A device for detecting faults in an electric line between a voltage source and a load is disclosed. The device includes a signal-generation unit a signal-receiving unit and an evaluation mechanism. The signal-generation unit is configured to produce a power-line signal and transmit the power-line signal via the electric line to an external mechanism. The signal-receiving unit is configured to receive a response signal from the external mechanism. The evaluation mechanism is configured to detect an occurrence of a fault, when the signal-receiving unit fails to receive a response signal.

The number of items consuming electricity in modern vehicles, as well as their power consumption, is steadily rising. For this reason, it has been contemplated to equip vehicles with a 48V wiring system capable of supplying different electrical equipment (loads) in the vehicle with greater power at a constant amperage. Using 48V, however, creates a problem if an accidental short-circuit occurs, as stable arcs may develop, because 48V exceeds the arc ignition voltage.
Conventionally, electric lines are protected by fuses. However, since an arc represents an additional resistance in the line, the short-circuit current is limited such that the fuse may not be triggered.
Generally, a distinction is made between two types of arcs, i.e., serial and parallel arcs, which will be explained in more detail below.
FIG. 1 shows an example of a parallel arc, and particularly a circuit configuration with a 48V power source, as well as an amperage waveform over time. Parallel arcs appear parallel to the load. These are caused, e.g., by defective cable insulation, causing a short-circuit to occur toward the auto body or the existing 12V electric wiring system. With a parallel arc, the current has a series of spikes of several hundred amperes. However, since the spikes may be short-lived, an average current is often not enough to blow a fuse.
FIG. 2 shows an example of a serial arc, and particularly a circuit configuration with a 48V power source, as well as an amperage waveform over time. Serial arcs occur in series toward the load. They are caused, e.g., by a broken cable or damaged plug connections. Serial arcs act like an additional resistance in the electric circuit, thereby reducing the amperage relative to the intact state of the electric circuit. A serial arc therefore limits the load current, such that a fuse will not blow.
Both serial and parallel arcs produce very high temperatures, whereby a stable arc may greatly damage the vehicle. It is therefore desirable that a developing arc be detected at an early stage. It is, however, very difficult to tell the difference between a power limitation caused by a serial arc and fluctuations in the power consumption caused by the load.
Some conventional methods for the detection of arcs are known. Since an arc generates frequency components in the kilohertz range, attempts were made to detect the arc by evaluating the amperage- or voltage-frequency range (e.g., using a fast Fourier transform). Such a method is described, e.g., in EP 2040348 A2. However, depending on the load, it remains difficult to distinguish clearly between normal signal components and signal components caused by arcs. Moreover, such a method requires complex and expensive hardware comprising a signal processor. Optical arc detection, in which an arc is detected by an optical fiber surrounding a cable, represents another known method (see, e.g., DE 10 2004 051 734 A1). All these methods, however, have the disadvantage of relatively complex implementation and/or unreliable detection of the arc.

