A vehicle communication network device includes a transceiver configured to communicatively couple with a remote transceiver of another vehicle communication network device via a wired media and processing circuitry coupled to the transceiver. The device detects interference on the wired media that exceeds an interference threshold level. Upon the detection, the device enters a quiet mode during which no data is transmitted on the wired media. After exiting the quiet mode, the device enters an idle mode during which known data is transmitted on the wired media and during which the device receives known data from the remote transceiver. The device retrains its transceiver based upon the known data and after retraining the transceiver, exchanges data with the remote transceiver. The device may also buffer data for transmission, upon the detection, determine buffered data that was likely corrupted by the interference, and after retraining, retransmit the determined buffered data.

1. Technical Field
This disclosure relates generally to communications and more particularly to data and multimedia communications within a vehicle.
2. Description of Related Art
As is known, a vehicle (e.g., automobile, truck, bus, an agricultural vehicle, ship, and/or aircraft) includes a vehicle communication network. The complexity of the vehicle communication network varies depending on the number and complexity of electronic devices within the vehicle. For example, advanced vehicles include electronic modules for engine control, transmission control, antilock braking, body control, emissions control, etc. To support the various electronic devices within the vehicle, the automotive industry has generated numerous communication protocols.
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a prior art vehicular communication network that illustrates the various bus protocols and the electronic devices that utilize such protocols. The bus protocols include: (1) J1850 and/or OBDII, which are typically used for vehicle diagnostic electronic components; (2) Intellibus, which is typically used for electronic engine control, transmission control or other vehicle systems such as climate control, and it may also be used for drive-by-wire electronic control units (ECU); (3) high-speed controller area network (CAN), which is typically used for braking systems and engine management systems; (4) distributed system interface (DSI) and/or Bosch-Siemens-Temic (BST), which is typically used for safety related electronic devices; (5) byteflight, which is typically used for safety critical electronic device applications; (6) local interconnect network (LIN), which is typically used for intelligent actuators and/or intelligent sensors; (7) low-speed controller area network (CAN) and/or Motorola® interconnect (MI), which are typically used for low-speed electronic devices such as Windows, minors, seats and/or climate control; (8) mobile media link (MML), domestic digital data (D2B), smartwireX, inter-equipment bus (IEBus), and/or media oriented systems transport (MOST), which are typically used to support multimedia electronic devices within a vehicle such as a audio head unit and amplifiers, CD player, a DVD player, a cellular connection, a Bluetooth connection, peripheral computer connections, rear seat entertainment (RSE) units, a radio, digital storage, and/or a GPS navigation system; (9) Low-Voltage Differential Signaling (LVDS), which are typically used to support heads up display, instrument panel displays, other digital displays, driver assist digital video cameras, and (10) FlexRay, which may be used for safety critical features and/or by-wire applications.
Not only are the multiple communication networks within the vehicle complex, but they also typically require separate wiring for each group of devices that share common protocol(s). A typical vehicle includes 400 to 600 pounds of wiring, which makes wiring the second heaviest component in a vehicle; the engine is the heaviest. Integrating the multiple vehicle communication networks into fewer networks is desirable not only for reduction in complexity but also to reduce wiring needs. Unfortunately, reduction in wiring and using lower cost wiring makes the vehicular communication network(s) more susceptible to Electro Magnetic Interference (EMI), which adversely affects intra-vehicle communications and vehicle reliability.

Fast detection/mitigation and recovery for severe EMI conditions in automotive area networks


