Method for a non-destructive and image forming examination of a sample (1) by means of a heat flow thermography method where the examination consists of evaluating the presence of any gradients in heat flow velocity at respective depth distances from a surface of the sample (1), comprising exciting the sample (1) by means of periodic heat pulses P1 from at least one excitation source, and capturing thermal image sequences of a thermal flow originating from the heat pulses by at least one infrared camera (5), implementing relative time delays Δt between a starting point of imaging of the respective image sequences and a starting point of the periodic excitation, combining all captured image sequences to a resulting image sequence in which all images are arranged in a correct time sequence, and extracting from the resulting image sequence an indication of the existence and depth distance of a heat flow velocity transition from a surface of the sample. Exciting the sample (1) comprises applying heat pulses to the sample with a lock-in frequency equal to or higher than one fourth of the imaging frequency of the camera for exciting the sample (1), controlling an excitation period of the heat pulses during which the excitation of the sample (1) by means of the heat pulses takes place, and capturing thermal image sequences comprises capturing the plural image sequences during successive excitation periods of the heat pulses with the imaging frequency. The invention includes also a system for implementing the above method.

The invention relates to a method for a non-destructive and image forming examination of a sample for defects by means of lock-in thermography.
The heat flow thermography has been established in the past years as a non-contacting and nondestructive examination method. According to this method, a sample is excited by at least one source in order to generate a heat flow. The heat radiation immediate from the sample is captured by at least one infrared sensor in a sequence of images, and is passed on to a calculating unit. Resulting images of various types can be generated in the computing unit whereby a thermal image or an amplitude- or phase image, respectively is retrieved (Theory and Practice of Infrared Technology for Nondestructive Testing, Xavier P. V. Maldague-John Wiley & Sons, Incl., 2001).
The WO 2013/083846 A1 discloses a method for a non-destructive, non-contacting and image forming examination of a sample by means of the heat flow thermography method using individual excitation pulses for evaluating an existence and/or depth distance values of any heat flow velocity transitions below a surface of the sample, wherein the sample is excited by heat pulses of at least one excitation source, and a thermal flow originating therefrom is captured by at least one infrared sensor in an image sequence of thermal images, and wherein the thermal images obtained from the image sequence are evaluated by means of a signal and image processing and depicting a thermal flow with a resolution in time and in space. The method comprises exciting the sample at least twice independently from each other by means of the heat pulses from the excitation source where a second excitation and any succeeding excitation is delayed with respect to a preceding excitation by a time delay whereby the start of the captured sequence happens at another defined point of time within the time between two images within an image sequence; detecting the respective total thermal flow processes generated by the at least two excitation processes of the sample by the infrared sensor in the independent image sequences containing the excitation as well as the thermal response signal from the sample, combining all captured image sequences to a total image sequence in which all images are arranged in a sequence which is correct in time with respect to the point of time of the pulse like excitation, and extracting from the total image sequence an indication of the depth distance of a heat flow velocity transition from a surface of the sample. Therein, the heat flow velocity transitions can be defects below a surface of a work piece or boarders between layers in a layered material.
The resulting image sequences resulting from compilation of the individual image sequences are processed as disclosed in WO 2013/083846 A1. As long as the respective intensity values of the captured image sequences are not corrected they show an increased resolution in time of the evaluated pixel related functions of the surface intensity, but they form pixel related intensity curves of the total sequence which do not comprise a strictly monotonous behavior in the areas to be evaluated. Therefore, they cannot be processed mathematically in an unambiguous way. After the correction following a typical correction method in IR-imaging technique the first image sequence serves as a reference sequence in this example, all captured image sequences are subject to the same intensity offset. Therefore, all respective combined pixel related intensity curves in the areas to be evaluated (after the excitation) are to be strictly monotonous up to small mistakes in correction based on the imperfection of the used model.
The total image sequences are used for the reconstruction of the total layer structure of the sample in case of a layered (material) starting from the physical model thereof as well as from the known excitation signal of the excitation source. For this purpose, pulse responses of the total system for different run times of appropriate length are calculated beforehand from the physical model of sample to be examined, for example by means of the inverse Laplace transformation ("Conduction of Heat in Solids, 2nd Edition, Carslaw H. S. and Jaeger J. C., Clearendon Press Oxford, 1959, pages 297 to 326). Therefrom, the respective thermal response signals of the layered material are equalized mathematically for example with the method of the least squares (Taschenbuch der Mathematik, I. N. Bronstein, K. A. Semendjajew, 25th edition, B. G. Teubner Verlagsgesellschaft, Stuttgart, Leipzig and Verlag Nauka, Moskau, 1991).
Thereby, the optimal upper and base run time parameters can be extracted out of the respective areas of the intensity curves of the resulting image sequence wherein the upper run time parameter is the run time parameter of the upper layer and the base run time parameter is the run time parameter of the base layer of the two layer material. Subsequently, the respective layer thickness values of the layered material to be examined are calculated while using previous knowledge of the diffusivity values according to the known evaluation method (Theory and Practice of Infrared 5 Technology for Non-destructive Testing, Xavier P. V. Maldague, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2001, pages 527-536). These values are, thereafter, combined to an image which covers the complete area.
In the paper of CHRISTIAN SCHMIDT et al: "Non-destructive defect depth determination at fully packaged and stacked die devices using Lock-in Thermography", PHYSICAL AND FAILURE ANALYSIS OF INTEGRATED CIRCUITS (IPFA, 2010), proceedings 17th IEEE International Symposium on the IEEE, NJ, USA, Jul. 5, 2010 (2010-07-05), pages 1 to 5, XP 031720074, ISBN 978-1-4244-5596-6, a non-destructive approach for the 3D localization of thermally active buried defects in single chip and stacked die architectures by use of lock-in thermography (LIT) is presented. The paper also explains the method how to process the time resolved result curves to obtain the frequency vs. phase shift curves from which the depth location of the thermally active buried defects is derived. The basic principal concerns the thermal wave propagation through different material layers and the resulting phase shift. Based on that, the LIT application for 3D defect localization is explained and both fully packaged single chip and stacked die devices are considered while comparing the theoretical and experimental data (results). In the lock-in thermography, a periodic excitation signal is applied to the sample, and the camera scans the respective area of the sample surface with a high frequency such that each signal can be correlated in time to the excitation paste on the images taken by the camera. A parasitic heating up and other signals outside of the excitation frequency are suppressed.
Wolf A. et al.: "Thermophysical analysis of thin films by lock-in thermography", Journal of applied physics, American Institute of Physics, New York, US, vol. 96, no. 11, 1 Jan. 2004 82004-01-01), pages 6306-6312, XP01068299, ISSN: 0021-8979, DOI: 10.1063/1.1811390, disclose a method for the determination of the thermophysical properties of thin films. The procedure is based on the contact-free thermal analysis of free standing thin films by means of a lock-in thermography system. The thermophysical properties are deduced from the thermal diffusion length and the temperature amplitude of a thermal wave propagating in the sample excited by a laser heat source. An infrared camera images the wave and the thermal diffusion length Λα of the amplitude and the thermal diffusion length Λρ of the phase are measured. Thermal losses influence both Λα and Λρ. Their geometric mean ΛαΛρ is, however, not effected by thermal losses. In turn 1/Λα2−1/Λρ2 is determined by the thermal losses and does not depend on the lock-in frequencies, as Λα and Λρ yield the in-plane thermal diffusivity and a damping factor. The latter quantifies the thermal losses to the ambient. The use of a vacuum chamber and a temperature calibration are not required. If, however, the camera is calibrated, the in-plane thermal conductivity and the volumetric heat capacity are obtained from the temperature amplitude of the thermal wave. The measurement accuracy is 10% for the thermal diffusivity, thermal conductivity, and volumetric specific heat. The thermophysical properties measured for thin films of copper, nickel, silver, and polyimide agree with literature values.
In the lock-in thermography, a maximum geometrical resolution may be obtained by means of high resolution cameras and respective objective lenses, respectively, almost arbitrarily. However, the maximum time resolution of measurement system for a heat flow thermography method is restricted by the camera system. The image repetition rates or imaging frequencies achievable by detector matrices of modern cameras when using all presently available decoder elements (full image mode) are 100 images per second. This is not sufficient in order to resolve the thermal response signals of defects near the surface of a sample out of thermally fast materials. For example, in the technical field of the metal industry as well as in the electronic industry there is a tendency to use lock-in thermography for product inspection during production to ensure quality control. Since state of the art cameras have an imaging frequency of 100 Hz, the lock-in frequencies are restricted to a maximum of 25 Hz (from Nyquist-Shannon sampling theorem). For higher frequencies, the image area and, thereby, also the resolution of the images has to be restricted. On the other hand, a lock-in frequency in this order of magnitude is insufficient to examine work pieces having defects near the surface thereof or layered structures with high heat conductivity characteristics.
Starting from the above state of the art, it is the object of the invention to provide a method and system for a non-destructive, non-contacting and image forming examination of a sample by means of the heat flow thermography method where the examination consists of evaluation a depth distance values of any heat flow velocity transitions which can be defects below a surface of a work piece or boarders between layers in a layered material, with high time and local resolution wherein the thermal material parameters may flexibly, quickly and robustly be reconstructed/examined within a short measurement time.
For this purpose, the method of the invention for a non-destructive, non-contacting and image forming examination of a sample by means of a heat flow thermography method where the examination consists of evaluating the presence of any gradients in heat flow velocity at respective depth distances from a surface of the sample, comprising exciting the sample by means of periodic heat pulses from at least one excitation source, and capturing thermal image sequences of a thermal flow originating from the heat pulses by at least one infrared camera, implementing relative time delays Δt between a starting point of imaging of the respective image sequences and a starting point of the periodic excitation, combining all captured image sequences to a total image sequence in which all images are arranged in a correct time sequence, and extracting from the total image sequence an indication of the existence and depth distance of a heat flow velocity transition from a surface of the sample, is characterized by exciting the sample comprises applying heat pulses to the sample with a lock-in frequency, controlling an excitation period of the heat pulses during which the excitation of the sample by means of the heat pulses takes place, and capturing thermal image sequences by capturing the plural image sequences during successive excitation periods of the heat pulses with the imaging frequency.
By means of various embodiments of the invention, the problem related to the restricted lock-in frequency based on the image repetition rate of the camera is solved by using a combination of the lock-in frequency technology with implementing relative time delays Δt between a starting point of imaging of the respective image sequences and a starting point of the periodic excitation and combining all images of the captured image sequences to a resulting image sequence which has a virtual resulting frequency of the camera frequency, i.e. 100 Hz, multiplied by the number of sequences combined. Therein, it is necessary to control excitation periods of the heat pulses to start and stop, respectively, the excitation of the sample by means of the excitation pulses define the Lock-in frequency so that there is a well-defined starting point and end point of a measurement (lock-in) period and a heating-up of the sample with a fixed frequency correlation to the camera frequency is ensured.
