The invention provides compositions and processes for the production of ordered and repetitive antigen or antigenic determinant arrays. The compositions of the invention are useful for the production of vaccines for the prevention of infectious diseases, the treatment of allergies and the treatment of cancers. Various embodiments of the invention provide for a virus, virus-like particle, viral capsid particle, phage or recombinant form thereof coated with any desired antigen in a highly ordered and repetitive fashion as the result of specific interactions. In one specific embodiment, a versatile new technology based on a cassette-type system (AlphaVaccine Technology) allows production of antigen coated viral particles. Other specific embodiments allow the production of antigen coated hepatitis B virus-like particles or antigen coated Measles virus-like particles.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to the fields of molecular biology, virology, immunology and medicine. The invention provides a composition comprising an ordered and repetitive antigen or antigenic determinant array. The invention also provides a process for producing an antigen or antigenic determinant in an ordered and repetitive array. The ordered and repetitive antigen or antigenic determinant is useful in the production of vaccines for the treatment of infectious diseases, the treatment of allergies and as a pharmaccine to prevent or cure cancer and to generate defined self-specific antibodies.
2. Related Art
Vaccine development for the prevention of infectious disease has had the greatest impact on human health of any medical invention. It is estimated that three million deaths per year are prevented worldwide by vaccination (Hillemann, Nature Medicine 4:507 (1998)). The most common vaccination strategy, the use of attenuated (i.e. less virulent) pathogens or closely related organisms, was first demonstrated by Edward Jenner in 1796, who vaccinated against smallpox by the administration of a less dangerous cowpox virus. Although a number of live attenuated viruses (e.g. measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, adenovirus, polio, influenza) and bacteria (e.g. bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) against tuberculosis) are successfully administered for vaccination, there is a risk for the development of serious complications related to a reversion to virulence and infection by the 'vaccine' organism, in particular in immunocompromised individuals.
The specific design of attenuated viruses is now enabled by recombinant DNA technology (i.e., genetic engineering) through the generation of deletion or mutation variants. For example, the administration of an engineered Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV) with a deletion within the nef gene was shown to protect macaques from subsequent infection with a pathogenic SIV strain (Daniel et al., Science 258:1938–1941 (1992)). However, the progression of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-like symptoms in animals administered attenuated SIV raises safety concerns (Baba et al., Science 267:1820–1825 ((1995)).
As an alternative approach, attenuated viruses or bacteria may be used as carriers for the antigen-encoding genes of a pathogen that is considered too unsafe to be administered in an attenuated form (e.g., Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)). Upon delivery of the antigen-encoding gene to the host, the antigen is synthesized in situ. Vaccinia and related avipox viruses have been used as such carriers for various genes in preclinical and clinical studies for a variety of diseases (e.g., Shen et al., Science 252:440 (1991)). One disadvantage of this vaccination strategy is that it does not mimic the virion surface, because the recombinant protein is expressed on the surface of the host cell. Additionally, complications may develop in immunocompromised individuals, as evidenced by life-threatening disseminated vaccinia infections (Redfield, N. Eng. J. Med. 316:673 ((1998)).
A fourth vaccination approach involves the use of isolated components of a pathogen, either purified from the pathogen grown in vitro (e.g. influenza hemagglutinin or neuraminidase) or after heterologous expression of a single viral protein (e.g. hepatitis B surface antigen). For example, recombinant, mutated toxins (detoxified) are used for vaccination against diphtheria, tetanus, cholera and pertussis toxins (Levine et al., New generation vaccines, 2nd edn., Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York 1997), and recombinant proteins of HIV (gp120 and full-length gp160) were evaluated as a means to induce neutralizing antibodies against HIV with disappointing results (Connor et al., J. Virol. 72:1552 (1998)). Recently, promising results were obtained with soluble oligomeric gp160, that can induce CTL response and elicit antibodies with neutralizing activity against HIV-1 isolates (Van Cortt et al., J. Virol. 71:4319 (1997)). In addition, peptide vaccines may be used in which known B- or T-cell epitopes of an antigen are coupled to a carrier molecule designed to increase the immunogenicity of the epitope by stimulating T-cell help. However, one significant problem with this approach is that it provides a limited immune response to the protein as a whole. Moreover, vaccines have to be individually designed for different MHC haplotypes. The most serious concern for this type of vaccine is that protective antiviral antibodies recognize complex, three-dimensional structures that cannot be mimicked by peptides.
A more novel vaccination strategy is the use of DNA vaccines (Donnelly et al., Ann. Rev. Immunol. 15:617 (1997)), which may generate MHC Class I-restricted CTL responses (without the use of a live vector). This may provide broader protection against different strains of a virus by targeting epitopes from conserved internal proteins pertinent to many strains of the same virus. Since the antigen is produced with mammalian post-translational modification, conformation and oligomerization, it is more likely to be similar or identical to the wild-type protein produced by viral infection than recombinant or chemically modified proteins. However, this distinction may turn out to be a disadvantage for the application of bacterial antigens, since non-native post-translational modification may result in reduced immunogenicity. In addition, viral surface proteins are not highly organized in the absence of matrix proteins.
In addition to applications for the prevention of infectious disease, vaccine technology is now being utilized to address immune problems associated with allergies. In allergic individuals, antibodies of the IgE isotype are produced in an inappropriate humoral immune response towards particular antigens (allergens). The treatment of allergies by allergy immunotherapy requires weekly administration of successively increasing doses of the particular allergen over a period of up to 3–5 years. Presumably, 'blocking' IgG antibodies are generated that intercept allergens in nasal or respiratory secretions or in membranes before they react with IgE antibodies on mast cells. However, no constant relationship exists between IgG titers and symptom relief. Presently, this is an extremely time- and cost-consuming process, to be considered only for patients with severe symptoms over an extended period each year.
It is well established that the administration of purified proteins alone is usually not sufficient to elicit a strong immune response; isolated antigen generally must be given together with helper substances called adjuvants. Within these adjuvants, the administered antigen is protected against rapid degradation, and the adjuvant provides an extended release of a low level of antigen.
Unlike isolated proteins, viruses induce prompt and efficient immune responses in the absence of any adjuvants both with and without T-cell help (Bachmann & Zinkernagel, Ann. Rev. Immunol. 15:235–270 (1997)). Although viruses often consist of few proteins, they are able to trigger much stronger immune responses than their isolated components. For B cell responses, it is known that one crucial factor for the immunogenicity of viruses is the repetitiveness and order of surface epitopes. Many viruses exhibit a quasi-crystalline surface that displays a regular array of epitopes which efficiently crosslinks epitope-specific immunoglobulins on B cells (Bachmann & Zinkernagel, Immunol. Today 17:553–558 (1996)). This crosslinking of surface immunoglobulins on B cells is a strong activation signal that directly induces cell-cycle progression and the production of IgM antibodies. Further, such triggered B cells are able to activate T helper cells, which in turn induce a switch from IgM to IgG antibody production in B cells and the generation of long-lived B cell memory—the goal of any vaccination (Bachmann & Zinkemagel, Ann. Rev. Immunol. 15:235–270 (1997)). Viral structure is even linked to the generation of anti-antibodies in autoimmune disease and as a part of the natural response to pathogens (see Fehr, T., et al., J. Exp. Med. 185:1785–1792 (1997)). Thus, antigens on viral particles that are organized in an ordered and repetitive array are highly immunogenic since they can directly activate B cells.
In addition to strong B cell responses, viral particles are also able to induce the generation of a cytotoxic T cell response, another crucial arm of the immune system. These cytotoxic T cells are particularly important for the elimination of non-cytopathic viruses such as HIV or hepatitis B virus and for the eradication of tumors. Cytotoxic T cells do not recognize native antigens but rather recognize their degradation products in association with MHC class I molecules (Townsend & Bodmer, Ann. Rev. Immunol. 7:601–624 (1989)). Macrophages and dendritic cells are able to take up and process exogenous viral particles (but not their soluble, isolated components) and present the generated degradation product to cytotoxic T cells, leading to their activation and proliferation (Kovacsovics-Bankowski et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90:4942–4946 (1993); Bachmann et al., Eur. J. Immunol. 26:2595–2600 (1996)).
Viral particles as antigens exhibit two advantages over their isolated components: (1) Due to their highly repetitive surface structure, they are able to directly activate B cells, leading to high antibody titers and long-lasting B cell memory; and (2) Viral particles but not soluble proteins are able to induce a cytotoxic T cell response, even if the viruses are non-infectious and adjuvants are absent.
Several new vaccine strategies exploit the inherent immunogenicity of viruses. Some of these approaches focus on the particulate nature of the virus particle; for example see Harding, C. V. and Song, R., (J. Immunology 153:4925 (1994)), which discloses a vaccine consisting of latex beads and antigen; Kovacsovics-Bankowski, M., et al. (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90:4942–4946 (1993)), which discloses a vaccine consisting of iron oxide beads and antigen; U.S. Pat. No. 5,334,394 to Kossovsky, N., et al., which discloses core particles coated with antigen; U.S. Pat. No. 5,871,747, which discloses synthetic polymer particles carrying on the surface one or more proteins covalently bonded thereto; and a core particle with a non-covalently bound coating, which at least partially covers the surface of said core particle, and at least one biologically active agent in contact with said coated core particle (see, e.g., WO/94/15585).
However, a disadvantage of these viral mimicry systems is that they are not able to recreate the ordered presentation of antigen found on the viral surface. Antigens coupled to a surface in a random orientation are found to induce CTL response and no or only weak B-cell response. For an efficient vaccine, both arms of the immune system have to be strongly activated, as described above and in Bachmann & Zinkemagel, Ann. Rev. Immunol. 15:235 (1997).
In another example, recombinant viruses are being utilized for antigen delivery. Filamentous phage virus containing an antigen fused to a capsid protein has been found to be highly immunogenic (see Perham R. N., et al., FEMS Microbiol. Rev. 17:25–31 (1995); Willis et al., Gene 128:85–88 (1993); Minenkova et al., Gene 128:85–88 (1993)). However, this system is limited to very small peptides (5 or 6 amino acid residues) when the fusion protein is expressed at a high level (lannolo et al., J. Mol. Biol. 248:835–844 (1995)) or limited to the low level expression of larger proteins (de la Cruz et al., J. Biol. Chem. 263:4318–4322 (1988)). For small peptides, so far only the CTL response is observed and no or only weak B-cell response.
In yet another system, recombinant alphaviruses are proposed as a means of antigen delivery (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,766,602; 5,792,462; 5,739,026; 5;789,245 and 5,814,482). Problems with the recombinant virus systems described so far include a low density expression of the heterologous protein on the viral surface and/or the difficulty of successfully and repeatedly creating a new and different recombinant viruses for different applications.
In a further development, virus-like particles (VLPs) are being exploited in the area of vaccine production because of both their structural properties and their non-infectious nature. VLPs are supermolecular structures built in a symmetric manner from many protein molecules of one or more types. They lack the viral genome and, therefore, are noninfectious. VLPs can often be produced in large quantities by heterologous expression and can be easily be purified.
Examples of VLPs include the capsid proteins of hepatitis B virus (Ulrich, et al., Virus Res. 50:141–182 (1998)), measles virus (Wames, et al., Gene 160:173–178 (1995)), Sindbis virus, rotavirus (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,071,651 and 5,374,426), foot-and-mouth-disease virus (Twomey, et al., Vaccine 13: 1603–1610, (1995)), Norwalk virus (Jiang, X., et al., Science 250:1580–1583 (1990); Matsui, S. M., et al., J. Clin. Invest. 87:1456–1461 (1991)), the retroviral GAG protein (PCT Patent Appl. No. WO 96/30523), the retrotransposon Ty protein p1, the surface protein of Hepatitis B virus (WO 92/11291) and human papilloma virus (WO 98/15631). In some instances, recombinant DNA technology may be utilized to fuse a heterologous protein to a VLP protein (Kratz, P. A., et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 96: 19151920 (1999)).
Thus, there is a need in the art for the development of new and improved vaccines that promote a strong CTL and B-cell immune response as efficiently as natural pathogens.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Ordered molecular presentation of antigens, method of preparation and use


