A method for the separation of a target molecule from a mixture is described. The method employs oil bodies and their associated proteins as affinity matrices for the selective, non-covalent binding of desired target molecules. The oil body proteins may be genetically fused to a ligand having specificity for the desired target molecule. Native oil body proteins can also be used in conjunction with an oil body protein specific ligand such as an antibody or an oil body binding protein. The method allows the separation and recovery of the desired target molecules due to the difference in densities between oil bodies and aqueous solutions.

Within the general field of biotechnology, the ability to effectively separate and purify proteins of commercial value from complex sources such as living cells, blood serum, or fermentation broth is of critical importance. Applications in industry and research laboratories where purified or partly purified proteins are used are numerous and well documented in prior literature. See, for example, D. R. Meadon and G. Walsh in Biotechnological Advances 1994, 12: pp. 635-646.
The majority of currently employed protein purification techniques exploit the innate physical and chemical properties between proteins. One method of purifying proteins are the affinity-based purification techniques, which are unique in that, rather than relying on relatively nonspecific differences in physicochemical properties of proteins, they capitalize on the highly specific biological recognition between two molecular species which form an affinity pair. Binding of the two entities of the affinity pair occurs in almost all instances as a result of relatively weak chemical interactions, known as non-covalent bonds. Some recognized and commonly used affinity pairs include antibodies and their binding antigenic substances, nucleic acid binding proteins and nucleic acids, lipid binding proteins and lipids, lectins and carbohydrates, streptavidin/biotin complexes, protein A/immunoglobulin G complexes, and receptors and their binding substances.
In general, affinity based purification processes require that one member of the affinity pair is immobilized on a solid substrate or matrix that is insoluble in the fluid in which the other member of the pair resides. It is a further requirement that immobilization is accomplished in such a fashion that the capacity of the members of the affinity pair to recognize each other is not adversely affected by the immobilization procedure. The molecular species of the affinity pair bound to the matrix is generally referred to as the ligand, while the liquid soluble member is generally referred to as the target member. It is important to note that these definitions do not impose any restrictions in a strict chemical sense.
The vast majority of current immobilization techniques rely on physical or chemical approaches. Physical ligand immobilization involves adsorption or entrapment of the ligand to a suitable support, while the chemical mode of immobilization is characterized by the formation of strong crosslinks or covalent attachments between the ligand and the matrix.
It is a disadvantage of the currently available physical and chemical techniques for immobilizing ligands that production processes are frequently time consuming and expensive. This is mainly due to the fact that immobilization techniques require the separate production of matrix material and ligands, which in a subsequent step must be coupled. An alternative mode of immobilizing proteins is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,474,925 which documents a biological production system for the immobilization of enzymes in the fibre of cotton plants. This patent discloses what is believed to be the first biologically produced enzyme immobilization system and allows a one step production of matrix and ligand.
Subsequent to immobilization of the ligand on the matrix, a variety of affinity based purification techniques may be employed to accomplish selective binding between the ligand and the target member. In the most widely used affinity based purification technique, affinity chromatography, a matrix containing a ligand is coated to, or packed on, the inside of a chromatographic column. A complex mixture containing the target member is then applied to the chromatographic column. Ideally, only the target molecules that specifically recognize the ligand bind in a non-covalent fashion to the chromatographic column, while all other molecular species present in the sample pass through the column. Other affinity-based purification technologies known to the prior art include, perfusion affinity chromatography, affinity repulsion chromatography, hyperdiffusion affinity chromatography, affinity precipitation, membrane affinity partitioning, affinity cross-flow ultrafiltration and affinity precipitation.
In affinity partitioning two solutions of substantially different densities are employed. The complex solution containing the target member is mixed with a solution of a different density containing the affinity ligand. Subsequent to mixing, the solutions are left to settle in order to permit the formation of two separate phases. Molecules tend to partition differentially between phases depending on their size, charge and specific interactions with the phase-forming solutions. Ligand-bound target protein selectively partitions to the phase containing the affinity ligand. For example, Coughlin and Baclaski in Biotechnology Progress, 1990 6: 307-309 reported the use of the biotin containing organic solution isooctane to transfer avidin from an aqueous solution to the isooctane solution. However, so far applications of affinity partitioning have been limited mainly due to the current lack of availability of suitable affinity matrix substances which can be employed in specific partitioning in two phase systems.
An important factor for the commercial development of biotechnology is the purification of bioproducts, which typically accounts for 50% or more of the total costs. Many purification steps rely on column or batch type separation procedures. In particular large scale high-separation techniques such as column chromatography affinity based purification techniques are costly. In addition, crude material is less suitable for either batch purification or column chromatography, as contaminants may foul up sedimented resins and plug columns. Thus, affinity matrices are often only employed in a later stage of purification processes where substantial purity is critical, where the proteins are present in extremely dilute concentrations, and/or where high value proteins are required, for example in diagnostic and therapeutic proteins. These and other topics related to the use of affinity technology in biotechnological processes have been reviewed by Labrou, N. and Clonis, Y. D. in the Journal of Biotechnology 36: 95-119 (1994).
There is a need in the art to develop a method for purifying biological products from complex mixtures. The present inventors have found that oil bodies and their associated proteins are useful in this regard.
Oil bodies are subcellular oil storage structures. Typically oil bodies accumulate in the seeds of higher plants and are enveloped by a phospholipid monolayer into which are embedded a limited amount of proteins referred to as oil body proteins. Oleosins are the predominant species of plant oil body protein present in the oil body phospholipid monolayer. Structurally oleosins are characterized in that they contain a highly lipophilic central portion which serves to anchor the protein in the phospholipid monolayer and more hydrophillic N- and C- termini which reside in the cytoplasm.
PCT application Publication No. WO 96/21029 describes the use of oil bodies for the preparation of recombinant proteins in plants. In this technology, the gene encoding the foreign protein is genetically fused to a plant oleosin gene, resulting in a fused protein product. Following biosynthesis the fusion protein is targeted to the oil body fraction of plant seeds. Floatation centrifugation is used to separate oil bodies from the aqueous portion of the seeds.
The present inventors have found that both oleosins fused to recombinant proteins as well as native oleosins are useful as affinity matrices.

Oil bodies and associated proteins as affinity matrices


An airbag device includes an airbag and an inflator disposed at a side of a base portion of the airbag for inflating the airbag. The airbag includes a left half airbag with a vent hole to be inflated at a front left of a vehicle occupant, and a right half airbag with a vent hole to be inflated at a front right of the vehicle occupant. The distal ends of the left half airbag and the right half airbag are spaced part from each other to form an empty space therebetween facing the vehicle occupant when the airbag is inflated.

The present invention relates to an airbag for protecting a vehicle occupant in the event of vehicle collision, and specifically relates to an airbag having a left half airbag to be inflated at a front left of the occupant, and a right half airbag to be inflated at a front right of the occupant. The present invention also relates to an airbag device provided with the airbag and a vehicle provided with the airbag device.
Japanese Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 04-292239 has disclosed an airbag for protecting a vehicle occupant in the event of vehicle collision. The airbag has a left half airbag to be inflated at a front left of the occupant, and a right half airbag to be inflated at the front right of the occupant. A common inflator inflates both the left half and right half airbags. In the airbag, a distal end of the left half airbag is connected to a distal end of the right half airbag with a tie panel.
The airbag is folded in a case and covered with a cover. In the event of vehicle collision, an inflator, i.e. a gas generator, injects gas to inflate the airbag rapidly in front of the occupant by pushing and opening the cover.
The inflator is disposed at an inside or outside of a base portion of the airbag. In an airbag device having an inflator disposed at an outside of the base portion of the airbag, the gas from the inflator is supplied into the airbag through a gas inlet disposed at the base portion side of the airbag. In an airbag device having an inflator disposed at an inside of the base portion side of the airbag, the inflator is entirely or partially disposed in the airbag. An example of the latter case includes a configuration in which a pair of slit openings is formed in the airbag, and a rod inflator passes through the slit openings, so that both ends of the inflator expose at the outside of the airbag.
As airbags for protecting vehicle occupants, there are a curtain airbag to be expanded along a side portion of a vehicle cabin (side door or B pillar), a knee airbag to be expanded in front of a leg of an occupant, a side airbag to be expanded toward a side of an occupant, and a seat cushion airbag to be expanded at a lower front side of a seat cushion to left or harden a front portion of the seat cushion. The seat cushion bag lifts or hardens the front portion of the seat cushion to prevent so-called submarine phenomena in which an occupant slides down under a seat belt in case of vehicle collision. Japanese Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 2001-247010 has disclosed such a seat cushion airbag.
In the airbag disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 04-292239, the distal ends of the left half and right half airbags are connected with the tie panel. Therefore, when the airbag is inflated, the tie panel receives a center part of the vehicle occupant's body in the lateral direction. When the left half and right half airbags are inflated, a larger amount of the gas may flow in one of the half airbags from the inflator, and then the other of the half airbags is inflated later than the one of the half airbags.
As described above, the distal ends of the left and right half airbags are connected with the tie panel. Accordingly, it is expected that when one of the half airbags is inflated faster than the other, the one of the half airbags may facilitate the other of the half airbags to be inflated by pulling the other of the half airbags through the tie panel. As described above, however, the tie panel connects the distal ends of the left and right half airbags. Therefore, the one of the half airbags does not sufficiently pull the other of the half airbags through the tie panel until the one of the half airbags is inflated up to the distal end.
In view of the problem described above, an object of the present invention is to provide an airbag wherein a left half airbag and a right half airbag are inflated smoothly and substantially uniformly toward left and right sides from an early stage of the inflation.
Another object of the invention is to provide an airbag having a vent hole at an appropriate position.
A further object of the invention is to provide an airbag device provided with such an airbag and a vehicle provided with the airbag device.
Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the invention.