According to one embodiment of the method of the invention, the lock-in frequency is equal to or higher than one fourth of the imaging frequency of the camera. According to another embodiment of the method of the invention, the lock-in frequency is higher than the imaging frequency of the camera. It is a specific advantage of the invention that the lock-in frequency can be selected in this way which allows the lock-in frequency to be adapted to specific applications considering the heat conductivity of the sample, i.e. the heat conductivity of the layers in case of a layered material or the heat conductivity of a work piece in case of defects in a work piece. This allows the lock-in frequency to be selected according to the depth of the gradients in heat flow velocity in the sample where the lock-in frequency is selected to be the higher the closest to the surface the gradients in heat flow velocity to be detected, are located.
According to another embodiment of the method of the invention, the excitation periods of the heat pulses extend across at least one period of the lock-in frequency. By selecting the excitation period in this way, it is ensured that the effect of the virtual imaging frequency can be fully obtained and, on the other hand, the excitation period can be selected to reflect a shorter or longer measurement period in relation to the heat flow characteristics of the sample, in particular in relation to the heat conduction within the sample.
According to another preferred embodiment of the method of the invention, off-periods of the heat pulses between the excitation periods extend up to a point of time when an equilibrium condition is reached with respect to the dissipation of the heat applied during the excitation period of the sample. This has the advantage that the sample is in a "cold" state prior to the commencement of the next measurement during the next excitation period.
According to another preferred embodiment of the method of the invention, the time delays Δt between an image sequence and a subsequent image sequence with un-shifted lock-in pulses or between a first lock-in pulse and subsequent lock-in pulses of the lock-in frequency with un-shifted image sequences are carried out in equal time portions. This allows a uniform building up of the total image sequence which is used for reconstructing at least one layer of the total layer structure of the layered material.
Therein, the lengths of the time delays Δt may be defined as the quotient of the time between two images within an image sequence divided by the number of the independently captured image sequences n. Thereby, the increase of the resolution in time of the examination is coupled proportionally to the number of the captured image sequences.
According to another preferred embodiment of the method of the invention, the lock-in frequency and the imaging frequency of the camera are synchronized to commence with the starting point in time of the excitation periods. This ensures that the virtual imaging frequency results after combining the individual image sequences, i.e. that the images after combination of the individual image sequences are spaced at equal time distances which facilitates processing and evaluation of the resulting image sequences.
To summarize, the evaluation of a total layer structure of a layered material can be achieved. The evaluation can be done by imaging which has high resolution in time as well as in space and is scalable with respect to both parameters. Thereby, a calibration free and quantitative reconstruction of the thermal material parameters can be made flexibly, quickly and robustly under industrial conditions.
By evaluating the image sequences in the manner described above, one can not only verify the existence of any pores or layer structures in the sample but also the depths location of the respective defects or transitions by correlating the time delay of their respective images from the excitation.
According to an embodiment of the invention, a system for a non-destructive, non-contacting and image forming examination of a sample by means of a heat flow thermography method where the examination consists of evaluating the presence of any gradients in heat flow velocity at respective depth distances from a surface of the sample, comprising an excitation source for exciting the sample by means of periodic heat pulses from at least one excitation source, and at least one infrared camera for capturing thermal image sequences of a thermal flow originating from the heat pulses, a control circuit configured to implement relative time delays Δt between a starting point of imaging of the respective image sequences and a starting point of the periodic excitation, and to combine all captured image sequences to a total image sequence in which all images are arranged in a correct time sequence, and to extract from the total image sequence an indication of the existence and depth distance of a heat flow velocity transition from a surface of the sample, is characterized in that the control circuit is further configured to excite the sample by applying heat pulses to the sample with a lock-in frequency, to control an excitation period of the heat pulses during which the excitation of the sample by means of the heat pulses takes place, and capturing thermal image sequences by capturing the plural image sequences during successive excitation periods of the heat pulses with the imaging frequency.
The application of the method and the system of the invention to a structure of layered material is only one of many possible applications of the method of the invention. In case of a structure of layered material, the interface between one of the at least two layers and the adjacent layer forms a heat flow velocity transition between the heat flow velocity in one of the layers and the heat flow velocity in the other layer. Since there are two layers, the heat flow velocity by definition is different in the two layers. Therefore, the depth distance of this heat flow velocity transition can be determined by analyzing the thermal images taken during the cause of the excitation and the dissipation of the heat input into the sample.
According to another aspect of the method and system of the invention the sample comprises a work piece including defects close to a surface of the sample which defects are heat flow velocity transitions experienced by the heat flow from the surface of the sample into a body of the sample, wherein the indication of presence and depth distance of a particular defect is a hot spot in a respective image of the image sequence which respective image was taken at a time distance from the excitation of the sample related to the depth distance of the defect from the surface of the sample.
As is apparent from the above specification, the method of the invention is applicable in cases where a heat flow velocity transition in a sample is to be detected where the changes in time of the heat flow dissipation curve or the intensity curve emitted of an area of the sample over time in terms of discrete captured images varies so fast that a full range camera, for example a camera having 640×514 pixel full frame, cannot record the changes in the intensity in the image of the heat flow. In other words the method of the invention is applicable in cases where the imaging frequency of the camera, i.e. the number of frames that can be taken per second, is too slow to capture the changes of the intensity in the image of the heat flow. In such cases, the two or more image sequences can be interleaved in order to improve the time resolution of the recording of the heat flow accordingly.
FIG. 1 shows a first example for an apparatus for carrying out lock-in thermography measurements. A sample 1 is formed out of two layers where an upper layer 2 is located on a base layer 3. An excitation source 4, which may be a laser source, a LED-device or an electro-magnetic excitation device, operated with the lock-in frequency is used as an excitation source 4 with which the sample 1 to be examined is excited. A camera 5 is directed to the sample 1 to take heat dependent images of the surface of the sample 1.
FIG. 2 shows a second example for an apparatus for carrying out lock-in thermography measurements In this case a sample 1 is a sample having a defect 11 which is, in this case, a pore containing gas/air. The sample 1 can be a metal sample, a semiconductor sample or a top surface of a construction component, like a metal piston having a high heat flow velocity. The sample 1 is heated up by a heating source (not shown) by energy pulses, for example light pulses of a LED field as indicated by the arrows H with a lock-in frequency. The energy is converted to heat at the surface of the sample. If heated in this way, the pore 11 is an obstacle to the heat flow in the sample starting from the surface 12 of the sample 1 and directed into the sample 1 from top to bottom in FIG. 2. The pore 11 is an obstacle to the heat flow because of the transition of the heat flow velocity from the sample 1 to the pore 11. At the pore 11, the heat flow is directed upwards (as viewed in FIG. 2) along the arrow P again and creates a hot spot 13 the shape of which reflects the shape of the pore 11 added the effect of dissipation of the heat sideways in the sample 1 as viewed in FIG. 2. The area 14 below the pore 11 (as viewed in FIG. 2) is in the "shadow" of the pore and, consequently heated up differently from the rest of the sample. An image of the hot spot 13 and the rest of the surface of the sample is captured along the line of the arrow P by a camera 15. The camera 15 produces an image 16 where the hot spot 13 produced by the pore 11 is clearly visible.
Since the instance in time when the hot spot 13 is created by the heat flow reflected from the pore 11 depends on the distance between the upper border of the pore 11 from the surface 12 of the sample 1, the image of the pore 13 appears in an image which is delayed with respect to the excitation pulse by twice the runtime of the heat flow between the pore 11 and the surface 12. Therefore, in the case of various defects like the pore 11 in different depths of the sample will appear in images at different time distances from the excitation pulse.
The method of the invention for a non-destructive, non-contacting and image forming examination of a sample by means of a heat flow thermography method where the examination consists of evaluating the presence of any gradients in heat flow velocity at respective depth distances from a surface of the sample comprises the following steps:
(1) exciting the sample by applying heat pulses to the sample with a lock-in frequency equal to or greater than one fourth of the imaging frequency of the camera for exciting the sample,
(2) capturing plural thermal image sequences of a thermal flow originating from the heat pulses by at least one infrared camera by capturing the plural image sequences during successive excitation periods of the heat pulses with the imaging frequency,
(3) implementing relative time delays Δt between a starting point of imaging of the respective image sequences and a starting point of the periodic excitation,
(4) combining all captured image sequences to a total image sequence in which all images are arranged in a correct time sequence,
(5) extracting from the total image sequence an indication of the existence and depth distance of a heat flow velocity transition from a surface of the sample.
According to the method of the invention, the periodic excitation of a sample is performed, which may be a work piece with defects or a layered material, where the starting point of the imaging of the respective image sequences is displaced with respect to the starting point of the periodic excitation. Alternatively, the starting point of the excitation with the lock-in frequency is displaced with respect to the starting point of the previous periodic excitation with the lock-in frequency. In both cases, the starting point of imaging of the respective image sequences is displaced (advanced or retarded) with respect to the starting point of the periodical excitation. Thereby, a high resolution analysis in space and in time of the pixel related intensity curves is made possible by means of the lock-in-correlation from which the characteristic values are extracted which describe the behavior in time of the heat waves through the sample.
FIG. 3 schematically shows the timing of the sequentially capturing of three image sequences which have a delay of Δt each to the previous image sequence with a lock-in frequency of 50 Hz. In this case, the time period between an on-signal ON and an off-signal OFF is the excitation period XP which, in this embodiment, is the same as the lock-in pulse period including lock-in pulse P1. During the excitation period XP, the camera takes, in a first sequence, images I1,1 and I1,2. Image I1,3 is already outside of the excitation period XP. In a second image sequence, that is, the excitation pulse is repeated, the camera takes the images I2,1 and I2,2, and in the third image sequence, images I3,1 and I3,2 are taken so that, after compiling the three sequences, 6 images are available within two camera frames t1 so that the total excitation period XP makes 20 ms. In this case, the stacking of the three image sequences results in a virtual camera frequency fRESULT of 300 Hz correlated to a lock-in frequency fLi of 50 Hz. Method according to claim 1, wherein the excitation periods of the heat pulses extend across at least one period of the lock-in frequency.
The image sequences can be captured by using a single camera and repeating the excitation pulses and for each repetition of excitation pulses shifting the starting point of the image capturing, or by using multiple cameras, each with a different delayed/advanced image capture time.
FIG. 4 schematically shows the timing of the capturing of three image sequences which have a delay of Δt each to the previous image sequence with a lock-in frequency of 60 Hz. In this case, the excitation period XP includes three periods of the lock-in pulses P1, P2 and P3, and the excitation period XP lasts 50 ms during which 15 images I1,1 to I3,5 are recorded. Stacking of the three image sequences results in a virtual camera frequency of fRESULT of 300 Hz correlated to a lock-in frequency fLi of 60 Hz.
FIG. 5 schematically shows the timing of the capturing of five image sequences which have a delay of Δt each to the previous image sequence with a lock-in frequency of 100 Hz. In this case, the excitation period XP extends across two periods of lock-in pulses P1 and P2, and as a result of the stacking of five image sequences, there are 10 images within the two lock-in periods, i.e. within 20 ms. Stacking of five image sequences result in a virtual camera frequency fRESULT of 500 Hz correlated to a lock-in frequency fLi of 100 Hz.
