The invention relates to time-of-flight mass spectrometers, equipped with ion reflector and ion detector, with orthogonal ion injection and outpulsing of a segment of the ion beam perpendicular to the direction of injection in a pulser. The invention is directed to a time-of-flight mass spectrometer in which a reflector and an ion detector each have an angular offset about an axis that is perpendicular to the respective directions of injection and deflection. This allows a large distance to be used between the pulser and detector with the highest possible utilization of ions.

If mass spectrometry has to measure the masses of large molecules, particularly those occurring in biochemistry, time-of-flight mass spectrometers are more suitable than other types of spectrometers because of the restricted mass ranges of other mass spectrometers. Time-of-flight mass spectrometers are often referred to by the abbreviation TOF or TOF-MS.
Two different types of time-of-flight mass spectrometer have developed. The first type comprises time-of-flight mass spectrometers for the measurement of ions generated in extremely short pulses in very small volumes of origin, for example by matrix assisted laser desorption (abbreviated to MALDI), a method of ionization appropriate for the ionization of large molecules.
The second type comprises time-of-flight mass spectrometers for the continuous injection of a primary beam of ions, a segment of which is then ejected in a "pulser" transverse to the primary beam direction into the time-of-flight mass spectrometer as a linearly extended bundle of ions. This generates a ribbon-shaped ion beam. This second type is referred to for short as an orthogonal time-of-flight mass spectrometer (OTOF); it is mainly applied in association with out-of-vacuum ionization by electrospray (ESI). The application of a very large number of pulses in a given time (up to 50,000 pulses per second) produces a large number of spectra, each based on a small number of ions, in order to exploit the ions in the continuous primary ion beam most effectively. Similar to MALDI, ESI is also suitable for the ionization of large molecules.
FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a time-of-flight mass spectrometer with orthogonal ion injection according to prior art. A beam of ions of different initial energies and initial angles passes through an aperture (1) in an ion-guide system (4) and enters the ion-guide system (4) which is housed in a gas-tight casing. A damping gas is introduced into the ion-guide system along with the ion beam. The ions entering the chamber are decelerated by collision in the gas. Since there is a pseudo-potential for the ions in the ion-guide system which is at its lowest at the axis (5), the ions collect at the axis (5). The ions spread at the axis (5) to the end of the ion-guide system (4). The gas is pumped from the ion-guide system to the vacuum chamber (2) by the vacuum pump (6).
At the end of the ion guide system (4) there is a lens system (7), the second apertured diaphragm of which is integrated in the wall (8) between the vacuum chamber (2) for the ion-guide system (4) and the vacuum chamber (9) for the time-off-light mass spectrometer. In this case, the drawing lens system (7) consists of five apertured diaphragms. It draws the ions from the ion-guide system (4) to produce a fine primary ion beam with a small phase space volume which is focused into the pulser (12). The ion beam is injected into the pulser in the x direction. When the pulser is full of the ions of the preferred masses to be analyzed, in transit, a short voltage pulse propels a wide segment of the ion beam transverse to the previous flight direction in the y direction and forms a wide ion beam which is reflected in a reflector (13) and measured by an ion detector (14) with a high time resolution. In the ion detector (14), the ion signal, which is amplified by a secondary electron amplifier in the form of a double, multi-channel plate, is transmitted capacitively to a 50Ω cone. This signal, which has thus already been amplified, is passed to an amplifier via a 50Ω cable. The cable on the input end is terminated by the 50Ω cone so that no signal reflection can take place at this point.
In this prior art, the reflector (13) and detector (14) are oriented exactly parallel to the x direction of the ions injected into the pulser. The distance between the detector (14) and the pulser (12) determines the maximum level of utilization of ions from the fine ion beam.
In principle, the pulser has a very simple construction; the pulser region into which the parallel primary ion stream is injected in the x-direction is located between a pusher (or repeller) diaphragm and a puller diaphragm. The pusher does usually not have any apertures. The puller either has a grid or a fine slit through which the ions are ejected by pulsed acceleration in the y-direction.
The pusher and puller here only carry a small proportion of the entire acceleration voltage. One reason for this is that high voltages cannot be switched at high enough speeds. However, the main reason is that it is possible to time-focus ions of a single mass which are at different distances from the detector in the cross section of the fine primary ion beam when outpulsed (start location focusing according to Wiley and McLaren) because the field strength is adjustable. A compensation diaphragm is positioned after the puller and this suppresses penetration of the main acceleration field into the pulser region. Between the puller and the field-free drift region of the mass spectrometer, at least one additional diaphragm generates the main acceleration field, which provides the major proportion of the acceleration of the ions up to the drift region. The potential is held static on the diaphragms for the main acceleration field. The drift region usually has no field.
In the pulser, the ions are accelerated perpendicular to their x direction and leave the pulser through the slits in the slit diaphragms. The direction of acceleration is referred to as the y direction. However, after acceleration, the ions travel in a direction which lies between the y direction and the x direction since they retain their original velocity in the x direction undisturbedly. The angle to the y direction is α=arctan √(Ex/Ey), where Ex is the kinetic energy of the ions in the primary beam in the x direction and Ey is the energy of the ions after acceleration in the y direction.
In commercially manufactured devices, the interior of the pulser has always been separated from the static electrical field of the main acceleration region by a grid. This means that the ions are pulsed out through the grid. Penetration of the main acceleration field through the grid during the filling phase is relatively slight, and can be controlled. In the literature, however, pulsers with slit diaphragms are also described.
The ions leaving the pulser now form a broad ribbon where ions of the same type and mass are located in a front in each case, the front being as wide as the ejected beam segment in the pulser. Light ions travel faster and heavy ions travel slower, but all travel predominantly in the same direction apart from small differences in direction arising from the slightly different kinetic energies Ex of the ions when injected into the pulser. The field-free flight path must be completely surrounded by the acceleration potential so that the flight of the ions is not subject to interference.
According to Wiley and McLaren, ions of the same mass which are at different places in the cross section of the beam and therefore have different distances to travel to reach the detector can be time-focused in relation to their different start locations. This can be achieved by the following method: when the outpulse voltage is switched on, the field in the pulser is selected in such a way that the ions furthest away acquire a somewhat higher acceleration energy. This enables them to catch up again with the ions which were ahead at a "start location focal point". The position of the start location focal point can be chosen at will by adjusting the outpulse field strength in the pulser.
In order to achieve high resolution, the mass spectrometer is fitted with an energy-focusing reflector. This reflects the outpulsed ion beam in its entire width toward the ion detector, and provides an accurate time focus at the wide-surface detector for ions of the same mass but with slightly different initial kinetic energies in the y direction.
In prior technology, the reflector is always set up so that the plane of entry runs parallel to the x direction, i.e., parallel to the original direction of the fine ion beam injected into the pulser, as shown in FIG. 1. Ions of the same mass, which form a front in the newly formed ion beam, then enter the reflector at the same time, stop at the same time and are accelerated back in the same way and leave the reflector again at the same time. In the homogeneous reflection field, the ion paths have the form of flight parabolas. (In FIG. 1, the parabolas are approximated by triangles).
The ions travel from the reflector to a detector, which must be as wide as the ion beam in order for all the ions arriving to be measured. The detector must also be aligned exactly parallel to the x direction, as shown in FIG. 1, in order for all the ions of the same mass to be detected simultaneously.
A continuous stream of ions in the form of a fine primary ion beam is injected into the pulser in the x direction. The pulser begins to fill immediately after the ions of the last outpulsing cycle have left the pulser. After perpendicular ejection, the velocity of the ions in the x direction remains unaltered, in spite of the deflection perpendicular to the x direction. After lateral acceleration in the y direction and reflection in the reflector, the ions reach the detector in the same time they would have needed to reach this detector location by a straight, undeflected path (although they would then miss the detector since they would be flying parallel to the detector surface).
When the ions of highest mass have arrived at the detector, then not only is the pulser again filled with the heaviest ions but also the region between the pulser and the frontal side of the detector. However, it is only possible to analyze, in the next cycle, those ions which are in the detector at the time of the next outpulse. The ions in the region between the pulser and the detector are lost to the analysis. It is therefore apparent that the detector must be located as near to the pulser as possible for a high level of utilization of the ion beam. For a hundred percent utilization of the heavy ions, the pulser and the detector must touch each other (which is impossible for various physical reasons).
Considered more precisely, this applies only to the heaviest ions which are to be measured using this device. Only the heaviest ions determine the pulse rate to be used for the pulser as soon as it is full of the heaviest ions. A fraction of the lighter ions, which travel faster, have already left the pulser. Ions which only weigh a tenth of the heaviest ions travel faster by a factor of √10≈3.16. Only a third of them, at most, therefore remain in the pulser and only this third is outpulsed in the y direction.
However, problems arise from having a short distance between the pulser and the detector. On the one hand, the detector is a highly sensitive measuring device which responds to the switching in the pulser due to capacitative crosstalk which gives rise to spurious interference signals. The detector must be well screened from the pulser, and good screening requires space. On the other hand, the pulser needs to be longer than the ejected segment of ejected ions. Furthermore, in order to adjust the mass spectrometer, it is desirable to be able to measure the fine stream of ions—which is injected into the pulser when it is switched off hand travels through it to appear again at the other end—very precisely in a second detector. The second detector requires space. This measurement is therefore not possible if a short distance is required between the pulser and the detector.
If necessary, it is possible to place the pulser and the detector in different) planes. Because of the way it is designed with its 50Ω cone, the detector cannot be pushed nearer to the reflector since its cone will still end up lying next to the pulser. A position further away from the reflector involves making the mass spectrometer larger again, which is also undesirable.