A motor vehicle propulsion system includes an electrical energy source and a traction motor coupled to receive electrical energy from the electrical energy source. The system also has a first bus provided electrical energy by the electrical energy source and a second bus of relatively lower voltage than the first bus. In addition, the system includes an electrically-driven source of reaction gas for the electrical energy source, the source of reaction gas coupled to receive electrical energy from the first bus. Also, the system has an electrical storage device coupled to the second bus for storing electrical energy at the lower voltage. The system also includes a bidirectional energy converter coupled to convert electrical energy from the first bus to the second bus and from the second bus to the first bus.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to propulsion systems for motor vehicles, and more particularly to electrically-propelled vehicles.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an electric vehicle which employs a fuel cell for its electric power, a concern arises regarding start-up of the fuel cell. Typically, reaction air is provided to the fuel cell by a turbocompressor driven in part by exhaust gases from the fuel cell's operation and in part by an electric motor. For optimal efficiency and reduced packaging size, it is advantageous for the compressor's motor to be a high-voltage device coupled to the relatively-high voltage output of the fuel cell. However, when the fuel cell is to undergo start-up, the fuel cell is not yet providing electrical energy or exhaust gas sufficient to operate the compressor. Without a compressor operating at sufficient capacity, the fuel cell will not have reaction air sufficient for start-up.
Several methods for providing reaction air to the fuel cell might be tried. For example, a supply of compressed air could be carried onboard the vehicle.
That compressed air could be used to start the fuel cell. However, such a supply of compressed air would have disadvantages regarding packaging in the vehicle.
Another method for providing reaction air at startup would be to provide high-voltage electrical energy storage on the high voltage bus of the vehicle (where the compressor would also most advantageously reside). Such stored electrical energy could power the compressor for start-up. However, providing high voltage storage for this singular purpose would be disadvantageous both for cost and packaging.
A typical vehicle having a high-voltage drive portion, such as a vehicle powered by a fuel cell, will still have a 12-volt portion which includes the traditional electrical accessories on a vehicle. This 12-volt portion would have a battery for energy storage and would be supplied electrical energy by a DC-to-DC downconverter from the high voltage bus. Yet another method for providing reaction air at start-up would be through the use of a DC-to-DC upconverter which would convert voltage from the 12-volt battery to high voltage for the compressor at start-up. After a very short start-up period (typically only about 20 seconds), this upconverter would not be used. Although workable, this is a cost- and packaging-inefficient use of the additional hardware represented by the DC-to-DC upconverter.
Therefore, a design which will overcome start-up difficulties with fuel-cell-propelled vehicles and which will do so in a cost-effective and packaging efficient manner will provide advantages over alternative designs.

Propulsion system for a motor vehicle using a bidirectional energy converter


A solar energy absorbing device for melting snow from an inclined roof includes a plurality of interconnected elements which form a non-planar geometric structure wherein at least one of the interconnected elements is fabricated of a solar absorptive material and further where the geometric structure remains stationary when placed on an inclined roof of a building.

The present invention relates to snow removal systems for inclined roofs, and in particular to a removable thermal energy absorbing device to hasten the melting of snow on an inclined roof.
Many buildings and especially residences are constructed with inclined roofs. Depending upon the particular design and construction, the inclination or pitch of the roof can range from shallow to steep, and are typically covered with overlapping shingles to prevent water from entering the roof and seeping into the underlying structure. A shingled pitched roof is generally quite effective in preventing water from entering the underlying structure during rain storms and other inclement weather.
Winter months in many climates is evidenced by freezing temperatures and precipitation occurring in the form of snow. Depending upon the temperature, consistency of the snow, wind, and the pitch of the building roof, snow may tend to accumulate on roofs which have a relatively shallow pitch. The snow accumulation on a roof will remain there until it is either removed or it melts. Removal of snow from a roof is typically a hazardous operation requiring someone to climb upon the roof and shovel the snow off. Typically, building occupants and owners wait until the snow melts from direct solar radiation or from rising surrounding air temperatures.
Natural thawing of the snow from the roof does not occur all at once, consequently the snow on the roof is subjected to cycles of freezing and thawing. The freezing and thawing cycles tend to create an ice dam at the lower portions of the roof such that the ice dam tends to trap water behind it and not allow the water to drain off the roof. The trapped water will then often "wick" back underneath the overlapping portion of the shingles and enter the building through small gaps or cracks in the roof structure under the shingles. Such entry of water into the underlying structure can cause damage to interior walls and ceilings and decrease the efficiency of insulation when the insulation becomes waterlogged.
Thus, there is a need to facilitate and hasten the melting of snow from the roof without requiring the building occupant or owner to climb upon the roof to shovel the snow therefrom. By hastening the melting and removal of the snow from the roof, the potential for ice dams and water backing up underneath the shingles is greatly reduced. Heretofore, systems to facilitate and speed the melting of snow from the roof have required the permanent installation of the system to the roof. These permanent systems have certain drawbacks and disadvantages, particularly with respect to the need to incorporate the system along the entire length of the roof thereby incurring a permanent presence of the system on the roof even during summer months and detracting from the aesthetics of the building.

