The present embodiments disclose a torque dependent and resonant operating thrust-generating rotor assembly including a cyclic pitch control system for controlling tilting moments about a longitudinal rotor blade axis of one or more rotor blades, in order to control the pitch angle of the rotor blades and thereby also the horizontal movements of a helicopter vehicle or a rotary wing aircraft. A rotor torque assembly of the rotor assembly is further configured to operate in resonance, thereby providing a resonant gain effecting a rotational offset in relation to changes in torque generated by the motor.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are used in a wide range of applications, both civilian and military, including inspection, intelligence, reconnaissance and rescue missions. UAV designs range from large fixed wing jets to smaller rotary wing aircraft with one or more rotors. Progress in the electronics industry over the past decades have made it possible to shrink the components necessary for an unmanned aerial vehicle system to become palm sized, a so-called Micro Air Vehicle (MAV). These vehicles can for example lift a camera and transmit video images while still being highly maneuverable.
Regardless of the size, rotary wing aircraft like helicopters are typically sustained by one or more rotors rotating about vertical rotor shafts. In conventional helicopters, the amount of thrust from the rotor and the direction of the thrust may be controlled by changing the pitch angle of the rotor blades. The horizontal direction of flight and the stability of the helicopter may be controlled by cyclically adjusting the pitch angle of the rotor blades through a so-called swash plate. Cyclically adjusting the pitch angle means that the pitch angle of each rotor blade is adjusted from a maximum in one particular position to a minimum 180 degrees later in the rotation. When the blade pitch alters like this, the initially vertical thrust tilts, and thereby generates a horizontal vector, moving the helicopter in the desired direction. By collectively changing the blade pitch of all the rotor blades, i.e. changing the blade pitch of all blades with the same amount, or by changing the rotational speed of the rotor, the helicopter may be controlled in a vertical direction.
The alteration in blade pitch angle of the rotor blades is typically done by operating control rods attached to the swash plate, a unit consisting of a rotating disc and a non-rotating disc rotationally connected to each other. Typically, the inner end of each blade is connected to the rotating disc via pitch links, while the control rods are attached to the non-rotating disc. Operating the control rods incline or decline the swash plate at one or several points. As the rotor rotates, the blade pitch angle of the rotor blades are cyclically adjusted through the rotation as they move over the section inclined or declined by the swash plate control rods.
The control rods in a rotary wing aircraft are typically attached to, or constitutes of, servos that operate the movement of the control rods on input signals from the pilot, making the aircraft move in the desired direction. However, in light of advances in MAV technology, and to enable simpler and lower-cost aircraft, it is desirable to utilize a design that does not rely on the previously mentioned swash plate and servos for maneuvering an aircraft.
Some conventional rotor control systems exist where rapid changes in rotor torque are transferred into moment forces acting about the blade pitch axis of a rotor blade in a thrust-generating rotor, to ultimately control the movements of a rotary wing aircraft. However, such systems often require applying relatively large alterations in torque to provide a substantial change in blade pitch angle and consequently an altered horizontal direction. Such conventional systems may therefore have significant limits in the speed and the wind it may be subject to and still be able to fully operate. Conventional systems also contemplate resonances in rotor systems, but all known rotor systems in use today try to avoid resonance in every part of the rotor assembly. For example, bending and stress occurring at rotor blades are mainly caused by vibrations and resonance due to structural coupling between the fuselage and the rotor, and this should be avoided whenever possible, and many conventional techniques or arrangements are designed to eliminate or reduce resonance in the rotor system itself or between the rotor and the aircraft.
Thus, there is a need in the art for a relatively simple torque dependent rotor control system for small MAVs and larger rotary wing aircraft, particularly in the context of use of resonant gain without the disadvantages and limitations discussed above, to enable simpler, better and more efficient rotor systems.


A battery pack securing mechanism for securing battery packs of varaying numbers of battery cells, a battery charger capable of charging the battery packs or an electronic equipment capable of using the battery packs. In a battery pack having the optional number of cells built therein, this terminal is provided in the same position as a terminal position wherein only one cell is accommodated within the battery pack. A charger and an electronic equipment using a pack have a pack securing section capable of securing battery a pack having at least two cells accommodating therein in parallel, and includes an engaging member for engaging at least one cell pack with the battery pack securing section and a connecting member connected to the positive and negative electrode terminals of the one cell pack and disposed at such a position that charging or discharging can be performed. Accordingly battery, packs accommodating different number of cells and of various arrangements and configurations can be used.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a battery pack, a battery charger, and n electronic device using the battery pack, and more particularly to plural kinds of battery packs having an optional number of battery cells accommodated therein, a battery charger capable of charging the battery packs, and electronic equipment capable of using the battery packs.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 is a side view showing the structure of a battery pack according to the prior art. For example, a conventional battery pack 50 has two battery cells 51 and 52 built therein, and positive electrode and negative electrode terminals 53 and 54 are positioned on both ends of a side face thereof. In charging the battery pack which is used in conjunction with electronic device, for example, a video camera with a built-in recorder, a video light and the like, only the battery pack is engaged with a battery charger. In a high capacity-type battery pack, cells have been overlapped in the thickness direction, for example, to obtain increased capacity so that the high capacity-type battery pack is engaged with both the battery charger and the electronic device.
In the conventional battery pack as, shown in FIG. 1, in order to charge the battery pack in the battery charger, the battery pack must have at least a bottom face which is of the same shape as the battery charger. Therefore, there has been a problem that the shape and capacity of the pack have neither flexibility nor expandability.
It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art and to provide plural kinds of battery packs having an optional number of battery cells built therein, a battery charger capable of charging the battery packs and electronic device capable of using the battery packs.
According to an aspect of the present invention, a battery pack is provided which can accommodate a varying number of battery cells therein, which a spacing between the centers of the positive electrode and the negative electrode terminals which is smaller than a the width of the battery cell. Furthermore, a battery charger for charging a battery pack or, and electronic device using a battery pack are characterized by comprising a battery pack securing surface capable of securing a battery pack having at least one cell accommodated therein, an engaging member for engaging the battery pack with the battery pack securing surface, and a connecting member connected to the positive electrode and negative electrode terminals of the battery pack and disposed at such a position that charging or discharging of the battery pack can be performed.
According to the present invention, arrangement of the positive and negative electrode terminals is the same irrespective of the bottom shape of the battery pack and conforms to the arrangement of the positive and negative electrode terminals when only one cell is accommodated with the battery pack. However, in one embodiment of an alternate bottom shape of the battery pack, the shape of the battery pack can conform to the shape of the electronic device and be engaged therewith. In the electronic device, therefore, battery packs having various shapes and capacities can be used.

Battery pack, battery charger and an electronic device using a battery pack


A built-in handfree and battery charging system for a vehicle having a speaker, a power source, an antenna and a phone, includes at least one handfree device having a first plate built-in in a body of the vehicle and a second plate being movable into and out of the body for charging the phone, and at least one microphone disposed inside the vehicle for use with the phone.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a portable communication system disposed in the interior of a vehicle, which includes a handfree device for operating a handphone while driving, and more particularly, to a built-in handcarry and battery charging communication system for a vehicle, which includes a plurality of handfree devices disposed within the interior frame of the vehicle so that a handphone is readily accessible to the user in any place inside the vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, earphones or handphones used while driving do not offer handfree capability, i.e., capability to operate the phone without holding the phone. Therefore, operation of such handphones while driving distracts the driver's attention, which may cause accidents and/or lack of use due to the fear of accidents.
More recently, there has been a handfree device for providing a handfree communication inside a vehicle. Such a handfree device includes a speaker, a microphone, and an antenna disposed near the driver's seat in the vehicle so as to ensure safe driving. However, the conventional handfree devices are externally and separately connected to the vehicle, and are not built-in within the interior of the vehicle. Therefore, when there is an accident and the vehicle turns or rotates, the conventional handfree devices can cause injury to the driver and passengers because they can move around inside the vehicle, violently.
Furthermore, the conventional handfree devices are usually designed and installed for the driver alone and thus, the passengers in the back seats cannot operate the conventional handfree devices. Therefore, the conventional handfree communication system is inaccessible and limited in use and application.

Built-in handfree and battery charging communication system for a vehicle


The present disclosure generally relate to a semiconductor processing apparatus. In one embodiment, a processing chamber is disclosed herein. The processing chamber includes a chamber body and lid defining an interior volume, the lid configured to support a housing having a cap, a substrate support disposed in the interior volume, a vaporizer coupled to the cap and having an outlet open to the interior volume of the processing chamber, wherein the vaporizer is configured to deliver a precursor gas to a processing region defined between the vaporizer and the substrate support, and a heater disposed adjacent to the vaporizer, wherein the heater is configured to heat the vaporizer.

Field
Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to a semiconductor processing apparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus for delivering precursors with high boiling temperatures.
Description of the Related Art
Reliably producing sub-half micron and smaller features is one of the key technology challenges for next generation very large scale integration (VLSI) and ultra large scale integration (ULSI) of semiconductor devices. However, as the limits of circuit technology are pushed, the shrinking dimensions of VLSI and ULSI technology have placed additional demands on processing capabilities. Reliable formation of gate structures on the substrate is important to VLSI and ULSI success and to the continued effort to increase circuit density.
As circuit densities increase for next generation devices, the widths of interconnects, such as vias, trenches, contacts, gate structures and other features, as well as the dielectric materials therebetween, decrease to 45 nm and 32 nm dimensions and beyond. In order to enable the fabrication of next generation devices and structures, three dimensional (3D) stacking of features in semiconductor chips is often utilized. In particular, fin field effect transistors (FinFETs) are often utilized to form three dimensional (3D) structures in semiconductor chips. By arranging transistors in three dimensions instead of conventional two dimensions, multiple transistors may be placed in the integrated circuits (ICs) very close to each other. As circuit densities and stacking increase, the ability to selectively deposit subsequent materials on previously deposited materials gains importance.
Thus, there is a need for improved apparatus for selective deposition suitable for three dimensional (3D) stacking of semiconductor chips or other semiconductor devices.

