The present application reveals a simplified method and a device for diagnosing performance of an air-conditioning system. The simplified method comprises determining a temperature differential or differentials between inlet and outlet temperatures of a condenser and/or between ambient and vent temperatures in the air-conditioning system; analyzing the differential or differentials to determine whether the air-conditioning system is properly functioning; and diagnosing performance of the air-conditioning system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is for an apparatus and method to diagnose and performance test air-conditioning systems using temperature differentials of critical components, ambient temperature and humidity, along with software data.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the past, a pressure reading manifold was used in diagnosing air-conditioning performance. The manifold was connected to the high and low sides of the air-conditioning system and operating pressures read. Over the past decade, air-conditioning systems added complexity, thus making pressure readings alone not acceptable for diagnosing system performance. The pressure readings were also used in conjunction with ambient temperature, humidity or vent temperature to give a better indication of air-conditioning system performance. Even where temperatures are required for measuring system performance, prior art methods use a surface contact thermometer or an infrared (IR) thermometer, each of which only measures one reading at a time.
Neutronics, Inc. (Exton, Pa.) manufactures a device for SPX Robinair (Montpelier, Ohio) that uses temperatures and pressures to lead a technician through a series of tests and checks to diagnose an air-conditioning system and its components. Each temperature is taken at a static moment, using infrared (IR) technology. Using the device is very time consuming with multi-level testing and each temperature reading requires an operator to apply tape to a joint or connection being measured. The temperatures are not xe2x80x9clivexe2x80x9d as each is taken and recorded with a single measuring probe. The operator of this device needs to be knowledgeable in air-conditioning systems and performance testing.
Bright Solutions, Inc. (Troy, Mich.) manufactures a device that uses pressures along with various temperatures to go through a complex flow chart to diagnose component and system failures. The operator of the device needs some time to connect and operate the device, which leads the operator each and every step of the process. The operator of the device needs to be knowledgeable in air-conditioning systems and performance testing.
UView Ultraviolet Systems, Inc. (Mississauga, Canada) manufactures a device that determines a temperature differential between ambient and vent temperatures in an air-conditioning system and also calculates the temperature differential across the condenser. The device uses the multiple differential data along with ambient relative humidity to give an operator a diagnostic test and trouble code for diagnosis.
There is a need in the field for a simplified apparatus that allows for a quick performance test of an air-conditioning system without disrupting the integrity of the sealed air-conditioning system and that eliminates the danger of exposure to high pressure refrigerants.
The present application discloses a method and an apparatus for diagnosing performance of an air-conditioning system. The method comprises the steps of identifying whether the air-conditioning system comprises a fixed orifice type configuration or a thermostatic expansion valve type configuration; determining a temperature differential between inlet and outlet temperatures of a condenser in the air-conditioning system; determining a temperature differential between inlet and outlet temperatures of an evaporator in the air-conditioning system; determining a temperature differential between ambient and vent temperatures in the air-conditioning system; analyzing the differentials of the condenser, evaporator and ambient and vent temperatures for the fixed orifice type configuration and analyzing the differentials of the condenser and ambient and vent temperatures for the thermostatic expansion valve type configuration; determining whether the air-conditioning system is properly functioning; and diagnosing performance of the air-conditioning system.
In preferred embodiments of the method, a temperature differential of greater than 10xc2x0 F. across the condenser is determinative of whether the air-conditioning system is properly functioning; a temperature differential of less than xc2x110xc2x0 F. across the evaporator is determinative of whether the air-conditioning system is properly functioning; and a temperature differential of greater than 25xc2x0 F. between the ambient and vent temperature is determinative of whether the air-conditioning system is properly functioning.
In another preferred embodiment, the method further comprises determining relative humidity of the ambient air; and analyzing the relative humidity and the differentials of the condenser, evaporator and ambient and vent temperatures for the fixed orifice type configuration or analyzing the relative humidity and the differentials of the condenser and ambient and vent temperatures for the thermostatic expansion valve type configuration.
The apparatus for diagnosing performance of an air-conditioning system comprises means for determining a temperature differential between inlet and outlet temperatures of a condenser in the air-conditioning system; means for determining a temperature differential between inlet and outlet temperatures of an evaporator in the air-conditioning system; means for determining a temperature differential between ambient and vent temperatures in the air-conditioning system; means for analyzing the differentials of the condenser, evaporator and ambient and vent temperatures for a fixed orifice type of air-conditioning system and means for analyzing the differentials of the condenser and ambient and vent temperatures for a thermostatic expansion valve type of air-conditioning system; means for determining whether the air-conditioning system is properly functioning; and means for diagnosing performance of the air-conditioning system.
In preferred embodiments of this apparatus, a temperature differential of greater than 10xc2x0 F. across the condenser is determinative of whether the air-conditioning system is properly functioning; a temperature differential of less than xc2x110xc2x0 F. across the evaporator is determinative of whether the air-conditioning system is properly functioning; and a temperature differential of greater than 25xc2x0 F. between the ambient and vent temperature is determinative of whether the air-conditioning system is properly functioning.
In another preferred embodiment, the apparatus further comprises means for determining relative humidity of the ambient air, and means for analyzing the relative humidity and the differentials of the condenser, evaporator and ambient and vent temperatures for the fixed orifice type of air-conditioning system and means for analyzing the relative humidity and the differentials of the condenser and ambient and vent temperatures for the thermostatic expansion valve type of air-conditioning system.
The present application also discloses a simplified method and device for diagnosing performance of an air-conditioning system. The method comprises the steps of determining a temperature differential between inlet and outlet temperatures of a condenser, or between ambient and vent temperatures in the air-conditioning system; analyzing the temperature differential to determine whether the air-conditioning system is properly functioning; and diagnosing performance of the air-conditioning system.
In preferred embodiments of the method, a temperature differential of greater than 10xc2x0 F. across the condenser is determinative of whether the air-conditioning system is properly functioning and a temperature differential of greater than 25xc2x0 F. between the ambient and vent temperature is determinative of whether the air-conditioning system is properly functioning.
The simplified device for diagnosing performance of an air-conditioning system comprises means for determining a temperature differential between inlet and outlet temperatures of a condenser, or between ambient and vent temperatures in the air-conditioning system; means for analyzing the temperature differential to determine whether the air-conditioning system is properly functioning; and means for diagnosing performance of the air-conditioning system.
In preferred embodiments of the simplified device, a temperature differential of greater than 10xc2x0 F. across the condenser is determinative of whether the air-conditioning system is properly functioning and a temperature differential of greater than 25xc2x0 F. between the ambient and vent temperature is determinative of whether the air-conditioning system is properly functioning.
The present application also discloses another simplified method and device for diagnosing performance of an air-conditioning system. This method comprises the steps of determining temperature differentials between inlet and outlet temperatures of a condenser and between ambient and vent temperatures; analyzing the temperature differentials to determine whether the air-conditioning system is properly functioning; and diagnosing performance of the air-conditioning system.
In preferred embodiments of this method, a temperature differential of greater than 10xc2x0 F. across the condenser is determinative of whether the air-conditioning system is properly functioning and a temperature differential of greater than 25xc2x0 F. between the ambient and vent temperature is determinative of whether the air-conditioning system is properly functioning.
This simplified device for diagnosing performance of an air-conditioning system comprises means for determining temperature differentials between inlet and outlet temperatures of a condenser and between ambient and vent temperatures; means for analyzing the temperature differentials to determine whether the air-conditioning system is properly functioning; and means for diagnosing performance of the air-conditioning system.
In preferred embodiments of this device, a temperature differential of greater than 10xc2x0 F. across the condenser is determinative of whether the air-conditioning system is properly functioning and a temperature differential of greater than 25xc2x0 F. between the ambient and vent temperature is determinative of whether the air-conditioning system is properly functioning.
The present application also discloses a device for verifying a proper heat exchange and overall performance of an air-conditioning system. The device comprises means for measuring a temperature differential between ambient and vent temperatures of the air-conditioning system; and means for analyzing the temperature differentials in order to give an indication of performance of the air-conditioning system.

Apparatus and method for diagnosing performance of air-conditioning systems


An in vivo component measurement method allowing how long a high concentration state of a measurement target component continues in an organism to be grasped is provided. In this in vivo component measurement method, a value relating to an amount of a measurement target component in tissue fluid extracted for 60 minutes or more from an organism on which a treatment for enhancing extraction of tissue fluid has been made is acquired.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an in vivo component measurement method, a data processing method for in vivo component measurement, an in vivo component measurement apparatus and a collection member.
2. Description of the Background Art
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2004-195218 discloses an iontophoresis device comprising a pair of electrode assemblies applied to the oral mucosa and the skin and a pad for extraction provided on the electrode assembly applied to the oral mucosa. This iontophoresis device is so formed that glucose can be extracted from the oral mucosa into the pad for extraction by so-called iontophoresis action by applying electric energy to a site sandwiched between the pair of electrode assemblies for a prescribed time (30 seconds to 20 minutes). The quantity of the glucose extracted into the pad for extraction can be determined by a detector. This iontophoresis device can measure the quantity of glucose in the body in a short time of 30 seconds to 20 minutes by applying electric energy to an organism.
Blood glucose (blood sugar) is measured in a fasting state or after meal (after glucose load), whereby effective information for diabetes diagnosis can be provided. A blood glucose level in a fasting state is used in the diagnosis of diabetes of a subject, for example. A blood glucose level after glucose load serves as an index for knowing how long a high blood glucose state continues after glucose load and is useful in screening so-called hidden diabetes in which decline of a blood glucose level after glucose load is slow.
However, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2004-195218 does not describe grasping how long a high blood glucose state continues at all.

