A system for generating and consuming borohydride ions comprising two electrochemical cells. At least one of the cells is configured for installation on a vehicle that is propelled by electricity.

This invention is in the general field of electrochemical conversion, using, for example, electrochemical cells.
Pressing requirements for clean transportation, load leveling of electric utilities, as well as many other electrochemical applications have promoted significant research for new electrochemical cells. Energy density, cost, cycle life, recharge efficacy, safety, environmental effects, and serviceability are among the factors to be considered in producing a battery suitable for practical use in many applications.
The ability to convert chemical to electrical energy and back again has been well known for almost two centuries. However, certain applications, such as electric vehicles, have requirements for energy density, low cost, and long cycle life which are difficult to meet when constructing commercially practical cells that are operable and safe. For example, a high theoretical energy density (see the discussion of this term below) may in some cases be associated with increased weight of the components, thereby undercutting the theoretical advantages.
I have discovered that the use of boron redox species can provide an electrochemical cell with a favorable balance of characteristics, such as available energy, energy density, capital and operating cost, recharge efficiency, safety, environmental impact, serviceability and longevity.
Accordingly one aspect of the invention generally features an electrochemical storage medium comprising a carrier mixed with a reduced boron-containing compound (preferably borohydride), the reduced compound being oxidizable to an oxidized boron-containing compound (preferably borate or polyborates; in non-aqueous systems using a halogen-containing reducing agent, borontrichloride may be produced) concurrent with the generation of an electric current when the storage medium is in electrical contact with an electrode that carries current generated during that oxidation. The carrier may be an aqueous or a non-aqueous solution, e.g., a liquid that dissolves the reduced compound and contacts the electrode so that the reduced boron-containing compound can provide electrons directly to the electrode, rather than indirectly through a stable intermediate such as hydrogen. Preferred non-aqueous liquids include anhydrous ammonia; dimethylformamide; dimethylsulfoxide, amines; non-amine organic bases; alcohols; alkene carbonates; and glycols; specific liquids include tripropylamine; pyridine; quinoline; triethanolamine; monoethanolamine; ethylene glycol; propylene glycol; methanol; ethanol; ethylene carbonate; and propylene carbonate. The non-aqueous solution may include a solubilizer or a conductivity enhancer, such as EDTA, crown ethers, cryptates, and quaternary ammonium salts.
A particularly interesting embodiment of this aspect of the invention includes a redox cycling pair that acts semi-catalytically to aid in the current generation. The redox cycling pair is chosen so that oxidized member of the redox cycling pair is reducible by borohydride to yield the reduced member of the redox cycling pair and borate, and the reduced member of the redox pair participates in a redox cycle which regenerates the oxidized member of the redox cycling pair while donating electrons. The storage medium is in electrical contact with an electrode for receiving those electrons in a current. Specific redox cycling pairs include: those having a metal hydride alloy as the reduced member; those having palladium or a palladium alloy (e.g., palladium/silver) as the reduced member; those having a metal as the reduced member; those having a metal hydride as the reduced member, as defined below in greater detail. Specific pairs are: gallium/gallate, sulfite/thiosulfate, Sn(OH)6/HSnO2, Mn/Mn2+, PO3xe2x88x922/HPO3xe2x88x922, Cr/CrO2, Te/Texe2x88x922, and Se/Sexe2x88x922. Desirably, the hydrogen pressure of the reduced member of the redox pair is less than 760 mm, preferably less than 38 mm. The above described redox cycling pair can be used with the battery and other aspects of the invention described below.
In another aspect of the invention, the storage medium is positioned to be the anode of a battery, which includes an anode and a cathode in electrical communication. The reduced compound is oxidizable to an oxidized boron-containing compound concurrent with the discharge of the battery, e.g., when the reduced compound contacts the electrode and delivers electrons to it. Available air may be the oxidizing agent, or the battery may include an oxidizing agent, such as: O2; compounds comprising oxygen and a halogen; and X2, where X is a halogen. Preferred agents are: perchlorate (ClO4xe2x88x92), chlorate (ClO3xe2x88x92), chlorite (ClO2xe2x88x92), hypochlorite (OClxe2x88x92), chlorine (Cl2), bromine (Br2), bromate (BrO3xe2x88x92) iodate (IO3xe2x88x92) or other comparable halogen/oxygen compounds. Other preferred agents are those which contain elements that may easily change between two or more oxidation states, in general, starting in the higher state. These compounds may or may not be soluble in the carrier medium, and they may be used as a solution, slurry, paste, gel or any other desired form. Preferred agents include: a) [Mn(VII)O4]xe2x88x92 (e.g., sodium permanganate); b) [Fe(VI)O4]xe2x88x922 (e.g., sodium ferrate); c) Ce (IV)OH(NO3)3 (basic cerium nitrate); d) [Ce(IV)(NO3)6]xe2x88x922 (e.g., as ammonium cerium nitrate); e) [Fe(III)(CN)4]xe2x88x923 (ferricyanide); f) [Cr(VI)O4]xe2x88x922 (chromate); g) [Sn(IV)O3]xe2x88x922 (stannate); h) [Bi(V)O3]xe2x88x92 (bismuthate); i) Mn(IV)O2; j) Ag(I)2O; k) Ag(II)O; l) Ce(IV)O2; m) Pb(IV)O2; n) Ni(III)O(OH); o) Ni(IV)O2; p) Co(III)O(OH); q) [N(V)O3]xe2x88x92 (e.g., ammonium nitrate, sodium nitrate, lithium nitrate, calcium nitrate); r) [NO2]xe2x88x92 (e.g., sodium nitrite); s) [S2O8]xe2x88x922 (e.g., ammonium or sodium peroxydisulfate); t) compounds containing Cu(III), Tl(III), Hg (II), Se (VI), or Te(VI); or u) R(NO2)n where R is an alkyl, aryl, or arylakyl organic group and n=1-6 (e.g., mono- or poly- or pernitro organic compounds). Note that valences are supplied simply to aid in understanding the nature of the oxidizing agents, but not necessarily as a claim limitation. Still other oxidizing agents are trinitrobenzoic acid, hexanitrobenzene, or trinitrobenzene.
The anolyte and catholyte of the battery may be separated by a permiselective membrane, such as an anionic membrane, a cationic membrane, or a bipolar membrane. The cathode may be an air breathing cathode, e.g., with a catholyte which can be oxidized by air (e.g., in basic solution) to produce an agent that then oxidizes borohydride to borate with the generation of electrical current, preferably in a cycle that includes regenerating the catholyte after it has generated electricity by oxidizing the borohydride, thus allowing its reuse. For example, the catholyte can contain iodate (IO3); ferricyanide and ferrocyanide; chromate and Cr+3; manganese at valence +2 and +3; tin at valence +2 and +4; Cobalt at valence +2 and +3; a catalyst to aid the reoxidation of the oxidation agent to the higher oxidation state by air. The battery may include a chamber separate from the cathode compartment in which reoxidation of the catholyte takes place. The battery may include two units, one that is the direct air breather, and another unit which comprises a catholyte which can be oxidized by air and can then oxidize borohydride to borate with the generation of electrical current using air indirectly. The battery may also include a bipolar electrode. It may have external storage tanks for storage of the anolyte, the catholyte, or both the anolyte and the catholyte. The cell to generate electricity by oxidation of borohydride may be physically separated from the cell to generate the borohydride from the borate, or it may be the same cell as that used to generate borohydride from borates. A controller may be connected to at least one source of a reactant, to determine the transport of the reactant to the anode or the cathode, and a monitor which determines a battery characteristic and produces a signal to the controller in response to monitored values of the characteristic. For example, at least one probe responds to a characteristic selected from ORP, conductivity, voltage, current and power output, ion concentration, pH, index of refraction, calorimetric, COD, turbidity, density to generate an input signal, the input signal being transmitted to an electronic processor, the processor being connected to the controller which controls flow into a battery compartment. The battery electrode may include a conductive substrate such as stainless steel which is coated. Electrodes that are particularly useful (e.g., to avoid generating hydrogen) include a) an alloy of bismuth, thallium, cadmium, tin, gallium, lead or indium; b) mercury or mercury amalgamated with other metals or mercury coated on a conductive substrate; c) tellurium or tellurides. The electrode may include additional materials to improve corrosion resistance or other properties of the electrode. The may be a bipolar electrode having two sides, one of the sides being coated with said substance, and a second side being coated with a material of low oxygen overvoltage such as gold, or iridium oxide; alternatively the second side is a standard air breathing electrode. The bipolar electrode comprises a sheet of conductive material, such as stainless steel or gold plated copper, or another appropriate metal. The electrode may have a smooth or high surface area of foam metal or tubes, cylinder, fibers, or another geometric shape, powder, coated or uncoated catalyzed or uncatalyzed.
Batteries as described above may be configured as a sealed unit of physical size and shape and correct voltage range to meet form fit and function specifications of a standard battery for a consumer electronic or electrical device. e.g, a button for a hearing aid; AAA; AA; A; B; C; D; 9 volt; a computer battery; a cellular phone battery. Also, the battery may be characterized by voltage and current production suitable for ignition and starter motor operation in a vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine, or it may be suitable for installation on a vehicle that uses electricity either partially or entirely to propel the vehicle. The battery may also be suitable for storage of electricity for applications such as electric utility load leveling and other means of storage of electricity. This aspect of the invention also features generating a current over time by connecting the battery to a load, in which case the current is generated by oxidation of the reduced boron-containing compound. The battery may be recharged by applying an electrical potential to the anode to regenerate borohydride anion from borate anion. Alternatively, discharged anolyte solution may be replaced with anolyte comprising borohydride anion suitable for oxidation to borate anion.