High temperature vapor delivery system and method


A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for executing a setup protocol. A camera and a visual display device are coupled to a computer. Images are generated by the camera upon activation of the camera. A series of setup tests are then conducted on the images generated by the camera to determine whether the camera and surrounding environmental elements satisfy predetermined criteria of an intended computer vision application for optimal running of the intended computer vision application on the computer. The series of setup tests comprises at least one setup test selected from a library of setup tests.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to performing computer vision processing on video images generated by a camera on a visual display, and more particularly to executing a video setup protocol to determine whether the camera and the surrounding environment satisfy predetermined criteria of an intended application.
2. The Relevant Art
More and more commonly personal computers are becoming equipped with video cameras for generating video images for input into the computer. With these video cameras, users are able to generate video images of themselves and/or their surroundings and view such video images on visual display devices.
Because of the greater availability of personal computers with video cameras, various computer applications involving video images are being created directed towards home users. One type of application uses personal computer video cameras to create an interactive display between images generated by the video camera and images generated by the personal computer. This type of application includes entertainment applications where an image of the subject is superimposed onto a computer generated background environment so that it appears that the subject is actually in the background environment. The background environment images can be of any type from the mundane and everyday such as a room to the fantastic such as the moon or another planet.
One method by which these applications may achieve a realistic integration of the subject""s image with the background environment is by using a special effects technique commonly associated with the motion picture and television industries known as blue screen imaging. In traditional blue screen imaging, an image of a subject is taken in front of an evenly lit, bright, fixed-color stationary background (typically blue, but which may be green or even red). A compositing process is then used to replace all the blue in the picture with another image, known as the background plate.
However, transferring this blue screen imaging technique for use in computer applications for personal computer users (such as at-home personal computer users) creates several challenges that must be overcome in order to adequately work in a home environment. For example, the locations of the actors (or subjects) in traditional blue screen imaging shoots have pre-measured markers on the stage to indicate where the actors are to stand during the shoot so that the actors are the proper distance from the camera for the shot. With these markers, actors know exactly where to stand each and every take so that they are always properly positioned.
In contrast, finding a relatively quick and easy way to properly position a subject with respect to the video camera is a challenge for designers of at-home applications. In the home environment, there are usually no markers to indicate to a subject where to stand in relation to the video camera for the proper function of the at-home video application. Making such markers in a home environment can take a lot of time and also may not be suitable for the home environment.
Also, traditional blue screen imaging is typically conducted in a controlled environment such as a sound stage or set in order to create a realistic composite image. In such a controlled environment, the amount of lighting is strictly controlled as well as the location of the lighting with respect to the background. Additionally, these sound stages and sets do not have any extra or unnecessary objects in the background that would interfere with the creation of the final composite image.
In contrast, a home environment is normally not as controlled of an environment as a sound stage or set. Lighting in the home environment is uneven typically with many dark areas and bright areas in each room. Windows and skylights in the home environment can create very bright spots in an otherwise rather dark room. Additionally, light sources in the home environment can be located anywhere in a room: next to walls, in corners, and on ceilings so that light is not directed in any one direction in the room. With such a variance in lighting conditions, applications for use in the home environment attempting to use a compositing technique must have a way to determine whether the lighting conditions in the home environment are adequate to meet the needs of the application. Additionally, such applications also need to be able to indicate lighting problems to a user so that the user can attempt to fix or adjust the lighting in the room to meet the requirements of the application.
The typical at-home environment is not monochromatic like the background of a blue screen imaging sound stage or set, and most home environments are full of objects such as furniture that need to be left out of the composited image. Because of these conditions, designers of such at-home interactive applications need to have a means for separating the subject from the background environment so that the background environment is left out of the composited image. One way to accomplish this determination is to use the presence and absence of motion in order to distinguish the home environment from the subject who is typically moving. However, some of the unwanted objects in the home environment are moving objects such as, for example, window drapes blowing in a breeze, leaves blowing in the wind on a tree visible through a window, and even ceiling fans. The movement of these objects may confuse the application into thinking that these objects are part of the subject and thereby interfere with the application""s determination of what is and is not background.
Additionally, there are a number of different personal computer video cameras of varying quality and with a wide range of features and abilities available to at-home users. As a result, designers of at-home video applications must be able to determine whether the video camera being used by a user is suitable for proper running of the application. Additionally, such designers must also be able to set the various personal computer video cameras to their optimal settings for optimal running of the application.
A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for executing a video setup protocol. Video images generated by a video camera are obtained upon activation of a video camera. A series of setup tests selected from a library of setup tests are conducted on the video images to determine if the video camera and the conditions of surrounding environment are suitable for a subsequent video application using the video camera.
In one embodiment of the present invention, activation of the video camera may include a determination of whether the video camera is functioning and may also include adjustment of the controls of the video camera.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a determination of the relative position of a subject to the video camera may be included. In one such embodiment, this determination may be made by the displaying of a body part frame on the video image so that the angle of the video camera or the position of the subject may be adjusted so that a particular body part of the subject is positioned in the body part frame. A determination of whether the body part is positioned in the body part frame may also be conducted.
In yet another embodiment the series of setup tests may be conducted in a order set forth in a test script. Also, the library of setup tests may include setup tests defined as critical setup tests and those defined as non-critical setup tests. In such an embodiment, the video setup protocol may be aborted upon failure of a critical test while a set of options may be offered upon the failure of a non-critical setup test.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, the frame rate setup test may be included in the library of setup tests for determining whether the rate at which the video camera generates video images is satisfactory for the proper functioning of the subsequent video application. This may be accomplished by first obtaining a predetermined number of video images generated by the video camera and the elapsed time it took to obtain the generated video images. The number of video images obtained in the elapsed time is then compared with a predetermined threshold value to see if the video camera generates video images above a minimum frame rate defined by the threshold value.
In yet a further embodiment of the present invention, a lighting setup test may be included in the library of setup tests for determining whether the environmental lighting satisfies predetermined lighting criteria for optimal functioning of the subsequent video application.
In even another embodiment of the present invention, a motion setup test may be included in the library of setup tests for determining whether excessively moving objects are in the field of view of the video camera and thereby present in the video images generated by the video camera. The library of setup tests may also include a compositing test to determine whether a composite image derived from an image generated by a camera is satisfactory to a user.

System, method and article of manufacture for executing a video setup protocol


Methods and apparatus for removing a background image from a captured image are provided. The background is removed by computing a set of representative values (e.g., median values) based on component values of pixels within a portion of interest of the captured image. The captured image is divided into a plurality of sub-blocks. For each sub-block, it is determined whether a predetermined minimum number of similar pixels are found, a similar pixel having component values within a predetermined threshold of the representative values. If the minimum number of similar pixels is found, it is assumed that the sub-block does not comprise part of the background and is retained. If the minimum number of similar pixels is not found, it is assumed that the sub-block comprises part of the background and component values of pixels of the sub-block are set to predetermined values.

1. Field
The present embodiments relate generally to processing images of whiteboards, blackboards, or documents to remove background images.
2. Background
Whiteboards, blackboards, or documents are widely used in discussions and meetings to illustrate ideas and information. An image of a whiteboard, blackboard, or document having content information (comprising, for example, text or lines) may be captured by an image-capturing device (e.g., camera or phone camera). Often the captured image also contains background information (e.g., a person standing next to the whiteboard, a hand holding the document, etc.). As the content contains the substance of the captured image (e.g., text, lines, sketches, etc.), the background image is unnecessary and can be removed to reduce the visual clutter of the captured image and reduce the storage size of the captured image.
As such, there is a need for a method for processing an image of a whiteboard, blackboard, or document to remove the unnecessary background information from the image while also being robust and efficient for implementation on an embedded device or mobile platform (such as a camera or phone camera).

