Author: claimsbot

1. A compound of the formula (I):
wherein
Z is Het2, optionally substituted on a ring carbon atom with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of halo, cyano, (C1-C4)alkyl, halo(C1-C4)alkyl, (C1-C4)alkoxy, halo(C1-C4)alkoxy, (C3-C8)cycloalkyl, (C3-C8)cycloalkyl(C1-C4)alkyl, (C1-C4)alkyl-S\u2014, amino, (C1-C4)alkylamino, di(C1-C4)alkylamino, amino(C1-C4)alkyl, (C1-C4)alkylamino(C1-C4)alkyl, and di(C1-C4)alkylamino(C1-C4)alkyl; andor Het2 is optionally substituted on a ring nitrogen atom with (C1-C4)alkyl, halo(C1-C4)alkyl and (C3-C8)cycloalkyl; with the proviso that Z is not tetrazolyl;
Y1, Y2, Y3 and Y4 are each independently CH, CR1 or N, provided that no more than two of Y1, Y2, Y3 and Y4 are N;
each R1 is independently selected from the group consisting of halo, cyano, amino, hydroxy, (C1-C4)alkyl, halo(C1-C4)alkyl, hydroxy(C1-C4)alkyl, (C1-C4)alkoxy, halo(C1-C4)alkoxy, (C1-C4)alkoxy(C1-C4)alkyl, \u2014C(O)H, \u2014C(O)(C1-C4)alkyl, and \u2014C(O)N(R2)2;
each R2 is independently hydrogen, (C1-C4)alkyl, halo(C1-C4)alkyl, hydroxy(C1-C4)alkyl, or (C3-C6)cycloalkyl; or, where a nitrogen is substituted with two R2 groups, each independently selected from (C1-C4)alkyl, halo(C1-C4)alkyl, or hydroxy(C1-C4)alkyl, they may be taken together with the N atom to which they are attached to form a 4- to 6-membered ring which, when so formed, may therefore optionally be substituted with hydrogen, alkyl, halo, hydroxy, hydroxyalkyl or haloalkyl;
B is phenyl or Het2, wherein, when B is Het2 it is attached to the oxy linker at a ring carbon atom, and wherein B is optionally further substituted on a ring carbon atom with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of halo, cyano, hydroxy, (C1-C4)alkyl, halo(C1-C4)alkyl, (C1-C4)alkoxy, halo(C1-C4)alkoxy, cyano(C1-C4)alkyl, amino, (C1-C4)alkylamino, di(C1-C4)alkylamino, amino(C1-C4)alkyl, (C1-C4)alkylamino(C1-C4)alkyl, di(C1-C4)alkylamino(C1-C4)alkyl, trifluoromethylthio, hydroxy(C1-C4)alkyl, (C1-C4)alkoxy(C1-C4)alkyl, \u2014C(O)R2, \u2014C(O)OR2, \u2014OC(O)R2, \u2014C(O)\u2014N(R2)2, \u2014CH2\u2014C(O)R2, \u2014CH2\u2014C(O)OR2, \u2014CH2\u2014OC(O)R2, \u2014CH2\u2014C(O)\u2014N(R2)2, S(O)2R2, S(O)2N(R2)2, (C3-C8)cycloalkyl, and (C3-C8)cycloalkyl(C1-C4)alkyl; andor
Het2 is optionally substituted on a ring nitrogen atom with a substituent selected from the group consisting of (C1-C4)alkyl, halo(C1-C4)alkyl, hydroxy(C1-C4)alkyl, (C1-C4)alkoxy(C1-C4)alkyl, amino(C1-C4)alkyl, (C1-C4)alkylamino(C1-C4)alkyl, di(C1-C4)alkylamino(C1-C4)alkyl, \u2014CH2\u2014C(O)R2, \u2014CH2\u2014C(O)OR2, \u2014CH2\u2014C(O)\u2014N(R2)2, S(O)2R2, and S(O)2N(R2)2;
X is absent, \u2014O\u2014, methylene, ethylene, methylene-O\u2014, or \u2014O-methylene;