An elastic virus-repellant, body-shield formed from a virus-repellant fabric for isolating people from surfaces of public seating. The body-shield is deployed through fitting and securing the shield to a public seat through the elastic nature of the shield and anchoring drawstrings until retrieved and packed into an attached carrying pouch. Certain embodiments include analogous supplementary shields for armrests, fold-down tables, leg-supplements, headrests, and other surfaces from which users need to be shielded.

Situations in which public health is a primary concern, the public is encouraged to take cautionary measures to prevent the spread of infection. These measures usually take the form of wearing protective surgical masks, maintaining social distancing between people of at least two meters, and avoiding large gatherings. Avoiding large gatherings of people is particularly difficult for businesses that serve large groups of people and is also difficult for the public in need of their services. Therefore, there is a need to mitigate the risk of infection in public settings.


An apparatus for converting a signal from a first analog format to a second analog format. The apparatus has an input port, a first converter, filters, first mixers, second converters, and an output port. The input port is configured to receive the signal. The signal has the first analog format. In an embodiment, the first analog format complies with the SCTE 40 2003 technical standard. In an embodiment, the second analog format is a conventional analog format. The first converter is coupled to the port and is configured to convert the signal to a first digital format. The filters are coupled to the first converter and configured to isolate a first channel of the signal from a second channel of the signal. The first mixers are coupled to the filters and configured to expand the first channel and the second channel to a second digital format. The second converters are coupled to the first mixers and configured to convert the first channel and the second channel to the second analog format. The output port is coupled to the second converters and configured to produce the signal having the second analog format.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to television systems.
2. Background Art
Improvements in television (TV) technologies over the past half century have facilitated the development of different systems for providing TV signals.
In addition to broadcast TV systems, such systems include community antenna TV (CATV) systems (i.e., cable TV) and direct-to-home (DTH) TV systems (i.e., satellite TV). Providers of broadcast and DTH TV signals must contend with the locations and the widths of the bands of frequencies in the electromagnetic spectrum that have been allocated to them by the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Providers of CATV signals, which typically are conveyed via transmission lines, such as coaxial cables, can be limited by the lowpass filter characteristics of the transmission lines. For these reasons, the different systems generally operate over different bands of frequencies.
Advancements in TV technologies have also facilitated the development of additional services that can be rendered via TV systems. Such services include, but are not limited to, more channels for TV programs, video on demand, and Internet communications. However, the ability to provide simultaneously several of these services to a user can be constrained by the widths of the bands of frequencies that are available for (e.g., assigned by the FCC) or capable of (e.g., the lowpass filter characteristics of transmission lines) providing TV signals. Because of these frequency constraints, expanding the number of services that TV systems can simultaneously provide depends upon an ability to increase the amount of data that can be transmitted within the given bands of frequencies. Thus, there is a need to increase the amount of data that can be transmitted within the given bands of frequencies.

Apparatus and method for converting a signal from a first analog format to a second analog format


A gas sensor for being placed into a gas stream such that the gas sensor is insensitive to any specific rotational orientation about a longitudinal axis of the sensor within the gas stream. The sensor includes 1) a base having an axis that is perpendicular to the gas stream, 2) a sensor element on the base, 3) a catalyzed sensor element on the base proximate the sensor element, for creating an exothermic reaction upon contacting the gas stream thereby forming a heated gas stream portion, and 4) the catalyzed sensor element and the sensor element are positioned on the base with a sufficient axial separation therebetween so that as the base rotates about the axis, the heated gas stream portion will not contact the sensor element. In particular, the base has a second axis being perpendicular to the axis and separating the sensor element from the catalyzed sensor element. Additionally, the invention provides a device that may have both the sensor element and the catalyzed sensor element including a longitudinal axis. Wherein, both the sensor element and the catalyzed sensor element may have many different shapes. Both the sensor element and the catalyzed sensor element may have two or three sides that are coextensive with at least one void. As a result of having a void the base may include a bridge that connects at least one side of the sensor element and the catalyzed sensor element to the base.

CO-PENDING PATENT APPLICATIONS
This application is related to the following:
1) copending U.S. application Ser. No. 08/872,817, entitled, A GAS SENSOR WITH MULTIPLE EXPOSED ACTIVE ELEMENTS, attorney docket no. CTS-1508, filed Jun. 11, 1997, PA1 2) copending U.S. application Ser. No. 08/872,987, entitled A GAS SENSOR WITH MULTI-LEVEL INSENSITIVITY CIRCUITRY, attorney docket no. CTS-1518, filed Jun. 11, 1997, and PA1 3) copending U.S. application Ser. No. 60/017,112, entitled, FUEL SYSTEM LOW CURRENT RHEOSTAT, attorney docket no. CTS-1491, filed May 9, 1996.
The aforementioned are assigned to the assignee named in the present application and are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a gas sensor, and specifically to a sensor that can rotate about an axis without having a reference sensor element exposed to excess heat generated by a proximate catalyzed sensor element.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various devices are well known for combustible gas detectors used to detect the presence of combustible gases such as those found in car engines. Typical circuits are configured to include at least one sensing element that may be a wire having a catalytic coating. The sensing element was used as one of four legs of a wheatstone bridge circuit. The other three legs consisted of two resistors and a compensator element. The compensator element was identical to the sensing element except that it did not bear a catalytic coating.
A current or voltage was applied to the bridge circuit to heat the surface of the catalytic coating affixed to the sensing element. Since the resistance values of the other three legs of the bridge were known, the resistance in the sensing element could be determined as the current or voltage was passed through the bridge.
When the sensing element was exposed to a combustible gas, such as hydrocarbon, the catalytic coating would begin to burn, increasing the temperature of the sensing element. As the temperature of the sensing element increased, the resistance of the element increased. Accordingly, the current passing through the element decreased. By comparing the resistance level of the sensing element to the resistance level of the compensator element, the presence of a combustible gas could detected. Since the amount of gas present caused a nearly linear increase or decrease in the resistance of the sensing element, the quantity of the gas could be accurately determined by calibrating the change in resistance. This is the basic principal of operation of a catalytic combustible gas sensor. It is noted that often the sensing element must be at a predetermined elevated temperature to properly cause the catalyst reaction with the designated gas.
3. Related Art
Examples of patents related to the present invention are as follows, and each patent is herein incorporated by reference for the supporting teachings:
U.S. patent statutory registration no. H454, is a chemical agent leak detector and a method of using the same.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,400,643, is a gas sensor based on semiconductor oxide, for gaseous hydrocarbon determination.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,443, is an atmosphere sensor and method for manufacturing the sensor.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,365,216, is a catalyst monitoring device using EGO sensors.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,363,091, is a catalyst monitoring device using EGO sensors.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,211,053, is a hot gas sensor device with improved thermal isolation from carrier plate.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,012,671, is a gas detecting device.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,991,424, is an integrated circuit heatable sensor.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,984,446, is a gas detecting device and gas detecting system using the same.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,928,513, is a sensor.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,839,767, is an element and device for detecting internal faults in an insulating gas charged electrical apparatus.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,800, is an exhaust gas sensor.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,674,319, is an integrated circuit sensor.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,377,944, is an integrated gas sensitive unit comprising a gas sensitive semiconductor element and a resistor for gas concentration measurement.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,901,067, is a semiconductor gas detector.
The foregoing patents reflect the state of the art of which the applicant is aware and are tendered with the view toward discharging applicants' acknowledged duty of candor in disclosing information that may be pertinent in the examination of this application. It is respectfully stipulated, however, that none of these patents teach or render obvious, singly or when considered in combination, applicant's claimed invention.
4. A Related Problem
Referring to FIG. 1, there is a previous design from the present inventors that illustrates one problem to be overcome by the additionally now disclosed preferred embodiments. Specifically, there is a sensor 10 having a base 12 with signal conditioning circuitry 14 that receives signals via traces 24 and 26 from sensing element structures 17 and 19, which are located on either side of longitudinal axis 11. Uniquely, the sensing element structures 17 and 19 are made up of sensing elements 20 and 21 that are located on parallel bridges 22 and thermally isolated by voids 18. In operation, one skilled in the art will realize that all of the electrical signals will be skewed if the heated air flow 27 first interacts with the catalyzed sensing element and then contacts the reference sensor. The air contacting the reference sensor will have been heated by the catalytic reaction, thus skewing any resulting signals. To avoid this problem, great care must be given to ensure that the air 27 does not contact the sensor elements in this fashion. In particular, the sensor would have to be placed so the air either hits both sensors simultaneously or hits the reference sensor first. In either case it is very difficult to make sure that the sensor is so arranged when placing it in an exhaust gas air stream. However, the present invention has overcome the need for careful placement of the sensor 10 in air stream 27 and thus eliminating the potential signal skewing problem.
This and other problems will be solved by the preferred embodiments of the invention. A review of the specification, drawings, and claims will more clearly teach a skilled artisan of other problems that are solved by the preferred embodiments.

Gas sensor with orientation insensitivity


A valve and method are provided wherein the valve has a membrane which is molded and cured in a naturally cupped or concave shape, but wherein the membrane is elastically inverted or deflected inside-out so that the direction of concavity is reversed. The membrane is positioned concentrically within a cylindrical or tubular dispensing spout so that the inverted membrane is cupped toward an exit direction of the spout. By inverting the membrane, a reliable radially-outward sealing bias is formed between a peripheral edge of the membrane against an interior of the tubular spout. When mounted on the bottom of a squeeze container, the valve is effective to dispense fluid from the container when squeezed, permit air to breathe back into the container after squeezing, and to sealably prevent leakage from the container.

