Oleaginous compositions comprising a fuel oil or a lubricating oil, a friction modifying amount of a hydroxy ether amine compound such as that having the formula: ##STR1## where X is O or S, R.sub.3 is H, R.sub.1 is C.sub.18 alkylene, R.sub.2 is C.sub.3 alkylene, and R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are C.sub.2 alkylene, and, optionally an amount effective to impart anti-wear properties to the composition of an organic phosphite ester, such as triphenyl phosphite, are disclosed.

The present invention relates to certain hydrocarbon soluble or dispersible hydroxy ether amine friction modifying additives for oleaginous compositions including fuel oil and lubricating oils, such as greases, industrial oils, gear oils, power transmitting fluids, engine lubricating oils, and particularly automatic transmission fluids, and to the oleaginous compositions in which they are contained.
There are many instances, as is well known, particularly under boundary lubrication conditions where two moving surfaces in contact with each other must be lubricated, or otherwise protected, so as to prevent wear, and to insure continued movement. There are other instances where friction between two rubbing surfaces is sought to be modified but not necessarily minimized. By controlling friction between two surfaces, the power required to impart movement from one surface to another is also controlled.
For example, a specialized property sought to be imparted to certain lube oil compositions adapted for use as an automatic transmission fluid is the friction modification characteristic of the fluid. This property distinguishes automatic transmission fluids (ATF) from other lubricants, and in fact between types of ATFs as well. Such characteristic quality has received the most attention by both the transmission manufacturers and fluid producers for many years. This attention stems from the fact that the friction requirements of an ATF are unique and depend on the transmission and clutch design, as well as on the type of clutch plate material used.
Another property sought to be imparted to lubricating oil compositions including automatic transmission fluids is reduced wear such as bearing and power component wear.
As is also well known, both wear and friction modification can be controlled through the addition of suitable additives with varying degrees of success.
While there are many known additives which may be classified as anti-wear, or friction modifying agents, it is also known that many of these additives act in a different physical or chemical manner and often compete with one another, e.g. they may compete for the surface of the moving metal parts which are subjected to lubrication. Accordingly, extreme care must be exercised in the selection of these additives to insure compatibility and effectiveness.
The metal dihydrocarbyl dithiophosphates are one of the additives which are known to exhibit anti-oxidant and anti-wear properties. The most commonly used additives of this class are the zinc dialkyl dithiophosphates (ZDDP) which are conventionally used in lubricant compositions. While such zinc compounds afford excellent oxidation resistance and exhibit superior anti-wear properties, they can be corrosive.
Both anti-wear and friction modifying agents function by forming a coating on the surface of the moving metal parts. The coating bonds are generally affected physically and/or chemically. Consequently, if the bonding between the anti-wear agent and the metal part is stronger than the bonding between the friction modifying agent and the metal part, the anti-wear agent will displace the friction modifying agent at the metal surface, i.e. at the metal/fluid lubrication boundary interface. This results in a loss in the ability of the friction modifying agent to exert its intended effect.
Various tests have been designed by auto manufacturers for measuring ATF friction and anti-wear properties to evaluate the performance of additives in view of the requirements of particular transmission designs and their ability to impart transmission durability and smooth shifting under a variety of road conditions.
Friction modification is typically evaluated on an SAE No. 2 friction apparatus. In this test, the motor and flywheel of the friction machine (filled with fluid to be tested) are accelerated to constant speed, the motor is shut off and the flywheel speed is decreased to zero by application of the clutch. The clutch plates are then released, the flywheel is again accelerated to constant speed, and the clutch pack which is immersed in the test fluid is engaged again. This process is repeated many times with each clutch engagement being called a cycle.
During the clutch application, friction torque is recorded as a function of time. The friction data obtained are either the torque traces themselves or friction coefficients calculated from the torque traces. The shape of the torque trace desired is set by the auto manufacturers. One way of expressing this shape mathematically is to determine the torque: (a) when the flywheel speed is midway between the maximum constant speed selected and zero speed (such torque measurement is referred to herein as T.sub.D) and (b) when as the flywheel speed approaches zero rpm (such torque measurement is referred to herein as T.sub.O). Such torques can then be used to determine the torque ratio which is expressed as T.sub.O /T.sub.D, or alternatively, to determine the torque differential which is expressed as T.sub.O -T.sub.D. The optimum target values for torque ratio and torque differential are set by the auto manufacturers. As the T.sub.O /T.sub.D increasingly exceeds 1, a transmission will typically exhibit shorter harsher shifts as it changes gears. On the other hand as T.sub.O /T.sub.D decreases below 1, there is an increasingly greater danger of clutch slippage when the transmission changes gears. Similar relationships exits with respect to a T.sub.O -T.sub.D target value of 0.
While many automatic transmission fluids can achieve target values of T.sub.O /T.sub.D after a minimum number of cycles, it becomes increasingly more difficult to sustain such target values as the number of cycles are increased. The ability of an ATF to sustain such desired friction properties is referred to herein as friction stability or durability. A high level of friction stability is difficult to achieve with ATFs containing certain anti-wear additives. It is believed that as the ATF ages under the influence of the heat of friction, the anti-wear agent can break down and the decomposition products displace conventional friction modifiers at the metal/fluid lubrication boundary interface. As a result, the fluid may exhibit varying friction properties.
Attempts to improve friction stability by simply adding more friction modifier have not met with success because this tends to reduce the breakaway static torque (T.sub.S) of the fluid. This parameter when expressed as the breakaway static torque ratio (T.sub.S /T.sub.D) reflects the relative tendency of engaged parts, such as clutch packs, bands and drums, to slip under load. If this value is too low, the slippage can impair the driveability and safety of the vehicle.
Very recently, more stringent requirements relating the automatic transmission fluids have been set by one or more auto manufacturers. The desire to enhance fuel economy has resulted in downsizing of cars and power trains, smaller engines and higher shift speeds, and increased usage of torque converter clutches, sprag clutches, and a shift to front wheel drive.
Thus, transmission designs have undergone radical changes, thereby necessitating the formulation of ATF additives capable of meeting new and more stringent property requirements needed to match such design changes.
No base oil alone can even approach the many special properties required for ATF service. Consequently, it is necessary to employ several chemical additives, each of which is designed to impart or improve a specific property of the fluid. Consequently, it becomes particularly advantageous when one additive can perform more than one function, thereby reducing the number of additives needed to be present in the formulation.
Accordingly, there has been a continuing search for new additives possessed of one or more properties which render them suitable for use in ATF compositions, as well as other oleaginous compositions. There also has been a search for new combinations of additives which not only provide ATF compositions, as well as other oleaginous compositions, with the various specific properties that are required, but which are compatible with each other in the sense that they do not exhibit any substantial tendency to compete with each other, nor to otherwise reduce the effectiveness of the various additives in the compositions. The present invention was developed in response to this search.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,290,880 discloses ethers of alcohol amines which may be used as interface modifying agents in a wide variety of arts. The compounds are said to be useful in lubricating oils and the like, thus enabling the production of effective boring oils, cutting oils, drilling oils, wire drawing oils, extreme pressure lubricants and the like.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,255,253 discloses amine-containing polyols which are prepared by first cyanoethylating an alcohol in the presence of a basic catalyst. The cyanoethylated alcohol is then hydrogenated to produce a primary amine, whereafter the primary amine is reacted with an alkylene oxide in the presence of a basic catalyst to form the desired amine-containing polyol. The amine-containing polyols are said to be useful for preparing polyurethane products, as hardeners for polyepoxide resins, and in the preparation of coatings and plasticizers.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,456,012 relates to polyolefin adducts of gamma-alkoxypropylamines having surfactant properties.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,464,925 relates to hydraulic fluids which contain certain aminotriols. The aminotriols are obtained by heating propylene oxide and triisopropylamine under pressure, in the presence of an alkaline catalyst.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,705,139 discloses alkyl sulfide compounds of the formula: EQU R.sub.1 -S-R-.sub.2 -A-(R.sub.3 O)-.sub.n Z,
where R.sub.1 represents a hydrocarbyl radical having 6 to 22 carbon atoms, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 each represents a hydrocarbyl radical having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, A can represent nitrogen, n represents an integer in the range of 0-100, and Z can represent hydrogen. The alkyl sulfide compounds are disclosed as being antistatic agents.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,201,684 relates to lubricating oil adapted for use as a crankcase lubricant in internal combustion engines containing a friction reducing amount of a sulfurized fatty acid amide, ester or ester-amide of an oxyalkylated amine.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,231,883 relates to the use of an alkoxylated hydrocarbyl amine in a lubricating oil or fuel to reduce the friction of an internal combustion engine in which the lubricating oil or fuel is used. An example of the alkoxylated hydrocarbyl amine compounds that are disclosed in this patent is N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl) oleylamine.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,486,324 discloses an aqueous hydraulic fluid comprising at least 80% water and containing a hydrocarbyl-substituted succinic acid, a zinc dihydrocarbyl dithiophosphate, a hydroxyalkylamine, sodium alkyl benzene sulfonate, and optionally, a polyalkylene glycol mono-fatty acid ester.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,650,865 relates to a process for preparing tertiary ether amines which exhibit surface active properties. The tertiary ether amines may be used as surfactants and as starting materials for the production of surface active derivatives, such as for example, amineoxides and quaternary ammonium compounds.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,129,508 relates to lubricant and fuel compositions characterized by improved demulsifying properties. The patent discloses an automatic transmission fluid which includes a number of additives including a dialkyl phosphite, the reaction product of a polyisobutenyl-substituted succinic anhydride, commercial tetraethylene pentamine, and boric acid prepared as set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 3,254,025, and a conventional friction modifier based on bishydroxyethyl tallow amine (Ethomeen T/12), the reaction product of polyisobutenyl succinic anhydride and an ethylene polyamine, and Ethomeen C/15.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,151,300 relates to lubricating oil compositions which contain a major proportion of a mineral lubricating oil, a minor proportion of an organic phosphite such as triphenyl phosphite, and a small amount, sufficient to bring about substantial stability of the phosphorous compound, of an oil-soluble organic amine.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,634,543 relates to a fluid composition for use in a shock absorber. The fluid composition comprises a lubricating base oil, a boron-containing compound, and a phosphoric acid ester and/or phosphorous acid ester, such as diphenyl hydrogenphosphite.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,645,886 relates to the concept of reducing or preventing the fouling of process equipment in petroleum or chemical industries wherein an organic feed stock is subjected to heat exchange at a temperature of from about 200.degree. to about 1300.degree. F., and there is added to that organic feed stock a mixture of a fatty acid ester of an alkanol amine and a mono-, di-, or triorganic phosphite ester. The triorganic phosphite esters may include triphenyl phosphite.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,484,375 discloses the production of additives for lubricating oils, middle distillate fuels, residual fuels or reduced crudes in order to improve their resistance to oxidation, sludge formation, to improve their viscosity index, or to improve their flowability and pour point characteristics. The additives are prepared by reacting an organic phosphite ester with an alkaline polyamine or aminoalcohol. The preferred organic phosphite esters contain at least one hydroxyl group attached to the phosphorous, but they may include triphenyl phosphite.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,170,560 discloses additive compositions for use in crankcase lubricating oils comprising a mixture of an oil soluble anti-oxidant and an oil soluble hydroxylamine which includes both the Ethomeens and the Ethoduomeens. (Sold by the Armak Company, part of Akzona, Inc.).
