Apparatus (48), and an associated method, for facilitating operation of a mobile node (12) operable in a communication system (10) to request allocation of communication capacity upon which to communicate data pursuant to a communication service. A channel allocation request generator (52) is selectably operable to generate requests for allocation of channel capacity upon which to communicate the data. A selector (54) selects when to cause the generator (52) to communicate the additional data packets. Selection is made to delay, or otherwise prevent, retransmission of requests, when a determination is made that the retransmission is unlikely to be successful.

The need to communicate data is a necessary adjunct of many aspects of modern society. Data communication is effectuated through the use of a communication system. And, many different types of communication services are regularly effectuated by large numbers of users through use of many varied types of communication systems. As scientific discovery and technological advancement have permitted, new types of communication systems have been developed and implemented. Such technological advancements continue. New, as well as improvements to existing, communication systems are regularly made. And, new types of communication services are regularly made possible through use of such new and improved communication systems.
Advancements in digital communication techniques are amongst the technological advancements that have been implemented to permit the introduction of new types of communication systems. The use of digital communication techniques generally provides for improved communication efficiencies and also permit data to be communicated at discrete intervals.
A radio communication system is an exemplary type of communication system that has benefited as a result of advancements in digital communication techniques, as well as other technological advancements. In a radio communication system, communication channels upon which data is communicated are defined upon a radio-link that forms at least a portion of a communication path extending between the communication stations of the radio communication system.
Implementation of a radio communication system is generally performed more economically than a wireline counterpart. The infrastructure costs associated with a radio communication system are generally less than the costs associated with installation of a network infrastructure of a wireline communication system. Also, a radio communication system can be implemented as a mobile communication system, permitting of mobile communications. Communications in such a system are possible, from and between, locations at which the use of a conventional, wireline communication system would be impractical.
Because of the advantages of use of a radio communication system, use of a radio communication system through which to communicate have achieved wide levels of popularity. While, historically, radio communication systems have been used to perform voice communication services, increasingly, radio communication systems are used to perform data services. E-mail, and other types of, messaging services, for instance, are regularly provided, and used, by large numbers of users.
And, as communication systems are increasingly permitting of higher-capacity data services, additional data services shall likely be available. For instance, GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) networks that provide for GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) have been developed and deployed. GPRS is a relatively high bandwidth data service permitting the communication of data at relatively high data rates. Other high data-rate, data communication networks have analogously been developed and deployed, both for cellular radio networks as well as other types of radio communication systems.
When a data service is to be effectuated, channel capacity must be allocated to permit the communication of the data pursuant to the data service. The amount of channel capacity that needs to be allocated is dependent upon both the amount of data that must be communicated as well as the rate at which the data must be communicated. That is, large amounts of data generally require a greater channel allocation to permit its communication in a given time than the channel allocation required for communication of smaller amounts of data within the same, given time. And, communication of a given amount of data at a high data rate generally requires a greater channel allocation to permit its communication within a given time than the channel allocation required for communication of the same, given amount of data at a lower data rate.
The operating specification of the GSM/GPRS system specifies the manner by which channel allocation is initiated when a GPRS data service is to be effectuated. When the data service is initiated by a mobile node, for instance, a request for a channel allocation of channels upon which to send the data is generated at the mobile node. The request is communicated to the network part of the GSM/GPRS system upon a random access channel (RaCH) defined in the system. When the network part of the system receives the request, a channel-allocation decision is made. And, the decision is communicated back to the mobile node. When channel capacity is allocated to the mobile node, the decision communicated back to the mobile node forms a channel grant. And, when the channel allocation is received at the mobile node, the data is then sent by the mobile node to perform the GPRS communication service. Other types of communication systems sometimes use analogous channel request and channel allocation schemes.
During normal operation, then, channel allocation requests and channel allocation grants are generated and data is communicated to effectuate a data communication service. Problems can occur, however, in the event that the channel allocation requests are not detected by the network part or if the channel allocation grants are not detected by the mobile node.
The mobile node, typically, is powered by a portable power supply, of limited energy-storage capacity. When the portable power supply, i.e., a battery power supply, is depleted of stored energy, the mobile node no longer functions properly, if at all. And, the portable power supply must be replaced or recharged to permit continued use of the mobile node. User satisfaction with the mobile node is, at least in some respect, dependent on the longevity of the portable power supply. So, efforts are regularly made to reduce the power consumption rate of the mobile node.
In existing mobile nodes operable pursuant to the GSM/GPRS operating specification, channel allocation requests are repeatedly generated in the absence of a response to any of the requests. When conditions that prevent delivery of the channel allocation requests to the network part are only transient, return to normal conditions permits normal delivery of a channel allocation request to the network part, and a corresponding grant responsive to the request, if possible. But, when the conditions that prevent the delivery of the channel allocation requests is not merely transitory, an excessive number of channel allocation requests might be generated. For instance, if the mobile node is positioned in an area at which network coverage is unavailable, then the channel allocation requests shall not be delivered to the network part irrespective of the number of requests that are generated and sent.
Repeated generation of the channel allocation requests when delivery of the requests at the network part is unlikely to be successful is wastefully power-consumptive. Battery power-supply is depleted, necessitating frequent battery replacement or recharging.
Accordingly, if a manner could be provided by which better to select when to permit generation of channel allocation requests at a mobile node, improved longevity of the battery power supply and improved user satisfaction of use of the mobile node would be possible.
It is in light of this background information related to communications in a radio communication system that the significant improvements of the present invention have evolved.

Apparatus, and associated method, for facilitating initiation of channel allocation to communicate data in a radio communication system


Pipette for operating a syringe with a bar-shaped housing, a fixture with an opening at the lower end of the housing for putting in a syringe with a fastening portion on the upper edge of a cylinder, a fixture body with a further fixture and a further opening on the lower end of the housing, for putting in a further fastening portion of a piston of the syringe, means for detachably holding the fastening portion in the fixture and the further fastening portion in the further fixture, means for displacing the fixture body within the housing in the longitudinal direction of the housing, which have a draw-up lever activated from the outside of the housing, which is connected to the fixture body via a connection element which grips through a straight slit extending in the longitudinal direction of the housing, wherein below the slit in the housing, a cover stripe covering the slit is held in the housing at two positions spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the slit, and wherein the connection element has a channel through which the cover stripe extends.

