A door handle arrangement for a vehicle, includes a housing and a handle lever which is mounted on the housing such that it can be moved between a rest position and an actuating position for unlocking and/or opening a vehicle door, it being possible for the housing to be oriented on a vehicle body outer part which forms a part of the outer surface of a vehicle body and has a handle cut-out for the handle lever, first positioning projections being provided on the housing, which first positioning projections are configured to bear against an angled-over edge of the vehicle body outer part, which angled-over edge delimits the handle cut-out of the vehicle body outer part at least in regions, and, as a result, to position the handle lever with the housing in at least one spatial direction in relation to the handle cut-out.

Door handle arrangements are known, in which the handle lever terminates flush with the surrounding vehicle body outer side. For actuation purposes, the handle lever can be pivoted about a fixed pivot axis. As a result, a defined opening and closing movement of the handle lever is fixed. In practice, unavoidable dimensional and assembly tolerances occur between individual components of the door handle arrangement and/or between the door handle arrangement and vehicle body parts which are to be connected to it. For example, vehicle body parts and door handle arrangements which are to be fastened to them are often produced and assembled by different companies. In order to nevertheless ensure that the handle lever can be actuated reliably during operation without the risk of coming into contact with a vehicle body cut-out or hard housing sections, a sufficiently large gap has to be provided between the handle lever and the edge of a vehicle body cut-out which is provided for the handle lever. Large gap sizes are as a rule undesired for visual reasons, however.
Moreover, in particular, flush door handle arrangements are currently assembled by way of a template which is inserted from the outer side of the vehicle body into a gap between the vehicle body part and the handle lever. This type of assembly is time-consuming. Moreover, the accuracy is insufficient not least because of a certain elasticity of the handle lever. After removal of the template which is provided only for the assembly, the handle lever as a rule moves back into a different position, with the result that it no longer assumes the position which is defined by way of the template.


Direct-injected engines often operate in broad characteristic field areas with stratified charging, with the harmful emissions not being sufficiently reducible by exhaust recirculation means. Nitrogen oxide molecules are not selectively catalytically reducible In oxygen-rich exhaust during stratified combustion; thus a storage catalytic converter is often located in the exhaust stream to adsorb the resultant nitrogen oxide molecules. In order to initiate desorption and reduction of stored nitrogen oxide molecules, a stoichiometric exhaust composition must be created for a certain operating interval. It was previously assumed that stoichiometric air ratios can only be attained with homogeneous carburetion, so that a switch is made to injection on the intake stroke from fuel injection on the compression stroke. In order to produce a method for reducing nitrogen oxide emissions from a direct-injected gasoline engine, which reduces nitrogen molecules during continuous stratified charging, provision is made to increase the exhaust gas circulation rate for the required operating interval, depending on the operating point of the engine, by a certain amount to create a stoichiometric exhaust composition before the adsorption capacity limit of the storage catalytic converter is reached.

This application claims the priority of German application No. 19643053.4-13, filed in Germany on Oct. 18, 1996 the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
The invention relates to a method for reducing nitrogen oxide emissions from a direct-injected gasoline engine operated in broad characteristic field ranges with stratified charging by recirculating exhaust gas during low load conditions and operating the engine with homogenous carburetion and less circulation during high load conditions.
Direct injection of fuel into the cylinders considerably reduces fuel consumption by comparison with other operating methods for a gasoline engine. During the compression stroke, lean combustion takes place during stratified charge operation with fuel injection. Recirculation of a portion of the exhaust stream tapped off the exhaust line and feeding it into the fresh charge line of the engine is a proven method for reducing pollutant emissions, but the cleaning power of this measure is insufficient and the pollutant content of the exhaust that is finally expelled usually is significantly over the legal limit. Catalytic converters located in the exhaust line are conventionally employed to reduce the emissions content in the exhaust but, as in the case of the three-way catalytic converter that is considered to be the most efficient, satisfactory pollutant reduction is only possible at nearly stoichiometric air ratios in a narrow lambda window of approximately lambda=1. During stratified charge operation of a direct-injected gasoline engine with air ratios whose lambda values are significantly greater than 1 and can be as high as approximately 10, catalytic reduction of the nitrogen oxide molecules in the oxygen-rich exhaust is not possible. One known method for processing gases that are rich in NOx is a storage catalytic converter called the DeNOx catalytic converter, which adsorbs the nitrogen oxide molecules that cannot be reduced in oxygen-rich gases. Thus, during stratified charge operation of a direct-injected engine, the nitrogen oxide emissions can be stored in the catalytic converter. To reduce the stored nitrogen oxide molecules to nitrogen, shortly before the adsorption capacity limit of the storage catalytic converter is reached, at the latest, the operating mode of the engine must be adjusted so that oxygen-poor exhaust is formed during combustion, with stoichiometric air ratios (lambda=1).
Previously it was assumed that oxygen-poor exhaust with stoichiometric air ratios of lambda=1 could be obtained during combustion only if homogeneous carburetion was performed. If the engine is operated with the stratified charging that is advantageous in the partial load range, with fuel injection during the compression stroke, it is necessary to switch from this operating mode to operation with homogeneous carburetion, in other words, fuel injection during the intake stroke. During the change from stratified charging to homogeneous carburetion, the engine operates for several working cycles with a fuel/air mixture that is both homogeneous and lean, because of the shift in injection timing. This favors the formation of new nitrogen oxides and a temporary extremely high nitrogen oxide emission occurs that cannot be completely adsorbed by the storage catalytic converter. Moreover, the homogeneous lean mixture is insufficiently ignitable, so that misfiring must be anticipated during the switch from injection during the compression stroke to injection during the intake stroke. Brief rough operation of the engine cannot be prevented because of the asymmetry of the ignition timing during the change from one operating state to the other.
Hence a goal of the invention is to provide a method for reducing nitrogen oxide emissions from a direct-injected gasoline engine, said method being performed during continuous stratified charge operation of the engine.
This goal is achieved according to embodiments of the present invention.
During stratified charge operation of the engine, the exhaust gas recirculation rate into the fresh charge line is increased for an interval of time before the adsorption capacity limit of the storage catalytic converter is reached. Thus, depending on the operating point of the engine, a quantity of exhaust is recirculated such that a stoichiometric composition of the exhaust results following combustion. During this lambda window produced by stratified charge operation, the nitrogen oxide molecules collected in the storage catalytic converter are desorbed and catalytically converted. The duration of the operating interval of the engine with stoichiometric combustion as a result of increased exhaust recirculation depends on the quantity of nitrogen oxide molecules to be reduced, in other words, on the design of the storage catalytic converter in which the nitrogen oxide molecules are adsorbed during stratified charge operation. Desorption of the nitrogen oxide molecules in the storage catalytic converter thus takes place completely during stratified charge operation of the engine with a high exhaust gas recirculation rate, so that reduction in the storage catalytic converter is accelerated by low nitrogen oxide raw emission during combustion.
A throttle valve is located in the fresh charge line upstream of the point where the exhaust recirculation line joins it, the position of said valve regulating the fresh charge flow though the fresh charge line. The composition of the combustion air that is recycled to the cylinders of the engine and is composed of fresh air and recirculated exhaust can thus be regulated by both the exhaust recirculation valve in the exhaust recirculation line and the throttle valve. During stratified charge operation of the internal combustion engine with a low load, the desired exhaust recirculation rate for achieving stoichiometric conditions during combustion with the exhaust gas recirculation valve fully open is controlled by the position of the throttle valve. An adjustable throttle valve reduces the fresh air flow and by producing a vacuum in the fresh charge line, produces a pressure drop between the exhaust line and the fresh charge line that drives exhaust through the exhaust gas recirculation line. In this load range, during stratified charge operation of the internal combustion engine, high exhaust gas recirculation rates are required to achieve stoichiometric air ratios whose delivery is made possible by reducing the fresh air flow.
During stratified charge operation of the internal combustion engine with a high load, the required exhaust gas recirculation rate for producing stoichiometric conditions is controlled by the setting of the opening of the exhaust gas recirculation valve in the exhaust gas recirculation line. Lower exhaust gas recirculation rates are required than for stratified charge operation with a low load, so that the throttle valve is advantageously fully open.
The throttle valve and/or the exhaust gas recirculation valve are especially advantageously individually adjustable by an electronic control unit at each operating point of the engine. As a result of the fresh air flow and/or the recycled exhaust stream settings, stoichiometric conditions are created at every operating point of the engine. The control unit uses a characteristic map to determine the setting parameters stored therein for the respective operating point of the engine and, as a function of these parameters, generates a control signal that is fed to the throttle valve and/or the exhaust gas recirculation valve. Advantageously the control signal can be optimized by either an oxygen sensor in the fresh charge line or a nitrogen oxide sensor in the exhaust line generating a measurement signal that provides information on the oxygen content in the fresh charge or the nitrogen oxide content in the exhaust line, said signal being continuously transmitted to the control unit. When the measurement signal varies from the range of the desired stoichiometric window, the control unit corrects the control signal accordingly, adjusting the exhaust gas recirculation rate.
In an improvement on the invention, at a high operating load or during full load operation of the engine, following fuel injection into the cylinders, homogeneous carburetion takes place which in this load range of the engine results in a higher power output. One advantageous property of homogeneous combustion is the production of exhaust gases with a stoichiometric composition, so that nitrogen emissions can be broken down catalytically without preliminary measures.
Advantageously the exhaust line is divided into branches guided parallel to one another, with the storage catalytic converter being located in one branch and a multifunctional catalytic converter being located in the other branch. A controllable distributing valve is located in the entrance to the branches, with the exhaust from the engine flowing through one of the branches depending on the position of said valve. The distributing valve advantageously can be set so that the exhaust is conducted fully through one of the branches and hence through one of the catalytic converters, while the other branch is shutoff in each case. During stratified charge operation of the engine, the distributing valve is set so that the exhaust flows completely through the partial load branch in which the storage catalytic converter is located. The nitrogen oxide molecules contained in oxygen-rich exhaust are adsorbed in the storage catalytic converter and according to the invention are desorbed during the production of stoichiometric exhaust compositions by a corresponding increase in the exhaust gas recirculation rate and converted catalytically. During full load operation of the engine with homogeneous carburetion, the distributing valve shuts off the partial load branch and opens the full load branch in which the multifunctional catalytic converter is located. Preferably a three-way catalytic converter is used here, in which selective catalytic reaction of the nitrogen oxides under the conditions that prevail during full load operation of the engine, namely exhaust compositions in a lambda window around the stoichiometric point and relatively high exhaust temperatures, proceed nearly simultaneously with other selective catalytic reactions involving other components of the exhaust.
Downstream from the catalytic converters, the two branches join to form a common section of the exhaust line, with a low structural cost being achieved for the exhaust line from the outlet of the engine unit the exhaust gases are finally expelled from the exhaust line. Advantageously, a shutoff valve is located in the partial load branch of the exhaust line, between the storage catalytic converter and the connection to the full load branch. If the partial load branch is opened by the distributing valve during stratified charge operation of the internal combustion engine, the shutoff valve opens as well. During full load operation, on the other hand, with the flow passing through the full load branch, the shutoff valve closes off the partial load branch downstream from the storage catalytic converter so that the hot exhaust flowing through the full load branch cannot enter the partial load branch and cause excessive harmful heating of the inactive storage catalytic converter.

