A method and system using mediated service logic enables telecommunications services to be provided in a first telecommunications network, even though the service logic for the telecommunications service resides in a second telecommunications network. A first service control point (SCP), located in the first telecommunications network, has a plurality of service logic modules, including a first mediated service logic module, and a second SCP, located in the second telecommunications network has a plurality of service logic modules, including a second mediated service logic module. When a service switching point (SSP) in the first telecommunications network determines that intelligent network services are required to process the call, it transmits a query message to the first SCP. The first SCP consults the relevant customer""s service profile to determine which service logic module to execute to provide the requested service, and the first SCP then executes this service logic module. If the first mediated service logic module is thereby executed, then it transmits an internetwork query message to the second SCP to invoke the service logic needed to provide the service. The second mediated service logic module in the second SCP receives the internetwork query message, executes the necessary service logic module, and transmits to the first SCP an internetwork response message containing the information needed to provide the service.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to telecommunications networks and more particularly to methods and systems for using a mediated service logic to provide telecommunications services.
2. Description of Related Art
Recent advances in telecommunications technology have allowed a wide array of special telecommunication services to be made available to subscribers. Examples of such services include abbreviated dialing, which allows a subscriber to reach a party by dialing less than the entire telephone number of that party, call forwarding, in which calls directed to the subscriber may be forwarded to another line, terminating call screening, which allows the subscriber to specify certain times during which incoming calls are to be rejected, and originating call screening, in which calls to certain telephone numbers are barred. In general, special telecommunications services (xe2x80x9cservicesxe2x80x9d) encompass those call features that do more than simply place or terminate telephone calls as dialed.
To enable such services, telecommunications networks typically carry xe2x80x9csignals,xe2x80x9d as well as the voice or data comprising the conversation between the calling party and the called party. These signals monitor the status of the lines, indicate the arrival of incoming calls, and carry the information needed to route the voice or other data through the network. At one time, these signals were inband, i.e., the signals were transmitted through the same circuits as used for voice transmission. However, most telecommunications networks now use out-of-band signaling, i.e., the signals are transmitted over a signaling network separate from the circuit-switched network that carries voice and data. Thus, signals carried on the separate signaling network are used to control the switches in the circuit-switched network to set up and tear down the circuit between the calling party and called party. Currently, Signaling System 7 (xe2x80x9cSS7xe2x80x9d)is the most commonly used signaling""system.
In previous decades, the switches themselves provided the special telecommunications services. However, the switches had to have a great deal of xe2x80x9cintelligencexe2x80x9d built into them to accomplish this. In particular, a typical switch included a database of control information and call processing logic, in addition to switching capabilities. This approach was unwieldy because a telecommunications provider needed to update the software and databases on all of its many switches in order to update services or add new services throughout its telecommunications network. To complicate matters, the software needed to program switches from different vendors often differed greatly.
To overcome these limitations, most telecommunications networks in the Unites States have adopted the advanced intelligent network (xe2x80x9cAINxe2x80x9d) approach. The advent of AIN has improved matters in two ways. First, most of the control information and call processing logic resides in a central network location, the service control point (xe2x80x9cSCPxe2x80x9d), instead of in the multitude of switches. Second, AIN provides a set of standardized messages between the switches and the SCP to allow for a variety of services. These standards are embodied in Bellcore""s AIN Release 0.1 and AIN Release 0.2.
The benefit of having the call control functions in a centralized SCP is that changes made at the SCP will apply to a large number of switches. This makes changing services and adding new services much easier and reduces the problem of differences in switches from different vendors. Moreover, the centralization at the SCP and the standardized message set allows an SCP to control a large number of switches, which are referred to as service switching points (xe2x80x9cSSPsxe2x80x9d) in AIN parlance, even those from different vendors. Indeed, in the AIN approach, the switches can be quite generic but still able to provide a variety of services. This is because, instead of the SSPs themselves having the necessary call processing logic, the SSPs signal the SCP for guidance at predefined xe2x80x9ctrigger pointsxe2x80x9d in the call processing. The signal from the SSP passes a set of relevant parameters, in a predefined format, to the SCP. Such parameters can include the calling party""s telephone number and the called party""s telephone number, for example. In SS7, this signal is coded as a Transaction Capabilities Application Part (xe2x80x9cTCAPxe2x80x9d) query message. When the SCP receives the TCAP query, it executes the appropriate service logic and consults the appropriate databases to obtain the information and instructions needed to provide the intelligent network service. The SCP then sends a message, typically a TCAP response message, to the SSP instructing it how to complete the call to provide the service.
Because of the large number of SSPs and other network elements connected to the signaling network, the signaling network typically includes one or more signal transfer points (xe2x80x9cSTPsxe2x80x9d) that route the signals through the signaling network. Thus, the signals between SSPs and other SSPs or the SCP are often routed through one or more STPs.
An illustrative part of a typical AIN network 10 is shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 1, the circuit-switched pathways that carry voice and data are represented by solid lines, and signaling pathways and other logical connections are represented by dashed lines. In network 10, a first station 12 is connected to the public switched telephone network (xe2x80x9cPSTNxe2x80x9d) 14 via a first SSP 16, and a second station 18 is connected to PSTN 14 via a second SSP 20. Stations 12 and 18 may be telephones, fax machines, modems, or other such devices. SSPs 16 and 20 are connected to each other and to an SCP 22 by a signaling network that includes a first STP 24 and a second STP 26. SCP 22 is provided with a service management system (xe2x80x9cSMSxe2x80x9d) 28 that allows for the provision and modification of the information and service logic residing in SCP 22. SMS 28 typically includes a user interface, the service creation environment (xe2x80x9cSCExe2x80x9d) 30, which may be accessed by a computer terminal 32. In this way, a user at terminal 32 is able to access, create, and modify the service logic and other information in SMS 28 and then download it to SCP 22.
As a simple illustration of the operation of network 10, consider the case where the user of station 12 subscribes to an abbreviated dialing service. To call station 18, the user of station 12 dials less than the complete telephone number of station 18. The collection of the abbreviated telephone number by SSP 16 serves as a trigger point indicating a need for AIN services. SSP 16 thus sends a TCAP query, which includes the dialed digits and the number of calling station 12 as parameters, to SCP 22 via STP 24. The service logic of SCP 22 first verifies that the customer corresponding to station 12 subscribes to the abbreviated dialing service. SCP 22 then retrieves the complete telephone number of station 18 and passes it as a parameter in a TCAP response message to SSP 16. From this information, SSP 16 is able to signal to SSP 20, via STPs 24 and 26, to attempt to set up a circuit-switched voice path from station 12 to station 18 through PSTN 14.
Note that AIN services can also be invoked when an SSP attempts to complete a call, such as when SSP 16 attempts to complete a call from station 18 to station 12. An example is when the user of station 12 subscribes to a terminating call screening service. In this case, when SSP 16 receives a termination attempt, i.e., an attempt to complete a call from station 18 to station 12, it sends a TCAP query to SCP 22 containing the telephone number of station 12 as a parameter. SCP 22 determines that calling station 12 subscribes to a terminating call screening service and, based on the time of day or other circumstances, determines whether or not the call should be allowed to go through to station 12. SCP 22 then sends a TCAP response message to SSP 16 with appropriate parameters to indicate the required call disposition, i.e., whether or not to connect the call to station 12.
In the AIN approach, there is typically only one SCP that an SSP sends queries to and receives responses from. However, although only a single SCP 22 is shown in FIG. 1, one SCP typically controls many. SSPs, with each SSP typically being connected to thousands of stations. Thus, each SCP defines a telecommunications network.
Typically, each telecommunications network defined by an SCP and the SSPs it controls will be operated by one telecommunications service provider, the local exchange carrier (xe2x80x9cLECxe2x80x9d). Thus, in FIG. 1, SSP 16 is designated a LEC SSP, SCP 22 is designated a LEC SCP, and STP 24 is designated a LEC STP. In contrast, SSP 20 and STP 26, could be part of a different LEC""s network, i.e., SSP 20 could signal to an SCP other than LEC SCP 22.
Of course, calls from a station in one LEC""s network can be connected through another LEC""s network. Additionally, AIN services can be provided to a station connected to a LEC""s SSP, even with respect to calls originating from or going to SSPs that are not the LEC""s. However, two fundamental limitations to the AIN approach remain. First, because a station is typically connected to only a single SSP, i.e., the LEC""s SSP, which typically signals only a single SCP, i.e., the LEC""s SCP, it is very difficult for other companies, i.e., alternative service providers (xe2x80x9cASPsxe2x80x9d), to compete with the LEC for the sale of telecommunications services to the owner of that station. This problem is described herein as the xe2x80x9ccompetition limitation.xe2x80x9d
The second limitation arises because of the multiplicity of SCPs. AIN services provided by a given SCP are typically available only to subscribers connected to SSPs controlled by that SCP (or controlled by other SCPs owned by the same LEC, which SCPs may have the same service logic and the same information databases). Certain exceptions exist, however, such as toll free calling and credit card calling. This is because the information needed to process the call resides in a centralized database that SCPs from different LECs can access. Other services, such as abbreviated dialing and terminating call screening, are typically unavailable to a subscriber if he operates outside of his home LEC""s network. This problem has become particular acute with the recent popularity of wireless telephones, such as cellular and PCS telephones. Because the wireless network is typically controlled separately from the wireline network, a subscriber""s wireline services may be unavailable when he uses his wireless telephone, and vice versa. This problem is described herein as the xe2x80x9cinternetwork limitation.xe2x80x9d
The United States Federal Communications Commission (xe2x80x9cFCCxe2x80x9d) has begun to address the competition limitation. In 1993, the FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (xe2x80x9cNPRMxe2x80x9d) that discussed ways LECs could make available xe2x80x9cmediated accessxe2x80x9d to their intelligent networks to third parties. See In the Matter of Intelligent Networks, CC Docket No. 91-346, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 8 FCC Rcd 6813 (1993). In the NPRM, xe2x80x9caccessxe2x80x9d was defined as the ability of third parties to communicate with a LEC network to use the intelligent network capabilities. This access was to be xe2x80x9cmediated access,xe2x80x9d in that the third party""s access was to be limited to prevent activity that might compromise network reliability. The NPRM discussed three phases of mediated access to intelligent networks: (1) mediated access at the SMS; (2) mediated access at the SCP; and (3) mediated access at the switch.
