A dynamoelectric machine includes a stator in which a winding system is positioned, and at least a multi-part plug housing with a pivot joint between housing parts of the plug housing. The plug housing has at least one plug-type connector with at least two plugging elements. At least one housing part of the plug housing is made of electrically conductive material and connected to at least one plugging element by a flexible electric line. The electrically conductive housing part of the plug housing faces the dynamoelectric machine and is connected in an electrically conductive fashion to an electrically conductive surface of a motor housing of the dynamoelectric machine.

The present invention relates, in general, to a dynamoelectric machine having a multi-part plug housing.
The following discussion of related art is provided to assist the reader in understanding the advantages of the invention, and is not to be construed as an admission that this related art is prior art to this invention.
Electric equipment, for example dynamoelectric machines, are supplied with electrical energy via electric connecting lines, using plug-type connectors which also serve to transmit signal generator signals and sensor signals as well as performing functional grounding. Functional grounding is of considerable importance for interference-free functioning of the electric equipment. In this context, a differentiation is generally made between two types of grounding—protective grounding and functional grounding. While protective grounding serves to protect people and animals against electric shocks and is intended to provide protection only in the event of a fault, functional grounding constitutes a functional part of the usual operation of the electric equipment and is therefore essential for fault-free operation of the respective electric equipment.
Electric equipment, in particular in the case of industrial systems engineering, usually includes a metal housing which has to be provided with protective grounding for this reason and to comply with relevant DIN standards. Furthermore, functional grounding, which has the purpose of ensuring that the electric equipment is installed appropriately for EMC (electromagnet compatibility) is provided by the ground connection of the metal housing. Since the purpose of the protective ground is not aimed at the functioning of a piece of equipment but rather primarily serves for protecting persons, protective grounding alone is often not sufficient to ensure the electromagnetic compatibility of the electric equipment in addition to protecting persons. As a result, it is usually necessary to connect an additional functional ground. In this context, care should be taken to make sure that the functional ground and the protective ground are separated. There should normally be not connection of the protective ground to the functional ground.
The functional ground is generally not configured to perform protective conductor functions, and therefore when a protective conductor is connected to the functional grounding terminal the electrical safety of personnel is not ensured. A conductive connection between the protective ground and the functional ground is usually only provided in the vicinity of the actual ground. Operator protection has priority when performing grounding. Functional grounding of a piece of electric equipment is only given secondary importance.
Functional grounding has essentially the following objectives:                conduction away of interference currents and therefore improvement of the EMC,        definition of a necessary common reference potential in order to ensure operation of electric equipment.
Protective conductors must be dimensioned to comply with the DIN-VDE specifications (DIN-VDE 0100 part 540 grounding, protective conductors, equipotential bonding conductors), and a correctly dimensioned protective conductor is suitable for conducting away electromagnetic interference only to a limited degree. Combined protective and functional grounding conductors should not only have the required cross section, but also a large surface area. In other words, the surface, in particular metallic surfaces, of the electric equipment should be connected in all cases to ground via a protective conductor connection in order to ensure adequate protection of persons. In the case of a single-part plug housing, a grounding pin of the plug is conductively connected to the plug housing, and the plug housing is in turn conductively connected to the electric equipment. A separate grounding line between the electric equipment and the plug is therefore not necessary.
However, in the case of multi-part plug housings whose parts are connected, for example, by a pivot joint, there is the risk of a conductive connection between these parts no longer being adequately ensured by the housing or via the pivot joint of the plug. This is the case, in particular, in the event of a fracture of the pivot joint.
In order to obtain grounding, a separate grounding line is led from the grounding pin of the plug to a conductive part of the motor housing in order always to be able to ensure adequate protection of persons. This grounding line is absolutely necessary if, for example owing to mechanical loading, the plug housing breaks at the pivot joint, and a conductive connection to the surface of the electric equipment is therefore interrupted. The motor in this case would continue to be operationally capable via the connecting lines but in the case of a fault, for example a short to ground of the winding, persons would no longer be protected.
The provision of a separate grounding line between the grounding pin of the plug and the electric equipment is disadvantageous because of the additional costs of such a high-temperature braided conductor line, an additional cable lug, the mounting of the line on the motor and plug, as well as a bore and a thread, for example in the motor end plate for attaching the cable lug. In particular in the case of motors which have a compact design and a low axle height, such mounting is particularly complicated.
It would therefore be desirable and advantageous to provide an improved dynamoelectric machine having a multi-part plug housing to obviate prior art shortcomings and to ensure sufficient protection of persons and, in particular in the case of dynamoelectric machines with a small axle height, to simplify assembly without adversely affecting operator protection.

Dynamoelectric machine having a multi-part plug housing


Nucleic acids encoding TRIO proteins, the TRIO proteins themselves, and active portions thereof as described. In addition, antibodies immunoreactive with TRIO proteins, and preparations of such compositions are provided. Diagnostic and therapeutic assays and reagents for detecting and treating disorders involving, for example, aberrant expression (or loss thereof) of the TRIO protein are described. Assays are provided for identifying agents that modulate the biological function of TRIO proteins.