Method and apparatus for nitrogen oxide emission of a direct injection internal combustion engine


There is provided a locking arrangement that includes an entry element and a housing element, the entry element having a portion that is selectively disposable in the housing element via a movement of the portion of the entry element and the housing element relatively toward one another in an insertion direction, the entry element and the housing element being in a releasably secured disposition when the portion of the entry element has been disposed in the housing element via a movement of the portion of the entry element and the housing element relatively toward one another in the insertion direction and the entry element and the housing element being releasable from their releasably secured disposition via a movement in a release direction that is other than a direction opposite to the insertion direction.

The present invention generally relates to buckles for connecting together webs and straps that are deployed in many disparate applications including the securing the two ends of a belt together, the closure of backpacks and other bags and sacks, and the fastening of vests, jackets, and other garments. Buckle locking arrangements are known that comprise two portions which can be releasably secured to one another and these buckle locking arrangements include an entry portion and a housing portion. Each of the housing and entry portions may optionally be connected to a respective structure such as, e.g. a strap, belt, cord, chain, tether, or other item. One well known buckle, often called a side release buckle, comprises two parts securable to respective web straps, one of the parts (the tang part) consists of a pair of prongs, each having an outwardly extending prong end and the other part (the housing part) having a channel into which the prongs can be pushed. The width of the channel is smaller than the distance between the outsides of the prongs and so, as the tang part is pushed into the channel, the prongs are flexed inwardly by the outer walls of the channel. The walls include a pair of openings into which the prong ends can snap when the tang part has been inserted into the channel. The engagement of the prong ends in the channel wall openings retains the two parts together.
To release such a side release buckle, the prong ends are pinched to move towards each other thereby releasing the prong ends from the openings and allowing the tang part to be withdrawn from the housing part.
Because the openings are exposed, it is possible for the fingers of a user to be caught between the prong end and the opening and this leads to inconvenience and engenders anxiety about opening the buckle.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,226,844 to Lerra et al describes various configurations of side release buckles.
While the reliability and convenience of quick release buckles have been demonstrated, there still remains a need for a quick release buckle that provides even greater convenience to a user and that can be released from its closed disposition with only a different motion than the coordinated motion of two fingers as is required to release a side release buckle.

Easy release compound assemblies comprising a locking arrangement


An interrogation transmission method of a secondary surveillance radar compares prediction angle ranges for transmitting interrogations with a beam-width of an antenna, and transmits the interrogations at every roll-call period if the prediction angle ranges for transmitting interrogations are narrower than the beam-width of the antenna. In contrast, if the prediction angle ranges for transmitting the interrogations are wider than the beam-width of the antenna, the radar respectively sets a period to transmit the interrogations and a period not to transmit the interrogations until responses can be received, and transmits interrogations at every roll-call period after the responses can be received (even if a receiving error or downlink occurs).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to secondary surveillance radar (SSR) for surveying a target such as an airplane equipped with a mode S transponder and an air traffic control radar beacon system (ATCRBS) transponder.
2. Description of the Related Art
An SSR mode S is a radar system to capture a variety of items of information owned by an airplane by transmitting an interrogation from a beam antenna of a device to a transponder mounted on a target such as an airplane and receiving a response (cf., for example, documents "ISBN0-89006-292-7", "Revision Radar Technique", issued by Institute of electronics, Information and Communication Engineers, 1996, P. 227-233"). There are two kinds of transponders, which are conventionally used ATCRBS transponder and mode S transponder, and there are a variety of interrogation systems to capture these two kinds of transponders.
In the SSR mode, the SSR divides a beam dwell time into two or more, further divides one of them (referred to as one scheduling period) into an all-call period (period to capture a mode S transponder and an ATCRBS transponder) and a roll-call period (period to transmit selective interrogation to mode S transponder) to capture a target. In a surveillance protocol, the length of a response is 64 (μs) and the length of an interrogation is 19.75 (μs).
And the SSR mode S has a data-link protocol, in this case, the length of replay becomes 120 (μs) and the length of interrogation becomes 33.75 (μs), so that it takes about double of time compared to surveillance. If the data-link protocol is frequently used in the future, there will be a method for simply lengthening the time length of the roll-call period; however, deterioration in detection rate of a conventional ATCRBS transponder will be caused (because of reduction in the number of responses). Therefore, it becomes important how to efficiently capture the target in the beam dwell time so as to capture the mode S transponder while maintaining the detection rate of the ATCRBS transponder.
Conventionally, in the roll-call period, the SSR calculates prediction positions from previous track information of individual airplanes with the mode S transponders mounted thereon and varies a range of an azimuth angle for transmitting an interrogation in accordance with the prediction range among the prediction positions. However, in the case of the short range target, since the range of the azimuth angle for transmitting the interrogation is expanded, the SSR schedules transactions (transmission and reception of interrogation and response) up to the azimuth having a small possibility of receiving the response. And there is a possibility of an occurrence of the problem that the SSR cannot schedule the transactions for the target in a relatively short range within a beam-width of an antenna (generally, indicating an angle range of beam center azimuth ±1.250°), because the SSR schedules transactions prior to a long distance target in the case of congestion of targets at long distances within the corresponding beam.
Furthermore, in the case of use of the data-link protocol, since the length of the interrogation and the length of response become longer than those for surveillance, the time required for the transactions is lengthened and the possibility of an occurrence of an event which cannot be scheduled by the SSR is further increased.

Secondary surveillance radar and its interrogation transmission method


We have developed a new gene transfer system for extreme thermophiles of the genus Thermus, including Thermus flavus., using a chromosomal gene, and a thermostable derivative of the kanamycin-resistance gene (kan.sup.tr2). A plasmid mediated gene-replacement process is used to insert it into the chromosome resulting in the production of Leu.sup.- Km.sup.r transformants. This system not only allows stable, single-copy gene insertion into the chromosome of an extreme thermophile, but can be used in the thermo-genetic process described here to generate thermo-stabilized enzymes and proteins for industrial processes. This host-vector environment makes it possible to generate further thermo-stabilizing mutations in the kan gene beyond those levels previously reported.