Time-of-flight mass spectrometers with orthogonal ion injection


Blends of monovinyl aromatic-conjugated diene block copolymers with polybutene are provided. Methods of making these resins and articles made therefrom are provided.

Resinous monovinyl aromatic-conjugated diane block copolymers exhibit desirable properties such as clarity and the ability to toughen other plastics when used in blends.
However, there is a continuing need for resin blends which can be extruded into sheets or films or injection molded into articles having good impact strength, melt strength, flexural modulus, and economic feasibility. It is desirable that these properties be obtained without compromising clarity.

Blends of vinylaromatic-conjugated diene block copolymers and polybutenes


There are provided, in a clock generator for generating a plurality of output clock signals, an apparatus and method for synchronizing the clock generator to an input reference clock in the presence of a jittery input clock provided to the clock generator from a PLL. The clock generator and the PLL each have a divider with the same ratio. The apparatus includes a synchronizer (205) and a state machine (210). The synchronizer receives the input reference clock and the jittery input clock, and generates there from a synchronized input clock signal with respect to the jittery input clock. The state machine receives the synchronized input clock signal and the jittery input clock, synchronizes with the synchronized input clock signal using the jittery input clock, and abstains from a re-synchronizing operation when the jittery input clock has a jitter of up to a pre-defined maximum number of clock widths.

In designing digital integrated circuits (ICs), it is often necessary to create a high frequency clock from a lower frequency reference clock. Often, data enters an IC at a reference frequency, but the logic in the IC needs to be clocked at a much higher frequency. The higher frequency clock is typically obtained using a phase-locked loop (PLL). For example, in the IC, a clock generator block is employed that references (or locks to) divider states in the PLL to properly phase a clock generator. This means of synchronizing/phasing the clock generator becomes more difficult when the PLL divider states are not observable from outside the PLL. A typical case in which the divider states of a PLL are not observable can occur when one purchases a PLL from a vendor. The vendor provides a pre-laid out section of silicon with all of the PLL components optimized and debugged to be placed in an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) design. Intuitively, it would seem that it is an easy thing to synchronize the data to one of the phases of the PLL clock, but a problem occurs due to the fact that a PLL has time jitter or wander (hereinafter "jitter") with respect to the input reference clock. Typically, this time jitter is very small. Nonetheless, the jitter causes the synchronizer to periodically re-phase the clock generator state machine based on the instantaneous phase difference between the reference frequency and the high frequency clock from the PLL.
Accordingly, it would be desirable and highly advantageous to have a method and apparatus for synchronizing a clock generator in the presence of a jittery clock source.

Method and apparatus for synchronizing a clock generator in the presence of jittery clock sources


A method and an apparatus for copying data of a disc drive are provided. The method includes: determining whether the first disc drive has a predetermined jumper pin connection by identifying which of a plurality of jumper pins in a jumper block of the first disc drive are connected, the jumper block being used to determine an operation mode of the first disc drive; transmitting a copy command from the first disc drive to the second disc drive if the first disc drive has the predetermined jumper pin connection; and copying data recorded in the first disc drive to the second disc drive in response to the copy command. Accordingly, it is possible to copy data recorded in a first hard disc drive (HDD) to a second HDD without the aid of an additional host.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a method and an apparatus for copying data of a disc drive. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and an apparatus for copying data from a first disc drive to a second disc drive.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, hard disc drives (HDDs) store data transmitted by a host and transmit data stored therein to the host at the request of the host. The host may be, for example, a personal computer (PC), a set-top box, or an X-box.
In order to copy data from one HDD to another HDD, they both must be connected to a host. Data stored in an HDD is input to a host system in response to a read command issued by a host. Thereafter, the data input to the host system is copied to another HDD in response to a write command issued by the host. A user can copy data from one HDD to another HDD by executing an application program in a host.
Data recorded in an HDD may be copied to a plurality of HDDs by, for example, a PC manufacturer. However, a conventional method of copying data of a disc drive requires as many hosts as there are disc drives to copy data from one disc drive to the rest of the disc drives. Therefore, users of such a conventional method incur additional costs.

Method and apparatus for copying data from one disc drive to another disc drive


Moving a target mobile node to arrange a number of mobile nodes includes determining a first direction. A first relative position for each of the neighboring mobile nodes of the target mobile node is established. The target mobile node moves according to a first alignment procedure to align the mobile nodes in the first direction. A second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction is determined. A second relative position for each of the neighboring mobile nodes is established. The target mobile node moves according to a second alignment procedure to align the mobile nodes in the second direction.

Mobile nodes may automatically arrange themselves according to certain techniques to form a desired pattern. For example, mobile sensors may arrange themselves in a regular lattice pattern to operate as a phased-array sensor. According to one technique for arranging mobile nodes, mobile nodes use simple local control laws in order to form and maintain coherent group movement. According to another technique, mobile nodes orient themselves with respect to a reference frame, determine vacant positions of a pattern, and then move to fill in the vacant positions. According to another technique, mobile nodes are repulsed or attracted by their neighboring mobile nodes by an artificial gravity to arrange the nodes.
Certain techniques, however, generally do not yield sufficiently accurate relative positions between mobile nodes. Other techniques are not effective in achieving a regular pattern from an initially random distribution of nodes, or are not effective in forming a large regularly-spaced lattice pattern. Some techniques may result in a large number of local minima, where multiple mobile nodes are vying for the same location or multiple forces prevent a mobile node from assuming the correct position.
Known techniques may have difficulty forming precise patterns with a large number of mobile nodes. Accordingly, known techniques for arranging mobile nodes may be insufficient in certain situations.

Arranging mobile sensors into a predetermined pattern


A method of monitoring a mine operation is disclosed. The method comprises collecting map data associated with a mine operation, the map data being indicative of at least one map representation associated with the mine operation, collecting mine equipment location data indicative of the location of at least one item of mine equipment relative to the mine operation, and facilitating selection and display of a map representation associated with a mine operation. When a map representation associated with a mine operation is displayed, a representation of at least one item of mine equipment on the map representation at a representative location relative to the mine operation.

It is known to provide a computer implemented map tool which enables a user to select and display map representations at desired resolutions. Such map representations are generally photographic images for example obtained using satellite imaging and periodically updated, generally once or twice per year.
However, such a map tool has limited use in relation to mine operations since the photographic images quickly become too old.
It is also known to provide still and/or video cameras at mine operations and to equip the cameras with network interfaces so that a user in networked communication with the cameras can obtain images of the mine operation from a remote location.
However, while such cameras provide a viewer with real time or near real time information, since the cameras are disposed at dedicated locations, a viewer is only able to derive limited information about operation of the mine operation.


An integrated circuit includes a comparator having a first input, a second input, and an output for providing a comparison result. The first input is connected to a readable component having a predefined value, and the second input is connected to a reference component. A control unit is at the output of the comparator. The control unit controls at least one function block based on the comparison result.

After having been produced, conventional integrated switching circuits can only be operated in an operating mode for which they are intended.
However, it may be desirable to keep the same integrated component suitable for several different applications and to select the respective intended mode of operation only after is has been produced, for example even after the chip has been encapsulated or enclosed in a housing.
It may also be desirable to fix the voltage values of the supply voltages for individual function blocks, a selection of certain function blocks, or a power-on sequence for certain function blocks or their initialisation, for example as part of a power-on sequence.
The described programming of an integrated component might be fixed retroactively, for example by fuse banks, DIP switches or the like.
However, all such known measures are associated with relatively high expense. This undesirable expense may be due to an increased footprint on a circuit board, for example, or a large number of extra pins required on the chip.

Integrated circuit arrangement, and method for programming an integrated circuit arrangement


A method of manufacturing a camshaft used in an internal combustion engine. The method of manufacturing the camshaft produces a camshaft which has reduced weight and added wear resistance at a lobe of the camshaft. The camshaft is manufactured to provide increased efficiency of the internal combustion engine. The method of making the camshaft includes mixing wear resistant material with a base material and metering the mixture into a rotating die. The rotating die rotates at a predetermined speed and forces the wear resistant material to the outer surface of the lobes.