The invention relates to a snowboard binding for soft boots. The fixing straps can be pivoted by means of a joint from a closed position to an open position close to the opening for entry. The straps are kept in an open position by means of a holding device. The holding power of the holding device stems from the resistance of the joint.

Snowboard bindings for soft boots have a toe strap and an instep strap for fixing the soft boot in place inside the base shell. Both fastening straps are attached, inter alia, by a band of elastic rubber material to the base shell of the binding. Because of this elastic-rubber band, the straps often lie across the entry opening of the binding even when the straps are in open position. To insert the soft boot, the snowboarder must first push the straps to the side with his/her hands to free up the opening. After riding the lift, the snowboarder can use his/her rear foot instead of his/her hand if he/she is adept enough.
Nonetheless, this procedure must be repeated after every lift ride and thus often dozens of times on a single day. This requires quite a lot of effort and is in any case extremely bothersome.
A snowboard binding is already known from DE-C 195 04 026. The fastening straps in that binding are attached to a tilting element, which is linked to the base and spring-loaded in open position. To swivel the fastening straps against the spring force into closed position, the tilting element has a plate-shaped projecting piece on which the snowboarder steps when putting his/her boot into the binding. The known binding is elaborate and prone to malfunction.
The task of the invention is to provide a simply built and rugged snowboard binding which is easier to get into.
This is accomplished in this invention with a snowboard binding with a base attachable to the snowboard featuring an entry opening for the snowboard boot and at least one fastening strap affixed to the base, which strap an articulated joint renders pivotable from the closed position over the entry opening into the open position next to the entry opening, in which position the strap is held by a holding device with a holding force that must be overcome to close the fastening strap, characterized by the holding force of the holding device being created by a resistance of the articulated joint which resistance must be overcome when the fastening strap is swiveled from the closed position into the open position.
In this invention, the fold-up fastening straps do not prevent re-entry into the base shell of the binding. Instead, the strap, when opened and swiveled to the side, is set so that it can no longer cover the entry opening.
The holding device is made up of an articulated joint that connects the fastening strap to the base. The articulated joint can be attached to the base, e.g. with a rivet, so it pivots around an axis running transversely to the binding. The holding force of the holding device which holds the fastening strap in the open position is produced by a resistance, or dead point, which must be overcome when the fastening strap is swiveled from the closed position to the open position and vice versa. The fastening strap is normally swiveled manually.
If the articulated joint is a hinged joint or a similar type of rotating joint, this resistance can take the form, for example, of increased frictional resistance of the articulated joint occurring in a swiveled position of the articulated joint corresponding to the open position of the fastening strap. When this frictional force is overcome, the strap is securely lodged in the open position, as the frictional force must also be overcome to move the strap from the open position to the closed position. An uncontrolled or unintentional movement of the fastening strap from the open to the closed position is thus practically excluded.
The holding force can consist exclusively of the increased frictional force of the articulated joint or, if an additional spring is provided for, of the increased frictional force plus the spring force.
The increased frictional force can be produced by a cam or a similar kind of eccentricity on at least one articulated joint, which acts upon a mating-surface on the other articulated joint part. The cam can be placed on the hinged part on which the strap is to be attached and the mating-surface can be provided for on the hinged part which is fastened to the base, or vice versa. One of the hinged parts can be attached, for example, with a rivet to the base so it can pivot around the said transverse axis. A catch or the like can also be provided for in one hinged part and an appropriate projecting part on the other hinged part.
Owing to the increased frictional force, a dead point must thus be overcome when the fastening strap is moved from the closed to the open position and vice versa. A dead point of this kind can also be created in another way. For example, the articulated joint can take the form of an elastic strip with a convex cross section, which buckles when the fastening strap is swiveled into the open position after resistance is overcome. The appropriately curved strip can be made of steel, in particular spring steel, of plastic or of another elastic material.
These types of elastic strips with a convex cross section are known, for example, from children's toys, from what is referred to as frog toys, which make a clicking noise whenever the strip buckles.
Although frequent mention is made above to only one strap, it is understood that the soft boot snowboard binding constituting this invention normally has several straps. Specifically, it usually has one strap going over the toe area of the snowboard boot and one strap going over the instep, i.e. the tarsus area. Both the toe strap and the instep strap can have a buckle for fastening a strip which is attached to the base at the other side of the entry opening. In these cases, the buckle can be a ratcheting buckle and the strip can be a ratcheting strip.
This strip or ratcheting strip attached to the other side of the entry opening can likewise be a fastening strap which lies over the entry opening in closed position and whose other end is attached to the base on one side of the entry opening in such a way that it can be swiveled into the open position. In accordance with this invention, this fastening strap can also be provided with a holding device which holds the strap with a holding force that must be overcome in order to move the strap into closed position.
The base for the snowboard binding constituting this invention is known per se, i.e. it forms a shell, and thus has a base shell which is attachable to the snowboard and a highback which can be connected to the base shell by means of a heel cup, for example.
The snowboard binding constituting this invention is explained in greater detail below using a drawing by way of example. Therein, the following is shown:


A connector is attachable to an object and connectable to a card inserted rearward. The connector has a predetermined portion which is located at a position same as that of an upper surface of the object. The connector comprises a housing and a contact. The contact has a held portion and a spring portion. The held portion is held by the housing. The spring portion has a contact portion and a guide portion. The contact portion is located forward of the held portion. The guide portion is located forward of the contact portion. When the card is inserted in the connector, the contact portion is brought into contact with the card. In the meantime, the guide portion is moved downward without being brought into contact with any part of the connector, and at least a part of the guide portion is located below the predetermined portion.

