An applique used to conceal design limitations in panel doors as used on furniture and kitchen cabinets. The applique comprises of a body which permits its alignment with structural features found on panel doors in the area in and around the inside corner section of the door's panel section. With the application of the said appliques, the resultant is a workpiece comprising of a decorative element that enhances the overall character of the workpiece and also disguises either the joints between components which make-up a conventional door or the curved inside corners found on simulated raised panel doors.

This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in panel doors as used on furniture and kitchen cabinets, and more particularly to the construction of such panel doors as it relates to the panel's inside corner.
It is well known the construction of conventional panel doors as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The conventional panel door consists of a center panel 11 and four frame parts 12, 13, 14 and 15. Prior to assembling parts 11-15, various radii 16a, 16b and chamfers 16c are cut into the parts. The conventional panel door has a principal drawback. The door has a tendency for its parts to separate as a result of variations in its environment, such as temperature and/or humidity.
Simulated raised panel doors as shown in FIG. 3 are fabricated from a single sheet of material therefore having no parts to separation as the case with conventional doors. The simulated door is formed by machining the various radii and chamfers of the conventional door into the face of a single sheet of material, such as medium density fiberboard. The radii and chamfers are reproduced using various router bits also shown in FIG. 3. The disadvantage with the simulated door is in its appearance. Though it has a similar appearance to the conventional raised panel door, the exception is that the corners, of the panel section lack a square inside comer that result from the assembly of parts 11-15 of the conventional method. The inability to reproduce the square inside corners in the simulated method is the result of the use of router bits and particularly router bit 18 as shown in FIG. 3. Router bit 18 being of a cylindrical shape including a circumferential curved cutting blade 20 prohibits it from cutting a square inside corner. As shown in FIG. 4 the surface shape of router bit 18 leaves corner 22, a curved corner, the radius of which equals the radius of the router bit. One can overcome the affects of curved comers by using a router bit which comes to a point or a chisel. However, these techniques for producing square inside corners are expensive and time consuming.
Accordingly, it is the objective of the present invention to provide a means of overcoming the disadvantages found with both conventional and simulated panel doors, as well as to broaden the design limits of panel doors through the use of corner appliques.


Disclosed is a fuel additive which may remove varnish precursor species in a jet fuel. In particular, the fuel additive may be a multi-functional adsorbent which includes a 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional interconnected mesoporous or mixed micro-/mesoporous framework and a plurality of internal cavities formed in the mesoporous or mixed micro-/mesoporous framework and the internal cavities include charged sites to accommodate fuel contaminants for varnish formation, such as metal ions and heteroatomic contaminants. In addition, methods of preparing the multi-functional adsorbent and methods for removing varnish precursor species with the fuel additive are provided.

Modern jet engines often operate under elevated heat loads. Under such extreme conditions, varnish, or carbonaceous deposits, may be formed from the oxygenation and polymerization reactions of hydrocarbons in jet fuel, aviation turbine fuel, or kerosene fuel.
Jet fuel generally includes hydrocarbons as the main component. As shown in FIG. 1, under an elevated heat load in the fuel system, the hydrocarbon molecule R may be activated to form a radical R., after removal of H. by another radical or oxidant initiator. Subsequently, radical R. may be subjected to attack by oxygen gas or dissolved oxygen (O2) to form a peroxy radical, ROO., and may further form a hydroperoxide ROOH by taking a hydrogen radical from another hydrocarbon molecule R′, thereby initiating a chain reaction. Hydroperoxides are the primary product in this "autoxidation" process at moderate temperatures (<250° F.) but they further decompose at higher temperatures to propagate fuel autoxidation mechanisms. Varnish products occur when the fuel radicals R. react and polymerize, thereby forming insoluble large molecular weight species which precipitate to form a condensed varnish film or deposit. The radical or undercoordinated species on the outside of this film can react with incoming radicals to further build the film.
Varnish typically causes clogging in aircraft fuel system components, such as actuators, valves, filters, and bearings, and significantly degrades the performance of the fuel system. Generally, the removal of dissolved oxygen from the fuel using a fuel stabilization unit (FSU) is necessary for suppressing varnish formation in jet engine systems (U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,315,815; 6,719,492; 7,615,104; 8,177,884; 7,413,818, 7,744,827). Accordingly, various FSUs to remove dissolved oxygen have been developed. For example, a FSU membrane has been reported to effectively remove the dissolved oxygen (U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,465,335; 8,070,859). Alternatively, the FSU may comprise an electrochemical or physical device to remove dissolved oxygen (U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,147,600; 8,177,884).
It is anticipated that, in the near future, advanced jet turbine engines will require substantial increases in fuel heat loads in order to operate with high efficiency, which will accelerate varnish formation. As such, the removal of dissolved oxygen alone may not be sufficient and advanced FSU may further require removal of chemical precursors which promote varnish formation.
Moreover, other fuel contaminants may include metals and heteroatomic organic ligands, for example, copper (Cu) and naphthenic acid. Among other contaminants, the heteroatomic ligands or contaminants mostly originate from the crude oil source feed from which the jet fuel is refined. However, since the heteroatomic contaminants have substantially close boiling fractions to the kerosene-type species in the jet fuel, the undesired heteroatomic contaminants remain in jet fuel even after the refining process. For example, naphthenic acids, cycloalkanes with carboxylic acid functional groups and alkyl side groups, are some of the most deleterious fuel contaminants for varnish formation. The heteroatomic species can react with metals, such as Cu, zinc (Zn), and iron (Fe), to form metal-ligand complexes which are soluble in the jet fuel, like the dissolution of Cu by naphthenic acids to form Cu(II) di-naphthenate (FIG. 2). Such metal-ligand complexes may act as catalysts and/or co-reactants that decompose saturated hydrocarbon components in the jet fuel, facilitate fuel peroxide formation, and hydroperoxide breakdown leading to radical formation. As described above, the radicals promote fuel autoxidation and polymerization, leading to varnish formation. Particularly, at elevated heat loads, e.g. at temperatures of about 250° F. and higher, such autoxidation and polymerization reactions may be greatly accelerated. Therefore, the removal of the heteroatomic contaminants in the fuel or fuel system may be critical for the performance and maintenance of advanced aircraft engines and fuel systems.
As such, there is a need for developing a method or a device to remove fuel contaminants in jet fuel that are precursors for varnish formation.
The description provided above as a related art of the present invention is just for helping understanding the background of the present invention and should not be construed as being included in the related art known by those skilled in the art.

Fuel additive and method of preparing the same


A roller tunnel kiln for firing a drying refractory material advanced along the refractory rotatable rollers includes an upper section comprising a prefiring zone, a firing zone, a first forced cooling zone, a natural cooling zone and a second forced cooling zone. Parallel to the upper section along the length thereof a drying zone is arranged provided with refractory rotatable rollers for advancing movement of the material to be dried. A distributional tunnel is mounted parallel to the drying zone and is connected with the prekiln zone or with the forced cooling zone so that hot gases mixed with cool ambient air are directed into the distributing tunnel provided with openings communicating the latter with the drying zone. The hot gases at drying temperatures are further directed into drying tunnel in the direction opposite to that of the material to be dried.

In processes for the production of ceramic or refractory materials, such as tiles or the like, a drying step executed with suitable systems is notoriously included. The drying step is single for the tiles called "mono-firing", that is those materials which, after the pressing, are glazed and then baken, while it is repeated twice for the materials which afterwards are subject to a first firing to form the biscuit, then are glazed and at last are subject to a second drying step to dry the glaze and then are submitted again to a firing.
The drying, according to the traditional methods, shows disadvantages of production, installation cost, energy waste and encumbrance in the production lines.
The traditional quick driers condition the production line, so as to impose a very limited number of tile sizes, therefore different production lines are necessary to produce materials of different size and thickness, for this reason the number of production lines is often in excess with respect to the whole production of the ceramic factory.
Another disadvantage of the traditional quick driers is due to the fact that they request an enormous waste of energy that, sometimes, exceeds the 50% of the energy necessary for the firing of the same materials, also with reference to the most advanced kilns showing the best efficiency. This is due not only to the heat necessary for the drying, but also to the heat lost during the cyclic heating and cooling of the supporting structure of the same driers, besides the fact that an enormous percentage of heat is lost at the flue gas discharge.
A further drawback was caused by the encumbrances of the same driers, as well as by their remarkable cost; said encumbrances could extend both in the horizontal and vertical direction and therefore requested an excess of the shed sizing both in plan and height.
This invention tends to eliminate said disadvantages.
Said invention in fact proposes a drying installation combined with a roller kiln and developing along the same kiln, preferably below the tunnel of the proper kiln, constituting a second tunnel, suitably heated, through which the material is dried for being afterwards introduced into the firing kiln.
The savings in encumbrance, installation cost, energy and flexibility in the production of different sizes and thicknesses is enormous relative to the traditional installations.