In response to environmental signals, a cell changes both its shape and its degree of attachment to a substratum. Changes in cell motility are brought about, in part, by rearrangements of the actin cytoskeleton. Changes in actin are associated with changes in cell morphology, growth, adhesion, and motility (Hall, A. (1994) Annu. Rev. Cell Biol. 10, 31-54; Boguski, M. S. and McCormick, F. (1993) Nature 366, 643-654; Vojtek, A. B. and Cooper, J. A. (1995) Cell 82, 527-529; Takai, Y., et al. (1995) TIBS 227-231.). In long bundles, F-actin supports filipodia, finger-like protrusions of the plasma membrane; as a meshwork, F-actin supports sheet-like protrusions of lamellipodia, called ruffles; in bundles coupled to attachment plaques, F-actin stress fibers exert force against a substratum (Zigmone (1996) Curr. Opin. Cell Biol. 8:66). This remodeling requires actin polymerization and depolymerization, which is orchestrated in part by members of the rho family of small GTPases (GTP-binding proteins), including rhoA, rac1, and cdc42 (Boguski and McCormick, (1993). Nature, 366:643-654; Hall, (1994). Annu. Rev. Cell Biol., 10:31-54; Ridley, (1995). Curr. Opon. Gen. Dev., 5:24-30; Zigmond, (1996). Curr. Opin. Cell Biol., 8:66-73). When active forms of the ras-like GTP-binding proteins are injected into cells, each of the family members induces unique morphological changes that involve rearrangement of F-actin. For example, in fibroblasts cdc42 regulates actin polymerization and focal complexes necessary for filopodia formation; rac mediates actin polymerization and focal complex assembly within lamellipodia and membrane ruffles; and rho induces actin stress fiber and focal adhesion (FA) complex formation (Nishiyama et al., (1994). Mol Cell. Biol., 14:2447-2456; Ridley, (1994). BioEssays, 16:321-327; Ridley and Hall, (1994). EMBO J., 13:2600-2610; Nobes and Hall, (1995). Cell, 81:53-62; Nobes et al., (1995). J. Cell Science, 108:225-233; Ridley et al., (1995). Mol. Cell. Biol., 15:1110-1122). In addition to these specific changes, rho family members share some of the same functions and there is cross-talk among members (Zigmone, supra). A hierarchical relationship exists among cdc42, rac, and rho, whereby cdc42 regulates rac activity and rac regulates rho activity, suggesting that these proteins may orchestrate the spatial and temporal changes in the actin cytoskeleton necessary for complex processes such as cell motility and cytokinesis (Ridley and Hall, (1992). Cell, 70:389-399; Chant and Stowers, (1995). Cell, 81:1-4; Nobes and Hall, (1995). Cell, 81:53-62; Lauffenburger and Horwitz, (1996). Cell, 84:359-369). Rho-like GTPases also play an essential role in cell cycle progression (Olson et al., (1995). Science, 269:1270-1272; Ridley, (1995). Curr. Opin. Gen. Dev., 5:24-30), ras-mediated cell transformation (Khosravi-Far et al., (1995). Mol. Cell. Biol., 15:6443-6453; Qiu et al., (1995). Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 92:11781-11785), transcriptional regulation (Hill et al., (1995). Cell, 81:1159-1170), growth factor-induced arachidonic acid release and calcium influx (Peppelenbosch et al., (1995). Cell, 81:849-856; Peppelenbosch et al., (1996). J Biol. Chem., 271:7883-7886), and possibly HIV-1 replication (Lu et al., (1996). Curr. Biol., 6:1677-1684).
Rho-like GTPases function as molecular switches that are active when bound to GTP and inactive when bound to GDP (Boguski and McCormick, (1993)). Nature, 366:643-654). The activation state is positively regulated by guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) which promote the exchange of GDP for GTP, and negatively regulated by GTPase activating proteins (GAPs) (Boguski and McCormick, (1993). Nature, 366:643-654; Lamarche and Hall, (1994). TIG, 10:446-440; Overbeck et al., (1995). Mol. Repro. Dev., 42:468-476; Cerione and Zheng, (1996). Curr. Opin. Cell Biol., 8:216-222). In addition to GEFs and GAPs, the activation status of rho-like GTPases is controlled by GDP dissociation inhibitors and GDP dissociation stimulators (Boguski and McCormick, (1993). Nature, 366:643-654). About 20 GEFs for rho-like GTPases have been identified by sequence comparison (the Dbl homology (DH) GEF family), and a majority of these were shown to have GEF activity in vitro (Cerione and Zheng, (1996). Curr. Opin. Cell Biol., 8:216-222). Most of the DH GEFs were originally isolated as oncogenes including Dbl (Ron et al., 1988. EMBO J., 7:2465-2473; Hart et al., 1991. Nature, 354:311-314; Hart et al., (1994). J. Biol. Chem., 269:62-65), Ost (Horii et al., (1994). EMBO J., 13:4776-4786), and the invasion-inducing Tiam-1 oncogene (Habets et al., (1994). Cell, 77:537-549; Michiels et al., (1995). Nature, 375:338-340; van Leeuwen et al., (1995). Oncogene, 11:2215-2221). Upstream regulators of the rho/rac GEFs include growth factor receptors with protein tyrosine kinase activity (e.g., the insulin, EGF, and PDGF receptors), and seven transmembrane domain receptors coupled to heterotrimeric G proteins (e.g., the lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), bombesin, and bradykinin receptors) (Cerione and Zheng, (1996). Curr. Opin. Cell Biol., 8:216-222). In addition, growth factor-mediated activation of rho/rac GEF may in some cases involve phosphatidylinositol (PI)-3 kinase (Nobes et al., (1995). J. Cell Science, 108:225-233; Tsakiridis et al., (1996). J. Biol. Chem., 271:19664-19667).
A number of studies indicate that activated rho-like GTPases function as regulators of kinases. Rac and cdc42 were shown to activate members of the family of p21-activated serine/threonine kinases (PAKs) (Manser et al., (1994). Nature, 367:40-46; Bagrodia et al., (1995). J. Biol. Chem., 47:27995-27998; Knaus et al., (1995). Science, 269:221-223; Martin et al., (1995). E.M.B.O. J., 14:1970-1978; Frost et al., (1996). Mol. Cell. Biol., 16:3707-3713; Jakobi et al., (1996). J. Biol. Chem., 271:6206-6211). These kinases are homologous to the yeast STE20 kinase, which is involved in regulating a yeast MAP kinase cascade controlling mating pheromone response, polarity establishment, and filamentous growth of diploids (Ottilie et al., (1995). EMBO J., 14:5908-5918; Simon et al., (1995). Nature, 376:702-705; Stevenson et al., (1995). Genes Dev., 9:2949-2963). Rac and cdc42 also activate the mitogen-activated kinase (MAPK) family members Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK, also known as stress activated protein kinase (SAPK)) and p38 MAPK (Coso et al., (1995). Cell, 81:1137-1146.; Minden et al., (1995). Cell, 81:1147-1157; Pombo et al., (1995). Nature, 377:750-754; Vojtek and Cooper, (1995). Cell, 82:527-529; Zhang et al., (1995). J. Biol. Chem., 270:23934-23936), in addition activating the 70 kDa S6 kinase (Chou and Blenis, (1996). Cell, 85:573-583). Rho activates protein kinase N (PKN) (Amano et al., (1996). J. Biol. Chem., 271:20246-20249; Watanabe et al., (1996). Science, 271:645-648), p160.sup.ROCK kinase (Ishizaki et al., (1996). EMBO J., 15:1885-1893), and rho-kinase (Matsui et al., (1996). EMBO J., 15:2208-2216.). Rho-kinase was shown to phosphorylate the myosin light chain (MLC) (Amano et al., (1996). J. Biol. Chem., 271:20246-20249) and the myosin-binding subunit (MBS) of the myosin phosphatase, which results in the inactivation of myosin phosphatase and increased MLC phosphorylation (Kimura et al., (1996). Science, 273:245-248). Rho-kinase phosphorylates myosin light chain (MLC) and phosphorylation, which results in contraction of smooth muscle and interaction of actin and myosin in non-muscle cells (Chrzanowska-Wodnicka and Burridge, (1996). J. Cell Biol., 133:1403-1415). Rho-like GTPases have also been shown to regulate PI 4-phosphate 5-kinase (PIP 5-kinase) (Chong et al., (1994). Cell, 79:507-513), PI 3-kinase (Zheng et al., (1994). J. Biol. Chem., 269:18727-18730; Tolias et al., (1995). J. Biol. Chem., 270:17656-17659; Bokoch et al., (1996). Biochem. J., 315:775-779), and phospholipase D (Malcolm et al., (1994). J. Biol. Chem., 269:25951-25954; Balboa and Insel, (1995). J. Biol. Chem., 270:29843-29847; Kwak et al., (1995). J. Biol. Chem., 270:27093-27098). Localized increases in PIP.sub.2 levels has been suggested to control actin polymerization and FA formation (Chong et al., (1994). Cell, 79:507-513; Hartwig et al., (1995). Cell, 82:643-653; Gilmore and Burridge, (1996). Nature, 381:531-534).
In addition to regulating kinases rho-like GTPases are involved in the regulation of other proteins, including the multicomponent NADPH oxidase (Diekmann et al., (1994). Science, 265:531-533; Knaus et al., (1995). Regulation of human leukocyte p21-activated kinases through G protein-coupled receptors. Science, 269:221-223), tubulin (Best et al., (1996). J. Biol. Chem., 271:3756-3762), and POR1 which is involved in membrane ruffling (Van Aelst et al., (1996). EMBO J., 15:3778-3786).
Proteins with GEF activity have also been implicated in cellular transformation. For example, several members of the Dbl family, which may function as GEFs for the rho-like proteins, have oncogenic activity (Adams et al., (1992) Oncogene 7:611; Miki et al (1993) Nature 362:462). Activated rac1 cooperates with a membrane-targeted form of raf (raf-CAAX) in oncogenic transformation (Qiu et al. (1995) Nature 374:457). In addition, rac and rho are essential for ras transformation of cells (Qiu, R. et al. (1995) Nature 374, 457-459; Khosravi-Far, R., et al. (1995) Mol. Cell. Biol. 15, 6443-6453). Cdc42, rho, and rac all appear to stimulate c-fos transcription (Hill, C. S., et al. (1995) Cell 81, 1159-1170), as well as cell cycle progression through G1 and subsequent DNA synthesis (Olson, M., et al. (1995) Science 269, 1270-1272). Rac is also involved in the activation of the NADPH oxidase complex in neutrophils (Segal and Abo (1993) Trends Biochem. Sci. 18:43).
Another protein thought to play a role in rearrangement of the actin cytoskeleton is the leukocyte common antigen related (LAR) transmembrane protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTPase). LAR is widely expressed and is comprised of a cell-adhesion-like extracellular region and two intracellular PTPase domains (Streuli, M., et al. (1992) EMBO J. 11, 897-907; Yu, Q., et al. (1992) Oncogene 7, 1051-1057; Fischer, E. H., et al. (1991) Science 253, 401-406; Mourey, R. J. and Dixon, J. E. (1994) Curr. Op. Gen. Dev. 4, 31-39). A role for LAR in regulating cell-matrix interactions was proposed, based on the colocalization of LAR with a coiled-coil protein, termed LAR interacting protein.1 (LIP.1) at the ends of FAs (Serra-Pages, C., et al. (1995) EMBO J. 14, 2827-2838). In addition LAR expression has been observed at regions of association between cells and basement membrane in various tissues (Streuli, M., et al. (1992) EMBO J. 11, 897-907).
Thus, certain biological functions such as growth, differentiation, and migration are tightly regulated by these signal transduction pathways within cells. Disregulation of normal activation pathways removes this tight control resulting in disease states, such as transformation. The development of agents capable of modulating ras-like GTP-binding proteins is clearly desirable, given the salient role of these molecules in regulating numerous aspects of cellular activation.


The present invention relates to compositions comprising a therapeutically effective amount of genetically modified cells containing a genetic construct expressing a TGFβ inhibitor effective to reduce expression of TGFβ, where the genetically modified cells are non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells or small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cells, and related methods.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to compositions comprising a therapeutically effective amount of genetically modified cells containing a genetic construct expressing a TGFβ inhibitor effective to reduce expression of TGFβ, where the genetically modified cells are non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) or small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cells, and related methods.
2. Description of the Related Art
Lung cancer remains the most prevalent cancer in the western world, accounting for 30% of all cancer-related deaths (Ramanathan and Belani, 1997). The current prognosis for patients with lung cancer is poor. The overall cure rate is estimated as low as 13%. Approximately 180,000 new cases of lung cancer are expected in the United States in 1999. The majority of these patients will die of their disease with 160,000 deaths from lung cancer expected nation-wide in 1999.
There are two major subdivisions of lung cancer: 1) non-small cell (NSCLC) and 2) small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Treatment approaches and natural history differ for these two diseases. The majority (80%) of cases of lung cancer in the United States are NSCLC. Although advances in the understanding of important clinical and prognostic factors for both NSCLC and SCLC have been made in the past 20 years, there have been minimal improvements in therapeutic results. The only curative option for patients with NSCLC is local therapy (surgical excision or local irradiation) in patients with early stage disease (I & II) when the tumor is still localized. At diagnosis however, the majority of patients with NSCLC present with advanced disease, which is not curable by surgery alone. In advanced stages of disease, systemic chemotherapy and/or irradiation can produce objective responses and palliation of symptoms, however, they offer only modest improvements in survival. The median survival of patients with non-resectable disease is 6-12 months. Two-year survival rates for stages IIIB and IV NSCLC are 10.8 and 5.4 percent respectively. Likewise, five-year survival rates are 3.9 and 1.3 percent. Recently, several new drugs have become available for the treatment of NSCLC including paclitaxel (Taxol), docetaxel (Taxotere), topotecan, irinotecan, vinorelbine, and gemcitabine. While these drugs are improvements over prior chemotherapeutic agents (etoposide, cisplatin and carboplatin), the overall cure rate remains low.
SCLC is a very aggressive cancer which metastasizes early and often, and it has a median survival from diagnosis of only two to four months. Localized forms of treatment, such as surgical resection or radiation therapy, rarely produce long-term survival because of this cancer's propensity for distant metastasis. With chemotherapy, survival can be prolonged at least four to five times the media survival rate for patients who are given no therapy, however the overall survival at five years remains at only 5-10%.
Since current therapeutic modalities do not significantly enhance life expectancy in stages of NSCLC or SCLC patients, exploration of new therapeutic approaches for these patients is justified.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Genetically modified cells expressing a TGF beta inhibitor, the cells being lung cancer cells


The invention provides a method of viewing an image. Light is projected from the image. The projected light is split into first and second bundles of light focusing over a first and a second focal region respectively. The light at the first focal region is detected at a first resolution. The light at the second focal region is detected at a second resolution different from the first resolution.

1). Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a imaging arrangement of the kind capable of capturing light received from a scene, and to a method of capturing an image of a scene, in particular at different resolutions.
2). Discussion of Related Art
Panoramic imaging arrangements have become popular in recent years for purposes of viewing 360xc2x0 surrounding panoramic scenes. Older generations of panoramic imaging arrangements generally consisted of revolving periscope-like constructions having relatively complex mechanisms for revolving them. More recently, stationary panoramic imaging arrangements have been developed. A stationary panoramic imaging arrangement generally has one or more lenses, each having a vertically extending axis of revolution, which are used to refract or reflect light received from a 360xc2x0 surrounding panoramic scene. The lenses alter the direction of the light, whereafter the light passes through a series of lenses which are located vertically one above the other and which further manipulate the light by, for example, focusing the light or altering the intensity of the light.
In an imaging arrangement of the above kind an image of a very large view can be captured on a digital imaging detector array. The digital imaging detector array typically has pixels which are located relative to one another so that the image is digitized to a required resolution suitable for viewing, but not to a resolution which may be excessively high for purposes of transmitting data of the image and for processing the data.
Software may be used for isolating specific portions of the image and then enlarging the portions for better viewing. When such an area is enlarged, detail of the portion of the image which is visible is usually limited because of the resolution at which the image is digitized. In certain instances, it may therefore be required that light from a portion of an image be captured at a higher resolution.
The invention provides a method of viewing an image. Light is projected from the image. The projected light is split into first and second bundles of light focusing over a first and a second focal region respectively. The light at the first focal region is detected at a first resolution. The light at the second focal region is detected at a second resolution different from the first resolution.

Imaging arrangement which allows for capturing an image of a view at different resolutions


In a chain transmission having a sprocket with an elastic ring sandwiched between a central hub and an annular toothed outer member, the tooth form is such that the root diameter, that is, the diameter of the tooth gap bottom circle, is greater than the root diameter in a sprocket having a standard ISO tooth form.

Chain transmissions, in which a chain is engaged with a driving sprocket and one or more driven sprockets, have been widely used as timing transmissions in automobile engines for driving the valve-operating cam or cams from the engine crankshaft.
In these chain transmissions, it is customary to use a standard roller chain or a standard bushing chain, and a standard sprocket. The standard chains and sprockets are defined in the Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) and in the International Standards (ISO).
Roller chains, rollerless bushing chains, and sprockets, used in chain transmissions are defined in International Standard (ISO 606: 1994(E)) and in Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS B 1801-1997). The International Standard (ISO 606: 1994 (E)) defines tooth forms of chains and sprockets (the "ISO tooth form"), and Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS B 1801-1997) define tooth forms of chains and sprockets (S-tooth forms and U-tooth forms). Both the International Standard (ISO 606: 1994(E)) and the Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS B 1801-1997) are here incorporated by reference. Copies of the relevant parts of both standards are attached. Chain transmissions generally use standard roller chains and standard sprockets, defined in ISO 606: 1994 (E) or JIS B 1801-1997.
As used herein, the term "standard chain" means a chain as defined in International Standard ISO 606: 1994 (E), or in Japanese Industrial Standards JIS B 1801-1997, and the terms "standard sprocket" and "standard tooth form" refer respectively to sprockets and sprocket teeth conforming to the ISO tooth form, or the S-tooth form or U-tooth form according to the above-mentioned Japanese Industrial Standards.
FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate a chain transmission comprising a sprocket 400 having an ISO tooth form, and a standard roller chain 60. FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of the portion of FIG. 11 labeled "XII". The ISO tooth forms shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 are defined by the following expressions in ISO 606: 1994(E).d=p/sin(180°/z)df=d−d1dc=df (for a sprocket having an even number of teeth)dc=d cos(90°/z)−d1 (for a sprocket having an odd number of teeth)re(max)=0.12d1(z+2)r1(min)=0.505d1re(min)=0.008d1(z2+180)r1(max)=0.505d1+0.069(d1)1/3 where                p is the chain pitch,        d is the pitch circle diameter,        d1 is the roller outer diameter,        df is the diameter of the tooth gap bottom circle (root diameter),        dc is the caliper diameter of the sprocket        re (max) is the maximum value of the arc of the tooth head,        ri (min) is the minimum value of the radius of the arc of the tooth gap bottom,        re (min) is the minimum value of the arc of the tooth head,        ri (max) is the maximum value of the radius of the        arc of the tooth gap bottom,and        z is the number of sprocket teeth.
In FIGS. 11 and 12, pa is a chordal pitch of sprocket 400. This chordal pitch pa is equal to the chain pitch p of the standard roller chain 60.
As is apparent from the above expressions, in the standard sprocket 400 shown in FIG. 12, the profile of the tooth gap bottom 43 is in the form of an arc having a radius ri, which is slightly larger than the radius (d1/2) of the roller 62, and the tooth surface 42 is in the form of an arc having a radius re. Tooth surfaces 42 are continuous with the tooth gap bottom portion 43 on both sides of the tooth gap. The diameter df of the tooth gap bottom circle (also referred to as the "root diameter") is equal to the difference between the pitch circle diameter d and the roller outer diameter d1. Furthermore, the diameter df of the tooth gap bottom circle is substantially the same as the difference between the pitch circle diameter d and twice the radius ri of the arc of the tooth gap bottom.
The standard roller chain is composed of a series of inner and outer links arranged alternately. Each inner link is composed of two inner plates and two bushings. The ends of each bushing are press-fit into bushing holes in the respective inner plates. A roller, having an outer diameter d1 is rotatably fitted on the outer circumference of each bushing. Each outer link is composed of two outer link plates and two connecting pins. The ends of each connecting pin are press-fit into pin holes in the respective outer plates. The outer plates of each link are arranged in overlapping relationship with the inner plates of two inner links, and each pin of an outer link extends through a bushing of an inner link so that the inner and outer links are connected flexibly. FIG. 11 shows only the rollers 62 of the standard roller chain 60, the bushings, inner plates, inner links, connecting pins, outer plates and outer links being omitted. The standard roller chain has a uniform chain pitch p (FIG. 11), which is the distance between the centers of its successive rollers.
In the standard sprocket 400, the tooth gap bottoms and the opposed tooth surfaces 42, which are continuous with the tooth gap bottoms 43, are symmetrical with respect to center lines X of the tooth gap bottoms, each of which connects the rotational center O of the sprocket with the center of a tooth gap bottom 43. The respective center lines X intersect the pitch circle at intersection points a, and a tooth form pitch angle θ is the angle between by adjacent center lines X. Thus the angle θ of the tooth gap bottoms is an angle corresponding to the angular interval between two successive intersection points a on the pitch circle pc. Thus, the tooth form pitch angle θ is determined by the number z of teeth of the sprocket and is defined by the expression θ=360°/z. Furthermore, the tooth form pitch pa is the distance between intersection points a. Therefore, the tooth form pitch pa is a chordal length corresponding to a tooth form pitch angle θ. Since the standard sprocket 400 has uniform tooth form pitch angles θ, the tooth form pitches pa (i.e., the chordal pitches) are arranged uniformly along the circumferential direction of the pitch circle pc. As mentioned previously, the tooth form pitch pa (i.e., the chordal pitch) is equal to the chain pitch p of the standard roller chain 60.
Recent demand for higher power automobile engines, coupled with public consciousness of environmental problems, has led to the development of engines that produce high levels of noise and vibration and to efforts toward reducing that noise and vibration. For example, in a high power engine operating at a high rotational speed, the load on the timing transmission and its contribution to the overall noise produced by the engine become significant. The principal source of timing transmission noise is the engagement sound generated as the chain engages the sprockets.
A measure taken to reduction measures in engagement vibration and noise, is illustrated in FIG. 10, in which a sprocket 400 is provided with an annular elastic member 440 sandwiched between an inner circumferential hub 460 having a keyed a shaft-receiving hole 460a, and an outer circumferential member 420, which includes teeth 420a which are engageable in driving or driven relationship with a roller or bushing chain. Examples of sprockets having sandwiched elastic members are shown in Japanese Laid-Open Utility Model Publication No. Sho. 59-35765, and in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. Hei. 9-264400.
Since the sprocket 400, having an annular elastic member as shown in FIG. 10, has an ISO tooth form, when the sprocket engages with a standard roller chain 60 as shown in FIG. 11 and the sprocket rotates clockwise, a following roller 62 moves relative to the sprocket in an arc centered on the center 01 of the preceding roller 62 which has been seated on a tooth gap bottom. The arc has the chain pitch p as its radius. Accordingly, the following roller moves in its arcuate path relative to the sprocket, and collides with a tooth gap bottom, near the center thereof, substantially at a right angle. The kinetic energy of the roller is transmitted to the tooth gap bottom without being interfered at the beginning of engagement. Thus, there is a large engagement impact. The performance of the elastic member 440 in shutting out vibration has been found to be insufficient. Moreover, when the impact force is applied to the elastic member 440, the endurance of the elastic member 440 is reduced.
Further, since the chordal tooth form pitch pa of the sprocket 400 is equal to the pitch p of a standard roller chain 60, the respective following rollers 62 abut the teeth of the sprocket 400 at the same abutment position t as shown in FIG. 11. The abutment position in each case is at the point intersection of a center line X and a tooth gap bottom. Therefore, the engagement of a roller or bushing with the 400 is uniformly periodic, and vibration and noise having an order determined by the number of sprocket teeth are increased. The elastic member has been found to be incapable of reducing these noises and vibrations adequately.
The standard roller chain shown in FIG. 11 is a transmitting roller chain defined in the International standard (ISO), and has a uniform chain pitch p (The distance between the centers 01 of the respective rollers 62). A standard bushing chain may be used in place of the standard roller chain 60. In such a case, the elements 62 in FIG. 11 can be regarded as bushings.
Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a chain transmission in which a roller of a standard roller chain or a bushing of a standard bushing chain engages with a sprocket tooth, in which the vibration reducing performance of an elastic member incorporated into the sprocket is improved, and in which the endurance of the elastic member is improved.