This invention relates to a connector to be connected to a card such as a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card.
For example, this type of card connector is disclosed in JP-B 4385047 (Patent Document 1), the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
As shown in FIG. 23, the card connector of Patent Document 1 comprises an accommodation portion and a plurality of contacts. The accommodation portion accommodates a card inserted into the card connector along an insertion direction. The contacts are arranged within the accommodation portion. Each of the contacts has a first fulcrum portion, a first flat spring, a second fulcrum portion and a second flat spring. The first fulcrum portion is constantly in contact with a bottom of the accommodation portion. The first flat spring extends from the first fulcrum portion in an ejection direction opposite to the insertion direction. The second fulcrum portion is located at an end of the first flat spring. The second fulcrum portion is brought into contact with the bottom of the accommodation portion when the first flat spring is bent downward with the first fulcrum portion as fulcrum. The second flat spring extends from the second fulcrum portion in the insertion direction of the card. An end of the second flat spring functions as a contact portion which is to be brought into contact with an electrode of the card.
The contact of the card connector like that of Patent Document 1 needs to be provided with a guide portion in order to be prevented from being buckled upon an abutment with the card. The guide portion needs to be located forward of the contact portion. For example, the second flat spring of Patent Document 1 functions as the guide portion. It is preferable that the guide portion extends long while sloping relative to the insertion direction. On the other hand, a connector, which is to be connected to a micro SIM card or a nano SIM card, is required to be reduced in size depending on a size of the card. Moreover, as the size of the card becomes smaller, a position of the electrode of the card needs to be nearer to the end of the card. Accordingly, in order for the connector to be reduced in size, the contact portion of the contact needs to be nearer to an insertion opening. When the contact portion is near to the insertion opening, it is difficult to make the guide portion sufficiently long. Thus, when the connector is reduced in size, it is difficult to provide the guide portion having sufficient length.

JAPAN AVIATION ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY, LIMITED


The paint comprises in combination: pigments in a liquid solution chosen from the group of natural colouring earths; binders chosen from the group of milk, milk casein, egg white, egg yolk, starch paste and potato flour; compounds, mixed with said pigments and binders, chosen from the group of borax, kalinite, calcite, kaolin, slaked lime, mica and talc, sea salt and boron salts; and additives chosen from the group of vegetable oils, citrus-fruit juices, wine vinegar and natural waxes.

In the currently produced paints, the binders consist of synthetic polymer resins with extremely long and complex molecules. The polymerisation time of a normal synthetic resin and hence of the film of paint is about 3 weeks. During this period, solvents, bactericides and surfactants which are extremely dangerous for human health and which, in particular in water-based paints--being odourless--manage to produce the most harmful effect, are released into the atmosphere. The gravity of this state of affairs is confirmed by modern medical science which is now universally in agreement in attributing to paints in general, and to drying agents in particular, many of the causes of serious pathological conditions. Of these, different types of tumour, acute allergies, asma, bone disorders, etc., are so recurrent among manufacturers and users of these paints that they are now regarded as professional illnesses true and proper within the sector.
Another disadvantage of these resins consists in the fact that the film formed after drying, although resistant and elastic, with time tends to deteriorate, showing signs of cracking, peeling and crumbling which ruin the aesthetic appearance, adversely affecting the supporting materials and producing dangerous dusts which are inhaled by the occupants of the environment.
The second group of components consists, as mentioned, of pigments. At present the pigments used are of the artificial inorganic type and consist of iron and zinc oxides, and titanium dioxides or organic pigments derived from oil.
All these substances have the disadvantage that they represent a source of environmental pollution.
The third group, finally, consists of fillers, the choice and dosing of which significantly influences the amalgam between binders and pigments, thus also making the paint more resistant, if carefully chosen and suitably dosed.
The most important components of the fillers currently used are natural substances such as (amorphous and crystalline) calcium carbonate, calcites, talcs, gypsum, sand, quarzites, etc. However, nowadays the tendancy to use artificial fillers comprising powders which are coated, calcites, talcs, gypsum, sand, quarzites, etc. However, nowadays the tendancy to use artificial fillers comprising powders which are coated, precipitated or have a completely synthetic structure is becoming increasingly widespread.
Finally, as regards the secondary components, in this case also, the tendancy to use toxic synthetic chemical additives has now become widespread.
A paint composition of the type described in prior art portion of claim 1 (WPI Dervent 81-79092D[43] & SU-A-800154) is known in which the paint comprises in combination:
pigments in liquid solution chosen from the group of naturally colouring earth; PA1 binders chosen from the group of milk, casein, starch paste and potato flour; PA1 compounds, mixed with said pigments and binders, chosen from the group of borax, kalinite, calcite, kaolin, slaked lime, mica and talc, sea salt and boron salts; PA1 additives chosen among groups of substances of natural origin.
With a paint of this kind considerable drawbacks are caused by using of drying oil. The casein implies an acid environment, this favours bacteria proliferation and chemical reaction with calcium carbonate, which further causes color alterations. Therefore, to avoid these problems the paint needs an high quantity of the drying oil is added.
If the quantity of the drying oil is instead low, and the paint is applied on walls with humidity, the humidity tends with time to deteriorate the film formed after paint drying, showing signs of cracking, peeling and crumbling. A percentage of boiled linseed oil (more than 2-3%) darkens the paint.
The drying oil is however obtained only with double boiling process with lead and/or other heavy metals, and by using also additives as naphthenes or similar compounds derived from oil cracking. All these materials used during the driving process are health dangerous and no compatible with ecological environment.
In accordance with the invention, these problems are resolved by means of a paint in which all the components, i.e. pigments, binders, fillers and additives, are chosen in combination with each other from substances and products which can be easily found in nature and are such as to cause a minimum impact on the ecosystem.


The present invention relates to a novel process for the preparation of aminodiarylazo compounds by reducing nitrodiarylazo compounds using 1,2-alkanediols or 1,2-aminoalkanols.

The present invention relates to a novel process for the preparation of aminodiarylazo compounds by reducing nitrodiarylazo compounds using 1,2-alkanediols or 1,2-aminoalkanols. The novel process is particularly environmentally compatible and gives the desired compounds in good yields.
It is known that nitrodiarylazo compounds can be converted into the corresponding trisazo- or disazoazoxy compounds by treating them with sugars, such as glucose. Cf. German Patent Application DE-A 694,965. Surprisingly, it has now been found that substituted nitrodiarylazo compounds can react in a certain way with 1,2-alkanediols or 1,2-aminoalkanols to give the corresponding aminodiarylazo compounds.

Process for the preparation of aminodiarylazo compounds


A method of limiting the quality of service of data transmission in a wireless telecommunications system, in which the quality of service of data transmission is defined by means of quality of service parameters. Subscriber-specific maximum values are defined for the quality of service parameters and stored in a database comprising subscriber data. When the terminal requests connection establishment defined with quality of service parameters, the subscriber-specific maximum values are checked in the database and they are compared with the quality of service parameters requested by the terminal. Depending on whether the quality of service parameters requested by the terminal are within the limits defined by the maximum values of the parameters or whether at least one quality of service parameter requested by the terminal exceeds the maximum value defined for said parameter, either a connection is established or connection establishment is rejected.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method of limiting the quality of service of data transmission in a wireless telecommunications system which comprises at least one terminal and a fixed network which comprises a database for storing subscriber data, the method comprising defining the quality of service of data transmission by means of quality of service parameters.
The invention also relates to a wireless telecommunications system which comprises at least one terminal and a fixed network which comprises a database for storing subscriber data by means of quality of service parameters, the quality of service being defined by means of quality of service parameters in the system.
2. Description of Related Art
In addition to speech services, digital mobile communication systems offer different data services, such as data transmission services and e-mail and Internet connections. Various multi-media services which are used via the mobile communication network are being introduced gradually. Different data services set different requirements on the data transmission connection needed. Successful file transfer, for example, does not set any special requirements on the bit rate or delay of the transmission connection used, whereas real-time video transmission requires a high bit rate as well as minimal delay and number of errors to function properly. To allocate the limited resources of the mobile network optimally to mobile subscribers utilizing various services, special data transmission methods which allow control of the properties of a data transmission connection have been developed for mobile communication networks.
Both circuit-switched and packet-switched data transmission methods have been developed for the European digital GSM mobile communication network (Global System for Mobile Communication), for example. During the past few years the European Telecommunication Standards Institute ETSI has drawn up standards for the GSM 2+ phase which also define a new packet-switched data transmission service known as the GPRS (General Packet Radio Service). The GPRS is a packet network which utilizes the GSM network and in which transmission of data packets on the air interface between the mobile station and the GPRS network is optimized by means of GPRS protocol layers. The network operator and the mobile subscriber can agree on the data rate to be used within a range of 9.6 to 171.2 kbps. The GPRS standards also define quality of service parameters, i.e. QoS parameters, which, in addition to the above-mentioned data rate, include priority between the services, reliability of data transmission (i.e. error ratio) and allowed delay. By controlling these QoS parameters a suitable QoS profile can be selected for each data connection and service to be used. When the mobile user wants to use a certain data service, he may ask for a QoS profile suitable for this data service from the network operator in connection with call set-up. If the mobile communication network can carry out the request made, the network allocates a connection having the desired QoS profile to the mobile station. If the network is unable to allocate a connection which is good enough for the requested QoS profile e.g. because there are not enough resources available, the mobile station has to ask for a connection with a lower QoS profile or wait until a sufficient amount of the network resources becomes available for carrying out the original request. In that case the network operator may charge the mobile subscriber on the basis of the QoS profile used, and naturally, the use of a transmission connection with a better quality costs more than the use of a connection with QoS parameters of a poorer quality.
A problem arises in the arrangement described above when the mobile user and the owner of the mobile subscription (i.e. the one who pays the bill) are different persons. For example, an employee may have a company mobile phone, or parents may pay their children's mobile phone bills. When various data services become differentiated, efficient use of the available services will require transmission connections of very different qualities. The unit prices of these connections also vary considerably. In that case it might be in the interests of the owner of the mobile subscription to limit the costs of the transmission connections to be used to a certain unit price. This is not, however, possible in the existing GPRS system where the mobile user makes a request for the desired quality of the transmission connection to the network and the owner of the mobile subscription cannot influence this in any way. We also face similar problems in other mobile network-based network solutions where the quality parameters of a transmission connection can be changed as desired. These networks include the GSM-based high-speed circuit-switched data service HSCSD and intelligent network solutions IN designed for mobile communication networks.