In the first phase, third parties would be allowed access to the LEC""s SMS to create new services based on LEC-specified parameters. Access to the SMS could be through the SCE. With reference to FIG. 1, a LEC could make computer terminal 32 available to third parties so that they can access SMS 28 via SCE 30. Alternatively, a LEC could allow the third party""s own computer terminal (not shown) to connect to SCE 30. The service logic created by the third party could be tested in the SMS and then downloaded from the SMS to the SCP. Alternatively, the service logic could be tested in an off-line SMS connected to an off-line SCP before being transferred to the on-line SMS for downloading to the on-line SCP. Once in place in the SCP, the service logic would interact with the LEC""s SSPs to provide the third party""s services to stations connected to the LEC""s network.
In this approach, mediation would occur in three ways. First, because the LEC would be providing the parameters from which services could be built, the possibility that the new service would conflict with existing services would be minimized. Second, before the service logic would be downloaded to the SCP it would be extensively tested and validated. Third, the SCP could mediate in real time to make sure that incorrect or undesirable instructions are not sent to the network as a result of the third party""s services. For example, a LEC may wish to block a third party""s call forwarding service that attempted to forward a call to an unauthorized number.
This first phase of mediated access is what the FCC proposed to require in its NPRM. Moreover, a subsequent FCC order required this type of mediated access. See In the Matter of the Local Competition Provisions in the Telecommunications Act of 1996, CC Docket No. 96-98, First Report and Order (1996).
The first phase of mediated access does provide ASPs, the alternative service providers, with opportunities to compete with the LECs that would otherwise be unavailable. However, significant drawbacks with this approach exist. Specifically, because the ASP""s service logic would be created in and reside entirely on the LEC""s systems, it would be fully visible to the LEC. Thus, the LEC could quickly match whatever innovative services an ASP might provide through its mediated access. This stands as a significant competitive disadvantage to any ASP. Additionally, an ASP would need to rely on the LEC system to create the billing records needed for the ASP to bill for its services. This stands as another competitive disadvantage for an ASP. Finally, this phase does little to address the internetworking limitation.
The second phase proposed by the FCC in its NPRM, described as mediated access at the SCP, would provide better access for ASPs and would allow for internetworking. An integrated network 50 illustrating this approach is shown schematically in FIG. 2. Phase two assumes that the ASP has its own SCP 52. Typically, the ASP would be able to use its own SMS 54, SCE 56, and computer terminal 58, to create and modify service logic on its own SCP 52 to define telecommunications services. The ASP would then be able to provide these telecommunications services to stations connected to the LEC""s network by connecting ASP SCP 52 to the LEC""s network. Specifically, ASP SCP 52 would have access to LEC SSP 16, and, thus, station 12, via a LEC xe2x80x9cGatewayxe2x80x9d SCP 60, which would perform a majority of the mediation.
A similar approach has been suggested by Amdahl, in which a xe2x80x9cmediation pointxe2x80x9d takes the place of the xe2x80x9cGateway SCP.xe2x80x9d See Web ProForum Tutorial: Access Mediation, http://www.webproforum.com/acc13 med. This approach is described in detail with reference to FIG. 2. When LEC SSP 16 detects an AIN trigger, it launches a query to. LEC STP 24 via non-final global title translation (xe2x80x9cGTTxe2x80x9d). Based on GTT, LEC STP 24 forwards the query to the LEC""s mediation point 60. Mediation point 60 performs mediation functionality on the query and forwards it to ASP SCP 52 via LEC STP 24 and STP 26. Upon receipt of the query, ASP SCP 52 then performs AIN functionality and sends its own message to provide the desired AIN service. LEC STP 24 forwards this message to mediation point 60, which performs additional mediation and forwards the message to LEC SSP 16 via LEC STP 24.
Another similar approach is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,915,008. An integrated service control point (ISCP) provides AIN routing control functionalities to customers of the LEC and also serves as a xe2x80x9cmediation pointxe2x80x9d by mediating queries and responses between the LEC network and databases operated by other carriers. For example, when the ISCP receives a TCAP query from an SSP, via an STP, the ISCP communicates with another carrier""s SCP through the SS7 network, if the conditions relating to the call meet certain criteria. The other carrier""s SCP then determines how to process the particular call and returns an appropriate instruction, in a TCAP response message, to the ISCP. The ISCP performs a mediation function by processing the instructions from the other carrier""s SCP to insure validity and compatibility with the LEC network. Based on validated instructions, the ISCP then formulates an appropriate TCAP response message and transmits it to the SSP via one or more STPs.
The FCC has not yet required the second phase of mediated access. However, even if it did, significant disadvantages with this approach exist. First, an additional, and potentially costly, network element may be required, i.e., either a xe2x80x9cgateway SCPxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cmediation point.xe2x80x9d Second, some criteria would need to be established to determine whether a query from an SSP should be processed by the LEC SCP or by an ASP SCP. One criterion could be the calling party or called party ID, i.e., the identity of the subscriber. However, this criterion is too limiting, because it does not take into account the possibility that a subscriber may buy some of its telecommunications services from the LEC and others from an ASP. Thus, the identity of the subscriber alone may not be sufficient to specify how queries should be routed.
The third phase proposed by the FCC is mediated access at the switch. In this phase, at predefined triggers, the LEC SSP would signal the ASP SCP directly, i.e., without the intervention of a xe2x80x9cgateway SCIP.xe2x80x9d Although this approach provides the most direct access, it also has several disadvantages. First, the switch itself would need to perform the mediation. Second, third party service development would appear to require updates to the software in each switch to ensure continued network reliability. Thus, this approach would require a step backward in the development of telecommunications networks that would tend to reduce the benefits of the AIN architecture. In any event, the FCC has not yet required this kind of mediated access.
An illustrative integrated network 70 using this type of mediated access is shown in FIG. 3. Notably, in network 70, SSP 16 is replaced by an xe2x80x9cintelligentxe2x80x9d SSP 72, to reflect the more complicated software that would need to be resident at the SSP. In particular, xe2x80x9cintelligentxe2x80x9d SSP 72 must now determine at each trigger point whether to send a query message to LEC SCP 22 or to ASP SCP 52. The possibility that different programming may be required for switches from different vendors creates a difficulty in adding this capability to a multitude of switches. Moreover, the disadvantages become more apparent as more than one ASP desires access to xe2x80x9cintelligentxe2x80x9d SSP 72, because even more xe2x80x9cintelligencexe2x80x9d would need to be added.
In a first principal aspect, a method is provided for providing telecommunications services in a first telecommunications network, in which a call connection system establishes a communication pathway through said first telecommunications network in response to messages from a first network controller. The first network controllers has a plurality of service logic modules, including a mediated service logic module and a plurality of non-mediated service logic modules. The first network controller receives a query message from the call connection system and determines the relevant customer and what service is being implicated from the parameters included in the query message. The first network controller also obtains a service profile for the relevant customer that identifies a predetermined service logic module to execute to provide the implicated service. If the predetermined service logic module is a non-mediated service logic module, then the first network controller executes it to define a set of output parameters, formulates a first response message from the output parameters, and transmits it to the call connection system. If, however, the predetermined service logic module is the mediated service logic module, then the first network controller executes it to formulate an internetwork query. The mediate service logic module transmits the internetwork query to a second network controller in a second telecommunications network and then receives an internetwork response message from the second network controller, which message contains a second set of parameters. The first network controller formulates a response message from the second set of parameters and transmits it to the call connection system.
In a second principal aspect, a system is provided for communicating with a second network controller in a second telecommunications network to provide telecommunications services in a first telecommunications network. The system comprises a first network controller in the first telecommunications network a call connection system in the first telecommunications network, a plurality of service logic modules disposed in the first network controller, a database of service profiles disposed in the first network controller, and a base service logic module disposed in the first network controller. The call connection system sends query messages containing a first set of parameters to a first network controller for requesting call processing instructions and establishes a communication pathway through the first telecommunications network in response to response messages from the first network controller. The service logic modules include a mediated service logic module and a plurality of non-mediated service logic modules. Each one of the service profiles in the database is associated with a particular customer and identifies which service logic module to execute to provide each service available to that particular customer. The first mediated service logic module is able, when executed, to transmit an internetwork query message to a second network controller in a second network and to receive an internetwork response message from the second network controller. The base service logic module determines the relevant customer and what service is implicated from the first set of parameters and consults the database to identify the service logic module to execute to provide the implicated service. The base service logic module executes this service logic module and obtains a first output, if the service logic module is a non-mediated service logic module, and obtains a second output, if the service logic module is the mediated service logic module.
In a third principal aspect, a method is provided for providing an additional telecommunications service in a first telecommunication network in which telecommunications services arc provided by a first network controller. A first mediated service logic module is added to the first network controller. The first mediated service logic module is able, when executed, to transmit an internetwork query message to a second network controller in a second network and to receive an internetwork response message from the second network controller. The database of customer service profiles in the first network controller is updated to indicate that the mediated service logic module is to be executed when the additional telecommunications service is implicated.
By using a mediated service logic module in a first network controller in a first network, which mediated service logic module communicates with a second network controller in a second network, services can be provided in the first network using service logic in the second network controller. This enhances the ability of an ASP, operating the second network controller, to compete with a LEC, operating the first network controller, for the sale of services to customers using the first network. Thus, the mediated service logic approach addresses the competition limitation described above.
Additionally, by providing a mediated service logic module in the second network controller as well, services can be provided in the second network using service logic in the first network. Thus, the mediated service logic approach also addresses the internetworking limitation.
These as well as other advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reading the following detailed description, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