Solar energy absorbing device for melting snow from an inclined roof


An apparatus and method for adjusting the output level of audio data to be reproduced can adjust any one of audio files of different types to a consistent or reference level prior to amplifying at a desired level (e.g., user selected volume). Therefore, digital audio systems and methods according to embodiments of the present invention can reproduce audio files of various types such as an MP3 audio type, MPEG2 audio type and AC3 audio type, and the output level of audio data to be reproduced of each of the audio files can be adjusted to a value corresponding to an audio volume level set by a user, which can prevent or reduce the output levels of the audio data from becoming different because of audio recording levels and recording formats of the audio files set in creation or recording processes thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for adjusting the output level of audio data to be reproduced in a digital audio system.
2. Background of the Related Art
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a related art digital audio system. Various digital audio systems, for example, a portable terminal such as an MP3 player, a portable computer, and a personal computer, each include an audio source 10, an audio codec 11, an audio controller 12 and an audio amplifier 13.
The audio source 10 is a recording medium for recording/storing audio files of various types such as an MP3 audio type, MPEG2 audio type and AC3 audio type, which may be, for example, an optical disc, hard disc or memory. The audio codec 11 decodes an audio file read from the audio source 10 into the original audio data to be reproduced and outputs the decoded audio data to the audio amplifier 13, or encodes external input audio data into an audio file so that the encoded audio file can be recorded in the audio source 10.
The audio controller 12 is adapted to control the encoding and decoding operations of the audio codec 11, and adjust the gain of the audio amplifier 13 based on an audio volume level set by a user. The audio amplifier 13 acts to amplify the audio data to be reproduced, outputted from the audio codec 11, at the adjusted gain and output the amplified audio data to a speaker.
Thus, the user of the related art digital audio system, configured and operated as described above, can download and store desired audio files of various types into the audio source 10, or encode external input audio data into an audio file of a predetermined specific format and record the encoded audio file in the audio source 10. Also, the user can play a desired one of the various types of audio files stored in the audio source 10, and listen to the played audio file at a desired audio output level by adjusting an audio volume key.
However, as described above, the related art digital audio system has various disadvantages. For example, the various types of audio files stored in the audio source 10 may not be uniform in their output levels because of their audio recording levels and recording formats set in their creation or recording processes. For at least this reason, the audio amplifier 13 may output audio data to be reproduced to the speaker at different output levels. In an example shown in FIG. 2, the user may sequentially play an MP3 audio file, MPEG2 audio file and AC3 audio file stored in the audio source 10 under the condition of adjusting the audio volume level to a value appropriate to the MP3 audio file. In this case, the output levels of the MPEG2 audio file and AC3 audio file played successively subsequently to the MP3 audio file may be different from that of the MP3 audio file because of their respective audio recording levels and recording formats set in the creation or recording processes. Accordingly, there occurs user inconvenience in having to adjust the audio volume level again.
The above references are incorporated by reference herein where appropriate for appropriate teachings of additional or alternative details, features and/or technical background.

Apparatus and method for adjusting output level of audio data to be reproduced


Vending accommodation and accessibility is described in connection with completing transactions by a machine. In certain aspects, the method includes entering an accommodation mode based on a user selection, displaying an accommodation menu comprising at least one selection button and a list of items available for vending, and announcing a selected item of the list of items available for vending. In other aspects, the method includes determining whether an item has been selected for vending based on touching at least one selection button according to instructions to a relative position of the selection button on a display screen. When determining that an item has been selected for vending, the method further includes prompting for payment to complete a transaction for the item.

Vending machines store and sell products without the need for a salesperson to complete a sales transaction. Some vending machines include a display window through which products available for purchase are visible by customers. In operation, a purchaser identifies a selection input such as a selection button or product number corresponding to a desired product, for example, by looking through the display window. After identifying the desired product, the purchaser tenders payment to the vending machine and provides a selection input to operate the machine. Upon tender of full payment and selection of the product via the selection input, the vending machine deposits the selected product into a vending tray by one of various mechanical means for vending the product.
Generally, it is desirable to engineer vending machines so that any purchaser may easily use the machine to make a product purchase. For example, it is desirable to engineer vending machines for use by both children and adults. The design of vending machines may further include considerations based on the needs of those having disabilities such as hearing or visual impairments. Particularly, vending machines should be designed to accommodate persons that are visually impaired, because it may be especially difficult to use the machine without the ability to see the products available for purchase or read the provided instructions.
In the context of vending machine design, it would be desirable if a vending machine were designed especially to account for assisting those persons with a disability. Particularly, it would be desirable for a vending machine to include design characteristics that aid persons with disabilities to make purchases of products available for vending.


Disclosed are systems and methods for polynucleotide sequencing where detection and correction of base calling errors can be achieved without reliance on a reference sequence. In certain embodiments, redundant information can be introduced during measurement so as to allow such detection of errors. Such redundant information and measurements can be facilitated by encoding of nucleotide sequence being measured. Various examples of such encoding, redundancy introduction, and decoding are provided.