Method and system for limiting quality of service of data transmission


The present invention allows operating room personnel to easily and expeditiously drape an endoscope. The present invention is preferably made of polyethylene or some other suitable plastic material. The cylindrical drape cartridge itself acts as a shroud and functions as a sterile barrier. The drape cartridge consists of an inner and outer polyethylene tube which retains the polyethylene drape within its walls. The proximal end of the cartridge is mechanically secured by detents and a chamfer that encase a corrugated pattern of the polyethylene drape. The inner tube acts as a mandrel, allowing the drape to be compressed in a manner that accommodates the various lengths of required draping while lessening the bulk of the draping system.

Surgeons are presently utilizing an endoscopic video system to access organs and biopsy sites that previously required more complex surgeries that entailed large incisions. The endoscopic procedures have become a preferable method of accessing the various procedural fields because the large open incisions traumatized surrounding tissue, increased the morbidity rate, and resulted in higher incidences of surgical complications. Complications are lessened by the endoscopic procedure, which results in shorter inpatient hospital stays. This in turn economically benefits the patients.
The endoscopic devices are comprised of an elongated tubular scope, a coupling mechanism that is attached to a camera head, a cable system, and the origin of power. A light source is introduced into the scope to allow visibility for videotaping. In order to maintain a sterile surgical field, the endoscopic device must be sterile or a portion of the scope, the coupling mechanism, the camera and the power source, must be draped by a sterile material. In the past the endoscopic devices, including the camera head and cables, were sterilized. Cables often became worn with repeated Cidex.RTM. soakings. Seals deformed on the cable end fittings, jeopardizing the integrity of the joint. To counteract the wear and tear on expensive operating room equipment and to eliminate the need of costly repairs, cloth material drapes were utilized to prolong the equipment's life expectancy. Now, disposable drapes offer a more cost-effective means of maintaining a sterile barrier.
Surgeons typically use a 4-inch to 6-inch layflat disposal polyethylene tube layered drape. The drape will vary in thickness from 0.0015 inch to 0.003 inch, depending on the manufacturer and the scope that is to be draped. These drapes are pulled on both sides by two persons over the scope. The distal tip of the scope pierces the drape, and the remainder of the drape encases the endoscopic device. The fenestration in the drape near the scope head is hermetically sealed by surgical tape or rubber bands. The surgeons many times have difficulty in grasping the endoscopic device as the drape is loose and awkward.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,767,409 illustrates a catheter shield assembly which includes a front and rear hub, sized to permit the insertion of a catheter. A protective sleeve made of a clear plastic material is collapsed and permanently attached to the rear hub. This protective sleeve and the hub are supported by a clear, rigid, external plastic tube. The external support tube is connected to a front hub. This front hub is connected to a luer lock fitted to the catheter introducer which is inserted into the vein. The external support tubing is extended over the catheter to a position remote from the introducer. The problem with this catheter device is that the collapsible clear plastic tubing is permanently affixed to the front and rear hubs. The external support tubing cannot be disposed of prior to surgery. In fact, this external support is bulky and awkward. The problem with the collapsible plastic tubing is that sterile integrity cannot be maintained. The present invention protects the endoscopes against contaminants through use of the draping system. No external tubes are necessary for sterile protection. The draping cartridge is a disposable dispensing unit that eases application of the draping and is then removed from the procedural field. The cartridge allows substantial lengths of drape to be encapsulated into the cartridge tubing because of the corrugated method of packing the draping.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,078,483 demonstrates a sterile, disposable arthoscopic camera cover comprised of a disposable cover which encases tubular folded layers of film. The cover is formed of a disc-shaped sphere that encircles two elongated tubular walls that contain the longitudinal tubular draping. The arthroscopic cover utilizes longitudinal elongated tubing to encase the scope, whereas the present invention simply contains a corrugated method of packing the drape. The present invention is easier to use, is less time-consuming, and is less complex in its construction.
Accordingly, one of the objects of the present invention is to ease the draping process of the endoscopic equipment. This objective is accomplished by a compressed dispensing shroud. The polyethylene drape is encased within the draping cartridge (the dispensing shroud) so that one person can easily spread the draping material over the endoscopic and achieve an impervious fit.


Briefly, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing system may provide a dynamically calculated cyclic extension, the length of which may be based at least in part on a delay spread due to an experienced environmental condition. The length of the cyclic extension may be calculated by determining a channel impulse response, and then computing the energy distribution of the channel impulse response. The length of the cyclic extension may then be set according to the energy distribution of the channel impulse response.

One common component of an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) system is the cyclic extension of each OFDM symbol. A cyclic extension, or guard interval, may be produced by replicating part of the OFDM symbol and either prepending or appending the replicated segment onto the original symbol. When attached to the frontal portion of the symbol, the cyclic extension may be referred to as a cyclic prefix extension. When attached to the terminal portion of the symbol, the cyclic extension may be referred to as a cyclic postfix extension. For example, given a set of 64 samples, the cyclic extension may be 16 samples. In the case of a prepend, the last 16 samples of the original 64 samples may be prepended to the front of the original 64 samples to result in an 80 sample symbol. In the case of an append, the first 16 samples of the original 64 samples may be appended to the end of the original 64 samples to result in an 80 sample symbol. In either case, taking 64 samples of the 80 sample symbol will result in the original 64 samples by cyclically wrap at the end back to the front if needed. The cyclic extension of an OFDM symbol converts the linear channel convolution into a cyclic convolution. An OFDM receiver exploits the properties of the cyclic convolution to mitigate inter-symbol interference and inter-carrier interference.
While the cyclic extension helps to mitigate channel distortion in an OFDM system, using a cyclic extension involves the transmission of duplicate information, and as such represents an overhead associated with an OFDM transmission scheme. Furthermore, to mitigate the effects of the channel temporal dispersion, the cyclic extension typically is required to be of a duration greater than or equal to the channel memory. For example, in a wireless local area network (WLAN) compliant with an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standard, such as the IEEE 802.11a standard, the cyclic extension is a predetermined length, for example 800 ns, in order to provide immunity to delay spreads up to a maximum of 800 ns. However, under typical conditions, the actual delay spread experienced is often much lower than the predetermined delay spread of 800 ns, thereby resulting in an unnecessary overhead represented by the difference between the predetermined delay spread and the actually experienced delay spread. It would therefore be desirable to provide an OFDM system in which the length of the cyclic extension may be dynamically allocated according to the actually experienced delay spread, rather than being based on the predetermined, maximum, worst case scenario delay spread. Furthermore, since the actually experienced delay spread may be different for different users, it would in addition be desirable to provide a cyclic extension length for each user based upon the actual delay spread experienced by each respective user.
It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements illustrated in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements are exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements.

Dynamic allocation of cyclic extension in orthogonal frequency division multiplexing systems


Systems, methods and machine-readable media operate on configuration data for wagering game machines. A wagering game machine configuration or meter data on a wagering game machine is modified. In response to the modification, the configuration data or meter data is transformed into a displayable code such as a bar code or QR (Quick Response) code. The wagering game machine presents the displayable code on a code display of the wagering game machine. A portable computing device reads the displayable code and uses the displayable code to compare the configuration data with configuration data obtained from other wagering game machines or configuration data obtained from a configuration server.

Wagering game machines, such as slot machines, video poker machines and the like, have been a cornerstone of the gaming industry for several years. Generally, the popularity of such machines depends on the likelihood (or perceived likelihood) of winning money at the machine and the intrinsic entertainment value of the machine relative to other available gaming options. Where the available gaming options include a number of competing wagering game machines and the expectation of winning at each machine is roughly the same (or believed to be the same), players are likely to be attracted to the most entertaining and exciting machines. Shrewd operators consequently strive to employ the most entertaining and exciting machines, features, and enhancements available because such machines attract frequent play and hence increase profitability to the operator. Configuration of a wagering game machine can have a significant impact on the ability for a wagering game machine to attract and support frequent play.