Another aspect of the invention features synthesizing a borane ion (borohydride) by electrical reduction of borate ion, e.g., as a method of recharging a battery. The synthesis may be monitored using of a probe which generates an electrical signal representative of a characteristic selected from ORP, conductivity, voltage, current and power input, ion concentration, pH, index of refraction, calorimetric, COD, turbidity, density, said signal being transmitted to an electronic processor, the processor being connected to the controller which controls flow into a battery compartment which is connected to a regulate flow into each compartment, e.g., via pumps, valves and other appropriate conveyances. Typically, the borate and borohydride ion are in an aqueous carrier. The cathode of the cell can be an electrode of high hydrogen overpotential, the reduction of borate ions being accomplished by applying a potential to an electrode which may be comprised of an alloy of bismuth, thallium, cadmium, tin, lead, gallium and indium. Alternatively, the electrode for application of a potential is comprised of mercury or mercury amalgamated with other metals or mercury coated on a conductive substrate. The electrode may also contain tellurium or tellurides. Such electrodes inhibit the release of hydrogen gas while current is passed through. Electrode additives to improve characteristics such as corrosion resistance may be added. Other highly reduced species (in addition to borohydride) may be recovered, e.g., species comprising metals or compounds from aqueous and/or non aqueous systems. As before, in this method, a bipolar electrode may be used; also, a permiselective membrane maybe used, e.g., an anionic membrane, a cationic membrane, or a bipolar membrane. Oxygen may be released from an anode while producing borohydride in a catholyte. An oxidized species may be produced as a product in an anode chamber. Non-borohydride boranes may be produced by adding partial reduction adducts or other adducts to the catholyte, such as cyanide ion, amide ion, halide ions, and pseudohalides.
In yet another aspect, the invention generally features transporting a borohydride anion from a generation point to a consumption point, by applying an electrical potential to a solution of oxidized borohydride at the generation point to produce borohydride in a first cell and transporting the borohydride solution to the consumption point where the borohydride is provided for oxidization in a second cell. Also, spent solution comprising oxidized borohydride may be transported from the consumption point to the generation site and applying the electrical potential to the spent solution at the generation point to produce borohydride in the first cell. The resulting borohydride may be used as described above. Alternatively, it may be combined with water to generate hydrogen by reduction of water, e.g., catalyzed by the presence of transition metal compounds such as a cobalt (II) compound (e.g., cobalt(II)hydroxide). The hydrogen may be collected and transported to a hydrogen consumption point, e.g., an industrial hydrogen user. The oxidized borohydride solution may be transported back to the generation point to be reused for generation of borohydride.
This system may be used with cells that are configured to be suitable for installation on a vehicle that uses electricity either partially or entirely to propel the vehicle, or they may be used for storage of electricity for applications such as electric utility load leveling and other means of storage of electricity. In short, this aspect features a system of transporting borohydride as a method of transporting energy to a given location, e.g., a system of transporting and distributing borohydride such that vehicles that operate with borohydride may fill up with fresh borohydride and discharge the borates. The borate solution is converted to borohydride solution with a cell for synthesizing borohydride, e.g., for recharging a battery, by electrical reduction of borate ion.
The system benefits from the very high energy of electrode couples based on the use of borohydrides at the anode. Additionally, the system is versatile because the reactants can be used in a wide variety of chemical environments, for both secondary and primary cells. xe2x80x9cSecondaryxe2x80x9d refers to the ability to recharge the cell and xe2x80x9cprimaryxe2x80x9d refers to a system where the original reactants are used only once and not regenerated by a charging reaction. Another feature that provides versatility is the solubility of reactants in water or other solvents, enabling configurations in which the reactants are flowed through a cell or kept stationary in a paste or gel or solution.
The reactants may be varied to include a wide variety of oxidizing agents for the cathode of the battery, including oxygen which may be taken in from ambient air. This flexibility allows many configurations from low power-long life to high power-long life as needed. The ability to store liquid fuel external to the cell is key to providing a long range system where electrode area is independent from the total energy stored, for example, in applications such as utility load leveling and automotive transportation. The spent liquid can be rapidly exchanged for fresh liquid instead of actually having to recharge the system using electricity.
The term xe2x80x9cElectroconversion Cellxe2x80x9d includes operation either to convert electricity to chemicals or chemicals to electricity and operation as either a primary cell or a secondary cell or a fuel cell or a synthesis cell or any combination of the above.
Cell refers to any electrochemical system whether producing or consuming electricity and/or producing and consuming chemicals. Battery refers to any combination of cells used to produce electricity. Primary cell refers to a cell designed to deliver electricity but not to be recharged. Secondary refers to a cell that can both deliver electricity and be recharged. Fuel cell refers to a cell that generates electricity by consuming xe2x80x9cfuelsxe2x80x9d such as hydrogen, hydrazine or methanol with oxygen and generally will produce electricity as long as fuels are supplied but does not reverse its function to recharge or produce the materials that it has consumed. As noted, Electroconversion Cells refers to cells defined below having the ability to function in one or more of several modes.
In the following equations, references to a voltage (E0 or Exc2xd) imply standard conditions and are provided for calculations only. Cells that operate at conditions (including concentrations, temperatures and pressures) other than standard will exhibit different voltages. Nothing about the voltage listed should be considered in any way as limiting the rich variety of cells and battery combinations offered by the Electroconversion Cell, nor does the listing imply past or future actual attainment of the listed voltage. E0 refers to the voltage of a complete reaction and E1/2 or E1/2 refers to a half reaction which occurs in one part of a cell while another half reaction must be occurring in the cell as well.
xe2x80x9cElectrodexe2x80x9d is a very broad term and refers to a conductive material that conducts electrons in or out of a cell. Anodes and cathodes are both electrodes. Bipolar electrodes (one side is the anode the opposite side is the cathode to an adjacent cell) are electrodes. Electrodes can be solid or liquid. Air breathing electrodes must interact with a gas as well. In recent years a very wide variety of electrodes has become available. Electrodes may be as simple as a sheet of steel or may be a xe2x80x9cfoam metalxe2x80x9d or colloidal, or a powder. Electrodes can be almost any shape including sheets (plates), tubes, cylinder, cubes, spheres or almost any shape that can be designed for a given purpose. They may have many characteristics, porous, non-porous, flow through, scavenger and on and on. While any number of these electrode types are useable in the Electroconversion Cells to obtain a desired result, none is specifically required to utilize the electrochemistry as revealed in this invention. Therefore, whenever electrodes are mentioned, any configuration of electrodes used in a real battery or cell that utilizes the chemistry as disclosed herein is considered as an embodiment of this invention.
When a cell is operating to discharge and thereby produce electricity the electrode that interacts with the xe2x80x9cfuelxe2x80x9d that gets oxidized is called the anode. The liquid in this chamber is called the anolyte. The other half of cell has an electrode called a cathode and the solution in this chamber is called the catholyte. In a cell with no barrier to maintain different chemistries (such as the common lead-acid battery) the anolyte and catholyte are one in the same (in the lead-acid battery it is sulfuric acid) and is often simply called the electrolyte. In any event electrolyte as used herein will refer to any conducting liquid or suspension in any function.
When a battery is being recharged, electricity is being put into the cells. Under these conditions the components functions reverse and the anode is now the cathode and visa versa.
An alternative nomenclature is to call the anode of the discharging cell the negative electrode. Indeed electrons flow out of this side of the battery and travel through the load to the positive side of the battery. During recharge electrons flow into the negative electrode and this designation does not change based on whether the battery is charging or discharging.
Energy is used in units of watt-hours (wh) or kilowatt hours (kwh) or kilojoules (kJ). Power is used in units of watts (w) or kilowatts (kw). Energy density refers to an amount of energy available from a certain volume of cell or material, expressed, for example as watt-hours per liter (wh/l) or in kilowatts per liter (kwh/l). Specific energy refers to energy available from a certain mass of cell or material, expressed as watt-hours per kilogram. (wh/kg) or kilowatts per kilograom (kwh/kg). Energy density and specific energy are related to each by the density of the material or system. Specific power refers to the amount of power available per unit weight usually in watts/kg. A sparger is a device that facilitates gas/liquid contact, for example, a device with fine pores that breaks up a gas flow into very fine bubbles to achieve a very high surface area interface with a liquid.
The inventor uses a unit of his own definition: the Volt-Faraday (xe2x80x9cV-Fxe2x80x9d). This V-F unit is found by multiplying the voltage of a reaction by the number of electrons participating in the reaction. It is a quick way to determine available energies for batteries. Thus, 37.31 V-F equals one kilowatt-hour (1000 watt-hours); one V-F equals 26.8 watt-hours.
In many examples the inventor calculates the theoretical energy density or theoretical specific energy. These are for comparison purposes and should not be construed as being achievable in any real battery system. Nor should any such number be considered as a requirement for any embodiment of the Electroconversion Cell. Theoretical calculations do not take into account any containers, electrodes, pumps or any auxiliary gear that may be required to make a real cell. Such calculations are useful to predict at the outset whether a particular chemistry has even a theoretical chance of achieving a certain goal.
Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description of the preferred embodiments and from the claims.