C is (C3-C8)cycloalkyl, Het1, phenyl, or Het2, each optionally substituted on a ring carbon atom with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of halo, cyano, hydroxy, (C1-C4)alkyl, halo(C1-C4)alkyl, (C1-C4)alkoxy, halo(C1-C4)alkoxy, N(R2)2, (R2)2N(C1-C4)alkyl, trifluoromethylthio, hydroxy(C1-C4)alkyl, (C1-C4)alkoxy(C1-C4)alkyl, \u2014C(O)R2, \u2014C(O)OR2, \u2014OC(O)R2, \u2014C(O)\u2014N(R2)2, \u2014CH2\u2014C(O)R2, \u2014CH2\u2014C(O)OR2, \u2014CH2\u2014OC(O)R2, \u2014CH2\u2014C(O)\u2014N(R2)2, S(O)2R2, S(O)2N(R2)2, (C3-C8)cycloalkyl(C1-C4)alkyl, (C3-C8)cycloalkoxy, (C3-C8)cycloalkylamino, (C3-C8)cycloalkylamino(C1-C4)alkyl, (C3-C8)cycloalkyl(C1-C4)alkylamino, (C3-C8)cycloalkyl(C1-C4)alkylamino(C1-C4)alkyl, (C3-C8)cycloalkyl(C1-C4)alkoxy and D; andor
Het2 is optionally substituted on a ring nitrogen atom with a substituent selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, (C1-C4)alkyl, halo(C1-C4)alkyl, amino(C1-C4)alkyl, (C1-C4)alkylamino(C1-C4)alkyl, di(C1-C4)alkylamino(C1-C4)alkyl, hydroxy(C1-C4)alkyl, (C1-C4)alkoxy(C1-C4)alkyl, \u2014C(O)R2, \u2014C(O)OR2, \u2014CH2\u2014C(O)R2, \u2014CH2\u2014C(O)OR2, \u2014CH2\u2014C(O)\u2014N(R2)2, S(O)2R2, and S(O)2N(R2)2 and D;
with the proviso that C is not 3,5-dioxo-4,5-dihydro-3H-1,2,4triazin-2-yl;
D is phenyl, benzyl, (C3-C8)cycloalkyl, or Het1, each optionally substituted on a carbon atom with one or more substituents independently selected from the group consisting of halo, cyano, hydroxy, (C1-C4)alkyl, halo(C1-C4)alkyl, (C1-C4)alkoxy, halo(C1-C4)alkoxy, amino, (C1-C4)alkylamino, di(C1-C4)alkylamino, amino(C1-C4)alkyl, (C1-C4)alkylamino(C1-C4)alkyl, di(C1-C4)alkylamino(C1-C4)alkyl, trifluoromethylthio, hydroxy(C1-C4)alkyl, (C1-C4)alkoxy(C1-C4)alkyl, \u2014C(O)R2, \u2014C(O)OR2, \u2014OC(O)R2, \u2014C(O)\u2014N(R2)2, \u2014CH2\u2014C(O)R2, \u2014CH2\u2014C(O)OR2, \u2014CH2\u2014OC(O)R2, \u2014CH2\u2014C(O)\u2014N(R2)2, S(O)2R2, and S(O)2N(R2)2;
Het1 is a 3- to 8-membered, saturated or partially unsaturated monocyclic heterocyclic group comprising one or two or three ring members selected from \u2014NR3\u2014, \u2014O\u2014, \u2014C(O)\u2014 and \u2014S(O)p\u2014;
R3 is either the point of attachment to X or C to give
or R3 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, (C1-C4)alkyl, halo(C1-C4)alkyl, hydroxy(C1-C4)alkyl, (C1-C4)alkoxy(C1-C4)alkyl, \u2014C(O)(C1-C4)alkyl, \u2014C(O)O(C1-C4)alkyl, \u2014CH2\u2014C(O)O(C1-C4)alkyl, \u2014CH2\u2014C(O)\u2014N((C1-C4)alkyl)2, S(O)2R2, S(O)2N(R2)2 and (C3-C8)cycloalkyl;
p is 0, 1 or 2; and
Het2 is a 5- or 6-membered aromatic heterocyclic group comprising either (a) 1 to 4 nitrogen atoms, (b) one oxygen or one sulphur atom or (c) 1 oxygen atom or 1 sulphur atom and 1 or 2 nitrogen atoms;
or a tautomer thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate of the compound of formula (I), or its tautomer;
with the proviso that the compound of formula (I) is not the following specific compound:
2. A compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or tautomer thereof, as claimed in claim 1, wherein Z is not isoxazolyl.