A non-zero temperature coefficient of offset (Tco) in a semiconductor device (5) is adjusted by reducing the amount of adhesive material used to secure a first structure to a second structure. An adhesive layer (14) used to secure a sensor die (11) to a constraint die (12) in a pressure sensor application is reduced in thickness and/or formed so that adhesive material does not completely cover the constraint die (12). The Tco is further adjusted by reducing the amount and/or patterning the adhesive layer (18) used to secure the sensor (10) to its package (16).

The present invention relates, generally, to semiconductor devices and, more particularly, to thermal stresses affecting semiconductor devices.
Micro-Electrical-Mechanical-Systems (MEMS) such as sensors are widely used in applications such as automotive, household appliances, building ventilation, and in general industrial applications to sense a physical condition such as pressure, temperature, or acceleration, and to provide an electrical signal representative of the sensed physical condition. A conventional pressure sensor is constructed as a network of resistors in a resistive bridge configuration, wherein the resistive bridge has two terminals for coupling to power supply potentials and two terminals for providing a differential output signal. In pressure sensor applications, the bridge resistors are formed on a sensing diaphragm by implanting or diffusing impurity materials into a semiconductor substrate. When the sensor is exposed to the physical condition, one or more of the bridge resistors changes resistance, thereby unbalancing the resistive bridge and generating a differential output signal. As those skilled in the art are aware, the electrical signal is proportional to the imbalance of the resistor network.
A drawback of resistive bridge type sensors is that they produce a non-zero output electrical signal (i.e., offset voltage) at their output terminals with a null input applied. This non-zero offset electrical signal in response to the null input also varies from sensor to sensor due to process and manufacturing variations. It should be noted that a sensor is at a null state when the null input of the physical condition is applied, i.e., when the pressure on one side of the sensing diaphragm is equal to the pressure on an opposing side of the sensing diaphragm. Further, the output signal of these types of pressure sensors varies over the operating pressure range at a specified supply voltage. The change in the output signal over the operating pressure range also varies from sensor to sensor due to process and manufacturing variations. In addition, the offset parameter is sensitive to temperature in these types of sensors. Definitions of terms commonly used by those skilled in sensor art can be found in the second edition of the data book entitled "PRESSURE SENSOR DEVICE DATA" copyrighted in 1994 by Motorola, Inc.
Temperature coefficient of offset (Tco) is a measure of non-pressure induced stresses as a function of temperature that are placed on a semiconductor device such as a MEMS device and is expressed in microvolts per degree Celsius (.mu.V/.degree. C.). A large Tco makes it difficult to design over temperature. Thus, for ease of design using MEMS, inaccuracies, such as Tco, are preferably near zero. In practice, however, the Tco is typically not sufficiently near zero, thus requiring compensation to reduce the Tco to near zero.
One commonly used technique for calibrating and temperature compensating offset is to provide an offset resistor network that is laser trimmed. Drawbacks of this technique are that laser trimming each sensor is an irreversible process that is costly and increases the amount of time for manufacturing a sensor, i.e., increases cycle time.
While some techniques compensate for Tco, they are not directed at a specific cause. A specific cause of a high or undesirable, e.g. nonzero, Tco has not been identified. Accordingly, it would be advantageous to identify a cause or factor affecting the temperature coefficient of offset and to have a method and mechanism for adjusting that factor to decrease or adjust the Tco of a MEMS. It would be of further advantage for the Tco-adjusted MEMS to be manufacturable using common sensor manufacturing techniques.

Temperature coefficient of offset adjusted semiconductor device and method thereof


This application provides an optical processing module and an optical processing apparatus. The optical processing apparatus includes at least two optical processing modules. The optical processing module includes a processing unit, and further includes at least one first interface, at least one second interface, and at least one third interface. Each of at least one first interface is configured to connect to and communicate with an upper-layer device, each of the at least one second interface is configured to connect to and communicate with a user-side device, each of the at least one third interface is configured to connect to and communicate with a third interface of another optical processing module, and the processing unit is configured to process, according to a first control instruction, data received from the at least one first interface and the at least one third interface.

With development of a passive optical network (PON) technology, fiber to the home (FTTH) or fiber to the curb (FITC) has become a mainstream technology for high-bandwidth home access worldwide. A PON architecture includes an optical line termination OLT, an optical distribution network (ODN), and an optical network unit (ONU). One OLT may be connected to a plurality of ONUs through the ODN, and each ONU may be connected to a plurality of terminal devices.
The OLT is a core component of a PON. The OLT is connected to a network-side device (for example, a switch or a router) at an upper layer, and is connected to one or more ODNs at a lower layer. One OLT may provide a plurality of PON interfaces. A conventional OLT (including a centralized OLT and a distributed OLT) uses a plug-in frame structure and usually includes a line card and a main control board/network board used for centralized forwarding or centralized switching. However, the OLT solution is complex and costly. Another kind of OLT uses a system on chip (SOC) with a small capacity. The kind of SOC usually implemented by one chip, but has a small quantity of ports and small traffic.
It is clear that the existing OLTs cannot meet user requirements, and a new type of OLT is urgently needed.

Optical processing module and optical processing apparatus


A paddle wheel propulsion system includes a paddle wheel mounted for rotation about its horizontal axis for propelling a vessel, and for unlimited rotation about a vertical axis perpendicular to its horizontal axis for steering the vessel. The paddle wheel is also supported for limited vertical movement relative to the vessel. Reversible power drive is provided for independently controlling movement of the paddle wheel about its vertical and horizontal axes and for elevating and lowering the paddle wheel. Improved paddles are concave on both sides to provide maximum efficiency in both direction of rotation about the horizontal axis.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an improved paddle wheel propulsion system for use in propelling and steering water vessels, and to an improved paddle used in such paddle wheels.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Paddle wheels of the general type with which this invention is concerned are well known and have long been used for propelling boats, barges, or even small ships (hereinafter, vessels). Such paddle wheels are also sometimes used for powering generators and other equipment. Examples of paddle wheels used for such purposes are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,672; 22,884; 258,023; 4,279,603; and 4,488,055, and in my prior U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,528.
While paddle wheels are well known, and can be an energy efficient means of propelling vessels, they are no longer widely used for various reasons. For example, the efficiency of a paddle wheel depends to some extent upon the depth of submergence into the water; however, the known paddle wheel systems generally have not been readily adjustable to compensate for draft changes of the vessel to thereby maintain the paddle wheel at its most efficient submergence depth.
Vessels propelled by the known paddle wheel systems also generally have not been easily maneuverable for steering, and rudders employed with such systems are less efficient, requiring greater size for effective steering. The known systems generally have required complex drive systems to permit driving the paddle wheels in reverse for slowing or backing the vessel. Further, the configuration of the paddles of the known systems generally have not been such as to produce the maximum thrust, particularly when driven in reverse, so that maximum efficiency was not always obtained.
As a result of the above and other drawbacks of known paddle wheel propulsion systems, their use has generally been limited to relatively light, wide-beamed vessels of the type used in relatively calm waters such as rivers and lakes and in which the draft does not vary greatly with load. Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a paddle wheel propulsion system which overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art as discussed above.
Another object is to provide such a system in which the paddle wheel can readily and easily be raised and lowered as necessary with changes in the boat's draft to maintain the paddle wheel at its most efficient position.
Another object is to provide such a system in which the paddle wheel is supported for unlimited pivotal movement about a vertical axis perpendicular to its axis of rotation for maneuvering and/or backing the boat.
Another object is to provide such a system in which the paddles are contoured to provide maximum thrust regardless of the direction of rotation of the paddle wheel.

Paddle wheel propulsion system and improved paddle used therewith


A device for the transmission and/or reception of RF signals for magnetic resonance imaging (RF coil system) is constructed as an RF coil (body coil) which is permanently mounted in a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus or as a so-called dedicated RF coil (that is, as a separate RF coil which is to be arranged on or around a region to be examined, for example, a head coil, a shoulder coil, a flexible surface coil etc.). A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes an RF coil system of this kind. The RF coil system includes a plurality of resonant conductor elements (201, 202, . . . , 208; 211, 212, . . . , 218), notably □/4 monopole elements. In comparison with known RF coil systems of the same length, a substantially larger field of view as well as a constant variation and a steeper drop of the field characteristic are thus achieved at the edges of the RF coil system while the construction remains comparatively simple and economical nevertheless.