In vivo component measurement method, data processing method for in vivo component measurement, in vivo component measurement apparatus and collection member


A facility for defining an event subtype using examples is described. The facility displays events identified among machine-generated data. The facility receives user input selecting a first subset of the events as examples of an event subtype. In response to receiving the user input, the facility displays a second subset of the events predicted to belong to the event subtype on the basis of the examples of the event subtype.

Modern data centers often comprise thousands of hosts that operate collectively to service requests from even larger numbers of remote clients. During operation, components of these data centers can produce significant volumes of machine-generated data. Some systems for processing and analyzing machine-generated data organize the machine-generated data into "events": actions that each occurred at a particular time, such as actions that each occurred at a particular time on a particular host.


A system and method for reducing memory usage is disclosed. The system and method include populating a first container with original data. The first container has a tree-based data structure that includes a plurality of nodes and a plurality of pointers. A block of memory is allocated to a second container that has an array-based data structure. The original data is copied from the first container to the second container. The original data, the plurality of nodes, and the plurality of pointers may be deleted from the first container.

Computer data may be contained in a variety of data structures. For example, modeling data may be contained in a set data structure or a map data structure. A set data structure is a collection of objects or keys where the object or key can only exist once in the set. A map data structure is similar to a set data structure except that along with a collection of keys, a map data structure includes additional data. That is, the key of a map data structure is mapped to a value. For example, a map data structure container may contain a key that is a two-character abbreviation of a state and that key is mapped to a value that is the complete state name. The key data structure and the map data structure may utilize a tree-based data structure.
Tree-based data structures may allow fast population and fast retrieval of data. However, tree-based data structure may require substantial memory to store data. Much of the memory allocated to a tree-based data structure may be overhead. That is, the memory may be allocated to support the tree structure and other overhead required by the operating system in addition to the memory allocated for the data itself. For example, a map data structure may have 4 bytes allocated for the key and 4 bytes allocated to the value associated with the key. Thus, each entry in a container holding a map data structure may be 8 bytes of actual data. However, 20 bytes of overhead memory may be allocated to each entry.

System and method for reducing memory usage of tree-based data structures


A pixel element for a 3D display, wherein multiple substantially collimated controllable light beams are emitted in multiple directions, with each light beam associated with a predetermined viewing direction. A set of substantially point type sources are individually addressable and are arranged in a line. The light sources are serially addressed; and the light from each source is imaged in a collimated light beam and deflected in a predetermined individual deflection direction.

The object of the invention is a pixel element for a three-dimensional screen. The pixel element of the invention comprises means for generating multiple substantially collimated, controllable light beams. These light beams are emitted in multiple directions, so that each light beam is associated to a predetermined viewing direction.
Various methods and devices have been suggested to achieve a true three-dimensional image (3D image). The underlying principle of all true 3D methods is the same. If a planexe2x80x94two-dimensionalxe2x80x94image is displayed on a surface, then every point of the surface emits or reflects light with approximately same intensity (and colour) in all directions. This is the working principle of a traditional picture, like a postcard (reflection) or a traditional TV-image (light emission). In the case when a three-dimensional image is presented, the emitted light has a different intensity (and colour) in the different directions, even if it is emitted from the same point. We may regard in this way a window pane or a hologram as a display. Hence, in order to display a three-dimensional image, there is needed a light emitting surface where the intensity (and colour) of the light emitted from a single image point (pixel) may be controlled as the function of the emission angle (exit angle), with other words, the intensity of the light emitted in the different directions may be controlled.
In order to produce true or realistic three-dimensional images, two technical problems must be solved. Firstly, a large number of light beams must be projected in the different directions in space, with the appropriate intensity/colour, which allow the viewer to see different perspectives from different viewpoints. Secondly, means must be provided to allow the feeding of the necessary data to the light sources generating the light beams. This second problem involves difficulties when video images (i.e. moving images) must be displayed, because large amounts of data (kB/s) must be forwarded into each (!) image point or pixel. Obviously, a true 3D video image providing n different viewing directions require n times the data amount of a normal video image.
There are many known technical solutions that addresses the problem of the directed light beams. The Hungarian Patent application published under No. T/63 503 discloses two methods for the presentation of three-dimensional images.
In a first version, a modulated laser beam is subjected to deflection which is controlled in time. The deflection is performed before the image pixels, according to the directions defining the viewing range. In this manner the modulated laser beam enters the image pixel deflected with an angle, the beam is parallel translated. From the image pixel the laser beam propagates with an optical deflection corresponding to the view range, or propagates further in different directions within the viewing range without further deflection. A disadvantage of this solution is that the laser beam must be focused and positioned very precisely, because the entry point of the laser beam within the image pixel defines the direction of the exiting laser beam.
In the second version, the modulated laser beam enters an image pixel in the same entry point, without deflection, and it is deflected towards the different viewing angles within the image pixel, with the help of a controllable active optical element positioned in the image pixel. The deflection of light beam with the angle-dependent intensity is performed by the active optical element. The advantage of the solution is that the positioning and focusing of the beam need not be very exact, but the active optical elements make the device extremely expensive. Also, the problem of the feeding of the data to the active pixels is not discussed.
In other known methods, in order to display true 3D images, two surfaces are used, where the first front surface is a surface with a controllable light transmission, and the second back surface is an illuminating surface comprising light sources. One point of the back surface and one point of the front surface defines unequivocally a direction. With a possible embodiment, the image is created on the back surface by controlling the intensity and/or colour of the light sources, while on the first surface only masking is performed according to the selected viewing directions, by switching the image pixels on and off. With an other possible embodiment, the light sources on the back surface are continuously on, or they are only switched on or off, while the controlling according to the image information is made on the first surface. The first surface comprising the image pixels with controllable light transmission is preferably an LCD display.
Such solutions utilising an LCD display are disclosed, among others, in the documents EP 0 316 465 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,132,839. Here, illuminated strips are used behind an LCD screen, and the light of the strips are either transmitted or blocked by the controlled image pixels of the LCD screen.
In the solution disclosed in EP 0 316 465, there is an illuminated line behind every pair of LCD-pixel columns, and the light of the line passes through either one column or the other, corresponding to the control of the LCD pixels. This arrangement allows the display of a stereoscopic image with two viewing directions, but the resolution of the LCD-display is low, because two LCD-pixels are needed for an image point. The description suggest to increase the number of LCD-pixels associated to one illuminating line, in order to increase the number of viewing directions, but this leads to a further lowering of the resolution. There is no teaching how the data must be fed to the LCD-pixels.
With another possible embodiment, it is suggested to use one illuminating line (light source) behind each LCD-pixel column. In this case every pixel is illuminated by multiple light sources, which results in several viewing directions, having independently controllable light emissions in the same image point. Such a display is described in the publication xe2x80x9cA prototype flat panel hologram-like display that produces multiple perspective views at full resolutionxe2x80x9d, by J. Eichenlaub, in: Proceedings of the SPIE Vol. 2409, pp. 102-112. Here, the number of the light sources is essentially equal to the number of the image pixels in a line. Therefore, in order to produce an image with an acceptable resolution, a large number of very small light sources are needed. These light sources are extremely expensive, due to their small size and the large quantity needed. The light sources may be manufactured by optical methods (e.g. cylindrical lens matrix, disclosed in WO 94/06249), but this requires again a very precise and costly technology, and the illumination angle is also limited. A further disadvantage of this approach is the limited intensity which may be achieved. The application of this system for moving images is clearly limited by the addressing speed of the LCD screen, and the switching speed of the light sources.
The need to provide several emitting directions from one image point is also recognised in the solution described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,521,724 (Shires). In this solution a simple electronic display is presented, which produces 3D images by binocular parallax. The effect is produced by the pixels of a traditional 2D display, which are spatially multiplexed by holographic elements. The problem of the data speed is not discussed.
There are also disclosed various forms of lenticular lens systems, which provide outgoing light beams according to different viewing directions. Such a solution used to create an autostereoscopic display is described in EP 0 786 912 A2. Again, in this document there is no teaching how the large amount of data may be fed into the subpixels of the image pixels (essentially, the pixels of an SLM, see FIG. 11.), which then produce the different images in different directions through the lenticular lenses.
In the field of laser printers, LED arrays arranged in a line are already known. These arrays contain individually adressable light sources. However, it has not been suggested to use such a LED array to produce light beams which are radiating in different directions, and thereby achieving 3D images.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a pixel element which simultaneously solves the optical problem of the multiple directed light beams and the problem of the data transfer to the light sources. It is a further object to provide a pixel element that is relatively easy to manufacture, replaceable, and require simple supporting systems, both in mechanical, optical, and electronic terms.
The above objectives are reached by a pixel element for a 3D screen, comprising means for generating multiple substantially collimated, controllable light beams emitted in multiple directions, so that each light beam is associated to a predetermined viewing direction. According to the invention, the pixel element comprises at least one set of substantially point source type, individually addressable light sources arranged in a line, and optical imaging means for imaging the light of each light sources in a collimated light beam and for deflecting each collimated light beam in a predetermined individual deflection direction, and further comprising means for serially addressing the light sources.
Especially, it is foreseen that the addressing means comprises a serial input shift register and/or a multiplexer for distributing the information from the input shift register to the individual light sources.
It is also suggested to use three sets of light sources radiating in the RGB colours, where each set is arranged in a line parallel with the other sets. Alternatively, one set of light sources may be arranged in multiple parallel lines. One line of light sources may be imaged by a lenticular matrix and/or an objective lens, which is associated to the line of the light sources.
In a particular embodiment, the addressing means comprises memory means for storing the input information of several operation cycles. It is also foreseen that the addressing means comprises means for evaluating the state of the light sources radiating in the neighbouring deflection directions.
The invention also includes a novel 3D display comprising pixel elements according to the invention.
Essentially, there is provided a novel light emitting pixel element, particularly for 3D screen applications. The main feature of such a pixel element is the ability to generate several independent light beams within a single unit, and without the use of expensive and bulky active optical elements. These light beams are emitted in several independent directions, so that each light beam is associated to a predetermined viewing direction. The different light beams are practically collimated, in order not to interfere with the neighbouring viewing directions. To achieve a true 3D effect, each independent light beam must be controllable on its own. The light beams are realised in the form of miniature diode lasers or LEDs, which function as substantially point source type, individually addressable light sources. The light sources are arranged in a line, which facilitates their deflection with a common optical projection system. Colour screens are created with three lines of light sources radiating in the RGB colours. The coloured lines of the light sources are positioned sufficiently close to each other, so the light beams appear to be emitted from one source.
This optical projection system includes means for imaging the light of each light sources in a collimated light beam, preferably a matrix of miniature lenses. The generated set of the parallel, collimated light beams are deflected in predetermined individual deflection directions, which corresponds to the viewing directions. This deflection is effected with a common objective lens. To keep the wiring and addressing within feasible limits, the pixel elements are provided with appropriate means for serially addressing the light sources. E.g. a serial input buffer or shift register, and/or a multiplexer could be integrated on the same chip or at least on the same ceramic plate which carries the light sources and their driver circuits.
The suggested pixel element is currently limited to provide 3D image along one axis (co-ordinate) only. To increase the viewing angle along the other axis, it is foreseen to apply a holographic plate or a cylindrical lens system as a means for establishing a divergence (diffusion) of the light beams perpendicular to the plane of deflection. To achieve a continuous image, when moving from one viewing angle to another, it is also suggested to apply some sort of diffusor to establish a divergence of the light beams in the plane of deflection. This divergence should be sufficient to cause an overlap of the edges of neighbouring light beams at least in a distance from the pixel element. The divergence or diffusion of the light beams could be done with the same holographic element, both in the perpendicular and the parallel direction.
It is fully feasible to provide the addressing logic of the pixel elements with intelligent features, like a firmware-type microprogram for evaluating the state of the light sources in neighbouring pixel elements. In this manner the whole screen of the pixel elements could act as a distributed processing unit, and e.g. certain functions of the data compression and decompression algorithms could be assigned to the microprograms in the pixels.
However, the greatest advantage of such a pixel element is the inherent simplicity of the device, which fully substitutes the functions of complicated and sensitive optical arrangements for producing a true 3D image. The pixel elements according to the present invention may be used to produce 3D screens in various sizes and resolution, using the same basic unit. The pixel element itself is relatively low-cost, if produced in large quantities. The necessary technologies to produce the different parts of the pixel element are all available and already tested in practice. The pixel element of the invention allows the realisation of a very powerful and sophisticated, and at the same time mass-produced and low-cost 3D screen.