U.S. Pat. No. 4,529,528 discloses the reaction product of, for example, an Ethomeen, a dialkyl phosphite and a boron compound.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,382,006 discloses a lubricating composition containing a friction reducing portion of a borated adduct of compounds which include the Ethomeens.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,917,160 discloses the use of certain hydroxylated tertiary amines which include the Ethomeens, as a corrosion inhibiting surface active lubricant for metal working. The amines may be used in the form of a salt. Phosphoric acid salts are illustrated.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,186,946 discloses cutting fluids in which the active lubricating component is a borate salt of a tertiary amine which includes both the Ethomeens and the Ethoduomeens.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,557,845 discloses the reaction product of an Ethomeen and a di-(C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 hydrocarbyl) phosphite. The reaction product is formed at a temperature between about 80.degree. and 280.degree. C., and in reactant proportions suc that from about 5 to 100% of the amine hydroxy groups are reacted with the phosphite.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,509,052 relates to lubricating compositions containing a lubricating oil, a dispersant which is a derivative of a substituted succinic acid, and a demulsifier. The demulsifier may comprise, for example, an Ethomeen, but the preferred demulsifiers are polyoxyalkylene polyols and derivatives thereof.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,394,179 discloses an oil soluble lubricant additive which is the reaction product of a phosphosulfurized hydrocarbon and an amide which is formed by reacting an aliphatic polyamine with a high molecular weig monocarboxylic acid. The phosphosulfurized hydrocarbon is prepared by reacting a terpene, a petroleum fraction or a polymer of a C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 olefin with a sulfide of phosphorous.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,805,217, relates to condensation products of terpenes with phosphorous sesquisulfide and oxygen. The condensation products are employed in lubricating oil compositions as anti-oxidants and detergents.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,511,780 relates to an additive that is useful as a sludge dispersant, anti-wear agent, anti-oxidant and inhibitor of harmful deposit formation in hydrocarbon compositions including fuel oils and lubricants. The additive is prepared by condensing an alkenyl succinic anhydride with an aliphatic polyamine or with an aliphatic polyamine and a carboxylic acid, followed by further reaction of the condensation product with a phosphosulfurized hydrocarbon and with a dialkyl dithiophosphoric acid. A suitable phosphosulfurized hydrocarbon is exemplified by P.sub.2 S.sub.5 -treated polyisobutylene.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,850,822 discloses a lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine comprising a major portion of oil and a minor portion of an additive package which includes a dispersant, a phosphosulfurized olefinic hydrocarbon, and a phosphorothionyl disulfide of phenol or of a C.sub.1 -C.sub.18 alkyl phenol. In one embodiment, the dispersant is made by the reaction of a polyisobutenyl succinic anhydride with a tetraethylene pentamine, the phosphosulfurized olefinic hydrocarbon is made from the reaction of P.sub.2 S.sub.5 with alpha-pinene, and the phosphorothionyl disulfide is that of a nonyl phenol.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,557,845 discloses that the products of reaction between a 2-hydroxyethyl alkylamine or certain higher oxylated members, and a dihydrocarbyl phosphite compound are effective friction modifiers and fuel reducing additives for internal combustion engines when such products are compounded with lubricants and liquid fulls. A similar disclosure is contained in U.S. Pat. No. 4,529,528, except that the products are prepared by reacting a bis(2-hydroxyethyl) alkylamine, a dihydrocarbyl phosphite and a boron compound.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,175,976 relates to automatic transmission fluids of improved high temperature stability. The fluids contain a light oil in combination with a di(tertiary-butyl) phenol, a zinc dialkyl dithiophosphate and an alkyl methacrylatevinyl pyrrolidone copolymer.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,933,659 relates to extended life functional fluids which are useful in automatic transmissions. The functional fluids of this patent comprise a major amount of an oil of lubricating viscosity and an effective amount of an alkenyl succinimide, a Group II metal salt of a dihydrocarbyl dithiophosphoric acid, a basic sulfurized alkaline earth metal alkyl phenate, and a compound selected from the group consisting of (a) fatty acid esters of dihydric and other polyhydric alcohols, and oil soluble oxyalkylated derivatives thereof, (b) fatty acid amides of low molecular weight amino acids, (c) N-fatty alkyl-N,N-diethanol amines, (d) N-fatty alkyl-N,N-di(ethoxyethanol) amines, (e) N-fatty alkyl-N,N-di(polyethoxy) ethanol amines, and (f) mixtures thereof.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,010,106 relates to a functional fluid which is useful in automatic transmissions and which comprises an oil of lubricating viscosity, and an effective amount of each of the following: an alkenyl succinimide, a Group II metal salt of a dihydrocarbyl dithiophosphoric acid, a friction modifier, a basic sulfurized alkaline earth metal alkyl phenate, and a chlorinated olefin containing from about 15 to 50 carbon atoms, from 20 to 60% by weight chlorine, and having a boiling point of at least about 300.degree. F. Among the friction modifiers which may be used in the functional fluid there are mentioned fatty acid esters of a polyhdryic alcohol or oil soluble oxyalkylated derivatives thereof, fatty acid amides of low-molecular weight amino acids, N-fatty alkyl-N,N-diethanol amine, N-fatty alkyl-N,N-di(ethoxyethanol)amines, N-fatty alkyl-N,N-di(polyethoxy) ethanol amines or mixtures thereof.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,208,293 discloses lubricating oil compositions adapted for use as a crankcase lubricant in internal combustion engines containing a friction reducing amount of a fatty acid amide or ester of diethanolamine. The compositions show improved results when they contain a zinc dihydrocarbyl dithiophosphate. Other additives may be included in the compositions, and among the additives which are mentioned in this patent are alkaline earth metal phenates and sulfurized phenates, alkaline earth hydrocarbyl sulfonates, phosphosulfurized terpene and polyolefins and their alkaline earth metal salts, poly-alkyl methacrylate or ethylene-propylene copolymers, ethylene-propylene non-conjugated diene terpolymers, and 4,4'-methylenebis(2,6-di-tert-butylphenol).
U.S. Pat. No. 4,474,674 discloses the use of diethanolamides or diisopropanolamides of alkyl thioglycolic acids or boron, phosphorous or metal reaction products thereof as multifunctional additives for power transmission shift fluids such as automatic transmission fluids. These additives provide the properties of anti-oxidation, H.sub.2 S suppression, corrosion inhibition and friction modification.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,806,022 discloses neutralizing the reaction products of a phosphorus sulfide and hydrocarbon with a basic metal compound. The neutralized products are used as lubricating additives in the preparation of lubricants for internal combustion engines.
U.S. Patent 2,316,080 relates to lubricants for use in internal combustion engines such as automobile and diesel engines under severe conditions wherein corrosion, piston ring sticking, cylinder wear, and carbon and/or varnish formation may be encountered. The lubricants comprise a lubricating oil and a small amount of a neutralized or partially neutralized reaction product of a phosphorus sulfide and a mono-olefinic hydrocarbon polymer. This neutralized or partially neutralized product, or a metal derivative thereof, may be used in lubricating oils alone or in combination with the non-neutralized phosphorus sulfide-olefin polymer reaction product. The neutralization of phosphorus sulfide-olefin polymer reaction product may be effected by adding to the reaction product a suitable alkaline compound such as a hydroxide, a carbonate or an oxide of an alkali or alkaline earth metal, and preferably potassium hydroxide. Ammonia or alkyl or aryl substituted ammonia such a amines may be used. Similar disclosures are contained in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,316,082 and 2,316,088.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,034,907 discloses compositions of matter which are effective agents for hindering or retarding rust formation on iron surfaces and ice formation in the intake system of internal combustion engines. The compositions are characterized by a content of (a) a hydrophobic organic carrier, (b) a carboxylic acid amide monocarboxylic acid and (c) and an at least equivalent amount of a hydroxyalkylated nitrogen base which contains at least one lipophilic radical. The hydroxyalkylated nitrogen base corresponds to the general formula: ##STR2## wherein L represents a lipophilic radical defined above, X represents a bridging member which is bound to the nitrogen atom by means of an aliphatic carbon atom and which is selected from the group consisting of lower --O-alkylene, --S-alkylene, --O-hydroxyalkylene, --S-hydroxyalkylene, and ##STR3## wherein R'=H, low molecular alkyl or low molecular hydroxyalkyl, --CO--O--alkylene and --CO--O--hydroxyalkylene radicals. In the above formulas, n represents the integer 0 or 1, R.sub.1 represents hydrogen, a lower alkyl or lower hydroxyalkyl or lower aminoalkyl radical, and R.sub.2 is the same as (L-X.sub.n) and R.sub.1. In all cases, at least one of the radicals X, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 is a lower hydroxyalkylated aliphatic radical.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,235,501 relates to oil compositions which contain a detergent which promotes foaming, a silicone polymer anti-foamant and a small amount of a foam inhibiting polyalkyl oxylated aliphatic amine. The polyalkyl oxylated aliphatic amines conform to one of the following formulas "a" or "b" depending on whether the amine from which they are prepared is a mono- or diamine: ##STR4## where R is an aliphatic radical of from about 4 to 24 carbon atoms, --R'O-- is an alkylene oxide radical selected from the group consisting of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide radicals, n is an integer from 1 to about 25 and X is selected from hydrogen, R and --(R'O).sub.2 H radicals, the total value of n in any instance being no greater than 25, and ##STR5## where R" is an aliphatic radical having from 2 to about 6 carbon atoms, R'O, n and X are defined in Formula "a" but at least one X is an R radical, and the total value of n in any instance being no greater than about 25. Among the detergents which are disclosed in the patent are the oil soluble metal salts of high molecular weight (300-1000) sulfonic acids, such as petroleum derived sulfonic acids and synthetic alkyl-aryl sulfonic acids having from about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms in the alkyl portion thereof, the normal or basic (complex or over-based) barium and calcium sulfonate salts, the metal salts of alkylphenol sulfides, such as, for example, the normal or basic (complex) barium and calcium salts of amyl and nonyl-substituted phenol sulfides, and the metal salts of phosphorous sulfide-hydrocarbon reaction products. Specific salts of this character are the metal salts of phosphosulfurized polyolefins, such as the barium salts of P.sub.2 S.sub.5 -polypropylene reaction products. Salts of this type are fully described for example the above-discussed U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,316,080, 2,316,082, 2,316,088 and 2,806,022.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,664,826 relates to metal salt esters of hydrocarbyl-substituted succinic acid or anhyride, such as octadecenyl succinic anhydride, and alkanols, such as thio-bis-ethanol, which are capable of exhibiting friction modification, oxidation inhibition, and corrosion inhibition properties in power transmitting fluids such as automatic transmission fluids.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,704,217 relates to a gasoline crankcase lubricant which contains as a friction modifier a dialkoxylated alkyl polyoxyalkyl amine of the formula: ##STR6## wherein R is a (C.sub.1 -C.sub.20) hydrocarbyl radical, R' and R'' are divalent (C.sub.1 -C.sub.10) alkylene groups, a is an integer of about 1 to about 10, and x+y is a value of about 1 to about 20.