Method and system for providing telecommunications services using mediated service logic


Rock drilling apparatus wherein a motor and chuck assembly is mounted for slidable movement on a mast and elevated and lowered by a pair of endless chains, the endless chains passing through openings in stabilizer units slidably mounted on the mast for vertical movement and which rotatably and slidably brace the drill stem. The chains carry detents which are arranged so that when the endless chains are operated to elevate the motor and chuck, the stabilizers are also elevated in spaced relationship so as to stabilize the drill stem.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to rock drilling apparatus, and in particular to the stabilizer assembly for providing lateral support for an unsupported length of drill stem extending upwardly out of the drill hole.
2. Prior Art
Diamond drilling apparatus normally uses a hollow sectionalized drill stem which is subjected to downward pressure as it is rotated so that a bit at the lower end of the drill stem bores into the rock. Circulating water is fed under pressure through the upper end of the drill stem to the bit and serves to cool the bit and deflects the cuttings from the bottom of the hole. As the drill stem follows the bit down the hole, additional lengths of stem are added as may by needed.
In many rock drilling assemblies, the drill stem is embraced by a driven rotatable chuck mounted for vertical travel on a mast and which is capable of remote chucking and de-chucking operations to be carried out during a drilling operation. Due to the heavy downward pressure which must necessarily be applied by the chuck to the drill stem, a tendency of the stem to deflect under load requires that its unsupported length above the drill hole be kept at a minimum. Consequently, this requires a number of chucking and de-chucking operations for each length of drill stem during a drilling operation. Understandably, time taken in a chucking and de-chucking operation is lost time in so far as a drilling operation is concerned.


A circuit configuration for the control of a servomotor (M) with the aid of current pulses supplied by a current-controlled final stage (1) of a control system. The pattern of current rise is analyzed after actuation of the final stage (1) for identifying a short circuit in the servomotor (M) across the power supply system (+U.sub.B). An excessively high current (I.sub.K), after a measuring period (T.sub.M), commencing after the transistor (LT) of the final stage (1) has been placed in saturated state, is indicative of a short circuit.

The present invention relates to a circuit configuration for controlling a servomotor by means of current pulses supplied by a current-controlled final stage. This circuit configuration is particularly suitable for controlling a servomotor of a control system for automotive vehicles, for example, the throttle valve-type servomotor of a traction slip control system.
A short circuit across the voltage source of a servomotor of the type under consideration (e.g. a short circuit across the power supply system of an automotive vehicle), during actuation of the motor through a current-controlled final stage, is difficult to identify because, with the short-circuited motor, the actual current value, as a result of the control, corresponds to the nominal value of the current. To identify a short circuit, instead of measuring the current, for example, the final stage voltage can be monitored. With the motor intact and upon actuation through a transistor, the voltage would fall to the saturation voltage of the transistor. When short circuit or shunt events occur within the motor, the voltage drop is substantially higher than in normal operation. However, the additional efforts involved with such a saturation voltage monitoring by no means are irrelevant.
German published application DE 33 18 909 C2 teaches an error-detection device for a motor control circuit which comprises a voltage divider, connected in parallel to the current source, and a comparator circuit. This comparator circuit monitors the voltage on a voltage divider point and generates an error signal once this voltage rises or drops to a value outside a predetermined voltage range as a result of an error (e.g. fusing of contacts, short circuit in the electronics).
To control the number of revolutions of a series-wound motor with a torque shutoff device which serves to drive a manually operated electric tool, a circuit configuration is described in German published application DE 38 19 166 A1 which switches off the motor upon the occurrence of a specific counter-torque. The motor current received is measured and evaluated as an indication of the issued torque.
A protection circuit device as disclosed in German published application DE 30 42 138 A1, which serves as an overload protection when a direct-current motor blocks, triggers a disconnection in the event that an excessive motor current is detected which lasts for more than a predetermined period of time.
Further, a device for the adjustment of the current of a battery to an electric motor is known from German published application DE 27 36 304 A1 which disconnects the current supply to the electric motor when a motor current pulse occurs.
Finally, a device for controlling the power of an electric consumer and comprising a short circuit monitoring means is described an German published application DE 37 27 498. For this purpose, the saturation voltage of a semiconductor switch is monitored which exceeds a predefined value once a short circuit occurs.

Circuit configuration for identifying a short circuit or shunt event in a servomotor system


A method and apparatus for extracting compounds from raw materials with an extraction column is provided. The control and manipulation of pressure exerted and contained within the extraction vessel or column may be vital in obtaining a certain flavor profile or intensity of the effluent extracted from the raw materials. As such, the method may include directing a flow of pressurized solvent into a base of the extraction column and utilizing the flow of pressurized solvent to create a pressure gradient applied to the raw materials. The method may further include compressing the raw materials with hydraulic compression. As the raw materials become further compressed, frictional heating may result allowing most, if not all, of the volatile aromatic heat sensitive compounds and constituencies to be extracted depending on the pressure strength applied to the raw materials. As such, manipulating the pressure gradients for each extraction process allows for distinct and specific flavor profiles to be extracted from the raw materials.