Device for detecting fault in an electric line


Improvements in a battery de-sulfating device are disclosed. The improvements including a plurality of capacitive discharge channels selectively activatable by a control board to provide a pulse wave modulated de-sulfating current to a lead-acid battery. The de-sulfating current can be a variable, or harmonic, repeating pattern of about 0.1-1.5 ms ON pulse followed by an about 2-9 ms OFF period which may be applied to the battery at an operator-adjustable peak amperage of about 0-350 amps. The de-sulfation process before, during or after the normal battery charging cycle, or any combination thereof. The temperature of the battery and the specific gravity of the fluid within the battery is measure during the de-sulfating process. The extent of sulfation of the battery may be ascertained by measuring the impedance of the battery.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the Industrial Battery Field. Specifically, applying an electronically or computer controlled battery optimization de-sulfation process using integral or external devices, to minimize the internal impedance of the battery caused by excess daily or periodic sulfation. This optimization control device command and control processes may be based in whole or in part upon the real time collection of raw battery metric data, or the use of simple timing algorithms, compared to most previous specific battery data and/or comparison with "like kind" comparative battery databases. The invention may also be used to provide advanced electrical savings capabilities to the battery operation, by the non-native control and modification of the battery charger's output. The invention may also be used to provide advanced electrical savings capabilities to the battery operation, by the reduction or elimination of a weekly or periodic "Equalization Charge." The invention may also be used to provide advanced life extension capabilities by the reduction in the gradual "Cycle Compensation Effect," that is, the reduction of sulfation induced, ever increasing charging/discharging cycles to accomplish the same degree of workload. The invention may also be used to reduce or eliminate battery desulfation services currently and repetitively required, resulting from sulfation induced increasing resistance.
2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98
The present disclosure is directed to a battery optimization interface module located between a battery and the battery charger, or a battery charger circuitry integrated control device to automatically scan, develop commands and thereinafter control the continuous performance optimization of lead acid batteries. This Scan, Command and Control means is based in whole or in part, upon the real time gathering and processing of scientific measurements of battery or battery cell metrics, controlling the application of integral or external electronic de-sulfating devices upon the battery, or controlling non-electronic de-sulfation means applied to the battery such as the injection of chemical additives into the battery cells; to maintain the battery at the lowest possible internal resistance level hereinafter referred to as The Battery Optimization (IBO) process. More particularly, the automatic battery de-sulfating of lead acid batteries preceding, after, or in conjunction with a charging cycle or process, thus maintaining the battery in an optimized daily or other periodically based condition.
The present disclosure also provides for the external control of the battery charger to battery connection means, interrupting that connection means using an external measuring, computational and processing device to control the charger's output to the battery, regardless of the charger's native charge profile requirements; that may in whole or in part based upon battery optimization processes, and in whole or in part by battery or battery cell scientific metrics gathered and processed by internal or external means.
The present disclosure also provides for the real time qualitative rating (scoring) of the battery's optimization status by automatically and quantifiably determining that status using real time data obtained and processed by a computer hardware and software system, then compared to: 1) the same battery data of previous battery optimization or charge process cycles, or 2) to a historical battery database of other like kind batteries undergoing the same charging, de-sulfation or optimization processes. The present disclosure also provides for the real time control of the battery charging or optimization processes based upon the battery's optimization qualitative scoring.
The present disclosure contemplates that many devices do not have an automatic, real time method for measuring, evaluating or quantifying the impedance of a battery or battery cells metric(s), and controlling said de-sulfation means based in whole or in part upon that measured impedance(s). The present disclosure may provide the external measured impedance scan, command and control means to those devices.
The present disclosure contemplates that many do not have an automatic, real time method for measuring, evaluating or quantifying the electrolyte temperature of the battery cells metric, and controlling said de-sulfation means based in whole or in part upon that measured electrolyte temperature. The present disclosure may provide the external measured electrolyte temperature scan, command and control means to those devices, which may also be used for qualitative data analysis, or to modify the raw data of the specific gravity metric.
The present disclosure contemplates that many devices do not have an automatic, real time method for measuring, evaluating or quantifying the specific gravity of the battery cells metric, and controlling said de-sulfation means based in whole or in part upon that measured specific gravity. The present disclosure may provide the external measured specific gravity scan, command and control means to those devices.
The present disclosure contemplates that many devices do not have an automatic, real time method controlling said de-sulfation means, based in whole or in part upon the measured time metric before, during, or after an applied re-charge to the battery. The present disclosure may provide the external measured time scan, command and control means to those devices.
The present disclosure contemplates that many devices do not have an automatic, real time method for measuring, evaluating or quantifying the volts per cell of the battery cells metric, and controlling said de-sulfation means based in whole or in part upon that measured volts per cell. The present disclosure may provide the external measured volts per cell scan, command and control means to those devices.
The present disclosure contemplates that many devices do not have an automatic, real time method for measuring, evaluating or quantifying the battery voltage metric, and controlling said de-sulfation means based in whole or in part upon that measured battery voltage. The present disclosure may provide the external measured battery voltage scan, command and control means to those devices.
The present disclosure contemplates that many devices do not have an automatic, real time method for measuring, evaluating, quantifying or controlling the Charge Return Factor applied by the charger to the battery, and the means to control the battery charger's Charge Return Factor based in whole or in part upon the measurement of battery or battery cell metrics. The present disclosure may provide the external Charge Return Factor scan, command and control means to those devices.
The present disclosure contemplates that the battery optimization control device may also collect, process, store and transfer battery or battery cell metric data to other processing means, typically an external instrument, or computer based operating systems capable of individual or multiple battery or battery cell metric reading cycles.
The present disclosure contemplates that the battery optimization control device may also collect, process, store and transfer battery or battery cell metric data using a communication means to export said data to an external device, using a telemetry based, wireless, wired, the internet, or equivalent communications means to other processing devices such as computer based operational or analytical devices.
The present disclosure contemplates that the battery optimization control device may also collect, process, store and transfer battery or battery cell metric data in conjunction with a battery charger, using a communication means to export said data to an external device, using a telemetry based, wireless, wired, the internet, or equivalent communications means to other processing devices such as computer based operational or analytical devices.
The present disclosure contemplates that some battery or battery cell metrics may be used independently, or in combination with other battery or battery cell metrics, or other data means, for qualitative analysis of the battery or battery cells.
The present disclosure contemplates that the daily or other periodic application of automated sulfation elimination processes may reduce or eliminate the buildup of performance reducing "daily" sulfation. That reduction of daily sulfation may reduce or eliminate the formation of "crystalline" sulfation, which therefore, may reduce or eliminate the conventional battery sulfation elimination service requirements.
The present disclosure contemplates that the reduction of daily sulfation may reduce or eliminate the formation of performance reducing "crystalline" sulfation, which therefore, may reduce or eliminate the conventional battery sulfation performance loss over time causing the battery to require less charge/discharge cycles to perform the same workload, when compared to non-optimized batteries, utilizing significantly more of the intended charger/discharge life cycles referred to as "Cycle Extension or Preservation."
The present disclosure contemplates that the reduction of daily sulfation may reduce or eliminate the formation of performance reducing "crystalline" sulfation, which therefore, may reduce or eliminate the conventional battery sulfation performance loss over time causing the battery to use less electricity per charge.
The present disclosure contemplates that the reduction of daily sulfation may reduce or eliminate the formation of performance reducing "crystalline" sulfation, which therefore, may reduce or eliminate the conventional battery sulfation performance loss over time, reducing or eliminating the need to perform an "Equalization Charge" to the battery. This may result in electrical savings and cycle preservation extending the battery's useful life.
The present disclosure contemplates that some magnetic isolation transformers may be substituted with a High Frequency—Power Factor Corrected—Switching Isolation Transformer (HFISO). The HFISO may have the advantage of being lighter than a purely magnetic isolation means, may be less expensive to build than a purely magnetic isolation means, and because of power factor correction the HFISO may have a lower electrical operating cost than a purely magnetic isolation means.
The present disclosure contemplates the HFISO power supply may extract pulses from the AC mains that are spread throughout the mains sine wave and modulated in such a manner that the current in each pulse is proportionate to the demand needed for the battery de-sulfation, battery optimization process peak amplitude. These power supply pulses would be sufficient in number and frequency to allow each pulse to be stored and converted into individual discharge bursts to the storage capacitor, such that the full energy demand of the desired battery peak amplitude could be achieved. The amount of energy carried by each power supply pulse would be small enough to minimize the components and their energy storage requirements to economize the design. The HFISO device Power Factor may be defined by the controlled and constant ratio of the voltage to the current demand on the mains, and considered unity, by design to about 95%.
The present disclosure contemplates that some lead acid batteries may be constructed using individual cells connected by an external bus bar to form the nominal voltage desired from the battery. Individual cells may provide about two volts each; thus, a 12-volt motive battery may include 6 cells in series, a 24 volt battery may include twelve cells, and so on.
The present disclosure contemplates that the Battery Optimization Control Device uses an integral processor, memory, computer software algorithms and hardware combinations, to apply specific calibration adjustments, schedules and data tables modifying the raw battery metric data input of the device sensors, transducers and probes; utilizing those calibrated data measurements to automatically control the battery optimization process using integral or external de-sulfation electronic de-sulfation devices, or integral or external non-electronic de-sulfation means such as the injection of chemical additives into the battery cells.
The present disclosure contemplates that the battery optimization control device(s), processes, or process algorithm(s), may be integrated within or become a modification of, the native construction of the battery charger circuitry and or the charger's operational profile. The integration may provide the synergistic benefit of sharing common physical attributes of the device's construction, lowering the cost of the device's construction, improving the performance of batteries being charged by the charger, reducing the electrical costs of the charging process, providing the means to reduce the electrical cost of the battery's operation when using the battery charger, increasing the charger's native efficiency, modifying the charger's native operational profile, may allow the charger to import, process and utilize battery or battery cell metric data, may provide the charger a capability to command and control external devices, and provide the means for real time battery optimization and quantification of the battery's performance.
Prior art does not allow for the real-time measurement of battery or cell metrics and the resultant external, non-battery charger native, independent control of the charger to battery conductive means, based upon the analysis of those battery or battery cell metrics, automatically and periodically interrupting the conductive means to apply an external battery de-sulfation process before, during or after the battery charging process.
Prior art does not allow for the real time measurement of battery or cell metrics and the resultant internal battery charger, native circuitry control of or modification too, the charger's native charge profile, based upon the analysis of those battery or battery cell metrics, automatically and periodically applying an internal battery de-sulfation (optimization) process before, during or after the battery charging process.
Prior art does not allow for the real-time measurement of battery or cell metrics and the resultant external, non-battery charger native, independent control of the charger to battery conductive means, based upon the analysis of those metrics, automatically and periodically interrupting the said conductive means modifying and controlling applied battery Charge Return Factor.
Prior art does not allow for the real time measurement of battery or cell metrics and the resultant internal battery charger, native circuitry control of or modification too, the charger's native charge profile, based upon the analysis of those metrics, automatically and periodically applying a modification to the duration of the charger's application of charging current, referred to as the modification and control of the battery's Charge Return Factor.
Prior art does not allow for the real-time measurement of battery or cell metrics and the resultant external, non-battery charger native, independent control of the charger to battery conductive means, based upon the analysis of those metrics, automatically and periodically interrupting the said conductive means to eliminate, or modify the duration of, the charger's application of a periodic Equalization Charge current.
Prior art does not allow for the real time measurement of battery or cell metrics and the resultant internal battery charger, native circuitry elimination of or modification too, the charger's Equalization Charging duration profile, based upon the analysis of those metrics, automatically and periodically applying a modification to the duration of the charger's application of charging current, referred to as the elimination or modification and control of the battery's Equalization Charge current.
Prior art does not allow for the real time measurement of the impedance value(s), digitized specific gravity, cell electrolyte temperature, or the volts per cell, of the battery, or battery cells within an array of cells; using a single measurement means, a single attachment means, and a single data recording means; using analog or digital electronic signals provided by a transducer or sensor processed by electronic instrumentation, or a computer based operating system, collecting the raw data from the battery or battery cells and used in the control or modification of the charger's native charging profile.
Prior art does not allow that real time or historical battery or battery cell metrics may be used independently, or in combination with other battery or battery cell metrics, or other data means, for real time qualitative analysis of the battery or battery cells. This qualitative analysis may be used to modify or control the charger's native charging profile.
Prior art does not contemplate that the daily or other periodic application of automated sulfation elimination processes may reduce or eliminate the buildup of performance reducing "daily" sulfation. That reduction of daily sulfation may reduce or eliminate the formation of "crystalline" sulfation, which therefore, may reduce or eliminate the conventional battery sulfation elimination service requirements, allowing the battery to use less electricity per charge, to use significantly more of the intended charger/discharge life cycles referred to as "Cycle Extension or Preservation," and reduce or eliminate the "Equalization Charge" process.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Universal industrial battery optimization device


In one aspect of the invention, a method of dynamically switching among a plurality of fault tolerance schemes is provided. The fault tolerance schemes are associated with a fault tolerance mechanism that executes in a distributed system. The method comprises obtaining a wait time of at least one user interface event occurring in the distributed system. The wait time includes at least one of a communications time, a service time and a fault tolerance time. The method further comprises determining whether a mean of the wait time is greater than a predetermined mean wait time threshold. The method also comprises determining whether the communications time, the service time and the fault tolerance time are mutually independent when the mean of the wait time is greater than the predetermined mean wait time threshold. In addition, the method comprises determining whether the mean of the wait time can be improved by reducing a mean of the fault tolerance time when the communications time, the service time and the fault tolerance time are mutually independent. The method also comprises switching from a first fault tolerance scheme to a second fault tolerance scheme when the wait time can be improved by reducing the mean of the fault tolerance time.

The present invention relates generally to fault tolerant distributed computing systems, and in particular, to a method for dynamically switching fault tolerance schemes in a distributed system based on wait times of user interface events.
Fault tolerance is a key technology in distributed systems for ensuring reliability of operations for user critical applications such as e-commerce, database transactions and B2B, etc. A distributed system is a group of computing devices interconnected with a communication network which function together to implement an application. Fault tolerance provides reliability of operation from the user's perspective by masking failures in critical system components. Known fault tolerant mechanisms for distributed systems can use different fault tolerance schemes, including different fault detection and recovery means, to handle various types of failures, such as device and network failures.
However, it is known that fault tolerance schemes may have different fault tolerance and performance trade-offs. In the context of interactive applications, fault tolerance schemes can have an adverse effect on the time that a user has to wait for a system response once the user interacts with the system, particularly in mobile computing environments. This delay can affect user perception of the performance of a system, which is significant because users are known to give up on applications if their requests are not met within certain time limits. Accordingly, it is desirable to limit detrimental trade-offs between fault tolerance and perceived system performance.
Furthermore, different applications may have different requirements for fault tolerance and performance. In addition, these requirements may change over the course of execution of the same application. It may be that no particular implementation of a fault tolerance mechanism will perform well for all applications. In this context, it is important to know when to switch fault tolerance schemes and which scheme to dynamically select.
Therefore, there is a need for a method of dynamically switching fault tolerance schemes that can improve the user perceived performance of a system while taking into account the desired level of fault tolerance.

