A semiconductor package includes a substrate and a plurality of semiconductor chips stacked on the substrate. Each of the semiconductor chips has a front surface, a rear surface opposite to the front surface, a sidewall surface connecting the front surface to the rear surface, a vertical through electrode extending from the front surface toward the rear surface with a predetermined depth, and a horizontal through electrode laterally extending from the sidewall surface to be connected to the vertical through electrode. At least one connection member is disposed on the sidewall surfaces of the semiconductor chips to connect the horizontal through electrodes of the semiconductor chips to each other. Related methods are also provided.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to semiconductor packages and methods of manufacturing the same and, more particularly, to semiconductor packages including through electrodes and methods of manufacturing the same.
As demand for small-sized, high-performance and mobile electronic products have recently increased, ultra-small high-capacity semiconductor memory devices are correspondingly desired. In general, ways to increase the storage capacity of the semiconductor memory device include increasing the integration density of a semiconductor chip, or mounting and assembling a plurality of semiconductor chips within a single package. The former method may require much effort, cost, and time, while the latter packaging method may allow for easier ways to increase the storage capacity of the semiconductor memory devices. The latter method is advantageous in terms of costs, research, development effort, and development time, as compared to the former method. Hence, semiconductor memory manufacturers have made efforts to increase the storage capacity of the semiconductor memory device through a multi-chip package which mounts a plurality of semiconductor chips within a single semiconductor package.
A method of mounting the plurality of semiconductor chips within the single semiconductor package includes a method of mounting semiconductor chips horizontally or vertically. However, in order to contribute to smaller electronic products, most semiconductor memory manufacturers prefer a stack type multi-chip package in which semiconductor chips are stacked vertically. Most of the multi-chip stack packages may be realized using through silicon vias (TSVs) that penetrate semiconductor chips constituting the multi-chip packages.
In the semiconductor package in which semiconductor chips stacked using the TSVs are electrically connected, the TSVs penetrating the semiconductor chips may constitute electric connection paths. Thus, as the lengths of the electric connection paths decrease, large-capacity data may be advantageously processed at higher speeds. In the multi-chip stack package technology using TSVs, one of the most important steps is to form via holes penetrating semiconductor chips and to stack the semiconductor chips having TSVs at accurate positions. The TSVs may be formed by patterning the semiconductor chip to form via holes penetrating the semiconductor chip and by filling the via holes with a conductive material. That is, the via holes may be formed to completely penetrate a semiconductor chip from a first surface of the semiconductor chip to a second surface of the semiconductor chip opposite to the first surface. Thus, a depth of the via holes may be equal to a thickness of the semiconductor chip. However, it may be difficult to form deep via holes which may slow the development of the multi-chip stack packages. In addition, in the event that misalignment occurs between upper and lower TSVs in forming the multi-chip stack package by stacking a plurality of semiconductor chips having TSVs, an open failure may occur between the semiconductor chips.
Electronic elements constituting the semiconductor chip may be generally categorized as either active elements or passive elements. Active elements may operate in a non-linear characteristic region, and passive elements may operate in a linear characteristic region even if they exhibit both the non-linear characteristic region and the linear characteristic region. Active elements include transistors, and passive elements include capacitors, resistors, inductors, and so on. Passive elements may act as signal filters, and may be generally mounted on an arbitrary region such as a peripheral region of a package substrate on which a semiconductor package is mounted. However, passive elements mounted on the peripheral region of the package substrate may require additional area on a mother board and may considerably lower packing density of semiconductor packages.

Semiconductor packages including through electrodes and methods of manufacturing the same


An ice making system includes: a tank that stores a medium to be cooled; an ice making machine that cools the medium and makes ice; a pump that circulates the medium between the tank and the ice making machine; a de-icing mechanism that performs a de-icing operation of heating and melting the medium in the ice making machine; and a control device that controls operations of the ice making machine, the pump, and the de-icing mechanism. The ice making machine includes: a cooling chamber in which the medium is cooled; a blade mechanism that rotates in the cooling chamber and disperses the ice; a detector that detects a locked state of the blade mechanism; and a first temperature sensor that is disposed at a discharge port of the cooling chamber and detects a temperature of the medium discharged from the cooling chamber.

Patent Literature 1 discloses an ice making refrigeration apparatus including a double-pipe flooded evaporator having an inner pipe through which a medium to be cooled flows, and an outer pipe containing the inner pipe. This ice making refrigeration apparatus expands, with an expansion mechanism, high-pressure liquid refrigerant flowing out of a condenser to reduce the pressure of the refrigerant, and supplies the low-pressure liquid refrigerant into an outer cooling chamber provided between the inner pipe and the outer pipe of the flooded evaporator. As a result, the medium to be cooled flowing through the inner pipe is cooled, while the liquid refrigerant in the outer cooling chamber evaporates. The medium to be cooled in the inner pipe turns into slurry ice after the subcooled state of the medium is undone by a rotary blade. The low-pressure refrigerant that has evaporated in the outer cooling chamber is discharged from the flooded evaporator and returned to a suction side of a compressor.
In this type of ice making refrigeration apparatus, a phenomenon may occur in which ice gathers and adheres to a part inside an inner pipe and a rotary blade is caught by the ice, thus increasing a rotational load (this phenomenon is also referred to as "ice lock"). Such a phenomenon makes it difficult to continuously operate an ice making machine. However, no countermeasures have been taken against these phenomena in the ice making refrigeration apparatus described in Patent Literature 1.


An air conditioning apparatus that includes a turbine and a compressor with rotors mounted on and fixed to a common rotatable shaft with a heat exchanger located between the turbine and the compressor. The air conditioning apparatus turbine has an inlet that is connected to a source of air such as aircraft ram air the outlet from the turbine and is positioned to direct outlet air from the turbine to the heat exchanger. The compressor which is located adjacent to and downstream from the heat exchanger has an inlet that is positioned to receive air exiting from the heat exchanger. In one embodiment, no external power is necessary to obtain cooling of liquid coolant located within the heat exchanger that is integral with the air conditioning apparatus and another embodiment includes test equipment.

Air conditioning apparatus currently in use on many aircraft incorporate machines that include a turbine and compressor mounted on the same shaft, with air supplied to the compressor from the engine. The air supplied from the engine (engine bleed air) is typically cooled by passing it through a heat exchanger which uses ram air to remove the heat from the bleed air. That cooled air then enters the compressor, where it is pressurized to a higher level. That high pressure air is then typically cooled as it passes through a second heat exchanger which also utilizes ram air to remove the heat of compression. The cooled high pressure air then enters the turbine, where it expands while performing work that powers the compressor rotor. As it expands and performs work, the temperature of the air is reduced and that cooled air is supplied to the cabin. Numerous variations on this basic configuration have been proposed, as evidenced by U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,261,416; 5,025,642, and 6,796,131. The basic principle for these systems is also well known and such systems are described in general as air cycle systems.
The basic principle associated with all air cycle systems is that when a turbine performs work, it expends energy and as the energy is expended, the temperature of the air cools as it expands through the turbine. The difference in temperature between the inlet and the outlet increases as the difference in pressure between the inlet and outlet of the turbine increases. Consequently, more cooling occurs when the pressure difference across the turbine increases. If the outlet of the turbine can be depressed below ambient pressure, the pressure difference across the turbine will increase, and correspondingly a lower exhaust temperature will result. Based on those principles, a depressed ambient system whereby the inlet of the compressor draws air below ambient, creating a vacuum, will result in greater cooling of the air as it passes through the turbine. Unfortunately, past air conditioning systems have not utilized this potential as does the present air conditioning apparatus invention which uses a unique turbine, heat exchanger and compressor configuration. This unique turbine, heat exchanger and compressor configuration offers numerous advantages over previous air conditioning systems including increased cooling, increased efficiency, increased reliability as well as simplified construction and the important ability to operate in an aircraft without the need for supplied power.


The embodiments of the present disclosure propose a device for inspecting a mask plate, a method for inspecting a mask plate, and a corresponding method for controlling light sources. The device includes: an image sensor configured to capture an image of the mask plate; and a plurality of light sources disposed on one side of the mask plate opposite to the image sensor, wherein at least one of the plurality of light sources is configure to emit light when the image sensor is capturing an image of a first region of the mask plate, and the at least one light source comprises light sources within a first range, wherein the first range corresponds to the first region and an orthographic projection of the image sensor on a light source plane falls within the first range. The method for controlling light sources includes: turning on at least one of a plurality of light sources disposed on one side of the mask plate opposite to an image sensor, which corresponds to a first region of the mask plate to be inspected, when the image sensor is moved to a position corresponding to the first region.

In a process of producing, for example, an Organic ELectroluminescence Display (OLED), in order to form an organic light emitting layer having a specified pattern (for example, a pixel pattern) on a substrate, it is usually realized by evaporating a luminescent material at a specified position using a mask. For example, in a case of using a Fine Metal Mask (FMM), the luminescent material of the OLED is evaporated on a backplane of Low Temperature PolySilicon (LTPS) according to a predetermined procedure. Specifically, red, green, and blue organic matters may be evaporated at specified positions using a pattern on the FMM. Therefore, the product yield of the process of producing the OLED is directly affected by the accuracy of the pattern on the mask plate.

Device for inspecting mask plate, method for inspecting mask plate, and corresponding method for controlling light sources

ORDOS YUANSHENG OPTOELECTRONICS CO., LTD.


Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture, wherein a control unit receives a request to establish a relationship over a fiber channel connection, wherein a first indicator associated with the request indicates that the relationship supports persistent information unit pacing across a plurality of command chains. The control unit sends a response indicating an acceptance of the relationship, wherein a second indicator associated with the response indicates that the control unit supports persistent information unit pacing across the plurality of command chains. An information unit pacing parameter value is retained across the plurality of command chains, in response to determining that the second indicator indicates that the control unit supports persistent information unit pacing across the plurality of command chains.

1. Field
The disclosure relates to a method, system, and article of manufacture for persistent information unit pacing.
2. Background
Fibre Channel refers to an integrated set of architectural standards for data transfer being developed by the American National Standards Institute. Fibre Connection (FICON) is a protocol of the fibre channel architecture and may also be referred to by the formal name of FC-SB-3. Further details of FC-SB-3 may be found in the publication, "FIBRE CHANNEL Single-Byte Command Code Sets-3 Mapping Protocol (FC-SB-3)", Rev. 1.6, published by the American National Standards for Information Technology on Mar. 26, 2003.
A channel is a direct or a switched point-to-point connection between communicating devices. In the Fibre Channel architecture, a FICON channel may perform the functions specified by FC-SB-3 to provide access to Input/Output (I/O) devices by means of control units or emulated control units. FICON channels may rely on packet switching for transferring data between communicating devices. In FC-SB-3, a channel may also be referred to as an entity, typically of a host computer, which includes one N_Port and elements which perform the functions specified by FC-SB-3 to provide access to I/O devices by means of control units or emulated control units. Also, in FC-SB-3, a control unit may comprise a physical or emulated entity that includes at least one N_Port and elements which adapt the characteristics of one or more I/O devices to allow the attachment of the I/O devices to the N_Port of a channel.
A channel command word (CCW) is a control block which includes an I/O request, and may refer to a structure of a specific system architecture which specifies a command to be executed along with parameters. A channel program is a sequence of one or more channel command words executed sequentially that controls a specific sequence of channel operations. FICON channels may transmit up to sixteen channel command words at a time along with the associated data for any write operations, where a channel command word may be referred to as an "information unit".

International Business Machines Corporation


A liquid crystalline polyester resin composition containing (A) a polyphenylene ether which is modified with at least one amine selected from the group consisting of primary amines and secondary amines; (B) a liquid crystalline polyester; and optionally (C) at least one oil selected from the group consisting of white oil and phenyl ether type oils, which composition has improved moldability and provides a molded article having improved weld strength while maintaining good heat resistance and mechanical properties of the liquid crystalline polyester.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a novel liquid crystalline polyester resin composition which can be formed in a molded article by injection or extrusion molding and has good heat resistance, moldability and mechanical properties, in particular, impact resistance.
2. Description of the Related Art
Since molecules of a liquid crystalline polyester are stiffer than those of a crystalline polyester such as polyethylene terephthalate or polybutylene terephthalate, they do not tangle each other in a molten state and form a polydomain having a liquid crystalline state. Then, molecule chains of the liquid crystalline polyester are strongly orientated in a flow direction under low shear and it is called as a "thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer". Because of such specific behavior, the liquid crystalline polyester has excellent melt flow characteristics and can easily provide a molded article having a thin wall of, for example, 0.2 to 0.5 mm. In addition, the molded article is characterized in high strength and high stiffness. However, the liquid crystalline polyester has some drawbacks such as extremely large anisotropy and considerably low weld strength. Further, since the liquid crystalline polyester has a high molding temperature, its application is limited. It is also a problem that a liquid crystalline polyester is expensive in general.
Accordingly, it is highly desired commercially to provide a liquid crystalline polyester resin composition which has improved weld strength and is cheap while maintaining good heat resistance and mechanical properties of the liquid crystalline polyester.
EP-A-030 417 discloses a resin composition comprising a melt-processable polymer and a polymer which forms an anisotropic melt and describes that the addition of the polymer which forms an anisotropic melt to the melt-processable polymer improves the processability of the latter. For example, the addition of a liquid crystalline polyester to a mixture of polyphenylene ether and polystyrene is disclosed.
Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. 97555/1990 discloses a resin composition comprising a liquid crystalline polyester and various polyarylene oxides which improve heat resistance in soldering.
While a composition comprising the liquid crystalline polyester having a high molding temperature and an amorphous crystalline polymer having a lower molding temperature such as polyphenylene ether may improve the melt processability, it will provide a molded article with deteriorated appearance due to thermal decomposition of the amorphous polymer caused by high temperature in the molding step. In addition, such composition has insufficient heat resistance, mechanical properties or impact strength.

Liquid crystalline polyester resin composition containing polyphenylene ether modified with amine


A gaming apparatus is provided with a display unit, a promotional credit member processing apparatus, and a controller that may be programmed to allow a person to obtain a first number of promotional gaming credits in response to processing of a promotional credit member by the promotional credit member processing apparatus, to allow a person to make a wager using at least one of the promotional gaming credits, and to cause a video image representing a game to be generated on the display unit. The controller may also be programmed to determine a second number of promotional gaming credits based on the first number of promotional gaming credits and at least one wager and to cause the promotional credit member processing apparatus to record the second number of promotional gaming credits on a promotional credit member.

The present invention is directed to a gaming machine of the type that may be found in a casino.
A general type of conventional gaming machine has been provided with a display unit that is capable of generating video images, a value-input device, and a controller with a memory and a processor that controls the overall operation of the gaming machine. The controller was programmed to allow a person to make a wager, to cause video images to be generated on the display unit, to determine an outcome of the game, and to determine a value payout associated with the outcome of the game. The conventional gaming machine was programmed to display video images representing a game, which included a number of user-selectable games including video poker, video blackjack, video slots, video keno and video bingo.
A first type of conventional gaming machine of the general type noted above was provided with a plurality of value-input devices including a coin acceptor and a ticket reader. The ticket reader was capable of reading a promotional ticket that was issued by a casino and that had data recorded thereon that represented a given number of promotional gaming credits and a validation number. Upon the promotional ticket being inserted into the ticket reader, the ticket reader would read the data on the ticket and check the validity of the validation number with a central computer operatively coupled to the gaming machine. Upon receiving confirmation from the central computer that the validation number was valid, the gaming machine would give the player the number of promotional gaming credits specified by the promotional ticket, thus allowing the player to commence play on the gaming machine. When using such a promotional ticket, the player was required to use all of the promotional gaming credits on a single gaming machine.
A second type of conventional gaming machine of the general type noted above was provided with a magnetic card reader that was capable of reading a player tracking card. The player tracking card had magnetic data encoded thereon that included data representing the identity of a player. The second type of conventional gaming machine was operatively coupled to a central casino computer. In some cases, the casino would award a player promotional gaming credits, in which case data representing those gaming credits was stored in the central casino computer. The player tracking card did not have any data representing a number of promotional gaming credits recorded thereon. When the player to whom the credits were awarded inserted his or her player tracking card into the card reader of the second type of conventional gaming machine, that gaming machine would read data from the player tracking card and transmit player identification data to the central casino computer. The central casino computer would then cause the gaming machine to award to the player the number of promotional gaming credits stored in the central casino computer. When the player was finished playing, the gaming machine transmitted data to the central casino computer representing the number of promotional credits used by the player, and the central casino computer would then decrease the initial number of promotional credits awarded by the number used. The player could then use the remaining promotional gaming credits by playing a different gaming machine.

Gaming machine with promotional item dispenser


A flush catheter is provided which is configured to be introduced into an orifice to create a flush zone therein. The flush catheter includes a catheter body having an inner cavity, the inner cavity being configured to communicate with a source of flush solution, one or more openings configured to expel therethrough flush solution, and a sheath at least partially covering the one or more openings, wherein when flush solution is expelled through the one or more openings, the flush solution is directed by the sheath to flow along an outer surface of the catheter body, thereby creating a flush zone along a length of the outer surface of the catheter body. The flush catheter may be used in combination with an image catheter/probe such as an image catheter/probe utilized in OCT imaging systems.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is directed to a flush catheter and, more particularly, to a flush catheter provided with a flow directing sheath.
2. Background of the Related Art
In order to obtain clear in-vivo images of arterial walls when using, for example, Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), it is necessary to displace blood from a cylindrical volume around a tip of an imaging probe. To allow surveying of a length of an artery wall, it is desirable that the cylindrical volume be, for example, as long as approximately 40-50 mm or more. The better the blood is cleared from this volume, the better the image obtained of the arterial wall.
For example, in almost all uses of OCT for imaging during cardiac catherizations, an imaging probe disposed within a guide catheter is inserted into an artery such that a direction of blood flow is from a proximal end of the imaging probe toward a distal end of the catheter or probe. It is desirable that a location of the cleared cylindrical volume be somewhat proximal to the distal end of the catheter, to allow the use of a "minirail" delivery system. A "minirail" delivery system utilizes a guide wire and a flexible tip attachable to the imaging probe. The guide wire is used to guide the imaging probe into the desired artery.
Previous and current methods of achieving the desired cleared volume or blood displacement have included the use of cardiac dilation balloons, the injection of saline through a guide catheter, and the injection of saline through a selective flush catheter inserted over the imaging catheter. All three of these methods provide less than ideal solutions.
The balloon method either involves total occlusion of a vessel for the time that the image is desired, or the use of under-inflated balloons which does not completely remove the blood from the field of view. The guide flush method requires a large flow rate of saline that can over hydrate the patient. This method is also very ineffective when side branches are present.
For example, when blood flow is from a proximal to a distal end of the imaging probe, the selective flush catheter method has the inherent limitation that blood from the area proximal to the flush point is entrained into the flush solution at a point where the flush solution exits the catheter. Increasing the flow rate of flush solution tends to entrain more blood, making it difficult to dilute the blood enough to provide a clear imaging area. In addition, it is difficult to configure this type of device for a minirail delivery system.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,878,893 (hereinafter "the 893 patent") to Albert K. Chin entitled "Angioscope with Flush Solution Deflector Shield," which is hereby incorporated by reference, provides a partial solution to this problem, and is intended for use with an angioscope catheter. The 893 patent teaches the use of a curved deflector shield 30 bonded to a distal tip of a catheter 10. The deflector shield 30:                . . . causes the flushing solution to momentarily flow against blood flow toward the proximal end of the catheter. The blood flow will then carry the solution back past the distal tip of the angioscope 18, as shown in FIG. 13 [of the 893 patent] to provide the bolus required for clear visualizationas discussed at col. 5, lines 1-6, of the 893 patent. However, the approach of the '893 patent has several deficiencies which prevent its use in an OCT application and which make it difficult to produce.
For example, the deflector shield must be at a distal end of the catheter, making it difficult to use a minitail type of delivery system. Further, the design does not strongly direct the flushing solution in an axial proximal direction. This results in much of the flushing solution moving out from the catheter in a radial direction. As such, the bolus of flushing solution does not flow very far toward the proximal end of the catheter and will not provide the long volume desirable for surveying a length of the artery wall. Furthermore, radially directed jets of fluid can damage the sensitive endothelial layer of the vessel and could even perforate the vessel.
The above references are incorporated by reference herein where appropriate for appropriate teachings of additional or alternative details, features and/or technical background.

