The present invention relates to a method for forming a ceramic coating having improved plasma resistance and a ceramic coating formed thereby. The present invention discloses the method for forming the ceramic coating having improved plasma resistance and the ceramic coating formed thereby, comprising the steps of: receiving, from a powder supply portion, a plurality of ceramic powders having a first powder particle size range, and transporting the powders using a transport gas; and forming a ceramic coating in which a plurality of first ceramic particles within a first coating particle size range and a plurality of second ceramic particles within a second coating particle size range, which is larger than the first coating particle size range, by causing the transported ceramic powders to collide with a substrate inside a process chamber, at the speed of 100 to 500 m/s so as to be pulverized.

In order to achieve a very high etch rate and an elaborate line width, a Cl- or F-based gas, which is highly corrosive, is used in semiconductor and/or display manufacturing processes. For the purposes of exploiting operating advantages of processing equipment used in the harsh environment and extending the cycle life of the processing equipment, an Yttrium-based ceramic oxide having excellent plasma resistance is deposited on a surface of a metal product.
The yttrium-based ceramic oxide reacts with the corrosive gas to form an insoluble yttrium fluoride (YF) layer on a surface of the ceramic coating layer, and etching of the yttrium-based ceramic oxide from the corrosive gas is suppressed due to a high adhesion strength of the YF layer formed on the entire surface of the ceramic coating layer.

Method for forming ceramic coating having improved plasma resistance and ceramic coating formed thereby


A printing system for controlling to allow various settings by one job and reducing output of unnecessary printed materials is provided. To accomplish this, the present invention sets a post-process to be executed for a plurality of sheets that are printed by execution of a job as a first setting, sets a post-process to be executed for part of the sheets included in the plurality of sheets as a second setting, and causes a post-processing unit to execute post-processes according to the setting of the post-processes set as the first setting and the second setting.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printing system and a control method of the printing system for controlling to effectively select a plurality of post-process settings.
2. Description of the Related Art
Flexible selection of formats of various output materials and reduction in human operations while maintaining high productivity are required in a printing system represented by the POD (Print On Demand) market. Examples of possible needs include applying a specific post-process to only part of one print job, applying a post-process to the entire print job and further applying another post-process to part of the print job, and applying a plurality of post-processes to only part of a print job. However, such needs have not been met conventionally. In particular, a combination of a post-process to the entire print job and a post-process to only part of the print job is not thoroughly examined although the combination may be different from the normal control of a post-process for the entire print job.
Other problems may occur when such needs are treated. However, the other problems have not been treated conventionally.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-222157 proposes a technique of combining batches of jobs with different settings, the technique allowing various settings for one print job without outputting unnecessary printed materials. According to the technique, after batches of jobs are combined if there are any settings that may pose a problem due to differences in settings, the same settings are carried over to the combined group. If a collective process is not possible, an alert is issued to prompt the user for a change.
However, the conventional technique includes the following problem. For example, in relation to the settings that may pose a problem, the technique described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-222157 can only carry over the settings of combined print jobs within the combined group. Therefore, the conventional technique is short of allowing all various settings within one print job and does not sufficiently satisfy the needs of the user.

Printing system for inhibiting Z-folding and control method thereof


Apparatus for cleaning a rotating process roll includes cleaning material supply and take-up rolls and a compliant touch roll, all mounted on a carriage adjacent to a process roll. Touch roll and cleaning material are moveable by air cylinders into and out of contact with the process roll. The touch roll is rotatable in one direction only with the take-up roll. A drive motor winds the take-up roll to incrementally and uniformly advance the cleaning material over the touch roll. Period and frequency of the cleaning cycle and sub-cycles are variable by microprocessor control. Supply roll and take-up roll are supported on retractable gudgeons for easy mounting and removal.

Printing, coating, calendering and other manufacturing operations in which rollers make continuous contact with the transported product, require that the surfaces of these process rollers be kept free of contamination in order to eliminate product defects. It is desirable that such process rollers be cleaned automatically during each production run to avoid down time of the manufacturing operation. This invention provides an improved automated system for the on-line cleaning of such process rollers as calender steel and compliant rollers, coating back-up rollers, printing blanket cylinders, etc.
The purpose and function of our automatic roll cleaner is to place a web of cleaning material against the surface of a spinning process roller a number of times during a production run without stopping the manufacturing operation. Contamination on the process roller is thus transferred to the cleaning material and removed from the manufacturing operation. By frequently removing contamination from the surface of the process rollers, the necessity for manual hand cleaning of these rollers is greatly reduced which further eliminates manufacturing down time. Most important, frequent cyclical cleaning of the process rollers, as is accomplished with our apparatus, improves the uniformity and quality of the product moving through the manufacturing operation.
The prior art that we know of is discussed, in relevant part, as follows:
U.S. Pat. No. 4,344,361 to MacPhee, issued Aug. 17, 1972 discloses an automatic blanket cylinder cleaner having a cleaning cloth for contact with the blanket cylinder. An expandable bladder intermittently presses the cloth against the cylinder as it rotates. The cleaning cloth advances intermittently from a supply roll to a take-up roll by means of a mechanical system, including a crank arm and a one-way clutch, to control the rotation of the take-up roll.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,525,982 to Wescott, issued Oct. 17, 1950 also discloses (see FIGS. 7,8) a cylinder cleaner having a web of cleaning material for contact with the cylinder as it rotates. The web is intermittently pressed against the cylinder by a cam mechanism to clean the cylinder. The cleaning web advances intermittently from a supply roll to a take-up roll by means of a mechanical system, including a crank arm and ratchet.


An activation control device for an airbag device decreases the management costs by generalization of satellite sensors. There is provided at least one impact detection section disposed at a predetermined position of a vehicle, which detects a degree of shock applied to the vehicle; and a main control section connected to the impact detection section by communication, which determines a collision state based on an output signal of the impact detection section received from the impact detection section, and controls activation of the airbag device installed in the vehicle. The impact detection section receives and stores threshold data relating to a detected degree of shock, from the main control section, and controls transmission of an output signal to the main control section based on the stored threshold data. The main control section stores predetermined threshold data corresponding to each impact detection section disposed in the vehicle; and transmits the stored threshold data to the corresponding impact detection section.

Conventionally, an activation control device for an airbag device includes; a floor sensor (deceleration sensor) disposed at the midsection of the vehicle body, and a satellite sensor (deceleration sensor) disposed at the front of the vehicle body, and a main control section determines a collision state of the vehicle based on an output signal of each of the sensors, to thereby control the activation of the airbag device. The floor sensor is generally disposed near the main control section, and the output signal thereof is transmitted directly to the main control section. Alternatively, the floor sensor is built into the main control section. The main control section, is, for example, disposed near the center console.
On the other hand, the satellite sensor is, for example, disposed near the front bumper, and the output signal thereof is transmitted to the main control section through a communication cable. For example, the satellite sensor digitizes a detection signal, and constantly transmits the digital signal thereof to the main control section. Furthermore, there is also an arrangement where the satellite sensor has a previously set threshold, and when the detected deceleration exceeds the threshold, an output signal indicating that the threshold has been exceeded is transmitted to the main control section (refer for example to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. H11-59322).
For the communication method between the satellite sensor and the main control section, a serial communication method is used, from reasons such as decreasing the number of cables installed in the vehicle.
However, in the aforementioned conventional device where the satellite sensor continuously transmits output signals to the main control section, there is a problem in that if a plurality of satellite sensors is installed, the communication traffic increases, making multiplex transmission through serial communication difficult. Particularly in recent years, vehicle body construction where the crushable zone is reduced and the vehicle body hardness is increased, in order to expand the compartment (cabin) section, is increasing. In such a vehicle body construction, there is a need to determine the collision states, such as offset collisions and low speed collisions, with good accuracy. For this reason, a plurality of satellite sensors are disposed on the vehicle, such as at the front right, the front left, and on the left and right sides. However, with conventional devices, it is difficult to correspond to these.
On the other hand, in a device where the satellite sensors are made to hold a previously set threshold, and when the detected deceleration exceeds that threshold, an output signal indicating that the threshold has been exceeded is transmitted to the main control section, the communication traffic is decreased, thus solving the problem of traffic load. However, to determine the collision state with good accuracy, it is necessary for the threshold to be an optimal value depending on the position in which the satellite sensor is disposed. Therefore, it is necessary to construct satellite sensors holding every type of threshold. Furthermore, the threshold is different for each type of vehicle and its destination (delivery). Therefore, the number of types of satellite sensor becomes enormous.
In the case where in this manner very many types of satellite sensor are manufactured, there is a problem in that manufacturing management costs become large, becoming a liability.

Activation control device for airbag device


An Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) includes a plurality of ADC channels connected to an in-service signal input via an isolated power combiner; an on-chip circuit including a calibration source connected to the isolated power combiner; and one or more switches configured to switch the ADC between an in-service mode and a calibration mode. The one or more switches are set such that, in the calibration mode, the in-service signal input is disconnected and the on-chip circuit is connected to the isolated power combiner, and, in the in-service mode, the in-service signal input is connected and the on-chip circuit is disconnected to the isolated power combiner. In the calibration mode, the on-chip circuit is configured to provide a test signal to the plurality of ADC channels for a determination of interleave errors in the plurality of ADC channels.