This invention relates generally to a method for manufacturing a camshaft and more particularly to a method for manufacturing a camshaft having added wear resistance at a lobe area of the camshaft.
Manufacturing processes for components of an internal combustion engine have evolved through the years so that such engine components can meet ever increasing performance requirements, e.g., increased stress tolerances and the like. These manufacturing processes have made the internal combustion engine more reliable and efficient; however, current manufacturing processes require additional steps or processes to add wear resistance properties to specific components of the internal combustion engine such as, for example, the camshaft of the internal combustion engine and more specifically the lobe regions of the camshaft. By providing added wear resistant properties to the camshaft, the internal combustion engine would be even more efficient than which is currently possible.
Being more specific, the lobe regions of the camshaft are subject to metal fatigue due to extensive contact between the lobes of the camshaft and respective rocker arms of the intake and exhaust valves. This contact wears down the lobe regions of the camshaft thus resulting in poor engine performance. However, current manufacturing processes do not address these problems and, in particular, do not provide a means for providing wear resistance properties at a particular region, e.g., lobes, of the camshaft.
By way of example, current casting processes do not provide adequate wear resistance properties at the lobe region of the camshaft. For example, in green sand casting processes a pattern which conforms to the external shape of the camshaft is formed. The pattern is then used to form a green sand mold which is made in an open frame or flask such that both the flask and the pattern are capable of being parted to facilitate removal of the pattern from the sand. A molten metal such as iron is then poured into the formed sand mold and, after solidifing, the cast iron is removed from the mold. Depending on the particular application of the camshaft, hardening materials may be added to the iron. The hardening materials, however, migrate to the bottom of the mold resulting in an uneven distribution of the hardening materials within the iron. By adding the hardening material, the integrity of the camshaft may be negatively impacted due to the uneven distribution of materials within the camshaft.
In another method of manufacturing camshafts, a camshaft is forged using known forging techniques. In particular, in known forging techniques a die is first formed, and a forging material such as alloys, aluminum or steel is heated to a desired temperature. The heated material is placed under pressure within the die until the forging material conforms to the shape of the die. The forging process is unable to provide added wear resistance properties to specific regions of the forged component such as the lobe regions of the camshaft. This is mainly due to the fact that the forging process cannot precisely place wear resistant material in specific locations which would correspond to the lobes of the camshaft.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,004,370 to Swars issued on Apr. 2, 1991 discloses a hollow shaft having drive elements (e.g., cams) with axially varied properties. The drive elements are secured on the hollow shaft by expansion of the hollow shaft, and includes a separate outside layer produced by an induction-hardened process. This outside layer, however, is not distributed throughout the drive elements, nor is it distributed within the hollow shaft. Accordingly, the apparatus of Swars has a tendency to wear during the use of the internal combustion engine, and does not appear to adequately withstand high torsional stresses.
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above.
In one aspect of the present invention a method for manufacturing a camshaft is provided. The method includes forming an integrated mixture of a base material having a first density and a wear resistant material having a second density. The method has the steps of metering the integrated mixture into a die having an interior shape corresponding to a shape of the camshaft, and rotating the die. The rotation of the die forces the wear resistant material to migrate toward the outside of the lobe. After the rotating step, the camshaft is removed from the rotating die when the integrated mixture is solidified.
In another aspect of the present invention, the method of manufacturing a camshaft having a wear resistant lobe uses a rotating assembly having a rotating die. The rotating die has an interior shape corresponding to the camshaft. The method of making the crankshaft mixes a base material and a wear resistant material to form an integrated mixture. The wear resistant material is harder than the base material. The integrated mixture is metered into the rotating die, and the rotating die is then rotated so that the wear resistant material is forced toward an outer surface of the lobe. After the integrated mixture is solidified, the camshaft is removed from the rotating die.

Method for manufacturing a camshaft having added wear resistance of the lobe


In an embodiment a method for supplying energy wirelessly through RFID comprises the steps of sending by an RFID reader device a request message to at least one RFID tag device, receiving by the at least one RFID tag device the request message, sending by the at least one RFID tag device an answer message to the RFID reader device and changing by the at least one RFID tag device its state into a high power mode, receiving by the RFID reader device the answer message, sending by the RFID reader device an energizing signal having an unmodulated constant wave at a predefined frequency during an adjustable amount of time, receiving by the at least one RFID tag device the energizing signal, converting said signal into energy and using the energy by the at least one RFID tag device, and changing by the at least one RFID tag device its state into an RFID operation mode at the end of the adjustable amount of time.

Recently, an increasing interest in sensing solutions has occurred and a trend toward pervasive sensing can be observed. Many sensor solutions are integrated or embedded into electronic devices, cars, wearables, garments, small objects, plants, field, houses and the like. At the same time an increase in wireless interfaces can be observed. The so-called pervasive electromagnetism discipline is getting more and more attention. Said pervasive electromagnetic aims at providing the physical layer of the emerging Internet of Things that enables the Internet to get into the real world of physical objects.
A device providing sensing capability is known as a sensor. In case said sensor is equipped with an electronic label identifying the sensor is turned into a digital entity readable from remote through RFID, i.e. using RFID. Such device is called a wireless sensor. In fact, RFID technology may be regarded as the natural support or medium to achieve remote identification and communication with a resulting sensor label or sensor tag.
Neither active, passive nor semi-passive RFID based wireless sensors will be able to keep energized during their entire life cycle with a very small battery or any other kind of energy storage. In view of a cost effective and easily deployable solution, wireless sensors are supposed to require very limited maintenance during their entire life cycle, ideally only the installation work. The life cycle of wireless sensors can be several years, up to ten or more in the case of a wireless sensor embedded in the concrete structure of a building, for example. Consequently, one of the main issues in the application of wireless sensors is their power management. State of the art wireless sensor systems require relatively expensive maintenance for battery replacement and/or maintenance of the recharging system as well as the power supply system via power networks.
Known solutions for wireless charging of such sensors are focusing on the rectification of an incoming radio-frequency, RF, signal which can be modulated or unmodulated, to a direct current, DC, voltage assuming that the incoming signal is a constant wave at a certain frequency. Unfortunately this last point is not how communication systems using the Industrial, Medical, Scientific, ISM, frequency band according to defined standards communicate. Most ISM based systems, like RFID, use some form of amplitude-shift keying, ASK, like e.g. phase-reversal, PR-ASK, when transmitting data using RF signals between reader and tag. The efficiency of converting these alternate current, AC, RF signals to DC signals is limited by the level of modulation used during the data transmission. Therein, typical amplitudes vary from 100% to 0-10%. Consequently, if the signal level is below 10%, nearly no conversion occurs and the system is unable to produce the necessary DC voltage.
The definitions as described above also apply to the following description unless stated otherwise.

Method for supplying energy wirelessly through radio frequency identification, RFID, and RFID system


A surge protective circuit and a noise filter circuit are provided in a power-supplying line, the surge protective circuit is adapted for protecting a switching device from surge voltage generated during operation of an electric motor and the noise filter circuit is adapted for absorbing noise generated during operation of the switching device, each of the surge protective circuit and the noise filter circuit include a plurality of elements, wherein at least one of the plurality of the elements constructing the surge protective circuit is used as at least one of the plurality of the elements constructing the noise filter circuit in common with each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an electric motor driving apparatus which carries out switching of a switching device provided in a power distribution line of an electric motor with pulse width modulation (PWM) signals to control a rotational speed or the like of the electric motor. More particularly, the invention relates to an electric motor driving apparatus in which a circuit for suppressing generation of high-frequency noise (radio noise) by the switching is simplified.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an electric motor driving apparatus that drives an electric motor by PWM control, high-frequency noise (radio noise) generated by switching sometimes interferes with and influences, for example, a radio broadcast receiver mounted in a vehicle.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a circuit structure of a conventional electric motor driving apparatus. In the conventional electric motor driving apparatus 100, a filter circuit 104 constructed by a series circuit of a capacitor 102 and a resistor 103 is provided between a gate and a drain of a field-effect transistor (FET) 101 as a switching device, and a snubber circuit 108 constructed by a series circuit of a capacitor 106 and a resistor 107 which is in parallel with a flywheel diode 105 are disposed, to suppress the generation of high-frequency noise (radio noise). More specifically, the filter circuit 104 absorbs noise generated during operation of the FET 101 and the snubber circuit 108 protects the FET 101 from surge voltage generated during operation of an electric motor 109, thereby cooperatively suppressing the high-frequency noise (radio noise).
The electric motor 109 drives a radiator fan, a condenser fan or the like for example. Reference numeral 110 denotes a direct-current power supply such as a battery mounted on a vehicle. One of a pair of terminals of the electric motor 109 is connected to a positive pole side of the direct-current power supply 110, whereas the other of the pair of terminals of the electric motor 109 is connected to the drain of the FET 101. The flywheel diode 105 is connected in parallel with the electric motor 109. Reference numeral 111 denotes a PWM signal generator which generates and outputs PWM signals based on command signals. The PWM signals outputted from the PWM signal generator 111 are supplied to the gate of the FET 101.
The FET 101 shown in FIG. 3 is, as one example, an N-channel MOS-FET in which a diode is connected between the drain and a source and a bidirectional zener diode is connected between the gate and the source.
A resistor for detecting current 112 is connected between the source of the FET 101 and an earth terminal (ground). The PWM signal generator 111 monitors an current which flows the FET 101 (current of the electric motor) on the basis of voltage generated at both ends of the current detecting resistor 112 to carry out feedback control of duty ratio of the PWM signals so as to allow the current to be in a predetermined current, or to ensure protection against an overcurrent by stopping the output of the PWM signals when the current exceeds a previously set allowable current.
As another conventional electric motor driving apparatus, Japanese patent registration No. 3067601 discloses an apparatus in which a capacitor is provided between a gate of a switching device (FET) to which PWM signals are inputted and one of a pair of terminals of an electric motor that is disposed at an opposite side of the switching device to suppress the high-frequency noise generated at the time of on/off operation of the switching device by the capacitor.
In the conventional electric motor driving apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 3, since the filter circuit 104 and the snubber 108 as circuits for the suppression of high-frequency noise are independently arranged, respectively, there is a drawback that a total of four components or elements, namely, two capacitors 102, 106 and two resistors 103, 107, are required, rendering the structure of circuit complicated and the number of components to be large.