Roller kiln provided with a drying tunnel, particularly for ceramic or refractory materials


A method and a device for controlling operating processes applied to particles. The device comprises a number of operating stations, such as, lifting- and sluing conveyors to allow for feeding the particles to an indexing rotary plate and conveying of particles to a processing stage, e.g. a welding device. The operating processes of the operating stations are initiated according to a common, pre-set cycle, at least one of the operating stations is associated with a correcting process initiated by a sensor arrangement for detecting faults in the operating process, for shortening the outages and for increasing the total output. The operating process involving a fault detected by the sensor arrangement is immediately interrupted, whereupon the correcting process is initiated independently of the common, pre-set cycle. The common, pre-set cycle serves to initiate dependent subsequent or previous operating processes of the operating stations until the end of the correcting process.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and a device for controlling operating processes applied to particles, the device comprising a number of contrivances, the operating processes of said contrivances being initiated according to a common, pre-set cycle, at least one of the contrivances being associated with a correcting process initiated by sensor means detecting faults in the operating process.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
It has become an important subdomain of industry to apply operating processes to particles. This is first of all due to the great number of operating processes whose automization has proved advantageous. Such processes are for example: feeding, defining shapes and positions; turning, positioning, palletizing, conveying, sorting out, depositing; processing, particularly forming, punching; embossing, breaking, cutting, sawing, marking, labelling, joining, welding, rivetting, assembling, inserting, threading, gluing; mechanic or electronic measuring, testing; counting, collecting until reaching set values, supervising, statistic plotting, packing and stamping. The above-mentioned and further operations can be applied to a great number of different parts, e.g. to mechanic components, such as pins, sheaths, bolts, rings, springs, or to structural members and elements for electronics and electrotechnics, such as crystals, discs, bodies of ceramics or plastics, bimetal members, switch-members, wire parts, soldering-plates, print-plates and circuit-elements.
The above-mentioned list of examples is by no means exhaustive as operating processes involving particles and their automization are also of importance in food industry, spectacle production and optic industry, jewelry production, toy industry, chemical industry etc.
All prior art processes of the above-described kind have the disadvantage that inevitable errors occurring in the course of the individual process cycles excessively influence the total output. If no correcting processes are provided the percentage of defective rejects rises to become uneconomic with the increasing number of operations. If, however, correcting programs are associated with the individual processing stages these corrections stop the whole device for one complete operating cycle, whereby the output per time unit will be excessively decreased.

Method for controlling operating processes


A boost circuit is disclosed. The circuit comprises a boost transistor, a pulse width modulator coupled to the boost transistor, and a boost inductor coupled to the boost transistor and the pulse width modulator, the boost inductor including a winding which provides an auxiliary output voltage. Through the use of the boost circuit in accordance with the present invention, the auxiliary output voltage is generated by the boost stage operation. Ergo, the present invention provides the auxiliary output voltage supply by using the same pulse width modulator and primary switching devices as used by the boost stage. The use of a boost circuit in accordance with the present invention thereby eliminates the need for the components required to maintain the auxiliary output voltage. Accordingly, system space can be saved and there is a reduction in manufacturing costs.

Typically a power supply in a desktop computer requires the maintenance of an auxiliary output voltage for the operation of the service processor and for internal house keeping. This auxiliary output voltage is generally a separate small power supply within a power supply and is used to provide continuous current even when other power outputs are turned off However, this small power supply adds extra cost and instrumentation to the overall system.
FIG. 1 depicts a conventional auxiliary bias circuit in a power supply. The area enclosed by the dashed line contains a flyback auxiliary power supply 10. The remaining represents a boost circuit and a chopper circuit. The boost circuit and chopper circuit include a boost inductor 12, MOSFET transistors 16, 24, a pulse width modulator 18, capacitors 20, 44, a transformer 22, an inductor 42 and diodes 14, 38, 40. The flyback auxiliary power supply 10 includes a pulse width modulator 26, a transistor 28, a transformer 30, a diode 32, a capacitor 33, an error amplifier 34 and an opto-coupler 36.
To further understand the operation of a conventional auxiliary bias circuit in a power supply, please refer now to the flowchart of FIG. 2. First, the input voltage to the flyback 10 is provided by the boost voltage developed across the bulk capacitor 20, via step 102. Next, the pulse width modulator 26 is used to chop this voltage through transformer 30 and transistor 28 at a high switching frequency (100 kHz), via step 104. Transformer 30 then transforms the bulk voltage to the secondary side where it gets rectified by diode 32 and filtered by capacitor 33, via step 106. Finally, the error amplifier 34 regulates the output voltage by modulating the pulse width of pulse width modulator 26, via step 108.
Because the flyback auxiliary power supply 10 is segregated from the boost circuit, it requires a separate pulse width modulator 26, a separate transformer 30, and a separate MOSFET transistor 28 which increases the cost of the power supply system.
Accordingly, what is needed is a circuit that decreases the cost of the power supply system. The present invention addresses such a need.

Boost circuit which includes an additional winding for providing an auxiliary output voltage

International Business Machines Corporation


A fuel nozzle for a gas turbine engine permits alternate use of different fluid fuels such as gaseous or liquid fuels without intermixing until delivery of the fuel to the combustion chamber. The nozzle provides concentric fuel delivery passages and allows for differing rates of expansion between the two passages.

This invention is related to a fuel nozzle for a gas turbine engine. In particular, it deals with a fuel nozzle capable of supplying alternately or simultaneously two different types of fuel, such as liquid or gaseous fuel.
A gas turbine engine depends upon the expansion of a burning fuel to drive the turbine wheel of a gasifier turbine. A gasifier turbine drives a compressor which pressurizes air for mixture with fuel for subsequent burning. Once the expanding burning gas has passed the gasifier turbine stage, power may then be extracted to drive either a power turbine or, in the case of an aircraft, act upon the turbine case in the manner of a jet engine.
The combustion chamber or chambers are generally between the compressor and the gasifier turbine, and are formed either as an annular single chamber, or a plurality of cylindrical chambers circumferentially spaced about the turbine shaft. The burning and expanding fuel is directed by a series of nozzle vanes against the blades of the turbine wheel.
Fuel is communicated to the combustion chamber, or combustion chambers in the case of the cylindrical chambers, through a series of fuel nozzles. In an annular chamber, a plurality of fuel nozzles are circumferentially spaced about the engine each leading into the combustion chamber upstream of the turbine wheel. Fuel is communicated through these nozzles to the combustion chamber for burning therein.
A selected number of the fuel injectors may have fixed in their immediate vicinity a means of ignition generally in the form of a sparking plug. The ignitor is energized upon the turbine reaching a particular speed under the influence of an outside power source. Simultaneously, with the excitation of the ignitor or at a predetermined time thereafter, fuel is communicated to the fuel nozzles where it is ignited due to the high temperature in the immediate vicinity resulting from the ignition source.
It is well known in the art that certain fuels ignite more readily than others. In particular, gaseous fuels or atomized fuels properly mixed with air, are usually more easily ignited than a stream of liquid fuel. Thus, it follows that gas turbine engines may be more rapidly started through the use of gaseous or atomized fuel. On the other hand, the less volatile fuels may be appropriate for use once the engine has been started simply from an economic standpoint. Being able to start on one fuel and operate on another is useful, but the ability to change from one fuel to another without interrupting engine operation is equally important.
The high temperatures associated with a gas turbine engine present unique problems in fuel delivery. In particular, the fuel which is usually at the ambient temperature of the environment is delivered to a combustion chamber which is operating at a high temperature. Therefore, the conduit, or passage, communicating the fuel to the combustion chamber is hot at one end and relatively cool at the other end. If the combustion chamber is fixed at one end to the turbine case, the chamber, because of the heat, will expand linearly relative to the surrounding engine case in which the turbine case is mounted. This expansion and any expansion in the passage communicating the fuel to the combustion chamber from the outside of the engine case, must therefore be absorbed in the passage. In fuel nozzles communicating a single fuel to a combustion chamber, the expansion problem may be taken care of by a means well known in the art such as helical coil in the fuel line.
Ideally, fuel should be communicated to a particular point in the combustion chamber to provide optimum burning, and thus optimum power extraction from the burning fuel. Therefore, if more than one type of fuel is utilized in operation of the engine, fuel must be provided through the same nozzle or replacement nozzles, and may require shutting the engine down to effect fuel change. Provision in the present gas turbine engines for multiple fuel use is generally done through a valving scheme so that a first fuel is communicated to the nozzle through one conduit, while a second fuel is communicated to the same nozzle through a second conduit. This may prevent continuous operation of the engine during fuel shiftover. Since repeated starting of a gas turbine engine in a hot condition may not always be desirable, shut down of the engine for shiftover to a second type of fuel should be avoided, if possible. Since it is advantageous to be able to utilize various types of fuel in an operating gas turbine and further since it may be advantageous to shift from one type of fuel to a second type of fuel during operation, it became apparent that the existing fuel nozzles are inadequate.


The invention provides a method and apparatus for creating a stable combustion flame from natural gas and an oxygen containing gas which is useful for the pyrometallurgical treatment of finely divided materials such as metal ores. In particular, natural gas and the oxygen containing gas are injected in a manner which forms recirculation zones between the natural gas and oxygen containing gas thereby maintaining the stability of the combustion flame. The apparatus of the invention encourages the formation of the recirculation zones by using a bluff body orifice plate to provide a dead space between the injections of the oxygen containing gas and natural gas. Additional gas injection is used downstream in the combustor to create turbulence and further stabilize the combustion flame.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a combustor which produces hot combustion gases and a stable flame that is useful in combustion processes and may especially be useful in the pyrometallurgical treatment of finely divided materials. More particularly, the invention relates to a combustor which uses a gaseous fuel such as natural gas to produce a stable flame over a wide range of combustion conditions by forming particular flow patterns in the combustor.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The basic chemistry of combustion processes has been known for many years as have simple apparatus for carrying out those processes. Nevertheless, combustion methods and apparatus vary greatly depending on the particular application involved. That variability results from the wide range of fuels, oxygen sources, flowrates, and combustor designs which may be used in a particular application to achieve specific objectives. Consequently, the parameters for a particular combustion application must be developed for that application and are not readily adapted from other different combustion applications. Exemplary of existing combustion apparatus and processes are U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,622,007, 4,797,087 and Re. No. 33,464.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,654,077 and 4,732,368 describe a method and apparatus, respectively, for the pyrometallurgical treatment of finely divided materials and are incorporated herein by reference. In particular, those patents describe a method and apparatus which uses a combustion chamber having two co-axially extending, vertical chambers to treat materials such as finely divided metal ores to reduce the metal to a pure form. The combustion gases in those patents expand as they enter the first vertical chamber and then expand again as they enter the second vertical chamber creating toroidal recirculation zones at the annular space next to the chamber walls that help to stabilize the combustion flame. Those patents especially disclose combustion methods and apparatus which use coal or similar solid materials as a fuel. (See col. 9, lines 66-68; col. 10, lines 66-68; col. 12, lines 3-5; and col. 13, lines 10-13.) In addition, those patents disclose that a gaseous fuel such as natural gas may also be used. (See col. 4, lines 36-40.)
A need exists, however, for an improved combustor which uses a gaseous fuel such as natural gas to provide a stable flame over a wide range of conditions.