An ADC is a circuit that converts an analog signal to a digital signal. There is a need for calibration of such circuits such as performed by using known reference vales and calculating a calibration gain, timing, and offset to compensate the mismatch between sub-channels. A typical wideband ADC is built of an Analog Front End (AFE) and many digitizers. For example, a main building block of an AFE is its input match, a buffer, and typically 16 interleaved Track and Hold (T/H) switches and drivers. Due to manufacturing process variations, the 16 T/H and drivers do not behave exactly the same way. Further to the AFE, the digitizers also see process variations. The process variations manifest itself as interleave errors including but not limited to gain, timing and offset errors. If these interleave errors are not corrected the overall ADC performance suffers from poor Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR). Typically, in order to improve the SNR degradation due to interleave errors, a known synchronous, sinusoidal signal is injected and the errors either in digital or analog domain are corrected through calibration. The locked injection of a sinusoidal signal is expensive as it requires an elaborate setup with expensive equipment and human intervention. That is, ADC gain, timing, and offset calibration is performed by injecting from an external source. This requires a dedicated test testbed which includes synthesizers, power splitters, baluns, interface harness, etc. This test bed also requires human intervention to setup and run the calibration process. Of course, this approach is complex and costly.

ADC self-calibration with on-chip circuit and method


A completely new type of filtration system uses a traveling plenum that travels through granular filtration media in a filter tank and backwashes a portion of the media a little at a time. A pump forces backwash water into the traveling plenum, and porous plates mounted on the top of the plenum allow the water to come to the surface of the media and loosen solids deposited at the surface during a filtration cycle. A washwater hood and waste water pump removes the loosened solids from the surface of the media. Porous plates mounted on the sides of the traveling plenum allow backwash water to fluidize surrounding media and promote the transportation of the traveling plenum in the media. Thus, filter construction is reduced to creating a tank with influent and effluent openings without the complicated cell and plenum construction of conventional traveling bridge filters. Effluent plugs, installed across effluent openings, are designed to allow water to exit the tank but retain media inside the tank. The traveling plenum filter maintains the advantages of the low flow rates and low volumes of backwash water commonly found in traveling bridge filter systems.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to filter systems. More particularly, this invention is directed toward a completely new type of filtration system with a traveling plenum for use in granular filtration media systems. This filtration system can be used in place of conventional traveling bridge filter systems and conventional non-traveling bridge filter systems.


A bidirectional communication system for a CCTV in a monitoring system having a plurality of monitoring cameras, comprising a plurality of rotators, each for rotating a corresponding one of the plurality of cameras in vertical and horizontal directions in response to upward, downward, left and right rotation control signals, a plurality of voice transmission and reception adapters, each mounted to a corresponding one of the plurality of cameras, for transmitting and receiving a voice signal, a plurality of remote controllers, each having a transmitter and a receiver for transmitting and receiving the voice signal remotely through a corresponding one of the plurality of voice transmission and reception adapters, a video selector for selecting a desired one of video signals from the plurality of cameras, a channel selector for selecting a desired channel for voice communication and camera rotation control, a voice processing circuit for performing transmission and reception of the voice signal through the plurality of voice transmission and reception adapters, and a rotator control circuit for generating the upward, downward, left and right rotation control signals for controlling actuation of the plurality of rotators, thereby to control projection angles of the plurality of cameras.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to a closed circuit television (CCTV) monitoring system, and more particularly to a bidirectional communication system for a CCTV which is useful to bidirectional communication in a CCTV monitoring system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Referring to FIG. 1A, there is shown a block diagram of a conventional CCTV monitoring system. As shown in this drawing, the conventional CCTV monitoring system comprises a plurality of cameras CAM1-CAM4 installed in places to be monitored, a video selector 1 for selecting desired one of video signals from the plurality of cameras CAM1-CAM4 , and a monitor 2 for displaying the video signal selected by the video selector 1.
The operation of the conventional CCTV monitoring system will hereinafter be described.
The plurality of cameras CAM1-CAM4 installed in the places to be monitored shoot objects in the monitored places and output the resultant video signals. A desired one of the video signals outputted from the plurality of cameras CAM1-CAM4 is manually or automatically selected by the video selector 1. The video signal selected by the video selector 1 is displayed through the monitor 2.
Therefore, an observer can monitor the plurality of places shot by the plurality of cameras CAM1-CAM4 through the single monitor 2.
Referring to FIG. 1B, there is shown a block diagram of a voice output system which is applied to the conventional CCTV monitoring system. The voice output system in FIG. 1B is provided in the conventional CCTV monitoring system such that the observer issues an order or sends a message while watching a video picture shot by the camera. The voice output system comprises a microphone MIC for converting a voice from the observer into an electrical voice signal, a voice output circuit 3 for amplifying the voice signal through the microphone MIC by a predetermined level and outputting the amplified voice signal, and a plurality of speakers SP1-SPn for converting the electrical voice signal outputted from the voice output circuit 3 into the original voice.
The observer while watching the monitor 2 outputs the voice signal through the microphone MIC to the places being shot by the cameras CAM1-CAM4. The voice signal through the microphone MIC is amplified by the predetermined level and then fed to the speakers SP1-SPn by the voice output circuit 3. As a result, the observer can send a message to the places being shot by the cameras.
However, the conventional CCTV monitoring system has a disadvantage, in that the voice output system is further provided to send the voice message from the observer to the places being monitored, resulting in an increase in the cost. Also, the observer confirms the video picture of the place being monitored with the eye through the monitor and sends the voice message to an object in the place utilizing the voice output system and the voice from the observer is sent through the plurality of speakers. As a result, there may be wanting in an accuracy of the communication. Furthermore, a smooth monitoring network cannot be built up since the object in the place being monitored has no means for communication with the observer.

Bidirectional communication system for CCTV


An assembly/apparatus 10 which allows an object 12 to be suspended and supported with a minimal amount of structural deformation. The assembly accomplishes this object by the inclusion of substantially identical and commercially available constant force spring assemblies, such as constant force spring assemblies 20, 22, and a suspension monorail loop 24 which supports several cases such as case 30, 32.

Many processes involve and/or require the suspension of an object and the movement of this suspended object from one location (e.g., where one step in an overall process may be accomplished) to a second location (e.g., where a second step in an overall process may be accomplished).
By way of example and without limitation, a hot glass object, such as a pre-formed and substantially curved hot glass object, is typically required to be suspended and moved from one location to another as the object is "processed" or formed into an automobile glazing.
While prior techniques and strategies do allow the suspension and transport of such objects, they suffer from some drawbacks. By way of example and without limitation, prior suspension and transport of a heated glass object typically caused the heated glass object to be undesirably and non-uniformly deformed. That is, one prior technique associated with the suspension and transport of a heated glass object is described within U.S. Pat. No. 3,456,985 ("the '985 patent")which is fully and completely incorporated herein by reference, word for word and paragraph for paragraph.
Particularly, as the '985 patent describes, it is customary to suspend and carry a heated glass object by the use of tongs which locally (e.g., at the point at which each of the tongs respectively "meet" or couple to the heated glass object) and undesirably deform the glass object. The deformation is greatly exacerbated by the fact that each of the tongs typically carries a different fraction of the overall weight of the suspended object and thusly each of the tongs respectively deforms the suspended object by a different and visually noticeable amount. Typically, the distribution of the weight of the suspended object among the tongs is unknown and/or uncontrolled and thusly a titling moment is created, about the center of gravity of the suspended object which, if not relieved by rotation of suspended object, further increases the afore-described tong deformation.
One approach to overcoming these disadvantages is found within the Great Briton patent GB473604 ("the '604 patent") which is similarly and completely incorporated herein by reference, word for word and paragraph for paragraph. While the '604 patent did attempt to evenly distribute the weight of the glass among the various connectors, it is only applicable to glass that is not "press-formed" and requires a cascade of mechanical balance frames which are costly and un-wieldly. The teachings of the '604 patent cannot be employed within a known curved glass manufacturing process.
There is therefore a need for a new and improved apparatus and method for suspending an object which overcomes the various and previously delineated disadvantages associated with prior techniques and strategies.

Method and apparatus for suspending an object, such as a hot glass object


A radial duct for a dynamoelectric machine having a rotor, and a plurality of radial slots in the rotor is provided. A plurality of coils are respectively seated in the radial slots, and the coils form a plurality of radially stacked turns. The radial duct includes one or more cooling slots defined in at least a portion of the radially stacked turns, and extend in a substantially radial direction to the rotor. At least a portion of an interior surface of one or more cooling slots includes one or more ribs for enhanced heat transfer.