Removal of background image from whiteboard, blackboard, or document images


This invention provides joining methods of single veneer piece and a joining apparatus, which can produce more efficient, and effective joining process than the conventional method and apparatus produce. In the process of carrying a single veneer piece (T) in the orthogonal direction against the joining edge (Te) on the conveyor, the joining edges of the preceding and succeeding single veneer pieces come close together, the adhesive material (Sd) is supplied to the clearance between the joining edges, and then the adhesion enhancing action is supplied to the said adhesive material (Sd) to join each single veneer piece (T) successively. The adhesion enhancing action can be applied within the adhesion enhancing section as indicated by lines (Z1) and (Z2), provided on the farther side from the edge approaching position (U) via an adhesion enhancing component (6) to move back and forth at any time while the single veneer piece (T) is being carried or such a motion is halted. And such adhesive enhancing action is applied first to the adhesive material (Sd) which has been supplied for adhering the joining edge positioned on the farthest side in a carrying direction all the time.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a joining method of veneer sheets (hereinafter referred to as "veneers") and joining equipment.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the conventional way to efficiently join plural short veneers without a sufficient length to be processed, on the way to carry each veneer in a perpendicular direction to the joining edges of each veneer, it is preferable to make edges of a preceding veneer and a succeeding veneer closer such that an appropriate amount of the adhesive material is supplied between the joining edges of the preceding and succeeding veneers or on one portion of one or the other side of the preceding and succeeding veneers at an appropriate time before or after the joining edges come closer. As the said adhesive materials, adhesive thread, adhesive tape or the like in which the desired adhesive materials are coated or soaked in an appropriate base material such as a string material like thread, fiber or the like, or paper tape or the like as well as other well-known materials such as thermosetting adhesive, thermoplastic adhesive or the like which are widely used.
As shown in FIG. 18 for applying the adhesive materials, if a thin type of adhesive material (an adhesive tape with holes (Sa) is used in FIG. 18) is successively applied on the top sides or the bottom sides of the veneers (T) in parallel to the carrying direction (f), this system has an advantage that for example, crack (W), over heated portion (not described in the drawings) or the like which may be involved in the veneers can be also strongly amended and joined. However, such a system has a disadvantage which is a major issue, i.e. the strength of the joining edge (Te) is not sufficient in spite of the high cost for the comparatively large amount of adhesive materials to be used. On the other hand FIG. 21 shows that if the adhesive material (adhesive tape (Sb), adhesive thread (Sc) and adhesive material (Sd) are used respectively in FIGS. 19, 20, and 21) is applied to the joining edges (Te) between the preceding veneer and succeeding veneer, or applied intensively to a small area (therein the joining edge (Te) is centrally located) including the joining edge (Te) on the top side of each veneer, shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, such a system has an advantage in which a comparatively small amount of the adhesive material enables the joining edge (Te) to be strongly joined. Therefore, it is preferable to choose one of the above joining systems of the above systems considering the feature of the single piece, cost performance, and a combination of the above system is practically utilized according to the necessity. In this connection, the reason why the adhesive material is applied to the limited small area is to cut down costs and avoid or reduce the unfavorable influence on joining process for the plywood production from the processed veneers in a certain degree while the practical strength can be obtained without actual hindrance. Although a certain clearance between the joining edges is indicated in FIG. 21 expediently to define the adhesive material (Sd), this clearance is actually unnecessary.
On the other hand, to complete the stable joining procedure quickly, it is important to apply the adhesive action immediately to the adhesive material to activate and enhance the adhesiveness. For example, pressuring action, or pressuring and heating action is provided to the adhesive materials such as pressure-sensitive adhesive material or rewet adhesive material, or heating action or pressuring and heating action is provided to the adhesive material such as the thermosetting adhesive material, furthermore, cooling action, or pressuring and cooling action is provided to the thermoplastic adhesive material respectively.
In the conventional way for applying the adhesive material between the joining edges of the preceding and succeeding veneers or applying intensively to the limited small area on the top or the back side of each veneer including the joining edges, it is possible to supply the adhesive material to the veneers accordingly while being carried on the conveyor. However, the adhesive action is usually enhanced, barring one exception where the adhesive material in which thermoplastic adhesive material is used, but adhesive enhancement is not necessarily used; while natural cooling is provided, which may not be able to carry out a proper cooling function at high temperatures, and joined single pieces can be bonded up and down, which makes it difficult to handle for example, shown in FIG. 17, by providing a joining operation position (Y) on the way of the veneer carrying conveyer, providing appropriate adhesive enhancing device (6) comprising adhesive enhancing function to at least one side of the top surface and the bottom surface of the single piece (the said joining operation position is provided on both sides in the embodiment shown in FIG. 17). Furthermore the said adhesive enhancing device (6) is provided in contact with or with a variable distance to the single pieces (T1) to (T7), and after stopping once, each joining edge (Te) between veneers at the joining operation position, work the adhesive enhancing device (6) to complete supplying adhesive enhancing action to the adhesive material (not indicated in the drawing) only in the sufficient period to activate the adhesive function, then each single piece is again carried.

Joining method and apparatus of single veneer piece


A frequency synthesizer for generating two or more output frequency ranges using a Phase Locked Loop (PLL) circuit having a single voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO). In a first embodiment, a frequency multiplier is connected to the output of the VCO. The output of the VCO and the output of the frequency multiplier are selectably fed back, depending upon which output frequency is desired. The output frequency may be taken directly from the VCO or the frequency multiplier. When the output frequency is taken from the output of the frequency multiplier, a control signal adjusts the gain of the phase detector and/or loop filter in order to compensate for the loop gain caused by the frequency multiplier. In a second embodiment, instead of adjusting the phase detector and/or loop filter gain, the values of the N and M dividers are adjusted. In a third embodiment, a frequency multiplier is connected to the output of the VCO and multiplies the output by a predetermined multiplier value. The N divider value is adjusted by a control signal, such that when the output is taken from the frequency multiplier, the ratio N/M is set equal to the predetermined multiplier value. In a fourth embodiment, the M value, the N value, the phase detector gain and the loop filter gain may all be adjusted in the circuit of the third embodiment, in order to keep the N/M ratio equal to the multiplier "H," and to compensate for the loop gain caused by changing the value of M. The technique described herein is useful for generating constant amplitude phase or frequency modulated signals like the radio signals defined for the GSM or DCS 1800 bands.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a Phase Locked Loop (PLL) frequency synthesizer for multi-band applications and, more specifically, to a circuit that uses only one voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), but generates two or more output frequency ranges.
2. Description of Related Art
FIG. 1 illustrates a standard Phase-Locked Loop (PLL) block diagram. The basic PLL has an input frequency f.sub.in 2 which is divided by a divider 4, wherein the divider 4 divides the input frequency f.sub.in 2 by a value N. The output of the divider 4 is then input into a phase detector 6. The phase detector 6 outputs a voltage that is proportional to a phase difference between two input frequencies. This phase detector output voltage is then input into a loop filter 8. The loop filter 8 smoothes the phase detector output voltage and determines the loop performance based upon selected loop filter values. The output of the loop filter 8 adjusts the voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) 10 and determines the output frequency of the VCO 10. The output of the of the VCO 10 is then fed back as an input to the phase detector 6 via a feedback loop 14. The output voltage of the phase detector 6 will vary according to any change in the phase difference between the output frequency of the VCO 10 and the input frequency f.sub.in 2.
The feedback loop 14 thus provides a means of "locking" the phase of the output frequency f.sub.out 12 in accordance with the phase of the input frequency f.sub.in 2. If the input frequency f.sub.in 2 is a highly stable reference frequency, the PLL circuit produces a highly stable output frequency f.sub.in 12. The PLL circuit produces an output frequency f.sub.out 12, equal to the value [f.sub.in / N], wherein the phase of the VCO output frequency f.sub.out 12 follows the phase of the input frequency f.sub.in 2.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, a divider 16 may be used in the feedback loop 14 in order to change the output frequency f.sub.out 12. In this case, the output frequency f.sub.out 12 from the VCO 10 is equal to the value [(f.sub.in * M)/N]. If the divider 16 is implemented using a programmable counter, the value of M can be changed. Thus, the output frequency f.sub.out 12 can be adjusted to a desired value by varying the value of "M."
Referring now to FIG. 3, an application of a PLL circuit is shown. A phase modulated intermediate input frequency (IF) 18 is input to the first divider 4 of the PLL circuit. The feedback loop 14 contains two additional blocks, however. A mixer 22 mixes a local oscillator signal RF.sub.LO 26 with the RF.sub.OUT signal 20 and the output of the mixer 22 is input into a bandpass (BP) filter 24. The output of the mixer may be referred to as the "feedback frequency." The feedback frequency can be selected from one of the numerous frequencies produced by the harmonic mixing. In general, the output of the mixer is equal to [.+-.n*RF.sub.OUT .+-.m*RF.sub.LO ]. If n and m are "1," then the selected outputs of the mixer are either RF.sub.out --RF.sub.LO or RF.sub.LO --RF.sub.OUT (assuming frequency down-conversion). The bandpass filter 24 removes any unwanted mixing products produced by the mixer 22 and determines which frequency is fed-back through the M divider 16. The operation of the remaining blocks operate as described in the previous figures. The PLL circuit translates i.e., moves) the frequency of the input IF 18 frequency to the VCO frequency with the same phase. Thus, by adjusting the value of the R.sub.FLO frequency 26, a desired output frequency RF.sub.out 20 can be produced for a given intermediate frequency (IF) 18.
In the following general equations, f.sub.fb is the feedback frequency output by the mixer, f.sub.VCO is the VCO frequency, and f.sub.in is the input frequency. The variables "n" and "m" are integer multipliers introuced by the harmonic mixing. These equations illustrate the operation of the circuit shown in FIG. 3. ##EQU1##
For applications that require two different RF.sub.out frequency bands, such as a dual-band cellular telephone, a second PLL circuit would normally be required. For example, in a GSM/DCS 1800 dual-band cellular telephone, the transmit frequency bands are 890 -915 MHz for the GSM band and 1710 -1785 MHz for the DCS 1800 band. This would require using two separate VCOs, which adds complexity and expense to the over-all system design. Thus, it would be desirable to have a PLL circuit which could generate two different output frequency bands, while using only one VCO.

Phase locked loop frequency synthesizer for multi-band application


A clinical analyzer having the capability to operate at both a higher and lower throughput, depending upon the assay load demand experienced by the hospital or laboratory, so that analyzer throughput most closely matches assay demand.