Extreme thermophilic microorganisms such as Thermus, thrive in high-temperature environments that are lethal to other known forms of life. Fortunately, apart from their higher growth temperature requirement, they can be handled in the laboratory much like E. coli. Enzymes from thermophiles are thermostable and are therefore used in industrial processes that benefit from a high reaction temperature. Also, these enzymes have become widely used in molecular genetic research, for example, in the development and application of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
One area of particular interest in the field of thermophile research is the determination of molecular mechanisms underlying enzymatic thermostability. Ultimately, a better understanding of this phenomenon will allow mesophilic proteins to be rationally converted to thermostable proteins for industrial applications. Many groups have attempted to engineer thermostability into proteins through in vitro rational design approaches (Perry and Wetzel, 1984, Science 226:555-557; Sauer, et al., 1986, Biochemistry 25:5992-8; Pantoliano, et al., 1987, Biochemistry 26:2077-82; Meng, et al., 1993, Bio/Technology 11:1157-1161) or through homology comparison and domain fusion of related proteins (Onodera, et al., 1991, J Biochem 109:1-2; Barany, et al., 1992, Gene 112:3-12; Politz, et al., 1993, Eur J Biochem 216:829-34; Lee, et al., 1993, J Bacteriol 175:5890-8). These approaches, however, often require either a three dimensional protein structure or a series of related proteins. For proteins which have not been well characterized, random mutagenesis can be a powerful tool if the proper selection or screen can be applied (Matsumura and Aiba, 1985, J Biol Chem 260:15298-15303; Liao, et al., 1986, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 83:576-580; Kajiyama and Nakano, 1993, Biochemistry 32:13795-9; Arnold, 1993, Faseb J 7:744-9). The instant invention provides a genetic process for the insertion of exogenous protein coding sequences into, and direct selection of thermostable variants of mesophilic enzymes. Other "thermo-genetic" processes, were attempted by Liao (Liao et al., 1986, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 83:576-580), EP Patent application 0 138 075, and by Matsumura (Matsumura et aL, 1985, J. Biol. Chem. 260:15298-15303).
The concept of "thermo-genetics" consists of a method for introducing a gene of interest into a thermophile followed by a temperature-shift to select for temperature-resistant mutations in the corresponding protein of interest. The model thermo-genetic systems (EP Patent application 0 138 075; Matsumura, 1985; Liao, 1986) used the mesophilic kanamycin-resistance gene (kan) on a multicopy plasmid in the moderate thermophile Bacillus stearothermophilus. The kan gene was first introduced into B. stearothermophilus at the lowest permissible temperature of growth, 47.degree. C. Two consecutive thermal shifts, first to 63.degree. C. and then to 69.degree. C., resulted in two corresponding thermo-stabilizing mutations, producing the double mutant allele, designated here as kan.sup.tr2. At this point the upper limit for permissible growth had been reached, creating a barrier to further selections for temperature-resistant mutations. Matsumura also performed a related series of experiments generating the same two mutants in parallel (Matsumura et al., 1986, Nature 323: 356-358) and later showed they could be combined with an additive result.
While other host-vector systems have been developed for Thermus thermophilus, a closely related thermophile, they all have deficiencies in their ability to be used in a thermostabilization process and in stable integration of exogenous genes into Thermus. Two plasmid-based systems use multicopy plasmids with an unstable copy number which can interfere with mutant selection (Mather and Fee, 1992, Appl Environ Microbiol 58:421-425; Lasa, et al., 1992, J Bacteriol 174:6424-6431). The multicopy nature of these systems do not ideally lend themselves to thermostabilization of genes since many copies of the gene of interest are present, and can mask any desired mutations which may occur. In addition, reports with plasmid-based systems in Thermus indicate that the plasmids are very unstable, that copy number varies widely, and that gene duplication and amplification can occur, making them very difficult to use. Another approach which used an insertional mutagenesis system was developed by Lasa et. al. (Lasa, et al., 1992, Molec Microbiol 6:1555-1564) but unfortunately caused a debilitating phenotype in the host organism.
In Lasa's insertional mutagenesis system, the kan.sup.tr2 was inserted in single copy into a highly-expressed (slpA) region of the chromosome for use in chromosomal insertion strategy (Lasa et al. 1992a, J. Molec. Microbiol. 6, 1555-1564; Lasa et al. 1992b, J. Bacteriol. 174, 6424-6431). This system used the slpA gene which codes for an abundant cell surface protein and therefore was likely to be highly expressed. A high expression site was originally a logical choice for testing the feasibility of a single-copy system. Unfortunately, insertion into sipA results in debilitating growth and morphology phenotypes making it difficult to use the plasmid system.
References which define the background of the invention, but which are not necessarily prior art to the instant invention are as follows. The references cited herein, above and below are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
Sen & Oriel (1990) Transfer of transposon Tn916 from Bacillus subtilis to Thermus aquaticus, FEMS Microbiology Letters 67:131-134, teach the use of the Streptococcus transposon Tn916, carrying tetracycline resistance for conjugal transfer into Thermus aquaticus via Bacillus subtilis. This was found to be effective at 48.degree. C. and 55.degree. C. The actual insertion site is unknown.
Koyama et al. (1990) A plasmid vector for an extreme thermophile, Thermus thermophilus, FEMS Microbiology Letters 72:97-102, teach a Thermus-E. coli shuttle vector carrying a tryptophan synthetase gene (trpB). This cryptic plasmid pTT8, was able to transform Thermus thermophilus. The authors point out that a plasmid vector carrying trpBA was not suitable for selection since the cloned DNA fragment recombined with the chromosomal counterpart at high frequency.
Koyama & Furukawa (1990) Cloning and Sequence Analysis of Tryptophan Synthetase Genes of an Extreme Thermophile, Thermus thermophilus HB27: Plasmid Transfer from Replica-Plated Escherichia coli Recombinant Colonies to Competent T. thermophilus Cells, J. of Bacteriology 172:3490-3495, disclose nucleotide sequences for trpBA genes, their use in plasmids and expression in E. coli under the control of the lac promoter.
Koyama et al. (1986) Genetic Transformation of the Extreme Thermophile Thermus thermophilus and of Other Thermus spp., J. of Bacteriology 166:338-340, discuss the conditions for optimal transformation with exogenous DNA. The use of Thermus thermophilus HB27 did not require chemical treatment to induce competence, although the addition of Ca.sup.+2 and Mg.sup.+2 was optimal. The optimal conditions were found to be 70.degree. C. with a 60 minute incubation, pH 6 to 9.
Borges & Bergquist (1993) Genomic Restriction Map of the Extremely Thermophilic Bacterium Thermus thermophilus HB8, J. of Bacteriology 175:103-110, teach the use of Thermus thermophilus HB8, which carries two cryptic plasmids, pTT8 and pVV8 was examined. A genomic restriction map was generated, 16 genes located on the map.
Matsumura et al. (1984) Enzymatic and Nucleotide Sequence Studies of a Kanamycin-Inactivating Enzyme Encoded by a Plasmid from Thermophilic Bacilli in Comparison with That encoded by Plasmid pUB 110, J. of Bacteriology 160:413-420, teach the a Kanamycin resistance gene from a thermophilic bacteria plasmid pTB913 was found to differ by only one base pair in the middle of the gene, from that of a mesophilic Staphylococcus aureus plasmid pUB110. The change was a cytosine(pUB) to adenine(pTB) at base position +389, which led to a threonine to lysine change at position 130.
Matsumura & Aiba (1985) Screening for Thermostable Mutant of Kanamycin Nucleotidyltransferase by the Use of a Transformation System for a Thermophile, Bacillus stearothermophilus, J. of Biological Chemistry 260:15289-15303, disclose a structural gene for kanamycin nucleotidyltransferase that was cloned into the single-stranded bacteriophage M13 and then subjected to hydroxylamine mutagenesis. The mutagenized gene was then recloned into a vector plasmid pTB922 and used to transform Bacillus stearothermophilus to select for improved enzyme thermostability. A temperature shift from 55.degree. C. to 61.degree. C. was used for selection. Two types of mutations were found, at position 80 an aspartate to tryptophan, and at position 130 a threonine to lysine. These were found stable up to 65.degree. C. The kan gene came from pUB110.
Matsumura et al. (1986) Cumulative effect of intragenic amino-acid replacements on the thermostability of a protein, Nature 323:356-358, teach improved thermostability of kanamycin nucleotidyltransferase (KNTase) was shown to be due to the Asp80 to Tyr(Y80) and Thr130 to Lys(K130) mutation. This also correlated with increased resistance to proteolysis. Catalytic activity was also measured at various temperatures and it was found that the activities deteriorate slightly as thermostability increases, but the optimal temperature is shifted upwards. It is thought that increased hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions act as forces to stabilize the enzyme.
Liao et al. (1986) Isolation of a thermostable enzyme variant by cloning and selection in a thermophile, PNAS USA 83:576-580, teach a kan gene transferred via shuttle vector into B. stearothermophilus and selected for at 63.degree. C. The shuttle plasmid was passed through the E. coli mutD5 mutator strain and introduced by transformation. The vector combined the kan gene from pUB 110 with a putative thermostable origin of replication from pBST1, isolated from a kanamycin-sensitive strain NRRL1102.
Lasa et al. (1992a) Development of Thermus-Escherichia Shuttle Vectors and Their Use for Expression of the Clostridium thermocellum celA Gene in Thermus thermophilus, J. of Bacteriology 174:6424-6431, teach the self-selection of undescribed origins of replication from cryptic plasmids from uncharacterized Thermus spp. and Thermus aquaticus are isolated and cloned into E. coli vectors. Plasmids were constructed with these origins, pLU1 to pLU4 from T. aquaticus, and pMY1 to pMY3 from Thermus spp. The plasmids then had a modified form of the cellulase gene (celA) from Clostridium thermocellum and were expressed in E. coli with the signal peptide from the S-layer gene from T. thermophilus. Transformation back into T. thermophilus allowed for expression at 70.degree. C.
Lasa et al. (1992b) Insertional mutagenesis in the extreme thermophilic eubacteria Thermus thermophilus HB8, Molecular Microbiology 6:1555-1564, teach the transcription and translation signals from the slpA gene from Thermus thermophilus HB8 used to express a thermostable kan gene. After 48 hours at 70.degree. C., two isolates were obtained.
Faraldo et al. (1992) Sequence of the S-Layer Gene of Thermus thermophilus HB8 and Functionality of Its Promoter in Escherichia coli, J. of Bacteriology 174:7458-7462, disclose the S-layer gene slpA, sequenced and the function in E. coli described.
Mather & Fee (1992) Development of Plasmid Cloning Vectors for Thermus thermophilus HB8: Expression of a Heterologous, Plasmid-Borne Kanamycin Nucleotidyltransferase Gene, Applied and Envior. Microbiology 58:421-425
A plasmid cloning vector is disclosed which uses the kan gene inserted randomly into a cryptic multicopy plasmid (pTT8) isolated from T. thermophilus.
Nagahari et al. (1980) Cloning and expression of the leucine gene from Thermus thermophilus in Escherichia coli, Gene 10:137-145, describe the Thermus thermophilus leu locus cloned into E. coli and expressed. The plasmid pBR322-T.leu hybrid plasmid was constructed to encode the .beta.-IPM dehydrogenase activity (leuB), the optimal temperature of which was 80.degree. C. Experiments suggest that there is a promoter that may be used in E. coli.
Tanaka et al. (1981) Cloning of 3-Isopropylmalate Dehydrogenase Gene of an Extreme Thermophile and Partial Purification of the Gene Product, Biochem. 89:677-682, demonstrate the cloning into E. coli, protein production, and heat-treatment purification of Thermus thermophilus 3-IPM.
Croft et al. (1987) Expression of leucine genes from an extremely thermophilic bacterium in Escherichia coli, Molec. Gen. Genet. 210:490-497, describe the promoter for the leu BCD genes in Thermus thermophilus HB8. The structural similarity with known leu genes is examined. Thermus DNA failed to complement E. coli leuA mutants. Perhaps leuA is not functional.
Yamada et al. (1990) Purification, Catalytic Properties, and Thermal Stability of Threo-Ds-3-Isopropylmalate Dehydrogenase Coded by leuB Gene form an Extreme Thermophile, Thermus thermophilus Strain HB8, J. Biochem. 108:449-456, demonstrate the product of leuB from Thermus thermophilus as expressed in E. coli by plasmid. The enzyme was purified using heat treatment.
Kirino & Oshima (1991) Molecular Cloning and Nucleotide Sequence of 3-Isopropylmalate Dehydrogenase Gene (leuB) from an Extreme Thermophile, Thermus aquaticus YT-1, J. Biochem. 109:852-857, here the gene encoding T. aquaticus leuB was cloned into E. coli and expressed. Imada et al. (1991) Three-dimensional Structure of a Highly Thermostable Enzyme, 3-Isopropylmalate Dehydrogenase of Thermus thermophilus at 2.2 .ANG. Resolution, J. Mol. Bio. 222:725-738, desribe the 3D structure of IPMDH from Thermus thermophilus has been determined and refined to 2.2 .ANG. resolution. The dimeric form of IPMDH is crucial to function.
Onodera et al. (1991) Crystallization and Preliminary X-Ray Studies of a Bacillus subtilis and Thermus thermophilus HB8 Chimeric 3-Isopropylmalate Dehydrogenase, J. Biochem. 109:1-2, teach a chimeric gene fusing the Bacillus subtilis and Thermus thermophilus genes encoding for IPMDH, cloned into E. coli.
Liao et al., European Patent Application 0 138 075 A1 published 24.04.85, discloses the use of plasmids for transforming thermophilic bacteria. A method for isolating thermostable promoters, a method for selecting thermostable variants of gene products of cloned genes in thermophilic hosts using the plasmids of the invention. Such plasmids as:
pBST1, 80kb cryptic single copy plasmid isolated from B. stearothermophilus at 70.degree. C. PA0 pBST2, 1.4kb, O.sub.R of pBST1 & kan.sup.R of pUB 110, grows at 70.degree. C., kan up to 47.degree. C. 3 copy. PA0 pBST2-6, pBST2 with oligonucleotide linker to form HindIII site. kan <55.degree. C. PA0 pBST2-6TK, variant of pBST2'-6, kan activity up to 66.degree. C. PA0 pSHW9, chloramphenicol.sup.R CAT from pC194, in pBR322, amp.sup.R, pBR322 O.sub.R+ pC194. PA0 pBST8, pBST2-6+pSHW9, "Shuttle vector" PA0 pCV1, pSHW9 with promoter substituted by polylinker site. PA0 pCV3, pCV1 missing Narl site. PA0 pBST110, pCV3+pBST2-6, shuttle vector, no CAT production. PA0 pRMS10, shotgun clone into pBST110, a promoter from B. stearothermophilus.
Lacey, R. W. and I. Chopra. Genetic studies of a multiresistant strain of Staphylococcus aureus. J. Med. Microbiol. 7:285-297, 1974, discribes plasmid pUB110 which contains the Kan gene.