3. A compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or tautomer thereof, as claimed in claim 1, wherein Z is selected from the group consisting of 2-thiazolyl, 4-thiazolyl, 1-thia-3,4-diazolyl, 1-thia-2,4-diazolyl, pyridinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, and pyrimidinyl.
4. A compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or tautomer thereof, as claimed in claim 1, wherein Y1 is CR1, and Y2, Y3 and Y4 are each CH; or Y1 and Y3 are CR1 and Y2 and Y4 are CH.
5. A compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or tautomer thereof, as claimed in claim 4, wherein each R1 is independently selected from halo; cyano; (C1-C4)alkyl; halo(C1-C4)alkyl; (C1-C4)alkoxy; and \u2014C(O)NH2.
6. A compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or tautomer thereof, as claimed in claim 1, wherein B is phenyl.
7. A compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or tautomer thereof, as claimed in claim 6, wherein B is unsubstituted, or is substituted on a ring carbon with one or two substituents independently selected from the group consisting of halo; halo(C1-C4)alkyl; or halo(C1-C4)alkoxy.
8. A compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or tautomer thereof, as claimed in claim 1, wherein C at the atom where it attaches to X, or directly to ring B if X is absent, is not further substituted except that such an atom may be substituted by hydrogen if chemically possible.
9. A compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or tautomer thereof, as claimed in claim 1, wherein C is selected from the group consisting of pyrazolyl; pyridinyl; pyridazinyl; pyrimidinyl; azetidinyl; piperidinyl; or tetrahydropyranyl.
10. A compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or tautomer thereof, as claimed in claim 1, wherein X is absent.
11. A compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or tautomer thereof, as claimed in claim 1, which has the formula (Ib):
12. A compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or tautomer thereof, as claimed in claim 1, selected from the group consisting of:
4-2-(6-Aminopyridin-3-yl)-4-fluorophenoxy-N-(5-chloro-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)-3-cyanobenzenesulfonamide;
5-chloro-4-(4-chloro-2-piperidin-4-ylphenoxy)-2-fluoro-N-1,3-thiazol-4-ylbenzenesulfonamide;
4-4-Chloro-2-(1H-pyrazol-4-yl)phenoxy-3-cyano-N-1,3-thiazol-2-ylbenzenesulfonamide;
3-cyano-4-2-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenoxy-N-1,3-thiazol-2-ylbenzenesulfonamide;
4-(2-azetidin-3-yl-4-chlorophenoxy)-5-chloro-N-(5-chloro-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)-2-fluorobenzenesulfonamide;
N-(5-Chloro-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)-3-cyano-4-4-fluoro-2-(1H-pyrazol-4-yl)phenoxybenzenesulfonamide;
N-(5-Chloro-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)-3-cyano-4-4-chloro-2-(1H-pyrazol-4-yl)phenoxybenzenesulfonamide;
4-2-(2-aminopyridin-4-yl)-4-chlorophenoxy-2,5-difluoro-N-1,2,4-thiadiazol-5-ylbenzenesulfonamide;
4-2-(5-amino-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-4-chlorophenoxy-5-chloro-2-fluoro-N-1,3-thiazol-4-ylbenzenesulfonamide;
2,5-difluoro-4-2-(1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy-N-1,2,4-thiadiazol-5-ylbenzenesulfonamide;
2,5-difluoro-4-2-(1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy-N-1,2,4-thiadiazol-5-ylbenzenesulfonamide;
4-(4-chloro-2-(1H-pyrazol-4-yl)phenoxy)-3-cyano-N-(1,2,4-thiadiazol-5-yl)benzenesulfonamide;
4-2-(5-amino-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-4-chlorophenoxy-3-cyano-N-1,2,4-thiadiazol-5-ylbenzenesulfonamide;
3-cyano-4-2-(1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenoxy-N-1,2,4-thiadiazol-5-ylbenzenesulfonamide;
4-2-(5-amino-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-4-chlorophenoxy-5-chloro-2-fluoro-N-1,2,4-thiadiazol-5-ylbenzenesulfonamide;
3-cyano-4-2-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenoxy-N-1,2,4-thiadiazol-5-ylbenzenesulfonamide;