The present invention relates to a pipette for operating a syringe.
The pipettes for operating a syringe discussed here serve for discharging liquids taken up into the syringe in several steps. They are also called dispensers or repeater pipettes. At the lower end of a bar-shaped housing, these pipettes have a fixture for a flange of a cylinder of the syringe, and in the housing a displaceable fixture body with a piston fixture for the upper end portion of a piston rod of a piston of the syringe. The syringe can be inserted with the flange and the end portion of the piston rod through axially oriented openings of the fixtures. The flange and the end portion are held in the fixtures by means for detachable holding, which are for instance configured as spring-tensioned gripping levers. Further, the pipette has means for displacing the fixture body, which permit to draw the piston partially out of the cylinder in order to aspirate liquid into the syringe, and to push it stepwise into the cylinder for stepwise discharge of liquid.
The documents DE 2926691 C2 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,406,170 A, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference, describe means for displacing the fixture body in the housing. These comprise a draw-up lever, connected to the fixture body and projecting out of the housing through a straight slit, for aspirating liquid into the syringe by moving the fixture body away from the fixture. They further comprise a tooth bar pawl device for stepwise piston forward movement by a reciprocating metering lever. A pivotal pawl is bearing mounted on the metering lever. The tooth bar is connected to the fixture body and arranged in the pivot region of the pawl. An adjustably movable covering more or less covers up the tooth row on the tooth bar, in order to limit the engagement of the pawl into the tooth bar when the metering lever is swung. Further, the tooth bar is designed with a contour, by which the covering can be moved away from the tooth bar when the piston is in an advanced position, so that it prevents the pawl from engaging with those teeth of the tooth bar that are not covered. Through this, it is prevented that a residual amount is discharged from the syringe, which is smaller than the metering amount which is to be discharged in each metering step.
Further developments of the means for displacing the fixture body are described in the documents DE 4437716 C2, EP 0679439 B1 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,591,408 A, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Further developments of the means for fastening are described in the documents EP 0656229 B1 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,620,660 A, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference. The documents EP 1724020 B1 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,731,908 B2, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference, describe a further development of the fastening devices which permits to detach the syringe from the pipette using only one hand.
The documents EP 0657216 B1 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,620,661 A, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference, describe such a pipette with a sensor for gauging protrusions and deepenings on the syringe flange and associated syringes. The sensor serves to determine the size of the utilized syringe. On the basis of the set step width, an electronics determines the amount of liquid that is discharged in each discharging step. This is indicated on a display.
In a functional embodiment of the pipette, the fixture body is fixedly connected to a rigid cover stripe, which covers the slit from the inside. The cover stripe extends from the fixture body towards the upside, so that it covers only the slit above the draw-up lever. Below the draw-up lever, there is no sufficient space for a further cover stripe. When the draw-up lever is thrust towards the upside, the cover stripe moves to the upside in the housing, and the slit opens below the draw-up lever. In the known pipette, unintended movement of the fixture body and of the draw-up lever connected thereto are prevented in that the fixture body is braked by two elastic hoses which are disposed in the housing of the pipette.
The opened slit permits insight into the casing's interior and also the intrusion of dirt into the housing, which contaminates the mechanical and, as the case may be, the electronic components of the pipette.
The document DE 32 11 271 A1, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference, describes a slide bar control device with slits on the activation elements for heating and venting, in air conditioning apparatuses of motor vehicles in particular. In the slide bar control device, a tape is attached behind the slit or behind the slits, respectively, whose ends are fastened on the base body. The tape is guided through a breakthrough of an actuating lever of the slide bar control device. The tape is disposed at a distance to the slit, so that there is a cavity between slit and tape through which dirt can enter the base body. The tape prevents exterior light from leaving the slide bar control device, and at the same time, it reduces contamination of the inner construction.
The document DE 195 41 628 C2, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference, describes a sliding controller of for instance a sliding variable resistor, or for changing the tension of a spring in a mechanical system, or realised as a program selection lever for an automatic gearbox in motor vehicles. The sliding controller has a housing with a slit, and a sliding block movable in and along the slit, with a take-up side and a take-along side attached thereto and extending through the slit. The sliding controller has a flexible tape extending only in the slit direction. The tape runs above the slit in a groove on the side of the housing directed towards the take-up side and extends across a recess in the sliding block. At its ends, the tape is fixed on the housing, wherein the distance of the fixation points is smaller than the length of the tape extending between them. The tape seals the slit at those positions of the slit where the sliding block is not present. Due to its arrangement at the outer side of the housing, the tape may easily be contaminated and damaged. In one embodiment, the recess in the sliding block is realised by a laterally formed slit in the take-up side of the sliding block. The lateral arrangement of the slit permits lateral exit of the tape. Moreover, it compromises the outer appearance of the sliding block. According to another embodiment, the sliding block is formed by two essentially symmetric halves bearing against each other, which consist of one half at the take-up side and one half at the take-along side, wherein the recess is formed by slits in the contact surface of each one of the two halves, with a depth corresponding to at least half the width of the tape. The split of the sliding block into two symmetric halves necessitates sumptuous assembly, because the halves must be thrust onto the narrow sides of the tape. Moreover, the outer appearance of the divided sliding block is compromised.


A tetrakis(hydroxyphenyl)chlorin, bacteriochlorin or isobacteriochlorin, derivatised at one or more of the hydroxy groups by addition reaction with a diisocyanate, diisothiocyanate or isocyanate-isothiocyanate at one isocyanate or isothiocyanate group thereof, the other isocyanate or isothiocyanate group being itself derivatised by addition reaction with the hydroxy group of an w-alkylated or acylated poly(alkylene oxide) or to a hydroxy group of a link residue itself carrying a residue of such poly(alkylene oxide).

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) involves the administration of a photosensitising agent for localisation in target diseased tissue followed by irradiation of the target tissue containing the compound with light of a specific and appropriate wavelength. The resulting photoactivated compound, in the presence of oxygen, leads to necrosis of the tissue.
The success of this modality is dependent on administration of a compound that is selectively retained in tumour tissue as compared to normal tissue. Thus, on irradiation of the tumour with light of the photoactivating wavelength, the amount of damage caused by necrosis is proportionately higher than that in normal tissue. However, some normal tissue damage typically occurs and one specific side effect seen with the use of many photosensitisers is redness and swelling of the skin on subsequent exposure to normal lighting levels and particularly sunlight. Such side effects are minimised by keeping the patients in subdued light for a prolonged period after treatment, consequently restricting their quality of life. A more efficient delivery of the photosensitiser into tumour tissue, thus providing a much higher tumour to normal tissue ratio of drug concentration could dramatically reduce the potential for skin side effects with this treatment.
A group of photosensitising agents have previously been the subject of patents EP 0 337 601 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,992,257. These compounds are dihydroporphyrins (chlorins) (1) and the corresponding tetrahydroporphyrins (bacteriochlorins) (2) and (3) of the formulae:

wherein each n=1 to 3 and each substituent, R, the same or different, is a hydroxyl (—OH) group, each itself free or substituted with an alkyl or acyl group. Salts, internal salts, metal complexes or hydrates or other solvates of the compounds are also covered.
The above formulae, it will be appreciated, represent particular tautomers among various possibilities including chlorins as shown below (represented without meso Phenyl groups):