Hydroxy ether amine friction modifier for use in power transmission fluids and anti-wear additives for use in combination therewith


A method of stimulation treatment for medical disorders using stimulation parameters that provide stimulation of a target site directly or create partial stimulation signals that combine into vector signals that stimulate a target site. Stimulation signals have characteristics such as frequency, timing, temporal content that is adjusted for the person being treated. Signals are designed with advantageous characteristics to influence target tissue in an intended manner and avoid producing unwanted side-effects. Stimulation signals are designed to match or avoid internal/endogenous activity (e.g., brain patterns and rhythms) of a patient. Methods for choosing, creating and partial signals are provided. Tissue modulation may be accomplished with electrical and/or magnetic stimulation, such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation.

The measurement and modulation of brain electrical activity have been investigated for close to a century. In general the lower-frequency endogenous potentials (e.g., 1-10 Hz) have been linked to inhibition and suppression, and are more prevalent during diminished arousal levels and sleep, while a shift to higher frequency activity, such as beta (e.g., 12-30 Hz) and gamma (e.g. 30-80 Hz) band activity, is associated with increased arousal and excitation. Neurostimulation which alters these endogenous frequencies in areas of the brain can be used to modulate the relative arousal level of various brain structures, in the treatment of disorders. Different brain disorders can be associated with deviations in the activity of a particular region of neural tissue compared to those of healthy brains, and stimulation may attempt to normalize or compensate for this activity. Neurostimulation may utilize a wide range of signals such as pulsatile or sinusoidal waveforms, which can be provided using low or high repetition/modulation rates. Recently, slower frequency neurostimulation has shown promise in the treatment of different disorders. Although therapy for a disorder may be obtained by neurostimulation, side-effects due to disruption of endogenous activity may also result. These can include alterations in processes related to learning, cognition, memory, and attention. Certain side-effects are more likely with neurostimulation signals which have a primary component which occurs at the same frequencies as endogenous signals, especially below 15 Hz. Adjusting characteristics of the stimulation signal, in relation to those of endogenous signals, for example, in order to match or avoid matching certain characteristics of the endogenous signals, may be increasingly important when providing therapy at these lower rates of stimulation. Another solution is to rove a parameter of the neurostimulation signals, such as the dominant frequency of pulse repetition rate, to such an extent that a particular type of stimulation does not continuously interfere with endogenous potentials. Unlike conventional neurostimulation protocols which set the stimulation parameters and then provide stimulation in a consistent manner, the current invention describes different methods of roving the stimulation parameters so that the stimulation signals alternate regularly over time.
Roving of stimulation parameters can be used to address a number of well-known factors which impede treatment. For example, since most neurological disorders comprise a cluster of symptoms roving can be designed so that the stimulation treatment is provided across time in a sequential manner in order to intermittently deter the emergence of different symptoms. Further, similar symptoms may be related to different disorders, and have different underlying biological causes, each of which can be addressed by roving the stimulation parameters to using parameters which have been empirically shown to decrease these symptoms in question. There may be different mechanisms behind different symptoms of a disorder which require relatively different treatment approaches. The treatment of epilepsy, provides an illustrative example, since therapy has been successfully provided using both slow (e.g. 1 Hz) and fast (e.g. 50 Hz) stimulation rates. Neurostimulation at lower and higher frequencies may work via several mechanisms such as depolarization blockade, synaptic inhibition/depression, and modulation, such as entrainment or suppression of endogenous activity and modulation of brain networks. The correct adjustment of neurostimulation parameters for the treatment of a wide array of disorders may depend upon multiple factors, and a consideration of the advantages of different stimulation strategies and signals is important. Strategies which alternate, rove between, or synchronously provide two or more stimulation signals may serve to modulate the brain in different manners and likely offer a number of advantages over chronic stimulation with a particular signal.

Methods for neuro-cardiac guided magnetic stimulation therapy


A pallet cap for covering and connecting with at least one existing pallet includes a reinforced platform having a flat top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface. Four vertical, peripheral edges connect the top and bottom surfaces. Three or more of the edges form at least one edge extension continuing outward from the reinforced platform, and at least one edge notch proximate the edge extension and recessed from the edge extension. At least one notched corner is formed by distal edge extensions of edges meeting perpendicular to one another. A plurality of retaining walls extend downward from the bottom surface of the platform and define the edge notches, proximate a junction of the platform and the edge extensions, for securing the pallet cap over a shipping pallet. Multiple caps may be connected to form an expandable raised flooring system or other structures.

When transporting goods via rail, airplane, trailer truck, or by cargo ship, packaging, containment and support of the goods is of paramount importance. Pallets are often used to support goods, alone or within additional transport structures, such as boxes or crates, during transport. Pallets themselves are transport-specific goods, manufactured specifically for use during transport.
The cost of pallets is assumed by the shipper, because the pallets themselves are generally not sold as goods upon arrival. Pallets also increase fuel cost of the shipper, as they add weight to cargo and thus increase the amount of fuel needed for transport. Furthermore, this additional weight can at times reduce the overall amount of goods that may be transported by vehicles; a point especially true of aircraft and watercraft transport. Finally, in their use of forest resources, pallets carry a significant environmental burden. Despite efforts to repair and re-use wooden pallets, they are often disposed of after use, thus requiring additional resources to create more pallets, and increasing the environmental costs of the transport industry.
In summary, as a single-purpose shipping good, conventional pallets have a higher than desirable environmental cost and increase shipper-assumed costs and fuel costs, while reducing the total amount of saleable goods that may be transported as cargo.