Solid-liquid extraction is a process where compounds of a solid mixture, such as compounds in a matrix or bed of raw materials, are isolated by dissolving the desired compounds in an added solvent, where the extract is then further separated from the raw materials. As such, the process of solid-liquid extraction is often extensively utilized in a wide range of industries to extract desired bioactive and non-bioactive compounds for consumption. Examples of such compounds for consumption may be found in the following, but are not limited to, coffee beans, tea leaves, botanical herbs, spices, nutraceuticals, organic substances, and the like.
During the solid-liquid extraction process, the control and manipulation of pressure exerted and contained within the extraction vessel or column may be vital in obtaining a certain flavor profile or intensity of the effluent extracted from the raw materials. However, current technology pertaining to the solid-liquid extractions fail to provide a device or method that allows for controlling pressure within the extraction column that is driven and controlled by the accumulated energy already generated within the extraction column. It is based on these energy creators within the extraction column that may allow for generating a wide variety of pressures to be utilized to produce a desired flavor profile extracted from the raw materials.

Method using pressure gradient profiling in an extraction column


The voice mail system includes a voice mail exchanger and a mail server. A voice mail communication between a telephone and a terminal device, such as a client computer, is registered in a LAN based multi-media mail box. A PBX based voice mail apparatus and a LAN based multi-media mail system are integrated such that voice information can be commonly used and reused.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a voice mail system and a voice mail exchanger and more particularly to an integrated mail system and a voice mail exchanger which can exchange voice messages between a user of a computer applied device (terminal device), having a voice communication function, and a user of a general telephone connected to a switch.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As a conventional mail system which can handle voice information, a voice mail apparatus attached to a PBX for taking in telephones and a mail server for text or multimedia including an image using a calculator applied device represented by a personal computer or a workstation as a terminal are known.
A voice mail apparatus is a mail system attached to a PBX and a user of each telephone taken in the PBX transmits or receives a voice message via the voice mail apparatus. For example, when a communication partner is absent, a user of a telephone makes a telephone call to the mail box of the communication partner and registers a voice message in the voice mail apparatus. A user who is a destination of the voice mail accesses the voice mail apparatus using an interface which is intrinsic to the telephone such as operating a push button so as to fetch the message from the mail box and can hear it via the telephone.
On the other hand, a mail server is a system used to transmit or receive messages between users of personal computers or workstations connected to a LAN and as multimedia personal computers and multi-media workstations have appeared, a multi-media mail system which can transmit and receive voice and image messages in addition to text messages has been developed.
An example of an office system integrating a telephone based voice communication system and a LAN based data communication system is described in Fujitsu Journal, Vol. 19, No. 2, 1993, pp. 67 and 68.
In the system described in the aforementioned literature, each user uses a telephone and a personal computer together, performs voice communication using the telephone, and registers a voice message in a voice mail apparatus. The user transmits or receives multimedia mails using the personal computer.
In this system, a list of the voice mails received by the voice mail apparatus can be displayed on the screen of a personal computer. When a user designates a voice mail to be received on the screen of the personal computer, the system rings a bell of the nearest telephone and outputs the message to this telephone. Reception of multi-media mails is indicated by a reception lamp attached to the telephone and the voice mail can be heard from the voice output device of the personal computer.
Although the aforementioned general voice mail apparatus is an effective means in smooth proceeding of transfer of a voice message, operations such as mail registration, reception, and cancel are performed by an interface which is based on an intrinsic button operation of the telephone, so that there is a problem imposed in the operability and the apparatus is not fully utilized actually.
On the other hand, a multi-media mail system is comparatively inexpensive and excellent in operability because a mail operation can be performed by using a GUI (graphical user interface) of a personal computer. Since voice information and image information can be managed in a file format, they can be shared and reused easily between application programs at each terminal device.
However, in the aforementioned conventional integrated office system, although integration of telephone based voice communication service and LAN based data communication service is realized, the voice mail apparatus for handling voice mails and the multi-media mail system for handling multi-media mail are independently mounted and it is necessary for a user to select properly one of these two mail systems.
Since the voice information is distributed to and managed by the voice mail apparatus and the multi-media mail system, a problem arises in that all of the voice information cannot be shared or reused between the application programs.


A process for producing alcohol from lignocellulosic biomass includes adding at least one of sulfur dioxide and sulfurous acid to the lignocellulosic biomass to provide an effective sulfur dioxide dosage and/or effective sulfur dioxide slurry concentration, each of which is calculated using the ratio of the volume of the slurry in the pretreatment reactor to the total volume of the pretreatment reactor, within a predetermined range.

The production of transportation fuels from biomass (e.g., ethanol, butanol, methane, biodiesel) continues to attract interest, due to the low cost and wide availability of biomass, and because biofuels may be used to displace the use of fossil fuels. For example, bioethanol may be blended into gasoline at predetermined concentrations (e.g., 10%).
First generation biofuels, also referred to as conventional biofuels, are made from biomass that contains sugar, starch, or vegetable oil (e.g., food crops). For example, ethanol may be produced by fermenting sugars that are easily extracted from sugar crops (e.g., sugar cane or sugar beets), or may be produced by fermenting sugars derived from starch-based feedstocks (e.g., corn grain, barley, wheat, potatoes, cassava). However, the diversion of farmland or crops for first generation biofuel production has led to much debate about increased food prices and/or decreased food supplies associated therewith. In addition, there are concerns related to the energy and environmental impact of these production processes.
Second generation biofuels, also referred to as advanced biofuels, wherein the biomass contains lignocellulosic material and/or is obtained from agricultural residues or waste (e.g., corn cobs, corn stover (e.g., stocks and leaves), bagasse, wood chips, wood waste), may allay some of these concerns. For example, when bioethanol produced using second generation processes (i.e., also referred to as cellulosic ethanol) is derived from agricultural waste or residue, its production should not affect the food supply. Accordingly, tremendous effort is currently being expended to advance cellulosic ethanol production processes.
Lignocellulosic biomass typically contains cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, each of which is commonly present in plant cell walls. Cellulose (e.g., a type of glucan) is an unbranched chain polysaccharide including hexose (C6) sugar monomers (e.g., glucose). Hemicellulose is a branched chain polysaccharide that may include different pentose (C5) sugar monomers (e.g., xylose and arabinose) in addition to glucose. Lignin is a complex organic polymer, which typically includes cross-linked phenol polymers. Although generally insoluble in water at mild conditions, lignin may be soluble in varying degrees in dilute acid or base alkali. The ratio and/or structure of these components (e.g., cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin) may vary depending on the biomass source.
Unfortunately, since cellulose, hemicellulose, and/or lignin found in lignocellulosic biomass typically is structured to resist degradation, it can be difficult to release sugars from this naturally recalcitrant material. Accordingly, a pretreatment step often is used to open up the structure of the lignocellulosic material and/or to make it accessible for enzymes. The pretreated material, which is more amenable to enzymatic hydrolysis, may then be converted to sugars, such as glucose, with enzymes, and then fermented with a microorganism. The fermentation product (e.g., an alcohol such as ethanol or butanol), may then be recovered (e.g., distillation) and used as a transportation fuel or other product.
Some examples of pretreatments used to prepare the lignocellulosic biomass for enzymatic hydrolysis include dilute acid pretreatment, alkali pretreatment (e.g., lime), ammonia fiber expansion, autohydrolysis (e.g., hot water extraction that does not require the addition of acid or base), steam explosion, organic solvent, and/or wet oxidation.
One type of pretreatment that has been studied is sulfur dioxide (SO2)-catalyzed steam pretreatment. Sulfur dioxide is a gas, which when dissolved in water, may be referred to as sulfurous acid. Sulfur dioxide and/or sulfurous acid may be a suitable catalyst for acid-catalyzed steam pretreatment since it may produce a more digestible substrate. In addition, it may produce less and/or fewer inhibitors and/or inactivators relative to dilute sulfuric acid pretreatment.
However, pretreatment with sulfur dioxide has been limited. First, sulfur dioxide costs more than sulfuric acid (e.g., on a weight basis). Second, sulfur dioxide is a weaker acid than sulfuric acid, so more acid required. As a result of the increased cost and amount of acid required, and/or as a result of environmental concerns, it may be desirable to recover and/or the reuse the sulfur dioxide, which adds to the cost. To date, the performance with sulfur dioxide has not offset these additional costs.
In particular, the use of sulfur dioxide has not been adopted in commercial ethanol plants, where the use of sulfuric acid has been preferred. In particular, the observed hydrolysis performance of sulfur dioxide catalyzed steam pretreated lignocellulosic material (e.g., which has been similar to the hydrolysis performance of sulfuric acid catalyzed steam pretreated lignocellulosic material) has not been exceptional enough to outweigh the added cost (e.g., the cost of sulfur dioxide is greater than the cost of sulfuric acid) and/or increased process complexity (e.g., careful handling to address safety and environmental concerns) of using sulfur dioxide.