Various types of analytical tests related to patient diagnosis and therapy can be performed by analysis of a liquid sample taken from a patient's infections, bodily fluids or abscesses. These assays are typically conducted with automated clinical analyzers onto which tubes or vials containing patient samples have been loaded. The analyzer extracts liquid sample from the vial and combines the sample with various reagents in special reaction cuvettes or tubes. Usually the sample-reagent mixture is incubated or otherwise processed before being analyzed. Analytical measurements are often performed using a beam of interrogating radiation interacting with the sample-reagent mixture to generate turbidimetric, fluorometric, absorption readings or the like. The readings allow determination of end-point or rate values from which an amount of analyte related to the health of the patient may be determined using well-known calibration techniques.
There is incentive for increasing the efficiency of throughput of patient samples and one approach has been to vary the method for scheduling the operation of various assay devices on sample-reagent mixtures. Assay devices include aspiration probes for samples and reagents, mixing and washing stations, incubation and analytical stations, and the like. Reagent is usually initially dispensed into a reaction container or cuvette and sample is then added. The reagent-sample mixture is then transported from one assay device to another depending upon the assay being performed. The assay devices are operated under control of a computer having software programs used by those skilled in the art of computer-based electromechanical control programming to perform assays with related assay devices and assay operations given the identity of a patient sample, assay requests, and the like.
A number of different methods for controlling transportation between assay devices have been employed. One method operates all assay devices within a fixed cycle or length of time so that overall analyzer throughput is constant. Alternately, the assay devices may be controlled so that cycle times vary depending on the assay being conducted, a method known as "adaptive scheduling". The complexity of adaptive scheduling can adversely affect the throughput of the analyzer as the number of assay devices required for sophisticated assay increase. Various methods have been developed to improve both of these approaches.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,015,042 discloses a fixed-cycle process whereby incoming samples are partitioned into groups in accord with the length of time required for the assay to be completed or in accord with the pattern of reagent addition(s) taken with length of time required for the assay to be completed. Medium length time assays are completed, removed from a reaction carousel and replaced by shorter length time assays during a single operational cycle in which longer length assays are also completed.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,723,288 discloses a fixed cycle analyzer having an indexing drive for rotating a reaction carousel in a constant direction a predetermined numbers of incremental steps. The length of the circumference of carousel, the separation distance between reaction ports, the number of reaction ports and the number of increments per indexing are selected so that any given cuvette port returns to its original starting position after a fixed number of incremental steps. Throughput is determined by the fixed number of incremental steps multiplied by the sum of dwell time at each assay device and the time required for a stepwise movement.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,846,491 discloses an analyzer having a fixed cycle time for certain assay resources having a first fixed cycle time during which that assay resource is available to perform a predetermined operation on a sample-containing reaction vessel. Each of the other assay resources is also assigned a fixed cycle time, where the first cycle time is an integral multiple of the second cycle time, the two cycle times desirably being different from one another. As a result, control scheduling is simplified.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,576,215 discloses a process wherein the analyzer is operated in accordance with a schedule developed by a scheduler routine. The scheduler routine determines interval periods between operations performed by the analyzer on each biological sample as a function of an entered load list unless a fixed interval period between the operations is required and schedules instrument system operations and the determined interval periods. The analyzer assays the samples by operating its instrument systems in accordance with the developed schedule.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,252,612 discloses an analyzer that incrementally indexes a sample in a first direction in a set of increments wherein each increment represents a movement of the samples an amount corresponding to a number of samples. The movement of samples within all of the increments in the set of increments added together produces a sum which is a net move of the sample support an amount of samples equal to a second plurality of holders greater than one holder and less than the first plurality such that the greatest common factor between the second plurality and the first plurality is the number of increments in the set. Such a system enables separation of logical space from physical space in the system, allowing freedom in placement of assay devices while permitting proper sequencing of operations both in space and in time.
From the above descriptions of the art, it is apparent that, while throughput improvements have been made in controlling assay devices, the ability to quickly and efficiently operate an analyzer at different throughputs depending upon the assay load presented to the analyzer has not been achieved. In particular so-called "fixed cycle" analyzer can operate at only a single throughput, regardless of whether a larger number or a smaller number of assays need to be performed. Further, so-called "variable cycle" analyzers that rely on adaptive scheduling have a "variable throughput" but only as a consequence of the different types of assays to be performed, again, regardless of whether at larger number or a smaller number of assays need to be performed.

Clinical analyzer having a variable cycle time and throughput


A hydraulic elevator includes a car engaged with a first hydraulic ram, a counterweight engaged with a second hydraulic ram, and a pump to transfer hydraulic fluid between the hydraulic rams. The counterweight hydraulically balances the car without the requirement of a roped connection between the car and counterweight. A fluid flow system controls the transfer of hydraulic fluid between the hydraulic rams. As a result, there is no tank or reservoir for hydraulic fluid.

Conventional hydraulic elevators include a hydraulically driven ram to raise an elevator car. Lowering of the car is typically accomplished by permitting fluid to exit the cylinder of the hydraulic ram and using the weight of the car to force the fluid out of the cylinder. A piston of the hydraulic ram may be directly engaged with the car or may be engaged with the car via a rope fixed to the hoistway and engaged with a sheave on a yoke on the piston. The latter arrangement provides the benefit of not requiring space under the hoistway for the hydraulic cylinder, although at the price of requiring additional space adjacent to the travel path of the car.
One advantage of hydraulic elevators as compared to traction elevators is the lower cost of the installation. A disadvantage, however, is the higher power requirements for the hydraulic pump as compared to similar sized traction elevators. This is in part the result of the hydraulic ram having to carry the weight of the car and the passenger load.
One method to reduce the power requirements of hydraulic elevators is to use a counterweight, as is done with traction elevators. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,238,087, issued to Garrido et al and entitled "Advanced Energy Saving Hydraulic Elevator", a double-acting hydraulic cylinder is used with a counterweighted hydraulic elevator. The double-acting hydraulic cylinder permits the car to be driven in both the upward and downward direction, thus allowing the counterweight to be heavier than the empty car. The double-acting cylinder is more expensive than a single-acting hydraulic cylinder and requires more complex control of the hydraulic elevator.
In another example disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,014,823, issued to Pelto-Huikko and entitled "Apparatus for Improving the Performance of a Motor-Controlled Hydraulic Elevator", a single-acting hydraulic cylinder is used with a counterweight directly engaged with the car via a roped arrangement. This proposed solution requires additional hoistway space to accommodate the counterweight and the roping arrangement, and requires additional installation expenses due to the need to install the additional roping and sheaves for the counterweight.
The above art notwithstanding, engineers under the direction of Applicant's Assignee are working to develop hydraulic elevators that minimize power requirements and installation costs.


A lubricating oil heater apparatus for an electric motorcar enabling an efficient running in viewpoint of electric power consumption. The electric motorcar is run by driving force of an electric motor transmitted to wheels through a power transmission and has a charge condition detecting device for detecting the charge condition of a battery when the battery can be charged, an oil temperature detecting device for detecting temperature of a lubricating oil in the power transmission, a heating device for heating the lubricating oil in the power transmission, and a heating control device for controlling operation of the heating device. The heating control device operates the heating device when the charge condition detecting device detects a predetermined charge condition and the oil temperature detecting device detects an oil temperature below a predetermined value.

This invention relates to a lubricating oil heater apparatus of an electric motorcar for adjusting temperature of the lubricating oil supplied to power transmission means of the electric motorcar in order to attain a smooth driving.
Viscosity of lubricating oil in a lubricating system of a motorcar varies so as that it is high at lower temperature and becomes lower as the temperature rises.
When there is a heat source apt to be high temperature like an internal combustion engine, the lubricating oil is used also for cooling surroundings of the piston for example, and its temperature rises without a special apparatus so that the lubricating oil can get to a moderate viscosity and achieve a sufficient lubricating function.
However, in a very cold area, sometimes starting of the engine is difficult because viscosity of the lubricating oil has been increased on starting.
Therefore, there is an example that a sheath heater is provided on an internal combustion engine or a transmission (Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 6-29536). In this example, the lubricating oil is previously heated to reduce the viscosity by connecting a lead line extended from the sheath heater to a commercial alternating current source before starting the engine, so that the engine can be started smoothly.
But in case of the electric motorcar, heat generation of the motor which is the drive source is less compared with the internal combustion engine and there is no other heat source so that when the atmospheric temperature is low, even in running, temperature of the lubricating oil is lowered to increase the viscosity by air cooling effect owing to the running. Therefore, the lubricating oil in a power transmission mechanism may act as a resistance on the contrary and the driving efficiency may be lowered.
On the one hand, since the electric motorcar runs by electric power of a battery, it is important to avoid, as possible, an electric power consumption other than that required for running, and when a heating means for heating the lubrication oil is provided, how to obtain the electric power for operating the heating means becomes a problem.

Lubricating oil heater apparatus for an electric motorcar


A gliding decelerator and an assembly for use therein for improving the l to drag ratio associated therewith. In a preferred embodiment, the gliding decelerator includes a ram-air canopy shaped to include a plurality of half-cells, each half-cell having an open leading end and a closed tailing end. Inflatable bladders are secured within the respective half-cells of the canopy, the inflatable bladders being appropriately dimensioned so that, when inflated soon after the canopy has been opened, each bladder fills its respective half-cell in such a way as to stiffen the half-cell both along its length and at its open leading end. The inflatable bladders may be inflated simultaneously or in stages, the inflation means comprising a gas source, a flexible manifold connecting the gas source to the half-cells and valve means for controlling the output of the gas source. Control of the valve means may be automatic, e.g., a timer, a remote control unit, or may be controlled by a parachutist, e.g., completion of an electric circuit. The inflation means may be mounted within the wing-shaped canopy or may be externally mounted.