Disclosed is a transistor device which includes a semiconductor body having a first surface, a source region, a drift region, a body region being arranged between the source region and the drift region, a gate electrode adjacent the body region and dielectrically insulated from the body region by a gate dielectric, and a field electrode adjacent the drift region and dielectrically insulated from the drift region by a field electrode dielectric, wherein the field electrode comprises a first layer and a second layer, wherein the first layer has a lower electrical resistance than the second layer, wherein a portion of the second layer is disposed above and directly contacts a portion of the first layer.

Field-effect controlled transistor devices with insulated gate electrode are widely used as electronic switches in a plurality of different electronic applications such as automotive, industrial, household, or consumer electronic applications, to name only a few. These types of transistors are usually referred to as power MOS (Metal Oxide Semiconductor) transistors although the gate electrode (which is represented by the "M") not necessarily includes a metal and the gate dielectric (which is represented by the "O") not necessarily includes an oxide. MOS transistors include MOSFETs (Metal Oxide Field-Effect Transistors) and IGBTs (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors).
One specific type of power MOS transistor includes a gate electrode that controls a switching state (on or off) of the transistor, and a field electrode adjacent a drift region and dielectrically insulated from the drift region by a field electrode dielectric. The field electrode is charged when the MOS transistor switches off and discharged when the MOS transistor switches on again. The switching behaviour, that is, how fast the MOS transistor device switches off and switches on is dependent on how fast the field electrode is charged and discharged.
There is a need to provide a transistor device with a predictable switching behaviour.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Transistor device with a field electrode that includes two layers


Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for methods and systems for preparing chromosomal spread for a selected cell so that chromosomal spreads and/or translocations can be correlated with the selected cell.

The shape and size of the nucleus is an important prognostic marker for diseases. In particular, the shape and size of the nucleus in a cell can be used to identify a number of different types of cancers. However, the mechanisms by which the cancer nucleus becomes abnormal in shape are poorly understood. One potential mechanism is that altered number of chromosomes and/or chromosomal translocations contribute to abnormal cancer nuclear shapes.
Currently, methods that can be used to prepare chromosomal spreads rely on colliding a drop containing many cells (e.g., millions of mitotic cells (cells lacking a nucleus)) against a surface to spread out the DNA. The disadvantage of this method is that it is not possible to map a given chromosomal spread to an image of the nucleus that housed it, nor the cell. This makes it difficult to correlate chromosomal spreads and/or translocations with cell and nuclear phenotype.

Systems and methods for using a single-cell to create chromosomal spreads

University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.


Provided are compositions derived from a polycarboxylic acid, a polyhydroxy compound, a dye and a vanadium catalyst. The compositions can be used to prepare films that can be used to prepare color filter elements via thermal transfer processes.

Thermal transfer processes that use radiation to transfer material from a donor element to a receiver element are known. Thermal transfer imaging processes are used in applications such as color proofing, electronic circuit manufacture, the manufacture of monochrome and color filters, and lithography.
Color filters can be manufactured by thermally transferring a layer of colored material from a donor element onto a receiver. Typically, the transferred layer comprises a polymeric material and one or more dyes and/or pigments. The polymeric material can comprise a cross-linkable binder that can be cured to form a more chemically and physically stable layer, one that is less susceptible to damage.
There remains a need, however, to identify catalysts that facilitate consolidation of the films via partial oxidation of organic binders.

Compositions and processes for preparing color filter elements using vanadium catalysts


An apparatus for optically reading information out of an opto-magnetic disk including a semiconductor laser emitting a polarized laser light beam which is made incident upon the opto-magnetic disk via beam splitter, reflection surface and objective lens. The light beam reflected by the opto-magnetic disk is made incident upon a photodetector by the objective lens and beam splitter. In order to compensate for the phase difference of P polarized and S polarized light components of the light beam reflected by the opto-magnetic disk within a wavelength over which the wavelength of the light beam might fluctuate due to the temperature variation, multi film constructions are provided in the beam splitter and reflection surface, the multi film constructions having such characteristics that the wavelength dependencies of the phase difference of the beam splitter and reflection surface can be made substantially a constant value such as zero and 90 degrees.

Field of the Invention and Related Art Statements
The present invention relates to an apparatus for optically reading information out of an optical record medium such as opto-magnetic disk.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,730,297, there is described a known apparatus for optically reading information out of an opto-magnetic disk. FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic side and plan views, respectively showing this known apparatus for reading information recorded on an opto-magnetic disk. In this apparatus in order to move a light spot onto a desired information track promptly, the apparatus comprises a stationary unit S including semiconductor laser 1, collimator lens 2, beam splitter 3, analyzer 7, converging lens 8 and photodetector 9, and a movable unit M including light guide member 4 and objective lens 6. The movable unit M is movably secured to the stationary unit S by means of a bearing B such that the movable unit is rotatable about an optical axis of the stationary unit S. This known apparatus is sometimes called a separation and rotation type. A laser light beam emitted from the semiconductor laser 1 is converted into a parallel light beam by means of the collimator lens 2. The parallel light beam is then transmitted through the beam splitter 3 and is made incident upon an opto-magnetic disk 6 via the light guide member 4 and objective lens 5 arranged in the movable unit M. Light reflected by the opto-magnetic disk 6 is made incident upon the beam splitter 3 by means of the objective lens 5 and light guide member 4. The light beam is then reflected by the beam splitter 4 and is made incident upon the photodetector 9 by means of the analyzer 7 and converging lens 8. The photodetector 9 generates a reproduced signal which represents the information recorded in the opto-magnetic disk 6.
The light guide member 4 is formed by a prism having reflection surfaces. Therefore, there is introduced the retardation into the light beam reflected by the reflection surfaces. That is to say, there is produced a phase difference between the P and S polarized light components. Such a phase difference might deteriorate C/N of the reproduced signal. In order to remove the retardation, the light guide member 4 is constructed to have four reflection surfaces 4a to 4d as illustrated in a plan view of FIG. 1B. The reflection surface 4c is arranged to be rotated about an optical axis L1 by 90 degrees with respect to the reflection surface 4a, and the reflection surface 4d is provided to be rotated about an optical axis L2 by 90 degrees with respect to the reflection surface 4b.
In the known optical reading apparatus, the light guide member 4 is formed to include the four reflection surfaces 4a to 4d which are arranged as stated above, it is possible to cancel the phase difference between the P and S polarized light components. However, the construction of the light guide member 4 is liable to be complicated, large in size and expensive in cost. Moreover, the phase difference generated by the beam splitter could not be compensated for at all.
In Japanese Patent Laid-open Kokai Sho No. 62-223842, there is disclosed another known apparatus for optically reading the information recorded in the opto-magnetic disk. In this known apparatus, the light guide member 4 shown in FIG. 1B is formed by a parallelogram prism. In order remove the retardation the two reflection surfaces of the prism are formed by multi film constructions which have such optical characteristics that the retardations produced by the reflection surfaces are canceled out. However, in the known apparatus the thin film constructions are formed such that the retardations are canceled out at a predetermined wavelength. In practice, the phase difference has the wavelength dependency and when the wavelength of the light beam is varied, the phase difference could not be canceled out and C/N of the reproduced signal becomes worse. Therefore, when the wavelength of the laser light emitted by the semiconductor laser 1 fluctuates due to the variation in the output power and operating temperature, C/N of the reproduced signal is deteriorated. Further also in this known apparatus, the phase difference introduced by the beam splitter 3 is not taken into account. It should be noted that C/N of the reproduced signal is represented by the following equation: ##EQU1## wherein Rs denotes a reflectance of the optical system for the information component of the light beam, .delta. a phase difference of the optical system, .theta.k a Kerr rotation angle at the opto-magnetic disk 6 and .delta.e represents an initial phase difference of the optical system including the opto-magnetic disk 6. Therefore, when the phase difference .delta. is increased, C/N of the reproduced signal is decreased.

Optical information reading apparatus with multi film elements to compensate for wavelength fluctuation


A unit cell of a metal-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MESFET) is provided. The unit cell includes a MESFET having a source, a drain and a gate. The gate is between the source and the drain and on a channel layer of the MESFET. The channel layer has a first thickness on a source side of the channel layer and a second thickness, thicker than the first thickness, on a drain side of the channel layer. Related methods of fabricating MESFETs are also provided herein.

Electrical circuits requiring high power handling capability while operating at high frequencies such as radio frequencies, S-band and X-band have in recent years become more prevalent. Because of the increase in high power, high frequency circuits there has been a corresponding increase in demand for transistors that are capable of reliably operating at radio frequencies and above while still being capable of handling higher power loads.
Metal-semiconductor field effect transistors (MESFETs) have been developed for high frequency applications. The MESFET construction may be preferable for high frequency applications because only majority carriers carry current. The MESFET design may be preferred over current MOSFET designs because the reduced gate capacitance permits faster switching times of the gate input. Therefore, although all field-effect transistors utilize only majority carriers to carry current, the Schottky gate structure of the MESFET may make the MESFET more desirable for high frequency applications.
As discussed in Split-gate Field-Effect Transistor by Shur (Appl. Phys. Lett., vol. 54, pages 162-164, January 1989) and Dual-Material Gate (DMG) Field Effect Transistor by Long et al. (IEEE Trans. Electron Dev., vol. 46, pp. 865-870, May 1999), performance of field effect transistor (FET) structures may be improved by providing for a lateral variation of the threshold and/or pinch-off voltage along the channel of the device. For example, in a silicon Laterally-diffused metal oxide semiconductor (Si LDMOS) structure the threshold voltage along the channel may be varied using a laterally diffused p-type layer as discussed in Modeling Analysis and Design of RF LDMOS Devices Using Harmonic-Balance Device Simulation by Rotella et al. (IEEE Tran.Electron Dev., vol 48, pp. 991-999, June 2000). As discussed therein, devices having more positive threshold voltages on the source side of the gate exhibit a higher electron velocity over a large part under the gate, higher drain current and higher, more uniform transconductance.

Metal semiconductor field effect transistors (MESFETS) having channels of varying thicknesses and related methods


Various embodiments are provided herein for modifying a virtual scene based on eye-tracking. A computing device coupled to a HMD can provide a virtual scene for display on the HMD. The computing device can receive sensor data from a set of eye-tracking sensors coupled to the HMD. Based on the received sensor data, the computing device can determine a set of focal regions of the displayed virtual scene, including a perifoveal region of the displayed virtual scene. A portion of the virtual scene can then be modified based, in part, on a determination that the portion is outside of the determined perifoveal region.