Multi-purpose transport and flooring structures, and associated methods of manufacture


A nut driver is provided in which a torque is delivered to a fastener while a bolt is rotationally maintained in a fixed position thereby tightening the fastener onto the bolt. The nut driver also removably attaches to pulse gun and includes a planetary gear arrangement. The nut driver is interchangeable with a variety of pulse guns. Although, conventional devices provide a torque to rotationally couple a nut to a bolt, the feature of interchangeability which allows utilization of different pulse guns is not available. The ability to interchange pulse guns allows the nut driver to easily be used with a variety of drive devices or pulse guns. Furthermore, the nut driver converts the variety of pulse guns into useful driving tools for fastening nut and bolts or other fastener pairs together.

The present invention relates generally to a nut driver apparatus and more particularly to a nut driver attachment for use with a pulse gun which provides a drive torque to the attachment.
The tightening of a fastener or nut to a bolt often requires the application of a torque to the fastener while the bolt remains fixed. Drivers in popular use today are often combined as a unitary tool including a motor. Selection of different types of impact wrenches and hammer drills is therefore not possible without substituting the entire unit. Furthermore, conventional nut drivers that are configured for attachment to a drive spindle or power tool are limited in that they are integral with limited types of air impact wrenches and hammer drills. Consequently, there is a need for a nut driver which removably couples to a pulse gun.
Furthermore, traditional drivers often apply a torque to the fastener of a fastener and bolt assembly but do not control the position and movement of the bolt. The bolt is often freely positioned in a hole in which it rests. As a result the bolt may move or the torque may not efficiently tighten the nut to the bolt. This lack of control is detrimental in an environment in which it is desired to quickly tighten the fastener to the bolt. Consequently, there is a need for a nut driver which maintains control of the bolt as well as apply an adequate torque to the nut. Moreover, most conventional torque wrenches and drivers provide an undesirably strong xe2x80x9cjerkxe2x80x9d or sudden rotational force to the user during use.
In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a nut driver is provided. In another aspect of the present invention, a torque is delivered to a fastener while a bolt is rotationally maintained in a fixed position thereby tightening the fastener onto the bolt. Yet another feature of the nut driver is that it removably attaches to pulse gun. In still another aspect of the present invention, the nut driver includes a planetary gear arrangement.
The nut driver allows a smooth rotation of the nut while significantly reducing xe2x80x9cjerk-likexe2x80x9d motions. The nut driver is also interchangeable with a variety of pulse guns. Although, conventional devices provide a torque to rotationally couple a nut to a bolt, the feature of interchangeability which allows utilization of different pulse guns is not available. The ability to interchange pulse guns allows the nut driver to easily be used with a variety of drive devices or pulse guns. Furthermore, the nut driver converts the variety of pulse guns into useful driving tools for fastening nut and bolts or other fastener pairs together.
Further objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following description and the appended claims when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.


A needle has a hollow cylindrical member defining a lumen along a center axis. A first bevel face is formed at an incline across an end portion of the needle between opposite outer wall surfaces having a first inclined angle with respect to the axis. Second and third bevel faces (i.e., a right bevel face and a left bevel face) converge inwardly from point along the first bevel face to an endmost point where their planes intersect. The right and left bevel faces are formed by relatively rotating the needle through a first rotational angle and grinding the respective converging bevel face. The second and third bevel faces converge at a second more-steeply inclined angle to the point. Opposite from the first bevel face, a sub-bevel face is formed in an oblique direction with respect to the axis center, thinning the wall thickness of the cylindrical member. The point is thus provided with a prow-like cutting edge inclined rearwardly from the point at the intersection between the second and third bevels, and two lateral cutting edges at the intersection of the sub-bevel and the second and third bevels, respectively. The result is a sharp and durable point where the cutting edges converge at a relatively steep angle, the point being spaced radially inwardly from an extension of the outer wall of the cylindrical member.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a hollow needle suitable for use in medical applications, such as insertion into a blood vessel or other tissue for hypodermic injection, insertion of a cannula for transfusion, dialysis, intravenous drip, blood-collecting and the like, these functions being generally termed "injections" herein. More particularly, a cannular needle defining a flow path in which a fluid such as a liquid medicine or blood can pass in one direction or the other, is provided with a specifically formed point. The invention also concerns the method for producing the needle and the point involving the formation of an oblique planar bevel, a back bevel and two laterally converging bevels, resulting in a sharp end having a prow shape with three cutting edges converging into an end point.
2. Prior Art
The point of a conventional hollow needle, such as a needle intended for hypodermic injection, is formed by selectively grinding an end of a tube or hollow cylinder to form a point. The tube normally has a narrow diameter and advantageously the point is as sharp as practicable, to facilitate the piercing of tissues.
Typically, the end portion of the cylinder is ground along a flat plane extending in an oblique direction relative to the axis of the tube or hollow cylinder, i.e., in a direction that converges with the longitudinal axis of the cylinder at an acute angle, crossing the axis to the opposite outside wall at the extreme end point. Assuming an arbitrary position of the needle wherein the bevel slopes downwardly from a "top" wall of the cylinder to a point at the outer edge of the "bottom," this planar bevel results in an open bevel end-face on a side of the point wherein the lumen is oval in plan view and is surrounded by an elliptical annulus between the lumen, and the top outer wall and the bottom outer wall (namely the point). Without further grinding, the point forms the rounded chord of the minor side of an ellipse at the extreme end.
If the tapering wall thickness of the extreme end of the cylinder is made very thin during manufacturing, the point is very sharp and will inflict less injury to the skin, blood vessel or other tissue at the point of injection of the patient than will a thicker, duller point. To improve sharpness, the acute angle of the oblique bevel forming the point can be a very small angle, making the point very thinly tapered to the extreme end. Consequently, less pain is felt by the patient during the injection. However, if the acute angle of the oblique bevel is made relatively smaller, the axial extension of the elliptical annulus becomes longer between the lumen or inner wall and the extreme end or point at the outer wall. As a result, there is an elongated point have very little thickness or strength of metal at and adjacent to the extreme end or point of the needle due to the axially elongated and thinly tapered bevel end-face. Needles of this type are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,308,822--De Luca and International Application No. PCT/NO91/00104 (International Publication WO 92/04062). With extreme tapering and thinness at the point, the metal approaching the tip becomes as thin as a foil, the tip is difficult to grind in a manner that preserves the shape of a smooth ellipse at the tip, may overheat in grinding and is easily bent.
International Application No. PCT/NO91/0104 also discloses the possibility of a back bevel on a needle having an oblique bevel face as described. Assuming as above that the needle is oriented such that the oblique bevel tapers downwardly from a top wall to the point as above, the back bevel tapers upwardly from the bottom wall to the point. A back bevel is advantageous in that the extreme end or point of the needle is moved radially inwardly from the bottom wall. This reduces the possibility of piercing the far wall of a blood vessel during an intravenous injection. However such a back bevel tends to increase the lateral width of the point of the needle as compared to the shape of the minor chord of an ellipse.
There is a need for an improved needle and method for producing it that will provide an extremely sharp edge portion that is thin, but strong at the same time. Preferably, the improved needle should have the point spaced radially inward from an extension of the outer wall, and preferably the back bevel cut to accomplish this should not unduly thin and weaken the strength of the tip approaching the tip.

Medical hollow needle and method of production

Ooaza Kitanogami 1930, Kurobanemachi, Nasu-gun


A new and distinct variety of Verbena plant, substantially as herein illustrated and described, characterized particularly as to novelty by its dark purple flowers, early flowering and a habit that is very compact and later spreading.

The present invention comprises a new distinct cultivar of Verbena, botanically known as Verbena×hybrida.
The new cultivar is propagated from cuttings resulting from the cross of 'B0977-10' and 'D1462-2'. 'B0977-10' is a burgundy flowering Verbena. 'B0977-10' is not commercially available and is not known by any synonyms. 'D1462-2' is a purple flowering Verbena. 'D1462-2' is not commercially available and is not known by any synonyms. Neither 'B0977-10' nor 'D1462-2' has been patented.
As a result of this cross the present cultivar was created in 2002 in Enkhuizen, Netherlands and has been repeatedly asexually reproduced by cuttings in Enkhuizen, Netherlands and Sarrians, France over a two year period. The new variety is stable and reproduces true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.
This new Verbena plant is an annual in most climatical zones in the US, only in zones 9 and 10 it is a perennial plant.


A cold cathode electron emission structure includes an amorphous carbon matrix having cesium dispersed therein, with the cesium present in substantially non-crystalline form. A cesium-carbon-oxide layer is positioned on the amorphous carbon matrix, constitutes an electron emission surface and causes the cold cathode electron emission structure to exhibit a lowered surface work function. A display structure including the aforedescribed cold cathode electron emission structure further includes a target electrode including a phosphor and exhibiting a target potential for attraction of electrons. A gate electrode is positioned between the electron emission structure and the target electrode and is biased at a gate potential which attracts electrons, but which is insufficient, in combination with the target potential, to cause emission of a beam of electrons from the electron emission structure. A control electrode is coupled to the electron emission structure and selectively applies a low-voltage control potential which, in combination with the gate potential and the target voltage, is sufficient to cause the electron emission structure to emit a beam of electrons towards the target electrode. The cesium-carbon-oxide layer in combination with the control electrode further enables the achievement of a long focal length, field effect display structure.