The present invention relates generally to gliding decelerators and more particularly to a new and novel gliding decelerator which includes an assembly for improving the lift to drag ratio associated therewith.
It has been found desirable to airdrop military personnel, supplies and equipment from as great a horizontal distance as possible from the ground impact point in order to reduce vulnerability of the delivery aircraft to ground fire and to increase uncertainty on the part of the enemy as to the location of the landing point. One approach which has been used in furtherance of this objective is to airdrop troops and/or cargo using gliding decelerators (i.e. parachutes). Gliding decelerators typically have a hollow, wing-shaped canopy which, after deployment, stiffens to facilitate gliding over a horizontal distance.
One type of hollow, wing-shaped canopy commonly used in gliding decelerators is known as a ram-air type canopy. Such a canopy typically consists of a plurality of elongated, chord-shaped, sections which are sewn together in a side-by-side arrangement. The sections are hollow, with the respective leading ends thereof being open and the respective tailing ends thereof being closed so that, in the course of the opening of the canopy and the descent, air enters through the leading ends of the sections and inflates the sections, thereby opening the canopy and imparting some stiffness thereto for gliding. Suspension lines are either typically attached to the canopy along the seams of every other section, in which case the sections are referred to as "half-cells," or are attached to the canopy along the seams of each section, in which case the sections are referred to as "cells." For purposes of the present specification and claims, the terms "half-cells" and "cells," when used to refer to these sections of a canopy, will be used interchangeably and synonymously.
Examples of gliding decelerators having ram-air type canopies are disclosed in the following U.S. patents: U.S. Pat. No. 5,169,092, inventor Murakami, issued Dec. 8, 1992; U.S. Pat. No. 4,811,920, inventors Askwith et al., issued Mar. 14, 1989; U.S. Pat. No. 4,470,567, inventor Puskas, issued Sep. 11, 1984; U.S. Pat. No. 4,406,433, inventors Radkey et al., issued Sep. 27, 1983; U.S. Pat. No. Re. 31,205, inventor Jalbert, reissued Apr. 12, 1983; U.S. Pat. No. 4,191,349, inventor Pravaz, issued Mar. 4, 1980; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,724,789, inventor Snyder, issued Apr. 3, 1973.
Other patents of interest include U.S. Pat. No. 5,058,831, inventor Takahashi, issued Oct. 22, 1991; U.S. Pat. No. 4,722,498, inventor Cameron, issued Feb. 2, 1988; U.S. Pat. No. 4,363,458, inventors Jones et al., issued Dec. 14, 1982; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,620,486, inventors Charpentler et al., issued Nov. 16, 1971.
The efficiency with which a canopy glides through the air is largely affected by its lift to drag ratio (L/D). One problem experienced by many wing-shaped canopies, and particularly by ram-air type canopies, is a greater than desired drag. A considerable amount of drag in ram-air type canopies can be traced to their open-leading edge and to a lack of stiffness in the canopies after they have been fully opened. This lack of stiffness, which results in fabric flutter, is caused by fluctuations in the ram-air dynamic pressure needed to maintain the shape of the open leading edge and the half-cells of the canopy as the opened canopy glides through the air. Drag is also caused by the suspension lines used to attach the payload to the canopy.

Gliding decelerator including an assembly for improving the lift to drag ratio associated therewith

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army


The microprocessor-based control system optimizes efficiency of the ON/OFF cycle by shutting the expansion valve fully closed at the beginning of each OFF cycle to maintain system pressure differential. At the beginning of each ON cycle the expansion valve is opened to an initial larger than average of three openings to allow the system to quickly reach steady state operating levels. Thereafter, the valve opening is reduced to an average of the last three steady state settings. After a predetermined time, control of the valve opening is passed to an adaptive control algorithm which adjusts the valve setting for optimized performance during steady state.

The present invention relates generally to electronic control systems for air conditioners, heat pumps and refrigeration equipment. More particularly, the invention relates to an apparatus and method utilizing digital circuitry to control a heat pump during its normal operating cycle in order to provide optimum system efficiency and improved cyclic performance.
Whether operating as an air-conditioning system or as a heat pump system, the basic refrigeration cycle meters refrigerant through a closed system in a precisely controlled manner. The refrigerant cools by evaporation in a heat exchanger commonly called an evaporator coil. The refrigerant is metered to the evaporator coil through an orifice sometimes called an expansion valve. Ideally, a refrigeration system should meter just enough refrigerant into the evaporator coil so that the refrigerant extracts heat throughout the length of the coil as it evaporates. Due to changing dynamics of the system, changes in thermostat settings and changes in load from sun, wind and so forth, the optimal flow through the expansion valve will need to be varied as the system operates.
The precise control of the expansion valve during steady state operation, to achieve optimal efficiency during steady state operation, has been the subject of much study in the continued effort to improve energy efficiency. However, a typical air-conditioning system or heat pump system does not operate continuously in steady state. Rather air-conditioning and heat pump systems are cycled ON and OFF numerous times throughout the day, at duty cycles which can vary. Throughout each ON/OFF cycle a certain amount of energy is lost simply due to the inefficiencies of start-up. Energy is added to bring the system up to steady state during each start-up of the system following each shutdown. These start-up losses take a considerable toll in terms of overall system efficiency and energy consumption.
Conventionally, air-conditioning and heat pump systems are designed for optimal efficiency at steady state. In other words, the expansion valve orifice size, heat exchanger coil sizes, compressor size, operating pressures, flow rates and the like are determined with the thermodynamics of the steady state system in mind. During start-up, flow rates and pressures are initially lower, the compressor is not up to steady state capacity, and so forth, and thus the refrigeration cycle does not operate at optimal efficiency.
The present invention addresses this shortcoming of conventional systems through the use of a microprocessor-based control system and digitally controllable expansion valve. The expansion valve opens the valve orifice to a greater diameter than normal on the initiation of the start-up sequence. This enables rapid transfer of the refrigerant charge to the coil and significantly improves efficiency. After the initial start-up setting the valve orifice is reduced to the steady state position in a precisely controlled way. At the end of the operating cycle, the expansion valve is closed shut to prevent operating pressure differential from being lost. The result is a state-of-the-art heat pump system which offers high efficiency and longer component life.
For a more complete understanding of this invention, its objects and advantages, reference may be had to the following specification and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Control system for heat pump/air-conditioning system for improved cyclic performance


A smoke detector that comprises three different power sources. First one is the 110/220 volt AC house current, through a step down transformer or that can be hard wired into the home or factory. Second one is a moveable 9 volts rechargeable backup battery. Third one is a solar cell array with a plastic lens that provides up to 9 volts of current through a trickle charger/voltage regulator. The trickle charger also used to recharge the backup battery. With the trickle charger, the solar cell array can cause the smoke detector to alarm with only enough ambient light. The instant invention of the smoke detector unit overcomes the limits of the now market available smoke detectors, by being adjustable, moveable providing more current via the solar cell array to provide a complete recharge to the backup battery. Any voltage lower than 9 volts will lower the charge of the 9 volt rechargeable battery to the current 8 volts to 8 volts and so on up to 9 volts. So it is seen that a unit that does not have a voltage regulator system, cannot provide complete protection. This system will also overcome the need for a skilled person to install the unit.

Detector units for use in detecting unauthorized fire in homes, offices, factories and other buildings are well-known. These units normally comprise a detector such as hardwired detectors, battery powered detectors and the like and a signaling unit that emits a signal when the detector is actuated by e.g. detecting an untoward occurrence. The detector thereby alerts those with in range of said detector of a possible fire or smoke related emergency thereby saving lives.
Many if not most of these detectors are normally battery operated, but some are connected by wire connectors to the main power source e.g. 110/220 volt house current. Thus, the installation of the detector unit is a skilled operation requiring skilled workers to prepare the installation. Further, once the detector unit is installed, it is difficult to reposition without causing damage to the wall or other part on which it is mounted and along which the wires run. Also, the units as proposed by some do not have the option of a plug in 110/220 step down transformer or of being hardwired into the home as well as the lack of a backup system that fully protects the user, e.g. an electrical fire shuts down the power available from the 110/220 hardwired system or step down transformer. It has been proposed that the units should remain battery driven which avoids many of the problems mentioned above. However, such detector units have been on the market for a long time and are widely accepted but, new ways are being sought due to the fact that when the battery loses power, the zone covered by the detector units are often unsurveyed, leaving the user unprotected. In practice with smoke detectors of acceptably moderate cost, the units will have a limited range of detection making it necessary to have more than one unit, as the normal range will be for example one floor in home or the sleeping quarters of the home, the kitchen the storage room in a factory. The units when arranged in such a way can provide protection some detector units now available provide a battery back up system but no way to recharge the battery and if such a system is available it cannot fully charge the back up battery.
An object of the invention is to provide a detection which is capable of overcoming one or more of the foregoing disadvantages.


A straw chopper is mounted at the rear hood of a combine harvester and includes a housing with a feed opening and a discharge opening and a rotor mounted in the housing comprising a hub with a plurality of blades mounted on the hub for chopping the fed materials and accelerating the chopped materials for discharge. A tailboard has a plurality of guide fins arranged relative to the housing so as to receive the chopped materials from the discharge opening to engage onto a guide surface and guide fins of the tailboard construction for spreading of the chopped materials to the sides. On each side of the tailboard an outermost one of the guide fins has a first fin portion extending downwardly from the bottom surface to an lowermost edge, a second fin portion inclined from the lowermost edge downwardly and toward the contact side of the fin and a third fin portion inclined from the second portion to the concave side and toward the bottom surface.