A latch circuit includes N data latch circuits to which N-bit parallel data are respectively applied where N is an integer, a data input control circuit setting the data latch circuits to a data input state in order, and a data output control circuit which controls the N data latch circuits to output, at different timings, latched data to M output terminals in the order of latch in the N data latch circuits where N.gtoreq.M.gtoreq.1.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to data output circuits having a latch function of outputting received data at a given timing, and to a semiconductor device such as a memory device equipped with such a data output circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, semiconductor devices such as memory devices have been required to operate at higher speeds due to speeding up of microprocessors. Particularly, there has been considerable activity in the development of semiconductor devices which employ a pipeline technique.
The pipeline technique segments a series of processes (in memories, examples of those are address latch, address decode, read of data from cells, transfer of data to an output circuit, and data output) carried out in series into parts. A first process related to a first command is executed. Then, a second process related to the first command is started and simultaneously a first process related to a second command is started. Hence, the speed of processing commands can be increased substantially.
Normally, the pipeline technique is directed to segmenting a plurality of processes which are to be serially executed into parts so that the times it takes to execute these parts are equal to each other. Latch circuits are provided to the output sides of processing circuits which execute the segmented parts. However, in practice, semiconductor devices have a difficulty in that latch circuits are provided in positions so that the above processing circuits have an identical processing time.
With the above in mind, the semiconductor devices such as memory devices employ a particular pipeline called wave pipeline, in which data is output at a timing which lags, by a given number of clocks, behind the time when a read command is input (the latency of data output). In the wave pipeline, a pipe is configured by utilizing a propagation in logic circuits. Data latch circuits are provided in the vicinity of the output circuits. In order to operate the wave pipeline at a high speed due to speeding up of the microprocessors, it is necessary to reduce a time delay caused in an data output circuit which has a latch function and a parallel-to-serial conversion function.
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a conventional configuration of a data output circuit provided in a synchronous DRAM device (hereinafter such a device will be referred to as an SDRAM device). The data output circuit shown in FIG. 1 includes an FIFO memory 10 of a pointer type forming a latch circuit, a parallel-to-serial converter circuit (hereinafter this circuit will be referred to as a PS converter circuit)20, and an output part 30. The FIFO memory 10 is connected to data input terminals MDB0, MDB1, MDB2 and MDB3 connected to a data bus extending from a memory core part (an illustration thereof is omitted). The FIFO memory 10 latches input data in parallel formation and outputs the latched input data to the PS converter circuit 20 in order of receipt thereof. The PS converter circuit 20 converts four-bit parallel data into two serial data trains (a 4:2 parallel-to-serial conversion), and outputs these trains to the output part 30. The output part 30 converts the two serial data trains into a single serial data train (a 2:1 parallel-to-serial conversion).
The FIFO memory 10 includes four data latch circuits DLAT0-DLAT4, an input pointer 11 and an output pointer 12. Each of the data latch circuits DLAT0-DLAT4 includes an input transfer gate, latch elements Latch0-Latch3, and an output transfer gate. The input transfer gate is made up of four MOS transistors controlled by the input pointer 11. The output transfer gate is made up of four MOS transistors controlled by the output pointer 12.
The PS converter circuit 20 includes latch elements Latch00-Latch30, Latch22, Latch32, transfer gates formed of transistors, and a parallel-to-serial pointer (hereinafter this pointer will be referred to as a PS pointer) 21. The output part 30 includes latch elements Latch0 and Latch1, an output clock generator 31, an output buffer 32, an output transistor 33 and a data output terminal DQ.
FIG. 2 is a timing chart of an operation of the data output circuit shown in FIG. 1. A read command is received by the semiconductor device having the output circuit shown in FIG. 2, and data "0"-"19" read from the memory core part are transferred over the data bus in synchronism with a data pulse (D-pulse) signal, and are applied to the FIFO memory 10 via data input terminals MDB0-MDB3. The input data are latched in the latches elements Latch0-Latch3 of the data latch circuits DLAT0-DLAT3 in response to control signals pi0-pi3 supplied from the input pointer 11. In FIG. 2, the latch element latch0 of the data latch circuit DLAT0 is indicated as DLAT0.sub.-- L0. For example, in response to the control signal pi0, the latch elements DLAT.sub.-- L0-DLAT3.sub.-- L3 of the data latch circuit DLAT0 latch the input data "0"-"3", respectively. Then, the latched input data are output as Fout0-Fout3 in response to the control signals po1-po3 of the output pointer 12.
In response to a control signal ps0 output by the PS pointer 21 of the PS converter circuit 20, the data Fout0-Fout3 are input to the latch elements Latch00-Latch30, respectively. In response to a control signal ps1, the data in the latch element Latch00 is output as PSout0. In response to a control signal ps2, the data in the latch element Latch10 is output as PSout1, and the respective data latched in the latch elements Latch 20 and Latch30 are transferred to the latch elements Latch22 and Latch32. In response to a control signal ps3, the data in the latch element Latch22 is output as PSout0. In response to the control signal ps0, the data in the latch element Latch32 is output as PSout1. Then, next data are input to the latch elements Latch00-Latch30.
Hence, the output PSout0 has a data train such as "0", "2", "4", . . . , and the output PSout1 has a data train such as "1", "3", "5", . . . . That is, the parallel data Fout0-Fout3 are concerted into two serial data trains PSout0 and PSout1. That is, the 4:1 parallel-to-serial conversion is carried out. Then, the 2:1 parallel-to-serial conversion is implemented by the two transfer gates which control the output timings of the output part 30 in accordance with output timing clocks oclk0 and oclk1 which are generated by the output clock generator 31 and has a complementary relationship. The serial data thus obtained is output to the data output terminal DQ via the output buffer 32 and the output transistor 33. The output clock generator 31 generates the output timing clocks oclk0 and oclk1 from an output enable signal OE and a clock signal, which signals are supplied from the outside of the semiconductor device.
However, the above-mentioned conventional data output circuit has a large time delay due to an arrangement in which the FIFO memory 10 and the PS converter circuit 20 are separately configured and provided, and does not operate at a high speed.