Cold cathode electron emitters are known in the prior art and generally comprise an electron emission structure that is spaced apart from a target. A potential is applied between the electron emission structure and the target which is sufficient to cause electron migration from the electron emission structure to the target. Successful cold cathode electron emitters are required to exhibit a low surface work function so as to avoid the necessity of excessively high applied voltages. Surface work function is the energy required to remove electrons from the surface of a material. Hot cathode electron emitters overcome an electron emission structure's surface work function by applying high levels of heat to provide the energy required to stimulate the electron emission.
In general, an electron emission structure is configured with a sharp tip so that the electric field present thereat is highly intense and thus able to overcome the emitter's surface work function. The electric field at a sharp tip is inversely proportional to the radius of the tip, thus a small applied voltage and a very small radius tip (approximately 1-10 manometers) provides a very strong electric field which enables the emission of electrons by the field emission mechanism.
Cold cathode electron emitters have been fabricated using thin-film techniques. Spindt et al. in "Physical Properties of Thin-film Field Emission Cathodes with Molybdenum Cones", Journal of Applied Physics, Volume 47, No. 12, December 1976, pages 5248-5263, describe a field emission cathode which utilizes a molybdenum emitter. Spindt et al. produce such emitters, using micro-lithography techniques, in arrays of molybdenum cones and have demonstrated the availability of currents in the range of 50-150 microamperes per cone.
Kumar et al. in "Diamond-based Field Emission Flat Panel Displays", Solid State Technology, May 1995, pages 71-74, describe a display structure which employs a cold cathode electron emitter. The emission substrate is a dense, nano-crystalline carbon film, with a large percentage of the available carbon exhibiting sp.sup.3 "diamond"-bonded carbon while the remaining material is in the form of sp.sup.2 graphitic carbon. Further details of other field emission displays can be found in "Europe's FPD Development Offers a Chance to Compete", Dance, B., Semiconductor International, July 1995, pages 229-232.
One of the major technical obstacles to the commercialization of field emission displays involves the reliability of the cold cathode electron emission arrays. The lack of reliability originates from the high fields required for emission at room temperature. Over time, these fields (through sputtering or sputtering contamination) damage the sharp emitter tips and thus decrease their electron emission efficiency. For this reason diamond-coated tips have been proposed as cold cathode electron emission structures because diamond, simultaneously provides both mechanical strength and relatively low field operation. Prototypes employing such diamond emitters, however, still suffer from high turn-on voltages, high cost and short working life.
A common feature of many prior art field emission displays is a requirement to switch relatively large voltages on a plurality of address lines. Such switching actions create large voltage excursions which causes noise and other interference affects during the operation of the display. Nevertheless, it has been thought to be a requirement to switch such high voltages, to achieve selective electron emission from the cold cathode emission sources.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved cold cathode electron emission source which exhibits a lowered surface work function.
It is another object of this invention to provide a method for the manufacture of an improved cold cathode electron emission source which exhibits a lowered surface work function.
It is still another object of this invention to provide an improved cold cathode electron emission source which exhibits an improved electron beam pattern.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a cold cathode electron emission structure which avoids the need for switching high voltages to achieve display cell activation.

Cold cathode electron emitter and display structure


The present invention provides apparatus and method for therapeutically treating an injured spine by lifting and rotating the pelvic area to straighten the lumbar spine and by applying a force to the spine to separate vertebral bodies and to stretch the connective tissue along the spinal cord by relative movement of the body of the patient with reference to a fixed point.

The application of a pulling or traction force directed substantially along the longitudinal axis of a human spine is a well known treatment method for providing therapeutic relief to an injured spine. Theoretically, traction provides curative action and relief from pain by stretching the tissue in the spinal column; by "decompressing" the spine to provide additional space between adjacent vertebrae and, consequently, increasing blood flow to the injured spinal vertebrae and tissue; by motion of the spinal vertebrae themselves; or by some combination of the foregoing. Typically, the traction force is applied to a patient who is resting in a supine or prone position on a bed. The traction force is applied by a device that utilizes weights that are suspended vertically from the end of a cord that runs over a pulley having a substantially horizontally disposed rotation axis. The other end of the cord is attached to the patient's body, sometimes to the patient's feet or to a harness surrounding the lower torso. Generally, the prior art traction devices each suffer from having several shortcomings that limit their effectiveness in treating spinal injuries.
First, many of these devices do not take into account the natural curvature of the spinal column, in particular the lumbar segment. The pull of the traction force they provide is directed generally along the axis of the spinal column, which due to this curvature prevents the force from providing the desired separation of the vertebrae.
Second, these devices typically are aimed at providing traction to either the lumbar or cervical regions of the spine, requiring two separate devices being needed to treat these separated spinal regions. Additionally, no known device is able to achieve the application of a traction force in the thoracic area of the spinal column, which lies between the lumbar and cervical areas.
Third, the applied traction force must overcome the frictional force existing between the bed surface and the patient's body. Because the frictional force is usually not accurately known, any accurate assessment of the actual traction force being applied to achieve the desired spinal stretching versus that spent overcoming frictional resistance between patient and bed surface is difficult to make.
Fourth, because of the inability to accurately assess the applied force used for stretching, it is difficult for a physician to know whether the patient is being properly treated. In other words, too little force may be applied to certain patients to achieve any therapeutic benefit and too great a force may be applied to other patients, potentially exacerbating their injuries.
Sixth, in the healing process, the connective tissue surrounding the injured area can bind and constrict. Nerve endings can be impinged upon with resulting pain. Binding and constriction of the connective tissue in one affected area can distort the connective tissue throughout the body. To reduce tissue binding and constriction, the tissue must be permanently plastically deformed. Many, if not all, of the prior art devices operate only in the elastic stress regime of the connective tissue of the spinal column, however. That is, this tissue, e.g., the durameter and the fascia, elastically stretches upon application of the traction force and elastically rebounds upon removal of the traction force. The tissue stretching--and consequent relief for the patient--is therefore of a temporary nature. To produce a permanent stretching and relief, a traction device must therefore safely operate in the tissue's plastic stress regime as well as its elastic.
As is well known, materials, including the connective tissue of the spinal column, exhibit both elastic and plastic qualities depending upon the stress to which they are subjected. On a stress/strain curve the point at which the material begins to exhibit plastic rather than elastic properties is known as the material's yield point. By applying a force to the connective tissue of the spinal column sufficient to stress the tissue past its yield point, a permanent rather than temporary stretching of the tissue may be achieved. Such a yielding of the spinal tissue can only be accomplished in a safe and therapeutic manner if the exact amount of traction force being applied to the spinal column is known with certainty, which is not the case in prior art devices. As noted, if the stress applied to a material is in the elastic region, and thus below the yield point of the material, the material will elastically deform and upon removal of the stress will return to substantially the same configuration and structure as it had prior to the application of the stress. Applying a stress greater than the material's yield point, however, will result in a permanent deformation of the material. Permanent stretching of the connective tissue would ease the compressive pressure felt along the spinal column and will promote healing thereof. Thus, in a treatment where it is desirable to reduce binding and constriction of the connective tissue and to increase the spacing between the individual vertebra, it would be desirable to generate a distraction force to separate the vertebrae and to safely stress the connective tissue of the spine beyond its yield point to achieve a permanent stretching thereof.
Finally, the known traction devices often require considerable bending and movement of the patient's body to get into a proper position for the beginning of therapy. For many patients, any bending can be difficult and painful and is therefore to be avoided during a therapy session if possible.
Some newer traction devices attempt to compensate for such deficiencies just listed. For example U.S. Pat. No. 4,602,619 to Wolf et al. teaches an apparatus and method for applying varying amounts of traction to the spine at an angle to the elongated axis thereof. The apparatus includes a harness placed around and upwardly supporting the patient's pelvic region. A cable is attached at one end to the harness and leads through a pulley attached to an overhead support. The cable may be anchored by means of a cleat attached to the pulley. The overhead support includes a rearwardly and downwardly extending arm connected to an electric screw actuator. In use, the patient pulls on the free end of the cable, thereby raising his pelvic region and substantially simultaneously rotating it. The cable is then anchored and by engaging the actuator, the harness pulley may be moved upwardly and forwardly and then downwardly and rearwardly in alternation to provide a varying amount and direction of force to stretch the spine and to promote healing of damaged spinal areas, particularly in the lumbar area. The patent also makes non-specific claims to being able to treat other portions of the spine with the device.
Thus, a need exists for a traction device that is capable of providing a traction force of known amounts to selected, specific spinal portions. Such a device should be able to carefully and progressively stress the connective tissues of the spinal column into the plastic regime thereof to obtain a permanent stretching of the connective tissue, thereby increasing the space between the individual vertebra.