A double-walled, vacuum-insulated container is manufactured with a cured inside coating. To form the container, an inner liner is disposed in an outer body. The inner liner has an inner sidewall, an inner bottom, and an inner lip, and the outer body has an outer sidewall and an outer lip. The inner and outer lips are affixed together with an affixation or weld having a first melt point. A plenum is enclosed between the inner liner and the outer body by affixing an outer bottom to the outer body and creating a vacuum at least partially in the plenum using a seal having a second melt point. This second melt point can be about 450° C. and 500° C. The coating is painted to an inside surface of the inner liner, and the painted coating is cured with a temperature level at least below the first and second melt points.

People use containers for holding beverages or food during every conceivable activity throughout the day, including driving, bike-riding, running, working, etc. In some situations, people want to hold hot or cold beverages or food in these containers. Some of the activities may require the container to be robust and transportable so that some materials are better suited for use than others for a given activity.
For example, ceramic mugs can hold hot beverages, but the mugs do not keep the beverage hot very long. Also, the mugs do not resist impact and are easily broken. As a consequence, ceramic mugs are not easily transportable. Of course, plastic containers can be used, but the drawbacks of plastic are well known. Stainless steel containers are also used to hold beverages, and double-walled, vacuum-insulated stainless steel containers can be used to hold hot and cold beverages or food. When holding hot beverages or food, the stainless steel may impart a metallic taste to the beverage or food and may change its flavor to an extent.
Aluminum bottles can be used to hold beverages. However, the aluminum bottle does not retain heat for use with hot beverages. Also, the aluminum of the bottle can have an odor that negatively impacts the taste of the beverage, especially when hot. To combat the negative taste of the aluminum, aluminum water bottles are available that use an epoxy on the inside of a single-wall aluminum bottle. Unfortunately, the aluminum bottle with epoxy coating cannot keep cold beverages cold and cannot be used for hot beverages (coffee, tea, hot water, etc.) because they will burn the user's hand.
It is recognized that a double-walled, vacuum-insulated container made of stainless steel can have problems when the inside of the container is treated only with electrolysis. It is also recognized that such a container made of metal can have problems when the inside of the container is treated only with an epoxy or resin. For instance, Japanese Patent JP3390349 notes that a fluoro-resin coated on the inside of such a metal container is porous, making the coating easily damaged and stained. Additionally, if the application temperature of the fluororesin (e.g., perfluoroalkoxy copolymer resin (PFA)) is higher than the melting temperature of sealing material that seals an exhaust port for the vacuum formation, then use of the fluororesin is a problem as it becomes impossible to hold the vacuum. Flouroresins can have cure temperatures of as high as 370° C. for PTFE and PFA.
For this reason, it is proposed in Chinese Patent document CN202208422 to Guang Hu et al. to coat the inside of the double-walled, vacuum-insulated container with a ceramic coating with a thickness between 15-60 microns, and preferably 20-30 microns.
As an example of how a ceramic coating is formed on such a container, Japanese Patent document JPH08338 discloses a double-walled, vacuum-insulated container having a film of a ceramic material mixed with antibacterial agent applied to the inside of the container. To form the container, an inner body has the ceramic coating with the antimicrobial agent applied to the inner surface. The coating film is heated for about 20-min. at around 120° C. Aluminum foil is arranged outside the inner body, and an outer body 9 is jointed around the inner body at a seam. A tip pipe on the outer body is used to pull a vacuum in the space between the inner and outer bodies, and the tip pipe is sealed. Finally, a base is attached to the bottom of the outside body to cover the tip pipe.
Another example of coating the inside such a double-walled, vacuum insulated container is disclosed in Japanese Patent document JP3390349, which discloses coating inside the container with porcelain enamel, ceramic, or metal plating. For each of these coatings, manufacture of the container involves coating the inside of the container and then evacuating the space in the container to create the vacuum. Another Japanese Patent document JP2002080075 merely contemplates using a ceramic coating inside the vacuum space of a double-walled container.
As can be seen, a container of suitable material is desired that can be used with hot and cold beverages, food, or the like and can avoid negatively impacting the taste or odor of the contents, while being durable. Conventional wisdom has solved this by applying a coating, such as a ceramic coating, inside a double-walled container and then pulling a vacuum on the container. Although containers manufactured this way may be effective and useful, what is needed is a container that is even more versatile.
The subject matter of the present disclosure is directed to overcoming, or at least reducing the effects of, one or more of the problems set forth above.

Double-walled, vacuum-insulated container having inner coating cured at high temperature


A helicopter engine speed reference (66) is increased (117,118) in response to heavy rotor loading (102) in excess of a threshold at the current descent rate (FIG. 4 ). The reference speed is faded up (117,118) at a rapid rate to 107% of rated speed (119). After a fixed time interval (129), reduce rotor loading (122), reduced pitch angle below a threshold magnitude (121) and reduced roll angle below a threshold magnitude (120) will cause the reference speed to be faded down slowly (146,147) to rated speed (148). Automatic increase in engine reference speed is overridden to 107% of rated speed (203) when a battle switch is activated (201) and weapons are ready (202). Increases in engine reference speed are prohibited (207) when the helicopter is operating in quiet mode (206) or the helicopter is resting on its wheels (208).

In United Kingdom Patent No. 2,144,244 B to Cooper and Howlett, positive longitudinal pitch rate is used to indicate high rotor load factors, such as during high speed highly banked turns. The pitch rate signal is shaped, and when air speed exceeds a threshold level, the shaped signal is added to the normal engine reference speed signal, such as to command a higher engine speed. Said patent also suggests that a signal derived by shaping the output of a vertical body axis accelerometer could be used to enhance engine speed during heavy rotor load maneuvers, either alone or in conjunction with the shaped pitch rate signal. The enhanced engine speed increases the lift capacity and, consequently, the stall margin of the rotor during high rotor load maneuvers.
It was found that using a shaped pitch rate signal tends to abruptly reduce the engine speed near the end of a high rotor load maneuver, inducing yaw transients which are highly undesirable at precisely the point where stability is desired, thereby adding significantly to pilot workload. Further, using such a shaped signal tends to cause the engine to achieve speeds in excess of reference speed under heavy load, thus causing a tendency towards exceeding maximum permissible torque in the engine. Therefore, the pilot is required to constantly monitor engine torque, and provide either load-relaxing inputs to the blade pitch controls or lower engine speed using the pilot's engine speed beeper during the maneuver to prevent exceeding maximum permissible torque in the engine. As used herein, the terms "beep", "beep-up", and "beep-down" are intended to refer to pilot initiated variation in the engine reference speed from 100% rated speed using the aforementioned manually operated pilot's engine speed beeper.
In response to the aforementioned problems, U.S. Pat. No. 4,998,202 to Walsh et al. provides an improved fuel control which monitors vertical acceleration as determined from a vertical body axis accelerometer, and in response to a high load factor, i.e., a high vertical acceleration, in excess of a threshold level, a bias signal is provided so that helicopter engine reference speed is rapidly faded up to a maximum engine speed. Thereafter, the increased engine speed is maintained for a fixed period to ensure that maneuvers can be completed before the engine is allowed to droop. At the completion of the fixed period, load factor status is again checked for exceeding a lower acceleration threshold. If the load factor is below the lower threshold, the bias signal is progressively decreased to effect a gradual reduction in rotor speed from the enhanced rotor speed. Further, to prevent an engine over-torque condition, the bias signal is nulled if the engine torque exceeds a maximum threshold level. The increase in engine reference speed above 100% reference speed during heavy rotor loading is known as "load factor enhancement" or "engine speed enhancement", which terms are used interchangeably hereinafter.
The load factor enhancement described in the '202 patent to Walsh et al. dramatically improves yaw and aircraft altitude stability following high acceleration maneuvers. Accordingly, the targeting capability, i.e., the ability to lock onto a target, is greatly improved following such maneuvers. However, such load factor enhancement has been found to be inadequate for certain maneuvers. For example, prior to performing a "gun run", i.e. a generally nose down or high pitch angle descent lasting on the order of ten to fifteen seconds until pull-up at the completion of the run, the pilot will typically perform an observation type run or fly over which is followed by a roll-out maneuver producing sufficient vertical acceleration to initiate load factor enhancement. Thereafter, during the gun-run descent, the load factor enhancement may terminate prior to the end of the maneuver, and not be activated for the pull-up at the completion of the run.
Similarly, a bob-up maneuver involves a situation wherein the aircraft is initially hovering nap of the earth, i.e., below tree tops or behind mountains to remain covert, and then rapidly ascends above the tree top to perform observation. During the bob-up maneuver, sufficient vertical acceleration may or may not be produced to initiate load factor enhancement. At the completion of the observation, a bob-down maneuver is performed to return to the nap of the earth. Depending on the severity of the bob-down maneuver, i.e., the rate of descent, the rotor will tend to droop, and if the load factor enhancement has terminated prior to completion of the bob-down maneuver, or if load factor enhancement was never initiated during the bob-up maneuver, the pilot is left in the precarious position of performing the maneuver with less than maximum power.