In U.S. Pat. No. 6,840,854 (Redekop) issued Jan. 11, 2005 of the present Assignees is disclosed a straw chopper and discharge apparatus for a combine harvester where a rotor carrying a series of flail blades is mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis at the rear of the combine harvester so that the blades sweep around a housing of the apparatus to carry the straw and optionally the chaff from an inlet opening of the housing to a discharge opening of the housing. A tail board is provided at the discharge opening with a series of fins so that the material discharged from the opening at high speed engages onto the board and the fins thereon for spreading. This patent in particular provides an improved arrangement of the blades for generating a higher velocity in the air and material being discharged.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,939,221 (Redekop et al) issued Sep. 6, 2005 also of the present Assignees is disclosed an arrangement of the tail board which is formed in two separate side by side sections allowing independent adjustment of the two sections for enhanced spreading action.
The disclosure of each of the above two patents of the present assignees is incorporated herein by reference.
One of the primary requirements of residue management systems are that they evenly distribute residue over a combine's entire cutting width. Often a straw chopper or spreading mechanism will be able to cover the cutting width of the combine, however equally important is the consistency of the spread.
Variables such as a field's terrain, cutting height and wind direction alter the final placement of the residue. The straight cut headers mounted on the front end of today's harvesters are increasing in width due to the release of larger and more powerful combines. Currently the largest straight cut headers are 45 feet wide and some operators utilize a pick-up header to gather in a swath that is cut from a pass as wide as 60 feet. Most farmers want the spread width of the residue to match of width of cut, while maintaining an even distribution across the field, regardless of the external variables that may affect it.
Current methods to maintain even distribution with a wide spread are limited to a 40 feet width. Uncontrollable variables such as the wind speed and direction can significantly reduce both the spread width and an even distribution.
Even using the significant improvements set out in the above patents some difficulties remain with the existing technology in that the current device has a reduced ability to significantly propel straw from a chopper against a strong wind. The current machine technology will only spread 10-12 feet against a 10 mph wind.
Other arrangements have been proposed to improve spreading in such conditions but these commonly suffer from a high level of complexity and horsepower usage in order to spread 15 feet against the wind. For example the following publications provide some attempts to improve the spreading action albeit with little success:
US Application 2004/0127271 of Wolters assigned to CNH provides a chaff and straw spreading impeller with flow guide fingers and a top and rear surface to guide the residue.
EP 1187526/WO 00/78126 of Schrattenecker shows a chopper with fans mounted to each end of the chopper shaft with nozzles adjustable to position the air velocity at different locations on the outer fins.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,736,721 of Niermann issued in 2004 and assigned to Claas discloses a very complex design which spreads better against the wind. A chopper cuts the straw then discharges the residue into a spreader which has movable guides to alter the placement in the field. Negatives include even distribution and very high horsepower requirements which can be as much as three times the horsepower of the chopper itself.

Straw chopper and spreader for a combine harvester with improved fin design


The present invention provides novel tetrahydrocarbazole derivatives which have improved properties and which can be employed as inhibitors of GPCRs. This results in the possibility of using the novel compounds to treat pathological conditions whose severity depends on the pathobiochemical effect of GPCRs. The compounds of the invention act in particular via an antagonistic inhibition of the LHRH receptor. The invention further provides medicaments which comprise one or more of the novel compounds as active ingredient. The medicaments are suitable in particular to be employed in an oral dosage form for a mammal, in particular a human.

The contents of all the publications cited in this application, or comparable sources which are quoted, in order to explain the background of the invention are incorporated in the present application for the purpose of the disclosure.
G-protein coupled receptors represent a superfamily of cell membrane-associated receptors which play an important part in numerous biochemical and pathobiochemical processes in mammals and especially in humans. AU GPCRs consist of seven hydrophobic, transmembrane alpha-helical domains which are connected together by three intracellular and three extracellular loops and have an extracellular amino terminus and an intracellular carboxy terminus. One or more heterotrimeric G proteins are involved in their cellular signal transduction. Diverse physiological stimuli such as photosensitivity, taste and odor, but also fundamental processes such as metabolism, reproduction and development are mediated and controlled by them. GPCRs exist for erogenous and endogenous ligands. Peptide hormones, biogenic amines, amino acids, nucleotides, lipids, Ca2+, but also photons, have inter alia been identified as ligands; moreover one ligand may activate different receptors.
According to a recent investigation, 367 sequences have been identified in the human genome for G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) with endogenous ligands, D. K. Vassilatis et al., PNAS 100(8), 4903-4908 (2003). Of these, 284 belong to class A, 50 to class B, 17 to class C and 11 to class F/S. Examples belonging to class A are the bombesin, the dopamine and the LHRH receptors, and to class B are the VIP and the calcitonin receptors. The natural ligands for numerous GPCRs are as yet unknown.
Owing to their function, GPCRs are suitable as targets for medicaments for the therapy and prevention of a large number of pathological conditions. It is speculated that about 50% of currently known targets for active ingredients are GPCRs [Y. Fang et al., DDT 8(16), 755-761 (2003)]. Thus, GPCRs play an important part in pathological processes such as, for example, pain (opioid receptor), asthma (β2-adrenoceptor), migraine (serotonin 5HT1B/1D receptor), cancer (LHRH receptor), cardiovascular disorders (angiotensin receptor), metabolic disorders (GHS receptor) or depression (serotonin 5-HT1a receptor), K. L. Pierce et al., Nat. Rev. Mol. Cell Biol. 3, 639650 (2002).
General information about GPCRs is to be found under http://www.gpcr.org.
The present invention describes novel ligands with improved properties for GPCRs in general, the compounds provided by the invention acting in particular as antagonists of the LHRH receptor.
The natural ligand of this receptor, the peptide hormone LHRH, is synthesized in cells of the hypothalamus and released in pulsatile fashion from the hypothalamic neurons into the capillary plexus of the ementia mediana. In the anterior lobe of the pituitary, LHRH binds to the LHRH receptors of the gonadotropic cells and stimulates certain trimeric G-proteins, which initiate a branched signal transduction cascade. The initial event is activation of phospholipase C, A2 and/or D. This leads to an increased provision of the second messengers diacylglycerol and IP3, followed by Ca2+ mobilization from intracellular pools, and activation of various subordinate protein kinases. Finally, there is stimulation of the production and temporally defined pulsatile release of the gonadotropins FSH and LH. The two hormones are transported via the circulation to the target organs the testes and ovaries respectively. There they stimulate the production and release of the appropriate sex hormones. In the opposite direction there is a complex feedback mechanism by which the concentration of the sex hormones formed in turn regulates the release of LH and FSH.
In the male organism, LH binds to membrane receptors of the Leydig cells and stimulates testosterone biosynthesis. FSH acts via specific receptors on the Sertoli cells and assists the production of spermatozoa. In the female organism, LH binds to the LH receptors of the theca cells and activates the formation of androgen-synthesizing enzymes. FSH stimulates proliferation of granulosa cells of certain follicle stages via the FSH receptors thereof. The androgens which are formed are converted in the adjacent granulosa cells to the estrogens estrone and estradiol.
A number of disorders distinguished by benign or malignant tissue proliferations depend on stimulation by sex hormones such as testosterone or estradiol. Typical disorders of this type are prostate cancer and benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) in men, and endometriosis, uterine fibroids or uterine myomas, pubertas praecox, hirsutism and polycystic ovary syndrome, and breast cancer, uterine cancer, endometrial cancer, cervical cancer and ovarian cancer in women.
Since its discovery in 1971 by Schally et al. Science 173, 1036-1038 (1971), more than 3000 synthetic analogues of natural LHRH have been synthesized and tested. Peptide agonists such as triptorelin and leuprolide have been established for many years successfully in the therapy of gynecological disorders and cancers. However, the disadvantage of agonists is generally that they stimulate LHRH receptors in the initial phase of use and thus lead to side effects via an initial increase in the sex hormone levels. Only after downregulation of the LHRH receptor as a result of this overstimulation can the superagonists display their effect. This leads to a complete reduction in the sex hormone levels and thus to pharmacological castration with all the signs and symptoms. This disadvantage is associated with the impossibility of targeted adjustment of the level of sex hormones via the dosage. Thus, therapy of diseases which do not require a total reduction of the sex hormone levels to the castration level, such as, for example, benign tissue proliferations, with an agonist is not optimal for the patient.
This has led to the development of peptide LHRH receptor antagonists, of which, for example, cetrorelix (Cetrotide®) has been successfully introduced for controlled ovarian stimulation in the context of the treatment of female infertility. The antagonists inhibit the LHRH receptor immediately and dose-dependently, and thus lead to an immediate reduction in the plasma levels of testosterone or estradiol and progesterone. The peptide antagonists are, however, somewhat less potent than the agonists, and thus higher doses must be given.
A review of the clinical applications and the potential of LHRH agonists and antagonists is given by R. P. Millar et al. in British Med. Bull. 56, 761-772 (2000) and R. E. Felberbaum et al., Mol. Cell Endocrinology 166, 9-14 (2000) and F. Haviv et al. in Integration of Pharmaceutical Discovery and Development Case Studies, Chapter 7, ed. Borchardt et al., Plenum Press, New York (1998). Besides the treatment of malignant and benign neoplastic diseases, further possible applications are controlled ovarian stimulation in the context of in vitro fertilization, fertility control (contraception), and protection from unwanted side effects of radio- or chemotherapy, the treatment of HIV infections (AIDS) and of neurological or neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. Specific LHRH receptors have not only been found on pituitary cells, but also on cells in various tumors, e.g. of the breast and ovaries. These receptors might mediate a direct antiproliferative effect of LHRH receptor antagonists on the tumor.
The peptide LHRH receptor agonists and antagonists are mostly decapeptides whose bioavailability is inadequate for oral administration. They are typically given as solutions for injection or as depot formulation, subcutaneously or intramuscularly. This application is associated with inconveniences for the patient, and the compliance suffers. In addition, synthesis of the decapeptides is complicated and costly.
It is therefore sensible to look for non-peptide LHRH receptor antagonists which, besides high activity, have an improved metabolic stability and can be administered orally.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Tetrahydrocarbazole derivatives having improved biological action and improved solubility as ligands of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCPs)