Apparatus and method for producing spinal distraction


A control arm for use in a vehicle suspension. The control arm includes a first connection, the first connection configured to secure the control arm to a first external device and a second connection, the second connection configured to secure the control arm to a second external device. An external force expands or contracts the distance between the first connection and the second connection within predetermined limits. The control arm also includes a mechanical bias, where the mechanical bias returns the distance between the first connection and the second connection to a set free length when the external force is removed.

Suspension links or control arms are a primary component of a vehicle suspension. For example, they can hold the axle of the vehicle in the proper position and prevent the axle housing from spinning when torque is applied to the axle. The connection of the suspension link between the vehicle frame and axle in part is responsible for the ride quality of the vehicle, as the connection affects the transfer of vibrations from road imperfections to the passenger compartment and the vehicles handling capabilities. In addition, the correct operation, mounting geometry and end connection of the suspension link improves the performance of the vehicle over differing terrains and speeds.
However, there are a number of drawbacks in current suspension systems utilizing multiple suspension links or control arms. In particular, different uses require different system configuration of suspension links. For example, a system of suspension links designed for everyday "on road" driving conditions requires very little flexibility (rotation, twisting and travel of the suspension links) making it very unlikely that standard driving conditions would produce binding in the joints of the system of suspension links. A more flexible system of suspension links is required for rugged all terrain driving conditions, such as off-roading. This greater flexibility requirement by definition requires greater rotation, twisting and travel of the suspension links results in binding of the joints in the suspension system.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a suspension link that can compress or expand a given distance against a resisting force. In addition, there is a need in the art for a suspension link in which the compression or expansion distance and bias force resisting such compression and expansion can be adjusted. In addition, there is a need in the art for a suspension link which can be made completely rigid when desired.


A reamer for underground boring is provided. The reamer includes at least: (a) a center mandrel, wherein the center mandrel defines a mandrel axis; (b) a plurality of radial members extending radially from the center mandrel; (c) a plurality of cutting heads, wherein each of the cutting heads: (i) is supported by at least one of the radial members; (ii) is arcuately spaced-apart around the center mandrel from the other cutting heads; (iii) has a rounded surface; and (d) a plurality of cutting teeth on the rounded surface of each of the cutting heads. A method of horizontal drilling with the reamer is also provided.

The present invention relates to the installation of underground pipelines, conduits, cables, and the like, and more particularly to installation using directional drilling, which is sometimes referred to as horizontal boring. More particularly, the invention relates to a reamer for use in enlarging a pilot bore in a method of horizontal drilling and a method of using the reamer in horizontal drilling.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,314,267 issued on May 24, 1994 to Mark Osadchuk, discloses a horizontal pipeline boring apparatus and method for installing a pipeline section under a surface barrier, such as a roadway or the like. According to that invention, a pilot bore is formed under the barrier. Next, a boring head, which is sometimes referred to in the art as a reamer or a hole opener, is used to enlarge the pilot bore. In addition, a guide is positioned on the advancing side of the boring head. The guide on the boring head is designed to engage the walls of the pilot bore and help steer the pipeline boring head during cutting along the path of the pilot bore. The pipeline section is advanced behind the boring head. Drilling liquids can be supplied to the boring operation through the pilot bore, and an auger in the pipeline section is used to help move drilling mud and cuttings away from the boring head through the pipeline section. U.S. Pat. No. 5,314,267 is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,979,573 issued Nov. 9, 1999 discloses a boring head for use in mounting to a drill pipe of a drilling rig for enlarging a pilot bore in horizontal boring operations. The boring head has an axial member positioned along a central axis of the boring head for connecting the boring head to the drill pipe of the drilling rig. A plurality of flanges extend radially from the axial member, and a flange support frame is provided for structurally interconnecting and supporting the flanges on the axial member. A plurality of cutting cones are mounted to the boring head. In particular, each of the cutting cones has a cone axis; each of the cutting cones is mounted to one of the flanges such that its cone axis extends at an acute angle ranging from zero degrees up to about 45 degrees relative to the central axis; each of the cutting cones is mounted for independent rotation about its cone axis; and each of the cutting cones has a plurality of independently-rotatable cutting bits mounted thereto. According to a further aspect of the invention, the cutting cones are arranged and positioned on the boring head to improve the cutting operation. U.S. Pat. No. 5,979,573 is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,979,574 issued Nov. 9, 1999 discloses a boring head provided for use in mounting to a drill pipe of a drilling rig for enlarging a pilot bore in horizontal boring operations. The boring head has an axial member positioned along a central axis of the boring head for connecting the boring head to the drill pipe of the drilling rig. A plurality of internally-tapered longitudinal pockets around the periphery of the axial member each receive an externally-tapered body mounting an independently-rotatable cutter bit which rotates about a rolling axis inclined at an angle in the range between ten degrees and eighty degrees with respect to the central axis of the boring head. The tapered body is drawn into the tapered pocket by a threaded retainer and forced into the pocket when boring by the force of the boring head against the bore face. U.S. Pat. No. 5,979,574 is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. (If there is any conflict between the usage or definition of a term in a patent incorporated by reference and the usage herein, the usage or definition herein will control.)

Reamer and methods for directional drilling


Method of measuring the nuclear magnetic resonance in selected areas of a body in order to present images of body cross-sections according to the slice-selective two dimensional Fourier-transformation. Wherein, the body is in a homogeneous magnetic field, exposed to a selection gradient and excited by a selective RF-pulse. Wherein a time-limited phase encoding gradient is applied, and finally by means of a read gradient at least one nuclear resonance signal is generated by gradient inversion in the form of at least one so-called gradient echo. Wherein, the selection gradient, the phase encoding gradient, as well as, the read gradient are arranged orthogonally with respect to one another. Wherein, RF-pulses have a high frequency excitation profile, of which the base frequencies of the high frequency differ by a value .DELTA.f corresponding to the distance between the centers of adjacent layers or slices. Wherein different slices are excited by RF-pulses in cooperation with the selection gradient, and wherein, the amplitude and/or duration of the phase encoding gradient is varied. Slice selection frequencies for the recording of at least two phase encoding steps or groups of phase encoding steps and at most all phase encoding steps, which are allocated essentially to the same slice, differ by a frequency increment. Wherein, the allocation of the phase encoding steps to the excitation frequencies in each case is effected such that an almost continuous distribution of phase encoding steps across the measuring volume is achieved. Wherein, layers or slices which belong to a complete recording of the entire volume of the body area overlap one another in such a manner that within a random partial volume which: lies within the measuring volume, can be varied almost continuously, and has a thickness corresponding to .delta.f+.DELTA.f, where .DELTA.f corresponds to the layer distance and .delta.f represents the thickness of a selected layer or slice according to the bandwidth of the selective pulses.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of measuring the nuclear magnetic resonance in selected areas of a body. More specifically, the present invention relates to measuring the nuclear magnetic resonance in selected areas of a body to present images of body cross-sections according to a slice-selective two-dimensional Fourier-transformation method. Wherein the body is in a homogeneous magnetic field, exposed to a selection gradient and excited by a selective RF-pulse, and wherein a time-limited phase encoding gradient is applied, and at least one nuclear resonance signal by means of a read gradient is generated by gradient inversion in the form of at least one so-called gradient echo. The selection gradient, the phase encoding gradient and the read gradient are arranged orthogonally to one another. RF-pulses having a high frequency excitation profile, of which the base frequencies of the high frequency (slice selection frequency) differ by a value .DELTA.f corresponding to the distance between the centres of adjacent layers or slices, in such a manner that different slices are excited by RF-pulses in cooperation with the selection gradient, wherein the amplitude and/or duration of the phase encoding gradient is varied.
2. Description of Related Art
In the case of conventional methods of NMR tomography a number of m individual steps containing n complex data points in each case are necessary for receiving an image of the matrix size m.times.n. Depending on the type of spatial encoding, the image is then generated either by two-dimensional Fourier-transformation or (less frequently) by filtered back projection. In the case of two-dimensional imaging, m individual acquisition steps are necessary for encoding the spatial information in the second image direction. If the two-dimensional Fourier-transformation is used, the magnitude of the phase encoding gradient is varied at each individual step. In which case, the term "phase encoding step" is used. The time between two individual steps for each layer defines the contrast of the image. For a typical spin echo technique in clinical applications, a repeating interval of 500 ms or more has proven to be favorable. Within this repeating interval, individual steps from several layers or slices (typically around 10-20 layers or slices) can be acquired without the need for additional time (a so-called multi-slice technique). The image recording of a relatively large volume can be carried out where each phase encoding step is performed in all layers, then the next individual step is performed in all layers by changing the phase encoding gradient, and so forth until the recording of all phase encoding steps is completed. One individual step or phase encoding step comprises the sequence of RF-pulses used for the generation of the NMR signal, as well as, the sequence of time-variant magnetic field gradients required for slice selection and spatial encoding.
A disadvantage of this method is that the slices acquired in this manner cannot adjoin one another directly due to the use of selective (i.e. narrow-band) pulses for the slice selection. These RF-pulses, even for optimum pulse forms, do not have an ideal rectangular excitation profile. To prevent overlappings, a gap between two slice profiles is necessary, as shown as waveform "a" of FIG. 1. In FIG. 1, the excitation intensity is shown on the vertical axis, and the direction of the slice selection gradient (denoted z-direction) is shown on the horizontal axis. Owing to the excitation profiles which are not ideally rectangular, areas of little image intensity are generated in the areas between two successive slices. For the diagnosis of very small lesions (for example hypophyseal adenomae), the possibility that the lesion is not scanned with the given slice coverage cannot be ignored. Therefore, it is necessary to repeat the recording by displacing it by half the width of a slice, as shown as waveform "b" of FIG. 1. In this manner the examined volume is recorded completely; however, this doubles the measuring time.
A direct complete recording of a measuring volume is possible nowadays only by using three-dimensional recording techniques. These techniques, are time intensive when using spin echo sequences which provide a diagnostically favorable image contrast; however, such techniques are overly time intensive such that application thereof is not possible in practice. Other recordings may be carried out by using known rapid imaging sequences like FLASH or RARE (Magn. Reson. Med. 5,380-383 (1987), DE 34 34 161 C2, DE 35 04 734 A1). While these imaging sequences can provide a complete representation of a measuring volume within an acceptable time period, they frequently do not have the desired contrast.

