A method of reducing extracellular brain glutamate levels. The method comprises administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of an agent capable of reducing blood glutamate levels thereby reducing extracellular brain glutamate levels.

The present invention relates to a method and composition for protecting the central nervous system (CNS) from damage induced by abnormal levels of glutamate, which may result from, for example, a stroke.
The central nervous system is composed of trillions of nerve cells (neurons) that form networks capable of performing exceedingly complex functions.
The amino acid L-glutamic acid (Glutamate), mediates many of the excitatory transactions between neurons in the central nervous system. Under normal conditions, accumulation of glutamate in the extracellular space is prevented by the operation of a recycling mechanism that serves to maintain neuronal glutamate levels despite continual loss through transmitter release (Van der Berg and Garfinkel, 1971; Kennedy et al., 1974). Glutamate, released by glutamatergic neurons, is taken up into glial cells where it is converted into glutamine by the enzyme glutamine synthetase. Glutamine reenters the neurons and is hydrolyzed by glutaminase to form glutamate, thus replenishing the neurotransmitter pool.
This biochemical pathway also serves as an endogenous neuroprotective mechanism, which functions by removing the synaptically released glutamate from the extracellular space and converting it to the nontoxic amino acid glutamine before toxicity occurs. The excitotoxic potential of glutamate (i.e., defined as the ability of excess glutamate to overexcite neurons and cause their death) is held in check as long as the transport process is functioning properly. However, failure or reduction in the transport process such as under ischemic conditions, results in accumulation of glutamate in the extracellular synaptic fluid and excessive stimulation of excitatory receptors, a situation that leads to neuronal death.
Two additional factors complicate and make matters worse: (i) overstimulated neurons begin to release excessive quantities of glutamate at additional synaptic junctions; this causes even more neurons to become overstimulated, drawing them into a neurotoxic cascade that reaches beyond the initial zone of ischemia; and, (ii) overstimulated neurons begin utilizing any available supplies of glucose or oxygen even faster than normal, which leads to accelerated depletion of these limited energy resources and further impairment of the glutamate transport process. This biochemical cascade of induction and progression may continue for hours or days and causes delayed neuronal death.
Abnormally high glutamate (Glutamate) levels in brain interstitial and cerebrospinal fluids are the hallmark of several neurodegenerative conditions. These include acute brain anoxia/ischemia i.e stroke (Graham et al., 1993; Castillo et al., 1996), perinatal brain damage (Hagberg et al., 1993; Johnston, 1997), traumatic brain injury (Baker et al., 1993; Zauner et al., 1996), bacterial meningitis (Spranger et al, 1996), subarachnoid hemorrhage, open heart and aneurysm surgery (Persson et al., 1996; Saveland et al., 1996), hemorrhagic shock (Mongan et al. 1999, 2001), newly diagnosed epilepsy (Kalviainen et al., 1993), acute liver failure (Rose et al. 2000), migraine [Martinez F, Castillo J, Rodriguez J R, Leira R, Noya M, Cephalalgia. 1993 April; 13(2):89-93], stress [Abraham I, Juhasz G, Kekesi K A, Kovacs K J, Stress. 1998 July; 2(3):171-81 and De Cristobal J, Madrigal J L, Lizasoain I, Lorenzo P, Leza J C, Moro M A, Neuroreport. 2002 Feb. 11; 13(2):217-21] and various chronic neurodegenerative diseases such as glaucoma (Dreyer et al., 1996), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Rothstein et al., 1990; Shaw et al., 1995), HIV dementia (Ferrarese et al. 2001) and Alzheimer's disease (Pomara et al., 1992).
Thus, one object of medical therapy is to break or eliminate the above described cascade process and thus prevent glutamate associated neuronal damage.
Since glutamate excitotoxicity is mediated by the glutamate receptors, a potential therapeutic approach has been to develop and apply various selective glutamate receptor antagonists in animal models of neurodegeneration. Though displaying powerful neuroprotective effects in experimental stroke and head trauma, the glutamate receptor antagonists failed in clinical trials mainly because of their adverse or even lethal effects (Birmingham, 2002; Lutsep and Clark, 2001; Palmer, 2001).
Attempts have also been made to increase the activity of the various glutamate transporters, present on glia and neurons, which take up Glutamate from the brain interstitial fluid and thereby limit glutamate excitatory action and excitotoxicity. However, none of the above-described approaches have been successful in providing a viable therapeutic approach for lowering glutamate levels.
In light of these failures and the need of alternative approaches to the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders involving glutamate excitotoxicity, the present inventor has hypothesized that excess glutamate in brain interstitial (ISF) and cerebrospinal (CSF) fluids could be eliminated by increasing the relatively poorly studied brain-to-blood glutamate efflux mechanism. Increasing the efflux can be achieved by lowering the glutamate levels in blood thereby increasing glutamate transport from brain ISF/CSF to blood.
While reducing the present invention to practice, the present inventor has uncovered that by maximaly activating two enzymes, glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (GPT) and glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), glutamate degradation in the blood is increased. These two enzymes are two examples of a wider group of enzymes that use glutamate as a substrate in the general formula:
A +GLUTAMATE ←(enzyme)→ C+D whereby A represents the co-substrate, ←(enzyme)→ symbolizes a reversible enzyme and C and D are metabolites of the enzyme. Examples illustrated by this formula include: Glutamate+oxaloacetate ←(GOT)→ 2-keto-glutarate+aspartate, Glutamate+pyruvate ←(GPT)→ 2-keto-glutarate+alanine or Glutamate+4-methyl-2-oxopentoate ←(branched-chain-amino-acid transaminase)→2-ketoglutarate+Valine.
Examples for different substrates that work on the same enzyme include: Glutamate+2-oxohexanedioic acid ←(GOT)→ 2-keto-glutarate+2-aminohexanedioic acid. Glutamate+2-oxo-3-phenylpropionic acid ←(GOT)→2-keto-glutarate+phenylalanine. Glutamate+3-hydroxy-2-oxopropionic acid ←(GOT)→2-keto-glutarate+serine. Glutamate+5-oxopentanoate ←(GPT)→2-keto-glutarate+5-aminopentanoate. Glutamate+4-oxobutanoate ←(GPT)→2-keto-glutarate+4-aminobutanoate. Glutamate+glyoxalate ←(GPT)→2-keto-glutarate+glycine.
Another common feature that these enzymes share is that they use pyridoxal phosphate as a cofactor.
As stated, these enzymes reversibly convert glutamate into 2-keto glutarate. This causes blood glutamate levels to decrease below basal levels thereby creating a far steeper gradient of glutamate levels between the brain ISF/CSF and blood, than normally exists. In order to reach a novel equilibrium, glutamate is transported from the brain to the blood thus lowering the elevated levels of glutamate in the brain. As long as the glutamate levels are low in the blood, this brain-to-blood efflux will continue. In order to keep GOT and GPT working at their maximum levels for the conversion of glutamate into 2-ketoglutarate (Vmax) their respective substrates, oxaloacetate and pyruvate have to be administered at doses at least twice their Km values.
As stated above both glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase and glutamate-pyruvate transaminase metabolize glutamate, while using oxaloacetate and pyruvate as their respective co-substates. There are however many other transaminases in the body that can metabolize glutamate such as glutamate, branched-chain-amino-acid transaminase, GABA aminotransferases and many others. For each enzyme according to its reaction, a specific substrate such as succinate semialdehyde for 4-aminobutyrate transaminase should be used.
Conversely, although pyruvate and oxaloacetate are possibly the best substrates for the glutamate transaminases, other substrates such as 2-oxohexanedioic acid, 2-oxo-3-sulfopropionate, 2-oxo-3-sulfinopropionic acid, 2-oxo-3-phenylpropionic acid or 3-indole-2-oxopropionic acid instead of oxaloacetate and 5-oxopentanoate, 6-oxo-hexanoate or glyoxalate instead of pyruvate can be used.
The conversion of glutamate to 2-ketoglutarate is reversible. Thus, upon glutamate transformation via an enzymatic reaction into 2-ketoglutarate, there is a buildup of 2-ketoglutarate which can cause the enzyme to work in the reverse direction and convert 2-ketoglutarate into glutamate. It is therefore beneficial to further break down 2-ketoglutarate and in this way insure the continual metabolism of glutamate. One such enzyme that metabolizes 2-ketoglutarate is 2-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase through the general reaction—2-ketoglutarate+lipoamide←(2-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase)→ S-succinyldihydrolipoamide+CO2.
Thus, the present inventor provides a novel approach for protecting neural tissue from damage induced by elevated glutamate levels.

Method and composition for protecting neuronal tissue from damage induced by elevated glutamate levels


A tensegrity structure with one or more tensegrity units formed by a membrane in combination with three or more elongate compression members obliquely disposed in a spiral relationship in compression within the membrane. The ends of the compression members within each tensegrity unit and in adjacent tensegrity units are spaced from one another, and the compression members of adjacent tensegrity units overlap along a longitudinal dimension. The membrane forms anticlastic curves and has variable double curvature between ends of compression members. Multiple tensegrity units can form a column, which can be tapered, curved, or otherwise constructed.