The present invention relates to increasing heat transfer performance in the rotor of a dynamoelectric machine. Specifically, the invention relates to punching ribs in the radial ducts in a rotor to increase the heat transfer performance.
The rotors in large gas cooled dynamoelectric machines have a rotor body, which is typically made from a machined high-strength solid steel forging. Axially extending radial slots are machined into the outer periphery of the rotor body at specific circumferential locations to accommodate the rotor winding. The rotor winding in this type of machine typically consists of a number of complete coils, each having many field turns of copper conductors. The coils are seated in the radial slots in a concentric pattern with, for example, two such concentric patterns in a two-pole rotor. The coils are supported in the rotor body slots against centrifugal forces by wedges that bear against machined dovetail surfaces in each slot. The regions of the rotor winding coils that extend beyond the ends of the main rotor body are called "end windings" and are supported against centrifugal forces by high strength steel retaining rings. The section of the rotor shaft forging which is disposed underneath the rotor end windings is referred to as the spindle. For ease of reference and explanation herein-below, the rotor winding can be characterized as having a central region which contains cooling ducts within the radial slots of the rotor body, a rotor end winding region that extends beyond the pole face, radially spaced from the rotor spindle, and a slot end region which contains the radial flow ventilation or discharge chimneys. The slot end region is located between the central radial flow region and the rotor end-winding region.
The design of large turbo-electric or dynamoelectric machinery requires high power density in the stator and rotor windings. As ratings increase, both specific loading of the windings (i.e., current carried by a given cross section) and the distance to a heat sink such as a cooler (or heat exchanger) also increase.
Direct cooling of the rotor windings is a well-established practice in electric machinery design. The cooling medium, typically hydrogen gas or air, is introduced directly to the winding in several ways. The gas may enter the rotor through subslots cut axially in the radial slots in the rotor body. It is exhausted through radial ducts placed in the copper. The pumping action caused by rotation of the rotor and the heating of the gas pulls gas through the subslot and out the radial ducts. Alternatively, gas may be scooped out of the gap at the rotating surface of the rotor and may follow a diagonal or radial-axial path through the copper winding. The gas exhausts once again at the rotor surface without need for a subslot. These two strategies cool the windings in the rotor body.

Dynamoelectric machine rotors having enhanced heat transfer and method therefor


A handling system for sausages (1) wherein sausages are suspended on strings (9), on carriers in a supporting frame for handling sausages (1) on smoke sticks (8), wherein the supporting frame (2) includes a handling device (3) with a gripping device for removing the carriers from and/or inserting the carriers into the supporting frame (2).

The invention relates to a handling system for sausages which are suspended on strings, on carriers in a supporting frame, trolleys or the like, in particular for handling sausages on smoke sticks.
In particular for smoke-drying, sausages are suspended on smoke rods and left, for example, in a smoke-drying chamber for a prolonged period. A multiplicity of sausages are situated on smoke sticks of this type, and the smoke sticks are thus relatively heavy. Up to now, the smoke sticks have been provided with sausages, then suspended in smoking chambers and removed from them and placed into trolleys by hand. This requires a considerable effort.
The present invention is based on the object of substantially facilitating the handling of carriers of the type mentioned above, in particular of smoke sticks.


An attachment for a conventional swimming pool brush is disclosed, which is designed to continuously urge the bristles into engagement with the side wall of a pool using a novel, immovable hydrofoil. The hydrofoil comprises an upstanding fin having a plurality of flow apertures and is connected to a base portion by a plurality of triangularly shaped support members.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to cleaning brushes. More particularly, the invention concerns a novel swimming pool cleaning brush which is specially adapted to clean the side walls of a swimming pool.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
In order to maintain a swimming pool in proper condition it is necessary to periodically clean the sides and bottom of the swimming pool. In the past, the sides of the swimming pool have been cleaned using an apparatus which comprises a brush that is attached to one end of a long handle which is gripped by the user. As a general rule, the handle is long enough for the user to move the head or brush portion of the apparatus along the side walls from the top of the pool to the bottom of the pool.
A major drawback of most prior art swimming pool cleaning apparatus resides in the fact that as the brush portion of the device is moved downwardly along the side wall, the force of the water acting on the brush tends to undesirably pull the cleaning bristles of the brush away from the wall. The thrust of the present invention is to provide an attachment for a conventional swimming pool cleaning apparatus that is so constructed and arranged, that as the brush is pushed downwardly along the side wall of the pool, the water acting against the attachment will cause the brush to be forced in a direction toward the pool wall. Advantageously, the attachment of the invention can be made in several sizes and can be specially pre-drilled to accommodate the fasteners which are used to interconnect the handle portion of the brush with the brush or bristle portion of the device.


A light guide assembly and method of forming the assembly. The light guide assembly includes an elongate light guide having an optically smooth surface for propagating light along its length and a light emitting region extending along at least a portion of the light guide length. The light emitting region has light extraction structures extending into the elongate light guide to extract or reflect light radially from the light guide. The assembly also includes a light source connector coupled to the light input end of the light guide. The light input end has primary encoding orientation geometry. The light source connector has a first end with secondary encoding orientation geometry, configured to mate with the primary encoding orientation geometry, and an opposing second end configured to accept a light source.

Optically transmissive materials, such as glass or polymers may be used as a light guide to propagate light. A light guide often includes at least one surface adapted to receive light from a light source and an optically smooth surface for reflecting light propagating through the light guide. Common examples of light guides include optical fibers traditionally used in the data communication industry and more recently light guides used for illumination purposes. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,432,876 discloses one such illumination device employing light guides. In this device, light may be injected into at least one end of a light guide and allowed to exit the guide at a predetermined position or positions along the length of the guide. Light extraction structures or notches are formed in the guide. The extraction structures define first and second reflecting surfaces, which reflect in a radial direction a portion of the light propagating axially through the guide. The reflected light is directed at an angle that is less than the critical angle necessary for continued propagation along the guide according to the principle of total internal reflection. As a result, the reflected light is extracted from the guide.
Because the previously mentioned light extraction structures are formed from optically smooth surfaces, they reflect light by total internal reflection rather than by diffuse reflection. As a result, light is emitted from the light guide in a pattern dictated by the configuration and arrangement of the extraction structures along the length of the guide and in a desired radial direction.
When these radial illuminating light guides are utilized in an illumination assembly, accurate orientation of the illumination light is desired.


A crystal form I of (S)-4-hydroxy-2-oxo-1-pyrrolidine acetamide, or named (S)-oxiracetam, is provided, which is characterized by a powder x-ray diffraction pattern that exhibits data of d-values versus the relative intensities as: 7.075(M), 5.355(S), 5.092(S), 4.590(M), 4.325(M), 4.259(S), 4.041(VS), 3.808(M), 3.542(M), 3.445(M), 3.393(M), 2.972(M), 2.914(S). A method for preparing a crystal form I of (S)-oxiracetam is also provided, which includes preparing the crude product and crystallizing A use of the crystal form I of (S)-oxiracetam in the manufacture of a medicament for preventing and treating memory dysfunction is also provided. Accordingly, the crystal form I of (S)-oxiracetam prepared by the method has high purity of more than 99.3% based on the percentages of the mass, with better efficacy than (S)-oxiracetam for preventing or treating memory dysfunction. Concerning the way of charging materials, adding inorganic base only a few times is simpler and more beneficial to industrial manufacturing and application.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a crystal form of (S)-4-hydroxy-2-oxo-1-pyrrolidine acetamide, a preparing method and a use thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
(S)-4-hydroxy-2-oxo-1-pyrrolidine acetamide is a levorotatory form of oxiracetam, also called commercially (S)-oxiracetam [hereinafter the (S)-oxiracetam]. The chemical structure of (S)-oxiracetam is shown below:

As reported, it is published that oxiracetam is a synthetic cyclic compound derivatives of γ-Amino-β-hydroxybutyric acid (GABOB) is one of the efficacious drugs for Alzheimer's Disease (AD), vascular dementia or the like, which can promote ATP in the brain and the synthesis of acetylcholine, and also enhance transmission of the nerve excitation, improve the retrograde amnesia resulting from lack of oxygen, enhance memory and strengthen learning ability. However, in clinical application, oxiracetam is not ideal for treatment of dementia because of the inefficacious and even antagonistic ingredients therein. It is found in our researches that the efficacy described above of (S)-oxiracetam is much better than that of racemic oxiracetam. Some patents disclose preparation methods of levo-oxiracetam, such like WO/2005115978, CN101367757. CN101367757 discloses a (s)-4-hydroxy-2-oxo-1-pyrrolidine acetamide, which comprises steps of:
(a) adding glycinamide HCl, and partial inorganic bases into alcohol solvent, controlling the pH value being 7.3±0.3, agitating with increasing the temperature and refluxing;
(b) after 2-hour refluxing, adding (S)-4-halo-3-hydroxybutyryl ester, and the surplus inorganic bases in batches at the same time to make the pH value of being ≦8.5 during reaction;
(c) refluxing and reacting after adding (S)-4-halo-3-hydroxybutyryl ester, filtering and concentrating after the reaction finished to obtain a crude product of (S)-4-hydroxy-2-oxo-1-pyrrolidine acetamide;
(d) dissolving the crude product in water and treating the solution with strongly acidic styrene type cation exchange resin as well as collecting products, treating the products with strongly basic styrene type cation exchange resin to neutralize the collected products;
(e) using ethanol to recrystallize the neutralized products, and using isopropanol or methanol/propanol solution to recrystallize the neutralized products again, than obtaining (S)-oxiracetam.
However, it is found that a variety of crystal forms of (S)-oxiracetam exist, depending upon different preparing methods or post-treatment.

Crystal form I of (S)-4-hydroxy-2-oxo-1-pyrrolidine acetamide, preparing method and use thereof

CHONGQING RUNZE PHARMACEUTICAL CO., LTD.


Example aspects of a simulated steel fenestration system, an insulated fenestration system, and a method for insulating a fenestration system are disclosed. The simulated steel fenestration system can comprise a frame, a pane assembly assembled with the frame, and a muntin bar, wherein at least one of the frame and the muntin bar comprise a non-steel material configured to resemble steel.