In the embodiments of FIGS. 3 to 5, the camera frequency fCAMERA of 100 Hz is correlated to the lock-in frequency fLi of 100 Hz such that the beginning of each lock-in period and the beginning of the excitation pulse coincide with the first image being taken. Thereby, a fixed phase relationship between the starting point of the excitation and the points in time where the images are taken, is ensured. Thereby, the phase relationship between such excitation pulse, lock-in period and starting point of the imaging is fixed and images with repeating, fixed and equal phase values are to be found.
In this case, the phase values are well known and one returns to the coincidence of the excitation pulses and the first image of an image sequence after three lock-in periods LP1, LP2, and LP3. The imaging has to take place within three lock-in periods LP1, LP2, and LP3 whereby one obtains the above-mentioned 15 images within the three lock-in periods LP1, LP2, and LP3. In this way, the images of the three lock-in periods LP1, LP2, and LP3 may be combined to a virtual imaging period with a higher virtual image rate if one combines such three periods LP1, LP2, and LP3 having the constant phase displacement in between the individual lock-in periods LP1, LP2, and LP3.
FIG. 6 schematically shows the timing of the capturing of five image sequences which have a delay of Δt each to the previous image sequence with a lock-in frequency of 125 Hz. In this case, the excitation pulses P1 and P2 extend across two lock-in periods LP1, and LP2. Within the excitation period XP, 8 images are taken. Stacking of 5 image sequences results in a virtual imaging frequency of fRESULT of 500 Hz correlated with a lock-in frequency of 125 Hz.
FIG. 7 schematically shows the timing of the capturing of three image sequences which have a delay of Δt each to the previous image sequence with a lock-in frequency of 267 Hz. In this case, the lock-in pulses P1, P2 . . . PN have a lock-in frequency fL1 of 267 Hz, i.e. a frequency which is not an integer multiple or an integer fraction (for example ½) of the camera frequency. In other words, one can select the lock-in frequency also without fixed relationship to the camera frequency and, resulting therefrom, the phase of the images in the image sequences. However, the phase location of the images l1,1 to l3,3 has to be arranged such that at least one image is taken during one lock-in period, and the phases of the images are considered when compiling the image sequences. Again, the requirement for the compiling of the image sequences is that at the beginning of an imaging sequence, the point of time when the first image of an image sequence is taken and the raising edge of the first excitation pulse and the beginning of the Lock-in (rising edge of the excitation control pulse CP or the ON-pulse) are synchronized to be in coincidence with each other. Since the phase values of the images the first image of an image sequence are known the image sequences can be processed and stacked as in the cases of FIGS. 3 to 5 when compiling the resulting image sequence.
In the embodiment of FIG. 7, the Lock-in period is controlled by a trigger pulse provided by the control circuit which trigger pulse enables the excitation pulses on the raising edge of the trigger pulse and in the excitation period XP, i.e. the measurement period, and the falling edge of the trigger pulse. This is an alternative to using the control signals "ON" and "OFF" as also shown in the previous figures.
FIG. 7 also shows the time delays Δt1, Δt2 and Δt3 which are implemented between the first second and third camera sequence. In case such time delays Δt1, Δt2 and Δt3 do not have the same value, the differing values have to be taken into account when compiling the image sequences. The same is true for the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3 to 6.
To summarize, the evaluation can be done by imaging which has high solution in time as well as in space and is scalable with respect to both parameters. By evaluating the image sequences in the manor described above, one can not only verify the existence of the any pores or layer structures in the sample but also the depths location of the respective defects or transitions by correlating the time delay of their respective images from the excitation.
A system for a non-destructive, non-contacting and image forming examination of the sample the system comprises a control circuit configured to excite the sample by applying heat pulses to the sample with a lock-in frequency greater than one fourth of the camera frequency for exciting the sample or work piece, to control excitation periods of the heat pulses to start and stop, respectively, the excitation of the sample by means of the heat pulses, and to capture thermal image sequences by capturing the plural image sequences during excitation periods of the heat pulses with the imaging frequency of the camera.
FIG. 8 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of a system for implementing an embodiment of the method of the invention. The control circuit of the system comprises a pulse generator 20 outputting a signal with the lock-in frequency to a frequency converter and shift circuit 22 connected to the camera 15 to convert the lock-in frequency to the camera frequency and shift the camera signal by the time delays Δt1, Δt2, and Δt3 for the image sequences. The output of the pulse generator 20 is transmitted to an excitation source 24 which serves to transmit the excitation pulses to the sample 10. The control circuit of FIG. 7 is preferred for the embodiment with a timing of the image capturing according to the FIGS. 3 to 6 where the imaging sequences of the camera are shifted in phase with respect to the Lock-in frequency.
FIG. 9 shows a block diagram of another embodiment of a system for implementing an embodiment of the method of the invention. The control circuit of the system comprises a pulse generator 30 outputting a signal with the lock-in frequency to a frequency converter 32 connected to the camera 15 to convert the lock-in frequency to the camera frequency, and shift circuit 34 connected to the pulse generator 30 and configured to shift the lock-in pulses by the time delays Δt1, Δt2, and Δt3 for shifting the image sequences. The shifted excitation signal is supplied from an excitation source 36 to the sample 10. In this case, the pulse generator 30 is the master circuit for providing the clock to the system.
FIG. 10 shows a block diagram of another embodiment of a system for implementing an embodiment of the method of the invention. The control circuit of the system comprises a frequency converter 40 connected to the camera 15 configured to convert the camera frequency to the lock-in frequency, and a shift circuit 42 connected to the frequency converter 40 and configured to shift the lock-in pulses by the time delays Δt1, Δt2, and Δt3 for the image sequences. In this case, the camera 15 is the master circuit for providing the clock signal to the control circuit.
The control circuit according to FIG. 10 is preferred as the camera master circuit for providing the clock and, therefore, the beginning of an imaging sequence, the point of time when the first image of an image sequence is taken and the raising edge of the first excitation pulse and the beginning of the lock-in period are easily synchronized to be in coincidence with each other.
FIG. 11 shows a block diagram of another embodiment of a system for implementing an embodiment of the method of the invention. The control circuit of the system comprises a frequency converter 50 connected to the camera 15 configured to convert the camera frequency to the lock-in frequency, a synchronization circuit 52 for synchronizing the signal output from the frequency converter 50 with a signal of a pulse generator 54, and a shift circuit 56 connected to the pulse generator 54 and configured to shift the lock-in pulses by the time delays Δt1, Δt2, and Δt3 for the image sequences. Also in this case, the camera 15 is the master circuit for providing the clock signal to the control circuit. The synchronization circuit 52 provides the required synchronization in this control circuit. The excitation circuit 58 provides the excitation pulses to the sample 10.
In FIG. 11 the synchronizing circuit is also used to synchronize the beginning of an imaging sequence, the point of time when the first image of an image sequence is taken and the raising edge of the first lock-in pulse and the beginning of the excitation period XP to be in coincidence with each other as required for obtaining images in equal time distances after stacking of the image sequences.
FIG. 12 shows a block diagram of another embodiment of a system for implementing an embodiment of the method of the invention. The control circuit of the system comprises a frequency converter 50 connected to the camera 15 configured to convert the camera frequency to the lock-in frequency, a synchronization circuit 52 for synchronizing the signal output from the frequency converter 50 with a signal of a pulse generator 54, and a shift circuit 56 connected to the pulse generator 54 and configured to shift the lock-in pulses by the time delays Δt1, Δt2, and Δt3 for the image sequences. Also in this case, the camera 15 is the master circuit for providing the clock signal to the control circuit. The synchronization circuit 52 provides the required synchronization in this control circuit. The excitation circuit 58 provides the excitation pulses to the sample 10.
In FIG. 12 the synchronizing circuit is also used to synchronize the beginning of an imaging sequence, the point of time when the first image of an image sequence is taken and the raising edge of the first lock-in pulse and the beginning of the excitation period XP to be in coincidence with each other as required for obtaining images in equal time distances after stacking of the image sequences.
According to disclosed embodiments, a method for generating high frequency image sequence from a camera is provided, comprising: applying a first set of plurality of excitation pulses to a sample, the excitation pulses having frequency f1; taking a first set of plurality of images of the sample at a frequency f2, wherein the timing of the first set of plurality of images has a first relative time delay Δt1, between a starting point of the first set of plurality of images and a starting point of the first set of plurality of excitation pulses; applying a second set of plurality of excitation pulses to a sample, the excitation pulses having frequency f1; taking a second set of plurality of images of the sample at a frequency f2, wherein the timing of the second set of plurality of images has a second relative time delay Δt2 between a starting point of the second set of plurality of images and a starting point of the second set of plurality of excitation pulses, and wherein the second relative time delay is different from the first relative time delay; and, combining the first and second sets of plurality of images such that at least one image from the second set of plurality of images is inserted between each two images of the first set of plurality of images. One of the relative time delays may be set to zero, i.e., such that the first image coincides with the first excitation pulse. Further sets can be generated, such that a third, fourth, fifth, etc., sets of excitation pulses can be applied to the sample, while corresponding sets of images with different time delays can be taken of the sample. All of the sets can be combined to generate one sequence. In one case, at least one image from each of the image sets 2-n is inserted between every two images from the first set. The sequence of images is examined to determine the samples' response to the excitation pulses. For example, the sequence can be used to determine the depth of a defect within the sample.
According to another embodiment, a method for generating high frequency image sequence from a camera capable of operating at a camera frequency fc is provided, comprising: i. repeatedly exiting a sample at an excitation frequency fE; ii. setting a starting point with respect to the excitation frequency fE and operating the camera to image the sample at the camera frequency fC, to thereby generate a first sequence of images; iii. shifting the starting point with respect to the excitation frequency fE and operating the camera to image the sample at the camera frequency fC, to thereby generate a second sequence of images; iv. combining the first sequence of images and the second sequence of images to generate a total sequence, wherein at least one image from the second sequence is positioned in time between two images of the first sequence. The method can proceed by repeating step iii a number of n times, and at step iv combining all of the sequences. In such a case, the method may include at least one images from each of the n sequences inserted between each two images of the first sequence. In the above methods the excitation frequency fE is higher than the camera frequency fC. In some embodiments the excitation frequency fE is higher than one fourth of the camera frequency fC.
According to another embodiment, a method for generating high frequency image sequence from a plurality of cameras, each capable of operating at a camera frequency fC is provided, comprising: i. repeatedly exciting a sample at an excitation frequency fE, which is higher than the camera frequency fC; ii. setting a plurality of starting point, each starting point designated for a corresponding one of the plurality of cameras, each starting point being shifted in time from the other starting points; iii. operating the plurality of cameras, each according to its corresponding starting point, so as to image the sample at the camera frequency fC, and to thereby generate a plurality sequence of images, one sequence from each camera and each sequence being shifted in time from the other sequences; and, iv. combining the plurality of sequences of images to generate a total sequence.
It is apparent from the above specification that the invention is not restricted to the application in the two cases which have been disclosed as examples. Rather, the method of the invention is applicable in all cases where the speed (frames per second) of the camera is insufficient to produce the image sequences required for locating the existence and/or the depths location of any heat flow velocity transitions, such as border surfaces between layers of different flow velocity characteristics in a layered structure or defects like holes, pores and cuts in a sample or a work piece, for example a piston for a vehicle motor, on the basis of one single image sequence.