Two cellobiohydrolase polypeptides (CBHA and CBHB) derived from Aspergillus are described and can be used to degrade cellulose. Variants of these peptides are described as well as DNA encoding the peptides, vectors and host cells. The peptides can be used to produce or process food, animal feed, wood pulp, paper and textiles.

The present invention relates to polypeptides which have cellulolytic activity and which can be derived from fungae; and to polynucleotides which encode the polypeptides and vectors which can express the polypeptides in a host cell. The polypeptides can be used to degrade cellulose. In particular they can be used in the production or processing of food, animal feed, wood pulp, paper and textiles.
Cellulose is a linear polysaccharide of glucose residues connected by beta-1,4 linkages. In nature, cellulose is usually associated with other compounds, such as hemicelluloses or lignin.
Three different classes of enzymatic activity have been shown to be required for the complete degradation of cellulose into glucose, viz. endoglucanases (EC 22.214.171.124), cellobiohydrolases (EC 220.127.116.11) and beta-glucosidases (EC 126.96.36.199).
Cellobiohydrolases attack cellulose either from the reducing or the non-reducing ends of the cellulose polymer and yield cellobiose (a glucose dimer) as the major product. Two types of cellobiohydrolase are known, cellobiohydrolase I (CBH I) and cellobiohydrolase II (CBH II). CBH I attacks cellulose from the reducing end of the cellulose polymer, and CBH II from the non-reducing end.
Cellobiohydrolase I and II from Trichoderma reesei have been described in EP-B-0137 280 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,894,338, respectively. CBH I has also been identified in Agaricus bisporus, Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Trichoderma viride and Humicola grisea. Depending on both the natural origin and the previous treatment cellulose exists in many varieties differing in crystallinity, fibre composition, fibre length, fibre thickness. For fast and complete degradation of crystalline cellulose CBH and endoglucanases work synergistically (Teeri, TT., TIBTECH May 15, 1997, p. 160-167).
The invention seeks to provide novel polypeptides with CBH activity which can be used to degrade cellulose. Accordingly, the invention provides in a first aspect a polypeptide which comprises the sequence of SEQ ID No:8 (CBH A) or SEQ ID No:10 (CBH B), a sequence substantially homologous to either sequence, or a fragment of any of these sequences.
The first aspect of the invention also provides a polypeptide which is a CBH from Aspergillus.
The first aspect additionally provides a polypeptide which:
(i) has CBH activity;
(ii) has an activity of at least 50% of the maximum activity over the pH range from 3 to 5;
(iii) has an optimum activity at a temperature which is greater than 50xc2x0 C.; and optionally
(iv) does not have a cellulose binding domain or a linker peptide.
A second aspect of the invention provides a polynucleotide which encodes the polypeptide of the first aspect, and a polynucleotide capable of selectively hybridising to SEQ ID No:5, 9 or a complement thereof.
A third aspect of the invention provides a vector which comprises a nucleotide of the second aspect.
A fourth aspect of the invention provides a host cell which comprises a polynucleotide or vector of the second or third aspects.
A fifth aspect of the invention provides a composition comprising a polypeptide of the invention and, for example, one or more enzyme(s).
A sixth aspect of the invention provides a use of the polypeptide or composition of the first or fifth aspects to degrade cellulose.
One of the advantages of the present invention is that cellobiohydrolases may be produced which are free from endoglucanases. Since CBHs, unlike endoglucanases, do not significantly affect fibre strength they are more suitable than crude cellulase complexes for fibre modification in applications were strength is important, such as in textile and paper manufacture and finishing.
Another advantage is that the availability of cloned CBHs and endoglucanases (WO 97/13862) makes it possible to design tailor-made combinations of CBHs and endogucanases for specific applications.
Yet another advantage of the invention is that the polypeptides of the invention have optimum activity at low pH, unlike known cellobiohydrolases. Therefore, the polypeptides of the invention are well suited for use in industrial processes which are performed at low pH.
Polypeptides
The polypeptide of the invention typically has CBH activity. Generally such an activity would be the activity defined by E.C. 188.8.131.52. The term xe2x80x9cCBH activityxe2x80x9d includes the ability to produce cellobiose from cellulose (as a substrate).
The CBH activity may be CBH I-like activity and/or CBH II-like activity. The cellulose which is acted on by the polypeptide of the invention may be crystalline cellulose. The level of CBH activity of the polypeptide of the invention may be the same as, substantially the same as, or higher or lower than the polypeptide shown in SEQ ID No:8 or 10.
The polypeptide of the invention may or may not comprise a cellulose binding domain. Such a domain is often linked to the catalytic domain via a linker peptide in prior art CBH enzymes. Therefore if the polypeptide of the invention does not comprise a cellulose binding domain then generally it will not comprise a linker peptide either.
The polypeptide of the invention may comprise the sequence of SEQ ID No:8 or 10 or a substantially homologous sequence. The polypeptide may be 65% homologous to SEQ ID No:8 or 10, preferably 80% or 90%, and more preferably at least 95% homologous thereto over the length of SEQ ID No:8 or 10.
The polypeptide of the invention may be derived from a fungus, such as a filamentous fungus. Preferably the (filamentous) fungus is of the species Aspergillus oryzae, Aspergillus sojae, Aspergillus nidulans, species from the Aspergillus niger Group (as defined by Raper and Fennell, The Genus Aspergillus, The Williams and Wilkins Company, Baltimore, pp 293-344, 1965), specifically including but not limited to Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus awamori, Aspergillus tubigensis, Aspergillus aculeatus, Aspergillus foetidus, Aspergillus japonicus and Aspergillus ficuum.
In the context of the invention the term xe2x80x9cderived fromxe2x80x9d includes polypeptides which naturally occur in or are produced by these fungae and therefore can be obtained from these fungae, or fragments of such polypeptides. The term also includes polypeptides which are substantially homologous (such as at least 65% homologous to SEQ ID No:8 or 10) to these naturally occurring polypeptides of the invention. Thus the invention includes polypeptides which are not naturally occurring.
The polypeptide of the invention may co-purify with an xcex1-arabinofuranosidase (see for e.g. Example 1). The polypeptide of the invention may thus co-elute with an xcex1-arabinofuranosidase. The xcex1-arabinofuranosidase may be detected using the chromogenic substrate 4- methylumbelliferyl-xcex1-L-arabinofuranoside. The xcex1-arabinofuranosidase may be a fungal xcex1-arabinofuranosidase, such as one from an Aspergillus species, e.g. Aspergillus niger. The xcex1-arabinofuranosidase may be one from-any of the genera or species of fungae mentioned above from which the polypeptide of the invention may be derived.
A polypeptide of the invention may comprise:
(a) a polypeptide comprising the sequence of SEQ ID No:8 or 10; or
(b) a polypeptide from Aspergillus which is a CBH or has CBH activity; or
(c) a homologue or an allelic variant of any of the polypeptides of (a) or (b) from a fungus, an Aspergillus species, from Aspergillus niger or from any of the genera or species of fungus mentioned above from which the polypeptide of the invention may be derived; or
(d) a homologue which is at least 65% homologous to (a), (b) or (c).
Methods of measuring protein homology are well known in the art and it will be understood by those of skill in the art that in the present context, homology is calculated on the basis of amino acid identity (sometimes referred to as xe2x80x9chard homologyxe2x80x9d).
The polypeptide of the invention or fragments thereof may be used to identify cellobiohydrolases in other organisms. For example, they may be used for the production of antibodies. The sequence of the polypeptide of SEQ ID No;8 or 10 and of species homologues and allelic variants can be modified to provide polypeptides of the invention.
The modified polypeptide may retain CBH activity.
Polynucleotides
A polynucleotide of the invention may encode or comprise a sequence that encodes a polypeptide of the invention.
A polynucleotide of the invention may be capable of hybridising selectively with the coding sequence of SEQ ID No:5 or 9 or to the sequences complementary to those coding sequences. Selective hybridisation is typically achieved using conditions of medium to high stringency (for example high stringency conditions include 0.2xc3x97SSC at 60xc2x0 C., and low stringency conditions include 2xc3x97SSC at 60xc2x0 C.).
A nucleotide sequence capable of selectively hybridizing to the DNA coding sequence of SEQ ID No:5 or 9 or to the sequences complementary to those coding sequences will generally be at least 65%, preferably at least 80% homologous to the coding sequence of SEQ ID No:5 or 9 or their complements. Polynucleotides of the invention, which are typically provided in isolated and/or purified form, may comprise DNA or RNA. They may also be polynucleotides which include within them synthetic or modified nucleotides. For the purposes of the present invention, it is to be understood that the polynucleotides described herein may be modified by any method available in the art.
Polynucleotides such as a DNA polynucleotide and primers according to the invention may be produced recombinantly, synthetically, or by any means available to those of skill in the art.
For the recombinant production of the polypeptide of the invention a DNA sequence of the invention is used for gene amplification and/or exchange of expression signals, such as promoters, secretion signal sequences, in order to allow economic production of the polypeptide of the invention in a suitable homologous or heterologous host cell. A homologous host cell is herein defined as a host cell which is of the same species or which is a variant within the same species as the species from which the DNA sequence is derived.
Suitable host cells are preferably microorganisms like bacteria, or more preferably fungi such as yeasts or filamentous fungi. A preferred yeast host cell for the expression of a DNA sequence encoding the polypeptide of the invention is selected from the group consisting of the genera Saccharomyces, Kluyveromyces, Hansenula, Pichia, Yarrowia, and Schizosaccharomyces. More preferably a yeast host cell is selected from the group consisting of the species Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Kluyveromyces lactis (also known as Kluyveromyces marxianus var. lactis), Hansenula polymorpha, Pichia pastoris, Yarrowia lipolytica,and Schizosaccharomyces pombe.
Most preferred for the expression of a DNA sequence encoding the polypeptide of the invention are, however, filamentous fungal host cells. Preferred filamentous fungal host cells are selected from the group consisting of the genera Aspergillus, Trichoderma, Fusarium, Penicillium, Acremonium, Neurospora, Thermoascus, Myceliophtora, Sporotrichum, Thielavia, and Talaromyces. More preferably a filamentous fungal host cell is selected from the group consisting of the species Aspergillus oyzae, Aspergillus sojae, Aspergillus nidulans, species from the Aspergillus niger Group as defined by Raper and Fennell (1965, In: The Genus Aspergillus, The Williams and Wilkins Company, Baltimore, pp 293-344), specifically including but not limited to Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus awamori, Aspergillus tubigensis, Aspergillus aculeatus, Aspergillus foetidus, Aspergillus japonicus and Aspergillus ficuum, and further consisting of the species Trichoderma reesei, Fusarium graminearum, Penicillium chrysogenum, Acremonium alabamense, Neurospora crassa,Myceliophtora thermophilum, Sporotrichum cellulophilum, and Thielavia terrestris.