A needleless connector has a body having an internal cavity with a sealing ridge, a port, an output flow channel, and a fluid flow path between the port and output flow channel. The connector also has a collapsible valve disposed within the cavity. The valve includes a cylindrical wall having a center axis, an internal surface, and a shoulder configured to sealingly contact the ridge of the body, thereby blocking the fluid flow path. The valve also includes a head fixedly attached to the wall. The head has a smiley cut at a first angular position about the center axis and a continuous top surface that is generally perpendicular to the axis. The valve also includes a first dimple formed in the internal surface of the cylindrical wall. The dimple extends around the internal surface over an angle in the range of 90-270°.

1. Field
The present disclosure generally relates to needleless connectors, and, in particular, to connectors with an internal collapsible valve.
2. Description of the Related Art
Medical treatments often include the infusion of a medical fluid, for example a saline solution or a liquid medication, to patients using an intravenous (IV) catheter that is connected though an arrangement of flexible tubing and fittings, commonly referred to as an "IV set," to a source of fluid, for example an IV bag. The fittings commonly include interconnectable male and female needleless connectors having a "Luer taper" conforming to an International Standards Organization (ISO) standard. Certain connectors have a self-sealing feature to prevent leakage of fluid from the attached tubing when the connector is decoupled from a mating connector.
One challenge with certain conventional needleless self-sealing connectors is that the medical fluid passing through the connector may become trapped in crevices and recesses within the connector. As certain types of medical fluids may degrade within a treatment time period, retention of medical fluid within the connector is undesirable.


A grip/mirror combination includes an auxiliary grip and a mirror device. The auxiliary grip can be mounted on a bicycle handle so that a rider can hold the auxiliary grips while riding the bicycle. While riding the bicycle, the rider can extend the mirror device from the auxiliary grip in order to provide a clear view of vehicles beside and behind him. When the bicycle is parked, the mirror device can be concealed in the auxiliary grip, thus protecting the mirror device from being hit by any vehicle passing by it.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention is related to a grip/mirror combination for a bicycle.
2. Related Prior Art
Bicycles used to be important traffic tools. Even now, there are still many people using bicycles for transportation, exercise or fun. Some riders ride their bicycles in parks or stadiums; however, most riders ride their bicycles on the road. While riding on the road, a rider has to pay attention to vehicles beside and behind him. A side view mirror is useful in helping a rider observe vehicles beside and behind him. In a long journey, a rider needs an auxiliary grip to help him relax his muscles so that he can last longer.
FIG. 13 shows two conventional auxiliary grips 1 each attached to a free end of a grip 2 mounted on a handle of a bicycle. The grips 2 provide a single function for a rider to hold on to. However, when the grips 2 are attached to the handle, side view mirrors cannot be mounted on the handle.
FIG. 14 shows a conventional bicycle handle equipped with two conventional grips 2 and two conventional side view mirrors 3. Due to their positions, the side view mirrors 3 can only provide a rider with a clear view for vehicles behind the bicycle, not a clear view for vehicles approaching the sides of the bicycle.
FIG. 15 shows a conventional handle equipped with two conventional grips 2 and two conventional side view mirrors 4. Due to their positions, the side view mirrors 4 can only provide a rider with a clear view for vehicles approaching the sides of the bicycle, not a clear view for vehicles behind bicycle. Moreover, when the bicycle is parked, the side view mirrors 4 may easily be hit and therefore broken.
Therefore, the present invention is intended to obviate or at least alleviate the drawbacks encountered in the art.


The surface of a device that is surgically implantable in living bone is prepared. The device is made of titanium with a native oxide layer on the surface. The method of preparation comprises the steps of removing the native oxide layer from the surface of the device and performing further treatment of the surface substantially in the absence of unreacted oxygen.

The present invention relates to processes for improving the surfaces of devices to be surgically implanted in living bone, and to implant devices having the improved surfaces.
The success of prosthetic devices surgically implanted in living bone depends substantially entirely on achieving and maintaining an enduring bond between the confronting surfaces of the device and the host bone. Surgical procedures for preparing living bone to receive a surgically implanted prosthetic device have been known for twenty years or more, but considerable controversy remains concerning the ideal properties of the surface of the device which confronts the host bone.
It is known through clinical experience extending over several decades that titanium and its dilute alloys have the requisite biocompatability with living bone to be acceptable materials for use in making surgically implantable prosthetic devices, when the site of installation is properly prepared to receive them. There is, however, less certainty about the ideal physical properties of the surfaces of the prosthetic devices which confront the host bone. For example, the endosseous dental implant made of titanium enjoys sufficient predictable success to have become the artificial root most frequently chosen for restoring dentition to edentulous patients, but that success depends in part on the micromorphologic nature of the surface of the implant which comes in contact with the host bone. Because there is no standard for the surface micromorphology of dental implants, the surfaces of commercial implants have a wide range of available textures. It is known that osseointegration of dental implants is dependent, in part, on the attachment and spreading of osteoblast-like cells on the implant surface. It appears that such cells will attach more readily to rough surfaces than to smooth surfaces, but an optimum surface for long-term stability has not yet been defined.
Wilke, H. J. et al. have demonstrated that it is possible to influence the holding power of implants by altering surface structure morphology: xe2x80x9cThe Influence of Various Titanium Surfaces on the Interface Strength between Implants and Bonexe2x80x9d, Advances in Biomaterials, Vol. 9, pp. 309-314, Elsevier Science Publishers BV, Amsterdam, 1990. While showing that increased surface roughness appeared to provide stronger anchoring, these authors comment that it xe2x80x9ccannot be inferred exclusively from the roughness of a surface as shown in this experiment. Obviously the shear strength is also dependent on the kind of roughness and local dimensions in the rough surface which can be modified by chemical treatment.xe2x80x9d
Buser, D. et al., xe2x80x9cInfluence of Surface Characteristics on Bone Integration of Titanium Implantsxe2x80x9d, Journal of Biomedical Materials Research, Vol. 25, pp. 889-902, John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1991, reports the examination of bone reactions to titanium implants with various surface characteristics to extend the biomechanical results reported by Wilke et al. The authors state that smooth and titanium plasma sprayed (xe2x80x9cTPSxe2x80x9d) implant surfaces were compared to implant surfaces produced by alternative techniques such as sandblasting, sandblasting combined with acid treatment, and plasma-coating with HA. The evaluation was performed with histomorphometric analyses measuring the extent of the bone-implant interface in cancellous bone. The authors state, xe2x80x9cIt can be concluded that the extent of bone-implant interface is positively correlated with an increasing roughness of the implant surface.xe2x80x9d
Prior processes that have been used in attempts to achieve biocompatible surfaces on surgically implantable prosthetic devices have taken many forms, including acid etching, ion etching, chemical milling, laser etching, and spark erosion, as well as coating, cladding and plating the surface with various materials, for example, bone-compatible apatite materials such as hydroxyapatite or whitlockite or bone-derived materials. Examples of U.S. patents in this area are U.S. Pat. No. 3,855,638 issued to Robert M. Pilliar Dec. 24, 1974 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,818,559 issued to Hama et al. Apr. 4, 1989. A process of ion-beam sputter modification of the surface of biological implants is described by Weigand, A. J. et al. in J. Vac. Soc. Technol., Vol. 14, No. 1, January/February 1977, pp. 326-331.
As Buser et al. point out (Ibid p. 890), the percentage of bone-implant contact necessary to create sufficient anchorage to permit successful implant function as a load-bearing device over time remains unclear. Likewise, Wennerberg et al., xe2x80x9cDesign and Surface Characteristics of 13 Commercially Available Oral Implant Systemsxe2x80x9d, Int. J. Oral Maxillofacial Implants 1993, 8:622-633, show that the different implants studied varied considerably in surface topography, and comment: xe2x80x9cWhich of the surface roughness parameters that will best describe and predict the outcome of an implant is not knownxe2x80x9d (p. 632).
Radio-frequency glow-discharge treatment, also referred to as plasma-cleaning (xe2x80x9cPCxe2x80x9d) treatment, is discussed in Swart, K. M. et al., xe2x80x9cShort-term Plasma-cleaning Treatments Enhance in vitro Osteoblast Attachment to Titaniumxe2x80x9d, Journal of Oral Implantology, Vol. XVIII, No. 2 (1992), pp. 130-137. These authors comment that gas plasmas may be used to strip away organic contaminants and thin existing oxides. Their conclusions suggest that short-term PC treatments may produce a relatively contaminant-free, highly wettable surface. U.S. Pat. No. 5,071,351, issued Dec. 10, 1991, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,188,800, issued Feb. 23, 1993, both owned by the assignee of the present application, describe and claim methods and means for PC cleaning of a surgical implant to provide a contact angle of less than 20 degrees.
Copending application Ser. No. 08/149,905, filed Nov. 10, 1993, owned by the assignee of the present application, describes and claims inventions for improving the surfaces of surgically implantable devices which employ, among other features, impacting the surface with particles of the same material as the device to form the surface into a desired pattern of roughness.
It is a primary object of the present invention to produce an implant surface having a roughness that is substantially uniform over the area of the implant that is intended to bond to the bone in which the implant is placed.
It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved surgically implantable device having on its surface a substantially uniform micromorphology.
It is another object of the invention to provide a process or processes for manufacturing such improved implant devices.
It is an additional object of the invention to provide such improved implant devices which can be manufactured without contaminating the surfaces thereof.
It is a more specific object of the invention to provide an improved etch-solution process that will result in a substantially uniform surface topography on surgically implantable devices.
In accordance with the present invention, the foregoing objectives are realized by removing the native oxide layer from the surface of a titanium implant to provide a surface that can be further treated to produce a substantially uniform surface texture or roughness, and then performing a further, and different, treatment of the resulting surface substantially in the absence of unreacted oxygen. The removal of the native oxide layer may be effected by any desired technique, but is preferably effected by immersing the implant in hydrofluoric acid under conditions which remove the native oxide quickly while maintaining a substantially uniform surface on the implant. The further treatment is different from the treatment used to remove the native oxide layer and produces a desired uniform surface texture, preferably acid etching the surface remaining after removal of the native oxide layer. To enhance the bonding of the implant to the bone in which it is implanted, a bone-growth-enhancing material, such as bone minerals, hydroxyapatite, whitlockite, or bone morphogenic proteins, may be deposited on the treated surface. The implant is preferably maintained in an oxygen-free environment following removal of the native oxide layer, in order to minimize the opportunity for oxide to re-form before the subsequent treatment is performed.