Method for muclear magnetic resonance (NMR) tomography


A method for determining the variations in the sulfur content of ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel when it is transported through a petroleum transportation system includes sampling fuels at various points during barge transport, pipeline transport and in terminaling operations. New procedures and special handling regiments are developed in view of how the sulfur content of ultra-low sulfur fuel may change when transported through the system in sequence and stored with other petroleum products.

As of June 2006, eighty percent (80%) of all diesel fuel produced or imported for highway vehicles will be required by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to contain less than 15 parts per million (ppm) of sulfur. This is known as ultra-low sulfur diesel or ULSD. Liquid petroleum product transportation systems including barges, pipelines, pipeline tank farms, terminals, transports and retail storage facilities transport and store a variety of different petroleum products including products that contain a higher sulfur content. Since ULSD and other petroleum products are often transported in the same barges, pipelines and tanks and terminals, there is a concern that the higher sulfur products could contaminate the ULSD by raising its sulfur content past the 15 ppm limit. Since the EPA is allowing no more than a ±2 ppm variation in the sulfur content of ULSD, the petroleum industry is facing an immediate and difficult challenge in meeting the ULSD requirements.
This invention first tests the movement of ULSD through a typical petroleum transportation system and determines the effect of the movement on the sulfur levels of ULSD. The invention then establishes a set of procedures for preparing petroleum pipelines, pipeline tank farms, terminals, transports and retail facilities which have been previously used to transport and store higher sulfur content fuels for successfully transporting ULSD while maintaining compliant sulfur content.
The Highway Diesel Final Rule (66 Fed. Reg. 5002, Jan. 18, 2001) and the Non-road Diesel Final Rule (69 Fed. Reg. 38958, Jun. 29, 2004) provide requirements to reduce the sulfur content in diesel fuel over a specified period of time. The sulfur content limit will be enforced throughout the distribution system. The EPA allows a sulfur enforcement tolerance of ±2 ppm, allowing ULSD to contain no greater than 17 ppm sulfur content at any point in the distribution system. Maintaining measured compliance with ULSD limit of ≦15 ppm will be a challenge to the industry.
The EPA regulations include several transition dates with temporary exclusions and transition provisions. The regulations do not govern the sulfur content in products used for jet fuel, home heating fuel or stationary engines such as those used by utility companies, which can have sulfur content as high as 5000 ppm. By Jun. 1, 2006, at least 80% of produced or imported diesel fuel used for highway purposes must be ULSD. Pipelines and terminals must convert by Jul. 15, 2006, and retail outlets must be converted by Sep. 1, 2006. By June, 2010 all produced or imported highway diesel fuel must be ULSD. The deadline for downstream delivery systems is Oct. 1, 2010 and for retail is Dec. 1, 2010.

Method for transporting and testing ultra low sulfur diesel


Aspects of the invention described herein provide a method and apparatus for the synchronization of metadata across various metadata repositories. According to the invention, upon synchronization of a local metadata repository and at least one remote metadata repository, metadata values are stored in a local collection or mediator database. The mediator database facilitates conflict resolution across metadata repositories. The invention further provides a repository-specific metadata memory to enable the storage of repository-specific metadata histories to further enhance management and synchronization of the metadata.

Today, it is common to store media items such as pictures and music files on a variety of personal electronic devices. For example, many users store such information on mobile phones, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), laptops and desktop computers. Often it is useful to have the same files stored on multiple devices, and it is preferable that the information or metadata associated with each file is current and synchronized across all devices on which the files are stored. A user that stores, for example, an image on more than one device would like to avoid entering or updating the same image caption information on each device. Typically, metadata includes data about the media item itself, and may be automatically derived from the context of the item, such as a file type or creation date, or may be data added manually by a user. For example, an image's metadata may include the location where the image was captured, date, time, information about people in the picture, or tags added manually by the user, such as a caption or title. Conflict situations arise with such metadata when the media content stored on various devices does not change, but the metadata associated with the media content is altered in one or more of the repositories. In this scenario, different versions of metadata for the same media item can exist across repositories. Thus, it is desirable to synchronize metadata of media items located on different devices.
Various standards exist for storing metadata. Many third-party media management applications use their own internal databases to store this information. In addition, embedded metadata standards exist that provide the ability to store metadata within media files themselves, such as the IPTC (International Press Telecommunications Council) and EXIF (exchangeable image file format) standards for image files. IPTC and EXIF standards provide pre-defined fields in media file headers where different types of metadata can be stored, including, but not limited to: date, description, rating and caption.
Another emerging standard that facilitates media and metadata sharing is the Universal Plug and Play standard (UPnP). UPnP allows for different devices to interact seamlessly, and provides a foundation for handling content such as music, images, and videos in a local network. UPnP further enables such content to be accessed from various devices in a network, without regard for where the media is actually stored, and enables content and metadata transfer and/or rendering under the command of any control device in a network. UPnP devices, for example, can serve as media servers, providing storage of media content and metadata; media renderers, enabling viewing of media content; and can provide control point functionality, controlling the media interaction between servers and renderers.
One important element of a media server is the Content Directory Service (CDS). CDS acts as a database to store the metadata of content so that the content can be easily queried and browsed from various control points in the network. CDS implements tree-like structures to support various types of content (music, images, videos, albums, playlists) with all the nodes providing their own metadata fields to describe the item. For images, this metadata includes the same kind of data about media items that IPTC and EXIF metadata contains, and also many UPnP specific fields and vendor extendable fields. Applications implementing UPnP control point functionality may access CDS located anywhere in home network.
The synchronization of this kind of metadata, however, is difficult because replicas of metadata may exist in multiple devices and/or repositories. Metadata may be altered in one repository independently of all other repositories on which it resides, making the time relation of the changes hard to determine during an attempted synchronization. Determining the time relation of changes in metadata fields would require metadata about metadata, namely, timestamps telling when changes to metadata were made. This requires additional storage space to hold the second set of metadata on each device, in order to make it available for use during synchronization. To implement such a solution, it is also required that each individual device, regardless of platform, have application logic to allow it to capture and store the additional metadata information—which is often an unattainable requirement.
There is a need in the art for a system and method which can reduce storage requirements and application/logic requirements on the individual devices themselves and, at the same time, enable metadata changes to be propagated correctly from one device to another to ensure that each device contains the most current metadata information about its media files. There is further a need to implement a metadata memory management system for streamlining conflict resolution during synchronization.

Method and apparatus for the synchronization and storage of metadata


Systems and methods are disclosed herein to provide a protective cover over one or more switches on an electronic device. For example, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, an electronic device includes a housing having a first perforation and a switch coupled to the housing. A switch cover may be placed over the switch to prevent operation of the switch, with the switch cover having a second perforation that aligns with the first perforation of the housing. A locking mechanism may be inserted at least partially through the first and second perforations to lock the switch cover to the electronic device.

Electronic devices often have user-operable switches (e.g., push buttons, pressure-sensitive buttons, turnable knobs, or other types of controls) that may be used to set various functions or control various aspects of the electronic device. For example, a network device, such as a router, may have a user-operable reset button to restart the router (e.g., to clear jammed connections or clear erroneous operations) or to restore factory defaults and clear the user's settings within the router.
There may be certain drawbacks with certain user-operable switches being readily accessible. For example, information technology (IT) personnel within a company may not want a general user of a device within the company to have access to certain switches on the device. The user, using the example above for the router, may attempt to restart the router by pressing the reset button, which may erase the IT department's settings within the router. As another example, a person may illegally attempt to gain access to a network by pressing the router's reset button to restore the factory default settings and then gain access to the network through the router. As a result, there is a need for providing controllable access to one or more switches on an electronic device.
Embodiments of the present invention and their advantages are best understood by referring to the detailed description that follows. It should be appreciated that like reference numerals are used to identify like elements illustrated in one or more of the figures.


