A glass fiber separator material is disclosed. The separator is composed of a mass of intermeshed glass fibers substantially all of which have a fiber diameter not greater than about 20 xcexcm, and at least 5 percent w/w of which have a fiber diameter less than 1 xcexcm, and, distributed through the glass fibers, and from 0.2 percent w/w to 20 percent w/w of cellulose fibrils. The fibrils are from a slurry having a Canadian freeness sufficiently low that the separator material has a tensile strength greater than an otherwise identical separator where glass fibers having an average diameter greater than 1 xcexcm replace the cellulose fibrils.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of batteries and, more specifically, to separators containing glass fibers which are positioned between the positive and negative plates of batteries and to a method for producing such separators. As is subsequently discussed in more detail, separators containing glass fibers are well known. Long before glass fiber separators, however, cedar veneers were used as a separator material, and were replaced by microporous, hard rubbery separators and cellulose separators impregnated with resins.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Valve regulated (xe2x80x9csealedxe2x80x9dxe2x80x94xe2x80x9crecombinantxe2x80x9d) lead acid (VRLA) batteries are known; they usually comprise a plurality of positive and negative plates, as in a prismatic cell, or layers of separator and positive and negative electrodes wound together, as in a xe2x80x9cjelly rollxe2x80x9d cell. The plates are arranged so that they alternate, negative-positive-negative, etc., with separator material and paste separating each plate from adjacent plates. The separator, which, typically, is a mat of glass fibers, is an inert material; it stores battery acid, applies a force to paste-grid interfaces, and provides low electric resistance. In addition, in VRLA batteries, there are innumerable gas channels in the separator material through which oxygen can migrate from the positive electrode, when generated there, to the negative electrode where it can be recombined with hydrogen, according to the oxygen cycle. One of the most important functions of a separator in a VRLA battery is to force the paste into contact with the plates, and cause a pressure between the plates.
Glass fiber separator material, typically, is produced commercially on paper making equipment including fourdrinier machines and rotoformers, inclined fourdrinier machines and extended wire rotoformers. In the production of separator made of glass fibers for VRLA batteries, it is preferred that no organic material be added to a furnish from which separator sheets are made; the entanglement of individual fibers serves to maintain the sheet in a cohesive structure, and water glass, which sometimes forms on the fiber surfaces, serves as a binder. Organic binders, however, tend to decrease the ability of a separator to wick acid, and to decrease the amount of acid a separator can hold. A great deal of work has been directed to modifying the glass fiber furnish from which separators are produced to improve battery performance and/or lower the cost of the separator. Some of the work has entailed the addition of synthetic fibers for various reasons, such as the use of thermoformable plastic fibers so that the separator can be heat sealed on its edges to envelop a plate. Other work, which pertains to the field of this invention, has been directed to the use of filler, e.g., silica, to provide separators which are comparable to all glass fiber separators, at a lower cost. Separators made from glass fibers to which cellulose has been added and polyolefin fibers to which cellulose has been added have also been suggested. Prior art patents are discussed below.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,465,748 (Harris) discloses glass fiber sheet material for use as a separator in an electrochemical cell, and made from 5 to 35 percent w/w of glass fibers less than 1 xcexcm in diameter; the patent also discloses a glass fiber sheet for such use wherein there are fibers of a continuous range of fiber diameters and lengths, and most of the fibers are not over 5 mm in length.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,216,280. (Kono et al.), discloses glass fiber sheet material for use as a plate separator in a battery, and made from 50 to 95 percent w/w of glass fibers less than 1 xcexcm in diameter and 50 to 5 percent w/w of coarser glass fibers. The coarser glass fibers, the reference says, have a fiber diameter larger than 5 xcexcm, preferably larger than 10 xcexcm, and it is advantageous for some of the coarser fibers to have diameters of 10 xcexcm to 30 xcexcm.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,205,122 (Minra et al) discloses a battery separator of reduced electric resistance comprising a self supporting, non woven mat consisting essentially of a mixture of olefinic resin fibers having a coarseness of from 4 to 13 decigrex and olefinic resin fibers having a coarseness of less than 4 decigrex, the latter fibers being present in an amount of not less than 3 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of fibers; up to about 600 parts by weight of inert filler materials per 100 parts by of fibers can also be used. The battery separator is produced by subjecting a suitable aqueous dispersion to a sheet-forming operation, drying the resulting wet, non-woven mat, and heat treating the dried mat at a temperature ranging from a point 20xc2x0 lower than the melting point of the aforementioned fibers to a point about 50xc2x0 higher than the melting point.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,216,281 (O""Rell et al.) discloses a separator material produced from a furnish containing 30 to 70 percent w/w of polyolefin synthetic pulp, 15 to 65 percent w/w of a siliceous filler and 1 to 35 percent w/w of xe2x80x9clongxe2x80x9d fibers which can be polyester fibers, glass fibers, or a mixture of the two. Cellulose in an amount up to about 10 percent w/w is disclosed as an optional ingredient of the furnish.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,363,856 (Waterhouse) discloses a separator material made from a furnish composed of polyolefin pulp fibers and glass fibers, and names polyester staple fibers, polyolefin staple fibers and cellulose pulp fibers as alternative constituents of the furnish.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,387,144 (McCallum) discloses a battery separator having a low electrical resistance after extended use which is made by thermal consolidation and thermal embossing of a paper web formed from a furnish containing a synthetic pulp the fibrils of which are filled with an inorganic filler, the web incorporating a wetting agent which is preferably an organic sulphonate, and organic succinate, or phenol ethoxylate.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,373,015 (Peters et al.), discloses sheet material for use as a separator in a battery, and xe2x80x9ccomprising organic polymeric fibersxe2x80x9d; both of the examples of the reference describe the sheet material as xe2x80x9cshort staple fiber polyester matting about 0.3 mm thickxe2x80x9d, and indicate that the polyester fibers range from about 1 xcexcm to about 6 xcexcm in diameter.
Sheet separators for use in conventional (not valve regulated) batteries and comprising both glass fibers and organic fibers are disclosed in all of the following U.S. Pat. No. 4,529,677 (Bodendorf); U.S. Pat. No. 4,363,856 (Waterhouse); and U.S. Pat. No. 4,359,511 (Strzempko).
U.S. Pat. No. 4,367,271, Hasegawa, discloses storage battery separators composed of acrylic fibrils in an amount of up to about 10 percent w/w, balance glass fibers.
Japanese patent document 55/146,872 discloses a separator material comprising glass fibers (50-85 percent w/w) and organic fibers (50-15 percent w/w).
U.S. Pat. No. 4,245,013, Clegg et al., discloses a separator made by overlaying a first sheet of fibrous material including polyethylene fibers with a second sheet of fibrous material including polyethylene and having a synthetic pulp content higher than the first sheet.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,908,282, Badger, discloses a separator comprising a sheet made from first fibers which impart to the sheet an absorbency greater than 90% and second fibers which impart to the sheet an absorbency less than 80% wherein the first and second fibers are present in such proportions that the sheet has an absorbency of from 75 to 95%. This patent discloses that fine glass fibers have a high absorbency, that coarse glass fibers have a low absorbency, and that hydrophobic organic fibers have an extremely low absorbency, and that, when this separator is saturated with electrolyte, unfilled voids remain so that gas can transfer from plate to plate for recombination. The disclosure of Badger is incorporated herein by reference.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,091,275 (Brecht et al.) discloses a glass fiber separator which expands when exposed to electrolyte. The separator comprises glass fibers which are impregnated with an aqueous solution of colloidal silica particles and a sulfate salt. The separator is produced by forming a paper making web of glass fibers, impregnating the web with the aqueous mixture of silica and the salt, lightly compressing the impregnated web to remove some of the aqueous solution, partially drying the web, compressing the web to a final thickness and completing the drying of the web. The web is preferably compressed to a thickness which is less than the distance between plates in a given cell, so that insertion of an assembled cell stack into a case is facilitated. When electrolyte is added to the case, the salt dissolves in the electrolyte and the separator expands to provide good contact between the plates and the separators. According to the patent, the silica contributes to the recombination performance of cells incorporating the pre-compressed separator. The silica also contributes a great deal of stiffness to the separator, so much so that the separator may be characterized as rigid.
It has been determined that the production of battery separator by paper-making techniques from a furnish of glass fibers and silica powder leads to problems which are caused by variations in the concentration of the silica powder in the furnish. Typical glass fiber furnishes have a liquid content exceeding 98 percent w/w. In the course of making separator sheets, most of the water is removed from the furnish in the first few feet of a screen on which the furnish is cast. The water, known as white water, is recycled and winds up back in the headbox of the machine. If the furnish is composed exclusively of glass fibers, virtually none of the fibers pass through the wire and wind up in the white water. However, furnishes comprising glass fibers and silica powder do not fare so well. In the absence of a retention aid, significant amounts of silica powder from such furnishes do pass through the paper making wire and wind up in the white water. Left unchecked, this phenomenon causes the concentration of silica powder in the furnish to increase, undesirably changing the properties of the furnish. Heretofore, the problem of silica powder and the like passing through a paper making wire has been avoided through the use of binders as retention aids.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,477,000 discloses a synthetic fiber paper produced from fibrillae and fibers made by methods wherein a solution of the fiber is extruded through very small orifices (spinnerets) and then the extruded solution is allowed to congeal either in a precipitating bath or by evaporation of the solvent or by temperature changes (see column 2, lines 25 and following). The patent says that fibers of cellulose acetate, cellulose nitrate, regenerated cellulose from viscose, xe2x80x9cVinylite (a synthetic resin made by polymerization of vinyl compounds), Aralac (a fibrous product made from skim milk casein), and spun glassxe2x80x9d which range in length from _inch to 1 inch and in diameter from 12-80 microns and fibrillae preferably derived from flax, Manila hemp, caroa or hemp can be used to make the paper. At least 90 percent of the fibrillae should be from 0.0015 to 0.0025 inch in length and from 0.0000027 to 0.0000044 inch in width.
The instant invention is based upon the discovery that comparatively small additions of wood pulp, if beaten or refined to a sufficient degree to produce a highly fibrillated cellulose fiber, to a glass fiber furnish suitable for use in making battery separator material,
(1) cause surprisingly high increases in some of the strength properties of separator made from the furnish,
(2) improve the cut through resistance of a separator made from the furnish,
(3) and have a unique characteristic in that they hold a greater proportion of acid introduced thereunto when the separator is subsequently compressed.
In addition, the separator is repulpable, in the sense that it can be used as a constituent of a glass fiber which is used to produce xe2x80x9cnewxe2x80x9d separator: furthermore, batteries made from glass fiber separator material which contains comparatively small amounts of wood pulp which has been beaten or refined to a sufficient degree, have remarkably long service lives, as indicated by their performance in cycling tests. In general, the pulp slurry should be beaten or refined to a Canadian freeness not greater than about 650 cc, or to an equivalent freeness by other measurement techniques, and a remarkable increase in tensile strength is achieved when the pulp is beaten or refined to a Canadian freeness not greater than about 120 cc, or to an equivalent freeness by other measurement techniques.