Method for dynamically switching fault tolerance schemes


The present invention is directed to a system for multiplexing data transmissions exchanged between a host computer system and a user workstation connected by a communications link. One or more host application programs reside upon and are executed by the host computer system while a terminal emulation program having the capability of simultaneously displaying one or more host application program screens resides upon and is executed by the user workstation. The data transmission multiplexing system comprises a session manager program residing upon and executed by the host computer system for establishing one or more program sessions with the host application programs, each of the program sessions generating its own individual datastreams, and a single program session with the terminal emulation program utilizing a single connection between the host computer system and the user workstation. The terminal emulation program simultaneously displays the host application program screen for each of the program sessions established between the session manager program and the host application programs. The multiplexing system includes a multiplexing program for performing the following functions: (1) building inner data packets from the individual datastreams generated by each program session; (2) inserting the inner data packets into one or more data transmission packets for transmission between the host computer system and the user workstation over the single logical connection; and (3) removing the inner data packets from the one or more data transmission packets for recreating the individual datastreams therefrom.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed generally to a system and method for multiplexing data transmissions and, more specifically, to a system and method for multiplexing data transmissions exchanged between a timesharing computer system and a user workstation.
2. Description of the Background of the Invention
A timesharing computer system may be accessed by a user through a video display terminal connected to the timesharing computer by means of a data communications system. The user may gain access to the timesharing computer system by establishing a program session with an application program executing on the timesharing computer. The user can interact with the application program by utilizing a keyboard attached to the video display terminal and see the results of the application on the video display terminal's screen.
Advanced video display terminals, such as distributed function terminals ("DFTs"), enable a user to initiate multiple program sessions with a timesharing computer system by establishing multiple connections between the DFT and the timesharing computer. One connection is established for each program session. The DFT utilizes windowing software to allow the user to view the multiple programs sessions simultaneously. A selection methodology permits a user to direct the keyboard input to any particular program session.
A significant drawback to the technique utilized in DFTs is that one connection must be dedicated to each program session. The number of connections on each communications pathway to the timesharing computer is usually limited and must be shared by all DFTs utilizing that communications pathway.
A type of application program called a "session manager", designed to execute on a timesharing computer system, has the capability of establishing and maintaining multiple program sessions simultaneously for a user utilizing a single video display terminal. The video display terminal maintains a single connection with the timesharing computer and establishes a single program session with the session manager program. The session manager program, in turn, maintains multiple program sessions with application programs executing on the timesharing computer system. The user can view and interact with only one program session at any given time. Using a keyboard sequence, generally known as a "hot key" sequence, the user can select from among the program sessions for viewing and keyboard input.
The disadvantage to session manager programs is that only a single application program can be viewed and interacted with at any one time. Thus, the need exists for a system which allows a user to view multiple application program sessions simultaneously, permits the user to direct keyboard input to any one of these multiple program sessions and, at the same time, establishes only a single connection with the timesharing computer system.

System and method for multiplexing data transmissions


A process is provided for the destruction of organohalogen compounds, such as methyl chloride, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, etc., by mixing the organohalogen compounds with a heated carrier gas, such as nitrogen, argon or air, and either steam or water to form a mixture; supplying the mixture to a catalyst, such as titanium oxide/tungsten oxide, to decompose the organohalogen compounds into halogens and hydrogen halides, such as chlorine, hydrochloric acid, fluorine and hydrofluoric acid; conducting the halogen and hydrogen halide contaminated gas through a bent path, created by a baffle that prevents the entry of mist or droplets into the catalyst chamber, into a cooling section where the halogen and hydrogen halide contaminated gas is sprayed with water to cool the gas to a temperature low enough to prevent the formation of dioxines. An alkaline agent, such as sodium hydroxide, can be added to the cooling water to neutralize the halides and hydrogen halides.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for treating an organohalogen compound, particularly, to a preferred method for treating the organohalogen compound by destructing the organohalogen compound with a catalyst.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Organohalogen compounds contaminate air, rivers, water underground, soil, etc. Particularly, the organohalogen compounds having toxicity such as a cancer-causing property are regarded as problems in view of environmental pollution. Release suppression technology of the organohalogen compound, and destruction-treatment technology of the organohalogen compound existing in the environment as contaminants after releasing are now under development. The above destruction-treatment technology is aimed at destructing the organohalogen compound in released waste or in the environment after releasing. Therefore, an object of the destruction-treatment is the organohalogen compound of relatively low concentration. Currently, there are some organohalogen compounds which are regarded as a source material of ozone layer destruction, or a source material of green effect, even if it may be less toxic. Therefore, release suppression technology and recovery-treatment technology for such organohalogen compounds are now under development. In the recovery-treatment technology, a large amount of recovered organohalogen compound is treated for destruction. Therefore, in view of economical aspect of the facility, it is necessary to destruct the organohalogen compound of relatively high concentration, and to make it harmless.
As for a treating method to make the organohalogen compound harmless, there are various methods which are well known. Among the various methods, a method for destruction by combustion, a method for destruction using plasma, and a method for destruction by cracking using high temperature steam have a large defect such as a large energy consumption. A method for destruction by ultraviolet ray, a method for destruction by irradiation, and a method for destruction using a micro-organism have a small destruction efficiency and a small destructing velocity. A method for destruction of an organohalogen compound using combustion has a problem to generate strong poisonous substance such as dioxine. On the contrary, a method for destructing the organohalogen compound using a catalyst receives an attention as a most effective method, because the method scarcely has the above described defects.
As for the method for treating organohalogen compounds using a catalyst, various methods have been disclosed hitherto, for example, as follows; JP-A-52-114468 (1977) disclosed a treating method using a catalytic destruction apparatus of air including an organohalogen compound. JP-A-3-42015 (1991) disclosed a method for destructing recovered flons. JP-A-3-66388 (1991) disclosed a treating method of flon of high concentration such as 6 mole %.
Destructing objects of the treating method disclosed in JP-A-52-114468 (1977) are organohalogen compounds of extremely low concentration. Therefore, it is difficult to destruct recovered organohalogen compounds, of which treatment has currently been becoming necessary, with a high efficiency under a high concentration. The treating method disclosed in JP-A-52-114468 (1977) does not teach any countermeasure against corrosion products, which are generated with heating the organohalogen compound, because concentrations of corrosive materials (chlorine, hydrogen chloride, fluorine, hydrogen fluoride etc.) generated at the destruction of the organohalogen compound are low. Furthermore, the treating method taught only insufficient countermeasure against corrosive materials generated with destructing the organohalogen compound. The method disclosed in JP-A-3-42015 (1991) is a method treating organohalogen compound of low concentrations such as 5000 ppm, and therefore, no countermeasure for the corrosive materials generated at heating and destructing the organohalogen compound was taught, which is the same as JP-A-52-114468 (1977).
The treating method disclosed in JP-A-3-66388 (1991) did not teach any practical means for supplying flon of a high concentration, nor any countermeasure against corrosive materials generated by heating the organohalogen compound. Furthermore, no practical countermeasure against corrosive materials generated at destructing flon was taught except neutralization with an alkali.
One of a few defects of the destruction method for an organohalogen compound using a catalyst is a smaller destructing efficiency than destructing efficiencies of the destructing method by combustion and the destructing method by plasma. The destructing efficiencies of the organohalogen compound by the destructing method by combustion and the destructing method by plasma is approximately in a range of 99.999.about.99.9999%. On the contrary, the destructing efficiencies of the organohalogen compound by the destructing method using a catalyst is approximately in a range of 99.9.about.99.99%. The above destructing efficiencies of the destructing method using a catalyst scarcely make a problem in practical use. However, when the method is applied to a material such as flon, to which the United Nation Environmental Plan gives a guideline for the destructing efficiency as at least 99.99%, it is necessary to add an extra means in order to comply with the guideline. For example, JP-A-6-106172 discloses a method, in which undestructed organohalogen compound in exhaust gas from the catalytic destruction process are eliminated from the exhaust gas by being adsorbed into an adsorbent. The undestructed organohalogen compounds adsorbed in the adsorbent are released and treated again with the catalyst. However, in accordance with the above method, the main catalytic destruction process must be stopped when the released undestructed organohalogen compounds from the adsorbent are treated, and accordingly, the operation efficiency of the catalytic destruction facility is decreased.
As explained above, conventional methods for treating the organohalogen compounds have difficulty in operating the facility for destructing the organohalogen compound of a high concentration with a high destructing efficiency, a high operating efficiency of the facility, and appropriate countermeasures against corrosive materials generated by the destruction.