Automatically generated display code for wagering game machine configuration


In a first PHS terminal, a system calling code for identifying a system in which the first PHS terminal is registered and a slave ID number for discriminating the first PHS terminal are stored in advance in an ID chip. While a user is out, he or she sets the ID chip in a second PHS terminal which does not have the same system calling code as that of the first PHS terminal. When the user performs an operation for peer-to-peer communication on the first PHS terminal, the second PHS terminal is called using a controlling physical slot. The second PHS terminal is informed that it is called by discriminating a system calling code and a PS calling number of the physical slot on the basis of the system calling code of the ID chip, and then transmits a response signal to the first PHS terminal based on the system calling code and PS calling number of the ID chip. Thus, peer-to-peer communication can be performed even between radio communication terminals which do not have the same system calling code.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a radio communication system and a radio communication terminal for performing a radio communication between radio communication terminals having system codes.
2. Description of the Related Art
A radio communication system has recently been known to the public, which includes a radio communication terminal carried by a user, such as a portable telephone, a PHS (personal handy-phone system) terminal, a pager, and a PDA (personal digital assistant), for intercommunicating sound and data with another terminal including a commonly-used domestic telephone, and a base station connected to a communication network and communicating with the radio communication terminal to connect the terminal to the network.
In this system, the radio communication terminal is driven by a secondary battery or the like such that it can be carried by a user. The radio communication terminal is capable of storing various types of data items such as callee's telephone numbers and addresses, schedule, and memorandum using characters and sound, and is also capable of transmitting/receiving information (sound, sound data, text data, image data, etc.) to/from another terminal through a telephone network.
As one example of the radio communication system, there is a PHS which is currently put to practical use in Japan. The PHS will now be described for understanding of the radio communication system.
A radio communication terminal of the PHS is employed as a slave of a master (base station) placed in a home. When the terminal is operated outdoors, it is also connected to a communication network through base stations (public and self-supporting stations) connected to the telephone network, with the result that it is allowed to intercommunicate with another terminal. If, furthermore, radio communication terminals are registered as slaves of their common master, peer-to-peer radio communication can be performed between the terminals but not through the base stations.
In the peer-to-peer communication between the radio communication terminals, since the terminals necessitate a system code of their common master, all the terminals have to be brought to the master side for previous registration setting up the relation between the master and slave. In this registration, the slave ID numbers for discriminating the terminals are registered in the master, while a system calling code (part of CS-ID) for discriminating the master is registered in the slaves. In peer-to-peer radio communication between terminals, the system calling code and slave ID numbers are transmitted between the terminals, and it is determined based on the system calling code whether the peer-to-peer radio communication is possible or not. In other words, the peer-to-peer communication cannot be performed unless the system calling codes of the slaves are identical with that of the master.
The above-described radio communication terminals have the following problem. In order to perform the peer-to-peer radio communication between the terminals, all the terminals have to be brought close to their common master and registered so as to correspond to the master. Therefore, the peer-to-peer radio communication cannot be done between a terminal and another terminal which is not registered in the master of the former one or between terminals which are registered in different masters.

Radio communication system and radio communication terminal


Mechanical and electrical power are produced along with synthesis or fuel gas by the partial oxidation process with integrated combustion and steam turbines. By-product vaporized liquefied natural gas for feed to a pipeline for gas consumers is obtained by heat exchange with heat containing streams from the partial oxidation gasification and gas cleaning and purification zone; and optionally from heat containing streams from combustion and/or steam turbine zones which are integrated with said partial oxidation process. Heat from the combustion turbine exhaust gas is used as follows: (1) superheat steam for use in a steam turbine; (2) preheat water saturated clean sulfur-free synthesis or fuel gas with or without supplemental methane enrichment; (3) preheat oxygen gas for said partial oxidation zone; and (4) vaporize LNG. Pre, inter, and after stages of an air compressor are cooled by indirect heat exchange with LNG which is thereby warmed or vaporized.

Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a process for the production of power while using liquefied natural gas (LNG) and synthesis or fuel gas.
Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is generally brought in by tanker from remote sites and traditionally regasified by heat exchange with sea water. It is normally at atmospheric pressure at a temperature of about -240.degree. F. to -270.degree. F. and must be regasified before it can be used as a fuel. A single multi-component motive fluid was used as the liquefied natural gas exchange media in U.S. Pat. No. 3,479,832.
Raw synthesis gas, substantially comprising mixtures of H.sub.2, CO, CO.sub.2, N.sub.2, H.sub.2 O, H.sub.2 S and COS, as produced from sulfur-containing fossil fuels by contemporary partial oxidation processes, may have a methane content in the range of about nil to 2 mole percent and a maximum net heating value of about 300 BTU per standard cubic foot (SCF). In some applications, it is desirable to increase the methane content of the synthesis gas, for example to increase its gross heating value for use as fuel gas. In coassigned U.S. Pat. No. 3,688,438, synthesis gas was made having up to 26 volume percent of methane by the partial oxidation of a hydrocarbonaceous fuel using comparatively high steam to fuel weight ratios and no subsequent catalytic methanation step. Costly removal of water from the product gas was necessary. In coassigned U.S. Pat. No. 3,709,669, the synthesis gas leaving the partial oxidation gas generator is subjected to an additional step involving the catalytic water gas shift reaction to adjust the H.sub.2 /CO mole ratio to preferably 3 before catalytic methanation. In comparison with the prior art, by the subject invention a dry, sulfur-free, CH.sub.4 -enriched synthesis or fuel gas is produced without costly catalytic methanation or drying steps.

Combined power cycle with liquefied natural gas (LNG) and synthesis or fuel gas


A temperature-control device for thermoanalytical analyses, including a housing, one heating element, one protective sheath disposed in the housing, wherein the protective sheath is connectable to a gas supply. The heating element is partially arranged inside the protective sheath.

Such temperature-control devices are known from the prior art and are used for example in devices for thermal analysis, such as for example a dynamic difference calorimeter, thermal balances and devices for simultaneous thermal analysis. The mentioned devices for thermal analysis are used for material characterisation, i.e. amongst other things for the analysis of polymers and pharmaceutical substances or textiles. With the aforementioned analysis devices, the material samples to be analysed are heated or cooled in a temperature-control device, wherein conventional measured variables are for example the expansion behaviour, weight changes, phase conversion temperatures and enthalpy changes. At present, tube furnaces are used as temperature-control devices in the thermal analysis devices described above, said tube furnaces being equipped with resistance heaters acting as heating elements, wherein the heating elements are disposed outside a protective sheath or the protective tube. In such analyses, however, the tube furnaces known from the prior art come up against their limitations, which presuppose rapid heating of the material sample to be analysed or the atmosphere surrounding the material sample. In other words, these furnaces cannot produce heating rates of several 100 K/min on account of their thermal mass.
Accordingly, it is a problem of the present invention to make available a temperature-control device of the type described at the outset, which enables rapid temperature increases whilst avoiding heat losses and at the same time produces a homogeneous temperature field inside the temperature-control device.

Temperature-control device for thermoanalytical analyses


A support for an electric kitchen beater comprises a plate (26) that supports the beater and a drive device (28) for a bowl (18). A drive transmission (30) is disposed in the plate and has a movement outlet connection (34) comprising a drive wheel (36) with a vertical axle (37) that is adapted to come into engagement with the edge (38) of the bowl (18). The plate (26) also carries, facing the drive wheel (36) a guide (39) adapted to maintain the edge (38) of the bowl against the drive wheel (36). The drive wheel (36) has an active friction surface (36'), and the guide comprises at least one friction roller (40) mounted rotatably about an axle (41) substantially parallel to the axle (37) of the drive wheel.

The invention relates to a support for the beater of an electric kitchen appliance comprising a base for receiving a circular bowl with a vertical axis mounted rotatably about its axis on said base, and a column rising from this base and bearing a plate for reception of the beater.
It relates more particularly to a support comprising a drive device for the bowl comprising a transmission housing arranged in the plate and having a movement input connection adapted to be driven in rotation by a rotatable member connected to the beater and an outlet movement connection comprising a drive wheel with a vertical axis projecting below the plate and adapted to come into contact with the edge of the bowl, said plate also carrying, facing the drive wheel, guide means adapted to maintain the edge of the bowl against the drive wheel.

Beater support with drive wheel and guide


An authentication server automatically selects one of plural authentications identified by authentication identifiers to authorize access by a user to a service dispensed by a service server of a provider identified by a provider identifier via a communication network. The server includes a module for selecting an authentication identifier in a memory as a function of the provider identifier and the type of the terminal and/or the network type of the communication network, and a module for authenticating the user by launching an authentication process associated with the authentication identifier.

1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a server for authenticating a user of a terminal for accessing a service delivered by a service provider via an agent by dynamically selecting an authentication procedure via a telecommunication network. To be more precise, the authentication procedure corresponds to an authentication selected as a function of at least one service provider, the terminal, the network and an authentication security level.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The many existing authentication systems differ in terms of their security levels and authentication procedures. Standard authentication by means of an identifier (also known as a login) and a password is static, that is to say the same identifier and password are transmitted over the network for successive authentications. This authentication may suffer from piracy of the password and thereby offer a low level of authentication security.
Authentication by "random number (challenge)/response" is dynamic. It is based on a principle of one-time password (OTP). There is then no point in entering a password as the password cannot be used again. When a user wishes to be authenticated by a server, the server generates a "random number", called as challenge, and sends it to the terminal of the user. The user enters the password and applies it by means of encryption and hashing algorithms. The terminal of the user transmits the OTP to the server, which then has the information necessary for authenticating the user.
Authentication based on certificates is also dynamic and uses asymmetrical public key cryptographic algorithms. A certificate comprises a user identity, a public key and a private key that are certified by a certification authority. The private key is kept secret by the user and stored in the terminal of the user. A password entered or spoken, a biometric imprint or a confidential code may be necessary to activate the private key. In practice, after activation of the private key, a server transmits a challenge to the user terminal. The user terminal signs the challenge with the user's corresponding private key and transmits it to the server. The server then authenticates the user using the user's public key. For example, authentication by electronic signature is based on certificates.
As authentication, procedures are generally complex and constraining to put into place, a service provider agent can provide, in a transparent way, user authentication procedures on behalf of his clients, known as "providers". For example, a provider offering a real time information service on the internet uses an agent to manage all aspects of the user authentication procedure. The authentication procedures of the agent are generally identical throughout the network for all providers that are clients of the agent. Moreover, a provider cannot easily modify the authentication procedure of his choice as a function of the combination of the terminal (mobile, PC, TV, PDA) and the telecommunication network (GPRS, internet) used by users.