Method for examination of a sample by means of the lock-in thermography


The present invention provides an information management system comprising a remote device, a remote database operatively coupled to the remote device, the remote database containing contact information for each of a plurality of users of the information management system, wherein each of the users is assigned a unique user identifier, and the information for each user is stored along with the unique user identifier of the user in the remote database, wherein the remote device includes a wireless network interface module that interfaces with a wireless network to allow users of the information management system to access the remote device, a database interface module that coordinates transfer of data between the remote database and the remote device, and an application module to enable a wireless network user to access the remote database over the wireless network using a second network device to retrieve information in the remote database related to a first user having an assigned unique user identifier.

The use of business cards is widespread in virtually all industries and professions, and the problem of efficiently organizing business cards can be appreciated by most people. Various solutions have been presented for solving this problem. These solutions include manual schemes in which business cards are organized in a binder, a notebook or some similar apparatus. Prior art solutions also include computer-based systems wherein information on a business card is scanned into a computer and stored in a database in the computer. While these solutions offer some help in relieving the organization problem associated with business cards, it is desirable to provide a more efficient, easy to use system of organizing business cards, and more particularly, for organizing information contained in business cards.
A second problem associated with the use of business cards is that the information contained on business cards cannot typically be updated once a card has been distributed. In today's fast-paced business world, it is not uncommon for the information on a person's business card to change frequently. It is desirable to provide a system for organizing business cards that allows information contained on the business cards to be periodically updated.
The use of wireless devices and PDA's to store information, such as information contained on a business card, is widespread for both business and personal use. Wireless devices, for example phones, require manual entry of contact numbers and upon the change of a contact's phone number, the user of the phone is required to change the number in the phone's memory by manually entering the new number. Further, if a cell phone user changes phone services or simply replaces his or her phone, the entries of the address book of the old phone must be entered into the new phone. Known caller ID systems may allow a caller's number to be stored in the phone, and the name of the caller can be linked to the number for storage in memory. Generally, however, data entered in phones for storage is restricted to a phone number or a plurality of phone numbers for each user, and data in a PDA or phone is static, requiring the user to manually update the contact data in the device.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and apparatus for storing and retrieving business contact information in a computer system


In regards to the conventional technology for performing operational inputs by referring a GUI and by means of a touch sensor, there exists a problem in which the relationship of correspondence between on-screen locations of selection items on a GUI and touchpad locations cannot be accurately grasped. Moreover, cases in which a touch panel equipped with an information display function instead of a touch sensor is used cause problems in that the cost thereof or power consumed thereby can be relatively high, etc. In order to solve the problems described as above, the present invention provides a remote control that selects an icon on a GUI as a target of operation using a touch sensor, and which is characterized by a configuration that allows a user to easily identify the relationship of correspondence by brightening of a touch sensor on a touchpad corresponding to icon arrangement on a GUI.

Conventionally, remote controls for household electrical appliances, such as television sets and electronic devices, have been generally used as input devices for remote operation. Recently, remote controls equipped with touch sensors, which can be operated by detecting contacts made with the fingers, etc., have also been provided. For such remote controls operated by touch, when selecting from among selection items displayed on a GUI as a target of operation, an area on the touchpad corresponding to the display location of the selection item on the GUI is tapped. Specifically, for instance, thumbnail images of four recorded programs are arranged in a 2×2 pattern and displayed on a GUI as a recording list. When a thumbnail image of a program that is desired to be deleted is displayed in the lower-left area on a GUI, the user accordingly taps on the lower-left area of the touchpad of the remote control.
Moreover, when "Yes" and "No" are arranged next to each other and displayed on a GUI for confirmation of whether or not it is acceptable to delete the above-mentioned selected data for recorded programs, the user taps the left side of the touchpad of the remote control and deletes the desired data for recorded programs.
As described above, the remote control that can be operated by touch by means of a touch sensor enables universal operation. That is to say, the remote control can be utilized for completely separate operations based on GUIs, and therefore, it is possible to carry out various operations for various operation targets without increasing the number of operation buttons.
Moreover, in Kokai (Jpn. unexamined patent publication) No. 2001-022508, the following technology has been disclosed: A remote control having a touch panel as a touch sensor equipped with an information display function that has information about operation button images based on operation targets (e.g., in case that an operation target is a television device, a channel button and a volume control button may apply; in the case of a printer, a print button may apply). It also accepts relevant operational inputs based on the displaying of the operation button images on the touch panel in accordance with the operation target.
Patent Reference 1: Kokai (Jpn. unexamined patent publication) No. 2001-022508

Remote control, display device, television receiver device, and program for remote control


Concepts and technologies are described herein for providing topically aware word suggestions. Using a text input, the system determines a conditional count and an unconditional count. The system then determines an adjustment factor for a pair of words of the plurality of words based on the unconditional count and the conditional count. The system then generates a data structure defining a plurality of word clusters. The system then reconstructs the adjustment factor of the pair of words based on a number of common clusters between individual words of the pair of words. The adjustment factor is combined with other data, such as data from a language model dictionary and a freshness factor from an average cluster activation state table to determine a probability associated with a word candidate, which is displayed to a user.