The present invention forms part of a well established class of structures often referred to as tensegrity structures, possessing characteristics of discontinuous compression and continuous tension, where elongate members are separately placed either in tension or compression to form a self-supporting lattice. These types of structures achieve significant weight-to-strength ratios by eliminating compression members from the structural framework and replacing them with tension members wherever possible. Tensegrity structures take advantage of the high strengths that are possible for certain materials in tension and the fact that materials in pure tension do not require additional mass or added dimension in cross section to resist buckling in compression. As a result, tensegrity structures also achieve significant visual lightness as a substantial portion of the framework comprises rods, cables, or thread with diameters significantly less than the diameters or cross sectional dimensions of the compression members. A further lightness of appearance is achieved in these systems where the compression members are truly discontinuous, with no overlaps or contact, appearing to float within a continuous network of attenuated tension members.
The several continuous tension, discontinuous compression systems known to us comprise basic modules which combine to create larger structural forms, such as columns, beams, arches, planes and domes, to name a few. The basic modules of the larger aggregate structures comprise structures of their own in the form of polygons—when the compression members and the tension members are more or less co-planar—and polyhedra or prisms—when the members define the edges of a volume in space—with rigid compression struts supported in space and separated entirely from each other by a network of tension members anchored to and pulling from the ends of adjacent compression members. In these cases of existing art, the tension and compression members of the module structures are linear, an expression of the forces within the system resolved as pure axial loads. When the structural modules comprise polyhedra and prisms, the tension and, additionally or alternatively, the compression members of the structure define the linear edges and the faces of the tensegrity module.
Planar or spherical aggregates of these modules, or planar aggregates that join to create curved forms, can be construed as a lattice membrane, the weave of the membrane comprising both the continuous tension network and the discontinuous compression members, with the dimensions of the module determining the minimum thickness of the membrane. On the scale of the individual modules, however, the linear tension and compression members of the structure define the edges of a space, and the faces of the structure so defined are open and do not constitute an enclosing membrane. At scales where an aggregate of tensegrity modules is not construed as a continuous woven fabric, the tensegrity module functions as a three-dimensional frame, and additional material must be supplied to the structural framework to enclose the defined space, possibly as exterior panels or curved or triangulated infill panels attached to the tension and compression members of the structure. An alternative to panels or modular infill at the building scale is to provide enclosed volumes as independent objects nested and supported inside of the structural frame. These techniques of providing enclosure, however, are common practices utilizing many types of structural frames for support, and are not unique to frameworks comprising discontinuous elongated compression members and networks of elongated, articulated tension members.
In another example of existing art, tension membrane panels replace a number of the linear tension members of the tensegrity structure. The tension membrane panels lie in the same plane or face typically defined by the tension and compression members, or, in cases where the tension member defines the edge of two adjacent triangular faces, the tension membrane panel forms a hyperbolic paraboloid panel. The corners or apexes of these panels anchor to the ends of the compression members, pulling the ends of the members together in a fashion similar to the substituted linear tension members. With the requirement that all areas of the panel surface experience tension, the edges of these panels assume a catenary curvature between the anchor points. The panels attenuate toward the corners and assume a more or less cruxiform shape of catenary curves.
While a network of such panels can be considered a continuous tension network in the same fashion as a network of linear tension elements, substantial gaps exist between adjacent panels and between panels and compression members in examples of art utilizing this system. Consequently, the proliferation of edges renders a discontinuous surface. Further disadvantage results from the phenomena of flutter where vibrations are created by the steady flow of air or liquid over these edges.
Prior art structures utilizing a continuous tension membrane for enclosure include a class of freestanding tent. In such structures, discontinuous elongated flexible members are combined end to end to create substantially longer members. Those longer members are then used in bending to combine the properties of compression and tension to provide pre-stressing and arch support to the structure.
The invention disclosed herein, while similar in its use of a membrane to provide structure and enclosure, differs significantly from these prior art tent and related structures. As taught herein, for example, elongate members are configured purely for axial compression and not for bending. Therefore, they have significantly less flexibility and smaller ratios of slenderness. Furthermore, pre-stressing of the system does not occur as a result of energy stored in the elongate compression members through bending of the members.
It will also be known to one skilled in the art that fully enclosed structures exist wherein elongated compression members of uniform or slightly variable length radiate more or less from a common intermediate point or from several intermediate points along and generally towards the ends of a single axial compression member. The compression members of these structures support a continuous closed, anticlastic membrane with peaks corresponding to the ends of the compression members that are held in place by the uniform pull of the membrane. The intersecting compression members in such structures cannot be characterized properly as discontinuous. The resulting structures describe star-like, radiating forms of combined conical double curved surfaces, resembling complex polyhydra. Likewise, as proven out by prior art structures, each module is a closed system unto itself. The usefulness of these structures is further undermined by the density of the compression members at their centers, which effectively fills instead of creating space at the center of the enclosure. The present inventor has recognized that similar volumes of space can be achieved with more efficient use of material and space and better volume-to-weight ratios using discontinuous compression members.
Other notable examples exist in prior art wherein a continuous membrane is stretched or draped over a pre-stressed scaffolding comprising a single structural module. The scaffolding comprises a framework of discontinuous elongate members held in compression by a continuous lattice of attenuated, linear tension members. In prior art disclosures by Anne Niemetz and Andrew Pelling (The dark side of the cell, audio-visual installation, 2004, United States) and more recently by Florian Idenburg and Jing Liu (In Tension, Installation, 2010, United States) a membrane or mesh wrapper induces catenary curvature in linear tensile members in scaffolding. The membrane or mesh assumes anticlastic double curvature while contributing additional pre-stress and embodied energy to the structure. This assertedly provides increased stability.
Lasse West disclosed a freestanding display structure utilizing a single tripod of discontinuous, elongate compression members held in compression by a continuous band of tensile membrane (Trinex, Construction, 2004, Germany). The West disclosure represents a recent development in the substitution of a tensile membrane for the continuous lattice of elongated tension members in pre-stressed continuous tension, discontinuous compression structural systems. As disclosed by West, a prestressed, anticlastic membrane directs tensile forces to the ends of the discontinuous compression members as axial compressive loads. Evidencing the still further attempts of prior art inventors to devise elegant and effective tensegrity structures, Mizuki Shigematsu, Masato Tanaka and Hirohisa Noguchi have disclosed a similar module of tensegrity membrane structure based on a variational method (Form finding analysis of tensegrity membrane structures, Conference Paper, 2008, United States and Japan). Under their teachings, a single layer of a diamond-pattern system of continuous tension, discontinuous compression construction is employed. Following the prismatic model, the tensile membrane in this module engages the discontinuous compression members along their entire length. Each compression member is incorporated into the exterior surface as the edge of a linear crease. This condition induces bending loads in the compression member and requires design for bending and for axial loads yielding a resulting loss in the weight and material efficiencies of the system. The compression member must assume the function not only of a tent pole but also that of a ridge beam under uniform loads. Furthermore, the edge of the membrane at the continuous attachment to the linear compression member also panelizes the membrane, in such a way that it no longer assumes the form of a minimal surface spanning the outermost edges of the structure. This increases the surface-to-volume ratio of the structure and reduces the efficiency of material used relative to the volume of enclosed space. These shortcomings are compounded when the diamond-pattern system is utilized to create multi-layered tubular figures employing tension membranes as disclosed by Mizuki Shigematsu et al. The resulting panelization of the membrane creates discontinuities, invaginating the membrane surface while interfering with the even distribution of loads. This effectively reduces the area of the membrane engaged with loads applied to the structure.
With an awareness of the disclosures of the prior art and the shortcomings thereof, the present inventor has appreciated that there remains a need for improved tensegrity structures that exhibit desirable structural integrity while providing for efficiency in the use of material and enclosure of space and improved volume-to-weight and volume-to-surface ratios.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Continuous tension, discontinuous compression systems and methods


The flow cytometry system of the present invention includes a flow channel including an interrogation zone. A light source and a light detector are connected to the interrogation zone, such that a sample flowing through the interrogation zone can be optically analyzed through methods known in the art of flow cytometry. A bubble detector is connected to the flow channel. A controller is connected to the bubble detector and is adapted to perform a predetermined output in response to the detection of a bubble in the flow channel. The predetermined output may include alerting a user as to the presence of a bubble, flagging potentially corrupted data, and ceasing data collection until the interrogation zone is clear of bubbles.

The presence of bubbles in the flow cytometer system is one of the primary sources of corrupted experimental data. Typical flow cytometers periodically experience bubbles in the sheath fluid or sample fluid lines. Bubbles may be introduced externally from leaks in the flow line or a depleted sheath container or sample, or they may be generated internally from the coalescence or nucleation of gases dissolved in the sheath and/or sample fluids. Bubbles can cause anomalies in the flow within the flow cytometer system that reduce the performance of the flow cytometer. Furthermore, bubbles passing through the interrogation zone of the flow cytometer can cause spurious or false event signals that corrupt the experimental data being collected. The user can take corrective action only after the bubbles have been detected, which often occurs after experimental data has been corrupted and the user has been inconvenienced.
Thus, there is a need for a flow cytometry system that allows corrective actions to be taken before the experimental data is corrupted and the user is inconvenienced. This invention provides such an improved and useful flow cytometry system having bubble detection capabilities and automated controls for mitigating the effects of bubbles in the interrogation zone.

Flow cytometry system with bubble detection


A process for making polyetherester resins is disclosed. A glycol ester of an aromatic diacid such as terephthalic acid is reacted with a polyether and a source of a dicarboxylic acid such as maleic anhydride to produce a polyetherester resin, wherein the aromatic diester content may be conveniently adjusted as desired. The process permits the preparation of unsaturated polyetherester resins with relatively high levels of terephthalate repeating units while avoiding the difficulties associated with the direct use of terephthalic acid in previously known procedures. Such unsaturated polyetheresters are useful for making thermoset resins with excellent mechanical and physical properties. New glycol esters based on 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol, and polyester resins and thermosets made from the glycol esters, are also disclosed.