Flush catheter with flow directing sheath


A method of geologic exploration for subsurface deposits includes the steps of: emitting energy below a surface of the earth; sensing a plurality of reactive electro-magnetic waves resulting from the emitted energy; outputting signals from a plurality of sensors to a vehicle corresponding to the sensed reactive electro-magnetic waves; determining position data for the plurality of sensors; generating position marked data corresponding to the outputted signals and the position data; uploading the position marked data from the vehicle to a satellite; and relaying the position marked data from the satellite to a remote analyzing station.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to geologic exploration, and, more particularly, to methods of gathering and analyzing data for such geologic exploration.
2. Description of the Related Art
Geologic exploration methods vary in type and success rate. For example, in the oil exploration technologies, 3D seismic surveys are commonly used prior to drilling a test well to increase the likelihood of finding an oil deposit below the surface of the earth. Nonetheless, the probability of a dry test hole is relatively high. The high cost of such test holes, particularly in deep sea environments, is an economic burden.
It is also known to use electromagnetic (EM) field methods, referred to as geo-electromagnetic methods, in hydrocarbon exploration such as oil exploration. With active EM logging, energy is transmitted below the surface of the earth and reactive EM waves are measured using appropriate electrical sensing and processing equipment. Smaller, more powerful and less expensive electronics have been a catalyst for developing this type of technology. However, the development of an accurate EM logging method for deep water, shallow water and land applications has proven difficult.
What is needed in the art is a method of oil exploration which has a higher probability of success, is less expensive than conventional exploration methods, and provides a higher level of data security.

Method of geologic exploration for subsurface deposits


A receptacle for a portable urinal includes a front wall, back wall, and side walls, with a vertical exterior recess in the back wall. Support hooks on the back wall extend above and below the back wall, the hook portion adapted to hang on a bed rail. The hooks further include inward tabs to partially encircle the supporting bed rail. The receptacle hangs on one horizontal bar of a bed rail and rests against the next lower horizontal bar for stability, or it hangs on a horizontal bar of a bed rail, with the vertical recess engaged by a vertical bar of the bed rail for stability.. A portable urinal includes a front wall, back wall, and side walls, and a vertical exterior recess in the back wall. A handle connects to the upper portion of the back wall with gripping fingers so the urinal hangs on a horizontal bar with stability. The vertical recess is for stable engagement by a vertical bed rail member. The front wall is narrower than the back wall to facilitate placement of the urinal for use.

Hospital patients and others who are confined to their beds use hand held portable urinals which are emptied from time to time by an attendant. These urinals must be kept somewhere within the reach of the patient.
A hospital room typically includes a number of things in the immediate area of the patient's bed, such as a bedside stand, overbed table, water pitcher, waste basket, electric lines, oxygen equipment, suctioning equipment, personal care articles, flowers, and cards. The portable urinal presently in use is designed to hang from the bedside rail, but it does not hang securely, and is known to fall from the rail, forcing the patient or user to set the urinal wherever space can be found, e.g. on the floor, on the bedside table, or even on the overbed table where food is served.
A portable urinal is not a very stable standing vessel. A urinal which is simply set down in the space most conveniently reached, especially in this usually crowded and cumbersome setting, is liable to be stumbled into and knocked over, and its contents spilled. When this happens, everything that comes in contact with the spilled urine is contaminated. There is then the added work and expense of cleaning up an unnecessary spill.
This relatively offhand manner in which portable urinals are generally handled contributes to the spread of nosocomial infections. Nosocomial infection is an infection acquired during hospitalization, often caused by Candida albicans, Escherichia coli, hepatitis viruses, herpes zoster virus, pseudomonas, or staphyloccus. It is also simply called "hospital acquired infection".
Sterile materials, dressings, solutions, medications, and the like are often kept on the bedside table. These sterile materials can become contaminated from a urinal placed so nearby, and thus becomes a source of infection. This is just one example of the problem.
In addition to the biological problem of infection, the urinal can also be a psychological problem. Having a container of the patient's urine in view is detrimental to the morale and emotional well being of the patient.
A proper place to keep a portable urinal is therefore to be desired, and is the object of this invention. A "proper place" for a portable urinal is one which provides upright stability, is out of the way of traffic, out of sight, and conveniently within reach of the user and attendants.

Portable urinal and receptacle for portable urinal

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In a fuzzy control apparatus in which a rule is capable of being changed during operation, a fuzzy reasoning output which prevails immediately prior to a rule change is stored when a rule change is made, and a fuzzy-control output is generated by combining, after the rule change, the stored fuzzy reasoning output which prevailed immediately prior to the rule change and a fuzzy reasoning output which prevails following the rule change. The ratio of the combination is altered in such a manner that, with the passage of time from the moment at which the rule change is made, there is a gradual decrease in a percentage of the fuzzy reasoning output which prevailed immediately prior to the rule change, and a gradual increase in a percentage of the fuzzy reasoning output which prevails following the rule change, in the fuzzy-control output. Upon passage of a predetermined time from the moment at which the rule change is made, the fuzzy reasoning output which prevails following the rule change is outputted as the fuzzy-control output. As a result, a sudden change in the output at the time of a rule change is prevented so that a smooth changeover can be carried out.

A fuzzy control apparatus is provided with an input of a controlled variable from a controlled object, executes so-called modus ponens reasoning, and outputs a manipulated variable (a fuzzy-control output) to be applied to the controlled object. Fuzzy reasoning often is expressed by control rules ("If . . . , then . . . " rules) in an "If . . . , then . . . " format.
A fuzzy control apparatus is available in which the control rules can be changed by a manual or remote operation during execution (operation) of fuzzy reasoning. In a fuzzy control apparatus of this kind, there is the possibility that the fuzzy-control output will vary suddenly according to the content of a changed rule. When a fuzzy-control output undergoes a sudden change, there is the danger that the controlled object will be adversely affected.
In order to deal appropriately with a controlled object having a characteristic that differs depending upon state, and in order to raise the accuracy of control, a system which controls one controlled object by using a plurality of control apparatus has been proposed. In a control system of this kind, which control apparatus among the plurality thereof is to be given charge of controlling the controlled object is decided using an arithmetic expression that is expressed arithmetically, and a changeover is performed manually by an attendant.
However, in accordance with the arithmetic decision regarding the control apparatus to be put in charge and the changeover based upon this decision, it is difficult to arithmetically express, in accurate fashion, the timing at which the control apparatus is changed over, and to evaluate the timing. In addition, it is difficult to perform a highly accurate changeover.
Further, in a manual changeover performed by an attendant, a problem which arises is that reproducibility of changeover timing is poor and a variance develops in the results of control. For example, in a case where the operation of a moving object is controlled, a problem encountered is that smooth control of operation cannot be carried out. In addition, in a case where the manufacturing process of an article is controlled, a variance develops in the quality of the articles manufactured.

Apparatus and method in which control rules can be changed during fuzzy reasoning operations and control system and method in which changeover is controlled by fuzzy reasoning


A method, data processing system, and program product for building an instrumented simulation model of a digital design are disclosed. According to the method, a model build tool locates, within design data collectively defining a simulation model of the digital design, a definition of a configuration construct specifying a relationship between values of one or more configuration latches within the digital design and settings of the configuration construct. In response to locating the definition of the configuration construct, the model build tool automatically creates an instrumentation entity within the design data. The instrumentation entity has one or more inputs logically coupled to the one or more configuration latches and one or more outputs for providing signals indicating characteristics of the configuration construct during simulation.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates in general to designing, simulating and configuring digital devices, modules and systems, and in particular, to methods and systems for computer-aided design, simulation, and configuration of digital devices, modules and systems described by a hardware description language (HDL) model.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a conventional automated design process utilizing an electronic computer-aided design (ECAD) system, a designer enters a high-level description of a digital design utilizing a hardware description language (HDL), such as VHDL, producing a digital representation of various circuit blocks and their interconnections. The ECAD system compiles the design description into a format (often called a simulation model) that is best suited for simulation. A simulator is then utilized to verify the logical correctness of the digital design prior to developing a circuit layout.
A simulator is typically a software tool that applies a list of input stimuli representing inputs of the digital design to the simulation model to generate a numerical representation of the response of the digital design. The numerical representation of the response may then either be presented on a display as a list of values or further interpreted, often by a separate software program, and presented in graphical form.
As discussed in detail in above-referenced U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/366,438, the accuracy and completeness of the simulation data generated by the simulator can be improved by the designer including, within the HDL files defining the functional portion of the simulation model, references to instrumentation entities. These instrumentation entities, although not forming a functional portion of the digital design, can perform a number of important checking functions during simulation. Such instrumentation entities can include, for example, logical failure detectors and event and cycle counters.
The designer's control of the simulation and operation of a digital design can be further enhanced by the definition of configuration constructs (e.g., Dials) within the HDL files specifying the digital design. As described in detail in above-referenced U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/425,076, Dials can be logically connected to the various configuration latches distributed throughout a digital design in order to provide a well-defined interface through which appropriate configuration values may be loaded into the configuration latches.
The present invention recognizes that while instrumentation entities have been defined to monitor and collect simulation data regarding the operation of the design entities comprising the functional portion of a digital design under simulation, heretofore there has been no convenient method and system for generating instrumentation entities to collect simulation data regarding configuration constructs, such as Dials. In particular, prior to the present invention, there has been no automated method and system for generating instrumentation entities to collect important simulation data, such as the number of testcases and simulation cycles that have been executed for each combination of configuration latch settings.