Method for destroying organohalogen compounds


A stator includes a base board, a plurality of coil patterns patterned on one face of the base board, a stator core having a ring-like portion formed in a ring-like shape, a plurality of teeth base ends of which are fixed to the ring-like portion and front end portions formed respectively at front ends of the plurality of teeth in which the coil patterns and the teeth are laminated onto the base board to be respectively opposed to each other, and covers having base members bonded to the base board in a state of being respectively fitted to the plurality of teeth and covering surroundings of the respective teeth and conductive patterns patterned to inner faces of the base members and electrically connected to the coil patterns.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a stator constituting a stator of a motor for driving to rotate a record medium of HD (hard disk) or the like, a motor having the stator and a record medium drive apparatus having the motor as well as a method of fabricating a stator.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, an information recording/reproducing apparatus using a hard disk drive apparatus (HDD) has been started to be adopted in a portable music reproducing apparatus, a portable telephone or the like. Particularly, an information/recording reproducing apparatus of a portable type is going to constitute a main current in the future owing to its availability, and further small-sized formation and thinned formation have been requested. In accordance therewith, an improvement has been carried out for small-sized formation and thinned formation of a motor for driving HD (hard disk).
Here, a brief explanation will be given of a hard disk drive apparatus having a general motor in reference to FIG. 27 through FIG. 29. As shown by FIG. 27, the disk drive apparatus 40 includes a stator 43 having a coil 41 and a stator core 42, and a rotor 46 having a permanent magnet 44 and a hub 45. The hub 45 is supported by a sleeve 47 rotatably around an axis line L and formed with a fitting portion 45a fitted to a center hole of a disk D. Thereby, the hard disk D is fixed to the hub 45. Further, an outer periphery of the hub 45 is fixed with the permanent magnet 44 to be opposed to the stator core 42 to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance.
The sleeve 47 is fixed to a base 48 and rotatably supports the hub 45. In this case, a more or less gap is ensured between the sleeve 47 and the hub 45, and the gap is filled with oil W. Further, an outer surface of the hub 45 or the sleeve 47 is pertinently formed with a radial dynamic pressure generating groove and a thrust dynamic pressure generating groove, not illustrated, referred to as a herringbone groove. Thereby, when the hub 45 is rotated around the axis line L, the hub 45 is rotated stably without being fluctuated in a thrust direction and a radial direction. That is, the hub 45 is brought into a state of being supported by a hydraulic dynamic bearing.
As shown by FIG. 28, the stator core 42 includes a core back 42a formed in a ring-like shape, and a plurality of teeth 42b formed to extend in a radius direction. Further, the stator core 42 is supported by a base 48 on a side of the core back 42a. The teeth 42b are formed at respective predetermined angles around the axis line L and formed such that a number (slot number) thereof constitutes a multiple of 3. For example, the teeth 42b are formed by 9 slots at respective 40 degrees. Further, the coils 41 are respectively wound at surroundings of the plurality of teeth 42b. In this case, the coils 41 are wound at every 3 (spaced apart by 2) thereof to constitute 3 phases (U phase, V phase, W phase).
When the hard disk D is driven by the disk drive apparatus 40 constituted in this way, first, the coil 41 is supplied with a three phase alternating current to generate a magnetic field in the coil 41. The magnetic field is operated to the permanent magnet 44 by way of the teeth 42b to rotate the rotor around the axis line L. Thereby, the disk D fixed to the rotor 46 by the fitting portion 45a can be rotated.
Meanwhile, as described above, further small-sized formation and thinned formation are requested for the motor in the future. However, as shown by FIG. 29, the coil 41 is wound at the surrounding to the tooth 42b by a predetermined turn number in order to ensure a constant electromotive force, and therefore, a thickness T1 is necessarily thickened. Therefore, it is difficult to achieve thinned formation as a whole. Particularly, the thickness T1 of the coil 41 is significant in comparison with the product constituted otherwise, and therefore, the thickness T1 effects a considerable influence on thinned formation. Therefore, in order to realize thinned formation, it is necessary to thin the coil 41 as thin as possible. However, as described above, the predetermined turn number is needed for ensuring the constant electromotive force, and therefore, the turn number of the coil 41 cannot simply be reduced.
Hence, although there is conceivable a method of reducing the turn number of the coil 41 wound per the single tooth 42b by increasing the number (slot number) of the teeth 42b, in this case, as shown by FIG. 28, with an increase in the slot number, a distance T2 between the teeth 42b is reduced. Here, in order to wind a coil wire around the tooth 42b, the coil wire is normally wound there around by inserting a coiling machine between the teeth 42b and orbiting the coiling machine centering on the tooth 42b. Therefore, when the distance T2 between the teeth 42b is made to be smaller than a rectified value, the coiling machine cannot be made to pass therethrough and the coil wire cannot be wound therearound. Therefore, the slot number cannot be increased to a necessary number and the number is limited. Therefore, the more amounted to the thinned formation of the total, the more difficult to thin the thickness T1 by extremely reducing the turn number of the coil 41 for the single tooth 42b.
On the other hand, there is known a disk drive apparatus achieving thinned formation as a whole by constituting a stator without mechanically winding a coil wire therearound (refer to, for example, Patent References 1 and 2).
As shown by FIG. 30 and FIG. 31, the disk drive apparatus 50 includes a metal core board 51 having a function of a core and windings of a motor and a function of a wiring board mounted with a part of IC or the like. The metal core board 51 constitutes a stator and is constituted by a tooth connecting portion, not illustrated, a tooth coil forming portion 51a, a tooth front end portion 51b, a wiring 51c and a through hole 51d.
The tooth connecting portion is constituted by laminated plates of thin plates and formed by a ring-like shape. The tooth coil forming portion 51a is a portion a base end side of which is fixed to the tooth connecting portion and which is formed by being extended to an inner side in a radius direction, and a portion in correspondence with the tooth of the background art. Normally, the tooth coil forming portion 51a is formed to constitute a number of pieces 1.5 times as much as a number of poles of a permanent magnet 52 formed in a ring-like shape. Further, a front end of the tooth coil forming portion 51a constitutes the tooth front end portion 51b to be opposed to the permanent magnet 52.
The wirings 51c are arranged at a surface and a rear face of the tooth coil forming portion 15a and is fixed by an insulating resin 53. Further, the insulating resin 53 is formed with the through hole 51d an inner face of which is plated by a metal and which electrically connects to the wirings 51c formed at the surface and the rear face. At this occasion, as shown by FIG. 31, the wirings 51c and the through holes 51d are connected to spirally surround the tooth coil forming portions 51a. Thereby, by making an electric current flow in the wiring 51c, a magnetic field for rotating the permanent magnet 52 can be generated.
According to the disk drive apparatus 50 including the metal core board 51 constituted in this way, the stator can be constituted without winding mechanically the coil wire around the tooth as in the related art, and therefore, the number of the tooth coil forming portions 51a, that is, the slot number can be increased without being conscious of the coiling machine. Therefore, the wiring 51c wound at the surrounding of the single tooth coil forming portion 51a can be reduced, and a thickness can be restrained as less as possible. Therefore, thinned formation as a whole can be achieved.
Patent Reference 1: JP-A-2004-23935
Patent Reference 2: JP-A-2004-32926
However, according to the related arts described in Patent References 1 and 2, the following problem still remains.
That is, since the insulating resin 53 is interposed between the tooth coil forming portion 51a and the wiring 51c, in comparison with the case of winding the coil wire, a total length thereof is prolonged. Further, the through hole 51d is bored by mechanical working or laser working, and therefore, a positional shift thereof with the wiring 51c is liable to be brought about. Therefore, it is difficult to arrange the through holes 51d by narrow intervals and the total length is further prolonged. As a result thereof, there is brought about a drawback that an electric resistance is increased, an efficiency of the electromotive force is deteriorated and power consumption is increased.
Further, owing to a structure in which a portion of the wiring 51c and the tooth coil forming portion 51a are embedded at inside of the insulating resin 53, there is a concern that heat generated by electricity conduction is not radiated to outside but is confined to inside. Therefore, exfoliation of a part is liable to be brought about, which amounts to a reduction in a power function and a reduction in a reliability.
In this way, even when the thinned formation can be achieved, a new drawback is brought about as a substitute therefor.

Stator, motor and record medium drive apparatus and method of fabricating stator


In a control stack included in a software, a control execution unit allows a receiving unit to receive the temperatures of a main processor and a graphic processor. When it determines based on these temperatures that a thermal error has occurred, the control execution unit allows a type acquisition unit to acquire the type of an application running currently. The control execution unit then performs hardware control processing for adjusting the operation of hardware, and software control processing for changing the operation of an application, so as to control the state of heat generation in the hardware. In the software control processing, the control execution unit acquires, from a reaction table, a control method corresponding to the combination of the part where a thermal error has occurred and the type of the running application, and provides control according to the acquired control method.