The invention relates to a device for the transmission and/or reception of RF signals for magnetic resonance imaging (referred hereinafter in general as an "RF coil system") which is constructed as an RF coil which is permanently mounted in a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus (body coil) or as a so-called dedicated RF coil (that is, as a separate RF coil which is to be arranged on or around a region to be examined, for example, a head coil, a shoulder coil, a flexible surface coil etc.), as well as to a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus provided with such an RF coil system.
Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging apparatus is used notably for the examination and treatment of patients. The nuclear spins of the tissue to be examined, aligned by a steady main magnetic field (B0 field) are then excited by a pulse-like B1 field which is orthogonal to the main magnetic field and has the MR or Larmor frequency. Moreover, for localization the nuclear spins are also subjected to gradient magnetic fields. The RF relaxation signals induced by the excitation are received and evaluated in order to reconstruct an image of the relevant tissue therefrom in known manner.
Essentially two types of construction can be distinguished: on the one hand there are the so-called axial systems in which the patient is introduced into an essentially horizontally oriented tubular examination zone. The magnetic fields are generated by magnet coils which are arranged along the circumference of the examination zone, the main magnetic field then traversing the patient in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the patient.
On the other hand, there are the so-called open MR imaging apparatus (vertical systems) in which the main magnetic field is generated, generally speaking, between two pole plates which are arranged one above the other and wherebetween a vertical cylindrical examination zone for a patient is defined. The main magnetic field (B0 field) traverses the patient essentially in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the patient (that is, vertically). The patient then remains suitably accessible from almost all sides, that is, even during the imaging, so that interventional examinations can also be performed.
RF coil systems are permanently mounted in said systems (so-called RF body coils) in order to generate the B1 field (RF field) and to receive the RF relaxation signals; the configuration and positioning of such coils has a decisive effect on the image quality, notably the signal-to-noise ratio and the resolution.
Moreover, dedicated (separate) RF coils such as, for example, head coils, shoulder coils etc., are also used; these coils are also known as at least partly flexible surface coils or pads and can be arranged around or on the region of a patient to be examined.
In this respect it is very important that the overall examination zone to be imaged is traversed by an as homogeneous as possible RF field or that the reception characteristic of the RF coil system is as constant as possible in this zone. Furthermore, the field of view (FOV) of the RF coil system should extend as accurately as possible across the space of the at least substantially constant B0 field and the useful space of the gradient coils, generating the gradient magnetic fields, so that the resultant, defined useful examination zone (and only this zone) is exposed as completely and constantly as possible so as to be used for disturbance-free imaging.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,150,816 discloses an RF coil system which includes at least a first, a second and a third RF coil which are electrically insulated from one another, can be separately activated and are arranged so as to overlap one another in the axial direction in such a manner that no magnetic coupling exists therebetween. The aim is to provide not only an improved signal-to-noise ratio but also an expanded and switchable field of view of the RF coil system.
However, this system has the drawback that the length of this coil system in the axial direction is comparatively large in comparison with the length of the field of view in this direction, that is, in particular when an as constant as possible variation and a steep drop of the RF field or the reception characteristic are desired at the axial ends of the field of view.

RF coil system for a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus


Implementations generally relate to enhancing a video. In some implementations, a method includes classifying one or more objects in one or more frames of the video. The method further includes determining one or more filter parameters of one or more filters based on the classifying of the one or more objects. The method further includes smoothing one or more of the determined filter parameters based on the classifying of the one or more objects. The method further includes applying one or more of the filters with corresponding smoothed filter parameters to one or more frames of the video.

The popularity and convenience of digital video cameras as well as the widespread use of Internet communications have caused user-produced videos to become ubiquitous. Manual video editing systems for various consumer electronic devices and personal computers enable a user with knowledge and know-how to manipulate videos. Such video editing systems typically require the user to understand complicated and difficult instructions to manipulate the image. This level of knowledge places advanced editing features out of the grasp of the average user.


A detector (3) is provided that is independent of outside energy, for a release device, for which detector no battery and no external power supply is provided, and that generates a signal at a defined temperature, a thermal release element (3.2), at least one piezo element (3.1) and a coupling element (11) being arranged such in a bracket/housing (3.3) that as a result of a change in state of the thermal release element (3.2) by the coupling element (11) exerts a mechanical pressure on the piezo element (3.1) so that an electric signal is generated. A valve for a release device is also provided.

A release device is meant to be a device that starts an extinguishing operation in the case of a fire. This necessitates detectors that contain sensors or elements that detect a fire parameter and generate a signal for signaling, switching and control purposes, in particular for releasing an extinguishing device. Fire parameters are understood to be variables that are linked to the start or the spreading of a fire such as e.g. temperature, smoke, radiation, gas emissions and thermal decomposition products.
To release an extinguishing agent as a rule also necessitates valves that release the flow of the extinguishing agent to the place of the fire in the case of a fire.
The inventive solution can be used wherever a signal is to be generated at a defined temperature after a change in temperature for signaling, switching and/or control purposes and where no electric energy is available from a battery, a rechargeable battery or another power supply or is not available reliably or constantly. This can be the case for example with extinguishing devices such as extinguishing systems or devices for storing an extinguishing agent like a fire extinguisher, that is to be released by an energy-independent release device, or by other autonomous systems for monitoring. In this way an area that is at risk of fire can be monitored independently of outside energy, without a battery, without a rechargeably battery or another power supply, and when a defined temperature is exceeded a generated voltage or current signal can be used for signaling or controlling subsequent actions. This further enables overload protective devices to be realized that trigger when the desired temperature is exceeded and e.g. effect the switching off of an apparatus or emit a fault signal. In particular in autonomous units that must function as long as possible such as all types of vehicles, in space etc.
The detector that is independent of outside energy can further be used to protect kitchen appliances such as deep fryers and other fat-heating devices.
This detector can also be used to safeguard and monitor thermal processes, furnaces, engines, vehicles, aircraft and ships and other mobile and stationary objects.
The invention can also be applied where fluid media are present such as in the food, chemical and petrochemical industries, the drinking water and service water supplies and in other areas of industry.
In an advantageous design the fluid medium is an extinguishing agent, e.g. water, a water foam mixture, a gas or a chemical extinguishing agent.
Since some extinguishing agents also have a cooling effect, the term extinguishing agent is further also understood to mean a coolant.
The valve can be used in extinguishing systems and extinguishing devices where pressure tanks, assemblies, pipes or volume segments with extinguishing agents or coolants are closed off by a valve that opens when needed, e.g. on detecting a fire, as a result of an electric voltage or a voltage signal and releases the flow of the extinguishing agent.
DE 199 45 856 B4 describes a sprinkler device having a valve that opens on predetermined criteria, this valve being controlled by a sensor that reacts fast to parameters that are generated in the case of a fire, multiple sensors being provided that control the valve by means of an evaluation algorithm and the sensors being capable of reacting to different parameters of the fire. In a particular design variant the document describes a glass tube where a piezoelectric behavior is used to trigger an alarm. The current is supplied by means of an electric line and a battery.
EP 0 824 027 A1 describes an explosion protection device having an electric release, the release device being operated using a spring and a solenoid. The solenoid is fed electricity continuously. As soon as the power supply for the solenoid fails the spring relaxes so that a locking device is retracted that acts on a further mechanism. The device does not operate independently of energy and also is not suited to be arranged on an extinguishing device.
US 2009/0301601 A1 uses a piezo igniter that generates a spark voltage by triggering a press button as is known from every lighter, using which a combustion process is started whose exhaust gases can be used for further processes.
US 2007/0215362 A1 describes a fire extinguishing system where a cover plate having a fusible link is arranged at a fire extinguishing nozzle. Using a piezoelectric switch an alarm can be triggered. When a certain temperature is exceeded, the fusible link melts and the cover plate of the sprinkler housing falls down, a switch triggering an alarm in the process. In this document a device called a piezoelectric switch is used, this in reality being a piezoelectric acoustic signal transmitter.
US 2011/0278029 A1 describes an independent self-releasing modular fire suppression unit that can be mounted to a ceiling. On a printed circuit board a piezo element is situated that is triggered by a smoke detector and triggers an acoustic signal. A glass tube is disposed on a printed circuit board on a tank lid that bursts in heat. The glass tube acts against a spring and a switch that triggers an alarm signal. Batteries are provided for supplying power to the device.
A disadvantage with this state of the art is that the detectors and valves existing in release devices require additional outside energy such as e.g. batteries, rechargeable batteries or other external power supplies required. Thus detectors require additional outside energy both in the state of readiness in which they always have to detect fire parameters when they arise, and also in the release state after a fire parameter has been detected. It is also valves such as e.g. solenoid valves that require additional outside energy for maintaining the state of readiness and/or the release state.


An adaptable exercise apparatus for assisting individuals with reduced physical abilities, whether due to injury or age, perform a range of low impact exercises and stretches to the best of their ability given their physical condition. The apparatus comprises a plurality of ergonomically shaped stackable exercise platforms allowing for variable height adjustment and a variety of strength compensating features specially adapted to integrate with the stackable exercise platforms and assist the performance of the individuals.