The invention covers all tautomers of the above compounds and is not limited to those shown in diagrams.
Published Proposals
Modification of compounds by PEGylation, that is the direct or indirect attachment of polyethylene glycol chains (PEG), and in principle other poly(alkylene oxide) chains, is known to introduce useful properties. PEG is non-toxic, imparts good water solubility to drug molecules and alters the biodistribution, which can result in a favourable pharmacokinetic profile. The general topic of polyether substituted anti-tumour agents is described in DKFZ's specification PCT EP 91/00992 (WO 91/18630). No particular attention is given to the selection of the linkage between the polyether chain and the anti-tumour agent, the only example disclosed being a triazine introduced by initial activation of the polyether with cyanuric chloride. More recently, DKFZ have described a method for the production of chlorins and bacteriochlorins containing a polyether (WO 98/01156). The method involves initial attachment of the polyether to the porphyrin with subsequent reduction to the corresponding chlorins and bacteriochlorins. Again, no particular attention is given to the nature of the linkage between the polyether and the anti-tumour agent, the only example disclosed being an amide link.
PEGylation of compounds (1), (2) and (3) via triazine, ether and ester linkages has been previously reported by us in PCT GB 95/00998 (WO 95/29915). However, lability of the ester linkages and significant difficulties in the scale up of the triazine and ether linked moieties severely limits the practical utility of these compounds.
Enzon have also reported polyether compositions containing isocyanate and/or isothiocyanate groups for covalent attachment to bioeffecting substances such as peptides or chemotherapeutics (WO 94/04193). However, in relation to isocyanates and isothiocyanates, coverage is directed to compounds in which bioeffecting substances are attached to both ends of the polyether chain.
Outside the PDT field, hexane-1,6-diisocyanate has been used to link PEG to atropine (Zalipsky et al, Eur. Polym. J. 1983, 19(12), 1177-1183) and to 5-fluorouracil (Ouchi et al, Drug Design and Discovery 1992, 9, 93-105). Bayer (U.S. Pat. No. 4,684,728) have reported a process for improving the solubility in water of a sparingly soluble biologically active compound by reaction to form a derivative carrying the active moiety, a linking group such as an optionally substituted diisocyanate group and a polyether chain. No mention is made of any benefit to the therapeutic profile of such compounds other than the ease of formulation and administration of a water soluble compound.
Discussion of Present Work
Advances in photodynamic therapy for clinical disease treatment, particularly cancer, depend on developing improved photosensitisers. The desired characteristics of an ideal photosensitiser include selective diseased tissue localisation, activation at long wavelengths so that maximum depth of tissue penetration is shown, and high efficiency as sensitisers. From a formulation and administration point of view, water solubility is also a beneficial attribute.
Photodynamic therapy is a dual therapy, which consists of the combined action of photosensitiser and light. In clinical practice the drug is first administered, and then activated by light some time later. The time period between administering the drug and applying the light is called the drug-light interval. It is desirable to apply light at a time when the photosensitiser has accumulated maximally in the target tissue and has been eliminated from the normal surrounding tissue. The principal factor determining the drug-light interval is the drug pharmacokinetic profile which itself varies between every tissue. The drug-light interval has to be suitable for clinical practice. From a clinical standpoint, pharmacokinetics which give a maximum drug concentration in a tumour as soon as possible, for example from a few hours to at most 3 days, together with rapid elimination from the body thereafter, would be ideal. This would allow flexibility in scheduling treatment.
In European Patent Specification 0 337 601 (U.S. Pat. No. 4,992,257), the applicants disclose compounds with many of the desired characteristics, particularly an extremely high photo efficiency, that is to say the ability to generate free radical species such as singlet oxygen through the absorption of light. The long absorption wavelengths of the molecules, e.g. at 652 nm and 734 nm, penetrates tissue efficiently and thus the sensitisers can be used to treat deep tumours.
However, the disclosed compounds do not fulfil all the requirements equally well. A residual disadvantage is the degree of normal tissue photosensitivity, particularly of the skin, that occurs following administration of the sensitiser. This arises from unwanted deposition of the sensitiser in the skin and other normal tissue and is a consequence of imperfect tumour targeting by the drug. The skin photosensitivity can last up to 4 weeks depending on the drug dose administered. At the usual clinical dose of 0.15 mg kg−1 skin sensitivity of, for example, m-THPC (a tetraphenyl chlorin derivative in which each phenyl group carries a m-hydroxy group) lasts for 2-3 weeks. This limits the patient's freedom and is an undesirable restriction.
We have sought ways of overcoming normal tissue photosensitivity, particularly of the skin, by converting m-THPC to a polyethylene glycol derivative. This 'PEGylation' profoundly alters the bodily distribution in a favourable way by increasing tumour targeting, and at the same time reducing uptake to the skin. The distribution of the compound is altered by PEGylation, due to hydrogen bonding of water to oxygen on the polyethylene glycol chains when the compound is injected into the blood. A 'water envelope' forms around the photosensitiser and prevents the compound sticking to the endothelium of blood vessel walls and in turn passing into the surrounding tissue including the skin. This favours uptake to the tumour through the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. Tumours have a disturbed vasculature and lymphatic drainage, leading to increased accumulation of substances such as drugs in the tumour compared to normal tissue (R. Duncan and F. Spreafico, Clin. Pharmacokinet. 1994, 27, 290-306). This effect can be enhanced with higher molecular weight compounds. The net effect of
PEGylation is that the compound is favourably redirected from the skin and other normal tissues towards the tumour, thus reducing the degree of skin sensitivity.
It has been confirmed experimentally, for example, that PEGylation can produce a favourable tissue re-distribution. This was shown in a mouse experimental model in which an outstanding difference between muscle and tumour photosensitivity during PDT was found for the triazine-linked derivative (Grahn et al., Proc. SPE 1997, 3191, 180-6). Three days after the PEGylated m-THPC was administered it was found that the muscle was no longer photosensitive, while the tumour retained its maximum sensitivity to light for at least 15 days after drug administration. This presented ample time for tumour-selective treatment, but did indicate the less desirable characteristic of tumour persistence with this derivative.
Other work previously performed with triazine-linked PEG derivatives [applicants PCT Patent specification WO 95/29915, (PCT/GB95/00998)] confirmed that the pharmacokinetics with the triazine linkage were rather too prolonged for routine clinical use. In particular, excretion from the liver was very slow indeed, which is undesirable pharmaceutically.
An alternative linker to the triazine molecule was sought, including a glycidic ether with amino PEG and also an hexylbiscarbamate linker. The PEGylated derivatives of m-THPC with triazine and carbamate links have very different and unexpected pharmacokinetics to each other and m-THPC. The triazine-linked compound (SPC 0038B) is excreted from the liver more slowly than m-THPC, while the carbamate derivative (SPC 0172) is excreted in a comparable period to m-THPC. The solubilities of the compounds, and hence ease of pharmaceutical preparation, were enhanced to levels of up to 52 mg/mL in water, compared to m-THPC, which is insoluble in aqueous solvents.
The linker group should provide a stable point of PEG attachment, permitting reasonable in vivo circulation and should be available via a practical and robust synthesis. It should not, however, affect the PDT efficiency of the drug molecule. The method of Zalipsky was modified and utilised for a two step synthesis from the chlorin and bacteriochlorin molecules to their PEGylated derivatives. Analysis of these compounds using gel permeation chromatography (GPC) allowed separation of lesser PEGylated forms, but high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) proved superior with separation between the peaks of 0.8 min. Reaction products were also analysed by UV/Visible spectroscopy, which gave a quantitative measurement of molecular weight (mw) using the formula:Apparent mw=mw (chlorin)×A(1%, 1 cm) (chlorin)/A(1%, 1 cm) (PEG chlorin).
The applicants work has thus built on previous work in trying to develop an ideal sensitiser. Unpredictably, the carbamate-linked polyethylene glycol derivatives have an excellent and preferred pharmacokinetic profile from a clinical point of view and exhibit less potential to cause cutaneous photosensitivity. Furthermore, studies in Balb/c mice bearing colo26, a murine colorectal cancer, show that the photodynamic effect of the carbamate-linked derivative in tumour is maximum at 2 days and that it has the same PDT activity as m-THPC itself This is considerably more active than the triazine-linked compound. Thus overall, the PEGylated carbamate-linked compound appears to add new features, which enhance the desired characteristics of the sensitiser.
The Invention
The present invention summarised below and set out in the claims thus concerns the derivatisation or partial derivatisation of the phenolic groups of compounds of formulae (1), (2) and (3) with poly(alkylene oxides) using a carbamate or thiocarbamate link:

(X═O, S) formed by addition reaction of the compounds with an isocyanate (—N═C═O) or isothiocyanate (—N═C═S) group of a diisocyanate, diisothiocyanate or an isocyanate-isothiocyanate, the poly(alkylene oxide) chain being attached directly or indirectly by addition at the other group and its terminal hydroxyl group being etherified or esterified with for example a C1-12 alkyl or acyl group of which methyl is the most preferred.
The reactions, which may be carried out in any convenient order, result in compounds of formulae:

and imino-tautomers thereof wherein n=1 to 3 and R′ may be the same or different, is a hydroxyl (—OH) group, each itself free or substituted with an alkyl or acyl group, but in at least one, preferably more than one instance is as follows:

where:                (i) each X, the same or different, is O, S;        (ii) Y is O (carbamate or thiocarbamate link);        (iii) A is a hydrocarbon group containing 2 to 40 carbon atoms, preferably 4 to 20 carbon atoms and very preferably 6 carbon atoms. This group may be branched or unbranched, cyclic or acyclic, saturated or unsaturated, aliphatic or aromatic;        (iv) B is an optional group ((CH2)p—O)q where p=1 to 4; q=0,1;        (v) D is a poly(alkylene oxide), preferably polyethylene glycol, with an average molecular weight of at least 200 and not more than 40,000, preferably 750 to 20,000 and very preferably 2,000 to 5,000 Da;        (vi) E is an alkyl or acyl group containing 1 to 12 carbon atoms, preferably a methyl group.
In any of the above compounds derivatives such as salts with mineral acids (e.g. hydrochlorides, sulphates), internal salts, metal complexes (e.g. with Zn, Ga), or hydrates and other solvates may be formed.
Suitable diisocyanates include butane-1,4-diisocyanate, hexane-1,6-diisocyanate, octane-1,8-diisocyanate, dodecane-1,1 2-iisocyanate, 2-methylpentane-1,5-diisocyanate, toluene-2,4-diisocyanate, toluene-2,6-diisocyanate, cyclohexane-trans-1,4diisocyanate, dicyclohexylmethane-4,4′-diisocyanate, diphenylmethane-3,4′-diisocyanate, xylene diisocyanate and 2,4,4-trimethylhexylmethylene diisocyanate. Corresponding diisothiocyanates and isocyanate-isothiocyanates are also appropriate. The most preferred linker is hexane-1,6-diisocyanate.
Chemistry
Compounds of types (12), (13) and (14) may be prepared in a two step process.    (i) activation of poly(alkylene oxide) by reaction with a diisocyanate, diisothiocyanate or an isocyanate-isothiocyanate (e.g. hexane-1,6-diisocyanate) in a suitable inert, anhydrous solvent (e.g. toluene) with or without a catalyst (e.g. dibutyl tin dilaurate), with or without a tertiary organic base (e.g. triethylamine) at a temperature between 0 and 110° C.    (ii) coupling of the activated poly(alkylene oxide) to the reduced porphyrin in a suitable inert solvent (e.g. toluene) with or without a catalyst (e.g. dibutyl tin dilaurate), with or without a tertiary organic base (e.g. triethylamine) at a temperature between 0 and 110° C.
Synthesis of compounds may also be achieved by reversing the order of the steps, namely activation of the reduced porphyrin by reaction with the diisocyanate, diisothiocyanate or isocyanate-isothiocyanate followed by coupling with the poly(alkylene oxide). However, the former approach is preferred.
Routes of Administrations
By parenteral or any other suitable route in per se known manner.
Pharmaceutical Presentations
Any suitable presentation as known in the field, including, but not limited to:                i) injectable solution        ii) freeze dried powder for reconstitution and injection        iii) infusion solution for addition to saline or other vehicle        iv) tablet or capsule for oral administration.

Bioscience Technology Investment Holdings Limited


A method includes obtaining an electronic model image representing teeth of a patient; determining a desired bracket arrangement for one or more brackets on the teeth; designing an electronic model image of an alignment device based in part on the desired bracket arrangement; and fabricating the alignment device based on the electronic model image of the alignment device. The desired bracket arrangement includes a surface location, a tip orientation, and a torque orientation of each bracket. The alignment device defines at least one slot through which a bracket can be placed at a surface location and an orientation indicator to indicate a desired tip orientation and a desired torque orientation of each bracket.