Glass fiber separators for lead-acid batteries


The present invention provides basic ionic contrast agents that have anticoagulant activity. The contrast media incorporate a lysine or arginine group or derivative, and have a free amino or guanidino group. Methods of using the contrast media are also disclosed.

The present invention concerns compounds useful as contrast media for angiography, formulations thereof, and methods of using the same. The present invention is particularly concerned with contrast media that have anticoagulant properties.
The occurrence of thrombosis during angiographic procedures is problematic. The anticoagulant properties of the currently available commercial contrast media are questionable. The nonionic contrast media are being investigated for their potential role in a thrombotic event during angiography. The ionic contrast media are thought to have some anticoagulant properties, however, they are less tolerated physiologically by the patient compared to nonionic contrast media. Accordingly, the provision of a contrast media with both anticoagulant properties and good physiological properties would be extremely valuable.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,953,501 to Klieger describes compounds of the formula:
U.S. Pat. No. 4,264,572 to Klieger et al. describes X-Ray contrast media having the following general formula:
P. Dawson, Embolic Problems in Angiography, Seminars in Hematology 28, 31-37 (1991), states that anticoagulant activity can not be provided in a non-ionic contrast agent without a general increase in toxicity of that agent.
The present invention provides basic ionic contrast agents that have anticoagulant activity.
A first aspect of the present invention is a compound of Formula I:
wherein:
R1 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl and alkyl substituted with hydroxy or alkoxy;
R2, R3 and R4 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkyl;
R5 and R6 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl and hydroxyalky,
n is from 1 to 3;
Z isxe2x80x94Axe2x80x94NHCH3, or when R1 is hydroxy or alkoxy substituted alkyl and/or when R3 is loweralkyl, Z can also be hydroxy-C2-5-alkylamino;
A is:
xe2x80x83wherein
R7 is H or alkyl;
R8 is H, alkyl, or alkyl substituted by hydroxy or alkoxy;
or together R7 and R8 form a propylene or hydroxypropylene ring;
m is 0 or 1;
R9 and R10 are each independently H or alkyl; or R9 and R10 together form C4-C8 (preferably C4) alkylene which is unsubstituted or substituted from one to three times with alkyl (e.g., methyl) or hydroxy;
R11 is amnino or guanidino;
o is from two to six, preferably 3 or 4; or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof.
A second aspect of the present invention is compounds Formula II:
wherein:
R1 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl and alkyl substituted with hydroxy or alkoxy;
R2 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkyl;
R5 and R12 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl and hydroxyalky,
R9 and R10 are each independently H or alkyl; or R9 and R10 together form C4-C8 (preferably C5) alkylene which is unsubstituted or substituted from one to three times with alkyl (e.g., methyl) or hydroxy;
R11 is amino or guanidino;
o is from two to six, preferably 3 or 4 or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof.
A third aspect of the present invention is a contrast media comprising an amount of a compound of Formula I or II above effective as a contrast medium in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
A fourth aspect of the present invention is the use of a compound of Formula I or II above for the preparation of a contrast media.
A fifth aspect of the present invention is a method of visualizing an internal organ or structure of a patient which comprises administering to the patient an amount of a compound of Formula I or II above effective as a contrast medium, and then exposing said organ or structure to a diagnostic imaging treatment. The structure to be imaged can be a platelet or fibrin thrombus.
The present invention is explained in greater detail in the specification set forth below.
Organs or structures that may be imaged by the contrast media of the present invention include blood vessels, a thrombus within a vessel, heart, brain, kidney, liver, lungs, spleen, etc. as well as portions thereof. Thus the entirety of an organ or structure need not be imaged, but only the portion thereof of diagnostic interest.
Diagnostic imaging treatments used to carry out the method of the present invention may be of any type, including magnetic resonance imaging and CT, but typically are X-ray diagnostic imaging treatments.
Alkyl as used herein is C1-4 loweralkyl; alkoxy as used herein is C1-C4 loweralkoxy, and more preferably C1-2 loweralkoxy.
The lower alkyl residue R1, which where appropriate can be substituted singly or multiply, may contain from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 2 carbon atoms, in the alkyl residue. Suitable substituents include hydroxy, preferably 1-2 groups, or alkoxy of 1-2 carbon atoms, preferably one group. Preferred lower alkyl residues R1 have 1-2 carbon atoms and may be substituted by hydroxy or alkoxy, such as, e.g., methyl, ethyl, methoxymethyl, hydroxymethyl and the like.
Suitable lower alkyl residues for R2, R3 and R4 have 1-4 carbon atoms, preferably 1-2 carbon atoms, for instance methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl and the like.
Suitable lower alkyl residues for R5 have 1-4 carbon atoms and especially have 1-2 carbon atoms, for instance, methyl or ethyl. This alkyl residue may optionally be substituted by hydroxy, preferably 1-2 groups; n preferably has a value of 1.
When Z is straight-chain or branched hydroxy lower alkylaiino, the alkyl residue may contain 2-5 carbon atoms, and, e.g., 1-3 hydroxy substituents. If Z is a straight chain group, the alkyl residue preferably contains 2-5 carbon atoms; if Z is branched, the alkyl residue preferably contains 3-5 carbon atoms. The hydroxy groups in Z may be present as primary or secondary hydroxy groups. Suitable Z residues include, e.g., 2-hydroxypropylamino, 3-hydroxypropylamino, 2-hydroxy-1, 1-dimethylethylamino, 3-hydroxy-1, 1-dimethylpropylamino and, preferably, 2-hydroxyethylamino.
Suitable bridging amino acid residues A include those derived from an amino carboxylic acid of arbitrary configuration. Included are those residues which are equivalents of, e.g., the preferred amino acid residue of the formula
wherein m is 0 or 1, R7 is hydrogen or lower alkyl of 1-4 carbon atoms, preferably 1-2 carbon atoms, R8 is hydrogen or lower alkyl of 1-4 carbon atoms which also may be straightchain or branched and which may be substituted by hydroxy, preferably 1-2 groups or lower alkoxy of 1-2 carbon atoms, preferably 1-2 groups, and wherein R7 and R8 together may form a propylene or hydroxypropylene group. Examples of suitable aminocarboxylic acids include glycine, alanine, valine, serine, O-methylserine, proline, hydroxyproline, leucine, isoleucine, sarcosine, beta-alanine and the like. Especially preferred are alpha -amino-carboxylic acids in which R7 is hydrogen or methyl and R8 is hydrogen or lower alkyl of 1-2 carbon atoms which may be hydroxy- or methoxy-substituted.


Various embodiments of the invention provide methods, systems, and computer-program products for setting up a callback for a party placed on hold. In particular embodiments, speech analytics is used to listen in on a party once the party has been placed on hold for a keyword spoken by the party indicating the party would like to receive a callback. In response to detecting the keyword spoken by the party, a notification is sent to a component such as an IVR and in turn, the IVR interacts with the party to obtain information from the party with respect to placing a callback to the party. Accordingly, this information is recorded so that a callback can be placed to the party at a later time by some type of call handler component such as, for example, a dialer or PBX.

Contact centers frequently handle more calls (e.g., placed or received) at any given time than the centers have available agents to field the calls. When this occurs, in many instances, the "excess" calls are placed on hold in a queue until agents become available to field these calls. However, the time a particular call remains on hold in the queue can vary greatly. As a result, the parties on excess calls that remain on hold too long often become impatient and frustrated. This can lead to these frustrated parties simply hanging up.
In some instances, contact centers have attempted to combat this problem by offering a party an opportunity to receive a callback call ("callback") instead of being placed on hold. However, if the party decides to forgo a callback and instead be placed on hold, often the party is then placed on hold without any further consideration by the contact center until an agent becomes available to field the party's call. As a result, many such parties placed on hold after forgoing a callback still become impatient and frustrated for remaining on hold too long. Thus, a need exists in the industry for a better process for handling calls that have been placed on hold with respect to providing the parties on these calls opportunities to receive a callback. It is with respect to this consideration and others that the disclosure herein is presented.