Recently, a new process for making polyetherester resins from polyethers was described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,319,006. The process reacts a polyether with a cyclic anhydride such as maleic anhydride in the presence of a Lewis acid catalyst. While it is unclear precisely what chemical mechanism is occurring, the net effect of the reaction is to insert the anhydride randomly into carbon-oxygen bonds of the polyether to generate ester groups in the resulting polyetherester resin. The polyetherester resin may then be combined with a vinyl monomer such as styrene and cured to provide a polyetherester thermoset.
Later, it was discovered that strong protic acids (i.e., acids having a pKa less than 0) and metal salts thereof will also catalyze this type of insertion reaction (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,436,313). Dicarboxylic acids may also be substituted in whole or in part for the anhydride (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,436,314).
The ability to prepare thermosettable polyetheresters by random "insertion" of anhydrides and carboxylic acids into polyethers provides a convenient way of making many unique polyetherester intermediates. These polyetheresters often have favorable performance characteristics compared with polyesters made by conventional esterification processes. Unfortunately, the "insertion" process does not work particularly well with high melting aromatic dicarboxylic acids such as isophthalic and terephthalic acids. Such acids have limited solubility or miscibility in the polyether-containing reaction mixture, even at the relatively high reaction temperatures typically employed. Aromatic dicarboxylic acids are commonly formulated into conventional unsaturated polyester resins to impart good mechanical properties and chemical resistance to thermosets made from the resin.
A two step process for making polyetheresters having a high content of aromatic ester recurring units is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,612,444. In the first step, a low molecular weight polyether polyol is reacted with an aromatic dicarboxylic acid to produce a polyester intermediate. In the second step, the polyester intermediate is reacted with an anhydride or aliphatic dicarboxylic acid in the presence of a catalyst effective to promote random insertion of the anhydride or dicarboxylic acid into polyether segments of the polyester intermediate. While this two step process has proven to be quite useful, particularly for the preparation of polyetherester resins containing relatively high levels of isophthalic acid, it does have certain limitations. In particular, the incorporation of relatively large proportions of recurring units derived from terephthalic acid is still quite difficult due to the much higher melting point of terephthalic acid as compared to other aromatic dicarboxylic acids such as isophthalic acid. Thus, it would be extremely desirable to develop new polyetherester processes which would facilitate the inclusion of terephthalic acid at high levels in order to further enhance the performance of the polyetherester in thermoset formulations.
New ways to make unsaturated polyester resins (UPR) are also needed. In particular, the industry would benefit from efficient ways to incorporate high-melting aromatic dicarboxylic acids such as terephthalic acid into UPR. Although terephthalic acid is relatively inexpensive and offers resins good water resistance, it is seldom used to make UPR because of its high melting point and poor solubility in organic materials. The industry also needs ways to reduce cycle times in making UPR. Typical commercial resins often require 20 to 24-hour cycle times, which severely limits productivity. Finally, ways to make water-resistant polyester thermosets--ones that retain a high proportion of their tensile and flexural properties even after exposure to harsh aqueous media--are needed.

Process for making polyetherester resins having high aromatic diester


A method of performing diffusion basis spectrum imaging (DBSI) within a tissue of a patient using diffusion magnetic resonance data acquired from a portion of the tissue is disclosed. The diffusion magnetic resonance data includes a plurality of diffusion MR signals associated with one voxel and the one voxel represents an image of the portion of the tissue. The method includes computing an isotropic diffusion portion of the diffusion magnetic resonance data representing isotropic diffusion within the one voxel and dividing the isotropic diffusion portion, which includes a fraction of the diffusion magnetic resonance data representing isotropic diffusion, into a restricted isotropic diffusion portion and a non-restricted isotopic diffusion portion. The restricted isotropic diffusion portion includes a fraction of the isotropic diffusion portion with an apparent diffusion coefficient of less than 0.3 and the non-restricted isotopic diffusion portion includes a fraction of the isotropic diffusion portion with an apparent diffusion coefficient of at least 0.3.

Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and, more particularly, to diffusion magnetic resonance data provided by an MRI scanner.
White matter injury is common in central nervous system (CNS) disorders and plays an important role in neurological dysfunctions in patients. Understanding the pathology of complex and heterogeneous central nervous system diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) has been greatly hampered by the dearth of histological specimens obtained serially during the disease. Clinicians are reluctant to perform invasive CNS biopsies on patients with white matter disorders, due to the potential injury to the patients.
The insight of CNS white matter neuropathology has been derived typically from occasional biopsies consisting of small tissue samples of unusual cases. These autopsies usually derive from patients with end-stage disease and often have long postmortem delay artifacts due tissue degradation. It is therefore advantageous to have a noninvasive imaging tool to accurately quantify and better understand the chronic and non-fatal injury in CNS disease during the whole course of the individual patient.
Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a commonly used MRI modality in CNS disease/injury diagnosis. However, the current use of DTI technique is not capable of resolving the complex underlying pathologies correctly, despite being considered better than other techniques.

Diagnosis of central nervous system white matter pathology using diffusion MRI


The present device is an illuminated building block device that mimics the look of a laser. The building block includes a non-opaque body comprising at least two mechanical connectors. At least two electrically independent conductors each traverse the body from each connector to each other connector. At least one LED is electrically connected to at least two of the electrical conductors. With at least two building blocks mechanically connected, a power source may be applied to one of the connectors of one of the building blocks to illuminate each LED. Preferably, the body of the building block is generally transparent and is capable of transmitting light from a colored LED to a connected block, thus mimicking the look of a laser. The invention also comprises a set of building blocks that permits light from an LED to pass from one connected block to an adjacent connected block.

Building blocks have been around for generations. Children enjoy playing with building blocks. Building blocks allow children to use their imagination to create a variety of structures.
Over the years, building blocks have come in many different styles. Traditionally, blocks were designed that did not interconnect buy merely placed on top of one another to build structures. Later interconnected blocks were developed that allowed children to create structures with a greater variety of shapes.
Children also enjoy playing with toys with brightly colored lights. Devices exist that illuminate plastic beads which children can use to create a variety of designs. However, these devices are typically designed to create a 2-dimensional design or picture.
Children also enjoy toys that stimulate their imagination, especially toys that allow them to imagine they are playing with a device they are not normally allowed to play with, such as a laser. Lasers can be dangerous for children, but are exciting to children as they are brightly colored and represent the forefront of technology.
Therefore, there is a need for a device that provides building blocks incorporating a variety of colored lights that can mimic the look of a laser and can be interlocked to make a variety of multi-colored 3-dimensional shapes. The present invention accomplishes these objectives.


A Voltage Range Detection Circuit (VRDC) (8) determines the supply voltage range of the integrated circuit. In general, voltage detector (10) determines the voltage level of supply voltage V.sub.DD and stores the result of this determination in storage (12). Resistor network (14), which receives the stored result, configures itself in the proper resistor configuration for the determined supplied voltage such that a compare signal is generated that represents a Variable Low Voltage Detection (VLVD) switch point. Resistor network (14) outputs this generated VLVD switch point signal to a first input of comparator (18) to be compared with the constant level reference voltage output by voltage reference (16) at a second input of comparator (18). When the output of resistor network (14) drops below the reference voltage provided by voltage reference (16), comparator (18) outputs a reset signal to disable the chip because a low voltage condition has occurred. As will be appreciated, this single circuit implementation eliminates the need to provide multiple low voltage detection circuits to sense each of the possible voltage operating ranges.

Integrated circuits that are designed to work over multiple power supply voltage ranges often contain sub-circuits that are voltage range sensitive. For example, setting the switch point voltage to the proper level for a Low Voltage Detection (LVD) circuit depends on the supply voltage level. Still another example is that non-volatile memory such as Electronically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM) requires ramp rate control which controls how fast the internal charge pump pumps. Also, the number of stages required in the charge pump of the EEPROM may vary depending upon the particular supply voltage. Still further, the integrated circuit pad characteristics, such as AC timing and DC characteristics, should be controlled to compensate for supply voltage range to optimize performance.
There are a substantial number of functions such as the LVD on various integrated circuits that must be optimized for the chip's operating voltage. Obviously, a chip that can function over multiple voltage ranges will have to accommodate for this optimization. In the past, the problem was avoided by generating separate chip layouts for each voltage operating range, so that each mask would be optimized for a particular operating range. As will be appreciated, this solution requires separate masks be designed and laid out and separate chips be produced and inventoried for each desired voltage operating range. This complicates the design, production, integration and inventory for both the chip manufacturer producing the different versions of the chip and the system manufacturer that will use the chips. These problems multiply as the number of potential operating ranges, and therefore chip versions, increases.
Another solution used in the prior art is to develop a chip design that can operate at multiple voltage levels. However, such a chip design has required the addition of multiple pins to the chip so that a desired power supply operating range may be programmed. As will be appreciated, these additional pins increase the chip's footprint and board layout. Also, this solution complicates the chip design and user system integration by requiring external control circuitry.
As can be seen, it would be desirable to provide an integrated circuit that enables a chip to automatically configure itself to optimally perform at a given voltage range. Such a circuit would simplify manufacturing, inventory control and integration by not requiring multiple versions of the same integrated circuit chip, and it would not increase chip area by adding pins or require external, multiple supply, control circuitry.