Various closures are available for squeeze-bottle dispensing containers. Squeeze bottles are often used for packaging soap, shampoo, hair conditioner, and other shower and bath related products. In order to improve dispensability, convenience and marketing appeal, "inverted" squeeze containers have been introduced with bottom-mounted dispensing valves. Such a container configuration has been most commonly utilized in shower and bath products.
A valve for use in inverted containers is desirably pressure-actuatable to dispense a fluid product upon squeezing of the container. After dispensing, the valve permits a "suckback," breathing in air so that the container returns to its unsqueezed interior volume. After breathing, the valve desirably self-seals to prevent leakage from the container until squeezed again. Conventional self-sealing dispensing valves designed for this application have displayed poor or inconsistent performance. One problem, for example, is that some such valves may leak the product.
A common dispensing valve style includes a flexible slitted diaphragm provided at an opening of the container. When the bottle is squeezed, the diaphragm flexes outwardly, thereby dilating the slit to permit the fluid to discharge. Such slitted-diaphragm valves are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,646,945, 4,728,006, 4,991,745, 5,033,655, and 5,071,017. Other types of self-sealing dispensing valves are also known, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,768,705, 5,125,539.
Therefore, a need exists for an improved self-sealing pressure-actuated dispensing valve which overcomes the deficiencies of known valves and which exhibits good performance. More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide a valve for an inverted container which dispenses fluid, and then seals to effectively prevent any further passage of fluid due to gravity.
Additionally, it is desirable to manufacture such a valve in a manner that is economical and which ensures reliable performance. Thus, a simple valve design is needed, as well as an improved method for manufacturing such a valve. A method of molding a conventional integral valve is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,375,825.

Method for making a non-drip valve for an inverted container


A device is provided for screening incoming telephone calls. A list of authorized callers' telephone numbers is maintained in the device. Incoming telephone calls are detected and caller identification information (i.e., the originating telephone number of the call) is extracted. The caller identification information is compared with the authorized caller list. If the caller identification information for the incoming call is in the list, the telephone is allowed to ring normally. If the caller identification information for the incoming call is not in the list the telephone is prevented from ringing normally. The telephone can be prevented from ringing normally by answering the unauthorized call, by generating a distinctive ring for the call, or by redirecting the call to a separate telephone or to an answering machine.

Unwanted telephone calls to the home or to one's place of business can be intrusive. As a result, many telephone customers use unlisted numbers to avoid having their telephone numbers too widely available to telemarketers and other parties who might disturb the customer with an unwanted call. Nevertheless, if the customer divulges their unlisted telephone number, there is always the possibility that unwanted callers will obtain the number and will therefore be able to call the customer.
Caller identification (ID) is a presently available service that many customers use to screen telephone calls. Telephone calls today are generally accompanied by caller identification information that identifies the telephone number of the calling party. The caller identification information is passed through the telephone network with the telephone call. The recipient of the telephone call can use caller identification equipment to extract the caller identification information (i.e., the calling party's telephone number) and display this information before the call is answered. If the called party does not wish to answer a telephone call placed from a particular telephone number, the called party can simply refrain from answering the call. If, however, the called party recognizes a caller identification number as belonging to a friend or family member, the called party is free to answer the telephone.
The caller identification service is satisfactory in many respects. However, the called party must remember the telephone number of each party from whom the called party wishes to receive a telephone call. If many telephone numbers are involved, it may be burdensome to remember all of the numbers. In addition, a separate piece of caller identification equipment must be provided for each telephone, which may be an undesirable requirement in homes with more than one or two telephones.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved arrangement for screening incoming telephone calls.


The invention provides a monoclonal antibody, a fragment thereof, or a molecular complex thereof that binds to an extracellular domain of an EphA2 receptor molecule, wherein binding of the monoclonal antibody or fragment thereof to the EphA2 receptor molecule present in the membrane of a cancer cell favorably alters activity of the EphA2 receptor molecule. The invention further relates to methods of making and using the monoclonal antibodies, fragments, and molecular complexes regarding the same. The monoclonal antibodies of the present invention target the extracellular domain of EphA2 and operate to redirect the function of EphA2 to selectively block the growth and invasiveness of metastatic cells. The invention thus makes possible therapeutic strategies that optimally target metastatic cells while preventing collateral damage to normal tissues.

Metastasis is the leading cause of cancer death. Once cancer has spread to and beyond regional lymph nodes, complete eradication of the tumor by surgical intervention is nearly impossible (S. A. Rosenberg, Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology, V. T. Devita, S. Hellman and S. A. Rosenberg, Eds. (Lippincott-Raven, Philadelphia, 1997), p. 295). Instead, the whole body must be treated with radiation or chemotherapy, which are notoriously toxic to normal cells and tissues (V. T. Devita, Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology, V. T. Devita, S. Hellman and S. A. Rosenberg, Eds. (Lippincott-Raven, Philadelphia, 1997), p. 333). These facts underscore the need to identify the fundamental causes of metastasis and to translate this information into more effective and less toxic therapies. In spite of recent advances in studies of the basic mechanisms of metastasis, relatively little of this progress has translated into therapeutic approaches that minimize damage to normal tissues.

EphA2 monoclonal antibodies and methods of making and using same


A method for determining dental alignment of a 3-dimensional model of one or more teeth of a patient comprises the steps of: (a) obtaining a radiograph of the teeth of the patient; (b) obtaining a digital image from the radiograph indicative of the dental alignment of the teeth relative to a dental arch of the patient; (c) overlaying the 3-dimensional model of the teeth with the digital image obtained from the radiograph; (d) determining vertical and horizontal mis-alignment of the teeth in the 3-dimensional model relative to the digital image obtained from the radiograph; and (e) adjusting the 3-dimensional model to correct for the mis-alignment, thereby producing an adjusted 3-dimensional model of the teeth that is corrected for the vertical and horizontal alignment of the teeth relative to the dental arch.

The creation of a dental prosthesis requires very precise fit and alignment to the prepared tooth, as well as to the adjacent and opposing teeth. In this discussion, a prosthesis may be a crown for a single tooth or a bridge to replace a number of teeth. In general, the dentist is concerned with achieving the proper fit for: the prosthesis and the prepared tooth, the spacing between the adjacent teeth, the biting surfaces of the opposing teeth, and the vertical and horizontal alignment of the teeth as part of the dental arch.
The dominant method currently used to achieve the required alignment is a dental impression, which provides a geometrically precise, 3-dimensional model of the area. While successful, this method requires multiple office visits in order to be used. These visits prolong the process, increase cost, and take up chair time that could be used for other patients. Some concepts have been developed, primarily for use on an individual tooth, wherein only a single office visit is necessary. For example, in Sirona's CEREC system (Sirona Dental Systems GMBH, Bensheim, Germany), an optical scanning procedure is used to replace the conventional impression. In this system, an optical impression is imaged using structured light, and computer-based methods are used to determine the size and shape of the desired prosthesis. Computer-based methods are also used to create the prosthesis.
There are other methods that do not make use of a dental impression. Instead of a physical impression, these methods use direct images or scans of the patient's teeth. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,604,817, entitled "Tooth Measurement without Calibration Bodies" and issued to Massen et al. on 18 Feb. 1997, describes a method for the optical three dimensional measurement of a tooth without the use of calibration bodies arranged around the tooth. An optical projection system projects a pattern onto a tooth, and an optical imaging system images the pattern projected thereon, from a first position in space and subsequently from a second position in space, with the images from the two positions in space having a common imaged area of the tooth. The image patterns are evaluated to calculate three dimensional coordinate data of the tooth surface relative to the respective imaging position for each image and also for the two images combined, to produce a single three dimensional tooth surface data record. U.S. Pat. No. 5,372,502, entitled "Optical Probe and Method for the Three-Dimensional Surveying of Teeth" and issued to Massen et al on 13 Dec. 1994, describes an optical oral or mouth probe which is utilized for the three-dimensional measurement or surveying of teeth. The probe projects a particular pattern onto the teeth, which is distorted by the teeth. The measuring probe captures the distorted pattern and transmits it to a computer, which recreates the topography of the teeth.
In commonly-assigned, copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/894,627, entitled "Method and System for Creating Dental Models from Imagery" and filed in the names of J. T. Boland, J. P. Spoonhower and J. R. Squilla, a dental model is created from a series of images of an intra-oral object, where the object includes common surface features and a control target arranged with respect to the object to provide control features. The common features, and the control features from the control target imaged with the images of the object, are measured for a series of images. Then a 3-dimensional model of the object is analytically generated by photogrammetrically aligning the measurements of the control features. The model is then adjusted by aligning the common features of the model to like features on the image of the intra-oral object, thereby producing an aligned dental model from the series of images.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,068,482, entitled "Method for Creation and Utilization of Individualized 3-Dimensional Teeth Models" and issued to Michael Desmond Snow on 30 May 2000, a standard 3D model of a standard patient's teeth is individualized for a specific patient. A combination of the standard 3D model and either a scanned 2D x-ray image or a scanned 2D image of a plaster cast impression taken of the patient's teeth is projected by a computer system, where the x-ray image or the plaster cast image is projected as a background for the standard 3D model. The standard 3D model is then rotated, translated and scaled by the user so as to match the orientation of the background image. The resultant optimized 3D individualized model is then saved and used as a patient record for treatment planning and record keeping. In one described usage in an orthodontics practice to demonstrate the effect of braces, the differences between the standard model and the individualized model are mapped, and the computer system "animates" the differences to illustrate the movement of the teeth during treatment from the individualized model to the idealized standard model.
In using the direct imaging method of the prior art on multiple teeth, especially if dental impressions are not used, then the precise curvature data (of the teeth as part of the dental arch) is needed from another source. The present invention makes use of dental radiographs to geometrically describe the vertical alignment of a patient's teeth, which provides the needed information. By projecting the x-ray, a fitted curve, or the outline of the teeth onto a computer representation of the prosthesis (prior to fabrication), the vertical alignment of the arch (as indicated by the size, position and orientation of the teeth) can be confirmed and/or adjusted.