Method, system and program product that automatically generate coverage instrumentation for configuration constructs within a digital system


A planetary transmission includes a sun gear, which constitutes an input drive to the planetary transmission, a ring gear arranged around the sun gear, and a planet carrier which is designed to rotate and which carries at least one planet wheel, which planet wheel meshes with the sun gear and the ring gear. The planet carrier constitutes an output drive from the planetary transmission. The planetary transmission further includes a wet disk brake, a first set of brake disks in the brake being rotationally locked to the planet carrier and thereby in operation rotating at the rotational speed of the planet carrier. The planetary transmission further comprises an arrangement for circulation of a cooling fluid through the brake which is rotationally locked to the sun gear and thereby in operation rotates at the rotational speed of the sun gear.

The present invention relates to a planetary-transmission comprising a sun gear, which constitutes an input drive means to the planetary transmission, a ring gear arranged around the sun gear, a planet carrier which is designed to rotate and which carries at least one planet wheel, which planet wheel meshes with the sun gear and the ring gear. The planet carrier constitutes an output drive means from the planetary transmission. The planetary transmission further comprises a wet disk brake, a first set of brake disks in the brake being rotationally locked to the planet carrier and thereby in operation rotating at the rotational speed of the planet carrier. The invention further relates to a drive device comprising such a planetary transmission.
The invention relates primarily to the field of work machinery or work vehicles, such as wheel loaders and dumpers (frame-steered vehicles). The invention could also be utilized for other types of work vehicle, such as backhoes (excavator loaders), and excavators. The invention also has applications in other types of heavy, non-commercial vehicles, such as trucks.
The drive device therefore comprises the planetary transmission and forms a so-called final drive, or hub-mounted reduction gear. The wheel is then arranged rotationally locked on a hub and the planetary transmission is connected between a drive shaft and the hub. The drive shaft is driven by an angular gear, or center gear, which is in turn driven by the vehicle engine by way of a transmission system.
Arranging a planetary transmission on each drive wheel in this way produces a reduction in rotational speed from the drive shaft to the hub and an increase in torque from the drive shaft to the hub.
Since the planet carrier is rotationally locked to the wheel hub the first set of brake disks will in operation rotate at the speed of the wheel. Such a brake affords a high degree of precision and sensitivity in braking.
Rotationally locking a first set of brake disks to a planet carrier in such a planetary transmission, as disclosed by WO 99/03699, for example, is already known. The brake disks are then connected via splines on a radially outer surface of the planet carrier.
WO 04/104436 describes a planetary transmission in which multiple planet wheel journals are joined by a bolted connection to a common, annular carrier, which has radially outer splines for the first set of brake disks.
It is desirable to provide a planetary transmission with an integral brake, which affords a good circulation of cooling fluid to the brake. The invention is also intended to minimize the number of parts and/or to provide a design construction that is as simple and hence as cost-effective as possible. A further intention is to achieve the most compact solution possible in an axial direction.
According to an aspect of the invention, a planetary transmission comprises a sun gear, which constitutes an input drive means to the planetary transmission, a ring gear arranged around the sun gear, a planet carrier which is designed to rotate and which carries at least one planet wheel, which planet wheel meshes with the sun gear and the ring gear, the planet carrier constituting an output drive means from the planetary transmission. The planetary transmission further comprises a wet disk brake, a first set of brake disks in the brake being rotationally locked to the planet carrier and thereby in operation rotating at the rotational speed of the planet carrier. The brake further comprises a means for circulation of a cooling fluid through the brake, the brake circulation means being rotationally locked to the sun gear and thereby in operation rotating at the rotational speed of the sun gear. The fact that the sun gear rotates substantially faster than the planet carrier means that an efficient cooling of the brake is achieved. The cooling fluid is forced radially outwards by the brake circulation means.
According to a preferred embodiment said means for circulation of the cooling fluid is arranged, at least substantially, radially directly inside the brake in order to force the cooling fluid outwards to the brake as the cooling fluid rotates under the effect of the centrifugal force. In other words, viewed in a radial direction there is an overlap between the position of said means for circulation of the cooling fluid and the actual brake.
According to a further development of the preceding embodiment said means for circulation of the cooling fluid comprises a plurality of elements for forcing the cooling fluid, and the cooling fluid forcing elements and the brake disks in the first set are arranged so that they alternate in an axial direction. In this way the cooling fluid is forced in between the opposing brake surfaces of the brake designed for engagement with one another. Said means for circulation of the cooling fluid is preferably disk-shaped.
According to a further development of the preceding embodiment said means for circulation of the cooling fluid comprises a third set of brake disks. This creates the prerequisites for a further braking effect. The third set of brake disks is arranged radially inside the engagement surfaces between the first set and a second set of brake disks in the brake. The third set of brake disks is preferably designed to interact with the first set of brake disks.
According to a further development of the preceding embodiment the opposing surfaces of the first and third set of brake disks, which are designed to interact with one another, form a part of a parking brake. The service brake function has thereby been combined with a parking brake function in a compact, space-saving manner. The parking brake preferably comprises a separate brake piston that is suitably spring-loaded.
According to a further preferred embodiment the brake disks in the first set comprise means for rotationally locking the brake disks directly to the planet wheel journal. This creates the prerequisites for a brake having a smaller overall outside diameter than when the brake disks are seated radially outside the planet carrier. In order to be able to carry not only the planet wheel but also a plurality of brake disks, the planet wheel journals have been lengthened in comparison to hitherto known planet wheel journals.
According to a further development of the preceding embodiment each of the brake disks in the first set comprises at least one hole, in which said planet wheel journal is received. This connection entails less machining than when a splined connection is used.

Planet transmission, drive device comprising the planet transmission and vehicle comprising the drive device


An electrical box cover assembly includes a base having a central opening and a collar encircling the central opening. A sleeve slides through the collar and is adjusted to a selected position by manually moving the sleeve and then locking the sleeve in place by a locking device. An expandable locking device contacts an inner surface of the sleeve to lock the position of the sleeve with respect to the base. In one embodiment, the inner surface of the sleeve has at least one channel that extends in an axial direction with respect to an axial passage in the sleeve. The locking device expands outwardly to engage the opposing surfaces of the channel to prevent axial movement of the sleeve. A divider plate can be coupled to the sleeve to move with the sleeve and divide the electrical box into separate compartments. The divider can have fixed plate attached to the electrical box and movable plate coupled to the movable sleeve that slide on the fixed plate.

Electrical boxes are commonly mounted to a stud or other support structure for supporting an electrical device and enclosing electrical wiring. The electrical boxes are often mounted in a variety of positions and locations in the wall or ceiling. The electrical box is typically attached to the stud or other support structure by nails, screws or other fasteners. In new construction, the electrical box is attached to the building stud with the open front face of the electrical box positioned so that the outer face of the drywall or paneling is essentially flush with the outer edge of the electrical box. In some forms of construction, the stud or other structure does not allow proper orientation of the electrical box so that the open end of the electrical box is recessed with respect to the outer surface of the wall when the wall is installed and finished.
Renovating old construction also can create difficulties in positioning the electrical box with respect to the outer surface of the wall. New wall board or paneling can be applied over existing walls so that the original electrical box is recessed within the wall and is not easily moved or relocated. The recessed electrical box results in the electrical device being recessed with respect to the wall and is not easily accessible.
A number of devices have been proposed providing an adjustable assembly for connecting to an outlet box that can accommodate different thicknesses of wall structures and the spacing between the outer surface of a wall and an electrical box. One example is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,634,015 to Taylor which includes a plate and an open collar disposed on the mounting plate about a central opening. A box frame slides within the collar to contact the side walls of the collar. Adjustment screws are mounted in the box to connect the frame to the collar or the mounting plate to move the box outwardly of the collar.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,645,936 and 8,076,577 to Magno, Jr. disclose a two gang adjustable mud ring. The adjustable mud ring includes a mounting plate for mounting to the open end of an electrical box. The mounting plate includes a collar forming an opening where the collar includes an inwardly extending tab. An extension sleeve slides within the opening of the collar. The extension sleeve has a U-shaped channel along an exterior side wall that allows the tab to travel within the channel. A fastener and wedge-shaped locking devices are coupled to the tab to engage the extension sleeve to lock the extension sleeve in place.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,576,835 to Ford et al. discloses a multi gang junction box. The junction box includes a plurality of removable partition plates that can slide into place within grooves on the inner face of the electrical box
U.S. Pat. No. 6,653,561 to Lalancette et al. discloses an electrical box with a removable partition plate. The partition plate has a frangible end portion which can be broken and removed to alter the length of the partition plate.
U.S. Patent Publication No. 2008/0156514 to Webb discloses an adjustable electrical box assembly. The assembly includes a mounting plate with an opening and a box ring slidably received within the opening of the mounting plate. A flange extends outwardly from the wall of the box ring around one of the ends of the box ring. An adjustment mechanism extends between the flange of the box ring and the mounting plate to selectively adjust the distance between the mounting plate and the flange. The flange is in turn mounted directly to the electrical box so that the electrical box moves with the position of the box ring.
Another example is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,931,325 to Filipov. This patent discloses an adjustable mud ring for an electrical box having a plate that can be attached to an electrical box and a collar extending outwardly from the plate. A movable sleeve surrounds the collar and is attached to the collar by screws that adjust the position.
Still another example is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,820,760 to Wegner et al. which discloses an electrical box extension having an extending member for a switch and/or electrical receptacle. The extension member includes fastener brackets and a fastener base bracket. Fasteners extend through the fastener brackets of the base bracket to adjust the relative position of the extending member to the base. Similar adjustable electrical box extensions are disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0051354 and 2005/0082079 to Wegner et al.
Examples of other electrical boxes having an adjustable sleeve or collar to position the electrical device with respect to the electrical box are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 915,381 to Pullets, U.S. Pat. No. 740,663 to Krantz, U.S. Pat. No. 1,875,101 to Morrell, U.S. Pat. No. 2,707,221 to Frank and U.S. Pat. No. 7,301,099 to Korcz.
While the prior devices are generally suitable for the intended purpose, there is a continuing need in the industry for an improved device for mounting an electrical component to an electrical box.