The expression construct can be used for transformation of the host as part of a vector carrying a selectable marker, or the expression construct is co-transformed as a separate molecule together with the vector carrying a selectable marker. Suitable selectable markers which can be used for selection of the transformed host cells are well known to the skilled person 8, 10. Preferred markers include but are not limited to e.g. versatile marker genes that can be used for transformation of most filamentous fungi and yeasts such as acetamidase genes or cDNAs (the amdS genes or cDNAs from A.nidulans, A.oryzae, or A.niger), or genes providing resistance to antibiotics like G418 or hygromycin.
Alternatively, more specific selection markers can be used such as auxotrophic markers which require corresponding mutant host strains: e.g. URA3 (from S.cerevisiae or analogous genes from other yeasts), pyrG (from A.nidulans or A.niger) or argB (from A.nidulans or A.niger). In a more preferred embodiment, the selection marker is deleted from the transformed host cell after introduction of the expression construct in accordance with the methods described in EP-A-0 635 574, so as to obtain transformed host cells capable of producing the polypeptide which are free of selection marker genes.
For most filamentous fungi and yeast, the expression construct is preferably integrated in the genome of the host cell in order to obtain stable transformants. However, for certain yeasts also suitable episomal vector systems are available into which the expression construct can be incorporated for stable and high level expression, examples thereof include vectors derived from the 2xcexc and pKD1 plasmids of Saccharomyces and Kluyveromyces, respectively. In case the expression constructs are integrated in the host cells genome, the constructs are either integrated at random loci in the genome, or at predetermined target loci using homologous recombination, in which case the target loci preferably comprise a highly expressed gene. A highly expressed gene is herein defined as a gene whose mRNA can make up at least 0.5% (w/w) of the total cellular mRNA, e.g. under induced conditions, or alternatively, a gene whose gene product can make up at least 1% (w/w) of the total cellular protein, or, in case of a secreted gene product, can be secreted to a level of at least 0.1 g/l. A number of examples of suitable highly expressed genes is provided herein below.
An expression construct for a given host cell will usually contain the following elements operably linked to each other in a consecutive order from the 5xe2x80x2-end to 3xe2x80x2-end relative to the coding strand of the sequence encoding the polypeptide of the invention: (1) a promoter sequence capable of directing transcription of the DNA sequence encoding the polypeptide in the given host cell, (2) optionally, a signal sequence capable of directing secretion of the polypeptide from the given host cell into the culture medium, (3) the DNA sequence encoding a mature and preferably active form of the polypeptide, and preferably also (4) a transcription termination region (terminator) capable of terminating transcription downstream of the DNA sequence encoding the polypeptide.
A variety of promoters capable of directing transcription in the host cells of the invention is available to the skilled person 8,10. Preferably the promoter sequence is derived from a highly expressed gene as previously defined. Examples of preferred highly expressed genes from which promoters are preferably derived and/or which are comprised in preferred predetermined target loci for integration of expression constructs, include but are not limited to genes encoding glycolytic enzymes such as triose-phosphate isomerases (TPI), glyceraldehyde-phosphate dehydrogenases (GAPDH), phosphoglycerate kinases (PGK), pyruvate kinases (PYK), alcohol dehydrogenases (ADH), as well as genes encoding amylases, glucoamylases, xylanases, cellobiohydrolases, 1-galactosidases, alcohol (methanol) oxidases, elongation factors and ribosomal proteins. Specific examples of suitable highly expressed genes include e.g. the LAC4 gene from Kluyveromyces sp., the methanol oxidase genes (AOX and MOX) from Hansenula and Pichia, respectively, the glucoamylase (glaA) genes from A.niger and A.awamori, the A.oryzae TAKA-amylase gene, the A.nidulans gpdA gene and the T.reesei cellobiohydrolase genes.
Preferably the polypeptide is produced as a secreted protein in which case the polynucleotide sequence encoding a mature form of the polypeptide in the expression construct is operably linked to a polynucleotide sequence encoding a signal sequence. Preferably the signal sequence is native (homologous) to the DNA sequence encoding the polypeptide. Alternatively the signal sequence is foreign (heterologous) to the DNA sequence encoding the polypeptide, in which case the signal sequence is preferably endogenous to the host cell in which the DNA sequence is expressed. Examples of suitable signal sequences for yeast host cells are the signal sequences derived from yeast a-factor genes. Similarly, a suitable signal sequence for filamentous fungal host cells is e.g. a signal sequence derived from a filamentous fungal (gluco)amylase gene, e.g. the A.niger glaA gene.
Downstream of the DNA sequence encoding the polypeptide, the expression construct preferably contains a 3xe2x80x2 untranslated region containing one or more transcription termination sites, also referred to as a terminator. The origin of the terminator is less critical. The terminator can e.g. be native to the DNA sequence encoding the polypeptide. However, preferably a yeast terminator is used in yeast host cells and a filamentous fungal terminator is used in filamentous fungal host cells. More preferably, the terminator is endogenous to the host cell in which the DNA sequence encoding the polypeptide is expressed.
The recombinant host cells according to the invention may be cultured using procedures known in the art. For each combination of a promoter and a host cell, culture condition are available which are conducive to the expression the DNA sequence encoding the polypeptide. After reaching the desired cell density or titre of the polypeptide the culture may be stopped and the polypeptide may be recovered using known procedures.
In addition, homologues and allelic variants of SEQ ID No:5 or 9 may be obtained and such homologues and fragments thereof in general will be capable of selectively hybridizing to the coding sequence of SEQ ID No:5 or 9 complements.
Selective hybridisation is typically achieved under conditions of medium to high stringency (for example high stringency conditions include 0.2 SSC at 60xc2x0 C., and low stringency conditions include 2xc3x97SSC at 60xc2x0 C.).
Compositions containing the polypeptides
The invention also provides a composition comprising a polypeptide of the invention and, optionally, one or more enzymes. It also provides a composition comprising a recombinant host cell of the invention.
The compositions of the invention may be in a form suitable for packaging and/or storage. In a composition which comprises the polypeptide of the invention the composition is generally of a form in which the CBH activity of the polypeptide is substantially retained. The polypeptide in the composition may be attached to or mixed with a carrier, for example the polypeptide may be immobilized, such as on a solid carrier.
In a composition which comprises host cells of the invention the composition will generally be of a form which allows some or all of the host cells to remain viable. The composition may additionally comprise nutrients for the host cell, which are provided to the host cell when it is cultured.
The composition may be in a form suitable for the process in which it will be used. The composition may be formulated in any convenient way, including as a paste, liquid, emulsion, powder, flakes, granulate, pellet or other extrudate. The composition may be formulated for use in a process to produce human food, animal feed, wood pulp, paper or a textile. It may be stabilised in accordance with methods known in the art.
The composition may comprise additional substances which aid the cellulose degrading activity of the composition. Thus the composition may additionally comprise other enzymes. These other enzymes may be recombinant enzymes, or may have been obtained from an organism in which they occur naturally. The enzymes may have been substantially purified before addition to the composition of the invention, or they may be left substantially unpurified before being added to the composition of the invention.
Non-limiting examples of such other enzymes are endoglucanases (EC 22.214.171.124), other cellobiohydrolases (EC 18.104.22.168) xcex2-glucosidases (EC 126.96.36.199), xylanases, pectinases, mannanases, phytases, alpha-amylase, proteases or various plant cell wall degrading enzymes.
The composition may comprise organisms (e.g. bacteria, fungae or yeast) which produce the above mentioned enzymes.
The composition may additionally comprise (particularly when being formulated for use in animal feed) one or more ionophores, oxidising agents, surfactants, rumen protected amino acids, enzyme enhancers or enzymes which may be produced naturally in the gastro intestinal tract of the animals to be fed.
Uses of the polypeptide, polynucleotide, host cell and composition
The invention provides the use of a polypeptide, host cell or composition of the invention to degrade cellulose. Thus the invention provides a method of degrading cellulose comprising contacting a polypeptide, host cell or composition of the invention with the cellulose (to be degraded).
In the method all or part of the cellulose may be degraded, for example from 0 to 20%, 20 to 40%, 40 to 50%, 50 to 70% or 70 to 100% by weight may be degraded.
The cellulose which is degraded in the method of the invention may be derived from a plant or a microorganism, or may have been synthetically produced by man. The cellulose may be in crystalline form. The cellulose may be partially or wholly derivatised, for example lignified.
The method of degrading cellulose of the invention may be part of a method for producing or processing food or beverages, animal feed, pulp, paper or textiles.
Moreover, the CBHs of the present invention, have broader pH optima than CBHs of the prior art, and are particularly well suited for use in industrial processes which are performed at low pH, where the CBHs of the prior art are less or not active. Since the CBHs are also more thermostable as compared with known CBHs they can be used in a much wider range of application conditions.
In accordance with the present invention, it has been found that the CBHs produced via the present invention may be used in the baking of breads. The incorporation of small amounts of CBH to the flour imparts favourable characteristics to the dough and thus to the bread itself such as an increased loaf volume and better textural characteristics such as break and shred quality and crumb quality.
CBHs either alone or in combination with other pure or crude endoglucanase containing enzyme mixtures may also be added to animal feed compositions which are rich in cellulose. When added to feeds (including silage) for ruminants or monogastric animals (eg. poultry or swine) which feeds contain cereals such as barley, wheat, maize, rye or oats or cereal by-products such as wheat bran or maize bran, or other plant materials such as soy beans and other legumes, the enzyme(s) significantly improve the break-down of plant cell walls which leads to better utilization of the plant nutrients by the animal. As a consequence, growth rate and/or feed conversion are improved.
The CBHs of the invention may also be used for the liquefaction of plant cell wall material, e.g. in the beverage industry.