Method for determining dental alignment using radiographs


Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for managing transport of a commodity from a point of origin to a destination are disclosed. The system receives rating information from one or more logistics service providers and parameters associated with a requested transport of the commodity from a shipper. A quote for the transport of the commodity is dynamically generated based on the rating information and the one or more parameters included in the request, and transmitted to the shipper. The system then receives an authorization to transport the commodity in accordance with the quote from the shipper, and generates one or more smart contracts for the transport of the commodity in response to receiving the authorization. The system monitors the transport of the commodity, and determines whether terms of a smart contract have been satisfied. When a term has been satisfied, operations corresponding to the satisfied terms are performed automatically.

The logistics industry is one of the oldest industries in the world and has become increasingly complex. One aspect contributing to the increasing complexity of the logistics industry is globalization of markets. Large scale manufacturers often produce their goods in particular areas of the world that may be remote to locations where a target consumer population for those goods is located. This may occur for various reasons, such as the cost of labor, availability of materials required to produce the goods, or for other reasons. When this occurs, manufactures must transport the goods to markets where the target consumer population for those goods are located. However, transportation of those goods to the target markets may be difficult due to regulatory compliance requirements imposed on various government entities (e.g., export regulations of the countries where the goods are manufactured and/or import regulations of the countries where the target markets are located), geographical obstacles (e.g., transport of the goods must travel across oceans and/or across large areas of land), and the like.
These complexities have resulted in a plurality of different actors that may engage in various aspects of logistics operations. For example, and referring to FIG. 8, a diagram illustrating various actors involved in the logistics industry is shown. As shown in FIG. 8, the actors may include cargo owners 810 (also referred to as a first party logistics providers or "1PLs"), carriers 820 or "2PLs," logistics service providers 830 (also referred to as third party logistics service providers or "3PLs," and lead logistics providers and consultants 840 (also referred to as fourth party logistics service providers or "4PLs." The cargo owners 810 may provide manufacturing and retailing services, but may lack the infrastructure to transport goods from a manufacturing facility or a warehouse to one or more retail locations. The carriers 820 may provide transportation services for transporting goods from a point of origin to a destination. The logistics services providers 830 may provide logistics services that facilitate transport of goods from a point of origin to a destination. The lead and logistics providers and consultants 840 may provide supply chain management services (e.g., for complex transportation of goods).
In FIG. 8, line 850 represents service integration between the services of the various actors, and line 860 represents supply chain integration. For example, for simple transportation of goods, such as transporting goods from a point of origin to a destination that is relatively close (i.e., no international transport or interstate transport), a cargo owner 810 may work directly with a 1PL to arrange transport of the goods to the destination. For more complex transport of a commodity, such as when the commodity needs to be transported from a first country to a second country, the cargo owner 810 (e.g., a manufacturer or importer) may work with a 3PL or a 4PL who arranges for the transport of the commodity. Additional aspects of logistics operations and interactions between the various entities illustrated in FIG. 8 are described below.
In one example, a manufacturer may turn to 3PLs for assistance in handling the logistics of transporting their goods to the target markets. The 3PLs are entities that have relationships with 2PLs in various markets and arrange transport of goods to the target market by the carriers, or, in some instances, the 3PLs may have a relationship with an agent, and the agent may have the relationships with carriers that may be used to transport the goods to the target markets. For example, a manufacturer operating in China may produce goods and an importer may desire to sell those goods in a target consumer market, which may be located in a foreign country, such as the United States. In this example, the importer may be referred to as a consumer or consignee and the manufacturer may be referred to as a shipper. The consumer may work with a 3PL, which would typically be based in the same country as the consignee (e.g., the United States), but may be located in another country, such as China, to arrange for the transport of goods to the target consumer market. The 3PL then contacts various carriers, or an agent, to arrange for the transport of the goods to the United States, which may include arranging for a first carrier to pick up the goods from the manufacturer and transport the goods to a second carrier. The second carrier may then load the goods on a boat or aircraft and transport them to the target market (e.g., the United States). Upon bringing the goods into the United States, the second carrier may deliver the goods to, or the goods may be picked up by, a third carrier, who then transports the goods to the consignee, after which the consignee may distribute the goods to retail locations in the target markets where they may be used or purchased.
This process suffers from several disadvantages. One area where problems exist with respect to the current state of the logistics industry is cost transparency. For example, and referring briefly to FIG. 9, a consumer of logistics services, such as an importer, may utilize a 3PL to arrange for transport of goods from a point of origin (e.g., a manufacturing facility or warehouse of the manufacturer) to a destination (which may not be a final destination for the goods). The 3PL may in turn utilize an agent that arranges for carriers and vendors (e.g., freight forwarders, etc.) to transport the goods to the destination. In this scenario, the agent pays the carriers and vendors that the vendor worked with for the transportation of the goods to the destination, but marks up the cost of the services provided by those carriers and vendors. This markup is then charged to the 3PL. The 3PL may then apply an additional markup on top of the markup applied by the agent, and charge the consumer the second marked up amount. Depending on the service, the lane, the number of parties involved, and the size of all parties involved, the size margins that sit on top of the actual costs will vary greatly. The consumers are often not aware of the markups applied to the logistics services provided by the 3PL and/or the agent.
In addition to problems associated with elevated costs due to markups, the current state of the logistics industry also creates an opaque and limiting system that is often a finite and secretive network completely dependent on the point of entry, which may be dictated by the selection of the 3PL. That is to say, the options and routings available for selection of asset-based service providers undertaking the transport of goods relies completely on what entities the selected 3PL have a working relationship with. For example, if the selected 3PL does not have a rail contract, they will not quote transport via rail. If they don't have a standard operating agreement with a facility, the consumer may not have the ability to undertake transloading, creative consolidating, and inland delivery. Additionally, the multiple service providers may be hidden from the consumer by both the 3PL and their agent, further empowering the centrally relied upon party, the 3PL, to further inflate costs for the consumer. This limited nature manifests itself in less choice, compliance issues, service limitations, and perhaps cheaper more efficient options being missed.
As briefly mentioned above, another challenge that the logistics industry faces is regulatory compliance. This challenge arises, in part, because many consumers of logistics services must rely on external entities, such as 3PLs and agents, which may engage carriers and vendors located in foreign markets in which the consumer desires to obtain goods from or bring goods into. In such instances, the consumer may be totally reliant on these external entities to make sure that the transportation of their goods is performed in compliance with applicable government regulations and requirements at all points in between the point of origin and the destination. For example, some countries require that every company that has handled a shipment of goods be disclosed to the applicable government agency upon bringing those goods into the country. In many instances, especially where 3PLs and agents are involved, the consumer may not know the identities of all carriers and/or vendors that have handled the shipment (e.g., since these entities are determined and controlled by the 3PLs and agents, rather than the consumer). For example, logistics service providers, such as 3PLs and agents, may operate particular lanes that may be used to transport goods from a point of origin to a destination. These lanes may be direct lanes or indirect lanes. For a direct lane, a single carrier handles the transport of the goods from pickup at the point of origin to delivery of the goods at the destination. It is noted that although a direct lane is provided by a single carrier, the carrier may operate a variety of transport mechanisms, such as one or more trucks, aircraft, and the like, that are used to transport the goods. For an indirect lane, multiple carriers are used to transport the goods from pickup at the point of origin to delivery of the goods at the destination. For example, a first carrier may pick up the goods at the point of origin, transport the goods by land to a port where they are delivered to a second carrier. The second carrier may then transport the goods by boat to a second port (e.g., a port proximate the destination for the goods). A third carrier may then pick up the goods from the second carrier and deliver the goods to the destination. When indirect lanes are used, the consumer may not be aware of the particular carriers involved.
Further, logistics service consumers are often not provided information about operating agreements for the parties involved in transportation of their goods. Information about such agreements would allow the consumer to see which parties have access to more advantageous ports (e.g., ports closer to the destination for the goods), and whether a carrier can pick a shipment of goods up from a port and transport the goods directly to the destination, or if another carrier would need to be involved in transporting the goods to the destination, etc.
Efforts to improve current logistics systems and operations have been the focus of many entities in the logistics industry, however, these efforts have focused on improvements to the traditional model of providing logistics services described. For example, many logistics service providers have made significant investments to secure better rates from carriers. As another example, some logistics service providers have made significant investments to obtain more advantageous lanes. However, none of these efforts have sought to improve the current logistics systems and operations as they apply to the consumers of logistics services.