In certain DNA sequencing systems, identities of nucleotides of a sample can be determined by identifying complementary nucleotides that hybridize to or pair or otherwise match with nucleotides of the sample. One or more of such complementary nucleotides may be part of a probe or probe set that can be used to test or interrogate the sample nucleotide sequence.
Typically, probes include a detectable feature such as chemical or physical features that can be identified under suitable conditions. As an example, dyes that fluoresce or otherwise emit an optical signal under suitable conditions can be used as detectable features. By detecting the feature (e.g., the fluorescence of a dye), information about the probe, and thus the portion of the sample where the probe hybridizes, pairs, or matches can be obtained.
Errors and ambiguities can be introduced or otherwise occur at or during various stages of sequencing and sequencing-related operations and processes. In certain situations, it can be impossible to even know that an error has occurred or an ambiguity exists. While it may in some situations be possible to resolve ambiguity or distinguish an error from correct but unusual or unexpected sequence information such as single nucleotide polymorphism, determining whether the sequence information is ambiguous, correct, or erroneous can typically only be detected by comparison of the sequence information with a reference. Further, even if the putative sequencing error or ambiguity is identified as a true error or ambiguity, there is often no mechanism or capability to correct the error or ambiguity without having to repeat some or all of the measurements.

Systems and methods for error correction in DNA sequencing


An airbag device attached to a vehicle body frame member and covered by a garnish is configured such that when a bag body is deployed, the airbag device pushes out the garnish to create a gap between the garnish and the vehicle body frame member to allow the bag body to be inflated out of the gap. A clip for securing the garnish to the vehicle body frame member includes a first member configured to be fixed to the vehicle body frame member, a second member configured to be fixed to the garnish, and a connecting member for keeping the first member and the second member connected when the airbag is deployed. The first member and the second member are provided with a first inclined planar surface and a second inclined planar surface, respectively, that are slidable relative to each other.

A clip for securing a garnish to a vehicle body frame member such as a front pillar and a roof rail is known. For allowing a curtain airbag which is normally received between the vehicle body frame member and the garnish to be deployed in a smooth manner, the clip is configured to deform (extend) under a load from the garnish which is pushed out by the inflating airbag so as to create a gap between the vehicle body frame member and the garnish (see Patent Document 1, for example).
The clip disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a pin member fixed to the vehicle body pillar, and a base member fixed to the garnish. The main body of the pin member is normally engaged by the base member, but when the airbag is deployed, the engagement is released so that the clip is extended in length until the free end of a stroke part (leg part) extending from the main body of the pin member is engaged by the base member, and a gap for allowing the bag body to be inflated is thereby created between the vehicle body pillar and the garnish. The base member is formed with a recess for receiving a part of the main body of the main body of the pin member and a part of the stroke part under normal condition, and a part of the recess is provided with an inclined surface for guiding the movement of the base member away from the main body of the pin member when the air bag is deployed.


In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a communication interface to communicate over a network, and a processor. The processor is to: receive a workload provisioning request from a user, wherein the workload provisioning request comprises information associated with a workload, a network topology, and a plurality of potential hardware choices for deploying the workload over the network topology; receive hardware performance information for the plurality of potential hardware choices from one or more hardware providers; generate a task dependency graph associated with the workload; generate a device connectivity graph associated with the network topology; select, based on the task dependency graph and the device connectivity graph, one or more hardware choices from the plurality of potential hardware choices; and provision a plurality of resources for deploying the workload over the network topology, wherein the plurality of resources are provisioned based on the one or more hardware choices.

Deploying workloads in a distributed computing system has become a ubiquitous yet daunting task. Accordingly, before deploying or scaling workloads, many users ask their hardware providers to provide hardware recommendations for specific deployments of specific workloads and/or applications. The major challenge of this practice, however, lies in the blindness of users and hardware providers with respect to each other's confidential and/or proprietary information. For example, many users do not share their workloads with hardware providers, or they only share their workloads as "blackboxes" rather than "whiteboxes." Moreover, many hardware providers do not share hardware resource capacity and performance measures for workloads unless they are fully optimized, but optimizing every workload beforehand is unrealistic.
This "blindness" creates a dilemma with respect to evaluating and recommending hardware for workload deployment and resource provisioning purposes. For example, it is challenging to identify the optimal computing hardware for a workload without having information regarding the workload implementation as well as the hardware performance capabilities. Moreover, this becomes even more challenging in a distributed edge-to-cloud deployment due to the outstanding degrees of freedom in optimization.