5-chloro-4-(4-chloro-2-piperidin-4-ylphenoxy)-2-fluoro-N-1,2,4-thiadiazol-5-ylbenzenesulfonamide;
3-cyano-4-2-(5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy-N-1,2,4-thiadiazol-5-ylbenzenesulfonamide;
4-{2-2-(aminomethyl)pyridin-4-yl-4-chlorophenoxy}-5-chloro-2-fluoro-N-1,2,4-thiadiazol-5-ylbenzenesulfonamide;
3-Cyano-4-2-(tetrahydro-2H-pyran-4-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy-N-1,2,4-thiadiazol-5-ylbenzenesulfonamide;
5-Chloro-2-fluoro-N-(5-fluoropyridin-2-yl)-4-2-piperidin-4-yl-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxybenzenesulfonamide;
4-2-(1-azetidin-3-yl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-4-chlorophenoxy-2,5-difluoro-N-1,2,4-thiadiazol-5-ylbenzenesulfonamide;
3-cyano-4-2-pyridazin-4-yl-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy-N-1,2,4-thiadiazol-5-ylbenzenesulfonamide;
4-2-(5-amino-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-4-chlorophenoxy-5-chloro-2-fluoro-N-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-ylbenzenesulfonamide;
4-4-chloro-5-fluoro-2-(1H-pyrazol-4-yl)phenoxy-3-cyano-N-1,2,4-thiadiazol-5-ylbenzenesulfonamide;
2,5-difluoro-4-2-pyridazin-4-yl-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy-N-1,2,4-thiadiazol-5-ylbenzenesulfonamide;
5-Chloro-2-fluoro-4-{4-fluoro-2-1-(1-methylazetidin-3-yl)-1H-pyrazol-5-ylphenoxy}-N-1,2,4-thiadiazol-5-ylbenzenesulfonamide;
5-Chloro-2-fluoro-4-{4-fluoro-2-1-(1-methylazetidin-3-yl)-1H-pyrazol-5-ylphenoxy}-N-1,3-thiazol-4-ylbenzenesulfonamide;
4-2-(1-Azetidin-3-yl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-4-fluorophenoxy-5-chloro-2-fluoro-N-1,3-thiazol-4-ylbenzenesulfonamide;
4-2-(1-azetidin-3-yl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-4-chlorophenoxy-3-cyano-N-1,3-thiazol-4-ylbenzenesulfonamide;
4-2-(1-azetidin-3-yl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-4-fluorophenoxy-5-chloro-2-fluoro-N-1,2,4-thiadiazol-5-ylbenzenesulfonamide;
4-{4-Chloro-2-1-(1-methylazetidin-3-yl)-1H-pyrazol-5-ylphenoxy}-2,5-difluoro-N-1,2,4-thiadiazol-5-ylbenzenesulfonamide;
4-2-(2-aminopyridin-4-yl)-4-chlorophenoxy-5-chloro-2-fluoro-N-pyrimidin-4-ylbenzenesulfonamide;
5-chloro-4-4-chloro-2-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)phenoxy-2-fluoro-N-pyrimidin-4-ylbenzenesulfonamide;
4-2-(2-aminopyridin-4-yl)-4-chlorophenoxy-5-chloro-2-fluoro-N-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-ylbenzenesulfonamide;
3-cyano-4-2-pyridazin-4-yl-4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenoxy-N-1,2,4-thiadiazol-5-ylbenzenesulfonamide;
4-{4-Chloro-2-2-(dimethylamino)pyridin-4-ylphenoxy}-3-cyano-N-1,2,4-thiadiazol-5-ylbenzenesulfonamide;
2,5-Difluoro-4-{2-1-(1-methylazetidin-3-yl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy}-N-1,3-thiazol-4-ylbenzenesulfonamide;
4-{4-Chloro-2-1-(1-ethylazetidin-3-yl)-1H-pyrazol-5-ylphenoxy}-3-cyano-N-1,3-thiazol-4-ylbenzenesulfonamide;
4-{4-Chloro-2-2-(cyclobutyloxy)pyridin-4-ylphenoxy}-3-cyano-N-1,2,4-thiadiazol-5-ylbenzenesulfonamide;
4-{4-Chloro-2-2-(dimethylamino)pyridin-4-ylphenoxy}-3-cyano-N-1,2,4-thiadiazol-5-ylbenzenesulfonamide;
5-chloro-2-fluoro-4-2-pyridazin-4-yl-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy-N-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-ylbenzenesulfonamide;
4-2-(3-amino-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy-5-chloro-2-fluoro-N-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-ylbenzenesulfonamide;
4-2-(3-amino-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy-5-chloro-2-fluoro-N-1,3-thiazol-4-ylbenzenesulfonamide;
4-4-Chloro-2-(2-piperazin-1-ylpyrimidin-4-yl)phenoxy-3-cyano-N-1,2,4-thiadiazol-5-ylbenzenesulfonamide;
4-2-(2-aminopyridin-4-yl)-4-chlorophenoxy-5-chloro-2-fluoro-N-pyridazin-3-ylbenzenesulfonamide;
4-{2-2-(Azetidin-1-ylmethyl)pyridin-4-yl-4-chlorophenoxy}-2,5-difluoro-N-1,3-thiazol-4-ylbenzenesulfonamide;
3-Cyano-4-{2-1-(1-ethylazetidin-3-yl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy}-N-1,2,4-thiadiazol-5-ylbenzenesulfonamide;