Helicopter engine speed enhancement during heavy rotor load and rapid descent rate maneuvering


An OLED having a cathode constructed from a first conducting layer. An electron transport layer constructed from a first electron transport material overlays the cathode. An electroluminescent layer constructed from the first electron transport material doped with dibenzotetraphenylperiflanthene overlays the electron transport layer. A hole transport layer constructed from a first hole transport material overlays the electroluminescent layer. The anode overlays the hole transport layer. In one embodiment of the invention, a second hole transport layer constructed from a second hole transport material is sandwiched between the anode and the first hole transport layer. In a third embodiment of the invention, a second electron transport layer constructed from a second electron transport material is sandwiched between the electroluminescent layer and the first hole transport layer.

Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) have the potential for providing inexpensive alternatives to LEDs. OLEDs may be fabricated by coating the appropriate surfaces with the organic material either from solution or by using conventional vacuum deposition techniques, and hence, do not require the use of high cost fabrication systems such as those utilized in the fabrication of semiconductor devices. A simple OLED may be constructed from an electroluminescent layer sandwiched between an electron injection electrode and a hole injection electrode. More complicated devices utilize electron and hole transport layers between the above mentioned electrodes and the electroluminescent layer.
Addressable color displays may be constructed from OLEDs if individual OLEDs having three primary colors can be constructed. The individual OLEDs must have the same operating voltages. Hence, OLEDs that are constructed from a common light emitting layer which is doped with compounds to set the color are preferred, provided the dopants do not alter the operating voltage.
Unfortunately, compounds having high efficiency and satisfactory lifetimes for constructing OLEDs that emit in the red portion of the spectrum are lacking.
Broadly, it is the object of the present invention to provide an improved OLED.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a set of OLEDs that can be utilized in constructing a color display, and more particularly in the red portion of the spectrum.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an OLED that has higher quantum efficiency than prior art OLEDs.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an OLED dopant material that does not alter the operating voltage of the OLED while providing emission in the red portion of the spectrum.
These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawings.

LED doped with periflanthene for efficient red emission

Hewlett-Packard Company & The Board of Regents of The University of Texas System


A thermoplastic polyurethane chain extended with an alkylenediol is blended with a thermoplastic polyurethane chain extended with an oxyalkylene qlycol oligomer. The blend is extruded into a catheter tubing having sufficient initial stiffness for satisfactory insertion in a patient and a high degree of softening for safe positioning and long term catheterization procedures without the risk of vessel wall perforation.

1. Field of the Invention.
This invention relates to catheterization of a patient and more particularly relates to a catheter from a blend of particular polyurethanes having a desirable balance of initial stiffness and softening when contacted by a body fluid.
2. Background of the Invention.
Catheterization procedures conventionally include puncture of a patient's skin and insertion of the catheter into a body cavity, such as the blood stream, using some sort of insertion device. For patient comfort and safety, it is highly desirable that the catheter be as soft as possible to aid in advancement through a tortuous blood vessel to a desired placement while minimizing the danger of puncture of the blood vessel wall. On the other hand, the material from which the catheter is fabricated must be stiff enough for skin puncture and advancement into a blood vessel without collapsing or kinking.
A number of polymeric materials have been investigated for fabrication of catheter tubing. Silicone rubber has been used, but this material, which is soft and pliable, requires inclusion of various additives such as fillers and plasticizers to give sufficient tensile strength and other desirable properties. The thick wall needed to prevent collapse due to the pliability requires a large outside diameter to achieve sufficient inside diameter for fluid flow. the portions of the polymer molecules which include the isocyanate and extender components and generally are of high crystallinity. The soft segments form from the polyether glycol portions of the polymer chains and generally are either noncrystalline or of low crystallinity. Crystallinity and hard segment content are factors which contribute to melt processability. Gould et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 4,454,309, discloses hydrophilic polyurethane diacrylate compositions which swell in water and may be molded and cured to form shaped products. A swellable catheter fabricated of a composition which includes a nonhydrophilic component and a hydrophilic polyurethane diacrylate component is marketed by Menlo Care Inc. under the tradename STREAMLINE.TM. and is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,781,703 and 4,994,047 to Walker et al. When contacted with a liquid, the composition swells and softens due to absorption of the liquid, causing the catheter to increase in cross-sectional area.
A softening and swelling catheter fabricated of a polyurethane synthesized from polyethyleneoxide soft segment is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,061,254 to Karakelle et al. of common assignee herewith.
A multilumen catheter marketed under the tradename FLEXTIP.TM. by Arrow International Corp., Wilmington, Del. and disclosed by Howes in U.S. Pat. No. Re. 31,873 and by Botterbusch et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,004,456 consists of a relatively soft distal end segment intended for insertion into a body cavity and a relatively hard rigid portion joined thereto by heat or pressure. The catheter segments are polyurethanes from aliphatic or aromatic diisocyanates.
Other catheters of the prior art have been made of rigid substantially inflexible polymeric materials. Exemplary of such conventional catheters are the catheters of fluorinated ethylene propylene copolymer (FEP) having stripes of FEP containing a radiopaque agent disclosed by Coneys in U.S. Pat. No. 4,657,024.
In recent years, polyurethanes have come to the fore as the preferred polymeric biomaterials for fabrication of various medical device components. Polyurethanes are synthesized from three basic components, a polyisocyanate, a polyglycol and an extender, usually a low molecular weight diol, diamine or water. If the extender is a diol, the polyurethane consists entirely of urethane linkages. If the extender is water or a diamine, both urethane and urea linkages are present.
The usual polyglycols are polyethylene qlycol (PEG) and polytetramethylene ether glycol (PTMEG). Polypropylene ether glycol (PPG), while providing a polyurethane of a desirable high softness, is infrequently used for polyurethanes intended for medical use because PPG requires a catalyst for reaction with isocyanates. The usual catalysts for polyurethane synthesis, such as octyl stanoate and dibutyl tin dilaurate, are toxic and contraindicated for medical grade polyurethane synthesis because of the danger of leachinq into a patient's body fluid.
Polyurethanes develop microdomains conventionally termed hard segments (HS) and soft segments, and as a result are often referred to as segmented polyurethanes. The hard segments form by localization of
A different approach to softening is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/499,145 of common assignee herewith. A catheter of controlled softening is achieved by encapsulating a stripe of a hydrophobic stiffening polymer in a tubing of a hydrophilic thermoplastic base polymer.
While significant improvement in catheter performance has resulted from the above disclosures, there remains a need for a one piece catheter having the blood compatibility, softness and pliability of polyurethane which retains sufficient mechanical strength and stiffness for ease of insertion and repositioning if desired. The present invention addresses this need.


Nucleotide sequences coding for Hantaan virus nucleocapsid protein and glproteins G1 and G2 can be used to produce these proteins for vaccine and diagnostic applications.