Latch circuit, data output circuit and semiconductor device having the circuits


A method and apparatus for accelerating transactional execution. Barriers associated with shared memory lines referenced by memory accesses within a transaction are only invoked/executed the first time the shared memory lines are accessed within a transaction. Hardware support, such as a transaction field/transaction bits, are provided to determine if an access is the first access to a shared memory line during a pendancy of a transaction. Additionally, in an aggressive operational mode version numbers representing versions of elements stored in shared memory lines are not stored and validated upon commitment to save on validation costs. Moreover, even in a cautious mode, that stores version numbers to enable validation, validation costs may not be incurred, if eviction of accessed shared memory lines do not occur during execution of the transaction.

Advances in semi-conductor processing and logic design have permitted an increase in the amount of logic that may be present on integrated circuit devices. As a result, computer system configurations have evolved from a single or multiple integrated circuits in a system to multiple cores and multiple logical processors present on individual integrated circuits. An integrated circuit typically comprises a single processor die, where the processor die may include any number of cores or logical processors.
As an example, a single integrated circuit may have one or multiple cores. The term core usually refers to the ability of logic on an integrated circuit to maintain an independent architecture state, where each independent architecture state is associated with at least some dedicated execution resources. As another example, a single integrated circuit or a single core may have multiple logical processors for executing multiple software threads, which is also referred to as a multi-threading integrated circuit or a multi-threading core. Multiple logical processors usually share common data caches, instruction caches, execution units, branch predictors, control logic, bus interfaces, and other processor resources, while maintaining a unique architecture state for each logical processor.
The ever increasing number of cores and logical processors on integrated circuits enables more software threads to be executed. However, the increase in the number of software threads that may be executed simultaneously has created problems with synchronizing data shared among the software threads. One common solution to accessing shared data in multiple core or multiple logical processor systems comprises the use of locks to guarantee mutual exclusion across multiple accesses to shared data. However, the ever increasing ability to execute multiple software threads potentially results in false contention and a serialization of execution.
Another solution is using transactional execution to access shared memory to execute instructions and operate on data. Often transactional execution includes speculatively executing a grouping of a plurality of micro-operations, operations, or instructions. During speculative execution of a transaction by a processor, core, or thread, the memory locations read from and written to are tracked to see if another processor, core, or thread accesses those locations. If another thread invalidly alters those locations, the transaction is restarted and it is re-executed from the beginning. Transaction execution potentially avoids deadlock associated with traditional locking mechanisms, provides error recovery, and makes fine-grained synchronization possible.
Previously, transactional execution has been implemented either fully in hardware, which requires complex and expensive logic but is relatively fast, or software, which is less expensive and more robust but incurs significant performance overhead in certain situations. For example, software transactional memory is able to efficiently execute nested transactions, but a significant amount of execution time and resources are wasted due to the instrumentation of memory accesses inside a transaction. The instrumentation is to ensure that different transaction accesses disjointed memory locations. For example, when a single thread is running, in certain cases, software transactional memory incurs a 2-3x performance overhead compared to a traditional lock based implementation. In software implemented systems typically the greatest overhead is found in tracking load accesses to locations and validating locations accessed before committing a transaction.
In contrast, in a hardware only transactional memory system, a transaction may be executed faster, as software is not needed to track each access; however, transaction size as well as functionality is sacrificed, because of the expensive and complex circuitry/logic required. Some recent research proposals have focused on forms of hybrid transactional execution where a transaction is first executed in hardware and, upon failure, executed in software. However, some performance features that are achieved through software still have to incur the overhead associated with executing the transaction in hardware first, before the advantages are realized.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Hardware acceleration for a software transactional memory system


The invention provides a method to rapidly screen chemical compounds by delivering the compounds to the assay as a coating on transponders, rather than as powder or solution. The transponder's function is to store data that identify the compound. The data can be decoded in any moment of the assay, and the identity of the desired compound established.

This invention relates to materials and methods for screening chemical compounds for potential pharmaceutical activity, and more specifically to an assay for soluble compounds, wherein the compounds are delivered to the assay in a form of a coating on solid phase particles carrying microtransponders. The coating is dissolved and the compounds are released just prior to or during the assay, and the identity of the compound is provided by the serial number encoded on the transponder.
Libraries of chemical compounds in possession of large pharmaceutical companies have more than 100,000 individual compounds. The advent of combinatorial chemistry for the synthesis of compound has accelerated the growth of the number of compounds in libraries. It is anticipated that within a few years the size of the largest libraries of individual chemical compounds will approach or even exceed 10.sup.6.
The number of macromolecular targets of interest, such as receptors, enzymes or proteins, is rapidly growing as well, due to the progress with rapid methods to sequence genes, to classify the genes and proteins, to predict the structure of proteins, and to analyze their function. The human genome project is a significant factor contributing to the rapid growth of the number of targets of interest.
The growth of the number of chemical compounds and the number of targets create a need for rapid methods to analyze the properties of the compounds from chemical libraries with respect to the macromolecular targets. The methods currently being used rely on robotics and automation to dispense, dissolve, aliquot, mix and analyze the compounds. The automated systems are complex due to the number of vessels and transfer steps.
The subject of this invention is a method to tag soluble chemical compounds to minimize the number of handling steps and the complexity of handling the compounds, and to reduce the time needed for the analysis of the library. The above improvements will also enable small laboratories which do not have the sophisticated automated systems to perform the screening, since according to the present invention, inexpensive and readily available instrumentation should suffice.
In a preferred implementation of this invention, a transponder is used as a carrier for the drug. A transponder is a radio transmitter-receiver activated for transmission of data by reception of a predetermined signal, and may also be referred to as a microtransponder, radiotransponder, radio tag, transceiver, etc. The signal comes from a dedicated scanner, which also receives and processes the data sent by the transponder in response to the signal. The scanner function can be combined with the write function, i.e. the process of encoding the data on the transponder. Such a combination instrument is called a scanner read/write device. An advantage of the transponder-scanner system stems from the fact the two units are not physically connected by wire, but are coupled inductively, i.e. by the use of electromagnetic radiation, typically in the range from 5-1,000 kHz, but also up to 1 GHz and higher.
Several transponders currently available commercially have been described in four previous patent applications, Case No. 7295/4, 7295/5, 7295/9, 7295/10 (Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione, Chicago). They include Bio Medic Data Systems' (BMDS, 255 West Spring Valley Ave., Maywood, N.J.) programmable transponder for use in laboratory animal identification. The transponder is implanted in the body of an animal, such as a mouse, and is glass-encapsulated to protect the electronics inside the transponder from the environment. One of the transponders manufactured by this corporation, model# IPTT-100, has dimensions of 14.times.2.2.times.2.2 mm and weighs 120 mg. The transponder is user-programmable with up to 16 alphanumeric characters, the 16th letter programmable independently of the other 15 letters, and has a built-in temperature sensor as well. The electronic animal monitoring system (ELAMS) includes also a scanner read/write system to encode or read data on/from the transponder. The construction of the transponder and scanner is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,250,944, 5,252,962 and 5,262,772, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. Other similar transponder-scanner systems include a multi-memory electronic identification tag (U.S. Pat. No. 5,257,011) manufactured by AVID Corporation (Norco, Calif.) and a system made by TEMIC-Telefunken (Eching, Germany). AVID's transponder has dimensions of 1 mm.times.1 mm.times.11 mm, and can encode 96 bits of information, programmed by the user. The present invention can be practiced with different transponders, which might be of different dimensions and have different electronic memory capacity.
Transponders of the type discussed above have been disclosed for use in drug discovery by Mandecki (see patent applications listed above) and have been used for solid phase synthesis of compounds followed by screening in an assay for a pharmaceutically relevant biological activity (Moran, E. J. et al. 1995, Radio frequency tag encoded combinatorial library method for the discovery of tripeptide-substituted cinnamic acid inhibitors of the protein tyrosine phosphatase PTB1B. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 117, 10787-10788; Service, R. F. 1995, Radio tags speed compound synthesis (an editorial). Science 270, p. 577). In both of these applications the compounds were covalently and permanently linked to the transponders. According to the present invention, the compounds are only deposited (coated) on the surface of the transponders, and can undergo a dissolution under very mild conditions (simple exposure to buffers will suffice) without any changes of the chemical structure of the compounds. When dissolved, the compounds can be tested in assay configurations commonly used for testing soluble compounds.