A photographic printing apparatus for processing both full frame and panoramic prints from a roll of film containing negatives which have been selectively exposed in either full frame format or panoramic format is disclosed herein, along with its method of operation. The apparatus includes a printing station for receiving successively exposed negatives from the roll of film and an arrangement for electro-optically determining the density of each negative within the printing station at a number of sensing points on the negative. A format status determining arrangement, preferably one which is computerized, responds to the density of the given negative at the various sensing points for determining if the negative contains a full frame image or a panoramic image, or is blank or entirely fogged. If the particular negative at the printing station is determined to contain a full frame image, the printing apparatus makes a print from the negative in the full frame format and if it is determined that the negative contains a panoramic image, the print in made in the panoramic format. On the other hand, if the negative is determined to be a blank or entirely fogged, the apparatus moves that negative out of the print station without making a print.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a photographic printer and its method of operation, and more particularly to a specific photographic printing apparatus for automatically processing both full frame and panoramic prints from a roll of film containing negatives which have been selectively exposed in either full frame or panoramic format.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Panoramic photos are becoming very popular as a result of the Kodak Funsaver Panoramic camera. This is a single use camera with a short focal length lens and masks which block light from reaching the film in the upper and lower portions of the standard 24 mm by 36 mm film frame. Thus, the exposed area is over two times wider than it is tall. This requires special photofinishing with a narrower negative mask, a greater magnification and a wider paper aperture. The film is sorted at the photofinisher by written instructions on the camera housing or by the visible cue of the narrow exposed area on the negative. This operation is not automated.
Other reusable cameras are now on the market which produce similar negatives and, in each of these cases, the entire roll is exposed in panoramic format. Typically, labels are supplied for the photographer to apply to the film cartridge to help identify it as a roll of panoramic exposures. The same photofinishing process is used for these exposures.
A number of camera manufacturers are considering introducing cameras which allow the user to switch from full frame to panoramic format or back at any time. The result will be a mixture of full frame exposures and panoramic exposure on one roll of film. This will be difficult for the photofinisher to handle with existing equipment, which, in turn, will cause delays and result in significant added cost.

Full frame/panoramic photographic printing apparatus and method


In an apparatus for generating a synchronized sub-carrier signal based on a pilot signal, a zero-crossing detector may detect a pilot signal zero-crossing in response to consecutive pilot signal samples. In response to the zero-crossing detector, a sub-carrier signal phase sampler generates a sequence of sub-carrier phase samples at a sampling frequency, inclining a first sub-carrier signal phase sample and additional sub-carrier signal phase samples at predetermined phase sample intervals. A phase sample counter counts the number of phase samples obtained by the sub-carrier signal phase sampler. A sub-carrier signal generator generates a synchronized sub-carrier signal in response to the sub-carrier signal phase samples. In response to the zero-crossing detector and the phase sample counter, a post-zero-crossing sub-carrier phase computation circuit outputs to the sub-carrier signal phase sampler an expected phase of a post-zero-crossing pilot signal phase sample in response to a premature pilot signal zero-crossing and an adjusted post-zero-crossing sub-carrier signal phase sample in response to a detected pilot signal zero crossing.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to synthesis of a sinusoidal signal that satisfies some specific frequency and phase conditions based on zero-crossings of a pilot signal, and more particularly to digital sub-carrier signal recovery that is often used in stereo Frequency Modulation (FM) receivers.
2. Description of the Related Art
A stereophonic multiplexed (MPX) signal is composed of a sum signal corresponding to the sum of the left and right audio channels, a pilot signal at 19 kHz, and a 38 kHz double-sideband suppressed-carrier (DSBSC) modulated signal of a difference signal corresponding to right channel subtracted from the left channel. The MPX signals are thereafter frequency modulated and transmitted. The pilot signal indicates to a FM receiver that there is stereophonic information at the second harmonic frequency of the pilot signal (i.e. twice the frequency of the pilot signal). A stereo FM receiver which receives the pilot signal may double the frequency of the pilot signal to demodulate the stereophonic information and obtain the left and right audio channels. The pilot signal may also aid the FM receiver in recovery of the sub-carrier signal by serving as a phase reference. Normally, if the recovered sub-carrier signal and the pilot signal are not synchronized in phase, the FM receiver may be unable to perfectly separate the left and right audio channels, resulting in interference with the channels and degradation of the left and right audio channel signals. Therefore, a need exists for a method and apparatus that generates a sub-carrier signal in phase with a pilot signal and maintains phase synchronization.

Digital sub-carrier signal recovery based on pilot zero-crossing


A thermosetting plastic foam solid formed from the reaction product of: (a) either polyisocyanate or isocyanate; (b) a polyol; (c) a catalyst which is capable of promoting the thermosetting reaction between the polyisocyanate or isocyanate and the polyol; and (d) a blowing agent comprised at least partially from a high purity cyclopentane product, wherein the high purity cyclopentane product is about 95% or greater pure cyclopentane, and, optionally, (e) water and/or (f) liquid flame retardant.