As users enter text on a computing device, such as a phone, some technologies provide suggestions on a word they may be trying to type or a word that may come next in the sentence. To generate word suggestions, there are a number of technologies that are designed to identify relevant words. For instance, some models analyze common sequences of words in a data set, and when a specific word of a sequence is entered in a device, a word that typically follows the specific word is suggested to the user. In one example, if a user enters the word "heart," most systems using this sequence-based technology would suggest the word "attack" since samples sets may indicate that sequence of words.
Other technologies may use user personalization data to generate word suggestions. For example, a device may store text data from a user's input. The device may then analyze words or sequences of words that are frequently used by a particular user to suggest words to a user.
Although existing technologies provide word suggestions, there is room for improvement. For example, existing technologies are unaware of the context of the user's input and/or other text related to the input. The analysis of word sequences simply cannot interpret a broader meaning to provide a contextually relevant suggestion.
It is with respect to these and other considerations that the disclosure made herein is presented.


A system for spectral reading includes a plurality of LEDs, an interface, and a processor. The plurality of LEDs are disposed in a physical array. Light from the plurality of LEDs is enabled to be collimated at a Fabry-Perot etalon. The interface is configured to receive a gap calibration table and power characteristics of a plurality of LEDs. The processor is configured to determine an LED switch table. The LED switch table indicates a set of the plurality of LEDs with power above a threshold at a plurality of wavelengths. The processor is further configured to cause measurement of a sample using the gap calibration table and the LED switch table for a set of gap values and determine measurement results.

A reader is used to measure a reflected optical spectrum from objects. In order to produce a strong reflected signal, a bright incident light is used. This poses a problem when a portable reader is desired because the power requirements (e.g., those due to the powering of the bright incident light) of the reader's operations must be satisfied using a battery. In addition, the portable reader typically needs to operate for a minimum time (e.g., 8 hours of operation) and still meet portability requirements (e.g., a maximum weight), which set limits on the amount of power that the bright incident light can consume.