Automated resource provisioning using double-blinded hardware recommendations


An insert for use in the fabrication of a watercraft hull to form an inboard/outboard propulsion system passageway. The design of the insert incorporates a semi-rigid body having an inboard surface, an outboard surface, and sidewalls interconnecting the surfaces. The semi-rigid nature of the body facilitates the insert fitting tightly with the build up of laminate layers forming a watercraft hull while maintain dimensional stability during the manufacture of the hull. The insert is further configured to be easily removed from the completed watercraft hull to reveal the finished inboard/outboard propulsion system passageway.

Conventional watercraft, such as recreational powerboats and the like, often generate movement using an inboard/outboard (I/O) propulsion system. These I/O propulsion systems incorporate a stern drive component that typically includes a motor (e.g., a combustion engine), tilt components (e.g., gimbal unit and pivot housing) and an outdrive having a propeller. An opening or passageway is formed in the transom of the watercraft hull so that the stern drive component may be extended therethrough and mounted with the watercraft.
Complicating the formation of the transom opening is the typical lay-up that forms the watercraft hull. This lay-up includes a number of laminate layers, such as a glass reinforced resin shell and various core materials including plywood, glass reinforced cast composites, and other materials. Cutting and/or drilling through these types of laminate layers to form the transom opening has proven to be quite difficult and time consuming with traditional hand tools; an accurately formed transom opening is therefore hard to achieve. A more precise transom opening outline may sometimes be realized by using automated cutting equipment, but this equipment is often cost prohibitive and requires substantial training to use properly.
One proposed solution is to form the transom opening by using a reusable cast metal insert, such as one made of aluminum. In this method, the insert is shaped to form the transom opening as a watercraft hull is molded around the perimeter of the insert. In a first step, the insert is attached to a molding tool such that one face of the insert faces inboard and an opposing face of the insert faces outboard with respect to the watercraft hull being formed thereon. Then, a shell layer of the hull is molded onto the molding tool and surrounding the perimeter of the insert. It would seem intuitive at this point just to build the remaining laminate layers onto the shell layer around the insert perimeter, detach the insert from the molding tool, and demold the laminate layers forming the finished watercraft hull from the molding tool (and the insert from the hull) to reveal the transom opening in the hull. However, the rigidity of the metal insert does not promote a tight fit between the insert and the molding tool surface. This allows gel coat or other coatings applied to the layer surfaces to promote lamination thereof to flow between the molding tool and the insert, thereby encapsulating the insert and making removal of the insert and hull from the tool without damaging the hull (and thus damaging the transom opening) very difficult. Also, the lack of a tight fit between the insert and the molding tool facilitates the formation of air voids when the coatings are applied, which impair the structural soundness of the hull and are difficult to remove.
To solve the problems associated with using the cast metal insert, a raised, curved surface made of clay or wax is formed onto the exposed perimeter of the insert once the insert is installed with the moldling tool. This forms a tighter seal between the insert and the molding tool surface such that the coatings do not pass to the lateral edges of the layers when building up the watercraft hull. Additionally, though, a release agent is usually required to be applied to the perimeter of the case metal insert to thereby form a release film, in order to prevent the laminate from sticking to the insert. Release agents, unfortunately, do not perform ideally when applied to an essentially rigid metal insert. Such agents often form a release film with air voids and damaged spots, resulting in the insert bonding to the molding tool surface and thereby impeding the removal of the insert to expose the finished transom opening.

Insert for forming a stern drive passageway in a watercraft


A control valve (10) includes a valve body with a plurality of ports (A, B, C, D, E, F) and a plurality of annular flow passages (53, 55, 57). A piston (34) which includes a plurality of annular flow passages and a longitudinal flow passage is selectively movable within a bore (32) within the valve body through operation of a valve controller (70). The valve controller is selectively operative to control the position of the piston so as to enable liquid flow through a plurality of flow paths. The valve controller further includes a installable and removable valve controller housing (74) which is releasably engageable with a valve base (72). The valve may include a changeable piston and changeable injector and plug components to adapt the valve to different flow and fluid mixing requirements.

Valve and system arrangements for controlling the flow of liquids may have numerous different forms. In situations where the liquid is required to be selectively directed to multiple different flow paths, such arrangements can be complex. Additional complexity may arise when different flow sequences and flow paths are required in connection with different process steps involving a liquid. Further complexity arises when liquids are required to be mixed with other fluids in connection with carrying out process flows.
Valve and system arrangements may benefit from improvements.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A hazardous condition detector system for a dwelling structure made up of independent detectors each capable of sensing the presence of a hazardous condition at its location, generating a local alarm and communicating, via a transmitted rf signal, the presence of a hazardous condition to other like detectors that receive such communication and to responsively generate their respective alarms.