Cellular organic rigid thermosetting plastic foams used for thermal insulation are well known in the art. Foams can be made with urethane linkages, or made with a combination of both isocyanurate linkages and urethane linkages, or they can be made via the well known condensation reactions of formaldehyde with phenol, urea, and melamine. All such plastic foams must utilize an expansion agent, often referred to as a "blowing agent".
The prior art is replete with references to techniques of expanding foam cells. For many years, the dominant blowing agent for all thermosetting foams was trichloromonofluoromethane (CFC-11). Other types of blowing agents have been proposed, such as the use of hydrocarbon mixtures, taught in U.S. Pat. No. 3,558,531. In recent years, various foam expansion methods have been taught in such U.S. Pat. Nos. as the following (all of which are incorporated herein by reference): 3,993,609, 4,636,529, 4,898,893, 4,927,863, 4,981,876, 4,981,880, 4,986,930, 4,996,242, 5,032,623, 5,070,113, 5,096,933, 5,114,986, 5,130,345, 5,166,182 5,182,309, 5,205,956, 5,213,707, 5,227,088, 5,234,967, 5,236,611, 5,248,433, 5,262,077, 5,277,834, 5,278,196, 5,283,003, 5,290,823, 5,296,516, 5,304,320, 5,314,926, 5,318,996, and 5,336,696.
The relatively recent hydrogenated chlorofluorocarbons (called "HCFCs") are considered to be environmentally friendly expansion agents, but still contain some chlorine, and therefore have an "Ozone Depletion Potential" (called "ODP"). Because of the ODP, the HCFCs have been mandated for eventual phaseout.
Another known class of blowing agents is the non-chlorinated, partially hydrogenated fluorocarbons (called "HFCs") which have the general formula: H.sub.z F.sub.y C.sub.z, where x, y, and z are integers. The HFC compounds being proposed for future blowing agents have two serious defects: (1) high intrinsic thermal conductivity properties (i.e., poor thermal insulation); and, (2) expense. In view of the fact that approximately ten percent by weight of rigid foam insulation are the compounds used as blowing agents, high cost combined with the poor insulating value render HFCs less attractive candidates for blowing agents in commercial foam insulation.
Hydrocarbon blowing agents are also known, which class includes halogen-free and CO.sub.2 -free blowing agents. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,182,309 to Hutzen teaches the use of iso- and normal-pentane in various emulsion mixtures. Another example of hydrocarbon blowing agents is taught by Volkert in U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,933, pointing out the virtues of commercial cyclopentane distilled and extracted from natural gas wells.
However, the hydrocarbon blowing agents mentioned in connection with such prior art have inadequate miscibility with polyester polyols, commonly used in polyisocyanurate modified polyurethane foam. The use of these alkanes require a chemical surfactant to obtain a suitable mixture. An improvement in the problem of poor miscibility is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,166,182 to Blanpied, whereby the use of azeotropes with polar organic solvents enhance the miscibility with polar polyester polyols. However, all of that work was done using cyclopentane extracted from natural gas.
Another problem with some of these alkanes is the poor insulating value. For example, the thermal conductivity of n-butane at 25.degree. C. is 16.3 mW/m*.degree.K., and n-pentane at 25.degree. C. is 14.8 mW/m*.degree.K.
None of the prior art patents known to Applicants discuss how the cyclopentane is obtained for the disclosed foaming process, nor is there any recognition that any certain mode of cyclopentane production may endow the cyclopentane with properties which are beneficial for a foaming operation.
Although some cyclopentane originates from petroleum, most cyclopentane originates from natural gas wells, and is extracted as the bottom layer of distillation in a refinery, allowing the lighter molecules to be transferred through the natural gas pipeline network. Cyclopentane obtained by extraction contains impurities. In fact, cyclopentane sold as "Technical Grade" contains from 22% to 30% impurities.
One route for manufacturing cyclopentane involves recovery by distillation from naphtha streams derived from crude oil or field natural gasoline. Very limited quantities of cyclopentane can be produced via this route due to the low concentrations of naturally occurring cyclopentane. Furthermore, cyclopentane product purity via this route is limited to approximately 75% by the presence of 2,2-dimethyl butane (which has a boiling point less than 1.degree. F. (0.55.degree. C.) different from cyclopentane). Further purification requires more expensive processing such as extractive distillation.
Extracted cyclopentane ("EXTRCP") has at least five problems which heretofore virtually prohibited it from being considered a serious candidate as a commercial blowing agent for rigid foam insulation. The first problem is that its limited supply is considerably below the amount needed is to meet the quantity demanded of a commercial compound. The second problem is that this inadequate supply contains at least twenty-two percent impurities in the form of hexane isomers and n-pentane, which impurities significantly reduce insulating value of foam made therefrom. The third problem is that extracted cyclopentane is not miscible with the common polyester polyols which are used with HCFCs nor those that were used with CFC-11.
The fourth problem is that extracted cyclopentane does not reduce the viscosity of the polyester polyol foamable blend to a workable level, even when liquid fire retardants are utilized.
The fifth problem is that the foam produced with EXTRCP will not pass the ASTM E-84 maximum 75 Flame Spread Index even with moderate flame retardant.
With respect to the third and fourth above-mentioned problems, the above-discussed U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,933 to Volkert, while generally alluding to the use of polyester polyols, provides no specific example using polyester polyols. The lack of any specific example is consistent with the present inventors' understanding that mixtures made from polyester polyols and extracted cyclopentane are unstable mixtures. In this regard, extracted cyclopentane is no more suitable as a miscible blowing agent than n-pentane or iso-pentane. All three require chemical surfactants for miscibility.
Perhaps the largest obstacle to the use of hydrocarbon blowing agents in the United States is the fifth problem--flammability of thermoset plastics blown with hydrocarbon blowing agents. U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,933 to Volkert mentions disadvantages caused by the flammability of the cycloalkanes. Volkert alludes to the optional use of flame retardants, but provides no example utilizing a flame retardant. Furthermore, none of the five Polyurethane Rigid Foam examples shown by Volkert would pass the maximum Flame Spread Index (FSI) of 75 (ASTM E-84) required of construction foam in the United States. Likewise, a polyisocyanurate foam, without flame retardant, having an Isocyanate-to-Polyester Polyol INDEX of 2.3 badly failed the ASTM E-84 maximum Flame Spread Index requirement of 75, by achieving a 2174 FSI.
With regard to flammability, it is well known that organic surfactants contribute to the flammability of rigid plastic foam insulation. The three main classes of organic surfactants (anionic, cationic, and nonionic) all add to the flammability problem of plastic foam. However, the use of organic carbonates, such as ethylene carbonate and propylene carbonate, does not increase the flammability of plastic foam.
TABLE I describes experiments attesting to the immiscibility of extracted cyclopentane with the polyester polyol having the most miscible potential with non-polar hydrocarbons, as well as the immiscibility of n-pentane and iso-pentane with this polyester polyol. The first column of TABLE I shows the weight ratio of polyester polyol to hydrocarbon blowing agent, with the proposed blowing agents n-pentane, iso-pentane, and extracted cyclopentane being shown in the second through fourth columns, respectively. In all experiments, the polyester polyol utilized was Stepanpol PS-2502A, which (along with Cape's 245-C) is known to have the best miscibility with non-polar hydrocarbon blowing agents. In the experiments reflected by the first row of TABLE I, pure (no other chemicals) PS-2502A polyol was used at 80% weight with 20% by weight pentane; and so forth as indicated in the first column of TABLE I. Significantly, all experiments showed the polyester polyol to be immiscible with extracted cyclopentane, just as it is with n-pentane and iso-pentane.
TABLE I ______________________________________ IMMISCIBILITY STUDIES Weight Ratio (Polyol/Blow- Extracted ing Agent) N-Pentane Iso-Pentane Cyclopentane ______________________________________ 80/20 Separates Separates Separates 75/25 Separates Separates Separates 70/30 Separates Separates Separates 50/50 Separates Separates Separates 35/65 Separates Separates Separates 20/80 Separates Separates Separates ______________________________________
The fourth problem of extracted cyclopentane (EXTRCP) is shown in TABLE II below, where viscosity is high when blended in foamable blends.
TABLE II __________________________________________________________________________ CHEMICALS: Pbw Pbw Pbw Pbw Pbw Pbw Pbw Pbw Pbw Pbw __________________________________________________________________________ PS-2502A 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 Fyrol PCF -- -- -- -- -- 15 15 15 15 15 Dabco K-15 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 PM-DETA 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 DC-5357 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 Water -- -- -- -- -- 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 Prop Carb -- 5.0 10 -- -- -- 5.0 10 -- -- Tex NP-9 -- -- -- 5.0 10 -- -- -- 5.0 10 EXTRCP 20. 20. 20. 20. 20. 23. 23. 23. 23. 23. Brookfield 6928 4016 2392 4480 2880 2725 * * 1810 1124 Viscosity __________________________________________________________________________ *denotes that an unstable emulsion separated (broke) rapidly. Viscosity cps at 65.degree. F.
TABLE II shows that, without exception, every blend made with extracted cyclopentane produced a Brookfield viscosity over 1000 cps at 65.degree. F., even one with 10 parts by weight of a strong viscosity reducer, Texacols NP-95. The foamable blends using both Fyrol PCF and Propylene Carbonate mixed into an unstable emulsion which soon separated. The inability to formulate with both liquid flame retardant and an organic carbonate is a serious obstacle to obtaining both flame resistance and a low enough viscosity to be workable.
In addition to obtaining cyclopentane by extraction, it appears that cyclopentane can also-be synthesized from other hydrocarbons. In this regard, FR-A-2595092 and FR-A-2595093 teach the preparation of catalysts comprised of palladium with another transition metal such as ruthenium or rhodium for the cyclization and hydrogenation of 1,3-pentadiene, as well as the hydrogenation of cyclopentadiene, to cyclopentane. These French Demandes do not teach or suggest the synthesis of cyclopentane from dicyclopentadiene ("DCP"), or make any reference to foaming processes.
GB-A-2271575 and GB-A-2273107 disclose two similar methods for synthesizing cyclopentane from dicyclopentadiene. GB-A-1302481 teaches a method which synthesizes minor amounts of cyclopentane, but preferentially produces cyclopentene. While GB-A-2271575 and GB-A-2273107 mention initially the search for blowing agents for polyurethanc foam, neither provides an example of the use of cyclopentane as a blowing agent for foam, much less a foam produced with polyester polyol. In fact, European practice is to make polyurethane foam using polyether polyol rather than polyisocyanurate foam using polyester polyol.
Historically, considerable attention has been directed to the synthesis of cyclopentadiene and various isomers of the pentadiene and pentene building-block monomers. In this regard, dicyclopentadiene ("DCP"), C.sub.10 H.sub.12, is the dimer of cyclopentadiene ("CP"), C.sub.5 H.sub.6, and is the naturally stable form of CP. Cyclopentadiene monomer spontaneously dimerizes at room temperature. DCP is obtained from the thermal cracking of high molecular weight hydrocarbons, such as naphtha and gas oils, particularly in the presence of steam.
Owing to its conjugated double bonds, CP can undergo numerous reactions, and has several important commercial uses. While most commercial CP is obtained from cracking DCP, CP is also obtained from other commercial reactions such as ethylene production. To prevent it from autodimerizing, CP must be cooled to below minus 20.degree. C. To prevent spontaneous oxidation, CP must be protected from atmospheric oxygen. Thus, it is advantageous to convert DCP into cyclopentane in an enclosed reactor utilizing an excess of hydrogen, and adding cyclopentane as a diluent, as shown in GB-A-2271575 and GB-A-2273107.
The thermocatalytic conversion of DCP to CP, and back again, and similar processes, have been well documented. However, such conversion and similar processes have not occurred in the context of utilization for a blowing agent for a rigid insulative foam which utilizes polyester polyol.
The similar processes mentioned above include use by Alder and Stein of palladium as a catalyst to polymerize and hydrogenate DCP into the trimer form, then to tetracyclopentadiene, and finally into pentacyclopentadiene. Hydrogenation and polymerization to tetrahydrotricyclopentadiene has also been accomplished with Adams' platinum catalyst at room temperature and fifty pounds per square inch pressure. Bai, Zhang, and Sachtler of the Center for Catalysis and Surface Science, Northwestern University, reported using palladium adducts in 1991 for cyclization and hydrogenolysis reactions of neopentane and other hydrocarbons. U.S. Pat. No. 4,178,455 to Hirai et al. teaches that a transition metal catalyst, with a Lewis acid promoter, will convert urea biurets, and allophanates into corresponding urethanes.
Another possible route for manufacturing cyclopentane involves hydrogenation of cyclopentene; however, cyclopentene is not readily available in commercial quantities.
Another route to produce a high purity cyclopentane, and the subject of the present invention, involves splitting dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) into cyclopentadiene (CPD) monomer and hydrogenating the monomer to form cyclopentane. A key advantage of this route is an abundance of commercially available, low-cost DCPD raw material. Technical obstacles involve: (1) effective splitting of DCPD without forming heavy resins that diminish product yields and foul the splitting equipment; and (2) preventing unwanted reaction of the highly reactive monomer which decreases desired product yield, form unwanted by-products, and can lead to deactivation of the hydrotreating catalyst.
Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a thermosetting foam utilizing the advantages of specially synthesized cyclopentane ("SYNCP") as an improved insulating gas inside closed cells.
Another advantage of the present invention is the utilization of a hydrocarbon blowing agent which is readily miscible with common polyester polyols without requiring organic surfactants to make a stable blend.
An advantage of the present invention is the ability to create a foamable blend viscosity low enough to use in existing pumps without the requirement for additional viscosity reducing diluents.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is the utilization of an abundant source of specially synthetically produced cyclopentane, which insures that the costs will be contained in a reasonable range.
Still another advantage of the present invention is the achievement of a thermosetting foam having an ASTM E-84 Flame Spread Index less than the maximum 75 allowed.

Method of producing rigid foams and products produced therefrom


In the preferred embodiment of the present invention flash write, a simultaneous and substantially identical write operation to a selected plurality of memory cells, is performed by splitting the pull up of the p sense amplifier transistors. The p sense amplifier transistor on digit is connected to V.sub.cc at its drain through a first pull up transistor and the p sense amplifier transistor on digit bar is connected to V.sub.cc at its drain through a second pull up transistor. A logic circuit generates control logic that actuates either both pull up transistors to initiate a typical read/write operation of a single memory cell or actuates one of the two pull up transistors to initiate a flash write to all of the memory cells on the selected wordline.