Brackets are typically bonded to teeth for the purpose of orthodontic treatment. One method of securing the brackets to the teeth of a patient includes applying adhesive to the brackets and manually placing the brackets directly on the patient's teeth. Another method involves manually placing the brackets on a dental model of the patient's teeth, transferring the brackets from the dental model to a bonding tray, and then transferring the brackets from the tray to the correct locations on the patient's teeth. This latter method is commonly known as indirect bonding. While indirect bonding generally provides an accurate location of the brackets based on the bracket positions on the model, dental technicians must still position the brackets onto the model by manually estimating or "eyeballing" the correct positions. Such techniques, therefore, are prone to human error.
There arises a need in the art to provide systems and methods for accurately securing brackets onto desired positions on a patient's teeth.


For the oscillating triggering of a double acting operating cylinder (4), a reversing valve (6) has been provided and has been inserted between the pressure supply connector (5) and the two operating cylinder drive connectors (2,3) that is driven via two NOT elements (7,8), that each have been assigned to an operating position and connected with a drive connector (2,3). The reversing valve (6) is caused by pressure to periodically switch between the two operating positions. In order to stop oscillating with a defined final position of the operating cylinder (4) or start it up again, at least one of the NOT elements (7) has been provided with a pressure supply connector that can be triggered independently from the supply connector (5).

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is directed to an oscillating valve for a double acting operating cylinder with a reversing valve that is inserted between a pressure supply connector and two operating cylinder drive connectors and which is triggered via two logical NOT elements, wherein each element coordinates to an operating position and connects with one drive connector via a pressure conduit, the reversing valve periodically switching between the two operating positions.
2. The Prior Art
Such valves or valve units are known in many different applications where an operating cylinder, especially a pneumatic operating cylinder for example, extend and retract frequently. Such units are used in bulk facilities or similar arrangements, for example, where masses connected to operating cylinders constantly knock on chutes, lines, and such, in order to improve or ensure the flow of the material. The above-mentioned so-called oscillating valves assume the control of the operating cylinder's movements. Other applications in which similar oscillating movements occur include but are not limited to stirrers, or pumps.
Oscillating valves of the above-mentioned kind usually have 5/2 directional valves in slide valve designs in which the valve pistons are shifted under pressure inside the valve box by operating pistons. The reversal of the direction is obtained by two logical NOT elements where the negated connections are connected to the outlets on the side of the operating cylinder of the 5/2 directional valve. The supply for the operating pressure is on both sides directly via the same connector. In the case of pneumatic applications, the air drain connectors are equipped with exhaust air throttles.
During the oscillation the change of direction occurs by scanning the fluid pressure of the connectors on the sides of the operating cylinders of the valve. Since the exhaust air is choked with each working stroke of the pneumatic operating cylinder, stagnating pressure builds up at each respective connection. It remains until the piston of the operating cylinder comes to a halt. Since the exhaust air throttle and thus also the negated connector of the logic element has nearly ambient pressure, it pressurizes the operating piston of the respective side with pressure medium because of the negation. The valve slide therefore moves to the opposite side and thus initiates another oscillating cycle.
The start-up of the known arrangements of the above-mentioned kind is particularly disadvantageous. During each start-up, the operating cylinder extends and retracts uncontrollably, and the complete piston stroke is not yet reached. In this phase, the oscillating frequency also deviates substantially from that of the running operation. It is not until several strokes later that the state corresponding with continuous operation is reached. This is because the triggering of the oscillating valve has a stop valve connected in series which starts oscillating by applying pressure to the 5/2 directional valve and then stops it by interrupting the fluid stream. During non-operation the drive connectors leading to the operating cylinder usually contain no pressure and this causes both logic elements to be open at the beginning. Both operating pistons of the reversing valve thus have pressure applied to them when oscillation begins. Only because of a different area distribution of the reversing valve's operating element, the reversing valve moves to the side with the smaller area. Thus, the respective exit and the assigned logic element are pressurized simultaneously. The logic element now immediately interrupts the pressure supply of the respective operating valve. No stagnating pressure is present yet at the other exit because of the inertia of the system (power piston, wake space), which causes the operating piston of the reversing valve on this side to remain pressurized and thus move the valve piston of the reversing valve in the respective direction. The interaction causes the described uncontrolled movement of the valve piston and thus also of the operating cylinder during start-up. Only the slowly rising pressure level at the drive connectors on the side of the operating cylinder brings about controlled oscillation. In large operating cylinders and high oscillating frequencies, a controlled, periodic movement may not be reached at all. This disturbs many operations and severely limits the range of applications of such oscillating valves.
In addition to the start-up, the turn-off of known oscillating valves has proven to be problematic in some applications as well. When turning off a running oscillation, the operating cylinder stops in a position that cannot be determined and may then shift its position because the connectors are not pressurized. In many applications, however, it is desirable to reach a defined final position (operating piston either completely extended or retracted). If some cleaning on a stirrer driven by an oscillating valve needs to be performed, for example, it is first necessary to bring the operating cylinder into a position which makes the desired work possible at all. The system as described can still move, however, and will have to be fixed in position. This causes additional work here as well as with other applications.
It should also be mentioned that another disadvantage of the known arrangement is that it cannot be started up or turned off without an additional stop valve, and this causes further costs for the additional stop valve and the necessary installation.
The object of the present invention is to improve an oscillating valve of the above described kind in a way that the mentioned disadvantages of the known arrangements can be avoided, and particularly to find a simple means to having the oscillation occur in a controlled manner in the beginning and the end.

Oscillating valve for a double acting operating cylinder


An energy storage system includes modular energy storage equipment that may be connected to an external system, such as a power grid. In at least one embodiment, the energy storage system includes a power transfer control system comprising a power transfer network and a processing module or controller. The power transfer network has a first interface coupleable to one or more energy storage units and a second interface coupleable to one or more power conversion units. One or more conductors in the power transfer network are selectively coupleable to the first interface and the second interface for transferring power between the energy storage units and the power conversion units based at least in part on information indicating a power or energy supply or demand of an external system or information indicating an amount of energy stored in the energy storage units. The energy storage system is scalable for different implementations.

Generally, an electric power system implements three primary functions:                generation of electrical power by any of several mechanisms such as burning fossil fuels (e.g., coal, oil or natural gas), nuclear fission, hydroelectric turbines, wind turbines, solar photovoltaic panels, etc.;        transmission of electrical power, typically over long distances at high voltages, from sources of generation to points of distribution such as substations. Sub-transmission may further bridge between transmission and distribution voltages; and        distribution of electrical power, typically over relatively short distances and at relatively lower voltages, from points of distribution such as substations to end customers.
Electric power system operators, such as electric distribution utilities, regional transmission operators, independent system operators and others, are tasked with maintaining an electrically stable real-time balance between electricity supply and demand. This is difficult to achieve because demand for electricity fluctuates unpredictably, future supply may diverge from actual demand, and unexpected events, such as accidents or equipment failures, may cause unplanned outages of unknown scope and duration.
Emerging clean, but-intermittent power resources, such as wind and solar power, may help reduce the burning of fossil fuels, which produces greenhouse gas emissions and other toxic pollutants. Accordingly, deployment of such clean electric power sources may increase in the coming years. Added to traditional sources of unpredictability in the electric power system, such intermittent resources may exacerbate the problem of maintaining an electrically stable real-time supply-demand balance.
Electric energy storage offers key benefits for utilities and other grid operators, including firming of wind and solar power to address the intermittency of these power sources. Other benefits of electric energy storage include improved reliability, outage backup, volt/VAR control, frequency regulation and system upgrade deferral.
Electric utilities and grid operators view energy storage as highly promising but lacking key qualities such as (i) scalability, which is required to address a wide range of applications, from meter to substation, with common technologies and protocols; (ii) interoperability, which is required to deliver flexible, multi-vendor systems; (iii) modularity, which is required for exchange, upgrade and expansion of system components; and (iv) cost-effectiveness, which is necessary to compete against other carbon polluting alternatives. Because current energy storage products lack modularity, scalability and interoperability, primary suppliers (e.g., battery manufacturers) cannot easily serve primary customers (e.g., electric utilities), thus increasing the cost and availability of energy storage products and limiting market development for all.
Accordingly, these gaps open an opportunity for a new, multi-vendor approach to energy storage, delivering battery 'storage appliances' built from optimized storage, power conversion and control components. In this new ecosystem, customers can choose best-of-breed components and upgrade, exchange, or re-use individual system elements as needs change or new technologies emerge. Thus, an energy storage architecture that was designed to enable customers to choose components that best suit their application, and upgrade, maintain or expand the system based on changing needs or new technologies, would be a significant advancement for energy storage, and the efficiency and availability of intermittent clean energy sources.