Sulfur dioxide and/or sulfurous acid pretreatment


Electrorheological fluids of a hydrophobic liquid phase and, dispersed therein, electrorheologically active particles comprising a core particle and a coating of a metal carbonate, sulfate, thiosulfate, or sulfite exhibit reduced electrical conductivity compared with similar fluids containing uncoated particles.

The present invention relates to treated particles suitable for use in electrorheological fluids.
Electrorheological ("ER") fluids are fluids which can rapidly and reversibly vary their apparent viscosity in the presence of an applied electric field. ER fluids are generally dispersions of finely divided solids in hydrophobic, electrically non-conducting oils. They have the ability to change their flow characteristics, even to the point of becoming solid, when subjected to a sufficiently strong electrical field. When the field is removed, the fluids revert to their normal liquid state. ER fluids may be used in applications in which it is desired to control the transmission of forces by low electric power levels, for example, in clutches, hydraulic valves, shock absorbers, vibrators, or systems used for positioning and holding work pieces in position.
The prior art teaches the treatment of fine particles with surface coatings of various types in order to impart some particularly desired property to the particles. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,990,279, Ahmed, Feb. 5, 1991, discloses electrorheological fluids prepared from monomers which are polymerized in a low conductivity medium. The polymer particles are further modified through polymerization of a hydrophilic monomer to form a hydrophilic shell or globule around the particles, which constitutes a minor part of the particle.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,989,872, Ball, Nov. 2, 1976, discloses fine powders comprising yttira stabilized zirconia powders encased in a thin calcia shell, for plasma spray coating processes. The coating is accomplished by first forming a deposit of calcium carbonate on the individual particles and converting the calcium carbonate to calcium oxide by heating.
European publication 394,049, Oct. 24, 1990, discloses electrorheological fluids comprising a dispersed particulate phase which includes a plurality of composite particulate bodies, each having a core with an electrically conductive surface coated with a layer of electrically relatively non-conductive material, with the composite particulate body having a density substantially the same as the density of the carrier liquid.
PCT publication WO90/00583, Jan. 25, 1990, discloses an electroviscous fluid comprising electrically polarizable aggregate particles dispersed in a dielectric fluid. A substantial portion of the aggregate particles comprise a core and an electrically insulative shield. The shield can be e.g. a resin, a plastic foam, or a ceramic glaze.
Japanese publication 63-97694, Apr. 28, 1988, discloses an electroviscous fluid containing particles with a three-phase structure which comprises a core of an organic solid particle, a conductive thin-film layer formed on its surface, and an electric insulating thin-film layer formed thereon. Examples of insulating materials include polyvinyl chloride, polyamide, polyacrylonitrile, polyvinylidene fluoride, wax, asphalt, varnish, silica, alumina, rutile, barium titanate, and the like.
Japanese publication 64-6093, Jan. 10, 1989, discloses an electroviscous fluid comprising an oily medium and dielectric fine particles consisting of a conductive particle coated with an electric insulating film having 1 .mu.m or less thickness, and containing no water substantially. Representatives of the insulating materials include organic synthetic polymers, organic natural polymers, inorganic compounds such as silica, alumina, aluminum hydroxide, barium titanate and the like.
Japanese publication 3-93898, Apr. 18, 1991, discloses an electroviscous fluid consisting of fine particles which have a conductive layer on their insulating surface, which layer is coated further with an insulating film. Materials for the outermost film include silica, titania, alumina, tantalum, and styrene and epoxy resins.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,937,060, Kathirgamanathan, Jun. 26, 1990, discloses an inorganic powdery or granular material which is coated with a coating of an inherently conductive polymeric material. Conductive calcium carbonate and conductive aluminum trihydrate, when compounded into a polymer such as poly(vinyl chloride), are taught to e.g. impart conductivity to the polymer.


The present invention relates to a method for preparing a rare earth oxysulfide phosphor which comprises baking a mixture containing a rare earth oxide and/or a rare earth compound which becomes a rare earth oxide easily at a high temperature a sulfiding agent and a flux, wherein a rare earth oxysulfide seed is added to the mixture before baking.

Since the rare earth oxysulfide phosphor (in the form of Ln.sub.2 O.sub.2 S:Ln') has good emission efficiency, chemically stable, ease in handling, etc., Y.sub.2 O.sub.2 S:Eu is practically used as a red-emitting phosphor for color televisions and Gd.sub.2 O.sub.2 S:Tb is practically used as a green-emitting phosphor for projection cathode-ray tubes.
As a method for preparing this kind of phosphor, it has been known to employ a method wherein Ln.sub.2 O.sub.3 and Ln'.sub.2 O.sub.3 as rare earth oxide raw materials are dissolved in a mineral acid and then reacted with oxalic acid to coprecipitate as their oxalates, which are pyrolysed to form a Ln.sub.2 O.sub.3. Ln'.sub.2 O.sub.3 mixed crystal, and then a sulfiding agent and a flux are added to the mixed crystal, followed by baking, and a method wherein a sulfiding agent and a flux are added directly to Ln.sub.2 O.sub.3 and Ln'.sub.2 O.sub.3, followed by baking (U.S. Pat. No. 3,502,590). In these methods, the flux serves to let the above synthesis proceed easily and accelerate the growth of particles. Under these circumstances, in order to improve the formation efficiency of phosphors and accelerate the growth of particles, attempts have been made to add various kinds of phosphates as the flux, for example, YPO.sub.4 (Japanese Patent Publication No. 35555/1976), Na.sub.4 P.sub.2 O.sub.7 (Japanese Patent Publication No. 46182/1979), AlPO.sub.4 (Japanese Patent Publication No. 192484/1982), etc. On the other hand, with the trend to high quality color televisions and display tubes in recent years, improved quality fluorescent screens of cathode-ray tubes have been in great demand. To obtain a fluorescent film (dot, stripe) with an excellent packing property it is important that the dispersibility of the phosphor is good and that giant particles are not present. This is because that the presence of the giant particles is apt to cause defects such as pinholes. For fluorescent film properties, it is important to form three pure colors (dots or stripes) by coating. If a red-emitting phosphor particle is deposited on a blue or green picture element formed in the previous step and remains thereon, so-called color cross contamination which reduces color purity is caused. The color cross contamination is mainly caused by fine particles and thus it is desired to reduce the content of the fine particles. Namely, as the powder properties of phosphors, it is desired that the dispersibility is good, the contents of the large particles and fine particles are low and the particle size distribution is narrow.
It is also desired to obtain large particles (i.e. 7 .mu.m or more) which are not readily obtained by conventional synthetic methods, and thus it is required to provide a phosphor having a particle size the particular use of the phosphor.
However, conventional techniques for synthesizing phosphors are not adequate because there is a limit in the particle size control, i.e. by adjusting the baking temperature or the kind or the amount of the flux added. Particularly, the synthesis of large particle phosphors is difficult and, if the baking temperature is high, the synthetic conditions in a baking container become uneven which lead to the production of phosphors containing considerable amounts of the giant particles and fine particles and having a wide particle size distribution.