It is well known that low impact resistance training such as the activities included in many yoga routines, as well as simple exercises such as leg-lifts, sit-ups, and step-ups, and stretches are very effective at increasing flexibility, building strength, and generally promoting health, both physically and mentally. This is especially true when individuals commit to a regular or semi-regular routine involving such activities.
One of the most common obstacles to committing to a regular or semi-regular routine of low impact exercises and stretches is the convenience of doing so. The more convenient it is for an individual to engage in such exercise, the more likely an exercise routine will be successfully established. Establishing a regular exercise routine is typically more easily accomplished if the individual has a comfortable surface upon which to exercise. An example of a very typical comfortable surface upon which to exercise is the standard yoga mat. A yoga mat provides both a clean location on the ground or floor and a minimal amount of cushion for comfort.
For many individuals, however, the standard yoga mat is not a convenient or comfortable surface. For example, for individuals with reduced physical abilities because of an injury or due to the natural processes of aging, lowering one's self to the ground or floor may be quit strenuous, painful, or even physically impossible.
For such individuals, a raised exercise surface would provide a much more comfortable and convenient exercising surface and may increase such individual's likelihood of exercising despite their physical limitations or pain. It is especially important for these particular individuals to have a comfortable and convenient exercising surface because it is through the continued exercise despite ones physical limitations and/or pain that many injuries are eventually rehabilitated or mitigated, and it is through continued exercise that those gradually losing strength and flexibility through the natural processes of aging are best able to delay the body's natural decline and extend their ability to remain active and mobile.
The ideal height of a raised exercising surface may vary from individual to individual according to the individual's physical capability or particular injury, and may even vary for the same individual depending on the particular exercise performed; therefore, an ideal exercising surface would be adaptable to the height preference of the exercising individual. There exists a need for a raised exercise surface capable of being adjusted to various heights to meet the various preferences of each exercising individual.
Individuals with reduced physical abilities often compensate for a lack of strength or flexibility in one portion of their body with assistance from another. For example, many such individuals often prefer to use their arms to assist their legs when attempting to sit or stand. Compensating with one's arms can also allow an individual to perform certain exercises that would prove too difficult or strenuous without such assistance and/or allow physically compromised individuals to exercise with more stability and confidence than they would otherwise enjoy. For this reason, there is also a need for an adjustable height exercise surface that includes strength compensation features that allow an individual to compensate for a lack of strength or flexibility in various parts of the body so that simple exercises and stretches can be performed despite an individual's physical deficiencies.
Similarly, many individuals whose physical abilities are reduced to the point of being bed ridden also have the strength to perform some simple exercises and/or stretches if they were provided with a comfortable, convenient exercise space and various strength compensation features. For these individuals, a typical mattress is often too soft to push against to perform limited physical activities and would benefit from a more firm exercise surface with the strength to support their bodies that could rest on top of their mattress so that they could perform exercises without leaving their bed and various strength compensation features could further reduce the strain required to perform low impact exercises such as partial sit-ups and leg lifts and stretches.
The present disclosure distinguishes over the related art providing heretofore unknown advantages as described in the following summary.

Adaptable exercise platform with strength compensation features


The present invention teaches a hands-free remote entry system primarily for vehicles. This system comprises a base transceiver having wake-up sensors for automatically detecting an object. Once an object is detected, a transmitter within the base transceiver transmits a wake-up/data signal to a fob transceiver. A wake-up receiver within the fob transceiver receives the wake-up/data signal. Upon receipt of the wake-up/data signal, the fob transceiver transmits an identification/data signal, via a transmitter, back to a receiver in the base transceiver. In response to receiving the identification signal, output drivers from the base transceiver actuate a door lock system and an auto theft system.

I. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to remote entry systems and, more particularly, to a hands-free remote entry system for vehicles.
II. Discussion of the Related Art
Remote entry systems for vehicles have been in use for several years. These systems provide safety and convenience for a user entering or exiting a vehicle. Some of the typical features offered by these systems allow the user to lock/unlock doors and arm/disarm auto theft systems in a remote manner.
For instance, many remote entry systems will utilize a key fob with an infrared transmitter which is received by an infrared sensor positioned on the vehicle. When the user is within range, the user actuates a button on the key fob to either lock or unlock all the vehicle doors. Concurrently with the locking or unlocking, an anti-theft system is typically armed or disarmed. However, one disadvantage of this type of system is that the user must manually actuate the key fob to achieve the desired result.
In order to attempt to eliminate this disadvantage, some remote entry systems now operate in a hands-free manner. For example, one system currently being utilized employs a key fob which uses an internal motion sensor. As a user walks or moves, the key fob on the user detects this motion and continuously transmits a signal while the motion is detected. If the user is near the vehicle, the vehicle will receive this signal and unlock all the doors. Thereafter, the system will "time out" and lock all the doors.
Thus, this system eliminates the need for the user to manually actuate the key fob. However, this system has several disadvantages. First, if the user is merely walking past the vehicle with the key fob, the vehicle will inadvertently unlock the doors when not required. This would leave the vehicle subsequently open to theft or vandalism. Second, when the user is inside the vehicle, the user may unintentionally cause the doors to unlock by moving the key fob inside the vehicle. This may allow a child to open the vehicle door as the vehicle is moving or allow an intruder to enter the vehicle while the user attempts to lock the vehicle. Finally, battery life of the key fob is also greatly reduced. For example, if the key fob is in the user's pocket and the user is taking a walk, the key fob will continuously transmit signals and thereby degrade the battery.
Another hands-free system currently in use either employs the key fob or the vehicle to periodically emit a signal, such as every 100 milliseconds. As the user approaches the vehicle, the key fob or the vehicle receives this signal and unlocks the door. Again, this system may cause the vehicle to be unlocked unintentionally and inadvertently, as well as reduce the battery life of the key fob or the vehicle because of the continuous periodic transmissions. Additionally, both of the above systems typically open all of the doors and not just the entering door. This allows the possibility of having an intruder enter through another door.
What is needed then is a hands-free remote entry system which does not suffer from the above-mentioned disadvantages. This will, in turn, eliminate the inadvertent and unintentional locking or unlocking of the vehicle doors, increase battery life in the key fob and the vehicle, eliminate opening all the doors simultaneously and eliminate the continuous transmission of unnecessary signals. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide such a hands-free remote entry system and method therefor.


Apparatus is provided for protecting a patient's limb from tourniquet-related injury, comprising: a tourniquet cuff having a length sufficient for encircling a limb protection sleeve applied to a limb at a location having a limb circumference of not less than a predetermined minimum limb circumference and not more than a predetermined maximum limb circumference; limb protection sleeve adapted for applying to the limb at the location, wherein the sleeve has a tubular shape and a tubular circumference predetermined to be less than the predetermined minimum and wherein the sleeve is formed to allow elastic stretching of the tubular shape sufficient to increase the tubular circumference to be substantially equivalent to the limb circumference at the location when the sleeve is applied to the limb, thereby applying a pressure to the limb that is greater than a predetermined minimum pressure and less than a predetermined maximum pressure; and identification means perceptible to a user for providing an indication to the user of the predetermined minimum limb circumference and the predetermined maximum limb circumference.