Screening of soluble chemical compounds for their pharmacological properties utilizing transponders


A method of manufacturing an ultrasound transducer for an ultrasound imaging device including a plurality of transducer elements arranged in a two dimensional array on a single carrier of semi-conductor material including the step of providing a buffer layer between the carrier and a layer including piezo electrical material, the buffer layer having a thickness arranged for dicing each of the plurality of transducer elements on the carrier.

The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing an ultrasound transducer for use in an ultrasound imaging device. The present invention further relates to an ultrasound transducer manufactured according to the method. The present invention further relates to an ultrasound probe including at least one ultrasound transducer manufactured according to the method.
Ultrasound transducers are, for example, applied in ultrasound imaging devices. Herewith, images can be made of, for example, the heart of a human or animal. As the esophagus is close to the heart, often trans-esophageal echos (TEE) are made with such ultrasound transducers to visualize the heart. The TEE probes including the ultrasound transducers are arranged to generate images with a resolution corresponding to the aperture of the beam, the used frequency and the amount of transducer elements on the tip of the probe, among others. Other applications for such ultrasound transducers are also known, for example, to be applied in a blood vessel, heart chamber, or body cavity such as the vagina, rectum or nose to examine organs such as the uterus, prostate, stomach and so on.
Ultrasound imaging devices include, as described above, an ultrasound probe including the transducer having a plurality of individual transducer elements. Further, they include a central processing unit that controls the probe and renders the images from the acoustic signals derived from the probe. The central processing unit, in the form of a computer, can further be connected with a display to display the images, a keyboard or other input device to control the computer, and often storage devices to store the images thereon.
The probe forms an important part of the ultrasound imaging device, as it contains the transducer elements that transmit and receive ultrasound energy towards and from the target area, for example, the heart. Probes are found in different shapes and sizes, depending upon the application. Large probes can include a greater number of transducer elements and electronic circuitry, which has a positive effect on the resolution of the image. However, when larger probes are used internally, they are uncomfortable and allow less freedom of movement. With regard to the esophagus of a child, it is sometimes impossible to use a large probe at all.
It is known to arrange the transducer elements in a one dimensional array to generate a two dimensional image. One dimensional arrays can be steered, rotated or translated by the operator. These movements of the probe, however, can be very uncomfortable for the patient when used internally.
State of the art ultrasound transducers include a plurality of transducer elements arranged in a two dimensional array to generate a three dimensional image. Even four dimensional images are known, wherein plural images generated from a two dimensional array are combined over time, giving a real time, or near real time, three dimensional image.
Disadvantageously, two dimensional array ultrasound transducers are complex. They include, for example, a carrier layer having a two dimensional array of conductive pads and a plurality of piezo electric elements thereon. With the piezo electric elements, mechanical stress (vibration) is converted to and from an electrical potential. The piezo electric elements are on one side electrically connected with an individual conductive pad, and on the other side electrically connected with the other piezo elements and grounded, typically by applying a grounding layer over the plurality of individual piezo elements. As these transducer elements are arranged in a two dimensional array, the amount of transducer elements is very large, especially if a certain image resolution is required. For example, a relative small array of 32×32 includes 1,024 transducer elements. Each transducer element is connected individually, as the electrical signals transmitted or received therewith/therefrom are provided or read for further processing. Manufacturing these arrays is thus challenging.
Optimum transducer performance requires an optimum acoustic isolation of the array between each individual element. A gap between the elements filled with air may provide such an acoustic isolation. These gaps, however, increase the structural dimensions of the array and make the individual elements less stable as the physical strength of the array is lowered because of the gaps. The process of dicing the individual transducer elements from the array is also a delicate step in the manufacturing of the ultrasound transducer.
Furthermore, as each transducer element needs to be connected individually for applying an electrical signal or to read-out the electrical signal, connecting the transducer elements is challenging. Connecting each individual transducer element for further processing outside the probe would require a cable bundle with a huge amount of wires. This would not be practical because a cable with a large number of wired would be too large and inflexible to be provided through the esophagus or other body cavities. Therefore, at least some electric circuitry is needed in the probe to drive a group of individual transducer elements and lower the amount of wires needed. Electric circuits, however, increase the dimensions of the probe and complicate its construction.
Accordingly, there is a need for an ultrasound transducer that provides a high resolution image using an array of transducer elements, wherein the probe is smaller and less complex than conventional transducers.

Method of manufacturing an ultrasound transducer and devices including an ultrasound transducer


A method for managing machine tool data includes operating the machine tool to perform at least a portion of an operation cycle which includes a non-machining operation. Data is processed from signals output from at least one sensor and from a controller to define a non-machining operation-specific data profile for the non-machining operation. An algorithm is applied to the non-machining operation-specific data profile to generate a non-machining operation-specific data point, which facilitates generation of a non-machining operation-specific trend line used to help determine the health of the machine tool.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for managing machine tool data.
2. Background Art
The ever-increasing emphasis on product quality continues to put pressure on manufacturers to find new ways to produce high quality products without increasing production time or otherwise increasing manufacturing costs. Inherent in this high quality, low cost dichotomy is a need to reduce scrap, while obtaining the longest possible life from manufacturing tools and equipment. Thus, increasing the number of tooling changes and/or decreasing the time between machine tool maintenance may increase product quality, but it may result in an unnecessary increase in tooling costs and/or lost production time.
Over time, manufacturers have developed systems and methods of predictive and preventative maintenance. Such systems may include a scheduled tool change based on a number of parts produced, or scheduled machine down time, during which bearings and other components may be replaced prior to their having an adverse effect on product quality. In order to implement these systems in a cost effective manner, or to reduce the frequency of these preventative maintenance tasks, decision-makers need information. In particular, information that is indicative of historical trends is useful, so that accurate predictions can be made regarding future production runs. In addition, the ability to isolate particular problem areas is also useful; this helps to concentrate efforts where they will have the most impact and produce the most benefit.
Toward this end, manufacturers have continued to analyze machine tools and their associated components in an effort to gather information they can use to make efficacious decisions regarding their production systems and processes. One type of machine tool analysis used is a vibration analysis. Information gathered from this type of analysis may be indicative of a variety of different production problems.
One system and method of characterizing a machining process using vibrational signatures of machines is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,663,894, issued to Seth et al. on Sep. 2, 1997. Seth et al. describes characterizing the vibrational signatures of machines by discriminating vibrational activity at various positions on the machines. This is done both with and without machining loads. Both time and frequency domain analysis may then be stored in a database for future comparison and tracking.
Because a machine tool, during non-machining operations, may see vibrations which are many times higher than those seen during a cutting operation, it may be desirable to isolate non-machining data for separate evaluation from the machining data. This data could then be used as an indicator of the health of the machine tool itself, rather than indicating the health of a particular machining process.


A polymeric fluid loss additive for hydraulic cement which includes a polymer component which exhibits delayed hydration. The fluid loss additive is suitable for use in cement slurries which may be subjected to elevated temperatures, as is common in oil and gas drilling operations. By way of the invention, cement slurries are provided which have improved fluid loss properties at high temperatures, while maintaining manageable rheologies that are conducive to mixing, pumping, and the like across a broad range of temperatures.