Pixel element for a three-dimensional screen


A protective cover plate is adapted to cooperate with a tape dispenser, and includes a lever having a blade-protecting cover as a handle and a pivotable base. The base is adapted to be normally in contact with an elastic guide plate of the dispenser. A part of the cross-section of the base has a V-shaped configuration, including a round apex, and faces away from the handle. The legs of the V-shaped configuration subtend a predetermined angle with one another, and converge at the round apex. Two pins extend on respective opposite sides of the base into holes formed in respective frame plates of the dispenser, rendering the protective cover pivotably disposed on the tape dispenser. The lever occupies a first stable non-operative position, when the handle covers the cutter. By pivoting the lever with sufficient force away from the cutter, so as to overcome a pressure exerted by the elastic guide plate of the tape dispenser, the protective cover assumes a second stable and operative position.

Tapes are essential articles which are required for general industry and business operations, and are widely used in various industries and fields. As the blade of a saw-tooth cutter of most present tape dispensers is directly exposed outside of the dispenser and appears with sharp teeth, it therefore can easily cause a user to get hurt, when careless; alternately its blade might change shape, or be damaged due to shock, and thus be in a poor condition for a user.

Lever-operated protective cover for a saw tooth-shaped cutter

No. 16, Lane 399, Section 3, Jong-Shan Road


The present invention relates to a far field light microscopical method, respectively a system and a computer program product for analysing at least one object having a subwavelength size in at least one spatial direction to obtain spatial information of the object, in particular size and topology thereof, comprising the steps of:—labelling the object(s) with one or more suitable optical markers;—providing suitably structured illumination light to at least partially illuminate the object(s);—subjecting the object(s) to the structured illumination light;—detecting an optical response of the object(s);—obtaining the spatial information of the object(s) by comparing the obtained response with simulation data of an optical response of object(s) having known spatial information.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a far field light microscopical method, system and computer program product for analysing at least one object having a subwavelength size. In particular, it relates to a method to analyse the size and topology of subwavelength sized objects, such objects being in particular polymeric structures and supramolecular complexes composed of several to many units fluorescence labelled with an appropriate number of one or more spectral signatures, or any other fluorescent structures, having a subwavelength size at least in one spatial direction, by using spatially modulated illumination microscopy or other methods providing suitable structured illumination in the object plane, or object volume in combination with special calibration procedures obtained by "virtual microscopy" based specially designed information technology tools.
2. Description of the Related Art
Since the work of Abbe and Rayleigh at the end of the 19th century wave theory appeared to impose an absolute limit on the potential of light microscopy as a tool to study the nanostructure of thick transparent specimens such as cells and cell nuclei. In an advanced conventional epifluorescence light microscope or using Confocal Laser Scanning fluorescence Microscopy (CLSM), the optical resolution is limited laterally to about 200 nanometers and to about 1 μm (CLSM: about 600 nm) in the direction of the optical axis of the microscope system, assuming biologically relevant conditions. The above mentioned conventional optical resolution is the smallest detectable distance between two point like objects with the same optical characteristics (for example of same spectral signature) and is also often characterised by the Full-Width-at-Half-Maximum (FWHM) of the microscopic point spread function. In other words, the Point Spread Function (PSF) is the normalised spatial fluorescence intensity distribution in the image plane obtained of a "point like" fluorescent object and the width of this distribution at half the maximum intensity (Full-Width-at-Half-Maximum) is a measure for the optical resolution.
The conventional optical resolution, often in combination with advanced three-dimensional (3D)-deconvolution techniques, is already sufficient to study many important topics, such as of cell biology in general, including e.g. human genome structure on a scale down to 0.2 μm. For example, using a conventional epifluorescence light microscope, or Confocal Laser Scanning fluorescence Microscopy, it became possible to perform genome wide cytogenetic analysis of all mitotic chromosomes and to identify chromosome band regions down to several Megabase pairs (Mbp) in nucleic acids (DNA) as disclosed in M. R. Speicher, G. S. Ballard, D. C. Ward, Karyotyping human chromosomes by combinatorial multi-fluor FISH: Nature Genet. 12: 368-375 (1996); to visualise in human cell nuclei appropriately labelled chromosome territories, chromosome arm territories and still smaller chromatin domains down to the level of about 1 Mbp of DNA; to identify individual genes, using Fluorescence In Situ Hybridisation (FISH) techniques, and to estimate their spatial distribution by using in situ hybridisation methods, especially Fluorescence In Situ Hybridisation; to localise in living cells individual DNA sequences, using e.g. lac operator/repressor recognition; to visualise protein and protein/Ribo Nuclein Acids (RNA) complexes related to genome function; to measure the local mobility of individual protein and RNA molecules or other structures, in the nucleus of living cells using Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching (FRAP) or Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS) techniques.
Compared with the typical size of nucleosomes (about 11 nm diameter), of the chromatin loops of individual genes (e.g. 100 kilobase pair (kbp) corresponding to a linear extension of about 100 nm), or supramolecular complexes composed of two or more macromolecules) required for replication, transcription, splicing, repair of DNA (typical size diameter estimates up to several hundreds of nm), for macromolecular transport, protein synthesis, protein degradation, ion transport etc., the light microscopical resolution, revealed in the state of the art, is by far not sufficient to answer many pressing questions of present biological, e.g. human genome structure research. Such problems comprise e.g. the extent of an interchromatin domain space; the relative positioning of specific genes with respect to chromatin domains; the spatial structure and temporal dynamics of specific gene regions; the spatial requirements for accessibility of specific proteins to transcription factor binding sites located in the DNA-sequence; the assembly and disassembly of genome function related supramolecular complexes; the analysis of small changes in the compactness of a specific gene region as a prerequisite or as a consequence of transcription as disclosed in T. Cremer & C. Cremer, Chromosome Territories, Nuclear Architecture and Gene Regulation in Mammalian Cells, Nature Reviews Genetics Volume 2, 292-301 (2001); the assembly and disassembly of other complexes important for cellular metabolism. The solution of such problems is not only of scientific but also of practical interest. For example, an improved knowledge of spatial human genome complexes and other supramolecular complexes will be of importance not-only in diagnostic but also in drug design for therapeutic treatments of pathological states such as cancer, or aging related diseases.
In the following, the subwavelength sized biological objects (using visible light as a reference) mentioned above are denoted as "BioMolecular Machines" or BioMolecular Modules (BMM). Here, a BMM is defined as any subwavelength sized collection of interacting biological macromolecules of whatever type (e.g. proteins, nucleic acids, sugars, fatty acids, etc.). In spherical objects, the word size means the diameter. In non-spherical objects it means the diameter of the minimum enveloping ellipsoid (sphere), or the extension of the object in a defined spatial direction, given for example by twice the half axes of a minimum enveloping ellipsoid. If the extension of the object is determined in the direction of the optical axis of the microscope system, "size" or "axial size" means this extension. A more exact meaning of the word "size" is obtained by Virtual Microscopy (VIM) calculations as described in more detail in the following, referring the word "size" to a specific measurement situation.
In addition to BioMolecular Machines or BioMolecular Modules, the light microscopical analysis of other macromolecules or interacting collections of macromolecules has important applications, e.g. in polymer analysis. In the following, the word MacroMolecular Complexes (MMC) is used to denote BioMolecular Machines or BioMolecular Modules as well as other macromolecules or collection of macromolecules. A colocalization volume or the diameter of the minimum enveloping spherical volume, or the half axis of a minimum enveloping ellipsoid, of a collection of fluorescent but not interacting macromolecules, as well as interacting macromolecules can be determined. For brevity, all procedures described for MacroMolecular Complexes or BioMolecular Machines or BioMolecular Modules are applicable also to determine the size of the colocalization volume. For the analysis of such MacroMolecular Complexes, it is highly desirable to increase further the resolution of Far Field Light Microscopy (FFLM). For example, far field light microscopical analysis with increased resolution would allow to study such MacroMolecular Complexes in their physiological or natural environment, such as in the interior of thick transparent specimens as cells and cell nuclei. Due to the relatively low photon energy of light, even analysis in living systems is possible. In polymer research it would allow to study e.g. structures of polymers without any major photonic interaction such as ionising radiation in the case of X-ray, electron beam analysis, or mechanical interaction such as Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM).
For many decades, however, a further resolution improvement in Far Field Light Microscopy appeared to be impossible. Consequently, alternative ways were developed. In particular, X-ray crystallography and electron microscopy allowed further enormous progress in the elucidation of such MacroMolecular Complexes, e.g. of three-dimensional (3D) genome structures and related protein/DNA complexes. In addition, surface related techniques like Atomic Force Microscopy or Near Field Scanning Optical Microscopy (NSOM) allowed studies of isolated genome structures at a resolution considerably below 100 nm, i.e. about 4-7 times smaller than the wavelength of visible light usually used in light microscopic studies. These techniques contributed widely to cell biology and medical research in general including genome structure research. Nonetheless, only Far Field Light Microscopy methods would allow the non-destructive study of MacroMolecular Complexes in the interior of thick transparent specimens, in particular BioMolecular Machines or BioMolecular Modules in the interior of cells, such as the 3D-architecture of the human genome and its temporal dynamics in the nuclei of morphologically conserved and even living cells. In addition, Far Field Light Microscopy methods of appropriate resolution are useful also where Atomic Force Microscopy and Near Field Scanning Optical Microscopy techniques can be applied: since these latest techniques are mechanically interacting due to the "tip scanning", and since they are rather slow in image formation.