Firearms and barrel assemblies are provided herein that include a barrel assembly having a barrel having a proximal end and a distal end comprising a muzzle. The barrel also includes a chamber defined in the proximal end. The chamber includes a distal end and a proximal end. A bore extends distally from the distal end of the chamber. The bore defines a central axis of the barrel assembly. The barrel assembly also includes a barrel extension extending from the proximal end of the barrel. The barrel extension has a distal end and a proximal end. The barrel extension defines a bolt receiving recess in communication with the chamber. The barrel extension further has a barrel vent channel defined therein in communication with the bolt receiving recess. The barrel vent channel is defined in the barrel extension in a direction that is transverse to the central axis of the barrel assembly.

Bullpup or other short-configuration rifles are designed to have a short, overall length compared to conventionally configured rifles, yet they maintain a relatively longer barrel. Such configurations place the action closer to the operator compared to conventionally configured rifles. Firing cartridges from firearms involves high pressure gases being generated in the action, which are used to drive a projectile from the action through and out of the muzzle of the barrel. If the barrel becomes obstructed and a round is discharged in the chamber, the pressure rearward of the barrel may become excessive and cause undesirable consequences, such as allowing the gas and/or components destroyed or damaged by the gas to be directed toward an operator.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Firearm with pressure relieving features


A resonant circuit is incorporated in a stent, which implantable in a pulmonary vein using known cardiac catheterization techniques. When an external RF field is generated at the resonant frequency of the stent, RF energy is re-radiated by the stent toward electroconductive tissue in the wall of the pulmonary vein, and produces a circumferential conduction block. The stent can be made of biodegradable materials, so that it eventually is resorbed. Following an ablation procedure, the stent may be left in situ. Repeated ablation can be performed using the inserted stent until it has been determined that the desired lesions have been formed. Furthermore, the same stent can potentially be used even years after being inserted should the treated arrhythmia reoccur or a new arrhythmia develop, thereby possibly obviating the need for an invasive procedure at that future time.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to methods and apparatus for the medical treatment of disease of the heart. More particularly, this invention relates to a method and apparatus for treating cardiac arrhythmias by ablating in a vicinity of pulmonary venous tissue using radiofrequency energy.
2. Description of the Related Art
Invasive cardiac ablation techniques are well-known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,443,489, 5,480,422 and 5,954,665 to Ben-Haim describe systems for ablating cardiac tissue. U.S. Pat. No. 5,807,395 to Mulier et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 6,190,382 to Ormsby et al., describe systems for ablating body tissue using radio frequency. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,251,109 and 6,090,084 to Hassett et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,117,101 to Diederich et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,938,660 and 6,235,025 to Swartz et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,245,064 to Lesh et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,164,283, 6,305,378 and 5,971,983 to Lesh, U.S. Pat. No. 6,004,269 to Crowley et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 6,064,902 to Haissaguerre et al., describe apparatus for tissue ablation to treat atrial arrhythmia, primarily by ablating tissue located within the pulmonary veins or on the ostia of the pulmonary veins. U.S. Pat. No. 5,366,490 to Edwards et al. describes a method for applying destructive energy to a target tissue using a catheter.
More recently, circumferential lesions at or near the ostia of the pulmonary veins have been created to treat atrial arrhythmias. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,012,457 and 6,024,740, both to Lesh, disclose a radially expandable ablation device, which includes a radiofrequency electrode. Using this device, it is proposed to deliver radiofrequency energy to the pulmonary veins in order to establish a circumferential conduction block, thereby electrically isolating the pulmonary veins from the left atrium.
Radiofrequency ablation using multiple contiguous circumferential points, guided by electro-anatomical mapping is proposed in the document, Circumferential Radiofrequency Ablation of Pulmonary Vein Ostia: A New Anatomic Approach for Curing Atrial Fibrillation, Pappone C, et al., Circulation 102:2619-2628 (2000).
It has also been proposed to produce circumferential ablative lesions using ultrasound delivered through a balloon. This technique is described, for example, in the document, First Human Experience With Pulmonary Vein Isolation Using a Through-the-Balloon Circumferential Ultrasound Ablation System for Recurrent Atrial Fibrillation, Natale A, et al., Circulation 102:1879-1882 (2000).
PCT Publication WO 02/30331 to Walsh et al. describes a stent device that is geometrically adapted to irradiate an area that is confined primarily to the vascular endothelium, in order to ablate hyperplastic tissue growing around the stent. Radiation by the stent occurs when it is subjected to a RF field produced by an external scanner. Repeated ablation by this device is said to prevent blockage of the stent.

Externally applied RF for pulmonary vein isolation


Cleaner for hard surfaces, especially glass. Application of the cleaner containing a colloidal silica sol results in a modification of the streaming potential of the surface by −5 to −50 mV. The cleaner can be used to hydrophilize and clean hard surfaces by contact.