Data processing system having an auto-ranging low voltage detection circuit


An adjustable headlight and headlight adjusting direction sensing control system which incrementally adjusts the Y axis of an automobile headlight in accordance with the vehicle turning direction and adjusts the X axis in accordance with the hood orientation in relation to the road topography. A method for adjusting the X axis and Y axis of the adjustable headlights for enhancing the illumination of the changing forward road topography. The automobile headlight and the headlight adjusting and direction sensing control system comprises a pair of adjustable headlights, a pair of servomotors systems, first sensor, second sensor and microprocessor. The adjustable headlights are coupled to a pair of servomotors of one of the servomotor systems for adjusting the adjustable headlights along its X axis or Y axis in accordance with the output signals from the microprocessor. The microprocessor is further coupled to the first sensor for determining whether the vehicle is turning left or right and adjusting the adjustable headlights and the second sensor for determining the hood orientation based on the road topography and adjusting the adjustable headlights along is X axis.

Typically, automobile headlights are mounted on the front end of an automotive vehicle body. These lights are stationary and only illuminate the road surface directly straight ahead based on an illumination angle of the headlights. Since the automobile headlights illuminate the surface straight ahead proportionate to the illumination angle, as the road curves, the automobile headlights do not adequately illuminate the road surface immediately to the left or right in relation to the curved road. Henceforth, an obstruction immediately to the left or right may not be illuminated and a driver of the vehicle may not have enough time to maneuver the vehicle away from the obstruction thereby potentially causing an accident. Furthermore, a driver may not be abreast of the topography of the road and sharper curves are extremely hazardous.
Moreover, when a vehicle travels up or down a mountain or hill, stationary headlights do not adequately illuminate the upward or downward sloping road topography thereby hindering the visual capability of the driver of the vehicle.
To overcome the above aforementioned problems, several automobile headlight systems have been patented which are aimed at automobile headlights and headlight adjusting systems.
The known vehicle headlight and headlight adjusting apparatuses do not address the need for adjustable headlights and headlight adjusting and direction sensing control system which incrementally adjusts the Y axis of the adjustable headlights in accordance with the vehicle turning direction and adjusts the X axis in accordance with the hood orientation in relation to the road topography. The present invention further addresses the need for a method for adjusting the X axis and the Y axis of adjustable headlights thereby enhancing the illumination of the changing forward road topography.

Adjustable headlights, headlight adjusting and direction sensing control system and method of adjusting headlights


One aspect of the invention relates to a semiconductor chip with a semiconductor body. The semiconductor body has an inner region and a ring-shaped outer region. An electronic structure is monolithically integrated in the inner region and has a controllable first semiconductor component with a first load path and a first control input for controlling the first load path. Further, a ring-shaped second electronic component is monolithically integrated in the outer region and surrounds the inner region. Moreover, the second electronic component has a second load path that is electrically not connected in parallel to the first load path.

Semiconductor devices are used in many electronic and other applications. Semiconductor devices in the form of chips comprise integrated or discrete circuits that are formed from a semiconductor wafer.
During operation in particular of a power semiconductor chip, the semiconductor chip develops waste heat causing an uneven temperature distribution over the chip's semiconductor body. That is, in the center of the flat cuboid the chip temperature is significantly higher than in the border area of the cuboid. In order to avoid the chip temperature to locally exceed a maximum allowable chip temperature, the chip is required to have a minimum size. Hence, the uneven temperature distribution adversely conflicts with the desired reduction of the chip size.
In view of the above-mentioned problems there is a need for an improved semiconductor chip and an improved semiconductor chip arrangement that includes an improved semiconductor chip.

Semiconductor chip and semiconductor arrangement


A laser device includes a seed laser, a plurality of optical amplifiers, and an optical distribution assembly. The seed laser is configured to emit seed laser light. The plurality of optical amplifiers is configured to generate amplified laser light by amplifying the seed laser light. The optical distribution assembly is configured to distribute the seed laser light to an input of each of the optical amplifiers in the plurality and each of the optical amplifiers is configured to direct its respective amplified laser light to a common target.

Imaging devices are used in contexts such as healthcare, navigation, and security, among others. Imaging systems often measure radio waves or light waves to facilitate imaging. Imaging that measures light scattered by an object is especially challenging and advances to the devices, systems, and methods to improve optical imaging are sought to increase speed, increase resolution, reduce size and/or reduce cost. Some imaging systems require high-intensity light sources and may require laser light sources due to the specific features of laser light (e.g. spatial and/or temporal coherence). Other contexts may also require high-intensity laser light having particular high-power light requirements.


Computing devices and methods for determining opening and closing of touch sensitive interfaces are disclosed. In one example, a computing device comprises a touch screen display on a first substrate that is rotatably coupled to a second substrate that includes a trackpad. A trackpad identification signal transmitted by the trackpad is received at the touch screen display, and a touch screen identification signal transmitted by the touch screen is received at the trackpad. If the trackpad identification signal matches a trackpad identification key and the touch screen identification signal matches a touch screen identification key, then an energy level of one or both signals is compared to an energy level threshold. Based at least in part on the comparison of the energy level to the threshold, a power state transition is initiated.

Some computing devices include two or more surfaces that have touch sensitive interfaces for receiving user inputs. When two surfaces are rotatably coupled, it may be desirable to power down the device when the surfaces are rotated closed and power up the device when they are opened. Determining when the surfaces are being closed and opened can present challenges.

Determining opening/closing of computing device


A method facilitates balancing a gas turbine rotor. The method includes providing a gas turbine rotor including a plurality of turbine blades, wherein at least one turbine blade includes a blade tip shroud that includes a leading edge and a trailing edge that is opposite the leading edge, and coupling a balance clip to the at least one turbine blade. The balance clip includes a first portion having a first length that enables the clip to extend between the tip shroud leading and trailing edges and includes a first hook that couples to the tip shroud leading edge, a shorter second portion that extends only partially from at least one of the tip shroud trailing and leading edges towards the opposite shroud edge, and a second hook that extends between the first and second portions and couples to at least one of the tip shroud leading and trailing edges.

This invention relates generally to gas turbine engines, and more specifically to methods and apparatus for assembling a gas turbine engine rotor.
Gas turbine engines generally include, in serial flow arrangement, a low pressure compressor and a high pressure compressor for compressing air flowing through the engine, a combustor in which fuel is mixed with the compressed air and ignited to form a high temperature gas stream, and a high pressure turbine. Moreover, at least one known gas turbine also includes a low pressure turbine that includes a plurality of stages, wherein each respective stage includes a row of stationary nozzle guide vanes that are mounted to a stationary turbine case, and a rotor which includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced rotor blades coupled to a rotatable turbine disk. At least some of the turbine rotors blades include a blade root that couples the rotor blade to the turbine disk and an airfoil that extends radially outwardly from the blade to a blade tip shroud.
During operation, the gas turbine engine may rotate at relatively high rotational speeds. Accordingly, proper balancing of the gas turbine rotors facilitates enhancing operation of the turbine engine, as even minor rotor imbalance may adversely affect the engine operation.
Accordingly, to facilitate balancing the turbine rotor at least one known gas turbine rotor assembly includes a substantially U-shaped clip coupled to at least one turbine rotor blade. However, assembling and installing the U-shaped clip may be time-consuming as the configuration of the clip may inhibit the coupling of the clip to the turbine rotor blade. More specifically, prior to installing the U-shaped clip, a technician must be trained on the installation process and following the installation, the turbine rotor may need to be inspected to ensure that each U-shaped clip was properly installed. Accordingly, the benefits gained in using such a clip may be outweighed by an increase in production costs and man power costs.

Method and apparatus for balancing turbine rotors


Toilet tissue having a dynamic surface comprising a surface material that overlays a textured web material such that the toilet tissue exhibits one or more novel properties and method for making same are provided.