Using a speech analytics system to offer callbacks


In an ultrasound imaging system, a multiplexer connects a beamformer to a multi-row transducer array, where the array has more electrically independent transducer elements than the beamformer has channels, so as to provide dynamic selection and beamforming control of multi-row apertures. The multiplexer allows the active aperture to be scanned along at least one axis of the array and allows the shape of the active aperture to be varied electronically. The multiplexer, which supports transmit and receive apertures appropriate for synthetic aperture beamforming, is of modular construction, enabling multiplexers appropriate for transducer arrays with various numbers of rows and columns of elements to be easily assembled from a standard set of parts. The multiplexer is physically designed as a passive backplane into which various switch cards can be plugged. The card connectors are arranged in two parallel columns. Traces from system channels are distributed on the backplane; coaxial leads from transducer elements are connected to the switch cards.

A conventional ultrasound imaging system comprises an array of ultrasonic transducers for transmitting an ultrasound beam and receiving a reflected beam from the object being studied. For ultrasound imaging, a one-dimensional array typically has a multiplicity of transducers arranged in a line and driven with separate voltages. By selecting the time delay (or phase) and amplitude of the applied voltages, the individual transducers can be controlled to produce ultrasonic waves which combine to form a net ultrasonic wave that travels along a preferred vector direction and is focused at a selected point along the beam. Multiple firings may be used to acquire data representing the same anatomical information. The beamforming parameters of each of the firings may be varied to provide a change in maximum focus or otherwise change the content of the received data for each firing, e.g., by transmitting successive beams along the same scan line with the focal point of each beam being shifted relative to the focal point of the previous beam. By changing the time delay and amplitude of the applied voltages, the beam with its focal point can be moved in a plane to scan the object.
The same principles apply when the transducer array is employed to receive the reflected sound energy (receiver mode). The voltages produced at the receiving transducers are summed so that the net signal is indicative of the ultrasound reflected from a single focal point in the object. As with the transmission mode, this focused reception of the ultrasonic energy is achieved by imparting a separate time delay (and/or phase shift) and gain to the signal from each receiving transducer.
A phased-array ultrasound transducer is made up of an array of small piezoelectric transducer elements, with an independent electrical connection to each element. In most conventional transducers the elements are arranged in a single row, spaced at a fine pitch (one-half to one acoustic wavelength on center). As used herein, the term "1D" transducer array refers to a single-row transducer array having an elevation aperture which is fixed and an elevation focus which is at a fixed range. Electronic circuitry coupled to the elements uses time delays, and sometimes phase rotations, to control the transmitted and received signals and form ultrasound beams which are steered and focused throughout the imaging plane. For some ultrasound systems and probes, the number of transducer elements in the probe exceeds the number of channels of beamformer electronics in the system. In these cases an electronic multiplexer is used to dynamically couple the available channels to different (typically contiguous) subsets of the transducer elements during different portions of the image formation process.
A typical 1D linear or convex transducer array and multiplexer may operate with 128 beamformer channels, but the transducer array itself may have significantly more elements. A multiplexer can allow a set of contiguous transducer elements to be simultaneously coupled to the beamformer channels via coaxial cables. By closing switches coupled to respective transducer elements in a set, the beamformer may be coupled to one end of the transducer array and focused beams of ultrasound may be transmitted and received to acquire data for the corresponding edge of the image. As the point of origin of successive ultrasound beams steps along the transducer array toward the opposite end, it becomes advantageous to shift the active aperture so that the origin of the ultrasound beam is centered within it. To shift the aperture from the extreme left end of the array, for example, by one element toward the opposite end, the multiplexer switch coupled to the first element is opened and the switch coupled to the last element in a subsequent set is closed. This shifts the first beamformer channel from the one end to the opposite end of the active aperture, while leaving all other channels and elements connected as before. The time delays and other beamforming parameters are changed by the software to correspond to the new multiplexer state and one or more additional image vectors are acquired. Then the aperture is stepped further to the right, by opening the switch coupled to the second element and closing the switch coupled to the next element in the subsequent set. In this manner the active aperture can be stepped sequentially from one end of the transducer array to the other.
Various types of multi-row transducer arrays, including so-called "1.25D", "1.5D", "1.75D" and "2D" arrays, have been developed to improve upon the limited elevation performance of 1D arrays. As used herein, these terms have the following meanings: 1.25D) elevation aperture is variable, but focusing remains static; 1.5D) elevation aperture, shading, and focusing are dynamically variable, but symmetric about the centerline of the array; 1.75D) elevation geometry and control are similar to 1.5D, but without the symmetry constraint; and 2D) elevation geometry and performance are comparable to azimuth, with full electronic apodization, focusing and steering. The elevation aperture of a 1.25D probe increases with range, but the elevation focusing of that aperture is static and determined principally by a mechanical lens, with a fixed focus (or fixed foci). 1.25D probes can provide substantially better near-field and far-field slice thickness performance than 1D probes, and require no additional system beamformer channels. 1.5D probes use additional beamformer channels to provide dynamic focusing and apodization in elevation. 1.5D probes can provide detail resolution comparable to, and contrast resolution substantially better than, 1.25D probes, particularly in the mid-field and far-field. 1.75D probes, with independent control of the beamforming time delays for all elements in the aperture, allow the beamformer to adaptively compensate for inhomogeneous propagation velocities in the body (or nonuniformities in the imaging system or transducer). In addition to such adaptive beamforming or phase aberration control, 1.75D probes may also support limited beam steering in the elevation direction.
By providing at least apodization (1.25D) and perhaps dynamic beamforming (1.5D), phase aberration control (1.75D), or full 2D beam steering, multi-row transducer arrays significantly improve upon the limited elevation performance of 1D probes. However, as the number of elements in the transducer increases, the number of channels in the beamformer is not keeping pace, and the function of the multiplexer is increasingly important.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,520,187 to Snyder, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein, while not discussing multi-row transducer arrays, describes a flexible multiplexer which supports different multiplexer states for systems with different numbers of beamformer channels. The multiplexer states can be reprogrammed by the ultrasound imaging system, e.g., via a serial interface. These features are advantageously used in multi-row array multiplexers such as those disclosed hereinbelow.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,329,930 to Thomas and Harsh, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein, discloses a method of synthetic aperture imaging, whereby a finite number of system beamformer channels are coupled via a multiplexer to successive subsets of a large number of transducer elements. For each desired image vector and for each subset of the transducer elements, an acoustic beam is transmitted, received and summed coherently with the acoustic data from the other subsets of the transducer elements. In this way an N-channel beamformer can achieve most of the resolution and signal-to-noise performance available from an (M.times.N)-element transducer, albeit at the cost of M transmit-receive cycles per resulting image vector (hence the name 1-for-M or 1:M imaging). Thomas and Harsh discuss criteria for the multiplexer but do not disclose any specific design for it. The multiplexer disclosed hereinbelow satisfies the criteria of U.S. Pat. No. 5,329,930 and is designed to support 1:M beamforming of 1.5D and 1.75D transducer arrays.

Imaging system with multiplexer for controlling a multi-row ultrasonic transducer array


The present invention is directed to a system and method for continuously or substantially continuously separating particulate matter based on particle size and/or density of the matter. The system includes a separation chamber having a bottom portion disposed within a cavity of a rotatable bowl having fluid therein, preferably water. The internal cavity of the separation chamber is maintained under negative pressure such that fluid is drawn through the separation chamber at a predetermined velocity to separate the solids. Larger, dewatered and/or denser solids are directed to the cavity of the rotatable bowl and can be removed by rotation of the bowl while the smaller and/or less dense solids and fluid travel up through the separation chamber.

In rotary drilling operations, a fluid commonly called "drilling mud" is circulated into and out of the hole being drilled. Drilling mud is used to control subsurface pressures, lubricate the drill bit, stabilize the well bore, and carry the cuttings to the surface, among other functions. In a typical drilling mud circulation system, drilling mud is circulated down a drill string, i.e. a pipe and tool configuration, directed through openings in a drill bit on the lower end of the drill pipe, and returned to the surface through the annular space between the drill string and the walls of the hole and a casing. As the drill bit grinds rocks into drill cuttings, the resulting debris, including sand, gravel, clay, and other particulate matter, is typically transported out of the hole to clean the debris prior to discarding the debris and to further separate any hydrocarbon material from the drilling mud.
It is known in the art to process the drill mud and drill cuttings mixture by directing the return drill mud mixture through shakers, screens, centrifuges, and fluidized beds to separate the cuttings from the drill mud before returning the drill mud to a storage area for reuse and to discard the drill cuttings. It is desirable, not only to remove the larger more coarse particles from the drill mud and cuttings mixture, but also to further remove as many fine solids as possible because these particles tend to interfere with drilling performance.
However, numerous deficiencies exist with respect to these known devices. Shaker screens are especially prone to clogging and wear, especially when drilling into clay. Cyclones are also prone to wear and require a significant amount of pump energy. Centrifuges, as well as shaker screens and cyclones, are generally unable to adequately separate clays from sand and gravel. These deficiencies exist with the use of such devices to separate drill cuttings from drill mud and to clean the separated cuttings, but such deficiencies also exist with the use of these devices to separate cement from sand, separate various minerals from one another, and other solid/solid or solid/fluid separations.
Moreover, while a number of other stand-alone separation devices are known, such devices are incapable of continuously separating particulate matter and continuously removing the separated particles from the separation device. Still another deficiency with such prior art devices is that they generally require the addition of a significant amount of fluid in order to separate the solid material, thereby increasing the costs of such separation.
Accordingly, there is a substantial need for a method and system that is efficient, cost effective, and environmentally safe, and that can be performed in a continuous mode to separate particulate matter based on particle size and/or density with a minimal amount of added fluid.