The invention relates to aqueous liquid surfactant-containing cleaning compositions for hard surfaces, especially glass, which comprise a colloidal silica sol and whose use increases the negative charge of the surface.
The cleaning of hard surfaces and especially the cleaning of glass has not only the hygienic aspect but also an esthetic side. It is thus desirable that a clean surface dries very rapidly and uniformly in order to avoid the formation of unappealing drop- or streaklike residues ("runs") if possible. However, these can form not only after the cleaning, especially in the case of use of hard water, but also between the cleaning operations when the surface again comes into contact with water, known as the rain effect. For example, this is the case in bathrooms, but in particular for surfaces exposed to the weather, such as windows etc. The rapid drying of the surfaces is therefore generally desirable. It is further advantageous when the surface is wetted over the full surface for a prolonged period instead of the film breaking, which likewise leads to "runs". The full-surface wetting with a thin film likewise contributes to rapid drying; in addition, tiny soil particles are distributed uniformly instead of occurring concentrated in the "runs", so that the surface has a visually cleaner appearance. A further aspect, again in particular for surfaces exposed to the weather, is the reduction of the resoiling tendency of clean surfaces, since it is desirable for the consumer to allow a maximum period of time between two cleaning operations without the surface appearing dirty to the observer. In addition, an anticondensation action is desirable to minimize the condensation of water on the surface. In order to satisfy all of these requirements, the cleaner should modify the surface to be cleaned in such a way that the wetting behavior changes compared to an untreated surface, so that it is soiled less rapidly and dries rapidly without the formation of "runs".
The European application EP 1 215 276 (Clariant) describes laundry detergents and cleaning compositions which comprise microdisperse silicate-containing particles. These may be colloidal silica sols. These particles are intended to act as surface coating compositions and to lead to improved soil detachment with simultaneous reduction of the resoiling tendency. No statement is made about a further-reaching change in the surface properties or about an antirain/anticondensation action.
DE 199 52 383 A1 (Henkel) likewise describes laundry detergents and cleaning compositions which can impart soil-repellent properties temporarily to a surface to be cleaned by virtue of the particles having a particle size of from 5 to 500 nm which are present. The particles used here may also be SiO2 sols among others. The nanoscale particles lead to an increase in the wettability of the substrates to be cleaned. In this case too, there is likewise no statement about a further-reaching change in the surface properties, nor about any antirain or anticondensation action.
The published patent application DE 100 21 726 A1 (Henkel) provides for the use of nanoscale particles for the improvement of the soil detachment and or reduction of the resoilability, in particular of textile but also of hard surfaces. The particles used may again be SiO2 sols. The particles bring about an increase in the hydrophilicity of the surface and the structuring of the surface, although the latter point is not explained in detail. Neither further changes in the surface properties nor any antirain or anticondensation action are described.
The patent application U.S. 2002/0045010 A1 (Procter & Gamble) finally describes compositions which comprise a nanoparticle system and may be used for surface modification on all hard surfaces. The surface modification may bring about properties including one or more of the following: wetting, film formation, rapid drying, uniform drying, soil detachment, self-cleaning, lower spot formation, reduction of the resoilability, cleaner appearance, improved shine, etc. The surface is coated fully or partly with the composition. After the drying, under air or by heating etc., and/or the curing, the surface has been modified permanently or at least for a prolonged period.
The prior art thus already knows some compositions which are capable of solving some of the problems addressed. However, it is desirable to modify, by means of a cleaning composition, a surface to be cleaned in such a way that the wetting and runoff behavior of water firstly changes in such a way as to result in a planar, rapid-drying film which does not break in the course of drying or tend to the form "runs". Secondly, the tendency to be subject to resoiling and to condensation should be lowered.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a cleaning composition for hard surfaces, especially glass, by which the surface to be cleaned is wetted over the full surface and dries rapidly, and also shows a low tendency to be subject to condensation and resoiling.
It has been found that cleaning compositions to which certain colloidal, nanoparticulate silica sols have been added bring about a change of the streaming potential of the clean surface toward more negative values, and that surfaces cleaned with such compositions are wetted over the full surface, dry uniformly without the formation of "runs" and are subject to condensation or soiling less rapidly.
The invention accordingly provides a cleaning composition for hard surfaces, especially glass, comprising a colloidal silica sol, characterized in that its use results in a change in the streaming potential of the surface by from −5 to −50 mV, compared with an untreated surface.
The use of these cleaning compositions preferably hydrophilicizes the surface, which leads to a long-lasting wettability of the surface as a flat film. As a result of this, the soil particles are distributed uniformly and do not form any "runs", so that the appearance of the clean surface is clean over a prolonged period. These effects, and also the lower resoiling tendency and the anticondensation action, can preferably be observed over a prolonged period after the use of the composition, for example for three weeks. However, there is no desire for a permanent modification of the surface. Finally, the cleaning composition to be used should satisfy the customary technical and also esthetic requirements for a cleaning composition for hard surfaces; in particular, the composition in a preferred embodiment should be transparent and also be suitable for spraying and have a good cleaning performance.
Colloidal nanoparticulate silica sols in the context of this invention are stable dispersions of amorphous particulate silicon dioxide SiO2 with particle sizes in the range from 1 to 100 nm. The particle sizes are preferably in the range from 3 to 50 nm, more preferably from 4 to 40 nm. One example of a silica sol which is suitable for use in the context of this invention is the silica sol which is obtainable from Akzo under the trade name Bindzil® 30/360 and has a particle size of 9 nm. Further suitable silica sols are Bindzil® 15/500, 30/220, 40/200, 257/360 (Akzo), Nyacol® 215, 830, 1430, 2034DI and Nyacol® DP5820, DP5480, DP5540 etc. (Nyacol products), Levasil® 100/30, 100F/30, 100S/30, 200/30, 200F/30, 300F/30, VP 4038, VP 4055 (H. C. Starck/Bayer) or else CAB-O-SPERSE® PG 001, PG 002 (aqueous dispersions of CAB-O-SIL®, Cabot), Quartron PL-1, PL-3 (FusoChemical Co.), Köstrosol 0830, 1030, 1430 (Chemiewerk Bad Köstritz).
The silica sols used may also be surface-modified silica which has been treated with sodium aluminate (alumina-modified silica).
However, not every colloidal silica sol is suitable as an inventive additive. It has been found that the silica sols which can be used in the context of the invention are only those whose use brings about an increase in the average microroughness by from at least 5 nm to at most 30 nm and a change in the streaming potential by from at least −5 mV to at most −50 mV on the clean surface, in each case compared with an untreated surface. The microroughness is a parameter familiar to those skilled in the art and is measurable by atomic force microscopy (AFM). It refers to the deviation in distance from an ideal smooth surface and is measured in μm or nm.
It has also been found to be advantageous when the hydrophilicizing particles are adsorbed on the surface in such a way that the surface is covered to an extent of from 10 to 75%; correspondingly, another at least 25% of free surface should remain.
The inventive composition may further also comprise surface-active substances. Suitable surface-active substances for the inventive compositions are surfactants, in particular from the classes of the anionic and nonionic surfactants. The compositions preferably comprise anionic surfactants. The amount of anionic surfactant is typically not more than 10% by weight, preferably between 0.01 and 5% by weight, in particular between 0.01 and 1% by weight, for example 0.5% by weight. When the compositions comprise nonionic surfactants, their concentration is typically not more than 3% by weight, preferably between 0.001 and 0.3% by weight and in particular between 0.001 and 0.1% by weight. In a preferred embodiment, the inventive composition is, however, free of nonionic surfactants. It has further been found to be particularly advantageous when the surfactant content overall in the ready-to-use composition is not more than 6% by weight. When the composition is provided as a concentrate for dilution before use, the surfactant content overall is preferably not more than 15% by weight, more preferably from 1 to 12% by weight, in particular from 2 to 10% by weight.
Suitable anionic surfactants are preferably C8-C18-alkylbenzenesulfonates, in particular having about 12 carbon atoms in the alkyl moiety, C8-C20-alkanesulfonates, C8-C18-monoalkyl sulfates, C8-C18-alkyl polyglycol ether sulfates having from 2 to 6 ethylene oxide units (EO) in the ether moiety, and mono- and di-C8-C18-alkyl sulfosuccinates. In addition, it is also possible to use C8-C18-α-olefinsulfonates, sulfonated C8-C18 fatty acids, in particular dodecylbenzenesulfonate, C8-C22 carboxamide ether sulfates, C8-C18-alkyl polyglycol ether carboxylates, C8-C18 N-acyltaurides, C8-C18 N-sarcosinates and C8-C18-alkyl isethionates and mixtures thereof.
The anionic surfactants are preferably used in the form of sodium salts, but may also be present in the form of other alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salts, for example magnesium salts, and in the form of ammonium or mono-, di-, tri- or tetraalkylammonium salts, in the case of the sulfonates also in the form of their corresponding acid, for example dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid.
Examples of such surfactants are sodium cocoalkylsulfate, sodium sec-alkanesulfonate having approx. 15 carbon atoms and sodium dioctylsulfosuccinate. It has been found that fatty alkyl sulfates and fatty alkyl +2EO ether sulfates having from 12 to 14 carbon atoms are particularly suitable.
As nonionic surfactants, mention should be made in particular of C8-C18-alcohol polyglycol ethers, i.e. ethoxylated and/or propoxylated alcohols having from 8 to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl moiety and from 2 to 15 ethylene oxide (EO) and/or propylene oxide units (PO), C8-C18 carboxylic acid polyglycol esters having from 2 to 15 EO, for example tallow fatty acid +6 EO ester, ethoxylated fatty acid amides having from 12 to 18 carbon atoms in the fatty acid moiety and from 2 to 8 EO, long-chain amine oxides having from 14 to 20 carbon atoms and long-chain alkyl polyglycosides having from 8 to 14 carbon atoms in the alkyl moiety and from 1 to 3 glycoside units. Examples of such surfactants are oleyl cetyl alcohol having 5 EO, nonylphenol having 10 EO, lauric acid diethanolamide, cocoalkyl dimethylamine oxide and cocoalkyl polyglucoside having on average 1.4 glucose units. Particular preference is given to fatty alcohol polyglycol ethers having in particular from 2 to 8 EO, for example C12-14 fatty alcohol +4 EO ether.
C8-C18-Alkyl alcohol polypropylene glycol/polyethylene glycol ethers constitute preferred known nonionic surfactants. They are described by the formula I, RiO—(CH2CH(CH3)O)p(CH2CH2O)e—H, in which Ri is a linear or branched, aliphatic alkyl and/or alkenyl radical having from 8 to 18 carbon atoms, p is 0 or numbers from 1 to 3 and e is numbers from 1 to 20.
The C8-C18-alkyl alcohol polyglycol ethers of the formula I may be obtained by adding propylene oxide and/or ethylene oxide onto alkyl alcohols, preferably onto fatty alcohols. Typical examples are polyglycol ethers of the formula I in which Ri is an alkyl radical having from 8 to 18 carbon atoms, p is from 0 to 2 and e is numbers from 2 to 7. Preferred representatives are, for example, C10-C14 fatty alcohol+1PO+6EO ether (p=1, e=6) and C12-C18 fatty alcohol+7EO ether (p=0, e=7) and mixtures thereof.
It is also possible to use end group-capped C8-C18-alkyl alcohol polyglycol ethers, i.e. compounds in which the free OH group in the formula I is etherified. The end group-capped C8-C18-alkyl alcohol polyglycol ethers may be obtained by relevant methods of preparative organic chemistry. Preference is given to reacting C8-C18-alkyl alcohol polyglycol ethers with alkyl halides, in particular butyl or benzyl chloride, in the presence of bases. Typical examples are mixed ethers of the formula I in which Ri is a technical fatty alcohol radical, preferably C12/14-cocoalkyl radical, p is 0 and e is from 5 to 10, which are capped with a butyl group.
Preferred nonionic surfactants are also alkylpolyglycosides (APGs) of the formula II, RiiO[G]x, in which Rii is a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl radical having from 8 to 22 carbon atoms, [G] is a glycosidically linked sugar residue and x is a number from 1 to 10. APGs are nonionic surfactants and are known substances which can be obtained by the relevant processes of preparative organic chemistry. The index x in the general formula II specifies the degree of oligomerization (average degree of polymerization), i.e. the distribution of mono- and oligoglycosides, and is a number between 1 and 10. While x in a given compound always has to be a whole number and can assume here in particular the values of x=1 to 6, the value x for a particular alkylglycoside is an analytically determined theoretical parameter which is usually a fractional number. Preference is given to using alkylglycosides having an average degree of oligomerization x of from 1.1 to 3.0. From an application point of view, preference is given to those alkylglycosides whose degree of oligomerization is less than 1.7 and in particular between 1.2 and 1.6. The glycosidic sugar used is preferably xylose, but in particular glucose.
The alkyl or alkenyl radical Rii (formula II) may derive from primary alcohols having from 8 to 18, preferably from 8 to 14, carbon atoms. Typical examples are caproic alcohol, caprylic alcohol, capric alcohol and undecyl alcohol and their technical-grade mixtures, as are obtained, for example, in the course of the hydrogenation of technical-grade fatty acid methyl esters or in the course of the hydrogenation of aldehydes from the ROELEN oxo process.
However, the alkyl or alkenyl radical Rii preferably derives from lauryl alcohol, myristyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, palmoleyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, isostearyl alcohol or oleyl alcohol. Mention should also be made of elaidyl alcohol, petroselinyl alcohol, arachidyl alcohol, gadoleyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, erucyl alcohol and their technical-grade mixtures.