5-Chloro-2-fluoro-4-5-fluoro-2-pyridazin-4-yl-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy-N-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-ylbenzenesulfonamide;
3-Cyano-4-5-fluoro-2-pyridazin-4-yl-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy-N-1,2,4-thiodiazol-5-ylbenzenesulfonamide;
4-2-(3-amino-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-4-chlorophenoxy-5-chloro-2-fluoro-N-pyrimidin-4-ylbenzenesulfonamide;
2-fluoro-5-methyl-4-2-pyridazin-4-yl-4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenoxy-N-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-ylbenzenesulfonamide; and
4-2-(3-amino-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-4-chlorophenoxy-5-chloro-2-fluoro-N-pyridazin-3-ylbenzenesulfonamide.
13. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or tautomer thereof, as claimed in claim 1, and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients.
14. A pharmaceutical composition as claimed in claim 13 comprising one or more additional therapeutic agents.
15. A method of treating pain in a mammal comprising administering to a mammal requiring such treatment an effective amount of a compound of the formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or tautomer thereof, according to claim 1.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A method of making optical elements for an optical disc system, comprising:
providing a glass wafer of a diameter sufficiently large to form a plurality of lens elements side-by-side therein;
selectively etching a lens in each lens element;
selectively etching angled surfaces in each lens element;
depositing a reflective material on the angled surfaces;
selectively etching the outline of each lens element leaving rods connecting the lens elements to the wafer; and
cutting through the rods to separate the lens elements from the wafer.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the reflective material comprises an oxide, nitride, sulfide, or fluoride of a transition metal.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the reflective material comprises titanium nitride deposited to a thickness that forms partially reflective mirrors.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein a second large-diameter glass wafer is provided to form a plurality of base elements, and the method includes:
selectively etching an angled surface on each base element;
depositing a second reflective material on the angled surface to provide a fully reflective mirror;
selectively etching the outline of each base element leaving rods connecting the base elements to the second wafer; and
cutting through the rods to separate the base elements from the second wafer.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein the second reflective material comprises aluminum.
6. The method of claim 4 further comprising assembling each lens element with a base element to align optical paths for light passing therethrough.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the lens is etched part way into a first side of the lens element, and further comprising selectively etching a second lens juxtaposed with the first-recited lens, the second lens being etched part way into the lens element from a side opposite from the first side to provide separate paths for light leaving the lens element and returning into the lens element.

1. An open-pored metallic foam body which is formed from a nickel-copper alloy having at least 40 percent by weight of nickel and has a porosity of at least 90%.
2. A metallic foam body according to claim 1, characterized in that 6 percent by weight of additional alloy elements are included at the most in addition to said nickel and said copper.
3. A metallic foam body according to claim 1, characterized in that said nickel is included with at least 60 percent by weight.
4. A metallic foam body according to claim 1, characterized in that additional alloy elements selected from manganese, iron, carbon, silicon, aluminum, titanium are included.