Virtual reality technology employs specialized computing hardware and software to provide users immersive virtual environments to interact with and explore. Virtual reality technologies can place users into virtual, computer-generated environments, where they can perceive and interact with virtual objects rendered therein. An essential part of any media production is creating and arranging scenery, or staging, which is an important part of audience engagement and enjoyment.
In the context of interactive systems, such as virtual reality, unexpected staging is sometimes required as a virtual scene can react to user input, or user interaction with the virtual scene. Thus, creating or arranging virtual objects at runtime is needed in many virtual reality applications, as a virtual scene can change in many ways as a user interacts with the virtual environment.

Using eye tracking to hide virtual reality scene changes in plain sight


A system (10) is disclosed that includes a monitor (16) for use in performing 12-lead electrocardiographic (ECG) and body surface mapping (BSM) analyses on a patient (12) with a single ten-electrode cable set (14). The monitor receives nine leads of data from the electrode cable set and initially preprocesses it to simplify further analysis. Then the data is transformed to produce a spatial distribution relative to the patient's chest, representative of the data that would be collectible with a 192-electrode set. Feature extraction techniques are also described for use in evaluating transformed, as well as conventional, BSM data with respect to clinically evaluated populations. In that regard, features of interest are extracted from the data and statistically analyzed to detect select cardiac conditions.

Many physiological activities have electrical signals associated therewith. For example, the operation of the heart is regulated by electrical signals produced by the heart's sinoatrial (SA) node. Normally, the SA node produces an electrical impulse roughly 60 times a minute.
Each impulse generated by the SA node initially spreads across the atria of the heart. After reaching the atrioventricular (AV) node of the heart, the impulse then travels downward to the ventricles. The electrical impulse depolarizes the muscle fibers as it spreads, with atrial and ventricular contractions occurring after the impulses pass. After contracting, the muscle cells are unable to react again for a short interval of time known as the refractory period. Eventually, the muscle fibers repolarize and return to their resting state.
As will be appreciated, the electrical activity initiated by the SA node is, thus, representative of the operation of a patient's heart. To allow the heart's operation to be analyzed, a variety of techniques have been developed for collecting and interpreting data concerning the electrical activity of the heart. Perhaps the most basic of these approaches is the three-lead electrocardiogram (ECG).
A three-lead ECG system typically employs a monitor and four "limb" electrodes, attached to the patient, to collectively monitor three voltages or "leads." Specifically, a left arm electrode (L) is placed on the patient's left arm. Similarly, a right arm electrode (R) is placed on the patient's right arm. A left leg electrode (F) is attached to the patient's left leg and a right leg or "ground" electrode (G) is attached to the patient's right leg.
As an electrical impulse spreads across the heart, the monitor repetitively measures the voltages at electrodes L, R, and F, relative to the ground electrode G. These voltages are designated vL, vR, and vF, respectively.
The first of the leads (I) evaluated by the monitor is equal to the difference between the voltages at electrodes L and R (I=vL-vR). Similarly, the second lead (II) monitored with the electrodes is equal to the difference between the voltages at electrodes F and R (II=vF-vR). Finally, the third lead (III) evaluated by the monitor is equal to the difference between the voltages at electrodes F and L (III=vF-vL).
The waveforms produced by plotting each of the leads over an interval of time corresponding to one cardiac cycle are conventionally divided into a number of segments. The portion of each waveform representing atrial depolarization is referred to as the "P" segment or wave. Depolarization of the ventricular muscle fibers is then represented by "Q," "R," and "S" segments of the waveform. Finally, the portion of the waveform representing repolarization of the ventricular muscle fibers is known as the "T" segment or wave.
To simplify the analysis of the three leads I, II, and III of data, the heart is generally treated as a dipolar source of electrical activity, positioned at the intersection of transverse, superior, and inferior axes of the patient's body. Each of the three leads is regarded as being equally sensitive to all sections of the heart. Lead I is, however, interpreted as representing electrical activity on the transverse axis, while leads II and III are interpreted as representing activity on the superior and inferior axes.
As will be appreciated, the leads are influenced by a variety of factors. For example, the size of the patient's heart, as well as its location and orientation relative to the patient's trunk, will affect the magnitudes of the leads. The presence of heart disease will also typically impact the waveforms. Further, the size, fat content, and air content of the patient's trunk, as well as the existence of any physical deformities or diseases, may influence the waveforms. Finally, the relative positioning of the electrodes on the patient may alter the waveforms sensed.
To properly interpret the three leads I, II, and III of data, a physician must be trained to recognize and identify the influence of these various factors. The physician must also understand the dipolar cardiac model and the resultant relationship between the three leads and the cardiac activity of interest.
In that regard, a physician's analysis of three-lead ECG data typically begins with the selection of the particular lead or leads to be reviewed. In that regard, because lead I reflects cardiac activity on the transverse body axis, the physician would most likely review lead I to detect lateral infarction or coronary vessel involvement. Similarly, because leads II and III reflect cardiac activity on the superior-inferior axes of the patient's body, they are reviewed to detect, for example, inferior disease.
Having selected a lead for analysis, the physician typically makes an initial assessment based upon the overall appearance of the waveform. The physician must also recognize the significance of particular features of the waveform. In that regard, a number of waveform features have been identified for use in diagnosing various heart conditions.
The area of the "QRST" segment of the waveform has been recognized as indicating disparity of recovery properties. As will be appreciated, the waveform's area can be computed by integrating the waveform over the interval of time during which the ventricular muscle fibers are depolarized and repolarized. A change in QRST area may indicate the presence of disease.
Another waveform feature used to diagnose the heart's condition is an analysis of the "ST" segment of the waveform. In that regard, the displacement of the ST segment is generally indicative of acute injury. For example, an elevated ST segment associated with Q waves indicates an acute or recent infarct. The analysis of the ST segment is usually based upon data collected from more than the three leads describes above.
A related form of analysis is referred to as "late-potential" analysis. Late-potential analysis involves the expansion of the time-scale of the QRS segment of the waveform and a detailed review of the expanded segment for features not apparent in a conventional display of the waveform. More particularly, the expanded segment is reviewed for low level activity that persists into the ST segment.
While the three-lead system described above is generally useful in evaluating the condition of the patient's heart, it does have certain limitations. For example, because the three-lead analysis is based upon a dipolar view of the heart, the leads have little selective sensitivity to the operation of particular regions of the heart. Depending upon the nature of the cardiac event to be detected, this lack of sensitivity may prevent the three-lead data from being diagnostically useful.
One effort to increase the regional sensitivity of ECGs led to the development of "12-lead" ECGs. A 12-lead ECG system includes the limb electrodes of a conventional three-lead ECG system. In addition, a 12-lead system includes six "precordial" electrodes, positioned on the patient's chest. The six precordial electrodes were originally added to allow the electrical activity of individual regions of the heart to be more directly sensed. In practice, however, the dipolar model of the heart has been retained and the 12 leads interpreted to evaluate electrical activity along the three axes.
Although the 12-lead ECG configuration has been described as allowing a limited form of "mapping" to be performed, for the purposes of the ensuing discussion it will be more precisely referred to as a technique for introducing selective sensitivity into the leads of an ECG system. In contrast, as will be described in greater detail below, mapping is more appropriately used to describe approaches involving the evaluation or presentation of spatial distributions of data over the patient's chest.
Reviewing the construction and operation of a 12-lead ECG system in greater detail, as noted above, six precordial electrodes are added to the four limb electrodes of a three-lead ECG system. In that regard, a first precordial electrode (p1) is attached to the front of the patient's chest, to the right of the sternum in the fourth rib interspace. A second precordial electrode (p2) is also attached to the front of the patient's chest, left of the fourth rib interspace. A fourth precordial electrode (p4) is positioned at the left midclavicular line in the fifth rib interspace. The third precordial electrode (p3) is positioned midway between electrodes p2 and p4. Finally, the fifth precordial electrode (p5) is positioned at the midaxillary line in the fifth rib interspace and the sixth precordial electrode (p6) is positioned midway between electrodes p4 and p5.
The 12 leads or waveforms evaluated with the four limb electrodes and six precordial electrodes are as follows. In addition to the three leads I, II, and III already described, three leads aVR, aVL, and aVF are formed from the voltages sensed at the limb electrodes. In that regard, lead aVR=vR-(vL+vF)/2; lead aVL=vL-(vR+vF)/2; and lead aVF=vF-(vL+vR)/2.
The six precordial electrodes p1, p2, p3, p4, p5, and p6 are used to sense voltages v1, v2, v3, v4, v5, and v6, respectively, referenced to the ground electrode G. The remaining six leads are designated V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, and V6. In that regard, lead V1=v1-(vR+vL+vF)/3; lead V2=v2-(vR+vL+vF)/3; lead V3=v3-(vR+vL+vF)/3; lead V4=v4-(vR+vL+vF)/3; lead V5=v5-(vR+vL+vF)/3; and lead V6=v6-(vR+vL+vF)/3.