Method for preparing rare earth oxysulfide phosphor


A contactless sensor utilizes analog and digital circuitry to provide direct interchangeability with a simple potentiometric sensor, matching all of the electrical properties of a potentiometer, including supply voltage range, power supply current, output voltage range, and having three connection terminals. The contactless sensor operates with voltages from 2 to 30 volts direct current, which includes all of the common industrial sensor power supply voltages: 5V, 10V, 24V, and +/− 15V. The contactless sensor utilizes a total current of less than 0.005 amperes, and its output voltage range includes the power supply rails. These improvements combine to enable the contactless sensor to be a direct replacement when a potentiometric sensor is removed from service.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electrical potentiometric devices, and to electronic ratiometric devices, more specifically, to electronic devices developed for the purpose of replacing or simulating the electrical characteristics of a potentiometric device. Further, the present invention relates to sensors having a potentiometric electrical connection, or ratiometric output signal.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A Prior Art potentiometric device, also called a potentiometer, is a three-terminal electrically resistive device. See FIG. 1, PRIOR ART. Such a potentiometer typically comprises at least a resistive element 1, a wiper 2, that makes electrical contact to the resistive element, and three electrical terminals 6, 7, 8, for connection into an electrical circuit. An optional fourth electrical terminal may also be included to allow a ground or case connection (optional fourth terminal not shown in figures). In a rotary potentiometer, such as the one shown in FIG. 1, the wiper moves in an arc that pivots from a wiper pivot 3, near one end. Linear potentiometers are also in common use, with the resistive element being made approximately in a straight line (not shown) rather than in an arc as shown in FIG. 1.
A power source is connected to the potentiometer such that a power supply voltage appears across first and third terminals 6, 8, of FIG. 1, for example, zero and ten volts DC (direct current). There exists a constant electrical resistance between the first and third terminals, for example, five thousand ohms. A current flows through the resistance, which is two mA (milliamperes) in the example (i.e. ten volts divided by five thousand ohms). In the example, the input power would be two mA multiplied by ten volts, or twenty mW (milliwatts). The wiper 2, of a potentiometer provides an output voltage at second terminal 7. The wiper makes physical contact with the resistive element 1, in at least one point. The mechanical configuration of the wiper is such that its point of contact with the resistive element is movable along at least a portion of the length of the resistive element. As the point of contact between the wiper and the resistive element moves along the arc or the length of the resistive element, an output voltage appearing on the second terminal 7, varies as a percentage of the voltage across the resistive element 1, and in proportion to the relative position of the wiper 2, along the resistive element.
The resistive element 1, typically comprises a substrate of ceramic or other mechanically suitable electrically insulative material, having at least one surface that is coated with a thin layer of electrically resistive material. Typical power supply voltages for a potentiometer are 5, 10 or 24 volts DC, but other voltages may be used. It is uncommon for the power supply voltage to be above 30 volts DC. Typical resistances of the resistive element are one or two thousand ohms when used with a five volt power supply, five thousand ohms when used with a ten volt power supply, or ten thousand ohms when used with a twenty four volt power supply. It is not desirable to use a lower resistance element, such as one thousand ohms, with a higher power supply voltage, such as 10 or 24 volts, due to the higher current that would be drawn from the power source, and the resulting increase in power dissipation of the potentiometer.
As shown in FIG. 1, first terminal 6, is connected to resistive element 1, at a location approximately along one end of the resistive element, forming a first resistive element connection 4. Likewise, a third terminal 8, is connected to resistive element 1, at a location approximately along another end of the resistive element, forming a second resistive element connection 5. It is desirable that wiper 2, remain in constant contact with resistive element 1, and to be prevented from riding up onto the areas of connections 4, and 5. This will prolong the life of the wiper 2, and also will help to reduce intermittent loss of contact between the wiper 2, and the resistive element 1. Therefore, motion of the wiper is commonly restricted to a range slightly less than that required to obtain output voltages equal to the power supply voltage. For example, with terminals 6, and 8, connected to 10 and 0 volts DC (Direct Current), respectively, full wiper motion over the mentioned restricted range will result in output voltages up to approximately 9.900 volts DC, and down to approximately 0.100 volts DC (or, when connected to 5 and 0 volts DC, output voltages can be obtained of up to approximately 4.950 volts DC and down to 0.050 volts DC, respectively).
The main advantage of using a potentiometer as a means for providing a variable voltage is its simplicity. The major disadvantage of a potentiometer is that mechanical contact between the wiper and the resistive element constitutes a mechanism for wear. Wear resulting from repeated mechanical motion of the wiper normally limits the lifetime of a potentiometer. End of service life of a potentiometer typically occurs when wearing of the surface of the resistive element causes erratic voltages to appear on its output (represented here as second terminal 7), due to several factors, including buildup of particles that have been scraped from the resistive element by the wiper movement, partially bare spots where the coating of the resistive element has been removed from the underlying substrate, as well as changing the contact properties of the surface of the resistive element.
It is common in the prior art for other types of electronic devices to be developed in attempts to simulate the simplicity of wiring that is inherent with a potentiometer, but having other undesirable attributes which limit such an electronic device from being directly interchangeable with a potentiometer. Some of the undesirable attributes of such prior art electronic devices include a higher current draw from the power source, a more narrow range of allowable power supply voltage, and a more narrow range of output voltage available. Many such prior art electronic devices require a power supply voltage in the narrow range of 5.0 volts +/−0.5 volts, and provide an output voltage range of 10% to 90% of the power supply voltage for indications of zero and full scale, respectively. Such prior art electronic devices typically draw from 10 to 150 milliamperes of current from the power source.
A potentiometer is commonly employed to provide a variable output voltage in response to a physical parameter being measured (that is, in response to a parameter). Such a potentiometer is often configured as a position-measuring sensor, but potentiometric devices can be used to sense other parameters such as pressure, flow, etc. when coupled to a mechanical system that provides a mechanical motion proportional to the parameter.
The physical parameter can be mechanically coupled to the potentiometer directly, or transduced from one form of mechanical energy or motion into another as appropriate for the given parameter. For example, a diaphragm or bellows can be used to transduce a pressure measurand into a linear motion. The linear motion can be coupled to a linear potentiometer. Such a potentiometric device or combination of potentiometer and transducer can be called a potentiometric sensor.
A potentiometric sensor with a wiper that contacts and rubs along a surface of the resistive element is called a "contact-type" sensor, that is, the wiper makes mechanical contact with the resistive element. Because the typical potentiometer has only three wires, it is relatively simple to connect into an electrical system, and is also easily understood.
Various electronic devices, and especially sensors, have been developed which simulate the function of a potentiometric device to some extent. The output of such a device or sensor is typically called ratiometric. In a device having a ratiometric output, an output voltage is developed that is similar to an output voltage developed in a potentiometric sensor, in that the output voltage is a percentage of an applied power supply voltage. Many ratiometric electronic sensors have an advantage over an actual potentiometric contact-type sensor, because they can utilize capacitive, inductive, or magnetic sensing, for example, and thereby make their measurement without physical contact among moving and non-moving members comprising the device or sensor. This type of sensor arrangement is called a non-contact ratiometric sensor. This eliminates mechanical wear, and can provide an increase in the service lifetime of the sensor.
By virtue of having a three-wire electrical connection, a non-contact ratiometric sensor as described above can sometimes be used as a replacement for a potentiometric contact-type sensor. A typical sensor of this type uses an electronic circuit that requires an input voltage of 4.5 to 5.5 volts DC at a current level of between 10 mA and 150 mA, and produces an output voltage in the range of 10% to 90% of the power supply voltage in response to a 0% to 100% range of a measurand. For example, with a 0 to 1 inch linear position sensor having a power supply voltage of 5.0 volts DC, an output voltage range would typically be 0.5 to 4.5 volts DC for positions from 0 inches to 1 inch. Although this can be accommodated by some types of receiving electronics with appropriate adjustments, it is not serviceable as a direct replacement of a potentiometric contact-type sensor in many applications.
To the contrary, the present invention teaches an apparatus which can directly replace a potentiometric contact-type sensor in virtually all applications, while preserving its desirable performance characteristics and simplicity of wiring.

Method and apparatus for simulating a potentiometer


A vaporized fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine includes a housing adapted to be mounted on the engine and having a vaporizer heat shell therein connected to the engine for receiving hot exhaust gases. Air is compressed by means of compressor blades mounted at the tips of the conventional fan blades for the engine. The compressor blades travel in a shroud whereby the air is compressed and supplied to the housing where it passes over the vaporizer heat shell. A fuel vaporization chamber is formed directly on the heat shell and liquid fuel is injected directly onto the heated shell for vaporizing the fuel. When the engine is cold, the liquid fuel may be injected directly onto glow plugs disposed in communication with the chamber. The heated compressed air is delivered to an outlet passage having a throttle valve therein and the vaporized fuel is delivered through the outlet passage downstream of the throttle valve to provide an air/fuel vapor mixture which is delivered to each combustion chamber of the engine. A liquid coolant is injected directly into each combustion chamber to control the combustion temperature.