A semiconductor memory device is highly integrated by a combination of planer cell structure with the trench etching technique. Trenches are formed on a substrate in parallel with each other, and diffused layers are on sidewalls of the trenches to provide bit lines. Gates oxide layers are formed on the bottoms of trenches and on surfaces of the substrate between adjacent two trenches, and silicon oxide layers thicker than the gate oxide layers are on the bit lines. Word lines are formed in band in parallel with each other in a direction to cross the trenches perpendicularly thereto. Channel regions are defined in portions of word lines on the bottoms of trenches and on the surfaces of substrate crossed thereby. Ion implantation is conducted into each memory transistor according to data to determine a ROM code, to set a threshold value therein.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device and a process for producing it. More particularly, the invention relates to a semiconductor memory device of mask ROM (read only memory) as so-called as a planer cell structure, and to a production process thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
A common MOS (metal-oxide semiconductor) type semiconductor integrated circuit device is formed such that field oxide separates elements and that an impurity is introduced into a substrate in the self alignment technique with gate electrodes as a mask to form source and drain regions. Such a circuit device requires one or two contacts of the source and drain regions for one transistor, so that contact margins and a wiring pitch may affect a degree of integration in circuit. To avoid that, there is a semiconductor integrated circuit device as so-called as a planer cell structure proposed for example in Japanese Patent Application Laying Open (KOKAI) Nos. 61-288464 and 63-96953.
FIGS. 1 and 2 show the planer cell structure. In the planer cell structure, continuous diffused regions 2s for source regions of memory transistor and continuous diffused regions 2d for drain regions of memory transistor are formed in parallel with each other on a substrate 1, and word lines (gate electrodes) 4 are formed to cross the both diffused regions 2s and 2d with an insulating layer 3 intervening between them on the substrate 1. The planer cell structure needs no field oxide for element separation. Further, a plurality of memory transistors share a source region 2s and a drain region 2d. Thus, a contact is enough for several to several ten's memory transistors, which is advantageous for high integration design. A size of memory cell in the planer cell structure is determined by a pitch of the diffused regions 2s, 2d for the source and drain regions, and by a pitch of the word lines 4.
There are needs in the market for more high density and integration not only in semiconductor memory devices but also in all semiconductor integrated circuit devices. To make a memory cell array of planer cell structure finer, it is necessary to reduce the pitches of the diffused regions 2s, 2d and of the words lines 4. The pitches depend upon the performance of processing apparatuses. The smallest pitch is 2 .mu.m with the processing apparatuses presently available in mass production level.
If a finer planer cell structure should be sought for, the short channel effect restricts the reduction in pitch in the diffused layers 2s, 2d. The short channel effect may be avoided by employing diffused layers of LDD (lightly doped drain) structure in common MOS transistors such as a peripheral transistor. The planer cell structure cannot be, however, suitable for use of the LDD structure because of the structural limitations thereof.

Semiconductor memory device and production process thereof


A drainage device and a method for draining a liner-type suction canister. The drainage device includes a swingarm, a drainhead, and a suction source. The drainhead is positioned to be in fluid communication with the liner-type suction canister. The swingarm rotates to activate the suction source and invert the liner-type suction canister. The contents of the liner-type suction canister drain to a sewer system. The method includes the acts of placing the liner-type suction canister on the swingarm, coupling the drainhead to the liner-type suction canister, rotating the swingarm, and activating the suction source.

The invention relates to draining bodily fluid contained in the liner of a liner-type medical suction apparatus.
Medical suction systems are used in hospital environments and particularly during various surgical procedures to drain and store bodily fluid from a patient. In general, medical suction systems are used in conjunction with a vacuum source which enables the bodily fluid to be drained from the patient.
One type of medical suction system used to drain and contain fluid from a patient is an apparatus including a disposable bag-like liner and a cover secured to the liner. Such liners are thin-walled pliable plastic members. The cover typically includes a patient port for receiving the fluid from a patient and a vacuum port for establishing a vacuum within the liner. The vacuum draws fluid from the patient through the patient port for collection in the liner.
It has become important in environments such as hospitals to eliminate the handling of and thus reduce personnel exposure to bodily fluids. Hospitals typically dispose of the bodily fluid contained in a liner-type medical suction apparatus in various ways. Bodily fluid can be poured from the liner through a port in the cover down the hospital sink and into the sewer system, can be incinerated as a liquid or solid, or can be disposed of at an approved hazardous waste site. Since the liner is in the form of a pliable bag filled with liquid, special disposal handling is required in order to prevent puncturing or bursting due to contact with sharp objects.

Medical suction apparatus and methods for draining same


Embodiments of the invention provide a head/slider supporting structure which has connection properties excellent in solder ball connections of a slider pad and a lead pad. According to one embodiment, in a head/slider supporting structure for connecting a slider and a lead wire by re-flowing a solder ball, a connection distance between a slider pad and an extreme end portion of the lead wire is reduced to enhance the performance of solder connection. The lead wire is inclined forwardly of the slider pad.

The present invention relates to the technique for solder-connecting a head provided on a slider of a magnetic disk drive, a magneto-optical disk drive or the like and a lead wire connected to a circuit base plate, and more specifically, to the technique for enhancing the positive properties of connection between a slider pad and a lead wire using a solder ball.
In the magnetic disk drive, a head for converting a magnetic signal to an electric signal carries out writing or reading of data with respect to the magnetic disk. A head and a slider constitute a head/slider, and a supporting structure called a suspension assembly supports the head/slider. The head/slider flies, in reading or writing data, above the magnetic disk which rotates at high speed while performing track following operation called pitch and roll movement or gimbals movement.
A semiconductor chip for carrying out control and data transfer of the magnetic disk drive is mounted on the circuit base plate, and it is necessary to electrically connect the head and the circuit base plate of the magnetic disk drive by means of a lead wire. Recently, as recording density enhances, demand of the head with respect to the control characteristics becomes severe, influence of weight, arrangement and the like of the lead wire on positional control of the head cannot be ignored. As a result, there is a tendency that a wiring integrated type flexure assembly is employed in which a wiring is adhered to or a wiring pattern is formed on the flexure to reduce unbalance given by the wiring to the gimbals characteristics of flexure. In the wiring integral type flexure assembly, the sliding pad connected to the head need be connected electrically to the end of the lead wire. As one connecting method, there is a supersonic adhesion method as shown in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 11-96710. In this method, the end of the lead wire is placed on the slider pad to provide connection while giving vibrations to a gold ball by means of a bonding tool. Recently, the magnetic disk drive is further miniaturized, the slider is also miniaturized, and the gimbals movement is made finer, because of which it becomes necessary to reduce the stress as much as possible on the slider or the lead wire when the lead wire is connected. Further, in the supersonic adhesion method, there is a fear that static electricity generated in the course of adhesion is discharged to break the slider or the head, and there is pointed out limitation as the adhesion method for further miniaturized head/slider.
As another method for connecting the head/slider and the lead wire, there exists a solder ball adhesion method capable of connecting with respect to a connection portion in non-contact. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-251705 discloses the technique regarding the slider ball adhesion method. FIGS. 4 and 5 of that patent reference show a method in which the bonding pad and lead pad provided on the slider are arranged at right angles, the spherical solder ball is temporarily fixed so as to come in contact with both the pads, and afterward, the solder allows re-flow by a laser beam to provide solder connection. Further, Patent Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-123217 likewise relates to the solder ball connection, and FIGS. 4 and 5 and the description of that patent reference clearly describes that an angle between the head pad and the lead pad is 90 degrees.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,896,247, the prior art with respect to the invention of Patent Document 4 is described referring to FIG. 5 thereof. In the description of FIG. 5 in that patent document, there is described that prior to mounting the slider, the flexure tang mounting the slider and the support layer are at the same level. Further, there is described that it is necessary to extend the dielectric layer toward the slider from the copper trace in order to eliminate possible short-circuiting trouble, and as a result, the slider is mounted on the flexure tang, and during the copper trace and the transducer pad are connected by solder ball or gold ball, the dielectric layer has to be pressed down by the thickness of the dielectric layer under the slider.

Head/slider supporting structure having lead wire inclined relative to slider pad

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.


An instrument cluster system for a vehicle includes a speedometer gauge having markings indicative of speeds of the vehicle, a pointer, and a speed warning indicator including adjacent lights arranged in position to correlate with the markings. A control unit receives inputs including a speed of the vehicle. GPS provides a location of the vehicle so that the control unit can obtain a posted speed limit of a road on which the vehicle is located. The control unit sends processed data to the cluster so that the cluster can control the lights based on the posted speed limit, such that lights correlating with speeds below the posted speed limit can be illuminated green and lights correlating with speeds above the posted speed limit can be illuminated red, thereby providing a visual warning to a driver as to whether the vehicle is operating above or below the posted speed limit.

In order to prevent traffic violations, certain deluxe vehicles have conventional systems that enable a driver to select a maximum speed and the vehicle will warn by an audio signal that the vehicle has exceeded the maximum speed. Also, a warn symbol may illuminate on vehicle's display cluster. For example, the user can select a maximum speed of 70 miles per hour and when the speed of the vehicle exceeds 70 miles per hour, the vehicle will issue an audible warning to warn the driver to reduce speed. This system is useful, but does not take into consideration the changing of posted speed limits. Thus, each time a posted speed limit changes, the user must enter a new maximum speed so as to receive an audible warning once the maximum speed is exceeded. Furthermore, entering the maximum speed may cause driver distraction and there are times when the driver does not know what maximum speed to enter, since the road sign indicating the posted speed limit may me missing.
There is a need in low-cost vehicles for a system that obtains the posted speed limit based on the location of the vehicle and visually warns a driver that the vehicle is exceeding the posted speed limit.

Vehicle cluster with high speed warning indicator using position data