The present invention relates to nucleotide sequences that can be used to produce polypeptides that exhibit the characteristics of the nucleocapsid N protein, or one of two glycoproteins G1 and G2, synthesized by the Hantaan virus. The present invention further relates to a method of producing a Hantaan virus vaccine comprised of at least one of the N protein, G.sub.1 and G2.
Each year, hundreds and thousands of people in endemic areas, such as China and Korea, developed infection by Hantaan virus, the etiological agent of Korean hemorrhagic fever, resulting in high morbidity and mortality, not only among the natives in those areas, but also among visitors and service personnel assigned to those areas. In recent years, Hantaviruses have been isolated from rodent populations in endemic and epidemic areas, as well as here in the United States. There is no known cure for such a viral infection, it being generally allowed to run its course until terminated by death or development of natural immunity against the virus.
Because of the extremely infectious nature of the Hantaan virus, containment of this virus for purposes of study poses a special problem. For this reason, it has not been practicable to grow large quantities of live Hantaan virus in the laboratories to extract its immunogenic portions for vaccination purposes. By the same token, detailed information concerning the Hantaan virus has been limited heretofore. Although some information is available about its RNA genome, for example, there is insufficient information available to permit production of viral antigens in the laboratory without propagating the live Hantaan virus. If the nucleotide sequences encoding antigenic portions of the Hantaan virus can be identified, it would be possible to synthesize such antigens in a cell-free system or to genetically-engineer a vaccine. Furthermore, if Hantaan viral infection can be diagnosed at an early stage, for example, by using viral cDNA probes, proper patient management at such a stage may improve prognosis of the disease.
The Hantaan virus belongs to the Hantavirus genus of the Bunyaviridae family. Viruses in this family all possess tripartite, single-stranded, negative-sense RNA species, designated large (L) , medium (M) and small (S), respectively, in accordance with their respective molecular weights. Each RNA species is enclosed in its own nucleocapsid structure, but all three RNA species are surrounded by a lipid envelope containing two virus-specific glycoproteins, known as G1 and G2 glycoproteins [see Schmaljohn et al, J. Infect. Dis. 148: 1005-1101 (1983) Schmaljohn and Dalrymple, in SEGMENTED NEGATIVE STRAND VIRUSES, R. W. Compans and D. H. Bishop, eds., pp. 117-124 (Academic Press, 1984). The Hantaan virus is negative-sense in that it has to produce a positive-sense, complementary RNA ("cRNA") to act as messenger RNA ("mRNA").
Immunogenic Hantaan viral proteins have been identified by Elliott et al, J. Gen. Virol. 65: 1282-1293 (1984), who showed that sera from patients who had recovered from Hantaan virus infection precipitates three Hantaan viral proteins, a nucleocapsid N protein and G1 and G2 glycoproteins. It was not known, however, which of the three RNA species of Hantaan virus, or which segment(s) of such species, encode for each of the N, G1 and G2 proteins.
In the production of immunogenic proteins for vaccination purposes, it is not desirable to include in such vaccines other proteins or substances of unknown effect which may be harmful, e.g., pyrogenic substances. Therefore, to produce immunogenic proteins using genetic engineering techniques, i.e., in vitro techniques to produce DNA molecules containing novel combinations of genes or nucleotide sequences, it is necessary to know precisely which segment of a genome encodes the desired protein. The uncertainty with regard to which segments of the Hantaan viral genome encode the desired proteins can be more fully appreciated by considering what is known about viruses of the Bunyavirus and Phlebovirus genera, other members of the Bunyaviridae family. The Bunyaviruses S-RNA molecules utilize an overlapping reading frame strategy in its cRNA to encode a nucleocapsid N protein and a non-structural ("NS.sub.S ") protein. See Fuller et al, J. Gen. Virol. 64: 1705-1714 (1983). In other words, if the nucleotide sequence for the CRNA of S-RNA species is represented by the formula 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10, the nucleotide sequence encoding the N protein may be represented by the sequence 1-2-3-4-5-6, while the sequence encoding for the NSS protein may be represented by 3-4-5-6-7-8. Therefore, to produce only the N protein of Bunyavirus by genetic engineering techniques, the sequence 1-2-3-4-5-6, but not 7-8, will have to be present.
On the other hand, viruses of the Phlebovirus genus utilize an ambisense coding strategy in their S-RNA: a N protein is encoded by a nucleotide sequence at the 5' end of the cRNA molecule, and a NS.sub.S protein is encoded by a nucleotide sequence at the 5' end of the viral RNA molecule. Synthesis of the N protein by genetic engineering techniques in this instance will require the presence of a nucleotide sequence comprising the 3' end of the viral RNA molecule, while synthesis of the NS.sub.S protein would require the presence of the 5' and of the viral RNA molecule.
In contrast, studies to date on viruses of the Phlebovirus and Bunyavirus genera revealed that a single long open-reading-frame (ORF) coding strategy was employed in their CRNA complementary to M-RNA to encode single gene products comprising both G1 and G2 glycoproteins. In the Bunyaviruses, the M-RNA additionally encodes for a NS.sub.M ("non-structural.sub.M ") polypeptide. In the Phleboviruses, sufficient coding information was found which could produce a NS.sub.M polypeptide, but such polypeptide has not been identified in infected cells. To obtain G1 and G2 glycoproteins but not the NS.sub.M proteins, therefore, the specific nucleotide sequence encoding G1 and G2 glycoproteins will have to be identified so that the sequence encoding for NS.sub.M protein can be excluded.
Based upon the present state of the art, it has been impossible to predict a Priori what coding strategy is utilized in the Hantaan virus, and which segments of its genome comprise the nucleotide sequences that encode the polypeptides corresponding to the immunogenic N protein, and G1 and G2 glycoproteins. In order to produce such proteins without the use of live viruses, however, this information is needed to avoid the production of undesirable proteins.

Nucleotide sequences encoding the expression of a Hantaan virus nucleocapsid protein and G1 and G2 glycoproteins

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army


Recombinant materials for the production of practical amounts of the sweet protein, mabinlin are provided. In addition, transgenic plants which have inherently sweetened edible parts result from modifying native plants containing edible parts to express the mabinlin gene. Single-chain forms of this protein which retain their sweetening property are also provided.

Demand is exceedingly great for sweetening agents which impart minimal caloric value to the foods in which they are contained. Low or noncaloric sweeteners are the key ingredient in low-calorie diets, and are particularly important for persons who are overweight, who are diabetics, or who are particularly susceptible to dental caries. Artificial sweeteners account for $1 billion of the $3.5 billion U.S. food additive market. Several well known compounds have been used, and continue to be used to some extent, as artificial sweeteners including saccharin, cyclamate, acesulfame K (ACK) and aspartame (which is a dipeptide). Aspartame, saccharin and ACK are approved for use in foods in the United States and other compounds such as sucralose and alitame are awaiting approval by the FDA.
In addition to these small molecules, two naturally occurring proteins have been suggested as low-calorie sweeteners, since they are many times sweeter than sugar. Thaumatins I and II are marketed under the brand name Talin.RTM. and are obtained from the fruits of the West African plant Thaumatococcus daniellii. Thaumatin is a nontoxic, noncarcinogenic protein that has a sweetness between 1600 and 3000 times that of sucrose on a weight basis. The other naturally occurring protein, monellin is derived from the "Serendipity Berry" and is 1500-3000 times sweeter than sugar. Both thaumatin and monellin denature at high temperatures, but monellin has been produced in a single-chain form and the single-chain form resists denaturation. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,234,834.
These two proteins and an additional protein, "brazzein" isolated from Pentadiplandra brazzeana Baillon have been manipulated recombinantly. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,346,998 (brazzein), PCT publications WO 85/01746 and WO 87/03007, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,771,000; 4,891,316; 4,966,842; and 5,221,624 (thaumatins) and EP 374157 B1 (single-chain monellin). Refolding of recombinant thaumatin has been described in European patent EP 255823 B, and single-chain monellin has been produced in transgenic plants to confer inherent sweetness (PCT application WO 92/01790). A yeast expression system for single-chain monellin has also been described in WO 90/07580.
The sweetener protein that forms the subject of the present invention, mabinlin (MBL), is derived from the seeds of Capparis masaikai. It is a heterodimer and exists in at least five isoforms. The complete amino acid sequence of one of these isoforms, mabinlin II (MBLII), was described by Liu, X. et al. Eur J Biochem (1993) 211:281-287. According to this article, the A chain of mabinlin II contains 33 amino acids; the B chain contains 72. The article shows that MBLII has considerable homology with a 2S seed storage protein 3(AT2S3) derived from A. thaliana. The dipeptide is water-soluble and is approximately 400 times sweeter than sucrose. Despite being a heterodimer, it exhibits high heat stability and is still sweet after 48 hours at 85.degree. C.
The complete amino acid sequence of three other isoforms, I-1, III and IV were reported by Nirasawa et al., Eur J Biochem (1994) 223:989-995. As described by this article, there is a high degree of sequence identity among the amino acid sequences of these isoforms. MBLIII and IV, like MBLII, are heat stable while MBLI-1 is sensitive to high temperature treatment; i.e., loss of sweet activity after 1 hour incubation at 80.degree. C.
The present invention provides recombinant materials for the production of mabinlin in practical amounts and for the production of transgenic plants containing inherently sweet edible parts by virtue of production of mabinlin in situ. Furthermore, production of single-chain mabinlin is provided.


A vehicle engine cooling pipeline arrangement has a water pipe with a radiator pipe section and a heater pipe section to which a radiator outlet hose and a heater outlet hose are respectively connected, and a pump pipe section which integrates the radiator and heater pipe sections and is connected to the water pump. The heater pipe section is provided under the exhaust manifold. The pipeline allows improved warming of the engine and can be used with various transmission types.

An engine as mounted in a vehicle is cooled by air or water to maintain an appropriate operation temperature. In the water-cooling method, the engine is cooled by circulating a coolant using a water pump and a thermostat between the water jacket of the engine and the radiator.
FIG. 7 shows a conventional vehicle engine coolant pipeline using the water-cooling method. In FIG. 7, 102 is a vehicle engine, and 104 is a water jacket associated with the engine. The engine 102 includes a radiator 106 for cooling the hot coolant received from the water jacket 104; a water pump 108 for circulating the coolant at a high pressure; a thermostat 110 for admitting or stopping the circulation of the coolant to the radiator 106 depending on the temperature of the coolant; and a heater core 112 for heating a passenger compartment (not shown in FIG. 7) of the vehicle.
The radiator 106 and thermostat 110 are connected to each other through a radiator inlet hose 114 and a radiator outlet hose 116. The water pump 108 and the thermostat 110 are connected to each other through a water pipe 118. A heater inlet hose 120 connects the thermostat 110 and the heater core 112 to each other. A heater outlet hose 122 connects core 112 and the water pipe 118 to each other.
When the temperature of the coolant is equal to or lower than a preset temperature, the thermostat 110 closes and stops the circulation of the coolant in the radiator 106. The coolant flows from the water jacket 104 to the heater inlet hose 120, the heater core 112, and the heater outlet hose 122, and then through the water pipe 118 to the water pump 108 and back into the water jacket 104. On the other hand, when the coolant temperature is higher than the preset temperature, the thermostat 110 opens to admit the circulation of the coolant into the radiator 106. The coolant flows from the water jacket 104 to the radiator inlet hose 114, the radiator 106, the radiator outlet hose 116, the water pipe 118, the water pump 108 and back into the water jacket 104. At the same time, the coolant also circulates through the heater core 112 as described above.
FIG. 8 shows another conventional vehicle engine coolant pipeline, wherein 202 is a vehicle engine, 204 is a water jacket. The vehicle engine 202 includes a radiator 206 for cooling the coolant of the water jacket 204; a water pump 208 for circulating the coolant at a high pressure; a thermostat 210 for admitting or stopping the circulation of the coolant to the radiator 206 depending on the temperature of the coolant; and a heater core 212 for heating a passenger compartment (not shown in FIG. 8) of the vehicle.
A radiator inlet hose 214 connects the radiator 206 and thermostat 210 to each other. A radiator outlet hose 216, a water pipe 217, and a water hose 218 connect the radiator 206 and the water pump 208 to each other. The water hose 218 is connected to the water pump 208. A heater inlet hose 220 connects the thermostat 210 and a heater core 212 to each other. A heater outlet hose 222 connects the heater core 212 and the water pipe 217 to each other.
When the temperature of the coolant is equal to or lower than a preset temperature, the thermostat 210 closes and stops the circulation of the coolant to the radiator 206. Then the coolant flows from the water jacket 204 to the heater inlet hose 220, the heater core 212, the heater outlet hose 222, the water pipe 217, and the water hose 218 to the water pump 208 and back into the water jacket 204. On the other hand, when the temperature of the coolant is higher than the preset temperature, the thermostat 210 opens to admit the circulation of the coolant to the radiator 206. Then the coolant flows from the water jacket 204 to the radiator inlet hose 214, the radiator 206, the radiator outlet hose 216, the water pipe 217, the water hose 218, the water pump 208, and back into the water jacket 204. At the same time, the coolant also circulates through the heater core 212 as described above.
In the arrangement of FIG. 7, since the water pipe 118 connecting the water pump 108 to the thermostat 110 is provided under an exhaust manifold 124 of the engine, the exhaust heat heats the coolant pipeline. This may cause a problem when the vehicle engine is operating in a warm or heated condition. Furthermore, since the thermostat 110 is connected to the radiator inlet hose 114, the radiator outlet hose 116, and the water pipe 118 in the coolant pipeline shown in FIG. 7, the structure of a thermo-case 126 is complicated.
As to the arrangement of FIG. 8, since the radiator 206 is connected to the water pump 208 through the radiator outlet hose 216, water pipe 217, and water hose 218, the coolant pipeline is a long pipe of several parts. Furthermore, since the coolant pipeline shown in FIG. 8 normally has the water pipe 217 fixed to the vehicle transmission (not shown in FIG. 8), and since different types of transmissions are connected to the engine 202, this may require using different shapes of water pipes, thereby increasing the cost of the cooling system.