Method and system for separating particulate matter


A method of controlling a twin-clutch transmission with a first partial transmission with which are associated a first engine clutch and a first group of gears, and a second partial transmission with which are associated a second engine clutch and a second group of gears, said method containing the step of engaging a forward gear associated with one partial transmission and a reverse gear associated with the other partial transmission when the transmission, with the motor vehicle at a standstill, is in a non-driving position.

Twin-clutch transmissions consist of two partial transmissions, a group of gears and an engine clutch associated with each of them. Such a twin-clutch transmission is known, for example, from DE 35 46 454 A1.
Usually, the even-numbered gears are associated with one partial transmission and the odd-numbered gears with the other partial transmission so that in a normal, sequential gear-shifting operation, namely in going from an engaged old gear to the next higher or next lower target gear, one jumps between the partial transmissions. If the starting gear is associated with the first partial transmission, then first the engine clutch associated with the partial transmission of the new gear is opened, the new gear is engaged, and in a subsequent overlapping opening of the engine clutch associated with the partial transmission of the old gear and closing of the engine clutch associated with the partial transmission of the new gear, the new gear is engaged. The force transmission take place alternatingly via the first partial transmission with the first engine clutch and the first transmission input shaft and via the second partial transmission with the second engine clutch and the second transmission input shaft.
Twin-clutch transmissions are mostly automated, because manual operation of two engine clutches and gear-shifting with two gears engaged temporarily and at the same time would require a considerable mechanical effort.
From DE 101 09 662 A1 is known a control strategy for a twin-clutch transmission which is used in situations wherein multiple short-lasting changes in travel direction arise, for example when maneuvering from or in parking places or when rocking in snow. To avoid the many internal gear switching and clutching operations and at the same time minimize clutch wear, DE 101 09 662 A1 proposes, when a vehicle is in a travel direction-change mode in which frequent changes are made between forward and reverse travel, to keep a forward gear permanently engaged in one partial transmission and a reverse gear permanently engaged in the other partial transmission. The change in travel direction is then brought about by alternate opening of the engine clutch associated with one partial transmission and closing of the one associated with the other partial transmission. In the partial transmissions, the lowest of the reverse gears and the lowest of the forward gears are usually selected. Whether a vehicle is in a travel direction-change mode is determined either manually by actuation of a switch or automatically, a travel direction-change mode being assumed when within a certain predetermined time period several changes in travel direction are made to occur. The end of the travel direction-change mode is indicated, for example, by the brake pedal actuation exceeding a predetermined time interval or by the gas pedal actuation exceeding a certain brake pressure, a certain time interval or a predetermined pedal travel distance or the like.
Moreover, automated control of such a twin-clutch transmission often assumes pre-selection or early engagement of a starting gear when the vehicle is at a standstill and when the shift lever is in a non-driving position. In particular, this is intended to ensure a spontaneous reaction of the motor vehicle, particularly in combination with a parking brake that is actuated by the gear actuator. Moreover, particularly at low temperatures, pre-selection is often desirable to avoid switching noises, namely unpleasant noises during switching resulting from the drag torques in the clutch. Wet clutches have higher drag torques than do dry ones.
On the other hand, particularly under cold conditions when the viscosity of the clutch fluid (for example the transmission oil) is elevated, the drag torque can reach the magnitude of the creep torque of the motor vehicle so that it is possible for a vehicle with pre-selected starting gear to creep even though the clutch is not yet engaged, for example if the shift lever is in the neutral position (N) or park position (P).

Method for controlling a twin-clutch transmission

LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG


A thermal cutoff includes a first fusible element, a second fusible element, and a closed cavity bounded by a housing having an open end, a cover plate, and a sealant. The two ends of the first fusible element and the two ends of the second fusible element are connected in parallel to a first electrode and a second electrode, respectively. The first fusible element and the second fusible element are provided in the closed cavity. A direction extending from a closed end to the open end of the housing is defined as a vertical direction. The first fusible element and the second fusible element are vertically arranged. The thermal cutoff has a vertical configuration and thus in its entirety has an elongated shape to meet corresponding application requirements.

High-voltage thermal cutoffs have numerous applications. They are used, for example, as circuit protection devices in heating systems in electric vehicles. In a typical high-voltage thermal cutoff, two fuse links (where the two fuse links are both fusible alloys, or one of them is a fusible alloy and the other is an alloy wire) are arranged side by side horizontally. Applicant previously proposed thermal cutoffs, as disclosed in Chinese patent No. CN208093500U and No. CN206976273U, in which two fuse links are arranged side by side horizontally at the welding ends of two electrode plates.
Although the high-voltage thermal cutoff with such a configuration has advantages in manufacture, in its entirety, the high-voltage thermal cutoff is shaped like a large block or a flat sheet, and thus cannot be effectively used in many applications due to limitations caused by its shape. For example, in a heater of a liquid cooling system, due to the arrangement of the circuit board and other control parts, the space left for the thermal cutoff is relatively small. In this case, the prior parallel configuration is not suitable for positions with higher space requirements on compactness.


Ripcord pins secure a parachute pack and, on removal, allow the parachute to be deployed from the pack. Such pins are provided with indicating means that provide an indication, such as a visual indication, that the pin has been bent. This avoids the re-use of straightened pins that may break in use.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to parachute ripcord pins and to parachute packs incorporating such pins.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Prior to deployment, a parachute is held in a parachute pack closed by flaps held in place by a parachute ripcord pin or more than one such pin. The parachute ripcord pin or pins is/are connected to a ripcord which is pulled, either by a parachutist or by a static line or a pilot chute, to remove the pin(s), so allowing the pack to open and the parachute to deploy. After the parachute has been deployed, it may be refolded and repacked and the ripcord pin(s) reused to close the pack.
It is possible, in use, for a parachute ripcord pin to be deformed, for example, by being bent. It is known for those repacking parachutes to straighten such a deformed pin before reusing the pin. It is possible, however, for such deformation and straightening so to weaken the pin that, in use, the pin will break. This can happen when or before the ripcord is pulled, leaving the pin in the pack and, plainly, the consequences of this are potentially very dangerous.


A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of memory cells each including a transistor formed on a surface of a semiconductor substrate and having one terminal, and a capacitor formed on the semiconductor substrate and having first and second electrodes, with the first electrode being connected with one terminal of the transistor. The first electrode of the capacitor includes of a principal portion of either a generally rectangular cubic configuration or a generally cup-shaped configuration, a peripheral portion spaced from and surrounding a peripheral side wall of the principal portion and a bottom portion connecting an end of the principal portion with an end of the peripheral portion. On the other hand, the second electrode of the capacitor is includes of respective portions confronting the principal portion, the peripheral portion and the bottom portion of the first electrode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the structure of a semiconductor memory element and, more particularly, to memory cells for DRAMs (dynamic random access memories) and a method of making the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
The storage capacity of DRAMs, one of the highly sophisticated high-density storage elements, has increased at a multiplication of 4 in three years, and it is suspected that the DRAMs would be designed to have a storage capacitor increasing from 4M, 16M, 64M and so on with passage of time. In order to accomplish the fabrication of high-density RAMs, memory cells used in the DRAM as storage elements must have a reduced size. On the other hand, in order to obtain an immunity against soft error which would result from radiations and also to secure signals of sufficient S/N ratio, the charge storage capacitance of each memory cell must be of a value higher than a certain minimum value. Because of this, it is not possible to form a charge storage capacitor on a semiconductor surface in DRAMs having a storage capacity higher than 4M. Instead, it is a recent trend to fabricate a three-dimensional memory cell structure wherein the charge storage capacitor is formed in a hole or a groove defined in a semiconductor substrate or over a MOS transistor formed on a surface of the semiconductor substrate.
The technique in which the charge storage capacitor is formed in the hole or groove defined in the semiconductor substrate, that is, inside a trench, is advantageous in that, because the charge storage capacitance can be increased depending on the depth of the trench, the memory cell can be reduced in size. However, this technique has a disadvantage in that it is not technically easy to form a relatively deep trench with good reproducibility.
On the other hand, a stacked memory cell which has the charge storage capacitor formed over the MOS transistor, is relatively suited for production. However, when as compared with the capacitance of the memory cell utilizing the trench, the stacked memory cell has a limited capacitance and is not suited for use in DRAMs where the latter are desired to have an increased storage capacity of from 16M towards 64M. This is because a reduction in cell size tends to result in an abrupt decrease of the charge storage capacitance because the polycrystalline silicon film forming charge storage electrodes in the stacked memory cell has a relatively small thickness, for example, about 0.3 .mu.m which allows most of the charges to be accumulated on surface areas of the electrodes.