It is known that some consumers of toilet tissue like their toilet tissue to comprise a highly textured surface. Such highly textured surfaces exhibit relatively high void volumes and surface areas that enable good cleaning and bowel movement removal during consumer use when pressure is applied by the consumer during wiping as shown in Prior Art FIGS. 1A and 1B, which show a toilet tissue 10 comprising a surface 12 wherein the surface comprises pillows 14 and knuckles 16, wherein at least one or more, for example all, of the pillows 14 exhibit a minimum dimension D of at least 890 μm (35 mils) between the adjacent knuckle edges 18 that define the minimum dimension D of the pillow(s) at the surface 12. This performance is not achieved by a toilet tissue 10 having relatively smooth, flat surfaces with low void volume, for example as shown in Prior Art FIG. 2 that comprises pillows 14 and knuckles 16 wherein the pillows 14 are present on the surface 562 pillows/in2 and wherein one or more, for example all, of the pillows 14 exhibit a minimum dimension D of less than 890 μm (35 mils), or smooth, flat surfaces, for example as shown in Prior Art FIG. 3, such as a surface of a conventional wet pressed toilet tissue, during use when pressure is applied by the consumer during wiping. Therefore, a toilet tissue 10 that exhibits a highly textured surface 12 with a relatively high void volume as shown in Prior Art FIGS. 1A and 1B is desirable by consumers to provide good cleaning and bowel movement 20 removal. However, the highly textured surfaces of such known toilet tissue feels rough to the touch (not soft) prior to wiping and also during wiping.
One attempt to overcome the rough feel of highly textured surface toilet tissue 10 is to deposit a surface material 24, for example a plurality of filaments 26, such as hydroxyl polymer filaments (such as polyvinyl alcohol and/or starch) onto the surface 12 of the highly textured surface toilet tissue 10 as shown in Prior Art FIGS. 4A and 4B. Unfortunately, as shown in Prior Art FIGS. 4A and 4B, one attempt at depositing a surface material 24, for example a plurality of hydroxyl polymer filaments onto the surface 12 of a highly textured surface toilet tissue 10; namely a surface 12 comprising machine direction pillows 14 and machine direction knuckles 16 failed to provide the surface 12 with a smooth, flat surface due to the filaments collapsing into the void volume created by the machine direction (MD) pillows 14 between the machine direction (MD) knuckles 16 resulting in a rough feel for consumers much like the toilet tissue 10 shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. The toilet tissue 10 of Prior Art FIGS. 4A and 4B exhibited an Average Line Roughness Ra of less than 50 μm and an Average Line Roughness Rq of less than 57 μm and an Initial % Contact Area of less than 50% and a Final % Contact Area of 72% as measured by the MikroCAD Test Method described herein.
In another attempt, formulators deposited a surface material, for example a plurality of filaments, such as hydroxyl polymer filaments onto a relatively smooth, flat surface with low void volume of the toilet tissue 10 as shown in Prior Art FIG. 2. Even though the surface material, for example filaments, did not collapse into the pillows 14 of the toilet tissue 10, the toilet tissue 10 did not provide good cleaning and bowel movement removal. The is evidenced by the toilet tissue 10 of Prior Art FIG. 2 exhibiting a Final % Contact Area of greater than 80%, for example about 82% as measured according to the MikroCAD Test Method described herein.
One problem with known toilet tissue is the inability of the toilet tissue to provide a dynamic surface that is relatively smooth, flat, and soft-to-the-touch prior to wiping, and then performs like a textured surface during wiping when pressure is applied by the consumer to provide good cleaning and bowel movement removal.
Accordingly, there is a need for toilet tissue that comprises a dynamic surface that feels like a relatively smooth, flat, and soft-to-the-touch prior to wiping, but then performs like a highly textured surface during wiping when pressure is applied by the consumer resulting in good cleaning and bowel movement removal. Therefore, there is a need for a toilet tissue comprising such a dynamic surface and a method for making same.

Toilet tissue comprising a dynamic surface


Circuit arrangement having a power transistor and a drive circuit for the power transistor

Such circuit arrangements having a power transistor and a drive circuit with current sources for driving the power transistor are sufficiently known and, for example, are described in DE 198 55 604 C1.
During the switching of power transistors, voltage and current changes arise at the load and in the supply and connecting lines to the load and the power transistor, which changes lead to electromagnetic interference emissions. In order to avoid or reduce said interference emissions, it is known to flatten the voltage edges of a voltage that changes across the power transistor or across the load during switching by means of suitable driving of the power transistor. For this purpose, DE 198 55 604 C1 mentioned above discloses subdividing driving operations for on-state or off-state driving of the power transistor into different temporal phases during which different charging or discharging currents are made available for a drive electrode of the transistor. In order to define the beginning and end of these individual phases, a voltage across the load and a load current flowing through the load are compared with predetermined threshold values.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,540,893 likewise describes a circuit arrangement having a power transistor, a drive circuit for the power transistor and a load connected in series with the power transistor. This circuit arrangement takes account of a temporal change dI/dt in a load current I flowing through a load or a temporal change dV/dt in a voltage V across the load in the generation of a charging or discharging current of the power transistor.
For the purpose of driving a power transistor connected in series with a load with the aim of flattening the switching edges, DE 102 40 167 A1, moreover, provides a charging current or a discharging current which has a constant component and a component dependent on the voltage across the load. The variable component in each case counteracts the constant component and is related to the load voltage via a nonlinear characteristic curve, the variable component increasing continuously as the load voltage decreases. This has the effect that during off-state driving of the power transistor, the drive electrode thereof is initially discharged with a large discharging current and, as the voltage across the load decreases, is discharged with a continuously decreasing discharging current.
However, parasitic inductances of terminal lines can counteract the known measures for flattening the switching edges, as is explained below.
FIG. 1 shows a circuit arrangement having a power transistor T10 designed as a MOSFET, which has a gate terminal G and a drain-source path D-S, having a load Z connected in series with the load path D-S of the power transistor. The gate terminal G forms the control terminal and the drain-source path forms the load path of the transistor. The transistor T10 functions as a high-side switch whose drain terminal D is connected to a positive supply potential V1 via a power terminal and to whose source terminal S the load is connected, which is connected to a negative supply potential or reference-ground potential GND via a terminal remote from the transistor T10. The terminal line 1 has a parasitic inductance, designated by the reference symbol Lp in FIG. 1.
The transistor T1 inherently has a gate-source capacitance C1 and a drain-gate capacitance C2, which is also referred to as the Miller capacitance. The transistor T1 turns on if the gate-source capacitance C1 is charged to a value greater than the threshold voltage. In order to turn the transistor T1 off, said gate-source capacitance C1 has to be discharged with a suitable discharging current.
FIG. 2a schematically illustrates the temporal profile of a load current flowing through the transistor T1 and the load during such a turn-off operation for the transistor t1. In FIG. 2a, t1 designates an instant at which a fall in the load current commences proceeding from an initial value. This instant corresponds approximately to the instant at which the gate-source capacitance C1 is discharged to the value of the threshold voltage of the transistor by a discharging current Ig depicted in FIG. 1. t3 designates an instant at which the turn-off operation is concluded and the load current IL has fallen to zero.
The parasitic inductance Lp brings about a change in the drain potential Vd of the transistor T during the turn-off operation. This potential Vd corresponds to the supply potential V1 in the case of a transistor T1 that has already been switched on for a relatively long time. A deviation ΔVd=Vd−V1 of this drain potential Vd with respect to the supply potential V1 is in this case proportional to the temporal change dIL/dt in the load current IL. In this case, the proportionality factor is the inductance value of the parasitic inductance Lp. An instant at which this deviation reaches its maximum value is designated by t2 in FIG. 2. Via the Miller capacitance C2, this temporal change in the drain potential Vd leads to a parasitic current Ic2 to the gate electrode G from the gate electrode G which is proportional to a temporal change in the drain potential Vd. In this case, the proportionality factor corresponds to the value of the Miller capacitance C2. During a first time segment between the instants t1 and t2 between which the temporal change in the load current increases continuously, said parasitic current Ic2 counteracts the discharging current Ig and thereby slows down the discharge. During a second segment between the instants t2 and t3 between which the change in the load current decreases continuously up to the conclusion of the switch-off operation, the parasitic current Ic2 acts with the discharging current Ig and thereby accelerates the discharging of the gate-source capacitance.
However, it is precisely during this second time segment that a reduction of the discharging current is desirable, rather, in order to achieve a flattening of the load current curve. Thus, in particular, the drive circuit in accordance with DE 102 40 167 A1 mentioned above is designed to reduce the discharging current in the time segment shortly before the load current falls to zero. However, the parasitic effects explained counteract this reduction of the discharging current.

Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit arrangement having the following features:                a power transistor (T) having a control terminal (G) and also a first and second load path terminal (D, S), the first load path terminal (D) of which is connected to a terminal for supply potential (V1) via an inductance-exhibiting line terminal (1) and the second load path terminal (S) of which serves for connecting a load (Z), and        a first drive unit (10) for off-state driving of the power transistor (T) having an output (11) connected to the control terminal (G) of the power transistor (T1), and having a first current source arrangement (Iq1) connected between the output (AK) and a first drive potential (GND), in which case        the first drive unit has a second current source arrangement (S2off, Iq2; S2off, Iq2, Iq21), which is connected to the output (AK) and which provides a current (I2; I2, I21) that is dependent on a temporal change in a terminal potential (Vd) at the first load path terminal (D) of the power transistor (T).


The invention disclosed is a low-profile, multi-axis, highly passively damped, vibration isolation mount which when used in multiplicity provides a complete vibration load isolation mounting system. The device provides in unique fashion a very low profile interface in combination with independently determinable compliance in all directions of vibration loading. Substantial passive damping is afforded without sacrifice to strength and linearity of behavior through adaptation of a shear wall type constrained layer damping. The result is a highly passively damped vibration isolation device that provides a very low profile interface, wide ranging longitudinal and lateral compliance management, in a durable, reliable, lightweight, and compact form.