In the past there have been from time to time speculations on how to break the "Abbe limit" of resolution in Far Field Light Microscopy, or in other words light microscopic methods where the distance between the object to be analysed and the first light collecting element of the registration system is typically in the order of 102 wavelengths and more; until recently they were not realised to such an extent that they were really useful in biology or other MMC-analysis. To describe the state of the art, in the following, we shall indicate the relevant recent major developments in Far Field Light Microscopy (FFLM) using fluorescence labelled objects.
Improvements of Optical Resolution
Since the beginning of the 1990's, Far Field Light Microscopical devices were designed and then realised having a highly improved and practically usable optical-resolution. This goal was achieved by using different ways of narrowing the microscopic Point Spread Function. The starting point was the thoroughly calculated theoretical design of a 4Pi microscope where the spatial angle of the incident focusing wave was substantially enlarged, and with the experimental realisation of such a microscope, which is described in detail in S. W. Hell & J. Wichmann, in "Breaking the diffraction resolution limit by stimulated emission: STED fluorescence microscopy", Optics Left. 19, 780-782 (1994).
In another approach, a further resolution increasing modulation of the point spread function, called "point spread function engineering", or in other words methods to narrow or modulate the Point Spread Function in a way to increase the optical resolution beyond conventional high resolution confocal microscopy, was achieved by a sophisticated use of Stimulated Emission Depletion (STED) in the object (Stimulated Emission Depletion microscopy). By such methods, a true optical resolution in the order of ⅛ of the exciting wavelength (less than 100 nm) has now already been achieved (T. A. Klar, S. Jakobs, M. Dyba, A. Egner & S. W. Hell, Fluorescence microscopy with diffraction resolution barrier broken by stimulated emission, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 97, 8206-8210 (2000)). Theoretical considerations have been revealed describing the design of a Far Field Light Stimulated Emission Depletion STED-microscope having an optical resolution in the order of 1/40- 1/20 (about 20-40 nm) of the exciting wavelength [S. W. Hell & J. Wichmann, Breaking the diffraction resolution limit by stimulated emission: STED fluorescence microscopy, Optics Lett. 19, 780-782 (1994).].
Improvements of Topological Resolution
For light microscopical studies of MacroMolecular Complexes and in particular of BioMolecular Machines or BioMolecular Modules, it is important to measure positions and mutual distances ("topology") between smaller, fluorescent labelled, parts ("elements") of such complexes (e.g. protein subunits, or nucleic acid sequences or part of them subunits, or positions of other special nucleic acid sequences) with high precision even if they are situated in thick transparent specimens. This allows for example to examine human genome topology in three-dimensionally (3D) intact cell nuclei as described in T. Cremer & C. Cremer, Chromosome Territories, Nuclear Architecture and Gene Regulation in Mammalian Cells, Nature Reviews Genetics Volume 2, 292-301 (2001), especially when the elements are labelled with fluorescent markers having different spectral signatures as described in WO 98/28592; DE 19654824.1,. As a consequence, this allows to identify the objects due to their fluorescence life times or excitation/emission spectra. The elements positions and their mutual distances are then determined from their coordinates in the image data file, e.g. with respect to a given cover slip position using the known magnification parameters of the microscopical set up. Using confocal microscopy, a topological distance resolution in the order of about 35 nm laterally (in the object plane) and about 50 nm axially (perpendicular to the object plane) has been achieved in topological studies of human nuclear genome regions described in A. Esa, P. Edelmann, L. Trakhtenbrot, N. Amariglio, G. Rechavi, M. Hausmann, C. Cremer, Three-dimensional spectral precision distance microscopy of chromatin nanostructures after triple-colour DNA labelling: a study of the BCR region on chromosome 22 and the Philadelphia chromosome, J. Microsc. 199, 96-105 (2000)]. Here, "Topological Resolution" (sometime also called "Resolution Equivalent" RE) is defined as the smallest distance which can be detected between two appropriately fluorescence labelled elements where these elements have a distance equal or larger than the optical resolution from other elements having a fluorescence label of the same spectral signature (see FIG. 1). Such distance requirements may be realised in different ways e.g. by labelling specific sites in a cell as disclosed in A. Esa, P. Edelmann, L. Trakhtenbrot, N. Amariglio, G. Rechavi, M. Hausmann, C. Cremer, Three-dimensional spectral precision distance microscopy of chromatin nanostructures after triple-colour DNA labelling: a study of the BCR region on chromosome 22 and the Philadelphia chromosome, J. Microsc. 199, 96-105 (2000), or by using nanolithographically produced arrangements as disclosed in DE 100 52 823. Although many biological systems display a considerable flexibility in the topology of their elements, it remains important to further increase the topological resolution since:
It is well known that in small BioMolecular Machines or BioMolecular Modules (BMM), such as complexes formed of a few proteins as subunits or "elements" only, the distances between the subunits can vary to a very limited extent only, due to the short range interaction of the hydrogen bond and van-der-Waals forces important in keeping the BMM together as a functional unit. Such forces are in the subnanometer interaction range; hence, changes in the nm-range may severely alter the biological integrity or function of such a BMM. For example, a Biomolecular Machine or Module of 30 nm diameter with a ring like arrangement of 20 different elements, such as proteins, would allow 20!=2.4×1018 different topological arrangements with respect to given point and it is highly unlikely that all 2.4×1018 arrangements which differ in topology only by a few nm up to a maximum of 30 nm would all have the same biological function.
It is to be expected that also larger BioMolecular Machines or BioMolecular Modules such as proteasomes involved in the degradation of proteins, require a topological precision on the nanometer or subnanometer scale, at least for some of their elements.
Large BioMolecular Machines or BioMolecular Modules, such as Mbp-chromatin domains containing about 1 Mbp of DNA [T. Cremer & C. Cremer, Chromosome Territories, Nuclear Architecture and Gene Regulation in Mammalian Cells, Nature Reviews Genetics Volume 2, 292-301 (2001)], appear to exhibit a much larger degree of flexibility: it is likely, however, that the changes in the degree of condensation (or "compaction") of a specific gene region induced by such a flexibility may result in significant changes of functional activity e.g. due to differences in accessibility to macromolecular factors. In this case, a high topological resolution would allow to distinguish different functionally relevant states of the Biomolecular Machine or Module (BMM). From the variance of the structural parameters of such a flexible BMM, elastic parameters characterising the BMM may be determined. Such elastic parameters may be calculated by using appropriate models of BMM. Especially useful in this aspect are quantitative modelling and simulations approaches as disclosed in DE 100 52 583 A1.
Confocal Laser Scanning fluorescence Microscopy allows a nondestructive, high resolution three-dimensional (3D) microscopy of small biological objects, such as individual cells, containing fluorescence labelled targets, with a contrast and 3D-resolution superior to all other light optical far field techniques so far commercially available. Since the introduction of the first Confocal Laser Scanning fluorescence Microscopes (CLSM's) into biological research in the mid 1980's, numerous studies have used this new microscopic technique also for an improved analysis of the architecture of the cell nucleus.
In the beginning of these studies, One/Two Channel Confocal Laser Scanning fluorescence Microscopy's were used which allowed the simultaneous registration of one or two spectral signatures only; i.e. fluorescence labelling of targets could be performed with two colours. A few years ago, Three Channel Confocal Laser Scanning fluorescence Microscopy's, and more recently, Multi-channel Confocal Laser Scanning fluorescence Microscopy's have been introduced by different manufacturers. Presently, Confocal Laser Scanning fluorescence Microscopes with 8 channels are commercially available from the principal manufacturers. In special systems, up to 32 channels are used, allowing to obtain full fluorescence emission spectra on a voxel-by-voxel base. In addition, detector systems suitable for fluorescence life time detection are commercially available. Such Confocal Laser Scanning fluorescence Microscopy's systems are equipped with several lasers allowing one and two photon excitation and discriminated spectral registration for almost any fluorophor presently used in cell biological microscopy. As examples for such fluorophores or fluorochrome markers, DAPI, Hoechst, Indo, Fura2, FITC, DTAF, Cy2, DiO, FDA, Lucifer Yellow, Ethidium bromide, TRITC, Texas Red, Hoechst 33258, etc. are mentioned. In particular, a large collection of fluorescent labelling procedures "in vivo" is available, such e.g. an incorporation of fluorochrome conjugated nucleotides or green fluorescent proteins and their variants [GFP, EBFP, EYFP, dsRed [G. Patterson, R. N. Day, D. Piston, Fluorescent protein spectra, J. of Cell Science 114: 837-838]. In addition procedures have been revealed to allow the "in vivo" fluorescent labelling of specific nucleic acid sequences by complementary base pairing, using fluorescent-labelled nucleic acid probes described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,888,734; WO 98/3723]; specific labelling of proteins can be defined by various procedures, such as e.g. antibody staining, aptamere labelling, amino acid residue modification, as well as by binding to a variety of semiconductor nanocrystals with different spectral signatures may be mentioned.
In this context, "spectral signature" (preferably called also optical marker or an optical marker with a spectral signature in the following) means any photophysical property which can be used for optically discriminated registration; spectral registration means any registration mode allowing to realise this discriminated registration (i.e. registration of the optical response of the object) using e.g. different excitation and/or emission wavelengths, in combination with fluorescent life time detectors polarisation state detectors etc. According to the state of the art, it is feasible to simultaneously use for Confocal Laser Scanning fluorescence Microscopy analysis a maximum of about 16 spectral signatures bound to specific biological structures or other macromolecules. As an example, 8 different spectral signatures may be realised by the use of nanometer sized semiconductor "Quantum Dots" bound closely connected to the specific "elements" using for spectral discrimination the narrow fluorescence emission spectra obtained after ultraviolet light (UV) excitation. An additional 8 spectral signatures may be realised by using 4 types of fluorochrome molecules with two different fluorescence life times each. Here, "simultaneous use" is understood to include also sequential illumination within a time frame within the 102 msec range.