The present invention includes a Myogenic vector system (MVS) for the expression of a nucleic acid sequence in myogenic tissue. The MVS contains a promoter, a cassette with the sequence of interest, a 3' untranslated region (3' UTR) and contiguous noncoding region (NCR). Further enhancements can include the addition of a leader sequence, intron sequence, initiation codon and specific. This invention was partially supported by a grant from the United States government under HL-38401 awarded by the National Institute of Health. The Government has certain rights in the invention.

Actin is a contractile protein found in most cell types. Actin proteins are represented by similar but nonidentical isoforms which in warm blooded vertebrates are encoded by multigene families. Actin is expressed in a developmentally timed dependent and tissue specific manner, in which adult muscle tissues express exclusively the skeletal alpha actin gene as the predominant actin isoform. The nucleic acid sequence of skeletal alpha actin gene has been characterized in chicken, rat, mouse and human. Fornwald et al., Nucleic Acids Res., Vol. 10, pp. 3861-3876 (1982); French et al., Gene, Vol. 88, pp. 173-180 (1990); Zak et al., Nature, Vol. 298, pp. 857-859 (1982); Hu et al., Mol. Cell. Biol., Vol. 6, pp. 15-25 (1986) and Minty and Kedes, Mol. Cell. Biol., Vol. 6, pp. 2125-2136 (1986).
Once a gene has been characterized and sequenced it can be mapped to determine its protein coding and noncoding portions. RNA transcripts are initiated from a promoter region start site at the messenger RNA cap and continue through the protein coding region to the noncoding region involved with transcriptional termination. Post transcriptional processing of the RNA transcripts removes the noncoding introns to form a continuous coding sequence. Further, there is progressive trimming of the RNA transcript to the polyadenylation signals, found in the noncoding 3' untranslated portion of the processed messenger RNA. The levels of messenger RNA biosynthesis and accumulation is determined by parts of the unexpressed portion of the gene. For example the promoter, which is part of the unexpressed portion of the gene, is involved in determining gene expression. It regulates when and how the expressed gene is transcribed. The accumulation of RNA transcripts, however, may relate to the intrinsic stability of that RNA in a particular cell type. This intrinsic stability is dependent on sequences within the MRNA that provide stabilization. Thus, the ability to express a particular gene product is a balance between transcription rate and the stability of the MRNA transcript.
Expression of the actin gene family is tissue specific. The skeletal alpha actin protein is expressed primarily in cardiac and skeletal muscle tissues. Transient transfection experiments indicated that regions within the 200 bp promoter region are sufficient for tissue restricted expression in primary myoblasts. Bergsma, et al, Mol. Cell. Biol., Vol.6 pp. 2462-2475 (1986) and Chow and Schwartz Mol. Cell Biol., Vol.10 pp. 528-538 (1990). Further, the promoter region harbors conserved cis-acting elements to accurately initiate skeletal alpha actin transcripts from the bacterial reporter gene chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) in differentiating myoblasts. Grichnik et al. Nucleic Acids Res., Vol. 14, pp. 1683-1701 (1986). Transgenic mice with an integrated skeletal alpha actin promoter showed preferential expression of the CAT gene in myogenic tissues Petropulous et al. Mol. Cell. Biol., Vol. 9 pp. 3785-3792 (1989). It is also known that CAT activity is detectable as early as 10 days in the mouse embryo when the embryonic heart is first being formed. Further, CAT activity can be induced in newborn skeletal muscle. Thus, the skeletal actin promoter can switch transcriptional activity in mammalian systems, to provide muscle restricted expression. However, when measurements were made to compare the levels of CAT messenger RNA to that of the endogenous skeletal alpha actin messenger RNA (which in the adult muscle was found at levels over thousand fold higher than the embryo), the CAT messenger RNA could not be detected by standard RNA blotting techniques. These experimental results showed that even though small amounts CAT protein accumulated in skeletal muscle, the CAT messenger RNA never accumulated to the levels of RNA transcripts from the endogenous skeletal actin gene.
Current trends for optimizing gene transcription vectors have been directed towards increasing the transcriptional activity of the vector system. For example, Observations in the human Beta globin gene system indicated that expression in transgenic mice was never as high as the expression of the endogenous mouse Beta globin gene. Grosveld and co-workers Cell, Vol. 51, pp 975-985 (1987) It was determined that the sites surrounding the globin locus contain a number of DNAse hypersensitive sites that are termed the dominant control region. This region appears to act as tissue specific enhancers. When some of these sites were cloned into a minilocus gene it provided erythroid tissue specific expression in transgenic animals. Regulatory sequences similar to the dominant control regions have been described for human CD2. Greaves et al. Cell, Vol. 56, pp. 979-986 (1988). It is known that the avian skeletal actin promoter is as active as the SV40 promoter which is a standard for high levels of expression. Bergsma, et al, (1986). Hence, the skeletal actin promoter is not the cause for low levels of messenger RNA accumulation. Thus, the actin promoter is by itself insufficient to drive the expression of other gene products to accumulate at levels which are comparable to the intact skeletal alpha actin MRNA.
The rate of metabolic breakdown of MRNA molecules is an important factor in the regulation of gene expression. The rates of decay of individual MRNA species can affect strongly the steady state levels of these species in the cytoplasm. Consequently, the extent of expression of a given gene, as measured by the rate of synthesis of the corresponding protein, will be dependent to a large extent on the degree of stability of the MRNA derived from this gene. Messenger RNA from skeletal muscle was previously shown to be distributed into two populations with regard to its stability. Medford et al. J. Biol. Chem., Vol. 258, pp. 11063-11073 (1983). One MRNA population had a half life of less than 4 hours and the other population had a half-life of 17-to over 54 hours.
Comparison of the untranslated regions in vertebrate skeletal alpha, cardiac alpha, and beta actin MRNA has revealed regions of high sequence homology within the 3' untranslated portion of each of these actin isoformic MRNA and that this homology is greater among the alpha-cardiac and skeletal actin isoforms than between alpha striated actin and beta actin isoform MRNA. Mayer et al., Nucl. Acids Res., Vol 12. pp. 1087-1100 (1984); Ponte et al., Nucl. Acids Res., Vol. 12 pp. 1687-1696 (1984); Chang et al., Nucl. Acids Res., Vol. 13 pp. 1223-1237 (1985). In comparison, other vertebrate genes, such as those encoding insulin and prolactin share common coding regions but usually contain divergent 3' untranslated regions. The preservation of the 3' untranslated regions of the skeletal alpha actin gene in animal species ranging from birds to humans suggests that they have important biological roles. In the present invention, the incorporation of the myogenic specifies 3' untranslated region into recombinant DNA vectors for expressing polypeptides in muscle tissue was found to be highly advantageous, since it enhanced the polypeptide MRNA content in muscle by increasing stability.


A solid laser apparatus has a wavelength converter temperature controller 40 arranged for driving a Peltier device 41 to control the temperature Tc of a wavelength converter 5 so that the acceptable wavelength range of the wavelength converter 5 adapts to the wavelength range of reflected light from the grating part 6 at the temperature Ti and a laser controller 60 arranged for driving a semiconductor light amplifier device 1 to maintain the intensity of the extraordinary component passed through the polarizer 52 and measured by a photometer device 57.

A semiconductor laser module is known which includes a combination of a laser diode and an optical fiber having a grating provided therein for stabilizing the wavelength of a laser output (See document 1 as an example).
Also, a technique is known for using a wavelength converter to carry out an action of wavelength conversion from a laser beam of which the wavelength has been fixed by a grating to harmonics (See document 2 as an example)
Moreover, a technique is known for modifying the temperature of a wavelength converter to produce an output of harmonic light at stable level regardless of changes in the ambient temperature and the wavelength of a laser diode (See document 3 as an example).
Moreover, a technique is known where the output of laser beam is controlled by adjusting a current for driving a semiconductor laser with a measurement, detected by a detector, of the intensity of a portion of harmonic light released from a wavelength converter and separated by a splitter (See document 3 as an example).
Document 1                Japanese Patent No. 3120828
Document 2                Japanese Patent No. 3223648
Document 3                Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication (Heisei) 5-53163
Document 4                Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication 2000-138405(Problems that the Invention is to Solve)
It is assumed that the wavelength bandwidth of the fundamental wave of light released from an optical fiber having a grating part provided therein and received by a wavelength converter is 0.6 nm and the center wavelength λi of the released wavelength range is varied by δλi=0.01 nm/° C. depending on the temperature of the grating part.
Also, the acceptable wavelength bandwidth of the wavelength converter is 0.1 nm, and the center wavelength λc of the acceptable wavelength range is varied by δλc=0.06 nm/C.° depending on the temperature of the wavelength converter.
Accordingly, even if the center wavelength λi of the released wavelength range of the fundamental wave of light released from the optical fiber is equal to the center wavelength λc of the acceptable wavelength range of the wavelength converter when the temperature of the grating part and the temperature of the wavelength converter are at a reference temperature To, while the temperature of the grating part and the temperature of the wavelength converter are changed by ΔT in the ambient temperature change, the center wavelength λi of the released wavelength range of the fundamental wave of light released from the optical fiber is completely deviated from the center wavelength λc of the acceptable wavelength range of the wavelength converter, thus allowing no output of harmonic light.ΔT={(released wavelength range of the grating part)/2+(acceptable wavelength range of the wavelength converter)/2}/(δλc−δλi)={(0.6/2)+(0.1/2)}/(0.06−0.01)=7° C.
However, none of the prior arts is successfully designed for overcoming the foregoing problem.
On the other hand, the inventors have developed a solid laser apparatus which produces a near ultraviolet ray or visible light by emitting laser light of red color to near infrared ray by a semiconductor laser, stabilizing in the wavelength by an optical fiber having a grating part provided therein and generating second harmonic of the fundamental wave of the laser light from the optical fiber by a wavelength converter which has a structure of periodically poled non-linear optical crystal. And in view of the demand for linearly polarized waves particularly in the measuring field or bio-engineering field, the second harmonic of linearly polarized light is created by setting the crystal axis and the direction of polarization of the wavelength converter to convert the extraordinary fundamental wave into the extraordinary second harmonic. Also, the intensity of output light is controlled by separating a portion of the harmonic light emitted from the wavelength converter by a splitter, measureing the intensity of the separeted light by the detector and modifying the current for driving the semiconductor laser with a measurement result.
However, the intensity of a desired output, that is, linearly polarized light may hardly be controlled depending on the wavelength of the fundamental wave.
It is hence an object of the present invention to provide a solid laser apparatus which can produce an output of harmonic light at stable level regardless of any change in the ambient temperature and can eliminate the occurrence of a state where the intensity of a desired output of light, that is, linearly polarized light fails to be properly controlled.