5. A method for manufacturing open-pored metallic foam bodies characterized in that said open-pored metallic foam body is made of pure nickel and is coated with a copper powder andor copper oxide powder such that said powder is covering the surface of said nickel foam structure also within said open pores, and subsequently a thermal treatment is carried out at temperatures above 700\xb0 C., wherein alloying of said nickel and said copper takes place.
6. A method according to claim 5, characterized in that said powder is deposited upon the surfaces of said nickel foam structure with an organic binding agent.
7. A method according to claims 5, characterized in that said copper powder andor said copper oxide powder is deposited by means of an aqueous solution of a polymeric binding agent.
8. A method according to claim 5, characterized in that said thermal treatment is carried out in a hydrogen atmosphere.
9. A method according to claim 5, characterized in that during said thermal treatment in the range of 700\xb0 C. to 900\xb0 C. decrease of porosity and increase of the specific surface is achieved.
10. A method according to claim 5, characterized in that during said thermal treatment in the temperature range of 1100\xb0 C. to 1300\xb0 C. the initial porosity of said nickel foam structure is maintained.
11. A method according to claim 5, characterized in that a catalytically acting substance in powder form is added to said powder prior to said thermal treatment.
12. A method according to claim 5, characterized in that subsequent to said thermal treatment a catalytically acting substance is deposited galvanically or by sintering upon said surface.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A commodity recognition apparatus, comprising:
an image capturing unit configured to repeatedly photograph a commodity located in an image capturing area which is illuminated for an illumination period every predetermined exposure period to capture image of the commodity;
a recognition module configured to recognize the commodity based on the image of the commodity captured by the image capturing unit;
a first illumination unit configured to illuminate a first illumination area closer to the image capturing unit in the image capturing area for the illumination period in relation to the exposure period;
a second illumination unit configured to illuminate a second illumination area including at least part of the first illumination area and an area further than the first illumination area from the image capturing unit in the image capturing area for a given illumination period in relation to the exposure period;
a detection module configured to detect occurrence of overexposure in the image captured by the image capturing unit; and
a control module configured to control, if the detection module detects occurrence of overexposure of the image, an execution timing of illumination of the second illumination unit so that a shifting amount of the given illumination period of the second illumination unit to a successive exposure period next to the exposure period in which the overexposure is detected is different from a predetermined reference value.
2. The commodity recognition apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control module increases the shifting amount in the successive exposure period by a first specified amount with respect to the shifting amount in the exposure period in which the occurrence of overexposure is detected by the detection module, or decreases the shifting amount in the successive exposure period by a second specified amount different from the first specified amount with respect to the shifting amount in the exposure period in which the occurrence of overexposure is not detected by the detection module.
3. The commodity recognition apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising a measurement module configured to measure the degree of overexposure, wherein the control module respectively changes the first or the second specified amount according to the degree of overexposure measured by the measurement module.
4. The commodity recognition apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control module sets the minimum value of the shifting amount to zero, and sets the maximum value of the shifting amount to a value determined to be smaller than the length of the exposure period.
5. The commodity recognition apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection module detects occurrence of overexposure in a case in which the number of white pixels in the image captured by the image capturing unit is greater than a predetermined threshold value.
6. The commodity recognition apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the commodity has a code-symbol thereon for specifying the commodity and the image captured by the image capturing unit includes the code-symbol.
7. A control method of the commodity recognition apparatus having an image capturing unit, including:
repeatedly photographing a commodity in an image capturing area which is illuminated for an illumination period by the image capturing unit every predetermined exposure period to capture image of the commodity
recognizing the commodity based on the image of the commodity captured by the image capturing unit;
first illuminating a first illumination area closer to the image capturing unit in the image capturing area for the illumination period in relation to the exposure period;
second illuminating a second illumination area including at least part of the first illumination area and an area further than the first illumination area from the image capturing unit in the image capturing area for a given illumination period in relation to the exposure period;
detecting occurrence of overexposure in the image of the commodity captured by the image capturing unit; and
controlling, if occurrence of overexposure of the image is detected, an execution timing of the second illuminating so that a shifting amount of the given illumination period of the second illuminating to a successive exposure period next to the exposure period in which the overexposure is detected is different from a predetermined reference value.