Well cementing for oil, gas, or ground water involves mixing a slurry of cement, water, and other additives and pumping it down through a casing to critical points in the oil well annulus around the casing or in the open hole below the casing string. The primary functions of the cementing process are to restrict fluid movement between geological formations and to bond and support the casing. In addition, the cement aids in protecting the casing from corrosion, preventing blowouts by quickly sealing formations, protecting the casing from shock loads in drilling deeper wells, and sealing off lost circulation or thief zones.
A common problem in petroleum well cementing is the loss of filtrate from the cement slurry into porous low pressure zones in the earth formation surrounding the well annulus. This fluid loss is undesirable since it can result in dehydration of the cement slurry, and it causes thick filter cakes of cement solids which can plug the well bore; moreover the fluid lost can damage sensitive formations. Cement fluid loss is particularly critical in a process known as squeeze cementing.
There is a requirement, therefore, for materials which, when added to the cement formulation, reduce the loss of fluid from the slurry to porous formations. The use of partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol (84-90%) as a fluid loss additive is particularly common. Polyvinyl alcohol and other resins have been used as a fluid loss additives in various forms as is exemplified in the following references.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,728,210, entitled "Composition and Method to Control Cement Slurry Loss and Viscosity" of Moran et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,850,880 entitled "Composition and Method to Control Cement Slurry Loss and Viscosity" of Moran et al., utilize polyvinyl alcohol as a liquid fluid loss additive for use in cementing well bores, particularly oil and gas well bores. The liquid fluid loss additive is formed from dissolving partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol in water. The polyvinyl alcohol has a molecular weight of about 200,000. The polyvinyl alcohol is used in conjunction with a dispersing sulfonated polymer and surfactant. This combination is then adjusted to individual well conditions with chelating agents, cross-linking agents, biocides, antifoams, or combinations of these.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,180,689, entitled "Fluid Loss Control Agents and Compositions for Cementing Oil Wells Comprising said Fluid Loss Control Agent" of Moulin, describes a fluid loss control agent for a petroleum industry (or analogous) cement slurry, comprising a surfactant and a micro-gel obtained by chemical cross-linking of a polyvinyl alcohol. The micro-gel and the surfactant are compatible with petroleum industry cement additives, and can also produce compositions which are gas tight. The micro-gel is obtained by reacting the polyvinyl alcohol in solution with agents which can condense with at least two alcohol functions at a pH of less than 10. The micro-gel is typically prepared in aqueous solution comprising 2% to 5% (by weight), preferably on the order of 3.5%, of cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol.
An aqueous gel that is formed from a polyvinyl alcohol or vinyl alcohol copolymer and a partially methylated melamine-formaldehyde resin in the presence of a pH regulating agent is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,061,387, entitled "Aqueous Gel System of Partially Methylated Melamine-Formaldehyde Resin and Polyvinyl Alcohol" of Victorius. These gel-forming compositions control the permeability of underground formations during water flooding and chemical flooding operations. These plugging techniques are also used during well workovers, for example, to plug leaks in well casings or to temporarily plug wells, in fracture treatments, to consolidate unconsolidated formations, and to correct the injection profile of a well by sealing high-permeability streaks so that flooding fluids will enter the formation in a more desirable front.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,009,269, entitled "Well Cement Fluid Loss Additive and Method" of Moran et al., relates to cementing of a casing string in a well bore, and more particularly to a fluid loss additive for addition to a cement slurry to be used in the cementing job. Moran et al. describes a fluid loss additive which is stated to be effective at temperatures of up to about 200° F., has limited effect on slurry viscosity, and does not significantly retard cement setting. The additive is comprised of a partially hydrolyzed vinyl acetate polymer, calcium sulfate, a cross-linker for the polymer and, optionally, a defoamer. Because of difficulties in manufacturing a PVOH with a molecular weight above about 200,000, the use of PVOH was considered limited to formation temperatures of about 120° F. This disclosure teaches that the useful temperature can be increased to about 200° F. by including cross-linking materials in the additive. However, at temperatures much above 200° F., the cross-linked PVOH is not thermally stable.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,703,801, entitled "Method of Reducing Fluid Loss in Cement Compositions which may Contain Substantial Salt Concentrations" of Fry et al., discloses a process for reducing fluid loss in cement compositions made with salt water. The compositions are comprised of water, hydraulic cement and a fluid-loss additive comprising a graft polymer having a backbone of lignin, lignite, derivatized cellulose and various synthetic polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene oxide, polypropylene oxide and polyethyleneimine. The grafted pendant groups comprise homopolymers, copolymers and terpolymers of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane-sulfonic acid, acrylonitrile, N,N-dimethylacrylamide, acrylic acid, N,N-dialkyl-aminoethylmethacrylate, and their salts. The backbone comprises from about 5 to about 95 percent by weight of the graft polymer, and the pendant groups can comprise from about 5 to about 95 percent by weight of the graft polymer.
Additional references of interest follow. U.S. Pat. No. 6,110,270, entitled "Method for Influencing Moisture Content and Migration in Building Materials" of Beckenhauer, teaches an aqueous PVOH solution for typical use as a coating on building materials in order to prevent the migration of moisture through a porous building. The solutions may contain from about 0.01% to about 30% by weight of PVOH which may have a molecular weight ranging from about 5,000 to about 500,000.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,739,806, entitled "Cement Compositions with Improved Fluid Loss Characteristics and Methods of Cementing Subterranean Formations" to Szymanski et al., discloses methods for preventing fluid loss in cement slurries by connecting two polymers via a pH sensitive crosslinking agent, such as a polyvalent cation. In preferred embodiments, the additive contains a first PVOH polymer with a molecular weight of at least 80,000 and a second PVOH polymer with a molecular weight of about 8,000. The polymers are dissolved in water with a cross-linker and the pH is adjusted until the solution achieves a desired molecular weight. Likewise, U.S. Pat. No. 5,594,050 to Audebert et al. discloses a fluid loss control agent which employs chemically cross-linked PVOH.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,105,885, entitled "Well Cementing Method Using a Dispersant and Fluid Loss Intensifier" of Bray et al., discloses a fluid loss additive package containing an ethoxylate, a dispersant material and, optionally, a water soluble polymeric compound. The polymeric compound may comprise polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol or 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropyl sulfonic acid (AMPS) copolymers.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,569,395 to Carpenter describes the use of a fully hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol resin to ameliorate problems with slurry thinning at elevated temperatures. The compositions in the '395 Carpenter references also include, in some embodiments, water soluble cellulosic polymers and dispersants. U.S. Pat. No. 4,967,839, entitled "Method and Composition for Cementing in a Wellbore" of Carpenter et al., discloses a cement composition for oil and gas wells comprising at least 2 weight percent of tricalcium aluminate, at least 2 weight percent of gypsum, and between 0.3 to 2.0 weight percent of a polyvinyl alcohol having a degree of hydrolysis that is less than about 92 percent. According to Carpenter, polyvinyl alcohols with a molecular weight of less than 75,000 are preferred.
Despite the above contributions in the art, the use of conventional polyvinyl alcohol resins as fluid loss additives suffers from various drawbacks. For example, while partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol exhibits useful fluid loss properties at lower temperatures (up to about 150° F.), it must be added in progressively larger quantities for moderate or high temperature wells where temperatures of up to 250° F. may be encountered. This is problematic, as excessive amounts of fluid loss additive can negatively affect the rheology of the cement slurry making it difficult, if not impossible, to pump.
Some approaches to improve rheology in cementing processes are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,997,487 to Vinson et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,184,680 to Totten et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,273,582 to Totten et al. These references advocate the use of a viscosifying agent, such as guar gum, with a set retarding composition, such as an AMPS-type resin to improve slurry viscosity properties. U.S. Pat. No. 6,708,760 to Chatterji et al. uses a cellulose derived composition to accomplish similar goals. These approaches also have disadvantages, however, such as retarding the set time of the cement, which is not always desired.
There is accordingly provided in one aspect of the present invention a polymeric fluid loss additive having superior fluid loss performance over a broad range of temperatures, even when present in modest quantities. The additive has effective fluid loss properties at high temperatures such as 195° F., and preferably up to 250° F. or more. Additionally, cement slurries prepared with the inventive additive generally maintain rheologies that are suitable for oil field cementing operations; thus, the slurries do not exhibit excessive thickening at surface conditions or thinning at higher temperature down hole conditions.

Fluid loss additive with improved rheological properties

Sekisui Specialty Chemicals America, LLC


System for the non invasive control of the tightness condition of apparatus, in particular of the constancy of said condition of m homogenous series, each one of n apparatus, which in the absence of said pressure constancy would have not acceptable, not uniform characteristics and performances, especially of electronic mechanical, hydraulic and similar apparatus. The system includes (a) a first sub system including a pneumatic chamber, set at a sampling reference pressure, for the pressure control of each one of said n apparatus of each one of said m homogenous series; (b) a second sub system of treatment and feeding of pneumatic fluid to said chamber in order to support and stabilize said reference pressure; and (c) a third sub system of comparison and detection of undesired deviations over said reference pressure, of the detected pressure in the chamber occupied, on turn, by each one of the n apparatus of each of the m series.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a non-invasive control system of the tightness of apparatus (and/or relative containers) to be kept air-, water-tight.
More particularly the invention refers to a system, method and equipment for the tightness non-invasive control of electronic, electric, mechanical, chemical devices (preferably inserted in mechanic containers) whose functional characteristics and performances can vary also considerably when their tightness varies.
2. Description of the Related Art
Apparatus consisting of circuits (like electronics), devices, components, etc., also of high precision (and costs) are widely diffused (and they diffuse at an exponential speed). But unfortunately they are susceptible to modify their functionality, way of acting, performance at the variation of their exposure to environmental conditions, and, consequently, of their isolation from the above mentioned conditions, and therefore of their tightness to rain, vapours etc.
Just to fix the ideas, it can be referred to an emblematic embodiment concerning the application of said system to the non invasive control of electronic sets, in particular the so-called TMA (Tower Mounted Amplifier), comprising filters and amplifiers of reception and of transmission (in addition to the conventional feeding- and emergency-devices, such as anti-lightening devices), to be associated to base stations of mobile telephony communication. These (and other) sets are generally locked up in containers/boxes that must substantially assure perfect seal conditions of the electronic equipment which, otherwise, vary their characteristics to varying of their tightness changing therefore the parameters of the transmission.
We may refer emblematically to said TMA because their air-, water-tight condition is at risk, as they are placed outdoor, on the platform of the antenna tower, and not anymore in the shelter of the base station, which compelled to the use of connecting cables between the antenna on top of the tower and the filtration-, amplification-, circuits, etc., on the ground.