When a chip or other hardware reaches a high temperature, it may operate erroneously, so that long-term reliability thereof decreases. Accordingly, computer systems are provided with various measures against the heat generation of hardware. For example, there are used methods for releasing heat generated by chips, such as providing a heatsink on a chip or providing a fan around a chip.
Meanwhile, computer applications are becoming more complicated, requiring high-speed processing systems. Particularly, a real-time application requires a processing speed of thousands of megabits per second. Such demands have enhanced the performance of hardware including microprocessors. Such hardware, however, generates greater heat to exhibit higher performance, so that heatsinks or fans may not handle the heat in some cases.
In such cases, the temperature inside the devices rises, which may cause some trouble such as malfunctions, hang-ups or abnormal termination of systems. Each time such trouble occurs, the user must restart the system or make other operation for system return. Such trouble may damage the reputation of products, particularly that of devices of which continuous use is required to satisfy the users, such as game devices.

Method and apparatus for controlling heat generation


A thermal transfer image-receiving sheet including a substrate sheet and a dye-receptive layer provided directly or through an intermediate layer on one surface of the substrate sheet, the dye-receptive layer having a surface roughness of center line average height Ra=1.0-4.0 .mu.m, maximum height R.sub.max =15.0-37.0 .mu.m and 10-point average height Rz=10.0-30.0 .mu.m. Also disclosed is a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet comprising paper as a substrate sheet and, provided on the substrate sheet in the following order, an expanded layer and a receptive layer, an undercoat layer being provided between the substrate sheet and the expanded layer. Also disclosed is a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet comprising a substrate sheet of paper composed mainly of pulp and, provided on the substrate sheet in the following order, an expanded layer, an intermediate layer and a receptive layer, the intermediate layer having been formed by coating an aqueous coating solution.

The present invention relates to a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet. More particularly, it relates to a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet having a dye-receptive layer of which the texture is similar to that of so-called "plain paper."
A thermal transfer sheet comprising a substrate sheet and a dye layer provided on one surface of the substrate sheet has hitherto been used in an output printer for computers and word processors by a thermal sublimation dye transfer system. This thermal transfer sheet comprises a heat-resisting substrate sheet and a dye layer formed by coating an ink comprising a mixture of a binder with a sublimable dye on the substrate sheet and drying the resultant coating. Beat is applied to the thermal transfer sheet from the back surface thereof to transfer a number of color dots of three or four colors to a material on which an image is to be transferred, thereby forming a full color image. Since the colorant used is a dye, the image thus formed has excellent sharpness and transparency and high reproduction and gradation of intermediate colors, which enables a high-quality image comparable to a conventional full color photographic image to be formed.
Such a high-quality image, however, cannot be formed on a transfer material undyable with a dye, such as plain paper. In order to solve this problem, a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet comprising a substrate sheet and a dye-receptive layer previously formed on the substrate sheet has been used in the art.
Conventional thermal transfer image-receiving sheets are generally thick and have a dye-receptive layer of which the surface has a texture close to the so-called "photographic paper" rich in gloss, so that in some sense they can be said to give an impression of high grade.
However, in the so-called "applications in office," the gloss of the surface of the dye-receptive layer and the hard texture of the sheet per se give a poor image to users. In order to overcome this problem, a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet, particularly one which has a surface having a texture close to plain paper and can be handled like copying paper, has been desired in the art.


An approach for efficiently reducing background noise from speech signal in real-time applications is presented. A noisy input speech signal is processed through an inverse filter when the spectrum tilt of the input signal is not that of a pure background noise model the noisy input signal is also filtered in order to reduce the spectrum valley areas of the noisy input signal when the background noise is present.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to speech coding and, more particularly, to noise suppression
2. Related Art
Generally, a speech signal can be band-limited to about 10 kHz without affecting its perception. However, in telecommunications, the speech signal bandwidth is usually limited much more severely. For instance, the telephone network limits the bandwidth of the speech signal to a band of between 300 Hz to 3400 Hz, which is known in the art as the "narrowband". Such band-limitation results in the characteristic sound of telephone speech. Both the lower limit of 300 Hz and the upper limit of 3400 Hz affect the speech quality.
In most digital speech coders, the speech signal is sampled at 8 kHz, resulting in a maximum signal bandwidth of 4 kHz. In practice, however, the signal is usually band-limited to about 3600 Hz at the high-end. At the low-end, the cut-off frequency is usually between 50 Hz and 200 Hz. The narrowband speech signal, which requires a sampling frequency of 8 kb/s, provides a speech quality referred to as toll quality. Although this toll quality is sufficient for telephone communications, for emerging applications such as teleconferencing, multimedia services and high-definition television, an improved quality is necessary.
The communications quality can be improved for such applications by increasing the bandwidth. For example, by increasing the sampling frequency to 16 kHz, a wider bandwidth, ranging from 50 Hz to about 7000 Hz can be accommodated. This wider bandwidth is referred to in the art as the "wideband". Extending the lower frequency range to 50 Hz increases naturalness, presence and comfort. At the other end of the spectrum, extending the higher frequency range to 7000 Hz increases intelligibility and makes it easier to differentiate between fricative sounds.
Background noise is usually a quasi-steady signal superimposed upon the voiced speech. For instance, assuming FIG. 1 represents the spectrum of an input speech signal and FIG. 2 represents a typical background noise spectrum. The goal of noise suppression systems is to reduce or suppress the background noise energy from the input speech.
To suppress the background noise, prior art systems divide the input speech spectrum into several segments (or channels). Each channel is then processed separately by estimating the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for that channel and applying appropriate gains to reduce the noise. For instance, if SNR is low, then the noise component in the segment is high and a gain much less than one is applied to reduce the magnitude of the noise. On the other hand, when SNR is high, then the noise component is insignificant and a gain closer to one is applied.
The problem with prior art noise suppression systems is that they are computationally cumbersome because they require complex fast Fourier transforms (FFT) and inverse FFT (IFFT). These FFT transformations are needed so that the signal can be manipulated in the frequency domain. In addition, some form of smoothing is required between frames to prevent discontinuities. Thus prior art approaches involve algorithms that is sometimes too complex for real-time applications.
The present invention provides a computationally simple noise suppression system applicable to real-time/real life applications.


A circuit for generating a bandgap voltage that is insensitive to temperature. The circuit includes an amplifier with a feedback loop having a high impedance output current mirror controlled by transistors connected to an output from the amplifier. The current mirror provides proportional currents to a pair of resistors that are connected to inputs to the amplifier, a first input receiving a temperature sensitive voltage from a first of the resistors, and a second input receiving a voltage that is a combination of a temperature sensitive voltage across a second of the resistors and a temperature sensitive offsetting voltage. The second resistor may be tapped to provide a selectable bandgap voltage. A reference voltage for operating the generator may be obtained from a voltage division of supply voltage by two resistors of the same type.

The present invention is generally directed to a circuit for providing a temperature insensitive voltage, and more particularly to a bandgap voltage generator.
Bandgap voltage generators provide a specific low voltage that is desirably insensitive to temperature. The voltage is typically equal to the bandgap potential of silicon at 0.degree. Kelvin, approximately 1.2 volts, although other low voltages may be provided. The generated voltage is used in variety of applications, including CMOS integrated circuits.
Bandgap generators, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,144,223 to Gillingham, have moved away from the use of amplifiers because of the current they consume, especially in low power operations. The present invention solves the current consumption problem and is able to use an amplifier efficiently in a 5 volt system.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel circuit for providing a voltage that is insensitive to temperature that obviates the problems of the prior art.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel circuit for generating a bandgap voltage in which a feedback loop for an amplifier includes a high impedance output current mirror for controlling the current across a resistor.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a novel bandgap generator in which an amplifier feedback loop includes a high impedance output current mirror for providing proportional currents to a pair of resistors that are connected to the amplifier, where one resistor feeds a temperature sensitive voltage to a first amplifier input, and a voltage is provided to a second amplifier input from a combination of a temperature sensitive voltage across a second transistor from which the bandgap voltage may be tapped and an offsetting voltage.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a novel circuit for providing a bandgap voltage for a five volt system, the circuit having a pair of bipolar transistors with a common collector and bases connected to a reference voltage source, a first resistor connected in series with an emitter of a first of the bipolar transistors, an amplifier with a first terminal connected to the first resistor and a second terminal connected to an emitter of a second bipolar transistor, a second resistor connected in series with an emitter of the second bipolar transistor, the second resistor being tapped for providing a bandgap voltage, and in which an amplifier feedback loop provides proportional currents to the two resistors.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel circuit for generating a bandgap voltage in which a feedback loop for an amplifier includes a high impedance output current mirror that is controlled by series connected field effect transistors that provide control signals to the gates of field effect transistors in the current mirror.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a novel circuit for generating a bandgap voltage in which a feedback loop for an amplifier includes a current mirror that is controlled by an array of series connected field effect transistors, the current mirror including two pairs of field effect transistors for providing a high impedance output and that have their gates connected to the controlling field effect transistors.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a novel circuit for generating a bandgap voltage for biasing an entire semiconductor chip that is insensitive to temperature, and is independent of power supply variations and of trimming of the bandgap.
These and many other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains from a perusal of the claims, the appended drawings, and the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments.