Disclosed is a method for supplying a granular raw material for reduced iron in which when the granular raw material is fed into a hopper and from there supplied onto a hearth of a movable hearth furnace through a material supplying device, the material supplying device is moved vertically to thereby adjust the gap between the lower end of the material supplying device and the hearth. Thus, the amount of granular raw material supplied onto the hearth of the movable hearth furnace is adjustable. Further, granular raw material is dispersed in the hearth width direction over the entire surface of the hearth of the movable hearth furnace with minimal breakage or pulverization of the granular raw material for reduced iron and leveled by a spiral vane rotated on the downstream side, with respect to a hearth moving direction, of a material discharge outlet of the material supplying device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for supplying a granular raw material for reduced iron, whose main components are carbonaceous material as reductant and iron oxide, onto a hearth and, in particular, to a method and an apparatus for supplying a granular raw material for reduced iron in which the supply amount of such a material is adjusted or a leveling method and a leveler for dispersing and leveling such a material over an entire hearth when supplying the material to a reduction furnace for reduction.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, when supplying a pellet-like or briquette-like granular raw material for reduced iron, whose main components are carbonaceous material as reductant and iron oxide, to a movable-hearth furnace, the granular raw material for reduced iron, which is obtained through granulation by a granulating machine, is dried by a drying furnace, and then supplied onto the hearth of the movable-hearth furnace by conveying it by a supplying apparatus, such as a belt conveyor or an oscillating conveyor. To adjust the supply amount, the conveying speed of the belt conveyor or the frequency of the oscillating conveyor is adjusted.
A means for supplying a granular raw material for reduced iron other than belt conveyors or oscillating conveyors is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,885,521. As shown in FIG. 8, which is a schematic side view of a supplying apparatus, showing a material to be supplied and a pellet leveler, in the supply means as disclosed in the above-mentioned U.S. patent, a granular raw material for reduced iron dried by a drying furnace is supplied to a hearth 36 of a rotary hearth furnace, which is a movable-hearth furnace, through a supply pipe 102, which is perpendicular to the hearth. By means of a pellet leveler 104 (adjustable gate) provided on a side surface of the forward end portion of the pipe 102, which serves as a leveling means, the gap of the discharge outlet is adjusted.
In the drawing, numeral 112 indicates a leveler, serving as a leveling means like the leveler 104. The leveler 112 levels the granular raw material for reduced iron to a single or double layer depth.
The supply amount adjusting means which adjusts the amount of granular raw material for reduced iron supplied onto the hearth by adjusting the conveying speed of the belt conveyor or the frequency of the oscillating conveyor, has the following problems to be solved. During normal operation, the amount of the material discharged from the granulating machine and the drier fluctuates greatly, so that it is difficult to control with high accuracy the amount of the material supplied onto the hearth of the movable-hearth furnace. When the supply amount fluctuates, the operating conditions for the furnace fluctuates due to variation in the heat load of the burner. Further, the number of layers of the material laid on the hearth fluctuates, and the material heating condition varies, resulting in a deterioration in the quality of the reduced iron to be obtained as the product.
When an oscillating conveyor is used for conveying the granular raw material for reduced iron, the material will be broken or pulverized due to the oscillation during the conveyance or the shock as a result of falling onto the hearth. This makes it impossible for reduction to be effected to a sufficient degree, resulting in a deterioration in the quality of the granular reduced iron obtained as the product. Further, a part of the powder generated will be scattered in the flue gas as a secondary dust, resulting in a reduction in yield. Further it is to be noted that, for effective utilization of the secondary dust, it is desirable for the amount of metal, such as zinc or lead, which is evaporated from the material as a result of the heating and reduction in the furnace, to be large. However, since the powder of the material is mixed with the secondary dust, the value of the secondary dust deteriorates.
When the movable-hearth furnace is a rotary hearth furnace, the supplied granular raw material for reduced iron goes around inside the furnace before it is discharged to the exterior of the furnace as granular reduced iron, so that the discharge position for the granular reduced iron is close to the supply position for the material. Of course, the interior of the furnace must be maintained at high temperature by combustion gas or the like, and negative pressure is maintained in the interior of the furnace so that the high-temperature gas or unburned gas may not leak to the exterior of the furnace. However, when a belt conveyor or an oscillating conveyor is used as the supply amount adjusting means, a large gap must be provided at the supply inlet for the material. Thus, outside air is allowed to enter through this gap, and the granular reduced iron undergoes oxidation again, resulting in a deterioration in the quality of the granular reduced iron.
On the other hand, when the above-mentioned pellet leveler, provided on a side surface of the forward end portion of the material supply means, is used as the supply amount adjusting means, the above problem experienced with the belt conveyor or the oscillating conveyor may be mitigated to some degree. However, it cannot be called satisfactory since it does not help to adjust the supply amount of the granular raw material for reduced iron with high accuracy. That is, although the gap can be adjusted, it is not possible to adjust the gap during operation, and the amount of the material supplied onto the hearth is adversely affected, for the fluctuation in the amount of material discharged from the drier and the fluctuation in the average size of the material cannot be coped with. When the pellet leveler is provided at a fixed position, without undergoing vertical fine adjustment, the pellet leveler is mounted in such a way as to hinder a part of the flow of the material, so that the thinner the material layer on the hearth, the larger the degree to which the material collapses, resulting in an increase in the amount of material in the form of powder or pieces.
Further, a granular raw material for reduced iron contains oily components, such as tar or oil as in the case of coal or ironworks dust, and the oily component adheres to the inner wall of the supply pipe, which is at high temperature due to radiation heat from the hearth, and grows gradually. As a result, the discharge of the material from the pipe is hindered, and the pipe is clogged in the end, making it impossible to adjust the supply amount of the material with high accuracy.
Accordingly, it is a first object of the present invention to provide a supply amount adjusting method and a supply device for a granular raw material for reduced iron in which it is possible to prevent intrusion of outside air into the furnace and breaking or pulverization of the granular raw material for reduced iron and in which the gap is adjust from outside the movable hearth furnace, thereby making it possible to adjust with high accuracy the amount of granular raw material for reduced iron supplied onto the hearth of the furnace.
In the supply amount adjusting method for a granular raw material for reduced iron of the present invention, when feeding the granular raw material for reduced iron into the material receiving hopper and supplying it onto the hearth of the movable hearth furnace from the material receiving hopper through a material supply means, preferably, a cylindrical member, the material supply means is moved vertically to thereby adjust the gap between the lower end of the material supply device and the hearth.
In this case, the fluctuation in the amount of granular raw material for reduced iron fed into the material receiving hopper is absorbed, and the interior of the material supply means is maintained in a condition in which it is filled with the granular raw material for reduced iron, that is, substantially in an enclosed state, so that it is possible to reduce the amount of outside air allowed to enter the movable hearth furnace. Further, the gap between the lower end of the material supply means and the hearth can be adjusted, whereby it is possible to adjust with high accuracy the amount of granular raw material for reduced iron supplied onto the hearth of the movable hearth furnace. Further, as stated above, the interior of the supply means is filled with granular raw material for reduced iron, so that it is possible to reduce the speed at which the granular raw material for reduced iron is dropped onto the hearth.
It is desirable to cool the above-mentioned cylindrical member.
When the material supply means is at high temperature, the oily component contained in the granular raw material for reduced iron adheres to the inner wall of the cylindrical member serving as the material supply means, so that the discharge of the granular raw material for reduced iron from the cylindrical member is gradually hindered, and there is the danger of the member being eventually clogged. However, since the cylindrical member is cooled, no oily component adheres to the inner wall of the cylindrical member.
The supply device for a granular raw material for reduced iron of the present invention for realizing the above supply amount adjusting method, comprises a material receiving hopper for receiving the granular raw material for reduced iron, a material supply means for supplying the granular raw material for reduced iron received by the material receiving hopper onto the hearth of a movable hearth furnace, and a gap adjusting means for vertically moving the material supply means to thereby adjust the gap between the lower end of the material supply means and the hearth.
In the above-described supply device for a granular raw material for reduced iron, it is further desirable to provide a cooling means for cooling the material supply means, preferably the cylindrical member.
Next, a second object of the present invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for leveling a granular raw material for reduced iron which do not adversely affect the productivity of the granular reduced iron, and in which there is no fear of the granular raw material for reduced iron being broken or pulverized, making it possible to reliably disperse and level the granular raw material for reduced iron supplied to the movable hearth furnace over the entire surface of the hearth.
In the method of leveling a granular raw material for reduced iron of the present invention, the granular raw material for reduced iron is supplied onto the hearth of a movable hearth furnace through a material supply means, and the granular raw material for reduced iron on the hearth is moved in the hearth width direction by rotating a spiral vane on the downstream side of the material discharge outlet for discharging the granular raw material for reduced iron from the material supply means with respect to the hearth moving direction, dispersing and leveling the material on the hearth surface.
In this case, the granular raw material for reduced iron on the hearth is moved in the hearth width direction by a rotating spiral vane, whereby the granular raw material for reduced iron on the hearth can be dispersed in the hearth width direction.
It is desirable to control the apparatus such that when the amount of the granular raw material for reduced iron supplied from the material supply means is increased or the average diameter thereof is increased, the distance between the hearth and the spiral vane is increased, and that when the supply amount is reduced or the average diameter of the material is reduced, the distance between the hearth and the spiral vane is reduced.
In this case, it is possible to disperse the granular raw material for reduced iron in the hearth width direction without applying an excessive crushing force thereto.
It is desirable to move the granular raw material for reduced iron supplied from the material supply means toward both ends from a position near the center with respect to the hearth width direction by means of the spiral vane.
It is desirable to move the granular raw material for reduced iron supplied from the material supply means toward both ends with respect to the hearth width direction to disperse it, using the material supply means or a position near the center of the material discharge outlet as a movement junction.
Further, it is desirable to cool the rotation shaft around which the spiral vane is provided.
An apparatus for realizing the method for leveling a granular raw material for reduced iron comprises a material supply means for supplying a granular raw material for reduced iron onto a hearth of a movable hearth furnace, and a granular raw material for reduced iron leveling means arranged on the downstream side of a material discharge outlet through which the granular raw material for reduced iron is discharged from the material supply means with respect to a hearth moving direction and adapted to disperse and level the granular raw material for reduced iron supplied onto the hearth over the upper surface of the hearth, wherein the leveling means comprises a rotation shaft rotated in the movable hearth furnace, a leveling member provided in the outer periphery of the rotation shaft and consisting of a spiral vane for moving the granular raw material for reduced iron on the hearth in the hearth width direction, and a rotating device for rotating the rotation shaft.
It is desirable for the rotation shaft to be supported so as to be vertically movable by a shaft raising/lowering device.
In this case, it is possible to raise or lower the shaft in accordance with the increase/decrease speed of the supply amount of the granular raw material for reduced iron or the variation speed of the average diameter of the material, whereby it is possible to disperse the material in the hearth width direction without applying an excessive crushing force to the granular raw material for reduced iron.
It is desirable for the spiral vane to be composed of a left-turn vane and a right-turn vane.
In this case, it is possible to move the granular raw material for reduced iron supplied from the material supply means toward both ends from a position near the center of the hearth with respect to the hearth width direction to disperse the material.
It is desirable for the left-turn vane and the right-turn vane of the spiral vane to be separated at the material supply means or at a position near the center of the material discharge outlet.
In this case, the reduced iron material supplied from the material supply means can be moved to both ends with respect to the hearth width direction to disperse the material, using the material supply means or a position near the center of the material discharge outlet as a movement junction.
Further, it is desirable to provide the leveling member with a cooling means for cooling the rotation shaft.
In this case, the thermal expansion of the rotation shaft of the cooling member is restrained by cooling, and the rotation of the leveling member is not hindered, so that it is possible to continue to cause the leveling member to rotate smoothly during the operation of reducing the granular raw material for reduced iron.
Further, by applying the leveling method and leveling apparatus according to the second aspect of the invention to the method and apparatus for supplying a granular raw material for reduced iron according to the first aspect of the invention, it is possible to advantageously achieve a synergistic effect.