As will be appreciated, the 12 waveforms produced by such a system each have the various PQRST segments described above. In analyzing the 12-lead data, the physician may consider the overall appearance of the waveforms, as well as the various waveform features discussed above in connection with the three-lead system. In addition, because the 12-lead ECG contains considerably more information than the conventional three-lead ECG, the physician may choose to review only a few of the numerous leads, with the particular leads selected depending upon the cardiac features of interest.
In that regard, the dipolar model of the heart is almost universally relied upon in the analysis of 12-lead ECGs. Leads I, aVL, aVR, V5, and V6 reflect cardiac activity on the transverse body axis and are monitored to evaluate lateral disease. Leads II, III, and vF are indicative of electrical activity on the superior-inferior axes and are reviewed to evaluate inferior disease. Finally, leads V1, V2, V3, and V4 represent activity on the anteroposterior axis and are monitored to determine anterior and posterior disease.
One alternative use of the conventional 12-lead ECG system described above is the performance of a stress test. The system is virtually the same with the exception that electrodes L and R are moved from the patient's arms to the trunk. As a result, leads I, II, III, aVR, aVL, and aVF are attenuated. Cardiac stress is introduced by subjecting the patient to a regimen of vigorous exercise and the resultant leads are analyzed in conventional fashion.
As noted previously, although the 12-lead ECG originally represented an effort to adopt a regionally differentiated model of cardiac activity in place of the dipolar model, both the three-lead and 12-lead ECG are conventionally analyzed as representing the activity of a dipolar cardiac generator. Serious efforts to provide selective sensitivity to the operation of particular regions of the heart were initiated by the introduction of body surface mapping (BSM) systems. Such systems evaluate or present spatial distributions of data over the patient's chest.
Conventional body surface mapping systems employ a relatively large number of electrodes in comparison to the three-lead and 12-lead ECG systems described above. For example, much of the work done in the area of body surface mapping has been with systems employing 192 electrodes. As will be appreciated, the use of such a large number of electrodes allows the spatial distribution of voltage across the patient's chest to be relatively closely evaluated.
Unlike the ECGs discussed above, in which each lead is displayed as a time-dependent waveform, the voltages sensed at the BSM electrodes are often plotted as part of a map of the patient's chest. More particularly, the two-dimensional layout of the electrodes relative to the patient is first plotted. Then, for each point in the cardiac cycle at which measurements are made, the electrode sites having the same voltages are connected by contour lines, commonly referred to as "isopotential" lines. As a result, a series of isopotential maps are generated for for each cardiac cycle.
Although the generation of isopotential maps is relatively easy to accomplish, their interpretation can be difficult. In that regard, some relationship between the contours of the isopotential map and the particular cardiac features of interest must be established. Although a physician can make an initial evaluation based upon visual comparisons with referential maps generated for populations of known physiology, the volume of data contained in the series of maps generated over one cardiac cycle can be overwhelming. Further, because mapping is not presently widely performed, the physician's experience and familiarity with referential maps may be somewhat limited.
A variety of techniques have been developed to reduce the complexity of map analysis. For example, one way of reducing the volume of data to be dealt with involves integration of the voltages sensed at each of the electrodes over an interval of time. In that regard, if the voltage at a given electrode is plotted as a function of time, the resultant waveform generally includes the P, Q, R, S, and T segments described above. By integrating that voltage over, for example, the QRS or ST interval, a single value indicative of the sensed voltage at the electrode is produced.
A single isointegral map, representative of cardiac activity over an entire cycle, can then be generated as follows. As with the isopotential map, the two-dimensional arrangement of the electrodes relative to the patient's chest is first plotted. Next, the integrals of the waveforms at the various electrode sites are evaluated and those electrode sites having the same integral values associated therewith are connected by lines, commonly referred to as "isointegral" contours. As a result, a single isointegral map is produced representing cardiac activity over one cycle.
Even with the data reduced to a single map per cardiac cycle, interpretation can be somewhat difficult. Each map includes a multitude of potentially significant contours to be evaluated by the physician. The experience required to meaningfully interpret these contours based solely upon a visual review is considerably more extensive than that required to evaluate 12-lead ECGs. Such evaluation is further hampered by the relatively limited information available correlating map contours with cardiac activity.
To enhance the value of such maps, increasing efforts are being made to identify significant map features and to develop systems that automatically extract such features from map data. With the appropriate features extracted, a physician can then more quickly and easily interpret the data.
In that regard, one approach to feature extraction that is of particular interest is described in an article by Lux et al., entitled "Redundancy Reduction for Improved Display and Analysis of Body Surface Potential Maps, I. Spatial Compression," appearing in Volume 49 of Circulation Research at pages 186-196. Lux et al. disclose an approach in which a Karhunen-Loeve transform is used to compress the data to produce a basis function vector that allows the data to be reconstructed with minimum representational error. A stepwise discriminant analysis is then applied to the vector coefficients to classify the patient as diseased or normal. While the Lux et al. approach is a useful tool in the evaluation of BSM data, as will be described in greater detail below, the disclosed technique fails to consider the potential influence of noncardiac patient variables on the analysis and does not adequately address the extraction of particular features of interest from the data.
In addition to reducing the complexity of BSM data analysis, attempts have been made to reduce the complexity of the data collection process. As will be appreciated, with 192 electrodes required to successfully generate a surface distribution of electrical activity, the time required to prepare a patient for data collection is significant. The electrode set required is further unwieldy, expensive, and may contribute to patient apprehension. Each of these factors tends to limit the utility of BSM data analysis.
One work that is of particular interest in the area of "limited-lead" mapping is the article by Lux et al., entitled "Clinically Practical Lead Systems for Improved Electrocardiography: Comparison with Precordial Grids and Conventional Lead Systems," appearing in volume 59 of Circulation at pages 356-363. In this article, Lux et al. investigate the utility of several different lead sets in replicating the data collected with "conventional" 192 electrode BSM systems. More particularly, sets of 32, 30, and 9 leads are evaluated. Data collected from the limited leads is then transformed to represent data collected from a conventional lead set. Based upon the evaluation of this transformed data, Lux et al. conclude that 20-35 electrodes are required for BSM analyses.
More particularly, Lux et al. emphasize numerous shortcomings of the nine lead data transformation. For example, Lux et al. note that the pattern error and root-mean-square (rms) error for the nine-lead set is larger than the errors occurring when 32-lead arrays are used. Lux et al. conclude that the nine-lead array misses electrocardiographic information and that 20-35 electrodes are required for mapping.
Efforts have also been devoted to the use of BSM data to identify particular cardiac anomalies of interest. For example, the subject of coronary artery narrowing is addressed in an article by Farr et al., entitled "Localization of Significant Coronary Arterial Narrowings Using Body Surface Potential Mapping During Exercise Stress Testing," appearing in Volume 59 of the American Journal of Cardiology at pages 528-530, and an article by Sridharan et al., entitled "Use of Body Surface Maps to Identify Vessel Site of Coronary Occlusion," appearing in Volume 22S of the Journal of Electrocardiology at pages 72-81. As will be described in greater detail below, however, these approaches are limited by the form of the data analyzed, the feature extraction techniques used, and their ability to quantify, as well as localize, arterial narrowings.
Another specific anomaly of interest is the heart's "inducibility", or susceptibility to externally induced arrhythmia. The subject of inducibility is addressed to some extent, for example, in an article by Vincent et al. entitled "Use of QRST Area Distribution to Predict Vulnerability to Cardiac Death Following Myocardial Infarction", appearing in Volume 68 of Circulation at page 352, an article by Kubota et al. entitled "Relation of Cardiac Surface QRST Distribution to Ventricular Fibrillation Thresholds in Dogs", appearing in Volume 78 of Circulation at pages 171-177, and an article by Han et al., entitled "Nonuniform Recovery of Excitability in Ventricular Muscle", appearing in Volume 14 of Circulation at pages 44-60. Again, however, the disclosed approaches are somewhat limited in nature and applicability.
As will be appreciated from the preceding discussion, it would be desirable to provide a system that would allow a spatial distribution representative of, for example, the electrical activity of a heart to be analyzed without requiring the use of complex electrode configurations for data collection. The system should, however, take advantage of the added information content present in the spatial distribution. In addition, the system should format the spatially distributed data in a manner suitable for the particular feature to be extracted. The system should further be able to extract the features in a manner that distinguishes noncardiac influences on the data and that offers increased analytical capabilities with respect to particular features of interest.