Temperature insensitive bandgap voltage generator tracking power supply variations


An apparatus for providing a sensitive volume for single-sided NMR includes: (i) at least one first permanent magnet for providing a first magnetic field at the sensitive volume; and (ii) at least one of the following means for superimposing at least one second magnetic field for homogenizing the first magnetic field in the sensitive volume: (A) at least one shim magnet, (B) at least one pair of shim magnets, and (C) at least one electrical conductor being connectable to an electric current source. The at least one second magnetic field is adjusted such that the magnetic field homogeneity in the sensitive volume is corresponding to a line width of hydrogen (1H) of less than 10 ppm.

NMR is known for several decades to allow non-invasive measurements of a large variety of systems ranging from quantitative analysis of liquid samples to whole body images of the human body. Within the last years beside the usual NMR approach in which a probe is inserted into a homogeneous magnetic field provided e.g. by a super conducting magnet other methods have been implemented which are based on single-sided NMR or unilateral NMR. These techniques are based on the use of the stray field of permanent magnets which create the population differences of the quantum mechanical levels necessary to excite and detect NMR signals. These techniques where developed based on the need to provide NMR methods which allow the measurement of large samples which cannot be implemented into super conducting magnets or which can for other reasons not be moved to a super conducting magnet. These techniques are based on the magnetic field which can be generated on one side of a magnet. In this regions the magnetic field is very inhomogeneous which is a drawback for NMR methods. This results in line widths being relatively broad compared to those of NMR spectra measured in a super conducting magnet. In particular, the line width within the inhomogeneous field of a single-sided NMR magnet is essentially infinite, i. e. larger than 1 MHz whereas the linewidth in conventional high-resolution NMR spectroscopy is usually less than 1 Hz. Therefore, quantitative measurements of NMR spectra using single-sided NMR equipment have been problematic in the past.
Based on this, it is an object of certain embodiments of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus which overcomes at least in part the problems known from prior art and which in particular allows quantitative measurements of NMR spectra using single-sided NMR equipment.
These objects are accomplished by a method for providing a sensitive volume for single-sided NMR and an apparatus for providing a sensitive volume for single-sided NMR having the features as described herein.
The method for providing a sensitive volume for single-sided NMR according to certain embodiments of the present invention includes:                a) generating a first magnetic field at the sensitive volume by at least one first permanent magnet and        b) superimposing at least one second magnetic field for homogenizing the first magnetic field in the sensitive volume, said second magnetic field being generated by at least one of the following:                    A) at least one shimming magnet;            B) at least one pair of shimming magnets; and            C) at least one electrical conductor flown through by electric currentwhereas the at least one second magnetic field is adjusted such that the magnetic field homogeneity in the sensitive volume is corresponding to a line width of hydrogen (1H) of less then 10 ppm (parts per million).
In particular it is advantageous that one first permanent magnet is used which is composed by several magnet blocks. The term single-sided NMR is in particular to be understood such that the sensitive volume is situated outside i. e. on one side of the magnet and is not surrounded by the at least one permanent magnet. Superimposing at least one second magnetic field to the first magnetic field in such a way that the first magnetic field is homogenized by the at least one second magnetic field leads to an increased homogeneity of the static magnetic field within the sensitive volume. This allows for the first time the measurement of spectroscopic data or spectroscopically resolved data without applying sophisticated pulse sequences. With the method according to certain embodiments of the present invention it was possible to achieve a chemical resolution of less than 10 ppm, preferably of less than 1 ppm so that different molecular structures such as toluene and acetic acid could be resolved. It is possible to enhance the spectroscopic resolution by the method according to certain embodiments of the invention by a factor of about 30 or even more with respect to prior art.
Furthermore, a method for performing single-sided NMR measurements is advantageous in which                a) a first magnetic field is generated by at least one permanent magnet;        b) at least one second magnetic field for homogenizing the first magnetic field is superimposed to the first magnetic field so that the magnetic field at least in a sensitive volume is homogenized whereas said second magnetic field is generated by at least one of the following:                    A) at least one shimming magnet;            B) at least one pair of shimming magnets; and            C) at least one electrical conductor flown through by electric current,wherein the at least one second magnetic field is adjusted such that the magnetic field inhomogeneity in the sensitive volume is corresponding to a line width of hydrogen of less than 10 ppm.
In particular a sample which extends at least in part across the sensitive volume is excited by at least one excitation coil which can be driven by a respective NMR spectrometer like e.g. the BRUKER minispec. Using this excitation coil which is e.g. a surface coil the spins in the sample can be excited by at least one RF (radio frequency)-pulse. The same RF-coil can be used to sample the NMR signal generated within the sample. Preferably, the first magnetic field is generated such that it is parallel to the excitation coil.
The improvements disclosed within this document directed to a method for providing a sensitive volume for single-sided NMR can in an advantageous way be transferred to and used with the method for measuring NMR data disclosed within this document and vice versa.
According to an advantageous improvement of certain embodiments of the present invention the shimming magnets include permanent magnets.
In particular it was found to be useful to use neodymium iron boron (NdFeB) as permanent magnets. Independent thereof the use of permanent magnets like SmCo magnets (samarium cobalt magnets) as a permanent magnet to generate the first magnetic field and/or to generate the second magnetic field is advantageous.
According to a further advantageous improvement of certain embodiments of the present invention, step b) includes superimposing the fields of four pairs of shimming magnets and three electrical conductors.
This improvement has to be found in particular useful, as the usual polynomial components of the shimming magnetic field can be influenced independently by the shim magnets and the electrical conductors. In particular the pairs of shim magnets include each a pair of magnet blocks with opposite polarisation. The pairs of shim magnets are suitably arranged with respect to the main magnet in particular in two layers each including four shim magnets.
According to yet a further improvement of certain embodiments of the present invention step b) includes at least one of the following measures:                i) moving at least one of the shimming magnets; and        ii) changing the electric current flowing with at least one conductor.
It is to be understood that the electric current which is used to superimpose at least one second magnetic field for homogenizing the first magnetic field is a direct current (DC). This direct current generates a static magnetic field which is superimposed to the static first magnetic field. By an appropriate position of the at least one shimming magnet and/or an appropriate choice of the at least one electric current, a homogenization of the first magnetic field is reachable which leads to the ability to measure proton spectra with single-sided NMR having a spectral resolution of 0.25 ppm and less.
According to a further aspect of certain embodiments of the invention an apparatus for providing a sensitive volume for single-sided NMR is proposed which includes:                i) at least one first permanent magnet for providing a first magnetic field at the sensitive volume;        ii) at least one of the following means for superimposing at least one second magnetic field for homogenizing the first magnetic field in sensitive volume:                    A) at least one shimming magnet;            B) at least one pair of shimming magnets; and            C) at least one electrical conductor being connectable to an electric current sourcewherein the means for superimposing at least one second magnetic field are adjustable in such a way that the magnetic field inhomogeneity in the sensitive volume is corresponding to a line width of hydrogen of less than 10 ppm.
The apparatus according to certain embodiments of the present invention can in particular be part of a single-sided NMR device which further includes in particular an exciting and receiving coil for a RF excitation and detection of the sample within the sensitive volume and a NMR spectrometer to generate and send and to receive the pulses to and from the sample within the sensitive volume. Preferably the means for superimposing at least one second magnetic field are adjustable such that the magnetic field inhomogeneity in the sensitive volume is corresponding to a line width of hydrogen of less than 1 ppm.
The apparatus according to certain embodiments of the present invention allows for the first time to measure NMR spectra of large samples using single-sided NMR without the implementation of sophisticated pulse sequences but by using generally known pulse sequences like e.g. the Hahn- or spin-echo-sequence or the like. In particular one can restrain from the use of e.g. nutation-echoes or the like. For the first time it is possible to generate a relatively homogeneous field ex situ on one single side of the first permanent magnet used to create the basic magnetic field. Conventional NMR magnets which enclose the sample are equipped with shim coils to change the shape of the polarising magnetic field to extreme homogeneity to measure NMR spectra with small line widths. The straightforward adoption of this approach to shim the stray field of an ex situ sensor by respective shim coils is not suitable as excessive requirements for shim currents have to be taken into account. The solution according to certain embodiments of the present invention which is based in particular on a combination of the fields generated by permanent shimming magnets and the fields of electric conductors like e.g. surface coils driven by an electric current, in particular a direct current, preferable for fine tuning the field is advantageous and allows for the first time reasonable measurements of NMR spectra or spectral resolved NMR data using single-sided NMR equipment.
According to an advantageous improvement of certain embodiments of the present invention, the means for superimposing at least one second magnetic field for homogenizing the first magnetic field in the sensitive volume includes four pairs of shimming magnets. Preferably, each pair includes two magnets of anti-parallel polarity.
It is in particular advantageous if two pairs of shimming magnets are fixed near or at the bottom of the first permanent magnet or are only slightly adjustable and two further pairs are mounted moveably above the first two pairs of shimming magnets. The first two pairs which are situated at the bottom produce a strong magnetic gradient field in the depth direction. These four pairs of shimming magnets generate a total of eight shim components. The first order shim components x, y and z are generated by displacing the two moveable pairs along the x, y and z directions, respectively. The second order terms x2 and y2 are adjusted by varying the distance between the pairs while keeping their centers fixed with respect to the first permanent magnet. Moreover, cross-terms xy, xz, and yz can also be generated by displacing the magnets. It is in particular advantageous if three single-sided coils generating x, y, and z gradient fields are implemented which can be used for fine tuning the field.
According to a further improvement of certain embodiments of the present invention a first and a second pair of the shimming magnets have a constant position relative to the first permanent magnet.
According to yet a further improvement of certain embodiments of the present invention the positions of a third and fourth pair of shimming magnets is adjustable in at least one of the following aspects:                a) the position of the respective pair of shimming magnets relative to the first permanent magnet;        b) the position of at least one of the magnets of the respective pair of shimming magnets relative to the first permanent magnet; and        c) the position of the shimming magnets of at least one of the pair of the shimming magnets while the position of the central point between the respective pair of shimming magnets is remained constant relative to the first permanent magnet.
This allows the change of x, y, z, y2, z2, xy, xz, and/or yz components of the shim field.
According to yet another improvement of certain embodiments of the present invention the means for superimposing at least one second magnetic field for homogenizing the first magnetic field the sensitive volume includes three pairs of conductors.
In particular it is possible to build the three conductors as three single-sided coils which generate x, y, and/or z components of the shim field.
According to yet another advantageous improvement of the apparatus according to certain embodiments of the present invention at least one of the conductors includes a surface coil.
Surface coils are in particular useful to generate shim fields on the outside of the magnet which is in an ex situ situation.
According to yet another advantageous improvement at least one shim magnet is provided such, that a temperature shift of the first magnetic field in the sensitive volume is compensated by a temperature shift of the second magnetic field in the sensitive volume provided by the respective shim magnet. It is preferred in this context that the first permanent magnet includes neodymium iron boron (NdFeB) and at least one shim magnet includes samarium cobalt (SmCo).
It is understood in this context that the shift of the magnetic fields is in particular a shift of fields i. e. field strengths with changing temperature. Preferably all shim magnets are temperature compensating which means e. g. that the at least one first permanent magnet includes NdFeB whereas all shim magnets include SmCo or the at least one first permanent magnet includes SmCo whereas at least two pairs and preferably four pairs of shim magnets are made of NdFeB. The combination of these two materials reduces the temperature shift within the apparatus 1 according to certain embodiments of the present invention significantly e.g. by a factor of about 100.
It is preferred that the first permanent magnet is made from a material having a first temperature coefficient k1 determining the field drift of the first magnetic field B0,1 of the first permanent magnet whereas at least two pairs of the shim magnet and preferably four pairs of shim magnets are made from a material having a second temperature coefficient k2 determining the field drift of the second magnetic field B0,2, so that the magnetic field in the sensitive volume being B0, 1=A B0,2, said temperature coefficients being related by A k1=k2.
The details and advantages disclosed for the method for providing a sensitive volume for single-sided NMR are transferable and applicable to the apparatus for providing a sensitive volume for single-sided NMR and vice versa. The same holds for details and advantages disclosed for the method for measuring NMR data, which are transferable and applicable to the method for providing a sensitive volume for providing a single-sided NMR, to the apparatus for providing a sensitive volume for single-sided NMR, as well as to the apparatus for measuring NMR data and vice versa, respectively.