Surgical tourniquet cuffs typically are applied to a patient's limb at a desired location and are then pressurized in order to stop the flow of arterial blood past the cuff, thereby establishing a bloodless filed in the portion of the limb distal to the cuff. The structure and function of some typical tourniquet cuffs of the prior art are described by Robinette-Lehmann in U.S. Pat. No. 4,635,635, by Spence in U.S. Pat. No. 4,979,953 and by McEwen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,454,831 and 5,649,954. The pressure applied by such prior-art tourniquet cuffs is typically controlled by electronic tourniquet apparatus such as that described by McEwen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,469,099 by McEwen and Jameson in U.S. Pat. No. 5,607,447.
The bloodless surgical field created by a pressurized tourniquet cuff facilitates many types of surgical procedures performed on upper limbs and lower limbs, helps improve the quality and consistency of the surgical procedures, reduces the need for blood transfusions, and shortens surgical times. In certain kinds of surgical procedures, only the portion of the limb distal to the tourniquet cuff is anesthetized using a procedure called Bier block anesthesia or Intravenous Regional Anesthesia (IVRA); in such procedures, the tourniquet cuff performs a dual function of keeping the anesthetic agent in the limb and keeping arterial blood out of the limb. Clinical practice involving the use of tourniquets in IVRA was recently summarized in a paper by Henderson et al. entitled "A North American Survey of Intravenous Regional Anesthesia" published in Anesthesia and Analgesia (1997; 85:858-863).
In an effort to reduce the probability of certain injuries to the soft tissues of the limb beneath a pressurized tourniquet cuff, some operators may elect to apply a soft bandage to the limb beneath the cuff. For example, in "Recommended Practices for Use of the Pneumatic Tourniquet", published by the Association of Operating Room Nurses (AORN) in the United States and effective as of Jan. 1, 1999, it is noted that "The cuff should be applied to the extremity so that underlying skin and soft tissue are not unduly traumatized. Manufacturers' instructions may suggest that a soft, wrinkle-free padding (eg, cotton cast padding, stockinette) be wrapped smoothly around the limb as high on the extremity as possible, being careful not to pinch the skin folds where the tourniquet is applied. Once inflated the cuff should not be readjusted. Users must note that some tourniquet technology does not require padding."
In the prior art, soft bandages that have been used in conjunction with tourniquet cuffs have included sheet padding combined with a fluid-impervious layer and an adhesive tab as described by Hubbard et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,406,281, as well as cast padding of the type wrapped around a broken limb before a cast is applied. Proper application of these soft bandages in conjunction with tourniquet cuff usage is very technique-dependent, requiring a trained and experienced applicator. Further, some types of padding may release loose fibers when applied, and these fibers may enter the surgical field and may clog the hook-and-loop fasteners that are typically used to secure tourniquet cuffs in position around the limb, thereby reducing the effective strength of these fasteners and creating a potential hazard. Also, the padding itself may take on a non-uniform shape around the limb, especially when an overlying tourniquet cuff is inflated. Finally, if too much soft bandage is used or if it is applied improperly, then hazards may arise because the level of pressure required in the tourniquet cuff to stop blood flow past the cuff may increase substantially, and the position of the cuff on the limb may become unstable after inflation, increasing the likelihood that the cuff position may change significantly relative to the limb during use.
An alternative to the use of soft bandages and cast padding in the prior art has been to use tubular stockinette between the patient's limb and the tourniquet cuff. Typically, tubular stockinette is made and supplied in a wide range of predetermined 'lay-flat' widths, knits and materials. Tubular stockinette consists of a knitted textile having a substantially cylindrical shape in which some of the knitted threads either are elastic or are knitted in a manner that permits elastic stretching of the tubular shape. In appearance, tubular stockinette resembles the ankle portion of a sock or the leg portion of a nylon stocking. Elastic threads are included in some types of tubular stockinette to give them stretch and elastic characteristics that are a function of the type and number of elastic and non-elastic threads used in the knit and the knit pattern itself. In other types of stockinette that are knitted from non-elastic threads, the stretch and elastic characteristics of the stockinette are primarily determined by the type of knit. Two general advantages of using tubular stockinette under a tourniquet cuff, in comparison to overlapping soft bandages, are: tubular stockinette does not shed loose fibers which can enter the surgical field and clog cuff fasteners; and tubular stockinette does not produce as non-uniform a shape around the limb as soft bandages may do.
There are a number of limitations associated with such prior-art tubular stockinette. The most important limitation is that the pressure applied to the encircled limb by the tubular stockinette may be too high or too low. If the tubular stockinette is stretched excessively to fit around the limb at the desired cuff location, too high a pressure may result: in such situations, the pressure applied to the limb by the elastically stretched tubular stockinette may be sufficiently high to stop the flow of venous blood out of the limb and impair the flow of arterial blood into the limb.
Because of the concern about residual pressures that might be applied by tubular stockinette, one manufacturer of prior-art tourniquet cuffs and instruments (Zimmer, Warsaw Ind.) cautions on page 6 of the Operator and Service Manual for its A.T.S. 2000 Automatic Tourniquet System that "As an under padding, a section of stockinette may be used. The deflated cuff and any underlying bandages should be completely removed as soon as tourniquet pressure is released. Even the slightest impedance of venous return may lead to congestion and pooling of blood in the operative field." Similar cautions and warnings about hazards related to the residual application of non-pneumatic pressure by underlying padding such as stockinette, as well as tourniquet cuffs, are given by other suppliers of tourniquet-related products and in the surgical literature.
Alternatively, if the tubular stockinette is not stretched at all, or if it is not stretched sufficiently at a desired cuff location, then the tubular stockinette may apply no pressure to the underlying limb and inflation of an overlying tourniquet cuff may then produce folding and wrinkling of the tubular stockinette material. This can cause soft tissue injuries resulting from pinching, folding and shearing of skin beneath the tubular stockinette, as well as causing other hazards arising from local anomalies in the pressure applied to the limb beneath the tubular stockinette by the inflated cuff and from the increased inflation pressure that may be required in the cuff to stop blood flow.
One commercial product is known in the prior art that combines tubular stockinette and a single-use tourniquet cuff in a single sterile package (Smith and Nephew Richards Inc., Memphis Tenn.). The tubular stockinette consists of a substantially cylindrical length of elastically stretchable knitted fabric that has been folded back on itself twice, so that by pulling the tubular stockinette up a limb to a desired cuff location, the tourniquet cuff can be applied over four layers of stockinette material. In products inspected by the inventor one common sleeve size was supplied with the 12″ and 15″ cuff sizes, thus that specific sleeve is not matched to a specific cuff, but to two cuffs of differing sizes for differing limb circumference ranges. Similarly, a second common sleeve size was supplied with the 24″, 34″, and 44″ cuff sizes. The instructions enclosed with the cuff specify that the user should select a cuff large enough to have at least a suggested three-to-four inch overlap. In practical use, if the overlap is less than the suggested three-inch minimum at a desired limb location with a selected cuff, then the next larger cuff supplied by the manufacturer must be used. Thus the minimum limb circumference for that next larger cuff is effectively equal to the limb circumference that creates less than a three-inch overlap in the selected cuff. Accordingly, the effective limb circumference range of each cuff is (a) a maximum that allows a three-inch overlap, and (b) a minimum that would allow a three-inch overlap in the next smaller cuff. Over part of these ranges, the stockinette sleeves provided with some of the cuffs inspected are too large, i.e. the circumference of the unstretched stockinette is greater than part of the range of circumferences of limbs on which the cuff may be applied. This is hazardous because, as noted above, the inventor has discovered that if the tubular stockinette is loose and not elastically stretched to apply a small pressure greater than a non-zero pressure threshold (determined in testing by the inventor of the present invention to be the minimum pressure at which a visible reduction in wrinkling and pinching was observed) at the desired cuff location on a limb prior to application of the tourniquet cuff, then the application and inflation of the cuff over the stockinette will produce folding and wrinkling of the underlying stockinette material, increasing the likelihood of soft tissue injuries due to pinching, folding and shearing of skin beneath the stockinette, as well as creating other surgical and IVRA-related hazards arising from local anomalies in the pressure applied to the limb and from the higher pressures that must be applied onto such stockinette by the encircling tourniquet cuff to stop blood flow in the underlying limb.
Another similar commercial product is known in the prior art that combines tubular stockinette and a single-use tourniquet cuff in a single sterile package ('Color Cuff II', Instrumed Inc., Woodinville, Wash.). The tubular stockinette consists of a substantially cylindrical length of elastically stretchable knitted fabric that has been folded back on itself once forming a two layer stockinette sleeve. However, as with the Smith and Nephew Richards product of the prior art, the sleeves supplied with some of the cuffs are not stretched on some limbs within the size range of the corresponding cuff. Also as with the Smith and Nephew Richards product of the prior art, a sleeve of the same size, and therefore having exactly the same unstretched circumference, is supplied with both the 24″ cuff and the 34″ cuff. Thus that specific sleeve is not matched to a specific cuff, but to two cuffs of differing sizes for differing limb circumference ranges. Instrumed also provides three different sizes of stockinette sleeves, each having a different circumference, for use with the six different sizes of non-sterile reusable tourniquet cuffs that it supplies. However no indication is given in the documentation supplied to users of the cuffs of any correspondence between the sleeve sizes and cuff sizes, and no means is provided for users to match any specific sleeve sizes to any specific cuff sizes.
The pressure applied by a tubular stockinette to a limb of a given shape, circumference and tissue composition can be measured using a biomedical pressure transducer such as the one described by McEwen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,869,265. Using such a transducer, it is has been found in tests conducted by the inventor that pressures from 0 mmHg to more than 60 mmHg can applied to limbs of varying circumferences and physical properties by prior-art tubular stockinettes of varying sizes, materials, knits and designs. For comparison, it has been found that an applied pressure as low as 30 mmHg can partially or completely obstruct venous blood flow, and that applied pressures lower than 60 mmHg can impede and partially block arterial blood flow. It is has been found in tests conducted by the inventor of the present invention that the pressure of a snugly applied tourniquet cuff can be as high as 25 mmHg.
With both the Smith and Nephew Richards and Instrumed products of the prior art, each different cuff size is indicated by a distinct color on the product label and on features permanently attached to the cuff. The sleeves, however, do not have any color or other matching or indicating features permanently attached. Once the sterile package is opened and the cuff and sleeve are separated, there is no indication to the user of the correct matching between the cuff and sleeve. This can be hazardous. For example, in one Smith and Nephew Richards product inspected by the inventor, an apparently incorrect sleeve size was included in the sterile, sealed package. Testing conducted by the inventor (as described in the preceding paragraph) revealed that at the maximum limb size accommodated by the cuff, the sleeve included in the package was extremely tight and applied a hazardous pressure to the limb. In this case, indicating means permanently attached to the sleeve may have alerted the user of the inappropriateness of the sleeve for the limb sizes accommodated by the cuff.
In the prior art, there is no known limb protection sleeve that matches a specific tourniquet cuff for application to limbs having circumferences between a minimum and a maximum circumference so that the sleeve, after application to a limb of minimum circumference, stretches elastically to apply a small pressure greater than a non-zero threshold to the limb that is effective in reducing wrinkling and pinching of the limb, and so that the sleeve, after application to a limb of maximum circumference, applies a pressure to the limb that is less than a predetermined maximum pressure.

Matching limb protection sleeve for tourniquet cuff


In a display apparatus, a luminance acquiring unit acquires luminance signals from inputted image signals. A difference calculating unit compares luminance signals of the current frame acquired by the luminance acquiring unit with those of a previous frame stored in a frame memory, and then takes a difference between these luminance signals. If the difference of the luminance is large, a judging unit judges that the image corresponding to a portion in question is moving. If the difference of the luminance is small, the judging unit judges that the image corresponding to the portion stays still. A gain calculating unit gradually lowers the luminance corresponding to a part where the image stays still, and gradually restores to the original level the luminance corresponding to a part where the image is moving.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to display apparatus and display method, and it particularly relates to a technique which reduces the unevenness and dispersion of luminance by smoothing a deterioration of respective optical elements in an active matrix display screen.
2. Description of the Related Art
Organic electroluminescent display apparatus (hereinafter referred to also as "organic EL apparatus" or "organic EL panel") is attracting much attention as new flat type display apparatus. In particular, active-matrix type organic EL display apparatus including thin film transistors (hereinafter referred to also as "TFT") as switching elements is the most promising candidate for the next generation display apparatus to replace the currently widely prevailing liquid crystal display (LCD) apparatus, and is a subject of intensive research and development activities competing for putting it to practical use.
Unlike the liquid crystal display elements, the organic EL elements themselves emit light. Thus, the backlight which is an indispensable structure in the liquid crystal display apparatus is no longer required, so that it is expected that the apparatus will be made further thinner and lighter. Utilizing the property of self-luminance, it is expected that the organic EL elements will be used as light emitting devices such as backlight of LCD apparatus.
It is a well-known fact that the organic EL elements deteriorate with luminescence and the luminance thereof drops gradually. When the same image is displayed for many hours in the same region, the deterioration in the organic EL element having high-luminance pixels deteriorates faster than that having low-luminance pixels, in accordance with luminance distribution of an image in question. As a result, even during the time when the image is not displayed at all, the dispersion or the irregularity of luminance corresponding to this image is visibly observed. Namely, the so-called screen burn-in phenomenon occurs. Even if the respective organic EL elements have enough life duration, the difficulties are encountered in their usage if the burn-in occurs in the panels. Thus, in order to provide long-life organic EL panels with high display quality, it is of course important to develop organic luminescent material resistant to deterioration, but it is also extremely important to develop a technology that suppresses the occurrence of luminance disparity and screen burn-in phenomenon.