Fenestration comprises doors and windows. A fenestration system often comprises a frame and a glass pane assembly. The glass pane assembly can comprise one or more glass panes. Some glass panes can comprise multiple lites, which can be supported by muntin bars. Other fenestration systems can comprise muntin bars that are decorative only and can give the appearance of multiple lites (known as simulated divided lites, or SDLs) to a continuous glass pane.
It can be desirable to form various elements of the fenestration system, such as the frame and the muntin bars, out of steel for visual effect. However, steel can be expensive, can require a lengthy manufacturing lead time, and can require field glazing, which can increase installation time and labor costs.
Furthermore, gaps between the glass pane assembly and the frame can allow for convection (i.e., heat transfer) from a first side of the fenestration system to a second side; for example, from the outside of a building to the inside of the building. Common solutions for reducing convection include filling open gaps with a silicone sealant or a foam material. These processes can be expensive, visually unappealing, and can slow the assembly process. Another common solution is to minimize tolerances between the frame and the glass pane assembly. However, this can increase the likelihood of breaking the glass pane(s) during assembly.


Disclosed is a current sense amplifier suitable for a nonvolatile memory device such as a magnetic random access memory. In the current sense amplifier, a reference memory cell for sensing is implemented by a memory cell equal to a normal memory cell without fabricating different reference memory cells. The current sense amplifier is formed of first and second cross coupled differential amplifiers being covalent bonded. The current sense amplifier compares a current flowing to a sensing node of a memory cell directly with currents flowing to reference sensing nodes.

Inventive concepts described herein relate to a semiconductor memory device such as a current sense amplifying circuit suitable for a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device such as a resistive memory.
Semiconductor memory devices are widely used for electronic systems that store data. The semiconductor memory devices are divided into nonvolatile semiconductor memory devices and volatile semiconductor memory devices. The volatile semiconductor memory devices such as an SRAM, a DRAM, etc. lose their data when a power is interrupted.
In contrast, the nonvolatile semiconductor memory devices such as an EEPROM, a magnetic RAM (MRAM), etc., retain their data even when a power is interrupted. Thus, the nonvolatile semiconductor memory devices are mainly used to retain data regardless of power fail or power interruption.
In a semiconductor memory field, there are a variety of techniques to increase an integration level, increase operation speed, and performance such as securing of data reliability. Performance is lowered by various causes such as variation in process of a semiconductor memory device, variations in signals provided to various circuits (e.g., data routing, circuit for reading, etc.) for operating the semiconductor memory device, etc.

Current sense amplifying circuit in semiconductor memory device


An ice skate comprises a horizontal platform and a pair of opposing side brackets perpendicularly secured to an underside of the platform. A pair of opposing extension arms is pivotally engaged with each end portion of the side brackets, and an extender bracket is engaged with a center portion of the side brackets. Each extension arm has a torsion spring confined and arranged to enable the extension arm to pivot about the center axle within a certain range in tandem with the other of the pair of extension arms. A distal end of each extension arm has an axle non-rotatably engaged with a follower rotatably engaged in a vertical plane. Each follower is engaged with a horizontally elongated hole at front and rear end portions of the skating blade, and the extender bracket provides an additional follower engaged with a vertically elongated hole on a centerline of the skating blade.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates generally to ice skates in particular to an ice skate including the arrangement of elements to provide a shock absorbent suspension mechanism to enable the ice skate to be used on irregular riding surfaces and for acrobatic type of riding mode including but not limited to jumping and the like by an ice skating passenger.
2. Background
A common ice skate comprises a top platform with the sole of a boot secured to it for a foot of an ice skater. An underside of the top platform provides support brackets affixed along a longitudinal centerline thereof having a skating blade rigidly connected in a vertical plane. The skate itself is well known in the field of ice skates and exists in many configurations and sizes. The type of suspension used in the common skating blade does not include an elastic element for shock absorbency to cushion leg of the skater during skating action especially when jumping. A great number of ice skaters are motivated to perform long jumping or maneuvers which requires a great deal of physical effort by the ice skater to get airborne, and consequentially requiring appropriate leg action to provide for a cushioned landing to prevent injury to the bracing feet and legs. The rigid type of skating blade suspension requires a considerable amount of skill, practice, and physical effort for the ice skater to perform acrobatics of the type described.
3. Description of Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 5,931,480 describes a foot gear suspension device with a movable swing arm at a front end with a non-rotating axis mounted to distal ends of said swing arm having a free rotating follower bearing guided in an elongated hole of a skating blade along the horizontal plane. The opposite end of said swing arm is pivotally attached to a frame-work of said foot gear having a secondary pivot pin in line with said pivotal attachment connecting to a linear elastic element such as an air, hydraulic, or spring cushioned piston or the like. The distance between said pivot pins determines the degree of leverage and such articulated movement in the vertical plane of said swing arm. A rear end of said suspension device has another swing arm suspended from the framework in an identical arrangement. Said swing distal end is pivotally attached to the skating blade. During skating, the weight of the skater is applied to said foot board in combination with the skating action of pushing the skate against the skating surface, effectings said swing arm to deflect down-wardly in an articulated movement and, upon recoil of the elastic element, assists the ice skater towards enhanced acceleration in forward motion. Arrangement of said swing arm may afford a shock absorbency to the leg of the skater during skating activity especially when running against protrusions in the skating surface or maneuvering around obstacles. The type of fixation of said swing arm provides sufficient clearance to said framework of said footgear during articulated movement of said swing arm. Hence forth it appears this invention teaches optimization of movement in a vertical plane of said swing arm having said skating blade therefore providing sufficient capability for the skater to perform jumps, negotiate obstacles and the like. Said invention among others does not teach how the elasticity of said swing arm is translating a proportional equal or nearly equal force of rebound through-out the complete range of pivotal and articulated travel of said swing arm. Specifically this invention does not explain sufficiently the relationship of the type of elastic element the like of air, hydraulic, spring and other referenced herein and how these elements are connected to and interface with said primary and said secondary pivotal arrangement of said swing arm. The present arrangement as shown and as specified in this invention may not make provisions for optimized utilization of vertical movement of said swing arm and may distribute a disproportional force of rebound in relation to the position of said swing arm and along a total travel range thereof. In retrospect the skating may be very limited resulting in diminished effectiveness for jumping, acrobatics, negotiation of obstacles, surface irregularities and the like. This is manifested by a progressive change in elasticity or rebound force, requiring the ice skater to compensate with proper leg action, balancing and physical strength. Therefore it may be highly likely that a diminished rebound force is assisting the ice skater wherein greater force may be required and in retrospect a greater force may be delivered when a smaller force for rebound may be sufficient. Limitations in the ability of ice skater to use rebound assistance for acceleration in forward motion and performing jumps, acrobatics or negotiating skating surface obstacles or the like may greatly increase the need of ice skaters skill level and physical strength and may render a marginal skating stability at best. Said invention also fails to teach proper fixation of said swing arm arrangement along the horizontal center axis of said pivot arrangement. Because of distal length from said pivot arrangement to said pivotal arrangement and follower respectively of said swing arm lateral forces or thrust applied to said swing arm by ice skater are of considerable force requiring a positive fixation to said swing arm along longitudinal center axis of skating blade and frame work respectively the like of wear plates straddling said swing arm in contiguous mode rather depending solely on said swing arm pivotal arrangement. This may contribute to a greatly diminished level of ice skating stability and safety which is of significant importance when negotiating sharp turns, steeply banked corner riding, quick stops and the like. It is of great attraction to an ice skater and of great incentive to acquire the necessary skills and perform acrobatic type ice-skating. Therefore an ice skater applies on a very frequent basis significant thrust onto said foot gear suspension requiring a considerably contained ice skating blade suspension delivering a superior grasp of the ice skating blade upon the skating surface. The arrangement of said swing arm of this invention in combination with the distal length between the pivot axle and follower bearing axle respectively and pivot point of said swing arm excluding a means of proper containment of said swing arm along the horizontal axis, the wear plate and other fixation elements may not contribute to a desired skating stability for the ice skater and may limit signicantly skating flexibility and safety. For further consideration this invention fails to teach that said ice skating blade remains stationary along a longitudinal axis. Said pivotal arrangement which connects the rear portion of said skating blade with the distal end of said swing arm will move skating blade in reciprocating fashion along the longitudinal axis during articulation of said swing arm. This may prove to be very undesirable to the ice skater's ability to negotiate jumps and save landings after completion of said jumps in a safe and calculated manner. This is of considerable consequence to the safety and skating ability for a skater due to the fact that that the forced longitudinal travel of said skating blade is caused by said pivotal suspension of said swing arm to the rear portion of the ice skating blade and therefore may not provide the ice skater a permanent reference point of said skating blade when performing jumps and other like acrobatic ice skating maneuvers. Furthermore said invention does not teach having said skating blade contained and arrested laterally along the horizontal axis. It is of great importance to an ice skater that said skating blade must not tilt along the vertical plane and be fully contained along the horizontal plane. This is of greater significance when acrobatic ice skating is performed due to the fact that a landing is solely guaranteed only if said skating blade is rigidly connected to said chassis of said foot gear. Any slight movement, wobble or other instability of said skating blade during acrobatic maneuvers, sharp cornering, and jumping may result in falls of the ice skater and may cause injuries, not to mention additional disadvantages such as poor skating control and diminished skating performance.
My prior art search with abstracts described above teaches: several foot gear suspensions including a design, but fail to teach an in line skate with a fixated and unrestricted and shock absorbent skating wheel suspension describing an articulated movement to be of constant deflection force through the complete range of articulated movement without restrictive features to limit articulated movement. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides further related advantages as described in the following summary.