Spectral reading using synchronized LED sources


Methods for the cross-metathesis of polysaccharides with one or more olefin-terminated side chains and cross-metathesized products are described. In an exemplary embodiment, a method for the synthesis of cellulose ω-carboxyesters via olefin cross-metathesis is described. Conditions of the reactions were relatively mild and the olefin-substituted polysaccharides and the appropriate monomeric olefin partners appear to follow Grubbs rules as summarized herein. The compounds and methods may be useful for structure-property studies, particularly those aimed at developing polymers for drug delivery, such as for controlled-release drug delivery systems, controlled-release coatings, increasing bioavailability of drugs, and maintaining drug supersaturation in the GI tract.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to cross-metathesis of polysaccharides with one or more olefin-terminated side chains and cross-metathesized products thereof.
Description of Related Art
Modified polysaccharides are extremely important materials for purposes as diverse as drug delivery, adhesive tape, automobile coatings, house paint, and flat screen displays (Edgar, K. J.; Buchanan, C. M.; Debenham, J. S.; Rundquist, P. A.; Seiler, B. D.; Shelton, M. C.; Tindall. D, Advances in cellulose ester performance and application. Prog. Polym. Sci. 2001, 26, 1605-1688). Even so, modern polymer science has had little impact on increasing the variety of commercial polysaccharide derivatives available to meet current demanding materials needs. Cellulose derivatives are the most commercially important polysaccharide-based materials; nearly the entire cellulose derivative market involves derivatives with substituents selected from among just five ether types (methyl, ethyl, carboxymethyl, hydroxyethyl, and hydroxypropyl) and five ester types (acetate, propionate, butyrate, succinate, and phthalate). Furthermore, synthesis of these derivatives requires the use of somewhat forcing conditions; strong acid catalysts like sulfuric acid in the case of cellulose ester synthesis, and strong base catalysts like sodium hydroxide in the case of cellulose ether synthesis, for example. Such conditions are not conducive to reaction of the polysaccharide with sensitive moieties. The remarkable recent achievements in polymer chemistry have not been successfully applied to polysaccharides to create useful new derivatives that can be practically prepared. In order to successfully meet these demanding application needs, and to create a renewable-based economy, we must succeed in creating efficient pathways to a more diverse set of renewable polysaccharide-based materials.
Olefin metathesis has been developed in recent years as a powerful, versatile tool for the synthesis of complex small molecules, as well as the polymerization of olefinic monomers to create novel and useful polymeric structures. In olefin metathesis, metal carbene complexes are used to rearrange double bonds in carbon skeletons with high functional group tolerance and under mild reaction conditions. Although ring closing metathesis (RCM) and ring opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) have been comprehensively investigated over the past decade, olefin cross-metathesis (CM) has become an increasingly powerful tool in both organic and polymer chemistry thanks to the publication of Grubbs' model of selectivity for CMI and the development of active and selective CM catalysts (Samojlowicz, C.; Bieniek, M.; Grela, K., Ruthenium-Based Olefin Metathesis Catalysts Bearing N-Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands. Chem. Rev. 2009, 109, (8), 3708-3742; and Vougioukalakis, G. C.; Grubbs, R. H., Synthesis and Activity of Ruthenium Olefin Metathesis Catalysts Coordinated with Thiazol-2-ylidene Ligands. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008, 130, (7), 2234-2245).
It is instructive that these valuable new tools have not yet been exploited for synthesis of a wide variety of new polysaccharide derivatives. Only a few related studies have appeared; one example is the work by Reddy and co-workers (Reddy, C. R.; Jithender, E.; Prasad, K. R., Total Syntheses of the Proposed Structure for Ieodoglucomides A and B. J. Org. Chem. 2013, 78, (9), 4251-4260) who successfully cross-metathesized glucose-linked olefins with amino acid-appended olefins to construct the complete carbon skeleton of ieodoglucomides A and B, two unique glycopeptides isolated from marine-derived bacteria. What about similar CM reactions between, for example, a cellulose derivative bearing unsaturated side chains, and other olefin species, which could lead to a rich variety of otherwise inaccessible derivatives? Surprisingly, only a handful of studies have described metathesis reactions of polysaccharide derivatives, and none of them have described successful CM. In a typical example, Joly et al. observed self-metathesis (SM) of cellulose 10 undecenoate using Grubbs' catalyst (1st generation), affording crosslinked and insoluble cellulose plastic films (Joly, N.; Granet, R.; Krausz, P., Olefin Metathesis Applied to Cellulose Derivatives—Synthesis, Analysis, and Properties of New Crosslinked Cellulose Plastic Films. Journal of Polymer Science Part a—Polym. Chem. 2005, 43, (2), 407-418). All such studies to date have reported dominant self-metathesis of olefin substituted polysaccharides to afford crosslinked, insoluble products. This is not surprising; metathesis of polysaccharide derivatives containing pendent olefin groups (especially reactive Type 1 olefins by Grubbs' classification) must be nearly perfectly selective for cross-metathesis rather than self-metathesis in order to avoid cross-linking that would render the polymer insoluble, difficult to melt-process, and overall very difficult to process into desired shapes. Perhaps it is the negative results of these studies that have discouraged further investigation of cross-metathesis in polysaccharide derivatives.
In order to obtain discrete, soluble, polysaccharide-olefin CM products, SM between pendant terminal olefins must be absent, and there must be a high degree of conversion to CM products. Previous studies in other systems have shown that the type of catalyst (shown in FIGS. 1A-C) used influences the ability to obtain a high degree of conversion to cross-metathesis products. The Grubbs' 1st generation catalyst (FIG. 1A) has proved to be insufficiently effective as a cross-metathesis catalyst in all but simple reactions (Rybak, A.; Meier, M. A. R., Cross-metathesis of Fatty Acid Derivatives with Methyl Acrylate: Renewable Raw Materials for the Chemical Industry. Green Chem. 2007, 9, (12), 1356-1361; and Bruneau, C.; Fischmeister, C.; Miao, X.; Malacea, R.; Dixneuf, P. H., Cross-metathesis with acrylonitrile and applications to fatty acid derivatives. Eur. J. Lipid Sci. Tech. 2010, 112, (1), 3-9).
More reactive and thermally stable Grubbs' 2nd generation (FIG. 1B) and Hoveyda-Grubbs' 2nd generation (FIG. 1C) catalysts have been heavily studied for CM reactions. Compared with Grubbs' 2nd generation, the Hoveyda-Grubbs catalyst (FIG. 1C) is more reactive towards electron-deficient olefins, and it can initiate metathesis at lower temperature. While the degree of conversion depends on the catalyst used, selectivity in CM is dependent primarily upon the structure of the reacting olefin. Based on chemical structure and reactivity results, Grubbs empirically classified olefins into 4 types (shown in Table 1) (Chatterjee, A. K.; Choi, T. L.; Sanders, D. P.; Grubbs, R. H., A General Model for Selectivity in Olefin Cross Metathesis. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2003, 12S, (37), 11360-11370).
TABLE 1Grubbs' Categorization of Olefins and Rules for SelectivityOlefinTypeOlefin Metathesis ReactivityExamplesaType IRapid homodimerization,terminal olefinshomodimer consumableType IISlow homodimerization, homodimeracrylates, acrylic acids,sparingly consumableacrylamidesType IIINo homodimerizationallylic alcohol (protected)Type IVOlefins inert to CM, but dovinyl nitro olefinsnot deactivate the catalyst (Spectator)aSelectivity depends on catalyst used. The examples shown are valid for Grubbs' 2nd generation catalyst.Grubbs' Rules:Reactions between two olefins of Type I = Statistical SM and CMReactions between two olefins of same type (non-Type 1) = Non-selective CMReactions between two different types (except Type IV) = Selective CM
Sterically-hindered and electron-deficient olefins of type II and III have low metathesis reactivity and only slowly homodimerize, while more reactive terminal olefins (type I) readily undergo homodimerization via metathesis. Moreover, the homodimers of the terminal olefins are susceptible to subsequent secondary CM reactions. As a result, when a type I olefin is reacted with a type II or III olefin, high conversion to a CM product can be achieved by employing an excess of the type II or III olefin (Choi, T. L.; Chatterjee, A, K.; Grubbs, R. H., Synthesis of α,β-Unsaturated Amides by Olefin Crossmetathesis. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2001, 40, (7), 1277).
The synthesis of cellulose derivatives containing carboxyl groups has been a long-standing and fascinating challenge. One issue is the problem of synthesizing derivatives with pendant carboxyl groups attached to a polysaccharide which also contains pendant hydroxyl groups; carrying out such a transformation under the acidic conditions commonly used to manufacture cellulose esters is almost inevitably accompanied by crosslinking due to ester formation between chains. This restricts such nucleophilic substitution chemistry to near-neutral or alkaline conditions, which work well for simple cases like reaction of cellulose with succinic anhydride (Li, W. Y.; Jin, A. X.; Liu, C. F.; Sun, R. C.; Zhang, A. P.; Kennedy, J. F., Homogeneous Modification of Cellulose with Succinic Anhydride in Ionic Liquid Using 4-Dimethylaminopyridine as A Catalyst. Carbohydr. Polym. 2009, 78, (3), 389-395) or adipic anhydride (Liu, H.; Kar, N.; Edgar, K., Direct Synthesis of Cellulose Adipate Derivatives Using Adipic Anhydride. Cellulose 2012, 19, (4), 1279-1293). Attachment of co-carboxyalkanoates in which the intervening polymethylene chain is too long for facile cyclic anhydride formation is more complicated; in the past, it has been necessary to resort to protection/deprotection methodologies (Liu, H.; Ilevbare, G. A.; Cherniawski, B. P.; Ritchie, E. T.; Taylor, L. S.; Edgar, K. J., Synthesis and Structure-Property Evaluation of Cellulose ω-Carboxyesters for Amorphous Solid Dispersions. Carbohydr. Polym., (2012), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpoJ.2012.11.049). Such difficulties are unfortunate since polysaccharide ω-carboxyalkanoates have many useful properties that enable important applications. In coating applications, the carboxylic acid functionality renders the derivatives water-soluble or water-dispersible, enabling waterborne and high solids coatings systems, thereby reducing the use of volatile organic solvents and enhancing coatings performance (Edgar, K. J.; Buchanan, C. M.; Debenham, J. S.; Rundquist, P. A.; Seiler. B. D.; Shelton, M. C.; Tindall, D., Advances in Cellulose Ester Performance and Application. Prog. Polym. Sci. 2001, 26, (9), 1605-1688). Cellulose derivatives containing carboxyl groups are also important components of drug delivery systems (Edgar, K. J., Cellulose Esters in Drug Delivery. Cellulose 2007, 14, (1),49-64). Since carboxylic acids have pKa values in the range of 4-5. carboxyl-containing polysaccharides are protonated in the strongly acidic environment of the stomach, and are ionized in the near-neutral small intestinal milieu. This pH-sensitivity makes the derivatives good candidates for enteric polymeric coatings or matrices, which minimize drug/stomach exposure by preventing release until the formulation reaches the higher pH environment of the small intestine. Cellulose acetate phthalate (CAPhth) was one of the first polymers used for such pH-sensitive, controlled release coatings in drug delivery (Merkle, H. P.; Speiser, P., Preparation and in Vitro Evaluation of Cellulose Acetate Phthalate Coacervate Microcapsules. J. Pharm. Sci. 1973, 62, (9), 1444-8). Other esters of cellulose with pendant carboxylic acid groups including cellulose acetate succinate (CAS) (Wilken, L. O., Jr.; Kochhar, M. M.; Bennett, D. P.; Cosgrove, F. P., Cellulose Acetate Succinate as an Enteric Coating for Some Compressed Tablets. J. Pharm. Sci. 1962, SI, 484-90), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate (HPMCP) (Kim, I. H.; Park, J. H.; Cheong, I. W.; Kim, J. H., Swelling and Drug Release Behavior of Tablets Coated with Aqueous Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Phthalate (HPMCP) Nanoparticles. J. Control. Release 2003, 89, (2), 225-233) and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose acetate succinate (HPMCAS) have also proven interesting for enteric coating and controlled release.
Recent studies have shown the advantages of esters of cellulose with pendant carboxylic acids in delivery of poorly soluble compounds (Biopharmaceutical Classification System (BCS) Class II), by forming miscible blends of polymers and drugs, termed amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs). These molecularly dispersed drugs generate higher solution concentrations than achievable from the corresponding crystalline drugs, by maximizing drug surface area and eliminating the need for the drug to overcome its heat of fusion in order to dissolve. Supersaturated drug solutions generated from these ASDs can not only enhance the absorption of the drug from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, but also provide a pH-controlled release profile. For example, HPMCAS has been proven to be an effective polymer for initiating and maintaining drug supersaturation in the GI tract, stabilizing the amorphous drug against crystallization, thereby in some cases enhancing drug bioavailability (Curatolo, W.; Nightingale, J. A.; Herbig, S. M., Utility of Hydroxypropylmethyicellulose Acetate Succinate (HPMCAS) for Initiation and Maintenance of Drug Supersaturation in the GI Milieu. Pharm. Res. 2009, 26, (6), 1419-1431; and Konno, H.; Taylor, L. S., Influence of Different Polymers on the Crystallization Tendency of Molecularly Dispersed Amorphous Felodipine. J. Pharm. Sci. 2006, 95, (12), 2692-2705; B S Tanno, F.; Nishiyama, Y.; Kokubo, H.; Obara, S., Evaluation of Hypromellose Acetate Suctinate (HPMCAS) as a Carrier in Solid Dispersions. Drug Dev. Ind. Pharm. 2004, 30, (1), 9-17). More recently, the formation of ASDs of poorly water-soluble drugs and long-chain cellulose ω-carboxyalkanoates, i.e. cellulose adipate, suberate and sebacate derivatives, was investigated, and it was found that some of these polymers were highly effective at generating and maintaining supersaturated drug solutions by inhibiting nucleation and subsequent crystal growth (Ilevbare, G. A.; Liu, H.; Edgar, K. J.; Taylor, L. S., Understanding Polymer Properties Important for Crystal Growth Inhibition-Impact of Chemically Diverse Polymers on Solution Crystal Growth of Ritonavir. Cryst. Growth Des. 2012, 12, (6), 3133-3143; and Ilevbare, G. A.; Liu, H.; Edgar, K. J.; Taylor, L. S., Effect of Binary Additive Combinations on Solution Crystal Growth of the Poorly Water-Soluble Drug, Ritonavir. Cryst. Growth Des. 2012, 12, (12), 6050-6060; and Ilevbare, G. A.; Liu, H.; Edgar, K. J.; Taylor, L. S., Impact of Polymers on Crystal Growth Rate of Structurally Diverse Compounds from Aqueous Solution. Mol. Pharm. 2013, 10, (6), 2381-2393; and Ilevbare, G. A.; Liu, H.; Edgar, K. J.; Taylor, L. S., Maintaining Supersaturation in Aqueous Drug Solutions: Impact of Different Polymers on Induction Times. Cryst. Growth Des. 2013, 13, (2), 740-751). These studies also revealed that the DS of carboxylic acid functionality and the polymer hydrophobicity were key factors influencing the performance of the ASDs. The long side chains enhance the interactions of the polymers with hydrophobic drugs, while the pendant carboxylic acids provide both specific polymer-drug interactions and the pH-trigger for drug release through swelling of the ionized polymer matrix.
Thus, despite these investigations there remains a need in the art for advances in the synthesis of polysaccharide derivatives.

Cross-metathesized polysaccharide derivatives and processes for preparing them

Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.


A procedure for checking the functionality of a reducing agent pump (172) of a NOx-reduction system of a combustion engine (110) is thereby characterized, in that it is checked, whether the pump (172) reaches a default engine speed value in a defined time interval within defined limits.