The use of conventional independent hazardous condition (e.g., carbon monoxide gas "CO" or combustion gases or particles, commonly known as "smoke") detectors throughout a dwelling structure is promoted as an accepted and desirable safety feature that facilitates an effective warning for the occupants of the structure. CO and smoke detector devices are readily available in most hardware and department stores at fairly reasonable cost. They are simple to install in various rooms of a dwelling. Although some units require connection to the electrical system of a dwelling for power, other units carry their own independent battery power sources. These detectors have become very popular and are commonly used. Each such detector monitors a condition, such as the ambient air in the case of CO or smoke detectors, in its respective local area and only the individual detector that senses a hazardous condition generates an alarm, a local alarm indication. Whenever one unit is activated other detectors in remote locations of the dwelling are not affected. An activated detector can warn the occupants of a dwelling within hearing distance of the activated detector when the alarm is audible, and within sighting distance when the alarm is a flashing light. While safety officials have continued to promote the use of these inexpensive independently powered units and encourage their use in every room in a dwelling structure, there is one important shortcoming of this type of alarm system: communication.
The problem with conventional independent hazardous condition detectors is that a detection of smoke or CO in one room of a house is not necessarily communicated to all the occupants of the dwelling at the very time it should be communicated. For instance, an audible alarm generated by an activated independent smoke detector located in a basement furnace room of a house may not be heard by occupants in second or third floor bedrooms. This is especially so at night where people sleep in bedrooms with closed doors. Even if other detectors are located in the various bedrooms and at the head of each stairway leading to those bedrooms, there is no contemporaneous warning communicated to the occupants. Only later, when the smoke seeps through the house in sufficient concentration is it sensed by one of those other detectors near the bedrooms and warning is given that alerts the nearby occupants. By this time, the dwelling may be so consumed in smoke or flames that the later alarm may not provide sufficient time for the occupants to escape safely.
Similarly, an alarm provided by an activated detector in a closed bedroom may not be heard or otherwise detected by occupants in other rooms soon enough to rescue those in the bedroom containing the activated detector.
Integrated systems for fire and smoke detection are known, in which several remote sensors are wire connected to a central control station within the dwelling. The central control station controls the activation of one or more distributed alarm devices when a hazardous condition is detected at any sensor location. That type of system can be configured to activate any or all alarm devices within its control and is therefore more desirable than the aforementioned system made up of conventional independent detectors. However, an integrated system requires extensive wiring to interconnect the control station to the various sensors and alarm devices located at various locations throughout the dwelling structure. An integrated system is usually installed during construction of a dwelling structure, in order to conceal the wires within the walls. If a building is retrofitted for such a system, the choice is to leave the wires exposed or proceed with the highly labor intensive process of routing the wires through existing walls and floors. In any event, the cost of the components utilized and the skilled labor involved to install such an integrated system is known to be relatively expensive and therefore not readily affordable by most consumers. In addition, an integrated system can only be expanded for additional coverage by running more wires to each newly monitored or alarmed locations.

Communicating hazardous condition detector


A positive displacement pump for pumping a fluid mastic comprises a plurality of cylinders each having a piston arranged for reciprocal motion within the cylinder. Movement of the piston in a first direction draws the fluid into the cylinder and movement in a second, opposite direction pumps the fluid out of the cylinder. A variable speed electric motor is drivingly coupled to a cam arrangement providing a reciprocating drive to the pistons. The cam arrangement comprises cams shaped and arranged to drive each piston in the first direction over less than half of a rotational cycle and to drive each piston in the second direction over the remainder of the rotational cycle. The cams are arranged to drive the pistons out of phase with one another.

Mastic materials are used increasingly as sealants in product manufacturing facilities, particularly in automotive manufacturing. Typically the mastic material will be applied to a product (e.g. parts of a vehicle) as the product is moved through different stages in the manufacturing process, for example at different stations on a production line. When required to apply the mastic, an operator will simply reach for a mastic application gun, which is connected to an off-take on a mastic circuit that is supplied with the mastic at a high pressure. The high pressure is provided by a pump. Conventionally, the pumps used have been hydraulic or pneumatic positive displacement pumps.
However, because mastics are very thick and viscous, the capacity and pressure available from conventional pumps has meant that the circuits have to be short such that the mastic pumps and the reservoirs of the mastic materials being pumped have hitherto had to be located close to the stations where the off-takes are located. A further problem is that the fluids tend to thicken, and may even solidify if left stationary for too long a time, such as overnight or at a week-end when the plant is not being used. On large production lines, these problems have meant that a large number of mastic pumping circuits have been installed close to the points where the mastic is used, with a correspondingly large number of pumps and storage vessels (reservoirs).
Another problem with the pumping of mastics in these situations has been difficulty in operating the pump at very low speeds when only a small amount of mastic is being used, while still delivering the pressure required.
Similar problems can arise with other high viscosity fluids, such as epoxy materials or other types of adhesive.
This invention has therefore been conceived to provide a pump that overcomes or alleviates the foregoing problems.