The present invention provides a disk playback device comprising a control circuit 7 for determining an optimum value of offset for a focus error signal based on amplitude values of a tracking error signal or an RF signal fed from an optical head 5, and making an offset adjustment with reference to the optimum value. The control circuit 7, in signal reproduction, approximates the relationship between offset values and the amplitude values to a quadratic curve with reference to three different offset values and three amplitudes at the respective offset values, repeats a calculation of an optimum offset value corresponding to the peak of the quadratic curve, and sets the three different first to third offset values respectively at an optimum value obtained in a previous optimum offset value calculation processing, and second and third offset values set in the previous optimum offset value calculation processing.

For use as recording media in disk recording-playback devices, magneto-optical disks have been developed which permit rewriting and have a great memory capacity and high reliability. Such disks have found wide use as external memories in computers and audio visual devices.
Developed especially in recent years are techniques for achieving improved recording densities by forming lands 11 and grooves 12 alternately on a signal bearing surface of a magneto-optical disk 1 as shown in FIG. 12 and recording signals on both the lands 11 and the grooves 12. The lands 11 and the grooves 12 are wobbled as illustrated, and the wobbling frequency is a predetermined center frequency as frequency-modulated. A wobble signal is detected by signal reproduction, and the rotation of the magneto-optical disk is so adjusted that the wobble signal has the center frequency at all times, whereby constant linear velocity control is realized. Various items of information (wobble information) such as address information are contained in the wobble signal which is frequency-modulated as stated above. Various control operations are realized based on the wobble information at the time of signal reproduction.
When disk recording-playback devices are in operation for reproducing or recording signals, focus servo or tracking servo is performed for the actuator incorporated in the optical head, based on focus error (FE) signals and tracking error (TE) signals. When the disk recording-playback device is initiated into operation, an offset adjustment is made for focusing or tracking based on the TE signals and RF signals to thereby effect accurate focus servo and tracking servo.
In a process for determining an optimum offset value for a focus error based on the TE signal, as seen in FIG. 19, first, focus offset values are respectively set at at least five different values P0 to P4 centered about an initial value P0, and amplitude values of the TE signal at the respective offset values are measured. Among said at least five points measured, a first point is set at a point having the maximum amplitude value, a second point is set at a point having an offset value smaller than the offset value P0 at the first point and an amplitude value not greater than a value (T0−5) obtained by subtracting a predetermined value from an amplitude value T0 at the first point, a third point is set at a point having an offset value greater than the offset value P0 at the first point and an amplitude value not greater than the value (T0−5) obtained by subtracting the predetermined value from the amplitude value T0 at the first point. With reference to the offset values P0, P1, P4 and the amplitude values T0, T1, T4 at the respective three points, a quadratic curve representing the relationship between the offset values and the amplitude values is determined. An offset value corresponding to the peak of the quadratic curve is determined as an optimum offset value Popt1. A procedure for determining an optimum offset value based on the RF signals is the same as the above.
FIGS. 13 to 15 show a focus offset adjustment procedure to be executed based on the TE signals when the disk recording-playback device is into an initiation operation. First in steps S91 to S94 in FIG. 13, focus offset values are respectively set at an initial value P0, a value P1 smaller than the initial value by eight steps, a value P2 smaller than the initial value by four steps, a value P3 greater than the initial value by four steps, and a value P4 greater than the initial value by eight steps, and amplitude values T0 to T4 are measured at the respective offset values. Among these five points measured, thereafter, a first point is set at a point having the maximum amplitude value. A first offset value Pmax is set at an offset value at the first point. A first amplitude value Tmax is set at an amplitude value at the first point.
Subsequently in step S95, an inquiry is made as to whether a second point having an offset value Px smaller than the first offset value Pmax and an amplitude value Tx smaller than the first amplitude value Tmax by five steps or more is included in four measured points other than the first point. If the inquiry is answered in the affirmative, step S96 follows to set a second offset value PA at the offset value Px at the second point, set a second amplitude value TA at the amplitude value Tx at the second point, and set to "TRUE" a PA—flag indicating whether the second offset value PA is obtained, thereafter followed by step S97.
In step S97, an inquiry is made as to whether a third point having an offset value PX greater than the first offset value Pmax and an amplitude value Tx smaller than the first amplitude value Tmax by five steps or more is included in the four measured points other than the first point. If the inquiry is answered in the affirmative, step S98 follows to set a third offset value PB at the offset value Px at the third point, set a third amplitude value TB at the amplitude value Tx at the third point, and set to "TRUE" a PB—flag indicating whether the third offset value PB is obtained, thereafter followed by step S99 shown in FIG. 14.
When the second point and the third point are both included in the four measured points other than the first point, answers to inquiries in step S99 in FIG. 14 and in step S106 in FIG. 15 are affirmative, followed by step S113. With reference to data on the first to third points (Pmax, Tmax), (PA, TA) and (PB, TB) which are included in the five measured points, the relationship between the offset values and the amplitude values is approximated to a quadratic curve, and an offset value corresponding to the peak of the quadratic curve is calculated as an optimum offset value Popt, to terminate the procedure.
On the other hand, when the second point is not included in the four measured points other than the first point, an answer to the inquiry in step S99 in FIG. 14 is negative. In steps S100 to S105, an offset value P is decreased every four step starting from a value smaller than the initial value P0 by 12 steps, to thereby vary the offset value until when the amplitude value T becomes a value smaller than the first amplitude value Tmax by five steps or more. Then the offset value and amplitude value concerned are respectively set at a second offset value PA and a second amplitude value TA. Accordingly the second point is retrieved. When, in step S113 in FIG. 15, the relationship between the offset values and the amplitude values is approximated to a quadratic curve, the data (PA, TA) at the retrieved second point is used. Incidentally, in retrieving the second point, in the case where the offset value P is smaller than the initial value P0 by 20 steps or more to make the answer to step S101 affirmative, or in the case where the amplitude value T is not greater than a lower limit value TL to make the answer to step S103 affirmative, focus servo deviates to terminate the procedure.
Furthermore, when the third point is not included in the four measured points other than the first point, an answer to the inquiry in step S106 in FIG. 15 is negative. In steps S107 to S112, an offset value P is increased every four step starting from a value greater than the initial value P0 by 12 steps, to thereby vary the offset value until when the amplitude value T becomes a value smaller than the first amplitude value Tmax by five steps or more. Then the offset value and amplitude value concerned are respectively set at a third offset value PB and a third amplitude value TB. Accordingly the third point is retrieved. When, in step S113, the relationship between the offset values and the amplitude values is approximated to a quadratic curve, the data (PB, TB) at the retrieved third point is used. Incidentally, in retrieving the third point, in the case where the offset value P is greater than the initial value P0 by 20 steps or more to make the answer to step S108 affirmative, or in the case where the amplitude value T is not greater than a lower limit value TL to make the answer to step S110 affirmative, focus servo deviates to terminate the procedure.
According to the above procedure, the optimum offset value Popt for the focus error is determined based on the TE signals, and an offset adjustment for focusing is made based on the optimum offset value Popt. According to the same procedure, an optimum offset value for the focus error is determined based on the RF signals, and an offset adjustment for focusing is made based on the optimum offset value. The disk recording-playback device starts signal reproduction or signal recording after the offset adjustment for focusing thus made.
In a usual operation for signal reproduction or signal recording, variations in the ambient temperature, however, lead to the distortion of the housing or parts of the optical head, a shift of position of the optical sensor, variations in the laser wavelength, etc., altering the offset value from an optimum value and consequently impairing the accuracy of focus servo. If the offset value deviates from the optimum value greatly, the bit error rate of reproduced signal exceeds a prescribed value, presenting difficulty in effecting normal reproduction and recording.
In the usual operation, an offset adjustment for focusing is made every time a temperature of the disk varies by a predetermined temperature or more.
In a process of determining an optimum offset value for a focus error based on the TE signals for the usual operation, as seen in FIG. 20, first, focus offset values are respectively set at at least five different values Popt1, P1′ to P4′, centered about the optimum offset value Popt1, i.e., the set value concerned, determined in a previous offset adjustment processing, and amplitude values of the TE signals at the respective offset values are measured. Among said at least five points measured, a first point is set at a point having the maximum amplitude value, a second point is set at a point having an offset value smaller than the offset value Popt1 at the first point and an amplitude value not greater than a value (Topt1−5) obtained by subtracting a predetermined value from an amplitude value Topt1 at the first point, a third point is set at a point having an offset value greater than the offset value Popt1 at the first point and an amplitude value not greater than the value (Topt1−5) obtained by subtracting the predetermined value from the amplitude value Topt1 at the first point. With reference to the offset values Popt1, P1′, P4′ and the amplitude values Topt1, T1′, T4′ at the respective three points, a quadratic curve representing the relationship between the offset values and the amplitude values is determined. An offset value corresponding to the peak of the quadratic curve is determined as an optimum offset value Popt2. A procedure of determining an optimum offset value based on the RF signals is the same as the above.
FIGS. 16 to 18 show a focus offset adjustment procedure to be executed based on the TE signals when temperature variations in excess of or equal to a predetermined value (=5° C.) occur in a usual operation after the system's initiation into operation. First in steps S121 to S124, focus offset values are respectively set at a set value concerned P0′, a value P1′ smaller than the set value by eight steps, a value P2′ smaller than the set value by four steps, a value P3′ greater than the set value by four steps, and a value P4′ greater than the set value by eight steps, and amplitude values T0′ to T4′ are measured at the respective offset values. Among these five points measured, thereafter, the maximum amplitude value is a first point. An offset value at the first point is a first offset value Pmax′. An amplitude value at the first point is a first amplitude value Tmax′.
Subsequently in step S125, an inquiry is made as to whether a second point having an offset value Px′ smaller than the first offset value Pmax′ and an amplitude value Tx′ smaller than the first amplitude value Tmax′ by five steps or more is included in four measured points other than the first point. If the inquiry is answered in the affirmative, step S126 follows to set a second offset value PA at the offset value Px′ at the second point, set a second amplitude value TA at the amplitude value Tx′ at the second point, and set to "TRUE" a PA—flag indicating whether the second offset value PA is obtained, thereafter followed by step S127.
In step S127, an inquiry is made as to whether a third point having an offset value Px′ greater than the first offset value Pmax′ and an amplitude value Tx′ smaller than the first amplitude value Tmax′ by five steps or more is included in the four measured points other than the first point. If the inquiry is answered in the affirmative, step S128 follows to set a third offset value PB at the offset value Px′ at the third point, set a third amplitude value TB at the amplitude value Tx′ at the third point, and set to "TRUE" a PB—flag indicating whether the third offset value PB is obtained, thereafter followed by step S129 shown in FIG. 17.
When the second point and the third point are included in the four measured points other than the first point, answers to inquiries in step S129 in FIG. 17 and in step S136 in FIG. 18 are affirmative, followed by step S143. With reference to data on the first to third points (Pmax′, Tmax′), (PA, TA) and (PB, TB) which are included in the five measured points, the relationship between the offset values and the amplitude values is approximated to a quadratic curve, and an offset value corresponding to the peak of the quadratic curve is calculated as an optimum offset value Popt′, to terminate the procedure.
On the other hand, when the second point is not included in the four measured points other than the first point, a second point is retrieved according to the same procedure as that in an initiation operation as shown in steps S130 to S135 in FIG. 17. When, in step S143 in FIG. 18, the relationship between the offset values and the amplitude values is approximated to a quadratic curve, data (PA, TA) at the retrieved second point is used.
Furthermore, when the third point is not included in the four measured points other than the first point, a third point is retrieved according to the same procedure as that in an initiation operation as shown in steps S137 to S142 in FIG. 18. When, in step S143, the relationship between the offset values and the amplitude values is approximated to a quadratic curve, data (PB, TB) at the retrieved third point is used.
According to the above procedure, the optimum offset value Popt′ for a focus error is determined based on the TE signals, and the focus offset adjustment is made based on the optimum offset value Popt′. According to the same procedure, an optimum offset value for a focus error is determined based on the RF signals, and the focus offset adjustment is made based on the optimum offset value. The disk recording-playback device starts signal reproduction or signal recording after the offset adjustment for focusing thus made. When the disk recording-playback device is in the usual operation, the focus offset adjustment is thus made, consequently effecting focus servo with high accuracy at all times despite variations in temperature of the magneto-optical disk.
However, the disk recording-playback device described has the following problem: in the offset adjustment procedure of the usual operation, the relationship between the offset values and the amplitude values is approximated to a quadratic curve with reference to the previous optimum offset value Popt1, and the second and third offset values P1′, P4′ each having an amplitude value smaller than the amplitude value Topt1 at the offset value Popt1 by a predetermined value or more, as shown in FIG. 20, to increase accuracy of the quadratic curve. For obtaining the second and third offset values P1′, P4′, amplitude values at at least five different offset values Popt1 and P1′ to P4′ need be measured, requiring a long period of time for determining the quadratic curve, thereby entailing the problem of a long period of time taken for the calculation of the optimum offset value.
An object of the present invention is to provide a disk playback device which is adapted to determine the optimum offset value for the error signal in a short period of time when in the usual operation.