As examples for the application of advanced Confocal Laser Scanning fluorescence Microscopy-Spectral Position Distance Microscopy (Spectral Position Distance Microscopy) are mentioned topology problems in the analysis of functional nuclear architecture, such as: the size and spatial distribution of specific chromosome territories, chromosome arm territories, or chromosome band domains; the formation of "Factories" for replication, transcription, splicing, and repair; the arrangement of specific chromosomal subdomains and genes in chromosomal territories; the topological structure of "imprinted" regions where the maternal and paternal genes are differently active; the topological structure of gene regions correlated with the development/progression of cancer; the influence of physical and chemical agents (such as ionising radiation, chemical environmental mutagens) on the topological structure of specific gene regions; the correlation between topological structure and gene expression; the change of topological structure of specific gene regions as a result of cell determination/differentiation; the quantitative analysis of transcription factor binding site accessibility related to a specific gene region; the simultaneous identification of multiple chromosomes (e.g. all chromosome territories in a human or mouse nucleus), chromosomal subregions, and individual gene regions by combinatorial labelling and colocalization analysis.
The information value of the data obtained drastically increases with the number of nuclear targets which can be labelled and identified simultaneously. For example, the independent registration of four spectral signatures allows the simultaneous identification of 15 different nuclear targets at a sufficiently large distance from each other, using 4-colour combinatorial labelling.
An application of 8 channels allows colocalization and topology analysis of 8 different "elements" using 8 spectral signatures and 8 independent registration channels, and the simultaneous identification of up to 255 different nuclear targets (again assuming a distance equal or larger than the optical resolution between targets having the same spectral signature), using 8-colour combinatorial labelling as disclosed in DE 100 52 583 A1. Although presently a maximum of 4-7 different spectral signatures is used, fluorescence labelling techniques are advancing with such a speed that the simultaneous use of even 8 and more spectral signatures in nuclear architecture and other studies is expected. For example, using fluorescence lifetime detection in addition to fluorophor discrimination by different excitation/emission wavelengths, the simultaneous registration of 8-16 spectral signatures is feasible from the optical point of view with optical systems at the state of the art. However, one has to consider that with an increase in the number of labelling targets, a full labelling will become increasingly difficult from the preparative point of view. For example, if the probability p for binding to a given target is p0, then the probability ptot for full N spectral signature labelling can be estimated to be ptot=(p0)N e.g N=16 and p0=0.9, ptot=0.2; for p0=0.8, ptot=0.03. In target configurations obtained by combinatorial labelling, this would not be acceptable, while in Spectral Position Distance Microscopy applications, one may select those structures displaying the desired number of spectral signatures. It is expected that the availability of multi-channel instruments will further stimulate the development of multispectral labelling strategies also from the preparative point of view. Analogous labelling advantages may be obtained for any other Biomolecular Machine or Modules or Macromolecular Complexes.
One of the basic problems of quantitative high precision multi-channel Confocal Laser Scanning fluorescence Microscopy studies using continuous wave One-Photon excitation and different excitations is the correct calibration of chromatic aberrations. These problems are considerably diminished if Two-Photon excitation of different dyes at the same wavelength is possible. In this case, the maximum excitation at different wavelengths, of different fluorochromes is in the same optical plane whereas with One-Photon excitation, the maximum excitation normally occurs in different optical planes. For example, applying a Confocal Laser Scanning fluorescence Microscopy with a Two-Photon option using a Ti:Sa laser source with pulses in the 100 femtosecond range together with time-correlated-photon-counting detectors and measuring fluorescent lifetimes at the same emission wavelength allows to eliminate the chromatic aberration completely. Such "Fluorescent Lifetime Imaging Microscopy" (FLIM) approaches may be realised also using pulsed laser sources producing One-Photon excitation. In this case, the problem is to identify correctly the objects due to their fluorescence lifetimes. Using appropriate algorithms, at the state of the art a fluorescence photon count in the order of 104 is sufficient to obtain a localisation precision in the nanometer range.
Multi-channel Confocal microscopy is increasingly being used to study different aspects of specific MacroMolecular Complexes, such as nuclear nanostructures. For example, Confocal Laser Scanning fluorescence Microscopy's have been used to allow to determine a colocalization of two objects labelled with different spectral signatures with an accuracy well below the nominal optical resolution (given as the smallest detectable distance between two objects of the same spectral signature). Using visual ovservation, colocalization means that the distance of the two objects is so small that the diffraction images of the objects labelled with different spectral signatures are overlapping. Thus, e.g. in the case of large nuclear protein complexes, it is inferred to be probable that the two labelled objects belong to the same complex. The technique of Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) measurements allows distance determination at very small distances (below 10 nm), it allows quantitative distance measurements only at specific conditions (such as spectral overlap; specific orientation of the molecular dipoles), and only for a few distances simultaneously. Thus, multispectral Spectral Position Distance Microscopy measurements complement FRET analysis to determine the colocalization of multiple elements or other objects. Generally Spectral Position Distance Microscopy allows to bridge the gap between the FRET range and the nominal optical microscopic resolution. Using visual inspection of the Confocal Laser Scanning fluorescence Microscopy images, however, means that the colocalization error still is in the order of at least δx=δy=50 nm laterally and δz=300 nm axially, due to the uncertainties in visual colocalization and insufficiently chromatic aberration effects. At the state of the art, calibration procedures and digital image analysis algorithms using Spectral Position Distance Microscopy are available which allow to reduce the nuclear colocalization error to about 35 nm laterally and 50 nm axially. If the "Colocalization Volume" (Vcol) is estimated by Vcol=(4/3)·π·{(δx/2)·(δy/2)·(δz/2)}, then by using Spectral Position Distance Microscopy the colocalization volume is reduced by a factor (50·50·300)/(35·35·50)=12.2, i.e. by about one order of magnitude. This considerably smaller colocalization volume comes into the order of the enveloping volume of individual large macromolecular complexes (MMCs). Thus, the Spectral Position Distance Microscopy approach to colocalization allows to increase substantially the probability that the colocalization detected indicates indeed a functional individual macromolecular complex. Furthermore, if distances between "elements" in a MMC are larger than the Spectral Position Distance Microscopy—distance resolution (" topological resolution", see FIGS. 1, 6), the SPDM method allows topology analysis by multiple measurements of the relative positions and mutual distances of objects labelled with different spectral signatures.
A reference is made to FIG. 1 which shows a schematic example of the optical (FIG. 1A) and topological (FIG. 1B) resolution. In FIG. 1A dor is the smallest distance between any two elements, labelled with the same spectral signature and illustrates the Abbe limit of the optical resolution. In FIG. 1B dtop is the smallest distance between two elements fluorescent labelled with appropriate spectral signature. For example if the elements 1, 2, 3 in a MMC (A) are labelled with different spectral signature, respectively specs 1, specs 2, specs 3 and if the distance D between the equally labelled elements 1 and 4, 2 and 5, 3 and 6 in a MMC (A) and MMC (B), respectively, is equal or larger than dor, then the positions and the mutual distances of and between elements 1, 2, 3 in MMC (A), and of and between elements 4, 5, 6 in MMC (B) can be determined even if the distances between the elements 4, 5, 6 in MMV (B) are considerably smaller than the optical resolution dor. The example given applies to a labelling strategy where the elements in a given Macro Molecular Complex (MMC) to be analysed have all different spectral signature.
Using a preferred embodiment of the invention presented below, a topological resolution dtop better than the optical resolution dtop<dor can be achieved also in the case two elements in a MMC carry the same spectral signature.
Referring to FIG. 6, which shows a schematic example illustrating the limits for topological analysis by SMI. In FIG. 6A the elements 1, 2, 3, 4 . . . N are localized in the interior of a minimum enveloping volume of diameter dtop (dtop is the topological resolution). In FIG. 6B the elements 1, 2, 3, 4, . . . N are localized in a minimum enveloping volume of diameter Dc, such that Dc>dtop. The distances dik between any elements i and k are equal or longer to dtop, so that dik>dtop.
To achieve still better distance determinations and topology analysis with a precision in the nanometer range under biologically relevant noise conditions, methods of Point Spread Function engineering (see FIG. 1) may be used. The technical goal is to modify the Point Spread Function of the microscope system in such a way that a maximum precision of position determination of the object can be achieved by the total fluorescence photon count given. Presently, axial distance measurements between small fluorescent objects approaching the range of a few nanometers and with a precision in the One-Nanometer range are feasible using such methods [M. Schmidt, M. Nagorny & S. W. Hell, Subresolution axial measurements in far-field fluorescence microscopy with precision of 1 nanometer, Rev. Scient. Instr. 71, 2742 -2745 (2000); B. Albrecht, A. V. Failla, A. Schweitzer, C. Cremer, Spatially modulated illumination (SMI) microscopy allows axial distance resolution near the one nanometer range, Applied Optics, in press. 2001]. Theoretical considerations based on Virtual Microscopy computer simulations indicate that using microscope systems with an appropriately modified Point Spread Function, the precision of distance measurements in the few-nanometer range can be improved to the sub-nanometer range, using the fluorescence photon counts available from single fluorophores [B. Albrecht, A. V. Failla, A. Schweitzer, C. Cremer: Spatially modulated illumination microscopy: A new approach to biological nanostructure analysis, GIT-Microscopy, July 2001].
The possibility to measure topology related distances in the nanometer range with a precision in the One-Nanometer range, and better will e.g. allow to discriminate functional from aberrant BioMolecular Machines or Modules: It is known that very small changes in the topology of BMMs may have a major influence on their function. As a scientifically as well as economically important application, this will allow e.g. to better analyse and control topological alterations induced by pharmaceutical drugs under physiological relevant conditions.
In other cases, the topological resolution may be better, i.e. have a smaller value, than the biological variation in the distances encountered, e.g. between two labelled genomic sites on a chromatin fiber in a mammalian cell nucleus. In this case, precise topology measurements will allow to measure the variation in the structural states of these sites, and thus provide important parameters for a better understanding of human genome dynamics. For example, at given distance variations, small changes in the mean mutual distances between genomic sites in a gene region may change the probability of access of such a site to transcription factors or transcription factories and thus play an important role in eukaryotic gene regulation [T. Cremer & C. Cremer, Chromosome Territories, Nuclear Architecture and Gene Regulation in Mammalian Cells, Nature Reviews Genetics Volume 2, 292-301 (2001)].
Problems related to the State of the Art