The present invention relates to passively damped, vibration and shock load isolation apparatus suitable for use in protecting hardware and payloads from damaging vibration and shock loads, particularly those extreme loads seen in spacecraft launch systems. This application incorporates by reference all that disclosed within U.S. Pat. No. 6,202,961.
The ability to isolate payloads from the vibration and shock loading of a supporting structure or vehicle, or conversely to isolate a structure or vehicle from the vibrations of an engine, motor, or other vibration inducing payload is of great value to the aerospace, automobile and vehicle industries world wide. The particular ability to provide substantial passive damping and vibration isolation in a compact and lightweight form, together with a completely linear elastic, high-strength load path has been the strength of the device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,202,961.
A further characteristic of performance that is desired within vibration isolation devices is the ability to provide an independent and widely controllable compliance in all directions of vibration loading without sacrifice to strength and linearity of behavior, and without sacrifice to compactness or weight.
High strength and linear load-deflection performance in all directions is highly desirable to mandatory in most vibration isolation applications. For spacecraft—launch vehicle applications, large magnitude vehicle accelerations having both longitudinal and lateral directional components require that high strength be maintained in all directions. Further, the overall system dynamics of the spacecraft and launch vehicle system must be predictable and carefully controlled, thereby the demand to avoid non-linear elastomers within the load path is without compromise. Additionally, extreme loads environments drive up the size and strength requirements of the payload and payload-to-launch vehicle interface hardware, such that the mass and space requirements of the apparatus must be continuously and aggressively minimized, thereby minimizing the cascading design impact to supporting hardware.
A three-axis vibration isolation device patented earlier in part by this pair of inventors, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,290,183, provided the independently controllable, high strength, linearly elastic, multiple-axis compliance that is desired but with some sacrifice to longitudinal compactness. Damping within that device was also limited to the constrained-layer-on-beam-bending damping approach of the time, and effective primarily for longitudinal motions. Damping in the lateral directions of that device was light and thereby required any significant lateral motion damping to be added through means separate from the device.
The device of U.S. Pat. No. 6,199,801, disclosed by the present two inventors and upon which the device of U.S. Pat. No. 6,290,183 was an extension, was the first its kind to provide for a passively damped vibration isolation device with high strength and linear-elastic performance. Other earlier approaches for vibration isolation and damping implementation wherein elastomers are used in the primary load path, remain inferior to those which maintain use of high-strength, linearly elastic materials throughout the primary load path. The device of U.S. Pat. No. 6,199,801 remained relatively stiff against lateral loading as compared to its longitudinal loading and thereby did not afford the desired levels of laterally directed vibration isolation. Hence the device of U.S. Pat. No. 6,290,183 answered the need for improved lateral vibration compliance but had its own limitations in terms of higher profile and light damping.
The present invention addresses the need for a passive, highly damped vibration isolation device which provides independent and widely controllable compliance in all directions of vibration loading without sacrifice to strength and linearity of behavior, and without sacrifice to compactness or weight.

Low-profile, multi-axis, highly passively damped, vibration isolation mount


With the subject invention, a pump may be formed that generally includes a reservoir formed to accommodate at least one fluid dose, and a fluid-collecting chamber in communication with the reservoir. The fluid-collecting chamber is located such that fluid from the reservoir is fed thereinto, preferably gravitationally. A piston is disposed to reversibly slide within at least a dose-control portion of the fluid-collecting chamber, and the piston is configured such that upon sliding within the dose-control portion, the piston seals or substantially seals the dose-control portion from other portions of the fluid collecting chamber. The piston is configured to displace a volume of fluid from the sealed or substantially sealed dose-control portion which is approximately equal to or greater than the volume of one of the doses of the pump. A nozzle is also provided which is located such that the fluid displaced by the piston from the dose-control portion is generally urged towards the nozzle.

This invention relates to pumps, and, more particularly, to pumps having accurately-controlled dosing.
In the prior art, pumps are used for various applications ranging from administration of health and beauty products (e.g., hand lotion) to lubricants. With the majority of pump applications, accurate volumetric control of a dose is not critical. Certain applications, however, have been developed which do require highly accurate dose control. For example, pumps have been developed which deliver microdoses of ophthalmic fluid medication (5 microliter–50 microliter), such as those disclosed in certain patents to some of the inventors herein: U.S. Pat. No. 5,152,435, issued Oct. 6, 1992; U.S. Pat. No. 5,881,956, issued Mar. 16, 1999; and, PCT Application No. PCT/US00/21206, filed Aug. 23, 2000. These references are incorporated by reference herein in their respective entireties. As can be appreciated with all drug dispensing technology accurately controlled dosing is absolutely necessary, particularly with small doses.

Accurate dosing pump and accessories therefor


In a polluted water purifying method and apparatus, a purification treatment tank is filled with massive purifying members in a purifying region, each massive purifying member including plural opening portions having an equivalent diameter of 1 to 5 cm which are provided on the surface thereof, and plural interconnecting channels which intercommunicate with one another and provided inside of the members, and each opening portions continuously intercommunicating with at least one of the channels. Polluted water containing SS, BOD, etc. is supplied through the purifying region of the tank to be brought into contact with the massive purifying members. At the same time, oxygen-contained gas is jetted as fine bubbles at a predetermined interval from the bottom portion of the purifying region into the polluted water so that the stream of the flowing polluted water flowing in the purifying region, so that the fine bubbles of the oxygen-contained gas are contacted with the polluted water in a substantially perpendicular direction to each other, whereby an aerobic treatment and an anaerobic treatment are rapidly and efficiently performed on the surface of the purifying members and inside of the purifying members respectively.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to apparatus and method for purifying polluted water, and more particularly to apparatus and method for performing an aerobic treatment on polluted water and at the same time separating and capturing suspended fine solid materials (pollutants) from the polluted water to perform an anaerobic treatment on the polluted water.
2. Description of Related Art
Various methods have been hitherto proposed and practically used as a method of purifying various kinds of polluted water, such as waste water or river water which is polluted by waste water. The conventional polluted water purifying methods are mainly classified into (1) a physical/chemical treatment method and (2) a biological treatment method. As the physical/chemical treatment method are known a method for separating and removing suspended materials, etc. from polluted water by means of precipitation, filtering or the like, a method for chemically treating pollutants with chemicals to make the pollutants harmless; and a method of separating and removing pollutants from polluted water by means of agglomeration or precipitation. Further, as the biological treatment method are known a method of aerobically treating polluted water with a biomembrane or an active sludge to flocculate pollutants and separate and remove the pollutants from polluted water; and a method of anaerobically treating polluted water to digest (liquefy) the pollutants.
The biological treatment method utilizes a decomposition action of microorganism in natural field, so that its reaction is moderate. In addition, its process needs no chemical, and thus it does not bring various troubles due to the chemicals. Therefore, the biological treatment method has been favorably used, and various developments for this method are vigorously being made.
With respect to the method using the active sludge, various systems which are concentrically based on two processes of an aeration process and a sedimentation process have been proposed and practically used. With respect to the method of forming a biological film on a carrier, various kinds of carriers are proposed. For example, Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. Sho-63-310696 proposes a hollow spherical carrier which forms an aerobic state and an anaerobic state at the same time. Further, there is also proposed an aerobic/anaerobic treatment which forms aerobic and anaerobic states by means of a hollow cylinder having a honeycomb construction of a high surface area.
However, in all the conventional biological treatments as described above, a long process time of at least 5 to 11 hours is generally required over all the steps of a purifying treatment. For example, in the method using the active sludge and the aerobic treatment method using the biomembrane formed on the surface of the carrier, a sedimenting pool is provided at a front stage to perform a predetermined sedimenting treatment on polluted water, and then the polluted water is finally treated while held up in an aerobic purification area for a retention time of several hours or more, whereby a predetermined environmental quality standard value is satisfied. In the active sludge method, there is a manner of performing the aeration treatment for about two hours; however, it has a disadvantage that a BOD removal rate may be reduced. Further, in the aerobic/anaerobic purifying treatment method using the hollow carrier, the diameter of holes through which the inside and the outside of the hollow carrier are communicated to each other is set to 0.05 to 1 mm, and thus the flow-in and flow-out of the polluted water into and from the inside of the hollow carrier is not smoothly performed, so that it needs a longer time than the anaerobic treatment in the inner space of the hollow carrier and this is not efficient.
Recently, a so-called inter-conglomerate contact oxidation method which purifies polluted river water by using river beds has been proposed and practically used as one of the biological treatments for polluted water. In the inter-conglomerate contact oxidation method, a conglomerate layer is formed by effectively using conglomerate, such as gravel in the river, or the like, and river water is made to flow (passed) through the conglomerate layer for a biological treatment, whereby BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) and SS (Suspended Solid) can be greatly reduced. Therefore, much attention is paid to this method as a purification method for polluted water, such as polluted river water, or the like.
The inventor of this application has vigorously studied a treatment method in which the purification technique using the inter-conglomerate contact oxidation method can be practically used for a general water treatment device (not to a large-scale facility using a huge river bed, for example) and polluted water can be efficiently purified. As a result of the vigorous studies, the inventor developed a separation member forming a purification treatment system which is completely different from the conventional treatment for polluted water, and previously proposed the separation member and a polluted water treatment using the separation member in Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. Hei-3-221110. Further, in Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. Hei-6-343990, which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 5,565,103, the inventor proposed a suitable flow-separating method and a flow-separating member in consideration of such a flow-separating phenomenon that suspended fine solid materials are separated and removed from polluted water as flowing fluid with effectively using fluid energy on the basis of the behavior of the suspended fine solid materials.
In the flow-separating member and the flow-separating method as described above, the polluted water is subjected to an aerobic treatment on the surface. The suspended solids (SS) can be efficiently captured by the flow-separating member for a relatively short time to separate and remove the SS from the polluted water, and captured organic SS can be anaerobically treated in voids of the flow-separating member to make the organic SS liquid and soluble. Therefore, this method can simply perform the purification treatment for polluted water in one step for a short time, and thus it is expected to be an extremely excellent treatment method for polluted water.
This method has been achieved mainly to remove SS, and it has been also proved for this method that the aerobic treatment on the surface of the flow-separating member is enhanced and thus the BOD removal rate is effectively enhanced because the surface area of the flow-separating member is increased more than the inter-conglomerate contact oxidation method. However, it would not effectively work from the viewpoint that it must be applicable to any polluted water and it must meet any requirement. Particularly, if it is required to perform a purification treatment on polluted water containing a large amount of BOD at a desired BOD removal rate for a short time, this method does not sufficiently satisfy this requirement.