Cellulose degrading enzymes of aspergillus


Disclosed is a graphical user interface to quickly build a graphical representation defining the set of instructions in a protocol without the user needing the programming knowledge to encapsulate those instructions in executable code. The graphical representation may include an arrangement of one or more graphical elements, with each graphical element corresponding to instructions or program logic. The user may also specify the set of parameters associated with each of the graphical elements. The arrangement of the one or more graphical elements, along with the set of parameters for each of the graphical elements, may be used to translate the graphical representation of the protocol into executable code for the protocol. The executable code for the protocol may then be executed by various flow cytometry machines in order to perform the protocol.

In biotechnology, flow cytometry involves the use of lasers and optics to perform cell counting, cell sorting, biomarker detection, and protein engineering. Cells are suspended in a stream of fluid and passed by an electronic detection apparatus, which can analyze the physical and chemical characteristics of the cells and/or other microscopic particles in the fluid. In some cases, fluorescent markers or labels having desired properties may be attached to target features on the cells in order to be used as a quantitative tool.
Modern flow cytometers are able to analyze several thousand particles every second in real-time in order to provide an automated quantification of parameters associated with those particles. Some flow cytometers may also be able to actively sort, separate, and isolate particles having specific properties in order to obtain particle populations of interest.
Flow cytometry is frequently used in the diagnosis of health disorders, as well as in basic research, clinical practice, and clinical trials. For instance, flow cytometry can be used to detect the presence of a specific particle (e.g., a pathogen) in a cell sample. However, in order for a flow cytometer to produce consistent and repeatable results (e.g., reliably identify that specific particle), the components of the flow cytometer may need to follow a set of rules or procedures specifically tailored to sorting, separating, and isolating that particular particle.
A set of these procedures may need to be devised, tested, and implemented into a usable form that can be interpreted by the flow cytometer in order to instruct the components of the flow cytometer to follow the set of procedures. Implementing the set of procedures may involve encapsulating the set of procedures into a programming language that can be interpreted by the flow cytometer. However, expressing the set of procedures in the programming language may be a difficult and time-consuming task, which involves having to learn the programming language to program the set of procedures. This implementation time would be in addition to the time also needed for devising and testing the set of procedures. As a result, the users of flow cytometry machines frequently do not have the time or capacity needed to create these sets of procedures and those tasks are often left to specialists.
Thus, there exists a need for a quicker and easier way to devise, test, and implement sets of procedures usable by a flow cytometry machine. This would improve the development time for these sets of procedures and could potentially improve the health outcomes of hundreds of thousands of people across the world, such as in the case of generating a set of procedures for reliably identifying a new pathogen for the purposes of diagnosis.


A standby process controller includes a mode control unit which is on standby without starting a standby-in process when a power-off signal is detected, stops audio and image output of an operation execution unit, sets a pre-standby mode to an electronic device so as to allow a standby-in process to be started and ended at any time, and releases the setting of the pre-standby mode when a power-on signal is detected, and a standby-in process start control unit which starts the standby-in process when a predetermined time elapses since the pre-standby mode is set. A standby-out process can be immediately performed in a case where a user performs a power-on operation within several seconds after a power-off operation is performed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a standby process controller and a standby process control method of an electronic device, and is particularly suitable for a device which controls the operations of an activation process (a standby-out process) performed when the power of the electronic device is turned on and an end process (a standby-in process) performed when the power of the electronic device is turned off.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, when the power of the electronic device in a standby state is turned on, a predetermined activation process (the standby-out process) is performed, and the electronic device enters an operable state. On the other hand, when the power of the running electronic device is turned off, a predetermined end process (the standby-in process) is performed, and the electronic device enters the standby state. The activation process and the end process (hereinafter, both processes will be referred to as "standby process") have no direct relation to a user's operation on the electronic device. Therefore, it is desirable to perform both processes in a time as short as possible.
For example, there is known a technique of preventing a delay in a soft activation when data is not normally updated and then an ACC (accessory) of the in-vehicle device is turned on (see JP 2013-84089 A). In the technique disclosed in JP 2013-84089 A, a CPU is activated without waiting for an activation factor when the backup of the data is not normally ended, and a memory is shifted from an "idle" state to a "tran" state (a CPU accessible state), so that the memory is already in the "tran" state at the time when the data is normally back up and then the ACC is turned on.
By the way, once the standby process is started, the standby process is not stopped during its operation but performed to the end. In other words, even when the power is switched to be turned on in a period before the process is completed after the standby-in process is started according to the turning-off operation of the power of the electronic device, the standby-in process is performed to the end, and then the standby-out process is started. Similarly, even when the power is switched to be turned off in a period before the process is completed after the standby-out process is started according to the turning-on operation of the power of the electronic device, the standby-out process is performed to the end, and then the standby-in process is started.
Therefore, for example, in a case where the user wants to use the electronic device again by turning on the power within several seconds after the user turns off the power of the electronic device, it takes a considerably long time until the electronic device enters an operable state after the standby-out process is completed. FIG. 8 is a diagram for describing the problem.
In FIG. 8, an ACC signal indicates a signal of turning on/off the power (accessory), and a high state indicates a power ON and a low state indicates a power OFF. A standby-in signal is a signal of instructing the execution of the standby-in process, and is active low. A standby-out signal is a signal of instructing the execution of the standby-out process, and is active low.
As illustrated in FIG. 8, in a case where the ACC-OFF operation is performed when the electronic device is in a normal operation state, the standby-in signal also falls down in synchronization with a falling of the ACC signal, and the standby-in process is started. In general, the standby-in process requires a time of about 5 to 15 seconds. The example of FIG. 8 shows a state in which the ACC-ON operation is performed before the standby-in process is completed.
However, even when the ACC is switched to be turned on during the standby-in process, the standby-in process is continuously performed to the end, and then the standby-out process is started. Then, when the standby-out process is completed, it becomes the normal operation state where the electronic device can be used. Therefore, it takes a considerably long standby time until the electronic device enters an operable state after the ACC is turned on.
In addition, in the electronic device mounted on a specific vehicle, when the ACC-ON operation is performed, the ACC signal is configured to rise and then fall down once, and thereafter rise again as illustrated in FIG. 9. In this case, after the standby-out process is performed to the end according to the first rising of the ACC signal, the standby-in process is performed to the end according to a falling of the ACC signal. Further, the standby-out process is performed again to the end according to the next rising of the ACC signal, and finally the electronic device enters the operable state. Therefore, it takes a considerably long standby time until the electronic device enters the operable state after the ACC-ON operation is performed.
Conventionally, a guard time is set for the electronic device mounted to such a specific vehicle in order to cancel all the signals during several seconds (about 2 seconds) after the first rising of the ACC signal is detected, thereby avoiding a long standby time until the electronic device enters the operable state after the ACC-ON operation is performed.
However, even in such a condition and situation, in a case where the American standard that a captured image of the periphery of a vehicle has to be displayed within 2 seconds after the ACC is turned on is applied to the electronic device, the method of avoiding the standby time using the guard time cannot be employed. This is because even when a signal of instructing the display of the captured image immediately after the ACC is turned on is output, the signal is ignored by the guard time.
The invention has been made in view of the above problem, and an object thereof is to shorten a time taken until an electronic device enters an operable state after a power-on operation is performed.