Automatic authentication selection server


The main tool housing of a multi-purpose tool is provided with an adapter that is adapted for coupling with a tire air valve, a finger piece disposed in the adapter and adapted to open the tire air valve, and an air inlet formed in the finger piece to permit entry of air into the main tool housing. A tire tread depth measuring unit includes a measuring rod that extends movably into the main tool housing, and a position sensor for generating an electrical displacement signal corresponding to length of the measuring rod that is extended out of the main tool housing when the measuring rod is used to measure depth of a tire tread. A tire pressure measuring unit includes a pressure sensor disposed in the main tool housing adjacent to the finger piece. The pressure sensor generates an electrical pressure signal corresponding to pressure of the air that enters into the main tool housing via the air inlet. A processing unit calculates a measured tire tread depth based on the electrical displacement signal, and a measured tire pressure based on the electrical pressure signal. The processing unit controls a display unit on the main tool housing so as to show the measured tire tread depth and the measured tire pressure thereon.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a tool for measuring tire pressure and tire tread depth, more particularly to a multi-purpose tool with a display unit for showing tire pressure and tire tread depth thereon.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a precautionary measure, frequent checking of the tire pressure and the tire tread depth must be performed in order to minimize the risk of accidents. A tire pressure gauge and a tire tread depth checker are thus indispensable tools for any driver. A torch is also necessary so that the checking operation can be done at night.
Generally, the various car tools are in the form of separate instruments which are inconvenient to use at the same time, which occupy a lot of storage space in a car, and which are easily misplaced.
In order to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, a multi-purpose tool having snow scraping, tire pressure measuring, tire tread depth measuring and light generating capabilities has been proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,333,342. However, determination of the tire pressure and the tire tread depth are inconvenient to conduct since graduated measuring rods are relied upon in the multi-purpose tool for tire pressure and tire tread depth checking.

Multi-purpose tool with display unit for showing tire pressure and tire tread depth thereon

No. 35, Sec. 4, Ting-Tsao Rd., Tsao-Chung Li, Lu-Kang Chen


A group routing server, communication devices, and related methods are described. The group routing server may comprise a processor operably coupled with communication elements and memory, and be configured to determine a destination communication device from among a plurality of communication devices to which an incoming call is to be routed, determine whether an assistive communication service is needed for providing interpretive services based, at least in part, on differing communication abilities between a far-end user associated with a far-end communication device initiating the incoming call and a near-end user associated with the destination communication device, route the incoming call to the assistive communication service according to the routing rules if the assistive communication device is determined to be needed, and route the incoming call directly to the communication service according to the routing rules if the assistive communication device is not determined to be needed.

Traditional communication systems, such as standard and cellular telephone systems, enable verbal communications between people at different locations. Communication systems for audibly-impaired individuals (e.g., individuals with hearing impairments, speech impairments, or a combination thereof) may also enable non-audible communications instead of, or in addition to, verbal communications. Some communication systems for audibly-impaired individuals enable communications between communication devices for audibly-incapable individuals (e.g., video phones, web cameras, etc.) and communication systems for audibly-capable individuals (e.g., standard telephones, cellular phones, etc.). For example, a video relay service (VRS) may provide speech to sign language translation services, and sign language to speech translation services for a communication session between a video communication device for an audibly-impaired individual and a traditional communication device for an audibly-capable user. In other words, the VRS may be used to facilitate a conversation between an audibly-impaired user and an audibly-capable person.
The audibly-impaired individual may communicate with a communication assistant (e.g., communicate via sign language), and then the communication assistant conveys the message audibly to a far-end user (e.g., an audibly-capable user). For communication in the other direction, the communication assistant listens to the audibly-capable user and then signs what was spoken to the audibly-impaired user. The communication assistant may, therefore, act as a translator for both the audibly-impaired user (e.g., using sign language) and the far-end user (e.g., communicating via speech communication). Thus, the communication assistant directly communicates with each of the audibly-impaired individual and the audibly-capable individual to facilitate communication between the audibly-impaired individual and the audibly-capable individual. By way of example, Sorenson Communications® offers the Ntouch® VP videophone and the VP-200 videophone that utilize the Sorenson Video Relay Service,® a service that provides sign language interpretation to audibly impaired video phone users.

Communication systems, communication devices, and related methods for routing calls between communication devices having users with different abilities


Disclosed is a liquid container for gas humidification, which comprises a first storage chamber containing a bottom; and a second storage chamber comprising a top wall, a bottom wall and a side wall connected between the top wall and the bottom wall, the second storage chamber being provided with at least one opening which is above the bottom of the first storage chamber, thereby enabling the liquid in the second storage chamber to flow into the first storage chamber in a unidirectional way. In addition, also disclosed is a liquid storage device.

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy has been proven to be an effective treatment for some respiratory conditions, such as obstructive sleep apnea, and there are many types of CPAP devices commercially available for patients.
In order to relieve the discomfort to patients caused by dry respiratory tract during the CPAP therapy, some CPAP devices are equipped with a gas humidifier for humidifying gas to a proper humidity level before delivery to the patients. Typically, a gas humidifier is composed of a liquid container and humidification means, such as a heater or an ultrasonic atomizer. Although a higher capacity of the liquid container increases the amount of liquid accommodated therein for long-time use, such as up to eight hours, a higher initialization power will be required for humidifying more liquid, and it will take more time to achieve a predetermined gas humidity.
One humidifier chamber has been proposed, characterized by using a thermal insulating partition to divide the chamber into a heated reservoir and a supply reservoir, wherein a liquid channel is formed below the partition to allow liquid communication between the two reservoirs.
Also proposed is a pressure support system which has a humidifier containing a holding space, a humidification space and a partition separating the two spaces, an opening being defined on the partition to allow liquid communication between the two spaces.
However, there are still needs to improve conventional designs, particularly to address the problems associated with bi-directional liquid communication.

Liquid container for gas humidification and liquid storage device


The present invention relates to a pearl luster pigment on the basis of a platelet-shaped substrate coated with metal oxides and a top layer which is located on the metal oxide layer and can possess a multilayer structure, comprising a first layer, containing a hydroxide or oxide hydrate of the elements aluminum or silicon, a second layer, containing at least one hydroxide or oxide hydrate of the elements aluminum, silicon, cerium or zirconium, with the exception of the hydroxide or oxide hydrate which forms the first layer, and a third layer, containing at least one organic hydrophobic coupling agent. The present invention also relates to a preparation process and the use of pigments in paints, inks, plastics, coatings and cosmetics.