A shaping device has a bill-shaping wall with a bill locking portion at each of its first and second terminal ends. The bill of the cap fits into the shaping device such that the bill locking portions frictionally hold the bill against the bill-shaping wall, thereby shaping the bill into the shape of the bill-shaping wall. The bill-support wall preferably further includes indicia of team enthusiasm and loyalty and a transparent plastic card-holder for storing and displaying a baseball card.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to cap holding devices, and more particularly to a cap holding device that curls the bill of the cap into a desired shape.
2. Description of Related Art
When a user first purchases a cap, the bill of the cap is generally flat. Since it is not generally considered aesthetically pleasing to wear a cap with a flat bill, it is necessary for the user to shape the bill of the cap into a curl. Shaping the bill into the necessary curl by hand is tedious and the bill will later lose its shape if the cap is simply placed in storage or on a hat rack.
In addition to giving a cap a proper curl, many cap collectors and enthusiasts like to display their caps on a shelf or in a display case. While displaying the caps, it is desirable to associate with the cap various indicia of enthusiasm and loyalty to the team or a specific player.
The current invention provides a device that meets both of these requirements. The device removably engages the bill of the cap, thereby shaping the bill of the cap into the desired shape. The device also provides various indicia that turn a simple cap into a showcase for team enthusiasm and spirit.


A method for ranking politically exposed persons and/or other persons and entities that pose a heightened risk based on their importance wherein an exposure index is determined for each person in the population as a function of the existence or absence of a relationship with each of the other members of the population and each of one or more exposure factors such as position held by the person, country in which the position is held, and source of information about the person. The politically exposed persons in the population are ranked in accordance with their respective exposure indexes. The population is sorted and a subset of the population containing those politically exposed persons having exposure indexes indicative or the highest likelihood of illicit financial activity is thereby identified.

This invention is a method for ranking politically exposed persons ("PEPs") and/or other persons and entities that pose a heightened compliance, legal, regulatory, and reputation risk to financial institutions (e.g. known and suspected criminals and their associates) based on their centrality or "importance" within certain graph representations of the watch list databases in which are profiled. The rankings provide for an objective measure of the underlying risk posed by individual PEP's and other heightened-risk entities relative to others in the same watch list database source. The invention is considered to be particularly useful to financial institutions in screening potential and existing clients.
In the international financial industry, there is a general consensus that senior political figures, along with their family members and known close associates, collectively referred to as "Politically Exposed Persons" or "PEPs"—represent an inherent heightened risk given their direct or indirect access to public funds and influence over the business and commercial affairs in their jurisdictions. Consequently, most financial institutions are counseled, and in many cases required, to mitigate the risk of becoming wittingly or unwittingly complicit in the furtherance of political corruption by performing the following steps: 1) proactively identifying customers who are PEPs, 2) comprehensively assessing the acceptability of the specific risk they pose and, 3) if deemed to pose an acceptable risk, placing their accounts under continuing heightened scrutiny and periodic re-assessment.
For the first step, proactive identification, many financial institutions automatically screen their client databases against subscription-based commercial PEP watch list databases that are themselves compiled from public sources such as government, law enforcement and news media websites. Many of these databases, since coming into being, have augmented their coverage beyond PEPs to include other categories of risk (e.g. fraud, money laundering, narcotics crime, terrorism, etc.) and are often referred to as "PEP/KYC databases" ("KYC" is an acronym for "Know Your Customer", industry parlance for general customer due diligence policies). Records of related persons and entities in PEP/KYC databases typically link to one another.
The screening of large target client databases against large source PEP/KYC databases inevitably leads to the problem of false positive matches given the public nature of the source data; PEP/KYC database records rarely provide unique identifiers such as social security numbers and often do not provide strong ones such as date of birth. Thus, most matches are generated based solely on the similarity between target and source names and can be properly viewed only as a starting point for investigating whether the two matching names represent the same person or entity.
In wide-recognition of the infeasibility of investigating all potential matches, there is a consensus in favor of a risk-based approach where priority is given to matches against the highest-risk PEP/KYC records. Such an approach requires some method for grouping or ranking PEP/KYC records by risk. The conventional method makes use of the various category and attribute fields available in records such as risk type (e.g. PEP, fraud, narcotics, terrorism), political position (e.g. Presidents, Governors, Mayors) and country of origin to create risk groups (e.g. Presidents from Countries X and Y are a high-risk group; Mayor from Country Z, a low-risk one). A related variant is a rudimentary risk scoring scheme where category values are assigned scores (e.g. Presidents=3, Governors=2, Mayors=1, Country X=3, Country Y=2, Country Z=1) that are aggregated to derive profile scores (e.g. Presidents from Country X=3×3=9, Mayors from Country Z=1×1=1).
These top-down, category-based methods come in infinite varieties but operate from the same overly simplistic premise: namely that the level of risk that best characterizes a general class of PEP/KYC records adequately characterizes each individual member of that class. Local officials from highly developed countries, for example, may be best characterized as low risk as a general class. It does not follow, however, that each individual local official from a highly developed country is adequately characterized as low risk. It certainly does not adequately characterize the local official, for example, who happens to be the related to a prominent national political figure or notorious criminal or who is reported in the news to be under suspicion for corruption.
The example above alludes to a more useful alternative approach where PEP/KYC records are not evaluated based on their membership to a general class (e.g. local officials) but based on their particular connections to relevant entities (e.g. ties to a prominent national figure or a notorious criminal, or a news article on corruption).