A spark plug electrode wire composed of an iridium-rhodium alloy exhibits improved erosion resistance and enhanced durability in leaded and unleaded fuel environments. The alloy is formed into a wire having high thermal conductivity, low electrical resistivity, good oxidation resistance, good corrosion resistance, good wear resistance. It exhibits desirable work function in pure metals and alloys such as iridium and iridium-rhodium. The wire is inserted into the center electrode of the spark plug and brazed to an Inconel base metal and copper core thereof using a silver-based brazing alloy. After electrical engine dynamometer testing for 200 hours, an improvement in erosion resistance as high as eight fold was observed with an 60% iridium-40% rhodium alloy, when compared to a conventional 90% platinum-10% nickel alloy. The iridium-rhodium spark plug electrode wire can be used to minimize erosion and wear resistance in leaded and unleaded fuel environments.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to materials and methods of manufacturing spark plug electrode tips which provide substantially improved erosion resistance and enhanced durability of spark plugs in both leaded and unleaded fuel environments for internal combustion engines.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
Spark plugs are used in internal combustion engines to ignite fuel in a combustion chamber. The electrodes of a spark plug are subject to intense heat and an extremely corrosive atmosphere generated by the formation of a spark and combustion of the air/fuel mixture. To improve durability and erosion resistance, the spark plug electrode tips must be able to withstand the high temperature and corrosive environment of the internal combustion chamber resulting from the chemical reaction products between air, fuel and fuel additives.
SAEJ312 describes the specification for automotive gasoline used as a fuel in the United States. The gasoline consists of blends of hydrocarbons derived from petroleum: saturates (50-80%), olefins (0-15%), and aromatics (15-40%). Leaded gasoline contains about 0.10 g Pb/gallon fuel (0.026 g Pb/L), and 0.15% sulfur. In unleaded gasoline there is about 0.05 g Pb/gallon, (0.013 g Pb/L), 0.1% sulfur, 0.005 g P/gallon, (0.0013 g P/L). In addition, there are a number of additives incorporated into the fuel for various reasons. For example, tetramethyllead (TML) and tetraethyllead (TEL) are added as antiknock agents. Carboxylic acids (acetic acid), compounds are added as lead extenders. Aromatic amines, phenols are added as antioxidants. Organic bromine, chlorine compounds are added as scavengers and deposit modifiers. Phosphors and boron containing compounds are added to reduce surface ignition, preignition and as engine scavengers. Metal deactivators are added to reduce oxidative deterioration of the fuel by metals, such as Cu, Co, V, Mn, Fe, Cr and Pb. In addition, carboxylic acids, alcohols, amines, sulfonates, phosphoric acid salts of amines, are used as rust-preventing additives.
The mechanism for ignition in an internal combustion engine is very complex and is briefly discussed here. In the gasoline engine, the rising piston compresses the fuel/air mixture, causing increases in pressure and temperature. The spark ignites the fuel-air charge, and the force of the advancing flame front acts against the piston, compressing the unburned fuel-air charge further. Preflame combustion reactions occur in the unburned fuel-air mixture. The pinging noise or knock often associated with internal combustion engines is produced when an extremely rapid combustion reaction occurs in the end gas ahead of the advancing flame front. The formation of the preflame reaction products of the gasoline sets the stage for knock. It is believed that the alkyllead additive must first decompose in the combustion chamber to form lead oxide before it can exert its antiknock effect. The antiknock species must be finely dispersed in the combustion chamber so that adequate numbers of collisions of the critical reacting species with the antiknock agent will occur. However, lead oxide deposits can cause problems of valve burning and spark plug fouling. Lead deposits which accumulate on the spark plug insulator cause engine misfiring at high speed due to the relatively high electrical conductivity of the deposit.
The complete combustion of a hydrocarbon fuel with air will produce carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2), water (H.sub.2 O) and nitrogen (N.sub.2). The ratio of air to fuel by weight, 14.5/1, is the chemically correct mixture ratio. When less air is available, some carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H.sub.2) are found in the products, whereas if excessive air is available some oxygen (O.sub.2) is found in the products. The atmosphere present during the combustion may cause the hot corrosion of electrodes in the spark plug.
The manufacture of copper (Cu) and nickel (Ni) electrodes for spark plugs is a proven art and has been accomplished in a variety of ways. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 3,803,892 issued Apr. 16, 1974 and entitled "Method of Producing Spark Plug Center Electrode" describes a method of extruding copper and nickel electrodes from a flat plate of the two materials. U.S. Pat. No. 3,548,472 issued Dec. 22, 1970 and entitled "Ignition Plug and Method for Manufacturing a Center Electrode for the Same" illustrates a method of cold forming an outer nickel cup shaped sleeve by several steps, inserting a piece of copper wire into the cup and then lightly pressing the two materials together. U.S. Pat. No. 3,857,145 issued Dec. 31, 1974 and entitled "Method of Producing Spark Plug Center Electrode" discloses a process whereby a copper center core is inserted into a nickel member and attached thereto by a collar portion to assure that an electrical flow path is produced.
The spark plug electrodes produced by the methods disclosed above perform in a satisfactory manner for a relatively short period of driving time when used in vehicles that were manufactured prior to the implementation of the clean air act of 1977 in the United States. After 1977, with modifications to engine and fuel, the operating temperature of most vehicle increased. As a result of the changes in the engines and fuels, some of the operating components in engines have been subjected to the corrosive effects of the exhaust gases. After a period of time of operating at higher temperatures in recirculation gases, some corrosion/erosion can occur at the nickel-based center electrode. Once corrosion has taken place, the electrical flow path deteriorates which can result in lower fuel efficiency.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,705,486 issued Nov. 10, 1987, and entitled "Method for Manufacturing a Center Electrode for a Spark Plug," discusses a method for manufacturing a center electrode in order to provide some degree of longevity of the spark plug. The center electrode is made from a good heat conducting material such as copper surrounded by a jacket of a corrosion resistant material such as nickel.
This invention also provides a method of manufacturing an electrode for a spark plug whereby a platinum tip is attached to a body composed of a nickel alloy such as Inconel (a registered trademark of International Nickel Company) nickel alloy (e.g., Inconel) body in which a copper core is located. In this process, a blank is cut from a roll of Inconel wire and the end face squared to produce a flat surface. A strip of platinum is welded to the flat surface and a chamfer surface is produced on the first end to remove any flash remaining from the weld and produce a platinum tip. The blank is placed in a die and extruded to produce a cylindrical bore. As the extrusion takes place, the platinum flows down the chamfer to completely cover the weld. A copper core is inserted in the cylindrical core such that there is an electrical flow path produced between the platinum tip and copper core through the Inconel body. The platinum tip is resistant to the corrosive component in a combustion chamber and maintains an electrical flow path between a copper core and a ground. The platinum is extruded to cover the weld to assure that the flow path does not deteriorate under normal operating temperatures.
Platinum as an electrode tip base alloy is a preferred candidate material due to the fact that it resists oxidation and has been proven to greatly increase the service life of a spark plug. This design, including a platinum tip has increased the service life of spark plugs at least a factor of two over standard spark plugs, not incorporating a platinum electrode tip. However, the platinum tip must be used in the unleaded fuel environment. In the leaded fuel environment, lead oxide may react upon heating with H.sub.2, B, K, CaC, Na, C and CO and reduce to metallic lead. Metallic lead may attack platinum tip to form a low melting eutectic. The local melting of platinum will reduce the durability of spark plug. Platinum is also a very expensive metal which significantly impacts the final cost of a spark plug. Currently, platinum is selling in the range of $380 US dollars per troy ounce.
The life of a spark plug is improved by joining a heat-resistant and wear-resistant layer of platinum to the spark-discharge end of the center electrode which is made of Inconel. Resistance welding is used to minimize wear of the spark discharge end of the center electrode. However, the joint between the platinum tip and center electrode base metal often becomes cracked and oxidized. In certain cases, the platinum tip falls off at the position of this cracked and oxidized interfacial boundary. This phenomenon is considered to be largely due to thermal fatigue stress caused by the difference in linear expansion coefficients between platinum and Inconel. As a result of the varying operating loads of the engine, the spark plug is alternately and repeatedly subjected to high and low temperatures. Owing to this alternate repetition of high and low temperatures and to the difference in linear expansion coefficients, the joint between the discharging layer and the center electrode is repeatedly subjected to the thermal stress which results in the formation of transverse cracking.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,540,910 issued on Sep. 10, 1985, entitled "Spark Plug for Internal-Combustion Engine," recognizes this shortcoming and discloses a method of using a thermal stress relieving layer disposed between the discharging layer and the base metal of the center electrode. The thermal stress relieving layer is made of a platinum base alloy containing nickel, which is also present in the base metal. The discharging layer may be made of a material consisting essentially of 70 to 90 wt. % platinum and 30 to 10 wt. % iridium. The thermal stress relieving layer may be made of a material consisting essentially of 5 to 95 wt. % platinum and 95 to 5 wt. % nickel. Another platinum-containing wear-resistant layer may be provided on the other electrode. The wear-resistant layer is made of a material consisting essentially of 5 to 60 wt. % nickel and 95 to 40 wt. % platinum. However, at high temperatures under oxidizing atmosphere, the selective oxidation of nickel in platinum-nickel alloys may occur which will produce a porous oxide layer. This oxide layer may be removed by spark discharge. The combination of selective oxidation and material removal by spark erosion will significantly reduce the life of a spark plug.
There is still a need to develop a long-life non-platinum alloy and manufacturing method for spark plugs electrodes used in internal combustion engines in leaded and unleaded fuel environments.

Spark plug electrode tip for internal combustion engine