Apparatus and method for purifying polluted water


The invention relates to a complex of specifically complex-forming proteins which are not naturally occurring, comprising the following components: a) at least one ligand specific for a target structure, b) at least one protein comprising a mutated dimerization domain, the mutated dimerization domain having been derived by mutation of a naturally occurring dimerization domain, it being possible for this mutated dimerization domain to interact specifically with component c) and the component b) being connected covalently to the component a), c) at least one protein comprising a mutated dimerization domain, the mutated dimerization domain having been derived by mutation of a naturally occurring dimerization domain, it being possible for this mutated dimerization domain to interact specifically with component b) and the component c) is linked covalently to the component d), and d) at least one effector. In addition, the invention relates to the use and preparation of these complexes, and to nucleic acid constructs coding for the proteins mentioned and use thereof.

Complex forming proteins are widespread in nature.
Fundamentally, these proteins can be assigned to the following groups:
antibodies which, with their antigen-binding sites, can bind specifically to the corresponding epitope of an antigen (which can also be another antibody)
protein complexes, such as occur, for example, in the activation of the clofting system or of the complement system
ligand receptor interactions of very different types, for example
of antigens or their epitopes with the Tcell or B-cell receptor
of growth factors, cytokines, chemokines, peptide hormones, steroid hormones and mediators with their respective receptors
of enzymes such as, for example, uPA or tPA with its receptor
of virus proteins with their respective cell receptor
adhesions between adhesion molecules
protein complexes in signal transmission, control of the cell cycle and control of the transcription of genes
Numerous examples of this are summarized in the literature, i.e. by Hardie et al., The Protein Kinase Facts Book I and II, Academic Press 1995, Callard et al., The Cytokine Facts Book, Academic Press 1994, Pigott et al., The Adhesion Molecule Facts Book, Academic Press 1994, Barclay et al., The Leukocyte Antigen Facts Book, Academic Press 1994, Watson et al., G-Protein Linked Receptor Facts Book, Academic Press 1994, Hesketh, The Oncogene Facts Book, Academic Press 1995, Leid et al., Cell 68, 377 (1992), Murre et al., Cell 58, 537 (1989), Bbeneza et al., Cell 61, 49 (1990), Brugge, Curr. Top. Microbiol. Immunolbiol. 123, 1 (1981), Callebaut et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89, 6270 (1992), Nadeau et al., J. Biol. Chem. 268, 1479 (1993), Burbach et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89, 8185 (1992), Hoffman et al., Science 252, 954 (1991), Stress-induced Proteins, M. L. Pardue, J. R. Feramisco and S. Lindquist Ed, A. R. Liss, New York (1989), Eukaryotic Transcription Factor, D. S. Lachman, Academic Press (1991), Transcriptional Regulations, Eds. S. McKnight and K. R. Yamamoto, CSHL Press, Cold Spring Harbor, New York (1992).
In some cases, the largely specific naturally occurring complexes formed, between at least two proteins, are utilized for the analysis or detection of proteins in the diagnosis of diseases (for this see EP 0 491 362 B1) and the binding partners of such proteins are used for the prophylaxis or therapy of disorders. If one partner of the particular protein complexes is available, with the aid of this partner the amount of the second or further component, be it, for example, complement or clotting factors, antigens, receptors or signal proteins, can be determined. Moreover, specific protein complexes are utilized in the search for small-molecule activators or inhibitors. In addition, purified antibodies or ligands for receptors, such as, for example, cytokines and peptide hormones, are administered to patients or animals for the prophylaxis or therapy of disorders.
In the case of these different application possibilities for proteins which form protein complexes, the specificity with which the respective proteins enter into complex formation and in addition the distribution of the respective proteins in the organism is of crucial importance. The lower the specificity, the more frequently nonspecific binding of a partner to foreign proteins will occur.
For example, nonspecific, i.e. undesired, formation of complexes with foreign protein partners is, as is known, the main problem of analysis and diagnosis using antibodies. Undesired formation of complexes with foreign protein partners can also be the cause of side effects in vivo, for example after injection of antibodies. In addition, the specific exclusive binding between two proteins is an essential prerequisite for the production and specific function of complex transcription factors, in particular of synthetic transcription factor complexes, such as have been described in the Patent Application EP-A 0 805 209.
There is thus a considerable need for novel, highly specific complex-forming proteins which do not react with foreign partners.
The invention relates to a complex formed from specifically complex-forming proteins which are not naturally occuring, wherein the following components are contained in the complex:
a) at least one ligand specific for a target structure,
b) at least one protein comprising a mutated dimerization domain, the mutated dimerization domain having been derived, i.e, obtained, by mutation of a naturally occurring dimerization domain, it being possible for this mutated dimerization domain to interact specifically, i.e., bind specifically, with component c) and the component b) being bonded covalently to the component a),
c) at least one protein comprising a mutated dimerization domain, the mutated dimerization domain having been derived, i.e., obtained, by mutation of a naturally occurring dimerization domain, it being possible for this mutated dimerization domain to interact specifically, i.e., bind specifically, with component b) and the component c) being bonded covalently to the component d), and
d) at least one effector.
According to the invention, a characteristic of the components b) and c) is that in naturally occurring peptides or proteins of identical or different type amino acids are replaced or inserted such that the peptides or proteins mutated in this way can complex virtually only exclusively with one another. A complexation of peptides or proteins mutated in this way with the corresponding nonmutated wild-type proteins or peptides does not occur, however. In this way, homodimers or heterodimers of mutated monomers (mutated peptides or proteins) can be formed.
The mutations in the binding domains of the identical or different proteins therefor have the purpose of preventing the ability for complex formation between an unmutated monomer and a mutated monomer of a pair of identical or different proteins or peptides which would complex in the unmutated state. At the same time, the mutations impart to such a pair of mutated proteins the ability to bind to one another with high specificity. The mutations thus occur in pairs, where one mutation is present in component b), the other in component c), i.e. such that a molecular interaction is possible between the respective amino acids of such a pair.
Amino acids according to the invention inserted into naturally occurring peptides or proteins can be, for example (the listing in pairs is intended to indicate the molecular interaction in the context of a dimeric protein complex):
The starting proteins for components b) and c) can be identical or different here.
In a preferred embodiment, the binding constant of a complex of two proteins according to the invention is at least KM=10xe2x88x927 mol lxe2x88x921, preferably at least KM=10xe2x88x928 mol lxe2x88x921.
Within the meaning of this invention, the following identical or unidentical partners (for the production of component b) or c) and with the aim of binding heterodimers), for example, are preferably mutated in their respective binding domain and these or the entire protein are used:
Those protein pairs are to be preferred which naturally have a helix-loop-helix/leucine zipper binding sequence.
The invention additionally relates to the very different uses of these complex-forming proteins according to the invention, for example
as multivalent protein complexes for prophylaxis and therapy
as multivalent ligands for vectors for gene therapy
as synthetic transcription factors for control of the expression of genes
and as diagnostic or analytical systems.
It is understood that these applications can either be accomplished in vivo or in vivo. Furthermore, it is understood that the gene therapy applications can be for either in vivo or ex vivo gene therapy, as these techniques are understood in the art.
In this context, the components a) and d) are selected depending on the chosen type of use.
The invention relates particularly to novel complex-forming proteins, wherein the amino acids mentioned have been inserted into proteins which naturally form homodimers or heterodimers, such that these proteins (components b) and c)) mutated in this way only form complexes with themselves (homodimers) or with the correspondingly mutated partner (heterodimers), but no longer with the naturally occurring, nonmutated starting proteins.
Novel complex-forming proteins containing the components a), b), c) and d) can be used in, for example, two embodiments.
In the first embodiment (see FIG. 1a), the component b) is a homo- (or hetero)multimer [component b)1-b)n], to which the corresponding identical (or different) components c) in each case bind, in each case as a monomer and in each case linked to the component d).
With this embodiment, many components d) (effectors) are bound to the target structure.
In the second embodiment (see FIG. 2), both the component b) and the component c) are multimers, only one or a few components d) being bound to the component c). Although with this embodiment only a few components d) (effectors) are bound to the target structure, the binding between the components c) and d) is extremely strong, which can increase the specificity of the binding of the components c) and d) to the target structure.
The invention relates to novel, complex-forming proteins consisting of the components a), b), c) and d), and also nucleic acid constructs which code for these complex-forming proteins. The invention likewise relates to complexes consisting of the components d), b), c) and d), i.e. the component a) is replaced by d), and nucleic acid constructs coding therefor.
In addition, the invention relates to a complex consisting of the components a), b), c) and a); i.e. the component d) is replaced by a), and nucleic acid constructs coding therefor.
The invention furthermore also relates to complex-forming proteins consisting of the components a), b), c) and d) or variants thereof described above, which additionally contain a fusogenic peptide, a translocation peptide or, between the components c) and d) or a) and b), a cleavage sequence for a protease, and nucleic acid constructs coding therefor.
All such nucleic acid constructs of this type can be introduced into bacteria, yeasts or mammalian cells with the aid of viral or nonviral vectors known to the person skilled in the art.
Cells of this type can be used for the preparation of the protein according to the invention or even administered for the purpose of the prophylaxis or therapy of an organism.
Nucleic acid constructs of this type, inserted in a vector, however, can also be administered directly to an organism for the purpose of prophylaxis or therapy.
The invention furthermore relates to the preparation of one of the abovementioned complexes, in which a protein of this complex is expressed with the aid of a nucleic acid construct coding therefor and a further protein of this complex, which is different from the first, is expressed with the aid of a nucleic acid construct coding therefor, and the expressed proteins are isolated and complexed with one another. In the case of complexes consisting of homodimers or homooligomers, the preparation is carried out without the expression of a second protein which is different from the first.
The invention further relates to:
A complex comprising the following components:
a) at least one ligand specific for a target structure;
b) at least one protein comprising a mutated dimerization domain obtained by mutation of a naturally occurring dimerization domain, wherein the mutated dimerization domain binds specifically with component c) and the component b) is covalently bonded to the component a);
c) at least one protein comprising a mutated dimerization domain obtained by mutation of a naturally occurring dimerization domain, wherein the mutated dimerization domain binds specifically with the component b) and the component c) is covalently bonded to component d); and
d) at least one effector;
wherein the components b) and c) are not naturally occurring proteins.
The above complex, wherein the component a) is replaced by the component d).
The above complex, wherein the component d) is replaced by the component a).
The above complex, which further comprises a fusogenic peptide or a translocalization peptide.
The above complex, which further comprises a cleavage sequence for a protease between the components c) and d) or a) and b).
The above complex, wherein the component a) is selected from the group consisting of: a growth factor, a cytokine, TNF, a chemokine, a peptide hormone, a mediator, a steroid hormone, a vitamin, a complement factor, a clotting factor, a kinin system factor, a fibrinolysis system factor, a plasmatic enzyme, a cell enzyme, a plasmatic enzyme inhibitor, a cell enzyme inhibitor, a virus coat protein, a cell receptor for the afore-mentioned molecules, an antibody, an antibody cleavage product, a DNA binding protein, a DNA binding domain of a transcription factor and an activation domain of a transcription factor.
The above complex, wherein the components b) and c) are obtained by mutating the naturally occurring dimerization domains of proteins which bind naturally to one another.
The above complex, wherein the naturally occurring dimerization domains of components b) and c) are selected from the group of naturally dimerizing partners consisting of:
The above complex, wherein the naturally dimerizing partners belong to the helix-loop-helix/leucine zipper family of proteins.
The above complex, wherein the mutated dimerization domains are obtained by inserting:
3-18 cysteines in the naturally occurring dimerization domain in at least one of the proteins of component b) and in at least one of the proteins of component c);
3-24 basic amino acids in the naturally occurring dimerization domain in at least one of the proteins of component b) and 3-24 acidic amino acids in the naturally occurring dimerization domain in at least one of the proteins of component c);
3-24 basic amino acids in the naturally occurring dimerization domain in at least one of the proteins of component c) and 3-24 acidic amino acids in the naturally occurring dimerization domain in at least one of the proteins of component b);
3-24 hydrophobic amino acids in the naturally occurring dimerization domain in at least one of the proteins of component b) and 3-24 aromatic amino acids in the naturally occurring dimerization domain in at least one of the proteins of component c);
3-24 hydrophobic amino acids in the naturally occurring dimerization domain in at least one of the proteins of component c) and 3-24 aromatic amino acids in the naturally occurring dimerization domain in at least one of the proteins of component b); and/or
3-24 aromatic amino acids in the naturally occurring dimerization domain in at least one of the proteins of component b) and 3-24 aromatic amino acids in the naturally occurring dimerization domain in at least one of the proteins of component c).
The above complex, in which the components b) and c) are mutated binding domains of c-fos and c-jun, comprising the following mutations:
c-fos amino acid 167Exe2x86x92K
172Exe2x86x92K
181Exe2x86x92K
c-jun amino acid 283Kxe2x86x92E
288Kxe2x86x92E
302Kxe2x86x92E
The above complex, wherein the component d) is selected from the group consisting of: inhibitors of cell proliferation, apoptosis-inducing proteins, cytostatic proteins, cytotoxic proteins, coagulation-inducing factors, angiogenesis-inducing factors, angiogenesis-inhibiting factors, growth factors, cytokines, chemokines, interleukins, interferons, complement factors, clotting factors, fibrinolysis-inducing proteins, peptide hormones, mediators, bacterial proteins, receptors, viral antigens, parasitic antigens, tumor antigens, autoantigens, tissue antigens, adhesion molecules, antibodies, antibody cleavage products, enzymes for reacting with a signal-emitting component, enzymes for converting a precursor of an active substance into an active substance, fluorescent dyes, isotopes, metal-binding proteins, and a DNA-binding domain.
A method for treating diseased cells, wherein the disease results from inflammation, autoimmune diseases, defective formation of blood cells, nervous system damage, blood-clotting system disorders, blood circulation system disorders, tumor formation, viral infections, or bacterial infections, comprising administering the above complex to the cells.
A method for introducing a vector into a cell of an organism or cell culture, comprising binding the above complex to a viral or nonviral vector and introducing the vector into the cell of an organism or a cell culture in a cell-specific manner.
A method of detecting the presence or amount of a reactant in vitro or in vivo, comprising contacting the above complex with the reactant, either in vivo or in vitro, wherein the component a) binds to the reactant and the component d) emits a signal, such that the presence or amount of the reactant is detected by measuring the amount of the emitted signal.
A nucleic acid construct coding for a protein of the above complex.
The nucleic acid construct as above, coding for an activator subunit of an activator-responsive promoter unit.
A host cell comprising the nucleic acid construct as above.
The host cell as above, selected from the group consisting of a bacterium, a yeast and a mammalian cell.
A method of expressing a protein of the above complex, comprising expressing a nucleic acid encoding the protein in a host cell under conditions such that the protein is expressed in a detectable amount.
A method of producing a complex between the component b) and the component c) as in the above complex, comprising:
(a) expressing the at least one protein of the component b) by translating a nucleic acid construct encoding the protein;
(b) expressing the at least one protein of the component c) by translating a nucleic acid construct encoding the protein;
(c) isolating the proteins of steps (a) and (b);
(d) contacting the at least one protein of step a) with the at least one protein of step b) under conditions such that the proteins bind to one another.
The above complex, wherein the antibody cleavage product is selected from the group consisting of: F(ab)2, a single-chain Fv, a single-chain, a double antigen-binding molecule, and an Fc fragment.
The above complex, wherein the receptor is selected from the group consisting of receptors for: growth factors, cytokines, chemokines, interleukins, interferons, complement factors, clotting factors, fibrinolysis-inducing proteins, peptide hormones, steroid hormones, mediators, and virus coat proteins.
The above complex, wherein the antibody cleavage product is selected from the group consisting of: F(ab)2, Fab, single-chain Fv, and single-chain double antigen-binding proteins.
A vaccine comprising the above complex.
A complex comprising the following components:
a) at least one ligand specific for a target structure;
b) at least one protein comprising a mutated dimerization, wherein the mutated dimerization domain binds specifically with component c) and the component b) is covalently bonded to the component a);
c) at least one protein comprising a mutated dimerization domain, wherein the mutated dimerization domain binds specifically with the component b) and the component c) is covalently bonded to component d); and
d) at least one effector;
wherein the components b) and c) are not naturally occurring proteins.
The above complex, wherein at least one protein of component b) binds specifically with at least one protein of component c) with a binding constant of at least a KM of 10xe2x88x927 mol lxe2x88x921.