The present invention is directed to a vaporized fuel injection system for internal combustion engines and more specifically, to a system for vaporizing the fuel in a heated chamber and introducing the vaporized fuel and preheated compressed air into an intake manifold for distribution to the combustion chamber and subsequently controlling the temperature of the engine by directly injecting a finely atomized liquid coolant spray directly into the combustion chamber.
For many years, there has been an ongoing quest to achieve complete combustion of an air/liquid fuel charge within the combustion chamber of an engine in order to reduce exhaust emissions while increasing fuel economy. However, it is extremely difficult to meter, finely atomize the liquid fuel and blend the same with the intake air stream in order to approach complete combustion of the mixture. It is also extremely difficult to ensure reliable ignition of the lean air/liquid fuel charge within the combustion chamber and to manage the high temperatures associated with the complete combustion of the air/fuel mixture. Any attempt to introduce liquid hydrocarbon fuel into the intake air stream of a normally aspirated internal combustion engine, guarantees a fuel rich air/fuel mixture eliminating any possibility of complete combustion, thereby guaranteeing the production of carbon monoxide. Liquid fuel/air mixtures will not burn. Part of the liquid fuel must vaporize into vapor fuel and intermingle with the oxygen contained within the intake air before the mixture will burn.
An early pioneer in the field of vaporized fuel/air mixtures for internal combustion engines was Charles N. Pogue, who obtained the following U.S. Patents for carburetors for providing a vaporized fuel/air mixture for introduction into internal combustion engines:
______________________________________ U.S. Pat. No. 1,750,354 March 11, 1930 CARBURETOR U.S. Pat. No. 1,869,531 June 9, 1931 CARBURETOR U.S. Pat. No. 1,938,497 December 5, 1933 CARBURETOR U.S. Pat. No. 1,997,497 April 9, 1935 CARBURETOR U.S. Pat. No. 2,026,798 January 7, 1936 CARBURETOR ______________________________________
In each of the Pogue patents, gasoline is sprayed into a heated chamber wherein the atomized liquid gasoline will vaporize and air under pressure is introduced into the chamber. The combustible mixture of air and vaporized gasoline is then introduced into the intake manifold of the internal combustion engine. However, by having a vaporized gasoline mixed with the air externally of the intake manifold, the danger of premature combustion of the mixture is increased.


The present invention provides novel methods of producing diphtheria toxin. In particular, the present invention provides novel methods of producing nontoxic forms of diphtheria toxin, e.g., CRM197. The present invention also provides novel compositions comprising diphtheria toxin or nontoxic forms of diphtheria toxin, e.g., CRM197.

The CRM197 protein is a safe and effective T-cell dependent carrier for saccharides and is currently being used in many different vaccine formulations called conjugate vaccines. Diphtheria toxin is a protein exotoxin produced by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae upon infection with the phage 0197. Both, Diphtheria toxin ("DT") and CRM197 are components of many vaccines, like for example against Bordatella pertussis, Clostridium tetani, C. diphtheriae, hepatitis B virus, and Haemophilus influenza type B (WO 9324148, WO 9700697, WO 02055105). In addition there has been a growing interest in CRM197 because of its potential antitumor activity relating to its capacity to bind the soluble form of HB-EGF (US 2006/0270600A1).
CRM197 is produced by C. diphtheriae infected by the non-toxigenic phage β197tox. β197tox was created by nitrosoguanidine mutagenesis of the toxigenic corynephage β (Uchida, T. et al. 1971, Nature New Biology 233:8-11). The CRM197 protein is a nontoxic form of diphtheria toxin but is immunologically indistinguishable from the diphtheria toxin. DT has a mass of 58.350 kDa (CRM197=58.415 kDa) and consists of the N-terminal A and the C-terminal B domains (21 and 37 kDa) which are linked by a disulfide bridge connecting Cys186 and Cys201. The A fragment is toxic after being released from its disulfide-bonded partner, the B fragment. Nicking of the holotoxin by mild proteolysis at the connecting peptide at positions 191-3 is a prerequisite for the A fragment activation. The B fragment has no apparent enzymatic activity but is required for toxicity, probably due to targeting the holotoxin to the target cell membranes (Broker M, Costantino P, De Tora L, McIntosh E D, Rappuoli R: Biochemical and biological characteristics of cross-reacting material 197 (CRM197), a non-toxic mutant of diphtheria toxin: use as a conjugation protein in vaccines and other potential clinical applications. Biologicals, 2011, 39(4):195-204.)
Infected C. diphtheriae cultures secrete the CRM197 protein across the cytoplasmic membrane out of the cell into the culture medium. The CRM197 protein has about the same molecular weight as the diphtheria toxin but differs therefrom by a single base change (guanine to adenine) in the structural gene. This single base change causes an amino acid substitution (glutamic acid for glycine, G52E) in the mature protein and eliminates the toxic properties of diphtheria toxin (Giannini G, Rappuoli R, Ratti G: The amino-acid sequence of two non-toxic mutants of diphtheria toxin: CRM45 and CRM197. Nucleic Acids Res 1984, 12(10):4063-4069).
Methods of preparing DT and CRM197 are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,709,017, U.S. Pat. No. 5,843,711, U.S. Pat. No. 5,601,827, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,917,017. There are currently three different systems used for industrial preparation of CRM197. Two systems are based on the use of phage infected C. diphtheriae cells. The most recent development constitutes a recombinant expression system in Pseudomonas fluorescens. The method employs a secretion approach to the periplasm in a genetically optimized P. fluorescens strain using a CRM197 gene equipped with a signal peptide for secretion into the periplasm (US20110287443).
For example, diphtheria toxin is isolated from cultures of C. diphtheriae strain C7 (B197) and/or C. diphtheriae strain C7 (B197) pPx350 grown in a casamino acids and yeast extract-based medium under aerobic conditions. Adjustment of media components were shown to improve yields (U.S. Pat. No. 4,925,792, WO 2006 100108). CRM197 or DT are harvested from the supernatant of the culture, and concentrated by ultrafiltration. Ammonium sulfate precipitation is a first, and anionic exchange chromatography a second purification step.
However, production of significant quantities of the CRM197 protein for use in vaccines has been hindered due to low protein abundance (WO 2006 100108).
Techniques have been developed to bolster the production of CRM proteins using double lysogens (Isolation and characterization of C. diphtheriae nontandem double lysogens hyperproducing CRM197. R Rappuoli, Appl. Environ, Microbiol. September 1983 46:560-564; U.S. Pat. No. 4,925,792 issued to R. Rappuoli; and Integration of corynebacteriophages beta tox+, omega tox+, and gamma tox− into two attachment sites on the C. diphtheriae chromosome. R Rappuoli, J L Michel, and JR Murphy; J. Bacteriol. March 1983 153:1202-4210) of the nontoxigenic corynephage β197. Rappuoli reports yields of CRM197 from double and triple lysogens up to three fold higher than from the single lysogens. The production levels of CRM197 by single lysogens are adequate but economically unsatisfactory for the production of vaccines which utilize CRM197 protein. It is important to note that the construction of double and triple lysogenic strains in order to increase expression efficiency in C. diphtheria e is a long process which requires a laborious screening phase.
Plasmids were developed for recombinant expression of CRM197 in C. diphtheriae (U.S. Pat. No. 5,614,382, 1995/5614382_1997). This makes it possible to increase the number of copies of the gene (up to 5-10 per cell) without having to select pluri-lysogenic bacterial strains.
As in the case of the Corynebacterium strains infected by the phage β197tox, CRM197 is expressed in special culture media with a low ferrous content. Despite a reduction in the amount of time required for the genetic handling of the bacterial strain, the output of CRM197 does not increase dramatically by comparison with the use of double lysogenes.
Alternative expression host cells for DT included a Salmonella typhi vaccine strain cvd 908-htra (Orr N, Galen J E, Levine M M: Expression and immunogenicity of a mutant diphtheria toxin molecule, CRM197, and its fragments in S. typhi vaccine strain CVD 908-htrA. Infect Immun 1999, 67(8):4290-4294). Salmonella is a Gram negative bacterium and similar expression host as E. coli. Expression levels from various constructs (with, without signal peptide) in cvd 908-htra were low and solubility and immunogenicity were poor. Utilizing the alternative, non-Sec dependent translocation system of the hemolysin operon improved expression of soluble DT, but levels were still low.
Reports for production of CRM197 in E. coli show low yields of soluble CRM197 and formation of insoluble product in inclusion bodies. Truncation approaches have been used in an attempt to enhance expression to higher levels. (Bishai W R, Miyanohara A, Murphy J R: Cloning and expression in E. coli of three fragments of diphtheria toxin truncated within fragment B. Journal of Bacteriology 1987, 169(4):1554-1563)
A single strand expression plasmid for CRM197 containing the mutated diphtheria toxin gene encoding CRM197 was used for expression in E. coli (Bishai W R, Rappuoli R, Murphy J R: High-level expression of a proteolytically sensitive diphtheria toxin fragment in Escherichia coli. Journal of Bacteriology 1987, 169(11):5140-5151; Bishai 1987). In this publication, transcription of CRM197 was controlled by the endogenous and constitutive Ptox promotor. In addition, DT C-terminally fused to the alpha melanocyte stimulating hormone ("ABM508") was expressed by the heat inducible PLambda promoter or the Ptac promoter for expression.
Bishai 1987 speculated that jamming of the secretion apparatus due to high level protein induction caused a growth stop after induction of expression of periplasmic DT/CRM197 variants. This can be a general problem in periplasmic protein expression that has been observed and resulted in low volumetric yields of protein previously (Benson S A, Hall M N, Silhavy T J: Genetic analysis of protein export in E. coli K12. Annual Review of Biochemistry 1985, 54:101-134). Jamming of the secretion apparatus and formation of insoluble protein suggested an inability of the E. coli cells to provide a productive translocation and folding environment for CRM197 biogenesis.
As a consequence, Bishai 1987 reasoned that cytoplasmic expression would avoid the translocon jamming. Thus, Bishai 1987 removed the signal peptide for directing the expression into the cytoplasm. Only at low temperatures and when cytoplasmic proteases were deleted, did the cytoplasmic expression constructs yield soluble product. Production was inefficient and lead to aggregates at elevated temperatures, and when proteases were present.
Bishai 1987 failed to show production of high levels of soluble protein CRM197 fusion protein, i.e., with signal peptide for periplasmic targeting. In a Coomassie stained SDS polyacrylamide gel, extracts containing the ABM508 expression construct showed an intense protein band corresponding to ABM508, whereas cells expressing CRM197 expressed from the natural promoter with the wild type signal peptide do not show an obvious band for CRM197 at the expected size of 58 kDa.
Thus, periplasmic expression was not considered an efficient production strategy and to date there is no efficient E. coli periplasmic expression system established for production of soluble and correctly folded CRM197 or DT.
A production system which is based on the cytoplasmic expression of insoluble CRM197 in inclusion bodies followed by solubilization, purification and refolding of the protein is provided by the first E. coli based expression system for CRM197 (WO2010 150230). Wild-type CRM197 without additional amino acids can only be obtained with this system when an additional proteolysis step is applied.
Signal peptides induce protein secretion to the periplasm and have various effects on protein biogenesis. (Powers T, Walter P: Co-translational protein targeting catalyzed by the E. coli signal recognition particle and its receptor. The EMBO Journal 1997, 16(16):4880-4886.) (Schierle C F, Berkmen M, Huber D, Kumamoto C, Boyd D, Beckwith J: The DsbA signal sequence directs efficient, cotranslational export of passenger proteins to the E. coli periplasm via the signal recognition particle pathway. Journal of Bacteriology 2003, 185(19):5706-5713).