The invention relates to hydrophobically aftercoated pearl luster pigments and to a process for preparing them. The invention further relates to the use of these pigments.
EP 0 632 109 discloses for example the subjecting of pearl luster pigments for coating compositions to an aftertreatment in order to improve their stability. In the course of this aftertreatment the pigments are coated with a layer comprising silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide, chromium oxide and/or zirconium oxide and a layer comprising an organofunctional coupling reagent, e.g. hydrophilic silanes or zirconium aluminates.
The organofunctional silanes used in EP 0 632 109 possess the following basic structure:
Yxe2x80x94(CH2)nxe2x80x94SiX3
in which n is 1-8, Y is an organofunctional group, for example an alkyl or substituted alkyl, an aryl or substituted aryl, a halogen, an amino, a methacrylic, a vinyl and/or an epoxy group, preferably fluorine and X is a silicon-functional group which following its hydrolysis reacts with active sites of an inorganic substrate or, by condensation, with other silicon compounds. In this case X may be, for example, an alkoxy group, a hydroxy, or a halogen.
The hydrophilic groups Y react with the polymers of a coating composition to form bonds, while the silicon-functional group X reacts with the pigment surface.
Further hydrophilic silane coupling reagents containing reactive Y groups for the aftercoating of mica pigments are known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,759,255.
WO98/13426 discloses coatings comprising water-based complex oligomeric silane systems.
When the above-mentioned hydrophilic organofunctional coupling reagents are used in aqueous systems, these reagents build up a water layer on the pigment surface. This results in blistering and swelling of the coating composition, thereby reducing the adhesion of the coating composition to the substrate.
A further disadvantage of aftercoating by means of hydrophilic reactive silanes is the promotion of osmosis which may adversely affect the coating composition.
It is a feature of the invention to overcome these disadvantages and to provide pigments which are advantageous relative to the prior art, being improved in particular in their stability in coatings and in the simultaneous improvement of further performance properties, such as reduced blistering, wetting and adhesion, and in the swelling behavior.
This feature can be achieved in accordance with the invention by the provision of a pearl luster pigment, treated with hydrophobic coupling reagents, in which no chemical bond is formed between the polymer and the organofunctional moiety. While not wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that this result is obtained because the coupling agents, such as alkyl and aryl silanes, generally have no reactive groups. As a result, the coupling agents do not react with the polymer (binder) of the lacquer. As an example, the hydrolysed silane reacts with the hydroxyl groups of the metal oxides. The result can be the removal of water and the formation of an oxygen bridge between the metal oxide and coupling agent.
Specifically, aftercoated pearl luster pigments are provided on the basis of a platelet-shaped substrate coated with metal oxides and a top layer which is located on the metal oxide layer and possesses a multilayer structure, comprising a first layer, containing a hydroxide or oxide hydrate of the elements aluminum or silicon, a second layer, containing at least one hydroxide or oxide hydrate of the elements aluminum, silicon, cerium or zirconium, with the exception of the hydroxide or oxide hydrate which forms the first layer, and a third layer, containing at least one organic hydrophobic coupling reagent.
The first and second layer together are 1-3% by weight with respect to the base pigment, i.e., a platelet-shaped substrate coated with at least one metal oxide. In addition, the first and second layer may, in combination, have a thickness of 10-50 nm. Preferably, the first layer is aluminum oxide hydrate and the second layer is silicon oxide hydrate.
The pearl luster pigments prior to aftercoating (substrates) are pigments which comprise a platelet-shaped material, for example mica, kaolin or glass, and one or more metal oxide layers deposited thereon. The metal oxide layer may comprise, for example, titanium dioxide, titanium dioxide mixed with iron (III) oxide, iron (III) oxide, chromium oxide, zirconium dioxide, tin dioxide or zinc oxide. Pigments of this kind are available commercially under the designation Iriodin(copyright) (manufacturer: E. Merck, Darmstadt, Germany).
The coupling reagent is preferably selected from the group of the silanes, these compounds carrying at least one functional group selected from straight-chain or branched alkyl groups having 3 to 18 carbon atoms, unsubstituted or substituted by fluorine, and aryl groups unsubstituted or substituted by C1-C10 alkyl groups and/or nitro groups.
Among the above-mentioned coupling reagents, particular preference is given to the aryl-, alkyl- and fluoroalkyl-substituted di- and trimethoxysilanes. These include, for example, ethoxyphenyltrimethoxysilane, propyltrimethoxysilane, butyltrimethoxysilane, isobutyltrimethoxysilane, hexyltrimethoxysilane, octyltrimethoxysilane, 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorodecyltrimethoxysilane and (3,3,3-trifluoropropyl)methyldimethoxysilane.
The coupling agent may be 0.2-1.2% by weight relative to the base payment, the platelet-shaped substrate coated with at least one metal oxide.
A further object can be to provide a process for obtaining the pearl luster pigments of the invention.
This feature can be achieved by the provision of a multistage process in which the substrate coated with metal oxides is suspended in water, heated at from 30 to 100xc2x0 C., preferably from 40 to 75xc2x0 C., the suspension is adjusted to a pH of from 3 to 9, preferably from 6 to 7, in a first stage one or more water-soluble metal salts are added, these salts are deposited in whole or in part as metal hydroxides and/or metal oxide hydrates, in a second stage by adding at least one water-soluble silicate, aluminum salt, cerium salt and/or zirconium salt at a pH in the range from 3 to 9, preferably from 6 to 7, the corresponding hydroxides or oxide hydrates thereof are deposited, and in a third stage at least one organic hydrophobic coupling agent is added and binds to the deposited oxide hydrate layer at a pH of from 3 to 9, preferably from 6 to 8. Subsequently, the pigment obtained in this way may be separated by sedimentation, washing and filtration and dried at from 80 to 160xc2x0 C., preferably from 120 to 160xc2x0 C.
If required, a sedimentation of the pigment may be carried out as a purifying step between the second and third stages.
The metal hydroxides and/or metal oxide hydrates employed in the process of the invention are hydroxides and/or oxide hydrates of aluminum, silicon, zirconium and cerium, preferably of aluminum and silicon.
Coupling agents used are preferably those mentioned above.
The pearl luster pigments coated in accordance with the invention are used in particular in the pigmenting of inks, such as printing inks, and plastics, such as polymer films, and coating compositions, such as paints, for example. They are also employed, however, in other areas where the above-mentioned improved properties play a part, such as the pigmenting of cosmetics, for example.
Without further elaboration, it is believed that one skilled in the art can, using the preceding description, utilize the present invention to its fullest extent. The following preferred specific embodiments are, therefore, to be construed as merely illustrative, and not limitative of the remainder of the disclosure in any way whatsoever.
In the foregoing and in the following examples, all temperatures are set forth uncorrected in degrees Celsius; and, unless otherwise indicated, all parts and percentages are by weight.
The entire disclosure of all cited applications, patents and publications, and corresponding DE application No. 10054981.0, filed Nov. 6, 2000 is hereby incorporated by reference.

After coating of pearl luster pigments with hydrophobic coupling reagents

Merck Patent Gesellschaft mit beschraenker Haftung


Recombinant rabbit tissue factor is cloned and produced in a bacterial host. This protein, which is relatively insoluble and has several disulfide bonds, requires special modifications in order to express and be purified at commercial levels. By expressing the tissue factor as a fusion protein with a bacterial enzyme, thioredoxin, solubility is increased. Use of a thioredoxin reductase deficient host aids in proper tertiary structure for biological activity.

Mammalian tissue factor is a plasma membrane glycoprotein that binds to blood coagulation factor VII or factor VIIIa. The binding activity of tissue factor is the initiating event in the cascade of enzymatic activities which lead to blood coagulation and clot formation in mammals. Tissue factor is found in many cell types that are not exposed directly to flowing blood and is particularly abundant in the brain, lung, and placenta. Injuries that disrupt the endothelium bring factor VII into contact with tissue factor to initiate the cascade that leads to blood clotting and clot formation.
Protein tissue factor is a valuable biological commodity in commerce today. The main use of tissue factor is as a constituent of the standard blood clotting test procedure performed on patients prior to surgery. The coagulation test most commonly used is initiated by the interaction of tissue factor in vitro to other blood coagulation factors such as factor VII. Such in vitro tests, in several forms, are marketed by several companies throughout the world. One category of such tests is referred to as the prothrombin time (PT) test in which a series of enzymatic tests in vitro under controlled conditions is used to diagnose disfunctions in the blood coagulation system of patients. Up until recently, in all commercially available PT tests the PT reagents included a relatively crude tissue factor protein extracted from natural sources, typically rabbits. Rabbit brain and rabbit lung mixtures were subjected to a series of isolation and purification steps, resulting in a dried extract of rabbit tissue factor used commercially in PT kits. While the use of rabbit tissue factor from natural sources was practical and reasonably well defined, there was occasional variation in the activity and yield of rabbit tissue factor from those preparations, both due to seasonable variability in the abundance of tissue factor in rabbits as well as lot-to-lot variability due to normal variation of biological systems. Such tissue factor extracts could also come on occasion, containing other coagulation factors in small amounts and a variety of other poorly characterized constituents.
Accordingly, significant effort was extended toward cloning and isolating tissue factor for use in the recombinant production of tissue factor as a protein. This led to the cloning of human tissue factor from a variety of cDNA segments as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,110,730. The purification and preparation of prothrombin time reagents from such recombinant human tissue factor is described in published PCT application WO 93/07492. Products have been introduced now into commerce based on the production and purification of recombinant human tissue factor. The methods used to produce recombinant human tissue factor have not been fully elucidated in the literature.
The cDNA of rabbit brain tissue factor has also been isolated and sequenced. Andrews et al., Gene, 96:265-269 (1991); Pawashe et al., Thrombosis and Haemostasis 66:3:315-320 (1991).
Using current techniques of modern molecular biology or genetic engineering, it has now become commonplace to produce therapeutic proteins in prokaryotic hosts reproduced in fermenters or other vessels. However, experience has revealed that certain proteins are more amenable to production in this fashion than others. For example, proteins which have a relatively large number of cysteines, which form disulfide bridges with other cysteines in a protein molecule, are often found to be inefficiently produced in a biologically active form in a prokaryotic host. The reason is that the protein assembly and processing machinery of prokaryotes differ significantly from that present in eukaryotes. If improper disulfide bridges are formed between the cysteine molecules of a protein, it will not be biologically active. Accordingly, proteins with many disulfide bonds are often difficult to be produced in commercially significant quantities in prokaryotic systems and thus are sometimes produced in eukaryotic host systems. This is less desirable commercially since the culture and fermentation facilities for eukaryotic cell culture systems are currently much more expensive than those required for prokaryotic protein production hosts.
Another difficulty in producing therapeutic proteins in prokaryotic hosts arises with proteins which are particularly hydrophobic or have strong hydrophobic regions. This difficulty arises because of solubility problems in the protein produced with the host. Poorly soluble proteins can be difficult to recover in economic quantities when expressed in prokaryotic host expression systems.
Native rabbit tissue factor is, like the human tissue factor, a membrane-bound protein containing three domains. One domain is an extracellular domain of 217 to 222 amino acids. There is also a hydrophobic putative transmembrane domain of 23 amino acids and a cytoplasmic domain of 20 to 21 amino acids. Thus the protein produced by the cloned rabbit tissue factor gene has a large and quite hydrophobic domain. In addition, there are four conserved cysteine residues in all known tissue factor sequences and the proper formation of the cysteine disulfide bonds is required to have proper biological activity for the tissue factor protein.