An optical compensatory sheet comprises a cellulose acetate support and an optically anisotropic layer. The optically anisotropic layer contains a discotic liquid crystal molecule. The cellulose acetate support has a Bth550 birefringence in the range of 0.0007 to 0.004.

A cellulose acetate film is used in various photographic or optical elements because it has tough and enough flame retardant properties. The cellulose acetate film is used in a liquid crystal display (LCD). The cellulose acetate film has a high optical isotropy (a low birefringence) compared with other polymer films. Accordingly, the cellulose acetate film is usually used as an optical element requiring an optical isotropy, such as a protective film of a polarizing element or a color filter.
On the other hand, an optical compensatory sheet requires a high optical anisotropy (a high birefringence). Accordingly, a synthetic polymer film having a high birefringence, such as a polycarbonate film or a polysulfone film is usually used as the optical compensatory sheet.
Japanese Patent Provisional Publication Nos. 3(1991)-9325, 6(1994)-148429, 8(1996)-50206, 9(1997)-26572, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,583,679 and 5,646,703 disclose another optical compensatory sheet, which comprises a transparent support and an optically anisotropic layer containing a discotic liquid crystal molecule. The high birefringence of the optical compensatory sheet is obtained by the optically anisotropic layer containing the discotic liquid crystal molecule. A cellulose acetate film is usually used as the transparent support, because the support preferably has a high optical isotropy (a low birefringence).
The above-mentioned optical compensatory sheet using the discotic liquid crystal molecule has usually been constructed to optically compensate a liquid crystal cell of a twisted nematic (TN) mode, which is used in a TFT liquid crystal display. If the optical compensatory sheet is used for a liquid crystal cell of another mode, such as a veritably aligned (VA) mode, an optically compensatory bend (OCB) mode or a hybrid aligned nematic (HAN) mode, the sheet cannot completely compensate the cell.
The optically anisotropic layer containing the discotic liquid crystal molecule can be used in combination with an optically anisotropic support. The optical anisotropy of the layer is combined with the optical anisotropy of the support to optically compensate the cell of the VA, OCB or HAN mode. A synthetic polymer film having a high birefringence, such as a polycarbonate film or a polysulfone film can be used as the optically anisotropic support. However, the synthetic polymer film is inferior as a support (physical properties and affinity with a coating layer). Therefore, the optically anisotropic support preferably is a lamination of the synthetic polymer film having a high birefringence and a cellulose acetate film, which is an excellent support, but has a low birefringence.
As is described above, a synthetic polymer film is used where the film should have an optical anisotropy (a high birefringence), while a cellulose acetate film is used where the film should have an optical isotropy (a low birefringence). This is a general principle in the technical field of an optical material such as an optical compensatory sheet.

Cellulose acetate film prepared according to cooling dissolution method


A light emitting device includes a light-generating unit for generating a primary light in a first wavelength range, a wavelength-converting member connected to the light-generating unit for converting a portion of the primary light into a secondary light in a second wavelength range, and an omnidirectional reflector connected to the wavelength-converting member for receiving the secondary light and the remainder of the primary light which was not converted by the wavelength-converting member. The omnidirectional reflector is made from an omnidirectional one-dimensional photonic crystal having a reflectance characteristic that substantially permits total reflection of the remainder of the primary light with any incident angle and polarization back to the wavelength-converting member.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an omnidirectional one-dimensional photonic crystal and a light emitting device made from the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 5,813,753 discloses a light emitting device that includes a UV/blue LED located in a depression having reflecting sidewalls, a light transmitting material surrounding the LED and filling the depression, a phosphor material in the form of particles dispersed in the light transmitting material, and a long-wave pass (LWP) filter formed on a front side of the light transmitting material.
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional light emitting device 10 that is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,155,699, and that includes a cup 11 defining a depression 12, a light emitting diode 13 placed in the depression 12, a dome-shaped encapsulating layer 14 encapsulating the light emitting diode 13, a Distributed Bragg Reflector (DBR) mirror 15 surrounding the encapsulating layer 14, a wavelength-converting member 16 surrounding the DBR mirror 15, and a lens 17 encapsulating the wavelength-converting member 16. The DBR mirror 15 is known in the art as a multi-layered dielectric structure having a spatially periodic variation in dielectric constant and exhibiting a frequency photonic bandgap characteristic that prevents propagation of light in a certain frequency range within the dielectric structure and that permits total reflection of the light. The wavelength-converting member 16 is normally made from phosphorescent materials, which are known in the art as an agent for absorbing and converting a primary light (e.g., an invisible or UV/blue light), which has a shorter wavelength range, into a secondary light (e.g., a visible or white light), which has a longer wavelength range. The DBR mirror 15 possesses a transmittance characteristic of transmitting most of the first light therethrough and to the wavelength-converting member 16, and a reflectance characteristic of preventing the second light generated from the wavelength-converting member 16 from entering to the encapsulating layer 14. In use, the light emitting diode 13 emits a primary light that passes through the encapsulating layer 14 and the DBR mirror 15, and that is subsequently converted into a secondary light by the phosphorescent material in the wavelength-converting member 16. A portion of the secondary light exits the light emitting device 10 through the lens 17, while the remainder of the secondary light impinges the DBR mirror 15 and is subsequently reflected by the latter back to the wavelength-converting member 16 so as to prevent the secondary light from entering the encapsulating layer 14, thereby enhancing the efficiency of the light emitting device 10.
Since the amount of the primary light converted into the secondary light depends on the concentration and the quantum efficiency of the phosphorescent materials in the wavelength-converting member 16, a significant amount of the primary light may not be converted and may pass through the wavelength-converting member 16 and the lens 17 and into the air, which results in a decrease in the efficiency of the light emitting device 10 and in the quality of the secondary light, such as color temperature and purity, and which can be harmful to the environment if the primary light is a UV light. Therefore, there is a need for improving efficiency of converting the primary light into the secondary light so as to enhance the efficiency of the light emitting device 10.
The aforesaid DBR mirror and the LWP filter are dielectric structures with pairs of high and low refractive index layers. It is known that the conventional DBR mirrors and the LWP filters do not work so well to reflect or transmit light over a wide range of incident angles relative to a normal line of a surface of the dielectric structure of the DBR mirror or the LWP filter.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,130,780 discloses an omnidirectional reflector that is made from an omnidirectional one-dimensional photonic crystal possessing omnidirectional photonic bandgaps and that is capable of totally reflecting the light with any incident angle and polarization when the frequency (or wavelength) of the incident light falls in said bandgaps. The disclosed reflector consists of pairs of high and low refractive index layers. The reflective index contrast between the two dielectric materials should be high enough to form omnidirectional photonic bandgaps.
The entire disclosures of U.S. Pat. Nos. 6, 155,699, 5,813,753, and 6,130,780 are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

Omnidirectional one-dimensional photonic crystal and light emitting device made from the same

Industrial Technology Research Institute


A spring device includes an intermittent accumulator and kinetics release trigger that gradually winds up to accumulate kinetic energy (kinetics) as driven by manual or other random intermittent kinetics, and drives a kinetics release control to trigger the spring to release kinetics to drive a load once the kinetics supplied to the spring is accumulated to a preset value.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a spring device for accumulating random kinetic energy (hereinafter, "kinetics") in the spring to release higher power output or to drive a load at higher rpm, and more particularly to a device that gradually restores non-continuous kinetics, kinetics at lower rpm, or instable kinetics through a transmission to accumulate kinetics by winding the spring, and to drive a release controller when the accumulator rises to a preset value to trigger the spring to release kinetics for driving a load until the release of the kinetics reaches a periodically balanced status with respect to the load side.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
Conventional driving approaches involve manual cranking, pulling or winding such as a hand cranking or pedal generator; or a device driven by wind such as a micro wind generator or pump; or a device generating power by kinetics; or a device generating power by vibration; or a device driven by a balance wheel or a motive block such as one produced by SEIKO in which the random kinetics from the balance wheel charges an electric storage device through a generator driven by an acceleration gear, with the electric energy supplied from the electric storage device to drive the dynamo-electric power system of the movement of a quartz wristwatch. However, such configurations were found to be defective because intermittent discontinuous kinetics from the balance wheel or weak kinetics from the balance wheel will slow the rpm of the generator even when driven through an acceleration gear, and therefore fail to fully charge an unsaturated rechargeable electric storage device due to lower voltage output of the generator, and also waste the kinetics from the balance wheel.

Spring device with capability of intermittent random energy accumulator and kinetics release trigger


The present invention is a cooling device for removing heat from an integrated circuit. In one embodiment, the cooling device includes a conduit and a flexible channel having a first open end and a second closed end. The flexible channel's first open end has an internal width and is coupled with the conduit. The flexible channel is comprised of a resilient material having spring-like characteristics. In one embodiment, this material provides a spring-like restoring force when compressed. The cooling device also includes an interconnect mechanism between the conduit and the flexible channel to allow a gas or a fluid introduced within the conduit to move between the conduit and the flexible channel.