Method and apparatus for supplying granular raw material for reduced iron

Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)


Reducing a standby period of time for printing includes: registering at least one item of network print information in a host computer; detecting the network printer information registered in the host computer if a command for printing has been selected; transmitting a command for requesting the network printers to transmit information concerning the amount of standby print operations using detected network printer information; evaluating the received information concerning the amount of the standby print operations; detecting a network printer having the least amount of standby print operations and transmitting print data to the detected network printer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to reducing standby time for printers. More specifically, the invention concerns a method and system and program storage device for reducing standby time for printing in a set of networked printers.
2. Description of the Related Art
As known to those skilled in the art, a network is a communication structure in which two or more communication apparatuses are interconnected for the purpose of data communication and serves to transmit data between interconnected apparatuses. In this structure, transmitting and switching apparatuses as well as computers are interconnected by a communication line. Networks include the Internet, Local Area Networks (LANs) and Wide Area Networks (WANs). The Internet is a network in which networks are interconnected all over the world. LAN is a network in which communication apparatuses are interconnected in a local area. A WAN is a network in which communication apparatuses are interconnected in a wide area.
As computer networking technology developed and services using the technology increased, the operating systems for computers progressed to Network Operating System (NOS) and Distributed Operating System (DOS).
A printer is an apparatus that receives print data from data transmitting apparatuses such as personal computers and prints the print data in the form of a document. Printers include network printers and computer-connected printers. The former has a network card for allowing network communication to be possible.
When two or more network printers and at least one host computer are connected to a network, the user of the host computer may select one of the network printers and utilizes the selected network printer for a print operation. When a print operation is required to be performed for the host computer, print data are transmitted from the host computer to the selected network printer. The selected network printer performs the print operation using the print data that are transmitted from the host computer.
When there are a large amount of print operations in the selected network printer that received the print data, the selected network printer detects the network printer of the same type among the other network printers and relays the print data received from the host computer. The detected network printer performs the print operation using the print data that are transmitted from the host computer.
Exemplars of the art are Gase et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,580,177 entitled PRINTER/CLIENT NETWORK WITH CENTRALLY UPDATED PRINTER DRIVERS AND PRINTER STATUS MONITORING; Lobiondo U.S. Pat. No. 5,287,194 entitled DISTRIBUTED PRINTING; Nardozzi U.S. Pat. No. 5,179,637 entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING PRINT JOBS AMONG A NETWORK OF IMAGE PROCESSORS AND PRINT ENGINES; Sasaki U.S. Pat. No. 5,228,118 entitled PRINTING SYSTEM WHEREIN ONE OF PRINTER DRIVERS THROUGH WHICH PRINT DATA IS SENT FROM A DATA PROCESSOR TO A PRINTER IS SELECTED BASED ON INTERPRETERS AVAILABLE ON THE PRINTER; and Akabori et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,940,582 entitled DATA PRINTING SYSTEM AND METHOD, AND A CONTROLLER AND PRINTER THEREFOR.
The art has failed, however, to combine the instantaneous backlog of work distributed among network computers and to prioritize the assignment of forthcoming printing jobs on the basis of net distribution. Consequently, since a print operation must be performed in a network printer selected by a host computer in which the print operation is required to be performed even though one or more network printers are connected to a network, a standby period of time is lengthy when a large amount of print operations are in the selected network printer. Additionally, when a print operation is performed in such a way that a selected network printer relays print data to another network printer and the latter network printer performs the print operation using the print data, the efficiency and applicability of print operation suffers because only a network printer of the same type can be selected for this case.


A rear center cover is disposed in contact with a seat edge portion and a rear end portion of a passenger seat in a tandem seat. A pair of left and right grab rails are disposed overlapping the seat edge portion in a plan view, i.e., disposed overlapping the seat edge portion and the rear center cover from above in such a way as to cover the portion connecting the rear center cover. A rear portion extends to the upper side of a recessed portion. The lower surface of the rear portion is in intimate contact with the upper side. The rear portion covers the portion connecting the rear center cover and the seat edge portion and reinforces the rear center cover.

Among motorcycles, which are saddle-ride type vehicles, there are ones in which grab rails for a passenger to grab are disposed on lateral sides of a passenger seat and attached to lateral sides of seat rails forming a vehicle body frame (see Japanese Patent No. 4097279). Moreover, covering an upper part of the vehicle body behind the seat with a rear-vehicle-body cover has been publicly known.