Method and apparatus for performing mapping-type analysis including use of limited electrode sets


Systems and methods for cooling electrical components disposed in a jet engine. An example system includes an evaporation chamber configured to contain the electrical components in contact with a coolant liquid. The coolant vapor formed during the heat transfer from the electrical components to the coolant liquid flows to a condenser assembly having a fuel-cooled condenser and an air-cooled condenser. The air-cooled condenser cools the coolant vapor to condensation using either fan stream air or engine bleed air from the intermediate pressure compressor or the high pressure compressor. An air cycle machine cools the engine bleed air. A controller may be used to select a coolant source for condensing the coolant vapor based on operating conditions of the aircraft. Spent air from the air-cooled condenser may be recycled back to the engine for engine cooling, added thrust, oil sump buffering, oil or fuel cooling, or blade tip clearance control.

Hybrid electric aerospace vehicles are being developed to power-assist a gas turbine engine using an electric drive. One problem such a combination of technologies raises is keeping the electrical systems cool. Electrical systems operating in a hybrid aerospace vehicle generate relatively large heat loads at very low temperatures relative to conventional gas turbine engine heat load temperatures. The types of components in electrical systems that may be subject to such high heat loads include power electronics, electric machines (generators, motors), and batteries. Each type of component has its cooling requirements and may be cooled using similar cooling systems and methods. Power electronic devices may have the most susceptibility in terms of the tolerance of such components to heat.
Historically, electrical components have been cooled with water based or oil based coolants that rely on sensible heat storage. The components may be mounted on a printed circuit board or other substrate, which may then be mounted to contact a cooled container of the water or oil. The cooled container would then absorb the heat generated by the components on the circuit board. In some solutions, a two-phased loop may be used in which the container contacting the electrical components may contain a coolant liquid that vaporizes upon absorbing the heat from the components. The vapor may be passed to a condenser, which may comprise a heat exchanger, to condense the vapor back to the cooling liquid. The cooling liquid is then passed back to the cooled container.
The condenser may typically be implemented as a heat sink for the coolant to reject its heat, which may be cooled using a cooling fluid, to effect condensation of the vaporized coolant. One difficulty in implementing condensers in an aerospace vehicle is in securing a sufficiently cool source of cooling fluid for the heat sink. One source may be the fan stream air flowing from the fan in the gas turbine engine. Another source may be the engine fuel, where the engine includes a flow path for the fuel to the heat sink before being fed to the combustors. Another source may be ambient air permitted to flow into the engine casing through a duct.
The options for cooling the vaporized coolant may be adequate, however, their cooling effectiveness depends on operating conditions. Fan air flow provides the best cooling effect at altitude where the air is much cooler. During take-off however, the fan air flow is typically too hot to provide much of a cooling effect. Cooling with a fuel flow is best during take-off when the fuel flow rate is high. At cruising speeds, the fuel flow rate drops and may not provide sufficient cooling. Ambient air, like fan air flow, is cool at higher altitude, but may be used during takeoff.
Some solutions use a combination of cooling sources controlled using valves to enable shutting off a source of cooling depending on operating conditions. However, solutions for cooling electronics will likely be implemented on the outer portion of the engine typically just inside the engine nacelle, due to the large size of the electrical system and its cooling system. In hybrid engines, it may be preferred to mount the electronics inboard of the fan stream of the engine; however, the electronics may be subject to more extreme heat.
One solution for cooling electronics on a jet engine allows for a liquid coolant to contact the components in an evaporator tank. The coolant is vaporized and allowed to flow to the condensers to condense the vapor back to a liquid. One problem with this solution on an aerospace vehicle is the liquid does not remain settled in contact with the components. The movement of the jet engine causes the solution to splash and stir in the tank leaving the component without contact with the liquid for periods of time during the flight. The components may be left uncooled for sufficient time to overheat.

Systems and methods for cooling electronics and electrical machinery in a hybrid electric aircraft

Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.


A rope chain formed with "diamond cut" facets which extend spirally around the longitudinal center of the chain. The chain can be formed of solid or hollow links, or of non-standard links not having a circular cross-section.

The present invention relates to jewelry chains, specifically rope chains, and more particularly relates to a variation on an existing type of chain that is known as a "diamond cut rope chain".
A rope chain is a chain in the form of a rope constituted by a helical series of open rings or links that are interlinked with one another to define a configuration similar to a continuous double-stranded rope. Rope chains made of solid rings are simply known as rope chains while those made of hollow rings or links are known as "hollow rope chains".
The present invention is directed specifically to a type of rope chain to be known as a "spiral diamond cut rope chain" which derives from but provides a new look which differs from the conventional "diamond cut rope chain", to be discussed further on.
Methods for fabricating rope chains and machines therefor are known in the prior art as exemplified by the present inventors' U.S. Pat. No. 5,115,959, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. A thorough discussion of the conventional "diamond cut rope chain" is provided in U.S. Pat. No. 5,125,225, the contents of which are similarly incorporated by reference herein.
Prior machines of the general character indicated are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,127,987 (Tega et al); 4,311,901 (Tega); and 4,503,664 (Allazzetta et al). Allazzetta et al is specifically directed to a machine by which the fabrication of rope chain is automated.
Additional patents dealing with the general subject matter include U.S. Pat. No. 4,716,750 of Tizzi, which discloses a machine for producing hollow articles with various tubular cross-sections. U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,424,924 and 2,711,069 describe methods of producing ornamental facets on solid wire chain links through grinding operations. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,083,002 and 4,268,946 disclose the use of solidifying material such as ice, as a chuck to hold jewelry pieces in place while being worked on.
Further patents directed to the general subject matter include U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,895,290; 3,410,085; 4,679,391; 4,682,467; 4,681,664; 4,996,835; and German patent No. 2,428,642.
As previously noted, the present invention specifically concerns itself with the idea of providing a variation on the conventional diamond cut rope chain and to the construction and methods of fabricating the same.
As can be appreciated from the 5,125,225 patent, a "diamond cut" rope chain is a type of a chain in which the links of the chain are given a quality of sparkle by cutting or shearing away flat facets from the curved solid annular toroidal links, leaving flat surfaces for light to reflect therefrom. Diamond cutting of rope chains made of solid links is accomplished with a deep cut being used, so that from the generally round rope chain a four-faceted square or a six-faceted hexagon cross-section results. This way the "diamond cut" flat surfaces created in the solid chain gives an enhanced sparkling look to the chain.
In the 5,125,225 patent, the difficulty of forming a diamond cut rope chain of other than rope chains made of solid links is discussed. For example, it is noted that to achieve a square or hexagon cross-section chain, the depth of the cut has to be greater than the wall thickness of the annular, i.e. hollow, rings of which a hollow rope chain is made.
As recognized in the 5,125,225 patent (see the paragraph bridging columns 4 and 5 thereof), the prior art was familiar with various machinery and methods for creating hollow articles with various tubular cross-sections. The prior art was further familiar with various techniques of holding a pre-assembled chain in place by such methods as using a solidifying material, i.e. ice, as a chuck to hold the jewelry workpieces. Also noted is the familiarity of the art with stamping impressions into solid chain links and certain techniques for reinforcing hollow thin walled jewelry articles by electroforming. The 5,125,225 patent further recognizes and acknowledges the known use of both solid or hollow links in rope chains.
In view of the known teachings of the prior art, the 5,125,225 patent is specifically directed to a method for incrementally deforming curved hollow links to produce flattened faceted surfaces thereon. The subject patent is exclusively directed to the method involving the application of incremental pressure upon the curved wall surface of an otherwise fully assembled rope chain, thereby deforming the curved outer wall inward until a flattened "faceted" surface appears, similar to the faceted surfaces obtained by shearing/cutting rope chains formed of solid links. By carefully controlling the process of incremental deformations of the chain surfaces, a flat surface appearance which simulate the sheared or cut facet is obtained. It is also claimed that the deformed links of the chain have an increased resistance to fracture of the thin hollow link walls.
It is important to note that the process of the 5,125,225 patent is limited to creating a conventional "diamond cut" rope chain. In other words, as can be appreciated from a mere inspection of FIG. 11 of the subject patent, the burnishing tool used for creating the faceted surfaces is positioned to incrementally deform the chain while the chain is wound on a rotatable lathe. Completing one run of the burnishing tool over the length of the chain results in the formation of only a single facet (more precisely, a single line of sub-facets) on the chain. Since the typical diamond cut rope chain has a plurality of facets which are circumferentially spaced from one another, the chain has to be removed from the lathe and angularly rotated, for example, by 90.degree. three more times to create additional facets to produce a square shaped diamond cut rope chain. A smaller angular spacing is used if the number of facets is to be greater than four, etc.
It is obvious to one who appreciates the process of forming a conventional diamond cut rope chain that it is impossible to, for example, preform the individual links with deformed, flattened surfaces or to otherwise decorate the link surfaces to obtain a "conventional" diamond cut. This is because the conventional rope chain has a shape as shown in FIG. 8 of the subject 5,125,225 patent. Since the diamond cut requires that the surface be sheared to a certain depth relative to the longitudinal center of the chain, it will be immediately apparent that the individual links are not equally sheared or deformed. Rather, those links which are positioned more radially outwardly along the path of the faceted surface will be sheared or deformed to a greater extent than other links in the chain.
Since the links are differently sheared or deformed, it is impossible to preform them and later assemble them into a completed rope chain having the "conventional" diamond cut.
Further, while it might appear from the 5,125,225 patent that it is a straightforward matter to deform the hollow links of the rope chain with the help of a burnishing tool, it is perceived by the inventors herein that in practice the process may be far from simple. This is because it is essential that the chain be precisely placed on the lathe as shown in FIG. 11. If the links should not be perfectly aligned, it is possible that the burnishing tool will not engage and smoothly travel along the circumferential surfaces of the individual links. In such a case, the individual links might tear or be otherwise damaged.


A traveler for safety line for a fall arrest system has a slot extending to the exterior of the traveler and a safety line locating shuttle provided on-board the traveler wherein the safety line locating shuttle is movable relative to the slot along a predetermined path in a direction across the slot. This aids in accurate positioning of the safety line with respect to the traveler. The slot can be defined between opposed slot edges which are movable relative to one another to reconfigure the slot.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a safety line traveler, particularly to such a traveler for use in a fall arrest or fall safety system.
2. State of the Art
In order to protect personnel from falls when working at height it is usual and often a legal requirement, to provide an elongate safety line running across a length of the area in which the personnel are to work. The personnel are attached to the safety line by a lanyard which is provided with a traveler to which the lanyard is secured. The traveler is fixed to the safety line such that it can travel along the safety line. The flexible lanyard is connected at its other end to a harness worn by the user. When connected the user can move with respect to the safety line, tension on the lanyard as the user moves causes the traveler to be dragged to move along the safety line.
The safety line is anchored at each end. In order to allow a long uninterrupted length of safety line a number of intermediate supports are typically provided to support the safety line at predetermined positions along its length. The traveler and supports are designed to cooperate such that the traveler can automatically pass the along the safety line past the intermediate supports with the minimum of interference or snagging.
Such a safety line system having intermediate supports and a traveler arranged to pass along the safety line past the intermediate supports is disclosed in for example WO02/092171. In the system disclosed the intermediate supports are provided with deflector or guide surfaces arranged to abut the traveler on approach to the intermediate support so as to re-orientate the traveler to enable smooth passage past the intermediate support.
The issue is to orientate the slot in the traveler to permit the traveler to move smoothly past the intermediate support when the lanyard is tending to pivot or rotate the traveler out of the optimum alignment for passage past the intermediate support.
In so called horizontal systems (often used on roof top structures) the safety line is typically positioned at waist height and the user often lifts the lanyard held in one hand when walking adjacent the safety line. This causes the traveler to rotate on the safety line to a position in which the traveler is orientated out of the optimum alignment for passage past the intermediate support. As a result the traveler will impact with the intermediate support and snag or jolt.
Similar problems can exist for overhead safety line systems.