There are numerous assemblies and methods for making and using integrated circuit heat cooling devices in the prior art. For example, the classic technique for removing excess heat from an integrated circuit or other electronic device involves attaching a heat sink to the integrated circuit or other electronic device. This heat sink typically includes a plurality of extruded, planar fins whose large surface area efficiently dissipates heat into the surrounding air or into a coolant circulating inside the fins.
Typically, heat transfer between the hot surface of a heat generating device and the surrounding air is the least efficient means of dissipating excess heat. Use of a heat sink significantly improves this heat transfer by increasing the surface area in contact with the cooling ambient (e.g. air or liquid). As a result, the device's operating temperature is lowered, and its performance reliability and life expectancy are increased.
A thermally conductive path is formed by attaching the heat sink to a surface of the electronic device to be cooled. Typically, this path includes a thermal interface material sandwiched between a contact surface of the heat sink and a contact surface of the electronic device. Depending on the embodiment, the thermal interface material may be malleable, electrically conductive, or electrically isolating. Exemplary electrically conductive thermal interfaces include: thermal greases filled with metallic particles, thermal adhesives, and thin films. Exemplary electrically isolating thermal interfaces include: gap fillers, double sided tapes, and pads. Thermal greases include Sil-Free™, a metal-oxide filled, silicone-free, synthetic grease manufactured by Aavid Thermalloy of Concord, N.H. Sil-Free™ is specially designed for bonding heat sinks to semi-conductor cases, and will not dry out, harden, melt, or run even after long term continuous exposure to temperatures up to 200 degrees Celsius.
Other types of thermal interfaces include silicone-based thermal greases and phase-changing materials. One type of phase-changing material is a solid, silicone-free, paraffin-based thermal compound manufactured by Aavid Thermalloy of Concord, N.H. that changes phase at approximately 60 degrees Celsius, with a concurrent volumetric expansion that fills gaps between the mating surfaces.
Thermally conductive adhesives offer excellent heat transfer and high voltage isolation. Typically manufactured as epoxies that offer low shrinkage and coefficients of thermal expansion comparable to copper or aluminum, thermally conductive adhesives bond readily to metals, glass, ceramics, and most plastics.
Thin films are cost-effective alternatives to thermally conductive grease compounds. Thin films may be applied with commercial hot-stamping equipment to the surfaces of heat producing devices; and such films yield excellent thermal performance while obviating the need for adhesives.
Gap-fillers are "super-soft", low durometer materials designed to fill gaps between hot components and their heat sinks. The flexible elastic nature of gap fillers allows them to blanket uneven surfaces, and to conduct heat away from individual components, or an entire printed circuit board, into metal covers, frames, or spreader plates.
Double-sided tapes may be used to adhere the heat sink to the hot component. They are easily applied, require no curing time, can be electrically conductive or isolating, and require no mechanical support to provide thermal or by physical contact between the heat conductive device and the heat sink.
Thermal interface pads are typically thicker than double sided tapes, but can be provided without adhesive if removal of the pad is necessary. Although pads can be either electrically conductive or insulating, performance of the interface depends on maintenance of correct, constant mounting pressure applied to the pads.
Based on the above discussion, it will be appreciated that a plurality of heat exchangers may be attached to one or more surfaces of an electronic device using mounting clips, adhesives, or extruded pins. It will also be appreciated that the cooling fins, and heat exchangers themselves, may take a variety of configurations. For example, the surfaces of the cooling fins may be flat or dimpled, and the fins themselves may be bonded or folded. Bonded fins tend to dissipate more heat than conventional aluminum heat sinks with the same footprint, and manufacturing techniques permit increased fin ratios of 30:1 and higher. Increasing the number of fins increases the surface area exposed to cooling air, and greater exposed surface area means more heat transferred away from the heat conducting device. Folded fin designs offer maximum cooling surface in minimum volume, and may be manufactured of such materials as aluminum or copper. Liquid-cooled cold plates can provide cooling where aircooling techniques are impractical or inadequate. Liquid-cooled cold plates dissipate more heat with less flow volume of cooling ambient (as compared to air), maintain better temperature consistency, and create less acoustic noise than air-cooled heat exchangers.
As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional heat sink 100 includes a base material 101 having a contact surface 102 and a finned surface 103. The finned surface 103 is formed of a plurality of planar sections (or fins) 104 that are vertically disposed such that their planar surfaces parallel each other. Typically, adjacent fins are separated by an air channel 105. The air channel 105 develops airflow through the heat sink fins 104. The airflow cools an electronic device attached to the contact surface 102 of the heat sink 100 by dissipating the heat conducted through heat sink 100 and accumulated in fins 104. The base material 101 and fins 104 may be manufactured of any suitable heat-conductive material, such as aluminum.
FIG. 2 shows one example of a prior art liquid-cooled heat exchanger 200. As shown in FIG. 2, the base material 201 and fins 204 may be hollow, or may contain a hollow tube (or tubes) (not shown). A liquid coolant (or fluid) 206, such as water, may be introduced into the hollow base material 201 and/or fins 204, and heated or cooled in order to affect or control the temperature of the electronic device 207 attached to the heat exchanger 200. Alternatively, the liquid coolant 206 may be introduced into the hollow tube (not shown) under pressure, and heated or cooled in order to affect or control the temperature of the electronic device 207 attached to the heat exchanger 200.
In certain applications, however, such as portable computers, factors such as size, weight, and cost are important. However, adding conventional heat sinks to the computer's internal electrical components can increase its size, weight, and cost, thereby making the computer less profitable and less competitive in the marketplace. A significant drawback associated with conventional heat exchangers is the high cost of ensuring the near-perfect co-planarity of the heat exchanger and electrical component mating surfaces. Co-planarity of mating surfaces is important because the more co-planar the two surfaces are, the more efficient the heat transfer. However, it is difficult to manufacture co-planar mating surfaces smooth enough to produce an effective thermal contact.
Because of manufacturing limitations, several techniques and assemblies have been developed that can be used to form an efficient thermal contact between substantially co-planar mating surfaces. For example, a device manufactured by IBM of White Plains, N.Y., uses pistons which drive the heat exchanger (or cylindrical portions of the heat exchanger) down onto a printed circuit board or other electronic device. Although the pressure exerted by the expanding pistons ensures an efficient thermal contact with the heat producing device, such assemblies are expensive to manufacture, expensive to maintain, heavy, and rarely solve any co-planarity issues that might exist when making physical contact with multiple integrated circuits mounted on the heat producing device (e.g. printed circuit board).
Thus, it is desirable to provide an improved, non-conventional cooling device assembly and techniques which may take advantage of a hollow, resilient material having spring-like characteristics that provides a spring-like force when compressed against and in contact with a surface of an integrated circuit or other heat producing device.


A microlens and microlens array which collect light incident upon image sensor pixels. The microlens comprises two parts one which collects light from the cross-sectional area lying over the light-detection area and the second which collects light from the corner areas of the pixel lying outside the cross-sectional area of the light-detection area. Light from each of the two areas is refracted onto an associated light-detection area. Essentially all of the light incident upon the pixel can thus be collected and refracted to the photosensitive area.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to microlens arrays and image sensors.
2. Description of Related Art
Light sensors are often combined in either linear or two-dimensional configurations for the purposes of image detection. Individual light sensors within the image sensor provide output signals whose magnitudes correspond to the light intensity incident upon them from a given area of the source object. The detected light intensity and corresponding output signal pattern of the light sensors thus forms a linear or two-dimensional representation of the source object or image.
In many situations, solid-state image sensors such as charged coupled devices (CCD's), complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS), and other solid-state electronic devices are required to detect low or marginal light intensities. In these instances, even small losses in detectable light are of significant importance. Various means are available to the image sensor system designer for enhancing the system's ability to detect low light signals. These means often include (1) the increase of the light detection area of the sensor, (2) the addition of active circuitry for signal amplification, (3) the time integration of the light signal, (4) the increase of light collected by the imaging optics, and (5) the addition of microlenses to collect more of the incident light. All of these techniques are valuable and commonly employed, dependent upon the application and technology used for detection.
Typically an individual light sensor comprises a light-detection area and a non-light-detection area with associated supporting items such as electronic circuitry, interconnecting metal traces, and isolation diffusions. The light sensor often occupies a square or rectangular area of the image sensor. This area is referred to as a pixel. Light incident upon the non-light-detection area within the pixel is lost unless some means, such as a microlens, is employed to deflect it to the light-detection area of the light sensor, thereby collecting light that would otherwise have been lost. Microlenses typically have circular cross-sections in a plane parallel to the detection plane of the light sensor. Other cross-sections, however, have been proposed. The perimeter of the microlens is inscribed within the boundaries of its associated pixel and obviously collects light only within that perimeter. Previous systems have not attempted to collect light from the corner areas of the pixel.
As an example of the light which can potentially be lost from a pixel, refer to FIGS. 1A-1D and TABLE A. From FIG. 1A and TABLE A, it is seen that a circular lens inscribed within a square pixel and occupying the maximum possible area will be unable to collect approximately 21.5% of the incident light due to the inability of the circular cross-section of the microlens to cover the corners of the pixel. Referring to TABLE A, the square collection area of FIG. 1B, the hexagon collection area of FIG. 1C, and the octagon collection area of FIG. 1D respectively lose approximately 50%, 35.1%, and 17.2% of the light incident upon their corner areas. The particular geometries of FIGS. 1A-1D were chosen for illustrative purposes.
From the above discussion, it is clear that there is a need for further improvements in the percentages of available light collected in image sensors and similar light-detection devices.
TABLE A ______________________________________ Fractional Loss of Corner Area Incident Light Lens Cross-Section: Circle Square Hexagon Octagon ______________________________________ Fractional Loss: 0.215 0.500 0.351 0.172 ______________________________________ As = Area of Square Pixel Anc = Maximum NonCorner Area of Light Collection Fractional Loss of Corner Area Incident Light = 1 - (Anc/As)