The "state of the art" methods described above, in a number of applications show several drawbacks which make desirable the additional introduction of new techniques.
For example, an important class of problems and applications in biological and biomedical research relates to the diameter (size) of a colocalization volume or to the diameter (size) of a specific BioMolecular Machine or BioMolecular Module. Examples for this are: the discrimination of functional BioMolecular Machines or Modules in the states of formation, by measuring the colocalization volumes of the elements; the sizes of nuclear pores; of transcription factories; of replication factories; of inactive genes (thought to be generally more condensed), or of active genes (thought to be generally less condensed). In polymer research, an important problem is to measure the size of individual macromolecules in their "natural" environment. Although electron microscopy, Atomic Force Microscopy, or Near Field Scanning Optical Microscopy offer important possibilities to perform size measurements in the required range (down to the nanometer range), far field light microscopical approaches towards such high resolution size measurements would allow to complement and facilitate such measurements considerably. For example, they can be performed in thick transparent specimens, such as in three-dimensionally intact cells, eventually even in living ones. Similar considerations apply to other BioMolecular Machines or BioMolecular Modules and MacroMolecular Complexes.
A "truly point like" fluorescent object (e.g. one fluorochrome molecule of 1 nm diameter) would result in a diffraction image with the smallest diameter achievable with the microscope system used. This "ideal" diffraction image would correspond to the Point Spread Function of the microscope system; its diameter corresponds to the Full-Width-at-Half-Maximum [FWHM] of the Point Spread Function. The "ideal" diffraction image would be disturbed by larger objects. In fact a larger object can be represented as the superposition of several point like objects each one emitting independently to the others; the larger the object diameter, the larger the deviation from the ideal diffraction image. This means that knowing precisely the Point Spread Function of the system, object diameters even below the Full-Width-at-Half-Maximum of the Point Spread Function of the system can be determined. Using special procedures like volume conserving algorithms, object diameters down to about half the wavelength of the exciting light (i.e. several hundreds of nanometers) have been determined by confocal laser scanning fluorescence microscopy. For Confocal Laser Scanning fluorescence Microscopy this minimum correctly detectable diameter ("size resolution") was found to be in the order of 200 nm and thus is not sufficient for many of the above mentioned applications in polymer research and in cell biology, especially also in human genome structure research. Using Point Spread Function-engineering with a considerably smaller Full-Width-at-Half-Maximum (FWHM) of the Point Spread Function, it becomes possible to measure considerably smaller sizes of fluorescent objects.
Using a Stimulated Emission Depletion STED-microscope with a Full-Width-at-Half-Maximum of 20-40 nm, it is possible to determine the size of a BioMolecular Machine or BioMolecular Module down to about this value. Using additionally Spectral Position Distance Microscopy methods with appropriate multispectral signature labelling allows topological analysis at the one-to-few nanometer distance resolution, with a precision in the subnanometer range at a moderate fluorescence photon count. This requires the labelling of the BMM with fluorochromes where the STED microscopy can be applied. With these possibilities, STED microscopy opens prospective for the far field light microscopical analysis of fluorescent structures until recently thought to be physically impossible. For example, if 27 (3×3×3=27) "point like" fluorescent objects are positioned within the observation volume of a conventional high resolution confocal microscope, labelled with the same spectral signature and have a minimum mutual distance larger than 30 nm, their topology can still be analysed by a STED-microscope with 30 nm Full-Width-at-Half-Maximum of the STED-PSF. Such a topological resolution, using one spectral signature labelling, can presently be achieved by no other far field light microscopical method.
Nonetheless, Point Spread Function Engineering approaches by measuring the Point Spread Function as revealed so far have drawbacks in a number of instances which makes it desirable to develop and use additional techniques for far field light microscopical analysis. Since Stimulated Emission Depletion microscopy has been revealed to allow the smallest Full-Width-at-Half-Maximum the following remarks are on this technique as the most presently realised, advanced are:
So far only a few fluorochromes useful for Stimulated Emission Depletion microscopy have been revealed. Here "STED-dyes" are called any fluorescent labelling procedures allowing the performance of Stimulated Emission Depletion—microscopy. The application of these "STED dyes" has been performed in a very limited number of cases.
To what extent the "STED dyes" can be used to label MacroMolecular Complexes and especially BioMolecular Machines or BioMolecular Modules without disturbing their structural identity is not known. To what extent "STED-dyes" can be used to label structures in living cell ("in vivo"), is also not known.
To what extent "STED-dyes" can be applied for simultaneous multispectral labelling is not known.
To what extent the "STED dyes" are toxic to the cells to be studied, especially in connection with the high incident light intensities needed for analysis, is not known.
To what extent the high number of laser light induced excitations of specific energy levels of the "STED dyes" needed to obtain the high optical resolution may lead to "bleaching" effects and thus to a significantly reduced count of registered fluorescent photons from a given site, is not known.
To what extent the labelling of MacroMolecular Complexes, especially of BioMolecular Machines or BioMolecular Modules with "STED dyes" is as easy to apply as the "conventional" fluorescence labelling strategies established e.g. in biology it is not known. This applies in particular to "in vivo" labelling schemes using methods of molecular genetic engineering, such as introducing genes for certain variants of "Green Fluorescent Proteins" (GFPs), i.e. proteins which by appropriate excitation show strong autofluorescence and which presently can be introduced having up to five spectral signatures [G. Patterson, R. N. Day, D. Riston, Fluorescent protein spectra, J. of Cell Science 114: 837-838]. Since each such spectral signature is encoded by an appropriate specific gene transfer, change of the label means a complete remaking of the molecular basis. This can take months of labour intensive work.
Present Stimulated Emission Depletion STED-microscopes require long scanning times, limiting the object volume to the 1 μm3 range. A speed up in scanning velocity is possible by using multifocal devices. To what extent very large object volumes, e.g. in the order of 100×100×2 μm3 can be scanned in a short time, e.g. a few seconds on a routine basis, is not known.
To what extent the technically complex opto-electronical devices required for Stimulated Emission Depletion microscopy can be used on a routine basis in a laboratory dedicated to applications such as polymer science, to cell biology, molecular biology, nuclear genome research, pharmaceutical or biomedical analysis, is not known.
To what extent the constructive interference in the focus of 4Pi-microscope devices can be maintained also in specimens with high refraction index variations it is not known.
Another method to determine the size of a BMM in a range comparable to the Full-Width-at-Half-Maximum of 4Pi/STED microscopy is Spectral Position Distance Microscopy. For example, if a BMM is analysed consisting of 8 "elements", where all of them are labelled with a different spectral signature, then the size of this BMM is analysed by inserting the Spectral Position Distance Microscopy determined positions of the 8 individual elements into a minimal enveloping sphere or ellipsoid. In addition, if the distance dl between the elements are equal or less than the topological resolution, the Spectral Position Distance Microscopy—method in this case will allow to reveal the "topology" of the BMM (see FIG. 1). Here, Topology is defined as the information concerning the relative positions (with regard to a given coordinate system) and mutual distances of the "elements" of a BMM, a MMC, or other complexes. The Spectral Position Distance Microscopy method described allows to determine the enveloping volume of any collection of N elements, as well as the size and the topology of any BMM/MMC consisting of N elements where each of the elements is labelled with a different spectral signature. Drawbacks of the Spectral Position Distance Microscopy—method are:
In many cases, conditions for correct size measurements by Spectral Position Distance Microscopy may be difficult to fulfil. For example, a BMM of 100 nm diameter may consist of 16 elements with 8 dimers; each dimer is labelled with a given spectral signature so that the entire BMM is labelled with 8 different spectral signatures; then by using Spectral Position Distance Microscopy, it is only possible (using conventional epifluorescence or Confocal Laser Scanning fluorescence Microscopy) to measure for each dimer the position of the joint fluorescence intensity barycenter (of the diffraction image maximum). If the arrangement of the dimer elements is symmetrical around a symmetry centre, then the Spectral Position Distance Microscopy—positions measured will coincide, independently of the actual size of the BMM (which would be obtained only if the 16 elements were labelled with 16 different spectral signatures).
Due to the labelling of more than one element with the same spectral signature (for the example see FIG. 2), the correct topological analysis is greatly impaired. Analogous problems occur wherever it is not possible to label all elements differently, especially where certain symmetries occur. This, however, is the case for many biologically important BioMolecular Machines or BioMolecular Modules, for example nuclear pores, ion-channels, or proteasomes. Referring to FIG. 2A if all the elements are labelled with different spectral signatures, the SPDM procedure allows to determine the topology (position and mutual distances of the elements 1, 2, 3, 4) also in the case that the mutual distances are smaller than the FWHM. Referring to FIG. 2B, assuming a symmetrical arrangement of the element pairs, each pair labelled with spectral signature specs 1, i.e. the elements 1a and 1b labelled with spectral signature specs 1, the elements 2a and 2b labelled with spectral signature specs 2, the SPDM —determined fluorescence intensity gravity centers or also called barycenter or diffraction image maxima coincide in the center denoted with x independently of the actual diameter of the minimum enveloping volume.
The higher the number of spectral signatures to be used for size or topological analysis, the more difficult the application of the method becomes, both in terms of specific and complete fluorescence labelling, and in terms of spectrally discriminated registration and calibration. Whereas the simultaneous use of 4-7 spectral signatures is still relatively straightforward, a Spectral Position Distance Microscopy analysis of e.g. 16 spectral signatures will be technically very demanding. As a consequence, the lower the number of spectral signatures required to solve a given problem of size or topology analysis, the more facilitated the measurement will be.
As a consequence of the drawbacks of the state of the art, additional methods are needed to allow to facilitate Far Field Light Microscopy size and topology analysis also in those cases where the revealed methods are difficult or impractical to apply, and with the minimum number of spectral signatures to solve a given problem with a given microscope technique.