Method and apparatus for providing a sensitive volume for single-sided NMR


State of security in a mobile communications network is communicated. Data regarding nature and severity of security events onboard at least one mobile platform is generated and processed. A message that includes the processed data is generated and transmitted periodically. The processed data makes up a security state vector that includes the number of security events detected since power-up of the mobile platform node, sum of highest severity security events since power-up or counter rollover, sum of the second highest severity security events detected since power-up or counter rollover, sum of the third highest severity security events detected since power-up or counter rollover, highest security event classification, second-highest security event classification, and third-highest security event classification. The processed data may be used in a network operations center to prioritize mobile platforms from which logged data should be retrieved for further investigation and monitoring.

Information is often exchanged and entertainment content is often broadcast as packetized data over communication networks. Typically, an end user accesses information or entertainment content via a user terminal such as a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and Internet-enabled mobile phone, or the like. The user terminals may be connected to the network via wireless radiofrequency (RF) connectivity or, with the exception of a mobile phone, via a cable or Ethernet connection. Further, the network typically includes routers and switches for routing the data packets from content providers or other network destinations to the end user through networks, such as the Internet.
Organizations and enterprises are becoming more and more dependent upon such networks for day-to-day operations. Further, a significant number of organizations, such as Connexion by Boeing™, are in the business of providing such networks for end users. Because of the importance of maintaining network operations to organizations and to end-users/customers, network management tools have been developed to monitor network operations and status.
Conventional network security management systems are designed to operate in terrestrial environments that have very large bandwidth (˜100 mbps-1000 mbps). Network security management systems receive inputs from a variety of sources, including intrusion detection systems. These intrusion detection systems provide detected security events, such as attempted login, in a verbose format which can be stored on local disk or transmitted via simple network management protocol (SNMP) to a network security management system.
However, a node may be a mobile platform such as an airplane, a maritime vessel, a land vehicle, or the like. In such a network, the mobile network communication link is a scarce resource. Network Operational Center (NOC) personnel's time is also a scare resource. The communication resources available to a satellite based mobile network utilizing shared satellite transponder resources are much more modest (˜56 kbps-128 kbps) than those resources that are available to a fixed-location terrestrial-based network. Most of this satellite communication link resource must be available for the primary use of paying customer traffic.
It would therefore be desirable to provide current and accurate knowledge to terrestrial NOC operators of the security state of each mobile platform while utilizing a minimum amount of the critical communication resource.

Security state vector for mobile network platform


A fluid actuator (10) including a chamber (14) in which a piston assembly (17) reciprocates. The piston assembly (17) includes a pair of spaced pistons (18, 19) which divide the chamber (14) into three sections (20, 21, 22) and a passageway (29) which supports a valve member (30). Reciprocating movement of the slide valve member (30) causes fluid to be directed to the chamber sections (20) and (22) and thereby corresponding reciprocating movement of the piston assembly (17). The actuator (10) may be applied to the control of any device such as valves of internal combustion engines, fuel injectors or comprise actuating means for the piston of an internal combustion engine.

Conventional internal combustion engines are provided with a number of different operating mechanisms for controlling inlet and outlet valves for the engine cylinders or in the case of fuel injected engines for controlling the injectors. Usually such mechanisms take the form of cam shafts, rockers, return springs or other mechanical actuating elements. Such mechanism suffer a number of disadvantages and limitations including in the case of valved engines poor valve cooling, poor lubrication, a lack of ability to maintain alignment of the valves with their seats, poor control over movement of the valve and an excessive amount of power which is required to overcome the valve seating springs.
Particular disadvantages associated with fuel injectors include lack of flexibility of injection timing, excessive mechanical components in the injector drive train, an excessive amount of power wastage in operating the injectors and their drive train and a lack of ease of assembly and removability of the injectors and associated drive train from the engine during maintenance.
Conventional internal combustion engines usually also include reciprocating pistons which are coupled to a crank shaft via piston rods, however, this form of mechanical connection has limitations resulting in limitation of transmission of usable energy from the piston to the crank shaft caused by changes of the lever arm at the crank shaft from zero at the start of the stroke through a maximum at approximately half stroke to zero at the end of the stroke. Further disadvantages arise because of side thrust friction losses causing cylinder and piston wear induced by thrust angles of the connecting rods relative to the cylinder bore centre line during rotation of the crank shaft. Lack of flexibility in the control of the rate of expansion of the gases of combustion also occurs due to utilization of a rotating crank shaft rigidly attached to the reciprocating pistons by connecting rods consequently leading to a considerable loss in the recovery of usable energy from the gases of combustion.


The invention provides a process for producing an optically active butyric acid compound and a production intermediate therefore at high yield and high purity.