Weldable adhesive compositions that dampen noise or vibration are described. In addition, various tape products that include the adhesive compositions are described. Also described are various methods of damping noise or vibration by use of the adhesive compositions and tapes. In addition, vibration damping assemblies utilizing the adhesives are described.

Welding is a process used to join materials, typically metals, by melting the workpieces and adding a filler material to form a pool of molten material, i.e., the weld pool, that upon cooling and solidification, forms a strong joint or "weld." Many different energy sources can be used for welding. However, for many applications an electrical current is used.
Prior to welding, many workpieces are stored or otherwise retained until they are needed. Since most workpieces to be welded are metal, any exposed metal surfaces are subject to corrosion. Thus, weldable anticorrosion compositions or "primers" were developed. These coatings can be applied to metal workpieces prior to welding, and serve to protect the workpiece from corrosion. Weldable primer compositions typically contain one or more electrically conductive fillers dispersed in a resinous matrix. The electrically conductive fillers facilitate electric welding of the coated workpieces. Representative weldable compositions are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,110,691; 3,118,048; and 3,687,739 for example.
In fabricating metal structures, vehicle assemblies, and other metal components, adhesives have been used to join metal panels or parts together. The use of adhesives can improve the overall strength and rigidity of the resulting assembly, and lead to an assembly having a lower cost and reduced weight as compared to using mechanical fasteners. Metal assemblies have also been formed using a combination of welding certain components and joining other components using adhesives.
Thus, weldable adhesives have been developed. Weldable adhesives enable adhesive bonding and weld formation at a common location. Combining the benefits of adhesives with the advantages of welding can in many applications lead to a superior assembly. However, using adhesives along a metal interface to be welded requires that the adhesive be weldable and thus electrically conductive.
Therefore, weldable adhesives have been developed which include electrically conductive filler dispersed throughout an adhesive matrix. Examples of weldable adhesives include those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,353,951; 6,641,923; 7,147,897; and 8,796,580.
Although weldable adhesives find wide application such as in vehicle assembly in which sheeted steel panels are welded together, the resulting assemblies typically receive additional treatments and/or processing. For example, many welded vehicle components receive noise damping coatings that serve to reduce road noise and/or vibration when the component is assembled in a vehicle. Such noise damping coatings are typically applied by spraying onto the component, or by immersing the component in a bath of the composition. Such processes require additional capital investment for equipment and increase overall production time. In certain applications, even after application of a noise damping composition, the coated or sprayed vehicle component(s) do not sufficiently reduce noise or vibration. Accordingly, it would be beneficial to provide assemblies of welded components that included noise or vibration damping regions and which in certain applications could eliminate the need for additional application of noise reducing compositions.

Weldable and vibration damping silicone adhesives


Provided are a Ubiquitous Sensor Network (USN) middleware apparatus and method for generating an information service based on heterogeneous sensor networks and a system for providing the information service using the same. In the system, a sensor node constructing a sensor network senses environment information, and a sensor network data transmitter collects sensed data sensed by the sensor node in real-time and transmits the collected sensed data in a message form. A USN middleware extracts object and environment information by cleaning, classifying and integrating the message received from the sensor network data transmitter, generates conditional events and context aware information from the extracted object and environment information, and provides the information service to an application program, the application program providing a user with information related to environment where the sensor network observes.

When data sensed through sensor networks are used, an application program must directly process and integrate the sensed data in order to provide information to a user using a specific sensor network. This way requires a lot of manpower and is cost-consuming. In addition, as the number and kinds of sensor networks required for generating an information service increase, the application program must be modified and enlarged to meet a processing capability requirement with respect to a communication scheme, control protocol, functional features, and sensed data processing scheme of each sensor network. Furthermore, when the sensed data collected from the same sensor network is simultaneously used in one or more application programs, the control and communication cost of gateways and sensor networks increases, resulting in performance degradation of the sensor networks and reduction of power resources.
In Ubiquitous Sensor Network (USN) environment, a plurality of sensor networks having different purposes and functions are expected to be installed or distributed in a wide area. Sensor nodes of each sensor network collect environment information in real-time while they are attached to objects, placed in a position, or in motion.
In order for the application program to provide useful information service to the user, there is a need for a means that can abstract one or more heterogeneous sensor networks, generate events and context aware information by analyzing sensed data from a corresponding sensor network, and provide the generated information to the application rapidly and conveniently. However, such a means does not exist at present.

USN middleware apparatus and method for generating information based on data from heterogeneous sensor networks and information service providing system using the same

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


A high frequency heating device having a switching member screwed into a screw hole formed in a flange and fixed to the exterior. When the exterior is fixed to the body, a through-hole formed at that portion in the rear plate of the body through which the switching member passes is too large for the switching member. Thus, while the switching member is fixable to the exterior, the switching member cannot be fixed to the body onto which the exterior is not mounted. Therefore, a high frequency heating device can be provided, wherein an exterior switch more surely keeps the power supply circuit open when the exterior is removed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a high frequency heating device, such as microwave ovens, and, in particular, to a high frequency heating device including an exterior switch which opens the power supply circuit of the device when its removable exterior for covering an outer surface of the device is removed.
2. Description of the Related Art
High frequency heating devices generally used include a portion which has a high voltage of approximately three to four kV in the machinery chamber and they are provided with an exterior switch which opens the power supply circuit when the exterior for covering an outer surface of the devices is removed so that servicing people or the like do not get an electric shock when they work on maintenance of the devices. For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 58-28888 discloses a high frequency heating device having an exterior switch turned on and off by the exterior.
FIG. 15 is a partially exploded, perspective view showing a high frequency heating device disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 58-28888. In a microwave oven shown in FIG. 15 as one example of the high frequency heating device, an exterior 902 covers an outer surface of the body including a door 903 provided at the front side of the device and is fixed to the body by a screw 904.
An exterior switch 905 which opens and closes the power supply circuit of the device closes the contact point when one wall surface of exterior 903 presses an actuator 906. That is, exterior switch 905 closes the power supply circuit when exterior 903 is mounted, and it opens the power supply circuit when exterior 903 is removed.
When exterior 903 is removed, however, actuator 906 can be inadvertently pressed due to careless behavior of servicing people or the like. More specifically, since exterior switch 905 is structured to be operated only by flat exterior 906, the contact point of the exterior switch can be closed with exterior 903 removed when actuator 906 is inadvertently pressed. This means that for microwave oven 900, the power supply circuit can be closed with exterior 903 removed, and maintenance of the device by servicing people or the like is considerably dangerous.
Furthermore, the screws which fix the exterior to the body can be removed using commercially available drivers, and one without technical knowledge can readily remove the exterior.
Thus, it is desirable that the exterior switch more surely keeps the power supply circuit open in such a heating device when its exterior is removed.

High frequency heating device which is safe when its exterior is removed


An ultrasonic surgical instrument is provided and includes a housing. A shaft is supported on the housing and defines a longitudinal axis therethrough. The shaft supports a jaw member at a distal end thereof. The jaw member is movable between open and clamping configurations. A probe includes proximal and distal ends. The distal end has an active blade thereon configured to effect tissue when the jaw member is in the clamping configuration. The proximal end has at least one mating feature thereon. A rotating assembly operably supported on the housing is configured to rotate the shaft. The rotating assembly includes a torque adapter that is engageable with the at least one mating feature to selectively and releasably couple the probe to the housing.

Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to ultrasonic surgical instruments and, more particularly, to ultrasonic surgical instruments that utilize selectively removable probe assemblies.
Background of Related Art
Laparoscopic surgical instruments are known in the medical arts. Laparoscopic devices may utilize RF energy, microwave energy, ultrasonic energy, thermal energy, resistive heating, etc. to effect tissue. For example, ultrasonic devices that are configured for use in laparoscopic surgical procedures, typically, include a housing, a handle assembly attached to the housing, a shaft extending from the housing, a probe/waveguide assembly extending within the shaft and coupleable to a torque adapter and a clamping jaw member positioned at a distal end of the shaft. The ultrasonic device may be configured to attach to a power supply via a power cable, or the ultrasonic device may be battery operated.
In the instance where the ultrasonic device is battery operated, one or more of the components associated with the ultrasonic device may be configured to selectively and removably connect to the ultrasonic device. For example, sometimes it is easier to ship the ultrasonic device in an unassembled configuration and have an end user assemble the ultrasonic device prior to use. Or, sometimes, one or more of the components associated with the ultrasonic device may be configured for use and sterilization for subsequent use thereof, or one or more components may be disposable, e.g., the probe assembly is typically disposable.
One component that lends itself to being selectively and removably connectable to the ultrasonic device is the probe assembly. In particular, the probe assembly is, typically, one of the longest components associated with the ultrasonic instrument, and as such, is sometimes shipped unattached to the housing. Moreover, the probe assembly, which supports an active blade thereon, is configured for use and subsequent sterilization thereof.
Conventional ultrasonic devices, typically, include a torque adapter that is configured to selectively and releasably connect to the probe assembly. Typically, a press-fit or friction fit connection couples the torque adapter and probe assembly to one another. Unfortunately, through use (and/or transportation), the functionality of the torque adapter may become compromised, e.g., the torque adapter does not provide a "tight" fit for the probe assembly, which, in turn, can result in the ultrasonic device not functioning properly or damage to the torque adapter and/or probe assembly.


A sensor platform includes a programmable microcontroller to execute programming associated with one or more sensors in order to receive data from the one or more sensors and generate reports based on the data, and to enter a power-down mode in the absence of the data. The sensor platform also includes first and second transceivers. The first transceiver is configured to establish wireless connectivity with user devices using a first wireless protocol and to receive the programming from one or more of the user devices using the first wireless protocol. The second transceiver is configured to transmit the reports to a gateway using a second wireless protocol that is lower power, longer range, and/or lower fidelity than the first wireless protocol.

Consumer acceptance of wireless sensors is limited by a lack of convenient user-configurability. Sensor systems that are dedicated to a particular type of sensor are by definition limited in their use and lack universality. Expecting consumers to buy numerous different types of sensor systems is unreasonable.
Consumer acceptance of wireless sensors is also limited by poor battery life. If a user has to change or recharge the batteries in a wireless sensor frequently, the wireless sensor becomes a nuisance and the user is less likely to utilize it.


A method and apparatus for labeling containers allows labeling of containers by wrap around labeling without applying an adhesive on the leading edge of the label. Labels are held on a label drum and moved into a label applying position while containers are fed into the label applying position. Air is blown from the label drum onto the leading edge of the label at an angle to the label drum surface and in a direction backward along the label from the leading edge to force the leading edge of the label against the container. The leading edge is maintained on the container by wet adhesion or by air which is blown onto the label and container from the side opposite the label drum.

In many parts of the world, recycling is becoming commonplace and even required by law. In recent years, plastic bottles and containers were discarded while glass containers often were recycled or reused. However, even now some regulations in various areas even require plastic containers, such as refillable PET containers, to be recycled or reused.
Many of these PET and similar plastic containers are labeled using a wrap-around labeling process where a leading edge of a label is applied onto the container and secured thereon typically by an adhesive that has been applied onto the leading edge while the label moves with rotating label drum. The container also rotates and draws a label from the label drum. As the container rotates, the label is wrapped about the container and the trailing edge secured by an adhesive either onto the container or overlying the leading edge. If the container has a contoured surface, such as a convex or sloped end portion, a heat shrinkable layer is heat shrunk over the contoured or inclined surface.
When the containers are recycled or reused, the label is stripped from the container. Because the leading edge of the label had been secured by an adhesive onto the container, after the label has been stripped from the container, often a residue of adhesive from the leading edge is retained on the container. This is an undesirable byproduct of that labeling operation.
It would be advantageous if many containers could be labeled and applied by a wrap-around labeling technique without having an adhesive applied onto the leading edge. Additionally, such method and apparatus would be advantageous because it would increase production. Often, a misfed label can create a production "glitch" because an adhesive roller or other means that is used for applying adhesive onto the leading edge of the label would apply adhesive to the surface of the label drum. If this occurs, then an operator often must clean the labeling drum, taking valuable production time and creating greater production costs.

Method and apparatus for labeling containers


Embodiments relate to a computer for transmitting data in a network. The computer includes at least one data transmission port configured to be connected to at least one storage device via a plurality of paths of a network. The computer further includes a processor configured to detect recurring intermittent errors in one or more paths of the plurality of paths and to disable access to the one or more paths based on detecting the recurring intermittent errors.

The present disclosure relates to the handling of intermittent recurring errors in a network, and in particular to storing and pattern analysis of a history of error information for paths in a network and identifying and correcting intermittent recurring errors.
Storage area networks (SANs) enable large numbers of servers to access common storage via a network of switches and cabling. During operation, error detection may be performed to improve performance of the network. Permanent errors include catastrophic errors in a data path, such as ones caused by permanent damage to hardware components. With permanent errors, all data transmission operations routed to the target path result in failures. Permanent errors are identified by detecting an error in a data path, retrying a data transmission operation in the data path, and detecting the error again in the data path.
Temporary errors include transient conditions, such as bit flips due to radiation, electrical noise, and code defects. Temporary errors tend to be isolated events that do not cause serious problems in the system, and may often go undetected. If a temporary error is detected, then a data transmission is re-attempted on a path in which the temporary error was detected. If the re-attempt is successful then the temporary error may be disregarded.
However, conventional systems may not be capable of detecting intermittent recurring errors. Intermittent recurring errors may occur as a result of marginal components or components that are operating outside of their normal operation range, such as a data traffic level. Intermittent recurring errors may be detected in an initial data transmission operation, may be undetected in a next data transmission operation, and may occur again at a later data transmission operation. Thus, when a re-try operation is performed after detecting an intermittent recurring error, the re-try error operation may result in a successful data transmission, and the data path having the intermittent recurring error may be restored to allow data to be transmitted along the path. In subsequent operations, the intermittent recurring error may again occur, causing repeated delays in data packet transmission through the network which can eventually have application level performance impact and even cause application failure.

Handling intermittent recurring errors in a network

International Business Machines Corporation


An apparatus comprises a first camera (1), a second camera (2) and a third camera (3). The first camera (1) photographs a golf ball (B) from behind, the second camera (2) photographs the golf ball (B) from a head, and the third camera (3) photographs the golf ball (B) obliquely from ahead. At an early stage, position coordinates (x, z) of the golf ball (B) are calculated by a triangulation method from an angle of elevation of the golf ball (B) which is obtained by the first camera (1) and an angle of elevation of the golf ball (B) which is obtained by the second camera (2). Within a range in which the direction of advance of the golf ball (B) is coincident with the optical axis of the second camera (2), the position coordinates (x, z) of the golf ball (B) are calculated by the triangulation method from the angle of elevation of the golf ball (B) which is obtained by the first camera (1) and an angle of view of the golf ball (B) which is obtained by the third camera (3).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for measuring a trajectory of a flying ball.
2. Description of the Related Art
A golf ball flies by hitting with a golf club. If the trajectory of the golf ball is measured, it is useful for the performance evaluation of the golf ball, the performance evaluation of a golf club and the diagnosis of a swing form of a golf player.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 6-323852 has disclosed a measuring apparatus using a CCD camera having a shutter function. In this apparatus, image data photographed by the CCD camera are taken into a calculating portion and a change between image frames is written to a multilayer memory by an image processing. The trajectory of the golf ball is measured from a multilayered image thus obtained. In the measuring apparatus, the trajectory of the golf ball can be observed but time series data on the position coordinates of the golf ball cannot be measured.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2001-145718 has disclosed an apparatus for measuring the trajectory of a golf ball based on image data obtained by a CCD camera provided behind a launch point and image data obtained by a CCD camera provided on the side of the trajectory (a perpendicular direction to a flight direction). In this apparatus, a large number of CCD cameras are to be provided on the side. In addition, in order to measure the trajectory by the apparatus with high precision, it is necessary to sufficiently increase a distance between the CCD camera provided on the side and the golf ball. In a general golf course or a testing field for a golf article manufacturer, a distance in a hitting direction is long and a side space is small. There are many restrictions on the installation of the apparatus.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2003-42716 has disclosed an apparatus comprising a CCD camera for photographing a flying ball from behind and a CCD camera for photographing the ball from ahead and serving to calculate the coordinates of the ball by the calculus of finite differences based on images obtained by these cameras. In the calculus of finite differences, a difference peak hold processing is carried out in order of frames for image data obtained by the CCD camera. More specifically, a pixel memory having a great change from a previous frame is held in a certain frame. Since a flying ball moves within an angle of view, the difference peak hold processing can be carried out.
If the direction of the movement of the ball is coincident with the direction of the optical axis of the camera in the calculus of finite differences, the position of the ball in a certain frame is coincident with the position of the ball in a next frame. In this case, the difference peak hold processing cannot be carried out. In the measuring method, a part of a trajectory is not measured in some cases.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus capable of measuring time series data on the position coordinates of a flying ball with high precision.


The present invention relates to natural crude salt formulations arid their cost-effective preparation. In particular, the invention discloses the fractionation of seawater into three fractions which can thereafter be suitably combined to reconstitute seawater in its pristine form for its various applications such as growth of marine microbes, flora and fauna in a marine environment, especially where such environments have to be created in locations far removed from the sea and/or where there is a requirement to modify the composition of seawater to better its performance. The fractions can also be blended appropriately to exclude the major constituent, namely sodium chloride, and thereby be useful for mineralization/re-mineralization of waters which are deficient in mineral nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, sulphate and bicarbonate including rain water and desalinated waters obtained through thermal/RO desalination. The invention can be practiced most cost-effectively in solar salt works operated on sea brine.