A compressor may include a shell, a bearing housing assembly located within and secured to the shell, a compression mechanism supported on the bearing housing assembly, a partition extending over the compression mechanism, and an annular seal assembly. The partition may be fixed to the shell and may abut an axial end surface of the bearing housing assembly to control a maximum axial distance between the partition and the compression mechanism. The annular seal may be sealingly engaged with the compression mechanism and the bearing housing assembly and may have a generally L-shaped cross-section including a first leg extending generally laterally between the compression mechanism and the partition. The first leg may have an axial thickness that is greater than the maximum axial distance.

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
Compressors may include a sealing arrangement to isolate differing pressure regions from one another. During compressor operation, pressure fluctuations may cause the sealing arrangement to be displaced, resulting in a leak path being formed between the differing pressure regions. More significant pressure fluctuations may result in a seal being deformed or otherwise damaged.

Compressor having improved sealing assembly


A method of forming a cuff on a section of tubular pipe which defines first and second ends and inner and outer surfaces. The method comprises the initial step of applying an outer layer of polymer material to a portion of the outer surface of the pipe such that a portion of the outer layer extends beyond and covers the first end of the pipe. Thereafter, an inner layer of polymer material is applied to a portion of the inner surface of the pipe. The inner layer is then blended into the outer layer so as to define a bull nose of the cuff which extends beyond the first end of the pipe.

Metal pipe of a both corrugated and spiral rib design is widely used for drainage, culverts, and other similar fluid conduits. Although susceptible to abrasion and corrosion, metal (e.g., steel) pipe has advantages over concrete pipe and the like due to its comparatively high strength and low weight. These characteristic render metal pipe relatively inexpensive to manufacture, ship, and handle, while permitting its use in applications requiring it to support substantial soil overburden. Applicant has previously introduced a particular spiral ribbed steel pipe into the marketplace having a hydraulic efficiency comparable to more costly concrete pipe and possessing superior structural capabilities for prolonged use in buried storm drain applications.
Since metal pipe is susceptible to corrosion and excessive abrasion, it use has previously been restricted primarily to culvert and storm drain applications. In sanitary applications (e.g., sewer systems), corrosion causing sulfuric acid is formed from hydrogen sulfide gas generated by waste products. Such waste products and/or acid has rendered the use of metal pipe in sanitary applications impractical since it rapidly deteriorates in the corrosive environment. As such, much heavier and more expensive concrete, lined concrete, and/or vitreous clay pipe has traditionally been utilized for sanitary applications. Thus, although metal pipe is generally preferred because of its high strength and comparatively low weight and cost, it has heretofore not been widely used in sanitary applications due to its susceptibility to corrosion.
Though often used in storm drain applications, metal pipe is nonetheless susceptible to extensive abrasion caused by the movement of gravel, dirt, sand, etc. therethrough. Such excessive abrasion frequently degrades the metal pipe to a point where leakage therefrom becomes a major concern. Additionally, such abrasion may, in some instances, be sufficient to adversely affect the structural integrity of the pipe, and consequently result in the structural failure thereof when the soil overburden crushes a portion of the pipe, thereby effectively plugging the pipe and substantially reducing or eliminating flow therethrough.
In recognition of the advantages attendant to the use of metal pipe, Applicant has also developed and introduced into the marketplace a spiral ribbed metal pipe which is provided with an integrally formed polymer liner, thus allowing for the use of the metal pipe in relation to sanitary or sewer applications. The liner of this metal pipe of the Applicant is adapted to withstand the corrosive environment found in sanitary applications, as well as the abrasive environment found in storm drain applications. In addition to being provided with the corrosion/abrasion resistant liner, this metal pipe of the Applicant is also provided with an outer coating to protect the exterior thereof from the corrosive effects of long-term exposure to the burial environment. This metal pipe of the Applicant is more fully described in its U.S. Pat. No. 5,316,606 entitled METAL PIPE WITH INTEGRALLY FORMED LINER AND METHOD OF FABRICATING THE SAME issued May 31, 1994 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,480,505 entitled METHOD OF FABRICATING A STEEL PIPE WITH INTEGRALLY FORMED LINER issued Jan. 2, 1996, and U.S. application Ser. No. 08/504,774 entitled STEEL PIPE WITH INTEGRALLY FORMED LINER AND METHOD OF FABRICATING THE SAME filed Jul. 20, 1995 and application Ser. No. 08/866,812 entitled STEEL PIPE WITH INTEGRALLY FORMED LINER AND METHOD OF FABRICATING THE SAME filed May 30, 1997. The contents of the aforementioned pending applications and issued patents are incorporated herein by reference.
Though Applicant's lined metal pipe overcomes the problems associated with corrosive or abrasive degradation when such pipe is used in sanitary or storm drain applications, problems are still encountered at the joints between adjacent sections of such pipe, particularly when used in sanitary applications. In this respect, when sections of the lined pipe are joined to each other in end-to-end fashion, the contact between the lining of the pipe sections is sometimes not fluid-tight, thus giving rise to the leakage of corrosive fluid therebetween. The lack of a fluid-tight seal between the pipe linings is often attributable to irregularities or flaws within those lined surfaces which are abutted against each other to form the joint. Also contributing to the difficulty in creating a fluid-tight seal between the pipe linings is the fact that the pipe walls to which the linings are integrally connected are often not perfectly round, thus causing the linings applied thereto to be out of round as well. As will be recognized, when one or both of the lining ends abutted against each other to form the joint are out of round, there is a greater susceptibility for occurrences of leakage therebetween. Moreover, the irregularities defined in the ends of the adjacent pipe sections attributable to the inclusion of the outwardly protruding spiral ribs gives rise to further difficulties in forming a fluid-tight joint therebetween.
The leakage of the corrosive fluids between the polymer pipe linings typically results in the exposure of the metal pipe walls adjacent the joints to such corrosive fluids and the resultant corrosion or degradation thereof. The corrosion of the metal pipe wall about the joint attributable to its exposure to the corrosive fluids causes a weakening of the joint which results in its eventual failure. The failure of the joint in turn results in large quantities of leakage of the corrosive fluids from within the conduit defined by the connected pipe sections.
As such, there exists a need in the art to provide pipe adapted for use in corrosive or abrasive environments with cuffs for use in forming leakage resistant joints between adjacent sections of the pipe. The present invention specifically addresses this need in the art.