A virtual environment server records and broadcasts a Uniform Resource Locator (URL), browser state information, and optionally clipping parameters, that are to be associated with a three dimensional (3D) surface in a virtual environment. When a user's Avatar encounters the 3D surface in the virtual environment, the client obtains the URL and browser state information, and obtains the web content using a standard web browser. The web content is stored into an off-screen buffer. The content from the off-screen buffer is then rendered locally as a texture map onto the 3D surface of the virtual environment. Whenever one of the users interacts with the web content, a new URL and new browser state information is used to obtain the updated web content in the same way. The new URL and new browser state information is also passed from the client to the server, so that the server may update the URL and new browser state information in each of the other clients associated with each of the other users.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates communication sessions and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for including web content in a virtual environment.
2. Description of the Related Art
Virtual environments simulate actual or fantasy 3-D environments and allow for many participants to interact with each other and with constructs in the environment via remotely-located clients. One context in which a virtual environment may be used is in connection with gaming, although other uses for virtual environments are also being developed.
In a virtual environment, an actual or fantasy universe is simulated within a computer processor/memory. Multiple people may participate in the virtual environment through a computer network, such as a local area network or a wide area network such as the Internet. Each player selects an "Avatar" which is often a three-dimensional representation of a person or other object to represent them in the virtual environment. Participants send commands to a virtual environment server that controls the virtual environment to cause their Avatars to move within the virtual environment. In this way, the participants are able to cause their Avatars to interact with other Avatars and other objects in the virtual environment.
A virtual environment often takes the form of a virtual-reality three dimensional map, and may include rooms, outdoor areas, and other representations of environments commonly experienced in the physical world. The virtual environment may also include multiple objects, people, animals, robots, Avatars, robot Avatars, spatial elements, and objects/environments that allow Avatars to participate in activities. Participants establish a presence in the virtual environment via a virtual environment client on their computer, through which they can create an Avatar and then cause the Avatar to "live" within the virtual environment.
As the Avatar moves within the virtual environment, the view experienced by the Avatar changes according to where the Avatar is located within the virtual environment. The views may be displayed to the participant so that the participant controlling the Avatar may see what the Avatar is seeing. Additionally, many virtual environments enable the participant to toggle to a different point of view, such as from a vantage point outside of the Avatar, to see where the Avatar is in the virtual environment.
The participant may control the Avatar using conventional input devices, such as a computer mouse and keyboard. The inputs are sent to the virtual environment client which forwards the commands to one or more virtual environment servers that are controlling the virtual environment and providing a representation of the virtual environment to the participant via a display associated with the participant's computer.
Depending on how the virtual environment is set up, an Avatar may be able to observe the environment and optionally also interact with other Avatars, modeled objects within the virtual environment, robotic objects within the virtual environment, or the environment itself (i.e. an Avatar may be allowed to go for a swim in a lake or river in the virtual environment). In these cases, client control input may be permitted to cause changes in the modeled objects, such as moving other objects, opening doors, and so forth, which optionally may then be experienced by other Avatars within the virtual environment.
"Interaction" by an Avatar with another modeled object in a virtual environment means that the virtual environment server simulates an interaction in the modeled environment, in response to receiving client control input for the Avatar. Interactions by one Avatar with any other Avatar, object, the environment or automated or robotic Avatars may, in some cases, result in outcomes that may affect or otherwise be observed or experienced by other Avatars, objects, the environment, and automated or robotic Avatars within the virtual environment.
A virtual environment may be created for the user, but more commonly the virtual environment may be persistent, in which it continues to exist and be supported by the virtual environment server even when the user is not interacting with the virtual environment. Thus, where there is more than one user of a virtual environment, the environment may continue to evolve when a user is not logged in, such that the next time the user enters the virtual environment it may be changed from what it looked like the previous time.
Virtual environments are commonly used in on-line gaming, such as for example in online role playing games where users assume the role of a character and take control over most of that character's actions. In addition to games, virtual environments are also being used to simulate real life environments to provide an interface for users that will enable on-line education, training, shopping, business collaboration, and other types of interactions between groups of users and between businesses and users.
As Avatars encounter other Avatars within the virtual environment, the participants represented by the Avatars may elect to communicate with each other. For example, the participants may communicate with each other by typing messages to each other or an audio bridge may be established to enable the participants to talk with each other.
There are times when it would be advantageous for web content to be displayed within the virtual environment. For example, if the virtual environment is used in a retail capacity, it may be desirable to display web content about particular products within the virtual environment. Unfortunately, virtual environment engines are typically engineered with the assumptions that textures (bitmaps on 3D surfaces) do not change regularly. Thus, although the web content may be mapped to a surface as a texture, updating the content and enabling users to interact with the content is challenging.
In a business context, where the three dimensional virtual environment is being used for business collaboration, it is important for the users to have a consistent view of the virtual environment. It is difficult for people to collaborate if they are looking at different things. Where web content is to be included in the virtual environment, it therefore is important that the same web content be shown to all viewers.
One way to include web content is to manually convert the web content into a static two dimensional texture, and then distribute the texture to the multiple users of the three dimensional computer-generated virtual environment. This solution is reasonably bandwidth efficient, as the static texture can easily be cached at each client. However, it must be manually updated and does not provide interaction by the users. Specifically, since the content is static, the users cannot interact with the web content, for example to access links to other regions of the web site.
Another way to include web content is to render the web content dynamically at the server, and push the result out to the users as a 2D texture. This solution solves the manual update problem mentioned above, but still does not enable the users to interact with the web pages. Also, since the web content is dynamically rendered, the bandwidth requirements may be slightly higher than where the web content is manually converted. Additionally, the web content is typically rendered in the server using a custom renderer, which may not support all the features of a consumer browser. Thus, the type of content that may be included, such as FLASH video and other content that is typically supported by plugins in customer web browsers, may be limited.
A third way to include web content is to map the content directly to the 3D surfaces. This solution enables each user to interact with the content, for example by clicking on links on the web content, to cause new content to be provided on the 3D surface. Unfortunately, mapping applications to the 3D surfaces of the virtual environment is extremely bandwidth intensive. Specifically, the server will need to render the web content on the surface and push the new content out to each of the users in the vicinity of the surface. This will need to be performed each time the content changes and, for content such as full motion video, may consume considerable bandwidth. Additionally, since the content may be controlled by any of the users of the virtual environment, the server will need to implement a way to mediate who gets control when more than one user tries to manipulate the application at the same time. Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a new way to enable web content to be included in a virtual environment.

Inclusion of web content in a virtual environment


Distinguishing between holographic and physical objects in an environment. Determining whether an object is holographic or physical begins with monitoring locating objects within an environment. When locating an object within the environment, an object can be identified as physical by detecting a shadow cast by the object, detecting a reflection of the electromagnetic (EM) wave directed at the object, and by detecting a reflection of a sound wave directed at the object. Otherwise, when locating an object within the environment, an object is identified as holographic as a result of the object not casting a shadow, not receiving a reflection of the EM wave from the object, and not receiving a reflection of the sound wave from the object. In one or more embodiments, actions upon a particular object can be determined based on whether the object is physical or holographic.