Seawater is a storehouse of chemicals and contains more than 73 elements in dissolved state. Coastal locations have abundant seawater whereas landlocked areas do not have seawater. Yet seawater may be required in the latter areas too for diverse purposes. Since transporting seawater is a costly and difficult proposition, many efforts have been made to constitute compositions which mimic seawater. However, these are not exact replica of seawater and in that sense they are non-standard compositions which vary from formulation to formulation. The only thing that appears to be common to all is their prohibitive cost which further limits the scope of such seawater applications in locations not blessed with a coast line.
Fresh water is what we drink and also use for agriculture. In many instances the water is severely deficient in nutritious minerals, particularly the water obtained from desalination plants. Indeed, it is unfortunate that the desalination process not only drives out sodium chloride but also essential minerals and in cases such as reverse osmosis based desalination, these are preferentially driven out making a bad situation worse. Although the problem can be mitigated through re-mineralization, many plants do not practice re-mineralisation due to the additional cost involved, particularly the high cost of the nutrient salts.
Reference may be made to the article entitled "Elemental composition of commercial sea salts" by M. J. Atkinson and C. Bingham (Journal of Aquariculture and Aquatic Sciences, 1997, Volume VIII, No. 2, Page 39-43) in which it is reported that eight different commercially available synthetic sea salt mixes were analyzed for some thirty-five elements and ions and other chemical parameters. Although the major cations and anions were within 10% of seawater in most of the salts, there were significant differences in the amounts of the minor constituents. It was found that "total CO2 varies about 20 times, B varies about 13 times from 0.36 to 4.90 mmol kg−1, phosphate concentrations vary 24 fold from extremely low values of 0.05 μmol kg−1 to moderate concentrations of 1.2 μmol kg−1, nitrate varies from 0.79 to 18.4 μmol kg−1, and most transition metals are present in substantially higher concentrations compared to normal seawater. It is therefore apparent that none of the salts studied can be assumed to be natural salt compositions mimicking a dried sea.
Reference may be made to http://web.archive.org/web/20001215070800/http:/www.animalnetwork.com/fish2/aqfm/1999/mar/features/1/default.asp, different sources of brine as listed in the following table from which artificial seawater can be produced in the solid form. Most of these compositions are silent on the essential trace elements present in seawater. Another drawback of these sources is that these products having the cited compositions are invariably expensive. They are available in a price range of 45-70 USD per 150-200 gallons of seawater which works out to a premium cost of Rs. 2/liter than that of natural sea water.
TABLE 1The Composition of Several Synthetic Seawater MixesMain ConstituentsCommercialSalinityName(ppt)NaMgCaKSrCl—SO4—BO3HCO3—CO3—Seawater354705310.3 10.2 0.09550 280.421.90Instant Ocean29.65462529.09.40.19 521230.441.90Tropic Marine32.64442468.99.10.08497 210.361.10HW Marine Mix29.40467539.010.10.15 538 280.412.10Reef Crystals28.91461 509.39.50.08 520270.650.75Red Sea Salt30.07472559.09.90.10 537 250.541.08Kent28.854605710.4 10.1 0.10 531240.542.52Coralife28.39464 6310.1 9.30.08566 151.26.32Sea Chem29.545043710.1 10.70.21 516374.90.12ppt = parts per thousand
Reference may be made to US 2005/0193956 dated: Aug. 9, 2005 Axelrod, Glen S. et al discloses a process for the preparation of a synthetic ocean salt comprising the mixing of Sodium Chloride 50-55% (wt) Magnesium Chloride 30-32% (wt) Anhydrous Sodium Sulphate 7-10% (wt) Calcium Chloride 2-4% (wt) Potassium Chloride 2-4% (wt) Sodium Bicarbonate 0.1-1% (wt) Boric Acid 0.001-0.010% (wt). The invention reports the preparation of a synthetic ocean mix from pure chemicals.
Reference may also be made to an article entitled "Guidance from Secondary Data for Re-mineralisation of RO Water" by Srivastava et al (Journal of Indian Water Works Association, January-March 2010 issue, pp. 50-52) which discusses ideal water compositions for potable purposes. The need for remineralisation of such desalinated water is evident from the article.
References may be made to an article by Gordon Sato et al (Cytotechnology (2011) 63:201-204) and many other articles in the prior art which disclose the well known use of media such as Zobell marine broth and ASNIII for culturing of marine microbes.
In view of the above there is a need for the invention of inexpensive, effective and uniform salt compositions to cater to the needs as described above.

Process for the preparation of natural salt formulations for seawater substitution, mineral fortification

Council of Scientific & Industrial Research


The invention relates to a steam turbine comprising a valve arrangement for regulating the admission of live steam into the turbine consisting of two serially connected regulating valves. The two regulating valves enable a step-by-step separation of the live steam and ensure operational security in the case of a partial load operation of the turbine. Said valve arrangement is particularly suitable for steam turbines devoid of regulating steps in a fixed-pressure operation mode.

Steam turbines are known in which the in-flow of live steam is controlled by nozzle regulation by means of a control stage, also called the first turbine stage. Such a control stage exhibits, for example, admission sectors of varying sizes, to which the live steam is fed, in each case, by way of a live steam feed in-flow with several control valves. As a safety measure, a quick-acting stop valve is arranged in series prior the control valves. Such an arrangement is disclosed, for example, in the sales documentation of ABB Power Generation, Description No. HTGD N 12 018.
These steam turbines are typically operated at a live steam pressure that is fixedly set by the steam generator's operating parameters for all of the steam turbines' operating loads. As a result of various settings of the three or four control valves, the steam turbine can be operated at a plurality of partial load points, as well as within the load ranges pertaining to these partial load points. For this purpose, the control valves, which may be activated sequentially, are either closed or fully opened, or opened in a controlled manner.
Additional known steam turbines are operated without a control stage. The latter typically exhibit one or two live steam inlets, with a stop valve and a control valve arranged in series, in each case. Such steam turbines are disclosed, for example, in the sales documentation of ABB Power Generation, Description No. HTGD 666 159, and a valve arrangement provided therein for controlling the live steam in-flow in the same sales documentation, Description No. GMDT N06 014. The live steam pressure in these steam turbines can be variable, such as, for example, in the case of steam turbine facilities for variable pressure operation, or in the case of steam turbine facilities with a circuit combined with that of a gas turbine facility. In the case of newer steam turbine facilities, however, the live steam pressure can also be set to one single pressure level for all operating loads.
The valves in the aforementioned steam turbine facilities are preferably so configured that valve oscillations due to increased stress are kept within limits, and an operational valve life that is as long as possible and devoid of harm, is afforded.
In the steam turbines without a control stage, and particularly among those that are operated at a fixed live steam pressure, the valves must be in constantly throttled operation in order to render a safe partial load operation of the steam turbine possible. Consequently, the valves are exposed to an elevated stress in comparison with the steam turbines with a control step. Among steam turbines without a control step, the pressure is reduced by way of the valves exclusively, whereas in the case of steam turbines with a control stage, the pressure is reduced by way of the valve and the nozzles arranged in series prior to the valves. The stop valves assure safety for the live steam in-flow, but they cannot assume any throttling function. If a steam turbine is operated at fixed pressure, elevated stresses and critical pressure conditions arise in the control valves, which cause correspondingly elevated valve oscillations and an elevated risk of damage. This is the case, in particular, in steam turbines without a control stage and throttled operation in partial load operation.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An NMR signal acquisition device that can increase the magnetic field homogeneity in a high frequency magnetic field by one of the following. (a) Current paths each having a different inductance are provided to adjust the diversion ratio of the current, (b) A current path branch point is provided in an intermediate part of the winding of a solenoidal coil so that there are more current paths in the intermediate part of the winding than in the current paths connected to the feeding points at both ends, (c) The radiuses of current paths are adjusted, (d) Winding pitches in the axis direction are adjusted, (e) Current path widths are adjusted, and (f) The solenoidal coil has both positive direction current paths and negative direction current paths.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a solenoidal coil used for measuring nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and to an NMR signal acquisition device on which the solenoidal coil is mounted, and more particularly to a solenoidal coil for an NMR signal for use as a transmitter-receiver coil, a transmitter coil, or a receiver coil and to an NMR signal acquisition device on which solenoidal coil is mounted.
2. Description of the Related Art
A saddle coil, a birdcage coil, or a solenoidal coil is used on an NMR signal measuring device to apply a high frequency magnetic field to a sample to be measured and to acquire the NMR signal from the sample. When a high frequency magnetic field is applied to a sample, the magnetic field intensity is required to be homogeneous in the sample space.
Although a multiple-turn coil is used to increase the sensitivity of a solenoidal coil, the magnetic field homogeneity in a high frequency magnetic field tends to decrease because the sensitivity area extends cylindrically. JP-A-2002-345777 (abstract) discloses a technology for increasing the magnetic field homogeneity at transmission time by flowing an equal amount of RF (Radio Frequency) current in each loop of the coil at transmission time.
As described above, there is a problem that the magnetic field homogeneity of a solenoidal coil in a high frequency magnetic field is low.

NMR solenoidal coil for RF field homogeneity