PPARs are known to be a family of nuclear receptors, and three sub-types thereof (α, γ, δ) have already been identified (Non-Patent Documents 1 to 5). Among the three sub-types, PPARα is expressed primarily in the liver and is known to be activated by a plasticizer or a fibrate-type drug such as Wy 14643 or a commercially available pharmaceutical; e.g., clofibrate, fenofibrate, bezafibrate, or gemfibrozil (Non-Patent Documents 6 and 7).
In mammals, activation of PPARα is known to promote β oxidation of fatty acids and to lower blood triglyceride level, and in humans, blood lipid levels such as low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol level and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol level are known to decrease. Thus, a PPARα-activating agent is considered a useful drug for preventing and/or treating diseases such as hyperlipidemia. In addition, the PPARα-activating agent, which increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level and, in blood vessels, suppresses expression of VCAM-1 (a type of cell adhesion factor), is considered to be useful for preventing and/or treating diseases such as arteriosclerosis, and for preventing and/or treating diseases such as diabetes, inflammatory diseases, and heart diseases (Non-Patent Documents 5 and 7 to 14).
Activation of PPARγ in humans has been reported to cause adverse effects of increasing the amount of fat and body weight and causing obesity (Non-Patent Document 13). Recent studies have also reported that a PPARγ antagonist possibly improves insulin resistance (Non-Patent Documents 14 to 16). A document reports that activation of PPARδ causes lipid accumulation (Non-Patent Document 17). Therefore, a PPARα-selective activator exhibiting low PPARγ and PPARδ activities are considered to be a promising agent for prevention and/or treatment, without entailing obesity or increase in body weight, of pathological conditions including hyperlipidemia, arteriosclerosis, diabetes, complications of diabetes, inflammation, and heart diseases.
Under such circumstances, the present inventors previously found that compounds represented by formula (A):
(wherein R1 and R2, which may be identical to or different from each other, each represent a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, or an ethyl group; R3a, R3b, R4a, and R4b, which may be identical to or different from one another, each represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a nitro group, a hydroxyl group, a C1-4 alkyl group, a trifluoromethyl group, a C1-4 alkoxy group, a di-C1-4 alkylamino group, a C1-4 alkylsulfonyloxy group, a C1-4 alkylsulfonyl group, a C1-4 alkylsulfinyl group, or a C1-4 alkylthio group, wherein R3a and R3b may be linked to each other to form an alkylenedioxy group, or R4a and R4b may be linked to each other to form an alkylenedioxy group; D represents an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, or N—R5 (wherein R5 represents a hydrogen atom, a C1-4 alkyl group, a C1-4 alkylsulfonyl group, or a C1-4 alkyloxycarbonyl group); E represents an oxygen atom, an S(O)t group (wherein t is an integer of 0 to 2), a carbonyl group, a carbonylamino group, an aminocarbonyl group, a sulfonylamino group, or an aminosulfonyl group; G represents CH or N; p is an integer of 1 to 6; and q is an integer of 2 to 6) and salts thereof selectively activate PPARα, and therefore are useful for the prevention and/or treatment, without entailing obesity or increase in body weight, of pathological conditions including hyperlipidemia, arteriosclerosis, diabetes, complications of diabetes, inflammation, and heart diseases, and filed a patent application (Patent Document 1).
The phenyl ether moiety of the compound represented by formula (A) may be produced through phenyl-etherification of a corresponding phenol form as shown below. Patent Document 1 discloses the following applicable procedures: 1) phenyl-etherification in which a phenol form is reacted with a 2-halocarboxylic acid ester in the presence of a base (reaction steps A-1, B-2, C-3, D-1, and E-3); 2) phenyl-etherification in which the OH group of a 2-hydroxycarboxylic acid ester is transformed (e.g., mesylate or tosylate) to a leaving group such as a methanesulfonyloxy group or a p-toluenesulfonyloxy group, and the product is reacted with a phenol form in the presence of a base (reaction steps F-4 and J-4); and 3) Mitsunobu reaction employing a phenol form and a 2-hydroxycarboxylic acid ester.

In the above formula, R1 and R2 have the same meanings as defined above; and R6 represents a group such as C1-4 alkyl.    Patent Document 1: WO 05/23777 pamphlet    Non-Patent Document 1: Nature, 347, 645-650, 1990    Non-Patent Document 2: Cell, 68, pp. 879-887, 1992    Non-Patent Document 3: Cell, 97, pp. 161-163, 1999    Non-Patent Document 4: Biochim. Biophys. Acta., 1302, pp. 93-109, 1996    Non-Patent Document 5: Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 43, pp. 527-550, 2000    Non-Patent Document 6: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 90, 1702-1709, 1998    Non-Patent Document 7: Current Opinion in Lipidology, 10, pp. 245-257, 1999    Non-Patent Document 8: Journal of Atherosclerosis and Thrombosis, 3, pp. 81-89, 1996    Non-Patent Document 9: Current Pharmaceutical Design, 3, pp. 1-14, 1997    Non-Patent Document 10: Current Opinion in Lipidology, 10, pp. 151-159, 1999    Non-Patent Document 11: The Lancet, 354, pp. 141-148, 1999    Non-Patent Document 12: Journal of Cardiovascular Risk, 8, pp. 195-201, 2001    Non-Patent Document 13: The Lancet, 349, pp. 952, 1997    Non-Patent Document 14: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 96, pp. 6102-6106, 1999    Non-Patent Document 15: The Journal of Biological Chemistry, 275, pp. 1873-1877, 2000    Non-Patent Document 16: J. Clin. Invest., 108, 1001-1013,    Non-Patent Document 17: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 99, pp. 303-308, 2002

Processes for production of optically active PPAR-activating compounds and intermediates for production thereof

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing Compound (6), including reacting Compound (1) with optically active 2-trifluoromethanesulfonyloxybutyrolactone (2a) in the presence of a base or reacting optically active 2-hydroxybutyrolactone (2b) under Mitsunobu reaction conditions, to thereby form Compound (3); reacting Compound (3) with an alcohol and a halogenating agent, to thereby form Compound (4); dehalogenating Compound (4), to thereby form Compound (5); and de-esterifying Compound (5).


A centerfill chewing gum composition having a shell portion and a centerfill portion, the centerfill portion containing an effective amount of a calcium-containing compound suspended therein.

Calcium-containing compounds such as calcium carbonate have been employed in products which are placed in the oral cavity. For example, Chau et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,637,313) discloses a chewable dosage form using calcium carbonate as a bulking agent. Gallopo et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,077,051) discloses the sustained release of active agents in the form of bioadhesive microcapsules where calcium carbonate is used as a buffering agent. Cuca et al. (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,670,163 and 5,858,391) disclose long acting gastrointestinal and esophageal protectants which can include mineral substances such as calcium carbonate.
Calcium is a mineral which requires daily replenishing to sustain healthy bones, teeth and the like. Calcium is not readily stored in the body and therefore must be replenished daily such as by eating foods rich in available calcium. The vitamin and nutraceutical industry has for many years provided supplements for daily intake which include a variety of minerals and vitamins including calcium-containing compounds such as calcium carbonate, calcium citrate and the like.
Ingesting the proper minimum dosage requirement of calcium is largely dependent on the discipline of the individual. In particular, the individual must eat a sufficient amount of calcium-containing foods and/or take calcium-containing supplements. In order to maintain a proper level of available calcium in the body, it is often necessary to eat calcium-containing foods and/or calcium-containing supplements multiple times in a single 24 hour period. This presents problems to many individuals who may not be able to eat calcium-containing foods and/or take calcium-containing supplements as required.
It would therefore be a benefit to provide a convenient vehicle for delivering calcium to an individual which can be easily consumed, is readily available, and can be taken by the individual at any time during the day as needed without having to sit down and eat a meal or resort to capsules or tablets containing calcium.
Chewing gum compositions are used by many individuals because they are readily available, easily transported and provide chewing satisfaction. Chewing gum is a convenient product which does not burden the user or require a break from daily routines.
In recent years, chewing gum compositions have been provided with various additives such as, for example, stain removing agents, antibiotics, and mineral supplements including calcium-containing compounds. For example, International Publication No. WO 98/18339 discloses a chewing gum composition containing bone minerals, calcium triphosphate and/or hydroxyapatite in a gum base. The product is used for supplementing dietary calcium for the prevention of osteoporosis, accelerating development of bones and teeth and the like. German Patent Document No. DE3941490 discloses a chewing gum composition with a core uniformly surrounded by a sugar coating containing soluble minerals including one or more of calcium citrate and calcium chloride. A further example is set forth in Cherukuri et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,971,806) which discloses a multi-layer chewing gum composition in which the gum base may include mineral adjuvants such as calcium carbonate, dicalcium phosphate and tricalcium phosphate.
A chewing gum composition containing a liquid or semisolid center is generally known as a centerfilled chewing gum composition. One such example is disclosed in Ogawa et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,157,402) which discloses that additives such as calcium carbonate may be added to the chewing gum base.
Chewing gum compositions present unique problems in delivering agents contained therein. Such compositions typically comprise a water-insoluble gum base which provides the bulk to the gum composition but which invariably traps agents having compatibility with the gum base. Adding additional amounts of an agent to the gum base to compensate for the amount of the agent trapped therein is problematical because the additional amounts of agents often adversely affect the integrity, sensory and/or taste properties of the gum composition.
It would therefore be a significant advance in the art of forming chewing gum compositions for the delivery of calcium to provide a composition which effectively enables the user to readily consume at least a minimum daily requirement of calcium in a routine manner. It would be another significant advance in the art if a chewing gum composition can provide a sufficient amount of calcium per piece so as to provide the minimum daily dosage requirement with no more than about three pieces of the chewing gum composition per day. It would be a further advance in the art to provide a chewing gum composition including a calcium-containing compound which maintains excellent taste and sensory characteristics.

Center-filled chewing gum containing a deliverable form of calcium