As further nonionic surfactants, nitrogen-containing surfactants may be present, for example fatty acid polyhydroxy amides, for example glucamides, and ethoxylates of alkylamines, vicinal diols and/or carboxamides which have alkyl groups having from 10 to 22 carbon atoms, preferably from 12 to 18 carbon atoms. The degree of ethoxylation of these compounds is generally between 1 and 20, preferably between 3 and 10. Preference is given to ethanolamide derivatives of alkanoic acids having from 8 to 22 carbon atoms, preferably from 12 to 16 carbon atoms. The particularly suitable compounds include the lauric acid monoethanolamides, myristic acid monoethanolamides and palmitic acid monoethanolamides.
Compositions which contain anionic and nonionic surfactants, in particular combinations of fatty alkyl sulfates and/or fatty alcohol polyglycol ether sulfates with fatty alcohol polyglycol ethers, are also particularly preferred.
In addition to the surfactant types mentioned hitherto, the inventive composition may further also comprise cationic surfactants and/or amphoteric surfactants.
Suitable amphosurfactants are, for example, betaines of the formula (Riii) (Riv) (Rv)N+CH2COO−, in which Riii is an alkyl radical which is optionally interrupted by heteroatoms or heteroatom groups and has from 8 to 25, preferably from 10 to 21, carbon atoms, and Riv and Rv are identical or different alkyl radicals having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, in particular C10-C18-alkyldimethylcarboxymethylbetaine and C11-C17-alkylamidopropyldimethylcarboxymethylbetaine. The compositions contain amphoteric surfactants in amounts, based on the composition, of from 0 to 10% by weight.
Suitable cationic surfactants include the quaternary ammonium compounds of the formula (Rvi) (Rvii) (Rviii) (Rix)N+X− in which Rvi to Rix are four identical or different, in particular two long-chain and two short-chain, alkyl radicals and X− is an anion, in particular a halide ion, for example didecyldimethylammonium chloride, alkylbenzyldidecylammonium chloride and mixtures thereof. The compositions comprise cationic surfactants in amounts, based on the composition, of from 0 to 10% by weight.
In a particularly preferred embodiment, the composition comprises, as the surfactant component, however, only one or more anionic surfactants, preferably C8-C18-alkyl sulfates and/or C8-C18-alkyl ether sulfates, and/or one or more nonionic surfactants.
In addition, the inventive cleaning compositions may comprise water-soluble organic solvents, for example lower alcohols and/or ether alcohols, but preferably mixtures of different alcohols and/or ether alcohols. Lower alcohols in the context of this invention are straight-chain or branched C1-6-alcohols. The amount of organic solvent is typically not more than 50% by weight, preferably from 0.1 to 30% by weight, in particular from 0.5 to 15% by weight, exceptionally preferably from 1 to 10% by weight.
The alcohols used are in particular ethanol, isopropanol and n-propanol. Useful ether alcohols are sufficiently water-soluble compounds having up to 10 carbon atoms in the molecule. Examples of such ether alcohols are ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, propylene glycol monobutyl ether, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, propylene glycol mono-tert-butyl ether and propylene glycol monoethyl ether, of which preference is given in turn to ethylene glycol monobutyl ether and propylene glycol monobutyl ether. When alcohol and ether alcohol are used together, the weight ratio of the two is preferably between 1:2 and 4:1. When, in contrast, mixtures of two different ether alcohols, in particular ethylene glycol monobutyl ether and propylene glycol monobutyl ether, are used, the weight ratio of the two is preferably between 1:6 and 6:1, in particular between 1:5 and 5:1, for example 4:1, the proportion of the ether alcohol having fewer carbon atoms preferably being the higher of the two.
In addition, the inventive compositions may comprise volatile alkali. The volatile alkalis used may be ammonia and/or alkanolamines which contain up to 9 carbon atoms in the molecule. Preferred alkanolamines are the ethanolamines and of these in turn monoethanolamine. The content of ammonia and/or alkanolamine is preferably from 0.01 to 3% by weight, in particular from 0.02 to 1% by weight, more preferably from 0.05 to 0.75% by weight.
In addition to the volatile alkali, alkaline compositions may additionally comprise carboxylic acid, the equivalents ratio of amine and/or ammonia to carboxylic acid preferably being between 1:0.9 and 1:0.1. Suitable carboxylic acids have up to 6 carbon atoms, and may be mono-, di- or polycarboxylic acids. Depending on the equivalents ratio of amine and carboxylic acid, the content of carboxylic acid is preferably between 0.01 and 2.7% by weight, in particular between 0.01 and 0.9% by weight. Examples of suitable carboxylic acids are acetic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid, citric acid, succinic acid, adipic acid, malic acid, tartaric acid and gluconic acid, of which preference is given to using acetic acid, citric acid and lactic acid. Particular preference is given to using acetic acid.
Inventive acidic cleaning compositions may also comprise acids instead of volatile alkali. Suitable acids are in particular organic acids such as the carboxylic acids already mentioned above, acetic acid, citric acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid, succinic acid, adipic acid, malic acid, tartaric acid and gluconic acid, or else amidosulfonic acid. In addition, it is also possible to use the mineral acids hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid and nitric acid or mixtures thereof. Particular preference is given to acids selected from the group comprising amidosulfonic acid, citric acid and formic acid. They are used preferably in amounts of from 0.1 to 5% by weight, more preferably from 0.5 to 4% by weight, in particular from 1 to 3% by weight.
In addition, the inventive acidic cleaning compositions may also comprise small amounts of bases. Preferred bases stem from the group of the alkali metal and alkaline earth metal hydroxides and carbonates, in particular the alkali metal hydroxides, of which particular preference is given to potassium hydroxide and in particular to sodium hydroxide. In the acidic compositions, bases are used in amounts of not more than 1% by weight, preferably from 0.01 to 0.1% by weight.
The composition preferably has a Brookfield viscosity (model DV-II+, spindle 31, rotational frequency 20 min−1, 20° C.) of from 0.1 to 200 mPa.s, in particular from 0.5 to 100 mPa.s, exceptionally preferably from 1 to 60 mPa.s. For this purpose, the composition may comprise viscosity regulators. The amount of viscosity regulator is typically up to 0.5% by weight, preferably from 0.001 to 0.3% by weight, in particular from 0.01 to 0.2% by weight, exceptionally preferably from 0.05 to 0.15% by weight.
Suitable viscosity regulators are, for example, organic natural thickeners (agar-agar, carrageenan, tragacanth, gum Arabic, alginates, pectins, polyoses, guar, gu, locust bean gum, starch, dextrins, gelatin, casein), organically modified natural substances (carboxymethylcellulose and other cellulose ethers, hydroxyethyl-and-propylcellulose and the like, gum ethers), organic fully synthetic thickeners (polyacrylic and polymethacrylic compounds, vinyl polymers, polycarboxylic acids, polyethers, polyimines, polyamides) and inorganic thickeners (polysilicic acids, clay minerals such as montmorillonites, zeolites, silicas).
The polyacrylic and polymethacrylic compounds include, for example, the high molecular weight homopolymers of acrylic acid which have been crosslinked with a polyalkenyl polyether, in particular an allyl ether of sucrose, pentaerythritol or propylene (INCI designation according to International Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients from The Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association (CTFA): Carbomer), which are also referred to as carboxyvinyl polymers. Such polyacrylic acids are obtainable, inter alia, from 3V Sigma under the trade name Polygel®, e.g. Polygel® DA, and from BF Goodrich under the trade name Carbopol®, e.g. Carbopol® 940 (molecular weight approx. 4 000 000), Carbopol® 941 (molecular weight approx. 1 250 000) or Carbopol® 934 (molecular weight approx. 3 000 000). These also include the following acrylic acid copolymers: (i) copolymers of two or more monomers from the group of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid and their simple esters, preferably formed with C1-4-alkanols (INCI acrylates copolymer), which include, for instance, the copolymers of methacrylic acid, butyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate (CAS designation according to Chemical Abstracts Service: 25035-69-2) or of butyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate (CAS 25852-37-3), and which are obtainable, for example, from Rohm & Haas under the trade names Aculyn® and Acusol®, and from Degussa (Goldschmidt) under the trade name Tego® Polymer, for example the anionic nonassociative polymers Aculyn® 22, Aculyn® 28, Aculyn® 33 (crosslinked), Acusol® 810, Acusol® 823 and Acusol® 830 (CAS 25852-37-3); (ii) crosslinked high molecular weight acrylic acid copolymers which include, for instance, the copolymers of C10-30-alkyl acrylates with one or more monomers from the group of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, and their simple esters, preferably formed with C1-4-alkanols, which have been crosslinked with an allyl ether of sucrose or of pentaerythritol (INCI acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer), and which are obtainable, for example, from BF Goodrich under the trade name Carbopol®, for example the hydrophobicized Carbopol® ETD 2623 and Carbopol® 1382 (INCI acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer) and Carbopol® AQUA 30 (formerly Carbopol® EX 473). The international application WO 97/38076 lists a series of polymers which are derived from acrylic acid and constitute suitable viscosity regulators.
Further thickeners are the polysaccharides and heteropolysaccharides, especially the polysaccharide gums, for example gum Arabic, agar, alginates, carrageenans and their salts, guar, guaran, tragacanth, gellan, ramsan, dextran or xanthan and derivatives thereof, for example propoxylated guar, and mixtures thereof. Other polysaccharide thickeners, such as starches or cellulose derivatives, may be used alternatively, but preferably additionally, to a polysaccharide gum, for example starches from a wide variety of origins and starch derivatives, for example hydroxyethyl starch, starch phosphate esters or starch acetates, or carboxymethylcellulose or its sodium salt, methyl-, ethyl-, hydroxyethyl-, hydroxypropyl-, hydroxypropylmethyl- or hydroxyethylmethylcellulose or cellulose acetate. A particularly preferred polysaccharide thickener is the microbial anionic heteropolysaccharide xanthan gum which is produced by Xanthomonas campestris and some other species under aerobic conditions and has a molecular weight of 2-15×106, and is obtainable, for example, from Kelco under the trade names Keltrol® and Kelzan® or else from Rhodia under the trade name Rhodopol®.
The thickeners used may also be layered silicates. These include, for example, the magnesium or sodium-magnesium layered silicates from Solvay Alkali which are obtainable under the trade name Laponite®, in particular Laponite® RD or else Laponite® RDS, and also the magnesium silicates from Süd-Chemie, in particular Optigel® SH.
In the selection of the suitable viscosity regulator, it should be ensured that the transparent appearance of the cleaning composition is retained, i.e. the use of the thickener should not lead to opacification of the composition.
In one embodiment, the inventive cleaning composition may also be formulated as a higher-viscosity liquid. In that case, the viscosity is between 200 and 1000 mPa.s (Brookfield viscometer DV-II+, small sample adaptor). The content of viscosity regulator (thickener) may in these cases be up to 2% by weight.
In addition to the components mentioned, the inventive compositions may comprise further adjuvants and additives as are customary in such compositions. These include in particular dyes, perfume oils, preservatives, complexing agents for alkaline earth metal ions, enzymes, bleach systems and antistats. In addition, polymers, in particular copolymers, for example the Sokalans® obtainable from BASF, for instance Sokalan® CP 9, the sodium salt of a maleic acid-olefin copolymer, may be used for surface modification.
The amount of such additives is typically not more than 2% by weight in the cleaning composition. The lower limit of use depends on the type of additive and may, for example in the case of dyes, be up to 0.001% by weight and below. The amount of assistants is preferably between 0.01 and 1% by weight.
The pH of the inventive compositions may be varied over a wide range, but preference is given to a range of from 2.5 to 12. Glass cleaner formulations and all-purpose cleaners have in particular a pH of from 6 to 11, most preferably from 7 to 10.5, and bath cleaners have in particular a pH of from 2 to 5, exceptionally preferably of from 2.5 to 4.0.
The inventive compositions are preferably formulated in ready-to-use form. A formulation as a concentrate to be diluted appropriately before use is likewise possible in the context of the inventive teaching, in which case the ingredients are present in the upper region of the ranges specified in each case.
The inventive compositions may be prepared directly from their raw materials by mixing, subsequently mixing thoroughly and finally leaving the composition to stand until it is free of bubbles.
The inventive compositions are preferably used for glass cleaning, both for windows and for mirrors and other glasses. However, they may also be used to clean hard surfaces, in particular in the case of surfaces which are occasionally or frequently flushed with dirty or else clean water, for example showers, baths and floors in bathrooms or else kitchen surfaces. A further field of use of inventive compositions is in rinse aids for machine dishwashers. However, textile surfaces may also experience hydrophilicization by the use of inventive compositions. Yet a further field of use is the hydrophilicization of surfaces in the automobile sector, both of automotive paint systems and of automotive windows. The inventive composition may of course also be used for coatings in general, and metal surfaces can also be hydrophilicized with them.
As used herein, and in particular as used herein to define the elements of the claims that follow, the articles "a" and "an" are synonymous and used interchangeably with "at least one" or "one or more," disclosing or encompassing both the singular and the plural, unless specifically defined otherwise. The conjunction "or" is used herein in its inclusive disjunctive sense, such that phrases formed by terms conjoined by "or" disclose or encompass each term alone as well as any combination of terms so conjoined, unless specifically defined otherwise. All numerical quantities are understood to be modified by the word "about," unless specifically modified otherwise or unless an exact amount is needed to define the invention over the prior art.