A pattern memory circuit for an integrated circuit testing apparatus. The time consumed for diagnosis in the conventional testing apparatus which uses a CPU is reduced by performing test pattern memory checking using hardware in accordance with the present invention. The test pattern file in a pattern memory escapes from the area to be tested to another area of the pattern memory and the test is performed and upon completion of the test the file returns to the original area.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pattern memory circuit for an integrated circuit testing apparatus.
2. Prior Art
When a fault in an integrated circuit testing apparatus, especially a functional fault as appearing as an abnormalcy in the waveform of its input or output signal, is found, the test is interrupted and the abnormalcy is checked by using an independent sequence program for checking pattern memory operation. However, as the contents of the test pattern are rewritten by the memory checking it is required to cause the actual test pattern data to take temporary shelter to a CPU and, after completion of the memory check, the test pattern data are transferred back to the test pattern memory.
Next, a construction of the conventional pattern memory circuit for integrated circuit testing apparatus will be described by making reference to FIG. 6. In this figure, 1 is CPU, 2 is an address generating circuit, 3 is a data generating circuit, 9 is a comparator and 11 is a pattern memory.
In operation of the pattern memory circuit of FIG. 6, a sequence program for memory checking is written in the CPU 1 beforehand and, during a write mode, any desired address is given from the CPU 1 to the address generating circuit 2. The address generating circuit 2 receives the given address and supplies it to input terminal of the pattern memory 11. The data generating circuit 3 receives a data from the CPU 1 and supplies it to a data input terminal of the pattern memory 11. The data is written in the pattern memory 11 at the designated address.
Next, during a read mode, a desired address of the pattern memory 11 from which the data is to be read out is given from the CPU 1 to the address generating circuit 2, which, in turn, gives the address to the pattern memory 11 as an address input. The pattern memory read out a date from the given address and sends it to the comparator 9. The data generating circuit 3 is given an expected data from the CPU 1 and sends it to the the comparator 9, in which the output data of the pattern memory and the expected data are compared with each other and the comparator makes a decision as to whether the pattern memory 11 is consistent or not.

Pattern memory circuit for integrated circuit testing apparatus


The temperatures of the primary carrier gas supplied to a coal pulverizer and the fuel stream discharged from the pulverizer are controlled to keep the fuel stream temperature within a predetermined safe and efficient operating range regardless of the rate at which coal is fed to the pulverizer. A carrier gas temperature versus coal feed schedule is established and used for temperature control. If fuel stream temperature departs from the predetermined operating range, the established schedule is automatically corrected.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the operation of a mill and particularly the exercise of control over a roller mill employed in a fuel feed system of a fuel consuming load such as a steam generator. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a temperature control system for a roller mill which produces, from coal and pressurized gas feeds, a fuel stream comprising coal dust entrained in a carrier gas. Accordingly, the general objects of the present invention are to provide novel and improved methods and apparatus of such character.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is well known in the art to fuel steam generators, vaporizers and other fossile fuel consuming loads by delivering thereto a highly volatile mixture of coal dust entrained by a carrier gas. Such fuel mixtures are produced in roller mills which receive "raw" coal and pressurized air. In the operation of a roller mill, it is known to automatically regulate the amount of coal fed into the mill as a function of the steam generator load. Controls for achieving such coal feed regulation, while at the same time insuring safe mill operation, have typically operated by controlling the volume of carrier gas in accordance with pre-calculated ratios of coal to primary feed air. Safe mill operation requires, in addition to maintaining the appropriate coal/air ratio, that the temperature of the fuel stream exiting the roller mill be maintained within safe limits. This requisite temperature control is accomplished by mixing cold air with the "hot" or primary air delivered to the mill.
A disclosure of a prior art mill having a temperature safety control at the mill outlet is disclosed in the brochure entitled "SUHUSSELMUHLEN/BOWL MILLS" Publication No. 3000-KO 4.88, Page 10.
Prior art mill control apparatus and techniques have not been altogether satisfactory. One particular disadvantage of known roller mill controls, of the type briefly described above, resides in the fact that the air-control valves have a delayed reaction. Restated, employing previous control technology, the mill cannot respond quickly when the rate of change of the steam generator load is high. The conventional method of overcoming this disadvantage is to override the mill control. However, this solution presents the possibility of local overheating in the steam generator or other device to which the pulverized coal/air mixture is being delivered.
It is to be noted that prior art roller mill controls have also contributed to noisy mill operation and have, because of the ability to safely respond to only relatively small load gradients, imposed a limitation upon mill capacity. A further problem related to prior art control techniques has been the discharge of excess coal through pyrite ejection.