Method of ranking politically exposed persons and other heightened risk persons and entities


Merging user interface (UI) object trees comprising UI trees from different technologies (e.g., host and one or more guest technologies) can involve registering guest technologies with a technology adapter layer, for example, used to manage UI tree merging. Further, identifying whether a UI object can be switched from a first technology to a second technology can comprise using a host technology provider to identify if a UI object can be switched, when navigating down the UI tree. When navigating up the UI tree, information stored by the technology adapter layer can be used to identify if a UI object can be switched. Additionally, identifying the second technology can comprise having the technology adapter layer request technology switching capability information from registered technologies for the UI object when navigating down the UI tree. When navigating up the UI tree, information stored by the technology adapter layer can be used to identify the second technology. Also, converting the UI object from the first technology to the second technology in the UI tree can be performed using a COM-based conversion.

In a computing environment, certain managed code application programming interfaces (APIs) can be used for exposing user interface (UI) elements (e.g., controls, objects). Exposing UI elements can be helpful for UI test automation and UI assistive technology (e.g., screen readers), enabling one to manipulate the UI elements by means other than standard inputs. A UI tester may wish to view and map the various objects that underlie the UI, for example, in order to write test scripts to interact with the UI. In a UI, differing framework properties may underlie pieces of the UI, for example, from differing technologies that comprise the UI's functionality.


An oral-delivery pharmaceutical composition for reducing the gastric irritation effect of an NSAID in the upper GI tract of a mammal. The composition includes (a) a mucosal protective amount of a pharmaceutically-acceptable hydrocolloid gum obtainable from higher plants, (b) a dispersion-enhancing amount of another excipient and (c) a therapeutically-effective amount of an NSAID. Also disclosed is a process for preparing the composition and a method for reducing the gastric irritation effect of the NSAID by administering the composition. Also, disclosed is a composition particularly useful for preparing an aqueous suspension.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) including aspirin have been used successfully in large numbers of patients with arthritis (including rheumatoid and osteoarthritis), and dysmenorrhea to relieve mild to moderate pain. It is well recognized that NSAIDs have a high incidence of gastrointestinal (GI) side effects. Serious GI adverse events such as bleeding, ulceration, and perforation can occur at any time in patients treated with regular doses of aspirin or other NSAIDs. The incidence of such adverse events ranges from 1-4% for studies without routine endoscopic surveillance to about 16% in studies where patients undergo regular endoscopic assessments.
The adverse GI effects of NSAIDs are a major concern in the use of these otherwise effective therapies. To date the efforts to produce a NSAID without these GI side effects have produced only marginal improvements. Misoprostol, a prostaglandin analogue, has been approved as a therapy to prevent NSAID-induced mucosal injury. Unfortunately, this compound has its own limitations to use. Consequently, mucosal protection remains an issue with aspirin and other NSAIDs.
Conventional formulations for reducing gastric distress usually involve either using pH buffering agents, coating the drug particles with various substances that are resistant to digestion and embedding them in a tablet matrix, or capsule formulation that is resistant to disintegration in the stomach. These latter formulations usually delay the release of the drug until it gets past the stomach and further down in the jejunum where it is then released. However, no approach so far has provided a readily acceptable rapid release composition that moderates the ulcerogenic action of NSAID in some portions of the population. It is therefore desirable to find a formulation of an NSAID that would provide rapid onset of action and a mucosal protective effect for the subject to whom it is administered, that is, it would reduce the gastric distress and/or ulcerogenic effect of an NSAID when delivered to a subject in need thereof.
Polysaccharide gums of hydrocolloids are a diverse class of substances that are hydrophilic and swell when in contact with water. When hydrated, they exhibit various degrees of viscosity. Polysaccharide hydrocolloids may contain galactose, galacturonic acid residues, mannose and sometimes xylose and arabinose. Structurally, they are similar to hemicellulose and when dissolved in water produce mucilage or gel. Some common polysaccharides used in the food and pharmaceutical industry are pectin, galactomannan gums, such as guar gum and locust bean gum, algal polysaccharides, such as agar and carrageenan, modified celluloses such as the cellulose ethers and esters and bacterial gums such as xanthan. The viscosity of these various substances will vary depending upon their molecular weight and structure.
Harju and Sajanti reported that oral administration of large quantities of guar gum provided protection against stress-induced ulceration in the rat (In vivo 5:397-400, 1991). In addition, Rafatullah et al. reported that an ethanol extract of guar (not guar itself) provided protection against several models of mucosal injury in the rat, including ethanol, stress, sodium chloride, indomethacin, and sodium hydroxide (Int. Jugaslov. Pharmacy 32:163-170, 1994).
A significant problem associated with high-viscosity water-soluble polymers is their ability to hydrate. Hydration is particularly difficult when these polymers are compressed into solid dosage forms. Most of the polymers used as excipients in pharmaceutical dosage forms are used at fairly low levels (e.g., 2 to 5 weight %) and principally as fillers or diluents. Of all the water-soluble polymers, guar gum probably possesses the highest molecular weight and exhibits the greatest viscosity when hydrated. Guar gum has been used at such low levels in a variety of products such as Quinidex.RTM. brand quinidine sulfate, Sine-Off.RTM. brand aspirin and acetaminophen, Bayer.RTM. brand aspirin, and Premarin.RTM. brand estrogen tablets. No mucosal protective effect has been reported at such low doses. The molecular weight of guar gum is reported as in the range of 1-2.times.10.sup.6 daltons (J. Chromatogr. 1981; 206, 410 and Carbohyd. Polymers, 1984; 4,299). Other hydrocolloids which come within the above limitations include solid dosage forms that contain about 5% by weight of high-viscosity gel-forming polysaccharides and are subject to surface gelation and the inability to fully hydrate the dosage form. Tablets containing elevated levels of high-viscosity polysaccharides begin to gel and hydrate, but the hydration stops at a certain point. The core of the tablet remains dry and therefore not all the drug may be released. The dissolution tests of such tablets demonstrate that only 40% to 70% of the drug is actually released after eight hours and, in many cases, even after 24 hours a significant amount of the drug is not released. At the other end of the spectrum, tablets containing high amounts of high-viscosity polysaccharides, when formulated differently, can result in dose dumping or the immediate release of the drug, and therefore cannot be used for sustained release formulations, because they immediately disintegrate upon reaching the stomach or in a dissolution vessel.
Thus, there is substantial interest in developing novel oral formulations (particularly tablets or capsules) which allow for the release of an NSAID for rapid onset of action while providing a mucosal protective effect on the gastrointestinal tract, i.e., the ulcerogenic effect of the NSAID is reduced.

NSADI delivery employing a powdered hydrocolloid gum obtainable from higher plants


A T-Shirt is disclosed having rolled sleeves and a torso portion configured to cover a portion of a torso of the person. In one embodiment, the rolled sleeves may be secured in place. In another embodiment, the rolled sleeves may include a snugging member to assist in contouring the sleeve to the wearer's arm. In one embodiment, the T-Shirt may further include a securing member configured to secure the rolled sleeve in place, the securing member being hidden from view from an exterior of the rolled sleeve when the shirt is worn by a person.

The present disclosure relates to clothing apparel and in particular to T-Shirts having rolled sleeves.
At various times it has been popular to roll up the sleeves of a basic short sleeve T-Shirt. Often times cigarettes would be stored in at least one of the rolled sleeves of a T-Shirt. One of the traditional problems of rolling up a sleeve of a T-Shirt has been that the rolled sleeve tends to unroll during wear, such as during activity. Further, it is known to use a visible decorative rivet on a rolled sleeve.


This invention pertains to purified, biologically active acyl coenzyme A: cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) and to nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) encoding acyl coenzyme A: cholesterol acyltransferase. The nucleic acid, or a fragment thereof, may be ligated with an expression vector and transfected into cells to express acyl coenzyme A: cholesterol acyltransferase activity in intact cells and in cell-free extracts.

Acyl coenzyme A: cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) is an intracellular enzyme that uses cholesterol and fatty acyl-coenzyme A (CoA) to form cholesterol esters. Accumulation of cholesterol esters as cytoplasmic lipid droplets within cells of human aortic tissue is a characteristic feature of early lesions of atherosclerotic plaque. In intestines of vertebrate animals, the extent of absorption of dietary cholesterol can be shown to be significantly reduced by inhibiting intestinal ACAT activity. In livers of vertebrate animals, formation of lipoproteins require proper supply of cholesterol esters produced through the ACAT catalyzed reaction.
ACAT is a membrane-bound enzyme located in the endoplasmic reticulum of various tissues of animal and human cells. The enzyme has been localized to the rough endoplasmic reticulum in rat liver. It is highly regulated in many cell types and tissues, and it is believed to play an important role in cholesterol metabolism in various cells and tissues such as the small intestinal mucosa, hepatocytes, macrophages, and the steroid hormone-producing tissues (O'Brien, P. M. and Sliskovic, D. R. (1992) in Current Opinion in Therapeutic Patents; Cadigan, K. M., et al. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263:274-282; Cadigan, K. M., et al. (1989) J. Cell Biol. 108:2201-2210).
Although ACAT has been studied intensively, much remains to be learned about its molecular structure. The active site of the enzyme has been localized to the cytoplasmic surface of the microsomal vesicles in the rat liver, using a combination of detergent and protease treatments, but whether the enzyme spans the entire membrane has not yet been determined. Lichtenstein, A. H. and Brecher, P. (1980) J. Biol. Chem. 255:9098-9104. Recent chemical modification studies indicate that essential histidyl and sulfhydryl residues may reside at or near the active site of the enzyme. Studies of ACAT activities of rabbit tissues suggest the existence of different ACAT subtypes since various tissues have differing sensitivities to histidyl-modifying reagents. Kinnunen, P. M. et al. (1988) Biochemistry 27:7344-7350.
ACAT activity has been studied from ACAT solubilized and reconstituted from various cultured cells, including rat and pig liver cells. Although these procedures have allowed enzyme activity to be measured in a defined lipid environment, little progress has been made as yet in purifying the solubilized preparations. To date, no laboratory had succeeded in purifying ACAT to homogeneity with retention of biological activity.