A method and apparatus for the localized reduction of the lifetime of charge carriers in integrated electronic devices. The method comprises the step of implanting ions, at a high dosage and at a high energy level, of a noble gas, preferably helium, in the active regions of the integrated device so that the ions form bubbles in the active regions. A further thermal treatment is performed after the formation of bubbles of the noble gas in order to improve the structure of the bubbles and to make the noble gas evaporate, leaving cavities in the active regions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for the localized reduction of the lifetime of charge carriers, particularly in integrated electronic devices.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
As is known in integrated circuit technology it is often necessary to electrically insulate some regions of the chip from others. For example, in a VIP circuit the driving circuit must be insulated from the power transistor.
One technique used for insulation is junction insulation. However, this technique unavoidably forms parasitic transistors which ultimately define the actual operating limits of the entire structure of the integrated circuit.
FIG. 1 illustrates a typical structure of a MOSFET power transistor circuit. The MOSFET structure typically comprises a substrate 1, doped with impurities of the N.sup.+ type, which acts as a drain terminal of the MOSFET device. An epitaxial layer 2 of the N.sup.- type is grown on the substrate 1. Two regions 3a and 3b of the P.sup.+ type, known as deep-body regions, are located in the epitaxial layer. Above the respective deep-body regions 3a and 3b there are body regions 4a and 4b which are doped with P-type impurities. Two source regions, respectively 5a and 5b for the body region 4a, and 5d and 5c for the body region 4b, are accommodated in each one of the body regions 4a and 4b.
An oxide layer 10a is located above the adjacent edges of the body regions 4a and 4b, and the polysilicon gate 6a is placed on layer 10a. The gate 6a is covered by a dielectric layer 7a, which is preferably a chemical vapour deposited oxide, such as P-Vapox. Gate terminals 6b and 6c, having related oxides 10b and 10c and dielectric layers 7b and 7c, are located at the edges of the body regions 4a and 4b.
Finally, the entire structure is covered with a layer of metal, preferably aluminum, which makes contact with the body regions 4a and 4b and with the source regions 5a, 5b, 5c, and 5d.
This structure includes parasitic transistors which limit its operation. The emitters, bases and collectors of these parasitic transistors are respectively the sources 5a-d, the deep-body regions 3a and 3b or body regions 4a and 4b, and the drain, which is constituted by the substrate 1. The emitters, bases and collectors of the parasitic transistor comprise their active regions. One of these parasitic transistors is shown in FIG. 1 and is designated by the reference numeral 9. The emitter of the transistor 9 is constituted by the source region 5d, the base is constituted by the body/deep-body region 3b, and the collector is constituted by the substrate 1. It is evident that there are at least three other parasitic transistors which are present with the source/deep-body/drain combinations. They have not been illustrated for the sake of simplicity.
The following three methods may be used to reduce the gain of the parasitic transistor 9. First, the deep-body region 3b, i.e. the base of the transistor, may be doped heavily. Secondly, the source 5d and the deep body 3b or the body 4b, i.e. the emitter and the base of the transistor 9, are shorted. Third, the source 5d may be manufactured as short as possible, within the limits of the photolithographic technology available.
Despite these methods, when the PMOS is on there is a voltage drop in the deep-body portion underlying the source. A positive bias V.sub.be can thus be formed between the base and the emitter of the transistor 9, turning the transistor on. The gain of this parasitic transistor increases as current and temperature increase, limiting the performance of the PMOS.
FIG. 2 illustrates a typical structure of an IGBT device. The structure of the IGBT is similar to the structure of the PMOS device of FIG. 1, except that there is an additional epitaxial layer 2a which is interposed between the epitaxial layer 2 and the substrate 1 and is doped with impurities of the N.sup.+ type.
The IGBT device includes an NPN-type parasitic transistor 10 of FIGS. 2 and 5 the collector, base, and emitter of which are formed respectively by the source region 5d, the body/deep-body region 4b/3b, and the epitaxial layer 2 or 2a. The effect of the transistor 10 combines with the effect of another parasitic transistor 11 of the PNP type, the collector, base, and emitter of which are respectively the body/deep-body 4b/3b, the epitaxial layer 2 or 2a, and the substrate 1. Of course other parasitic transistors can form in the other body/deep-body region.
The two parasitic transistors 10 and 11 constitute a thyristor. In order to avoid activating this thyristor it is necessary to reduce the gain of the two transistors so that .sup..alpha. NPN.sup.+.alpha. PNP.sup.<1.
Two techniques are used to reduce the gain of the PNP transistor 11. The first technique is the introduction of a buffer layer between the P-type substrate 1 and the N-type drain. This layer is heavily doped with N-type impurities. The second technique is to implant a lifetime killer metal, such as gold or platinum, which is then diffused to distribute it uniformly throughout the thickness of the wafer. The gain of the NPN transistor 10 is of course also reduced by this.
The operating conditions for which the above described parasitic components are particularly detrimental are, in the case of the PMOS (FIG. 1), dynamic dV/dt and unclamped conditions. In the case of the IGBT device (FIG. 2), static and dynamic latch-up are possible.
A third example of a power device in which parasitic transistors reside is a Vertical Intelligent Power device, better known as a VIP device. FIG. 3 illustrates a typical structure of a VIP device,
The VIP device comprises an N.sup.+ -type substrate 31 above which there is an N-type epitaxial layer 32. The epitaxial layer 32 accommodates the P.sup.+ -type buried layer 33. The P.sup.+ -type buried layer 33 accommodates the low-power control devices, typically a vertical NPN transistor 51 and a lateral PNP transistor 52. The P.sup.+ buried layer also acts as insulation for the low-power devices. The vertical NPN transistor 51 comprises a first N.sup.+ -type buried layer 34 which is connected to a collector terminal 35 by means of a sinker region 36 which is also doped with N.sup.+ -type impurities. The N.sup.+ buried layer 34 and the N.sup.- type region 41 that accommodates the P.sup.+ -type base 37 and the N.sup.+ -type emitter 38 of the NPN transistor are surrounded by two P.sup.+ -type insulation regions 39 and 40. These insulation regions form, together with the P.sup.+ buried layer 33, an insulation well of the N region 41.
Next to the vertical NPN transistor 51 is a lateral PNP transistor 52. This transistor also includes an N.sup.+ buried layer 42 which is connected to the base terminal 43 by means of a sinker region 44. The N.sup.- type region 45 accommodates the emitter 46 and the collector 47, both of which are of the P type, and is insulated by the insulation region 40 and an additional insulation region 48. The insulation regions 39, 40 and 48, together with the P.sup.+ buried layer, form a region that is termed the P-well.
The power device 53 comprises a base region 49, which is connected to the base terminal 50, and an emitter region 54, which is connected to an emitter terminal 55. The collector of the power device 53 is constituted by a metallic layer 30 which is connected to the substrate of the entire VIP device.
In the above described VIP structure, the low-power circuit (NPN transistor 51 and PNP transistor 52) must be insulated from the power transistor 53. The technique commonly used is junction insulation. However, this technique, as mentioned, unavoidably leads to the formation of parasitic transistors that limit the operation of the device.
The first example of a parasitic transistor is the transistor 61, having its emitter constituted by the base 37 of the NPN transistor 51, its base is constituted by the collector 35 of the NPN transistor 51, and its collector constituted by the P.sup.+ region or buried layer (P-well) 39.
The second parasitic transistor is the transistor 62, having its emitter constituted by the base 43 of the PNP transistor 52, Its base constituted by the region 40 of the P-well, and its collector constituted by the collector 35 of the NPN transistor 51.
The third parasitic transistor is the transistor 63, having its emitter constituted by the emitter 46 of the PNP transistor 52, its base constituted by the base 43 of the PNP transistor 52, and its collector constituted by the region 48 of the P-well.
The fourth parasitic transistor is the transistor 64 (which is superimposed on the transistor 63 in the FIG.), which is identical to the transistor 63, except that its emitter is constituted by the collector 47 of the PNP transistor 52.
The fifth parasitic transistor is the transistor 65, having its emitter constituted by the base 43 of the PNP transistor 52, its base constituted by the region 48 of the P-well, and its collector constituted by the epitaxial layer 32.
The sixth parasitic transistor is the transistor 66, having its emitter constituted by the base 49 of the power device 53, its base constituted by the epitaxial layer 32, and its collector constituted by the region 48 of the P-well.
It is evident that there are several parasitic transistors, each of which imposes limitations on the operating versatility of the structure.
As mentioned above, in order to obviate these parasitic components, there are various solutions, including the implantion or deposition of a metal (gold and platinum), and the subsequent diffusion and irradiation with nuclear particles (neutrons, protons and alpha), electrons or X-rays. The drawback of metal implanting is the complication of the processing flow-chart, whereas the drawbacks of irradiation are its high cost and the fact that it is difficult to control, since the thermal assembly steps reduce the effect of irradiation by a certain amount.
It should be stressed that in power devices there are not only parasitic transistors but also parasitic diodes. Furthermore, in addition to the three above described parasitic devices there are also others, such as fast-recovery diodes, transistors for small signals, thyristors, etc.

Apparatus for the localized reduction of the lifetime of charge carriers, particularly in integrated electronic devices

Consorzio per la Ricerca sulla Microelettronica nel Mezzogiorno