The reduction of nitric oxide emissions of a combustion engine that works with oxygen surplus, in particular a diesel combustion engine can take place with the aid of the so-called selective catalytic reduction technology (SCR). A reduction of nitric oxides into nitrogen and hydrogen is thereby carried out, whereby gaseous ammoniac or ammoniac in aqueous solution or urea in aqueous solution are used as reducing agent. The urea serves thereby as ammoniac carrier. With the aid of the metering system in front of a hydrolysis catalytic converter the reducing agent is injected into the exhaust gas pipe of the combustion engine. It is converted in the hydrolysis catalytic converter with the aid of the hydrolysis into ammoniac, which then further reduces the nitric oxides in the exhaust gas in the main SCR-catalytic converter, which is also called DENOX-catalytic converter. The main components of such a NOx-reduction system are a reducing agent tank, a pump, a pressure regulator, a pressure sensor and a metering valve. The pump advances the reducing agent that is stored in the reducing agent tank to the metering valve, with which the reducing agent is injected into the exhaust gas current upstream of the hydrolysis catalytic converter. The metering valve is thereby controlled by signals of a control unit, for example the control unit of the combustion engine, in order to supply a specific actually required amount of reducing agent. Substances that are present in aqueous solution and releasing ammoniac, such as urea, are preferably used, because they store reducing agent significantly easier and are easier to handle than for example gaseous ammoniac. Furthermore the ability to advance and meter this solution is technically significantly easier than for example the advancing and metering of gaseous substances. A disadvantage of the aqueous solution of for example urea is that the reducing agent solution has a freezing point of −11° C. Therefore devices have to be provided for heating the reducing agent in the reducing agent tank.
The reducing agent amount is advanced at such reduction systems by a pipe from the reducing agent tank to the metering valve. The pipe pressure is regulated to a constant value with the aid of a controlling of the pump. A significant requirement therefore is the proper functioning of the pump, which is necessary to be able to keep the default nominal pressure in the system stabile.
The invention is therefore based on the task to provide a procedure for checking the functionality of a pump engine of a reducing agent pump, which can be realized by simple means.

Procedure for checking the functionality of a pump


The present invention is directed to a system and method of providing a data image cache. A system suitable for transferring data images includes an image cache suitable for being accessed locally, the image cache suitable for storing at least one data image. Image storage is connected to the image cache over a network, the image storage including a plurality of data images. Wherein, a query is received by the image cache for a data image not included in the image cache, a data image corresponding to the queried image is transferred from the image storage to the image cache over the network.

The present invention generally relates to the field of unit testing of information handling system components and provision of data images, and particularly to a data image cache.
The assembly and manufacture of information handling systems and components is extremely competitive, even slight advantages return significant gains when multiplied over the vast quantities of units sold. One important factor in the purchase of an information handling system by a consumer is the reliability of the system. To insure this reliability, manufacturers and assemblers test components and systems for operability within desired parameters. For example, unit testing of individual information handling system components, such as PCI components and the like, typically involves installing a driver for the component and rebooting. This may be prone to inconsistent results caused by a poor or incorrect installation, remnants of other drivers and installations, and the like. These inconsistent results may cause an inoperable information handling system and/or components being shipped, thereby greatly increasing the cost to the manufacturer in the return and repair of the system as well as resulting in great inconvenience to the consumer.
One way to promote efficient and effective testing of the components is to create a data image for each test. The data images may be stored for access by devices needing the data image, such as on a master system that is accessible by each testing device in a device testing system. However, due to the size of the data images, for example, a data image size may be 100 Mb and greater, it may take a considerable amount of time to transmit the data images over a network.
Thus, it would be desirable to provide an image system and method that may reduce the time and network traffic required in transferring a data image.
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a system and method of providing a data image cache. In a first aspect of the present invention, a system suitable for transferring data images includes an image cache suitable for being accessed locally, the image cache suitable for storing at least one data image. Image storage is connected to the image cache over a network, the image storage including a plurality of data images. Wherein, a query is received by the image cache for a data image not included in the image cache, a data image corresponding to the queried data image is transferred from the image storage to the image cache over the network.
In a second aspect of the present invention, a method for storing data images includes receiving a request for a data image. An image cache is queried for the requested data image, wherein if the data image is not included in the image cache, image storage is queried for the requested data image. The image storage is connected to the image cache over a network. The requested data image is transferred to the image cache from the image storage, wherein when there is insufficient storage space to store the requested data image on the image cache, a preexisting data image is deleted.
In a third aspect of the present invention, a system for transferring data images includes an information handling system including an image cache suitable for being accessed locally. The image cache is suitable for storing at least one data image. An image server including image storage is connected to the information handling system over a network. The image storage includes a plurality of data images. Wherein a plurality of data images transferred from the image server are utilized by the information handling system, a first data image is stored on the image cache which is utilized more recently by the information handling system than a second data image.
It is to be understood that both the forgoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and together with the general description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

System and method of providing data images over a network with a local image cache


A clock generator with glitchless phase adjustment having a phase locked loop with a controlled oscillator providing an output representing a phase value. One or more output modules generate one or more output clocks from the output. One or more adjustment modules add a requested phase adjustment to an output clock. The phase adjustment modules are configured to break the requested phase adjustment into smaller increments and apply the increments to an output clock generated in said at the output modules one cycle at a time.

In digital electronics, there are systems that require a digital clock output signal to be frequency-locked to a reference clock source, and further require the phase alignment of the output clock to be occasionally adjusted without otherwise impacting the frequency synchronization with the reference. Additionally, other digital systems require two or more clock signals to be frequency-locked to a common reference. A clock and frame-sync pair is a common example as shown in FIG. 1. In such a system scenarios can arise where one of these clocks requires a one-time phase adjustment without otherwise impacting the frequency synchronization of either clock signal. After the clock and frame-sync have frequency-locked to the input reference, the frame-sync may also need to be phase aligned with a second signal, such as a time-of-day (ToD) seconds indicator.
In many applications, such as the ones described above, industry standards or other practical reasons exist that require the phase alignment to be glitchless, i.e. occurring without a sudden phase jump. Making an adjustment glitchless may involve limiting the size of the phase movement per clock cycle. Additionally, there may be requirements that limit when the phase adjustments are allowed. For instance, in the previous example, the phase adjustment is typically not desired during the high portion of the signal. The exact parameters defining the allowable rate and position of a glitchless phase adjustment are application specific, so it is desirable that the phase adjustment mechanism be flexible in this regard.
A variety of methods have been used to address these requirements. One such method, shown in FIG. 2, involves momentarily adjusting the Frequency Control input to a Numerically Controlled Oscillator (NCO), Digitally Controlled Oscillator (DCO), or a Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO). These devices allow the frequency of an output clock to be adjusted by changing a control input to the device. To perform a phase adjustment, the frequency is momentarily increased or decreased until the desired phase movement has been achieved. The disadvantages of this approach are that it cannot instantaneously apply an arbitrarily large phase step, the phase step cannot be easily timed within the high or the low portion of the clock, and it requires time sensitive control via the controller logic.
Another method involves adjusting the phase error as seen by the input to a standard PLL. During the steady-state locked condition of a PLL, the input phase error to the PLL (the difference between the input reference and the fed back signal from the PLL output) is at or near zero. To accomplish a phase adjustment, a constant phase offset (in the amount of the desired phase step) can be summed into the PLL's phase error input. This will cause the PLL to lock to the input reference, shifted by the desired phase adjustment. As shown in FIG. 3, there are three points in the input side of the PLL where the phase may be added: 1) as an offset to the input reference phase, 2) as an offset to the PLL feedback phase, and 3) as an offset to the output of the phase detector. This method is easier to control as it less time sensitive on the controller, but still cannot be an instantaneous adjustment, as the output movement is limited by the PLL's loop bandwidth. Additionally, in the case of a PLL synchronizing multiple output clocks, this solution precludes the ability to shift one of the outputs independently of the others.
The last mechanism, shown in FIG. 4, involves summing a phase offset directly into the output. In this method, a Digital PLL (DPLL) and some number of clock synthesizers are driven from the same master clock reference (which can be distinct from the input reference clock). The DPLL's output frequency and phase information are used to program the clock synthesizers to generate the final derived clock that is synchronized with the DPLL's input reference. To accomplish a phase adjustment, a one-time phase offset is summed into the desired synthesizer's phase input. While this method is fast and requires little controller logic support, it can introduce large, uncontrolled, instantaneous phase steps into the output signal.


The brush comprises bristles (2a, 2b) disposed substantially parallel to one another and fixed in a tuft to a support. The bristles are formed by a mixture of bristles (2a) of small section, or small bristles, and bristles (2b) having a larger section, or large bristles, the proportion of large bristles being between 2% and 95% by volume in relation to the total volume of the tuft of the brush.

The brushes proposed hitherto generally ensure relatively satisfactory making up, but it is desirable to be able to improve the precision and speed of making up, especially the precision of the application of nail varnish or a similar product.
Moreover, with a conventional brush, the brush often has to be dipped into the container several times in order to make up a nail as the product load taken up by the brush is relatively light. Various solutions have already been proposed to obviate this disadvantage and to incorporate a sort of storage tank into the shaft of the brush, but these solutions complicate the manufacture and use of the brush.

Brush for the application of nail varnish or a similar product


A permeable membrane apparatus having one or more hollow-fiber bundles enclosed in a single housing with end caps adapted so as to segment the bundles into a plurality of portions that can be separately used for fluid separation and its use.