The dynamic random access memory (DRAM) device 1 represented by the diagram of FIG. 1 stores digital data in an arrangement of memory cells 3. An arrangement of memory cells is called an array. The cells 3 are arranged in the array in a configuration of intersecting rows 5 and columns 6. The rows 5 are also referred to as wordlines 5. Each memory cell comprises a storage capacitor (not shown) capable of holding a charge and a metal-oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) (not shown) for accessing the capacitor charge; hereinafter this transistor is referred to as an access transistor. The charge is a voltage potential referred to as a data bit and is typified as either a high voltage or a low voltage. Therefore, the memory has two states; often thought of as the true logic state and the complementary logic state. The data bit is amplified and latched to the digit lines 7 by sense amplifier 8.
There are two options available in a DRAM memory; a bit of data may be stored in a specific cell in the write mode, or a bit of data may be retrieved from a specific cell in the read mode. The data is either transferred from the digit lines 7 to Input/Output lines, (I/O), 9 in the read mode; or transferred from the I/O lines 9 to the digit lines 7 in the write mode. In either case, the data is transferred through MOSFETs 10 used as switching devices and called decode transistors. For each bit of data stored, its true logic state is available at a first I/O line 11 and its complementary logic state is available at a second I/O line 13, designated I/O complement. For purposes of this discussion, I/O and I/O complement lines are often referred to as just I/O lines 9. Although each cell 3 is only connected to one digit line 7 through an activated access transistor, each cell 3 is electrically referenced to two digit lines 7, referred to as a digit line pair 15, through the sense amplifiers 8. The digit line pair 15 comprises the "digit line" 17 for coupling true data and the "digit bar line" 19 for coupling complementary data. Typically, the digit line 17 is referred to as digit and the digit bar line 19 is referred to as digit bar. The digit line pair 15 couples the true and complementary data between the selected cell 3 and the I/O lines 9.
In order to read from or write to a cell 3, the particular cell 3 in question must be selected or sometimes referred to as "addressed." A particular cell 3 is selected when the row decoder 21 activates a wordline 5 and the column decoder 23 activates a column 6. The electrical intersection of the activated wordline 5 and activated column 6 determines which cell 3 has been selected.
A supply potential V.sub.cc and a ground reference potential are available to the circuitry of the memory device. Between cycles of cell selection it is necessary to equilibrate the digit lines of each digit line pair 15 in a memory array to the same voltage, usually V.sub.cc /2. This equilibration of the digit lines is often referred to as the precharge cycle. Equilibrate circuitry (not shown) parallel with the sense amplifier essentially shorts the digit lines together and holds them at V.sub.cc /2. This equilibration is necessary so that the digit lines 7 are ready to receive data during the next cycle.
In order to facilitate an understanding of the present invention, pertinent aspects of a typical write operation to a single cell are explained below with reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 more fully depicts the circuitry relevant to two digit line pairs 15A and 15B of the digit line pairs 15 shown in FIG. 1. The numbers pertinent to components in FIG. 1 are relevant to similar components in FIG. 2.
Digits 17A and 17B are connected to memory cells 3A and 3B respectively and are accessed through row 5A. Digit bars 19A and 19B are connected to memory cells 3C and 3D respectively and are accessed through row 5B. Therefore, memory cells 3A and 3B store data in true form and memory cells 3C and 3D store data in complementary or inverse form. The p sense amplifiers 8A and 8B and the n sense amplifiers 8C and 8D latch data on the digit line pairs 15A and 15B respectively during read and write operations.
During standby switching transistors 24 comprising the pull up p-type MOSFETs (p switching transistors) 25 and the pull down n-type MOSFET (n switching transistor) 26 are off and the data remains stored in cells 3A through 3D. During a write or read operation all of the p 25 and n 26 transistors are actuated. The p switching transistors 25 are actuated by a low signal applied to their gates. Once actuated, the p switching transistors 25 couple the supply voltage V.sub.cc 27 to the circuit. The n switching transistor 26 is actuated by a high signal applied to its gate. Once actuated, the n switching transistor 26 couples the ground reference potential 28 to the circuit.
For example, assume cell 3A is selected for a write operation. An active output from the row decoder activates wordline 5A. The active wordline 5A actuates the cells' 3A and 3B access transistors 29A and 29B pertinent to wordline 5A, while access transistors 29C and 29D pertinent to inactive wordline 5B remain deactivated. The switching transistors 24 are actuated and digit 17A is latched to the true data stored in cell 3A While digit bar 19A is latched to the complement of the true data. Similarly, digit 17B is latched to the true data stored in cell 3B while digit bar 19B is latched to the complement of the true data. Next the column decoder activates column 6A which in turn actuates decode transistors 10A. Column 6B remains inactive since it was not activated by the column decoder. Consequently decode transistors 10B remain off. In a write mode the input data is coupled through the actuated decode transistors 10A from the I/O lines 9 to the digit line pair 15A where the input data overwrites the data previously latched to digit line pair 15A. The data on digit line pair 15B is not disturbed since decode transistors 10B are off.
Continuing with the example, since the digit lines 7 are sitting at approximately V.sub.cc /2 in standby, the data coupled to the digit lines through the activated access transistors 29A and 29B effect a change in voltage on digits 17A and 17B. Taking a specific example, assume the true data stored in memory cell 3A is low. Then the voltage on digit 17A is pulled below V.sub.cc /2. Digit bar 19A remains at V.sub.cc /2 since it is not directly connected to cell 3A; this leaves digit bar 19A at a relatively higher voltage potential than digit 17A. When switching transistors 24 are actuated, the sources 35 of cross coupled p-type sense amplifier MOSFETs (p sense amplifier transistors) 36 of the p sense amplifiers 8A and 8B are at V.sub.cc 27, the sources 37 of cross coupled n-type sense amplifier MOSFETs (n sense amplifier transistors) 39 of the n sense amplifier 8C and 8D are at ground 28, and sense amplifiers 8A through 8D latch the data stored in the memory cells to the digit line pairs 15A and 15B. The relative high on digit bar 19A turns on the n sense amplifier transistor 39A on digit 17A, pulling it to ground 28. The low on the digit 17A turns on the p sense amplifier transistor 36A on digit bar 19A pulling digit bar 19A high. Similar action occurs on digit pair 15B where the final state of digit 17B depends on the original data stored in cell 3B and coupled onto digit 17B through access transistor 29B. Thus, the sense amplifiers ensure that digits 17A and 17B and digit bars 19A and 19B retain the correct voltage by pulling the low to ground 28 and by pulling the high to V.sub.cc 27. Assume the data on I/O 11 is high and I/O complement 13 is low. When column 6A activates decode transistors 10A, the low on I/O complement overwrites the high on 19A. The sense amplifiers 8A and 8C now latch opposite the previous state with a high on digit 17A charging the storage capacitor 41 to a voltage greater than V.sub.cc /2 through the activated access transistor 29A.
Next, the access transistors 29A and 29B turn off, the capacitor 41 remains charged, the switching transistors 24 turn off, the column 6A is deactivated and the digit line pair 15 equilibrates to approximately V.sub.cc /2.
If the cell is on the digit bar 19, it stores complementary data and, conversely, if the cell is on the digit 17, it stores true data. During a read mode the sense amps latch digit and digit bar to the true and complementary value of the originally stored data. The data is then coupled to the I/O lines through activated decode transistors 10A or 10B.
Video RAMs having one megabit and higher densities may include a flash write mode. Flash write is a one cycle set or clear of an entire row. Typically a set is a high logic state and a clear is a low logic state. In a flash write operation all of the cells pertinent to a selected wordline simultaneously receive substantially identical data.
An integrated circuit (I.C.) memory products, such as DRAM and Video RAM, the amount of available memory is often referred to as the density. Density describes the total amount of memory fabricated on the circuit (i.e., 1 meg, 4 meg, and so forth).
It is common to provide memory products which contain a large number of storage cells. Each storage cell is addressable by a unique row and column address. Therefore n row and m column addresses can access an array of n times m storage cells. Such a memory device would accept data for storage through an input often called the "D" input. Data read from the memory would be presented on an output called the "Q" output.
Memory vendors often provide more than one configuration of a certain density product to better suit the needs of the consumer.
In one popular variation the memory is split into 4, 8, 16 or more equal segments, and these segments are accessed in parallel. In this variation less row and column addresses are required since each sub array is only a portion of the total memory density, and since the sub arrays typically respond to the same row and column address. Such a configuration multiplies the "D" and "Q" pins required for transferring data into and out of the I.C. In order to keep the package small the input and output functions are commonly combined to share the same pin which is now called a "DQ" pin. Each "DQ" pin services one of the aforementioned sub arrays which is then often referred to as a "DQ plane."
This division of the total density into equal sided and commonly addressed DQ planes is very useful in certain systems which use IC memory. The various available configurations are often referred to as "by one", "by four", "by eight" and so forth. For example a 1 meg VRAM may be split into 4 DQ planes, DQs, and is referred to as a 256K by four memory.
This division of the total density into equal sided and commonly addressed DQ planes is very useful in certain systems which use IC memory. The various available configurations are often referred to as "by one", "by four", "by eight" and so forth. For example a 1 meg VRAM may be split into 4 DQ planes, DQs, and referred to as a 256K by four memory. In the flash write operation mode all 512 cells on the selected row in each array (DQ) are set or cleared. In a typical read/write operation of a single memory cell one cell in each DQ is read from or written to.
Flash write is typically accomplished by modifying the column decode circuitry to access all columns simultaneously and by storing the set or clear data appearing on the I/O lines in all of the cells of the selected wordline. Typically video RAM specifications include a color register for each DQ to allow individual set and reset of each DQ. The individual color registers necessitate repeating the flash write control logic for each DQ.
There are at least two disadvantages in modifying the column decode circuitry in order to perform flash write. The circuitry is cumbersome and power consumption is high. The video RAM column decode circuitry includes considerations for block write, split transfers, by-four/by-eight options and page mode. Further column decode modifications for flash write tend to make the column decode circuitry even more cumbersome. Since previous data has already been latched by the sense amps to the cells, the previous data in all of the cells must be overwritten during flash write in the same manner the data was originally written into the cell. Power consumption is high in order to overwrite all columns in a given row simultaneously.