Method for cleaning hard surfaces using a composition comprising a colloidal silica sol


The present invention provides an anti-IL-17 aptamer comprising a compound represented by the following formula (I):

The present inventors previously successfully produced an anti-IL-17 aptamer having an extremely high quality and a remarkably high inhibitory activity against binding between IL-17 and IL-17 receptor as compared to conventionally-known anti-IL-17 aptamers, and capable of inhibiting the physiological activity of IL-17, and disclosed same in patent document 1.
The active body of the aptamer is a nucleic acid. When the aptamer is administered as it is to a living organism, it is excreted from the kidney in several minutes and disappears from the blood. Thus, cholesterol and polyethylene glycol (PEG) and the like are added to delay excretion from the kidney and ensure blood retention property. PEG has many branches and it is also known that the blood retention property is improved as the molecular weight becomes larger (straight chain<2 branched<4 branched, 20 kDa<40 kDa<80 kDa). However, it is not sufficiently satisfactory (patent documents 2, 3). Moreover, there is a problem that the cost increases in proportion to the number of branches and the molecular weight of PEG, and PEG that can be actually used is limited. While there are reports on the improvement of blood retention property by adding PEG to each terminal by adding a functional group branched into two in advance to the nucleic acid (patent document 4) or utilizing a dendric structure (patent document 5), no specific data relating to the nucleic acid part is available. In the case of nucleic acid, it is known that the activity may be attenuated by the addition of PEG.

Anti-IL-17 aptamer having improved retention in blood

Abstract: (each symbol is as defined in the DESCRIPTION)        or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or hydrate thereof, and showing improved in vivo stability.


The fundamental frequency of a harmonic signal is estimated by forming a fundamental frequency hypothesis (f0′). A comb filter is provided based on the fundamental frequency hypothesis. The harmonic signal is filtered using the comb filter. The fundamental frequency hypothesis is tested for each tooth in the comb filter. A signal indicating an estimated fundamental frequency of the provided harmonic signal may be outputted based on the testing.

Speech signals contain many harmonic parts. Once identified, the fundamental frequency of these harmonic parts can be used for various purposes. One application of the identified fundamental frequency is separation of sound sources. During recording, sounds from multiple sound sources may be recorded simultaneously. The sounds from multiple sound sources include different speech signals, noises (for example, noises from fans) or other similar signals. To further analyze the signals, it is first necessary to separate interfering signals. The identified fundamental frequency can also be used for speech recognition and acoustic scene analysis.
There are various conventional methods of determining the fundamental frequency of harmonic signals. One widely used approach is using the autocorrelation function described, for example, in G. Hu and D. Wang, "Monaural speech segregation based on pitch tracking and amplitude," IEEE Trans. On Neural Networks, 2004. In this approach, the signal is split into frequency bands by using a set of band pass filters. For each frequency band, the auto-correlation is determined and frequencies in a harmonic relation share the time peaks in the lag domain. Peaks also occur at the lag corresponding to multiples and partials of the true lag. These additional peaks interfere with the main peak when determining the fundamental frequency.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/340,918 filed on Jan. 26, 2006, entitled "Determination of a common Fundamental Frequency of Harmonic Signals" by the same inventors describes a method of replacing the auto-correlation with the calculation of the distances between zero crossings of several orders in the individual frequency channels that also share peaks in the lag/distance domain. In other words, the fundamental frequency of the channels is estimated by calculating the zero crossing distances. If harmonics originate from the same fundamental frequency, the harmonics share zero crossing distances.
As described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/340,918 and the article by Martin Heckmann and Frank Joublin, "Sound Source Separation for a Robot Based on Pitch," International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS), Edmonton, Canada, pp. 203-208 (August 2005), the distance between two zero crossings in the channel of the fundamental frequency can be found again as the distance between three zero crossings in the first harmonic and the distance between four zero crossings in the second harmonic.
These distances between three or four zero crossings will also be referred to as higher order zero crossing distances, second and third order, respectively. In this case, however, spurious side peaks emerge.
An article by H. Duifhuis and R. Sluyter, "Measurement of pitch in speech: An implementation of Goldstein's theory of pitch perception," J. Acoust. Soc. Am. pp. 1568-80, (1982) discloses using a different approach. This article describes using a comb filter, also called 'harmonic sieve,' set up with teeth at the fundamental frequency and its harmonics. The energy at each tooth is summed up for different fundamental frequency hypotheses. When the hypothesis and the true fundamental frequency coincide, all the teeth in the comb have high energy, resulting in a maximum. In previous methods, side peaks again occur at the harmonics and sub-harmonics of the true fundamental frequency.

Pitch extraction with inhibition of harmonics and sub-harmonics of the fundamental frequency