Method of forming a metal pipe with cuff for forming pipe joint


A fluid sampling and testing device includes a container which has a first portion and a second portion, a collecting mechanism, a removing mechanism, a sealing mechanism, an opening mechanism and a testing mechanism. The collecting mechanism collects a measured sample of a fluid and is coupled to the container in the first portion thereof. The removing mechanism removes the measured sample of the fluid from the collecting mechanism and is coupled to the container in the first portion thereof. The sealing mechanism seals the first portion of the container from the second portion. The opening mechanism opens the sealing mechanism so that the measured sample of the fluid may enter the second portion of the container from the first portion thereof. The testing mechanism tests the measured sample of the fluid and is coupled to the container in the second portion thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a saliva sampling and testing device and more particularly to a saliva sampling and testing device which not only allows a technician to collect a sample of saliva without touching the sample, but which also permits either immediate testing or transporting the collected sample of saliva to a clinical laboratory for processing and analyzing.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The current literature indicates saliva is used to conveniently, easily, safely and effectively test an individual for a variety of medical conditions. These tests for medical conditions include hepatitis screening for restaurant employees, HIV (AIDS), continue (nicotine) and cocaine screening by insurance companies and five minute HIV (AIDS) screening by dentist. Clinics for oncology, neurology, infertility, alergy orthopedic and pain which had used urine, blood and serum samples to determine the medical condition of their patients are now using sample of saliva for this same purpose.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,768,238, entitled Bifurcated Saliva Collector, issued to Israel Kleinberg and Leo M. Sreebny, on Sep. 6, 1988, teaches a bifurcated vessel for the collection of saliva. Other relevant patents include U.S. Pat. No. 4,042,337, U.S. Pat. No. 4,589,548, U.S. Pat. No. 4,580,577, U.S. Pat. No. 4,503,572, U.S. Pat. No. 3,871,230, U.S. Pat. No. 3,831,230, U.S. Pat. No. 4,589,548, U.S. Pat. No. 4,283,498 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,518,164. Navazesh and Ship have reviewed the collection of saliva in the American Journal of Otolaryngology, Volume 4, page 288 in 1983.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,635,488, entitled Nonintrusive Body Fluid Samplers and Methods of Using Same, issued to Richard D. Kremer on Jan. 13, 1987, teaches a body fluid sampling device which includes a hollow tube with a solid, porous, water-wettable nonfibrous nib mounted in and protrudes from one end of the tube for collecting, by absorption, a sample of a body fluid such as sweat, tears, or saliva. The sample may be extracted from the nib for analysis by supplying an extraction fluid to the interior of the tube for gravity or vacuum-assisted flow out through the nib. Alternatively, an elongated analysis element such as a strip of paper or a packed column, e.g. containing an agent that changes appearance to indicate the presence of a substance to be detected, may be disposed in the tube for endwise contact with the nib to receive the sample or components thereof by absorption.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,418,702, entitled Method and Apparatus for Collecting Saliva, issued to Paul Brown and Joseph O'Brien on Dec. 6, 1983, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,580,577, entitled Method and Apparatus for Collecting Saliva, issued to Paul Brown and Joseph O'Brien on Apr. 8, 1988, teach a method for collecting saliva from a test subject which includes providing a flavored absorbent mass, such as a sponge, for mastication and charging with saliva and then expressing the saliva from the mass. The apparatus for this method includes a barrel-piston arrangement in association with a specimen vial for storage until diagnostic testing.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,817,632, entitled Oral Fluid Collection Article, issued to Willfried Schramm on Apr. 4, 1989, teaches an oral fluid collection article for placement in the buccal cavity of an individual for the collection and filtering of a saliva fluid. The collection article has a semi-permable membrane container enclosing an osmotic membrane.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,834,110, entitled Suction Clamped Treatment Cup Saliva Sampler, issued to Patricia A. Richard on May 30, 1989, teaches a selective collector of a human patient's saliva for monitoring or analysis is formed as a substantially conical flat concave cup of resilient molded polymer with tubing connections at an apex portal, and a large entrance portal having a soft compliant foam elastomer rim positioned for contact with the patient's soft tissue, such as the interior of the patient's cheek around the parotid salivary duct. Suction is connected to the soft foam rim, holding the concave cup in position, and suction, fixed pressure, pulsing pressure or electrical stimulation may promote the flow of saliva to a collector vessel.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,607,009, entitled Lewis Blood Group Phenotype Assay, issued on Aug. 19, 1986, teaches an assay for determining the Lewis blood group of a patient which consists of testing a body sample for the presence of Lewis antigens. Monoclonal antibodies specific for either of these antigens are employed which do not cross-react with other related antigens. Body samples which may be tested include saliva, serum, urine, and samples of paraffin-embedded tissue. Hybridoma cell lines and the antibody compositions they produce specific for these antigens are provided for use in the assay.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,720,455, entitled Progesterone Assay Method for Mammals and Monoclonal Antibody Therefor, issued to Uma M. Babu, Abdus S. Mia and Gregory D. Pancari on Jan. 19, 1988, teaches a progesterone concentration level test for mammalian body fluids particularly adapted for milk whereby estrus and pregnancy can be determined. The test can be carried out with a kit of several reagents, test tubes and a dip-stick carrying an anti-progesterone monoclonal antibody.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,722,889, entitled Immunoassays Using Multiple Monoclonal Antibodies and Scavenger Antibodies, issued to Jin P. Lee, F. Salcedo and Martin F. Robins On Feb. 2, 1988, teaches a reagent kit is provided for assay of a selected antigen in an aliquot of body fluid. U.S. Pat. No. 4,452,903, entitled Assay Method and Reagent Kit Means for Lipid-containing Body Fluid, issued to Jin P. Lee and Ching Yion Jun. 5, 1984, teaches a reagent kit which is provided for assay of a selected hapten in an aliquot of body fluid containing lipid.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,769,216, entitled Device for Detecting Antigens and Antibodies, issued to Howard M. Chandler, Kevin Healey and John G. Hurrell on Sep. 6, 1988, teaches a device for use in detecting or determining the presence of antigenic or haptenic substances or antibodies in a sample which includes a plurality of tubular or capillary elements, each having antibodies or antigenic or haptenic substances attached to an internal surface thereof, and mechanism for causing fluids to pass simultaneously or sequentially through the plurality of capillary elements. A method and test kit for detecting and determining the presence of antigenic or haptenic substances or antibodies in a sample by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique is characterized by use of urease as the enzyme in an antibody-enzyme or antigen-enzyme conjugate, with urea being used as the enzyme substrate.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,857,456, entitled Assay of Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) and Anti-BMP Antibody for the Diagnosis of Bone Disorders, issued to Marshall R. Urist on Aug. 15, 1989, teaches a diagnostic kit and a method for diagnosing bone disorders which includes assaying bone morphogenetic protein or anti-bone morphogenetic protein antibody in body fluids. The diagnosis may be carried out by comparing either the bone morphogenetic protein and the anti-bone morphogenetic protein antibody or the ratio of the two to normal assay standards.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,771,486, entitled Sputum Specimen Collecting Device, issued to Charles N. Gutierrez and David Vigil on Sep. 20, 1988, teaches a sputum sampling device having capability for sputum-saliva separation which includes a substantially circular cup having a wall portion which tapers inwardly from top to bottom, a separation plate having a substantially elliptical planar configuration, the major and minor axis of the plate being dimensioned to allow insertion of the plate down into the cup at a slant to position the lower portion of the plate a distance above the bottom of the cup, a plurality of apertures formed in the lower portion of the plate to provide saliva drainage ports, and an upper portion of the plate comprising a roughened textured surface for retracting and holding sputum in position for recovery in order to obtain a sensory and microbiological examination.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,853,325, entitled Saliva Test for Feline Leukemia Virus, issued to Morton A. Vodian, Eric S. Bean and Eric D. LeMoine on Aug. 1, 1989, teaches a saliva test for feline leukemia virus (FeLV) which employs a probe having an immunochemically sensitive member for collecting saliva from the oral cavity of a cat and which employs ELISA reagents for the incubation of the probe and the development of color reactions to indicate the presence or absence of FeLV within the saliva sample collected onto the probe.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,468,470, entitled Method and a Kit for the Assay of Antibodies to Soluble Antigens, issued to Robertus C. Aalberse on Aug. 28, 1984, teaches a method for the assay of antibodies to soluble antigens in an aqueous sample, in particular in body fluids, such as blood serum or blood plasma. The sample is contacted with an antigen in vitro so that antibodies, if present, are bound by the antigens.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,929,544, entitled Reagents, Methods, and Test Kit for Diagnosing/monitoring Cancer in Humans, issued to Barbara S. Vold on May 29, 1990, teaches that a quantitative immunoassay is used to diagnose/monitor human cancer by measuring a physiological fluid specimen of a subject. The quantitative immunoassay employs a monoclonal antibody and either compares that level to the level which occurs in corresponding physiological fluid of normal subjects to determine whether the former is substantially elevated over the latter or compares that level to the level of present in specimens taken from the subject at different times.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,942,122, entitled AIDS Prognosis Test Detecting the Presence of Antibodies Inhibiting HIV Reverse Transcriptase, issued to David T. Imagawa, Moon H. Lee and Kouichi Sano on Jul. 17, 1990, teaches a kit detects the presence of an antibody inhibiting HIV reverse transcriptase. The amount of antibody inhibiting HIV reverse transcriptase present in the body fluids of a patient known to be immunopositive for HIV gives the clinician a means to form a prognosis for each individual case.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,447,528, entitled Detecting Intrinsic Factor Blocking Site Antibody, issued to James E. Ellis, Graham P. Lidgard, Gerald Odstrchel and Louis J. Riceberg on May 8, 1984, teaches a radioassay reagent kit therefor which is for detecting auto blocking antibody, such as auto blocking antibody which interferes with the complexation of intrinsic factor with a vitamin. A receptor, i.e., intrinsic factor, is immobilized on a support and the amount of ligand, i.e., vitamin, capable of binding therewith in the presence of a biological fluid sample is determined.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,865,966, entitled Method for Detecting Antibodies to Human Immunodeficiency Virus, issued to Alvin E. Friedman-Kien and Yunzhen Cao on Sep. 12, 1989, teaches in a method of screening mammals for antibodies to viral agents a urine sample is collected from a mammal to be tested. The urine sample is assayed the sample for antibodies directed against the specific viral agent.


According to one embodiment, a communication device connected wirelessly to a source-side communication device includes a wired communication module, first and second wireless communication modules, and a communication controller. The wired communication module transmits a video signal and exchanges a data signal with a sink device via wired communication. The first wireless communication module receives a video signal through a first wireless communication system. The second wireless communication module transmits and receives a data signal through a second wireless communication system. The communication controller performs processing related to a physical address used in the communication system of the wired communication module. The communication controller relays information as to data communication capability exchanged between the sink device and the source device, and exchanges information as to data communication capability with the source-side communication device. When the devices are capable of data communication, the communication controller sets data communication as possible.

1. Field
One embodiment of the invention relates to a communication device that transmits a video and audio signal and a data signal via wireless communication.
2. Description of the Related Art
The IEEE 802.15 Working Group is pursuing standardization of wireless communication technology using 60 GHz band. This wireless communication technology is aimed at a wireless personal area network (WPAN), which is a wireless network having a coverage range of up to 10 m. The wireless communication technology enables gigabit-order wireless transmission using a wide band through a conventional wireless large area network (LAN) or Bluetooth. Thus, without via existing wired communication capable of transmitting a video/audio signal at high speed, such as a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI), a video/audio signal can be transmitted wirelessly.
For example, Japanese Patent Application Publication (KOKAI) No. 2008-35517 discloses a conventional technology for transmitting a video/audio signal wirelessly. According to the conventional technology, a system transmits/receives a video signal wirelessly according to the HDMI standard. Especially, by transmitting/receiving setting information for a display module wirelessly, the setting information of the display module can be read at higher speed.
On the other hand, in recent years, the HDMI standard has been being standardized to enable data communication in addition to video/audio signal transmission. The wireless communication technology described above enables not only wireless transmission of a video/audio signal but also wireless data communication over, for example, an Internet protocol (IP) network if it is one-to-one communication between wireless communication devices due to the high directivity.
Via wired communication, video/audio communication and data communication can be performed simultaneously through a single cable. On the other hand, via wireless communication, it is often difficult to perform both video/audio communication and data communication at the same time for the following reasons. (1) Video equipment cannot recognize that data communication cannot be supported in a wireless section. (2) Since a video signal requires many bands, simultaneous video/audio communication and data communication degrade video quality. (3) A band may not be ensured for data communication in a wireless section. (4) If a millimeter wave band with a wide tuning range is used to further perform data communication, when a plurality of wireless communication devices and a plurality of wireless links exist, it is not suitable for data communication because of the high directivity. Besides, the use of a plurality of wireless communication systems makes it complicated to establish a secure connection.