Simplified low power flash write operation


In a process for reducing particulate oxide-containing material using the whirl bed method, the oxide-containing material, by means of reducing gas flowing from bottom to top, is maintained in the whirl layer, thus being reduced. In order to avoid or considerably reduce operational interruptions of the reduction process caused by sticking or fouling, the clear tube speed (superficial velocity) of the reducing gas, exclusively above the whirl layer, is continuously lowered along the total free height of a space above the whirl layer while the formation of further whirl formations is avoided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for reducing particulate oxide-containing material, in particular fine ore, in at least one whirl bed, wherein the oxide-containing material, by means of reducing gas flowing from bottom to top, is maintained in a whirl layer, thus being reduced. The invention also relates to a plant for carrying out the process.
2. Description of the Related Art
A process of this type is known, for instance, from U.S. Pat. No. 2,909,423, WO 92/02458 and EP 0 571 358. There, reduction of the oxide-containing material, for instance, fine ore, is effected in a whirl layer maintained by reducing gas within a whirl-layer reduction reactor, wherein the reducing gas, which is injected into the whirl-layer reduction reactor via a tuyere grid, flows through the reduction reactor from bottom to top, whereas the oxide-containing material passes the reduction reactor approximately in the transverse flow relative to the reducing gas flow. A certain speed of the reducing gas within the whirl layer zone is required for maintaining the whirl layer.
On account of the relatively high speed of the reducing gas, superfines of the oxide-containing material and reduced oxide-containing material, resulting from the reduction process, are being carried away from the whirl layer, whereupon the superfines will then be contained in the reducing gas. In order to eliminate such superfines from the reducing gas--so that, on the one hand, the partially oxidized reducing gas can be further used, for instance, for preceding reduction reactors and, on the other hand, the otherwise lost oxide-containing material or already reduced material will be recovered. The reducing gas containing said superfines is conducted through dust separators, such as cyclones, whereupon the dust separated out is recycled into the whirl layer. The dust separators or cyclones preferably are arranged within the reactors (cf. U.S. Pat. No. 2,909,423); but they also may be installed outside of the reactors.
In practice, it has been shown that partially reduced or completely reduced fine-grained particles of the oxide-containing material tend to adhere or cake to one another and/or to the walls of reactors or cyclones as well as to connection ducts and conveying ducts. These phenomena are called "sticking" or "fouling", respectively. Sticking or fouling is dependent on the temperature and on the degree of reduction of the oxide-containing material. Due to the partially or completely reduced oxide-containing material adhering to, or depositing on, the walls of the reduction reactors or other plant parts, failures may occur such that it is not possible to operate the plant continuously over an extended period of time without stoppage. It has been shown that the plant must be stopped every three to four months.
Removal of the deposits and cakings is very labor-intensive and involves high costs, i.e., labor and costs arising from the loss of production of the plant. Frequently, such deposits get separated automatically, thus either falling into the whirl layer and interfering with the reduction process or--in case of deposits separating from a cyclone--causing obstruction of the dust recycling channels that lead from the cyclone to the whirl layer and hindering further dust separation from the reducing gas.
The invention aims at avoiding these disadvantages and difficulties and has as its object provide a process of the type defined above, as well as a plant for carrying out the process, to through which the reducing of particulate oxide-containing material is feasible over a very long period of time without any risk of operational interruptions caused by sticking or fouling.

Process for reducing oxide-containing material and plant for carrying out the process


An apparatus including a rotating member, a resolver and a mounting structure. The resolver includes a resolver stator and a resolver rotor fixedly mounted on the rotating member via a mounting structure. The mounting structure has a low magnetic relative permeability and isolates the resolver rotor from the rotating member by preventing direct contact between the rotating member and the resolver rotor. The disclosed apparatus may be an electric machine having a rotor fixed to the rotating member and be suitable for use in a hybrid vehicle. The mounting structure advantageously has a relative permeability of no greater than about 2 and may be formed out of stainless steel material. The rotating member may be a rotor hub formed out of steel material having a relative permeability of at least about 50.

The present invention relates to resolvers. Resolvers are used to determine the rotational position and/or rotational speed of a rotating part such as a shaft.
For example, electric machines which are employed as traction motors and generators in hybrid vehicles often employ variable reluctance resolvers to determine the rotational position and speed of the electric machine and thereby provide the precise control necessary to operate the electric machine in cooperation with the other vehicle systems.
Variable reluctance resolvers typically include a stator with a plurality of salient poles and windings mounted thereon and a rotor in which the stator induces a magnetic flux. The rotor typically has an outer perimeter which defines a wave form and, thus, also defines a variable air gap between the resolver rotor and the resolver stator. The magnetic flux induced by the interaction of the resolver rotor and stator and the changes therein due to the rotation of the resolver rotor allows the rotational speed and position of the resolver rotor to be determined as is well-known to those having ordinary skill in the art.
Excessive electromagnetic interference ("EMI") can interfere with the operation of such variable reluctance resolvers and have a negative impact on their performance.

Resolver with mounting structure and method


A method for manufacturing a graphene powder capable of minimizing aggregation of graphene particles and a graphene powder manufactured using the same are disclosed. The method includes preparing a graphene solution in which graphene particles are dispersed in a solvent, aggregating the graphene particles, separating the aggregated graphene particles from the solvent, and drying the graphene particles.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to manufacture of a graphene powder, and more particularly, to an apparatus and a method for manufacturing a graphene powder capable of minimizing aggregation of graphene particles and a graphene powder manufactured using the same.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Well-known allotropes of pure carbon are fullerene, carbon nanotubes, graphene, and graphite. Among them, graphene has a two-dimensional planar mono-layer structure of carbon atoms.
Particularly, graphene has outstanding and stable electrical, mechanical, and chemical properties as well as excellent conductivity to transport electrons faster than silicon and to allow a larger amount of current to flow than in copper. These properties have been verified through various experiments since a method of separating graphene from graphite was reported in 2004, and much research into graphene has been conducted.
Since a large area graphene can be formed, and graphene has excellent electrical, mechanical, and chemical stability as well as high conductivity, much attention has been paid to graphene as a base material for electronic circuits.
In addition, since electrical properties of graphene sheet with a given thickness may be generally changed depending on crystal orientation, the electrical properties may be controlled by selecting the crystalline orientation of the graphene sheet and to this end, device design may be straightforward. Thus, graphene may be efficiently applied to carbon-based electrical or electronic devices.

Method and apparatus for manufacturing graphene powder and graphene powder manufactured using the same


A system is provided that permits access to one or more components of the power train of a straddle type vehicle (or another internal component or components) without requiring such component to protrude from the body cover of the vehicle. The system can comprise a foot area that includes a foot platform for placing one's feet, an opening positioned above at least the component of the power train, and a cover for permitting the opening to be opened and closed. This system, for example, allows a user to access the oil filler port of the engine via the opening in the foot area in order to add oil to the engine of the vehicle. The system can also include a foot platform comprising a first level and a second level where the second level is located at a higher elevation relative to the first level.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to straddle type vehicles in general and, in particular, to a straddle type vehicle having a foot area that permits access to components of the power train of the vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
In order to maximize the operational life of a straddle type vehicle, the mechanical components of the vehicle must be properly maintained. Proper maintenance is particularly important for components of the power train of the straddle type vehicle since the power train is a mechanism which propels the vehicle. Without proper maintenance of the power train, the straddle type vehicle may not function properly and the useful life of the straddle type vehicle may be significantly shortened.
Components of the power train of a straddle type vehicle are typically covered by the body cover of the vehicle. As a result, access to such components can often be obstructed by the vehicle body cover and other components of the straddle type vehicle. Such obstruction makes accessing components of the power train difficult and time consuming since the vehicle body cover may have to be removed in order to access particular components of the power train of a straddle type vehicle. One component of the power train that is particularly important is the lubricant filler port which is often located near the engine. Lubricant (e.g., oil) should be regularly added to the vehicle in order for mechanical components of the power train to be properly lubricated so that the vehicle is capable of operating at maximum effectiveness. As a result, an owner of a straddle type vehicle typically needs access to the filler port in order to add oil to the vehicle at least monthly and in some cases weekly.
Some prior straddle type vehicles have positioned the oil filler port in the rear of the straddle type vehicle so that the oil filler port protrudes from the vehicle body cover. This configuration allows an owner to add oil more easily to their straddle type vehicle since the oil filler port can be accessed without removing the vehicle body cover. However, this configuration is disliked by many vehicle owners because the oil filler port protrudes from the vehicle body cover and is conspicuously noticeable on the outside of the straddle type vehicle.

System for accessing components of a power train of a straddle type vehicle