A pump apparatus comprising a series of stacked impellers rotating about a common axis, for pumping a viscous fluid mixture upwardly from an underground location. The pump apparatus comprises a generally cylindrical housing having an intake at or near its suction end. A plurality of impellers are mounted in the housing to rotate about a shaft, which each induce flow of the mixture toward the discharge end of the pump. Each impeller has a series of radially outwardly extending vanes, one or more of such vanes having a radially-extending horizontal slot and arranged to generate an upwardly moving column of fluid. Without being limited to the theory of operation, the horizontal slot in the vanes assists in creating laminar flow and reducing turbulent flow.

The extraction of heavy oil and/or bitumen from an underground hydrocarbon reservoir via the pumping of viscous hydrocarbon-containing mixtures to surface presents significant problems with respect to the erosion of mechanical equipment (such as the pumps) which are used to pump such viscous mixtures to surface.
The cause of the erosion is due largely in part to the high abrasiveness of the viscous pumped substance, and the presence of solid particles in the mixture, such as sand, silicates, and tailings.
In making its way through the pump mechanism, the viscous fluid particularly causes erosion of the impeller blades, which ultimately leads to wear and loss of performance, and indeed subsequent inoperability of the pump. The result of the ongoing wear on the apparatus causes significant downtime for repairs and replacements, increasing inefficiencies and ultimately increasing maintenance costs and pump failures.
Pump apparatus with impeller blades used in the handling of viscous fluids are found in the prior art, such as those disclosed in Canadian Patents 2,543,970, 2,185,176, 2,229,018 and 2,235,045.
Canadian Patent 2,543,970 teaches a centrifugal pump, having a wear plate coupled with a centrifugal pump and impeller apparatus. Wear plates add additional cost, and may in some cases reduce performance.
CA 2,185,176 discloses a pump/separator apparatus that utilizes an inner impeller with a stack of radially and concentrically extending circular disks.
Likewise, CA 2,229,018 discloses a pump/separator apparatus with impellers mounted within a cylindrical housing. The impellers found in CA 2,185,176 are in a diverging upwardly external shape. In CA 2,185,176 there are also internal pumping components located at each stack.
CA 2,235,045 teaches an impeller assembly with asymmetric concave blades.
However, there exists a real need in the industry for an pump apparatus that will provide substantial pressure and volumetric output, and be able to survive for an extended period of time without repair or replacement.

Staged centrifugal pump apparatus for pumping a viscous fluid


A pulsed emitter of electromagnetic radiation having a frequency range of 0.1 to 10 THz is described. The pulsed emitter includes an electromagnetic radiation gain medium and a pulse inducing element. The electromagnetic radiation gain medium is for generating electromagnetic radiation having the frequency range of 0.1 to 10 THz. The pulse inducing element is configured to induce an electromagnetic radiation pulse in the gain medium.

Lasers emitting in the THz frequency range of 0.1 to 10 THz are known. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,471,449, 7,508,578, 7,706,056, 7,430,074, and 7,440,178 to Korenblit and Tankhilevich describe magnon lasers which emit in the THz frequency range. In such magnon lasers, lasing is predicted to occur in a lasing medium of ferromagnetic semiconductor material involving spin-up and spin-down electrons in a classic 4 level sub-band laser structure [A. E. Siegman, 'Lasers', University Science Books, 1986.]. The magnon lasing emission occurs for transitions between the upper two sub-band. Above a certain threshold, annihilating non-equilibrium magnons will lase and produce THz radiation, whose intensity depends on the magnon collision rate.
Lasing is achieved by a balance between various length scales, the mean free path of electrons in the medium, the spin-wave wavelength, the sample dimensions, and the radiated wavelength. To lase, the ambient temperature must be below a critical temperature, where recent results have shown that with the right materials, the critical temperature may be as high as 850° C. In a one hundred layer magnon laser incorporating semiconductor magnon mirrors, the CW (continuous wave) power can be increased 100-fold, and yet the device thickness may be less than 4 microns.
Korenblit and Tankhilevich's own predictions for their CW magnon laser are for a threshold current exceeding 5000 Amps/cm2, and employing 10-100 Watts of input electrical power, where it might be possible to extract ˜10 mW of laser power for a single-stage laser and ˜1 Watt for a 100 stage laser. The required threshold current and input electrical power for output laser power exceeds other known solid-stage lasers for this wavelength range, where wavelengths should be in the 0.2 to 2.0 THz region, with a laser line width of ˜1 MHz.
Moreover, currently most powerful THz emitters are relatively feeble. Cooled Quantum Cascade Lasers (QCL) lasers emit microWatts of power, with the best prospects being mW. The best research-level MMICs emit only 50 mW of power at 0.22 THz.


Discloses high purity solvent compositions constituted of n-paraffins and isoparaffins, with the isoparaffins containing predominantly methyl branches, and having an isoparaffin:n-paraffin ratio sufficient to provide superior low temperature properties and low viscosities. The solvent compositions are made by a process wherein a waxy, or long chain paraffinic feed, especially a Fischer-Tropsch wax, is reacted over a dual function catalyst to produce hydroisomerization and hydrocracking reactions at 700.degree. F.+ conversion levels ranging from about 20 to 90 wt.% to provide a C.sub.5 -1050.degree. F. crude fraction. The C.sub.5 -1050.degree. F. crude fraction is then topped via atmospheric distillation to produce a low boiling fraction with an upper end point boiling between about 650.degree. F. and 750.degree. F. The low boiling fraction is fractionated and a narrow boiling range solvent obtained therefrom; one which can be further divided into solvent grades of various boiling ranges.

Paraffinic solvents provide a variety of industrial uses. For example, NORPAR solvents, several grades of which are marketed by Exxon Chemical Company, e.g., are constituted almost entirely of C.sub.10 -C.sub.15 linear, or normal paraffins (n-paraffins). They are made by the molecular sieve extraction of kerosene via the ENSORB process. These solvents, because of their high selective solvency, low reactivity, mild odor and relatively low viscosity, are used in aluminum rolling oils, as diluent solvents in carbonless copy paper, and in spark erosion machinery. They are used successfully in pesticides, both in emulsifiable concentrates and in formulations to be applied by controlled droplet application, and can even meet certain FDA requirements for use in food-related applications. The NORPAR solvents, while having relatively low viscosity, unfortunately have relatively high pour points; properties which cannot be improved in the ENSORB process by a wider n-paraffin cut because the C.sub.15 + n-paraffins have high melting points. Thus, the addition of C.sub.15 + paraffins will only worsen the pour point.
Solvents constituted of mixtures of highly branched paraffins, or isoparaffins, with very low n-paraffin content, are also commercially available. For example, several grades of ISOPAR solvents, i.e., isoparaffins or highly branched paraffins, are supplied by Exxon Chemical Company. These solvents, derived from alkylate bottoms (typically prepared by alkylation), have many good properties; e.g., high purity, low odor, good oxidation stability, low pour point, and are suitable for many food-related uses. Moreover, they possess excellent low temperature properties. Unfortunately however, the ISOPAR solvents have very high viscosities, e.g., as contrasted with the NORPAR solvents. Despite the need, a solvent which possesses substantially the desirable properties of both the NORPAR and ISOPAR solvents, but particularly the low viscosity of the NORPAR solvents and the low temperature properties of the ISOPAR solvents is not available.

High purity paraffinic solvent compositions