Far field light microscopical method, system and computer program product for analysing at least one object having a subwavelength size


An example energy management unit (EMU) with diagnostic capabilities is provided. The EMU with can receive and identify the operational status of a device by receiving an audio signal from the device generated by the device's self diagnostic system. The EMU can decode the diagnostic information and retransmit the decoded information as necessary for further processing.

The current "smart grid" initiative using "smart meters" is driving appliance and equipment manufacturers to provide connectivity that can respond to and control the peak energy loads in residential and business settings. Smart meters raise consumer awareness of the cost and impact of electric devices. Such devices typically utilize ZigBee® communication protocol for wireless home area networks relying upon different energy profiles to deliver both energy and other information. As ZigBee® is a relatively low data rate wireless protocol that does not support streaming of content or downloads for remote software updates and applications, WiFi is used complementarily.
For instance, ZigBee is a wireless language connecting different devices to work together. Available ZigBee networks provide a suggested standard for deploying switches, sensors, and controllers using harvested energy in residential, commercial, and industrial environments. The ZigBee networks include a physical radio using IEEE 802.15.4 standard radios operating in a 2.4 GHz band. The proposed ZigBee standard seeks to provide interference avoidance, mesh networking, security, certification, and an open standard.
While smart meters oftentimes assist in the easing of data collection regarding overall dwelling power usage, and may provide empirical data regarding the overall usage of power by a metered building, the smart meter fails to provide any services to monitor and or predict power consumption, potential malfunction, and/or end-of life of an individual power consumer within the dwelling itself.
Still further, appliances capable of producing diagnostic audible tones already exist, such as for example, as described in US Publication Number 2010/0023938, hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The diagnostic tones are transmitted to a central service center, wherein they are interpreted and/or diagnosed through audible tone detection. The present disclosure, however, provides an alternative detection scheme for use in detecting audible communications.