A device for generating a particle beam includes a particle source, and a structure having a first section and a second section, the first section coupled to the particle source, the first section having a first power input, and the second section having a second power input, wherein the first section is configured to produce a particle beam having a first energy E1, and the second section is configured to increase or decrease the first energy E1 by an amount E2, the absolute value of E2 being less than E1.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to devices and methods for generating. particle beams, and more particularly, to electron accelerators for generating electron beams of different energies.
2. Background of the Invention
Standing wave electron beam accelerators have found wide usage in medical accelerators where the high energy electron beam is employed to generate x-rays for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes. Electron beam generated by an electron beam accelerator can also be used directly or indirectly to kill infectious pests, to sterilize objects, to change physical properties of objects, and to perform testing and inspection of objects, such as radioactive containers and concrete structures.
When using an electron beam accelerator for various applications, it is desirable that the accelerator be capable of generating electron beam at various prescribed energy levels. For example, for a certain application, it may be desirable to have an accelerator that can generate electron beams at 8 MeV and 5 MeV. It is also desirable that the generated electron beam at each of the different energy modes has a sharp and well-focused energy spectrum. However, existing accelerators may not be able to accomplish these objectives easily and/or satisfactorily.

Standing wave particle beam accelerator having a plurality of power inputs

Varian Medical Systems Technologies, Inc.


The embodiment of the present application discloses a data transmission method, device, and radar device, and relates to the field of communication technologies, wherein the method is applied to a radar device, including: determining the starting data acquisition location as the target location; obtaining data acquired by the radar device during the process of rotating by a preset angle from the target location, wherein the preset angle is an angle within a range of (0°, MaxA), and MaxA indicates the maximum rotation angle; packaging the acquired data to generate a target data package; Sending the target data package to the destination device. The data is transmitted by using the solution provided by the embodiment of the present application, and the data delay is reduced.

With the rapid development of control technology, radar device is increasingly used in device control. Specifically, the radar device acquires data such as the distance between the object within the measurement range and the center of the radar device, and then transmits the acquired data to the destination device. The destination device performs device control based on the received data.
The radar device generally acquire data in a rotation manner, and the data acquired by the device during the process of rotating by a maximum rotation angle from the target location forms one frame of data.
In the prior art, the radar device generally acquires one frame of data and then transmits the entire frame of data to the destination device. After receiving the data, the destination device performs device control in combination with the received data.
Although the device in the above manner can perform device control, the data received by the destination device is acquired by the radar device during the previous rotation period. When the data is transmitted in the above manner from the perspective of the destination device, there is a problem that the data delay is large.

Data transmission method, device and radar apparatus