A cup for persons with tremors, or other difficulty holding the cup steady, has a lid with an opening from which to drink, to prevent spilling or splashing. The lid is removably attached by a strap or band to the neck or rim of the associated cup. The cup, lid, and strap are all formed of a durable, food-grade plastic material. The strap has a ring that fits over the neck of the cup and can be rotated on and off. This arrangement allows the cup and lid to remain attached through a wash cycle and during storage.

This invention relates to beverage containers, of the type that may include sip cups or sipper cups, which have a lid with a sip spout to limit the flow of liquid for a individuals drinking from the cup. The invention is more specifically concerned with washable and reusable cups that facilitate keeping the mating lid with the associated cup, so that the lid and cup remain together through washing and storage.
The invention is particularly concerned with a sip cup intended for individuals that have a swallowing difficulty. These persons are often found in an elder care facility or an assisted care residence. A problem can arise in these facilities when the lids get separated from the drink containers in the kitchen area, and the one that fits a given cup often is not found. Currently the lids get lost or discarded, and as a result the persons with swallowing difficulty are given a cup with no lid. Use of an open cup when use of a sip cup has been recommended can result in swallowing problems such as aspirating of the liquid, choking, or worse.
Other individuals who may not have swallowing problems but have difficulty in holding a drink cup because of shaking issues, e.g., Parkinson's disease sufferers, may require a lid for their drink cups to avoid splashing or spilling, but do not need a sip lid. However, the same problem arises that there are not always lids available because they have been lost.
Current sip cups do not have separate lids that are attached to the cup. The lids themselves are lightweight, too light to be washed in a typical institutional dishwasher and stay in the location they are placed. The lids are often moved off the rack by the surging water during the wash and rinse cycles, and these can end up near the heating elements where they are destroyed by heat during the drying cycle. The lids can also be lost or damaged for many other reasons.
For many individuals with swallowing problems, e.g., dysphagia, the use of sip cups is imperative for maintaining swallowing safety and for preventing patients from aspirating or choking The main purpose of the sip cup, from the standpoint of a speech-language pathologist, is to help control the size of the sip that an individual can take. Sip cups are also used for individuals exhibiting an uncontrollable tremor, e.g., individuals with Parkinson's disease, who may spill drinks frequently, but in many cases these patients do not have the same swallowing problems, and can be given a cup with a simple drink opening instead of a spout.
The care providers, e.g., nurses, and non-clinical staff members, e.g., nurses' aids, often do not understand the importance of providing individuals with covered sip cups as recommended by speech pathologists and occupational therapists. When no lids are available, these care providers often provide drinks to the individual in cups with no sip cup lid. This inadvertently places the patient at risk for possible aspiration, which may result in aspiration pneumonia or choking, which may result in serious injury or death. Moreover, because they lack an understanding of the purpose and importance of the use of sip cups for patients with dysphagia, staff members and family members alike often dispose of the sip cup lids, creating an increasing shortage.
This problem appears to be system wide, and not simply a problem that appears in a few scattered hospitals or care facilities.
Ideally, individuals will be provided with sip cups several times a day, i.e., for medication passes, nourishment passes (morning and afternoon), at three meals each day, and any other time in which one of those individuals may wish to have a beverage during the day. Lack of the appropriate equipment places every affected patient at high risk for medical complications. In addition, the failure to have sip cups available can place the facility itself at risk of non-compliance with government health department inspections, specifically for being out of compliance with a physician's order, or speech therapist's or occupational therapist's recommendations.
For some patients without swallowing problems but who may have difficulty in holding a drink cup steady, drink cups with lids that have a simple opening in the lid, but not sip spouts, may be required. Here, the lid is needed because of spilling or splashing issues. In these cases also cups are often missing their lids because the lids have become separated from the cups and then lost.

Cup and lid for persons with drink difficulties