Methods and compositions relating to CRM197


A multi-regional message delivery system (100) delivers messages from a central hub (108) to a number of message transmission regions (102,104,106) for transmission of the messages therein. The central hub 108) receives messages, encodes the messages, and transmits the encoded messages in a number of message data pipes (304) in a message delivery signal (302). A satellite (122) receives the transmitted message delivery signal (302) and then transmits the message delivery signal (302) to a number of regional stations (130,132,134) located in the message transmission regions. The regional stations receive the transmitted message delivery signal (302), select at least one of the data pipes (304) in the message delivery signal (302), and transmit the encoded messages within the message transmission regions.

There is a strong trend in the marketplace for delivering messages in a one-way communication system, such as a paging system, over wide geographic areas. Subscribers of such a service typically desire to roam over distant geographic areas, such as different cities that are possibly in different states of the country, and be able to receive messages from originating parties or callers while the subscribers are roaming from point-to-point. Normally, the subscriber carries on their person a portable selective call receiver for receiving the messages transmitted by the communication system over the wide geographic coverage areas. The selective call receiver typically includes a receiver that is tuned to receive communication over a paging communication channel. It is therefore very desirable to maintain a single paging communication channel for delivering these messages to the roaming subscribers over the wide geographic coverage areas.
Regrettably, although it is very desirable to maintain the operation of the roaming selective call receiver at a single paging communication channel, current paging communication technology typically supports 1200 baud data delivery rate which under normal use can support only approximately 1,000 to 2,000 users in a communication system employing a single paging channel. The required cost of infrastructure to support a messaging communication system over one or more wide geographic coverage areas, such as in a nationwide paging system, are prohibitive for supporting such a small number of subscribers. Therefore, there's a strong need in the marketplace for providing message delivery over a paging communication channel over a wide geographic coverage area, such as a nationwide paging system, while servicing large numbers of subscribers to make the communication system economically viable.

Nationwide satellite message delivery system


The engine compartment structure has an engine compartment and an engine unit. The engine compartment has side members, a rear cross member, and a steering rack mounted on the rear cross member. The engine unit has an engine, a transfer case, and a transaxle. The transfer case has an output shaft. The center of the output shaft is positioned lower than the center of an axle of transaxle. The steering rack is positioned lower than the output shaft. With this engine compartment structure, the height of a floor tunnel which houses a propeller shaft can be lowered. Also, the cross sectional height of the side members can be increased.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to an engine compartment structure. More specifically, the present invention relates to an engine compartment structure for a four-wheel drive vehicle.
2. Background Information
In the following descriptions, references to directions and orientations will be made with respect to the driving direction of a vehicle. Therefore, for instance, a xe2x80x9ctransverse directionxe2x80x9d means the direction of the width of the vehicle. Also, xe2x80x9cleft sidexe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cright sidexe2x80x9d mean the left side and right side from the point of view of the driver.
In a conventional four-wheel drive (4WD) in which an engine unit is transversely mounted in the engine compartment, a front axle extends from a transaxle, and an output shaft protrudes rearward from a transfer case. The transaxle is an integrated unit that includes a transmission and an axle (drive shaft). The transfer case serves as an auxiliary transmission that is combined with the transaxle. Power is transferred from the output shaft to a rear axle via a propeller shaft. Japanese Laid-Open Utility Model Publication No. 3-126773 discloses an example of a similar arrangement.
The output shaft that extends rearward from the transfer case is positioned at the same height as the front axle. Therefore, the output shaft is located at a higher position than a surface of a floor panel. Consequently, the output shaft and the propeller shaft connected thereto are housed in a floor tunnel part, which is a convex portion of the floor panel protruding upward from the surface of the floor panel.
Side members that extend in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle are disposed on both left and right sides of the engine room. A rear portion of each of these side members is bent downward from an intermediate point so as to follow the contour of the bottom of a dash panel. A rear cross member is provided in a transverse orientation between the downwardly bent portions of the side members. A steering rack is mounted on the rear cross member. The steering rack thus mounted to the upper surface of the rear cross member is positioned under the output shaft.
In view of the above, there exists a need for an engine compartment structure for an improved four-wheel drive vehicle. This invention addresses this need in the prior art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.
It has been found in this conventional arrangement, discussed above, that the position of the output shaft is relatively high. Consequently, the position of the floor tunnel, which houses the output shaft and the propeller shaft connected to the output shaft, also has to be high. As a result, the floor tunnel intrudes into the vehicle interior space, making the vehicle interior space smaller than it would be if the floor tunnel were not so high.
Also, it has also been found that since the position of the output shaft is high, the position of the steering rack that passes under the output shaft is also inevitably high. Consequently, the vertical space between the steering rack and the dash panel is small. As a result, the cross sectional height of the side members that pass through the space between the steering rack and the dash panel is small. Therefore, the only way to improve the front collision performance of the side members where the cross sectional height of the side members is small, is to increase the thickness of the material from which the side members are made. However, this tends to make press forming of the side members more difficult.
An object of the present invention is to provide a four-wheel drive vehicle the engine compartment structure in which the floor tunnel part is lowered and the cross sectional height of the side members is increased.
The aforementioned object can be attained by providing an engine compartment structure for a four-wheel drive vehicle, comprising a pair of longitudinal extending side members, a rear cross member, a steering rack and a four-wheel drive engine unit. The side members are disposed on left and right sides of the vehicle. Each of the side members has a rear portion. The rear cross member is disposed between rear portions of the side members and extends in a transverse direction of the vehicle. The steering rack is mounted on the rear cross member. The four-wheel drive engine unit includes an engine, a transfer case and a transaxle arranged to rotate a front axle. The transfer case has a rearward output shaft that transmits a driving torque for rotating a rear axle. The four-wheel drive engine unit is transversely disposed in the engine compartment structure. The output shaft has a center axis of rotation positioned lower than a center axis of rotation of the front axle of the transaxle. The steering rack is positioned lower than the output shaft.
These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses preferred embodiments of the present invention.

Engine compartment structure for four-wheel drive vehicle