The invention relates generally to holographic objects, and more particularly, to distinguishing holographic objects from physical objects and then determining actions to execute based on whether objects are holographic or physical.
Today the technology exists for generating 3D interactive holograms. A 3D holographic object can appear in midair and even sound is perceived to come directly from a holographic object. For example, a holographic object can be made to appear amongst a group of real people as a speaker or as a part of a live audience. Moreover, the holographic image can be seen without any glass and can be animated such that the object moves from one place to another.
However, at some point assistance may be needed in distinguishing between real and holographic objects. For example, holographic people could co-mingle among real people to create confusion. Holographic solders could confuse an enemy or create a diversion. The same could be done with military equipment or with other objects. Thus, it is no longer practical to simply rely on human eyes and ears alone.

Distinguishing holographic objects from physical objects

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A process for producing an unsaponifiable matters-enriched rice bran oil which comprises recovering unsaponifiable matters and ferulates from the residue obtained by collecting edible oil during the refining process of rice bran oil, concentrating the unsaponifiable matters and ferulates thus recovered, esterifying the same if desired, and adding the product obtained to edible rice bran oil, with the unsaponifiable matters-enriched edible rice bran oil thus obtained having improved qualities and exhibiting excellent physiological functions.

It is reported in The Japanese Journal of Nutrition, Vol. 20, No. 4, Pages 139-141, July, 1962 and Robert J. Nicolosi, The Summary presented at Georgia Rice Council in Jan. 13-16, 1991 that the intake of rice bran oil (as defined in JAS (Japan Agricultural Standards) 554, notified in the Ministry of Agricultural and Forestry) causes a remarkable decrease in harmful cholesterol level while not reducing but, on the contrary, increasing the so-called benign cholesterol in vivo. It is considered that rice bran oil contains a large amount of unsaponifiable matters which would exert useful physiological effects on human body.
In general, crude rice bran oil has a high acid value and can be refined to an edible level only at an extremely low yield of about 70%, compared with common edible vegetable oils which can be refined at a yield of 90% or above. Crude rice bran oil contains 5 to 6% of unsaponifiable matters which seemingly exert physiologically useful effects. However, the amount of these unsaponifiable matters present in edible rice bran oil, which has been refined by alkali refining, dewaxing, decoloring, deodorizing and/or finally filtering, is reduced to 2.5 to 3.5%. Namely, most of these unsaponifiable matters are not utilized but are disposed of. Further, crude rice bran oil contains about 2% of ferulates which may be similarly useful from a physiological viewpoint. However, the amount of ferulates in edible rice bran oil is reduced to about 0.1%. Namely, most of these ferulates are merely used as a starting material for producing oils for industrial use in the form of ferulic acid salts or a soapstock obtained as a by-product or in combination with other appropriate fatty acids.
Hitherto, the residue obtained in the refining process of rice bran oil is disposed but not effectively utilized, and therefore, a physiologically active substance (e.g., a phenolic substance) present therein tended to be removed together with useless materials. In general, a process which comprises recovering and concentrating the physiologically active substance from the residue in a suitable state, and adding the obtained product to a common edible rice bran oil refined has not been carried out because it is considered that impurity will become put back into the refined product.


A method and a system of adjusting a progressive lens relative to the frame of a patient's spectacles. The lens has power and distortions distributions and far and near vision zones and is selected inter alia in accordance with respective prescribed first and second values of the optical power required for the patient's eye at its reading and distance vision. A direction of a line of sight of the patient's eye at the reading vision, relative to the frame of the spectacles, is determined. The lens is positioned and oriented relative to the frame so as to ensure that the line of sight passes through the near vision zone of the progressive lens.

Progressive, or multifocal, lenses are well known and widely used especially by patients suffering from weak eyesight in both `reading` and `distance` visions, such as, for example, presbyopia. There is a certain number of standard progressive lenses produced by various manufacturers. As known in the, art, the main features characterizing each standard progressive lens are its optical power and distortions distribution within the lens, as clearly illustrated in FIGS. 1a and 1b, respectively. There is practically no way of eliminating or substantially reducing the distortions, because the progressive lens is typically formed with a certain `local cylinder` thereof.
Referring to FIG. 2, there is illustrated a final map of a standard progressive lens, generally designated 1, manufactured in accordance with prescribed parameters of optical powers required for a patient's `distance` and `reading` visions and cylinder parameters, if any. The lens 1 is formed with four main zones 2 to 5. The zone 2 is a far vision zone corresponding to the patient's `distance` vision, the zone 3 is a near vision zone corresponding to the patient's `reading` vision, the zone 4 is a zone of continuous focus, and the zone 5 is the zone of concentrated optical distortions, so-called `transition` zone. All the above features of the progressive lens are well known per se and, therefore, do not need to be described in more detail. Additionally, it is important to note that each standard lens is characterized by its `addition` value defined by a difference in powers in the far and near visions. As shown, the far vision zone 2 is surrounded by a free of distortions region which almost completely occupies the upper semicircular region of the lens. The near vision zone 3 is always spaced a certain preset distance from a major reference point (MRP) of the lens which is common for the lenses of a specific standard kind, wherein the MRP is defined as the point with zero prism and it approximately coincides with the geometrical center of the lens. Generally, the location of a center of the near vision zone 3 is mostly considered to be 16 mm below the MRP of the lens and 2 mm therefrom towards the center of the spectacles. This location is not agreed by all manufactures and there are standard lenses with different locations of reading zones relative to the MRP. As clearly shown in FIG. 2, an undistorted region around the near vision zone 3 is extremely narrow, which is typical for all progressive lenses.
The whole process of providing a patient with progressive lens spectacles generally includes the following stages:
1) determining for each eye of the patient first and second values of the optical power required for the patient's eyesight in `reading` vision and `distance` vision regions; PA1 2) selecting for each eye a lens of a suitable standard kind according to its `addition` value, and processing an inner side of the lens according to the prescribed first and second values of the optical power; and PA1 3) cutting and mounting the lens in the frame of the spectacles, previously chosen by the patient, in such a position that an inter pupillary distance of the patient for `distance` vision matches a distance between the far vision zones 2 of the pair of progressive lenses. PA1 (a) determination of the direction of a line of sight of the patient's eve at said reading vision, relative to the frame of the spectacles; and PA1 (b) positioning and orientation said progressive lens relative to said frame so as to ensure that said line of sight passes through said near vision zone of said progressive lens. PA1 determination of said distributions of optical power and optical distortions in said progressive lens; PA1 determination of the direction of a line of sight of the patient's eye for at least one of said visions, relative to the frame of the spectacles; and positioning and orienting said progressive lens relative to said frame so as to ensure that said line of sight passes through the respective vision zone of the progressive lens at a location thereon in which the optical power of the progressive lens is substantially of said respective value and in which said optical distortions are minimal. PA1 (i) a device for the determination of the direction of a line of sight of the patient's eye it said reading vision, relative to the frame of the spectacles, and PA1 (ii) a device for the positioning and the orienting of said progressive lens relative to said frame so as to ensure that said line of sight passes through said near vision zone of said progressive lens. PA1 a mapping device for the determination of the distributions of said optical power and of said optical distortions of said progressive lens; a means for determination of the direction of a line of sight of the patient's eye for at least one of said visions, relative to the frame of the spectacles; and PA1 a device for the positioning and the orienting of said progressive lens relative to said frame so as to ensure that said line of sight passes through the progressive lens at a location thereon in which the optical power is substantially of the respective value and in which the distortions are minimal.
The first stage is conventionally carried out by specialists, namely by a physician or a skilled optometrist. The second stage is carried out by a sophisticated producer. The third stage, which is not less critical for succeeding in adjusting the spectacles, is carried out by an optician whose capability suffers from certain serious limitations associated with the conventional approach and equipment he has at his disposal,
Each standard lens is usually available with markings specifically indicating the locations of the zones 2 and 3. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the optician determines an inter pupillary distance for the patient's `distance` vision and inputs the respective data, as well as the spectacles' frame parameters, i.e. its dimensions, into a so-called `edger` which is typically used for circumferential cutting of a lens so as to design a contour thereof suiting that of the frame. Upon detecting that the pupil location for the `distance` vision falls within the zone 2 marked on the lens, the optician operates the edger for cutting the lens.
It is often the case that such a complicated process of adjusting progressive lenses for a patients spectacles gives unsatisfactory results, and it is not an exaggeration to say that most patients feel uncomfortable with their new spectacles for a long time until the eyes `get accustomed` to the lenses and for considerable number of patients it never happens. One of the reasons for this is that the adjustment is, actually, solely based on `distance` vision parameters of the patient's eyesight, while that of the `reading` vision are completely ignored. It should be specifically noted that an inter pupillary distance for the reading vision has never been measured in the conventional approach for adjusting the progressive lenses for the patient's spectacles, since it was assumed that the above indicated relative location of the near vision zone 3 is suitable for all patients. However, the inter pupillary distance of the specific patient in the `reading` vision may not match the near field zone location of the standard lens. In such case there is an expectation that the patient will adapt himself to the lenses, but in many cases it never happens.

Method and system for adjusting progressive lenses for a patient's spectacles