Standby process controller and standby process control method of electronic device


The object of the invention is a method and a suitable apparatus for continuous and automatic taking of samples together with the correlating data and successive possible evaluation of the samples and data in a simple way. A storage tape (1) for samples and data is contacted with a sample storing head (2) and a data recording head (3) when storing. During readout the tape is contacted with a sample taking head (4) of an analyzing instrument (14) and a sample data reading head (5). Thus the invention makes it possible to permanently control chemical processes in production processes as well as in other creations of undesired and/or noxious liquid or gaseous chemical substances and/or compounds.

The invention concerns a method and an apparatus for non-intrusive continuous and automatic taking of samples with material and data-like storing of the samples for long-term disposing of the samples and data for a possible evaluation according to criteria which can be defined later on.
The invention generally refers to the field of sampling and storing of samples for the analysis of gasses and liquids as well as sample input into an apparatus for analysis. The invention can for example be applied in investigating a chemical process in a chemical factory, a chemical accident or any other environmental polluting event in retrospection, e.g. the content of a reaction mixture with respect to the main components as a function of time, the contamination of the air in the environment of a depot for chemicals or river water at the places of sewage input. Besides process control and environment control the verification of the non-production of chemical weapons is a potentially important field of application. In case of suspection of a violation of a respective restriction treaty the invention offers a simple possibility of retrospective analysis of samples, which can be exactly related to relevant data like day/time of the sample storage, temperature profiles, pressures and fluxes. An effective continuous sampling and storing of samples for the reason of controlling in the fields mentioned above has not yet been practiced. Recently the lack of a simple, reliable system for sampling and sample storing has become apparent by spectacular chemical accidents.
Many instruments and apparatuses which were employed in former times for the controlling of chemotechnical processes are indeed nowadays used for controlling the environment, the purity of food and the concentration of noxious substances. These instruments for analysis sometimes work continuously but realize the analysis at once in an on-line-operation, that means they do not store samples and correlating data. In exceptional cases liquid or gaseous samples as they are or in an enriched form are applied on sorbents like Tenax or XAD and stored until analysis is performed. For this purpose there are sample collectors and auto injectors for gas chromatography on the market, the latter for the automatic input of the sorbed chemical components into an instrument for analysis, for example into a combination of a gas chromatograph and mass spectrometer.
A multiple passive probe collector with the possibility of fast input of the sample into the input head of an instrument for analysis has been described as an advantageous alternative to Tenax- and XAD-sorption tubes (DE-A 3,137,765 and U.S. Pat. 4,541,268). Here the ability of an sorptive collecting plate for sample enriching, sample storage and sample desorption after transfer to the heated input head of a mass spectrometer or any other instrument for analysis is used. As sorbent for example a silicone membrane can be used.
Moreover an automatic system for clinical-chemical laboratories called "SILAB" has been published in the periodical Siemens-Zeitschrift, No. 5 of May 1973. The field of application of "SILAB" touches the biological-chemical analyzing and evaluating of the results at the point, where so-called laboratory automats are used.
Sampling and evaluating are closely connected with respect to the time in this case. Each analysis is evaluated and it is the declared purpose to accelerate the medical diagnostics by means of mechanization and rationalization including the use of data processing (at the state of the art of 1973) and to meet the demands of an increasing number of necessary examinations. The biological substances that are to be examined are usually perishable, which means chemical-biological changing, and, therefore, must be brought to the examination in short time intervals. The durability of each sample is very limited, but because of apt vessels for the examinations (e.g. for blood and serum) a relatively large space is required.
The automatic system "SILAB" works only according to a discontinuous machining cycle which must be defined in advance for special samples, in a close time connection to a given equipment and using given evaluation criteria. The advantages lie only in rationalization and rise of the output of the required chemical-clinical laboratory works.
The techniques according to the state of the art are consumptuous with respect to the space requirements, the costs for producing and operating and with respect to the personnel requirements. Furthermore, they are hardly fully automatized and subject to disturbations. The correlation between certain relevant data associated with a sample, e.g. day, time, temperatures, pressures, flux-rates, etc. is connected with a consumptuous protocolling and therefore subject to error. Moreover, the correlation of the data can easily be manipulated. Sample analysis is often time-consuming and difficult, whereby the information of interest about the sample has to be selected out of a variety of undesired data which are either irrelevant with respect to the analytical questions or even secret.
Until now no simple automatic sampling method has been published which would be apt to detect in case of need one or more chemical components in a gas or liquid mixture subsequently and with exact correlation to relevant data of the sampling like time, temperatures, etc.

Apparatus for non-intrusive continuous and automatic taking of samples, storing and supplying of samples and data for a possible evaluation


An offshore jacket is provided which comprises a plurality of main hollow pile sleeves and a plurality of secondary hollow pile sleeves of shorter height than the main sleeves and connected thereto by framing. A plurality of main piles and secondary piles are disposed within the main sleeves and secondary sleeves, respectively, and project downwardly therebeyond into the seabed. The main and secondary piles are connected to their respective main and secondary sleeves by grout disposed within an annulus between the sleeve and the pile, so that the pile resists axial forces. The grout within the secondary piles extends to the seabed. The grout within at least some of the main sleeves terminates above the seabed to decrease the axial spring value of the associated piles and thereby increase the proportion of the axial forces which are borne by the secondary piles. Also provided is an offshore jacket which does not employ secondary sleeves and piles; the lower level of grout within some of the sleeves is disposed above the level of grout within others of the sleeves located closer to a central axis of the jacket to decrease the axial spring values of the former piles and thereby more uniformly distribute the axial forces among the piles.

The present invention relates to the subsea anchoring of offshore jacket structures and, more particularly, to the grouting of jacket legs to a seabed.
Offshore structures of the type utilized in the drilling of oil or gas wells may comprise a jacket which is to be installed upon the seabed and a platform which is to be supported on the jacket above the water surface. Generally, the jacket is fabricated at a land-based facility, then towed on its side in a floating condition to an offshore work site and thereafter erected within the water and lowered onto the seabed. The jacket may comprise a plurality of legs or sleeves which rest on the waterbed and project upwardly to the water surface to carry a platform. The jacket sleeves are anchored to the seabed by means of piles which are driven through and beyond the pile sleeves and into the seabed. Apparatus of this type is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,823,564, issued to Crout et al on July 16, 1974 and assigned to the assignee of this invention. The disclosure of that patent is incorporated herein by reference as if set forth at length.
To permanently secure the piles in place within the sleeves, grout is introduced into the annulus formed between the outer face of each pile and an inner wall of its associated sleeve. The grout extends essentially the entire height of the annulus and somewhat below the mudline of the seabed.
In some instances the jacket is anchored solely by piles driven through the main jacket legs or sleeves, while in other instances secondary pile sleeves, or skirt sleeves, are utilized which are of relatively short height and are attached by framing to lower ends of the main sleeves. The secondary pile sleeves can be distributed around the baase of the jacket or arranged in clusters.
Once anchored, the jacket is subject to wave and current action which imposes considerable forces on the main jacket sleeves. Axial forces are transmitted from the main sleeves to the main piles via the grout connection. In cases where skirt piles are employed, it is intended that an appreciable portion of such loads be transmitted to the skirt piles via framing interconnecting the main and skirt sleeves to distribute the loads more evenly. It has been found in practice, however, that such loading may not be distributed in the most effective manner due to a certain degree of inherent flexibility in the framing which tends to restrict to transmission of forces to the secondary sleeves. As a result, the main piles are required to resist a greater proportion of the loading than is desired.
It has also been found that, whether or not skirt piles are employed, there may occur an uneven distribution of loads among the main jacket sleeves. That is, the piles of the main jacket sleeves located farther from the central axis of the jacket base are likely to bear a greater proportion of the loading than the piles of main jacket sleeves located closer to such central axis.
From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that prudence has heretofore dictated that at least some of the main sleeves and piles have had to be made larger than desired in order to compensate for the uneven distribution of loading among the various anchoring piles. This has resulted in added costs and other complications.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to minimize or obviate problems of the type discussed above.
It is another object of the present invention to provide novel anchoring arrangements and anchoring methods for an offshore jacket.
It is a further object of the invention to enable the distribution of forces in an offshore jacket to be more precisely controlled.
It is an additional object of the invention to create a more uniform distribution of loading among the anchoring piles of an offshore jacket.
It is another object of the invention to provide a jacket anchoring arrangement wherein the lower level of grout in at least some of the pile sleeves terminates at a level above the lower level of grout in other sleeves located closer to the central axis so that the axial spring value of the former piles is decreased whereby the distribution of forces among the piles is more uniform.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a jacket anchoring arrangement wherein skirt pile sleeves are connected to main pile sleeves and wherein the lower level of grout in at least some of the main pile sleeves terminates above the seabed to provide greater flexibility in the framing and thereby transfer a greater amount of loading to the secondary pile sleeves than would otherwise occur.

Grouting of offshore jackets to distribute forces among the anchoring piles


A method for selectively etching insulative material composed of SrTiO3 or MgO in the presence of a copper oxide perovskite superconductive material includes treating the insulative material with a liquid selective etchant solution containing hydrogen fluoride in water for a period of time, the insulative material being etched at a substantially faster rate than the superconductive material etch rate, then treating the superconductive material exposed to the insulative selective with another etchant to remove a surface layer.