Acyl coenzyme A : cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT)


A multi-chip stacked package primarily comprises a chip carrier, a first chip disposed on the chip carrier, a plurality of die-attaching bars, a second chip stacked on the first chip by the adhesion of the die-attaching bars, and a plurality of bonding wires electrically connecting the first chip to the chip carrier. The die-attaching bars are formed on the first chip in a specific pattern and have an adhesive surface away from the first chip for adhering the second chip. The bonding wires have a loop height lower than the adhesive surface in a manner that specific sections of the bonding wires are embedded in the corresponding die-attaching bar from the adhesive surface. Accordingly, the die-attaching bars can modify and fasten the bonding wires in advance to avoid collapse and deformation of the bonding wires during stacking of the second chip and encapsulating processes.

In a conventional multi-chip stacked package, a plurality of semiconductor chips are vertically stacked on a chip carrier with the active surfaces of the chips facing upward. Bonding wires are implemented to electrically connect the chips to the chip carrier. Comparing to back-to-back stacking, this multi-chip stacked package has the advantages of stacking more chips with better uniform bonding wire lengths connecting to different chips. However, the length of bonding wires increases when stacking more chips, the risk of wire sweeping will also increase causing most common failure mode of electrical short in this multi-chip stacked package. Film-Over-Wire (FOW) technology can be implemented to resolve wire sweeping issues by pre-encapsulating the middle sections of the bonding wires between the chips during chip stacking process to ensure no wire sweeping during molding process.
As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional multi-chip stacked package is disclosed when stacking a second chip 130 on a first chip 120. The first chip 120 is disposed on the chip carrier 110 such as printed wiring boards or lead frames. The first chip 120 has a first active surface 121 and a plurality of first bonding pads 123 disposed on a central region of the first active surface 121. The first bonding pads 123 of the first chip 120 are electrically connected to the chip carrier 110 by a plurality of bonding wires 140. The second chip 150 is provided where the second chip 150 has the same dimension as the one of the first chip 120 and has a second active surface 151 and a plurality of second bonding pads 153 disposed on a central region of the second active surface 151. Before stacking the second chip 150 on top of the first active surface 121 of the first chip 120, a wafer-level die-attaching material 130 (FOW film) is pre-formed on the second back surface 152 of the second chip 150 to attach the second chip 150 to the first chip 120 where the wafer-level die-attaching material 130 is partially cured paste, i.e., B-stage paste, to partially encapsulate the bonding wires 140.
As shown in FIG. 2, the die-attaching material 130 is attached to the first active surface 121 of the first chip 120 by a pre-decided pressure and all of the bonding wires 140 are partially encapsulated during stacking of the second chip 150. However, the bonding wires 140 are collapsed and deformed under the die-bonding pressure from the die-attaching material 130 to directly contact with the first active surface 121 of the first chip 120 leading to poor packaging quality, more the worse, leading to electrical short between the adjacent bonding wires 140 and air gap between the chips 120 and 150 causing lower packaging yield. Therefore, even with the existing wire bonding technology, a wire capillary (wire-bonding tool) can move in various bonding directions and track with multiple bending angles to increase the horizontal sections of the bonding wires 140 suspended above the first chip 120 (as shown in FIG. 1), however, the collapse and deformation of the bonding wires 140 during attaching the second chip 150 can not be avoided. Furthermore, another method to improve collapse and deformation of bonding wires 140 during stacking process is to change the physical properties of the die-attaching material 130 to be softer and more fluid-like, however, the volatile materials in the die-attaching material 130 can not be exhausted leading to trapped bubbles in the die-attaching material 130. Moreover, uniformity of curing level of the die-attaching material 130 becomes an issue, i.e., curing level at the peripheries of the die-attaching material 130 is higher than the one at the center. Once the peripheries of the die-attaching material 130 is fully cured, then the volatile materials at the center of the die-attaching material 130 will be blocked and can not be exhausted. Even with the extended curing time, the center of the die-attaching material 130 still can not be fully cured leading to chip peeling issues due to uneven uniformity of curing level.
In Taiwan Patent No. 1250597, entitled "Method for manufacturing multi-chip package having encapsulated bond-wires between stack chips", Lin et al. disclose a method to avoid bonding wires from collapse and deformation from directly contacting with the active surface of the bottom chip. A patterned bottom die-attaching layer is pre-formed on the active surface of the bottom chip and a top die-attaching layer is pre-formed on the back surface of the top chip. Then the top chip is pressed downward to attach to the bottom chip so that portions of the bonding wires above the active surface of the bottom chip are encapsulated between the top and bottom die-attaching layers. However, the pattern of the top die-attaching layer is different from the one of the bottom die-attaching layer, therefore, the top die-attaching layer can not easily fill the central gap of the bottom die-attaching layer causing trapped bubbles leading to package reliability issues. Furthermore, since the top die-attaching layer has to be pre-formed on the back surface of the top chip, extra components and process are needed where the height of the stacked package is also increased which can not meet the light, slim, thin, and small requirements of electronic products with lower cost. Moreover, trapped bubbles in the die-attaching layer will become an issue.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,683,385 B2, entitled "LOW PROFILE STACK SEMICONDUCTOR PACKAGE", Tsai et al. disclose another method to avoid bonding wires collapse and deformation from directly contact with the active surface of the bottom chip. An insulating cushion member is disposed at peripheral edges of the active surface of the bottom chip. When the bonding wires extend from the bonding pads of the bottom chip and turn downward to the substrate by overpassing the cushion member, the bonding wires are approximately horizontal and in contact with the cushion member to avoid directly contact with the peripheral edge. Then, a die-attaching layer is disposed on the bottom chip with the top chip stacked on top of the die-attaching layer of the bottom chip so that the electrical connection mechanism of the bottom chip will not be damaged nor affected. However, for the disclosed method, another cushion member is needed leading to more complicated process with higher cost where the cushion member located at the peripheries of the chip will also hinder the exhaust of the volatile materials inside the die-attaching layer.


A recording apparatus includes a recording unit that performs recording, a tray on which a target recording medium is set, a movement mechanism that moves the tray relative to the recording unit between a setting operation position at which the target recording medium is set on the tray and a recording start position at which recording starts, an adjustment section that is configured to adjust a distance between the recording unit and the tray, and a mark that corresponds to a position of the recording unit in a direction in which the distance is adjusted.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a recording apparatus that performs recording on a target recording medium and a recording method.
2. Related Art
Recording apparatuses are used which are capable of performing recording on a target recording medium of different thickness. In such recording apparatuses, it is necessary to adjust a height of a tray on which the target recording medium is set or a height of a recording surface of a recording unit (for example, an ink ejection surface of a recording head) depending on the type of the target recording medium. Without this adjustment, a distance between the recording surface of the recording unit and a target recording surface of the target recording medium (hereinafter, referred to as "PG") may not become an appropriate distance, which leads to failure in achieving a desired recording image. Moreover, the recording surface of the recording unit and the target recording surface of the target recording medium may come into contact with each other, which causes damage on the recording unit and the target recording medium.
For example, JP-A-2006-239866 discloses a technique to adjust PG to a predetermined distance. JP-A-2006-239866 discloses a recording apparatus that has a contact which comes into contact with a target recording surface of a fabric at a position on the leading side in the recording direction of a recording head so as to adjust the height of the recording head based on the height of the contact.
Further, recording apparatuses that perform recording on a target recording medium of different thickness also include those in which a height of a tray on which the target recording medium is set is visually adjusted based on a height of an ink ejection surface of the recording head in order to achieve a predetermined distance for PG during setting of the target recording medium on the tray.
Moreover, recording apparatuses that perform recording on a target recording medium of different thickness also include those in which a position at which the target recording medium is set on the tray (hereinafter, referred to as "setting operation position") is provided spaced away from the recording head.
JP-A-2006-239866 describes that the recording apparatus is configured to adjust the height of the recording head based on the height of the target recording surface of the target recording medium via the contact, and does not describe that the height of the tray is visually adjusted based on the height of the ink ejection surface. That is, it is not intended in JP-A-2006-239866 to visually adjust the height of the tray based on the height of the ink ejection surface during setting of the target recording medium on the tray.
Further, in the recording apparatus in which the setting operation position is provided spaced away from the recording head, it is difficult to visually adjust the height of the tray during setting of the target recording medium on the tray. It is because highly precise adjustment of the height of the tray based on the height of the ink ejection surface of the recording head is difficult since the tray is spaced away from the recording head.

Recording apparatus and recording method