Permeable hollow-fiber membrane processes and systems are being employed or considered for a wide variety of fluid (gas and liquid) separations. In such operations, a feed stream is brought into contact with the surface of the membrane; a pressure differential is maintained across the membrane; the more readily permeable component of the feed stream passes through the membrane and is withdrawn as the permeate stream; and the less readily permeable component does not pass through the membrane and is withdrawn as a non-permeate, or retentate, stream.
The membrane material and form employed may be any suitable material capable of effecting the desired separation. For example, cellulose derivatives, polyamides, polyimides, polysulfones, and polystyrenes have found utility. Also for example, hollow-fiber membranes may be composite, asymmetric, or dense film.
The membrane is generally supported and sealed in a housing such as a shell or vessel to form a permeator. The housing contains the fluids, protects the membrane, and channels and separates the flow of the permeate and retentate. Particularly in the case of membranes comprising hollow fibers, the art has taught that more than one bundle of hollow fibers can be included in a single housing. Such an arrangement reduces weight and cost of the system.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,884,814 describes a hollow fiber permeator having two "U" shaped bundles on a cruciform core in a single housing. A lid equipped with an inlet and an outlet for each of the "U" shaped bundles permits feeding the bundles separately. The reference suggests ultrafiltration of different solutions in each bundle.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,953,334 teaches a plurality of separate bundles of hollow cords separately supported and sealed in side plates connected to a central conduit and support within a single shell. Flange members provide common fluid communication between the ends of the cord bundles and the outside of the shell.
A permeator is generally designed to provide a given product quality (separation) at a single flow rate (flux). U.S. Pat. No. 4,806,132 claims a method of achieving turndown control in a permeator system at reduced flow demand. The background of that patent suggests without any detail that turndown can be achieved in other systems by shutting down a portion of the membrane area in the system under reduced demand conditions.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,397,661 employs a plurality of permeators manifolded in a manner that permits shutting down a portion of the total area of membrane in the system under reduced demand conditions by valving one or more permeators out of the system.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,537,606 teaches a method of varying oxygen flow and concentration for combustion by varying total membrane area by valving in auxiliary membrane cells manifolded with the primary cell.
One use for permeators described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,556,180, which is incorporated herein by reference, is inerting of fuel tanks on airplanes to eliminate explosive gas mixtures that are a hazard in case of lightning strikes, crash damage or military damage. Particularly in situations where feed air is at a low pressure such as on helicopters, an alternate system employing one or more air separation modules is taught.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,556,180 does not provide a means for varying flow from the permeator based on demand as is particularly needed in airplane operation. For example, during level flight, a relatively low rate of nitrogen-enriched-air (NEA) flow is required to take the place of fuel being used. During a dive from high altitude, however, a higher rate of NEA flow is required to keep the internal pressure in the fuel tanks equal to the external pressure. If the fuel tanks are nearly empty during a dive, an even higher rate of NEA flow may be required.
Manifolding permeators such as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,397,661 would enable varying flow while maintaining NEA with the percent oxygen in the gas at less than 9 percent. But a hollow-fiber permeator system needed to accommodate the various flow needs noted above would require at least two separate permeators which are heavy and bulky and therefore are a problem on an aircraft with weight and space limitations.
Simply operating a single conventional permeator at the several different flow rates needed is not desirable for the following reasons: when operating a high flow capacity permeator at lower flow rates, the velocity of gas through the hollow fibers is so low that the recovery (ratio of NEA flow to feed flow) of the permeator drops to an inefficient level; and when operating a low flow capacity permeator at higher flow rates, the purity of the NEA drops to an undesirably low value (percent oxygen greater than 9%).


A method of forming a catalyst body by forming a first layer of hemispherical grain polysilicon over a substrate, and oxidizing at least a portion of the first layer to form a second layer of silica. Additionally, forming a third layer of nitride material over the second layer, and forming a catalyst material over the nitride layer, can be performed before annealing to form a catalyst body.

The present invention relates to catalysts, and more particularly, to a method of fabricating catalysts on a nanometer scale for wide ranging industrial applicability. The invention also relates to the catalyst structures so formed.
Because of its economic importance, catalysis is one of the most intensely pursued subjects in applied chemistry and chemical engineering. Catalysts are widely used today to lower the activation energies that would otherwise prohibit important reactions from proceeding. Most industrial reactions are catalytic, and many process improvements thereto result from the discovery of better chemical routes, or as the result of attaining new ways to position catalysts to better interact with important chemical reactants. Ideally it is often best to expose as much of the catalyst as possible to the reactants in the reaction scheme.
Unfortunately, to-date, catalysis has been an inexact science on other than a macroscopic scale. Scientists are only beginning to understand the microscopic interplay between the catalyst and the surface or substrate upon which it is positioned. :It is believed that these surface interactions may have a significant impact on ultimate catalyst stereochemistry and performance.
However, because of current process technological limitations it has been difficult to provide reaction vehicles which would facilitate microscopic catalyst formation. What is therefore needed in the art is a new method of forming a catalyst body that takes maximum advantage of the chemical and physical properties of both the catalyst and the substrate upon which it is formed at a nanometer-scale level.
The invention provides a method of forming a catalyst body on a nanometric scale sufficient to carry out microscopic (nanometric) catalysis reactions. The method comprises forming a first layer of hemispherical grain polysilicon over a substrate. At least a portion of the first layer is then oxidized to form a second layer of silica over the remaining portion of the first layer which has not been oxidized. A third layer of nitride is formed over the second layer, and a catalyst material is deposited on the nitride layer. The catalyst material is then annealed to form a catalyst body which causes the catalyst material to have a larger exposed surface area than just prior to annealing.
The invention provides a method for increasing the surface area of a catalyst material. A barrier layer is formed over a layer of silica, and a layer of catalyst material is then deposited over the barrier layer so as to form a catalyst body. The catalyst material incorporated into the catalyst body has more exposed surface area for reaction than when it has not been made a part of the catalyst body.
The invention also provides a method of converting a portion of hemispherical grain polysilicon to silica without substantially flattening the textured grain itself. The grain is heated to a temperature within the range of about 350 to about 750 degrees C for a period not exceeding about 5 minutes.
The invention provides a catalyst body which has a first layer of hemispherical grain polysilicon, a second layer of silica formed from a portion of the polysilicon, a third layer of silicon nitride provided over the second layer, and a catalyst material layer provided over the third layer. The catalyst material layer is made up of at least one member selected from Group VIII metals and zeolites.
The invention provides a catalyst body having a first layer of hemispherical grain polysilicon, a second layer of silica formed from a portion of the hemispherical grain polysilicon, and a catalyst material layer formed over the second layer.
The invention also provides a sensor device which has a catalyst body formed over a substrate. The catalyst body comprises a first layer of hemispherical grain polysilicon, a second layer of silica formed over the first layer, a third layer of nitride formed over the silica layer, and a catalyst material layer formed over the nitride layer. It is desirable that the catalyst material layer be more expansive, e.g. extend further perimeter wise, than at least one of the underlying layers.
These and other advantages and features of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description and drawings which illustrate various exemplary embodiments.

Nanometer engineering of metal-support catalysts


An assembly having at least two chambers (1, 2) and at least one transfer valve (3), wherein: a valve housing interior (9) of the transfer valve (3) is separated from each the chamber interiors (4, 5) of the chambers (1, 2) by respective partitions (12, 13) and a transfer opening (14, 15) for the feeding through of objects and/or fluids is formed in each of the partitions (12, 13) and in addition to the transfer opening (14, 15) in question an additional opening (16, 17) is arranged in each of the partitions (12, 13). The additional openings (16, 17) can be closed by respective switching valves (18, 19) of the assembly and, in an open state of the respective switching valves (18, 19), directly fluidically connect the valve housing interior (9) to the respective chamber interiors (4, 5) adjoining the respective partitions (12, 13).

Such arrangements of chambers with interposed transfer valves are known per se. They are often used in negative-pressure or vacuum technology. The chambers may be both process chambers and transfer chambers. The transfer valves make it possible for the transfer openings to be closed off. If the transfer valve closure members of the transfer valve are in the open position, then objects and/or fluids can be transported through the transfer opening into the respective chamber and removed therefrom. Generic prior art is presented in EP 2 876 341 B1. There, a description is also given of how the chamber interiors and also the valve housing interior of the respective transfer valve are pumped out, that is to say subjected to negative pressure or vacuum, and how these chamber interiors and the valve housing interior are aerated, and thereby subjected to pressure, again. In EP 2 876 341 B1, it is already proposed that, for pumping out and also for aerating the valve housing interior, no separate suction pumps and inlet valves at the transfer valve be provided. In EP 2 876 341 B1, it is rather the case that a branched-off line is led from one of the suction pumps of the chamber to the transfer valve in order for both the chamber interior and the valve housing interior to be able to be pumped out by way of this one suction pump.
In EP 2 876 341 B1, it is described in particular in the patent claim 1 thereof how a positive pressure in one of the chamber interiors in relation to the valve housing interior may be used to lift the transfer valve closure member off from the respective valve seat in order, in this way, to initiate the opening process for opening up the transfer opening. In order to make available the required pressure difference between chamber interior and valve housing interior, use is made of the connecting line between the suction pump of the chamber and the transfer valve housing or the valve housing interior in EP 2 876 341 B1.
In practice, said connecting line is also used to compensate for differential pressures between the chamber interiors and the valve housing interior in order for it then to be possible for the transfer valve to be opened by means of corresponding drives.
It has been shown in practice that the technology described in EP 2 876 341 B1, in particular in the case of chambers and transfer valve housings with relatively large interiors, leads to very long switching times or, in part, completely reaches its limits of feasibility.

Assembly having at least two chambers and at least one transfer valve