The recent development of copper-oxide perovskite superconductive materials having normal/superconductive critical transition temperatures ("T.sub.c ") significantly higher than previously known superconductive materials has spawned widespread interest in developing electronic devices which incorporate such perovskite superconductive materials and make use of superconductivity phenomena. The fabrication of semiconductor electronic devices which are generally planar in structure and comprise patterned layers of thin films of different materials is a well developed technology. It has been proposed to develop high-T.sub.c superconductive electronic devices which are generally planar in structure and comprise patterned layers of thin films of superconductive materials and insulative materials.
An article by Kingston et al. published in IEEE Transactions, on Magnetics, volume 27, pages 974-977 (March 1991 ) ("the Kingston et al. publication") disclosed a superconducting flux transformer fabricated as a thin-film YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-x --SrTiO.sub.3 --YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-x multilayer structure. The flux transformer included what were termed "crossovers" and "window contacts." A "crossover" was described as superconducting thin film wires of YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-x separated by an electrically insulating layer of SrTiO.sub.3. A "window contact" was described as a superconducting connection between two thin-film layers of superconducting YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-x made via a window opening patterned in an intervening layer of SrTiO.sub.3. Each of the three layers of the flux transformer of the Kingston et al. publication was deposited by laser deposition and was patterned photolithographically by etching through a correspondingly patterned layer of developed photoresist. Films of YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-x were patterned by a standard photolithographic process using either a nitric acid solution or an argon ion mill to etch the film. According to the Kingston et al. publication, exposure of the surface of YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-x to the photoresist of the photolithographic process generally left a layer of contamination that often prevented epitaxial growth of subsequent layers. In addition, photolithography followed by an etch tended to produce sharp edges in the patterned YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-x film which tended to be difficult to insulate. It was indicated that both the problem of sharp edges and the problem of surface contamination by photoresist could be ameliorated by etching the patterned surface with a solution of bromine in methanol.
According to the Kingston et al. publication, to make a window contact through a layer of SrTiO.sub.3 film which was sufficiently thick to be compatible with the crossovers of the flux transformer, the window opening had to have beveled walls. Such beveled walls in a window opening through an SrTiO.sub.3 layer was formed by forming a window opening in a layer of photoresist on the SrTiO.sub.3 layer which had sloping walls by a process which involved exposing the photoresist to an out-of-focus image of a window. The layer of SrTiO.sub.3 was then etched through the window opening in the photoresist using an ion mill to cut through the SrTiO.sub.3 layer to expose a lower layer of YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-x. According to the Kingston et al. publication, too little etching with the ion mill left an insulating layer, while too much could could degrade the quality of the contact. It was determined when to terminate the ion milling by examination of the window under a microscope. To reduce damage to the exposed YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-x, the ion milling was terminated by milling at a lower voltage for a few minutes. The bromine etch was not used after cutting the window through the SrTiO.sub.3 layer because the bromine solution tended to remove YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-x under the SrTiO.sub.3 layer.
Various etchants for Y--Ba--Cu--O films are noted in an article by Shokoohi et al. published in Applied Physics Letters, volume, 55, pages 2661-2663 (18 Dec. 1989). The use of solutions of phosphoric acid, nitric acid, and hydrochloric acid in water as acid etches in wet chemical etching was noted. It was disclosed that a saturated solution of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid ("EDTA") in water was a suitable etch for use in standard photoresist lithography for microfabrication of superconducting devices. According to the publication, the EDTA solution readily removed Y--Ba--Cu--O, leaving substrate material intact.
An article by Jia and Anderson published in the Journal of Materials Research, volume 4, pages 1320-1325 (November/December 1989 ) ("the Jia and Anderson publication") disclosed that the resistance of Y--Ba--Cu--O superconductors to degradation by water was improved by a chemical treatment with hydrofluoric acid (HF) solution. Immersion of Y--Ba--Cu--O superconductor in HF was reported to result in a passivation of the surface of the superconductor. According to the Jia and Anderson publication, a thin layer of amorphous fluoride formed on the surface of the Y--Ba--Cu--O during HF treatment which limited later reaction between Y--Ba--Cu--O and water. The layer of amorphous fluoride also limited further reaction between. Y--Ba--Cu--O and HF. According to the Jia and Anderson publication, no noticeable etching occurred after 20 h of immersion of Y--Ba--Cu--O in both bulk and thin-film form in 49 percent HF. In the case of thin films of Y--Ba--Cu--O, the Jia and Anderson publication disclosed that the formation of an amorphous fluoride layer on the surface of the film made electrical measurements difficult. To avoid the effects of the amorphous layer formed during HF treatment under electrical contacts to the Y--Ba--Cu--O thin film, the contacts were evaporated onto the film before the HF treatment and the treatment was carried out with wet HF gas. According to the Jia and Anderson publication, when contact leads for measuring the resistance of a sample of Y--Ba--Cu--O treated with 49 percent HF were connected directly to a surface of the sample, the measured resistance versus temperature curve became unstable due to the formation of fluoride compounds on the sample surface. Scraping the surface layer before introducing the contacts avoided the instability.
It is generally desirable in the photolithographic patterning of multilevel thin-film superconductor/insulator structures for an etchant to exhibit a reasonably low etch rate with respect to the material it is desired to pattern and a high selectivity against etching other materials in the structure. A reasonably low etch rate is in part a matter of convenience but also tends to reduce undercutting under photoresist stencils in cases in which patterns are overetched to ensure that thickness variations are accommodated. Dry etching tends to be better than wet etching for avoiding stencil undercutting, However, the dry etching process of ion milling that has been used for patterning high T.sub.c films has poor selectivity. The poor selectivity of ion milling generally requires that the ion milling system be repeatedly vented for microscopic examination of samples for end point detection. Even so, sample thickness and/or milling rate nonuniformities sometimes preclude achieving satisfactory results over all regions of a wafer. The need for selectivity is particularly great for etching of multilayer thin-film high T.sub.c superconductor/insulator structures because one of the currently preferred methods for thin film deposition, laser ablation, tends to have poor thickness control and uniformity. In addition, the need for selectivity increases as substrate size increases and device geometries get smaller. As is the case for patterning films of high-T.sub.c superconductive materials, there is a need for high selectivity in patterning thin-film insulative materials which are compatible with the superconductive materials. Heretofore, no entirely satisfactory method for etching such insulative materials in the presence of perovskite superconductive materials has been available.

Selective insulation etching for fabricating superconductor microcircuits


A combined system and method synchronizes optical coherence tomography and acoustic radiation force for simultaneously imaging and mechanically displacing tissue in a patient as a detection and analytic tool. An endoscope is provided which has a piezoelectric element and an OCT scanner. The piezoelectric element generates the acoustic force to displace the tissue. The OCT scanner images the tissue and the system determines the mechanical displacement of the tissue. Cancer and arterial plaques can be recognized from the mechanical displacement of the tissue.