A wire wound core has windings which are wound in a single-layer winding fashion around substantially cylindrical body portions of bobbins. A gap is provided between the inner wall of a hole formed in the substantially cylindrical body portion of each bobbin and the outer peripheral surface of a leg portion of a corresponding core member by a rail-shaped rib disposed on the inner wall of the hole. Another gap is provided between the inner surface of an arm portion of the core member and the outer major of a flange portion of the bobbin by a convex spacer disposed on the outer major surface of the core member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wire-wound coil, and more particularly, to a wire-wound coil for use in, for example, an inductor, a common-mode choke coil, a normal-mode choke coil, a transformer, or other suitable device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, the insertion loss versus frequency characteristic of a common-mode choke coil is significantly influenced by an inductance component due to the common-mode inductance L in the region of frequencies lower than the self-resonant frequency, and is significantly influenced by a capacitance component due to the stray capacitance C produced in the common-mode choke coil in the region of frequencies higher than the self-resonant frequency. The self-resonant frequency measured when the impedance is about 50 xcexa9 is represented by the following Expression f0, the insertion loss versus frequency characteristic in the region of frequencies lower than the self-resonant frequency is represented by the following Approximate Expression 1, and the insertion loss versus frequency characteristic in the region of frequencies higher than the self-resonant frequency is represented by the following Approximate Expression 2:
f0:fr=1/[2xcfx80(LC)1/2]
Approximate Equation 1:
insertion loss=10 log [1+(xcfx89L/100)2]
Approximate Equation 2:
insertion loss=10 log [1+1/(100xcfx89C)2]
In order to improve the noise-eliminating performance of the common-mode choke coil in the high-frequency region, the stray capacitance C must be decreased. The stray capacitance C is principally caused by the influences of a winding structure of windings, bobbins, and a magnetic core. In order to reduce the influence of the bobbins, it is necessary to change the material of the bobbins to a material having a lower dielectric constant, or to reduce the thickness of the bobbins. However, when the common-mode choke coil is used for an AC supply line, flame retardancy, relative thermal index, an insulation distance according to the safety standards must be ensured. Since existing common-mode choke coils generally adopt thick bobbins having a thickness of 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm and are made of a material having a dielectric constant ∈ of 2 to 4, it is difficult to reduce the influence of the bobbins on the stray capacitance C by changing the material and thickness of the bobbins.
Accordingly, in order to reduce the stray capacitance C produced in the common-mode choke coil, it is important to reduce the influence of the winding structure of the windings, and the influence of the magnetic core. The ratio of the influences varies depending on the winding structure of the windings. For example, so-called sectional winding for winding windings in sections is known as a winding structure that produces little stray capacitance.
FIG. 21 shows the configuration of a known common-mode choke coil 1 in which windings 7 and 17 are wound in sections. The common-mode choke coil 1 includes a magnetic core constituted by two U-shaped core members 20 and 21, and two bobbins 2 and 12. The bobbins 2 and 12 include cylindrical body portions 3 and 13, and flange portions 4, 5, and 6, and 14, 15, and 16 provided in the cylindrical body portions 3 and 13, respectively.
The winding 7 is formed by electrically connecting a first winding portion 7a and a second winding portion 7b in series. The first winding portion 7a is wound between the flange portions 4 and 6 of the bobbin 2, and the second winding portion 7b is wound between the flange portions 5 and 6. Similarly, the winding 17 is formed by electrically connecting a first winding portion 17a and a second winding portion 17b in series. The first winding portion 17a is wound between the flange portions 14 and 16 of the bobbin 12, and the second winding portion 17b is wound between the flange portions 15 and 16.
The bobbins 2 and 12 are arranged so that the cylindrical body portions 3 and 13 thereof are parallel to each other. Leg portions 20b and 21b of the core members 20 and 21 extend in holes 3a and 13a of the cylindrical body portions 3 and 13, respectively. The core members 20 and 21 define one closed magnetic circuit with the leading end surfaces of the leg portions 20b and 21 abutting against each other inside the holes 3a and 13a.
In the common-mode choke coil 1 having the above-described configuration, since the stray capacitance is substantially proportional to the winding width, when the windings 7 and 17 are divided into the two winding portions 7a and 7b and the two winding portions 17a and 17b, respectively, the stray capacitance of one winding portion is half the stray capacitance of the undivided winding.
Since the winding portions 7a and 7b, or the winding portions 17 and 17b are connected in series, the stray capacitance of each of the windings 7 and 17 in the two-section winding common-mode choke coil 1 is one fourth of the stray capacitance of the undivided winding (for example, approximately 4.0 pF).
Another winding structure is a so-called single-layer winding structure in which a winding is wound only in one layer. In this winding structure, the turns are adjacent only in the lateral direction, and a number of stray capacitances produced in the adjacent turns corresponding to the number of turns are connected in series, which can minimize the stray capacitance. For example, the stray capacitance (4.0 pF) in the above-described sectional winding can be reduced to approximately one-sixth or less by the single-layer winding. However, the inductance obtained in this case is low.
A so-called single-layer multiple winding structure is also known in which a plurality of single-layer windings are stacked in parallel. In order to overcome the problem of low inductance in the single-layer winding structure, in this winding structure, the diameter of the wire is decreased, and the number of turns in each layer of the winding is increased, thereby increasing the inductance. Since the direct resistance of the windings is thereby increased, a plurality of stacked layers of windings are connected in parallel. That is, the single-layer multiple winding structure has characteristics similar to those of the single-layer winding structure, and also achieves a relatively high inductance. However, the stray capacitance is higher than in the single-layer winding structure.
Table 1 shows the general differences of the stray capacitance, the direct resistance of the winding, and the inductance among the above-described winding structures when the wire diameter is not changed.
In general, the areas in which the windings 7 and 17 of the common-mode choke coil 1 can be wound are limited by, for example, the planar area of the space defined by the inner peripheries of the core members 20 and 21 that define the closed magnetic circuit, the thickness of the bobbins 2 and 12, and the insulation distance. The known common-mode choke coil 1 is designed so that there is no wasted space, in order to achieve the maximum possible inductance in the limited winding areas. Therefore, only the minimum gaps required for assembly operation and safety standards are formed between the core members 20 and 21 and the bobbins 2 and 12, or between the core members 20 and 21 and the windings 7 and 17. Consequently, the stray capacitance produced by the core members 20 and 21 is relatively high. In the common-mode choke coil 1 in which the windings 7 and 17 are wound in a manner that produces less stray capacitance than the multiple winding common-mode choke coil which does not have the center flange portions 6 and 16 for dividing the windings 7 and 17, the influence of the stray capacitance is not negligible. In particular, in the single-layer winding structure and the single-layer multiple winding structure that produce little stray capacitance, the influence of the core members 20 and 21 on the stray capacitance is quite significant.
In order to overcome the problems described above, preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a wire-wound coil having a structure that minimizes the influence of a magnetic core on the stray capacitance.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a wire-wound coil includes one or more bobbins each having a substantially cylindrical body portion and a flange portion disposed on the substantially cylindrical body portion, one of a single-layer winding and a single-layer multiple winding wound on the substantially cylindrical body portion of each of the bobbins, and a magnetic core having an arm portion and a leg portion extending in a hole formed in the substantially cylindrical body portion of each of the bobbins so as to define a closed magnetic circuit, wherein a first gap is formed between the inner peripheral surface of the hole of the substantially cylindrical body portion of each of the bobbins and the outer peripheral surface of the leg portion of the magnetic core, and a second gap is formed between the flange portion of each of the bobbins and the arm portion of the magnetic core facing the flange portion.
The first gap is formed, for example, by a rail-shaped rib disposed on at least one of the inner peripheral surface of the hole of the substantially cylindrical body portion of each of the bobbins and the outer peripheral surface of the leg portion of the magnetic core. The second gap is formed, for example, by a convex spacer disposed on at least one of the flange portion and the leg portion of the magnetic core facing the flange portion. Preferably, the first gap is about 0.3 mm to about 1.5 mm, and the second gap is about 0.7 mm to about 4.0 mm.
With the unique configuration as described above, the gaps of predetermined lengths are ensured between the magnetic core and the winding, and the distance therebetween is increased. This reduces the influence of the magnetic core on the stray capacitance. As a result, it is possible to achieve a wire-wound coil having superior electrical characteristics in the high-frequency region.
By placing an insulating resin member including magnetic powder or a ferrite member covered with insulating resin between two adjoining bobbins, the effective magnetic permeability of the normal-mode magnetic circuit is increased, and the normal-mode inductance is increased. Moreover, since magnetic flux is concentrated by the insulating member including magnetic powder or the ferrite member covered with insulating resin, magnetic flux does not leak to the outside.
Further elements, characteristics, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.


Disclosed are a transition metal dichalcogenide alloy and a method of manufacturing the same. A method of manufacturing a transition metal dichalcogenide alloy according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a step of depositing transition metal dichalcogenide on a substrate using atomic layer deposition (ALD); and a step of forming a transition metal dichalcogenide alloy by thermally treating the transition metal dichalcogenide with a sulfur compound.

Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to a transition metal dichalcogenide alloy and a method of manufacturing the same, and more particularly, to a transition metal dichalcogenide alloy formed by thermally treating a transition metal dichalcogenide, which is formed on a substrate by atomic layer deposition (ALD), using a sulfur compound, and a method of manufacturing the same.
Description of the Related Art
Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs or TMDs), which are compounds of transition metals and chalcogenides, are nanomaterials having a two-dimensional structure similar to graphene.
Transition metal dichalcogenides have n atomic layers with very thin thickness and thus have properties such as flexibility and transparency. Due to such properties, transition metal dichalcogenides have attracted attention as materials of next-generation application devices such as optical devices, or electronic devices in which a band gap is controlled.
Accordingly, research into transition metal dichalcogenides, such as MoS2, WS2, MoSe2, and WSe2, having a thickness of one atom is actively underway.
Such transition metal dichalcogenides have a band gap of 1 eV to 2 eV. Recently, research into control of a band gap by using transition metal-sulfide alloy technology in alloying transition metals is underway.
Meanwhile, a thin alloy film of WS2xSe(2-2x) and MoS2xSe(2-2x), synthesized by chemical vapor deposition (CVD), has been reported. However, such a thin alloy film has drawbacks such as difficulties in controlling the thickness thereof and in synthesizing a uniform large area and discontinuity of the thin film.
Therefore, there is a need for development of technology to manufacture a transition metal dichalcogenide (sulfide) alloy, such as WS2xSe(2-2x) or MoS2xSe(2-2x), uniformly over a large area.

Transition metal dichalcogenide alloy and method of manufacturing the same

INDUSTRY-ACADEMIC COOPERATION FOUNDATION, YONSEI UNIVERSITY


A terminal is disclosed including a receiver that receives configuration information indicating a gap offset in subframe units related to a measurement gap (MG), and a shift time shorter than one subframe and related to the MG. The terminal further includes a processor that determines a timing of the MG based on the gap offset and the shift time. In other aspects, a radio communication method for a terminal and a base station are also disclosed.

In the UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) network, the specifications of long term evolution (LTE) have been drafted for the purpose of further increasing high speed data rates, providing lower latency and so on (see non-patent literature 1). In addition, the specifications of LTE-A (LTE advanced and LTE Rel. 10, 11, 12 and 13) have also been drafted for the purpose of achieving increased capacity and enhancement beyond LTE (LTE Rel. 8 and 9).
Successor systems of LTE are also under study (for example, referred to as "FRA (Future Radio Access)," "5G (5th Generation mobile communication system)," "5G+ (plus)," "NR (New Radio)," "NX (New radio access)," "FX (Future generation radio access)," "LTE Rel. 14 or 15 and later versions," etc.).
In existing LTE systems (for example, LTE Rels. 8 to 13), a user terminal (UE (User Equipment)) detects synchronization signals ("SS," including, for example, PSS (Primary Synchronization Signal), SSS (Secondary Synchronization Signal), etc.), following initial access procedures (also referred to as "cell search"), synchronizes with the network (for example, a base station (eNB (eNode B))), and identifies the cell to connect with (based on, for example, cell IDs (IDentifiers)).
Also, after the cell search, the user terminal receives broadcast information (MIB (Master Information Block)), which is transmitted in a broadcast channel (PBCH (Physical Broadcast CHannel)), system information (SIB (System Information Block)), which is transmitted in a downlink (DL) shared channel (PDSCH (Physical Downlink Shared CHannel)), and so on, and acquires configuration information (which may be referred to as "broadcast information," "system information," etc.) for communicating with the network.