System and method of non-invasive control of apparatus tightness

Andrew Telecommunication Products S.r.l.


Various radio frequency identification (RFID) tags are described that dynamically vary their resonant frequency to reduce or eliminate the potential effects of electromagnetic “tag-to-tag” coupling. An RFID tag, for example, includes a main antenna tuned to a first resonant frequency, and switching circuitry that dynamically changes the resonant frequency of the main antenna. The switching circuitry may selectively couple electrical elements, such as capacitive elements, inductive elements, or combinations thereof, to vary the resonant frequency of the RFID tag. The RFID tag may include a sensing circuit that determines when to selectively couple the electrical element to the main antenna to adjust the resonant frequency of the main antenna.

Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) technology has become widely used in virtually every industry, including transportation, manufacturing, waste management, postal tracking, airline baggage reconciliation, and highway toll management. A typical RFID system includes a plurality of RFID tags, at least one RFID reader or detection system having an antenna for communication with the RFID tags, and a computing device to control the RFID reader. The RFID reader includes a transmitter that may provide energy or information to the tags, and a receiver to receive identity and other information from the tags. The computing device processes the information obtained by the RFID reader.
In general, the information received from an RFID tag is specific to the particular application, but often provides an identification for an article to which the tag is fixed. Exemplary articles include manufactured items, books, files, animals or individuals, or virtually any other tangible article. Additional information may also be provided for the article. The tag may be used during a manufacturing process, for example, to indicate a paint color of an automobile chassis during manufacturing or other useful information.
The transmitter of the RFID reader outputs RF signals through the antenna to create an electromagnetic field that enables the tags to return an RF signal carrying the information. The transmitter makes use of an amplifier to drive the antenna with a modulated output signal.
A conventional tag may be an "active" tag that includes an internal power source, or a "passive" tag that is energized by the field created by the RFID reader antenna. Once energized, the tags communicate using a pre-defined protocol, allowing the RFID reader to receive information from one or more tags. The computing device serves as an information management system by receiving the information from the RFID reader and performing some action, such as updating a database. In addition, the computing device may serve as a mechanism for programming data into the tags via the transmitter.

Variable frequency radio frequency identification (RFID) tags


A communication method for automatically switching between cellular networks and IP networks includes following steps. A mobile phone number is used as an user account. A sending user inputs or selects the user account or the mobile phone number of a receiving user on a sending client to send a message to the receiving user. If there is an user account corresponding to the mobile phone number of the receiving user registered on a server and the user account is on line, the sending client sends a message to the server via the IP networks, and the server transfers the message to a receiving client via the IP networks. If there is no user account corresponding to the mobile phone number of the receiving user registered on the server, the sending client directly sends a short message to the mobile phone number of the receiving user via the cellular networks.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to network communications, and more particularly to an automatic switching and failover communication system between a cellular mobile communication network and an IP network, and a method implementing the automatic switching communication system.
2. Description of Related Art
Short message, as a popular communication mode, offers transmission of real-time short message between mobile devices. Most of mobile phone users use a mobile phone to send short messages. However, service fee of the short messages of most operators is expensive. Instant messaging software in the mobile phones gains popularity rapidly as smart phones takes over market shares. Instant messaging software can deliver short messages among users registered on the same instant messaging network, at minimum or zero cost. However, it cannot deliver message to user not registered on the particular IM network.
In prior technologies, many instant messaging softwares, such as Fetion of China Mobile, Wechat of Tencent and Windows Live Messenger are capable of offering inexpensive or free service for short message communication. However, they cannot send message between users without registration. In most of the instant messaging softwares, such as Wechat of Tencent and Windows Live Messenger, the user must manually register an account as identification when sending messages. Some of the instant messaging softwares can deliver messages between a computer and a mobile phone. But when User A use both an IM software on a computer and short message on the cell phone to communicate with User B, the context of the conversation is scatters on both devices and software applications. This makes it very inconvenient for User A to keep track and search through the conversation.
FaceTime of Apple Inc. is capable of using a mobile phone number as an identification for an video call, but the mobile phone number is not used as an identifier for short message and the voice calls. In addition, FaceTime is used only on IP networks, and if the user on the other side does not use FaceTime or the other user is offline, Face Time cannot automatically switch to other communication mode automatically, such as traditional voice call over cellular network or short message service over cellular network.
Therefore, a need exists in the industry to overcome the described problems.

Automatic switching and failover method and system for messages and voice calls between cellular and IP networks


It is proposed an organic light emitting diode (OLED) cell, comprising a cathode, an anode, the anode being positioned on a substrate, and wherein the organic light emitting diode cell further comprises between said cathode and said anode, an emissive layer and an conductive layer, that generate light when a difference of potential occurs between said cathode and said anode. The organic light emitting diode (OLED) cell further comprises a diffusion layer comprising a set of right circular hollow cylinders, wherein each right circular hollow cylinder being defined by at least a parameter R, named an external radius, and a parameter r, named an internal radius, wherein said parameter R is comprised in a first range

This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art, which may be related to various aspects of the present invention that are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
An OLED cell usually comprises a stack of high index layers sandwiched between a glass plate and a doped silicium backplane, or two glass plates. Alternatively, the layers can be deposited on a flexible support.
Reminders on OLED cells are provided in the Chapter 6 of the book entitled "Principles of Solar cells, LEDs and Diodes; The role of the PN junction" by Adrian Kitai.
To sum-up, usually, an OLED cell comprises an anode positioned on a glass substrate, a cathode, and between the anode and the cathode, active layers that comprise an electron transport layer (ETL) and a hole transport layer (HTL). Generally, the anode is made of a transparent material in order to allow light to leave active layers. For example, the anode can be made of an indium tin oxide (ITO). In a variant, a light emitting material (LEM) can also be positioned between the HTL and the ETL. It should be noted that the color emitted by an OLED is determined or linked by the nature of the LEM. Hence, it is possible to choose specific material of the LEM in order to obtain an OLED cell that only delivers monochromatic electromagnetic wave (i.e. monochromatic light). In some variant, some color converters or color filters are positioned close to the anode in order to filter the light coming from the light emitting material (that can deliver for example only blue light or white light). The FIG. 2 presents some of these architectures for an OLED cell.
Usually, in OLED cells, there is only a small portion of light (that corresponds to the emission of a photon when an electron and a hole recombine somewhere within the stack of layers in the high index medium) that gets out of the cell.
Indeed, if the direction of propagation of a generated or emitted photon is above a critical angle (i.e. the emitted photon does not propagate in the light cone or solid angle 101 in the FIG. 1 of the present document), it gets trapped within a denser medium. If we simplify the problem with the hypothesis that the stacks have one sole refractive index n, then the critical angle can be defined as:
      θ    c    =      arc                          sin              1      n
For an electron-hole recombination, all directions are possible for the propagation of the photon, the emission is isotropic (see the sphere in FIG. 1). The photon can escape the structure if it is emitted in the solid angle 101 on FIG. 1, but it can as well escape if it is emitted backwards within the same solid angle value. The bottom of the cell has either a reflector for top emitting diodes, or it is transparent so that the total solid angle of emitted photos that escape from the structure is:Ω=2×2π(1−cos θc)and the percentage of the light getting out of the cell (proportional to 4π steradians) is:
  η  =      1    -                  1        -                              (                          1              n                        )                    2
For an average index of refraction of 1.7 within the diode media, the light extraction efficiency is only of η=0.19, meaning that only 19% of the generated light gets out. It has also to be considered also that one of the top layer is made of ITO which has a very high index of refraction and also a big variation within the visible band. It has an index above 2.0 in the deep blue, at blue-ray type wavelength, it has an index of 1.9 in the green and 1.8 in the red while near IR (infra-red) is around 1.6.
Hence, the development of techniques for improving the light extraction within OLED cells is a hectic research topic.
In order to achieve such goal, a first technique (described for example in document US 2001/0026124) relying on the light extraction by scattering was developed. Alternatively, a second technique that relies on the light extraction by refraction as proposed for example in documents JP2002-071931 and US2001-0026124 was investigated. Furthermore, a third technique which performs light extraction by using geometric patterns was elaborated for example in document US 2009/0072711.
The proposed technique is an alternative to these technical solutions.

Organic light emitting diode cell comprising a set of right circular hollow cylinders

Abstract: [            λ      -                        30          100                        λ              ;          λ      +                        30          100                        λ              ]with λ being a wavelength of an electromagnetic wave generated by said organic light emitting diode (OLED) cell, and wherein said parameter r is defined such that in a

Abstract: 1  -            (              r        R            )        2  is comprised in a second range [0.6; 0.8], and wherein each right circular hollow cylinder has a height that is comprised in a third range

Abstract: [                  0.2                          λ          n                    ;              0.4                          λ          n                      ]    ,wherein n corresponds to a refractive index of said diffusion layer.