OCT Probes
Optical coherence tomography apparatus are fairly well known and comprise a low coherent light source and an optical interferometer, commonly designed as either a Michelson optical fiber interferometer or a Mach-Zender optical fiber interferometer.
For instance, an optical coherence tomography apparatus known from the paper by X. Clivaz et al., "High resolution reflectometry in biological tissues", OPTICS LETTERS, Vol. 17, No. 1, Jan. 1, 1992, includes a low coherent light source and a Michelson optical fiber interferometer comprising a beam-splitter optically coupled with optical fiber sampling and reference arms. The sampling arm incorporates an optical fiber piezoelectric phase modulator and has an optical probe at its end, whereas the reference arm is provided with a reference mirror installed at its end and connected with a mechanical in-depth scanner which performs step-by-step alteration of the optical length of this arm within a fairly wide range (at least several tens of operating wavelengths of the low coherent light source), which, in turn, provides information on microstructure of objects at different depths. Incorporating a piezoelectric phase modulator in the interferometer arm allows for lock-in detection of the information-carrying signal, thus providing a fairly high sensitivity of measurements.
The apparatus for optical coherence tomography reported in the paper by J. A. Izatt, J. G. Fujimoto et al., Micron-resolution biomedical imaging with optical coherence tomography, Optics & Photonics News, October 1993, Vol. 4, No. 10, p. 14-19 comprises a low coherent light source and an optical fiber interferometer designed as a Michelson interferometer. The interferometer includes a beam-splitter, a sampling arm with a measuring probe at its end, and a reference arm, whose end is provided with a reference mirror, movable at constant speed and connected with an in-depth scanner. This device allows for scanning the difference in the optical lengths of the sampling and reference arms. The information-carrying signal is received in this case using a Doppler frequency shift induced in the reference arm by a constant speed movement of the reference mirror.
Another optical coherence tomography apparatus comprising a low coherent light source and an optical fiber interferometer having a beam-splitter optically coupled to a sampling and reference arms is known from RU Pat. No. 2,100,787, dated 1997. At least one of the arms includes an optical fiber piezoelectric in-depth scanner, allowing changing of the optical length of said interferometer arm by at least several tens of operating wavelengths of the light source, thus providing information on microstructure of media at different depths. Since piezoelectric in-depth scanner is a low-inertia element, this device can be used to study media whose characteristic time for changing of optical characteristics or position relative to the optical probe is very short (the order of a second).
A major disadvantage inherent in all of the above-described apparatus as well as in other known apparatus of this type is that studies of samples in the direction approximately perpendicular to the direction of propagation of optical radiation are performed either by respective moving of the samples under study or by scanning a light beam by means of bulky lateral scanners incorporated into galvanometric probes. This does not allow these devices to be applied for medical diagnostics of human cavities and internal organs in vivo, as well as for industrial diagnostics of hard-to-access cavities.
Apparatus for optical coherence tomography known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,383,467, 1995 comprises a low coherent light source and an optical interferometer designed as a Michelson interferometer. This interferometer includes a beam-splitter, a sampling arm with an optical fiber sampling probe installed at its end, and a reference arm whose end is provided with a reference mirror connected with an in-depth scanner, which ensures movement of the reference mirror at a constant speed. The optical fiber sampling probe is a catheter, which comprises a single-mode optical fiber placed into a hollow metal tube having a lens system and an output window of the probe at its distal end. The optical tomography apparatus includes also a lateral scanner, which is placed outside the optical fiber probe and performs angular and/or linear scanning of the optical radiation beam in the output window of the optical fiber probe. However, although such geometry allows for introducing the probe into various internal cavities of human body and industrial objects, the presence of an external relative to the optical fiber probe lateral scanner and scanning the difference in the optical lengths of the sampling and reference arms by means of mechanical movement of the reference mirror significantly limit the possibility of using this device for performing diagnostics of surfaces of human cavities and internal organs in vivo, as well as for industrial diagnostics of hard-to-access cavities.
Apparatus for optical coherence tomography known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,582,171, 1996 comprises a low coherent light source and an optical fiber interferometer designed as a Mach-Zender interferometer having optical fiber sampling and reference arms and two beam-splitters. The reference arm includes a unit for changing the optical length of this arm. This unit is designed as a reference mirror with a spiral reflective surface arranged with a capability of rotating and is connected with a driving mechanism that sets the reference mirror in motion. The sampling arm is provided with an optical fiber probe having an elongated metal cylindrical body with a throughhole extending therethrough, and an optical fiber extending through the throughhole. A lateral scanner is placed at the distal end of the probe, which lateral scanner comprises a lens system, a rotatable mirror, and a micromotor for rotating the mirror, whereas an output window of the probe is located in the side wall of the cylindrical body. This device allows imaging of walls of thin vessels, but is unsuitable as a diagnostic means to image surfaces of cavities and internal organs inside a human body, as well as for industrial diagnostics of hard-to-access large-space cavities.
Another optical coherence tomography apparatus is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,321,501, 1994 and comprises a low coherent light source optically coupled with an optical fiber Michelson interferometer, which includes a beam-splitter and optical fiber sampling and reference arms. The reference arm has a reference mirror mounted at its end and connected with an in-depth scanner. The latter performs movement of the reference mirror at a constant speed, thereby changing the optical length of this arm by at least several tens of operating wavelengths of the light source. The interferometer also comprises a photodetector whose output is connected with a data processing and displaying unit, and a source of control voltage connected with the in-depth scanner. The sampling arm incorporates an optical fiber probe having an elongated body with a throughhole extending therethrough, wherein a sheath with an optical fiber embedded in it extends through the throughhole. The sheath is attached to the stationary body through a pivot joint. The probe body contains also a lateral scanner comprising a bearing support, an actuator, and a lens system. The actuator includes a moving part and a stationary part, whereas the bearing support, the stationary part of the actuator and the lens system are mechanically connected with the probe body. The fiber-carrying sheath rests on the moving part of the actuator. The actuator may be a piezoelectric element, stepper motor, electromagnetic system or electrostatic system. The distal part of the probe body includes a lens system, the end face of the distal part of the optical fiber being optically coupled with the lens system, whereas the actuator is connected with a source of control current. The output of the data processing and displaying unit of the optical fiber interferometer is the output of the apparatus for optical coherence tomography. A disadvantage of this apparatus is that it is not fit for diagnostics of surfaces of hard-to-access internal human organs in vivo, such as, for example, stomach and larynx, and for industrial diagnostics of surfaces of hard-to-reach cavities of technical objects. That is due to the fact that the optical fiber probe in this apparatus must have relatively large dimensions since maximum movement of the optical fiber relative to the size of the actuator cannot be more than 20%, because of the moving part of the actuator being positioned at one side of the fiber-carrying sheath. Besides, the mechanical movement of the reference mirror at a constant speed used for scanning the difference in optical lengths of the reference and sampling arms restricts the range of objects, which can be studied in vivo by this apparatus, or by any other apparatus of this kind, to those objects whose optical characteristics and position relative to the optical probe do not change practically in the process of measurements.
Particular attention was also given to studies of biological tissues in vivo. For instance, a method for studying biological tissue in vivo is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,321,501, 1994 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,459,570, 1995, in which a low coherent optical radiation beam at a given wavelength is directed towards a biological tissue under study, specifically ocular biological tissue, and to a reference mirror along the first and the second optical paths, respectively. The relative optical lengths of these optical beam paths are changed according to a predetermined rule; radiation backscattered from ocular biological tissue is combined with radiation reflected from a reference mirror. The signal of interference modulation of the intensity of the optical radiation, which is a result of this combining, is used to acquire an image of the ocular biological tissue. In a particular embodiment, a low coherent optical radiation beam directed to biological tissue under study is scanned across the surface of said biological tissue.
A method for studying biological tissue in vivo is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,570,182, 1996. According to this method, an optical radiation beam in the visible or near IR range is directed to dental biological tissue. An image is acquired by visualizing the intensity of scattered radiation. The obtained image is then used for performing diagnostics of the biological tissue. In a particular embodiment, a low coherent optical radiation beam is used, which is directed to dental tissue, said beam being scanned across the surface of interest, and to a reference mirror along the first and second optical paths, respectively. Relative optical lengths of these optical paths are changed in compliance with a predetermined rule; radiation backscattered from the dental tissue is combined with radiation reflected by the reference mirror. A signal of interference modulation of intensity of the optical radiation, which is a result of said combining, is used to visualize the intensity of the optical radiation backscattered from said biological tissue. However, this method, as well as other known methods, is not intended for performing diagnostics of biological tissue covered with epithelium.
Acoustic Radiation Force Imaging
Ultrasound imaging is a non-invasive, diagnostic modality that is capable of providing information concerning tissue properties. In the field of medical imaging, ultrasound may be used in various modes to produce images of objects or structures within a patient. In a transmission mode, an ultrasound transmitter is placed on one side of an object and the sound is transmitted through the object to an ultrasound receiver. An image may be produced in which the brightness of each image pixel is a function of the amplitude of the ultrasound that reaches the receiver (attenuation mode), or the brightness of each pixel may be a function of the time required for the sound to reach the receiver (time-of-flight mode). Alternatively, if the receiver is positioned on the same side of the object as the transmitter, an image may be produced in which the pixel brightness is a function of the amplitude of reflected ultrasound (reflection or backscatter or echo mode). In a Doppler mode of operation, the tissue (or object) is imaged by measuring the phase shift of the ultrasound reflected from the tissue (or object) back to the receiver.
Ultrasonic transducers for medical applications are constructed from one or more piezoelectric elements activated by electrodes. Such piezoelectric elements may be constructed, for example, from lead zirconate titanate (PZT), polyvinylidene diflouride (PVDF), PZT ceramic/polymer composite, and the like. The electrodes are connected to a voltage source, a voltage waveform is applied, and the piezoelectric elements change in size at a frequency corresponding to that of the applied voltage. When a voltage waveform is applied, the piezoelectric elements emit an ultrasonic wave into the media to which it is coupled at the frequencies contained in the excitation waveform. Conversely, when an ultrasonic wave strikes the piezoelectric element, the element produces a corresponding voltage across its electrodes. Numerous ultrasonic transducer constructions are known in the art.
When used for imaging, ultrasonic transducers are provided with several piezoelectric elements arranged in an array and driven by different voltages. By controlling the phase and amplitude of the applied voltages, ultrasonic waves combine to produce a net ultrasonic wave that travels along a desired beam direction and is focused at a selected point along the beam. By controlling the phase and the amplitude of the applied voltages, the focal point of the beam can be moved in a plane to scan the subject. Many such ultrasonic imaging systems are well known in the art.
An acoustic radiation force is exerted by an acoustic wave on an object in its path. The use of acoustic radiation forces produced by an ultrasound transducer has been proposed in connection with tissue hardness measurements. See Sugimoto et al., "Tissue Hardness Measure Using the Radiation Force of Focused Ultrasound", IEEE Ultrasonics Symposium, pp. 1377-80, 1990. This publication describes an experiment in which a pulse of focused ultrasonic radiation is applied to deform the object at the focal point of the transducer. The deformation is measured using a separate pulse-echo ultrasonic system. Measurements of tissue hardness are made based on the amount or rate of object deformation as the acoustic force is continuously applied, or by the rate of relaxation of the deformation after the force is removed.
These and other documents may provide additional context where necessary for fuller understanding of the claimed invention and are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety for references purposes and for assisting in the determination of the level of ordinary skill in the art, e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 7,022,077.

Optical coherence tomography / acoustic radiation force imaging probe


Systems and methods for generating radio frequency signals and/or microwave signals using a tunable optical source. An optical frequency comb including multiple optical components is received or generated based on an optical signal. A subset of optical components is selected from the multiple optical components. A detector array having two or more square law detectors is uniformly illuminated with the subset of optical components. Each square law detector of the detector array outputs an electrical signal having a difference frequency corresponding to a difference in frequency between the subset of optical components. A radio frequency or microwave output signal with a narrow bandwidth centered at a target frequency is generated by coherently summing each of the output signals output by the square law detectors.

Conventional techniques for generating radio frequency and/or microwave signals typically involve up-converting signals received from multiple signal sources to obtain such signals. However, noise and error may be introduced every time the signals are up-converted and by each signal source used. Also, the circuitry and various signal sources involved in implementing such techniques are relatively large, particularly for high power applications. Moreover, the signal sources that such techniques typically use, such as microwave clocks, are generally difficult to stabilize in the frequency and time domains. As such, it is often difficult to produce a high power, stable source of radio frequency/microwave signals using conventional techniques.

RF generation using tunable optical source